Offer No Quarter on Taxes

One month ago, Conservatives won a mandate and injected new blood into the dying body we call Congress. The American people said enough is enough; enough spending, enough entitlement programs rammed through without even reading the bill and enough of the arrogance that permeates Congress both sides (three if you include whatever side Denis Kucinich (D-Uranus) is from).

Here we stand with a large axe hanging over the head of the economy. In 19 days, every productive American will see their taxes rise to levels that will be unmanageable and the fragile economy can't sustain. I would take a $4,000 hit or more than $300 per month that I currently spend on clothes, food, beer and restaurants. I won't spend that and the stores I frequent would lose business from not just me but all the others like me who work hard and spend within the community (especially the liquor store).

The Obama plan is a sham; it's larded up with pork for the ethanol industry (an industry even Al Gore bailed on) and dozens of other idiotic handouts. Democrats are currently trying to savage it and Conservatives are starting to crow about the insanity of raising deficits when we should be cutting them.

Put it to an up or down vote in the next few days: one on whether or not to let the tax cuts lapse--including the estate tax--and in essence raise taxes on those who actually can save the budding recovery, one on the extension of unemployment insurance, one on ethanol subsidies and ane on all the other garbage thrown in. Make people put their name on the line and act as if they work for us and not the opposite.

We own the House and the Democrats who lost are squatting in it. Let's hit them upside the head and say hell no, we are not going back to the same old bullshit we saw last time the GOP held the reins. Keep up the phone calls and e-mails and let them know that we're paying close attention to how this is handled. If they start to buckle or waver, we push harder. If no deal is reached in which we get everything we want, we let the tax cuts lapse and tell the American people it was purely the fault of lame duck liberals who want to push one last steaming pile of deficit-laden bullshit onto our children. We'll re-instate them under better terms come January.

This Here Big Tent Should Be a Big Tent

Allahpundit notes that John Cornyn is getting some heat from the establishment GOP (read: those who bow to evangelicals) about attending a Log Cabin republican meet up.

All credit goes to Cornyn for saying the hell with it and attending an event the aforementioned evangelicals believe is akin to the anonymous sex clubs Tom Hanks frequented in Philadelphia. He's getting it and it has everything to do with Tea Party madness as he would considered it political suicide to have contemplated it previously.

And therein lies the problem I've always had with the establishment GOP; they always inject social issues into the debate when at this point we have no room for it. We are facing economic Armageddon and most people are too damn concerned about paying for food and their house and less about whether Jim and John want to hook up or get married. Abortion is distasteful but we have the opportunity to get control back and set things on a more even keel fiscally and that will be impossible if we get into the gay marriage or any other social issue. The Christian right is a non-factor and that's how it has to remain if we have any shot at taking back the entire Legislative branch.

The Tea Party is a movement that has the ability to shift the political landscape in ways we'll not realize for a decade. The most important way would be to smack the religious sector in the mouth and make them understand that the majority of Americans and--dare I say--the majority of the new Right just doesn't give a damn if two women want to exchange vows. I never have and I'm a hard-core conservative with a strong libertarian streak.

This is our time and the moment can be turned to dust by the zealous Christian minority. We, as a party have no choice but to be welcoming to all who preach fiscal responsibility. This is a different America than it was thirty years ago, an America where the main tax-paying demographic grew up knowing guys who were gay, a girl who chose an abortion and a dude who smokes weed as a hobby but is still pretty damn cool. It's not the party of Reagan when it comes to social issues but it is when it comes to faith in what America was, is and will be. Why exclude those who were born gay?

Imagine the coalition we could form if we included those we've traditionally shunned.

The Pathetic Lefty/ Media Coverage of the Beck Washington Show

I call it a show because I have no idea what else to label it.

Regardless, Beck has the juice to convene a gathering with at least 100,000 souls but more like triple that. Think about that, he asked people to travel to DC on a Saturday and they did--from all over the country. He's done more to stimulate the southern Maryland, DC, northern Virgina economy in one weekend than Obama has in 18-months.

Personally, I am not a big Beck fan, I fine the guy tedious and the religious aspect of the spectacle makes me uncomfortable. Not because it was religious per se but because it was--regardless of how they billed it--a political gathering. Politics and religion have joined together to add up to some bad things throughout history. Plus, it is not inclusive in many respects and the GOP needs inclusiveness at this point.

But the media reporting is just plain pathetic.

Treacher has the roundup of opinion and the lemmings in the MSM stuck to the "racist" meme with all their might regardless of the fact that the speakers were of many nationalities and the crowd reflected a mix of people. This was protect Obama at all costs mode and they played it to the hilt (although the photog who snapped this pic must not have been a member of the revamped Journolist).

This scares the shit out of the left and the media (but again, I'm redundant) int his country. They see an uprising that puts Obama mania to shame and they know they are absolutely powerless to stop it. They're impotent and even their smears are lame to the point that they are debunked within minutes by a vigilant band of libertarian/conservative citizen journalists.

I think Beckapolooza was good in the sense that it spread a message of unity on the day MLK spoke 47-years earlier about tolerance and it also worked as a nice smack to the left-wing of this country. I just hope the religious message does not backfire as the majority of this nation is indeed Christian but not many of them are churchgoing in an every Sunday sense. They could have been turned off if they were paying attention.

For the record, CBS has lost any shred of balance they once had as they hired a scrub firm to assess crowd size and they said this was only 87,000 people.

More Liberal Astroturfing

Since the left has never been able to get grassroots traction like the Tea Party movement, they've gone the direction they always go...astroturfing:

A seemingly grassroots organization that's mounted an online campaign to counter the tea party movement is actually the front end of an elaborate scheme that funnels funds -- including sizable labor union contributions -- through the offices of a prominent Democratic party lawyer.

A Web site popped up in January dedicated to preventing the tea party's "radical" and "dangerous" ideas from "gaining legislative traction," targeting GOP candidates in Illinois for the firing squad.

"This movement is a fad," proclaims TheTeaPartyIsOver.org, which was established by the American Public Policy Center (APPC), a D.C.-based campaign shop that few people have ever heard of.

But a close look reveals the APPC's place in a complex network of money flowing from the mountainous coffers of the country's biggest labor unions into political slush funds for Democratic activists.

...Varoga and Rakis keep a central mailing address in Washington, pulling in soft money contributions from unions and other well-padded sources to engage in what amounts to a legal laundering system. The money -- tens of millions of dollars -- gets circulated around to different states by the 527s, which pay for TV ads, Internet campaigns and lobbyist salaries, all while keeping the hands of the unions clean -- for the most part.

Remember, these are the same people who went ballistic a few weeks ago when SCOTUS shot down McCain-Feingold. They like the status quo because it made it much easier to pilfer hard-earned union workers funds and use them for purposes the local bricklayer or checkout girl never intended them to be used for.

All the players would be indicted under RICO laws if they weren't protected by the campaign finance laws that were overturned. It's a scam and one that will just inflame those who have become intrigued by the Tea Partiers. These people are scared by what happened in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts because they know their money laundering days are numbered if the Tea Partiers gain anymore clout or traction.

The unions have been dying of late and the one way to regain any momentum is to keep their Democrat cronies in power. They saw card check and other Obama policy initiatives as their way to gain back prestige and members. The libertarian/conservative Tea Partiers aim to ensure that doesn't happen.

Too late, losers.

Sunday Morning News and Notes

Spring has sprung and yesterday was the nicest day of the year so far. Today is looking iffy but hey, take what you can get.

Here's the latest from around the globe:

-The Taliban allegedly execute a man who was assisting the military in wiping out al-Qaeda and Taliban elements.

-Liberals are wringing their hands because we waterboarded KSM 183 times. It wasn't enough to make up for 3,000 dead in my opinion. Add to that we have no idea what intelligence was gained so it could have been fruitful.

-Arguing the "Tea Party" turnout. It doesn't make much sense and the political left and Democrat party would be foolish to brush it off as the fringe right.

-No arguing how many turned out to pay respects to Harry Kalas. He was loved in this region and will be sorely missed.

-Rep. Peter King (R-NY) is under fire. I don't worry about King, he can handle himself just fine.

-Iowahawk has the transcript to his newest movie posted. Pure genius once again.

Pic at right via Lucianne.com.

Thursday Evening News and Notes

A beautiful day in South Jersey. One that makes you happy to be alive in fact.

Here's what's news in this great land and world of ours:

-What illegal immigration problem? 11% of all born in Mexico now live in the US.

-The next front in the War on Terror: al-Qaeda urges Somali's to attack ships.

-Woody Allen has no reputation left to ruin. Yeah, that sounds about right.

-Pics from the Sacramento Tea Party. My favorite is the one that reads "Arnold, You've Become a Girlyman"

-DHS Sec Janet Napolitano didn't read report on right-wing extremism that warned of vets and anti-abortion types. Says apology is warranted.

A Stunning Scene

Let CNN and MSNBC snark but what we saw yesterday was a collective roar from the middle class of this country. Politicians on both sides ignore it at their peril.

This from liberal hotbed Madison, WI (via Instapundit):



That cannot be explained away as some fringe right wingers.

Wednesday Evening News and Notes

How's it going?

Busy as hell with no end in sight...I guess it beats the alternative, huh?

Here's what's new in the world:

-A nice tribute to Harry Kalas.

-Obama may have lost a serious voting bloc.

-News you can use: Why some people (me included) sneeze when the sun shines.

-Hey, Paul Begala is still a raving idiot.

-Teaching a young boy about character.

-More pics of protests. The Dodd one is pretty good.

-Unintended global warmeny consequences. But hey, they won't be able to pay their electric bills, they'll have to go on the government dole and coal use is lessened. For libs it's a win-win.

Dissent is Patriotic; Except When It's Against Obama

There are quite a few liberals slamming the Tea Party protests occurring everywhere. Here's the one that begs a fisking:

The Web is buzzing with information about how to throw an anti-Obama Taxpayer Tea Party, something organizers hope will be held today from Santa Monica to South Carolina. But no need to burn up your bandwidth reading complicated instructions. Here's a simpler recipe:

Go to a hobby store. Buy a scale model of a U.N. One-World-Government Black Helicopter and a tube of glue. Toss the model kit. Sniff the entire tube of glue. You're all set for the party.

Ha, get it. We're all conspiracy theorist's and insane. No wonder the LA Times is about a week away from dissolving with inane writers like this assclown Marc Cooper.

He continues the drivel:

So, if you'll excuse the mixed metaphor, what's the beef behind today's protests? The Obama administration is cutting taxes for all except the very richest of Americans. Reduced withholding is already showing up in millions of paychecks.

Libs just don't get it. "Reduced witholding" that results in a weekly savings of a twelve pack and a pack of Marlboro's is not the point. The point is that we are in debt to an extent we've never even considered. Obama will have a larger deficit than the entire budget from 96-99. China now owns us and has us by the balls if they decide to call in our loans. We will see a depression that will make the current situation look like an improvement beyond words. Does the intellectually-stunted Cooper really believe that Obama won't raise taxes? He'll let the Bush tax cuts lapse and hit the middle class with a double-digit tax increase that will stunt economic growth for a decade until we finally get smart and oust Obama.

Then again, this rash of tea parties is being organized not only by the pseudo-journalists at Fox News (with Glenn Beck, Neil Cavuto and Sean Hannity actively stoking the flames) but also by FreedomWorks, a conservative lobbying outfit headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey. I suppose it was Armey's constitutional if morally dubious privilege to have built an entire political career out of defending the wealthy.

I get it, if Fox News is involved, it's automatically evil and favors the rich. Did Cooper see any pictures? They sure as hell weren't the wealthy standing in the rain. The entire Fox News line of attack is a red herring. Plus, Fox is crushing the competition in every demographic. Perhaps if Cooper's employer could grab 5% of the Fox audience he wouldn't be a day away from the unemployment line in between writing free posts on Daily Kos or the vile FiredogLake.

But are common folks actually going to dump Earl Grey into Santa Monica Bay because they are outraged, simply infuriated, by the marginal tax rate rising 3% for millionaires?

Again with the class warfare incitement. Has Cooper looked around and seen what's happening in the country? What about his deeply troubled state? The Wall Street meltdown has destroyed the economies of NY and NJ--the very same people who are paying the majority of the taxes in the country. I'll put it in simple terms for Cooper: Imagine if Hollywood lost 50% of it's income tomorrow. What would the effect be on LA? Where is the money to feed, clothe, house and provide medical treatment for illegals going to come from? Priorities here Cooper, priorities.

And so it goes throughout the liberal media. We have elitist's like Marc Cooper who piss on the great unwashed and won't even take a second to ponder why these people stood in the rain and cold. He is so smug and self righteous that he can't fathom why people would be upset that Obama is spending money we could never pay back.

Oh well, liberals never understood Reagan either and he pummeled them in two straight elections and carried enough carryover clout to get the RINO George HW Bush elected. This time, it will be twenty years before we elect another Democrat.

Update: More from Karl posting in the Hot Air Green Room.

Tea Party Pics

It's been a successful day, one in which we saw ordinary Americans not spurred on by Moveon or ACORN taking to the streets to protest the insane tax and spend policies of the Obama administration.

Here's some pics staring with a huge crowd in San Antonio:

Denver via Ace:

Lansing:

And finally, Oklahoma City:


Overall it was a large, grassroots approach that showed exactly how pissed we are. It wasn't Republican or Democrat, it wasn't liberal, conservative or libertarian. It was American.

Mad as Hell! Tea Party Day Arrives

Don't expect much MSM coverage but if you can make it to a Tea Party, please do. Numbers speak volumes.

Don't fear the government, make them fear us.

Tea Party in NJ

Jersey Nut has pics from the Statehouse in Trenton:

Not bad for a weekday in a city that's not exactly convenient for a lunchtime trip.

Signs of a Genuine Revolt

Conservatives generally don't protest much. That may be because we are happy with the Constitution and the way the founders laid out the country as a federal republic, plus we have jobs and families that tend to take up the majority of our time.

That's starting to change and it will be a major tsunami if it grows as exponentially as it seems to be doing. people are mad and are not quite sure what direction we are going in. To the conservative eye, that direction is definitely the wrong one.

From the myriad Tea Parties we are seeing (liberals are probably scratching their collective heads wondering why we call them "tea parties") to other events, the nation is trending toward the angry side. Here's a case in point:

More than 500 people who are upset with a plan to change Iowa's tax laws were cleared from a hearing tonight at the Iowa House after they interrupted multiple times.

House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, cleared the crowd at about 8:30 p.m. The decision brought about loud protests as the crowd was escorted from the chambers by Iowa State Patrol officers.

The issue was one of dissolving a law that allowed Iowans to deduct what they pay in federal income tax from their state income tax. In other words, a tax increase cloaked in mealy-mouthed political speak. So some iowans decided to protest and jeered some speakers leading to the order to forcibly remove people from a building they own. But wait, it gets better:

“The idea behind the public hearing is to give people public input and allow people the ability to speak for and against the bill. This is not an athletic event,” Murphy said.

No, it's not an athletic event. At those, men handle things between themselves and not by using such wimpy tactics as tossing those out they disagree with. Go to an Eagles-Giants game or a Phillies-Mets game and you'll see what I mean.

Anyway, this Democrat threw out citizens who were debating what is to happen to their hard-earned money from the very building their money pays for and by the very people they elected. Sounds a bit un-American to me.

This is but one snapshot in a growing wave of protests that will engulf the country. Raise our taxes when we have jobs and we grumble a bit but pay them and go on our way. Raise taxes when the unemployment rate is skyrocketing and you have what we have now, pure rage.

Liberals have been protesting for decades about every stupid thing they imagine in their infantile minds is bad. Organized independents and conservative-leaning folks who decide it's time to protest will make the papier mache puppets and stupid liberal slogans look like a municipal Memorial Day parade by comparison. Only we'll not take up the flags of Hezbollah and Hamas in doing so.

But hey, dissent is patriotic, right?

New Jersey Tea Party

My home state is hurting as well and Gov. Corzine will have to spend every cent he's got to win. Taxes are going up and jobs are being lost with the earthquake on Wall Street decimating the bedroom communities of North Jersey.

It appears people have had more than enough:

New Jersey 101.5 FM is getting increased reaction too, which prompted the station to come up with its Empty Wallet Convoy so New Jersey residents can show Corzine and the Legislature they’ve had enough taxes, fees, lies and condescending attitude from people feathering their nests with tax money.

Starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, the station’s yellow vans will be collecting empty wallets at rest stops along the Garden State Parkway. That continues until Friday afternoon. The wallets will be delivered by The Jersey Guys, Casey Bartholomew and Ray Rossi, to the Statehouse “in a hearse signifying the death of the middle class in New Jersey.”

And Corzine is doing everything to please his liberal base and make it worse.

Too bad I'm on the other side of the country and can't participate but will post pics once they become available.

Monday Morning News and Notes

Happy Monday.

Here's what's new:

-Obama continues to lose the goodwill of his supporters and, well, everyone.

-About that Economic Recovery Advisory Board that Obama touted as being so important--they've yet to meet. The One seems to be really working hard at this recovery.

-John Murtha is shameless, but you knew that. How did the people he labeled "racists" re-elect this clown?

-The Orlando Tea Party rally was 4,000 strong. Something is building, folks.

-The IRS has decreased audits on millionaires. I'm guessing Obama doesn't want to reduce his pool of potential advisers or something.