Tea Party
Want Good Government? Elect Good People
The political world was slightly abuzz this week with the passage of the so-called STOCK Act, which banned insider trading among elected members of Congress, as well as most of their staff. President Obama, of course, heralded this legislation as evidence of bipartisanship and a victory for his administration, blah blah blah.
Seriously?
Don’t get me wrong. I was not opposed to the passage of the STOCK Act. But it saddens and infuriates me that passage of such a bill is necessary to begin with.
Aren’t we really saying that our Congress cannot be trusted to know the difference between right and wrong, unless “wrong” is also specifically illegal? Think about the implications of that statement. Imagine how our society would function if everyone operated under the assumption that nobody could be trusted to “do the right thing” unless there was a law saying so. What a sad and terrible world that would be.
And just to be clear, congressional insider trading crossed party lines. This is something we ALL should be angry about, regardless of our political affiliation. I’m a fairly staunch conservative, but I would rather vote for a good and decent Democrat than a corrupt, lying Republican.
The real problem with our government is that we don’t elect good people to govern. Good people are not a guarantee of good government, but bad people are essentially a guarantee of bad government. We should give ourselves a leg up by ceasing to consider bad people to be our representatives.
Consider that every time there is a poll about least-trusted professions, lawyers rank in the top 5 (usually top 3) every single time. Yet roughly 40% of Congress is made up of lawyers. For some reason, we keep electing people we inherently do not trust to represent us in government. It’s madness.
It’s even more striking when you consider that less than 1% of the population is a lawyer by occupation.
Imagine if a panel of 100 people were chosen to represent “The teams of the NFL”, and 40 of those people were all employed by the Green Bay Packers. Would anyone consider that panel to be inherently objective? Would anyone consider that panel to be representative of the NFL as a whole? Would anyone deny that if, say, the New England Patriots had 40 representatives instead, that any recommendations made by the panel might be different?
Some other fun facts:
- 3 of the 4 most “progressive” presidents in our history were lawyers (Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Barack Obama)
- The only president to ever resign was a lawyer (Nixon)
- 85% of the Democrats currently in the Senate are lawyers
This is not to disparage all lawyers. Indeed, some of the most high-quality people I know are lawyers, and I’m sure some of the lawyers in Congress are great people. But overall, it should come as no surprise to any of us that people who make money from the practice of law would continue to pass laws that help them and others in their profession make more money. Talk about a conflict of interest!
We, as a society, MUST become more selective about those who are chosen to represent us. We must elect good people. If we do not, we are doomed. I think this is one of the main ideas behind – and best results of – the TEA Party movement. Another election is coming up. Let’s carry on the trend.
The Simpsons Malign the Tea Party: Season 23, Episode 10 — Politically Inept, With Homer Simpson
It’s been several years since I watched The Simpsons on a regular basis — mainly because the show became far too Leftist for my tastes. Even the Halloween episodes are largely mean-spirited and unfunny now (and those used to be the highlights of the year). It’s impressive the show’s still on the air and I do get nostalgic about it because I remember being in grade school and seeing the first Simpsons animated shorts air after commercial breaks on The Tracey Ullman Show (back when Tracey Ullman herself was funny, supermodels ruled the world, Pepsi was crystal clear, and 2012 seemed like a lifetime away in a very distant and unimaginable future).
On January 8th, 2012, The Simpsons aired the 10th episode of its 23rd season, entitled “Politically Inept, With Homer Simpson” – where Matt Groening and his crew malign the Tea Party, Glenn Beck, Christians, conservatives, and Republicans. One of the biggest mistakes the GOP makes is to ignore Hollywood, especially in an election year. Though The Simpsons is now watched only by dozens of people (and, perhaps, an equal number of circus animals) and is no longer as culturally relevant as it was back in the days when teenaged boys struggled to decide whether their sideburns would be Dylan or Brandon-esque, it’s still a useful window into what The Tolerant Left thinks is important to lampoon about conservatives. Because it takes so long to animate an episode, The Simpsons’ jokes are stale and most references are dated…but it’s still clear The Tolerant Left despises and fears the Tea Party and works overtime in its attempts to malign it.
This should be a clarion call to the GOP: what The Tolerant Left fears most it mocks…and whatever it mocks is the thing Republicans need to embrace harder and do much more of because Leftists forever telegraph their greatest points of weakness.
Here’s a summary with screengrabs of “Politically Inept, With Homer Simpson” so you can know what attacks The Simpsons directed against Tea Party Americans without ever having to watch the episode for yourself (in case you never wanted to subject yourself to 22 minutes of your life you can’t ever get back):
Read the rest of this entry »
Is Debbie Wasserman Schultz still blaming the Tea Party for the Gabby Giffords shooting?
For some unknown reason…this morning I stumbled onto the Media Matters website. I think I was following a link that I found on the Fox site about Debbie Wasserman Schultz and before I knew it…I was there. I’ve never been on this site but…let me tell you…it’s worth visiting if you need a good chuckle. Do any of you watch “The Five” on Fox? I watched it yesterday and one of the topics was about DWS and how she is a complete disaster for the DNC but a great asset to Republicans. Four of the five (not Bob Beckel) were laughing about the fact that every time DWS opens her mouth, it turns people away from the Democrat party. It was a really funny segment. Anyway…one of the things discussed was the comment she made this week while she was speaking in New Hampshire. An audience member asked her about the lack of civility in Congress and DWS’s answer contained remarks about the Tea Party. The left is highly insulted that Fox is claiming that DWS is (once again) blaming the Tea Party for the Gabby Giffords shooting. Media Matters claims that her statement was taken out of context.
Here’s the transcript of the question….
AUDIENCE MEMBER: The American people are losing faith in Congress. [inaudible] because of the lack of civility. What do you think can be done to bring that faith back and then we can start thinking that they’re doing their job instead of just fighting with each other?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, as someone who spent 19 years as a member of a legislative body, I really agree with you, that we need to make sure that we tone things down, particularly in light of the Tucson tragedy from a year ago where my very good friend, Gabby Giffords, who is doing really well by the way, and I know everybody is so thrilled, as I am, to hear that, making tremendous progress.
But the discourse in America, the discourse in Congress in particular, to answer your question, very specifically, has really changed.
And I’ll tell you, I hesitate to place blame, but I have noticed it take a very precipitous turn towards edginess and a lack of civility with the growth of the Tea Party movement.
After the 2010 elections, when you had the Tea Party elect a whole lot of their supporters to the United States House of Representatives and you had town hall meetings that they tried to take over and you saw some of their conduct at those town hall meetings, you know, in the time that I’ve been in my state legislature and in Congress, I’ve never seen a time that was more divisive or where discourse was less civil.
It’s one thing — I’ve always had people come to my town hall meetings, for example, and say that they don’t agree with me on something. And that’s fine. And you know, that’s what those town hall meetings are about, they’re for civil discourse and give-and-take. And I learn something when I hear from a constituent who doesn’t share my view, and hopefully they do also because we’re listening to each other and there’s a back and forth.
What the Tea Party has done is they have taken it to a different level, and so when they come and disagree with you, you’re not just wrong, you are the enemy. I mean, that’s really a place that politics in America shouldn’t go. And you know, when they disagree with you on an issue, you’re not just wrong, you’re a liar. Rather than just have a difference of opinion, accusations like that get hurled, and it brings the entire discourse down to a level that I think none of us want to see remain there.
So, I have done my part. I’ll tell you that President Obama, you’ve seen, he’s tried so hard to get the Republicans to work with him, to bring them to the table, to try to get them to compromise and find common ground, but when you have someone like Mitch McConnell, for example, the minority leader of the United States Senate, say at the outset of this Congress that his number one goal is not turning the economy around, not creating jobs, but to defeat Pres– Barack Obama, well, then how are we going to reach compromise if that’s the goal that drives them and all their decisions? Because then — we won’t.
Because if that’s their goal, then anything that they do to compromise gives President Obama a win, a success, and makes it less likely in their minds that they would defeat him. Unfortunately, I think what has driven the Republicans in Congress is their interest in only one job, Barack Obama’s, when Democrats have been fighting for American jobs.
And that’s the difference. And that’s going to be the choice that people have to make.
So…what do you think? She doesn’t come right out and say “The Tea Party is responsible for Gabby’s shooting.” but I believe that the insinuation is there. There is one thing that is obviously missing in her statement. Not one time does she mention the Occupy Wall Street movement and their monstrous behavior. Not one time does she mention the Wisconsin teachers union thugs and their monstrous behavior. Not one time does she give an example of any case of violence or uncivil behavior from the Tea Party.
Greg Gutfeld has such a way with words so I think I’ll let him sum it all up…
GUTFELD (co-host): So, in my mind, which is made of felt and potatoes, Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the best thing to happen to Republicans since Ronald Reagan. Seriously, I’ve had wedgies less irritating than her. And that can only chafe the Democrats. Case in point: Once again the DNC chair links the Tea Party to the Tucson mass murder. So, Frizzilla, I bet you think the discourse in America, the discourse in Congress in particular, has really changed. [Fox News, The Five, 1/12/12]
So true!
Todd Palin gives Newt a Thumbs-Up
Todd Palin has thrown his hat in the ring…for Newt Gingrich. It may not be as explosive as an endorsement from Sarah but it’s the next best thing and some people are saying that Todd may be speaking for the entire Palin family so it could go a long way in helping Newt’s numbers…especially in South Carolina.
I am still baffled by the silence of the Tea Party. I read several articles today that said that the Tea Party wasn’t well organized on a national level and was fractured on who to throw their support behind. Most felt like Herman Cain was the man but, obviously, many were disappointed by how that turned out. There isn’t one central “leader” of the movement so different Tea Party groups are supporting different candidates. Some like Rick Santorum…some Rick Perry…some Newt Gingrich but none are publicly behind Mitt Romney. Perhaps the Tea Party, at this moment in time, will function best on a local level…helping to elect conservative candidates to the House and Senate. Who knows?
I think that having at least one Palin behind Newt will draw in some of the Tea Party crowd…hopefully.
I really like Todd Palin….a lot.
Sarah Palin on the GOP Field
Very interesting comments by Sarah Palin on the GOP field going into Iowa.
Note: Clicking on the image will take you to a blog post on the Washington Post’s website, because the embed wasn’t working for this clip. Don’t read the blog post unless your blood pressure is too low this morning.
Bill Whittle’s Voter’s Guide to Republicans
Hat tip to Indy for sharing.
This would be an excellent piece to share with your Lefty friends on Facebook.
Obama To Get Indefinite Detention Powers Against U.S. Citizens
H/T Sodahead
Last week I wrote about a couple of traitorous additions to the Defense Authorization bill written in secret by John McCain (RINO-AZ) and Carl Levin (D-MI).
According to the ACLU and DownsizeDC.org, among other watchdog organizations, sections 1031 and 1032 of the bill give Obama—and every future president, if there are any—“the power to order the military to pick up and imprison without charge or trial civilians anywhere in the world….The power is so broad that even U.S. citizens could be swept up by the military and the military could be used far from any battlefield, even within the United States itself.”
And (SURPRISE!) it turns out that Obama asked for that power himself.
How nice of our favorite backstabbing Constitution-shredding s0-called “Republican” John “Benedict Arnold” McCain to oblige him (may he rot in HELL, after losing a brutal primary fight that bankrupts him.)
But McCain wasn’t alone in his treachery.
Sen. Lindsey “Rights for Illegals, but Not American Citizens” Graham said about it on the Senate floor: “1031, the statement of authority to detain, does apply to American citizens and it designates the world as the battlefield, including the homeland.”
It is a sad commentary on Mr. Graham–a co-sponsor of the bill–that one can’t predict if that was praise or criticism without looking at the replay. Turns out, Senator Graham thinks it’s awesome that one person the the U.S. government can pick up a phone, make a call, and make you disappear, without charges, without trial, forever.
More gullible and/or partisan members of the DNC-controlled media have been trying to insist for the past two weeks that the law doesn’t apply to Americans here, in America. And The White House was claiming that Obama was going to veto the bill if it applied to American citizens (now, not so much.) But…
“Another sponsor of the bill – Senator Levin – has also repeatedly said that the bill applies to American citizens on American soil, citing the Supreme Court case of Hamdi which ruled that American citizens can be treated as enemy combatants:
‘The Supreme Court has recently ruled there is no bar to the United States holding one of its own citizens as an enemy combatant,’ said Levin. ‘This is the Supreme Court speaking.’
Levin again stressed recently that the bill applies to American citizens, and said that it was president Obama who requested that it do so.”
I’ve tried to find out what happened to the bill in Conference Committee, but the general consensus in the Liberty blogosphere this evening seems to be that the bill is just as bad coming out of committee as it was going in.
This evening at 6:58 p.m., 90 Democrats and 193 Republicans voted AYE to give the most corrupt president in U.S. history the power to kidnap and detain Americans anywhere in the world, forever, just on the basis of his opinion that they’re terrorists.
I’m kind of at a loss for words here, which may be appropriate, since technically anything I say can now be used against me by the president of the United States.
The bill now heads back to the Senate. Now may be a good time to pick up the phone and let your Senators know what you think.
UPDATE: Here’s the web page you can use to contact your Representatives.
Thoughts? Comments? Last words? Condolences?
How did YOUR Reprehensibles Representatives vote?
