Pastor Rick Warren, Gun Control, and Matthew Warren’s Suicide

April 14, 2013 | Filed Under 2nd Amendment, Congress, Constitution, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Corruption, Gun Control, Guns, House of Representatives, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, President, Progressives, Regulation, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Pastor Rick Warren and his family suffered a devastating loss last week when their son, Matthew, took his own life with a pistol that he may have bought illegally from a person he contacted over the Internet. Dealing with such a loss is heartrending, of course, and the Warren family has much to endure as they deal with this terrible incident. But one thing is sure, new gun laws would not have prevented Matthew Warren’s suicide.

Warren’s son, Matthew Warren, committed suicide on April 5 with a self-inflicted gunshot. After news broke, the young man’s father reported that Matthew had been under a doctor’s care for years and had been suicidal for some time. Sadly, his doctors weren’t able to save the young man from his fatal choice.

Rick Warren said, Matthew “suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life.”

In the days since, Warren has Tweeted several times about his son’s death and in a Tweet on Friday afternoon, the Pastor of the Saddleback Valley Community Church mentioned that his son had bought his gun illegally from someone over the Internet.
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VIDEO: The False Claim that Women Only Earn 77 Cents To a Man’s Dollar

April 9, 2013 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Communism, Congress, Conservatives, Democracy, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Education, Ethics, GOP, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Jobs, Liberals, Policy, President, Progressives, Republicans, Senate, Socialism, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

The truth is women make pretty much the same as men when “apples” are compared to “apples”…

the Independent Women’s Forum, in a continued effort to set the record straight about the real reason for the statistical difference between men and women’s earnings , releases an informative, stop-frame animation web video — Straight Talk About the Wage Gap. The video explains how women’s choices ultimately determine how much they earn and how government intervention in the workplace can backfire on women.

http://www.iwf.org/

Mark Levin On Fox’s Dana Perino: ‘I’m Sick Of The Preening, Elitist, Country Club Republicans!’

April 8, 2013 | Filed Under Congress, Conservatives, Elections, Ethics, Fox News, GOP, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Journalism, Media Bias, Radio, Republicans, Senate, TV, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

On April 2 on Fox News’ The Five, former George W. Bush press secretary Dana Perino criticized Doctor Ben Carson for appearing on too many conservative shows. This criticism sent talk show host Mark Levin into criticism of his own saying he was sick of these “preening, elitist, country club Republican(s).”

Ben Carson is the newest star in the conservative firmament and he’s now entering that spot in his debut onto the scene were pundits think they know better about how he should comport himself than he does. Thus, Perino’s advice for Carson is to stop doing TV and radio and “lay low” for a while.

Why? According to Perino it’s because doing conservative talk radio is bad for his image. Already Carson has “burned through so much of his credibility,” Perino claimed.
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Should Congressional Staffers Have Their Private Twitter Accounts Published?

April 6, 2013 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Budget, Congress, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, Progressives, Republicans, Taxes, Transparency, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

A Congressional watchdog group called LegiStorm has announced a sweeping new project aimed at government transparency. But part of that project has staffers on Capitol Hill crying foul because it lists all their private Twitter accounts.

On April 3, LegiStorm announced its new StormFeed tool saying it is a, “real-time, full-text searchable access to every official press release and official tweet from Capitol Hill plus the tweets of thousands of congressional staffers.”

But many staffers began to complain when they began finding their own private info on the thing. Worse, many found out of date or simply wrong info on it. As one staffer told Politico, “I was pretty surprised to show that they even listed who I married, when I married him and where. Why in the world does that need to be in there?”

Politico also said this: “A Democratic staffer said the new feature brings an unwelcome level of scrutiny to a group of people who haven’t sought the spotlight.”

Democrat or no, isn’t this staffer correct, here?
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VP Biden Still Lobbying for Gun Control

April 4, 2013 | Filed Under 2nd Amendment, Barack Obama, Bill of Rights, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Gun Control, Guns, House of Representatives, Joe Biden, Liberals, Liberty, Policy, President, Progressives, Regulation, Security/Safety, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Vice President Joe Biden is again plying the phones calling his former colleagues on Capitol Hill bending ears over the President’s gun control ideas. His calls are coming on a “near-daily basis” as Obama mounts another push for gun control.

Biden has held private meetings with Republican Senators such as John McCain (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and, Johnny Isakson (Ga.), and will be haunting the offices of Capitol Hill in the days ahead.

It appears that President Obama is relying on Biden to leverage the relationships he had built when he was a long-serving Senator from Delaware to cajole Congress into acquiescing to new gun control laws.

“President Obama is the strategist and Vice President Biden is the tactician,” Democratic consultant Chris Kofinis told The Hill. “I think the president is laying out the frame, the message, the vision about where we need to go and why. The vice president understands how to make that happen. You have two interlocking pieces that work very well together.”

Republicans, however, scoff at the idea that Biden is an effective negotiator.
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Eagle-Killing, Investment-Wasting ‘Renewable’ Energy

April 3, 2013 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Biofuels, Budget, Capitalism, Congress, Crime, Crony Capitalism, Democrats/Leftists, Electric, Energy, EPA, Ethics, Government, Corruption, Green Energy, House of Representatives, Jobs, Keystone Pipeline, Liberals, Natural Gas, Oil, Policy, President, Progressives, Senate, Socialism, Solar, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

The “Green Energy” sector has been hit with a series of setbacks over the last few years. From a wind farm being cited for killing an endangered eagle, to solar energy’s tumble from investor favor over dismal performance, to a growing list of companies gone bankrupt even after President Obama pumped millions of our tax dollars into them, the so-called Green Energy sector has certainly seen better, more hopeful days.

In the realm of farce, a wind farm in Nevada finds itself at an unfortunate crossroads of political correctness. Even as the wind farm in White Pine County, Nevada is a favored “Green Energy” nirvana, the company that runs it is under threat of sanctions by the federal government. Why? Because a protected Golden Eagle flew into one of the farm’s turbines killing itself.

Now, San Francisco-based Pattern Energy is awaiting a decision from the feds on whether or not they will have to pay a $3,000 fine for killing the endangered bird.

But as the President might say, that is but “a bump in the road.” Worse than the death of a protected eagle, a recent analysis reveals that the bottom has fallen out of solar energy investments.
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Alabama Lawmaker’s, Vile, Race-Tinged Email to Constituent

April 2, 2013 | Filed Under Alabama, Anti-Americanism, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Progressives, Race, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

A Jefferson County, Alabama man got a shock after he emailed a local State Representative when instead of a form reply, or a short, meaningless message, the state representative sent him a vile rant filled with taunts and race-tinged epithets.

When Jefferson County resident Eddie Maxwell sent an email to Alabama’s House members urging them to reject any new gun control measures, State Rep. Joe Mitchell (D, Mobile) responded with a virulent personal attack.

Using his official state government email account, Rep. Mitchell sent back a tirade that raised eyebrows across the Yellowhammer State this week. In the email, Mitchell essentially called Mr. Maxwell a slave owner, and followed that with a string of name-calling and threats of violence against him and those like him.

“Your folk never used all this sheit to protect my folk from your slave-holding, murdering, adulterous, baby-raping, incestuous, snaggle-toothed, backward-a**ed, inbreed, imported criminal-minded kin folk,” Rep, Mitchell wrote in the return email. [Spelling as in original]

Mitchell went on to rant that he will use Maxwell’s message to show why his constituents should “stock up on spare parts, munitions and the like,” in an obvious allusion to using the Second Amendment to protect themselves from white people like Maxwell.
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VIDEO: What Can Washington Politicians Learn From America’s Moms?

April 2, 2013 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Children, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Elections, Entitlements, Ethics, Freedom, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Jobs, Liberals, Liberty, Money, Nanny State, President, Progressives, Regulation, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

Bankrupting America asks American mothers what Washington D.C. could do better. Their answers are so filled with common sense, that one wonders how Washington could be so stupid.

Listen to your mothers, Washington!

http://BankruptingAmerica.org

Phyllis Schlafly On the GOP Establishment, Karl Rove, Mitt Romney and Other ‘Losers’

March 27, 2013 | Filed Under Congress, Conservatives, Constitution, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Karl Rove, Mitt Romney, President, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

This year at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), I was fortunate enough to get some time to interview one of the most redoubtable conservative activists in the nation, Phyllis Schlafly. In this eighteen minute video you will encounter a woman that is extremely vital and at 89-years-of-age still sharp as a tack.

As is her wont, Schlafly eschewed kid gloves with her frank discussion of the GOP establishment and how those effete, east coast, country clubbers are at war with the conservative, Midwestern grassroots.

Take Schlafly’s description of “the establishment,” for instance:
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Reuters Regurgitates Democrat Talking Points on Budget Plan

March 18, 2013 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, President, Progressives, Reuters, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

On March 12, Representative Paul Ryan (R, WI) released the GOP’s budget proposal sparking an afternoon of analysis and criticism. By Tuesday evening Reuters was contrasting Ryan’s budget with one sponsored by Senator Patty Murray (D, WA). But there is one problem with Reuters’ analysis. The Democrats didn’t actually release any budget for Reuters to analyze at the time of publication. So, Reuters simply regurgitated Murray’s talking points.

In the Reuters report, the pair of budgets were deemed difficult to pass because they appear “crafted to appeal to their respective party bases.”

Reuters claimed that the problem with Ryan’s budget is that it is likely aimed at getting Rep. Ryan the 2016 GOP Presidential nomination as opposed to being a serious attempt to solve Washington’s budget problems.
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CPAC 2013

March 14, 2013 | Filed Under Conservatives, CPAC, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston, Washington D.C. | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Once again I am attending the Conservative Political Action Conference here in Washington D.C.–well, not D.C. exactly but outside the city in National Harbor, Maryland, a 20 minute drive from downtown.

The morning started off with Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, U.S. Representative Allen West, and Senator Pat Toomey and a few others.

CPAC’s early group discussion on Thursday was all about cultural diversity with a panel titled “Respecting families and the rule of law: a lasting immigration policy.” This panel addressed the thorny issue of the conservative position on the current problems over immigration, illegal or otherwise.
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Tom Brokaw: Obama Spends Too Much Time Campaigning

March 6, 2013 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Ethics, GOP, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, MSNBC, NBC, President, Progressives, Senate, Stimulus, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Old NBC News hand Tom Brokaw made an appearance on MSNBC’s The Cycle on March 4 and criticized President Obama for campaigning too much instead of governing. Brokaw also castigated Obama for refusing to negotiate with Republicans over the budget impasse and the sequester cuts.

Extremely liberal panel member, Touré, asked Brokaw if the budget impasse was because the GOP is “refusing” to work with Obama because they are “incented” [sic] not to work with him.

Brokaw replied that he didn’t think that Republicans were flat out refusing to work with the President but are negotiating with an eye to the 2014 midterm elections and don’t want to give away too much. Brokaw went on to lament that Obama is doing little else but demonizing the GOP instead of looking for ways to work with them.

Transcript
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Rep. Maxine Waters Inflates Sequester to ’170 Million’ Jobs Lost

March 2, 2013 | Filed Under Budget, Business, California, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Jobs, Maxine Waters, President, Progressives, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D, CA) had a dire prediction for America due to sequestration claiming that 170 million jobs would be lost as a result of the policy. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are only about 140 million jobs in the whole country.

During a press conference on February 28, Waters told reporters of a visit by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke who told members of congress that sequestration is not the optimal way to cut the federal budget.

Talking of Bernanke’s comments, Waters claimed that “if sequestration takes place, that’s going to be a great setback. We don’t need to be having something like sequestration that’s going to cause these jobs losses, over 170 million jobs that could be lost.”

However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table A-9, Selected Employment Indicators, in January of 2013 there were 141,614 million jobs in the current American economy.

Using Waters’ math, the US would lose about 30 million more jobs than it had to start with.
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Sen. Feinstein Gushes Over CNN’s Anti-Gun Piers Morgan, ‘You’ve Been Wonderful’

March 2, 2013 | Filed Under 2nd Amendment, Anti-Americanism, California, CNN, Congress, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Dianne Feinstein, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Gun Control, Guns, House of Representatives, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, Progressives, Regulation, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

California Senator Diane Feinstein appeared on Pier Morgan’s evening CNN show on February 28 to talk about her gun-banning bill that is currently on hold in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The interview ended in a gushing mutual admiration society as gun-banner Feinstein applauded gun-hater Morgan and vice versa.

“That gun culture is letting bad things happen,” Feinstein sonorously told Morgan at the tail of the interview.

“Well, you’re doing a fantastic job on this, Senator,” Morgan told her. “I absolutely applaud you and urge you to continue,” he added.

The mutual admiration continued as Feinstein said, “Oh, Piers, thank you.”

“You have been wonderful. Thank you so much for your help. It is uphill all the way,” Feinstein concluded.

Would New Federal Stalking Laws Have Snared Rep. Bill Foster?

February 28, 2013 | Filed Under Bill Foster, Congress, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Liberals, Progressives, Senate, Sex Offenders/Rape, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

This year the Violence Against Women Act is getting some stronger penalties for stalking, assault, and other crimes. With all these new provisions, one wonders that if this law were around 15 years ago, how it would have hit good old Congressman Bill Foster, a man who is guilty of abusing his wife?

The law, called The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S47), would most certainly have sent Foster to jail for a long time. You see the Illinois Democrat has a chequered history of violence against women.

Some of the additions to S47 include,
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AFP Congressional Scorecard Released

February 23, 2013 | Filed Under Americans For Prosperity, Congress, Conservatives, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Liberals, Progressives, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Americans for Prosperity has launched a new project for Americans to track their congressmen. The new website is part of an interactive version of AFP’s congressional key vote scorecard, which includes AFP key votes from the past three congresses.

Eighteen House members and one senator rated an A+ conservative rating while twenty-one reps. and one senator rated an F.

The new scorecard can be seen at afpscorecard.org. (A printable version can be seen HERE).

“The AFP Scorecard is an easy way for our activists, the media, and the general public to keep an eye on Washington. Now that the Scorecard is available on an interactive website it will be even easier to keep an eye on Congress,” said AFP Director of Policy James Valvo.
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When Indicted, Networks Barely Mentioned Jesse Jackson, Jr’s Misuse of $750,000 in Campaign Cash

February 21, 2013 | Filed Under ABC, Budget, Campaign Finance, CBS, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Jesse Jackson, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, NBC, Progressives, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

A survey of news coverage by the big three networks of the indictment of former Chicago Democrat Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. was sparse to non-existent for the first three days after the indictment was made public. Even when his trouble was reported, the fact that he is a Democrat went unmentioned.

Jackson was indicted on Friday, February 15, but as Friday, then the weekend rolled on, the big three networks didn’t seem much interested in covering the story. In fact, a survey of the coverage found that the big nets gave the story scant attention that Friday and, while there were a few ultra short reports on the indictment on Saturday, there was no coverage at all on Sunday.

On Friday, for instance, NBC’s Nightly News gave the story short attention. By Saturday, Good Morning America gave the story a whole 18 seconds. Worse, even when the network news shows did report the story on Saturday evening, Jackson’s party affiliation was never mentioned.

Interestingly, not one of the Sunday morning politics shows mentioned the indictment at all.
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Washington’s Spending Problem

February 14, 2013 | Filed Under Americans For Prosperity, Budget, Congress, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Entitlements, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Jobs, Liberals, President, Progressives, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | 1 Comment

Over the past four years, President Obama and Congress have racked up huge spending bills. From the failed stimulus to the President’ new health care law to runaway spending on entitlement programs, Washington has blown through every dollar taxpayers have sent plus trillions more.

Families all over America are tightening their belts.

It’s time Washington did too.

Thankfully, this year Congress is already poised to cut $85 billion from the federal budget. It’s not enough, but it’s a good start. Let’s make sure Congress doesn’t go back on its word and try to undo the much-needed spending cuts.

Join Americans for Prosperity in sending a message to Washington: it’s long past time to get runaway government spending under control.

SIGN TODAY

Congressman Roskam Previews Obama’s State of the Union Speech

February 12, 2013 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Congress, Conservatives, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Ethics, Financial Reform, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Jobs, Liberals, Peter Roskam, President, Progressives, Redistricting, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

I had a few minutes to speak privately to Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam (R, 6th District) about the upcoming State of the Union speech that the President will give tonight and as far as Roskam is concerned the speech tonight will be nothing but a “highly charged and very, very political” speech that won’t contain many actual solutions.

Roskam, the Chief Deputy Whip of the House, said that he hopes that the President will offer ways to grow private sector jobs and a plan to “live within our means,” but he was not sanguine that he will.

“I think the President is going to lapse right into inauguration speech 2.0 and it’s all going to be highly political, and a lot of wedge issues that are not designed to try and get any kind of concessions or solutions on any of these things,” Roskam told me.

“The irony is, he’s got a real opportunity here if he wanted to lead and try and grow the economy but I think he’s just going to follow the old play book.”

Roskam also noted that the President’s Party is also not trying too hard to offer solutions.
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Pelosi: ‘We Avow the First Amendment’ Because ‘People Have a Right to a Gun’

February 12, 2013 | Filed Under 1st Amendment, 2nd Amendment, Anti-Americanism, Congress, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Gun Control, Guns, House of Representatives, Liberals, Nancy Pelosi, Progressives, Regulation, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

As Nancy Pelosi appeared on Fox News Sunday with host Chris Wallace, she didn’t seem to know the difference between the First Amendment and the Second Amendment.

During her February 10 segment, Pelosi premised her conversation by pointing out that Japan has, “the most violent games and the rest and the lowest mortality from guns.” This, Pelosi imagined, was because Japan “might have good gun laws.”

The Democrat House Minority Leader then went on to tell Wallace that the First Amendment gave Americans the right to have a gun and that was a thing she and the Democrats want to “avow.”
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Illinois Congressmen Sign Onto ‘No Budget, No Pay’ Act

January 24, 2013 | Filed Under Budget, Congress, Economy/Finances, Elections, GOP, House of Representatives, Policy, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

All the remaining Illinois Republican congressmen have signed onto the House leadership’s new bill with a provision that if Congress doesn’t pass an official budget, then House members won’t get paid.

The “No Budget, No Pay Act” (H.R. 325) garnered the support of Illinois’ Republicans, but also got a “yea” vote from several Illinois Democrats, as well.

This legislation suspends the debt limit and makes mandatory that the House and Senate adopt a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2014 by April 15, 2013. But if either body does not adopt a budget, members of that body will have their pay put into an escrow account beginning April 16, 2013 until the body adopts a budget. These funds will be released when a budget is adopted or at the end of the current Congress (in compliance with the 27th Amendment).

GOP “Yeas”
Peter Roskam [R-6], Rep Lipinski, Daniel [R-3], Rodney Dais [R-13], Randy Hultgren [R-14], John Shimkus [R-15], Adam Kinzinger [R-16], Aaron Schock [R-18].
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Congressman: ‘Older White Guys The Most Insecure’ Part of Society

January 19, 2013 | Filed Under Cable, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, MSNBC, Progressives, TV, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Virginia Representative Jim Moran has taken PC, pop psychology to its logical extremes by claiming that “older white guys” are the “most insecure” part of American society . And where else but on MSNBC?

Moran, one of the nation’s most extreme, left-wing Congressmen, appeared on Al Sharpton’s MSNBC show on January 16 and went into an aspect of the next election cycle that seemed to trouble him. It was during this discussion that he found what is wrong with our nation.

Clearly, we had a very successful election in November. I worry a bit about 2014, when we don’t have the President at the top of the ticket. We have a disproportionately number of older white guys, and frankly, being one of those types, we’re the most insecure component of our society as far as I’m concerned; we’re much the problem with these kinds of things.

We have now arrived at the open admission from the far left that the only problem in America today is “older white guys.” In contravention to the left’s claims at being the “fair” and “logical” side of the aisle, all pretense of fairness and balance has finally been laid aside and all fault laid squarely on the shoulders of one segment of our society.

In years past, this sort of rote blame was called racism.
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GOP Heads To ‘Retreat’ To Talk Strategy

January 19, 2013 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Elections, GOP, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, Progressives, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Members of the Republican Party headed out of town Wednesday to attend a retreat to talk strategy and apparently there were an awful lot of lips flapping to The Hill about the event.

The venerable Washington insider newspaper published a long report on what was going to happen at the retreat punctuated with what unnamed members expected or hoped would happen. Naturally, the talk was all centered around those obstreperous conservatives who sought to throw a bone in Speaker Boehner’s tranquility.

The retreat’s theme, we were told, is “Many Voices, Once Conference,” of which The Hill helpfully informs us, is “a nod to the GOP’s internal, self-inflicted wounds from the handling of the fiscal cliff deal.”

A session called “Planning for the First Quarter,” could “get heated.” So said “a number of lawmakers,” no names given, of course.
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Cost of Obama’s 2012 Regulations: $236 Billion

January 18, 2013 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Entitlements, Ethics, Free Trade, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Jobs, Liberals, President, Regulation, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Despite Obama’s promise to cut unnecessary regulations, his administration issued $236.7 billion in new regulations in 2012.

According to a report by the American Action Forum, headed by former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the direct costs of the regulations force America’s businesses to waste 87 million man-hours to fill out regulatory paperwork.

Adding Obama’s 2012 regulatory costs to that of the rest of his first term adds up to a total of $518 billion in new costs forced onto an already anemic economic recovery.

This onslaught of new regulations comes even after Obama was celebrated for claiming he was going to be the regulation-cutting president.

Indeed, in 2011, Obama released a plan claiming he would cut regulations and reduce the burden on the business sector. Not long after, Obama operative Cass Sunstein praised Obama claiming that his plan would work “to eliminate unjustified regulatory costs and to reduce burdens.” Sunstein went on to say that Obama had done more to cut regulations than any president in recent history.

Sunstein was given one Pinocchio for his misleading claims and for good reason as Obama’s small cuts have been dwarfed by the increases.

American Action Forum says that the costs of regulations have “added tremendous costs to the economy” and finds that the year 2012 tops every year in the past twelve in “terms of final rule cost.”
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End Times: Fox News Hires Dennis Kucinich

January 18, 2013 | Filed Under Cable, Democrats/Leftists, Fox News, House of Representatives, Liberals, Media, TV, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Fox News has hired former Congressman and outspoken progressive Dennis Kucinich as its newest on-air contributor.

Kucinich may appear across various programs on both Fox Business Network and Fox News. His first appearance was on “The O’Reilly Factor” on January 17.

“I’ve always been impressed with Rep. Kucinich’s fearlessness and thoughtfulness about important issues,” said Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes in a statement. “His willingness to take a stand from his point of view makes him a valuable voice in our country’s debate.”

Kucinich praised Fox News for having given him a forum now and in the past adding, “I look forward to a continuation of our relationship this time as a Fox News contributor.”

As an Ohio Congressman and repeat Presidential aspirant, Kucinich proposed a “Department of Peace,” which was to include a new position that would be added to the President’s cabinet.

With the addition of Kucinich to its line-up of contributors, Fox News may now have the UFO-believers demographic sewn up, too. In 2007 Kucinich admitted that he witnessed an unidentified flying object in the 1980s.
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Americans Dissatisfied With Current Gun Laws But Still Supportive of Second Amendment

January 16, 2013 | Filed Under 2nd Amendment, Congress, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Gun Control, Guns, House of Representatives, Liberals, President, Progressives, Regulation, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | 5 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the aftermath of the murders at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut, Gallup has found that the number of Americans open to greater restrictions on guns has taken an upswing going from 25 percent in support of tighter restrictions to 38 percent. Despite this, Americans are not keen on ending their Second Amendment rights. Despite this, Gallup also found that Americans are not keen on ending their Second Amendment rights.

Each year Gallup conducts its Mood of the Nation survey which contains one question on gun control asking if respondents are satisfied or dissatisfied with the nation’s laws or policies on guns. If the respondent answers in the affirmative, a follow up question is asked. The respondent is asked if laws are too strict, not strict enough, or should remain the same.

After nearly ten years showing little change in the national mood on gun laws, Gallup found a 13 point rise in those wanting harsher restrictions with 38 percent of respondents saying they are dissatisfied and want stricter gun laws. Only five percent said they were dissatisfied but want fewer restrictions.
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Illinois Republicans Voting Against Pork-Filled, Wasteful Spending

January 16, 2013 | Filed Under Aaron Schock, Adam Kinzinger, Budget, Congress, Conservatives, Economy/Finances, GOP, Government, House of Representatives, Illinois, Peter Roskam, Randy Hultgren, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

We do a lot of carping on blogs and in the media about what our Representatives in Congress do, of course. But once in a while we should praise them when they get together and do something right.

Today we offer a bit of positive reinforcement for our GOP delegation in D.C. for voting against the Sandy Relief package.

No, we aren’t crowing that they’ve voted to deprive victims of Hurricane Sandy of much needed relief funds. No, what we are praising them for is for refusing to vote for a bill that is stuffed with nothing but wasteful, pork spending.

Unfortunately, the bill wasn’t just for Sandy relief. It was also stuffed with billions for FBI agent salaries, road projects in states unaffected by Sandy, cash for upgrades to the money-losing Amtrak rail lines, and other wasteful spending.
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In Lincoln’s Shadow: Obama’s Up Coming State of the Union Speech

January 13, 2013 | Filed Under Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Liberals, President, Progressives, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

President Obama will deliver the first State of the Union address for his second term on February 12 this year.

As is the custom, the President was invited to give the address by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In his letter, Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) noted the “immense challenges” we face as a nation.

“Our nation continues to face immense challenges, and the American people expect us to work together in the new year to find meaningful solutions,” Boehner wrote. “This will require a willingness to seek common ground as well as presidential leadership. For that reason, the Congress and the Nation would welcome to an opportunity to hear your plan and specific solutions for addressing America’s great challenges. Therefore it is my privilege to invite you to speak before a Joint Session of Congress on February 12, 2013 in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building.”

Few expect Obama to use his upcoming State of the Union speech to offer any conciliatory gestures in order to work with the Republicans per Speaker Boehner. It is more likely that Obama will use his speech to outlay another series of demands to enlarge government and, since Sandy Hook, initiate new efforts to ban guns.
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Illinois Passes Drivers Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

January 10, 2013 | Filed Under Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, GOP, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Immigration/Immigrants, Liberals, Mexico, Pat Quinn, Progressives, Republicans, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

After a vote on January 8, Illinois is set to join only two other states, New Mexico and Washington, to allow illegal immigrants to apply for state drivers licenses. A third state, Utah, allows illegals to drive on temporary permits.

The 65-46 vote where 11 Republicans, some in leadership positions, joined Democrats to extend legal licenses came after a long, heated debate (SB 957).

Conservative activist William J. Kelly criticized the law.

“This kind of legislation has spurred a serious fraud problem in New Mexico and other states where it has been enacted,” Kelly wrote in the State Journal-Register. “Papers have been forged, auto repair shops have been regularly listed as places of residence, and more illegal driver’s licenses schemes have caused headaches for law enforcement as foreigners from other countries come to the state to fraudulently receive a U.S. driver’s license.”

Indeed, New Mexico’s Governor has been fighting to repeal her state’s licenses for illegals law.
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Nancy Pelosi Defends Doctored ‘Diversity’ Photo of House Democrats

January 5, 2013 | Filed Under California, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Liberals, Nancy Pelosi, Progressives, Warner Todd Huston, Washington D.C. | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat leader of the House of Representatives and former Speaker of the House, is defending a faked photograph released on Thursday showing the “diversity” of the Female members of the Democrat delegation to Congress.

The photo featuring “all” the Democrat women of the House standing on the steps outside the Capital building was released by the California Democrat on her Flikr account on January 3.

But oddly, the four Democrats shown at the top steps in the back of the group are not really in the photo. The images of the four were photoshopped into the picture and weren’t present when the group photo was taken. The missing four were added later by Pelosi’s computer-wielding staffers. You can see both the original photo and the photoshopped results at Poynter. Or see below.
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