Flemington, NJ Tea Party

Happy Birthday, Dear Vladimir

2010-04-22T09:53:00.002-04:00

April 22nd is Lenin's birthday. It also happens to be "Earth Day".

Hmmmm, just a coincidence, I'm sure.

Then again, maybe not: Earth Day: An Assault on Man

Report from the Media Research Center: "TV’s Tea Party Travesty"

2010-04-16T11:53:00.002-04:00

The Media Research Center has just released a new report:

"TV’s Tea Party Travesty: How ABC, CBS and NBC Have Dismissed and Disparaged the Tea Party Movement"

From the MRC's summary:

"While the broadcast networks seldom devolved into the juvenile name-calling and open hostility evident at the liberal cable news networks, their coverage of the Tea Party’s first year reflected a similar mindset of elitist condescension and dismissiveness. Given how the networks have provided fawning coverage and helpful publicity to far-less consequential liberal protest movements, their negative treatment of the Tea Party is a glaring example of a media double standard. Rather than objectively document the rise and impact of this important grassroots movement, the “news” networks instead chose to first ignore, and then deplore, the citizen army mobilizing against the unpopular policies of a liberal President and Congress."

New Jersey: The Whining Starts

2010-03-23T19:18:00.009-04:00

Well, okay, the whining actually started 60 seconds after Governor Christie finished his budget address last week. But the whining has started in the Star Ledger, with this article:

"N.J. residents, groups urge Senate panel to save

programs from Gov. Christie's budget cuts"

(http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/nj_residents_assess_gov_chris.html)

This article provides a good indication of what we'll be hearing here in New Jersey over the next few months, as Gov. Christie attempts to make good on his campaign promise to bring the state back into some semblance of fiscal sanity.

Here's the article's list of those who would suffer as a result of Christie's proposed cuts:

Epileptics
College students
People with cerebral palsy
Adults who can't take care of themselves
Families of the disabled
Children
Seniors
Colleges
Elementary schools
Cancer research groups
Family planning groups
Low- and moderate-income people

The article goes on to quote someone from a group called "Better Choices for New Jersey" (http://www.betterchoicesfornj.org/), a group that wants to employ fiscally responsible "revenue solutions" (i.e. tax increases) to solve the state's fiscal emergency. These are the "fiscally responsible" solutions they propose on their website:

Adjust state income tax to more closely reflect ability to pay.
Curb business tax breaks and loopholes.
Raise registration fees for gas-guzzlers that pollute our environment.
Increase the alcoholic beverage tax by 10% (this is on top of the 25% increase in FY2010!)

We should do everything we can to support Governor Christie in his effort to save New Jersey from fiscal ruin!

Stay informed!

2010-03-23T09:48:00.004-04:00

To stay informed on what's happening with the Flemington Tea Party, send an email to flemingtonteaparty@gmail.com to get added to our email list.

Flemington Tea Party - April 15, 2010

2010-03-20T19:39:00.003-04:00

Planning is underway!

Watch this space for further details.

"World may not be warming," say scientists

2010-02-14T09:18:00.006-05:00

This may be the year that Al Gore, the failed Presidential candidate, may have to add "Failed Global Warming Alarmist" to his resume. The London Times ran this story today, featuring John Christy, a former lead author of the IPCC assessment reports, saying:

“The temperature records cannot be relied on as indicators of global change”

And just why is that? Because, after an evaluation of the weather stations used to collect temperature data around the world, Christy found that:

"The popular data sets show a lot of warming but the apparent temperature rise was actually caused by local factors affecting the weather stations, such as land development.”

Read the whole story here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7026317.ece

Copenhagen climate summit: Carbon trading fraudsters in Europe pocket €5bn

2009-12-11T09:31:00.003-05:00

By Rowena Mason

Published: 10:27AM GMT 10 Dec 2009

Telegraph.co.uk

Carbon trading fraudsters may have accounted for up to 90pc of all market activity in some European countries, with criminals pocketing an estimated €5bn (£4.5bn) mainly in Britain, France, Spain, Denmark and Holland, according to Europol, the European law enforcement agency.

The revelation caused embarrassment for European Union negotiators at the Copenhagen climate change summit yesterday, where they have been pushing for an expansion of their system across the globe to penalise heavy emitters of carbon dioxide.

Rob Wainwright, the director of serious crime squad, said large-scale organised criminal activity had “endangered the credibility” of the current carbon trading system.

“We have been talking to Europol over the last weeks,” said one EU senior delegate, after she was asked whether the European Union-run scheme was still viable. “We are making some fixes.”

Yesterday, the UK delegation released a paper calling for the “expansion of carbon markets”, in order to use the profits for a fund to help developing nations tackle climate change.

Suspicions about an unprecedented level of carbon crime over the last 18 months have led investigators to believe criminals are using “missing trader” techniques to buy up carbon credits elsewhere in Europe where there is a cheaper rate of VAT.

Then they sell on the credits in the UK, charging the domestic rate, and pocket the difference. This has been commonplace among trading of very mobile commodities across European borders, such as phones, computer chips and cigarettes.

Read the whole story:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6778003/Copenhagen-climate-summit-Carbon-trading-fraudsters-in-Europe-pocket-5bn.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------

In other words, just as critics have maintained, "carbon trading markets" are a fraud, designed to allow certain individuals to personally enrich themselves. What a surprise!

Obama's "Excellent Mr. Goodwrench Adventure" in Trouble?

2009-12-01T20:32:00.004-05:00

The CEO of General Motors, Fritz Henderson, has quit after only 8 months on the job! Remember: this is the guy that Obama and his stooges hand-picked for the job, after unceremoniously dumping Richard Wagoner, Jr. back in March of this year.

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/29/AR2009032900708.html)

The explanation is that "the board [is] upset that the automaker was changing too slowly, and Henderson [is] frustrated with second-guessing".

In other words: the Obama lackeys on the board are standing over Henderson's shoulder watching every move he makes, yelling "faster!, faster!", to the point where Henderson realized the futility of his mission.

GM has sold off Hummer. They're liquidating Saturn after the sale to Penske fell through. And they're shopping Saab around, and will be liquidating it if there's no deal by the end of the year. Next year, they'll be introducing the all-electric Chevy Volt. And the people on the board think GM is changing too slowly?

You have to give him credit for hanging in there this long!

Read the whole story here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091202/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gm_ceo_resigns

"Most Transparent Administration Ever"

2009-11-25T10:08:00.002-05:00

Yeah, right. More like "Most Transparently Fraudulent Administration Ever."

Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) -- At first it was just an unverifiable assertion. Now it turns out to have been a case of bureaucratic ineptitude and possible fraud. Transparency and accountability aren’t working out the way President Barack Obama had hoped.

The administration was already skating on thin ice when it announced on Oct. 30, with great fanfare, that 640,329 jobs had been created or saved as a result of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Not 640,000, or even 640,300. Six-hundred-forty-thousand- three-hundred-and-twenty-nine.

Asked about accumulating reports of phony jobs in phantom districts, Obamatold Fox News’s Major Garrett that “this is an inexact science.”

Turned into an exact one by his administration, I might add.

Read the whole thing:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aCgZM8CszQSg

Phyllis Schlafly: "Congress Must Stop the Trial in New York City"

2009-11-24T09:56:00.002-05:00

Phyllis Schlafly, who has been a (brilliant) conservative activist since the 1970s, points out in this article that Congress has the power to stop the Obama administration from granting the 9/11 terrorists full Constitutional rights and a criminal trial in NYC.

As she points out in this article, (and in her book "The Supremacists", which I highly recommend), there is no question whatsoever that Congress has this power under the Constitution, although not many people are aware of it. As she says:

Constitutional authority is clear. Article III, Section I, states, "The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."

Nothing is new or irregular about Congress prescribing or limiting the kinds of cases that federal courts are permitted to hear. A long historical record conclusively proves that Congress has the power to regulate and limit court jurisdiction, that Congress has used this power repeatedly, and the courts have accepted it.

Read the whole article here:

http://townhall.com/columnists/PhyllisSchlafly/2009/11/24/congress_must_stop_the_trial_in_new_york_city

ClimateGate: The Earth has Been Cooling

2009-11-24T07:57:00.003-05:00

If you've missed it, there is a scandal brewing in the "Warmist" (un)scientific community, over a trove of emails and data that has been publicly released, revealing that scientists have conspired to conceal and alter data that did not support their false "Global Warming" hypothesis.

You can read about it in these posts on the PowerLine blog. They're a bit long, but well worth reading because they'll quickly get you up to speed on this emerging scandal, that has the potential to blow the lid off of this "Fraud of the Century".

Global Warming Bombshell

The Alarmists Do "Science": A Case Study

When in Doubt, Delete

The emails and data are still being combed through, and more revelations are coming out. The latest concerns emails in which Warmist "scientists" reveal that they know full well that the Earth has been cooling over the last several years, and has the potential to continue this trend for quite a while. The details are in this post:

From Middle Ages to 21st Century: We've Come Full Circle

2009-11-13T22:10:00.005-05:00

Over the last two or three hundred years, science and religion have gradually gone their separate ways, until by the 20th century they were completely distinct.

But now, thanks to a judge in the UK (where else?), it's back to the Middle Ages for mankind!

Behold the wisdom of the UK's finest!

---------------------------------------------------

Judge rules activist's beliefs on climate change akin to religion

Karen McVeigh
guardian.co.uk
Tuesday 3 November 2009 20.42 GMT

When Rupert Dickinson, the chief executive of one of Britain's biggest property firms, left his BlackBerry behind in London while on a business trip to Ireland, he simply ordered one of his staff to get on a plane and deliver the device to him.

For Dickinson's then head of sustainability, Tim Nicholson, the errand was much more than an executive indulgence: it embodied the contempt with which his boss treated his deep philosophical beliefs about climate change.

In a significant decision today, a judge found Nicholson's views on the environment were so deeply held that they were entitled to the same protection as religious convictions, and ruled that an employment tribunal should hear his claim that he was sacked because of his beliefs.

(omitted paragraphs)

In today's ruling, Mr Justice Michael Burton decided that: "A belief in man-made climate change, and the alleged resulting moral imperatives, is capable if genuinely held, of being a philosophical belief for the purpose of the 2003 Religion and Belief Regulations." Under those regulations it is unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of their religious or philosophical beliefs.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/03/tim-nicholson-climate-change-belief

Abomination: 9/11 suspects to be tried in New York

2009-11-13T15:20:00.009-05:00

Eric Holder, who some call the Attorney General, has announced that the human filth behind the 9/11 attacks will receive civilian criminal trials in New York City. This means the Obama administration is affording these terrorist maggots the same Constitutional rights as US citizens.

Rather than face trial in a closely-regulated military tribunal, the five slimebuckets - the filthy Kalid "Sheik" Mohammed and four unnamed pieces of crap - will now have a highly visible public platform from which to continue their jihad against America, courtesy of the Obama administration.

Obama lackey Mikey Bloomberg, recent buyer of a third term as mayor of New York, supported the decision, saying: "It is fitting that 9/11 suspects face justice near the World Trade Center site where so many New Yorkers were murdered".

Oh really? You're just plain wrong about that, Bloomy. What would be "fitting" is one quick bullet into each of these creep's skulls. Damn, where is Bernie Goetz when you need him?

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5AC1S720091113?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=11621

The Fraud Called "Green Jobs"

2009-11-06T13:18:00.003-05:00

WBUR.org

By FRANNIE CARR

Published November 5, 2009

BOSTON — A solar panel company that received $58 million in state aid to build its factory in Massachusetts is now moving jobs overseas.

Evergreen Solar is shifting some of its production, currently done at a plant in Devens, to China next year, after posting an $82 million loss in the third quarter.

Gov. Deval Patrick calls the move unfortunate, but says some of Evergreen’s operations will remain here.

Evergreen Solar CEO Rick Feldt announces a second phase of expansion at the company's Devens manufacturing facility in April 2008 while Gov. Deval Patrick looks on. (Office of the governor)

“I’m disappointed about the manufacturing,” Patrick said, “but I’m delighted that they will continue to grow jobs in Massachusetts and they will be a part of our emerging clean tech sector.”

http://www.wbur.org/2009/11/05/evergreen-china

-----------------------------

Oh yeah, it's "emerging" all right. It's emerging in China, you idiot!

"Deval Patrick. Massachusetts governor. Obama crony. Moron."

Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting

2009-11-06T12:14:00.003-05:00

This appeared on the website of the NBC Chicago affiliate, of all places.

---------------------------------------------------

President Barack Obama didn't wait long after Tuesday's devastating elections to give critics another reason to question his leadership, but this time the subject matter was more grim than a pair of governorships.

After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations went to the president. The situation called for not only his trademark eloquence, but also grace and perspective.

But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a "shout-out" to "Dr. Joe Medicine Crow -- that Congressional Medal of Honor winner." Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. Who is advising him?

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/A-Disconnected-President.html

---------------------------------------------------

It's a bit surprising that an NBC affiliate, out of Chicago no less, would criticize Hussein this way. But the clueless imbeciles still don't understand that it has nothing to do with who's "advising" him.

The most anti-defense, anti-military president in American history wasn't "advised" to show this kind of disrespect towards the military. It's in his DNA.

Waaaaaah! It's All Bush's Fault!

2009-11-06T11:40:00.005-05:00

The Crybaby-in-Chief marked the first anniversary of his election by telling a hand-picked crowd of supporters that his total failure to accomplish anything is George W. Bush's fault.

"One year ago, Americans all across this country went to the polls and cast ballots for the future they wanted to see," the Crybaby said.

But he said his administration was also confronted with a "financial crisis that threatened to plunge our economy into a Great Depression, the worst that we've seen in generations."

"We had record deficits, two wars, frayed alliances around the world," the Crybaby added.

Pathetic jackass.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-43692420091104

Spin: Neither gubernatorial election amounted to a referendum on the president

2009-11-04T09:43:00.002-05:00

The Washington Post writes:

Neither gubernatorial election amounted to a referendum on the president, but the changing shape of the electorates in both states and the shifts among key constituencies revealed cracks in the Obama 2008 coalition and demonstrated that, at this point, Republicans have the more energized constituency heading into next year's midterm elections.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/03/AR2009110304333.html?hpid=topnews

Nice try, but we're not buying it.

Wonder if the Post is even aware that Obama made 5 - FIVE - trips to New Jersey to help out his "good friend" Corzine, and was handed a 5-point defeat for his trouble. Whenever a President invests that much political capital in a local race, it is ridiculous to dismiss the idea that the election was, in part, a referendum on that President.

But calling the Washington Post ridiculous is like calling the sky blue.

Spin: Rebuke of Corzine? No - Rebuke of Obama

2009-11-04T09:02:00.004-05:00

Moran: N.J.'s election of 'unapologetic conservative' marks personal rebuke of Corzine

The era of Jon Corzine — as senator, governor and the state’s most unabashed liberal leader — ended tonight at the hands of a political neophyte who ran as an unapologetic conservative.

It was the first Democratic loss in a statewide race in more than a decade, one that gives Republicans the ability to raise money and rebuild, to reshape the Supreme Court, to finally exercise some real power after their long years in the wilderness.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_tom_moran/2009/11/nj_voters_election_of_unapolog.html

Mr. Moran seems to have forgotten that The One made 5 - FIVE - visits to New Jersey to get Corzine elected. In the end, that seems to have had 0 - ZERO - effect, as Christie won with a bigger margin than any of the polls were showing. But curiously, Moran makes NO MENTION of Obama in this article at all!

Republican Chris Christie ousts Jon Corzine in N.J. governor's race

2009-11-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

Republican Chris Christie, a corporate lawyer turned crusading federal prosecutor, was elected New Jersey’s 55th governor last night, ousting Jon Corzine, an unpopular but well-funded incumbent, in a race viewed as an early referendum on President Obama.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/republican_chris_christie_oust.html

"Death Panels by Proxy"

2009-09-26T08:49:00.001-04:00

It's no wonder the Democrats won't allow this bill to be posted online! As the details drip out, it's shaping up to be even worse than the monstrosity called HR3200.

-----

EDITORIAL: Death panels by proxy

Baucus bill pressures doctors to stop treatments

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Yes, there are death panels. Its members won't even know whose deaths they are causing. But under the health care bill sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Montana Democrat, death panels will indeed exist - oh so cleverly disguised as accountants.

The offending provision is on Pages 80-81 of the unamended Baucus bill, hidden amid a lot of similar legislative mumbo-jumbo about Medicare payments to doctors. The key sentence: "Beginning in 2015, payment would be reduced by five percent if an aggregation of the physician's resource use is at or above the 90th percentile of national utilization." Translated into plain English, it means that in any year in which a particular doctor's average per-patient Medicare costs are in the top 10 percent in the nation, the feds will cut the doctor's payments by 5 percent.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/25/death-panels-by-proxy/

Newspaper Bailout on the Way?

2009-09-25T14:42:00.005-04:00

"Alternative funding options", indeed!

---
Congressional Hearing on the Future of Newspapers Set For Thursday
By Joe Strupp
Published: September 23, 2009 10:55b AM ET

NEW YORK While the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday takes up the issue of a federal shield law, another congressional committee in the House will be focused on the impact of the newspaper industry's financial problems.

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), Chair of the House Joint Economic Committee (JEC), will convene a hearing "to examine contraction in the newspaper industry, the economic impact of the changing media landscape, as well as the future of the industry at large," according to an announcement. The hearing, titled "The Future of Newspapers: The Impact on the Economy and Democracy," will take place Thursday, at 10:00 am in the Cannon House Office Building.

"I am holding the Joint Economic Committee hearing to examine the importance of newspapers to our democracy throughout our nation's history and the treacherous economic landscape they face," Maloney wrote in a statement to E&P. "The witnesses will review alternative funding options for newspapers in our new and ever-changing electronic age. Since the ratification of the Bill of Rights, the federal government has acknowledged that the press is an institution which is afforded special protections by name. In this spirit, I think that the government can help foster solutions for this industry in ways which protect the independence of newspapers and enables their objective reporting to thrive in a new economic and media climate."

Among the witnesses scheduled to testify are Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, and Dr. Paul Starr, professor of sociology and public affairs, Stuart Chair of Communications and Public Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004014990

UPDATE: Here are some of the results from the "hearing".

WASHINGTON — Facing declining advertising revenues, newspapers should be allowed to recoup taxes they paid on profits earlier this decade to help offset some of their current losses, an industry representative told a joint committee of Congress on Thursday.

Oh really? Well then I want that deal too. When I start making less money, give me back some of the taxes I paid in past years. In fact, I'm ready to start with tax year 2009!

While saying his industry doesn't want a government handout or subsidy, John Sturm, the Newspaper Association of America's president and CEO, said the tax break and letting companies spread out the required contributions to their employee pension plans are ways Congress could help struggling papers.

"Newspapers need cash now to preserve jobs next year," he said. "It's really that simple."

In other words, Sturm said "We need a government handout or subsidy, but you could roast me over hot coals and I'll never call it that by name."

Baloney, D-N.Y., is sponsoring legislation that would streamline the process for newspapers to convert to nonprofits similar to public broadcasting stations. Under the bill, advertising and subscription revenue would be tax-exempt and contributions for support would be tax-deductible.

Nice deal! Any bets as to which slimy left-wing New York rag will be the first to benefit under this enlightened legislation?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jf4JqOUuwGdwkCxfZa8tCzxrukfAD9ATV9TO0

NY Times Admits "Global Warming" is a Fraud

2009-09-22T12:17:00.004-04:00

(Emphasis added)

As U.N. Meets on Climate, Momentum Is Elusive

The world leaders who are meeting at the United Nations to discuss climate change on Tuesday are faced with an intricate challenge: building momentum for an international climate treaty at a time when global temperatures have been stable for a decade and may even drop in the next few years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/science/earth/23cool.html?_r=1&hp

HE LIES! Obama Caught Red-Handed

2009-09-21T21:15:00.004-04:00

(Thanks to Eric)

Haven't seen much about this video on Gateway Pundit, but you could call it the "smoking gun"!

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/09/shock-video-obama-2007-revelation.html

Census Uses School Kids to "Deliver the Message" to Their Families

2009-09-19T09:03:00.003-04:00

I was browsing the Census Bureau's website, "2010.census.gov" the other day, and found that they've created a new program called "2010 Census: It’s About Us".

The purpose of the program is to teach school children all about how great the census is, and then to go home and tell their parents how great it is, and to make sure to fill out the census form! Or in the Census Bureau's own words:

The program will provide educators with resources to teach the nation’s students about the

importance of the census so children can help deliver this message to their families. The program will engage America’s youth to help ensure every child and every household member is counted in 2010.

Think your child is too young to participate? No worries! The program will provide "Age-specific educational materials for students in kindergarten through 12th grade".

Concerned that your child may forget to inform you of the benefits of the census? Silly you! Of course, the program includes "family take-home kits".

Don't want all that paper cluttering up the house? Hey, this program was developed with you in mind! The program has created lots of online resources "to teach students and their families about the census’ role in U.S. history, current events and more."

You say your children are home-schooled, and you think you're gonna miss out on all the fun? My goodness, how could you think your government would forget about you! Among other audiences, the "program will reach ... Home schools, through Web-based materials."

Think that even with all this, the Census Bureau just isn't doing enough to promote the census in our schools? Think again! They've planned "Opportunities to discuss and practice civic responsibility through five 15-minute lessons, available online, during a Census in Schools Week celebration." Yipee! (The week-long "celebrations" are scheduled for January through March 2010.)

And naturally, since nothing our government does these days is done without due deference to "The Community", why should this program be any different? And so, the program makes sure to "Challenge students to get to know their communities and think about community needs."

Here's a link to the Census in Schools program brochure:

http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/CN_WBSH_CISFS_O_ENG.pdf

One Week After Big Health Care Speech, Obama Loses His "Bounce"

2009-09-17T11:42:00.001-04:00

President Obama has lost his 5-point "bounce" in the polls gained after making his big health care speech to Congress last Wednesday.

On Sept. 9th, the day he gave the speech, the Rasmussen Presidential Approval Index stood at -8. Within 5 days, Obama had gained 5 points, with the index at -3. Now, 8 days later, the index is back to -8.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

That's the good news. The better news is that the health care fight among the Democrats is picking up, with the very different House and Senate bills now set to do battle in public. And, it was reported on WOR radio this morning that work on the Cap & Trade bill will resume within the next couple of weeks. (I find that hard to believe, but these guys may just be that crazy!) And remember it was reported about a month ago that Obama's immigration reform is just around the corner!

With any luck, Obama will beat his record low of -14 within the next 2 or 3 weeks!

Are You Ready for Patriot's Day?

2009-09-06T08:59:00.002-04:00

Patriot Day is September 11th. The Astroturf(TM)-Organizer-in-Chief, Barack Obama, and his puppet master David Axelrod, are organizing a nationwide Senate call-in on that day. One dead Kennedy wasn't enough: now Obama is using the nearly 3000 Americans who died on 9/11 to shamelessly promote his agenda. This effort is also no doubt timed to lessen the impact of the March on Washington scheduled for the very next day.

The lemmings will be calling to urge passage of the so-called "Public Option", and will be claiming that "75% of Americans support it". It's no longer possible to view this on Obama's personal website, because this issue has received so much attention that the post was deleted. It used to be located here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcareorganizingevent/gpkggf

Luckily, Jonah Goldberg of The National Review (and others) have preserved it:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YWY5ZmYwNTkwMjE0MTMxYTk2ZjQyOTZhMmI0ZWQ3MzY=

And here's a screenshot of the post, from RedState.com:

http://www.redstate.com/california_yankee/2009/09/01/obama-campaign-org-politicizes-911-calls-protestors-right-wing-domestic-terrorists/

We should all make sure that WE call our Senators on that day, as well as Senators from the nearby states and others with a prominent role in the health care initiative, to nullify the effect of this Obama/Axelrod tactic.

Don't bother with the Congressional switchboard - here are their direct numbers:

New Jersey

Frank Lausenberg: (202) 224-3224

Robert Menendez: (202) 224-4744

New York

Kirsten Gillibrand: (202) 224-4451

Chuck E. Cheese Schumer: (202) 224-6542

Pennsylvania

Robert Casey, Jr: (202) 224-6324

Arlen Specter: (202) 224-4254

The "Gang of Six"

Ben Nelson (D-NE): (202) 224-6551

Mary Landrieu (D-LA): (202) 224-5824

Ron Wyden (D-OR): (202) 224-5244

Joe Lieberman (I-CT): (202) 224-4041

Olympia Snowe (R*-ME): (202) 224-5344

Susan Collins (R*-ME): (202) 224-2523

Others

Max Baucus (D-MT): (202) 224-2651

Charles Grassley (R-IA): (202) 224-3744

Mitch McConnell (R-KY): (202) 224-2541 (Minority Leader)

Dingy Harry Reid (D-NV): (202) 224-3542 (Majority Leader)

*In name only.

Connecting the Health Care Dots: Obama Says Grandmother’s Hip Replacement Raises Cost Questions

2009-08-12T14:32:00.001-04:00

This Bloomberg article is from April, but it ties in very nicely with what Cass Sunstein, Obama's nominee for head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, said in his essay called "Lives, Life-Years, and Willingness to Pay".

In the article, Obama had this to say about his 86-year-old grandmother's hip replacement surgery (emphasis added):

“You just get into some very difficult moral issues” when considering whether “to give my grandmother, or everybody else’s aging grandparents or parents, a hip replacement when they’re terminally ill. That’s where I think you just get into some very difficult moral issues ... The chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health-care bill out here."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aGrKbfWkzTqc

Notice that Obama lumps in "those toward the end of their lives" together with the "chronically ill". Obama states quite clearly that deciding whether to give old people health care "raises a difficult moral issue".

Well, Cass Sunstein to the rescue! Sunstein believes he knows how to resolve Obama's "moral issue", as he explained in his essay:

"A program that saves young people produces more welfare than one that saves old people. The hard question involves not whether to undertake this shift, but how to monetize life-years."

http://www.aei-brookings.org/admin/authorpdfs/redirect-safely.php?fname=../pdffiles/phprW.pdf

For Sunstein, the "hard question" isn't whether to withhold health care from old people. To him the answer is self-evident, since doing so "produces more welfare". The "hard" question for Sunstein is what calculation should be used to determine the precise dollar value of an old person's life, as opposed to a young person's life.

Remember, Sunstein has been nominated by Obama to a very important post. His agency will be central in determining the exact regulations that come out of any health care bill passed by Congress!

I swear, Adolf Hitler is not spinning in his grave, rather, he's dancing a jig.

Whatever Happened to "Grass Roots Activism"?

2009-08-05T07:16:00.003-04:00

As anti-war protesters called President Bush "Hitler", "Satan", etc. etc., the state-run media told us that this was democracy at its finest, we were hearing the "voice of the American people" expressed by a patriotic "grass roots movement" against the war!

Hmmm. Looks like "grass roots activism" has gone out of style. Here's how they're describing the groundswell of opposition to the government takeover of health care being expressed at Town Hall meetings this month:

"Angry teabaggers and other opponents of health care reform are heckling members of Congress at their town hall meetings back home in an effort to sway the debate and drown out reform supporters."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/teabaggers-try-to-shout-down-health-care-reform-at-town-halls.php?ref=fpa

Admittedly, "Talking Points Memo" is a left-wing funded website. But there's no question that the state-run media has overwhelmingly covered these protests in the same way!

Barney Frank Admits the REAL Goal Behind "Health Care Reform"

2009-08-05T06:56:00.003-04:00

Barney Frank, who never seems totally in control of what comes out of his mouth anyway, revealed the REAL goal behind the "health care reform" bill at the end of July.

This happened on July 27th, as Frank was confronted by a group called "singlepayeraction.org", which is in favor of a so-called "single payer" health care system. ("Single payer" is a euphemism for "100% completely government run").

Frank said, quote: "I think if we get a good public option, it will lead to single payer, that's the best way to reach single payer".

He says that at 28 seconds into this video:

Town Hall Protests Across the Country

2009-08-03T09:42:00.003-04:00

With Congress in recess and the Dems out in full force attempting to sell their fraudulent "Health Care Reform" legislation, protests against the bill appear to be breaking out everywhere.

This is "Democrat/Republican/Democrat again" Arlen Specter attempting to explain, foolishly, why he can't read the legislation himself:

This is left-wing Dem Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas being protested by a large crowd:

This is Kathleen Sibelius, speaking about it to many of the people her department branded as "right-wing extremists":

President Obama, Talking Crap

2009-07-28T08:58:00.001-04:00

The title says it all.

Obama's Health Care Press Conference an Unmitigated Disaster

2009-07-26T14:27:00.002-04:00

Obama's "Approval Index" has dropped to a new record low of -11. Rasmussen Reports calculates this index daily, by subtracting the % of people who strongly disapprove from those who strongly approve.

This survey is the first one conducted exclusively after Obama's Wednesday night "Health Care" press conference. The only logical conclusion is that the press conference was an unmitigated disaster!

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Take the red pill, Mr. President

2009-07-25T10:01:00.000-04:00

From David Freddoso at the Washington Examiner:

"If there's a blue pill and a red pill, and the blue pill is half the price of the red pill and works just as well, why not pay half price for the thing that's going to make you well?" -- President Obama

In last night's press conference, President Obama seemed to be reliving that famous scene from The Matrix. The main character is offered a choice between a red pill that makes him see reality for what it is, and a blue pill that allows him to continue living in a pleasant world of illusions.

Last night, President Obama appeared to have taken the blue pill before his press conference.

Read the whole story

Obama Hits Bottom, Digs

2009-07-24T16:26:00.005-04:00

The Cop-Basher-in-Chief thinks he can lie his way out of the "stupid-acting Cambridge Police" debacle he created at his press conference Wednesday night. He thinks he can say a few words and make it all go away.

Too late, Mr. President!

At an impromptu appearance at the daily White House briefing, Obama said "This has been ratcheting up, and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up," he said. "I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge police department and Sgt. Crowley specifically. And I could've calibrated those words differently."

Sorry, Mr. President, but that's just a lie. You didn't "give the impression" that you maligned the Cambridge police. You maligned the Cambridge police, plain and simple. But I guess it will be a cold day in hell before you actually face up to your own actions.

And I'm sorry but what does "I could've calibrated those words differently" mean, anyway? I suspect you are attempting to hide behind big words in an attempt to sound sophisticated, and remove yourself from the situation.

http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2009/07/24/obama_calls_white_policeman_who_arrested_scholar

And Obama stubbornly clung to his assertion that the Cambridge police officer overreacted:

"I continue to believe based on what I've heard that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home."

(Yes, that's the sound of shovels hitting dirt!)

And once again Obama resorted to his rhetorical chicanery. At the 2-minute mark in the video below, he tries to turn this into yet another race-relations lecture to the American people.

Just a suggestion, Mr. President: please keep your fraudulent non-apology apologies to yourself, 'cause you're the only one you're fooling!

India Rejects U.S. Proposal of Carbon Limits

2009-07-21T10:56:00.002-04:00

Back in June we met with Congressman Leonard Lance regarding his "Yes" vote on the Cap and Trade bill. One of the reasons he gave for voting for it was his belief that it would give the United States greater leverage in convincing countries like China & India to go along with the idea.

Well, as it happens, India rejects cap & trade out-of-hand. As reported in this WSJ story, Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh "delivered a strong rebuke to overtures from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the two countries to work together to combat climate change."

China has alredy stated it won't ruin its economy with this foolish pursuit, and now India has clearly shown likewise. Why are our elected representatives so hell-bent on wrecking the US economy?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124789530843561651.html#

"Hey There Obama" (Humor)

2009-07-20T11:27:00.001-04:00

CNN Fires Susan Roesgen

2009-07-17T09:00:00.003-04:00

Some of you may recall Susan Roesgen, the insanely biased CNN on-air microphone holder (can't call her a journalist) who "interviewed" attendees of the April 15th Tea Parties by harassing and yelling at them.

We posted this article about her at the time:

http://flemingtonteaparty.blogspot.com/2009/04/cnn-fair-and-balanced-lol.html

You'll be pleased to know that her contract was not renewed by CNN. Although CNN is not stating the reason for this action, you can bet your bippy that all the emails and phone calls they received over Roesgen's disgraceful performance were a primary factor.

http://www.aim.org/on-target-blog/cnns-susan-roesgen-loses-her-job/

If you'd like to congratulate Ms. Roesgen on her new-found freedom, her email address is (or possibly, "was" - not sure if it still works):

susan.roesgen@turner.com

If you'd like to congratulate CNN for its firing of her, it's probably fitting to send a note to the same folks we complained to:

ken.jautz@cnn.com

phil.kent@turner.com

And here's some YouTube video to refresh your recollection:

Helen Thomas Wakes Up!

2009-07-02T08:08:00.006-04:00

Helen Thomas, the veteran White House press corps reporter, wakes up and blasts press secretary Robert Gibbs and the Obama administration about their tight control over the phony health care "Town Hall" meetings.

Chip Reid of CBS begins the line of questioning, and Thomas joins in at 2:55 into this video, saying "I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency". When Gibbs tries to deflect and defer, and says "Let's have this discussion at the conclusion of the town hall meeting, how about that?", Thomas says "No, no, no, we're having it now", and continues to blast him as Gibbs tries to clown his way out of discussing the issue.

Could the White House press corps be coming out of its Obama-induced coma?

Barney Frank Already Wants to Spend Profits from TARP

2009-07-02T07:43:00.004-04:00

Remember how the clowns in Washington told us that the TARP program would actually "make money" for the American taxpayer? And that money would go back into the Treasury to reduce the debt?

Well, not if the Barney Frank the Banking Queen gets his way. Frank has proposed a spending bill called the "TARP for Main Street Act of 2009", which will take the profits from the TARP program and divert them to housing projects favored by the Democrats. But we should not really expect anything different from the unrecovered spendaholics running Washington.

The Washington Examiner

Barney Frank: Let's spend TARP profits before taxpayers can get them

By: BYRON YORK
Chief Political Correspondent
07/01/09 9:19 PM EDT

When President Obama announced on June 9 that some financial institutions would be allowed to repay Troubled Asset Relief Program dollars, he said the massively expensive TARP bailout had made money for the federal government. "It is worth noting that in the first round of repayments from these [TARP recipients], the government has actually turned a profit," the president said. Indeed, TARP supporters have long held out the hope that the program might be profitable.

But now Rep. Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has come up with a proposal to spend any TARP profits before they can be returned to the taxpayers. Last Friday, Frank introduced the "TARP for Main Street Act of 2009," a bill that would take profits from the program and immediately redirect them toward housing proposals favored by Frank and some fellow Democrats.

In exchange for receiving TARP money, financial institutions were required to hand over shares of preferred stock that paid a dividend for the government. In theory, if a financial institution paid the dividend faithfully, and then repaid the TARP money, then the government would turn a profit. Last month, the General Accountability Office (GAO) reported that, through June 12, 2009, the government had received $6.2 billion in dividend payments. The original TARP legislation required that money made from the program "shall be paid into the general fund of the Treasury for reduction of the public debt."

Frank, however, wants to spend the money before it can be used to pay down anything. First, the "TARP for Main Street" proposal would take $1 billion "from dividends paid by financial institutions that have received financial assistance provided under…the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act" and apply it to a trust fund that Frank has long wanted to create for low-income rental housing. (The measure, unfunded, was part of last year's bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.) Next, Frank would take $1.5 billion from TARP dividends for a so-called "neighborhood stabilization" fund. Republican critics have charged that both measures might allow federal dollars to be distributed to activist groups like the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now, or ACORN.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Barney-Frank--49649362.html

2009-07-01T19:16:00.002-04:00

Obama's Top Five Health Care Lies

Shikha Dalmia

Forbes

July 1, 2009

President Barack Obama walked into the Oval Office with a veritable halo over his head. In the eyes of his backers, he could say or do no wrong because he had evidently descended directly from heaven to return celestial order to our fallen world. Oprah declared his tongue to be "dipped in the unvarnished truth." Newsweek editor Evan Thomas averred that Obama "stands above the country and above the world as a sort of a God."

But when it comes to health care reform, with every passing day, Obama seems less God and more demagogue, uttering not transcendental truths, but bald-faced lies. Here are the top five lies that His Awesomeness has told--the first two for no reason other than to get elected and the next three to sell socialized medicine to a wary nation.

Lie One: No one will be compelled to buy coverage.

Lie Two: No new taxes on employer benefits.

Lie Three: Government can control rising health care costs better than the private sector.

Lie Four: A public plan won't be a Trojan horse for a single-payer monopoly.

Lie Five: Patients don't have to fear rationing.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/30/obama-health-care-reform-opinions-columnists-public-option-medicare.html

House Support for Fed Audit Plan Swells

2009-07-01T13:02:00.001-04:00

Looks like Ron Paul's bill to audit the Federal Reserve now has 245 co-sponsors. This means that if this bill were to come up for a vote in the House, it would obviously pass by a very wide margin, MUCH wider than the "Crap & Tax" bill!

From the story: "The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee is Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who previously told Paul he would be willing to give the plan a hearing. However, that hasn't happened, despite its overwhelming support."

It's time to start calling the House leadership - Frank and Pelosi seem the best place to start - and demand that this bill be brought to the floor for a vote. It's unconscionable that a bill with 245 co-sponsors not be given an up-down vote!

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=102693

Your future thanks to the Dems and the Tr8torous Eight

2009-07-01T11:51:00.004-04:00

As Government Motors produces smaller and smaller cars, with ever-increasing fuel mileage, revenue from the gasoline tax will gradually decline. Oh no! What will the government do then?

Not to worry - here is your economic future. Remember to write a note of thanks to President Obama, Henry Waxman, Nancy Pelosi, the House Democrats, and the eight Republican Congressman who voted with the Democrats on the disastrous "Cap & Trade" bill.

Fuel tax could be replaced with by-the-mile road tax

By Steve Everly | The Kansas City Star

The year is 2020 and the gasoline tax is history. In its place you get a monthly tax bill based on each mile you drove — tracked by a Global Positioning System device in your car and uploaded to a billing center.
What once was science fiction is being field-tested by the University of Iowa to iron out the wrinkles should a by-the-mile road tax ever be enacted.
Besides the technological advances making such a tax possible, the idea is getting a hard push from a growing number of transportation experts and officials. That is because the traditional by-the-gallon fuel tax, struggling to keep up with road building and maintenance demands, could fall even farther behind as vehicles’ gas mileage rises and more alternative-fuel vehicles come on line.
The idea of shifting to a by-the-mile tax has been discussed for years, but it now appears to be getting more serious attention. A federal commission, after a two-year study, concluded earlier this year that the road tax was the “best path forward” to keep revenues flowing to highway and transportation projects, and could be an important new tool to help manage traffic and relieve congestion.

Link to complete story

Quick Summary of Protest at Lance's Office

2009-06-30T13:35:00.003-04:00

Here's my quick summary of the protest at Leonard Lance's office:

Attendance was approx. 25-30, enough to get the attention of all the cars passing by! As it turned out Lance was actually at the office, and we ended up inside meeting with him for about an hour. Everyone was quite vocal in their opposition.

For his part, Lance made the following points in defense of his vote:

- He campaigned as an environmentalist

- He campaigned against a "carbon tax" but in favor of cap & trade

- He believes cap & trade will help New Jersey, which he believes will benefit to the tune of about $100 million

- He believes it will create "green jobs" in NJ

- He claimed to have read the entire bill before voting on it

Needless to say, nobody changed anybody's mind during this meeting, although the group made many excellent points based as to the "wrongness" of cap & trade. We demonstrated to him that there are lots of well-informed constituents out there who are NOT HAPPY about this!

Lance also said he supports nuclear power, using the advanced technology for waste processing developed by the French.

(And on a different topic, he directly said that he would vote against health care reform if it included the "public option" much desired by the Obama administration.)

Protest Planned for Leonard Lance's Westfield Office

2009-06-28T18:20:00.002-04:00

There's a protest planned for Leonard Lance's Westfield office this Monday, 6/29, over his "YES" vote on the "Cap & Tax" bill.

Location:
425 North Avenue East
Westfield, NJ 07090

Time: 2pm - 4pm

If you cannot attend, please call or fax his office. He has 4 days to change his vote:
Phone: (908) 518-7733
Fax: (908) 518-7751

Some suggestions for signs:
Cap and Tax
Cap and Traitors
Cap and tr8tors
No Taxation without Reading the Bill
Tea Party Patriots Vote
You said you would vote no.
You lied to your constituents.
Read the bill before it is passed.

or any other clever things you can come up with.

Three NJ Republicans Vote With Pelosi on Cap & Trade

2009-06-27T11:14:00.003-04:00

Three out of the eight Republicans voting with Pelosi on the "Cap & Trade" tax hike bill were from New Jersey:

Frank LoBiondo: DC office (202) 225-6572; New Jersey office (800) 471-4450 or
(609) 625-5008
http://www.house.gov/lobiondo/

Christopher Smith: D.C. office (202) 225-3765; Hamilton NJ office (609) 585-7878
http://chrissmith.house.gov/

Leonard Lance: D.C. office (202) 225-5361; Westfield NJ office (908) 518-7733
http://lance.house.gov/

Independence Day Tea Parties

2009-06-26T09:52:00.002-04:00

As far as I know, there is no Independence Day Tea Party planned for Flemington next week. However, there are Tea Parties planned for some nearby New Jersey towns, in particular Morristown and Summit.

The one in Morristown is planned for the 4th (Saturday), from 11am to 1pm, on The Green in Morristown. Their website is here: http://themorristownteaparty.org/

The one in Summit is planned for the **3rd** (Friday), from 3PM to 6PM, on The Village Green across from the train station. Their website is here: http://njcitizensforliberty.com/

To check for other Independence Day Tea Parties in New Jersey, go to this website:

http://www.teapartyday.com/Locations.aspx

and select "NJ" from the state list.

Obama, the reckless driver

2009-05-28T19:05:00.002-04:00

Jay forwarded this excellent visualization video that neatly demonstrates how high, and how quickly, Obama is raising the budget deficit, in a way that even I can understand!

Californians Reject Tax Increases

2009-05-20T11:58:00.003-04:00

California residents have voted overwhelmingly to reject Governor Arnold Schwarznegger's attempt to close California's budget gap by raising taxes. More than 60% of voters rejected the proposal.

An additional measure, which bans pay increases for state officials was approved by 74% percent of voters.

Read the whole story here:

California voters soundly reject budget measures

The Obama Modus Operandi

2009-05-16T08:59:00.010-04:00

The M.O. of the Obama administration is becoming very clear:

1. Have a meeting with "key people"

2. Reach some sort of agreement (anything will do)

3. After the "key people" are gone, re-write the agreement to reflect your political goals

4. Announce the re-written agreement to the media

5. Claim an "unprecedented" achievement, a "watershed" moment, etc. etc.

For example: remember this story from the beginning of the week?

"Health groups offer $2 trillion in cost savings"

Obama trumpted this health care "agreement", and the media faithully echoed his words:

"We cannot continue down the same dangerous road we've been traveling for so many years, with costs that are out of control, because reform is not a luxury that can be postponed, but a necessity that cannot wait. ... That is why these groups are voluntarily coming together to make an unprecedented commitment."

But it seems the agreement was "spun way away from the original intent". This according to Richard Umbdenstock, the president of the American Hospital Association, one of the six groups that was a party to it.

According to Umbdenstock, the agreement "had been misrepresented". The groups, he said, "had agreed to gradually ramp up to the 1.5 percentage-point target over 10 years — not to reduce spending by that much in each of the 10 years. There has been a tremendous amount of confusion and frankly a lot of political spin.”

"President of the American Hospital Association says the White House misstated deal"

Umbdenstock is being diplomatic in the language he used. In plain English, the Obama administration appers to have simply lied about this agreement.

The Obama modus operandi is becoming very clear. The administration exhibited the very same M.O. in the "Caterpillar tractor" incident, in which Obama claimed that the CEO of Caterpillar, Inc., James Owens, said that if the porkulus bill were passed, Caterpillar would be able to re-hire 2,000 laid-off workers.

Well, that turned out to be a lie also. When Owens was asked by the press if that were the case, he said no, it was not. He said Caterpillar was going to have to continue laying people off regardless of the porkulus bill. And that is exactly what happened.

President Palin’s First 100 Days

2009-05-15T17:19:00.002-04:00

Great piece by Victor Davis Hanson, in which he savagely satirizes Obama by describing President Palin's "first 100 days" in office:

“Ted Stevens may have gotten off,” wrote Bob Herbert in the New York Times, “but he taught our Sarah something first — like using $100-a-pound beef for her state dinners. And what’s this $50 mil for her inauguration gala? Since when do you fly in your favorite pizza-maker from across the country on our dime? Or send the presidential 747 for a spin over the Big Apple for a third-of-a-million-dollar joyride?

Read the whole thing at:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDU4NDI5MjgxZmRjZTY4ZGFlOTA5M2U2MmY2NDA2Y2M=

White House projects higher deficits - figures dwarf the $17 billion in savings Obama proposed last week

2009-05-15T06:57:00.002-04:00

This story is actually from a few days ago, but I think it illustrates the contempt in which this administration holds the American people.

As the Obama budget deficit rockets ever skyward, more phony "savings" are declared by the White House. Last time, our intelligence was insulted by the "$100 million" in savings. (President Obama, Please Don't Insult Our Intelligence - 4/21/09)

This time it's $17 billion in "savings", versus a projected budget deficit of $1.8 trillion. And most of those "savings" will never come to pass, because they represent budget items that President Bush attempted to cut but which the Democrat Congress retained.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs sure was right the other day when he called the place a circus!

Full story here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09132/969404-84.stm

Documents Confirm Treasury Bullied Banks (Into Accepting TARP Money)

2009-05-14T20:50:00.002-04:00

(From PowerLine blog)

It has been widely reported that Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Fed chief Ben Bernanke summoned the CEOs of America's nine largest financial institutions to a meeting on October 13, 2008, at which they were told that their banks would be required to accept TARP money and give the federal government an ownership interest in their institutions, whether they wanted to do so or not.

.......

These chilling reports have now been confirmed by Treasury documents that were obtained by Judicial Watch through a FOIA request.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/05/023557.php

Obamanomics, or "$3 Trillion and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt"

2009-05-12T13:17:00.002-04:00

Great summary from PowelineBlog.com on how the stimulus, porkulus, TARP, etc. etc., has done nothing to help ease unemployment. Wasn't that the point?

OBAMANOMICS: HOW'S IT DOING SO FAR?

New "Soda Tax" May be Needed to Pay for Less Expensive Health Care

2009-05-12T12:23:00.002-04:00

From the "What's Wrong With This Picture" file:

"Senate leaders are considering new federal taxes on soda and other sugary drinks to help pay for an overhaul of the nation's health-care system."

So let's all make sure to drink lots and lots of unhealthy sugary drinks, so we can pay for our less-expensive health care. The more sugary stuff we drink, the more unhealthy we'll be, and the less expensive our health care will become!

The full story is here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124208505896608647.html

First Stealth Step to Health Care Rationing by Obama?

2009-05-11T08:57:00.006-04:00

It appears that the first stealth step towards health care rationing has been taken by the Obama administration.

In a CNN article entitled "Private sector signs on for health care reform", which talks of a supposed "$2 trillion savings [in health care costs] over 10 years", the following language also appears, in the fifth paragraph:

'An official pointed to possible savings from ... changing incentives so providers are rewarded for providing "better" care, as opposed to "more" care. Hospitals are now "financially penalized for providing more efficient care by current law," the official said.'

It's necessary to interpret these words, because the plain meaning is not clear. To my mind, the only logical interpreation of so-called "better" care, as opposd to "more" care, is less care.

In other words: health care rationing.

Read the full article here:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Private-sector-signs-on-for-cnnm-15194800.html

DHS: There they go again!

2009-05-01T17:27:00.023-04:00

Sorry for the strong language, but what the hell is going on at the Department of Homeland Security?

They've apparently released a memo, which was then retracted within minutes of its release. The memo is called "Domestic Extremism Lexicon". Hmmm. I had to look it up, but here is the definition of "lexicon":

1. a wordbook or dictionary, esp. of Greek, Latin, or Hebrew.
2. the vocabulary of a particular language, field, social class, person, etc.

And here is the description of what this "memo" is supposed to be, taken from the memo itself:

"This product provides definitions for key terms and phrases that often appear in DHS analysis that addresses the nature and scope of the threat that domestic, non-Islamic extremism poses to the United States."

Okay, so it looks like this memo is a list of words and terms that are frequently connected with domestic terrorists, at least in the view of the DHS analysts that conduct DHS analysis. So I'm thinking it's gonna have words in it like "bomb", "explosives", "Malotov cocktail", etc. You know, things terrorists would use.

But when I started looking over this list, imagine my surprise when I found terms like these:

Alternative media: A term used to describe various information sources that provide a forum for interpretations of events and issues that differ radically from those presented in mass media products and outlets. (Wait a minute - isn't that the Internet? Or do they mean Fox News?)

Black power: A term used by black separatists to describe their pride in and the perceived superiority of the black race. (Note to DHS: the sixties are like, over, man. Dig?)

Direct action: Lawful or unlawful acts of civil disobedience ranging from protests to property destruction or acts of violence. This term is most often used by single-issue or anarchist extremists to describe their activities. (Whoa, just wait a minute here! Lawful acts of protest? So now, lawful acts of protest constitute domestic terrorism? Does that include the Tea Parties?)

Patriot movement: A term used by rightwing extremists to link their beliefs to those commonly associated with the American Revolution. The patriot movement primarily comprises violent antigovernment groups such as militias and sovereign citizens. (Oh, I get it, these are the Tea Parties!)

Rightwing extremism: A movement of rightwing groups or individuals who can be broadly divided into those who are primarily hate-oriented, and those who are mainly anti-government and reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority. This term also may refer to rightwing extremist movements that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration. (I understand the hate-oriented part. But doesn't "those who ... reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority" describe the Founding Fathers?)

Single-issue extremist groups: Groups or individuals who focus on a single issue or cause—such as animal rights, environmental or anti-abortion extremism—and often employ criminal acts. Group members may be associated with more than one issue. (Or are these the Tea Parties?)

If this is how the DHS is spending its time, it may be time to start thinking about shutting it down.

The whole report can be read here:

http://www.tdbimg.com/files/2009/04/30/-hsra-domestic-extremism-lexicon_165213935473.pdf

Don't Punish Americans With More Energy Taxes

2009-05-01T11:04:00.001-04:00

"If some members of Congress have their way, your household energy bill will go up by $3,100.

Even President Barack Obama admitted this proposal will cause the price of your energy to “necessarily skyrocket.”

Last Friday, Newt testified at the House Energy and Commerce Committee against this proposed massive, job-killing energy tax, which is often called cap-and-trade. (Watch his full testimony here)."

http://www.americansolutions.com/Blog/Read.aspx?guid=e413af04-0220-4505-aa4d-340a9f3206a5

The Orwellian "Making Work Pay" tax credit

2009-05-01T08:21:00.002-04:00

I tell you, it's getting weird out there, folks!

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of Americans enjoying their small windfall from President Barack Obama's "Making Work Pay" tax credit are in for an unpleasant surprise next spring.

The government is going to want some of that money back.

The tax credit is supposed to provide up to $400 to individuals and $800 to married couples as part of the massive economic recovery package enacted in February. Most workers started receiving the credit through small increases in their paychecks in the past month.

But new tax withholding tables issued by the IRS could cause millions of taxpayers to get hundreds of dollars more than they are entitled to under the credit, money that will have to be repaid at tax time."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/INSIDE-WASHINGTON-Rude-apf-15091434.html?.v=1

How The Goracle has grown rich on climate alarmism

2009-05-01T07:50:00.004-04:00

Read it here:

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/whats_your_interest_in_this_mr_gore/

Obama ridicules Tea Party attendees

2009-05-01T07:21:00.006-04:00

This has been widely reported, but in case you missed it, President Obama went out of his way to ridicule the attendees of the Tea Parties the other day, in one of his speeches celebrating our new national holiday, his 100th day in office.

The ridicule comes at 2:13 into the clip, in a juvenile remark about "folks waving tea bags around". I'm convinced said that to acknowledge the leftist media's infantile delight in calling the attendees of the Tea Parties "teabaggers". Just as he made sure during the campaign to include the "lipstick on a pig" comment in one of his speeches.

In addition to the ridicule he makes the same old tired points.

"We inherited the $1.3 trillion deficit" (So it's okay to run it up to $5 trillion!)
"That wasn't me" (Sell, yes it was. You were in the Senate and voted for the budgets that created that deficit)
"Biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression"
"We've got to have health care reform this year ... to make health care affordable for American families, businesses, and for our government" (Hmm, I hadn't realized until now that "our government" needed health care. I knew it was very sick, but didnt' realize that health care could make it better!)

The President said he would be "happy to have a serious conversation" about these things. I think we should all call the White House and see if he's in, and have that conversation with him.

The White House phone number is 202-456-1111. However, that number is almost always busy, so use 202-456-1112 instead.

AP Fact Check: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape

2009-04-30T18:32:00.001-04:00

Oh my goodness, the AP does a "fact check" on Obama - amazing!

"'That wasn't me,' President Barack Obama said on his 100th day in office, disclaiming responsibility for the huge budget deficit waiting for him on Day One.

It actually was partly him — and the other Democrats controlling Congress the previous two years — who shaped the latest in a string of precipitously out-of-balance budgets."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090430/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_fact_check_obama_14

House, Senate adopt $3.4T budget outline

2009-04-30T08:40:00.003-04:00

Not the budget, but a budget "outline".

Reuters reports it as a "compromise", I guess because Obama asked for $3.6 trillion, and Congress only included $3.4 trillion in the outline.

The only thing this compromises is our future!

"The Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress on Wednesday approved a $3.4 trillion compromise budget plan for the 2010 fiscal year, clinching a big victory for President Barack Obama on his 100th day in office but with no Republican support." http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN2942273820090430

Hunterdon County Democrat: fair and balanced (just kidding!)

2009-04-29T19:37:00.013-04:00

Lon had posted a message about this in our Yahoo group a couple days ago, and I just got a hold of a copy today. Notice how they chose to begin the caption.

What I don't understand is, why would a local newspaper want to alienate so many members of the local community?

On the bright side, they say the turnout was estimated at between 300-400!!!

(Click on the image for a large version):

Oh, by the way - this is a great time to respond to the invitation to the Yahoo group that I hope is just sitting there in your inbox!

(Slightly Off Topic) Coming to a State Near You: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

2009-04-29T18:55:00.010-04:00

Jay sent this link from this past week's "Huckabee" show. It's a discussion of the "UN Convention on the Rights of the Child" with Michael Farris, founder of the HSLDA. While not directly related to the theme of "tax & spend insanity", it is directly related to the theme of ever-increasing big-government intrusion into our lives. And as a homeschooling parent, it's a topic which has special significance for me.

Some of you may remember this treaty from the Clinton years, when it was defeated. Well, it's back, proving that in Washington, bad ideas never die. President Obama has called the nation's failure to ratify it "embarrassing". I would call it something to be thankful for, and it's distressing to see this thing rear its ugly head again.

NJ Gov Poll: Corzine Struggling

2009-04-29T09:12:00.002-04:00

A new Monmouth/Gannett poll of the New Jersey governor's race shows that Jon Corzine continues to struggle in his bid for reelection. Corzine's approval rating stands at 40%, with 49% disapproving ...

... 48% of those surveyed singled out property taxes as the most important issue in need of discussion, a full 15 points above the next issue on the list (the economy) and more than 30 points above education and healthcare.

Full story:

http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2009/04/29/nj-gov-poll-corzine-in-trouble

Poll data:

http://www.monmouth.edu/polling/admin/polls/MUP24_1.pdf

Democrats agree to shove government health care down our throats without debate

2009-04-28T10:17:00.004-04:00

(And oddly, that isn't what the AP headline says).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_budget

Check out paragraph 7:

"Most importantly, the congressional budget pact would prevent Senate Republicans from delaying or blocking Obama's plan to vastly expand government-subsidized health care when it advances this fall."

In English, this means: "The Democrats have decided to use the 'reconciliation' process in the Senate to make sure Obama's health care plan gets passed with only 50 votes, not the 60 that would normally be required for a massive new program like this."

Where is the "opposition" on this issue? Don't ask me, I don't know.

TARP: The Looming Debacle

2009-04-27T17:03:00.002-04:00

"On April 21, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2009 -- 'SIGTARP' -- submitted his quarterly report to Congress on his office's activities in relation to the TARP program. The report is a disquieting document that should be read by every American--certainly be every taxpayer.

The Inspector General's report documents the stunning and at least partly illegal expansion (emphasis added) of TARP from the $700 billion originally allocated by Congress to what is now a $3 trillion complex of programs."

Read the whole thing at:

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/04/023420.php

Dingell (D-Michigan): "Nobody in this country realizes that cap-and-trade is a tax"

2009-04-25T13:12:00.003-04:00

Rep. John Dingell (D-Michigan), at yesterday's Congressional hearing, questioning his "dear friend" (his words), the Grand High Exaltant Mystic Ruler of Global Warming, Al Gore:

"Nobody in this country realizes that cap-and-trade is a tax, and it's a great big one"

It's at 40 seconds into this video clip:

(And just by the way, the Goracle indicated that he's in favor of both a carbon tax and the cap & trade scheme)

"Electricity Rates Would Necessarily Skyrocket"

2009-04-25T12:54:00.005-04:00

In our President's own words, from January of 2008. Our elected "representatives" probably think we don't remember this:

A more recent story on the issue from our Fox News Masters:

Don't We Need to Fight Cap & Tax as Well?

2009-04-25T11:26:00.008-04:00

I was sitting here typing up my notes from the Hunterdon County Freeholder's meeting, while listening to Larry Kudlow on WABC talking about the "Cap & Trade" legislation.

It's looking likely that the Democrats will push this through the Senate using the "reconciliation" procedure, which will allow them to bypass the threat of filibuster and enact "Cap & Trade" with a simple majority of 50 votes. The Senate would do this by including the "Cap & Trade" legislation with the budget legislation, which may be voted on as early as this coming week.

It occurred to me that in the long run, "Cap & Trade" has a much greater potential for harm than a tax increase. After all, tax increases can be repealed, taxes can be lowered, and so on.

But it's simply beyond all rationality that this government would willingly curtail the exploitation of our own natural resources, and bring about economic hardship and a lower quality of life for its citizens, in the name of fighting a phenomenon which is being called more and more into question by reputable scientists.

I'm curious to know what others think about this. I'm going to put a "poll question" on the Yahoo Groups website, asking if you think that the "Tea Party" movement should take an "official" position on the Cap & Trade legislation. When you have a chance, please take a minute to answer it. Thanks!

Al Gore, Grand High Exaltant Mystic Ruler of
Global Warming Alarmism

Meeting Summary: Hunterdon Freeholders Introduce Tax-Hike Budget

2009-04-25T09:03:00.018-04:00

The Hunterdon County Freeholders introduced the 2009 budget this past Tursday, 4/23, by a 3-to-2 vote. The budget features a tax-rate increase of 1-cent per $100 of assessed valuation, from 27.78 cents/$100 to 28.78 cents/$100. This represents an increase of 3.6 percent.

Freeholders Mennen and Peterson voted against the introduction, primarily because they preferred to find additional budget cuts rather than raise the tax rate. Freeholders Melick, Holt and Sworen voted in favor of it. All the Freeholders expressed a commitment to finding additional cuts.

The meeting was attended by approximately 40 members of the public, several of whom rose to addressed their comments to the board. All of them spoke against the tax increase; no one spoke in favor of it.

Budget Figures
Some figures given out at the meeting:

2009 budget amount: $96.8 million
2008 budget amount: $96.9 million

Current budget surplus: $33.9 million
Surplus after usage by 2009 budget: $25 million (approx. 26%)

Public Objections

The public raised several objections to the raising of taxes:

Why not use more of the surplus, to avoid the tax increase?
Why raise taxes in the middle of a recession, when families are already facing economic hardship?
Raising taxes in a gubernatorial election year, when we have a vulnerable incumbent governor with a reputation as a big taxer, sends the wrong message at the wrong time to those who would be inclined to vote against him.

Opposing Views on the Surplus
Freeholder Melick addressed the surplus question by pointing out that the board has followed a rule of setting aside approximately 25% of the cost of annual operations in the surplus. He didn't indicate how the figure of 25% was arrived at. He also indicated that the surplus is a factor in the county's AAA credit rating, although he said it was not "paramount" in that rating.

Freeholder Peterson, on the other hand, expressed his belief that the surplus is there to be used "for times like this". He also indicated that our surplus is significantly higher, as a percent of the budget, when compared to other NJ counties that also have a AAA credit rating. Therefore, he does not believe that use of the surplus would be a threat to the credit rating.

Views on Raising the Tax Rate
Freeholder Sworen indicated that he has had many discussions with the county's financial people, whom he "trusts implicitly", and believes they've done a lot of work in cutting costs, in areas such as communication & phone systems, electricity, heating, cooling, etc., while at the same time pointing out that many of these savings will not manifest themselves for 3 to 18 months. He seemed to be saying that the tax rate increase was necessary, because as much cost cutting as possible had already been done. (My conclusion, not his explicit statement).

Freeholder Sworen also said that "if the economy turns around [this year]", we can use the surplus to reduce tax rates next year". (By the way: he also said that the county's roads and bridges will be repaired with federal government stimulus money over the next 3-4 years. This is something we can put on our "to-do" list and keep an eye on!)

Freeholder Mennen stated that he "knows in his gut it's wrong to raise taxes in this environment". He said he would prefer to aggressively cut spending, and indicated that a 1-cent tax hike equals about $2.5 million. He also said the board is united in finding additional spending reductions.

Next Steps
1. The Freeholders indicated they are open to suggestions from the public for additional cost-cutting.

If you have suggestions for cost-cutting, send them to: budget@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Well, we took home a paper copy of the budget from the meeting, and frankly, it's difficult for us "average citizens" to pore over the many pages of the budget and try to identify areas for cost cutting. Also, if the proposed budget is available on the county website, I couldn't find it. (I'll call them Monday and ask about this.)

One thing that jumps out in looking over the budget is this: there are many line items that are being reduced from last year to this, which is good. However, there are also many line items that are going up!

So one general suggestion for the freeholders could then be: hold those line items flat, don't increase them. And, if it's absolutely mandatory that some of those line items be increased, then pay for them out of the surplus, not from a tax hike.

2. Call or email Freeholders Peterson and Mennen, and thank them for voting against the tax hike. There appears to be only one phone number listed on the county website for all the Freeholders; it is 908-788-1102. The email addresses are:

Freeholder Peterson: epeterson@co.hunterdon.nj.us
Freeholder Mennen: wmennen@co.hunterdon.nj.us

3. Call or email the other Freeholders and express your disappointment that they decided to vote for raising taxes during these tough economic times:

Freeholder Melick: freeholders@co.hunterdon.nj.us (Didn't have a specific address on his web page)
Freeholder Holt: mholt@co.hunterdon.nj.us
Freeholder Sworen: rsworen@co.hunterdon.nj.us

The general Freeholders website is: http://co.hunterdon.nj.us/frholder/frindex.htm

4. Attend the next Freeholder's meeting on May 19th, which was called the "final hearing" on the budget, and make your opposition to the tax hike known.

While it may be too late to substantially change the current budget, we have to think long-term. This is an opportunity for all of us to learn the ins and outs of how the Freeholders develop the budget, which is vital if we're going to influence the budget in the future.

What's clear is that the general public (that's us) needs to get involved, in a meaningful way, in the budget process much sooner than April. Part of that involvement is to attend these meetings, and gain familiarity with the way things are done.

Report: Democrats Refuse to Allow Skeptic to Testify Alongside Gore At Congressional Hearing

2009-04-24T12:17:00.003-04:00

Washington, DC -- UK's Lord Christopher Monckton, a former science advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, claimed House Democrats have refused to allow him to appear alongside former Vice President Al Gore at a high profile global warming hearing on Friday April 24, 2009 at 10am in Washington.

Apparently, the Democrats didn't want any heretics around to possibly embarrass the Grand High Exaltant Mystic Ruler of their religion called "Climate Change" (formerly known as "Global Warming").

Read the whole story at:

http://www.climatedepot.com/a/429/Report-Democrats-Refuse-to-Allow-Skeptic-to-Testify-Alongside-Gore-At-Congressional-Hearing

Reminder: Hunterdon County Freeholder's Budget Meeting This Evening, April 23rd, 8pm

2009-04-23T10:40:00.003-04:00

A reminder that the Hunterdon County Freeholder's 2009 budget meeting will be held this evening, Thursday, April 23rd, at 8:00 PM, in the Freeholders’ Meeting Room, Main Street County Complex, Building #1, Second Floor, 71 Main Street, Flemington

The proposed budget features a tax-rate increase of 1-cent per $100 of assessed valuation, even though Hunterdon County currently has a budget surplus, and even though the Freeholders say they are committed to cutting costs.

According to the Hunterdon County Democrat, the tax rate is being increased "to 28.28 cents per $100". I take that to mean the rate is currently 27.28 cents per $100, so based on these numbers this works out to a 3.6 percent increase.

Hope to see everyone there!

Payback to UAW in Chrysler "bailout" negotiations

2009-04-23T10:32:00.003-04:00

From PowerLine blog:

One senses that the government is not exactly operating as an impartial arbiter of the interests at stake in Chrysyler's restructuring. The Journal reports that one assumption upsetting to some lenders was that Chrysler would pay about $3 billion total to a UAW retiree health-care fund in 2009 and 2010, which is owed about $10 billion and would also get an unknown amount of equity in the new Chrysler even though the fund is behind the banks, Cerberus, Daimler and the U.S. in the order to be paid.

Toward the end of the hard copy of the article in the Journal yesterday comes a memorable paragraph that I don't see in the article's online version:

Many of the lenders were angered by the demands made by the head of the administration's auto team, Steven Rattner, who wanted the banks to forgive $5.8 billion of the $6.9 billion owed them in exchange for nothing.

... The article then quotes one of the bank participants in the negotiations: "What the government was asking for was completely without precedent in the history of bankruptcy in the United States. Our reaction to their proposal was, 'Forget it.'"

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/04/023391.php

“The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009”

2009-04-22T20:55:00.005-04:00

"Chairman Henry A. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee announced that the Energy and Commerce Committee will hold four days of legislative hearings on the discussion draft of 'The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.' "

That's the euphemistic name for the so-called "Cap & Trade" legislation. This is the legislation which candidate Obama said would "necessarily cause electric rates to skyrocket", and "bankrupt the coal industry".

Anyone who's concerned about high taxes should be concerned about this legislation. It will do exactly what candidate Obama promised, as well as place a huge part of the American economy under the control of the Federal government, apparently all to make Al Gore happy.

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1582:chairman-waxman-and-subcommittee-chairman-markey-announce-hearings-on-the-american-clean-energy-and-security-act-of-2009&catid=122:media-advisories&Itemid=80

Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009

2009-04-22T13:19:00.002-04:00

Check out this bill to conduct an audit of the Federal Reserve. It's sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), and has 58 co-sponsors and bipartisan support.

Now why on earth would any elected official possibly be against this?

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1207/show

President Obama, Please Don't Insult Our Intelligence

2009-04-21T22:39:00.018-04:00

Dear President Obama:

Please don't insult the intelligence of the American people with cheap publicity stunts like the one you pulled this past Monday, the 20th. I'm talking about your staged cabinet meeting, at which you made a point of exhorting your cabinet members to come up with 100 million dollars in budget savings.

Your proposed budget totals 3.6 trillion dollars. We can do the math, Mr. President, and we have. Your much-advertised savings of $100 million comes to about 0.0028% of your proposed budget. In words, that's about 3 one-thousandths of one percent!

Put another way, the amount of your "savings" represents about 13 minutes of Federal Government spending, based on what it's expected to spend this year. (White House on defensive over spending cuts)

Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words (or in this case, 3.6 trillion dollars). The Heritage Organization has created a very useful visual aid to put the "$100 million savings" in perspective:

You can read more about it here: Obama’s Spending vs Obama’s Spending Cuts — in Pictures

Mr. President, when even the Associated Press questions the sincerity of this "belt tightening" (SPIN METER: Saving federal money the easy way), and when the White House press corps grills your press secretary over it, you have to face the fact that most people see through your cheap publicity stunt.

And Mr. President, please don't then add injury to insult by proposing a 100 billion dollar loan to the IMF on the very same day you stage this cheap publicity stunt (Obama’s “belt-tightening” just useless spin ).

30 Minute Version of the Film "I.O.U.S.A."

2009-04-21T22:05:00.002-04:00

There's a 30-minute version of the film "I.O.U.S.A.", from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, available on YouTube at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_TjBNjc9B

Not an endorsement, since I haven't seen the film myself, but this 30-minute version is an interesting summary of some of the ideas behind the Tea Parties!

American Solutions asks, "What's Next for the Tea Parties?"

2009-04-21T21:57:00.003-04:00

American Solutions, Newt Gingrich's organization, is asking people that question. You can go here to answer them:

http://www.americansolutions.com/General/?Page=a6386a2f-6bb2-4ee5-b230-b46b54c887e4

A Glimmer of Hope? Press Does its JOB?!

2009-04-21T08:46:00.002-04:00

Members of the White House press corps push White House press secretary Robert Gibbs for an answer to a question about Obama's ridiculous "$100 million dollar savings" cheap publicity stunt yesterday.

Interesting. Maybe they're getting tired of being treated like bowling pins?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/04/20/ap_tapper_confront_obama_admin_over_100_million.html

In time of victory, why is the left so angry?

2009-04-21T08:43:00.001-04:00

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
04/20/09 9:00 PM
The Washington Examiner

These should be happy times for liberals and the Democratic party as a whole. They control the White House and both houses of Congress, while opposition Republicans are leaderless and lost. So why do some Democrats, particularly those farther to the left, appear so angry?

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/In-time-of-victory-why-is-the-left-so-angry-43315892.html

Freeholders to Introduce Budget This Thursday

2009-04-20T20:11:00.008-04:00

The Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders will introduce the 2009 budget at a meeting this Thursday, April 23rd, at the County Complex, 71 Main Street, Flemington. (Note that this meeting had been previously scheduled for Tuesday, 4/21, at 4pm)

Hope to see everyone there!

Meeting Details

Date: Thursday, April 23rd

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: Freeholders’ Meeting Room, Main Street County Complex, Building #1, Second Floor, 71 Main Street, Flemington, New Jersey 08822

Here's a link to Hunterdon County's event calendar web page:

http://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/calendar.php?crd=hccalendar&PHPSESSID=88d73282f87fc72e78867ef46d7b67c3&jsenabled=1&winH=674

Here's a link to the Hunterdon County Democrat article about the budget:

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2009/04/hunterdon_county_freeholders_a.html

Next Steps for Tea Parties

2009-04-20T16:03:00.003-04:00

It looks like the next steps for the "Tea Party Movement" are becoming clearer.

First, it appears that most of the national groups are looking at scheduling the next set of local Tea Parties for the Fourth of July.

Then, a national Tea Party in Washington, D.C. is being planned for September 12th - more info on that one here: http://912dc.org

I've also sent this info out via email. To gauge level of interest, please send me an email indicating if you'd be interested in either or both of these dates.

"NJ Tax Day Teaparty" video on YouTube

2009-04-18T16:41:00.003-04:00

Someone - don't know who it was - has put together a video called "NJ Tax Day Teaparty", with lots of pictures from tea parties around the state, and put it up on YouTube! (Flemington appears at about 1:45 in, and again at 5:24)

And some more pictures!

2009-04-17T17:56:00.004-04:00

Here are some more pictures of the tea party, sent by Rich:

Text of Letter to Hunterdon County Democrat

2009-04-17T17:42:00.002-04:00

Here is the text of a letter that Susan, one of our group memebers, sent to the Hunterdon County Democrat:

I am dismayed that the Hunterdon Democrat deliberately chose not to cover the Flemington Tea Party. Despite discussion directly with the editor the prior week by someone else, I phoned the newsdesk during the event (which was attended by hundreds, with hundreds of cars passing by showing support) and was told "no coverage is being provided- it is 'deadline'day".

How sad. Yet, reports of twins being born, notice of a green meeting later in the week are examples of what was posted on line (checking the timeline) AFTER I called the newsdesk.

And you wonder why readership is down?

No Mention of Tea Party in Online Hunterdon County Democrat?

2009-04-17T10:57:00.008-04:00

I just checked and don't see any mention of the Flemington Tea Party in the online Hunterdon County Democrat, which is here:

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/county_news/

My apologies to the Democrat if I missed it. And I don't know if it's in the paper version - I no longer subsidize the "has-been" media.

While looking for some mention of the Tea Party, I noticed this article:

"Green Meeting In Clinton: Wind, Sun Power Seen As Answers"

Which had this quote from Leonard Lance, the US Representative from this area: "I believe our nation must do more to promote clean domestic energy and fight climate change".

The meeting is this Saturday, the 18th, at 11 a.m. at the Clinton Municipal Building, 43 Leigh St. For details on the event, contact Grace Sica, (609) 656-7612 or grace.sica@sierraclub.org

I think I'll drop by and see how big the crowd is. :-)

Update on CNN's Susan Roesgen

2009-04-17T09:02:00.002-04:00

Apparently, CNN has shut down Ms. Roesgen's email. They are now advising people to email CNN Executive Vice President Ken Jautz instead, at: ken.jautz@cnn.com

And don't forget her boss, Philip Kent, the Chairman & CEO of CNN, at: phil.kent@turner.com

But it's likely that CNN will turn on Ms. Roesgen's email again some time soon. We'll just keep checking over the next week or so, and if it looks like it's operational again, we can email her then.

CNN - "Fair and Balanced" (LOL!)

2009-04-16T20:31:00.004-04:00

For those who haven't seen this yet, a great example of the "has-been" media at work. Thanks to Barb for the heads-up!

As Barb suggested - if you don't care for the way this "reporter" behaved in covering the tea party story, how about letting her and her boss know about it?

Her email address is: susan.roesgen@turner.com

And her boss, Philip Kent, the Chairman & CEO of CNN, is at: phil.kent@turner.com

I'll also forward Barb's email to the group. It contains some interesting additional information on the incident, and on the group that originated the email.

More Photos

2009-04-16T20:23:00.004-04:00

More photos, from Mechelle:

Star Ledger article on tea parties in NJ

2009-04-16T20:05:00.003-04:00

The Star Ledger has an article & photos on the tea parties in NJ (no photos of Flemington, though):

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon/index.ssf/2009/04/12-week

Unsurprisingly, they either a) don't have their facts straight, or b) are being purposely misleading, as this sentence from the article demonstrates:

"The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who is now a lobbyist."

Fact is, I've never even heard of "FreedomWorks". And I didn't hear the name "FreedomWorks" mentioned at our tea party by anybody, or mentioned in any of the emails I received and exchanged in the two weeks leading up to it.

I mean come on, doesn't the Ledger know by now that we take our orders from Fox News!!?

Photos in the Courier News

2009-04-16T19:34:00.004-04:00

Photos of the Flemington Tea Party in today's (4/16) Courier News (thanks to Sandra for the heads up!):

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CN&Date=20090415&Category=NEWS0301&ArtNo=904150804&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1

More Photos

2009-04-16T09:08:00.000-04:00

More photos, courtesy of Alonzo Hosford at http://www.alonzohosford.com:

The whole set can be viewed at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lhosford/FlemingtonTeaParty4152009?feat=directlink

Let's Go to the Videotape!

2009-04-16T08:59:00.000-04:00

Some videos of the Flemington Tea Party, courtesy of Alonzo Hosford at http://www.alonzohosford.com:

More Photos

2009-04-16T08:30:00.002-04:00

More photos from the Flemington Tea Party - these are from Sandra, Barry and Fred:

Thanks to Everybody!

2009-04-16T07:45:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everybody who attended yesterday's Flemington Tea Party, for making it such a successful event. I think we were all pleasantly surprised at the incredible turnout - the police estimated it at 200 people!

And once again, the email address is: flemingtonteaparty@gmail.com.

As I get email updates from the various tea party groups (i.e. our masters at Fox News! :-) ) regarding future activities I will pass them along. We should also consider creating some kind of "group" on Yahoo or other website, which can be used for general discussion so those who are interested can stay in touch.

Some Photos from Yesterday's Tea Party

2009-04-16T07:38:00.000-04:00

Here are some photographs from yesterday's tea party, courtesy of John Fiess at JNFPhotos.com:

The Clueless Congress

2009-04-11T10:20:00.000-04:00

Congress Needs Google to Find Out Where Stimulus Money Went

By Byron York

Chief Political Correspondent, Washington Examiner

4/10/09

On February 14, with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress shoveled $787 billion of stimulus money out the door. Now they're using Google to find out where it went.

During the stimulus debate, the bill's supporters stressed that it included strong oversight safeguards. But audits and reports are months, if not years, away. Oversight will be after the fact; right now, with the money actually beginning to flow, members of Congress have little or no idea where it is going. What, for example, is the Department of Housing and Urban Development doing with the $1.5 billion Congress approved for a new program called the Homeless Prevention Fund? Lawmakers don't know.

Read the whole sad story at:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Congress-needs-Google-to-find-out-where-stimulus-money-went-42768077.html

Why Have a Tea Party?

2009-04-10T10:22:00.000-04:00

(Note: For the details of the Flemington Tea Party, see the posts below).

The “has-been” media is currently engaged in its latest “nose sniffing” campaign, this time aimed at the Tea Parties being held all across the country this April 15th. A good example:

“Don’t Tread on Them”; NY Times; April 6, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/opinion/07tue4.html

How amusing! The protests against the war in Iraq during the last administration were widely heralded by the has-beens as “grass roots activism”, “democracy”, “the voice of the people”, etc. etc. Now that people are protesting the out-of-control tax & spend policies of the current administration and Congress, the has-beens are suddenly aghast at the prospect of hearing the voice of the people!

At any rate, it occurred to me that when it becomes necessary for the people to protest certain policies of the government, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to that protest. (Many apologies to Thomas Jefferson).

Or in other words, we should have a good answer to the question, “Why are we having a Tea Party?”

Here are some reasons why we’re having a Tea Party. But don’t take our word for it – follow the links and read them for yourself!

"Obama's Budget: Almost $1 Trillion in New Taxes Over Next 10 yrs, Starting 2011”
Jake Tapper, ABC News
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/02/obamas-budget-a.html
- Tax increases of $636 billion over 10 years on people making more than $250K
- Tax increases of $353 billion over 10 years on businesses

“Even Congressional Democrats Intend to Cut Obama's Budget”
David Lightman; McClatchy Newspapers
http://www.thenewstribune.com/nationandworld/story/702448.html
- You just know it’s bad if Democrats want to cut it. (But, we’ll believe this when we see it!)

“Fiscal Sanity Dies in Obama Budget”
Lynn Westmoreland; for the Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/04/09/westmorelaned0409.html
- The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Obama’s plan will expand the debt by $9.3 trillion over the next 10 years. That’s more than all the debt accumulated by the nation from George Washington to George W. Bush.

"Congress Needs Google to Find Out Where Stimulus Money Went"

Byron York, Washington Examiner

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Congress-needs-Google-to-find-out-where-stimulus-money-went-42768077.html

- On February 14, with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress shoveled $787 billion of stimulus money out the door. Now they're using Google to find out where it went.

Is This Tea Party a "Republican" Rally?

2009-04-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

Several people have asked, "Is this a Republican rally?", or some similar question.

The simple answer is “No”. This Tea Party is for everyone - of any or no political persuasion - who’s concerned about the endless spending spree that the Federal government is currently engaged in!

In keeping with the spirit of the Tea Parties being held throughout the country on April 15^th, this event is not affiliated with any political party or organization. Nor are we inviting any “official” speakers from any party or organization.

A small article has appeared in the local paper, the Hunterdon County Democrat which makes it appear that the Flemington Tea party is sponsored by a group called the "Republican Grassroots Volunteers". The organizers of the Flemington Tea Party did not place that article, and we don't know who did. As stated above, be assured that this event is completely non-partisan.

We believe the focus should be on protesting Washington’s out-of-control “tax and spend” mentality. And while we’re all probably pretty much in agreement as to which political party is the main promoter of that philosophy, it’s pretty certain a lot of us believe the other party hasn’t done much lately to rein in spending.

That said, at least one person asked about inviting the local (Republican) Congressman, so he could “see our frustration”. We said sure, go ahead and invite him, but please try to make it clear that it’s not for the purpose of giving a canned speech, in which we’re told exactly what we want to hear. (Yeah, good luck with asking a politician not to give a speech!) With any luck, he’ll be out of town that day.

Another person asked about doing some voter registration for the Republicans. Again, we said go ahead, but please don’t do it in a way that makes it appear that this event is in any way connected with the Republican party – because it isn’t!

So to sum up – it’s our intent to make everyone feel welcome at this event, no matter your political leanings. All that’s required is a healthy (okay, huge) dose of skepticism when it comes to the current spending plans of the Federal government!

Flemington, NJ Tea Party

Happy Birthday, Dear Vladimir

Report from the Media Research Center: "TV’s Tea Party Travesty"

New Jersey: The Whining Starts

Stay informed!

Flemington Tea Party - April 15, 2010

"World may not be warming," say scientists

Copenhagen climate summit: Carbon trading fraudsters in Europe pocket €5bn

Obama's "Excellent Mr. Goodwrench Adventure" in Trouble?

"Most Transparent Administration Ever"

Phyllis Schlafly: "Congress Must Stop the Trial in New York City"

ClimateGate: The Earth has Been Cooling

From Middle Ages to 21st Century: We've Come Full Circle

Abomination: 9/11 suspects to be tried in New York

The Fraud Called "Green Jobs"

Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting

Waaaaaah! It's All Bush's Fault!

Spin: Neither gubernatorial election amounted to a referendum on the president

Spin: Rebuke of Corzine? No - Rebuke of Obama

Moran: N.J.'s election of 'unapologetic conservative' marks personal rebuke of Corzine

Republican Chris Christie ousts Jon Corzine in N.J. governor's race

"Death Panels by Proxy"

EDITORIAL: Death panels by proxy

Baucus bill pressures doctors to stop treatments

Newspaper Bailout on the Way?

NY Times Admits "Global Warming" is a Fraud

HE LIES! Obama Caught Red-Handed

Census Uses School Kids to "Deliver the Message" to Their Families

One Week After Big Health Care Speech, Obama Loses His "Bounce"

Are You Ready for Patriot's Day?

Connecting the Health Care Dots: Obama Says Grandmother’s Hip Replacement Raises Cost Questions

Whatever Happened to "Grass Roots Activism"?

Barney Frank Admits the REAL Goal Behind "Health Care Reform"

Town Hall Protests Across the Country

President Obama, Talking Crap

Obama's Health Care Press Conference an Unmitigated Disaster

Take the red pill, Mr. President

Obama Hits Bottom, Digs

India Rejects U.S. Proposal of Carbon Limits

"Hey There Obama" (Humor)

CNN Fires Susan Roesgen

Helen Thomas Wakes Up!

Barney Frank Already Wants to Spend Profits from TARP

Barney Frank: Let's spend TARP profits before taxpayers can get them

By: BYRON YORKChief Political Correspondent07/01/09 9:19 PM EDT

Obama's Top Five Health Care Lies

House Support for Fed Audit Plan Swells

Your future thanks to the Dems and the Tr8torous Eight

By Steve Everly | The Kansas City Star

Quick Summary of Protest at Lance's Office

Protest Planned for Leonard Lance's Westfield Office

Three NJ Republicans Vote With Pelosi on Cap & Trade

Independence Day Tea Parties

Obama, the reckless driver

Californians Reject Tax Increases

The Obama Modus Operandi

President Palin’s First 100 Days

White House projects higher deficits - figures dwarf the $17 billion in savings Obama proposed last week

Documents Confirm Treasury Bullied Banks (Into Accepting TARP Money)

Obamanomics, or "$3 Trillion and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt"

New "Soda Tax" May be Needed to Pay for Less Expensive Health Care

First Stealth Step to Health Care Rationing by Obama?

DHS: There they go again!

Don't Punish Americans With More Energy Taxes

The Orwellian "Making Work Pay" tax credit

How The Goracle has grown rich on climate alarmism

Obama ridicules Tea Party attendees

AP Fact Check: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape

House, Senate adopt $3.4T budget outline

Hunterdon County Democrat: fair and balanced (just kidding!)

(Slightly Off Topic) Coming to a State Near You: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

NJ Gov Poll: Corzine Struggling

Democrats agree to shove government health care down our throats without debate

TARP: The Looming Debacle

Dingell (D-Michigan): "Nobody in this country realizes that cap-and-trade is a tax"

"Electricity Rates Would Necessarily Skyrocket"

Don't We Need to Fight Cap & Tax as Well?

Meeting Summary: Hunterdon Freeholders Introduce Tax-Hike Budget

Report: Democrats Refuse to Allow Skeptic to Testify Alongside Gore At Congressional Hearing

Reminder: Hunterdon County Freeholder's Budget Meeting This Evening, April 23rd, 8pm

By: BYRON YORK
Chief Political Correspondent
07/01/09 9:19 PM EDT