The reckless, big spending policies of Washington continue to have consequences:
Leave a commentThe U.S. and the U.K. have moved “substantially” closer to losing their AAA credit ratings as the cost of servicing their debt rose, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
…The U.S. government will spend about 7 percent of its revenue servicing debt in 2010 and almost 11 percent in 2013, according to the baseline scenario of moderate economic recovery, fiscal adjustments in line with government plans and a gradual increase in interest rates, Moody’s said.
Under its adverse scenario, which assumes 0.5 percent lower growth each year, less fiscal adjustment and a stronger interest-rate shock, the U.S. will be paying about 15 percent of revenue in interest payments, more than the 14 percent limit that would lead to a downgrade to AA, Moody’s said.
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ACORN’s favorite unpaid spokesman, Brad Friedman, goes to bat for the organization once again. This time he’s latched onto a statement by Ed Morrissey which he thinks whitewashes everything, much how he thinks the question of what O’Keefe wore clears them of any wrongdoing in the pimp scandal.
Ed mistakenly said the indictments were against ACORN as an organization, instead of against ACORN employees. Brad is right to point out the important difference here. But that’s where the merit of his defense ends.
At what point does an organization – which has the registering of voters as one of its primary functions – have to be responsible for the continued failure of its employees to carry out this task honestly and in compliance with the law? Brad’s line of argument, as much as it can be determined when reading between the lines of his hysterical references to “the shameless Republican assault on verifiable truth and American democracy,” would have us believe that, because no smoking gun has emerged to show that ACORN ordered such criminal behavior, they are not responsible for any of the repeated and consistent wrong-doing of their employees.
I wonder. Would Brad extend that same defense to a private company whose employees had a pattern of consistent criminality? If cashiers in Wal-Mart stores all across the country were routinely overcharging customers, would he distinguish between the company and its employees? Or would he reach the reasonable conclusion that Wal-Mart has a responsibility to ensure the quality of its hires and protect its customers from fraud on its watch?
That responsibility is even greater for ACORN, which receives gobs of taxpayer funds to engage in its registration activities. Whether or not they are an organization that explicitly encourages criminal behavior, or are merely so reckless in their employment practices as to be littered with criminals and enablers of criminal behavior in locations all across the country, is a distinction with an ever diminishing difference.
As a matter of public policy, both possibilities raise the same question. Why should we give taxpayer money to such an incompetent organization, whose employees frequently engage in illegal, unethical or immoral behavior?
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If you’re a devoted liberal propagandist named Brad Freidman, are prepared to go to bat for the corrupt organ of the Democratic Party known as ACORN, and want to say anything to clear their toxic name, you might be tempted to make sweeping statements like this:
ACORN has been targeted, for years, by the GOP’s phony “voter fraud” smear campaign simply because the community organization had the temerity to help legally register millions of legal low- and middle-income voters who tend to lean Democratic as they legally exercise their right to vote. The Republicans have lied about the group having committed voter fraud over and over again. But the group hasn’t done so — ever. At least there is not one known shred of evidence to suggest as much.
But before you hit “publish,” maybe you should read today’s news:
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the Milwaukee Election Fraud Task Force has brought additional electoral fraud cases against five Wisconsin residents. The Department of Justice, acting as Special Prosecutor for Milwaukee County, has filed felony charges against Maria Miles, Kevin Clancy, Michael Henderson, Herbert Gunka, and Suzanne Gunka, all alleging election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008, Presidential Election.
“The integrity of elections is dependent upon citizens and officials insisting they be conducted lawfully. Wisconsin’s citizens should not have to wonder whether their vote has been negated or diminished by illegally cast ballots,” Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said.
According to the criminal complaints, Miles and Clancy served as Special Registration Deputies (“SRD”) for the City of Milwaukee in advance of the 2008 Presidential Election. Each worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”). Miles and Clancy are each charged with the felony offense of Falsely Procuring Voter Registration as Party to a Crime. The complaint alleges that Miles and Clancy submitted multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals, and also were part of a scheme in which they and other SRDs registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN.
Woops.
But it’s hard to expect a busy guy like Brad Friedman to be up on everything the moment it happens, so this oversight can be overlooked. What is inexcusable is his constant lying about ACORN’s long history of voter fraud.
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Sarah Palin is no stranger to smear campaigns. The latest such story which has liberal bloggers and other Palin haters all wee-wee’d up alleges that Palin and her “entourage” gobbled up all the free Oscar swag. Supposedly, she and her group were “like locusts,” and descended on the liberal event and ruined everything by being such a greedy capitalist.
Too bad it’s all a lie. Here’s what actually happened:
Leave a commentThe Silver Spoon, a company owned and operated by women and established with a firm belief in supporting women in business and leadership, invited Governor Sarah Palin and her family to participate in a charitable function sponsored by The Silver Spoon and the Red Cross to support the Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Governor Palin graciously accepted since it was in support of such a worthy and timely cause. The governor arrived with a small group about 15 minutes prior to our store’s official opening; and upon arrival, she and her entire group gave generous donations to the cause. We offered to open early to accommodate her schedule; she did not ask us to open early. The other vendors routinely set up an hour before the event opens, so they were already there when the governor arrived. No one was asked to come in early. When Governor Palin arrived, she and her guests made generous donations. I escorted her around and introduced her to every vendor, and they talked to her about their products and gifted her with samples. She never asked for anything but politely accepted the products. The governor and her family and guests were very gracious and respectful to everyone. We asked and the governor happily agreed to take a photo with the American Red Cross staff and the staff of The Silver Spoon. The governor stayed for a total of about 35 minutes, thanked everyone, made an additional generous personal donation pledge to the Red Cross, and then departed.
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Alright, so it’s not that bad… yet. Nevertheless, here I am introducing myself to the good folks at RightWingNews, where I’ll be contributing from time to time on the weekends.
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About the creators.
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…you’re a Democratic President, but the Washington Post is plotting ways for you to leave office early.
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Congratulations to Ed Morrissey of Hot Air for being named CPAC Blogger of the Year, and for the surprise video introduction he received from none other than the Maha Rushie himself.
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The crowd erupted and the Blogger’s Lounge emptied when Liz Cheney announced that she brought her dad with her as a surprise. The former VP got a long standing ovation, and one loud audience member shouted “Four more years.” Cheney teased the crowd by saying that the welcome almost made him want to run for office again, but said “I’m not gonna do it.”
Cheney was recently in the news for voicing his support for repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Coming soon: Mitt Romney.
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It’s easy to forget the political reality of the 90’s. We look back fondly at the perception of unheard of prosperity around an economic bubble that hadn’t yet popped, and of conservative majorities in Congress forcing a balanced budget and welfare reform on Clinton.
What we forget is how Bill Clinton both came to power and won reelection by operating the most despicable attack group in the nation’s history. The Clinton War Room targeted any threat for complete destruction, and then carried it out with ruthless efficiency. Just ask Paula Jones.
Big Government reports that the War Room is making a return. The target? Regular people upset with big government, bailouts and runaway deficits.
Leave a commentBig Government has learned that Clintonistas are plotting a “push/pull” strategy. They plan to identify 7-8 national figures active in the tea party movement and engage in deep opposition research on them. If possible, they will identify one or two they can perhaps ‘turn’, either with money or threats, to create a mole in the movement. The others will be subjected to a full-on smear campaign. (Has MSNBC already been notified?)
Big Government has also learned that James Carville will head up the effort.
…The tea party movement could evolve into a new political realignment, one founded on a belief in limited government and less government interference in the economy. The Progressive agenda, which has been painstakingly built up over the last three decades, could be left in tatters.
As the Clinton’s know, “politics ain’t beanbag.” Expect the counterattack soon. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.
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I am a libertarian-conservative blogger living in the DC area. I have a Master's degree in Political Science, but please don't hold that against me.
