Senator John Kerry says the media has a responsibility to not give equal time to the Tea Party
Back in 2007 John Kerry supported the idea of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, declaring:
I think the Fairness Doctrine ought to be there and I also think equal time doctrine ought to come back. I mean these are the people who wiped out one of the most profound changes in the balance of the media is when the conservatives got rid of the equal time requirements. And the result is that, you know, they’ve been able to squeeze down and squeeze out opinion of opposing views and I think it’s been an important transition in the imbalance of our public
In 2007 John Kerry thought it was important to make sure that “opposing views” were not “squeezed out” by the media and supported the Fairness Doctrine as a necessary tool to ensure that liberals had a voice on talk radio. But that was 2007 and this is 2011 and the times have changed. John Kerry was for the Fairness Doctrine before he was against it because when asked about the influence of the Tea Party this morning John Kerry stated the media has a responsibility to not give the Tea Party equal time: Read more…
Video: New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte on the Senate floor explaining her opposition to the debt ceiling bill
Three out of the four New Hampshire legislators voted in favor of the debt ceiling bill–the lone vote against the bill coming from Senator Kelly Ayotte.
I have decided to post a video of her on the Senate floor during the debate over the debt ceiling bill in which she explains her opposition to this compromise legislation.
The debt ceiling deal may gut Obamacare, but is it worth it?
I have been critical of the debt ceiling deal based primarily on the notion of the “super Congress” and the fact that the House has given away its power of the purse strings. I feel as if the House willingly gave up its greatest tool in fighting the Obama regime’s spending by deferring this issue to a bipartisan committee consisting of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans split evenly between the House and the Senate–the House has surrendered the mandate the American people gave them in 2010.
This “super Congress” will have the authority to make legislation which would then head to the two chambers for an up or down vote without the chance for debate or amending the legislation; this in and of itself takes the power of the whole Congress away from the full body and hands it over to a select few. If this committee cannot come to a consensus triggers will be initiated which would automatically cut spending from certain programs, and if the Congress does not vote to implement the “super Congress” legislation the same result will occur. Either way the result is the same; too much power has been handed over to the members who are selected to serve on this committee, and too much power has been taken away from those that were chosen by the people to represent them.
It was widely believed that during these negotiations Barack Obama was able to assure that no cuts would be made to Obamacare as part of the triggers which would go into effect if the “super Congress” became deadlocked, but it now appears as if the president wasn’t able to negotiate a guarantee that his signature legislation would be left untouched. It is now being reported in this story that if the “super Congress” cannot come to an agreement that billions of dollars could be stripped from Obamacare. Read more…
My email to Congressman Frank Guinta on the debt ceiling
Earlier this week three out of four of the New Hampshire leaders in Washington voted in favor of the debt ceiling bill–Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte being the lone dissenter. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, voted in favor of the bill along with squishy conservative Congressman Charlie Bass, and my Congressman Frank Guinta.
I have sent Senator Ayotte an email thanking her for her vote, and I have sent Congressman Guinta an email informing him of my displeasure with the legislation, and his role in its passage.
My main concern with this legislation is the formation of a committee which circumvents the constitutional powers given to the House over the purse strings, and I made it known to him how I feel about this development.
Here is my email to the Congressman, I will post his reply once I have received it:
Hi Congressman, I am a supporter of yours and I feel you have done a great job so far in the Congress overall, but today I am writing you to voice my displeasure with your recent vote on the debt ceiling bill.
I understand that as of yet we do not have enough conservatives in the Congress to affect the change we all desire and that we had to settle for a deal that was less than what we had all hoped for in regards to spending cuts, but that is not my biggest problem with this bill.
My biggest concern with this legislation is the special committee which was set up to determine future budget cuts.
My problem with this committee is this: as you know, the Constitution gives the House the authority to initiate all spending bills, and with this deal the House has willingly abdicated the biggest responsibility it was charged with under the Constitution. This is a major win for Barack Obama when you consider the fact that the Tea Party/conservative/Republicans control this one branch of the federal government; Barack Obama has effectively taken the purse strings away from the conservatives in the House and handed it over to what by definition must be considered a much less conservative committee. The Republicans have surrendered the greatest tool they had in reigning in this president.
I find this to be a horrible turn of events and is about as anti-constitutional an idea as I can come up with–to think that a committee will be negotiating revenues behind closed doors, with only an up or down vote when the deal is reached and with no chance to amend or debate the bill is an idea that I cannot come to terms with.
Thank you for your time and I hope that you can explain to me why I am over-reacting to this “super Congress” because right now it feels as if the American people have been sold down the river.
A response from the White House
Last week I sent the White House an email and I included a video from JFK espousing the virtues of tax cuts as a stimulant to a stagnant economy, hoping that the president would find this video informative. I promised to post a reply when it came, so here it is:
Dear Friend:
Thank you for writing. President Obama has heard from many Americans about his budget for Fiscal Year 2012 and efforts to reduce our Nation’s deficit, and we want to make sure you are aware of some relevant information about these important issues.
The budget President Obama sent to Congress on February 14 is built around the idea that we have to live within our means so we can invest in our future. Only by making tough choices to both cut spending and deficits and invest in what we need to win the future can we out-educate, out-build, and out-innovate the rest of the world. The President is committed to working in a bipartisan way to solve the fiscal challenges before us while continuing to grow the economy and lay the foundation for America to win the future.
Here are some more resources on the President’s 2012 Budget and vision for deficit reduction that you may find helpful:
- Watch President Obama’s Address to the Nation on a balanced approach to deficit reduction: www.WhiteHouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/07/25/president-obama-addresses-nation-dangers-default
- Learn more about the President’s 2012 Budget, watch OMB Director Jack Lew’s overview of the budget, or download the entire budget document as a PDF or e-Book: www.WhiteHouse.gov/winning-the-future
- Visit the Office of Management and Budget website: www.Budget.gov
- Watch President Obama’s speech unveiling his budget to win the future: www.WhiteHouse.gov/xfr
- Watch President Obama’s speech on deficit reduction: www.WhiteHouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/04/13/country-we-believe-improving-america-s-fiscal-future
Thank you, again, for writing. President Obama is grateful to hear from thousands of Americans each day, and we appreciate your taking the time to contact the White House.
Sincerely,
The White House
Joe Biden owes this mother an apology
There is an article on Trevor Loudon which is a must read. It was written by the mother of a fallen Navy SEAL who was killed in action on August 2nd 2006–exactly five years to the day of the debt ceiling deadline. It had been reported by several people in the room that Joe Biden compared the Tea Party to terrorists–an accusation which he is denying–but if it is true than Joe Biden owes Debbie Lee–and all of those who are fighting the real terrorists–an apology.
Here are a few excerpts from the article:
Aug 2nd 2006 a day that forever changed my life, our family, the SEAL community, those who knew Marc Alan Lee and all who would come to know him through his heroic sacrifice and final challenge left in his “Glory letter,” to pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life.
As I sit at his grave the emotions overwhelm me and I lay face down over the soil where his body lays longing to be close one more time to my son, to hear his voice, see his smile, hear his laughter, listen to his thoughts. My tears erupt into the parched grass. How could it have been 5 years? Oh how I long to embrace him and tell him how much I love him and how proud I am of him and his courage. Yes Marc, you were right. Life is a precious gift, and we never know how long we will have it.
Emotionally depleted I sit up and wipe my tears. I reflect back to the day Marc willingly gave his life and the courage he displayed as three different times that day he chose to expose himself and stand up into direct enemy fire to defend his buddies and the freedoms we are blessed with as Americans
Our American History is rich in examples of patriots who displayed courage in numerous circumstances, willing to give everything if need be for what they believed in, to provide liberty and a better life to those they left behind.
Courage (also bravery, fortitude, or intrepidity) is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. “Physical courage” is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death, or threat of death, while “moral courage” is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.
The Tea Party Movement has inspired, educated and equipped many individuals to stand just as Marc did armed with courage to confront our government, willing to do battle to protect and defend our freedoms that our Founding Fathers envisioned and declared in our Constitution
It disgusts me to hear the Vice President of the United States has likened me to a terrorist? I’m the Mother of a hero who defended America, sacrificed his life and had the flag, he willing gave his life for, draped over his coffin … and I am being called a terrorist. I’m standing on Biblical morals and values and our constitution and founding documents and I’m a terrorist?????? Despicable!!!! I demand an apology!
I urge everyone to read the entire article, I posted about half of it, because it really puts into perspective how irresponsible Joe Biden’s words were if he indeed made the comparison. If he did–and I believe he did, there were too many people present who confirmed he did–he needs to own up to his words and apologize immediately!
We all remember Barack Obama’s comment after the Arizona shooting, don’t we? In case you have forgotten, this is what he said:
If, as has been discussed in recent days, their deaths help usher in more civility in our public discourse,” Mr. Obama said, “let us remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy — it did not — but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation, in a way that would make them proud
When soaring right wing vitriol and violent right wing rhetoric–such as Sarah Palin’s map which showed targets over districts which she thought included vulnerable Democrat incumbents–was being blamed for Gabby Gifford’s shooting it was the president who called for a new era of civility and a toning down of the rhetoric. When it was learned that Jarred Loughner was a Bush hating, 911 truther who was apolitical no apology was forthcoming by those who callously tried to blame the Tea Party for the shooting.
Yet the left certainly hasn’t seemed obligated to follow the president’s edict, so much for leading by example; there have been numerous occasions since the shooting–covered on many conservative blogs–which show examples of leftists not living up to the standard they demanded right wingers live up to. This was most recently on display over the debt ceiling debate when–on the day that Congressman Giffords made a triumphant return to the Congress–Democrat Mike Doyle and Vice President Joe Biden compared Tea Party members to terrorists.
Now Chuck Schumer has decided to join in on the fun–forgetting the president’s plea for civility–and declared that the House Republicans were holding a “gun to the heads” of Democrats: Read more…
Barack Obama blames the earthquake in Japan for the slow economic recovery in America
Barack Obama’s economic policies have failed and the economy has suffered further because of his policies. But Barack Obama simply cannot take ownership of this economy and has instead decided to look everywhere but in the mirror when trying to slice up the blame pie.
I happened to be on my lunch break when the president gave his speech after signing the “House Republicans cede the power of the purse string over to a committee of 12” legislation more commonly known as the debt ceiling bill and couldn’t believe my ears as Barack Obama blamed both the earthquake in Japan and the Arab Spring (the same Arab Spring he was taking credit for starting before it was learned that terrorist organizations were behind the rebel causes in many of the countries) for slowing down the United States’ economy.
In the last few months, the economy has already had to absorb an earthquake in Japan, the economic headwinds coming from Europe, the Arab Spring and the [rise] in oil prices — all of which have been very challenging for the recovery. But these are things we couldn’t control
Typical; Barack Obama looks to blame things that were beyond his control for his failings as president. It couldn’t possibly be his fault that his policies have failed, there must have been extenuating circumstances beyond his control. He had to look long and hard, but he was able to find events in foreign countries which he thought he could use to deflect the blame, but Barack Obama has lost all credibility as a leader and nobody is buying what he is selling anymore.
The debt ceiling debate is finally over
For better or for worse with the news tonight that the House has approved the debt ceiling bill the debate is finally over. I have to admit that while the conservatives only hold a majority in the House and too much shouldn’t have been expected, that I still feel a little disappointed.
I will start with the one positive that I can find in this debate and that is the fact that the Tea Party has asserted itself as a major player that cannot be ignored as we move forward. If we continue to elect people aligned with the Tea Party we one day may be able to make the changes that are so desperately needed, but until then I guess we have to take whatever victory we can get. I think the left now understands that the Tea Party is nothing they should be laughing at any more, and that is a positive.
Now for the disappointments: Firstly, there are only $10 billion of real cuts over the next two years and after that all bets are off–this is a mere pittance when looking at the overall budget deficit. There is no guarantee that the next Congress will implement any of the additional $1 trillion in cuts which are supposedly included in the initial phase of this legislation, this is basically a shell game and everyone involved knows this.
And secondly; the second phase of this deal includes the formation of a super committee which will be tasked with finding an additional $1 trillion in cuts. This sounds good on the surface I suppose because, unlike the first committee which Barack Obama created, the results of this committee cannot be ignored or else triggers which both sides find unacceptable will be implemented.
This committee will consist of six members of the House and six members of the Senate, equally split between Republicans and Democrats and they will have to issue a plan by the end of the year. My problem with this committee is this: the Constitution gives the House the authority to initiate all spending bills, and with this deal the House has willingly abdicated the biggest responsibility it was charged with under the Constitution. This is a major win for Barack Obama when you consider the fact that the Tea Party/conservative/Republicans control this one branch of the federal government; he has effectively taken the purse strings away from the conservatives in the House and handed it over to what by definition must be considered a much less conservative committee. The Republicans have surrendered the greatest tool they had in controlling this out of control president.
The Tea Party had been controlling this debate, the argument had changed because without the Tea Party you can rest assured that tax increases would have been part of this compromise, and now the Tea Party has been rendered irrelevant and subservient to the will of this party of twelve. Tax increases will be back on the table at the end of the year and we have the weak-kneed Republican establishment leadership to blame for this–this is more proof that we need to elect more true conservatives to the House, Senate, and hopefully to the White House.
Did Joe Biden call the Tea Party terrorists?
In the aftermath of the Arizona shooting the president and others said that it was time to usher in a new age of civility because the violent rhetoric and over the top vitriol were to blame for Gabrielle Gifford’s shooting. The media was quick to rush towards judgement and went out of their way to blame Sarah Palin for “targeting” Congressmen who she felt should be voted out of office. It was assumed that Jared Loughner was some crazed right wing extremist spurred to action by the hatefilled message emanating from the right. This was quickly disproven, but no apologies have ever come forth from those that made the outrageous claim.
But while the left condemned the rhetoric and the vitriol and tried to silence their opponents through fear, the fact is that the left has remained actively engaged in the very same type of behavior they condemned the right for–in fact they have taken it to a new level by calling people who oppose their policies terrorists.
America's Watchtower 