Iraq Elections Succeed Without Incident; President Obama Credits UN Not US Military

REAL Change You Can Believe In

"The purple fingers have returned to build Iraq," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Iraq's Provincial Elections.

We congratulate all the people of Iraq on a job well done and encourage continued success as New World Democracy.


The Iraqi's handled their own security as US Forces take a step back in security for first time.


The Independent has more on how these results will shape the post-US Iraq.

Iraq's Chance For A Happier Future.

The Associated Press has more.

***UPDATE*** From Gateway Pundit.

Barack Obama congratulated the United Nations for the peaceful elections.

ABC News reported:

US President Barack Obama has praised Iraq's provincial elections as an "important step forward" for the future of the country.

"This important step forward should continue the process of Iraqis taking responsibility for their future," Mr Obama said in a statement after millions of Iraqis went to the polls to elect councils in 14 or Iraq's 18 provinces.

Security for the country's first ballot since 2005 was extremely tight, with Iraqi police and military deployed in force, and Mr Obama praised the technical assistance by the United Nations and other organisations to Iraq's electoral commission, which he said "performed professionally under difficult circumstances.

"Mr Obama said "it is important that the councils get seated, select new governors and begin work on behalf of the Iraqi people who elected them."

The United States still has 130,000 soldiers serving in Iraq.

The troubled nation has seen a major turnaround due to the Bush Surge in 2007.

Obama did not mention the American military in his statement.The president's statement was not posted on the White House website.

FBI Shuns CAIR Over Ties to Hamas, Beware of CAIR Says Some House Republicans

From Fox News:

The FBI is severing its once-close ties with the nation's largest Muslim advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, amid mounting evidence that it has links to a support network for Hamas.

All local chapters of CAIR have been shunned in the wake of a 15-year FBI investigation that culminated with the conviction in December of Hamas fundraisers at a trial where CAIR itself was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The U.S. government has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

News Max has the CAIR reaction.

• "This is an unfortunate legacy of the Bush administration's misguided and counterproductive efforts to marginalize mainstream American Muslim organizations," CAIR's national office said in a statement to FOXNews.com. "It is not surprising that we would be singled out by those in the previous administration who sought to prevent us from defending the civil rights of American Muslims. We look forward to better relations with the Obama administration."

Investigative Project on Terrorism has the full report.

***

Members of CAIR are planning a lobbying field trip to Congress.

However, Red County has obtained a letter from some members of the House which states:

Dear Colleague:

Members should think twice before meeting with representatives of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations). The FBI has cut ties with them. There are indications that this group has connections with HAMAS.

Several members of the U.S. House of Representatives Anti-Terror Caucus have sent a Dear Colleague letter today emblazoned with the warning: "Beware of CAIR". The signatories include: Reps. Sue Myrick (R-NC), Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), John Shadegg (R-AZ), and Paul Broun (R-GA). Rep. Myrick is the author of the Wake Up America Agenda aimed at countering Militant Islamic infiltration of American institutions.

***

Sit back and watch how President Obama handles this one. CAIR is a HUGE supporter of Obama having written several statements recently approving of Obama policies on closing GITMO and reaching out to the Muslim world.

Dear President Obama, Maybe That Whole "Meeting With Iran Without Precondition" Thing Was A Mistake? It's Time to Change Your Policy

Change That Makes America Look Weak In The Eyes of The Enemy

President Obama, maybe you need to reconsider your diplomacy.

Just days ago, Iran President Mahmoud, in a move to belittle America, called on Obama to apologize for America's past treatment of Iran.

Now the Irani government confirms that Obama's push for "open" diplomacy with Iran makes the United States look weak.

Remember what happened last time Radical Islamists saw the United States as weak?

From Breitbart:

US President Barack Obama's offer to talk to Iran shows that America's policy of "domination" has failed, the government spokesman said on Saturday.

"This request means Western ideology has become passive, that capitalist thought and the system of domination have failed," Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.

"Negotiation is secondary, the main issue is that there is no way but for (the United States) to change," he added.

"If countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us," Obama told al-Arabyi in his controversial first televised interview as sitting President.

CBS News' Leily Lankarani in Tehran reports Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has turned that comment around on Washington. "If there is any clenched fist in the world, it is the fist of the U.S.A.," Hasan Ghashghavi told a group of journalists Wednesday during a visit to Japan. "Now, in the aftermath of President Obama's slogan of 'change,' the world is waiting to see what is in the unclenched fist of President Obama," said Ghashghavi.

Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossien Elham said Tuesday: "We will watch to see whether a change has occurred or not, and we shall monitor the (political) ambience and will make our remarks in the right time." Balance that on the fact that Elham was attending a conference called "Holocaust: A Sacred Lie of the West."

NPR has more from Ahmadinejad.

• On Wednesday, Iran's President Ahmadinejad made it clear that as far as he was concerned, the U.S. would have to remove the perceived threat to his nation before Iran could believe the new U.S. president was serious about engagement.
  



• Wherever there is war, Ahmadinejad told a crowd in the western city of Kermanshah, it is either because of America's military presence or America's improper interference. When they say the policy is going to change, Ahmadinejad said, it means they should remove their military forces and take them to their own borders.
  

Stealth Care: Sneaky Democrats Slip National Healthcare/Socialized Medicine Into Stimulus Bill

Wow and we all thought the stimulus was about creating jobs! Pork, pork and more pork.

More Socialism right under our noses!


Democratic Stealth Care (Wall Street Journal Editorial)

With the nation preoccupied by the financial crisis, Democrats have been quietly working to nationalize health care.

Tom Daschle is still waiting to be confirmed as secretary of health and human services, not that he's in any rush. Democrats are already enacting his and Barack Obama's agenda of government-run health care -- entirely on the QT.

This was the real accomplishment of this week's House vote for the $819 billion "stimulus," and is the overriding theme of Congress's first month. With the nation occupied with the financial crisis, and with that crisis providing cover, Democrats have been passing provision after provision to nationalize health care.

If Democrats learned anything from the HillaryCare defeat, it was the danger of admitting to their wish to federalize the health market. Since returning to power, they've pursued a new strategy: to stealthily and incrementally expand government control. "What no one is paying attention to in the [stimulus]," says Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, "is that Democrats are making a big grab at the health-care sector."

It began one week after the swearing-in, when Nancy Pelosi whipped through a big expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The Schip bill was Democrats' first stab at stealth expansion, unveiled in 2007, though vetoed by George W. Bush.

Heritage mentioned the same earlier this week:

Last Friday we warned you about some family planning provisions tucked away in the House stimulus bill. Some conservative lawmakers then took up the issue on the Sunday shows, and the provisions quickly became a symbol of how completely unrelated to “economic stimulus” the House bill really is.

Being the savvy political operator he is, President Barack Obama has now instructed House Democrats to remove that one provision. But, like much of Obama’s presidency so far, this was a completely symbolic move. The family planning provisions are just one small loophole inside of a massive new permanent expansion of socialized medicine.

Don’t believe us? Here is how the New York Times reports (not editorializes, hard news reports) on the bill:

The stimulus bill working its way through Congress is not just a package of spending increases and tax cuts intended to jolt the nation out of recession. For Democrats, it is also a tool for rewriting the social contract with the poor, the uninsured and the unemployed, in ways they have long yearned to do.

As Congress rushes to inject cash into a listless economy, it is setting aside many of the restraints that have checked new domestic spending for more than a decade. The economic stimulus bill prevents states from enforcing a means test.

Republicans said this proposal would take a big step toward federalizing Medicaid. For their part, Democrats said the changes took a major step toward their goal of coverage for all Americans.

This is why long time advocates for socialized medicine, like Ways and Means health subcommittee chair Pete Stark (D-CA), have been telling reporters not to expect any other health care legislation this year.

This “stimulus” bill is the left’s major down payment for socialized medicine. By making everyone eligible, the bill makes government health care the default option for the unemployed.

Coupled with their SCHIP legislation that makes three-fourths of all American children eligible for Medicaid, this stimulus bill is designed to maximize the pushing of Americans off their current private coverage and into government run health care.

***

National Healthcare! Here we come! It didn't work anywhere else in the world so let's try it here!

Reminder, President Obama has been in office fo only 11 days.

Liberals Encourage Tax Cuts... For Hollywood Friends Only

More Political payback! Anyone surprised? Did the President text Scarlet Johansen about this? Denzel? Clooney? Tom Hanks?

Does Hollywood really need any more help making money?

From The Wall Street Journal

• National Journal reported this week that the Senate's economic stimulus bill includes a provision that would make Hollywood studios eligible for a special 50% write-off of equipment purchases. According to the report, "the provision is backed by firms like the Walt Disney Co., and the industry trade group the Motion Picture Association of America."

• The House version of the stimulus already includes a bonus depreciation that lets businesses immediately write off 50% of their 2009 capital expenditures. But the Senate bill expands the definition of "qualifying property" -- specifically to include "certain motion picture film or videotape." Hollywood moguls like Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and George Lucas were among the biggest backers of President Obama's candidacy, and it looks as though Democrats have found a way to return the favor.
• 
  
• So let's see: Democrats object to cutting the U.S. 35% corporate tax rate -- which is higher than in all of Europe, undermines economic growth and discourages job creation -- for all companies on grounds that it favors the rich and powerful. But Democrats will carve out tax loopholes for businesses they like and that write them campaign checks.

Obama Commerce Secretary Pick Will Give Liberal Senators Filibuster-Proof Super Majority

Rumor has it President Obama may tap New Hampshire Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be his Commerce Secretary.

However, if he were to accept the position, New Hampshire's Democrat Governor John Lynch would appoint a replacement for Gregg.

Obviously, Lynch would appoint a fellow Democrat.

Remembering that Stuart Smalley Al Franken will most likely be successful in stealing the Minnesota Senate seat, this will give the Democrats their coveted "Super Majority" of 60-40. Republicans in the Senate would have no method to stop legislation of any kind.

The Radical Liberal Socialists will then have complete control over the White House, The House of Representatives and the US Senate.

That should scare the crap out of you.

We strongly encourage Gregg to remove himself from consideration. This is nothing more than a calculated political play by Obama and Harry Reid.

Contact Senator Gregg.

Congress Wants To Spend Millions To Buy, Crush and Destroy Cars... No, Seriously They Do

Change You Can Crush!

Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act basically will spend your tax money for the government to buy "fuel inefficient" cars and well, crush and shred them.

Millions of dollars to crush and shred cars. Can't make this stuff up, folks.

Read the full text of HR 520 and S 247 here.

From SEMA.org:

Our efforts to prevent Congress from including a nationwide “Cash for Clunkers” program in the economic stimulus package have been successful – so far. Thousands of SEMA members and SEMA Action Network (SAN) enthusiasts contacted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in opposition to the plan. The Speaker’s Office informed us that your emails, calls and faxes were received and, thanks to your work, Cash for Clunkers was not included in the economic stimulus package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Unfortunately, new legislation (S 247 and HR 520) has been introduced in Congress to create a national vehicle scrappage program which will give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in their “gas guzzlers” to have them crushed. Lawmakers need to scrap this idea!

Contact Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) Immediately to Oppose S. 247 and H.R. 520

The so-called “Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act” is Cash for Clunkers with a twist. Instead of focusing exclusively on older cars, this program would target vehicles with low fuel economy ratings of any model year. Vehicles targeted for the scrap pile will likely include Chevy Blazers, Chevy Silverados, Chevy S-10s, Chevy Tahoes, Dodge Dakotas, Dodge Rams, Ford Explorers, Ford F-Series, Jeep Cherokees, Jeep Wranglers and any other SUV or truck that obtains less than 18 miles per gallon. Participants would receive cash vouchers ranging from $2,500 to $4,500 based on the model year and whether the replacement vehicle was a more fuel-efficient new car or used car (MY 2004 or later). Fuel-efficient is defined as getting at least 25 percent better mileage for the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) target for its class. It will be illegal to resell the scrapped vehicles. Bill sponsors want to destroy four million pickups and SUVs over the next four years.

Talking Points From SEMA

• • I am writing to urge lawmakers not to approve an “accelerated vehicle retirement” program. This is a misguided attempt to spur car sales and claim that the country’s fleet fuel mileage is being improved.
  


• • An accelerated vehicle retirement program is flawed because it does not factor-in how many miles-a-year the collected vehicles are currently being driven. U.S. taxpayers will be buying rarely-driven second and third vehicles that have minimal impact on overall fuel economy and air pollution.
  


• • The program will reduce the number of vehicles available for low-income individuals and drive up the cost of the remaining vehicles and repair parts.
  


• • The program fails to acknowledge driver needs, such as the ability to transport a family, tow a trailer or rely upon the performance, safety and utility characteristics associated with the larger vehicles.
  

• • Any vehicle scrappage program threatens enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and customization projects. An accelerated retirement program will reduce the availability of affordable transportation and repair parts used by low-income drivers. It will also compete with the Salvation Army, the Purple Heart and other charities that rely on vehicle donations to raise money.

(Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit)

Now We Know Where To Put GITMO Detainees! Problem Solved

Bravo! Problem Solved! Bravo!

With the President ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay, the question arises: what to do with the prisoners there?

Of course, there are some on the left that think they need to be released. This, despite ongoing reports of former detainees returning to terrorism.

However, let’s assume that the administration recognizes that the bad guys are bad guys and need to be kept locked up somewhere.

Some states are saying they don’t want them. And I agree. I don’t want my state housing them.

But, then again, my state voted for McCain.

I have a solution that ought to make everybody happy: Spread the Guantanamo Bay prisoners around among the states that voted for Obama. I mean, after all, he campaigned on the promise to close Gitmo. So it’s not like they didn’t know he’d do it, right?

Well, it was okay with them if he did. So much so that they voted him into office.

I’m for having those responsible for putting Obama into office having to put up with the consequences.

Here’s the plan: There are, by one count, 245 prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. 28 states and the District of Columbia awarded 365 Electoral Votes to Obama.
Spread them out accordingly.

For each Electoral Vote for Obama, a state gets just over 2/3 (0.671) of a prisoner. Here’s the breakdown:


State .............. Electoral Votes .....................Prisoners California....................55.....................................36
Colorado.......................9........................................6
Connecticut..................7........................................5
Delaware.......................3........................................2
D.C................................3........................................2
Florida.........................27......................................18
Hawaii...........................4........................................3
Illinois..........................21.......................................14
Indiana.........................11.........................................7
Iowa...............................7.........................................5
Maine............................4.........................................3
Maryland.....................10.........................................7
Massachusetts.............12.........................................8
Michigan......................17........................................11
Minnesota....................10.........................................7
Nebraska........................1.........................................1
Nevada............................5........................................3
New Hampshire.............4........................................3
New Jersey....................15......................................10
New Mexico....................5........................................3
New York.......................31......................................21
North Carolina..............15......................................10
Ohio...............................20......................................13
Oregon.............................7........................................5
Pennsylvania..................21......................................14
Rhode Island...................4........................................3
Vermont..........................3........................................2
Virginia.........................13.........................................9
Washington...................11.........................................7
Wisconsin......................10........................................7
.....................................365....................................245

Obama Tells Pentagon To Slash $55 Billion From Defense Budget, Obama Would Rather Spend $1 Trillion on Pork Than Defend The Constitution

"I, Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Fox News broke this story Friday Night:

• The Obama administration has asked the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff to cut the Pentagon's budget request for the fiscal year 2010 by more than 10 percent -- about $55 billion -- a senior U.S. defense official tells FOX News.
  
• Last year's defense budget was $512 billion. Service chiefs and planners will be spending the weekend "burning the midnight oil" looking at ways to cut the budget -- looking especially at weapons programs, the defense official said.

The honeymoon, Mr. President, is now officially over. This is beyond outrageous. This is anti-American, like every other thing you have done in your first 11 days in office.

I'm sure the bleeding-heart, leftist, radical, tree-hugging, new-Marxist socialists who you pal around with view honeybee insurance, STD "prevention", ACORN payback and "fish barriers" to be more important than national security, protecting Americans and defending the Constitution.

We, however, do not.

This is exactly why people like Rush Limbaugh hope you fail. We don't want America to fail, we want the Obama/Pelosi/Reid radical anti-American agenda to fail.

WARNING, MR. PRESIDENT: One, Just One Act of Terror on American soil under your watch will destroy your Presidency and tarnish your precious ego for eternity.

Think about that when you go to sleep at night, sir.

The time has come to fight back, America. Raise your voice, contact your Representative, Senator and The President directly and let them know how you feel.

Remember, President Obama is committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history.

(Hat Tip: Doug Ross)

Obama Hypocrisy 2.0: Another Tax Scandal in The Obama Machine: HHS Pick Daschle Had "Some Tax Issues" Amounting to $100,000

More Change You Can Cheat the IRS In

UPDATE: There's more! $140,000 more! Good grief! And, Obama team is manipulating the media. Shocker.

Fox News is reporting:

The White House has acknowledged that former Sen. Tom Daschle, President Obama's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, had "some tax issues," which, the administration says, have been resolved and shouldn't bar his confirmation as secretary.

FOX News confirmed that Daschle alerted the Senate Finance Committee, which will oversee his confirmation hearing, that the matter involves more than $100,000 in back taxes and interest for a car and driver that was provided to him for four years by Leo Hindery, a wealthy Democratic donor and longtime friend of Daschle's.

Wow! And here we thought IRS Chief Timothy Geithner's $42,000 "hiccup" was bad.

But what's worse is that both Daschle's wife and chief of staff are the latest to violate Obama's BS Ethics/Anti-Lobbyist Execute Order.

They have both been lobbyist for health care issues and Daschle is set to become Health and Human Services Director and Obama's "Health Czar".

What a complete joke. Seriously. This is just hilarious.

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose the more that things change, the more they stay the same

Congratulations Michael Steele!

Michael Steele was elected as Chairman of the Republican National Committee today. Steele is a fantastic choice, a man of great character and conviction who can ignite a much needed spark into the Republican party.

View Steele's Acceptance Speech



He is a young, African-American, and a magnetic personality who will bring a much need voice to the GOP and can clearly articulate the conservative message.

Steele served as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 2003-2007 and has also served as the Chairman of GOPAC.

"We're going to say to friend and foe alike: 'We want you to be a part of us, we want you to with be with us.' And for those who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over," Steele said.

"There is not one inch of ground that we're going to cede to anybody," he added.

"This is the dawn of a new party moving in a new direction with strength and conviction."

Steele ran for US Senate in 2006 and was subjected to one of the most vile, if not illegal Democratic campaign tactics in history. His social security number was fraudulently stolen and the Democratic operatives working under then head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chuck Schumer illegally obtained a copy of Steele's not-so perfect credit report.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Michael Steele

Read more here and here.

Obama: Economy Is A "Continuing Disaster", More Doom and Gloom, Less Hope and Change

Obama calls economic slump "continuing disaster"
From Breitbart:

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the economic slump is a "continuing disaster" for America's families and says the country's leaders can't "drag our feet" on finding solutions for the ailing economy.

Obama then announced series of orders aimed at "leveling the playing field" for America's workers.

By "leveling the playing field", the President gave some political payback to the Unions who helped elect him, again reversing a Bush policy.

Press Secretary Peter Griffin then dodged FOX News Major Garret's question on the rhetoric. VIDEO coming soon.

Senate Adds Even More Pork To "Economic Stimulus" Generational Theft Act. Honeybee Flood Insurance, ATV Trails, STD Prevention and Fish Barriers

SOURCE:
In Addition To Earmarks In House Bill, Senate Bill Includes Millions For Projects From Fish Barriers To ATV Trails To Honey Bee Insurance

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: “We Will Ban All Earmarks In The Recovery Package.” (Barack Obama, Press Conference, 1/6/09)

• $20 million “for the removal of small- to medium-sized fish passage barriers.” (Pg. 45 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “20,000,000 for the removal of small- to medium-sized fish passage barriers)

• $400 million for STD prevention (Pg. 60 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “CDC estimates that a proximately 19 million new STD infections occur annually in the United States …The Committee has included $400,000,000 for testing and prevention of these conditions.”)

• $25 million to rehabilitate off-roading (ATV) trails (Pg. 45 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “$25,000,000 is for recreation maintenance, especially for rehabilitation of off-road vehicle routes, and $20,000,000 is for trail maintenance and restoration”)

• $34 million to remodel the Department of Commerce HQ (Pg. 15 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: $34,000,000 for the Department of Commerce renovation and modernization”)

• $70 million to “Support Supercomputing Activities” for climate research (Pgs. 14-15 of Senate Appropriations Committee Report: $70,000,000 is directed to specifically support supercomputing activities, especially as they relate to climate research)

• $150 million for honey bee insurance (Pg. 102 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “The Secretary shall use up to $ 50,000,000 per year, and $150,000,000 in the case of 2009, from the Trust Fund to provide emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary”)

What the hell is a "fish barrier"? Protecting bees from disease? Remodeling the Commerce Department? Can we wait until we actually have a Commerce Secretary? ATV Trails? Are you kidding me?

***
Generational Theft Act: At least the Oklahoma Senators looking out for the folks!

U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn weighed in Thursday against a massive package of spending and tax cuts designed to stimulate the economy.

Joining a group of fellow Republican senators, the two Oklahomans questioned whether many of the areas funded in the $800 billion-plus measure would actually end up providing a much-needed economic boost.

"We know what works," Inhofe said, citing previous packages that succeeded.

He repeated his previous comments of disappointment that spending on infrastructure projects such as highways is not a bigger percentage of the bill. Citing the package's historic price tag, Inhofe said that each of the 3 million to 4 million jobs expected to be created would cost about $295,000. Coburn also said spending on certain areas would help but predicted 80 percent of the money in the bill would not stimulate the economy.

"This is about spending money we don't have for things we don't need," he said.

Coburn said cities across Oklahoma have prepared their own lists of projects they hope to get funded.

"Everybody wants their share," he said. Future generations will be denied wealth, Coburn said, if the bill passes. "This bill is a generational theft bill," he said.

***

It is widely speculated that some key Republican Senators will support the stimulus. Please contact them and ask them to support their fellow conservatives.

Sen. Susan Collins (202) 224-2523
Sen. Olympia Snowe (202) 224-5344
Sen. Arlen Specter (202) 224-4254


View the full Senate Contact List here. They serve us!

Stop The Stimulus!

How Obama Got Elected Documentary Film Maker John Ziegler To Visit "The View" On Monday

Dear John Ziegler/"How Obama Got Elected" Mailing List Members:

Just a quick note to let you know that I will be a guest on this coming Monday's edition of "The View" on ABC TV to talk about my recent interview with Sarah Palin, which is somehow still making news. It looks like I am scheduled for the final segment of the show, live from NYC. It should be interesting. Thanks for your continued support. The film is coming along great and I will update you soon with more information.

All the best

John Ziegler

***

Stay informed on Liberal Media Bias and visit HowObamaGotElected.com

Civil War 2.0: Bring It! It's Already Been Brought! Obama Releases the Hounds On Rush Limbaugh! Obama 2.0: Obama's Army Faces First Combat Mission

Change You Can Put Aside Childish Thing And Then Act Childish and Believe In.

Obama's Army receives its first marching orders! Snap!


NewsBusters has the latest on the Obama/Limbaugh Feud.


The Radio Equalizer blog just broke the news that “a group of Obamists headed by MoveOn.org are planning an anti-Rush Limbaugh attack radio ad campaign.” The radio spots, “set to begin tomorrow [Friday] on stations nationwide,” are “designed to put pressure on GOP moderates in the U.S. Senate who might be inclined to follow the lead of their House counterparts” who unanimously voted against President Obama's “stimulus” package.


Radio Equalizer's Brian Maloney has the transcript of the attack ad, which ends:

• NARRATOR: Now the Obama plan goes to the Senate. And the question is: Will our Senator, (insert name here), side with Rush Limbaugh too?
  


• LIMBAUGH: I HOPE HE FAILS!
  


• NARRATOR: Or, will he reject the partisanship and failed economic policies of the past, and stand up for the people of (state).
  Call Senator (insert name here) now at (202) 224-3121. Tell him he represents you, not Rush Limbaugh.

Wow! It's on like Donkey Kong! Release the hounds!

Bipartisan 101: Senators Want to Make Sure Only American Citizens Get Stimulus Plan Jobs, "Gang of 14" Bonds Together To Fight Obama/Pelosi Pork Bill

"We need to sit down and see who owns these projects. We need to keep (the bill's cost in check) and see if we cant change around what's underneath that to create more jobs." -- Democrat Senator Ben Nelson from Nebraska.

Despite the myriad arguments about whether the Economic Recovery/Liberal Wish List Spending Bill will actually create any jobs, at least 2 Senators have real American interests in mind.

Fox News has learned the "Gang of 14" is re-emerging to reduce pork and to create real jobs!

• Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., who famously gathered Republicans and Democrats in a so-called "Gang of 14" to avert a shutdown of the Senate over judicial nominations, is aiming for similar bipartisanship in the stimulus debate. Nelson told FOX News he has invited a group to his office Friday to see if more can be done to create jobs in the stimulus bill -- such as a major boost in funding for infrastructure projects, which appeal to many of his colleagues.
• 
  
• "We need to focus this on getting people back to work quickly," Nelson said.
• 
  
• The "Gang of 14" compromise in 2006 displeased many conservatives. Republicans controlled both houses of Congress at the time, and those involved in the compromise group agreed to take some of the party's power options off the table in exchange for Democratic promises not to filibuster Bush's judicial nominees except under "extreme circumstances."
• 
  
• Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate who was a member of the original "Gang" and a close friend of Nelson's from their time on the Senate Armed Services Committee, got an invite, as has Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Nelson's energy compromise group colleague. On the Democratic side, Nelson has reached out to Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., a strong ally of President Obama, as well as Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and freshman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
• 
  
• "Warner's a former governor, so he gets it," said Nelson, himself a popular former governor, in Nebraska.

A for Effort Mr. Nelson and Mr. Sessions! Bravo.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) are urging Senate leaders to include provisions in the massive economic stimulus bill to guarantee that jobs created by the recovery package go to American citizens, not illegal immigrants.

In a co-authored letter, Nelson and Sessions argue that the use of E-Verify, the government’s citizenship verification program, should be required for businesses benefiting from the stimulus package. The E-Verify system allows employers to quickly check a prospective employee’s information against the government’s immigration databases. The program currently operates on a voluntary basis.

The senators say the program should be mandatory for jobs created by the stimulus.“With so many Americans out of work today, this economic recovery package must focus on the creation and retention of jobs,” said Senator Nelson.

“We must do our best to make sure that the jobs this package creates and supports go to the American people.”

Nelson and Sessions said that inclusion of a mandatory E-Verify provision would be a “key factor” as they evaluate the spending proposal.“American taxpayers are going to pay for every penny of this massive stimulus bill if Congress approves it,” Sessions said. “The purpose of the package is to create new jobs for Americans. One common-sense way to ensure that lawful citizens benefit from the proposal is to require businesses to check a job applicant’s legal status using the E-Verify system.”

***
Read the full letter to Senate Leadership here.

VIDEO: Terror Sponser Iran Publicly Hangs Prisoners, Obama Wants to Meet "Without Precondition"

Iran is killing our troops, hanging prisoners, asking US to apologize for "crimes" against Iran... let's do lunch!

This video was taken at one of the mass public hangings:


Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit

How disgustingly inappropriate can your foreign policy get, Mr. President?

VIDEO: Rep. Mike Pence Defends Rush Limbaugh "Not a Racist"

More Vile "Rules of Radicals"-Inspired Obama Propaganda From MSNBC

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) defends Rush Limbaugh against vicious attack from MSNBC.

MSNBC is in the tank with Obama and should just become a Political Action Committee.

"Buy American" Stimulus Bill Provision Skips Headlines, Sparks Debate, US Business, European Union, World Trade Organization, Canada Oppose Obama Plan

Change you can alienate our worldwide economic partners and allies to

A bad idea just got worse. Vladimir Putin of all people compared the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Spending Bill to the failed economic policies of the former Soviet Union.

Americans are not the only ones fuming mad.

• (AFP)Leading business interests, however, warned that such measures could trigger trade wars that only will exacerbate the slump in trade volumes and economic growth stemming from the global financial crisis.
  
• "Since 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States, American workers would be the first to suffer as 'Buy American' provisions trigger retaliation by other countries -- that is, 'Buy German,' 'Buy Chinese,' and so on," said Chris Braddock of the US Chamber of Commerce.
  
• "We certainly aren't against companies and governments 'Buying American,' but we are against the government arbitrarily mandating such a requirement, because it would harm our economy in numerous ways," Braddock said, citing the trade wars that eventually sparked the Great Depression."
• The Chamber is absolutely committed to avoiding a replay of that disaster," he said.
  
• The House's "Buy American" provision bars spending on any infrastructure project "unless all of the iron and steel used in the project is produced in the United States."

Now You Did It! You Pissed off Canada!

• On Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper added Canada's name to the growing list of U.S. trade partners, from the European Union to Australia, who are seeking to overturn the provision.
  
• "This is obviously serious matter and a serious concern to us," Harper told the House of Commons, adding that he had spoken about the matter with Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Michael Wilson.
  
• "I know that countries around the world are expressing grave concern about some of these measures, that go against not just the obligations of the United States, but frankly, the spirit of our G20 discussions," the prime minister added.

Under the North America Free Trade Agreement, which the President opposes, Canada sells 40% of its steel to the US. Obama used inaccurate job-loss facts about NAFTA as an explotative campaign tactic.

Red County adds that this provision will make the economy worse.

• It mandates that projects funded by the bill use only American-made products. So basically it is saying that the federal and state government should pay more money to do these projects or buy inferior goods merely to please inefficient domestic companies. Since the whole bill is waste, I guess the whole idea of trying to get the best deal possible isn't all that important. But it is important to avoid the type of of retaliatory protectionism that may be engendered. Other governments are launching equally-misguided stimulus bills. American companies would benefit from these governments buying American goods. But if these governments act in a similar fashion and impose "Buy British" or "Buy German" requirements, it will only prolong our economic woes.

War Against Free Trade

• Opponents, including some of the biggest blue-chip names in American industry, say it amounts to a declaration of war against free trade. That, they say, could spark retaliation from abroad against U.S. companies and exacerbate the global financial crisis."

Great, now we've successfully pissed off our allies and trade partners. Is this renewing our standing in world, Mr. President?

What a First 10 Days!

Obama Hypocrisy 2.0: $100 Steaks Served at White House Keg Party

Change You Can Waste

According to ABC’s Jake Tapper, the snacks that were served at last night's Kegger at the White House were not exactly chips and dip.

Hors d'œuvres -- chicken curry, wagyu steak -- will be served in addition to drinks.

President Obama, it should be noted, is not a particularly big drinker, though he has been known to enjoy a vodka martini time and again.

Malkin brings us this:

• Yeah, “wagyu steak.” $100 per serving delicacy. I had to look it up, too.

And here we were lobbying for pigs in a blanket to celebrate the Pork Spending Act of 2009!

"The cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and states of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on."

--Barack Obama, Speech in the U.S. Senate, March 13, 2006

President Obama has been a strong advocate for sound budget practices and the reduction of wasteful spending in Washington.

Really? Change? Really?

BREAKING NEWS: Bye Bye Blago, Governor Impeached

Thursday January 29th, 2009 5:40 PM

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been unanimously impeached by the Illinois State Senate.





We will miss you Blago. We will miss you.

Fight the good fight, prove yourself innocent if you can. We will support you when we can.

Good luck, Rod.

We heart Blago.

Obama Hypocrisy 2.0: Some Like It Hot, But Only If You're The President Can You Set Your Thermostat to 72 Degrees of Higher

Change you can grow orchids in.

Barack Obama said last year on the campaign trail that “we can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK.”

That was then, this is now.

From the NY Times puff piece on the "casual" President:

The capital flew into a bit of a tizzy when, on his first full day in the White House, President Obama was photographed in the Oval Office without his suit jacket. There was, however, a logical explanation: Mr. Obama, who hates the cold, had cranked up the thermostat.


“He’s from Hawaii, O.K.?” said Mr. Obama’s senior adviser, David Axelrod, who occupies the small but strategically located office next door to his boss. “He likes it warm. You could grow orchids in there.”

Wait a second!? We thought he was from Illinois... you know the Land of Lincoln!? That's for clearing that up, Dave!

Oh that's right... he is from the place that suits his snarky mood of the day... Michelle Malkin reminds the President mocked Washingtonians yesterday, telling them to "toughen up" in the cold and ice and snow.

Illinois Governor Goes Down Swinging! Blago Calls for President Obama to Fire Rahm Emanuel

(Soon to be ex-) Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said he believes the real impetus for his impeachment is the prescription drug program and that lawmakers should “demand that President Obama fire Rahm Emanuel” because he too favored the bill.




Blagojevich also named the Governors of Wisconsin, Kansas and Vermont as well as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) as lawmakers who should be “indicted as co-conspirators” if he is removed from office.


"I have done nothing wrong." Blago says if he did anything illegal he would have resigned in December.



"How can you throw a governor out of office, and you haven't been able to show or prove any criminal wrongdoing?" he said. "How can you throw a governor out of office who is clamoring and begging to bring witnesses in?"

We Heart Blago!

View more video from Blago's speech here.

Ben Smith and Andy Barr at Politico have more.

What Do Americans Really Think of The Economic Stimulus Bill? Less Than Half of Americans Support The President's Economic Plan

From a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll:

Less than half (45%) of Americans believe the Spending Bill passed in the US House yesterday will actually help the economy. Maybe that's because 61% of Americans think government is part of the problem.

Our question to Americans then: "Why did you elect Senator Government to become President Government, if Government is part of the Problem?"

Now, consider this: more Americans (50%) believe that "tax cuts" are more beneficial to the economy than people (28%) who think "spending" is the answer. 14% of Americans believe that we need both kinds.

Again, America: "Why did we elect a President and a Congress who favor spending your money as opposed to letting you keep it?"


65% of Americans think it is a bad idea to move away from capitalism and towards socialism (88% of Republicans, 68% of Independents but only 47% of Democrats think socialism is a bad idea.)

So, stop voting for Socialists!

According to a new Rasmussen poll, only 42% of Americans support the stimulus plan. That is a 3% drop from last week's approval numbers. While hard line Republicans and Democrats remain pretty even, 50% of Independents now oppose the plan as opposed to last week when only 37% opposed.

Knowledge is power and it's amazing to see support for the bogus spending bill wane as people become more familiar with it. Are Indepedents already starting to think twice about their election choices?

Another poll shows that 53% of Americans believe tax cuts are more effective than spending programs. 24% favor large spending bills. Rasmussen also reports that 59% of Americans fear that Obama and Congress will "increase government spending too much in the next year or two."

Then why did we elect these people?

We encourage all Americans to contact their Senator this week and encourage them to oppose the bill. Congress and the President need to go back to the drawing board on this Economic Recovery Plan and truly make it a bipartisan plan that will actually be timely, targeted and temporary.

Mr. President and Madame Speaker: Put your childish "we won" games aside.


***
Read the complete Fox poll. Lots of fun stuff for people who like numbers

Rumblin', Fumblin', Stumblin': Nancy Pelosi Uh... Explains How Uh... $335 Million in STD Research Will Uh... Stimulate the Economy Uh...Um...What?

Via Breitbart




"There is a uh-um uh - I'm a big believer in prevention, and we have, uh, there's a uh... a part of the bill on the health side of it that is about prevention. It's about uh... it being less expensive to the states to do these prevention measures." -- Pelosi

I encourage anyone to explain what the hell she is talking about. Honestly. No idea.

The Rush Limbaugh Stimulus Compromise Package

Just because we are still trying to initiate intelligent, rational and responsible debate over what is best for the American Economy. El Rushbo is making the same arguement this blog has been advocating since its recent inception.

From The Wall Street Journal:

By RUSH LIMBAUGH

There's a serious debate in this country as to how best to end the recession. The average recession will last five to 11 months; the average recovery will last six years. Recessions will end on their own if they're left alone. What can make the recession worse is the wrong kind of government intervention.

I believe the wrong kind is precisely what President Barack Obama has proposed. I don't believe his is a "stimulus plan" at all -- I don't think it stimulates anything but the Democratic Party. This "porkulus" bill is designed to repair the Democratic Party's power losses from the 1990s forward, and to cement the party's majority power for decades.

Keynesian economists believe government spending on "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects -- schools, roads, bridges -- is the best way to stimulate our staggering economy. Supply-side economists make an equally persuasive case that tax cuts are the surest and quickest way to create permanent jobs and cause an economy to rebound. That happened under JFK, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. We know that when tax rates are cut in a recession, it brings an economy back.

Recent polling indicates that the American people are in favor of both approaches.

Notwithstanding the media blitz in support of the Obama stimulus plan, most Americans, according to a new Rasmussen poll, are skeptical. Rasmussen finds that 59% fear that Congress and the president will increase government spending too much. Only 17% worry they will cut taxes too much. Since the American people are not certain that the Obama stimulus plan is the way to go, it seems to me there's an opportunity for genuine compromise. At the same time, we can garner evidence on how to deal with future recessions, so every occurrence will no longer become a matter of partisan debate.

Congress is currently haggling over how to spend $900 billion generated by American taxpayers in the private sector. (It's important to remember that it's the people's money, not Washington's.) In a Jan. 23 meeting between President Obama and Republican leaders, Rep. Eric Cantor (R., Va.) proposed a moderate tax cut plan. President Obama responded, "I won. I'm going to trump you on that."

Yes, elections have consequences. But where's the bipartisanship, Mr. Obama? This does not have to be a divisive issue. My proposal is a genuine compromise.
Fifty-three percent of American voters voted for Barack Obama; 46% voted for John McCain, and 1% voted for wackos. Give that 1% to President Obama. Let's say the vote was 54% to 46%. As a way to bring the country together and at the same time determine the most effective way to deal with recessions, under the Obama-Limbaugh Stimulus Plan of 2009: 54% of the $900 billion -- $486 billion -- will be spent on infrastructure and pork as defined by Mr. Obama and the Democrats; 46% -- $414 billion -- will be directed toward tax cuts, as determined by me.

Then we compare. We see which stimulus actually works. This is bipartisanship! It would satisfy the American people's wishes, as polls currently note; and it would also serve as a measurable test as to which approach best stimulates job growth.

I say, cut the U.S. corporate tax rate -- at 35%, among the highest of all industrialized nations -- in half. Suspend the capital gains tax for a year to incentivize new investment, after which it would be reimposed at 10%. Then get out of the way! Once Wall Street starts ticking up 500 points a day, the rest of the private sector will follow. There's no reason to tell the American people their future is bleak. There's no reason, as the administration is doing, to depress their hopes. There's no reason to insist that recovery can't happen quickly, because it can.

In this new era of responsibility, let's use both Keynesians and supply-siders to responsibly determine which theory best stimulates our economy -- and if elements of both work, so much the better. The American people are made up of Republicans, Democrats, independents and moderates, but our economy doesn't know the difference. This is about jobs now.

The economic crisis is an opportunity to unify people, if we set aside the politics. The leader of the Democrats and the leader of the Republicans (me, according to Mr. Obama) can get it done. This will have the overwhelming support of the American people. Let's stop the acrimony. Let's start solving our problems, together. Why wait one more day?

***

Scorecard: Obama $800 Billion, Rush a better, more influential 3 and climbing.

Kegger At The White House! President Invites Congress For Drinks, Introducing the Obama Stimulus Drinking Game

Change You Can Drink To!

President Obama invited a bipartisan group to the White House tonight for drinks to celebrate the passing of the Social Engineering Pork Spending Bill.

The Details

The Place
The reception will take place in the Red, Blue and Green rooms of the executive mansion.

The Menu
What’s on the menu? The invitees were told to expect drinks – and, perhaps, a snack or two.

A snack or two? The most powerful man in the world is putting out some Wheat Thins and E-Z Cheese? Can't splurge for some pigs in a blanket to celebrate your pork?


The Guest List

There are six House Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader; and six House Republicans, including Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the minority leader and Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the whip.
On the Senate side, there are five leading Democrats, including Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, and Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois. On the Republican side, five senators also are invited, including: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, along with Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Jon Kyl of Arizona, John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas.





The Rules of the Game

• Read the Entire Text of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For Every $1 Billion in spending listed, do a shot. Keep drinking until someone passes out, then do a shot every $10 Billion. Spending begins at the bottom of page 9 of the 647 page bill. Game should last roughly through page 20 before everyone passes in Rose Garden.
• Every time Obama says "Ummm...". Drink. Recommended only if you really want to get wasted on the tax payer dime.
• When the President mentions "crisis", "recession", "depression", "the worst since...", or any other doom and gloom. Drink.
• Watch The Rachel Maddow Show. Last person to projectile vomit wins. Game should last roughly 17 seconds. Not recommended. Alcohol not required.
• None of the funds provided by this Act may be made available to the State of Illinois, or any agency of the State, unless (1) the use of such funds by the State is approved in legislation enacted by the State after the date of the enactment of this Act, or (2) Rod R. Blagojevich no longer holds the office of Governor of the State of Illinois. The preceding sentence shall not apply to any funds provided directly to a unit of local government (1) by a Federal department or agency, or (2) by an established formula from the State. Nothing related to drinking here, but does anyone else find it strange that this is actually included in the bill?
• Every time President Obama makes a snarky comment about Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh. Drink.
• Every time Nancy Pelosi or Obama says "I won" "We won" "I trump you" "You suck" "I rule" or any other snotty, arrogant, narcissistic polarizing comment -- call him or her a big fat liar -- and drink.
• Get a few beers in the President and see if you can get him to sign an executive order revoking all of his previous and future executive orders. (Sorry, inappropriate?)
• When Michelle Obama says she is proud of her country for the "second" time. Drink.
• Remind the President that none of his pride and joy stimulus will go to his adopted home state as long as Blago keeps fighting. Again, nothing to do with drinking. Some of these are just for fun.
• Every time the President quotes Lincoln, talks about Lincoln or shows you something in the White House related to Lincoln -- explain to him that besides both being from Illinois, there are no similarities -- Drink.
• Get a couple of glasses of wine in Pelosi and ask her to say "there is no pork in this bill" with a straight face. If she laughs, make her chug a beer. If she succeeds, call her a big fat liar and drink.
• Whenever anyone says "Stimulus", do your best Beavis & Butt Head impression saying, "Uh huh huh... you said stimulus" and drink.
• Sneak into Oval Office to find Rahm-bo pretending to be the President, laugh uncontrollably and call him a big dork.

Add more to the Stimulus Drinking Game in the comments section!

Obama and Iran: And The Open Dialogue Without Preconditions Begins. Ahmadinejad Wants Apology From Obama

Barack Obama supports tough and direct diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. -- WhiteHouse.gov

Change that radical Islamic political leaders can spit on! I wish this was a joke, if might actually be funny. But it's quite serious.

Ahmadinejad asks President Obama to apologize for US anti-terror, pro-democracy efforts over the last 60 years.

The New York Times reported:

A day after President Obama struck a conciliatory tone toward Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged Washington on Wednesday to apologize for its actions toward his country over the past 60 years and said it was unclear whether the new American administration was merely shifting tactics or wanted real change.

But, in a speech in the western city of Kermanshah, he did not explicitly rebuff the American president’s gesture.

“We are waiting patiently,” he said, referring to the policies of the new administration in Washington. “We will listen to the statements closely, we will carefully study their actions and if there are real changes, we will welcome it.

”Mr. Obama, in his first television interview at the White House since taking office, said that it was important to be willing to talk to the Iranians, both to express differences and to explore “where there are potential avenues for progress.”

“And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us,” Mr. Obama said in the interview with Al Arabiya television that was broadcast on Tuesday.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also said Tuesday that Iran had a “clear opportunity” to engage with the international community.

It didn't take too long for The President to apologize...



From The Guardian:

Officials of Barack Obama's administration have drafted a letter to Iran from the president aimed at unfreezing US-Iranian relations and opening the way for face-to-face talks, the Guardian has learned.

The US state department has been working on drafts of the letter since Obama was elected on 4 November last year. It is in reply to a lengthy letter of congratulations sent by the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on 6 November.

Diplomats said Obama's letter would be a symbolic gesture to mark a change in tone from the hostile one adopted by the Bush administration, which portrayed Iran as part of an "axis of evil".

It would be intended to allay the ­suspicions of Iran's leaders and pave the way for Obama to engage them directly, a break with past policy.

Ahmadinejad denies the holocaust, and the Irani government supplies weapons to terror groups in Iraq and Palestine and is suspected of developing a nuclear weapon to help Hamas wipe Israel (and US Interests) off the face of the earth.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Launches New Attack Ad On Harry Reid.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee put out this TV Ad Today attacking Sen. Harry Reid for supporting outrageous Federal spending.

Fellow conservatives need to know we're fighting the liberal status quo in Washington. Please forward this email to your friends, family and neighbors and ask them to watch our new TV ad.
--Rob Jesmer
Executive Director,
National Republican Senatorial Committee

Support Conservative Senators and visit REIDistributewealth.com.

Vladimir Putin Calls US Economic Crisis "Perfect Storm", Warns Conflict Could Erupt Out Of Turmoil, Criticizes Economic Stimulus Bill

It was just over a week ago that Mr. Putin had these kind, encouraging words for President Obama:

"I am deeply convinced that the biggest disappointments are born out of big expectations."

• (AFP) DAVOS, Switzerland (AFP) — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called the international economic crisis a "perfect storm" event and warned that a conflict could erupt out of the turmoil.
  

• "There is the notion of the 'perfect storm' when natural elements come to a single point and multiply their destructive capacity. This crisis looks exactly like this perfect storm," Putin said in a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
  


• Putin took aim at US banks and the outgoing US administration in his analysis of the causes of the crisis.
  
  


• "Although the crisis was simply hanging in the air, the majority strove to get their share of the pie, be it one dollar or one billion, and did not want to notice the rising wave."
  


• Putin said there had been a lot of criticism of the United States in recent months "but I will do nothing of the kind.

• "I just want to remind you that just a year ago, American delegates speaking from this rostrum emphasised the US economy's fundamental stability and its cloudless prospects," he said referring to a Davos speech last year by Condoleezza Rice who was then secretary of state.
  


• "Today investment banks, the pride of Wall Street, have virtually ceased to exist. In just 12 months they have posted losses exceeding the profits they made in the last 25 years. This example alone reflects the real situation better than any criticism."
  


• Putin called for a constructive attitude from new US President Barack Obama in international affairs. "We wish the new team success. I hope they are willing to cooperate constructively," he said.

Vladimir Putin attacks Western rescue packages

“Interference of the State, the belief in the omnipotence of the State: that is a reaction to market failures,” Mr Putin said in his keynote address at the opening of the four-day meeting. “There is a temptation to expand direct interference of state in economy. In the Soviet Union that became an absolute. We paid a very dear price for that.”

***

Remember, The President already surrendered to the former KGB Leader over Missile Defenses to protect our allies!

This is Hope and Change in action From Gateway Pundit

Closing Velocity reported:

• While the headlines all blare "Russia suspends missile plans in Kaliningrad," the real news is "Why?":
  
• Russia has dropped plans to install missiles near Poland after the Obama administration signalled a change in US attitude to the region, a Moscow military official has reportedly said.
  



• The official suggested that Mr Obama's White House had made clear it would not prioritise executing the Bush administration's plan to install a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
  

In November, Polish President Lech Kaczynski's office said Obama pledged to go ahead with plans to build part of a US missile defence system in Poland.

Also in November, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned Obama that Russia would deploy short-range missiles near Poland to counter U.S. military plans in Eastern Europe unless Obama scrapped the plan.

"Bipartisan" House Passes Bogus Stimulus Bill; All House Republicans Vote No To The Stimulus

So much for bipartisanism.

Thank you and kudos to all House Republicans for sticking to our conservative ideals. Thank you for doing what is right and best for America.

Even More Honorable Mention Extended to the 11 Democrats Who Showed Some Restraint and Responsibility As Well

Griffith, Peterson, Boyd, Bright, Kanjorski, Kratovil, Cooper, Taylor, Ellsworth, Minnick, and Shuler.

Full roll call vote is here.

FOX News reported and confirmed what we have known all along:

Nancy Pelosi Is a Loud Mouthed Arrogant Snotty Little Bitch.

• 
  Democratic congressional leaders practically declared victory Wednesday afternoon -- ahead of the House of Representatives' vote on a $819 billion economic stimulus package. The massive recovery package has stirred consternation among Republicans who say their ideas are not being adequately considered.

• But Democrats have a comfortable majority in the House and stressed that fact in a talk with reporters. "If there is somebody who is disgruntled, so be it. But we will have an overwhelming vote," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

• She and more than a half-dozen other Democrats touted the bill and chided Republicans for pushing what they called the kind of failed policies that led to the economic crisis. "The Republicans are talking about process. I think when you lose the argument on substance, on policy, what do you do? You talk about process and you talk about personality," she said.

***
Speaker Pelosi, you are a sore winner, you are a sore loser, you are a sorry, sorry person.

Make no mistake Madame Speaker, this will haunt you for the rest of your life. Congratulations:

You Won, You Passed It, You Own It!

WSJ: Democrats 40 Year Wish List, Wall Street Journal Exposes Stimulus Bill As Waste, Pork and Well...Just Plain Crap

Remember that other piece of legislation that might make a little more sense.

At least The Wall Street Journal knows how to do math. Here are some amazing findings about the "Stimulus" Bill that must be stopped! Somehow, someway! Wake Up America! This is the single most expensive piece of legislation in world history.

And to be honest, the biggest load of crap in world history.

Some highlights from The Journal:

• "Never let a serious crisis go to waste. What I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before."

• 
  So said White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in November, and Democrats in Congress are certainly taking his advice to heart. The 647-page, $825 billion House legislation is being sold as an economic "stimulus," but now that Democrats have finally released the details we understand Rahm's point much better. This is a political wonder that manages to spend money on just about every pent-up Democratic proposal of the last 40 years.

• We've looked it over, and even we can't quite believe it. There's $1 billion for Amtrak, the federal railroad that hasn't turned a profit in 40 years; $2 billion for child-care subsidies; $50 million for that great engine of job creation, the National Endowment for the Arts; $400 million for global-warming research and another $2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects. There's even $650 million on top of the billions already doled out to pay for digital TV conversion coupons.
  
• In selling the plan, President Obama has said this bill will make "dramatic investments to revive our flagging economy." Well, you be the judge. Some $30 billion, or less than 5% of the spending in the bill, is for fixing bridges or other highway projects. There's another $40 billion for broadband and electric grid development, airports and clean water projects that are arguably worthwhile priorities.

• Add the roughly $20 billion for business tax cuts, and by our estimate only $90 billion out of $825 billion, or about 12 cents of every $1, is for something that can plausibly be considered a growth stimulus.

• Another "stimulus" secret is that some $252 billion is for income-transfer payments -- that is, not investments that arguably help everyone, but cash or benefits to individuals for doing nothing.

• $83 billion for the earned income credit for people who don't pay income tax.

• Oh, and don't forget education, which would get $66 billion more....If you think the intention here is to help kids learn, the House declares on page 257 that "No recipient . . . shall use such funds to provide financial assistance to students to attend private elementary or secondary schools."

• This is supposed to be a new era of bipartisanship, but this bill was written based on the wish list of every living -- or dead -- Democratic interest group. As Speaker Nancy Pelosi put it, "We won the election. We wrote the bill." So they did. Republicans should let them take all of the credit.

***

Republican Plan Grows More Jobs, Spends Less Money and Has A More Immediate "Jolt", Just Ask Obama Economic Advisor Dr. Romer!

Wait a minute! You mean tax cuts will grow the economy more than spending? Did Obama and Pelosi think that no one else can do math? Using the same methodology as Chair of the (Obama) White House Council of Economic Advisers, Dr. Christina Romer, the republican alternative to the Great American Pork Project will create MORE JOBS, HAVE A GREATER, FASTER "JOLT" TO THE ECONOMY AND WILL NOT MORTGAGE OUR FUTURE!





Washington, Jan 28 - As the House prepares to vote on the congressional Democrats’ trillion dollar spending package, more attention than ever is being paid to the bill’s massive slate of slow-moving government spending.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office yesterday confirmed that the House Democrats’ massive spending plan would cost more than $1.1 trillion, by far the largest spending package in American history, once the federal government’s interest costs related to the legislation – $347 billion between 2009 and 2019 – are taken into account.

And editorial pages across the country – from the Wall Street Journal to the Detroit News to the Las Vegas Review-Journal – have taken aim this morning at this big government spending spree.

House Republicans are offering a better solution: an economic recovery plan that will create 6.2 million new American jobs over the next two years, according to a methodology used by President Obama’s own nominee as Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Dr. Christina Romer. The Camp-Cantor alternative – crafted by House Ways & Means Committee ranking member Dave Camp (R-MI), Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), and the members of the House GOP Economic Recovery Working Group – will provide fast-acting tax relief to help the economy create jobs, as opposed to the congressional Democrats’ bill, which is loaded with government spending on programs and projects.

Here’s a quick summary of the House GOP’s Economic Recovery alternative:

Immediate Tax Relief for Working Families:

Help for America’s Small Businesses

Assistance for the Unemployed

Extension of Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Stabilizing Home Values

Expanded Net Operating Losses (NOLs):

Bonus Depreciation / Small Business Expensing

Repeal of Three Percent Withholding Requirement for Government Contractors

Health Insurance Deduction

No Tax Increases to Pay for Spending

***

But why would we want to do any of those things when we can spend!

More dissent from over 200 Top Economics

From The Cato Institute:


"There is no disagreement that we need action by our government, a recovery plan that will help to jumpstart the economy."
— PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, JANUARY 9 , 2009


With all due respect Mr. President, that is not true.


Notwithstanding reports that all economists are now Keynesians and that we all support a big increase in the burden of government, we do not believe that more government spending is a way to improve economic performance.

More government spending by Hoover and Roosevelt did not pull the United States economy out of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

More government spending did not solve Japan's "lost decade" in the 1990s.

As such, it is a triumph of hope over experience to believe that more government spending will help the U.S. today.

To improve the economy, policy makers should focus on reforms that remove impediments to work, saving, investment and production. Lower tax rates and a reduction in the burden of government are the best ways of using fiscal policy to boost growth.