Who caused the Budget deficits? Bush or Obama

Any budget experts out there that can refute the following quote? The Washington Post babbled again today about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush, blah blah blah.  Amazingly enough, a lot of people swallow this nonsense.  So once more, I'll try a short civics lesson. Budgets do not come from the White House.   They come from Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democratic Party.  They controlled the budget process for FY 2008 and FY 2009, as well as FY 2010 and FY 2011.  In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat belatedly got tough on spending increases.  For FY 2009, though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government   running until Barack Obama could take office.  At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the FY 2009 budgets. And where was Barack Obama during this time?  He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete FY 2009.  Let's remember what the deficits   looked like during that period: If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the FY 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets.  That deficit was the lowest in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending.  After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets.  If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself. In a nutshell, what Obama is saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th. WAKE UP,  AMERICA, BEFORE ITS TO LATE There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on! This is your chance to make a difference.

Governor's Debate TOMORROW

Governor's Debate TOMORROW

Please tune into WSPA-TV (News Channel 7) at 7 p.m. tomorrow night, April 23, to watch all 4 GOP primary candidates for SC Governor debate LIVE at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg.  The debate will last for one hour and will also be web streamed beginning at 6:55 p.m. (for those not living in the Upstate) at WSPA's web site http://www2.wspa.com/; their chat room will also be open.  Very limited seating is still available to be part of the studio audience. 

All the President's Goldman Sachs Men -- Michelle Malkin -- GOPUSA

Another chapter in the never ending saga......

All the President's Goldman Sachs Men -- Michelle Malkin -- GOPUSA

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Gangster Government Becomes a Long-Running Series -- Michael Barone -- GOPUSA

This is a hard hitting piece by Michael Barone. Normally I don't like such tough language but the truth must be told.

Gangster Government Becomes a Long-Running Series -- Michael Barone -- GOPUSA

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The False Religion of Mideast Peace: And Why I'm No Longer a Believer - By Aaron David Miller | Foreign Policy

The False Religion of Mideast Peace: And Why I'm No Longer a Believer - By Aaron David Miller | Foreign Policy

We the People Speak

A good friend who epitomizes the American Dream and I attended our first Tea Party on April 15th. My friend who immigrated to the U.S. from Europe after World War Two obtained a college education and earned an Engineering Degree and then entered the U.S. Air Force. He courageously served our country as a pilot in Vietnam and has had a very successful career following his retirement. I also served my country as a young Marine and though I was never in harms way it was a life changing experience. We both enjoyed the event and admired the commitment and respect displayed by so many good citizens. Today I received an email from a dear friend that included a link to the following YouTube which is well worth watching.

Power Line has Important Comments Today

The post on racial slurs is especially illuminating. Be sure to follow the link to read all of Andrew Breitbarts remarks.

Power Line

Aiken's Bringing Back the Constitution

NBC Augusta 26 had an interesting report on a new group being formed in Aiken. The group will have a meeting at O'Dell Week's tomorrow between 6:00 and 7:00 PM . Follow the link below to read the article and view the video.

Aiken's bringing back the Constitution NBC Augusta 26 news, weather, sports, community, entertainment, shopping for Augusta, Georgia Local News

Solid Candidate creates Excitement in Egypt

As President Mubarak returns to Egypt after his latest health crisis a new face is on the scene. Mohamed El Baradei who is internationally famous as the head of the IAEA has returned to his homeland and is seeking to replace Mubarak. His candidacy is stirring up great excitement and we can only hope that democracy will prevail. There is a little debate going on in Egypt as to who is the most well known Egyptian. My own thought is Omar Sharif but perhaps my wife has colored my thinking! Here is what the Egyptian Chronicles had to say. Enjoy the video.

Nikki Haley’s Money Bomb | RedState

The following article by Erick Erickson appears on Redstate. It makes excellent points about Nikki Haley and the comments on the article are very much worth your time. We need new conservative leaders and Nikki needs your help.Please contribute to her campaign.


Nikki Haley’s Money Bomb RedState

'Roll Call Voting! No More Anonymous Voting!!!!!!'

As you know Nikki Haley is running for Governor of South Carolina. She has been leading the charge for roll call voting. The following link will take you to a Fairtax Organization message urging your action.

'Roll Call Voting! No More Anonymous Voting!!!!!!'

City Journal Commentary on Britains Healthcare

The Fix Is In


Why Britain’s National Health Service spends so much and does so little

22 March 2010

Americans would do well to ponder a recent admission by a former British minister in the Blair government. On March 2, the Guardian reported that the ex-minister, now Lord Warner, said that while spending on Britain’s National Health Service had increased by 60 percent under the Labour government, its output had decreased by 4 percent. No doubt the spending of a Soviet-style organization like the NHS is more easily measurable than its output, but the former minister’s remark certainly accords with the experiences of many citizens, who see no dramatic improvement in the service as a result of such vastly increased outlays. On the contrary, while the service has taken on 400,000 new staff members—that is to say, one-fifth of all new jobs created in Britain during the period—continuity of medical care has been all but extinguished. Nobody now expects to see the same doctor on successive occasions, in the hospital or anywhere else. more

The Art of Economiccs

I know tha Economics is a subject many wish to avoid. I fervently wish the Obama administration and congress would take the time to read and understand the following article.My thanks to Pat and Elizabeth Paterniti for sending it to me.

FOXNews.com

March 17, 2010

The Art of Economics

Mallory Factor

Here's why America needs to listen to Arthur Laffer.

Like any field, economics has its trends and fads. Recently, Keynesian economics has been in vogue. Based on the work of British economist John Maynard Keynes, Keynesian economics urge governments to increase their spending and to stabilize the economy in crisis periods. The Obama administration has tried to explain its response to the current financial crisis in terms of the application of Keynesian principles. But as many conclude that our government’s responses have been flawed as well as expensive, it’s time to listen to the advice of another major 20th century economist—Arthur Laffer.

If most Americans have heard of Arthur Laffer at all, it’s probably because of the Laffer Curve, a simple chart that shows that raising tax rates does not necessarily produce greater tax revenues. Laffer first demonstrated the idea to the White House during the Ford Administration; later, it became famous as the idea behind the Kemp-Roth tax cuts that fueled the tremendous economic boom of the Reagan years.

Laffer is one of the most important 20th century economists, but his greatest work may actually be in the 21st century. That’s because he is warning us now that if America doesn’t change its economic course, quickly, we are in for bad times ahead.

To explain, Laffer looks to a few simple axioms on which the field of economics is based – rules that predict how both economies and individuals will behave when faced with a set of choices. For instance, the law of supply and demand explains a great deal of how the economy works – when demand for a particular good increases, supply and demand will eventually equilibrate at a new equilibrium price and quantity.

Right now, Laffer warns that simple economic principles are pointing to a potential macroeconomic meltdown.

First, government borrowing continues at alarming rates. The federal budget deficit is expected to top $1.5 trillion this year, even exceeding last year’s staggering deficit of $1.4 trillion, and Congress recently expanded the national debt ceiling by a similar amount. Federal spending on bank and auto bailouts and stimulus all adds up. All this spending must be financed somehow, and the patience of our Chinese, Japanese, and Arab creditors may one day run out.

Laffer’s second point is that the supply of money continues to grow. The monetary base, which is the narrowest measure of the money supply or total amount of money in the economy at a particular point in time, has just reached an all time high. Left unchecked, the high supply of money could fuel inflation. Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve is caught in a Catch 22—if they decide to fight inflation they will have to sell about $1 trillion worth of government bonds alongside a Treasury auctioning off record amounts of bonds to finance record deficits. Given the fiscal backdrop, were the Fed to go from being a huge net purchaser of bonds in 2009 to a big net seller in 2010, interest rates would be sure to rise drastically, pushing the economy into recession yet again.

Laffer’s third point is that taxes are high and likely to go up from here. Our corporate taxes are already the second-highest among the advanced economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. For individuals, the Bush tax cuts expire next year, which will send personal income tax rates, dividend and capital gains tax rates, and estate tax rates higher. Unless Congress passes another fix, the sharply higher Alternative Minimum Tax will snare millions of middle-class taxpayers, instead of the uber-wealthy it was originally designed to target. And that doesn’t even count proposed tax increases in relation to health care reform or climate change legislation. As the incentives to work, save, and invest are all decreased via increased marginal tax rates, economic growth is sure to suffer.

Finally, Laffer points to trade issues. Rather than opening ourselves to trade with the world, we are increasingly cutting ourselves off from it. It’s a basic principle of economics that trade benefits both parties to a transaction, but rather than seeking to negotiate trade agreements with countries around the world, we are not ratifying the ones we have negotiated, and we’re imposing tariffs on China – the very country we need to finance our budget deficit! Open trade will help us move toward the jobs of the future rather than inefficiently seeking to hold on to the jobs of the past.

Laffer is right: no economy can long prosper if it is overspending, increasing tax rates, printing too much money, restricting trade, and increasing regulations. It’s simple, really – but the potential consequences if we don’t change economic course soon could be profound. So the Lafferian response to the economic crisis is simply to take the opposite track and embrace pro-growth economic policies: reform the tax system by moving toward a broad-based, low flat-tax; address the looming unfunded liabilities crisis; decrease the size and cost of government; reinstate a sound and stable money; support free trade for all; and repeal ill-conceived regulations. By turning away from Keynes and toward Laffer, America can begin to grow again and we can all recover.

Mallory Factor is the co-chairman and co-founder of the Monday Meeting, an influential meeting of economic conservatives, journalists and corporate leaders in New York City. Mr. Factor is a well-known merchant banker and speaks and writes frequently on economic and fiscal topics for news stations, leading newspapers and other print and online publications. Mr. Factor writes frequently for the Fox Forum and is seen regularly on Fox News Channel. Mr. Factor can be reached at mallory.factor@malloryfactor.com.

Health Care and Term Limits

As many readers know I am a believer in term limits and have said so on this blog several times. The blatant disregard of the will of the majority of citizens regarding healthcare now taking place makes a compelling argument for a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of Congressional Representatives and Senators.Far too many of them worry more about their career jobs than they do about doing what's right.. Consequentially they can be bought or blackmailed or otherwise coerced by the party whips to follow the leader or lose support and meaningful committee asignments.

I spent four days this past week in the Aiken Regional Medical Center due to an emergency. With excellent care from Doctors, nurses and staff I am at home today in good health but alas very poor spirits awaiting the final decision on the Obama adminstration's health care "reform." If, as expected, the White House succeeds in ramming through this abomination I am afraid that in the near future I and many millions of patients with emergency conditions will not be so fortunate.

Our elected officials should be role models for the nation rather than "roll models" who go along to get along. The time has come to join together and demand that a referendum on term limits be held to let the people decide whether or not to amend the constitution. Let the people decide!

The following poem expresses the problem we have with the present system. It was inspired by a similar piece written by Michael Schenkler of the Queens Tribune concerning elections in Queens:

Here, there and everywhere

The Incumbents always win,

Their primary focus is to insure,

That the “ins,” are always in.

It’s of little import what they do,

Their record is of little matter,

They raise the bucks, work the PACs,

Anything to make war chests fatter.

Without fail they make the sale

Name recognition can’t be beat,

With all the funds and paid-for-mail,

It’s always another term repeat.

And so we have it for good or not

With hardly any exception

If an incumbent’s name is on the ballot,

He or she will win election.

You ask how to change the game

Just look hard at all in the race

Study accomplishments not the name

Dare to be bold to select a new face.

I know it is difficult to deny your “friend”

Who every few years solicits your vote

But if our uncritical habits we fail to amend

Our nation soon will be of little note!

So there you have it my friends. Since we do not yet have the term limits I advocate let's show very many incumbents the gate . Our country will surely benefit from  new faces in public places.

Rep. Paul Ryan on Health Care Reform-Washinton Post

Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin writes on Health Care reform. He is a real American hero.

Paul Ryan - Rep. Paul Ryan on what real health reform should look like - washingtonpost.com

Obama at Bat

Okay, Things look bleak but the following youtube is too good to miss.Let us hope for the best!

Congressman Rogers of Michigan Has it Right

The Obama administration appears confident that it will succeed in pushing through its health care legislation. Maybe they will and maybe they won't. So far they don't have the votes but in the end it will depend on how many lemmings will follow them off the cliff. The following youtube is worth watching.

Health Care in a Free Society

The following is an excerpt from an article in Imprimis, Free subscriptions to Imprimis ara available from the website.

Health Care in a Free Society

PAUL RYAN is in his sixth term as a member of Congress, representing Wisconsin's First Congressional District. He is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee and a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. A graduate of Miami University in Ohio, he and his wife Janna have three children and live in Janesville, Wisconsin.
The following is adapted from a speech delivered on January 13, 2010, in Washington, D.C., at an event sponsored by Hillsdale College's Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship.

SOMEONE once said that before there was the New Deal, there was the Wisconsin Deal. In my home state, the University of Wisconsin was an early hotbed of progressivism, whose goal was to reorder society along lines other than those of the Constitution. The best known Wisconsin progressive in American politics was Robert LaFollette. “Fighting Bob,” as he was called, was a Republican—as was Theodore Roosevelt, another early progressive. Today we tend to associate progressivism mostly with Democrats, and trace it back to Woodrow Wilson. But it had its roots in both parties.
The social and political programs of the progressives came in on two great waves: the New Deal of the 1930s and the Great Society of the 1960s. Today, President Obama often invokes progressivism and hopes to generate its third great wave of public policy. In thinking about what this would mean, we need look no farther than the health care reform program he is promoting along with the leadership in Congress.more


“Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST. ISSN 0277-8432. Imprimis trademark registered in U.S. Patent and Trade Office #1563325.

Colbert Report on Rasmussen

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Colbert Repoll - Scott Rasmussen
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care reform

Back Room Deals

This link will take you to another sad tale exposing the way Congress does its business. Unfortunately both parties have engaged in this sort of shenanigan over many years to the detriment of our country but never have the stakes been as high as they are on Obamacare. We are already encumbered by a massive unfunded liability for Medicare and it will only get worse. There are many problems with the current system. Reform is needed but the plan being muscled through Congress is a disaster. We can only hope that love of country and pressure from irate consituents will move a sufficient number of elected officials to block the arrogant misuse of power that the Obama administration and some elected officials in Congress are displaying.

The Best Films Never Made

The following PajamasMedia production by Andrew Klavan on the "Oscars" is funny but painfully true.

Election 2010: South Carolina Republican Primary for Governor

I have posted the following link to the latest poll in the South Carolina Governors race. While Nikki Haley places 4th it is interesting to note that a large number of those polled are undecided. Nikki's numbers are improving daily and as people get to know her I expect that many of the undecided will move to her. Please spread the word. If you haven't already done so check out her website: http://www.nikkihaley.com/ and email the link to your friends.


Election 2010: South Carolina Republican Primary for Governor

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Son of Hamas

From the Online Wall Street Journal

By MATTHEW KAMINSKI

Nashville, Tenn.

'I absolutely know that in anybody's eyes I was a traitor," says Mosab Hassan Yousef. "To my family, to my nation, to my God. I crossed all the red lines in my society. I didn't leave one that I didn't cross."
Now 32, Mosab is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founder and leader of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Throughout the last decade, from the second Intifada to the current stalemate, he worked alongside his father in the West Bank. During that time the younger Mr. Yousef also secretly embraced Christianity. And as he reveals in his book "Son of Hamas," out this week, he became one of the top spies for Israel's internal security arm, the Shin Bet.more

Aikenites endorse Haley for governor | Aiken Standard | Aiken, SC

Aikenites endorse Haley for governor Aiken Standard Aiken, SC

An Amazing and Touching Story

This story is very moving.Their strength in adversity should be an inspiration to everyone.Follow the link below:


Dick and Lois Saunders: Forever Valentines

Top GOPer releases video of Obama praising ACORN - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

I had not seen this before but it certainly makes clear the President's association and support for ACORN. Very sad!

Poll: 86 percent say government 'broken' - Andy Barr - POLITICO.com

Interesting Poll taken by CNN. I continue to believe that the only way to fix the system is to establish term limits and get rid of professional pols. The argument against limits is that our elected officials would not have sufficient experience and they would be too dependent upon their staffs most of whom make it a career. The truth is that the pols become dependent on their staffs anyway. In fact too often they become the photogenic ( some exceptions here)megaphone for the staff.

Poll: 86 percent say government 'broken' - Andy Barr - POLITICO.com

Power Line - My son the terrorist's lawyer

Power Line - My son the terrorist's lawyer

Operation FairTax

Operation FairTax

Cairo-A Vulnerable Mega-City?

Almost 8 years of my Foreign Service career were spent in Egypt. It holds many great wonders and I found the Egyptian people to be warm and generous. For the most part they were also pro-American even though our support of Israel often gets in the way. I have followed an Egyptian blog for several years and I have mentioned before that I don’t always agree with it’s contents but I do admire it’s editor. She did a piece today that sardonically reports that Cairo is listed in a report about 7 mega-cities of the world that have severe economic problems and as aconsequence could be a threat to global security. I understand her frustration with the present government of Egypt but I have not seen any viable alternative. There is a fair amount of support for the Muslim Brotherhood which has been officially outlawed in Egypt but I believe that the election of any government with a religious base would be “out of the frying pan into the fire.”


Whatever party is in charge the fact is that unless and until Egypt can manage its population growth there is little chance for improving the lot of average Egyptians. I first spent time in Egypt in 1954 and the population at that time was around 23 Million. Today it is 73 Million! I believe the Egyptian government promotes birth control practices but based on the statistics they obviously are not very effective. Egypt does not have that many natural resources and this kind of exponential growth is unsupportable. Rather than just simply wishing for change of leaders I believe that the young activists could accomplish more by supporting practical programs such as birth control.

BBC News - Hundreds of thousands back Iran Revolution

UPDATE-The incredibly brave opposition to the tyrannical Iranian regime continues its struggle despite the unpeakable cruelty being inflicted. The National, an English language newspaper published in the United Arab Emirates, has a good report. Go here


BBC News - Hundreds of thousands back Iran Revolution

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Why Real Men Get Their Hands Dirty

Why Real Men Get Their Hands Dirty

Poll - Most Say Founding Fathers Would Disapprove of Washington

FOXNews.com - FOX News Poll:  Most Say Founding Fathers Would Disapprove of Washington

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Charles Krauthammer on the Age of Obama

Charles Krauthammer has again shown his remarkable intellect in this lecture given at the Heritage Foundation. Go here. 

The Hottest Hoax in the World

A view from India on global warming or climate change or whatever else you want to call it. Given the fact that Al Gore has enriched himself on this issue maybe we should simply call it the Greatest "Con Job" the world has ever known.

UPDATE -Here is more ugly news on Con jobs.. The new Obama budget contains a secret stash from anticipated Cap and Trade revenues.

The Hottest Hoax in the World OPEN Magazine

Blog keeps 80-year-old active and in politics | Aiken Standard | Aiken, SC

Many thanks to April Bailey and the Aiken Standard for this article. I appreciate how fair they have been to me over the years.

Dick Smith


Blog keeps 80-year-old active and in politics | Aiken Standard | Aiken, SC

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American Thinker - Comments

This article from the American Thinker captures a phenomenon I have been aware of for a long time. During my Foreign Service career I  enjoyed meeting and working with a great number of well educated, highly  intelligent individuals with advanced degrees from top rated schools. Many of them were "elitists"and I as well as other managers were often dismayed by their lack of common sense. Fortunately most of them were weeded out before they reached senior  management positions.

 American Thinker - Comments

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Osama Bin Laden blames U.S. for Climate Change

The elusive Bin Laden sends the world still another message of hate for the USA and other industrialized nations. Now he trying to tap into the popular but dubious  idea of global warming by blaming us. In addition to sponsoring and applauding cowardly terrorist attacks that indiscriminately kill innocents of any nation or religion  including his own he urges economic war on us even while admitting that the consequences of our collapse would be disastrous for the whole world. He does not yet have the enormous power required to do evil  on the same massive scale as  Stalin, Mao and Hitler but obviously he would if he could.

SC Blog exposes Bauer's "Transparency"

Transparency is sadly lacking at all levels of government and the Obama administration has been relentless in its pursuit of imposing its agenda on a country that rejects much of it and most especially Obamacare.. He promised openess and transparency and what have we been given? More of the same kind of rotten back room deals he so eloquently and and I might add hypocritically condemned while campaigning. Promises need to be kept!

Transparency in government has become the buzzword in politics and the South Carolina Policy Council does an excellent job of fighting for it here in South Carolina. Aiken City Councilman Dick Dewar has done a great deal to increase government transparency here in Aiken, South Carolina and our elected officials have given it their full support. Gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley has been the leader on transparency at the State level and we also applaud her efforts.The following link will take you to the Bauer story.
 
The Nerve






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SC Gubernatorial Campaign

Comments on the South Carolina Gubernatorial race from Ed Giobbe

 
In a time of extraordinary economic and financial stress, the race for Governor of our State is extremely important.  The new Governor will set the agenda and direction of South Carolina for years. At the recent Aiken Republican Club debate with four candidates it was obvious that three of them were simply more of the same. 
 

Gresham Barrett missed 30% of the votes in the House of Representatives in 2009 and has already missed a number of votes so far this year.  His excuse for being absent is that he is running for Governor. Will he continue to be an absentee Representative in 2010?  That's not what we hired him for and not what he gets paid for.  He told us that he was for God, the Second Amendment, and Right to Life, none of which are issues in the race.  He failed to address the crucial issues that face SC. Platitudes and no substance.

Henry McMaster and Andre Bauer were poster children for the status quo.  They also failed to speak to the issues.  Amazingly, both of them, in response to a question by Dick Dewar, concerning the leadership of Bobby Harrell and Glen McConnell, emphatically stated that they always received full cooperation from the Legislature and always got what they asked for!  These two are simply more of the same and business as usual.  It is the good old boy game of get along go along that has characterized the Legislature for decades. What you see is what you get, a wink and a nod. In addition, Andre Bauer recently equated helping the poor with feeding stray dogs.  What is he running for, dog catcher?

Nikki Haley is the proverbial breath of fresh air. She introduced and passed legislation requiring recorded votes over the objections of the leadership and was punished for it.  She favors raising the cigarette tax, governmental restructuring, eliminating the Budget and Control Board, tax reform and eliminating the hundreds of millions of $ of special interest sales tax exemptions.  She addressed the three major issues that are absolutely crucial to our state- restructuring, taxes and education.

South Carolina can no longer afford to be hampered by a state government dominated by a legislature motivated by special interests and self preservation.  The legislature has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th Century and continues to be the Enfant Terrible in the 21st. If we really want a better state government, then let's ask the hard questions and demand specific answers.  The usual platitudes and trite phrases of smaller, more efficient government and lower taxes have been uttered by politicians since the first caveman ran for office.  It's time to hold their feet to the fire and demand some answers.   l

The State of the Union

We are all anxiously awaiting President Obama's state of the union address.My personal opinion is that we are in desperate condition and only a real change of direction can save us. I opposed President Obama's election because I had studied his background and associations with terrorist William Ayers and his America hating preacher. The only upside to his election was that America proved that skin color was not important. His message of hope and change though ill defined was brilliantly delivered and 53 percent of Americans elected their first black President. After he was elected I naively believed or perhaps only hoped that he would strive to be a President for all the people. Unfortunately this has not been the case and despite the strong messages that have been sent to his administration from Americans of every political persuasion it sounds as though he and his team of czars and other far left leaners are determined to prove that big brother knows best. I hope I am wrong!

I Missed This!

Somehow I missed this youtube video that was was also posted on Powerline.Reportedly it was forced off of Youtube but is now back.

Obama’s First Year

Obama’s First Year

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Internet Access around the World

As our world continues the Technology Revolution many totalitarian countries are trying to restrict internet access and even here in the United States there are elements within the current administration that would like to curb bloggers and other media that are critical of President Obama and his administration. In light of this  I am very pleased that the U.S. has spoken out about the restrictions being placed by China. It will give our own free speech advocates and media ammunition should the congress proceed with its attempts to revive the so-called  "fairness doctrine." See the article here

We already know how the difficulties faced by bloggers in Iran but Egypt is also trying to intimidate its very large blog population. Go here for some comments and follow on to an incident in Upper Egypt where five Christians were murdered on Christmas Day.Happily the U.S. State Department has also protested the incident according to the Egyptian Chronicles

Political Change in Iran- Alternatives

As the current regime continues to thumb it's nose at diplomatic efforts the risk of military action  grows. The WSJ Opinion Journal carries an interesting article today that suggests more options that have considerable merit. I have to believe that some of what is suggested has already been in play  but certainly a more consistent and determined effort should be made. The alternative of using military action would be disastrous and might weaken the opposition rather than bring about any change.

Scott Brown Beats Martha Coakley - WSJ.com

 The WSJ has an excellent report on Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts. The tea is in the harbor- next the Revolution. A center right coalition of Americans will rescue their country from those undemocratic forces that are trying to take us in the wrong direction. Thank you Scott Brown and the citizens of Massachusetts for the inspiration.

UPDATE- The first sign that the White House has heard the message comes from David Axlerod



Scott Brown Beats Martha Coakley - WSJ.com

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SC Policy Council has a Blog

 I have posted this because the SC Policy Council is doing an excellent service for the citizens of South Carolina and their observations also have applicability at the National level.

The Nerve

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MA Senate Race- New Poll, Brown Leads « Liveshots

As the whole world looks on at the horror unfolding in Haiti many may be too distracted to pay enough attention to the Massachusetts senate race;  Massachusetts has always been a progressive state with many independents and they hold the key to defeating this awful health care bill. Health care does need to be reformed and many good ideas have been bruited by politicians on both sides but the shameless trickery  now taking place is not the way. Such important legislation must have bi-partisan support and that has not been sought in any reasonable way. The old saying "power corrupts......" comes to mind. The following report gives me some hope that the patriotic citizens of Massachusetts will once again cast a deciding vote for the good our wonderful republic.
MA Senate Race- New Poll, Brown Leads « Liveshots

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Egyptian Chronicles: Helping Haiti

I posted this article as an example of the commonality of interests that exists all over the world. I have followed the Egyptian Chronicles for quite a while.I have not always agreed with its postings and the many hateful comments made by others to the site( unfortunately a sickness that affects many blogs)but I admire the editors spunk and her desire to better the life of all Egyptians.

 Egyptian Chronicles: Helping Haiti

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Helping Haiti

 That sad and long suffering little place called Haiti has been struck down by a great catastrophe and assistance is urgently needed. The USA and many other countries have responded quickly and as usual many volunteers are rushing to the scene.The following account of the great loss suffered by the UN in  Haiti was received by email this morning. It includes links to facilitate donations to the relief effort and I urge everyone to contribute.

The UN headquarters building for the peacekeeping force was flattened with over 150 UN folks inside, including people from at least 20 countries (U.S. included).   All are missing and unaccounted for.   This may shape up to be the single largest loss of life for the UN ever.  Many of my colleagues fear that they have lost many good friends and mentors – Annabi (the head of the UN in Haiti) was one colleague’s direct boss for over 8 years. 

The good folks at the Fairfax Fire and Rescue arrived on the ground about 2 hours ago with 72 people, 6 dogs and all the equipment needed to find and dig people out.  LA search and rescue is loading up in California with a similar team to arrive overnight, and Miami Dade is loading up with an identical team.  UK, Netherlands, Iceland also sending smaller teams.   Next 48-60 hours is critical for getting to people.

  

Fastest and easiest way to give is on the front of the White House and USUN websites (www.whitehouse.gov and www.usun.state.gov) -  text  “HAITI” to 90999 and $10 will be added to your cell phone bill for a donation to the Red Cross.

Rescueing Coakley in Massachusetts

To show you what a scary world we live in- This blog has been online for a matter of hours and already a Google  ad has been placed by the  SEIU - Service Employees International Union. The ad consists of a youtube purporting to be favorable to a TEAParty but it is cleverly edited.By time I got around to this posting  it had disappeared but it will be back.  For another look at the SEIU go here

Scott Brown is doing very well against Coakley and raised 1.3 million last night. To contribute to his campaign go here.

homylafayette Iran News in English: Tehran University professor Massoud Alimohammadi assassinated: fact and fiction

You will have seen the news story of the assassination of a Tehran University Professor today. The following link will take you to an interesting account. It is so sad that our government is still playing around. Talking tough and doing nothing. Weakness on the part of our leaders is a go ahead signal for terrorist leaders such as though who rule Iran.It is ironical that the current opposition is a replay of the feelings that lead to the demise of the Shah who was not as repressive. Those good young idealists who yearned for freedom and democracy made a pact with the devil and were over time consumed by that theocracy that is now in control.


homylafayette Iran News in English: Tehran University professor Massoud Alimohammadi assassinated: fact and fiction

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Welcome to the Old Guys Blog

As many readers of the Aiken Journal know I retired from the Aiken City Council in November 2009.The Aiken Journal was started as an email to constituents and then was also published online as a website and later as a blog. The Aiken Journal originally covered only City of Aiken and Aiken County items of concern but due to my propensity to worry about the whole world I started to cover broader interests.The Aiken Journal will generally limit its coverage  to City of Aiken, County  and South Carolina subjects and I have created the www.octogenarianonline.com to cover my personal interests around the world. I have also included in the archives of this new blog postings concerning national and world topics that were published by me in the Aiken Journal.These archive items have been removed from the Aiken Journal. I hope everyone visits the new site as it gets up and running. Good comments are always welcome.

Why the Health-Care Bills Are Unconstitutional

 The following is the beginning of an excellent piece that was posted on the WSJ Opinion Journal today.To read the entire article go here

If the government can mandate the purchase of insurance, it can do anything.

By ORRIN G. HATCH, J. KENNETH BLACKWELL AND KENNETH A. KLUKOWSKI

President Obama's health-care bill is now moving toward final passage. The policy issues may be coming to an end, but the legal issues are certain to continue because key provisions of this dangerous legislation are unconstitutional. Legally speaking, this legislation creates a target-rich environment. We will focus on three of its more glaring constitutional defects.
First, the Constitution does not give Congress the power to require that Americans purchase health insurance. Congress must be able to point to at least one of its powers listed in the Constitution as the basis of any legislation it passes. None of those powers justifies the individual insurance mandate. Congress's powers to tax and spend do not apply because the mandate neither taxes nor spends. The only other option is Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.