Texas governor talking about seceding

Rick Perry said Texas could leave the Union if they so choose to. And I'm sure Texas would have a lot of new citizens if they were to secede. Seems highly unlikely, but with the over taxation from Obama something needs to be done.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up an anti-tax "tea party" Wednesday with his stance against the federal government and for states' rights as some in his U.S. flag-waving audience shouted, "Secede!"

An animated Perry told the crowd at Austin City Hall — one of three tea parties he was attending across the state — that officials in Washington have abandoned the country's founding principles of limited government. He said the federal government is strangling Americans with taxation, spending and debt.

Perry repeated his running theme that Texas' economy is in relatively good shape compared with other states and with the "federal budget mess." Many in the crowd held signs deriding President Barack Obama and the $786 billion federal economic stimulus package.

Perry called his supporters patriots. Later, answering news reporters' questions, Perry suggested Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to secede from the union, though he said he sees no reason why Texas should do that.

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."

This is the kind of leadership the Republican Party needs.

Obama lied again

During his campaign he promised to talk to Iran with no preconditions. But sadly the preconditions are on the US side.

The Obama administration and its European allies are preparing proposals that would shift strategy toward Iran by dropping a longstanding American insistence that Tehran rapidly shut down nuclear facilities during the early phases of negotiations over its atomic program, according to officials involved in the discussions.

The proposals, exchanged in confidential strategy sessions with European allies, would press Tehran to open up its nuclear program gradually to wide-ranging inspection. But the proposals would also allow Iran to continue enriching uranium for some period during the talks. That would be a sharp break from the approach taken by the Bush administration, which had demanded that Iran halt its enrichment activities, at least briefly to initiate negotiations.

The proposals under consideration would go somewhat beyond President Obama’s promise, during the presidential campaign, to open negotiations with Iran “without preconditions.” Officials involved in the discussion said they were being fashioned to draw Iran into nuclear talks that it had so far shunned.

So instead of the Iran giving up the nuclear plant for the privilege of us not blowing them up, Obama has the bright idea to let them build more nuclear plants.

I really hope Israel doesn't bow down to Obama and does what is right and what is needed. And destroys any nuclear plant that Iran might even think of building.

Obama lifting restrictions to Cuba

I guess he just wants to reach out to a fellow communist.

President Barack Obama directed his administration Monday to allow unlimited travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba, and to take other steps to ease U.S. restrictions on the island, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.

The formal announcement was being made at the White House Monday afternoon, during presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs' daily briefing with reporters. The official spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the president's announcement.

With the changes, Obama aims to create new space for the Cuban people in their quest for political freedom and a democratic government, in part by making them less dependent on the Castro regime, the official said.

Other steps taken Monday include allowing gift parcels to be send to Cuba, and issuing licenses to increase communications among and to the Cuban people. About 1.5 million Americans have relatives in Cuba.

Obama had promised to take these steps as a presidential candidate. It has been known for over a week that he would announce them in advance of his attended this weekend of a Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

"There are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans," Obama said in a campaign speech last May in Miami, the heart of the U.S. Cuban-American community. "It's time to let Cuban Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers. It's time to let Cuban American money make their families less dependent upon the Castro regime."

That's because they risked their lives to leave communist Cuba. There aren't people risking their lives to leave the US yet. Why should we open up trade and give money to an openly communist nation? I'd have no problem with this if Cuba was a democracy or was on the verge and just needed a push to become a democracy. But as far as I know that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

How did she become a Supreme Court Justice?

Especially when Justice Ginsburg thinks it is ok to use foreign law on deciding legal matters in the United States. Last time I checked we have a little thing called the Constitution. And last time I checked the Supreme Court was there to decide whether things are Constitutional or not. And that has nothing to do with any foreign law.

In wide-ranging remarks here, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended the use of foreign law by American judges, suggested that torture should not be used even when it might yield important information and reflected on her role as the Supreme Court’s only female justice. The occasion was a symposium at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University honoring her 15 years on the court.

“I frankly don’t understand all the brouhaha lately from Congress and even from some of my colleagues about referring to foreign law,” Justice Ginsburg said in her comments on Friday.

The court’s more conservative members — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr., Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas — oppose the citation of foreign law in constitutional cases.

“If we’re relying on a decision from a German judge about what our Constitution means, no president accountable to the people appointed that judge and no Senate accountable to the people confirmed that judge,” Chief Justice Roberts said at his confirmation hearing. “And yet he’s playing a role in shaping the law that binds the people in this country.”

This is a scary number

And a very sad number. But if you think about it, who was the last one to actually articulate and education the American public of Capitalism? Ronald Reagan. And that was 20+ years ago now. So it is no surprise that only 53% of us think capitalism is better than socialism.

Only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 20% disagree and say socialism is better. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure which is better.

Adults under 30 are essentially evenly divided: 37% prefer capitalism, 33% socialism, and 30% are undecided. Thirty-somethings are a bit more supportive of the free-enterprise approach with 49% for capitalism and 26% for socialism. Adults over 40 strongly favor capitalism, and just 13% of those older Americans believe socialism is better.

Investors by a 5-to-1 margin choose capitalism. As for those who do not invest, 40% say capitalism is better while 25% prefer socialism.

There is a partisan gap as well. Republicans - by an 11-to-1 margin - favor capitalism. Democrats are much more closely divided: Just 39% say capitalism is better while 30% prefer socialism. As for those not affiliated with either major political party, 48% say capitalism is best, and 21% opt for socialism.

This just goes to show how much the Republican leader nears a true Capitalist as the leader of our party. Someone who will actually champion, explain, and education capitalism. McCain wasn't that candidate. And I am starting to think Sarah Palin wouldn't be either. I'm not sure who this person will be. But if we want to win in 2010 and beyond it won't be with another liberal-lite candidate like John McCain.

We should all be able to make up stories

Just like Vice President Biden. Karl Rove has called him out on his BS story about Biden telling off GW Bush.

Republican strategist Karl Rove called Vice President Biden a "liar" on Thursday, dramatically escalating a feud between Biden and aides to former President George W. Bush over Biden's claims to have rebuked Bush in private meetings.

"I hate to say this, but he's a serial exaggerator," Rove told FOX News. "If I was being unkind I would say liar. But it is a habit he ought to drop."

Rove added: "You should not exaggerate and lie like this when you are the Vice President of the United States."

Biden's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, although Biden spokesman Jay Carney told Fox on Wednesday: "The vice president stands by his remarks."

Carney was referring to two controversial assertions by Biden, the latest coming Tuesday during an interview on CNN.

"I remember President Bush saying to me one time in the Oval Office," Biden began, "'Well, Joe,' he said, 'I'm a leader.' And I said: 'Mr. President, turn and around look behind you. No one is following.'"

The exchange is purely "fictional," said Rove, who was Bush's top political adviser in the White House.

"It didn't happen," Rove, a FOX News contributor and former Bush adviser, told Megyn Kelly in an interview taped for "On The Record." "It's his imagination; it's a made-up, fictional world.

"He ought to get out of it and get back to reality," Rove added. "He's making this up out of whole cloth."

Rove's skepticism was echoed by a variety of other Bush aides, including former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, chief of staff Andy Card and legislative liaison Candida Wolff.

Liberals live in a fictional world anyways. So I really don't expect anything less from these people especially Biden.

April 29th Dinner letter sent out to our members

Dear Fellow Republican,

I am writing to you with some exciting news from Western Mass. Republicans! Jennifer Nassour, our new Massachusetts’ Republican State Party Chairman, is coming to join us for an exciting and motivating dinner meeting to discuss where we are headed as a Party over the next two years.

As you know, WMR is deeply committed to the future of our Party. Our goals are simple: ensure a healthy two party system exists in this state and that the conservative voice of the silent majority of our citizenry is represented throughout our government.

The Executive Committee and membership of WMR has set an aggressive agenda for 2009 which includes bringing in top federal, state and local leaders to help our effort to win more elections at all levels of government.

To be a success, we need your help and participation. This is why WMR hopes you can join us for an enlightening evening with our new State Party Chairman. There will also be a unique opportunity to ask questions directly to her and share your thoughts on our message and strategy going forward. We hope you come and enjoy a very informative evening at a very affordable price.

A Dinner Meeting with the Chairman

An Evening with Jennifer Nassour,

Chairman of the Massachusetts’ Republican Party

Full Dinner Buffet

Only $25 per person

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

6:30 PM Social Time

7:00 PM Dinner

The Wherehouse?

109 Lyman Street, Holyoke

If you would like to speak to me or have any questions, please call me at 538-5519.

With warmest regards,

KEVIN

Kevin A. Jourdain

WMR Chairman

If you'd like to reserve a seat at the dinner please send a check for $25.00 made out to the Western Mass Republicans to PO Box 4662 Springfield, MA 01101.

Don't say we didn't warn you

Instead of building a giant fence and putting our military down at the Mexican border Obama plans to let illegals become legal.

While acknowledging that the recession makes the political battle more difficult, President Barack Obama plans to begin addressing America's immigration system this year, including looking for a path for illegal immigrants to become legal, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

Obama will frame the new effort — likely to rouse passions on all sides of the highly divisive issue — as "policy reform that controls immigration and makes it an orderly system," said the official, Cecilia Munoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs in the White House.

Obama plans to speak publicly about the issue in May, administration officials said, and over the summer he will convene working groups, including lawmakers from both parties and a range of immigration organizations, to begin discussing possible legislation for as early as this fall.

Some White House officials said immigration would not take precedence over the health care and energy proposals that Obama has identified as priorities. But the timetable is consistent with pledges that Obama made to Latino groups in last year's campaign.

He said then that comprehensive immigration legislation, including a plan to make legal status possible for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, would be a priority in his first year in office. Latino voters turned out strongly for Obama in the election.

We tried this before in the past. This just gives other people incentive to come over here illegally. Because they know eventually dumb ass politicians will pander to their votes and make them legal. Why do liberals always want to reward bad behavior and punish good behavior?

This reminds me of some old cartoons

You know the old ones where a character calls another out for doing something right in front of them and they deny it as if it never happened. It is pretty sad that the Obama administration has already turned into a parody of a cartoon.

But Obama is denying he ever bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia.

The White House is denying that the president bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at a G-20 meeting in London, a scene that drew criticism on the right and praise from some Arab outlets.

"It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah," said an Obama aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Washington Times called the alleged bow a "shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate" and said it violated centuries of American tradition of not deferring to royalty. The Weekly Standard, meanwhile, noted that American protocol apparently rules out bowing, or at least it reportedly did on the occasion of a Clinton "near-bow" to the emperor of Japan.

Interestingly, a columnist in the Saudi-backed Arabic paper Asharq Alawsat also took the gesture as a bow and appreciated the move.

"Obama wished to demonstrate his respect and appreciation of the personality of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, who has made one of the most important calls in the modern era, namely the call for inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue to defuse the hatred, conflict and wars," wrote the columnist, Muhammah Diyab.

This just makes me laugh on how we have picture and video evidence of something happening and Obama is out right lying and denying it ever happened. It must be nice to live in another alternative dimension.

When in Rome...

Since Obama is turning this country into a socialistic paradise it only makes sense that the Congressional Black Caucus is out praising Fidel Castro.

Key members of the Congressional Black Caucus are calling for an end to U.S. prohibition on travel to Cuba, just hours after a meeting with former Cuban president Fidel Castro in Havana.

“The fifty-year embargo just hasn’t worked,” CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Ca.) told reporters this evening at a Capitol press conference after returning from a congressional delegation visit to Cuba. “The bottom line is that we believe its time to open dialogue with Cuba.”

Lee and others heaped praise on Castro, calling him warm and receptive during their discussion. But the lawmakers disputed Castro's later statement that members of the congressional delegation said American society is still racist.

"It was quite a moment to behold," Lee said, recalling her moments with Castro.

“It was almost like listening to an old friend,” said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Il.), adding that he found Castro’s home to be modest and Castro’s wife to be particularly hospitable.

I guess we should held our fellow communist comrade. That would be the right thing to do...

Tax Day Tea Party

Got this email forwarded to me today. I'll remind everyone when it gets closer to the 15th.

You can visit their website here.

Please Join us at a peaceful rally on Wednesday, April 15th from 4 to 6 PM.

The time for "typing and griping" has ended. It is time for each of us to take two hours of our time and make this rally as large as we can.

All YOU have to do is make your sign (please no vulgarities) and show up at Park Square.

Let's send a message that the taxpayers in Berkshire County support the national effort to stop our Washington politicians -- NOW.

Thanks

PS: this is the first time I will have demonstrated in my life! You can do it too. It doesn't matter which political party you support. If you pay taxes and want to stop the madness in Washington, you need to be there......

Please forward this to all your email contacts in Western Massachusetts and let's get a huge crowd to send a message to Boston & Washington on tax day 2009.

More socialism...

When asked if he'd like to replace more CEO's Geithner said of course.

Days after GM's CEO Rick Wagoner was forced out by the Obama administration, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner left open the possibility that such moves could happen again.

In an interview with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, Geithner acknowledged the government has had to do "exceptional things" – citing AIG as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"We have changed management aboard," he said. "And where we've done that, we've done it because we thought that was necessary to make sure these institutions emerge stronger in the future."

When asked if he would leave open the option to pressure a bank CEO to resign, Geithner replied: "Of course."

It shouldn't be the governments responsibility to run banks. And definitely not their job to fire CEO's. This is socialism and plain and simple.

This will never pass

But this is exactly what the Republicans in the House should be doing.

Republicans in the House Wednesday pressed a budget plan that would cut taxes and radically overhaul Medicare, offering a stark alternative to blueprints offered by President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies.

The plan, drafted by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the Budget Committee, also freezes overall spending on domestic programs passed by Congress each year and repeals most of the spending in Obama's recently passed economic stimulus bill.

Despite spending reductions, the plan projects permanent deficits exceeding $500 billion into the future, fueled largely by big tax cuts.

The GOP plan would offer a dramatically simplified tax code in which couples would have the option of a 10 percent rate on the first $100,000 of income, with a 25 percent rate thereafter, with the first $25,000 of income exempt from taxation. Single could get a $12,500 exemption and a 10 percent rate on income up to $50,000.

Taxpayers could also opt to remain in the current system.

On Medicare, workers under the age of 55 would enroll in private plans and receive premium subsidies equal to the average Medicare benefit when they retire. Benefits would not be changed for people in the program or people 55 or older.

Democrats warned that the GOP plan would force draconian cuts to the program.

The plan has no chance of becoming law, but offers voters a contrast between the rival parties. Republicans have been on the attack, saying Obama's $3.6 trillion budget for next year taxes, borrows and spends way too much. And Republicans have seemed sensitive to criticisms by Obama and Democrats that they are the "party of 'no,' " rushing out a detail-free version of the plan last week.

It is good for the voters to see and hear the difference between the Republican and Democratic plans. There hasn't been much a difference the last few years which is why the Republicans have lost the last few elections. This is why I say Conservatism wins. And this is what the American people need to hear.

Obama breaks another promise

I wouldn't expect anything less from Obama. I'm surprised people actually believed him when he told us he wouldn't raise taxes on anyone earning under $250,000/year. This is exactly what liberals do. They say one thing and govern another way. But you'll never hear this from the main stream media. They are too concerned with protecting their Messiah rather than reporting the news.

One of President Barack Obama's campaign pledges on taxes went up in puffs of smoke Wednesday.

The largest increase in tobacco taxes took effect despite Obama's promise not to raise taxes of any kind on families earning under $250,000 or individuals under $200,000.

This is one tax that disproportionately affects the poor, who are more likely to smoke than the rich.

To be sure, Obama's tax promises in last year's campaign were most often made in the context of income taxes. Not always.

"I can make a firm pledge," he said in Dover, N.H., on Sept. 12. "Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."

He repeatedly vowed "you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime."

Now in office, Obama, who stopped smoking but has admitted he slips now and then, signed a law raising the tobacco tax nearly 62 cents on a pack of cigarettes, to $1.01. Other tobacco products saw similarly steep increases.

Instead of raising revenue like I'm sure he thinks this will do. This will actually decrease revenue to the government. People will find ways to get around paying the extra taxes by either buying them illegally or just stopping to smoke altogether.

6th Obama nominee with tax problems

Maybe this is why the liberals are always bitching about the rich not paying their fair share because they don't pay their taxes.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who testified before Congress on Tuesday on her nomination for Health secretary, has paid nearly $8,000 in back taxes after discovering "unintentional errors" in her tax returns. Sebelius is the second nominee for the Cabinet post; former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle previously withdrew from consideration due to tax issues.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement on Wednesday that Sebelius had informed him in a letter the same day that "minor, unintentional errors" were discovered by an accountant reviewing her 2005, 2006 and 2007 returns. These errors were "immediately corrected through amended returns."

Baucus, whose committee has jurisdiction over Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and other health entitlement programs, did not reveal details of the letter. According to Bloomberg, the governor paid $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest for errors that included the absence of acknowledgment letters for three of the 49 charitable donations she made.

The letter was sent the same day Sebelius testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in her first confirmation hearing. She testifies in a second hearing on Thursday, before Baucus' panel.

The 60-year-old Sebelius was nominated by President Barack Obama early March, a month after Daschle pulled out for failing to pay $128,000 in taxes.

Like I've said before. Rules don't apply to the elite liberals. They want everyone else to pay a higher share of the taxes but they don't want to pay any themselves.

The people wanted change...this is what they wanted.

The US shouldn't let Iran develope nukes

At least if Obama doesn't do anything Israel will.

The primary imperative for the United States and President Barack Obama is to put an end to Iran's nuclear race, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said before his swearing-in Tuesday, adding that if the US failed to do so Israel might be forced to resort to a military strike on the Islamic Republic's nuclear installations.

"The Obama presidency has two great missions: fixing the economy, and preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons," Netanyahu told The Atlantic. The Iranian drive for a nuclear weapon was a "hinge of history," he said, emphasizing that all of "Western civilization" was responsible for preventing an Iranian bomb.

"You don't want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs," Netanyahu said of the Iranian regime. "When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the entire world should start worrying, and that is what is happening in Iran."

Netanyahu suggested that Israeli preemptive strikes against perceived threats were the result of the Jewish people learning from a long history of grappling against those who threatened their collective existence. He cited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's repeated calls to "wipe Israel off the map," as well as a recent remark by the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to the effect that Israel was a "cancerous tumor."

At least Netanyahu gets it. He gets national security and security to the world. He won't let the terrorist nation states that are Hell bent on destroying the democracies of the world get nukes. Obama should get that too. But sadly I think he would rather talk to Iran and make idle threats. While Netanyahu will take action and destroy the nukes like we should be doing.

Close race in New York

After all the votes were counted in the special election last night in New York Democratic candidate Scott Murphy was leading Jim Tedisco by 65 votes.

After a frenzied, bruising special election, a New York congressional race that became linked to President Barack Obama's economic recovery efforts won't be decided for at least two more weeks.

Democrat Scott Murphy led Republican Jim Tedisco by a scant 65 votes out of more than 154,000 cast Tuesday.

After the count of machine votes in 610 voting precincts spread over the mostly rural, 10-county district, the unofficial count was 77,344 for Murphy to 77,279 for Tedisco. That puts the focus on the more than 10,000 absentee ballots mailed to voters who are registered in the district but were unable to vote in person on Tuesday.

It can be a laborious process to count all the paper ballots and those being mailed from overseas aren't due in New York until April 13. A lawsuit filed by state Republicans Tuesday night required all ballots to be impounded to ensure accuracy. It's not an unusual step in close elections.

Of the ballots mailed out, nearly 6,000 were returned by Tuesday but most had not yet been counted.

I would think most absentee ballots would lean conservative. So hopefully Tedisco can pull this one out after all of the absentee ballots are paid. Hopefully this doesn't turn into another Coleman v. Franken race that drags out for months.