Pelosi not afraid a House will fall on her in November

"Bring it on," was The Hill's summary of Pelosi's message for Republicans this fall.  Pelosi seems particularly emboldened since the Democrats were able to retain John Murtha's seat on Tuesday:

Pelosi, who was very close with Murtha, said Republicans once again tried to nationalize an election by way of an “anti-Obama, anti-Pelosi” message.

“It didn’t work,” Pelosi said, calling the strategy Republicans have employed regularly in recent years “predictable.”

Asked about House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) recent claim that there are 100 House seats in play, Pelosi responded, “Let him think that.”

She said there are “more than 200” House Democrats who will be reelected “easily,” but cautioned that she never underestimates her opponents. 

Pelosi is clearly happy and relieved that former Murtha aide Mark Critz will replace his old boss. Throughout The Hill’s interview, Pelosi laughed, cracked some jokes and even teased her questioners.

Personally, I hope she gives interviews like this every day between now and November 2.  Boehner helped set expectations for November unreasonably high.  If Republicans retook the House with a win of 40 seats it would be characterized as failure given his absurd prediction.  Pelosi's taunts should motivate us to work morning, noon and night to make sure we hit the magic number that will drop a house on a witch this fall.  If we pick up a single seat beyond that it is gravy.

The Hill did its' part to contribute to the media "anti-incumbent" meme that carefully ignores a mood that urges Democrats to run away from Obama and his agenda in droves.  Pelosi gleefully plays along:

“I’m kind of anti-incumbent myself, as a matter of fact, depending on who you’re talking about.”

 She proudly notes how much time she invests in protecting the House Democratic Caucus, whether it’s legislating or fundraising or making the case that voters should trust Democrats far more than Republicans.

Fear motivates the Speaker — specifically, the fear of reverting to minority status.

While acknowledging that Republicans are hungry to return to power in the nation’s capital, Pelosi said, “We certainly were [hungry in the minority.] I remember it well.”

Despite some predictions of a huge GOP wave this fall, Pelosi says it’s not going to happen: “One thing I know for sure is that Democrats will retain their majority in the House of Representatives.”

We'll just see about that Madame Speaker.   I hope Pelosi's prediction is hung over the desks in every GOP campaign office in the country.

Via Memeorandum

Surprise Health Care Poses Challenges for Budget and Deficit Reduction

Shocking news only to those who refused to entertain the possibility health care legislation would do nothing but add to our fiscal problems:

Trying to survive the political storm around them, Democrats would postpone the toughest decisions until after November’s elections, when a presidential fiscal commission is scheduled to make its report to Congress. But there is no escaping the political bind that grips the party, exhausted from the debate over health care reform and under political pressure to extend Bush-era tax cuts.

Health care ate up most of the available Medicare savings and popular tax offsets that might otherwise be tapped to narrow the deficit. And as a result, it’s harder to dig out of the deficit hole, and little progress will be made in the short term absent a further surge in the economy.

Politico adds this feel-good bit to soften the damage:

The administration may be hoping for this. Economic adviser Larry Summers was almost heady Wednesday, posting his own White House blog celebrating the turnaround in the auto industry and early repayment by GM of some of its loans. But the stubbornly growing debt is a problem, even as Democrats appear frozen in place.

Too bad it is all hocus pocus:

New Chevy Kabuki: I like Larry Summers, but does he really think GM repaying $6.7 of the over $50 billion the taxpayers have sunk into it means there is a significant chance for "a return of most of the taxpayers’ investment in these companies"? The $6.7 billion "payback" seems like an obvious PR move designed to disguise GM's ongoing trouble, even as the Obama administration moves to sell its stake for a gigantic loss. ... Truth About Cars' Edward Niedermeyer explained all this back in November. ... If Obama had really made the "politically difficult" decision and forced the UAW to take even a mild cut in hourly wages, the story might be different, of course. ...

The loans were reported to have been paid back with TARP funds, enjoy those ads that are all over television.

EDIT:  More on the TARP shell game posted at Potluck.

Action Alert from the PA Chapter of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy - Save Arlen Specter

The Other McCain has called upon loyal members of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the VRWC to unite in order to insure the victory of "geriatric crapweasel" Arlen Specter in the forthcoming Democratic primary for the US Senate. As McCain notes, there is good reason to be concerned the Specter spectre may be fading prematurely. A recent Rasmussen poll shows Sestak within two points of Specter with a full 10% still undecided. Though Rasmussen's poll might appear to be an outlier Margin of Error blogger Harry Joe Enten took a look at PA polling from previous elections and suggests other pollsters may be playing catch up to Rasmussen:

I would not dismiss Rasmussen out of hand. A little dip into the polling archive reveals that a Quinnipiac poll taken around this time for the 2004 Republican Senate Primary had then Republican Specter leading Pat Toomey by 15%. A Quinnipiac poll taken only two weeks later had Specter up by only 5%. He would go on to win by only 2%. So maybe it will be the other pollsters playing catchup to Rasmussen... Only time will tell.

While time will surely tell, Pennsylvania is running short of that commodity with the primaries scheduled to take place May 18th.  It is critical Snarlin Arlen is snatched from the jaws of defeat for the sole purpose that he lives to fight and lose another day, November 2, 2010..  Ruby Slippers has been able to obtain the secret minutes from the most recent meeting of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the VRWC.  The minutes contain a series of talking points that offer members specific guidelines for convincing their Democratic friends and neighbors why they should embrace Specter in the Democratic primary:

• Specter didn't defect to the Democratic party, he merely returned to his natural home.  VRWC members consider their relationship with Specter a painful tale of unrequited love.  Members so loved Arlen and his many, many, many years of government experience we set him free. Alas he didn't come back to us, now he is YOURS.  We're jealous but forgiving.  Seriously we are.
• Arlen really does respect women.  That whole thing with Michelle Bachmann was, well - you know -because it was Michelle Bachmann.  (Note:  for added effect it is suggested members roll their eyes when saying the name Michelle Bachmann.  Liberals can't resist the opportunity to whine about Bachmann.  This will give a moment of solidarity with your mark liberal Democratic friend or neighbor. ) 
• Arlen has been truly devoted to his long-lost loves, the Democrats.  He went along without question for the whole shinola sandwich, health care, stimulus, porkulus and he would surely support cap and trade and card check.  Shouldn't Arlen be rewarded for his loyalty?   Come on you owe this guy, he paved the way for a filibuster proof Senate remember?
• Why should West Virginians have all the fun watching their aging crapweasel get wheeled in at the last minute to cast the necessary vote for some long-awaited legacy of the Democrats to be fulfilled?  Come on, you know you envied those West Virginians who sat back smugly knowing their crapweasel would arrive in time to save the day.  There is certain truth to that old Billy Joel song after all.  

The last point is Arlen's big selling point, he'll show up to cast that final vote come hell or high water.  Sestak - not so much. Join RS McCain and the Pennsylvania chapter of the VRWC in fighting to give the Democrats in Pennsylvania the candidate they truly deserve.  Feel free to repost this video and use the secret talking points freely.  Beating Joe Sestak wouldn't be nearly as much fun as delivering the knock out punch to Snarlin' Arlen in November.  At least we know Arlen would show up:

Tax Day Message From Paul Ryan

TOTAL = $670.341 BILLION AND COUNTING…
*VIOLATES PRESIDENT’S PLEDGE TO NOT INCREASE TAXES ON MIDDLE CLASS

Paul Ryan makes reference to this list of new taxes passed into law since President Obama took office a scant  15 months ago.  According to the accompanying press release, the list of taxes includes at least 14 violations of the President's pledge not to raise taxes on those making less than $250,000.  The taxes totaling $670 billion amounts to a new tax burden of $2100 for every man woman and child in America.  The vast majority of these taxes were enacted in the health care legislation though some came from the stimulus, SCHIP and a few others.

Paul Ryan explains the purpose of the tax increases  in the following video:

 "They are putting through an agenda in this country to replace the American idea - the values and principles that made American so exceptional - with more of a European, cradle to the grave-style social welfare state."

When Democrats are out in force to send a message they cut your taxes, don't believe it. Mike Pence couldn't stifle a giggle at the absurdity of the Democrats' claim they cut taxes more than any other Congress.  More than any other Congress where, Zimbabwe?

Signs of the Times

Busy day today but I rounded up a few items of interest. First off, couldn't pass up this Michael Ramirez cartoon. He is spot on as always.

Via Memeorandum   Too bad I don't need a urologist:

Cassell, who has practiced medicine in GOP-dominated Lake County since 1988, said he doesn't quiz his patients about their politics, but he also won't hide his disdain for the bill Obama signed and the lawmakers who passed it.

In his waiting room, Cassell also has provided his patients with photocopies of a health-care timeline produced by Republican leaders that outlines "major provisions" in the health-care package. The doctor put a sign above the stack of copies that reads: "This is what the morons in Washington have done to your health care. Take one, read it and vote out anyone who voted for it."

Would the Founding Fathers like ObamaCare? Dan Henninger has a great article in the WSJ and elaborates on the overreach by Democrats in the video below:

Dems Advised To Avoid Discussion of CBO Scores - UPDATE

Pat Austin has a great report on the most recent Mark Levin interview with Paul Ryan. This is really a must listen to interview on its' own merits, but particularly important when you read the following confidential memo obtained by Big Government.(memo embedded below)  Democrats are advised:

“do not allow yourself (or your boss) to get into a discussion of the details of CBO scores and textual narrative. Instead, focus only on the deficit reduction and number of Americans covered.”

The Democrats have good reason to avoid discussion of the CBO score. Paul Ryan makes hash of the Democrats' deceptive CBO score in the interview. He is hoping to get a letter from the CBO backing up the ways the CBO score can be distorted. I have a sinking feeling those overworked folks at the CBO might be slow to get that letter out.  Hopefully I am proven wrong on that point.

As you will see in the confidential memo, there is more here. As Ed Morrissey notes Democrats plan to introduce separate legislation this spring to repeal the Medicare cuts to doctors. This is often referred to as the doc-fix. Democrats do not want this discussed for fear their plan will derail their plan to ram this health care bill through with the deceptive claim of deficit reduction. Ed writes:

Basically, this is an admission that the numbers the Democrats submitted to the CBO were entirely false, and that they plan to make this bill a deficit expander in the spring. It’s a breathtaking admission of deceit and hypocrisy — and its exposure should have the media asking more questions about that CBO scoring and putting Democrats in the hot seat over it.

Any Democrat using supposed deficit reduction ought to be challenged on the details of the CBO score.  The liberal media isn't likely to do this, however.  The only way to force the media into covering something of this scale that hurts their president or their liberal causes is to drag them kicking and screaming by spreading the news until they can't avoid it.  As Dan Riehl notes all the true deceptions in ObamaCare will come to light once it passes.  Ultimately this entire episode backfires on the Democrats possibly for many years to come.  The media should be holding the Democrats feet to the fire, however, before this passes.  There is nothing to stop concerned constituents from challenging this deception.   Let's put every effort into stopping this before the Democrats ram this through.



DemHCMemo -

UPDATE: TPMDC has a report stating that Democrats are denying the memo's authenticity. Big surprise on that news. Politico originally posted the memo has taken it down until they can investigate the matter further. This all seems irrelevant. The fact remains that Democrats plan to introduce separate legislation that will cost an additional $300 billion which erases any of the supposed deficit reduction. Moreover, the same tricks and double counting schemes used to game previous CBO reports are employed here as well. The plan will cost well over 2 trillion when all is said and done. Watch the video at the last link where Paul Ryan explains how the bill stimulates jobs. IRS jobs, 15,000 to be exact. Those agents will be busy making sure each of the 300 million citizens of the US have insurance and it meets government standards. Oh Joy!

The Shell Game Shuffle - Let the Games Begin

The House released the reconciliation bill tonight with little fanfare. Before you rush off to read the 2300 page tome be forewarned the bill is not likely to be the actual reconciliation bill.  It is merely a shell.  Ezra Klein, chief cheerleader for all things ObamaCare at The Washington Post explains, this is just like an artist painting over an old canvas.  It all sounds so perfectly charming and harmless that way doesn't it?  Here is the nitty gritty:

Ryan said that he expects Democrats to begin the complex process on Monday, under which they would have the Budget Committee approve a phantom bill by midnight, which they will then send over to the Rules Committee. At that point, the Rules Committee will strip out all of the language in the phantom bill, and insert the changes to the Senate bill that Democrats have negotiated.

"They don't have the votes right now, but they're creating the vehicle so that they can airdrop in whatever changes they want," Ryan said.

 What was released, therefore, is the phantom bill that will have the language stripped to be replaced with whatever the heck the Democrats feel like putting in there.  They could also leave a few things in there like the public option that causes a fevah in the left at mere mention of the words.  The Democrats have added a little bonus though, the plan to nationalize the student loan industry, despite the inevitable job losses that would follow, to make voting for ObamaCare a bit more palatable for those who might choke on their vote.

Paul Ryan issued a detailed evaluation of the numerous hurdles facing Democrats in choosing to go the reconciliation route.  He also wrote a great op-ed for The Washington Post outlining what legitimate reform should and could look like if Democrats were not so hell-bent on passing their fiscal disaster on a strictly partisan basis. In addition to the procedural hurdles, there is great risk of constitutional challenges that appear to be well founded.  Michael McConnell, professor and director of Stamford's Constitutional Law Center writes:

The Slaughter solution attempts to allow the House to pass the Senate bill, plus a bill amending it, with a single vote. The senators would then vote only on the amendatory bill. But this means that no single bill will have passed both houses in the same form. As the Supreme Court wrote in Clinton v. City of New York (1998), a bill containing the "exact text" must be approved by one house; the other house must approve "precisely the same text."

These constitutional rules set forth in Article I are not mere exercises in formalism. They ensure the democratic accountability of our representatives. Under Section 7, no bill can become law unless it is put up for public vote by both houses of Congress, and under Section 5 "the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question . . . shall be entered on the Journal." These requirements enable the people to evaluate whether their representatives are promoting their interests and the public good. Democratic leaders have not announced whether they will pursue the Slaughter solution. But the very purpose of it is to enable members of the House to vote for something without appearing to do so. The Constitution was drafted to prevent that.

While we may take some comfort that there are reasonable grounds on which to challenge this blatant power grab by the Democrats, it would be far better if this never makes its way into law.  While the Democratic leadership attempts to hold their persuadable members in Washington so they will not have an opportunity to hear from their constituents, they can't stop the constituents from coming to Washington.

Join the People's Surge Against ObamaCare in Washington on Tuesday March 16, 2010

Bring a pitchfork, well maybe not.  In all honesty, I think it is possible this will be the law of the land by this time next week unless we act.   There is still time time to make our voices heard.

For More please read: Another Black Conservative, The Other McCain, Doug Ross, RedState and Riehl World View,  Maggie's Notebook and Michelle Malkin
Follow the growing thread at Memeorandum

CNN Summarizes Health Care Summit in 2 Minutes - What Could Go Wrong?

CNN must be fearful that Barack Obama didn't fare very well in the health care summit last week. They put together a summary for those who missed the 7 hour summit condensing it into a two minute recap of the entire event. Surely they must realize when they are picking and choosing specific soundbites from an event of that length they are editorializing. If they realize they are editorializing you might think a news agency would make that point clearly. Don't strain yourself watching for such an admission, however.  It's missing along with the other 6 hours and 58 minutes they cut to make this summary.

You won't see a single word Paul Ryan uttered proclaiming the health care reform a fiscal train wreck. You won't see Obama cutting off Republicans as they are making clear arguments against the current proposed health care reform and offer reasoned and thoughtful alternatives. Nor will you see Democrats suffering from "annectdotitis" relating stories from constituents who wear their dead sister's teeth when dental coverage is not at issue.

What we do see is a montage of soundbites from Republicans suggesting they start over along with a few snarky responses from Obama on the use of the 2400 page bill as a prop. Worse still, is a montage of seemingly sincere Democrats suggesting there are many areas of agreement between the two sides followed by another montage of Republicans pointing to significant differences. The segment is concluded with Obama's final ultimatum. Having watched nearly all of the 7 hour summit, I would have summarized the event entirely differently. My summary would have been equally biased, perhaps even more so.   Then again I freely admit my bias, maybe it is time for CNN to do the same.



Related at Hot Air "CNN: We need a radical procedure to save the ObamaCare patient"
Cross posted at Potluck

More John Edwards Revelations

These aren't pretty and there will surely be a few more in Andrew Young's forthcoming tell-all book on the downfall of the Edwards' campaign for the presidency.  I am currently reading Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime, which is chock full of damaging revelations about Edwards, his wife Elizabeth and their nightmare marriage.  Edwards needs another book on the market like he needs another mistress.

Young was a devoted Edwards supporter who went so far as to claim paternity of Rielle Hunter's daughter to shield Edwards from damaging revelations about his affair.

As with Game Change, the author appears to be seeking a bit of pre-release publicity; expect the juicy bits to leak over the next day or so.   The Wall Street Journal has a full review that included this nasty revelation:

Made in USA: Young says Edwards is an Atkins-dieter who hated making appearances at state fairs where “fat rednecks try to shove food down my face. I know I’m the people’s senator, but do I have to hang out with them?” Before a SEIU candidate forum in Las Vegas, Young says Edwards made him cut out a “made in the USA” label from Young’s own suit to sew in place of Edwards’s “made in Italy” label.

Edwards’ hair: “Naturally thick and lustrous, his hair was a fixation with him. He insisted on using just one kind of shampoo — HairTec Thick & Strong Shampoo for Fine, Fragile Hair,” Young writes. He says that for years he or Edwards personally paid for the expensive haircuts rather than publicly list them as campaign expenses. He blamed the gaffe – Edward’s campaign committee picked up the tab for two $400 haircuts — on “new, inexperienced staff.”

A confrontation: Shortly after John Edwards and Hunter returned from a trip to Uganda in 2006, Elizabeth Edwards answered a cell phone call to hear Hunter who “launched into a romantic monologue,” Young writes. According to Young’s account, Elizabeth confronted her husband who “confessed to having had a one-night stand but didn’t say with whom.” He called Hunter in front of his wife to end it, but later called her back to say he didn’t mean it.

 I can't help but wonder why the press doesn't hang their collective heads in shame as each disgusting Edwards revelation comes to the fore.  Their silence surely shows their bias as we can be sure if Edwards was running as a Republican none of this information would have been kept under wraps.

Young also hints that a Hunter/Edwards sex tape currently exists or at least did at one point:

Young describes his alleged discovery of a compromising videotape of Edwards and a naked, pregnant lover, identified by Young as Hunter. “It was like watching a traffic pileup occur in slow motion — it was repelling but also transfixing,” he writes.

Read the rest at The Wall Street Journal.

The Republicans are Playing Chess While the Democrats ...

H/T : Hot Air

I've posted a few Daily Show clips in the past but this is definitely one of the best.  Jon Stewart does a full 10 minutes on the Massachusetts election highlighting nearly all of Martha Antoinette's worst moments.  Towards the end he really lets loose on the Democrats desperate need to maintain their 60 vote super majority when Bush did "whatever the f*** he wanted to do!" without anywhere near the majority Dems currently enjoy.  


Truth be told Bush courted Democrats and pushed legislation that Democrats found appealing.  In his earliest days in the White House he sought Ted Kennedy's support for No Child Left Behind and got it passed.  Later he pushed the prescription drug legislation successfully as well.  Of course some of this legislation angered his base and did nothing to win the support of the left.  Still, the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress have not attempted to work with Republicans and would rather cry about Republican obstructionism.  We all know we didn't have the votes to obstruct anything which brings us to the vote today in Massachusetts.  While we are waiting for the polls to close, some humor from a frustrated liberal pointing to the failures of Democrats is a delicious time filler.  Here's the clip:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Mass Backwards
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Backyard Conservative has a pic of Martha Antoinette with a throng of admirers.

Legal Insurrection is live blogging the election day events

Maggies Notebook has an instance of voter fraud in Lawrence MA

Nice Deb has the video of Coakley thugs throwing a reporter out of their offices.

Obi's Sister makes a market prediction.

No Sheeples has a great photoshop "Can you hear it Martha?"

Pundette reports Obama's not pleased with Coakley's struggling candidacy. Who's that in the dunk tank?

UPDATE: Just added this post by Track A Crat. You have to see the poster, it's fantastic.

What's Up With Absentee Ballots In MA?

Election Journal has video of a woman handing out what appears to be blank absentee ballots on election day in MA. Expect more to come on this item




Politico has a report from a Dem operative saying they are stunned by the frequency of efforts being waved off claiming they support Brown.

MSNBC had a report from Nora O'Donnell saying the turnout for Brown is very strong, Operatives for Democrats say while the GOTV machine is strong, they have doubts they will be able to compensate for a 10 point difference in the vote. O'Donnell then implied this is the deficit they feel they are facing. This is nice to hear but I say big pinch of salt rule applies when it comes to Dem operatives. Stay tuned

ADDED: Michelle Malkin has a full report on Isabel Melendez, the woman in the video. Here is a taste:

The deadline to apply for absentee ballots for the January 19, 2010 special election for US Senate was Friday, January 15.
More on Melendez: She’s a “community activist” in Lawrence who has run for public office before.

Buyers Remorse - 50% Would Not Vote to Re-elect Obama

Via Memeorandum
Hotline on Call has the results of an Allstate/National Journal Heartland  poll conducted by Financial Dynamics of 1200 adults.  Polls surveying adults without qualifying for likely or registered voters tends to favor Democrats yet there is little in the poll from which Democrats might take heart.  The most striking finding:

That a mere 39% would either definitely or probably vote to re-elect Obama should give Democrats in Washington considerable pause.  The study shows little support for Obama's economic policies while Republicans gain traction with their focus on taxes and lowering government spending:

Just 34% say the country is moving in the right direction, down 13 points since April, and 55% say it is off on the wrong track, up 13 points over the same period.

But as GOPers focus on taxes and spending, that message seems to be causing Obama the most harm. Among those who believe Obama's policies have moved the country in the wrong direction, 45% cite spending and government regulation as a top cause for their opposition.

I would argue that it is not the message that is causing Obama the most harm, it is the actions of his administration supported by a Democratically controlled Congress that is the culprit.  Republicans, however, are wise to continue to focus on smaller government and lowering taxes in this political atmosphere.

Ed Morrissey notes another huge red flag for Democrats:

After a year of single-party governance, Americans have grown very disenchanted.  In April of last year, 47% of respondents thought the country was moving in the right direction, against 42% who thought it was going off the rails.  Now, 55% think the country is moving in the wrong direction, and only 34% think otherwise.  Since only Democrats have been doing the driving, that gives a strong indication that they may find themselves replaced at the wheel at the next opportunity.

That next opportunity comes this Tuesday January 19, 2010 when a strong showing by Scott Brown should send shivers down the spine of every  Democrat up for re-election this November.

America Rising: An Open Letter to Democrat Politicians

This is the perfect video for the start of the new year. Democrats have refused to hear the warning shots their left-wing agenda has not been well received. The coming midterm elections are the opportunity to take the country back.

Shooting the Messenger

Democrats are not happy with Obama's favorability numbers, better blame the pollster:

Nothing, however, sets off liberal teeth gnashing more than Rasmussen’s daily presidential tracking polls, which throughout the year have consistently placed Obama’s approval numbers around 5 percentage points lower than other polling outfits.

Silly Democrats, Rasmussen polls likely voters which is why 2010 is going to be a year the tide is really turned back and graphs like the one above will be remembered as a warning shot.  Democrats seem to prefer ignoring the warning shot and opt to shoot the messenger instead.  Good thinking.

H/T: Instapundit

Math For Democrats

This is a great video, breaking down in humorous and easy to understand terms, how the Democrats gamed the CBO score to produce their magical savings from health care. Megan McArdle gets a little further in the weeds with Medicare but concludes:

It's a little disappointing, really. At the rate that Democratic politicians were generating ever-more-spectacular budget savings from the same old set of health care proposals, I had expected our looming fiscal problems to be permanently resolved by this time next week.

Raising the Limit on the National Credit Card

One month before Obama was elected as President of the United States the National Debt Clock, a digital counter near Times Square, ran out of space  to track the national debt.  This was after a Democratically controlled Congress had promised in 2006 during the first 100 hours in control they would drain the swamp, break the link between legislation and lobbyists and beyond that:

All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority

Today that same debt clock reads slightly over $12.1 trillion reflecting an increase of close to 2 Trillion dollars since October 2008.  While the clock in Times Square found a way around the debt that became too large for their clock, Congress now ponders a solution to a debt too large for their self-imposed limitations.  The solution is to raise the statutory limit on the federal debt that was most recently raised to $12.1 trillion in provision of  the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as the "stimulus."   Congress is proposing increasing the statutory limit on the federal debt by another 1.8 Trillion, while 50 House Republicans propose legislation making it more difficult for Congress to raise its' own credit card limit.

The limit has been raised seven times since 2002.  When Bush was elected in 2000 the federal debt was 5.6 Trillion.  By 2006, when Democrats took control of Congress that figure had grown to 8.4 Trillion.  Since then the projections and actual growth in the debt have been astronomical:

The need for Congress to reign in spending or raise the limit is urgent:

With the fiscal 2009 deficit at $1.4 trillion and the current debt at $12.09 trillion, advocates of raising the limit say it is essential because the country will probably hit the current limit by the end of the month.

"We expect Congress to raise the debt ceiling in a timely manner," a Treasury official said.

Democrats want to hike the ceiling and face the music now rather than deal with the fallout next year, when Republicans could seize on the issue for political gain in the 2010 congressional election.

To borrow a phrase from the President, let me be clear, Republicans can and should seize the issue not only for political gain but to stop the insane spending this Democratic Congress seems unwilling or unable to contain themselves.  The Republican proposed legislation making it more difficult to raise the limit faces a difficult path to law largely because Republicans lack the votes in either the House or the Senate to stop anything Democrats commit themselves to passing or opposing.

Before voters go to the polls next year they should know how this Democratically controlled House and Senate has handled the nation's financial future.  While the media and pundits are quick to point out the years of irresponsible spending under Bush and a Republican Congress, the Democrats have raised out of control spending to an art form.  Raising their limit now to hide from voters their irresponsibility in 2010 seems in line with the rest of Democratic strategies lately.  When it comes to the limits of federal debt, Democrats can run but they can't hide from the fiscal train wreck they've set in motion as Senator Judd Gregg makes clear:

Gregg said this "is not a theoretical problem -- it is directly in front of us." And he warned that "the nation will go bankrupt" if spending is not reined in.

A Bad Time to be a Democrat

While Rasmussen has been showing Republicans in the lead on the Congressional Ballot for some time, today Gallup shows a 4 point edge for Republicans as well.  Gallup sampled 894 registered voters which generally produces results that lean towards the Democrats, to find Republicans leading 48% to 44% for Democrats.  The most startling finding in this poll, Republicans gained a full 22 point preference among Independents:

Party like it's 1994! There is every reason to party if you're a Republican, as Byron York points out in The Washington Examiner:

It's an extraordinary turnaround for the GOP. Last July, Democrats held a six-point lead. Last December, Democrats held a 15-point lead. At one point in 2007, Democrats held a 23-point lead, and for all of that year, 2007, Democrats held a double-digit lead.

The new Republican lead is the result of a dramatic move of independents toward the Republican party. In the new poll, according to Gallup, the GOP leads among independents, 52 percent to 30 percent -- whopping 22-point margin. Last month, the Republican lead among independents was just nine points, and in July, the GOP lead was a single point. So among independents, the Republican lead has gone from one point to 22 points in less than six months -- with much of lead accumulating in the last month.

Will Democrats continue to bury their heads in the sand and continue to pursue a left-wing agenda that is clearly losing the confidence of the all important Independent voters?  Harry Reid answers "full steam ahead," as he plans to take the yet unwritten Senate health care bill to the floor next week.  Do we get to read the invisible bill or is that too much to ask?

H/T:  and many more reactions at Memeorandum.

Jon Runyan to Tackle Congress?

PolitickerNJ has an interesting scoop for those from the Philadelphia area or anyone interested in the fight to take back the House in 2010. Former Eagles star Jon Runyan is considering a run against the Freshman Rep. John Adler (D NJ-03). Adler is on the list of GOP targeted seats in hopes of retiring Pelosi from her role as Speaker.  If anyone could tackle the job of taking that gavel from Pelosi, Runyan can.  The question remains whether he will, however:

There is a deep bench of potential candidates, but some Republicans have one in mind who could clear the field: Philadelphia Eagles legend Jon Runyan, a Mount Laurel resident.

Sources tell PolitickerNJ.com that Assemblywoman Dawn Addiego (R-Evesham) - who knows Runyan because their children attend school together - has talked to him about running.  Runyan, who is not currently active in the NFL but has not retired, has not ruled out a run.  It is unclear, however, how serious the prospect is.

Reached for comment by PolitickerNJ.com, Addiego said "I don't think I'm at liberty to discuss that right now."

There has been continued rumors that Runyan could well end up back on the Eagles offense before the year is out.  While I had been hopeful Runyan might be in Iggles green again this year, I would rather see him tackle Pelosi.  Let's hope the pressure builds for a Runyan run in 2010.

Working Their Tails Off In PA-8

While Patrick Murphy PA-8, was casting his vote for the House "Affordable" health care reform, a Facebook group was being created for those who have had enough of the pretense that Murphy is anything other than a sure vote for the Obama/Pelosi agenda. Far from being a "Blue Dog," Murphy's voting record lines up near perfectly with the most liberal members of the House.

Doreen Alli Linder notes the absurdity of Murphy's "Blue Dog" status in a post for examiner.com:

Murphy claims he is a, "moderate" although he constantly votes with the extreme left of the Democrat party.  He has a 100% rating with NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League).  He also voted for the Stimulus bill.  He has a D+ rating from the NRA.  He is an extremist.

Anyone remotely familiar with Murphy's voting pattern knew without question this "Blue Dog" would lay down and play dead.  There is never even a hint of tension that Murphy might vote against Pelosi's liberal agenda.  Murphy casts a few strategic votes against the party only when there is absolutely no danger his vote will be critical or decisive.  He votes with a minority of House Democrats including Maxine Waters and Barney Frank on bizarre motions such as  378 to recognize the 30th anniversary of the election of Margaret Thatcher, yet claims he is a moderate.  

Murphy must feel quite confident that the voters of Bucks County are paying absolutely no attention to what he does in Congress.  He consistently tells his constituents he is working his tail off for the district when what is most evident is his commitment to raising money for his own reelection or promoting his rising star with the left wing blogosphere as he trots off to attend  yearly Daily Kos convention Netroots Nation.  Murphy's fundraising skills are as stellar as his left-wing stardom.  He positively towers over the average House Member when it comes to raising money:

Murphy is a follower, unlike the two Republicans who held the seat before him.  Should Republicans retake the House in 2010, Murphy would be as lost as the proverbial sheep.   Murphy won the seat in 2006 against Republican Mike Fitzpatrick when the pendulum had swung against Republicans.  Since 2006, Congressional Democrats have continued to increase the deficits they pledged to cut.  Obama loves to rail against the $1.3 trillion dollar deficit he inherited.  What he fails to mention is that there was no budget approved during the last year of the Bush administration. Democrats stalled believing they would hold all the keys after the election.  Whatever spending was approved in the last year of the Bush administration had the votes of Pelosi, Reid, then Senator Obama and yes, Patrick Murphy.

Since January, the Democrats have been behaving like pirates raiding the spoils of their latest conquest.   From the $787 billion "stimulas" to the $410 billion Omnibus Spending, billions in bailouts for the auto industry and  financial sector to the trillions proposed to be spent on health care, Democrats haven't met an opportunity to spend they haven't liked.  Murphy was a yes vote for every one.   His health care vote on Saturday  was the final straw.  It seems as though the grass roots in Bucks County have decided to take matters in their own hands and are putting Mr. Murphy on notice  they will be "working their tails off" to send him packing in 2010.

More Doom and Gloom for Dems

From Rasmussen:

For the first time in years, or so it seems, Republicans lead in voter's trust on all ten issues regularly polled by Rasmussen.  Republicans have doubled their lead over Dems on the issues of taxes and the economy since last month.