Dear Washington State Conservatives…

What’s the DEAL?

I move back after four years in a “purple” state only to find that while on the one hand, the Republican Attorney General, Rob McKenna, seems to have a real shot at the governorship (if the Dems don’t steal it again), on the other hand, the local Republican party has all but given up any hope of unseating Maria Cantwell. WHY?

I know, I’m late to the game. But after yesterday’s nightmare of a court decision, I’m playing some serious catch up. Apparently the R’s had a “hard time” finding someone to run, at first. But good news! Michael Baumgartner stepped up. And while I’m pretty much only judging from his website and the info in the online voters pamphlet, he’s seems really good. Seriously. The guy has major boni fides for this job.

* A Masters of Public Administration in International Development from Harvard in 2002

* Economics Officer at the US Embassy in Iraq working in the Office of Joint Strategic Planning & Assessment in 2007-2008

* Embedded Advisor to an Afghan Counternarcotics Team in Helmand Province (2008-2009).

* Serving in the WA State legislature, on the Ways and Means Committee, the Higher Education Committee, and as Ranking Member on the Economic Development Committee (2011)

He knows economics and he knows foreign policy. Which in my book puts him way ahead of where Obama stood back in ’08. And on top of that, he’s promised to vote to repeal Obamacare. So what’s up with the pathetically lame fundraising? And why did I have to work so hard to find this guy online? Why one earth isn’t his website linked on every local Republican and Conservative blog and website? C’mon Washingtonians, at least PRETEND to make an effort!

This 2012 election isn’t just about the President. I mean, yes, obviously, let’s do everything we can to kick Obama to the curb. But let’s not fool ourselves… Romney is not a card carrying Conservative. And even if he were, there’s not a heck of a lot he can do without majorities in the House and Senate. “All politics is local” … in this case that means, if you want to get the federal governments boot off your neck, you need to make a real genuine effort to elect Conservative Republican congressman AND senators.

If you are sick and tired of the same two liberal women representing Washington in the Senate year after year (after year…) – DO SOMETHING. Volunteer. Contribute. Find Michael Baumgartner on FB, like him and send the link to all your friends.

And if you are not from Washington? Insert {Your State’s Name Here} and do the same! (And while you’re at it, if you could say a little prayer that WA state voters will finally come to their senses, well, I’d really appreciate it. If the last 3+ years of insanity haven’t woken them up, I don’t know what ever will.)

Rubio Calls Out Dems

822 days without a budget proposal, then pressure the Republicans at the last minute knowing the media will support whatever the Democrats do.

Rubio nails it.  There’s nothing more to say.

Argentina Can Teach Us a Lesson or Two

We can learn a lot from Argentina.  Like, did you know that in 1902 it challenged the United States for the position of second riches nation in the world (Great Britain was first), and now it is an impoverished nation?  Or, did you know that in 1989 inflation in Argentina hit 3000%?

What could possibly account for such a dramatic change of fortune?  Could it be the same redistributionist forces that are currently plaguing the United States, just decades ahead of us?

I found this great Power Point presentation on DeweyFromDetroit.com.  It was made from a post on DougRoss@Journal.  I can’t get it to imbed so you’ll have to follow the link – sorry – but it’s worth the effort and the long loading time.  A real history lesson on what can happen when a government forces mandatory pensions, health care, low income housing, and other government handouts until the country is bankrupt.  Oh, and don’t forget massive union support.

With so many worldwide examples of why this doesn’t work from the past 100 years, how can leftists still believe that THIS TIME it will be different.  THIS TIME it will work.

Click the bottom line link.  Then click on the pictures to advance them.

Don’t Cry For Me Amerintinahttp://www.slideboom.com/player/player.swf?id_resource=146960

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Argentina’s past can become our future, if we let it.

A Primer for Liberals

The Weekly Standard has an explanatory column by Noemie Emery about the difference between goods and rights, and how the Left has conflagrated them into one.  The Bill of Rights makes no mention of health care, a good job, home ownership, or many of the other “rights” progressives would have us believe are ours.  They are goods, and as such must be earned and involve trade-offs.  It is so basic it should be recommended reading for every liberal you know.

Read the whole article HERE

Obama’s Friends March in California

Former SEIU president Andy Stern has visited the White House more than any other person since the president took office, so they must have some common interests.  What could they be, and what has the SEIU been up to lately? 

Why, marching with Communists, or course.

Those on the left used to become outraged at the mere mention of the socialist/communist affiliations of friends of Obama’s administration, but now they seem to be flaunting it. Here the Communists and union members (SEIU, AFL-CIO, and teachers) are chanting “Legalization or Revolution.”

There are more pictures and videos of the event at Pajamas Media, which links to a full-length photo essay at Ringo’s Pictures.

How about that extensive coverage of this event by the Main Stream Media?  Hmm, I must have missed that.

Nothing to see here, move along.  But don’t be surprised if demonstrations proliferate this summer and boil over next year before the election.  That’s what community organizers excel at, after all.

Love. This. Man.

…this morning the new House Republican majority will introduce a budget that moves the debate from billions in spending cuts to trillions. America is facing a defining moment. The threat posed by our monumental debt will damage our country in profound ways, unless we act.

What’s in the Republican’s budget plan?

This budget proposes to bring spending on domestic government agencies to below 2008 levels, and it freezes this category of spending for five years. The savings proposals are numerous, and include reforming agricultural subsidies, shrinking the federal work force through a sensible attrition policy, and accepting Defense Secretary Robert Gates’s plan to target inefficiencies at the Pentagon.

As we strengthen and improve welfare programs for those who need them, we eliminate welfare for those who don’t. Our budget targets corporate welfare, starting by ending the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that is costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. It gets rid of the permanent Wall Street bailout authority that Congress created last year. And it rolls back expensive handouts for uncompetitive sources of energy, calling instead for a free and open marketplace for energy development, innovation and exploration.

Starting in 2022, new Medicare beneficiaries will be enrolled in the same kind of health-care program that members of Congress enjoy. Future Medicare recipients will be able to choose a plan that works best for them from a list of guaranteed coverage options. This is not a voucher program but rather a premium-support model. A Medicare premium-support payment would be paid, by Medicare, to the plan chosen by the beneficiary, subsidizing its cost.

This is what leadership looks like. Question is, how do we get the leaders of the democrat party to step up? Answer: Get the American people on board. No one likes a poll so much as Obama does. Share the video, share the articles, share your own thoughts with your friends and family. Most people hear the words “budget” and “cuts” and immediately decide they are against them. We need to do what we can, in our own circles of influence, to change that dynamic. Let History look back and call US the “Greatest Generation” because we have the courage to take responsibility and do what’s right. Let’s get behind Paul Ryan.

CPAC Energizing Conservatives

I spent the past three days at a state political convention.  Unfortunately, it was not the kind that helps select tomorrow’s leaders but the kind where you spend all day in class learning how to dispatch the responsibilities for which you are already elected.  It is an annual event, it is always informative, I always enjoy being there, but this time it took up time I would rather have been using to follow the goings on at CPAC.

At least I can do a little catching up via the internet.

Romney’s speech stuck to his strengths and the country’s weakness – the economy and job creation.  I always feel confident he could do better with getting us out of the economic morass we are in than anyone else and think he would be a good and honorable president.  His style of speaking is a *little stiff* though, and he was followed later  in the day by someone who both is dynamic and has a good message. 

If you haven’t already met Herman Cain, founder of Godfather’s Pizza and the only announced candidate for the presidency at this time, here is his speech. Notice all the standing ovations in the last third or so.

Whether he has a chance of winning the presidency or not, he is an inspiring speaker.  He pulls no punches in saying what he thinks, like “Stupid people are ruining America” (shortly after the eight minute mark).  Or “Democrats have no strategy, only three tactics,” which he calls SIN: switch the subject, ignore the facts, and name calling (shortly after the ten minute mark).

Glad he’s in the Conservative camp.  He’s saying things many are afraid to say.

Planned Parenthood And Underage Prostitutes

UPDATE BELOW

Does this make you as mad as it makes me?

Does it surprise you? Do you suppose it is isolated to only one office?

Remember, Planned Parenthood receives over $300 million per year in taxpayer dollars to provide “family planning services.”

UPDATE

A second video has surfaced, this one from Virginia. After the first video became public the national headquarters of Planned Parenthood fired the worker involved and contacted the FBI. Has there been any reporting to authorities about the criminal behavior outlined in this one?

$300 million per year in taxpayer dollars for this.

The Law of Unintended Consequences Strikes Again

I have been trying to rationalize why there has been unrest and riots in so many Middle Eastern countries this month. Admittedly they are all autocratic regimes, and the domino theory may explain the spread to some degree, but what started it? Was it planned by some nefarious behind-the-scenes force? Are these flash-mob riots started through Twitter and Facebook gone out of control?  Is it just an example of Murphy’s Law on steroids? 

The current riots in Egypt are not the only ones; the government has already fallen in Lebanon and there have been uprisings in Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, and Jordan.  Saudi Arabia’s rulers have increased security around their palaces and the country’s oil fields, and there is talk of unrest spreading to Iran.  What is happening?

Larry Kudlow’s article in National Review may have the answer, and if he’s right United States policy shoulders some of the blame. 

We may be causing hunger around the world.

A few facts:
1. Food commodities worldwide are priced in U.S. dollars
2. The Federal Reserve has been printing trillions of excess dollars, causing worldwide inflation in the commodities markets.
3. The food market is up 36% over last year’s prices (8% this month alone).
4. Egypt is the world’s largest importer of wheat, and wheat’s price has risen 113% in the past year.
5. The average Egyptian spends up to 56% of their income on the acquisition of food.

Could longtime underlying resentment toward dictatorial governments + increasing inability to procure enough food to sustain life = riots?

The U.S. government is also culpable in another way. Environmentalists have been demanding independence from fossil fuels and increased dependence on sustainable fuel – like flex fuels made from mixing gasoline with ethanol.

Some more facts:
1. Ethanol is made from corn.
2. 33% of the 2010 production of U.S. corn was converted to ethanol for use in gas tanks.
3. 14% of the world’s production of corn in 2010 went into gas tanks.
4. The price of corn is up 70% over last year.

Our food prices are rising too, but we are a wealthy country.  We will feel a pinch in our budgets, but we will survive.  The questions are, will we continue to to knowingly cause worldwide inflation?  Will we continue to burn food while prices rise throughout the world?  Are we willing to allow people to go hungry and governments to fall in order to pay for our financial folly, or to meet some arbitrary environmental standard?

I Can’t Believe She Said That