New York Young Republican Record

Tea Party Organizer Running for AR Senate Seat with Obama-ish Logo

2009-08-09T16:16:00.002-04:00

Oh my. I mean, this just doesn't seem right.

http://www.tomcox4senate.com/

Socialist Healthcare

2009-06-16T18:29:00.003-04:00

How many people in this country expect subpar medical treatment on a regular basis? Compare that to the number who expect excellent care.

Socialist healthcare exists throughout Europe. Way back when, sometime after WWII, all those post-utopian governments (excuse my sarcasm) decided to take the healthcare field out of private hands. From across the pond and from the north, we are bombarded with horror stories involving killer waiting lines, denial of expensive drugs, denial of service due to age or likelihood of living, and deteriorating technology. The citizens of these countries flock here for treatment they're denied at home. Why are we emulating them?

Just because some people insist that healthcare is a right (it's not) does not make it not subject to the laws of supply and demand, like any other good or service. Therefore, the best way to maximize care is enact policies that maximize incentive for supply. If the government was really interested in providing more care, they'd lift all taxes on medically related fields.

Cost-cutting in healthcare is currently done by the private sector and their desire for profit. "Cost-cutting" in the state's hands will be paid in lives and suffering. They are, afterall, the resultant of medical care rationing.

Medical care is too expensive? According to whom? Surely not the patient paying for life extending drugs, for an open-heart surgery, for a new set of teeth, for skin grafts. This argument from the left is absurd but ever so persistent.

The cost of nationalized healthcare will be astronomical. The debt is already unmanageable. It's clear Obama doesn't care about people, about patients, about posterity; even those Republicans in denial figured that out after the first month of his administration. As a nation, we cannot afford this program even if it were healthful . Obama knows that. Apparently he has reckoned that crushing debt and a valueless dollar are no reason to impede his aims.

On a personal note, as the recipient of extensive (and expensive) medical care as a very young child, care that saved my life, I do not want my children born into a tyranny where cold, politically motivated bureaucrats decide who live and die. Keeping abreast of the news emanating from socialist healthcare systems and seeing first hand the treatment provided to friends in Canada, I very much doubt I'd be typing this message today had America followed this deadly lead in the years following the war. Barack Obama, if by some chance in hell you step down from your throne and come across this blogger's post in a lonely corner of the internet, remember that the blood of all those denied care will be on your hands for generations to come should this plan pass.

Response to David Frum's Review of Levin's Liberty and Tyranny

2009-06-11T20:23:00.004-04:00

David Frum has written a review of Mark Levin's #1 bestseller Liberty and Tyranny. It can be found here.

I write these comments as a long time listener and fan of Mark Levin. For anyone interested in learning about the nature of government, or “the State”, there are few who are as learned, articulate, and entertaining as Levin, who is a first rate litigator, communicator, and teacher. Any close listener recognizes the erudition and thought behind what Frum calls “ferocious rage;” or what listeners and normal humans might call passion. While I cannot speak for Levin I will come to his defense: a myopic review such as Frum’s, seemingly substantive, breaks down after critical thought.

First off, the title of the book could not be more accurate. Some of the self-styled sophisticates in Republican circles might cringe at what they consider a gross simplification of what is, in reality, political complexity. But were Fascism and Communism so different for the citizens trapped under the machinations of their fanatical leaders? Does it really matter to the individual whether mob-like syndicalism or unchallengeable bureaucratization direct economic policy? In the end these are details; descriptions of the channels of power from which one man or one party directs incontestable rule. Both are tyrannical, and I very much doubt Americans would choose either over traditional American liberty. To the contrary of Frum, this blunt description is arresting because it is true.

Next, it should be no consolation to Mr. Frum’s readers that he picked the likes of the Germans and Poles to refute Levin’s claim that liberty once lost is rarely recovered. Yes, perhaps Levin should have added a qualifier to his proposition: that it is rarely recovered without great suffering. But few people would look at the experience of these two nations in the 20th century, under Hitlerism and Stalinism, and see models of government we should emulate. Thanks, but I’d rather not endure that extensive a reclamation process here in America.

Much of the review is dedicated to the notion that conservatives have little interest in practical politics, but long for simplified and idealistic arguments (and personalities) that make them feel good. This might come as a surprise to the ostensibly monkish Frum, but voters are people, too. There is little hope for electoral victory based on statistical readouts of current trends that offer no coherent and organizing philosophy. People do no follow pollsters – they follow leaders. Sarah Palin, looked down on by the ranks of Frum as parochial, is the movement’s most popular leader. Could it be that people can identify with her, trust her, see conviction in her professed beliefs? (I know it’s hard for Frum to stomach the idea of a party that is pro-life and opposes gay “marriage,” but frankly what do you expect from the son of a Canadian journalist?) Maybe this attraction to people and ideas is also why Levin’s book has been #1 on the NYT bestsellers list nine out of ten weeks? Nobody in their right mind looks to build a popular movement based on legislative tinkering. Finally, I’m sure that Levin, a former member of Reagan’s cabinet, could write a statistic-heavy, Frum-like book, but then again, who would read it?

On Levin’s economic analysis, Frum criticizes Levin for citing the Federal Reserve’s low interest rates as a catalyst for the unsustainable boom. By way of this remark and the shallow remarks on handouts that follow, Frum has exposed himself as an economic ignoramus who does not understand political economy or monetary policy. His entire analysis is incoherent. For example, Frum states “Then Fed chairman Alan Greenspan refrained from doing so because his libertarian instincts recoiled from the suggestion that he as a government official should decide that asset prices had risen ‘too high.’” Chairman Greenspan’s libertarian instincts were already gone when he slashed interest rates to 1%. If Frum is curious, he should read Hayek’s works beyond the popular “The Road to Serfdom,” and learn what flooding the banks with fake credit does to capital structure. Further, one wonders what Frum thinks of the Fed’s actions over the last year as our dollar finds itself dangerously close to demise. (There is more silliness that deserves retort, such as the crafty insinuation that Levin favors a “more restrictive immigration policy” when in fact what he demands is control over the southern border.)

A few closing thoughts. In 50 years, when the history of the present era is being written, Frum might be footnoted as being the Great Anti-Popularist. He has, after all, consistently demeaned the most popular conservative politician, Sarah Palin, and slandered the leader of the movement, Rush Limbaugh. That embarrassment of a Newsweek article will rightly be judged as carping from a petulant and largely ignored GOP fringer whose primary mission seems to be enforcing burdensome self-censorship rules on outspoken conservatives who refuse to surrender the language. After he is finished misrepresenting the free market, blushing at traditional social values, and adopting a Clinton-esque political correctness, Mr. Frum might consider reading the works of his AEI colleague Michael Novak for a rectification of his beliefs.

A Glimpse of Our Future?

2009-06-07T11:20:00.005-04:00

I recently went north, to Montreal. Throughout Quebec, liquor is distributed through the Société des alcools du Québec, or the SAQ. It is a Crown corporation, the Canadian term used for a state owned enterprise, their political language still reflecting Canada's intimate political ties to England. (As a side note, characteristic of the SAQ are higher prices reflecting a state monopoly and oppressive - and self-righteous - sin taxes paying for national healthcare.)

I bought a bottle of white wine and my friend a bottle of Crown Royal. Canada being a so-called progressive nation, eco-conscious and environmentally friendly in every silly way, the provincial authority responsible for liquor sales has actually ceased providing any shopping bags for their customers.

Get that? You buy alcohol, you walk back home (or ride your bike along the perennially frozen bike lanes that now dominate the city's roads) without the assistance of a bag. No choice, not even the option to pay $0.05 to obtain a bag so as not to look like a drunkard walking home at 2pm with a bottle of whisky in plain sight. Pay the clerk, get your change, and walk away with a bottle in your hands. Are you readying yourself, America? Nakedly parading alcohol down city streets is what happens when a population surrenders their lifestyle choices to an elected elite that knows no boundaries to their power.

The Boys of Pointe du Hoc by Ronald Reagan

2009-06-06T10:53:00.002-04:00

Attached is a video of President Reagan's speech "The Boys of Pointe du Hoc" delivered on the shores of Normandy on the 40th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1984.

Below is an excerpt from the speech:

We're bound today by what bound us 40 years ago, the same loyalties, traditions, and beliefs. We're bound by reality. The strength of America's allies is vital to the United States, and the American security guarantee is essential to the continued freedom of Europe's democracies. We were with you then; we're with you now. Your hopes are our hopes, and your destiny is our destiny.

Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."

Strengthened by their courage and heartened by their value [valor] and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.

GOP: How To Become A Majority Party

2009-06-05T17:22:00.008-04:00

Ronald Brownstein of the National Journal looks at the fall of the Republican Party in non-southern states. The statistics are astounding and very scary for conservatives and libertarians who make up the base of the GOP. Here are a few:

Since the 1972 presidential election, Republicans have beaten Democrats in the South 53-46, but have lost severely in non-Southern states 56-42.
In the past five elections, the GOP has only won an average of 21.1% of the electoral college votes from non-Southern states.

So how does the GOP turn around their fortunes? How do they get back to a majority in states outside the South?

I believe they must stick to their conservative principles and provide a true alternative to the Democratic Party and Barack Obama. Being moderate on key differences between the two parties will just further erode support for the GOP and cause it to lose control of its current strongholds. What Republicans need to do to win is find a better way to message to a vast majority of Americans. Party in-fighting is necessary at times, but it doesn't help the American people understand clearly where you stand on major issues, which is crucial when you are the opposition to the President.

It is critical that Republicans stand strong against Obama on issues that assault conservative principles, otherwise their is no need for a second party. Americans like the tw0-party system, since they are able to "change" control in Washington when the country is headed in the wrong direction. That's how Obama became president. He had no ideas on policy, but rather just said that the voters needed to "Throw the Bums Out."

Well I got news for everybody...President Obama may become one of those Bums. Republicans need to oppose him on crucial issues facing this nation, such as nationalized health care and massive government spending. America is a center-right country, and none of these things jive with "Independents" or "Moderates"

Most independents are voters who don't care much about politics and just get engaged around election time. They don't follow issues closely and just choose the side that most other people are choosing. It is imperative that a party builds support from its grassroots base and then pushes its message to a broader audience. That's what President Obama did by reaching out to the anti-war left, which is a small percentage of this country, but a decently sized component of the Democratic Party.

I think that Republicans should rally around a true conservative such as Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who did a great job in rallying the GOP base after being selected by John McCain as his vice presidential nominee. Without Palin, McCain would have had results against to Barack Obama similar to Barry Goldwater in 1964 running against Lyndon Johnson. Some say she can't win in the Northeast and Midwest, but that's nonsense. 2012 will be a referendum of Barack Obama's presidency, so the GOP just needs a candidate who can provide a difference to his agenda. Palin may have been too green as a VP choice, but remember she was thrown into the race with roughly two months till election day. Now Gov. Palin will have to go throw a year gauntlet of policy debates before the Iowa primary. That will make her battle tested and dangerous.

Remember the media said the same things about Ronald Reagan. He was just a stupid Hollywood actor...he was too conservative...he was out of the mainstream. You know why they attacked him in this way? Because they were afraid he could win and he did win...beating incumbent Jimmy Carter by 10 points in 1980.

Palin can do the same thing to President Obama. She is just the candidate that can appeal to midwest voters who are going through tough times with the demise of the American car industry. She can even appeal to Wall Street moderates who will eventually tire of Obama's hands-on approach to big business. Suburbanites will get annoyed over high inflation rates and President Obama's weakness on national defense issues, so they will be looking for a candidate who restores American exceptionalism in economics and defense.

Times are tough for the GOP and the party needs to be built from the bottom up. It is important for the party to have success in the New Jersey and Virginia governor races in 2009 and the Congressional races in 2010. When things aren't going well for an individual, business, or political party, it is important for them to go back to the core principles that once made them great. They need to look back and figure out what their greatest success has been, then try to put together the pieces to achieve it once again. That means for the GOP going back to the Ronald Reagan strategy. That strategy entails finding a charismatic leader who delivers a strong message in a way that the majority of the country can identify with it. Governor Palin is that leader and Republicans must rally around her as their leader.

NYYRC Hosts 97th Annual Dinner Gala

2009-06-04T23:11:00.001-04:00

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristine Nalbone
NYYRC PR Committee
Email: pr@nyyrc.com

The New York Young Republican Club, Inc. Hosts 97th Annual Dinner Gala

NEW YORK, NY – The New York Young Republican Club (NYYRC) will host their 97th annual alumni dinner gala on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. The event will be held at the prestigious Manhattan Penthouse, located on 80 Fifth Avenue on the 17th floor. The ever-anticipated cocktail hour commences at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards reception, which will begin promptly at 7:15 p.m. Cocktail attire should be worn by all who attend.

This year the NYYRC will honor Richard Miniter, who is the recipient of the New York Young Republican Award. In addition, keynote speakers include: Governor Jim Gilmore, John Avlon, and Richard Brownell who is the Master of Ceremonies. Surprise guests, who are always a highlight of the evening, are expected to make an appearance as well. “We expect this year’s dinner to be one of our finest to date, as the lineup is shaping up nicely, and the Republican community of the New York metropolitan area is stronger than we’ve seen in years,” said Lynn Krogh NYYRC President.

The annual dinner is the biggest event the NYYRC holds each year, and in 2009 they are expecting over 150 young professionals and business and community leaders from the New York metropolitan area. To commemorate the dinner, the NYYRC will produce a dinner journal to recognize event sponsors and make their commitments known to the distinguished guests.

On Saturday May 16, 2009 the NYYRC faced-off in a charity kickball game with the MYD, and the NYYRC was victorious. This means that all proceeds raised during that game will be donated to the NYYRC’s chosen charity, which is the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The NYYRC will be asking for continued donations at the dinner gala for all those interested in helping out with this imperative cause.

In addition, the NYYRC will host a silent auction with prizes such as the CPAC Diamond package, which includes: a ticket to the Presidential Diamond Reception and Banquet, a ticket to the Ronald Reagan Diamond Reception and Banquet, admittance to all three days of the general sessions and the Exhibit Hall, an exclusive pre-CPAC event with conservative leaders on February 17, 2010, an express bypass lanes to enter the main ballroom and book signings, a one-year membership to The American Conservative Union, and the latest edition of the ACU’s Congressional Ratings Book.

Additional details for the event are as follows:

R.S.V.P: www.NYYRC.com
Inquires: Lynn Krogh/Jennifer Gallacher; Phone: 917.922.4194; Email: RSVP@NYYRC.COM
$250 Per Person/ $300 with Photo Opp $150 Member Rate/ $200 with Photo Opp/ $3000 Per Table

About the NYYRC:
The New York Young Republican Club, Inc., is a not-for-profit political organization that exists to bring Republicans aged 18-40 together to discuss the Republican Party platform and aid the Republican Party in the education of the public about the Republican agenda and the promotion of Republican candidates for office. To find out more about the New York Young Republican Club, Inc.

Taxing Plastic Bags? You Gotta Be Kidding.

2009-06-04T22:48:00.003-04:00

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed a 5 cent/per bag tax on plastic bags euphemistically called the "Consumer Plastic Bag Use Fee." I didn't think it was necessary to pay a fee to carry your groceries home. I thought the high price of groceries was enough of a fee. Apparently I was wrong.

Essentially this so-called user fee is an attempt to close budget holes made by a spendthrift city government that simply refuses to spend less money. This time they are masking their charade in an environmentally friendly package.

City Public Advocate candidate Alex Zablocki flagged this item, which is suspiciously not being reported on in the news. He has created a petition. Sign it.

And tell everyone you know about this madness. Enough with the stupid little taxes. We have enough trouble with the big taxes, thankyouverymuch.

Gates Considers More Spending for Missile Defense

2009-06-04T22:33:00.002-04:00

Nice to see that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is mulling over an increase in spending for missile defense after North Korea's continuous missile tests in the east and Iran's continued nuclear development in the Middle East.

What is difficult to understand is the fact that our government, currently run by liberals who have little concern for national security, is willing to cut spending on research for missile defense. Their continuous refrain since Ronald Reagan first introduced the idea of a missile shield has been that it could never work. The only way they have ever been able to prove that it could never work is by denying research and development funding for the project.

Now Iran and North Korea are in the latter stages of developing offensive nuclear capabilities. And now Secretary Gates is thinking that "if" they develop missiles that could threaten us and our allies, then we "may" need to increase funding for missile defense.

We are not in the age of "if." We are in the age of "when." Let's get back to work on this now.

The Farce That is Cap and Trade

2009-06-01T20:29:00.003-04:00

Jim Manzi of the Manhattan Institute has a great piece at NRO about the cap and trade fiasco.

Be sure to read it because you can never do too much bashing on cap and trade.

The Country is Not Turning Left

2009-06-01T20:14:00.003-04:00

If one were to believe the media, one would think the country is marching in lockstep to Obama's ideas and to his philosophy. One would be wrong.

Check out some of these numbers from recent polls conducted by Rasmussen:

21 percent favor the GM bailout, 67 percent oppose it
76 percent believe economic recovery is possible if GM fails
18 percent believe the government will run GM effectively

And Pew Research Center:

The proportion of independents now equals its highest level in 70 years.... Independents are more conservative on several key issues than in the past. While they like and approve of Barack Obama, as a group independents are more skittish than they were two years ago about expanding the social safety net and are reluctant backers of greater government involvement in the private sector....

37 percent of Americans describe themselves as politically conservative – roughly double the number who say they are liberal (19 percent). This ratio has remained largely stable over the past nine years, even while the balance of party affiliation has changed substantially.

Obama is First President to Have Voted to Filibuster SCOTUS Nominee

2009-06-01T20:11:00.002-04:00

First President in US History to Have Voted to Filibuster a Supreme Court Nominee Now Hopes for Clean Process

I'll take Hypocrisy for $1,000, Alex.

Reflecting on the Obama Lovefest

2009-06-01T20:06:00.003-04:00

Robert Samuelson has another gem in today's Washington Post about "The Obama Infatuation" and how the media's inexplicable love affair with the president is shortchanging America's ability to have an honest political debate about his policies.

An excerpt:

Obama's rhetoric brims with inconsistencies. In the campaign, he claimed he would de-emphasize partisanship -- and also enact a highly partisan agenda; both couldn't be true. He got a pass. Now, he claims he will control health-care spending even though he proposes more government spending. He promotes "fiscal responsibility" when projections show huge and continuous budget deficits. Journalists seem to take his pronouncements at face value even when many are two-faced.

Read more here.

Not as Many New Jobs as White House Claims

2009-05-31T11:31:00.002-04:00

The White House claims the stimulus plan has created or saved 150,000 jobs since it was enacted 100 days ago.

Jared Bernstein, chief economic adviser to VP Joe Biden, admits that the figures are not a hard count of new hires, but are instead derived from a projection of what the White House believes the unemployment rate would have been if the stimulus had not been enacted.

Essentially we're relying on the White House's optimistic estimate of its accomplishments minus the White House's pessimistic picture of what life would be like without their benevolent and wise leadership.

In contrast:

[T]he House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asked states to count "direct, on-project jobs created or sustained" through stimulus funding for water, highway and public transit -- programs intended to bring the most employment relief. It reported last week it found a total of less than 7,700 jobs.

Taxpayers Getting Squeezed Ever Tighter

2009-05-31T11:22:00.002-04:00

From USA Today: Leap in U.S. debt hits taxpayers with 12% more red ink

An excerpt:

The latest increase raises federal obligations to a record $546,668 per household in 2008, according to the USA TODAY analysis. That's quadruple what the average U.S. household owes for all mortgages, car loans, credit cards and other debt combined.

The current rate of government spending is simply unsustainable. It must change or we're doomed.

Stop the Energy Tax

2009-05-31T09:52:00.003-04:00

American Solutions has posted an online petition to call on Congress to reject legislation that will establish energy taxes and a cap-and-trade system that will lead to crushing utility bills for all Americans.

Sign the petition here.

It Depends on Your Definition of "Voter Intimidation"

2009-05-30T20:29:00.003-04:00

Charges Against 'New Black Panthers' Dropped by Obama Justice Dept.

Here’s a case of two black men caught on videotape standing in front of a polling place on Election Day 2008 in Black Panther garb, one of whom is holding a nightstick. It’s an open-and-shut case of voter intimidation. The same type of voter intimidation that took place throughout the South for generations against blacks. It was wrong then. Why isn’t it wrong now?

Calling for an End to "Birthright Citizenship"

2009-05-27T21:51:00.002-04:00

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) is proposing an end to "birthright citizenship," the practice that allows any child born on U.S. soil to automatically become a citizen, regardless of their parents' status.

Supporters of Deal's measure note that this practice has been abused in recent years by illegal immigrants looking to gain a legal foothold in the U.S.

Deal's plan would allow babies born in the U.S. to be granted automatic citizenship if at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen or national, a legal permanent resident of the U.S., or actively serving in the U.S. military.

Seems reasonable enough, unless of course you support illegal immigration.

Jim Gilmore to the Rescue

2009-05-27T21:43:00.002-04:00

James Gilmore, former governor of Virginia and chairman of the Republican National Committee, wrote a great op-ed in today's Washington Times that calls for conservatives to unite around a common message. He contends, and rightly so, that the several fractured arguments within the Republican Party do not serve the GOP. And they surely will not save us from Barack Obama's "new socialism."

An excerpt:

Other lines of conservative thought should be free to develop, but they must be subordinated to the main theme of domestic liberty and limited government.

Whatever political action is necessary must be done to achieve this unity of message and program.

The only hope for the United States is the conservative movement. Now is the time when conservatives must subordinate their different goals in favor of a unified economic message. If we do, we will allow an American majority to come back to us.

Read more here.

Albany County Takes a Shot at the 2nd Amendment

2009-05-27T21:32:00.002-04:00

The Albany County Legislature has proposed a law that would require local gun dealers to register sales of ammunition. Proponents of Local Law A claim that they are only trying to reduce gun crime, but it's difficult to see how you do that by forcing law abiding citizens to register when they buy ammunition for their legal firearms. What the law is really trying to do is get on record everyone who purchases ammo and what type of ammo they purchase.

A public meeting held last night in Albany drew a large crowd of opponents to the bill. Hopefully they will prevail.

Babe step aside...here's true Bronx Bomber!

2009-05-27T12:59:00.001-04:00

It would seem that President Obama's selection for Supreme Court Justice has all the potential of setting a brush fire the likes only California has experience with. However, I wanted to issue a few words of caution to all those critics and supporters, please step back and look at the facts. This is one of those rare instances in which you witness the demographic evolution of this great country in real time.

Aside from being an accomplished justice who allegedly instills the fear of god in every lawyer with the unfortunate fate of deliberating in her court room, she is a self made woman who has developed into a force to be reckoned with which we, as Americans, should all be proud of.

Justice Sotomayor is an educated woman (who by the way are dramatically underrepresented on the Supreme Court) with nearly 30 years of experience both in and out of court proceedings. Out of the 30 years she spent 6 as a lower court judge in New York City and 11 years as a Federal appeals court judge.

As a Latina (who are also dramatically underrepresented in the supreme court,) Sotomayor represents the potential and possibility this country can and should continue to offer anyone with the courage and determination to alter their current circumstances for the better. Sotomayor is a textbook example of the United States that we, for the past 9 years have been attempting to remind the world of. A country where odds and obstacles can be overcome and were a child from simple beginnings can rise to the highest level of Justice based on determination and character.

Justice Sotomayor, deserves a thorough and expeditious confirmation process, in which she further confirms to us her qualifications and is also given a fair chance to explain any prior blunders, gaffes, or mistakes.

California Voters Tell Arnold to Go Pound Sand

2009-05-24T17:43:00.003-04:00

#tcot

Hooray for the voters of California. They voted down the tax-hike referendums that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed so that the tax-and-spend government in Sacramento could continue pillaging the state's economy.

Liberals said that turnout was dismal, therefore the outcome didn't mean anything. That's a pretty poor attempt to explain away the results. In politics and voting, an outcome is an outcome whether it is a landslide or 50 percent plus one. So take your sour grapes someplace else, kids.

Schwarzenegger hasn't quite learned his lesson, though. Now he wants to borrow from the municipal governments to keep the state running. Needless to say, the cities aren't happy with this idea.

What we have here is the result of liberal governing ideals that have run a state into the ground. Now, the proponents of that same failed ideology want to extend more of the burden they created onto the taxpayers. And the taxpayers said no. Let this be a lesson to citizens across America. It's time we put a stop to a way of governing that simply does not work.

What We've Learned from the Recently Foiled NYC Terror Plot

2009-05-24T17:04:00.003-04:00

#tcot

Terror threats are increasingly homegrown
Some level of domestic surveillance is necessary to the security of American citizens
Radicalization of Muslims doesn't just happen overseas
The Gitmo detainees cannot be brought to the U.S. mainland because they will establish a homegrown terror network among people like those recently caught in New York

Read Judith Miller's article "Watch Out, America, Our Biggest Terror Threats Are Increasingly Homegrown" to find out more.

Cheney vs. Obama - You be the Judge

2009-05-24T16:26:00.005-04:00

#tcot

The mainstream media say Obama is winning the debate with former Vice President Dick Cheney over how best to tackle our national security issues. Many in the conservative camp believe that Cheney has come out ahead.

One thing is certainly clear, though. The liberals are worried about Cheney's public statements and the fact that he doesn't seem to be going away. Otherwise, why go so far out of their way to attack him with such vigor? If he were truly a crank spinning tales as they so readily insist, why give him the satisfaction of even recognizing his pronouncements?

I stand clearly in Cheney's camp on this one. Feel free to debate me on this blog if you disagree.

For the two or three people out there who still have not formed an opinion on this issue, here are links to Obama's and Cheney's opposing speeches from this past week:

Obama

Cheney

Learn about The Cartel

2009-05-24T16:08:00.004-04:00

You have to see the new documentary The Cartel, by writer and reporter Bob Bowdon.

The documentary explores the dismal state of affairs of the New Jersey public school system and Bowdon gave a snapshot of some of the scary facts he uncovered during his research in making this film at the May monthly YR meeting.

You can learn more at the Web site. You can also purchase tickets to the premiere at the Hoboken International Film Festival on May 30.

Don't miss this film. It advances the education debate in this country like never before.

Dick Cheney "NYTimes Damn Sure Didn't Serve The Interests Of Our Country"

2009-05-23T02:11:00.001-04:00

Dick Cheney rails against the NY Times for printing the Bush Administration's Terrorist Surveillance Program in his speech at the American Enterprise Institute today. He keeps up his role as the main critic of the Obama Administration and is warning Obama not to go to far from the Bush playbook. This is a smart political move as it prevents the Obama Administration and the media from blaming Bush for Obama's foreign policy failings. It also puts pressure on Obama to keep Americans safe at all costs. This is why Obama and Congress haven't strayed too much from the Bush Administration on foreign policy and why the far left is starting to turn on them.

NYYRC Mtg. Covered in the Examiner

2009-05-22T13:22:00.004-04:00

Dacia Marshall, the NY Young Republican Examiner was in attendance at our meeting last night and she gave a great synopsis of our guest speaker Bob Bowdon, journalist and film-maker of "The Cartel." This film takes an in-depth look at America's School system with NJ's schools as his template.

A group of us will head out to see the film, come join us! May 30th, 2PM, Teaneck, NJ. Email President@nyyrc.com to join us.

http://www.TheCartelMovie.com

Dick Cheney Critiques The Obama Administration

2009-05-21T13:06:00.001-04:00

A lesson in accountability

2009-05-19T16:01:00.000-04:00

I wanted to write a short piece about the public school fiasco that is unfolding downtown between the (Mayor's) office and several prominent power brokers here in the city. In what is again turning into an absolute embarrassment of comical proportions, the teachers union and a few other notable members of our elected officials want to strip Mayor Bloomberg's control over the board of education in New York City.
They all claim the Mayor has too much power and influence over our children's education, their teachers, and the school's administrators. Nevermind that overall school performance during Bloomberg's tenure has been revolutionized and dramatically outperformed previous administrations/policies.
Lastly, and probably most laughable of all, is the opposition's desire to strip the Mayor of his ability to appoint board members while still making him accountable for their performance.
Mayor Bloomberg is an individual who understands the value of actionable data (the man built a behemoth by monetizing the value of data, at Bloomberg LP.) Most of the statistics pouring out of our schools encourage our continued support of Mayor Bloombergs control of the school system.
Let it be so, and allow the man to focus his attention back on other departments that need dramatic improvement in the bureaucracy that is New York City.

Lazio for Governor - 2010

2009-05-18T11:32:00.001-04:00

Former Congressman and NYYRC Award Recipient (2008) WILL NOT be waiting on Rudy Giuliani and WILL likely be running for Governor...

Who will we face? Probably Cuomo...

YRs, give us your thoughts. I know I'm excited.

Trashing the Latest and Greatest

2009-05-14T20:24:00.002-04:00

It doesn’t seem to occur to Libs, or the modern Democrat Party for that matter, that they are taking applied politics’ latest breakthrough and smashing it to smithereens before our very eyes. Bit by bit, piece by piece, they are working to dismantle a constitutional democracy with a healthy respect for private property and a (generally) sober temper; one that has nurtured capitalism, good will among men, and a maintained a real reverence for tradition and the Almighty. And yet the Party guts our moral and legal undergirding without seeming concern, all while approaching foreign policy like sandbox play.

We’ve worked hard to keep our private property rights in tact over the generations. They survived the New Deal, though barely, and have weathered the environmental movement well so far. It took a financial crisis – created by government - and a frenzied party, drunk with the power they’ve pined for so long, to put banks, car companies, insurance companies, home mortgages, and likely soon healthcare and newspapers in the hands of politicians. Into full socialism we gallop under a banner of Hope and Change.

If you ask the Democrats, they might call this progress. But it certainly isn’t progress by historical standards. Limited government that secures rights of conscience for all individuals is undoubtedly the latest and greatest technology in governance. It fosters free thought, and provides plenty for those willing to work. Socialism in any form, naked or cloaked, necessarily translates to servitude. Furthermore, subservience to a violent power, in this case the state, is as old as humanity. (Question: What happens in a real crisis scenario, such as a terrorist attack or a currency crisis? What does a society do after it destroyed so many rights during the lead up?)

The Democrat Party might use our words, talk to our traditions, or even praise the private sector to steal some gullible voters. Regardless of these self-serving habits, they are speaking of foreign ideas that America literally was born rejecting. It is our responsibility to counter them, expose their real motives, and create a genuine American alternative.

(Oh, as much as I like him, does anyone else feel unnerved by the fact that our political leader of the moment is Dick Cheney?)

Who is Lying? CIA or Pelosi?

2009-05-14T20:13:00.004-04:00

They cannot both be telling the truth. Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference that the CIA lied to her about the enhanced interrogation techniques being used in 2002 and 2003 and that she was powerless to stop the program from going forward.

The CIA responded that they do not mislead Congress.

Any reasonable person could agree that either side has a reason to protect its interests to the fullest extent possible. However, if you watch video of Pelosi's performance today, you will witness a collection of "tells" that would make Bill Clinton blush. As far as the truth is concerned, my money is on the CIA on this one.

Government Still Manages to Win in Recession

2009-05-14T19:59:00.002-04:00

The Heritage Foundation's Morning Bell took note of this interesting information today:

[t]he Department of Labor reported that employers shed a net 539,000 jobs in the month of April, bringing the nation’s unemployment rate to 8.9%. The manufacturing sector lost 149,000 jobs, business services lost 122,000 jobs, and construction lost 110,000 jobs. All told, the private sector lost 611,000 jobs. So how was the total job loss only 539,000? Because one sector of the economy has proven impervious to economic realities: the public sector. Government actually added 72,000 jobs.

Driven by the powerful public sector unions, the federal government made sure to steer vast amounts of the stimulus funds to states and municipalities who used the money to hire more government workers.

The larger government gets, the more your freedom shrinks. That's not just a cool saying. That is fact. I dare you to disprove it.

Young Republicans Face-Off With Young Democrats for Charity Fundraiser

2009-05-13T13:09:00.001-04:00

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristine Nalbone
NYYRC PR Committee
Email: pr@nyyrc.com

Young Republicans Face-Off With Young Democrats for Charity Fundraiser

NEW YORK, NY – The New York Young Republican Club (NYYRC) and the Manhattan Young Democrats (MYD) will be kicking off this Saturday, May 16, in the name of fundraising with a game of ultimate kickball. The event, if you’re brave enough to join, will take place from 2-5pm on Central Park’s Great Lawn. The cost is $10 to play, and all proceeds will go to each organizations respective charity. All of the NYYRC’s winnings will be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and the MYD’s winnings will go to the New York City Coalition Against Hunger.

NYYRC members are ramping up to repeat last year’s victory. Lynn Krogh, NYYRC President says, “It felt good to see last year’s MYD President wear our shirt, but at the end of the day the most important thing is to raise money for a good cause, and have a blast doing it.” After the game commences, everyone will gather at George Keeley, located on 485 Amsterdam Ave.

ZogSports, a local charity-focused social sports organization, has stepped up in a big way to help out. They will provide both organizations with equipment, referees, and will officiate the game. Both clubs hope to have a good turn-out, and non-members are welcome to participate as well. So come out, break out those dusty kickball skills, and give back to a greater cause.

About the NYYRC:
The New York Young Republican Club, Inc., is a not-for-profit political organization that exists to bring Republicans aged 18-40 together to discuss the Republican Party platform and aid the Republican Party in the education of the public about the Republican agenda and the promotion of Republican candidates for office. To find out more about the New York Young Republican Club, Inc. please visit the Website at http://www.nyyrc.com.

#tcot

Scary Thoughts From High School Students

2009-05-12T23:28:00.007-04:00

#tcot

In an article entitled "Students Confusion About Capitalism" on the American Spectator website where Ralph R. Reiland asked 50 high school students to "Define capitalism in 10-20 words?" These answers sound a lot like "socialism" to me. I've included some of the most outrageous responses below:

"Capitalism is making the most money for the government and having the government control the people."

"Capitalism is the money that is in the government. It is when the government controls all the money."

"Capitalism is when an economy is based on the needs of the people."

"Capitalism is when the government takes a bigger role in the economy and controls more things."

"Capitalism is when the government is the only one deciding laws and regulations."

"Capitalism is when the government has complete control over the decisions that the country makes."

New York Ranks Last in Freedom Index

2009-05-12T19:10:00.002-04:00

It should really come as no surprise, but New York State gets bagged in George Mason University's Freedom in the 50 States index.

Dead last in the ranking on fiscal policy, 44th on regulatory policy, 48th on personal freedom, and dead last for economic freedom.

How did we get here? The study points out pretty succinctly:

New York has the highest taxes in the country. Property, selective sales, individual income, and corporate income taxes are particularly high. Spending on social services and “other” is well above national norms…. Government employment is higher than average. On personal freedoms, gun laws are extremely restrictive…tobacco laws are extremely strict. Motorists are highly regulated…. Home school regulations are burdensome…. Eminent domain is totally unreformed.

Government Strong-armed Chrysler lenders to Give In

2009-05-10T10:27:00.003-04:00

From the Washington Times:

The hold-out lenders charged that Mr. Obama, who had called them "speculators" and questioned their patriotism as well as blamed them for the bankruptcy, used undue political pressure, even though they were pursuing their legal rights in bankruptcy court, where the claims of such secured lenders normally prevail.

"After a great deal of soul-searching and quite frankly agony, they concluded they just don't have critical mass to withstand the enormous pressure and machinery of the U.S. government," said Thomas Lauria, the group's lead attorney.

Don't expect it to end here. With this "victory," the Obama administration will be emboldened to go on a grand tour of our economy, bullying any industry whenever it feels like it.

Change, indeed. Hope? Fugettaboutit.

2010 Budget Breakdown

2009-05-09T20:24:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post put up a neat little graphic that breaks down spending across federal departments for 2010. It's a view from 20,000 feet, but there are some interesting things worth noting.

The Defense budget is technically larger than last year, but when figured for inflation, our defense is actually taking a cut. During wartime that is a bad idea. But liberals are running the show. What did you think was going to happen? Other priority faults include the EPA, which is getting a 35 percent increase. HUD is getting an additional 18 percent.

Spend, baby, spend.

Obama Plays Politics with Terror Victims' Families

2009-05-09T20:05:00.002-04:00

President Obama is playing fast and loose and acting less than honorably when dealing with the families of the victims of terrorist attacks. But don't take my word for it. Read it from a much more informed source - Debra Burlingame, sister of American Airlines pilot Charles Burlingame, who died on September 11, 2001, in the attack on the Pentagon.

Burlingame wrote a must-read bit in the Wall Street Journal this week about how the president misled her and other families who have pleaded for justice against those who planned the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole and other known terrorists now at Guantanamo Bay.

Burlingame openly and rightfully questions the president's sincerity about pursuing justice against the perpetrators of these attacks. And she does it with good reason. This has to be read to be believed.

Meditating on Republicans and Conservatives

2009-05-09T19:52:00.002-04:00

There was a great piece in the Weekly Standard recently by Noemie Emery about Republican and conservative reactions to the defection of Arlen Specter and what it says about the GOP and those elements that make it up.

I think my favorites takeaway was this:

A movement exists to express and promote a coherent set of principles in the world of ideas and of values. A party...is something quite different: a gathering of diverse political forces around a large and loosely held set of interests and values, that exists to give all of its factions access to power in the practical world of events.

The Republican party is the vehicle for the center-right of the American polity, a group that includes the conservative movement, but is not quite of it, and includes many people who touch the conservative movement with different degrees of intensity, or only lightly, or on only a limited number of points.

So Specter is gone. I had no trouble with it myself, but it is worth reflecting after reading Emery's article:

Are all Republicans supposed to be conservative? Or are all conservatives supposed to be Republican? Both? Neither? Think long and hard before responding.

Pelosi Was Briefed on Interrogation Tactics

2009-05-09T13:17:00.002-04:00

A recently released intelligence report unequivocally states that congressional leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were briefed on "enhanced interrogation techniques" of terrorist detainees.

Pelosi and her staffers have been working overtime to parse the language they have been using to explain what they knew and when they knew it regarding the interrogations. She was in fact one of the first Congressional members to be briefed on tactics in 2002, and she had little to say about the issue at the time. It wasn't until after she became Speaker and led the Bush vendetta crowd that Pelosi became so sanctimonious about her stance on the issue.

The Right Leader

2009-05-09T12:45:00.003-04:00

Republicans are in need of a political leader. Informative and entertaining as many Republicans find Rush Limbaugh, he will not suffice as a political leader for the simple reason that he is not a politician.

Lately the debate has centered around whether to bring the party back to its roots, conservatism, or create a so-called “bigger tent” and “moderate” on a number of issues. I write the rest of this from the perspective of a conservative. Conservatives disagree among themselves, though I believe I am representing the “conservative” explanation on a number of big issues that we’re being asked to jettison from a two minority groups within the party.

To Libertarians, while socialism is conducive to war making, we are not engaged in wars of empire. The two wars being waged represent a direct response to the growing threat of Islamic terrorism. Their ideology is extremely dangerous, suicidal, and supported by a number of regimes with connections to Russia and North Korea. We cannot ignore these threats and hope not to be assaulted with powerful, modern weapons in our own cities. Economics is important to consider, but it cannot explain, much less stop, religious extremism. Instead of focusing on criticizing Republican foreign policy, why not focus on limited government and monetary reform?«Read More»

To “social issue” moderates, let’s be frank, the only two issues on the table here are gay marriage and abortion. Starting with abortion, the party is fractured along a pro-choice, speak life attitude of Rudy Giuliani and those who are against abortion in nearly all cases. Few Republicans are actually advocates of abortion like Democrats. We can both rally along overturning Roe vs. Wade, which would turn the issue back to the states. It would be legal in some states and illegal in others. This is a good compromise based on Federalism. Gay marriage can be compromised similarly. If either of these are turned into civil rights issues by Republicans, there will almost surely be a fracture in the party.

To the global warming Republicans, no compromise. Your position is suicidal to our economy and based on garbage science.

To illegal immigrant Republicans, more years of unrestrained immigration over the southern border will destroy our party by overwhelming the country with new Democrats. Because there are so many at once, it will rip at our culture. Also, last time I checked I was willing to pay more for lettuce and to get my lawn cut if it meant ending the migration of dangerous drug cartels into our country. We need border security and controlled immigration, period.

Let us find a leader who takes these things into consideration, creates consensus, and moves us forward. This is truly a big tent.

P.S. To Arlen Specter, hey, this is really quite a loss. I’m sorry we no longer have you, a back stabbing opportunist, in our party. Now go screw over some Democrats on your way to losing to Pat Toomey.

May Social: "1985 Called and They Want to Party!"

2009-05-06T00:06:00.001-04:00

Pull out the Polos and Pop the Collars cause we're going to shred it up at Joshua Tree

Here's the 411:

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Joshua Tree
366 W. 46th Street b/w 8th & 9th Aves

NOT THE EASTSIDE LOCATION

We have the Whole bar!

Drink Specials:

$4 bud, bud light, coors light, dos equis drafts

$5 apple, lemondrop martini's, cosmopolitans

$5 chardonnay and Merlot

$20 pitchers of Sangria and Margaritas.

No Funds to Close Gitmo

2009-05-05T20:24:00.002-04:00

House Democrats struck funds from the war spending bill for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay because they claim that the Obama administration has not provided a clear plan for actually closing it.

They're right. So far, all we've heard is the typical Obama rhetoric about what should be done, but not a single detail has been etched out about how he will actually do it. This is a pattern of his I spotted during the campaign season. It's nice to see that some folks in his own party are finally catching on.

MIsguided Faith in Renewable Energy

2009-05-05T20:15:00.002-04:00

Robert Samuelson tackles the Obama administration's misguided energy policy in his Washington Post column today.

Taking aim at the president's overconfidence in the wonders of wind and solar energy, Samuelson points out that the overt bias against domestic oil production simply does not make sense. Here's an excerpt:

In 2007, wind and solar generated less than 1 percent of U.S. electricity. Even a tenfold expansion will leave their contribution small. By contrast, oil and natural gas now provide two-thirds of Americans' energy....

Encouraging more U.S. [oil] production would also aid economic recovery, because the promise of "green jobs" is wildly exaggerated. Consider: In 2008, the oil and gas industries employed 1.8 million people. Jobs in the solar and wind industries are reckoned (by their trade associations) to be 35,000 and 85,000, respectively.

Read Samuelson's column and pass it on. We need to inject some reality into Obama's pipe dream energy policy.

Time For Republicans To Fight For INDIVIDUALISM

2009-05-04T23:52:00.005-04:00

Nearly a week after Sen. Arlen Specter changed parties to become a "DINO" or Democrat In Name Only, the mainstream media has attempted to go for the knockout punch against the GOP.

They have said that the party needs to go back to being a "Big Tent" party that needs to be able to attract moderates in the center. Although that is true...the mainstream media are completely wrong on how you achieve that goal.

Moderates, or "Independents" are often people who "lean" Republican or Democrat and can be easily swayed by public opinion. Kyle Smith in the New York Pos t makes this point by stating:

The American voter's party preference is no more fixed than a drunk frat boy's taste for girls majoring in English vs. pre-med.

«Read More»

Most Americans don't follow politics closely and often make their decision close to presidential elections. They also tend not to vote in midterm elections, like the one coming up in 2010. Those elections are often won by candidates rallying their base to turnout and vote for them. A "Big Tent" doesn't work in congressional races, but rather a strong grassroots movement.

The tea party movement began out of disdain for government intrusion into the lives of ordinary citizens. It is not just an anti-tax movement, but rather a revolt against a media & judicial activism, reckless spending, and inside-the-beltway cronyism.

Sen. Jim Demint in a piece in the Wall Street Journal makes this point crystal clear. The Republican Party should not be a party about policy or issues, but rather a party that stands for INDIVIDUALISM. That include people from all regions, races, religions, ages, sexes, sexual orientations, income levels, etc. America is not built on ideas of government...but rather of INDIVIDUALS who hold DIFFERENT ideas. The difference between Republicans and Democrats "should" be that Republicans believe you can make decisions for yourself...while Democrats believe that they can make decisions for you.

Republicans must stop fighting over ideas and turn their attention to returning the government back to the people and their communities. Stop telling us "how" to live our lives and get out of the way...otherwise you are no different then Democrats. Fight for us to fight for ourselves...and we will build you a "Big Tent". Don't have the hard earned money we make each day be stolen from us by irresponsible politicians like "Arlen Specter" who care more about their next election than the next bill we have to pay.

Jim Demint said it best in his column by stating:

Moderate and liberal Republicans who think a South Carolina conservative like me has too much influence are right! I don't want to make decisions for them. That's why I'm working to reduce Washington's grip on our lives and devolve power to the states, communities and individuals, so that Northeastern Republicans, Western Republicans, Southern Republicans, and Midwestern Republicans can define their own brands of Republicanism. It's the Democrats who want to impose a rigid, uniform agenda on all Americans. Freedom Republicanism is about choice -- in education, health care, energy and more. It's OK if those choices look different in South Carolina, Maine and California.

California - the Laboratory of Liberalism

2009-05-04T21:01:00.002-04:00

George Will has another gem that you must read - "California as Liberalism's Laboratory".

In this article Will explains how California's self-inflicted budget crisis is killing the state - crippling taxes, a fleeing population, and a dying private sector. (Sound familiar, New Yorkers?) An excerpt:

The state's crisis has been caused by "moderation," understood as splitting the difference between extreme liberalism and hyperliberalism, a "reasonableness" that merely moderates the speed at which the ever-expanding public sector suffocates the private sector.

If California is truly the incubator of political and social ideas for the rest of the country, then we only have to look at the Golden State to see what is in store for America in the coming years. It's not a pretty sight.

New Commerce Secretary Weighs in on Census

2009-05-04T20:51:00.003-04:00

In an interview with the Washington Post, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke says that the 2010 census "will not be politicized, and the White House assured me that it has no interest in politicizing it."

Can he be believed? If Locke is being honest, then is he placing too much faith in the White House? After all, President Obama assures us that he has no interest in being involved in the auto or finance industries, yet each week the government sinks its claws further into the private sector.

Is the New York Times Hitting the Skids?

2009-05-04T20:45:00.001-04:00

One can only hope.

N.Y. Times to File Notice It Will Close Boston Globe

New York Times set to increase price

Farewell to Jack Kemp

2009-05-02T23:06:00.002-04:00

Jack Kemp died today after a long fight with cancer. We sure could use a few people like him now. He will be missed.

"The Real Culture War Is Over Capitalism"

2009-05-02T18:49:00.002-04:00

Read this great piece in the Wall Street Journal by Arthur C. Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute. Here's an excerpt:

Asked in a Rasmussen poll conducted this month to choose the better system between capitalism and socialism, 13% of respondents over 40 chose socialism. For those under 30, this percentage rose to 33%. (Republicans were 11 times more likely to prefer capitalism than socialism; Democrats were almost evenly split between the two systems.)

Read more here.

How NOT to Save General Motors

2009-04-29T23:40:00.001-04:00

GM Bailout May Mean Government Becomes Biggest Holder

How NOT to Save Chrysler

2009-04-29T23:35:00.001-04:00

Plan gives unions majority stake in Chrysler

What I Found On Twitter: #Specter

2009-04-29T22:34:00.003-04:00

The big news in Washington for the past two days have been Sen. Arlen Specter's defection from the Republican Party for the Democratic Party. "Benedict Arlen" was the ultimate "RINO" who often went against the party line, such as voting for Pres. Obama's Stimulus Package, which passed in February. Below are some interesting articles on a "defection" that will eventually make the GOP not weaker, but stronger.

New York Times: "We Didn't Have to Lose Arlen Specter": Sen. Olympia Snowe

Sen. Snowe states that the GOP needs to get back to being a big tent party like it was under Pres. Ronald Reagan. I couldn't agree more, but listening to her is not the way to do it. From a Senator who voted for Obama's "spendulus" package and is pro-choice, she is consistently against the very principles of Reagan conservatism. Ronald Reagan won two landslide elections by "communicating" conservatism to the middle class and "selling" our ideas better than anyone else. Not by pandering to the Dems in Congress. No wonder the NY Times lets her write on their Op-Ed page. I don't think that newspaper page is concerned in the GOP regaining power in Congress.

Daily Beast: Arlen, You Let Me Down: Meghan McCain

Meghan McCain often makes statements that are controversial, but never fail to make you think about the future of the Republican Party. She is right in saying that we need to let more people feel like they have a place in our party, but that is not by being "Dem-light," which she sometimes professes. I would love the GOP to attract more of the youth, hispanic, gay, and african-american vote, but not by pandering to them. We must treat everyone as an individual and not as a member of a group, since Republicans care about every single person being able to enjoy freedom and liberty, regardless of their demographic. We must not exclude anyone from hearing our ideas and principles. We will need people from all walks of life in order to regain influence and power in Washington

Power Line: What the Specter Switch Means: Sen. John Cornyn

Sen. Cornyn makes a great point: if Al Franken is confirmed as Senator in Minnesota then the Dems have filibuster proof 60 votes...so anything that goes wrong until November 2010 is on their watch. President Obama is taking the country very far left in his economic policies and eventually it will come back to hurt the Democrats. I expect the big blow to come not in 201o...but 2012...when Dems will have controlled government for 4 years and people will be looking for "change."

The Torturous Torture Debate

2009-04-28T20:18:00.002-04:00

Gallup released a new poll regarding opinions on torture. The results are pretty interesting.

According to Gallup, 51 percent of all Americans want to see a further investigation into our use or supposed use of torture against terror suspects. But only 40 percent of those "following story very closely" favor an investigation.

Further, 55 percent of all Americans, according to Gallup, feel the use of "harsh interrogation techniques" was justified. 61 percent of those "following story very closely" felt such methods were justified.

The hay being made by the liberals and their media robots is amazing. Think about it. The enemy is out there making You Tube videos of themselves in ski masks cutting peoples' heads off. Over here, we're prepared to string up our nation's entire intelligence apparatus because a handful of scumbags had to involuntarily bob for apples.

We had better get wise to the true nature of the world we are living in, or we will truly be dealt a blow that we won't easily walk away from.

Of Switching Parties and Ditching Voters

2009-04-28T19:47:00.003-04:00

Sen. Arlen Specter's name has been synonymous with RINO for as long as I can remember, so when I heard today that he was finally making the switch to the Donkey Party, I wasn't surprised. In fact, I bid him good riddance. The Republican Party's got enough troubles without having wafflers in its ranks.

Why'd he do it now? Because his chances of winning a Republican primary against Pat Toomey were dwindling by the week. And it's speculated that he won't have any problem being reelected as a Donkey.

So there's your pragmatism. But where's the responsibility to the people who voted for him? Frankly, all that loyalty to the voter malarky is secondary to incumbency. Of course, Specter himself didn't believe that when Jim Jeffords switched parties in 2001.

Chalk another one up for the DC hypocrites.

Obama + Low Flying Plane + NYC = Photo Op? Try Panic

2009-04-27T14:43:00.002-04:00

So our President decided to conduct a photo op today.... with low-flying planes and our beloved Manhattan skyline.

The Result: PANIC

I think New Yorkers are a little sensitive (rightfully so) when it comes to planes and our skyline.

Shouldn't we have gotten SOME sort of warning? I mean really... REALLY! Just let NY1 know for Pete's sake.

I can only assume he was looking for a first-hand account of how our economy is doing...

AP Article

What I Found On Twitter @42109

2009-04-21T23:15:00.005-04:00

It's quite amazing what interesting bites of information you can get while surfing through Twitter. Here is what I found:

Huffington Post: Smiles for Smirks: Sean Penn

There is way too much to refute hear...so let me just list what the Academy Award winner had to say in this short 3 paragraph column:

Former President Gerald Ford should have put Richard Nixon in jail.
President Obama gained a "strategic advantage by "smiling" at Venezuela dictator Hugo Chavez.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney is the only man alive proven wrong on every topic.
Limbaugh, Hannity, & O'Reilly are all cowards who hate the principles America was founded on.

Sean Penn is out of touch with America and lives in a fantasy land that is detached from reality. He is a extremely talented actor who makes great movies...but he should stop embarrassing himself with his naive politics.

Huffington Post: Jeanine Garafolo on Racism: Sophia A. Nelson

The Huff Post decides to let one left-wing extremist (Sean Penn) write for them, but then throws another (Jeanine Garafolo) under the bus? However...great point by Nelson who says that Garafolo has no idea about racism, since she never spent a day in "Black America." Well said. Even lefty Huff Post can see Garafolo's statements were idiotic, since there was no evidence to back them up.

Spero News: Palin is a Feminist who Feminists love to hate : Mary Ann Kreitzer

Feminists were upset by the fact that Sarah Palin was able to ascend to governor of Alaska, while being a mother to five children including one with down-syndrome. She was a poster child for why legalized abortion is not the "sole" answer to female independence and their chance for ascesdancy in American society. This is why feminists felt she had to be destroyed. No matter if like Palin as a politician or not, she was unfairly demonized by the mainstream media for holding a positon on an issue that many in our society share.

Janeane Garafalo Thinks Teapartyers are Racists

2009-04-21T15:56:00.003-04:00

Wow. If she could please explain the link between protesting tax-and-spend policies and racism, it might help me understand exactly what on earth she is talking about. Isn't it ironic that someone who bases her entire political philosophy on progressive, tolerant ideals can be so intolerant and small-minded towards people who just think their government is too big?

Read an article about it here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1661145/janeane_garofalo_tea_partiers_are_racist.html?cat=9

NYC Tax Day Tea Party: A Strong Movement Begins

2009-04-16T22:56:00.001-04:00

Last night at City Hall Park in New York City, people stood up and said that they were willing to fight against government intrusion in their life. They would not let the government get away with reckless spending and irresponsible tax policies.

According to the New York City Police Department, 12,500 people attended the Tax Day Tea Party for one reason...and one reason only. THEY LOVE LIBERTY AND FREEDOM. They don't need great speeches, stagecraft, or platitudes like "Hope & Change" to come out. Pres. Obama's appeal was celebrity, but the Tax Day Tea Party's appeal was issues and people's love of America.

Below are articles and blog posts covering yesterday's great event, which the first step in America's movement toward fiscal sanity.

Parcbench.com: The Power of 'We The People': Brett Joshpe

Brett gets it absolutely right, stating that no matter what critics says about these tea party's or the people who attend them, a spark has been lit. Hey...the American Revolution only started with a few people and so did Anti-Vietnam protests. This is the next major revolt against government intrusion in our country. Liberals, Democrats, and the Mainstream Media are terrified that this could lead to a robust opposition that will throw them out of office. What happened last night was the first major moment of a movement that only is going to grow. Richard Nixon decided to resign after finding out he lost support from the South. The same could happen to Democrats in 2010 by losing the Northeast. That's the goal...and we must all work hard to achieve it.

Other Accounts of the Tea Party:

World Magazine, The New Clarion, Atlas Shrugs, Urban Infidel, Free Republic

Early Coverage of Tax Day Tea Parties

2009-04-15T23:47:00.000-04:00

Today was a great day to be an American as people everywhere in this country stood up to big government, reckless spending, and high taxes...and said enough is enough.

New York Times: Tax Day Is Met With Tea Parties

The "Grey Lady" gives a liberal slant to today's Tea Parties focusing more on the speeches by politicians, then the atmosphere of the events. No comments from people who attended the tea parties in the article. Also...they highlighted that only 200 people showed up in a very rainy Philadelphia, rather than the massive turnouts in New York City, Atlanta, and Sacramento. The Mainstream Media just doesn't understand this movement....or just is scared to report on it truthfully.

Washington Times: Tax Demonstrators Teed Off

The article handles the tea parties accurately by explaining how the parties were a collaboration of grassroots anger and non-profit groups like "Freedom Works" looking to provide assistance. Also it mentions that the DC Tea Party had 1,000 people show up in the pouring rain.

Fox News: Thousands of Anti-Tax 'Tea Party' Protesters Turn Out In U.S. Cities

A summary of tea parties from around the country giving examples of signs seen at these events. My Favorite: Barney Frank, Bernie Madoff: And the Difference Is?

Fox Forum: Tea Parties-Mission Accomplished

Peter Roff makes a great point in this piece by saying that the tea parties are not represented by right wing lobbyists or radical extremists, such as white supremacists, but rather ordinary, middle class Americans who are angry at having to pay significantly more in taxes each year. So true.

Michelle Malkin: Massive Tax Day Tea Party

Great job by Michelle who aggregates comments and pictures from tea parties across the country. There was even a reenactment of the original 1773 Boston Tea Party in Sioux Falls, SD.

Meet me at SW corner of Barclay & Broadway

2009-04-15T16:17:00.000-04:00

If you are a NYYRC member and you are coming to the Tax Day Tea Party in a couple of hours in City Hall Park, meet me at the Southwest corner of Barclay and Broadway. That's the SW corner of Barclay and Broadway, NOT West Broadway. When you enter "Broadway and Barclay" into Google Maps, it only brings up "W Broadway and Barclay." So I guess when you look for Virginia, you should be given West Virginia.

~ Matthew Hindin
NYYRC Campaign Chair

NYYRC Monthly Meeting TOMORROW

2009-04-15T11:08:00.008-04:00

For Immediate Release April 14, 2009
E-mail: info@nyyrc.com

THE NEW YORK YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB, INC. TO WELCOME DR.KIMBERLY KAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR ON WASHINGTON, ON APRIL 16:

New York, NY - Kimberly Kagan, President of the Institute for the Study of War on Washington, will speak with The New York Young Republican Club about winning the war on terrorism. Dr. Kagan is a military historian who has taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Yale University, Georgetown University, and American University. She is currently an affiliate of the Olin Institute for Strategic Studies at Harvard University. Dr. Kagan previously held an Olin Postdoctoral Fellowship in Military History at Yale International Security Studies in 2004-2005 and was a National Security Fellow at Harvard’s Olin Institute for Strategic Studies in 2002-2003.

She is the author of The Eye of Command (University of Michigan Press, 2006) and editor of The Imperial Moment (under contract with Harvard University Press). She received her Ph.D. in History from Yale University. Dr. Kagan recently published Iranian Influence in the Levant, Iraq and Afghanistan, Don't Short-Circuit the Surge in the Wall Street Journal, and The Patton of Counter-Insurgency in the Weekly Standard.

In addition, it's also time for Annual Elections at the NYYRC. You must be a member in good standing in order to be eligible to vote. The nominations for the 2009-2010 period are as follows: President: Lynn Krogh, Vice President: Gail Allen, Treasurer: Greg Dussaq, Secretary: Jennifer Gallacher, Chairman of the Board of Advisors: Chris Edwards. So come join us and be enlightened by Dr. Kagan, and come to rock your vote! The event will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Women’s National Republican Club (3 West 51st Street btw. 5th & 6th) and is free of charge and open to the public.

The New York Young Republican Club, Inc. is a not-for-profit political organization that exists to bring Republicans aged 18-40 together to discuss the Republican Party platform and aid the Republican Party in the education of the public about the Republican agenda and the promotion of Republican candidates for office. To find out more about the New York Young Republican Club, Inc. please visit the Website at http://www.nyyrc.com

Tax Day Tea Party Preview

2009-04-14T23:53:00.004-04:00

Below are links from around the web of articles relating to Tax Day Tea Parties being held today:

Washington Independent: Tea Party Activists: Tax Day Events Will Attract 'Silent Majority'

Good article explaining the tension among conservatives, libertarians, and mainstream Republicans heading into today's tea parties. Many of those who began the tea party movement are afraid their message is being jeopardized by mainstream Republicans who supported the huge spending of former President George W. Bush.

Fox News: Tea Party Protesters Gird For Possible Liberal Backlash

Article addresses the fear of Acorn and other liberal groups coming to tea parties looking to make trouble with the protesters.

Wall Street Journal: Tax Day Becomes Protest Day

The opinion piece by Glenn Reynolds on Instapundit explains that the tea party movement could be a source of strength for the GOP in 2010 and 2012 as it is helping to revitalize the grassroots. He also makes the case that technology helped organize the movement through Facebook and other social media with no assistance from political parties or traditional political organizers.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Two Differing Views on the Tea Parties

Are the tea parties showing a revival of the conservative grassroots and their new found use of social media, or just an event that has grown from the promotion it has been given by Fox News?

Come to the Tea Party!

2009-04-14T21:49:00.002-04:00

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: City Hall Park, New York, New York

The NYC Tea Party will bring thousands of people to historic City Hall Park to protest against the reckless and wasteful government spending that is leading to higher taxes. The two-hour event will feature nationally prominent speakers and musical performances. Kellen Giuda, NYC Tea Party organizer and David Webb will emcee the Tea Party. Speakers at the event will include:

Newt Gingrich – American Solutions General Chairman and Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Andrew Wilkow – Host of The Wilkow Majority on Sirius Patriot 144 and XM America Right 166
KT McFarland – National Security Advisor to President Reagan and National News Commentator
Jordan Sekulow – Syndicated Radio Host
David Webb – Radio Host, Political Commentator and Co-Founder of the Black Republican Forum
Michael Johns – Former Speechwriter to President George H.W. Bush
Brett Joshpe – Conservative Author, VP of Parcbench Media and General Counsel of American Civics Exchange
Janks Morton – Political Activist and Documentary Filmmaker of What Black Men Think
S.E. Cupp – Author and Political Commentator
Richard Brownell – Former President of the New York Young Republican Club
Thomas J. Basile – Commentator, Republican Strategist, Speaker and Professor at Fordham University
Alex Zablocki – Republican Candidate for New York City Public Advocate
Brandon Brice – Political Contributor to Hip Hop Republicans

Pirates of Somalia - What's Next?

2009-04-14T21:16:00.003-04:00

Now that America has become intimately involved with the rampant piracy that has been going on off the coast of Somalia for ages, the debate is what do we do now?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is downplaying any major military buildup. This statement comes as Somali pirates seized four more ships, and Rep. Donald M. Payne's (D-N.J.) plane was fired upon as he was leaving Mogadishu.

Any strategy that calls for less than dealing with this threat head-on is no strategy at all.

Maersk Alabama First Mate Shane Murphy said it best:

"We would like to implore President Obama to use all his resources and increase his commitment to end this Somali pirate scourge. Right now there are still ships being taken, right now as we are standing here. America has got to be at the forefront of this. It's time for us to step up and put an end to this crisis. It is a crisis. Wake up! This crew was lucky to be out of this with every one of us alive. We won't be that lucky again."

Today is Tax Freedom Day

2009-04-13T21:02:00.002-04:00

Tax Freedom Day this year is April 13. That means that every day you worked in 2009 up until today went solely to pay for your local, state, and federal tax burden.

Check out this report from the Tax Foundation on the current state of criminal affairs courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service.

An excerpt:

Tax Freedom Day falls a full two weeks earlier in 2009 than it did in 2007. In fact, not since 1967 has Tax Freedom Day come earlier than this year's April 13 date.

This shift has been driven by two factors: the recession has reduced tax collections even faster than it has reduced income; and the stimulus package, a.k.a. HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, includes large temporary tax cuts for 2009 and 2010. Nevertheless, in 2009, Americans will pay more in taxes than they will spend on food, clothing and housing combined.

Read more here.

Remember Federalism? Let's Bring it Back

2009-04-13T20:57:00.002-04:00

House Republicans have established a new Web site: GOP State Solutions to highlight the work that can be done in states and local communities to promote good governance.

From the site:

In a time of great challenge for the American people, real solutions start in states and communities across America, not with bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. Through the State Solutions project, reform-minded Republicans in Congress and in state capitols across America are working together to present better solutions to the challenges facing families and small businesses.
- House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

Check it out at http://states.gopleader.gov.

More on Democrats Shafting DC School Parents

2009-04-13T20:51:00.003-04:00

Mary Katherine Ham has a great post at the Weekly Standard blog about how Democrats are robbing DC parents of their rights to provide their children a decent education. I touched upon this yesterday here at the Record.

A sample:

Alas, it seems that is not to be, despite recent revelations that the evaluation Durbin was so interested in was released a month after the vote on the program and revealed— wait for it— "After 3 years, there was a statistically significant positive impact on reading test scores." There is some question as to whether Duncan suppressed the study until after the vote in the Senate, as it appears to have been ready by the time of the vote, but not officially released.

Read more here.

Reasserting the Freedom of the Seas

2009-04-12T22:05:00.002-04:00

U.S. Navy Seals, proving once again that you don't mess with U.S. Navy Seals, rubbed out three of the four pirates who held Maersk-Alabama Capt. Richard Phillips hostage since Wednesday. The fourth is in custody and faces a life sentence in the U.S. for piracy and hostage taking.

Phillips's family could not have received better news on Easter Sunday than to hear about his rescue and safe return. The man is indeed a hero for being willing to trade his own life for that of his crew and he should be duly recognized as such.

President Obama deserves a nod of support for his actions here, too. Truthfully, I feared that his relative silence on the situation would lead to his attempt to try to engage the pirates diplomatically. That is laughable prospect, but this administration hasn't been a dazzler on the foreign policy front so far. I'm glad he proved me wrong here.

Vouchers Work But That Doesn't Seem to Matter

2009-04-12T21:44:00.003-04:00

A recent study by the Department of Education on the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (a.k.a. DC school vouchers) found significant improvement of reading scores and parental satisfaction for those who accepted vouchers to attend private schools rather than stay in the public school system.

In all fairness, the study does not indicate that the voucher program is a smashing success, but it definitely proves that there is validity in offering a lifeline to students stuck in failing public schools.

Despite the report's findings, Education Secretary Arne Duncan echoed the Obama administration's sentiments that the program should not be allowed to continue. They argue that instead of diverting resources away from the failing schools, we should continue to dump taxpayer money into the beleaguered public school system. The liberal wisdom, which is guided by national and state teacher unions, appears to be that we will someday reach a magic budget number at which suddenly public schools will turn around and deliver the education that our children deserve.

For all the talk about challenging the status quo, Obama and Duncan have indicated they have no intention of making any real changes to our education system. Surprised? I wasn't either.

Corporatist America

2009-04-12T20:39:00.003-04:00

Steven Malanga has a great essay at Real Clear Markets that is a must read for anyone looking to understand how the Obama administration is looking to fundamentally change and ultimately control our economic way of life.

"Obama and the Reawakening of Corporatism" rejects that Obama is merely drifting toward socialism. Instead,

it is to corporatism, the notion that elite groups of individuals molded together into committees or public-private boards can guide society and coordinate the economy from the top town and manage change by evolution, not revolution.

Either way, it is a rejection of traditional market capitalism. Read more here.

NY 20th CD Race Drifts Back and Forth

2009-04-12T20:18:00.002-04:00

In the special election to fill New York's 20th Congressional seat, the race is so close, that each and every vote can make or break it for Jim Tedisco. When we first noted it over a week ago, Tedisco was ahead by 12 votes according to The Politicker.

But on April 9, Congressional Quarterly reported that "All re-canvassing is now complete, and four counties are done counting regular absentee ballots" and "With approximately 20 percent of absentee ballots counted, Murphy...was ahead by eight votes."

And on April 11, The Hill reported "With most of the district-wide recanvassing complete as of Friday, [Democrat Scott] Murphy leads Tedisco by 35 votes."

Note the lack of cohesion on whether all the recanvassing had been completed or not (or even if "recanvassing" is hyphenated or not).

The counting and the confusion continues.

Tax Capital of America

2009-04-11T11:49:00.003-04:00

I couldn't say it any better than the Wall Street Journal already did. New York is in deep, deep trouble thanks to its tax-and-spend Democratic leadership.

Cap and Trade Really Means Cap and Tax

2009-04-09T20:31:00.002-04:00

A clever post from The Heritage Foundation's Foundry blog today:

In just over a dozen months, the global economic recession has succeeded where decades of carbon cap and trade policies have failed: reducing global carbon emissions.... No one should be surprised that a terrible economy has produced an outcome environmentalists love.

A Useful Tool for Tracking Local Spending in NYS

2009-04-09T20:23:00.002-04:00

The Empire Center for New York State Policy at the Manhattan Institute has unveiled a handy new benchmarking tool to "compare and evaluate per-capita spending and tax rates for counties, towns, cities and villages."

The Benchmarking New York tool is easily used and quite handy. “By giving taxpayers the information they need to ask smarter questions," said E.J. McMahon, director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy, "the Benchmarking New York database will promote a more-informed public discussion of the forces driving high local taxes in every corner of New York.”

Oh, SURE... Blame it on the Gremlins!

2009-04-08T10:16:00.007-04:00

As I'm certain you've heard, Spitzer's desperately attempting to be relevant after his 'Client 9' fiasco. Our own Brian Morgenstern discusses it right here on The Record:
http://nyyrcrecord.blogspot.com/2009/04/hes-baaaaaack.html#links

but instead of taking responsibility for one's actions, the Former-Governor blamed..............

the Gremlins?

Yep -- and brilliantly, Sean Delonas puts in on paper for the NY Post:

Now we've heard some good ones... but I doubt the Gremlins would be happy to hear that. Better make sure to bring a jug to water with you to bed at night Eliot... those Gremlins are sneaky and mean!

Catholics Revolt Against President Obama

2009-04-06T22:22:00.007-04:00

Michael Gerson in the Washington Post states that President Obama is becoming increasingly unpopular with Catholics showing that his disapproval ratings are up 14% and have risen 21% among non-Hispanic church members.

This is important politically for the president since, according to Pew Research, he won Catholics by 9% this year...after the George W. Bush won the same group by 5% in 2004. It looks from these recent numbers that the Democratic gain among Catholics has been lost. Gerson points out that this could prove crucial in Midwest and Southern states, which have become increasingly Catholic over the past decade.
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Remember, if you take away swing states Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, & North Carolina from President Obama, then he will be easily lose the presidency in 2012. Catholics are a crucial constituency for him and Democrats to protect, but yet they are promoting a radical agenda on the issue of abortion

Today, the United States Senate in a 56-41 vote defeated an amendment that would have allowed workers and hospitals to refrain from administering abortions if they are morally opposed to the procedure. This issue is more than being "pro-life" or "pro-choice," but it has to do with protecting individual freedoms that were granted to all Americans under the constitution.

Forcing a person to perform a medical procedure against their moral beliefs has no place in a democracy. People who are morally opposed to abortion see it as the killing of an unborn child, and therefore disallowing the conscience clause will make these health care workers and institutions face a decision of committing what they believe is "murder" or losing their jobs. No person should be forced to administer the death penalty, euthanasia, or abortion against their will. People were given the right to religious freedom in America, which sadly may be lost for some citizens due to the policies of President Obama and Congress.

If the "conscience clause" is not upheld, Democrats will suffer the price politically and in 4 years President Obama may be fighting for his political life as he sees the very Catholics who elected him, throw him out of office. However, by that point, he will have ruined the lives of everyday health care professionals who were forced to either compromise their morals or become unemployed. If this is "change we can believe in," then count me out.

If you would like to make you voice heard on this disturbing proposition, send a message to the Department of Health & Human Services.

He's Baaaaaack

2009-04-06T15:33:00.003-04:00

Former Governor Spitzer is testing the waters of public life again. Sometimes there is a fine line between tenacious and shameless. This is not one of those close calls. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/spitzer-uses-economy-to-re-emerge-after-scandal-2009-04-06.html

You can (A) run for governor, or (B) purchase the services of a prostitute with your credit card and hope to get away with it. You can't do both. I hoped that our former governor had learned that lesson.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) Delivers Budget Address

2009-04-05T12:30:00.002-04:00

On youtube.

One thing is for sure, we can't keep spending more and money and expect to get out of debt! U.S. government solvency is threatened by the Obama budget.

TEDISCO AHEAD BY 12!!!!

2009-04-02T17:12:00.005-04:00

Politicker is saying that Tedisco is ahead by 12 as the recanvassing goes on........... Fingers crossed folks.

Paper ballots won't be available until April 6th -- Donate today HERE

Tedisco Race: Hold Your Breath

2009-04-01T22:02:00.003-04:00

Results of the special election for the 20th Congressional District: Too close to call.

The margin has been pegged at 25 votes with the advantage going to Democrat Scott Murphy.

So now we wait for the absentee votes to be counted on April 13.

Stay tuned...

Tax Cheats in the Administration, Again

2009-04-01T21:53:00.004-04:00

Seriously, how many times do we have to go through this?

Now Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius has had to admit to errors in her tax filings and pay $7,000 in back taxes.

If the White House had any shame, they would dump her. If the media wasn't in bed with the White House, they'd make a big deal about this. Pathetic is the only word I can think of short of resorting to foul language to describe this situation.

The Alternative to Spending Our Lives Away

2009-04-01T21:45:00.002-04:00

Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that the Republicans have no alternative to the liberal policy prescriptions of higher taxes and crushing debt. That is not true. It's just that Pelosi won't allow their ideas to see the light of day.

Rep. Paul Ryan, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, offers just the alternative that we need to prevent wholesale collapse of the American economy at the hands of the liberals.

If the Democrats were truly confident that what they have to offer is a better plan, they would be willing to debate this issue on the merits.

The New GM - Goverment Motors

2009-04-01T21:38:00.005-04:00

This is a sneak peek at the April 3, 2009 Friday Digest available at The Patriot Post:

President Obama took the unprecedented and highly dangerous step this week to get intimately involved in the private sector by forcing out General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner and giving Chrysler 30 days to merge with Italian automaker Fiat or face bankruptcy.

The move came after the federal government decided that the restructuring plans proposed by both embattled automobile companies did not go far enough to guarantee their continued viability. GM is now in the hands of COO Frederick Henderson and a leadership team that will be ultimately crafted by the White House. GM will receive financial support from the government for 60 days, during which time, Obama noted, “My team will be working closely with GM to produce a better business plan.”
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How is it possible that a federal government that is piling up an $11 trillion deficit is capable of making the right decisions for GM? We’re talking about an auto company that reached its nadir in large part because it could not meet enhanced government fuel efficiency standards or the excessive demands of a labor union that walks hand-in-hand with the current administration and the liberal Congress. On the surface, Wagoner’s forced exit was a trade to ensure that the company would continue to receive taxpayer funds, but at heart it was clearly a sacrifice at the altar of the socialists. Now that the government has its hooks in GM, it can force the company to produce cars that meet the excessive environmental and energy standards of the liberal crowd, in other words, cars that are impractical that no one will buy.

A similar situation took place with Chrysler. Why of all companies was Fiat picked to be the majority stakeholder for the smallest of the so-called Big Three automakers? Fiat is famous for making lightweight fuel efficient vehicles that are all the rage in Europe. They don’t sell that well in America because they are so flimsy they are dangerous. If the design sense that made Fiat famous abroad and infamous here at home is applied to Chrysler, then the company might better be allowed to slip into bankruptcy, which may happen anyway if it can’t craft a deal with the cardboard car company from Italy in 30 days.

Obama said, “The United States government has no interest or intention of running GM.” Yet, that is exactly what he has in mind. And you can bet that this little experiment in socialism won’t end with the auto industry as long as the inmates are running the asylum in the Swamp.

Bygones are Bygones

2009-04-01T21:36:00.001-04:00

From today's Washington Post: U.S. Seeks to Drop Case Against Former Sen. Stevens

President Obama's War On Charity

2009-04-01T00:11:00.004-04:00

First, LBJ had the "War on Poverty," then Reagan launched the "War on Drugs," now President Obama has come up with the "War on Charity"?

Yes, President Obama wants to tax charitable contributions for households making more than $250,000 a year. His hope is that the government will earn $11 billion in additional revenue from this plan

This is not shocking since President Obama believes that government is the answer to all societal ills, rather than contributions from private citizens and organizations. However, I have a lot more faith in churches and non-profits in providing social services, then the federal government who has run up a massive deficit and bankrupted social security with our tax dollars. But the president is just concerned with growing government and not improving the lives of less fortunate among us.
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It is clear that President Obama wants to continue his attack against the wealthy in America, by punishing them for their success, and therefore not allowing them to use their assets to help others.

Martin Feldstein in the Washington Post gives a perfect example why taxing the charitable contributions of the wealthy is bad idea:

The administration's plan would limit the amount that high-income individuals could deduct to 28 percent of their gifts, down from 35 percent, even though their incomes would still be taxed at a higher marginal rate. This raises the cost per dollar of giving from 65 cents to 72 cents, an increase of 10.8 percent that can be expected to reduce the total giving of these donors by about 10 percent.

What would this mean in practice? Suppose someone would give $10,000 to a university if that amount were deductible at 35 percent. That deduction would reduce the individual's tax bill by $3,500. Limiting the deduction to 28 percent would lower the individual's tax saving on a $10,000 gift to $2,800.

This is where things get interesting: If the 10 percent increase in the cost of giving caused the person to reduce his gift by 10 percent, to $9,000, his tax savings would be 28 percent of $9,000, or $2,520. The government's revenue loss would be reduced by $980 (from $3,500 to $2,520). The person's gift to the university would be reduced by $1,000, almost the same amount. Since this high-income person would pay $980 more in taxes but give away $1,000 less, he would end up with an extra $20 for personal consumption.

No to Yucca Mt. Means No to Nuclear Power

2009-03-31T21:35:00.003-04:00

In all of President Obama's grand statements about creating solutions for America's energy issues, not once has he even mentioned nuclear power as an option for powering our growing urban centers. His decision to cut funding for the development of the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain is a sign that he has no intention of supporting the expansion of nuclear power.

Think about it. The government will not grant permits for the construction of more nuclear plants if it cannot find a place to store the waste we have already created and stockpiled all over the country.

Maybe Obama is just kicking the can down the road so that he doesn't have to deal with the highly politicized issue. But in the last 20 years, the federal government has spent $7 billion of taxpayer money to develop the facility. Whatever Obama's reasons for refuting all things nuclear, we deserve an answer as to how our government plans to account for all that wasted cash.

Listen To Rush Before Bashing Him

2009-03-31T00:12:00.004-04:00

Andrew Klavan makes a great point in his LA Times column. Hey liberals...before bashing Rush Limbaugh and comparing him to most hateful voices of our time...why don't you LISTEN TO HIM.

Hey, I rarely believe in anything that Keith Olberman says, but I still watch Countdown every now and then. It is quite an entertaining show and the same goes for Bill Maher. It is important that liberals start hearing divergent voices, because it will challenge their beliefs and prevent them from just being Obamadrones.

It's interesting how during the Iraq war, liberals tried to make heroes out of stooges such as Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan, but now when Rush Limbaugh opposes THEIR president's policies, then he must be destroyed. What is the difference with these two forms of dissent? And don't forget about a movie that was made looking at the fallout of a potential President Bush assassination. I know...liberals...when Rush said "I hope he fails" about President Obama that was much worse than a docudrama about the assassination of a sitting president.
«Read More»

The Democratic Party now feels that they have to sabotage the Republicans and demonize the opposition to get their agenda passed. They should learn from George W. Bush, who ran the country the best way he saw fit, without going after his harshest critics. It is so sad that President Obama wants to play politics when the country is going through two wars and a terrible economy. He should learn from Ronald Reagan and JFK, who brought civility and class to oval office. The country badly wants to return to the Washington of those eras and President Obama should follow suit.

Earth Tells Gore To Stop Making A Fool of Himself

2009-03-30T21:42:00.003-04:00

Al Gore never ceases to amaze me. First, he is caught having more electricity running in his house than Yankee Stadium. Now, during Earth Hour, when everyone was supposed to live in darkness starting 8:30 PM Saturday as a sign of "limitin" our carbon footprint and saving the planet from global warming....what does Al Gore do? Well...of course he had bright spotlights shine on the trees at the entrance to his driveway.

So Mr. Gore's lesson is this...conserve energy at all times unless it is shining on mother nature itself. Nice lesson. Let's look at what I did during "Earth Hour," shall we. I was watching American Gangster on HBO...with half of the lights on in the tiny living room of my tiny Gramercy Apartment.

Carbon Footprint: KP defeats Gore by a mile.

And I wasn't trying to save the environment. Just living my life. What a concept. Now can Al Gore and rest of the far left blowhards stop their hypocritical grandstanding. The earth doesn't need any more of their hot air.

New York City Tax Day Tea Party!

2009-03-30T21:04:00.003-04:00

Say no to spending and pork and support tax cuts on Tax Day, nationwide!

The Details
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: City Hall Park, New York, New York

The first NYC Tea Party was a huge success. This time there will be more media and a louder voice. Great speakers and a huge crowd.

For more information about Tea Parties nationwide, check out www.TaxDayTeaParty.com

For events in New York State: www.TaxDayTeaParty.com/teaparty/new-york

If you're interested in helping organize the event, or want to find out more information, email nycteaparty@gmail.com

The Coming Federal Budget Deficit

2009-03-30T20:38:00.002-04:00

The U.S. budget deficit over the next ten years will be larger than the combined economies of India, Russia, Brazil, Spain, and Canada.

Click here to read more by American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Kevin A. Hassett.

Taxes Will Go Up For Everyone

2009-03-30T20:24:00.002-04:00

President Obama likes to tell us that only the rich will see higher taxes. And only the energy companies will face higher fees through the cap-and-trade scheme.

Being a liberal means never having to say you know a darn thing about economics. In a dynamic economy, tax hikes are never confined to just one group or sector. The costs are passed on, and the lower savings rates and the lower spending that result hurts everyone.

The National Center for Policy Analysis explains it clearly here.

To Liberty!

2009-03-29T21:35:00.002-04:00

Book recommendation, written by my favorite talk radio host, Mark Levin:

Liberty and Tyranny

Enjoy!!

Shrink This Budget!

2009-03-29T14:21:00.003-04:00

The spending thus far in the Obama administration has been nothing short of fantastic in size – a $787 billion worth of “stimulus” and a $410 omnibus spending bill, $1.1 trillion of “toxic asset” purchases by the Federal Reserve, and more. On the heels of a Bush administration that had already spent $700 billion of its own on “stimulus” and a host of other programs related to financial “recovery,” total outlays of government spending related to the recession hovers around $9 trillion.

Next up is the president’s budget. At $3.55 trillion it is a whopper! Up $650 from 2008 and remarkable in that it represents a return of Carter era-like big government. More than a few have noted that it puts the United States under a modern European government. For champions of limited government it is a danger for this reason alone, but there lies a more urgent reason as well.

We Republicans MUST be as vocal as possible about the danger this budget poses to future prosperity and the United States’ prominence in the world. The spending is too much already – there is a reason why the dollar is in doubt. It puts an impossible burden on American taxpayers in the future. The other way the government can pay backs debt is to print money. This is called monetizing debt and it’s begun already. Put another way, we are risking the full faith and credit of the United States, the solvency of our government. Crises of that scope don’t end well!

Republicans, be heard! Call your Congressman and Senators! Let your friends and family know that you’re concerned! Spread the spirit of LIMITED GOVERNMENT! Here is their contact information.

More on Why the EFCA Should Not Become Law

2009-03-28T23:34:00.002-04:00

Richard Epstein's paper THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT: Free Choice or No Choice for Workers is available from the Manhattan Institute. It's a great resource for understanding exactly why the Employee Free Choice Act will irrevocably harm American workers and the economy.

From the executive summary:

"As constructed, the 'free choice' act excludes workers from two areas vital to their welfare: union selection and contract ratification. Its compulsory arbitration structure introduces a partial but large-scale, covert government takeover of the private sector. As America faces imploded financial markets and the highest structural unemployment in a generation, the EFCA is a misguided law that it cannot afford."

Liberals Want More Defense Cuts

2009-03-28T21:36:00.002-04:00

The Hill reports that liberals in Congress want to see more cuts in defense spending, but not to save taxpayer money. Instead they want to allocate the cash for more social welfare spending.

They claim that the cuts would target weapons programs that either don't work or have already cost too much money to develop. What they won't tell you is that the overly long budgeting and development periods for these systems is due in large part to their intransigence to defense spending in the first place. Their stalling tactics on the development of the joint strike fighter, next generation nuclear weapons, and other items for our 21st Century military is what causes the cost of these systems to rise.

And let's not forget the fact that we are at war and cutting defense spending during wartime makes about as much sense as raising taxes during an economic recession. Oh, wait, liberals support that, too. Never mind...

MTA Travesty

2009-03-28T21:23:00.002-04:00

The fare hikes that the MTA approved this past week are the biggest sign we'll ever get that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is an overwrought, overrated, lousy, wasteful excuse of an agency. When steep price hikes are matched with deep service cuts, you know an agency is in trouble, likely beyond repair.

We cannot let this pass without a fight. The New York Daily News has been out in front of the issue. They've made their case for who to blame and how to make your voice heard.

Health Reform Monologue

2009-03-28T20:32:00.002-04:00

18 health care groups have banded together to create what they call the Health Reform Dialogue. This statement mostly mirrors the Obama administration's take on the health care issue, but it leaves out some rather important issues, like how to pay for it.

Give Our Veterans What They Deserve

2009-03-28T20:13:00.002-04:00

This is an item worthy of your attention:

H.R. 333 - a.k.a. The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act

Summary: Permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service.

This bill was introduced in the 110th Session, but went nowhere. It was reintroduced on January 8, 2009, but it is stuck in committee again. How much deliberation does a simple bill like this need? They've already had two years to discuss it.

Call or email your representatives today and let them know you want our veterans to get the benefits they deserve now.