#NoRePete: Sessions censors First Amendment

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
Ephesians 5:11



[Author's note: We began the audio recording approximately 5 minutes after 7. To find the relevant section of the audio recording, subtract five minutes from the time listed below. Anything in the 8pm hour will appear after the 1 hour mark.]

Highland Park -- On Thursday night, we attended Congressman Pete Sessions' town-hall meeting in Dallas County.

We arrived around 6:30 for the scheduled 7pm event.  We spoke with several members of Congressman Sessions' staff.  After explaining we were with Agendawise, the Congressman's staff suggested a good location to set up our camera and that was that.

Approximately 15 minutes later, we returned with the camera and set it up without incident; we then kept to ourselves for another five minutes.

Around 6:50, we spotted Joseph Wade Miller, a personal friend who works with Heritage Action.  Joesph is a well known critic of Congressman Sessions.  This is when things got more interesting.

After we had spoken with Joseph for a couple minutes, Congressman Sessions press secretary Caroline Boothe (who had been extremely helpful a few minutes earlier) informed this author that it was "against office policy" for anyone to film the town-hall except for members of the Congressman's staff.

Think about that.  The Congressman's staff first suggested a location from which to film, then left us alone for several minutes after the camera had been setup.  They only attempted to shut down filming after they realized that this author was friends with one of their prominent critics.

In a move we shortly came to regret, we decided to play nice and not film.  While the first amendment gives us that right, we weren't in the mood to make a big deal out of it.  Also, we were uncertain if the Texas Open Meetings Act applies to Federal officials.

Shortly after the town-hall began, it became obvious why Congressman Sessions' staff didn't want his boorish, condescending behavior captured for posterity.

Sessions began the town-hall by filibustering over the alleged "student success act" they'll be voting on in D.C. next week.  Sessions attempted to brag about how the bill would consolidate dozens of Federal agencies into one but failed to make a convincing argument when challenged about eliminating the agencies under consideration.  Alice Linahan addresses the federal "student success act" here.

At 7:39, a woman asked Sessions why, given Sessions' record on funding Obamacare and amnesty, he could be trusted to reduce the Federal role in education.  Sessions responded by browbeating the woman over where she'd find funding for a couple of obscure "disability" programs.  The crowd wasn't buying it.

.@PeteSessions tells audience that there are no mandates in HR5, that's states have the authority to opt out of all mandates. #NotTrue #HR5
— Joseph Wade Miller (@J_Wade_Miller) April 10, 2015

.@PeteSessions tells audience that #HR5 is a block grant with zero mandates. #NotTrue
— Joseph Wade Miller (@J_Wade_Miller) April 10, 2015

At 8:01, Sessions attempted to cast Bohener's re-election as speaker as old news; in an unintentionally prophetic moment, he mentioned that there would be another election in 2017.

.@PeteSessions "You are darn right I'm a Boehner guy", to audience in Dallas.
— Joseph Wade Miller (@J_Wade_Miller) April 10, 2015

At 8:21, local activist (and friend of this website) Ken Emmanuelson asked Sessions another question about Obamacare.  Sessions grew testy while overselling the alleged benefits of sequestration.  He even attempted to claim you couldn't defund Obamacare:

.@PeteSessions tells audience that neither Obama's amnesty nor Obamacare can be defunded if mandatory $, as a technical action #NotTrue
— Joseph Wade Miller (@J_Wade_Miller) April 10, 2015

After Emmanuelson's question, Sessions was asked about the Export-Import bank; while Sessions made several excuses for the 'work' of the bank, he agreed to defer to whatever (documented Ex-Im opponent) Jeb Hensarling decides.

After an hour and a half of this rigmarole, we grew tired and hungry and had stopped paying attention when another flare-up occurred over procedural rules:

.@PeteSessions states that there have been no actual 72 hour rule violations. This is factually incorrect. #NotTrue
— Joseph Wade Miller (@J_Wade_Miller) April 10, 2015

Boorish condescension is an unattractive trait in an elected official.  At his town-hall meeting Thursday night, Congressman Pete Sessions demonstrated it in abundance.  No wonder his staff didn't let us film the meeting.

Stickland channels Cruz

Hurst, TX -- In front of a packed house of 400 people, tonight's HD-92 debate between conservative incumbent Jonathan Stickland and educational bureaucrat Andy Cargile was a one-sided affair similar to the 2012 U.S. Senate race.

Stickland delivered a crisp and energetic performance worthy of Ted Cruz.  Speaking without notes or prepared remarks, Stickland explained how he went to Austin to fight the liberal agenda and "I did exactly what I said I'd do."  It was obvious why the business as usual crowd in Austin hates his guts.

Playing Dewhurst to Stickland's Ted Cruz was the befuddled, ill-prepared, and poorly-informed Andy Cargile.  Cargile opened the debate by drawing a bizarre comparison between Stickland and Barack Obama: "when you get a lot of words and no action, you get Barack Obama."  Cargile's statement ignores the fact that from Obamacare to an illegal and unconstitutional War in Libya to countless other examples, Obama has delivered plenty of action (none of it good).

Cargile's strangest moment in the debate was his assertion, during the discussion of immigration, that there are no sanctuary cities in Texas.  Stickland politely reminded Cargile that both Austin and Lewisville are sanctuary cities (he didn't mention Houston).  That Cargile didn't know such a basic fact speaks volumes.

The most telling contrast was each's description of his view of his role as a legislator.  Cargile called a seat in the Texas House "the next step" in his career.  Speaking second, Stickland pounced: "I don't define myself by my position" as a member of the legislature.

Another illuminating moment was the discussion about a more rational policy towards low-level marijuana offenses.  Cargile embraced prohibition with a Joe Biden-esque level of zeal.  Cargile attacked Stickland for voting against a bill last session that would ban so-called "synthetic" Marijuana.  In his well-informed response, Stickland rejected the premise of the legislation and simultaneously explained that the legislation in question would have criminalized a plant that grows naturally on the grounds of the Texas capitol.

Tonight's debate wasn't close.  Stickland delivered a sharp performance similar to Ted Cruz.  Cargile was fumbling at best.  By the end, a quarter of Cargile's supporters were quietly applauding Stickland.  If this was a Little League game, they would have invoked the mercy rule after ten minutes.

Sleeper U.S. House Race in Northwest Texas

Granbury, TX -- Cahnman's Musings was in town to cover the packed Texas House candidate forum between 9-term incumbent (Joe Straus lieutenant) Jim Keffer and grassroots challenger Cullen Crisp.  It's not a secret that Jim Keffer is in trouble.  The Texas House forum was similar to other events this cycle.  Crisp hit Keffer for increasing spending by 26% and Keffer made the usual excuses.  The real story, however, was the U.S. House forum that took place immediately prior.

5-term incumbent Michael Conaway is a George W. Bush crony from West Texas.  His opponent, Wade Brown, currently serves as an officer in the United States' Marine Corps reserve.  Brown is taking his second shot at Conaway, having waged an unsuccessful campaign in 2012.

Brown hit Conaway for his vote in favor of TARP in 2008 and several other atrocious pieces of legislation in the ensuing years.  Conaway made the same excuses D.C. Republicans always make.  As a point of comparison, Conaway's voting record is very similar to John Cornyn.

Brown, by contrast, offered a detailed plan to force Obama and Harry Reid to negotiate.  Brown's plan begins with across the board spending cuts to every line item of the Federal Budget and increases the political pain on Democrats from there.  In the event that Democrats refuse to negotiate, Wade Brown is willing to shut down the Federal Government indefinitely.

Brown hammered U.S. House Republicans, led by John Bohener, for their failure to stop Obama's illegal and unconstitutional war in Libya.  The Constitution and Federal law make clear that the President DOES NOT have the authority to commit American armed forces to a major conflict absent Congressional authorization.  Unfortunately, Republicans under John Bohener failed to stop Obama's war in Libya, and Benghazi was the result.

The candidates also clashed over John Bohener's "leadership" (or lack thereof).  Conaway said "Bohener's doing a good job."  Brown said Bohener "led the House the wrong way" and that "I'm not going to sacrifice my vote for the home team."

This is an interesting race.  It's not on anyone's radar screen outside the district.  Based on the crowd reaction in the packed room, however, it's obvious where the energy in this race lies.  While Brown's campaign is severely underfunded, Conaway's nervousness was palpable.  Keep an eye on CD-11 March 4th.

-----

We went out to lunch with some local Tea Party leaders after the forum.  We interviewed Wade Brown at lunch.  This is our interview:



-----

Visit Wade's website here; donate to his campaign here.

Austin Church Honors Pastor Martyred in Benghazi

From the Southern Baptist Texan:

AUSTIN—Ronnie Smith and his family moved to Benghazi, Libya, 18 months ago so he could teach chemistry at the International School Benghazi, sensing God's call to be a light in a war-weary land. But on Dec. 5 while jogging, Smith was shot multiple times by perpetrators yet to be captured or claim responsibility for the attack. 

Friends, students and fellow teachers in Libya and the U.S. were stunned by the sudden loss. Some despaired at the apparent meaninglessness of the murder while others voiced hope in God's providence. 

Ahmed @Criminimed posted on Twitter following the shooting: "He left his wife, his son and his country to come to Libya and help our kids get better education and we rewarded him with [sic] bullet." 

The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin in a prepared statement, however, noted: "Although we grieve because we have lost a friend, a husband, and a father, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has a greater purpose than we can imagine right now." Smith was an Austin Stone member as is his wife Anita. 

The church held a private memorial service for Smith on Monday (Dec. 9). Smith served as an associate pastor at Austin Stone for four years prior to the family's move to Libya. But his desire to serve others drew the 33-year-old to share the gospel with an unpredictable yet lovable people.

....

So why would a young father and husband move his family to such a place? Barrett sent The TEXAN a link to Smith's video response. He had obviously given the question plenty of consideration before leaving. 

"If there is any single person in the entire universe that you can take a chance on, it's God," Smith said. 

Yielding to God's call to go to unfamiliar and potentially dangerous places goes hand-in-hand with a commitment to follow Christ, several Austin pastors told the TEXAN. Though they did not know him, they said his faith was evident in his obedience and his death a cause for reflection. 

"God may be calling us to go some places—not places we'd pick to live," said Rod Minor, pastor of Anderson Mills Baptist Church in Austin. 

Minor was preparing a sermon on circumstances of Jesus' upbringing as he considered the Smith family's call to Libya. Nazareth was not a pretty place to live, Minor said, noting that Jesus was derided for being from a "less than desirable" town.

.... 

Christians may be at odds with the cultural milieu of an uber-liberal city whose motto is "Keep Austin Weird," Rush said, but churches like Austin Stone are proactively engaging the community, seeking to bless others as a means to an end—sharing the uncompromising Gospel of Christ.

Read the whole thing here.

On Syria -- An Open Letter to George W. Bush

Dear Mr. President,

I hope retirement is treating you well.  How are Laura and the girls?!?  41's internet sock phenomenon was awesome.

I'm writing today because, with Syria in the news, people are talking about you.

James Carville:

You know, what I would say and maybe a little bit of a different view here. I think what really is freaking people out is the incompetence of the Bush administration in Iraq.

Sgt. Schultz on MSNBC:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Best of all was Timothy Egan in the New York Times:

Blame Bush? Of course, President Obama has to lead; it’s his superpower now, his armies to move, his stage. But the prior president gave every world leader, every member of Congress a reason to keep the dogs of war on a leash. The isolationists in the Republican Party are a direct result of the Bush foreign policy. A war-weary public that can turn an eye from children being gassed — or express doubt that it happened — is another poisoned fruit of the Bush years. And for the nearly 200 members of both houses of Congress who voted on the Iraq war in 2002 and are still in office and facing a vote this month, Bush shadows them like Scrooge’s ghost.

Mr. President, thank you for keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr. President, thank you for disappearing for 12 hours while a(n) CIA Weapons Depot American Consulate was attacked and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr President, thank you for overthrowing Mubarak, and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr. President, thank you for ignoring the Iranian Green Revolution and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr. President, thank you for delivering a timetable to our enemies in Afghanistan and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Since you control events, Mr. President, America owes you a debt for slowing down Obama's war in Syria.

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
September 7, 2013

P.S. Next time you talk to Roger, make sure you tell him to vote NO on Syria.

Pray for Obama (or at least his physical safety)

Today, someone made an insane comment on Facebook that I pray doesn't reflect a deeper sentiment of those upset over the results from Tuesday.

I'm not going to repeat the comment; suffice to say it would leave Barack Obama in similar circumstances as Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John Kennedy.

That's not cool, even as a joke.

The United States Declaration of Independence states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these LIFE, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."  Notice how life comes first.  If those words apply to children in the womb, they certainly apply to the sitting President.

Here's the other thing: from a crassly political perspective, could anything be a bigger disaster for Conservatism than turning Barack Obama into a martyr?!?  Barack Obama will begin his second term in the face of a growing scandal in Libya, a very interesting TARP lawsuit, and continued inquiry over Fast and Furious.  Presidential second terms tend to be disastrous for re-elected Presidents, could you do anything stupider than turning Barack Obama into a martyr?!?

John Kennedy was one of the great frauds of American History.  John Kennedy's weakness in the Bay of Pigs and Vienna blundered us directly into the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam.  Unfortunately, no one remembers John Kennedy as the pill-popping intern rapist because he's considered a martyr.

These thoughts are evil, banish them from your mind.

Libya vs. Hurricane Sandy; our Backwards Government

Today, Obama came off the campaign trail to mug for the cameras monitor the hurricane; I find the whole spectacle insulting.

Natural disasters aren't part of the President's Job Description, unlike being Commander-in-Chief.

This Benghazi story keeps getting worse, but Obama's monitoring the storm!!!

This contrast encapsulates a deeper truth about the Federal Government, best described by Governor Rick Perry in the book Fed Up:

because the Federal Government has inserted itself into so many domestic responsibilities entrusted by the Founders to the States, it can no longer focus on the very duties assigned to it under the Constitution. (115)

We still have a long road in front of us, but next Tuesday cannot come quickly enough.

Who is Ansar al Sharia?!?

 
Highlights:

• There are at least 5000 missing surface to air missiles in Libya today

•  If there were to be another 9/11 (the first one) style attack today, we wouldn't know who did it.

• Drone strikes are very possible in Libya

•  There's currently a power vacuum across North Africa.

• The number of groups we're facing has increased geometrically since 9/11 (the first one).

Why did Candy Crowley have the transcript?!?

This is a great question:


(h/t Engage America)

An Open Letter to 2008 Obama Voters

Hi,

You don't know me.  I live in Texas.  In 2008, I voted for Sarah Palin.

 I don't know why you voted for Obama in 2008 and, honestly, I don't care.  What I do know is that a good number of you have soured on the man.  You might not be sold on Mitt, but I want to make sure you understand your options.

It's ok to stay home.

Let's face facts: it hasn't worked.  Our national debt is bigger than our GDP.  Unemployment is persistently high, even though the Obama administration is cooking the books.  Obama forced through a corrupt Health Care law against the will of the American People.  Our border is on fire.  Our embassies are being attacked overseas and Obama continues to lie about it.  But maybe you're not (yet) comfortable with Mitt.

That's fine; it's ok to stay home.

Personally, I think Mitt is different from George W. Bush.  I think Mitt will listen to the American people in a way George W. Bush never did.  You might not.

That's fine; it's ok to stay home.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to earn your vote.  I'd prefer to earn your vote.  In order to make the changes America needs, Mitt needs to win as big of a landslide as possible.  But I'm also realistic enough to understand that you might not be convinced in the next 19 days.  In that contingency, I want you to understand your options.

It's ok to stay home.

My only request is that you pay attention after Mitt takes office.  After Mitt takes office, you will see meaningful tax simplification, meaningful spending cuts, and meaningful changes abroad.  While I'd love you to vote for Mitt, I know it might be impossible to convince you in the final 19 days.

It's ok to stay home.

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
October 18, 2012

Mitt's good, but not great, National Security speech

Mitt spoke about National Security today in Virginia:

Highlights:

• The attacks against us in Libya were not an isolated incident.
• A larger struggle is playing out across the Middle East.
• The 9/11/12 attacks were committed by folks aligned with the folks who pulled off 9/11/01.
• Iran has never been closer to nukes, more emboldened, or less deterred than it is now.
• Hits Obama had for squandering our victory in Iraq.
• Mitt thinks Turkey is an American ally; it's not.
• FREE TRADE IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF OUR STRATEGY.
• The first purpose of a strong military is to prevent war.
• No flexibility for Vladimir Putin.
• Endorses Palestinian State (barf!)

Bottom Line: On the biggest issues of Peace through Strength, Trade, Iran, Russia, and standing up for our friends, Mitt did a really good job.  Unfortunately, the strong parts of the speech were mixed in with too much George W. Bush style "freedom agenda" talk.  That being said, the strong parts of the speech are solid, and I think, over time, conservatives can disabuse Mitt of the notion that greater 'democracy' (ie. Sharia) in the Middle East is an American interest.

A 'Global Test' for Obama's Corrupt Media

The past few days, one of the excuses Obama's corrupt media has offered to explain Obama's debate backside-kicking is that John Kerry won the first debate in 2004.

There's just one problem with that narrative: it's not true.

The first debate in 2004 was the one where John Kerry uttered his infamous 'Global Test' comment; in response to a question about approving pre-emptive military action, John Kerry said he would do so only if said action:

passes the global test where...you can prove to the world that you did it for legitimate reasons.

Translated into English from bullcrap, that means giving France and the UN Security Council a veto over U.S. Military action.

(Sidenote: That's exactly what Obama did in Libya)

Global test was the biggest takeaway from that debate, and the Bush campaign ripped Kerry on it for the next month.

With all due respect to Obama's corrupt media, Big Bird is no global test; try again.

#WAR

Obama Administration Continues to Leak Sensitive Information to the New York Times

Today, I was on the bus home from work when I saw a paper copy of today's New York Times; the following headline was blared across the front page:

U.S IS TRACKING KILLERS IN ATTACK ON LIBYA MISSION...PREPARING RETALIATION...Secret Teams Focusing on Militant Group, Officials Say

The article, which details the planned retaliation against Libyan targets, reveals a stunning amount of detailed information to the enemy about U.S. sources and methods.

First Paragraph:

The United States is laying the groundwork for operations to kill or capture militants implicated in the deadly attack on a diplomatic mission in Libya, senior military and counterterrorism officials said Tuesday.

 Second Paragraph:

The top-secret Joint Special Operations Command is compiling so-called target packages of detailed information about the suspects, officials said....[T]he command is preparing the dossiers as the first step in anticipation of possible orders from President Obama...

 Third Paragraph:

Potential military options could include drone strikes, Special Operations raids like the one that killed Osama [sic] bin Laden, and joint missions with Libyan authorities.

 Eleventh Paragraph:

Both American counterterrorism officials and Benghazi residents are increasingly  focused on the local militant group Ansar al Shariah [sic] as the main force behind the attack.

Twelfth Paragraph:

In the hours after the Benghazi attack, the American official said, spy agencies intercepted electronic communications from Ansar al Shariah fighters....Another intercept captured cellphone conversations by militants on the grounds of the smoldering American Mission in Benghazi...

Twenty-First Paragraph:

Moving ahead with a roster of potential targets, the military planners in Washington started by culling pre-existing lists of suspects that are continuously updated by the Joint Special Operations Command and the C.I.A.

 Twenty-Second Paragraph:

American officials say that since the Benghazi attack, Special Operations planners have sharply increased their efforts to track the location and gather information on several members of Ansar al Shariah as well as other militants with ties to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Twenty-Third Paragraph:

But military and counterterrorism officials said that Libyan authorities has helped by at least identifying suspected assailants based on witness accounts, video and other paragraphs from the scene.

Twenty-Fourth Paragraph:

"They are putting together information on where these individuals live, who their family members and their associates are, and their entire pattern of life," said one American official briefed on the planning.

 Twenty-Fifth Paragraph:

And to help prioritize which militants to watch, the Pentagon has stepped up its use of surveillance drones flying over eastern Libya, collecting electronic intercepts, imagery and other information that could help planners compile their target lists.

This is outrageous.  The Obama national security team  continues to leak detailed information about sources and methods that any terrorist with a 56k modem can read.  Bob Gates said it best.

Debate Review: Ted Cruz vs Some Democrat Buffoon

Tonight, Ted Cruz debated his Democrat opponent Paul Sadler in the Texas U.S. Senate debate.  It wasn't close.  Paul Sadler is a buffoon and Ted wiped the floor with him.

The debate opened with Sadler attacking Ted for not agreeing to debate him six times over the month of October.  Sadler could have scored a cheap point on Ted and moved on, but instead chose to harangue Ted for the first five minutes of the debate over some alleged refusal to debate Sadler.  Ted finally shut Sadler down, telling him: "We are sitting here right now; you can launch every attack you want at me, right here on television."

It got worse from there.

After refusing to tell the audience how much money he had raised, Sadler moved on to asking Ted whether or not Ted considers Barack Obama to be a Christian.  Ted handled himself with class, where I would have been tempted to tell Sadler that I believe Obama worships himself, not God.

The debate discussed the economy, national security, Obamacare, and immigration.  If you followed Ted's primary, you know where he stands on these issues.  Ted explained his positions with the same clarity and common sense that got him elected in the first place.  Sadler, in addition to being incredibly left-wing, was shockingly ill-informed.  For example, in a discussion of Rand Paul's effort to halt foreign aid to Egypt and Libya, Sadler said: "if we don't stay involved in those governments, then Russia, China, those other countries will."  Sadler apparently was unaware that this is already happening; countries that hate America's guts will work together to undermine the United States no matter what we do.  That's no reason for American taxpayers to subsidize their activity.

On a personal note, I'm 99% sure I met Paul Sadler in a bar last year.  While I cannot be certain, the guy I was talking had similar body language and speech patterns to Sadler.  That guy also tried to pin me down on the "do you think Obama's a Christian" question. Again, I cannot be certain I was talking with Paul Sadler, but I strongly suspect so.  Either way, the guy I was talking to had some Occupy Wall St-esque things to say about how Jews control the banking system that I wouldn't put past the guy I saw on stage tonight.

 Ted Cruz was already going to win this race by twenty points; after tonight, he may win by fifty.

Glenn's Hypothesis: What's REALLY happening in Libya

Yesterday, Glenn Beck outlined a hypothesis he has about the 'embassy' attack in Libya, it's chilling and needs more exposure:


Highlights -- What we know:

• What do we know about Benghazi?!?  It's VERY dangerous and an ambassador would NEVER go in there without a major security detail.  This guy didn't.

• The CIA will look for missing weapons (like the one we gave the Libyan rebels last year) under state department cover.

• During the uprising, we armed Al Qaeda in Bengazhi.

• If you knew everything was about to spin out of control, you'd want to remove any sign of American involvement.

• No actual ambassador would go into Bengazhi in an unarmored vehicle.

Speculation 

• This wasn't a consulate, this was a safe house.

Who called it?!?

Having established this forum almost eight months ago, I'd like to review some of my calls in that time:

• Barack Obama's strategic objectives.

• Ted Cruz will win the U.S. Senate race.

• Obama wants chaos.

• Treyvon Martin was a hoax.

• Why Obama REALLY needs his political base.

• Legacy Media lied about the new Libyan government.

• Barack Obama ended Julian Castro's career.

• Erick Stackelbeck on Global Terror Trends.

• Democrats will overreact to Todd Akin.

• Sending Kira Davis to Charlotte.

• Obama's admin will attempt to release the Blind Sheikh.

Not a bad record; I've got a few others that I'm pretty sure will materialize in early November!!!

The Totally Awesome Movie Preview that 'caused' the Egyptian Embassy Attack

By now, I'm sure you've heard about the embassy attacks in Egypt and Libya; here's the film trailer that they were talking about:

AWESOME!!!

(h/t The Blaze)

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.

Paul Ryan on National Security

Over the past month, I've had a lot of positive things to say about Mitt's approach to national security.  That's good, because Paul Ryan's national security positions are unspecific and vague.  On national security, Paul Ryan is a blank slate.

In looking into Paul Ryan's record on national security issues I was amazed at it's thinness, especially for someone who has been in Congress for a decade and a half.  Paul Ryan supports standard Republican boilerplate on Afghanistan, he voted for some sanctions against Iran, and he opposed cutting and running in Iraq five years ago.  That being said, Paul Ryan has maintained remarkable silence on many national security issues, from border security, to domestic Islamic subversion, to Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Paul Ryan does deserve credit, however, for his position on Obama's War in Libya.  Last year, Paul Ryan said:

"[Obama] didn't go to Congress, didn't ask for authority, the leading from behind strategy at NATO I think was very strange, and I don't think they had a mission well defined.

This is important, because it demonstrates that Paul Ryan understands that the issue of Congressional approval supersedes any discussion of the merits or demerits of the policy.

I had hoped Mitt would pick Alan West or Michele Bachmann, both of whom have demonstrated national security leadership in the past year.  That obviously didn't happen.  Paul Ryan's addition to the ticket tells us nothing about the national security policies of a Romney/Ryan administration.

Bottom Line: Paul Ryan is a blank slate on National Security.  Unlike Barack Obama and Joe Biden, however, neither Mitt Romney nor Paul Ryan is actively committing treason against the United States.  That's good enough.

Update: John Bolton on this topic.