The Trifecta: Obama, Pelosi and Reid If Barack Obama is elected the · Redistributive change. The top 5% wage earners now pay 60% of · Amnesty for more than 10 million illegal immigrants. Democrats, who have always benefited from the Hispanic vote, will make illegals valid citizens and register them. This will succeed in pushing all the southwestern states ( · Protecting our border will no longer be a priority. · Energy independence through nuclear and deep-sea energy exploration will take a back seat to ethanol subsidies. When the next energy crisis hits – whether it’s in 6 months or 3 years – we will be as unprepared as we are today. · Affirmative action quotas will increase. Promotions, job openings, college acceptances, etc. based on race, sex and sexual orientation will be viciously enforced throughout the U.S. Government and bullied into the private sector. · Universal healthcare will be carried out covering legal and illegal immigrants. This will effectively raise healthcare costs and deteriorate quality as well as further entice illegals to cross the border. · A massive federal bailout of all financial institutions. · Two (possibly three) Supreme Court justices named that possess a liberal activist mentality and will not be held back by the guidelines set forth by the Constitution. · Eliminating every state restriction on abortion, including late term “partial birth” abortions, parental notification for minors and the right of physicians to refuse to perform abortions. · Enforcing homosexual marriage on every state, against the will of the people. · Encourage our foreign enemies to, as Joe Biden says, “challenge” and “test” us by projecting an image of timidity and increase the probability of attacks on Anyone who doubted Obama’s label as a radical redistributionist has been enlightened after Obama on video said he wants to “spread the wealth” and on radio said he is for “redistributive change”. The real Barack Obama has recently been exposed. During a 2001 radio interview he claimed where the Supreme Court failed was that it “never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society.” According to Obama, “the civil rights movement became so court-focused” that it strayed from action to “put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change, and in some ways we still suffer from that.” Obama also claims the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Warren during the civil rights movement of the 1960s “wasn’t that radical” because “it didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as it has been interpreted.” A McCain administration will resist a European style model of regulating, including wealth distribution, universal healthcare and liberal justice. National security there is no question - McCain demands confidence where Obama exudes naiveté. Domestically, McCain’s policies represent that of the center-right. Obama hides behind words like “progressive” and promises middle class tax cuts to seem centered but his words and record prove that he is a radical liberal bent on equalizing the classes. A week ago during a rally in Colorado Obama warned, “make no mistake…we will all need to sacrifice.” What did he mean by sacrifice? We don’t know. We have no idea who Obama is so how can we possibly understand what kind of “sacrifice” he will force us to make. The strong anti-Republican sentiment is understandable but not reason enough to elect a President who is largely unknown and allow the Democratic Party to rule Comment Contact Unfortunately, Obama doesn’t care. The young supporters are being played by the Obama campaign. They are coming out in droves to support him and contribute anything they have to the vast money machine and yet are getting nothing in return. Obama is addressing the needs of senior citizens who worry about their social security and Medicaid, union members who worry about their jobs, farmers who worry about their subsidies and small business’s who worry about their taxes. Obama is making promises to each of these interests groups and more. But it is the young who should be the most demanding, and the most concerned. Their future has been mortgaged off. Social security and Medicare are already facing huge deficits and the baby boomer retirement is not even in full swing. To add, Obama plans to cut taxes for 95% of Americans. But this isn’t really a tax cut – it’s a tax credit. Remember that check from the government you got earlier this year? Obama plans on doing the same thing. It’s not a tax cut. He is simply handing out money. How is he paying for it? The same way the Bush administration paid for their tax credits – he’s going to borrow it. On top of all this, Obama wants to add new programs like universal healthcare, daycare for every child over three and a college education for all. It’s like he plans on refinancing the current mortgage on the younger generation to buy a bigger, more expensive version. Agent of change? For the elderly, perhaps. The AARP is a 40-million member group for Americans 50 and over and a very powerful interest group. In their September magazine issue Obama received the opportunity to check boxes agreeing or disagreeing with the AARP’s positions on eleven issues. Obama checked agreement on 10 of 11. He has said he will expand subsidies to the elderly by exempting from federal income taxes anyone 65 or older with an income of $50,000 or less. There are three basic ways to reduce the costs of Social Security and Medicare – trim benefits, increase eligibility age and require recipients pay more for their Medicare benefits through higher premiums or co-payments. Obama rejects all three. If Obama gets elected he will want the same thing every first-term president wants – a second term. To achieve this he’ll have to prove he got something done. To get something done he will have to work with the Democratic majorities in soon-to-be both houses of Congress. And here is where the young get pushed aside. Unlike Obama, the Democrats in Congress owe nothing to the young. They were voted into power through the traditional Democratic groups – unions, minorities, urban affluents. Their agenda will be to appease to those groups and focus on their short-term needs. The long term benefits of 18-29 year-olds will remain non-existent. On other issues, the young seem to turn a blind eye. The young are happy with Obama’s views on The young see Obama as a bridge of racial divides, but ignore that for twenty years he belonged to a church that promotes racial anger. The young view Obama as a new politician, but ignore that he surrounds himself with the Democratic establishment and almost always votes the way of his party. Not since John F. Kennedy has a presidential candidate garnered such strong support from the young. Back then, Kennedy famously said: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.’ Today, Obama’s message sounds more like this: Ask not what you can do for yourselves or your country, but what your country must do for you. It’s no surprise that the self-indulgent “me” generation is clinging to his message. Only, they are the only age demographic that has been left out of Obama’s ‘basket of promises.’ 18 to 29 year-olds have to stop and ask themselves – Am I getting anything out of this election?
October 9, 2008 Admittedly, he wasn’t going in under the best of circumstances. The financial markets are spinning out of control and Obama has always had the advantage over the economy. Viewers weren’t interested in hearing about the “maverick.” McCain isn’t as skillful a communicator as Obama. Or, at least, this was true during the second debate. On questions about the bailout McCain was obscure and complicated. Obama explained with a simple answer. Simple, especially with this topic, is important. Does anyone really understand the depths of our current financial crisis? It’s frustrating trying to find the roots of the current economic mess. To hear solutions that are understandable is comforting, even if they’re inaccurate or unrealistic. On healthcare, Obama’s response was fantastic when he said, “It is absolutely true that I think it is important for government to crack down on insurance companies that are cheating their customers.” This was like beautiful music to voters’ ears. McCain, in contrast, was confusing. McCain passed up an opportunity on the question of healthcare, since Obama also said, “I believe that health care is a right for every American.” So he actually wants to re-write the Constitution. What gall! Yet McCain didn’t even confront him. Instead he said “deregulation.” Whether he’s right or wrong, that is not what voters want to hear. On healthcare, the answer for McCain is so simple. Right now this country is running at historic high trade and budget deficits. Obama is saying he will cut taxes for 95% of the population, increase spending tremendously and get the deficit under control. In other words, Obama lives in a dream world. And now, on top of all this, he wants government to provide healthcare for everyone? It’s irresponsible and untruthful to make these promises to the American people when it is impossible to deliver. McCain didn’t answer a single question with clarity during the second debate. He looked so much like the John McCain during the acceptance speech after winning the primaries months ago in front of that nasty green background. He has come so far since then, and it’s hard to imagine why he’d want to relive bad memories. Even on national security McCain had difficulties clarifying his position. Obama, by contrast, answered quickly: “We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.” Unbelievable. It is like he is stealing the words right out of McCain’s mouth. McCain has relentlessly uttered those same words over and over. Yet on this occasion, McCain stumbled and Obama stole. What was most obvious, and perhaps reason why Obama was successful Tuesday night and throughout this race, was his complete unwillingness to deliver bad news or make any demands on the public. When Brokaw asked if he thought the economy was going to get worse before it gets better, Obama said, “No. I’m confident about the economy.” McCain let this opportunity pass also. He should have said, “It will get worse before it gets better, but I believe because of the resilience and fortitude of the American people this country will emerge even stronger than it was before the crisis.” Obama’s answer to Brokaw's question on the economy, like all of his answers, was the political answer - and far from correct. An oddity is why a nation that is so hungry for substance has such a high capacity for unrealistic answers. It is ironic that the candidate who supposedly stands for change is the same one repeating the same old political happy talk that has misinformed this country for years. For example, Obama said that “only a few percent of small businesses” will get taxed under his plan. Really? Over 650,000 small businesses are in the top 5%. How many jobs will be eliminated in all those small businesses when Obama’s tax plan punishes them? For the final debate McCain needs to be blunt and push the message that Obama is not “one of us.” Obama is not part of One candidate favors tax cuts for business and backed Bush’s wars. The other candidate promises health care for all, a swift exit from But when you think about it – Obama’s spiritual adviser is famous for saying “God damn McCain must bring home the message of American greatness and his belief in the future of this country. He must talk about character. Many have their opinions on who won the debate. There should be only one barometer. Two days after the debate and National polls haven’t shifted. McCain lost. Comment Contact 2. Obama meeting unconditionally with our enemies. Biden lied when he said Obama never said that he would sit unconditionally with Ahmedinejad of Iran. It is clearly documented that Obama said this. It is also clearly documented that Joe Biden attacked Obama for it. 3. Offshore Drilling. Biden said “Drill we must” but throughout this presidential campaign and the primaries he spoke out against it. It’s amazing that only a month ago he was speaking in 4. Opposing clean coal. Biden claimed during the debate he has always been for clean coal. To the contrary, he has a record of voting against clean coal initiatives and recently said to potential voters he was against clean coal or any clean coal plants in 5. Alternative energy. Joe Biden said McCain voted against alternative energy twenty-three times. The facts show that this is largely overstated. 6. Windfall profits tax. Biden claimed Palin established a windfall profits tax while Governor of Alaska. This is false and misleading. Before Palin became governor of 7. Surge in 8. Regulating Fannie/Freddie. Biden claimed that Obama said “two years ago Barack Obama warned about the sub-prime mortgage crisis” when in fact there is no documentation, no video, no existing proof that can back up this claim. He went on to say “John McCain thought the answer was deregulate, deregulate.” Biden is very confused on this topic, since there is ample proof that McCain spoke out for reform and regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago. It is baffling that Biden can create out of thin air things that Obama said two years ago and at the same time reverse truthful statements made by McCain. Obama said it also, during the first debate, that he warned about the sub-prime mortgage crisis – he too was lying. The media has yet to produce any evidence that Obama ever warned about sub-prime or anything that has to do with the current financial crisis. However, there is evidence that Obama was the second largest benefactor of campaign money from Fannie and Freddie since 1989 (note: Obama has only been in the Senate three years). 9. Vote for 10. 11. Kicked Hezbollah out of 12. McCain’s support for 13. Katie’s restaurant. When trying to portray himself as the ‘man of the people’ Joe Biden said “Look, all you have to do is go down to Union Street with me in Wilmington or go to Katie’s restaurant or walk into Home Depot with me where I spend a lot of time…” The only problem with this statement is that Katie’s restaurant hasn’t been around for over two decades. This is significant in exposing how phony Biden’s attempt to pose for this campaign as an ‘Everyday Joe.’ The overall consensus of the VP debate is that Palin won on style and Biden on substance. Palin winning on style is right on the mark. Biden looked like he was on downers. He looked like his advisers just woke him up from a three hour nap and he needed a cup of coffee. He was dull and uninspiring. Palin, to contrast, was vibrant and engaging. She was charming and down to earth. She was simple and to the point. But on substance, how could Biden have won when he had to lie to make a point? And towards the end, when he was saying things like “but it didn’t take me long, but it took me five years…” and when he started rambling about Judge Bork and Mike Mansfield and Dot Helms and braces…How can one watching not ask: On style, Palin clearly won. On substance, Biden clearly lost his grasp on reality. He lied to the American people, over and over again. That is not the kind of substance this country values in the White House.
November 3, 2008
Why Do the Young Like Obama?
October 23, 2008
This election the young demographic is priding themselves as the most idealistic and engaged group of 18-29 year-olds since the 1960s. They are on the streets with clip boards and at desks manning the phones. They turned Obama’s candidacy into a movement.
Urban and rural infrastructure is decaying. Repairing bridges, roads and water lines will be a massive expense over the next fifty years.
Pension costs for government workers have been drastically underestimated and this will increase the expense for government services in education, defense and police.
Tuesday’s debate provided Senator John McCain with an opportunity to rise to the occasion and get back in the presidential race. The opportunity was blown.
And its okay for him to talk about Obama’s shady past. Someone has to talk about it since the mainstream media is doing their best to cover it up. It is important that the American people know the truth about who they’re voting for.
Biden Lies During Debate
October 7, 2008
1. Tax Vote. Joe Biden said McCain voted “the exact same way” as Obama to increase taxes on American’s earning $42,000, but this claim is completely false.
What in the world is he talking about?
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Urgent Message from Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson
October 1, 2008
I am urgently reaching out to you to ask for your undivided support of my $800 billion Government “Rescue” Plan.
Our country is experiencing a crisis that has caused the need for large transfers of your dollars to assist me and Washington in defeating this crisis. Eventually it will be profitable for you – trust me.
And if you have any doubts, take a look at this country’s current deficit. The fact that it’s only in the hundreds of billions serves as proof that
This monetary transaction is 100% safe. You must trust me completely. Don’t worry about asking any questions on the details because we don’t have the time to answer them. Speed is of the essence.
Just support me. Don’t waste your time listening to politicians like Texas Representative Jeb Hensarling who says my plan is a step down the “slippery slope to socialism.”
If you don’t think all $800 billion of your dollars are necessary for this bailout, believe me, they are. Let me just list some of the things this money will be spent for:
· Manufacturers of kids’ wooden arrows
· Puerto Rican and
· Wool research
· Auto racing tracks
· Corporations operating in
· Small to medium budget film and television productions
· Benefits to bicycle commuters
Rest assured, I will not be going at this endeavor alone. I will have Democratic Representatives Barney Frank and Chris Dodd by my side.
Yes, I know, they are the same guys who not too long ago said “I think it is clear that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are sufficiently secure so they are in no great danger…Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do very good work, and they are not endangering the fiscal health of this country.” They also said Fannie and Freddie are “fundamentally strong” and that we shouldn’t panic because “these are viable, strong institutions.”
But who cares about what politicians said in the past anyway? They are exactly the type of politicians that should be deciding what is best for this country's economy.
As for our next president, don’t worry – Barack Obama will be our man. Despite the fact that he has no economic experience and it was his party that got us into this mess, the citizens of this country seem to be more comfortable with him dealing with the economy. That’s good because he’s the best man for the job since there will be no limit to the amount of your money he will spend to fix this problem.
As for John McCain, it’s hard to say what his role will be. Hopefully he is signed on as an adviser since he was the only one who had the judgment to predict this mess and the courage to speak out for reform two years ago.
We cannot forget what McCain said in 2006: “If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.”
Unfortunately, judging by the way Obama treated Hillary Clinton, his last political opponent, it is likely McCain will not be considered for any job of significance.
I’m begging you, please support me. We need this one. After a summer of failing to solve our energy problems, failing to solve our economic growth problems, failing to get federal spending under control and failing to modernize the health system, we are desperate to have a proposal that gets accepted. Now more than ever is the time to put your faith in
So again, let me stress that we need your support on this bailout plan. And if you are angry about it, the best thing to do is blame Bush. Just disregard that his administration went to great strides to reform Fannie and Freddie but was stopped by Democrats in Congress every time. What’s the difference? We blame him for everything anyway and I know it’ll make you feel better.
Yours Faithfully,
Hank Paulson
Treasury Secretary for the
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The Burdens of Our Next President
September 24, 2008
The burst in Republican popularity due to the Palin factor is finally starting to subside and for the first time in a few weeks we are starting to see Obama once again take a small lead in the polls.
The fact that Obama’s lead is so small emphasizes an obvious fact - more people are doubting Obama’s ability to lead in September than they were in August. And more voters will doubt Obama in October than they did in September.
As each week passes during this presidential race the list of concerns gets longer and longer. First it was
He refuses to admit the surge was successful despite the facts.
On energy his best solutions are to tax more and let air out of your tires.
His response to the Russian-Georgian conflict was not only delayed but it took him three chances before he got it right.
His response to the financial crisis has been shallow. His only credit thus far was to appear in photographs with Bill Clinton’s old economic team. That was to deflect attention away from the fact that one of Obama’s economic advisers was recently the CEO of Fannie Mae and made $90 million in six years while working there.
His biggest decision as a presidential candidate – choosing a Vice President – turned out to be wrong even in the eyes of the man he picked. Joe Biden confessed recently that he thinks Hillary Clinton would have been a better VP pick. He also recently said that if Sarah Palin is elected VP it would be a step back for women.
Can you imagine if Sarah Palin said that electing Obama would be a step back for African Americans? There would be a media uproar. It seems Joe Biden is going out of his way to say the most outrageous things he can think of to try and garner attention since no one seems to notice he is part of this presidential campaign. Unfortunately for him it’s hardly working. No matter what he says, still nobody cares.
Obama equals change. Voters get that. But for the first time voters are starting to think change doesn’t necessarily mean better. There is good change, and bad change. As
Obama’s charisma is commendable. Only, that shouldn’t be enough to carry a candidate to victory. If his rhetoric had any depth then Barack Obama as President would be justifiable. But his policies are a mile long and an inch deep.
He says he is going to cut taxes for 95% of the population. At the same time he is calling for increases in government aid towards healthcare, education, housing and welfare.
It is easy to make promises when you’re trying to garner voter approval. But can he deliver? The facts say no. And based on what the government has promised over the past week to banks - the answer is a definite no. Obama’s plan for Universal Healthcare and increased spending on almost everything else will cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. You don’t have to be an M.I.T. mathematician to realize the numbers don’t add up.
Beyond the immediate financial crisis, at current projections the federal government will go into unsustainable debt just to meet its present obligations to baby boomer retirees in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. If Obama believes he can add to current obligations with increases in education and welfare and tack on a Universal Healthcare system while at the same time cutting taxes then he is truly living in a dream world.
Given our current economic situation, Obama’s tax plan is the equivalent of adding surface-to-air missile launches to a fireworks display.
Joe Biden said last week that it is our patriotic duty to pay higher taxes. How ironic, considering that this country was born fighting a revolution because the taxes were too high.
If you don’t care now you better start. The burdens of our next president are monumental. Our financial system needs restructuring. Our entitlements program is facing a hurricane of debt. Our national security is threatened by the likes of
Now is not the time for on the job training. We need to address these challenges with realistic policies and achievable commitments. Empty promises and politics-as-usual is not something voters should tolerate.
John McCain offers a different approach. His is one of common-sense solutions to difficult problems. He doesn’t offer ambiguous “change.” He offers reform. He promises to shake-up
It’s comforting that with John McCain you don’t have to rely simply on what he says. You can go back and see he has a record of reforming
What is frightening is that Obama has no past. He has no history. So all voters have to go on is his word. For a community organizer that might be acceptable. Even for a Senator, it’s tolerable. But for the President of the
And on a final note, a PalaPolitical prediction:
McCain-Palin will win
A large portion of Pennsylvanian voters are independent. At this point in the presidential race, for a swing state, that is something that Obama should be concerned with.
Pennsylvanians don’t equate McCain with Bush. Instead they see him as a war hero. They see McCain as dependable. The fact that both McCain and Palin have a record of bucking their own party resonates with this state.
By targeting the white working-class counties McCain will offset the black and elite liberal voters.
Numerous counties in
In culturally conservative towns like
Obama’s decision to publicize Biden as a hero of the working class because he spent the first ten years of his life in
Hillary nostalgia, as well as Obama’s race, will help contribute to a McCain victory in
Has she lived up to her reputation? Well, it’s safe to say her 80% approval rating speaks for itself. When it comes to healthcare, Palin wants to “allow free-market competition and reduce onerous government regulation.” On education, she supports school-choice programs. As for her stance on wasteful And look who he has chosen as his VP running mate – Joe Biden. If anyone represents conventional According to Obama, the average American stinks. Mothers can no longer raise their children on their own, they need his help. Aspiring students can no longer get an education on their own, they need his help. Workers can no longer buy a home or save for retirement, they need his help. Obama no longer believes Americans are self-sufficient. He wants more. More government spending and more government programs. And no matter where you stand, as an individual, it doesn’t matter because as a taxpayer you’re going to help pay for it either way. This is not the type of government Sarah Palin represents, and that is why McCain chose her as a running mate. At a time when energy production is vital, Sarah Palin is an expert. Before she was Governor, while she was mayor of Wasilla, she was chairman of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Presently she is chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and the National Governors Association’s Natural Resources Committee. All three multi-state agencies affect the energy production of the entire nation. Independent and undecided voters are looking for a Vice President that has the same sort of maverick zeal that John McCain represents - someone who is willing to take on the establishment. Sarah Palin is successful not only in her profession but also in raising her family. She is a combination of a woman who can not only do it all but be it all – and that’s a powerful combination. No one wants to see a nice American woman who is a mother of five and a civil servant who challenges the establishment ripped apart. Americans want accountability. Americans, especially American women, have personalized it so now every time Palin is attacked, they feel attacked. She represents every mother who wants to have a career and raise her children at the same time. She represents every mom who has stood up to the establishment and said “No.” And watch out for the double standard in politics regarding women. Legitimate news anchors (uh um…CNN) are questioning her abilities as a mother. Are these questions asked to a father? Who has asked whether Barack Obama would be a good father to his ten and seven year old daughters if he gets to be the President of the From Obama to Biden, and even McCain, one gets the sense that political office is their life’s work. They try very hard to portray themselves as ordinary Americans. Sarah Palin doesn’t have to work at it. She ran her own business, was a member of the PTA and a mayor of a small town. Her son is off to As Politico.com points out, everything about her life experience reinforces the narrative that she is not an all-consuming political animal, and has an active family life. She is not political. She is, in fact, very normal. She is genuine. Comment Contact
What does this mean for the presidential race? Well, the twenty-one electoral votes will win McCain the election. But it’s fair to say that even if Obama does win
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The Sarah Palin Chronicles
September 3, 2008
On Friday John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate and simultaneously overshadowed Obama’s convention speech while reinvigorating the Republican Party.
Sarah Palin is the best antidote to
Barack Obama has spent the past two years running for president. Sarah Palin has spent the past two years running a state.
And what has she achieved in the last two years as Governor? Real change. She has transformed the Alaskan government from old school
She catapulted to the top of Alaskan government with a strong reputation as a political outsider and reformer.
She defeated two political insiders – both Republicans – to earn the position of Governor. She made her name by backing tough ethical standards for politicians.
As Governor she has cut taxes and spending. She has stood up to the oil companies and stood up to corrupt Republican politicians. Democrats should actually be ecstatic about her. However, her fight against the Washington establishment is exactly what Democrats don't have on their side. Barack Obama was part of Chicago politics (known for being corrupt) for many years and never once exposed any wrongdoings.
Many would argue that Obama represents change that
As far as Biden's foreign policy experience: he voted against Reagan's actions against the Soviet Union, he voted against the Persian Gulf War and voted against the surge which has proven to be successful. So he has experience, but experience with being consistently wrong with foreign policy issues.
As for Obama’s speech at the convention last week, it was very good. Is anyone surprised? That’s what Obama does, he gives good speeches. Actually, that’s all he has done. And one thing was made clear in Obama’s speech and throughout the week at the Democratic convention: they have a government program for everything.
The Republican ticket can be renamed ‘Mr. and Mrs. Maverick.’
The only bump in Sarah Palin’s VP candidacy is her daughter’s baby bump. Is the pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s seventeen year old daughter an opening for the Democrats to attack? If anything, this breaking news is likely to help the Republican ticket.
First, it will help boost ratings in her speech at the convention this week, where she will most likely confront the issue and show what a loving mother and family member she is.
Second, it will make her more appealing to the women voters she was always meant to target. Those aren’t the hard-core Hillary supporters. It will strengthen the appeal to suburban moms. It will strengthen the appeal of hard-working women who battle against sexism and instead of whining about it confront it and overcome it to achieve successful, happy lives.
Every attack that comes from the Obama campaign will only hurt Obama’s own chances of winning and increase sympathy and appeal for Palin.
The Tide is Turning in Favor of McCain
August 20, 2008
Since John McCain started his run for presidency in 2008 he hasn’t been able to run the campaign he had envisioned. He started with the down to earth conversational style that attracted the press in 2000, but that didn’t work because they were obsessed with someone else this time. His improvised campaign style lacked focus and didn’t gain traction. His ‘Straight Talk Express’ bus route through poverty stricken towns barely got any coverage.
McCain found that the only way he could get any attention was if he spoke about Barack Obama. Attacking Obama daily was the only way McCain can get the media to pay attention. So he abandoned the campaign he wanted to run and is now running a more conventional race. And guess what – it’s working.
Since McCain shook up his organization a few weeks ago, his campaign is much more focused and for the first time really reaching voters. Everyone said Obama would be ahead double digits in the polls at this point, yet McCain is almost even. Everyone said he couldn’t compete with Obama’s money machine, yet finances have not gotten in the way.
His stands on energy exploration and the Russian conflict have strengthened his commanding persona. And then came the political forum at Saddleback.
Over the course of two hours the best selling evangelical author Rick Warren moderated a televised forum where he asked Obama and McCain simple and straightforward questions. It was a fascinating experiment. Each was asked the same questions in the same order. The different results produced were astonishing.
On the issues discussed during the political forum
Abortion
The question: Forty million abortions, at what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?
McCain was quick and decisive, saying that life begins “at the moment of conception.” Obama’s response was different, saying answering the question is “above my pay grade.” It is true that Obama doesn’t have much experience, but someone should tell him that as a government official he makes proposals and votes on bills, provisions and funding relating to abortion. So actually, Barack, it is within your pay grade.
Delve deeper into Obama’s abortion record and you will see he is a proponent of infanticide. In 2001, the Illinois Attorney General determined doctors were under “no ethical or legal obligation” to give life sustaining treatment to prematurely born infants who were intended to be aborted. This means that if a doctor botches an abortion and the baby is born alive that baby can still be killed. Obama was in the Illinois State Senate at the time. The Illinois General Assembly created the Born Alive Infants Protection Act to protect these live babies. Barack Obama voted against the law. He would rather see infants murdered than dare invade a woman’s right to choose.
The question was: Does evil exist and, if so, ignore it, negotiate with it, or defeat it?
Evil’s Existence
McCain, without hesitation, said, “Defeat it.” He went on to say: “Of course evil must be defeated” and mentioned radical Islamic extremism and that he will “follow Obama to the gates of hell” if he has to.
Obama, by contrast, said evil has to be confronted. He mentioned
As William Kristol stated in the New York Times on Monday: “It would have been interesting if
Taxes
Rick Warren asked: Define rich. I mean, give me a number. How can we define that?
McCain was reluctant to give specific numbers before saying $5 million sarcastically. He went on to say, “I don’t want to take any money from the rich. I want everybody to get rich.”
Obama was more direct, suggesting a family with an income above $250,000 is rich in his mind. He went on to say that if you fall in that category than you are a target for a tax all in the name of creating “a sense of balance, and fairness in our tax code.”
Obama seems very comfortable talking about what he believes is fairness in the tax code. He has previously said: “It is time for folks like me who make more than $250,000 to pay our fair share.” The puzzling part is figuring out how Obama came to his definition of fair? The latest data from the Internal Revenue Service [http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/article/0,,id=102174,00.html] shows the top 1% of American taxpayers pay 40% of all income taxes. This is the highest level in 40 years. The top 10% of income earners pay 71% of taxes. The top 50% of income earners pay 97% of taxes. Obama’s so-called “rich” are certainly paying their fair share.
The question was: What’s the most gut-wrenching decision you ever had to make and how did you process that to come to that decision.
Hardest Decision
Obama answered by saying “the opposition to the war in
The political consequences for Obama voting against the war in
McCain’s answer was a lot more personal. He commented on his decision to stay in a Vietnamese prison camp rather than abandon his fellow soldiers. “The Vietnamese came and said I could leave prison early…But I said no, and I’ll never forget sitting on my last answer, and the high-ranking officer offered it, slammed the door and the interrogator said, ‘Go back to your cell. It’s going to be very tough on you now.’ And it was. But not only the toughest decision I ever made, but I am most happy about that decision, than any decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
It is important to remember - John McCain spent more time in a Vietnamese Prison Camp than Barack Obama has spent in the US Senate.
The forum was two hours of straightforward questions about the candidates’ lives and world views. Nothing in the campaign so far has been so revealing about the differentiating styles, life experiences and philosophies of the two candidates.
Obama was an impressive, likable young man. McCain was an elder statesman.
Obama sounded more like a lawyer appealing to the American public as if it was a jury. McCain sounded more like a potential president appealing to the hopes and ambitions of the American people.
Obama tells of his interesting history. McCain tells of his heroic one.
McCain proved that he can be a more formidable and effective opponent than anyone imagined. Not only have national polls tightened, but McCain has actually moved ahead in three key battleground states:
The tide is moving for the first time in the direction of Republicans. And people dare to whisper…
…McCain might just win.
Comment Contact In a famous movie scene Jack Nicholson, playing Colonel Jessep in A Few Good Men, said:
It is all a question of perspectives. Following Are these the leaders of the same government that (along with But there is more involved than a simple comparison between the Over the past decade, the
But is the The
American force, however inhumane moralists may claim it to be, is responsible for another great success – denuclearization. China and The most interesting question is whether We do not want to revert back to the old world. Let the Sometimes it is necessary for the
Questioning the Manner in Which Freedom is Provided
August 15, 2008
“Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it?”
And further, “I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way.”
Though fictional, the challenges this dialogue presents seem very realistic when considering the current state of the world.
Oh, the hypocrisy!
And what is true of these new industrializing states is not true of the oil-rich countries we always seem to be in conflict with – The Middle East,
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America's Future
August 4, 2008
Our next president has a tough job ahead. At home and abroad the troubles mount. He will have to unite our nation with a clear and credible strategy that addresses the major foreign policy challenges before us, defeat the threat of terrorism, achieve energy independence, strengthen relationships with our allies and develop a trade policy that can keep up and compete with the vastly growing global economy.
Which presidential candidate is best qualified to do this?
Not Barack Obama. He is a one-term junior Senator who has only served his national government for three years, two of which he has spent campaigning. He seems to think the Berlin Wall fell because of “one worldism” and refuses to acknowledge that America won the Cold War through tough negotiations backed up by brute force. On other important national security issues such as Iraq, Nafta, unconditional diplomacy with enemy dictators and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Obama has been back and forth and unable to give the American people a straight answer.
John McCain, however, has proven he can work in a bipartisan manner in the Senate and his foreign policy experience and stern determination makes him the best choice to save U.S. foreign policy and end national security divisions in Washington. America has accomplished a tremendous amount since the September 11th attacks – tough counterterrorism programs have prevented major terrorist attacks against our country since and intelligence reform has allowed American intelligence services to better collaborate against terrorism. The troop surge, which McCain supported and Obama opposed, proved to be a tremendous success.
John McCain has not only proven to be successful and straightforward when it comes to foreign relations, but also with the economy. America can compete and win in the future global marketplace. Shaping an economic strategy to achieve that should be among the next president’s highest priorities.
Obama’s economic recipe is simply punishing the successful and redistributing their wealth by government rule. Among his proposed policies:
- ”Universal, guaranteed” healthcare
- “Free” college tuition
- “Universal 401ks”
- “Free” job training (even for criminals)
- “Free” child care and “universal” preschool
- Increased subsidized public housing
- A Global Poverty Act (amounts to the Third World)
How does he plan to pay for all of this? By raising top marginal rates paid by small business, raising capital gains taxes, raising taxes on dividends, raising payroll taxes and raising estate taxes. All this, while not renewing Bush’s tax cuts. These policies would result in the largest tax hikes this country has seen post WWII. That’s a whole lot of raising for millions of families, individuals and small businesses and a lot less money to spend, save and invest as they see fit.
The result is a remarkable reduction in work incentives for our most economically productive citizens.
A perfect storm of statism has formed in Obama’s mind, and American’s economic freedoms are at serious risk if he becomes the next president.
John McCain takes the opposite view, posing as a free-market individualist who believes the American people are self-sufficient and don’t need Washington to run their lives. He believes that in a troubled economy higher taxes are the last thing Americans need. Raising taxes eliminates jobs, hurts small businesses and delays economic recovery. To get on the road to recovery McCain plans to:
- Preserve the current low tax rates
- Offer every individual and family a tax credit to buy their healthcare
- Lower the business tax rate to create more jobs and open new plants
- Cut Washington spending to lower the federal debt and strengthen the dollar
- Get a handle on the cost of oil and gasoline and regain energy independence
History teaches us that high taxes and protectionism are not favorable to a thriving economy. If the proposals embraced by Obama ever became law, the American economy would suffer serious setbacks and long term devastating effects. Only John McCain offers change that will equal progress.
And finally, John McCain is the right man for the job because he is someone the American people can trust. Sure, he’s made his fair share of gaffes and blunders this campaign. But at least he fesses up to and explains his changes and mistakes.
By contrast, Barack Obama has shifted policies on free trade, Nafta, welfare reform, diplomacy with enemy dictators, public financing, the D.C. gun ban, immunity for telecom companies, the status of Israel, flag lapel pins and his relationship with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Throughout all of these flip flops, not only has he refused to explain but has pretended as if they never occurred.
John McCain has a reputation of being gutsy and willing to take unpopular stands if he believes them to be in the best interests of the American people. Barack Obama’s rhetoric is inspiring, but his ideas and intended policies will not benefit America.
America needs an experienced leader whose sensible policies offer the greatest prospects for the future. John McCain is that leader, and would keep America ahead of the curve in the 21st century.
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Why Europe Loves Barack Obama
July 28, 2008
Presidential candidate Barack Obama wrapped up his “Change is Coming” world tour where he received a rock star reception and defended his decision to take the trip despite mixed signals about its popularity at home.
Barack Obama is so loved in
Europe is salivating at the thought that
The Chinese will no longer need to worry about
Obama’s plans to redistribute wealth and make healthcare universal fit right in with what the elite European countries practice and have been trying to spread around world. He wants to harmonize our tax policies. He wants us to be part of a global understanding and abandon our muscular American presence. He is more appealing to the European Union sensibility.
Obama’s German speech certainly was not the highlight of the trip. He gave his first-ever presidential campaign speech before a mass audience of non-voters overseas. It was an unforced error. Consider these words by the German chancellor’s spokesman:
It’s unusual to hold election rallies abroad. No German candidate for high office would even think of using the National Mall (in It is important to note that the loudest the German crowd cheered, by far, was when Obama said, “I know my country has not perfected itself,” and went on to say, “We’ve made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.” The Europeans love to hear that Americans aren’t perfect. Hearing it from a man who could be
He then made the decision not to go to
After hearing both of these explanations, the Pentagon released a statement, which said:
Senator Obama, in his official capacity, is always welcome to visit Landstuhl or any other military hospital. But he is not permitted to bring with him campaign staff. His team was notified of that, and they made a decision not to visit the hospital. But we were ready and willing to host him there.
He couldn’t bring the campaign entourage with him, along with all the reporters and photographers, so Obama chose not to go. Instead of using the opportunity to show empathy towards American soldiers and their families, he chose to pass. For campaign purposes, it was a waste of time. What did he do instead? He worked out at the gym of the Ritz Carlton.
Europe’s passion for Obama almost seems contradictory after witnessing over the past few years a genuine change in European politics.
Yet, here at home, Obama enthusiastically endorses the prospects of raising capital gains taxes and redistributing the awards of the successful. In Obama’s mind the producers of our country are the enemy.
Under Obama, we are in for more entitlement, more regulation, more taxes and less international trade. These are the same counterproductive policies that
And what was John McCain doing while Barack Obama was flaunting his style in
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Obama's National Security Challenge
July 21, 2008
How does a presidential candidate who is down seven points as of the latest polls secure more than enough votes in November to win the election? The answer is credibility. John McCain has it. Barack Obama does not.
The components of the McCain campaign boil down to an attribute that the Republican candidate has in abundance but is missing from the Obama campaign: McCain says what he means and means what he says.
And nowhere is McCain’s straight talk express more influential than in areas of national security. Uncommitted voters today are both mystified and confused over Barack Obama and his positions. Obama’s mantra of “change” can be catchy but the country still cannot define exactly what he will do differently. Come November, voters simply will not be able to elect a President whose positions on the nation’s most important issues are unknown and his abilities are unproven.
A poll in the Washington Post last week showed that 72% of Americans think McCain, a Vietnam War hero, will make a good commander in chief. Only 48% feel the same way about Obama.
What people believe most about John McCain is that he accurately reflects
Obama and his large team of political operatives are certainly capable of adequately managing a terrorist attack, but it is John McCain who is more likely to prevent one.
Obama cannot bring himself to acknowledge how the successful surge of our troops has altered the dynamics in
What will keep Al Qaeda and
Americans realize that diplomacy will not work unless we have the leverage of force to back it up. A withdrawal, timed incorrectly, can cause to be fatal for a free
John McCain is the true candidate for peace. He believes in keeping
Last week Barack Obama gave a speech saying he wants a foreign policy that is “tough, smart and principled.”
It is not tough to vote to retreat from
It is not smart when Obama opposed the surge and predicted that it would fail.
It is not principled when Obama said he would order
It is not tough, smart or principled when Obama said he would be open to changing his plan for
Whether or not the war was a mistake,
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Choosing a Vice President
July 14, 2008
It has been said that a modern presidential candidate’s first show of leadership is the selection of a vice president. The choice of vice president presents opportunity as well as peril. The vice presidential selection is high stakes, and the three most important questions a potential president must consider are:
What can this candidate do for the party?
What can this candidate do for me?
What can this candidate do for the country?
The selection stakes are high and the choice isn’t an easy one.
Obama
Hillary Clinton would be the wrong choice. Her most appealing component is that she can gain back all of the disappointed voters she gathered during the primaries. However, her negatives are overwhelming. She is too liberal for Obama. While he struggles to portray a centric image she would continue to drag him to the left. Most importantly, Obama does not want to have the
A logical choice is the moderate Southern Governor Tim Kaine, from
Obama’s best choice is in New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. It would guarantee Obama the electoral votes in
McCain
Mitt Romney is on the top of the list, but he would be a mistake. He is thought to be able help McCain in a lot of swing states, but this is not true. Examine his record during the Republican primaries and you realize that he was never a strong candidate. In Ohio Romney outspent every other Republican candidate 100 to 1 and still lost. Same goes for
An interesting choice for McCain would be
Other selections that could help McCain’s ticket include Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty gets a lot of mention but is not yet ready for the job of vice president. He comes up with clever phrases, like the Republican Party changing from “country club voters to Sam’s Club voters.” It is likely that we will see a lot more from him in the future, but for now it is unsure whether he will be able to deliver his state.
If McCain wants to win this election he has to choose someone sensational. His best choice is Joe Lieberman. Known to be centric, Joe Lieberman would help tremendously among the independent voters. This would help McCain gain much needed ground in many of the swing states. He can also help McCain with the Jewish vote. Lieberman would be an immediate media sensation and steal from Obama his monopoly of media infatuation.
Condoleezza Rice would truly be a remarkable running mate for McCain. That would become the story of this campaign. The fear is that she is too closely related to the Bush administration and McCain is having a hard enough time shedding that skin. Colin Powell would be an even better choice, and would definitely win McCain the election. But at this point the American public is unsure whether he is even endorsing McCain.
If John McCain chooses a conventional running mate he will not have a chance competing against Obama. A run of the mill Republican for vice president will do nothing for the McCain campaign. He needs to do something shocking and fresh and re-energize his campaign and the Republican Party.
Several of the most promising potential vice president picks for Barack Obama have pulled themselves out of contention. These include Virginia Senator Jim Webb and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. Fortunately for McCain all of his best picks are still in the running, so he has the advantage.
Ultimately, the vice president isn’t given much power. But the choice made by presidential candidates does give us insight into the character of the leader. What a vice president is capable of is not important. What is important is what it says about the person making the choice.
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McCain Is Sleepwalking
July 7, 2008
Lethargic fundraising, unclear direction and inconsistent messaging have so far defined Senator John McCain's campaign for the presidency. Organization in many key states is just starting or non-existent. Fundraising is mediocre. The campaign seems to have no game plan. While Barack Obama was slugging it out with Hillary and spending millions of dollars in the process, what in the world was the McCain camp doing?
What is the consistent message? Where is the one-liner sound bite? What is the one single theme that McCain has to compete against Obama? The campaign has simply failed to define a consistent stance or portray a negative ideology against Obama. This should have been done the moment Obama captured the Democratic nomination. Instead, McCain gave a lackluster and uninspiring speech in front of an unattractive green backdrop.
After the Democratic primary McCain should have tightened the noose, but instead allowed Obama and his campaign to catch their breath, regroup, raise funds and define their stance. Please explain the political strategy behind that?
Over the past week polls have shown Obama's lead start at +6, go as high as +12, drop down to almost even with McCain and is now starting to inch up again. These volatile numbers have been reactions to Obama and Hillary unifying in Unity, New Hampshire and Wesley Clark's dismal performance. And where was McCain through all this controversy? He wasn't even in the country. He was out touring Mexico and South America.
Republican leaders have to be more efficient to overcome Obama's massive advantages. "Money is the mother's milk of politics," Jesse Unruh famously said. Obama is estimated to have at least three times the amount of money to play with than McCain. To get an idea of what the Republican Party is up against this election, just compare what they faced four years ago to today. In 2004 John Kerry had six staffers in Ohio. Right now Obama has sixty-three staffers meticulously targeting votes county by county.
McCain's television ads have been narrated by a deep-voiced man and portray unappealing pictures of oil rigs and old relatives that have passed away. Obama's television ads have him positioned in a beautiful white house talking about family values, all the while flashing pictures of him as a child with family members and shaking hands with troops and working class heroes on the campaign trail. There is no comparison as to which of the two ads are more effective.
What has gone almost completely overlooked over the past week is Obama's announcement that he opposes California's initiative on same-sex marriage. Obama is a proponent of gay rights and supports gay marriage. This issue was put at the forefront of the 2004 campaign by the Bush team and was largely responsible for George Bush winning the election. Gay marriage has proven to be a very important issue among working class voters. Working class voters are going to decide who wins this election. Why is McCain's campaign completely mute on this issue? He should be shouting at the top of the Capitol Building that he is a proponent of California's initiative and is against judges making the law. Yet neither Republicans, Democrats nor Independents really know where McCain stands on this issue. This poses an opportunity for the Republicans to mobilize nationwide. Wait too long and it will be a crucial opportunity lost.
At the same time, Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues in Congress are pushing the "Fairness Doctrine" front and center, proposing equal time legislation for radio stations across the country. The "Fairness Doctrine" was repealed by Ronald Reagan over two decades ago. This represents a threat to conservative talk radio stations, popular all across the country, especially among Christian Conservatives. McCain has already shown weakness towards the Christian Conservative base and the Evangelicals. This is an opportunity to mobilize that base. Instead, his campaign has yet to exploit the topic. Again, no one knows where McCain stands on this issue.
Obama recently has launched a television ad war covering eighteen states. When explaining his upbringing, Obama's ad proclaims he was raised with "values straight from the Kansas heartland" even though he was raised in Hawaii and Indonesia. He arrogantly claims to have passed three bills. The third bill he claims to pass, welfare reform, was passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Clinton, and was actually opposed by Obama. McCain should be plastering his face over every news station calling Obama out on the blatant lie, but instead is spending his time in Columbia. Columbia's progress is a great accomplishment. Unfortunately, Americans don't care. They have no time to worry about Columbia. They're too busy worrying about rising unemployment, crashing stocks, record high oil prices and a housing crisis.
The truth is this presidential race remains winnable for McCain. Republicans shouldn't panic, but they should be worried. Despite Obama's brilliant campaign thus far there still seems to be resistance among voters towards him.
McCain won't win on personal appeal or character. He can only win by aggressively engaging Obama on the issues and forcing Obama to clearly state his positions.
Recently, there has been a shake-up in McCain's campaign and Steve Schmidt - who worked closely with Karl Rove - was appointed to take charge of day-to-day operations. Schmidt went to McCain almost two weeks ago and warned him that his operations needed to be revamped if he wanted to win the election. Nicole Wallace, communications director for George W. Bush in the 2004 campaign and later his communications director in the White House, has recently joined the campaign as a senior adviser. McCain's aides have acknowledged the time squandered since winning the nomination and are now making changes in top positions to get back on track. This may be exactly what the campaign needs.
McCain must push concerns about energy, foreign policy and scope of government to the forefront of this fight. He must convey his concerns about domestic problems to voters. It is time for McCain and the Republican Party to get their house in order.
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Who Is Barack Obama?
June 30, 2008
America's possible next president has an unfamiliar name. His Muslim Kenyan father left him and his atheist mother when he was young. He grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii. He made his bones in the traditionally corrupt Chicago Democratic machine. His wife only became proud of America for the first time in her forties. The most influential man of his adult life is a radical pastor who seems to hate America. His far-left liberalism is a progressive, cosmopolitan street-savvy ideology with a touch of ivy-league elitism.
It comes as no surprise that voters have trouble relating to Barack Obama.
Who he appears to be and who his background and associations suggest he might be is so profound that it conjures up the most basic doubts in the minds of voters. He comes from a world few American voters know or understand.
Now, onto more important matters...
Foreign Affairs
Barack Obama's stance towards Iran is dangerous and naive. Negotiating with Iran "without preconditions" within his first year of office legitimizes a corrupt government, rewards unyielding tyrants, and sends the wrong signal to our allies in the Middle East. His views also make our European allies very nervous. As reported in the Washington Post last week, Obama's pledge to begin talks with Iran "could potentially rupture U.S. relations with key European allies" early in his potential administration. Ronald Reagan never met with any Soviet leaders during his first term in office, and only met with Gorbachev after he was assured Gorbachev was a different kind of leader.
On Iraq, not only has he been flat out wrong on surge predictions and withdrawal timetables, but his policies for the future have the potential to destroy everything gained over the past year and eradicate our position in the Middle East.
His messages on his policies towards Israel have been dizzying. Obama's use of the word "undivided" is constantly reinterpreted by his advisors and seems to be used for great symbolism but no weight.
His messages on his policy towards NAFTA have been conflicting. When campaigning against Clinton he said NAFTA was "devastating" and "a big mistake." Now, campaigning against McCain, he believes "we can make this work for all people." Explaining his turnaround he went on to say, "Sometimes during campaigns the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified."
Energy
Obama opposes deep-sea energy exploration. He believes instead that we can solve our energy crisis with additional tax burdens on our energy companies. The "windfall profits tax" that Obama stubbornly supports was tried by Jimmy Carter in 1980 and it resulted in raising our dependence on foreign oil and costing the American public more. He also supports ethanol based renewable fuels even though the production of ethanol based fuel is more harmful to the environment than its counterpart. Maybe it's because Obama has such close ties to the ethanold lobbyists and big agribusiness. Corn ethanol is less energy efficient and costs more. This year 34% of corn produced in the U.S. will be used for fuel. Putting this much food into our gas tanks hasn't lowered the price of gas, but it has raised the price of food at the grocery store.
He also has called for taxing coal and natural gas - the two largest sources of electricity in America. Obama said, "What we ought to tax is dirty energy, like coal and, to a lesser extent natural gas." He clearly does not understand the consequences higher taxes would have on America's energy companies.
Economy
Obama's tax policy will certainly make every American's wallet lighter. He wants to further income tax, payroll tax, capital gains tax, dividend tax and the death tax.
He wants to double the capital gains tax, and increase the dividend tax, which will have a negative effect on more than 50% of the population and can easily cause a selloff in the stock market as soon as he is elected.
His plans to raise taxes on the wealthy can have a devastating effect on small business, and small businesses have created most of the new jobs in recent decades. Forcing the affluent to pay more in taxes will do nothing to decrease national debts or spur economic growth when Obama promises greater entitlements in health care, education and housing. This formula of redistribution of wealth by drowning the rich to help the middle and lower class through government funds is classic liberal dogma.
The economic well-being of America is not measured by how much taxes our government can collect. It is measured by the country's productive capability. It is shocking to think that America's possible next president would make the private sector poorer in order to make the government richer.
Judgment
There is no office where the judgment of a person in that office matters more than the office of the President of the United States. The destiny of 300 million Americans and the fate of the unborn are in his hands.
Yet time and again Obama demonstrates poor judgment. In the war in Iraq, he has consistently been wrong on what actions to take. In dealing with our enemies, he was wrong on saying he'd meet with foreign tyrants within his first year. He was wrong in supporting public financing before strenuously opposing it. He was wrong saying he would not disown Reverend Wright and he was wrong in buying a house from a criminally convicted mortgage broker.
If Barack Obama has such a difficult time picking sides on policies or even picking friends, how can American voters trust him with the responsibility for picking Cabinet members or Supreme Court justices?
Other concerns:
- He wants to cover 10 million illegal immigrants with federally funded health insurance
- He proposes requiring Homeland Security operatives to notify terror suspects that they are under investigation within seven days of starting the investigation
- He does not oppose today's high price of gasoline but only wishes there had been a more "gradual adjustment" to higher prices
- His associations with Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, Tony Rezko, James Johnson and ACORN
Obama's rapid rise and lack of record merit a high level of scrutiny. When examined closely, more often than not his words are empty of any meaning. It is increasingly difficult to distinguish what Obama truly believes. It remains to be seen whether he is for real or just another savvy politician packaging old ideas in new wrapping.
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OIL!
June 23, 2008
The recent shock of a massive surge in oil and gasoline prices has awakened our nation from its complaisance. Several reasons have contributed to the rise in energy prices – The growing demand for oil by
Labeling Congress a bunch of “Do-nothings” might almost be right, but the truth is they are doing something. Congress is doing their best to create more obstacles to decrease the price of oil and gas. Large amounts of oil and natural gas lay beneath our land and off our shores, untouched because Congress seems to believe the American people would rather see more regulation, more taxes and more controls than more energy.
Allowing deep-sea energy exploration, oil shale extraction and opening ANWR could be done safely while adding billions of barrels to domestic supply. Unfortunately, right now it’s illegal to explore in the
Congress and Barack Obama propose a “windfall profits tax” as a solution. This undermines the rule of law and discourages future investment by all entrepreneurs, not just oilmen. It also raised big red flags to all would-be investors that they are playing with a dishonest government partner. The message it sends is that if their business becomes highly profitable, then the government is going to change the rules. Anyone proposing this policy is an economic illiterate unable to realize the consequences.
Never mind the effects of the 1980 windfall profits tax. It decreased domestic production by 3 to 6 percent, thereby increasing American dependence on foreign oil sources by 8 to 16 percent. Still, it is the only solution that Obama and our congressional majority, caught in the grips of environmental lobbyists, have been able to come up with. As Alan Greenspan once said, “Whatever you tax, you get less of.”
An environmental paradox is that US laws ensure a rig off any of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed or damaged hundreds of drilling rigs without causing a large spill. Of the more than 7 billion barrels of oil pumped offshore in the last 25 years, .001% percent, or one-thousandth of 1 percent, has been spilled.
The Energy Information Administration estimates global demand for oil is expected to rise by 40 percent over the next two decades. Further price escalation is inevitable. We need to increase our production of oil and nuclear power. Our resources should come from
John McCain is ready to create a bold, new, comprehensive plan for
John McCain is also proposing opening up 45 nuclear power plants. Not only is nuclear power a reliable and affordable energy source, it also emits almost no carbon gasses.
John McCain realizes that the best way to broaden our energy portfolio is through American ingenuity and hard work, not Big-government bureaucracy.
Prevent tax hikes, reduce government regulations, repeal mandates and accelerate innovation.
The American people have voiced their opinions, and they are solidly behind it. The Democrats, however, stubbornly refuse to answer the call of the American people, consistently challenging plans to increase supply, preferring to propose already failed policies.
America’s energy problem isn’t oil company profits. The problem is the world’s changing global energy market – in which demand is surging while supply remains sluggish. As President Ronald Reagan said, the simple solution is to increase the domestic energy supply to lower prices – precisely opposite of what the Democratic Party is advocating.
First, we must lift legislation preventing deep-sea energy exploration. A Democratic-led Congress imposed a ban on Outer Continental Shelf development in 1981 and have done everything in their power to extend it ever since. A report published by the Department of Interior in 2006 determined that there were 85.9 billion barrels of “undiscovered technically recoverable” oil sitting off our beaches. Since 1981 the
Second, we must lift legislation preventing exploration in our enormous oil shale and tar sand reserves. Last week President Bush used a conservative estimate of 800 billion barrels of oil in our shale deposits. Others, including the Rand Corporation, estimate that as much as 1.8 trillion barrels lie under the Green River Formation in
Third, we need to expand our reach by investing in nuclear power plants. Not only is energy through nuclear power plants extremely resourceful but also environmentally friendly.
Finally, we need to build more refineries.
These policies are dictated by logic. The
You elected Congress. It paid you back with $4 per gallon gas. And while Congress is opposing oil exploration, Obama sends the message to oil companies that “you drill, you find oil, and we’ll take away your profits.” Americans, however, have their priorities in order.
John McCain shows himself to be a pragmatist while Obama comes off as an idealist who puts climate change ahead of making it possible for the average American to drive his car to work. John McCain has shown his willingness to respond to the gas price crisis with bold initiatives that offer positive results. That is change we all can truly believe in.
George Bush Did Something Right
June 16, 2008
Despite all the Bush-bashing and low approval ratings, something has clearly made
A short term history of terrorist attacks against
1988: Pam Am flight 103 blown up killing 270, including a number of US military personnel. Marine Lieutenant Colonel William Higgins, chief of the UN Truce Force in
1991:
1993:
1995: Five Americans are killed in an attack on a US Army office in
1996: Truck bomb at
1997: Terrorists murder four American oil-company employees in
1998: US Embassy in
1999: Pilot of Egypt Air flight 990 purposefully crashes the airplane into the ocean, killing 100 Americans
2000: Suicide boat explodes next to the USS Cole, killing 17 American sailors and injuring 39
2001: September 11th
2002: Nothing
2003: Suicide bombings in
2004: Nothing
2005: Nothing
2006: Nothing
2007: Nothing
2008: So far, no successful attacks against the
Everyone living in
There are those who insist that because of our actions in
The departure of President Bush will hardly leave
Contrary to popular belief, foes have barely grown under the Bush administration.
Meanwhile, in the past couple of months other conflicts around the world are quietly resolving.
Iraq, for all its difficulties, is finally starting to come around. According to a CNN report last week, only 19 troops died in
The political progress made in
Barack Obama has made a name for himself accusing President Bush of stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the realities in
Instead of putting himself above partisan politics, as he claims he does, he has chosen the much easier path of exploiting current public opinion for political gain. He downplays the substantial gains achieved through the surge and dismisses all evidence of progress.
Obama believes that an immediate troop withdrawal would be happily accepted by our allies and help restore
It is beyond argument that the surge strategy endorsed by President Bush (and opposed by Obama and the congressional majority) is working. The current policies that are succeeding can qualify as one of the most impressive turnarounds in our history. Yet in a speech two weeks ago Obama said, “I won’t stand here and pretend that there are many good options left in
His national security and foreign relations policies are the embodiment of carelessness. Perhaps because Obama has been so busy campaigning over the past 18 months he has failed to realize that our enemies abroad are scattering for survival. Al Qaeda is severely weakened in
Strip away his charm and eloquence and Obama is left with zero substance. His dishonesty and misinformation, especially when it comes to
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Change for the Worse
June 9, 2008
Change is what America wanted in 2006 and change is exactly what America got. Since the Democratic Party took charge of Congress in 2006, oil prices have more than doubled, housing prices have crashed, and there has been a resurgence of troops in Iraq.
The Democratic Party won voter support by promising reform in healthcare, energy, the economy, education and the war in Iraq. Almost two years later, here is where we stand:
Healthcare - Prescription drug prices continue to rise and employers, more than ever before, are passing on medical costs to their workers
Energy - As the price of oil skyrockets the only solutions Congress can come up with are the "windfall profits tax" and to "sue OPEC." Sue OPEC? Really?
Economy - The American economy is near recession levels and in the midst of a housing crisis
Education - Public school test scores continue to deteriorate when compared to foreign nations and the federally backed college loans program is in chaos
Iraq - The American Military is for the first time making very positive strides in the War in Iraq by acting against Congress' wishes
The Democratic Congress elected in 2006 is the embodiment of weak leadership and empty promises. All the "Do Nothing Congress" has been able to accomplish is to distribute subsidies to agribusiness and investigate steroid use in baseball.
There is zero reason to believe the Democrats in Congress will get us on the right track, and there is zero reason to believe that Barack Obama's promises of "change" will be any different. If Obama wins the presidential election the result will be a broadly reaching, socialist-dominated, greatly expanded American Government. The unity of a far left President and today's congressional majority is...
A Dangerous Combination for America.
Obama has his "change" buzzword, but as of yet no innovative policies to contribute.
Democratic administration tax increases are likely to be substantial. Obama proposes raising top income tax rates from 35% to 39.6%, capital gains tax rates from 15% to 25%, dividend tax from 15% to 39.6%, and top estate tax rates back up to 55%. He certainly believes in the redistribution of wealth and expensive government programs. Is this the change America wants?
Protectionism will replace free trade as American policy, despite the fact that foreign trade actually creates jobs here at home. Foreign-owned companies operating in America employ more than five million people. Honda, for example, employs 16,000 alone. America's exports of goods and services employ another 11 million. Yet Obama consistently says things like he wants to repeal NAFTA, saying it has never "been good for America." Creating jobs and expanding commerce isn't good for America? This protectionist mindset will only limit international trade agreements and likely lead to anti-American protectionism by other nations. And it would happen at a time when the global markets are expanding at a faster pace than at any other time in history. Is this the change America wants?
And then would come a vast energy policy that would further limit America's energy resources and continue to support rising gas prices. U.S. domestic crude oil field production has fallen by half over the past forty years, yet offshore oil and gas drilling continues to be prohibited. This policy will expand under Obama, for he even opposes existing Gulf of Mexico oil drilling. Off the east and west coast there is enough supply of oil and gas to replace our oil imports for the next twenty-five years, but access to it will not be permitted. Our oil supplies in Alaska (ANWR) would provide enough oil to make America energy dependent for the next four decades, but access to it will not be permitted. No new nuclear power plants have been approved since the 1970s. So a new administration under Obama and today's congressional majority plan no additional nuclear, oil or natural gas power generation. This leaves us with solar, windmill and geothermal power for our additional needs. Those sources combined provide less than 2 1/2% of our power generation sources. Is this the change America wants?
Obama's rapid rise to the top of the political arena poses and unsettling question - Who is he?
His close association with anti-American pastor Jeremiah Wright and other Chicago left wing fanatics (Ayers, Pfleger) calls into question his judgment and honesty. His lack of national-security experience is breathtaking, yet he is quick to claim that Iran is "no big deal." What we do know, for sure, is that he is America's most liberal Senator. Does America really want a Democrat who takes orders from the unions on trade policy, voted against funding the troops, and has openly admitted that he'll meet with every American-hating tyrant the world has to offer?
A new administration under Barack Obama would create a nation that is far more regulated, far less prosperous and offering far less opportunity. What is certain is that the size and spending of the federal government will substantially expand, income taxes will go up, and protectionism will replace free trade.
Congress embodies weak leadership and empty promises. Barack Obama embodies lack of judgment and shallow ideas...
A Dangerous Combination for America.
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