McCaskill, Portman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Job-Creators, Prevent Earmarks

Release:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today joined together and introduced bipartisan legislation to simplify federal processes for America’s manufacturers, while continuing to guard against Congressional earmarks for pork-barrel projects.

“This bipartisan bill is an important step to strengthen a valuable tool for our job-creators, while ensuring that tool doesn’t turn into a backdoor for allowing earmarks to worm their way back into the legislative process,” said McCaskill, a longtime and outspoken opponent of Congressional earmarks. “We’ve already seen leaders in the U.S. House try to sneak around the earmark ban and nab taxpayer dollars for their own pet projects, so I’m going to stay vigilant while reducing unnecessary burdens for Missouri’s employers.”

“While it is important Washington does away with unnecessary tariffs that increase costs for Ohio businesses and consumers without benefiting any American producers, we need to do it under a better, more efficient system,” Portman said. “Under this measure, we create a transparent, merit-driven process that would allow businesses seeking tariff relief to go directly to the experts at the International Trade Commission. I believe these reforms are the only way we’re going to get important tariff relief through the Congress this year, and I hope Congress will move quickly to provide more certainty for job creators through this merit-based approach.”

In today’s high-tech and globalized economy, American companies need a host of specialized materials, such as certain fibers or chemicals, to build their products. Often, those materials are not produced in the United States, and can only be purchased from overseas. However, tariffs on those specialized materials produced overseas can make them expensive to import, putting American manufacturers at a disadvantage compared to their foreign competitors. In some cases, tariffs on materials make it cheaper to move production overseas altogether—hurting American job-growth.

In cases where a product is subject to a tariff and is unavailable for purchase from an American company, current rules allow companies needing that product to get tariff relief. Congress has regularly passed a “Miscellaneous Tariff Bill” comprised of hundreds of tariff reductions for such products. However, the process requires those companies to get members of Congress to introduce a bill on their behalf for each item on which they wish to suspend tariffs. Once those businesses have convinced a member of Congress to introduce such a tariff-relief bill, their request can be sent to the International Trade Commission (ITC) for review.

McCaskill and Portman have introduced the Temporary Duty Suspension Process Act to streamline the process for duty-suspensions by allowing companies to submit their proposals directly to the International Trade Commission and retaining final approval for Congress. These changes would bolster accountability by lessening the chance for backdoor earmarks—and would improve the process for job-creators, as they would no longer be forced to hire high-paid lobbyists to help get individual legislation introduced at the start of the process. This process change also ensures that bills introduced in Congress do not inadvertently hurt American competitors.

There would be three paths for an article to be considered for a temporary duty suspension or reduction: (1) initiated by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC); (2) via petition from an outside party; or (3) by a referral from a Member of Congress, although no preference could be shown. Through this process, the USITC would review particular articles for approval, allow public comments and objections, take comments from the Administration and Congress, and submit a draft bill containing its recommendations for duty suspensions or reductions to the appropriate Congressional Committees. The bill preserves the role of Congress in the overall duty suspension process by requiring the USITC draft bill to be processed under regular order.

The bill authorizes the new process to be used for three rounds (2012, 2015, and 2018). While it requires a comprehensive review by the ITC of all possible eligible items in 2015 and 2018, an exception is included for the 2012 round so that it can be completed under a truncated timeline.

A copy of McCaskill and Portman’s bipartisan bill is available online, HERE.

IER: Anti-Energy Senators Resurrect Bogus "Use-It-Or-Lose-It" Claim

Release:

WASHINGTON- Today, Senate Democrats are dusting off the 'use-it-or-lose-it" regulations that attempt to dictate how energy companies may do business in America. In response, Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute of Energy Research, issued the following statement:

"Anti-energy advocates are using the same debunked myths that they used when gas prices increased in 2008. Showing a complete lack of any elementary understanding of how energy production works, they want to dictate from Washington how companies do business in America. And then they wonder why businesses are fleeing to other countries."

"These senators are attempting to portray energy producers as hoarders of taxpayer-owned lands. The truth is that the federal government only makes 3 percent of these lands available for leasing, while the remaining 97 percent are off-limits for energy exploration and production."

"As long as the federal government continues to hoard these energy-rich, taxpayer-owned lands and keeps them off limits to the American people, the U.S. will continue to rely on foreign state-owned oil companies. No amount of rhetoric from Washington will change that fact."

Another Lib Senator Will be Cutting but not Running in 2012

Seeing the writing on the wall, Senator Kent Conrad (Democratic Socialist lite, ND) announced he will not be running for another term in 2012. Making it sound like he is some type of grand statesman, here is what Conrad said:

"After months of consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012. There are serious challenges facing our State and nation, like a $14 trillion debt and America's dependence on foreign oil. It is more important I spend my time and energy trying to solve these problems than to be distracted by a campaign for reelection.

Translation: I fear having the crap kicked out of me by the Tea Party next year. This is especially true since you consider that conservatives mopped up the floor with democrats in the state this past year.

Sen McCaskill on TSA's "Love Pats"

CBS News:

"I'm wildly excited that I can walk through a machine instead of getting my dose of love pats," Sen. McCaskill said.

Love pats? Really? Maybe that's what a United States Senaotr gets, but that's not what this woman got at Dayton Internation Airport. What she got was a sexual assault.

Yet another clueless, elitist moron defending the indefensible.

I'll bet if these were American soldiers doing this to those poor helpless insurgents in Iraq, this liberal @$$hat would have a different view of things.

Like Father Like Son: Dodd is Unbecoming a Senator

Looks like Chris Dodd is in heap big trouble. So may be Kent Conrad. Why? Someone at Countrywide is talking, and they are saying Dodd and Conrad KNOWINGLY TOOK sweetheart deals that no one else could get for mortgages, etc. Is this illegal? No. Is it unethical? Absolutely. While Dodd maintains he didn't know, there is mounting evidence to the contrary that could link he and his father. His father was censured by the Senate for conduct unbecoming a Senator. Both Conrad and Dodd face Senate Ethics Committee hearing where the committee could vote to do nothing, censure, or expel a Senator. It is doubtful they will vote to expel, but censure is a real possibility, thanks to one Mr. Feinberg:

The Senate ethics committee has interviewed a former Countrywide Financial executive who testified under oath that Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) were aware that they were accessing a special program to give below-market-rate mortgages to the powerful and famous when he arranged their loans, according to the executive's attorneys.

The statements from Robert Feinberg, who worked as a loan officer at the mortgage lender, stand in direct contradiction to statements made by Dodd and Conrad, who maintain that they did not know they were part of the Countrywide program created by its chief executive at the time, Angelo Mozilo.

"He always made a big deal about them being in the VIP program. Does he remember the exact words he spoke with Conrad and Dodd? No, but he always made it clear," said Elana Goldstein, one of Feinberg's attorneys.

Feinberg testified for several hours before the ethics committee on June 23. Questioning him were Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), ranking Republican Johnny Isakson (Ga.) and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho). Dodd and Conrad responded to questions from the committee last year.

Looks like the Dodd apple doesn't fall far from the tree...from Wiki:

In 1967 Dodd became the first Senator censured by the US Senate since Joseph McCarthy in 1954,[19] and was one of only six people censured by the Senate in the 20th century. The censure was a condemnation and finding that he had converted campaign funds to his personal accounts and spent the money.[20][21] Beyond the Senate Ethics Committee's formal disciplinary action, other sources (such as investigative journalist Drew Pearson and Jack Anderson's Congress in Crisis) suggest[22] Dodd's corruption was far broader in scope and there were accusations of alcoholism

Gee, Chris, shouldn't you have learned not to be shady by Daddy's experience? Or did you just learn how to do it slicker? Apparently, neither lesson was fully learned.

This is not translating well for 2010 for Hair Helmet Dodd:

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows that Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) continues to trail former Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons by a margin of 48 percent to 39 percent (AP). Although Dodd’s approval ratings remain in the negative, his numbers have improved slightly since the last Quinnipaic poll, May 27.
In the poll, 42 percent stated that they approve of Dodd’s service (when in May, the number was a 38 percent approval rating), and 52 percent said they disapprove of Dodd (when previously, 53 percent disapproved). Also, as only 37 percent of those surveyed in May had a positive opinion of Dodd, 40 percent in the new poll approved of the senator (AP).
However, the poll also showed that only 35 percent of residents find that the embattled senator is honest and trustworthy, a number unchanged from the May survey.

And we also have this:

Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd is still denying getting special treatment when he applied for a mortgage from Countrywide Financial. But a transcript of secret congressional testimony says otherwise.

Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd is once again denying he received special treatment when he refinanced two mortgages with Countrywide Financial. According to the Associated Press an executive with the company told House investigators that Dodd was told he was on a special list of "friends" of Countrywide's chief executive.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut: I would never, have never taken a sweetheart deal from any lending institution. The rates that we received when we refinanced the house in Connecticut and my home here in Washington were rates that were readily available in the general marketplace.

Dodd was already in trouble in the polls as this latest news hit. Results released last week show him trailing his Republican rivals by a wide margin. Despite receiving the endorsement of his own party for re-election at least one Democrat says its time for a change. Merrick Alpert is a 42-year-old native of Colchester. The Georgetown Law School graduate and veteran of 6 years in the military is a successful businessman who is trying to force Dodd into a primary. He says the party endorsement does not reflect to mood of most democrats.

And just when these numbers were kind of stabilizing for Dodd, we find more scandal afoot:

As Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut assumes a central role in the debate over health care, the pharmaceutical industry has helped finance efforts to bolster his image back home as he braces for a potentially bruising re-election contest.

The industry’s campaign-style push for Mr. Dodd, part of a larger effort to highlight the work of certain lawmakers around the country, portray him as a defender of ordinary citizens in brochures sent to more than 100,000 homes in Connecticut and in a 30-second television spot that ran for three weeks.

For Mr. Dodd, the support provided by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, the industry’s lobbying arm, comes at a politically sensitive, if not awkward, time. He is trying to combat a perception that he has become too close to powerful interest groups in Washington after 28 years in the Senate.

As part of that effort, Mr. Dodd’s own campaign has produced two videos, “Lobbyists Cry” and “The Blues,” presenting him as a politician who has caused grief for Washington lobbyists. He also sent a fund-raising solicitation asserting that lobbyists do not have access to him.

“The lobbyists can’t get meetings with Chris,” the solicitation says. “He won’t return their phone calls. He even yells at them during hearings.”

But even as Mr. Dodd attempts to distance himself from these special interests, he is clearly relying on their help as he prepares for his re-election, a reality seized upon by his Republican critics.

He has not only benefited from the hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertisement courtesy of the pharmaceutical industry and Families U.S.A., a health-care advocacy group the industry teamed up with. But a few weeks ago, Mr. Dodd attended a $1,500-a-plate campaign fund-raiser sponsored by lobbyists representing U.S. Oncology, a provider of cancer drugs and services.

Chris Dodd loves him some of that out of state lobbyist money:

Dodd was tapped by ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee, to take over the panel in his absence as it tackled the sweeping health care overhaul.

Dodd led the committee in recent weeks as it hammered out a bill to expand insurance coverage to all Americans, becoming the first congressional panel to approve a health care reform plan.

More than a dozen health care lobbyists wrote him checks in the weeks before the panel began drafting its bill, Dodd's fundraising report for the second quarter that ended June 30 shows. Some of K Street's most prominent lobbyists ponied up.

The Glover Park Group's Joel Johnson and Susan Brophy each gave $1,000. The prominent firm with Democratic ties represents Pfizer Inc., WellPoint Inc., the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association and United Health Care Services, Inc.

Richard Tarplin, a former Dodd aide who is a health care lobbyist, gave $2,500.

Christopher R. O'Neill, the son of the late former House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr., gave $1,000. O'Neill's firm lobbies for the American Hospital Association, which paid them $50,000 during the second quarter. The firm also got $150,000 during the quarter from Partners HealthCare.

Anthony Podesta, one of Washington's best-known Democratic lobbyists, contributed $500. The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care paid Podesta's firm, the Podesta Group, $120,000 for the quarter.

Podesta's wife, Heather Podesta, hosted a $1,000 per person fundraiser in March for Dodd at the Podestas' home in the affluent Woodley Park neighborhood of Washington. Her firm, Heather Podesta + Partners, was paid $50,000 this year by HealthSouth Corp., one of the country's largest health care service providers.

Two lobbyists for U.S. Oncology, a leading oncology services company, hosted a $1,500 per person Dodd fundraiser in June. The event was sandwiched between a health panel session chaired by Dodd and a later White House event attended by Dodd.

All told, Dodd has collected $436,062 from lobbyists since 2005, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a group that tracks money in politics.

But he is in no lobbyists' pocket....RIGHT....

VIDEO: "Son of a Beach"

Freedom's Watch let's 'er rip in this one:

Sen. Brown Abuses Power

I couldn't help but shine a spotlight on this ridiculous quote from the socialist junior senator from Ohio as reported at OPENERS:

"We're not going to let them get away with that kind of abuse of power."

Surely, we're talking about shredding the Constitution here right. I mean, as we all know, Republicans only exist to illegally wiretap phone calls between two Americans (sorry, that was Baghdad Jim McDermott-D) or drop some bombs on Idaho or something.

So what is Brown so adament about?

If Sen. Brown didn't gavel in what is called a pro forma session of the Senate (basically, its a demonstration of how quickly two gavel bangs can be done), then President Bush might have been able to fill some spots on the bench. That's right, this is about judges.

And for the record, I think it is Sen. Brown who is out of line. If the Senate isn't in session conducting the nation's business, they are out of session and the president is authorized to fill vacancies when the Senate is not in session. If Democrats want to take a few days off, they should play by the rules; if not, get thee back to Washington and get some work done. Might I suggest starting with legislation that would increase our oil supply so gas prices can come down...

Senate Makes It Official: I'm RICH!

After my cash bath this morning, I decided to check my email and found a couple of AP News Alerts that confirm my new status as rich...

WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate has passed a budget plan that would let more than half of President Bush's tax cuts expire within three years.

And naturally, since the Demcorats (and George Voinovich) think that they can spend my money better than I can, they decided to throw this in too...

WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate has rejected a one-year ban on lawmakers' pet home-state projects known as 'earmarks.'

Oh, the burdens of being rich...I don't know how Bill Gates ever survived it. I think I'll burn a few piles of fat cash just to celebrate the fact that government has screwed me again...

Stimulus Package Update

One of the "hot topics" in the searches that lead folks to WMD lately has been an update on the stimulus package. I can now say that the United States Senate, the world's most debilitating deliberative body, has finally gotten off their carcasses and made a decision in the affirmative.

Republican Leader, my Congressman, and a Great American -- John Boehner -- had this to say on the subject of the passage:

“The Senate did the right thing for middle-class families and small businesses today. This legislation will stimulate our economy in the most direct and effective way possible: by putting money back in the pockets of middle class families, and by giving employers incentives to create new jobs and grow our economy. While this measure should help get our economy moving in the short term, it should be just the beginning of our efforts to improve our economic competitiveness over the long term.

“I’d like to thank the President and Treasury Secretary Paulson for their leadership on this issue. I’d also like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Senate Republican Leader McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for all of their hard work. This has been a rewarding bipartisan and bicameral process, and I hope we will continue to work together in the future to deal with the many important issues that face our country.”

I am still not entirely convinced that this stimulus package will do what it is advertised to do, but I'll gladly accept MY money back from the government in any denomination they wish to let loose...

Senate Dems Throw Cold Water on Bi-Partisan Economic Stimulus

AP News Alert:

WASHINGTON (AP) Senate Democrats have decided to add to the economic stimulus bill rebates for senior citizens living off Social Security and an extension of unemployment benefits.

...because nothing stimultaes the economy more than encouraging people to stay unemployed longer...and retired people...

Can we hope for a veto?

Democrats Want Your Fingerprints Before You Can Get a Mortgage

This is pretty scary...

SEC. 104. STATE LICENSE AND REGISTRATION APPLICATION AND ISSUANCE.

(a) Background Checks- In connection with an application to any State for licensing and registration as a State-licensed loan originator, the applicant shall, at a minimum, furnish to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry information concerning the applicant's identity, including—

(1) fingerprints for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and any governmental agency or entity authorized to receive such information for a State and national criminal history background check; and

(2) personal history and experience, including authorization for the System to obtain—

(A) an independent credit report obtained from a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act; and

(B) information related to any administrative, civil or criminal findings by any governmental jurisdiction.

Emphasis added.

And when the President vetoes this and House Republicans uphold it again, you can expect Demcorats to run out another round of 527 attack ads and never mention this at all...

Dem Congress: They Begin To Eat Their Own...

Nancy is blaming Harry's House...Harry's blaming Nancy....and their approval rating is 11%. I love it....So, this is effective governance and changing the climate? HA!

Frustrated by lack of legislative progress in the Senate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is increasingly touting Democratic achievements in the House.

Her statements represent a significant shift from the stance she took six months ago. In March, the Speaker celebrated the first 100 days of the congressional majority by stating, "Democrats have brought the winds of change to the Capitol."

Yes, winds of change of names of post offices, but not much in the way of legislation....Changes in terms of going on investigative boondoggles, but not much on substance....

These days, she's confined to claiming those winds are blowing on her side of the building. In the minds of her caucus members, the Senate is in the doldrums and House members are paying the price for Senate inaction on Democratic priorities.

When pressed on the slow progress of spending bills during ABC's Sunday morning talk show "This Week," Pelosi passed the buck to the Senate, saying, "In the House we've passed every one of our bills."

The change in talking points at the top reflects a deepening frustration among House Democrats, who are irritated with lack of progress in the Senate and are starting to publicly press their Senate counterparts to stop letting Republicans use procedural tactics and instead force Republicans to carry out a filibuster, if that's what it takes.

Pelosi's shift in rhetoric is also strategic. There are 61 House Democrats serving in districts that President Bush carried in 2004, and many will face challenging reelection races. Senate Democrats have less to worry about as only a couple of them are considered serious targets this cycle.

Yes, forget about whether it is good or bad or fleshed out, let's just pass things to look like we are doing something! It will make us feel better.

Gee, I don't seem to recall all this whining about fillibustering and procedures when you were holding up nominations and important measures like social security reform and other important things.  But wait, I guess only Dems are allowed to do that.....my bad.

Pot Calling Kettle? Senate Edition

Senate Democrats signed a letter penned to Mark Mays, head of Clear Channel, distributor of the Rush Limbaugh Comment, decrying Rush's use of the term "phony soldiers" to talk about troops who opposed the Iraq War. Here is the text of the letter. After seeing who signed it, see my comments below:

October 2, 2007

Mr. Mark P. Mays
CEO, Clear Channel Communications Inc.
200 East Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78209

Dear Mr. Mays,

At the time we sign this letter, 3,808 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and another 28,009 have been wounded. 160,000 others awoke this morning on foreign sand, far from home, to face the danger and uncertainty of another day at war.

Although Americans of goodwill debate the merits of this war, we can all agree that those who serve with such great courage deserve our deepest respect and gratitude. That is why Rush Limbaugh’s recent characterization of troops who oppose the war as “phony soldiers” is such an outrage.

Our troops are fighting and dying to bring to others the freedoms that many take for granted. It is unconscionable that Mr. Limbaugh would criticize them for exercising the fundamentally American right to free speech. Mr. Limbaugh has made outrageous remarks before, but this affront to our soldiers is beyond the pale.

The military, like any community within the United States, includes members both for and against the war. Senior generals, such as General John Batiste and Paul Eaton, have come out against the war while others have publicly supported it. A December 2006 poll conducted by the Military Times found just 35 percent of service members approved of President Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq, compared to 42 percent who disapproved. From this figure alone, it is clear that Mr. Limbaugh’s insult is directed at thousands of American service members.

Active and retired members of our armed forces have a unique perspective on the war and offer a valuable contribution to our national debate. In August, seven soldiers wrote an op-ed expressing their concern with the current strategy in Iraq. Tragically, since then, two of those seven soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.

Thousands of active troops and veterans were subjected to Mr. Limbaugh’s unpatriotic and indefensible comments on your broadcast. We trust you will agree that not a single one of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving overseas is a “phony soldier.” We call on you to publicly repudiate these comments that call into question their service and sacrifice and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for his comments.

Sincerely,

Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader
Senator Richard Durbin, Assistant Majority Leader
Senator Charles Schumer, Vice Chairman, Democratic Conference
Senator Patty Murray, Secretary, Democratic Conference
Senator Daniel Akaka
Senator Max Baucus
Senator Joseph Biden
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Sherrod Brown
Senator Robert Byrd
Senator Benjamin Cardin
Senator Tom Carper
Senator Bob Casey
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Senator Kent Conrad
Senator Christopher Dodd
Senator Byron Dorgan
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Tom Harkin
Senator Daniel Inouye
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Senator John Kerry
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senator Mary Landrieu
Senator Frank Lautenberg
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Carl Levin
Senator Blanche Lincoln
Senator Bob Menendez
Senator Barbara Mikulski
Senator Bill Nelson
Senator Barack Obama
Senator Jack Reed
Senator Jay Rockefeller
Senator Ken Salazar
Senator Bernie Sanders
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Jon Tester
Senator Jim Webb
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Senator Ron Wyden

OK, first, who are John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and Dick Durbin to talk about smearing the troops? I do believe it was Ted Kennedy who equated them with Saddam's regime. John Kerry said only stupid people end up in Iraq, and Dick Durbin equated them with Nazis and the Khmer Rouge. Are the other Senate Democrats going to condemn their comments?

And, I wonder, when is ABC going to get their letter of condemnation fo running this story that Rush was referencing?

Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment.

UPDATE: I don't care what Bill Cunningham thinks of the Mays family, I think Mark Mays is awesome for being the latest person to smack down the most pathetic leader in US Senate History, Harry Reid. Here is the text of the letter. Read the whole thing.

How pathetic Harry Reid is. He can't get more illegal immigrant workers for his casino boss highmasters who bought his office (Amnesty bills). He has become a sad puppet of the anti-war left who just crows and crows and no one even pays him much mind until that womanly scream reaches a fever pitch. Sad and pathetic. Mr. Reid, there ARE soldiers in harm's way. Shouldn't you be concerned with funding their protection, rather than berating Rush Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh is not in command of the troops, as was General Petraeus. Rush Limbaugh's reputation does not have an effect on soldier morale and performance, as does General Petraeus. Senator Reid, you called the Commander in Chief a loser to schoolchildren, and you also said this war was lost. That is far more reprehensible than some radio show host. Look in the mirror, senile old fart.

UPDATE 2: Tom Harkin took to the floor of the Senate to bash Rush Limbaugh and joined the signatories of the letter published eariler. Tom Harkin flippantly said Rush was taking drugs again, alluding to his bout with painkillers. Tom Harkin has no integrity. He lied twice about his service.

Check it out and laugh at the indignation of this supposed combat vet. Give...me...a ....break.

Worst Congress Ever

It isn't breaking news that Congress is in Bob Taft territory for approval ratings; we've known that Congress has pretty much nose-dived when Speaker of State Nancy Pelosi and Dingy Harry took over. But now it is official: This is the lowest rated Congress since Gallup started their poll. And that is saying something! America HATES this Congress...and don't let the liberal spin fool you: it isn't Republican "obstructionism" that is causing these numbers. It is the Democratic agenda, Democratic tactics, and Democratic arrogance that has gotten this Congress exactly where it is today. 18% Well done Democrats! Keep up the good work...

Good News from the US Senate: They Hate Each Other!

This is the best news I've heard from the United States Senate in a LONG time (desertnews.com):

Arlen Specter is a senior U.S. senator who expects to be allowed his say on the Senate floor. So he bristled when Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader, brusquely cut him off at the end of the Iraq debate.

"The leadership is setting a dictatorial tone," Specter, R-Pa., said Thursday, still furious over his treatment the day before. "Senators didn't get here to be pushed around."

It may seem small-minded to bicker over a few words at the end of a 24-hour debate. But the clash between the two veteran senators is evidence of a larger breakdown in relations in the Senate, a deterioration in cooperation that is hobbling the Senate's ability to get things done. The situation is not likely to improve with a presidential election on the horizon.

As the cots were rolled away and lawmakers left for a decent night's rest after the around-the-clock debate that ended — like others this year — in stalemate, lawmakers of both parties said they had rarely seen the tone so poisonous and the willingness to work together on the floor at such a low ebb.

Gridlock is good...and there has been entirely too much happiness going on in the Senate anyway.

UPDATE: More from CQPolitics here.

The No Snooze Until We Lose Party Demonstrates Democrat Division

The Investor's Business Daily has an editorial that puts to bed any notion that the All-Night Fiesta Party that the Democrats threw in the United States Senate this week failed to achieve its stated objective. I continue to believe that the entire show was nothing more than a Democrat fundraiser...and if that doesn't turn your stomach, I don't know what will.

Iraq: Instead of all-night pajama parties and obtuse legislative ploys, why can't Democrats be honest and just shut off war funding? Answer: They know it would betray our troops and turn Iraq into a slaughterhouse.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich is one of the most left-leaning presidential candidates ever, but at least he's honest. Earlier this month, when the House passed the sure-to-be-vetoed "Responsible Redeployment From Iraq Act," Kucinich was one of only 10 Democrats to oppose it.

"This bill will not end the war," the Ohio Democrat pointed out. Instead, "We must inform the administration that the $97 billion appropriated last month is the end of the financing for the war."

He went on: "We could have our troops home by October 1st. The question is whether we're ready to take a stand to do that, or whether we're going to vote on resolutions that give the American people the appearance that we want to end the war, without actually addressing the central issue that will end the war. Stop the funding."

What an embarrassment for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who just presided over a Senate slumber party regarding Iraq .

If Democrats were serious about ending the war, they would cut the funding. They won't do that because Congress has the worst approval rating in history and if they do that, the American people will make sure that they reach Bob Taft territory. So all of this bluster is nothing more than a ploy to placate the base of the Democrat Party that really wants America to lose this war.

Ohio Dems Throw Party While Senate Debates Serious Issue

I don't know about anybody else, but I find it more than a bit disturbing that Ohio Democrats were throwing a party last night (with music, door prizes and clowns!) while their friends in the United States Senate were screaming for surrender in the central front in the War on Terror.

By the way, we're winning the war in Iraq. (Latest sign of this was covered here.) That might come as a surprise to our friends across the aisle because their accomplices in the 527 Media are doing their hardest to report failure and not bothering to report with the same fanfare the successes happening in Iraq. Good news doesn't fit the template that liberals have for this war, so it doesn't get reported. And shall we examine a concept known as "context" you would discover just how much of a success our military is achieving in the War on Terror in Iraq.

UPDATE: Even Clueless George, the Crying Man, our Senator RINOvich gets this:

"You wonder if they are more interested in politics than dealing with the substance of this," said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.

UPDATE 2 - AP News Alert:

WASHINGTON (AP) Senate Republicans have mustered enough votes to scuttle a proposed troop withdrawal from Iraq. A roll call is continuing and the vote is not final.

Surrender is NOT an option.

Sherrod Brown Meets With Terror Sympathizer....Hmmm.

Sherrod Brown is consorting with Terror Sympathizers.

Last Monday, Ohio freshman US Senator Sherrod Brown (D) probably had no idea that when he met with a group of Columbus-area Somali leaders that they were being led by one of the most vocal Western supporters of the Somali al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). That oversight is forgivable, considering that Abukar Arman, one of my Hilliard, Ohio neighbors, regularly operates among the political elite of the state of Ohio, though as I discovered in my extensive investigation, Abukar Arman’s powerful friends will go to great lengths to promote and protect their Somali terror apologist friend. Arman’s position overseeing Central Ohio’s homeland security (discussed further below) is an example of how his politically powerful friends have worked hard to position him at the top of the governmental and educational hierarchy in the area.



Abukar Arman is one of the most prominent public defenders of the al-Qaeda-backed ICU terrorist organization in the West, having published numerous articles in print and online defending the group prior to their violent takeover of Somalia last summer, during their campaign to impose shari’a on the Somali population during brief time in power, and following the ICU’s expulsion late last year by Ethiopian troops to restore the UN-backed Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and to defuse the threats made by the ICU to conduct terror operations inside Ethiopia.



Back this past December, Arman called the ICU takeover of Somali “the best thing that happened to Somalia in the past 16 years
Abukar Arman doesn’t reserve his support for Islamic terrorism just to the ICU, however. In an article for the International Herald Tribune (owned by the New York Times), he railed against prominent secular Muslims and former Muslims, calling them “Islam bashers”. But when he gave examples of who he believed were representative of “moderate Muslims”, he identified:



…widely respected moderate Muslim scholars like Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who made a career campaigning against extremism and radical literalism. (“Who is the ‘moderate’ Muslim”, International Herald Tribune [November 11, 2005])



Of course, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who was listed by the US government as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist even before 9/11, is no moderate nor has he ever campaigned against extremism. The spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Qaradawi was one of the first clerics to authorize the use of suicide bombings against civilians in Israel, which was responsible for unleashing an unparalleled torrent of violence, terror and death.



Qaradawi also said in 2004 that resistance against US troops in Iraq was the duty of every Muslim and he issued a fatwa in October of that year authorizing the abduction and killing of American civilian contractors in Iraq. (Moderation, you say, Mr. Arman?) These are just a few of the reasons why the Anti-Defamation League issued a report in August 2005 on the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood cleric, appropriately entitled, “Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi: Theologian of Terror”.



In his public writings, Abukar Arman has also adopted the extremist language of grievances that is regularly used to justify terrorism against Westerners and non-Muslims all over the Middle East. In an article earlier this year, he takes it upon himself to weigh the grievances resulting from “Islamophobia” and anti-Americanism, and predictably concludes that the victims of “Islamophobia” are the winners of the grievance game:



Analysts both in the Muslim and the Western world by and large agree that “fear” and lack of objective dialogue are the root cause of Islamophobia and anti-Americanism. And while the debate on which one of the two ignited the other is still ongoing, one fact remains irrefutable: more people were victimized as a result of Islamophobia than the other way around. (“Overblown Threat and Islamophobia”, Online Journal [January 26, 2007])



Again, this is the moral equivalency used by al-Qaeda and every other anti-Western terrorist organization to justify their terrorist activities. Not to dismiss the injuries and wrongs suffered by anyone as the result of Islamophobia (whatever definition one wants to give it), but Mr. Arman should recall that on 9/11, 3,000 innocent civilians were murdered in a single day by Islamic terrorists for the sole reason that they were Americans, and the vast majority of deaths currently in Iraq and Afghanistan are not at the hands of Coalition Forces, but the very Islamic terrorists driven by the ideology that he has taken to defend.



It is for these extremist views held by Abukar Arman and his vigorous public defense of terrorists and terrorist organizations that makes his appointment to the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board in March 2005, which is responsible for overseeing homeland security for Central Ohio, particularly troubling in several respects (he has since been reappointed to the board for another term).

Sherrod Brown cavorting with an al Queda sympathizer? I am not surprised, considering his stance on the Iraq war and the global war on terror, er, excuse me, bumper stickers. This needs to be seriously investigated. What did Brown know and when did he know it? The fact that this man is on a commission discussing homeland security for part of my beloved state of Ohio is very troubling and needs to be examined.

It seems there is a coverup involving this terror sympathizer and the Franklin County Commission. Central Ohio Against Terrorism Has the details:

If Watergate should have taught politicians anything, its that the cover-up ends up more damaging than the actual crime.

Case in point: following up on the report yesterday about Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks calling for an immediate investigation in response to my article published earlier this week, "Hometown Jihad: The Somali Terror Apologist Next Door," today it seems that the County Commissioners have begun to rally around terror apologist Abukar Arman rather than answer the hard questions about who recommended Arman for appointment to the Criminal Justice Planning Board, which oversees Central Ohio Homeland Security.

Earlier today, Dirk Thompson of 610 WTVN received an email from Hanna Greer, Public Information Officer for the Franklin County Commission. Thompson was making an inquiry as a member of the media, and Greer's email was a public statement in response. Here is what she said:



From: Greer, Hanna M. [mailto:hmgreer@franklincountyohio.gov]
Sent: Fri 7/13/2007 2:14 PM
To: Thompson, Dirk
Subject: Statement in Response to your Request

Mr. Thompson,

Franklin County has implemented a national model for intelligence and information-sharing with trained terrorist and intelligence analysts. We rely on their expertise. We also take seriously any allegation of terrorism and will refer Mr. Poole’s information for review.

The Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board meets quarterly to review annual grant applications for funding from the Justice Assistance Grant Program, Violence Against Women Act, Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention II and Juvenile Accountability Block Grant from a diverse pool of applicants. The Criminal Justice Planning Board does not oversee homeland security for Franklin County. Those functions belong to police and fire, the Sheriff’s office and the FBI. Any information about homeland security presented to the Board is also available publicly.

Hanna Greer

Hanna M. Greer
Public Affairs Director
Franklin County Board of Commissioners
373 S. High St., 26th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.462.5848
www.FranklinCountyOhio.gov/Commissioners

Again, rather than answer the hard questions about Abukar Arman and who is behind his sudden rise to power, Ms. Greer is claiming that the Criminal Justice Planning Board really doesn't oversee Homeland Security. This is a back-door method to try to attack my credibility and my reporting of the story. But as Mr. Thompson noted in a reply, the Planning Board's own report, "The Franklin County Comprehensive Strategic Justice Plan", which is dated December 2006, states the following about the Planning Board's oversight of Homeland Security:

The Board is responsible for comprehensive countywide planning and directing the mission of the Office of Homeland Security & Justice Programs. The Franklin County Office of Homeland Security & Justice Programs performs the fiscal and programmatic administration of the county’s federal justice block grants and the Urban Area Security Initiative, provides training and technical assistance for the justice partners and first responders, and is responsible for the development and evaluation of projects and programs operating in accordance with the Franklin County Comprehensive Strategic Justice Plan and the Homeland Security Strategy.

[….]

The Simple Senate Saunters Stupidly....

And now, from the people who brought you shamnesty, I give you the War for Tourism! Yes, folks, the US Senate is investigating tourism. From the too stupid to be made up department:

The United States has lost billions of dollars and an immeasurable amount of good will since Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks nearly six years ago because of a decline in foreign tourists. Several senators are now trying to get the government involved in bringing those visitors back.

And guess what, we need another bureaucracy to promote tourism...and YOU are going to pay for it....

The Senate Commerce Committee has approved a bill to establish a nonprofit public-private corporation to promote the United States as a tourist destination and clear up misperceptions about U.S. travel policies. It also would create a new office in the Commerce Department to work with other agencies on fixing visa policies and entry processes that discourage visits.

Yes, who cares about the tottering Social Security fund, the porous borders of our nation, I want to find out why more people aren't visiting the world's biggest ball of twine!!!!!

Morons, Idiots! And you wonder why the American people think you suck!

The real issue is that this is about tearing down the customs process and getting rid of some of the changes enacted since 9/11. Think I am wrong? Check this out:

But industry experts also stressed that increased advertising about the wonders of Broadway or the Grand Canyon must be accompanied by changes in the visa and entry systems that keep people away.

Unfortunately the first three hours" — trying to get through customs — "is creating a poor impression and becoming a great barrier to coming," Freeman said. European papers are "filled with horror stories about why you don't want to come to the U.S."

So, because they have to go through a more exhaustive process to make sure Habib the medical student isn't a terrorist doctor, we have to have a new bureaucracy wasting your tax dollars to promote the Land of Opportunity? Give me a break. This is a canard, a falsehood, a bone thrown to special interests. Your New Congress and New Tone of Demcoratic Dominance at Work. While Americans will suffer from Social Security collapsing and the risk of MS 13 and terrorists and the drain of the illegals, at least we will have more tourism....this make any logical sense to you?

Okay...Now What? Life Post-Shamnesty

Instead of trying to grand bargain ourselves to death, how about we focus in on "enforcement first"? Notice the bolded word. Bold usually means emphasis of some kind. In this case, it means that we are serious...we want enforcement...you know...first!

Put another way... "Where's the Fence?"



Let's secure our border, then find out who is really here and who isn't. More importantly, let's filter out those crimnal aliens who have committed even more crimes since they got here. The criminal aliens who have committed violent crimes since coming here illegally ought to be among the first issued a pass to go home.

Enforcement first...

Then we'll talk about a path to citizenship for those illegal aliens who broke our laws coming here in the first place.

But not a minute before...

Because, really, shouldn't we reward those who came here the right way? I, for one, appreciate the desire to want to come to this country and be a citizen. I can't imagine anybody who wouldn't...except maybe those Islamofascist terrorist rat bastards who are trying to kill us. Legal immigration is what this debate really is about. Those idiots who claim there has been racism behind this debate are clueless opportunists willing to use the Race Card as a method to shut down the debate. Why? Because the truth shall set you free...and the truth is that legal immigration is good, wholesome, and American. Illegal immigration isn't. And granting amnesty for committing a crime like that is just disgusting.

So, let's build the fence, the virtual fence, and beef up the border patrol so we can get around to solving the real problem. I know George W. Bush wanted this for his "legacy" for some reason; but guess what Dubya, had you done your job enforcing our laws first, we'd be in a position by now to actually work this problem out. But you didn't do that, did you?

And Harry Reid... Why are you looking so smug? The media may be spinning your lies and trying their best to spin this as a loss for the president, but who runs the United States Senate? You do... What letter comes after your name? Oh, yeah, you are a Democrat. Who wrote this nasty bill? Why that would be Ted "Hero of Chappaquiddick" Kennedy. And what letter comes at the end of his name? Oh my gosh! He's a Democrat too! THIS IS YET ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE DEMOCRATS.

Democrats had a golden opportunity to get the ball rolling on enforcement first, but they couldn't bring it upon themselves to act responsibly with national and homeland security.

So now we know where we stand...who is going to do the right thing? America waits...