Dems Dangle Carrot to Entice House Republicans!

Exactly what party is the majority in the House of Representatives? Why can't Queen Bee, Nancy Pelosi, close the deal? If the Democrats in the House wanted this $700 billion bailout done, why didn't it pass? Why did Nancy Pelosi tell those Democrats in the House that are in tough re-election fights to vote their conscience?

The fact is that while the Democrats have the majority in the House, their leader is no leader. The Democrats did not have the courage to pass this bill on their own. They wanted the Republican party to hold their hand on this deal so that when it blew up in their faces they wouldn't have to take the blame.

The American people probably will never hear this in the MSM, but they have the House GOP to thank for that crappy bill going down the tubes. The only bill that was worse was the one that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid said they had in the tank before John McCain came back to Washington. Prior to McCain's arrival, the House GOP were completely left out of all negotiations.

After McCain's presence, the House GOP was finally given a seat at the table. It was only then that some of the best parts of the bill were introduced and some of the worst parts were taken out. The House was able to negotiate ACORN out of the deal. (It was a deal breaker for the GOP) They were able to push the idea of insurance being offered for some of the less evil mortgages.

Unfortunately for Nancy Pelosi, but fortunately for us, the House GOP voted against the bill. Yes, I am sure that Nancy Pelosi's partisan speech gave them their final push to vote no, but it was not their only reason. Good for them and US....the Senate Democrats are now dangling a carrot.

The Republicans may have just brought the end of the Alternative Minimum Tax by holding out on the bailout. During this time period, it appears suddenly that other ideas are being entertained as well. The FDIC is asking to temporarily increase the amount that it guarantees. It would raise the amount from $100k to $250k. They are also considering loosening some of the market to market accounting that contributed to the now freezing credit market.

What do you think they could get if they hold out for another round of negotiations? As I asked above, who exactly is in charge right now? Apparently, the Republicans are....and the American people can thank them on November 4th!

Shhhhh....Don't Let Barack Obama Hear This!

What is the easiest and sometimes most shady way to win an election? Shut down or shut out your opposition. Barack Obama has been creeping up to the line of unconstitutional in the last few months, but he just jumped full throttle over that line.

Barack Obama supports the "Fairness Doctrine". Nancy Pelosi has already stated that if they win majority seats in the House and Senate this year that she will bring back the "Fairness Doctrine". It is almost a certainty with a President Obama. This doctrine would basically put an end to the only media giving the Republicans a voice in this country. It would be the end of talk radio as we know it.

Each time that an author appears on talk radio discussing an anti-Obama book, the Obama campaign sends an email to it's supporters. In the email, the Obama campaign asks supporters to descend upon the radio show with phone calls against the station, it's host, and the guest. They try to intimidate these shows to no longer give an outlet to any opposition.

The Obama campaign has dispatched lawyers to counter any advertising that shows Obama in a negative light. They have threatened local stations not to air certain ads against Obama. The "Tony Rezko" ad was one of their favorite targets. At one point, he even demanded that the Department of Justice investigate the group behind the "Rezko' ad.

Barack Obama supports "open" voting for new unions. This will allow the unions to intimidate those potential union members into voting in the union. Why would you take the chance on openly voting against the union only to have them become your "boss". Secret ballots are essential to fair voting for employees deciding whether to unionize or not.

Last week, the Obama supporters threatened Jewish Groups holding a pro-Israel rally. They were told that if they didn't uninvite Sarah Palin to the event that their tax-exempt status would be challenged should Obama win. Sarah Palin's invitation was rescinded and she was not permitted to make her speech.

And now, he may have very well have crossed the line. If you have any doubt which of your constitutional rights he will go after first.......watch the video below for proof that it will be your right to free speech. (unless of course you are a supporter of his)

He has actually asked that local and state resources be used to target any opposition ads that may come out against him in the state of Missouri. You have to wonder....Why Missouri? What other states is he asking to do the same thing? Is this even legal?

Don't ask the ACLU to help. According to The Lancaster Gazette, the ACLU doesn't have any one available. (At least not until after the election)

Video: Democrats Defending Freddie/Fannie and Franklin Raines!!

Democrats continue to blame the Republicans for deregulation which they say led to the downfall of the financial markets.  However, newly discovered CSPAN coverage of hearing about Freddie/Fannie find not only the Democrats defending both companies, but their leadership.  Franklin Raines sound familiar.  Check out the accusations made against the regulators of the two companies from Democrats.  It is clear that MSM won't do their jobs on this issue.  Every blogger must spread these videos.  They are proof of who is to blame.

It's Time For A Washington Tea Party!

I am angry. No, angry is not the word for what I am right now. How dare these politicians play games with MY money and YOUR money? How dare they play God with my life, my children's lives, your lives? There have been times in our history when the people were so angry that they actually rose up against the government.

Is now one of those times?

Look around. Is there anyone out there that you trust to look out for your best interest....in government? Do you trust the media to give you the real details of what is actually taking place? The fact that Barney Frank and Chris Dodd are two of the major players negotiating these deals makes me want to pull my freaking hair out. Where is the media? I know that they are biased....I get that. Yet, you would think that they would want to look out for their own almighty dollar.

Everyone continues to tell us how dire things are and how much worse they are about to get. What do the Democrats do in this crisis? The same thing that they want to do if Barack Obama wins in November.......TAX and SPEND.

How dare these politicians ask us for $700 billion? Didn't you hear? We may get this money back and more. What would Democrats do with that "more"? Surely, they are going to put it towards our debt? No. Will they use it to stimulate our economy or give the American people a tax rebate? No. Will they use it to pay for Social Security that is already in jeopardy? No.

Ok...what are they going to do with it then? 20% FREAKING percent will go to ACORN? Are you kidding me? Are you freaking kidding me? Absolutely NOT! No way....No How!!!! Do you hear us politicians? I don't care what party you belong to.....if you allow this disgusting point to get into this bill......you will be voted out!! We will no longer stand for your crap!

If this provision some how makes it into this bill, this government will no longer be representative of me or you. It will be time for this country to rise up against it's government. It will be time for the next Boston Tea Party..............we will call it the Washington Tea Party.

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!! We are done. My tax dollars will no longer go to support Washington's stupidity. I will no longer reward those asinine politicians that make their almighty buck blowing away my bucks.

Yes. I am angry. No I am not alone. The question now...................what do you do with YOUR anger? If you have not contacted your representatives by email or phone yet, it is your duty as an American to speak up and be heard. If you chose to sit and do nothing, you do so at your own peril!!!

UPDATE: It appears that the Republicans, Shelby & Boehner, were able to get the ACORN provision stripped out of this bill. We will see concrete details later today. This bill still stinks for the American people, but at least my blood pressure can come down a little now.

The only way to put checks and balances on this run-away Congress is to have John McCain in the White House. Otherwise, who knows what kind of gimme's these corrupt organizations will get next.

Obama: Call Me If You Need Me....Mean While I'm Stealing McCain's Ad Buys!!

Whether it was a political ploy or not, that is your decision to make about John McCain's decision to suspend his campaign. However, the absolute nonsense that the Democrats and Barack Obama are pulling right now are disgusting. (and that was putting it lightly.)

According to Joe Lieberman, Harry Reid stated yesterday that the Democrats were not going to go out on a limb and support this bailout only to have the Republicans and John McCain come out against it. Harry Reid told Lieberman that he needed John McCain to get this deal done. At about the same time, Henry Paulson called Phil Gramm, who was traveling with John McCain, and told him that he also needed John McCain to get the deal done.

Now today, after John McCain states that he has suspended his campaign, Harry Reid and the Democrats start shouting to the world that they don't need John McCain and that they have a deal already made. BULL! Even my Congressman, Jason Altmire, whom I never agree with, said that they did not have the votes to get this done. The Republican House was not on board with the deal regardless of what the Democrats were trying to portray to the public.

Why are Democrats in such a hurry to get this deal through? They were picketed by their own union supporters today. Senators and Congressman from BOTH parties have stated that they have received thousands of phone calls and emails from constituents stating that they are absolutely against this socialized bailout. The bottom line is they want to get something done........for the sake of saying that they got something done.

So, John McCain got phone calls saying he was needed by both Democrats and the Bush Administration. Did anyone call Barack Obama and say he was needed to seal the deal? Apparently not, because Barack Obama was still in Florida prepping for the debate that probably is not going to happen tomorrow night. Senator Obama, after stating that this was the most severe crisis our country has faced in decades, told America and Congress to call him if he could be of any help.

What else was the Obama campaign doing while John McCain was heading back to Washington? According to Fox News, the Obama campaign was out buying up the ad spots that McCain had pulled to suspend his campaign. Let me say this clearly, while John McCain suspends his campaign and heads to Washington to do what was ASKED of him, Barack Obama buys up ad spots on TV to hit McCain. Wow......if you don't think Barack Obama is playing politics right now............you have your head in the sand.

It's time to get smart......Republicans hold on to your principles it's going to be a bumpy ride, but socializing our financial market is NOT the answer!!

The Coal Industry Could Win This Election For John McCain!

In the wake of all that has happened today, what I am about to share with you may seem like a minor issue. However, there are so many far reaching implications to this information that it could seal the deal for a McCain Presidency.

According to Reuters New Service, Al Gore, in an interview today, urged young people to engage in civil disobedience to stop the construction of coal plants without the ability to store carbon. The only problem, there are no commercial scale projects that exist anywhere to demonstrate that type of technology.

According to the government, there are 28 coal plants under construction in the United States. Another 20 projects have permits and are nearly ready to begin building. This also does not include the plant which I blogged about yesterday in West Virginia. That plant will turn coal into liquid and ultimately into a gas substitute.

Why should Al Gore's statement have any relevance on the Presidential election? Well, if you add his "civil disobedience" statement to the statement made by Joe Biden yesterday saying he and Barack Obama do not support any coal plants here in American, there emerges a pattern.

On June 20, 2008 Harry Reid stated, ""The one thing we fail to talk about is those costs that you don't see on the bottom line. That is coal makes us sick, oil makes us sick; it's global warming. It's ruining our country, it’s ruining our world. We’ve got to stop using fossil fuel.” All while, Nancy Pelosi is "trying to save the planet."

Coal is a vital part of our energy future and redefining our independence from foreign oil. However, I do not wish to jump into the impact on our energy policy in this blog. What I do wish to look at is the coal industry and it's direct impact on this election.

Nearly one million jobs are directly and indirectly created by the coal industry. Most, but not all, of these jobs are found in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. This industry is absolutely crucial to the economy of these states. In West Virginia, 99% of all electricity generated comes from coal and $214 billion is added to the state's economy.

For the Democrats, and specifically the Democrat Leadership, to take on the coal industry is to put this election in the hands of John McCain. Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania will be the key to winning both of these states. If you directly challenge the blue-collar workers in these areas and their livelihoods, you will push this mostly democrat population into the hands of the Republicans.

Check mate.......the game will be over.

Too Late Biden! We Are Already Building A Clean Coal Plant Here in the US!!

In the clip above, Joe Biden tells a supporter that China can build Coal Plants over there, but there will be no Coal Plants built in America.  Did he just hand the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan over to John McCain?

My question to Senator Biden is:   What do you do about the first Clean Coal Plant that is already in the works in Benwood, West Virginia?  Will you now tie up permits for this plant or send armies of environmentalists to the area to slow the process down and effectively kill all of the new jobs that this is about to bring to the State of West Virginia?

On July 28, 2008, CONSOL energy announced that it intends to develop through a joint venture, their first U. S. Coal gasification and liquefaction plant in West Virginia-an $800 million investment in the state.  It will help the State of West Virginia become a leader in a new direction for energy independence.  It has the potential to transform West Virginia from a major coal-producing state to a national energy center as well.

This proposal will not only help West Virginia, but the Ohio Valley which includes Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.    It is expected to bring 500 new construction jobs to Ohio Valley residents.  It will also employ 60 full time hires for it's operation once completed.  This is just the first of it's kind planned for the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia areas and could be expanded quickly to states like Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Joe Biden, Barack Obama and the other Democrats have been beholden to the environmentalists on drilling for oil.  What are the odds that they will now bail on these groups and support clean-coal technology?  Ohio Valley residents, many who continue to lose jobs under Democrat-controlled local governments, should be wary of promises made one day and denied the next.

I am sure that the campaign will be doing damage-control shortly, but rest assured you heard the truth from the horses mouth!!

Barack Obama Has Officially Become A Republican?

Is Barack Obama a fiscal conservative in wolves clothing? Over the last few months, Barack Obama has slowly transformed from a tax and spend liberal to a fiscal conservative. Every day, he seems to be shadowing John McCain's economic policy.

First, on September 7, 2008, Barack Obama stated that he would delay rescinding the Bush tax cuts on wealthy Americans if the country was in a recession, suggesting that it would further hurt an ailing economy. If, as he claims, that 95% of the country would receive a tax cut under his plans, why would this hurt the economy? Well, most people now believe that the country is in a recession, so Obama will not be ending the Bush tax cuts as he had promised. No tax increases is a conservative point of view.....right?

In Greenbay, Wisconsin today, Barack Obama suddenly claimed to be a fiscal conservative. He vowed to slash federal spending on contractors by 10% and save $40 billion. (Great news...unless you're one of those contractors) He urged members of his party to be just as fiscally tough as the most fiscal conservatives in the Republican party. Wow....what a compliment to Republicans.....I thought they were the evil ones who had caused all of this chaos. Why would he now want to mimic them?

So, has Obama changed parties. No. Obama is hiding his tax and spend liberalism in order to get elected. If Senator Obama is truly a fiscal conservative, will he now at this point admit to the American people that the government cannot afford to pay for health care? Will he call for the end of excessive earmarks?

No, Barack Obama is not a Republican. Need proof? The Democrats haven't found a bill in history that they didn't believe they could shove more spending in to. Today, as they debate whether or not to rescue our failing financial markets, what was the first thing they did? How much more spending can we throw into the bill so we look like we are helping the American people? In fact, they held up the bill with their usual tactics while the markets dropped, the dollar sunk, and oil prices had their biggest one day spike in history. That's not what a fiscal Republican does Mr. Obama!

Oh Wait.........when is that comprehensive energy package coming any way? Maybe they should just leave that one alone while they're at it.

Remember All of Those Promises Democrats Made in 2006-Part II

I have continued to research the promises that were made by Democrats in 2006. Many of these promises were at the very cornerstone of why they won both Houses. During this Presidential campaign, both politicians are making promises. It's what they do. However, it was the Democrats who came into power promising change and for that reason, I am giving an update on where they stand today.

The second major area that the Democrats made promises in was to be the most open, honest, and ethical congress in history. This should be a bi-partisan issue. There is no one in this country that isn't sick of the corruption on both sides that continue to taint our government. Here were their promises in 2006:

We'll Be More Honest, Open, and Ethical Than Republicans Were:
In a press release in 2006, Nancy Pelosi stated, "This leadership team will create the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in History."

Congressman William Jefferson-On June 5, 2007, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on 16-counts including bribery. It was also reported that during Hurricane Katrina, Rep. Jefferson took Louisiana National Guard away from their duties to check on his property in New Orleans.

Congressman Charles Rangel-Head of the House Ways and Means Committee failed to pay taxes on a resort property in the Dominican Republic. Until this past week, he was also illegally using the Congressional garage to store a car of his with expired tags and registration. He finally had it towed away after photos in several newspapers.

Senator Chris Dodd- Received a "sweet-heart" deal mortgage from the CEO of Countrywide. (See my earlier blog for details)

Senator Kent Conrad-Received a "sweet-heart" deal mortgage from Countrywide (See my earlier blog for details)

Is this what they call Honest and Ethical? Can you imagine what their vision of dishonest and unethical would look like. None of the members were brought up on any ethics violations.

No Swapping of Earmarks for Votes: In the Democrats House Rules Package, they state that there will be not be any promise of earmarks made or threatened against any member in order to secure a vote on any bill. In May 2007, John Murtha threatened Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan of stripping any funding for his home district after Rogers pushed for the elimination of a government center in Murtha's district. This was a blatant violation of the House Ethics Rules. On May 22, 2007, the Democrat Leadership killed a reprimand of John Murtha for his ethics violation. Only two democrats voted to reprimand Murtha.

Sever Links Between Lobbyists & Legislation: Head of the Senate Banking Committee, Chris Dodd, ranked number one in donations from both Fannie/Freddie and AIG. ($165,400 & $281,400). Senator Chuck Schumer, also a member of the Senate Banking Committee and the Senate Finance Committee ranked number two in donations from AIG ($116, 400). Who ranked number two in donations from Fannie/Freddie? That would be Senator Barack Obama with $126,349 in total donations. Both parties received money from these organizations, that cannot be disputed, but it was the Democrats who made the promise of change in 2006.

Again, I only ask you to look at these promises because they, and Barack Obama, continue to make promise after promise that they have not kept. There are really great men and women serving in the House & Senate in both parties. However, the leadership of the Democrat party have taken and continue to take the party further to the left and refuse to work across the aisle. Will Barack Obama keep any of these promises or will he follow in the foot-steps of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid?

Remember All of Those Promises Democrats Made In 2006?

With all of the change rhetoric flying around, I decided to go back and take a look at those promises that were made by the Democrat Leadership in 2006.  In 2006, Nancy Pelosi and team announced that they would bring change to Congress and a new way of doing things....the most ethical Congress in History. (Don't laugh...they were serious)

I went back to the list of promises made by the Democrats during the 2006 campaign season.  There were so many promises made that I will be writing this in three separate parts.  It's going to take me awhile to describe all of the broken promises.  I will first start in the area of Fiscal Responsibility since that has become our number one issue in the country right now.  Keep these promises in mind when you think of the promises that Barack Obama is currently making on the campaign trail:

Keep Taxes Lower for the Middle-Class:  (sound familiar)

In 2006, Majority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, promised that the House would not raise taxes on middle-class families.  However, according to an editorial in The Oklahoman, April 2, 2007, the democrats budget includes a tax hike of at least $217 billion by fiscal year 2012 that would reimpose the marriage penalty and cut the child tax credit in half, tax hikes that would have a direct impact on the middle-class.

Repeal The Alternative Minimum Tax:

As of the 2008 tax season, many Americans continue to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax.  A tax, by the way, that was put in place by Democrats.  This reminds me of a saying I heard recently, "The government can not give you any freedoms before first taking them away."

Reform Entitlement Spending to Protect Future Generations:

At this point, not only are they not dealing with current entitlement programs, but Barack Obama is talking about adding hundreds of billions of dollars more with this Health Care Initiative.  The Government has already spent much of our Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid is a joke.  Both of these entitlement programs will be bankrupt in a few years unless something is immediately done.  Democrats are not willing to take a hard look and deal with these problems as either of them may cost them an election.

Institute "PAYGO" to Control Spending:

Nancy Pelosi stated in 2006, "Democrats are committed to fiscal responsibility through pay-as-you-go budgets, so that our children and grandchildren are not saddled with mountains of debt."  I apologize, my sides are still hurting from laughing.  The Democrats held on to this promise until the day that they took over Congress.  Who do you think sends the appropriations bill to President Bush to sign.  PAYGO was only convenient until they had something that they wanted to spend money on and then that went out the window.  I did, however, hear this week that they were bringing it back.....until they agreed to pay $1.5 trillion to save Wall Street.

Balance The Budget:

On February 6, 2007, Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois) stated, "Democrats will produce a budget that makes real progress toward balancing the budget, and makes wise choices...."  How did they do?  Well two months later, they passed a budget that assumed an increase in the national debt of $850 billion. At the same time, voting en masse against a GOP substitute budget that achieves balance by 2012 and ends the raid on Social Security without raising taxes. (Tallahassee Democrat Editorial, April 16, 2007)  Things have only gotten worse in fiscal year 2008.

I will continue to show the path of broken promises focusing on two additional areas:  Energy Independence & The Most Open, Honest, and Ethical Congress in History in the next week.  When looking at our financial and economic situation, Barack Obama's current list of promises are frightening.  I guess we could always take a chance that he will do what he did with his leadership in Congress.......NOTHING!!

Update:  None of the items above were filibustered by the Republican party.  In fact, had the Democrats attempted many of these items, they most likely would have been supported by Republicans.  

While Our Heads Are Buried in The Financials, Russia Swoops Into Our Backyard!

The financial news this week has been frightening to say the least. However, hidden deep behind the financial news is an even bigger threat that has gone undetected in it's entirety by the American public and most politicians. While we have our eyes on Wall Street, Russia has it's eye on us.

On September 8, Russia announced that it will send a naval squadron and long-range patrol planes this year to Venezuela for a joint military exercise in the Caribbean. On September 10, two Russian strategic bombers landed in Venezuela. Both countries say that they were holding joint military exercises over neutral water before the planes return to Russia. This is a direct response to America's defense of Georgia. The US currently has ships off the coast of Georgia delivering aide supplies.

This week Russia took it's aggression a step further agreeing to an arms deal with both Iran and Venezuela. Russia is sending anti-aircraft systems to Iran despite objections from the United States. Russia is offering to send it's S-300 surface-to-air missile system to protect Iran from a possible attack on it's nuclear facilities by either the U.S. or Israel.

Russia also disclosed that Hugo Chavez and crew have requested anti-aircraft systems, armored personnel carriers, and a new fighter jet that will be in production in the next few years. Russia has increased it's own military spending this year by 20-25% above it's 2007 military expenditures. We have had our eye on Iraq and Afghanistan for so long that we are missing an even bigger threat creeping into our own backyard.

I have watched Senator Obama's response to the financial crisis in the past few days. He didn't take a stance on whether we should be bailing out these institutions until the Bush administration did it for him. He says he has his own plan on the issue, but won't share it until he reviews Henry Paulson's plan. How long would it take him to make a decision on our national security?

Also in the news today, was the announcement that Governor Palin had been uninvited to a rally in support of Israel. Senator Clinton was originally schedule to attend, but withdrew from the event after Palin was invited. After Clinton withdrew, Obama supporters, if not the campaign itself, pressured the Jewish groups holding the event to uninvite Palin.

If the Democrats and Senator Obama cannot reach across the aisle on something both sides agree with, how will they reach across the aisle to deal with bigger conflicts? We need someone who will put politics to the side and deal with these growing threats head on.

We must get our heads out of the ground and start watching all of the threats against us. It doesn't help that Russia and China just bought up half of our country in the past few weeks while we were worried about the almighty buck.

Obama Wants Reform and Change, But Will He Clean His Own House?

Senator McCain and Senator Obama are both calling for change and reform in Washington. It's not just what the people want in this country right now, but what we are demanding. After today's debacle in the financial district, it's alarming that there is still little action being taken to fix the problems instead of using a band aide as a solution.

Which of these candidates will actually bring the change that we desperately need? Will each candidate truly reach across the aisle and work with their opponents to make change happen? John McCain continuously says during his stump speeches that he will reach across the aisle to work with Democrats. During his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination, McCain stated that he would appoint Democrats and Independents in his administration. I tried to find where Senator Obama made the same statements, but was unable to do so.

With these things in mind, I want to test the fact that Senator Obama is not the reformer or change agent that he claims to be. You cannot change Washington without first challenging your own party. Democrats are currently the majority in both houses. In order to actually change Congress, he must immediately call for the resignation of the following members of Congress from their Chairman positions to clean his own house.

Kent Conrad-Chairman of Senate Budget Committee:
Senator Conrad recently admitted that he received a sweet-heart mortgage deal from Countrywide when buying an apartment building. He was part of the "Friends Of Angelo" scandal and eventually donated the money that he did not pay during his closing to charity. ($10,500) I guess he didn't understand the budget...mmmm.

Christopher Dodd-Chairman of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee:
Senator Dodd was also part of the "Friends of Angelo" sweet-heart mortgage deal scandal. He received over a $5,000 discount in his mortgage. The fun doesn't stop there with this one. He also received the most donations from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG of all politicians in Washington. Wow....did he profit from being head of the Banking Committee or what?

Barney Frank-Chairman of the Financial Services Committee:
If you read my blog from yesterday, you know that in 2006 he said that there were no issues with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and that no additional regulation was needed. This is the head of the Finance Committee for the House. Are you kidding me? If the head of the Committee didn't see it coming, how could he do anything about it?

Charlie Rengel-Chairman of the Ways and Means (taxation) Committee:
A few weeks ago, it was brought to Mr. Rengel's attention that for over a decade he paid no interest on a loan for a villa at a Resort in the Dominican Republic. He also failed to report rental income on the property on his Federal and State Tax Forms. HELLO....he is head of the Taxation Committee. He threw his wife under the bus saying that she is the one who takes care of their taxes. Unbelievable.

I won't mention Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. In 2006, Americans voted the Republicans out of office because of the war and corruption. The new Democratic Leadership brought promises of change and an unprecedented level of ethical behavior. This is the worst rated Congress with the worst accomplishment record in history. Don't worry though. I am sure that Senator Obama will bring change if he is elected. I am sure he will stand up to Pelosi, Reid, Howard Dean. Should I continue?

Well, take a look at those who are advising Senator Obama during his campaign. Two of Obama's top financial/economic advisers were the former heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Jim Johnson and Franklin Raines were the heads of the two organizations and made millions off of them. Franklin Raines was one of the heads of Lehman Brothers which just went defunct this week.

Will Senator Obama really bring change and reform to Washington? When will he begin to reach across the aisle? Which Republicans will Senator Obama appoint in his administration? Just a few things to consider when deciding your vote in the next several weeks.

Blame The Democrats For This Crisis and The One to Come!

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was asked today if the Democrats bear any responsibility for the financial crisis. Her answer: no! I am not sure if that answer is pure stupidity or if she realizes how badly she is lying. Democrats not only share the blame, but they can take a larger portion of the blame than Republicans. Want proof?

The New York Times wrote five years ago on September 11, 2003:

The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago.

Under the plan, disclosed at a Congressional hearing today, a new agency would be created within the Treasury Department to assume supervision of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that are the two largest players in the mortgage lending industry.

The new agency would have the authority, which now rests with Congress, to set one of the two capital-reserve requirements for the companies. It would exercise authority over any new lines of business. And it would determine whether the two are adequately managing the risks of their ballooning portfolios.

The plan is an acknowledgment by the administration that oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — which together have issued more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt — is broken. A report by outside investigators in July concluded that Freddie Mac manipulated its accounting to mislead investors, and critics have said Fannie Mae does not adequately hedge against rising interest rates.

The article goes on to detail how Republicans supported the reform legislation, but Democrats caving to Home Builders Associations killed the bill before it had a chance to pass.

"These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis,” said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ”The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”

Representative Melvin L. Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, agreed.

”I don’t see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing,” Mr. Watt said.

Why would the Democrats block this bill ?Because they thought it would affect lower income people who wouldn't be able to afford housing. Hello....they couldn't afford it and now they are going through foreclosure. That is a much better option for the poor. You know what else the Democrats blocked five years ago......................A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN.

And it looks like the one that they are currently offering up is in name only. Yes, they will open up the Outer-Continental Shelf for drilling, but only the areas that do not have any known oil reserves (50 miles off the coast). It puts a wind-fall profit tax on "big" oil companies. So basically they are going to give them new areas to drill without oil and at the same time tax them on their earnings. Do you really believe that will inspire them to drill more? Do they not understand this is our national security at risk?

Why is it the Democrats are ready to bail out Freddie/Fannie with tax payer money, but when companies make a profit they are evil? Isn't that ass backwards? You don't reward failing companies and punish companies that are succeeding!

Update: As of tonight, the House of Representatives passed their "NO REAL ENERGY/ENERGY PLAN"!

Update2: Thanks to one of my comments and some visitors from noquarter, I was able to find the quote from John McCain in 2006 that predicted this crisis was in the works. I thought Obama said that McCain doesn't get the economy:

The OFHEO report also states that Fannie Mae used its political power to lobby Congress in an effort to interfere with the regulator’s examination of the company’s accounting problems. This report comes some weeks after Freddie Mac paid a record $3.8 million fine in a settlement
with the Federal Election Commission and restated lobbying disclosure reports from 2004 to 2005. These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform.

For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs–and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO’s report this week does
nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO’s report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay.

I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. 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

.It appears that not only did John McCain get it, but he got it before anyone else. It kind of reminds me of another issue that he was out in front of.....oh yeah.....the surge in Iraq. Where is the MSM on this? As usual, non-existent.

Today's Financial Scare Will Only Get Worse Under President Obama!

We are a nation of winners............remember that throughout this blog. Today's financial news was disturbing at best. Most of us are looking at our 401k or even our bank accounts and wondering how to proceed. The last thing that we need to do is panic, but it should be an eye opener at the very least.

We need to be more responsible as a country and we need to hold our leaders more accountable as well. The way the financials are currently going, our Country is going broke. We can no longer afford to continue spending without consideration of balancing a budget. Plainly speaking, at some point even your credit card debt is used up and you have no where else to go. You go bankrupt.

What does this mean this political season? It means that your vote needs to be used carefully. I know there are many people who blame George Bush, I am one of them. However, we as a Country cannot continue to look back. We must begin to look forward. At the beginning of the campaign, Barack Obama's economic policy called for an increase in taxes on the "rich". However, he has now said that he would not raise taxes if the Country was in a recession. Why? Doesn't that prove the point that tax increases do not help the economy? There is no way to jump start this country's economy by raising taxes and he realizes that. Would you raise taxes if the country just got out of a recession? It just doesn't make sense.

Our Country was not built to become a socialist nation. Government programs such as Social Security and Medicare were not meant to carry the nation. We are struggling to pay for them and at some point we may not be able to pay for them if things don't change. At this point in our history, we cannot afford additional programs. Both parties want all Americans to have health care, but we cannot make this a government program. The additional strain on our economy could and most likely would collapse it. We would no longer have the ability to pay for basic military protection. (Historical reference: Soviet Union).

We must cut irresponsible earmarks. However, at this point, it is not enough. We must look to shrink this government in order to save this government. Barack Obama wants to add billions of dollars in additional spending. He says that he will tax the "rich" to pay for it. It's not possible. Even if he raised the tax rate to 50% or more, he could not pay for the programs he is advocating without sending us into further debt and further weakening our dollar.

Bottom line: We cannot afford to keep bailing out big corporations even if it stings all of us for awhile. We must cut expenses. We must make our financial institutions stronger. If we become the tax and spend nation that Obama wants, we will become the next Lehman Brothers.............BANKRUPT!!

Obama's Ground Game/Voter Fraud Should Scare You!

Do not be too cocky about the polls out showing a tilt towards McCain.  I have this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that won't go away.  Note to anyone in the McCain campaign that may be listening:  BE VERY AFRAID of Obama's ground game.

Why?  Go to the Obama Campaign's website (for research purposes only, please).  If you look by state, especially swing states, it appears Obama has spent a lot of their money opening local offices.  For example:

Obama McCain

Pennsylvania 65 17

Ohio 70 9

Michigan 40 12

These offices for the Obama campaign are holding voter registration drives, canvassing neighborhoods, holding voter parties, and phone banks.  You are able to go to Obama's website and sign up for each of the events by their local office. Within 50 miles of my zip code there were 91 events in the next month alone.  The McCain campaign has their offices listed, but most of the events are set up by volunteers and not the campaign themselves.  This is a huge miss on their part.  I am sure that there are other events sponsored by the Campaign, but they are relying on volunteers to do their homework rather than make it a simple process of signing up.

The second issue with the Obama ground game is "street cash".  What's that?  Apparently, it is a well-known practice in poor and urban areas that help get out the vote.  How exactly does it get out the vote?  The campaign, usually through a go-between, pays local campaign people to spread "street cash" to get voters to go the polls and vote for their candidate.

Campaign Wards in Philadelphia were mad because Obama didn't provide them with this cash during the primaries. This led to a lower voter turn out in the Philly area.   The Obama campaign has assured these same Wards that money will be made available to them in November.  You can find the info on this here.  How exactly is this legal?  I found that this was not just in Philly.  It is apparently something used in most poor urban areas around the country......Chicago (?????)

Finally, the community organization that Obama is so proud of ACORN (Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now), voter registration organization targeting lower income urban areas, is knee-high in fraud accusations this year.  Here in Pennsylvania alone, several thousand voter registration applications were found to be fraudulent. Arrest warrants in these cases have been issued.  It's not isolated to Pennsylvania though.  Let's just say that it would be easier for me to name the states that aren't making accusations against ACORN. Believe me......there are very few that haven't made accusations.

My advice for the McCain campaign:  Take a look at the campaign-type events for the Obama Campaign and copy it......or...duh....DO IT BETTER!  My advice to everyone out there blogging for McCain or reading blogs for McCain: call your local McCain campaign headquarters and help them get their butts into gear!

Sexism Is NOT The Problem, It's Ideological Bias Stupid!!

When Sarah Palin was first announced as VP, many people began attacking her personally. I know that her supporters have yelled "sexism". I, myself, felt that without a doubt sexism was an issue behind her attacks. However, I no longer think the attacks are sexist. I believe there is a much bigger underlying issue in the attacks, not just from the left, but from the media as well.

There is some sexism against her, but the core issue seems to be an ideological one, not a gender one. I have gone back and looked at some of the comments made about Palin in the media and on the blogs. They state that she is the anti-feminist and will bring down women. Why? Because as I have said in the past, liberals do not understand that their point of view can be an elitist one. I am a conservative, but I do not feel that my opinion speaks for everyone. Yet, if you read the attacks on Palin, those attackers feel that their point of view is the only point of view and Sarah Palin is the antipathy of those views.

Here are some examples in the media:

Campbell Brown of CNN questioned whether Palin could be a mother and Vice-President at the same time. At first glance you would think that she, as a woman, was being sexist. However, if you take a look at Campbell Brown's own life, you will find that is not the case. She is a mother of a small baby and has been working overtime as a CNN anchor during the campaign and political season. By questioning Palin's ability, she would have to question her own. Yet, it's not a female issue. It's an ideological one.

National Organization for Women states on it's own website that it is "taking action for women's equality since 1966". There is no way that this organization could be SEXIST right. That would stand against everything that they supposedly stand for. Yet, on their own website they have this posting: NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy said, "Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is a cynical effort to appeal to disappointed Hillary Clinton voters and get them to vote, ultimately, against their own self-interest." Do I think they are sexist? No. Without a doubt this is an ideological issue. Apparently, NOW will now have to change it's name to NOLW or National Organization for Liberal Women because they no longer speak for those of us who are conservative.

Even during Charlie Gibson's interview with Palin, watching the disgust on his face at having to interview her was disheartening. Is Charlie Gibson sexist? For that matter, is ABC sexist. No. However, they do apparently take a left leaning turn at the ideological wheel. If you look at the parts of the interview with Palin that were edited out, you would think it was a completely different interview. You can read the full transcript here.
He misquoted her comment on sending the troops out on a mission from God. Is he a bad journalist? No, but is there a little bias in his interviewing?.....yes! You can compare the questions that Gibson asked Obama compared to those that he asked of Palin here. The bias is unmistakable.

Now does any of this matter to voters and to the election in general. The answer is yes. If the media that most Americans watch on a daily basis or read on a daily basis are openly showing their personal political views, how does the average American hear the truth? Good Luck. Even the NYT recently had to retract an article they had written about Palin that was false. Of course the retraction was three days later and placed on page seven.

I don't tell anyone who to vote for. You visit here knowing that I am Conservative and you will hear my point of view, but please make sure that you don't believe everything that you hear or read this election cycle. Great......now I am agreeing with Hollywood. Are pigs flying too?

Why Sarah Needs to be Sarah?

The McCain campaign must tread lightly while drilling Sarah Palin with foreign policy experience. Most of us who follow politics know that she is light in that area, but she can afford to be. The top of her ticket has enough foreign experience for both of them, unlike the top of that other ticket.

Sarah Palin is a natural. Anyone who has watched interviews that she has done in the past knows that she can hold her own. She speaks to the people, not the media, or other politicians. She comes across as one of us. After her now famous speech during the convention, Palin connected with the average person. After that same speech, Joe Biden said that he did not hear her talk about the middle class. He said that she never mentioned the middle class, not once. Well, duh, she is the middle class.

Many people stated that during last night's interview that she lost a little bit of the "Sarah" that we have found so endearing. That may be true. She had just sent her son off to war and was fighting that "gotcha" moment. Tonight 's interview was 100% better. She was Sarah again. She had her confidence back and she spoke genuinely about her beliefs and positions. Nothing was above her "pay grade".

Women relate to Sarah Palin because she seems like one of their friends. She is a woman who has proven she can do it all. Has she had her bumps in the process? I am sure she has, but that makes her even more appealing to "everyday" women.

I am sure you will hear the left say how she doesn't speak for all women. For some reason they feel threatened by the fact that she is pro-life, pro-gun, and loves God. They can't understand how educated women can support her so blindly. The problem with the left is that they assume everyone is like them. They assume that all women are pro-choice, that simply is not the case. News to the left......Sarah Palin has never assumed that she speaks for all women.

The fact is that Palin does not fake it. Her appeal is that she appears to speak from the heart. Advice for the left..........don't underestimate her or her positions with those "fly-over" folks. Advice for the McCain camp....stop worrying about gaffes.....let Sarah be Sarah.

A Day Without Politics......And It Couldn't Come Too Soon!!!

When looking back through time, there are only a handful of moments that one can remember where they were and what they were doing when the event took place. In the three decades plus of my life, I can remember the following dates:

Space Shuttle Challenger: I remember sitting in my fourth grade class watching the first teacher in space lifting off for her historic mission. I remember seeing the look on my teacher's face and all of us asking a thousand questions as to what had happened.

The Death of Princess Diana: I was living in Georgia and for some reason I was up late watching TV. I remember the breaking news alert of Diana being in a car crash. I remember the sinking feeling in my stomach at 3 or 4 in the morning when they announced she had died.

September 11, 2001: I was living in Texas with my fiancee (now my husband). Both of us traveled weekly by plane in our jobs, but remarkably neither one of us were on a plane that morning. Most of us not living in the affected areas that day were trying to see a television at work, at lunch, just about anywhere we could find one. I remember standing with a group of co-workers and there was silence. I remember feeling a sense of community. I felt like I had something in common with people that I may never have had that with in the past.
On that day seven years ago, politics took a backseat. The normal everyday complaints that we had in our lives seemed petty. People in this country were overly-friendly to each other. I remember reading that even criminals took a break off that day and a few days after the tragic events. Yes, we were a country united in a feeling of defiance, our pride, and most importantly we were a country of patriots.

Today, I will not mention politics. Not because I don't want to, but out of respect for that love of country. For one day every year, Americans must ensure that we are united. It is true in life, but easily forgotten, that we have many more things in our lives that should unite us than divide us.

Tomorrow we will return to the partisan politics of our day, but today........I will honor those who no longer have that same opportunity.

If you know where you were that day and what you were doing and feeling, please feel free to share. I would love to hear other points of veiw regardless of your political beliefs.

And You Wonder Why Palin Hired An Attorney?

In early August when the initial charges of abuse of power were brought against Governor Palin, she said she welcomed the investigation and her administration would be wide open on the issue. Wow, if she only knew then what was about to happen, she may have changed her opinion.

If you wonder why she went from being so open in August to hiring an attorney to defend her now, I'll be happy to shed some light on that. I can even provide some photographic evidence for you too. Governor Palin's sister was going through a messy divorce from a state trooper, Mike Wooten. Mike Wooten is a shady guy to say the least. He has been married four times, tasered his 11-year old step-son (but he wanted to know what it felt like), drank while in his patrol car, and threatened to kill Palin's father. These are the claims that have been proven true. I'm sorry, but why does this man still have a job? Keep that fact in mind.

In the claim against Governor Palin, she fired the Public Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan. This is a position that the Governor has every right to fire at her will. It is a political appointment. Did she pressure him to fire Mike Wooten and was Monegan fired because he didn't fire Wooten? That sums it up in a nutshell.

The legislator heading the investigation, Hollis French, is and has been an Obama supporter. Mr. French hired Branchflower to investigate the claims against the Governor. Mr. Steven Branchflower who has had a close relationship with the Anchorage Police Department under the leadership of one, Walt Monegan. Branchflower's wife was also a detective under Monegan. Even in a small town that sure doesn't seem like an impartial choice. In the beginning, Branchflower told the legislators that he did not need to subpoena anyone because everyone in the administration was being cooperative. Until Palin was announced as the VP and the investigation took a political turn.

Mr. French and two other legislators involved with the investigation were photographed in an Obama campaign office in July. (just before the charges were brought against Palin) You can see the picture above. Hollis French is the one fourth from the left in the back row. Mr. French came out last week and said that the results of the investigation would not be favorable to Governor Palin and tried to arrange the results be release as.......are you ready for this...............the "October Surprise".

Do you really think that the Obama campaign had no idea that Governor Palin was on McCain's VP list?
Does anyone now wonder why Governor Palin hired an attorney? If this isn't a snow job, I am not sure what is? My question again is.......why is Governor Palin the target of "Troopergate"? Should it not be asked WHY the bad cop wasn't fired to begin with?

Palin Didn't Govern Like A Right-Wing Nut?

Yes, Sarah Palin is a Conservative Republican, but she governed somewhere in the middle as Governor of Alaska. Here are the reasons that neither the right nor the left should be worried. Here is a look at her policies while she has been Governor of Alaska.

Dependency of Foreign Oil:

Governor Palin passed a bill last month approving a gas pipeline from the Northern Slope of Alaska to the lower 48 states. This bill was in the works for years, but was never able to get passed by past administrations. Instead of automatically dealing with the three companies that dominate Alaska's oil, she opened up the pipeline discussions to outside companies. In conjunction with the Canadian government, Transcanada was awarded the pipeline contract and it passed the Alaskan Congress.

Upon becoming Governor, Palin found corruption in the deals that had previously been made with big oil companies, and renegotiated contracts with the companies. In these new contracts, she set a new level of taxes on the oil company's profits that were more fair to the Alaskan people. The result....every eligible Alaskan will receive an energy relief check for $1200 this month.

Same-Sex Marriage:

Governor Palin believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, she vetoed legislation that would have prohibited same-sex partners from receiving state benefits. She could have as Governor approved this bill and not given these rights to gays and lesbians. She chose the opposite and did the right thing. This is far from a right-wing position.

Taxes and Pork Spending:

In the 2008 budget alone, Governor Palin cut $268 million out of the budget. In 2007, she cut $231 million worth of pork-barrel spending from the legislature. She has protected Alaska's wealth and returned money to the people of Alaska. Can I have my check now, please?

The left wing rumor mill has stated that Palin cut services to disabled children and cut money for pregnant teens. Both claims are absolutely false. Palin revised a previous budget plan that lowered the original amount of the increase to BOTH, but they were not cuts. In fact, she increased spending for children with "intensive needs" from $26,900 per student in 2008 to $73,840 per student in 2011. This is triple the previous budget.

As for the Covenant House which helps pregnant teens in Alaska, they received an increase in funds in 2008 as well. In 2007, the center received $1.3 million and that amount was increase to $3.9 million in 2008. Again, this was triple the previous amount.

While she was the Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Governor Palin reduced the property taxes that citizens paid on their homes while still managing to increase services to the residence. She has proven that she is a true fiscal conservative.

She put a link on the state government website to the Government's checkbook so that the Alaskan people could see exactly where their money was going.

Creationism vs. Evolution in Schools:

Yes, she believes in creationism and that it should be taught in schools, but that is not how she has governed. Governor Palin has not pushed her belief into the Alaskan school curriculum. She has said that should students mention creationism in class that they should be allowed to debate their beliefs. Is that called freedom of speech?

The information below is from the Alaska government website:

Under her leadership, Alaska invested $5 billion in state savings, overhauled education funding, and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support for low-income older Alaskans. She created Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to provide oversight and
maintenance of oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure, and the Climate Change Subcabinet to prepare a climate change strategy for Alaska. During her first legislative session, Governor Palin’s administration passed two major pieces of legislation – an overhaul of the state’s ethics laws and a competitive process to construct a gas pipeline.

I could go on and I am sure in the future I will, but I don't see any of the actions above as being radical or far right-wing. She has worked across the aisle with Democrats and Independents. As of last week, she continues to have an approval rating of 81% in her home state. Does this seem right-wing or moderate to you....please share your thoughts....just be respectful in doing so.

Spare Us More Change.....We've Had Plenty the Last Two Years!

In a letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Dave Bastl of Manor, PA wrote very simply what I have been trying to put to words for a few months:

George W. Bush has been in office for 71/2 years. For the first six years, the economy was fine. A little over one year ago:

• Consumer confidence stood at a 21/2-year high
• Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon
• The unemployment rate was 4.5 percent
• The Dow Jones hit a record high of 14,000-plus
• Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises and vacations overseas-living large!

But Americans wanted "Change." So, in 2006 they voted in a
Democrat Congress. And, yep, we got change alright:

• Consumer confidence has plummeted
• Gasoline hit $4 a gallon
• Unemployment is up to 6.1 percent
• Americans have seen their home values drop by trillions of dollars
• 1 percent of American homes are in foreclosure
• The Dow Jones is probing another low--nearing 11,000--and $2.5 trillion has evaporated from our investment portfolios.

Yep, in 2006 America voted for change! And we got it--a
Democrat Congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

Now the Democrats' candidate for President claims he's gonna
really give us change! Just how much more "change" do you thing you can stand?

The fact of the matter is that it has been the do-nothing Congress with their pitiful 9% approval rating that have landed us in this current position. I have my own beef with President Bush. The fact that he has approved almost every spending bill this Congress has sent him is aggravating. However, many of the issues occurring today cannot or could not have been changed by Bush alone. Bush does not write bills, Congress does.

What bills have they written? Nothing significant that would help every day citizens. Yes, the bi-partisan Congress passed a stimulus package, but it was too late to stop the downfall. Have they taken ANY steps to reduce our dependency on foreign oil?

Republicans were voted out in 2006 because of the war and corruption. Well, the war is going better, and now the Democrats have the majority on corruption....Senator Dodd, Senator Rengle, Congressman William Jefferson.

Finally, a thought for my friends here in the Ohio Valley and for that matter OH, PA, WV, and MI......who runs your local, county, and state governments? How many of your Congressman and Senators are Democrats? I know this area. These areas have continued to lose jobs and population for decades and in MOST cases, the Democrats have run their governments for DECADES.........To agree with Mr. Bastl above, it's time for change...just not the change Obama offers.

Obama Still Afraid of Women, And Now He Is Hiding Behind Them!

On August 25 (prior to Palin's announcement), I wrote a blog titled, "Why Is Barack Obama So Afraid of Women?" It is even more apparent after the announcement of Governor Palin that he is afraid to compete with women.

From almost the beginning of his campaign, John McCain has had women in the forefront. With the exception of Tucker Bounds, God love him, most of McCain's spokespeople are women. Most of the people campaigning for John McCain have been women. (Carly Fiorini and Meg Whitman to name two). It is rare on TV over the last several months to see a woman spokesperson on TV for Senator Obama. I'm not saying there aren't any, they just haven't played prominent roles.

Don't think Sarah Palin was a complete shock to the Obama campaign either. In the same blog mentioned above I spoke of how Obama supporter, Hollis French, was the one leading the "troopergate investigation" of Governor Palin. I will give some more information on that story later. On August 4th, someone from the DNC checked out the Palin for VP blog as well. Check out the proof here.

When Senator Obama passed on Hillary Clinton, he did not believe that Senator McCain would have the courage to pick a woman. Ask any Clinton supporter and they will tell you that there was little effort made to bring their groups into the forefront. Unfortunately for Obama, nothing that they have tried to bring down Governor Palin has worked, so he has decided to bring out the big guns to fight his battle.....women.

On Monday, the Obama Campaign is sending Hillary Clinton to Florida to try to move women to his side of the aisle. Obama supporters have claimed that Senator McCain is using Governor Palin for political gain. Wow...then what does that say about Obama? I'm sorry I didn't chose you, Senator Clinton, but could you please go out and save my behind now? I understand that Hillary has to do what she has to do in order to continue her political ambitions. I don't blame her, but wouldn't it be great to see her tell him to go (sorry trying to think of a polite word) himself. In addition to Clinton, he will be reving up his involvement with Governor Napolitano of Arizona and Governor Sebelius of Kansas.

He has now learned the answer to the question I have been asking of him.....yes Senator Obama you do need women to win this election. Does anyone want to take bets on when he FINALLY offers to pay off Hillary's debt now that he desperately needs her?

John McCain: Republicans Lost The Trust of The American People

In recent polls, 70% of the American people feel that the country is going in the wrong direction. I won't disagree there. It is not just the left and independents who aren't satisfied with how things have been going. Believe it or not, many Republicans and conservatives feel the same way.

The issue of this election is exactly what direction we want to take the country. On the left are leaders such as Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama. The reason that Hillary was so popular is because, right or wrong, people did not associate her with the left-wing fringe. Democrats took over in 2006 with a list of things they were going to accomplish, yet they haven't achieved much. It is the lowest rate Congress in history.

On the other side are leaders like John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and the next generation of Republicans. Let's be honest......no one thinks that John McCain is a Conservative. He has reached across the aisle to the detriment of himself.

As a voter, it is easy to blame Bush. I voted for the guy and I blame him. In John McCain's speech tonight he stated, "the Republican party has lost the trust of the American people." The man trashed his own party during his own convention. If that isn't a maverick, I am not sure how much stronger that you can get. The fact is that Republicans did not lose in 2006 because they acted like Republicans, they lost because they forgot who they were.

Does this country want to follow the direction of Senator Obama and head toward the left? Do we want to follow Europe's failed economic policies, nanny state, and double-digit unemployment? Do we want to raise taxes, increase spending, and regulate free speech? Europe has already thrown out the left and brought back the Conservatives.

or

Do we want to lower corporate taxes to bring business back home? Do we want to use our natural resources and protect our national security? Do we want all children to be able to attend good schools instead of being stuck in schools that create the poverty and disenfranchisement that is being repeated every year?

No party is perfect. No politician is either. I believe that John McCain can take back the Republican party and put it on the road it should have been on for years. He may not be a great orator. We will concede that point, but he has a proven track record of getting things done.............whether we like it or not.

Palin & Clinton Have Made Us Proud!

As someone who has been a supporter of Sarah Palin for a long time, I could not be more proud of my pick. Last night's speech proved that those of us who participated in the Draft Sarah Palin for VP movement, were justified in our efforts.

Whether you are a man or a woman, a Democrat or a Republican, you have to give her credit. She is the first female VP candidate on the Republican ticket. She was dragged through the mud, spit upon, and given the lowest of expectations. As I wrote in my blog this past weekend, she is not one to be underestimated. She proved that herself last night.

As a woman, it has been an exciting year. First Hillary Clinton ran for President as a Democrat. Although, I did not support her, I have said many times how much I respected her. Last night, I watched history. Although my little girl is too young to realize what happened, I am more than proud to tell her that two women this year paved the way for her to achieve an even larger piece of the pie.

My daughter will know that she has the right no matter what mistakes she may make in her life to stand tall and proud of who she is.......whomever that may be. Many have criticized Sarah Palin this week for her parental skills. I couldn't disagree with them more. By having her daughter and the rest of her family on stage with her last night, she showed that even if you are not perfect, you are loved and you should be proud. What message would it have sent to her daughter had she hid her away somewhere?

I know that I will post more after tonight's speech, but I just wanted to take a moment to reflect, not as a partisan, but as a proud woman.

Palin vs. Obama? Did I Miss Something?

I quit watching politics for a few hours and apparently I missed the big announcement. When did Barack Obama start running against Sarah Palin? Did she move into the head of the ticket or did he replace Joe Biden at the bottom of his?

Don't get me wrong, I will take that debate. It just occurs to me that the Democrats believe they are running against Sarah Palin. Do they believe that she will be easier to beat? I don't think so.

The top two issues that Americans say are affecting their lives and channeling their votes this year are energy and the economy. I would say foreign affairs would be somewhere near the top of this list as well.

On the issue of energy, Palin is an expert. She has faced the oil companies and won. Democrats would have you believe that she has big ties to big oil. It simply isn't true. She is for drilling in ANWR along with the majority of the Alaskan people. She recently set fair taxes on the oil companies. She passed a $40 billion gas pipeline that will not only bring jobs to Alaska, but will bring additional revenue. This does not just affect Alaska. This pipeline when completed will bring additional resources to the lower 48 states. Without a doubt, Palin wins the argument of experience in this area. Obama has not introduced a single energy policy during his tenure in the Senate. (Does his gas gauge idea count as policy?)

On the issue of the economy, some may say that Palin has been a Governor of a state with the population less than that of Obama's district. So. Alaska has the 5th largest economy in the United States. The State of Alaska has the lowest taxes in the US. She has over 8,500 government employees. On CNN's AC360 Monday night, Barack Obama compared his "executive" experience, running his campaign, as follows:

“My understanding is that Gov. Palin’s town, Wassilla, has I think 50 employees.We've got 2500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe 12 million dollars a year – we have a budget of about three times that just for the month,” Obama responded.

There are several issues wrong with his statement. First, Senator Obama, she is no longer the Mayor of Wassilla. You may want to forget that she is currently a Governor, but we will not. Second, running for President does not qualify you to be President. Running a campaign is not nearly equivalent to running a state, regardless of how big it is. The budget of Alaska is over $6 billion dollars. I believe that is more than three times your campaign budget.

As for foreign policy experience that we keep hearing about, Obama has none. He picked his VP to fill that gap in his resume. No one questions that fact. Sarah Palin doesn't need any either as she is the VP candidate. She can rely on the top of her ticket for the foreign policy experience. No, I am not saying that she doesn't have any, I am saying that if you want to compare tickets, she doesn't need any.

As I have said, don't be too quick to dismiss this ticket. They are a lot tougher than their opponents would let on. Do you think they would be attacked like they are if they weren't a strong ticket?

CNN Sent Reporters To Alaska To Investigate.........Palin Children!!

We now understand why "normal" Americans never want to run for a National office. Is there anything that is off limits in our society today? I'm starting to believe that our country is being over taken by radicals and it is time for us to take it back.

What excites many of us about Governor Sarah Palin is that while others talk about being "one of us", she truly is seen as being one of us. Yes, she is new to the National political scene, but many of us have followed her career for months or in some cases years. She is not the normal career politician. (Biden) She does not come from a political family. (Clinton or even Bush) No, she didn't go to Harvard (Obama), but does that mean that if you didn't attend an Ivy League school that you are some how less of a human. She has normal life experiences just like the rest of us, as we found out today.

Like, Palin, I went to college. I have a degree. I have three children, not five. My children are too young for me to be involved in PTA, but I'm sure it is in my future. I am a mom and on the side I write this blog. I think of myself as smart (Smart Girl Politics...hello) and when I was in the "real world" I had an extremely successful career. I have thought about politics in the future, but after seeing what has transpired over the last few days, it is now highly unlikely. That is too bad. I have a lot to contribute.

This is why I look to Governor Palin as an inspiration. Yes, she is a woman, but as I have written before, I would not vote for someone JUST because she was a woman. I did not support Hillary Clinton, but I admired her effort. MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell said that only the uneducated Hillary Clinton supporters would vote for McCain/Palin. What does she say about the Obama supporters who when asked why they support him, say he represents "change". Does she question their education? Does she ask them what issues they agree with him on? Ask any Sarah Palin fan why they support her and you will get a laundry list and her being a woman wouldn't be one of them.

A CNN reporter live on air admitted that she and others were sent to Alaska to investigate the family and the CHILDREN of Governor Sarah Palin. Her family and children? What exactly are they looking for? Are the kids secret spies or did Willow spill her milk today? Have they investigated Barack Obama's two children? It's ridiculous and malicious. No, I am not saying Obama's children should be investigated. That would be absurd.

Today was an extremely sad day in American politics and it had nothing to do with a brave 17-year old girl who got thrown into a spotlight that should have been pointed in another direction. The only thing that all of this does is strengthen our support for Governor Palin, her family, and the McCain/Palin ticket in November.

Come on people, get smart.............start questioning your media sources........and our political system. We are the ones who should "change" this atmosphere.