Santorum Is Not as Slick as the Other Rick, but is Just as Sick

Rick Santorum is, according to the progressive propaganda machine, “a right wing extremist”.  But is this really true?  Santorum says that his positions are about the same as Bachmann’s, but he claims that he is better at “getting things done” or that he has more “proven leadership”.  Yeah, that kind of sounds like Tim Pawlenty’s criticism only more politely stated.  “So you voted against the bailouts, Obamacare, and the stimulus.  It’s still your fault that all these things happened because of your lack of leadership even though you have only been in the House of Representatives for two terms and you are only one of the 435 of its members.”  (This is not an exact quote from either Pawlenty or Santorum, but basically that is what they said.)  This is an incredible, if not disturbing claim.  If you’re clever, you can read between the lines to see what Santorum and Pawlenty are really saying.  They are insulted by this new upstart who has only been in Congress for two terms.  She hasn’t yet “paid her dues”.  They have done more political favors than Bachmann.  They have more “chips to cash in” that will help them win the election and get legislation passed.  (But they have nothing in that regard compared to Rick Perry.)  That is what is really behind Santorum’s statement that he is better at “getting things done” and “leadership”. 

Consider the language contained in the Department of Health and Human Services appropriations bill, H.R. 4606 of the 103rd Congress that Santorum voted for: 

SEC. 509. None of the funds appropriated under this Act shall be expended for any abortion except when it is made known to the Federal entity or official to which funds are appropriated under this Act that such procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother or that the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d103:h.r.04606:

(Click on text of legislation, the enrolled bill [H.R.4606.ENR], then click on “OPERATING EXPENSES” and find section 509 under Title V.  Find the House roll call vote under “Major Congressional Actions” or click here.)

What’s worse that the fact that the appropriated money could be used for abortions in cases of rape and incest is that abortion providers received no small amount of money from this bill which they could use for purposes other than abortion.  These funds were used indirectly to support abortion.  And this is not the only instance of Santorum voting for abortion funding.  There is also H.R. 2518 of the 103^rd Congress (again find it under Title V, section 509).  Here is the language in H.R. 3061 of the 107^th Congress, which Santorum also voted for:

SEC. 509. (a) The limitations established in the preceding section shall not apply to an abortion--

(1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or

(2) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed.

(b) Nothing in the preceding section shall be construed as prohibiting the expenditure by a State, locality, entity, or private person of State, local, or private funds (other than a State's or locality's contribution of Medicaid matching funds).

(c) Nothing in the preceding section shall be construed as restricting the ability of any managed care provider from offering abortion coverage or the ability of a State or locality to contract separately with such a provider for such coverage with State funds (other than a State's or locality's contribution of Medicaid matching funds).

(Again find it under Title V, section 509.)

Santorum has the gall to accuse his opponents of being pro-choice* just because they believe that abortion should legal in cases of rape and incest while at the same time, he sees nothing wrong with voting for bills that fund abortion, even while there is a Republican President and a Republican majority in both Houses!  If this is what he means by “getting things done”, we don’t want it!  Santorum took Bachmann’s side against Ron Paul in the argument that the states do not have a Constitutional right to mandate the purchase of healthcare coverage.  So it’s not OK for the states to pass a healthcare mandate, but it is OK for you Repugnants to pass a mandate that says that we must pay for these abortions?  Career politicians like Santorum think that if they fall in line and vote for !@#$ like this, then later they can undo the harm that they caused once they get more power.  But it never works and the warped desire for more power and the compromising never ends.  

Santorum refused to intervene in the selection of fellow Pennsylvanian and then Republican Arlen Specter to chairmanship of the House Judiciary.  “It’s not my place to interfere,” he said.  Not only that, he actually campaigned for Specter, who, after being elected to the term that Santorum helped him to win, became a Democrat and voted for Obamacare!  Now how’s that for “leadership”?  Is this pot smoker going to legislate his brand of morality as our President?  No he won’t, because, as I said, he has not done nearly as many political favors as Rick Perry.  Santorum will drop out as soon as he gets over the delusion that he might actually win.

*Chris Wallace said this in one of the recent debates and Santorum didn’t deny it.

The “Negotiator” (2011), Smash Summer Movie Hit Starring Barack Obama

Hat tip goes to DRScoundrel.com for posting this video and pictures today on their website.




Cut the Crap, Mr. President!



Cut the Spending, Mr. President!



Obama: Leader or Politician?

Quote/Unquote

I saw this succinct analysis of the President's leadership skills. I found the quote in Greg Brown's article, "Distant and Disconnect," in the July 2011 issue of Newmax Magazine.

"Barack Obama is not a leader. He's a politician. He doesn't speak from his heart, he speaks from a TelePrompter. If the TelePrompter went down, he would be stymied." 

 --- Jeffrey Gitomer commenting on the President's leadership (or lack of it).

Deficut: Getting Down to Budget Business

 President Soetoro aka Obama a failure of leadership

Leadership Gap 

“... Meanwhile the (Republicans and Democrats) fight over relatively microscopic slivers and nicks, such as $14.8 million for grants for restoring historic buildings.

“Finding big money – the hundreds of billions (trillion and one-half!) needed ti dent the deficit – is a lot harder.

“Of course it is, as long as Congress keeps looking only within the confines of nondefense discretional spending – about 12 percent of the budget.

“Members of Congress could take a lesson from Ohio Governor John Kasich and other governors around the nation who are making unpopular but necessary decisions to rein in spending and restore their government s to sustainability.

“America needs national leaders with the same determination.” 

-- Editorial, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch Newspaper, March 20, 2011

Seldom do I agree with the editors of the heavily liberally biased capitol city paper. However, this time I agree with the gist of Sunday’s editorial. We need real leadership in the U.S. Congress to approve a deficit cutting budget for the remainder of this fiscal year and going forward. There is a lack of leadership on the part of both parties, but especially the spendthrift and tax it Democrats, although there are many Republicans-in-Name-Only who unfortunately talk one way to get elected and walk with the Democrats on many issues when push comes to shove.

Well, it is push time. I heard Missouri Congressman Todd Akin on C-Span simply expain that the Federal government receives $2.2 Trillion in revenue and will spend this year $3.6 trillion. It does not take a tax-avoiding Dartmouth schooled Secretary of the Treasury to figure that this is an unsustainable way to operate any entity, let alone a nation.

Representative Akin went on to say during his C-Span interview that funding of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and interest on the debt alone add up to $2.2 Trillion. So if we wanted a balanced budget it would take all the revenue the government is currently receiving to pay the current rate of entitlements plus the interest on the debt. Houston, err Washington, we have a problem!

Jim DeMint Takes the Lead

"You can't be a fiscal conservative and not be a social conservative." 

---  U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, (R-SC), arguing that moral decline has had fed the growth of government. Fox News, November 9, 2010. 

I agree with Sen. DeMint. I disagree with the Tea Party Patriot organization and other in the Tea Party Movement that we focus exclusively on fiscal matters, as important as those are. Their emphasis and focus is strictly on fiscal issues and they shun social issues. I think they do a good work up to a point. However, they are missing a key ingredient of Conservatism, the social issues. This is what separates conservatives from libertarians or liberals.


In a February 2011 CitizenLink.com article, "Cost of Discipleship," DeMint is quoted as saying, “I think, increasingly, while some are calling for a separation of the social and fiscal issues, more and more people realize that [many] of our fiscal problems in this country are related to the breakdown of families, unwed births, as well as other problems, such as school dropout, drug use, juvenile delinquency,” he said. “You cannot really ignore it if you are a fiscal conservative. We need to recognize that good social policy is really important to the fabric of our country.”


We currently have a wicked social policy. We have big government who wants be God. DeMint is further quoted, “American believers know that their rights come from God, and they sense that our government is trying to displace God as the rights giver.  People are not coming to ask the government to become more religious — or even to promote morality — but to stop promoting immorality and to stop purging faith from the private sector.”


It behooves Americans to listen to a true statesman, a true leader, Senator DeMint. What a contrast he is to the person who currently occupies the White House!

The Obama Doctrine: Cower Power

There was a good article today in the online Wall Street Journal (WSJ) today titled, “The Obama Doctrine,” which dealt with the President’s handling of the situation in Libya.  The article began with a quote by Ben Rhodes, White House Security Council spoken, who was quoted in the Washington Post on Thursday, March 10, 2011. Rhodes said,  ‘This is the Obama conception of the U.S. role in the world—to work through multilateral organizations and bilateral relationships to make sure that the steps we are taking are amplified.”

The current occupier of the White House has chosen to be a follower rather than a leader, both in this country and abroad. His "leadership" is demonstrating to the rest of the world an America weak, indecisive and unwilling to stand for freedom or to stand against evil. Too bad, the only place he is leading America is destination destruction. 


The author of the WSJ piece comments, “When the U.S. fails to lead, the world reverts to its default mode as a diplomatic Tower of Babel.” That is the gist of the problem. As the only world superpower fades to mediocrity and to oblivion, the President is under the delusion that if he plays nice with the enemy, including Muslim extremists, that these barbarians will come around. Like much of the Leftists’ other fantasies, that is just what President Obama’s foreign policy is, fantasy.

The only consistent thing about Dear Leader is that he does not lead. He shows no leadership at home with the massive budget deficit and debt he helped to build up the last two years and in foreign affairs in dealing with Libya. In regard to Libya his response has been to wait for the rest of the world to act. Meanwhile, those rebelling against a terrorist dictator are left to fend for themselves. He sits back and watches things happen. His lack of executive experience and his immaturity is being exposed with each passing day.

Every Nation IS Under God

In the pledge of allegiance of the United States of America are the words, “one nation under God.” As a matter of fact, in reality every nation is under God: Not only or simply the United States of America.

In Psalms 75:5, 6 we read, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

With riots taking place and the leader of Egypt leaving office we need to remember that the God of heaven is greater than all the nations put together.

There was a man by the name of Nebuchadnezzar who was the ruler of ancient Babylon (which is present day Iraq) and had conquered the known world at that time. As he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon the king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws (Daniel 4:30-33).”

“At the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase (Daniel 4:34-37).”

God is able to deal with any leader as He sees fit.

To the GOP: We don’t want more of the same (No MOTS)

House Leadership Appointments Good and Bad  

A week ago I wrote an article, "Two Key U.S. House Chairmanships in Play," about two key committee leadership positions which the GOP must fill. Well today those positions were filled.

THE GOOD

Congrats to Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), the newly elected Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman, who will lead the conservative caucus in the 112^th Congress.

I am happy for my Representative, Jim Jordan’s recent election as chairman of the conservative caucus for the new Congress. This will be an important position because of the makeup of the conservative makeup of the 60+ new representatives elected on November 2, 2010. The RSC functions as the conscience of the conservative movement. Hopefully Rep. Jordan will wield a powerful influence for good on his fellow Republicans. That said, I would have preferred to see Louie Gohmert (R-TX) as chairman of this group. Only because he has more experience and boldness to stand up to the entrenched Country Club Republicans that his hold a lot of power.

THE BAD

I don’t especially like the election of Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) as Chairman of the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee. After all, he is the ‘brain’ behind the move to get rid of the incandescent light bulb in favor of the mercury-laden CFL bulbs. This may be a very unwise move on the part of the Republicans. It seems to me to be a business-as-usual move not in keeping with the change demanded by the November 2^nd election. I am very disappointed. I would have preferred to have Cliff Stearns (R-FL) elected as chairman of that committee. I think he would have provided stronger principled conservative leadership.

Upton: A Bad Idea

The GOP also selected another entrenched good old boy, Hal Rogers, to lead the very powerful House Appropriations Committee. I join the Club for Growth who were disappointed that Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) was not selected. Kingston would have been a fresh face with good ideas to cut spending. The Democrats, commenting on the selection of Rogers in a Poltico.com story, called him a “King of Pork” claiming he brought in over 130 earmarks totaling ¼ billion dollars for his district. Not a good sign.

Hal to the King?

I imagine that both Upton and Rogers had the blessing of incoming Speaker John Boehner. These two selections are not boding well for the change that the American people voted for in November.


The GOP was given a second chance by the American people. Compromising with the President on the extension of the unemployment benefits for 13 months at a cost of $120 Billion, and the selection of men like Upton and Rogers are not in keeping with the expected change Americans are wanting. Let’s hope the GOP wakes up before the gavel opens the 112^th Congress …


If there is one message I would like to get through to John Boehner and the GOP leadership it is this. We don’t want more of the same: No MOTS! The GOP must appoint the brightest and most conservative of the new Congressmen and Congresswomen to the key committees to offset the appointment of the likes of Upton and Rogers. Otherwise 2012 will be a repeat of 2006 and 2008!

Further Reading:

 

“Rep. Louie "Terror Babies" Gohmert: Tea Party Pick for House Leadership”

"GOP taps Hal Rogers for House Appropriations Committee Chair"

"Upton will chair House Energy & Commerce Committee"

President Leads Congress?

Cartoon found on ResistNet.com 11/9/10

“Same as it ever was” video by the Talking Feds

Nothing Changes

I stumbled upon this excellent video cleverly communicating and correctly assessing how the current regime in Washington, D.C. handled the Gulf of Mexico oil crisis.

Here are two YouTube descriptions for this Talking Feds video: “You may find yourself watching the Talking Feds. And you may ask yourself is this the change we voted for?” And this: “RightChange.com illustrating the lack of Leadership by (Soetoro aka) Obama and his administration features Chris Matthews and James Carville.”

A lack of leadership, that’s our President!

Hat tip goes to the HotAirPundit which posted an article, “NRSC Devastating Ad On Obama's Response To The Gulf Oil Crisis,” includng the embedded video below.

The Problem with the American Economy

It's NOT the Economy, Stupid

Cartoon by Dana Summers found at TownHall.com 10/3/08

Cartoon by Gary Varvel as found on TownHall.com 10/3/08

It takes a cartoon to point out the underlying problem with America, and especially with her economy today. Neither Bush, McCain, Obama, Pelosi, Franks, Reid, Boehner, nor McConnell are the leaders America need, none of them are listening to the American people. They didn't listen on Amnesty; now they didn't listen on the Bailout. They all supported the horrendous bailout bill that passed both house of Congress and signed by the lame-duck president. Lack of leadership is were the critical shortage really lies.

.

Let's elect some LEADERS this fall, for a real CHANGE!

Coach Carter (2005)

Samuel L. Jackson offers a stellar and steely acting job playing Coach Ken Carter. This movie paints a realistic picture of our failing education system and the great need for inspirational leadership willing to buck the system and do the right thing. The movie shows the growth and development in the lives of the team of high school players and in the life of their Coach.

The movie is every bit as good as Glory Road, Hoosiers or Remember the Titans.

Kenneth Chisholm’s review captures the essence of the story of the movie, “In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor in the games.”

The real drama and suspense begins when Carter locks the team out of practice and forfeits several games due the many of the basketball team players academic shortcomings. Several consistently skip class or have failing grades. Everybody is outraged at the Coach, the school, the parents, the players, the school board of education and the community. However, Carter holds his ground and the team eventually gets back on the floor and gains a berth in the state tournament.

RATING

I really enjoy movies based on true accounts. This is one of them. I would rate the movie a ***** out of *****. It is well worth the $10 you would have to pay to purchase it or a lesser sum if you rent it. It is a quality movie. It is a compelling story. It will educate you about the current state of affairs in the typical metropolitan schoolhouse today. It will show you what real dedication, love, care and concern look like.