Election '08: A plan by Barack Obama to redistribute American wealth on a global level is moving forward in the Senate. It follows Marxist theology — from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
We are citizens of the world, Sen. Obama told thousands of nonvoting Germans during his recent tour of the Middle East and Europe. And if the Global Poverty Act (S. 2433) he has sponsored becomes law, which is almost certain if he wins in November, we're also going to be taxpayers of the world.
Speaking in Berlin, Obama said: "While the 20th century taught us that we share a common destiny, the 21st has revealed a world more intertwined than at any time in human history."
This week John McCain officially released the details of his economic recovery tax plan. The howls of protest from the left were both loud and predictable. The Obama campaign ripped into the McCain plan with the mantra of "tax cuts for the rich," while leftwing special interest groups claimed that McCain would blow a supersized hole in the budget deficit.
Yes, that bogeyman issue of the budget deficit is back again. That's the issue that's never an issue except when Republicans want to cut taxes, in which case deficits are suddenly one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Never mind that on Nancy Pelosi's watch the budget deficit has more than doubled--to $400 billion--in 18 months. That inconvenient truth hasn't stopped a barrage of attacks from the media and union-funded groups directed at McCain's "$5.7 trillion tax cut plan."
McCain wants to retain the Bush investment tax cuts; repeal the alternative minimum tax; cut the corporate income tax rate to 25 percent from 35 percent, and offer Americans an alternative flat tax (an idea he borrowed from me, by the way). Former Clinton labor secretary Robert Reich calls the McCain tax cut "the most financially irresponsible plan I've seen in years." And even the newspaper I write for, the Wall Street Journal, joined in the charge of media skepticism with a headline that read: "McCain Tax Cuts Would Bloat Deficit or Take Huge Spending Curbs."
I know, because admirers of Barack Obama tell me, that this year's election poses a choice between a candidate who represents a fresh approach to problems and one who offers a dreary continuation of the status quo. That much I understand. What I sometimes have trouble keeping straight is which candidate is which.
On the subject of elementary and secondary education, the two seem to have gotten their roles completely mixed up. Obama is the staunch defender of the existing public school monopoly, and he's allergic to anything that subverts it. John McCain, on the other hand, went before the NAACP last week to argue for something new and daring.
That something is to facilitate greater parental choice in education. McCain wants to expand a Washington, D.C. program that provides federally funded scholarships so poor students can attend private schools. More than 7,000 kids, he reported, have applied for these vouchers, but only 1,900 can be accommodated.
Democratic Doublespeak July 16, 2008
NATIONAL POST
The culprits behind credit, inflation risks
Terence Corcoran, Financial Post Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Two major related threats loom over the world economy: credit crises and rising inflation. What do these two menaces have in common? Bankers, hedge-fund managers, speculators and capitalism in general have been taking the hit for the economic turmoil, both for credit risk and inflation. But the looming collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Macin the United States should help change the focus a little. We are now getting down to the heart of the matter, which turns out not to be rampant capitalism but out of control back-door socialism.
There is nothing free market about the two American mortgage backers, hybrid institutions created by the U.S. government to support mortgages and make home buying easier and more affordable for Americans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, prodded by Congress and regulators, socialized trillions of dollars of mortgage risk on the backs of U. S. taxpayers. Along with dozens of other U. S. government programs that lured American's into a home-buying frenzy, the two institutions -- now getting even more socialist backing from Washington -- stand among the leading creators of the U. S. mortgage and credit crisis.
In Washington, Moral Hazard is a dead country singer. Governments and investors around the world put money in Fannie Mae and Freddie Macsecurities, knowing that if disaster struck Washington would bail them out. And so it has, the bailout reaching absurd levels yesterday when two branches of Washington power, the Securities and Exchange Commission and U. S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, moved to protect Fan and Fred shareholders.
In an election campaign in which not only young liberals, but also some people who are neither young nor liberals, seem absolutely mesmerized by the skilled rhetoric of Barack Obama, facts have receded even further into the background than usual.
As the hypnotic mantra of "change" is repeated endlessly, few people even raise the question of whether what few specifics we hear represent any real change, much less a change for the better.
Raising taxes, increasing government spending and demonizing business? That is straight out of the New Deal of the 1930s.
ASK passers-by on any street in America what their top issue is for the upcoming presidential election, and they'll all answer the same thing: the Foreign Service Intelligence Act.
Gas prices, home foreclosures, the Iraq war - all pale in comparison. Single mothers gathered at the laundromat are all talking about one thing: FISA.
And if you get them to stop yammering on about immunity for telecoms, you won't be able to shut them up about their next favorite outrage: Barack Obama's decision to opt out of public financing.
If that seems strong, consider how a House subcommittee hauled in David Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, for a taste of the third degree on waterboarding.
Rep. Bill Delahunt, who isn't even on the subcommittee, took his shot anyway, asking Addington about the interrogation method. Addington balked, explaining that the hearings were being broadcast on C-SPAN and terrorists watching might use the information.
Politics: Does being a Democrat justify glee at putting Republican opponents in al-Qaida's cross hairs? Or does it mean a green light to make ethnic slurs? Both occurred last week, minus apologies.
A year ago in July, a National Intelligence Estimate warned that al Qaeda had "protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability," meaning it could be poised to strike America again. The political reaction was instantaneous and damning. "This clearly says al Qaeda is not beaten," said Michael Scheuer, the former CIA spook turned antiterror scold.
What a difference 10 months – and a surge – make.
CIA Director Michael Hayden painted a far more optimistic picture in an interview yesterday in the Washington Post. "On balance, we are doing pretty well," he said. "Near strategic defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat for al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al Qaeda globally – and here I'm going to use the word 'ideologically' – as a lot of the Islamic world pushes back on their form of Islam."
When Sam Houston was still hanging his hat in Tennessee in the 1830s, it wasn't uncommon for fellow Tennesseans who were packing up and moving south and west to hang a sign on their cabins that read "GTT" – Gone to Texas.
Today obstetricians, surgeons and other doctors might consider reviving the practice. Over the past three years, some 7,000 M.D.s have flooded into Texas, many from Tennessee.
Why? Two words: Tort reform.
In 2003 and in 2005, Texas enacted a series of reforms to the state's civil justice system. They are stunning in their success. Texas Medical Liability Trust, one of the largest malpractice insurance companies in the state, has slashed its premiums by 35%, saving doctors some $217 million over four years. There is also a competitive malpractice insurance industry in Texas, with over 30 companies competing for business. This is driving rates down.
Democratic Doublespeak May 13, 2008
NEWSWEEK
The Left Starts to Rethink Reagan
Barack Obama's not the only one calling him a 'transformational' leader. So is Sean Wilentz.
The outcome of this November's election may hinge on a single question: which presidential candidate will prevail among the "Reagan Democrats"? Those traditionally Democratic voters made history—and a place in the political lexicon—in 1980 when they bolted their party's disarrayed ranks to swing the polls in Ronald Reagan's favor.
Until recently, however, few liberal-leaning historians took a respectful look at the Reagan phenomenon. That's finally changing, with the publication of Sean Wilentz's new "The Age of Reagan," even as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama—and John McCain—seek the support of that crucial bloc. NEWSWEEK's Evan Thomas moderated a conversation about the Gipper between Wilentz, a professed liberal, and NEWSWEEK's George F. Will, a longtime Reagan admirer.
THOMAS: Sean, why have you taken a look at Reagan, and have other historians started to take another look at Reagan?WILENTZ: It's interesting. It's no secret that intellectuals, generally being liberals, didn't think much of Ronald Reagan at the time. Unlike Roosevelt, who got covered right away—as soon as he died there were books out about [him]—it took people a long time to catch up with Ronald Reagan.
But I think that now they can no longer ignore him. His impact on the world and country, whether you like it or not, was so important that to ignore him is to ignore an entirety of American politics.
'WHY don't we just vote to strike tonight - and we'll decide to morrow what we're striking for?"
Those were the words of a student protester thoughtfully deliberating at Yale University, as recounted by Roger Kimball in his book on the left, "The Long March." It was a question that captured much of the heedless spirit of the student demonstrations of the 1960s, for which "May 1968" is shorthand.
That spring 40 years ago saw a radical takeover of Columbia University - eventually duplicated at other elite campuses - and student protests around the world. In France, the government was rocked to its foundations; in the Eastern Bloc, a crevice was opened up in the Berlin Wall. Here at home, campus life became synonymous with a straitened leftism, and the post-World War II political consensus shattered.
Democratic Doublespeak April 8, 2008
See John Murtha King of Pork
Democratic Doublespeak March 12, 2008
ABC, NBC Continue to Ignore Personal Responsibility for Foreclosures
Four months after CMI released a study on debt coverage,only CBS addresses the character question in mortgage crisis stories.
Who would you blame if you took out a half-million-dollar loan and couldn’t make the payments?
Last November the Culture and Media Institute and its sister Media Research Center division, the Business and Media Institute, found that NBC and ABC consistently ignored the issue of personal responsibility for consumer debt, while CBS was the most likely network to promote responsibility.
Nearly four months later, on March 6, home foreclosures have reached a record high and many homes are not worth what owners owe. Though the mortgage crisis has grown worse, nothing has changed in the network coverage.
Democratic Doublespeak February 25, 2008
From: The New York Post
PELOSI VS. AMERICA
"...Most repugnant, Pelosi's Democrats are less worried about civil liberties than they are about crossing a rich source of their campaign cash - America's odious tort bar.
The trial lawyers want to kill a provision in the Senate bill that protects US phone companies that cooperated with the government in post-9/11 surveillance.
One can only hope that Pelosi's members hear from their constituents back home about their cavalier and selfish disregard for their country's security..."
Can you believe it?
Putting millions of American lives in danger, so that trial lawyers will be able to file more lawsuits and get richer than they are already.
DEMOCRATIC DOUBLESPEAK rears its ugly head once again.
Dems/libs act like they care about "working families" once again, when all they care about is creating a culture of victims so that they can pick all of our pockets, to expand government further.
Democratic Doublespeak Monday, November 21, 2007
Imitation Debate By Democrats
Wolf Blitzer stated at the beginning that he would bring candidates back to the question asked, if they did not answer.
I think he really intended to.
It turned out to be a joke, the way candidates gave some almost non response to practically every questioned asked, then moved on to their usual pattern of blame Bush, then get gushy over what redistribution plan will make audience members think they are in for a new nanny-state handout they did not earn themselves, then a final suggestion of their backing of "working families, children and in one case a 91 year old woman"
Watching audience members nod their approval and happiness as if something thoughtful was being said was especially stomach turning.
By the conclusion of most responses, the original question had barely been touched, if anyone could still remember it.
Wolf tried but failed to get some thoughtful responses and then got overwhelmed by the candidates' aggressiveness to keep talking about what they wanted to talk about, ending all chance to hear any quality answers, if they'd had any, which they did not.
The format, questioning and responses were amateurish beyond comprehension.
Even Democrat Juan Williams a guest on Martha McCallum's show the next morning, seem to laugh at what was referred to as a debate.Camlow is online now Add to Camlow's Reputation Report Post Reply With Quote
By John Fund
Democratic Doublespeak Monday, October, 2007
Fairness Doctrine Should Be Called 'Unfairness Doctrine'
Indiana Rep. Mike Pence will attempt to pass legislation hoping to permanently ban the Fairness Doctrine.
Many liberals are now actively trying to revive it in an effort to silence their critics.
The FCC scrapped the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Before it did, it required broadcasters to provide equal time to all sides of "controversial" issues.
Bill Monroe, a former host of NBC's "Meet the Press," said this led to a "timid, don't-rock-the-boat coverage."
Newsweek's Howard Fineman recently noted, it "effectively kept partisan shows off the airwaves," so that in 1980 there were a mere 75 talk radio stations. Today there are 1,800.
Liberals always try to present themselves as tolerant and broadminded and others the opposite of that.
In reality campuses across the nation, like the liberal movement itself wants only its side to be told.
Controlling all the major Marxist entities- the New York Times, NBC,ABC,CBS and practically all of the Mainstream Media isn't enough for liberals, they want it all including talk radio.
October 29, 2007 Democratic DoubleSpeak
House Speaker Nancy Pelose Promised A New Direction
One-hundred six (106) of the bills signed into law by President Bush this year, nearly half (46) name post offices, courthouses or roads.
Another 44 bills were procedural types such as reconstruction of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis. The remain 14 bills were simply extensions of existing laws.
The “new direction.” deserves the Democratic mantra "Democratic DoubleSpeak".
October 15, 2007 Democratic DoubleSpeak
Clinton to Raise Social Security Taxes after Promising Not To
ABC News has made comments suggesting Hillary Clinton is considering a Social Security tax hike.
She also wants to adjust NAFTA and postpone all new free trade agreements.
We already know her Health Care plan is a huge expansion of a government entitlement with some serious deception thrown in.
Luckily the polls quickly showed that her Marxist baby bond did not go over well, so she dropped it.
Hillary wants the government in every aspect of our lives.
July 1, 2007 Democratic DoubleSpeak
Democratic Committee Attacks Active Reservist-Claims Lack Of Troop Support
House member Kirk voted against the surge and also met with the President who told the President he would no longer support the war until improvement was clear.
Congressman Kirk is a Naval Reserve intelligence officer who served during Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia.
He was named 'Intelligence Officer of the Year' in 1999 for his combat service in Kosovo, by the U.S. Navy.
He has served in Iraq and still serves monthly in the Pentagon.
Democrats will do anything to gain power.
May 25, 2007
DEMOCRATS CONTINUE DECEIT, HYPOCRISY WITH PORK/EARMARKS
Where Does One Start when it comes to Democratic Doublespeak?
The choices are endless, so let's start with the latest.
We will balance the budget by 2012 by finding "$900 billion in additional revenues."
Translation-TAX INCREASES!!
They would let the recent tax cuts expire in 2010. This means among other things bringing back the marriage penalty tax and cutting the child tax credit in half.
Democrats want you to believe that they intend to slow the growth in spending.
They are using their usual deception with the term PAYGO. No matter how glib their wording, the reality is that PAYGO will become PAYMORE.
Little would be done to curb welfare and other entitlements which are soaring. The average family would see a tax increase of $2641 per year.
A family of four earning $50,000 would see taxes go up 132 percent. A single parent with two children earning $30,000 would see taxes raised 67 percent, according to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, if the president's tax relief is not made permanent.
Some Democrats blame it on the war. Total defense spending takes 4% of GDP. Defense spending as a percent of GDP is a tick away from its lowest point in 50 years.
More on PAYGO.
To implement PAYGO, tax cuts must be offset by tax increases elsewhere or with cuts in entitlement spending, which would be helpful if those cuts applied to all entitlements.
Instead, Democrats stayed away from entitlements already in place, which have huge future costs.
PAYGO:
Social Security is growing at a 5 percent clip annually, it will not solve this.
It would not solve the Medicare problem growing at 9 percent annualy.
The Medicare drug law is supposed to add $ 2 trillion dollars over 20 years, no solution there and medicaid is growing 7 percent per year.
