DEMS CAN'T GET THEIR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER; HOW CAN DEAL WITH THE COUNTRY?

You just can’t make this stuff up! What do YOU Think?

The Democratic Party cannot manage itself and still is asking “we the people” to give them control of the country. Hmmmm Not a good idea.

Look at it: The Democratic Party has disenfranchised all the citizens in two states because the states didn’t hold their primaries as the party dictated. I wrote about negating the people’s choices in January:

http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/2008/01/disenfranchisement-in-michigan.html

and

http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/2008/01/florida-democrats-disenfranchised-and.html

They’re holding a convention where the “Super Delegates,” not the will of the voters from the states, will dominate the convention. That’s the case even though elected delegates are only committed on the first round of votes. The leaders of the party, John Dean, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid want decisions made by next Friday (before the convention) where elected delegates are free to vote as they choose after the first ballot.

Though neither Obama nor Hillary have the requisite number of delegates to secure the nomination, the party is calling on Hillary to pack it up and go home. The Party has chosen the candidate, and the heck with the rest of you; you won’t even have a say at the convention.

This whole thing is particularly scary because they keep touting themselves as the party of the people. Hmmmmmm. I guess that works if the people like the idea of having politicians making and instituting all the choices. Not me.

politics politicians Obama Clinton Democrats "political+blogs" convention primaries president elections disenfranchisement Florida Michigan delegates "super+delegates" Pelosi Reid Dean "Not+with+a+whimper"

CONGRESS SHOWS ITS SLICK, OILY UNDERSIDE

Congress is grilling oil execs telling them to come clean about their “excess” profits. How about Congress coming clean? I don’t think there’s detergent strong enough! Dick Durban (D Ill) asked the execs, “Where is the corporate conscience?” Where’s Congress’ conscience is a better question!

At the hearings, Maxine Waters (D CA) got on her high horse about oil companies’ earnings, but she never—nor do other politicians—reveals who is really getting the money boon. She also, by the way, threatened to try to socialize the oil industry. Interesting. Congress should allow oil exploration if it really wants to work on supply and demand. Brazil just found huge reserves off their coast. They're ecstatic!

Sen. Patrick Leahy wanted to be a funny guy with his sarcastic tone as he asked the oil execs their salaries—a question they couldn’t ask him in return.

If you paid around $3.81 a gallon recently, here’s the cost breakdown according to CNN this morning-5/23/08:
$2.79 = crude oil
.38 = refining
.22 = marketing (there’s your oil company, your transporters, your gas stations)
.42 = taxes

Next to the Saudis, Venezuelans, or other crude oil suppliers, notice that it’s OUR GOVERNMENT REAPING THE PROFITS!!!!! Politicians are not interested in helping citizens deal with ever-increasing fuel costs. They love America’s love affair with gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks that don’t have to meet fuel requirements. A gas pump is a cash cow for politicians! Why should we spend our money as we see fit; politicians get our money in taxes to spend as they see fit! Hillary Clinton loves the idea of an “Excess Profits Tax.” Obama says that he doesn't think the oil companies will part with their profits easily. Hmmmmmm

Think about it. What’s an excess profit? The oil companies’ profit percentages are actually lower than other big companies, and while oil execs are richly paid, think about what movie stars earn. Who is to determine where the “too much” line is?

Let’s say these liberal politicians get their excess profits tax. Think about how much of that $.22 a gallon will be considered “excess profit.” You don’t really think the price of gas will go down, do you? But state and federal tax income will go up! Hmmmmmmmm

Who would an “excess” profit tax hurt? Not the oil execs. They have their contracts, and they won’t have to worry. But if you are an investor, have investment savings in a company’s pension plan, have a 401K, a 403B, a Keogh plan, some shares in mutual funds, or any other kind of investment plan, you are the one who is going to be hurt because the government is going to hit you, yet again, where you can’t defend yourself—in your pocket book. Your investment will lose its profitability if the government sets limits on the profits a business may earn. Just about every fund or investment manager has a piece of an oil company. Now you're sharing the profits and loving watching your investments grow; leave it to Congress and they will grab their share of the profits and your investments will falter.

You'll react to the Excess Profits Tax. Chances are you’ll blame the downturn in your investments on the economy, but the truth is the blame is on Congress. Listen to who the big talkers are—like Maxine Waters with her stated socialist agenda—and you’ll find out who is more than anxious to rake you over the coals because they think you’re too dumb to discern the truth.
politics "political+blogs" "Maxine+Waters" Congress Clinton Obama oil gas gasoline "gas+prices" hearings "congressional+hearings" "Dick+Durban" "Patrick+Leahy" socialism socialist Brazil CNN "Excess+Profits+Tax" liberals taxes investments

PORK BARREL SPENDING ROBS TAXPAYERS

Probably bald-faced lying gets me the most, and we have a Congress complaining about pork barrel spending yet refusing to stop bringing home the bacon—at our— taxpayers' expense. The Democrats swooped into office like vultures and, voila, “earmark” spending tripled in 2007. So much for another Democratic Party promise. Not that Republicans act any better. Three of the top five recipients of earmarks are Republicans.

But let’s look at our candidates as a hint to the future:

Hillary Clinton brought to NY a whopping 296 million dollars! Does this make her a good Senator? NOT. But look at her history; she’s used to living off the government.

Barak Obama took a measly 97 million dollars back home!

John McCain came in a distant third. He took nothing back to Arizona. HE NEVER HAS TAKEN HOME A PENNY IN PORK. And he keeps getting re-elected. It points out the truth about us voters: we DO WANT INTEGRITY; we WANT OUR TAX MONEY RESPECTED.

On an interview from Jacksonville, Florida this morning, I heard McCain say he WILL VETO ANY BILL THAT HAS EARMARK SPENDING ATTACHED. That’s a promise I hope he’ll keep.

There are some real CHUTZBAH CANDIDATES:

New York City Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D) secured $1,950,000 for (get this) The Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at CUNY. You just can’t make up this kind of irony !!!!! Public Service?????? Public Theft is more like it.

Maine Senators Snowe (R) and Collins (R) fished a whopping $188,000 out of the sea of taxpayer money for a Lobster Institute. How delicious is that! I think we were the ones caught in a trap.

Despite their public statements, Congress recently shot down, by a big majority, a bill to put a one-year moratorium on earmark spending. This while they complain that the country is about to enter a recession. You just cannot make this stuff up!!!!

"political+blogs" politicians taxes earmarks "pork+barrel" Congress government money "Hillary+Clinton" "Barak+Obama" "John+McCain" Democrats Republicans "Charles+Rangel" Snowe Collins "New+York" Illinois Arizona Maine taxpayers

DON'T LET THE MEDIA CHOOSE OUR CANDIDATES

Don't let the press choose our candidates for us. The press has taken sides and has chosen its favorites. Now the journalists just sit back and hope we'll follow their lead.

It's no secret that journalists covering Barak Obama are smitten. His charm and the likeablity factor that alludes Hillary are intricate parts of his personality. But what they aren't covering are the details of his positions. He's allowed to make statements without ever offering a plan to implement them. But he's still a golden boy. Beware.

With Hillary, no one challenges her past. The media certainly does not. When she calls Bill's eight years in the White House her experience and adds another eight as a do-nothing NY Senator, what is she taking about--the travel agency debacle, the failed and embarrassing stab at health care reform, the lost records that sat on her coffee table and mysteriously disappeared? The press doesn't deal with those things, and hope we've forgotten. Search high and low for the positive contributions of her senate year, but it will be like searching for WMDs in an Iraqi desert.

Duncan Hunter was a blip on the journalistic screen. The press ignored him, and he quietly went away. Guiliani was counted out by the press as was Fred Thompson. And did you know that by suspending rather than stopping his campaign, John Edwards is still eligible for government campaign funding? Is he angling for a position in the next White House? The press hasn't covered that possibility.

The press is definitely anti-Huckabee, and keeps asking when he's going to give up and go home. Huckabee has to keep repeating that he's in this thing for the long haul. Defending his run has superseded talking about issues--his tax reforms, for instance.

According to the media, John McCain is the Republican candidate of choice. He's far from conservative stances, and his rebellion against the Republicans is glossed over. His dalliances with some of the most liberal Democrats in the Senate like Ted Kennedy please the press, so the media is all for him. They didn't call him on his lies about Mitt Romney's war position, and they apparently want to push him to the forefront. The press keeps suggesting that it's time for Romney to call it a day as a presidential candidate. They've left him on his own.

It's bad enough the the press can't or won't treat the candidates neutrally. It's worse that we tend to listen and follow their suggestions. If it's inevitable that McCain will get the nomination, we think, then why not vote for him in the primary? If the Clintons have an unbeatable machine, why not vote for her now?

The fact that we are treated as stupid doesn't mean we have to act that way. Use your own reasons for voting for a candidate. Most important--VOTE for the person who is closest to your personal choices.
politics primaries "Super+Tuesday" Hillary Obama Huckabee McCain Romney Edwards Guiliani Thompson Hunter "political+commentary" analysis media candidates press journalist "Not+With+A+Whimper" "political+blogs"

CLINTON & OBAMA SPIN LIKE WHIRLING DERVISHES

Both the Clinton and Obama camps are spinning so dizzyingly, they must be ready to puke! I am ready to puke as I read and hear the results of their spinning. Consider that no Democratic delegates will have a vote at the Democratic Convention as the state was disenfranchised by the National Committee, but they're both claiming victory.

Hillary hightails it back to Florida to celebrate her empty victory and thank the voters of Florida for giving her their all. All of nothing, actually, except a goose for states on Super Tuesday when most of the rest of the country will decide Florida's potential fate for the next four years. Her enthusiasm is as phony as the rest of Hillary who would kill (take that as you please--literally or figuratively) to have those delegates at the convention for her.

Obama sinks to new lows, but he's been watching Hillary so perhaps he has no choice. He touts the Florida results as a TIE. Zero delegates for him and Zero delegates for her. There's no considering that in this meaningless delegate race, she whupped him soundly!

Meanwhile, in the background, you get the clueless Floridians cheering wildly. Duh! It is really time to get off the merry-go-round. We can only hope it's the end of the ride!
Democrats, primaries, politics, "political+blogs", Hillary, Obama, "Hillary+Clinton" "Barak+Obama" "Florida+primaries," Florida "Florida+politics" "Democratic+convention"

SPITZER IS SNEAKILY DESTROYING NEW YORK

Elliot Spitzer is one of the worst governors New York has ever had. He is out to destroy this state. Though he's been stymied in some of his plans, every once in a while he sneaks something in, and it's never good. I'm not talking about the driver's license plan that even got Hillary in trouble. But he does not want us to identify illegals--that's for sure. He's out to make New Yorkers even less able to sort out legal residents from illegal ones and to make us pay for everyone--no questions asked. Fingerprinting, Spitzer feels, is a deterrent to applying for food stamps, so let's stop fingerprinting. Hmmmmmm I wonder why it's a deterrent. Hmmmmm

The state has stopped taking fingerprints from some working families that apply for foodstamps. New York has been fingerprinting since 1998 as a fraud prevention program, but what the H--Spitzer doesn't care if people are stealing undeserved benefits. If one adult in a family works 30 hours a week or two adults each work 20 hours a week, they will not have to be fingerprinted. That means they will not have to be identified. That means that if they are illegal or are applying for benefits to which they are not entitled, the government won't know. New York is soooooo rich (or so Spitzer apparently thinks) that we have money to toss into the wind. Citizens don't care. (Actually this might be true because they did elect Spitzer.)

That brings us to the poor way in which government manages any program, but hey, let's leave that topic for another day. But try to think of one government program that is run efficiently. Keep trying....Bet you can't come up with one before New York goes totally down the tubes
politics "New+York" "Elliot+Spitzer" Spitzer "Hillary+Clinton" "political+commentary" "political+blogs" "Not+With+A+Whimper"

TRUTH ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE

The truth about the New Hampshire primaries has less to do with the pundits' predictions than with the third place finishers in each case.

Hillary's numbers haven't changed nationwide, and months ago Dick Morris pointed out that she has her core constituency, and her national numbers don't move up or down much of all. People know her and they've made up their minds despite her crocodile tears and Bill's role as whipping boy. (Give ME a break).

Her "landslide" was about two points. The polls didn't take into account the 17% that clueless Edwards gleaned. When he finally leaves the race, where will those 17% go? It won't be to Hillary. They'll be Obama votes, and that makes a big difference.

On the Republican side, McCain did very well. He talks big about security, and that grabs voters. But people have yet to be reminded of his immigration/amnesty (despite his denial) junk in league with the most liberal ideologues in Congress. Third place Mike Huckabee did not have the evangelical backing he needed to win in Iowa. Where will his votes go? I don't see them going to McCain. As the race gets tighter, the gloves will come off and the brass knuckles will come out. Guiliani has yet to really make his move, and if he hangs in there until Florida, American security will be a much bigger issue.

As Arte Johnson used to say, "Verrry interesting."

politics politicians "Hillary+Clinton" "Barak+Obama" "political+blogs" primary "New+Hampshire" elections Hillary "current+events" commentary media "primary+results" "Rudy+Guiliani" "Mike+Huckabee" Guiliani Huckabee Obama

HILLARY--HOW DEVISIVE CAN YOU GET?

The most horrendous ploy--oops, that's asking to be too specific in too wide a range of possibilities--pulled out of the Clinton black magic tricks hat is to suggest that Hillary is the only candidate to beat Republicans. That's what she says in New Hampshire after her "appear to be warm and cuddly" act backfired in Iowa and she had to go back to the cauldron.

We have a do-nothing Congress because its biggest concern is disabling anything Bush related, and now we have a presidential hopeful espousing more of the same. It doesn't matter which Democrat, just so we dump the Republicans and remove their voice from any part of the government. The differences in thinking between Democrats doesn't matter; only the name of the party does. (might bode well for Mike Bloomberg)

That's what Hillary calls change. Meanwhile on her podium she is flanked by Bill and Madeline Albright. There are no limits to how stupid the Clintons think the American people are. Of course, if Hillary gets in, the Clintons are right.

The other point is her suggestions about her strength. Why is she the only viable candidate? Obama beat her; Edwards beat her. Is she already pulling the race card regarding Obama--nothing direct but insinuating that America will pull back from electing a Black president? This is something to worry about. I don't think she is really worried about Edwards, but if Novak is right, the Clintons will stop at nothing.

This is going to be an ugly race. Maybe the American people will finally be fed up with the shenanigans and send the entire group packing! Again.

politics politicians "Hilary+Clinton" "Barak+Obama" "political+blogs" Iowa "New+Hampshire" elections Hillary "current+events" commentary media

PANDER---THAT'S A POLITICAL ANIMAL

It's the pander mating season. You can hear all the rutting noises as these political animals seek to attract their ilk and kith and kin (incest is all right here). Anything that means multiplying the offspring--the votes.

This morning Dennis Kucinich passed his second caucus vote to Obama. Two more votes for him.

Ralph Nader came out for one of the lowliest parasites on the election scene--John Edwards. On that level we're talking about the bottom feeders in the world. Edwards, who will "mate" with just about everyone, continues to suck up to the brain-dead on the far left by saying he will even pull out the people training the Iraqi police, etc. Hello bloodbath if Edwards gets elected. Then some future Jane Fonda (Penn, Sheen, Redford--if he's still with us) can blame the bloodbath on America. By that time Edwards will have retreated into his zillion $ mansion and once again forget the difference between the haves and have nots in America.

Hillary talks about corkscrewing (her term, not mine) down into Africa and not being offered tea on the tarmac. She forgot to mention that Chelsea, Sinbad, and other entertainment came with her on that trip--I guess to get equivalent international experience. I cannot stand the thought of listening to her laugh for four years. Makes the hair on my arm stand up.

The only thing I can hope for with these guys is that they're all sterile.

politics politicians "Hilary+Clinton" "Barak+Obama" military war Iraq soldiers "current+events" commentary "political+blogs" pander election caucus Iowa "New+Hampshire" Redford Fonda Sheen Penn