Sunday, Sunday

Yet another open thread.

[END OF THREAD]

Comments

[narciso]

Carrying over from late Saturday's post;

I'm a bit under the weather, ironically I come back to weather in the 70s, and it looks like a catch a cold there. I must admit I think I got a bit of the "Washington
bug" and have to find a way to get back there in an official capacity.Caught Rush's speech, it was quite a good one, although the one's I saw on Friday were the best. Although Bachman and Steele's were great too. Like I say, I don't recognize a great deal of the coverage even on some of the blogs, like Romney winning the straw poll.
Everyone I talked to, at the tables, in the lobby, in the bar scene, except for Murdoch
were all crazy for Sarah. I'm surprised that Sanford didn't have a higher turnout.
I'm not surprised by Rick Moran' myopic
contribution to the CPAC, what he was so diligently typing on to his laptop, oblivious to everything around him,

[Pofarmer]

There was mention in the last thread of Barrack Hussein wanting to raise fees on cell phone users. This is yet another example of this administration working against it's own goals. In the "Stimulus bill" there are provisions for "expanding rural broadband. At the same time, they've delayed the full implementation of digital TV. Why did they go to digital TV? Because the cell phone companies can use those frequencies for----Digital broadband. So, not only have they delayed it, but, if they vastly increase fees for it's use, they are going to make it less available. The free market was already providing the solutions, then the 600 pound gorilla of govt just HAS to get itself into the mix. It kinda makes you scratch your head.

[Pofarmer]

I looked up "smart meters" just to see what they are. According to wiki, we already have them here. If it's economical to do, the utility companies will do it on their own. Man, this 4 years is going to set us pack a WHOLE bunch. It's not like you took the wrong fork in the road, it's gonna be like you through the truck in reverse and backed it through the ditch and off a cliff.

[mel]

Po-

First off, good morning.

The restrictions allow more room for the Blago business model to work efficiently, not YOUR business model.

[Pofarmer]

Morning Mel.

Man, my spelling sucks this morning. Not. Enough. Coffee.

Got to go feed some critters.

[centralcal]

Good morning.

Narciso I enjoyed reading your recap of your trip to CPAC (on the Saturday thread).

[Pofarmer]

Blago business model

Hasn't that been the modus operandi for Deval Patrick too? Raise fees on everything to the moon?

[peter]

I gave up internet surfing for Lent, but today is Sunday, so I have a dispensation. I have missed this blog so much! but I am finding myself a lot more productive at work. God bless all you Just One Minute posters and sitzpinklers!

[narciso]

It's a mad, mad world, we're living in, it's like the 70s all over again, if we're lucky, if we're not it's much worse. Was reading the Post in the mornings back in D.C. with Joe Biden defining the middle class, Al Marri, sent to the courts, The EPA's Lisa Jackson, 'pulling a Holder' on
environmental racism or some such thing. Freeman as the Sauds man on the NIC, the reorganization of the NSC, to make it totally useless, the 'eminent domain' rider on broadcast networks; that one didn't even make the paper. The withdrawal from Iraq, with no credit to the one who made it possible,as with the return of night life to Baghdad's Abu Nas street. It does seem such a contrast with the vision of Washington, I saw at the Smithsonian, the
kind of thing I always wanted to go to D.C, for; the reverence for our nation's principles; totally ignored with this crew.

[Pofarmer]

One more comment, then I GOT to go.

As Barack Hussein raises fees on most everything, neccesarily prices to the consumer are going to rise. This gives the govt another chance to demagouge "greedy" cell phone providers, utility companies, whatever, take your pick, and argue for even MORE govt control. This could easily be rolled into the "it's a depression and people are hurting" line. Not sure it's the plan, certainly could be the result.

[Jane]

Karl Rove is commenting on George Stephanopolus. Katrina Van der drivel and the other democrat are spouting platitudes and Rove is stating facts. They look silly, he looks brilliant. Of course I am biased as hell, but really.

[jimmyk]

As Barack Hussein raises fees on most everything, neccesarily prices to the consumer are going to rise.

Yes, but it's important to remember, these are not tax increases, because we know that he's only raising taxes on those in the top 5% of income. Or something like that.

[mel]

Po-

The Blago business model is designed around the permanent campaign. Allow business restrictions to be guided by political will and the campaign funds will be ever-lasting. Pay. To. Play.

And they've been telegraphing this level of control ever since the appointment of Rahm as Chief of Staff.

[Tina]

It is being reported that Steele dissed Rush after Rush's speech to CPAC yesterday. Calling it "incendiary"; apparently there is video out there but I haven't seen it. He dissed him on CNN, of all places.

[Amused bystander]

Well maybe they should gove the job to Rush.

Unfortunate about Steele if true. The GOP spends too much time in Liberal Land.

[Amused bystander]

gIve

[Amused bystander]

Narciso: If you are out there, you might go over here and give them the low down on CPAC

[Old Lurker]

So yesterday Jane started us down the "I'm glad I'm old" road some of us are traveling. Steph correctly warned us against that depressing line of thought, and certainly Rush fired up the fight back instincts too. In support, I posted the Braveheart Freedom Speech LUN.

Now a new day, and even before the second coffee, the following:

> WaPo uses their main editorial to endorse placing GPS trackers in every car so the govt can bill us for actual miles driven everywhere and adjust the rates to discourage us from driving when and where they don't want us to (eg, make us pay to be on the beltway at rush hour). So somebody will follow every move we make. This, from civil liberty folks who bashed Bush into submission on listening in on foreign communications of terrorists.

> My congress-critter, Van Hollen, is calmly and politely talking on the local TV right now about how wonderful Cap&Trade will be in shutting down carbon burning power plants, but he does acknowledge that the much higher costs of energy will create hardships on some, but, no worry, he has introduced legislation that will provide govt checks to help those who cannot afford the higher bills. It's all good, he promises so calmly and so smoothly.

> Then he talks about how wonderful the new legislation affording judges the authority to cramdown new loan terms (Loan amounts, rates, amortization terms and monthly payments) on existing lenders, rewriting the contracts they thought they had. How wonderful it will be to assist those current borrowers who are stressed. That this might chill the market for future loans does not seem to have occurred to him, but then when they move their guys into the bank boardrooms, perhaps that problem is covered.

> Finally I see the link on Drudge reporting the court victory giving the EPA the right to require farmers to control the dust farming makes so that it does not cross their property lines. Grassley thought it silly in a sort of there-they-go-again way, but that's the extent of the pushback.

These ideas are not coming from ACORN "gimmee gimmee whackos". This stuff is walking calmly in through the front door, sitting in my chair and grabbing my remote...

So Steph! Back to you to cheer us up today, if you can!

Watch the LUN.

[Amused bystander]

Oops!

[centralcal]

Tina: do you have any link(s) for that "reportage?"

I am a big fan of Steele, as I am of Rush. I certainly hope it isn't true about Steele.

Amused: Your link to the article at PJM about CPAC pretty much underscores a lot of what Rush was talking about in his remarks last night about these so-called conservatives who fret over the state of the movement. PJM and a few bloggers seem to mostly have their panties in a wad because they weren't front and center (maybe even the focus ala Kos) at all the action.

[Tina]

Centracal:

LUN on Steele's comment; not as bad as the headline suggests it is, but still Steele did say Rush is an entertainer (true) and that "it is incendiary and ugly". He also reminded the host that this is no different than what the dems did to Bush.

Watch and I'd be interested to see what you think.

[Amused bystander]

Cent. I am aware of that, that i ehy i urged him to go over there and set them straight.

Counter-meme warfare.

[boris]

no different than what the dems did to Bush

Strike two for Steele IMO. How is anything in Rush's speech comparable to the TANG memo forgeries while Bush was campaigning for reelection during a war?

[centralcal]

Tina - thanks for the link.

I am not sure what I think about Steele's remarks, if one can call them that. He got in very few words, since D.L. like most Hosts does all the talking, while the guest gets one or two words and never finishes a thought.

Still, if Michael thinks that Rush is sometimes incendiary and ugly, he owes it to himself and the listener to forcefully interrupt and explain in what way he thinks so.

[Amused bystander]

It was neither incendiary or ugly. What a disappointment out of Steele. If they keep up this attitude they will get creamed again in 2010.

I think Rush is right: Stop the "wonk-speech", stand on principle, and attack othem in the open on their dismantling of the Republic. Say it clearly and say it often.

Obama was not elected with a mandate for Marxist-Leninism, he pulled it out by posing as a centrist. Only the hard fpore leftists and their useful idots signed on for this assault on America.

We must top the momentum of the Alinskiesque "Shock and Awe" tactics now.

[Pagar]

How much education is enough?

ALL Student Loan's CEO Says "Math Error" in U.S. Department of Education Student Loan Proposal Requires Trillion-Dollar Increase in National Debt

Unfortunately, in conflict with budget language promising 'rigorous evaluation' to 'learn from what works,' the President's FY2010 budget proposal recommends an ineffective and costly nationalization of student lending under the authority of the U.S. Department of Education.

"Ironically, the weakest part of this Education Department plan involves a serious 'math error':

The proposal fails to account for the cost of expanding government
borrowing by nearly one trillion dollars over the next ten years to finance
the plan. The plan suggests this borrowing -- up to $100 billion per year
-- will cost the government nothing, as if the overseas governments and
investors lending the money will not expect interest to be paid.

Trillions of dollars already wasted, educating leftists, and still we have not a single person presently involved in the budget process that can get such a simple thing right.

Errors of this nature from the current administration, have become so commonplace that when this subject was posted at Gateway Pundit, it did not draw a single comment.

[Amused bystander]

Othem=them

fpore=core

[clarice]

McConnell has said as well that he will not dump the three Senators who crossed over..you have to remember to draw the line between party officials and conservatives..each has different interests and they are not always appealing to the same audiences.

[Extraneus]

Considering who the Republicans put up last time around, I'd be more than happy to ditch them for a principled alternative. Steele distancing himself, and by definition the Party, from Rush might be just the thing to precipitate that. And while he's at it, maybe he can find someone to straighten his glasses out for him.

Btw, did I miss something? That wasn't the RPAC convention, was it?

[narciso]

That' kind of an odd take, from Patrick, who I did meet. Geert Wilder's presentation
was rather impromptu, probably for security reasons. There was some discussion of the War on Terror in the foreign policy forum,
there probably she should have been more of it. The Dinners focused on all the Free Speech issues by Bachman, Balch, Sanford,
et al; and those are not the get along types. The GOP is an inperfect vehicle but realistically it's the only one that can really pull it off. That's the reality of things, I share the view that Pawlenty or
Mitt, really don't hold the conservative view or the reform view and really shouldn't
pretend to do so. I found Napolitano's comments most reprehensible in that context.
That's what strikes me as unusual about the Mitt boomlet, there was none that I could see here. It's sadly, not so much about leadership, despite the fine speeches, it covered up the glaring failures of said leadership. It's about the base, those ordinary people, who the Party saids it
speaks on behalf of. To mobilize them, from the grassroots onward. There was clearly one speaker who had record of rallying huge crowds, who wasn't there.

[Pofarmer]

> Finally I see the link on Drudge reporting the court victory giving the EPA the right to require farmers to control the dust farming makes so that it does not cross their property lines. < /i>

Yeah, that won't be any problem at all.

Shakes head, muttering something about "Stupid bastards who've never......."

[Pofarmer]

Nuts.

[Daddy]

Phone-wise, everyone I work with now uses Skype for all their calls from Overseas back to the States and for stateside long distance. At pennies to the dollar that has to be killing the phone companies just like Craig's list is killing Newspaper revenue. Has any new tax legislation been erected yet to stifle that wonderful new innovation in its crib?

[Daddy]

Po,

I think the word that Berlin moron was using was Guts, not Nuts.

[Pagar]

I can see it now. The dust patrol. Farmers being hauled into court for failure to control their dusk, fined, put out of business
for failure to control their dusk.

Instead of defending our national assets, like farmers, coal miners, small businesses, we are watching them being saddled with stupid regulations that will put every single one of them out of business.

Words can not express how I feel, watching the greatest nation in the world self destruct during this administration.

[Stephanie]

Well, we have sleet here now. Snow to come later.

I have been seeing some posts on many, many blogs that people are starting to do things, on their own, to protest this madness. No leaders, no movements required. Several posters have upped their withholdings on their own and are limiting their footprints to Galtish levels. They are not hiring, and they are educating their own to the dangers ahead.

The producers are realizing that they hold the power over their lives, not the government, and the progressives don't understand this. They think they can label us and appeal to us with lures that are designed based on marketing to demographics. We defy demographics. Thus, they will never have a formula capable of herding us into line.

They see the control of society as equal to controlling individuals, and that is their fallacy and the root of their failure. Groups move in collectives, individuals do not.

American Conservatives are creatures that progressives don't understand. We can't be herded, we can't be appealed to with emotion, and we can't be pigeonholed into demographic segments.

We don't tend to protest in large groups, though we are grudgingly learning this new skill. We can't be led with slogans and appeals to emotion. We may seem disorganized and thus easy to conquer, but we really are a silent majority that will take the necessary actions to protect ourselves and our own and many have begun doint just that - without benefit of leadership or movements. We know how to be self reliant and how to reach out a hand to assist those in need. We are everywhere and seemingly nowhere since we don't make a big to-do about ourselves. And that is a tremendous advantage we have. They can't know our numbers; because, we don't draw attention to ourselves.

A big mistake that the progressives make is that they think we can be organized and controlled. We can't. We don't like yokes and will buck at the first opportunity.
The progressives need pack animals to carry the load and conservatives are, by and large, deciding to just sit down and refuse to move.

We can't be organized; because, unlike the progressives, we don't fit into easily manipulable groupings. We don't like groups for they are anathema to individuality. We truly are a big tent of ideas and philosophies and too disparate because of that to dent our numbers with appeals to our segments.

Freedom and people's natural inclinations for it will be the salvation of this great land. Our forefathers wisely recognized this human need, and it is what will carry us through. Freedom is what individuals will exercise in their rebellion from the yoke. Freedom is unbreakable. It is human nature. And it is happening now.

Progressives don't understand this and don't understand the nature of the individual nor how one thousand thousand thousand separate entities acting alone could defeat the collective of their government hive. But they will learn it the hard way, again. Because it is the nebulousness of what freedom is that is its strength. And it is what puzzles all those of the progressive bent when trying to decipher why their grand experiment failed.

Keep doing what you are doing, don't fret the disorder of our opposition and don't fret the outcome. Freedom is the natural order just as our forefathers understood. And freedom will triumph again...

[clarice]

Daddy, remember Biden thinks that you call a number to get a website. Our solons are so stupid, they've no idea what they're doing. In the past when they had small, experienced older staff much of this was hidden from public view. Now the dopes are led by the noses by 21 year old whiz kids still wet behind the ears and with even less knowledge of the world than their bosses.

About the "Mitt boomlet"--Pheh--there weren't many votes; the votes were close; it all depends on who was there withhis friends to work the crowd. I seriously doubt Romney is the conservative front runner, narciso.
It's rather like ACORN packing the caucuses in Iowa for The Won..

[mel]

Daddy-

Gut, in German, means "good", hence the "Berlin" tag. PUK and I were fooling around with it at the same time, he was nilreb, and I did an acronym, with mel right in the middle of it, of course. Subtle, but fun.

Next time you're in Paris, I have restaurant recommendations. Reasonable, and you won't be disappointed.

[clarice]

Stephanie, I think I love you. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[mel]

Stephanie-

What you said.

Bravo.

[Danube of Thought]

Interesting results at Rasmussen today. His "Presidential Approval Index" is down to +8 (38% strongly approve; 30% strongly disapprove), and the overall approval rating is 56% Both those figures are pretty dramatic shifts; will be interesting to see if they stay in this range in the coming days.

Refresh me--does the annual budget go through the Senate, or is it simply a house function?

[Daddy]

Narciso,

Last week, as has been discussed, Sarah asked for a determination from the IRS if 90 some claims for Per Diem were deductable on her tax forms, and she was told 10 of those were not, so she is paying the back taxes (@7,000 dollars or so) on that. When that criticism started, she released the news that she had overall spent in per-diem related stuff, $900,000 less dollars in her first 2 years as Governor than Murkowsy's last 2 years, and also much less than previous Dem Governor Knowles. Unfortunately, I have searched in vain to find word one of Sarah's saving the State $900K in any major media outlet inside or outside of the state, yet criticism of her 10 per-diem glitches continue to dominate the airwaves and the press. Did anyone at CPAC know that or try to address the horrendously unfair criticism she continues to absorb on a daily basis? I'm out the door this instant, but thought I'd throw this out there for comment. Her per diem faux pas's included stuff like having the State pay for having her kids travel with her to Fairbanks a year back to greet Todd winning the Iron Dog Sled Race...that sort of criminality. Thanks for the write-up of the event.

[mel]

DOT-

It's really just a bill (so to speak), so it has to pass BOTH houses.

As I understand it.

[Stephanie]

It is snowing now!

Aw, shucks... I love y'all, too. And it pains me to see despair from our side.

Despair is for democrats.
Renewal is for republicans...

That is what I tell myself every day. Corny, but it works for me.

[clarice]

DoT only the House can initiate budget bills but both houses have to pass them for them to become law.

[Danube of Thought]

Anybody see any chance the Senate GOP could draw a line in the sand and filibuster this thing?

"A new statewide poll shows 53 percent of Pennsylvanians--and 66 percent of Republicans--want someone to replace Sen. Arlen Specter. Asked whether they think Specter, a Philadelphia Republican, has done his job well enough to win re-election or whether they'd prefer a 'new person' in that job, registered voters by a 53-38 percent margin said it's time to give someone else a chance, according to the poll by Susquehanna Polling and Research."

[RichatUF]

DoT-

House first, then Senate, then conference to work out any kinks. With Deimos and Phobos of Obama's War on the Productive Class in charge of the legistlature, the first Obama budget as law could be an even more frightening thing to behold.

Regarding Obama's cap-and-trade plan, since it will be such a sweeping "fee" imposed by the EPA, I'm sure that it will eventually have to go through the courts, then through the Legistlative branch and can't just be done through executive fiat. The rates that the FCC charges for spectrum licenses also seems more of a legistlative function and the substantial rate increases will probably end up in the courts.

I'm trying to remember back to the late 1990's if there were some cases regarding agency fees and taxes and both my memory and google are failing me. Any thoughts?

[kim]

Incendiary, huh? Well, I'm feeling downright pyromaniacal. Does fire melt Steele?
===========================================

[Rick Ballard]

DoT,

The Rasmussen Approval Index History is a fun read. Obummer has managed to move that spread from +28 at Inauguration to the +8 which you noted in only 40 days while moving "Strongly Disapprove" from 16% to 30% in the same period.

Apparently, to know him is to begin to despise him. I sure hope Fluffle and Axeltoad keep pushing his mug in front of people.

"They are not hiring, and they are educating their own to the dangers ahead."

Stephanie,

Just say "NO" can be pretty effective. For those wishing to take affirmative steps - there's a small private school or a home school group near you that can use your help. If you're having an urge to spend - buy a scholarship. If you want to "do" something, give the home school group a hand. If neither appeals - your local Little League is preparing the Elysian fields for the most important Rite of Spring right now. I try and give the clumps of weeds the names of Dem pols. It makes jerking them out by the roots pure joy.

[Porchlight]

Despair is for democrats.
Renewal is for republicans...

Stephanie, I love this. I am going to say it to myself every day, too.

Re: Steele and Rush - I like Steele but I never got the impression he was a first principles kind of guy, so this isn't surprising, unfortunately.

Peter, you gave up the internet for Lent? I'm impressed. Godspeed to you.

[Danube of Thought]

I have allowed myself to become a bit confused as to what is in the stimulus bill and what is in the budget. Obviously it's too late to fight the stimulus. I'm just curious as to whether there are any major items in the budget that are at risk of getting knocked out one means or another.

Just musing a bit about all of it, I find it hard to imagine this economy being anything like recovering by November 2010, and I just don't believe the populace will still be buying the blame-Bush line. The longer this mess stays with us, the more the perception will grow that everything the Dems have done is exactly wrong. How to undo it is quite another matter, and I don't have a clue.

[Stephanie]

Rick, my son coaches a 13-14 pony team at the local park and we are very active there; although, he no longer plays. He is "giving back" and love the sport. Kim is involved with the golf team and we are supporting First Tee and other efforts in that vein. Kim is also starting a Young Conservatives club at her school and we are assisting in that endeavor. We are not idle. Just say "NO" applies to government and the effluence that flows from it. Bartering is also a trend that is catching on. It is a conscious decision to feed the souls and starve the beast...

[narciso]

Everyone I met Flynn, with one exception, from Texas, to New Jersey to Indiana to Virginia, to the West Virginia fellow, Mike Uhle, was a fan. No one cared about that, except for Mitt who said something to the effect of she should raise her kids, and wait till 2016, and Deroy Murdock, who was still stuck on 'what do you read' yet another RINO formerly?? with the Corner.
That's why the Mitt straw poll seemed very selective and deceptive; it was at odds with
CNN and AOL; that's how out of joint it was.
It was Romney who? except for Adam Brickley,
and that was only to show the debacle from last year. They were actually shocked when they found out some of the barrages she was facing. Ron Paul probably has a following, but is anywhere as deep, and frankly the fact that Judge Napolitano said that line
about Lincoln slaughtering 600,000 Americans
really makes me lose respect for him, and some more for Fox, as if that reservoir hasn't already been drained. No one of note
seems to have heard Sanford, otherwise they would ask who wrote his speech.

[Pofarmer]

If Steele is stupid enough to take on Rush, then the R's are gonna be in the wilderness for a while yet. Look at Rush's ratings vs the "moderate" O-reilly. That ought to tell you everything you need to know.

[Jane]

Well I can see a bump for Mitt easily because of the problem with the economy and idea that he actually understands how it works. I don't think anyone is confusing Obama with someone who has a clue about the economy - and I'm not sure you would randomly attribute that trait to any other republican to the extent you would Romney. I'd vote for him on that reason alone.

[Rick Ballard]

"We are not idle. Just say "NO" applies to government and the effluence that flows from it."

Stephanie,

I meant no implication of idleness on your part nor does 'just saying NO' imply sitting and watching. Barter is good but so is paying green cash to all the service people with whom one has dealings. Cutting credit card purchases by using cash instead (even if you have never paid a dime of interest on a credit card bill) will alleviate costs to the credit card companies. Hair dressers, barbers, people who do nails, waitresses and waiters, household maintenance folks and every small contractor or handyman - they all appreciate a 'pay green' approach.

[Uncle BigBad]

Stephanie

Good recap. You may remember that Lenin discovered that economic communism doesn't work, hence, in 1921, his New Economic Policy (NEP), which was communist-speak for old economic policy. Stalin overturned it in 1928 and millions died.

Mao killed even more than Stalin. He rounded up city dwellers and sent them to work in the countryside. He was called "brilliant."

[JM Hanes]

narciso:

"There was clearly one speaker who had record of rallying huge crowds, who wasn't there."

Unfortunately, there's her mistake, not CPAC's. I'm not sure she's really going to be running for anything. This is the third major gathering that she's whiffed.

She told House Republicans that she couldn't attend their annual Retreat in Virginia, because she had to be in Alaska, and then showed up at an exclusive, closed-door, dinner in DC.

She was a last minute no-show at the National Governors Association conclave in Washington -- which included a governors only meeting with Obama. She chairs the Gov's National Resources Committee and had been expected to co-host a widely publicized panel on energy infrastructure as well.

If she were willing to make herself available, she could appear on any Sunday morning talk show she likes -- which I suspect is when the general public is most likely to tune in. She may have been burned by the press last year, but the antidote to the impression she left is more exposure, not less. She might even get a more congenial reception since she's apparently endorsed the stimulus package. I think that's a serious wrong turn, even if she sees money for Alaska in it.

The Recovery Act and Obama's budget violate every core Republican, not just Conservative, principle. They also represent an unparalleled opportunity for Republicans to distinguish themselves from Democrats on the national public stage and virtually set up the GOP platform for both the 2010 and 2012 elections. The time to stand up and be counted is now, not later.

I think the GOP should be picking its leadership from our governors, not Senators. States rights and executive experience have never been more important, and there are always plenty of in-crowd advisors available to assist with negotiating the ensconced DC power structure. If MItt is winning straw polls, its because he understands the importance of showing up -- and winning over the commentariat -- just as Palin's fellow populist Rush Limbaugh does. I despise the intellectual snobbery among them as much as anyone, but they are the only MSM wedge we've got.

We all know Palin's biography, from which folks extrapolate ostensible positions on the issues, but such assumptions can only carry you so far. McCain completely failed to take advantage of her enormous drawing power, but when it comes to securing an actual nomination for herself, she's not going to be able to swoop in at the last minute again.

If Obama's success makes any one thing clear, it's that building a solid organizational support system is the sine qua non of winning national elections. I suspect there are plenty of people out there like you who are willing and able to be a part of that effort, but she's simply not giving you anything of subtance to do, and she's not showing a lot of apparent interest in leading such a movement or broadening her appeal. I'd like to see her taking a more active role myself. What I'm seeing instead is a lot of potential energy going to waste at a key juncture in her future, and ours.

[Stephanie]

I understand... I have been "green" for years and only have one card. Don't use it. Last two cars were cash purchased used.

We remodeled the entire downstairs last year (wood floors, tile, bathrooms, deck) and any subs were paid in cash (when we didn't do the work ourselves). I'm a GRITS (girl raised in the south) and love to tackle projects myself. I have a pretty mean workshop with an awesome collection of power tools that are mine (not the hubby's)... I have a fondness for power tools. ;)

We are going to start the upstairs this spring and the only subs will be for carpeting, electrical and plumbing. All else will be mine. I figure we need to get the house in order before the hyperinflation sets in. And all will be paid in cash or barter.

[centralcal]

Stephanie - you go girl! I never cared much for power tools, but as a divorced mom there were many projects I tackled back in the day. I remember one boyfriend was absolutely stunned when he asked me what particular piece of jewelry I might like as a present, and I responded, all I want is an electric screw driver. And, I got it! I was so thrilled!

[Danube of Thought]

I'm with you, Jane--at this point I think Romney would be my choice.

O'Reilly says traffic at DailyKos is down 73% from last fall. Is there a waning enthusiasm? Probably not, I guess, but just give it time...

[kim]

I think the answer to Palin's reticence is simple. With the level of hatred toward her manifested last year, she is a dead girl if she perseveres. That's how sick our polity has become.
========================================

[Thomas Collins]

Steele may be bending over backwards not to be too harsh on Zero. Jindal made that mistake in the response to Zero's speech to Congress. I think the GOP's strategy of starting off speeches by praising Obama's desire to get the country moving again, and then offering tepid criticism, is a major blunder. The first talking point should be that Zero's proposed taxing, spending and regulation spree will harm the economy and hurt the middle class the most. I agree that there should be no personal attacks on Zero and his family when GOPers appear on MSM. However, each appearance should start off with pointed criticism of Zero's policies. Limbaugh's it's our money point should be expanded into a statement that it won't be our money if Zero's plans go through. All this should be said with the Reagan smile and optimism. GOP spokescritters don't have to mention 1980, they simply have to adopt Reagan's 1980 attitude. If they can't do it, the GOP needs to find spokescritters, whether currently in or out of office, who can.

[centralcal]

Oh, great! Now ABC via Stephaluppagus is headlining Cantor disagreeing with Rush.

What a bunch of limp wristed, weaklings we have on our side! They just keep on proving Rush right, interview after interview, where they try to appease their liberal questioners. Absolutely sickening.

[Stephanie]

C: love it! I got a wet tile saw for my birthday last year.

You know you have the fevah when you are on a first name basis with all the guys at Lowe's...

Man, we are getting awesome snow! Big wet flakes and no ice. Wonder how long it will take to get to my new job tomorrow? Hate to be late on the first day. If you leave too early you get wiped out on the black ice... if you leave after the black ice has been broken up, you get stuck behind the wrecks... and the milk and bread aisles are empty.

[clarice]

Cantor is not a limp wristed weakling. Remember NOT A SINGLE DEM IN THE HOUSE VOTED FOR THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.

[Jane]

You know I watched Stephanopolus today and saw Eric Cantor and would not have put his remarks on Rush in the top ten headlines. In fact I can't remember what he said about him. (Karl Rove's complete dismantling of the dem talking points was the headline to me but I digress.)

The media has a stake in dividing the republicans and taking down Rush. And I don't see anything we can do about it - unless we build a competing media.

[kim]

Repug, c, repug. Maybe we should change the name to Rebuklicans.
====================================

[kim]

And that was pretty cool that they were unanimous. That highlighted the treachery of the three Senators, and emphasizes that it was the Republicans who saw the error of Obama's ways. That will be a great talking point as his stimuli fail to register.
========================================

[boris]

I'd like to see her taking a more active role myself. What I'm seeing instead is a lot of potential energy going to waste at a key juncture

Oh yeah, missing out on all that love we're seeing for Rush right now.

I think you are wrong about the moment we are in. IMO the muddle needs an Anbar awakening before any surge could be effective. Not there yet.

[Gmax]

Eric Cantor is the way out of the wilderness. You can disagree with Rush and still be a good conservative. I disagree with him frequently, but I will put up my conservative credentials against almost anyone here. Cantor is a very bright, and very articulate spokesman for some fiscal sanity.

Ignor the media, especially CNN. They dont just report - remember their admission on Iraq under Saddam?

[rhymin' simon]

was always wondering when someone was going to ask Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann if their salary should be capped at $500,000 since GE Capital took TARP money.

Obama does not care that the economic predictions of the stimulus bill and the 2010 budget do not align. He is fully aware that the media will not analyze the inconsistancies and that the public as a whole has significant attention deficit disorder due to all the electronic gadgets that they fill their day with. No wone reads much besides the headline or the sound byte.

That is why it was so funny watching Gibbs and Sentelli going at it in front of the camera wheter they read Obama's plan. Neither had and the rest was theatrics.

Additionally that his been the lament of the democratic way. No one has read the fine print. Obama spoke of the great vetting process. They caught Geithner, Daschle, Solis etal but pushed them through anyway. Daschle had already been in violation of the senate lobbying provisions. What do standards and regulations mean if you do not intend to enforce them or selectively do so. Obama's aunt is still here in America.

That is why the contention of Bush or reagan doing away with regulations are so laughable. All we ask is to regulate the rules that are on the books. Madoff and some of the other scoundrels may have been caught.

[kim]

It was bad enough the three Senators' treachery, but what really makes no sense to me at all, was that all they had to do was stick with their caucus and use the wholly acceptable and understandable excuse that no one had read the bill, and even fewer understood it. Absolutely, heh.
=======================================

[DebinNC]

Cantor is not a limp wristed weakling

Yep. The libs are bombarding red/purple districts with the "Party of NO" ads. Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan offered excellent refutation of the ads just by appearing on tv as the decent, principled conservatives they are. Cable talk is not the venue for firebrands imo. I'm just grateful McCain and Graham miraculously weren't scheduled today. I thought they had a permanent gig.

[kim]

I think I'm ready to make the argument that there was less than zero understanding of that bill. Absolutely.
==================================

[kim]

So? Let it be. Just say Nobama.
=================================

[boris]

dividing the republicans and taking down Rush. And I don't see anything we can do about it

Unlike Steele and Cantor they can't make Rush dance by shooting at his feet. If anything their bully tactics just help us in the long run. Reagan never danced for them either.

[Old Lurker]

"We remodeled the entire downstairs last year (wood floors, tile, bathrooms, deck) and any subs were paid in cash"

Assume you remembered to send out the 1099's?

:-)

[Rick Ballard]

C'mon, folks. Take a moment to actually look at Approval Index History cited by DoT. Look at the trajectory over the 40 days since Inauguration. Obummer has drawn a bead on his feet and is managing to hit them every day.

There is absolutely nothing to complain about regarding Republican leadership at this point. Cantor passed his first test as whip in a truly exemplary fashion - you can't do better than 100%. Steele and McConnell haven't stumbled at all. Rush isn't running for anything and if he did his support would cap at well under 50% due to the average intelligence and attention span among the great Muddle.

I'd support a "Specter Out In '10" movement but that's about as far as I'd go at the moment in terms of infighting. When '10 rolls around I'll be supporting anyone mounting a serious challenge to "My Friends" but we're stuck with Graham until '14. Just keep him out of leadership and let us laugh at him.

I hope the Reps stick with "Just say Nobama" on the budget. We should be encouraging them to do so.

[Danube of Thought]

Apparently budget reconciliations can't be filibustered, which is why the White House is considering making its health care package part of the budget.

From The Hill:

"Because they can not be filibustered, budget reconciliations only require 50 votes to pass the Senate. Democrats hold strong majorities in Congress, but still come up short of the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to end debate, which makes it easier for Republicans to block legislation. House rules in comparison make it harder for the minority party to stop bills.

"Still, using budget reconciliation to pass policy proposals is controversial, even among some Democrats who believe doing so strains Senate rules and tradition."

[DebinNC]

Steel denounced the NYP chimp cartoon. Sheesh. He's seeming like a terrible choice.

[peter]

Porchlight wrote:
Peter, you gave up the internet for Lent? I'm impressed. Godspeed to you.

Thanks for the good wishes, P-lite. The first three days were very rough, reminded me of when I quit smoking in the eighties. But I am doing okay now. Still have plenty of reading materials-- magazines, Investors Business Daily, books, etc.

[PD]

I watched Rush's speech yesterday, and I just took a look at the CNN clip of Steele mentioned earlier on this thread.

Steele is correct, Rush is an entertainer. Rush would not deny that. But when Steele says Rush's remarks are incendiary and ugly, he becomes part of the problem with the GOP, not part of the solution.

Rush's remarks were "incendiary" in the sense that they got the crowd "fired up", but certainly not in the sense of "burn down the barn" or "scorched earth." As for "ugly," I don't know what Steele could have been referring to. Perhaps some of Rush's jokes that targeted Dem individuals were unflatterying, but I would not go so far as to say "ugly."

If Steele issues a retraction and says that his words could have been more well chosen, and indicates what he should have said instead, I am inclined to overlook this. If he doesn't, I'll be disappointed and my "part of the problem" comment applies.

In Steele's defense on another matter, I was glad to see him defend Rush against the "I want him to fail" criticism. But he should have gone farther against D.L.Hughley's inanity that it's wrong to want someone's ideas to fail.

I, too, want Obama to fail to implement his policies, because his policies are wrong and dangerous. Why should I want to "give him a chance" when I think what he wants to do is take the country down a very bad path?

Actually, I want Obama to more than fail, because I believe he defiles the presidency. I want him driven from office in disgrace.

[Stephanie]

Assume you remembered to send out the 1099's?

Snort... HAHAHAHAHA... I think I'll use that most useful demism... "I can't recall."

[narciso]

You're right, Rick, a month and a half in, there isn't much more that can be done (only a month and a half)sorry I didn't punch out Matt Cooper, but my heart wasn't in it. the House Republican's vote and Limbaugh's speech was essentially the same message. overreacting again, so soon. Good afternoon, JM

[PD]

Bartering is also a trend that is catching on.

That happened in the Great Depression, too.

[JM Hanes]

LOL Stephanie! I used to hide my electric drill and my skilsaw from my husband. I don't actually like power tools all that much and would rather do things by hand, but when you can't make a straight cut in either board or loaf of bread, you need serious, remedial equipment and a long power cord.

As for remedial politics, I think you're hitting that nail on the head too. State and local activism is where the comeback starts, just as it did last time. Washington politics are seductive, in part because that's something we can all discuss in places like this, but fighting the real battles there is like ceding the terrain to DC at the start.

The only systemic way to counter the nationalization of everything from education, to media, to government is to build up and reinforce the power of the states. They are the only viable alternative to centralized power and control. They represent a constitutional advantage that few nations can claim, and they are ultimately the bulwark against the kind of europeanization that most of us are dreading.

In a move to inoculate themselves from card check legislation, for example, I believe South Carolina just passed or will likely pass a state constitutional amendment requiring secret ballots for any legally binding vote. I'm hoping that kind of push back is what the recent sovereignty resolutions like the one in New Hampshire are about, although I haven't looked into them yet.

[PD]

Just musing a bit about all of it, I find it hard to imagine this economy being anything like recovering by November 2010, and I just don't believe the populace will still be buying the blame-Bush line.

I certainly hope not, but it's not stopping Obama the Mendacious from trying to get as much mileage from that strategy as possible. Taking a look at his budget (PDF

Yeah, inherited. Tell ushow many deficit spending bills you voted against while in the Senate, Mr. President. Tell us how your Dem colleagues insisted on holding the line against deficit spending during the last two years while they controlled Congress, Mr. President. If you inherited anything, it was the very thing that you and yours created. You own this crisis. (If crisis it be.)

Most whiniest president ever.

[PD]

Sheesh.

[boris]

About the whole wanting Obama to fail thingy ...

I recall Obama in an interview claiming that even though the surge worked he would still have voted against it because he "wanted Bush to fail". Didn't use those words exactly, and I have not been able to google up a transcript (Couric interview IIRC) but that was his point.

[Porchlight]

Still have plenty of reading materials-- magazines, Investors Business Daily, books, etc.

Peter, it is an awesome idea. I have a lot of books and back issues to read, too. Hmmm. Scary, but intriguing. It might be fun to track Obama's approval ratings between Ash Wednesday and Easter, during your Lenten absence from the interwebs. ;)

[centralcal]

I don't like anything about Obama's "stimulus" or what he hopes to achieve by basically bankrupting the productive members of American society. I completely agree with Rush that I want his "spread the wealth" plans to fail.

Cantor should be and has been credited and applauded for keeping the House united in their vote against the stimulus. When he goes on T.V. and says he doesn't want Obama's fiscal policies to fail (as a refutation to Rush) then I am confused.

"Defending his attacks against President Barack Obama's economic plans, Limbaugh said Saturday to the conservative conference, "What is so strange about being honest and saying I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundations?"

Cantor today rejected Limbaugh's rhetoric.

"So the Rush Limbaugh approach of hoping the president fails is not the Eric Cantor, House Republican approach?" I asked.

"Absolutely not," Cantor said."

[PD]

boris, if you come across a reference for that please, post it here. I'd be surprised if Obama the Mendacious said something like that so bluntly. It'd be so nakedly cynical and vicious. Even he's usually more, ah, nuanced.

[Rick Ballard]

"there isn't much more that can be done"

Narciso,

I don't mind you not punching Matt Cooper. Much. There is, however, at least a bit more that can be done. Bgates synthesized an exchange that I had with Extraneous in this way:

In the two years since Democrats took control of Congress, more than 2 million Americans have lost their jobs, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped from a high of over 14,000 to today's 7182.

The whole time the Democrats - including Senator Obama - controlled Congress, they complained about the economy and the deficit. They didn't make things better for the country, but they did made things better for themselves. Senator Obama is now President Obama. There are more Democrats and fewer Republicans in Congress, and there is more unemployment and less wealth in the country.

And they're still complaining. They complain the Republicans' plan for fixing the economy returns tax money to the people who earned it instead of having government decide where it should go. They complain the Republicans' plan would be unfair. Maybe that's because it seems so many of them never pay their taxes in the first place.

And the deficit? Obama won election complaining that last year's deficit - which he voted for in Congress - was Bush's fault. That deficit was $455 billion. The budget Obama is sending to the Democratic Congress for next year has a deficit four times as high.

I believe that a regular reiteration the points made is something which every Republican can and should do. Additionally, I would hope that people will become familiar with the argument that Air Taxes and fees (such as that proposed for cell phone usage) are regressive in nature, tending to further immiserate precisely the people whom the faux empath Democrats purport to "help".

[PD]

Cantor today rejected Limbaugh's rhetoric.

"So the Rush Limbaugh approach of hoping the president fails is not the Eric Cantor, House Republican approach?" I asked.

"Absolutely not," Cantor said."

Hm ... does that mean Cantor actually disagrees with Rush, or that he prefers a different approach in opposing the president's policies?

[boris]

Perhaps what Cantor "really means" is that if the porkulus clearly works and sitmulates inmmediate economic recovery he would not be like Obama and say "I would still have voted against it".

[PD]

re: My comment above about the budget, I was objecting to "inherited", but the middle got clipped, making unclear that the objectionable thing was that the budget begins right out of the gate trying shift blame elsewhere. The title of the first section is: Inheriting a Legacy of Misplaced Priorities.

That should have preceded the "Yeah, inherited" rant.

[boris]

PD, here's Byron York

TERRY MORAN: ... If you had to do it over again, knowing what you know now, would you — would you support the surge?

OBAMA: No, because — keep in mind that —

MORAN: You wouldn't?

OBAMA: Well, no, keep — these kinds of hypotheticals are very difficult. Hindsight is 20/20. I think what I am absolutely convinced of is that at that time, we had to change the political debate, because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with…"

Really hard to find for some reason ...

[MayBee]

I think it's good for Republicans to publicly disagree with Rush if they want.
He ISN'T the party. He IS an interesting commentator. He does have interesting things to say and does follow conservative principles always.

But he is being painted as the leader of the Republican party. Chris Matthews and the MSNBC crowd highlight everything he says as the Republican stance, and question every Republican guests' allegiance to him.

Rush is a big boy. He can take the criticism. It's better for everyone if the politicians and commentators aren't in synch all the time.

[JM Hanes]

Cantor is the one who has to marshall actual votes in Congress and if he wants to reject Rush's rhetoric, I'm not going to second guess him or condemn him for blasphemy. Battling with Republicans is just as good for Rush's audience stats as tangling with Democrats -- maybe better. He doesn't hesitate beat up on "fellow" conservatives, so he's hardly a model of party unity himself.

boris:

"IMO the muddle needs an Anbar awakening before any surge could be effective. Not there yet."

We wouldn't have been able to mount a surge if we hadn't already built a presence on the ground. When the "muddle" starts looking around, I'm not sure you want them saying, "Where the hell were you when we needed you?" Far better, IMO, if Republicans can say, We've been fighting this battle, and if you join us we can win."

Thomas Collins:

I agree. Republicans need to be turning Obama's own rhetoric against him. One of the themes I was sorry not to see McCain developing was his comment on Obama's return to the failed policies of the past.