SurgeUSA.org
Grow local leadership, not the federal bureaucracy

Defend our freedom to choose against the liberal insurgency in Congress.

Change Congress, Not America

Home Survey Volunteer Search Links Contact

 

Change Congress
Candidates
Surge by State
Tea Party Book Club
Tea Party Plans
Legacy
News Highlights
Global Issues
Strategy
Call to Action
National Issues
Party Politics
State Issues
Local Issues
Media Room
Link to SurgeUSA

Less than 10 weeks to go.  Then we can swear in a new Congress, rather than swear at this one.

For more on Joe Walsh and the IL 8th race for Congress, refer to the Barrington Tea Party website and the Main menu links there, or other local Groups.  That includes reports about Melissa Bean and Democrats in the IL 8th District.
Deja vu - Obama on the economy 1 year ago, when he said "we're pointed in the right direction".  Is it just a mirage?
September 2, 2010 - Bigger than 1994 - RealClearPolitics - perhaps the biggest blowout victory since 1932?  60+ seats?

Republicans hold wide lead in key voter turnout measure - Gallup poll shows more Republicans and independents giving thought to the midterm election already.  August 30: GOP takes unprecedented 10-point lead on generic ballot

August 31, 2010 - AP-GfK Poll: Most attuned voters tilt toward GOP - To summarize, some are still drinking the Kool-Aid. Those who are paying attention are opposed, or strongly opposed. Voters typically pay more attention after Labor Day, so a poll of 1000 people in early August is just an early indicator and not a reliable prediction of the outcome in November.

The Democrats were able to take advantage of the economic meltdown in 2008 to seize power, but now voters realize that this just made a bad situation much worse. Before Obama-Pelosi-Reid drive the economy off the cliff like Thelma and Louise, voters need to shift into reverse or at least turn the steering wheel in a new direction. That includes trying to get back onto the road to a better future that our Founders and past generations tried to build for us.
September 1, 2010 - tweet from Glenn Beck about blog post by Lexington Green on ChicagoBoyz : "The ONLY guy to actually get it!" - well worth reading, including the comments in response.  Note the prior blog post, too - "Brooding"
CSpan-1 covered the Glenn Beck "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial, and it was also on the Facebook page for the event. http://www.facebook.com/restoringhonor  Glenn Beck was also on FoxNews Sunday with Chris Wallace.
bulletSuppose there were 500,000 people at the rally. What if each attendee chooses to reach out to 10 or 20 people they know, and talk to them about their concerns?  Once again, this isn't about Republicans vs. Democrats in a fight over who gets to rule over us and impose their will through the power of the government bureaucracy and unchecked tax-and-spend authority to redistribute wealth to their favored supporters.
bulletThis is about restoring individual responsibility, rather than collective entitlement.  If the 500,000 who were motivated to go to the rally in DC reach out to 5 - 10 million (10 - 20 friends each), then that's a massive impact.  The "black robe regiment" will surely be perceived as an existential threat to the ambitions of progressive statists by eroding the illusory moral legitimacy of the self-anointed "ruling class" which offers "rights" to loyal followers through machine politics.
bulletVideo - Thank you message from Glenn Beck on his radio show

Note to media: In case you weren't paying attention, 8.28 didn't refer to the MLK speech, but to Romans 8:28

As far as hijacking MLK's speech, remember Obama's 8/28/08 nomination acceptance speech?  In case you want to go back and refresh your memory, here's the transcript.  If you can stand to see it again in hindsight, here's the video.

Refer to http://www.glennbeck.com/828/ for information from Glenn Beck about the Restoring Honor 8.28.10 event at the Lincoln Memorial, or check for updates via the Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/restoringhonor 

On Twitter: follow hashtags #828, #gbdc, #restoringhonor #tcot  #teaparty #DCTwisters  #828live

Follow Glenn Beck at http://twitter.com/glennbeck  

Sarah Palin is one of the speakers.  Watch for her Twitter posts at http://twitter.com/SarahPalinUSA  or Facebook notes at http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin

TheGenuineDavid was already posting some great event photos on August 27  http://twitter.com/TheGenuineDavid

bullet Sarah Palin's full speech at the Restoring Honor rally - four videos
bullet Alveda King's speech at the Restoring Honor rally - "I too have a dream" - CNN video
bullet National Mall left spotless after Beck rally

Media coverage after the event was mostly confused, misleading, or wildly inaccurate and biased, as is now customary.

bulletAugust 30, 2010 - Education Secretary urged his employees to attend Sharpton's rally - Why?  It's another example of why we need to finally eliminate the Department of Education completely, as Reagan had intended.  Note the characterization of the Sharpton rally as a "back to school event".
bulletAugust 29, 2010 - Beck rally signals election trouble for Dems - "Beck's religion-laden message was a departure from most tea party events, which tend to focus on economic issues."  Hello? Has this AP writer ever attended a Tea Party event? There have been very strong religious elements about fundamental principles and values in the movement from the very start. The liberal media chose to treat the movement as nothing more than an anti-tax or anti-incumbent freak show, but it should be intuitively obvious that Beck wouldn't attract 500,000+ people to stand in the August sun in DC to listen to a heavily religious message if that wasn't resonating with people in this country who are fed up with those who just seem to want to worship government power as their savior.  Rather than hold a rally on the steps of the Capitol, as though we were all supplicants pleading our case before Congress, he chose to focus on the individual.
bulletAugust 28, 2010 - Beck draws on Obama stump speech from 2008 race - The AP author didn't sign his name to this nonsense. Clearly Beck was NOT trying to say the same thing. Obama was talking about political victory to push his own agenda to the country and the world. Beck is talking about individual responsibility rather than reliance on the consolidation of political power to solve all our problems.  Note the reference to "tens of thousands".  Ha, ha, ha!!
bulletAugust 28, 2010 - Beck: Help us restore traditional American values - The AP is still trying to draw some sort of moral equivalency between the huge Beck rally and the small Sharpton rally.  Sharpton was rallying blacks to "defend the dream" as if the dream was about political racial entitlement or reparations for past social injustices, rather than about character and creating a better future through your own choices and actions rather than through political class warfare and envy.  See also: revised Aug 29 version of the same story
bullet Palin: Reject calls to `fundamentally' change US - The AP virtually ignored her speech
bullet Baseball star Albert Pujols honored at Beck rally - The media attacks begin on anybody who participated. Even if there are some idiots out there who choose to attack LaRussa or others for this, why is that newsworthy? What ever happened to professional journalism?  For example, an earlier AP story also made a point of the "white" audience at this event, while making no comment on the almost exclusively black Sharpton event. Another mentioned what were apparently some Lyndon LaRouche supporters again distributing offensive anti-Obama flyers at the fringe of the event. Why is the media going out of their way to find a few wackos or critics, and ignoring the hundreds of thousands who were acting so respectfully and responsibly, without any overt political hatred? Professional journalism is dead.

Media coverage prior to the Glenn Beck event was, in general, a disgrace to the journalism profession.

bulletAugust 27, 2010 - Stage is set for DC Restoring Honor Rally - AP video about preparations for the event - note the clip of Al Sharpton "They're having an anti-government march on a day that King came to appeal to government.  You can't have it both ways."  Remarkable.  Does Sharpton want to promote government dependency?
bullet August 26, 2010 - From King to Beck: Big rally at Lincoln Memorial - The AP clearly still doesn't get it, or like it.
bulletAugust 26, 2010 - Alveda King - Glenn Beck 8/28 rally: It's a matter of honor  http://twitter.com/alvedaking
bullet Glenn Beck rally Saturday in DC - Is it a political event, or not?
bulletTownHall.com column by Jillian Bandes - Glenn Beck Rally: Restoring Honor - August 22 interview
bulletAugust 27, 2010 - Congresswoman Michele Bachmann: Join me for a Tea Party Town Hall this Saturday - in Washington DC, from 1:30 - next to the Washington Monument (15th Street and Constitution)
bullet August 27, 2010 - Sharpton: Beck rally goes against MLK's vision - Al Sharpton rallies those who won't listen.  Here's a later version of the same story, fabricated to try to stir up controversy and denigrate the Beck rally participants
bulletAugust 27, 2010 - DC's 'truth, honor' rally tests Glenn Beck's power - It's not about Glenn or power in Washington or on networks.  It about the attendees, and what they are doing already, or will do, to restore honor through their own lives.  The news media seems pathologically incapable of understanding that the story isn't all about themselves, or achieving and keeping political power in Washington DC.  It's about restoring traditional American principles and values through responsible personal choices, rather than by expecting those in government to make all of our choices for us and punish success in order to reward and excuse failure.  There's a big difference between charity and "social justice" or "redistributive change".
bulletAugust 27, 2010 - Blog causes uproar on eve of Beck rally - more dirty tricks trying to discredit the attendees
bullet Beck forbidden to pray at Kennedy Center event - video - stunning, but true example of arguing with idiots

More than 1000 buses were expected, and there were related activities on August 27 by various groups in attendance, plus a religious program at the Kennedy Center that evening.  Chuck Norris was among the guests.

August 26, 2010 - Honey, I shrunk my approval ratings - Karl Rove skewers Obama "summer of recovery" in WSJ
August 26, 2010 - Rasmussen poll - Trust on Issues - Republicans now more trusted on all top 10 issues in his poll

Don't miss his Daily Presidential Tracking Poll . the trend is not Obama's friend.  No summer of recovery visible here!

Scott Rasmussen also has a new book coming out with Doug Schoen, MAD AS HELL: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System.

See the August 21 opinion interview about Scott Rasmussen in the Wall Street Journal, America's Insurgent Pollster

August 25, 2010 - 26% Say They’re Part of Tea Party Movement Or Know Someone Who Is - check again in October.  The Democrats keep trying to attack them nationally as extremists.  Voters know them locally as friends and neighbors.

 
September 1, 2010 - Biden: Time to turn attention from Iraq to economy - Heaven help us if Biden now turns more attention to the economy - given his brilliant track record at resisting efforts to turn Iraq around by embracing partisan politics and acceptance of failure as the inevitable outcome.
August 25, 2010 - SPIN METER: What Biden didn't mention on stimulus - They "hit the accelerator" like Thelma and Louise, right over the cliff.  Note the last line.  Another Joe the Plumber moment?
August 25, 2010 - Obama planning second back-to-school speech - Pushing his education agenda, as in 2009.
August 25, 2010 - FACT CHECK: Stimulus assessments overly optimistic - rosy projections, or delusional / deceptive?
August 25, 2010 - Stimulus to cost $27B more than original pricetag - Epic failure.
August 25, 2010 - More than 3M seniors may have to switch drug plans - reducing choices, rewarding AARP support?
August 25, 2010 - Summary Box: SEC eases holders' way to board - Another stealth assault on business by progressives

Business Roundtable Opposes SEC Proxy Access Rule

August 21, 2010 - Obama challenges GOP on campaign finance ruling - Still pushing the DISCLOSE Act as an assault on the First Amendment rights of grassroots opposition groups. What a deceitful hypocrite, after all the money he has raised to achieve and sustain his abuse of power.

Reuters version - Obama chides Republican on corporate campaign cash - Incredible hypocrisy.

August 19, 2010 - New senators want to change way Senate works - If you can't win by the rules, change the rules?  Does the oath to uphold the Constitution still matter to Democrats?
August 2, 2010 - Liberty Central Launches Free Training Website to Activate the Congressional August Recess - with the Leadership Institute - see http://www.LibertyCentralTraining.org   This is similar to the recent Tea Party Training program launched by Tea Party Patriots for members in cooperation with the Leadership Institute.
August 1, 2010 - SPIN METER: Program risks $30B to save weak banks - The AP finally recognizes that this is really a community bank bailout bill - not aid to small businesses.
July 28, 2010 - Democrats attacking GOP as tea party - August recess attack plan?  Are the Dems really this stupid? This is being promoted as though it is a brilliant strategy for the August recess. Instead, it just shows how out of touch they are with reality. The Tea Party groups have been out there for almost 18 months now - in touch with the people of their communities. Now the elites in DC are going to come home and try to tell us that the Tea Party folks are extremists? Hello? They're our neighbors. We know them already. Congress has an 11% approval rating for a reason. They seem to be completely clueless, and not listening to their constituents. Instead of trying to tell us all why we should hate our neighbors, perhaps they should try listening for a change. 

Later version of the story: Dems election strategy: Equate GOP and tea party

Reuters version: Democrats tie Republicans to Tea Party agenda

Show your members of Congress that you are doing active fundraising and campaign volunteer work for their opponents.  Talk to your neighbors about why you are concerned about what Congress is doing to our country.  Make every primary race count this year so that voters won't be left with a Hobson's choice between lousy candidates in November.

Invite all incumbents to defend their record at town hall forums.  If they won't face voters (except at staged "astroturf" photo ops for media consumption), make sure that all voters can easily express their concerns by meeting and supporting their opponents.  Organize "meet and greet" events in your community to introduce voters to conservative candidates, and actively support them.

Upcoming primaries
bulletAug. 17th - Washington, Wyoming
bulletAug. 24th - Alaska, Arizona, Florida
bulletAug. 28th - Louisiana
bulletSept. 14th - Delaware, Dist. of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, Hawaii
August 20, 2010 - UN board could rein in $2.7 billion carbon market - Another stunning failure
August 20, 2010 - Biden lashes out at 'Republican tea party' - sticking to his losing script
August 20, 2010 - Regulators shut 4 California banks, 4 others - Why did ShoreBank get special treatment by the FDIC?  Political connections to Obama?  Reuters version

Regulators shut down big Chicago bank, 7 others - later version of another Friday night surprise - even though this bank failure has been expected for several months now.  This "change the world" bank brought failed progressive policies to Chicago and the world. Eventually, they ran out of ways to fleece the government to save themselves with other people's money, even with all their political connections in Chicago, Springfield, and Washington DC and the Democratic Party donors on Wall Street who got bailouts.

For more background, look up blogs by Michelle Malkin or by Joel Pollak on BigGovernment.com and or search other sources. It's just a coincidence that FDIC made this move during the August recess while Obama is on vacation, of course.  Nothing to see here, folks!  Move on.

ShoreBank, praised by Dems, closed Friday by regulators - from The Hill

August 20, 2010 - Nearly 50 percent leave Obama mortgage-aid program - Another failure.  Still on pace for over 1 million foreclosures this year, exceeding the 2009 level.  Recovery?
August 18, 2010 - Dems' oldies tour lauds Social Security, Medicare - Trying to distract voters, and especially seniors, from the latest atrocities of Congress. 
August 18, 2010 - Obama engaging in backyard politics in Ohio - They probably screened the venue better than with "Joe the Plumber" as he tries to pretend that he isn't totally out of touch

Obama says economy coming back slowly but surely - later, expanded version of the story includes this:  "The economy needs more work, but it's getting better. "A lot of it is like recovering from an illness," the president said. "You get a little bit stronger each day." "

It's not like slowly recovering from an illness day by day. It's more like a cancer, in which the massive growth of government is like a malignant tumor on society which has finally been detected, and needs to be cut out by voters this November.

On political tour, Obama gets in a backyard chat - Further revision, with a new spin.

August 17, 2010 - Obama says recession recovery to take few years - He obviously thinks, like Carter's economic malaise, that economic failure is the new normal, and in no way his fault.
August 17, 2010 - Obama says GOP hindering efforts to help business - He's counting on collective amnesia among voters about what the Dems in Congress have done from 2006 to date, and how they blocked reforms which might have avoided the financial meltdown that was their path to power.

He can keep giving speeches, and the AP and other media can keep serving as the loyal stenographers for his narrative, but voters don't like been treated as fools by arrogant politicians. Their messianic faith in 2008 was clearly misplaced, but they won't be so easily fooled again. The news media may be reluctant to admit their mistakes, but voters can change their minds. That, at least, provides some hope.
August 15, 2010 - AP-GfK Poll: Independent voters sour on Democrats - This seems to just be restating the obvious from analysis of April, May and June polls rather than new polling data.
August 15, 2010 - Japan PM shuns shrine, apologizes at WWII ceremony - How is Obama missing this chance to show our tolerance and forgiveness of the Japanese, and apologize for how FDR incarcerated so many Japanese-Americans during World War II?  Surely he should schedule a visit to bow at this Shinto shrine, and express the opinion that they should be free to build a similar shrine at Pearl Harbor, and adjacent to the Iwo Jima Memorial by Arlington Cemetery.
August 14, 2010 - Obama makes clear support for ground zero mosque - This would seem to be a deliberate attempt to provoke opponents into saying something even more stupid than Obama.  Don't fall for it.  Just work harder toward victory in November.
bullet Obama defends mosque near Ground Zero - AFP version
bulletVideo - Obama sides with Muslims on Ground Zero mosque - at Ramadan ceremony
bullet Obama backs mosque near Ground Zero - later version, revised spin.
bullet Obama supports 'the right' for ground zero mosque - and later version

Obama later tried to revise his remarks (but see the video for yourself) by saying that he was just addressing the "right" to build such a mosque, rather than the "wisdom" of doing so.  This should come as no surprise.  When has wisdom been a factor in his many decisions to do as he pleases?  It's just odd that he now portrays himself as standing up for the Constitution at the same time as he has been pushing things like the DISCLOSE Act which trample on the 1st Amendment.

JihadWatch event in New York City on 9/11/10 - rally at the proposed mosque site

August 14, 2010 - Obama claims GOP trying to destroy Social Security - Is he trying to completely destroy what little credibility he has left?  Does he really think voters are stupid?
August 13, 2010 - Pelosi stumps for Democrats as GOP fires away - Try not to laugh as this AP reporter breaks the news that "many consider her divisive".  He also blames the GOP for using "the guilt-by-association tactic" to criticize any Democratic incumbents who have voted with her.  If they supported her to be Speaker, and then voted with her on most legislation, isn't that complicity with her agenda rather than mere "association"?
August 11, 2010 - Obama administration to provide $3B in housing aid
August 10, 2010 - Obama urges House to pass bill to help teachers - Now they claim that this bailout will save 300,000 jobs for teachers, police, and public health workers - the latter presumably by assuming that the $16 billion state Medicaid bailout will save jobs, too.  The prior claim was that this would save 140,000 teacher jobs ($10 billion of the $26 billion total).

House moves to help teachers, public workers - elaborates on the latest Pelosi narrative.  It's all a fraud, funded by fictional cuts and future savings that won't happen so that states can spend more today on favored special interest groups at election time rather than cut budgets. Why is it always the teachers, police, etc. who will allegedly have their jobs cut? Because voters are sympathetic to them, rather than the hundreds of thousands of other bureaucrats who would never be missed.

August 10, 2010 - House approves more agents, drones on border - unrecorded vote - so that members wouldn't have to go on the record and defend their votes in the November election
August 10, 2010 - Info freedom at center of Gulf's BlackBerry debate
August 9, 2010 - Freddie Mac suffers six billion dollar quarterly loss - Note that Fannie and Freddie have sought $140 billion in Treasury assistance so far, which is only a fraction of the scale of the problem.  Rather than address this massive problem in the recent "financial industry reform" law, it was ignored and punted until January, after the mid-term election, when Treasury will reportedly announce a "reform plan" so that the new Congress will be left to clean up this mess.
August 9, 2010 - Obama overtures to business fall flat - "hostile to and ignorant about free enterprise"
August 9, 2010 - House members scurry back to pass jobs bill - Another "stimulus" to bail out state budgets for state employees, Medicaid, and teacher unions after the last one ran out already
August 5, 2010 - Jobs bill to stop teacher layoffs nears approval - state and teacher union bailout bill - Last year they called this a stimulus bill, or Stimulus 2. Now it's promoted as saving jobs (not creating any - costing many).  It's another bailout for state employees and teacher unions - especially in states and cities where progressive policies have bankrupted them and driven business away. They've just broken a lot of the spending up into smaller pieces now so that they can demagogue these issues for political advantage at election time rather than address their failed economic policies.
August 5, 2010 - Obama caps victory tour of Big Three automakers - What victory?
August 5, 2010 - Prognosis guarded for Medicare and Social Security
August 4, 2010 - Missouri vote puts health care back in crosshairs - Ready for November?   What part of a 71% mandate from a traditional swing state doesn't the White House or Congress understand yet? Welcome to the "run for cover summer", as in August 2009, rather than the summer of recovery they talk about.
August 4, 2010 - Jobs bill to stop teacher layoffs nears approval - The state employee and teachers union bailout bill gets past cloture as Republicans cave in yet again, with Pelosi calling the House back into session next week to ram it through before any public opposition has time to build during the August recess.  Never let an opportunity to do another bailout to help favored special interest groups at election time go to waste

Reuters version - House to end recess for states' aid vote

August 3, 2010 - US Senate delaying US-Russia nuclear treaty vote - The administration already indicated that they aren't worried about verification of compliance, so what's the hurry?  The treaty was largely just a political stunt so that Obama could claim to have achieved something.
August 2, 2010 - Anti-government mood stifles regulatory push - It's not just that we have no confidence in regulators to manage everything bettter.  They have no authority to attempt to do so.
August 2, 2010 - Obama: US to leave Iraq 'as promised, on schedule'  - So let me get this straight. His biggest success story after two years is that he didn't completely screw up the endgame of the Iraq war that Bush started and won despite Obama and other Dems in Congress fighting for early failure every step of the way? Meanwhile, he shifted his own focus as promised to do more in Afghanistan. How is that working out under his new rules of engagement and withdrawal timeline? He has to go back and ask the general whose surge strategy he vilified to save him. It took him how many months to even decide to do less than was proposed, while the situation went from bad to worse?  Record casualties now, although the liberal media doesn't seem to give the same breathless coverage of that every day now.  Oh, I'm so impressed by his brilliant leadership!
August 2, 2010 - Manufacturing grows for 12th straight month - Another downward trend is spun as good news. Government is still growing at a much faster pace than the private sector. That is not sustainable. After all, if they are spending this much during a recession, can you imagine how much damage they would do if we ever manage to have a recovery?
August 2, 2010 - Administration report sees $8B in Medicare savings - Really?
August 1, 2010 - GOP looks to erase Democrats' comfy House majority - Only 65 seats in play?  More irrational exuberance out of the party in power.  Remember in November.  Later version of the same story
July 31, 2010 - When Double Dippers become economic party poopers - If you can't simply blame Bush, then blame the economists for scaring people into thinking times are bad.  Amazing.   Does the AP really think we are that stupid? Do you think that we believe a few economists, or the evidence which is all around us, and should be intuitively obvious to the most inept journalists?

This is just the latest narrative - to cover themselves in case the economy keeps getting worse. Meanwhile, people like Krugman insist that there wasn't enough stimulus. There weren't enough Republican voters (and good Republican candidates worthy of their support) in 2006 and 2008. That's really the root cause of the problems in Congress now, and the devastating consequences for the economy of unleashing this progressive nightmare.
July 31, 2010 - Obama blames GOP on small business lending bill - After doing one thing after another to destroy small business, now it's all the GOP's fault for standing up against a bill that was pushing money into urban areas through failing politically connected community banks.

Obama says he'll call GOP's bluff on deficit talk  All he ever does is blame others.Call his bluff.

July 31, 2010 - Agency weighs skirting Congress on immigration - Outrageous.
July 31, 2010 - Obama: Rangel case troubling; some Dems say resign - Thrown under the bus
July 31, 2010 - Rangel using 3-way defense against ethics charges - Disgraceful excuses.  After 40 years in Congress, this is how he defines honorable public service? The law only matters if you choose to pay attention to it, or if others get punished for not honoring it, or if you get caught?

What a great standard of conduct to inspire the young people and voters of his district. The only remorse is that he may not be able to get off the hook now with a simple reprimand by his specious peers.  Maybe he should have been invited to address the Boy Scouts instead of Obama.

July 31, 2010 - Ethics panel to charge California Rep. Waters - Time to say good-bye
July 31, 2010 - Paperwork nightmare: A struggle to fix new law - Told you so, months ago.  Later version of the same story.
July 31, 2010 - US stalls on Sept. 11 trial for 5 at Gitmo - Still not answering questions.
July 30, 2010 - Obama hails auto bailout as good news in Michigan - see prior story below, which preceded his speech

Michigan voters search for economic savior - not convinced after another Obama speech?

July 30. 2010 - FBI access to e-mail and Web records raises fears - Who needs judges?  Don't you trust this Department of Justice as well as Homeland Security to respect your privacy?

Perhaps, when they told us that they wanted greater transparency in government, we misinterpreted that to think it applied to them, rather than to us. Apparently all of our personal records are supposed to be open to government scrutiny, while the administration buries broad new powers in obscure provisions of legislation and the development of new regulations by czars and bureaucrats over whom we have no effective control, even if we vote many politicians out of office in November.

July 30. 2010 - White House urges halt to spilling of war secrets - When Afghan sources or others are killed as a result of these leaks, I hope that the NY Times and others will be as diligent about prominently reporting the consequences of their actions.

Shouldn't it be a war crime for Assange to recklessly put the lives of Afghan civilians or others in danger by exposing their cooperation with US forces? How is that different from being an accomplice to murder? If you know that a murderer wants to kill somebody, and you make it easier to find that victim, can you deny any responsibility for it?
July 30. 2010 - GOP gets wish: Rangel case in campaign season

Charisma, celebrity, and political influence versus integrity in public service. Rangel is clearly a charming character, and very smart. He seems like a really nice guy by all accounts. So was Bernie Madoff, as were other scoundrels. Are we to assume that these are just victimless crimes, or fairly minor lapses of judgment, despite taking place over so many years and with few indications of remorse (other than regret at getting caught)? Or, like other "white collar crimes" (regardless of race), do we have a problem with politicians or celebrities who arrogantly think that the law doesn't apply the same way to them?

I don't think it's fair to spin this as "GOP gets wish".  The GOP has had ethics scandals in the past, but it has dealt with them rather than tried to sweep them under the rug or blame others. Rangel has nobody to blame but himself for this outcome. He isn't the victim of a malevolent GOP which is out to get him. He abused the trust which voters had placed in him. Even if they might be willing to forgive him, because he is such a nice guy and has done good things for them, he can't play the victim card now.

July 30. 2010 - Obama to sell auto bailout good news in Michigan  (later version)

If you set the bar low enough, anything can be considered a success.  So, they're claiming to have "saved" 1.1 million jobs, but are taking credit for 55,000 actual jobs created in the US auto industry since the collapse, and are predicting another 11,000. Let's see - $65 billion divided by 55,000 jobs would be .... over $1 million invested per new job. Are you happy with your involuntary tax investment yet?  Oops - don't forget to add a few billion more wasted for "cash for clunkers".

By the way, do those job totals include Ford - which avoided a bailout? Do they include suppliers to Ford and other automakers, or just GM and Chrysler?

Meanwhile, the article doesn't mention how many jobs were actually lost in the industry thanks to the financial crisis, or the policies from Congress which caused that crisis.

Don't forget to consider the impact on the shareholders who got wiped out in the deal to take over these companies, while the unions got bailed out. Would anybody care to put a pencil to the impact on all those shareholders (both direct and indirect - such as investors in funds which held these stocks) whose investments were destroyed thanks to the market intervention policies of Congress which destroyed our economy by trying to favor some voter groups over others for political advantage? How many jobs were wiped out because of that destruction of private capital by government?

July 29, 2010 - Republicans block small business lending bill - but it's not dead yet
July 28, 2010 - Unemployment rises in 75 pct of metro areas - "summer of recovery"?

Fed survey: Recovery slows in some places - Is the recovery story just a myth?  Deception?

Obama pushes business bill as an all-American goal - Trying to push money through politically-connected "community banks" into urban areas under the guise of helping small business

For veterans bill, Republicans put budget ax aside - Dems eager to demagogue the issue

US raises doubts about Russian compliance with arms pacts - See July 20 story: no worries?

July 27, 2010 - Violent nationalist group leader welcomed in PR - FALN: even Clinton said no.
July 27, 2010 - As expected, Senate GOP blocks campaign bill - DISCLOSE Act 57-41
July 27, 2010 - Consumer confidence retreats further in July - What?  The pep talk about a "summer of recovery" hasn't raised consumer confidence?  Is economic reality starting to intrude?
July 27, 2010 - Reid unveils pared-down energy and oil bill - more smoke and mirrors
July 27, 2010 - Obama says he still supports climate legislation - While he tries to peddle the idea that he wants to help small business (at least in urban areas which support him), he is still pushing the same destructive anti-business agenda, including cap and trade legislation.  Later version
July 27, 2010 - Obama urges passage of small business initiatives - Still trying to push money into "community banks" - like ShoreBank, for example, and other politically connected failures.
July 27, 2010 - Poll: A few cracks in Obama's Hispanic support - "lukewarm" but favorable - but the research was conducted from March - May, and results might be even worse by now.
WikiLeaks story about leaked Afghan war documents published by this anti-war group - showing once again that people within this administration are a serious threat to human intelligence.
July 26, 2010 - Obama calls on Senate to pass campaign money bill - DISCLOSE Act - The Republicans need to stay united and stop this outrageous legislation.
July 26, 2010 - Immigrant groups criticize fingerprint initiative
July 26, 2010 - Obama's message to voters: Things could be worse - Certainly.  If we don't win in November, he will almost certainly continue to prove his ability to make a bad situation worse.
July 24, 2010 - Democrats wary of motivation problem with liberals - Complete failure seems to be their preferred option.  The scope and pace of failure isn't enough to satisfy them yet.

Obama urges liberals to 'keep up the fight' - Slide on backwards.  Our impatience is justified.  We can hardly wait until November to be rid of these people and their radical agenda.

July 24, 2010 - Some insurers stop writing new coverage for kids - Unintended harm?  Or is this just a predictable consequence as the new law pushes us toward a "single payer" outcome?
July 24, 2010 - Obama slams GOP plan, GOP warns of tax hikes - Still blaming Bush!   It is hard to believe that we have managed to elect somebody worse than Carter. He got off to a fast start in his first 100 days, doing far more damage than expected. It's our turn in these last 100 days of his unchecked power. We have to flip the House and Senate to put a stop to this mess.
July 24, 2010 - Rangel ethics charges create headache for allies - Will Democrats who have received campaign cash from Rangel give it back?  Joe Walsh has challenged Melissa Bean (IL 8th) to do so.  Some others did so already - especially those facing retirement in November.
July 23, 2010 - Little interest in Ore. loan program to add jobs - Liberal politicians still don't get it.  Their economic development ideas are about as effective as pushing on a piece of string.
July 22, 2010 - Senate returns $60B stripped out war bill to House
July 22, 2010 - Renewal of Bush tax cuts could be only temporary - Higher taxes for all
July 20, 2010 - US: no worries about Russian nuke treaty cheating - Stunning.  Forget about "trust, but verify".  Just give them everything they want, and don't worry about the details.
July 19, 2010 - Post documents growth of intelligence since 9/11 - The Washington Post has published the first of three planned articles about the intelligence community as a report which has been researched for the last 2 years.  By a remarkable coincidence, that is roughly how long the Obama administration and this Congress have been hard at work undermining our intelligence capabilities.

Is the Washington Post basically doing their bidding to stir up antagonism against the intelligence community as a proxy for blaming the Bush administration again in this election cycle?  It certainly dovetails nicely with the latest Democratic mantra about the choice between going forward or "back" to Bush policies, thus helping to energize the liberal base.

It also sets the stage, after several failed terrorist attacks and Obama administration attempts to declare that such threats were isolated incidents or minimal, for an easy excuse that intelligence is too big and out of control, rather than leadership too weak and too intent on defeating the growing domestic political threats rather than real foreign enemies.  If there is another major incident like the Fort Hood massacre, or the attempted NY subway or Times Square attack, or the Christmas bomber, etc., will the mantra become that Obama must reorganize the intelligence community rather than actually fight terrorists?  It looks as though they are already working on a 5 year plan for that purpose.  Coincidence???  This would certainly seem to be conveniently setting the stage for such a further assault on our capabilities.

Meanwhile, nobody seems to be asking about that Russian spy swap, and why it was done so hastily at the highest levels of the CIA and the White House if they were as insignificant a threat as the official narrative has declared. They were traded for people who had been imprisoned for years. Odd. If we got such valuable spies in return, then why didn't we roll up this spy ring earlier to swap them? Why did it happen so quickly now, at election time?

July 19, 2010 - 60 votes in place, Dems ready to extend jobs money - More demagoguery.
July 16, 2010 - Obama: GOP blocking unemployed, small business aid - Even the AP has finally noticed the "deeply partisan tone" as he demagogues this issue to attack Republicans even through Democrats could have extended the benefits by simply following their own "pay-go" rules.  Meanwhile, Republicans talked about the outrageous recess appointment of Don Berwick.
July 16, 2010 - Black Americans and the Tea Party: How the Tea Party Could Get My Vote and Should black folks give the Tea Party a second look? - interesting articles on "The Root", with many comments.  Americans "get it", even if the NAACP, media, and DNC leaders don't.
July 16, 2010 - Congress acts, but bank bill has work ahead - What's in it? In effect, it gives such a blank check to the bureaucracy that it is hard to predict what they will do with that power.  In any case, it doesn't address the big problems such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Instead, it still favors the same Democratic special interest groups and policies that got us into this mess.
July 15, 2010 - Lying their butts off - interesting Richmond Tea Party blog post about the latest Obama administration claims about jobs saved or created by the stimulus bill and their policies.
July 15, 2010 - Congress OKs Wall St. crackdown, consumer guards
July 15, 2010 - Senate clears sweeping bank bill for final passage - Another pyrrhic victory, like the healthcare law, which Americans should want to repeal and replace next year after we defeat enough members of the House and Senate to stop such legislative atrocities in the future.
July 14, 2010 - GOP sees political advantage opposing banking bill
July 9, 2010 - New rules, big changes coming for financial world - The next atrocity on the agenda.
July 9, 2010 - Financial Regulatory Bill Approved by House Gives Feds Power to Subpoena Any Record from Any Financial Institution - A great tool for intimidation and abuse of power.  It may be unconstitutional, but since when has that mattered to the people writing these bills?
July 8, 2010 - Gibbs Evades Question of Whether Obama Agrees With His Medicare Director That Health-Care System Must Redistribute Wealth - Mocking the press again for daring to question him about the recess appointment of Don Berwick.
July 7, 2010 - Obama bypasses Senate for new Medicare chief - Remember in November!  Later version of the story
July 6, 2010 - WH: Obama filling Medicare post, bypassing Senate - Outrageous!  This recess appointment of Donald Berwick raises the urgency of defeating every Democrat possible in November.  This is abuse of power, plain and simple.  July 7, 2010 - Later version of the story.  Michelle Malkin has already commented on it, as has Sarah Palin on Twitter (watch for more via notes on Sarah Palin's Facebook page).  See more background in the Department of Unhealthy & Inhumane Services   Remember this latest atrocity at election time in November!  Joe Walsh has been warning IL 8th voters about this radical appointment with doctors and other experts at local health care town hall forums for months.
July 16, 2010 - Senators move to revive estate tax at reduced rate - An interim measure, if they can actually do it.  The new Congress in 2011 needs to repeal this absurd tax completely.

No family should ever have to sell their farm, business, or other assets which have been earned (and already taxed over a lifetime) just to pay an estate tax on the transfer of those assets at death to whoever they choose. Whether the assets go to family, organized charities, or other individuals or groups is of no legitimate concern to government. It is up to those who have achieved wealth to determine what to do with it, rather than up to government to take it away and redistribute it through taxation as a form of "social justice", as though success were oppression and needed to be punished by ensuring that the money is given away to perceived groups of victims according to political priorities.

The death tax is just as repugnant as the idea that government should be able to take away any of your property while you are alive and give it to somebody else for political reasons. It's just easier for them to steal your assets once you are dead, and can no longer organize to vote them out of office.  Raising the exemption level just limits the number of people whose property is to be stolen later so that there is less chance of strong public opposition to this "soak the rich" socialist policy.

If the wealthy liberals of this country wish to donate a large share of their accumulated wealth to government for redistribution to others, then they are free to make a donation to the government at any time during their lives. They are not limited to paying their required minimum level of taxes. They can donate as much as they want to the US Treasury or state and local governments, or leave it to the government in their estate plan if that is their wish.

The point is that, in America, property should still be protected by the Constitution. We are all free to choose to give as much extra as we want to the government, but should not be compelled to pay punitive taxes just because we are successful and save or invest wisely over a lifetime. We should be free to choose what we do with whatever property we have managed to accumulate in spite of all the other progressive taxes we already pay.

July 16, 2010 - Ethanol industry scrambles to keep incentives - As proven many times in other countries, the trouble with state-sponsored "infant industries" subsidized by "industrial policies" is that the infants never grow up and become competitive.  Instead, they just compete for subsidies, and mainly produce political corruption to sustain what is unsustainable in free market competition.
July 15, 2010 - Senate Democrats propose $14 billion budget cut - Try not to laugh.
July 15, 2010 - Senate close to restoring jobless benefits - Did political demagoguery work?
July 15, 2010 - House bill would make school lunches healthier - By what far-fetched interpretation of the Constitution does the federal government, through the Department of Agriculture, have any authority to tell local school districts what food must be served to kids in school?
July 14, 2010 - New WH report claims more jobs from stimulus bill
July 12, 2010 - Analysis: How 2 million lost jobless benefits - Once again, Democrats in Congress chose to demagogue the issue to push their agenda, rather than solve the problem.  They could have passed this months ago, but chose instead to scapegoat the Republicans.
July 12, 2010 - Critics: US too low-key on Islamic radicalism talk - Remember, the Islamist radicals are still mad that Spain was taken back from the Arabs in the 15th century.  Did that play a role in the bombing in Uganda by an Al Qaeda group during Spain's World Cup victory?  64 innocent people are killed because they are still mad about losing their empire over 500 years ago? Hello? Why are we trying to be nice to such people? If the moderate Muslims want our respect and support, let them do something about the radicals in their midst. Don't rationalize this as though the radicals were some sort of oppressed minority with a legitimate grievance, or simply a different point of view on religious theology.  We are very tolerant, but we don't tolerate mass murderers.
July 11, 2010 - Debt commission leaders paint gloomy picture - A preview of coming taxes
July 11, 2010 - Obama spokesman says Democrats could lose House - Duh.  Do they really think that Dems won't think they're in trouble this year unless they hear Gibbs tell them so?
July 11, 2010 - Attorney general: Russian spies posed threat to US - So, Holder can now admit that these spies were regarded as valuable by the Russians, and posed a real threat, but the media remains more concerned about what will happen to their children?  Am I missing something?  See more about the latest threats to human intelligence by this administration.
July 11, 2010 - Duncan: Congress needs to act now on school money - Back to using schools as an excuse to push their spending agenda, just like adding pork to the war supplemental funding.  Watch for the education agenda to come back as they seek teacher union election help.
July 11, 2010 - Struggling states seeking more aid from Washington - Straining to make it look as though there is bipartisan consensus among governors that they want more money from Washington.  Wait until the balance of power shifts in the NGA after November.  Compare this story to what you can find through the custom search tool for official websites of Republican governors or through the Republican Governors Association www.rga.org 
July 10, 2010 - Democrats look to shift delegate balance - Less power for "superdelegates"?  There will be fewer of them anyway after the November election.
July 2, 2010 - Thomas Jefferson made slip in Declaration - Important correction - contrary to the current tendency to make us all the subjects of an omnipotent federal government and even Supreme Court nominees like Elena Kagan.  She dismissed the concept of "natural law" and our unalienable rights as stated in the Declaration as irrelevant to her judicial process, which she says relates only to the Constitution as it has been reinterpreted by judicial precedents in the application of new laws or regulations.  In effect, that means we only get those rights which they give to us, so we are back to being the loyal subjects of a statist tyranny again.  It's just more subtle this time.

We made this July 4 holiday one to remember!  Remind the clueless progressives that we are not celebrating Immigration Day.  We are celebrating our independence from oppressive rule.

July 1, 2010 - Rush Limbaugh: It's the Statue of Liberty, Not the Statue of Immigration

The Statue of Liberty is a beacon of liberty, striding forward as an example of what is possible to inspire the poor and oppressed of the world to expect the same natural rights and freedom to achieve their own success in their own countries that we cherish here.  It isn't an open invitation for everyone to flee here as economic refugees for a better life through "social justice" programs, or by an "end justifies the means" pursuit of their dreams here, even if that means violating our laws.

July 9, 2010 - Fair Tax Coalition to Obama: Tell IRS Not to Tax BP Compensation to Oil Spill Victims - So, how much of the $20 billion will go to the IRS?  Will the news media report it?
July 8, 2010 - IMF calls for deficit cuts in US - Welcome to third world status, with the IMF trying to tell us to raise taxes.  Watch out for that debt commission report right after the election.
July 8, 2010 - Initial claims drop last week but remain high - A new strategy to reduce unemployment data?  If benefits run out, fewer people will be reported as seeking benefits.
July 6, 2010 - GOP chair Steele staying put despite latest gaffe - He should stay.  Some of the national RINOs and media pundits who keep attacking him are the ones who should go.
July 6, 2010 - As Dems lay low, GOP hits Obama on Arizona lawsuit - Low life should lay low
July 6, 2010 - Feds sue to block Arizona illegal immigrant law - Is this lawsuit just a political gambit and a distraction while Congress keeps ramming through harmful legislation this summer?
July 2, 2010 - Concerns rising that economic recovery is slowing - Double dip?  Notice the adverse housing report data tucked at the end of the story. Like cash for clunkers, the end of the temporary incentives for home buyers in April seems to have been followed by a crash in sales. Once again, the talk of recovery is just that - more White House talking points by a leadership team that is as out of touch with economic reality as they are politically with voters. Delusional.

Obama: Economy still headed right direction - later version.  Try not to laugh.

July 2, 2010 - House approves $7 billion budget cut - Does this set the stage for more "budget" atrocities to be passed by simple majority in the lame duck session after the November election? Watch what gets slipped into the final version, just like last year's agenda.

Let's see now - $7 billion divided into the trillions they are wasting .... and the billions in additional spending beyond the budget plan which they keep tacking onto almost every bill in Congress. Are they serious? Is it any wonder that the economy is still going nowhere? Do they honestly think that Americans will perceive this as a "budget "cut"???
July 2, 2010 - House-OK'd war funding bill faces Senate trouble - Chock full of unrelated Democratic spending priorities and election "gotcha" tactics daring Republicans to vote against it
July 2, 2010 - 21 killed in Mexican gang shootout near US border - Note the matter of fact reference to the massive border area murder statistics of recent years at the end of the article.  Then try comparing that to the total American casualties in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  For reference, even if you add up all of the Iraqi Security Forces (12000), coalition forces (approx 4700), and contractor deaths (1300, not limited to US) since the Iraq war started in 2003, they don't even come close to the Mexico total (23,000 since 2005). Try looking up the Wikipedia entry on all US casualties in all wars.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_casualties_of_war 
July 2, 2010 - Obama says politics to blame for immigration delay - Awful, deceitful speech.

July 1, 2010 - In speech, Obama to argue for immigration overhaul - A lecture on immigration issues, just in time for July 4, after proving his capacity for making a bad situation even worse.

June 30, 2010 - Obama takes on election-year fears over big debt - Still blaming Bush!
June 30, 2010 - Senate GOP again kills jobless aid extension - Democratic grandstanding.  They could change the bill to get it passed, but would rather use it as an excuse to attack GOP.

July 1, 2010 - 1.3 million unemployed won't get benefits restored - updated version, new spin

June 30, 2010 - Obama attacks GOP over Wall Street bill - Good!  Let him own this atrocity.
June 29, 2010 - Democrats drop fee from bank bill to secure votes - More gamesmanship.
June 28, 2010 - Democrats, again, look for 60 votes for bank bill - Hurry, November.
June 29, 2010 - Obama, Hispanic lawmakers discuss immigration - Still no denial of the rumor that amnesty by Executive Order to circumvent Congress may be an option under consideration.
June 28, 2010 - Obama, activists to push on immigration reform - Another SEIU push
June 25, 2010 - Back door amnesty for illegal immigrants - Tea Party Nation discussion of the possibility that Obama will circumvent Congress through an Executive Order to grant amnesty.  In effect, this would be a presidential order to stop the enforcement of federal immigration law.  By what Constitutional authority can he simply pick and choose which laws he will enforce or not?  If he does this, it should be an impeachable offense as a direct violation of his oath of office.  Although the current Congress might not be willing to bring articles of impeachment against Obama, the one that is elected this November might see this very differently.  This is intolerable.

Is there really a chance that Obama would do this, or is this rumor just a distraction?  It seems odd that the White House hasn't quickly announced that there is no truth to this rumor.  They waste no time in making such announcements whenever it serves their purposes.  Why not deny this yet?

June 24, 2010 - House votes to pass DISCLOSE Act - Here's the roll call of the 217 members of the House who rejected their oaths to defend the Constitution and voted to selectively limit the First Amendment rights to free speech of some groups of citizens in elections (such as small grassroots groups) in direct defiance of the recent Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs FEC.  Although 36 Democrats had political cover to vote no because their votes were not needed, this atrocity is yet another reason to vote as many of them as possible out of office this November.

Stop the DISCLOSE Act.  This is a direct assault on the First Amendment, and especially on small new grassroots groups such as the Tea Party movement.  Although it will almost certainly prove to be unconstitutional, any court challenge will be too late for the 2010 election cycle.  If your member of Congress voted for this latest atrocity, redouble your efforts to defeat them in November, and urgently make sure that both your Senators know how strongly you oppose this bill.

NRA members - you should actively work to get all the lobbyists who agreed to this bill fired.  It is outrageous that they would defend the 2nd Amendment, but be quite willing to sell out the 1st.

It is not the same GOP, by Eric Cantor.  Really?  Prove it.  Republicans said that last year, too.  Are initiatives such as www.AmericaSpeakingOut.com and YouCut serious attempts to listen, be more accountable, and respect voters, or just to score temporary, illusory political advantages?
June 26, 2010 - New GOP group plans to spend millions this fall - see American Crossroads

June 20, 2010 - GOP debates need for agenda to pitch voters - We don't need gimmicks and timid ideas to create the illusion that Republicans in Congress finally "get it".  Instead of a focus on marketing and positioning to seek victory in November, try standing up for the Constitution and the concept of limited government again, rather than unchecked government growth, taxes, and debt.  We're not looking for "big ideas" - especially big government ideas.  Get out of our wallets.

Give all Americans the chance to create their own better futures again, instead of trying to mandate one.  Don't you even see the irony of the GOP party bureaucracy and leadership trying to come up with a national agenda like a statist progressive 5-year master plan for society?  The whole point of our system of representation is for elected officials to individually listen locally to voters - not to craft a national master plan to perpetuate their own party rule in Washington DC or state capitols.

Shaping a new agenda, if needing one, divides GOP - later version, different AP spin

June 25, 2010 - Leaders differ on how to nurture a global recovery - but they seem to be agreed about not accepting lectures from Obama about economic policy and "stimulus" spending
June 24, 2010 - Jobless aid measure dying in Senate - brinksmanship over political blackmail
June 24, 2010 - Banks fear adding mortgage giants to bank bill - More gamesmanship as the Democrats try to ram this bad legislation through this week in time for the G20 summit.
June 23, 2010 - Senate Democrats struggle to revive jobless aid - The Democrats don't want to even present a budget plan before the election.  They just want to keep pretending that the Republicans are blocking unemployment benefits or Medicare reimbursements to doctors.
2011 Budget Plan - The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has announced their plan, even though the Democrats in Congress are avoiding announcement of a plan until after the election.  The question is whether the Republicans would stick to such a plan if elected in November, even if the result might be filibusters in the Senate or face presidential vetoes to block the plan.
June 23, 2010 - 31 states combine to create new academic tests - Setting national high school testing standards to be more consistent with international ones?  Once again, the federal education bureaucracy is starting to intrude on state policies through the power of taxes and spending.
June 23, 2010 - Times Square car bomber details his chilling plot - largely ignored by the media while attention is on other stories, this should be a sobering reminder to everyone of the need to remain vigilant and defeat these terrorists, rather than rationalize ignoring them again.
June 23, 2010 - 2010 themes pop up in runoff results - The theme: voters are still in charge.
June 21, 2010 - AP-GfK Poll: Public doubts new financial rules - Should it say that the public doubts that this administration can manage to do virtually anything right at this stage?
June 19, 2010 - Yemeni militants kill 11 in brazen jailbreak - How is Obama's plan for dealing with the Yemeni prisoners at Guantanamo working out?  Is he still hoping to send them back to Yemen, or to Saudi Arabia for retraining?  The ones sent back keep turning up as enemies again.  Not to mention the Afghan pilots who have been going AWOL here from military training over the last two years. Nothing to be alarmed about, of course. They're just a few more hard-working illegal immigrants on the loose. Maybe piloting DC taxis now?  Remember the Taliban attack on a CIA base in Afghanistan back around New Years? Remember Fort Hood? Nothing to worry about, folks.
June 19, 2010 - Obama says GOP making life harder for the jobless - More of the blame game, trying to pressure the Republicans into voting for whatever he wants.  Disgraceful.

Obama: Republicans blocking progress in Congress - Earlier version - blocking progressives.

June 18, 2010 - Obama tells G-20 nations to seal economic recovery - Keep spending?
June 21, 2010 - Dems tweak campaign bill to garner support - DISCLOSE Act not dead yet.  Now they're trying to pretend that polls show it has popular support.  Time to scream at Congress.
June 17, 2010 - More groups exempt from ad rules under House deal - So now the deal is to limit the campaign activities of small, grassroots groups while leaving the large special interest groups alone?  Hello?  Do any Republicans see the obvious attack on the Tea Parties, or care?  Do they welcome anything which will limit any resistance to their own power in Washington?  Why not rename the DISCLOSE Act the Stifle Honest Interests Totally Act?  Better acronym.  This bill now just exempts their cronies.  See the Republican Study Committee policy brief yesterday.

If the Supreme Court had a problem with the prior constraints on free speech, surely they would toss this idea too - but that would happen after this election cycle, and it might be dragged out until after Obama has a chance to pack the Supreme Court with justices more to his liking. This is a deliberate attempt to stifle free speech by intimidating critics in the 2010 election, and maybe even 2012.  It's time to scream at your arrogant members of Congress again, like last August.  This is even more outrageous than the healthcare bill.  It defies our Constitution.

Watch out for Democratic incumbents who are on their way out of power to do a lot of the dirty work for the party agenda this summer.  That provides political cover for those who are considered to be more vulnerable.  They have little to lose, and their cooperation with the Obama-Reid-Pelosi agenda can still set themselves up for a better retirement.  Don't assume that the damage is over just because they are likely to lose in November. Stay vigilant about what they are doing.
June 19, 2010 - Senate fails to spare doctors from Medicare cuts - Don't fall for this partisan stunt to create an election year talking point for bashing Republicans.  The "doc fix" could have been part of the health care bill they rammed through, but the Democrats pulled it out to create the illusion of a less expensive bill and save this as a "must pass" measure to which they could attach other offensive things later.  The Republicans need to stand firm together to get a better bill.
June 16, 1020 - Poll: Republicans edge Dems in battle for swing vote - Flip 70+ seats?
June 17, 2010 - House votes for $30B small business lending fund - Follow the money.
June 16, 2010 - Lawmaker ties to banking business go beyond norm - Follow the money.
June 15, 2010 - House ethics panel seeks fundraising info on 8 - Why don't they look into the fundraising of everyone who has been involved in writing this new financial industry regulation?  It seems odd that they are going after the Republicans, but not the Democrats on the committee.

Take a look at OpenSecrets to see how much money has been raised by those who are not being investigated.  At last count (March 31 FEC data) for the 2010 elections, they show roughly $10 million from PACs and $6 million from individuals related to the financial services industry, dwarfing all other sectors.  Then look at the details by member to see where the money is going.  Not much is actually going to the 5 Republicans who are being "investigated".  It's going to the Democrats.

For example, over $400,000 is going to the #2 Democrat on the committee, Melissa Bean (D - IL 8th).  That accounts for roughly one third of her total fundraising, and over half of her money from all PACs, while individual donors from her affluent hometown add up to less than $40,000.  Since this suburban Chicago district isn't exactly a center of the financial services industry, does that make anybody else wonder why she is getting more PAC money from this industry than Barney Frank, and almost as much in total as Nancy Pelosi?  Who is she representing in Washington?

If this bothers you, consider supporting her opponent, Joe Walsh.  There may be nothing illegal or unethical about it, but voters need to stand up to the hypocrisy about such special interests.

June 16, 2010 - House Dems try to rally allies on disclosure bill - reverse spin, to "rally" now
June 16, 2010 - Democrats face criticism from customary allies - This "DISCLOSE" Act needs to be defeated entirely, as explained previously.  The NRA should never have cut such a deal.
HR5175 DISCLOSE Act and S3295 - The acronym means "Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act", but provisions in this bill would basically regulate political speech, including new constraints on organizations such as 501(c)4's (which just happens to include some Tea Party groups).  As pointed out on RedState blog on May 6, "This bill would narrow the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court case that allowed for more First Amendment activity during campaigns. You know, the case that President Obama used as an excuse to intimidate and bully the court during his State of the Union earlier this year. Now the Congress is trying to modify that decision before the fall elections."  If you value freedom of speech, object to Congress now and work actively to defeat the co-sponsors of this bill in November.

If you doubt how dangerous this bill is, read Arlen Specter's PR in favor of it.  This is not just about "big corporations".  It will impose constraints on Internet activity, such as political bloggers.

June 16, 2010 - AP-GfK Poll bolsters congressional Democrats - Positive spin = not dead yet
June 16, 2010 - Amid deficit worries, Dems trim unemployment bill - It was just a political trap all along to try to get Republicans to go on record as voting against this and the Medicare "doc fix" and a few minor tax cuts while otherwise swallowing a lot of other stuff they don't support.
June 15, 2010 - Aid to states, the jobless faces Senate hurdles - Once again, harmful stuff is attached to politically sensitive legislation in order to try to ram it through over any objections.  Republicans need to stand firmly against such political gamesmanship, and reject this.
June 15, 2010 - AP FACT CHECK: Obama inflates hopes in spill recovery - Even the AP is having a hard time buying the latest White House spin.
June 15, 2010 - House passes tax cut for small-business investment - Shouldn't it really be described as a bailout for small, failing community banks to sell preferred stock to the government?
June 13, 2010 - Dealmakers or dealbreakers face financial overhaul - The next atrocity, which they are still trying to pass by July 4.  This is no time for Republicans to lose their nerve.  There is no reason why any necessary reforms can't wait until we elect a more responsible Congress, rather than trust the leadership which created this economic mess in the first place.
June 13, 2010 - Obama plans speech, victims fund for Gulf - Enough speeches already!
June 11, 2010 - Tea party shaping Republican Party, fall faceoffs - The GOP leadership still doesn't seem to get it.  The media pundits kept predicting that this movement would fade away, or become ineffective through internal quarrels, the absence of national leadership, or very conservative positions taken by some individuals or candidates.  Guess what?  Elections matter.  Voters are smarter than many career politicians and journalists seem prepared to acknowledge.
June 11, 2010 - Health overhaul to force changes in employer plans - Surprise!  Watch for even more adverse surprises as the implementing regulations for the new health care law are developed.  later version of the story
June 9, 2010 - Fed survey: recovery spreads across country  Another misleading headline, pretending that there must be a recovery just because the economy isn't still crashing downwards.
June 9, 2010 - Good progress in the latest primaries, but there's still a lot of work ahead.  In particular, voter turnout needs to improve.  This is no time for complacency.
bullet Year of the political woman redux? Looks that way - Palin's picks did pretty well
bullet Schwarzenegger: More states should open primaries - No way.  Very bad idea.
bullet Calif. voters overhaul primary election system - Enabling one-party rule.
bullet After primaries, parties launch fall campaigns - Keep the focus on upcoming primaries.
bullet Haley weathers tryst accusations in SC gov race - the smear attacks failed
bullet Surprise SC Senate candidate has charge pending - DeMint gets the last laugh
bullet GOP picks NV tea party candidate in Reid battle - they were all tea party candidates
bullet Whitman, Fiorina will challenge Dem icons in Calif - the state's future versus fossils
bullet Lincoln victory boosts measure opposed by banks - ready to do more damage
bullet Unions defend failed gambit to topple Lincoln - their intimidation strategy failed
bullet Ark. GOP Senate pick: Dem. Lincoln is out of touch - so is all of her party leadership
bullet Lincoln won with Clinton and anti-union message - keep wasting union, leftist money
bullet Republicans nominate Branstad for Iowa governor - deja vu
bullet Nevada governor loses job after 4 years of scandal - voters do remember real scandals
bullet Lt. Gov. Daugaard wins SD GOP governor primary
When are union members going to wake up and rise up to demand that their union dues be cut by reducing the political action budgets and other resources provided to their leadership?  In effect, they are funding tyrants who now think that they have the power and right to intimidate elected officials and candidates, rather than to just lobby on behalf of the interests of their members.

These tyrants gain more power by attracting more dues-paying members, rather than by better representing those who already fund their actions.  They are more concerned with "organizing" than actually achieving more jobs and prosperity.  As industries collapse or move away from their endless demands, what is their solution?  They ramp up organizing efforts in other countries, or in sectors which haven't been killed off yet.  Are they really helping their members?  Aren't they really exploiting their members to advance their own power, influence, and wealth?

Members should push for their union leaders to show their real concern for the economic plight of their membership by cutting the union dues and union costs dramatically.  As businesses and families face hard times, why should the unions remain fully funded to do as the leaders please, with little effective control exercised by the members?  In effect, every union member is paying an extra tax in the form of dues to empower a small group of union activists as political tyrants.

June 8, 2010 - Democrats propose further tax hike on offshore oil - Spend and tax, tax, tax.  Note the $1 billion slipped in there for 350,000 youth jobs this summer, which is in addition to the $234 million in grants which AmeriCorps just announced (see June 7 news)
June 8, 2010 - Obama defends health bill to seniors - They're not drinking the Kool-Aid for him.

Obama to seniors: Guaranteed Medicare benefit safe  Really?  Check other sources, including the care rationing ideas of his CMS appointee to oversee Medicare, Donald Berwick.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi heckled at Washington event - video - "You have made your point."  Heckled by angry supporters at the Campaign for America's Future Now event.

June 7, 2010 - Progressives criticize White House, Democrats - The loons still aren't happy.  As they undermine any "moderate" or "conservative" Democrats, the choice for voters will be stark.

June 7, 2010 - Gov't awards $234 million in AmeriCorps expansion - See the list of where your money is going by state as groups push the Obama agenda in local communities this year.
June 8, 2010 - White House pushes agency budget cuts - Watch out for low-flying pigs.
June 7, 2010 - Europe's outlook darkens as Germany, UK make cuts - Eventually the socialists run out of other people's money, and somebody has to pay to clean up their mess.
June 7, 2010 - Overtreated: More medical care isn't always better - Rationalizing rationing
June 7, 2010 - Outside groups win outsized influence in primaries - Ah, yes, it's so much easier when party insider deals can avoid contested primaries to evade voter accountability.
June 7, 2010 - Election spooks lawmakers, curbs Congress spending - Remarkable - some members of Congress actually realize they may lose their jobs if they keep disrespecting voters
June 6, 2010 - Top US officer: Vets need not suffer alone - National D-Day Memorial Foundation - see also other content related to veterans
June 6, 2010 - Fierce struggle for McCain to retain Arizona seat - Republicans face contested primaries, while Democratic leaders rig primaries to anoint their friends and disrespect voters
June 5, 2010 - Primaries from Calif. to SC measure voter anger - Getting ready for November.
June 5, 2010 - Obama dealmaking look like politics as usual - The Chicago way.  Opponents are pushed off the ballot by any means so that voters don't face a real choice, and so that party insiders can anoint whoever they please.  Isn't this how tyrants run elections as illusory mandates?

GOP wants Justice probe of White House dealmaking - Don't hold your breath waiting for it.

June 4, 2010 - Can't do nation: Multiple crises fray US optimism - Anybody remember Carter's "malaise"?  Things will start to improve after November 2010, and especially after November 2012.
June 3, 2010 - White House defends dealmaking in political races - Isn't it remarkable how few contested primaries there are this year among the Democrats by comparison to Republicans?  Has anyone noticed how incumbents have conveniently chosen to retire at a time when it would be too late for a primary challenge, so that party insiders can simply anoint their successors?  Do Democratic voters even care about their choices being manipulated by party leaders this way?
June 2, 2010 - About 2,300 running for Congress, most in decades - We need to start finding better candidates now for federal, state, and local offices in the 2012 cycle.  This problem was developed over a long time, and it is not going to be fixed in a single election.  We need to vet candidates for more than charisma, fundraising ability, and party insider or media support.  Almost anybody can run for office, but that doesn't mean they should.  We need to find real leaders again.
June 2, 2010 - Obama challenges Republicans to help on economy - Back to his "blame it all on the Republicans" mantra.  "We already know where their ideas led us".  Really?  He still seems to be pretty clueless about what created the most prosperous country in the history of the world.  Those "failed economic policies of the past" are what created the wealth he is destroying while he pursues his social justice delusions of "building a stronger future" through truly failed policies.
June 2, 2010 - Harry Reid's push to nationalize all cop / fireman unions - yet another statist atrocity, with a surprising number of Republican co-sponsors.  How can they defend this bill?  See S3194 "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009", originally HR413  For more background, see the National Right to Work Committee  http://www.nrtwc.org/
June 1, 2010 - The union pension bailout - Look up information about the "Create Jobs & Save Benefits Act" S3157 by Bob Casey (D - PA) and similar proposals to reward unions this year.
Unification of church and state - using churches and faith-based non-profits to push the Obama "green" agenda and other initiatives.   Where is the outrage from the left now?  See page 55, for example, about the EPA.  Meanwhile, many real charities may soon lose their tax-exempt status.
June 4, 2010 - Exiles, Hong Kongers break silence on Tiananmen - 21 years of denial
June 2, 2010 - Japan politics shaken by PM Hatoyama's resignation - He didn't last long.  See the background.  Was Obama just a little too eager to bow respectfully to a populist on the left?    What's the opposite of Meiji?  (enlightened rule)  Don't expect Japan's economy to recover quickly.
June 2, 2010 - Anti-incumbency takes down another congressman - results from Alabama, New Mexico, and Mississippi.  Parker Griffith lost despite switching parties.
June 1, 2010 - Americans may give health care law a chance - More delusional reporting as the Dems try to spin the health care issue as behind them before the important June 8 primaries.
May 28, 2010 - WH had Clinton try to ease Sestak out of Pa. race - Why would Bill Clinton agree to do this for Obama or Rahm Emanuel?  Surely he knew that this action could be illegal.  For those old enough to remember Doonesbury's objective commentary from the Nixon Watergate era - "Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!"  How is any honest journalist going to spin this one for the White House?

May 26, 2010 - Obama's new security goals prize nonmilitary moves - such as apologies

Obama to add homegrown terror to security strategy

May 24, 2010 - Obama seeks to force votes on spending cuts - another political stunt to create the illusion that he is for spending cuts when he is really just seeking more executive power.
May 24, 2010 - Landmark overhauls may not help Democrats at polls - We don't need more "big government ideas" and "solutions".  Those just keep making a bad situation even worse.  Does Obama still think we should all be saying, "Thank you"?  No, thanks.  You can keep your changes.
May 23, 2010 - New financial rules might not prevent next crisis - Another illusory solution by the same people who brought you the first failure.  Meanwhile, how are Fannie and Freddie doing?
May 21, 2010 - Obama orders new fuel standards for future - the latest decree by our ruler
May 21, 2010 - US intelligence chief out; who's next in hot seat? - next scapegoat for failure?
May 21, 2010 - US, Britain and Germany to discuss debt crisis - Who feels reassured by this?

Europe debt crisis stirs recession fear     Stocks end higher after biggest slide in a year  Are you depressed enough yet about your future? This November: Never let a crisis go to waste.

May 20, 2010 - Senate breaks impasse on financial regulation bill - Brown, Snowe, Collins.  Republicans need to pick up 10 seats in the Senate in November to stop these atrocities.
May 19, 2010 - Calderon fires up immigration row in US visit - Outrageous interference in the internal affairs of the USA.  Look at Mexican immigration law, and how harshly it treats violators.

Listen to the podcast of the May 19 Mark Levin talk radio show as he discusses the subject.  See the related excerpts from Mexican immigration law at FactReal.  Take a look at Michelle Malkin's article of April 28 in Human Events - How Mexico treats illegal alients

Mexico president slams Arizona "discrimination" - and Obama outrageously agrees with him.

May 19, 2010 - Blumenthal looks to shift race focus off Vietnam - Another "You lie!" moment.
May 19, 2010 - Senate fails to end debate on bank regulation bill - the next legislative atrocity is briefly stalled, but it looks as though they still intend to ram it through soon
May 19, 2010 - Big lessons of primaries: What the heck were they? - Updated spin control.

Obama endorsements don't seem to help Democrats - Duh.  Bye, Specter.

Voters back anti-DC, anti-establishment candidates - Note the difference between voter turnout in the Republican primaries relative to the Democratic ones.  Who's motivated for change now?

Paul pledges tea party loyalty in Ky. Senate race

May 18, 2010 - US senators blast Arizona-China rights comparison - Michael Posner has been a loose cannon on deck in relations with China from the start.  A complete ideological disaster.  The fact that he was confirmed by the Senate just shows how urgently it needs to be changed.

Does anybody else remember Posner's role last October - November in preparations for Obama's trip to China, when they were trying to get China to agree to cap and trade policies as a way to help push it through the Copenhagen summit and Congress?  Was that a "human rights" issue, as his alleged area of prior expertise and his responsibility at the State Department?

May 18, 2010 - Primaries test incumbents' durability, tea party - Notice what the AP buried at the end of the story about Richard Blumenthal in CT, as though it were irrelevant or incorrect
May 17, 2010 - House GOP to Obama: Drop Net Neutrality Agenda - bureaucratic tyranny
Bailing out Greece:  Mike Pence "We didn't ask the EU to bail out New Jersey or California"
May 16, 2010 - Merkel: $1 trillion rescue package only buys time - Time is money - a LOT of money.  Your tax dollars are being wasted on another futile bailout to save failed socialist policies.

Greek leader considers action against US banks - Blame it all on Wall Street.  Deja vu?  Of course, the socialist politicians can't be blamed for creating the crisis through their actions.

May 15, 2010 - Trichet: economy in deepest crisis since WWII - Remember the Papiermark?

Mark Levin: exposes radical appointee by Obama to CMS - to oversee our health care system - the appointee regards the British health system as a good model for redistribution of wealth

May 12, 2010 - Heartland Institute: CMS nominee Donald Berwick's radical agenda

May 13, 2010 - Small business lobby joins challenge to health law - NFIB weighs in

Obama promotes small-business agenda in Buffalo - note the last line about the NY fundraiser after all the recent demagoguery about Wall Street.  $15,000 per person?  $50,000 VIP reception?

Petition drive: "We stand with Arizona, and against illegal immigration"  Stop the boycott!  Refer also to the related Facebook page  Support the rule of law, not partisan demagoguery.
Post Party Summits: Taking the Fight to the Ballot Box - interesting volunteer training initiative after the Tax Day Tea Parties by American Majority, Smart Girl Politics, and RedState.
Support Tim Burns for Congress in Pennsylvania's 12th District.  See Sarah Palin's comments.
May 12, 2010 - Voters' anti-establishment mood bites both parties - Say good-bye to 14-term Rep. Alan Mollohan (D) after the West Virginia primary yesterday.  Stay tuned next Tuesday when voters in Arkansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Oregon get their chance to be heard.
May 12, 2010 - Race for Ga. congressional seat heads to runoff - 9th District runoff June 8 between Republicans Tom Graves (35%) and Lee Hawkins (23%).  Candidates already eliminated in this special election to finish out Nathan Deal's term were  Steve Tarvin (15%), Chris Cates (12%), Bill Stephens (4%) and Bert Loftman (2.5%.

Your morning jolt: a Tea Party test moves to June 8 runoff - points out some more details, including the question of whether any of the losers will now drop out of the regular July 20 primary.

Lee Hawkins: "We going to win this thing"  Note the comment about Washington money.

May 10, 2010 - Rule change favors unions at airlines, railroads - In case you missed it, this is the latest atrocity.  It's clearly payback to the unions, changing a 76 year old rule to help them.  Don't miss the explanatory video on BigGovernment about union interests in UPS vs. FedEx.  Meanwhile, note S.3194 by Harry Reid to force recognition of unions for local police, firefighters.
May 8, 2010 - Obama says health care law already helps millions - We see already that this holds nobody accountable for the predictable failure, while it gives government growing control.
May 8, 2010 - US officials: New focus on striking US, the West - This is new?  Hello?
May 7, 2010 - Lawmakers can raise 'soft money' for redistricting - gerrymandering begins
May 6, 2010 - Tea party comes up short in early primaries - NC, OH, IN had a low GOP turnout, as in prior IL and TX primaries, but the Democratic turnout was far lower.  Although some incumbents are surviving primary challenges, many have also chosen to retire this year.
May 3, 2010 - Establishment choices vs. upstarts in 3 primaries in NC, OH, IN this week

Internal GOP wars shaping policies nationwide  Still pushing the narrative of a divided GOP.

May 2, 2010 - GOP expands political playing field; Dems slipping - Obama drones wanted.
May 1, 2010 - Lessons from health bill apply to financial reform - The "Chicago way", again.
May 1, 2010 - Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - It's not that government is inherently bad.  It's that progressive politicians deliberately create harmful and costly government programs, regardless of any alleged good intentions.  Limited government limits their damage.
May 1, 2010 - Liberals struggle to challenge Dems on health care - They're not really in a position to "punish" those who didn't back their agenda.  Their focus is on saving themselves.   They aren't really going after people like Blanche Lincoln. They realize that she will lose - and they don't want to lose that seat with her, because it will make it harder to keep pushing their agenda. They just don't want others to cave in while they continue to try to ram through as much of their radical progressive agenda as possible before November.  After that, gridlock is back.
April 27, 2010 - Dem chairman lays out voters' choice for fall - The "bad results" party!.
April 27, 2010 - Mexico issues travel alert over new Arizona law - OK, Americans.  It's time to reciprocate by cancelling discretionary travel or business meetings in Mexico and suspending any business investment and job creation plans there.  If Mexico wants to target Arizona and try to harm the state economically for enforcing American immigration laws, we should similarly target Mexico economically for such interference in our internal affairs.  Our government won't do it, just as it hasn't addressed the illegal immigration problem for decades, but we can do it individually.

Obama pleads for bipartisan immigration reform - Partisan election year demagoguery.  Is he supposed to be the president of all Americans, or just the special interest groups who elected him?

AG: Court challenge possible on immigration law - Holder and Napolitano should both resign and emigrate to Mexico if they aren't prepared to vigorously defend the borders of this country.

April 27, 2010 - GOP blocks financial bill again, float alternative - Stand firm!  Kill the bill.

Senate showdown puts Goldman's defense on display

Contrition not an option in financial blame game - Carl Levin as well as John McCain made fools of themselves.  "Wall Street" is not the enemy of the people or community banks.  It is not a "conflict of interest" to enter into transactions which somebody may later regard as "unfair" or perhaps "unethical" with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight just because one side lost money.

April 27, 2010 - Reid: Senate to act on climate before immigration - Stop both.  Since there has been no bipartisanship, contrary to 2008 election promises, stall until after the 2010 election.  Give voters another chance to weigh in on this harmful agenda now that it has been exposed.
April 27, 2010 - Europe debt crisis spreads to Portugal - Is this our future?  Can we stop it?
April 26, 2010 - Democrats push bank controls; GOP delays action - Republicans should get a spine and stand up unashamedly for capitalism, including Wall Street, instead of cowering before this populist political demagoguery in an election year.  We have lived without this law ever since the Great Depression.  We can live without it now - and then carefully draft something better later.

Obama: U.S. can't afford to see financial reform killed - Nonsense.  We don't need it.  What we really need is to fix how Congress creates financial industry disasters, such as through the Community Reinvestment Act and Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, destructive economic policies, etc.  This bill will destroy high-value American jobs, not create them, while expanding government power.

April 26, 2010 - Democrats dominate list of lobbyist: fundraisers - Note at the end of the article that the securities industry was one of the largest contributors to the Obama campaign, and they are also major 2010 campaign donors now as the Democrats now use "reform" to intimidate them.  It is a myth that Wall Street is Republican.  Big money in New York sustains the Democrats.
April 26, 2010 - AP-GfK poll: Recession helps GOP against Democrats - The misguided economic policies of the Democrats are hurting the American people.  This isn't about the GOP, which has also caused problems for us.  The Democrats are just making it much worse, not better.

We used to have a competitive advantage over the rest of the world because we didn't think that more government is the solution to every perceived need. If we adopt the same reckless statist policies as those regimes which have demonstrably failed repeatedly around the world, then we will reduce ourselves to their level. We compete to win, not to share failure equally.

April 26, 2010 - Obama asks 2008 coalition to help in 2010 - Attack of the drones?  We can't assume that his zealots will lose just because they should.  We have to get better organized in every community and defeat them decisively with an unequivocal voter mandate to stop them.
April 24, 2010 - Candidate for Obama's old US Senate seat undaunted  Isn't it remarkable that, after the problems with Broadway Bank were well-known for months, the FDIC chose to combine the closure of this bank with several others in Illinois so that it looked less newsworthy, and announce it late on a Friday night, when it would typically attract less media attention?

Of course, Giannoulias' friendship with Obama had nothing to do with this - just as we are supposed to believe that the SEC complaint against Goldman Sachs by a 3-2 partisan vote, after months of investigations, just happened to be a coincidence with Obama's push for new financial industry regulatory powers.  Nothing to see here, folks, move along, move along.

April 23, 2010 - FDIC shuts down 7 banks in Illinois 

Feds shut down bank owned by Giannoulias

April 22, 2010 - Democrats set showdown vote on Wall Street bill - Just say no.  Don't get intimidated into accepting yet another lousy bill empowering the losers who created the problem.

Upcoming primaries:

bullet

June 8: California, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia 

See Feb 2 Illinois primary comments below.  Other recent primaries:
bullet

Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina - May 4

bullet

Nebraska and West Virginia - May 11

bullet

Arkansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Oregon - May 18

bullet

Idaho - May 25

bullet

Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico - June 1  

Find a good candidate to support.  Volunteer and donate to help their campaign ASAP.

Pelosi: Kick down this door.  No, it's time for us to kick her out of power in November.  The Democrats have inflicted their new Department of Unhealthy and Inhumane Services on us just because they had the power to do so.  In November, we must ensure that they will never again have such power.  Then we need to repeal the law - and NOT replace it with any other federal bill.  Instead, we need to start rolling back government programs so that the economy can grow again.  Let states develop their own health care approaches, rather than inflict one failure on everyone.
April 22, 2010 - Dem leader makes immigration bill bigger priority - Partisan demagoguery.
April 22, 2010 - Report: Health overhaul will increase nation's tab - Seniors: pay special attention to the final part of this story about Medicare.  Cut up your AARP card.  They sold you out.
April 22, 2010 - Obama aides neither back nor bury value-added tax   VAT is not dead yet.
April 21, 2010 - US and Europe rethink role of Cold War alliance - Undermining NATO now?
April 21, 2010 - Perot: Time will show impact of tea party effort - Does the Tea Party movement need more pie charts?  Did Glenn Beck's recent "Plan" create any sense of deja vu?
April 15, 2010 - Tea party rally upbraids 'gangster government' - It's the "Chicago way"
April 15, 2010 - Senate Dems pave way for financial reform vote - The next atrocity.

April 14, 2010 - Palin rallies tea partiers with anti-tax message - later version of the story

Palin rallies tea partiers with anti-tax message - Next bus stop: DC.

Tea party movement gathers near site of original

April 4, 2010 - Top GOP lawmakers want accountability at RNC - The key point here is for the Tea Party folks to mobilize donors and voters for individual candidates, rather than for the RNC, other party organizations, or PACs which want to play kingmaker in Washington.

If we are ever going to restore respect for individual voters, we need to make our elected officials far more dependent on the support of individual constituents and less subject to monetary pressure from a handful of party and PAC officials playing power games with other peoples money.  If you want to restore limited government, you won't get it through an unchecked party bureaucracy.

Instead of consolidating donations in the hands of others who want to influence candidates to do their own will, donors should focus on principled candidates and hold them accountable for their performance in office.  No deal with party leaders or PACs should save them if their constituents turn on them - unlike the present situation in which a lot of money can be steered by a few party "leaders" and lobbyists to perpetuate the political careers of harmful losers - just like the Dems.

April 3, 2010 - Democrats stand by candidate for Obama's old seat - Don't Democratic voters have a problem with their party leaders thinking that they know best, and can replace candidates who won their primary?  After all, they try to make sure that only their friends get onto the primary ballot in the first place, and work to make sure that their friends win.  At what point in this process do Democrats have to recognize that voters still have some rights to make their own choices?
April 1, 2010 - A Political Stimulus, Not a Job Stimulus - No fooling.  Call it the patronage bill.
March 31, 2010 - GOP wary of health law repeal push in fall races - Note how selectively the AP created this story.  The same local ABC 7 Chicago news interview in which Mark Kirk waffled about repeal included an unwavering repeal commitment by GOP candidate Joe Walsh (IL 8th).

Later version of the story: GOP hopes repeal-the-bill fire won't burn them

Moral of the story: support Joe Walsh and other principled conservatives who won't just stick their finger in the air and try to figure out which way the political winds are blowing today.

March 31, 2010 - Seniors fear health care remake will hurt Medicare - If you haven't cut up your AARP card yet, there's still time as they try to profit by supporting this nightmare for seniors.  Instead of being a member of AARP, choose to join a group which has fought to stop this atrocity.
March 23, 2010 - Tea partiers vow revenge over health overhaul - and another version of the same story.  This is not a time to make threats.  It is time to organize and work hard for victory in November.  We have not yet adequately demonstrated the capacity to swing elections.  It's time to do it - massively.
Sarah Palin will speak at the Rosemont Theatre in the Chicago suburbs on May 12, 2010 at 7pm.
Ready for Tax Day Tea Parties?  Online Tax Revolt promoted by Neal Boortz and Michael Reagan.
March 20, 2010 - Rally at the Capitol - crowd estimates varied from 25,000 to 40 - 50,000, with reports of more than 100,000 calls per hour on Saturday to the Capitol switchboard.  They were ignored.
March 20, 2010 - Raucous, ugly buildup to House health care vote - Comment:  There were only "hundreds" of protesters just because the Capitol Police and Park Service have an official policy of not providing crowd estimates?  Come on, AP, even ignorant reporters can open their eyes and guess crowd size better than this.  As for the emphasis on a few angry protesters and nasty epithets, where have you been when the paid HCN / SEIU / Organizing for America astroturf demonstrators have called us Nazis and worse?  They can't win an argument on facts, because they are just there to collect their paychecks for showing up as counter-protesters, so they just smear us with epithets.  It happens all the time, but you never report it.  These stupid drones even have to sign in with their OFA organizers so that the turnout can be reported back to their masters in Washington to justify the payments for their time as demonstrators.  Why don't you do a little research and see how many conservatives were paid to be at the Capitol today?  A few may have crossed the line by insulting members of Congress, but the AP deserves worse insults.
March 19, 2010 - Will US lose its triple-A ranking? Investors yawn - They also yawned during the real estate bubble before the financial markets collapsed.  That sure worked out well, didn't it?
Thank you to the volunteers behind the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville.  It was a great event.  Information is shared at the above link for those who were unable to attend.  Watch for more information soon about future plans.  This was just the next step to prepare for the elections.

Thanks again to Sarah Palin for her grand finale speech, and to Andrew Breitbart, Tom Tancredo, and other excellent speakers, including those Tea Party volunteers who led many useful workshops.

March 12, 2010 - Texas ed board adopts social studies standards - Comment:  Don't mess with Texas history.  Liberals may still rule over the school curriculum in many states, but there is still hope that states won't be bought out to support the federal education agenda of the Obama administration.
March 10, 2010 - Obama is pushing his healthcare legislation in St. Louis, but the public is being locked out of another staged astroturf media event designed to create the illusion of support.  Two protests are being planned in St. Louis to call attention to this charade.  See the St. Louis Tea Party website for more information.  There is also a staged rally in Washington DC in support of the legislation, so this would be a good day to call members of Congress and remind them that if they vote for this bill, you will work hard this year to assure their early retirement.
March 6, 2010 - Obama turns up the heat for health care overhaul - A furious health care push _ but what about jobs? - Comment:  The only new jobs they are creating are for Republicans in November.  The only jobs progressive Democrats really care about saving are their own.  Republicans should advocate a 10% - 20% cut in all federal employment this year. Let the federal bureaucracy know what it feels like in the real world.
March 5, 2010 - Congressional estimates show grim deficit picture - Comment:  Worse than Obama said last month.  Could he make things even worse?  You betcha!  He's working on it.  Don't forget that when interest rates finally go up again, the debt service costs will skyrocket.
March 4, 2010 - House leaders push toward health vote by Easter - Comment:  Keep fighting this.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it.  Flip control of the Senate in 2010.  Go, team!
Republican primary results as published by the Texas Secretary of State, versus Democrats
March 3, 2010 - Dodd, Corker regulatory offer gets cool reception - Comment:  Don't rush to create a new financial industry regulatory system now.  Wait until after November.  Otherwise, the new rules are being written by the same people who created the financial disaster in the first place.

See also The Bob Corker Bailout Sellout

February 28, 2010 - Pelosi says GOP has hijacked 'tea party' movement - Comment: Every time that I think she can't possibly say anything more stupid, she manages to exceed all expectations again.  The GOP hasn't hijacked anything.  They're finally listening to conservatives for a change.  Democrats demonstrably aren't listening to anybody other than their progressive fringe - like Pelosi.
February 26, 2010 - House Dems, White House push ahead on health care - Comment:  We need to push back.  Suggestion: a record Republican turnout in the Texas primary in districts with Democrat incumbents might help to shake the will of the "blue dogs" to walk the plank for Pelosi and Reid on this.  That needs to be followed by strong get-out-the-vote efforts in the primary states listed above.

For example, in the Illinois primary for the 8th District, Melissa Bean (D) won 60-40 in 2008, but in the Feb 2 primary, Republican votes in this district exceeded Democrats by 65-35.  Despite that dramatic reversal, she remains scornful of "tea parties", and arrogantly remains a loyal Pelosi vote in a district which had a conservative Republican representative in Congress for 36 years before her.  Phone calls, letters, emails and protest rallies are not enough.  We need a strong Republican turnout in every primary during the next few months, so that they know this legislation means certain defeat in November.

February 27, 2010 - Report: Key senators would nix 'cap and trade' - Comment:  They're trying to phase it in through a different approach.  Cap & trade is still an abomination, inviting economic disaster for nothing, as an outrageous expansion of federal government regulatory powers and taxes.  Kill the bill.
February 26, 2010 - Dems pull provision penalizing intel personnel - Comment:  This shows that the Democrats in Congress remain a serious threat to human intelligence.  Remember this in November.
February 23, 2010 - Bipartisan jobs bill advances past GOP filibuster - Comment:  Scott Brown (MA) helped Harry Reid to break the filibuster, as did Olympia Snowe (ME), Susan Collins (ME), Kit Bond (MO), and George Voinovich (OH).  Now that it passed, other Republicans seem likely to show a similar lack of resolve on the final vote, apparently for fear of being portrayed as voting "against jobs".  This is a good example of why we need to replace so many Republican incumbents who still don't get it.  It is not the job of the federal government to pretend to "create or save jobs" by wasting more money.
February 22, 2010 - Obama prods states to raise academic standards - Comment:  Why don't the governors prod Obama to stay out of their business?  What has Obama done to demonstrate that he is capable of telling every school district in the country how to run their own schools better, even if we were to accept the premise that it is not unconstitutional for the federal government to even meddle in this?  He has been pushing his education agenda at the states since before September by dangling a lot of money in front of them at a time of tight budgets.  Will governors now do anything for money?
February 21, 2010 - Democrats worried about Obama track record - Comment: They seem to be more concerned about his attack record than his track record, as though his primary responsibility is to lead the party to election victory through partisan attacks on Republicans.  Don't forget to blame Bush.
February 20, 2010 - Getting back lost jobs could take 5-plus years - Comment:  The White House spin machine is already starting to push the idea that prolonged economic malaise (remember Carter?) is simply an inevitable systemic American failure, and not the fault of current policies.  On the contrary, it is still an inherited "crisis" for which more of their "reforms" are urgently needed, like doubling down on a bad bet.  Prediction: November 2010 will help, and November 2012 will be a vital turning point.
February 15, 2010 - Hayworth to launch GOP primary challenge to McCain - Comment:  Since John McCain chose to endorse RINO Mark Kirk for Senate in the Illinois primary, rather than stay out of it, surely he won't be offended if a lot of Tea Party folks now support his defeat in the Arizona primary.
February 15, 2010 - Source: Indiana's Evan Bayh to retire from Senate - Comment:  Time to retire rather than face defeat.  Watch how quickly the party leadership now anoints a potential successor, without the need for a messy primary fight that would confuse Democratic voters with a real choice.
February 14, 2010 - US debt will keep growing even with recovery - Comment:  Read it carefully:
"The president's budget is a best-case outlook, from the administration's vantage point. It doesn't take into account future liabilities from the growth of entitlement benefits and is based on projected economic growth that depends on a solid recovery. It assumes Congress will pass all of Obama's initiatives, including spending cuts and tax increases previously rejected by Congress. "

In short, the "best case" scenario for this administration is one in which they get everything they want, and basically assure our economic destruction. At the same time, they now propose to ensure that any tax cuts can only be made if there are corresponding budget cuts, even though spending on favored programs has skyrocketed and will just be "frozen" (maybe) at high levels.

Guess what? The road to economic recovery depends on flipping the House and Senate completely in November. That's the best case scenario, and we are working hard on it. That's how we will create a real, lasting recovery.  Even if the Democrats lose Congress in 2010, they are counting on the ability of Obama to veto any attempts to roll back the damage which they have done - at least until 2012.
February 12, 2010 - Senate Dems ax bipartisan jobs bill - Comment:  Republicans: Just Say NO!  Do not accept this trap of political gamesmanship.  Trust the American people to be smart enough to see through it, even if you weren't.

If you want to "reach across the aisle" this year, do it to slap Reid and Pelosi and tell them to wake up and start paying attention to voters instead of trying to frame Republicans into votes which can be used for deceptive attack ads in their next election campaign.  That game is over.  These weasels will lose.

February 12, 2010 - House Dems offer mixed signals on Senate jobs bill - later version of the above story, suggesting that Senate Republicans will vote to block cloture.

February 10, 2010 - Dems seek quick fix on campaign finance - Comment:  Action alert!  The Democrats in Congress, and Obama, are determined to undermine the recent Supreme Court ruling which reversed some campaign finance laws as a clear violation of the First Amendment.  Don't let their efforts to demonize businesses to voters persuade "moderate" Republicans to waffle on this issue.  This is a direct fight to defend the integrity of the Constitution against those who prefer to ignore it.

Contact your members of Congress, urgently, to say that you do NOT support any attempt to undermine this Supreme Court decision or our First Amendment rights to political free speech.  It is a very slippery slope to let members of Congress use populist attacks on corporations or particular interest groups as an excuse to make such campaign finance "reforms" as a way to limit our freedom.

They have NO AUTHORITY under the Constitution to mess with our freedom of speech, no matter how justifiable they think it may be.  The Supreme Court got it right.  Make it clear that we will vote out of office any Republican or Democrat who violates their oath of office by trying to undermine our freedoms under the Constitution in this manner.  They must learn to respect Constitutional limits on their power.

Illinois primary election results from Feb 2 - highlights

 

Congress - 8th District - Joe Walsh - a Tea Party favorite won 35-25 in a crowded field of candidates   News media and party insiders had favored other candidates, but Joe organized many energetic volunteers who worked very hard to achieve this victory, and will do so again.  There is a very good chance of defeating incumbent Melissa Bean (D) in November.  Please help his campaign!

 

Congress - 11th District - Adam Kinzinger - won the race to replace incumbent Debbie Halvorson (D).  This is another important campaign which Tea Party folks can enthusiastically support.

 

Congress - 10th District - Robert Dold - won the race to replace Mark Kirk in a field of many candidates.  He is also a conservative who should attract strong support to hold this seat in 2010.
 

Congress - 14th District - Randy Hultgren - surprised many observers by winning the race against Denny Hastert's son Ethan Hastert, for whom Newt Gingrich had done a fundraising appearance.  Several other conservative candidates had dropped out of this race fairly early, which helped Hultgren.  Hopefully the party organization will get the message about how they anoint their friends as candidates.

 

US Senate:  the RINO party insider and liberal news media favorite Mark Kirk won decisively.  On the Democratic side, he will be up against Obama friend Alexi Giannoulias for the Senate seat previously held by Barack Obama.  Various Tea Party and 9/12 groups had favored Patrick Hughes, who finished second (losing roughly 56% - 19% - not yet final), and conservative Judge Don Lowery, who finished far behind (around 8%).

 

Illinois Governor - Bill Brady may have narrowly won the race against Kirk Dillard and former IL GOP chairman Andy McKenna in a crowded field.  It is still too close to call as this is written, but at least Andy McKenna lost (after running attack ads against the other leaders, while ducking debates).  There were popular conservative candidates favored by Tea Party groups, such as Dan Proft and Adam Andrzejewski, but they finished far behind, and that just split away conservative votes in this race.  That led to a 20% - 20% - 19% split among the three leaders.

 

The Democratic race for Governor was also very tight.  Incumbent Pat Quinn won by a narrow margin.  Republicans have a good chance to win in November, by which time the trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich will remind voters of his tenure.

 

Illinois Lt. Governor - Jason Plummer won in a crowded Republican field, and also deserves support in November.  The winner of the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor was promptly coerced into abandoning his campaign because of allegations about his prior conduct.


Illinois Comptroller - Judy Baar Topinka won decisively.  Too bad.  Conservative Jim Dodge finished third.  Like her or not, at least Judy Baar Topinka is in a good position now to win this important race.

Primary election: Illinois February 2, 2010   
bullet "Search: Illinois Politics" to search websites and blogs which focus on Illinois political issues and campaigns.  For example, try looking up any of the candidates of interest.
bullet "Search: Illinois Candidates for Congress" tool for research through the websites of Illinois Republican candidates for the US Senate or House of Representatives.
bullet "Search: Illinois Republican party organizations- soon: TX, OH,  IN, etc. for primaries

Joe Walsh for US Congress, (R) IL 8th

see this video of Joe Walsh

and ABC 7 news video

bulletIllinois Governor and other state candidates
bulletU.S. Senate: Patrick Hughes - see list
bulletCongress - see lists by District

Check what others are saying about them - not just the hype or attack ads, campaign websites, or news media and party endorsements - by using the "Search: Illinois Politics" tool

Special election:  Florida 19th on Feb 2, 2010 - Edward Lynch seems to have won in a tight race
February 3, 2010 - Why I'm speaking at Tea Party convention, by Sarah Palin - column in USA Today - Thank you, Sarah Palin, for speaking out in response to the uninformed criticism of this event.  There's a related comment on her Facebook page - plus many comments by her fans.
See the Setting the Record Straight message from the Tea Party Convention organizers in Nashville.   Jennifer Harper covered this in her Feb 1 "Inside the Beltway" column in the Washington Times. Thanks!
January 29, 2010 - "TheTeaPartyisOver.org" = SEIU (follow the money trail) - blog post by Lee Doren exposing the latest front which is being used to attack Tea Party groups as well as primary candidates in Illinois during the final week of the campaign.  See OpenSecrets.org data about their sponsors, including past contributions by the Democratic Governors Association.  More statist astroturf, anyone?
January 27, 2010 - State of Delusion Address - Do Obama, Reid, and Pelosi "get it" yet?

Republicans should have laughed like a sitcom laugh-track, rather than shout "You lie!" (or whisper "not true!"), during the State of Delusion address.  Who is taking his rhetoric seriously now? Don't be the "party of no". Be the party of "Are you kidding?" Laugh at the insanity of his proposals.  Then, pull a classic Reagan move, as with Gorbachev.  Smile and say, "Let me tell you why we don't trust you."

Congratulations to the people of Massachusetts!   The election of US Senator Scott Brown is the political shot heard round the world - a victory for the people over political arrogance, and humiliating to the Democratic leaders who had portrayed their health care atrocity as a tribute to Ted Kennedy.
January 23, 2010 - See the Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll - now down to -19.  How long before his approval ranking reaches the dismal level of Rahm Emanuel (26% favorable), or Pelosi and Reid?  See also: Kangaroo court for the banks - commentary by Tony Blankley

December 14, 2009 - Kick Mark Kirk to the curb - a Republican only a Democrat could love

January 20, 2010 - Obama to Dems: Don't jam through health care bill - Comment:  Always watch the other hand ... as the health care agenda draws fire, other initiatives quietly move ahead.

Obama urges Dems not to 'jam' health care past GOP

America Rising - entertaining video, but we have to get organized and ensure that better candidates win their primaries and achieve victory in November.  Deterrence requires a credible capability as well as the will to deliver the feared retaliation.  Emotional words and protests are not enough.

Musical satirist Ray Stevens produced this entertaining message about the health care bill.

Hot topics:  cap and trade - Copenhagen summit   health care debate  
January 19, 2010 - Evidence-based health care reform?  Lessons from Massachusetts - Comment:  Democratic policies are not driven by what demonstrably works.  They are driven by what expands their own political power and influence to impose their latest ideas for societal change.
January 19, 2010 - Massachusetts election could unhinge health care - Comment: "One way or another", Pelosi is still determined to get her way on health care.  Isn't she already unhinged?
February 4-6, 2010 - Did you miss the first National Tea Party Convention in Nashville?  If so, links to coverage of the event are shared at the above.  Sarah Palin was the featured keynote speaker at this event arranged by Tea Party Nation .  Event info at www.nationalteapartyconvention.com

January 28, 2010 - The AP reported that Michele Bachmann has cancelled her appearance at the National Tea Party convention in Nashville.  2 lawmakers drop out of Tea Party Convention

January 11, 2010 - Sarah Palin to join Fox News as contributor - Comment:  Another savvy move.  This should drive her liberal critics absolutely crazy in 2010.  Reloaded and aiming ...
Hijacking the Private Sector, the SEIU and Blago Way - very interesting analysis piece on BigGovernment.com by blogger "Liberty Chick".
January 5, 2010 - GOP chief: Post-Reagan Republicans compromised - Comment: Michael Steele launches his new book, "Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda"  Another version of the same story - Republicans "screwed up" after Reagan

GOP chairman doubts Republicans can retake House - I've got a news flash for you, AP.  It's not the NRCC or the RNC which are going to drive victory in 2010.  It's local leadership - not necessarily within the GOP party bureaucracy, which has become part of the problem, rather than the solution..

December 17, 2009 - WSJ - Democrats' blues grow deeper in new poll - Comment:  The "Tea Party" movement is now outpolling both political parties - higher "favorables" and lower "unfavorables".  That is no reason for complacency or arrogance.  It just means the base is forming for 2010 blowback.
I may not always agree with Newt Gingrich (as in NY 23rd), but this is a good speech worth hearing.

Labels for Christmas cards and letters : Do you support the Tea Party movement?  If so, mention it when you send out Christmas cards or letters to friends, and let them know how to find your own local group or sites like this one.  Follow the link for more details and sample labels.
December 13, 2009 - Senate sends $1.1 trillion spending bill to Obama - Comment:  Porkulus 2.
December 12, 2009 - Senate GOP denied on spending filibuster attempt - Comment:  Another $1.1 trillion in spending for major increases in government spending programs, including 5,224 pet projects costing $3.9 billion.  Lots of earmarks for Christmas!  Remember this in 2010 elections!
December 11, 2009 - Dem leader urges debt limit increase of $1.8-1.9T - Comment:  Pretending once again that the "blue dogs" are fiscal conservatives while setting the stage to ram through this huge debt limit increase now so that it won't be necessary to raise it again just before the 2010 election.
December 11, 2009 - US health care tab to keep growing under overhaul - Comment:  Health care costs are predicted to go up more with the proposed bill than without it. Leave it to government to figure out how to make a bad situation even worse - and that's just the initial projection of the damage. Imagine how bad the eventual reality could be.  Kill the bill - before it kills us.
December 11, 2009 - Health care loophole would allow coverage limits - Comment:  Sneaking a cap on insurance benefits back into the bill.  Who will define "reasonable" limits?  Death panels?
December 10, 2009 - House approves $1.1 trillion spending measure - Comment:  Complete with 5000+ pet projects - everything except a partridge in a pear tree to try to buy votes in 2010.
December 10, 2009 - House adopts spending measure over GOP protests - Outrageous.
Restore the federal bureaucracy and UN to lower emission targets - cut staff by 85% or more
Did you miss the Sarah Palin "Going Rogue" book tour?  See links related to it.  What next?
Work for victory in 2010 primaries - Tea Party Tactics
Reach out to independent voters in your community.  Listen to their concerns.  Get organized for the primaries.  Tea Party groups - endorse specific candidatesGet to know your precinct committeeman, and volunteer to help better candidates win in the primary.
Take action - become a Republican Precinct Committeeman in your county.  Learn about taking the country back at the grassroots level by helping to select and turn out the vote for better candidates.  For more information, refer to The Precinct Project's Blog.  Network with conservative committeemen.  In Illinois, look at http://www.conservativeprecincts.blogspot.com/  All the Tea Party rallies, petitions, and online networking to share information and organize locally have been helpful to attract public attention to harmful national policies and to limit the damage, but at the end of the day it is the next election results through effectively organized party work at the local level which will determine the outcome.  Do it today.  Deadlines are approaching.  There are many local vacancies in such volunteer positions.
Welcome your Senators and Representatives home.  If they dare to plan any local public appearances during this holiday recess, show up - as in August town halls.  If they voted against the health care legislation, thank them.  If not, show that you are getting ready to defeat them.

Organize local political career "death panels" now to prepare for their next election.  Don't wait until fall 2010.  Get organized behind candidates now to win primaries - in one state after another.

It's time to send a "dead fish" message to every Democrat in the House and Senate in their primaries.  That's the Chicago way.  What are you prepared to do?  Get to work on primary campaigns.

Invest in their early retirement.  Find better candidates now, and actively support them.

Urgent - try to stop the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" in the Senate now.  Details and background about the health care debate: "Department of Inhumane and Unhealthy Services".  The debate will go forward, but we need to focus on preparing to defeat many of these Senators in 2010, starting with work on the 2010 primaries to line up and actively support much better candidates.  It isn't enough to call and complain about their actions.  We have to get organized to defeat them.  They must fear that their political careers and power will reliably end in their next election.  Then we need to work to repeal (and NOT replace) this legislation.

How many jobs can Pelosi and Reid save in 2010 - in the House and Senate?  Not even their own?  The Tea Party movement will create new jobs for principled candidates.  Get ready for the primaries.

It's the "Chicago Way".  Start sending dead fish messages to Congress.
Our Tea Party Search Tool or "Conservative Search" tool can be used to find information about Tea Party initiatives or news on key issues.

The Manhattan Declaration

The Manhattan Declaration - a non-partisan "call of Christian conscience" - Download a PDF copy

Read the speech at West Point by Obama about his latest strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, with commentary and related news.  We can only pray that our troops will be successful despite him.
December 7, 2009 - more demonstrations in Iran.  It's not over. - Tens of thousands protest in Iran
December 2, 2009 - Rumsfeld Cries Foul on Obama Claim Troop Requests for Afghanistan Were Denied - Comment:  Too polite to shout "You lie!"  He's just asking Congress to verify the facts since Obama asserted that troop requests by commanders were repeatedly denied.

The West Point cadets had to applaud politely on cue and try to stay awake or stifle yawns and appear respectful during the speech, but Rumsfeld is under no such constraints now - like Cheney.

December 2, 2009 Tea Party documentary premiere in D.C. - For more details about the Tea Party documentary film and to order it on DVD, see www.TeaPartyMovie.com   Follow Tea Party Movie on Twitter or on Facebook.  The documentary focuses on the 9/12 march on Washington DC by following five examples of participants, and what inspired their participation.  FreedomWorks blog has movie information, and the promotional trailer is also shared at The Conservative Revolution blog.
November 21, 2009 - What is Glenn Beck doing?  Yet another book launch?  Enough already!  As said here back in August, we don't need more candidate pledges, protest rallies, or to be educated by the "best minds in the country" in his opinion, nor do we need a "100 year plan".  We already know, at the local level, who deserves defeat in 2010.  We just have to do it - now - with better candidates.
November 16, 2009 - Congratulations to Sarah Palin on her "Going Rogue" book launch tour and interviews (schedule and coverage).  Well done - including the artful dodging of the questions about her 2012 plans by keeping the focus on individuals in 2010.  It will be interesting to see what the initial sales figures turn out to be for her book, "Going Rogue".  One report in the Wall St. Journal indicates that the press run has already been increased to 1.6 million copies.  The book tour is taking her to over 30 locations, where crowds of 1000 or more are seeking signed copies (which are also available by a donation of $100 or more to SarahPAC - See Sarah's message to supporters).
November 15, 2009 - See where nanny-state tyranny by a "caring" bureaucracy leads, with charities providing political cover for abominable statist policies.  Apology for kids shipped from Britain to colonies  It may not literally be white slavery, but this abuse was rationalized for centuries - until 1967.  Related story: Australia apologizes to Brit kids sent to colonies

Think about that as some try to convince you this holiday season that greedy, evil capitalists with no sense of charity are the problem.  Great social injustices are done through government abuses of power.  Dickens perceived that moral individuals had a conscience, and might solve the social problems around themselves through their own actions - rather than by trusting government programs to care for everyone.  Note that Scrooge didn't run for office or become a civil servant to bring change to his community.

Tea Party Accountability - Money, Political Campaigns, and Quality Control - Suggestions for local Tea Party enthusiasts nationwide about how to create a process for greater accountability by candidates and political parties to the local voters, and especially to the active independent voters who may be frustrated with both parties and their incumbents or candidate endorsements.  Action ideas.

Tea Money - set up your own local network of principled independent political donors.

November 1, 2009 - press release from Michele Bachman about the "House Call" rally
November 4, 2009 - Iran protest news - Display green ribbons or balloons as a personal gesture of solidarity with protesters in Iran as Obama does nothing - again.  They are risking their lives to protest tyranny.
November 3, 2009 - see news highlights for reports on the New Jersey, New York and Virginia races.
November 1, 2009 - GOP ex-candidate endorses Democrat in NY race - Comment:  So much for the party loyalty which Michael Steele and Newt Gingrich were so worried about when they supported her.  We shall soon see whose endorsement carries more weight with voters in the NY 23rd district.

Perhaps Republican leaders will finally wake up before making such endorsements for 2010 primaries.  We have a similar problem in Illinois with the Mark Kirk campaign as a liberal Republican candidate for US Senator to replace Roland Burris.  Hopefully voters will not follow party leadership in their support of his campaign, in which case the February 2 primary in Illinois may help to change "the Chicago way" of deals among party leaders who are out of touch with voters and play power games with other people's money.

Newt Gingrich is in damage control mode now - endorsing Hoffman, and "deeply disappointed" with Dede.  Perhaps he would like to encourage Illinois Republican Party leaders to endorse Senate Bill 600 in the Illinois legislature so that Illinois Republican voters can finally pick their party leaders directly?

October 29, 2009 - Taxpayer-funded research helps congressmen become more popular - blog post on the Tea Party page at BigGovernment.com  Comment: Your tax dollars at work - to ignore you.  Did you really expect the National Science Foundation to be funding this sort of "political science" work?
October 18, 2009 - Cap and Trade debate - Stop harmful emissions of hot air.  Cut Al Gore's mic. before the Copenhagen summit in December puts us on a path to economic ruin.  Listen to Lord Christopher Monckton.  See reviews of the timely new movie - Not evil, just wrong Jeremy D. Boreing  Christian Toto 

While public attention is concentrated on the attack on our health care system, this is an attack on our entire economic system, creating an enormous hidden tax burden and transfer of wealth to destroy our economy.

October 18, 2009 - White House advisers say Fox News is not news - Comment:  Yes, Fox News is making money, and that's not evil.  They do good reporting and commentary.  Thank you, Fox News!  The blowback from the arrogant, clueless attacks on Fox News will be to draw even more loyal viewers.  Since that is self-evident, it clearly doesn't concern the White House.  It is just a ploy to distract their critics as work proceeds behind closed doors on the takeover of our health care system and economic climate change.
October 14, 2009 - Ageing Europe's pension bill to 'dwarf' crisis debts: EU - Comment:  Social Security is a failing Ponzi scheme in Europe, too.  What's their solution?  Work longer to qualify.
September 15, 2009 - The cap and trade legislation will raise $100 - $200 billion in new taxes according to internal Treasury estimates - not conservative critics.  It's not dead yet!

Homecoming Celebration for Members of Congress

Thanks for welcoming your members of Congress home to lively town halls in August.

Remember - they'll be back home to start campaigning before too long.  Be prepared.

You told them what you think of their performance on issues such as health care or cap and trade.

You reminded them of your concerns about the "stimulus" plan and other legislative atrocities.

 

You were right to express such concerns.  Keep challenging them to defend their actions.

 

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

"If the people have all the facts and know the truth, the people will never make a mistake."

Thomas Jefferson

 

Invest in their early retirement.  Find better candidates now, and actively support them.

That money will be better spent than than higher federal spending and taxes for decades.

 

Don't keep these clunkers.  Invest in a new Congress now.  Money talks.  Speak up.

They will only change their behavior if they fear the loss of their power and careers.

 

This fall is the turning point. You gave them a fair chance to listen to you.

Decide whether this is a politician who you can support, or must actively oppose.

Remember to work hard in 2010 to ensure that they don't return to Washington again.

Was the "silly fuss" over the Obama speech in schools a mistake?  Get Schooled by Obama
Let Freedom Ring is pushing the We The People Can Read initiative to support H.R. 554, which would require non-emergency legislation to be posted for 72 hours before passage.
September 8, 2009 - Critics have been characterized as silly partisans in response to concerns about the Obama speech in schools.  Don't be fooled by this spin.  See where this was leading - before White House damage control to spin this as a harmless initiative.
By a remarkable coincidence, September 8 coincides with a TV event that evening to kick off the "Get Schooled: You Have the Right" program.  The "Get Schooled" website was launched in April 2009.

Look where this is leading - into Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking initiatives to organize direct reach to kids and parents nationwide.  The initial focus is on lobbying governors about the Obama education agenda.  Many are up for election in 2010.  No hidden agenda in that, right?

Call your members of Congress and ask them to investigate this.  Tell your PTO, friends, and neighbors about it.  Talk to your teachers and principals.  Tell your local school board members that they should not tolerate this federal political intrusion into local school curriculum, regardless of any alleged good intentions to encourage the children.

Obama can post whatever message of encouragement he wants on the White House or Department of Education or other websites - and parents can decide whether to show it to their kids and discuss it as appropriate.  Schools should not give him this direct, unchallenged reach to influence the trusting children of every household in America to "help" him, regardless of any alleged good intentions.

Once again, this initiative coincides with with a TV event on the evening of September 8 to kick off the "Get Schooled: You Have the Right" program.  Pay attention to where that initiative is leading - including the social networking links ("Get Schooled" on Facebook and on Twitter) to organize children and parents nationally and communicate directly through those private channels.

 
Health care debate: Are you ready for the Department of Unhealthy and Inhumane Services?
Did you sign the "Free Our Health Care Now" petition (1.3+ million Americans) as promoted by the National Center for Policy Analysis?  See also: Conservatives for Patients' Rights.
September 4, 2009 - Returning Congress target of health care lobbyists - Comment:  Seniors - Respond to this AARP mailing to 8 million people promoting Obama's agenda by cutting up your card.
9/11 is  now being promoted as a "National Day of Service" by the Obama administration.  We weren't attacked by terrorists because of any lack of voluntary community service among Americans.  On the contrary, we were attacked by terrorists who rationalize killing anyone with whom they disagree.  We don't need to be apologizing about America to the rest of the world.  We need to stand up to tyrants, rather than embrace the worst of them around the world as though their grievances against us were just.
September 8, 2009 - Media Research Center NewsBusters - ABC Rues How Conservatives and Citizen Journalists Are Derailing Obama's Agenda - Comment:  Keep up the good work, folks!
The 9/12/09 Tea Party "March on Washington DC" was a huge success.  Congratulations to everybody who participated.  Refer to our analysis of the crowd size from photo evidence.  The Tea Party Express highlighted many local rallies across America to Washington DC on September 12.

Use our Tea Party Search or Conservative Search tools to find reports and photos other than those in the news media.  Defend your liberty.  Use the 9/12 March on Washington or other social networks to get actively involved at the local level and find and support better candidates for the 2010 election.  Our Surge by State pages are a starting point for finding many conservative resources in each state.

See "Tea Party Tactics" for local action suggestions.  Don't just call or write your members of Congress.  Get in their face.  Make it personal.  Check their schedule of public appearances.  Show up.  Speak up.  Talk to your friends and colleagues.  Get involved locally.  Stand up and be heard.  Find candidates who you can enthusiastically support, and work hard to defeat those who lost your trust.

Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize.  Consolation prize for losing the Olympics?  The good news is that Carter lost to Reagan, Gore lost to Bush, and Obama is now on track to lose decisively in 2012.
Congratulations to Rio de Janeiro for winning the 2016 Olympics.  Chicago put together a good bid.  As much as one may detest Obama and his policies or his friends here, this was never about him.
August 28, 2009 - Glenn Beck of Fox News launched his "In or Out 2010" pledge proposal - and see our reply to his suggestions.  The American people are way ahead of you, Glenn.  It's too late to "ask boldly" for pledges from specious politicians.  We know them now by their actions.  We won't be fooled again.  It's time to focus ASAP on the hard work to find and replace them with better candidates.  They won't listen and change unless they become very afraid of losing their jobs and their social agenda.
St. Louis Tea Party  http://stlouisteaparty.com/  - Support the Whole Foods BUYcott nationally!
We can't just wait for the 2010 elections.  It will be hard to reverse the damage. Expect Obama vetoes.
August 21, 2009 - What really happened when Obama visited Bozeman, Montana to push his health care agenda at a staged town hall meeting?  Read a local eyewitness account - provided by a local resident whose identity has been protected since the White House is looking for conservatives to demonize, rather than looking for real feedback from Americans who aren't embracing his "astroturf" world.
AARP members:  Save your money, and your life.  If you oppose how AARP has handled the health care legislation, including their ad campaign and mailings to promote it with your money and in cooperation with SEIU while pretending to be a non-partisan advocate for seniors, then please cancel your membership and let them know why you are doing so.  Spend your money more wisely.  Encourage every senior you know to wake up to what AARP has done lately, and resign.  Check out American Seniors Association, as mentioned in this August 18 Fox News story about the AARP losing 60,000 members already.  Another option is the 60 Plus Association   Welcome to market competition, AARP!
August 23, 2009 - Millions face shrinking Social Security payments - Comment: October surprise.  Maybe AARP should talk more about this, rather than promoting the Obama health care program?  See this June article in Newsweek about Obama "kicking  the can" on the Social Security bankruptcy issue.  The CBO Director posted a blog update on August 7 about the impact of the recession on Social Security.  This issue may not be all doom and gloom, as this other article from May 2009 explains, but it clearly merits attention as Congress starts to talk about the lack of a COLA increase for beneficiaries this year.
August 24, 2009 - Remember me? Wall Street repackages toxic debt - Comment:  Interesting story.  Where's the Congressional or Obama oversight on this?  Meanwhile, Bernanke gets to keep his job.
August 24, 2009 - Analysis: Health overhaul tactics need overhaul - Comment:  No mention in this AP story or others about the many thousands of people nationwide who turned up for the Recess Rally protests over the weekend.  Try looking up "Recess Rally" with our Tea Party Search or Conservative Search tools.

Try our Conservative Search Tool or Tea Party Search tool to look up: health care tea party or to look up your members of Congress to see what is being said about them.  Our Republican Senator and House search tools make it easy to find what Republicans in Congress are saying on health care or other issues.  See also Recent US news and Global news

Please support the independent Iraq and Afghanistan war reporting by Michael Yon, such as this moving "No young soldiers" post from August 10.  Click here to support his work.
Welcome to Surge USA (SurgeUSA.org) - dedicated to empowering individual conservatives.

Find out what your elected officials, conservative peers, and commentators in any state are saying or doing about the issues which matter to you.  Our Conservative Search tool makes it easy.  Similar political research tools cover Republican Governors, Senators, and House members.

Our Strategy and Call to Action is simple.  We cannot wait quietly and hope for a better economy after elections in 2010 or 2012.  This country is being radically and rapidly changed in many ways.  Conservatives need to get organized and speak up now, before irreparable damage is done.

News Highlights features selected news articles about US politics and foreign policy issues.

The Surge by State feature provides links for every state, including local Tea Party protests.

Other links below are to our own comments or more details on selected current issues or news.

Are corporate executives expecting economic recovery?  See our CEO Survey analysis.
Cap and Trade: A solution for political climate change - Let the Democrats hang themselves.
November 23, 2009 Rasmussen Reports - Daily Presidential Tracking Poll goes to -13.  It has been solidly negative since early July.

July 9, 2009 - Rasmussen Reports - Daily Presidential Tracking Poll goes to -8.  You can still fool some of the people ... but not as many as before.  Watch what happens when women and seniors turn against him.  Their covert assault on Medicare benefits should soon enrage seniors.

Thank you, Sarah Palin.  Smart move.  She's free now to play on offense, not defense.
Display green ribbons or balloons as a gesture of solidarity with the protesters in Iran
Iran's struggle between liberty and tyranny   Even if Obama and US government officials still don't want to be perceived as "meddling" in the internal affairs of Iran, the support of the American people for the people of Iran in their struggle against tyranny should be unequivocal.  We may only be able to offer our moral support for their struggle, but as they risk their lives in opposition to ruthless tyranny, surely we can use our freedom as individuals to honor them.

Remember all the yellow ribbons across America for the "Free the Hostages" campaign to show solidarity with our captive diplomats in Tehran in 1979-1980?  This time, use green ribbons or balloons to show solidarity for the cause of Iranian liberty (not support for Mousavi) and victims like Neda.

Thank you to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who helped to make the 800+ nationwide Tax Day Tea Party protests such a remarkable success on April 15.  There were also many more Tea Party rallies on July 4th, and more are planned for 9/12/09.

See our Tea Party Tactics suggestions.

Check for updates in the News Highlights on the latest Congressional atrocities.

This is not anti-Obama or anti-anybody, nor driven by political parties or special interest groups.  This is about standing up for individual responsibility and limits on federal government power and political or bureaucratic intrusion into state, local, and individual decisions.

This isn't about venting anger at those who disagree with us.  It is about standing up for what we firmly believe as fundamental American principles which should not be hastily changed after serving us well for so long.  This is about taking individual responsibility for America's future.

Our Surge by State pages will share local Tea Party information and other relevant links.  If you are planning a Tea Party - regardless of date - or are responsible for any other local conservative organizations which we have not yet listed, we welcome suggestions to help us update these pages.

June 21, 2009 - Obama's poll numbers finally turned negative.  That has continued.

Rasmussen Reports - Daily Presidential Tracking Poll - Buyer's remorse since the election.  Despite personal charisma, spin, and high hopes for change, people are waking up to the harmful Obama agenda.  Note that young people who had high hopes for Obama may quickly become disillusioned with his performance as the dismal economy and unemployment picture gets worse rather than better.  Meanwhile, seniors finally woke up to their own risks during the health care debate in July and August.

Generic Congressional ballot poll - Comment:  The obvious point is that the country has roughly been split 40-40 for a long time, with 20% uncommitted to either party.  Last time, frustration favored the Democrats.  Not likely in 2010.  You can't fool all of the people all of the time.  They're waking up.  It is also possible that many frustrated people who usually don't vote may finally choose to participate.

Keep it simple.  Send a clear message to Washington.  If you do this, we will work hard to defeat you in 2010.  They have already rammed through new spending and their social agenda at a high cost which will hurt generations of Americans, but keep ramping up the pressure.
Invest in the America which you want to create.  Cut your losses.  Invest in limiting government.  Get involved.  Don't wait for somebody else to solve this problem for you.
What are Republican governors doing?  Try the new Republican Governors Search tool
What are conservative thought leaders saying?  Try the new "Conservative Search" tool.
Department of Unhealthy and Inhumane Services.   Nationalized health care by stealth.
Thanks to the NY Times and Karl Rove.  Surprise yourself.  Do your own 2008 election analysis.
Please help with our research by state.   We're looking for conservative and Republican links.
Additional content links - archived from the home page

Bookmark and Share

Please spread the word

Thank you!  Over 450,000 visitors served to date.

Tea Party Search Tool

We Will Not Be Silenced

video preview - 2008 election fraud

"Conservative Search" tool

CEO Survey - Job Growth

and Business Roundtable PR on financial industry "reform"

Tea Party Book Club

The Road to Serfdom, by F.A. Hayek - as featured on this site since early 2009, before Glenn Beck made it a bestseller again

Iran protest news updates
Recent News  Global News
Tea Party merchandise

Tea Party - the movie

Generation Zero Movie - Buy it
YouCut - House GOP Whip
912Candidates.org
Tea Party Accountability
Tea Party Convention Feb 2010
Political Career "Death Panels"
Tea Party Express

Washington, DC 9/12/09

Tea Party Protests

Join the 9/12 DC network

Glenn Beck and 9/12 protests
Republican US Senators Search Tool
Republicans in the House

Links for Palin Supporters

Draft Sarah Palin for 2012

Missile Defense - "33 Minutes"

Recess Rally August 22 2009

National healthcare protests

attracted a huge turnout again.

Many thanks to everyone!

July 2009 "Freedom Index"
Follow SurgeUSA On Twitter
SurgeUSA on Facebook
Tea Party Crowd Estimates
Tea Party News Page
"The Enumerated Powers"
Chicago Tea Party April 15
Chicago Tea Party Feb 27
April 15 Tax Day Tea Party

Featured Links

July 4 Independence Day Tea Party

Background and protest links

April 15 Tax Day Tea Party

Action: Keep it Simple

Republican Governors Search Tool

 Selective conservative links

News Archive - March 2009
News Archive - February 2009
Network and share ideas

 

Google Groups - SurgeUSA

Plaxo Surge USA Group

LinkedIn SurgeUSA Group

Who is behind this website?
Business Development

Referrals and research tools - Where to grow a business

 

Local economic development.

Independent professional referrals.

Search: Americas

Research state and local business investment climates

Search Professional Firms

Global Commercial Real Estate

Architects and Engineers

Strategy Consultants

Risk Consultants

HR Consultants

International Business Law

Taxes and Incentives

Executive Search Firms

SurgeUSA: the first year

Thanks for finding this website already.

News Highlights

It was just launched on Inauguration Day - January 20, 2009

"Conservative Search" tool

This is not a political organization, nor is it affiliated with any candidate or campaign.

See our Call to Action

Copyright © 2009 SurgeUSA
Last modified: 09/02/10