From the AP report…
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, an influential critic of the Iraq War whose congressional career was shadowed by questions about his ethics, died Monday. He was 77.
The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said.
Yet another seat unexpectedly open. This is certainly going to be an interesting year.
The AP is carrying a story that would have been merely annoying had I not just watched the “Big Lie” video presentation from the good folks at iCaucus.org. The Independence Caucus has unveiled part of their research into the financial backroom dealing that keeps incumbents elected, wreaks havoc on our electoral system, and completely skirts around the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act.
Their research basically shows how 25 institutions (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, two auto companies, and 21 banks) have received 93% of all the TARP monies that were supposed to go to all the banks across the nation. One problem: the vast majority of the banks haven’t seen a red cent from the stimulus package. Out of over 8,500 banks, 21 got 93%, 553 got about 5%, and the rest has not been dispersed.
But you wouldn’t believe where a good portion of the money has gone…right back into the coffers of our Representatives, on both sides of the aisle. The money was contributed to the election campaigns of these people, and was almost evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. Basically, it was payback for passing the stimulus bill. The folks at the Independence Caucus explain how it works.
So now back to the story from the AP. Why did the Banks need to be stress tested? The government has never needed to “stress test” the banks before now. Banks have always been required by law to have stress tests conducted by independent auditors at regular intervals. But lo and behold, the government stress test, required by Congress, conveniently finds that the banks need additional government money, which in turn will fuel an additional round of campaign finance kickbacks.
It’s well past time to stop this madness.
To borrow a phrase, this is “must see TV:”
What bothers me most is that many of these Democrats are members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and it appears they are defending the criminal activities of Franklin Raines because he is black. And defending the policies of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they benefited poor Blacks.
I though such disgusting racism ended in the 1950′s. Racism is wrong no matter who does it.
At any rate, we have seen the labor of the Democrats come to fruition over the past several days. We know who is to blame, and we know who should be going to jail. What are we waiting for?
From CNN:
Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Michigan, said he changed his vote to “yes” on Friday after calls to office changed after Monday’s rejection of the plan in the chamber.
“A lot of people change their minds (about the bill) after seeing heartbreak in the streets,” he said.
Heartbreak in the streets? What street, Wall Street? Last I heard our reps were getting calls at 99 to 1 against passage of this boondoggle. Sen Bob Bennet’s office reported 1000 to 1 against.
The American people are telling Congress, “We don’t need your help on this. We think we can handle it on our own.” Of course, Congress hears “blah blah blah help blah.”
The democrats are in an uproar today over Karl Rove’s refusal to testify before Congress regarding the firing of 8 federal prosecutors. He even has the audacity to ignore the Democrats’ subpoena!
Apparently, harassing a former political aide of a President who cannot be re-elected in a shameful attempt to uncover pretended improprieties is more important to the country than fixing our energy problem, or our spending problem, or even tort reform as it relates to our health care problem.
Pres. Bush did nothing wrong by firing those prosecutors. He has complete liberty to do so for any reason, or for no reason. The democrats happily ignore the fact the Pres. Clinton fired all 93 federal prosecutors while he was in office. Where were the Republican investigations? There were none!
The democrats are complaining about the prosecution of democratic former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, but being a democrat nowadays is enough to justify charges of sedition and treason. At least the AP got part of the story right, the federal prosecutors in question were disloyal, but to America rather than to Bush.
We really need to send these weasels home. They need real jobs.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) is circulating a pledge among House members that signifies their willingness to rely more heavily on our own, domestic resources.
As of 4:00 PM MDT on June 17, 2008, Congressman Chris Cannon’s name is not on the list. Why not? Maybe he’s just too busy talking about it.
Those who have signed to date:
Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.)
Tom Price (R-Ga.)
Paul Broun (R-Ga.)
Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.)
Patrick McHenry (R-NC)
Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
George Radanovich (R-Calif.)
Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio)
Mike Conaway (R-Texas)
John Culberson (R-Texas)
Tom Reynolds (R-NY)
Greg Walden (R-Ore.)
Bill Shuster (R-Pa.)
Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.)
Dan Burton (R-Ind.)
Judy Biggert (R-Ill.)
Tom Feeney (R-Fla.)
Tom Latham (R-Iowa)
Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.)
I got an email earlier today from my friends at the Utah Republican Assembly. It was forwarded from Bay Buchanan, a nationally known Conservative pundit and author of The Extreme Makeover of Hillary Rodham-Clinton. Ms. Buchanan was US Treasurer from 1981-1983, and she was awarded 2007 Woman of the Year by the Claire Booth Luce Policy Institute. She converted to the LDS Church in 1976 (not that it makes any difference to us folks here in Utah…end sarcasm).
The letter says it all.
Dear Friend,The race in Utah is heating up and our man, Jason Chaffetz, is closing in on one of La Raza’s favorite congressman, Chris Cannon. You remember the Cannon-he’s famous for saying that in Utah, “We don’t often times make the distinction between legal and illegal [immigrants]”
Two weeks ago, when in Utah for my son’s wedding, I made of point of having lunch with Jason and his wife. I wanted to be certain he was the kind of candidate who deserved the endorsement of Team America and your support as well.
I am excited to tell you he is all that and more. Solid on the issues, Tancredo-good on immigration-Jason is also tough and gutsy. He will not buckle under pressure. Jason is exactly what we need in Washington.
I just spoke with Jason and he is really thrilled with the feel of the campaign. As well he should be-he has closed to within 2% of Cannon!!!
But he needs our help if he is to beat Cannon. The establishment, ethnic lobbyists, and corporate buddies are once again pouring money into Cannon’s coffers. They know he is a solid vote for their amnesty and guest worker bills. They will do all they can to keep Cannon in Congress-and Jason out.
Jason’s knows he needs to get his message right to the people with strong radio ads. He has already cut the ads-now he needs to raise the money to get them on air!
And Chris Cannon is up to his old tricks. His website has an outrageously misleading video on immigration in which Cannon claims to be against amnesty!! We need to help Jason get the facts out about Cannon’s record and Jason will win this congressional seat.
He needs our help and he needs it now. If there is anyway you can make a contribution to him please do so TODAY. Jason has promised me that all the money Team America raises for him will be used to buy radio Your generous contribution will be used for Jason’s radio buy.
If you want to make your contribution directly to his campaign at his website. Otherwise contribute to Team America and mark in the comment section “For Jason”. We will then send Jason-overnight-a check for the total amount of earmarked contributions. (Team America keeps no portion of contributions earmarked for candidates.)
Thanks again for everything you do to protect and secure this nation.
Warmest regards,
Bay Buchanan
2% is likely within the statistical margin of error. Jason can win this election. The people of Utah are tired of Cannon’s empty rhetoric and constant inaction. Glenn Beck told his listeners today about the 6,000 people who have been killed along our border with Mexico over the past couple of years by violent gangs. Our legislators knew almost nothing about it. This is why we need strength in Congress. We need someone who can shake those dullards out of their sleepy comfort. Congress needs a new spine. Chris Cannon has failed us in that regard.
Let’s really hit Cannon hard in the next few weeks. Go Jason!
As a Utah State delegate, I have spent many hours studying the issues raised by the three major candidates for Congress in my home district. It may come at the 11th hour, but I am now confident in one candidate: Jason Chaffetz. Please let me list some of the reasons I came to this decision.
Chris Cannon is the incumbent. He has been in office for about 15 years. He has done some good things in Congress, but he has also done some really unexplainable things.
His support of President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” Act left many of us in Utah wondering what he was thinking, especially after Utah moved to exempt itself from the regulations requirements. It was not a popular piece of legislation here.
Chris faced strong criticism, even from me personally, for his position favoring in-state tuition for children of illegal aliens in Utah’s colleges and Universities. Cannon’s position was that the children didn’t commit the crime of coming here illegally. Why should they be punished for their parents transgressions? Doug Wright, a local talk show host, was a loud voice in support of Cannon’s position.
My friend Chris Herrod, a Utah State lawmaker, explained that giving the children of illegal aliens the benefit of in-state tuition rates was wrong. Suppose a man embezzles a million dollars from the company he works for, and puts the money in a trust account for his children. Have the children done anything wrong? No, but lawfully they have no right to enjoy that money. The children of illegal aliens are not being punished. We need to stop feeling guilty for withholding privileges from those who do not have claim to them.
David Leavitt is the other candidate. He is the brother of former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, now head of the EPA. David was appointed Juab County Prosecutor a few years ago. It can be argued that the recent events in Texas are a direct result of Leavitt’s successful prosecution of polygamist Tom Green for marrying underage girls.
Leavitt comes across as the collected statesman. Though he relies on examples of the statesmanship of the Founding Fathers, he doesn’t seem to have the same passion they obviously had. He is very earnest in his feelings for our country, but he says he wants to create consensus without compromise. He naively believes that the liberals in Congress and elsewhere can be brought in with expressions of compassion and logic. He doesn’t seem to understand that logic is foreign to liberals. In fact, some liberals will eschew logic outright as a creation of western (read “white”) civilization. You cannot convince someone of an absolute truth, when they don’t even believe that absolute truth exists.
We at the Conservative Front are proud to endorse Jason Chaffetz for Congress in Utah’s 3rd District. Jason has the foundation, the correct understanding of First Principles, the statesmanship and the passion to bring new life to the House of Representatives. He is not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, even of senior republican leaders like Senator Orrin Hatch or Utah Governor John Hunstman.
That kind of courage is what is sorely lacking in the Republican party in Washington D.C. right now. That lack may well lose the House, the Senate, and the Presidency for the Republicans for many years to come. They have proven that they were more interested in staying elected, so they began pandering to the welfare voters and the government dependents. They lost their focus, and they lost the trust of the American people.
Jason Chaffetz is a breath of fresh air. His passion and courage are desperately needed in Washington D.C. He will be a leader in the mold of Mitt Romney or Ronald Reagan. Please join us in supporting Jason Chaffetz for Congress.
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