Author: Cluster

A Nation At War

Cluster56 Comments

The reelection of Barack Obama by a thin popular margin, albeit a wide electoral margin, underscores a nation divided and unfortunately I don’t see much common ground anymore. The GOP controls the House, the Democrats control the Senate and WH, but the GOP governs 29 states, and controls the legislatures in 27 of those states, so each party have fairly strong battle positions, and the battle has commenced, starting with Michigan. There the GOP legislature passed a right to work which has the unions apoplectic and threatening, and engaging in actual violence. This comes on the heels of a hotly contested battle in WI earlier this year where GOP Governor Scott Walker successfully defeated a union uprising over collective bargaining. Arguably public unions have done more harm than good, of course many liberals including the entire MSNBC network and Mr. Obama will contest that assertion, but if anyone wants to really see the results of public unions they need look no further than Detroit, MI, and San Bernardino, CA, where 71% of the city’s budget goes towards public union pay and pensions which led the city to filing bankruptcy earlier this year. In Detroit, it’s reported that nearly 35% of the population receive food stamps and astonishingly nearly 46% aren’t even the work force, and this is an indictment on both parties. While the MI is traditionally a blue state having voted for Democrat Presidents since 1992, they recently voted in a Republican Governor, who helped initiate the right to work bill, and Republican Legislature and have been governed by a Republican 10 out of the last 16 years. So it seems that regardless of the party, public unions have successfully negotiated more than their fair share of their respective states treasuries for quite some time now, and the results are not good. Compounding this problem is the fact that union officials and their membership seem oblivious to this fact, and are evidently  unyielding, so the battle will go on and Mr. Obama is apparently willing to allow it rather than demonstrate leadership which come as no surprise.

If we are to ever right our countries financial ship, public unions will have to play a huge role, and as evidenced by WI and now MI, and the subsequent reaction from the WH, they have no intention of being responsible. The liberal media is also firmly in their corner, and the union leadership is prepared to “draw blood”, so this will be a very interesting four years and as far as I am concerned – I am up for the battle. These next four years could be Civil War II, that is unless Mr. Obama decides to lead. However, I am not holding out any hope on that.

UPDATE: How did I miss this?

 “This is just the first round of a battle that’s going to divide this state. We’re going to have a civil war,” – Jimmy Hoffa

 

In My Opinion

Cluster67 Comments

America not only has an economy problem, we have an economic educational problem that compounds the issue and our ability to resolve it. Most of our younger generation have been victims of educational malpractice as a result of liberalism and political correctness that infiltrated our educational system going back a few decades, and it will take a concerted effort, and a few more decades to overcome it. The curricula emphasis on diversity and political correctness took the place of history and economics and has produced a generation of ill informed, over emotional people with a distorted understanding of our Constitution and capitalism. One of our resident liberal teachers here has said on many occasion that the Constitution is racist and misogynistic, and even a liberal Supreme Court justice has said that if she were beginning a new country, she would not look towards the US Constitution as a foundational document, preferring instead to look towards other countries philosophy of governance. Unbelievable as that is, it’s true. The US Constitution is inarguably the greatest governing document ever written, and needs to be taught as such. The US Constitution is responsible for this country becoming the most powerful economy in the world, offering the most civil rights and liberties than any other country hands down.

Re: economics, too many people are financially illiterate as to capitalism, the private sector, and the role of government. Let me begin by simply saying that wealth is not a zero sum game, capitalism is the best economic platform hands down as “a rising tide lifts all boats” (think: JFK), and the role of government is simply that of a referee. Free markets are the foundation of the capitalist platform, and the Federal Governments role is to see that the rules are abided by, and the Federal Government has failed at this core responsibility so to think that they can perform any other function properly defies common sense. There should have been investigations, indictments, prosecutions and convictions stemming from the 2008 housing crash, but those investigations would have revealed some very uncomfortable truths for some very well politically connected people so the fact that those investigations never took place, should be disturbing to us all. The fact is, that more people can be lifted from poverty and the lower class via a healthy private sector, than any government program could ever accomplish, and the more money that the government extracts from the private sector, the less ability that private sector has to turn that money, creating wealth, jobs and ….. wait for it …… tax revenue. It’s all about the turns and any retailer, wholesaler and manufacturer can attest to that. The more you turn your inventory, the more income is produced, the more profit is produced, the more jobs are produced, which exposes more dollars to taxation. It’s better to tax a dollar that is turned 5x at 20%, than it is to tax that same dollar turned 1x at 40%, and any liberal that desires more revenue to the federal government needs to understand this basic economic fact. Sadly, this is not taught often enough in our primary and secondary educational levels.

As a country we owe our children an honest education, and there are certainly people who do take advantage of our capitalist system, as the very nature of the system can invite corruption, but if our federal government was more focused on it’s proper role, those instances would be few. Our children need to understand how the blend of our Constitution and our capitalist economy has created the most powerful, free country in the world unequaled by any other. As it is now, the misunderstanding of those two foundational components of our country has resulted in our current slide into malaise and mediocrity.

Thelma & Louise Cont. – The Enabler Version

Cluster119 Comments

I am enjoying this conversation on the direction of the GOP and where we go from here. Many of you know my position and some disagree so let me come at this from a different angle. In my opinion, the GOP is nothing more than an  enabler at this point. We are enabling Obama to have someone to blame for his failures, and the liberal media is lapping it up. Everyday we try and save liberals from themselves, is another day that Obama can blame us for “obstructing” his wise and benevolent policies, and that perception will not change anytime soon, so why do we continue to do the same thing expecting different results? That is the definition of insanity.

What I think we should do, is clearly state for the record that we vigorously disagree with the policies prescribed by the Democrats and Obama, but that we do realize that elections have consequences so we will stand aside and allow Obama to implement his policies unchallenged. We all know these policies will fail, in fact they already have, so why are we standing in the way? The people who will be hurt the worst are the people who voted for Obama, so let the pain begin. This is also the only way that we can then clearly lay the blame at the feet of the Democrats and the media won’t even be able to cover for them and that just might help usher in a decade of conservative rule.

Count and Rat Haven have suggested that we simply need to control the message, and that another Reagan is what is needed. I somewhat disagree. While I would love to see another Reagan emerge, I believe our problems are deeper this time around. Our problems are not just the economy as they were with Reagan in 1980, our problem is the demonization of wealth and capitalism that is now ingrained in too many people. It’s the economic illiteracy that we must overcome in addition to selling the virtues of a smaller government, and back in 1980, wealth and success were not seen as the evils as they are today. So it is imperative in my opinion that this younger generation, and the growing minority constituency who all voted for the Obama plan, feel the pain of it first hand.

UPDATE, by Mark Noonan:

Seriously, we have entirely blown it on getting information to people…and Democrats have done the Big Lie better than ever.

Thelma & Louise – Open Thread

Cluster109 Comments

Reminiscent of Thelma & Louise’s movie ending flight over the cliff to destruction – that is exactly what I suggest conservatives allow to happen. In fact, going further, I believe that the GOP should rubber stamp everything Obama and the Democrats want to do for the next year, including military spending cuts, and little if no curtailment on entitlement increases. There is no question that the policies prescribed by Obama are doomed to fail, and in fact have so far, and there will be no other way to crystallize that in the minds of voters and the media, but to allow it to happen in full bloom. Every Republican needs to stand center stage and say unequivocally that while they disagree with the Administrations agenda, elections do have consequences and they will not stand in the way of the policies Obama endorses. Then, the GOP needs to remind the voters on a weekly basis, the results of those policies as they relate to unemployment, the debt, interest rates and the cost of living. As Count d’Harcots accurately pointed out to me earlier, the messaging is the main obstacle conservatives need to overcome, and it should become quite difficult for the Democrats to continue to sell their message of compassion, misguided as it is, when the economy is in shambles, poverty is rampant, and unemployment is persistently high, and the American voter is actually living the nightmare and being reminded of it everyday.

So spread your wings everyone and let’s take flight!

A HAT TIP TO DBSCHMIDT AS WELL FOR THIS PLAN TO ALLOW THE IMPLOSION OF LIBERALISM UNIMPEDED.

UPDATE, by Mark Noonan:  Just wanted to point out that which ever party can successfully mobilize white, middle class voters in 2014 and beyond will win huge.

Teach The Principles

Cluster103 Comments

The contortions that many conservatives and GOPers have gone through over the last couple of weeks trying to make sense of the election has been amusing, frustrating, and a little disconcerting. I get the sense that some seem to believe that it was simply a function of the base not showing up, or that Romney was weak candidate, and/or that the 47% comment did us in, and that we need to stop denigrating the American voting public, which was George Will’s comment. Some of this I can agree with, but if denigrating the American voting public was the reason for our loss, then how did that same tactic result in Obama’s win? I find Will’s comment to be completely off base and simply a pandering comment to make sure he is invited to the next cocktail party.

This was an election of big choices, and our side lost. Romney clearly laid out stark differences between his approach and that of Obama’s. Romney was the first candidate that I can remember to courageously put Medicare reform on the table; he was the first candidate to speak to the need of tax reform and put forth a plan, and he was the first candidate to suggest real cuts in the budget, not just a slow down of growth rates. So in my opinion Romney was not weak – he had the right plan, and the American people chose to continue down the irresponsible path we are on. They made that decision based partly on the lies told to them by Obama, the Democrats and the liberal media (think: taxes on the rich and outlawing abortion), but more on their own historical and financial ignorance having been educated in failing schools steeped in liberal philosophy. A philosophy of which blames others for personal failure, and teaches that a large centralized state can, and will, take care of their needs.

We, as conservatives, should certainly plan our attack for 2014 and 2016, by articulating a message that resonates with the growing constituencies of single women and minorities,  but if we are to preserve the ideals of this great nation in the long term, we need to begin a strategy of teaching conservative principles to our children, starting at the elementary levels. It’s much like raising a child as we all have done, and proving to them that conservative philosophy is the most compassionate towards others and offers the most rewarding personal life they will ever know. Those principles include, but not limited to:

1.      Live within your financial means – large debt restricts personal freedom and destroys relationships and lives. Be responsible with your money, and if money is important to you, then pursue education and set goals.

2.      Personal responsibility – bad decisions have consequences and you need to, and will, live with those consequences. Don’t blame others, and don’t repeat your mistakes. Good things happen to those who do their best everyday and make good decisions.

3.      Learn how to fail – no person has ever won all the time. Learning how to fail builds personal strength and character and makes winning that much more rewarding.

4.      Abstinence – abstain from drugs and excessive alcohol use. There has never been one successful alcoholic or drug user, and by engaging in this activity you can assure yourself of future health problems. Abstain from treating your body like an amusement park, whether that be sexually, or by putting ink and bolts into yourself. Treat your mind and body with respect – you only get one.

I am sure other conservative posters here can add to this list, and I hope they do, but these are four principles that I have taught my kids, and all three of them have turned out to be responsible, functioning adults. I desperately want to see this country get back to a shared sense of responsibility for moving our country forward. I look around me anymore and much of what I see is very disheartening – entitlement minded, financially illiterate, selfish, drug addicted, pierced and bolted ignorant masses, more interested in the latest brain dead Jay Z CD, or what the Kardashian’s are doing, and I suspect much of you see the same. The problem is, this is a growing constituency, so if we are to have long-term success, we need to begin building a more solid foundation of responsible, better educated children.

We’re Too Nice

Cluster92 Comments

“They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.” – The Untouchables

I have sat back over the last week watching the expected gloating from liberals, and the anticipated disbelief amongst conservatives and have let it all soak in, in my own attempt to make some sense out of the nonsensical. I still find it hard to believe that once again this country has elected an empty suit, no more qualified to be President this time around than he was last time. I still find it hard to believe that so many voters put issues like abortion and gay marriage above their own financial interests, confirming my belief that we have become a very ignorant, financially illiterate society who will now forsake opportunity and liberty for promised personal security. Americans have truly become dependent and intellectually lazy, and the question is – is it too late to salvage them?

Also over the last week I have witnessed the hand wringing by most conservatives on how we blew such an easy election. How once again, we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. We didn’t lose because Romney is a RINO, as some conservatives call him; we didn’t lose because of the bone headed positions of people like Todd Akin – if that were the case, then someone needs to explain Rep. Andre Carson to me. We lost, because we are too nice. We allow the media and the Democrats to paint us as extreme, without attacking them in the same, if not more aggressive manner. If any party is extreme on abortion – it is the democrats, who support abortion at any place, any time for any reason without any regard to life, mother or father. If any party is extreme on economics – it is the democrats, who support a growing dependency on food stamps, welfare, and a health care insurance program that guarantees the descent of a once great industry into mediocrity, and of whom also support punishing and demonizing success. If any party is extreme on education – it is the Democrats, who would rather poor children languish in failing schools to appease the unions rather than allow parents to send their child to a better school. And these are just a few of the extreme, detrimental positions the Democrats have taken that will ultimately hurt all Americans and of which they don’t ever get called out on. Instead we allow the Democrats to paint our candidate as a murderer, an uncaring rich person who evades taxes and wants to enrich his friends, and of whom wants to ban abortion, implement a theocracy etc, etc. Well it’s time to take the gloves off.

And we start now, by stating unequivocally that Obama is an incompetent, uncaring liar who may be complicit in murder. Obama does not care one bit about the average American otherwise he would tell the truth about the Affordable Care Act which will, and is now resulting in layoffs, an increase in part time employment, a decrease in full time employment, higher insurance premiums, higher taxes, and fewer doctors to provide services. Obama does not care one bit about school children who are obtaining a poor education otherwise he would allow them to attend a better school. Obama does not care one bit about Hurricane Sandy victims otherwise he would not have been golfing while FEMA offices were closed due to incremental weather. Obama does not care one bit about small businesses otherwise he would not advocate raising taxes on the top 3% of small businesses that employee 25% of the labor force. Obama does not care one bit about women otherwise he would insist that the men who so callously impregnate them take responsibility and are held accountable. Obama does not care one bit about younger generations otherwise he would ensure the sustainability of Medicare and Social Security rather than allow the programs to continue along the path to bankruptcy. Obama does not care one bit about illegal immigration otherwise he would have offered a plan to remedy the problem rather than demagogue the issue and use it as a political football. Obama also may very well be complicit in the murder of Ambassador Chris Stevens, whom he referred to as a “bump in the road”, and of border guard Brian Terry. Two great Americans, who the media and the Obama regime have so rudely stepped over and swept under the carpet, hoping that everyone will just ignore their callous disregard.

Democrats do not care about the American people, and certainly don’t care about conservatives. They only care about their power over the American people and dispensing of any opposition at any cost. They will continue to prop up useful idiots, like many of our resident liberals, with hateful and condescending talking points to perpetuate that paradigm. They will also continue to under educate our children so that the growing dependency on their benevolence continues. So the next time you hear some liberal, or some Democrat try tell conservatives what to do – tell them to go F**K themselves. And let’s nominate a candidate next time that articulates the conservative positions of a smaller, more efficient, more local government that benefits everyone at that expense of no one, a robust private sector that rewards success and innovation, and of whom is prepared to immediately counter any, and all, Democratic and media attacks with over whelming force. That is the day that conservatives and Americans will once again win.

State of the Union

Cluster86 Comments

As we enter the final weekend before the most important election of our lifetime, the State of the Union is weak. Mediocrity, misery and economic malaise permeate every corner of our great country, with misery taking the forefront for those pour souls who were subject to Sandy’s wrath. As those in NJ, NY, PA, etc., scramble to simply find food, I have to think that they will be less than excited to rush to the polls on Tuesday to vote for a President that only found time to fly in for a photo op. As those in NY see the huge generators being set up, and the money coming in to conduct a marathon, I can’t think that they will be excited to walk to the polls on Tuesday to vote for four more years of misery and malaise. Today’s jobs report inched up unemployment to 7.9%, unemployment amongst blacks is 14.3%, job participation is just 63%, disability claims are at record levels, family incomes continue to decline, gas lines grow in the hurricane effected area with gas prices inching towards $6/gallon, and food stamp usage has more than doubled. This is the fundamental transformation Obama promised in 2009, and it is a promise of which that has only enriched him and his supporters. He has no plan going forward, and will continue to spend money that we don’t have, further plummeting this country to bankruptcy, and more families to despair.

The new progressive Democratic party has controlled Congress since 2007, and the White House since 2009, and they are responsible for the current State of the Union. A state of which must change on Tuesday.

Liberal Honesty

Cluster48 Comments

One of our resident liberals has finally taken a firm ideological stand, after years of numerous requests to do so, and I want to thank James for having the courage to do just that.  This now opens up an honest dialogue on left vs right ideology and how it relates to the constitutional framework of this country. It also sheds light on the true intent of the new Democratic Party led by Barack Obama. That ideological position was articulated by James and is the following:

“I believe in big government. I believe that government should provide citizens with guaranteed healthcare, free education, and pensions. This would be paid for by higher marginal tax rates on everyone.

I don’t believe in the 10th amendment or the sovereignty of states. we should have ONE national drivers license, one national licence plate, one national criminal code. states should not have their own constitution or autonomy to decide on issues like abortion, gay marriage, or death penalty.

I believe that an education system controlled from the federal government and enacted by the federal government is better than having a rag tag of 50 states with 50 different levels of education and standards.

I believe that big government spending on social programs with our tax dollars is not only acceptable but morally required to take care of the needy in our nation. states should not even touch those issues.

I believe in a strong military and I don’t believe each state should have its own national guard. the national guards should be under control of the federal government.”

In my opinion, James is not alone in this ideological stance which I believe is shared by many current Democrats, but a position of which is completely antithetical to our Constitution. It is my belief that this is at the root of our current political divide, and why so many of us conservatives are attacked personally. The left DOES want to fundamentally transform America, as clearly stated by Barack Obama, and any effort to maintain the traditions of America, will be met with irrational hate instead of informed debate. This should make for an interesting debate, and I hope it does, but like too many other threads, let’s not allow it to devolve into name calling.

UPDATE:

This ideological divide is what is also at stake on November 6th. A vote for Obama, is a vote for the vision James outlined. A vote for Romney is a vote to restore traditional American constitutional principles. For the sake of this great country, and for those across the globe that depend on a strong and free America to stand behind them, and support them in their desire to be free, I pray Romney wins.

 

November Surprise

Cluster72 Comments

Of which there could be two. The first surprise would be the most damning and that is the possible revelation and existence of emails ordering counter terrorism groups in the area of Benghazi to stand down, which of course would be tantamount to outright sacrificing the lives of those four Americans. If this is true, this is grounds for impeachment. Honestly, I hope it’s not true. I don’t want to think that this administration, or any administration, would be so callous with American lives in what is obviously very dangerous territory all in an effort to shield criticism from their own foreign policy efforts. It has been over 6 weeks since our Ambassador was murdered and the President has yet to hold a press conference, or even answer a difficult question on the subject. He did however have the courage to blame America for the first couple of weeks.

The next surprise is hardly a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention, but will be terribly inconvenient to the President and that is the corruption, bankruptcies and questionable stock sales involved in the green energy stimulus money. More and more is coming to light and ensnaring the Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and his sons as well. I have a feeling that time will reveal that the Obama regime may go down in history as the most corrupt and incompetent administration ever.

Does Ohio Matter?

Cluster80 Comments

The election is near, the debates are over, the candidates have laid out their positions, so it all boils down to the numbers now. Today’s electoral map shows Obama with 237 “safe” electoral votes and Romney with 206 supposedly “safe” electoral votes. But are any electoral votes safe this year? I contend not, especially for Obama. However, let’s assume that Rasmussen is right with these “safe” predictions, as they historically have been, and analyze the path to 270 for each candidate. First of all, let’s look at Romney. Current polling has Romney up by 2 in Florida, up by 4 in Colorado, and up by 3 in Virginia. In all of those states, Obama is polling less than 50%, which historically means that the independents will break for Romney, so I think it is a safe bet to move those states, and their 51 electoral votes into the Romney column, giving Romney now 257 electoral votes – just 13 votes  shy of victory. On the bubble for Romney is New Hampshire and their 4 electoral votes and of where Romney leads by 2, Iowa and their 6 electoral votes and of where Romney is tied with Obama, and WI and their 10 electoral votes, and again where Romney and Obama are tied. But again, in WI, NH and IA, Obama is polling less than 50% so the independents in those states should break for Romney giving him the win in all three states. Under this scenario, Romney wins the Presidency without OH.

Obama on the other hand has lost FL, VA, & CO, that is pretty much a given, so how does the path to 270 look for Obama? With 237 safe electoral votes, he is 33 shy, meaning he will need Ohio to win. Excluding Ohio, all the other toss up states; IA, NH, NV, & WI, will only bring him 26 electoral votes, and that assumes he wins NH where Romney leads. This also assumes Obama wins WI where he is tied with Romney and polling under 50%, so there is no question that Obama needs OH much more so than Romney. If Romney wins WI, this race is over, and considering that Gov. Walker just held off a fierce recall battle, and that Paul Ryan hails from the Badger state, I like Romney’s chances.

UPDATE, by Mark Noonan:  October 29th, 2012 Rasmussen Ohio poll – Romney 50, Obama 48.  Getting that sinking feeling Democrats?