A great deal has been made lately about members of the Tea Party Movement and what they represent.
The Left wing political and media organizations, in an effort to further their own political ambitions, have sought to portray the Tea Party Movement as being either violent, dangerous, racist or a combination thereof.
WHAT THEY ARE NOT
Contrary to widespread media reports, they are not racist. Earlier in the year, the left wing media was quick to run stories that members of the Tea Party movement, while protesting the passage of the health care bill shouted the incendiary “N” word at Rep. John Lewis of Georgia and others as they were walking to the U.S. Capitol for a vote. It was also reported that Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver was spat upon during this same time. Scores of video from the event clearly show neither incident happened. If you listen to the video tape carefully, you can hear shouts of “Traitor”, but nothing as vicious and hateful as the left would have you to believe.
Even Rep. Cleaver distanced himself from his earlier saliva-flying allegations a few days later.
They are not dangerous. Nor have they committed any acts of domestic terrorism. As hard as they tried, and as much as they wished, liberals like New York city Mayor Michael Bloomberg could not link the Times Square bombing attempt to any member of any Tea Party organization.
Left wing MSNBC news anchor Contessa Brewer was crestfallen when the bomber turned out to be a Muslim man of Middle Eastern decent. She was quoted as saying, “There was part of me that was hoping this was not going to be anybody with ties to any kind of Islamic country”. Ms. Brewer should explain who she was hoping would be responsible for this cowardly deed. I suspect she was hoping it was someone like the white, balding, middle-aged man initially indentified in the grainy surveillance video.
WHAT THE ARE
If you take a closer look at the movement, you will see that what binds them together, however loosely, is their distain for big government policies. The passage of healthcare reform, bailouts for Wall Street, automakers, banks and insurance companies and deficit spending have all caused people to take to the streets in protest to say, “Enough is enough! No more!”.
Examined further, you will see that the majority of Tea Party members, outside of exercising their right to vote, have never before been politically active. In the past, they haven’t actively campaigned for or against any candidate or cause, donated to political parties or campaigns or joined any political organization. What draws them to the Tea Party Movement is that they are fed up. They are fed up with legislators in D.C. who they feel are not listening to them and are not voting in a way that represents their positions and interests. They are fed up with their representatives being beholden not to them, but to the likes of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Leader Harry Reid and President Obama. They are fed up with being ignored, taken for granted, and cast aside in favor of the political agendas and concerns of special interest groups.
SIDEBAR
In the book soon to be released by Jonathan Alter entitled, “The Promise: President Obama, Year One”, President Obama uses the word “Tea-bagger”. While I will not explain what it means here, I will say that it is vulgar, offensive and has no place in the realm of public discourse. President Obama should issue an apology for referencing such vulgarity.
END SIDEBAR
With the 2010 election season in full swing, politicians are very nervous about the participation of members who align themselves with the Tea Party movement. They should be. What the movement has illustrated is that politicians can no longer continue to vote for big government spending projects, unfunded mandates and continue to put the needs of special interest groups ahead of those of hard- working, tax-paying, middle-class families. If they continue, they do so at their own political peril.
Sen. Robert Bennett of Utah recently found this out the hard way when he lost his party’s nomination at the Republican state convention. At the heart of his troubles was his support for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and his canoodling with liberal Senator Ron Wyden on healthcare.
When asked if he was the first victim of the Tea Party movement, Sen. Bennett responded, “I don’t know.” Well, Sen. Bennett, the answer is “Yes”. However, you can take solace in knowing that you won’t be alone. As the primary season moves forward into the general election, the number of victims ousted by those who are fed up and have had enough will continue to grow.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Arizona’s Law Toward Illegal Immigrants
The Governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer recently signed into law SB1070 that makes it a crime to be present in the state of Arizona without the proper legal status. This has gotten people worked up into a lather with the old familiar cries of racism.
Arizona, like many states on our Southern border has a problem. The problem lies with the Federal government, which has abdicated its responsibility for stringent control of our borders. Before the Obama administration puts forth a comprehensive immigration reform plan, it needs to tackle securing our borders. Once that is done, then the focus needs to be on what to do with the millions of the illegal aliens in this country.
While I am for giving illegal aliens the opportunity to become legal permanent residents and eventually U.S. citizens, this must be done in a way that is systematic and reasonable. Above all, it needs to be fair to all those who have obeyed U.S. laws and followed procedures to come to this country legally. It serves no good purpose to reward millions of illegal aliens who have already broken our laws by crossing our borders without permission by bestowing them with permanent status. If the prospect of being in the U.S. is so enticing that one is willing to sneak over the border under the cover of darkness, risking life and limb, than surely the benefits of coming to this country and obtaining legitimate, legal status is worth a sacrifice.
So, to those who call Arizona’s new law racist, I ask you, how is it racist to enforce the laws that are already enacted? Arizona makes it a crime to be present in the state of Arizona without the proper legal status. Federal law also declares it a crime to be present in this country without proper legal status. When we start enforcing Federal laws on immigration, states like Arizona won’t need to take matters into their own hands.
___________________________________________________
I obtained the following from a friend of a friend. I think it’s rather telling about how lax immigration policy really is in this country.
Border Rights
If you cross the North Korean Border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor.
If you cross the Iranian border illegally, you get detained forever.
If you cross the Afghan border illegally, you get shot.
If you cross the Saudi Arabian border illegally, you will be jailed.
If you cross the Chinese border illegally, you may never be heard from again.
If you cross the Venezuelan border illegally, you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed.
If you cross the Cuban border illegally, you will be thrown into political prison to rot.
If you cross the U.S. border illegally, you get
1. A job.
2. A driver’s license.
3. A Social Security card.
4. Welfare.
5. Food Stamps.
6. Credit Cards.
7. Subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house.
8. Free education.
9. Free healthcare.
10. A lobbyist in Washington.
11. Billions of dollars worth of documents printed in your language.
12. And the right to carry your country’s flag while protesting that you don’t get enough respect.
Did I miss anything?
Arizona, like many states on our Southern border has a problem. The problem lies with the Federal government, which has abdicated its responsibility for stringent control of our borders. Before the Obama administration puts forth a comprehensive immigration reform plan, it needs to tackle securing our borders. Once that is done, then the focus needs to be on what to do with the millions of the illegal aliens in this country.
While I am for giving illegal aliens the opportunity to become legal permanent residents and eventually U.S. citizens, this must be done in a way that is systematic and reasonable. Above all, it needs to be fair to all those who have obeyed U.S. laws and followed procedures to come to this country legally. It serves no good purpose to reward millions of illegal aliens who have already broken our laws by crossing our borders without permission by bestowing them with permanent status. If the prospect of being in the U.S. is so enticing that one is willing to sneak over the border under the cover of darkness, risking life and limb, than surely the benefits of coming to this country and obtaining legitimate, legal status is worth a sacrifice.
So, to those who call Arizona’s new law racist, I ask you, how is it racist to enforce the laws that are already enacted? Arizona makes it a crime to be present in the state of Arizona without the proper legal status. Federal law also declares it a crime to be present in this country without proper legal status. When we start enforcing Federal laws on immigration, states like Arizona won’t need to take matters into their own hands.
___________________________________________________
I obtained the following from a friend of a friend. I think it’s rather telling about how lax immigration policy really is in this country.
Border Rights
If you cross the North Korean Border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor.
If you cross the Iranian border illegally, you get detained forever.
If you cross the Afghan border illegally, you get shot.
If you cross the Saudi Arabian border illegally, you will be jailed.
If you cross the Chinese border illegally, you may never be heard from again.
If you cross the Venezuelan border illegally, you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed.
If you cross the Cuban border illegally, you will be thrown into political prison to rot.
If you cross the U.S. border illegally, you get
1. A job.
2. A driver’s license.
3. A Social Security card.
4. Welfare.
5. Food Stamps.
6. Credit Cards.
7. Subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house.
8. Free education.
9. Free healthcare.
10. A lobbyist in Washington.
11. Billions of dollars worth of documents printed in your language.
12. And the right to carry your country’s flag while protesting that you don’t get enough respect.
Did I miss anything?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Greece’s Economic Woes
All hell is breaking out in Greece right now. America can learn a lesson about spending and entitlements from what's taking place in Europe. The dire situation of Greece’s financial meltdown proves that extensive programs and payouts will cause any economy to collapse.
Even healthy economies can not sustain long term social entitlement schemes. Economies are cyclical. At some point, even a robust economy is going to take a downward turn. Debt loads will increase and revenues will decrease. And then, something has to give. The Greeks are in the unenviable position of having to reduce services and raise taxes across the board. This new policy will have an effect on everyone. Clearly, the citizens who are the angriest are those who have benefited the most from the system.
When will people learn that government, any government but particularly quasi-Socialist governments like Greece, Spain, Portugal, and the UK can not be all things to all people in full support of cradle to grave entitlements?
The US would do well to put the breaks on spending and Federal entitlement programs right now before we find ourselves in Greece’s position.
And another thing, if comprehensive immigration passes, we will hastily find ourselves hurling toward bankruptcy. Our economy, as fragile as it is at this juncture, cannot support millions of newly minted citizens who now think, more than ever, that they are due some privileges from the government. I give you California as a case in point.
Even healthy economies can not sustain long term social entitlement schemes. Economies are cyclical. At some point, even a robust economy is going to take a downward turn. Debt loads will increase and revenues will decrease. And then, something has to give. The Greeks are in the unenviable position of having to reduce services and raise taxes across the board. This new policy will have an effect on everyone. Clearly, the citizens who are the angriest are those who have benefited the most from the system.
When will people learn that government, any government but particularly quasi-Socialist governments like Greece, Spain, Portugal, and the UK can not be all things to all people in full support of cradle to grave entitlements?
The US would do well to put the breaks on spending and Federal entitlement programs right now before we find ourselves in Greece’s position.
And another thing, if comprehensive immigration passes, we will hastily find ourselves hurling toward bankruptcy. Our economy, as fragile as it is at this juncture, cannot support millions of newly minted citizens who now think, more than ever, that they are due some privileges from the government. I give you California as a case in point.
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