Last night’s CNN televised GOP debate is now in the can. Depending on who you ask, Cain won, Bachmann won, whatever. Regardless, CNN lost. Between John King’s relentless grunting and the stupid “this or that?” questions, and the morning after caption, CNN proved themselves the true water boys of the state run media.

For me, no one was the shiny standout. They all have their issues – warts and scabby places that will eventually be revealed for all of America to see and judge. But last night, they introduced themselves and their ideas in such a way as to not dissolve into a pack of fighting, rabid dogs. The press was dying for a fight and they didn’t get one. John King even goaded Pawlenty a bit, but to his credit, Tim didn’t take the bait. What we saw last night was a unified front, even if for just a moment.

Everyone on that stage, with the exception of John King, knows that for this country to survive, Obama must be a one-term President.

I respect them all for their restraint, especially when it would have been so easy to attack one another in the ‘gotcha’ format CNN was promoting.

So there.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister.

(Before you faint dead-away at the title of this post, bear with me.)

Thank you, President Obama.

Thank you for arrogance. Your dismissive tone. Your obsession with golf. Your aloofness. Your constantly mixed messages on which god/God you worship. Your elitism. Your inability to speak coherently off the cuff. Your history of corruption. Your confusion regarding American traditions. Your unpresidential behavior. Your lack of a work ethic. Your attacks against those who dare to disagree. Your purposeful weakening of this great nation. Your bowing and scraping to foreign dignitaries, including those who would kill every American if they had enough bullets.

Thank you for proclaiming that you feel our pain, while you jet to NYC for date nights, eat fancy steaks from Japan, throw opulent parties, and vacation in places only the richest can even get a glimpse of.

Thank you for giving us a First Lady so horrid, so ill-mannered and so terribly self-engrossed that an entire cottage industry has sprung up just to criticize her lack of fashion sense. Her antipathy to class and taste, combined with a glaring lack of gracious charm so required of any hostess (never mind heads of state), make her (and us) a laughing stock among world leaders.

You created the firestorm over your beginnings simply by your reluctance to share your grades, dissertations, resume, vaccination record and even birth certificate. One simple gesture could have stopped it all, but you choose to seal those records, immediately heightening suspicion. Why seal them, if you (still) claim you have nothing to hide?

You created the same current anti-government sentiment in this country that you campaigned on in 2008, but criticize now.

You awoke the sleeping giant that is plain, ordinary America. The America that wants no part of your socialist agenda, your progressive degradation of this great nation, your lies.

You did this. And for that, I thank you, Mr. President.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister and Potluck

They would be throwing parades for Dinesh D’Souza’s Forbes article if it was an expose of a conservative or a Republican, dancing merry gigs like orcs ’round the fire. But instead he gets pouty stabs from a thin-skinned White House.

The White House wouldn’t try to pull strings in elections. At least (and correct me if I’m wrong) it didn’t in the past, so publicly.

White House employees are Americans that love America. And don’t plot to use the free market to de-develop our great nation.

Words mean what they mean. Like freedom doesn’t equal control. Job creation means more jobs, not less. And you count them one at a time.

Instructions are real directions, not just suggestions. As my old junior high band teacher used to say, “Results, Not Excuses.” Indeed.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

(via Memeorandum)

Digger at The Cypress Times reports:

The bloodbath continues along our southern border and now word is coming in that Los Zetas, the highly trained killers formerly with the Gulf Cartel, have crossed into the United States and taken over at least two ranches in the Laredo, Texas area. I am receiving word that the owners of the ranches have evacuated without being harmed.

Anonymous sources in law enforcement in the Laredo area tonight have passed on word that US law enforcement agencies are in the area and are weighing their options regarding the ranches. The media has been silent on this incident and some law enforcement in the area says that they are furious that the media is not reporting the whole story of the continued violence along the border. Their frustrations are understandable because keeping the truth suppressed continues to hamper law enforcement from receiving the true support they need along the border.

The ranch assaults come on the heels of attacks in Nuevo Laredo that shut the city down as a gun-battle raged in the streets. Los Zetas blocked off intersections with vehicles and used fragmentation grenades to attack Mexican law enforcement. In the end 12 were killed and 21 injured in the assaults. Citizens in the area were told to stay in their homes and bullets whizzed all around.

[...] The U.S. Consulate went on to say, “The consulate confirmed that fragmentation grenades were used in the attacks and that suspected drug-gang members had blocked several roads, adding that it advised ‘all U.S. citizens in Nuevo Laredo to remain indoors until the security situation improves.’”

US Citizens in Laredo called 911 after hearing gunfire and explosions just across the border. Laredo police spokesman Joe Baeza deflected the concerns of citizens with what I see as utter contempt. He said there was no spillover violence onto the US side and “We were getting reports from people who live on the river’s edge that they could hear gunfire and explosions from the Mexico side,” Baeza said, “We didn’t have any incidents on the American side. It’s hard for people to understand who don’t live here … They’re not Vikings, they’re not going to invade us, it doesn’t work that way.”

Let’s see if all the elements are here: “…deflected the concerns of citizens…” Police minimize citizen’s concern. Check.

“…US law enforcement agencies are in the area and are weighing their options regarding the ranches.” US Border police piddle about, unable to make a decision. Check.

“…some law enforcement in the area says that they are furious that the media is not reporting the whole story of the continued violence along the border.” MSM ignores the news, because: 1. It doesn’t fit the leftist narrative, 2. There is no one available at JournoList to aid and abet the invaders. Check.

Even worse:

The Los Zetas are highly trained killers initially trained by United States Special Operations forces to combat the drug cartels within Mexico.

Marvee.

An act of war? You betcha! Where’s Holder? Where’s Clinton? Where’s Obama? Is anyone there?

DiggersRealm has more, with multiple updates. Background here, including some speculation about the news blackout. Digger is too kind to give the current regime the benefit of the doubt as to WHY this news is being squashed or WHY there has been no immediate and decisive retaliation to this attack on American soil.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

Come to think of it, that five letter word is unwelcome almost everywhere. School. Office. Government.  University. Entertainment. Neighborhood. Car bumpers.  Key chains.

Todd Starnes:

A North Carolina pastor was relieved of his duties as an honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives after he closed a prayer by invoking the name of Jesus.

“I got fired,” said Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He had been invited to lead prayer for an entire week but his tenure was cut short when he refused to remove the name Jesus from his invocation.

[...] Baity said he’s not happy with the way he was treated.

“When the state tells you how to pray, that you cannot use the name of Jesus – that’s mandating a state religion,” he said. “They talk about not offending other people but at the same time, if they are telling me how to pray – that’s the very thing our forefathers left England for.”

The Christian Law Association helped Baity draft a letter asking for an apology and an opportunity to return to the state capitol and finish his tenure.

“The First Amendment promises all Americans the free exercise of their religion, which includes the right to pray as their faith requires, even when they are invited to open state legislative sessions with prayer,” attorney David Gibbs told WXII-TV. “We trust that the North Carolina House of Representatives will realize its mistake and will offer Pastor Baity another opportunity to pray without requiring him to use a prayer that is mandated by government.”

Baity said he is still stunned by what happened.

“You would expect this somewhere else – Cuba, Saudi Arabia,” he told FOX News Radio. “You would never anticipate this happening in the United States of America.”

Rev. Ron Baity is the founder of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC.  The church will celebrate 30 years of worship in November.  In today’s irreligious national climate, where faith in something other than yourself is considered a weakness instead of a virtue, that is a milestone indeed.

Other curiosities come to mind:
- A California school district is adding The Bible as a literature elective for high school seniors.  Perhaps to assuage the main-lining of Islam via “diversity” pushed onto all students, everywhere.
- The debate stirred about whether those he has bashed relentlessly should pray for an avowed atheist who has publicly revealed his battle with cancer.
- Pulpits used to spew hate instead of healing.
- UI professor of Catholic studies loses his job over explaining some tenets of the Catholic faith to students in his class on (wait for it)… Catholicism.

Why does it seem that each generation produces increasingly immature, thin-skinned, frightened narcissists?  If something offends, it must be banned!  Discipline is old-fashioned. Competition is unhealthy. Everybody gets a trophy; it’s only fair.

If the government believes it can regulate who we pray to, who will make the cut?  Other five letter figureheads?  Satan?  Allah?  Obama?

This country was founded on Christian Principles&, whether the Left likes it or not.  While they may try to blot out bit by bit those foundational beliefs through legislation and obfuscation, Americans remember and WILL FIGHT BACK to restore them.

The only way to rescue America from the yowling jaws of Marxist hell is on our knees.  The instructions are right there.  For starters:

Matthews 5:44 – But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.

No matter what the government says.

(Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister)

Hey Washington, can you hear us now?

First up, Jeff Kuhner of the WaTimes, with strong words that I stand behind 100%.

The Slaughter Solution is a dagger aimed at the heart of our system of checks and balances. It would enable the Democrats to establish an ominous precedent: The lawmaking process can be rigged to ensure the passage of any legislation without democratic accountability or even a congressional majority. It is the road to a soft tyranny. James Madison must be turning in his grave.

Mr. Obama is imposing a leftist revolution. Since coming to office, he has behaved without any constitutional restraints. The power of the federal government has exploded. He has de facto nationalized key sectors of American life – the big banks, financial institutions, the automakers, large tracts of energy-rich land from Montana to New Mexico. His cap-and-trade proposal, along with a newly empowered Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to impose massive new taxes and regulations upon industry. It is a form of green socialism: Much of the economy would fall under a command-and-control bureaucratic corporatist state. Mr. Obama even wants the government to take over student loans.

[...] Mr. Obama is willing to devour his presidency, his party’s congressional majority and – most disturbing – our democratic institutional safeguards to enact it. He is a reckless ideologue who is willing to sacrifice the country’s stability in pursuit of a socialist utopia.

The Slaughter Solution is a poisoned chalice. By drinking from it, the Democrats would not only commit political suicide. They would guarantee that any bill signed by Mr. Obama is illegitimate, illegal and blatantly unconstitutional. It would be worse than a strategic blunder; it would be a crime – a moral crime against the American people and a direct abrogation of the Constitution and our very democracy.

It would open Mr. Obama, as well as key congressional leaders such as Mrs. Pelosi, to impeachment. The Slaughter Solution would replace the rule of law with arbitrary one-party rule. It violates the entire basis of our constitutional government – meeting the threshold of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” If it’s enacted, Republicans should campaign for the November elections not only on repealing Obamacare, but on removing Mr. Obama and his gang of leftist thugs from office.

Got that? Strong words, indeed. Obama/Pelosi/Reid have over-stepped to the tune of impeachment. The dies have been cast; November is not far away. Being a lame-duck president should be the least of his worries at this point.

Regardless of a Yes/No vote, his presidency will never recover. No RESET button can fix the mess he’s made for himself and his party.

How the Democrats must be privately cursing Obama right now. Things could have been so different. If he had had more political sense and less personal hubris they could have passed a healthcare bill with bipartisan (read RINO) support that would have served as a nifty foundation for an American NHS. Instead, he has squandered his political capital and imperiled his party’s majority. How can they not be blaming him for the gathering tsunami of 2010?

…Obama has already totaled his presidency and his majority, regardless of what happens with healthcare reform. Thanks to him, there is no “good” way for House Democrats to vote. Either choice leads to heartache, and, though he had ample help from Pelosi, Reid, and friends, Obama is the one to blame. Passing healthcare now will not hit the reset button for the Democrats and transport them back to January 20, 2009, when they were riding the giant wave instead of waiting to be swept away by it.

And what’s worse, in addition to ruining his own party, Obama has created a backlash, a populace hypersensitized to and willing to fight against government overreaching. We’re taking part in a national civics lesson — call it No Citizen Left Behind.

I like that – No Citizen Left Behind.

It’s not like the populace is asleep at the wheel. HotAir reports, “In just 14 months, he has made himself more unpopular than his predecessor, at least by the measure of strong disapproval.” See for yourself; here are the Rasmussen numbers. He only has himself to blame.

John Hawkins and Keith Hennessey both have excellent, quick-read rundowns of the bill. It will bury America in a never-ending sea of red ink.

At this point in time, the Red Queen does not have the votes. But who knows what spells she’ll chant or saints she’ll pray to to work her evil deeds.

Demon Pass. Fitting, isn’t it, that the House/Presidential chicanery reeks of Ol’ Smokey…

It’s all about control. Control of people, their behaviors, their health, their very life’s breath. Doesn’t that sound familiar? I’m sure it does to my parents generation, who gave of their blood, toil and treasure to protect America from totalitarianism.

In closing, Smitty offers a palate cleanser.

God Bless America.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

Figures Nancy Pelosi would pick today of all days to begin her ruination of America.

Jennifer Rubin:

In short, the cost-containment problem (otherwise we’ll bankrupt ourselves, the president once threatened) is made worse, dramatically so, by the bill. And when we add on “a range of job-killing tax hikes and controls on all Americans,” you have a truly destructive, ill-conceived piece of legislation. If members think hard about that, rather than the arm-twisting and bravado from the White House, what the leadership is up to will become apparent. They are not, it seems, in the business of passing anything remotely resembling “reform.” They are rather attempting to avoid humiliation and prevent a tidal wave of rage from their liberal base.

They are so desperate to pass something, anything, that the government takeover of student loans (a hot topic at our house right now) is now included in the monstrous bill.

Ed Morrissey spoke at the Kill the Bill Rally in Minnesota (read the whole thing!):

Not only is this bill too radical for the American people, it’s too radical for even some Democrats in Congress. But that has not convinced Pelosi and Obama to withdraw it, or to start working with opponents to find some common-sense compromises to reform the cost structure of health care in America. Instead, Nancy Pelosi has decided to attack the structure of representative government by attempting to pass the Senate version of ObamaCare without a floor vote in the House. That’s how desperate the nanny-staters are to defy you and saddle America with a government overhaul of our health care system that we don’t want.

It’s gotten so bad that the NYT is not even bothering to hide their slobbering adoration of The One.

And please, don’t say it’s like watching sausage being made. Sausages everywhere are insulted by the comparison.

This whole Pelosi procedure is nothing but a thumb in the eye of the Constitution. The House could merely have an up-or-down vote on the Senate version of the bill, but Pelosi doesn’t have enough votes to do that – she’d lose the votes of several Democrats who have principled objections to various measures in the Senate version — and so instead they’re going through this bizarre kabuki dance.

Stop. Breathe. Think. Pray. As The Anchoress calmly reminds us

Consider that John Paul spent a good part of his papacy repeating these four words over, and over: Do not be afraid.

[...] It is the most basic -and challenging- of all lessons; and we had better learn it, soon, or we will fret ourselves into sick despair and spiritual weakness, at a time when we need to be very, very strong.

Yes, indeed. We need all our strength, physical and spiritual, to fight this godforsaken tyranny.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister.

Thank for such a well-run Blogger’s Lounge at CPAC.  You’ve raised the bar so high, I doubt anybody else can top it!

Great job!  Can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year.

Had a great post rattling around in my head for Groundhog Day all day yesterday, but lost it. Maybe it will come back around again, like in the movie. I’d like to get it back, like this entire last year, the income I’ve personally lost through mandated furloughs, the equity in my home that has evaporated, the hope of sending our son to the college he chooses instead of the one I fear he will have to settle for, the simple ability to sleep at night.

It all started with my morning commute, sitting in the legendary Atlanta traffic, in the rain, when I saw IT. A small car in the next lane, with bumper damage and one of those circular Obama Biden magnets. Except it was UPSIDE DOWN. Interesting. As I crept along, I contemplated the metaphor. Was the driver disgusted and wracked with “voter’s remorse” or satisfied that the new administration has literally tried to turn America upside down?

Let’s begin with Obama, might as well. His Transparency proclaims that those without jobs are by design in order to allow him the glory of job rebound numbers in 2010, an election year. Erick:

What the hell? This man says last week that “we acted — immediately and aggressively” and this week says “by design, the bulk of the remaining 50 percent of Recovery Act funds will be deployed in the coming months of 2010.”

The King of Flip-Flops continues. After suggesting spending freezes in his prickly SOTU, two days later he presents his budget. No spending freezes for government, but you betcha more taxes for Americans. After Reuters put up an article on O’s oppressive budget, outlining just a bit of the pain:

Middle-class families also will find fewer tax breaks available to them in 2010 if other popular tax provisions are allowed to expire. Among them:

* Taxpayers who itemize will lose the option to deduct state sales-tax payments instead of state and local income taxes;
* The $250 teacher tax credit for classroom supplies;
* The tax deduction for up to $4,000 of college tuition and expenses;
* Individuals who don’t itemize will no longer be able to increase their standard deduction by up to $1,000 for property taxes paid;
* The first $2,400 of unemployment benefits are taxable, in 2009 that amount was tax-free.

Reuters then yanked it after the White House screamed foul. That’s right, no corrections or errata. Just bang, it’s gone like it never existed. Guess they can’t take the heat.

He really hates us. And every day America become more disenchanted with him.

Perhaps he should go back to basics and listen to a wise man,

What part of “Thou shalt not steal” is so hard to understand?

The pow-wow with the GOP last week is still reaping benefits, like this from HotAir: Demand Question Time. Imagine the man who campaigned on transparency actually keeping at least that promise?

More later…

(Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister)

Erick Erickson finally said what I’ve been saying in private for the last year. Barack Obama didn’t spend his formative years in the US, learning the basic curriculum of American history. He was in a madrasah, far from America. He once said the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard was the Muslim call to prayer. Then he attended a famous university that is known for it’s America-bashing and elitist attitudes. His blood is not red, white and blue. He doesn’t understand America or Americans. He doesn’t understand why this country was founded – to live free, without the boot on tyranny on your neck. Whiffs of that very same tyranny now seep from his very fingertips. No wonder he doesn’t get the Tea Party movement. He never took third grade history or participated in the subsequent playground reenactment.

Erick, again:

Tonight [in Obama’s SOTU), it will be interesting to see how often he blames George Bush and how often he resorts to stale cliches the public is no longer buying. Obama, his teleprompter, and the rhetoric they deploy have become the butt of late night jokes. When Barack Obama loses Jon Stewart, he is in real trouble.

But there is a greater trouble for Barack Obama and one very few people are discussing. It is, however, the greatest threat to the Obama administration and is not easily reversed. If he cannot turn back from this threat rather soon, no successes with jobs, the economy, or anything else will save him.

The American people have a very American world view. The God of the Bible is real. Mom, the flag, apple pie, and American exceptionalism are the hallmarks of the American world view. A majority of American embrace this world view.

Voters want a guy in office who shares that world view.

But there is a growing sense among independents and even some Democrats that Barack Obama does not share that world view.

Voters were so intent on finding someone so 180 from G.W. Bush, the Anti-Bush if you will, that they allowed their rage to overwhelm their reason and they elected someone they did not know or even understand. No wonder even the Democrats are backing away.

Obama was not Bush and independents and Democrats could not imagine electing a guy who did not share their world view. Obama was “one of us,” so to speak. He had to be.

Except he is not. He never was. When voters begin to think and then realize that the President of the United States does not share the prototypical American world view, they will turn on the President.

It does not matter how well a person does in a job, people want to support those they view as their own. When Obama loses the connection with the voters because of his lack of a shared world view, a job well done will not matter.

Indeed.

I was not planning on watching tonight’s SOTU, but now I may, just to watch the chamber squirm under the weight of platitudes and empty promises.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

Remember that part of Ghostbusters where the pagan temple was on top of the Manhattan skyscraper? Well, evidently there’s several more at The Capitol, and WE are the burnt offerings upon the altars!

Dan Perrin at RedState outlines the dozen sacrifices required by the Democrat’s pagan gods. (Many thanks to Erick’s Morning Briefing)

They are killing off the chances of passing all of their other agenda items, and by sacrificing so many of their principles to the pagan health reform God, they have left their own supporters disgusted and listless.

But to their opponents — the sacrifices made to the Pagan God have resolved them to do everything they in their power to stop these radical, dangerous people who have their hands on the public treasury and who are putting us deeper into debt — and who will not listen. It is a politically toxic combination.

Indeed, there is magic in that mystical number twelve, since Moe Lane has discovered an equal number of Democratic Congressmen pimping themselves out for “access” through a lobbying firm.

So remember this, the next time anybody on that list – or, honestly, any Democrat – talks about the evil of lobbying: the sound you hear isn’t scorn towards those who would try to pay for influence. Nope. It’s scorn towards the rubes who don’t know how to tell when a Democrat is gaming the system.

The climate of fear and uncertainty they are cultivating is calculated to cow the public. No wonder the “economic recovery” so touted by the ObamaMouthPieceMedia is DOA.

Democrats have inserted themselves into every aspect of the economy proposing and instituting changes that stifle recovery or threaten to as we see with cap and trade legislation and health care.

One way to fight back is to support Scott Brown who is running for the US Senate seat (now vacant) for Massachusetts. Curt Shilling endorses him and has plenty to say about stopping the madness.

In fact this madness is like a cancer, even spreading through the halls of America. The latest physician has taken a “wait and see” stance on the festering tumor.

This is how it begins — and ends. That is, the decadent myth of liberalism is ultimately rooted in a crude relativism that reduces truth to opinion, and therefore exalts cosmic stupidity above all. The bang of Marx ends in the whimp of Obama…

Once this is accomplished, there is no longer any ground for permanent truth, nor any way to arbitrate between competing truth claims. Therefore, raw power rushes in to fill the vacuum. It’s as simple as that. The irony is that so many “sophisticated” liberals supported Obama for his “brains,” when they were actually ratifying his muscle. The Chicago Way is not about thinking. It is about shoving and bullying — the Ferragamo boot on the neck. It is the politics of the mid-brain, not the frontal lobes.

[...] Russell Kirk notes that decadence “amounts to the loss of an end, an object.” Obama openly and explicitly severs America from its spiritual end, its telos, its reason for being. We will either continue to decay and deteriorate with bat-faced liberals leading the way down into darkness, or be reborn in the light of our original mandate and purpose, forged and fought for by men both wiser and braver than the hollow poseur who occupies the White House, and sanctioned by heaven.

Douglas quotes milblogger Stormbringer,

The United States of America is the greatest nation in the entire history of the World. We are a Beacon of Hope and Freedom to untold millions, billions. We have the support of our honorable Allies, throughout the family of civilized, free nations. To date, we are the single nation capable of planting its flag on another Heavenly body.

Are we to believe that we cannot prevail against a movement of illiterates, led by a nihilist, inspired by a creed straight out of the Dark Ages?

Whether the threat is from terrorists who would take our lives or corrupt politicians who would take our livelihoods, we will not surrender! In the meantime, we can still hope…

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

(Sorry, I’m a little late on this, because, well, I’ve been a bit busy lately with life and it’s curveballs.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tell me, Mr. President, Mr. Constitutional Scholar, Sir, is there a precedent on a sitting president’s acceptance of awards from foreign interests?

J.P. Feire of the Washington Examiner thinks so…

It looks like the Times editorial page is endorsing the very definition of foreign meddling in domestic affairs. Foreigners validating and then rewarding certain approaches while repudiating others is not appropriate, regardless of whether it’s coming from six nations or six Norwegians.

So what is the propriety of a sitting wartime president accepting an award from a foreign committee that is merely an expression of repudiation for the behavior of his predecessor? It is especially concerning because undoubtedly, Obama’s partisans will use the credential to grant him greater legitimacy in foreign policy among his own people.

That’s an open question. But our democratic system already provides an outlet for such a repudiation, and it is the only kind that matters because it is the will of the American people. All others should be given the Giuliani treatment: Thanks, but no thanks.

This strikes at the heart of what I posted on Friday. The purpose of the discussion of the emoluments clause was to look at the constitutionality of Obama’s acceptance of the prize. Even Teddy Roosevelt made it clear there was a discomfort with the legitimating power of the Nobel committee; Roosevelt refused to accept the prize until his term was up, and even then, he jumped through hoops to work with Congress to determine the use of the prize money.

Indeed, taking out your handy little pocket Constitution from The Heritage Foundation (get your free copy here), we read in Article I, Section 9,

“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

Eugene, founder of the Volokh Conspiracy and a real lawyer (he doesn’t just play one on TV) muddies the waters further, like any good lawyer will do. Just read it as a whole – it’s difficult to excerpt without losing the intent of the entire argument. He poses some excellent questions.

Of course, we all know that Obama immediately accepted the award, gushing with false humility. His ego wouldn’t have allowed otherwise, regardless of any question of constitutionality, propriety, or just good-ol’-American-common-sense. Did the Nobel committee have a vision of future and thus hastened the prize, while they still could?

…this is a preemptive prize, because the Committee looked ahead to the insane nuclear winter and global Muslim/non-Muslim war Obama’s fecklessness is bringing into being and they knew: he makes a desert, and calls it peace. Since the Committee can confidently expect that, once Obama does what he does best, there will be no more prizes, now was the time for a preemptive award.

One unanticipated accomplishment was the uniting of the blogosphere altogether. To date, never has the world heard such a collective cyber-”huh?!?” Making history, anyway he can.

While Obama is Obama’s favorite subject, it is too bad he won’t talk about other things…you know things that effect our nation, our security, our sovereignty, our economy, our future. Why attack a network or a radio personality when he should be looking at rogue nations that are planning to attack US. Here. Soon. That is so unpresidential. He could stop so much with just a word, or a caution. But he chooses not to, and therein is the rub. He quietly stokes the destruction.

“Prove that you did not do what I said you did,” is not journalism. It is, frankly, the tactic of the schoolyard bully and the fascist. They are often one and the same. And they’ve learned that once a headline is “out there” retractions and corrections don’t much matter, to the narrative.

Camille Paglia (Salon) notes that Obama’s trusted circle of advisors are, well, shall we say small-minded?

Obama is approaching a turning point which will define his political future, if he has one. He is surrounded by some mighty small potatoes who need shoveling into the dumpster. The petty provincials need to go, and far more sophisticated and world-savvy analysts must urgently be brought on board.

and that the Nobel timing is just awful for him, personally:

It’s true he has accomplished nothing thus far and did not remotely deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, a gift carrying a terrible curse. The Nobel should have been the crown of Obama’s career and not the butt of jokes.

But the Office is not supposed to be about the Man, is it? Has anyone told Obama that yet?

Pull out that handy little pocket Constitution again and look at Article II, Section 1, that last paragraph.

“Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation: – ‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.’”

That last part isn’t working out so well, either.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister.

“Ahem. Class, settle down. Is this thing on…? Let’s continue in our daily reading from The Constitution of the United States.

The Bill of Rights. Amendment I.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Akhil Reed Amar, in his excellent America’s Constitution, A Biography, notes

…the mere fact that the First Amendment enumerated free-speech and free-exercise rights against Congress did not mean that Americans lacked similar rights against the president and federal courts, if those rights could indeed be properly inferred from the Constitution as a while or from the siprit of the First Amendment itself.

The House Resolution condemning Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) for shouting out during President Obama’s speech (ad nauseaum) on healthcare last week was passed by typically partisan lines. Citing the House rules for decorum (funny, can’t find those online – perhaps a “constitutional scholar” can help me out?), Democrats have refused to accept his personal apology to Obama (after all, he accepted it and he was the fellow who was interrupted, was he not?) and have signed him up for I.S.S.

Even better, now this Congress, surely the finest and most upstanding Congress evah elected in this fine nation, has given us a playbook to help navigate the sometimes murky waters of Congressional discourse whilst in the presence of the Anointed One.

Especially useful: The section on how to properly insult the executive branch in the in the chamber.

“Disgrace” and “nitwits” — okay.

“Liar” or “sexual misconduct” — ixnay.

Under section 370 of the House Rules and Manual it has been held that a Member could:
• refer to the government as “something hated, something oppressive.”
• refer to the President as “using legislative or judicial pork.”
• refer to a Presidential message as a “disgrace to the country.”
• refer to unnamed officials as “our half-baked nitwits handling foreign affairs.”

Likewise, it has been held that a member could not:
• call the President a “liar.”
• call the President a “hypocrite.”
• describe the President’s veto of a bill as “cowardly.”
• charge that the President has been “intellectually dishonest.”
• refer to the President as “giving aid and comfort to the enemy.”
• refer to alleged “sexual misconduct on the President’s part.”

I kid you not. There is now a list of what you can and cannot say on the floor of the House of Representatives, the House of the PEOPLE, of the United States. Did they include the most important word of all – fascist?

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), the man who replaced Cynthia McKinney has suddenly filled her shoes and then some.

[Rep. Pete] Stark calls Bush a liar: no problem. Wilson calls Obama a liar: it simply MUST be racism! 10-4, good buddy.

Can someone please explain to me why simply disagreeing with a person of a different race than yourself automatically smears you as a raaaaaist?

Isn’t targeting another person based on their race considered real racism? Or does the Ministry of Truth now consider it social justice? Don’t expect this to get national attention, because, well, it doesn’t fit the media template. Seems the true definitions are becoming more blurred by the day.

To make matters worse, now Joe Wilson’s son, Alan is coming under fire simply for the preceived “sins” of his father. He is running for Attorney General in South Carolina.

Shortly after the revolution, colonials would abuse and often punish the sons of tories, those who had supported King George. When the Constitution was written, the Founders prohibited punishment in treason that would “work Corruption of Blood,” or punishment extended to descendants.

It is a natural tendency in the corruption of man to punish the children of those who did things wrong or perceived to have done things wrong. It’s like my neighbor heckling my 3 year old solely because she is related to me. It is part of the baser parts of human nature. And it is not right.

Was myopic on the good words or bad words list? Just askin’…

Always looking for the silver lining – we can look forward to uncrowded beaches in South Carolina, just in time for spring break.

“Class dismissed.”

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister.

Yesterday, the eighth anniversary of the murder of 2996 innocent Americans, the unPresidential President had his first real opportunity to patch his sinking ship. An event presented itself, still raw and naked, not related to crippling legislation or unvetted staff or hugging dictators next door; a time and place where he could speak to the nation from his cold and shriveled heart. It is globally known he harbors a consuming hatred of George W. Bush., a distaste so strong that it encourages bad behavior from his followers. But what Obama refuses to see is that even though many Americans despise W for many reasons, his (often private) consolation of the victims and their families in the days (and years) of 9/12 America earned him a place in our collective hearts. He may not have had the right words at the right times, but you could see and feel his grief. And then his anger. His resolve.

Come on, Obama, be the George. Stop looking in the mirror and look out at America. Stop campaigning. Man up; be the Commander in Chief. We the people are still hurt and confused.

In no conflict throughout history were people still confused about the threat eight years after hostilities began. For America, neither WWI nor WWII had lasted half that long. And in those wars we not only achieved victory in that time, but we knew long before that — with crystalline precision — who our foes were and what we had to do to defeat them.

So what did Obama do yesterday? Did he go to church and pray for healing? (Aside: Has he even attended church since he took office?) Did he reiterate the stout American fortitude, focused to track down those responsible for the attacks and dispatch them to their judgment day? Nope, he mumbled some words at the Pentagon (be sure to note the adoration in the linked article, i.e. how the rain stopped just for the Obamas to step outside), then hurried over to paint somebody’s living room. He blew it, again.

What we see clearly now is that Obama is purposefully weakening America. Kryptonite drips from his every word. It’s all part of the plan, stupid.

To Obama, 9/11 has become an inconvenient obstacle to his Castrofication of America.

The PERSONAL horror of that day can fade, as the vivid memory of all pain eventually does – but that DATE and those IMAGES will continue to stand as the very real symbol of why we must remain watchful and to continue to root out and fight evil (no, I don’t shy from that word) wherever it hides, knowing – from very real experience – that to do otherwise will mean pain and death and mourning here at home when that evil next comes to us.

September 11th, 2001 stands as our focus-point for our vigilance, our strength, and our willingness to resist – a symbol paid-for in sacrifice, in loss – a symbol paid for in blood.

UPDATE: Leliks, perfect as always. (h/t Fausta)

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister.

There’s an old adage – “How do you know a politician’s lying? When their lips are moving!”

Sad when it applies to the most powerful man in the United States. The broken promises are mounting as fast as his deficit numbers.

But once a person internalizes the idea that he/she has been betrayed, then the trust so basic to a relationship is broken and it’s almost impossible to earn it back.

And so it appears to be dawning on an increasing number of Americans that President Obama cannot be trusted. There are two reasons for this. The first is that so many of the things he promised during the campaign—transparency, bipartisanship, unity and an end to blaming, a post-racial presidency, no catering to special interests and lobbies, and posting of bills in a timely fashion online, to name just a few—have not only been violated, but have been boldly, flagrantly, and shamelessly violated. The second thing is that his pre-election stance as a moderate is seen to have been a lie as well, and that’s even more basic—at least for the moderates and Independents who gave him the support he required to put him over the top and guarantee his election.

One can talk about this policy of Obama’s or that one, and agree with certain elements of his program and disagree with others. But although these are very important issues, they are not the issue. Trust is.

When the debate over his health reform heated up, instead of thoughtfully addressing the American public, he retreated into the time-honored partisan blame-game.

Rather than examine the public’s concerns, the plans’ inconsistencies or the sheer irresponsibility of trying to ram something this big and complicated through Congress without a small-scale trial, the Obama administration is pointing fingers. Lots of them. Most of the targets are just plain silly.

His disdain for America is beginning to show – his Pentagon, yes HIS Pentagon, denies a patriotic fly over.

Remember when Obama went AWOL on the 2009 National Day of Prayer? Guess who gets a full 5 minute greeting for Ramadan? Yep, you got it. The America we live in is not the America Obama sees (or projects).

Even the lie of uniting the country in cellophane rainbow sparkles of post-racial bliss showed itself in a very ugly way this week. Obama’s DOJ/AG dropped a slam-dunk case against the Black Panther thugs who intimidated voters in Philadelphia on election day.

Daily we see his downward spiral. Without his crutch, even his vocabulary lurches back down to the street.

…President Obama has no real experience with Washington in late August, since he’s only spent a grand total of two of them here. You may recall that Barack Obama started his brief Senate career in January, 2005 and he was on the campaign trail last August. My experience is that Washington slows way down after the dog days of summer. The temperature and humidity go way up and everything slows way down here. It’s too hot and sticky to get all “wee-weed up” around here this time of year. Anyone who has spent more than a couple years here, or in any city south of the Mason Dixon line knows how late summer works. President Obama isn’t one of those folks and, they way he’s going, he never will since he’ll be out on the campaign trail again…

My only disagreement with Jimmie is that in my opinion, Obama has NEVER stopped campaigning.

Even his own are seeing through the facade. I guess that Joker face hit a nerve.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

Seen this very evening, less than an hour ago, at the neighborhood chicken eatery down the road, in David Scott’s district.

The picture was taken by Wee Highlander on his phone, since I’m gizmo-challenged like that. It absolutely MADE MY DAY.

That swastika on Rep. Scott’s sign? It’s looking more and more like a possible “self-inflicted hate crime.” While he’s getting all sorts of press (just google “david scott swastika”), might I suggest a better way to channel your inner conservative?

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

Nancy Pelosi continues to prove she is completely out of touch with Americans. She doesn’t see the electorate – she sees scary Nazi brown-shirts following mystical orders from evil corporations. Oh wait, only the POTUS gives out marching orders like that.

Police break up “conversations” at a peaceable town-hall. What’s next – riot gear and tear gas? Will the canisters have glittery HopeNChange stickers? Elizabeth has an idea:

You know who could put a stop to the bad feelings arising in this country? President Obama, who is supposed to be the leadership. Just as Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton backed off when they realized America was not into having their Healthcare taken over by the government, Obama could say, “you know, I’m moving kind of fast here, maybe we’ll shelve this for a while and concentrate more on putting people back to work, which is urgent.”

Such a move would be an instant assist to the nation Obama is supposed to be passionate about protecting, preserving and above-all SERVING. It would also mean instant restoration of his fast-fading credibility. Think he’ll do it? Nah.

Funny, isn’t it, that less than a year ago Nancy didn’t mind these swastikas?

Ever the peacemaker, our Gracious Won is rolling out labor union thugs on the town hall attendees. I can just see Guido in an ACORN shirt yanking Grannie’s walker out from under her because she dared asked a question of her Congressman. The MSM will brand her a fringe-element bomb-maker with the magic SS tattoo in a naughty place, thus justifying the blatant fascist squashing of free speech and freedom of assembly.

Lefties think they can get away with anything, especially if it’s made-up (read them all).

The great thing about being a Democrat is that no one can accuse you of not having standards.

And finally, hot off the press, Woody has top-secret intel on the first Obamacare medical device on the market. Really.

UPDATE: Donald Douglas lasers in on the Left’s FEAR. You can almost smell it!

Ace:

She is an immensely stupid woman. Not only is her claim that people are “carrying swastika” standards into these town meetings absurd on its face, but her implication is even more absurd: Bear in mind she thinks the proof these protesters are hired by astroturf firms is that they’re carrying swastikas.

Right. When you hire a bunch of people to pose as ordinary citizens at town halls, of course you give them giant swastikas to carry in on their shoulders. So they’ll blend in.

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

Gee, I wonder if that is David Scott (D-GA 13) SecretCongressCode for, “Don’t ask me again, moron, I’ll do whatever I want.” At the Douglas County Highway 92 corridor meeting last week (at least according to the local paper toeing the party line):

As the session began to wind down, Dr. Brian E. Hill, Atlanta-based urologist, turned the question to health care issues. He asked Scott if he intended to vote for House Bill 3200 (the federal health care reform bill). Scott replied, “I don’t know,” and added he was interested in the wishes and thoughts of all the constituents in the 13th District.

But the real story is in the comments!

-Several commenters noted the Pledge was omitted, requested and then had to be redone. Interesting.
- Concerning Rep. Scott’s behavior and demeanor: “…display of arrogance…”, ”…Rep. Scott and his staff got into a shouting match with their constituents…”, “…their representative treated them with disdain and arrogance…”, “…an example of an elected official out of touch with the concerns of the average voters…”, ”
…[the reporter] was in the john that’s why he missed that Scott said he favored the Government Option on healthcare to Dr. Brian Hill…”, “…Congressman Scott [was] “out of order” by his sudden change in demeanor and voice level…”, “…accused those in attendance (who would dare question his stance on HB 3200) that we had ‘Hijacked this meeting’…”, “…quite evident that Congressman Scott does not want to answer to his constituents on HB 3200…”, “Is that what our country has come to? If the officials don’t like the questions, you are called to be out of order and ceremoniously removed from the room?”, “…The police told those who showed up to protest they would be arrested if they picketed…”.
- Selective ramming: “That said, it’s very telling that Congressman Scott said that the Highway 92 project was taking a long time because it was not something that was going to be rammed down the community’s throat without being properly vetted to determine if it was something the citizens want. Yet he is well prepared to vote on changing health care as we know it without ever reading the bill or having it properly vetted by Congress and his consituents. Furthermore, it appears a large percentage of his constituents are against health care reform but he doesn’t seem worried about ramming it down our throats. Talk about hypocrisy and a double standard!!!”
- Money shot: “During Dr. Hill’s comments Scott changed into the state of a “bunker mentality,” you should have seen his face. If looks could kill, Scott would now be in the Douglas County Jail. I can’t decide if Scott was expressing his anger at being challenged for his votes in Congress, or whether he was caught off guard by the anger from his Constituents, or whether he did not understand the issue, or whether he simply did not want to state his opinion on the Health Care issue.”

Amazing, isn’t it? There is an awakening occurring across this nation!

Info on Rep. David Scott (remember we’re watching!):
Home page
govtrack
OpenCongress
Politico

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

The Great Enlightened Won admits he doesn’t even know what is in the Health Care Reform legislation that he and his lackeys are trying to ram down the collective American throat before the August recess.

This is a truly disturbing admission by the President, especially considering that later in the call, Obama promises yet again: “If you have health insurance, and you like it, and you have a doctor that you like, then you can keep it. Period.” How can Obama keep making this promise if he is not familiar with the health legislation that is being written in Congress? Details matter.

For those living under a rock the last few days, Investor’s Business Daily uncovered this nugget in the House Health Care Reform bill:

Right there on Page 16 is a provision making individual private medical insurance illegal.

[...]Under the Orwellian header of “Protecting The Choice To Keep Current Coverage,” the “Limitation On New Enrollment” section of the bill clearly states:

“Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day” of the year the legislation becomes law.

So we can all keep our coverage, just as promised — with, of course, exceptions: Those who currently have private individual coverage won’t be able to change it. Nor will those who leave a company to work for themselves be free to buy individual plans from private carriers.

Oh, there’s more. Read the whole thing. I’ll wait… with the bucket. All done? Better now?

You’re not safe if you’re on a company plan, either. The companies have five years to remodel their plan to match the public plan. You can bet the government will change rules to keep employers off balance; most will just give up and shovel their employees onto the public option. The TARP transparency (NOT) is a excellent example of the future of how this latest power-grab program will be (mis-)managed.

Not only is this Congress trying to squash our property rights and mobility, they are intent on squashing our quality of life as well. According to the Socialist’s R Us playbook, a demoralized and weakened population is easier to control.

Dr. Helen asks, “He really didn’t say that, did he?” At his fake town hall meeting on health care last month, Jane Sturm had some questions about his health care reform and potential outcomes for her 100 year old mother with a pacemaker. The bottom line of his round-about-non-answer:

“I don’t think that we can make judgments based on peoples’ spirit,” Obama said. … “Maybe you’re better off not having the surgery, but taking painkillers.“

We are in the best of hands, really. I cringe to think what will become of my family.

CNN is actually doing the legwork for their socialist bosses when they ask, “What are you willing to give up?” In the comments are plenty of lemmings, lining up for their Kool-Aid and dying to give even more rights away. Don’t forget: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” – Karl Marx

Absolutely the most frightening part of this nightmare is

…Section 1233 of H.R. 3200. The section, titled “Advanced Care Planning Consultation” requires senior citizens to meet at least every 5 years with a doctor or nurse practitioner to discuss dying with dignity.

The section requires that they talk to their doctor, not a lawyer, about living wills, durable healthcare powers of attorney, hospice, etc. Given the progressive intelligentsia already being on the record in favor of euthanizing the elderly, it is no small leap to see where the Democrats are headed with this.

So that’s how The Financier-In-Chief is going to save all that money. Dear heavens, these are PEOPLE, not dogs!

Shortly after the Inauguration, I noted:

The President of the United States should have a love of America so strong, so protective, so compelling, in every fiber of his being, you know that our nation is safe during his tenure. Does he possess a servant’s heart for our land?

Sadly, now we see the answer now is a resounding “NO.” Who would have thought that the current American administration, inheritors of that sacred trust of a “shining beacon of freedom” would be the next regime to resurrect “Lebensunwertes Leben…”

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister

“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”
(Hotel California, The Eagles, the fog of my youth)

That American Dream – of owning a home – your own little patch of land where you can raise your kids and plant your roses and wash your car (only on an odd day) and build treehouses and burn your toast…. yeah, well, that’s such an old fashioned notion. Your house isn’t yours anymore – like everything else, it belongs (or will belong soon enough) to the state.

Jimmie hits one out of the park today with his piece at American Issues Project. Read it all and follow the links.

Here’s your bucket. Let me know when you stop heaving. If this piece of garbage passes, and isn’t repealed in the Great Revolt of 2010, guess what? You’ll be stuck in the same house, unless you have the dough to “green” your little bungalow to the state’s satisfaction. Forget getting transferred for a big promotion, or changing jobs and locations for a fresh start, or moving to get away from vile neighbors, dangerous schools, abusive spouses and/or gang terrorism.

This reminds me a bit of the story about a month ago where the Obama Administration wanted to raze rundown neighborhoods, allowing the cities to “shrink” and return sections “back to nature.” It’s the perfect Obama metaphor – his idea of “change” is destroying America, not building America.

If you follow the links from Jimmie’s post, you’ll find this little gem over at the NRO (emphasis mine):

Two main things to understand about Waxman-Markey: First, it will not reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, at least not at any point in the near future. The inclusion of carbon offsets, which can be manufactured out of thin air and political imagination, will eliminate most of the demands that the legislation puts on industry, though in doing so it will manage to drive up the prices consumers pay for every product that requires energy for its manufacture — which is to say, for everything. Second, it represents a worse abuse of the public trust and purse than the stimulus and the bailouts put together. Waxman-Markey creates a permanent new regime in which environmental romanticism and corporate welfare are mixed together to form political poison. From comic bureaucratic power grabs (check out the section of the bill on candelabras) to the creation of new welfare programs for Democratic constituencies to, above all, massive giveaways for every financial, industrial, and political lobby imaginable, this bill would permanently deform American politics and economic life.

This lunacy has to stop while there is still an America to salvage from the ashes. Help us, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re our only hope!

Cross-posted at Obi’s Sister