Profits. Bad?

Seems backward, right?  All of this loathing of businesses because they earn a profit. The headlines and commentary over the past few weeks have been bugging me.  Those "banks on Wall Street" can't catch a break.  And now some of these bank executives are earning a bonus because they've turned a profit and that's bad?  Is this really criminal?

Um, hello?  Has anybody taken a basic economics class?

Well, I have...way back in the day, and I do remember this:

ECON 101

Profits:  goooood

Most companies use a system of quantitative/qualitative performance measures. If the measures are met they are rewarded. It seems logical for executives who made changes which allowed their companies to repay TARP loans and earn a profit deserve some type of compensation.  I would presume in most cases the bonus is well-deserved and based on a series of audits of their performance results.   Of course not everyone on "Wall Street" is good.  I'm not naive that corruption exists on Wall Street, but I also believe it exists on any street, including Pennsylvania Avenue.  It's easy to point the finger.

Now consider our government, which ignores spending control and instead expands programs and draws more loans.  The end result is a "company" further in debt with no outlook for profitability. Is anybody berating our government's compensation?  My big beef with some of our government entitlement programs is all this talk of expansion. Let's help Medicaid, Welfare, Unemployment benefits, etc. reach MORE people for LONGER.  Does anyone see a problem in this?

*me raising hand*

The most successful welfare program does not tout how many people it can support, but how many no longer require its services.  Let's get people on their feet rather than in a state of never-ending dependency.  Welfare should be a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution.

I suggest we applaud the profitable businesses.  ANY profitable business, whether on or off Wall Street.  A profitable company is a company in position to add jobs.  Obama should reconsider his "Jobs Bill", (a fancy name change from 'Stimulus' which is now taboo after its utter failure last year) and focus instead on helping companies improve their financial bottom line.

That, my friends, is where the REAL jobs are found.

SOTU...So So

I've read through the transcript...it's harder to read than it was to listen to, mostly because I miss Biden's cute smile and Pelosi's wild clapping.

Didn't Obama have people fainting at town hall meetings during his campaign? The only reason you'd have fainted last night was if you couldn't hold out for the record-long speech or you fell asleep from hearing the same things our President has reiterated over the last year.

In summary, I felt the speech lacked excitement, energy, leadership and an agenda that mirrors our dire economic state. Here are some statements that caught my attention:

Obama: Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. (Applause.) There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help move our nation's goods, services, and information. (Applause.) We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities -- (applause)...

My Issue: Government-created jobs are not REAL jobs. I'm not suggesting physical people are not working them (I know a lot of people who work for the government), but this job creation will not stimulate the economy. Jobs need to come from the private sector. I've said before this requires infusing private companies with cash and this comes easiest with tax cuts.

Obama: But at a time of record deficits, we will not continue tax cuts for oil companies, for investment fund managers, and for those making over $250,000 a year. We just can't afford it.

My Issue: This is distribution of wealth and it is not right. I don't make $250k a year (or should I say, the hubster work-a-holic doesn't make $250k a year...by a mile), but even still, who's to say those people don't deserve their hard-earned cash? "We can't afford it" WHAT?! Mr. President, if you want to create a state of dependency and entitlement, please do so without taking money from those who've earned it based on their efforts. A lot of wealthy people are very generous with their money. They donate large amounts to charities and are GOOD people. If you take away part of their cash just because they have large amounts of it, do you think they will be a bit disenchanted and give less? You betcha...then you've got an entirely different problem altogether...the failure of non-profits (aka more job loss, and less charitable donations to help people in need).

That "You betcha" was for all my Sarah Palin fans. :)

Obama: We have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now. We face a deficit of trust -– deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we have to take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue -- to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; to give our people the government they deserve.

My issue: I love this whole "to do our work openly" statement. Do you know Obama was in the press recently claiming the closed-door health care meetings were wrong? He feels bad about them now. Do you also know he promised "transparency" on CSPAN for those same negotiations and we have proof of his hypocrisy? What makes you think we'll get it now? I'm not counting on it. Yes, there's a deficit of trust. I don't trust Obama as far as I can throw him...and I have a gimpy arm, so I can only throw him 3.2 inches.

Obama: Throughout our history, no issue has united this country more than our security. Sadly, some of the unity we felt after 9/11 has dissipated. We can argue all we want about who's to blame for this, but I'm not interested in re-litigating the past. I know that all of us love this country. All of us are committed to its defense. So let's put aside the schoolyard taunts about who's tough. Let's reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values. Let's leave behind the fear and division, and do what it takes to defend our nation and forge a more hopeful future -- for America and for the world.

My issue: I was a bit surprised at the lack of overall content on our security and military. It was such a small portion of the SOTU considering our security was infiltrated and under attack less than a month ago. We had a full-fledged terrorist ready and armed to blow up an airplane headed for Detroit. This is not something to be taken lightly. What about the men and women who subdued the terrorist? Have you pictured it in your head? I have...and it's amazing...right out of a movie. What great people. It's too bad our President failed to acknowledge this foiled attempt...foiled at the hands of average Americans. And yet this terrorist was read his Miranda rights. Is this what Obama is talking about when he suggests "upholding our values"? No terrorist who desires to kill innocent American lives deserves to be treated as a regular citizen. Just like Obama remained on his Christmas vacation enjoying the golf courses in Hawaii after the attempted attack at Christmas, he completely misses another opportunity here.

Obama: The price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing the middle class. That's why last year I asked Vice President Biden to chair a task force on middle-class families. That's why we're nearly doubling the child care tax credit, and making it easier to save for retirement by giving access to every worker a retirement account and expanding the tax credit for those who start a nest egg.

My Issue: This is a tough one for me personally. Obama's calls to reform are often described as "sweeping" but this is certainly not sweeping when it excludes so many families. Families are as different as their variety of child-care arrangements. Our personal arrangement is for one parent to stay home. We forego the income of a second job and have one parent take on the role of primary care provider for our children. We are ineligible for this savings. Why not create more equitable reform that can benefit more working families?

That's it for now. What were your thoughts? Issues?

P.S. I promise I'm not censoring the comments, although I reserve every right to because it's my personal blog, but there was a comment deleted this morning and if you want to know why, click here.

Source: State of the Union Address

Botox-ed Biden?

At the beginning of the State of the Union speech I was doing some major multi-tasking: dinner prep, keeping kids happy, chatting with a visitor...and trying to pay attention and catch the bullet points.

But my attention kept being diverted from Mr. President and drawn to Biden's goofy grin.

Do you think he had Botox recently and just couldn't NOT smile?

Do you think he had a copy of the speech and knew where the planned applause would be?

Was it just me or was he the first to clap?

It was the highlight humor of the entire speech for me....

Which goes to show the "root canal" comment was lame.

Lame. Lame.

(my legitimate commentary will come tomorrow...)

BEWARE! Gimmicks Ahead

Obama saying he will halt spending is like a woman saying she's only a little bit pregnant.

- Mark Steyn (Rush Limbaugh Show)

The State of the Union is tomorrow and the talk today is all about Obama's announcement to freeze spending. Initially I think, okay, great! Now that is what I'm talking about! But then I read the fine print...

Check the exclusions:

- Defense, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security and foreign affairs

- Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security

- Job Creation spending

- A follow-up stimulus bill

- Health Care spending

Is it just me or does it appear the only programs left are federal port-a-potty cleaners and IRS lunch ladies?

And, my friends, there is no cutting going on here. This is simply halting spending for these programs at their existing levels for three years. It's obvious to anyone with half a brain this plan won't make a dent in our current $12 trillion debt (which is continuing to skyrocket). The Obama administration promises a savings of $250 billion over the next 10 years. Really? That's all you've got? That's about .058% of the budget...roughly half of one percent of the federal budget over that same time period.

IT WON'T HELP. As Mark Steyn said today, we are spending our children's and grandchildren's future. They won't understand the term "The American Dream" because there won't be one.

I love this quote: "Spending is a means of control...Spending is a liberty issue. Every time Obama takes money from you to spend on something the government does, that's a dollar that the state decides how to spend and the citizen doesn't."

Government does not get smaller, as evidenced by the lack of actual/physical/calculable cuts. It only gets bigger. And with each increase we see a little piece of a our liberty fly away, which is one of my main beefs with health care reform.

Even the mainstream media outlets are suggesting the freeze will have minimal effect on our national debt. Newsweek today said:

"Sure, it adds to the image of a president who's committed to reducing the deficit [REESE sidenote: Ummm...not sure what image Newsweek is referring to...in my humble opinion, I would say Obama has shown very little committment to reducing the deficit. Hello?], but it feels more like a gimmick than a realistic solution, particularly with a Congress more concerned about protecting its immediate political interests...than engaging in a cooperative attempt to tackle long-term economic issues.

Gimmick is probably the right word. We'll see what other gimmicks the president has up his sleeve at the State of the Union tomorrow. If Obama thinks this is being fiscally responsible, maybe he just doesn't really KNOW how large of a deficit we're dealing with.

Source:
Newsweek article
Mark Steyn on Rush
White House Briefing

Free Speech to ALL

Those who criticize this decision have lost sight of a basic truth: the answer to speech they disagree with is not to restrict that speech, but to answer it with more speech.

 - Hans Von Spakovsky, The Heritage Foundation

This past Thursday the Supreme Court reversed two prior court decisions related to corporations' ability to contribute on a political campaign.  The Heritage Foundation has a great article conveying how the reversal is a restoration of our basic right to free speech granted in the Constitution.

Heritage says, prior to the ruling on Thursday, "Corporate associations were prohibited under penalty of criminal and civil sanctions from expressing the views of their members in the political arena over which particular candidates should be elected to uphold the positions on important issues of public policy that their members believe in unless they complied with certain very restrictive, complex provisions."

Summary: in most instances corporations couldn't contribute on a political candidate's campaign.

Here are some great quotes supporting and defending the Supreme Court's decision:

The Court also found that free speech rights under the First Amendment do not depend on a speaker’s financial ability to engage in public discussion – the fact that some speakers may have more wealth than others does not diminish their First Amendment rights.

Speech is an essential mechanism of democracy and the means to hold officials accountable to the people. As such, political speech must prevail against laws that would suppress it.

The following quote is directly from Justice Scalia:  "The Amendment is written in terms of “speech,” not speakers. Its text offers no foothold for excluding any category of speakers…Indeed, to exclude or impede corporate speech is to muzzle the principal agents of the modern free economy. We should celebrate rather than condemn the addition of this speech to the public debate.

Now, yes, some "shady" companies will take advantage of the court's ruling to finance misleading advertising, but the argument is still irrelevant.  What matters is whether the voting body chooses to be educated on the issues enough to make an informed vote.  Give the responsibility to the voter...which is where it should be in the first place.

Chalk up a win for our Constitution.  I wish I could high-five our founding fathers.

Source: http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/21/citizens-united-v-fec-a-landmark-decision-in-favor-of-free-speech/

"Obamunism"

 "Let them continue to just flip off the American people, let them illustrate that their whole objective, their whole purpose is to govern against the will of the American people.  I am all for the Democrat Party illustrating that as often as they can."

 - Rush Limbaugh

I was telling my sister today about the term "Obamunism", which I heard on the David Boze show the other day.  It's a great term for Obama's political ideology.

It seemed like more than a coincidence when this video surfaced today and Rush made reference to it on his show.  I had to share...the video is AWESOME!  It shows Hitler's reaction to Brown's win in Massachusetts and the subsequent blow to Obama's regime and health care.  Give it two minutes.  It WILL make you laugh.

Let it be known...I love Rush.  If you don't maybe you should give him a second chance. 

One Year Later

Obama and George Stephanopoulos met for an interview yesterday.  It was a reflection on Obama's first year in office.  I saw the highlight reel on the news and most every response brought the same physical, involuntary response: the EYE-ROLL.

Just ask my husband...the eye-roll cannot be controlled...my eyes have a mind of their own...they know "ridiculous" before I do.  Here are just a few snippets and my thoughts...the eye-roll is inferred with each comment.

------------------------------------------------------

Stephanopoulos suggests in light of some comments by Michael Steele (the Republican National Committee President) is the anger of republicans goes beyond the bailout...that it's repudiation of Obama's entire agenda, notably health care.

OBAMA: "...when I got here and I looked at how we were going to get control of our long-term debt, I realized that there was no way for us to control our long-term debt unless we reformed how our healthcare system works."

Now granted, our health care might need some help, but the government swooping in and promising MORE services for LESS money (which is impossible, by the way) doesn't make sense without more government spending (aka taxes for you and me) and subsequent increases to our national debt.  Some of my fellow Washingtonians might know the infamous billboard along I-5 between Seattle and Portland which has some GREAT political one-liners.  A few months ago it said, "Think health care's expensive now?  Wait until it's free."  Awesome.  Obama's validation that health care reform will somehow save our long-term debt is backwards.

Moving onward...NEXT...

Regarding Obama's inaugural address Stephanopoulos says, "You said then, 'There are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans.'  Looking back now, don't those critics have a point?"

OBAMA: Most of the other issues that we took on were not ones that I chose. I didn't campaign on saving the financial system.

I have a real problem with his response.  FIRST, the position of the presidency is constantly complicated by unforeseen events requiring a temporary diversion.  Remember Bush? Our entire country was thrown significantly off course after September 11th?  He had been in office for less than eights months when the attacks occurred.  He came out stronger and firmer with a new plan...he adjusted his agenda based on those events.  Obama acts with an air of arrogance suggesting, "I didn't ask for this, it was a short diversion, but we're back on course."  It's obvious the terrorist actions over Christmas thwarted progress on some of his agenda items, namely health care, but as a citizen of this country I WANT a president that can multi-task.  You have to be able to prioritize, shift and change.  Isn't he the #1 proponent of change?  Why can't he see what's going on with health care and change his agenda!!!

And SECOND, the economy was well into its downward spiral at the start of his campaign.  He DID sign up for this.  The job of the president is not supposed to be easy.

NEXT...

Stephanopoulos continues, "But they're saying now, they want your health care plan to go away.  It's just not popular; the majority are opposed."

OBAMA: Well, here's what I know is that when they actually find out what's in the proposals for insurance reform, for making sure that we're making health care more affordable, those specific provisions are actually very popular.

He epitomizes the arrogance that plagues the liberals.  Obama really believes people aren't smart enough to KNOW what's in this bill.  He truly thinks he's smarter than everyone else.  I have real problems with the legislation, mostly because I think a great deal of the provisions are UNCONSTITUTIONAL:
 - Forcing people to have health coverage, and if they refuse they will be fined or jailed
 - Taking away my personal and my state's right to make decisions on abortion
 - Negotiating corrupt deals with Nebraska, Louisiana, and Unions
 - Medicare benefits posed to help seniors only in certain states

With the bill itself being such a monstrousity, it's obvious the legislation cannot possibly be sustained long-term without serious tax increases, which is just more money out of our economy and into the hands of our ever-growing government.  Mr. President, I know what's in the bill and I'm smart enough to know it's not a good idea.

My hope is the conservatives of this nation can press forward with the momentum from the Scott Brown win and avoid becoming complacent.  We must continue to raise our voices and make our demands heard.  Wasteful government spending and government expansion are not what we want.  Obama needs to get down with his own tagline...CHANGE.

Source: ABC Interview Transcript

The People Have Spoken

"This little campaign of ours was destined for greater things than any of us knew, and the message went far beyond the name on the sign."

- Scott Brown, Acceptance Speech

The last of the checks and balances came out in full force today: the people.  I was on watch most of the day and was elated when the numbers came through this evening.

 Whether or not our elected officials actually listen to the people remains to be seen. Brown had some great comments today. I wonder if our panic-stricken Congress listened in. Uncertainty abounds with respect to health care and it appears tonight the Dems have a few ideas floating around, but not a lot of direction. We'll see what the Obama-Pelosi-Reid trio have to say tomorrow.

Best case scenario: ObamaCare dies. I'm not naive...I know it will not die forever, but a girl can dream right? I hope it goes away at least until the election this fall. If "The Machine" continues on its crash course of ignoring public opinion the Tea Party movement will certainly affect the open seats and reclaim some ground in Congress. And maybe we'll see a significant stretch of time pass before health care reform can have some momentum. I said I could dream right?!

"We had the machine scared and scrambling, and for them it is just the beginning of an election year filled with surprises. They will be challenged again and again across this country. When there’s trouble in Massachusetts, there’s trouble everywhere – and now they know it." (Brown)

I've talked about the polls previously, but it's evident Obama and Congress are focusing on the wrong agenda item. Most of the country is worried about the economy and jobs. If I was unemployed I would be more worried about getting a job than my health care premiums. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave nothing away today in speculating about a GOP win in Massachusetts, but he did elude to job creation taking priority over health care.

QUESTION: What's the President's agenda for his second year in office and what's the top priority?

MR. GIBBS: I think the top priority...is to continue to work hard on getting this economy back on track and creating jobs again...his primary focus will be on creating jobs.

Very interesting.  Could Obama be getting the message?

Here's another Brown quote:

"Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country. What I’ve heard again and again on the campaign trail, is that our political leaders have grown aloof from the people, impatient with dissent, and comfortable in the back room making deals. And we can do better."

I'm hoping our country can have some economic focus. But in the economic realm Obama's lack of experience is evident. I fear Obama will push for another stimulus, which I've blogged about recently, and my opinion is "Are you freakin' kidding me?" Can someone please consider tax cuts!! Let's infuse some cash into our economy...give businesses some opportunity to hire...invest in their businesses. It's a complete no brainer. Tax Cuts = Job Creation. Maybe someone will get the message.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a related item...THANK YOU!! I'm so happy with how the blog is being received. Thanks for all your comments and opinions. Obviously, with this being a conservative blog, most of the input and ideas are conservative...but liberal or conservative, keep 'em coming. Let your voice be heard. What we've learned from Scott Brown and his supporters is conservatives are NOT alone. The tea party movement is not to be ignored. Conservatives abound and they WILL stand up.

Source:

Robert Gibbs Briefing 011910

Scott Brown Transcript for Acceptance Speech

MSNBC Skepticism over Obama's Agenda

A Nation on Watch...

"He will always represent Massachusetts with an independent voice in Washington."

-Mayor James Sheets

Tomorrow is a big day. It's HUGE. I hope the voters go out and do their thing despite cold weather and freezing rain. Lots of sound bites and articles today. The nation is literally huddled knowing what's at stake on Tuesday. Let's hope Brown can pull off a victory.

TWO items on my blog agenda today:

(1) We knew it would happen. Obama swoops to Massachusetts. He pushed his own agenda. Not Martha's.

(2) The Mayor from Quincy, MA gave his support for Brown today. While that may seem like small potatoes, it's huge when you understand the Mayor is a Democrat!

ITEM #1

Obama came. He was in Massachusetts on Sunday trying to mop up Coakley's mess, but he kept talking about his agenda...not hers. He clearly understands he NEEDS her vote for HIS agenda. Here is Obama:

(FYI, Obama totally got heckled and didn't know what do to! Click HERE to see it. The teleprompters are not usually meant for situations like these and President Obama was a little out of sorts.)

Okay, back to his speech...here are a few bites:

"We've got so much work left to do. And as much progress as we've made, I can't do it alone. [REESE Sidenote: I'm still trying to decide WHAT progress he's actually referring to.] I need leaders like Martha by my side, so we can kick it into high gear, so we can finish what we've started.

"So understand what's at stake here, Massachusetts. It's whether we're going forward, or going backwards.

"It's whether we're going to have a future where everybody gets a shot in this society, or just the privileged few. If you were fired up in the last election, I need you more fired up in this election.

"And if you do that....then you won't just win this election. You will carry on the best, progressive, forward-looking values of this proud commonwealth [REESE Sidenote: Yes, this is called Socialism, and I'm not sure I would call it the "best". No wait, I'm certain I wouldn't call it the "best".] and send a leader to Washington who is going to work tirelessly every single day to turn this economy around, to move this country forward, and to keep the American Dream alive in our time and for all time."

Does Obama realize the American Dream for most people is to work hard and be rewarded for their blood, sweat and tears? His idea of wealth redistribution makes MY version of the American Dream completely moot. I refuse to believe it's right that my efforts should benefit someone who sits on the couch waiting for a handout.

Item #2

This is awesome. And Quincy isn't just some small podunk town. It's the seventh largest city in the state. Here is Mayor James Sheets' official statement:

"Despite being a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, I am endorsing Scott Brown for Senate, as I know he will always represent Massachusetts with an independent voice in Washington. Martha Coakley has repeatedly stated she would cast the critical 60th vote for the current health care proposal that would slash Medicare funding by nearly half-a-trillion dollars and dramatically impact the care so many seniors rely upon in their final years. As our United States Senator, I am confident Scott Brown will only support legislation that will benefit his constituents, and this is why I will be voting for him on Tuesday."

He's right. He understands ObamaCare is not in the best interest of the people in this great nation and certainly not in Massachusetts. He will most likely be scorned and thrown under the bus by the lefts, but this guy must have some sense of integrity to put his butt on the line and make his statement in support of Brown. Now that's what I call reaching across the aisle.

GO BROWN OR GO HOME

SCOTT BROWN FOR US SENATE!!

Source:

Obama Transcript from Coakley rally

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/01/obama_stumps_for_martha_coakle.html

Quincy Mayor's statement

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/01/dem_mayor_of_quincy_ma_endorse.html

If it's YOUR bill...it's YOUR fault

"His performance is measured against the epic challenges he inherited from the Bush administration."

- Seattle Times Editorial Jan 16, 2010

I keep wondering when the Obama administration will realize it looks bad to continue to blame current problems on the Bush Administration. This quote from an editorial in the wonderfully liberal Seattle Times is evidence people refuse to make Obama accountable.

Obama has been out in the press this week talking about "job creation." And yes, that deserves quotes because it's not real. The Heritage Foundation reports:

"A year ago, White House economists predicted that the stimulus bill would create (not merely save) 3.3 million net jobs by 2010. Since then, 3.5 million more net jobs have been lost, pushing the unemployment rate above 10 percent."

Are you serious! Does Obama think I'm an idiot? Obama won't acknowledge the stimulus bill did the exact opposite of what they promised. He ensured us the gargantuan stimulus bill would create jobs and instead we lost 3.5 million jobs. The Heritage Foundation continues to point out the Obama Administration is now 6.8 million jobs OFF target. I will help you with the math:

3.3 million jobs promised to be created

+ 3.5 million jobs actually lost

6.8 million off the mark

But instead of people demanding some accountability they are instead saying, "Give the guy a break, this is REALLY hard. And you know what? He did the BEST he could considering Bush ruined the economy." I just can't accept that and neither should you. Obama pushed for the stimulus bill, he should be accountable for the complete and utter failure of it.

And our representatives should really freak out when they hear Obama try and convince them to pass another stimulus. As the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me."

Source:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2010806652_edit17obama.html?prmid=op_ed
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Economy/wm2755.cfm

Who's Picking Up the Tab?

"Our people were very very pleased by it."

Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

There's a lot going on with Health Care. It's hard to get the facts. But what happened today is no surprise. It involved more closed-door, secret meetings, but at the end of it all the labor unions gave their approval for ObamaCare.

You gotta love all this transparency, am I right, or am I right?!

A big gap in the bills has been what to do with so-called "Cadillac" health plans. Most union plans fall into this category, and because they are tied closely with the Democratic Party, you can imagine they were upset when they found out they would be taxed (up to 40%) on their health benefits.

Well, have no fear. Unions are now exempt until 2018. They also upped the threshold for what is considered "Cadillac." They came out of their clandestine meetings today giving everyone high-fives and saying they will NOW put their stamp on Obamacare.

So, now two things:

(1) What about MY family? - We aren't represented by a collective bargaining agreement (aka union). Why am I on the hook beginning in 2013 and not them? In a country claiming to make health care "fair" am I the only one thinking this isn't fair?

(2) Who is paying for the shortfall? - With the unions exempted, there is now $60 billion of revenue the government needs to find elsewhere. Of course, no one offers any important hard-core facts as to where that money will come from. It appears to be a secondary issue compared with the "success" of one less group of people clearing the way for ObamaCare.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/14/obama-summons-dems-white-house-late-night-health-reform-talks/

We Own the Hill

"It's not the Kennedy's seat. It's not the Democrat's seat. It's the People's seat."

- Scott Brown

He said it right. In fact, I wish he would have yelled it. It is one of the most truthful and factual statements I've heard from a politician in a long time. His words reflect the frustrations of many. Who do our elected officials think they are? Don't they remember they represent a body of people and should have their best interests in mind?

BACKGROUND: Scott Brown is the Republican underdog challenging Democrat Martha Cloakley for the open Senate seat in Massachusetts. This is a special election to fill the vacancy left by Ted Kennedy. What Democrats didn't plan for was the race to tighten and Brown to have a fighting chance of winning. Should Brown win (crossing fingers...pretty please!), he could be the ONE member to block Obamacare from passing. He would be the 41st vote against it.

Brown has it spot on. Every seat in Congress belongs to the people...no matter how long you've sat in it.

And if you're wondering what the people are saying as of late, a Gallup poll released today plainly shows the people are not happy. Not only are Obama's rating numbers down in most other categories (yet again), but the President's ratings with regards to health care are at 37%.

Yes, you read it right: 37%.

So why the push? Why the urgent, closed-door meetings on Health Care? Why the lack of transparency? Do you think our elected officials truly have the people in mind, or are they pushing an agenda other than ours?

I would suggest the numbers speak for themselves.

My eyes are on Massachusetts. If I knew anyone who lived there I would have been on the horn five minutes ago. Do you? Call them. Tell them to get informed and VOTE.

Source:

http://www.thehopeforamerica.com/play.php?id=2761

http://www.gallup.com/poll/125033/Obama-Approval-Terrorism-Up-49.aspx

Welcome!

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
- Ronald Reagan

This is a cumulation of many months worth of frustration. I didn't know how to focus my thoughts and energy in regards to our current political environment until a recent epiphany, and as a result, this blog was born. I share my kids' and family's activities via the blogosphere, so why not share ideas, feelings and happenings that affect us all?

Like most stay-at-home mothers, my focus is on my children. Most days I only catch a few headlines, a news story or two, or hear a few minutes of a radio program in between school drop-offs and pick-ups. It's hard to know what's really going on. But the past year I have dug deeper and sought to be more informed. I wanted to understand how the changes on Capital Hill will affect MY family. And as I have learned more, I've become more impassioned. So in an attempt to express my feelings, comments, and opinions, my hope is for other moms (and other blog readers...or basically anyone who takes the time to read my blog) can catch a glimpse of what's happening in and around our state and nation.

I mean no offense. The goal of this blog is to give voice to something I am passionate about: Conservatism.