Joke of the Day: Congress

Ah, divine justice sprinkled with irony and wrapped in a chortle. What could be more perfect?

From Allahpundit:

NYT: ObamaCare may have accidentally stripped Congress of health coverage

As someone once said, “Heh.”

The law apparently bars members of Congress from the federal employees health program, on the assumption that lawmakers should join many of their constituents in getting coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges.

But the research service found that this provision was written in an imprecise, confusing way, so it is not clear when it takes effect.

The new exchanges do not have to be in operation until 2014. But because of a possible “drafting error,” the report says, Congress did not specify an effective date for the section excluding lawmakers from the existing program.

Under well-established canons of statutory interpretation, the report said, “a law takes effect on the date of its enactment” unless Congress clearly specifies otherwise. And Congress did not specify any other effective date for this part of the health care law. The law was enacted when President Obama signed it three weeks ago.

There must be a “how dumb are they?” joke that is just perfect for this moment. The whole damn Democratic caucus was so smug when they passed this crap sandwich. What do they say-act in haste, repent at leisure?

No doubt this little oversight will be fixed. In the mean time, let’s all have a good laugh.

It is Me, Sean and Marco Tomorrow Night!

Okay, so it is more like Sean Hannity and Marco Rubio will be at the Villages tomorrow night along with Lt. Col. Alan West and Lou Holtz and I'll be one of the thousands there to greet them.  Unless I do something to embarrass myself in a really big way they won't even know I'm there.  If anyone knows of a way that I can call attention to myself without getting arrested, please let me know.  (If you are willing to make bail...no, no, well, no)

I'll have my brand new HD video recorder with me and with any luck I will learn how to use it before tomorrow night.  It is a two plus hour drive so more than likely it will be Wednesday before anything is up.

Anywho, I am stoked! 

Rubio has Gone From Way Ahead to Way, Way Ahead of Crist

It does matter if whether you are looking at a head to head match between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist or a three way race between Rubio, Crist and likely Democratic challenger Kendrick Meek, Rubio is kicking hind quarters.  Rassmussen  has Rubio supported by 57% of likely Republican voters versus Crist's paltry 28%.  Rubio has a double digit lead over Meek.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air is reporting that George Will may have driven a stake through the vampire Le Crist's heart:

A recent debate on “Fox News Sunday” illustrated the differences between the few politicians who are, and the many who are not, willing to face facts. Marco Rubio, the former speaker of Florida’s House of Representatives who is challenging Gov. Charles Crist for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, made news by stating the obvious.

Asked how the nation might address the projected $17.5 trillion in unfunded Social Security liabilities, Rubio said that we should consider two changes for people 10 or more years from retirement. One would raise the retirement age. The other would alter the calculation of benefits: Indexing them to inflation rather than wage increases would substantially reduce the system’s unfunded liabilities.

Neither idea startles any serious person. But Crist, with the reflex of the unreflective, rejected both and said that he would fix Social Security by eliminating “waste” and “fraud,” of which there is little. The system’s problems are the result not of incompetent administration but of improvident promises made by Congress.

Synthetic indignation being the first refuge of political featherweights, Crist’s campaign announced that he believes Rubio’s suggestions are “cruel, unusual and unfair to seniors living on a fixed income.” They are indeed unusual, because flinching from the facts of the coming entitlements crisis is the default position of all but a responsible few, such as Wisconsin’s Rep. Paul Ryan, who has endorsed Rubio. What is ultimately cruel is Crist’s unserious pretense that America faces only palatable choices and that improvident promises can be fully funded with money currently lost to waste and fraud.

At the age of 52 I can say that I don't much worry about retirement.  I can afford not to worry because for a long, long time I have religiously contributed to a 401K.  Prior to the 401K I contributed to an ESOP.  I can't remember thinking that I would depend on Social Security in my retirement years and I have a hard time believing that anyone in my general age group would count on Social Security being there for them.  Still, Rubio and Ryan are among the very few politicians who will admit that Social Security needs a major overhaul and that people in my group need to make alternate plans.  Everyone knows it but no one is willing to say it.  Crist's "fraud and abuse" shtick would be laughable were it not such a serious matter.

The filing deadline for the election is only days away and Crist is still insisting that he is not considering an independent run.  Should he not choose to run as an Independent I can't see him making it to the August primary.  Crist is no longer raking the money in and Rubio is. 

My prediction:  it will be down to Rubio and Meek by the end of June and in November it will be Rubio all the way.

Kerry, Lieberman and Graham, Oh, My!

Despite the fact that every day the false prophets of Global Warming are confronted with the evidence of their duplicity, they still have a friend in John Kerry:

"Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman will unveil their proposal later this month," Kerry spokeswoman Whitney Smith said, adding Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was "committed to making this Congress the one that finally passes comprehensive energy and climate legislation."

… Electric utilities would be the first sector to have pollution controls imposed -- starting in 2012 -- through a "cap and trade" system to bring down carbon emissions with required permits that would be traded in a regulated market.

Factories would join the pollution-reduction system in 2016, industry and environmental sources have been told.

A third sector, transportation, would see a tax levied on refined oil products, a Senate source told Reuters last week, with the expectation it would be passed on to consumers when they buy gasoline and other fuel products.

Well, this must mean that by 2012 all of our economic woes will have been solved. Why else would Kerry, Graham and Lieberman be working on legislation that will by design increase to energy costs to every single American? Think about it, not only would it cost more to heat and cool our homes, and drive our cars, but every good and service that we consume would cost more as well. This comes at the same time that our government is kicking around the idea of instituting a VAT. Perhaps, Sen. Kerry should ask his chauffer what a gallon of gas costs these days, though, I doubt the skyrocketing cost of fuel has the same impact on Kerry as it does the rest of us.

Unlike the politicians who enact legislation based on nothing more than their personal, often skewed vision, any increase in the cost of fuel, electricity, food, etc., has an enormous impact on American families. We simply cannot afford to continue funding Washington’s pet projects.

Congress has just gone through one bruising fight. Are they ready for another one?

Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens Threaten Cheap Publicity Stunt

From the Sunday, London Times:

Richard Dawkins: I will arrest Pope Benedict XVI

RICHARD DAWKINS, the atheist campaigner, is planning a legal ambush to have the Pope arrested during his state visit to Britain “for crimes against humanity”.

Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author, have asked human rights lawyers to produce a case for charging Pope Benedict XVI over his alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

The pair believes they can exploit the same legal principle used to arrest Augusto Pinochet, the late Chilean dictator, when he visited Britain in 1998.

Whatever one thinks of the merit of Dawkins’ case, this smacks of a cheap publicity trick. I am a fan of Hitchens’ work, though I more often than not disagree with him. It saddens me to see him involve himself in an endeavor that appears to be more about ego and self-promotion than justice.

The children who have been abused under the eyes of the Catholic Church deserve justice and some measure of closure. Neither is to be found in a stunt. Dawkins and Hitchens, both known for their heavily inflated egos are acting out of religious hatred and self-promotion while trying to appear to have noble intentions. I would suggest that both should take a deeper, more honest look at their motivations before they continue.

Those Crazy Kids in California Strike Again

Is California the easiest punchline in the world, or what?  Even in the throes of a financial crisis our brethren in Cali make no effort to curb their craziness.  Don Surber has a great post on the abject silliness on the State of Insanity, (or is it inanity?) known as California.  This pretty much sums it up:

LOS ANGELES (AP) – When the city’s Department of Water and Power spent $50,000 on lactation consultants two years ago to assist breast-feeding employees, the utility said it was a humanitarian move aimed at cutting absenteeism.

Okay. 

As a mother who breast fed both of her children, I freely admit that it does not come as easily or naturally as one might think.  However, it also would not have occurred to me that my employer owed me a lactation  consultant.  In the case of the Water and Power Department in LA, the taxpayers are the one's providing the consultants.  This in a city, within a state, who can't pay its bills now.

But why stop there?  Why not provide "diaper changing consultants"?  Not for the newborns, but for the adult children of California who somehow believe that the Government should take care of all their basic and most personal needs. 

Read the entire post.

Frank Rich is a Pompous Ass but Don't Expect Him to Apologize

Frank Rich, of the New York Times, out does himself:

No One is to Blame for Anything

Pardon me, and pardon the pun, but coming from Frank Rich, the song Who's Sorry Now is just too rich.  In one article, Rich managed to tar Alan Greenspan, the Catholic Church, George Bush and everyone who everyone worked for him including, presumably, the White House switchboard operator, etc.  I'm not saying Rich is 100% wrong in his criticism.  It doesn't matter if he is he is right or wrong. 

Frank Rich lacks the moral authority to call anybody out.  If anyone owes an apology it is Rich.  He owes an apology to the millions of patriotic Americans that he has smeared because they dared to disagree with his point of view.  He has repeatedly called every day Americans "racists" because he didn't like their positions on ObamaCare, Cap and Trade, and a myriad of Obama policies.  He vilifies people for thinking for themselves.

I note that Rich didn't include himself on the list of people who owe an apology.  He should have.

Tell the EPA to Stay the Hell Out of Our Homes

I've written about Cap and Trade on many occasions.  Today, Bob Belevedere at The Camp of the Saints, has a Cap and Tax post that hits home.  Literally.

Pull Over The Side Of The Road And Let Me See Your House License

If the Cap And Trade Bill passes, it seems that you will need an EPA-approved license before you can sell your house.

The Mind Numbed Robot is on the case, thanks to a reader who wrote this [big tip of the fedora to The Daley Gator]:

Beginning one year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won’t be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this “Cap & Trade” bill, passed by the House of Representatives. If it is also passed by the Senate, it will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced.

The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure that these voters will get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. And Mrs. Middle Class have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else..

But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won’t be able to sell your house without some bureaucrat’s OK. Yes, you read that right.

The caveat (there always is a caveat) is that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes (“mobile homes”) are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.

I can't put in to words what it meant to me, as a single mother, to find a house that I could afford to buy.  A little "cracker" cottage sitting on the inlet, the house was built in 1923.  As a housewarming present my parents replaced the existing front porch with a Victorian style porch and the Saturday after the closing, Dad brought over a keg and my friends all gathered to get the house ready to move in to.  The women painted while the men went about cutting down a huge oak tree that looked like would come down on its own with one good shove.  The mighty oak proved stronger than it looked.  Good times.

As much as I love the house, it has become a burden.  I completely underestimated what it would cost to maintain a house this old.  Every day it is something else.  The porch has seen too many hurricanes and is being redone next weekend.  It is always something.  Now that the kids have grown and gone and the dogs have died, it isn't the same and I am ready to move on.

A little over a year ago, a (possible) miracle occurred.  The county rezoned my property as part of a revitalization plan.  The house may not be worth squat but the 130 feet of waterfront land is.  Of course we are smack in the middle of a housing bust and there isn't a whole lot of development going on.  Which brings me (finally) to my point.  Under the new EPA rules, I may need to bring my house into compliance, even though it will be torn down.  

The EPA has outgrown its mandate.   The department is injecting itself into every aspects of our lives.  Now they are coming in to our homes.  Private decisions made by and between private individuals are none of the government's concern.  If the government can can enter our homes, what is left?

We cede our rights without realizing it because the government moves slowly and quite frankly, we don't pay much attention.  But now the government has accelerated the pace.  We need to stand up and tell the government that it's power ends at the edge of our property not inside our front door.  It is time to start paying attention.
  

*Note to developers who may be reading-the time to make an offer is before the EPA puts its regulations in place and before the housing market comes back.  Just saying.

Another Grim Tale of Health Care Denied

Congressman Bart Stupak's words about ObamaCare from his resignation speech this morning:

Last month, we finally accomplished what I set out to do 18 years ago - we passed comprehensive national health care reform.

I'm proud to have helped bring it across the finish line for an important reason - it will significantly improve the health and prosperity of our Michigan families.

32 million more Americans, including 38,000 people living in Northern Michigan, will now have health insurance.

More than 197,000 in Northern Michigan will see their costs lowered, and all families will receive important consumer protections so that they no longer have to live in fear of being one illness or injury away from bankruptcy.

And from Don Surber, the grim reality of nationalised health care:

That’s right. Nikki Phelps, a 37-year-old mother of twin 2-year-old boys, and her husband, Bill, have to sell their $300,000 home in order to pay for a cancer fighting drug that her insurer shamelessly won’t provide.

The couple already has depleted its life savings on this drug in her 10-year battle against cancer.

The drug, Sutent, is said to double her life expectancy from her kidney cancer.

Yet there is nothing President Obama can do to force this insurer to do the right thing.

That’s because the insurer is the British government.

You see, Nikki and Bill Phelps live in England, where the mission of the universal health care program is to save money, not lives.

In England, the life and death decisions are made by a committee called the NICE panel.  As Paul Krugman admitted a week ago, ObamaCare empowers an "advisory board" whose decisions on care will be, Krugman said between fits of laughter, final.  Final, indeed.

Haven't heard Nancy or Harry, or even good ol' Bart say too much about the "advisory board".   Never a good idea to let the cat out of the bag too early.  But look to Great Britain or Canada for a clear picture of the future of health care here.  And then vote in November.

Rep. Alan Grayson Sets a Dollar Value on His Constituents

Congressman Alan Grayson said, “There are 308 million people that pay my salary. Do you know what that breaks down to per person?”

An utterly perfect statement followed by an utterly perfect question.  Really.  The short answer is .000564935 cents.  For simplicity's sake let's round up and say that Rep. Grayson's salary of $174,000 per year divided by 308 million citizens is .0006 cents. 

Rep. Alan Grayson had found himself in an untenable position-he had been out of the news for almost one week.  His insatiable ego was growing restless and he needed something to put himself back in the spotlight.  Viola!  The Orange County (Florida) Republican Executive Committee was holding a meeting in public.  Just the venue he needed to thrust himself back in to the news.

And thus it began:

On Thursday, April 8th, 2010, Congressman Alan Grayson, Democrat in Florida’s 8th district, interrupted a district meeting of the local Orange County Republican Executive Committee. The meeting was being held at Perkins, a family restaurant.

…Matthew Falconer, candidate for Orange County Mayor, quickly challenged Alan’s rudeness. Grayson demanded not to be interrupted, but Falconer quickly reminded the congressman that he is in fact interrupting their meeting.

Linda O’Keefe, member of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee and extraordinary patriot volunteer with the Orlando Tea Party said, “I’m wondering if Grayson realizes that we do still, for now, have the right to assemble! But can’t we have a meeting without being interrupted by our congressman?”

Currently, there are 12, Republican candidates looking to send Alan Grayson to the unemployment line in November.

Tom Tillison of the Tea Party Patriots Live radio show and the Orlando Tea Party, had quite a lively discussion with Alan afterwards for 10 minutes. Tillison said, “I let him know that he’s a congressman and he needs to act like one. I reminded him that these are his constituents.” Tillison asked Grayson, “Don’t you feel that you at least owe them an explanation for your recent votes?”, to which Alan replied, “I don’t owe them anything, they’re trying to defeat me.”

Tillison followed, “You are a U.S. Congressman and you approach these people acting like a thug.”….to which Grayson responded that he was “being attacked.”

It was during this outburst that Rep. Alan Grayson let his constituents in Florida's 8th District know exactly how much they are worth to him- .0006 cents.  Their opinions mean the same to him as do the opinions of all the other 308 million people in the United States.  Not even one penny.  Bet they feel special now.

Unable to Defeat Rubio, Crist Goes After Bush

Crist Threatens to Veto GOP Education Bill (Update: Crist Won't Rule Out Independent Run)

"The people" versus the Republican legislature?

BY John McCormack

On the same day that Marco Rubio announced he raked in a whopping $3.6 million in first quarter, Charlie Crist offered the latest signal yet that he may drop out of the Republican primary and run as an independent. Crist is "making noise about a possible veto of the bill that abolishes teacher tenure and tying teacher pay to test scores," the St. Petersburg Times reports.

Crist said he "would absolutely agree" that he is now setting himself apart from the Republican-controlled Legislature, saying: "If there are things that are happening that you don't think are in the best interest of the people of Florida, you know, I stand up for them, and that's what I'm doing," Crist said.

The Orlando Sentinel's Mike Thomas adds context: "Charlie goes nuclear on Republicans"

[Crist] vetoed a political fund raising bill sought by legislative Republicans. He has joined the call for a federal investigation into abuse of the state party’s AMEX.

He has pledged to veto an insurance regulation bill sought by Republicans.

And now in a major “in your face” to Jeb Bush and state party chairman John Thrasher, he says he may veto a merit pay bill for teachers, along with an end to tenure. Bush is the driving force behind this bill, and has enlisted Sen. Thrasher, a longtime ally.

If Crist carries through with the veto threat, Jeb will endorse Marco in short order and Charlie will have no friends left in the party’s hierarchy. That means no money, no endorsements, no nothing. His odds of winning in August will go from real slim to less than none barring some major revelation about Marco.

Charlie was stung by Bush's pronouncement that his (Crist's) support of the Stimulus bill was "unforgivable".
He had counted on Jeb to let the Stimulus screw up to pass without comment.  But Bush didn't, and now Crist is hitting back by trying to torpedo Bush's pet project, education reform and in doing so Crist is trying to curry favor with Florida's very powerful Teacher's Union just in case he decides to run for Senate as an Independent.  
 
Crist has no more chance of winning as an Independent than he does as a Republican but an Independent run would make it more difficult, though certainly not impossible, for Marco Rubio to defeat Democrat Kendrick Meek.  Crist decision comes down to one thing-how vindictive does he want to be?  Crist had expected a cakewalk in to the Senate.  When Rubio emerged as the new darling of the Republican Party despite the NRSC's backing of Crist, Crist was caught flatfooted.  
 
With no chance of winning, Crist may well decide to put his pride ahead of his party. 

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Voters Are Stupid

That Debbie, she’s a hoot, isn’t she? Her latest attempt to show her contempt for the voters in her district:

Rep. Wasserman Schultz Insists Health Care Law Doesn't Require Individuals to Buy Insurance
 
(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D.-Fla.) is insisting that the new health care law she voted for last month does not mandate that individuals buy health insurance, despite language in the law that plainly says otherwise.

At an April 5 town hall meeting in Fort Lauderdale (see video below), a constituent asked Wasserman Shultz where the Constitution authorized Congress to mandate that individuals buy health insurance. She responded that the new health care law did not require individuals to buy health insurance.

In a written statement to CNSNews.com on Wednesday, her press secretary, Jonathan Beeton, said it was true that the health care law did not mandate that individuals buy health insurance and that Wasserman Schultz stood by her assertion at the townhall meeting.

“We actually have not required in this law that you carry health insurance,” Wasserman Schultz said at the townhall meeting.

“Yes, this is accurate,” Beeton said in his statement to CNSNews.com. “You have a choice of insuring yourself with affordable coverage, or paying an assessment that will offset the burden you place on other insured Americans and taxpayers by not being insured.”

 Okay, we don't have to buy insurance but we have to pay for it either in premiums or penalties.  That is what constitutes "choice" in Wasserman Schultz's mind.  In either case the government is forcing individuals to pay for something that they may not want.  Wasserman Schultz's cutesy parsing of the facts shows her disdain for the voters in her district coupled with an inability or unwillingness to honestly explain and defend her vote on ObamaCare.

The Obama Administration Clarifies What Is and Is Not Acceptable Speech

Breaking News! The Obama Administration will no longer use the terms “Islamic terrorist”, “Radical Islam”, or “Islamic jihad”. It was announced that the terms “Conservative terrorist”, “Radical Conservative” and “Tea Baggers” are still acceptable and should be used to describe the Administration’s enemies as often as possible.

The MSM is Acting Odder Than Usual

I don’t which came as a bigger shock-that the MSM suddenly discovered minority Tea Party members or that CNN, mid ratings free fall, has discovered that the Tea Party activists are just swell. Michelle Malkin explains the CNN epiphany:


Desperate CNN: Hey, those Tea Party nuts aren’t so bad after all. Please, please tune in!

Don’t expect the “minorities are Tea Ba**gers, too” theme to catch on. First, admitting that Tea Party events are minority friendly contradicts the “Tea Ba**gers are knuckle dragging, robe and pointy hat wearing racists” theme which is so important to those in the media who would rather attack people than discuss ideas. Second, it is taken for granted by “progressives” that blacks and other minority groups owe fealty to the Democratic party. Any minority who supports conservative ideals is immediately stripped of their “authenticity”.

The CNN thing is amusing in a “who ya trying to fool?” way. If CNN thinks that Conservatives in general, or Tea Party activists in particular, will set aside years of being dumped on by the network because of one not completely horrible report they are going to be terribly disappointed.

In any case, both reports are snicker worthy and that in and of itself is a good thing.

Arianna Takes a Smacking

Via NewsBusters


Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared on the Morning Joe to talk about his recent endorsement of Marco Rubio in Florida’s upcoming Republican Senate primary. Also appearing on the show was Huff n Puff’s Arianna Huffington. Huffington, in typical airhead fashion, didn’t possess the needed attention span to stay on topic. Rather than discussing Rubio, Huffington attacked Giuliani on his hiring of Bernie Kerick, his failed presidential bid and his support of waterboarding.

Giuliani is certainly no wilting flower and he did not take kindly to Huffington’s personal attacks. He and host Scarborough teamed up and completely eviscerated Huffington. Hopefully (though doubtfully) Huffington will think twice the next time she’s contemplating getting personal with one of her betters.
 

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

Americans are Made of Sterner Stuff than Our European Cousins

I never thought I’d say this but, I disagree with Mark Steyn. Profoundly. He writes:

On the matter of Paul Rahe vs Mark Steyn raised yesterday, a couple of reactions. First:

With our near-permanent welfare class and a generation of kids who’ve been told that they are children into their late 20’s, I cannot imagine a prolonged revolt against Obamacare... When the outrage wanes, a lot of people are going to tell themselves that, well, if the government is giving things away, they might as well get in on it.

Second:

Plus there's the Katrina Culture. Did any of those "Help Us" types waiting on the "gubmit" to rescue them look capable of crossing the Delaware to you? They'd have been more inclined to steal Washington's boots.

Congressman Paul Ryan writes:

...In 2004, 20 percent of US households were getting about 75 percent of their income from the federal government.

In other words, one out of five families in America is already government dependent. Another 20 percent were receiving almost 40 percent of their income from federal programs, so another one in five has become government reliant for their livelihood.

All told, 60 percent - three out of five households in America - were receiving more government benefits and services (in dollar value) than they were paying back in taxes.

That is not the demographic profile of the 13 colonies.

It's not only a numbers game. Even in the 13 colonies, a majority of people were not of an actively "revolutionary" disposition. In the last 40 years, the left didn't hollow out every important American institution from the grade school to Hollywood because they represented mass opinion, but because they wanted it the most. The question is whether opponents of Obama's dependency culture are up to their own "long march".

Look, I’ll be the first to admit that we screwed up. I am including myself in that “we”. Card carrying, life long Republicans who espoused small government, less regulation, lower taxes, yada, yada, sat on our ever widening tushies while government grew and in turn, regulated and taxed the holy snot out of us. No excuses.

But, as Rahe points out (at the link) we are not EuroWeenies. It took a lot but we have seen the direction our government is going in and we are not buying tickets for that bus.

Keep our kids on our insurance until they turn 26? Please. By age twenty-six we expect our “children” to be adults. Yeah, those first few weeks when they leave are rough. Six months later we’ve changed the locks.

Katrina is not indicative of the citizens in this country as a whole. Have you heard about Charly, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne? Not so much? That’s because when those four hurricanes came in back to back and pounded Florida one after another we took care of ourselves and we took care of each other. Think of the devastating floods we had. Do you hear about them months, let alone years later? No. The citizens of New Orleans may not be up to crossing the Delaware but those of us who haven’t spent our entire existence sucking on the government’s teat damn well are.

The people in New Orleans waited for the government to rescue them while buses sat unused and eventually flooded. No one else in this country aspires to that.

It was pretty darned easy getting in to this mess and it’ll be pretty darned hard getting out. But we will get out. Remember, we left Europe for a reason.

It's Hard to Hide from Bad Choices

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and Rep. Paul Hodes returned to New Hampshire and found the reception a bit chilly, or as Politico put it:


Spring forecast: Incivility with a chance of rage

Is anyone surprised that after being fed a steady diet of crap sandwiches since January 20, 2009 that constituents have developed a bad case of indigestion? If anyone in Congress bought the Pelosi/Reid/Obama “just vote for it, they’ll get over it” line they will find out in short order that it wasn’t just the voters who were fed something less than savory.

The members in Congress had a choice to make-they could either represent their constituents or they could lick the boots of their party leadership. I’m guessing that right about now many in Congress are deciding that the taste of leather is not so sweet. By November, the taste will have turned down right bitter.

This Isn't News to Me

Talk about blowing the narrative.

The Hill:

Four in 10 Tea Party members are either Democrats or Independents, according to a new national survey.

Not quite the demographics pushed by, well, everyone. Everyone on the Left anyway. Of course, if you actually attend a Tea Party event it becomes oblivious rather quickly that they are made up of a diverse group of people whose major commonality is a desire to get government out of their lives.

The national breakdown of the Tea Party composition is 57 percent Republican, 28 percent Independent and 13 percent Democratic, according to three national polls by the Winston Group, a Republican-leaning firm that conducted the surveys on behalf of an education advocacy group. Two-thirds of the group call themselves conservative, 26 are moderate and 8 percent say they are liberal…

…The group is united around two issues – the economy/jobs and reducing the deficit. They believe that cutting spending is the key to job creation and favor tax cuts as the best way to stimulate the economy. That said 61 percent of Tea Party members believe infrastructure spending creates jobs. Moreover, given the choice Tea Party members favor 63-32 reducing unemployment to 5 percent over balancing the budget.

It isn’t a “purely homogeneous” group, said Winston.

The group has a favorable view of Republicans generally but that drops from 71 to 57 percent if they’re asked about Congressional Republicans. Congressional Democrats are viewed very unfavorably by 75 percent of Tea Party members – a uniquely strong antipathy. An overwhelming 95 percent said “Democrats are taxing, spending, and borrowing too much.”

The group also vehemently dislikes President Barack Obama – even more so than those who called themselves Republicans in the survey. Over 80 percent of Tea Party members disapprove of the job he’s doing as president, whereas 77 percent of Republican respondents said they disapprove of Obama. The Tea Party members are also strongly opposed to the Democrats’ healthcare plan, with 82 percent saying they oppose it -- only 48 percent of respondents overall were opposed.

The Tea Party represents an ideology of what government should be. Yes, the Tea Party does lean towards the Republican Party but that does not mean that Republican’s can count on their vote. Republicans who veer towards the same old big government tax and spend coupled with heavy regulation (paging Sen. Graham) can find themselves in a world of trouble with the Tea Party members.

Least surprising is that there are Democrats who have become Tea Party activists. Not all Democrats are Barack Obama Socialist Liberals. Many, who have never voted for a Republican in their lives, are deeply unhappy with the direction that their party has taken.

Regardless of the makeup of the Tea Party, it has become a force to be reckoned with. One can either rail against it, ala The New York Times and MSNBC, or make fun of it ala Maher, but ignore it strictly at your own peril.

Gen. Petraeus for President?

Can our brothers across the pond be as sick of the One and Only as we are?  Toby Harnden, writing in the Telegraph, pretty aptly sums up the political mood stateside:

Americans have never been so disgusted with their politicians. More than three-quarters of Americans disapprove of Congress. President Barack Obama's favourability ratings have slumped to below 50 per cent and he is no longer trusted or believed by many who voted for him.

Republicans are faring little better and the growth of the Tea Party movement reflects the widespread disgust with Washington and the political class. Incumbents across the board are vulnerable in November's mid-term elections.

Many voters yearn for an outsider, someone with authenticity, integrity and proven accomplishment. Someone who has not spent their life plotting how to ascend the greasy pole, adjusting every utterance for maximum political advantage.

In this toxic climate, perhaps the only public institution that has increased in prestige in recent years is the American military. Its officers are looked upon, as General George Patton once noted, as "the modern representatives of the demi-gods and heroes of antiquity".

Where better to look for Obama's successor, therefore, than in the uniformed ranks? Not since 1952, when a certain Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during the Second World War, was elected President, have the chances of a military man winning the White House been more propitious.

Harnden's answer to what ails America-Gen. David Petraeus.  Well, we could do worse.  Petraeus is brilliant, accomplished and disciplined.  In other words, he is not Obama.  There is just one small problem, Petraeus insists that he isn't running. No how, no way, "read my lips"... I think he's interested.
 
Americans are looking for someone they can trust.  Having dedicated his life in service of the United States, Petraeus fits the bill.  Beyond that, Petraeus is plain spoken.  Lord knows, we are sick to death of nuance.  Pair him up with Rep. Paul Ryan and we have leadership.
 
Remember leadership?  The Pansy Gang from Chicago isn't leadership.  Smoke and mirrors isn't leadership.  We have dug ourselves into a deep dark hole and sweet talk, the forte of politicians, won't get us back out.  A Petraeus/Ryan team could have the right combination of backbone and intelligence to put us back on track.
 
Certainly worth thinking about.

Easter Smiles

TrogloPundit has the The Week in Automotivators.  Each are very good but the last is my favorite.  While there, check out Trog's current favorite quote and favorite picture.  Well done, Sir Trog.

Paco and POWIP both remind us that our Lord is Risen.

From Weasel Zippers:

John 11:25-26


Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die

Michelle Malkin couples news of the day with inspirational videos.

On an entirely different note, the Brideof Rove brings Easter greetings from the Keys.  Only in my beloved Florida...

Obi's Sister brings us the empty tomb and Five Reasons to Love Him.

Please enjoy the greetings from Coffee Milk Conservative, Ruby Slippers, Adrienne's Corner, Pundette and No Sheeples Here.