Poor Nancy...

Nobody ever told her that alcohol and broomsticks don't mix.


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Meek senior aide: “Crist is losing his marbles”

Well, yeah. No sane person would call one of his political opponents at 4:45 a.m.:

"Governor Crist called me at quarter to 5:00 a.m. Monday morning. I'm just not up and at'em at quarter to 5:00 a.m. to talk politics," Meek told Greta Van Susteren in an interview Friday night.". "I think he's a very desperate campaigner. He sees that he doesn't have the momentum."

Later in the day on Monday, Crist and Meek, appeared at the same campaign event in Hollywood, Fl. At the meeting- among local Jewish leaders of the pro-Israel lobbying group, AIPAC, or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee- Crist personally lobbied Meek to leave the 3-way race, and offered him a cross that Crist had received from his family as a gift, The Wall Street Journal first reported.

" I was shocked when he did it," Meek told the newspaper, " I told him to keep the cross and that I carry my Christianity in my heart."

Re-gifting? Tacky, Charlie.

The latest Rasmussen Poll shows that Rubio’s lead over Crist and Meek is growing. A week ago Rubio led Crist 43% to 32% with Meek coming in at 20%. Rubio now picks up 50% of the vote while Crist and Meek come in at 30% and 16% respectively. Certainly if Meek dropped out it would help Crist but even if every single Meek supporter voted for Crist it would not be enough to put Crist over the top. Rubio has not just garnered the support of bitter-clingers like myself but also he has support among independents and moderates. I can’t figure out who comprises that 30% who support Crist but I suspect that “substance” and “consistency” are not important traits to them.

I had an interesting conversation yesterday in my “morning meeting” which isn’t really a meeting but an informal gathering of co-workers in the morning before work to shoot the breeze. The topic of Charlie Crist came up. More specifically, the subject of what Crist will be doing after he gets his ass handed to him on Tuesday. I said that he’ll be divorced within six months. After all, without a career in politics Charlie will be free to pursue all his inner urges. My co-workers think that Charlie still has a future in politics. What do you think?

Great News! Updated

Now that they have found it they can isolate it, treat it and with any luck, control it!

'Liberal gene' discovered by scientists

The research suggests that some people have an inherent bias against conservative thinking, that is independent of their education or upbringing.

The effect is caused by a neurotransmitter in the brain called DRD4 which could be stimulated by the novelty value of left of centre opinions, say US researchers.

In people who are naturally outgoing, the feature encourages them to seek out companions with unconventional views as they grow up.

This in turn means they tend to form less conventional political viewpoints as adults, according to the study by the University of California and Harvard.

The research, based on 2,000 Americans, is published in the Journal of Politics.

It found those with a strain of the DRD4 gene seek out "novelty" - such as people and lifestyles which are different to the ones they are used to.

This leads them to have more liberal political opinions, it found.

The person's age, ethnicity, gender or culture appeared to make no difference - it was the gene which counts.

Somebody, develop a vaccine STAT!

UPDATE:

Prof. Jacobson asks an intriguing question:

If they could test for it in utero, would it change your view on abortion?

No.  As science brings as ever more miraculous insights in the field of fetal development my pro-life convictions become even stronger.  I remember as a young girl a friend of my mother recounting the pain of being told immediately after giving birth that she should leave the hospital and leave her son behind to die.  She didn't and I remember him as a delightful child.  Now doctors are able to correct some defects while the child is still in the womb. 
 
In any case I don't expect that the the cure for liberalism will come not from science but from natural progression.  More and more people are discovering for themselves that liberalism doesn't work.  Eventually liberalism will shrink out of existence.  I just wish the process wouldn't take so darn long.

Well it's not as if Clinton has ever exhibited principle or anything

So, Bill Clinton tried to get Kendrick to drop out of the Senate race here and endorse Charlie Crist.  I can understand why Clinton would prefer Crist-snakes in the grass slither together, but but it was a smarmy move even by Clinton's incredibly low standards.  The obligatory crappy quote:

“Not being seen as a quitter was more important than stopping someone who was so opposed to what you and your party had stood for,” said one Democrat who had been hoping to close the deal.

An alternate explanation is that Meek wasn't worried about being seen as a "quitter", he simply couldn't stomach the thought of endorsing Charlie Crist.  After all, he may not like Rubio's stand on the issues but Meek is smart enough to know that Crist's "stands" belong to the highest bidder. 
 
Meek is displaying principal.  For Mr. Clinton's benefit:
 

Principle prin·ci·ple [prínssəp'l]

ethical standard: a standard of moral or ethical decision-making

The Sport of Suing and other threats to free speech

Welcome to all Blazing Cat Fur readers and thank you to Mr. Cat Fur for the link.

It seems that Blazing Cat Fur has committed the ultimate Canadian offense-he's caught the attention of Richard Warman.  For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Warman, he's a weaselly snailslime of a man who makes his living suing people for sport.  Nice gig if your the type who gets off by ruining other's lives just for shits and giggles.  A quote from Warman's Wiki entry:

I’ve come to the conclusion that I can be most effective by using what I like to describe as a “maximum Disruption” approach … I’ll look at all the potential targets and file complaints against them starting on a “worst offender” basis, although sometimes if I just find people to be particularly annoying this may move them up the list a bit. The “maximum disruption” part comes in because wherever I think it will be most helpful, or even if I just feel it will be the most fun, I strongly believe in hitting on as many of these fronts as possible either at the same time or one after the other. I say this because it keeps them off-balance and forces them to respond to things that focus their energies on defending themselves.

Mr. Cat Fur found himself in Warman's cross hairs because he linked approvingly to Mark Steyn.  Warman really, really doesn't like Mark Steyn:

WARMAN WATCH

During my battles with the Canadian "human rights" regime, we relentlessly exposed the corrupt relationship between the Commissars and Canada's self-appointed Hatefinder-General, Richard Warman. See here and here, among many other places. I also spoke about him when testifying to Parliament. Almost as soon as the truth about his Nazi website postings became known, Warman began suing. He sued Ezra Levant, with whom I'll be appearing on Saturday, as well as Kate McMillan, Kathy Shaidle, Free Dominion and anyone else who got in his way. At the time, many people asked me why he hadn't sued me, both for columns that appeared in Maclean's and for posts such as this one at SteynOnline.

So basically, since Warman can't touch Steyn he is playing "Whack a Proxy" and using Canada's legal system to do it. 

You can find more at American Power, POWIP, five feet of fury, Gates of Vienna, Patterico's Pontifications and Jay Currie.  Above all, throw some money in BCF's tip jar to help with his legal costs and never forget how precious our First Amendment is.

Huckabee Endorses Mike Prendergast

Huckabee Releases Statement about Prendergast's Bid in Florida

Little Rock, AR - Governor Mike Huckabee issued the following statement about Mike Prendergast.

"Huck PAC and I are pleased to support Mike Prendergast for Congress, Florida's 11th Congressional District. A native of Tampa and with more than three decades of service in the United States Army, Mike Prendergast has unique life experiences that'll help make him a great congressman.

Recognizing that our tax system is in desperate need of change, Mike will fight for a simpler and fairer tax system. Mike understands that our economy is the most important challenge facing America today, and in order to create jobs we need to eliminate the excessive government regulations and overly burdensome taxes levied on all Americans.

We need more warriors in Congress who will fight for the American taxpayer and not waste our hard earned dollars, and Mike Prendergast is just that man. Please join me in supporting Mike Prendergast, and let's send him to Congress."

 
The picture above is of Mike Prendergast speaking from the deck of the American Victory last night at a rally for supporters.  In addition to Huckabee's endorsement Prendergast has also been endorsed by Jeb Bush, Newt Gingrich and Combat Vets for Congress.  In endorsing Prendergast the Combat Vets for Congress wrote:
 

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing the 25th Combat Veteran For Congress in 17 states; he is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to rein in the out of control spending by the Pelosi Congress.  Col. Mike Prendergast, USA (Ret) (R-FL-11) http://www.pickprendergast.com/ of Tampa, Florida served in the US Army for 31 years and is running for election for Congress in the 11th Congressional District of Florida.  He is running against two term Congresswoman Kathy Castor, ranked the 9th most liberal member of Congress based on her voting record, and handpicked by Pelosi to serve on several committees, and has voted in lock step with Pelosi 98% of the time, often against the interests of her constituents; she voted "yes" for the flawed health care bill.  Mike was born in 1956 and raised in Tampa, Florida.   He graduated from Clearwater Central Catholic high school in 1975.  Col Prendergast earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with Special Honors and a dual major in Political Science and Sociology from Jacksonville State University in 1986; a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Psychology from the University of the State of New York in 1986; a Bachelor of Social Science degree from Campbell University in 1995; a Master of Arts degree with a major in International Relations and a Certificate in African Studies from the University of Florida in 1990; a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Public Management from Troy State University in 1997; and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College with a major in Public Diplomacy and a concentration in Campaign and Strategic Crisis Planning in 2003.

So here in FL-11 we have a choice between Mike Prendergast, a man who spent thirty-one years of his life in service to his country with a proven record of accomplishment and leadership and Kathy Castor who, a) is the ninth most liberal member of the House and b) voted with Nancy Pelosi 98 percent of the time and c) has no other accomplishments to speak of.  Castor has refused to debate Prendergast and who can blame her?  If she came out of hiding long enough to debate she would have to defend her vote for the Stimulus and ObamaCare and explain her support for Cap & Trade. 

Support Mike Prendergast!

Cheaters never prosper

Now might be a good time to mention that Alex Sink is a former boss of mine.  It was a brief, dark, low point in my career that I prefer no to dwell on.  You can read that as "no love lost."  In any case, I'm not terribly surprised that she would cheat or for that matter that she would get caught.  The general feeling among my former BOA co-workers and I is that Ms. Sink rose to the level of her incompetence at BOA.  Ed Morrissey finds her unpardonable:

The first rule of Political Debate Club, at least in Florida’s gubernatorial race? No messages from staff. Second rule of Political Debate Club? Don’t get caught on camera breaking the first rule. It’s one thing to cheat during a debate, but Alex Sink commits the really unpardonable sin of being incompetent at it:

Considering that the Florida Pension Fund lost 24.5 billion dollars under Sink's watch, I would say that incompetence is her strong suit.

A cult I am proud to be a member of

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
The 10th Amendment of the Us Constitution

It is hard to imagine how anything as simple and straightforward as the 10th Amendment causes such a stink, but it does. RedState has an excellent article detailing a statement by the AFL-CIO calling supporters of the 10th Amendment “cultists”.

Most cults are based in some sort of skewed spiritual vision or the worship of a charismatic leader, but there is a re-emerging cult that bows down at the feet of the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Many of them want to bring their cultish beliefs to the halls of Congress and are running for election this fall.

There are people who want to bring the Constitution to Congress? Who’da thunk it?  And this is a bad thing, how?

The Founding Fathers envisioned a system of bottom up government. They reasoned that a government in which power flowed up, rather than down, would be more responsive and less likely to become tyrannical. Hence the famous Thomas Jefferson quote: “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.”

The AFL-CIO and others who would lop the 10th Amendment out of the Constitution prefer a government that directs the people rather than the other way around. One assumes that these groups doubt their own ability to convince others of their necessity and therefore depend on government to force their agenda on the people. The problem is that we are were not founded to be a country of coercion. .

By limiting the power of the federal government our Founders ensured that “We the People” would ultimately remain in charge of our own destinies. So if being a “Tenther” is tantamount to being a cultist, count me in. I am proud to belong to a cult of freedom.


***Image is of Col. Mike Prendergast, candidate for the House here in Florida's 11th District at a townhall earlier this month.  He is holding his pocket copy of the Constitution as he explains the importance all the 10th Amendment.

Support Mike Prendergast for Congress

Thank you, Rep. Mike Pence!

Just when I was feeling more than a bit dejected by Mitch McConnell’s willingness (eagerness?) to waffle on Conservative values along comes Rep. Mike Pence to save the day:

Look, the time to go along and get along is over," said Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), the chairman of the House Republican Conference. "House Republicans know that. We’ve taken firm and principled stands against their big government plans throughout this Congress, and we’ve got, if the American people will send them, we’ve got a cavalry of men and women headed to Washington, D.C. that are going to stand with us."

Pence said his party wouldn't compromise on issues like spending or healthcare reform, two of the weightiest items on Congress's agenda next year, when the Republicans could control one or both chambers.

"Look, there will be no compromise on stopping runaway spending, deficits and debt. There will be no compromise on repealing Obamacare. There will be no compromise on stopping Democrats from growing government and raising taxes," Pence told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Thursday evening. "And if I haven’t been clear enough yet, let me say again: No compromise."

It is nice to know that even if Sen. McConnell doesn’t get it, and he obviously doesn’t, that Rep. Pence understands what he is in Washington to do. The idea that candidates can claim to uphold Conservative values on the campaign trail and then throw their constituents under the bus once elected is no longer viable.

Of course we can’t compromise on ObamaCare. What could possibly be the “middle ground” on an un-Constitutional government takeover of one-sixth of our economy? Instead we need congressmen who will vote to repeal the law. If Obama brings out his veto pen, so be it. Obama may hold the pen but Congress holds the purse.

Pence understands the importance of tackling a problem from a position of strength. In less than two weeks we will have the opportunity to send him some reinforcement.

VOTE FOR MIKE PRENDERGAST IN FL-11!

Have mercy

I ask this as a former Kentuckian, UK alumni and lover of all things Commonwealth-is Mitch McConnell the biggest wuss ever?  Since when do we wave a white flag before the battle?

Obama, McConnell Call For Humility After The Election

…Anticipating a gain of Republican seats in the Senate, McConnell said: "One of the things we will have to remind newcomers and those who have supported them is that even though we will have a larger Republican Conference, we do not control the government and cannot control the government when the president holds the veto pen." Oddly echoing Obama, he went on to say: "We need to have a humble, grateful response about this election." He even added: "Incidentally, there is no polling data that suggests [the voters] love us."

Gee, is McConnell trying to tell us right up front that we shouldn’t expect anything other than business as usual after the election? I don’t suppose that it would occur to McConnell that the reason there is no polling data that suggests that voters love the Republicans in Congress is precisely because of pantywaist attitudes like his. We are sick to death of wilted little pansies that would rather hold hands and sign Kumbaya than lead.

On Nov. 2nd we will be sending a new batch of Republicans to Washington. They’ve got one chance to “git ‘er done”. We are looking for a leader and if McConnell doesn’t have the stomach for it he needs to take a seat and pass the mantle on to someone who does. Otherwise, we won’t put the brakes on ObamaCare, Cap & Trade and explosive government growth and encroachment.

Nice boys finish last and Conservatives are fed up with last place. Obama’s policies are deeply unpopular so make him use that veto pen and see how it works out for him. Republicans in Congress won’t offend the base by standing up for Conservative values but they sure will if they wimp out yet again.

Don't ya just love that ObamaCare?

I just got home from a fantastic Mike Prendergast townhall (more on that tomorrow) and I came across this email from Pundette:

Just got this note from my husband:

Our health (bi-weekly) insurance premiums are rising from $110 to $160. That's a 45% increase. To be fair, to balance that out, the benefits are decreasing (higher co-pays, etc.)

That Obamacare is pretty awesome, isn't it? How irrational of us not to be grateful to Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and company for shoving this down our unwilling throats. I guess we're just not thinking clearly

.My friend, you are lucky.  I just found out that mine is going up fifty percent.  I have no idea how it is all going to work out.  One thing I do know, you can count me in as one of the bitter clingers.  I guess if were more enlightened I would get that this is all for my own good but somehow, I'm just not feeling it.  Maybe I should just be grateful that their are people who are even more screwed than I.

Today in “unexpectedly”

Byron York writing in the Washington Examiner:

Report: In Obama's Chicago, stimulus weatherization money buys shoddy work, widespread fraud

Projects to weatherize homes are a key part of the Obama administration's fusion of stimulus spending and the green agenda. But a new report by the Department of Energy has found serious problems in stimulus-funded weatherization work -- problems so severe that they have resulted in homes that are not only not more energy efficient but are actually dangerous for people to live in.

The study, by the Department's inspector general, examined the work of what's called the Weatherization Assistance Program, or WAP, in Illinois. Last year, the Department awarded Illinois $242 million, which was expected to pay for the weatherization of 27,000 homes. Specifically, Energy Department inspectors took a close look at the troubled operations of the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, known as CEDA, which is the largest recipient of weatherization money in Illinois with $91 million to weatherize 12,500 homes. (Cook County is, of course, home to Chicago.)

The findings are grim. "Our testing revealed substandard performance in weatherization workmanship, initial assessments, and contractor billing," the inspector general report says. "These problems were of such significance that they put the integrity of the entire program at risk."

Well, wow. Who could have seen that coming? Among the findings that York reported are failed inspections. In fact, 14 out of 15 homes inspected failed. I think that translates to a ninety-three percent failure rate, or if you’re one of those sunny side up “the glass is half full” kinda people, a seven percent success rate. But it gets better:

In eight of the homes, CEDA had come up with unworkable and ineffective plans -- like putting attic insulation in a house with a leaky roof. In ten of the homes, "contractors billed for labor charges that had not been incurred and for materials that had not been installed." The report calls billing problems "pervasive," with seven of ten contractors being cited for erroneous invoicing. And the department found "a 62 percent final inspection error rate" when CEDA inspectors reviewed their own work.

The work was not just wasteful; it was dangerous. Department inspectors found "heat barriers around chimneys that had not been installed, causing fire hazards." They found "a furnace [that] had not been vented properly." The found "a shut-off valve that had not been installed on a gas stove." And they found "carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers had not been installed as planned."

And then there was fraud. At ten of the 15 homes visited, Department inspectors found examples in which "a contractor had installed a 125,000 BTU boiler, but had billed CEDA for a 200,000 BTU boiler costing an estimated $1,000. more." Another contractor "billed for almost four times the amount of drywall actually installed." And another "installed 12 light bulbs but had billed CEDA for 20." (The Department found that CEDA paid almost three times the retail price for each light bulb.) "Billing issues appeared to be pervasive," the report concludes.

Aw, hell-close enough for government work, right? No one spends someone else’s money like they spend their own and the government is the absolute worst of the worst. In ObamaLand tax dollars are like manna from Heaven. The concept that tax dollars are the result of the labor of hard working people does penetrate the liberal psyche.

The onus doesn’t fall completely on the government. As taxpayers we haven’t done our due diligence and we haven’t held our representatives accountable. Think of the child who is allowed to run amok until one day the parents have had enough and they put their foot down. Suddenly the rules have changed and the child doesn’t understand why. Many in our government are acting like that child. They’ve been allowed to jump on the furniture for so long that they feel entitled to it.

The key is to be consistent with our elected officials. We need to let them know that we are in charge, what our expectations are and what the consequences are for not meeting our expectations. Going forward we should insist on knowing, and approving, of projects that require tax money. The tax money spent on the Weatherization Assistance Program would have been just as productive had it been tossed in to the Chicago River. We taxpayers should insist on more from our government.

Obama's a snob? Who da thunk it?

Michael Gerson has had an epiphany-Obama is a snob.  Knock me down with a feather.  Gerson writes:

After a series of ineffective public messages -- leaving the political landscape dotted with dry rhetorical wells -- President Obama has hit upon a closing argument.

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now," he recently told a group of Democratic donors in Massachusetts, "and facts and science and argument [do] not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we're hard-wired not to always think clearly when we're scared. And the country is scared."

Let's unpack these remarks.

Obama clearly believes that his brand of politics represents "facts and science and argument." His opponents, in disturbing contrast, are using the more fearful, primitive portion of their brains. Obama views himself as the neocortical leader -- the defender, not just of the stimulus package and health-care reform but also of cognitive reasoning. His critics rely on their lizard brains -- the location of reptilian ritual and aggression. Some, presumably Democrats, rise above their evolutionary hard-wiring in times of social stress; others, sadly, do not.

Though there is plenty of competition, these are some of the most arrogant words ever uttered by an American president.

Sounds to me that Obama is channeling his inner Janeane Garafolo.  Don't be surprised if at some point Obama breaks out with a dissertation on the functions of the "limbic brain".  In any case, it is obvious that the president believes that the American electorate is comprised of inferior beings.  In that bright, shiny place known as ObamaLand, the motto is oddly similar to that of the nutty whack job who decided to call out his ex-girlfriend on C-SPAN:  Its not me, its you. 

How, O how can Barry be expected to rule people who have no idea what arugula is to get the complexities of his vision?  It is an impossible task. Frustrating.

I guess momma never told little Barry that there would be days like this.  On the bright side, in a mere two years he can put all this behind him.

***

Image from BartBlog.  The lack of a link is intentional.  The blog does NOT contain conservative friendly fare.

Do the Dems really think that grandparents will sell out their grandkids for a lousy 250 bucks?

My Mom and Dad have a sign on the front porch that reads, “Grandkids welcome. Leave parents at home".

Coming up my parents emphasized the importance of preparing for the future. They didn’t consider it a sacrifice to do without in the here and now if it meant that they could give their children and eventually their grandchildren a leg up down the road. Trust me when I say that they don’t take well to what they believe is wreckless spending by an out of control government that is jeopardizing their grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s future. The Wall Street Journal:

Can our retired readers be bought for $250? Apparently President Obama thinks they can, because two weeks before Election Day he has endorsed sending bonus checks for that amount to the nearly 58 million Americans on Social Security.

It's hard to imagine a more blatant vote-buying exercise, especially with polls showing that seniors have turned sharply against the Democrats this year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader (pro-tem) Harry Reid have both promised check-writing votes in the lame duck session, assuming they can fit that into all the other things they want to do before they lose their super-majorities.

I can tell you in no uncertain terms that the Administration will not be buying my parent’s vote. In fact, I wouldn’t be shocked if my mother writes, “Kiss my a$$” across the face of the check and sends it back in the original envelope marked “return to sender” so she doesn’t have to pay the postage. Mom doesn’t pull any punches.

This little stunt by the Administration just further illustrates how out of touch they are with the American people. The Administration has no idea what the values or priorities of everyday people are. They simply believe that everyone can be bought. They are about to find out just how wrong they are.

So how's that attack on the Chamber working out for you?

I recently argued that it is wrong of Pres. Obama & Co. to make baseless accusations against the Chamber of Commerce. Turns out that it was not only wrong, but down right foolish:

Dems take in twice as much “foreign” money as Republicans

Over the weekend, some Democrats began questioning the White House strategy of demonizing third-party groups for potentially using foreign-raised money in political messaging. Now we know why. Apparently, the shrieking over foreign influence was yet another case of projection:

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate criticizing GOP groups for allegedly funneling foreign money into campaign ads have seen their party raise more than $1 million from political action committees affiliated with foreign companies.

House and Senate Democrats have received approximately $1.02 million this cycle from such PACs, according to an analysis compiled for The Hill by the Center for Responsive Politics. House and Senate GOP leaders have taken almost $510,000 from PACs on the same list.

Oh, where to start? “Pot/kettle” and “glass houses” easily come to mind. Too easily. Time and time again we are reminded that the current inhabitant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue believes that rules are for we silly little bitter clingers not for a man of Obama’s overwhelming stature. In this case, Ann Althouse states it perfectly:

And may I just add that I find the attacks on the Chamber of Commerce incredibly, absurdly out-of-touch with ordinary Americans. Not that I'm an expert on the mind of the ordinary Americans. I've been confined to the remote outpost of Madison, Wisconsin since the 1980s. But I do not believe that demonizing something as dull-sounding as the Chamber of Commerce is going to make any sense to people. The idea that the Chamber of Commerce is ruining America sounds like something a nutty conspiracy theorist would say.

A nutty conspiracy theorist or a really desperate (and unprincipled) politician.

Marco brings his message (and Ruby Giuliani) to Sarasota

Yesterday morning Marco Rubio brought his "Reclaim America" tour to Sarasota, FL.  A nice crowd gathered at Island Park to meet Marco's tour bus and to have the opportunity to greet Marco and his guest, former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliana.  We were not disappointed.

I am still having problems uploading from my new camcorder but part two of the video finally uploaded so please enjoy. 

In tonight's debate Charlie combines scary with slimy

In a three way debate between Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek, Charlie Crist showed that he is either dangerous or scary stupid.  From TBO:

Much of the debate focused on Social Security, an issue coming to dominate the closing days of the campaign.

Rubio says the nation must consider taking steps to bolster the program's financial stability – possibly raising the retirement age or cutting benefits for future retirees.

Meek advocates no changes, saying Congress should wait for a completion of a task force study, and Crist says that if the nation implements an earned citizenship program for illegal immigrants, their payroll taxes could restore the program's fiscal solvency.

So, Crist thinks that we should institute an amnesty program, "earned citizenship program" to shore up Social Security.  Maybe someone should point out to Charlie how well unchecked immigration has worked in Europe.  But hey, let's not let facts muddy up the picture.  Crist was at his slimy, pandering best with this little jewel:

Rubio also reacted when Crist, quoting Tampa's La Gaceta newspaper, accused Rubio of "essentially blind ambition – that you turned your back on your Hispanic family … as it relates to the DREAM Act, as it relates to immigration reform."

Rubio opposes earned citizenship for illegal immigrants, and DREAM Act, which would allow citizenship for those who attend college or serve in the military.

"Shameless"  isn't a strong enough word to describe Charlie Crist.  To insinuate  that Rubio is "turning his back on his Hispanic family" because he believes that the country has the right and duty to protect its borders is beneath contempt but all to typical among the practitioners of identity politics.  To them, blacks, browns, women, gays, etc., are each just members of beholden groups who must always think, act and vote as they are told.  Disgusting.

A question that begs a question

Ezra Klein asks, "Do the polls back up the attacks on the Chamber of Commerce?" and concludes that the answer is "no".  Close but no cigar.  The correct response is "Why the Hell should poll results matter?".

Klein, disagreeing with Greg Plum, concludes that the attacks on the Chamber should end because polls show that the attacks aren't working.  That the public isn't buying Obama's false attacks is laudable but not unexpected.  Obama has an annoying habit of giving the public, us, far less credit than we deserve.  Remember, this is the guy that believes that we just aren't smart enough to "get" ObamaCare.  But whether the the attack is playing in Punxsutawney or not is beside the point.

The president and his minions should stop the attacks on the Chamber because they are wrong.  The attacks are being made up out of thin air.  What was it Axlerod said?  "Can you prove that the Chamber isn't using foreign money for its ads?"  Cheap.  Cheap and beneath the dignity of an employee of the United States government.  That alone is reason enough for the administration to drop the attack. 

How much are taxpayers billed for "overhead"?

The government has decided that health insurers should spend no less than eighty-five cents of every premium dollar for actual medical treatment. The government has concluded that 15 percent is more than adequate to cover all overhead costs. In fact, we have heard Pres. Obama trumpet this provision on numerous occasions. We also know that Pres. Obama has never run so much as a lemonade stand which makes one wonder what his qualifications are to judge proper overhead costs. In any case, the following begs an interesting question:

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and members of her family and staff took 85 tax-paid trips on military aircraft between March 2, 2009, and June 7, 2010, according to new documents uncovered by Judicial Watch.

Pelosi's daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons were on the June 20, 2009, flight from Andrews AFB to San Francisco where Pelosi resides, according to the documents. On July 2, 2010, Pelosi took a grandson on a flight from Andrews to Travis AFB, north of San Francisco.

Judicial Watch obtained the documents as a result of a January 25, 2009, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Previous documents received by the non-profit watchdog group revealed that Pelosi's travel "cost the United States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a two-year period — $101,429.14 of which was for in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol," according to Judicial Watch.

What percentage of our tax dollars are spent providing necessary services versus the amount spent on administrative overhead? The government is “non-profit” so I wouldn’t think that administrative costs should exceed ten percent (I’ve never run a business, but what the hey-right?). If Speaker Pelosi is the example, I suspect that administrative costs far exceed fifteen percent. Were we to impose the same rules on our government that they wish to force on a private industry were would government “trim the fat”? Would they cut the number of staff positions and adjust pay and benefits to be more in line with the private sector? Not a bad idea. Would Speaker Pelosi take fewer flights at taxpayer’s expense and learn to drink cut-rate liquor? Not a snowball’s chance in Hell.

It amazes me that our government would presume to tell a private industry how to price its product and how much it must dedicate to product delivery versus overhead. However as taxpayer’s we have every right to demand more bang for our buck. It seems only “fair” that government play by the rules it sets.

The Chilean Success Story: A combination of free market capitalism and moxie

This caught my attention:

If those miners had been trapped a half-mile down like this 25 years ago anywhere on earth, they would be dead. What happened over the past 25 years that meant the difference between life and death for those men?

Short answer: the Center Rock drill bit.

This is the miracle bit that drilled down to the trapped miners. Center Rock Inc. is a private company in Berlin, Pa. It has 74 employees. The drill's rig came from Schramm Inc. in West Chester, Pa. Seeing the disaster, Center Rock's president, Brandon Fisher, called the Chileans to offer his drill. Chile accepted. The miners are alive.

Daniel Henninger, the author of the WSJ article cited above says that it sounds “churlish” to say that free market capitalism saved the lives of the thirty-two miners trapped in Chile. Not really. But while capitalism certainly went a long way towards saving those miners it would have worthless had the Chilean government not been willing to act.

Shortly before the room started spinning yesterday I heard Gov. Jindal speak about his frustration with our government’s response to the Deep Water Horizon spill. While Gov. Jindal was desperately trying to save his state he was met with one bureaucratic wall after another. Contrary to Chile’s attitude of “let’s get it done”, our government responded with “it hasn’t been ….” Fill in the blank. Suggestions include: “tried”, “tested”, “approved”. While Louisiana and the other Gulf states were coated in oil, our government prepared paperwork.

Once upon a time there was a saying about extraordinary times and extraordinary measures. Thankfully, the saying still applies in Chile.

Yesterday and Today

Well, where to start?  The stars finally came together yesterday so that I could hear Mike Prendergast speak.  I was so excited I screwed up the time and got there over an hour early.  Not a problem because I bought a brand new camcorder so I had plenty of time to get a seat, setup and do a quickie test run. 

It was very interesting listening to Mike speak and I got some great video.  I would love to show you except the nice young man at the store that won't be named who sold me the nifty new camcorder never mentioned something called "formatting the card".  So after trying most of last night to upload my video I went back to the store and found out about "formatting".  Those of you who don't suffer from massive tech stupidity like I are probably aware that when you format a card anything that was on the card gets wiped out.  Came as news to me.  Anyway,  my once in a life time super great video of Mike Prendergrast is kinda like the fish that got away-long gone.

So, next week, on the 20th, I will makeit a priority to attend Mike's townhall and I will get even better video.  In any case, I am glad I went last night.  I have been incredibly impressed with Mike from day.  How many people do you know that give thirty-one years of service to their country and rather than enjoying a much deserved retirement say, "I am ready to give more."? 

When asked last night why him, Mike responded that when he sees a mess he cleans it up.  Right now our country is a mess and it is time to start the cleanup effort.  Democrats see a mess and their solution is to throw more trash on the heap.  Before long, even China won't have a big enough shovel to dig us out and why would we, the world's super power, rely on China or anyone else for our salvation?  We haven't lost our greatness, we just need to pull it out of the closet, dust it off and get to work.

That was yesterday.  On to today!

Yes, that is Gov. Bobby Jindal standing next to Marco Rubio.  And about five minutes into the Governor's speech the room started spinning.  I haven't felt like that since my dorm room days.  In any case, I made it out without embarrassing myself too badly and once I got some air I was okay.  But that is the total of my once in a lifetime chance to hear Bobby Jindal speak in person.

Tomorrow is a new day so onward and upward. 

P.S.  Did I mention that Mike Prendergast is a really great guy?  Give him a donation.  The alternative is re-electing the ninth most member of the House.  None of us wants that!

Funniest post of the day about "funnies" the Washington Post doesn't think you are smart enough to get

To the best of my knowledge I have never seriously pissed off Cassandra.  Good thing.  Cassandra has an incredibly sharp wit.  Cutting, actually.  One can almost imagine her using the spilt blood for batik or some similarly intricate art form.  In any case, here is the subject of her latest swordsmanship:

Cassandra's response to WaPo's pulling of the cartoon is a must read.

Glass houses and all that jazz

The Obama Administration is shocked, SHOCKED, that foreign money might be filtering in to the American campaign coffers. They are appalled, disgusted, distraught and overwrought. Seriously:

“Just this week, we learned that one of the largest groups paying for these ads regularly takes in money from foreign corporations,” Mr. Obama said. “So groups that receive foreign money are spending huge sums to influence American elections.”

Mr. Obama is referring to the US Chamber of Commerce and ads they have run. The issue appears to be the Chamber’s stubborn refusal to recognize and bow to Lord Obama’s greatness. But is Obama really in the best person to be making false accusations of illegal foreign contributions? Let’s examine the record.

Pajamas Media:

Has the Obama campaign made a regular practice of accepting illegal foreign campaign contributions, as the research of Kenneth Timmerman suggests?

Well, if one is to judge by an article published last month by the Italian columnist Maria Laura Rodotà, in certain European circles such contributions would appear to be an open secret. Moreover, Rodotà’s account of being inundated by emails from the Obama campaign suggests that the campaign may not only have been accepting illegal foreign campaign contributions, but that it may have been soliciting them. Here is what Maria Laura Rodotà writes in her October 2 column in the major Italian daily Corriere della Sera [Italian link]:

Oh God. It’s my fault. And your fault. And also the fault of that friend of yours who gave her email to the Obama campaign. They have been writing us for a year, the Obama people — several times a day. They’ve sent us videos of Barack, they’ve responded to criticisms, they’ve laid down the party line, they’ve sold gadgets. They’ve invited us to interesting events like “Camp Obama” in California. … At the foot of each email, they’d ask for small contributions, even just five dollars — which won’t even get you breakfast here in downtown Milan. We never gave a cent. The cheapskates said, “You can’t do that,” they’d be foreign contributions; others sent donations from fake American addresses. Real or fake, live or online, you felt part of a community of like-minded persons, all normal and liberal.

By following the link above we find that Kenneth Timmerman’s research shows that the Obama campaign accepted upwards of $63 million dollars in foreign contributions. Not exactly an “oopsie”, particularly considering that the campaign appears to have solicited those contributions.

Once again, Barack Obama is being a stickler for the rules he refuses to follow himself. Worse, he is tarring the Chamber despite a complete lack of evidence purely out of spite. Can anyone imagine President Bush behaving in such a cheap and hypercritical manner?

Just another day in the life under our new thug Overlords.

What is below Eeyore?

Savor this quote from Christopher Hitchens:

“I pause to ask myself what it's like to be a Belgian, if there is such a thing. Too proud? Too masochistic? Difficult to decide. Like the mule, it seems to be a country without pride in paternity or hope of posterity.”

Top that.  Belgium is a rung below Eeyore.  But aren't they the model that we should aspire to?  They are multicultural/multi-lingual, self-effacing and old.  No leader would ever say, "there have been times where Belgium has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive."  No, there cowboys in Belgium. 

For my part, I'll stick with crude.  And free.

Daddy Bloomberg is right

When I was growing up my parents would not allow me to purchase booze and cigarettes with my allowance money. There was no use arguing that once given to me the money was mine to do with whatever I saw fit. In fact, I knew better than to argue the point.

Okay, I never actually tried to buy booze or cigarettes with my allowance but I did try to buy things that my parents said weren’t good for me and they were quick to tell me they were “responsible” for “ensuring” my wellbeing. Now Daddy Bloomberg is taking my parents’ attitude and applying it to New York City.

No Pop for the Poor

New York City’s mayor wants the federal government to say food stamps can’t be used to buy soda – a story that is less about the technicalities of welfare and more about political paternalism.

Now, there’s a strong argument to be made that if the government is setting the table and preparing the dinner, it should be able to choose the menu. But that argument is not being made; on the contrary, those who want soda omitted from the items obtainable by food stamps are making the link between health and public spending.

Good for him but he’s not going far enough. The list should include all processed foods, “junk” food, red meat, white bread, pasta, and potatoes. Better idea-food stamp recipients should be required to call the grocery store in advance and then the store can have acceptable food waiting for them. Think I’m kidding? Part and parcel with abdicating personal responsibility to the state should be a willingness to follow the rules of state, much as a child follows the rules of their parent.

Not fair? Stomp your foot when you say that, Missy!

Children have no choice but depend on their parents but adults have plenty of choices. People who wish to retain their ability to choose their food or housing or health care should not allow themselves to become wards of the state.

Plans changed-again

After nearly a week of "computer issues" I came back up yesterday.  I can't tell you how anxious I've been to get back in the saddle and what better way than by attending and blogging on tonight's townhall being hosted by Col. Mike Prendergast, candidate for the US House here in Florida's District 11?  I am proud to be a supporter of Col. Prendergast who unlike our current representatvie, Kathy Caster, spends his time listenning to the concerns of the taxpayers in the district, not the special interests.  So, on the one hand we have a man who dedicated thirty-one years of his life to serving his country, retiring in 2009 as  U.S. Central Command’s Provost Marshal and on the other, we have Kathy Castor who has served herself as the ninth most liberal member of the House.  Is it any wonder that Cator has been hiding from the voters?

But I didn't get out of work on time and instead of sitting at the townhall I am sitting on my porch.  Grrrrr!  In any case, Prendergast has several meetings scheduled and I will be able to attend at least one, if not two, next week.   That does not mean that I have nothing to report tonight:

 Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Endorses Mike Prendergast, Republican Nominee for FL-11

Tampa, FL – Earlier today, Governor Jeb Bush committed his support to the Republican efforts in Florida’s 11th district. He announced his endorsement for Colonel Mike Prendergast, a 31 year combat veteran of the United States Army. Bush became the most recent in a series of key endorsements.

“This endorsement hits home for me. As a Tampa native, I have always had the utmost respect for Governor Bush,” Prendergast said. “He is sending a clear sign to voters about the enormous importance of this election not just for Tampa and St. Pete, but for our nation.”

Bush will help Prendergast unseat Rep. Kathy Castor. Castor, currently in her second term, was recently reported as the ninth most liberal member of the House.

“There is an unprecedented extremism in Washington,” Bush said. “Congressmen and women must be free thinking, accountable leaders. Representatives need to answer to their hometowns and not to their party’s leadership. I know Mike is ready to serve Tampa Bay. His career as a soldier has proven he will be an effective statesman.”

As they say, today is a good day. 

Charlie is right, he's not a "Jeb Bush Republican"

Cubachi at Hot Air:

Former “Jeb Bush Republican”: Rubio is a Jeb Bush Republican

Afterward, Crist was asked about his former “Jeb Bush Republican” self-description.

“Yeah, well, that’s changed,” Crist said. “I think Jeb and I both agree on that. I’m not even a Republican.”

Crist said the GOP has “gone hard right … it’s evolved rapidly over the past year and a half.”

That’s after Bush left office. Does Crist think Bush is part of the GOP’s “hard right” shift?

“I don’t know,” Crist said. “I don’t talk to him.”

I think that we will all agree that Republicans come in many different flavors. A “Jeb Bush Republican” certainly varies from a “Jim DeMint Republican” who varies from a “Chris Christie Republican” but all three are “Republican”. My question to Crist would be, “How has Jeb Bush changed?” I am not aware of any position that Jeb held during his eight years as my governor that is different today. For Crist to claim that he is no longer a “Jeb Bush Republican” while simultaneously claiming that he doesn’t know what a “Jeb Bush Republican” is just a little dishonest.

Prior to jumping ship Crist had the full throttle backing of the NRSC and all the members of the “Republicans who Matter” club. It wasn’t enough. Crist never had a chance to win the Republican primary. But like a child who was raised to believe that everyone wins a trophy Charlie never learned to accept that sometimes you lose. Like Specter before him and Murkowski after him, it was never about supporting the party and certainly not about supporting Republican Party principals. And the party hasn’t changed at all. It is just that we, the party hoi polloi, are no longer willing to support politicians who do not support that party platform and unlike the NRSC, NRCC, et al, we don’t believe that we owe any particular politician a job.

On the other hand, Crist has changed many of his positions depending on his audience. He is no longer pro-life, unless he is. He is no longer anti-ObamaCare, unless he is or isn’t or well, who can keep up? No, Crist isn’t a “Jeb Bush Republican”. He never was.