When they gloat
they show their ignorance,
for they do not realize
held their nose
and pulled the lever.
GLOAT – to observe or think about something with
triumphant and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight.
Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,
or the Lord will see you and disapprove.
Proverbs 24:17-18
By JIM DEMINT
Congratulations to all the tea party-backed candidates who overcame a determined, partisan opposition to win their elections. The next campaign begins today. Because you must now overcome determined party insiders if this nation is going to be spared from fiscal disaster.
Many of the people who will be welcoming the new class of Senate conservatives to Washington never wanted you here in the first place. The establishment is much more likely to try to buy off your votes than to buy into your limited-government philosophy. Consider what former GOP senator-turned-lobbyist Trent Lott told the Washington Post earlier this year: “As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.”
Don’t let them. Co-option is coercion. Washington operates on a favor-based economy and for every earmark, committee assignment or fancy title that’s given, payback is expected in return. The chits come due when the roll call votes begin. This is how big-spending bills that everyone always decries in public always manage to pass with just enough votes.
But someone can’t be bribed if they aren’t for sale. Here is some humble advice on how to recognize and refuse such offers.
First, don’t request earmarks. If you do, you’ll vote for legislation based on what’s in it for your state, not what’s best for the country. You will lose the ability to criticize wasteful spending. And, if you dare to oppose other pork-barrel projects, the earmarkers will retaliate against you.
In 2005, Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) offered a measure to kill funding for the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere.” Before the vote, Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.), an appropriator, issued a warning on the Senate floor.
“If we start cutting funding for individual projects, your project may be next,” she said. “When Members come down to the floor to vote on this amendment, they need to know if they support stripping out this project, Senator Bond [a Republican appropriator] and I are likely to be taking a long, serious look at their projects to determine whether they should be preserved during our upcoming conference negotiations.”
The threat worked. Hardly anyone wanted to risk losing earmarks. The Senate voted 82-15 to protect funding for the Bridge to Nowhere.
Second, hire conservative staff. The old saying “personnel is policy” is true. You don’t need Beltway strategists and consultants running your office. Find people who share your values and believe in advancing the same policy reforms. Staff who are driven by conservative instincts can protect you from unwanted, outside influences when the pressure is on.
Third, beware of committees. Committee assignments can be used as bait to make senators compromise on other matters. Rookie senators are often told they must be a member of a particular committee to advance a certain piece of legislation. This may be true in the House, but a senator can legislate on any matter from the Senate floor.
Fourth, don’t seek titles. The word “Senator” before your name carries plenty of clout. All senators have the power to object to bad legislation, speak on the floor and offer amendments, regardless of how they are ranked in party hierarchy.
Lastly, don’t let your re-election become more important than your job. You’ve campaigned long and hard for the opportunity to go to Washington and restore freedom in America. People will try to convince you to moderate conservative positions and break campaign promises, all in the name of winning the next race. Resist the temptation to do so. There are worse things than losing an election—like breaking your word to voters.
At your swearing-in ceremony, you will, as all senators do, take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution.” Most will fail to keep their oath. Doing these five things will help you maintain a focus on national priorities and be one who does.
Congress will never fix entitlements, simplify the tax code or balance the budget as long as members are more concerned with their own narrow, parochial interests. Time spent securing earmarks and serving personal ambitions is time that should be spent working on big-picture reforms.
When you are in Washington, remember what the voters back home want—less government and more freedom. Millions of people are out of work, the government is going bankrupt and the country is trillions in debt. Americans have watched in disgust as billions of their tax dollars have been wasted on failed jobs plans, bailouts and takeovers. It’s up to us to stop the spending spree and make sure we have a government that benefits America instead of being a burden to it.
Tea party Republicans were elected to go to Washington and save the country—not be co-opted by the club. So put on your boxing gloves. The fight begins today.
Mr. DeMint is a Republican senator from South Carolina.
Bloomberg Reports – Dow Climbs to Highest Since Lehman, 30-Year Bond Slides on Fed.
Yes, the highest in…..what is it? Two years? Yes, in just about exactly two years. Hmmmmm. That’s coincidental, isn’t it?
It actually is just wonderful. I have a great idea – let’s just go ahead and have the 2011 elections now. We would save time, money, and probably see the market go up even more!
Speaking of bump in the market – why are the liberals bellyaching over all the money spent for this election? Don’t they realize that it’s like a private-market-stimulus?
It dawned on me while I was ordering newspaper ads for the PAC I administrate. I mean, I am just a mom in Kentucky trying to support values-candidates. Even little Family First ended up spending what I consider a decent amount of cash in Kentucky races.
Advertising is not cheap. Ok, well, in some really small papers it is, but not in most. It must be that print, radio and television media make the bulk of their profit during the even numbered years in September and October.
So, besides my little piece of the pie, can you imagine how much has been spent in our nation for all of the elections – from the local to the national level? No, go ahead, you’ll never guess. $4 billion. Yes, with a B. FOUR BILLION DOLLARS.
Ok, that’s a little overwhelming. But why gripe about it? I mean, isn’t this a good thing?Individuals, corporations (now, after Citizens United, the real beef of the Democratic Party), political action committees and other groups spending private monies voluntarily (well, mostly voluntary) on advertising – at NO EXPENSE TO THE TAXPAYER.
Honestly, it not only rivals a small stimulus, it IS a stimulus. And guess what? We don’t even owe China for this money (although we may have to pay back some dead people in Las Vegas).
Additionally, I should add that $4B is a ‘projected’ amount. I am certain the final total will be much higher. In case you didn’t know, there are many savvy politicians who purposely fail to file their expenditure report until AFTER the race. This is primarily to keep their opponent from realizing how much of their own (or their father-in-law’s) money they had to dump into the race. So, expect that number to jump when Papa’s cash is added in sometime around December 2.
In this digital age, when everyone is crying about the death of printed news and radio (that is not XM), shouldn’t we be proud of the overwhelming support we have given to the media of days gone by? I mean, our children surely won’t be spending this kind of moolah for ink on paper during an election, much less airwaves that have static.
I’m sure that online advertising had increases in this election as well, but it cannot compare to candidates paying $5,000 for a quarter-page ad in the Courier Journal. [BTW, my little ad in there was 2" by 3". I don't know if anyone even noticed.]
So, the next time one of your liberal friends starts complaining about ‘outside money’ ‘anonymously’ poured into races in Kentucky, send them to Bloomberg. And remind them of the potential for selfish competition in a free market to benefit everyone.
All night long, what I’m hearing is, “President Obama will now have to move to the middle like Bill Clinton did in 1994.” WHAT? Have they NOT been paying attention?
He is incapable of hearing the scream in the room, incapable of feeling the slap on the face. He is numb to the will of the people, and I believe that nothing less than a military coup would shake him from the delusion that we will follow if he just keeps repeating comforting phrases.
He will keep going left – AND FULL STEAM. Oh, he may try to speak more like a centrist. But even that will be difficult. He may need four teleprompters to stay on message. Even if he tries to persuade with words, however, his actions will inevitably keep the country pointed in the direction of the progressive left.
The people want the Bush tax cuts back.
The people want his Health Care Reform Bill repealed.
The people want the government out of the way of business.
There is no chance President Obama is going to agree to any of these three measures – and they are just the most obvious. If the talking heads who keep spouting this garbage really believe what they say, they are not paying much more attention than our leaders.
These are predictions, not endorsements, mind you.
First of all – Rand Paul for U.S. Senate. I think it will be wild to watch Mitch try to handle him.
Second – Hal Heiner for Louisville Mayor – Another funny surprise for all my liberal Louisville friends.
Third – Andy Barr and John Yarmuth- U.S. Congress Kentucky Representative
Also U.S. Senate – Rubio in Florida, Fiorina in Cali, and in LV – Harry is OUT!
In the Kentucky Legislature, I’m guessing the Republicans in the House will pick up at least 10 seats. Currently the ratio is 65/35. This will bring them much closer to 50/50. And who knows? Could the Repubs pull in enough to win the majority for the first time in 90 years?
Democrat John Short will win in House 92 and the race between Johnnie Bell and Pam Hodges Browning in H23 is going to be tight. Bell may come out on top.
Also, the Independent in House 71, Dr. Christian Weigel will defeat Representative John Will Stacy, House Majority Whip, sending a message to Frankfort regarding the repeated death of the Ultrasound Bill under the leadership of the House Dems.
In the Kentucky Senate, I predict that the Republicans will pick up five seats. Dems may pick up one, maybe two, keeping the Senate under Republican leadership.
Overall, it’s going to be a great day for conservatives in both parties. Incumbents will be judged by their record, not their words. And the fresh, new crop of leaders at all levels will be refreshing. Let’s just pray they have a plan for November 3.
A long-lost friend, worried that I might have missed an important news story, sent me this link today. Hope you enjoy the featured cousin as much as I did. Happy summer break from REAL politics! Enjoy it while it lasts- only 9 days to go!
General Stanley McChrystal was followed by a Rolling Stone reporter for a month, and the article just came out, making the White House is furious. As I write this post, McChrystal is on his way to D.C. for a scolding from President Obama. I read the article itself and am a little puzzled.
I mean, is anyone really surprised that members of the military wouldn’t take Joe Biden seriously? I think the line McChrystal used was “Joe Biden. Who’s that?” That’s funny. And are you really alarmed that McChrystal’s inner circle uses the F-word or flips one another the bird? I mean, did anyone see Band of Brothers?
The article paints a portrait of McChrystal as what I would call, the all-American soldier. He sleeps four hours a night, runs seven miles every morning, eats one meal a day, has only seen his wife 30 days a year since he took over in Afghanistan, and takes none to kindly to politicians trying to come in and save the day on a war that seems un-winnable at times. And we are offended by this? Alarmed? Put-off?
How many of you men (or women have husbands who) watch Ice Road Truckers? How about the show about the survivor guy, who goes away from civilization with a pocketknife to see if he can make it? Or what about that show Ax Men? Seriously. You can hardly even follow the conversation from those lumberjacks with so many beeps from all the profanity. Who watches these television dramas? Men, secretly longing to be REAL men, and women who are longing for REAL men.
Men in America have been feminized to the point that their hands are softer than mine. Apparently this has seeped into the highest levels of leadership. The term metrosexual is supposed to be a turn on!?! Who wants a man who gets pedicures? Not me! I want a real man. I want a man who can survive in the woods, who can change a tire, who knows how to use a shovel and gets sweaty doing it, who can tell the bad guy where to go, and who will fight for my honor (even if that’s just with the pizza guy who got my order wrong – really, it was his fault, not mine).
I don’t want some soldier in Afghanistan defending our country with words alone. I want a General who knows how to hunt down and kill terrorists. And I want him to call them ‘terrorists.’ I want a man who detests “Gucci” restaurants and prefers the Irish pub. I want the officer who can spit in someone’s face as he gives them orders if they have been disrespectful. I want a General who calls it what it is, whether it’s a “clown” in the administration, or a killer on the streets disguised as a civilian. Give me McChrystal over the metrosexual commander any day of the week.
Several years ago I read the book, Wild at Heart, by John Eldredge. It really got me thinking about the vast number of men stuck in offices and bored out of their minds. Of the little boys hooked on video games because they don’t know how to go out in the forest and have a real adventure. It made me understand why more women take the lead in their relationships and then resent their men for it.
You know, right now I have two children away at camp, one boy, one girl. On Sunday they had special events and posted pictures online for the parents to enjoy. The girls were dressed in their Sunday best, under the massive oaks, having a tea party on the grounds. They were smiling, hugging, (okay, most of them, not necessarily the Kik kid) and posing politely for the photos.
At the boys camp, there was a different scene. Over 200 pictures were online for my viewing pleasure, and I could smell those ripe guys from my mac. There was a field full of them, shirtless, sweaty, with numbers written on their chests in permanent marker, tribal necklaces, roaring and high-fiving. Testosterone overload. From ages seven to twenty-two or so, they were all just….animals. They were actually lined up to be catapaulted into the air, only to land on an overblown, enormous air mattress in the middle of the lake. Lined up, I tell you! Who does this? Boys.
All this is to say, there are real differences, and let’s not get them confused, especially in our military. We don’t want a General in charge who is filing his nails and having crumpets. Because let’s face it, Afghanistan is no tea party.
[Sung to the tune of 'Unforgettable' by Nat King Cole]
Unsustainable, that’s what you are.
Unsustainable, though near or far.
That’s why darling, it not obtainable,
For everything is unsustainable,
And now this blog is unsustainable, too.
Nope, not ending the blog. Just got busy with the end of school and having children at home. But suddenly, everything is ‘unsustainable.’
Have you noticed? I mean, I wish I had a dollar for every time they said it on the news, or every time I read it in the paper. As usual, I’ve composed a list. Here are all the references just in the last week or so:
The Debt is Unsustainable- Bernacke
Gaza Flotilla Crisis Unsustainable- Obama
University Funding Unsustainable
Middle East Status Quo Unsustainable- Biden
Meat Eating Unsustainable – Really, I kid you not.
England’s Soccer Team Payroll Unsustainable
Organization of American States on Unsustainable Path – Hillary Clinton
Immigration Charitable, but Unsustainable
The list goes on and on. Honestly, this is just what I found in a matter of twenty minutes. Do these people not have a thesaurus? Aren’t there other ways to say it? ’We are unable to maintain…’ ’We can no longer afford to continue…’ ‘ We can no longer uphold…’
NEWS FLASH: THE OVERUSE OF THE WORD UNSUSTAINABLE
IS NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE.
Have you ever wondered what the parties really stand for? Below is a list of values taken directly from the DNC and RNC platforms, with links to the originals.
Where do you fall on the list? With which party do you agree?
Isn’t it time to be sure that your PARTY lines up with your VALUES?
Pro-choice Pro-life
Invest billions in ‘green energy’ sector; pass Cap and Trade Support accelerated drilling in America, nuclear energy, clean-coal technology and natural gas
“Global climate change is the planet’s greatest threat.” Gravest threat we face - nuclear terrorism
Undocumented immigrants should pay a fine, pay taxes, Illegal immigration is a national security issue; learn English, and become citizens complete border fence; oppose amnesty for illegals
Re-dedicate America to the United Nations organization America must remain sovereign in UN relationship
Support full inclusion of same-sex couples for benefits Support constitutional amendment protecting marriage and protections as the union of a man and a woman
Unions will make a stronger middle class Labor laws need to be modernized; opposed to card check
Spending Policies:
$4000 tax credit for college in exchange for community service Limited federal government – spend only what is necessary
Kentucky residents click here for simple,
mail-in voter registration form for party change!
American Revolution 4,435
War of 1812 2,260
Indian Wars 1,000
Mexican War 1,733
Civil War 215,938
Spanish American War 385
WWI 53,402
WWII 291,557
Korean War 33,741
Vietnam War 47,424
Gulf War 147
Global War on Terror 4,201 (as of March 10, 2010)
