Government Shutdown Not Unbearable – Especially Nice for Obama and Reid

Cantor and other House and Senate leaders meeting with President Barack Obama in November 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wow, the Democrats get to huff and puff about how they're not going to negotiate over either Obamacare or the debt ceiling. They get to call Republicans jihadists, terrorists, arsonists, etc. They get to summarily reject the House GOP's efforts to fund certain items, and talk about “Why should we want to help a kid with cancer?” Why should World War II veterans get to visit the WWII Memorial? After some vets visited anyway, they have apparently secured the site with sandbags and more barricades. That'll show 'em! These guys mean business.


They'd like to make the shutdown hurt as much as possible, then sit back and laugh about how (they think) they have a big political advantage.


But whatever progress they thought they were making toward getting Boehner to cave may have been dealt a severe blow by a Wall Street Journal report that says, in part:

Said a senior administration official: “We are winning...It doesn't really matter to us” how long the shutdown lasts “because what matters is the end result.”


White House allies, however, say a long shutdown could make the White House's position less tenable. Mr. Obama is the most visible symbol of the U.S. government, they say, and will inevitably share in the blame as hardships mount and people weary of the infighting.

To his credit, House Speaker Boehner responded with appropriate anger: “This is not some damn game!”





Reid was even getting so angry and personal about Senator Ted Cruz, he felt he had to apologize for his breach of Senate rules of decorum. I haven't heard anything from the GOP that resembles the Democrats' arrogant rudeness. [Reid story via Drudge Report]

President Obama, thus far has responded with the following:

1. Rather than fulfilling his duty to mitigate the inconvenience of the shutdown for the American people, he's trying to make it worse, by instructing the Senate Democrats not to accept any of the House funding bills, which would be helpful to people. Politics trumps duty (and decency) for these people.
   
2. The whining Obama is totally unwilling to negotiate. Instead of leading, he is campaigning against the idea of talking to the other party about very real and legitimate concerns they have, which represent those of their constituents.
   
3. As Rush Limbaugh pointed out, Obama has apparently become the first president to deliberately talk down the stock market. He's trying to put a scare into investors about the possibility of a default, which he, I suppose, wouldn't mind seeing just so he could blame it on Republicans.
   

Further, according to Mark Levin, lawyer and radio talk show host, Obama is preparing to blow up the separation of powers even further by raising the debt limit unilaterally. While this remains to be seen, it is entirely plausible, given the Obama track record of lawless acts, in regard to Obamacare, the National Labor Relations Board and a good many other things.



Obama must either negotiate with Republicans or see the debt limit crisis define his legacy. My suspicion is that he doesn't care about his legacy as long as he can transform America into a socialist/fascist dictatorship.


The citizens of the United States, I believe, are recognizing Obama's stubbornness as the main problem. Reid and his rubber-stamp Senate are Obama's co-culprits in the little drama. The adults are the Republicans, and the victim is the United States of America. Yes, things can get a lot worse, thanks to the Democrats. Republicans should hold the line.

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Rep. Allen West: Saying What Needs To Be Said

Rep. Allen West (R-FL) in YouTube video via TheBlaze:

 

Way to go, Congressman West! I hope the Democrat leaders are paying attention.

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After the Big Spill

Image via Wikipedia

Leftist environmentalists have been given a valuable gift in their struggle to stop offshore oil drilling: The BP-TransOcean oil spill. The timing is fortuitous for them, soon after President Obama’s proposal to expand offshore oil exploration. The oil spill is disastrous and tragic. People have died, businesses are threatened with extinction, and BP itself, on the hook for great expense, now with government’s “boot on its neck,” possibly faces its own end.

Llewellyn Rockwell at Mises Institute writes:

It is not as if BP profits by oil leaks, or that anyone reveled in the chance to dump its precious oil all over the ocean. BP gains nothing from this. Its own CEO has worked for years to try to prevent precisely this kind of accident from occurring, and done so not out of the desire to comply with regulations, but just because it is good business practice.

In contrast to those who are weeping, we might ask who is happy about the disaster:

1. the environmentalists, with their fear mongering and hatred of modern life, and
2. the government, which treats every capitalist producer as a bird to be plucked. [1]

As unfortunate as this accident is, it is not a sufficient reason to give up on offshore drilling, or the significant expansion of offshore drilling. That would be like giving up automobiles because of the Toyota acceleration problem, or giving up airliners because of a major crash. The Exxon Valdez oil spill did not result in a ban on oil tankers.

Among those backing continued offshore oil drilling and production are Texas Governor Rick Perry and Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson:

Speaking at a jobs summit in Washington, D.C., Perry repeatedly suggested that the spill was "an act of God." He said he hoped the massive spill would not lead to a "knee jerk" reaction to stop new or existing offshore drilling….

Patterson, who like Perry, has a long history of touting the safety of offshore drilling, said the accident was isolated and had not changed his views.

“Keep in mind that the last spill of this magnitude was in 1979, and that's 31 years ago,” said Patterson, whose office is responsible for oil spill cleanups in Texas. Patterson was referring to a June 1979 oil platform blowout that spewed millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, causing extensive damage along the Texas coast. [2]

CNS News reported that “Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said halting plans for offshore drilling because of the spill would be like stopping the space exploration program because of the 1986 Challenger explosion.” [3]

When one considers the large amount of offshore oil activity, and the rarity of serious accidents, this incident is not sufficient to justify stopping or refusing to allow additional offshore drilling and production.

CNS News carried an AP article on April 29 reporting that “[White House Press Secretary Robert] Gibbs and other officials said President Barack Obama remains committed to plans to expand offshore drilling to areas that are now off limits….” [4]

But this plan appears to be on hold as the president awaits a report from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar:

“The president was specific in ordering Secretary Salazar to look at all the possible aspects of what could and did go wrong in this instance, to report back to him in that 30-day period,” Gibbs said. “This is an administration that is going to take whatever information it gets from that and have it dictate our decision in going forward.” [5]

In addition to the concerns over the loss of life and economic damage, environmental cleanup is going to be costly and time-consuming. But the importance of pressing ahead with offshore oil activity overrides concerns about the environment, as serious as they may be. The environment will recover, as it did after other spills. The risk of further spills of this type in the near future is very low. Offshore oil production is indispensable. There are hundreds of offshore oil rigs and thousands of miles of pipelines, and tens of thousands of workers, who normally operate effectively and safely.

Rockwell emphasizes their importance over the “ecosystem”:

The abstraction called the “ecosystem” — which never seems to include mankind or civilization — has done far less for us than the oil industry, and the factories, planes, trains, and automobiles it fuels. The greatest tragedy here belongs to BP and its subsidiaries, and the private enterprises affected by the losses that no one intended. [5]

The accident needs to be investigated and the spill cleaned up. BP must be held to account for the damage. Democrats want to increase the environmental cleanup liability limit from $75 million to $10 billion. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he supports the proposal, but downplays its chances for Senate approval. [6] While BP says they will pay all appropriate damages, and they should, the proposed bill smacks of an ex post facto law. The government should have changed the limit before, if it was too low. It seems like political manipulation to try to change it now. If there are problems with BP’s compensation for damage, deal with them as they arise. They’re already likely to go out of business as a result of this spill.

[1] Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr., “Feel Sorry for BP?” Ludwig von Mises Institute.

[2]Aman Batheja and Maria Recio, “Perry backs offshore drilling, says spill may be act of God,” Star-Telegram.com.

[3] Fred Lucas, “After Oil Spill, Obama Uncertain on Offshore Drilling Policy,” CNS News.


[4] Matthew Daly, Associated Press, “White House: Oil Spill Could Affect Drilling Plan,” at CNS News.


[5] Lucas, see [3].

[6] Meredith Shiner, “Harry Reid backs BP liability bill,” Politico.


Photo illustrates workers using high pressure hot water washing to clean an oiled shoreline after Exxon Valdez oil spill.

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Merry Christmas from Grinch and Company

As I write this, there remains the slenderest possibility that the “health care reform” bill may not pass the Senate. I keep reading that Democratic Party leaders are looking toward a Christmas Eve vote on the measure. The health care bill has less than 40 percent support among the American public (see video in my previous post). President Obama himself has a 41 percent “strong disapproval” rating among likely voters according to Rasmussen (12/20/2009).

But if Sen. Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the President have their way, we’re going to get it come hell or high water. Merry Christmas. Enjoy your “gift.”

Another item under the socialist tree for us is a “meaningful” agreement on climate change. Even China is on board with it, since it is an unenforceable, non-binding “agreement” underwritten with America’s $100 billion pledge to help third world countries deal with the non-existent problem of man-made climate change, although, even if everyone participated fully, there would be produced virtually no measurable change in the earth’s climate. And the Obama Administration and Democrat-controlled Congress want to give us cap and trade as an additional contribution to the cause.

You’ve heard of gifts that break the bank. This one will strain many, many budgets.

Now, if they could only get us to stop driving and flying, stop eating beef and drinking milk, and, preferably, stop breathing, or maybe just kill ourselves off and leave the earth to the more-deserving creatures of nature, that would apparently be their ideal. As ridiculous as that sounds, that is the basic direction the environmental extremists want us to go.

They would like their climate-change religion to replace the traditional religions of the world, especially Christianity. Others might be OK if they don’t interfere with the great environmentalist plan. Before Christians and Christian groups get much more involved in the climate change movement, they should consider the fact that, while the Bible teaches responsible care of things under our stewardship, it also teaches that the earth was created primarily as a home for man. Animals, and indeed all nature, were placed under man’s subjection, and intended for his use, for the glory of God. Although sin has led to various abuses, this intention has not changed.

As we celebrate the birth of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, we might do well to reflect on these things. Every responsible citizen would like to minimize pollution and preserve a safe and human-friendly environment. But it need not be at the cost of our freedom and our economy.

“… [W]here the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17). America’s heritage is liberty and individual responsibility, based explicitly on the Judeo-Christian tradition. These are principles now endangered by what used to be called “creeping socialism,” that has now become blatant socialist-fascist power-grabbing government. Obama is quick, and rather enthusiastic, in pointing out his view that America is no longer considered a Christian nation. He himself claims to be a Christian, but if he is in agreement with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, it’s a far-out fringe using the name Christian. I don’t know what Obama’s actual beliefs are, but we know something of his associations, including twenty years as Wright’s church member.

David Barton, in one of Wallbuilders’ periodic emails (12/17/2009), quotes from Harry Truman’s Christmas message in 1952 (near the end of tenure as President):

“Through Jesus Christ the world will yet be a better and a fairer place. This faith sustains us today as it has sustained mankind for centuries past. This is why the Christmas story, with the bright stars shining and the angels singing, moves us to wonder and stirs our hearts to praise. Now, my fellow countrymen, I wish for all of you a Christmas filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and many years of future happiness with the peace of God reigning upon this earth.”

Amen, I say.

Obama can’t bring himself to mention Christmas or Christ on the official Holiday (?) greeting cards. G.K. Chesterton’s words are especially true today: “These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.”
(Illustrated London News 08/11/1928)

There are convincing arguments against “health care reform” and cap and trade that do not rely on theological or religious reasons. Economic and political arguments will suffice. But because of the out-of-touch government officials’ attempts at minimizing Christianity and promoting every kind of multi-culturalism and relativism, some defense appears to be needed. More eloquent spokesmen than I can state this better; I just feel I need to say something.

These presents I’ve mentioned, from our beloved federal government, reflect, I think, the political equivalent of the spirit of the pre-repentant Grinch. Unlike Dr. Seuss’s famous character, these politicians aren’t likely to change their ways (politically, I mean). They’ll continue this kind of “giving” to the American people as long as they have the opportunity.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. So far, it’s still America and still comparatively free. Thanks be to God.

Illustration: clipart.christiansunite.com

How Much Ridiculous Government Control Are We Willing To Put Up With?

“…the law is a ass – a idiot….” – Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, Chapter 51.

When it comes to the Nancy Pelosi so-called “health care” bill, the above statement is much, much too true. Under the worse-than-worthless so-called leadership of Pelosi and Reid, Congress is looking to pass the worst legislation ever presented in Congress.

Not only is the would-be law in question “a ass,” but so is each of the congressional leaders proposing it. And that is being too kind to them. They deserve to be removed from office. If we, the American people, are willing to accept this stuff, I guess we deserve what we get.

First, hear Pelosi “justifying” prison terms for refusal to buy insurance:



When government takes over, watch out! Your money and freedom are in danger.

Just check one of the sections that have been sneaked into the bill, Section 2572 (H.R. 3962, page 1,511 and following). This section requires chain restaurants to provide calorie and nutrient information on all menus for “standard menu items.” For salad bar and self-service items displayed, calorie and nutrient information must be displayed adjacent to each food item. [1]

This is simply an unconstitutional destruction of freedom. Big Brother rules like this undermine all our liberties and generate disrespect for legislators and such stupid laws.

For vending machine operators, the requirements are just as onerous if not more so:

“Section 2572 of the bill (H.R. 3962) says, “In the case of an article of food sold from a vending machine that – (I) does not permit a prospective purchaser to examine the Nutritional Facts Panel before purchasing the article or does not otherwise provide visible nutrition information at the point of purchase; and (II) is operated by a person who is engaged in the business of owning or operating 20 or more vending machines, “the vending machine operator shall provide a sign in close proximity to each article of food or the selection button that includes a clear and conspicuous statement disclosing the number of calories contained in the article.” (See page 1,515 of H.R. 3962 Section 2572 (H) (viii).” [2]

Does that sound innocent and simple? It is vicious. It is an affront to liberty. It is an insult to every American. Besides the fact that it is on its face a reprehensible requirement in terms of liberty, it is extremely costly to the vendors affected. This is only one relatively small part of the extremely high cost of these proposals.

“[The National Automatic Merchandising Association] NAMA estimated that the first year start-up cost to comply with the basic disclosure would be $56.4 million.” [3]

I see these requirements as more reasons to view the legislation as a great government power grab, and more reasons to believe that the less the government does, the better. I just wish Congress could reduce their work week to four hours or less so they could do less harm to America.

Of course the “health care” bill is a basic foundation of Obama’s fascist regime. I and many others have written many articles arguing against it. It is supported by only a minority of the American voters, and that number is steadily decreasing.

I have argued against this legislation as against policies I oppose. This goes deeper than a mere difference of opinion. This is part of a socialist-fascist regime that must be stopped or America as we have known it is going to be destroyed and our freedom lost. Obama, Pelosi, Reid and company are working hard to wreck our economy and freedom. That is the aim of the gigantic deficits and resulting unpayable debt, added to already unsustainable government programs, and liberty-destroying proposals, one after another. The 2010 and 2012 elections may be the most important ever.

It is unfortunate that so many people only see “benefits” as described by the lying government officials, and care nothing (as the officials care nothing) for the Constitution and the disastrous consequences, economic and other, of these evil proposals. I cannot state strongly enough my belief that the Obama Administration and Democratic congressional leadership are among the worst ever in our history. Such laws cannot be justified legally or morally. I wish them success in their constitutionally enumerated responsibilities but not in their unconstitutional ventures.

Are we to be a free people, or are we to be led about by the nose by the would-be fascist masters of the Democratic Party leadership?

The American people deserve better than this.


[1] H.R. 3962 text available at http://www.centerforpolicyanalysis.org/id57.html

[2] Christopher Neefus, “Pelosi’s Health Care Bill Would Regulate Snack Machines at Estimated Cost of $56 Million the First Year,” CNS News.com 11/26/2009, at http://cnsnews.com/news/article/56572

[3] Ibid. NAMA represents the vending machine industry.


Photo: Cover page of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, 1838. Source: The New York Public Library, Berg Collection of English and American Literature.

Good News? Could Be ...

1. John Boehner Says Obamacare Is Dead

This would be great if correct. America needs for Obamacare to go the way of Hillarycare. Obamacare proponents discuss the need for a “public option,” but the whole thing is a big “public option,” whether or not it has a feature that is called by that name. In any event, if Obamacare is passed, within a few years, say a decade or less, we’ll have the government option as the only option. We’ll lose important rights if this proposal passes, and it will be very difficult if not impossible to recover them.

“‘There’s been no bipartisan conversation on Capitol Hill about health care,’ [House Republican Leader John] Boehner said in an interview with ‘Meet the Press’ host David Gregory. ‘At some point when these big government plans fail—and they will, the Congress will not pass this—it’s really time for the president to hit the reset button, just stop all of this and let’s sit down and start over in a bipartisan way to build a plan that Americans will support.’

“‘So you think the plan is dead?’ asked Gregory.

“‘I think it is,’ said Boehner.” [1]



2. Cap and Trade Legislation is in Trouble

Politico reports that the cap and trade bill is in trouble for this year because Democrats from coal-, oil- and manufacturing states believe the bill would be unfair to their states by causing disproportionate increases in energy costs. Also, with focus now on health care, and an attempt to pass new regulation of the financial sector, there possibly won’t be time or political capital available for action this year. [2]

As I and others have pointed out before, this is one of the worst pieces of legislation ever proposed. It has already passed the House, but faces an uphill fight in the Senate. This bill is supposed to be the answer to climate change and a big revenue raiser for the government, but in fact it would do nothing to help climate change or government revenues. Even if man-made climate change were an actual problem (which it isn’t) and even if this bill would do something toward controlling it (which it wouldn’t), remember that India and China will never be on board with it, because they are trying to grow their economy rather than destroy it as Obama is trying to do with ours.

And as far as revenues are concerned, enactment of this monstrosity would make the recession seem permanent, and combined with Obamacare would lead to a depression. If cap and trade is passed, many manufacturers and energy producers would shut down business or curtail production, and if possible, seek opportunities overseas. Almost all prices would increase as a result of increased energy costs. Revenues to the government would decrease because there would be fewer taxpayers, and those remaining would be earning less and paying less in taxes.

Also, cap and trade would do nothing to encourage things that would actually help our energy situation, such as domestic oil production, offshore and ANWR drilling, and nuclear power.

“‘I’d like to see climate change done before December so we can go to Copenhagen with something in our hands,’ said Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin. ‘We might be able to get to it in November.’” [3]

This reflects the kind of misguided thinking that exacerbates the economic problems we have – trying to impress some international representatives whose countries are, truth be told, less interested in “climate change,” and more interested in putting the U.S. at an economic disadvantage. I have to hope that some day soon, good sense will prevail and this whole climate change and global warming “issue” will go the way of Prohibition. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got some opposition from citizens on cap and trade in Nevada in August:



To be rid of both these bills would be wonderful, but, of course, there’s always the chance they’ll be back.

[1] Terence P. Jeffrey, “Boehner Says Democrat Health Care Plan Is Dead,” 09/20/09, at http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/54273.

[2]Lisa Lerer, “Vital signs weak for climate bill,” at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27251.html#ixzz0RoQIEGhq.

[3] Ibid.