GOP

Congress - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

A Thanksgiving Message From Congressman Peter Roskam (R, IL)

November 25, 2010 by

-By Peter Roskam, Representative from the Illinois 6th District

As we enjoy this Thanksgiving Day, we have much to be thankful for. This holiday is an opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family, and to reflect on the many accomplishments and challenges the past year has brought.

One of the challenges most on the minds of families and individuals throughout Illinois is the looming federal income tax hike set to take effect in just five short weeks.

As I have traveled across the Sixth Congressional District, speaking to small business owners and local residents, I have heard an outpouring of concern that without immediate action, Congress will allow tax rates to climb higher for every American taxpayer, from the very lowest end of the tax bracket to the very highest. Meanwhile, our economy continues to struggle with persistently high unemployment that has left many in Illinois hurting from unemployment and under-employment.
Continue reading “

A Thanksgiving Message From Congressman Peter Roskam (R, IL)”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chris Christie - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Public Employees Unions - Republicans - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

GOP Guvs Ready to Take on Greedy Public Employee Unions

November 23, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is a story that warms the anti-union cockles of my free-market heart. At the recent meeting of the Republican Governors Association in San Diego those governors gathered made a point to discuss angles of attack to take down the budget-busting, anti-democratic public employees unions.

In attendance was the ever present former Speaker of the House of Representative, Newt Gingrich, and he whipped up the crowd with the policy goal of taking down those Public Employee Unions with ideas centered on limiting union gains and cutting benefits to bring them more into line with reality.

Newly elected Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker had a great quote: “We cannot and should not maintain a system where public employees are the haves and the taxpayers footing the bill are the have-nots.”

I love it.
Continue reading “

GOP Guvs Ready to Take on Greedy Public Employee Unions”

Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Michael Steele - Republicans - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

RNC Chair Steele Tries to Take Credit for 2010 Tea Party Success

November 22, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

If nothing else has proven that Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele is not in tune with the GOP today, his recent statements on the Tea Party movement should serve as exhibit number one.

Showing that he has no clue the effect that the Tea Party movement had on the 2010 elections, in a five-page memo to committee members last week, Steele said that the GOP saved the day by stopping Tea Partiers from going third party in 2010.

Daily Caller excerpted Steele’s comments on Nov. 20. “The RNC,” Steele told the members, “welcomed the energy and limited government principles of Tea Party voters and grassroots conservatives, and worked hard to ensure that their views found expression within the Republican party, and not in a potentially ruinous third-party movement.”
Continue reading “

RNC Chair Steele Tries to Take Credit for 2010 Tea Party Success”

Democrats/Leftists - Entertainment - GOP - Government - Journalism - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - Republicans - TV - Warner Todd Huston

How The Old Media Constantly Undermines Sarah Palin

November 22, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Most media-watching conservatives have simply been flabbergasted at how the Old Media establishment has so neatly come together to destroy Sarah Palin. The Internet has been abuzz with examples of this attack on Sarah since she was chosen by John McCain to be her number two during the campaign for the 2008 presidential election. Every day there is a new example of it and here is yet another one.

This time it was penned by a “TV critic” for the Washington Post named Lisa de Moraes. De Moraes is well known for constantly injecting left-wing asides into her work and her Nov. 19 attack on the Palins is no exception.

She misled her readers (all 20 of them, I’m sure) right off the bat with her snotty headline, “Sarah Palin tries to lure Bristol’s huge ‘DWTS’ audience to her far less popular TLC reality series.”

What is with this “her far less popular” epithet? This claim is not based in logic.

De Moraes went on with her accusatory rhetoric.
Continue reading “

How The Old Media Constantly Undermines Sarah Palin”

Alan Caruba - Anti-Americanism - Budget - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Federalism - GOP - Government - Liberals - Money - Republicans - Taxes

The Federal Reserve’s Magic Money

November 22, 2010 by

-By Alan Caruba

Historically, the Federal Reserve has had a poor record when it comes to correcting an economic slide into Depression.

In his book, “New Deal or Raw Deal?” historian Burton Folsom, Jr, asked and answered the question “What caused the Great Depression?” Among the factors he cited was the huge debt left over from World War One. In the United States, the national debt had ballooned from $1.3 billion to $24 billion in three short years, half of which consisted of loans made to the allies.

Today the U.S. is feeling the impact of the aftermath of 9/11 when military action was taken first in 2001 and then in 2003. We are still in Afghanistan and Iraq without much to show for it. As opposed to short, preemptive, lightning strikes, we have become involved in “nation building.” Forgotten is the fact that it was the Russian intervention in Afghanistan that ultimately brought down the former Soviet Union.

Continue reading “

The Federal Reserve’s Magic Money”

Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Shane Cultra Takes Rutherford’s 53rd District State Senate Seat

November 21, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Dan Rutherford was the State Senator from the 53rd District, but with his recent election to our state treasurer’s office, that left his seat empty. Since a Republican held that seat the local Republican Party was given the task of choosing someone to replace Rutherford and fill out his term.

After much wrangling and many hats in the ring, the Party chose Shane Cultra of Onarga to be the man sent to Springfield.

It was a crowded field of nine Republicans vying to take Dan Rutherford’s empty seat. In the running were Gary Manier, David Zimmerman, and John Ackerman of Tazewell County; Matt Sorenson of McLean County; Jason Barickman, and John Bambenek of Champaign County; Scott McCoy and Mike Stoeklin of Livingston County; and finally Cultra of Iroquois County. Keith Sommer of Morton dropped out of contention recently due to his wife’s illness.

Cultra is strongly supported by the United Republican Fund and rated at “90” by that organization.
Continue reading “

Shane Cultra Takes Rutherford’s 53rd District State Senate Seat”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County Board - Economy/Finances - GOP - Illinois - Property Taxes - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

County Gov’t Update: Property Tax Info and More

November 21, 2010 by

From the office of Timothy O. Schneider, Cook County Commissioner…

Property Tax Information

Residents should have received their 2009 2nd installment property tax bills last week. The property tax bills are due December 13, 2010. Many people in the Northwest suburbs noticed an increase in their property tax bill this year. The Illinois Department of Revenue set a record high multiplier of 3.3701 to bring assessment in line with the rest of the state, up more than 13 percent from last year. When the General Assembly extended the 7 percent homeowners exemption the amount of the exemption decreased from $26,000 to $20,000.

It is important to remember that Cook County has not raised its property tax levy for 16 years. In addition, please note your property tax bill is now itemized, detailing exactly where your tax dollars are being spent (school district, municipality, township, county, ect.).
Continue reading “

County Gov’t Update: Property Tax Info and More”

Allen West - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - Martin Luther King, Jr. - PCism - Race - Republicans - Senate - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston - Western Civilization

The Beginning of the End of The Race Card?

November 20, 2010 by

We are seeing it more and more: black Americans decrying other blacks for throwing the race card.

Here is a great and encouraging video of Congressman elect Allen West talking about the issue with Juan Williams on Fox News.

(H/T HotAir.com)

Barack Obama - Budget - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Democracy - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Frank Salvato - GOP - Government - History - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Republicans - Socialism - Taxes - Tea Party

Tea Party, Don’t Let Your Opposition Define You

November 20, 2010 by

-By Frank Salvato

With the mid-term elections now literally in the history books, the powers that be on both the Left side of the aisle and the Right, inside the beltway and out, have finally come to understand the power and appeal of the citizen movement commonly referred to as the Tea Party Movement. But, along with this recognition of power and appeal comes the wont of these groups to rationalize away the catalyst and the chemistry that gave birth to the movement. If the Tea Party Movement is to keep its potency it must avoid several pitfalls common to well-intentioned movements. Chief among these pitfalls is allowing your opposition to define who you are; or what we are.

Make no mistake, the establishment political apparatus does not – repeat, does not – celebrate the Tea Party Movement. In fact, they are extremely threatened, both on the Left and the Right, by this pure grassroots movement; this phoenix that has ascended from the ashes of a grotesque governmental system centered on political opportunism and self-preservation. They are threatened – not they feel threatened, but they are threatened – because their status quo is threatened; because the very apparatus they have assembled is about to be junked. And just like a feral cat that has been cornered, they are willing to do and say anything to protect their status quo.

Continue reading “

Tea Party, Don’t Let Your Opposition Define You”

Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

New GOP State Rep. Turns Down Gov’t Pension

November 19, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I’ll avoid any “the only good politician is a…” jokes here, but one thing is certain, newly elected State Representative Tom Morrison (R, 54th District) has taken the first step on the road to being a good politician. Or at least a good steward of the people’s tax dollars.

Mr. Morrison of Palatine has decided to forego the state pension benefits that he is legally eligible for because of his electoral success. According to the Daily Herald, Morrison was asked “are you sure you want to do that?” by an administrator when he turned down joining the pension plan this week at the state capitol in Springfield.

“I want to demonstrate to voters and taxpayers that since cuts have to be made, I’m willing to step forward and make a personal cut,” Morrison told the press.
Continue reading “

New GOP State Rep. Turns Down Gov’t Pension”

Budget - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - Public Employees Unions - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

States that Force Union Membership Losing Population to Those that Don’t

November 19, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Americans for Tax reform have done a study (download .pdf) that shows a very interesting trend. States that are losing population the fastest are predominantly those that force employees to join unions as a condition for employment while those that are growing are mostly states that feature right to work rules.

Because congressional representation is measured by population, those states whose population has shrunk will lose seats and those that are growing will gain them. ATR looked at those states losing congressional seats in the coming reapportionment and compared them to states that are gaining seats and found some interesting things where it concerns taxes and unions.

The average top personal income tax rate among gainers is 116 percent lower than among losers. The total state and local tax burden is nearly one-third lower, as is per capita government spending. In eight of ten losers, workers can be forced to join a union as a condition of employment. In 7 of the 8 gainers, workers are given a choice whether to join or contribute financially to a union.

As ATR notes, this shows that conservative fiscal policies spurs economic growth, creates jobs, and helps a state grow.
Continue reading “

States that Force Union Membership Losing Population to Those that Don’t”

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

Answers for ILGOP Start with Asking the Right Question

November 19, 2010 by

-By Dan Proft

I recently attended a speech by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in which he inadvertently provided some advice for the Illinois Republican Party.

Blair recounted a conversation he had with a fellow MP after his Labour Party had lost their fourth national election in a row in 1992. In the wake of that defeat, his frustrated colleague lamented to Blair, “What the heck is wrong with the voters of England?”

This anecdote is better told with an upbeat British accent but Blair’s point was that the better question at the time was, “What the heck is wrong with the Labour Party?” Five years later, Blair led a new, centrist Labour Party that won a landslide victory and maintained power for the ensuing decade.
Continue reading “

Answers for ILGOP Start with Asking the Right Question”

GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Ron Sandack Chosen to Fill Vacated Ill. State Senate Seat

November 18, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Ron Sandack, Mayor of Downers Grove, has been given the nod to fill the seat vacated by Dan Cronin (R, Elmhurst – 21st District) who is stepping into the Chairmanship of the DuPage County Board.

Sandack was chosen over Republicans Chris Nybo, Sandy Pihos, and activist Rafael Rivadeneira.

The seat State Senator Randy Hultgren holds is yet to be filled now that Hultgren was elected to Congress. Hultgren has announced that he will retain his seat until Jan 4 when he’ll vacate it to go to Washington.
Continue reading “

Ron Sandack Chosen to Fill Vacated Ill. State Senate Seat”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Law - Liberals - Nanny State - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Congress Giving FDA Power Over Our Food

November 18, 2010 by

(The outrageous attacks by our government on our freedoms and liberties are coming in wave after wave. From attempts to take over the Internet, to attempts to eliminate free political speech with incumbent protection acts, to all manner of other usurpations, every day government is attempting wild power grabs. We are being attacked on every level. And now, the next outrage is this: in the guise of “food safety” the Senate has given the FDA unheard of powers over our food. Here is a piece on SB510 written by my friend Sarah Foster to inform you of this latest insanity.)

Congress Giving FDA Power Over Our Food

By Sarah Foster, NewsWithViews.com

Take a look at that picture with all kinds of good stuff – fruits, veggies, nuts, milk, and yogurt. Now imagine it with one of those red circles over it, the kind with a line through to indicate everything therein is banned or off-limits.

Hold that image in your mind because it’s what you can expect if the much-vaunted FDA Food Safety bill – now on the floor of the Senate — is passed into law. The wipe-out won’t happen right away, but it will happen – gradually, over the next few years.

Congress is back in session for mopping-up exercises following the elections, and it’s expected that the long-delayed Senate floor fight over the controversial measure will take place some time this week. That is, unless Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid postpones debate and the vote until later in the “lame-duck” session.

If the bill does become law you can say goodbye to farmers markets, organically grown produce, raw milk – the kinds of food increasing numbers of Americans have been producing and seeking out.
Continue reading “

Congress Giving FDA Power Over Our Food”

Anti-Americanism - Civil War - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - GOP - Government - History - Liberals - Republicans - Rush Limbaugh - Slavery - Society/Culture - Western Civilization

Salon’s Rant about Rush, Race and Reconstruction

November 18, 2010 by

-By Michael Zak

Today, Steve Kornacki, news editor at Salon, published a lengthy denounciation of the Republican Party, and of Rush Limbaugh specifically, on the subject of civil rights The title of the article is Dittoheads, race and denial. Kornacki makes a pretense of setting the record straight about the civil rights movement, but instead he imparts his own lefty spin. Rather than go through the article point by point, I’ll let just a few observations serve to illustrate the overall duplicity.

The very image atop his article is a lie. It portrays a Republican, Rush Limbaugh, on the Confederate flag despite the fact that the Confederates were Democrats.

Hey, Steve! How about speaking some Truth to Power? Your article should have admitted the fact that the Confederates were Democrats. You could also admit the fact that you, as a Democrat, are a member of the Party of Slavery, Jim Crow, and the Ku Klux Klan.

The historical argument he makes is based on another lie:
Continue reading “

Salon’s Rant about Rush, Race and Reconstruction”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Earmarks - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - Mitch McConnell - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senate Republicans Vote to Ban Earmarks

November 17, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, after Senate GOP minority leader Mitch McConnell agreed to go along with the anti-earmark policy that the Tea Party voters were urging, the Senate voted to ban earmarked spending.

Earmarks are those little spending clauses added to bills that otherwise have nothing at all to do with the earmark and are emblematic of the wasteful spending indulged by Congress.

According to Roll Call:

Senate Republicans threw down the earmark gauntlet Tuesday by adopting a resolution calling on Democrats to adopt a voluntary ban moments after they adopted an identical ban of their own.

The challenge, authored by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), calls for Democrats to swear off requests for “a congressionally directed spending item, limited tax benefit or limited tariff benefit” during the 112th Congress.

Adopted by voice vote by the Republican Conference, the challenge came shortly after GOP Senators agreed to an identical ban proposed by Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.). Although Sen. James Inhofe (Okla.) objected to the ban — and expressed his strong opposition to it during the GOP’s closed-door meeting — he did not block a voice vote on the measure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has repeatedly dismissed demands for a moratorium on earmarks over the last several days.

Notice, folks, that the Democrats want to continue unabated the wasteful spending by our representatives in both the House and the Senate. Democrats live to waste our tax dollars.

It is heartening that the Republicans have heard the voters and are willing to follow that directive to begin the long, hard road to end wasteful spending. Certainly eliminating earmarks are a tiny step in the right direction, but it is a step and a welcome one, indeed.
Continue reading “

Senate Republicans Vote to Ban Earmarks”

Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Congressman Elect Joe Walsh: Let’s Take The Country Back

November 17, 2010 by

From Congressman elect Joe Walsh…

I’m pleased that the decision of the people of the 8th District voting on November 2nd has been confirmed. Representative Bean telephoned me earlier this evening and congratulated me for winning the 8th District seat in the United States House of Representatives. I am grateful to each and every individual who cast their ballot for me, and for all of the thousands of volunteers, Tea Party members, regular Republicans, friends and staff people that have made this victory possible. I congratulate Representative Bean on her vigorous campaign and thank her for her six years of public service.

With the voting and counting now complete, we can turn all of our energies to advancing the legislative agenda the people of the 8th District have told me to pursue: more responsive government, less borrowing against our children’s future, and a common sense approach to deal with the economic challenges facing our country. I will be busy here in Washington for several more days before returning to Illinois to personally thank all those who worked so hard to send me to Congress.

We have a lot to do, and I am eager to get at it.

Congressman-elect Joe Walsh will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, November 17 at 11:30 AM Eastern Time at RNC Headquarters.

Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Let’s Get SB600 Passed!

November 17, 2010 by

Doug Ibendhal wants us all to re-commit to getting SB600 passed. I am a big supporter of the measure, so I certainly agree with him on this.

The Illinois General Assembly goes back in session in Springfield this week (November 16-18).

SB600 passed overwhelmingly in the State Senate last year. We just need House passage and then it’s to the Governor’s desk. Pat Quinn is certain to sign the bill. His reformer talk would be over if he didn’t.

Please take a minute and contact your State Representative, whether Republican or Democrat, and urge passage of SB600.

You’ll find all of the contact information here (then page down).

Note that we’ve put all the email addresses for all of the State Representatives into user friendly blocks (one with all the Democrats and one with all the Republicans). Feel free to copy and paste the addresses into your email and contact all of them at once.

If SB600 doesn’t pass before the new General Assembly is seated in mid-January, then the whole process has to start all over again in the State Senate. Let’s not let that happen.

So far House Minority Leader Tom Cross has gotten his way. He and other GOP bosses have stonewalled SB600 for years. These power hungry Republicans don’t want you to have a voice in your own party. They don’t want accountability in the Illinois Republican Party and they certainly don’t want transparency….

Read the rest at Republican News Watch.

Budget - Chris Lauzen - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - Regulation - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Carnival Shell Game with Illinois State Pensions

November 17, 2010 by

From the office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (25th District)…

On November 4, 2010, all State Senators were called to Springfield ostensibly to vote on a $4B proposal to pay into state employee pension plans. The Democrat leadership had a political caucus off-site, but no vote was taken on the important fiscal matter, nor any other substantive issue.

Last year I believed Governor Quinn’s promise that he would spend approximately $3.5 Billion in borrowed funds wisely and, incredibly (for me), I voted “yes” to give him broad borrowing and spending authority. Unfortunately, that promise was broken and nearly all of that debt was used to pay for public employee pension deposits, while our schools languished and social service agencies were decimated.

Fool me once, shame on you – – fool me twice shame on me.

Continue reading “

Carnival Shell Game with Illinois State Pensions”

Chicago - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Liberals - Melissa Bean - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Walsh Wins by 290 Votes in Ill 8th

November 16, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The ballots are finally all counted for the race for the 8th Congressional District in Illinois. Congratulations goes to Republican Joe Walsh who beat incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean by a scant 290 votes.

The vote tally has yet to be 100 percent certified, but it looks like Walsh is the winner.

This is quite a pickup for the GOP, too. Not only did party wonks assume that Walsh never had a chance to win this race and therefore didn’t give Walsh much help, the other side was so sure that Bean was a shoo in to be returned to Congress that they didn’t spend much money on her race either.

This one is a shock to just about everyone. One suspects even Walsh is surprised.

So, congrats to Congressman elect Joe Walsh, 8th District.
Continue reading “

Walsh Wins by 290 Votes in Ill 8th”

Congress - Cook County Board - DuPage County - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Korean War - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Congressman Roskam Commemorates Veterans Day From Korea

November 16, 2010 by

From Congressman Peter Roskam…

Joins His father, a Korean War Veteran, At President Obama’s Remarks to Troops at Yongsan Garrison

SEOUL, Korea, Nov 11 – Congressman Peter Roskam issued the following statement in commemoration of Veterans Day:

“It is a privilege to be in Korea today with my father on the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War – a war which he fought bravely in to preserve freedom and halt the advance of Communism. My father, V.R. Roskam, has received an outpouring of thanks and appreciation from Koreans everywhere we’ve visited the last week. It’s a powerful lesson: the sacrifices our men and women in the Armed Forces have made to preserve freedom in almost every corner of the globe, even decades later, are not forgotten. The bustling capital city of Seoul, home to 12 million people, is testament to the generations of Americans who have helped ensure the existence of whole nations of free people.
Continue reading “

Congressman Roskam Commemorates Veterans Day From Korea”

Budget - Chris Slavens - Congress - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Earmarks - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Republicans - Senate - Taxes

GOP Must Return to Consistent Conservatism

November 16, 2010 by

-By Chris Slavens

Republicans are feeling pretty good about themselves. In addition to picking up sixty-one seats in the House and gaining control of that legislative body for the first time in four years, they now control a majority of the states, and are poised to give themselves a long-term advantage by redistricting next year. The White House and Senate are still in Democrats’ hands, but the voters overwhelmingly rejected one-party rule, and Republican politicians clearly believe that the American people are on their side.

They couldn’t be more wrong. The GOP is fractured, like a fragmented vase held together by tape. It made it through the election by riding a wave of antiestablishment anger; many voters, especially independents, did not so much vote for Republicans as they voted against Democrats. Americans wanted to say “no” to liberal socialism, and did, but Republicans now have to offer the electorate something to say “yes” to. Unfortunately, they can’t seem to agree on what that something should be.

There is an ideological rift in the Republican Party, a division that could prove to be fatal if those in control refuse to release their stranglehold on power. There are the old Republicans—the establishment—who first feared the Tea Party, then attempted to infiltrate and control it, and the new Republicans, a far more ideological bunch who would rather drive their own party into the ground than see it head in the wrong direction. These conservative idealists want the best for their country, and view the GOP as a means to an end. Like a tool, the party will be used to complete a task. And, like a tool, it will be discarded if it doesn’t get the job done.
Continue reading “

GOP Must Return to Consistent Conservatism”

Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Sunshine Review Launches Online Transparency Platform for Legislators and Activists

November 15, 2010 by

From Sunshine Review…

Platform and model legislation endorsed by leading state legislators

Sunshine Review, the nation’s leading state and local government transparency advocate, launched SunshineStandard.org, an online platform for legislators and activists that will act as the national guide for launching reforms to expand the information available on state and local government web sites so that Americans may better hold elected officials accountable.

“Most state and local governments do not embrace transparency,” said Mike Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review. “Even fewer proactively share information.” Transparency exists largely at the munificence of officials, with the burden of negotiating complex and costly FOIA petitions resting squarely on the shoulders of citizens and journalists.
Continue reading “

Sunshine Review Launches Online Transparency Platform for Legislators and Activists”

Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

iPetitions for IL State Senate Appointments

November 15, 2010 by

From the Homer/Lockport Tea Party…

Below are links to iPetitions supporting two candidates seeking appointments to open IL state senator positions.

The two candidates are:

Rafael Rivadeneira for State Senator (to replace Dan Cronin – 21st District) – Petition to Support John Bambenek

Both of these gentlemen are true conservatives and have spoken at many tea party events.
Continue reading “

iPetitions for IL State Senate Appointments”

Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Dr. Don Boys - Earmarks - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Republicans - Senate - Taxes

Shut Down Government if Necessary!

November 15, 2010 by

-By Don Boys, Ph.D.

Republicans are giddy with their recent success at the polls and have the opportunity to effect the greatest change in a hundred years. But don’t count on it. Like all politicians, they have a propensity to foul their own nest. When it comes to human nature, I expect people to act as they always have–with an exception now and then.

We have two parties to keep the U.S on an even keel, not going to excess in either direction. Need I remind anyone that we have seen both parties swinging to extremes in recent years? Bush spoke of “compassionate conservatism” that was neither compassionate nor conservative. We saw him proclaiming a desire to spread democracy all over the world, without any constitutional authority to do so. Moreover, he had no historical precedent to think that Muslims would be willing to live in a democracy. Evidently, neither Bush nor his advisors had ever read the Koran or Hadith. We saw a “conservative” implement a massive prescription drug bill that alone may destroy us.

His bipartisan law, No Child Left Behind, was a farce that had no basis in law or practical application. It is time to stop throwing dollars into the rat hole of public education. Isn’t it about time to realize that public education is a failure, a farce, and a fraud and we should let it fall like a rotten apple. The feds and the states should get out of the education business, a business that went bankrupt many years ago. I did not weep to see Bush ride off on “ole paint” into the western sunset.
Continue reading “

Shut Down Government if Necessary!”

Barack Obama - Communism - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Journalism - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - Nancy Pelosi - Policy - Republicans - Senate - Socialism - Warner Todd Huston

What We Need to Say, And Say, And Say

November 14, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

If leftists are good at one thing it is staying on message. Since 2006 when Nancy Pelosi was raised to the dizzying heights of Speaker of the House of Representatives the left has been chanting over and over that the voters wanted the country to take a hard left turn. This month’s election, however, proved that the left’s hoary claim is wrong. And we need to say so, over and over.

It isn’t that the leftists were wholly wrong in their claim that the country wanted to go left in the previous two national elections. Clearly the voters lost faith in the Republicans and just as clearly they wanted to give Democrats the opportunity of an iron clad majority to make some changes. It’s just that the left was very wrong in just how far left the voters wanted to veer — as this election proved.

One thing is sure. Democrats and their extremely left-wing money men — George Soros, the Rathkes, the MoveOnners, etc. — pushed the meme that the country wanted a quasi socialist, Euro-esque styled American government for all it was worth. They moved forward based on the assumption that the country thoroughly rejected the right and they made a mad dash for every hard left policy idea they could think of.
Continue reading “

What We Need to Say, And Say, And Say”

Anti-Americanism - Congress - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Entertainment - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Humor - Liberals - Race - Republicans - Video - Warner Todd Huston

VIDEO: A Typical Debate Between a Democrat and a Republican

November 11, 2010 by

Here we have a typical encounter between an all caring, more civilized, smarter, and more loving Democrat and one of those eeeevil Republicans. As soon as politics is brought up, hilarity ensues.

Allen West - Anti-Americanism - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Florida - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Journalism - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - Politico - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Politico Says Florida’s Allen West Will Become the Alan Grayson of the Right?

November 11, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Lt. Col. Allen West is one of the most stand up guys you’ll ever meet. He first came to the public eye when his interrogation of an Iraqi yielded lifesaving results even as it was a bit unorthodox. His professional handling of that incident put him on a track to run for Florida’s 22nd District House seat, a race he won handily despite the left’s unhinged attacks upon him.

West ran a clean campaign in Florida’s 22nd. He avoided over-the-top attacks on his opponent and did not indulge fits of name-calling. This is not to say that he soft-pedaled his opinions on just how wrong the Democrats were as he sought to delineate the policy differences between himself and the left he was battling. But West did campaign with a serious tone and an even-tempered demeanor. He was not an arm waver, he did not indulge flights of fantastic conspiracies, nor did he employ vile attack ads in his race. Pointed rhetoric? Yes. Obscene, wild-eyed, foaming at the mouth attacks? Not at all.

With that said, why does Politico seem to think that Allen West is on track to become the right’s version of the despicable Alan Grayson, also a Floridian?
Continue reading “

Politico Says Florida’s Allen West Will Become the Alan Grayson of the Right?”

1st Amendment - Budget - Campaign Finance - Congress - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Financial Reform - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Mark Kirk - Nanny State - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senator Kirk Already on Track to Vote Against GOP Interests

November 9, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I said it during the primary, Mark Kirk is a 45 percenter. His record in the House pretty much shows that he will only vote with Republicans 45 percent of the time if left to his druthers. True to my worst fears, Kirk seems to be right on track with my predictions. The man hasn’t even taken his seat yet and many are assuming he’ll support one of the Democrat’s favorite issues: the DISCLOSE Act.

The Hill is reporting that Kirk is coming under pressure by the left to vote “yes” on a watered down version of the DISCLOSE Act, ostensibly a campaign finance reform law. The Hill also correctly points out that Kirk has in the past been a proponent of changes in campaign finance rules even as he voted against the Democrat’s DISCLOSE Act in the run up to the election.
Continue reading “

Senator Kirk Already on Track to Vote Against GOP Interests”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Computers - Congress - Constitution - Democracy - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - FCC - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Inernet - Jobs - Liberals - Net Neutrality - News - President - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

Democrat’s Anti-Capitalist Net Neutrality Wounded, But Not Dead

November 8, 2010 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Just before election day the liberal blogs were aflutter with news that 95 Democratic Congressional candidates had taken the pledge to support Net neutrality if they were elected. That turned out to be a very big “if.” More like a forlorn hope, if you will.

Of those 95 Democrats, the number actually going to Congress in January will be… zero. There hasn’t been a wipe-out like this since the Redskins beat the Broncos 42-10 in the 1988 Super Bowl. Or since Atlantis was swept into the sea, or something.

As far as Internet policy is concerned, last night’s lesson for Republicans should be clear: Internet “neutrality” regulation is a loser with the public. It’s also a loser with businesses. It’s even a loser with the labor unions. That’s not a surprise. Union leaders can sometimes get realistic very quickly when confronted with a federal policy that will cost their members jobs.
Continue reading “

Democrat’s Anti-Capitalist Net Neutrality Wounded, But Not Dead”