Category: Politics

Will you be joining the tea party protests on and around April 15?

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Like it or not, we’re stuck with the federal government we’ve got until January 2011.  We’ve got a chance to shake things up in November 2010, but that’s still well over a year away.  Until we can show our displeasure via the ballot box, these tea party protests are the best way to keep pressure on Congress to at least question “the One.”  His numbers are dropping and he’s now no better off than Bush was at this point in his term.  Democrats are beginning to stand up on individual issues and tell the White House, “No.”  It’s our job over the next year and a half to tell them – and members of the GOP who keep embracing big government – that it is time to stop and we’re pissed.  Will they stop?  Probably not.  Will they slow it down?  Possibly.  Will every report of a protests in their homestate make them more nervous?  Absolutely.

Check out the map and find your local tea party.  You need to go.  The local media has stopped ignoring these protests and now covers them regularly.  Some organizers are finally taking next steps like gathering donations to pay for flyers to be sent to voters about what’s going on, or gathering email addresses for further protest notices.  Get involved.  Make them squirm in Washington.

There are several in the Philadelphia region, including one at Independence Hall, as well as West Chester and Trenton.  Make the time to attend – we will.

Clayton Cramer talks about what Obama is and isn’t, and laments we do not have a functional Republican Party.   I’m really worried about 2012, personally.  I worry that Palin was largely ruined by the media and the McCain camp.  I think Bobby Jindal won’t quite be ready for 2012, and his Jesus Juice might cause further Republican losses in places that aren’t The South.  So that leaves us with our savior being… Mitt Romney?   God help us.

One of the most insightful characterizations Kim du Toit ever came up with was saying that the Democrats are the “Evil Party” while the Republicans were the “Stupid Party.” which is really exactly what our troubles boil down to.  The people ready for someone to lead them out of this nightmare, but who will step up?  Who’s even out there?

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker spoke with White House officials about their plans for GM after Obama fired the CEO.

Corker said he spoke to Steven Rattner, chairman of the Obama task force, late Sunday and was told the administration might use a section of the bankruptcy code to conduct a quick restructuring and decide which plants will stay alive.

When I first read this, I mentioned to Sebastian that they could easily target red state plants first and make it a political game.

Oh, did I mention my uncle works for GM in Oklahoma, the only state to go more solidly red this year, and was told there’s a meeting for all workers (regardless of shift) on Thursday morning?

Obviously, I don’t know details about GM’s operations, and it may make sense to close that plant or to have substantial cuts there. But, when the WH is making personnel decisions, there’s always going to be room for political considerations and favors or punishment for friends and foes. In other words, we’ll never really know when cuts are made on the business merits or the political whims of Rahm & his buddies.

President Obama has managed to do what no other leader has been able to accomplish.  He has brought unionized auto workers and management together.

“It’s the age-old Wall Street vs. Main Street smackdown again,” said Brian Fredline, president of UAW Local 602 at a plant near Lansing. “You have all kinds of funding available to banks that are apparently too big to fail, but they’re also too big to be responsible.”

“But when it comes to auto manufacturing and middle-class jobs and people that don’t matter on Wall Street, there are certainly different standards that we have to meet — higher standards — than the financials. That is a double standard that exists and it’s unfair,” Fredline said.

Many workers — not generally known for their affection toward executives — even sympathized with Rick Wagoner, who was forced to step down as chief executive of General Motors Corp. He was by turns called a “sacrificial lamb,” “scapegoat” and “fall guy.”

I was introduced to Wayne Anthony Ross once, but I would not claim to know him personally.  Nonetheless, I think Governor Palin has made herself a good choice.  It would seem Chris Cox agrees.

I should note that Ross split from NRA in endorsing Sarah Palin for Governor, when she was running against an endorsed incumbent.  NRA endorses incumbents by policy, and I agree with that, generally.  But in this specific case, I think Ross made the right choice.

UPDATE: Bitter notes that Wayne Anthony Ross is someone we considered for an endorsement this election.  We believe he is very worthy, but we wanted to get it down to six or less candidates, which was tough.  If you voted or plan to vote for Ross on your NRA ballot, you won’t go wrong.

According to Jim Geraghty, Palin’s detractors are trying to bury her in legal bills:

While holding elected officials accountable is laudable, most of the matters are beyond trivial. One of the complaints against her was for talking to reporters about the presidential campaign while she was in the governor’s office. Another objected to her office press secretary offering a statement to clarify a statement put out by her political action committee. The latest complaint is that Palin wore snow-machine gear advertising her husband Todd’s sponsor, Arctic Cat Inc, while “in her official duties as governor” when she served as the “official starter” of the race.

She currently owes nearly half a million in legal bills, which is apparently four times her annual salary.  The Palins are not rich people, unlike a lot of other folks in politics. I would donate to her legal defense fund if she started one.  But if she wants an idea for making that 500 large go poof: free autographed Sarah Palin Bikini Calendar with any donation of 500 dollars or more.  I’d give it a day, at most.

It is good to see that Arlen Specter has come to his senses and stopped wobbling on the bill to end secret ballots for union votes. Americans for Tax Reform reports that his office has confirmed he will vote against it.

Now, about that last bailout package, Senator….