First Conservative Blog

Do They Know it’s a Recession?

At a time when many Americans need money now, a shocking new analysis by USA Today of federal salary information shows a dramatic increase in the number of federal employees who are making six-figure incomes. The numbers make it seem as if these workers are far from feeling the effects of the recession.

Employees previously making $ 100,000 or more saw an increase of between 14 and 19 percent in their salaries, before factoring in bonuses and overtime pay. That’s an awful lot of money for those that already are well off – and at a time when more people are hurting than ever.

And the Rich Get …Well, You Know the Rest

The number of civilian employees in the Defense Department earning $ 150,000 salaries increased from 1,868 at the end of 2007 to 10,100 in June of the current year. This news can be hard to swallow at a time when millions of Americans have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meets. A lot of people would love to be working, but can’t find even a basic job.

Conversely, federal hiring has been on a steady rise in recent months. In the last 18 months, the Transportation Department has bumped 1,689 people to over $ 170,000 – compared to only ONE person earning that before now.

Is this where it Ends?

Perhaps this would be easier to stomach if this were the extent of it. The truth is that the entire federal government is raising salaries, which is asinine considering we have a record deficit and debt. Six figure salaries are less common in these areas. Meanwhile in the rest of the country we desperately need money now.

How is this Justified?

According to Jessica Klement, the government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, these employees work in industries that require greater amounts of training or skills, and are working for less then their private sector counterparts. The USA Today reports that Klement said these workers, according to Klement, made 26 percent less than counterparts in the private sector.

Does their Story Hold Water?

USA Today also looked at federal employee salary stats from the Office of Personnel Management (except workers in Congress, Postal Service, the White House, the military, and at “intelligence” agencies – their track record justifies quotes). From the study they found that the average private sector salary was $ 41,331 and the average federal employee is making $ 71,206.

Shocking, but True

For the majority of Americans who really need money now, this is going to be some tough news to hear. The previous administration approved pay increases of 3 percent in January of 2008 and 3.9 percent in January of 2009 across the board for federal employees. The recommendation of President Obama is to take this down to 2 percent for the beginning of 2010, which may still sound high but is actually the lowest increase since 1975. These raises, among others and modified pay systems, have led to these egregious salary increases.

Conservative Blog post for November 4, 2009

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Obama’s New Paradox – Create More Hope or Fear?

EJ Dionne writes this morning that President Obama needs to invest a little time in creating an atmosphere of ‘hope’ in the country.  Dionne captured this quote from New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg following Governor Jon Corzine’s loss on Tuesday: 

“There are two things happening,” the New Jersey Democrat noted. “One is fear. The other is punishment. Voters fear for themselves and their families, and they want to punish anyone who got them into this condition.” 

This brilliant observation underscores why the GOP – if it can maintain a clear conservative message in 2010 – will absolutely wallop liberal and even so called ‘moderate’ incumbents.  Voters should indeed punish those that make their lives difficult.  It may surprise Dionne that this is the entire reason for electing leaders.  Those that serve us well receive continued employment.  Those that don’t get to stand in the unemployment line with the rest of us.

The really interesting part of this though surrounds what President Obama did or did not do to create his party’s election disasters in Virginia and New Jersey.  Exit polls repeatedly note that the condition of the economy and government spending are top areas of concern.  The fear generated by driving the economy into stagnation by state and federal governments was clearly acknowledged by voters on Tuesday.  And as Lautenberg notes, voters want to punish those that got them into this condition.   At least voters are now paying attention.

President Obama has created a hugely problematic condition for his party.  In order to win election, He had to gin up animosity and ‘fear’ about the Bush administration and about conservative leadership.  Then he had to gin up more fear about the economy to get the Stimulus passed.  And Rahm Emmanuel’s famous quote about never allowing a good crisis to go to waste kept the fear machine in high gear.  It now seems that no one at the White House figured out that sooner or later, voters would want to see some results from mortgaging their grandchildren’s future.

So what does the President do now?  He has already spent a huge amount of our money on the Stimulus package which will only produce bloated state governments and rapidly increasing inflation in 2010.  Job recovery is already choked off because the pressure the Stimulus borrowing puts on interest rates only drives commercial finance costs upwards.  And without an assurance that reasonably priced capital will be available for growth and expansion, business will not have any reason to grow and hire workers. 

President Obama certainly added to the atmosphere of fear, but now that trail is well-worn and voters are sick and tired of hearing about how after one full year, the current economic problems are still the fault of George W. Bush.  Even CNN is bound to be skeptical of administration claims that this is simply the situation the White House ‘inherited.’ 

Democrats are at their core – emotionalists.  As fear is the most powerful of emotions, Democrats have continually endeavored to increase the level of fear in the population to the point where it reached an apex in Virgina and New Jersey.   Now that these elections are concluded, the focus of voter anger is squarely directed at the Obama administration.   One year is plenty of time to start making a positive difference in the economy and there is absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that the economy has only worsened, despite the 3rd quarter GDP numbers being propped up by Cash for Clunkers and a trillion dollar Stimulus bill.   And the 2010 inflation will only make matters worse. 

Inspiring ‘Hope’ would take the energy out of the drive for taking over health care and driving energy taxes through the roof.   Hope would imply that the economy is improving.  Even Wunderkind Tim Geithner understands that the economy will not improve next year and only offers vague promises of stagnant jobs growth.    Besides, if Obama comes out with a modern “Morning in America” speech, it will only provide fodder for the Tea Partiers and others who understand what life is really like in American neighborhoods.  And deep down, every Obama administrator understands that a liberal takeover of institutions like health care and energy production cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of optimism. 

So look for the fear and the absolutely irrational blaming of GW Bush to continue.  MSNBC will certainly help in the effort, but the interesting player will be CNN.  After turning in a solid last place performance on election night, the CNN wizards may finally be compelled to look at what their fawning adoration of this President has done to their ratings – as well as explore how this may impact their paychecks.  

CNN is now the confirmed laughing-stock of cable news – losing even to the lunatics at MSNBC.  Unless the network returns to some form of investigative and honest journalism, the organization is headed for a terrible financial disaster.  Looking critically at the Obama administration is about this network’s only ticket out of the sewage pool it has flung itself into.  Should CNN decide to abandon its role in Obama worship, they have a shot at survival.   This would make CNN an unreliable partner with the White House for ginning up the fear they need to justify continued government expansion.

Obama really has no choice.  There will be few messages of hope in 2010 and fear should continue to be the dominant theme for 2010.  Without it, Obama can’t take over health care or energy.  But Americans want results.  One year plenty of time to wait.  And come next November, the ‘Hope and Change’ voters bring will be sweeping the House clear and putting a stop to Obama’s reckless government expansion.

Conservative Blog History File….

Dede bowing out.  ACORN had to be disappointed.

Fighting plunging support, Republican Dierdre Scozzafava abruptly suspended her campaign Saturday in a special election for a U.S. House seat that has exposed a rift among national factions of the party. (from Oct. 31)

Although Hoffman didn’t win, a clear message was sent to the GOP that it must put up conservative candidates – at least more conservative than this one – if it wants to win.

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Conservatives have been under fire for letting Obama get away with his ‘lies.’  Well…that seemed to end on Wednesday.

Make a contribution to the Wilson re-election campaign here.

As you recall, Congressman Wilson was the guy who yelled “You lie!” to President.  We have at least found an honest conservative in Rep. Joe Wilson R-(SC).

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Obama’s Health Care Failure – Why the Message is Failing to Change Minds

If Democrats thought that the nightmare of townhall meetings was over, the President announced yesterday that He will be delivering a speech on heath care next week.  After the drubbing congressional lefties took over the past several weeks as a result of Obama’s handling of the issue, this speech should only re-ignite resistance.  After all, the President doesn’t offer specifics on how it all will work.  That is a job for little people.  In the end though, there really isn’t much the President can say  that would soften the anti-Democrat mood. 

But why did the resistance to health care legislation hit such a fevered pitch in the first place? Here are the top ten reasons the Obama communication plan that pushed the health care debate – has utterly failed. 

10.  Believing that Health Care is “All About Obama” – As evidenced by the school-video issue, the President’s team believes that He only has to set the policy direction for the country and His will “be done.”  The difficult part about this is that Obama has never held a real job and doesn’t understand that even though leadership makes decisions, carrying them out has consequences.  American seniors have figured out some of these consequences and they don’t like any of them. 

9.  Economic Dishonesty - Obama’s reluctance to discuss the source of cost savings only contributes to distrust.  Cutting billions from Medicare to redistribute elsewhere has only one consequence – rationing of care.  Rationing of care is the ONLY way that any cost savings will be achieved.  Seniors in particular understand street-level economics and also understand that enjoyment of their later years will be severely hurt by any of the health care bills currently being considered.

8.  Lies -  Democrats always seem surprised when voters don’t accept their positions.  Not discussing specific issues such as rationing and ultimate cost leaves constituents feeling that they are being lied to.  And if Arelen Specter is doing the talking – they are.  Lying to one’s voters is a sure ticket to political unemployment.

7.  SEIU – Union thugs sent to intimidate seniors makes really bad news coverage.   As most Americans know, if you have to send out bullies to rally for a cause, the cause is probably disastrous to your interests.  It is curious though that the big guys in purple shirts can’t intimidate Grandma and Grandpa from attending the town halls and making their feelings known.

6.  Charlie Rangel – Although not directly related to health care legislation, it was revealed yesterday that the congressman may have ‘forgotten’ to declare something like half of his income on his tax filings.  As a leading Democrat, Rangel only brings the spotlight to Democrats’ ‘do as I say, not as I do’ method of running the government.  This is just another reason to not trust the Democrat leadership.

5.  Jobless Claims – If Obama’s Stimulus program is working so well, why are so many still out of work?  The public isn’t buying the argument that Obama inherited the recession from GWB any more.  Belief is setting in that the Stimulus and federal spending are making the economic problems worse.   Jobs are still being shed by the hundreds of thousands and it is more apparent that Obama and the Democrats have no idea why their plan isn’t working.  If the Stimulus isn’t creating jobs, why should the public believe they should be trusted to write health care legislation?

4.  Taxation – Democrats typically villify the ‘rich’ as the ones who should be penalized and pay for benefits to the rest of us.  Unfortunately, the ‘rich’ are the ones who do the hiring and provide job creation.  With the failure of the Stimulus causing an already disastrous jobs situation, Americans now understand that any additional taxation – regardless of whom the tax is levied against – will ony make matters worse.

3. Taxation II – Obama has been clear about receiving a health care legislation package that would be “deficit neutral.”  Unfortunately, now that Democrats have had to publicly acknowledge that the proposal would be hugely expensive, even after rationing of care to seniors, the public is highy distrustful of anything the Democrats have to say regarding the federal budget.  These were the folks that in just a few short months have managed to misjudge the defict by a total of two trillion dollars.

2.  Dishonesty II – Statements that individuals can keep the health care plan they have if they are happy with it are simply untrue.  As any senior or anyone who has balanced a checkbook understands, offering a cheaper alternative with a government option will cause businesses to cease providing health benefits to their workers.  To maintain a competitive cost structure, businesses will HAVE to throw their workers onto the government plan.  So the health care plan that you would be able to keep – simply will not be available.  The problem for Democrats is that there are far too many people in America that have run businesses and organizations that fully understand that a government option will be an unparalelled disaster for those that already have good health services.

1.  Cancelling ‘Freedom of Choice’ – This term usually refers to those wishing to make the abortion procedure available to all based on the patient’s right to privacy.  Now however, the Obama administration along with congressional Democrats is restricting ‘choice’ as it applies to senior citizens nearing the end of their lives.  If certain medical procedures will be allowed only according to a government formula, seniors will no longer have ‘choice’ in how they continue to live their lives.  And even though the President has decreed that this will not happen, He has not presented a single reason that restricted treatment options will not occur.

Catch a Falling Czar – New Czar Positions in the Obama White House

America was greeted this morning by news that one Van Jones – the White House “Commie in Residence” has been compelled to leave his post.  Originally assigned to oversee some $30 million in government spending directed towards something called “green” jobs, this position was never fully defined as to what the job objectives were other than to distribute taxpayer funds to businesses willing to support Barack Obama’s green energy vision.  Perhaps Jones only real responsibility was to vet the businesses receiving funding to ensure a proper level of support for liberal causes.

Predictably, Jones blamed a ‘smear’ campaign for his downfall.  However, he failed to rebut or refute any of the accusations made against him.  In the end, Jones was ‘smeared’ by the truth; he is a Communist political hack who got a good paying patronage job. 

Like most government positions, this one produced no contribution to national wealth.  Czar positions need not go through a Congressional approval process.  Thinking Americans though, believed that the Obama administration would have had an approval process that would have included such easily discovered items such as Jones’ signing onto the 9/11 Truth squad which contended that then President GW Bush knew in advance about the terrorist attacks.  Jones was also arrested in 1999 for protesting with the other radical lunatics in Seattle against the World Trade Organization.    These things were easily discovered by curious bloggers and are a matter of public record.  MSNBC didn’t bother to check on any of this and apparently, neither did the White House staff.   

Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) has expressed concern about the Obama administration hiring so many Czars who do not have to endure Senatorial scrutiny.   The President appears unapologetic for allowing an unabashed Commie and radical to work in the White House and at this point, has been exploring additional needs for which Czar positions might be useful. 

A highly placed White House source has revealed that these new Czar positions are currently under consideration by the Obama White House, including:

Czar for Media Management – Team Obama has always been thrilled by support from Chris Mathews and Keith Olbermann.  Unfortunately, nobody watches either of them.  CBS and ABC are also hitting the ratings tank and are hemorrhaging viewers.  The only network growing in viewership is Fox News which has the audacity to question the Chosen One’s policies and ambitions.    This Czar position would be responsible for compelling Americans to view at least one hour of liberal diatribe for ever hour watched on Fox.   Enforcing this new version of the “Fairness Doctrine” or at least monitoring viewer choices would be a primary responsibility. 

Czar for Humor – It has been pointed out that this administration – although well liked by the public – is one of the most humorless in history.  Reagan and GW Bush in particular had great senses of humor which made them more appealing to average voters.  Since leftists typically get a laugh only from other leftists, the Obama administration is considering hiring a Czar of Humor to make the administration more real and down to earth.  In an early attempt at coaching the President to add a bit of humor to his persona, the White House staff coached the President to use the term “Wee Wee’d Up” in reference to people and media who were overly concerned about specific government policies.  The White House lefties thought this was funny.  Unfortunately, the lefties in the media thought it -at best – immature.

Czar of Geography – After the President’s tour of all 57 states during the campaign, the White House staff has identified a need for someone who understands where things are in the world.  The primary purpose for this office is to identify distant places to send Hillary.

Czar of Keeping Watch on the Clintons – Once Hillary is shoveled off to the Congo or someplace, others have to maintain vigilant watch on Bill Clinton.  Bill never got used to the idea that he wasn’t President anymore and is dying to waltz into the White House as a semi permanent member of the government class.  He is even willing to stay married to Hillary to accomplish this.  Obama needs someone loyal to the current administration to keep up with the Clintons to avoid having them turn up at small coffee shops in Iowa prior to the 2012 election.

Czar of Keeping Watch on Biden – The Vice President was chosen for this role to reduce his visibility in the US Senate.  Unfortunately, this Veep can’t stand the quiet and seeks the glare of television cameras.  The duty of this Czar would be to set up daily camera shoots to allow Biden to spout off about how 9.7% unemployment shows signs that the economy is improving.  The most important aspect of this position would be to ensure that none of Biden’s remarks would be released to the public. 

Czar for Maturity – Owing to the fact that this President has never held a real job, concerns have arisen that the President might not fully understand how things like the economy actually work.  The duties of this Czar would be to help White House speech writers craft a message that coveys the illusion that Obama knows what he is doing.  The country is becoming less comfortable with this President because once the specifics of His proposals and programs become known, the less popular the policy becomes.  A major part of this job description is to restrict the flow of specific information.

Czar for Specific Information – This position would function as the censorship arm of the White House Communications Department.  Anything regarding specifics that opponents could use to argue against and defeat a program idea would be deleted from the talking point memos.   After all, Obama is about change and vision; He isn’t about actually making things work. 

Czar for Making Things Work – This position arose as an afterthought to the Health Care debate.  When confronted with the argument that the health care program would inevitably mean rationing of health care services, the President simply stated that there would be no rationing of health care services.  Obama then began to seek someone who could make health care reform work without rationing of care.  So far, there have been no applicants.

Political Humor – What Would Biden Say?

The gift to the Political Humor world, the administration is trying to find a role for Vice President Joe Biden.  Biden has proved such an embarrassment that even the Obama team wanted to keep their VP locked in that until recently undisclosed secure location.  Biden’s mouth operates independently of cognitive management and even the Washington Press Corps has to laugh.  Biden has given root to hundreds of websites dedicated to Biden gaffes and misstatements.

Try as they have, the Obama administration simply has not been able to properly task Joe Biden to a job he is both capable of executing and won’t wreck with his mouth.   Obama originally sent in His VP to oversee Stimulus spending.  Only this week, the Veep commented that the Stimulus was working – even though unemployment has hit a 26 year high.  All this certainly begs the question “What would Biden say?” on a host of other issues.

Team Obama will never allow the press to have an unsupervised visit with Joe Biden because even the administration would have to laugh.   Then they would have to have to explain to the nation how they could have possibly picked Delaware Joe for the second most important US government role.

The following are the top ten topics that the free world would like to see VP Biden respond to.  Although nothing is as good as an original Biden answer, the crack staff at First Conservative have hypothesized Biden’s responses to the following topics and provided appropriate analysis.  (Topic in bold, pseudo Biden answers in italics.)

10.   Former VP Dick Cheney? – “He had his chance to wreck the government.  Now it is our turn and he should stay quiet and let us.”    Democrats now cringe when comparisons are made between the former Vice President and the current one.  Team Obama decided to once again pick on the former Vice President – who incidentally has a positive track record on national security matters – to ridicule him for keeping the country safe.  This of course backfired quickly as the former VP is capable of answering a question and sticking to an assigned task.  Obama is trying to figure out how who advised him to foul up His VP choice.
 
9.  Unemployment? -  “Why can’t these guys just go out and get a job?  Employment is created by working so we need to just get out and work at it.”   Biden has never really had a job.  His life experience includes stints as an attorney, but mostly as a politician. This means that he only has real experience as an entertainer.  The DC press corps would love to see more entertainment from the VP.

8.  Inflation? – “Who cares if the money is worth less today than it was yesterday?  Look if it takes more money to buy something tomorrow then someone in the economy is making more and that would be good. “Economics is a discipline that most Democrats can’t master.  Biden combines this incompetence with a gaffe-prone delivery that makes all statements incomprehensible.  His statement this week that the Stimulus was working in spite of ever-increasing unemployment numbers is clear evidence.

7.  General Motors? -   “Those of us that remember the Studebaker know that GM built some great automobiles.”  Like Economics, History is another academic area Democrats wrestle with.  Team Obama is particularly sensitive to allowing Biden to speak on historical matters since he can be so easily proven wrong. 

6.  Supreme Court Justice? “The Court is one of the most important Houses of Government and needs to have people working in it that know what the law is.”  Partially stealing this line from liberal genius Barbara Streisand, Biden certainly understands the importance of the Supreme Court if not its actual role. 

5.  Israel?  “Israel needs to make peace with its neighbors to keep them from attacking one another.”   Biden understands that Israel is located in a part of the world where neighbors are none too fond of one another.  But only Biden would warn of a military scuffle between Lebanon and Jordan.

4.  Korea?  “I have relatives that fought in Korea so I know that we don’t want another war there.  The Japanese were a tough enemy back then.”  Although Korea was involved to some degree in the Second World War, it would escape the VP that the major conflict of the early 1950s didn’t involve Japan.

3.  Global Warming?  “The icecaps are melting because the earth is warming.  Pretty soon Chicago will be under water if something isn’t done.”  Forgetting that Chicago is not at sea level, Biden’s grasp of US geography would rival that of President Obama who has incidentally visited all 57 states. 

2.  Afghanistan? – “President Obama sent thousands of Marines to hit the beaches in Afghanistan and take the fight to the enemy.”  Marines might hit a rocky beach around some mountain lake, but it is highly likely that the Vice President will spend a great deal of time looking for Afghanistan’s shoreline on the Indian Ocean.

1.  Guantanamo Detention Center? -  “The United States should completely get out of El Salvador.  We don’t need to protect the canal there anymore and when we leave, we should close the prison. ”

Republican Resurgence – Obamacare paves the way – Top Ten reasons for GOP Resurgence

After solid drubbings in the past two election cycles, Republicans are now quietly whispering what was unthinkable even 60 days ago – a Conservative takeover of Congress – might be a real possibility. Particularly in the House of Representatives where Democrats hold a 40 seat advantage, public anger at activist government appears to threaten the employment prospects for House leftists. Ironically, Republicans can thank the President for their resurgence.

Without a leader of any stature on the GOP side of the aisle, grass roots organizations have stymied the Obama drive to take over American health care and may also put a lid on such abominable legislation as Cap and Trade.  Unlike 1994 when Republicans were able to rally around the Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America, there is no galvanizing GOP figure or program to lead the charge.  The groundswell of opposition to Democrat initiatives leaves the lefties with no one to blame other than real, working, average American voters.

Democrats are flummoxed over this.  George W. Bush isn’t around to attack and when compared to the current administration, the master ‘mangler’ of the English language is starting to look better and better.  After all, GWB kept the US safe from attack after 9/11 and the economy was certainly better for most parts of his tenure in office.   Without a conservative ‘bogey man’ to attack, Democrats are chasing their tails trying to figure out why their cherished “mandate” has evaporated so quickly.

Republicans now have a real shot at a quick revival, provided they recall the lessons of their last majority.  And this time, if the GOP sticks to conservative priciples, their reign should be a long longer. 

In the meantime, the Democrat’s implosion gathers steam.  Here are the Top Ten reasons for Republican Resurgence

10.  Fox News – Because the cable network doesn’t fawn all over the President and have on-air types who get tingles up the leg when the Chosen One appears, Fox’s credibility as a news delivery organization appears more legitimate than any other journalistic channel.  The ratings prove this.   CNN, MSNBC and NBC in particular – by their refusal to execute the journalistic duties of a curious and challenging media – have damaged their own credibility so badly that viewers are flocking to Fox.    Fox bases its news programming not so much on performance value but on content and analysis.   Unfortunately for liberal policies, when examined fairly, most Democrat legislation can be revealed to cause more problems than it solves.  Besides, Fox reporters have actually read the proposed health care legislation and confront the authors about the consequences of enacting such a foolhardy enterprise.

9.   CNN, MSNBC and NBC – These networks only appear silly for parroting the Obama policy positions without serious challenge.  They are throwing their audience away and are damaging Obama’s prospects to get his agenda moving again.  Lack of seriousness in challenging the President damages their credibility – perhaps beyond repair. 

8.  Town Hall Meetings – Democrats just can’t seem to find anyone to blame.  Even the purple-shirted SEIU thugs sent to intimidate Granny at the local high school gym can’t seem to make takeover of health care more palatable.   Granny doesn’t look like an evil ‘right wing extremist.’  Adding to the irony, if one calls Granny a ‘right wing extremist’ for opposing Obamacare, it makes the term much less frightening to others.  So in the future when the lefties throw out the fear that ‘right wing extremists’ have taken over the debate, voters will think of Grandma instead of an evil alien from outer space.    And when Pelosi intimates that Granny is a Nazi… well…. it delegitimizes anything that Pelosi might have to say in the future.   The town hall meetings this past month have caused Democrats to delegitimize their own credibility and leadership.

7.  Dick Cheney – When Team Obama needed a whipping boy to turn the public opinion back on their side, they chose the former VP.  Believing that the country really hates Republicans and that Cheney was probably the best target. He no longer allows use of the term ‘War on Terror.’  Family Guy Robert Gibbs broke that rule yesterday himself though in exasperation over legitimate issues that Cheney brought up in a recent interview.  Included among those issues was the prosecution of CIA interrogators who saved American lives after 9/11.  Eric Holder and Barack Obama himself committed the incredibly foolish act of re-opening this can of worms and allowed Dick Cheney to speak credibly on the issue of protecting the country.  Holder’s decision to prosecute loyal Americans backfired badly.  Look for Team Obama to find some exit strategy on this issue that will only make them look more foolish.

6.  Barack Obama Himself – This is the President’s first real job.  He therefore thinks that all he has to do is make decisions for other people to follow.  If He says there won’t be rationing of health care for senior citizens, He just can’t figure out why voters don’t believe him.   Voters have read the legislation however and fully understand street-level economics.  If you add demand for health care to a delivery system with static capacity, there will be far fewer treatments available and the only possible outcome is rationing.  Obama appears nothing short of obstinate and silly for digging in on what are obvious consequences of the heath care legislation.  His credibility is reflected in his diving poll numbers – reported to hit 42% approval earlier this week – down from over 60% just 90 days ago. 

5.  Rahm Emanuel – People hate henchmen.  Congresspeople have also learned to hate henchmen.  HR Haldeman, John Sununu and others have held the coveted title of Chief of Staff and have enjoyed the reputation as the political thug who makes the President’s wish list a reality.  Emanuel however, really does seem to covet this role and is unabashed about it.  His bullying tactics on the hill were tolerated earlier when the President’s astronomical approval ratings removed logic from Congressional minds. Now – when the President appears headed for GWBush level approval ratings – look for Congress to start fighting back.  This will be enjoyable!

4.  Nancy Pelosi – Who can say enough about San Fran Nan?  Accusing real, working, taxpaying Americans of being Nazis for resisting a huge change in their health care coverage was so politically stupid that it defies description.  Adding to the irony, the ‘utterer’ of this phrase was the Speaker of the US House of Representatives and third in line for Obama’s Throne.  If Democrats choose someone like Pelosi as their leader, they can’t be trusted to make good legislative decisions either.

3.  Cap and Trade – oop wait… When the lefties told us that health care reform was ‘good,’ the country initially was receptive. That is until they read the legislation.  Cap and trade sailed through the House of Representatives, but stalled in the Senate so that people could read this legislative gem as well.  And guess what?  Real people are reacting to an increase in their energy costs in the same way they reacted to stealing billions from Medicare.  Senior citizens in particular have figured out that their heating and cooling bills will escalate significantly if this thing becomes law. So in addition to hearing from constituents about health care, Senators are also hearing it about Cap and Trade.  Support for Cap and Trade makes the left appear to be the wildly activist government they told voters not to worry about last fall.

2.  Harry Reid – Telling a Vegas newspaper that he would put them out of business hasn’t endeared Searchlight Harry to the local press.  And fortunately for the rest of the nation the local paper erupted in angry objection to a politician trying to suppress them – bringing up something about suppression of free expression in Russia and somewhere back in German history.   Owing to his senior leadership position, Reid’s problem extends to the rest of the Democrat governing elite – if this is who they pick to lead them (along with Nancy Pelosi), what does that say about their judgment on things like health care and Cap and Trade.  Reid and Pelosi have so damaged Democrat reputations and embarrassed those that support them so badly, that they (fortunately) may have paralyzed future Democrat initiatives.

1.  Health Care – Oh thank heaven people read the legislation!  Even though Obama proclaims that nothing bad will happen, voters appear smart enough not to listen to someone who has never held a real job before this one.  The longer Democrats push this issue, the more seniors and moderates will be driven over to the GOP.  The GOP may not provide eloquent leadership, but they will not destroy the nation’s health care and energy production systems either.  Newly awakened voters are jumping off the Obama love-wagon in droves.  As long as the GOP respects these voters, the movement to Republicans should continue if not accelerate.

Failing Econ 101 – Top Ten Economic Reasons Obamacare will Fail

Democrats in general and President Obama in particular know little of how an economy works.  An economy is typically looked at as a societal way of providing and acquiring goods and services.  The Soviet Union tried a different method of managing their ‘official’ economy, but only drove the free market underground.  If you were a resident of St. Petersburg back in the 70s and didn’t want to eat lard for dinner, you bought your food from someone in the back-alley who carried it in from the country.

Every economy  is market driven.  That is to say those individuals will seek to maximize the value they receive in exchange for a portion of their hard-earned income.  Individuals also act in their own self interest nearly 100% of the time.  It is this last point that has the Obama administration flummoxed.  The President thought that people would be happy to reduce their level of health care service in exchange for… well… in exchange for providing a bunch of folks who can already afford insurance as well as a couple million illegal aliens some form of health service.  Obama’s core problem is that voters actually read the House bills.

The wealthy don’t have nearly the concerns that the middle classes do for acquiring goods and services.  The Wealthy therefore do not need to keep the free market as open and as efficient as possible as they have their long term interests already secured.  The wealthy are also surprisingly more apt in the current political climate, to be represented by Democrats.  In fact, of the 25 wealthiest Congressional districts in the US, 14 are now represented by Democrats.

Democrats consider themselves the upper crust and elite of American society although few will admit to it.  The moral superiority that comes with saying “I am successful and I am a Democrat” is losing its luster now though as real live voters are asking if any Congressional Democrat has read the health care bills.   The problems always start when the limousine liberals begin to make policy.  As fits their role in society, they are the philosopher-kings of modern America and as such they decree what is law.  If they say there will be no Health Care rationing, then that should be good enough for the common folk.  It really doesn’t matter how the bill is written or what it will really do.

Democrats have themselves in such a box now over their health care failures.  They really, REALLY counted on the voters ignoring the debate and trusting their representatives to do what is best for them.  After all, that is what Democrats do – decide things for others.  Unfortunately, Democrats and those on the left have no inkling of what makes an economy successful and what makes the economy in the United States the best and most productive in the world.  It is these failings of understanding that will undo the Democrat’s takeover of health care.  Here are the top ten Econ Laws that the lefties don’t seem to understand.  Fortunately, the average voter understands. 

10.  Granny is a protester – And she isn’t afraid of Keith Olbermann.  Take away her right to chose (her own life) and Granny will be busting down the door to the town hall with a shotgun.    When the lefties removed personal choice in favor of government mandated treatment standards, Grandma will have to follow the rules and go without the treatments that might help extend her life.  Unfortunately for the limo lefties – she doesn’t want to.   Econ Law violated:  People always act in their best self interest.

9.  Reducing while increasing costs – The lefties have positioned the argument that costs will be reduced for most health care services.  Unfortunately, most adults understand that to reduce health care costs somewhere, someone has to pay or the taxpayer gets cheated.  Under this legislation, Doctors are facing huge decreases in their reimbursements for services provided to senior citizens.   If people are forced by government to earn less, fewer of them will remain in practice.  This leaves fewer medical practitioners to serve potentially millions of illegal aliens as well as those Americans currently uninsured.    It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine what happens to actual medical costs at that point.   Econ Law Violated:  Scarcity of services drives costs up (not down).  Obama can’t possibly deliver reduced costs under this system.

8.  There is no ‘free lunch’ – Senior Citizens also understand that the discount received at Sunday brunch has to be made up somewhere else.  Usually, having the family join Grandma and Grandpa at Denny’s balances out things for the restaurant – Grandma and Grandpa get a discount, the rest of the family makes up for it.  Government cannot possibly provide the same medical services that Grandma and Grandpa receive now at a reduced cost without taxpayers footing the huge bill.  Econ Law Violated:  People want the value that they pay for – and don’t want that value going to benefit someone else.

7. When Democrats say “We” they typically mean ‘You.”  Democrats operate by different rules than the rest of us.  Now that voters have had a chance to read the proposed health care legislation – although though many of their representatives haven’t – even the lunatics at MSNBC can’t turn back the wave of anger.  Most Democrats in Congress have shown that they won’t enroll their own families in the public plan.  Voters understand that if the health care public option is a good plan, people will be anxious to sign up.  If the people that wrote the legislation aren’t willing to participate, why should anyone else?  Econ Law Violated:  A product has to be good enough for the creators to buy before consumers will consider it.

6. Democrats ran hard last fall on the illusion of a middle class tax cut.  Now that the CBO (the only people in Washington who can operate a calculator) have made the case that the proposed versions will only escalate costs and not reduce them, the middle classes are seeing themselves in the cross-hairs of Obama’s tax target finder. Econ Law Violated:  ‘Bait and Switch’ only works once – if that.

5.  Government workers that are expected to run the massive federal infrastructure necessary to oversee the new health care system will probably expect to be paid. The Congressional Budget Office at least took this into consideration when preparing their estimate of the ultimate impact should the health care legislation be enacted.   The cost of administering this system – much less providing the benefits – is overwhelming.  Adults who vote understand this.  Econ Law Violated:  Regulation and Bureaucracy Never Save Money – so who gets the bill?

4. “You can keep your current health care plan if you choose” admonishes the President.  Even He understands that statement is contingent on the employer choosing to offer the same plan next year.  Careful reading of the legislation reveals that employers will be financially penalized if they do not turn their workers over to the government option.  Obama’s House allies conveniently noted that most employers pay upwards of 11% on employee salaries to provide health care.  Should companies choose not to provide health care and effectively turn workers over to the government, they will pay an 8% penalty on salaries.  Dumping private insurance then cuts operating costs by 3% of salaries.  Companies in competitive businesses will be compelled to drop private coverage to keep up with competitors’ cost structures.  So that plan you like right now just won’t be there.  Econ Law Violated:  Companies are inanimate organizations – they will ALWAYS do what is financially best for the organization. 

3.  Leftists – including the Golden Tongued President, build their empires on the belief that voters will support them if they provide benefits at someone else’s expense.  This is why a balanced budget amendment is needed.  The failure in the health care debate is that the ‘benefits’ have turned out to be quite a bit less than the health care citizens currently enjoy.  And on top of that, the thing has a huge price tag.  Team Obama has floated the idea that “the wealthy” can be made to pay for it, but the size of the bill makes this silly.  Econ Law Violated:  Government has no money that it doesn’t first extort through taxation.  And taking money from ‘the wealthy’ kills jobs. (Proven, historical fact)

2.  Democrats just can’t seem to figure out how to repeal the Law of Supply and Demand.  The Soviets tried this for decates without success.  The number of general practicing physicians is declining, which in the best of circumstances will only create greater scarcity of medical service.  With Doctors set to become essentially federal employees, many of these will instead choose other occupations which of course exacerbates the scarcity.  When the federal government sets prices at rates below the current rate for services to seniors, the government has effectively set a price for service that ensures there will be no services available – just like the Soviets setting food prices below the cost of production, which led to nothing but fried lard for dinner.  Econ Law Violated:  Nothing on earth overrules the Law of Supply and Demand.

1.  Team Obama is run by a bone head.  This should be a ‘no brainer.’  Folks expect to pay good money for good products and services.  When those services increase in cost, the market expects that quality and quantity of service will improve or remain relatively constant.   The Chosen One so arrogantly believed in his persuasive skills (or believed in the utter stupidity of the American voters) that He could persuade people to accept an incredible decrease in service – even bordering on withholding services at the end of life to save money – and at the same according to the CBO, absorb a huge cost increase.  People aren’t above paying a premium for the best health care in the world.  Raising taxes while cutting health services to provide care to those that either won’t buy their own insurance or for illegal aliens isn’t acceptable.  Arlen Specter found that out the hard way.  Specter’s bigger lesson will take place in 2010.   Econ Law Violated:  People expect direct benefits proportional to what they pay.

Conservative Blog Post – Reasons Democrats are Clinically Depressed

Even coming off a significant election sweep last November which enables the left to effectively ruin the country, Democrats are appearing a little unnerved at the prospect of enacting their cherished agenda.  After working so hard to demonize all things conservative, Democrats are unsure how to actually implement their agenda.  It seems that Democrats are really good at campaigning and complaining, but are a little short on ability to produce results.

Before getting to the Health Care debate, let us review some other agenda items that have hit some rough water:

Closing the Guantanamo detention facility was to be a celebrated milestone of the liberal left as that hated symbol of American Imperialism was to be closed.  It then dawned on the administration that something would have to be done with the trained killers housed there.  Voters didn’t want them in their neighborhoods, so the President shipped a few of them off to vacation paradise in Bermuda.  Unemployed construction workers in Ohio then wanted to know when they could expect their government funded Bermuda vacation.  What was supposed to be an early achievement morphed into a humiliating spectacle. The nation and the world laughed (except of course the British and residents of Bermuda).

Taking over major companies such as General Motors was supposed to be another crowning achievement.  Even after the promise of full US government support, it is still unclear who in possession of his mental faculties, would purchase an automobile from a government-run company.  It took a massive federal program to ‘buy off’ prospective consumers  and coerce them into purchasing new automobiles.  Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm proposed additional government tax incentives to compel buyers to purchase new automobiles.  At least the Governor understands that the public won’t buy an Obamacar except under duress.  “Cash for Clunkers” turned out to be popular but expensive.  Consumers are always on the look out for benefits that they don’t have to pay for.

Ruining the American health care system has taken over the front pages for several weeks owing to an outpouring of emotion caused by people reading the proposed House bills.  Even some Democrats (the ones that can add and subtract) are having second thoughts about enacting Obama’s single payer overhaul of medical insurance industry.  After being chastised for not even reading the Stimulus bill before approving it, Democrats looked through the first few pages of this monstrosity and even they are depressed over the cost.  When a Democrat gets depressed about spending other people’s money, the situation is horrible.

Democrats are indeed depressed and for anyone that has spent any amount of time with one, they understand that Democrats are also depressing to be around.  Democrats very much enjoy spreading misery.  At least they are good at something.

Confirming depression in Democrats is easy enough.  Below are the warning signs of depression and examples of how Democrats exhibit these traits.  What can be done about it?  Well… unemployment in 2010 is a good start.

Becoming emotional or upset for no particular reason – Barney Frank is perhaps the single best example.  When confronted by reporters about his complicity in the allowing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to go bankrupt under his oversight, Frank melted down into a name calling tirade.  When confronted by a constituent over his Health Care stance, the Congressman compared her to his dining room table.  Like the child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Frank just denies that he has done anything wrong.  He then rants about those that were out to get him.   Usually a hug works wonders for people that get emotional for no reason.   Use this with discretion.

Shortness of temper, or irritability – California’s Barbara Boxer insisted on being addressed as “Senator” a couple weeks ago when Brigadier General Michael Walsh used the military standard address of “Ma’am” in addressing Ms. Boxer.  Irritability and childish corrections are another hallmark of depression – especially when they are pointless references to meaningless issues.  But then again, without pointless references to meaningless issues the California Senatorial delegation would have nothing to say.

Feeling hopeless and helpless – The real reason Obama’s Hope and Change message was so effective last fall was that He made the leftist minions believe that Hope was on the way.  Unfortunately, change requires actual work and Democrats are woefully unsuited for anything resembling hard work.  As the ruling class, Democrats view work as something that lesser people do.   The Guantanamo closure is a prime example.   Democrats wanted it closed, declared that it should be done, but had no clue how to go about it other than sending a couple trained killers to Bermuda.  (And boy are the Brits happy about that.)

Inability to control negative thoughts – As the health care debate continues to heat up, Democrats will remain hard pressed to point to how the program will work or how it will be paid for.  Democrats are rarely questioned by the media on details of the plan and are already developing significant negative thoughts on the issue – especially when confronted by actual, unpaid voters at their town hall meetings.  Try as they might, they can’t make the arithmetic or economics work differently and even CNN can’t make the effort seem logical.  If CNN can’t cover for them, Democrats are exposed and vulnerable.  When this reality invades the mind of a Democrat, he/she is quickly reduced to blaming others for failing to fix the problem they have no idea how to solve.

Inability to experience pleasure – In what should have been a remarkable celebration of their landslide victories in November, Democrats have squandered public support and are already trying to spin blame for all of America’s faults.   Elections in 2010 have caused Congressional leftists to prepare a defense against charges of fiscal mismanagement.  Unfortunately for them, a 9 trillion dollar deficit projection is just too big to dodge or blame on someone else.  Perhaps the prospect of unemployment next year preoccupies Democrats up for re-election.

Increased isolation – Democrats from red states or red districts were originally hailed as proof that the GOP was headed for history’s trash heap.  These Democrats, including the well-publicized ’Blue Dogs’ seem to like being employed though, and are trying to figure out a way to distance themselves from the northeastern liberal establishment that is spending the country into unbelievable debt.   Now, these unfortunate political refugees cannot find sanctuary in either the GOP or liberal camps.

Missing deadlines or a drop in standards – The President wants quick action.  The legion of lefties is pushing thard on the health care reform battlefield, but Democrats are dragging their feet - correctly fearing that passage of such a bill will hurt re-election chances.   They missed Obama’s August deadline and now have to explain to their constituents why they are considering ruining the best health care system in the world in order to cover some folks who won’t buy insurance and a bunch of illegal aliens. 

Change in personality – Changing one’s personality is actually a requirement for Democrat candidates.  Positioning themselves as fiscal conservatives for the folks back home and then overrunning the country’s bank account once elected is standard procedure.  Look for Democrats to begin their transformation early this next election cycle though, as additional problems such as unemployment and the outrageous deficit  – not to mention health care – will focus public attention on how those in power have made the situation worse.  And with no George W. Bush around, the finger of blame will point right back at the Democrats in Congress.