2010 - Follow the Money – Democrat Fundraising Down Despite Obama “Star Power”.

A Politicoarticle released this morning noted that some Democrats are concerned over the less than stellar recent fundraising returns. Apparently, even Barack Obama’s appearance at a Hollywood fundraiser was not enough to sell higher priced “tickets” which were ultimately discounted, allowing the event to be a “sell out”. The three fundraising arms of the DNC (DNC, Democrat Senatorial Committee and Congressional Committee) have raised a total of 56 million this year, compared to the RNC, which has come in at $54.9 million. This may be somewhat disheartening for Democrats, who rely heavily on donations from Hollywood and Organized Labor, with individual donations having been heaviest during this past general election cycle. Apparently concerns that the base is feeling “safe” due to the outcome of the election (i.e. George Bush is no longer in office), the individual donations have slowed. The author did not take into account that the solid DNC base makes up only 30% of the electorate, while the balance came from those moderate Democrats and Independents who may not be overly enamored of the Democrat Party given the current state of the economy. The gambit to blame George Bush and the Republican Party is losing luster as time passes, and, with the state of the economy, those Union contributions (which make up a large part of the DNC funds) will be harder to come by – the inability to collect dues, due to worsening conditions and future inevitable layoffs (GM may have gone to the UAW, but the success of GM will be in the hands of the American People who already prefer American Owned Fords to the Government Owns GM models.) Further, as the rest of the nation suffers from increased prices (food and essentials), and job losses, the image of the President taking a weekend jaunt to New York allegedly on the taxpayers dime does nothing to open the individual pocketbooks of those who may be “less fortunate”.

The Politico article further notes that the DNC is barely ahead in fundraising, “despite the current toothless state of the Republican Party, its dispirited base and its dim prospects of taking back control of any branch of government in 2010." That author’s statement is a bit premature, although the media “party line” is a constant reminder that the Republican Party is less than, it fails to take into account the raw fundraising numbers which would indicate resurgence rather than demise. The fact that the RNC has raised, according to Politico, 1.1 million less than the Democrats is telling - as it is, in reality, a slim divide. Further, with the RNC reinstituting its phone banks, individual donations will play a larger factor. Additionally, with a large percentage of the populace not certain about the Democrats move to socialize everything from the banks, to automakers to health care (which is turning into a harder sell – despite Obama’s attempts to tie it to the economy) they are bound to take a second look at the oppostion. Also of note: when the Daily Kos, a left leaning political website, is not on board with the current administrations policies, there are problems in “river city” as that is "the base of Obama".

What of the dim prospects the RNC has of taking back any part of the Congress? It would be too early to make any bold statements regarding who will control the legislature come 2010 – as the economy worsens, and recovery will not begin soon enough, those who did not partake of the non-existant “hope and change, middle-class resurgence” that was “promised by the current party in power, will most likely turn (as has happened repeatedly in the past) to the other party, specifically if that party has the fiscal responsibility edge. As hard as the DNC and pundits (Conservatives alike) point to the excesses of the Republican controlled legislature, the numbers pale in comparison to today’s Democrat Congress. It will be based on the economy – it will be the candidate that has the ability to lay out a plan to create private sector jobs, and one that instills confidence in their state and/or district that will get the nod from the people in 2010. As not one of the pundits has a crystal ball, the outcome is yet to be determined; the only reliable predicator is historical trends and the probability of a resurgence like that seen in the 1980’s-1990’s is more than reasonable given the Carteresque qualities of the current administration and the eerily similar congress and senate that drove the initial Republican Resurgence. The true indicator will be in the fundraising reports at the end of the 2009, should the Republicans find their coffers filled with both corporate (what is left of corporate) and more importantly individual donations, hope and change will have been rejected for tried and true.

Mitt Romney Critical of GM Government Ownership, the Union's Roll – Rasmussen 67% of Nation Agrees with Mitt

On Sunday, Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate, put in his two cents on U.S. Government ownership of GM. Romney’s opinion is that due to the government owing approximately 70 percent of that auto maker, post bankruptcy, shares should be distributed to taxpayers, and the UAW’s piece of the pie, should be given directly to the UAW members, not the UAW “Trust Fund”. Romney, who is a Michigan native, and has a track record of rescuing failing business ventures (including the State of Massachusetts, where, he valiantly tried to bring fiscal stability to a state that is run by a Democrat Legislature that is both corrupt, spendthrift and prone to pork and taxes. In the final analysis, Romney managed, to his credit, to stem the tide of excesses in the State of Massachusetts, offer viable alternatives to both health and education, which unfortunately, became models of insanity, once the Democrats gained complete control of the Commonwealth).

Although, the Obama administration has signaled an intent to sell its shares in the Auto Maker and “recoup taxpayer losses” as soon as possible, one can’t hold their breath waiting for a check in the mail, more than likely, should GM, once again become a privately held enterprise, any monies earned back (assuming the Federal Government can actually run something in the Black, which, to date, has not occurred), will most likely go into one of the many programs being instituted by the Obama administration. Romney would understand this better than anyone, considering he need only to look at how well Deval Patrick has handled the Commonwealth after Romney left office, and that both Patrick and Obama have similar ideologies.

That said, the people (taxpayers), are more aligned with Romney on this issue – Sunday’s Rasumussen Daily Tracking Poll indicates that only 21% of those polled agree with the President’s decision – the balance – 67% - are opposed.
What might be the most interesting component of the entire GM Deal, is the chuck of change give to the U.A.W., in the guise of building (or maintaining) the pension of those GM Autoworkers. According to Open Secrets.org, which tracts campaign contributions, the U.A.W. managed to give a total of $2,108,415 of its members’ dues to political campaigns – with 99% going to Democrats and 1% going to a Republican (Democrat in waiting) - Arlen Specter. It is no wonder then, that the UAW was basically “rewarded” for its loyalty. It is no secret that Unions support, with their workers dues, one political party over the other – out of the top 20 all time donors to political campaigns, , 11 of unions. Those eleven in order of most funds given are: American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, National Education Association, Laborers Union, Service Employees International Union, Carpenters and Jointers unions, The Teamsters, Communication Workers of American, American Federation of Teachers (Teachers have two unions, double dipping), United Auto Workers, Machinists and Aerospace Workers and rounding out the top 20, United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

Therefore, it goes without saying that may be the resons the Democrat Party is so enamored of the Card Check Bill. This would allow Unions to force organization of any business, pouring millions more into the Democrat Party’s coffers. Union members do not have control over how their dues are spent; dues are deducted and distributed by Union officials. Just to be fair, unions have endorsed Republican candidates: Mike Huckabee, was the first Republican candidate in over 100 years to be endorsed by the Painter’s union, a move that rankled both sides of the political spectrum.

Suffice it to say, should Mike Huckabee, or a similar moderate candidate with a 10-1/2 year track records of governing with the opposition party, and producing results, end up in Iowa, it would behoove that candidate to embrace these endorsements and the Republican Party to follow suit – it appears as if these members are looking for fiscally minded, sound individuals to run the nation. In the meantime, the nation will sit back and wait to see which private industry will be next, and which union will end up owning a piece of same.

Sebelius Supporter, Notorious Abortion Doctor George Tiller, Murdered during Church Service.

Dr. George Tiller, a strident supporter of Kathleen Sebelius, , was murdered today while at chuch. The Pro-Life group, Operation Rescue, denounced the killing. Pro-Life advocates do not approve of murder at any level, however, one can bet that, regardless of circumstances (say the father of a child whose life had been terminated at 8 months having gone over the deep end - A Supreme Court ruling in 1976 gives no right to a husband or father to be notified of an abortion.), anyone Pro-Life will be roundly condemned in the press.

This blog is decidedly pro-life, not approving of either the death penalty or abortion (both seen as state-sponsored murder). That said, one has to wonder why so many “God-Fearing”, church attending individuals approve of abortion - Those so-called Christian Churches that approve of abortion (and/or refuse to acknowledge the act as morally reprehensible), are at fault for providing an aura of respectability to both politician’s, abortion activists and providers.