Paul Ryan Interview

Greetings,

Here is a recent interview with congressman Paul Ryan reflecting on the Rush/Michael Steele controversy and the importance of reform (Ala 1994) and ideas.

REINVENTING THE GOP
Paul Ryan: Let The Idea People Lead

By Holly Bailey | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Mar 7, 2009

COMMENTARY:
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Paul is right in that we should ignore things that - well frankly, empower the left and have no constructive outcome. David Frum had wrote a column that was just as thoughtless as it was thoughtful where he compared Rush to Jesse Jackson. I don't always like Rush's tone myself but comparing Jackson to Rush is like comparing apples to oranges.

Rush certainly has had problems with his weight, with prescription drugs and with marriage but he has never, ever exploited his position as a de facto leader within the GOP to shake down businesses on behalf of conservatives as Jackson has for the left (especially himself). Every penny Rush has made has been through normal means such as book sales, fan paraphernalia, commercial sponsors for his program, etc. Things Jackson hasn't succeeded in at all. You can disagree with Rush over style or tone (as I certainly do often) or on finer points of policy but while Frum made excellent observations about all that is wrong about Rush, he did so in a magazine that is habitually unfriendly to Republicans and other conservatives (Duh!) while congressman Ryan chose the better part of valor, like a typical midwesterner and is politely ignoring it (remember Ronald Reagan's 11th commendment?) and focusing on solutions instead.

Thanks for showing leadership Paul. Ideas matter more than bombast and spin.

TTFN,

Jim

Take The Poll!

Greetings,

On the right (of course!) is my poll asking why you are voting Republican in 2010.

Feel free to add any comments on my blog and as long as they are civil and on topic, I'll post them.

TTFN,

Jim

What Scott Said

Why I'm Not Lining Up for Stimulus Handouts
We've been down the spending road, and the result is a state budget in terrible shape.

By Scott Walker from the Wall Street Journal Opinion Page
February 28th, 2009

Be sure to see Scott at the Lincoln County Lincoln Day Dinner coming soon on March 15th.

TTFN,

Jim

A Fitting Metaphor

Greetings,

Recently it warmed up here and all the snow melting meant water in the basement. When we settled here in Merrill, this house was our 3rd choice. When the snow melts or when we get a heavy rain we get water in the basement. Naturally this occurred right after our warranty with the previous owners expired hmmm . . .

Back onto topic though, part of the problem is the driveway pavement is landscaped in such a way that the water runs off toward the house rather than away from it. Also when the gutters were installed, the spout lets the water out right next to the house. Ironically enough, one selling point about this house was that it had a DRY finished basement!

When the last election cycle was up I found myself (as county chairman) stuck with a 4x8 foot John McCain sign and our storage unit is too small to house it. The state party didn't seem anxious to get it back and the McCain campaign was not returning my messages so in my garage it went. I knew that sometimes people run again (although in John's case I doubt it) and we have often altered signs in the past by repainting them, etc for other uses.

Well, the drip, drip, drip coming off my gutters was just about 8 feet wide and THAT gave me an idea:



With the current housing mess we are in thanks in part to Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Barack Obama & ACORN and keeping in mind the 1 Republican who saw this mess coming was none other than John McCain - I feel if this gets back to John, he'll find it an appropriate metaphor as today my basement is staying dry (we cleaned up the water yesterday) thanks to having the McCain sign blocking the drip, drip, drip of my fairly useless gutters on my poorly sloped driveway.

The bad news though, we have a winter storm warning that we are about to get another 6 to 10 inches of fresh snow. Right now I wish we had gotten those 4 signs we were promised so I could block off more of the house. Makes me think of how we could use more Republicans in the House and Senate again - to stop the oncoming storms and drip, drip, drips of the Democratic majority's policies.

An appropriate metaphor indeed.

TTFN,

Jim

Our Permanent Criminal Class - Congress!

What He Said

Him Too

Him Also For That Matter

TTFN,

Jim

The Stimu'less' Bill is Unconstitutional!

Greetings,

From here on in BTW, I'm calling the current bill the stimu'less' package because it is less 'stimulus' and more SPENDING on bureaucracy!

But anyway - recently a little known provision has been found in the bill that is unconstitutional, that is, if you still believe in the 'Free Exercise' clause of the 1st Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

According to FOX News:

"The provision bans money designated for school renovation from being spent on facilities that allow "religious worship." It has ignited a fury among critics who say it violates the First Amendment and is an attempt to prevent religious practice in schools."

So that would mean for example, NO MONEY for a Catholic or Lutheran parochial school or any denominational college or seminary.

The article further says:

"According to the bill, which the Democratic-controlled House passed despite unanimous Republican opposition, funds are prohibited from being used for the "modernization, renovation, or repair" of facilities that allow "sectarian instruction, religious worship or a school or department of divinity."

So I guess that would include hospitals too, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Jewish, etc. All those facilities have chapels right? What about little towns like mine in the upper Midwest that ONLY have ONE hospital which happens to be owned by the Catholic church?

So much for Obama the 'Christian' President and so much for the Catholic case for Obama! I wonder how many people were suckered by that liberal PAC?

Of course this is not a bad thing necessarily, when F.D.R. was President, the Supreme Court struck down the worst parts of the New Deal. Perhaps once passed this bill or parts of it can be challenged in court and summarily struck down . . . hmmm . . . food for thought.

TTFN,

Jim

Steele Elected New RNC Chair

Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele holds a gavel
after winning election to head the Republican National
Committee Friday in Washington. (AP Photo)

Republicans Pick Steele as Next Party Chairman

Personal History and Life Story

10 Things You Didn't Know About Michael Steele

Victory Speech Video


TTFN,

Jim

Obey CAUGHT Sending Pork To Family

As reported by the RPW:

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Research Briefings

Madison

01.30.2009

Dave Obey: Putting (His) Family First

by RPW Communications

“The American people want a plan to stimulate the economy and bring their jobs back. They cannot afford a trillion dollar scheme to use their hard-earned tax dollars to take care of the Democratic leadership’s friends and family...”

Amid doubt that his nearly trillion dollar "stimulus" plan would do much to help the economy come reports that House Approriations Chairman Dave Obey may have improperly pushed some of the pork in his son’s direction.

According to news reports, questions surround more than $2 billion for the National Parks Conservation Association – an organization whose chief lobbyist is Obey’s son, Craig Obey.

“As our country discusses the best plan of action to get the economy moving again, the mere appearance of impropriety is a drain on taxpayers’ confidence. Spending a trillion dollars of the taxpayers’ money is a dangerous action to begin with. Pork or pet projects have no business being included,” said Mark Jefferson, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

The $2 billion Obey included for his son’s association would be a huge windfall for a group whose yearly budget is $2 billion. The wisdom of directing any money there as part of a jobs creation act is debatable; however, there are also questions of how the group would even be able to spend the money fast enough to make a difference. The Senate bill allows $802 million for the same group.

“The American people want a plan to stimulate the economy and bring their jobs back. They cannot afford a trillion dollar scheme to use their hard-earned tax dollars to take care of the Democratic leadership’s friends and family,” said Jefferson. “Obey’s constituents and the taxpayers across this country deserve better.”

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Those of us who live in the 7th District always knew he was involved in these sorts of things but he has finally gotten called out on it in the national media for once.

What Dave Obey has done along with what Rod Blagojevich has done illustrates the difference between Democrats and Republicans on 'Family Values'. When Republicans say, "Family Values" we mean ethics and morals, when Democrats say it they mean 'sending something of value to my family like a favor, a job or a government contract'.

More coverage of the Dave Obey scandal:

Stimulus bill has money sought by lawmaker's son

Is There a Family Connection in Some of the Stimulus Spending?

GOP wants investigation into lobbying by Obey’s son for Obama’s spending bill

EXCLUSIVE: Stimulus has plum for lawmaker's son

A few years back at a Republican event I was at one of our Republican congressmen said to me, "Jim, there are really 3 political parties in Washington, the are Democrats, there are Republicans and there are Appropriators." He went on further to say how both Republicans and Democrats often changed after spending several years on the appropriations committee. Well, according to U.S.News & World Report,

"Nancy Pelosi may be the top House Democrat, but Obey, as the party's top appropriator, is in the center of the action, with direct sway over the power of the purse."

Who is Dave Obey's top contributer? Farallon Capital Management located in San Francisco, Nancy Pelosi's district. Thomas F. Steyer, a senior partner at Farallon Capital Management, gave $1,000 to Nancy Pelosi and $5,000 to her PAC.

It seems clear to me that when you connect the dots and follow the money, the desires of San Francisco, not Northern Wisconsin, are driving Dave Obey's agenda and he is only looking out for #1.



TTFN,

Jim

Thanks Guys!

Thanks Paul, thanks Jim, Thanks Tom,

Thanks for not voting for the 'stimulus package'



Yeah, that one. It's a 'package' all right, but it ain't no economic stimulus!

So,

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!


           Paul Ryan                     Jim Sensenbrenner                           Tom Petri

We know that the 'stimulus' package has a hole in the bottom of it anyway with a diameter of about 488 feet:

244 big spenders standing in a circle times the average human width of 2 feet

244bs x ahw = 488 feet

Notice too how 'Big Spenders' and 'Bull S***' have the same mathematical value of BS?

Of course I didn't use 'Washington math' so the hole in the package could be exponentially LARGER once bureaucrats, lobbyists and staffers are included.

But they knew that, so thanks again guys.

TTFN,

Jim

Update On Meriter Hospital - Abortion Related Story

Greetings,

This is an email sent out by WFC (Wisconsin Family Council) I think it speaks for itself:

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We've proved once again that the multiplied power of one really does work!

Yesterday at the noon press conference at the state capitol, the pro-life coalition that is working to stop a plan to have the UW-affiliated Madison Surgery Center do abortions on unborn babies as far along as 22 weeks gestation, announced that we were presenting over 20,000 signatures to Meriter Hospital, the UW Hospital and Clinics and the UW Medical Foundation!

Wisconsin Family Council collected over 6200 of those signatures! The thanks goes to every person who took time to sign the petition and to send it to others. If you were one of those, know that your efforts are paying great dividends--and that it was my honor to represent you at the press conference yesterday.

All the groups circulating the petition did a great job--and that type of cooperation and coordination reminds us that when we work together on these types of issues, things happen! In this case, we sincerely hope and pray that it will result in thousands of babies being saved from the atrocity of a truly untimely and cruel death. Regardless of the outcome, we know that everyone has worked hard and pulled together--and the organizations considering this atrocious plan know we've been busy.

The press conference was excellent! A number of individuals spoke, including 2 doctors, one of whom uses Meriter Hospital for his practice, a couple of current patients of the involved hospitals and clinics, representatives from the organizations in the coalition, and Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend).

Click here for WFC's press release about the conference and the petition delivery. Click here for pictures from the day's events.
Edited video from the press conference will be available on WFC's home page soon.

Following the press conference, representatives from Wisconsin Family Council, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life, and Vigil for Life took boxes of the signed petitions and delivered them to the administration at Meriter Hospital. We told them we'd be sending more in the days ahead! So, if you haven't signed the petition yet, it's not too late! Click here to sign right now!

We know the UW Hospital and Clinics board will meet next Wednesday, February 4, to consider this plan and to get input from people on both sides of the issue. We are not sure when the UW Medical Foundation, Meriter, and the Madison Surgery Center boards will act on this proposal. Stay tuned for future updates.

In the meantime, there are still at least two things you can do to make a difference on this life and death matter:

1) Pray that God will intervene and work in the hearts and minds of the decision makers.
2) Attend the rally this Saturday, January 31 at the Library Mall on the UW Madison campus. The rally starts at 12:15 and will be concluded by 1:30. The Library Mall is at the end of State Street (heading away from the capitol), between Lake and Park Streets. Parking is available in the Lake Street ramp. Please join us for this important event!

A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already helped in any way on this issue! Be encouraged--your voice is being heard! And you are being faithful in showing up, speaking up and standing up for human life--our great God's crowning creative act!

For life and families,




Julaine K. Appling, CEO
Wisconsin Family Council
www.wifamilycouncil.org

"Dedicated to strengthening and preserving marriage, family, life and liberty in Wisconsin"

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I would add that you should only sign this petition (a different one from the national FOCA one) if you live in Wisconsin, for the petition to have the proper impact, it should be signed by Wisconsin residents only.

I will also note that the weather for the rally taking place on this upcoming Saturday will actually be warm by Wisconsin winter standards, the predicted high will be 35 degrees and the low 22 with partly sunny skies so the Lord is giving us good weather for those interested in attending.

TTFN,

Jim