Archive for the 'Commentary' Category

George Will: ‘The House Is All That Matters’

“What we know for sure Matt is if they had the votes today they would vote tomorrow morning. So they don’t have them yet.”

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As he often does, George Will made an excellent point on “This Week,” regarding the status of the health care vote in Congress. Will said that the vote in the House of Representatives is “all that matters.” If the House passes the Senate Bill as is, it can then go to President Obama’s desk and become law. Will said that Democrats do not currently have the votes to pass it.

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Michael Steele: Obama Goes Nuclear

Standby. An impending Chernobyl-like disaster is on the way: Obama has decided to launch the nuclear option on health care – reconciliation.

With no hope of reaching the 60-vote threshold necessary for a Senate victory and the American public growing increasingly against the Obama’s government-run takeover of health care bill, the President has decided that reconciliation is the only way he can get ObamaCare across the finish line and onto his desk.

Forget that 57% of Americans want him to start over on this bill. Forget that he doesn’t even have the 60 necessary “yes” votes from his own Party to pass this bill. The President is willing to do anything possible to force this bill through Congress – because instead of worrying about what the American people want, he’s more concerned with his imposing his own agenda.

What President Obama fails to recognize is that while reconciliation has been used before, in the last 19 reconciliation bills enacted into law, 12 of them were bipartisan and passed with the support of 60 of more Senators – something the President can’t say about his health care bill.

Mr. President, instead of risking a nuclear meltdown down of the health care system by ramming a 2,074 page bill through the Senate, the House, and down the throats of the American public – do everyone a favor and rip up your massive bill and start over.

Sign the Petition: Start Over on Health Care Reform

Source: Republican National Committee

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From the this is news how? department

http://politicsblog.projo.com/2010/02/survey-ris-sena.html

Reed + Whitehouse = Uber Liberal

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John Fund: Democratic Incumbents Are Running Scared…

…And the Fear Factor is Only Intensifying.

“The nonpartisan Cook Political Report released a new update on the 2010 elections yesterday. A full 54 Democratic seats in the House are now rated as “highly competitive,” with nearly half already seeing the GOP challenger running even or ahead of the Democratic incumbent. Only six GOP-held seats are in play as possible Democratic pickups. Republicans need to win 40 seats to take back control of the House. Nervousness in Democratic ranks will be heightened even more by Cook’s finding that a total of 95 Democratic seats are potentially vulnerable — almost two-fifths of the entire Democratic caucus.”…

Read More: The Wall Street Journal

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Primaries for Everyone

http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/former-republican-rep-moffitt.html

Two way race for RIGOP Gov candidate. At least for now…

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“Patches” Kennedy will not seek relection!!!!!!!!

http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/-washington—rep-patrick-1.html

I guess Scott Brown is not a joke after all.

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Providence GOP Response to ‘State of the City’ Address

David Talan, Chairman of the Providence Republican Party, responded as follows to Mayor David Cicilline’s State Of The City address tonight:

The Providence Republican Party urges the Mayor to look for ways to hold down city spending, without reducing necessary services. We commend Governor Carcieri for proposing to relax unfunded state mandates on the cities and towns, to allow them to spend much less money on low priority items. We note that a bi-partisan group of Mayors has come out in support of eliminating unfunded state mandates: Democratic Mayors from Cumberland, Johnston & North Providence (Daniel McKee, Joseph Polisena & Charles Lombardi), as well as Republican chief executives from Cranston and Lincoln (Allan Fung and Joseph Almond). Noticeably missing from this list is the Mayor of Providence. We urge Mayor Cicilline to join this effort, and to take a leadership role. We also urge the Mayor to actively lobby the all-Democrat 20-member Providence Legislative delegation to support eliminating unfunded mandates.

In fact, we urge the Mayor to go even further than the Governor has done. The Mayor should lobby the State Legislature for an “Unfunded Mandates Act”, that would relieve the city from having to comply with any mandates that are not funded fully (100 %) by the state government. We would find that we could get by very well without many of these mandated services. As an example of how this could save money, the city 2 years ago got permission from the state Dept. of Education to increase the size of costly special education classes by 20 perecnt from what was mandated. This does not appear to have done any harm to the quality of instruction. (Indeed, we should look at reducing the number of students in special education. In Providence, the percentage of such children is double the national average.) Continue reading ‘Providence GOP Response to ‘State of the City’ Address’

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Even Barney Frank gets it, but Patrick Kennedy Doesn’t

Are there no limits to this man-child’s intellectual dullness?

Kennedy’s son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) said Democrats have to understand that they’ve entered a different era — and that they can’t just assume that voters will be with them.

“It’s like in Roman times, they’d be trotted out to the coliseum and the lions would be brought out,” Kennedy said Tuesday night. “I mean, they’re wanting blood and they’re not getting it so they want to protest.”

This is the laziest trope in the Democrat-media book. When the electorate repudiates the Republicans, as in 2008, they’re voting for hope and change and raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. But, when the electorate repudiates the Democrats, as they did last night, then they’re seething and vicious and lashing out and so irrational they can’t even calculate their own best interest, which is to keep voting for the guy with “D” after his name. When suburban Massachusetts is your idea of Bitter Clinger Central, you may want to rethink your analysis…

Read More: The Corner at National Review

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Response to Chairman Cicione’s ‘Engaged Citizen’ Post

I would like to present a counterpoint to RIGOP Chairman Gio Cicione’s “engaged citizen” post on Anchor Rising, with my own observations. While I am by no means countering every erroneous or out-of-context assertion he made, this should be a good start:

“The Executive Committee meeting was held, and with little or no debate on the merits of a closed primary, a 26 to 10 vote was cast to recommend holding a special meeting on January 19th. “

This is technically true. However, it’s completely out of context. The purpose of the RIGOP executive committee meeting and vote on January 5th was “whether or not” to hold a special meeting on January 19th for the “purpose of discussion of the merits of a proposed bylaws change.” The proposed change, which was presented in writing to the executive committee, was to “close the primary to registered Republican voters.” The executive committee voted 26-10 to have a timely discussion on the 19th. The whole idea was to get the subject out of the way as quickly as possible! In addition, a motion [following the 26-10 vote] was made by Rep. Trillo to have discussion [at the executive committee meeting] on the merits of closing the primary. It was quashed by Gio based on an objection by Mayor Avedesian [which Gio sustained], with the explanation that the possibility of a non-binding vote on it was not already on the meeting agenda.

“It is my understanding that more than a week before I had even made my decision, they had already discussed how to force my resignation and had circulated a no-confidence petition that was signed by approximately eleven committee members.”

False. The “no confidence” petition was initially signed by 32 committee members, virtually ALL of whom are party chairs or representatives of their local GOP committee. “11″ was the number of members of the Executive Committee who signed a petition to force a meeting of the Executive Committee (only 5 were needed). There were multiple votes, based on the idea that “if Gio does not do this, then this is how we should react.” The idea was to offer him tasty carrots, but have a stick available if absolutely necessary. More importantly, no one other than Gio himself publicized in the media that several votes of that sort had been held over the course of several weeks, each time followed by in person consultations with Gio by a delegation of GOP city committee chairs. The votes had been “secret,” in the hopes of not causing unnecessary embarrassment to Gio, unless all alternatives had been exhausted.

“Please keep in mind that this is a debate about scheduling one meeting two weeks prior to another. It is not a debate about whether the Committee gets a say in closing the primary. It does. It is not a question of democracy versus dictatorship.”

Hardly. When exactly would the committee “get a say” in closing the 2010 primary, if it isn’t being allowed to have timely meetings to first hold a discussion and to then possibly later vote on the proposal before the deadline by which it must be submitted to the state? The logic is something like letting people choose a candidate in an election that was held the previous day! Unless there is a chance — no matter how remote — that potential passage of a bylaws change might actually result in implementation of the proposal, then it is not a good faith effort. Not that it matters a whole lot, but the time interval between January 19th and February 9th is exactly 3 weeks, not 2 as stated several times in Gio’s letter.

“So something has changed – I will not deny that. Unfortunately what has changed is that a small group of party officials have put a higher priority on jabbing at me than on winning 120 state and federal level and hundreds of more local elections this year.”

A small group? Since when did virtually all of the RIGOP party officials, including both of your vice-chairs and both party representatives to the RNC, and virtually all of the GOP town committee chairs throughout the state suddenly become a “small group of party officials”? I recognize a lame attempt to minimize when I see one. Most importantly, none of this is about Gio! Most of us rather like Gio and working with him. We simply assumed he would be reasonable. This is about majority rule. Period.

“It is worth noting that the person asking me whether I would do so was David Cote, a former committee member who has not been active in the party for well over a year.”

Has it occurred to Gio to ask Dave, the past chair of the largest GOP committee in the state, why that is?

“A few days later David [Cote] circulated an email expressing his anger with my decision and calling on me to resign. “

As one of the recipients of the original e-mail from Dave Cote, I’ll quote from it in context:

…Further, as the RIGOP Chairman, what precedent are you setting to dismiss Democracy within the State Republican Party? As a loyal Rhode Island Republican, I urge you to gracefully step aside if you cannot honor clear directives from your / our own RIGOP Executive Committee that was elected to represent our RIGOP Members…

Does that sound particularly angry? The gently worded “if / then” statement by Dave was conditional.

“I therefore find it most unfortunate that this debate has devolved into public insults.”

Only one person in this whole debate has used “insults” in public and in the media. Look in a mirror.

“One would hope that such a fight – a fair fight held in a manner consistent with our bylaws and among people with a common purpose – could be put behind us.”

How can a fight be considered “fair” when only one person gets to decide the winner of the fight? None of this is over by a long shot; it’s just beginning. At every turn, I and many others have sought to deescalate this and to come to a satisfactory and fair result for everyone. Even as this is being read, there are still people working behind the scenes to come to a swift, but fair conclusion. Instead, we’ve only been met with insults and pathetic attempts to minimize, as well as negatively characterize our actions.

“If some individuals think we lack unity today, then perhaps they should ask themselves what has changed.”

I believe we have a tremendous sense of unity; we’re possibly the most unified we’ve been on anything. However, it’s “unity” against Gio’s attempt to enforce his will over that of the majority of the committee.

“What hasn’t changed is my approach to leading the RIGOP.”

I think we ALL agree on that!

Will Ricci is a member of the RIGOP Executive Committee (appointed by Gio).

PS Gio is right about one thing, there is nothing in the RIGOP bylaws that directly allows for his removal. Fortunately for us, there’s also nothing in them which allows for ours. We are not going away!

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American Thinker: The Liberal Plot against American Education

Sounds familiar…

With troublemakers enjoying near-diplomatic immunity from punishment, schools have no choice but to hire armies of workers to mitigate their impact…and as in any well-formulated, government-financed, make-work scheme, everyone receives a turn at the trough. There will be more social workers, mental health counselors, anti-violence program supervisors and coordinators, role models, and mentors for at-risk students, right on down to more janitors skilled in graffiti removal, school safety officers, technicians to repair vandalized surveillance equipment, classroom assistants to keep an eye on the mischief-makers, and whatever else it takes to staff these prison-like schools…

These extra bodies necessary for maintain dangerous schools are also a windfall for the Democratic Party and its expand-the-state policies. Bloated school payrolls guarantee more dues-paying members to education unions like the NEA and AFT, both central to Democratic fundraising and voting drives. (These unions also supply many delegates to the party’s presidential nominating convention.) They are also a ready-made voter base for erstwhile “education” mayors and governors “committed to helping the children” who all the while push government farther into fiscal insolvency…

Read More: The American Thinker

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Charles Krauthammer on the New Socialism

YourPocketsThis is a very good commentary by Charles Krauthammer on the “New Socialism” (Hint: It’s the same as the Old Socialism, just with better PR people).

The idea of essentially taxing hardworking citizens of the democracies to fill the treasuries of Third World kleptocracies went nowhere, thanks mainly to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher (and the debt crisis of the early ’80s). They put a stake through the enterprise.

But such dreams never die. The raid on the Western treasuries is on again, but today with a new rationale to fit current ideological fashion. With socialism dead, the gigantic heist is now proposed as a sacred service of the newest religion: environmentalism.

One of the major goals of the Copenhagen climate summit is another NIEO shakedown: the transfer of hundreds of billions from the industrial West to the Third World to save the planet by, for example, planting green industries in thetristes tropiques.

Politically it’s an idea of genius, engaging at once every left-wing erogenous zone: rich man’s guilt, post-colonial guilt, environmental guilt. But the idea of shaking down the industrial democracies in the name of the environment thrives not just in the refined internationalist precincts of Copenhagen…

Read More: The Washington Post

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Workers Blow Whistle on SEIU Election Fraud

seiu-thugsThis video illustrates why it is no surprise that the SEIU beat up a Tea Party vendor, and that it has adopted the role of brownshirts for the Obama revolution, albeit the SEIU thugs wear purple instead. SEIU doesn’t represent workers, it preys upon them.

This year the “card check” bill, otherwise known as the “Employee Free Choice Act” — an Orwellian title if there ever was one — has been in the news because of its attempt to effectively eliminate secret ballot elections in union organizing drives, and so the protections built-in to a secret ballot process.

As that attempt at a totalitarian-like union election process has been intense, “compromises” are being floated, such as mail-in ballots.

This video demonstrates why that will be a farce, and such a “compromise” will still enable the unions to realize the goal of EFCA, that is, to intimidate workers into allowing the union into their workplaces, and thus into their wallets.

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Rhode Islanders, This Is Your Congressman?!? Yeah.

For your viewing displeasure, here is a stunning new video clip from yesterday’s Congressional oversight hearing where Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-Rehab) gives new definition to the words “cringe-worthy.” This is just painful to watch.

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If the Congressman walked on to a plane with bags under his eyes like that, he’d be charged extra for them (except on Southwest Airlines, where bags fly free!). The sad part is, given his rather checkered history, it’s not readily apparent if he’s actually under the influence of something prescribed or self-prescribed, or if this is merely the new “normal” for him. Watch and learn. Nancy Reagan was right: JUST SAY NO!

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