Listen For the Doublespeak

So our non-tea party Republicans in Congress have tonight notified the president they'll let him continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars, thereby continuing the madness and, by default, further securing their resounding defeat (and replacement with conservatives.)  Part of the "deal" they have apparently struck is to cut a whole, whopping $1 trillion in spending--maybe--over 10 years.  A bi-partisan committee is supposed to identify another $1.8 trillion to be reduced in the budget by Thanksgiving.  Meanwhile, all the other spending continues.

Even though tax increases are not included for now, don't think for a minute there won't be a bloody knuckle fight again in a few months for them.  The liberals aren't going to give up on their never-ending hunger for more and more and more citizen money.  Obama said he's coming back for it again this fall, if you listen carefully to his comments tonight about the supposed deal struck by congressional leaders.  He said, "This compromise...gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year."  As you've probably already picked up on, in the liberal dictionary "balance" means "tax the snot out of job creators," a.k.a. "taxes."  He is fully expecting that part of the $1.8 trillion this bi-partisan committee is supposed to identify in lowering our mammoth debt is going to include taxes.

We have such a fight on our hands.  I believe this "deal" they struck is not done yet.  We can still kick and scream and try to stop it in the house.  Probably the biggest frustration I have is the debt ceiling in this latest version will be extended past the election.  In the previous deal, that was one thing I thought was to our advantage, was to have this argument all over again in March.

The bottom line is we keep kicking, screaming, fighting and giving them pains and never relent or back down.  Our job is to make all the lawmakers in D.C. extremely uncomfortable.  The alternative is disastrous and we know it.  We keep on keeping on.  That's what the Founders would do.

I Have a Suggestion

After everyone leaves the capitol building for the night, let's change the locks.  That should take care of it.

We Can See the Exit

Some days this is like listening to someone struggling to pronounce a word correctly and it takes all you have to keep from screaming out the correct pronunciation.  See, this is the struggle--the conservative resurgence CANNOT and WILL NOT contain itself.  We have been screaming and will continue to scream until we are finally in the position to just DO IT OURSELVES, DANG BUSTED!!  Watching these weak-handshake Republicans sorta, kinda try to do a shades-of-grey right thing is frustrating beyond words.  Memo to the GOP:  YOU'RE NOT FOOLING US WITH THESE 1/15TH-OF-THE-WAY-THERE DEALS.  OK, here's the thing: we know we are not going to get trillions in cuts right now.  We know it!  We have to have a lot more control.  What we're asking of you is to send it up there anyway.  YOU be the one driving the tug-of-war.  DON'T be submissive!!  Dear God in Heaven above, the Tea Party is NOT submissive!!  Trust me.  I saw 1.5 million of us, all together in D.C. on 9-12-09.  There was nothing submissive about it.

The conservatives in this nation can clearly see the way out of this disaster and it’s driving us totally crazy to have to wait for the proper channels to make it happen.  It’s like trying to get rowed to shore as dang fast as you can in a sinking boat, but the boat’s taking on water so fast, you’re praying your head off, hoping you get there.  The way out of this includes:

1.)  Defeat Barack Obama's rear end, right out of office.

2.)  Send up dozens more constitutional conservatives in both houses of congress.

3.)  Harvest our energy resources!!  This will create thousands and thousands of new, good-paying jobs, increase revenue to the government, give us something more to export and reduce the price of Velveeta at the grocery store because the semi that delivers it to my store won’t be paying as much for his diesel to get it there!


4.)  Never, EVER become so complacent again that we drive our country into such a dark place.  Our Founders warned and warned and warned us.  They had already lived what we’re living now.  Thank God they gave us a road map out.

We’re going to get out of this.  We just have to be up for the battle, which means we encourage each other when we sense despair.  It means we keep reading, watching and learning.  It means we stay FOCUSED on our end goal and do not allow ourselves to get sidetracked.

Just do it.

The Tea Party is Our Saving Grace

Douglas MacArthur once said,

"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline.  There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."

The Tea Party IS our "spiritual awakening" and it is going to turn this baby around.  We WILL be victorious.  I see no signs of waning, whatsoever.  Hang tough.

Where's the Swatter? Betrayal Stings Like a Bee

I am so tired of being betrayed.  Even though I thought there was room for improvement with Boehner's proposed plan, regarding the raising of the debt ceiling, I felt I could convince myself it was a decent step in the right direction...until I understood the increase in the ceiling of $1 trillion would be immediate and the $1 trillion in cuts would be spread over 10 years...maybe.  Boehner has been spending yesterday and today getting votes lined up to support this worthless proposal, telling the GOP conference to get their a**es in line.  I do not dislike Boehner at all and I know he's in a trying situation with the bloc of tea party conservatives in the house, numbering around 90, holding fast to the whole point of their election victories, and Reid on the other side of him, threatening to vote down everything Boehner sends to the senate.  So just don't do anything, Boehner.  Let this phony baloney, made up "drop dead" date of August 2 come and go.  Don't accept the premise that we fall off the earth at 12:01 a.m. August 3.  Just let the American people see what a falsehood this whole threat is.  Hitting the debt ceiling would serve the whole objective anyway, which is to STOP SPENDING.  I swear this whole battle is like watching the runt of the class, getting beat up every single day by the bully.  Everyone watching just WAITS for the summer the runt grows 6 inches and puts on 30 pounds so he can turn it around on the bully and BRING IT.

Then yesterday, I became aware of the lovely, wow-that-sounds-great plan proposed by Cong. Connie Mack of Florida.  He is partnering with Senator Rand Paul (a.k.a. gift of God.)  Cong. Mack's plan is called the Penny Plan.  He calls it that because he is proposing a discontinuation of the automatic, built-in budget increases and instead holding the budgets at the current level PLUS reducing every budget by 1%.  Yes, that's ONE PERCENT.  In other words, every level of the federal government gives up one penny out of each dollar.   He has calculated, after 8 years of doing this, we would realize a budget surplus.  Until I learned about his proposal, I didn't know federal budgets are automatically given a 7.5% increase every year!!  Can you believe that??  Has your spending gone up by 22.5% over the last 3 years?  No wonder we're in such a stinkin' mess!  That's just plain stupid.  We have got to get behind Cong. Mack.  I know it would be a big challenge to force a vote on his plan this time around, but we can work our tails off to build support so we're ready the next time this inconceivable discussion comes around.

We do have a few good men (and women) in Congress, who are truly working hard to stand with us and fight the good fight.  We have got to cover their backs and be loud in our support.  The single most important thing we can do to help them on the front line of this battle is to SEND IN REINFORCEMENTS.  We the People are the generals in this army and we cannot shrink from our duties.   We need to watch and listen for good candidates all across the nation and do what we can to support them.  We cannot forget that we knew darn well last fall that election was only the first step.  We still have work to do and now is NOT the time to get discouraged.

What Exactly Is the Goal Here?

This roller coaster ride is making me sick.  Last night I was thrilled with Speaker Boehner's response to Obama's comments on the debt ceiling battle.  I thought the speaker's remark, "When government gets bigger, the people get smaller" was especially poignant and is the type of remark that sticks in people's minds.  He nailed it.

Then today he called into Rush's show to give further details on the plan he has proposed for raising the debt ceiling.  As it turns out, the debt ceiling would be raised, allowing for an immediate expansion in spending of $1 trillion and would be coupled by a reduction in spending of $1 trillion...over 10 years.  As most of us know, congress is prohibited from binding future congresses, so, while it is fine and dandy to have today's congress promise $1 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years, there is absolutely not one thing that would stop the congress that's sworn in January 2013 from throwing that plan out the window.  I was listening to the speaker, thinking to myself, "What on earth do we gain if we allow all the cuts to be spent?"  Then when he explained the timeline, he totally lost my support.

Here's what I want:  I want a full-on revolt.  I want the Republicans to throw the gauntlet down; refuse to budge even one millimeter; demand a serious reduction in spending with NO corresponding increase in spending (can't believe I even have to write that); no hesitation whatsoever in their position; repeat, repeat and repeat some more how incredibly and profoundly necessary spending cuts are; stop saying how nice their colleagues are.  Nobody cares.  I want to see major fire in the belly, teeth-gnashing, fight-or-die battle going on, here.  I want to clone Senator Jim DeMint, Cong. Steve King, Cong. Joe Walsh and Cong. Allen West.  COME ON PEOPLE.  Watching our leaders in this battle is like watching Steve Urkel in a boxing match.  Something tells me he isn't going to get into his opponents face and SEEK THE FIGHT.

The only good I see coming out of this is all this messing around and lightly slapping at each other, rather than fully engaging, is they are just galvanizing the tea party movement more than they can comprehend.  I have a feeling that, while 2010 was big, they haven't seen anything yet.  What they provide is a daily reminder that our work is far from done.

Obama: Do As I Say and Not As I Do

This man is unbelievable.  In his 6 millionth televised appearance tonight, he referenced the plan for increasing the debt ceiling, proposed by Speaker Boehner.  The plan calls for a short-term increase in the debt ceiling, over $1 trillion in cuts and a scheduled vote in the senate on Cut, Cap & Balance.  The "short-term" part of the proposal means they would be having this discussion all over again in April, thereby NOT keeping this off the table until after the elections, which Obama wants.  Obama's comment tonight about the proposed debt ceiling increase expiring in April was, "We know what to expect 6 months from now.  The House of Representatives will once again refuse to prevent default unless the rest of us accept their cuts-only approach.  Once again the economy will be held captive unless they get their way.  This is no way to run the greatest country on earth.  It's a dangerous game that we've never played before and we can't afford to play it now."

Gee that sounds familiar.  Hmmmm.  Oh, yeah!  Now I remember!  That's what conservatives said to Pelosi, Reid and Obama about the despicable Obamacare.  I remember comments like, "They're holding us captive so they can get their way" and "This is no way to run the greatest country on earth" and "It's a dangerous game that we've never played before and we can't afford to play it now."  Huh.  That's ironic.

If memory serves, none of the pleading, begging, screaming, or Massachusetts-electing-a-Republican-in-Kennedy's-old-seat had an impact whatsoever.  This man is incapable of humility or admission of error.  He completely lacks the capacity and it was blindingly obvious in his comments to the nation tonight.  Sir, it has become painfully clear to all that you have no regard whatsoever for the will of the people.  This is why you gave Speaker Boehner no choice but to simply walk away.  His walking away from these debt ceiling talks (which, by the way, the American people ARE paying attention to, unlike what you insinuated tonight) is a consequence for your complete lack of ability to comprehend people's desire for something different from what you seek.  However, I do not believe what you are seeking is to secure the well-being of this nation.  This is not as simple as a slight variance in vision between friends.  No, you seek to take down the greatness of this nation and make her equal with all others.  It is difficult to comprehend why you reject the beauty and greatness of this nation, but there is no other logical conclusion to be drawn from your actions.  You leave us with no choice but to put every effort possible into securing your defeat and, by default, our nation's victory.

This Just Says It All: Must See

Obama Is a Fraidy Cat

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner today, talking with Christiane Amanpour (sickening, condescending, arrogant, ABC talking head) said regarding the debt ceiling talks, "This is a critical test for the Republican leaders in Congress."  Actually, he's spot on, even though he most certainly does not mean it the way conservatives do.  You better believe this is a critical test for Republicans.  If they fail to follow through on their crystal clear mandate handed to them on election day, they will be job hunting on the next go around. Every single breaking news item regarding this whole discussion gives me a start because I've learned to not put my faith in Republicans, per se, but so far Speaker Boehner is doing the right thing (save the agreement he made 2 weeks ago, which subsequently fell apart.)  You can be sure walking away from the president and issuing a statement he will be effectively cutting the president out of the talks and working instead with Congressional leaders was met with cheers from conservatives across the nation.  Yes, John!  You're getting it!  Geithner, in the same interview, said the Republican leadership in the House has a "vocal, loud, frankly, irresponsible minority in their party who want to take this country to the edge of default."  Ok, Tim, two things:

1.)  I'm pretty sure that "vocal, loud, frankly, irresponsible minority" are the tea party freshmen We the People flooded you with last fall, resulting in the stripping of the gavel from Pelosi's hands.  You insult them, you insult us.  But I think you know that.

2.)  I know it is much more effective in promoting your desire to continue massive levels of spending, to keep repeating the lie that if the Republicans don't give you what you demand, the United States will default on its debt payments.  This will only happen if you let it.  The government will continue to collect tax revenue and said revenue can then be applied to our debt payments.

I find it offensive that a Democrat-controlled Congress and a Democrat White House took an already excessive debt and massively increased it and then they turn around and insist it is up to the Republicans to come up with a solution--one they approve.  The solution is to stop the spending madness and the American people know it.  This is what the conservative Republicans in the House are firmly demanding, is a stop and reversal of the spending.  Speaker Boehner needs their support and ours to withstand the unrelenting pressure to cave.

What the president is deathly afraid of is the immense pressure of the freshman Republicans being effective and resulting in a bill that he hates landing on his desk.  The last thing he wants it to be faced with potential manly admission of fault because he knows he'll fail.  This is a man who cannot accept less than what he wants.  But what will he do if a bill the conservatives in Congress and the American people laud lands on his desk?  If he signs it, he's accepting less than what he, in his arrogance, has demanded.  If he vetoes it, he will be single-handedly responsible for allowing the debt ceiling deadline to come and go and then the American people will learn there never was a crisis at all.

C'mon, Speaker.  Call that bluff.

Our Country ROCKS!

Yesterday our family toured the Reagan missile site near Cooperstown, ND.  Can I just say our military is inexpressibly UNBELIEVABLE?  So, the 321st Missile Wing, which operated under the Grand Forks air base, opened in 1966 as a way for our country to deter the aggressions of the Soviet Union.  When all 6 of these missile wings were operational, our country had 1000 minute man missiles, ready at a moment's notice.  Each missile had 3 warheads on it and each warhead was 60 times more powerful than the bomb that went off at Hiroshima.  Just think of that!  Our military had 180,000 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb, ready to protect our nation against any threat from the Soviet Union.  The commitment of our military to man the command posts for these missiles is extraordinary.  The 2-man team at each command post, responsible for launching the missiles, if necessary, would put in a 24-hour shift, 50 feet beneath the earth, constantly monitoring so that American citizens could peacefully live their day-to-day lives.  Isn't that what our military does every single moment of every single day?  They've got "it" covered--whatever "it" is, so we can attend baseball games, go out for supper, go on a bike ride, go to work, sleep in our own beds, attend church, buy groceries, visit friends, etc. etc. etc.  Meanwhile, we have this beautiful, highly trained, dedicated, loyal, strong military, keeping watch at the door so no one can get at us.

There is no place like America and we are so blessed.

Obama: My Words Are Meaningless

At Obama's press conference yesterday, he said, regarding House Republicans refusal to accept tax increases, "For us to...worry what pledge we signed back when we were trying to run [for office]...is inexcusable."  In other words, words are meaningless.  Can we assume from his comment that any and all promises he made during his campaign are meaningless, too?  Promises made are done so only for the purposes of getting elected, according to his logic.  He also criticized the Republicans for knuckling under to "interest groups," so my question is this: Does President Obama consider the American people to be an interest group?  Because, the way I see it, voters sent 80+ new Republicans to the House TO FRUSTRATE HIS EFFORTS.  PERIOD.  The House Republicans being a major thorn in his side IS THE WHOLE IDEA.  And it would appear he is furious.  The very fact that WE, in the form of a major bloc of conservative Republicans, are stopping him from continuing to carry out his destructive actions renders him shaken and enraged.  Watching his press conference reminded me of what it looks like when a 2-year-old who hasn't gotten his way acts.  The protests are intense and unrelenting.  I've seen a few and I know what I'm looking at.

The other thing I saw on his face and heard in his voice is desperation.  When he said he gets letters all the time from seniors who tell him they have to skip meals at the end of the month, I wondered, "Well, then why in the blue blazes do you keep threatening to withhold their checks from them if you don't get your way?"  This is the way of a dictator.  There's no way around it.  For him to threaten and coerce as a manner of getting his way is disgusting and repulsive.  For him to ORDER an equal branch of government to report to his office and say they'd better explain to him what their plans are is dictatorial and communistic.  The truth is, the more we see of this ugly behavior, the better.  Keep taking the mask off, Mr. Obama.  It will only help the people secure a greater victory.  Many of us knew who you were the day the people loaned you the office of the presidency, but more and more of those who didn't know are learning every single day.

I fight against getting my hopes up, but, for now, Speaker Boehner is doing exactly the right thing.  He's defying Obama and calling his bluff, even though Obama told Cantor and Boehner not to (which I think was an admission he IS bluffing, but he just didn't want them to call it.  It's hard to keep up with the level of bizarreness.)  The most striking thing about this whole thing is, when Obama criticizes the House Republicans, he's really expressing animosity toward the American people.  That's who put them there!  Fact: he's angry with the American people.  That's all there is to it.  Well, too bad.  There's more where that came from and now we're down to just 472 days.

Are We There Yet?

475.  That's how many days until election day, 2012.  I cannot wait to drink that sweet cup of victory, again.  After a long wait, BHO will finally get to claim his prize as the Biggest Nightmare of a President.  May God's protective hand be on us while these days pass so the damage done in the remaining time will be limited.  At least we have some hope in the House Republicans to diffuse the daily bombs.

Considering the fact there are no fewer than TWENTY THREE Democrats up for re-election in the senate, I cannot WAIT to see Harry Reid de-throned, although even that will not top the fall of the plastic, incoherent Nancy Pelosi.  Included in that lovely number of 23, are Claire McCaskill (MO) and Ben Nelson (NE.)  Claire McCaskill held a hideous townhall meeting August of 2009, during the infuriating Obamacare struggle.  Her townhall meeting was packed with hundreds of people screaming at her and her responding by saying into her microphone, "What is this rudeness?  Do I have to use my mother voice?  Cuz I have one of those."  Talk about cluelessness at a whole new level.  I think that one exchange between a public employee and those who allowed her to have the job was the absolute embodiment of our political environment.  It was the American People, facing down the unresponsive, sheltered D.C. elites.  The state of Missouri, only 4.5 months after Obamacare was forced upon us, decisively rejected it in a referendum by over 70%.  Something tells me Claire won't have anymore opportunities to lecture her constituents once the ballots have been counted on 11-6-12.  I wish I lived in Missouri, just so I could vote against her.

Same goes for Ben Nelson.  Nebraska is one conservative state and, I'm just guessing here, but I'd be willing to bet Nebraskans did not appreciate the Cornhusker Kickback he received in exchange for his vote on Obamacare.  There's gonna be a whole lotta regret goin' on over the votes taken to shove that despicable piece of legislation through and I can't wait to see justice procured by We the People.  We're the "boss of them" and I, for one, can't wait to remind them.

For the Democrats, Black Is White

Today, the day the House of Representatives voted on Cut, Cap & Balance, Congressman John Larson (D-CT) said, regarding the Republican-proposed cuts, "Show us the jobs that are coming from all of these proposed cuts." SIIIIGGGGGHHHH.  This would be like me asking, "If I wash my car, how will it get clean?"  WHAT?  The congressman's comment is entirely non-sensical and incoherent.  Let me clear this up for you, Congressman:

If

the government takes money AWAY from businesses in the form of taxation

then

those businesses don't HAVE the money anymore to hire people, because you took it away.

Does that clear it up?  Your comment is the same as saying, "If I cut my hair, how will it get shorter?"  Or, how about, "If I eat something, how will I stop being hungry?"  Do you see how your twisted logic causes pain in the brains of reasonable, thinking people?

This is what we're dealing with.  We're dealing with people who either categorically reject basic economics or simply do not understand it.  Money grows.  Money is not static.  Government prevents the growth of money, thereby impeding the potential of its citizens.

My friends, there is NO working with these people.  There just isn't.  Resounding defeat is the ONLY option!  We have got to stay focused.  We have got to commit ourselves to our goals.  No wavering.  No getting distracted, e.g., Michele Bachmann gets migraines.  OH NO!

Anyway, I have found one of the absolute BEST ways to stay focused and keep the goal in sight is to read, re-read and then read again, quotes from the Founders and Reagan, who was Founder material.  What a gift they gave us that they recorded so many warnings for generations so far removed from them.  They knew full well what would happen.  Because they warned us, we have wise, sound advice to follow to clean this up.  We can do this.  They believed in the people and with good reason.

D.C. Republicans: Define Yourselves

"Republicans control 1/2 of 1/3 of the federal government."  Yes, we know.  Stop saying it.  What you have GOT to do with the House control we gave you is DEFINE YOURSELVES.  The fact that you voted to repeal Obamacare and pass Paul Ryan's budget plan is excellent.  Now on to Cut, Cap & Balance and the Balanced Budget Amendment.  Those are the things that show us who you are and whether we can trust you.  It is unnerving when there appears to be any veering into the wrong lane.  November 2, 2010 did not carry this message from the American people, "Why can't we all just get along?"  Um, no.  The message was, "STOP THE INSANITY AND WE MEAN NOW!!"  The thing to realize is the American people are VERY informed and need very little explained to us.  If there's a knowledge gap, we'll educate ourselves.  November 2, 2010 was our first opportunity to start making corrections and the fact that you have slammed the car into park over and over shows us you mostly get the idea of what we expect.  We the People do not need to keep being told Republicans are not in charge of everything.  We know that and we know you're limited in what you can stop.  But you can stop a lot and we fully expect you to, as you were charged in November '10.  We know we need to send in reinforcements and we have long ago begun working on our plans to do just that.  The American people are always way ahead of "the system" and our current political environment is no exception.

The beautiful and reassuring thing about the mess we've gotten ourselves into is we realize it and are scrambling like crazy to correct it.  We categorically reject socialism, communism, marxism, liberalism, et al, in poll after poll after poll and election after election after election.  Yes, there are pockets of people in this nation who are in the trap, but there's hope for them, too.  I've heard many who have gotten out call Levin's show to thank him for shining the light.

Our job as We the People is to pat you D.C. Republicans on the back when you get it right, which you do, and fire a warning shot when you don't, of which there is evidence sometimes.  What we want is a response to the warning shot.  What we ask of you is loyalty and you'll be rewarded with thanks and atta boys.

Here's the thing: this nation is a precious jewel and there are millions and millions of us who hold many aces not yet played to make dang sure it remains intact.  We're taking all the clean options first and have every faith they will be effective.  Right?

We're Waiting With Open Arms

Since BHO is exhibiting 3-year-old behavior, perhaps he should be replaced with an ACTUAL 3-year-old for these debt limit negotiations.  Then at least he could be put down for a nap when he starts getting lippy.

Because he is so impossible to deal with, I just want these Republicans to go for everything, torpedoes be damned.  Dive head first into that cold pool of water.  Bite the bullet.  Grab the brass ring.  Go for broke.  If Republicans go for it--a balanced budget amendment, trillions and trillions in spending cuts and a resounding, deafening "NO!" to Obama, they will be running straight into the waiting arms of the tea party.  The people that make up this nation are repulsed by dictatorial behavior, no matter who displays it or where.  Once the Republicans fully accept the fact that they are facing down a dictator-in-the-making, decide it is inconsequential he has a nice speaking voice, and that they are going to categorically reject his premise, they will then become full teammates with the members of the conservative revolution.  Conservatives waiting for these Republicans to do the right thing is like dying of thirst on a blistering summer day. All you can think about is a tall glass of cold ice water and you can't get it fast enough.  WE WANT RELIEF.  The Republicans are in the position to simply hand it over.

Obama says, "I wish I could say there's a quick solution."  Oh, Sir, you better BELIEVE there is.  The name is Reagan #2 and (s)he's on the way.  Thanks for "making straight paths."

I'm Surrounded By Insanity

So I learned tonight that a local food shelf is hesitant to take things like flour & sugar as donations and prefers pre-packaged foods because low income people who utilize food shelves are generally disinclined to make food from scratch.  I ALSO learned a local public health agency recently secured a $300,000 government grant to teach low income families how to can produce.  Those of you who have canned are keenly aware of the work involved.

I keep waiting for Peter Funt to jump out and shout, "Smile!  You're on Candid Camera!"

I'm waiting, Pete....I have the obligatory puzzled look on my face....

Skunk Scent/Unbridled Arrogance--What's the Difference?

It's getting to the point where I practically recoil whenever BHO speaks.  The astounding level of arrogance is almost impossible to absorb.  Someone close to me works at NASA and shared a sad, sobering and downright depressing article with me, regarding the wind down of our country's historic space program.  The comment that just gutted me was this one:

"We've been there before," Obama said [of another moon landing,] "There's a lot more of space to explore."

Just who does he think he is?  The article, on foxnews.com, also references the military advantages of having a robust space program.  NASA works closely with the military in developing aircraft, ballistics and other essential defense items. The plan put into action is to end our international space station by 2020.  Our current administration is perfectly comfortable with letting China & India take the lead.  This is a massive sign of weakness.  This is a forfeit.  Furthermore, NASA has now received orders to increase the use of synthetic fuels by 50%.  No worries.  It will just mean we ruin our aircraft a lot faster and the fuel will cost many times more than, say, something like petroleum-based fuels.  Do you ever feel like it doesn't matter how fast we bail water because our government is using a fire hose against us?

The president's unmatched arrogance reared its ugly head again today at his 5 millionth televised appearance, this time regarding the debt ceiling argument.  Who does he think he's fooling when he says 80% of Americans support a tax increase?  IF there's a poll that has those results, it was likely conducted on people in his living room.

This man's arrogance is a cover for his sheer ineptness and it has become exceedingly difficult to stomach.

D.C. Republicans: Take Notes on MN

The voters won today in Minnesota.  Senator Amy Koch and Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers firmly held their position, opposing any and all tax increases, even when proposals were called something else.  The fact that our blue state put Republicans in charge of both houses is emblematic of the national political environment.  The Republican leadership in this state showed D.C. the road to success.  It's funny how REASON SELLS.  Just as Gov. Scott Walker did in Wisconsin, conservatives everywhere just need to keep making their case, repeat, repeat and repeat some more.  Don't change your story.  Don't get agitated. Don't lose your cool.  Don't back down.  All of this establishes the argument and makes it plausible.

I find one of the most notable things about this struggle is the glaring absence of union presence at the capitol building in St. Paul.  Could it be they know, deep down, it is a lost cause?  I'm telling you, Wisconsin was the first domino to fall and the whole nation owes a debt of gratitude to Scott Walker for paving the way.  Unions planned a protest at the capitol on July 6.  Based on 2 accounts I read, the people "filled the capitol steps."  That tells me a lot--like there were probably 200-300 people there, not 70,000 like Wisconsin saw.  No, our legislature wasn't on the cusp of the kind of collective bargaining reform Wisconsin sought, but "taxing the rich," a favorite union drum beat and the centerpiece of Mark Dayton's gubernatorial campaign, was what was at stake.  And it didn't sell.  The Republican leaders succeeded in pressuring Dayton into caving on the cornerstone of his campaign victory.  This is a big win.  But, the point is NOT that the Republican leaders won.  The goal should NEVER be for Republican party victory, per se--unless the Republicans' goals are in line with what's good for the citizenry.  This was most definitely the case in our state's struggle.  The Republican leadership clearly understood this and unwaveringly demonstrated their determination to remain faithful to the voters who put them in power.

I pray the feds follow suit.

GOP: Just Say NO

Children crave discipline.  Naughtiness is often times a cry for discipline.  That's how they know they're safe and cared for.  Self-discipline feels good for adults, too.  Paying all your bills, saving money, carefully choosing purchases, earning a degree, losing weight--all those self-discipline scenarios bring satisfaction.  Fiscal discipline is what Americans are so desperately craving right now and the government isn't giving us what we're crying out for!  I was thrilled yesterday when McConnell gave his comments on the senate floor about fiscal responsibility and the desperate need for it.  I was thrilled to hear Boehner say, regarding the debt limit increase, "This is the president's problem."  I was afraid to get my hopes up.

Then, today, McConnell comes out with this cockamamie idea to let the president raise the debt limit whenever he wants and it can only be stopped by a super majority in both houses.  What????????  What???????  Let me rewind that to make sure I heard it right!!  What is that??  Could the American people make their message any clearer??  I'm at a total loss, here.  All I could think about is that Spongebob episode where Spongebob (the American people) spends the entire episode, trying to teach Patrick (Republican leaders) how to screw a lid onto a jar.  Spongebob keeps explaining, demonstrating, reiterating, encouraging, repeating and FINALLY at the very end, much to the great relief of Spongebob, Patrick gives it a half-twist, and...SUCCESS!!

Let's hope the Republicans screw the lid onto the jar, very very soon.

Can the State of Minnesota Do Math? Just Askin'

OK, so does it makes sense for the State of Minnesota to charge a vendor that provides a state agency with portable toilets a $700 annual fee and require that same vendor to file a report, delineating what's being taken OUT of the portable toilets, and go to 3 days of training each year, only to have that vendor finally say, "I'm not doing business in this state anymore?"  Oh, and then that same state agency is then in the position of paying another vendor 50% more for portable toilets because that vendor is willing to go through all the hassle....probably because they just pass the dang expense right back to the state through the higher rate charged for their service?  This is the government at work for us and IT IS RIDICULOUS.  This kind of thing is costing the taxpayers more money than I would even know how to begin measuring.

There's so much more of this kind of thing and I'm going to keep right on bringing it up.  We're talking about MY CHILDREN'S FUTURE...AND YOURS...AND I'M SICK OF IT.

Obama Got It Wrong.

Communists eat peas.

Americans eat STEAK.

Proof That Obama Is a Wise Man

Inspirational quotes from Barack Obama that clearly blow away anything Ron Reagan ever said:

"My grandmother...was a typical white person."

"If there's a blue pill and a red pill...why not pay half price for the thing that's going to make you well?"

"We need to reduce spending in the tax code."

"Elections have consequences and I won."

"I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

"[The U.S.] is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world."

"There's something about the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

"The constitution...doesn't say what...the government...must do on your behalf."

"We need to eat our peas."


Compared to the sheer foolishness of Ronald Reagan:

"Mr. Gorbachev, take down this wall."

"Yes, [I share some of the blame] because for many years I was a Democrat."

"[America is] a shining city on a hill."

"Government isn't the solution to our problems; government is the problem."

"How do you tell a communist?  Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin.  And how do you tell an anti-Communist?  It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."

"We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker."

"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"

"Coercion, after all, merely captures a man.  Freedom
captivates him."

There ya go.  Case closed.

We Would Accidentally Kill Each Other Were It Not For the Govt

We belong to a brand new church.  Because it is brand new, we are looking at many ways to raise some operating money.  One idea brought forth is to have a bake sale during another event going on in town.  Simple enough.  But wait!!  Minnesota has a statute, enforced by the omniscient MN Department of Agriculture, which governs the highly consequential bake sales that take place in the state.  Oh, thanks be to God.  It would be a crying shame to just let people go about their business.  So, according to M.S. 28A.15, a sign must be posted at a bake sale that states, "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."  Really??  Here I always thought it was self-evident that bake sales are the selling of homemade baked goods.  Good thing the state came along to be sure we clarify.  Oh, and nothing can have frosting on it.  I can't help but wonder if perhaps James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris and Benjamin Franklin discussed, at the constitutional convention, the hazards to the well-being of citizens caused by tainted frosting.  I bet they did, but James Madison just forgot to write it down.  The good news about this is, maybe we'll see a decline in the numerous weekly headlines about deaths by frosting.  Tis a far better thing to have our government spending taxpayer money preventing the dangers of frosting than doing silly things like securing our borders.  The danger of not securing the border, though, is a terrorist could sneak across with tainted frosting and take out a whole city.  Good thing the government's on it.

Along Those Same Lines...

Bill Whittle is a brilliant commentator...

We Are All Wealthy Because We're Americans

FANTASTIC video...

Too Many Good Things To Count

Because I gave $20 to Senator Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund, he sent me a free copy of his new book, The Great American Awakening.  I finished it today and absolutely loved it, as I did his first book, Saving Freedom.  Can Congress have its own whistleblowers, or do they only bring in ones from the outside for those SUPER important congressional hearings?  Jim DeMint is a CONGRESSIONAL whistleblower and the beneficiaries are the American people.  Jim DeMint isn't playing along, sorry.  Jim DeMint has now written 2 tell alls and who he's telling on are the stalwarts of the senate.  He's notifying the American people just who's on their side by giving us the inside scoop.  What an absolute gem, patriot, hero, faithful leader.  This man has helped to secure massive victories for the American people because he refuses to get sucked into The Great Machine of Corruption that threatens to devour all members of Congress.  

The very first thing he did was to try to turn his colleagues.  He pleaded, explained, argued, etc. to get them to see how destructive the practices of the senate have become.  He wanted the spending and corruption to stop.  EVERY ONE of them turned a deaf ear.  My friends, Senator Jim DeMint has been fighting a worthy battle on our behalf, all by himself for the last 2 years.  Once it became apparent to him he would have no success convincing his colleagues what needed to happen for the safety and security of our nation, he turned instead to the American people.  What a brilliant choice on his part.  Because he trusted the judgement of the American people, he partnered with them to elect 5 constitutional conservatives to the senate last fall.  Now he's started on 2012.  He's already selected someone to replace Sherrod Brown in Ohio--correction, the grassroots selected and vetted the candidate and DeMint is getting behind him.  Last week he asked Americans to help reach a fundraising goal of $100,000 by week's end for this new, Marine-candidate for the senate.  The goal was exceeded.  Jim DeMint is going to help the American people get the senate back on our side, whether the senate likes it or not.

One of the most shocking things he revealed in his book is, the Monday after the march on the capitol in D.C. (Sept. 12, 2009,) when 1.5 million people showed up, Senator DeMint was in the Republican caucus with all senate Republicans.  They talked about a bunch of things and the meeting was going to end---with not ONE word about the 1.5 MILLION people who stood on the lawn outside that building only 2 days before!!!  DeMint was crushed.  He implored them all they had to do was show a willingness to be faithful to the people, and the people would help them.  Nothing.  No reaction at all.  (DeMint was the ONLY senator invited to speak at the march.)  We have just as much house cleaning to do in the Republican party as we do everywhere else.

Senator DeMint is a precious gem in the halls of Congress.  He's not kidding around and he's shown a determination to do what's right, even though it means he sits all by himself in the congressional cafeteria.  He deserves our support.  He is the perfect example of how this tea party movement has infiltrated EVERYTHING--even the halls of Congress.  You cannot run and you cannot hide.  We're coming for you and people like DeMint are helping us.

Unions: The Stranglehold is Loosening

I work for a taxpayer-funded state agency.  As such, there are very strict rules regarding the use of taxpayer-owned property, and rightly so.  For example, the policy regarding the use of taxpayer-owned computers, such as the one that sits on my desk, states in part:


College employees shall not use information technology for political activities prohibited by Minnesota Statutes sections 43A.32 or 211B.09, or other applicable State or federal law.


Now, here is a sampling of statements I've received from "my" union, via work e-mail on the taxpayer-owned computer that sits on my desk:

-If our sisters and brothers in Wisconsin lose their bargaining rights, it is only a matter of time for that to spread across the country.
-Anti-worker politicians are trying to take away from public employees in Wisconsin the right to join a union.
-We are under no illusions.  It is only a matter of time before these actions spread to your state.
-Join MoveOn members for a rally to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin.
-Make no mistake: They try to weaken unions so there is no check on corporate power.

And the most shocking--a quote from Martin Niemoeller:
"First they came for the Communists but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out.  Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out.  Then they came for the Jews but I was not Jewish so I did not speak out.  And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."

This heartbreaking quote was recorded by this Lutheran pastor from a concentration camp during Nazi Germany.  So do we deduce from this that the conservative Republicans, trying to spend within our means, can be compared to the hellish days of Nazi Germany??  What would concentration camp survivors have to say about that comparison?


I sense panic.  I believe the unions know the end is in sight.  The house of cards is tumbling down. There is a shrill tone.  This is like the little child who, as a last resort, screams he's going to hold his breath until he gets his way.  Wisconsin was the first domino and unions know it.  Unions are losing the argument and the proof is in the enormous state legislative victories for Republicans, from sea to shining sea.  This is NOT the economic environment for unions to be complaining about compensation and benefits when the people to whom the complaints are to be directed are facing unemployment in such high numbers.  The screaming mob in Wisconsin, complaining about losing their 100% employer-funded retirement and insurance, did not look good.  They were, and will continue to be, hard pressed to find any level of sympathy, except from each other.

Here's what I don't understand.  I, as a tax-paying citizen of this state, should have equal chance at landing a job with a taxpayer-funded agency.  What I resent is, once I have secured employment with a taxpayer-funded agency, I am forced to join a union--an organization I would NEVER freely join.  Yes, I'm a fair share member and not a full "voting" member, but this simply means I have 85% of what full dues are, forcibly deducted from my paycheck, so they can then be given to Democrat candidates in election years.  WHY is it assumed I will be delighted, simply because I have union membership imposed upon me, and that I will automatically support the arguments put forth by the union?  In my view, union members who are conservative, are being robbed because their views are being suppressed and the act is partially being carried out with those same union members' own money!  This is like having someone steal money from my house, and then using that money to buy the gasoline and matches to burn my house down!  Why is my voice suppressed??  When unions say they are "for the worker," I know they don't mean me.  Furthermore, I don't WANT support from anyone.  I can take care of myself, thank you.


(By the way, the unions ARE permitted, per statute, to use tax-payer owned computers to send the above messages.)

MN Department of Health Gnashes Its Teeth

So, tonight I'm reading this article
and in doing so, discover the MN Department of "Health" is breathing out threats against churches who want to serve up meatballs and make a little money for their coffers.  God help us all.

So, here's what we have so far.  The MN Department of Health is spending part of its time on:

1.) Ordering people to camp at least 10 feet away from each other.
2.) Keeping track of just who is buying baby chicks.
3.) Threatening churches with $10,000 fines if they don't first seek the blessing of DOH before serving up meatballs.

What the.....??  Even Ole is going to lose his patience!!  What is this???

I'm Getting Used to Being Uncomfortable

The fact that my husband insisted every election year on displaying lawn signs in our yard used to make me uneasy.  Now I closely monitor the condition of the Gadsden flag that flies in our yard so it is replaced in a timely fashion.  I spoke directly to my congressman at a townhall in August 2009.  I'm putting my face and honest opinions out on the web.  I've been on the radio with Scott Hennen, giving firsthand account of the 912 march in D.C. and I have been invited to be on again this Friday (at 3:30 www.knoxradio.com).  The way I feel is we've been cornered and it's fight or die.  The tea party is the living out of the "live free or die" slogan.  All of it is so uncomfortable--for me anyway, but if I count on others to speak up and they don't, then what will become of us?  I am positively COMPELLED to act on the overpowering instinct I feel that something is horribly wrong in this country.

But nothing motivates me more than the vile, disgusting, repulsive Obamacare.  Forever burned into my memory will be the image of the despicable Nancy Pelosi with her plastic smile, dropping the gavel and announcing the passage of the Freedom Killer Bill.  I have a special affinity for Senator Ron Johnson and Governor Bobby Jindahl because each of them had a child undergo heart surgery, as did my husband & I.  While it ripped our hearts out to hand our little 6-year-old over for that procedure, there dwells deep within me a raging momma bear, ready to break some knee caps if this government EVER tries to tell me what medical care, if any, my babies will be ALLOWED to receive.  Over my dead body.  Couple that with my untamed and newly-awakened awe and reverence for the brilliance of our Founders and you get one mother who has NO intentions of standing down.  I'd like to see them try to make me.

What a Lovely Plan.

OK, so we've got a former Republican governor of MN, who endorsed the independent last fall, and a person whose presidential campaign was a miserable failure, riding into town to rescue the budget "impasse," if you can call it that.  An "impasse," in my view, is when both sides have TRIED tirelessly to compromise and then hit a wall.  This budget process has been like watching a bird try to fly with only one operating wing.  It isn't going anywhere because only one side is showing up.  Here's the thing that sticks in my craw:  whether I like it or not, the voters of Minnesota HIRED DAYTON TO DO A JOB.  Get off your rear and DO IT.  The Republicans spent the time putting a budget together and presented it to Dayton weeks ago, then offered changes at LEAST two different times.  Not only has Dayton not offered a complete budget, but he will not tell Republicans how he wants to spend the tax increases he keeps insisting on.  The whole UNNECESSARY tax increase thing is downright immoral to me.  Republicans are offering a budget, complete with a 6% increase in spending over the last biennium, based on projected revenue.  WHY, pray tell, is a tax increase a good idea?  It's not.  I don't care if we're talking about Bill Gates, here.  Forcibly separating a person from his money is wrong.  It's theft.  I find it offensive that certain citizens are targeted in our system of taxation and I've begun to think of our incredibly over-reaching and burdensome tax and regulation system as downright theft to a large degree.  The problem with citizens supporting Dayton's insistence to "tax the rich" is, in our beautiful, free American society, there's always the potential "the rich" could someday be you!  Then what?  Our entire society is built on human potential, so to punish and/or discourage achievement is, by nature, un-American.

Having this motley crew come together will make for good theatre, but I don't know where it will lead in the very serious business of making Minnesota operational.  We'll see.

Proof Positive: The Spirit of Freedom Is Alive and Well!

The spirit and determination of the Founders lives in today's American citizens.  Isn't it curious how, from the ash-heap of socialism, communism, marxism, nazism and liberalism, freedom always rises?  It is like a phoenix, rising against the dawning sun.  Absolute fear, dread and uncertainty came over me the night the presidency was secured by BHO.  "What's going to happen to us," was my gut reaction.  (The lamestream media and liberals conveniently ignore the fact he won with only 52.7% of the popular vote.)  What happened was untamed, unapologetic and instinctive.  A free people will NOT be held down.  There is, without a doubt, a deeply spiritual element to the conservative resurgence--and I think the Founders would be proud.  I struggled with trying to describe what the 912 march on the capitol in 2009 was like.  It's like when you meet the person you're supposed to marry.  You can't DESCRIBE it.  You just KNOW it.  You FEEL it.  That's what the march on the capitol was like.  The moment they announced there were 1.5 million people there was unlike anything else I've ever experienced.  The elation was palatable.  The joy was overflowing.  That was all the proof I needed to be reassured this country will stand and remain free.  Of course we have our work cut out for us, but the return to our roots--having people quote the Constitution, the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison and others--is exactly the road back.  We'll get there.  Our opponents have no choice.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

Government = UNnecessary Evil

How did we, as a nation, go from barely any government to government so big it screams, "BUT YOU NEED ME!" as it goes away?  Really?  Cuz we didn't "need you" 200 years ago.  Pretty sure we don't "need you" now.  I'm really sick of government telling us how much we need it.  You know what government is like?  Government is like the fly that keeps buzzing your ear at 5 a.m. while you're still trying to sleep.  It's annoying for awhile and then you finally get up and flatten it.  hmmm.  That gives me an idea.

The Irony of Government Rears Its Ugly Head Again

So, a few weeks ago, my husband bought 6 baby chicks--something we've done often over the last 10 years or so.  The difference this time was he was required to fill out a form and show his driver's license, by order of the MN Department of Health.  As a friend pointed out tonight, we are required by law to show a driver's license to buy a $1.69 baby chick, but NOT to vote.  Hm.  Our government at work.