2010: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly . . . and the Extraordinary

In 2010, the U.S. suffered through another 12 months of weak economic activity, record home foreclosures, high unemployment and financial uncertainty. Nevertheless, there were many seminal events that fell into the following categories.

The Good:

The November election gave Republicans a “do-over.” They will take back control of the House of Representatives in the 112 Congress. The new leaders have pledged to end earmarks, to cut runaway federal spending and bring the country back in line with the Constitution.

The Defeat of the $1.1 trillion Omnibus Spending Bill: This bill bypassed the normal budget process. It was loaded with pork and new projects that would have been difficult to cut or eliminate and it would have provided funding for some of the most onerous provisions of the unpopular health care law that the new Congress will try to eliminate.

The Defeat of the (bad) Dream Act: Another back-door amnesty bill.

The Bad:

Wall Street Reform: Imposed $19 billion in new taxes and fees on banks (which consumers will end up paying) and failed to address Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (a major cause of the housing meltdown).

The Food Safety Bill: It grows the government, increase food prices and drive small producers out of business without making our food any safer.

The extension of unemployment benefits: Why the rush to pass another 13 months of unemployment benefits with no work or job training requirements? While many people have had trouble finding work and need extra help, extending unemployment benefits in this manner will discourage many from taking “less than the perfect” jobs because they can now afford to wait. Also, many people, who can and would have retired, will be living on the public dole for three years now . . . because they can.

The Ugly:

ObamaCare: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a misnomer. Reliable studies show that this unpopular bill will drive up the costs and reduce the quality of our health care. The bill failed to address the primary reasons for our spiraling health care costs. It burdens providers and insurers with regulations that reduce consumer choice and eventually will drive everyone into a one-size fits all government program.

The recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid: This man is enamored with the British health care system. He has made it clear that rationing is one of the ways that he will control costs.

The confirmation of Elena Kagan as a Supreme Court Justice: In her confirmation hearing, Kagan gave us proof that she believes the Constitution is nothing more than Silly Putty that can be twisted or bent into any shape desired by “progressive” justices. She believes even wrongly decided Supreme Court decisions trump the original intent of our founders. She pledged her support for the unconstitutional welfare state that has taken us the brink of financial collapse and refused to endorse the concept of “natural law” or “inalienable rights” contained in our charter, the Declaration of Independence. Nevertheless, the Senate confirmed her and she will be around to pervert our laws for the balance of her life.

The elimination of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: In passing the bill that allows homosexuals to serve openly in the military, the outgoing lame duck Congress overruled the objections of the majority of our service chiefs and put an additional burden on our military during a time of war. This was a cheap political payoff to the Democrats’ radical base. It puts our military and our country at risk.

The Extraordinary:

The tea-party movement motivated average citizens to rise up and take back the government. As a result, in the historic 2010 election, 58 incumbents were defeated and many more entrenched congressmen and senators chose to retire rather than face sure defeat at the hands of an angry electorate.

New Year’s Resolution:

While the results of the November election and the promises made by the incoming House Republican leaders and some of their Senate colleagues are encouraging, don’t be lulled into political inactivity. Clearly some lawmakers are committed to smaller, more efficient government. However, the majority will go along only if we hold their feet to the fire. Join a local tea-party group. Sign up to support one or more of the watchdog organizations like the National Taxpayers Union and Citizens Against Government Waste. Read and act on their e-mail alerts.

Bear in mind. Some lawmakers remain openly defiant when it comes to cutting the government down to size. They need to be defeated in their next election. Now is the time to begin looking for worthy challengers to support. The future of this country depends on it.

After the 2010 Election: The Follow-Through

Every athlete knows the importance of the follow-through. Once you hit or release a ball, it will not reach its intended target unless the athlete stays engaged until the projectile is well on its way to the desired destination.

If the 2010 election was about cleaning out the entrenched political elites who have run up a staggering national debt and mortgaged our future, then the 2012 election must be about the “follow through.”

Gone are the days when voters can afford to wake up a couple of weeks before an election and, once it’s over, hit the snooze button for another two years. Continue reading “After the 2010 Election: The Follow-Through” →

Democrats Demagog Tax Hike

When I was a sports reporter, I often went to the track to cover horse racing. A betting window was conveniently located near the press box. Eventually, I succumbed to temptation and put in, not one, but two modest wagers. One of my horses came in last. The other one died – he was literally hauled off to the glue factory. I learned a valuable lesson. That was the last bet I ever made.

One could only wish that Democrats would learn from their past mistakes: You cannot tax and spend your way out of a recession. It’s never happened. It’s not going to happen. However, they seem hellbent on betting control of the House and Senate – and perhaps even the 2012 presidential election – on their pursuit of these failed polices. Continue reading “Democrats Demagog Tax Hike” →

Obama Disses the Boy Scouts

Have you ever been stood up? Worse still, have you ever been stood up for a really important date, say the most important event of your life? Now it’s one thing if your date is sick or is the victim of some unforeseen cataclysmic event. It’s quite another to run into him at the local soda shop with another chick or . . . four other chicks.

That is, in effect, what happened to the Boy Scouts of America. This week, the nation’s most popular values-based youth organization was stood up by its honorary chairman, the president of the United States, for its most important event in 100 years –the Boy Scout Jamboree which commemorates its centennial anniversary. It’s not like Barack Obama didn’t know this was coming. Normally, the Jamboree is held every four years, but this one was delayed a year to mark this important occasion. Continue reading “Obama Disses the Boy Scouts” →

Obama finds A– to Kick

Earlier this month, in an interview with Matt Lauer, Barack Obama, lowered the standard for the nation’s chief of state when he used a vulgarity in an interview for the “Today Show.” Consumed with frustration over his inability to turn back the tide on the Gulf Coast, Barack Almighty delivered the now infamous line, “I want to know whose a – – to kick.” On Tuesday, he found one. No! He found two – the American people and the American economy.

In his Oval Office address to the nation, Obama was a cross between a slick politician and a bully.

Who is getting bullied? We are. Continue reading “Obama finds A– to Kick” →

Obama’s kinder, gentler “Death Panels”

Truth is in short supply in Washington.

That is why recent statements made by Donald Berwick, President Obama’s Nominee to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, are both refreshing and chilling.

Here’s what Dr. Berwick had to say in a 2009 interview with Biotechnology Healthcare:

“The decision is not whether or not we will ration care – the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open.” Continue reading “Obama’s kinder, gentler “Death Panels”” →

Protect Your Military

Have you taken the time to thank a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine for their service to our country lately?

We owe so much to our all-volunteer force. There is no other job that requires this kind of selfless dedication and courage. We need the military and now the men and women on active duty need us to do something for them they cannot do for themselves. Continue reading “Protect Your Military” →

The real State of the Union

The national debt, now stands at $12,300,000,000,000 and change, and it’s growing by the second. That’s about $40,000 for every American. More important, it represents $113,000 for each and every taxpayer.

The federal deficit in 2009, the amount we added to the nation’s credit card, was a record $1.4 trillion, which was our largest, as a share of our Gross Domestic Product, since the end of World War II. Continue reading “The real State of the Union” →

The Great Green Jobs Flimflam

Some people learn from their mistakes. It appears Barack Obama is not one of them.

Immediately, after assuming the office of president of the United States, Obama began clamoring for an unprecedented $787 billion dollar stimulus package. It was necessary, he told us, in order to put Americans back to work and arrest the rising rate of unemployment at eight percent.

A year later, the unemployment rate is hovering around 10 percent, but when you add to the list the number of discouraged workers or those working only part time, the rate is a staggering 17.3 percent.

What went wrong?

Continue reading “The Great Green Jobs Flimflam” →

Obama’s Christmas Stocking

Every Christmas, stockings are hung by the chimney with care, with the anticipation that each stocking owner will be properly rewarded for his or her behavior over the past year. What will President Barack Obama get this Christmas? If this citizen were Santa he would receive:

A lump of coal for using our economy, which had begun to stabilize when he took office, as an excuse to pass a so-called $787 billion stimulus bill, which funded every big government program on the liberals’ wish list.

Continue reading “Obama’s Christmas Stocking” →