Wishing You All A Safe & Happy New Year!

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Conservative Women Should Support Caroline Kennedy for the Senate.

One of the reasons that I started Smart Girl Politics was the treatment that Sarah Palin received during her run for Vice-President. Many conservative women felt that women's groups and feminist organizations no longer represented all women.

Organizations like N.O.W. made it more than clear to those women on the right that they would no longer pretend to tolerate their beliefs. Conservative Women were abandoned and left to fight their own battles.

Now Conservative Women's organizations are springing up all over the internet to finally take a stand for women's issues. I am proud to have Smart Girl Politics, SGP, as one of the sites that is taking that stand. What I am not proud of, however, is my initial response to Caroline Kennedy's decision to fight for the Senate seat in New York.

There are many arguments being made on both sides of the aisle as to why she is not "qualified" to run for office. Sound familiar? Most of the arguments that were made against Sarah Palin are now being made against Caroline Kennedy.

Since when does staying at home to raise your children, volunteering your time with charitable organizations, and surrounding yourself with politics qualify as negatives on a political resume. Yes, she has the Kennedy name, but that should be an asset to her qualifications not a deterrent. It seems to me that she has many of the qualifications that Hillary Clinton had when she ran for that office.

Have our career politicians really served either party well in the last several years?  We continue to say that we need to bring talent from outside of Washington.  I suppose it sounds better to most on paper than in reality.

I do not believe in anything that Caroline Kennedy stands for in politics. However, the fact of the matter is that a Democrat is going to be appointed to the position. Why shouldn't that person be Caroline Kennedy?

If Conservative women are going to speak out against sexist treatment of women on the right, it is in our best interests not to be hypocrites and to speak out for those on the left as well. Therefore, for as much as Caroline Kennedy can get my vote, she has it.

Auto Industry Begs for Funds as UAW Leadership Retreats to Their Multi-Million Golf Course.

President Bush disappointed many Republicans by going against his core principles to save the auto industry. It may be a hard reality to swallow, but the American auto industry deserved to die. Many of the companies and industries that have been helped by this bailout out should have been forced to let nature takes it's course.

The American auto industry has suffered many setbacks over the last twenty years. Many of them would have been survivable had they not had a gigantic monkey on their back the entire step of the way. The United Automakers Union has had a death grip on the auto industry for years and it will be this union sooner rather than later that puts the final nail in the coffin.

During the recent bailout negotiations in which the automakers were begging Congress for their share of the magic pot of gold, the UAW was asked to help out the automakers with concessions from the workers union. The President of the UAW, Ron Gettelfinger, stated in November that the UAW would make no new concessions to help the struggling industry.

Why wouldn't they want to help out an industry that pays for their $33 million golf retreat in Northern Michigan? This palatial retreat also includes a $6 million golf course and costs the UAW millions of dollars to operate each year.

If the auto industry executives were ridiculed in front of Congress for taking private jets to Washington to request funding, what example should be made of the heads of the union who are living it up in luxury? I am sure that every single average American auto worker, that nine to five, blue-collar worker is flown to Northern Michigan to live up the good life at the union's retreat.

The auto industry should have been forced into bankruptcy if for no other reason to than to cut off life support for their blood sucking union friends. Unfortunately, you won't find those leaders in front of Congress. They are too buys hanging out in their pockets.

Merry Christmas

Thank you to everyone who has followed my blog and now my network this year.  I truly appreciate the conversations that I have had with all of you.

I hope that you and your families have a wonderful, safe, and Merry Christmas.

Stacy

Thank You For Helping Me Spread Hannah's Story

Thank you to all my fellow bloggers who took Hannah's story from the SGP Network Site. 

I would like to especially thank DBD for his special cartoon tribute and Michelle Malkin for telling Hannah's story too.  It's nice to know that people can still make a difference.

Help Make Hannah's Christmas Wish Come True.

I posted this on the main SGP site, but forgot to post it on my blog. Please help make Hannah's wish come true.

Update: One of Hannah's family or friends also started a Facebook Group where you can leave well wishes for her as well.

Hannah's Facebook Group

Many of you may remember my dear friend, Chris Garman, who lost her battle with breast cancer 2 years ago. When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, she was pregnant with her third child. Her doctors didn't thinkChris would live through her pregnancy without treatment, so they took a chance & gave her chemo while shewas pregnant. Chris survived her pregnancy & had a beautiful, healthy little girl named Hannah Faith.

Chris died when Hannah was three.Hannah is now five, and this breaks my heart all over again, but In October, Hannah has been diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a rare and incurable brain tumor.She was given about 12 weeks to live. She was going to be the flower girl in a wedding in May, but was diagnosed A week after she was asked.

Right now she has lost most of her motor skills. She is confined to bedAnd cannot really do anything or play with the gifts she is getting frompeople, but she LOVES getting cards - she has gotten so many from people she does not know and jus t loves to have grandma read about the people who send Them and see their pictures and is so proud of all her cards. Her room is just filled with cards.When asked what she wants for Christmas she said she wants to see howMany Christmas cards she can get. Many people have passed this wish along to their churches, prayer groups, friends and family. There are school groupswhere children are making her cards. People are including pictures so shecan see who it i s that i s sending her the card.

If you would like to help with her wish, please send her a card at:

Hannah Garman
704 Orchard Rd
Lititz, PA 17543

THANKS! Feel free to pass this along to your own prayer group, church,school, etc. Let's see if we can have the cards coming in big postal bagsfor her this Christmas, since it will be her last holiday.

Please pray for her family. Her older brother & sister watched their mom go through This just two short years ago and now they are watching their baby sister.P.S. You can also send my email to anyone you forward this to, if they Have questions. sheripie@hotmail.com read more about Hannah, see pics,and stay updated on her progress at

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahgarman

I Will Pay it Forward This Christmas. Will You?

One of my favorite movies was one that I don't even like.  Do you think that doesn't make sense?  Here is my explanation for the craziness.  I loved the concept of the movie "Pay it Forward".  The actual movie itself, while touching, had a horrible ending.  In case you haven't seen it, I won't share the end, but it did not necessarily match the power of the message in the movie.

If you haven't seen the movie, it is based on a small boy who starts a nationwide movement by doing one small good deed for someone in need.  The only thing that he asks in return is for that person to pay it forward and do a good deed for someone else.  The story continues with thousands of people helping out their fellow man.

This seems to me to be the perfect time of year to pay it forward.  There is enough hardship this year to go around, but luckily my family, so far, is not one of those facing the economic turmoil.  I always seem to have better intentions than I can actually follow through on.

The movie I described is probably one that is ten years old, but I still think about how I can pay it forward.  I do small things like most other people.  I make monetary donations here and there.  I donate our old clothes and toys to Goodwill or the Veterans organizations.  I donate toys to local toys drives, but still I don't feel like I have that personal affect on someones life.  To those that I donate to, I am an anonymous person.  

I know the things that I mentioned above are good things and that those who receive them appreciate and need them.  I will gladly continue to do them, but I feel like it's not enough. So finally, this Christmas season, I will pay it forward.

There is a local army recruiting center down the street from my house.  I have always wanted to do something for them to say thank you.  This week, just before Christmas, I am taking them lunch as a thank you.  The one catch is that they already pay it forward every day.

I want to ask that those who read my blog or are members of Smart Girl Politics think of a way that they can pay it forward.  Whether you pay for someones lunch that is in a drive-thru line behind you or buy someones groceries who are in line ahead of you, find a way to pay it forward for someone.  You can even get one of those Dear Santa dead letters at your local post office and fulfill someones dream.

I have always wanted to pay it forward and this Christmas I will finally complete the mission.  If you chose this mission, I would love for you to come back and share with everyone what you did to pay it forward.

State Governments Continue to Step on Business as They Beg for Bailouts

The United States economy has hit a road block in the last year. Day by day, we continue to watch industries step up to the coffer with their hands held out high. Today, we watch in horror as to whether President Bush will bypass Congress and hand out money to the auto industry. Standing in the shadows quietly waiting for their "we're too big to fail" loans are now the state governments.

The biggest state asking for help is California. Anyone who has ever lived, worked, or been in a human resource position responsible for California should not be surprised by their record economic troubles. California is not a business-friendly state. The Government of California has imposed more rules and regulations on it's business community than most other states in the union. It is for that reason that business is flooding quickly out of the state and the tax dollars they are draining have a huge impact on California's budget short falls.

While most of the focus on the economy is currently being paid to the Federal Government, state governments continue to shoot themselves in the foot with already struggling economies. For example, in October of this year, Pennsylvania's state government led by Governor Ed Rendell passed the Energy Conservation Bill. What's the big deal about this bill? It calls for energy companies to reduce consumption by 1% in 3 years, and up to 4.5 by 2013. I am not saying we should be against energy conservation, but for a state to tell an industry to cut it's business by law is more than ridiculous.

Today, news came out that New York Governor, David Paterson is looking to raise $404 million for the state by increasing taxes on such things as hospitals, insurance policies and yes a disturbing "obesity tax" on non-diet soda. It is interesting that in a deep economic hardship the first thing some of these state governments see as a solution is to raise taxes on citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet.

If we are now going to impose an obesity tax on soda, where does this craziness end? Will he be taxing chocolate makers or candy makers in general? How about New York pizza parlors? I'm sure with all of those slices New Yorkers eat each year are bound to put on some of their extra weight? Why not just increase taxes on food in general?

With all of the intelligent people we have running these states, do you really wonder why companies head over seas? I know the instinct right now is to watch all of the loan bailouts the Federal government is dishing out, but I'd be keeping a careful eye on your local and state governments. They will have a much quicker impact on your paycheck and your wallet.

Could the Blago/Obama Chaos Open a New Steel Door for Republicans?

Governor Blagojevich met with his attorney today to discuss his current legal options. Fox news is reporting that he will decide by Monday whether to step down as Governor of Illinois. The news for President-elect Obama looked a little more murky as news broke that his new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, had spoken with the Governor about Obama's replacement.

It's interesting that the soon to be administration that promised transparency has had very little to say on the topic. Top Republicans are questioning Obama and his aides as to what, who, why, when, and how long? The one statement on the subject that President-elect Obama made on the subject has a more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

Even die-hard liberals are scratching their heads at the circumstances surrounding Governor Blagojevich. It's not a shock to anyone that there is corruption in Chicago politics. However, will the residents of the blue state begin weining their support for the ruling party. With all of the chaos that now surrounds the appointment of Obama's Senate replacement, many are calling for a special election.

Could this be the opening door that the Republicans in the state have been waiting for? After all, the country threw out the Republicans in 2004 for far less corruption than we see going on today in Chicago. How much more embarrassment can one state take from it's leadership? Republicans already have a winning streak going for post-November elections.

Could the Obama drama be a signal for a Republican come-back even before he spends a single day as the President?

Crooked Politicians Shocking? Not So Much.

Is it really that surprising that a crooked politician from a crooked political town was arrested today for corruption. It does not shock me that Governor Blagojevich was arrested. It shocks me that people were shocked by the news.

This is a man who has been under federal investigation for years. Here is a man who knew he was being watched by the Feds, but apparently had such an ego that he thought he was above it all. Chicago is and has long been a sesspool for crooked politicians. The sad fact is that Governor Blagojevich will not be the first Illinois Governor to go to prison should he be convicted. In fact, if he is convicted, he could share a prison cell with another former Governor of Illinois, George Ryan.

The issue about this case that I find even more interesting is the response from those surrounding President-elect Obama. Initially Barack Obama would not make a statement on the situation. Yet, later in the day he came out and made a strong statement concerning his dealing with Blagojevich:

"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of
what was happening"

According to the Associated Press his statement that he didn't have contact with Blagojevich about the Senate seat seems to conflict with that of top adviser David Axelrod, who told Fox News Chicago on Nov. 23: "I know he's talked to the governor, and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."

Conveniently, later in the day, Axelrod made a statement saying that he was "mistaken" about any discussion Obama had with Blagojevich regarding the Senate seat. One last tidbit of information, if Obama had no knowledge of what was going on, why is there now information creeping out that Rahm Emanuel may have been the one that tipped the Feds of about the corruption.

While there is no evidence of wrong doing on Obama's part in this case or the Rezko case, it still smells bad for the new President-elect. He hasn't been sworn in to office yet and there are two cases with his name attached in one way or another. With all of the corruption surrounding this man, President Clinton is starting to look like a saint. Maybe Hillary still has a shot at 2012 after all.

Do you travel to the dark side and if so why?

Do people subconsciously befriend people who share their same beliefs without knowing before hand? Do we tend to gravitate to live in areas for the same reason? For example, I live in a blue state, but I happened to move to one of the reddest counties in the state. Was it intentional? Of course not, we moved to the county and to the neighborhood based on a completely different set of criteria.

I am obviously conservative. I started a conservative women's movement, SGP, so I hope I am conservative. I tend to read conservative websites, news sites, and blogs. That is not to say that I don't read information regarding the other side of the aisle. To read about the Democrats, I don't have to go any further than the New York Times, NBC, CNN and on occasion MSNBC for laughs. When I am really ambitious, I will read the Dailykos.

I do not, however, go to individual left leaning or liberal websites. What's the point? It's not about their beliefs, it's about mine. I definitely do not go there and try to debate them on their vision of the world. Do you go to the dark side? If you are conservative, do you go to liberal websites and leave comments berating their point of view? Do you go there and call them names, tell them how stupid they are, and they should go back where they came from?

What possesses someone to argue in that manner with someone they do not know? I don't think liberals are evil. I don't think they are bad people. They have a different view of the world and a different way in which to change the world. I do not agree with what they stand for, but I don't attack the person.

I chose not to go to the dark side. I am interested, however, in how many of you do? Do you make the journey to the dark side of the aisle and if so why?


Disclaimer: No, American Liberal, this is not about you. You are still more than welcome to debate your points of view.

Conservatives are flocking to Twitter, but will the GOP ignore their flight.

As I mentioned in my last post, conservative grassroots organizations are exploding all over the internet. Groups on Facebook have doubled since the election, but no social media site has been more intriguing to conservatives than Twitter.

If you belong to Twitter, you understand what can only be called an obsession. If you do not belong to Twitter, you probably have no idea what I am talking about. Twitter is a communication forum that allows people to write comments no longer than 140 characters about whatever they wish. You have the ability to view others comments when you "follow" them and they have the ability to view yours if they chose to "follow" you.

It's not necessarily important to understand twitter itself, but how conservatives are using it to network, exchange ideas, strategize and even speak one on one with GOP members. In fact, one of the RNC chair candidates, Saul Anuzis, is a favorite on twitter because he openly communicates about his daily political life with average conservatives.

Twitter has become so popular with Conservatives that a new site has formed that tracks the top conservatives on twitter. Top Conservatives to Follow on Twitter was the brain child of Michael Leahy, an author and Republican strategist. Last week, Michael started the group which now consists of over 300 members with more vying for a position every day. It features some well known conservatives, such as Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina, Hugh Hewitt, and most recently Governor Mike Huckabee.

Twitter is only the beginning of the conservative movement on the net. It is allowing those the grass roots to communicate in a fast environment, organize quickly, and spread the message to an ever growing audience. It is only the beginning of the strategy to move conservatives and hopefully the GOP into the 21st century.

This couldn't come at a better time as reports state that President-elect Obama will be holding on to a campaign surplus of over $30 million. Aides closest to him say he may use the excess cash to build a massive grass roots program to support his agenda. The GOP will need it's own grass roots campaign to fight back.

It's already forming, but will they catch on in time to take the lead of it?