Donate to Sarah Palin's PAC

Tired of President Obama yet? Donate to SarahPAC.

Governor Palin has changed the state of Alaska forever. Currently Alaska is the only state not carrying any kind of deficit. In fact, they have billions in the bank, even with the drop in the economy.

Memorandum

From: Meghan Stapleton, SarahPAC
To: SarahPAC Supporters

Greetings from Alaska where the fish are running and the sun is shining late!

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to spend time with Governor Palin as we visited Central New York, Manhattan, Long Island, Washington, D.C. and Texas.

It never ceases to amaze me that every time we travel together, virtually every moment of her time is spent talking to and caring for others, while listening to and learning from them as well - like brave, young Robert whose life we celebrated at the Autism Speaks Walk or the historical voices of the strong men and women upon whose shoulders we stand, including Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony and former Secretary William H. Seward.

Below, I attached a quick note from the Governor which she penned before leaving the country last week. I am attaching it to this memo because I am asking you to help Governor Palin and SarahPAC today!

You have been so incredibly supportive and generous, and now we ask you again for your help - and we ask that you please also encourage your friends and family to give.

SarahPAC needs to be in the position to help fund candidates who are going to fight for what we all believe - smaller government, less spending, and fewer taxes. With your help, we can take the Governor's message and encourage others who also have hope and are firmly rooted in the conservative belief that you know how best to spend your money and not government.

SarahPAC can't do that without your help. Please visit this link and give to SarahPAC today - and encourage others to do so as well.

Sincerely,
Meghan Stapleton
SarahPAC

P.S. Please give before June 30th. Your help is critical. Visit this link to give!


Dear SarahPAC Supporter:

I wanted to drop you a quick note about my trip earlier this month - a whirlwind tour and an opportunity to share a bit more about Alaska. (I am writing this before heading overseas to visit our Troops; I know that will be a most inspiring journey!)

It is such a treat to talk to everyone about Alaska and hear stories of fishing, hunting, and camping. And it thrills me to hear from those who wish to visit our beautiful state! Alaska has much to offer - from her magnificent glaciers to her abundant natural resources to fuel our homes and businesses.

When we travel outside Alaska, the hospitality is always overwhelming, and Todd and I so enjoyed meeting many new people on our recent trip to the Lower 48 - all emblematic of so many across this country who are willing to give of time, energy and effort to help one another.

It was thrilling to see the look on both young and old faces as I traveled to New York, Washington, D.C. and Texas. Words can never express the incredible spirit of all those who dedicate their lives to making even one life more comfortable.

Todd and I always recognize how grateful and proud we are to be citizens of the United States. We are so very blessed.

With an Alaska Heart,

Sarah Palin

Perhaps we can send Sarah to Washington to clean up that financial mess also.

Donate to SarahPAC today.

Donate to Scott Walker today

Today is the end of a big reporting period, donate today to Scott Walker. After that awful budget just signed by Doyle, it is time to send Governor Doyle into retirement

Scott Walker-

I want to share that we are just a little more than 48 hours away from a big campaign finance deadline on Tuesday, June 30. If you haven't already made a contribution, please consider donating by midnight this Tuesday.

The numbers on this finance report will send a message to Governor Doyle that Wisconsin is ready for new leadership. Doyle's budget, which includes over $3 billion in tax hikes and nearly 7% in increased government spending, will drive even more jobs and hard-working people out of our state. This is unacceptable, and it is time to put the Badger State back to work.

A contribution of $250, $100, $50, $25, $10 or even $5 will demonstrate the strength of our campaign and ensure that we have the resources ready to win.

Support Scott Walker today.

Now that is embarrassing to Obama's pick to Supreme Court

Okay, now that has to be embarrassing to Obama's new pick for Supreme Court.

One of Sonia Sotomayor's cases was just overturned by the US Supreme Court. The very same Supreme Court that decides the constitutionality of the lower courts judges decisions.

To have a vote against you even as a you are attempting to get a job on that same Supreme Court, is a huge embarrassment. It means that Sotomayor's decision as a appellate court judge was wrong when it comes to the US Constitution.

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.

Way to go President Obama, great pick there.

Congressman Kirk: A little less partying and a lot more looking out for your constiuents

Congressman Mark Kirk represents the area of Illinois where I work. I know many conservatives from that area and they are rip snorting angry.

Congressman Mark Kirk was also one of the 8 turncoat republicans that passed Cap and Trade in the House on Friday. Cap and trade will cause one of the largest tax increases in American history.

I went to Congressman Kirk's website to write a letter of protest to Congressman Kirk and tripped over his twitter account. I figured I would send him a Twitter message also.

I found this on Congressman Kirk's Twitter page:

Going to the White House Cong Luau w/ 2 of the nicest ladies on Cap Hill-Pat Smith & Doris Rogers http://images.kirkforcongre...

So, Congressman Mark Kirk was partying with the Obama's the night before the big vote. But hey, he insists that he read the legislation.

So why did you sell America out, Congressman Kirk?

Even 40 Democrats had the good sense to vote against a massive tax increase imposed by this piece of legislation. Every single American and every single business in America will be severely damaged by this.

I guess Congressman Kirk was too busy partying with the President than he was worrying about the long term damage his vote would do to the people living and working in his district. There is a ton of manufacturing in Kirk's district. Think if the damage and the amount of jobs that this will lose if this passes the Senate.

Since only those that live in Mark Kirk's district are allowed to complain through his website, send Mark Kirk a Twitter message instead.

I could not help but notice that Mark Kirk never bothered to brag about his vote on cap and trade on his Twitter page. I wonder why?

How many pieces of silver did you sell us out for, Congressman Kirk?

The Breaking Point

Please sign the "Stop the Energy Tax" petition. Tell you friends -- spread the word about how devasting Waxman-Markey "Cap and Trade (tax)" would be to our economy.

Iran- just more words

I am sure by now many of you have seen the video on Neda, the new symbol or Iran's rebellious class fighting to make their vote count and fighting for their freedom from a oppressive regime.



Of course, President Obama has been virtually silent in his support for the cause of freedom in Iran, but that is nothing new.

Now that the President is catching heat for his virtual silence, he decided today he would finally have a press conference in the Rose Garden and address the issue.

Of course, we have seen this all before. All the President seems to offer is words- just useless words that he is not willing to back up.

How many campaign promises has the President broken?

But hey, all he has to do is go out and give another pretty speech and the accomplice media will be soothed.

Yep- the President is full of words, just useless words that have no meaning.

Turn out the lights, the party is over

How about killing this pesky fly, Mr. President

You have got to be kidding me

Can you imagine the debate that took place because of this ordinance during the open meetings?

A Florida city is cleaning up with a new dress code that requires city workers to wear underwear and use deodorant.

The city council in Brooksville north of Tampa recently approved a dress code that instructs employees to observe "strict personal hygiene."

It also prohibits exposed underwear, clothing with foul language, "sexually provocative" clothes and piercings anywhere except the ears.

more

I have a question...Who in the city management is responsible for doing a underwear check?

Stunning budget results(/sarc.)

You guys are going to find this unbelievable, but the state budget that purchased with pork deals actually passed the Senate yesterday.

I know, who would have thought that could happen?

The Democrats control the state assembly. The democrats control the state senate. The democrats control the governorship.

Was there any doubt that the massive tax and fee increasing budget would pass?

Oh good grief.

What is surprising is the fact the MJS actually called out the Democrats for the deal making they had going on in the background. Democrats have been using taxpayer dollars and pork spending to get their fellow democrats to vote for the atrocious budget.

From the Moscow Times:

Putin Slams Obama Tax Proposal

16 June 2009 - The Moscow Times Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday criticized U.S. President Barack Obama's plan to raise taxes on U.S. companies' foreign operations, saying it would amount to double taxation that will hurt the global economy.

"This is a serious decision for the world economy," Putin said at a meeting of the Presidium, the government said on its web site. "If taxes are imposed on all companies working abroad, then it will mean the total destruction of the system for avoiding double taxation."

Putin instructed Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin to hold discussions on the plan with Obama's administration.

Kudrin met with finance ministers from the Group of Eight over the weekend and signed an agreement with Italy outlining a system for avoiding double taxation.

Obama has proposed canceling a provision of the tax code that allows foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations to defer tax payments on money that is reinvested in local operations.

"It's a tax code that says you should pay lower taxes if you create a job in Bangalore, India, than if you create one in Buffalo, New York," he said in May, referring to the current state of the U.S. tax code, media reported.

Obama is scheduled to make his first official visit to Moscow on July 6-8.

It's a scary day for American capitalism when a communist is warning the POTUS of our horrible tax system.

RTA: Rogue Taxing Authority

From Wisconsin Club for Growth:



Among the non fiscal policy items tucked into the state budget is the creation of five unelected regional transit authorities (RTA), each with the power to raise taxes, issue debt and seize private property. But not all RTAs are created equal. As anxious legislators negotiate the politics of raising local sales taxes and empowering unelected boards to spend taxpayer funds, one thing is perfectly clear: Each of the 5 RTAs has been carefully structured to provide political cover to individual Democratic Senators. So rather than providing uniform guidelines and empowering local communities, legislators are making short term political decisions with long range implications.


The proposed RTAs would be established in South Eastern Wisconsin, the Fox valley, Milwaukee County, Dane County and the Chippewa Valley, yet only Chippewa County residents would be given an up or down vote on joining the RTA.


A survey commissioned for the Wisconsin Club for Growth and the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin (IBAW) found that after voters in Southeastern Wisconsin were informed about details of the plan to build the Kenosha-Racine – Milwaukee (KRM) commuter rail system, they oppose the plan by a margin of 59% - 31%. More significantly, voters overwhelmingly oppose the creation of unelected boards with the power to raise taxes, issue debt and seize private property.


Officials in Dane County and the Chippewa Valley expressed concern that funds raised by the RTAs might not be used for their stated purpose.


"I would assume that starting a sales tax for transit would open up space in local budgets for other things," said Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. Berry also points out that increased sales taxes almost never result in lower property taxes, as transit proponents argue.


A last minute change to the Dane County RTA has county officials and transit advocates up in arms. According to the amended proposal, some of the Dane County funds could be used for highways. Clearly, some of the “coalition members” have figured out a way to stick their hands in the RTA cookie jar.


The last page of the survey asks this question: If your representatives in the Wisconsin state legislature voted in support of the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Link railroad, would you be more likely or less likely to vote for them in the next election?

55% said they are less likely to vote for their representatives in the next election if they voted to support the RTA.

Not very good news for State Senators like Sen. Lehman of Racine.

Head scratchers ...

On Monday I saw this commercial during the O'Reilly Factor.

Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association Ad

Why is WPMCSA thanking the Assembly for passing this budget? I thought they were against the tax on "Big Oil" ...

At another time I saw this ad

Wisconsin Civil Justice Council Ad

Why does the WCJC thank Assembly Democrats for not passing lawsuit abuse when it was the Democrats who put that policy item change in the budget?

Big Obama announcement

May I have your attention please?

I have a big Obama Announcement.

Ahem...

Another unprecedented move by our illustrious leader!

To all those sceptics who thought our President did not have any national security experience and were not sure that he could continue to protect us lowly citizens...

Fear not! Our leader just proved his incredible strength! Our leader just proved his incredible intelligence! Our leader just proved his cunning wit!

President Obama just proved that he will put the safety of lowly Americans first!

Tada!

Barack Obama: The human flyswatter
46 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Evidently, there's a new SWAT team at the White House — and it's Barack Obama.

The president, irritated by an omnipresent fly during a TV interview at the Executive Mansion Tuesday, took matters into his own hands.

Said Obama to the persistent fly: "Get out of here."

But it didn't.

So Obama waited for the fly to settle, put his hand up and then smacked the fly dead in one try.

Without missing a beat, the president said to CNBC correspondent John Harwood: "Now, where were we?"

Well, maybe one more second to gloat.

Said Obama: "That was pretty impressive, wasn't it? I got the sucker."

The camera crew was still rolling in the East Room. Obama didn't mind. He pointed to the vanquished insect on the ground and said, "You want to film that?"

CNBC did. That fly is history.

See...President Obama has proven that he is capable of protecting each and every one of us from the great evil known as:

The Common Housefly!

Updated: We have video! I was worried that we would not have this wonderful Obama moment on film, so we can save for all time!

Web-a-thon Day 2

This is a web-a-thon to raise money for Governor Palin's defense fund. Here is an explanation.

Let's keep it going.

For all the details, follow Conservatives 4 Palin

As the site Conservative 4 Palin mentioned, their Web-a-thon is having a positive effect on contributions.

Check out the news coverage in Alaska and Washington.

Dump Doyle

Although we are a long way out, it is possible to defeat Governor Jim Doyle.

In a PPP poll, Doyle would be defeated by Scott Walker or Mark Neumann.

See link.

H/T WisGOP blog

It you check out the cross tabs, the real problem Doyle is having is with independents. 69% unfavorably is very high.

A Servant's Heart

There are so few politicians that serve the actual interests of the people, here is your opportunity to help one of this nation's REAL public servants.

Governor Sarah Palin

Watch the video and please donate. Even if you don't have a lot of excess funds, even $5 will help.

Thanks to Conservatives 4 Palin for creating the video and starting this webathon.

Please donate today.

Government Secrets

Even the liberal media is beating up on the Democrats for there governing in secret. The entire budget process was a joke. Public input? Barely.

But when even the liberal media is beating up on the closed door budget process, there is seriously something wrong with the budget.

AP

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- For three minutes this spring, anyone from the public could show up at one of six hearings across the state to tell the Legislature's budget-writing committee what they thought about the plan.

Then the doors shut.

Most of the real work of coming up with a two-year, $62.2 billion spending plan happened in secret, outside of public view.

For the rest of the article click here.

Web-a-thon to help Gov. Palin retire debt against frivolous ethics charges

A special fund was set up by Gov. Palin to help her retire the $500,000 worth of attorney's fees.

Alaska's left-o-sphere took advantage of every single person living in the state of Alaska. Not only have these frivolous charges cost the taxpayers of Alaska millions, but Governor Palin has now incurred $500,000 in attorney's fees. Not being a rich woman, she cannot afford this stuff. Many other politicians have these defense funds, like Bill Clinton, but Governor Palin has never needed one until she dared to challenge the anointed one and the liberals flipped out.

The ethics complaints were coming so fast and furious, it did not take long to figure out that a small group of leftist bloggers were doing this to not only to break the governor financially, but to damage her reputation. These lefties readily admit they are working together.

Of course, after Alaskans spend tens of thousands of dollars paying to have each charge investigated, Governor Palin is easily cleared of any wrong doing.

So far Governor Palin is 14-0. The governor has been cleared on every single charge.
She was cleared of the latest charge the day before she left for her New York trip.

The editors at Conservatives 4 Palin got together and decided they would start a web-a-thon to help retire that debt. Bloggers all over the US will be working with C4P to help spread the word.

This is pretty simple really, watch the video I have posted on the sidebar, donate to the Alaska Fund Trust (Governor Palin's defense fund), email webathon@conservatives4palin.com and just let them know how much you donated. You do not have to give any other info, no credit card numbers, no name, nada)



You might even get a handwritten thank you card from Governor Palin, I did a while ago.

VP Biden: Sorry about that stimulus promise of 3.5 million jobs

Apparently VP Biden was on Meet the Press this morning making apologies for the stimulus.

You remember that 3.5 million jobs Obama promised. Yeah, that is not going to happen folks, you were suckered.

His excuse...

The economy is worse than anybody thought.

Yeah, right.

You gotta love this little gem from Biden:

Backs away from the estimate that the funds could create or save 3.5 million jobs, instead promises 600,000 by the end of the summer.

The False Choice versus The Patients’ Choice

From The JournalTimes.com:

The False Choice versus The Patients’ Choice
President Obama Talks Health Care in Wisconsin, Congressman Paul Ryan Responds

I applaud President Obama for bringing national attention to two things I’m passionate about: health care reform and Wisconsin. I am eager to work with the President and Democrats toward a bipartisan solution to health care. However, the Majority has chosen to exclude such collaboration. After reviewing the President’s remarks in Green Bay today, I have one basic observation to make. The difference between the President’s rhetoric and the substance of his plans is nothing short of astounding. In fact, non-partisan experts continue to claim that the President’s “public plan option” will cause as many as 120 million of Americans to lose the health insurance they already have and like. This makes it difficult to keep the insurance they like.

The President reiterated a false choice that is damaging the open, honest health care debate that we deserve. The President frames the debate as: The government must take over the management of health care OR continue with the failed status-quo of today. He continues to challenge his critics by asking, “What is the alternative?” He knows that there are alternatives – better alternatives where the patient, not the government, is at the center of health care in America. He knows that we have introduced the Patients’ Choice Act of 2009. He knows this, and is simply hoping that the American people don’t know it. It should be noted that Democrats haven’t yet introduced a bill – we have. The Patients’ Choice Act is a real proposal with actual legislative text, demonstrating that we can have universal health insurance in this country without the government taking it over.

Another favorite refrain of the President is that entitlement reform is health care reform. With health security threatened by the unsustainable growth of Medicare and Medicaid, serious reform of these programs is no longer an option. Last year, I introduced comprehensive reforms of both programs, and yet again – nothing but rhetoric from Washington. What’s worse, the Administration’s current strategy to fixing our entitlement crisis is to add yet another entitlement program to an already unsustainable fiscal future. You can't create new government entitlements, impose trillions of dollars of new taxes, and call this cost containment. We already spend over two-and-a-half times any other country on health care. The problem is not that we don't spend enough money, but that we don't spend it efficiently or effectively.

The President highlighted innovative reforms in Wisconsin by providers and patients alike, and used these market-driven reforms to argue that the federal government should take it from there. It takes an uncomfortable faith in Washington to believe that bureaucratic waste will be replaced by innovation and efficiency if only we gave government more control. Again, there is a better path forward on health care reform, and pretending there are not alternatives is a weak argument against our proposals.

What is at stake in this health care debate is nothing short of our definition of America. The outcome of this debate will reshape, in deep and enduring ways, our nation's historic sensibilities. Will we reaffirm our first principles where the government is purposefully limited and the individual is purposefully empowered, or will we sacrifice liberty with a sense of passive security and dependence? Do we want to follow the stagnant European welfare state model, or do believe that there is something unique about our founding, something unique about America that still endures today?

President Obama made the case today in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for a government-centric approach to reforming an issue of tremendous economic and personal importance for all Americans. We will continue to make the case for an approach where patients and doctors are the nucleus of health care in America. We will continue to make the case for health care reform rooted in faith in the individual. We stand ready to engage in a serious health care debate, and are hopeful President Obama and Congressional leaders in Washington are willing to give the American people a health care debate they deserve.

WI's Club for Growth Profile in Courage

From Wisconsin's Club for Growth:

If Wisconsin Club for Growth had a weekly award, this week's would surely go to State Representative Robin Vos, who has mounted the strongest and most intelligent opposition to the budget.

As a member of the Joint Finance Committee, Vos has tirelessly raised concerns about backroom deals struck by the committee's Democratic members. Vos took an active role in criticizing the “oil franchise fee,” a disastrous plan for Regional Transit Authorities, trial lawyer giveaways on liability and car insurance premiums, and a plan to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

Vos and his Republican colleagues didn't have the votes to actually stop any of these provisions from moving forward. But Vos has remained vigilant in calling attention to the disastrous changes put forward by the Joint Finance Committee. For that, he deserves our gratitude.

Congressman Paul Ryan cleans lefty's clock

Hat Tip-Red State

It was not a fair fight. Seriously Congressman Paul Ryan vs. Arianna Huffington?

I especially liked the part where an ill informed Arianna accused Congressman Ryan of no spending cuts in Ryan's proposed budget. His response: "Oh, I did"

Chrysler/Fiat Sale

Okay, after hearing the Supreme Court had cleared the way for Chrysler to proceed with the Chrysler bankruptcy, I contacted Congressman Ryan's office to see if the Kenosha Engine Plant had gotten lucky.

I received a call back and ummm, not such luck yet.

Here is where the Kenosha Chrysler Engine plant stands right now:

May 1st- Chrysler filed for bankruptcy. At the time Chrysler split themselves into two seperate asset groups. One asset group was considered to be full of good assets. This group would proceed forward when Chysler comes out of bankruptcy. The other group was full of bad assets. This group of people and mfg. plants would not proceed forward. They would be sold off with the plants being closed and many of the employees losing their jobs permanently.

The Kenosha Engine Plant was listed with the bad assets group. Meaning that the Chrysler plant in Kenosha would permantly close if we could not get our name off of the bad asset list.

Over the weeks since filing for bankruptcy, Congressman Ryan's and Senator Feingold's offices have been attempting to get Kenosha moved onto the good list.

After Tuesday tranfer of assets to Fiat, I was anxious to find out if Kenosha made it onto the good list.

We did not.

After speaking with Congressman Ryan's office today, all hope is not lost. As mentioned in the Kenosha News today, there is still a slim window of opportunity. Fiat has until July 31st to decide whether or not they want to pull Kenosha out of the fire.

As you can see, it still possible for Kenosha to continue.

Thanks to Congressman Ryan's office for answering my questions.

Are you satisfied with your state government?

Before the budget vote this week and next, take this survey posted by State Representative Leah Vukmir.

Obama "a sort of god"

H/T Vicki McKenna

“In a way Obama is standing above the country, above the world. He’s sort of GOD. He’s going to bring all different sides together.”

- Newsweek editor Evan Thomas

Big Hollywood

Nope- there are not even going to pretend anymore that they are a non-biased network.

Funnies

Hot Air registration is open

Most folks I know like to read Hot Air, probably the most read website in America. It certainly leans conservative, although there are plenty of liberals that respond.

Anyway, Hot Air only opens their registration for a single day every few months.

Today is your chance to register so you can make comments.

Try it.

Stop ACORN from Accessing Taxpayer Dollars

Since 1994, ACORN has received more than $53 million in direct federal funding. And, over the years, ACORN and its employees have also been the subject of investigations, indictments, and consent decrees in states all across the nation for election-related activities that run afoul of the law.

This isn’t a political witch hunt, as many Democrats claim. The prosecutors who have brought the charges against ACORN and its employees are both Republican and Democrat. They’re doing their jobs, enforcing the law and protecting the integrity of the voting process.

Yet even as fresh charges were being filed against ACORN and its employees in Nevada and Pennsylvania, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives worked to protect the stream of tax dollars to this organization. They stripped down language that I had put in a mortgage reform bill (HR 1728) – language that would have ensured that Congress sets a high bar for who has access to your tax dollars.

Congress and the Administration have been on a spending spree with your money, racking up trillion dollar deficits for years down the road. If Congress can’t draw the line here – if they can’t say that an organization repeatedly charged with violating the law and public trust should not have access to federal funds – where will they draw the line?

I urge you to sign this petition and join me in the fight to protect your tax dollars from being used and abused.

--Rep. Michele Bachmann

To sign the petition, click here.

Cheney now more favorable than Pelosi

From Gallup:

37% of Americans have a favorable view of Cheney and 34% have a favorable view of Pelosi.

To read more, click here.

Trust on Issues

A new Rasmussen Poll shows more Americans trust the GOP on the economy.

Voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on six out of 10 key issues, including the top issue of the economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% now trust the GOP more to handle economic issues, while 39% trust Democrats more.

Read the entire article here.

I guess Americans don't believe Obama's stimulus plan is working, and they don't like him running car companies, banks and insurance companies either.

Another Tax Revolt

First California, now Illinois. Too bad this isn't happening in Wisconsin.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Taxpayer victories are rare these days, so let's cheer the good news in Illinois, where earlier this week the state House in Springfield voted 74-42 against a plan to raise the income tax rate on individuals and businesses by 50%.

When Governor Pat Quinn succeeded Rod Blagojevich in January, he immediately proposed raising the personal income tax to 4.5% from 3%, the business tax rate to 7.2% from 4.8%, and expanding the sales tax to services ranging from dry cleaners to Internet hookup. The Democrat says the income tax hike is "based on a principle as old as the Bible. Taxes should be based on the ability to pay." But voters can distinguish between rendering unto God and unto Quinn, and public dismay was so widespread that even 26 Democrats voted to kill this tax grab.

Wow! Democrats in Illinois even voted against this job killing, anti-taxpayer tax increase.

Do any of the Democrats in the Wisconsin State Assembly or Senate have the guts to stand up for the taxpayers of Wisconsin and vote against the nightmare known as the budget? We shall see ...

Assembly Democrats Break Pledge

From the Wisconsin State Journal:

The State Journal credited Democrats who run the state Assembly in February for banning fundraising during the state budget process.

Well, so much for that.

Assembly Democrats are about to break their pledge by holding a major fundraiser at Wild Rock Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells on June 15. Fat-cat and special-interest donors will pay up to $1,000 each to golf with Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, and Co. just as state leaders are putting the finishing touches on the $63 billion state budget.

A Sheridan aide claims the event doesn’t violate the Assembly’s fundraising ban because Sheridan will be raising campaign cash for the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee, rather than individual members.

But that’s hooey.

Read the entire piece here.

If it weren't for double standards, Democrats would have none.

Worth 1000 Words ...

H/T Charlie Sykes

The machine behind the man: TOTUS

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

2 Jailed American Journalists

Lisa Ling

Euna Lee

I'm praying for the release of the two journalists sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in North Korea labor camp.

Let the (health care) debate begin

From the Washington Times:

Halfway through 2009, the Obama administration and the Democratic majority in Congress seem to have forgotten that the 2008 election is over.

Hoping that rhetoric and promises can continue to substitute for substance, Democrats remain stuck in campaign mode on an issue that requires an open and thorough debate: health care reform. Their promise of date-certain results on universal health care lacks one critical component: a legislative proposal.

While it is within the majority's power to ignore the Republican minority, a group of people that shouldn't be ignored are the American people. The closed-door internal debate -- focused mainly on the insistence of a government-run "option" and what current (or future) Americans will be taxed to pay for it -- is a debate they've calculated is too risky to hold in public view.

It is not an unwise strategy, as it would be difficult to reconcile the administration's and the majority's rhetoric with their oft-discussed (but not yet introduced) new gov- ernment health entitlement or their oft-discussed (but not yet introduced) federalization of health insurance with stifling mandates. You can't create a public program -- where the government serves as both the referee and the player in the game - setting up a stacked deck where private insurers would quickly dump 120 million Americans onto government insurance -- and call that greater choice and fair competition.

Read the entire piece here.

Dem Budget Talking Points Weak, Laughable

From the MacIver Institute:

As it pertains to the authors of the secret budget deal, over at the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, they are asking: What are they thinking?

Excellent question.

The "Wisconsin Budget Makes Deep Cuts While Minimizing Harm on Working Families & Protecting Core Values."

So sayeth the official talking points Assembly Democrats have been using as they promote this hastily-created secret deal. As they scramble to get 50 State Representatives to agree to vote yes on the plan (perhaps in a rushed Wednesday night session) the Democratic leaders want to make sure everyone is singing from the same hymnal.

Well, not all the recipients of these talking points are buying what the Dem leadership is selling. Your team at the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy has been given a copy of the three and half pages of talking points, and we gladly share them with you here.

To be sure, it is not unusual to attempt to organize supporters of a bill or policy by handing them a set of talking points so that the message remains concise and persuasive.

However, these talking points are breathtaking.

Read the rest here.

***************************

It's obvious that the Democrat Assemblymen from the Kenosha area received these talking points before their interview with the Kenosha News.

In a Kenosha News article about the budget here are a few quotes:

Barca said there are service cuts and fee increases that legislators would not want to impose in good economic times.

Then why are you imposing them now, in bad economic times?

“But you have to also face the reality that you have a $6.6 billion deficit,” Barca said. “And we’ve come up with, I think, a broad agreement that we don’t want to increase income and sales taxes, and that’s where most of the state’s revenue comes from.”

But you are raising income taxes and sales taxes. So I guess nothing is safe from the Democrats.

Rep. John Steinbrink, D-Pleasant Prairie, blamed special interest groups’ recent efforts for much of the hysteria.

So taxpayers being against tax increases is hysteria?

“The problem is there are ads being run and people get false information, and it upsets some of the members on different issues out there,” Steinbrink said.

False information? What false information? Notice how he doesn't explain what is false -- that's key to the Democrats -- never explain your accusations. Just throw them out there and don't back them up with facts.

“Some members are just frustrated,” he added. “There’s a lot of cuts, and it’s painful to a lot of different parts of the state.”

A lot of cuts? Where? Increasing the budgets of the departments by 10% then cutting that increase by less than 10% is not a cut. It is still an increase in spending.

I notice the Kenosha News has yet to go into the details of the provisions of the budget. Don't you think that a newspaper might want to print some of the facts of the budget instead of the Democrats' talking points?

What happened to actually reporting the news? Maybe that's why the Kenosha News's readership continues to decline.

Apple Rolls Out New iPhone, Drops Prices

From the Wall Street Journal:

SAN FRANCISCO--Apple Inc. on Monday introduced a new iPhone that will be available this month and dropped the price of its least-expensive model to $99, as it looks to maintain the momentum for its popular smart phone.

To read more, click here.

As a Mac lover, this is exciting news.

GOP Takes Control of NY State Senate after 2 Members Switch Sides

From the AP:

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Republicans appear to have retaken control
of New York's Senate after two dissident Democrats jumped the aisle
in a parliamentary coup.

To read more, click here.

Stop the Energy Tax

Megyn Kelly Speaks Out Against Playboy Magazine

Way to go Megyn! Where is N.O.W. standing up for these women?

Dems for Choice? Notsomuch

Once again the Democrats prove their hypocrisy. Democrats always claim they are for "choice". I guess that choice is only when you agree with them or need to line the pockets of your supporters -- like WEAC.

From the Wall Street Journal:

School Reforms on the Brink
The empire strikes back in Milwaukee and NYC.

The education establishment and its political allies employ multiple methods to keep kids trapped in rotten schools. One tactic is to use control of school boards to prevent or limit the creation of charter schools. Another is to smother existing voucher programs with rules and red tape. Real world examples are currently playing out in Milwaukee and New York City.

The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program provides vouchers for some 20,000 low-income, mostly minority children to attend private schools. Because the 20-year-old program polls above 60% with voters, and even higher among minorities, killing it outright would be unpopular. Instead, Democratic Governor Jim Doyle wants to reduce funding and pass "reforms" designed to regulate the program to death. The goal is to discourage private schools from enrolling voucher students and thus force kids to return to unionized public schools.

To that end, Democrats in the state legislature voted last week to cut per-pupil payments to private schools by $165 while increasing public school spending by $400 per student. Taxpayer support for students in the program is only $6,607 per student to begin with, which is less that half of the $13,468 for students in Milwaukee public schools.

Those funding cuts would be accompanied by mandates of dubious academic benefit. One regulation would require schools that have already been accredited to meet additional accreditation requirements. Another would force schools to offer expensive bilingual programs that suck up scarce resources and are spurned by most immigrant parents who want their children taught in English.

The irony is that satisfaction and enrollment at Milwaukee public schools has steadily declined despite these very policies that choice opponents want to impose on successful private schools. A recent evaluation of the Milwaukee choice program found that its high school graduation rate was 85%, compared to 58% for students in the city's public schools. Between 1994 and 2008, the voucher program saved taxpayers more than $180 million. Yet opponents insist these schools need additional regulations to make them more like the public schools that cost more and produce inferior results.

Meanwhile, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is in a battle royal with the teachers union and state politicians who want to strip him of mayoral control of the schools. Since 2002, the Mayor has been able to hire and fire the schools chancellor and appoint a majority on the city's Board of Education.

Academic results argue strongly for continuing the policy, which expires June 30 unless state lawmakers renew it. According to the latest test scores, 82% of children in grades three through eight scored at or above grade level on this year's standardized tests, up from 74% last year and 57% three years ago. Mayoral control has also eased the expansion of charter schools, many of which are performing better than the district schools. In Harlem, where 19 of the 23 elementary and intermediate public schools are failing, all of the third graders at the Harlem Success Academy passed the most recent state math exam and 95% passed the English exam.

Before 2002 New York had fewer than 20 charter schools because the United Federation of Teachers, the dominant local union, blocked their growth. Thanks to mayoral control, there will be more than 100 charter schools in New York next year, which is one reason that the teachers union doesn't want the policy to continue. The great moral outrage of our time is the way the public schools establishment puts its interests ahead of children, trying to kill every school choice program whatever its success. Genuine reformers should be shouting from the rooftops.

I also noticed in the comments section, Scott Walker, Milwaukee County Executive, made a post:

Wisconsin is headed in the wrong direction when it comes to education reform. If anything, kids in Milwaukee need more choices. We should lift the cap of 20,000 students and allow any great school – public, charter, choice or virtual – to provide the type of education needed by each individual student and their family. Parental involvement in a child’s education should be celebrated – and not litigated (or dragged down by a bunch of bureaucratic mandates).

Scott Walker
Milwaukee County Executive

When the items of the budget are voted on, will the Democrats representing the families and children attending school choice schools stand up for them by voting against the reduction in funding and "reforms" designed to regulate the program to death? Or will they sell out to WEAC once again?

I Smell Bacon!

Looks like some members of the JFC in Madison has a problem with pork. From the JSOnline:

The Joint Finance Committee earmarked at least 29 projects in the two-year budget. Of those earmarks, 20 were for $100,000 or more, and most projects would benefit Democrats on the committee or those expected to face tough re-elections next year. See the map above or the list below for the most expensive projects and the lawmakers who benefit.

• $44.5 million, mostly in bonds, for a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire education building; represented by Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) and Rep. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire).
• $13 million for the Wisconsin Rapids armory; represented by Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point), who is on the committee, and Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids).
• $28 million in bonds for a School of Nursing facility at the UW-Madison; Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit), a nurse who sits on the committee, has long backed her profession in the Legislature.
• $6.6 million for a Yahara River project in Dane County; the county is represented mostly by Democrats, including the committee's co-chairmen, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona).
• $5 million for the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corp. in downtown Milwaukee; represented by Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Leon Young (D-Milwaukee).
• $4 million for planning a joint museum for the State Historical Society and Department of Veterans Affairs; an area served by Pocan, Miller and other Dane County legislators would benefit.
• Up to $1.25 million for Manitowoc Road in Bellevue; represented by Sen. Alan Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Ted Zigmunt (D-Francis Creek).
• $800,000 for the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin; the center has locations throughout the state.
• Up to $500,000 for Washington Street in Racine; Democrats Sen. John Lehman, a committee member, and Rep. Robert Turner represent the area.
• $500,000 for an environmental center in a park that borders Madison and Monona; the two cities are represented by the committee's co-chairmen.
• $500,000 for the Oshkosh Opera House; Republican Sen. Randy Hopper and Rep. Gordon Hintz, a Democrat, represent Oshkosh.
• $500,000 for Eco Park in La Crosse; represented by Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) and committee member Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse).
• Up to $430,000 for Highway X in Chippewa County; represented by Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Kristen Dexter (D-Eau Claire).
• Up to $400,000 for State St. in Racine; represented by Lehman and Turner.
• $300,000 for the AIDS Network in Madison; represented by Pocan and Senate President Fred Risser (D-Madison).
• $250,000 for a bridge on S. Reid Road in Rock County; Robson and Rep. Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit).
• $250,000 for the Madison Children's Museum; represented by Pocan and Risser.
• $125,000 to remodel an Eau Claire library; represented by Kreitlow and Dexter.
• $100,000 for Huron Road in Bellevue; represented by Lasee and Zigmunt.
• $100,000 for the Stone Barn historic site in Oconto County; represented by Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), who sits on the committee, and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette).

Is this what Democrats mean by "shared sacrifice"?

If it weren't for double standards, Democrats would have none.

Barbara's UPDATED Guide for Green Living

From RPW Communications:

“Barbara Lawton should clean up her own act before lecturing others on being green,”

In light of recent reports of C.A. Lawton Company, partly owned by Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, being forced to pay $325,000 for violations of Wisconsin pollution laws, the Republican Party of Wisconsin is offering Barb Lawton’s UPDATED Guide for Green Living. The guide currently appears on the Lt. Governor’s website.

Tip # 1) Ignore DNR rules (They’re only suggestions!)

Tip # 2) Ignore permit specifications (Those tall smoke stacks are unsightly!)

Tip # 3) Drag feet in becoming compliant.

Tip # 4) Lecture others about the importance of "being green" to protect your image from the truth.

“Barbara Lawton should clean up her own act before lecturing others on being green,” said Mark Jefferson, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Lawton’s company will pay a whopping $65,000 annually through 2013 as a result of its illegal activities.

Jefferson said it will be interesting to see if the state’s environmental groups aggressively speak out on the issue or give the Democrat a pass.

“Hypocrisy like that ranks right up there with Al Gore,” Jefferson said of the vice president whose 20 room home in 2006 burned 221,000 kilowatt-hours, more than 20 times the national average.

If it weren't for double standards, Democrats would have none.