Last time I checked, it was the voters who elected people to Congress and the White House. It was not Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Harry Reid or even Michael Steele. Our senators, representatives and president are not elected by a party, an agenda or special interest groups. They are elected by the people to represent the people and do the will of the people.
Yet, the POR Trio would have you believe the prime directive for a Democratic rep or senator is to blindly and unquestioningly fall in line with the trio’s agenda. Afterall, that’s what they were elected to do. Right?
Anyone who’s surprised by this tune wasn’t listening closely during the 2008 campaign. Obama summed up his view of a politician’s role in a speech that played to rave reviews in Iowa and helped him clinch the Iowa caucuses. “That’s why telling the American people what we think they want to hear instead of telling the American people what they need to hear just won’t do,” he said. While his words rang with rhythm and rhetoric, their true meaning was lost in the thunderous applause. No one questioned who would be the arbiter of what the American people NEED to hear.
Other fact-check failures from the campaign trail are coming back to bite the nation. As Game Change reminds us, the basic principles that shaped Obama’s campaign were a.) Americans were tired of divisiveness – they wanted a unifier; b.) they wanted an end to partisanship; and c.) they wanted leaders who would say no to special interests. Obama the candidate rode this rhetoric of change all the way to the White House. And yet, according to Washington Post vote tallies for the last Congress, his record in the Senate showed he was one of the most partisan, divisive voices there – coming in right behind Joe Biden. And his links to special interests ran deep.
Since the election, all we’ve heard from the POR Trio is strident partisanship as they demand that all reps and senators ignore the wishes of their constituents, who are too ignorant to know what’s good for them, and bow to the bidding of the all-knowing Democratic leadership and the special interests that fund their message.
This November, we need to show the POR Trio what change is all about. And in the meantime, remind your senators and representatives who they really answer to.
I’m Joey, and I want to bring real change to Washington.
Showing posts with label Democrats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Democrats. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Joey’s Take: Weathering the Storm
There’s nothing like bad weather to bring neighbors together. The elements have a way of reminding us that we’re all in this, so we smile as we break out the winter gear and join forces to push vehicles out of the ditch, shovel out the drives and pool resources to pay for a plow. When bad weather strikes, neighbors band together to come up with practical solutions that work for everyone.
Given the economic and security storms we’re weathering as a nation, our government officials could take a few pointers from the nieghborhood:
1. Be prepared. You can’t wait for the storm to hit before you even start thinking about how you’re going to handle it. That includes having a “rainy day” fund – not a deficit – so you can handle the unexpected expenses.
2. Don’t make your neighbors your enemies. I know, the president said pretty much the same thing last week when he met with congressional Republicans. But that’s not the advice he gave his fellow Democrats later in the week.
3. Work together – not at cross purposes. In other words, don’t pile your snow in your neighbor’s cleared drive. The sign of a true leader isn’t always being right – it’s being able to recognize and choose the right course when it’s presented. It’s also being able to change courses and admit you’re wrong when you see that what you’ve been doing is only making matters worse.
4. Experience helps, but everyone has something to offer – even the freshman members of the minority party. At least let them introduce their bills; they may have some ideas worth considering. I know our young neighbor kid is an asset to his family and the neighborhood. If it weren’t for his hard work and energy, our car would still be encased hood high in snow.
5. Sound bites don’t get the job done. And speaking of sound bites, the president got a lot of airplay when he told Republicans they need to be concerned about Americans’ jobs rather than their own jobs. My response? If ALL the people on Capitol Hill and the White House were doing their jobs instead of spending our money, the rest of us Americans wouldn’t have to worry about our jobs.
I’m Joey. I’m a dog. And I’m running for Congress.
Given the economic and security storms we’re weathering as a nation, our government officials could take a few pointers from the nieghborhood:
1. Be prepared. You can’t wait for the storm to hit before you even start thinking about how you’re going to handle it. That includes having a “rainy day” fund – not a deficit – so you can handle the unexpected expenses.
2. Don’t make your neighbors your enemies. I know, the president said pretty much the same thing last week when he met with congressional Republicans. But that’s not the advice he gave his fellow Democrats later in the week.
3. Work together – not at cross purposes. In other words, don’t pile your snow in your neighbor’s cleared drive. The sign of a true leader isn’t always being right – it’s being able to recognize and choose the right course when it’s presented. It’s also being able to change courses and admit you’re wrong when you see that what you’ve been doing is only making matters worse.
4. Experience helps, but everyone has something to offer – even the freshman members of the minority party. At least let them introduce their bills; they may have some ideas worth considering. I know our young neighbor kid is an asset to his family and the neighborhood. If it weren’t for his hard work and energy, our car would still be encased hood high in snow.
5. Sound bites don’t get the job done. And speaking of sound bites, the president got a lot of airplay when he told Republicans they need to be concerned about Americans’ jobs rather than their own jobs. My response? If ALL the people on Capitol Hill and the White House were doing their jobs instead of spending our money, the rest of us Americans wouldn’t have to worry about our jobs.
I’m Joey. I’m a dog. And I’m running for Congress.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Joey's Take: Rebuttal
I know, I know. By now you are probably sick and tired of all things having to do with the State of the Union speech, but I have a few points that have, for the most part, eluded the pundits and critics.
1. No speech -- regardless of how "magical" it is -- can create jobs, cut the deficit, put money in our pocket, expand health care coverage, halt climate change, increase national security, punish the bad guys and establish world peace. Anyone who thinks it can needs a hefty dose of reality. All of that takes action -- not slick-sounding words.
2. President Obama once again resorted to the blame game. In trying to justify his unprecedented deficit spending, the president pointed to a $1 trillion deficit he said President Bush created in 2008.
Fact Check: For much of Bush's term before 2007, Congress was so evenly split between the Democrats and Republicans that nothing could get passed without some Democrat support. And since the 2006 election -- yes, the one that sent Obama to the Senate -- both the House and the Senate have been controlled by the Democrats. Thus, any deficit created in 2007 and 2008 was blessed by, endorsed by, passed by and often created by the Democratic Congress.
Inconvenient Truth: Obama did not "inherit" the deficit. He helped create it.
3. The president tried to set the stage for a Democratic victory later this fall by casting Republicans as the obstacle to all things good, as the party of no and as political do-nothings devoid of solutions. Since the Democrats control the bully pulpit and the script going out to the mainstream media, Republicans need to go on the offensive (without being offensive) to get the word out about their legislative proposals.
My Suggestion: Republicans should set up websites -- one for the House and one for the Senate -- with links to all the legislation they have proposed this session. For each link -- grouped into categories for healthcare, taxes, deficit, economy, etc. -- there should be a brief summary of each bill along with its history. When was it introduced? What committee was it sent to? What happened to it in that committee? Who chairs that committee? The websites should include bipartisan legislation Republicans have co-sponsored and list the Democrats who have signed onto it.
Once the websites are up, the Republicans need to get out there and market them, using Twitter, Facebook, email lists, their individual congressional websites and local and national media. Then, no one -- not even the president -- will be able to get by with labeling Republicans as the party of no.
I'm Joey. I'm running for Congress. And I approved this message.
P.S. If you missed my State of the Union address, you'll find it more accurately represents the mood of the people than what you heard last night.
1. No speech -- regardless of how "magical" it is -- can create jobs, cut the deficit, put money in our pocket, expand health care coverage, halt climate change, increase national security, punish the bad guys and establish world peace. Anyone who thinks it can needs a hefty dose of reality. All of that takes action -- not slick-sounding words.
2. President Obama once again resorted to the blame game. In trying to justify his unprecedented deficit spending, the president pointed to a $1 trillion deficit he said President Bush created in 2008.
Fact Check: For much of Bush's term before 2007, Congress was so evenly split between the Democrats and Republicans that nothing could get passed without some Democrat support. And since the 2006 election -- yes, the one that sent Obama to the Senate -- both the House and the Senate have been controlled by the Democrats. Thus, any deficit created in 2007 and 2008 was blessed by, endorsed by, passed by and often created by the Democratic Congress.
Inconvenient Truth: Obama did not "inherit" the deficit. He helped create it.
3. The president tried to set the stage for a Democratic victory later this fall by casting Republicans as the obstacle to all things good, as the party of no and as political do-nothings devoid of solutions. Since the Democrats control the bully pulpit and the script going out to the mainstream media, Republicans need to go on the offensive (without being offensive) to get the word out about their legislative proposals.
My Suggestion: Republicans should set up websites -- one for the House and one for the Senate -- with links to all the legislation they have proposed this session. For each link -- grouped into categories for healthcare, taxes, deficit, economy, etc. -- there should be a brief summary of each bill along with its history. When was it introduced? What committee was it sent to? What happened to it in that committee? Who chairs that committee? The websites should include bipartisan legislation Republicans have co-sponsored and list the Democrats who have signed onto it.
Once the websites are up, the Republicans need to get out there and market them, using Twitter, Facebook, email lists, their individual congressional websites and local and national media. Then, no one -- not even the president -- will be able to get by with labeling Republicans as the party of no.
I'm Joey. I'm running for Congress. And I approved this message.
P.S. If you missed my State of the Union address, you'll find it more accurately represents the mood of the people than what you heard last night.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Joey’s Take: The State of the Union
As the time for the president’s State of the Union address approaches, we’re going to hear more and more about what he might say. My advice: Don’t waste your time listening to all the spin. I may be just a dog, but I can tell you the state of the union in four words – unemployed, broke and angry.
Unemployed: I know, the president will probably address the unemployment issue and regale us with how he and Congress have saved and/or created thousands of jobs. Yea, and how many of them are government jobs that we a.) can’t afford and b.) don’t need? Then he’ll probably tell us about the Dem plan to create even more jobs. I can’t read, but I don’t think the Constitution gives Congress or the president the responsibility or the authority to create jobs. What the president won’t discuss are all the regulations his administration is passing that will kill more jobs than he can hope to create.
Broke: I’ll bet my ever-wagging tail this is one word the president won't use. He will run as far away from the financial, moral and leadership deficits facing our nation as he can get. And if he does manage to mumble the word, he will blame it on Bush. But every time he plays the blame game, we need to remind everyone that the Dems controlled Congress for the past few years under Bush. If Obama inherited a mess, he has himself and his colleagues on the Hill to blame.
Angry: The American people, both liberal and conservative, are biting, fighting mad – at each other, at their elected officials, at their plight in life. If you don’t believe me, read some of the comments being posted in reaction to news stories on CNN. Of course, our “leaders” feed this frenzy with their broken promises, vitriolic rhetoric and gotcha partisanship.
My solution: Instead of another speech full of spin, we need a national time out – a time out from politics as usual (hey, what happened to the change we were promised?), from all the ugly rants, from politicians who don’t understand or care that we can’t afford their big-spending habits.
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress. And I understand the true state of the union.
Unemployed: I know, the president will probably address the unemployment issue and regale us with how he and Congress have saved and/or created thousands of jobs. Yea, and how many of them are government jobs that we a.) can’t afford and b.) don’t need? Then he’ll probably tell us about the Dem plan to create even more jobs. I can’t read, but I don’t think the Constitution gives Congress or the president the responsibility or the authority to create jobs. What the president won’t discuss are all the regulations his administration is passing that will kill more jobs than he can hope to create.
Broke: I’ll bet my ever-wagging tail this is one word the president won't use. He will run as far away from the financial, moral and leadership deficits facing our nation as he can get. And if he does manage to mumble the word, he will blame it on Bush. But every time he plays the blame game, we need to remind everyone that the Dems controlled Congress for the past few years under Bush. If Obama inherited a mess, he has himself and his colleagues on the Hill to blame.
Angry: The American people, both liberal and conservative, are biting, fighting mad – at each other, at their elected officials, at their plight in life. If you don’t believe me, read some of the comments being posted in reaction to news stories on CNN. Of course, our “leaders” feed this frenzy with their broken promises, vitriolic rhetoric and gotcha partisanship.
My solution: Instead of another speech full of spin, we need a national time out – a time out from politics as usual (hey, what happened to the change we were promised?), from all the ugly rants, from politicians who don’t understand or care that we can’t afford their big-spending habits.
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress. And I understand the true state of the union.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Democrats by the Numbers
With Al Franken the undisputed senator from Minnesota, the Democrats now have a filibuster-proof Senate. The last time that happened -- in the wake of Watergate -- they passed a bunch of procedural measures, like lowering the filibuster-breaker from 67 to 60. They also put us on the metric system and then slowed us down to 55 mph.
We all know how those last two went. We're still buying gas by the gallon and cruising the interstates at 65 mph and then some -- unless you're on I-66 during traffic times or a presidential motorcade.
Before the Dems let their numbers go to their head, here are a few numbers they need to seriously consider. A new Gallup poll shows "a statistically significant increase since last year in the percentage of Americans who describe the Democratic Party's views as being 'too liberal,' from 39 percent to 46 percent. This is the largest percentage saying so since November 1994, after the party's losses in that year's midterm elections," according to a CNN editorial.
Another Gallup poll shows that 40 percent of Americans consider themselves conservative, 35 percent moderate and only 21 percent liberal. "This represents a slight increase for conservatism in the U.S. since 2008, returning it to a level last seen in 2004," according to Gallup.
The numbers also are telling when it comes to President Obama's hurried push to change healthcare. According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released this morning, 51 percent of people surveyed say they favor the president's healthcare plan, with 45 percent opposed. But when questioned more closely, most of the people surveyed are concerned that their healthcare costs would go up if the president's proposals are passed. And only 20 percent think their families would be better off under the Obama plan.
So before the Dems spend trillions more that we don't have on public insurance programs or a Hawaiian bank partially owned by a Democratic senator, they may want to chew on some of these numbers for a while. But in the meantime, don't put it past them to pull a few more procedural shenanigans to give themselves even more power.
We all know how those last two went. We're still buying gas by the gallon and cruising the interstates at 65 mph and then some -- unless you're on I-66 during traffic times or a presidential motorcade.
Before the Dems let their numbers go to their head, here are a few numbers they need to seriously consider. A new Gallup poll shows "a statistically significant increase since last year in the percentage of Americans who describe the Democratic Party's views as being 'too liberal,' from 39 percent to 46 percent. This is the largest percentage saying so since November 1994, after the party's losses in that year's midterm elections," according to a CNN editorial.
Another Gallup poll shows that 40 percent of Americans consider themselves conservative, 35 percent moderate and only 21 percent liberal. "This represents a slight increase for conservatism in the U.S. since 2008, returning it to a level last seen in 2004," according to Gallup.
The numbers also are telling when it comes to President Obama's hurried push to change healthcare. According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released this morning, 51 percent of people surveyed say they favor the president's healthcare plan, with 45 percent opposed. But when questioned more closely, most of the people surveyed are concerned that their healthcare costs would go up if the president's proposals are passed. And only 20 percent think their families would be better off under the Obama plan.
So before the Dems spend trillions more that we don't have on public insurance programs or a Hawaiian bank partially owned by a Democratic senator, they may want to chew on some of these numbers for a while. But in the meantime, don't put it past them to pull a few more procedural shenanigans to give themselves even more power.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Beginning of Hope
If you don't live in Virginia or New Jersey, you may not have caught the ray of hope that is beginning to dawn on the conservative horizon. Both states have off-year gubernatorial elections. And voters in both states so far are throwing their support to conservatives.
In Virginia, the glimmer paved the way for state Sen. Creigh Deeds, a conservative Democrat, to leave two liberal opponents stumbling in the dark as he raced past them in the primary this week -- despite being outspent, outgunned, out-endorsed and outnamed. Deeds captured 50 percent of the vote while Terry McAuliffe, a longtime Democratic Party operative, got 26 percent and the early favorite Brian Moran pulled in nearly 24 percent.
You may be familiar with McAuliffe. He's the one who engineered the Clinton coffees at the White House and the "renting out" of the Lincoln bedroom. McAuliffe, who had chaired Hillary's presidential campaign, came to the Virginia race late. In fact, he reportedly wanted to run for governor in Florida until he found out he had to live there seven years first. Despite his late entrance, he raised millions more than his opponents -- much of it from Hollywood -- and had several in-person endorsements from President Clinton.
Moran, who ran to the left of McAuliffe, comes from a prominent political family and has served in the state assembly. He also got the endorsement of the Kennedy clan. He was seen as the golden candidate until McAuliffe's candidacy bumped him off course.
But in the end, Virginia Democrats set their hopes on the conservative -- the one candidate who would not agree with President Obama on many of his policies. They told the Clintons, the Kennedys and even Hollywood, "No thanks." They proved Virginia is not as purple as the liberals would like you to believe.
Meanwhile in New Jersey, Republican challenger Chris Christie is coming on strong against incumbent Jon Corzine with taxes, particularly property taxes, and the economy playing as the biggest issues. Some pundits see President Obama as Corzine's only hope to retain his seat. But will the president risk his cache by campaigning for an incumbent who could lose?
Hope is dawning. And we're not even through the first six months of the Democratic reign.
In Virginia, the glimmer paved the way for state Sen. Creigh Deeds, a conservative Democrat, to leave two liberal opponents stumbling in the dark as he raced past them in the primary this week -- despite being outspent, outgunned, out-endorsed and outnamed. Deeds captured 50 percent of the vote while Terry McAuliffe, a longtime Democratic Party operative, got 26 percent and the early favorite Brian Moran pulled in nearly 24 percent.
You may be familiar with McAuliffe. He's the one who engineered the Clinton coffees at the White House and the "renting out" of the Lincoln bedroom. McAuliffe, who had chaired Hillary's presidential campaign, came to the Virginia race late. In fact, he reportedly wanted to run for governor in Florida until he found out he had to live there seven years first. Despite his late entrance, he raised millions more than his opponents -- much of it from Hollywood -- and had several in-person endorsements from President Clinton.
Moran, who ran to the left of McAuliffe, comes from a prominent political family and has served in the state assembly. He also got the endorsement of the Kennedy clan. He was seen as the golden candidate until McAuliffe's candidacy bumped him off course.
But in the end, Virginia Democrats set their hopes on the conservative -- the one candidate who would not agree with President Obama on many of his policies. They told the Clintons, the Kennedys and even Hollywood, "No thanks." They proved Virginia is not as purple as the liberals would like you to believe.
Meanwhile in New Jersey, Republican challenger Chris Christie is coming on strong against incumbent Jon Corzine with taxes, particularly property taxes, and the economy playing as the biggest issues. Some pundits see President Obama as Corzine's only hope to retain his seat. But will the president risk his cache by campaigning for an incumbent who could lose?
Hope is dawning. And we're not even through the first six months of the Democratic reign.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Professor-in-Chief
Whether he's dealing with healthcare reform, nominating a Supreme Court justice, trying to forge peace in the Middle East or attempting to dig out of the economic mess he helped create as a U.S. senator, President Obama sticks to his professor's manual in how he handles the crisis at hand.
Five months into his presidency, Obama has exhibited a signature way of approaching every issue. First, the Speech -- more commonly known as a lecture in classroom parlance. In the Speech, he lays out some general guidelines or objectives and then pulls at the heartstrings with poignant anecdotes.
Next, the Assignment. Usually this is directed at Congress. But Obama has been known to make assignments to industry, agencies, associations and even Israel. On the heels of assigning homework, the president sets an arbitrary due date. And then like any good professor, he leaves the students to complete the project on their own.
While this method may work in the classroom, it is disastrous in government. Remember the "stimulus" package? Rushing to meet the president's due date, Democrats pushed through a thousand pages of spending proposals that no one -- including Professor President -- had a chance to review or evaluate. The Democrats are doing the same thing with Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. For them, it is more important to meet Obama's deadline than it is to do a full-blown, meaningful review.
Meanwhile, the president gave them another assignment today: Come up with legislation to set a cap on executive pay at all publically traded companies. It will be interesting to see if any of the congressional Democrats question the teacher on this one.
Or perhaps by now the brighter students have figured out that this type of tutorial government leads to one result: The president/professor takes all the credit and the students in Congress get all the failing grades.
Five months into his presidency, Obama has exhibited a signature way of approaching every issue. First, the Speech -- more commonly known as a lecture in classroom parlance. In the Speech, he lays out some general guidelines or objectives and then pulls at the heartstrings with poignant anecdotes.
Next, the Assignment. Usually this is directed at Congress. But Obama has been known to make assignments to industry, agencies, associations and even Israel. On the heels of assigning homework, the president sets an arbitrary due date. And then like any good professor, he leaves the students to complete the project on their own.
While this method may work in the classroom, it is disastrous in government. Remember the "stimulus" package? Rushing to meet the president's due date, Democrats pushed through a thousand pages of spending proposals that no one -- including Professor President -- had a chance to review or evaluate. The Democrats are doing the same thing with Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. For them, it is more important to meet Obama's deadline than it is to do a full-blown, meaningful review.
Meanwhile, the president gave them another assignment today: Come up with legislation to set a cap on executive pay at all publically traded companies. It will be interesting to see if any of the congressional Democrats question the teacher on this one.
Or perhaps by now the brighter students have figured out that this type of tutorial government leads to one result: The president/professor takes all the credit and the students in Congress get all the failing grades.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Healthcare at a Crossroads – The Problem
The growing cost of healthcare was a national problem back in 1992 when Hillary Clinton failed to come up with a workable solution. It’s an even bigger problem today, costing us 18 percent of the national GDP – a figure that’s expected to nearly double over the next 30 years, according to a report released this week by the president’s Council of Economic Advisers. That means more and more of our paycheck – and a greater share of our tax dollar – will go for healthcare.
President Obama made healthcare reform a centerpiece of his campaign. And he’s told Congress it has to get it done this year or else. Although the president is spotlighting any vague promise of future savings as proof that his campaign speeches were more than rhetoric, a lot of Beltway insiders are admitting that the likelihood we’ll see any true reform is getting slimmer and slimmer.
The president can’t blame this one on the Republicans not playing nicely with the Democrats. The truth is that the Democrats aren’t playing nicely with each other. Some congressional Democrats are holding out for all or nothing – meaning they will settle for nothing but a universal, socialized coverage plan. Others insist on a more moderate approach.
Meanwhile, the president and his economic advisers are touting as real progress a broad promise extracted at a closed “summit” last month from a coalition of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical and medical device industry groups. After the afternoon summit, the president proudly announced, without giving any details, that the coalition had promised to slow the growth of healthcare costs by 1.5 percentage points a year over the next decade for a total savings of $2 trillion.
If that savings were to occur, the typical family of four would have $2,600 more in its pocket in 2020, according to the council’s report.
But since that summit, the members of the coalition have had a chance to crunch some numbers. They released a joint letter this week listing some general steps they could take to slow the growth of healthcare costs. (Note that we aren’t talking about actually cutting costs.) And in that letter, they say they might be able to save as little as half of the $2 trillion Obama is counting on.
Yes, we need healthcare reform. But if we want true reform, we’re going to have to come up with the solution ourselves – and then sell it to Congress and the various stakeholders.
I’ll start the ball rolling tomorrow night with some ideas that could realistically – and almost painlessly – change healthcare as we know it.
President Obama made healthcare reform a centerpiece of his campaign. And he’s told Congress it has to get it done this year or else. Although the president is spotlighting any vague promise of future savings as proof that his campaign speeches were more than rhetoric, a lot of Beltway insiders are admitting that the likelihood we’ll see any true reform is getting slimmer and slimmer.
The president can’t blame this one on the Republicans not playing nicely with the Democrats. The truth is that the Democrats aren’t playing nicely with each other. Some congressional Democrats are holding out for all or nothing – meaning they will settle for nothing but a universal, socialized coverage plan. Others insist on a more moderate approach.
Meanwhile, the president and his economic advisers are touting as real progress a broad promise extracted at a closed “summit” last month from a coalition of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical and medical device industry groups. After the afternoon summit, the president proudly announced, without giving any details, that the coalition had promised to slow the growth of healthcare costs by 1.5 percentage points a year over the next decade for a total savings of $2 trillion.
If that savings were to occur, the typical family of four would have $2,600 more in its pocket in 2020, according to the council’s report.
But since that summit, the members of the coalition have had a chance to crunch some numbers. They released a joint letter this week listing some general steps they could take to slow the growth of healthcare costs. (Note that we aren’t talking about actually cutting costs.) And in that letter, they say they might be able to save as little as half of the $2 trillion Obama is counting on.
Yes, we need healthcare reform. But if we want true reform, we’re going to have to come up with the solution ourselves – and then sell it to Congress and the various stakeholders.
I’ll start the ball rolling tomorrow night with some ideas that could realistically – and almost painlessly – change healthcare as we know it.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Stick to the Real Issues
Even though Democrats have controlled Congress for nearly three years and the mortgage crisis can be traced back to policies started under the Clinton administration, 62 percent of Americans blame the current economic mess on Republicans, according to Rasmussen Reports.
The reason? We have allowed the Democrats to define the issues, shape the message and control the dialogue. If we want to reclaim any congressional seats next year, or even take a stab at the presidency in 2012, we must do a better job of telling our side of the story.
We are not going to do it by complaining about the president taking his wife to a Broadway play in New York. Every president is entitled to time off -- and away -- from the Beltway. And, yes, wherever they go, whatever they do, we have to pay for the security detail. It goes with the office.
On the other hand, we should be taking aim at a radio-phone-email campaign the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched against six House Republicans for their votes against President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package. This campaign, which started today, targets Rep. Brian Bilbray of California's 50th congressional district; Rep. Charlie Dent, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district; Rep. Peter King, New York's 3rd congressional district; Rep. Thad McCotter, Michigan's 11th congressional district; Rep. Tom Rooney, Florida's 16th congressional district, and Alaska's Rep. Don Young. (Hey, haven't the Dems done enough damage to Alaska?)
The campaign is based on half-truths. For instance, the phone script being used in Michigan says, "Congressman McCotter even voted against the economic recovery plan, which is at work now to create or save over 109,000 Michigan jobs."
Yes, it is true that McCotter voted against the stimulus bill, which was passed in early February. But it is not true that the stimulus is doing anything for Michigan -- even though it was supposed to create jobs immediately. According to Michigan labor statistics, the state lost 38,000 jobs in April alone. If I lived in Michigan, I'd be asking the Democrats for my money back!
These are the facts we need to get out there -- along with real-world solutions. Only then will we be able to get our nation back on track.
The reason? We have allowed the Democrats to define the issues, shape the message and control the dialogue. If we want to reclaim any congressional seats next year, or even take a stab at the presidency in 2012, we must do a better job of telling our side of the story.
We are not going to do it by complaining about the president taking his wife to a Broadway play in New York. Every president is entitled to time off -- and away -- from the Beltway. And, yes, wherever they go, whatever they do, we have to pay for the security detail. It goes with the office.
On the other hand, we should be taking aim at a radio-phone-email campaign the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched against six House Republicans for their votes against President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package. This campaign, which started today, targets Rep. Brian Bilbray of California's 50th congressional district; Rep. Charlie Dent, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district; Rep. Peter King, New York's 3rd congressional district; Rep. Thad McCotter, Michigan's 11th congressional district; Rep. Tom Rooney, Florida's 16th congressional district, and Alaska's Rep. Don Young. (Hey, haven't the Dems done enough damage to Alaska?)
The campaign is based on half-truths. For instance, the phone script being used in Michigan says, "Congressman McCotter even voted against the economic recovery plan, which is at work now to create or save over 109,000 Michigan jobs."
Yes, it is true that McCotter voted against the stimulus bill, which was passed in early February. But it is not true that the stimulus is doing anything for Michigan -- even though it was supposed to create jobs immediately. According to Michigan labor statistics, the state lost 38,000 jobs in April alone. If I lived in Michigan, I'd be asking the Democrats for my money back!
These are the facts we need to get out there -- along with real-world solutions. Only then will we be able to get our nation back on track.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Joey's Take -- Obedience School
You know, I haven't seen Bo since the first week he moved into the White House. I'm figuring the president told him he had to get his book written this year or else ...
Or maybe the president sent Bo to obedience school. We can't have anyone running around out of control in the Beltway!
Speaking of which, I bet the president wishes he could get a muzzle for Joe Biden. Also on his wish list would be a shock collar -- wait, would that be considered torture? -- or at least obedience classes for some of the political animals in Congress. They just aren't doing what he wants them to do when he wants them to do it. They really need to be White House-broken.
It's bad enough that the Republicans aren't playing nice, but the Democrats should know better. According to pack behavior, they're supposed to follow the top dog.
Ah, but there's the rub. Just who IS the top dog?
While a number drink the president's water, I'm sure some of those congressional Democrats would wag their tails and point to Pelosi. Others might lick up to Reid or the show dogs from kennels backed by rich special interests. And in the Republican pack, a few are still sniffing around McCain while others are going in circles around Limbaugh, Romney, Gingrich or anyone else who tries to smell like a leader.
What all the political animals in D.C. need to remember -- President Obama included -- is that they are on a leash controlled by the American people. And that leash can be yanked, or shortened, at any time.
If you want to join my fan club, you can e-mail me at JoeyPortie@gmail.com or become a Facebook friend -- just look for Joey Serebrov.
Or maybe the president sent Bo to obedience school. We can't have anyone running around out of control in the Beltway!
Speaking of which, I bet the president wishes he could get a muzzle for Joe Biden. Also on his wish list would be a shock collar -- wait, would that be considered torture? -- or at least obedience classes for some of the political animals in Congress. They just aren't doing what he wants them to do when he wants them to do it. They really need to be White House-broken.
It's bad enough that the Republicans aren't playing nice, but the Democrats should know better. According to pack behavior, they're supposed to follow the top dog.
Ah, but there's the rub. Just who IS the top dog?
While a number drink the president's water, I'm sure some of those congressional Democrats would wag their tails and point to Pelosi. Others might lick up to Reid or the show dogs from kennels backed by rich special interests. And in the Republican pack, a few are still sniffing around McCain while others are going in circles around Limbaugh, Romney, Gingrich or anyone else who tries to smell like a leader.
What all the political animals in D.C. need to remember -- President Obama included -- is that they are on a leash controlled by the American people. And that leash can be yanked, or shortened, at any time.
If you want to join my fan club, you can e-mail me at JoeyPortie@gmail.com or become a Facebook friend -- just look for Joey Serebrov.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A Message to Republicans
As Republican leaders are gathering to discuss strategy and the future of the party, I've got a few pointers to share with them and the rank and file.
1. The past. Get over it. Yes, we lost the election -- but not by the landslide the Democrats would have you believe.
2. President Bush. Stop hiding from him. Yes, our country is in a mess. But many of our problems took root under President Clinton, maturing under Bush AND a Democrat-controlled Congress. Anytime someone starts blaming Bush for everything, politely remind them that Pelosi-Reid were tag-teaming in the House and Senate.
3. The agenda. Don't let the Dems define us, anoint "our" spokespeople or set our agenda. We should speak for ourselves by presenting well thought-out solutions to the problems facing the nation.
4. Name calling. It's so middle school. Do you really think we're going to advance the cause by spending valuable time arguing about whether we should "rename" the Democrat Party the "National Socialist Democrat Party"? Come on, we've got more important issues to tend to.
5. The basics. Get back to them. The Republican Party was once the party of practical solutions, a party dedicated to basic human freedom. That means expanding the tent and constructively adapting to demographic changes in our country.
6. The future. Recruit, recruit, recruit -- reaching out to minorities, women and people of all ages. We've got opportunities to take back congressional seats in 2010, including Harry Reid's Senate seat, but so far we have done little to recruit serious, credible candidates to challenge the incumbents. And when we do, we have to put our money where our mouth is to help our candidates win. While we're at it, we need to keep our eyes open for a fresh, strong lineup of presidential contenders who can bring new energy and excitement to the process and successfully challenge the Obama-Biden team in 2012.
1. The past. Get over it. Yes, we lost the election -- but not by the landslide the Democrats would have you believe.
2. President Bush. Stop hiding from him. Yes, our country is in a mess. But many of our problems took root under President Clinton, maturing under Bush AND a Democrat-controlled Congress. Anytime someone starts blaming Bush for everything, politely remind them that Pelosi-Reid were tag-teaming in the House and Senate.
3. The agenda. Don't let the Dems define us, anoint "our" spokespeople or set our agenda. We should speak for ourselves by presenting well thought-out solutions to the problems facing the nation.
4. Name calling. It's so middle school. Do you really think we're going to advance the cause by spending valuable time arguing about whether we should "rename" the Democrat Party the "National Socialist Democrat Party"? Come on, we've got more important issues to tend to.
5. The basics. Get back to them. The Republican Party was once the party of practical solutions, a party dedicated to basic human freedom. That means expanding the tent and constructively adapting to demographic changes in our country.
6. The future. Recruit, recruit, recruit -- reaching out to minorities, women and people of all ages. We've got opportunities to take back congressional seats in 2010, including Harry Reid's Senate seat, but so far we have done little to recruit serious, credible candidates to challenge the incumbents. And when we do, we have to put our money where our mouth is to help our candidates win. While we're at it, we need to keep our eyes open for a fresh, strong lineup of presidential contenders who can bring new energy and excitement to the process and successfully challenge the Obama-Biden team in 2012.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
What's Really Needed
Speaking at a town hall meeting in New Mexico today, President Obama said public pressure will force congressional Republicans to "compromise" with his administration on issues such as healthcare reform.
"I think that we'll see more and more agreement over time as the Republican Party starts to realize that the American people want results right now," Obama said. "They don't want bickering. And when they realize that, they'll have an open, outstretched hand from me." (Source: CNN)
Once again, Obama provides a lopsided view of compromise. For him, "compromise" means the Republicans have to come around to his way of thinking. True to his Democratic roots, he's all about take and no give.
The president is right about one thing. We're all tired of the bickering.
But we're also tired of the self-righteous grandstanding, the hypocritical scapegoating, Pelosi's dancing around the facts, Leahy's vindictive finger-pointing, and the excessive spending on earmarks and bloated government agencies.
But rather than embrace a Democratic agenda, which Congress has been forcing upon us for the past 2-1/2 years, Republicans must stop bickering among themselves and start promoting a practical, doable, unified agenda of their own. We need solutions -- not arguments or compromise.
"I think that we'll see more and more agreement over time as the Republican Party starts to realize that the American people want results right now," Obama said. "They don't want bickering. And when they realize that, they'll have an open, outstretched hand from me." (Source: CNN)
Once again, Obama provides a lopsided view of compromise. For him, "compromise" means the Republicans have to come around to his way of thinking. True to his Democratic roots, he's all about take and no give.
The president is right about one thing. We're all tired of the bickering.
But we're also tired of the self-righteous grandstanding, the hypocritical scapegoating, Pelosi's dancing around the facts, Leahy's vindictive finger-pointing, and the excessive spending on earmarks and bloated government agencies.
But rather than embrace a Democratic agenda, which Congress has been forcing upon us for the past 2-1/2 years, Republicans must stop bickering among themselves and start promoting a practical, doable, unified agenda of their own. We need solutions -- not arguments or compromise.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The 'Safe' Retirement Bet
If Social Security is your retirement nest egg, you're sitting on a rotten egg. The bad news out today is that Social Security and Medicare are going broke faster than the government had projected.
That's right, the trustees for the fund reported today that Social Security will be dried up by 2037 -- that's four years earlier than they had predicted last year. Now before you start doing the math to see if you can squeeze your retirement in under the line, keep in mind that the trustees expect Social Security to start spending more (on actual Social Security, that is) than it takes in by 2016.
As for Medicare, it's going to be broke by 2017. And it's already spending more than it takes in.
This is one problem the Dems can't blame on President Bush. He tried to get Congress to address this issue, but the Dems pretty much accused him of Chicken Little rhetoric and continued spending their way through the funds.
The bottom line? Investing in lottery tickets for retirement may be a safer bet than Social Security!
That's right, the trustees for the fund reported today that Social Security will be dried up by 2037 -- that's four years earlier than they had predicted last year. Now before you start doing the math to see if you can squeeze your retirement in under the line, keep in mind that the trustees expect Social Security to start spending more (on actual Social Security, that is) than it takes in by 2016.
As for Medicare, it's going to be broke by 2017. And it's already spending more than it takes in.
This is one problem the Dems can't blame on President Bush. He tried to get Congress to address this issue, but the Dems pretty much accused him of Chicken Little rhetoric and continued spending their way through the funds.
The bottom line? Investing in lottery tickets for retirement may be a safer bet than Social Security!
Monday, May 11, 2009
More Fuzzy Math
I didn't graduate from Harvard Law School. I can't afford to wear designer sneakers. And my husband and I definitely didn't pull in more than $2 million last year.
But I'm a natural at basic math -- without a calculator. And I can tell you, with absolute certainty, there's no way our mint-'em-and-spend-'em government is going to reduce the federal deficit by even $10 at the rate it's going.
Remember when President Obama committed, with a lot of fanfare, to cutting $17 billion in wasteful government spending next year? Well, that was last week.
Today, the White House budget office revealed that thanks to the misguided Wall Street bailout and the Democrats' bloated economic stimulus bill -- OK, the budget office didn't use those exact words -- the deficit for this year is going to be $89 billion more than what the president told us last week. That's five times the "savings" he had promised us for next year. And it adds up to more than $1.8 trillion in red ink for 2009 alone.
Next year, the president plans to add another $1.3 trillion to our national debt.(Hey, it could be worse. Remember the $17 billion he's going to save us!) Of course, that $1.3 trillion is today's forecast. By time the Democratic Congress gets done with the 2010 budget, you can bet the farm that we're going to owe a whole lot more.
What this all means is that we're borrowing 46 cents for every dollar the government spends.
Look on the bright side. We individaully may not have the ability to get a mortgage, extend our line of credit or qualify for an auto, small business or student loan, but thanks to the generosity and far-sightedness of our leaders, we can rest assured that we'll spend the rest of our lives head over heels in national debt.
But I'm a natural at basic math -- without a calculator. And I can tell you, with absolute certainty, there's no way our mint-'em-and-spend-'em government is going to reduce the federal deficit by even $10 at the rate it's going.
Remember when President Obama committed, with a lot of fanfare, to cutting $17 billion in wasteful government spending next year? Well, that was last week.
Today, the White House budget office revealed that thanks to the misguided Wall Street bailout and the Democrats' bloated economic stimulus bill -- OK, the budget office didn't use those exact words -- the deficit for this year is going to be $89 billion more than what the president told us last week. That's five times the "savings" he had promised us for next year. And it adds up to more than $1.8 trillion in red ink for 2009 alone.
Next year, the president plans to add another $1.3 trillion to our national debt.(Hey, it could be worse. Remember the $17 billion he's going to save us!) Of course, that $1.3 trillion is today's forecast. By time the Democratic Congress gets done with the 2010 budget, you can bet the farm that we're going to owe a whole lot more.
What this all means is that we're borrowing 46 cents for every dollar the government spends.
Look on the bright side. We individaully may not have the ability to get a mortgage, extend our line of credit or qualify for an auto, small business or student loan, but thanks to the generosity and far-sightedness of our leaders, we can rest assured that we'll spend the rest of our lives head over heels in national debt.
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