Let's have a look at the President's remarks for February 5th and see how he is being direct and transparent with the American people.  The President's opening remarks:

This week, we received a report on jobs and unemployment that told us we’re continuing to move in the right direction.  But we need to get there faster.  In the short-term, the bipartisan tax cut we passed in December will give an added boost to job creation and economic growth.  This is a tax cut that is already making Americans’ paychecks a little bigger and giving businesses more incentive to invest and hire.

Let's start with the very first statement.  36,000 jobs last month. That means that .0001% of the population got back to work last month.  With the government reported rate dropping .4%, something is just not lining up.  Hence the president's comment on not moving fast enough.  That was pretty good cover for his press secretary if questioned.  He then goes on to talk about the bipartisan tax cut that was passed in December.  A couple of things here.  1.  Could the surge in January consumer spending be easily explained by relief over the pending tax increase going away.  Easily!  2. My pay check did not get bigger with this agreement to continue the tax levy at the rate it has been for 10 years.  This is the most disingenuous of comments.  It is false.  I will cut to the chase.  Joe Wilson is right.  The President lies.  And I don;t like to do that but come on look at the facts.  read more »

Since the idea of reconciliation entered the minds of congress as a way to pass the Health Insurance bill there has been raging debate on the constitutionality of the bill.  Not for the way it was imposed on the American people but for what it imposed.     We could argue all day about parts of the bill but one Judge in Florida had made  a very clear and somewhat wordy argument for the unconstitutional nature of the individual mandate.

Since Judge Vinson issued his ruling the Department of Justice has already issued an appeal.  As you read Judge Vinson’s ruling you are amazed by the depth to which this man researched one of the most important issues of our time.   It took this judge 78 pages to decide 2 items.   What people don’t realize is that it was a split decision.  The reality is that the matter of the individual mandate due to the governments own contention on its importance to the legislation.  Striking down that mandate would hollow out the law entirely.  Not being able to sever as most court decisions can do makes this law useless.  But let’s take a minute to reflect on the governments win.

Judge Vinson ruled that the Medicaid expansion forced on the states by this law was constitutional.  The states contended that the law would create a new and much larger class of people covered by medicaid.  This being an unfunded mandate would place undo strain on the coffers of the individual states.  The judge ruled that there would be no coercion on the part of the government due to the voluntary nature of Medicaid.  I don’t see anyone applauding this decision.  But say that the government can’t force you to buy health insurance and you get labeled a Tea party judge and a nut.  read more »

There is lots of talk around Washington these days about the debt ceiling.  Specifically about whether or not the Republicans will vote for raising the limit.  There are many thoughts out there.  Here are some of the things being thrown around.

Cutting a deal on a balanced budget amendment.  The thought being the Republicans can get the balanced budget amendment through if they vote to raise the debt ceiling.  What is it about  a balanced budget Amendment that we keep hearing about it.  To me a balanced budget amendment is tantamount to Congress becoming its own parents and setting limits on itself.  Well if they can't do that without the amendment how long will it be they alter it for this exception or that.  Besides with our current debt balancing the budget will not achieve debt reduction.

Altering entitlements.  While this is the third rail of politics it is also the cause of much of the increase in spending and does it automatically.  Once these entitlements start the outflow is hardly what you would call regulated.  So this is where the emphasis should be.  How do we effectively reign in spending on entitlements without depriving the recipients of some security?    Raising the age is one option as we are living longer and there are people who work until they can't work anymore.  We could gradually raise the retirement age  to 70 by doing it gradually going up to 66 in 2012, 67 in 2013 and so on.  This would be for all entitlements

One more is cutting non-discretionary spending.  Numbers are being thrown around but whatever happens it has to be big billions not millions here and there.  Cutting agency spending and costs would save money too.  As agencies have instituted policy without Congressional oversight (a flaw in the creation of each agency, giving them power to regulate) The congressional oversight committees themselves should pour over the mundane and duplicitous regulations and have an up or down vote on all of them.  Cutting back on Government regulations would free business up to possibly begin to manufacture here again.  But it is one step.  read more »

If you are a conservative or for that matter someone who just loves America you need look no further than the Center for American Progress (CAP) to find the Anti-American sentiment that is driving both the White House and many on the left.  This far left think tank has a very  “progressive” view of both the country and the constitution.  Want to know what the President is thinking check out the Center for American Progress.  Here is a report issued by the Center on the appointment of a couple of Republicans to committees.  If you would note the “New Tone”  of the rhetoric in this piece.  This is the think tank for the people calling for civility.

Senate Republicans Place Big Bank Apologist On Banking Committee

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)

Ian Milhiser noted yesterday that Senate Republicans put Sen. Mike “noun, verb, unconstitutional” Lee (R-UT) on the Judiciary Committee, despite his radical ignorance regarding constitutional matters. But that wasn’t the only committee assignment for which the GOP decided that fealty to ideology was more important that acknowledging reality.

The uprising that started  in Egypt and swelled to a boiling point today is a real problem for the people there and here.   Mubarak is in essence a dictator having miraculously won election with 90% of the vote in every election he ever ran in.  The uprising is a democratic one.  The people are tired of not being heard by their government.  So they rise up to tell them to change.  The problem is that if the people don't feel the President has gone far enough they will continue to rebel until the country is completely destabilized.  This is the point that our interests are threatened.  Egypt is a major route for oil to come to the United States.  The Suez canal is ground zero for these riots.  If the flow of oil is cut off from the middle east due to this upheaval it could seriously affect the price of gasoline here in the US.

Part of the problem in this area is the large Muslim Arab presence in the country.  A violent overthrow of the government could leave a void that radical Islam could slip into and wrest control of the government.  If you doubt this could happen take a look at Iran back when the Shah was deposed.  The radicals immediately began an Islamic theocracy.

The outcome of this uprising is in doubt and is a major concern but as I watch the events unfold on the news I thank God everyday that I live in a country where the protest against the government is conducted in a peaceful fashion at the ballot box.  Let's keep that going.