Palin's Bachmann Conundrum

Sarah Palin has said repeatedly that she will not run for the presidency if another suitable conservative steps up to the task. This past week we heard the announcement from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann that she may be forming a presidential exploratory committee, the first step in announcing for the candidacy for president. Bachmann has been called many things over the years, but not suitably conservative is not among them. This leaves Palin with a choice. Does she really want the presidency or not?



Bachmann is a formidable fundraiser. She raised well over $13 million for a congressional seat. On her last FEC filing she has well over a million dollars left over. A very good amount of seed money to start off the primary season. Palin is no slacker when it comes to fundraising either, SarahPac has a similar amount of money left over after the last election season, although not quite as much as Bachmann. Another very big problem for Palin is that Bachmann is tea party darling as well. Bachmann and Palin will be competing for the same pool of voters. Which of course makes it more likely that a more moderate candidate; such as Romney, will be able to get the nomination. An outcome that no conservative wants; don't believe me? Just ask Fuzzi.


One of Palin's greatest strengths has been with value voters. Her tenacity to stand firm on her Christian values has been a welcome change to the social conservatives. This was one of the main reasons that John McCain picked her. He knew he needed a solid social conservative because as much as he likes to call himself a conservative during election season, his voting record doesn't back that up. Palin had a record of standing up to corruption which made her one of the few staunch conservatives he could stomach. Regardless of the meme of the mainstream media Palin energized the campaign. Bachmann is a born again Christian. While you don't hear her talk about the social issues quite as much as Palin does, her voting record will stand for itself. She can also draw these voters.


Palin and Bachmann seem to be friendly. Palin actually went to Minneapolis and did a campaign fundraiser with Bachmann during the lead up to her re-election. During this event they did a joint appearance on Hannity. The crowds loved having two tea party darlings together in one room. Bachmann always has nice things to say about Palin. So it seems like their relationship is a genuine one, there is no reason to believe otherwise. It presents a sticky wicket for both women.


Palin has also been clear that if she were to enter the race she would be in it to win it. This is where I question Bachmann. Is she in it to win it, or she is trying to drive the debate to the right during the primary season? Bachmann really wanted a seat at the table after the GOP took control over the house this year.


That position was not backed by the leadership. The rumors were that they felt she is a loose cannon and they wanted someone who was not as gaffe prone and not as easily made to look bad in front of the media. Instead they chose Jeb Hensarling, a man who has a very good voting record, but was not as well-known or the target of the far left. I personally felt it was a good move by Boehner. Bachmann has proven to be gaffe prone at times. Her most recent coming in New Hampshire, a minor mistake that really should have been caught by someone on her staff. The mistake was not that big of deal, but it does open her up to unnecessary criticisms. Bachmann wanted a seat at the big boy table, a seat that was denied to her. So, she has gone out and set up her own table. A move that shows not just gumption, but it also shows that she isn't as stupid as some would like to try to make her out to be.


The Governor and the Congresswoman have a great deal in common. Does it really make sense for both of them to run? Does Sarah go back on her word and run anyway? The reality is that what happened with Nixon and Reagan a generation ago where they were given a second chance isn't going to happen in the you tube 24/7 news cycle environment. When you are running a national campaign you are going to say stupid things from time to time. It is inevitable doing that much talking day after day. Those mistakes are much easier for your competition to take advantage of in this day and age by playing the video over and over again. This may be Sarah's only real shot at getting the GOP nomination. Willl she let Bachmann's candidacy take that away from her?

Jon Stewart on Obama's Libya Speech

The Daily Show - America at Not-War - Obama Defends Military Action in Libya
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

This is classic

DC Scholarship Program One Step Closer to Reinstatement

Today the house passed a bill to reinstate the DC Voucher program.  It gained very little democratic support.  Shocker, I know.  The dems actually had the nerve to say:

Democrats opposed it as an inappropriate use of federal funds and an unwelcome intrusion into local affairs.

If the dems really felt that education was a local affair why do we still have the Department of Education.  That is an intrusion into local affairs.  They then go into the mantra that it will adversely affect public school funding.  The problem is that is wrong.  This funding will only give 1/3 of the funding for the bill to go to the voucher program.  $100 Million going to vouchers and $200 Million to the public/charter school system.  For those that are not aware, the school system in DC is federally funded.  The reality is that the vouchers for high school students is 12K per year as opposed to the 28K that is paid for the public school system.  It is actually cheaper to send the kids to private school and the graduation rates are significantly higher and does have higher rates for reading comprehension.  Read an additional report here.  You can also read a letter from a parent who talks about the change not only in her daughter's life but her own. 

Its lead author, Patrick J. Wolf, told a Senate committee last month that the program was good for students

But, why would the democrats let facts get in the way when they have the unions to protect? 

Here is Speaker Boehner on the topic today on the floor of the house.  There is hope in the house.  Sen. Lieberman is a sponsor of the bill and there has been Dem support for vouchers when it passed several years ago.  It then falls onto to President Obama.  Will he veto a bill that will give under privileged students access to the same school his two daughters attend.  I have said this before, Obama knows that vouchers is part of the solution, does he have the backbone to stand up to the unions?   

And here is one of my favorite congressman.

Bloggers Beware of Crazy Authors Before Doing Book Reviews

There is a blog Big Al's Books and Pals that does book reviews.  Well, the author of one of his reviews didn't take too kindly to his opinion.  While Al seemed to like the story very much he said that it was difficult to read due to poor writing skills and typos. 

The author Jacqeline Howett really has lost her mind.  She is not only attacking the reviewer, she has lowered herself to attacking the other commenters.  She has gone as far as telling people to "Fuck off" not just once but twice. 

She keeps insisting that there is nothing wrong with her writing, but sadly she is only proving the reviewer correct with her bad grammar and typos.  It is really quite amusing. 

What happened to being polite?


Why read the wrong copy? that don't make sense.


This is not only discusting and unprofessional on your part, but you really don't fool me AL.


Who are you any way? Really who are you?

What do we know about you?

You never downloaded another copy you liar!

You never ever returned to me an e-mail

Besides if you want to throw crap at authors you should first ask their permission if they want it stuck up on the internet via e-mail. That debate is high among authors.


Your the target not me!


Now get this review off here!

She also seems to believe that she has the right to see the review before it is published.  You should read the thread it is quite funny, yet sad.  When you put yourself out there for public review you are not going to agree with everything that is said about you.  If you need a chuckle click on over and take a look. 

The Prom Date Invite

I thought this was creative and touching.  Of course, I would have hated it had someone do it to me. 

Tea Party Express Going to Bat For Judge Prosser

The unions are spending a small fortune to get Prosser out of his position.  The Tea Party decided to hit back. 

Anti Abortion Billboard Featuring Obama

Pastor Stephen Broden held a press conference to introduce a new billboard about what abortion is doing to the black community.  The billboard features the likeness of President Obama and will be released in Obama's home city of Chicago. 

I am sure we will be hearing from Al Sharpton in 3 2 1..................

AP Fact Checks Obama on Libya - Seems Like His Nose is Growing

Levin on Paulites

This cracked me up.  While you shouldn't generalize, there is a great deal of truth in what he says.  I constantly have to purge my facebook and twitter pages because of this nonsense.  Many are anti-Israel and birthers.  That is the main reason that Paul could never be a serious contender for the presidency.  His cult like following is so over the top. 

The Real Reason You Should Listen Newt's Sunday Interview

Much is being made about the interview between Chris Wallace and Newt Gingrich.  I read on one blog some disdain that Chris Wallace asked him about his infidelities and used this as a reason to call Chris Wallace a liberal.  While it is well known that he is a registered democrat, I have never gotten the feeling that Wallace gives liberals a pass while being harsh towards conservatives.  If my memory serves, Newt never talked about the affair and kept his comments to the perjury.  So, in that case he was not being a hypocrite unless he also lied under oath. 

People will make their own decisions about Newt on his three marriages and the fact that he cheated on two of them.  My personal belief is that says something about character; especially when you have children.  He didn't just lie to his wives, he lied to his kids.  If he would lie to the two people who mean the most to him in the world, he will lie to me without flinching. 

But for me the real issue is his flip flops on Libya.  His statements make it seem that he is just Obama bashing.  Now, while he was a paid pundit that is fine and is in part what he is paid for.  But, his situation has since changed once he has announced he may be running for POTUS.  This country is in dire need of real leadership.  Someone that will be decisive.  He dances around it, but to me this type of thing is the real reason that a Newt presidency is a non-starter.  You can decide for yourself.

Conservative Principles Pac Conference - Herman Cain,

The Koch Brothers - Things that I Learned UPDATES

There is a very extensive article on the Koch brothers in The Weekly Standard.  The article is based on what the facts are about them as opposed to how they have been portrayed by left leaning media outlets and blogs. 


Here are some interesting facts:

The Koch's do not drill for oil.  They are involved in refining. 


The Koch's are actually libertarians, not conservatives.  They were involved in the founding of The Cato Institute. 


Charles and David are painted as trust fund babies.  Neither of them worked for the company until after their father became ill.  Both had successful careers that had nothing to do with their father and the company has flourished under their leadership. 


In the late 70's many prominent conservatives believed that Charles Koch was working against them. 


David Koch ran for Vice President of the United States in 1980 on the Libertarian Ticket.  Obviously he was not a fan of Reagan.  He was thrilled by getting 1% of the vote.  To him that meant a movement of liberty and limited government was forming. 


In 1983 they founded a non profit Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE). While President Bush was in office the attendance to the seminars that they held were gaining more attention and increasing in size of attendance.  Due to internal shake ups, the now defunct CSE turned into two organizations; Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks.  Both of these formed well before Obama took office.  AFP is partially funded by the Koch's, but FreedomWorks is not.  (FreedomWorks is 96% by small private donations, they hope to be at 100% soon.)


After two near death experiences; one with prostate cancer and being the lone survivor of the first class passengers of an airplane crash, David became more involved in  philanthropy:

Most of his money went to medical research and cultural institutions. His multimillion-dollar gifts went to MIT, Johns Hopkins, Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and elsewhere.

Only a very small percentage of his philanthropic endeavors involve public policy or politics.


The Koch's have never met Gov. Walker of Wisconsin.  Less than 1% of the money raised by Walker came from the Koch brothers. 


During the 90's the Koch's businesses had some serious issues with EPA and other regulatory issues.  They have taken steps to correct those problems and the company policy is to be 100% complaint 100% of the time.

On July 25, 2000, Clinton’s EPA sent a letter to Charles Koch congratulating his company on plans to reduce emissions at the Pine Bend and Corpus Christi refineries. “I appreciate that Koch took the initiative to work with EPA to develop an agreement that would advance the common interests of Koch, EPA, and the general public,” wrote Office of Regulatory Enforcement director Eric V. Schaeffer. “The Koch representatives were outstanding in their cooperation throughout the negotiation process.” None other than Janet Reno said she was “pleased” with the agreement. Koch’s cooperation, said then-EPA administrator Carol Browner (now President Obama’s climate czar), was “unprecedented.”



Koch made Herculean efforts to get ahead of the regulatory curve. The engineers lessened the amount of excess gas burned at Koch refineries—a practice known as flaring. “We’ve reduced the flaring at our refineries to almost nil,” Dave Robertson, the company’s president and chief operating officer, told me. In August 2003 the EPA selected Koch subsidiary John Zink Company for its prestigious National Environmental Performance Track program. Koch employees traveled frequently to Washington for consultation with government officials. “I think we have a constructive relationship with EPA,” said Jim Mahoney.


Koch’s efforts continue to elicit notice. Since Obama’s inauguration, Koch companies have been recognized more than 280 times by local, state, and federal agencies for safety and environmental stewardship. In 2009 Invista voluntarily agreed to a huge settlement with EPA. “Invista is making a clean start in a settlement that achieves significant environmental benefits,” an EPA administrator said at the time. In October 2009 the EPA gave its SmartWay Excellence Award to Georgia-Pacific for reducing pollution in the freight industry. In October 2010 Flint Hills Resources agreed to a deal with the federal government over permitting rights at its Texas refinery. “The process we have agreed to with Flint Hills Resources is an excellent one,” said EPA regional administrator Al Armendariz in a press release, “and we look forward to working with the company to complete the work to transition their permits.”

The Koch's gave close to $200K to democrats in the 2010 election cycle, including Schumer, Nelson, Landrieu, and Lincoln.  Apparently, dems taking their money is fine, but Republicans are being manipulated by the evil puppetmasters. 


The harassment from the left is also affecting employees that have no family ties to the Koch's. 

The raw emotions and mindless smears left employees of Koch Industries hurt and befuddled. They kept searching for an answer. It was as if the universe had turned upside down. “All of us are given something, some more than others, and it’s up to us to build on it,” said Koch Minerals executive Steve Tatum. “Charles and David did. They built on what they inherited from their family. Hopefully, I have too. And I inherited nothing but a little help with college.



“What doesn’t seem right is when a person works to get through college, gets a degree, works for 25 years to become successful—and now you’re the bad guy,” Tatum said. “And I think, that’s the American dream, isn’t it?”


Tatum reclined in his chair and extended his hands, palms up. “Isn’t that what we want for everyone?”

It is very long article, but well worth the read. 

UPDATES

Even Politico understands how the left has gone around the bend when it comes to the Koch's.  What the progressive left is actually the one using the tactics that they are accusing the Koch's of:

Back in Washington last month, representatives from Common Cause, Greenpeace, Public Citizen and Think Progress huddled with researchers from the Service Employees International Union at SEIU headquarters to figure out how to make the most of the sudden focus on the Kochs. And meeting participants have continued to trade research about the Kochs and strategize via a Koch-related email listserv and a rolling series of conference calls. It’s amazed me frankly that other groups have gotten interested in what we’re doing” on the Koch brothers, said former Democratic congressman Bob Edgar, the president of Common Cause, which – partly through the Koch campaign – has transformed itself from a wonky campaign finance and ethics advocate into a feisty watchdog and boosted its fundraising.

“Maybe what we did is give (other groups) a little hope to explore the issues in a little more aggressive way.” Davies of Greenpeace But he also said “there are people shoehorning anything onto the Kochs. It’s a bit of a pile on, at this point predicted the Kochs “will continue to be a focal point as long as it’s an effective thing to do and as long as the left doesn’t yet have a candidate on the Republican side to talk about. It gives people something to focus on.”

 

Elmo, The FCC & The Government Marketing to our Children

The FCC has decided to pull out the Elmo card to promote the Obama administration's plan to have the government pay for broadband.  This is an issue for the free market, not the government. 

Stop using our children to push your agenda. 

Allen West - Not a Libertarian Fav

Allen West, a tea party favorite, apparently is not loved by the libertarians. I came across an article on The Tenth Amendment Center calling the freshman congressman a "Tea Party Statist".



His votes to keep The Patriot Act in place as well as his first vote for the CRE ruffled some feathers in libertarian circles. But, his real sins seem to be his votes and strong support of our military forces:

West is a huge proponent of the warfare state. According to his congressional website, he favors increasing the size of the military and sees threats to the United States all over the world:

Make no mistake, we are a nation at war against a totalitarian theocratic political ideology that glorifies death rather than celebrating life. To defeat it, we must stay on the offensive. From Afghanistan and Iraq to the Greater Middle East and South America, radical Islam is on the march. And while our attention is focused on combating global terrorism, we must not forget other looming threats just on the horizon in China, North Korea, Venezuela, Russia & Iran. These nations and their leaders represent the biggest threat to our great nation. As your Congressman, I will work to reestablish American Exceptionalism by growing and modernizing America’s Armed forces to ensure that we are prepared for the strategic challenges ahead. I believe that peace is best kept through a strong national defense.

Increasing the size of the military will naturally entail an increase in defense spending. But how much defense spending is enough? The United States already spends on defense as much as the rest of the world combined. The true amount of U. S. defense spending is already over $1 trillion a year. It should come as no surprise to see that Congressman West recently voted against H.J. Con. Res. 28, “Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.” Is there any U.S. war he wouldn’t support? Is there any U.S. military intervention he would oppose?

None of this is any surprise to me, as this is the view of the libertarian. They would much rather wait until we are attacked before doing anything when it comes to national defense. But, what I did find very comical were some of the comments on the post.

""West is a huge proponent of the warfare state. According to his congressional website, he favors increasing the size of the military and sees threats to the United States all over the world"


Uhhhhh....Yeeeahhhh and THANK GOD!! "


Wow, not sure even where to start. How about this. The constitution authorizes national defense. Our military spending is greater than the rest of the world combined. Who exactly are we defending against? Aliens? No, that kind of spending is "national offense" which is unauthorized and which the founders and many presidents warned us against standing armies.


Stop with the kool-aid. read the constitution and think for yourself.

Oh, where to begin. We are defending against al Qaeda. We are defending against lunatics leaders from North Korea and Iran. Both of which are crazy enough to use WMD. Also, how does one defend if you don't have an offense to start with? Sometimes the best defense is a strong offense. If you are able to keep people from attacking you because they believe in your offensive abilities, the need to be defensive will not come to pass. We won the cold war without firing a shot at The Soviet Union. One of the reasons that bin Laden has said that he could attack the U.S. was because he believed us to be a "paper tiger" who didn't have the heart to fight. That is the world that the libertarian would have live in.


But, what I found most offensive about the article was the obvious disdain the author has for the military. Look how he describes West's service to our country:

Before his election to Congress, West was a lieutenant colonel in the army until his retirement after an investigation into his harsh interrogation techniques while fighting in the Iraq War resulted in a $5,000 fine. After his “service” in the military, West worked for a defense contractor as an advisor to the Afghan National Army

It is very shameful how libertarians view not only the military, but the people who serve. Allen West would have given his life to support and protect them men who served under him. He has proven that in spades with the "harsh interrogation techniques". He shot off his weapon to get information from a terrorist. The life of the prisoner was never in danger and West went immediately to his commanding officer and admitted what he did. He took full responsibility for his actions and resigned his position in the military, and he saved the lives of the men in his unit. Once that man gave up the information, the sniper attacks on his unit stopped. You may disagree with a war or the president who requested to send them there, but don't disagree with the men and women who fulfill the oath that they took. Don't disparage the very people who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect your freedoms. Allen West ran on a strong defense. That is who he is, and I wouldn't want him any other way.


Read the whole article here.

Quote of the Day - Marion Barry Edition

“The key to keeping this city black is jobs, jobs, jobs for black people so they can have a better quality of life in neighborhoods in the city,” he added. “I believe in integration, but I don’t believe in the apartheid we have in Ward 8. You don’t see corner stores in Ward 3. You don’t see the liquor stores.”

Marion Barry - D.C. Council Member on his reaction to the census data that has shown DC to be a more racially diverse city. 


You remember Marion Barry, the former mayor of DC that was arrested after a video surfaced of him smoking crack.  Yeah, not only is he still around, he is an elected official in DC, go figure. 

Ward 3 is the part of DC that is majority of white people, apparently he feels if they had more liquor stores they would have more black people.  Ward 3 is Georgetown and borders Northern Virginia.  Georgetown is known for it's sidewalk cafes, brownstones, and shopping.  That is one of the main reasons that people go to Georgetown not just to live, but to visit as well. 

So I guess he is saying that since black people don't have an easy time getting all liquored up they don't want to live there.  Nice. 

Truly mindblowing. 

The Race Baiting of Herman Cain Continues

Chauncey DeVega is at it again. Referring to Herman Cain as race minstrelsy where he performs “authentic negritude" apparently was not enough. His latest hatchet job Drinking From the White Fountain: Tea Party Candidate Herman Cain Turns his back on the African-American Community, accusing him being an apologist for white racism.


There is no apology for white racism, or any racism for that matter; including Mr. DeVega's.

Cain spun a tale of his own childhood that was part Leave it to Beaver mated with a healthy dose of The Andy Griffith Show. He colorized these nostalgia-laden versions of Americana and whiteness -- lies wrapped around a fiction -- by adding an anecdote from his own experience as a young man encountering the evil that was Jim Crow America. In Cain's telling, he was denied admission to the University of Georgia based on his race,even though he ranked second in his high school class. Rather than show righteous anger and indignation at how his basic life chances were threatened by the (il)logic of white supremacy, Herman Cain "never lost faith in America" and oddly "found inspiration in the experience" as it reinforced the values his parents had instilled in him

No Mr. DeVega what Herman Cain did was not to allow himself to be beaten by the bigots who denied him admission. He instead went to Morehouse College and got his degree ( a point you left out of your diatribe). Would you have rather that he sit on the stoop of his front porch and feel sorry for himself? Would you have rather that he allow his obvious intellect go to waste? Should have gone and performed an act of violence against the people who wouldn't let him enroll? Instead of allowing the bigots to win he found away around the problem.

Cain's story jogged loose a memory from my own childhood. My grandmother, like Herman Cain's family, lived in the South during the height of Jim Crow segregation. As a black American of a different generation, I would often ask her about those years, and about our family's experiences from slavery to freedom. She was our family griot, passing down long-told vignettes of centuries past, as well as stories from the recent past about the civil rights movement (she was especially proud of how white men in our small town called my great uncle "sir" instead of "uncle" or "boy").

One theme she consistently returned to was that black folks are like everyone else: during our three centuries in the country some of us were heroic, others cowardly, some good, and some bad. But there was always a sense of linked fate and communal obligation. As black folks struggling to survive in a white supremacist society there was really no other option if we were to triumph and make American democracy whole. However, my grandmother always reminded me that while most honored the community that nurtured them and fought for our collective well-being, there were others whose minds had been poisoned by white racism. These sad souls were to be pitied, but also avoided.

He recalls this story of his grandmother and talks about making American democracy whole, yet he refers to any black conservative as a garbage pail kid. How exactly is the democracy going to be whole and truly free if people are not allowed to have their own belief system? It seems to me that the freedom his grandmother talked about would include the open exchange of ideas that a black conservative would bring to the table. Instead he insists that all blacks are monolithic and must remain that way or they are turning their back on their race.


He refers to Mr. Cain as someone who doesn't rock the boat. So my question to you Mr. DeVega if you care so much about the black community why is it then Mr. Cain who is calling out the history of Planned Parenthood? Why are you not standing up and talking about how your community has not been allowed to grow in terms of overall population in this country due to abortion? Why are you not talking about Sanger's speeches to the Klan talking about the undesirables? Because the undesirable she was referring to is you.


I have heard several people say that one of the biggest things that Cain has working against him is the fact that he is black. He is going to be lumped together with the past two plus years of the racial politics that have been played by the Obama administration and the democratic party since the election of the first "post racial" president. I strongly disagree with this argument. I don't feel that most people will judge in this fashion. I think that Cain will be judged on his own merits and his own faults.

Cain's narrative, in which, like other conservatives, he is an island unto himself -- separate from social structures and institutions -- is exposed as a naked lie when his story is placed in context. Herman Cain's success rests on the shoulders of the many nameless people who struggled and marched so he could fully realize his freedom and citizenship. For example, Cain attended Purdue University at a time when student activists forced colleges and universities across the country to integrate. As the Tea Party GOP loves to point out, Cain enjoyed great success in corporate America because of his hard work and talent. But, he was also successful because of how black and brown folks (and their white allies), kicked down the doors of Wall Street and Main Street, as well as cracked the glass ceiling, so that people of color (and women) could enter and rise.


In response, Herman Cain and his brethren grin and shuffle for white conservatives by telling them that "black folks are on a Democratic plantation" or "liberals are slave-catchers of black people." When playing this role, black conservatives spit in the faces of the thousands (if not millions) of African Americans who struggled and died for the freedom and full citizenship of all people.

The very sad fact is that Mr. DeVega is really the one who is spitting in the face of the people who came before him. He is saying that blacks cannot be anything except what he believes they should be. They cannot be a person whose thoughts differ on economic policy and giving the poor urban communities a hand up instead of a hand out. Mr. Cain is someone that would be far more willing to give the poor in DC a voucher to get a better education than Mr. DeVega would. Mr. DeVega is much more comfortable with the lie that if we just give better benefits to the teacher unions and throw more money at the public school system it will miraculously improve, the past 40 years of failure be damned. It never occurs to him that the reason that public school system continues to fail the poorest amongst us is because they have no one to answer to let alone someone to compete with.


Mr. DeVega you continue to delude yourself that you are looking for a post racial society. What you are really doing is continuing the pit the races against each other. You continue to look at the black community as bunch of victims instead of human beings that can and must think for themselves. I, as a mother, would much prefer the world that Mr. Cain is trying to make for my child than to continue to live in a society where an entire group of people are told to think your way or be called a race traitor. Dr. King asked Americans to judge people by their character, you sir still judge by skin color.


Cross Posted at PotLuck

Elizabeth Taylor Dead at 79

Elizabeth Taylor, a cultural icon, has died today.  Her many marriages were legendary.  She was married to Richard Burton twice.  She broke up the marriage of Eddie Fisher to her best friend Debbie Reynolds shortly after the death of her husband Mike Todd.  At the time it was considered to be the end of her career.  During the filming of one of her most legendary roles as Cleopatra is when her relationship with Burton started. 

During her lifetime she was known for her many chartiable works, most notably for AIDS research after the death of her longtime friend Rock Hudson.  She has 4 children and 9 grandchildren. 







I loved Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

A Reformed Liberal

A woman who did the research and realized that the liberals have not been honest with her or the American people.  If the woman will now vote for republicans remains to be seen, but she should at least join the tea party movement.  We cannot longer accept our government lying to us simply to stay in power. 

Claire Air

I always find it amusing when a politician's own words can be used against them.  She said if her walk doesn't match her talk never vote for her again.  OK!!  89 times is not an oversight. 

It must be nice that she can just write a check for close to $300K.  How exactly she does she understand the plight of the everyday American? 

Pawlenty Makes It Official - Presidential Exploratory Committee Formed

The official announcement came through facebook less than hour ago.  He is smart enough to realize that he has to build a grassroots movement, as Obama did.  The face of presidential elections has been forever changed. 




If you are interested he is doing a TeleTown Hall at 7:30 tonight.  If you want to sign up go here.   


There are things that I like about Pawlenty.  But he really isn't all that exciting.  But Stephen Hayes (if I remember correctly) said the country may be ready for the Anti Obama.  He is that.   

Here is a video that Fox News did a few months back on possible contenders. 

The Road to the White House - Herman Cain

This is a very in depth interview.   If you want to know why I love this man, put it about 13:20 and listen to about 19.23. 

Allen West Answers the "Will You Run for President Question"

He is right, he is not ready yet to run for president.  He needs some more time.  But, he has said he wouldn't rule out a VP bid.  I also think he should consider the senate seat that will be open in Florida next year.

Enjoy.

The Hill's VEEPStakes

The Hill has compiled a list of hill contenders for the role of VP Candidate next year. 

Sen. Kelly Ayotte

New Hampshire

Too new, very few people know who she is.  But, she would put NH in play and that would be positive in her column. 

Rep. Michele Bachmann

Minnesota

While Bachmann is a tea party favorite, the party looks at her like a loose cannon.  She also didn't help herself with her recent gaffe on historical references.  Especially since that was such an easy thing to fact check.  Her staff should have done a better job.  Minnesota could be put in play with her on the ticket and if the nominee is a moderate she would be a good choice. 

Sen. Scott Brown

Massachusetts

The tea party is not jazzed with him.  He has little to no chance to put MA into play for the republicans.  The only way this would work is if the nominee is a staunch conservative he could even out the ticket to attract the indies. 

Rep. Eric Cantor

Virginia

His voting record has been all over the place.  I don't see how he brings anything to the ticket. 

Sen. Jim DeMint

South Carolina

He is the opposite of Scott Brown.  The only way he makes sense is if the nominee is a moderate and I don't see him accepting the VP slot with a moderate.  His views are very staunch and I don't see him wavering on his principles for ambition. 

Sen. Ron Johnson

Wisconsin

This is ridiculous choice by The Hill.  The guy has virtually no experience. 

Rep. Kevin McCarthy

California

He adds nothing really to the ticket.  The chances of him bringing CA to the GOP is about nill. 

Rep. Kristi Noem

South Dakota

Very inexperienced.  She is better off staying where she is.  She is the future of the party.  She also adds nothing to the ticket either. 

Rep. Ron Paul

Texas

While he has a rabid following, he is widely viewed as a nut. 

Sen. Rob Portman

Ohio

This is a possibility because of the importance of Ohio.  He is experienced, but the problem is that most of his experience comes from the Bush administration. 

Sen. Marco Rubio

Florida

Rubio is probably the best on the list.  He comes from an important swing state, has a great deal of tea party support yet has been able to keep a certain amount of distance from it at the same time.  He will help with the Hispanic vote. 

Rep. Paul Ryan

Wisconsin

Ryan is still very young.  He is not interested in the big chair right now as he feels his children are too young.  So, this may be premature for him.  He is a policy wonk, he would wipe the floor with Biden in a debate. 

Sen. John Thune

South Dakota

He decided to forgo running for the big chair, so this may be the opportunity for him to raise his profile.  His biggest problem is that he adds nothing to the ticket being from South Dakota. 

Sen. Pat Toomey

Pennsylvania

Another very staunch conservative who doesn't feel the need to waver on his positions to please other people.  Which would make it hard for him to run with a moderate.  PA will be an important state and he could help deliver it. 

My question is why isn't this guy on the list?

Herman Cain - I am Going to be the Butter

Herman Cain gave an interview to David Brody of CBN.  I can't find the entire interview but I did find these clips.

Rush, Liberal Trolls, and the Conservative Woman

I came across a post yesterday at Caffeinated Thoughts on Sarah Palin and Rush. Rush got a caller from Virginia who took issue with Sarah Palin's possible run for president due to her young children. She went on to explain how she couldn't support a woman who has very young children being POTUS. Rush didn't take to kindly to this caller and viewed her as a liberal troll. What makes me believe that she isn't a liberal trying to stir up trouble is because when he asked who she would support she said Mitch Daniels. Daniels isn't exactly on the liberal radar from what I can tell. If she had said Romney or Huckabee it would be easier to believe that she may have been a fake caller.


Rush dismissed her and her concerns out of hand

RUSH: You’re not disappointing me. You’re just a sexist.


CALLER: Am I? Well, that could be it, too.


RUSH: A little sexism going on here, but that’s fine, everybody has, you know, boundaries to allow some of that stuff to happen….

Is it really sexist to think that small children need their mommy? Jill from Pundit and Pundette doesn't seem to think so. She is the mom to a large family and has made being there for her children her priority. That doesn't make her sexist or a Neanderthal. There are plenty of women in this country who honestly believe that being a mother is the most important role they will ever have. My Gosh, even Natalie Portman called it her most important role. They believe that being there on a consistent and daily basis is the preferable way to raise children to become healthy and happy adults.


When the caller brought up Mitch Daniels Rush then went onto to say that he is a father. Yes Rush, Mitch is the father of four girls. But, they are not girls, they are women. The youngest is about 25. Sarah Palin's youngest child is about three. There is no comparison between the two. A 25-year-old woman has her own life and the daily parenting work is now over. A three-year old who was disabilities and a child in elementary school have needs that his daughters do not. Frankly, I am little shocked that Rush would even say something like that unless he doesn't know how old Daniels' children are. Which is entirely possible, because I had to go online to look it up.


The women who believe that being there for your children are not ignorant enough to not realize that being a stay at home mom is possible for all women. There are plenty of women out there who must work. Some due to being single parents others due to the financial realities that don't allow them the luxury of staying home. The issue becomes when a woman like Sarah Palin's knee jerk reaction was to put people down for wanting that or preferring that. Calling someone a Neanderthal isn't going to win over people. When I did my original post on this many of the comments that followed was the fact that Todd Palin stays at home with the children when she is traveling. Ok, fine, but then that would make what she said even more perplexing. She can do these things because there is a stay at home parent. She should be embracing that instead of putting it down.


The idea of running a national campaign for the presidency of the United States and then spending four years doing a very stressful and all-consuming job when you have a three-year is going to turn some people off. One of the things that I actually did respect about Michelle Obama during the campaign was the fact that she refused to be away from her children more than two days at a time, and the girls were kept at home with a regular schedule. The day after their father was elected president they were in school. She still goes to her daughters activities. I respect that. She has made giving her daughters a childhood her priority. I don't agree with the Obama's on virtually anything, but they have tried to give their children the most normal childhood that they can considering they live in a fishbowl. Also, for the record, I did say way back when that I didn't think someone with very young children should be president. I don't think it is a healthy environment to raise children in. If that makes me some nut, then so be it. When you bring a child home from the hospital you have made a choice to be a parent. That choice comes with major responsibilities and yes it includes putting your desires on the back-burner at times.


Rush also went on to bring up Hillary Clinton

RUSH: It seems to me all this hating going on on Sarah Palin, for whatever reason, there are a lot of people who just don’t like the idea of a strong woman. Well, isn’t that what we heard in explaining the criticism of Hillary? We did.

Rush, this isn't about liking or disliking strong women. This is about the fact that Sarah Palin has two children under ten, one of which has yet to start school. Again, Chelsea is a grown woman who actually went out and campaigned for her mother. There are people in this country who believe that a mother of small children should put the needs of their children before the desire to be the most powerful woman in the world. There is a distinct role for mothers in the lives of their children. A role that fathers simply cannot provide.

Get Your Hankies - Dog Protects his Buddy in Japan

Luckily, this has a happy ending.  Both dogs were picked up and brought to a vet for care. 

As I have mentioned in the past, I suffer from depression and sometimes it can be quite severe.  My dog Tasha, who is no longer with me, used to take care of me during my bad days.  She would put her paws on my shoulders and lick my face when I needed it.  Dogs are amazing.  It is too bad that more human beings don't behave this way. 

The New Uncle Tom Comes from a Two Parent Home

I am a huge basketball fan and I am really looking forward to attending the first round of NCAA championships tomorrow in DC. I was lucky enough to get some tickets and I will be enjoying some great basketball and good company with friends. I can't get enough basketball and most men are not only impressed with my knowledge of the game, many are blown away by it.


I came across an article today through a Facebook friend today. It wasn't really an article but an OP-ED by Grant Hill in response to the documentary The Fab Five. The Fab Five refers to the Michigan Basketball teams of 91-93. The were considered to be the best of the best and virtually unbeatable. That is until the big game came along. They couldn't win the big one, two years in a row they made it to the finals of the championships and fell short. The team had a mystique even though they didn't win. The press that they received and the promise of the careers that would be coming once they made it to the NBA were talked about constantly.

The producer of the documentary was Jalen Rose, also a member of the fab five. The first championship they lost was to Duke. Duke is one of those teams that most people have very strong feelings about, you love them or hate them in most cases. Rose of course is a hater. The problem is that he got personal about his feelings, very personal.

For me Duke was person,” Rose said. “I hated Duke and I hated everything Duke stood for. Schools like Duke didn’t recruit players like me. I felt like they only recruited black players that were Uncle Toms.”

Rose is giving a whole new meaning to the term Uncle Tom. At least this is a meaning I have never heard before. He was feeling that the black players on Duke came from a more middle class background and more importantly came from a two parent home. Grant Hill's parents got a very good education and had parents who are still married. Hill's answer is really a thing of beauty:

It was a sad and somewhat pathetic turn of events, therefore, to see friends narrating this interesting documentary about their moment in time and calling me a bitch and worse, calling all black players at Duke “Uncle Toms” and, to some degree, disparaging my parents for their education, work ethic and commitment to each other and to me. I should have guessed there was something regrettable in the documentary when I received a Twitter apology from Jalen before its premiere. I am aware Jalen has gone to some length to explain his remarks about my family in numerous interviews, so I believe he has some admiration for them.


In his garbled but sweeping comment that Duke recruits only “black players that were ‘Uncle Toms,’ ” Jalen seems to change the usual meaning of those very vitriolic words into his own meaning, i.e., blacks from two-parent, middle-class families. He leaves us all guessing exactly what he believes today.

This is the second such story that I have heard about in just a few days. I have a Facebook friend who also lives in the DC area. She is a conservative black woman who is involved in the tea party movement. She also is very involved in the community to help the inner city youth in The District by tutoring them. She got into a conversation with the mother of the young boy she is currently working with. She brought up the fact that DC may be getting the voucher program back and she would be willing to help her fill out the paperwork to get him into a better school. Her response was something along the lines of why would she want her son to go to some private school with geeky white kids. How would he learn to fight then?


But since I am a republican and support the tea party I am the racist right?

Herman Cain Takes On Planned Parenthood Funding

It is no secret that I not only heart Herman Cain, but I firmly believe that he would make an excellent president. There are many things about his candidacy that make him a very long shot indeed. But, he is going to make it interesting, that is for sure. He is completely willing to speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may.


During a recent event at The Heritage Foundation Mr. Cain was asked about defunding Planned Parenthood. Herman saw his chance to talk about Margaret Sanger and he took it.

“You probably don’t hear a lot of people talking about this, when Margaret Sanger – check my history – started Planned Parenthood, the objective was to put these centers in primarily black communities so they could help kill black babies before they came into the world.”


“It's planned genocide,”

“It’s carrying out its original mission, I’ve talked to young girls who go in there, and they [Planned Parenthood] don’t talk about how you plan parenthood. They don’t talk about adoption as an option. They don’t say, ‘Well, bring your parents in so we can sit down and talk with you, and counsel with you before you make this decision.’”

Of course this is not going to be a popular view in some quarters, the reason it is important is the fact that so many young woman (and men for that matter) don't understand the history of Planned Parenthood. They don't understand how and why it was founded. I firmly believe that if someone is going to support Planned Parenthood they need to know the facts behind the origins.


The numbers speak for themselves. The black community is almost half the size it would be due to abortion. It is time that someone in the black community address this issue. If it were not so taboo to be pro-life on the left that race baiters in our society would be outraged by these numbers.

This passage is a favorite of modern Christian conservatives seeking to discredit Planned Parenthood, but in a previous time, it was employed to great effect by black activists. Radical professor Angela Davis quoted the provocative wording in her 1983 book, saying the Negro Project "confirmed the ideological victory of the racism associated with eugenic ideas." A decade earlier, a certain "up and doing" black preacher drew on the same material in rejecting legalized abortion as little more than "black genocide." His name was Jesse Louis Jackson.

Al Sharpton does mental gymnastics to avoid actually addressing the reality of the numbers of abortions done in the black community. He refuses to address the issue he will only say that abortion is a civil right. Justice Ginsberg doesn't hide her views of what she thought the outcome of Roe V. Wade was based on:

"Frankly, I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion. Which some people felt would risk coercing women into having abortions when they didn't really want them. But when the court decided McRae, the case came out the other way. And then I realized that my perception of it had been altogether wrong."

In her own words, a Supreme Court Justice is saying that she believed that Roe was decided to control populations that "we" don't want to have too many of. Which population is that and who gets decide what is "too many"?


Herman Cain has stood up and caused a stir. A stir that may just allow us to get out some of the facts of the history of abortion in this country and the dark history of Planned Parenthood. Should we really be using tax dollars to fund an organization with such a history?


See more at Another Black Conservative

Photo of The Day - Liberal Logic

What does the bus run on? 

Jihadi Cosmo to hit the Stands

The Daily Mail is reporting that al Qaeda is releasing a magazine to appeal to women.

The first issue's editorial explains that the magazine's goal is to educate women and involve them in the war against the enemies of Islam.

It says: Because women constitute half of the population - and one might even say that they are the population since they give birth to the next generation - the enemies of Islam are bent on preventing the Muslim woman from knowing the truth about her religion and her role, since they know all too well what would happen if women entered the field of jihad.

It will feature interviews with widows of the matyrs and apparently some beauty advice:

And the 'beauty column' instructs women to stay indoors with their faces covered to keep a 'clear complexion'.

They should 'not go out except when necessary' and wear a niqab for 'rewards by complying with the command of Allah Almighty'.

I got to thinking about type of features they can have in the future.

How to raise your son to be murderer.
The real reasons that women can't be trusted to drive a car but can strap a bomb on themselves to kill innocent people.
The 72 virgins that are awaiting the female martyrs, a centerfold.
The top ten ankle creams.
How to survive your husbands beatings.
Which shade of black should you choose for your burka?
How to get along with your husband's other wives.
Why it just better you don't question anything.

Cross Posted at PotLuck

Culture and Respect in Japan

I have been very impressed by the fact that people in Japan have remained so calm. The pictures that we see are heartbreaking. The news reports are now talking about bodies are washing up on shore and there are not enough body bags and coffins for all the dead. They are living with the fear of nuclear meltdown which could have catastrophic effects on generations to come. The people have little food, in many cases they have no power, and to add insult to injury snow is in the forecast.



What you are not seeing in Japan is looting. You are hearing stories of vendors who are lowering prices and in some cases giving emergency supplies to people in need. People are waiting in line in an orderly fashion even though gas lines can last for hours. In the Japanese culture, respect is considered to be of the highest importance. The belief system that when you shame yourself you bring shame onto the entire family.


It leaves one to wonder why other cultures cannot do the same during times of trouble? The looting in the aftermath of the earthquake in Chile last year was so severe that troops had to be brought in to get it under control. At one point the army resorted to using water hoses to stop the looting of banks and electronic stores, where people were taking plasma televisions and cash.


The same thing happened after Katrina in New Orleans: A quote from a man who in the flood ravaged city the day after the levees broke.

“To be honest with you, people who are oppressed all their lives, man, it’s an opportunity to get back at society,”

It would seem to me the difference between the events is only the mentality of the people who were afflicted by the tragedies. In Japan the culture is that you respect authority, it seems in many other parts of the world the culture is that the government owes you something. The next time someone says to you that the culture of a society doesn't matter, remind them of this.

Some Words of Wisdom from Fred Thompson

Runaway Democrat on MSNBC: "this is our Pearl Harbor". Ok... and are unions the Japanese or the Americans in this scenario? #tcot



Report: gas prices up 67% since Obama became president. Obviously it's because somebody out there isn't inflating their tires properly #tcot



PressSec Carney: WI Gov "not following the principle that we need to all come together". Hard to do w/40% of Senate hiding in IL. #tcot



Dem Rep Thompson: hearings on radical Islam creates more terrorists. Kinda like saying learning to swim increases chance of drowning. #tcot



ABC: Trump's run for President just a publicity stunt. Hey Donald... it doesn't work. #tcot



France: diplomatic recognition to Libyan rebels. Last time France took lead while US did nothing was b/c America not discovered yet. #tcot
 

Obama to fix oil prices by tapping into U.S. strategic oil reserve. Good plan. Then they can fill it back up with nice, cheap, IOU's. #tcot


IntSec Salazar on ANWR drilling: "We don’t believe that you need to drill everywhere". Ok, then how about letting us drill SOMEWHERE? #tcot


Only 68 high schools ask Obama to speak on grad day. Maybe b/c "you can grow up to do what I did" is now more warning than inspiration #tcot

Connecticut town forced to give union workers free coffee. My advice: give 'em Tea, instead. #tcot





Michael Moore at WI protest: "America is not broke." Too bad he can't say the same thing about the last scale he stepped on. #tcot


Charlie Sheen in weird web video: "I'm not bi-polar, I'm bi-winning". If he's doing so great, how come he's not bi-working? #tcot

UConn Wins Big East

I am huge basketball fan, so this is one of my favorite times of the year - March Madness.  Having grown up in CT, I have a special place in my heart for the Huskies. 

UConn, the #9 seed, pulled off what seemed like the impossible and won five games in five days.  Four teams in the top 25. 

Kemba Walker is the tournament MVP with a record breaking 130 points; in the semi finals win he had 33 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and six steals.  A performance not normally seen by a guard. 

Congrats to UConn and Kemba Walker.

This amazing performance should give them a higher seed at the big dance. 

Herman Cain in New Hampshire

Watch live streaming video from thehermancain at livestream.com

Japan Devasted by Earthquake and Tsunami Say a Prayer for these People

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy