Erick Erickson's Blog, page 149
June 6, 2011
The Undefeated
Steve Bannon and the fine folks at CRC Public Relations sent me an advanced copy of The Undefeated to watch over this past weekend.
I curled up in a comfortable chair in the home studio and fired up the movie.
To give you a sense of the movie — more a documentary — the film came about with Governor Palin's desire to give a full account of her tenure as Governor of Alaska and beyond without the all too frequent anti-Palin bias that exists within parts of the media.
Already, some leftwing bloggers are others are comparing it to Hitler's Triumph of the Will.
The Undefeated, as if anticipating this, opens with clips of a lot of Hollywood nuts and other lefts bashing Palin. Many do so merely because she breathes. In some parts of the world, nothing Palin can say or do will win her praise. The film makes that clear.
One of the most surprising aspects of the film is repeatedly highlighting how Palin transcended party while in Alaska. She frequently worked across the aisle with lots of Democrats, a number of whom still sing her praises today before entering the Witness Protection Program for doing so.
The film concludes with a comparison between Ronald Reagan and Sarah Palin. Just as the Republican establishment attacked and tried to shut down Reagan, they are doing the same to Palin. I'm not sure I buy the extent of the comparison and issues within the conservative establishment highlighted toward the end, but I have frequently said myself that Palin taps into something with conservatives that no one since Reagan has done.
The film will make its official debut in Iowa. I'm left with the conclusion that Governor Palin is seriously considering a run for the White House, but I think the jury is still out on whether or not she does actually run.
Stand with Heritage
The crisis we conservatives have been warning the country about for decades is upon us. It is happening in this generation . . . in this Congress . . . and the results could be catastrophic.
Simply put, if we don't get a handle on stopping the explosion of spending, debt, and the size of government NOW, we may never get another chance. The red ink will be too great, and America might never be the same.
And the question I pose to you as a conservative in 2011 is this:
What are you going to do about it?
I know what I'm doing—Red State, my CNN gig, my talk show . . . and more.
Will you?
If you're a Red State conservative who sees the spending and debt train-wreck coming—and realizes what it means—you've simply got to check out The Heritage Foundation's new plan and get on board.
I've recorded a short video that explains more and gives you a way to let Congress know you want them to cut out some specific spending outrages.
Okay, I said I was going to cut to the chase and I have. Now follow my lead. Watch my video, and let's meet this crisis with wisdom, courage, and strategic effectiveness.
Let's get rolling!
Morning Briefing for June 6, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For June 6, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. Stand with Heritage
2. The Undefeated
3. So and so is the true RINO
4. What is the difference between the SEIU & an armed robber?
5. NY Teachers' Union & NAACP Fight to Keep African-American Kids in Failing Schools
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1. Stand with Heritage
The crisis we conservatives have been warning the country about for decades is upon us. It is happening in this generation . . . in this Congress . . . and the results could be catastrophic.
Simply put, if we don't get a handle on stopping the explosion of spending, debt, and the size of government NOW, we may never get another chance. The red ink will be too great, and America might never be the same.
And the question I pose to you as a conservative in 2011 is this:
What are you going to do about it?
I know what I'm doing—Red State, my CNN gig, my talk show . . . and more.
But one of the absolutely most important and strategically effective moves I'm making to avert disaster is supporting The Heritage Foundation . . . and asking gung-ho conservatives like you to support them with me.
Will you?
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. The Undefeated
Steve Bannon and the fine folks at CRC Public Relations sent me an advanced copy of The Undefeated to watch over this past weekend.
I curled up in a comfortable chair in the home studio and fired up the movie.
To give you a sense of the movie — more a documentary — the film came about with Governor Palin's desire to give a full account of her tenure as Governor of Alaska and beyond without the all too frequent anti-Palin bias that exists within parts of the media.
Already, some leftwing bloggers are others are comparing it to Hitler's Triumph of the Will.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. So and so is the true RINO
So and so has changed positions on more issues than my favorite candidate. Sure, my favorite candidate has changed positions as well, but their changes were the result of experience and wisdom gained while my favorite candidate went through their singularly unique path to the presidency. Reagan is a good example.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. What is the difference between the SEIU & an armed robber?
That's a rhetorical question.
However, after seeing this L.A. Times passage from last month, one might come to the conclusion that 1) an armed robber usually only has one victim (whereas, the SEIU has millions), 2) an average armed robber does not have politicians in his back pocket, and 3) an armed robber is more intellectually honest—at least he tells you he's robbing you, where as the SEIU…well, read it for yourself.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
5. NY Teachers' Union & NAACP Fight to Keep African-American Kids in Failing Schools
Let's start with the problem: In Harlem (NY), according to the Wall Street Journal, at one elementary school, only 3% of the students perform at grade level English, and only 9% in Math. At the Columbus High School the graduation rate is an abysmal 40%, compared to a citywide average of 63%. These figures are from only two of 22 failing schools that need to be shut down.
June 3, 2011
Here's What I Want For My Birthday
It is the Erick Erickson Annual Birthday post. I am 36. Here is what I want for my birthday:
Donations to the Salvation Army to help them help others.
Donations to Mike Pence's gubernatorial campaign.
Campaign contributions to any of the following Senate cadidates:
And anything you can gift to one of these four organizations I support:
and the Senate Conservatives Fund.
And if you are just insistent that it be something for me and to me, I'll take this with the ottoman in vintage cigar thank you very much.
Morning Briefing for June 3, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For June 3, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. What You Won't Be Hearing
2. Roger Ailes and Mao: Basically the Same Guy
3. A Republic, if you can keep it
4. Jim Tucker Resorts to Desperation in Opposition to Pension Reform
5. Reform on the Ropes - Prison Reform
6. "Official Time" or Unofficial Scam? Your tax dollars are being used for union business.
———————————————————————-
1. What You Won't Be Hearing
In all of the discussions about our current economic state, a possible regression or double dip recession, out-of-control debts, and continued high unemployment there is one conversation those who frame the media, generate the news, and pass around their opinions as "objective" pontiffs and prognosticators of politics will never engage in.
I am of course talking about the failure of Keynesian economic policies.
Now, if Ronald Reagan were president or George Bush were president or any other Republican were president, or if the Republicans were able to get their legislative initiatives out of Congress, the headlines in the same economic climate would be "death of supply side economics." In fact, we can see that in history.
After Republican losses in 1982, the television and newspaper pundits immediately following the election suggested that Reagan's economic vision and voodoo economic policies had been rejected by the voters. In 1992, voters were still rejecting Republican economic policies. In 2006, suddenly voters were no longer conservative. 2008 confirmed for many in the media and Democrats that the nation had drifted to the left.
This does not happen when Democrats are defeated at the polls.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. Roger Ailes and Mao: Basically the Same Guy
Those bastions of objectivity over at Rolling Stone magazine have taken a break from publishing off the record comments and covering the exploits of Lady GaGa to defend America against non-liberal news bias. Their target, of course, is Roger Ailes, President of the Fox News Channel.
As Brent Bozell at NewsBusters points out, the alleged "writer" used anonymous sources to make the obvious connection that being celebrated for success at a party is almost indistinguishable from a communist dictator with 70 million deaths on his record.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. A Republic, if you can keep it
When queried about the type of government the Constitutional Convention had just created, Benjamin Franklin famously replied, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Each generation of Americans must fight to retain that delicate balance between tyranny and anarchy that we like to call a Constitutional Republic.
The National Popular Vote Initiative, should it pass, would destroy our Republic.
It really is that simple.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Jim Tucker Resorts to Desperation in Opposition to Pension Reform
Louisiana Speaker of the House Jim Tucker is attempting to defeat needed pension reform in Louisiana by falsely claiming that requiring Louisiana state employees to contribute additional money to their pension is a payroll tax, which he opposes (because of course he is a fiscal conservative and all fiscal conservatives oppose taxes). Tucker has confirmed that he intends to treat the pension reform as a tax in a letter to the bill's sponsor, which has been provided to RedState. You can read the full text of the letter here (warning, .pdf).
Tucker hinges his argument on the absolutely incorrect claim that the additional revenue the State will collect if the employees' pension contribution is increased by 40% will be deposited in the State's general fund.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
5. Reform on the Ropes - Prison Reform
Currently, the Louisiana prison system is served by 11 state prisons. Some years ago, the State of Louisiana built three essentially identical prisons - the Allen, Avoyelles, and Winn correctional centers - which served as something of an experiment. The Avoyelles correctional center was run and staffed by State employees. The Allen and Winn correctional centers were run by private companies under 10-year contracts - the GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America - both of whom are experienced companies that run prisons all over the country.
Consistent with what you might expect as a conservative, the prisons run by the private corporations proved to be run just as efficiently and effectively as the Avoyelles prison, only much cheaper. Currently, the Louisiana Department of Corrections is paying $42.30 per inmate per day to house prisoners at Avoyelles. The private companies are housing prisoners at the Allen and Winn facilities at an average of $31.50 per day, providing another data point in support of the conservative belief that there is almost nothing a private company cannot do better and more efficiently than the government.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
6. "Official Time" or Unofficial Scam? Your tax dollars are being used for union business.
One would think that, when union members pay union dues, the money would pay for the time their union representatives spend representing them on the job. Well, that's not always the case. Both, in the private sector and the public sector, it is not unheard of for an employer to agree to pay for the union representatives' time spent in talking with members to drum up investigate grievances and meet with management.
In the private sector, an employer who chooses to pay union representatives to do union business does so at his (or his shareholders') own expense. In the public-sector, however, when management agrees to pay union representatives to do union business, that comes straight from taxpayers' pockets.
June 2, 2011
Mitt Romney Gets In and It Appears Anthony Weiner Wears Underwear on His Head #EERS
Anthony Weiner finally called the cops and Mitt Romney is now official. I'll get into it all tonight starting at 7:05 pm ET.
You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.
Consider this an open thread.
Ted Cruz for Senate in Texas
I said months ago that I was going to let the race between Michael Williams and Ted Cruz play out in Texas. They are both fine men and both are good conservatives.
Today, FreedomWorks and Club For Growth both decided to endorse Ted Cruz. This afternoon, there are strong rumors that Michael Williams will instead run for one of the newly drawn House seats.
I stand with FreedomWorks and Club For Growth. Ted Cruz is the conservative we need in the United States Senate. The Texas legislative session to even a casual observer gives pretty good reasons why David Dewhurst, the Lt. Governor, is not right for conservatives.
Leppert, the Mayor of Dallas, has been a liberal until he decided to walk out of the gay pride parades and push away from the union tables to run as a conservative.
Ted Cruz, meanwhile, has been fighting for freedom for a good while. He has a solid record as a conservative. He is the guy we should all get behind now and build a movement of conservatives ready to keep Texas not just Republican, but conservative.
I am proud to stand with Ted.
What You Won't Be Hearing
In all of the discussions about our current economic state, a possible regression or double dip recession, out-of-control debts, and continued high unemployment there is one conversation those who frame the media, generate the news, and pass around their opinions as "objective" pontiffs and prognosticators of politics will never engage in.
I am of course talking about the failure of Keynesian economic policies.
Now, if Ronald Reagan were president or George Bush were president or any other Republican were president, or if the Republicans were able to get their legislative initiatives out of Congress, the headlines in the same economic climate would be "death of supply side economics." In fact, we can see that in history.
After Republican losses in 1982, the television and newspaper pundits immediately following the election suggested that Reagan's economic vision and voodoo economic policies had been rejected by the voters. In 1992, voters were still rejecting Republican economic policies. In 2006, suddenly voters were no longer conservative. 2008 confirmed for many in the media and Democrats that the nation had drifted to the left.
This does not happen when Democrats are defeated at the polls. When Jimmy Carter was defeated in 1980, it was because of economic malaise and the Iranian hostage crisis, not Jimmy Carter loving embrace of failed British economic policies. 1994 was about gays in the military and Bill Clinton's inability to handle politics and policy concurrently. 2010 was because the Democrats got the message wrong and did not focus on jobs. They made the tragic, unfortunate, horrible mistake of socializing medicine before creating jobs.
It is, if you will, because the job is too big for one man, not because of the man's policies. Never mind that the job is too big for only two men, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.
It is never because of the Democratic economic policies. It is never because Keynesian economics does not work. The only time economic policy does not work in the mind of the mainstream media is when voters punish Republicans at the polls. The reason for this is quite plain and quite simple.
Those people who form the news, shake the news, give voice to what's happening as an objective commentator, and report on the daily happenings in the world tend to lean left. Consequently, they believe that in economic downturns the appropriate solution is for more government spending. These people believe that Herbert Hoover did nothing and that is what caused the great depression, never mind the massive spending Herbert Hoover implemented. These people believe the economic myths of the left and, many of them, have never worked in the free market.
This is why should you go on CNBC or the Fox Business Channel or read the Wall Street Journal or Investors Business Daily or encounter any media geared towards the free markets, you will find a healthy dose of skepticism toward Barack Obama and Keynesian economics. But should you read any other news publication or watch any other news channel or engage with those nightly talking heads on the big three networks, rarely will you encounter any sense of skepticism regarding the president's economic policies. About the only thing you'll find is a lament that the president is not doing more to create jobs as opposed to a recognition that the government has no idea how to create jobs.
All of this relates to the media's worldview, which largely mirrors the Democrats' worldview. It is a worldview premised on the idea that the more government does the better we all are. This worldview influences their coverage of the news, their coverage of Republicans in Washington, their skepticism of smaller and more limited government, and the idea that any bipartisan compromise no matter how terrible it is for the American people must definitionally be congratulated because it is a sign of good government when the parties come together.
As you continue to watch the news coverage of the deteriorating economic climate, just remember that most of the premises that will be made and enunciated are that the government must do more, not less. It will be coupled with a healthy believe that if only the government would spend more money more jobs would be created and the world would be a better place. This has nothing to do with reality and has never truly been shown to work. In fact, history shows Keynesian economics tends to lead countries into greater debt with less to show for it. Instead, the media and the Democrats should be embracing Milton Friedman and freeing up the American people to innovate, create jobs, and not be punished for being successful.
Keynesian economics does not work. Every few decades we must again bury the zombie that is John Maynard Keyes. Now is the time for us to do it again and instead invest our talents and time in resurrecting zombie Milton Friedman. Of course, should that happen, the next time the voters punish Republicans for doing something stupid and at odds with their limited government, less spending philosophy, the media will yet again begin its call that this is a rejection of Milton Friedman and free markets, in spite of all history and all evidence to the contrary, and that John Maynard Keyes be resurrected and put to work to destroy the American economy in the name of government creating jobs and a better future.
If the Republican Presidential Candidates Won't Lead on This, What Will They Lead On?
It would be unfair to say that the Republican Presidential candidates have not weighed in on the debt ceiling. Most, if not all, have in passing mentioned the issue.
But the time for mentioning the issue in passing is over. The Dow Industrials have fallen. The Fed wants to print more money. Obama is gutting NASA's space mission to socialize healthcare and fund global warming nonsense. And Republicans on Capitol Hill are hinting loudly that they will raise the debt ceiling, but they want a big show of something first.
Obama is prepared to wait them out and blame them. No one seems to have their back. And the congressional Republicans will, as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, go wobbly. They just will. It is what they do.
So it is time for the Republican Presidential candidates to start forcefully and constantly demanding bold change in exchange for the debt ceiling increase. Yes, some of them will say this is a matter they should not get involved in, but the nation they inherit, or not, cannot wait for their election or defeat.
The time is now. Republican Presidential candidates have a unique position to stand above the fray outside Washington, while also backing up the guys who are already there fighting the fight. Pressure must be brought to bear on United States Senators, a number of whom are looking to cut a minimalist deal with Democrats, save face, and proclaim bipartisanship at work.
If the GOP Presidential candidates do not get out there loudly on this issue — and I have a hard time believing they won't race to the right of each other on this issue — congressional Republicans will buckle, a handful of Republican Senators will, metaphorically, slit the throats of the conservatives to get a deal with the President, and the debt ceiling will be raised with little to show for it. That will hurt all of the Republican candidates and do irreparable harm to this nation.
It is time to lead and speak boldly.
Morning Briefing for June 2, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For June 2, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. If the Republican Presidential Candidates Won't Lead on This, What Will They Lead On?
2. How Many Male Semi-Pornographic Pictures Does Anthony Weiner Have on His Blackberry?
3. Case Closed? Leftblog Claims Definitive Proof Weiner Was Framed.
4. Reform on the Ropes in Louisiana
5. The Sprint/George Soros argument on AT&T/T-Mobile makes no sense
6. Mike Haridopolos Needs To Put Whatever He Uses On His Hair Into His Spine
7. This Week's Horse Race
———————————————————————-
1. If the Republican Presidential Candidates Won't Lead on This, What Will They Lead On?
It would be unfair to say that the Republican Presidential candidates have not weighed in on the debt ceiling. Most, if not all, have in passing mentioned the issue.
But the time for mentioning the issue in passing is over. The Dow Industrials have fallen. The Fed wants to print more money. Obama is gutting NASA's space mission to socialize healthcare and fund global warming nonsense. And Republicans on Capitol Hill are hinting loudly that they will raise the debt ceiling, but they want a big show of something first.
Obama is prepared to wait them out and blame them. No one seems to have their back. And the congressional Republicans will, as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, go wobbly. They just will. It is what they do.
So it is time for the Republican Presidential candidates to start forcefully and constantly demanding bold change in exchange for the debt ceiling increase.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. How Many Male Semi-Pornographic Pictures Does Anthony Weiner Have on His Blackberry?
Anthony Weiner is now offering up this to CNN.
"'It certainly doesn't look familiar to me, but I don't want to say with certitude to you something that I don't know to be the certain truth,' Weiner told CNN in an interview."
If Anthony Weiner cannot "say with certitude" that it was a picture of him on twitter, how many other men's lower waists with erect appendages does Anthony Weiner have on his blackberry? After the last 48 hours, it is a bridge too far to say the picture did not come from Anthony Weiner.
He says he won't talk further about the case to protect his wife. They've only been married about a year.
It is increasingly clear that Anthony Weiner is a pervert and if he is protecting his wife, it is to protect her from the truth that she is married to a cad.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Case Closed? Leftblog Claims Definitive Proof Weiner Was Framed.
Case closed? Not so much. There is a post up at a the blog Cannonfire today titled: CASE CLOSED! CONGRESSMAN WEINER WAS FRAMED! Tweets of this article are blowing up on the #p2 hashtag on Twitter, and many blogs in the leftosphere are beginning to cite it, including Little Green Footballs and DailyKos diaries section.
The post claims to definitively prove that Rep. Weiner could not have sent the now infamous underwear photo that is causing him so much trouble this week.
"It had to have been sent by someone else."
Had. To.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Reform on the Ropes in Louisiana
Although he has not kept a national profile as high as that of some other Republican governors like Chris Christie or Scott Walker, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has been quietly and competently reforming state government in Louisiana since his election. Jindal has successfully reduced bottom-line spending in Louisiana by 26% since he took office, an impressive accomplishment in its own right. However, Governor Jindal recognizes that merely cutting spending is not enough; in order to make a lasting change on the size of Government's footprint, spending cuts must be accompanied by reforms that change both the manner and extent to which the government provides services. Many of these reforms, which have been carefully planned out and in the works for years, are coming to a head right now during the current Louisiana legislative session. Given that Republicans in Louisiana have finally taken control of both chambers of Louisiana's legislature, one would hope that Jindal's reforms - which read like a lengthy wish list for long-time conservative activists - stand a good chance of passing.
However, due to some reticent Republicans in the Louisiana House, substantially all of Jindal's reform agenda is now in danger. Sadly, it appears that Republicans may be preparing to shoot themselves in the foot in Louisiana and blow yet another golden opportunity to reform the way government works, choosing short-sighted temporary cuts over meaningful, long-term reform.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
5. The Sprint/George Soros argument on AT&T/T-Mobile makes no sense
Regular readers of my Tech at Night series have seen me make the case for the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA by pointing out how it would improve competition because the two companies combined could compete better with 4G networks like Verizon and the combined Sprint/Clearwire.
But there's a more basic reason than that to oppose any government meddling in the deal, as proposed by Sprint Nextel itself, as well as George Soros/OSI-funded front groups like Public Knowledge or Free Press. Both a Constitutional and a common sense approach would be not to intervene unless we have good reason. And the reason for intervention given by the radical left, as well as by competitors like Sprint, just doesn't make sense.
Put simply, the AT&T/T-Mobile deal cannot simultaneously hurt Sprint and give AT&T price setting power, especially not when the Sprint/Nextel deal had the opposite effect on prices.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
6. Mike Haridopolos Needs To Put Whatever He Uses On His Hair Into His Spine
This is embarrasing.
Yesterday morning, Haridopolos got thrown off a Florida radio show for going wobbly on the Paul Ryan Medicare plan, including not wanting to say yes or no on whether he supports it.
Then, his campaign issued a press release, which you can read below the fold. The key nugget of which is this line, "I absolutely support the goals of the Ryan Plan to cut federal government deficit spending and applaud Rep. Ryan's bold leadership in putting forth an intelligent and serious plan to tackle the largest issue confronting our nation." That line is subsequently repeated in the 222 words.
In between the repetition is this: "While I support almost every provision of the Ryan Plan, I believe that it must be amended to provided greater protections for Seniors."
After all that, Haridopolos is now a solid "no" on the Ryan plan, claiming he'd vote against it.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
7. This Week's Horse Race
It's been a few weeks since I've done one of these. A lot has happened since then.
Let's get started and, again, we'll go in alphabetical order.
Just note that I'm putting Sarah Palin and Rick Perry outside the list, since they are just speculation right now and I want to deal with them first, above the fold.
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