It is a long way from May 18, 2010, the date of the 2010 PA senate primary but it is not too early to preview the Joe Sestak vs. Arlen Specter contest. For now, let's stick to the bigger picture view of this contest and save the analyses regarding the individual counties to a later date.
This race will be a study in contrasts. Sestak, who officially announced his candidacy last week, will attempt to defeat Specter by running a grassroots campaign that will focus on criss-crossing the state and on maximizing voter turnout. Specter will rely on traditional media and hope that Obama and the other Democratic leaders help him across the finish line.
Joe Sestak, currently representing the 7th district in congress is known for his long hours and slave driving ways. He is not an easy man to work with and can be quite caustic to those closest to him. With the exception of the caustic part, these are the qualities that he will need to defeat Specter in the primary. His liberal views are closer to the typical Democratic primary voter than Specter's whose views seemingly shift with the wind. The key for Sestak will be to maximize his natural base in the population centers and keep the race close elsewhere. The pitfall that could derail his campaign is funding. Obama, having promised Specter a clear field, may have his pit bull, Rahm Emanuel, lean on the wealthy left and convince them that funding Sestak would be a bad idea.
Sestak's long history in the military should prove to be of value in this contest. I can see him developing a very strong get out the vote program that is very organized and precise. He should be able to find enough college students to work as soldiers in the field unless Obama strongly supports Specter and publicly reprimands Sestak for having the audacity of defying his wishes for Specter to have a clear field.
That brings us to Arlen Specter. This is a conundrum to say the least. The Democrat, then Republican, now a Democrat again appears to have no base. He admitted to leaving the GOP because his loss was a fait accompli in a primary race against Pat Toomey. Obviously, Specter never expected a challenger in the Democratic primary. Republicans and Democrats in PA don't agree on much. However, they both agree that Specter does not deserve another term in the Senate.
Specter likes to think of himself as "independent". This is really just another term for unprincipled. Having no base, where does he turn for votes? Will liberal Democrats ever really trust him? Will they be enthusiastic about his campaign. Can anyone picture hoards of college students going door to door pleading with people to vote for Arlen Specter. Will minorities and women's groups hold rallies for Specter? Can anyone envision that happening? I think we will sooner see Rosie O'Donnell in a size zero micro mini dress than thousands of feminists chanting, "we want Arlen". Can he possibly match Sestak's drive and energy?
Specter is hoping that the support of the Democratic leaders will pull him through. Just 3 months ago, this would have been a viable strategy. Specter expected the normally popular Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, to be a big benefit in his campaign. Arlen gave Rendell his first job in politics, as an assistant district attorney for the city of Philadelphia, and was counting on Rendell to deliver for him. Rendell's popularity has plummeted over the last 3 months due to his insistence on raising the states income tax by 16%. Many state employees (including my mother-in-law) are either not being paid or are receiving partial paychecks. Rendell is taking the hit on this and his attempts to demonize the Republicans are not resonating with the people. Further, Obama and the rest of the Democratic leadership have lost support in Pennsylvania although that lose of support is much more difficult to quantify than Randell's.
This contest puts President Obama in an awkward situation. Having promised Specter a clear field, he must now support him over someone who is clearly more aligned with his agenda. True, Obama could throw Specter overboard but I doubt that he will do so. While Specter is in the Senate, Obama needs his support. In short, Obama almost has to support him lest Specter. If not, then Specter could torpedo Obama's agenda. While nominally a Democrat, Specter could align himself with the Republicans and allow the GOP to filibuster his entire legislative agenda.
I predict that Obama will support Specter but will do so in a manner that is a little bit less than 100% enthusiastic. He will not try to undermine Sestak by strong-arming campaign donors but will make it clear that he supports Specter.
All polls, as of now and for the next few months, will point to a Specter victory. Do not be fooled - this support is soft and is basically a product of Sestak's lack of name recognition. That will change between now and January. The liberal voters in the 2010 PA senate primary race have very little reason to be loyal to Arlen Specter who has shown loyalty to no one in his political career. They will not need to be pushed hard to vote for Sestak.
In January, the race should become a dead heat. By April, it should become apparent that Arlen Specter's days in the U.S. Senate are numbered. How ironic would it be for Specter to lose in the Democratic primary after switching parties to avoid certain defeat in the Republican primary?
For the record, Specter's defeat in the primary is NOT good news for the GOP. Sestak is clearly the better candidate for the Democrats in the general election assuming that Pat Toomey is the Republican candidate. Toomey would handily defeat Arlen Specter but in Sestak he will face a an opponent who may be able to draw out some of the same voters as Barack Obama did last year. A general election campaign that pits Joe Sestak against Pat Toomey will in all likelihood be razor tight with a margin of victory 3% or less for either side.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Health Care Reform - Will it Pass in September?
Barack Obama slammed his fist on the table and demanded a bill to "reform" the "broken" health care system before Congress officially recessed for the summer. Obama and his official media arm, otherwise known as MSNBC, were certain that his wish would be granted. By now, both must be in mourning.
Clearly, Obama's problems with health care are not limited to some recalcitrant members of his own party, the so called "blue dogs". With each passing day, it is evident that his main problem is with the American people who are abandoning ship faster than Rosie O'Donnell on weight watchers. Virtually every poll confirms the view that Americans don't believe Obama when he states, falsely, that health care reform will be deficit neutral. They have flatly stated that they would rather have no bill than a bill that would increase the already bloated and dangerous deficit.
Obama's generals, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, shifted their focus from a strategy of having a bill voted before recess to making certain that important elements of health care "reform" passed through the various committees. Then, they would come back in September, rested and tanned, and place a bill before the President like the good little puppies that they have become for Obama.
There was only 1 little problem with the strategy. The American people, darn them, are getting in the way. The evil, organized, right wing nuts jobs consisting primarily of men and women between the ages of 30 and 80 who pay taxes, abide the law and have genuine concern for the direction of the country are throwing the proverbial monkey wrench into Obama's plans to socialize 1/7th of the economy.
Do you want to know the truth about why the msm and liberals are trying to besmirch these good citizens? It is because they know the truth. This is a pure, grassroots effort in every way, shape and form. Contrast this movement with ACORN, manned by felons who break the law at speeds so rapid that it boggles the mind. The liberals and msm are frustrated that their efforts are being thwarted and that a single payer, publicly funded health insurance system, which 85 Democrats in the House publicly support, is in great peril.
Based on the anger of the regular people throughout the country, it is no longer the blue dogs who have to worry. Only those Democrats in the most liberal areas of the nation are safe to go public with the desire for socialized medicine. 95% of the other Democrats secretly dream of socialized medicine but would not dare say so publicly for fear of joining the ranks of the unemployed. John Murtha is the lone exception to this and he is a special case. Murtha is still suffering the effects of derangement syndrome and has yet to be cured. At this point, it is not certain that Murtha even knows what year we are in currently.
So the strategy to come back and pass health care "reform" in September hinges on demonizing the very people that Obama needs to support the measure. Over the next few weeks, we will most likely see 1 or 2 mainstream Democrats abandon ship stating that they can not vote for a bill that will increase taxes or contain a publicly funded and government run health insurance option. Democrats, after being beaten up by their constituents for an entire month, will think twice about voting for Obamacare. The flood gates will open and the support of many Democrats in congress will begin to wash away, Obama though is not a quitter. They will need to pass, something, anything that will help him save face. In the end, a greatly watered down measure will pass. Obama will hail this as great news and just the starting point to "fix our broken system".
Folks, take him seriously. Although we could win this battle, Obama and his cohorts on the left will still be fighting the war. We must remain vigilant.
Clearly, Obama's problems with health care are not limited to some recalcitrant members of his own party, the so called "blue dogs". With each passing day, it is evident that his main problem is with the American people who are abandoning ship faster than Rosie O'Donnell on weight watchers. Virtually every poll confirms the view that Americans don't believe Obama when he states, falsely, that health care reform will be deficit neutral. They have flatly stated that they would rather have no bill than a bill that would increase the already bloated and dangerous deficit.
Obama's generals, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, shifted their focus from a strategy of having a bill voted before recess to making certain that important elements of health care "reform" passed through the various committees. Then, they would come back in September, rested and tanned, and place a bill before the President like the good little puppies that they have become for Obama.
There was only 1 little problem with the strategy. The American people, darn them, are getting in the way. The evil, organized, right wing nuts jobs consisting primarily of men and women between the ages of 30 and 80 who pay taxes, abide the law and have genuine concern for the direction of the country are throwing the proverbial monkey wrench into Obama's plans to socialize 1/7th of the economy.
Do you want to know the truth about why the msm and liberals are trying to besmirch these good citizens? It is because they know the truth. This is a pure, grassroots effort in every way, shape and form. Contrast this movement with ACORN, manned by felons who break the law at speeds so rapid that it boggles the mind. The liberals and msm are frustrated that their efforts are being thwarted and that a single payer, publicly funded health insurance system, which 85 Democrats in the House publicly support, is in great peril.
Based on the anger of the regular people throughout the country, it is no longer the blue dogs who have to worry. Only those Democrats in the most liberal areas of the nation are safe to go public with the desire for socialized medicine. 95% of the other Democrats secretly dream of socialized medicine but would not dare say so publicly for fear of joining the ranks of the unemployed. John Murtha is the lone exception to this and he is a special case. Murtha is still suffering the effects of derangement syndrome and has yet to be cured. At this point, it is not certain that Murtha even knows what year we are in currently.
So the strategy to come back and pass health care "reform" in September hinges on demonizing the very people that Obama needs to support the measure. Over the next few weeks, we will most likely see 1 or 2 mainstream Democrats abandon ship stating that they can not vote for a bill that will increase taxes or contain a publicly funded and government run health insurance option. Democrats, after being beaten up by their constituents for an entire month, will think twice about voting for Obamacare. The flood gates will open and the support of many Democrats in congress will begin to wash away, Obama though is not a quitter. They will need to pass, something, anything that will help him save face. In the end, a greatly watered down measure will pass. Obama will hail this as great news and just the starting point to "fix our broken system".
Folks, take him seriously. Although we could win this battle, Obama and his cohorts on the left will still be fighting the war. We must remain vigilant.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Ron Santo - Hall of Fame
While I was happy to see Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame a few weeks back, I could not help but think that the hall is missing something; namely Ronald Edward Santo.
Sadly, Ron Santo is a virtual unknown today outside of Chicago where he played his entire 15-year career, 14 with the Cubs and the last with the cross town White Sox. Henderson is certainly deserving of enshrinement on the first ballot and Rice, after a significant wait, deserved it as well. However, if the golden doors are now open to Rice, by all measures they should be open for Santo as well.
Consider their stats. Rice had 382 home runs, 1,451 RBI's and a career batting average of 298 during his 15-year career. He won 1 MVP, appeared in 8 all-star games and had zero gold gloves. He did not play for a world series winner and was on 1 team (1975) that won the American league pennant. He also played in an era that favored hitters. In the mid 70's, the pitching mounds were lowered and the strike zones shrunk in order to generate offense, largely missing since 1963 when the mounds were raised and the strike zones expanded. This happened because baseball's commissioner at the time, Ford Frick, thought there were too many cheap home runs in baseball. Remember, this is the same Ford Frick that placed an asterisk next to the name of Roger Maris who hit more home runs in a single season than any non-steroid doping human being ever.
That brings us to Ron Santo. He played almost his entire career during the dead ball era. The entire prime of his career was spent facing the likes of Koufax, Gibson, Bunning, Seaver, Drysdale and other greats on mounds that resembled small mountains and with strike zones that were generous to say the least. Still his statistics compare favorably to Jim Rice. Santo had
342 home runs, 1,331 RBI's and a career batting average of 277, which would equate to roughly 295 when adjusted to Rice's era. In addition, Santo was the winner of 5 gold gloves, appeared in
9 all star games and 4 times was in the top 10 in the MVP vote. Also, consider that Ron Santo accomplished all of this while hiding a severe illness -diabetes, which has since ravaged his body.
Today, Santo is a broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs and remains a very popular figure in Chicagoland. Clearly, he is disappointed by the fact that he has not achieved enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. Certainly, Jim Rice deserved the honor. However, by enshrining Rice, the Hall of Fame can no longer ignore Ron Santo. Simply put, it is past time for Ron Santo to be inducted. In order to receive this honor Santo must be on 75% of the veterans committee's ballots. I now question the sanity of any veteran committee member who does not vote for Ron Santo.
Monday, August 10, 2009
John Murtha Supports Single Payer Health Care System
Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha, representing the 12th congressional districts supports a single payer health care system. The source for the headline is directly from the far left group, Healthcare-Now!, that is lobbying for a single payer, government run, health care system. John Murtha not only supports a single payer health care system but is actually co-sponsoring the bill, HR 676, with ultra-liberal Michigan Congressman, John Conyers.
http://www.healthcare-now.org/labor-delegation-persuades-john-murtha-to-co-sponsor-hr-676/
Retirees are plentiful in the PA's 12th district. These voters need to ask themselves if they will be happy living in a system that will provide rationed care? That is what Murtha and the rest of the single payer proponents mean when they talk about Medicare savings. Are you happy with the savings coming from you? Do you understand what end of life counseling means? Are you happy with publicly funded abortions?
For the rest of the voters of the 12th district, are you happy being represented by a man whose associates are being charged with taking kickbacks allegedly because of their access to Murtha? To make matters even worse, Murtha's staff was telling callers that he would not support Cap and Trade, yet, in the end, he did vote yes. Do the coal workers of his district understand what is going to happen to them if this bill actually becomes law? The bill is not really about the environment, it is about wealth transfer. Why was Murtha's staff lying to callers? Taking everything into consideration, does Murtha really represent the interests of his constituents?
For people of the 12th district in Pennsylvania, I have one question - why would you elect Murtha again? John Murtha's support of a single payer health care system should be the last straw. On November 2, 2010, the people of the 12 district will have a chance to register their disapproval at the voting booths. It is time for the people to "retire" John Murtha.
http://www.healthcare-now.org/labor-delegation-persuades-john-murtha-to-co-sponsor-hr-676/
Retirees are plentiful in the PA's 12th district. These voters need to ask themselves if they will be happy living in a system that will provide rationed care? That is what Murtha and the rest of the single payer proponents mean when they talk about Medicare savings. Are you happy with the savings coming from you? Do you understand what end of life counseling means? Are you happy with publicly funded abortions?
For the rest of the voters of the 12th district, are you happy being represented by a man whose associates are being charged with taking kickbacks allegedly because of their access to Murtha? To make matters even worse, Murtha's staff was telling callers that he would not support Cap and Trade, yet, in the end, he did vote yes. Do the coal workers of his district understand what is going to happen to them if this bill actually becomes law? The bill is not really about the environment, it is about wealth transfer. Why was Murtha's staff lying to callers? Taking everything into consideration, does Murtha really represent the interests of his constituents?
For people of the 12th district in Pennsylvania, I have one question - why would you elect Murtha again? John Murtha's support of a single payer health care system should be the last straw. On November 2, 2010, the people of the 12 district will have a chance to register their disapproval at the voting booths. It is time for the people to "retire" John Murtha.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday - Plant Free Zone
Ah, my soul feels cleansed. No Kos plants for 2 weeks running. I feel like a new man! If you happened to open this blog by accident, please check out the action at Rightpundits.com. I promise that you won't be disappointed. That is, unless you are a liberal. Your viewpoint will still be heard but definitely not welcomed! And other random thoughts of the day.
It is official. John Edwards has joined the Federal Witness Protection Program. He was right all along. There are 2 America's - the one we live in and the one he now lives in desperately trying to avoid the wrath of his wife, Elizabeth.
Cliff Lee is a stud. An absolutely great pick up by the Phillies.
Why have the race-baiting twins, Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson, remained so quiet on the Gates incident? Are they concerned with studying the facts of the situation or happy that Obama is having problems? I suspect they both pictured themselves as the first African-American Presidents and are jealous of Obama who, in their view, hardly put any time into the "struggle" .
Sons of Anarchy is a cool show. Peg Bundy is a bad ass biker momma!
If Nancy Pelosi jumped off a bridge would most of the Democrats in the House follow? I suspect the answer to that question is yes.
Speaking of bridges, wasn't Obama supposed to be the bridge to a new type of politician? Why then do his actions resemble those of every other politician on our planet?
US Airways completely and totally sucks. In every way possible.
Oh great, just perfect! While we are going to recognize Ahmadinejad as the rightful President of Iran, we are not going to celebrate. Now, I have to cancel the planned outing to Hooters. This is just wrong. Aky was really looking forward to that.
Recent AP Headline: Obama promises health overhaul with or without GOP. Was he not the candidate of "change"? Oh, as long as you agree with his version of change. Thanks, I got it now.
The surge in Afghanistan is not going very well. When will we hear from Harry Reid?
When Ted Kennedy dies will they name the bridge in Chappaquiddick after him?
Nice work by President Clinton in getting those journalists out of North Korea. He is to be commended and I would have wanted him to do the same if one of my daughters was be held by those lunatics. I would have had one request - could Bill fly home on a separate plane from that of my daughter?
Whatever happened to Paula Jones?
It is official. John Edwards has joined the Federal Witness Protection Program. He was right all along. There are 2 America's - the one we live in and the one he now lives in desperately trying to avoid the wrath of his wife, Elizabeth.
Cliff Lee is a stud. An absolutely great pick up by the Phillies.
Why have the race-baiting twins, Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson, remained so quiet on the Gates incident? Are they concerned with studying the facts of the situation or happy that Obama is having problems? I suspect they both pictured themselves as the first African-American Presidents and are jealous of Obama who, in their view, hardly put any time into the "struggle" .
Sons of Anarchy is a cool show. Peg Bundy is a bad ass biker momma!
If Nancy Pelosi jumped off a bridge would most of the Democrats in the House follow? I suspect the answer to that question is yes.
Speaking of bridges, wasn't Obama supposed to be the bridge to a new type of politician? Why then do his actions resemble those of every other politician on our planet?
US Airways completely and totally sucks. In every way possible.
Oh great, just perfect! While we are going to recognize Ahmadinejad as the rightful President of Iran, we are not going to celebrate. Now, I have to cancel the planned outing to Hooters. This is just wrong. Aky was really looking forward to that.
Recent AP Headline: Obama promises health overhaul with or without GOP. Was he not the candidate of "change"? Oh, as long as you agree with his version of change. Thanks, I got it now.
The surge in Afghanistan is not going very well. When will we hear from Harry Reid?
When Ted Kennedy dies will they name the bridge in Chappaquiddick after him?
Nice work by President Clinton in getting those journalists out of North Korea. He is to be commended and I would have wanted him to do the same if one of my daughters was be held by those lunatics. I would have had one request - could Bill fly home on a separate plane from that of my daughter?
Whatever happened to Paula Jones?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Ronald Reagan - Abortion and The Conscious of a Nation
For those of you who have been snookered into believing that a solidly pro-life candidate cannot win national office and build a true consensus, I offer Ronald Wilson Reagan as evidence:
Reagan was staunchly opposed to abortion. Yes, he signed a bill in California that had the effect of liberalizing abortions in that state. However, he regretted signing that bill until the end of his political life. The above link was written in 1983, well before his re-election was assured. Somehow, he managed to win 49 states the next November putting an end to the myth that an opponent to abortion cannot win a national race in a landslide.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Health Care Reform - The Left is Feeling The Heat
The American people are speaking with a clear voice that they will tolerate health care reform that will add to the disastrous deficit. Poll after poll is confirming this fact. Congressman and Senators are being besieged by their constituents and being asked to actually read the bills they will be voting on after they come back from their month long vacations.
The left is in a precarious pickle. The normal strategy is to demonize those who do not agree with their dream of a European socialized state that would "provide" for their citizens from cradle to grave. The problem now is that they have to demonize the majority of American citizens in order to achieve their long awaited victory. One would think that someone, anyone, on the left would understand that is an extremely bad idea. One would be wrong. The left is employing the typical scorched earth policy and applying it directly to the American people!
The message is coordinated but has the air of unreality. Barbara Boxer claimed, on MSNBC's Hardball, that the protests must be organized because the protestors are too well dressed. Chrissy "tingles" Matthews, normally a bulldog missed the chance to ask Senator Boxer the obvious question; "Are you nuts?" Following Boxer's contorted logic, we have to assume that first amendment rights are only for those who do not shower on a regular basis or bother to wash their clothing. I think the field workers for ACORN, missing teeth and all, fit the left's view of the proper appearance for a protester. Naturally, the White House, as evidenced by Press Secretary Gibbs comments yesterday, are in on this strategy.
What will the next steps be for the left? It is very simple to ascertain. All future town halls will be by invitation only. This simply follows the model as set forth by President Obama. One can only hope that they try to do this nationwide thus incurring the wrath of an American people who are fed up with being the least important item on the agenda of all politicians. Yes, the left is in a proverbial catch-22. They can only win on health care reform by demonizing the very people they need for support.
This is going to get very ugly. As free speech is denied, the protests will increase in size and intensity to the point where they simply cannot be ignored. To borrow a phrase that President Obama used in a speech to his Hollywood buddies a few months back, "You ain't seen nothing yet"!
The left is in a precarious pickle. The normal strategy is to demonize those who do not agree with their dream of a European socialized state that would "provide" for their citizens from cradle to grave. The problem now is that they have to demonize the majority of American citizens in order to achieve their long awaited victory. One would think that someone, anyone, on the left would understand that is an extremely bad idea. One would be wrong. The left is employing the typical scorched earth policy and applying it directly to the American people!
The message is coordinated but has the air of unreality. Barbara Boxer claimed, on MSNBC's Hardball, that the protests must be organized because the protestors are too well dressed. Chrissy "tingles" Matthews, normally a bulldog missed the chance to ask Senator Boxer the obvious question; "Are you nuts?" Following Boxer's contorted logic, we have to assume that first amendment rights are only for those who do not shower on a regular basis or bother to wash their clothing. I think the field workers for ACORN, missing teeth and all, fit the left's view of the proper appearance for a protester. Naturally, the White House, as evidenced by Press Secretary Gibbs comments yesterday, are in on this strategy.
What will the next steps be for the left? It is very simple to ascertain. All future town halls will be by invitation only. This simply follows the model as set forth by President Obama. One can only hope that they try to do this nationwide thus incurring the wrath of an American people who are fed up with being the least important item on the agenda of all politicians. Yes, the left is in a proverbial catch-22. They can only win on health care reform by demonizing the very people they need for support.
This is going to get very ugly. As free speech is denied, the protests will increase in size and intensity to the point where they simply cannot be ignored. To borrow a phrase that President Obama used in a speech to his Hollywood buddies a few months back, "You ain't seen nothing yet"!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Quinnipiac University Poll - Majority of Americans Against Health Care Reform
A newly released poll from Quinnipiac University clearly indicates that the majority of Americans are against Barack Obama's so called health care reform especially if it adds to the ever growing budget deficit. Here are the key paragraphs from Quinnipiac:
In contrast to the above, the American people still favor a public health care option with 62% in favor and 32% opposed. However, this is conditional - any new plan must not add to the deficit. Per the CBO, Obama's plan will add a minimum of $200B to the deficit over a 10-year period. The reality is most likely to be much worse. It is evident that the GOP has some work to do regarding the implications of a public plan as a "choice" for consumers. Remember that Barack Obama clearly stated on tape that he wants to phase out private insurance companies. Eventually, the left wants your care to be controlled by a bureaucrat in Washington D.C. and not by your Doctor.
People are always for taxing the rich to pay for programs. As Maggie Thatcher once said, "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money".
The momentum is against Obama. For reasons that are purely political, I would love to see Nancy Pelosi pass health care reform. Unlike some on the right, I don't believe that the Senate would dare to pass reform in reconciliation. That could have repercussions down the road that would not be favorable to the Democratic party.
To sum up, this is good news. The American people are waking up from their "hope and change" hangover and learning how to be adults again. Hopefully, one day, Barack Obama and the left will do the same.
American voters, by a 55 - 35 percent margin, are more worried that Congress will spend too much money and add to the deficit than it will not act to overhaul the health care system, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. By a similar 57 - 37 percent margin, voters say health care reform should be dropped if it adds "significantly" to the deficit.
By a 72 - 21 percent margin, voters do not believe that President Barack Obama will keep his promise to overhaul the health care system without adding to the deficit, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University national poll finds.
American voters disapprove 52 - 39 percent of the way President Obama is handling health care, down from 46 - 42 percent approval July 1, with 60 - 34 percent disapproval from independent voters. Voters say 59 - 36 percent that Congress should not pass health care reform if only Democratic members support it.
In contrast to the above, the American people still favor a public health care option with 62% in favor and 32% opposed. However, this is conditional - any new plan must not add to the deficit. Per the CBO, Obama's plan will add a minimum of $200B to the deficit over a 10-year period. The reality is most likely to be much worse. It is evident that the GOP has some work to do regarding the implications of a public plan as a "choice" for consumers. Remember that Barack Obama clearly stated on tape that he wants to phase out private insurance companies. Eventually, the left wants your care to be controlled by a bureaucrat in Washington D.C. and not by your Doctor.
People are always for taxing the rich to pay for programs. As Maggie Thatcher once said, "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money".
The momentum is against Obama. For reasons that are purely political, I would love to see Nancy Pelosi pass health care reform. Unlike some on the right, I don't believe that the Senate would dare to pass reform in reconciliation. That could have repercussions down the road that would not be favorable to the Democratic party.
To sum up, this is good news. The American people are waking up from their "hope and change" hangover and learning how to be adults again. Hopefully, one day, Barack Obama and the left will do the same.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Pennsylvania 2010 Senate Primary Race - Sestak and Specter
It is now official. Joe Sestak, one time Admiral in the Navy and now a Pennsylvania congressman representing the 7th district, announced that he will ru
n against one time Democrat, then Republican and now Democrat again, Arlen Specter in 2010's Pennsylvania Senate primary race.
This promises to be an exciting and bruising primary. Pass the popcorn - this is going to be fun. The liberal Joe Sestak versus the "whatever" Arlen Specter is a study in contrasts. Specter is going to rely on his relationships with President Obama and Democratic leaders much like he did in the 2004 primary against Pat Toomey. Only then, the leaders that came to his aid were George W. Bush and Rick Santorum. Specter prevailed by less than 1% to a congressman who was hardly known outside his district. So much for loyalty.
The Specter camp has fired the first salvo as noted by philly.com:
President Obama is now put into a precarious situation. Does he support Specter, after encouraging him to switch parties and embracing him, does he support Sestak who is closer to him on almost every policy issue, or does he just stay out of the way? All 3 choices have potential negative consequences. Obama can dial up George W. Bush and ask him how he was repaid by Arlen after going to the mat for him in 2004, thus alienating many of the conservatives who represent the base of the party.
While it is very early, I am going to go out on a limb and predict that Joe Sestak will help Arlen Specter retire next summer after Sestak defeats Specter by double digits. Pennsylvania is a state that responds well to grassroots efforts - see Ed Rendell's primary run in 2002 against Bob Casey as exhibit A. Sestak, who will never be confused for a centrist, will not be outworked. He has traveled to all 67 counties and is building support the old fashioned way - by meeting people. In contrast, Specter, by publicly carrying Obama's water on health care reform, is earning the enmity of the people. Republicans and Democrats in Pennsylvania agree on almost nothing. The one thing they do agree on is that they both dislike Specter as evidenced by a poll from the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College and reported by the Philadelphia Daily News on June 25, 2009:
n against one time Democrat, then Republican and now Democrat again, Arlen Specter in 2010's Pennsylvania Senate primary race.This promises to be an exciting and bruising primary. Pass the popcorn - this is going to be fun. The liberal Joe Sestak versus the "whatever" Arlen Specter is a study in contrasts. Specter is going to rely on his relationships with President Obama and Democratic leaders much like he did in the 2004 primary against Pat Toomey. Only then, the leaders that came to his aid were George W. Bush and Rick Santorum. Specter prevailed by less than 1% to a congressman who was hardly known outside his district. So much for loyalty.
The Specter camp has fired the first salvo as noted by philly.com:
The GOP needs to personally thank Arlen Specter for providing needed ammunition against Joe Sestak should he prevail against Specter. Perhaps a candy gram would suffice. Then again, the candy may be hard for Arlen's dentures to handle. Let's stick to a Hallmark card."He hardly deserves a promotion since he has missed 105 House votes this year, which is the worst attendance record of any Pennsylvania Congressman," Specter Campaign Manager Christopher Nicholas said in a statement. Sestak "should explain why, when Pennsylvanians are working harder, he can barely show up for work," Nicholas added.
President Obama is now put into a precarious situation. Does he support Specter, after encouraging him to switch parties and embracing him, does he support Sestak who is closer to him on almost every policy issue, or does he just stay out of the way? All 3 choices have potential negative consequences. Obama can dial up George W. Bush and ask him how he was repaid by Arlen after going to the mat for him in 2004, thus alienating many of the conservatives who represent the base of the party.
While it is very early, I am going to go out on a limb and predict that Joe Sestak will help Arlen Specter retire next summer after Sestak defeats Specter by double digits. Pennsylvania is a state that responds well to grassroots efforts - see Ed Rendell's primary run in 2002 against Bob Casey as exhibit A. Sestak, who will never be confused for a centrist, will not be outworked. He has traveled to all 67 counties and is building support the old fashioned way - by meeting people. In contrast, Specter, by publicly carrying Obama's water on health care reform, is earning the enmity of the people. Republicans and Democrats in Pennsylvania agree on almost nothing. The one thing they do agree on is that they both dislike Specter as evidenced by a poll from the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College and reported by the Philadelphia Daily News on June 25, 2009:
In contrast to the bruising battle ahead for Sestak and Specter, the Republican candidate, former Lehigh Valley congressman Pat Toomey, has virtually a clear field if one discounts a fringe challenger like Peg Luksik. Toomey's status has grown and his message is very simple; give the people more of their own money and stay out of there way. All of a sudden this notion has become very popular with Americans as noted by Obama's plunging poll numbers over the last 6 weeks. Clearly, Toomey will be the winner should the Sestak and Specter race turn ugly. This is as likely as Rosie O'Donnell finishing an entire chocolate cake in one sitting. Toomey's strategy is evident in the following quote related to the Sestak v. Specter race from today's philly.com:Specter's party switch, announced April 28, has hurt his job-performance ratings among Democrats as well as Republicans, according to a telephone survey of 498 registered voters, conducted last week by the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College. Back in March, before the switch, roughly half the voters in each party said that Specter was doing an "excellent" or "good" job in the Senate.
Those numbers have plunged in the latest survey. Whereas 57 percent of Democrats gave him good or excellent ratings in March, only 46 percent rate him as highly now. Among Republicans, 49 percent rated his job performance as good or excellent in March, and only 18 percent gave him those ratings last week. "Even more troubling for the senator is that the proportion of state residents who believe he deserves re-election has declined from 40 percent to 28 percent," said the poll's director, G. Terry Madonna.
"I think what he's got going is the worst of both worlds," Madonna said. "Republicans have fallen away from him because he left his party, and Democrats are unhappy with him for lots of different reasons. . . . Voters have a lot of uncertainty about what he is likely to do."
"Pennsylvania Democrats will make an important choice between Joe Sestak, a consistent liberal who really believes in his values, and Arlen Specter, a career political opportunist who believes in nothing but his own reelection," the campaign of Pat Toomey said in a statement.
That is absolutely brilliant. In one fell swoop, he labels Sestak a government controlling, tax and spend liberal and Specter as unprincipled. The general election for Pennsylvania's 2010 Senate race will be a treat to watch no matter who the Democratic candidate is in the end.
Obama Lies on Health Care Reform
Yes, the headline is a strong statement. Specifically, President Obama has stated recently, on numerous occasions, that if a person is happy with their current health care insurance, then that person would not be forced to enroll in the proposed public health insurance option. There are numerous reasons why that won't be true in the end, but let's save that for another day.
Video of Barack Obama has been discovered where he flat out states that he supports a single payer system and that private insurance companies will be phased out over a 15-year period. The videos were from 2003 and 2007 respectively. As is the norm for the left, instead of responding to the videos, they attempt to insult your intelligence.
Linda Douglass, now an Obama employee, formally an employee of the DNC wing know as ABC, states that these videos are misrepresentations of President Obama's position on public and private health insurance options. We are treated to clips of Obama telling us in his usual demonstrative manner that no one will be forced into a public option if they are happy with their existing private insurance. Again, by definition that will not be true since a public entity, with funding from our tax dollars will always swallow a private entity which will be discussed at another time.
This is the same President who told us that his health care plan would be viable without a middle class tax cut and who mocked John McCain for proposing a tax on existing health insurance in order to afford the Utopian version of universal health care. What is Obama proposing now? An assortment of taxes that will strike at the heart of the middle class. Further, taxing existing heath insurance benefits is on the table. That is, except for unions, who of course would be exempt. Having already given them ownership of an auto firm and violating hundreds of years of contract law, it will hardly be noticed that huge contributors to his campaign receive yet another payoff. Speaking of payoffs, where is the tort reform? Once again, another Obama constituency spared the need to "sacrifice".
Notice that Douglass does nothing to dispute what Obama said in the videos. That is because she cannot dispute the indisputable. Instead, she tries to make us believe that it is all a pack of lies. Ms. Douglass, the man himself made the comments. Either Obama was lying then or he is lying now. Which is it?
The entire health care reform debate has been a farce. The Obama lies on health care reform are mounting by the day. Finally, the people are catching on that the man of, "hope and change" wants to bring this country to a form of socialism that has failed the world over. It is time for the American people to hold Barack Obama accountable for his lies on health care reform.
http://www.breitbart.tv/obama-in-03-id-like-to-see-a-single-payer-health-care-plan/
Hat Tip: Breitbart.tv
Video of Barack Obama has been discovered where he flat out states that he supports a single payer system and that private insurance companies will be phased out over a 15-year period. The videos were from 2003 and 2007 respectively. As is the norm for the left, instead of responding to the videos, they attempt to insult your intelligence.
Linda Douglass, now an Obama employee, formally an employee of the DNC wing know as ABC, states that these videos are misrepresentations of President Obama's position on public and private health insurance options. We are treated to clips of Obama telling us in his usual demonstrative manner that no one will be forced into a public option if they are happy with their existing private insurance. Again, by definition that will not be true since a public entity, with funding from our tax dollars will always swallow a private entity which will be discussed at another time.
This is the same President who told us that his health care plan would be viable without a middle class tax cut and who mocked John McCain for proposing a tax on existing health insurance in order to afford the Utopian version of universal health care. What is Obama proposing now? An assortment of taxes that will strike at the heart of the middle class. Further, taxing existing heath insurance benefits is on the table. That is, except for unions, who of course would be exempt. Having already given them ownership of an auto firm and violating hundreds of years of contract law, it will hardly be noticed that huge contributors to his campaign receive yet another payoff. Speaking of payoffs, where is the tort reform? Once again, another Obama constituency spared the need to "sacrifice".
Notice that Douglass does nothing to dispute what Obama said in the videos. That is because she cannot dispute the indisputable. Instead, she tries to make us believe that it is all a pack of lies. Ms. Douglass, the man himself made the comments. Either Obama was lying then or he is lying now. Which is it?
The entire health care reform debate has been a farce. The Obama lies on health care reform are mounting by the day. Finally, the people are catching on that the man of, "hope and change" wants to bring this country to a form of socialism that has failed the world over. It is time for the American people to hold Barack Obama accountable for his lies on health care reform.
http://www.breitbart.tv/obama-in-03-id-like-to-see-a-single-payer-health-care-plan/
Hat Tip: Breitbart.tv
Monday, August 3, 2009
Health Care Reform - Specter Beat Down!
Our friends at Gateway Pundit today posted the video of the year. Democrats Arlen Specter and Kathleen Sebelius received what amounts to an old fashioned Philadelphia beat down from the people in a town hall held in Philadelphia. This is a must see:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/08/specter-sebelius-heckled-at-town-hall.html
There are some relevant points that need to be made regarding Senator Specter and his support for heath care reform. Let's put aside the fact for the moment that he is a scoundrel and has accomplished an unusual round trip in politics; first he was a Democrat, then a Republican and finally a Democrat. That shall be ignored for the time being.
It is so ironic that Specter is beseeching the audience, fooled not for a moment by these political hacks, to reserve judgement until the bill is finished. Really Senator? Would that be like the stimulus bill that YOU voted for without reading? He can't even deny that since he revealed that nugget during an interview with WPHL's Dom Giordano. These days, Arlen is limiting his appearances on WPHL to sell out Michael Smerconish's show. That is safe territory for him.
Further, how ironic is it that Democratic shills nationwide are telling us plebeians to be patient and wait until we see the bill? Would this be like the debacle and Cap and Trade where several hundred pages of amendments were introduced the night before the vote? What happened to Obama's 5-day waiting period? The American people are communicating, in a loud and clear voice, their opposition to the government's attempt to socialize 20% of the United States' economy. How humorous was it that the audience called it a "lie" when Specter stated, erroneously, that 47 million people were uninsured?
This has been asked before but shall be asked again - where is the tort reform? Nary a mention of that from the lips of any Democrat. It is our good fortune that the Democrats in Congress will now have a month away from Washington to feel the full wrath and fury of the American people. The Specter beat down in Philadelphia is happening to Democrats nationwide and that must be giving them pause for concern.
How much support and momentum will be lost in the next month? Will Obama's efforts to placate those already insured and/or on Medicare bear fruit? Will the American people be so easily manipulated by the liberals and main stream press outlets? If the visceral anger of the people at this point is any indication, then the answer is a clear no. That is good news for the entire country.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/08/specter-sebelius-heckled-at-town-hall.html
There are some relevant points that need to be made regarding Senator Specter and his support for heath care reform. Let's put aside the fact for the moment that he is a scoundrel and has accomplished an unusual round trip in politics; first he was a Democrat, then a Republican and finally a Democrat. That shall be ignored for the time being.
It is so ironic that Specter is beseeching the audience, fooled not for a moment by these political hacks, to reserve judgement until the bill is finished. Really Senator? Would that be like the stimulus bill that YOU voted for without reading? He can't even deny that since he revealed that nugget during an interview with WPHL's Dom Giordano. These days, Arlen is limiting his appearances on WPHL to sell out Michael Smerconish's show. That is safe territory for him.
Further, how ironic is it that Democratic shills nationwide are telling us plebeians to be patient and wait until we see the bill? Would this be like the debacle and Cap and Trade where several hundred pages of amendments were introduced the night before the vote? What happened to Obama's 5-day waiting period? The American people are communicating, in a loud and clear voice, their opposition to the government's attempt to socialize 20% of the United States' economy. How humorous was it that the audience called it a "lie" when Specter stated, erroneously, that 47 million people were uninsured?
This has been asked before but shall be asked again - where is the tort reform? Nary a mention of that from the lips of any Democrat. It is our good fortune that the Democrats in Congress will now have a month away from Washington to feel the full wrath and fury of the American people. The Specter beat down in Philadelphia is happening to Democrats nationwide and that must be giving them pause for concern.
How much support and momentum will be lost in the next month? Will Obama's efforts to placate those already insured and/or on Medicare bear fruit? Will the American people be so easily manipulated by the liberals and main stream press outlets? If the visceral anger of the people at this point is any indication, then the answer is a clear no. That is good news for the entire country.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sunday - Plant Free Zone
Ah, the liberation! I am telling you it feels good, very good. Anyway, it is raining hard here in south eastern PA. It has been our wettest and coldest summer in a couple of decades. Where is global warming when you need it the most? I know, I know, "climate change". If it is warm it is the fault of the United States. If it is cold it is the fault of the United States. And other random thoughts of the day.
Cliff Lee, the Phillies new ace, was sensational in his debut this past Friday. The Phillies should go fairly deep in the playoff with him. Some of predicting a world series repeat. Winning a world series is bedding the prom queen on graduation night. A LOT of things have to go right.
President Obama sure had a fun filled week what with the beer summit and the failure of to get a vote on health care reform. I wonder how excited the legislative body will be to vote on the measure after hearing from their constituents for a solid month?
Are members of the AARP really revolting against their leadership or is it just a few members at the edge? The AARP has morphed from a club that protected the interest of seniors to a political body whose agenda now seems to be, first and foremost, concerned with advancing the interests of the far left. The organization has been hi-jacked.
A full week went by without Governor Sandford saying anything stupid. Miracles never cease.
"Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs". Those words, spoken by a frothing at the mouth Nancy Pelosi, will cost the Democrats the majority in the House of Representatives in 2010. Very few believe that time will prove me correct.
The GOP, defying the odds, will also make gains in the Senate. I envision +5 or +6. Not a majority but enough to be able to form an affiliation with conservative Democratic Senators that will force Obama to the right and expose "people" like Al Franken as nut jobs.
I am worn out by the birthers. Obama was born in Hawaii. Even Coulter and Malkin agree. I suspect that the liberals are working very hard to make this a GOP mainstream effort. That won't work.
I just started watching Sons of Anarchy on FX. It is a great show with a really good cast.
I saw Funny People. Don't spend the money. Wait for it to be on Starz, Showtime or HBO. It is not awful but is not great either.
I wanted to ask John Edwards if he has fathered anymore children lately and which of the 2 Americas would they be residing in at the moment?
Whatever happened to Laurie Dhue?
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Hedgehog Report - Rest in Peace
THE BRAVE WARRIORS
They all fought for the Red, White and Blue .The white men, the black men, the Indians too. They were all heroes, or so it is said, When the blood flowed, it was all crimson red. They all fought for freedom, side by side, Some of them lived, and too many died. They were all valiant soldiers, every man, They gave what they had, to the last stand. We shouldn’t forget them, not one single soul, And we should make sure their story is told.They fought for the freedom of every man, Their bravery is known, across our great land. For those up in heaven, or hell here on Earth, We all thank our fathers, for our life since birth. They all are our heroes, a much treasured lot, And we should thank them for all we have got. So raise up your hands, give thanks to a-highFor all the brave soldiers who lived and died. As our lives go on, and in freedom we live, We thank every soldier, for what he could give. OldWolf
All good things must come to an end. So it is with The Hedgehog Report. The above poem, while not 100% comparable to our shared experiences at the site, is an apt metaphor for the struggle and fight against liberalism. We were the on-line version of soldiers, fighting the good fight, win and, sometimes, lose.
We had foes who were articulate, crazy, smart, funny and sometimes just plain annoying. It did not matter, we would engage them all and, dare I say, win more often that we lost. However, the enemy proved to be cunning; they placed a plant to sow the seeds of discord. This plant, posed as a Republican, destroyed a blog called Polipundit, then set her sites on The Hedgehog Report. There is no point in reciting all the details; we, who were there, know them all to well.
The owner, of the site, Dave Wissing, in a move eerily reminiscent of the proprietor of Polipundit, fired his 2 posters. Now, these were not paid employees, of course. The 2 gentlemen, Rdel and Tim V, did it for the community while Dave was too "busy" to post the results of polls. I am not certain how he could be so busy since he never provided any analysis with his postings. They were pure cut and paste jobs. Even without pay, Wissing, in a classless move, fired them publicly. He did send an email to the gentlemen before dumping them but did not wait for a response. The gentlemen in question, of high moral character, handled it with dignity and grace. My hat is off to them both. I am held to no such standard and feel compelled to opine. I respect my fellow conservatives who disagree with me. That is OK.
Look at the 1 common link between Polipundit and HHR. What is it? Yes, it is the plant, aka, Chekote. I am sure she is rejoicing as of now. Some will stay for a while. I suspect more members of the community will leave when Wissing, in his usual cut and paste style, posts the results of a poll that mention Sarah Palin. As a matter of principle, I will no longer visit HHR. My time will be spent at Right Pundits.
The Hedgehog Report - rest in peace! Still, I yearn for the glory days of the past!
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