Division over Defense Budget Cuts – Blue Dog Democrats and Barney Frank

From Politico, the Defense budget is undergoing a few cuts, with Barney Frank (D-MA) leading the charge to eliminate most of the nation’s defense capabilities, including reducing U.S. submarines, decimating the budget for Iraq and Afghanistan, and eliminating the missile defense shield programs. Several moderate Democrats, or so-called “Blue Dog” Democrats, are wavering – seeking compromises that will appeal to their districts (heavy military and veteran), while towing the Party line.

Take, for example, Levin’s rhetoric on missile defense. Unlike hard-line missile defense opponents within the Democratic Party, he advocates the more nuanced approach that would perhaps slow development of futuristic but unproven systems while increasing efforts to test them.

Levin (D-MI), is the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and is seen as a moderate. With North Korean launching rockets and the UN giving Kim Jong Il a virtual pass, now might not be the time to cut certain areas of defense, specifically our nuclear and missile defense programs.

Which Senators and Congress members should be most nervous? Those whose States are within reach of any device lobbed this way by North Korea – including California, Hawaii and Alaska. Should Alaska come under fire, it becomes more of a threat than say, a hit on Beverly Hills, due to the fact that Alaska has a bit of natural gas, and oil under the surface. One would consider this a no-brainer, considering that “Stability” is not generally associated with Kim Jong Il. (Or the current administration, for that matter, including the President (Utopian idea of nuclear disarmament), Barney Frank (clueless on all levels) and a host of other characters.

With the recent, although harmless, theft of a plain by a Canadian Turkish Immigrant, flown into US airspace via the Michigan border, and landing in Missouri, one can anticipate that the next “depressed” pilot stealing a plan and flying it into US airspace, may not necessarily have the best of intentions. The fact that the U.S. is back to its status of “Paper Tiger”, only servers to embolden those that would plan and execute attacks on U.S. soil, with the expectation that, given the stance on defense of the current Party in Charge (Democrats), there would be no retaliation.

Barney Frank and his ilk, are too busy planning the next business takeover, , and pushing for legislation to legalize Marijuana. (They see tax revenues, however, one has to ask wonder – so that’s what he’s smoking!) to deal with funding defense. Not for nothing, but the military is one of the nation’s largest employers, any cuts to defense will only serve to increase the growing unemployment numbers, (shades of Jimmy Carter, once again), and add to the misery currently enjoyed by the American Working Class.

Obama’s “Strongly Approve” Steady at 36%, Democrat Party Affiliation lowest since 2007

Pelosi, Reid and Obama - photo: newt.org

Rasmussen Reports trends on Party Affiliation show a drop of party identity for Democrats of 2 percentage points, while Republican’s lost a half-point in party identity. Democrats continue to have an advantage of 5 points, however, with the President’s “strongly approves” remaining in the 30’s, one can expect that percentage to decline. Add to this a Pew Research report indicating that Obama is enjoying the most politically polarized division in job performance approval since 1969, eclipsing George W. Bush by 10 points overall.

Obama with Barney Frank and Chris Dodd photo: zimbio

Where are all the Democrats and Republican’s going? There has been an increase of 28% in unenrolled affiliation since the last election, during the previous year, the number of unenrolleds was at 30%, some of those shifting over to Democrat affiliation during the last election. (Rasmussen).
This is rise in unenrolleds can be correlated to the rise in partisanship in Congress and the Senate since the Democrats gained the majority in 2006. In the period leading up to the 2008 general election, the blame could be placed on the Bush administration, however, now it is apparent that, as the trend has continued unabated through such high-profile Democrats as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and, most notably, Barney Frank (”Republican’s suffer from psychological disorder”), the disenfranchised of both parties is growing, lending to the increase in unenrolleds. That aside, the consistent gaffes by the current administration, is a contributing factor.

Unless and until this 8th grade mentality that appears to have stricken the Democrat Party leaders in the Congress and Senate abates, and should the President take a hard look at the numbers from the Carter administration, expect this trend to continue.

Saturday Night Live Slams Obama Takeover of US Business (Barney Frank Suggests All Business be Subject to the Government)

Saturday Night Live Slams Obama Takeover of US Business
The Video of last evenings Saturday night live gives a bit of insight into the general angst over the governments increasing involvement in the private sector. In this segment, “Barack Obama”, addressing the nation from Europe, talks about the U.S. Automakers, and then goes on to tell the nation, they are not alone – in an hysterical rundown of businesses from Frozen Shrimp to Sports Franchises, The “Obama Administration” gives thumbs up or thumbs down on particular manufactures/franchises, telling those that did not make it that they would have to cease operations, or be forced to do so.

This skit aligns perfectly with Obama’s front man, Barney Frank (D-MA)’s desire to extend restrictions on Tarp Fund recipients to all U.S. Businesses. Frank, who rules over the House Financial Services Committee, is the pride of the Massachusetts 4th district, and up for re-election in 2010. To date, one candidate, Earl Sholley, has announced a run against Frank. In the last 2008 Election, Barney won handily, and there is no reason to believe that the people of the 4th, won’t do the same again.

A recent article, in Barney’s major paper, South Coast Today glorified the Congressman’s ability to raise considerable campaign contributions – they have quadrupled since 2002. The top 5 contributors to Mr. Frank’s campaign coffers, inlcude: The Royal Bank of Scotland, and Bank of America. Top donors in other sectors include Securities and Investment and Real Estate. Which may be why Frank feels he knows a bit about Finance and is in a good position to advise the President – which is why the video from last evenings Saturday night live is right on target.

Dodd Losing Ground in Early Senate Polls – Spells Trouble for DNC Candidates Nationwide

Chris Dodd, (D-CT) has taken yet another beating in a poll released this weekend by the Hartford Courant.
In the latest match-up, Rob Simmons, Republican beats Dodd handily, with 50% of respondents choosing Simmons, and 12% undecided – Dodd garnered only 34%.

With the DNC desperate to maintain the slim majority in the Senate, Dodd is now in the unique position being staunchly defended by the Party and alternately of facing opposition from within the party. Just this past week, Roger Pearson, Democrat, announced his intent to run against Dodd in the primary.

An interesting analysis in U.S. News and World Report by Michael Barrone, questions whether Dodd will drag other Democrats down. One can’t be certain that Dodd alone would be a factor in the possibility of lost seats in both the House and the Senate – the economy, and a nation that remains deeply divided politically, will factor.

Therefore, Democrats who are running in states where the electorate is skewed more than 25% unenrolled, unaffiliated or independent should start paying attention to poll numbers and watching the opposition. One has to recall that the last two general election cycles were, basically, historically correct, the Republican’s were bound to lose seats, and the question was how many. The elections in question were lost not by an increase in party affiliation, but by a growing number of those independents who are not so easily swayed, one way or the other, when it comes to party rhetoric.

New York Times to Close Boston Globe Unless Unions Meet Times Demands

Image: blog kindle

The New York Times Company has threatened to close the Boston Globe unless unions meet specific demands, including pay cuts and the end of Times pension contributions. This is ironic considering the flagship paper, the New York Times, considers saving itself as critical to the world as as genocide in Darfur!

Of note: the New York Times has done little reporting on the controversial Union “Card Check” bill – the most recent article(in the Times Blog Section, no less) : a piece on Actors from the now-defunct series “West Wing” reads like a “fluff” piece:

The actors spent quite a bit of time promoting what’s known as the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would allow for easier organizing by workers. Strong opposition by business lobbies and Republicans has helped stall the issue, as the Senate and the House wade through other measures like the $787 billion stimulus package and the $3.6 trillion budget.

The Times, they are a-changing – although the editorial stance is consistently left of left, when it comes to push, shove and the almighty dollar, the concept of dealing with the high cost of unions is reason enough to close down a shop in order to avoid meeting union demands. Perhaps Chrysler, GM and Ford should have taken a page from the New York Times playlist.

Tax Day Tea Party – From the Bay State to the Windy City to the Golden Gates

“Yes We Can” – Reject Higher Taxes and Fees - Massachusetts Residents across the State have planned Tax Day Tea Party’s for April 15th in the following locations:

Boston, Statehouse, 10 am – 8 pm

Lowell, JFK Plaza, Lowell City Hall, 4 pm – 8 pm

Pittsfield, Park Square, 4pm – 6 pm

Springfield, Post Office, Corner of Main and Liberty, 4 pm – 6 pm

Worcester, Lincoln Square, in front of the Auditorium, 4 pm – 6 pm

Over in Illinois, home to Lincoln and Barak Obama, citizens will be holding two Tax Day Tea Party’s in the City of Chicago:

Chicago, 12 – 2 pm, Daily Plaza

Chicago, Navy Pier, 4:30 pm – 9 pm Young Republicans, Tall Ship – Recreation of the Boston Tea Party (for info on this event visit Hillbuzz

Astoundingly, there will be a Tax Day Tea Party at the following location:

San Francisco, Civic Center Park, 11 am – 1 pm. One should not expect the current speaker to attend.

There are Tax Day Tea Party’s being held across the country, the website Tax Day Tea Party.com has listings for each state. The event is sponsored in part, by the following groups: Smart Girl Politics, Top Conservatives of Twitter, and The Don’t Go Movement.

By most accounts, these groups are conservative – that said, regardless of who may be sponsoring this particular brand of protest, anyone, regardless of party affiliation, should consider taking part. The term, “no taxation without representation” was the rallying cryfor the original Boston Tea Party, which is credited as the beginning of the Colony’s (States), war for Independence against Great Britain.

Our country was founded based on a refusal to pay taxes without representation – one might argue that U.S. citizens are represented by their respective Congress and Senate members; that said, with a two party system so deeply committed to a bizarre competition of “who brings the most pork” home to a district or state, in order to continue to maintain their seat of power indefinitely (argument for term limits right there), those members no longer have the time to do the business of the people, rather they are committed to a political party first, their ability to maintain their own power second.

Finally, One must, however, give credit where credit is due – therefore, to be fair to the fiscally conservative members of both party’s who voted Nay on passing the bloated Obama budget, a thank you should be sent to the 176 Republicans (All) and 20 Democrats who voted Nay. These members are:

Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Austria
Bachmann
Bachus
Barrett (SC)
Barrow
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boozman
Boren
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Bright
Broun (GA)
Brown (SC)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Buchanan
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Cao
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Castle
Chaffetz
Childers
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Crenshaw
Culberson
Davis (KY)
Deal (GA)
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Donnelly (IN)
Dreier
Duncan
Ehlers
Emerson
Fallin
Flake
Fleming
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Franks (AZ) Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Griffith
Guthrie
Hall (TX)
Harper
Hastings (WA)
Heller
Hensarling
Herger
Hoekstra
Hunter
Inglis
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan (OH)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline (MN)
Kosmas
Kratovil
Kucinich
Lamborn
Lance
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Lee (NY)
Lewis (CA)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
Markey (CO)
Marshall
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McCotter
McHenry
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Minnick Mitchell
Moran (KS)
Murphy, Tim
Myrick
Neugebauer
Nunes
Nye
Olson
Paul
Paulsen
Pence
Perriello
Petri
Pitts
Platts
Poe (TX)
Posey
Price (GA)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rehberg
Reichert
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Scalise
Schmidt
Schock
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Souder
Stearns
Sullivan
Taylor
Teague
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Upton
Walden
Wamp
Whitfield
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)

Jobless Rate rises to 8.5% - the Obama/Carter Misery Index

Obama - Carter photo: 4.p.blog

The jobless rate in the country has increasesd to 8.5 percent with 633,000 additional jobs lost in March. This rate is just .5 percent below the Carter unemployment rate of 9% in 1979.

Add inflation and the Misery Index (combination of unemployment and inflation) may rise above Carter's 20% sooner than anticipated.

Inflation rose dramatically after Carter approved a 4 billion dollar job creation (stimulus) package (email for full article). (Adjusted for inflation, that job stimulus package would cost approximately$14,448,797,250.86.) Interest rates on new home loans rose to an average of 14% by 1979, causing a "housing slump". Bloated budgets, stimulus, auto bailouts (yes it has happenned before), and bank bailouts, all contributed to the "misery".

Should the current administration fail to reign in government spending, and roll-back the stimulus (as suggested by certain Republican's), one thing is certain: History will repeat itself.

YouTube - Rap of the Week: Card Checkin

Deval Patrick Plans Second Run for Governor – Despite Many Missteps and Dismal Poll Showings

Massachusetts Governor,Deval Patrick (D), has voiced is intent to run for second term in 2010, despite his administrations multiple missteps and sliding poll ratings. Recent polls have the governor approval rating at 28%, and the chances of that number improving over the next year is unlikely, given the controversy surrounding several unpopular steps taken by the administration.

The most notable is the ongoing debate over the Massachusetts Gas Tax; Patrick originally asked for a .19 cent per gallon increase in the state gasoline tax, which would have Massachusetts residents paying the highest gas tax in the nation. The backlash to the tax comes from both Massahcusetts”> business leaders, as well as the general public. A recent petition signed by over 16,000 Massachusetts residents (Western Mass), was handed to Lieutenant Governor, Tim Murry.

Why the tax increase? To cover salaries for the corrupt and embattled MBTA, and ostensibly to repair roads and bridges in the state – those familiar with the behemoth of bureaucracy that is the MBTA, understand that any past increases have resulted in higher salaries and few improvements in the highways and byways – the infamous Big Dig is one of the projects.

Patrick’s most recent gaffe is the hiring of individuals for government positions at high salaries – most notable – the recent hire of State Sen. Marion Walsh (D), to a position with a salary of $175,000, which Walsh declined due to the uproar in the Bay State.

What is most upsetting to Massachusetts residents is the dismal economy in the state, increases in taxes and fees on an ongoing basis, loss of jobs due to the states high corporate taxes, and the constant threat of budget cuts from the corner office crying poor. The same office who consistently creates positions for “friends” at higher than average salaries – and then describes the outcry over press coverage of his boondoggles as ”trivial”.

Most of the Pressure on the Governors’ decisions to consistently pad the Sate Payroll, has been brought by Massachusetts GOP Chair, Jennifer Nassour: (On the recent Walsh Hiring)

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "The Massachusetts Republican Party stood up for the taxpayers by protesting the creation of a patronage job for a supporter of Governor Patrick, and we are pleased that Senator Walsh has done the right thing by refusing the appointment. This absurd process has taught us, once again, that we cannot rely on the Patrick Administration to seek real, meaningful reform on Beacon Hill. Unbelievably, Governor Patrick still contends HEFA set the proposed salary at $175,000, when emails from his own staff clearly show a Governor's Office determined to give Senator Walsh a $100,000 pay raise."

"Attention should now be turned to rooting out waste and inefficiency throughout government in order to relieve the tax burden on working families. Thousands of people lost their jobs last month, and I call on the Governor to work as hard at creating jobs for those people as he did at creating a job for a political ally," concluded Nassour”

According to the poll (here), Patrick could face defeat in 2010 from just about anyone, regardless of Party affiliation; the consensus appears that Patrick must go. To borrow a phrase from Patrick’s campaign, Massachusetts is saying “Yes We Can” boot you to the curb.

Lest anyone forget: This is Deval Patrick's Campaign on "Yes We Can"
("Yes We Can Drive Massachusetts into the Ground")

Along the US-Canadian Watchtowers - Beefed Up Security in Michigan and New York

The US Border Patrol is installing additional video surveillance in two areas, the borders between the U.S. and Canada in, of all places, Buffalo, New York and Detroit Michigan. With the “War on Terror” now politically incorrect, and a credible threat on the White House by some that may disagree with U.S. President Barack Obama, in Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is no accident that these two areas have been targeted for a bit of extra scrutiny.

Detroit, Michigan is an area with one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States (home to “alledged” terrorist sleeper cells) the administration is attempting to recruit moderates from this area for CIA employment. While Buffalo, New York, is home to domestic terrorists who were influenced by radical religious Fundamentalist. That said, , it is more likely that any attacks will come from areas that are less likely and closer to the Capital, although watchign the Candaian Border cannot hurt.

Congressional Democrats Lower 2010 Expectations Based on NY 20th Congressional District Special Election

The New York 20th Congressional Election this past Tuesday remains undecided in an election that was, like several across the nation in 2008, too close to call. In New York, Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco are separated by a mere 59 votes, with over 10,000 absentee and emergency ballots uncounted (6,000 of those Ballots having said to be impounded), and both parties are predicting a win. That said, in recent interviews, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, head of the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee, has begun to lower expectations for the 2010 races. In an AP article, Van Hollen warns extreme left groups against targeting Moderate Democrats. Van Hollen cites that several elections have been two close to call, and with a mere 76 seat advantage in Congress, the party can ill-afford to lose any seats to a Republican contender.

Historically, mid-term elections tend to shift the balance of power in Congress, with a lot riding on the performance of the party’s leader, in this case, the President Barack Obama. Should Obama’s economic policies do well, and the President’s overall approval ratings remain consistent, the party can expect to maintain or increase their seats in Congress, however, should the economy continue its downward spiral, (742,000 private sector jobs were lost this March, for example) those fortunes can be easily reversed. Currently both History and President Obama appear to be on the side of the Republican Party.
Van Hollen understands, both the import of history and the danger of “riding the coattails” of a President with less than stellar approval ratings, especially in districts that have a heavy concentration of conservatives and/or independent (unenrolled) voters who are not ideologically driven to vote by party.

Will groups that play influential roles in the Democrat Party such as Moveon.org; temper their quest to fill the House with like minded legislatures, despite the appeals of Van Hollen? That is unlikely. Massachusetts should be viewed by both parties as a testing ground for this administration’s (and the Democrat Party) economic policies. One need only look at the recent polls virtually condemning Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick, to understand that raising taxes and unlimited spending do not sit well with constituents and, according to this particular poll, it crosses all Party lines, in a state that has long been known as “The Bluest State”.

Absentee and Emergency Ballots Impounded - New York 20th Congressional Currently Undecided – No Mandate for Obama.

In the somewhat final results, the heavily touted New York 20th’s special election to replace Gillibrand, came down to a mere 59 vote lead for Democrat Murphy over Republican Tedisco. There are over 10,000 absentee ballots yet to be counted and the final tally may not be in until the 14th of April.

Reports suggest a Republican advantage in this particular district with absentee ballots. The question is why did the State Board impound 6,000 ballots, especially since these contained emergency paper ballots? On those impounded ballots : “absentee ballots and emergency paper ballots in the 20th Congressional District special election have been impounded under a court order, said Bob Brehm, a spokesman for the state Board of Elections." The reason for impounding these votes may be to avoid an appearance of voter fraud:

Left-wing organizer Bertha Lewis, who is directing the field effort by the WFP to elect Murphy, sits on the ACORN board. ACORN and the WFP are funded by the exact same left-wing unions, and they intend to deliver for Scott Murphy.

ACORN has several offices in New York, including the Capitol District, which abuts the 20th Congressional.

The race, which is being treated as a referendum on both Obama and Michael Steele’s abilities as party leaders, proved, in the final analysis, to be more about apathy (possibly mixed with fraudulent ballots). Although the Republicans had approximately 185,000 registered voters to 125,000 registered Democrats, the fact that the turn-out was so light in both parties does signal a lack of confidence in government, as well as poor grassroots management. Both Party's poured millions into the district, with Barack Obama putting a personal stamp on the process by sending emails to Democrats in the area. It will, therefore, come down to those approximate 4,000 ballots not impounded - which are generally overseas and military - Tedisco and the RNC should have seat.