Another Stellar example of Impartial and Intelligent Reporting by the Palm Beach Post

Mr. Bender:

This passes for hard hitting, impartial reporting?  Not a word on all the money Crist has spent on his sojourns abroad and not a word about how he is tanking with the rank and file Republicans? Remember, Rubio was using "Party funds", funds given freely by the citizens.  Charlie was wasting TAXPAYERS money and more of it.  There IS a difference, but I guess it is too difficult a concept for you to grasp...

Do you realize that Governor Crist has committed one of the greatest political miscalculations in American Politics by embracing Obamanomics?  Do you not think that by his saying Congress should not scrap Obama's health Bill and start with a clean slate, and then being unable to remember (or should we say know?) anything about Obama's bill show a horrible political tin ear?

Listen, I know it is too much to expect you to anything other than your typical left wing newspaper reporter, but try to at least TRY to see how bad Crist has blown his chances.  It will be a textbook case of how to commit political suicide for years to come.

For the rest of my readers:  Please remember, for all intents and purposes, most newspaper writers are the guys and gals who couldn't master math, science or engineering.  Most will never make it to the big leagues and will be stuck in this low paying job while technology is making their jobs obsolete.  They, for the most part, think they are smarter than the average Joe and are contemptuous of the common man.

As proof, if being a journalist means being smarter than your average bear, why is Katie Couric a news anchor? And why did Wolf Blitzer lose to a third rate comedian in "Jeopardy" ?

Flogging a Dead Horse to Sell Papers

Our esteemed daily rag, the NW Florida Daily News, does a little marketing trick every Sunday.  It has on it's Web Site a teaser story to get folks to go out and buy the Sunday Paper.

Today's teaser was 'Sansom's salary at college 'caused a huge negative reaction'

If not for the obvious lead story of the massive earthquake in Chile, I'm pretty sure it would have been the headline.

My reaction? It's like stating "Man's Execution Results in His Death".  It gave no new information and anyone, other than possibly Pat Rice, knew that Sansom's deal with Richburg smelled to high heavens and have known this for well over a year! 

This front page story, I repeat, FRONT PAGE STORY ON THE SUNDAY PAPER, and pimped on the website is the equivalent of the "Teasers" car dealers do to get you in the show room.  They offer a great price on a car, but there is probably only one on the lot and it's sold by the time you get there.  It is sleazy business, and the NW Florida Daily News little teaser on Sansom's salary smacks not only of sleazy journalism but also of LAZY journalism.

Face it folks, We no longer have a paper of record in Okaloosa county.  All we got is a paper written and printed in Panama City.  Oh yeah, they are still bankrupt.

My Question is: If Ray Sansom and company are not tried or found "not guilty", will the NW Florida Daily News have more than one story about this and will it be writing about how they were found innocent a year after the story broke?

PS: For the Record: I get the paper on weekends cause the Wife is a hardcore coupon user, (A dying yet profitable art) so I have read the entire article....

Charlie Crist goes for the Jugular...Winds up in the Armpit....

Recent Charlie Crist interviews raises three issues that demonstrate why he should not be elected U.S. Senator from Florida.

Issue #1:

Here is a link to a very friendly interview of Governor Crist by the Palm Beach Post. In it he claims that by charging a 7 bucks for lunch (while on Party Business) smacks of "financial desperation" by Marco Rubio. Here is the actual quote:

“It looks like an act of financial desperation when you’re charging a $7 sandwich at Chik-fil-a. That doesn’t sound like sound financial management of your personal income,” Crist said in an interview Friday with The Palm Beach Post editorial board.

I take it that Charlie would have felt better about it If Speaker Rubio ordered "Chateaubriand for Six" for lunch?

When I first endorsed Marco Rubio last year, it was more out of reaction to Crist's embrace of the Obama Stimulus bill and the subsequent "manly" hug of Obama at a campaign event to promote it. I knew Rubio was a conservative and I realized he was long shot. Political figures in my area told me I was backing a loser and that if Crist doesn't get the nomination, it will go Democrat. My, my what a difference a year makes. And Crist has done nothing but make me more confident that I made the right choice.

As I watched this race develop, I've noticed that Marco Rubio's "personal" finances would on occasion, be brought up by a hostile press. I remember Rubio being formally interviewed by a couple of journalists (with many of the questions about Obama's tripling of the debt and the "Porkulus" bill), when, completely out of the blue, one of the reporters accused the Speaker of hypocrisy by being in debt himself. The nature of that Debt? Rubio's mortgages on his family home and a vacation home.

Huh? having a mortgage on your home and making on-time payments on said mortgage, makes you a deadbeat? (Remember, If you can't make payments on a home that you bought way of above what your income warrants, you are a victim, at least according to Democrats). It was the lowest of blows, a completely facetious question only meant to smear the Speaker as financial hypocrite. I can't prove it, but the question smacked of political opposition research being fed to a friendly reporter and the only beneficiary for this type of gutter politics was Charlie Crist.

Fast forward to today and the Governor gives an interview on the leaking of Rubio's credit card reports (Gee, let me think...hmmm..who would have motive for leaking of those reports and have a crony in the position for access in order to leak aforementioned reports?....hmmm... dare I say Charlie Crist and his thuggish tool, Jim Greer?)

So our perpetually tanned, immaculately groomed "Newlywed" Governor goes to a liberal MSM paper and, without batting an eye, engages in the most vicious and downright dishonest political smears of his opponent, accusing him of poverty and having to essentially bilk the party to support himself, and by implication, his family.

Let me state, on the record, there is no greater insult to a honest man who takes pride in his family, works hard to put bread on the table and, above all, makes it sure his wife and children are provided for now and in the future, than to accuse him of being unable to do so without resorting to illicit or illegal activities. It is utterly contemptible for Governor Crist to imply or suggest this and he owes Marco Rubio a personal and public apology.

Let me make this clear: The massive abuses of RPOF funds occurred under Jim Greer's watch and Jim Greer is a wholly own subsidiary of Charlie Crist. Crist is just trying to deflect the spotlight from his support of his minion (and himself) by resorting to gutter politics. PERIOD.

Issue #2:

Here is a link to the same friendly MSM Outlet where Crist says he wouldn't scrap the Obama Healthcare plan.

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS MAN DRINKING? Did he not see the that silly healthcare summit? Did he not get the message that it is the expressed position by the entire Congressional Republican Caucus in both Senate and House that we should scrap the ENTIRE Democratic HealthCare efforts to date and start from a blank sheet?

Florida Republicans: This is Why We Should Fire Charlie Crist on August 24, 2010

Jim Greer is the obvious source for this story.

And make no mistake, Charlie Crist was the one who made it happen.  What is amazing is that there is no real scandal in the records, even when cherry picking expenses.

A FORENSIC audit (That is an audit looking for Criminal Activity) is currently underway with the RPOF funds and results are expected (I hope) to be given to the County Chairs. (Hat tip to my Local Tea party for the audit lesson given last night).

This smacks of desperation by Crist. He should be desperate, because he is about to become a lame duck Governor come 24 August 2010.  And any hope of political resurrection gone.  He just burned his last bridge with the GOP with this last act.

I urge all Republicans take this official "BloggyBayou" vow:

"For the rest of my Life, I hereby vow I will only vote for Charlie Crist only if he runs for Assistant Dog Catcher of Boward county, PERIOD. No exceptions."

I am a kind soul...I want the man to be useful for something after he is no longer Governor....

UPDATE: Yeah, I know he is not from Boward, But it was the first county I thought of that was far enough away from my home county of Okaloosa....

Want To See How "Big City" Democrats Operate?

THEN READ THIS.

This is an appalling act of threats and violence done by an elected official and his staff.  It must be bad when the liberal NY Times report it.  However, they are in probably backing Andrew Cuomo, (Mario's son) for NY Governor.  If NY Governor Patterson was popular and was a cinch for re-election, ask your self honestly: Would this story have EVER seen the light of day?

On Ray Sansom and the Press

Ray Sansom was my representative. I voted for him but have never personally met him. His problems with NW Florida State College, Jay Odem, etc were all in the public arena before I decided to start a blog on 4 April 2009.

Was Ray Sansom stupid to accept the job at NW Florida State on the same day he became speaker? You bet. Was the building of a Emergency Center in Destin a bad idea? Not really. Was building it at Destin Airport and probably basing the design on Jay Odom's previous plans for a hanger REALLY DUMB? Oh, hell yeah. Was it sleazy, good ole boy politics? Emphatically yes. Was it illegal? Guess what: Probably not! It was voted on and signed by the Governor and if we want to prosecute politicians for earmarks, then let us elect officials that will make it illegal. In our republic, we get the government we voted for. Elections have consequences and the voter often makes a bad choice based on the best of intentions.

Now, I ask the question: Was Ray Sansom set up by the Democrats? I quote from Tampa Bay Online's blog "March on Politics":

[Sansom's attorney] also complained that “bloggers” were now deciding who serves in the Florida House and commented on revelations in the press that Eric Jotkoff, spokesman for the state Democratic Party, had in fact drafted the complaint that a private citizen had filed against Sansom, which sparked the House probe.

Jotkoff responded to Fletcher’s comments this morning by saying that he’s “proud” of the role he played in “holding Ray Sansom accountable for his alleged corruption,” and that “it’s insulting to the citizens of Florida that’s Sansom’s lawyer claims that bloggers are not residents with the same rights as anyone else. What’s especially ironic is that the ‘bloggers’ she references are actually members of the press corps.”

So, while Ray Sansom might have provided the rope, this was a professionally orchestrated "hit job' by the Democrats, make no mistake on that. How long the MSM press knew this fact and didn't report it is anyone's guess. Just make sure that you note that Mr. Jotkoff refers to Sansom's "alleged corruption". Why not just say plain old corruption Mr. Jotkoff? I tell you why, because there is a damn good chance that after the dust settles down on this affair, there is a real possibility that no one will be convicted of anything. Mr. Jotkoff knows this (he is a professional for the Democratic Party) and doesn't want to be hit with a slander suit after all this is over.

My two questions for the MSM is this: Will anyone in the MSM question the professional judgment and ability of Prosecutor Willie Meggs if no one is convicted? Will the MSM, post Sansom resignation, appreciate that they have been played like a violin by the Democrats?

The answers to the above two questions are "No" and "We don't mind, as long as it is a Democrat plucking our strings".

The MSM cannot be trusted by Republicans, PERIOD. Look how they played John McCain all these years. "Maverick" McCain became plain old John when he got his chance to run for President. The sad part is McCain thought the press had his back. What a fool he was.

I repeat this message I posted a few weeks ago. Time for the Republicans to go into the "News" business and fight back.

Chalk one up for the unholy alliance of Liberal Democrats and their Stooge's in the MSM. But remember, you just won a battle, not the war.

And for Mr. Jotkoff: Thanks for the affirmation that Bloggers are legitimate journalists just like the "deadwood" press. I hope return the favor one day.....

The Mount Vernon Statement and CPAC

It's been a wild ride for conservatives this week. The annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. took place. In addition, a combination of conservative activists, pundits and some veteran GOP Politicians met on 17 February at Mount Vernon to sign what has been called "The Mount Vernon Statement" (Link Here). It was a dedicated effort to recommit Conservatives and GOP activists to the political philosophy of going back to original intent of the founding fathers as described in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. It is supposed to serve as a guide for conservative and GOP renewal in American Politics.

First, the Mount Vernon Statement (MVS). I can think of no real Republican who can (or would) argue with the intentions of even the wording of the MVS. We have, over the 20th century and into the 21st, have stretched and molded our laws and bureaucracy to adjust and react to events, technical innovations and threats that our founding fathers could never have imagined. Needless to say, the Federal Government has injected itself into the average American's life to a degree that even FDR would not have envisioned. Just look at the labeling on the food you eat, the federal requirements imposed on our exploration and use of energy and most invasive of all, the massive intrusion of the Federal tax system that confiscates wealth from honest, hard working people and empowers a massive bureaucracy that can, without any restraint, ruin or destroy an individual's or family's life. This capricious and often cruel bureaucracy is empowered by a Byzantium tax code that, apparently, cannot even be understood by our top tax collector, the Secretary of the Treasury. And looming over all of this is a massive debt that BOTH our major political parties have enabled for decades. (If there is one lesson to take from the debt crisis it is this: The government is incapable of running our health or our retirement systems.)

The MVS is meant to signal to all America that we need to pull back the intrusion of the Federal government from productive Americans lives. And yet, I find this statement unfulfilling. How many times have we heard this over the past 50 years? From Buckley, to Goldwater, on to Reagan and even Bill Clinton who famously declared the "Era of Big Government is over", this "back to basics" has been a recurring theme. And yet, we find ourselves in 2010 staring at yawning abyss of a financial Armageddon and a President who is ready to push our country into said abyss by cramming a hugely unpopular health program down our collective throats.

The MVS stated we need to get back to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in order to restore America. No argument here, but I hasten to point out, both of our founding Documents, while having immortal words of inspiration in their preambles, were, at their core, functional documents that had meat to their bones. Read the Declaration of Independence and you will see a long list of grievances and specific issues that our founding fathers used to justify their rebellion against, what was then, the world's premier power. They got down to brass tacks and set out, issue by issue, the actions of the British Government that prompted the most profound political experiment in human history, the American Revolution.

As for the Constitution, remember it was born out of the failure of the Articles of Confederation to make a workable nation. Implicit in the adoption of the Constitution was the need for a more centralized government to address specific deficiencies in the Articles of Confederation and to promote more efficient commerce. The founders, however, were (for the most part) acutely aware that the need to strictly define and limit those powers. And even then, it took adoption the Bill of Rights, that limited the Federal Government even more, to ensure passage of the Constitution. So while we remember the Preamble " We The People", the real genius of our Founding Fathers was that they gave us a document that laid out, in specific detail, the "Nuts and Bolts" of creating a working Federal government. The Constitution is, above all, a practical document with real world solutions to the issues of how to run a nation.

The MVS is a mere affirmation of our Founding Fathers ideals. Nice words but I hesitate to say inspiring. In addition, both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were initiated and passed by men who had a personal and financial stake in the country. These men were productive men who were producing wealth and industry. They were, for the most part, citizens first and politicians part-time and all had risked their lives when breaking from Britain (just ask Nathan Hale).

The MVS was written, for the most part, by the Professional Political Pundits of the Conservative World. They, to a great extent, represent the mirror image of the left political elite: Highly educated, Ivy League or privileged individuals and for the most part totally insulated from the real common man. I would be willing to bet not one (or just a few) of those who formally signed the document (complete with a character actor dressed as Washington handing out the pen) have ever been to a Monster Truck Rally, stood a mid-watch or really put his life on the line, whether in the mines of West Virginia or the sands of the Middle East. In other words, just the type of people that have been, more or less, running this country since FDR.

In summary, what is lacking in the MVS is a plan or even goals. We need energy independence, so where is the commitment to tap ALL of America's vast hydrocarbon resources? Where is the true commitment to Nuclear power? One that reduces time of approval to construction of new plants; to reopen Yucca Mountain and to the building a truly modern electrical grid? Where is the plan to reform our health system; to reform tort law; support the education of more Doctors than Lawyers in our society? How do we reform Social Security and Medicare? (You cannot reform Healthcare without addressing these two core entitlement programs). How do we fix our failing school systems, both K-12 thru to University?

These are just a few of the issues that confront us. While one can data mine on the Internet and find Conservative/ GOP ideas with regards to many of these issues and more, the GOP/conservative movement has yet to create a coherent and practical plan for the average American to "Hitch his Wagon To".

To complicate the matter, many of our GOP leaders are the same faces we have seen for the past twenty years. Does one really expect Americans to suddenly think these same old politicians now have the solutions to our nations woes? Even if these entrenched incumbents come up with plans that the average American can believe in, have they developed the means to get that message out, unencumbered by a hostile, left-wing press that will never really be an impartial player in this battle?

Which brings me to CPAC. Here is a link to their site. It is the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the United States. It is an opportunity for conservatives to network, and for a few select individuals to stand on the Dias and speak. Some inspire and others make fools of themselves. It's impact has grown with advent of Fox News and the Internet. Any GOP figure who is actively thinking of running for President in 2012 was there and spoke. I am sure many new contacts were made between party activists and many GOP candidates for Congress got invaluable face time with critical media pundits and bloggers.

Which makes it all the more confusing and disappointing that when CPAC held their annual straw poll for who they want for President, Ron Paul won. I repeat, Ron Paul won. While Ron Paul has been for years, like Cassandra, yelling the warnings of the economic train wreck that we are now facing, he also has ideas on American foreign policy, that, for lack of a better word, are loony.

When I hear him speak what America's foreign policy should be like, I hear a voice eerily similar to Charles Lindbergh and the America First Movement that took root in the years just prior to WWII (MP3's available upon request). It is a voice of naivety, a voice that fails to recognize the fact that there are truly evil men out there. Just as Lucky Lindy failed to see Hitler for the monster he was, so does Ron Paul fail to see the threat of Islamic fascists. And like Lindbergh, Ron Paul's pronouncements on foreign matters have more than a whiff of Anti-Semitism to them.

So what was the main thing accomplished by CPAC in the public's eyes? Some inside baseball networking for committed activists; a series of zingers and sound bites against Obama; and in the end, a Straw Poll won by a man who has absolutely has no hope of being elected President but, because of his naive, radical foreign policy views, can do terrific harm to the cause of conservatives and the GOP when 2012 comes around.

The Conservative Pundits are cocky right now, maybe with some reason. But unless we Republicans can come up with a rational, common sense plan on the critical issues of the day (Jobs, Energy and True Healthcare and Entitlement reform). Unless we find a way to get that message out and the common man on-board and willing to accept the sacrifices and pain that will come with true, long lasting reform, then all the statements with a man dressed as Washington passing the pen around and all the clever "Bon Mots" delivered in front of party faithful and to adoring applause will, ultimately, be all for naught.

This is the job that confronts GOP Chairman Steele and every State Chairman of the GOP in the Country. The clock is ticking.

Update: This 32 Year Old Muslim Now OFFICIALLY FLUNKS The Smell Test

Looks like Obama's Muslim Boy Wonder designated as the new Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference has been officially caught with his pants down.  ABC news Jake Trapper reports that the Political Website "Politico" has him on audiotape making the comments I mentioned in my earlier post.

In addition to being unqualified and too inexperienced for his post, he is now trying to tap dance his way out of trouble.  Let's face it.  If we were to allow profiling to identify possible terrorists, he would meet all the requirements: A Muslim male between 20 and 40 years old, educated and from a middle-upper class family. 

Time to pull the plug on young Mr. Rashad Hussain for getting caught in a lie. If you are at CPAC or in Orlando at the RPOF convention, time to raise a little hell about this one. The more PC we are dealing with the Islamofascists, the easier it will be to get hit by them.

Is This Is Anyway to Run a Railroad?!*

Here's a link to an article in the Orlando Sentinel. The title sums it up: Scramble is on to link SunRail, fast rail -- why no plan?  Here is a quote from the lead paragraphs in the article:

Two train systems meant to usher in a new era of transportation in Metro Orlando are slated to run along separate tracks that will intersect west of Orlando International Airport.

But, as it stands, there is no planned connection where passengers from the $1.2 billion SunRail commuter train could transfer to the $2.6 billion high-speed train or vice versa. How is that possible?

Indeed, how is this possible? It also points out that the communities that are slated to get the most benefit from the rail are tapped out for paying for their share of SunRail, as is the state. The result is a severely underfunded project and we, the taxpayers of ALL OF FLORIDA, will be on the hook for the bill. Consider this fair warning.

The Federal Railroad Administration Director admits that the federal funds so far allocated will not cover the cost of the high speed rail, saying the first 1.25 BILLION just a down payment (they need another 1.4 Billion to complete the high speed rail) and he admits:

"The $1.25 billion doesn't mean much," he said, "if we don't get trains operating between Tampa and the airport."

Left unsaid, is what I wrote about rail when this issue was pending : For every dollar a passenger uses to take rail, the government (whether it be local, state or Fed) has to cough up nine dollars in subsidy. So, if we continue down this so far, mismanaged, ill conceived path, expect your taxes (at the Local, State and Federal levels) to go up. That is a cold hard fact.

The "High Speed Rail" plan being pushed on the American people NATIONWIDE has, distressingly, what is becoming the standard hallmarks of an Obama administration plan or project: Ill-conceived, poorly planned, monstrously expensive and in the cold harsh light of reality, a complete waste of funds.

In addition to our Republican led legislature who essentially enabled this "Train Wreck " of a program, I also blame our State's Chief Executive (aka Governor Crist) for his lack of oversight or direction. This is what happens when a Governor is more interested in moving to Washington than minding the Florida's business, as he was elected and paid to do.

To my fellow Republicans: It is going along with projects like this that cause people to doubt Republicans are serious when they say they have learned the lessons of the past two elections and won't disappoint if returned to power in DC. At the last Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee, I asked the question: who supported the recent rail vote. Nary a hand was raised.

As a loyal Republican, I can tell you it gets tough to defend the indefensible when you talk to non-Republicans. This "Train" has left the station, but it has yet to arrive at its destination. If there is any way to derail this "Train", I urge our Republicans in the Florida legislature to do it.

Somewhere underneath this pile, has to be a pony.

*Hat tip to Henry Kelly for alerting me to this article

UPDATE: From Sid Dinerstein, Palm Beach County Republican Party Chairman : He alerts me to a failed rail system inn a Densely Populated TOURIST Center: Las Vegas: Las Vegas Monorail files for Bankruptcy Protection.  Guess who is on the hook?  Local Taxpayers. Think about it.

A Reminder To The RPOF From One of the Republican Lowly "Grunts"

I make no claim to be a major player in The RPOF or the GOP, or even in the running of my home county, Okaloosa.  I work for a living, logging my hours for "The Man", am a full time father and husband and a part time blogger and GOP activist. 

I'm the guy who doesn't count his political donations in the thousands, but in the low hundreds.  I am sure that if I were a rich man, gave the limit to multiple Republican office holders and candidates, I would be probably planning my trip to Orlando this weekend or talking on the phone with the RPOF candidates I support. In sum, if you were to rate me on the "Grassroots" scale, I be the part that is minor shoot off the main root and buried so deep, that I'd never see the light of day.

But by being so low down the totem pole, I am free to speak, give advice and not worry about the consequences....I've really got nothing to lose.  So here goes, my advice to the RPOF for what must come out of this weekend's meeting:

1) A United Party.  No matter if your guy or gal didn't get elected, swallow your pride and accept the election of the people chosen. 

2) In order for #1 to happen, there must be a commitment that a full, fair and OPEN audit of RPOF funds MUST OCCUR and occur PROMPTLY.  The press is having a field day reaming the RPOF over Jim Greer and the misuse of party funds and no amount of stonewalling will stop this story from bleeding off support.  It is a political lesson that never seems to sink in.  It is not the crime, it is the COVER UP that gets you every time. If the news is bad or embarrassing, it is best we get it out and over with ASAP. The results of the audit must be made to the County Chairs and Committee reps.  They in turn, must give a full and fair summary to their fellow Republicans.  The audit and report by the new Chairman should be available by the "Ides of March"..literally.  Don't do this and the RPOF will do long term damage to it's brand.  I cannot emphasize this point enough!

3) Do This: http://www.bloggybayou.com/2010/02/time-for-republican-party-of-florida.html.  We need to be much more aggressive in getting our message out, and that means having a message of real ideas and real solutions and doing with a flair and not without a sense of humor or satire.  To steal a line from Art Linkletter, "Democrats say the Darnedest Things" and we should take full advantage of that fact.  We need to have our RPOF News Site up and running by the August primary.  It is never to early to start bashing Democrats ...becasue they deserve it!

So, there you go.  Come back home after this weekend with new leadership, a timetable to clean up RPOF finances and a bold plan to get our ideas out to the good people of Florida. 

Florida is one of the more important states and that makes the RPOF one of the more important state Republican organizations.  I say that again, the RPOF is one of the more (if not the most) important State Republican Organizations. So this weekend is our chance to get back on track and be on the "bleeding" edge of the Republican Renaissance of 2010 and 2012. Let's not waste it.

This 32 Year Old Muslim Doesn't Pass The Smell Test

Fox News reports:

President Obama's new envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference, Rashad Hussain, is at the center of a controversy over remarks attributed to him defending a man who later pleaded guilty to conspiring to aid a terrorist group.

You know, after Major Nidal Malik Hasan's act of terrorism at Ft. Hood and underpants bomber (Eunuch?)Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's recent airplane escapade, it would appear that President Obama would be a little sensitive about the types of people who he places in power.  This young man (32), is your typical Ivy League Elite who, apparently, felt the U.S. was persecuting Sami al-Arian, the CONVICTED head of U.S. Operations of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. He made the statements at a Muslim Students Association conference in 2004.

Here is a link to the Fox article.

It also looks like the administration is actively trying to get the remarks purged from the records and they are denying that he said it.  It stinks of cover up.  Once again, Obama has failed to properly vet his appointments.

It looks like the PC world of the Democrats is still in full denial mode, even after a Ft. Hood and the Underpants Bomber.  If this young man said this (they are now saying it was his sister, not him) then what in the Sam Hill are we doing letting him represent the United States of America?  Is the best we can come up with is a radical talking Muslim who has spent most of his adult life in college?

Sucking up to Islamic Fascists by sending a Ivy league Islamic Ideologue is not a way to endear or influence the Arab world.  The Arabs and members of the Islamic Conference will see this young man for what he is.  And what he is, from all appearances, is an young apologist for Islamic Fundamentalism who is in way over his head.

Just like Obama.

Wow, I didn't expect this response

Some of my posts , I cross post to my http://www.redstate.com/ diary

My Post below (http://www.bloggybayou.com/2010/02/for-mrerick-erickson-of-redstate-on.html) was quickly shot down and closed by the editor-in-chief, Erick Erickson.  For those of you who do not know of RedState, you should. It is one of the more influential conservative sites.

However, as you can see via this link , I immediately got incoming fire and my post was quickly shutdown by Mr. Erickson as being religious vice political in nature.

I responded to Mr. Erickson with the following email:

Mr. Erickson:

While I meant no harm, it is evident I struck a chord that, whether we like it or not, will be a subject of debate in the upcoming election cycles. I am sure a large part of the Republican big tent people will believe as I do on creationism. We, as Republicans, must come to an understanding on this issue without anger and with mutual respect. If the responses to being challenged on this issue are (and I quote):

"I think your attempt to slander Christians while making an argument against creationism to bring about moral relativism with truther and brithers is DISGUSTING and for this non-Religious individual I hope that you are done away with as a warning to all others who would try this lame exercise in ignorance."
or
"This is pure idiocy….What you “believe” about the origin of the universe and life is your business, and there is room for both of us in the Republican party. On the other hand, you come across as an arrogant jerk in this posting, which may well not be true. You could have come up with a better way to say this."

Then I say: Such responses as this will not suffice on the political stage ("They could have come up with a better way to say this" s/off) . I put thought and effort into the post, especially as the first year anniversary of my Mom dying in my arms is this Wednesday. (http://www.bloggybayou.com/2009/08/end-of-life-counseling-intensifies.html). To plainly state my beliefs and to be more or less called an "arrogant jerk" or someone to "be done away" will not play well when such comments are played out in the cold spotlight of the press.

I was about to post a response when you closed the thread, (My main concern was exactly how I was to be "done away" with… I got a chuckle out of that) leaving me without a least a chance to respond.

I grew up in North Carolina and was raised in a home filled with science and History books. I had a father who had much the same beliefs as I, yet was a wonderful Sunday School teacher.  The area I grew up in was strictly Bible belt and no sale of alcohol in the county except at the county seat. I was raised a Southern Baptist, but as I got on about seeing this world ( I was in the Navy..) I came to grips with what I could and could or could not believe in. I've been at deaths door, so to speak and like I said, I have no problems with my soul.

However, to say this is a religious issue and not a political one is not true. The Democrats will make it an issue and one cannot deny the fact that certain communities have tried or succeeded in inserting creationism into the public schools which makes this a political issue. We Republicans on both sides of this debate must come to mutual understanding on this (like leaving the debate on evolution vs. creationism and the teaching of both out of K-12, which was what I was trying to say. That way you take (most) of the issue out of the political arena)

If the response is to ban talk on the subject, then I would say : "Houston, We have a problem". You Believe Truthers and Birthers have no basis on fact. I say you are correct. But I am to be condemned when I say honestly and openly, I feel creationism is a product is based on faith and religion, not science and by injecting the teaching of creationism into our public schools makes it fair game for political debate? (Do not take this as a position that you do not have the right to stop or close debate on any subject on YOUR site…You have absolute control and right to stop or delete any post or comment.)

I am a conservative American. I am an active Republican who has a good working relationship with our local Tea Parties. However, I am a man of Scot Irish heritage who has decided that I cannot accept the core requirement to be a Christian (i.e., Jesus was the actual son of God).

I have no problem with prayers at ballgames or prayers by teams before games. If my son is there when the prayers are made, I have done a very good job of teaching him about our country's past and how the Judeo-Christian system of beliefs are a fundamental part of our country. He is free to make up his own mind on matters of faith and what path he takes with regards to that issue.

I've taught him the concepts of honor, integrity and keeping his word. I've talked with him about the nature of God and man's place in this universe. I have taught him about his mother's concepts of Buddhism and America's use of the Christianity to establish a more perfect union.

My issue is this, where do we two different conservatives find common ground and how do we address this issue of evolutionists vs. creationists without resorting to anger or rejection? I offered a solution: Keep both subjects out of K-12 and let our children decide for themselves at home or at church.

Unless I hear of another, better solution to this political issue…that is where I stand. We need to learn how to accommodate each other or we will alienate each other.

V/R
Royce White

If you don't think the democrats will use this a crowbar to split our party, then I got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.  You Read my solution...What's yours?  And try to be civil. (PS: I clean up a few grammatical errors from the email, but the message of the email remains the same.)

For Mr.Erick Erickson of RedState: On Birthers, Truthers and...Creationists?

Mr. Erickson:

You were wise to stop brithers and truthers from posting. I see much akin to Buckley's calling out the John Birch society in the 50's. I am a member of our county republican executive committee and there are some republicans I have met who are birthers . ( I have not met any who are truthers)

However, I am the son of a Doctor, am fairly educated myself and I consider myself a fairly rational man. I was raised a Southern Baptist, but could not , as I grew older accept many of the teachings of the Bible as literal. This proved to be a problem in my church (but not with Dad or Mom).

This is not to say I don't believe in a monotheistic God, it just says I can't accept the basic tenants of Christianity (i.e., Jesus was a product of a virgin birth, literally was the son of God, and "whosoever believeith in Him should not perish but have everlasting life", etc.)

Now, I've known what is to be like a death's door, with tubes and masks and lying helpless on a hospital bed. I was worried for my son, my wife, but I was not worried about my soul. If you have been in such a situation, you will understand , however, if you have not, you cannot fully comprehend the feeling.

My wife is Buddhist and I have let my Son attend different churches with his friends and sent him to "vacation bible school" and Christian camps. However, I have made it clear that his choice of faith is entirely up to him. He is 14 now and still thinks about it and we still have talks on the nature of God and the world. As for my wife, I can no more believe that she is condemned to hell for not being a Christian , than I can believe the sun will rise in the west…

This is all leading up to the 64 dollar question: Do you consider "creationists" in the same league as birthers and truthers. If not, why? While I am aware that the theory of evolution is just that, a theory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory) subject to confirmation of facts or abandonment due to new facts. The classic example of disproving an accepted theory was Einstein’s work on the nature gravity which disproved Newton’s theory (simply put: Newton==Gravity Pulls, Einstein == Gravity pushes).

I find creationism is, at it's very core, not a science but a religion and totally unable to reconcile itself to many scientific facts (carbon-14 dating, galactic red shift movement, speed of light and the time it takes for a galaxy to become visible to us on Earth)

I don't condemn such beliefs but I do not believe them to be actual science. As for my Son, this too will be his choice for him as he grows older and more mature. I am aware that by posting this in a diary it might provoke a firestorm. For some reason, this issue inflames passions and the use of logic by both sides generally dissolves into heated insults.

However, I, personally, feel that creationists to be the same league as Birthers and truthers..people who believe in a "theory" that falls apart when presented with cold hard facts. And does it really matter when it comes to politics? Many will say it does because (I'll be frank) it shows a serious disregard for actual scientific evidence. As far as I am concerned, it ranks right up there with belief man-made global warming (A product of corrupt Science…Science is above all, about discovering and understanding the truth about nature based on provable facts)

As for what should be taught in grades k-12? We should expect our children to concentrate on computer science, advanced chemistry, advanced Biology, advanced physics and advanced mathematics, English grammar and with the emphasis of making sure they can express themselves coherently and correctly. These subjects alone should be enough to fill their plates. Let the war on evolution vs. creationism be something we leave up to our children to take sides on after they graduate High School. (PS: I forgot a good civics class and history with an emphasis on western civilization).

And, As a bonus: sex education should concentrate on the specific, scientific biological nature of the act and miracle of how all species reproduce. I've already had the "talk" with my son and when he starts dating, I will continue to have the "talk".

Cheers,
Royce White

Time for the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) To Join the Information Age

Information, if properly presented , is POWER. Benjamin Franklin knew it, that's why he organized the Post Office in 1775. The Post office was the main median of how information was shared. That's why it was explicitly defined and established in the Constitution. Print on paper was king as far as espousing ideas (think Federalist Papers, Thomas Paine's pamphlets, newspapers). Our founding fathers were aware of the power of words on paper and, in a totally inspired and selfless move, made the freedom of speech and PRESS sacrosanct. Think of it....In no other country is the right of free speech explicitly spelled out and protected. What a wonderful gift our founding fathers gave us.

Today we are overwhelmed with mediums to access the news. 24 hour news channels on TV, talk radio and the Internet. All are electronic and the vast majority of our people have the tools to access and absorb the information available. Newspapers are dying. Why pay for what you can get for free? Most daily newspapers have a web presence, hoping (mostly in vain) they can make it a profit with web ads, but it appears that only financially oriented papers are able to sustain themselves by charging for access (people will pay money to make money).

However, the internet has proven to be fertile ground for political pundits and they have proven to be game changers in elections and political discourse. (Here is a link to a summary of some of the best political sites (left/right/non-partisan) Think Blue dress and Drudge Report or George Bush, CBS and fake report on Bush's National Guard Service or ACORN and hookers. And finally, while the printed newspapers are dying a slow death in the Sunshine State, online their most visited sites are their "Political" blog sites that cover Florida (and all lean left!).

Start up costs to host a site are minimal (I bought a domain name for 10 years for a 100 bucks and use Google's free Blog hosting site). While more complicated sites require more money and infrastructure, the start up costs for a real time, information dense site to serve as a outlet for Republicans to get their message out is nominal in the great scheme of things, especially when comparing it to paying for airtime on TV/Radio for commercials or even placards for name recognition.

The RPOF has already invested in creating a site, called "Drive the Discussion"  (http://www.drivethediscussion.com/). It has been a complete disaster. Boring content, irregular updates and completely mismanaged. What we need (in addition to electing new leaders on Feb 20th) is a commitment to turn this site into a blend of both news and advocacy for Conservatives and the Republican Party of Florida. We can, with a small dedicated cadre of professional technical geeks, amateur political junkies and some monetary support from the RPOF, make the "Drive the Discussion" site both a source of hard news, political advocacy and an alternative voice for the citizens of Florida against the left leaning newspapers of the state. We should strive to make it a must read of every Republican and independent voter of the state. We can take on the newspapers and beat them at their own game. The beauty in all of this is we are not in the news business for profit (like the newspapers), we are in the news business for the votes.

Err..That Global Warming Thing....uh...Err....Nevermind

No significant Global warming since 1995 and the infamous Hocky Stick Graph based on bad and non-repoducable data...

It was always about power and money...not real science...

Tenure and The University System of Privileged Elites

A Harvard educated elite got denied tenure at a state school yesterday and decided the insult was so great, that she had the right to snuff out the life three of her peers and critically wound several more. I consider this crime as a chance to talk about the antiquated concept of granting Professors "tenure".

Why do we accept an educational system that is supported by our tax dollars that gives individuals lifetime job security regardless of their performance? I remember in 1980, drinking a beer with a bunch of students and a professor who was considered "cool" and hung around good looking coeds. Once he had a few beers under his belt, he started bragging how great it was being a professor and the liberty he had to say and do what he liked since he had been granted tenure. He literally said "I could get caught banging a student in the hallway and they can't fire me."

He was (and is) right. And why should we accept a system that uses tenure in the way they hire and maintain University staffs? And I'm talking about all colleges and universities, including so called "private" universities like Harvard and Yale, who use their tax-exempt status to accumulate billions in endowments and get millions of tax payer "grants".

We need to rethink the way we approach higher learning. Something is drastically wrong when we have a system that pumps out more lawyers than we need and less medical doctors and hard science graduates than we require. We are outsourcing our technological needs and importing doctors and engineers from countries like India, China and Pakistan to meet our immediate in- country science and medical needs.

I state for the record, the rising, out of control costs of sending a child to college and that college successfully teaching that child the skill sets that we, as a nation, need to remain a first tier power is greater threat to our national security than the need to reform an overhyped Medical Crisis.

We need to incentivize our system to produce more engineers, scientists and medical doctors and less on liberal arts and lawyers. My question is: How do we do it free market style and what reforms do we need to make in our State Run universities to make it more affordable?

Ideas and comments welcome.

PS: Please hurry with the ideas and solutions. My Son is already 14!

Iran is on Fire But It's Gonna Be Burning a Lot Longer Than People Think

The Islamic Fascists are in full control. By all accounts they have their routine down pat when it comes to controlling what is apparently a movement losing steam. Turnout was down from protests last year, communications with the west were effectively cut off and by all accounts the regimes reliance on the Revolutionary Guard and hired thugs kept a lid on things.

Bill Clinton's heart procedure took over the top of the news cycle (Get well Mr. President, I never voted for you, but as a card carrying member of the Bypass/Stent club, I want you to live long and prosper... and you too Dick Cheney.), and the news in Iran was as much dominated by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announce that they are officially a nuclear power with the advent of their ability to enrich uranium to the 20% level. Unless some miracle happens, Iran will get the bomb...Remember: making a bomb is 1940's technology. Making them small enough to fit on a missile will take a while longer.

No, for all you folks who thought the Iranian Green movement was the inevitable path to fundamental change in Iran, I tell you now, this was a Prague Spring time. I expect the regime to survive at least another ten years and by then, regardless of who takes over (if even then) they will inherit a Nuclear armed Iran.

My advice to Green Iranians: if you want a rapid and complete change of the Islamic Republic of Iran, my advice is you are going to have to fight for it. And guess what: Don't try fighting for it till a President of the United States is in power that will back your play with arms. The Obama administration is, as widely stated "Carter on Steroids". Good luck on ANY meaningful efforts or sanctions from this lot. China and Russia are perfectly content to let the current thugs in power stay there and there is NOTHING Obama can do to change their mind. He is, an empty suit and China and Russia know it.

Here are some of my posts on this issue since the first Green protests took place: Starting with one post that, in hindsight, was damn accurate:

http://www.bloggybayou.com/2009/06/ya-say-you-want-revolution.html
And here are some later Posts:
http://www.bloggybayou.com/2009/09/obama-and-his-empty-rhetoric-on-iran.html
http://www.bloggybayou.com/2009/12/iran-is-on-fire-and-no-one-in.html
http://www.bloggybayou.com/2010/02/iran-is-on-fire-and-its-latest-vow-to.html

You can go on my Website (http://www.bloggybayou.com/) and search on Iran for more posts. My hindsight is not 20/20 (always blogging reflects current reactions to current events) but I have been fairly consistent on Obama's impotence and the fact that the current regime is much more entrenched and much more willing to use force to stay in power (China is providing much of the technical assistance when it comes to shutting down communications and western press access.)

Think of the current regime in terms of the Bosnian situation in the 1990's. The Mullahs are the Serbs, the Greens are the urbanite Bosnians . The Serbs would have succeeded in "ethnic cleansing" if not for US Air Power and NATO ground troops (read Brits).

In summary, most revolutions involve armed insurrection by the aggrieved party. I don't see any quick change in the current regime without the use of force by the Greens. An armed protestor is much more difficult to control than an unarmed. And the threat of civil war may prompt the Iranian Military to intervene, probably on the side of the Greens (There is no love lost between the regular Military and the Revolutionary Guard)

One piece is missing and will be until, at the earliest, 20 January 2013: A President willing to arm the opposition.

Marco Rubio Still Needs our Help!

Folks:

Marco Rubio is having his last Day of "Stimulus Bomb" fund drive, marking the fact that is has been 365 days since our Governor gave a full throated shout of support for Obama's "Porkulus", which in hindsight has been revealed to be the most massive and ineffective waste of taxpayers' money since, well, 1776. It also marks the 365th day of one of the Most Boneheaded political moves by a sitting Republican Governor since, well, 1776….

Click on the link below to Donate:

https://www.marcorubio.com/stimulusbomb

How the Democratic Health Bill is like the Rotting Corpse of Peter Lorre

       It was dark and stormy night. Snow enveloped the streets of Washington. And at the door of the Smithsonian, three men knocked at the front door. With a creak, it slowly opened and there a craven misshapen creature, with notes inked on his hand....
       "Welcome , err... eh'' the creature, quickly looking at his hand, "Welcome messieurs ...Boehner, DeMint and McConnell...Welcome..."
       "Gibbs, what the hell is this all about" spat out McConnell
       "The Master will explain shortly, please follow me"
        The three men followed the creature, with Boehner just shaking his head, murmuring curses as they followed..the creature...into the museum. They were led to a door, down some stairs and into a windowless, hospital green room with a wide set of swinging doors on the far side.
        "I'll call the Master" muttered the Gibbs creature and he quickly went through one of the doors.
        The three men just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.
        "Christ, November can't get here quick enough" said McConnell.
        DeMint, ever the gentleman, "Hey, he won fair and square..I tried to warn you about McCain."
        Suddenly, both doors swung open and the Master strode in, wearing a Surgeons gown with heavy black rubber gloves on his hands.
        "Gentlemen" greeted the Master
        "Mr. President" sounded all three men in unison...
        "You are wondering why I have called you here...I have decided to give you fair warning..for I am about to show you something that will change your mind..on healthcare.."
        The three men just stared at the President for an few uncomfortable moments of silence.
        Finally, Boehner spoke.  "Fat chance, Mr. President"
        With a wave of his hand the President brushed aside Boehner and yelled, "Rahm, wheel him in"
        The doors swung open and Rahm Emanuel, dressed just like his master, except for the addition of a hump on his back, wheeled in a table with a teleprompter attached. The table evidently had a body covered by a sheet on it.
        As Emanuel centered the table, a rancid stink filled the air, and the President pulled out a bottle of Vick's vapor rub, opened it, stuck his finger in the jar and then rubbed the salve under his nostrils. He didn't offer any to the three men. He walked over to the dolly and with a magicians flourish, grabbed the sheet and yelled "Voila!"
        There, on the table was a putrid green mass of half decayed flesh that only vaguely looked like the shape of man.
        "I present to you the rotting, yet still viable corps of Peter Lorre"
        Emanuel, rolling his eyes, quickly corrected the master "that 'corpse', my Master.."
        "Err..ughh, yes the rotting CORPSE of Peter Lorre"
        "What the hell is this crap" snarled McConnell.
        The President, startled, looked at Emanuel, who pointed to the teleprompter.
        "Oh..yess... I..ugh.. I present to you the rotting, yet still viable corpse of Peter Lorre and unless you three agree to meet with me at the Blair house with live television coverage to negotiate AND agree to my Healthcare bill, I will reveal Peter Lorre's rotting yet viable corpse to all of America and claim that you three men refused to save the err...ugh..late Mr. Lorre's life."
        "Mr. President, have you been drinking?" said DeMint, with a soft whisper of concern.
        Again startled, the President again looked at Emanuel who dutifully pointed to the teleprompter, while trying to adjust his fake hump.
        "Uh..er...Uh...OK...oh I see it" said the President, then cleared his voice and in ringing, triumphant tones said "I will announce to all the world that You, DeMint, refused to donate your heart, and you McConnell, refused to donate your liver and You" pointing angrily at Boehner "refused to donate your lungs and by doing so....pause"
        Emanuel kicked the President the shins and hissed "that means 'pause for effect', not say "pause", Damn it Barack, we practiced this 10 times already."
        Emanuel whirled around and shouted out towards the swing doors, "Gibbs, rewind it back to ' refused to donate your lungs and by doing so" and wait till I yell 'go!'...Ok ..GO!" and he kicked the President in the shin.
        Without missing a beat, the President said " refused to donate your lungs and by doing so" and he paused with a smug air..."you three denied Peter Lorre a second chance of life...point your finger Up."
        Emanuel kicked the President again and the President stuck his finger in the air.
        "Screw this" snarled Boehner and reached into his pocket, got his pack of cigarettes and lit one up.
        "Hey No Smoking allowed here.....I know, I tried and Rahm told me..." said the President, but Boehner just blew smoke in his face.
        DeMint, with his quiet, eastern South Carolina drawl, said "Mr. President, I'd like to point out that if we agreed to your demands, that you are asking us to die in order to donate our organs to this, for lack a better word, mound of rotting puss..."
        Smiling, the President said "Yes!" and pointed his finger even higher in the air.
        McConnell looked at the Emanuel, looked at President and then looked back at the Emanuel, shook his head and said "Horsesh*t...Listen Emanuel".
        Emanuel shook his head and pointed to the President "You must address the Master!!"
        "Horsesh*t" said McConnell still looking at Emanuel, "This scheme has you written all over it and I telling you to forget it... The Democrat health bill is deader than Peter Lorre here and no amount of Horsesh*t Chicago style threats will change that fact and YOU" pointing at the President, "You can put your hand down."
        The President slowly lowered his hand, vainly looking at the teleprompter for a retort.
        Boehner lit a second cigarette with the butt of the first and said, "I'm outta here, you two coming?"
        McConnell spun on his heel and headed for the stairs out. Boehner fell in behind him. DeMint, ever the Gentleman, said "Please forgive Mitch's calling your plan Horsesh*t...he is from Kentucky and you know, horses, Kentucky Derby....all that..what he should have said was 'Bullsh*t' " and with a shrug of resignation, turned and left the room.
        As he trudged up the stairs, he heard a snarling Rahm Emanuel cursing him out and the President asking "Think they will go for it?"

The End

Iran is on Fire and Its Latest Vow to "Punch" the West is a Bait and Switch

11 February marks the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution (you know, the Revolution that resulted in our embassy being taken over and our fellow citizens being held hostage till Reagan replaced Carter as President.)

The Iranians also announced today they have going to enrich uranium to a 20% level, (strictly for medical use, mind you /s off)

It is a ruse to get our attention focused on their Nuclear Bomb making program and divert us away from what is really going to happen on 11 February: The massive marches of protests that are being called for by opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi on that day.

The Mullahs in charge (led by the ailing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and their President (and alleged ringleader of the US Embassy hostage taking in 1979) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are girding up for a full scale crackdown on the opposition and protestors. Expect the Radical Revolutionary Guard and hired Arab guns from Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as some homegrown thugs imported from the countryside, to violently take on the protestors and kick some serious butt. It will be bloody, but the Iranian regime has learned how to shut down communications and restrict the western press from covering the riots in the streets.

Thousands of anti-government protestors are already rotting in prison and public executions have been made as an example of what lengths the current regime will go to in order to stay in power. So on 11 February, expect to hear some hearsay stories of the Mullahs putting down protests, but in our 24 hour news cycle, without it happening live and on camera... it will be a second tier story in the press, because, with CBSNBCABCMSNBC and yes, FOX, no video means no story.

What will be the story on 11 February is: "Whew, it was all rhetoric...they didn't detonate or announce they have the bomb, so we can go back to ignoring Iran a while longer" by the Obama administration (BTW, have you noticed that Obama has taken to not wearing neckties, just like Ahmadinejad? Just wondering if anyone else has noticed, that's all...) and in relief, little or no protest will happen over the Mullahs quashing the unarmed anti-government protestors with truncheons and guns.

End result: Lots of bloodshed in the streets of Tehran and other urban areas, many arrests and not quite a few deaths and the regime keeps a lid (for the most part) on any outside press coverage.

Don't expect the Obama Administration to do much of anything other than give lip service condemning the violence. I mean, even the French are being tougher than Obama on Iran! With Obama in charge, the two key ingredients have been lost in our ability to conduct effective foreign policy: Respect and Fear.

Wanting to be liked doesn't count for beans...

And for the record, I am still standing by my prediction in June of last year when all these protests started and what we should do to make regime change happen:

http://www.bloggybayou.com/2009/06/ya-say-you-want-revolution.html

SHAME ON CBS FOR PUTTING AN OBAMA PIECE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUPERBOWL PRE-GAME SHOW

This is crap... Today is for football..Not for Obama (with his new "no tie populist look") to tout his failed agenda.  This is nothing more than a paid political advertisement for Obama. 

COMPLAIN TO CBS

UPDATE: To Hell with the Plaxico Burris Story...who is next, Michael Vick???????????

Serious minded people have known about the "Climate Change" Fraud for Years

Looks more and more likely that Al Gore is going to have to refund his Nobel Prize money and give back his Oscar.  Read it and Weep.

Of course, regular readers of BloggyBayou have known it for since the Blog started last year!

BloggyBayou Makes The Case For The RPOF 20 February Elections

On February 20, 2010, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will hold its quarterly meeting in Orlando. This meeting is the culmination of a very bitter, but needed, dispute on what path the RPOF will take as it tries to make itself relevant again in Florida Politics.

In 2008, Florida went Blue for Obama, but wow, what a difference a year makes. A Republican Governor who cynically assumed that Obama represented the political future quickly, and much to his regret later, literally hugged and supported Obama and his massive "stimulus" bill which has proven to be a total failure by any measure or definition. The result: A young political prodigy has done the unthinkable and now leads our incumbent governor in the race for the open U.S. Senate Seat.

On the down side, our party has been rocked by scandal which led to resignation of the House Speaker and eventually led to the resignation of our Party Chairman. And just as this is happening, a populist, grassroots movement is making itself felt in practically every county and is not afraid to tell both Democrats and Republicans to go to hell.

We Republicans are at a crossroads. Registered Republicans and local party activists feel that the officials they elect have lost touch with the them and all they see in return are stories of high living Pols who refuse to tell them how their donations are spent while local county organizations go begging for funds.

This is a fact. This must change.

There are two legitimate candidates for Chairman of the RPOF: Florida State Senator John Thrasher of Florida District 8 and Sharon Day, the Republican National Committeewoman from Broward County and Secretary of the Republican National Committee. Succinctly stated, Sen. Thrasher is the Establishment candidate while Committeewoman Day represents the frustrated grassroots.

I have criticized Sen. Thrasher in the past (See Here) and I stand by my post. I also thought his challenge to Ms. Day to see who could raise the most money in a specific period of time to be a crass and essentially superficial publicity stunt. However, two men I admire, one who I have met via Emails and another who I have NEVER met have endorsed Sen. Thrasher. Sid Dinerstein, Chairman of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County who provided me invaluable assistance with research on the recent "Bullet train" bill and how it will eventually be an financial albatross around necks of Floridians, has endorsed Senator Thrasher. In addition, Allen Cox, who sacrificed his post as vice chairman of the RPOF in to get Mr. Greer to agree to resign (and was very critical (and right!) about Jim Greer's handling of RPOF funds) has also endorsed Sen. Thrasher. These two men feel that the Senator is our best choice we currently have. (And before you point it out to me, I know Sen. Thrasher has donated to Democrats in the past, including Allen Boyd, the Florida "Blue Dog" Democrat and who should be target #1 for the GOP in 2010). Also, there are serious questions of the legality of Sen. Thrasher's ability to raise funds while the Senate is in session. (I'll leave that one to the lawyers).

On the other hand, Committeewoman Day has been endorsed by a wide array of Grassroot activists and Republican activists, including Barbara Wall, my own county GOP Chairwoman. Sharon Day has an impressive GOP resume and has made more grassroots involvement in State Party affairs a cornerstone of her campaign. The knock on her is that she has full plate a far as GOP politics go (She is Secretary of the Republican National Committee, a very important position that does require a lot of work.)

Tell The Republicans in Congress to Vote NO on More Stimulus

This is a "Gut Check" Moment for the GOP. 

With the election of Scott Brown, the GOP can stop the newly proposed Democratic Stimulus bill from being enacted. PERIOD. If the GOP FAILS TO DO THIS, our party will have demonstrated that they are totally "tone deaf" to their own grassroots and base and more importantly, demonstrated to the rising tide of angry independents and alienated conservatives that the GOP has yet to learn the need for fiscal discipline.  You can start to kiss any support from the Tea Parties goodbye.

Call/Email/Shout form the rooftops to ALL THE NATIONAL GOP.  NO MORE SPENDING.

This is, simply put, a test for the GOP and it is a PASS/FAIL exam.

Game, Set, Match on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The Indian government has moved to establish its own body to address and monitor science surrounding climate change, saying it "cannot rely" on the official United Nation panel.

It is time for the U.S. To do the same. Call your Congressman and Senator. Stop the mixing of Political Dogma, Faith and Science. The United Nations is a corrupt instrument for the Have Nots to steal from the Haves. 

Also time for all the Global Warming People (aka "nuts") to return to their Roots of the Seventies...I predict Global Cooling will now regain its rightful place as the "Loony Lefts" cause of the day.... How "Groovy"....

Al Gore: Time to return the Nobel Prize Money and the Oscar.....

The Main Stream Media at it's VERY BEST

I soooooo Trust Katie Couric  ../s off

That sound you hear is the combined rumblings of Edward R. Murrow, Eric Severaid, William L. Shirer and Elmer Davis rolling over in their graves....

An Old Chinese Curse: "May you Live in Interesting Times"

Hong Kong Shares Tumble After U.S. Losses

Asia Shares Slump, Nikkei at 7-Week Lows

To all My readers: I'll be posting on the upcoming race for Chairman and Vice Chairman of the RPOF this weekend!

The Vote is on 20 February and I see it as an opportunity to retune our party to more grassroots support (and by that I mean making it a two way street).

Still: To win elections, you need money...that's a fact... It will be an interesting high wire act by yours truly.

Not a Good Sign When your State Capitol Considers Bankruptcy as a "Viable" Option

From the article:

"Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, will consider Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection along with tax increases and asset sales as options to address $68 million in debt service payments due this year, the chairwoman of a City Council committee said last night."

Sign of the times.... I would have thought the Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA) could gotten his hands on some of that free money Obama and Congress spent in "Porkulus"....

A History lesson on perseverance in the face of all odds

http://www.bloggybayou.com/2009/05/something-to-cheer-up-conservative-base.html

I strongly recommend ALL REAL Republicans Download the MP3 linked to in the above post and listen to the whole thing. This is a master of the English language at his finest…

Remember: The People in power in the White House and in charge of the DNC are products of Chicago Thug Machine Politics. Their idea of Political discourse is to crush the opposition, using any means fair or foul, PERIOD.

Our Ideas and our determination to DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN and to STOP THE FISCAL INSANITY must guide our actions. We must plant our feet in the sand and in 2010 we say to these political thugs: "Here We Make a Stand"

Another Great YouTube Political Ad

FCINO!!!!  and a Demon Wolf with Terminator Eyes. This is why I love the Internet!!

To All of the GOP Party Members who Helped get Jim Greer Fired, I Say Thank You

And to all of you GOP Members who said getting rid of Greer was a bad idea in the middle of the election year, I say I told you so...

Now, for our Party Reps, County Chairmen and members of the legislature, finish the job on 20 February 2010 and lets focus like lasers on getting a GOP U.S. Senator Elected and taking away at least one congressional seat  (hint hint Florida District 2) while keeping all our own in the GOP fold.

Whoever gets elected on February 20th, 2010... I encourage ALL Republicans to rally around the new management and then make POLITICAL WAR on the Democrats.

I am not a Kumbaya type of guy.....

Rubio versus Crist on Census

Crist is wanting to count illegal immigrants and Rubio says count only legal residents of the U.S. Just another reason to vote for Rubio on 24 August and in November. It is about standing on one's principles vice grasping for citizens tax dollars.

Marco Rubio has Taken Control in the Race for the GOP Nomination For US Senator

Folks, I usually mail you about issues and I have never mailed you about raising funds for conservatives. I am going to make an exception because there is a political earthquake happening in Florida.

The big news is that in a poll Marco Rubio is leading Gov. Charlie Crist 49%-37%. What was once unthinkable has now become doable.... The election of a real conservative as United States Senator from Florida.

However, now IS NOT the time to take a break or assume the race is over. Already, Main Stream Media outlets, both in print and on TV are starting to attack Speaker Rubio. They know that despite their own leftist outlook, 2010 is shaping up to be a Republican year. If that is the case, they want elected a Republican who is willing to compromise his principles for some fast money. In other words, If they can't get a Democrat elected, Charlie Crist is the next best thing.

Now is the time to show the MSM and Obama left that bedrock conservatives will not be intimidated or mislead by biased newspaper reports and editorials. It's time for a "Money Bomb" for Marco Rubio.

A "Money Bomb" is a intense, time-limited push for donations, even if it is a few bucks, from grassroots Republicans and like minded independents to a candidate that has a darn good chance of taking the seat in question and making it a seat that will oppose the Obama and left's agenda.  This "Money Bomb" concept was done with great results in Scott Brown's run in Massachusetts and provided critical funding that enabled him, a Republican, to win what was formerly known as the Ted Kennedy seat. That one effort alone quite probably stopped the passage of Obamacare.

We can have the same type of impact with a "Money Bomb" for Marco Rubio. With the release of the latest polls showing him pulling ahead of Crist, a massive coordinated effort has been made to both smear and demean the Speaker, both as a man and as a public servant. This is no accident and I strongly suspect the Crist campaign is behind much of these efforts.

If Marco does not have the funds to actively defend himself and spread the word of conservative values....Then there is a more than even chance that Charlie Crist will stage a comeback. Already Governor Crist has shown a willingness to work with and for President Obama's radical agenda. That does not bode well for America's future because we can't afford to have a "RINO" as our Senator from Florida. For those of you that live outside of Florida, believe me on this: If you look up "RINO" in the dictionary, you will find Charlie Crist's picture.

Speaker Rubio has dubbed his effort a "Stimulus Bomb" to mark the anniversary President Obama's trip to Florida and Charlie Crist's endorsement of Obama's wasteful stimulus (aka "Porkulus") bill.

A year ago, everyone said Charlie Crist, the ultimate mushy middle Republican was the only one who could win the U.S. Senate Seat for the Republicans. I am proud of the fact that I was one of the first to say Marco Rubio not only could, but would win. Now a real conservative leads both Crist and the Democrat in the race by double digits. Your generous donation will help ensure Marco Rubio WINS by double digits this November.

Click here for Marco Rubio's statement and appeal, as well as a site where you can donate funds.

Thanks in advance,
Muckraker