CPAC Straw Poll Winner: Ron Paul

In 2008 Ron Paul won the hearts of a small but zealous arm of the Republican Party. At this year's CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) Straw Poll, the Zacchaeus branch took center stage by giving their candidate a meaningless victory. The results:

• Ron Paul 33%
• Mitt Romney 22%
• Sarah Palin 7%
• Tim Pawlenty 6%

Must have been a blow to Pawlenty who was in attendance while Palin was not.

Naturally the poll is meaningless (I think Barry Goldwater won the 2008 vote) but it does tell us something. Paul is a Libertarian and it is precisely his personal freedom mantra that is resonating with the anti-Obama, anti-big government crowd. And while Paul leaves a lot to be desired in my book, his freedom approach is becoming a road map to victory.

2 Democrats Jump To The GOP In New York

According to The New York Times two Democratic state senators, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens, switched to the Republican party giving the GOP a 32-30 majority in the New York senate.

This should come as little surprise. If sharing a state with Chuck Schumer doesn't cure you of your liberal leanings than the disease may have already rendered you intellectually terminal.

Arlen Specter's Lust For Power

You know, I always try to see the good in people. Really. When Lucy pulls that football away from Charlie Brown's lame kick, I figure the kid just needs to learn a lesson. When Lady Macbeth plotted the murder of King Duncan I thought, "what's a woman supposed to do in a patriarchal society?" And when America kept voting for Sanjaya I admired his talent-free way of making pre-teens cry. But Arlen Specter?

I admit that even I have trouble finding the good in Arlen Specter these days. It's not just the fact that he left the Republican party to join the Democrats -- he's certainly not the first politician to leave one party for the other. What bothers me is his reason.

Specter Explained:

"In the course of the last several months ... I have traveled the state and surveyed the sentiments of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania and public opinion polls, observed other public opinion polls and have found that the prospects for winning a Republican primary are bleak."

He left the party because he couldn't win the Republican primary. So, it's not about principles, it's about power.

Like Benedict Arnold, who also figured he was on the losing side so turned turncoat, history can now record Arlen Specter as a man driven by one thing: his lust for power.

Of course, there was another interesting point that the former Republican made during his announcement. He made it clear that the issue which separated him from his former constituency was the trillion-dollar pork laden stimulus bill, which he supported. Thank you, Senator, for pointing out that the Democrats are responsible for that debt delivering disaster. Let's hope the voters remember that nugget during the next election cycle and those responsible will be booted out for stripping our national wealth and sent off to a new career where they will do less harm: perhaps stirring the beans at Taco Bell.

Rebirth Of The RNC

It took six ballots, but the Republican National Committee finally elected a new Chairman: Michael Steele. After his victory, Steele addressed the gathering with plans for a new kind of GOP:

“As a little boy growing up in this town . . . (long pause) This is awesome.”

“To those who stand in difference to us, it’s time for something completely different, and we’re going to bring it to you.”

“We’re going to bring this party to every corner, every boardroom, every street and every community in this country. . . . To those of you who want to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over.”

“To our friends in the Northeast, get ready baby, because it’s time to turn it on. We’re going to do what we always do well, which is win. We’re going to win in the Northeast, and we’re going to keep winning in the South. We’re going to win with a new storm in the Midwest. In the West, we’re gonna lock it down and win there, too.”

Perhaps, buoyed the the revitalized economic conservatism displayed by House Republicans' with their firm rejection of Barack Obama's pork-laden "Stimulus" (read "spending orgy") bill, the RNC turned to a man who's conservative values are unquestioned and unquenchable.

Many know Steele only from his television appearances and occasional time substituting for Sean Hannity. There's no doubt that he is a dynamic speaker, a strong television personality and a fiscal conservative. But can he lead the party to resurgence? Only time will tell. But one this is certain, with this clear thinking product of strong Catholic values, the Republican Party is about to get a wake up call.

Rush To Stimulus

When you're a teenager you live in search of instant stimulus. You rush to find it as quickly and as often as possible. But as President, shouldn't you take a little time in thoughtful consideration? Instead of healthy bipartisan discussion, the Obama administration has rushed ahead with their economic stimulus plan, stifling debate and demonstrating all of the self-control and preparation of a math club member who stumbles across a willing cheerleader.

Perhaps the administration was thinking, "Why have a healthy debate about this stimulus package. I mean, we're only talking about a cost to the American taxpayers that's estimated to exceed the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined." Oh, wait . . . haven't they been complaining about that for years? Anyway, what's the big deal? They decided to shut down Gitmo within a year without having a plan of what to do with the detainees, and those are terrorists and killers. This is just money. And best of all, it's not even their money.

Today's House vote went about as expected with Democrats lining up in support and every Republican voting against the $819 billion stimulus package that contains more pork than my mother's Ham & Soggy Greenbean recipe. The dissent was perhaps best voiced by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland:

"Mr. President, I think our obsessive borrowing has fully mortgaged my kids and my grandkids," Bartlett told Obama, according to statement from Bartlett's office. "Now we're working on mortgaging my two great-grandkids.

"Mr. President, I think it's more than a little bit selfish to try to solve our economic problems which we created by burdening future generations yet to be born," he added.

Of course, given Obama's earlier executive order to federally fund international groups that promote or perform abortions, that little problem of burdening "future generations yet to be born" may just take care of itself.

My complaint here is twofold.

1) When you're about to spend loads of loot like this you should at least spend a month or so looking over the situation.

B) When you claim that you are coming to Washington to build bridges and unity you may want to at least pretend to listen to the opposition.

Of course, if you believe our fledgling President, there is no need to listen to the opposition because nobody disagrees with him . . . I guess he's hoping that nobody tells the American people about the army of economists identified by the Cato Institute who think he's nuts.

What Do You Get When Democrats Run Things?

A friend of mine sent this to me as an e-mail (thanks, Tim). Listen, I don't know if these facts are 100% true or not, but I'm not going to waste the time bouncing the data against snopes or myth-busting websites because, if it's not 100% legit, it sure as hell could be.

So what do the poorest places in America have in common (besides really bad polo venues)?

• Detroit , MI (1st on the poverty rate list) hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1961
• Buffalo , NY (2nd) hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1954
• Cincinnati , OH (3rd)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1984
• Cleveland , OH (4th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1989
• Miami , FL (5th) has never had a Republican mayor
• St. Louis , MO (6th)....hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1949
• El Paso , TX (7th) has never had a Republican mayor
• Milwaukee , WI (8th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1908
• Philadelphia , PA (9th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1952
• Newark , NJ (10th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1907.

Yup, there seems to be a trend.

Video Proof: Democrats Covered Up Fannie & Freddie

The "media" is treating the truth about the Fannie and Freddie debacle the way I treated my parents when they showed up at McDonald's after homecoming. But ignoring the truth doesn't mean it won't get out there.

Here is another MUST WATCH, a video record of congressional denial:



Spread the truth!

And another H/T to Z for his great work in tracking this corruption on geeeeeZ! (and for linking to Social Sense for the above video gem!)


UPDATE: "I am the only member of the congressional gay spouse caucus. On Capitol Hill, Barney [Frank] always introduces me as his lover." Herb Moses wrote in the Washington Post in 1991. Oh, did I mention that Herb Moses was Fannie Mae's assistant director for product initiatives. Can Frank enunciate "Conflict of interest"?

Love This Image

And isn't it interesting that the DNC believes the "Country First" slogan is an attack? That should tell you everything that you need to know.

The Standard For Republicans

Love this cartoon I spotted on Dollar Two Ninety-Eight. Funny stuff concerning the treatment of Governor Palin from an excellent Blog.

Another Take On McCain's Speech

Rick over at Freadom Nation has a great take on John McCain's convention speech and even included the text of the Senator's stirring conclusion. Incredible and genuine gems from the heart like,

I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency, for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people.

I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again; I wasn't my own man anymore; I was my country's.

Check it out at Freadom Nation: The best candidate for America: John McCain

McCain Beats Obama In TV Ratings

Remember the media raving about how many people tuned in to watch Barack H. Obama's acceptance speech? In fact, I think there was even mention about what a hit it was among Venusians and Saturnians. I wonder why we haven't seen the same type of coverage concerning this bit of data?

Republican presidential candidate John McCain beat Democratic rival Barack Obama in the crucial battle to attract U.S. television viewers during their race to the White House, according to figures released on Friday.

Nielsen Media Research said a record 38.9 million TV viewers watched McCain accept the Republican nomination on Thursday, slightly more than the 38.3 million people who tuned in for Obama's speech last week.

McCain's tally was believed to be the biggest commercial TV audience every for a single night of a U.S. political convention, Nielsen said. The Republican convention in St. Paul also attracted more average viewers overall than the Democratic Party convention in Denver last week.

John McCain: Blessed by Misfortune

Pundits will spend some time examining his convention acceptance speech as well the should. It was remarkable in several ways. He focused on his maverick image, his non-partisan mentality and his willingness to fight corruption wherever it exists -- including in his own party. But I don't care about any of that tonight. You see, tonight John McCain gave his lengthiest description of his time as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton. And he did so with grace and humility: admitting his woeful pride at the beginning and how he eventually became a broken man who needed others to regain health and dignity.

I'm sure millions of Obama supporters rolled their eyes at the story before giving one another a here-we-go-again wink. But for me . . . for me, I am awestruck every time I hear it.

John McCain was shot down, captured, then spent a couple of years with broken bones that would never fully heal, subjected to physical and emotional torture.

When his captors discovered who he was (or more importantly, who his father was) they offered to release him. McCain admitted that he thought about it. He wanted to leave hell and return to the people and country that he loved. But McCain knew the code. He refused release until all those who had been captured before him were released and was rewarded for that decision with four more years of daily torture.

Tonight John McCain said that he was blessed by this misfortune. He explained how it transformed his world view from self-love to duty. But when I think of the circumstances I wonder if I would have suffered this "blessing" when offered early release. Would you?

God Bless America. And God Bless John McCain.

Palin Delivers At The Convention

WOW!

The mainstream media has spent days trying to destroy her. Pundits questioned whether she would whither of deliver with her convention speech. And unless you are an O-drenched MSNBC political correspondent it's hard to argue with the fact that Palin delivered.

Sarah Palin delivered a powerful speech that provided personal bio and political barrages. She kept it real, embracing her small-town heritage while confessing the big-time successes she has had as a reformer. Her are some nuggets from the speech for you to enjoy.

"Here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country."

"Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys."

"Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

"I might add that in small towns we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening."

"The American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of 'personal discovery.' This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organizer."

"This is a man [Obama] who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word “victory,” except when he’s talking about his own campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of the crowd fades away, when the stadium lights go out and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot … when that happens, what exactly is our opponent’s plan?"

"What does he actually seek to accomplish after he’s done turning back the waters and healing the planet?"

"Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."

"He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years, and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight. And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief."

Will Republicans Lead The Way For Women Again?

With the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate, the GOP is in a place to once again provide a first for women. Sure, Ferraro and Clinton led the way seeking nomination on a presidential ticket, but neither of them made the big score. If the McCain/Palin ticket wins in November all of that will change as the glass ceiling shatters and some of the West Wing urinals will need to be replaced with female-friendly commodes. For the first time a Woman will have been elected on a presidential ticket.

What other female firsts have the Republicans given us? Here are a couple critical ones:

In 1916, Montana Republican, Jeanette Rankin, became the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. And this was before the 19th Amendment was passed to give women the right to vote.

Ronald Reagan gave us another first when he nominated Sandra Day O'Connor as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

This is not to say that Republicans are always the first when it comes to women and high-ranking political figures. After all, the Democrats did give us Bill Clinton -- The first U.S. President credibly accused of raping a woman.

UPDATE: Why is it that the Democratic party believes that Obama has enough experience to be President, but Palin doesn't have enough experience to be Vice President? Could it be because he's a man and she's a woman?

Who Will Be John McCain's Choice For Vice President?

As with Obama's decision to pick Joe Biden as a running mate, it's hard to steer away from conventional wisdom when it comes to the choice John McCain will make in the next day or so. I fully expect Mac to pull safely from the short list of candidates that pundits swat back and forth like a slow-motion, snooze-inducing shuttlecock. Will it be Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Tom Ridge or Charlie Crist? Sure, it's fun to talk about more dramatic possibilities like Colon Powell, Rudi, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Joe Lieberman or Condoleezza Rice, but I expect McCain to combat B.H. Obama's hollow promise of undefined change with an old-fashioned recipe of two WASPs with stingers.

My prediction: Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty is a safe choice who will certainly lock up Minnesota as a red state and probably bring Wisconsin in tow. OK, now that I've taken care of that, let's talk about the choice that I think McCain SHOULD make.

My preference: Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin

In my mind Palin is the perfect choice for a number of reasons.

• She is a woman who may force disenfranchised Hillary supporters to consider punching a chad intentionally for the GOP.
• She is a young, fresh face added to the mix. Talk to me about change!
• Her shocking addition to the ticket would focus the human interest/social barrier angle on the McCain campaign.
• She supports the 2nd amendment.
• She can pull in conservatives with her pro-life stance.
• Like McCain, she is an environmentalist.
• She has a history of fiscal conservatism.
• She is not linked to the "unpopular" Bush administration.
• While she lacks "experience," it is less an issue as V.P.
• She is easy on the eyes.
• And she gets her picture taken with dead bears.

Come on, John. Think outside of the box on this one. You have a chance to make real history! Add Sarah to the ticket and let's take it to the White House . . .

Happy Earth Day From George W. Bush

Why is it that no matter what a Republican politician does he can never be seen as environmentally friendly? Here we are on "Earth Day" when the Bush administration released its plans to push fuel economy standards to their highest levels in U.S. history and you would have thought he'd just released his Orcs into Mirkwood with chainsaws. Come on Greenpeace, where's the love? According to reports, the new federal mileage plan is tougher than Gordie Howe on game day.

In the 2011 model year, automakers would be required to post the biggest jump to 27.8 mpg, up 2.5 mpg over the 2010 model year requirements. That equates to 31.2 mpg for passenger cars and 25 mpg for light trucks. By model year 2013, the overall average jumps to 30.5 mpg.

The final two years bring the smallest increase -- just 0.5 mpg in model year 2014 and 0.6 mpg in 2015. Manufacturers will have to meet different overall requirements, based on the footprint, or size, of their vehicle fleets.

What does that mean in real numbers?

Porsche, for example, will have to average 41.3 mpg by the 2015 model year, while Chrysler will have to meet just 33.6 mpg by 2015, based on product plans submitted to NHTSA. The energy bill approved by Congress doubled fines for automaker that don't meet fuel economy requirements.

The bill required NHTSA to set yearly requirements in order to meet a combined industry wide average of 35 mpg by 2020.

By 2015, Ford will have to average 35.5 mpg, GM 34.7 mpg and Toyota 34.6 mpg. On the light-truck side, Toyota has to average 28 mpg by 2015, Ford 28.8 mpg and GM 27.4 mpg.

So the man who liberals believe keeps his bedroll in big oil's bunkhouse has just flipped them an historic political bird. And that's not the only big business Bush is hammering with this green policy. According to a report in The Detroit News:

The 417-page proposal also confirms a Detroit News report today that it will cost automakers $47 billion to comply, including $31 billion for light trucks and $16 billion for passenger cars through 2015.

But the environmental impact will be considerable. According to U.S. Transportation Secretary, Mary Peters, "Americans will conserve 55 billion gallons of fuel during the lifetime of vehicles covered by the regulation, saving $100 billion. The proposal would reduce 521 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas."

Of course, those who keep an open mind toward the President's environmental policies are not shocked to see this proposal come out of his administration since he has previously established rigorous emission requirements for diesel engines in this country. But then, this is the guy who, prior to running for president, owned his Texas ranch that employs solar and geothermal power with a rain-water irrigation system while "environmentalist" Barbara Streisand was providing air-conditioned housing for her livestock. Seems to me that if we really want to clean up the earth it may require cleaning out the political agenda of the environmental movement with the Hoover of truth.

Don't Worry, Be Happy, Be Republican

According to a survey performed by the Pew Research Center Republicans are happier than Democrats across all income levels. The survey reported that only 28% of Democrats considered themselves "very happy" while 47% of Republicans rated themselves that high. And apparently this is not a recent phenomena; Republicans have scored a higher "happiness quota" every year since the survey started in 1972.

Columnist George Will has an opinion as to why (go figure):

Begin with a paradox: Conservatives are happier than liberals because they are more pessimistic. Conservatives think the Book of Job got it right ("Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward"), as did Adam Smith ("There is a great deal of ruin in a nation"). Conservatives understand that society in its complexity resembles a giant Calder mobile -- touch it here and things jiggle there, and there, and way over there. Hence conservatives acknowledge the Law of Unintended Consequences, which is: The unintended consequences of bold government undertakings are apt to be larger than, and contrary to, the intended ones.

Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong, they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.

Interesting, George. I agree with much of it . . . especially the part at the end that I quick triggered with bold italics. But I think the giddyup in the GOP extends beyond conservatives to moderates as well and can be more completely explained through a series of contrasts between the parties . . . and note that I am writing about the parties as a whole rather than certain individuals within since I would never accuse Ted Kennedy of being a downer:

• Republicans believe in ideas that are defined by your actions; Democrats believe that actions are irrelevant so long as your intentions were liberal . . er, progressive.
• Republicans believe that America provides hope to the world; Democrats believe global warming, current terrorist levels, the price of gas and AIDs are primarily our fault.
• Republicans use an elephants as their symbol; Democrats use a jackass.
• Republicans think that some morality is absolute; Democrats believe that morality is a cultural construct.
• Republican President George W. Bush met with the Pope this week; Democratic President Jimmy Carter met with Hamas this week.
• Republicans believe in individual rights; Democrats believe in group identity.
• Republicans have had John Wayne, Bo Derek and Chuck Norris; Democrats have had Barbara Streisand, Jane Fonda and Sean Penn.
• Republicans believe that government is the people's baby; Democrats believe that government is the people's mommy.
• Republicans believe in self-determination; Democrats believe in the cult of victimhood.
• Republicans wave flags, own guns and have jobs; Democrats wave protest signs, own designer cats and . . . well, if they have jobs must get a lot of time off to wave those protest signs.
• Republicans believe that ideological diversity is important; Democrats believe that diversity should only be skin deep.
• Republicans believe that Democrats are stupid; Democrats believe that Republicans are evil.
• Republicans believe in class mobility; Democrats believe in class warfare.
• Republicans believe in the wonderfully unique properties of humanity; Democrats believe that humans are just smart animals with opposable thumbs.
• Republicans believe that Terrorism is a real threat that we can defeat if we stand firm; Democrats believe that it's not nearly so bad as, say, climate change and shouldn't be discussed in debates since it is obviously just a word the GOP uses to scare up some votes and there aren't really radicals who would kill us if they could, anyway.
• Republicans believe in the American Dream; Democrats believe Americans have been reamed.

Little wonder Democrats are depressed. If I had such a negative view of my country, my evil opposition in government and my chance to succeed without help I'd, well, I'd have a little trouble turning my frown upside down as well.

If you happen to be a Democrat who doesn't believe in at least half of the things I've assigned to your party above, congratulations! You must be in the "very happy" 28% that broke from the party mold. In fact, you may even be a closet Republican.