The American Spectator : 2010

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2010

By Peter Ferrara on 7.15.09 @ 6:09AM

Next year's elections are going to produce a political earthquake.

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Ditto that for New York State, where Republican majorities may well take over the entire legislature next year. Liberal Democrats have made state government there dysfunctional. Michigan may well at this point qualify as a failed state, like Somalia or Afghanistan. Governor Jennifer Granholm and other ultraliberal Democrats have so thoroughly trashed that state it may never recover. Detroit has fallen from a population of 1.8 million with the highest per capita income of any big city to less than 900,000 ranking 62nd in per capita income. Half the city's housing stock is now vacant and serves only to drag down the value of the remaining occupied homes. Fewer than half of all Detroit youth graduate from high school. This is all the fault of the liberal-left Democrats who have uniformly ruled that city for decades. Expect a new Governor to be elected next year, and another possible Republican takeover of the legislature.

Other promising races for next year are John Kasich running for Governor of Ohio and former conservative Congressman Mark Neumann running for Governor of Wisconsin. After next year, Republicans will probably once again have a strong majority among the nation's governors.

Next year would be a Republican year just because it is a midterm election with a Democrat in the White House. But because federal, state and local Democrats have been so extreme left, that is why this time the election is likely to be an earthquake. Normally, people who are unhappy with the incumbent President come out to vote in droves during midterms, while people who are happy are not as motivated because they think all is fixed by the reigning President who is not even on the ballot during midterms. But these effects are going to be so greatly exaggerated this time for several reasons.

Democrat ultra-left policies are going to motivate even more disaffection and voter anger than usual in a midterm. This is why Rasmussen's focus on strongly disapprove versus strongly approve is so important. Obama is already 8 points down on this calculus and dropping fast just 6 months into his first term. Where is it going to be after another 16 months?

Moreover, the conservative Republican vote was down in the last election because these voters were so disaffected by the moderate liberal Republican standard bearer John McCain. But these folks are going to be ultramotivated to vote next year, and probably contribute and volunteer as well, because of the prevailing Democrat ultraleftism that so alienates them. At the same time, Obama inspired a maximum left-wing vote last year. But a lot of those voters are going to be unmotivated next year when they realize after two years that Obama did not show up to pay their house and car payments, or arrive at their door to deliver new kitchen appliances and cabinets at taxpayer expense.

Potential candidates need to start planning to run now. Races that seemed unwinnable last year are going to be shockingly in play by this time next year. Don't sell yourself short. There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune, omitted all of life is spent in misery, as Shakespeare told us.

But it is not just potential candidates that need to start organizing now. Conservatives need more grassroots political activism. This should be focused on ideology rather than party. All you need to do to become a local political force is find out which of your friends and neighbors share enough of your beliefs to work with you. Collect their names, addresses, emails, phone numbers. Call regular meetings to discuss particular issues of interest. Study up on the issue and lead a discussion on it, or invite speakers to do that.

If you can get just 20 people to come to regular meetings, biweekly or monthly, you are a local political force, particularly if you are collecting all the contact information of everyone who comes to every meeting. Candidates will come to your meetings to make their case. Study the federal, state and local candidates for your area, and inform your group at these meetings on their records, what they have they been for and against. Decide which of these candidates sufficiently share your values and actively support them with fundraising and volunteers.

But it is not just Republican candidates and activism that will enjoy exciting opportunities next year. In districts that have been drawn to be overwhelmingly Democrat, unexpected opportunities will arise next year for Democrat primary challenges against old, liberal left warhorses. There is opportunity for candidates that will ask voters in these districts if they really are as left-wing as some of the loony left incumbents, like Waxman or Frank or others. America desperately needs black challengers in African-American districts to campaign on new ideas and solutions, like school vouchers that would bring freedom of choice and competition for the poor in education. African-American small businessmen in these districts are being driven out of business by wildly unrealistic liberal-left policies such as excessive taxation, the threat of cap and trade high energy costs, and the threat of forced unionism under the proposed card check legislation.

African Americans would benefit the most from empowering policies such as personal accounts for Social Security that would allow their families to accumulate their own savings and capital over a lifetime. They would benefit the most from realistic policies to produce general prosperity such as low taxes, and reduced federal spending, deficits and debt. They would benefit the most from a new welfare system based on work rather than dependency. Altogether, this comprises a new anti-poverty, civil rights agenda, and America needs candidates in the black inner city to pick up and run with this flag.

Unfortunately, America is headed for some bad crashes under the current flower child policies of left-wing extremism, on foreign policy and national defense concerns as well as domestic and economic policy. Next year's campaigns will involve a crusade to restore policies to rebuild traditional American freedom and prosperity. Where will you be during that crusade?

Page: < 12

topics:
Taxes, Republican Party, Government Spending, Election 2010

About the Author

Peter Ferrara is Senior Fellow at the Carleson Center for Public Policy, Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy for the Heartland Institute, and General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is the author of America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, now available from HarperCollins.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (198) | Leave a comment

stephanie| 7.15.09 @ 6:35AM

TERM LIMITS! POTUS and his croneys are looking for a way to keep him in power indefinitely, we need some reps that will vote for term limits on all senators and congressmen. God, the thought of all of the above mentioned remaining in power from now until whenever is totally scary. But what representative will vote for himself to only be in power for a limited time.
What is the answer?

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.15.09 @ 6:58AM

Kozac is now on my list of candidates to donate to. Please note, RNC, that you will not now, nor in the future ever receive one nickle from me, all monies will go directly to the candidates I deem fit. Your inability to feild truly fiscally responsible candidates is inexcusable. Republican does not mean oligarchy, National does not mean beltway, and a circular firing squad circle jerk does not constitute a Committee.

Becky| 7.15.09 @ 7:11AM

I agree with the term limits also. Jefferson warned of the lack of term limits especially regarding the President leads to despotism, that history shows people will continually put the same people in office no matter how bad they are.

While the average government worker wants to retire early with generous benefits, especially wants to where they can double dip, the people in power really grip onto it well past their prime.

If not term limits, then at least an age limit of 70 would be fine with me.

The number of representatives is also too small, the idea of a fixed number of seats is not what was intended for the people's chamber, and the election of senators by direct vote should also be revisited.

We need another constitutional convention called by the states.

dcd| 7.15.09 @ 7:44AM

Don't worry republicans will find some way to shoot themselves in the foot. Either by being dismissive of causes that appeal to the majority(environment, stem cells), or by overplaying issues that most voters don't care that much about about (missle defense, abortion).
A limited government, states rights, low tax platform could win; therefore the republicans will run on antienvironmentalism, agressive religion, and increased spending.

Geoff| 7.15.09 @ 7:48AM

Mr. Hauschild nailed it again. Yet, as an Independent with some Libertarian tendencies, I cringe at many/most wimpy Republican alternatives, along with the insufferable "social" conservatives who'd be nearly as totalitarian in establishing their priorities.
Not much optimism, really. Not when 43% pay no income taxes, the Something-for-Nothing bunch will outnumber we producers (if they haven't already) and the floodgates are about to be sprung with the Amnesty crap.
Very little optimism, in fact - - but I hope I'm wrong!

danny| 7.15.09 @ 7:54AM

Ted Cruz for attorney general of Texas. An up and coming Reagan conservative. Check him out, Peter.

Robert Rosencrans| 7.15.09 @ 7:55AM

Also read Mr. Ferrara's article in the Wall Street Journal:

The 0% Tax Rate Solution
It's better policy, and politics, than the proliferation of tax credits.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124753094923135901.html

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 8:08AM

Backlash is vastly overrated. The Republicans were in the minority in the House of Representatives for over 40 years (until the Contract With America in 1994).

The Republican Party has no realistic hope of getting back in power if they depend solely on backlash.

A team which loses badly needs to fix itself, not blame the referees or the other team.

TennesseeVolunteer| 7.15.09 @ 8:25AM

ded, Geoff and Siegfried, I don't know where y'all are from but there is a cold wind of freedom beginning to blow out of the south and the Midwest. Just reading an article like this creates dreams which can turn to action. Give all of us a chance and get behind the winds of small government and personal freedom. Many of us conservatives have not been political because we have focused on family, business, community, schools and our churches. Those of us are now recognizing our responsibilities in our Republic and finding our voice. It will not be too long before we center on 3-4 policies that will bring the tidal wave of votes from the South and Midwest. My hunch is that the East and Left coasts will not be too far behind us. Almost every one is beginning to get this, the media and the libs will naysay it and fight it to the end. When they see the voting totals in 2010, their jaws will drop.

Claire Solt| 7.15.09 @ 8:25AM

I have little use for hysterics who claim that losing a couple of elections is the demise of the Republican party. I think the Dems wanted it more when lots of conservatives were foolishly into teaching the "R"'s a lesson. Think about that when you wait in line to see the Doc. Then vote, even if it is the lesser of two evils, in your mind.

Mattled| 7.15.09 @ 8:46AM

Mr. Ferrara,

It isn't just backlash against Democrats that will get these clowns out of [flower] power, it will be a backlash against the media.

They are reporting zero, zip, nada, with very few exceptions (Jake Tapper at ABC) anything remotely critical------only that this is the best president ever, he's so smart, he's so mainstream. Slowly, the public are not buying this crap as reality is starting to hit and not Harry Smith's, Comrade Katie Airhead and so on opinions.

When they die (the newscasts), the liberals ideas die. We need a two party system, but ALL Conservatives=Bad and All Liberals=Good reporting is wrong and I believe ABCCBSNBCCNNNYT either need a drastic overhaul or just go away.

This morning's WSJ had an article on CBS affiliate's really hurting. Basically ad spending is down.

I would venture to say that left out of the article was any analysis of why I (and many, many others) don't ever watch 60 Minutes, CBS This Morning etc.

Some time in 2007 they went into hyper-drive with Bush-hating and generally speaking , Conservative-Hating news operations. I just couldn't take it anymore and turned off the TV set.
No local news anymore and especially, network news.

The Obama-love-fest couldn't be anymore vomit inducing.

CBS Evening news just had their lowest ratings. Ever.

CNN just recently had their lowest ratings since before Gulf War 1991 when they were called the Chicken Noodle Network.

Now they are the Obama News Network--ONN.

There's a reason they are so low. During a recession, TV ratings go higher as people's habits change i.e. they stay home more and grocery shop more.

Grocery sales are up, yet TV ratings are down. Internet? Yes, it does have an effect.
Bias? Yes and a big yes. I spent twenty years in national TV and local news. This present bias is unprecedented and unapologetic.

I don't believe it's just the internet. Local news is where network news stars get their starts.

Target the local stations and the GM's notice, then they tell the networks. These people have clout. Us peons, not so much----we just don't GET IT, say the elitist network honchos.

Yes, we don't get it----- we don't get your news. Ever. It's off---for good.

I plan on locking the networks off the remote when we go on vacation in our rental house (my in-laws are uber-liberal and hang on to every Chris Cuomo word--blech)----Gee, I don't know why you can't get ABC, CBS, or NBC? Must be the owner's fault.

Maybe they are Republican?

Geoff| 7.15.09 @ 8:50AM

Lesser of two evils, or the Evil of two Lessers?
Wish I could share in the optimism, and I've been the "perpetual optimist" for plenty of decades.
Like McCain would have been better (I held my nose and voted for him), sure -- but, another 1994 is most unlikely.

Geoff| 7.15.09 @ 8:53AM

Amen, Me. Mattled!

Geoff | 7.15.09 @ 8:54AM

Amen, MISTER Mattled

Rob| 7.15.09 @ 9:00AM

Would that this article were true. Remember, it isn't who votes, it's who counts the votes that matters.

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 9:00AM

How will voting for RINOs who support Obama make anything better? Electing "Republicans" who vote for Obama's judges, cap & trade, stimulus... ?

owyheewine| 7.15.09 @ 9:01AM

The Republicans need a unified message and set of proposals to run on like they did in 1994. My 2 suggestions are : 30% reduction in federal bureaucracy and automatic sunset of all regulatory agency rules- those issued by unelected unaccountable bureaucrats- after 10 years. We can chip around the edges, but elected officials are too gutless to cut programs. Go straight for the heart of out monster government.

RustyG| 7.15.09 @ 9:02AM

Great article. I hope it happens. But when I see ACORN get billons of taxpayers money and Black Panthers patrolling the polls and given a pass I fear our elections will look like Irans.

janet| 7.15.09 @ 9:05AM

I also agree with Geoff and find it hard to be optimistic, given the fact that 43% of people who don't pay taxes could care less about fiscal responsibility and high tax rates. I live in Michigan and let me tell you that these voters will no doubt keep on re-electing the same liberal Democrat clowns that they always have. They never learn the lesson that their representatives in Congress have failed them miserably for years. This state is a banana republic already, yet Obama comes to town yesterday and people in the crowds cheer him on. As long as these people continue to get money from the government they could care less about anything else, especially the loss of liberties.

tonypal| 7.15.09 @ 9:13AM

janet:

Coming from Michigan, I can understand why you find it hard to be optimistic. I live in NJ, where the voters might be just slightly less brain dead than your state. But we're trying hard.

In any case, I'm not sure why anyone is bothering to comment on this issue. Let's just wait for what Bob has to say. He hasn't popped up yet, but as any daily TAS reader knows, once Bob has spoken, there's really nothing else to say.

Mattled| 7.15.09 @ 9:36AM

I'm no longer in media, but still an observer.

We, our leaders, need to speak above the media. I see TV ads running from such and such group usually on cable.

There is nothing like having a billboard with, let's just use Barney frank as an example, a face on it and a short message:

Housing Crisis caused by this man. Barney Frank-Democrat

Or: Democrats took Power in 2007? Economy goes down the tubes. Coincidence. No, It was planned.

Or: A series of billboards with all the Obama campaign promises---with a tag line: Broken!

When did gas prices go thru the roof? When the Democrats took over.

Television and radio are effective, but what was the most effective ( and spoken about ) ad in recent memory?

General Betray-Us. It was in print---it was there to look at again and again.

Most large and medium size cities have traffic issues: Get stuck in traffic----you've got that billboard staring, glaring at you.

The board would get coverage---maybe target your hometown (Detroit or other district) congress critter. Make it viral--make people aware who otherwise wouldn't.

We CAN'T ever depend on the media to give us a fair analysis or reporting----we have to talk above them.

(Talking above them is not hard---they are so in the tank for Omaba).

Howard| 7.15.09 @ 9:54AM

I like the tone of the article. But a year and a half is a long way off. Obama has proven to be a good politician. Also, the Mainstream Liberal Media will continue to pimp for him. But, numbers are numbers, and if the economy, Dow Jones, and higher taxes all factor in, we can hope fully see a repeat of 1994.

Kevin Riley O'Keeffe| 7.15.09 @ 10:05AM

Meg Whitman will not be the Republican nominee for Governor of California next year. Former Congressman & state Senator Tom Campbell will have that honor. Which is a good thing, because Professor Campbell can probably win, while Meg Whitman would probably lose in a landslide.

Tim| 7.15.09 @ 10:20AM

[Rooster confronts the four outlaws across the field]
Ned Pepper: What's your intention? Do you think one on four is a dogfall?
Rooster Cogburn: I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?
Ned Pepper: I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.
Rooster Cogburn: Fill your hands, you son of a bitch.

Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 7.15.09 @ 10:23AM

Look for Republican Ebay CEO Meg Whitman to win the California Governor's race next year, and for Republicans to win at least one house of the California legislature.

Don't count on it. When it comes to stupid, CA voters, especially the ones in the major metro areas, have few equals.

Kevin Riley O'Keeffe| 7.15.09 @ 10:23AM

Despite my single quibble noted above, however, I do agree with the general gist of this article ie., that 2010 is shaping up to look a lot like 1994.

The Real Royal King| 7.15.09 @ 10:35AM

This is some really delusional stuff. It reminds me of the Republicans who claimed the Super Delegates would never suppor Obama, Palin would peel away disaffected Hillary voters, that independents in Central Pennsylvania will win the state for McCain and that no Supreme Court would swear in Obama. In other words, this is as loony as the Birthers.

The Real Royal King| 7.15.09 @ 10:37AM

In other words, Howard, we should all pray for a total economic collapse in America so that the Republicans will benefit. Are you really Limbaugh?

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 10:43AM

voters were so disaffected by the moderate liberal Republican standard bearer John McCain

And the same kind of moderates are running this time, like Kirk in Illinois and Tom Campbell mentioned above for California.

McCain was for cap & trade, as is Kirk. 10 to 20 Republican senators will likely vote for Sotomayor. It will be tough for RINOs who support Obama's agenda to run against him.

cary loos| 7.15.09 @ 10:43AM

Thanks Volunteer; Sounds like a Benediction. Let
us go out into this world and serve God. Left/Libs
would have us serve The Man. And I mean serve.

Tim| 7.15.09 @ 11:04AM

Really more of a royal pain, ;)

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.15.09 @ 11:13AM

Geoff,
Cheer up, and let me use your own figures as example. “43% of the people in the US pay no taxes.”
1. That means 57% do pay taxes.
2. Of that 57% “disposable” income is, at best, rapidly declining.
As big government tries to squeeze more blood from the earners turnip, those 57% are going to become the “squeaky wheel,” with a huge echo from their non-paying brethren who some seem to think are exempt from the big four, sales tax, alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.
By 2010 everybody is going to be unhappy, the drunks, the lung cancer candidates, and even the blue haired one-armed bandit crankers with a Medicare oxygen bottle strapped to their walker.
The line to the polling place will be long and non-partisan, even though you will have to step over the broken and bleeding bodies of all those ACORN activists, voting will be “vigorous.”

JohnMc| 7.15.09 @ 11:34AM

"Look for Republican Ebay CEO Meg Whitman to win the California Governor's race next year, and for Republicans to win at least one house of the California legislature. "

Can we get off the bent that Corporate schleps are suited for governance? Whitman has destroyed eBay. Oh sure their profits and revenues soared. But she did so by raising fees and morphing the site into a stockyard. The current eBay CEO is in the process of tearing down most of what she attempted. Anotherwords Whitman's belief would be she has never seen a toll road she never liked. How is that any different from what Sacremento does today?

Pure Fantasy| 7.15.09 @ 12:25PM

Wow - can you even look yourself in the mirror when you write this stuff? Do you honestly believe that the Republicans, such as they are, have any chance in hell of taking over the US House, either house in California, or the New York legislature? Where do you live - fantasy land?

I do believe in a two party system and I believe in the necessity of an economically conservative voice in government, but the Republicans seem so intent on turning themselves into a joke that I just can't see that voice being heard any time soon. The alternative "Republican budget" parrotted by Boehner earlier this year was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. If that's what the right-wingers have to run on, then the Dems will be in power for a long, long time.

For God's sake, "powerhouse candidate" Chuck Kozak doesn't even have an "issues" section on his website and, from what I can tell, hasn't even raised any money. The Republican party in Nevada, between Ensign, Gibbons and Krolicki is a joke.

Mark| 7.15.09 @ 12:34PM

I was reading the first person's comments on term limits and she make an extremely valid point: what leader would limit their terms?

That id part of the problem today; our founders often chose to relinquish power because they did care more about the succeeding of the new system and the people.

Todays politicians seem more interested in the retention of power over the goodwill of the people; also, they have learned how to give the very gifts that will continue to get them re-elected.

We desperately need leaders that will begin to do the right thing, regardless of the political repercussions.

Joe| 7.15.09 @ 12:34PM

You left out Corzine in New Jersey, he is done even though I am no fan of Chrsitie's ( might be a moderate in disguise) Corzine should be through political.

His biggest donor is Goldman Sachs.

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 12:42PM

what leader would limit their terms?

That's exactly the problem. Term limits only exist in states where the politicians could be bypassed while making the laws, like with voter driven referendums.

Michael Tomlinson| 7.15.09 @ 1:00PM

While I think 2010 looks promising for Republicans I'm not yet convinced Obama will pay for violating his tax promises. Ronald Reagan raised Federal taxes 7 times and conservatives and the nation gave him a pass. Why? Style often trounces substance with the US electorate (Reagan while a President of substance had incredible style and this goes a long way in describing his popularity even as he violated many of his conservative campaign pledges). When enough voters are more concerned with a President’s WOW factor than with what they actually do then even as the nation deteriorates and morphs into Zimbabwe West an Obama has the potential of hanging onto power.

While conservatives like to talk about politicians who stand for their principles regardless of political repercussions they actually are much like liberals and support candidates who polls well (look how easily they abandoned Bush who was much like Reagan on issues when his poll numbers began to decline.) Had Reagan's polls continued to plunge in his second term thanks to Iran-Contra "principled" conservatives would have been the first to stick the knife in his back. Reagan is only a conservative Icon, because his PR machine trumped the Democrat MSM.

Coupled with those entranced by “star factor” is the threat of politically naïve conservatives – those who seem to be fueling the bizarre and pretentious John McCain like behavior of Sarah Palin. As Palin toys with third party aspirations and shows a willingness to campaign for faux conservative (aka liberal) “blue dog” Democrats she poses a latent threat to resurgent conservativism by eviscerating our voter base. If a Palin third-party becomes reality Chuck Schumer’s conservative stimulated “miracle” of 2006 will look pale in comparison to Obama’s 2010 and 2012 “magic.

Like it or not conservatives have to become reconciled to the simple political fact that a free America is and will be a two-party system (unless Democrats and ACORN get the one party oligarchy they desire). There are Republicans (the party of conservatives and moderates) and liberal Democrats. When it comes to Federal elections no one else need apply (the current “independents” in Congress are actually liberal Democrats).

Based on this clear reality a moderate Republican is far better than a liberal Democrat (yellow or blue dog).

As for limousine liberals and African-Americans, the bulwark of the Democrat party (the rich and racists), how can we realistically expect them to betray their elitist and bigoted agenda? If Democrats are to suffer the electoral defeat they richly deserve it will be the lower middle-class through upper middle-class that brings their house of cards crumbling down. To win in 2010 and 2012 Republicans need to become totally identified with blue collar and white collar working America while Democrats must have the disguise ripped from their decrepit façade revealing their true identity as the party of hate filled racist special interest groups and arrogant and insufferable demagogues.

TParty4USA| 7.15.09 @ 1:01PM

Show up at the Capitol on 9/12 for the Tea Party!

In fact, show up a day or two early and give your representative and senator a visit to share your concerns in person, just in time for final vote on the Crap and Tax bill and the Crappy Health bill, as well delivering your opinion in person as to the partisan "hearings" to lynch the CIA and the partisan coverup of the IG fiasco.

And maybe even ask: "Where are the jobs?"

Google "teaparty d.c. 9 12" for information, and schedule a few days to help save America from the idiots in D.C. who think you work for them.

TParty4USA

John| 7.15.09 @ 1:04PM

I also refuse to support the RNC. I regularly donate money and from now on I will choose specific candidates to support. Cannot risk sending monies to the RNC who still seem compelled to support RINO's like Charlie Crist. I am a conservative and will not vote or support another RINO ever! No more compromises!

Pingback| 7.15.09 @ 1:20PM

So what are top marginal rates going to hit, anyway? « The Tiger in DC links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…4.95% below 45,000, and the national sales tax, the GST, which is 5%, and provincial sales taxes, which in Ontario is 8%.) And I’m also thinking, if I’m a businessman, I might well decide to stand for office in 2010 purely as a matter of self-defense. « Random question… Actions Comments RSS Trackback Information Date : July 15, 2009 Categories : I am Canadian, Political Alignment, The…

William| 7.15.09 @ 1:27PM

Its time for a peoples revolution. That is all it is going to come down to. The very foundation of this nation is being undermined in record time by a mean and vicious minority that want to keep the majority repressed. Numbers are on the conservative side, but politics as usual is keeping this nation in a tailspin. Lets revolt now and lets go down fighting. I would rather die than be in a socialist state.

L| 7.15.09 @ 1:31PM

Rhetoric aside, what in recent history would lead one to believe that Republicans would be any better?

Unless we come up with a viable alternative to D's & R's, the great American experiment has concluded. the hypothesis was not supported.

Louis Jenkins| 7.15.09 @ 1:49PM

What a great one and a half party system we have!! With 43% of the citizenry voting for Obama it will only take another 8-9% to give him a second term. I'm sure he can gleam that amount from the voters with more lies and promises. And as stated, "Who counts the votes?" Polls? Forget the polls. Polls are meaningless. They are shaped by the agency taking the poll. By the time a new name is president the damage will have been done! The middle class and uber-rich will have been forced to join the 43%ers.

Katherine Sands| 7.15.09 @ 2:00PM

Excellent, excellent post. This is totally inspiring. I'm going to link to it.

rdman| 7.15.09 @ 2:11PM

Michael L. - re; RNC. Well stated !!! Here's my take on the current RNC leadership:

Sarah Palin shares many of the following attributes with the majority of the great silent American majority:

"Inner-directed, authentic and genuine, self acceptance, everything she seems to be. Self-assured, self-generating, energetic, adaptable, physically attractive and popular. Ambitious to improve self, becoming outstanding, a kind of human ideal, embodying widely admired qualities. Others are often motivated to want to be like her in some positive way."

This is why Sarah connects with the majority of We The People. This explains why the “Elitist Inside-the-Beltway Government Class” and their useful idiots are going berserk and launching scurrilous attacks on Sarah and her family (even her special needs baby, Trig is not spared). In view of these appalling gutter attempts of personal destruction, the silence from the GOP leadership is deafening and revealing.

The only comments we have heard from the GOP leadership is that Sarah Palin is not a candidate for “grooming” for a Presidential run. Since when do We The People need our chosen candidate (whoever that may be) to be “groomed” by the government class??? What HUBRISTIC ARROGANCE!!

The GOP leadership needs to be reminded that Sarah Palin was overwhelming elected to Governor of her state. Despite being Lieutenant Governor of his state, how did you fair in your run for Governor, Mr. Steele??

APPEASEMENT and COMPROMISE is not LEADERSHIP!!!

Great article, Mr. Ferrara... there really is hope and change we can live with.

Marcell| 7.15.09 @ 2:13PM

Next year's elections are going to produce a political earthquake. That is because we currently suffer the most left-wing government in our nation's history. After just 6 months in office, the flower children that rule Washington in overwhelming numbers are already smashing through all records regarding federal taxes, spending, deficits, and debt. Obama and his ultra-left Democrats adopted a so-called stimulus bill raising spending a trillion dollars that never had a prayer of actually creating jobs and promoting long-term economic growth, because it was based entirely on old-fashioned, brain dead, proven to fail, Keynesian economics. Though we would have to double federal taxes to finance the entitlement promises we have already made, the ruling Washington Democrats completely ignore that and focus instead on adopting yet another entitlement -- national health insurance -- that would be the biggest of all.

**************

Where is the proof to make your point, or is it just another example of what I call conservatives Joe the Plumber logic ( Emotional psychobabble)?

Pingback| 7.15.09 @ 2:14PM

Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready… « Watching The Nation links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…this…gotta pass that…don’t worry, you don’t need to read it, you can trust me, etc.), I read a post today at American Spectator that is guaranteed to cheer you up. It is Peter Ferrara’s predictions for 2010. VERY inspirational and a must read. I’m already making plans…common sense is coming back in vogue…the ultra-liberal progressives have shot themselves in the butt big time. …

My bad| 7.15.09 @ 2:15PM

Rasmussen's polling also shows that only 30% now trust Obama on the economy, which 84% say is the most important issue. A large majority, 61%, believes America is on the wrong track. The GOP leads the generic Congressional Ballot by 3%, while only 18% rate the Democrat-controlled Congress as good or excellent. These numbers will only get worse for Democrats as Congress adopts mega tax increases and other ultraliberal policies, portending a GOP takeover of the House next year. A plurality of Americans also now oppose the Obama/Democrat takeover of health care 49% to 46%.

I Conner Klast| 7.15.09 @ 2:23PM

In Florida's 22nd District Lt Col Allen West ran a surprisingly strong first time campaign against incumbent Democrat Ron Klein in 2008. Despite a landslide for Obama in this Democrat district, Mr West, a black veteran of both Iraq wars and Afghanistan, polled 45% with almost no GOP or media support. He is running again and his website is AllenWestfor Congress.com.

AWLinNC| 7.15.09 @ 2:32PM

Predicting elections 15.5 months out is like readings tea leaves. 61% think U.S. is on the wrong track, but that's way down from the 85% who thought so last fall under Bush, and understandable considering the economy is terrible and most people are terrified. The Democrats in Congress are very unpopular - second only to Republicans, who are even more unpopular. Everything depends on two things: health care reform and the economy. If real reform passes so that people will not lose health care if they lose their jobs, and where they can't be canceled for getting sick or denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, and where they cannot go bankrupt from medical bills (the U.S. being one of the very few industrialized countries where this can happen, and where it is in fact the likeliest cause of bankruptcy), then Democrats should do well. Furthermore, they will have created the greatest entitlement program since Social Security which will quickly have a large following and will create a generation of voters loyal to Democrats: this is what terrifies the GOP.

The second variable is the economy. If job losses are greatly reduced by next summer and prospects for recovery look better, Democrats should not lose many seats. Right now, the likelihood is that the GOP picks up 15 House seats, and the Dems pick up 2 or 3 more Senate seats, giving Obama an even larger majority, since the Dems that lose will be Blue Dogs who are less supportive of his agenda anyway.

Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 7.15.09 @ 2:38PM

...even though I am no fan of Chrsitie's ( might be a moderate in disguise)....

This guy doesn't seem to care for him either.

Patsy Anne| 7.15.09 @ 2:43PM

Trust me!! When Obama's unemployment numbers reach 15+% (it's coming up fast!), people will be screaming to be rid of him. His political career will be over.

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 2:49PM

The Democrats said the same thing when President Bush was running for reelection. They all hated him and they called him names and said he was destroying the country and wasn't a legitimate president and was unconstitutional and his polls were going down and it was an echo chamber where they all told each other the same things over and over and...

Bush got reelected.

Patriot| 7.15.09 @ 2:55PM

Obama's gone in 2012!! Not only is he a marxist--he's an incompetent boob to boot.

AnneM| 7.15.09 @ 3:24PM

What will happen in 2010 WILL make 1994 look like a day at the beach. Americans who are very CONCERN for the good of the country will NOT ONLY backlash against those politicos who did not take their best interests to heart, but against the OLD MSM as well. America is a CENTER-RIGHT nation and this will be felt next year during the mid-term elections. Also more Americans have turned not only to the internet to get their news, but also conservative talkradio, which is now in its second golden age. The OLD MSM is DEAD. Welcome to the NEW MSM of both the internet and conservative talkradio, both local and national.

U.S. Economy: Factory Gauges S| 7.15.09 @ 3:24PM

By Shobhana Chandra and Bob Willis
July 15 (Bloomberg) -- Industrial production shrank less than forecast and a New York regional factory gauge showed the smallest contraction in more than a year, signaling manufacturing is on the verge of stabilizing.
The 0.4 percent decrease in output at factories, mines and utilities in June was the smallest in eight months, Federal Reserve figures showed today in Washington. The New York Fed’s Empire Index rose to minus 0.6 in July from minus 9.4 the month before. The Commerce Department said separately consumer prices rose 0.7 percent last month, spurred by energy costs.
Today’s manufacturing figures, along with Intel Corp.’s forecast yesterday for stronger sales, reinforce projections for a halt to the deepest recession in half a century in the second part of the year. At the same time, analysts anticipate a limited recovery with little inflation as the share of American factory capacity in use dropped to a record low.
“We’ll go through a very gradual rebuild of production,” said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina, who accurately forecast the drop in output. “There’s uncertainty about the strength of demand, credit restraints are still there, and we have a weak labor market. The fundamentals point to an economy that won’t just boom off the map,” and with no inflation pressures.
Treasuries, Stocks
Stocks advanced after Santa Clara, California-based Intel’s forecast beat analysts’ estimates, and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 2.5 percent to 928.44 at 2:16 p.m. in New York. Treasuries dropped, sending yields on benchmark 10-year notes to 3.57 percent from 3.47 percent late yesterday.
During their meeting last month, most Fed officials judged the economy at risk to further shocks even as they rejected an expansion in asset purchases aimed at lowering borrowing costs, according to minutes of gathering issued today in Washington. The report also showed that policy makers were not sure what influence such purchases would have on the economy or inflation expectations.
Industrial production was forecast to fall 0.6 percent after a previously reported 1.1 percent drop in May, according to the median estimate of 73 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Projections ranged from a gain of 0.2 percent to a drop of 1.1 percent.
Worst Over
“Many do feel the worst is behind them,” said Randy Wolken, president of the Syracuse-based Manufacturers Association of Central New York which includes companies ranging from Lockheed Martin Corp. to Pepco Energy Services Inc. Companies are uncertain about the outlook, Wolken said. “You don’t know the bottom until it’s past you.”
Manufacturing accounts for about 12 percent of the $14 trillion U.S. economy, the world’s largest.
Capacity utilization, which measures the proportion of plants in use, decreased to 68 percent last month, the lowest level since records began in 1967.
U.S. factory output, which accounts for about four-fifths of industrial production, fell 0.6 percent after a 1.1 percent decrease the prior month. Motor vehicle and parts production slumped 2.6 percent after plunging 8.2 percent the prior month, the report said.
The auto industry may get a lift from the “cash for clunkers” bill that Congress passed in June, which gives consumers as much as $4,500 to trade in their old cars for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Auto Rebound
Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist at Barclays Capital Inc. in New York, is among those projecting carmakers will crank up production to meet the demand spurred by the program. A rebound in production will help pull the economy out of the recession, leading to economic growth of 3 percent in the second half of 2009, Maki said.
Ford Motor Co., the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy, already said on June 29 that it’s boosting third- quarter North American production by 16 percent from a year earlier.
Makers of personal computers are boosting orders for chips in anticipation of increasing demand in the second half, Intel’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini said. While businesses probably won’t start buying new PCs until next year, consumers in Asia -- especially China -- are leading the recovery, he said. Intel reported a 12 percent jump in second-quarter sales from the previous three months, the largest sequential increase since 1988.
Orders Grow
The New York Fed’s Empire State report, one of the first regional factory measures of the month, showed the largest gain in orders since the recession began in December 2007.
“You’re seeing evidence that manufacturing is turning” across the country, said Zach Pandl, an economist at Nomura Securities International Inc. in New York.
Inflation will probably be restrained even as the economy improves because of rising unemployment and plenty of spare capacity to produce more without developing bottlenecks, economists said.
The Labor Department’s figures showed consumer prices were down 1.4 percent from June 2008, the biggest drop since January 1950.
Excluding food and energy costs, the so-called core index rose 0.2 percent last month. The gain over the last 12 months slowed to 1.7 percent from 1.8 percent in the year ended in May.
Declines in consumer spending and business investment are forcing companies to boost incentives or keep a lid on prices in order to move merchandise, and preventing them from passing higher energy costs on to customers. A surge in gasoline costs in recent months is now abating, indicating inflation may moderate as the year progresses.
“The risks are still to the downside” for prices, said Rudy Narvas, an economist at 4Cast Inc. in New York, who correctly forecast the increase in core prices. “Energy prices have come off. At the same time, we have an incredible amount of slack in the labor market -- and, with wage growth not there, pressure on prices will be” low, he said.
To contact the reporters on this story: Shobhana Chandra in Washington at schandra1@bloomberg.net; Bob Willis in Washington at bwillis@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: July 15, 2009 14:17 EDT

Neo| 7.15.09 @ 3:29PM

I'm personally looking forward to hearing the other end of Pennsylvania yelling back to the White House .. "We Won"

Bye Bye Obummer| 7.15.09 @ 3:42PM

Obama's 15+% and skyrocketing unemployment numbers will doom his presidency; and that doesn't even take into consideration Obama's huge tax increases that are poised to strike Americans.

Good bye and good riddance, marxist liberals.

TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!!| 7.15.09 @ 3:44PM

Thank God Obama's incompetence has doomed his marxist agenda.

Scott| 7.15.09 @ 3:45PM

There's much talk about a coming "earthquake" in 2010, but I don't foresee anything beyond a barely detectable tremor; it's very heavily dependent on how voters perceive the economy -- not how the economy is actually performing, but how it's perceived. Remember, the state-run media is and always will be Obama's snuggling lapdog, so don't expect anything resembling balanced reporting from them. They will abet the lingering prevailing that Bush and GOP are the cause of the current economic morass. Further, look for Obama's regime to start heavily dumping the remaining stimulus dollars for make-work projects and special-interest payback, thus keeping his sheep in the fold.

In all realism, for the GOP, I see a very small handful of seat pickups in the House and, if lucky, emerging from the midterms with 37-38 Senate seats. At most risk are GOP seats in OH, KY, MO an NH. Hopefully, they'll salvage one or two of those. As for the Dem side -- much hope has been expressed for a couple turnovers, especially Dodd's seat in CT. I wouldn't hold my breath -- that's a solid blue state and Dodd will dedicate himself to re-casting himself as "the guy they MUST have representing them." My prediction there is CT voters will throw a few butterflies into the stomachs of the Dems through poll results, but come early fall, Dodd's lead will solidify and he'll win by double-digits. Remember, it's CT. As for IL, does anyone really believe the election of Sen. Jesse Jackson, Jr. hasn't already been decided in the bowels of Chicago City Hall? Nuff said there.

I hope I'm wrong... GOD, I hope I'm wrong, but we shall see.

Patriot| 7.15.09 @ 3:52PM

So many of you people just don't get it! Obama's skyrocketing unemployment numbers are a deal breaker. It's not business as usual any longer.

Too many people are going to feel the pain of the democrat's liberal-marxist agenda now suffocating our country. The democrat's extremism is only exceeded by their arrogance and incompetence.

Our responsibility is to field solid Conservative candidates. We can take our country back!

Empty Bucket Full of Holes| 7.15.09 @ 3:59PM

America is Imploding
Had someone told me during the Reagan Years that within twenty years another Republican Administration would stall this great nation and begin imploding the global Empire I would not have believed them. It took the other great Empires centuries to implode, but Bush and his greedy team have ensured America will go in decades. Clinton helped set the stage, but the folly of Boy George undid what had taken the Founding Fathers and the Entrepreneurs centuries to build in just a few short years.

To the average dumbed down suburbanite it isn't obvious. They faithfully watch football games on every channel, and enjoy more than half local news of interviews with barely literate multi-millionaire ball players, complete with the required large diamond earrings. As a monument to sport the Superdome is open today. Most of the 9th Ward is without power or water, and the desolation is overwhelming. But the money making Ball Game is back on, complete with Pop Concert. Emperor Nero would have been proud! The Mississippi and New Orleans Casinos were repaired first, long before the Hospitals and Utilities. Americans need the Poker Tournaments and gambling, but can live without healthcare.

The local Ford dealer, and the GM one too, has big powerful SUV's as far as the eye can see. New sub divisions of flimsy plastic houses sprout up everywhere, in some cases a million dollars for plastic clad cavernous dwellings that have a life expectancy of less than the occupants. Contrast them to the rickety old trucks bring team after team of Mexicans around the neighborhood to cut the grass and make Utopia neat and tidy. The supermarket, with it's bright lights and blaze of color is packed with processed foods, instant breakfasts and pre-prepared meals necessary to gulp down between Soccer practice and the other team pursuits. Forget Math and Geography the goal is to be able to afford those diamond earrings of the ball player stumbling over his words on TV.

The economy is booming. Tens of thousands more were put out of work as more factories and production jobs move offshore. But don't despair, tens of thousands make a living selling junk on eBay, where the old toys in the attic could be someone's collectible dream. The lottery is up to $100,000,000 and there is a new Casino opening next week.

Spend, spend, spend for if the spending stops, the Merry-go-round will crash for it's all an illusion. Of course the merry-go-round will keep going for some time through inertia, but bits and people will start to fly off at an ever increasing rate pulled by external events, and internal neglect of infrastructure maintenance. The money fuelling the invasion of Iraq and the military excursions around the world, hidden from the American people has to come from somewhere. The voters, busy watching the many ball games on TV, don't notice every federal budget has been quietly stripped. True there are noble pronouncements of millions or even billions allocated to relief and rebuilding projects, and after the news conferences, talking heads on the news shows, and political speeches little actually gets spent. The voting public have been conned again, allocated is a Washington pipe dream. There isn't any real money to spend, but lots of intentions to allocate.

Every week I hear politicians talk about the superiority of American technology, usually through a Chinese made PA system, to be recorded by mainly Chinese TV equipment, with Japanese labels. I meet these technology geniuses, usually with names like Wong, Pi, Lee and Chow, or in the software field with names like Pataki, Pradesh or Ghandi. It's not like the Reagan days in Washington, as the gang wars are keeping many off the streets, and if you like watching murders and muggings then stray a few yards off the main streets. But Bush believes, with his massive Secret Service and Police protection that America is safer than it was before he took office. Of course we do not talk about the deteriorating crime, and the Black and Hispanic gangs for this is racist hate talk. Like Monty Python we must include the 80 year old Grannies terrorising the retirement homes too.

There has been predictions of the demise of the United States for generations, but waves of hard working skilled immigrants from Europe and the Far East, who came over learned the language and customs and worked all hours enabled the country to reinvigorate and reinvent itself. Today we see the flood of low skilled immigrants from the South, demanding a share of the benefits, demanding the services and lifestyle, without wanting to learn the language or customs and demanding the United States changes to be like them. Why should I learn English, you learn Spanish? Police must be bilingual or it's discriminating. Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian don't count as bi lingual, only Spanish!

The pillars of creative expansion have been replaced by a massive core of entitlement and demand on the stretched resources being leeched to pay for Bush's Folly in the Middle East. If this flood was 5 -10,000,000 people over a generation this country could absorb it, but it's nearer 100,000,000 over the next generation, if you include children, dependents and family members who come along to enjoy the ride. Where are the skills to support this influx, especially as jobs are being exported. How will they add to the engine that powers this country.

I upset a deeply religious reporter when a Mexican woman argued that she couldn't cope with eight children on what her husband earned as a laborer in a landscape business. I commented that she needed contraception and social responsibility not government handouts! The Catholic and Hispanic journalist was appalled and called me a Racist. How dare I question her religious beliefs, and her right to bear as many children as God provided her.

We are under fire around the world for military excursions without thought or planning. We are under fire at home for not giving everything to those that come here illegally and want to steal our assets. The religious extremists on all sides are pulling the nation apart with hate, from Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson to the Ayatollahs and Mullahs around the world.

Something has to snap soon, or the whole lot will implode. I don't have confidence in Boy Blunder to do anything other than attack Iran and make matters worse. What does he care, born with a Silver foot in his mouth he will retire to his 2000 acre protected Ranch in Texas and ride his mountain bike around and around. He needs illegal immigrants to clear the brush so he doesn't scratch himself as he falls off once in a while. But when he does he doesn't have to worry about medical bills like everyone else.

Using Mel Brook's line "It's Great to be King!"

Anyone want to put bet's on when China make a grab for the SuperPower title?

William| 7.15.09 @ 4:03PM

2010 and 2012 will be the recent Minnesota senatorial election writ large.

The Republican Club will fold as always, since they are designated and willing palookas.

After 2012, our elections will more closely resemble Iran's than Minnesota's.

AWLinNC| 7.15.09 @ 4:07PM

15% unemployment will be catastrophic - but will most people blame Obama? I think most people understand that he inherited this economy, and he has been trying to slow down job losses. He is also trying to ameliorate one of the worst aspects of job loss: losing health insurance. Of course people disagree over details: these are immensely difficult projects. But the GOP is just the party of "NO." They showed themselves INCAPABLE of governing over 6 years of TOTAL control; and you think the public will rush to welcome them back w/open arms? There will be no tidal election in 2010. Some small backlash will cost Dems House seats, but Dems will still control govn't thru 2012. If we still have unemployment north of 10% w/rising inflation then, the Dems will be in trouble. But if the economy is significantly better, we can all enjoy the continuing GOP blood bath for another 4 years;

BTW, the American people aren't conservative, they are pragmatic. They want a government that works. Since the GOP runs AGAINST government in every election, it's little wonder that they are so bad at governing, except for seeing that cronies get lots of taxpayer $$$. Do you really think the GOP can re-brand in the next 12 months? The party of fiscal responsibility (gag)? Maybe not in the next 12 years!

Smitty| 7.15.09 @ 4:49PM

40% of Americans consider themselves conservative--only 20% consider themselves liberal; with Obama's staggering 15+% unemployment numbers and crushing tax increases--his political career is toast!

Violette| 7.15.09 @ 4:52PM

Obama's corruption will place a permanent black-eye on democrats.

Obama is a disaster for the marxist liberals.

Patsy Anne| 7.15.09 @ 4:57PM

Bush's unemployment numbers were about 5% throughout his eight year tenure, even after the Clinton caused national disaster of 9/11. So, it's kind of stupid to blame Obama's outrageous, skyrocketing unemployment numbers of 15+% on W.

Nice try, though. Moron.

Bush Admin Missing Trillions| 7.15.09 @ 5:02PM

Billions over Baghdad
by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele - Vanity Fair
September 2007

Those Who Blow Whistle on Contractor Fraud in Iraq Face Penalties
Deborah Hastings - AP
August 2007

Key Documents

U.S. Department of Defense Web Site

"The technology revolution has transformed organizations across the private sector, but not ours, not fully, not yet. We are, as they say, tangled in our anchor chain. Our financial systems are decades old. According to some estimates, we cannot track $2.3 trillion in transactions. We cannot share information from floor to floor in this building because it's stored on dozens of technological systems that are inaccessible or incompatible."
- Remarks as Delivered by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, The Pentagon, Monday, September 10, 2001

Independent Audit Report - Department of Defense
Re: $1.1 Trillion Missing from DOD
February 26, 2002

Testimony of the Inspector General - Department of Housing & Urban Development
Re: $59 Billion Missing from HUD
March 22, 2000

Discrepancies in America's Accounts Hide a Black Hole
By Daniel Gros, Financial Times
June 15, 2006

Road to Ruin
by Eric Sprott, Sprott Asset Management
Regarding the $11 Trillion Deficit in the US Government in FY 2004
January 2005

U.S.' Missing $Trillions Make Mainstream At Last
Scoop Media's version of the Chronicle Story with more links added
May 26, 2003

Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. and the Aristocracy of Stock Profits
by Catherine Austin Fitts
A case study of two teams each with competing visions for America.
April 2006

Estimate $3.3 Trillion Missing From U.S. Treasury
by Buddy Grizzard
An excellent overview integrating coverage by key investigative journalists
August 2002

Where is the Collateral? and So, Where is the Collateral?
A two-part series by Chris Sanders of Sanders Research Associates in London
These articles connect the dots between the missing money, the Where is the Money? litigation, questionable HUD deals, and the impact on the investment community
October 2003 and July 2004

U.S. "Could Be Going Bankrupt"
by Edmund Conway, Economics Editor
UK Telegraph
July 2006

whereisthemoney.org
Web site documenting the missing money -- includes petition, FAQs, Who's Who ... also available in Spanish

Independent News Coverage

The Great "Incompetency" Heist
by Catherine Austin Fitts, Scoop Media
May 17, 2006

US Government "Misplaces" Trillions of Dollars
Anxiety Culture Bulletin News
September 3, 2003

US' Missing Trillions Make Mainstream At Last
Scoop Media
May 26, 2003

The Solari Solution: A Responsible Way to Fund America's State and Local Government Deficits
Scoop Media
May 2003

On the Money Trail
MetroActive
September 5, 2002

Questions for a Congressman
Scoop Media
July 4, 2002

The Myth of the Rule of Law
Sanders Research Associates
November 2001

Testimony of the HUD Inspector General
House Government Reform
May 2000

Corporate News Coverage

Auditor Quits with NASA Finances in Chaos
By Arindam Nag and Deborah Zabarenko
May 15, 2004

The War on Waste
CBS News
Citing "cooked books" at DoD, Rumsfeld on the missing $2.3 trillion, ...
January 29, 2002

Military Stashes Covert Millions
St. Petersburg Times
September 28, 2003

'High Risk' Finance at the Federal Level
Insight on the News
August 21, 2003

Congressman Kucinich on NPR's 'Morning Edition'
NPR, June 28, 2003

Pentagon Fights for (Its) Freedom
CBS News
May 19, 2003

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 5:12PM

Looks like we might have a real Senate primary in Illinois, with conservative(s) running against the RINO Kirk.

State Rep. Jim Durkin, a Western Springs Republican who chaired John McCain's presidential campaign in Illinois, told the Daily Herald he's considering taking on Kirk, largely over his vote in favor of the administration's climate change bill.

Durkin is upset with Kirk's vote for cap-and-trade legislation, a key element of President Barack Obama's agenda and favorite target of conservatives.
"I think he is going to regret that vote," Durkin said.

Pingback| 7.15.09 @ 5:16PM

2010 Optimism Unclear | Axis of Right links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…unpopular policies or is there evidence, both historical and otherwise substantive, that 2010 is going to be a potential political earthquake in the Right’s favor? Some believe so and are willing to be unabashed about it. No one can predict the future, just extrapolate a trajectory based on where things are now. Most of the time in politics that’s pretty sound reasoning. However, at this point in…

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 5:19PM

I spoke too soon. Durkin's probably liberal too. Considering he was in McCain's campaign, that would make sense.

Paul from SA| 7.15.09 @ 5:19PM

Aside from the midterms, a lot should be settled by 2010. The uncertainty is killing us.

* Bush tax cuts expire
* workforces will be unionized
* a VAT tax will be in place
* health insurance will be mandatory
* global warming tax will be in place
* only businesses with political influence will survive; the rest will be gone permenently
* census numbers will be fixed and redistristing will be settled
* ACORN will become part of the gov't

Paul| 7.15.09 @ 5:22PM

If unemployment is 15% you may be right. If it goes to 10.7%, that is still better than it was in 1982 under Reagan. Don't forget the only party less popular than the Democrats is the Republicans, unless conservatives have enough guts to start their own party.

Richard Baker| 7.15.09 @ 5:23PM

Time for the George Washington Tyrant Removal method. As Mr. Jefferson said "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security". If there is no real change back to our Constitutional system next year, prepare for more than sharply worded notes of protest, in the future. Myself and millions of others will not have our Liberties and Freedom removed with a government check and a tyrannical leader. Sic Semper Tyrannis.

Siegfried X| 7.15.09 @ 5:29PM

I predict that the Republican Party will do poorly in the 2010 and 2012 elections, and Obama will be reelected. At that point Republicans will finally get serious about fixing the party, and there will be a Republican comeback in 2014 and 2016.

This is the same thing that happened in the Democratic Party, that they didn't really get serious about winning, thirsty to win, until President Bush was reelected. Until then they thought hating Bush was enough to bring them back into power.

Right now each group within the Republican Party is up to its old tricks, and few Republicans see a need for change. Everyone is doing the same things that made us lose, just hoping that backlash against Obama will sweep us back into power.

William| 7.15.09 @ 5:40PM

FYI:

William| 7.15.09 @ 1:27PM

is a different William than I am;

William| 7.15.09 @ 4:03PM.

Not that I necessarily dispute the earlier post point of view.

Just for purposes of clarity.

Political corruption| 7.15.09 @ 5:41PM

Sanders Research states:[19]

“The investigation resulted in no fewer than 14 individuals being indicted or convicted of crimes. These included senior members of the National Security Council, the Secretary of Defense, the head of covert operations of the CIA and others. After George Bush was elected President in 1988, he pardoned six of these men. The independent counsel’s investigation concluded that a systematic cover up had been orchestrated to protect the President and the Vice President… During the course of the independent counsel’s investigation, persistent rumors arose that the administration had sanctioned drug trafficking as well as a source of operational funding. These charges were successfully deflected with respect to the independent counsel’s investigation, but did not go away. They were examined separately by a Congressional committee chaired by Senator John Kerry, which established that the Contras had indeed been involved in drug trafficking and that elements of the U.S. government had been aware of it.”

There is a standard line you hear when you try to talk to people in Washington, D.C. about the flood of narcotics operations and money laundering in Arkansas during the 1980s. “Oh, those allegations were entirely discredited,” they say. This is not so. Thanks to numerous journalists and members of the enforcement community, the documentation on Mena drug running and the related money laundering is quite serious and makes the case that the government was engaged or complicit in significant narcotics trafficking. This includes the various relationships to employees of the National Security Council, the Department of Justice and the CIA under Vice President Bush’s leadership and to then Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton and a state agency, the Arkansas Development and Finance Agency (ADFA). ADFA was a local distributor of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidy and finance programs and an active issuer of municipal housing bonds. One of its law firms included Hillary Clinton and several members of Bill Clinton’s administration as partners, including Deputy White House Counsel Vince Foster and Associate Attorney General Webster Hubbell.

Those convicted and pardoned by President Bush included former Bechtel General Counsel, Harvard trained lawyer Cap Weinberger who as Secretary of Defense had presided over one of the most crime-ridden government contracting operations in U.S. history.[20] Forbes editor James Norman left Forbes in 1995 as a result of Forbes refusal to publish his story “Fostergate,” about the death of Vince Foster and its relationship to the sophisticated software, PROMIS, allegedly used to launder money, including funds for the arms and drugs transactions working through Arkansas. Norman’s story allegedly implicated Weinberger in taking kickbacks through a Swiss account from Seal’s smuggling operation. In other stories, the software was considered to be an adaptation of PROMIS software stolen from a company named Inslaw and turned over to an Arkansas company controlled by Jackson Stephens. An historical footnote to our story is that a later study of the prison industry shows that Jackson Stephens’ investment bank, Stephens, Inc., was the largest issuer of municipal bonds for prisons.

Some of the most compelling documentation on Seal’s Mena operation and related money laundering was provided by William Duncan, the former Special Operations Coordinator for the Southeast Region of the Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service at the U.S. Treasury. The U.S. Treasury fired Duncan in June of 1989 when he refused to dilute or cover up the facts in Congressional testimony.[21] [22]Since it is illegal to lie to Congress, this is the equivalent of being fired for refusing to break the law, and in the process, protecting a criminal enterprise.

Jeff | 7.15.09 @ 5:49PM

I have the reason Republicans are not going to make a comeback anytime soon. DEMOGRAPHICS. Those under 30, minorities do not like Republicans and they are steadily becoming a larger percentage of the electorate. The voting bloc of old, white and dissafected is no longer sufficient to win elections. If anyone has a thoughtful answer to this I would be very interested.

Gloria| 7.15.09 @ 5:53PM

Don't forget conservative Hispanics, too. We are also tired of non-responsive politicians and organizations and parties. It's time for Hispanics in the community to step and run for office, especially if they've been successful as teachers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, etc. -- anything that makes this country work. That's the kind of experience we need to bring back to Washington, not just 20 years of Washington experience, but real-life experience.

Reagan & Clinton Drugs Traffic| 7.15.09 @ 6:03PM

No history of the 1980s is complete without an understanding of the lawyers and legal mechanisms used to legitimize drug dealing and money laundering under the protection of National Security law. Through the MOU, the DOJ relieved the CIA of any legal obligation to report information of drug trafficking and drug law violations with respect to CIA agents, assets, non-staff employees and contractors.[23] Presumably, this included the corporate contractors who, by executive order, were now allowed to handle sensitive intelligence and national security outsourcing.

With the DOJ-CIA Memorandum of Understanding, in effect from 1982 until rescinded in August 1995, a crack cocaine epidemic ravaged the poorer communities of America and disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of poor people into prison who, now classified as felons, were safely off of the voting roles. Meantime, the U.S. financial system gorged on what had grown to an estimated $500 billion-$1 trillion a year of money laundering by the end of the 1990s. Not surprisingly, the rich got richer as corporate power and the concentration of investment capital skyrocketed on the rich margins of state sanctioned criminal enterprise.

Yale Law School trained Stanley Sporkin was appointed by Reagan in 1985-86 to serve as a judge in Federal District court, leaving the CIA with a legal license to team up with drug dealing allies and contractors. From the bench many years later, he helped engineer the destruction of my company Hamilton Securities while preaching to the District of Columbia bar about good government and ethics. He retired from the bench in 2000 to become a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Enron's bankruptcy counsel.

Gary Webb died in 2004, another casualty of an intelligence, enforcement and media effort that keeps global narcotics trafficking and the War on Drugs humming along by reducing to poverty and making life miserable for those who tell the truth. At the heart of this machinery are thousands of socially prestigious professionals like Sporkin who engineer the system within a labyrinth of law firms, courts and government depositories and contractors operating behind the closely guarded secrets of attorney client privilege and National Security law and the rich cash flows of the U.S. federal credit.[24]

Patriot| 7.15.09 @ 6:16PM

After 4 years (If he's not impeached before then!) of a corrupt, incompetent Obama marxist presidency, so many Americans will be unemployed (in soup kitchen lines) and/or overtaxed that Obama will be dumped.

The 2008 presidential election was stolen by Soros, media outlets such as MSNBC and ACORN--much like the senate election (?) of Al Frankenstein.

We are going to have to turn out in overwhelming numbers in order to stop the democrat/Obama/Soros/ACORN thugocracy now in office.

Let's take our country back before we all look like democrat controlled California that now lies in financial ruins, over run by illegal aliens and criminals.

Bush Policy 2008 not Obamas| 7.15.09 @ 6:18PM

Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

This afternoon, I read hundreds of pages of bill language. Essentially, my take on the bill is that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued more debt than can be paid back, so the "solution" is to have the United States government essentially assume responsibility for this debt until the fact that the government cannot service its own debt is addressed.

By clearly signaling to the market that the U.S. government stands behind Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, this new law increases the national debt from $9.5 trillion to $14.8 trillion overnight (that is a $5.3 trillion increase as opposed to the $800 billion increase provided for in the debt-limit increase accompanying the bill). Not surprisingly, a lot of pork needs to be added to pay a lot of people to go along.

A more appropriate bill title would be the Housing and Economic Takeover Act of 2008. Rather than declaring the New World Order, we are apparently going to legislate it sector by sector.

Here is the bill language:

Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

Here is a rosy summary from the Senate Finance Committee:

Senate Finance Summary – Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

The best overview so far is from Larry Lindsey. Lindsey was one of the more excellent governors of the Federal Reserve. Lindsay had to resign from the Bush Administration in 2002 as director of the National Economic Council when he had the good sense to warn that the Iraq War would be expensive.

Smitty| 7.15.09 @ 6:23PM

I agree; 15+% unemployment will be Obama's downfall. He'll go down as the worst president in history--even beating out Jimmuh 'witless' Carter.

Willey| 7.15.09 @ 6:25PM

Nice try, but 15+% unemployment is all Obama's.

Dick Cheneys Fraud| 7.15.09 @ 6:27PM

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (HalliburtonWatch.org) -- The U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) mismanaged $8.8 billion in Iraqi funds between March 2003 and June 2004, says an internal government audit leaked to retired Col. David Hackworth. Halliburton was paid $1.5 billion from these funds.

The audit, conducted by the U.S. coalition's inspector general, says the CPA's accounting books indicate that 74,000 guards were paid for work even though the actual number could not be validated. Another 8,206 guards were listed as employees even though only 603 people could be found doing any work.

"[M]y sources have been telling me for months that Iraqi payrolls have been heavily padded with ghost soldiers and ghost guards," reports Hackworth, a highly decorated and retired Army colonel and author. He said more than $17 million was allocated to guards and the Iraqi army without providing standard accounting documents to verify its accuracy. "Pals in Iraq say this has been standard drill since the birth of 'a very dysfunctional' CPA," Hackworth said.

"A U.S. official confirmed the contents of the leaked audit cited by Hackworth (www.hackworth.com) were accurate," reported Reuters.

The $8.8 billion is part of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI), established after Saddam Hussein was toppled from power. The DFI, which was managed by the U.S. coalition until June, contains proceeds from Iraqi oil sales, previously-frozen assets from foreign governments and the United Nations oil for food program. A United Nations audit released last month also criticized the CPA's handling of the DFI.

The inspector general's preliminary report says, "The CPA did not provide adequate stewardship of over $8.8 billion in DFI (Development Fund for Iraq) funds provided to Iraqi Ministries through the national budget process. Specifically, the CPA did not establish and implement adequate managerial, financial, and contractual controls over the funds to ensure they were used in a transparent manner."

Halliburton was paid $1.5 billion from the DFI after the U.S. coalition awarded the company three sole-source contracts. The Bush administration continues to conceal from auditors all documents pertaining to DFI monies paid to Halliburton and other contractors. The independent accounting firm, KPMG, which conducted an audit of the CPA, said it "encountered resistance from CPA staff (including the contracting unit) regarding the submission of information required to complete our procedures."

"Like the 9/11 report and the missing money in Iraq, no one will ever be held responsible," Hackworth predicted.

The inspector general's final audit report is expected to be released later this month.

More Information:

Col. David Hackworth: One of the Biggest Heists in History

Reuters: Senators Ask Where $8.8 Bln in Iraq Funds Went

HalliburtonWatch: U.S. conceals documents on $1.5 billion in Iraqi oil revenues paid to Halliburton, auditor finds oil funds prone to fraud

HalliburtonWatch: Vast sums of Iraq oil revenues have been stolen

FeralCat| 7.15.09 @ 6:30PM

Global warming might kill me, this I know,
Though my thermostat is turned down, oh so low.
Though my lights are all set on dim,
Still Lord Al bids me to scrimp more for Him.