Saturday, July 31, 2010

Seven Reasons I'm Looking Forward to November

1. Nancy Pelosi



2. Harry Reid



3. Charlie Crist



4. Lloyd Doggett



5. Ciro Rodriguez



6. Barbara Boxer



7. Thanksgiving

Excited yet?

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Feeling stimulated?

Remember that picture I tweeted a few days ago? The stimulus sign that popped up near where I live? Well, at least we know the $787 billion stimulus package has created at least one job - someone to take off the Obama-is-a-Socialist-Joker stickers that reappear out of nowhere every few days.

Here it was then:


And this is it now:


'Nuff said.

UPDATE 7/21: Sticker's gone again.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

"Ford, I lift your name on high..."

One of my favorite comedians on what happens when churches sell out to corporations:


Check out Tim Hawkins' YouTube channel for more hysterical videos!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Palin for President?

Speculation is rampant as to whether Sarah Palin will pop back into politics in 2012. Some say it's inevitable - what else could she be planning with the millions that SarahPAC is raising? Some say she can't win. Others say it's too soon. But it certainly seems that a 2012 ticket is looming on the horizon. And I say she should go for it.

photo courtesy of Sarah Palin's Facebook

Back before the 2008 elections, listening to Mike Huckabee got me interested in politics. I liked what he was saying, and for the first time politics was something more than some lofty, ill-defined concept that only my parents cared about. I started paying attention when we watched the news every night.

But it was Sarah who really got me into it. I still have her VP nomination speech on my iPod. I really felt (and still feel) a personal connection to her. It was through her charismatic interviews and speeches, "you betchas" and all, that I pursued and became fully aware of my political and personal values. The cheerful, unapologetic manner with which she conducts herself seemed so different than the stiff, stodgy old men I recognized as traditional politicians. To her, it's all right to be a country girl, to love America, and to be a strong, outspoken conservative woman. Sarah Palin was something new and exciting for me.

Granted, there are women like Michele Bachmann and Jan Brewer, and there are the newly crowned "mama grizzlies," but still there is no one else like Sarah Palin.

And her prospects are looking better and better. As President Obama's approval ratings are sinking, Palin's fan base is growing. A recent PPP poll shows Palin and Obama tied in a hypothetical 2012 race.

Former Bush and McCain media advisor Mark McKinnon wrote of Sarah Palin, "This one inspires deep loyalty, and deep fear." That fear is evident, as the Left still resorts to the same cheap tactics they used when Palin first entered the political scene: assaults against her intelligence, her experience, and her conservative beliefs. Precious few of their allegations stand up to scrutiny (remind me again what exactly a community organizer does that's better than having actual executive experience?), and yet the media continues to propagate them. I don't think they realize that with each petty dig, Palin's followers grow in both loyalty and numbers. She exerts a staggering command over the conservative sector of America.

McKinnon also said that it was impossible for Sarah Palin to win the general election if nominated. But just remember that Ronald Reagan unsuccessfully sought the nomination twice. But when he did win, it came at exactly the right time.

History has a funny habit of repeating itself. Maybe it’ll happen again with Sarah.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Candidate Profile: Sean Duffy

courtesy of Sean Duffy's flickr
Running for:
House of Representatives, Wisconsin District 7

Primary: September 7

Notable Endorsements: Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Erick Erickson, Wisconsin Right to Life PAC

Background: Raised in Wisconsin. Tenth of eleven siblings. Graduated from law school and practiced law for two years. Former county Special Prosecutor and District Attroney. Under his direction, Ashland County began investigating and prosecuting child Internet sex crimes before many other counties. Enjoys logrolling. Was once on a reality TV show. Married with six children.

Issue Breakdown:
  • Abortion: Pro-life
  • Cap and Trade: Opposes
  • Constitution: Strict constructionist
  • Defense: Supports full funding of military operations and intelligence agencies, best-quality care for veterans and military families, decisive action against global terrorism
  • Economy: Committed to stopping unsustainable spending and neutralizing the deficit, wants to reduce regulation and lower taxes
  • Energy: Wants independence
  • Education: Wants local school districts to have more control over education, to reform special interest influence, and to encourage university/technical college enrollment
  • Entitlements: Supports reform (without abandoning those already relying on Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare)
  • Healthcare: Opposes ObamaCare, wants preexisting conditions to have no effect on insurance, supports competition across state lines, supports tort reform
  • Immigration: Wants borders secured
  • Marriage: Between a man and a woman
  • Second Amendment: Defender of individual gun ownership rights
  • Taxes: Supports flat tax, tax reduction for small businesses, tax cuts on overtime, and increase of child tax credits
My Assessment: Duffy is running for the seat held by David Obey, the author of the $787 billion stimulus package and a 40+ year representative who's about as incumbent as you can get. His Republican opponent Dan Mielke also ran against Obey in 2008. Duffy's campaign fundraisers have been quite successful, and he has an excellent record. To quote the National Review, "the Democratic strategy against Sean Duffy is to repeat 'reality star' a lot and hope everyone ignores that he's been a successful prosecutor." What little dirt his opponents have managed to dig up on him is hardly damning.

Duffy certainly looks promising. If everything keeps running smoothly, it's likely he will defeat Mielke. And from there... well, let's just say it's time for Wisconsin-7 to clean house.

Pun intended.

In His Words:







On the Web: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Flickr / YouTube

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Supreme Blandness

When listening to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan speak, one can't help but be struck by the lack of... well, anything.

Kagan has no remarkable record, no conviction, no charisma. She can never bring herself to answer for her past actions without shirking and circumvention. She rarely seems to know exactly what the Senators grilling her are referencing. And she can't even decide whether she supports strict constructionism or a "living" Constitution. She is without a doubt the most bland, but still liberal, candidate to be found.

With Kagan's nomination, President Obama is just filling slots. He needs another liberal Democrat in the Court; Kagan fits the bill. Other than that, she's got almost nothing going for her. And it has become increasingly clear that the bar has been lowered to include her, as it similarly was for the "wise Latina" Sonia Sotomayor.

But where are the feminists? Shouldn't the self-appointed defenders of womankind be up in arms against the injustices their sex is suffering? Shouldn't they be outraged, and rightfully so, demanding to know why Washington couldn't find a woman of intellectual weight equal to that of the men serving on the Court? If feminists aren't going to stand up for Sarah Palin and Nikki Haley, shouldn't they at least stand up for the women who adhere to their liberal agendas?

Kagan may not be particularly decisive, eloquent, or seemingly intelligent, but she's a woman... with progressive tendencies. And for some, evidently that's enough.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Ravishing Light and Glory

After a long and hard-fought battle of both blood and reason, arguably the most important document in all of history, the Declaration of Independence, was adopted. Our nation achieved its freedom.

John Adams, the father of independence, wrote:

I am apt to believe that [Independence Day] will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more...Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.

And to this day 234 years later, American patriots still get a chill thinking of the actions of those brave men. We are proud to have inherited the greatest country on this earth. And even when we disagree with its leaders, we take up responsibility for its defense. We, like the founding fathers before us, will not stand for tyranny or usurpations of our liberty.

This Independence Day, take a few minutes to read the Declaration and remember the courage of our founding fathers and the values they instilled in us: "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

We are Americans. We will stand for nothing less.


Saturday, July 3, 2010

HELL NO!

Last night marked the first time I ever really appreciated Rick Perry, governor of my home state, when I heard him speak at the Texas Defending the American Dream Summit. Armed only with a few scribbled notes, a charming country twang, and a captivating passion for his fellow Texans, Perry easily surpassed the eloquence of Barack Obama's ubiquitous teleprompter.

He was comfortable on stage, loose enough to joke with fellow speaker Joe the Plumber, and fervent enough to command our full attention. In some of the most intensely emotional moments his voice sank to a mere whisper, at others he raised his voice to boom across the ballroom "not just no, but HELL NO!"

Perry quoted the central tenet of conservatism - "Get the hell out of the way, government!" - and wrapped it up with the most basic concepts of freedom.

Last night I began to appreciate how blessed I am to live in a state like Texas.


Texas is not like the rest of the United States. We are ranked the top state for entrepreneurs, lead the nation in job growth, and, thanks to the lack of state personal income taxes, have created a supportive environment for small businesses and economic growth. We have more Fortune 500 companies than any other state and have enacted tort reform to curtail frivolous lawsuits. As the 11th largest economy in the world, Texas leads the country in energy production and created more new jobs in 2008 than all the other states combined. And we're still growing jobs. Texas is the number one relocation destination in the United States (especially from the quickly tanking California).

Thanks to our precautionary "rainy day" fund, Texas now has a budget surplus. Next year may bring about a deficit, but with continued economic vigilance that deficit can be averted.

Texas is proof that solid conservative principles are the way to economic security, to the American Dream. With "guaranteed throwdown long-range fiscal conservatives" like Perry who are unafraid to get the government the hell out of the way, we have put the nanny state and big government tactics to shame. Because that's not the way this country works, and that's certainly not the way Texas works.

Washington, D.C., could learn a bit from us down here in God's country.

This November, and again in 2012, we're saying HELL NO! to economic ruin and progressive liberal agendas. We're taking our government back.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Texas Defending the American Dream Summit

I just got back from the Texas Defending the American Dream Summit... and it was AWESOME! (Just a quick post before retiring so I can be up bright and early for day two tomorrow. Contrary to the title of this blog, I don't actually enjoy staying up particularly late.)

I learned a ton from the various sessions I attended and had some great conversations. It was such a positive environment - I've never met so many people on the same wavelength, so excited to be there sharing what they know. The gentlemen from Texas College Republicans were especially nice, and there were quite a few other young people there as well. After a whole year at an extremely liberal university, it's so nice to see that I'm not really alone!!

There were some great sessions on how to effectively use the Internet for conservative activism, featuring Raz Shafer (@razshafer), Melissa Clouthier (@melissatweets), Will Franklin (@willisms), and Matt Lewis (@mattklewis). I'm quite new to Twitter in particular, so these speakers were very helpful.

Keynote speakers for dinner were:
  • Steven Crowder, who was hysterical as usual
  • Rick Perry, whose awesomeness I can't say I fully appreciated until now (more on that in a later post)
  • Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal, from whom I learned more economics in an hour than I ever did from my high school economics teacher (which, granted, isn't saying much, but still...)



Next time Americans for Prosperity holds a summit in your state, I highly encourage you to go. The Texas summit is only halfway through, but already it's been well worth the time and money.

DAY TWO UPDATE:
The conservative people of Texas are a truly remarkable bunch. I met dozens, even hundreds of fellow Texans who are concerned by the direction their government is going. And I was lucky enough to make a few new friends along the way.

Before attending sessions on cap and trade, states' rights, and the textbook controversy, everyone gathered in the ballroom again for speeches by some of the most well-known conservative political figures - Michael Williams, Joe the Plumber, John Fund, and Herman Cain (my new favorite person in the entire world).

Clips:










I don't think I've ever been so proud to be Texan and so proud to be American as I am today. And I encourage all of you to look into Americans for Prosperity.