Konni Burton Corrects Lying Democrat

On Thursday, Libby Willis, Democrat candidate for Wendy Davis' Texas Senate seat, made the following post to Facebook:

Libby Willis

Yesterday at 1:27am · 

• “Where are the Republican ideas for reducing the income gap? Most in the party don’t even recognize it as a problem. “You owe it to the American people to tell us what you are for,” he said, “not just what you’re against.” The silence from Republicans explains why economic inequality is rising."

Konni Burton's rapid response was on it:

Today Konni Burton issued sharp criticism to Senate District 10 candidate Libby Willis. Libby Willis took to facebook late last night quoting President Obama berating Republicans for having no ideas addressing the income gap in America. Konni provided two policy solutions that would move Texas forward and empower the middle class.

Konni Burton articulated these positions saying, “Two things that would make significant strides toward empowering lower and middle class Texans would be a repeal of Obamacare and elimination of crony capitalist funds in the Texas budget.”

“Perhaps Ms. Willis is unaware of all the employers who were forced to cut their employees’ hours to 29 hours per week due to the burdensome regulations of Obamacare. When government mandates are leading directly to fewer opportunities for lower and middle class families in Texas, those policies must be abolished. Secondly, we must end crony capitalism in the Texas budget. Slush funds that have the propensity to be used to dole out contracts to the well connected must be closed. These are two policies, one at the national level and one at the state level which would empower Texas families,” Burton concluded.

On a related note, no single piece of legislation promotes 'economic inequality' more than the Dodd-Frank law that Libby Willis' hero signed into law; pot meet kettle.

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Author's Note: Konni Burton is a personal friend and an endorsed candidate of Cahnman's Musings; new readers can read our endorsement post here.

Don't Tax My Credit Union

This will come as a 'shock,' but the same Obama administration that expanded TARP, re-appointed Bernanke, and gave us the Dodd-Frank big bank protection racket, now wants to tax independent credit unions out of existence:



Highlights:

• 96 million Americans use credit unions.

• 40% of Americans are credit union members.

• Only 6% of all financial assets in the United States are in credit unions.

Take action here.

Texas Challenges Dodd-Frank Constitutionality

Austin Business Journal reports that Texas is joining a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Dodd-Frank; money quote:

“Under this law, unelected federal bureaucrats can unilaterally liquidate financial institutions in which the state invests taxpayer dollars,” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a Feb. 13 statement. “The State of Texas could be denied basic due process rights and taxpayers’ dollars could recklessly be put at risk.”

 Read the details of the lawsuit here.

(Full Disclosure: This article was sent to me by Greg Abbott's press secretary.)

Stanley Kurtz: Radical in Chief

With the CSCOPE scandal bringing stealth Marxism back into focus, its worth reviewing Obama's history:



Highlights:

• There were extended periods of Obama's life when he was an open socialist, including a phase as a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary.

• There's a surprisingly long paper trail re: Obama.

• Obama's community organizer pals thought of themselves as socialists, they just didn't say so.

• American socialism changed during Reagan's presidency: "de facto control over the economy from below."
• ie. Community Organizing
• Example: ACORN's role in creating the Housing Bubble.
• Obama's overall strategy.

•  Obama has lived his whole life in 'a thoroughly socialist world."
• Frank Marshall Davis
• Obama was an open Marxist-Leninist revolutionary in college.
• Obama attended socialist scholars conferences in NYC from 1983 to 1985.
• Obama saw himself at the cutting edge of 'resisting Ronald Reagan."

•  Bill Ayres was part of the Chicago Stealth Socialism network.
• Brought Obama onto various education related boards.

•  Chicago school 'reform' was Ayres brainchild.
• Smokescreen for 'community control of government' to move in a long-term socialist direction.
• Taking over via a long term series of local elections.
• Allied with then Chicago mayor Harold Washington.

•  Moving to the suburbs meant 'abandoning' poor minorities in the inner-city.
•  Government programs, not self-improvment.

•  'Socialism from below' is embedded into all sorts of Obama-era legislation (ie. Dodd-Frank)

• Obama wants to have a class-based battle over the Bush tax cuts in 2012.

• Obama's mentors thought that, if class became the primary dividing line in American politics, we'd move towards Socialism.

Republicans (surprisingly easy) path to 60 Senators

One of my pet peeves this election season is that people aren't being aggressive enough in U.S. Senate races.  Of the 33 seats up this cycle, two thirds are held by Democrats.  Of the seats held by Democrats, thirteen are in states that are neither in New England or on the West Coast.

The Republican 'thumpin' of 2006 was six years ago; all those seats are up.

(Author's note: Obviously, this analysis is based on the Republicans holding the seats they currently possess; with the possible exception of the open seat in Maine, they should do that without breaking a sweat.)

Consider the following races:

• Nebraska (open) -- Bob Kerrey vs. Deb Fischer -- Retiring Democrat Ben Nelson was the man behind the infamous Cornhusker Kickback, which gave us Obamacare.  Mitt and Fisher are up 10 in the most recent poll I could find.  Case closed.

• Montana -- Sen. Jon Tester vs. Denny Rehberg -- From the stimulus, to Obamacare, to Dodd-Frank, Jon Tester has voted for every horrific piece of legislation that Obama has signed.  Mitt's up 9 in the most recent poll I could find.  Case closed.

• North Dakota (open) -- Heidi Heitkamp vs. Rick Berg -- This race is similar to the Nebraska race listed above.  Barack Obama is so hated in this state that incumbent Democrat Kent Conrad chose to retire.  This is also a state with a massive oil boom.  Barack Obama, obviously, hates oil.  Mitt's coattails alone should get Berg across the finish line.

• Virginia (open) -- (Former Gov.) Tim Kaine vs. (Former Gov and Sen) George Allen -- In 2006, retiring Sen. Jim Webb barely squeaked by following a manufactured media hit job against (then incumbent Sen.) George Allen.  Furthermore, two years as Barack Obama's DNC chair publicly exposed former Gov. Tim Kaine as a blithering idiot.  In a state where Republicans have been ascendant since Obama took office, and where Mitt is surging, Allen will win.

Keep in mind, with these four easy races, Republicans already have the majority.

• Missouri -- Sen. Claire McCaskill vs. Todd Akin -- Todd Akin can still pull this off; donate here.

This will get Republicans to the majority even if they lose Maine.

•  Wisconsin (open) -- Tammy Baldwin vs. (former Gov. and Bush HHS. Sec'y) Tommy Thompson -- Two words: Scott Walker.  Two more words: Paul Ryan.  Mitt's also surging.

• Ohio -- Sen. Sherrod Brown vs. Josh Mandel -- Sherrod Brown is the most liberal Senator in America (just like Obama).  Josh Mandel is an Iraq vet and a bit of a Wunderkind.  Considering how closely tied Sherrod Brown and Obama are, there will be very few ticket splitters.  Ohio is outperforming the nation economically, and the entire election could come down to whether Ohio voters give Obama or Gov. John Kasich credit.  Republicans seem to be winning that argument.

• Florida -- Sen. Bill Nelson vs. Connie Mack -- Obamacare remains despised in Florida, and Bill Nelson voted for it.  Much like reports of Mark Twain's death, Florida's status as a swing state is greatly exaggerated.  Republicans currently hold every statewide office (except Nelson's) and a massive super-majority in the state legislature.  Connie Mack has a past, but so what?!?  Mitt's gonna win Florida and he'll have coattails.

• Pennsylvania -- Sen. Bob Casey Jr. vs. Tom Smith -- Obama's war on energy development has devastated Pennsylvania.  The Western part of the state, home to the famous 'bitter-clingers,' could swing 80-20 against Obama. Republicans kicked ass in Pennsylvania in 2010 and Tom Smith has been endorsed by DeMint.  Bob Casey is obviously scared.

• West Virginia -- Sen. Joe Manchin vs. John Raese -- Joe Manchin used to be a popular governor.  Then he went to Washington and became a cheap apologist for Obama.  As you read this, Manchin is refusing to cut off foreign aid to Egypt and Libya.  In the Democrat primary, 40% of West Virginia Democrats voted for a convicted felon over Barack Obama.  This is war on coal country.

The Final three seats are longer shots, but they're very winnable.

• Michigan -- Sen. Debbie Stabenow vs. Pete Hoekstra -- Republicans picked up the Governor's seat and a couple U.S. House seats in 2010.  Mitt's within striking distance in the state.  13% undecided.

• Minnesota -- Sen Amy Kloubouchar vs. Kurt Bills -- Minnesota has voted Democrat in every Presidential election since 1976.  That being said, in 2002 Minnesota elected Tim Pawlenty Governor and Norm Coleman to the U.S. Senate.  2012 is going to be a much bigger Republican year than 2002.

• New Mexico (open) -- Martin Heinrich vs. Heather Wilson -- This race is why I really hate Gary Johnson.  Gary Johnson would have been the perfect candidate for this race, but instead he's gone off on his idiotic Presidential campaign.  Instead, we're stuck with uber-RINO Heather Wilson.  Too bad.  New Mexico elected Susana Martinez in 2010.

 Think big people.

On the Bible and Just Economic Policy

"Or unto governments, as unto them are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." 1 Peter 2:14

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all mean are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happieness.  -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men..." United States' Declaration of Independence

"It is perfectly kosher to ask God for money.  If you are comfortable with prayer, go ahead and include a request for prosperity in your prayers.  What you are really asking for is for is the opportunity to serve your fellow human beings....  You can't earn an honest living without pleasing others." Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Thou Shall Prosper, p. 28/33

Yesterday, our pastor gave a sermon that touched on the Biblical precepts for a just civil government.  It included the passage from 1 Peter quoted above.  That got me thinking about bailouts, regulatory policy, and taxation.

According to 1 Peter, the purpose of civil government is to punish evildoers and praise those that do well.  Over the past five (or 100) years, our government has done the opposite.  Since 2007 (or 1913), our government has bailed out the evil and punished the good.

Small and medium scale entrepreneurs are both the lifeblood of our economy and the glue that holds our society together.  Unfortunately, these are the people who the late Bush/Obama administrations have hurt most.  Meanwhile, those firms large enough to afford a large presence in Washington have profited handsomely.

Consider the following examples:

• Bailouts -- I don't want to dwell on this topic, because it's infuriating.  Suffice to say that the one thing that automotive unions, green-energy boondoggles, health insurance companies, public sector unions, and Wall St. banks have in common is a large presence in Washington.  Meanwhile, small businesses are shutting down in near record numbers.

• Regulatory Policy -- There are plenty of examples of capricious regulation enriching the already powerful while impoverishing the entrepreneurial; EPA abuse and Obamacare get the most press.  I, however, want to focus on the 2010 financial reform act, commonly known as Dodd-Frank.  The Dodd-Frank law made too big to fail banks bigger than ever, with more risk than ever, and an implicit bailout guarantee.  That same law, meanwhile, will drive smaller banks banks out of business.  In other words, our government has rewarded the banks that did the most evil with a de facto cartel.

• Taxation -- Much like the bailouts and regulatory abuses discussed above, our tax code punishes righteous entrepreneurs while rewarding those who can afford a Washington presence.

This is not a complete list; I could write a book on this topic, but Sen. Rand Paul already did so.

(Sidenote: A very similar phenomenon exists in the realm of National Security.)

As 1 Peter makes clear, the purpose of government is to praise the righteous and punish evildoers.  As a practical matter, that means protecting our rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, then getting the heck out of the way.  Unfortunately, our current government does the opposite.  That's why we need to dramatically reduce the size, power, and spending of the Federal government, which will free entrepreneurs while making the big boy's Washington connections less valuable.  In addition to being common sense, these policies are grounded in solid Biblical truth.

On Republican "Obstruction"

One of the pieces of tripe I expect the Democrats to push at their convention is the canard that the mean Republicans have obstructed our poor little manchild President.  Bull-crap.  Except for cap-and-trade (*), Barack Obama has gotten every major legislative priority he set.

• Barack Obama got his $800 billion stimulus.

• Barack Obama got Cash for Clunkers.

• Barack Obama got Sonia Sotomayor confirmed to the Supreme Court.

• Barack Obama got his corrupt, destructive, Health Care law.

• Barack Obama got Elena Kagan confirmed to the Supreme Court.

• Barack Obama got his Financial reform law that doesn't do squat to end 'too big to fail'

• Barack Obama got his disastrous arms control treaty with Vladimir Putin.

• Barack Obama got his debt ceiling increase.

• Barack Obama didn't have his war in Libya defunded.

• Barack Obama got his indefinite detention law.

• Barack Obama got his payroll "tax cut" extension.

Republicans haven't obstructed squat.  Obama has accomplished his entire legislative agenda (except cap-and-trade).  The results speak for themselves.

* Even cap-and-trade was killed by Democrats.

35 Undeniable Truths about Barack Obama

35 Undeniable Truths about Barack Obama:

1. On election day 2008, U.S. National Debt was under 70% of GDP.
2. Barack Obama's budget didn't garner a single vote in Congress; two years in a row
3. On election day 2008, unemployment was 6.7%.
4. Solyndra was run by a major Barack Obama fundraiser.
5. Ditto Abound Solar.
6. Ditto Ener1.
7. On the 2008 campaign trail, Barack Obama promised "if you like your current health care, you can keep it."
8. On the 2008 campaign trail, Barack Obama promised "if you make under a quarter million dollars a year, you will not see your taxes increase by one dime; not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains tax.  No tax will go up."
9. Barack Obama's health care law was, according to the Supreme Court, a middle class tax hike.
10. Since Barack Obama signed his health care law, Health Care costs have gone up even faster.
11. Barack Obama expanded George W. Bush's Wall St. bailout.
12. Barack Obama claimed Dodd-Frank would end 'Too big to fail."
13. Barack Obama re-appointed Ben Bernanke.
14. Barack Obama claimed the U.S. southern border is "more secure than ever."
15. Barack Obama subsequently invoked executive privilege on Fast and Furious.
16. Barack Obama hired Eric Holder.
17. Barack Obama launched a major war in Libya without congressional authorization.
18. Barack Obama promised Vladimir Putin (via Medvedev) more 'flexibility' in a second term.
19. Barack Obama has already cut the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
20. Barack Obama's Pentagon called the Ft. Hood jihadist attack "workplace violence."
21. Barack Obama didn't listen to the military in Afghanistan.
22. Barack Obama's administration has leaked national security information, specifically as it relates to sources and methods.
23. Barack Obama wants Israel to return to the Auschwitz Borders.
24. Barack Obama invited Egypt's new Islamist President to the White House.
25. Barack Obama, shortly after banning deep-water drilling in the United States, subsidized it in Brazil.
26. Barack Obama returned the bust of Winston Churchill.
27. Barack Obama was the first U.S. President to EVER back Argentina over the Falklands.
28. Barack Obama chose Joe Biden.
29. Frank Marshall Davis was Barack Obama's mentor.
30. Frank Marshall Davis was a Communist.
31. Barack Obama called the United States' Constitution a "charter of negative liberties."
32. In 1991 Barack Obama claimed to be from Kenya.  He didn't retract that claim until 2007, when he was running for President.  Both claims cannot be true.
33. Before becoming a national figure, Barack Obama worked extensively with Bill Ayers.
34. In 2008, when asked about Ayers, Barack Obama lied.
35. Barack Obama spent 20 years in Jeremiah Wright's Church.

Why Barack Obama Wants Chaos

Barack Obama and the Hard Left are laying a trap for the next President.  Unless the Republican nominee recognizes and prepares for this trap, he risks walking right into it when he assumes office next January.  Barack Obama and the Hard Left are currently sowing chaos that they hope will overwhelm the first year of the next administration in order to entrench the "Fundamental Transformation" he's already got written.

To prepare for this trap, the next President must understand Barack Obama's real agenda.  Barack Obama's actions over the last year reveal a man clearly uninterested in re-election.  For example, Catholics are swing voters in traditional swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida; why would any politician interested in winning an election in those states issue a mandate that offends the deepest moral beliefs of The Catholic Church?!?  Clearly, a politician interested in those states would NEVER take such an action.  Thus, one must conclude Barack Obama is uninterested in re-election.  What, then, is Barack Obama's real agenda?!?

Barack Obama's primary agenda, at this point, is to ensure the legislative changes he has already accomplished go fully into effect.  To secure his fundamental transformation of America, Barack Obama and the Hard Left will sow chaos throughout the United States and the World in 2012.  Expect that chaos to spillover into 2013/14 and the first year of the new administration, regardless of the new President's identity.  Barack Obama and the Hard Left understand that, in American politics, major changes in policy occur almost exclusively in the first year of new Presidential administrations.  Thus, Barack Obama and the Hard Left understand that if the new President spends 2013 reacting to National and Global Chaos, this window for major policy changes can pass without unwinding Obama's previous legislative victories.

Barack Obama's allies in the #Occupy movement have clearly stated their intention to "Recreate [the chaos of 19]68" in 2012.  To understand why recreating 1968 benefits the hard left, one needs to properly understand the events of 1969.  In 1969, Richard Nixon assumed the Presidency following the Biggest Expansion of Government (prior to Obama) in American History.  Nixon's inauguration was followed shortly thereafter by Leftist Campus Takeovers, the Emergence of the Weathermen, Homosexual Attacks on the NYPD, the Manson Murders, and the Marxist-inspired 'Days of Rage.'  Against this backdrop, and a continuing War in Vietnam, conservative efforts to unwind Medicare and the War on Poverty floundered.  From the perspective of the Hard Left, which seeks to expand government and does not particularly care who holds elected office at any given time, 1969 (and Richard Nixon's entire Presidency) was an unqualified victory.

At CPAC 2011, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels said the left "need only play good defense.  The federal spending commitments now in place will bring about the leviathan state they have always sought.   The health care travesty now on the books will engulf private markets and produce a single-payer system or its equivalent, and it won?t take long to happen."  Conservatives MUST remember this fact as we move forward into 2012 and beyond.  Between Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, and Automatic Defense Cuts, Barack Obama's fundamental transformation of America is already law.  During the coming chaos, whether it's in the form of #Occupy Related Violence, Drug Cartel Violence, a shooting war in the Middle East or any other source, the Federal Bureaucracy will continue business as usual.  Under current law, business as usual will entrench Barack Obama's fundamental transformation.  That's one of the reasons we should expect the coming chaos to continue (at least) into 2014 which is, NOT coincidentally, the year Obamacare goes into full effect.

Fortunately, the coming chaos is a surmountable challenge.  The key, for conservatives, is to recognize the coming chaos for what it really is and act accordingly.  That means electing to Congress committed conservatives who will enact conservative legislation NO MATTER WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.

The coming chaos is deliberate, and Barack Obama and the Hard Left are behind it.  Their goal is to distract and confuse the new administration in 2013 the same way the hard left did to Richard Nixon in 1969.  Forewarned is forearmed and, as long as a conservative Congress is willing to move forward no matter what, they will fail....