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Streetcar Line
So Many Outrages, So Little Time
Stories I under-covered in 2011.
It’s a sad commentary on the Obama administration both that the Republican effort to dethrone him seems so desperately important that it dominated (my) column-writing in the year before election year and that the administration flouts laws and constitutional traditions in so many ways that it’s almost impossible to blow the whistle on them all. That said, I have been seriously amiss in writing too little in 2011 on the following stories, some of which I covered at length in previous years — and all of which I enthusiastically invite other reporters and columnists to write about.
The Obamite War Against the Heroic FDNY: Contradicting the Supreme Court decision in Ricci v. DeStefano which held that results of a race-neutral exam for firefighter promotions ought to be honored, the Obama/Holder Justice Department has been trying to force New York City’s fire department to throw out results of a race-neutral test, and to admit into its academy black applicants even if they missed 70 percent of simple questions — in the process, blocking the admission of black applicants who actually performed well on the test. (Go figure.) DoJ instructions even suggested explicitly quota-based academy admissions, thus ignoring plenty of other Supreme Court precedent. In the latest news, the city of New York has, quite rightly, appealed the rogue judge’s order (the judge and the Obamites are aligned) appointing a “monitor” for the fire force’s personnel moves.
The Obamite Effort to Discourage Voting by the Military: Eric Eversole, executive director of the Military Voter Protection Project, came on my radio show in September to discuss this, but it still merits far more attention. Clearly, the Obama administration has, at best, fallen down on the job, and more likely, actively discouraged military voting. Clearly, they believe military voters tend to be conservative, so the Obamites want them disenfranchised.
Judicial Wars: Usually one of my favorite topics, this has slipped away from me this year — partly because Republican senators are so frustratingly weak-kneed about the whole subject. Ed Whelan has some statistics here. Sadly, only a smattering of GOP senators would even support their own Judiciary Committee Ranking Member, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, in opposing the nomination of Susan Owens Hickey to a federal district court, and they wouldn’t do even a temporary filibuster against the manifestly ill-qualified Alison Nathan.
Blocking Obamite Efforts to Nationalize Education Policy: U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett has introduced the LEARN Act to let states opt out of federal micromanagement, and it appears to be a great idea. As Gary Palmer of the Alabama Policy Institute points out (and as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has been noting as well), the Obama administration is improperly using the “waiver” process to force their own policy choices on the states.
Obamite Flouting of Clear Legislative Language: U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf complains that White House science czar and compulsory abortion advocate John Holdren is violating the law in using federal appropriations for unapproved purposes (in this case, certain bilateral activities with China). Likewise, the Washington Times’ Emily Miller catches the White House blowing off other Appropriations restrictions, thus further indicating that he is dangerously authoritarian in outlook.
Obamites Cheating for Union Goons: So many examples of this tendency could be mentioned here that I won’t even try to list them all. But here’s one highlighted by the Workplace Fairness Institute. In short, the National Labor Relations Board has become, like the Justice Department, a lawless agency.
Obamite War Against Catholics and Other Traditionalist People of Faith: The Catholic Advocate explains in this short online video, and writes in another forum the following:
Think about some of the policies that have taken root since Obama entered the White House:
• No longer defending the Defense of Marriage Act;
• Forcing private insurers to provide contraception like the morning after pill to women at no charge;
• Reversing the ban on federal dollars from funding stem cell research;
• Taking away health care providers’ rights of conscience.
Other than the controversial spending and tax bills, these policies are the highlights of what the Obama administration has accomplished. This administration is leading America to a place where religious liberties do not exist, and if we’re not vigilant, they’ll try to take God away next. Are you comfortable with this?
Finally, in one area where the administration’s sins are in the background (the administration ought to use diplomatic pressure to help out, but won’t), the manifestly dishonest Ecuadoran environmental case against U.S.-based Chevron Corp. continues apace despite all sorts of evidence of skullduggery that completely belie the idea that Chevron is guilty of much of anything. The whole case was rigged from the beginning.
Aside from all that, a few notes about what has been good about 2011…. To wit: A) The old-fashioned campaign work ethic of Rick Santorum. B) The continuing efforts of J. Christian Adams, Hans von Spakovsky and others to highlight and fight against the Obamite efforts to enable widespread vote fraud. C) The conservative blogging of Jennifer Rubin in hostile territory at the Washington Post. D) The efforts of conservative journalists at all four of the “traditional” conservative periodicals — The American Spectator, National Review, the Weekly Standard, and Human Events — to try to uphold Reaganite conservative thought and action in an age of American Idol mentalities and text-message attention spans. E) The legislative and political leadership of Rep. Paul Ryan, Sen. Jeff Sessions, Sen. Chuck Grassley, and Rep. Frank Wolf on issues where they draw heavy liberal fire but still won’t back down. F) The leadership at the state level of governors such as Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, and John Kasich of Ohio (along with the recently retired and underappreciated Bob Riley of Alabama), who show that conservative governance really can work. G) The folks at the Heritage Foundation, still the greatest idea bank for the conservative movement, and especially the brilliant team at its Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, who are always superbly responsive and well informed. I) My kind and eminently agreeable friend Victor Schwartz, who always knows what’s going on behind the scenes in the world of lawyers. J) Fellow conservative bloggers who labor for the cause. K) Conservative radio hosts across the land — Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, of course, but also too many others to name, who keep the airwaves full of real facts and intelligent commentary, breaking through the media monopoly of the big TV networks. L) My colleagues at the Center for Individual Freedom and the University of Mobile, who help make all my writing possible. M) Al, Bob, and Wlady, for keeping the Spectator afloat, alive, and vibrant — with a special thanks to Wlady, who does yeoman’s work with unflagging energy, remarkable patience for the quirks and shifting schedules of writers like me, and remarkable good humor.
Here’s wishing everybody a wonderful 2012 — and, if I may say so, a president-elect, by this time next year, who didn’t grow up in Hawaii or Indonesia.
About the Author
Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom. Follow him on Twitter @QuinHillyer.
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Timothy L. Pennell| 12.30.11 @ 7:16AM
When the Republican Leadership in the HOUSE, and the Senate, have been REMOVED, then we will see things happen, but not until.
Boehner, McConnell, Kyle. All these OLD FOOLS have gotta go. The days of 'Go along to get along', are OVER! We have the better Ideas. We have the Better Plans for the Economy, and JOBS. We have the better Plans for Social Security, and Fixing Medicare. We have the better Plans for Reforming the Tax Code (FLATTEN IT!) and Rebuilding our Military. (Make it BIGGER)
But, we're afraid. These Republicans are more concerned about THEIR JOBS, than they are with us having a Job. They're more afraid of what The New York Times, or the WAPO, or David Gregory and Bob Schieffer are gonna say about them, then they are of US. That has to change, NOW.
Once the New Year starts, it might just be time to take a Play out of The Jew Hating Muslim's Playbook. It might be time to fill up some BUSES, and take a drive to these people's HOMES. Let'em know that we are Sick and Tired of it, and we're not gonna take it, anymore.
They think they're afraid of the other side?Let's show'em what FEAR really looks like.
Tea Party People. (Not Clint. REAL Tea Party People) If you want someone's attention? Sometimes you've gotta go out and GET IT.
I told John Boehnor, a long time ago, that if he was not ready to Tow The Line, and do what WE sent him there to do, then the next time we see him crying, won't be because he's the Speaker of the House. It'll be because HE'S NOT!
Now it's personal.
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 10:48AM
TLP, as always your brilliant thoughts are correctly/accurately on target to the truth, BUT [and this is a big but indeed], before the removal of these RINOS from political office occurs, me thinks that the first order of business for us conservatives should rightfully be the corresponding removal of Pilosi, Schumer, Reid, Durbin, Boxer, Conyers, Frank, etc [in general, all DEMOCRATS aka socialists, domestic terrorists of this country]. Thanks for your always insightful commentary, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours!!!!!!!!!!
Wayne| 12.30.11 @ 11:59AM
And we won't get rid of that Democratic influence if we elect a president who wants to "work with them". Time for bipartisanship is over.
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 1:39PM
Unless you've profected tha art of political assination, as long as they exist you have to "work with them"; but of course if you politically assinate them in the form of defeating them in November of 2012 and beyond, then you no longer have the need to "work with them", right? If however they [Democrats] defeat you and maintain their political majority, then they get to continue their dictatorial political domestic terrorisms of the last three years unobstructed by a defeated/inconsequential Republican Party even more so that at present, right? With a complete/substantial Republican majority in two branches of our government, there would thereafter be no intelligent reason for "bi-partisanship" now would there be, Wayne ????????
Margie| 12.30.11 @ 2:20PM
RIGHT ON.
joystick| 12.30.11 @ 11:04AM
Obama effort to discourage voting by the military?
What facts can you produce to support this outlandish claim?
Moe Blotz| 12.30.11 @ 11:18AM
Mr.Hillyer provided a link to that subject. Search the Web, several articles were published on TAS and NRO as well.
Wayne| 12.30.11 @ 12:00PM
joystick doesn't understand the politics of Obama and the Democrats. Just as they would not count the military write in votes in Florida in 2000, they will not want to count them in 2012.
cuban pete| 12.30.11 @ 12:20PM
You beat me Wayne.
Have a Happy New Year.
cuban pete| 12.30.11 @ 12:19PM
Algore's legal team tried to disqualify the military votes during the famous Florida recount.
Dai Alanye | 12.30.11 @ 11:04AM
Boehner is a good man and solid conservative being condemned by people who fail to realize how difficult it is to accomplish anything in the mob scene that is Congress. When the Senate goes under Republican control we should both expect and see more successes.
Timothy L. Pennell| 12.30.11 @ 12:19PM
Please. He may be a good man, but he is NOT a Conservative. He is a Milk toast, Career Politician, who's looking out for #1 FIRST, and everybody else, later. We gave him the BIGGEST LANDSLIDE ever, with Strict Orders to do ONE THING: Stop the Spending.
He Caved. He heard the talking heads on the MSM talking head shows, and he got COLD FEET. If he was a MAN, he would have held his position. We had his back, but he got a yellow streak up it, anyway.
He Blinked, he Flinched, he Caved, and he BENT OVER. He has wasted all the Power we bestowed upon him.
Nobody likes NEWT?
I guarantee ya. I'll take him, over this WIMP, any day of the week.
If we get more House Members, and the Senate? I promise you, John Boehnor will NOT be the Speaker.
Dave | 12.30.11 @ 4:35PM
John Boehner: a solid conservative? OK, I guess that's ONE reader's opinion. Me? I seen more b-lls at a Mary Kay convention.
Now if you'll excuse me ...
Clint| 12.30.11 @ 1:17PM
Who Is Mittens Romney ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1wPrsEP2nc
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On Mittens.
RICHARD| 1.2.12 @ 3:35AM
HMMM? The next president?
Mainecore| 12.30.11 @ 7:25AM
And, Mr Hillyer, may your good words keep flowing throughout 2012.....
Chef Schnauzer| 12.30.11 @ 7:53AM
Thank you and the very best of 2012 to you and your family. This is being printed out as I type, thank you. What is truly repulsive is that republicans want to 'compromise' with this crap. Every republican president since Eisenhower (that I can remember) has compromised away American values for this type of socialist feces in the name of Go-Along-to-Get-Along, back slapping, political sodomy. The republican leadership are moral and intellectual eunuchs. They and their feckless fawning staffs need to be set on an ice flow and cast off.
martin j smith| 12.30.11 @ 8:08AM
This is a story you should also consider: The Failure of the Republican Leadershit to tell the American People ( these stories are good examples ) that Obama is a disaster for America and that the nation must change course. The Republican Establishment is not only afraid of using the word Socialist to describe Obama they are afraid of their shadows or are they colluding ?
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 10:53AM
In all due respect for your thoughtful idea, I disagree in that [although you are correct in their failures to label the Democrats for the domestic terrorist that they certainly are, don't you possibly think perhaps that it is more the duty of the American people, the taxpayer-voters, the employer-businesses etc to KNOW THE TRUTH THAT IS OBVIOUS ABOUT OBAMA and to NOT DO AS THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY DONE IN STUPIDLY VOTING INTO OFFICE THESE SOCIALISTS AND DOMESTIC TERRORISTS perhaps??????????????
Margie| 12.30.11 @ 2:24PM
Amen.
We get what we vote for.
Or more correctly: We sadly GET what the dumbasses vote for.
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 4:38PM
Marg, sadly you and me WE have been screaming about this for quite some time here; it the other WE'S that allowed the fiasco of 11/4/08 etc to occur obviously. Maybe if you amd me WE keep up our TRUTH SCREAMING, maybe just maybe enough of the them WE'S will listen in order to avoid another 11/4/08 on 11/4/12!!!!
Margie| 12.30.11 @ 6:54PM
Game ON.
Anthony| 12.30.11 @ 8:32AM
Don't forget the biggest outrage of 2011, Operation Fast & furious.
Here's hoping by this time next year, Obozo and Holder will be sharing a prison cell for their complicity in the murder of an American border parol agent.
Drink responsibly my friends, but make it a stiff one, 2012 is going to be a very bumpy ride.
Nancy in NC| 12.30.11 @ 9:00AM
Amen, Quin, and to all those who have posted here. There is more intellect (and decency) on this page that in the whole of Washington, DC.
Anthony, I completely agree. 2012 is going to be perilous. But four more years of Obama will be a death knell for an almost dead America.
Anthony| 12.30.11 @ 10:20AM
Nancy, Unfortunately it appears to be true, unless the rest of America wakes the hell up and get tough with the left.
So folks, as you go out to purchase the last of the 100 watt light bulbs you can get your hands on, thanks to Obozo and his enviornmental Nazis, you might want to stop at your local gun shop and stock up on ammo.
How the hell did we sink so low so fast????
TW in SC| 1.1.12 @ 11:19AM
By having RINOS so terrified of being called racist by the media, and believing that they can also get the media to actually like them, they will not stand up against that which is wrong, illegal and unconstitutional in our government. That and the fact that they would have to spend 90% of their time defending themselves against the false charges of racism.
In America, somehow it has become "racist" to disagree with anything a person of non-caucasion origins. Naturally, this is a huge fallacy. But we live in an age where the IMPRESSION of a thing is more powerful than the thing itself. In the military, I learned very quickly that "perception is truth" which seems odd while in an organization that realistically shouldn't have time for such things but it taught me that people are much more apt to believe the bad than they are the good. Along with that, when they "connect dots" they do so with a bent towards the negative rather than the benefit of the doubt.
Now, before conservatives get accused of doing that to captain idiot in the white house, I submit that conservatives generally at least acknowledge that there SHOULD be a benefit of the doubt and to try to estimate the good before estimating the bad side of things. And we have done so. The speculation of The Won's motives has been rampant in all conservative blogs I have read. Many even just saying he's naive.
But after three years of this, he is, to me, a crafty little sh*t whose real skill is in manipulating people by pitting them against one another. If you think the nation-divided is something...then imagine how he "deals" with his own party members on a day-to-day basis. If he tells such whoppers during his teleprompter moments, then imagine his he-said/she-said BS parties in the oval office where he's telling lies about what Schumer said and then when Schumer's in the office telling lies about what Dodd said. All learned on the streets of Sh*tcago to get people to react emotionally.
Master manipulator? Not really. Pretty much your ordinary, garden-variety troublemaker. Problem is--he's the president. But when you combine his manipulating and lying with a congress afraid of its own shadow (thinking that the nation really DOES hate Bush because DC insiders keep telling them that) and also being keenly aware that they don't want to do/say anything to draw attention to themselves in a negative light, you have the perfect storm and one which is easily taken advantage of by socialists (pronounced "children") because socialism is a childish imagining where everything is equal, level, fair.
Then there are those socialists who are completely aware of how imperfect, perfect socialism is. And they are crafty little buggers too. Reid is one. Not Pelosi; She's as dim as a new EPA-approved light bulb. But there are those in DC who are driving to socialism because they think they're their to "run" the nation. They have lost the knowledge that the PEOPLE run the nation through elected officials. But as long as they have their limos and $500 lunches in their favorite DC restaurants, they will never be aware, nor do they want to, that there are people out there who pay their salaries and who put up with their buffoonery. They actually believe they are better than anyone else.
But their insecurity is their weakness. More of them need to be exposed publicly for what they spend, how they treat others, what they say, and where they go when not at "work".
TW in SC| 1.1.12 @ 11:21AM
Because they think they're THERE...not "their"
Indy| 12.30.11 @ 10:23AM
Thank you for including weak effort to protect military voters: "The Obamite Effort to Discourage Voting by the Military: Eric Eversole, executive director of the Military Voter Protection Project, came on my radio show in September to discuss this, but it still merits far more attention. Clearly, the Obama administration has, at best, fallen down on the job, and more likely, actively discouraged military voting. Clearly, they believe military voters tend to be conservative, so the Obamites want them disenfranchised."
The media says little about this, Holder picks and chooses who to disenfranchise, there is no doubt about that, his recent attacks on SC voters was a shot across the bow...the GOP should make it a priority to protect military voters, it's appalling those who put their lives on the line are disenfranchised!
emilio lizardo, PhD| 12.30.11 @ 10:35AM
The above wins the David Broder Award for egregiously turgid and soporific journalism. The most undercovered story of the year is the complete failure of the GOP leadership to articulate to the American people why Obama and his administration must be turned out, and the reason why the current sorry lot is the best they have to offer to stem the tide of mediocrity that is washing over this country.
TW in SC| 1.1.12 @ 11:25AM
I agree, though more tacitly. I'm however hoping that there are enough thinkers in the nation who, for all the media has done to hide things, are aware that there's a lot more to the problem than just the bad things the socialists are doing. It's the republican party not calling them on it which is a monumental failure and undermines our very existence.
Bob Grant| 12.30.11 @ 10:39AM
Ironically,
The one outrage that Quinn failed to mention is the one that will most directly affect him, his livelihood, and all of us to some extent:
The Obama administration's slow takeover of the internet.
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 10:55AM
I discovered the following almost a year ago prior to Christmas 2010, and sadly it is even more applicable today at this time [and will be more so in the coming year]. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLlF5YMf7Yc
Margie| 12.30.11 @ 2:28PM
Excellent, thank you.
Yes, it is TIME to send those HIPPIES (Obama & co.) HOME!!!
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 4:40PM
You got that right....and HAPPY NEW YEAR [especially in November] TO YOU AND YOURS!!!!!!!!
Margie| 12.30.11 @ 6:58PM
HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FELLOW AMSPEC BUD. TO YOU AND YOURS AS WELL!
sane person| 12.30.11 @ 11:03AM
How about mentioning the corruption of this administration - you know the one that promised ethics and transparency?
Let me cite one example of an important presidential appointee in the Obama administration who is illegally pocketing significant amounts of taxpayer money. These infractions are occurring in the Department of Defense (DoD) by people extremely close to Obama and represent severe ethical and criminal violations that have recently been reported in the news. It was Obama himself who crafted an “Ethics Pledge” that was signed into law on January 21, 2009, but what has happened within this administration is clearly contrary to the language or spirit of this pledge.
First, a little history. Obama’s successful presidential campaign was heavily dependent on massive amounts of grass-root support and donations. Much of that support also came from so-called “bundlers,” of which a Mr. John Dugan from Chicago, Illinois was an important campaign donation organizer (i.e., an important bundler for Obama). Mr. Dugan is currently a general partner and Co-Founder of OCA Ventures, headquartered in Chicago.
After the election, Obama appointed Mr. Dugan’s niece, Regina Dugan, to become the head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA is the research arm of the DoD with an annual budget of over $3 Billion.
Prior to being appointed to DARPA, Regina Dugan had founded a company in Rockville, MD with her father, Vince Dugan, and her uncle, John Dugan, called RedXDefense. The company is privately held and was a small business that employed only 2 to 4 people and survived on Government funding, mostly SBIRs.
Regina Dugan’s appointment to the Directorship of DARPA was a direct result of her family’s significant help (financial and otherwise) to the Obama campaign.
Upon Regina Dugan taking the position as Director of DARPA, she transferred management of RedXDefense to her father, Vince Dugan, who now serves as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Regina Dugan’s sister, Christina Haney, also serves as the Vice President of Marketing at RedXDefense. The company is privately held and Regina Dugan claimed in her financial disclosures prior to her appointment as Director by Obama that she was an owner of RedXDefense and that the value of the company was zero (a dubious claim of any company with revenues).
As recently reported in the Los Angles Times (See: http://www.latimes.com/news/na.....9577.story) and Wired Magazine (See: ), it has been discovered that DARPA has awarded contracts worth at least $1,800,000 over the last two years to the company (i.e., RedXDefense) co-owned by the Director of DARPA, namely Regina Dugan, and run by her father.
A spokesperson for Dugan claims that the awards were proper because Regina Dugan recused herself from any role in DARPA’s dealings with RedXDefense. This statement indicates a total lack of understanding of how DARPA functions since every contract and funding award from the Agency is signed off by the Director. Apparently, Regina Dugan appointed the then Deputy Director of DARPA (Robert Lehaney) to oversee any issues that may arise with her company RedXDefense. However, she fired Lehaney a few weeks later. She then brought in a new Deputy Director, Kaigham Gabriel.
Kaigham Gabriel was a Program Manager at DARPA back in the 1990’s and narrowly escaped jail time based on his giving lucrative contracts to companies he subsequently received kickbacks from. It can be surmised that Gabriel was the type of Deputy Director that Dugan wanted under her at the Agency and Gabriel was given the responsibility of overseeing any DARPA dealings with Dugan’s company RedXDefense.
Gabriel has defended the very sizable awards to Dugan’s company in the press stating these conflicts of interest are encouraged by the current leadership of DARPA. Obviously this is very strange statement coming from a high level Government official.
Finally, the Inspector General of the DoD recently started an investigation of this corruption, see:
http://www.dailytech.com/DARPA.....e22463.htm
But here is the irony, while this investigation is going on, Dugan and Gabriel have kept their jobs and have been protected by the White House. Moreover, they are getting free legal aid from the Govt. If they were outside of the Govt, they would have to pay their own legal fees. Also, while they are in their offices at DARPA, they can do more efficient house cleaning.
Why hasn’t the MSM or even sources like Am Spec, National Review, or even Republican Congress members or candidates gone after this story. I suspect there are many other $M’s that have not yet been noticed that Dugan and her cronies have stolen.
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 1:46PM
Much of his campaign political support no doubt came from instead foreign sources, more specifically middle eastern Arab/Muslim sources [just as the previous Democrat president's came from wealthy Chinese, which resulted in the Lincoln Bedroom sleepovers and teas]. It ain't much of those $5/$10 grassroots donations that Rahm/David proclaim it to be!!!!!!!!!!!
Pat| 12.30.11 @ 2:00PM
Sane person: Interesting story. But Conservative pundits find it easier to characterize our politicians, government employees and their many “friends” outside of government as ideologically confused, economically ignorant, Marxists, Liberals, Keynesians plus a plethora of other familiar labels. What these same pundits never do is characterize our government rulers as what they actually are – namely “rich people”. Story after story surfaced during 2011 confirming the basic fact our elected employees are corrupt, self-serving, “get rich quick” types. From the missing Soylandra hundreds of millions in taxpayer loans to Nancy Pelosi’s husband and son benefitting from Obama’s “Stimulus” giveaways to Maxine Waters arranging a government loan to a bank her husband presides over, our media, both Liberal and Conservative, have learned to shrug their collective shoulders when it comes to reporting escalating raids on the U. S. Treasury by our so-called public servants.
No American finds it easy to accept the corruption within our government for the simple reason we desperately wish to believe our “checks and balances” actually work. Our political system is supposedly self-correcting, our media keeps us thoroughly informed through unbiased reporting and when we voters learn an unpleasant truth we “kick the bums out” through our voting process. Nice bedtime story, but the facts say otherwise.
Recently, a University of Michigan study reported the average personal wealth of an elected employee within the House of Representatives increased from $280,000 to $725,000 between 1984 and 2009 excluding home equity, while the personal wealth of the average American actually declined slightly over the same period. To avoid confronting an ugly reality, we concoct convenient explanations attributing our public servants’ unearned wealth to intelligence, hard work, shrewd investments – that’s easier than admitting our political system provides a ready path to personal wealth unavailable to the average voter.
And the U of M study most likely understated the increase in wealth our politicians have quietly culled from the hundreds of billions passing through the legislative process annually. What about financial assistance to friends and relatives? Taxpayer money deliberately directed to relatives and friends isn’t something our politicians shout about but when confronted with the facts we learn such “loans” and “giveaways” are perfectly legal. But who determines the legality of such practices – the politicians reward themselves indirectly and also establish the rules governing such rewards. As voters, we’d like to believe a career in government brings intangible rewards which can’t be measured in terms of mere wealth but the facts fail to confirm our naïve view of why someone enters American politics.
Delta Zelda| 12.30.11 @ 4:20PM
Pat ver good post!
Martin Owens| 12.30.11 @ 11:56AM
"a president-elect, by this time next year, who didn't grow up in Hawaii or Indonesia."
A wish sure to granted one way or the other.
Who says he ever grew up?
Wayne| 12.30.11 @ 12:03PM
Well Obama still qualifies since he didn't grow up.
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 1:49PM
Nah, he grew up alright....don't all grownups spend most of their time playing golf, shootin' hoops and jetting off to Hawaii [all at taxpayers' expense]??????
Wayne| 12.30.11 @ 12:02PM
How could the biggest story of 2012 not be the Deal to increase the National Debt. It pitted tea party republicans with the good old boy republicans and netted NO cuts in spending but some 2 Trillion dollars in increased national debt.
Oldefarte| 12.30.11 @ 1:54PM
Wait, 2012 ain't even here yet [you mean 2011, right]. If the morons of this country elect more Republicans to a dominatingly majority basis in the two branches of government [instead of asininely allowing themselves to be brainwahed by the H&C propaganda], the governmental defecit/debt will disappear over legislative time!!!!!!
C Smith| 12.30.11 @ 12:54PM
Chuck Grassley is also to be commended (2007) for initiating an investigation into the tax-exempt status of Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, and others who make themselves fat at the altar of theLORD. They have an interesting counterpart in Scripture:
Now the sons of Eli.... knew not the LORD" (1Samuel 2:12). "And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar.... Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house... there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever" (1Samuel 2:27-35).
"And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken" (1Samuel 4:17-22).
Delta Zelda| 12.30.11 @ 4:28PM
You forgot one thing: Contributions to a religious group are VOLUNTARY! Tax payments to the government, at all levels, are made with a loaded gun at my head. If I don’t ante up, I go to jail for refusing to pay what IRS says I owe.
Nick| 12.30.11 @ 5:34PM
Chuck Grassley should be condemned for using the power of government to interfere into people's most cherished beliefs, their belief in Almighty God.
Who does Grassley think he is? He is another RINO who has been in Washington way too long. Time for the people of Iowa to retire this pompous windbag.
Margie| 12.30.11 @ 8:20PM
Nick the flaming Pope worshipper's pomposity and outright lying on a daily basis will get him banned for Eternity for smearing Bible believing Christians.
Who does he think he is? The pompous dirtbag.
W| 12.31.11 @ 1:44PM
MullahMargie
Go play with your snakes.
You are no Christian if you don't believe in the Trinity or that Jesus is God.
Margie| 12.31.11 @ 2:38PM
Screw you, asshole.
W| 12.31.11 @ 4:18PM
MullahMargie
You are obsessed with screwing and assholes. Clean up you act, not even a phony pretend Christian talks like that, not even a Muslim mullah talks like that.
Margie| 1.1.12 @ 3:33PM
Burn in Hell, scumbag.
Ron| 12.30.11 @ 12:56PM
I think Mr. Hillyer has hit the nail on the head once again. However, to all those that think we need young Congress members (maybe fresh, as opposed to young) is that look at a majority of the young people out in the US populace. We have lamented many times on TAS about the young being raised and educated by Marxists and Leftists in the public school system, and in college...So, how are we going to find enough good, young conservatives to carry the banner, when they have been overwhelmed by those philosophies? Clearly the alleged "Ivy League" schools are right up there leading the leftist liberal agenda.
Ted| 12.30.11 @ 1:48PM
Fast and Furious? Bueller? Bueller?
Tony in Central PA| 12.30.11 @ 2:11PM
Dems have learned to " aim low " when it comes to the American people and the recent results seem to have validated this approach. All of the many promises since 2008 are forgotten almost as soon as they are made. Expect another feelings - based campaign in 2012 because they can't run on their record.
The Dems are practically handing this election to the GOP but its almost as if they don't want it and the electorate is too demented to care.
POST American| 12.30.11 @ 10:09PM
--------------------FINAL WORD------------------------
Some other covered-up, er, we meant
under-covered items from the almost
vanished 2011:
---the murder of DC ' innie' John Wheeler
----the FUKISHIMA world nuclear disaster
------CHEM-trails worldwide
--------mind control flicker rates in HD and in
those hideous, mercury fume emitting,
RED China made, ECO 'friendly', UN mandated,
prison camp floursecent light bulbs
-------the GMO takeover of the food chain
--------the ongoing weaponization, and stealth
mandating of 'vack--seens'
-----------Christian FAKE OP Pat Robertson's
greenlight to EUGENICS 'X--speed-iency'
viz a viz dumping your spouse with Alzheimer's
(Alzheimers AGAIN connected to aluminum
CHEM-trailing, TV watching and flicker rates)
--------the suicide of some quarter of a
MILLION farmers in India who 'can't adjust'
to the USURY and Big Agra takeover of their country
-----------UNESCO massacring farmers
on their own land in Central America and
Africa in the name of 'Climate Change'
initiatives ( ie throwing them off their
land )
--------------the stand by activation of US
FEMA camps nationwide
-------------------a second tunnel 'reported' connecting
the Asian mainland with North America
(Alaska to Russia)
-------------------------those on the scene reports
of literally THOUSANDS of MASSIVE strikes across
Globalist created, US taxpayer
enabled and underwritten, RED China
---------------the EXACT whereabouts of
Globalist fugitive, and supreme UN
Eugenist PSYCHOPATH, Maurice Strong
---------------------------------the 60th Anniversary
of the KOREAN WAR
-------------------HAPPY NEW YEAR!------------------
Dan Mathewson| 12.31.11 @ 4:08PM
Some question for you PA. Where is the dirt from the tunnel being put? How is it being ventilated? How is it being kept from collapsing due to the pressures of the deep?
Rich Rostrom| 12.31.11 @ 2:12AM
You left out the DoJ's outrageous position in "Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC". Hosanna-Tabor cited the traditional ministerial exemption in response to a discrimination claim. DoJ has not just challenged H-T's use of the exemption, they have denied the exemption exists at all - for any church.
How outrageous is this?
The Conference of Catholic Bishops, the American Jewish Committee, the Muslim-American Public Affairs Council, the Southern Baptist Convention,
a group of 8 states, and over a dozen other bodies have filed amicus briefs in support of H-T.
At oral arguments, even Justice Kagan was shocked by the aggressive claims of the government.
On a separate point, I would remind Mr. Hilyer that Obama restored funds for EMBRYONIC
"stem cell research", which liberals fetishize because it is a justification for a sort of abortion.
Adult-line stem-cell research (which is actually far more productive) is harmless and was never restricted.
chester arthur| 1.1.12 @ 12:43PM
And now for something completely irrelevant,where is 'H'?
POST American| 1.3.12 @ 11:03PM
--------------------FINAL WORD------------------------
"Understand, more than a decade
ago, the RAND Corporation disclosed
it had incredible tunneling technology
that could drive 5 MILES --a day! and
the borer also able to seal it's own work as
it progressed. ----This IS FACT folks!"
-Cutting Through the Matrix-
(2009)
We might add that this technology
is NEVER used for such humane and
sensible projects as creating catacombs
----even as cremation NOW accounts for
16% of the mercury put into the air
of Britain (from dental work). Dare
we say, Auchwitz is looking chillingly
avante garde as Globalist devastated Britain
leads the world in promoting burning
corpses to 'save space' --even though
underground ---is virtually infinite.
--------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012---------------