Spending cuts, Florida spending cuts, and more

The House: Leadership Agrees to $100 Billion Cuts Now.

In other House Republican news, a leadership aide associates himself with the accuracy of this Roll Call story:

House Conservatives Persuade Leaders to Slash Spending Further

House Republican leaders have agreed to a key conservative demand that they make good on their campaign pledge to reduce fiscal 2011 spending to $100 billion less than President Barack Obama’s budget request, GOP aides said Wednesday.

According to a GOP leadership aide, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and other leaders are working with Republican appropriators, the Republican Study Committee and other conservatives on a “unified” strategy to reduce spending beyond the $74 billion in cuts they had already planned. The cuts, which would only apply to non-defense discretionary spending, would come as part of a continuing resolution to fund the government between March and the end of the fiscal year.

“From the start, our focus has been to cut spending so that we can grow the economy, and right now there are a lot of moving parts and we’re actively working to bring the Conference together with a unified strategy,” the aide said.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/259426/peace-comes-house-gop-leadership-agrees-100-billion-cuts-now-kathryn-jean-lopez


This is the first step. The Republicans will have an even bigger task when they look at the 2012 budget. Stand by for some interesting times ahead.



Florida's Scott Sends Shockwaves With $5B in Budget Cuts

FLORIDA'S TEA PARTY-BACKED GOV. RICK SCOTT PROPOSED CUTTING MORE THAN $5 BILLION FROM STATE SPENDING MONDAY while also slashing taxes as he laid out his first budget proposal aimed at closing a deficit of nearly $4 billion.

The Republican, a former healthcare executive, proposed saving nearly $4 BILLION OVER TWO YEARS BY REFORMING MEDICAID, the health insurance program for poor people.

HE ALSO SAW SAVINGS OF $2.8 BILLION OVER TWO YEARS THROUGH AN OVERHAUL OF FLORIDA'S RELATIVELY HEALTHY STATE PENSION SYSTEM. Scott also proposed cutting taxes by more than $4 billion over two years. This would include a roll-back of corporate income taxes from 5 percent to 3.5 percent and reductions in property taxes….

…."THIS BUDGET FROM THE GOVERNOR IS A FRONTAL ASSAULT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERY FLORIDIAN AND WILL NOT CREATE A SINGLE JOB NOR SPUR OUR ECONOMY FORWARD," Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said. "Instead, it takes us further into the economic ditch."

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/florida-rick-scott-budget/2011/02/08/id/385368?utm_source=twitter


I find it hard to believe the Democrat Party Chairman would be so ignorant of basic economics (not create a single job nor spur our economy forward) as to make the statement he did. Perhaps he should read the next story on Texas.



State of the state: Texas Governor takes on ObamaCare

In his state of the state address, Gov. Rick Perry is DISCUSSING HOW TEXAS HAS BUILT ITS ECONOMIC EDGE, and how it will deal with its budget issues.

Our economic strength is no accident. It’s a testimony to our people, our entrepreneurs and, yes, to the decisions made in this building. Employers from across the country and around the world understand that the opportunity they crave can be found in Texas, and they’re headed our way, with jobs in tow.

People are seeking opportunity as well, and newcomers arrive every day, ready to pursue their dreams. FOR THE SIXTH YEAR RUNNING, RESEARCH FROM ALLIED VAN LINES SHOWED THAT TEXAS WAS THE TOP DESTINATION FOR RELOCATIONS.


Need I go on? Well, don’t mind if I do.

NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE HAD FOUR TEXAS CITIES ON THEIR LIST OF “TOP 10 AMERICAN CITIES BEST SITUATED FOR RECOVERY”, and Forbes considers our growth prospects best in the nation, based on projected increases in jobs, income, and gross state product.

In a category that really affects the bottom line for Texas families, our STATE LEADS THE NATION IN STRONG HOME VALUES. According to one industry analyst, the strongest appreciation in home values over the next seven months, will take place in the Houston area, the Metroplex and Amarillo.

Gov. Perry listed three reasons Texas is fairing comparatively well: THE STATE HAS A LOW TAX BURDEN, A FAIR AND PREDICTABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, AND STRONG TORT REFORM TO MINIMIZE FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS. Along with a detailed discussion of border security and the Lone Star State’s battle against the EPA, Perry is also taking a strong shot at ObamaCare…..

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/02/08/state-of-the-state-texas-governor-takes-on-obamacare/


Perhaps we should contrast this with California, New York, Illinois, or some other Democrat controlled state.


Meanwhile the Feds are trying to mess with Texas

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ONCE AGAIN OVERSTEPPING ITS AUTHORITY BY MESSING WITH TEXAS. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leadership continued their game of hardball by STRIPPING TEXAS OF ITS AUTHORITY TO ISSUE GREENHOUSE GAS PERMITS. It is painfully obvious that the EPA is making an example out of Texas. OUT OF THE 13 STATES THAT INITIALLY OBJECTED TO THE EPA’S EFFORTS TO REGULATE, TEXAS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS NOT SURRENDERED to the intrusion of the federal government. As a result, the EPA is punishing Texas for not giving in to their demands……

…. Instead of making an example out of Texas, perhaps the EPA should use Texas as an example. TEXAS HAS SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVED ITS ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY. The Texas Flexible Permitting Program has been successful in reducing emissions and allowing industries in Texas to thrive. According to a report from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the ozone levels in Texas decreased by 27 percent between 2000 and 2009. The national average decrease in ozone levels over this same time period was 12 percent. Our state is dedicated to finding cleaner energy alternatives, but we also know that we need to utilize our known sources of energy effectively and safely…..

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=41684


A Republican House in the meantime will be talking with the EPA about what they are doing per the following story.

Global warming fix heats up hearing with EPA chief

THE HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS IN FOR SOME GRILLING BY CONGRESS THIS YEAR, so much so that a top House Republican joked that she should line up a permanent parking spot at the Capitol.

Topic A is the agency's attempt to curb the release of gases blamed for global warming. HAVING FAILED LAST YEAR TO ENACT NEW LEGISLATION TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES, THE ADMINISTRATION IS LEFT TO USE EXISTING LAW TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS.

That, Republicans contend, WILL PENALIZE INDUSTRIES THAT OTHERWISE COULD BE CREATING NEW JOBS, and they've made the agency a central target of their anti-regulatory agenda.

On Wednesday, EPA CHIEF LISA JACKSON GOES BEFORE A HOUSE COMMITTEE determined to block her agency's steps to address climate change. Jackson contends the law and compelling scientific evidence on global warming give her no choice but to act.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110209/ap_on_re_us/us_epa_under_fire;_ylt=ApW24CA6nE5sd9fMKMlDp_is0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsazBtY3A5BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMjA5L3VzX2VwYV91bmRlcl9maXJlBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDOARwb3MDNQRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2dsb2JhbHdhcm1pbg

Global Warming does not have “compelling scientific evidence” on its side.


Tribe’s OpEd: Misusing the word “Choice”

Tribe's op-ed, as I wrote in the first post, RESTS VERY HEAVILY ON MISREPRESENTING THE SUPREME COURT'S COMMERCE POWER DOCTRINE AS REFERRING TO "COMMERCIAL CHOICES." In fact, the cases REFER TO "COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES," and A SWITCH FROM "ACTIVITY" TO "CHOICE" IS IMMENSELY IMPORTANT in the health care litigation, in which opponents stress that THE FAILURE TO BUY INSURANCE IS INACTIVITY, NOT ACTIVITY, and therefore beyond even the broadest interpretations the Supreme Court has ever given to the Commerce Clause.


Tribe attempted to skew opinion by substituting "choice" for "activity," and I have called him on that. But I need to go further, because someone who uses words to get things done needs to be kept honest not only about shifting from one word to another, but ALSO ABOUT CHANGING THE MEANING OF THE SAME FROM CASE TO CASE. Let's look at how Tribe talked about "choice" and health insurance and then see how that squares with what "choice" is supposed to mean in the abortion context….

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-have-to-take-3rd-shot-at-larry-tribes.html


I’ve made this a must read for a reason. This has an interesting look at how Tribe’s use of the word choice and his definition of it would make that word totally unacceptable to those who favor abortion rights.



Democrat retreat: A posh affair

Anyone expecting the Senate to get any work done over the next few days is going to be disappointed – DEMOCRATS HAVE SKIPPED TOWN FOR A THREE-DAY RETREAT.

But what’s causing a stir isn’t the fact that Democrats are leaving – IT’S WHERE THEY’RE GOING: A SWANKY 573-ACRE RESORT OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTESVILLE CALLED THE BOAR’S HEAD INN…..

….It’s quite a departure from the Republicans’ retreat last month. THE GOP LAWMAKERS TRAVELED ALL OF A BLOCK FROM THE US CAPITOL, HEADING TO THE NEARBY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

Asked about the Democrats’ getaway plans, the Senate’s top Republican Mitch McConnell today took the diplomatic high road. “I THINK WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO HOLD THEIR RETREAT IS UP TO THEM,” he said.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/02/a-tale-of-two-retreats.html


After all the Democrats are “the party of the people”, or is that “the people who are partying?”



Passenger Trains: Clearly the Change We've Been Waiting For

You are our Ruler. An entrepreneur tells you he wants to create something he calls a "skating rink." Young and old will strap blades to their feet and speed through an oval arena, weaving patterns as moods strike them.

You'd probably say, "WE NEED REGULATION -- SKATING STOPLIGHTS, SPEED LIMITS, TURN SIGNALS -- AND A RINK DIRECTOR TO POLICE THE SKATERS. YOU CAN'T EXPECT SKATERS TO NAVIGATE THE RINK ON THEIR OWN."

And yet they do. They spontaneously create their own order.

At last month's State of the Union, PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID AMERICA NEEDS MORE PASSENGER TRAINS. How does he know? For years, politicians promised that more of us will want to commute by train, but it doesn't happen. People like their cars. SOME SUBSIDIZED TRAINS COST SO MUCH PER COMMUTER THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO BUY THEM TAXI RIDES.

THE GRAND SCHEMES OF THE POLITICIANS FAIL AND FAIL AGAIN.

By contrast, the private sector, despite harassment from government, gives us better stuff for less money -- without central planning. It's called a spontaneous order.

Lawrence Reed, of the Foundation for Economic Education, explains it this way:

"SPONTANEOUS ORDER IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE -- WHEN ENTREPRENEURS ... SEE THE DESIRES OF PEOPLE ... AND THEN PROVIDE FOR THEM…..

http://townhall.com/columnists/johnstossel/2011/02/09/passenger_trains__clearly_the_change__weve_been_waiting_for/page/full/


This is a huge difference between liberals and conservatives. Liberals see the profit motive as something that cheats consumers, cause inferior products and threatens safety. Conservatives see successful organizations as those that provide value, gives people what they want and do it more efficiently, more effectively, and more profitably than government can.



Obama's Approval Rating on Deficit Sinks to New Low

NEARLY SEVEN OUT OF TEN AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF HOW PRESIDENT OBAMA IS HANDLING THE BUDGET DEFICIT, ACCORDING TO A GALLUP POLL RELEASED TODAY.

Although Obama called for a freeze on non-defense discretionary spending in his State of the Union speech, most Americans aren’t impressed. HE ALSO HAS HIGH DISAPPROVAL RATINGS FOR HIS POLICIES ON THE ECONOMY (60 PERCENT), HEALTHCARE (56 PERCENT), AND TAXES (54 PERCENT).

Obama’s also losing independents on key issues. Independents are leaning Republican on healthcare, the economy, taxes, and the budget deficit. And while Independents remain fairly evenly split between the parties on certain issues – including foreign affairs and energy policy — GALLUP FOUND NO POLICY THAT INDEPENDENTS ARE LEANING DEMOCRAT ON.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/146021/Obama-Approval-Rating-Deficit-Sinks-New-Low.aspx


In the USA, with Democrats and Republicans pretty evenly split, it is the independents that determine elections. In 2006 and 2008, they acted like Democrats. In 2010 their views mirrored Republicans. It appears at this stage, they are still acting like Republicans.



Webb bows out in 2012: Others at risk

With Wednesday's announcement that SEN. JIM WEBB, D-VA., WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2012, the number of pro-ObamaCare senators facing re-election in 2012 falls to 10. But the original post is worth revisiting.

NOT A SINGLE SENATE DEMOCRAT ON FEB. 2 VOTED TO REPEAL OBAMACARE. That was expected. But with the health law as unpopular as ever, the vote could come back to haunt vulnerable Democrats in 2012.

Eleven Democrats up for re-election next year represent states in which Republicans won a majority of the 2010 popular vote for House seats: Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin…..

http://blogs.investors.com/capitalhill/index.php/home/35-politicsinvesting/2397-11-pro-obamacare-senators-face-red-state-voters-in-2012


Webb a Republican turned Democrat may have wished he stayed a Republican.



More about Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood

As the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood emerges as THE STRONGEST OPPOSITION MOVEMENT IN THE CENTER OF THE ARAB WORLD AND, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE LIKELY WINNER IN FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, particularly in parliament, it is incumbent that we learn more about it.

While campaigning for parliamentary seats in recent years, the shadowy group does not usually go beyond sloganizing “Islam is the Solution.” In a timely release, PALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH HAS TODAY POSTED ITS TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK JIHAD IS THE WAY, BY THE EGYPTIAN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD’S FORMER DIRECTOR MUSTAFA MASHHUR (1996–2002). The book explains the fundamental concepts of the Muslim Brotherhood ideology, which is typically kept hidden from world view. As PMW describes, it “encompass subjects such as the MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD’S GOAL OF ESTABLISHING AN ISLAMIC STATE, WORLD DOMINATION UNDER ISLAM, THE PUBLIC AND PERSONAL RELIGIOUS DUTY OF MILITARY JIHAD, and the warning not to rush to Jihad until it is prepared and timed for maximum benefit.”

Below are some sample quotes from the translation:

● “. . . the Islamic Ummah [nation] . . . can regain its power and be liberated and assume its RIGHTFUL POSITION WHICH WAS INTENDED BY ALLAH, AS THE MOST EXALTED NATION AMONG MEN, as the leaders of humanity . . .”

● “. . . KNOW YOUR STATUS, AND BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT YOU ARE THE MASTERS OF THE WORLD, even if your enemies desire your degradation . . .”

● “It should be known that Jihad and preparation towards JIHAD ARE NOT ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FENDING-OFF ASSAULTS AND ATTACKS OF ALLAH’S ENEMIES from Muslims, but are also FOR THE PURPOSE OF REALIZING THE GREAT TASK OF ESTABLISHING AN ISLAMIC STATE and strengthening the religion and spreading it around the world . . .”

● “. . . Jihad for Allah is not limited to the specific region of the Islamic countries, since the Muslim homeland is one and is not divided, and the banner of Jihad has already been raised in some of its parts, and it shall continue to be raised, with the help of Allah, until every inch of the land of Islam will be liberated, the State of Islam will be established . . .”

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/259348/more-about-egypts-muslim-brotherhood-nina-shea

For those who think we should cheer lead the turmoil in Egypt, this is something to think about. The Muslim Brotherhood is an extremist group bent on establishing an Islamic world order.


If you want to read more of the translation you can find it here.


http://palwatch.org/STORAGE/special%20reports/Jihad_is_the_way_by_Mustafa_Mashhur.pdf



A Blowhard Bromance?

On Fox News’ late-night Red Eye, Greg Gutfeld asked his panel about the move by ex-MSNBC host Keith Olbermann to Al Gore’s Current TV. “IS THIS A BLOWHARD BROMANCE?”


In a discussion that described Olbermann’s move to the poorly-rated Current (described by Gutfeld as a network devoted to “knitting and all things yarn”) as “deserved oblivion,” CURRENT WAS DESCRIBED AS SUCH A NONFACTOR IN THE CABLE TELEVISION WORLD THAT IT DIDN’T EVEN WARRANT A MENTION IN OLBERMANN’S PRESUMED NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT WITH NBC. “They had ‘don’t work at Subway,’ but not that,” said Gutfeld.

Watch it here: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/red-eye-panel-declares-gore-and-olbermann-pairing-a-blowhard-bromance/


Actually this makes a lot of sense for Gore, but I’m not sure it does for Olbermann. Current TV should pick up so viewers, but they are so low in ratings, it is looking like it may be the Air America of cable. Olbermann right now is worth a lot to someone. Going to Current TV and not pulling off a miracle diminishes his value.

Arianna Huffington's ideological transformation

….That version of Huffington CALLED FOR STRICT IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS. She FAVORED BILL CLINTON'S RESIGNATION and floated the rumor that a former ambassador had been buried in Arlington because Clinton had slept with his wife.

By that time, she had already had many ideological meanderings, beginning with a book called "The Female Woman" (seen as anti-feminist) and continuing to a biography portraying Picasso as a misogynist (seen as a feminist tract). SHE HAD ALSO BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN CAMPAIGNS BY HER THEN-HUSBAND, A REPUBLICAN, FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

But IN THE LATE 1990S, HUFFINGTON BEGAN TO REINVENT HERSELF. She covered the '96 political conventions for Comedy Central with Al Franken. She broke with Gingrich. She disparaged Bob Dole. She promoted Warren Beatty for president. She published a book favoring campaign finance reform. In 2000, she hosted a "shadow convention" protesting both parties.

SHE LATER EXPLAINED THE "TRANSFORMATION" OF HER POLITICAL VIEWS BY SAYING THE RIGHT HAD "SEDUCED, FOOLED, BLINDED, BAMBOOZLED" HER.

That's crazy talk. NOBODY BAMBOOZLES ARIANNA STASSINOPOULOS HUFFINGTON. If anybody was fooled, it was those who believed she would be a more enduring progressive than she was a conservative.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/08/AR2011020805179.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns


The paragraphs I have reproduced are from the end of the article. It’s an interesting read to see the transformations of Arianna over the years. I’m of the belief she is neither a progressive nor conservative, but is a dedicated opportunist.