Conservatism 101

I was talking to one of my dear friends the other night who is attending Columbia for his second Masters. He is an Obama supporter and a life-long Democrat. He understands that I am a Conservative and a McCain/Palin supporter. We are friends and we have had long debates over what is "right" and what is "left."

At the end of our friendly phone call, he made a point to tell me, "You know, liberals are the smartest and most educated in our country." To which I replied, "Well, I consider myself smart and educated, and I am not a liberal." And this is the impetus for my writing this blog.

It is a wonder to me that someone, who believes to know--because they have had the luxury of an Ivy league education--what is best for the average American. It is a wonder to me that one thinks that he has a better understanding of "Joe the Plumber's" needs, because he hires a guy like Joe to fix his plumbing. (Hey, I hire a plumber too. They are what makes things run). And it is a wonder to me that this person thinks that he or his colleagues are smarter and "better" because of their Ivy league education.

Elitism? At its' finest. Please do not tell me that I am not the "most" smart or educated because I am not a liberal. Ivy league education is a privilege. Hard knocks are not, but they can be an advantage.

As an American, I hope to have the freedom and the choices to know what is best for me, my family, my community and my country.

Look, most of us, in our own way, contribute to this country--whether it be through time, work, taxes or charity. We all have a common interest in doing what is best for ourselves and for our community. But, we all have a different opinion on how our contributions are allocated and recognized. The difference, the sheer difference, between a liberal and a conservative is this: A liberal will tell you how they will spend your money. A conservative will let you spend it how you see fit. If you don't have any money? Well, FDR put in place the first of many programs that have been abused by the federal government and welfare opportunists. I am not saying that these programs are not needed, but these programs were developed on assistance, NOT on dependence.

Now come the Taxes! Social Security. AMT. Local Taxes. Federal Taxes. State Taxes. Gas Taxes. Food Taxes. Retail Taxes. Property Taxes. Death taxes. Marriage Taxes. Capital Gains Taxes. Property Taxes. Liquor/Tobacco Taxes. User Taxes. And the list goes on and on and on and on.

Now, imagine my surprise when I hear that Obama/Biden want to just tax more. Instead of creating opportunity, they choose to inhibit it by giving handouts. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had forced banks to lend to anyone and everyone. The list of government programs and opportunities for the "needy" go on and on and on. WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY GO? HOW HAVE THESE PROGRAMS, IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, LIFTED THE POOR? Oh, and by the way, if you ever want to pay more taxes because you feel like you haven't paid enough, there is a form for that. Talk to your accountant.

You see, most of use working, middle class, Americans DO NOT have an Ivy League education. Most of us working Americans do pay taxes. Most of us working American's have never wanted kids to go without education, elderly to go without healthcare, and the environment to go without consideration and conservation. Yet, as a conservative, I am constantly accused of wanting destruction of these very issues. This is simply not the case.

Us conservatives are constantly being accused as a party of the "wealthy." What is most ironic about this statement? Many conservatives do not have an Ivy league education. Many conservatives are not wealthy. We are hard working and educated and eager to lessen government intervention. We are eager to spur entrepreneurship, job creation, smart funding for those who truly, truly need it, and opportunity for those that are able to achieve and want a piece of the American dream.


All of these forementioned programs have not solved the poverty crisis. Democrats, for the past 30 plus years, have expanded these programs, through excessive taxation, in order to make their constituents reliant on their party. Entrepreneurs and small business take on huge amounts of risk. Liberals do not reward risk--they tax it.

Conservatives have a fundamental belief that government has gotten too large and too complicated. We recognize need and are, therefore, the most charitable of the parties. It is a fact.

So I close in asking this: If liberals are so smart and the most educated, why am I even writing this blog? They have had numerous opportunities and years to right the wrongs. They say they are the champions of the middle class. Well, behind every champion there is a team.

The next four years will prove whether entrepreneurship and risk thrive, or if we have created a larger dependency on government. If conservatism has a chance, we will not forget where we came from.

I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.

Why You Should Vote McCain

This video breaks down the walls and puts the liberal agenda in a clear perspective.

Dear Mr. Obama

The most popular Youtube video from this campaign is short, powerful, and something you must watch.

Peace Through Strength

Courtesy of Michael McCleary.

Let's play 10 questions!

We have two more weeks to go and the race is looking good! We are within 10 points in the polls. I know, I am the eternal optimist and a reader of "The Secret." You know that book that so profoundly "taught" us that if you believe it, it will be yours. I still kick myself for not having written a self-help book. They all seem to be so logical and based on simple common sense. But now that I see the people rallying behind a Junior Senator from Chicago to become the leader of the Free World and who wants to "spread the wealth around", well, I may just quit this blog soon, and author a self-help book.

Nonetheless, I have been registered to vote since I was 18, and I have always been interested in politics and the political system. But never in my adult life have I defended my views with such veracity. Equally, it seems as though the media has abandoned any ounce of objectivity, and has given greater veracity to their bias. It is unfortunate that the media has publicly embraced and endorsed Obama. It is even more unfortunate that the Media is responsible, to a great extent, for educating the General Public on current issues and events. But then don't you find it frustrating that the average American paper is written for someone with a fourth-grade education? Can we,then, really expect the General Public to do their own due diligence based on this fact? Isn't it alarming that the Media will not do it for them? Can we really expect the General Public to take a look at the voting records to find the truth because the media does not care to report the truth?

Speaking of bias and alarming facts, do you think it is appropriate for teachers to wear political pins in the classroom? Seriously?! How about picking up a book and reading to your students? How about staying after school and answering questions in math and science? How about just making sure that an 8th grader can read, write, add and subtract? Why must our teachers become political advocates? If you haven't noticed, WE HAVE AN EDUCATION PROBLEM! We are not world leaders in education, so, let's get back to teaching, shall we? Let's leave the pins at home or in the teachers' lounge.

But before I leave and start on the first draft of my self help book, let's try to challenge some of those folks who still haven't made up their mind. Heck, let's just annoy some of our liberal friends, because I am annoyed at the thought that anyone could really vote for this man---a man that we really don't know. We do know he has the audacity of hope; we know that he has had some shady associations; we know that he was a cocaine user; we know that he was a community organizer; we know that he sat in the pews and listened to sermons given by a radical, bigoted preacher for 20 years; we know that we aren't really sure where he was born; we know that he wants to spread the wealth around; and, we know that he wants change. Change. CHANGE---Yes we can. Yes we can what?

So, in order to get to the bottom of this "change" thing, I thought I would put together 10 questions that we could ask our Liberal-leaning or liberal-for-life friends. If you have more questions that I should use to vet my liberal friends, please leave me a comment. If you get anyone to answer even half of these questions, please leave me a comment. I would love to hear what this CHANGE is all about.

1) Please tell me why you are voting for Barack Obama?
2) What has he done as a Senator that you agree with and support?
3) What does Barack mean when he says he wants Change? Does he want to Change America or Change Government?
4) If he wants to change America, how is he going to do that?
5) If he wants to change Government, how is he going to do that?
6) When he talks about Hope, what is it that you identify with most strongly?
7) How does the proposals of tax increases, specifically in capital gains and small business, help our economy?
8) How is he going to pay for $1 trillion dollars in his proposed spending and programs?
9) All leaders have weaknesses, what is Barack's weakness?
10) Do you want your government to take care of you and take from you to take care of someone else?

Game On!

I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.

Review: Call & Response

Last night I viewed the documentary Call & Response, which brings attention to the disturbing issue of human trafficking, an institution that still exists in the world today in horrifying numbers. I've followed the issue for years, but Call & Response contains some shocking undercover footage, interviews, and music that seeks to both illustrate the suffering of those involved and inspire action on our part. The issue of human trafficking involves adults forced to work as labor slaves to children forced to be prostitutes. If you are like me, you have been burned in the past when seemingly nonpartisan issues have been turned into an orgy of anti-Republican and anti-capitalism sentiment. This is not the case with Call & Response. This is an issue everyone is united on, and yet it is not an issue addressed often. So few are doing something about this abomination, and I truly hope the reason for that is ignorance of what is happening and not because we've collectively put our heads in the sand. With Call & Response, you will no longer have the excuse of being uninformed.

Imagine.......

Hi there.

I just want you to take one moment and read this to yourself or aloud. Either way you read it, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that when you read this, you dig deep and ask yourself, "What do I know and What do I believe?"

imagine if a woman, an ivy league educated student, a potential American leader, referred to America as ignorant. Referred to YOU as fearful, ignorant, and unitelligent because you were an American student. Imagine that she says that "Ignorance is America."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BogJvgdH6eo


Imagine that your spiritual advisor, for 20 years of your life, spewed hate against other races, and repeated in his Sunday Sermon, " God Damn America. Not God Bless America. GOD DAMN America....America's chickens have come home to roost."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc2FCJ7zWEQ

Imagine if your professor had bombed people's homes and government buildings and spent time in prison. Imagine him saying, after being released from prison and getting a professorship, that he wished he had bombed more and done more. Imagine if this professor was nominated as your city's citizen of the year and then imagine that he worked diligently alongside a future presidential nominee. Imagine them working to create alternative education and beliefs within your city's public schools. Imagine if this man, this professor, this "citizen of the year" said that he "hated capatilism."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpTvkpZluk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjcS6QFtn_g (listen to only the first 15 secs of the interview).

Imagine if you thought that your views were greater than a national symbol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccbPVMBKQpA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwxr-9KawqI


Imagine if you were told time and time again that you were a part of a failure instead of an opportunity for success.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dba7_D3m1UU


Would you have hope?

Would you believe them?

OR would you know better.

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX8X_FsBCDk">



VOTE. BELIEVE. TRUST. COMMIT.


I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.

Up North

Amazing.  If Obama wins in November, Canada would have a more conservative government than America.  As would Germany.  And France.  And Italy.  And . . .

Electoral Dysfunction

The massive fraud by ACORN in their "voter" registration drives continues to be exposed.  The Cincinnati Enquirer reports:

Late in the day – in a victory for Republicans – the full Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a decision made last week by three of its members. The result: Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner must create computer programs to cross check all new voter registrations so that county boards of elections can doublecheck new registrants.  The Secretary of State will now have to verify new registrations by comparing information on them with data from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles or the Social Security Administration.

The article goes on to report a list of other ACORN fraud news, including:

• The Hamilton County Board of Elections is checking whether ACORN fraudulently submitted multiple voter registrations for people who don’t exist; The board has received at least 10,000 duplicate voter registrations this year and possibly thousands of fictitious ones, deputy director John William said earlier. Julie Wilson, a spokeswoman for Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, said Tuesday she could not comment on cases, but said, “Any violation of Ohio law Joe is going to treat seriously.”

• In Washington, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking the Department of Justice to immediately launch a nationwide criminal probe into ACORN’s voter registration activities and investigate ACORN as a “criminal enterprise.”

Please stop trying to fix wall street.

A few moments ago, the DOW closed below 9,000 points for the first time since July of 2003. I am one of the millions of Americans who has seen more than 30% of my retirement savings vanish in the last few months. I only have one request of the federal government: Please stop tinkering.

The only thing the government has successfully injected into the markets is hysteria. Not liquidity, confidence, security or stability.

Whatever made Washington think it could outsmart Wall Street? Now we've got a mountain of debt on top of worthless personal brokerage accounts.

It's enough to make one question their patriotism: Should we stay in a market that's getting obliterated just to avoid adding to the problem for everyone else? At what point do we have to jump ship to protect our family's financial security?

Now the treasury is planning on buying up the banks. Presumably because they believe everything that's been done to socialize risk so far has been helpful.

The fear that's gripping everyone is real. For the first time in my life I believe my government could destroy my family's security - which is an extraordinarily scary thing. I don't recognize the people I've voted to put in power, and don't see any options for it to change under new management. Please - at the very least - stop tinkering.

The Insanity of Linda Milazzo and the Huffington Post

I had the "privilege" of sitting next to Linda Milazzo at the Palin Rally in Carson, CA on October 4th. Of course, I wouldn't have known I was sitting next to Linda, but she was wearing a CNN PRESS BADGE around her neck which was affixed to a CNN badge holder. This decoration drew my attention. But, the reason that drew MORE of my attention to my neighbor was her disparaging and insulting remarks during Mr. John Voight's speech. I was thinking, wow, this woman has some hate for John. She stated, no less than 5 times, "how many times did you cheat on your wife, John." I have to admit, I was thinking to myself, "how many times did Clinton cheat on Hillary? John Edwards on his wife?"

I didn't know who this woman was, yet, I thought that her behavior was, at best, odd. So, I asked her if she would like a McCain/Palin sign. Which she, in turn, curtly responded, "NO, I'm working." Wow! I thought. I am sitting next to a woman from CNN/press who is practicing her objectivity. So, I took a closer look at her badge and noticed she was representing Newton, PA. So I asked if she was from Pennsylvania and had noticed an East coast accent. With which, she replied, "No, New York. New York City." I then said, "You traveled a long way for this event!" She responded that she now lived in LA for twenty or so years.

As we were waiting for Governor Palin to arrive, I saw her badge and noticed her name. I then sat down. Linda was feverishly typing into her PDA. SO, of course, being the curious neighbor and a guilty snoop, I read what she was typing.

Here is what Linda Milazzo wrote (and I quote): "At the Palin rally. It is scary to know that there are this many American's who are so stupid. It is no wonder why we are hated by the rest of the world."

Repeat that phrase. Repeat it again. I was shocked but not surprised. It is not often that a member of the press is a fan of a republican or a republican supporter. In Linda's blog on Huffington Post, she saw the crowd as a "frightening mix of Christian zealots, anti-abortion fanatics, and mostly white suburban women and men reconnecting with their high school mentality."

That's all Linda saw because that is what gives her press and keeps being a champion for her "cause." I saw and talked to a very diverse mix. Women, former Hillary supporters, Democrats, Republicans, Hispanics, African-Americans, Asians, men, women, young, old, the NOW organization, Surfers for McCain, etc.. Although the rally started at 2pm, I arrived at 10 am and waited for 2 hours in line. This gave me an opportunity to talk to a lot of different people.

Like the Asian man and small business owner from Long Beach. He stood next to me in line and indicated that he was there to support a women who worked hard like he had all of his life. He connected to a person, like Sarah Palin, who came from a middle-class family and fought for what she thought was right and worked hard every day to provide for her family and give back to her community. I spoke to an African-American woman, in her 20's, that wanted to be part of history. She was there because she admired Sarah for her strength and tenacity as a woman and she thought that she was a good example to all women. I spoke to a teacher from Claremont, a Democrat, who couldn't vote Democrat anymore,because, in her opinion, the "liberal democrats had destroyed her school system."

According to Linda's objective opinion, these people were stupid.

So, imagine my surprise when Linda and I had the chance to "meet" and when I saw she was from the press and when I read her PDA. Imagine my surprise, when, at 2pm, the President from the LA chapter of the NOW organization, Shelly Mandel, came to the stage to ENDORSE and introduce Sarah Palin.

I listened to Sarah. Linda listened sporadically. Linda would record for a few seconds and then stop, record and stop, and this CENSORED practice continued for the entire 20 minutes of Governor Palin's speech. It was now evident, that Linda Milazzo was not wearing her press badge to report the truth. Linda was hiding behind her badge in order to promote her own agenda.

My anger was growing and then was finally tested. Linda, with her Press badge hanging around her neck and affixed to a CNN badge holder, starts to scream and chant at Palin "You are a LIAR, you are a LIAR. So, I screamed louder and directly in her ear, "You are an IDIOT, You are an IDIOT." This face off lasted approximately 2 minutes and was captured by the LA times. Linda was escorted by security and ushered out of the stadium, the speech ended, and I went home and googled this Linda Milazzo, my rally neighbor who wore a CNN press badge, and proclaimed that she was "working."

What I found was no less than concerning, for the TRUTH about Linda Milazzo is frightening. Linda Milazzo is a Progressive Democrat. Linda Milazzo is a member of Code Pink. Linda Milazzo believes that McCain should be tried for treason. Linda Milazzo is a Socialist. Linda Milazzo writes for the Huffington Post. Linda Milazzo is nuts.

Linda, is self-described as "a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. She's an educator and creator of a writers' program she's taught privately and in public schools. She currently facilitates an advocacy writing workshop and is developing an advocacy writing program to be implemented in public and private educational institutions and in community based organizations. A political and social activist since the Vietnam War, Linda attributes her activism to her disgust with greed-ridden American imperialism, environmental atrocities, egregious war, nuclear proliferation, lying leaders, and global tyranny!"


So, in short, who is Linda Milazzo?

Linda is a liar. She states, in the Huffington Post, that all 20,000 people at the Palin Rally were Christian zealots, whites, and stupid Americans. Linda wants you to believe this, because if you didn't, she wouldn't have a cause, a job, or a reason to spread lies.

Linda is a hypocrite. Linda wears a press badge, but has no interest in being objective or truthful. Linda says she taped the rally when in fact, she only taped parts of it.

Linda is a member of the "press." Linda writes propaganda which is a means of censorship in it's purist form. Just check with China, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Iran. They are experts in Propaganda.

Linda is a Activist. Linda is a Progressive Democrat. So is Maxine Waters, who proclaimed in 2004, that Freddie Mae, "isn't broke, so we don't have to fix it and that the leadership of Franklin Raines as CEO of Fannie Mae was brilliant." Progressive Democrats believe and adhere to Socialistic ideals and principles. Their mission is to create socialist policies with our government. They do not identify with traditional democrats.

Linda is an educator. Linda wants to instill and train students, through her writing and teaching, about her personal agenda within our public and private school system. Linda knows better than many other stupid Americans so she wants to teach children through her advocacy and writing.

Linda doesn't like women. Unless they think like her, dress like her, listen to her and are a member of CODE PINK. She only can identify with women who hold rallies in the USA (because they can) but do not raise money for the USA--why would they raise money for a country they hate?! These woman would rather meet with Chavez of Venezuela and have tea with dictators like Iran's Ahmadinejad. Code Pink actually sat down with Ahmadinejad, on Sept. 25, 2008, after a fundraiser for Barack Obama, and talked with the dictator about building a Peace Park in Tehran. You see, they think this park will be the first step in creating peace between our two countries. Should we call that a "Park to Nowhere?"

I can say these things about Linda Milazzo because I sat next to her. I saw what she wrote in her PDA and I found out the truth about Linda when I got home. The Internet is a wonderful thing. You see, I was at the rally not blindly, but to be a part of something historic. I talked to people. I asked them questions. I didn't yell at them. I didn't label them. I saw these people as Americans. I didn't see them as Imperialists or fanatics or stupid Americans.

I do not know why I am so amazed that there was no truth in Linda's reporting on the Huffington Post. There isn't much truth in any reporting these days. But the truth about Linda Milazzo is that she, as a "member of the press," and an American, has no interest in writing or reporting the truth. For, if she did, she would finally have to admit and realize that she, at the end of the day, is just Linda Milazzo, a hypocrite that is angry but doesn't have a cause, who doesn't have an original thought, and, certainly, does not look good in pink.

"The truth shall set you free."

I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.

Must See TV (If You Can Find It) (UPDATED)

UPDATE: IT'S BACK UP!
Saturday Night Live did something last weekend it only occassionally does: satirize both the Republicans and Democrats.  The skit probably informed millions about what the Democrats did to cause the current housing mess. The clip was taken down from Nbc.com and hulu.com, but Youtube now has the skit available. Michelle Malkin is reporting why it was taken down here.  Enjoy.
UPDATE II: The following is the EDITED version that NBC has now posted.

The $700 B Question

Something is rotten in DC, but who is going to pass a bill to clean up that mess? That is the $700B question.

I think we know by now, after having a week of erratic Wall Street performance, compounded by today’s activity of the Markets in the EU, Asia and US, that the bailout bill did not save Main Street and stabilize markets. The Bailout Bill, from page A13 of the NYT today, looks like it was primarily abused by our elected officials and gave them a last-minute opportunity to include earmarks. President Bush should have thrown some Texas BBQ sauce on and it and thrown it over a pit to roast.

Our overly-stressed, financially-strapped, medical community now has an added obligation to treat the mentally ill with equal care as the physically ill. Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorder? Go to the emergency room. Go to your physician. Don’t worry, insurance will cover it and physicians and health care providers do not have a choice. I guess physicians aren’t overly burdened with their current, mandated, patient load already…so why not throw in some more people that are, well, depressed! Now, I am uncertain as to the qualification of depression, but in the era of Prozac, the overly prescribed and diagnosed diagnosis of depression is not, necessarily, scientific or exact.

This Mental Parity Bill also requires a no limit stay in hospitals. So, a person that is depressed can stay in the hospital for an equal amount of time as say, a person with cancer, or a woman that has just had a c-section. Businesses that are larger than 50 employees will have to overhaul their insurance policies and are at risk of employees taking advantage of this bill-- which would reduce productivity and profits for these small companies and add extra costs to their bottom line. The amount of paperwork, increased premium expense, crowding at our emergency rooms, impact on availability of hospital staff and supplies is for certain—but by how much?

That is the question that needs to be asked. That is the question that needs to be answered by the Senators that pushed this piece of pork into the Economic Bailout bill. Jim Ramstad (R) and Patrick J. Kennedy (D) led the fight. In 1981, Jim woke up in a jail cell after an alcoholic black out and in 2006, Patrick drank too much and crashed his car on Capitol Hill. Now see, if Joe Public drank too much and crashed his car, well, he wouldn’t be working in Congress anymore to sign a bill into law that gives him an excuse for his abuse. No, Joe Public would be attending AA classes or sitting in a jail cell or working overtime to pay off his DUI lawyer.

This bill’s passing was declared as a result of “12 years of passionate advocacy of the relatives and friends of people with mental illness and addiction disorders.” 12 years? Our elected representatives could not wait for a month, 6 months, or even12 months, to allow chaos to subside within our economy and reason to return to OUR government?

This bill is also described as “ a milestone in the quest for civil rights, an effort to end insurance discrimination and to reduce the stigma of mental illness.” I am sorry, but I thought that this Bailout bill was to stabilize our markets in order to avoid a recession. I did not realize that our economy would be more stable if we included and introduced “bandages” for civil rights and discrimination.

This Mental Parity bill is a perfect example of government forcing policy onto small businesses, professionals, and the public without any regard to the additional financial burden placed on these individuals and businesses. What happens when costs of doing business increase? Prices increase. Premiums increase. Businesses go out of business. This Mental Parity bill is another example of larger government and government mandates on the private sector. We, excuse me, Congress, has enacted legislation that is costly to the Healthcare system and the taxpayers at a time when us taxpayers just swallowed a $700B pill.

It is with absolute incredulity that our Senators could, at a time of financial crisis, use this vulnerable and fearful time, for their own self -interests. It is with absolute incredulity that policy, a BILLION more dollars of “policy” not related to this bailout, was included. What an absolutely blatant abuse of power. What an absolute abuse of our political system. What an absolute abuse of Joe Public. Maybe I will check in to my local hospital. I feel abused and I am depressed.

“Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”

I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.

Average Joe doesn't live on Main Street, but he will save it! Along with our polar ice caps, and Israel, too.

Tonight's debate had a resounding and very familiar sound from Senator Joe Biden. Me me me, I I I.  Watching Joe was like watching an out- of -tune, dusty aria.   Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Main Street.   Have no fear, Joe is here! Obama Shmama.  Joe knows!

Joe knows Israel!  In fact,  HE is the only senator that is best friends with Israel. Middle East Peace?  Joe's your man!

  

Joe knows global warming!  HE knows, with absolute certainty, that global warming is solely caused by man's hands.  Global Warming and Climate Change?  Go to Joe!

Joe knows Executive Power!   HE personally gave power to the President of the United States.  Commander in Chief didn't move until Joe said so. GI Joe to the rescue!

But let's not forget , oh no, let's not forget this very important point.....although Joe is all of these things and more, he still remains, by his own testament, an Average Joe.  Yep.  Average Joe goes to Home Depot.  Average Joe goes to the little family diner in his downtown.  Average Joe takes the train.  Average Joe knows how the people on Main Street feel and what people on Main Street need.  Joe knows! Because he is Average Joe!

Average Joe, as he stated tonight, has been able to live in a very nice house and live a very nice life because of his position as a Senator--he has held a Senatorial seat since he was 29 years old. Because of this privilege, Average Joe wants to give back to his  Main Street that he knows so well, by increasing taxes on rich people-- like himself.  It is his duty and moral obligation to tax himself, as well as others, and give this money to the poor people on Main Street--not directly to Mr. and Mrs. Main Street, but through government programs.  Now,  Joe, by his own admittance, LEFT this poor Main Street a long time ago--35 years ago under a Senatorial Umbrella.  

Does it strike any one else as odd, that Joe hasn't fixed all of these things he claims to know in the 35 years he has been living the Senatorial Main Street Life? Does it strike any else as odd,  that Joe cast his 10,000th vote in 1999, and that nearly 10 years and thousands of more votes later, he still hasn't been a successful champion of Mr. and Mrs. Main Street?  

But, I digress.....I have some Main Street questions!*

Why does Governor Palin have to defend her 'small town' up-bringing  and 'small town' leadership which is continually challenged and ridiculed by the press and media as an indication of her possible  lack of worldy insight, experience, and understanding of government?

Why does Governor Palin have to defend her service as a Main Street Mayor of the small town of Wasilla and as Governor of the state of Alaska?

...You know, that little ol' state that houses the 49th Missile Defense Batallion that is the first in line of defense of the United States. You know, that little governorship that she has where she is the Commander in Chief of the ONLY National Guard unit on permanent and active duty that, again, is first in line to defend our country from an enemies strike.  

What makes Governor Palin's Main Street so different than the Main Street Average Joe claims to know and promises to fix and fight for?  

Let me try to answer that one...

 Average Joe's Senatorial Main Street neighbors, friends, and business associates, maybe?

 Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Charles Shumer, Chris Dodd, Dick Durbin, Franklin Raines, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Harry Paulson, Charlie Rangel, Ted Kennedy, Asbestos Lawyers, and many, many more, are all in Joe's corner and on Joe's block.**

Some of these neighbors of Joe have had longer tenures and higher positions in the Senate.  And all of these guys, along with Joe, claim that they are going to save Main Street America.   In the 35 years the Average Joe, has been the "only one, " "the guy, " "instrumental" in many things but obviously not things to ensure that Main Street would be Ok or better than the way he left it.  Why now, Joe? What took you so long?

How many years have his liberal neighbors promised to be the Saviors of Main Street?  LONGER THAN JOE HAS BEEN A SENATOR.

 

 Joe thinks he knows a lot of things, but Joe doesn't know Main Street.  Joe knows how to throw money at Main Street--but if it doesn't get there--no fault of his.

But Sarah Palin, Governor Sarah Palin? Sarah Palin knows Main Street and she knows how to defend it---literally and figuratively.  She refunded money to her taxpaying voters and put it directly into their hands and, then,  watched her economy, her state, and the people prosper.  Thanks for a great debate, tonight, Sarah.  Thanks for reminding us that the heart and spirit of this country is found in Main Street America.

*at the time this blog went to print, Miss Tory does not have nor has had any plans on publishing a book in November that pertains to Sarah Palin and how she has created and shaped political opportunities for women.

**ACORN is also on Joe and Barack's block.  Their Voting Block. They are just rearranging it, changing it, and bussing people into Ohio right now to vote early and often for this election.

I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.

Buck Up, Republicans!

This election isn’t over. Despite the best efforts of the media, the Democrats, and their amoral allies such as ACORN, McCain is close and has a damn good chance of winning . . . IF WE BUCK UP. Don’t get demoralized, get pissed. Fight back. Take your anger over the Obama whores in the media and contribute and volunteer at your local Republican HQ. Take your anger over Democrat lies and arm yourself with the facts and correct the record with your neighbors and those who don’t follow politics. Take your anger over a candidate who isn’t a pure conservative and fight for him knowing he’s a great man who is a hundred times better than the alternative. With McCain, we’ll have no Fairness Doctrine, no tax increases, no Hillary Clinton on the Supreme Court, no withdrawal in defeat in the War on Terror. Republicans, the country needs you. We must fight. Now is the time to fight hard, to fight dirty, no holds barred, which can be done without sinking to the low levels of the left who use a newborn with Down ’s syndrome as a political weapon. For God’s sake, the future of this country, in fact the very idea of what we know as America, is at stake. Republicans, it is time to kick some ass.

What...don't you know?

Obama's final answer: fail. McCain wins the millions.

"PUT MY COUNTRY FIRST." --McCain.

What?

WTF? What is going on in this debate? Who is leading this here? Sit down, Barry. No, you need to shut up.

Debate wrap up

The debate was an annoying set up.  The clock was too much of an issue.  Questions about a C+.  You need more interaction and response time. Obama is smooth.  McCain was tougher than I've seen in previous debates.  McCain did well, especially second half, which was about foreign policy of course.  Great finish for McCain.

Debate

Out of control.  This is a horrible set up.

McCain

Explains foreign policy to the little boy Barry.

Health Care

Obama is a liar.  You can't keep your health insurance even if you like it under his plan.

Hmmm

The clock seems to be one of the most contentious issues tonight. LOL.

McCain

Strong on energy issue.  Addresses environment in a way dems can't.

McCain

Just nailed Obama on alternative energies.

Obama

95% of Americans don't taxes!  That's not a tax cut!

Obama

Sacrifice worship.  Shut up about sacrifice!  Why are you obsessed?

Obama

Brings up 9-11!  Will the nutroots go crazy?  Accuse him of using that day for politics? (crickets)

Obama

When is the last time someone this far left on economics been this close to the presidency?  Scary.

Obama

Is like a little kid, while McCain is the dad who has the experience.  McCain is doing well in this format.  Nice Clintonian touches.

Obama

WTH?  Obama has a net cut in spending?  More like a trillion in new spending.

Obama

Says it wasn't originally McCain's bill.  How many times has Obama taken credit for bills he didn't write or even work for?  And he fought off the Fannie/Freddie reform bill!

John Wayne McCain

Comes out swinging hard on Obama's relationship with Fannie and Freddie.  Now Obama gets snippy.

Health Scare

If only McCain could explain his health care plan this well. (Maybe he can, but I'm not sure he's even tried.) Key points: It's not a tax increase, but a tax credit for individuals ($2500) and families ($5000). The tax credit is for all who buy health insurance, not just (as it is now) for those who have employer based health insurance. This change will lead to increased salaries and wages. Read the whole thing.

Obama, Acorn, Housing Mess

This is a fascinating flow chart on Obama's radical connections and their involvement in the housing mess.  You should read it, memorize it, and send it as a link to every contact in your email.  This Marxist must be stopped. Via The Corner.

Game Changer

Most are in agreement that Palin won, but they are saying this isn't a pivotal moment in the campaign.  I disagree.  McCain was losing traction and the media was attacking Palin as an inexperienced, hidden away moron.  The base is now re-energized, and the media can't attack Palin as dumb or inexperienced anymore, as the public has once again seen her in action.  This changes everything.  And don't forget that Palin looked at the camera, smiled, was comfortable and relateable . . . she has governing experience and is main street America.  The American people saw this and the media can't filter it.  This was a big night for McCain/Palin.

To Sum Up

Caribou Barbie kicked Ken's balding, grumpy, arrogant uncle's butt.

Biden

Truly an idiot. McCain wasn't a maverick on Iraq? Who in the hell was pushing for a change in policy in Iraq? Who took on his own party? John McCain.

Pitbull with Lipstick

Palin is great at complimenting you with a smile while putting a knife in your back. Very disarming, charming, friendly, and fantastic at making her point. Very hard to fight back at that. So sorry, Joe.

Uh . . .

Biden said Bosniacs instead of Bosnians. Will anyone call him on this gaffe? Can you imagine if this was Palin?

Zing!

"Um, Your plan is a white flag of surrender in Iraq."

Get 'im, Sarah Barracuda! Eat 'im alive!

Interesting ratings

After Palin's answer on gay marriage, male ratings shot sky-high. Fascinating.

Palin

Very Impressive tonight, winning so far, connecting with voters according to CNN's voter dials. Media already spinning that Palin just avoided the questions and made gaffes. Are we watching the same debate?

Biden: And We Know

Of course we know what the cause of global warming is. Biden still has his mouth open.

Palin goes for the energy jugular

Great attack on Biden on the energy issue. We need energy, which creates jobs, which helps national security and the economy. Win-win-win. CNN showed Palin's ratings skyrocketing.

Energy

Lots of energy discussion, Palin's issue.

Palin

Should have demanded a response to Biden's nonsense on health care.

Sarah Barracuda Returns

Hitting hard on patriotism.  Fantastic.

So far . . .

Appears Biden isn't connecting, Palin is looking at camera, voter dials among women voters on CNN very positive for Sarah.

Biden

Yes, Wall Street ran wild, but so did Washington.

Sarah

Is scoring high among women voters so far.

Aaand they're off....

Looks like it's going to be a great debate. Sarah is looking fantastic and extremely confident. "Can I call you Gwen?"

Journalism, RIP

Sean Hannity says this is the year journalism died. Unfortunately, he’s right. Bias has always been evident in the MSM, but they were at least pretending to be objective and made an attempt, a weak one but an attempt nonetheless, to present both sides. Those days are over. They are now full-throated Obama advocates, getting chills down their legs and having Obamagasms when he speaks. They are openly defensive when he is challenged or makes an error, and they are openly scornful of the Republican ticket. Having read the newspaper and watched television news since I was ten, I’m well aware the MSM are and have been liberal, and that has always crept into the reporting. But this is different. This is a monumental shift with significant repercussions. The Republicans must come up with a strategy to confront this advocacy on the part of the MSM. They aren’t playing by the same rules as before, and neither should we. Playing nice and expecting the media to be a fair referee will not work. They still have the whistle and the black and white striped shirt, but they have joined the opposing team. Speaking straight to the American people, as Reagan did, is not enough. Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, the WSJ editorial page, conservative blogs, et al, are fantastic, but they are not enough. Harshly confronting the media will inspire even more bias, but how much worse can it get? Not giving reporters access will do the same thing as well as take away at least small opportunities to get out the Republican point of view. The only way to make them take notice is to undermine the bottom line. I’ve canceled my NYT subscription, as have many others. A one stop, high profile website dedicated to correcting media bias about the presidential election, updated rapidly, is needed. The site could demonstrate to those who don’t follow things closely how embarrassing the media have become, as well as inform supporters with the facts to bat down the distortions soon after they appear in the media and hopefully before they gain traction among voters. Other ideas are needed, and action must be taken now. The election is at stake.

Snark Attack

The Associated Press, the unofficial communication staff for the Obama campaign, has a report on Gov. Palin's appearance on Hugh Hewitt's radio show yesterday. The basis of the entire report appears to be an attempt to show that Palin is not able to relate to the average American because they are doing better financially than the average American. (I'm waiting for the same report on the actually rich Obama, Biden, Edwards Kerry, etc.) They end the report with this:

"It's just the great financial crisis that America is in, as our savings accounts also, and a 401(k), they're being hit," she said.

She didn't explain how her savings account was being affected.

The inference one can draw from the AP's snarky last sentence is that Palin doesn't understand that her savings account isn't tied to stocks.  Palin's meaning is clear: because of higher prices on everything from gas to food to clothing, their savings account has been affected, as has those of millions of Americans.  Perhaps the AP should hire Gwen Ifill.

Unto Us A Child Is Born

If you think the criticism of Obamamania stretches the limits of credulity by characterizing him as "The Messiah," please watch this creepy, creepy, creepy video of children singing hosannas to their lord and saviour. Oh, and remember that Obama isn't the Second Coming. Jesus was just the first coming of Barack Obama.

Congress needs to sober up and get off the train.

"Riding that train - high on cocaine. Casey Jones you better watch your speed."

These words by Robert Hunter, made famous by [the] Grateful Dead have been ringing in my head for weeks as I struggle to understand how Congress lost it's way. Rather than eying the tracks for trouble, they've jumped on board and driven it right down our throats.

There was a time in our nation's history when duties of the US Congress were clearly defined and limited. Ditto for the executive branch. But decades of action - completely unimagined by the framers of the constitution - have built on the precedence of previous and ill-gotten entitlements to power.

It seems that every time the idea pops up that "Somebody ought to ..." the US Congress or President steps in and assumes control - whether it's appropriate or not. Now it seems every action they take is geared to "save" us from their snowballing failures.

So what is Congress supposed to do? Protect us. Not "save" us, but protect us.

Protect us from countries who want to destroy us. Protect us from hurting each other by defining boundaries of acceptable behavior. Protect us by providing oversight and wisdom in complex situations that trickle down to the general population.

Instead, Congress has been indulging us like the parent of a teenager with a princess complex. Anything you want, honey. Crash your car? We'll get you a new one. Credit cards maxed? We'll pay your balance. Just love us in return.

The princess gets what she wants without sacrifice or consequence. Sound planning and lessons in sustainability are replaced with easy outs and instant gratification. When she gets into trouble, she bats her eyelashes and someone comes to her rescue.

The story ends with the princess divorced and over-forty, decorated in worn-out Jimmy Chu pumps and a blanket of debt. No inheritance will bail her out - the money was spent it in her teenage years.

Congress needs to stop indulging the princess. Teach her the hard, uncomfortable lessons that prepare her to interact with the world. Cut up her credit cards. Stop saving her from the consequences she's earned.

Congress has been drunk on the affections gained by enabling the princess - which naturally will erode from gratitude into a sense of entitlement. Now that those affections are gone (a 10% approval rating for Congress should be suitable proof) Congress needs to deliver some tough love.

The bottom line: Congress has no right or duty to buy up private paper. The market will adjust dramatically, but we will recover. And just like a grumbling teenager who just heard "no" from her parents for the first time - we'll get dramatic and freak out. But that's what needs to happen if we're going to be allowed to grow up.

Bernie Ebbers, you were CEO of the wrong company.

To state that we are in a financial crisis is to put it mildly. Every day we hear $700 billion. Today we saw the market plunge 777 points. Is there something with 7's? Obviously, it's not a lucky number after all. I keep thinking...how do they, the government "they," arrive at $700 billion dollars? Where did this number come from? I have the answer, but you have to keep reading....

I don't even want to look at my 401k statement. Ignorance is bliss. But, you know, this crisis reminds me of a couple of guys who cooked their books and and rode regulation and deregulation like a cowboy on a mechanical bull. Well, they did ride, until the Wall Street Music stopped and those things called numbers....those good, old, truthful numbers, once again proved to never, ever lie.

Remember Enron and WorldCom? After a couple of whistle blowers were heard, there was a stampede of lawyers, forensic accountants, auditors and politicians breathing down these companies books/backs. These two companies were the impetus for Sarbanes-Oxley. Many consumers, employees and investors lost their pensions, retirement savings, investments and jobs because of Bernie's and Ken's oversight, or lack thereof, of the financial reporting and profits that were practiced by a couple of their renegade CFO's...or so we are to believe. Bernard Ebbers, I hear, is in some comfy, white collar prison in the South. And, Ken Lay? Well, the stress got to him and he passed away of a heart attack before he was sentenced.

Does this financial story sound familiar? I don't think I am painting with a broad brush, so, let me just cut to the chase. I am surprised that there hasn't been an investigation into the obvious fraud and corruption that had taken place in Fannie and Freddie. More surprisingly, Franklin Raines, CEO of Fannie, was fired by "regulators" over "accounting problems" and walked away with a severance package from Fannie of $19 million dollars. Now, that is $19 million more than the $90 million he collected between 1998 and 2003.

If I do my forensic math correctly, Franklin Raines, in 5 years at Fannie Mae, earned, $109 million. Fannie Mae's accounting "practices" between 2001-2004 forced them to restate over $6.3 billion dollars in accounting errors. Yes, you heard me $6.3 Billion clams. Now, I know, I know, Worldcom was $11 billion clams. But, I have to stop and ask myself, would Bernie rather be in a "comfy" white collar prison, or would he rather be Senator Obama's economic advisor.



I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.

Okay, here is the answer if you are just reading this to get to this:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE6D9103EF930A15756C0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=

Heil Nancy, and other Dem-fascist-Nazi-isms

And thus we commence with the royal screw-ups by none other than our beloved Leader (Heil!) of the House, Nancy Pelousy. Disregarding all the flak the Republican side of Congress had already been receiving about blocking the passage of the economic bailout plan, or EESA, one would be led to believe that the speech immediately prior to the vote would have been filled with fanciful notions of bipartisan cooperation and Kumbaya while merrily handing the bill off to the Oval Office. No, instead, it appears ol' Nan had a horrendous hair day and someone tripped her on the way to the podium and she launched some nasty, thoughtless tirade against President Bush and any citizen with two brain cells to rub together. That gave Democrats more ammunition to blame the Republicans for the bill's failure, claiming that they should have not allowed their negative emotions to dissuade them from voting for it.

However, the Dems should look a little more closely at the vote tally. 133 Republicans voted no... but 95 Democrats did as well. And Barney Franks is railing on us for causing the bill to fail? I beg to differ.

Maybe Senator Obama should have called these 95 dissenters and used his Obamessiah mind-changing powers on them. He is the One who came up with this bill and inserted it into the minds of his congressional minions, after all.

(Insert Howard Dean YEARRRGH! here)

Thursday Night's Debate

I have obtained an exclusive copy of a transcript from Thursday night's debate. Don't ask how. I've posted it here.

Credit where it's due

And Obama laughed his lofty, condescending guffaw during his interview on Face the Nation (CBS, video) when confronted with the question if John McCain had any input in the bailout, officially the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of '08. Of course, Obama is claiming that HE came up with the language in the bill and that HE will be evaluating and approving the bill personally. He keeps putting himself in a position where he wants to look like he is already President--sometimes deity--but he ends up looking aristocratic, snobbish, and vainglorious, a ready target for anyone to knock him off his high, high blue horse. McCain, you still have good aim? I'm betting Nov. 4th you do.

Media... it bites

Hopefully some of what we'll hear of the aftermath of this debate will be comprised of Senator Obama's phrase repeated several times to his unwitting detriment, "I agree with you, Senator..." That would make him a more fitting running mate than his own Biden. He looked and sounded like a student trying to debate with his professor, which is exactly the situation when little inconsequential factors like political experience, military service, tenure and life experience are considered.

Let's see a new commercial that looks something like this:
OBAMA: "I agree with you, Senator."
MCCAIN: "I'm John McCain and I approve this message."
THE END

That's a positive message, right?

Strong Finish

for McCain. A reminder of his war experiences and just experience period.

Speaking of bailouts

That is twice Obama has sought to be bailed out by Jim Lehrer.

Ten minutes Left

McCain is winning this one. Let's see how it ends.

Uh . . .

We have tried talking with North Korea, Sen. Obama. That's your policy and it didn't work.

McCain

is serious, presidential, "postpartisan." Obama is one third keeping up, one third defensive, one third a little kid saying, "No, you are!"

Obama & 9-11

He says we failed because they are still sending out videotapes. Videotapes or flying planes into a building, Sen. Obama? There's a difference, Sen. Uh.

Obama

For having a campaign accusing McCain of "lying," he is sure doing a lot of himself tonight. Will post a link to a collection after the debate.

Obama

Starting to look ridiculous by interrupting McCain several times. McCain hasn't not been as rude.

LOL!

Go McCain! Take on Obama's lack of foreign policy experience. Haha! Obama has to point to his VP choice for foreign policy experience! LMAO! He's running for president!

Yes, Sen. Obama

There is a fundamental difference between you and Sen. McCain on Iraq: you want to lose.

Finally

On to foreign policy.

Energy

Go, McCain. Keep on this. Very important: nuclear power, offshore drilling. Very popular and D's weakness.

Earmarks & Economy

Wasn't this supposed to be a debate on national security, not the economy? I get the earmarks beef, Sen. McCain, and I agree, but time to move on.

Uh, Obama, Uh

We have the second highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, Sen. Obama. Uh, look it up. Uh.

Taxes

How do people who don't pay taxes, get tax cuts?

McCain

He is looking strong, calm, not too partisan, hitting a few important topics, ie improving economy, earmarks, hard.

Um . . .

95% of working families don't pay taxes, Sen. Obama. So how is that a tax cut?

Drinking Games

Ideas so far:

Main Street
Greed
Or when Obama says "uh." Not sure I have enough vino on hand for that one.

Obama

Looks like he is looking for his teleprompter. I would love to see that letter he says he wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury.

What Caused The Economic Crisis?

Via Sen. Jim DeMint:

What Caused The Economic Crisis? Watch This!

Posted using ShareThis

O'Really?

On his radio show yesterday, Bill O'Reilly called Rush Limbaugh a "liar," threatened two Democrat congresspersons with violence, and displayed a staggering ignorance of basic economics. Mark Levin, aka The Great One, calls him out, correctly, on Rush and the bailout. This Youtube clip includes Levin and the offending O'Reilly comments.

Gored

Al Gore recently advocated "civil disobedience" to stop any new coal plants from being built.  Makes you wonder what the Left will be advocating if McCain wins.

ACORN Bailout

Michelle Malkin has a post up reporting that Sen. Lindsay Graham is claiming the bailout includes $100 million for the leftist radicals in ACORN.  Thank God for the House Republicans.

Nancy Pelosi--Wine, Woman and that same old liberal song

Is anyone alarmed that Nancy is third in line to the president? Can I see a show of hands please?  Anyone?  I'm sorry, are you still getting over the shock of that question?  It's okay.  It took me awhile to wrap my head around that one too.  

 What surprises me most about this presidential election is not the Jeremiah Wright Sermons, or the fact that someone wants to change my country, or a woman 2nd in line to the presidency.  What surprises me most is that this election, according to the bloated news coverage and the screams from the left, is really not about the presidency after all. Nope. This election in November is about the Vice Presidency.  We should rename it, the "Vice Presidential Election."  Has a ring to it.  I like it.  Even sounds, well, presidential.

 I have been voting for nearly 20 years and I cannot remember a time when I was so strongly encouraged and warned to carefully consider my vote for the Vice Presidential nominee. Dan Quayle was laughed off the podium for talking about that inane and ridiculous thing called "family values." Oh yes, and let us not forget the first woman VP nominee, Geraldine Ferraro............   So, hey, while we are at it, let's talk about the great Napa Valley Wine Star, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Because if we are talking about 2nd place, we should talk about 3rd place.  Potatoes, potahtoes.

9/23/08:  Nancy Pelousy, in her regally coifed manner, essentially stated,  "our current economy is the prime example of why free markets do not work."  She then chastises the Bush administration's lack of regulation and blank check policies, blah blah blah.  Nancy, Nancy, Nancy.  

 That statement  would make sense and would be true if we, the educated public, were never taught in elementary/middle school about how our government works.  GOVERNMENT 101: Congress has the authority and is responsible for the general welfare and financial and budgetary matters of the United States.   I clearly remember referring to Congress as providing checks and balances over the Executive Branch.  Furthermore, Congress has what is called "Congressional Oversight."  This oversight is usually delegated to Committees.  Allow me to list the Chairs of Certain Committees:  Chris Dodd (D), Chairman of Housing, Banking and Urban Affairs. Barney Frank (D), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and who, along with his Democratic colleagues in 2005, opposed a Republican bill that would have created an agency within the Treasury Department to provide oversight of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  The fear of the Democrats, as explained to us by Barney, was that the bill would be taking away affordable housing from the lower and middle class, AND, as he further stated, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are fine."   Now,  Ms. Speaker, free markets, as you loosely stated, lacked oversight,  so just where was the Congressional Oversight?  If free markets do not work, what markets do you believe, do work?

Nancy, we hear your whine; we know you know about wine.  But please, do us middle class Americans a favor and sing another song...maybe something along the lines of UB 40's Red Red Wine.  That song is old, but I can dance to it.

I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.  

  

Let's Do It by the Numbers

It seems so much is about simple numbers lately. The price of gas, the amount of the next federal bailout handout, John McCain's age (Whoa! Nellie!). So it's time we look at a few numbers that matter.

Speaking of the economy, it seems our "friends" (I do type that with a sniveling sneer) on the left wing of this free bird we call America seem to be following Senator Obama's lead and are reading a lot of Leninist literature lately. In typical mob-mentality fashion they are bloodthirstily screaming for the rape of the rich who are unfairly hoarding the fruits of their years of gainful, diligent employment and ingenuity (um, I tried to write that with a straight face. Let's just assume that statement is true. Come on, pretty please? With a cherry of credibility on top?) And so they demand the taxation of the rich. That is, the increased taxation of the top earners in this great nation. They claim the rich are not taxed enough.

Shall we take a peek into the Swirling Kaleidoscope of Truth? a.k.a. the .jpg image? The evil rich are not paying enough taxes when they are paying nearly 90% of the nation's taxes. The truth is, in fact, that the top 1% of income earners in the U.S. pay the same amount in federal taxes as the bottom 95% (source). Leave the tax issue alone. We pay enough taxes--and if you want more tax income for government programs, that income is going to come from the lower tax bracket folks. Just look at the data again. So let that old dog just die. And quick kicking him.

And how about the recent report that came out about our well-to-do friends in Congress? I'm wondering how Mr. Kennedy ended up in the #9 slot. John Kerry was #1. Take a look at the roster of our lawmakers and wonder at how they can sympathize with the common folk. Tax holidays? Who needs 'em? In fact, those sorry civilians surely can cough up an extra $700 billion to give to our friends--er, irresponsible big banks and lenders--you know, to save our country and whatnot. God Bless America and whatever.

And that's our first session of By the Numbers. Thanks for counting with me.

Brooks & Progressive Corporatism

NYT columnist David Brooks is a conservative like Al Franken is a comedian.  At some point, long ago, the description was attached for one or two actions but despite a long record belying that title it has stuck.  That isn't to say Brooks isn't an occassionally insightful writer, especially when describing trends in politics and culture.  His column today is an interesting analysis of the reaction to the financial crisis and the remergence of the Establishment, both of the left and right.  It is well worth a read.  One comment toward the end caught my attention:

The government will be much more active in economic management (pleasing a certain sort of establishment Democrat). Government activism will provide support to corporations, banks and business and will be used to shore up the stable conditions they need to thrive (pleasing a certain sort of establishment Republican). Tax revenues from business activities will pay for progressive but business-friendly causes — investments in green technology, health care reform, infrastructure spending, education reform and scientific research. If you wanted to devise a name for this approach, you might pick the phrase economist Arnold Kling has used: Progressive Corporatism.

Progressive Corporatism?  Sure.  But wouldn't it be easier just to call it fascism?

Up Chuck

During the Paulson/Bernanke hearings today, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made the following comment during his opening statement: "...who would have thought the lowly mortgage… could bring our financial system to its knees.”  Yes, and who would have thought a lowly senator could have brought an entire bank to its knees?

Joe Blow

Joe Klein's column in the latest Time magazine contains another example of the lack of self awareness among the media.  Klein's thesis is that the McCain campaign is so dishonest even the media are beginning to acknowledge that McCain isn't just disingenuous, but is a LIAR.  He writes: "... increasing numbers of otherwise sober observers, even such august institutions as the New York Times editorial board, are calling John McCain a liar."  Even the NYT editorial board is repeating DNC talking points?  Wow, that is something, Joe.