Is Obama Poised to Cede US Sovereignty?

Going Green with Cap and Trade!

4 15 09 Tea Party Day

Some video from today's Tea Party in Annapolis, Maryland.

Doug

Modified Barack Obama and Trival Pork

During the 2008 election, candidate Barack Obama modified several of his positions to blunt any appeal John McCain had. One was the reversal of a long held (at least since 1996) position opposing drilling for oil off the coast. With the election behind him, Barack Obama has reverted to his previously held, "principled" position.

Another position that has gone by the wayside is candidate Barack Obama's pledge to oppose earmarks or "wasteful spending". The current budget bill passed by Congress (with the help of several GOP Senators)includes nearly $8 billion in pork barrel spending. The USA Today opines:

President Obama — a once prolific earmarker who became a critic when he set his sights on the White House — has chosen not to pick a fight with the Democratic majority over Congress' addiction to earmarks. His aides argue that the spending bill, passed Tuesday, is "last year's business" because that's when most of it was written.

A charitable interpretation of Obama's reversal is that he is simply prioritizing — that with the economy in crisis and a packed agenda, he shouldn't spend political capital trying to get Congress to give up what in the end is a small slice of the massive federal budget. There's truth to that argument. But it's also true that commitments abandoned at the outset of a presidency tend to be lost forever, and that exhausts political capital in another way — by undermining Obama's credibility.
(http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/03/our-view-on-ear.html#more)

When it comes to "earmarks", Barack Obama no longer has credibility.

In a related item, Democratic Majority Leader, Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., called the attention to nearly $8 billion in earmarks a "triviality" in a USA Today oped piece. He justifies earmarks saying the GOP engaged in pork barrel spending, so the Dems are justified to do so as well. This begs the question, if both parties in Congress are unwilling to deal with trivial spending, how can we ever hope to deal with the larger issues? A billion here and a billion there and before we know it we're talking about "real" money.

Doug

Obama's Agenda

Take a few minutes to view and consider Cramer's insight on the economy and the impact of Barack Obama's agenda.


Doug

Pork or Stimulus II

When Obama's "porky" stimulus plan began to falter, he pulled out the fear factor warning of economic calamity if Republicans don't become non-partisan by voting for the "To the Victor Goes the Spoils Act of 2009" aka "The Generational Theft Act". HotAir.com has listed a bit of the pork contained in the bill.

Let’s recall the “tiny” amendments added already to Porkulus, as provided by Tom Coburn — and this is by no means a complete list:

* $2 billion earmark for FutureGen near zero emissions powerplant in Mattoon, IL
* $39 billion slush fund for “state fiscal stabilization” bailout
* $5.5 billion for making federal buildings “green” (including $448 million for DHS HQ)
* $200 million for workplace safety in USDA facilities
* $275 million for flood prevention
* $65 million for watershed rehabilitation
* $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges and libraries
* $650 million for the DTV transition coupon program
* $307 million for constructing NIST office buildings
* $1 billion for administrative costs and construction of NOAA office buildings
* $100 million for constructing U.S. Marshalls office buildings
* $300 million for constructing FBI office buildings
* $800 million for constructing Federal Prison System buildings and facilities
* $10 million to fight Mexican gunrunners
* $1.3 billion for NASA (including $450 million for “science” at NASA)
* $100 million to clean up sites used in early U.S. atomic energy program
* $10 million for urban canals
* $2 billion for manufacturing advanced batteries for hybrid cars
* $1.5 billion for carbon capture projects under sec. 703 of P.L. 110-140 (though section only authorizes $1 billion for five years)
* $300 million for hybrid and electric cars for federal employees
* $198 million to design and furnish the DHS headquarters
* $255 million for “priority procurements” at Coast Guard (polar ice breaker)
* $500 million for State and local fire stations
* $180 million for construction of Bureau of Land Management facilities
* $500 million for wildland fire management
* $110 million for construction for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
* $522 million for construction for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
* $650 million for abandoned mine sites
* $75 million for the Smithsonian Institution
* $1.2 billion for summer jobs for youth
* $412 million for CDC headquarters
* $500 million earmark for NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD
* $160 million for “volunteers” at the Corp. for National and Community Service
* $750 earmark for the National Computer Center in MD
* $224 million for International Boundary and Water Commission – U.S. and Mexico
* $850 million for Amtrak
* $100 million for lead paint hazard reduction

It appears the change we've been waiting for is the same old Democrat politics: big spending, big taxes, and deferring the bill to our grand kids. Now that Republicans are recovering from their ten years of big spending, maybe they can make a difference with this debate.

Doug

To read more of the commentary at HotAir, go here: http://hotair.com/archives/2009/02/10/video-schumer-says-no-one-cares-about-pork/

"Now is not the time for profits . . ."

Is it possible that an NBC network could compare Barack Obama to Vladimir Lenin? It happened! MSNBC "Morning Joe" show hosted CNBC host Jim Cramer today and featured these amazing comments:


You can read more of Jeff Poor's analysis of Cramer's comments here: Cramer on Obama's Anti-Wall Street Comments: 'We Heard Lenin'

Is this the change America has been waiting for?

Doug

Pork or Stimulus

Director Blue has posted an analysis of the Obama stimulus proposal. Nearly one third is pork that our children's grand kids will be paying for. Take a look:

$314 BILLION IN PAYOFFS TO DEMOCRAT CONSTITUENCIES

• $83 billion in welfare payments (the earned income credit for people who don't pay income tax)
• $81 billion for Medicaid
• $66 billion on "education", more than the entire Department of Education required just ten years ago
• $36 billion for expanded unemployment benefits
• $20 billion for food stamps
• $8 billion on "renewable energy" projects, which have a low or negative return
• $7 billion for "modernizing federal buildings and facilities"
• $6 billion on urban transit systems, dominated by unions and which, almost universally, lose money
• $2.4 billion for "carbon-capture demonstration projects"
• $2 billion for child-care subsidies
• $1 billion for Amtrak, the federal railroad that's run in the red for 40 years
• $650 million for "digital TV conversion coupons" (on top of billions already spent)
• $600 million on new cars for government (added to the $3 billion already spent each year)
• $400 million for "global-warming research"
• $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts

BUT NOT A PENNY FOR DEFENSE

Finally, GOP members of the House demonstrated a backbone by unanimously opposing the stimulus package (+ 11 Democrats!). Any chance the Republican Senators will do the same: that's the change I'm waiting for!

Doug

God of this city . . .

The people of America face great odds. If our hope is this world, if our hope is in political leaders, if our hope is in our economy, then we are left with heartache, pain, failure and hopelessness.

We are reminded again, that our hope is God. I am encourage by a song made famous by Chris Tomlin called "God of this City". The story behind this song is "a God thing". The band that wrote the song is from Belfast, Ireland. They were in Pattaya, Thailand in the heart of the prostitution district on a mission trip. They were asked by an unsuspecting bar owner to perform in his bar. As God moved upon the band, this song was born.

Here are the lyrics:

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're Lord Of this nation
You are

You're hope for the hopeless
You're light in the darkness
You're peace to the restless
You are

there is no one like our God
there is no one like our God

The greater things have yet to come
the greater things are still to be done in this city
The greater things have yet to come
The greater things are still to be done in this city

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

In the pain that sin brings, there is hope. That hope comes from God. As we face the results of sin in our culture, let's remember that hope. Let's share that hope with the hopeless. In prayer, fasting, in living out life, God is the God of these people and there is no one like our God.

Doug

A brand new day . . .

In 2000, after the election of George W. Bush, I was full of hope. I was impressed with the President Elect and his passion for our country, for bringing people together, for a brand new day in America.

Nearly from the start, I was in dismay as the news media and left leaning organizations began to turn this Texan who became President into a villain. I was shocked by the hate. It went beyond an unwillingness to consider his views -- it became a mission of personal destruction.

Clearly, in hindsight, President Bush made significant errors. The war in Iraq was executed poorly and without proper planning. The re-vamp of bankruptcy laws by the GOP congress and signed into law by President Bush was practically written by the credit card industry and, I predict, will add to the calamity of the financial market that is plaguing America today. These errors hardly validate the hate that permeates the media and the left leaning organizations that became the backbone of Barack Obama's successful campaign for President.

It is well known that William Wilberforce worked to end slavery in Britain, but he had another mission. He said, "God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners". It would do us well to follow Wilberforce's lead and commit to a reformation of manners in our political discourse today. Let's remove the hate and realize that good people can disagree and that good Americans can have differing beliefs and still be good Americans.

Wilberforce himself challenged the "politics of hate" after his conversion:

The old Wilberforce had been the “pit bull” of the Prime Minister William Pitt and viciously attacked the opposition. The new Wilberforce became the kind, but firm leader who worked with everyone possible and grew to be so greatly admired by all, ultimately even by the political opposition. Wilberforce was even able to work with the likes of Charles Fox who he had previously attacked. To mark his change and to encourage this change in others, Wilberforce--while a busy Member of Parliament-- wrote “A Practical View of Christianity” which became a best seller for 50 years. It became a classic, the first religious book other than the Bible to do so at the time. William Cowper, the British poet, in a tribute to Wilberforce in a sonnet, described Wilberforce as bringing “the better hour.”
-- WilberforceCentral.org

I'm sure that supporters of Barack Obama share the same hope that I had in 2000. As we move toward his inauguration, I encourage Americans to have hope for the future. I will remain firm in opposing many of President Elect Obama's ideas that I believe are wrong; however, I hope to do so in a way that is civil, respectable and honest. Ideas have consequences. I prefer we debate the ideas and their consequences and leave the hate behind.

Doug

Prayer and fasting

I pray that as we approach the decision of who America is going to vote for, that we do so seeking God and in prayer and fasting.

every man did that which was right in his own eyes
-- Judges 21:25

Take care,
Doug

Sarah Palin defending the culture of life!

Keep Sarah Palin in your prayers. The left wants to destroy her. Watch this video, it will challenge you on this issue of life and God's Standards -- the final measure!

Doug

Life, Faith and Family

This beautiful video is a tribute to the values that make our nation great.

This election, everything
you hold sacred will need your vote.
Vote your conscience.

Doug

Geroge Bailey's words of wisdom . . .

Do you remember the movie It's a Wonderful Life? Do you remember what George Bailey said when people started to panic?

Can't you understand what's happening here? Don't you see what's happening? Potter isn't selling. Potter's buying! And why? Because we're panicky and he's not. That's why. He's picking up some bargains. Now, we can get through this thing all right. We've got to stick together, though. We've got to have faith in each other.

When Barack Obama tells us to panic and plays on the fears of the American people, remember, he's the one "buying up" America's hope! When he promises help, ask what that help is. Does it require selling out our values so that he can continue his ascension? He's planning on our panic to put him and his party in control in Washington, D.C. Can we afford it? What will be the cost to our nation if the Democrats control both houses of Congress, the Presidency and the Supreme Court?


By all means, DON'T SELL out!

There is hope and it is far more valuable than change. Without hope, change is devastating. Look at the issues. Look at the records. One candidate has flowery words with little meaning and great style in delivering endless blovation with little substance and focuses on America's failures. The other candidate, gruff as he may be, actually offers hope, belief in the American spirit, a vision of America that is filled with hope and potential driven by American ingenuity.

Just remember this thing isn't as black as it appeared.

Put simply, if you have given up on America and the American dream, then vote for Barck Obama. If you believe America's best is before us, vote for John McCain.

Doug

What just happened, part 2 . . .

The major news media refuse to tell the truth about the Democratic Party's involvement in the mortgage debacle that has led to the collapse of the mortgage industry and the current credit crisis. Aside from Fox News, there is an organization that knows a little about the Democrats' dilemma. Take a look:



It's time we say no to the re-election campaign of the current Democrat majority. In just two short years, they've run the economy into the ground.

Doug

What Just Happened?

An open letter . . .

The following is an open letter I've sent to Senator Ben Cardin and Senator Barbara Mikulski:

Dear Senator:
Over the past ten years, Congress has failed the American people by refusing to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack. As Congress received big campaign donations for the special interests, the Congressionally chartered organizations abused the trust of the American people.

As I watch old C-span video of Rep. Frank and Senator Dodd, I am shocked and outraged by their unwillingness to address these issues. I urge you to call for their resignation for their positions of authority. Furthermore, I urge you to get a better deal for us, the American people and tax payers than the current $700 billion give away currently before the Senate.

Take a moment and let your Members of Congress know your opinion on this mess.

Doug

If my people . . .

I received an email challenging Christians to pray during our county's time of need. We face great decisions as a nation: a choice of the remnant of Christianity vs. a Secularist World View. As Christians, we should be on our knees begging for God's mercy.

Here is the email as I received it:

This is the scariest election We as Christians have ever faced. From the looks of the polls, the Christians aren't voting Christian values. We all need to be on our knees. Do you believe we can take God at His word? Call upon His name, then stand back and watch His wonders to behold. His scripture gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land and the ability to call upon God to heal it. I challenge you to do so. We have never been more desperate than now for God to heal our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 : If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped.

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America.The United States of America and our citizens need prayer more than ever !!!

If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, 8:00 PM Central , 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific, stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world, for wisdom and courage for our leaders, the up-coming election, and that the Bible will remain the basis for the laws governing our land and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.

If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Thank You.

Please pass this onto anyone who you think will want to join us. God Bless You!!!

Sherri and I have joined the call. Will you?

Doug

Mike Pence to the Rescue

Mike Pence and the Republican Study Committee outlined the following four point plan to resolve the current economic crisis:

"Two-Year Suspension of the Capital Gains: Immediately suspend the capital gains rate of 15% for individuals and 35% for corporations. By encouraging corporations to sell unwanted assets, this provision would unleash funds and materials with which to create jobs and grow the economy. After the two-year suspension, capital gains rates would return to present levels but assets would be indexed permanently for any inflationary gains."

"Schedule the GSEs for Privatization: Transition Fannie and Freddie over a reasonable time period to truly private companies without special government privileges and open them up to real market competition. This reform would 1) establish commonsense limits for their capital requirements and portfolio holdings relative their size, 2) focus their mission on affordable housing only, not profit making, 3) require them to pay an appropriate risk-based amount for the government guarantee they enjoy, 4) subject them to state and local taxes and accurate SEC filings like every other private for-profit corporation, and 5) ultimately provide for the phase out their GSE charters once their conservatorship has ended. In a matter of mere weeks, Fannie and Freddie have gone from too big to fail to too dangerous to repeat. This hybrid illusion must not be allowed to continue."

"Stabilize the Dollar: Repeal the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act which diverts the Federal Reserve's attention from long-term price stability to short-term economic growth. In an effort to fuel the economy, this additional mandate has encouraged the Fed to keep rates artificially low, fueling economic boom and busts, and now a strong up-tick in inflation and the decline of the dollar (as investors free dollars for hard assets). This reform would require the Fed to establish a numerical definition for price stability and maintain a policy that promotes it over the long-term."

"Suspend 'Mark to Market' Accounting: Suspend the mark-to-market regulatory rules for long-term assets. These rules require financial firms to mark assets at current market levels, even where the no market exists and any immediate transactions would result in fire-sale prices. Instead of allowing firms to mark these assets to their true economic value, these rules contribute to a downward spiral as firms have to evaluate their assets not on the basis of their long-term investment but rather on a short-term mania."

It's time for real solutions that will move our economy forward. The Democrats only solution is more corrupt government oversight. Stop the madness, vote Republican in '08!

Doug

Truth

The media would have us believe that the current financial crisis we are facing is the result of an "unfettered" free market that is only lacking proper oversight and more regulation. But that is not true. The seeds of this crisis are in the corruption of regulation, not the lack of it.

Over the past decade there have been repeated calls for regulation of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The powerful forces of Freddie and Fannie lobbyists have derailed attempts to reign in the failed policies of these two organizations ironically chartered by Congress.

Consider these comments by Democrats in 2004:

Through nearly a dozen hearings, we were frankly trying to fix something that wasn’t broke. Mr. Chairman, we do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, and particularly at Fannie Mae, under the outstanding leadership of Franklin Raines.
--Maxine Waters:

And this charming comment by Barney Frank:

I don’t see anything in this report that raises safety and soundness problems.
--Barney Frank, 2004

Consider that at the same 2004 hearing, Republican Christopher Shays warned that the recently passed accounting rules of Sarbanes-Oxley don't even apply to Fannie and Freddie.

Watch this video to see your congress at work in protecting the special interest of the lobbyist from Freddie and Fannie:


It's time to wake up and send the Democrats packing.

Doug

Discovered at www.hotair.com