Erick Erickson's Blog, page 157

Mitt Romney Bear Hugs Romneycare. Obama Chokes on Jobs. #EERS

Mitt Romney decided to fully embrace and bear hug Romneycare today, including the individual mandate. Meanwhile, Barack Obama choked on jobs today.

We'll get into all of it tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET on the radio. You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-RADIO.

Consider this an open thread.

Why Yes, I Am Interviewing Donald Trump

He's a blunt new voice that's hitting our conservative establishment with the force of a wrecking ball.

The guy fascinates all of us, but let's face it: he also raises a lot of questions.

I'll ask Donald Trump those questions, 1-on-1, live, for a solid hour. Is this all just posturing? Is he running — or not? Let's get answers. Who's the real guy behind the money, flash and fast talk?

Join us. I promise you this won't be interviews as usual. From the minute we kick off at 11AM Eastern, Tuesday May 17, this will be what everyone's talking about. Be there.

Best of all, it's FREE. Reserve your spot now!

John Weaver Needs a New Playbook

John Weaver really needs a new playbook.

In 1999-2000, newspaper headlines were filled with the titilating details of how "Democrats Fear a McCain Nomination." In fact, one CNN report in early February of 2000, noted Democrats were worried because "conservative Democrats and Independents are voting for John McCain because they believe that he is the perfect person to replace Bill Clinton in the White House."

This is John Weaver's standard play book. Weaver was John McCain's advisor and is now Jon Huntsman's advisor.

Just like clockwork, Democrats fear Jon Huntsman.

Time for a new playbook, John.

The McConnell Defenders

It never ceases to amaze me that so many self-described conservatives will defend Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate Leaders to the hilt when it comes to their treatment of Senate conservatives.

Last night, I noted that Mitch McConnell had snubbed Jim DeMint by putting Richard Burr in the Finance Committee.

"But wait," whined the alleged conservative defenders of McConnell. "Richard Burr had seniority."

Well yes, which I noted. Except for more than a month Richard Burr said he was not interested in the slot and, in fact, had to be persuaded by Mitch McConnell to change his mind.

Nonetheless, the alleged conservatives say, "Pooh-pooh, he had seniority so there it is."

Well, for those who use the seniority argument as a blanket #WINNING argument, please explain why Kelly Ayotte is on the Budget Committee and not Rand Paul?

Rand Paul wanted to be on the Budget Committee. And he has seniority over Kelly Ayotte under the Senate's rules. But McConnell passed him over and gave it to Ayotte instead.

This, of course, isn't a dig at Ayotte. Just pointing out that for those who are hiding behind the "seniority" argument, you are full of b.s.

Tax Hikes Texas Style

I told you people Joe Straus was bad news. Under his leadership, the Texas House has decided to impose taxes on internet purchases via H.B. 2403. Conservatives in the State House supported it, arguing that it really didn't change anything in the law, but internet companies and tax advocates are raising all sorts of red flags that Texans are about to get screwed.

The legislation is before the State Senate right now. Basically, the legislature is considering getting rid of the "physical nexus" standard for tax collection. In effect, a retailer couldn't be required to collect sales taxes in Texas unless it had a physical connection to the state. Using political parlance, this law "clarifies existing law". Yeah, right.

Texas will "clarify" the physical nexus rule in such a way that if the online retailer happens to advertise in the state or take other steps to make Texans aware of their existence, it'll be good enough to require tax collections.

Of course, this just means Texas will kill the advertising industry among other things.

Texas has already seen the state kill jobs with stupid stuff like this. Amazon.com had a huge distribution and warehouse facility in Texas and packed up and left the state thanks to the State Comptroller's decision to start forcing Amazon to collect sales taxes. Major jobs were lost.

Under Joe Straus and Lt. Governor DewCrist Dewhurst, it appears Texas will be open for business, just not in the tech sector Texas claims to want.

Oh yeah, and for those of you keeping score at home, where did Joe Straus and DewCrist get this idea?

California.

Morning Briefing for May 12, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For May 12, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. Erickson & Trump. One on One.

2. Mitch McConnell Yet Again Tells Fiscal Conservatives to Go to Hell

3. Hypocrite Harry Reid's High Horse Must've Kicked Him in the Head

4. More Residual Effects of Obama's Anti-Oil Policies

5. General Electric's Jeff Immelt–A Uniter, Not a Divider

6. The 60-Day Mark In Libya - A Serious Deadline For A Serious Anti-War Movement

7. Stop the Natural Gas Streaker!

———————————————————————-

1. Erickson & Trump. One on One.

Yes, it is true. On Tuesday, I will be going one on one with Donald Trump in his office in New York.

He has agreed to sit down and have an unfiltered conversation with no topic off limits. Thus I will ask him those questions many of you have wanted to ask him and flesh out why he thinks he is a conservative, why he might run, etc.

You can watch the interview live and for free. But you must register by going here.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Mitch McConnell Yet Again Tells Fiscal Conservatives to Go to Hell

So let's get this straight.

There's vacancy on the Senate Finance Committee. Tom Coburn is the only significant fiscal conservative on the committee.

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) had the seniority to get the job, but for more than a month has consistently said he did not want the committee spot.

Who was next in line? Jim DeMint.

Guess whose mind Mitch McConnell worked aggressively behind the scenes to change?

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Hypocrite Harry Reid's High Horse Must've Kicked Him in the Head

With one hand firmly planted in union bosses' pockets, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got on his high horse in the Senate on Wednesday afternoon to hypocritically castigate Republicans for calling out the union fanatics at the National Labor Relations Board and their latest attack on free enterprise.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. More Residual Effects of Obama's Anti-Oil Policies

Obama's oil free utopia is precipitating yet more mayhem on our economy. Today, two major news stories concerning our lack of oil production highlight just how profoundly oil affects our economy.

The first story concerns the Trans Alaska Pipeline. The pipeline employs 2,000 workers and delivers 11% of our domestically produced oil to the other states. During its early years, when we weren't impounding the oil in Alaska, the pipeline transported 2 million barrels of oil per day. Now, less than a third of that volume flows through the pipeline, with the trajectory spiraling sharply downward. The Wall Street Journal reported today that there is growing concern about the adverse effects of decreasing oil flow on the pipeline itself.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. General Electric's Jeff Immelt–A Uniter, Not a Divider

There's been a lot written over the last couple of years about the Obama administration's crony capitalism. Other than 'spooky dude' George Soros, there is, perhaps, no better embodiment of an Obama crony in capitalist's clothing than General Electric's Jeff Immelt.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

6. The 60-Day Mark In Libya - A Serious Deadline For A Serious Anti-War Movement

As of 17 May 2011, armed forces from the United States will have been involved in military combat operations in Libya for 60 days. By that date, President Obama is required by statute to withdraw US Forces from Libya and cease all unpleasantness. Or, he could ask Congress to give him a resolution authorizing the use of force. This would seemingly make for a rather tough day at the links for President Obama.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

7. Stop the Natural Gas Streaker!

There are a lot of bad policy ideas dreamed up on a daily basis on Capitol Hill, and many get turned into bills by Congressmen. Thankfully, most of these bills go nowhere. But occasionally, a policy streaker comes out of left field and makes a heady gambit for prime-time exposure and a floor vote in either the House or the Senate.

A bill often becomes "a streaker" when the number of its co-sponsors start ramping up rapidly, either because of a political interest back home in various districts, a well-heeled coalition of lobbyists, or the simple fact that members and their staff are not paying sufficient attention to a bill's merits.

Rep. John Sullivan's H.R. 1380, the New Alternative Transportation to Give America Solutions Act is a streaker, and it needs to be stopped. It has 179 cosponsors, nearly half of which are Republican. And when a bill begins to get this much bipartisan support, it makes it difficult for House Leadership to keep the bill off the floor.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Mitch McConnell Yet Again Tells Fiscal Conservatives to Go to Hell

So let's get this straight.

There's vacancy on the Senate Finance Committee. Tom Coburn is the only significant fiscal conservative on the committee.

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) had the seniority to get the job, but:

"Oh gosh, I've got all the stuff I can stand," Burr told The Hill when asked last week whether he was interested in the spot.

Burr's spokeswoman said last month: "Senator Burr has no interest in changing his committee assignments."

In fact, Burr has been pretty consistent that he had no interest in moving to Finance.

So FreedomWorks made this a major push — as big as Rep. Flake for Appropriations in the House — directing thousands of calls to Senator McConnell's office.

Mark Levin pushed it and had a call blitz to Senator McConnell.

The message was clear, the Tea Party and GOP grassroots wanted a senator on Finance to deal with taxes, healthcare, and entitlement reform. Senator DeMint has taken the lead on Obamacare repeal, the GOP health care alternative, pushing for Paul Ryan-style medicare voucher reform, and working on flat tax reform.

Instead of tipping his hat to tea party, Senator McConnell pressured and convinced Senator Richard Burr to change his mind.

Today, McConnell named Burr to Finance giving a highly valuable position to a guy whose Senate career is marked by being pro-amnesty, pro-TARP, and an author of S-CHIP.

Newt Runs to the White House, Romney Runs Away From Romneycare #EERS

Tonight on the Erick Erickson Show, Newt Gingrich is in. Mitt Romney is talking Obamacare and walking back from Romneycare. The AP has a new whacked out poll on Obama's popularity. And there's even more.

It all kicks off tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET on the largest talk radio station in the country, 750 AM WSB and now 95.5 FM. You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

Consider this an open thread.

Erickson & Trump. One on One.

Yes, it is true. On Tuesday, I will be going one on one with Donald Trump in his office in New York.

He has agreed to sit down and have an unfiltered conversation with no topic off limits. Thus I will ask him those questions many of you have wanted to ask him and flesh out why he thinks he is a conservative, why he might run, etc.

You can watch the interview live and for free. But you must register by going here.

Jon Huntsman's Newest Denial Defies Credibility

Jon Huntsman went to Florida and denied gearing up to run for President while serving as United States Ambassador to China.

"There was no gearing up for a campaign, whatsoever," Huntsman said, explaining that the campaign structure had been put together without his input.

That defies credibility.

In May of 2009, Jon Huntsman retained McCain strategist John Weaver to advise him on running for President.

Later that year, Huntsman became Ambassador to China.

In October of 2010, while still Ambassador to China, John Weaver fires up Huntsman's PAC.

In December of 2010, Huntsman, well, here is how his groupies described it to Newsweek back at the first of January:

But sources close to Huntsman (who requested anonymity to speak freely without his permission) say that during his December trip to the U.S., he met with several former political advisers in Washington and Salt Lake City to discuss a potential campaign. "I'm not saying he's running," says one supporter who has worked with him in the past. "But we're a fire squad; if he says the word, we can get things going fast."

Newsweek and the press subsequently played up his interview with Newsweek as a hint that he was running. Neither Huntsman, nor his team, denied it.

Huntsman sent in his resignation letter on January 31, 2011, but he did not resign until May 1, 2011.

Oh, and now for all you people who said there were no problems, we get word today that, in fact, Huntsman's machinations caused all sorts of problems within the State Department and Diplomatic Corps.

Never mind that this all came just as we were headed into a summit with China.

By the way, we should now be asking if this was really an accident or just a way to get some positive buzz going into primary season considering how Republicans and evangelical voters feel about the pro-democracy movement in China.

Given what we now know, I would not put it past Huntsman to have done this intentionally, damn the consequences.