The Silent Majority

　
The Tea Party = the Right Wing; Occupy Wall Street = the Left Wing.

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,628821312001_2024475,00.html

If it bleeds it leads..and so the Media, as usual, covers the noise, plays up the divide, making it appear that the whole country is marching in the streets against capitalism and the "rich" OR opposing taxing millionaires, demanding cuts in government spending at the cost of providing services that matter to us all. What we have is gridlock in DC and millions of disaffected people in the middle of two competing fringe groups.

To their dismay, Obama is playing both sides against the middle making the hostility against him worse. The Tea Party is stubbornly insisting that their candidate be ideologically in sinc with every facet of their agenda; and the Democrats align themselves with the Wall Street rioteers who claim to portray 99% of Americans... a vast exaggeration that fails to acknowledge the silent majority.

So which candidate benefits from this tangle of fringe elements of both parties? Surely not Obama, his governing style has been uneffective and partisan. His campaign rhetoric places him above it all, on the wrong track; not a good place to be in an election year. Has the fed-up middle of the pack chosen a candidate, yet?

Who knows? the Media certainly isn't projecting positive coverage on a huge part of the electorate that's definitely looking for an alternative to Obama. So we're on our own...perhaps Romney's reserved confidence and low key style is just what the doctor ordered..but we won't hear a peep about it until we shut out the noise and listen to the quiet folk who will elect the next President of the US of A.


Join Discussion Here: http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ws-politics&tid=220850

Leadership Deficit

Polls show that the American people are losing confidence in the competence of President Obama. As a result of a trifecta of doom Obama's approval rating has slid downward to 42%. Could be a blip on the radar? OR, the widespread realization that a one term Senator, a community organizer from Chicago and a maddeningly cerebral intellectual...is unable to set political maneuvers, empty rhetoric and superficial optics aside and respect the views of the American people that dare to be contrary to his own.

(SlickOnShore)
Obama's Press Conference bombed because the perception that he's "in charge" or that Government agencies will curtail the bureaucracy that stymies local peoples' efforts to clean-up the mess themselves is simply not apparent. Today Obama flew to the Gulf so as not to waste the crisis. He doesn't connect with the men and women who live on the Gulf and derive their livelihoods from the bounty of fish filled waters and beautiful beaches that lure tourists' and thier money to the region. What's clear is Obama doesn't feel anyones pain but his own.

(Yes We Can!!)
Truth is: No President could plug the deep water oil leak without the right government experience, resouces and know-how...sooo, BP is clearly in charge of that part of the disaster, NOT ('0'). However, as thousands of gallons of Oil floats towards the shoreline, destroying the fishing business at peak season, dirtying the beaches and polluting wetlands that serve as breeding grounds for many species of birds and animals, the people devasted by this Oil Spill should be mobilized to mitigate the damage to their own beloved environment without having their spirits dampened by government interference and red tape delays.

Working hard to make things better at home is a therapeutic tonic that's good for what ails ya...but apparently, Obama is clueless to Americans' Can DO DNA...instead, he reflexively relies on inept, unfeeling BIG government agencies that merely get in the way; and, worse...insists that worried, disappointed citizens do the same. Trust him, trust his beloved Government?

(The Mouth that Roared)
James Carville, a Louisiana resident and a prominent Hard Ball Democrat, nailed Obama's response to the BP Spill this way: "We're dying down here!!"..Ofcourse the WH criticized Carville for not blindly supporting his Party's President. After today's visit to the Big Easy when Obama tried to feign compassion..."I promise we will not abandon you." The *ragin cagin* was not taken in by the smoothe talker's calculated rhetoric, afterall, he said.. "they're just words" Words, by the way, that Carville said yesterday ...ACTION is what counts and what people on the Gulf are expecting...SOON.

(Who's Your Daddy?)
If you believe this happened..Melia interrupted her dad while shaving and asked: "Did you stop the leak yet, dad?" You can just hear Bill Clinton advising the President to show some emotion, personalize it..use your daughter to satisfy the prying, relentless Right Wing Conspiracy.

(Arizona Dissed Xs 2)
As soon as the State of Arizona passed the illegal alien law, Obama jumped on it. He smelled a pick-up of Hispanic voters for the Democrat Party and in 2012 for his re-election campaign. Everything's political with this crowd in the WH..but they're winding up on the wrong side of the fence on this issue.

The last thing Obama and his campaign consultants wanted was a battle in Congress over immigration reform before the November midterms. Polls show that 60 something percent of the electorate favor the Arizona Law and stronger Federal enforcement of Immigration Laws plus control of the border FIRST. Amnesty which most Democrats favor is a dirty word to the rest of the country.

Obama announced that he'd be sending 1200 National Guard Troops to the border. This was an insulting political ploy after John McCain and Republicans asked the CIC at a WH luncheon for 6000 troops to secure the Southern Border. Here again, Obama under estimates the IQs of the American people. The 1200 troops are not authorized to capture and arrest illegals crossing the border, they're paper pushers, clerks and bottle washers sent there for political affect...a phoney deployment devised to quiet down the protestors on both sides.

This administration had the nerve to equate the Arizona Law with human rights violations in China of all places. Also, on a State visit, Felipe Calderon, President of Mexico, when addressing Congress said the Arizona Law "introduces a terrible idea using racial profiling as a basis for law enforcement." He got a standing ovation from the Democratic side...Republicans kept their seats...as they will in November.:)

(Sestak seduced by Clinton)
Months ago, Joe Sestak told the story of the WH asking him to get out of the Primary against Arlen Specter..the WH has been clearing the field for reliable Obama followers since this election year began. Here in NY the Chicago mob told Governor Paterson not to run for re-election and has openly meddled in NY's choice of candidates. So I'm not surprised by the Sestak bribe, however, if everything was on the up-and-up when Obama was asked about the PA Primary scam, why not simply answer the question? Instead, he announced that a statement would be released that would explain the matter.

Well it came as expected this Friday before a 3 day holiday...classic. The White House Counsel reviewed the Law and made sure that nothing incriminating would be said or written by anyone involved in the shady transaction. Bubba, Bill Clinton (Impeached for lying), made the offer to Sestak but was unable to seduce him with a "no compensation job on an advisory panel?" This scenario doesn't pass the smell test.

That said, for the Obama machine it's Mission Accomplished!..President protected..no high crime or misdemeanor. This affair could've been disposed months ago by a more ethical, transparent Administration and a less desperate President. In this case the cover-up is a lot worse and less believable than the crime, if any.
　

Primary Omen

Ominous results for Obama in today's primaries....the candidate that distanced him or herself from the President and his "transformational" policies..WON.


(Political opportunism isn't selling this year)

After embracing Specter's 60th vote (enabling health care to advance) and Obama's blackmail attempts failed to convince Sestak to clear the field for Arlen, Specter lost. Just when 80 year old Arlen needed the President's appeal and charm the most, Obama DID indeed distance himself from Specter. Most likely, after seeing the latest internal polls, Obama thought better of adding to his growing string of unsucessful endorsements.

Specter chose the worst year to be an incumbent Democrat..."I am not a loyal Democrat" lost with the full backing of the State and Federal Democratic establishment.

(PA 12th district-special election)

Republicans lost Murtha's seat. The winner, Democrat Mark Critz, was endorsed and visited by the "come back kid," Bill Clinton; besides that, his closing argument was: "I'm pro life, I'll stop government spending, I'm against Obamacare, I'll bring jobs home. Mark Critz D-PA is hardly an Obama fawner and definitely not a reliable democratic vote.

(A run-off for Blanche)

The only primary the LEFT can be proud of is Arkansas. Blanche Lincoln was challenged by the left of the Democrat Party, who've been peeved that Obama and Lincoln did not push for the Public Option in Obamacare. Since Blanche Lincoln did not manage to get 50% of the vote needed to win and Bill Halter, scored 44-42, enough to win him a run-off June 8th which he'll probably win; then, promptly lose to the Republican in November, because, Bill Halter is too liberal to win a statewide race in Arkansas, especially this year.

(Tea Party beats R-establishment)

Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) buried his opponent, Mitch McConnell's man, Trey Grayson, 59-35. Paul's acceptance speech saluted the Tea Partiers for their support and for getting the Republican vote out. Rand Paul reflected the mood of the nation when he exclaimed his reason for running and expressed the need for Party factions to unite in purpose to "Take back our Country!"

The Revolution starts in November. Discussion HERE.
　
　

NY:Bomb Scare

Where There's Smoke

If it wasn't for a Street Vendor who warned police of a car fire on Times Square, the crowds of people visiting the City Landmark could have been treated to a ticking bomb scenario...or was it? NY is full of gangs with a gripe....a BOMB is the least it would take to pry the MSM away from the breaking news on the Gulf Spill, AND, ON THEIR CAUSE...whatever that happens to be?

Every demonstrator from Jihadis to NY's small businesses (mayor's bike safe zones) are angry at some one doing business in New York City..they all want their 15 minutes of fame in the spotlight of the News Capitol of the World....so this cynical newyorker will keep her powder dry, atleast till we find out if the IED was armed or if it was...just a "smoking car"?

UPDATE: Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized American citizen from Pakistan, is the Times Square bomber. He trained in terror camps in Pakistan and received money from sources overseas. Arrests of other Pakistanis were made in the NY and other NE States.

Shahzad made his first appearance in court today, he didn't enter a plea to the terrorism charges...the others were arrested on Immigration violations.

Discussion Here

Like It Is.....

AZ..."show us your papers."

Over-the-top reaction to the signing of the State's strict anti-illegal Law hit the air with this rant by Cardinal Roger Mahony; "I can't imagine Arizonans now reverting to German Nazi and Russian Communist Techniques." (And I thought the Tea Partiers had it bad?) Yeah, Hitler had a come back this week.

That said, all the law does is enforce Federal Immigration Laws already on the books. The Law makes it a state crime for aliens not to have immigration documents on their person. Police officers, after jumping through many just cause hoops, can ask for papers in the course of other police business..like traffic stops. Hardly draconian.

Financial Regulatory Bill

Dodd's Bill is filled with special interest loopholes and exclusions yet it claims to subject all "too big to fail" institutions to tough new regulations; in fact, far from protecting the little guy and sticking it to the fat cats, this bill keeps good, old fashioned political patronage alive and well.

Sachs-ploitation

This administration is stock full of Goldmen Sachs luminaries..Goldman contributed enormous sums of money to Obama's campaign; soooo, a "conflict of interest" between the WH and Goldmen Sachs, is not a stretch to surmise. In this climate, Goldman Sachs executives testified before Carl Levin's Senate panel..the result was more farce than discovery. The entire Senate panel showed a bipartisan commitment to poor manners and vacuous arrogance...when they didn't get the answers they went after, they insulted the witnesses.

Imposing regulation and taxes as punishment characterizes a forced transfer of power from private industry and free markets to government. The WH and much of Congress seem determined to punish success and wealth under the failed socialist theory, that IS..Obama's vision for the transformation of America.

Drill Baby Drill?

As the oil spill floats towards the coast of Louisiana, Obama is thanking his lucky stars for the opportunity to take back his only gift to Republicans this year, "off shore drilling." That tentative concession is on hold while Obama's Eco-nerds start writing restrictions for Big Bad Oil as they head for the mess in the Gulf of Mexico.

British Petroleum is responsible for the cost but because they had no back up plan to quickly and effectively stop and clean up a catastrophe of this magnitude...they've endangered the sensitive coastline of the Big Easy AND the drive to drill for demestic oil...BP has a valve that could've stopped the leak, but alas, for some unfathomable reason, this rig did not have a shut off valve, soooo, the pollution continues unabated for about 90 days.

This accident sets back the argument for domestic drilling of oil and gas. Without a doubt, US independence from foreign oil will be stymied as long as Obama is King.
　
　

VAT Chance?

The VAT is a type of national sales tax much like a Flat Tax, levied on the value added at each stage of production. If imposed without eliminating the existing Income Tax system, a VAT would finish the transformation of our Country into a European-style slow-growth nation.

If proponents wanted a VAT to replace the Internal Revenue code it could provide the revenues needed to reduce the exorbitant deficits and debt foisted on us by this reckless Democratic Administration. However, here's the rub...Obama and his crack economic team, would not only keep the Income Tax but raise taxes AND, on top of that, layer the taxpayers' burden with a European style VAT tax...PLUS keep on spending like there's no tomorrow!

That said, it would be a mistake for Republicans to dismiss a consumption based tax system too quickly. The VAT could result in fewer loopholes, a fairer tax system and increased revenues. Today's income tax code enables 50% of of taxpayers NOT to pay any tax at all which means that massive tax hikes are inevitable.

Bruce Bartlett, a former Reagan economic adviser, said the country's finances are in such dire shape, a VAT is the best option to move forward. (Is it?)

The VAT as proposed by this administration should be strongly opposed; however, in 2012 the Republican Party could offer to REPLACE the Income tax with a FLAT TAX, or VAT, in order to dig this Country out of this gigantic debt hole, promise to reduce spending, shrink the size of government and eventually balance the budget.

Today the public's anger over the horrifying government debt and oppressive growth of government might well signal the peoples' willingness to accept a bold NEW SOLUTION that won't involve class warfare or soaking the rich.

The elimination of the unpopular Internal Revenue System might be just the BIG IDEA Republicans need to win the presidency in 2012?

TREASURE and BLOOD

Before 2008 Republicans won seven of ten elections, and except for Bill Clinton, no Democrat since FDR won two terms. Republicans consistently convinced voters that Democrats could not be trusted with the most important responsibilities of the Presidency, namely, National Security and OUR MONEY.

($$$$$$)
During this Recession with exceptional foreclosures, drastically constricted consumer spending and horrific job losses, a quick, targeted shock of money by the Government is an unavoidable imperative. However, Obama's transformative, long term policies, i.e., health care, green energy and education, inserted into the Stimulus Spending Bill, absorbs most of the 787billion and provides little incentive for job creation and growth in the Private Sector; and WORSE, the spending accelerates over the long term for the expansion of these Government run programs, delays the recovery indefinitely and requires massive borrowing and unsustainable debt that will retard GDP for generations to come.

4/29/09 It took Obama 100 days to shrink GDP by 6.1%

(Obama's Bad Deal)
Furthermore, it doesn't take a Bean Counter to figure out who's been footing the bill for Obama's spending extravaganza or who will ultimately be paying down the debt in the form of huge and prolonged tax increases that siphon money from entrepreneurs and consumers, sentencing all of us to a deficit of prosperity never seen in this Country.


(D-CIC)
Iraq went on too long to keep the voters on board. Democrats used the public discontent to peal off moderate and independents in midterm elections giving them control of the House and Senate for Bush's last two years of his Second term. Obama's anti-war speech of 2002 was a key talking point in his campaign...he was anti-war and promised to withdraw the troops from Iraq in 12 weeks after he took office.

In fact, he's sensibly listening to his Generals who are older and wiser and will oversee a responsible troop drawdown. President Obama kept Robert Gates as Defense Secretary and appointed Gen. Jim Jones as his National Security adviser..he continued Bush policy Predator strikes in Pakistan and ordered more troops sent to Afghanistan.

That said, the Administration no longer calls two ongoing Wars "the War on Terror"..they're "overseas contingencies." He closed Gitmo without first deciding on an alternative option. Iran is still making a Nuclear Bomb in spite of Obama's solicitous video tape message. His Home Land Security Advisor, Janet Napalitano, released a report that implied Vets were "right wing extremists and potential domestic terrorists. She further showed her ignorance by saying that the 9/ll hijackers came from Canada.

Obama's travels to Europe and Latin America was an apology tour to boost his celebrity and to mollify the image of the USA, in that order. All the bowing, hand shaking and smiley faces accomplished nothing substantial...he didn't get more troops from NATO nor an advance on more Euros to stimulate the World Economy. He burnt his bridges with Sarkozy of France and other European leaders by endorsing Turkey's membership in the EU. N.Korea shot a missile off while Obama was talking No More Nukes. His approval ratings in Europe and in the Muslim World are contingent on his rhetorical disapproval of American history. Obama sees no evil, hears no evil, speaks no evil...he's oblivious to everything except his teleprompter on the World Stage.

When Obama came home and decided to release the Torture Memos to the public...Left Wing Democrats drooled at the prospect of hanging torture on top Bush officials and perhaps, Cheney himself. Cheney preempted the Inquisition by demanding the release of MORE memos to prove the information gleaned from the "harsh interrogation" worked and saved American lives. He called Ds bluff. Obama misjudged his authority over the radical lefties in Congress and Republicans are out for D-hypocrits' scalps. Let D-heads roll.

(Republican Rally)
The suggestion that Obama might support prosecutions and a congressional witch hunt could sap the morale of America's front line warriors and will paint him as naive on terrorism. If our nation is attackd on his watch after 8 years of safety under Republicans, his image as an ineffective CIC will be consistent with the public's notion of chronic weakness on National Security by the Democratic Party; and, bodes poorly for a second term for Obama and for maintaining Democratic majorities in 2010 and beyond.

I'm posting here/Talk to the Hand...2/19/10