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Maggie’s Notebook
Conservative Thoughts
Screw the UN

More on the Obama Adminisration and troubling trends are in the news. It is not a surprise nor necessarily atypical for a President of one political party to undo that of a former President of another party. The Obama Administration rescinded the Mexico City Policy ban on funding foreign abortions which has a history of reversals with each change in President of the opposing party. He appeared to be reversing policy on Gitmo but the jury is still out on that one. And the liberal fringe is not happy about the new President’s action or inaction on Iraq and Afghanistan or some other matters.

Does it seem odd to you that the President Obama’s first foreign trip was to Canada while his new Secretary of State headed for Indonesia and China and the rest of Asia? It is not unlike an opinion voiced by Rush Limbaugh on news the President does not favor the Fairness Doctrine. El Rushbo suggests we should not be optimistic about the news in that Obama did not say something like he would not sign or would veto such legislation. Alternatively, Limbaugh suggested it as a trait of the new liberal President to not spend political capital when he can get others to do it. That may also explain his trip to Canada. And Hillary is simply trying to add to her lacking resume’ for 2012. But Canada is boycotting Durban II. Hmmm.

That brings us to this issue, Durban II. The US and Israel were the only countries to vote against it in 2001 or beyond. Now that Obama is in office funny how the UN’s agenda on race again takes center stage. In the past there was the suggestion that opponents of Israel would use the opportunity to gain advantage by using international events to portray Israel and/or the US as racist. Given Obama and Holder’s notable quotes on the topic this may be of some concern to the public at large. Another reversal of Bush 43 policy which may also prove to be dangerous.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Op-Ed: Boycott Durban II

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY - Feb 18, 2009
The April 2009 Durban II conference promises to top that fiasco, despite the Obama administration’s decision to attempt to influence the process. …

Can the United States fix Durban II?

Reuters - Feb 18, 2009
Israel and Canada have already announced they would boycott “Durban II,” as the conference is being called, and the Bush administration was opposed to the …

Obama officials meet US Jews to explain their Durban II policy

Human Rights Tribune, Switzerland - Feb 18, 2009
Jerusalem fears that the “Durban II” summit, set to be held in Geneva this April, will be used by Arab nations and others as a forum to criticize Israel as …

If one of the expectations of those who voted for Barack Obama as President was more talk about race they are getting it. Careful what you wish for could be the suggestion they missed. Rather than introduce a continued discussion of meaningful dialogue the main players may accurately be described as the antagonists. From the campaign and Barack Obama characterizing small town America as clinging to guns or religion to the contrived outrage over the NY Post stimulus bill cartoon to Eric Holder referring to the US as a nation of cowards the ‘discussion’ is still missing. Diatribe is not discussion.

The Obama Administration being described as the amateur hour is becoming more and more realistic. And the report of another fall in approval rating of 5 points is no surprise. All the fawning and hype of the past campaign has delivered a net result of a stimulus package that embraces failed liberal policies from the past, a string of failed nominations, a procession of tax cheats, a lack of transparency and other broken promises and the additional annoyance of being called a racist by the ‘top dogs’ in the Obama Adminstration.

While the links below are a few of the many available they were selected intentionally. The New York Post ‘apology’ echoes the sentiment published here earlier. In other words stop making everything about race. The two other links are interesting based on titles used. CNN mentions Holder’s comments being blasted and praised while a Chicago paper offers the sound bite phrase and the fact the US AG is the first black in that office.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

N.Y. Post apologizes for chimpanzee cartoon

Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:42am GMT
By Edith Honan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Post apologized on Thursday to those offended by an editorial cartoon that critics said was racist because it likened President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee.

The newspaper acknowledged that the cartoon published on Wednesday had drawn controversy because African-Americans and others saw it as a depiction of Obama.

“This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize,” the paper said in an editorial on its website headlined “That Cartoon.”

“It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. Period,” the paper

Holder ‘nation of cowards’ remarks blasted, praised

From Ed Hornick
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) — America is “a nation of cowards” when discussing race. That sentiment from the country’s first African-American attorney general, Eric Holder, has stirred up pundits, bloggers and readers.

“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial, we have always been and we — I believe continue to be in too many ways essentially a nation of cowards,” Holder told Department of Justice employees at an event Wednesday celebrating Black History Month.

He said that Americans are afraid to talk about race, adding that “certain subjects are off-limits and that to explore them risks at best embarrassment and at worst the questioning of one’s character.”

And that impression of race in America has set off a firestorm of criticism.

U.S. a ‘nation of cowards’ on race, 1st black attorney general says

Holder’s speech signals more active Justice Department on civil rights issues
By Josh Meyer | Washington Bureau
February 19, 2009

WASHINGTON — For the past eight years, the Justice Department and the Bush administration were relatively quiet on the issue of race and its place within the social fabric of America and the enforcement of civil rights and justice.

But on Wednesday, Eric Holder, newly confirmed as the nation’s first black attorney general, issued a call to action to Americans in and out of government, saying the United States is “a nation of cowards” on race relations that needs to finally—and urgently—begin confronting the issue before it polarizes the country even further.

So a cartoon at the New York Post depicts two cops who shot a monkey in the street and that caption reads ‘they’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.’ And in no time at all it is reported that the cartoon created an ‘uproar’. Before everyone gets all worked up or more worked up consider this. Some people just might have viewed the cartoon and not read anything extra into it. You know, taking it at face value rather than looking for something sinister.

This blog’s author accepted it as a way of expressing dissatisfaction with the stimulus bill and in addition suggesting it was so ridiculous it was written by a monkey. Some others have decided it is racist. I suppose the cartoonist could have used a sandwich indicating the author of something so stupid has the IQ of same. Or the cartoonist could have used a box of rocks or a dull knife to use as a metaphor for the intelligence suggested by the bill’s author but instead he used a monkey. Primates are often described as a close relative of humans and displaying some of the same characteristics. And they are frequently characterized as not quite as intelligent as humans. That of course is subject to debate. As is the suggestion this cartoon is racist.

For those who object to the cartoon on the basis of racism…..get over yourselves.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

(related content provided below)

The Cartoon…..

The AP video on the story…..

If you agree that the cartoon is racist then kindly accept the following as the same.

Another take on the Obama ‘clinging to guns or religion’ statement…..

Going ape over the New York Post (Michelle Malkin)

It is good to share those gems we find along the way. This one does not represent any sort of epiphany or great awakening. But it is a reminder of what three Republican Senators might have achieved if not for political maneuvers which made little sense in light of the great risk placed on this nation by foolish legislation.

Who are the three you ask? To be of assistance to readers who may have forgotten (wink, wink) the Senators Three are Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter. They caved to the wishes of the opposition party with the lame excuse of being bipartisan. Considering Collins and Specter are on the Appropriations Committee that seems unlikely. Bipartisanship can generally be defined as requiring more than a small percentage of either party to seek a consensus. This was not unlike the few Democrats who opposed this legislation in the House only for fear of being defeated in their next election due to conservative opinion in their respective districts.

True bipartisan efforts would have seen the majority offer genuine opportunity for the minority party to participate in forging this legislation. The gem below expresses what would happen then. Something that may reflect good governance rather than political options that taint the process and fail to effectively represent constituents or discharge the duties of members of Congress.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Conference Reports: About

From the earliest days, differences on legislation between the House and Senate have been committed to conference committees to work out a settlement. The most usual case is that in which a bill passes one Chamber with amendments unacceptable to the other. In such a case, the Chamber that disagrees to the amendments generally asks for a conference, and the Speaker of the House and the Presiding Officer of the Senate appoint the “managers,” as the conferees are called. Generally, they are selected from the committee or committees having charge of the bill.

After attempting to resolve the points in disagreement, the conference committee issues a report to each Chamber. If the report is accepted by both Chambers, the bill is then enrolled and sent to the President. If the report is rejected by either Chamber, the matter in disagreement comes up for disposition anew as if there had been no conference. Unless all differences between the two Houses are resolved, the bill fails. (From “Our American Government”, H. Doc. 108-94, p. 34)

The Obama Administration may have abandoned any previous promises of ’sunlight’ or transparency in government but the recent ’stimulus’ bill may offer transparency of your personal health information and it may be for sale. Check this article at CNS News

If you did not object to electronic health records before you might now. Welcome to the world of Obama.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

‘Exceptions’ in Stimulus Bill Allow Sale of Health Records
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
By Fred Lucas, Staff Writer

Though the legislation says there is a “prohibition on sale of electronic health records or protected health information,” there are five pages of exceptions to the prohibition that include research, treatment of an individual, or a decision by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive the prohibition. (See Legislation, PDF pages 391-395.)

About the only optimistic evidence available indicating a chance the socialist trends of the Obama Administration will be thwarted occasionally appears within mainstream media outlets. The piece cited below from Byron York at the DC Examiner is one example of that evidence. A genuine report signalling part of what is wrong with Obamania and the sham coverage by most that caused the outcome in the 2008 election. A typical case of political corruption being packaged as hope and change. Complicit in this travesty were the many only too eager to be duped by the promise of something for nothing.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

For Obama, it’s more about showmanship than sunlight
By Byron York
Chief political correspondent 2/17/09
After rushing Congress to act, why did he wait for days to sign the “emergency” stimulus bill?

Back during the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised something he called “Sunlight Before Signing.” Obama complained that “too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them.” So he pledged that, as president, he would “not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days.”

What to do on President’s Day might suggest honoring, go figure, Presidents. A survey featured at Cspan is conveniently available on President’s Day. Will any discussion of a survey ranking US Presidents honor as well as inform and allow debate on historic matters in American history?

In a subequent post here this topic will be continued. For now, here is a release from Cspan on the Presidential Survey with links.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

C-SPAN RELEASES SECOND HISTORIANS SURVEY OF
PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP

Abraham Lincoln Retains Top Position;
Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton Advance Since 2000 Survey;
George W. Bush Ranks 36th Overall By Historians

(Washington, DC, February 15, 2009) — Timed for Presidents Day 2009, C-SPAN today releases the results of its second Historians Survey of Presidential Leadership, in which a cross-section of 65 presidential historians ranked the 42 former occupants of the White House on ten attributes of leadership.

As in C-SPAN’s first such survey, released in 2000, Abraham Lincoln received top billing among the historians, just as the nation marks the bicentennial of his birth. George Washington placed second, while spots three through five were held by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman, in that order.

Based on the results of historians surveyed, George W. Bush received an overall ranking of 36. Among other recent Presidents, Bill Clinton who was ranked 21 in the 2000 survey, advanced six spots in 2009 to an overall ranking of 15; Ronald Reagan moved from 11 to 10; George H.W. Bush went from 20 to 18, and Jimmy Carter’s ranking declined from 22 to 25.

As in 2000, C-SPAN was guided in this effort by a team of academic advisors: Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Rice University; Dr. Edna Greene Medford, Associate Professor of History, Howard University; and Richard Norton Smith, Scholar in Residence at George Mason University. The team approved the ten criteria, which were the same used in C-SPAN’s 2000 Survey, reviewed the list of invited participants, and supervised the reporting of the results. Harvey C. Mansfield, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Government at Harvard, also consulted on the names of invited historians with an overall goal of geographic, demographic, and ideological diversity.

“Bill Clinton and Ulysses S. Grant aren’t often mentioned in the same sentence - until now. Participants in the latest C-SPAN survey of presidential historians have boosted each man significantly higher than in the original survey conducted in 2000. All of which goes to show two things: the fluidity with which presidential reputations are judged, and the difficulty of assessing any president who has only just recently left office,” said Richard Norton Smith.

“As much as is possible, we created a poll that was non-partisan, judicious and fair minded, and it’s fitting that for the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln that he remains at the top of these presidential rankings,” noted Dr. Douglas Brinkley.

“How we rank our presidents is, to a large extent, influenced by our own times. Today’s concerns shape our views of the past, be it in the area of foreign policy, managing the economy, or human rights. The survey results also reinforce the idea that history is less about agreed-upon facts than about perceptions of who we are as a nation and how our leaders have either enhanced or tarnished that image we have of ourselves. Lincoln continues to rank at the top in all categories because he is perceived to embody the nation’s avowed core values: integrity, moderation, persistence in the pursuit of honorable goals, respect for human rights, compassion; those who collect near the bottom are perceived as having failed to uphold those values,” concluded Dr. Edna Medford. Full rankings for each of the 42 presidents are available at
www.c-span.org/presidentialsurvey

Methodology
C-SPAN’s academic advisors devised a survey in which participants used a one (”not effective”) to ten (”very effective”) scale to rate each president on ten qualities of presidential leadership: “Public Persuasion,” “Crisis Leadership,” “Economic Management,” “Moral Authority,” “International Relations,” “Administrative Skills,” “Relations with Congress,” “Vision/Setting An Agenda,” “Pursued Equal Justice for All,” and “Performance Within the Context of His Times.”

Surveys were distributed to 147 historians and other professional observers of the presidency, drawn from a database of C-SPAN’s programming, augmented by suggestions from the academic advisors. Sixty-five agreed to participate. Participants were guaranteed that individual survey results remain confidential. Survey responses were tabulated by averaging all responses in a given category for each president. Each of the ten categories was given equal weighting in the total scores. Overseeing the 2000 and 2009 tabulations were C-SPAN CFO Robert Kennedy and Dr. Robert Browning, a political scientist who serves as director of the C-SPAN archives.

About C-SPAN

Marking 30 years as America’s political network of record, C-SPAN was created by America’s cable companies as a public service in 1979. C-SPAN programs three public affairs television networks; C-SPAN Radio, a Washington, D.C. radio station distributed nationally by XM Satellite Radio; and a video-rich website. C-SPAN is currently available in over 92 million cable and satellite households. For more information, visit www.c-span.org.

Several events encouraged this latest post in a series on civics literacy (see previous posts for series purpose). Current economic conditions, an article posted today at VOA, another in Fortune magazine and the massive spending programs likely to come out of Washington. The overriding concern is the question of whether we will learn from history or be doomed to repeat it. Did the New Deal prolong the depression? Can we spend enough to overcome the mistakes that got us here? And as an aside it should not be a time to focus on blame and who should be punished as there will be plenty of time to deal with that later. And in any event it will likely end as most cases where power and influence is not held accountable.

Below is the reference to the Fortune magazine article:

Related links:

The Trillion Dollar Debt Plan vs The New Deal

New Deal Never Solved Unemployment Crisis

How new a deal?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

A report from The Hill dot com from December features the changing of the guard on Oversight in the 111th Congress. Longtime super sleuth and self-proclaimed defender of the free world Henry Waxman left the Oversight Chairmanship for a post at Energy and Commerce and that can’t be a good thing. At least when he was doing nothing worthwhile at Oversight his exploits were useful fodder for eomedic episodes on various media including blogs.

Edolphus Towns is the new sherrif in (pardon me) town as far as House Oversight is conerned which is usually only with the opposition party. Based on a quick review of the associated websites there seems to be little of interest happening which is also a good thing. Partisan hangings are not worth the price of admission even though the Minority Office of Oversight has a nice note on David Obey’s son lobbying for billions in pork from the porkulus bill.

Below is The Hill reference mentioned above.

“I am humbled and honored by my colleagues’ support and confidence,” Towns said in a statement. “There is a great deal of work to be done to ensure a smooth transition, and I look forwardto working with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues in concert with the Obama Administration to ensure the federal government is transparent, responsive and efficient.”

On Town’ own house website he points out ‘community activist’ on his resume’. Is that a bigger deal than community organizer in liberal circles or simply an oversight? Maybe he really meant organizer since it may be good to cozy up to the new Commander-in-Chief.

Edolphus “Ed” Towns, a former social worker and community activist in Brooklyn, New York, is a 13-term veteran in the House. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Towns served on both the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. On December 10th 2008, Rep. Towns was elected chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for the upcoming 111th Congress.

A Wikipedia account featured personal history on Towns that has its impressive qualities. Now it will of course be a matter of time to see if this Oversight Chairman simply attempts to execute opposition party members or even-handedly pursues ethical and legal violations. It must have been too early for investigating the string of minor criminals standing in line for confirmations at the Senate hearings. But if he follows Obama’s lead the criteria for ethics and other matters will be modified as the situation warrants. For example, allowing a tax evader to become Treasury Secretary.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The public should be able to review this mess before the socialists vote on it. How about the latest economic news featuring jobless claims and retail sales? Sales are up 1% and jobless claims decreased without any porkulus package. Evidence that free markets can improve without government meddling wasting taxpayer money.

Obama nears win on stimulus plan to boost economy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers prepared on Thursday to pass a $789 billion stimulus package to revive the struggling economy in a victory for President Barack Obama that some warned may have costly consequences.

Obama’s man Geithner should be having some interesting conversations with the new President lately. If not, Obama is more clueless than originally thought or simply more subversive.

U.S. to weigh if more needed for bank bailout: Geithner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday he would inform Congress as soon as possible if more taxpayer money were needed to salvage the banking sector as part of the effort to reinvigorate the economy.

Cannot help but make the connection between the Senate Intelligence Committee and mutually exclusive terms.

Senate panel approves Panetta to be next CIA chief
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leon Panetta, U.S. President Barack Obama’s choice to head the Central Intelligence Agency, was approved on Wednesday by the Senate intelligence committee.

There is already a post on this topic at this blog. Mr Hope and Change drops the ball again.

Senate clears ex-lobbyist as Pentagon No. 2
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate approved William Lynn, a former Raytheon Co lobbyist, to be deputy secretary of defense after he received a special White House waiver from strict new rules meant to close a “revolving door” between government and big business.

And is it any real surprise that the list of tax cheats grows larger and Congress continues to approve them for confirmation to the full Senate? Solis should get a pass on her husband’s tax problems according to the wisdom of the liberal dominated Senate. If she is unable to influence her husband to do the right thing how can she inspire others under her proposed function in government? Not to mention there is no evidence to suggest she had a problem with her husband’s lax attitude toward taxes. If you can approve a tax evader for Treasury Secretary this move is not such a big leap. Unless you believe those in government should be at least as accountable as the rest of us are expected to be.

Obama’s labor nominee advances despite tax problem
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Wednesday recommended that President Barack Obama’s nominee for labor secretary be confirmed by the full Senate, nearly a week after tax questions had put her confirmation hearing on hold.

How’s that for some cranky news commentary?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

From nearly one month ago the following press release is presented as exhibit one for one Wisconsinite’s apology for the action of another Wisconsinite. The vast left wing conspiracy is alive and well in the Upper Midwest. The second line below the date of the press release demonstrates full knowledge by liberals that this dog won’t hunt. Sorry Gov Palin but I need to use the ‘lipstick’ reference (the original). There’s not enough lipstick to put on this pig. There is no credible evidence to support the notion that this bill will stabilize the economy nor restore public confidence whether intended or not.

Some may think blogs like this one have focused too much on this topic. It is only because there seems to be too little outrage displayed by the general public. Beyond this blog’s author contacting numerous members of Congress and no response from the Messiah at his wunnerful version of www.whitehouse.gov keeping this topic alive is the most pressing issue currently on the table. There are others of equal or greater importance perhaps but not right now.

If you are one of those the Dems need to payback for some favor you stand to gain from this package. If you are a lobbyist or other special interest like the National Education Association you stand to gain from this package. In nearly all other cases the only thing you will get from this massive pork legislation is the bill in the form of more taxes if you are lucky enough to keep your job or business operating. The burden placed on you will pay for the perks given to others. If that does not cause you to contact your elected rep in outrage nothing will and you deserve what you get.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

January 15, 2009

OBEY UNVEILS AMERICAN RECOVERY & REINVESTMENT BILL
Measure Intended to Stabilize the Economy and Restore Public Confidence

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) today unveiled details of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, which is intended to help stabilize the economy and restore public confidence.

“The economy is in a crisis not seen since the Great Depression. Credit is frozen, consumer purchasing power is in decline, in the last four months the country has lost 2 million jobs and we are expected to lose another 3 to 5 million in the next year. Conservative economist Mark Zandi was blunt: ‘the economy is shutting down,’” Obey noted. “In the next two weeks, the Congress will be considering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. This package is the first crucial step in a concerted effort to create and save 3 to 4 million jobs, jumpstart our economy, and begin the process of transforming it for the 21st century with $275 billion in economic recovery tax cuts and $550 billion in thoughtful and carefully targeted priority investments with unprecedented accountability measures built in.”

The package that was unveiled today contains targeted efforts in:

• Clean, Efficient, American Energy
• Transforming our Economy with Science and Technology, including expanding Broadband Infrastructure for rural and underserved communities
• Modernizing Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways
• Education for the 21st Century
• Tax Cuts to Make Work Pay and Create Jobs
• Lowering Healthcare Costs
• Helping Workers Hurt by the Economy
• Saving Public Sector Jobs and Protect Vital Services

“The economy is in such trouble that, even with passage of this package, unemployment rates are expected to rise to between eight and nine percent this year. Without this package, we are warned that unemployment could explode to near twelve percent. With passage of this package, we will face a large deficit for years to come. Without it, those deficits will be devastating and we face the risk of economic chaos. Tough choices have been made in this legislation and fiscal discipline will demand more tough choices in years to come,” Obey added.

Obey pointed out that, since 2001, as worker productivity went up, 96% of the income growth in this country went to the wealthiest 10% of society. “While they were benefitting from record high worker productivity, the remaining 90% of Americans were struggling to sustain their standard of living. They sustained it by borrowing… and borrowing… and borrowing, and when they couldn’t borrow anymore, the bottom fell out,” Obey said, adding that “this plan will strengthen the middle class, not just Wall Street CEOs and special interests in Washington.”

“Our short term task is to try to prevent the loss of millions of jobs and get our economy moving,” Obey concluded. “The long term task is to make the needed investments that restore the ability of average middle income families to increase their income and build a decent future for their children.”

# # #

Update:

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

WASHINGTON. D.C. – A report by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Minority Staff contradicts assertions by the House Appropriations Committee that National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) lobbyist Craig Obey does not lobby the House Committee chaired by his father, Rep. David Obey. The House Appropriations Committee approved a $2 billion earmark for the National Parks Service lobbied for by Craig Obey and the NPCA.

Click here for the report

Update:

House GOP holds the line; Nancy’s leaving on a jet plane (Michelle Malkin) 

This is not about the porkulus bill but still significant. Much has been said about candidate Obama’s promises and delivery of same as President. A recurring theme is recruiting lobbyists for his administration. William J Lynn is no exception. A registered lobbyist until July and Senior Vice President of Government Operations and Strategy for Raytheon he was nominated and confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Defense this week.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) voiced opposition on Obama’s selection. On his first day in office, Obama issued an executive order forcing individuals to wait two years before they could be hired for the agencies they had lobbied and to remove themselves from involvement in issues related to their former employers.

“Obviously the American people were promised one thing but delivered another,” said McCain, Obama’s opponent in the presidential election.

Grassley’s comments included mention of Lynn being yet another Obama pick from the former Clinton Administration. On Lynn’s time as comptroller at the Pentagon Grassley said the following: As chief financial officer, Lynn “advocated very questionable accounting practices that were obviously not in the public interest,” Grassley told his colleagues on the Senate floor.

Lynn’s lame expression of how and when he would recuse himself from ‘banned’ actiivties, as if being there wasn’t one of them, is compounded by the fact that McCain opposed this nomination but voted for Lynn anyway. At least Grassley voted against the confirmation as did three others.

You could say it does not matter how Senators vote after the 1/2 majority is reached for it does not affect the outcome. But there is the nagging obstacle with that argument called principle. You could say casting a vote for other reasons is a political necessity or reality but the same problem exists regarding principle. Sort of ironic to be discussing principle when the President promised no lobbyists would not be allowed, then changed his mind on the specifics and then his former campaign opponent expresses concern on the topic but votes in favor of a lobbyist confirmation anyhow.

The only part of Washington politics and hope and change from Obama and others is Washington still works the same way and they hope you won’t notice they did not change anything as promised in this regard. However a change in this republic to socialism is a stronger possibility no matter how often anyone dismisses the claim.

The roll call vote is of course listed below.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111^th Congress - 1^st Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Grouped By Vote Position
YEAs —93

NAYs —4

Not Voting - 2

ICYMI: Cantor: Democrats’ Spending Bill Is “The Old Way Of Doing Things”
February 11, 2009
Contact:Brad Dayspring
202-226-5249

“Look at what the product is that has come out of the House and the Senate. You’re talking about the old way of doing things. Speaker Pelosi has yielded this process to the spenders that want to see these government programs increase – who’ve had a wish list for several years that has not been tended to. They have dumped all those programs into this bill and that is why I think you’re seeing the American people say wait a minute.” – House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, CNBC, 2/11/09

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Interview On CNBC
February 11, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8besLsM4sfU

CNBC’s Beck Quick: “We know that at this point though, these two bills are going to head to conference, what’s going to happen in this conference?”

Rep. Eric Cantor: “I’m hopeful that the conference will produce a bill that actually accomplishes the stimulus that we’re all aiming for. The problem right now, even with the Senate bill, is there’s an extraordinary amount of money. These are the largest spending pieces of legislation ever in the history of this country, and I think that what is going on with the folks around the country is they’re taking a look at this and they’re saying that you just can’t buy the trust of the American people. And the amount of spending in here that is not targeted to stimulate the economy that will not produce jobs is just staggering. Many analysts look at this and sort of scratch their head and say, how can it be that only 12% of a stimulus bill will actually result in job creation?

“So we in the House, as Republicans, went to work. Leader John Boehner said let’s put a plan together. He and I took that five-point plan over to the White House and we presented it to President Obama. And in fact when he saw our plan, he said, look there’s nothing crazy in here. Our plan is really focused on providing tax relief to small businesses. There’s no question, that’s where the job creation will start again and when we weigh that against the attempts to borrow more money and spend it at the government level, I don’t think there’s any question as to what would result in more jobs.”

Quick: “Although, Congressman, once things get into conference, we know that the Senate stripped out some things. They took out $40 billion of spending that was to go to the states. The President said he’d like it see that included back in. Once things get to conference, how likely is it that you’re proposals are going to make it in if it couldn’t make it in, in either of these bills?”

Rep. Cantor: “We’re continuing to try and influence the process. There’s no question that it’s likely – the spending bill is likely to get even larger and the focus has got to be on what actually is going to preserve, protect and create jobs. And that’s why we continue to say, small business tax relief is where we ought to be focusing much more of the expenditures in this bill because frankly spending money on new government programs, there’s $130 billion in new government programs, not tested. There’s hundreds of billions of more dollars that are funding existing programs that we know are not the most effective programs.”

Quick: “But how likely is this to happen in conference? How is the conference process different than what’s already happened on these two bills on either side of the Congress?”

Rep. Cantor: “The difference can come if President Obama would impose upon Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid to actually put some common sense back into the process.”

Quick: “Do you think that’s going to happen?”

Rep. Cantor: “We’re hopeful. And the President has indicated that the bill is not perfect. That it is a work in progress. He’s off around the country doing what he does best, talking to the American people and promising change in Washington. The problem is Leader Reid in the Senate and Speaker Pelosi haven’t yet risen to the standard that President Obama has set.”

Rep. Cantor: “Look at what the product is that has come out of the House and the Senate. You’re talking about the old way of doing things. Speaker Pelosi has yielded this process to the spenders that want to see these government programs increase – who’ve had a wish list for several years that has not been tended to. They have dumped all those programs into this bill and that is why I think you’re seeing the American people say wait a minute.”…

Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter have a lot in common.

All three are US Senators.

All three are listed as Republicans.

All three voted for the pork-laden spending bill HR1.

All three are ranked pro-abortion by Project Vote Smart.

Ranking by Americans for Tax Reform:
Collins: 45 Snowe: 35 Specter: 65

by National Taxpayers Union:
Collins: C- Snowe: D Specter: D

by Taxpayers for Common Sense:
Collins: 50 Snowe: 30 Specter: 20

Ranking by American Civil Liberites Union:
Collins: 71 Snowe: 86 Specter: 57

Ranking by American Conservative Union:
Collins: 36 Snowe: 28 Specter: 40

by GOPUSA:
Collins: 23 Snowe: 23 Specter: 16

Ranking by the National Education Association:
Collins: A Snowe: A Specter: A

Ranking by Citizens Against Government Waste:
Collins: 34 Snowe: 17 Specter: 29

Ranking by Federation for American Immigration Reform:
Collins: 50 Snowe: 44 Specter: 50

Ranking by Nationa Journal, Composite Liberal Score:
Collins: 52.8 Snowe: 55.5 Specter: 52.5

A few things need to be mentioned about the information listed above. It is based on analysis from groups which may or may not be objective or accurate. Project Vote Smart provides a disclaimer indicating they view interest group ratings as biased. The point here is that other GOP members known to be conservative generally score much better than these three. For instance, the composite liberal scores above are among the highest by Republicans in either the House or the Senate and even outpace some Democrats for being liberal.

Snowe and Specter had a dismal showing on matters of immigration during 2007, the last time a so=called reform, aka, amnesty, aka, shamnesty was presented. Collins may have had a better showing on this issue than the other two.

But nothing separates them from the pack better than the current bailout, stimulus, pork, porkulus insane liberal agenda spending bills in the House and Senate. The only three to vote in favor of HR1 in the Senate.

Certainly there are occasions in politics where the puzzling actions of elected officials can be attributed to backroom deals, falling on the sword for the party or some other strategy or tactic for which the reason is not immediately obvious nor shared publicly. It does not appear this is one of those times.

If there is anything conservative about Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe or Arlen Specter please share that information in the comments section. For it is the view from this blog that over time these three have earned the moniker of RINO.

One additional note should be expressed. The uncertainty of any proposed solutions for the current economic turmoil is understood. What should also be understood is quickly passing massive spending legislation based on fear and loathing does not increase the chances of success. By every report observed lately most Americans do not support the insane spending plans being formed in Washington. Already failures in oversight and other related mistakes support the notion that restraint is needed. If the American voting public allows this insanity to continue we all deserve what we get. Which may in fact be no solutions at a cost no one can afford.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Tell Chuck Schumer you care (Michelle Malkin) 

Link one
Sadly, in their first crucial vote of the 111th Congress, these three moderate Senators showed their true colors; in so doing they not only let down the nation, but also every other Republican in the House AND Senate who unlike them courageously voted against this irresponsible act.

Link two
WASHINGTON (CNN) — An influential conservative political action committee is pledging to support primary challenges to any Republican senator who backs the economic stimulus package — the latest public show of dissatisfaction from the right over the massive measure before Congress.

Three GOP senators voted for the $838 billion compromise version of the package that the Senate approved Tuesday, but all three have said they might not vote for the final version.

“The American people don’t want this trillion-dollar political payoff that will just line the pockets of non-governmental organizations who supported [President Barack] Obama in the election,” said Scott Wheeler, the executive director of The National Republican Trust PAC, an organization that calls for less government spending and lower taxes.

Link three
The actions of the 61 Senators who voted for this bailout plan to funnel money to Democratic constituencies, like unions and blue states, are shameful. But the battle of the bulge has just begun for the Senate and House, who now head into what is known as a conference committee to reconcile the differences between their two versions of the bill. If you thought the measure was bloated before, this stage could balloon the cost as each legislative body fights for its priorities. It should be a good fight. No Republicans supported the House version of the package two weeks ago. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer “is mindful that too much House meddling could torpedo the entire package.” Hear that Congressional Republicans? It there ever was a time to meddle, it’s now.