Blog Archives
If I were Speaker of the House…
I would issue an ultimatum to President Obama. First, Mr. President, we need to stop spending on wasteful programs, and we can do this by eliminating some unnecessary departments by giving control back to the states. We don’t need the Department of Education, as the states can do more by regulating their own education system and increasing teaching standards, etc. Another department to eliminate would be the Environmental Protection Agency. Once again, the states can handle the regulating the environmental standards. (Oh boy, I am waiting for BSC responses from this idea or those calling me out for such a ludicrous idea.)
If you eliminated the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency, you would save a total of $78.5 billion (Source: U.S. Dept. of Education and EPA Budget). This would bring more money back to help the deficit.
Perhaps, it is time for the President to consider the solution at hand here. Unfortunately, I know this is not going to fly, since President Obama and the Democrats in Congress believe in expanding the size of government without thinking about the costs that come with the decision. At this point, no deals are being made, so I think we should head towards default. I mean we are headed that way regardless of what Congress or President Obama says in a flashy press conference or not.
Herman Cain Doesn't Deserve Your Vote and here's why…
Since Herman Cain has opened up his Presidential Exploratory Committee, he has been making his rounds to explain why he should be elected as our Commander-in-Chief. Of course, he is conservative, attacks President Obama, and says all the things that people say he should, but when it comes to the Federal Reserve, we have differing opinions. Just listen to Cain’s comments:
Granted, we are all entitled to our opinions, but Cain lost my support with his attacks on the End the Fed movement. The Federal Reserve needs serious reforms, and by allowing an End the Fed movement to push through, it will allow Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over monetary policy.
The Palin Effect: A New Feminist Movement on the Right
With Sarah Palin’s rise to power over the past two years, there has been a rise in female Republican candidates seeking office, along with more females becoming active in political affairs. Could it be that we have a new feminist movement on the right?
According to a recent editorial by Dana Loesch in The Washington Examiner, the feminists are infuriated over Sarah Palin being considered a feminist. Ah, the notion of someone from the right being considered a feminist…wow, who would have thought that this would make the feminists angered. As Loesch discusses in her piece, feminism is no longer escaping patriarchy, rather it has become a movement that ties women to a political party, whose policies negatively impact women. This is the truth.
Loesch goes on to highlight many issues, where the liberal feminists have shown their hypocritical stripes, but it was her last comment that struck a chord:
Conservative women are active because the liberal idea of feminism has failed. An entire generation of berated men have been hog-tied by the chick card, and conservative women are tired of the liberal stereotype that they’re all simpletons who only raise their voices to sing in church.
Conservative women are rebelling against this false advocacy used as a political ploy to tether women to The Man.
Say hello to conservative feminism.
Conservative feminism actually stands up for working women and stay-at-home moms by advocating for common sense policies. This movement is not going away anytime soon and will continue to grow.
Adios Liberal Feminism…it’s been nice seeing how your radical views have detracted from the issues you championed over the years.
Is this Teacher a Paid Political Operative?
Recently, the Fairfax Education Association held a press conference to discuss the budget. Also, on the agenda was discussion of the 41st House District, and one of those speaking was a teacher and FEA member who spoke out against Kerry Bolognese and his positions being tailored to score political points. This teacher might have had an interesting past…go figure!
Wilder: Time for a Shakeup
In a recent Politico op-ed, former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder suggested that President Obama needs a staff shakeup to help the President accomplish his goals. He also criticized former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine’s job as DNC Chair.
“I am an admirer of Tim Kaine, whom I backed in his current position and as one of my successors as Virginia governor and even recommended for the vice presidency. But a spate of recent losses in races that Democrats should have won underscores what has been obvious to me for a long time: The chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee is the wrong job for him.”
OUCH! I thought it was too soon for this call. I mean after the gubernatorial losses in New Jersey and Virginia, and Martha Coakley losing the Senate race in Massachusetts, one could have assumed the calls for Kaine’s head would be in the pipeline. Actually, it would be great if Obama keeps Kaine in charge of things at the DNC and focus on ridding himself of others in his Administration.
Stay Tuned for State of the Union Updates
Starting this evening at 7:30, both myself and Modest Mouse will be providing live blog coverage of President Obama’s State of the Union address. It will be arranged through Cover It Live and should be a fun time.
Worst Political Decade Ever?
The decade of 2000…what can I say? In personal terms, I began the decade with graduating from high school and heading off to college. Midway through the decade (2004 to be exact), I graduated college and headed off to New York with hopes that I would complete graduate school and live the city life. Of course, as we knew fate kicked its golden heels in my plans for good reason, and I decided to first head back to Maryland, then set my sights on a policy related career that led me to Virginia. The decade was filled with successes and hard lessons for me.
Looking back politically, the crew at Reason.tv has a great video highlighting the decade as the “Worst Political Decade Ever.” I would have to concur with their analysis slightly from the national standpoint.
However, let’s look at things from the state level. Since I am a relatively new Virginian (been in Virginia for three years), I can only provide a synopsis from 2006-2009. Being from Maryland originally, the best part of the 2000s was the election of Bob Ehrlich and Michael Steele to Governor and Lieutenant Governor respectively.
2006 was an interesting year for a political newbie to discover. It began with George Allen in the lead for U.S. Senate and ended with Macaca, then Jim Webb as our Senator. 2007 was exciting, as we worked hard to elect State Senators and Delegates, in addition to county office holders. Needless to say, it was exhausting, but the hard work paid off for the GOP in the House of Delegates and certain county offices (depending on what county you lived in).
2008 was a blah year in my eyes. Of course, HB 3202 enraged me due to its unconstitutional nature. Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) challenged it in the Virginia Supreme Court, where it was overturned. No more $1000 speeding ticket. From the Federal level, you read on my blog quite a few times, I was not (and still am not) a John McCain fan. After being burned out from 2007, I was not so enthusiastic as I was in years past. Barack Obama won, Gerry Connolly won, and the Democrats took Congress back…only to lead to falling polls.
That’s where 2009 came in. The honeymoon phase faded quickly and both Obama’s polls (along with Congress’ polls) dropped. Public satisfaction with the new administration was at an all-time low and is expected to continue the decline. The tea party movement grew rapidly with people being enraged at the excessive government spending and waste (thanks to Stimulus and Omnibus) and Obama’s health care plan. Rallies were held all across America, including several large ones in Washington, D.C. (including the 4-15 Washington Tea Party and the 9-12 rally). People flooded townhall meetings held by their elected officials (Congressmen and Senators) to demand accountability and responsibility at the federal government level.
2009 was also a referendum on Obama and the Democratic party with Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli being elected to all three statewide offices in Virginia, and with Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno being elected as Governor and Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey. It was a great year for Republicans in the General Assembly races as well.
Overall, I am glad to see the end of the 2000s and am eager to welcome decade 2010-2019. Who knows what the new decade will bring both politically and personally?
