Veterans Day Tribute

Via Kate Obenshain, a lovely tribute:

Pity Party for Dede

Dede Scozzafava is upset because Republicans were "vicious" to her. Could someone get right on the organization of that pity-party, please?

Dear Dede. Let me assure you that if what you endured during the short course of this campaign made you feel maligned or offended your sensibilities, please take solace in the fact that you aren't Sarah Palin and you didn't have to endure what she went through for MONTHS longer than your supposed abuse.

And it could be, Dede, that had you properly represented yourself as a liberal from the get-go, as they say, this could all have been avoided. If there had ever been any doubt about your liberal leanings, your endorsement of the Democrat in that race simply proved the point that you are a liberal. Period.

Maybe someone could order a copy of Palin's book and ship it to Dede? She could learn what real conservatives stand for as well as take comfort in the fact that nobody made rape jokes about anyone in her family, nobody attacked her wardrobe, nobody filed ethics charges on her, nobody descended on her hometown en masse and interviewed everyone she'd every known from her first breath to present day, nobody accused her of using her family for props, and nobody accused her of faking a pregnancy, just to name a few.

Is Charlie Starting to Choke?

Josh Kraushaar at Politico says Crist is "panicking about his Florida Senate primary against Marco Rubio" and goes on to list a number of nasty nettles in the Crist campaign, the first of which is the firing by Crist of his longtime communications director Erin Isaac.

If that weren't enough to make Crist crazy, the Miami Herald Sun Sentinel has a front page story on the Scott Rothstein, one of Crist's largest financial backers, who is now in trouble with a Ponzi scheme. Robert Stacy McCain posted about that days ago.

If that weren't enough, Crist is now acting as his own press secretary:

In terms of press coverage lately, Crist has been having a bad stretch -- largely of his own doing. (The stimulus support he insists he never gave, Obama man-hug tape notwithstanding; his insistence he didn't know Obama's recent Florida itinerary; the uproar over an anti-Rubio Web site that had the participation of an RPOF paid consultant; and public floggings by former press buddies Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews, etc.)

Crist also lately has been acting as his own press secretary -- calling the Times' Adam Smith to set up an interview on Political Connections, and arranging the Times' recent interview in Gainesville with himself and first lady Carole Crist. The governor also recently instructed reporters to call his cell phone directly -- rather than using a "go-between" in the press office.

It's way WAY too early for a victory dance, but I'd say Charlie has some problems.

(H/T: Memeorandum)

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

Quiet

Sorry so quiet - it's been a busy week.

I hope you can participate in a Veterans Day activity in your area today. For now, enjoy this:

Veterans Day 2009

"He Just Wasn’t A A-list Supercalifragilisticexpialidociously Cool Terrorist."

I think Bride of Rove needs to let her feelings out more....

Seriously, she's spot on. Especially in paragraph two.

And she's got a valid point. When you're so pathetic that even al Qaeda rejects you..., well, how DID this guy slip through the cracks?

Quick Links

Some quick links this morning. I'm short on time today, but these are worth reading:

Am. Thinker: Ignoring Infiltration

The Weekly Standard: The Federal Bureau of Non-Investigation

Politico: Despite Ban, Holder to Speak to CAIR-linked Group

WSJ: Crist Crossed

I'm off to work and morning hall duty.

Shhhhhhh! Reading...

Blogging is light this evening. I am engrossed in my Ayn Rand biography.

Despite Adam Kirsch's nasty comments about Rand's novels, I love them. I rather get the impression he never actually read any of them, by his comments.

At any rate, Anne Heller's biography of Rand is wonderful (so far) and I'm wrapped up in it. It's over in my sidebar if you want to pick up a copy for yourself!

I'll check back on you cat-daddies later.

My Favorite Quote Today Comes from Professor Jacobson

My favorite quote today:

"Pelosi and Obama have surrounded themselves with themselves again. And it is blowing up in their political faces."

Heh! That comes from Professor Jacobson who explains the nifty dilemma the Stupak amendment creates for the Democrats! It's a must read right here (scroll to the bottom and listen to the awesomeness that is Yes while you read).

Poor Joseph Cao. He's taken a beating from conservatives for his lone vote in favor of HR3962 while, in fact, while I disagree with his vote in a HUGE way, I admire his courage for standing up for what he believes. He believes, rightly or no, that he is representing his constituents, their needs, and their wants.

But, he was suckered. He should have known they were going to strip Stupak out in committee and he's left blowing in the wind. All he got was an empty promise from the Imperial Leader. Tsk tsk. I hope Cao isn't holding his breath to collect.

Marco Rubio Picks Up Club for Growth Endorsement

Marco Rubio is movin' on up!

Today, he picked up an endorsement from Club for Growth. In a statement, Chris Chocola, the president of Club for Growth, said:

“Marco Rubio is the real deal, one of the brightest young stars in American politics today, and a proven champion of economic liberty. He is a dynamic spokesman for the principles of limited government and economic freedom, and he will make a fantastic senator.”

Their full statement is here. This isn't really a surprise, but it's good news nonetheless.

Another recent endorsement was from the Family Research Council Action PAC, saying “Marco Rubio has been a true friend of the family and the culture of life as a state legislator in Florida. Senators who will fight to defend the family against the radical leadership in the Senate are crucial to the future of our country." The rest of their statement is here.

The Club for Growth endorsement is huge in that it will help funnel some needed cash into the Rubio campaign. Crist has out raised Rubio so far, primarily based on name recognition, but that is starting to change.

Rubio picked up yet another straw poll this week, this one in Okaloosa, beating Crist 86 to 4.

Now that Charlie Crist is trying to claim he never endorsed the Stimulus, it's more obvious than ever who the candidate with integrity is. Florida sees it, too. As of October 21, Crist still held a 49% - 34% lead over Rubio but that's closing fast.

More at Memeorandum.

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

I Didn't Think I Could Think Any Less of Him, But...

I have no words for how despicable it is when our president exploits a massacre on an Army base for the purpose of passing nationalized health care. NO words.

President Obama invoked the Fort Hood shootings in an emotional appeal to Democrats to pass health care reform today, contrasting the sacrifices of soldiers with political positioning.

The impassioned pitch to the entire Democratic caucus came hours before the House vote tonight on the signature issue of Obama’s presidency, with Democratic leaders struggling to keep members from conservative districts on board.

“He was absolutely inspiring. In a very moving way, he reminded us what sacrifice really is,” said New Jersey Rep. Rob Andrews, estimating the persuader-in-chief turned several votes.

“Sacrifice is not casting a vote that might lose an election for you; it is the sacrifice that someone makes when they wear the uniform of this country and that unfortunately a number of people made this week,” said Andrews.

Bloodless Barack?

Clearly the British press is not an Obama fan. And why would they be? He's snubbed the British on more than one occasion and has demonstrated that their alliance isn't high on his list of importance.

Today the Telegraph (via Memeorandum) makes note of Obama's "cool detachment," explaining that during the campaign that was seen as a good thing, but now, not so much. Through a series of examples, Toby Harmden makes the case that Obama is "bloodless."

The most notable example is Obama's reaction to the Fort Hood massacre, calling his reaction a "strange disconnectedness":

Maybe Mr Obama had been reading the American press, much of which somehow contrived to present the atrocity as a result of combat stress due to soldiers going on repeated war deployments (though Major Nadal Hasan had not been on any) and therefore, no doubt, Mr Bush's fault.

Of course it's all Bush's fault; isn't everything? Those Democrats voting FOR the Stupak amendment? Probably Bush's fault. Those voting AGAINST HR3962? Bush's fault. It's only a matter of time.

More from the Telegraph:

When the television networks cut to the President, viewers listened to him spend more than two surreal minutes talking to a gathering of Native Americans about their "extraordinary" and "extremely productive" conference, pausing to give a cheery "shout out" to a man named Dr Joe Medicine Crow. Only then did he briefly and mechanically address what had happened in Texas.

On Friday, when most of the basic facts were available, Mr Obama tried again. It was scarcely any better. He began by offering "an update on the tragedy that took place" - as if it was an earthquake and not a terrorist attack from an enemy within - and ended with a promise for more "updates in the coming days and weeks".

Completely missing was the eloquence that Mr Obama employs when talking about himself. Absent too was any sense that the President empathised [sic] with the families and comrades of those murdered.

Not to delve into psychobabble, but doesn't all this display serious signs of narcissism?

And what's wrong with being cool and detached, anyway, you might ask. It seems to me that in a president, we appreciate those that are human, and that empathize with us. If he can't seem to get on the same plane as the common people, how can he lead or represent us? He becomes imperial and monarchist, even. Removed.

Bush caught criticism when, immediately learning of the World Trade Center attacks, he continued reading to the small schoolchildren for a few minutes before he made his necessary exit. I never thought that criticism was fair. Who could fathom, much less immediately process, such an act? And would scaring the beejezus out of those kids have helped anything?

There was no doubt about the emotion Bush felt in the following days; the tear in his eye and the emotion in his voice. Similarly, with Ronald Reagan, you always knew how he felt. Happy, elated, sad, you always knew. Not that it's appropriate all the time; nobody wants a sobbing, emotional leader in charge of the free world. Control, we want. Coldness, not so much.

Back to Fort Hood, Obama has drawn criticism for his retreat to Camp David this weekend rather than a visit to Fort Hood. He hasn't ventured to the base at all as of yet. Yet on Friday, very quietly, George and Laura Bush went to visit the wounded and the traumatized. They spent two hours at the base offering whatever support they could. They asked for no press.

In 1987, after the attack on the USS Stark, there was no question how Ronald Reagan felt. You could tell by his face and by his remarks:

I have an announcement here that I would like to make that is aimed directly at you of the press. I know and I share the sense of concern and anger that Americans feel over the yesterday's tragedy in the Persian Gulf. We have protested this attack in the strongest terms and are investigating the circumstances of the incident. When our investigation of the facts is completed, I will report to the American people about this matter and any further steps that are warranted. For that reason I have convened a meeting of the National Security Planning Group to review the entire situation in the Persian Gulf.

In the meanwhile, I want to express my deepest sympathies to the families of the brave men killed and injured yesterday aboard the U.S.S. Stark. Their loss and suffering will not be in vain. The mission of the men of the U.S.S. Stark, safeguarding the interests of the United States and the free world in the Gulf, remains crucial to our national security and to the security of our friends throughout the world. The hazards to our men and women in uniform in the defense of freedom can never be understated. The officers and crew of the U.S.S. Stark deserve our highest admiration and appreciation. And I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for their prompt assistance in responding to the stricken U.S.S. Stark.

No "shout outs" in that speech. Additionally, he made it a point to meet with family members of the victims.

Obviously, wherever the president goes, there is fuss. Obama could claim that he didn't want to create more of a scene at the base than what is already ongoing at Fort Hood, but it seems to me if he can drop in and out of Afghanistan or Iraq in secret, he could go to Fort Hood.

Not that he gives a damn, but Obama would do well to show the American people that he cares about them, whether he does or not.

Anh Joseph Cao - One is the Loneliest Number

Anh Joseph Cao stands alone in the Republican party as the only one who voted for the takeover of the American health care system by the U. S. Government. The only one who supports an unprecedented nanny state and intrusion into the lives and choices of American citizens. The only Republican who favors Medicare cuts, individual insurance mandates, employer insurance mandates, unprecedented taxes, and criminalization of individuals who fail to purchase insurance.

Cao is from Louisiana. The moment I realized he was the lone Republican vote, I was embarrassed to be from Louisiana. But then I thought of Congressman Fleming and I felt a little better. At least Cao isn't my district. Not much solace.

The bill would have passed without Cao. But now Nasty Nancy Pelosi will gloat through her Botox that this bill is "bi-partisan." I was never of the opinion that one lone dissenter makes a bill bi-partisan; I always thought it took more than that, but it doesn't matter.

Why did Cao vote yes? He'll surely offer explanations in the days ahead, but we could see it coming. This is what he said in August:

"At the end of the day if the health care reform bill does not have strong language prohibiting the use of federal funding for abortion, then the bill is really a no-go for me," said Cao, who studied to be a Jesuit priest.

"Being a Jesuit, I very much adhere to the notion of social justice," Cao said. "I do fully understand the need of providing everyone with access to health care, but to me personally, I cannot be privy to a law that will allow the potential of destroying thousands of innocent lives.

"I know that voting against the health care bill will probably be the death of my political career," Cao said, "but I have to live with myself, and I always reflect on the phrase of the New Testament, 'How does it profit a man's life to gain the world but to lose his soul.' "

Cao's district has been Democratic since 1891. He won the seat in 2008, defeating William "Cold Cash" Jefferson who was then facing 16 felony indictments.

The district represents almost all of New Orleans and the demographics are 30% White, 64% Black, and a small percentage of Asian, Hispanic, and Native American.

For his part, Cao has always made it clear that he would vote to represent his constituents. In a December 2008 interview with NPR, Cao expressed some frustration with the Republican party who he says "ignored" his campaign until they saw that he might win. He says it was not until three weeks before the election that the Republican establishment finally kicked in to help him defeat Jefferson. Governor Bobby Jindal didn't offer an endorsement of Cao until three days before the election.

Then you have to consider what Cao calls the Hurricane Effect. Katrina had displaced lots of voters. The election had been delayed by Hurricane Gustav in early September. Only 66,000 voters participated in the election.

Cao explained his agenda to NPR:

Cao says his Washington agenda is simple: "To address the needs of the 2nd District, many parts of which are still decimated by Katrina." That includes, he says, fixing the health care system and restoring coastal wetland areas. Cao says he also wants to bring a more progressive voice to his own party, including one that is "less anti-immigrant."

Cao's agenda has been clear from day one, and say what you will about his lone vote, he's at least up front about what he's doing.

And his district will probably re-elect him.

But if you want to express (politely!) your views to Representative Cao, his office number is (202) 225 - 6636. In New Orleans, his number is (504) 483 - 7944. If you'd rather write a letter, his New Orleans office is

4640 So. Carrollton Ave. Suite 120
New Orleans, LA 70119

Cao will be lauded by the Democrats for making this bill "bi-partisan" and in the days to come we'll find out what Obama and Rahm promised him for his vote.

Update: Go to The Dead Pelican for a new Cao graphic and Cao's statement.

Update 2: Professor Jacobson predicts hell to pay and kicks a girl when she's down.

Update 3: Via Memeorandum, Cao's statement is here.

Debate on HR 3962

The thing about watching this debate on CSPAN today is that I can feel my blood pressure alternately swoop and dive, rise and fall. I listen to some of these people and I hear the gamut of human condition. Some of them are rational, some incensed, some clueless, and some slap crazy. Some are just posturing. Some don't believe a word coming out of their own mouths. Thus is the Democratic process, I guess.

The parade of Democratic women at the beginning with the unanimous consent requests was the craziest bit of posturing I've ever seen.

Okay, so I'm watching. Steve can't bear to, he's in the other room. It makes him insane so I've banned him from the television. I'll be back with updates. Currently there are procedural votes in process.

Update: Word is Rep. Cao is on the fence. Melt the phones! 202-225-6636 and 503-483-2325.

Update 12:41: Here is a list of undecideds. Melt the phones!

Update 12:50: Eric Cantor says at least 21 Democrats will vote against.

Update 1:10: Steny Hoyer tells the story of someone that died because he didn't have $80 to get his tooth filled and so the infection went into his brain. Are we seriously going to take care of everyone's fillings now?

Update 3:19: Only Sheila Jackson Lee could heft this bill over her shoulder and call it "concise and effective." Blather.

Via Michelle, here is the latest whip count.

Update 3:46: Well that was rich! Rep. Boehner asks Charlie Rangel if the Stupak amendment, if passed, would remain in the final bill. Rangel then proceeds to lecture Boehner on ethics laws. He oughta know all about ethics laws, no?

But of course, Boehner raises an important point; if the Stupak amendment passes which would then enable some fence-sitters to vote for the Pelosi bill, then they strip it back out later, it's all a shell game. No guarantees. The only guarantee is that this is a bad, monstrous bill. Period.

Update 5:13: After watching this debate, so far, one becomes more and more concerned about the mental state of Dems in Congress. Listening to Rep. Andrews (D - NJ), well, he's just delusional. He's playing with words for the purpose of creating a false impression of the bill. He asserts that the AMA and AARP both endorse this bill, and that's true on the surface, but you talk to doctors and seniors and you don't get that same impression.

The Dems assert that they are voting for a "healthy America" but that's not true either. This bill is going to lead to rationing and that is NOT healthy. They say that you can buy a private insurance plan on your own, but fail to tell you that you'd better do it before 2013.

No wonder people get sick of listening to politicians.

Ah well, enough editorializing. The debate continues for a few more minutes. Up next is debate on the Stupak amendment, which we know is a "shell game", and then the GOP alternative. Word is that the House vote on 3962 will come around 9:30 this evening.

Continue making those phone calls!

Update 5:58: Via AmSpec blog:

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor's office counts 33 Democrats who are confirmed "no" votes. That would mean that the maximum number of votes the bill would get would be 225.

They need 218. Keep working the phones.

Update 6:12: 34 Dems now opposed.

Update 7:15: 35 Dems now opposed.

Update 8:11: Rep. Cao is still undecided. Come on, Louisiana! Make the call! 202-225-6636 and 504-483-2325.

Update 8:39: Annnnnnnnnd John Boehner is reading the bill!!!

Update 9:17: Stupak passses. Cao is still a fence sitter on HR3962. His mailboxes are full so we have twitter and fax.

Update 9:34: Twitter rumors have Cao as a YES now; if true, that doesn't surprise me. His biggest issue was the abortion language and the passage of the Stupak amendment means he can vote for this bill. Nevertheless, keep up the pressure!

Update 10:15: And it's over. Rep. Cao (R-LA) is the lone Republican "Yea" for the end of freedom and liberty in America. He's representing his constituents, they say; he's from William Jefferson's district, after all. Still, it stings. We'll wonder what Obama promised him, but from what I've read, he was always a Yea if the abortion language got right.

It's hard to find solace. We still have the Senate. We'll get busy on that. I've turned off the televison - I simply cannot watch Nasty Nancy gloat.

I'm a sore loser.

Full Metal Jacket Saturday - The Obamacare Debate Edition

I'm up a little earlier than usual on a Saturday. Steve and I are going to George's Grill for breakfast before he heads in for another long shift today, then I'm going to watch as much of the health care debate as I can stomach. The Washington Post even has a handy-dandy guide to further inform the process: The House Health Care Debate: What to Watch For.

Before I get to the linkage, here's a little "What if Bush Had Done It" moment for you, from Newsbusters via Memeorandum regarding Obama's shout-out to Dr. Joe Medicine Crow prior to his remarks on the Fort Hood tragedy:

Ah, the dangers of giving shout outs without a teleprompter. Crow is not a Medal of Honor recipient. As noted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society:

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Crow's name is not included on the Society's Medal of Honor recipient list. He was, however, awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in August.

Since Obama actually awarded this particular medal, you'd think he'd know the difference. Oh well.

On to the links:

The Reaganite Republican has a post on Nancy Pelosi's plan to put you in jail if you don't buy her insurance. How on earth could anyone vote for this. I cannot fathom it. Critical Narrative has his eye on this angle, too.

Professor Jacobson compares Nasty Nancy to a jumper on a ledge.

Pundette has two good posts on the health care story - first is on the Stupak amendment and then, oh wouldn't this be glorious, Tom Coburn's threat to have the entire bill read on the floor. Ha!

Robert Stacy McCain addresses the bailout for the abortion industry in this post. And over at Not One Red Cent, Stacy is all over Charlie Crist's Ponzi Scheme Pal.

Another Black Conservative follows up on the White House's continued war with Fox.

Fishersville Mike reminds you that it's time for the Weblog awards. So glad Technorati has made that all so jumbled up.

Donald Douglas had some great posts over the past few days of the Fort Hood story. Ann Althouse has questions about Nidal Hasan. The Daley Gator is also all over this one.

Monique Stuart points out that a terrorist and a criminal are not the same thing and shouldn't be tried the same way. Amen to that.

Ruby Slippers has a must-see video with former POW Shoshana Johnson and...Dr. Phil.

Heh - Grandpa John noticed Obama's faux pas as does Doug Ross.

Troglopundit is having fun with French.

For the latest on the arrest of the Cuban bloggers, Babalu Blog is the place to go. It could happen here, too. Hell, if they're going to arrest you for not having insurance, what else can they do?

New Conservative Generation looks at what the unemployment numbers to do the health care bill.

Left Coast Rebel has a nifty new layout and pictures of the House Call in Washington this week.

Sister Toldjah makes note of the left-wing writers/columnists off-the-record lunch with Obama.

Honesty in Motion invokes Southpark!

Caught Him With a Corndog has a fool proof home security system! Love it!

I love that Wyblog does his roundup on Thursday. Maverick!

Sarah has been doing some top notch work at Women of the GOP, including some fine interviews.

And finally, at Camp of the Saints, Bob Belvedere comments on Stacy's post on Jihad in America and adds some analysis of his own. Great stuff.

So I'm off to have breakfast and watch some lively debate on Obamacare. Might get some house work and laundry done. Clean up things the dog chewed. Read some of my Ayn Rand biography. Good times. Have a great Saturday!

My Inner Eeyore

I've been channeling my inner-Eeyore the past couple of days so blogging has been light. Might be the wind-down after Tuesday's elections, might be the long, slow march to the Thanksgiving break, might be just about anything political...all I know is that I haven't been in my happy-place so I just haven't blogged.

The Fort Hood story is just horrible. That broke yesterday, as we all know, and was just awful to watch unfold. What a hero Kim Munley is! I saw one of her doctors on ABC News this evening and she said Kim's first question when she came out of surgery was "Did anybody die?" Imagine. So selfless.

Watching and listening to the relatives of those killed yesterday is just devastating. So tragic.

On the political front, I'm warily watching the Obamacare situation this weekend. I saw Krauthammer and Steven Hayes on Fox this afternoon surmising that Obamacare will pass the House - maybe by two or three votes but "it will pass." This depresses me beyond measure. How on earth, with the jobless rate over 10%, with an ongoing recession, with people struggling as it is, how can those Democrats vote to make the situation worse? Oh, I know the talking points about how we "need reform now" but that's just crap. This bill is crap. It will kill jobs. It will increase taxes. It will increase unemployment. It will lead to rationing. It will kill private insurance (which will kill more jobs). Every single thing about this bill is crap.

The blind sheep falling in behind it depress me.

How can this happen?

On the home front, puppy continues to chew everything in sight, but it's been somewhat better this week. In addition to the endless list of items chewed to oblivion, just add countess rawhide sticks to that. He's not chewing inappropriate stuff because he doesn't have his own stuff to chew. Bah.

So, me and my inner Eeyore are going to curl up tonight and get into my new Ayn Rand biography which arrived this week. I'll be bright and chipper in the morning, I suppose, and will have a lively FJMRA for you. If you linked me and you think I might miss it, just drop me an email. Because Technorati sucks.

Here Comes Obamacare: Melt the Phones!

Via Open Congress:

Last night, the Democratic leadership released a Manager’s Amendment containing 42 pages of last-mute changes to their heath care bill (H.R. 3962), signaling that they are making progress in lining up the votes to pass it.

“With the completion of the Manager’s Amendment to the Affordable Health Care for America Act, we are now in the final stage of moving this critical bill through the House,” House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer [D, MD-5] said last night.

The Democratic leadership has pledged to have the amendment posted online for at least 72 hours before beginning debate of the bill. According to the timestamp on the document, the amendment was officially filed at 8:53 p.m. ET on Tuesday night, meaning that the earliest debate could begin on the bill without breaking the pledge would be Friday night. It’s likely, however, that the debate won’t begin until next week. UPDATE: The vote is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.

This issue takes front and center for me right now. More on the vote at Memeorandum.

Open Congress has more on the earmarks, the abortion funding, and the other issues that make this noxious bill even worse than one fathomed it could possibly be. Read the whole thing.

In the meantime, House members continue to read and post updates about the bill here. This one from John Boehner is interesting:

A monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run plan, as well those who select plans that have abortion coverage through the Exchange. The premium will be paid into an U.S. Treasury account and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services. The Pelosi bill describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run plan. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month

And no real shocker here, but Michelle Malkin has more on AARP's endorsement of the bill. You can read her thoughts here, and follow that thread at Memeorandum.

At noon today, Michele Bachmann is leading the charge to Washington to protest the bill. Be there, if you can!

Melt the phones today!

Rubio Gets Crist on the Defensive

Team Rubio has done a pretty good job putting Crist on the defensive with this video. On the heels of the Tuesday elections, Crist now declaring that he didn't actually support the stimulus, and the NRSC declaring that they won't push any cash Crist's way during the primary, the timing of this video is especially rich.

Crist hasn't really campaigned hard yet, and he can outspend Rubio easily; there's a long way to go yet. Send Marco some cash!



(H/T: The Weekly Standard)

It's a Hoffman Victory After All

Well it seems it's a victory for Doug Hoffman after all, but not in the way he intended. While he isn't going to Congress (this year), he has gotten the attention of the NRSC. ABC News reports that John Cornyn got the message loud and clear:

"There's no incentive for us to weigh in," said Cornyn, R-Texas. "We have to look at our resources. . . . We're not going to throw money into a [primary] race leading up to the election." Cornyn said his pledge extends to races for open Senate seats -- not incumbents who may face primaries next year.

The NRSC so far has endorsed candidates in four open Senate seats -- Florida, Missouri, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Cornyn's commitment is most immediately relevant in Florida, where the NRSC's candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist, is facing an aggressive challenge on his right from state House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Ed at Hot Air is willing to give credit where credit is due:

We understand that the role of the national party and the NRSC and NRCC is to elect Republicans. However, that role comes into play in the general election, not the primaries. A party that talks abut federalism and limited national government should have more trust in the people to choose their representatives in the primaries. Cornyn and the NRSC have taken a circuitous route to the right decision, but at least they got there.

That's fine - I'm all for optimism. Just color me a little cynical. I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not clear on how this statement is going to play with the Crist/Rubio duel. The NRSC has already endorsed Crist and I can't see them yanking support now. While Cornyn makes light of endorsements in general, he indicates that the only reason the NRSC endorsed Crist was because Crist asked them too:

Cornyn said the NRSC is only endorsing in races where -- like in Crist's case -- the candidate specifically requests its stamp of approval.

So if Rubio had asked first....?

I hope the Republican establishment has learned something, I really do. The fact remains that as a party Republicans still have to come together and decide how big this tent is going to be. You can't abandon your principles just to stack the deck in your favor. And to my mind, there is still no strong Reagan conservative to lead us out of this mess, although there is still time for one to emerge.

But, for now, I'll take Cornyn's words to heart and I'll send Doug Hoffman a thank-you check. He was brave, honest, and he woke up the NRSC. That's the kind of guy I can get behind!

(More at Memeorandum)

Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!

Technology is Cool

This is kind of cool; House Republicans are using Open Congress to read and leave comments on sections of the Pelosicare bill:

Republicans in the House of Representatives are extracting chunks of legislative text from the OpenCongress health care bill page (H.R. 3962), giving their take and opening them up for discussion. They’re using OpenCongress’ bill text permalinking tool to refer people back to the specific lines of text in the 1,990 page bill that they’re talking about...They’re using a service called Amplify that lets you “clip, share and discuss interesting things you read on the web.” It integrates with Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites.

Here's a sample:

Section 223: Bureaucrats in Charge of Decisions That Should Be Made by Patients

John Boehner says:

Despite what congressional Democrats claim, H.R. 3962 would put government bureaucrats in charge of decisions that should be made by patients, their families, and their doctors.

Pages 111-116; Section 223 – The bill establishes a Health Benefits Advisory Committee to make determinations about health care services that will be available to Americans...

This is neat. Check out more here.

What Does it All Mean?

I'll leave it to the highly paid pundits and experts like Michelle Malkin to tell us "what it all means," but the elections last night were crazy-exciting to watch.

I will say that I'm thrilled with the Christie win, not shocked by the McDonnell win, and encouraged by the NY-23 race. I really thought Hoffman could pull that one out, but so it goes. As Britt Hume said last night, "That's why you have primaries." Part of the issue in that election was a time issue; it was a late-breaking campaign from the very beginning. Hoffman fought a great fight and there's a lot to be encouraged about there.

Stacy McCain reports from the Hoffman headquarters:

The liberal Republican Scozzafava suspended her campaign four days before Election Day, but still got about 7,000 votes -- a number greater than the margin of victory for the Democrat she endorsed, Bill Owens. Her defeat was victory enough for some conservatives, on a night when the GOP swept the off-off-year gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey. And the candidate who drove Scozzafava out of the race struck a defiant tone in conceding his narrow loss to Owens.

"This one was worth the fight.…. And this is only one fight in the battle," said Hoffman, an accountant who began his campaign as an utter unknown but finished as the hero of what John Gizzi of Human Events called a nationwide "crusade" by conservatives.

So, yes, there's much to be encouraged about.

And no time to lick wounds or savor victories! The 2010 elections are just around the corner and there's always Florida!

(More at Memeorandum)

Election Night

Update: And Corzine has just given his concession speech! Hooray for Christie's victory! The NY-23 is still really close right now and it's nerve wracking. Stacy McCain is reporting problems with voting machines in two counties - about 11 machines. Overall though, either way, it's been a good night for conservatives.

Election night - I'm settled in with the slower-than-Christmas-I-hate-Vista laptop watching the returns. McDonnell has already been declared in Virginia. No shocker there but good news nontheless.

There's talk all over the internet, blogosphere and television as to whether these elections are a referendum on Obama or not. I don't know about that; that's really not my area of expertise, but I do believe that it is telling that the New Jersey race, for example, is expected to be as close as it is. By all previous expectations and performance, the Democrat should have had no problem there. That Christie has made it such a contest may not be a referendum on Obama but certainly shows how voters are beginning to view the shenanigans coming out of Washington.

So much for the right wing fringe!

Simply put, anyone who spins this election story as having nothing to do with a referendum on Democrats or the massive spending coming out of Congress right now is just silly.

Ah well. Updates to come as results come in. Hang tight.

NY-23: Election Day

I'm joining Stacy McCain in hoping that "it ends tonight" with regard to NY-23. But, it won't. At least, not if Anita Moncrief is correct. ACORN is already gearing up to protest the election.

Read Anita's concerns at Hot Air's Greenroom. She says, "Multiple sources on the ground in New York’s 23^rd Congressional district confirm that ACORN is expected to be actively protesting the election results in Clinton County, New York tomorrow. This move comes on the heels of a legal win for the Hoffman camp today as it was ruled that all poll watchers would have to be registered voters of NY 23."

During the ACU PAC conference call Sunday night these concerns were also expressed by Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan. He said, "We want a clean, legal election because if that's the case, we win."

Please, God, let it be so.

Clean. Fair. Over.

(More at Memeorandum)

Detainees Don't Want to Leave Gitmo

Via Mark Steyn, Gitmo prisoners don't want to leave. That's right, the Guantanamo detainees would prefer to keep residence at the hell hole that causes the whole world to hate us rather than come to a U.S. federal prison. Why? The Telegraph reports:

Peter King, a Republican congressman who visited earlier this year and wants the prison kept open, said that "if there's any scandal at Guantánamo, it is that the detainees are treated too well".

The 221 remaining inmates receive between four and 20 hours outdoor recreation in the Caribbean sun and anything from weekly to almost unlimited access to DVDs and receive three newspapers (USA Today, plus one Egyptian and one Saudi Arabian title) twice a week. Every bed has an arrow pointing towards Mecca and every cell a prayer rug.

Adm Copeman said "generally speaking the rules are about the same" for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-confessed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, and the 15 other "high value detainees", who are held at Camp 7, which is out of bounds to the media.

The detainees' diet is exclusively Middle Eastern and halal, in observance of regional and religious sensitivities. Dates, olive oil and honey are provided daily and pita bread is baked on the premises. They drink the same bottled water as the prison's staff and have the same access as other prisoners to 16,000 books and 1,600 magazines held at the library.

An escorted tour of Guantánamo by the Daily Telegraph revealed that Camp 7's requested reading included Gardens of the World by Mick Hales, Fine Art Flower Photography by Tony Sweet and a copy of Birds and Blooms magazine, material in keeping with nature-bound leisure pursuits approved by conservative Islam. Two volumes of the Tales of the Arabian Nights were also in the pile. Tomes on Islamic theory are in plentiful supply and demand, said library staff.

At the low security Camp 4, detainees could be seen sitting in the yard chatting and hanging up their laundry. A new gravel football field was recently completed.

At Florence, Colorado, prisoners would also spend 22 ½ hours a day in a 9ft by 9ft cell with the only natural light coming from a skylight outside.

Exercise would be limited to an hour and a half indoors five days a week and they would have minimal contact with others, including the 33 other international terrorists held there. An official study found that most inmates suffer psychological trauma from the severe isolation.

And don't forget, they get the H1N1 vaccine before most of you do.

Someone explain again why we need to close Gitmo? If the issue is simply that that they're being held without trial, why does it matter where they are held? Gitmo seems as good a place, humane even, as any and avoids the major expense of relocation, refurbishing, and retrofitting another prison to hold such detainees as these who are known to attack guards with the least likeliest of weapons and throw feces/body fluid cocktails at will.

No, given a choice, the Gitmo Gulag is the prison of choice. The Telegraph quotes an Arab American cultural adviser employed at Guantanamo as saying, "They know there will not be the same privileges as here," he said. "Given the choice of being sentenced forever in Guantánamo or moved to supermax, it is 'no, can I stay in Gitmo?'. Here they can be outside, they can smell the sea."

Yet still, Obama declares the place must be shut down because it has bad associations for the rest of the world and they might not like us. We wouldn't want that. Eric Holder perseveres in his quest to bring those that he can to the U.S. for trial, a whole can of worms all its own, by the way, and his dilemma with what to do with those who can't be tried. Do we simply release them or ship them off to another country and and disappointed when they release them?

I, for one, don't have any problem with terrorists sitting 24/7 in a 9 ft. cell eating the same meals as the rest of the prison population. I just don't want it to be stateside.

Things the New Puppy Has Eaten So Far

The mail, on an almost daily basis.
One copy of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle."
One stuffed football from Mardi Gras.
One corner of a down filled Woolrich blanket.
One lavender throw pillow.
The corner of an oak bookshelf.
Numerous socks.
Four pairs of shoestrings.
One dog bed.
One iPhone Jam Jacket (iPhone, thankfully, unharmed).
One Joshua Chamberlain biography.
One pair reading glasses.
Multiple random stuffed animals.
One poly-filled comforter.
One pillow sham.
Living room sheers (still hanging from the curtain rod.)
One slipper.
Two bath sponges.
Three magazines.
Two cell phone chargers.
One PSP charger.
One Xbox headset.
One basket decorative pine cones.


I'm thinking that putting up a Christmas tree this year might not be such a good idea.