Erick Erickson's Blog, page 165

Barack Obama's Re-Election Campaign Theme Won't Be Hope and Change, Just Scoured Earth and Fear

Gas prices have more than doubled since Barack Obama took office. His deficit spending makes George Bush look like a rank amateur. 78% of Americans recognize inflation is on the rise. One dollar bill buys less and less. We're a little bit more pregnant in Libya, but just barely. Our foreign policy is rudderless and often against our best interests.

Today comes news that for the first time since the Great Depression, more Americans get government money than give the government money. Americans are dependent on Washington for the livelihoods.

Also out late yesterday, CNS News reports that we will hit the legal limit on the national debt in less than a week. This is surprising news to pretty much everyone. But the data comes from the Treasury Department itself.

This is no way to enter a re-election campaign. Barack Obama cannot run on hope or change. Instead, he is going to run on fear. It is abundantly apparent and confirmed to me by several Democrats who'd know. Barack Obama's re-election strategy will be a scorched earth campaign.

Over the next few months, Barack Obama will seek to define the Republicans as willing to kill the old and young, pass radical legislation, and send us into the league of the third world. "But wait," you say. "Barack Obama has already done that."

In essence, yes. So Obama is not going to run on defending his record. He's going to run on saying that Republicans will be even worse than him and, oh by the way, none of it is his fault.

Barack Obama has largely gotten a pass his whole life. He's never been in a real executive role. By his own admission in his book he was largely a failed community organizer. And now he is failed President.

The only way to hang on to his job is to peddle fear and intimidation of those who'd stand in his way. This is also one reason so many Republicans are waiting to announce their runs. They all know the moment they come out swinging, Obama's union goons and money will savage them.

At the same time, the GOP has yet to mount a successful attack on Obama to make him own high gas, high inflation, declining dollars, and our declining standing in the world. If they don't get out there soon, the hill they have to climb will be even higher.

Morning Briefing for April 21, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For April 21, 2011

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

Just a reminder — as is tradition here, the Morning Briefing takes off on Good Friday. Have a blessed Easter holiday. — Erick

1. Barack Obama's Re-Election Campaign Theme Won't Be Hope and Change, Just Scoured Earth and Fear

2. President Obama's Debt Failsafe Trigger Explained

3. Cantor, Kyl, and NO OTHER REPUBLICANS to deficit panel.

4. Third Parties, Third Ways, the Tea Party, and the GOP

5. AFSCME Boss Explains California's Suicidal Tendencies…

6. Counting Our Hot Buttons: Abortion Numbers in Perspective

7. BP's Macondo Disaster, One Year Later

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1. Barack Obama's Re-Election Campaign Theme Won't Be Hope and Change, Just Scoured Earth and Fear

Gas prices have more than doubled since Barack Obama took office. His deficit spending makes George Bush look like a rank amateur. 78% of Americans recognize inflation is on the rise. One dollar bill buys less and less. We're a little bit more pregnant in Libya, but just barely. Our foreign policy is rudderless and often against our best interests.

Today comes news that for the first time since the Great Depression, more Americans get government money than give the government money. Americans are dependent on Washington for the livelihoods.

Also out late yesterday, CNS News reports that we will hit the legal limit on the national debt in less than a week. This is surprising news to pretty much everyone. But the data comes from the Treasury Department itself.

This is no way to enter a re-election campaign. Barack Obama cannot run on hope or change. Instead, he is going to run on fear. It is abundantly apparent and confirmed to me by several Democrats who'd know. Barack Obama's re-election strategy will be a scorched earth campaign.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. President Obama's Debt Failsafe Trigger Explained

What is President Barack Obama's "debt failsafe" trigger? It is a means for liberals in Washington to increase taxes on you in the name of deficit reduction and avoids specific consent of the governed for these tax increases. If a mechanism to automatically increase taxes is raised by the "Gang of Six," a bipartisan group working to reduce the deficit, or the President's bipartisan bicameral negotiating team on reducing the debt, then conservatives should push back against this terrible, and possibly unconstitutional, idea.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Cantor, Kyl, and NO OTHER REPUBLICANS to deficit panel.

The AP doesn't really explain the significance of the fact that the GOP is sending just House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl to the President's much-ballyhooed deficit reduction panel, so let me do it.

When the President set up this thing in the first place, he told the four party leaders in Congress - Speaker Boehner (R) and Minority Leader Pelosi (D) in the House; Majority Leader Reid (D) and Minority Leader McConnell (R) in the Senate - to each send four Congressmen to it, for a total of sixteen. That effectively translates to "President Obama's deficit reduction panel was intended to be ineffectual:" you generally cannot get sixteen people to agree on anything. While Congressional Democrats theoretically were taking this panel more seriously - well. The Senate Democratic picks are Inouye and Baucus, which as the NYT notes are both hostile to the idea of deficit talks. Pelosi picked Van Hollen and Clyburn, which are described as obedient mouthpieces for the former Speaker (who herself hates the idea of deficit reduction) by that noted right-wing shill The Huffington Post. So that's the Democratic side.

And on the Republican side? Neither Cantor nor Kyl are recognized as being particularly fiscal policy players: they're there because they're second-in-command to Boehner and McConnell, respectively.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Third Parties, Third Ways, the Tea Party, and the GOP

This morning I wrote, "If the Republican Party will not aggressively fight for real cuts and real reform in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, if at all, it very much will be time for a third party in this country."

The level of hand wringing and disgust from some was predictable. From others, it was downright humorous, if not a bit annoying. For seven years now I have written that third parties are not the way to shift this country. In fact, there is a whole chapter in my book about how third parties are not the answer.

So, I'm advocating a third party and not advocating a third party? It presents a WTF moment and I don't mean "winning the future."

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. AFSCME Boss Explains California's Suicidal Tendencies…

For a state that had so much going for it, California is sinking into the depths of its own self-made depression. Businesses are fleeing in droves (including 70 more since January), the state has a projected $42 billion budget gap and is already awash in unfunded liabilities (the teachers' pension fund alone is $56 billion underfunded), and human kind has taken backseat to the survival of a tiny fish which has turned the San Joaquin Valley into a dust bowl.

Now, to make matters worse (as if they could be), California has given more incentive for businesses to continue fleeing to Texas and other friendlier locales—a huge increase in energy costs coming down the road.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

6. Counting Our Hot Buttons: Abortion Numbers in Perspective

With the recent debate over federal taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood bringing the abortion debate back to the surface, it is sometimes useful to look at the numbers to get a little perspective on why this issue is such a large one. (All of these are estimates, and sources vary, but there's no serious debate as to the scale of the numbers).

Please click here for the rest of the post.

7. BP's Macondo Disaster, One Year Later

On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire on the Transocean drilling rig Deepwater Horizon caused the deaths of 11 rig workers. The subsequent blowout flowed uncontrolled to the Gulf of Mexico, ultimately spilling an estimated 5 million barrels of crude oil over the next 100 days. The regulatory aftermath continues to this day.

"Vladimir" wrote dozens of diaries at RedState on the engineering, environmental, economic and political aspects of the spill and its aftermath. The first was "Please Pray for the Missing Eleven" published a year ago tomorrow. It was soon followed by "Why Was BP Drilling in 5,000 ft of Water?" which looked at the disconnect between our voracious appetite for hydrocarbons, and our relative lack of concern as to its source (as long as it's available and affordable). Vlad's diary "The Pro-Environment Anti-Environmentalist" recapped several earlier diaries, highlighting the contrast between the predictions of scientific doomsayers and journalistic hysterics on one hand, versus a solitary blogger with a smattering of knowledge of earth science on the other.

The anniversary is an opportunity to look back on what we've learned. For if a failure is to be anything other than pure tragedy, we must learn the lessons it conveys.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Are Lee Fang and Think Progress Intellectually Dishonest or Stupid?

It is no secret that Think Progress and its amateur muckraker Lee Fang are out to get Koch Industries by hook or by crook. But their latest bit of hackery begs the question of whether they are intellectually dishonest or just stupid.

Power Line has a bit on it and Mark Tapscott does too.

In short, the communist rag The Nation uncovered a flier sent out to Koch Industries employees with a list of candidates that Koch Industries thought would be good to have in office for Koch Industries's business interests.

As Mark notes, the cover letter disclaims, "For most of you, we've also enclosed a listing of candidates supported by Koch companies and KOCHPAC, the political action committee for Koch companies. Of course, deciding who to vote for is a decision that is yours and yours alone, based on factors important to you."

Think Progress and Lee Fang love them some unions. And what do unions do? Unions send out fliers encouraging union members to vote for union backed candidates. Hell, unions even get union members to go door to door for candidates and give union dues to candidates — something KOCHPAC cannot do with all employees, just executives.

Additionally, unions will often bus employees to the polls and have a poll monitor watch to make sure the union members have voted. Koch Industries does not do that.

But here's where the real intellectual dishonesty or stupidity come in. Lee Fang and Think Progress support card check. They want unions to be able to stand over a business's employees and find out whether or not the employee has signed a card to unionize and, if not, intimidate and cajole the employee until he does (not that Think Progress or Lee Fang are on record supporting that last bit).

Meanwhile, Koch Industries gives out a flier to employees and that's it. Charles Koch does not hire minion to go stand in polling booths to make sure the employees vote the right way. That is, in effect, exactly what Think Progress and Lee Fang want unions to be able to do though.

Perhaps, to the posed question, I should embrace the healing power of "and."

The Obama Campaign Strategy — #EERS

Tonight on WSB, I have been briefed on the Barack Obama campaign strategy for re-election. I'll spill the beans. You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

The show starts at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Consider this an open thread.

Third Parties, Third Ways, the Tea Party, and the GOP

"If the Republican Party does not perceive and understand that it is under threat from within by its own base, it will continue surrendering when it should be fighting."

This morning I wrote, "If the Republican Party will not aggressively fight for real cuts and real reform in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, if at all, it very much will be time for a third party in this country."

The level of hand wringing and disgust from some was predictable. From others, it was downright humorous, if not a bit annoying. For seven years now I have written that third parties are not the way to shift this country. In fact, there is a whole chapter in my book about how third parties are not the answer.

So, I'm advocating a third party and not advocating a third party? It presents a WTF moment and I don't mean "winning the future."

Jim Pethokoukis, who is one of my must reads every day, I think probably got the point in this tweet.

From my book:

Remember that 300 Spartans held off the Persian Army. Small numbers compared to the thousands of well armed Persians. Small numbers working well together can be powerful numbers. It just takes some dedication.

Because of ballot access laws in the several states, it is virtually impossible to organize and operate a third party. Look at the Libertarians. They have been around for years and have zero nationally elected politicians and very, very few at the local level. Same with the Greens. And remember 1992? The Reform Party stormed onto the scene only to rain out.

If we are to fundamentally change this country, we will do so through the existing party apparatus. And it is damn easy if you work at it with some friends.

That's one reason the tea party became so prominent in 2010. It worked as a third party within the existing party apparatus. It did not succumb to the charms of the establishment. It sought to slay the establishment and in many places it worked.

Unfortunately, since the election, we've seen a collapse of the national tea party movement, which has become much more fixated on lawsuits and fundraising, and local tea party activists have become very focused on local matters.

If the GOP will not stand and fight on the issue of the debt ceiling and reform, the tea party is going to have to become resurgent in a way we have not seen since the height of the Obamacare debate. During that debate, however, the energy was focused on Democrats. Now that energy must be brought to bear against Republicans, many of whom are even now plotting tax increases and insignificant cuts and structuring of the federal government.

The base needs to work now, within the party, to force the establishment to pay attention. The energy to create a third party and make it viable would distract from the present fight. Instead, the tea party movement needs to act like a third party within the GOP — separate itself from those presently in power if they are not true friends of the tea party movement and then seek to beat them from within.

Along the way, the tea party movement ought to start examining the laws of the several states and see which of them will allow nominations by party convention instead of primaries. Find those states — Georgia is a good example — and start working to force conventions. Then do in those states what happened in Utah to Bob Bennett.

If the Republican Party does not perceive and understand that it is under threat from within by its own base, it will continue surrendering when it should be fighting.

The Left Takes the Debt Ceiling Debate Hostage to the S&P

"If the Republican Party will not aggressively fight for real cuts and real reform in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, if at all, it very much will be time for a third party in this country."

It is worth noting that when Standard and Poor issued its warning about American debt it did not mention the debt ceiling debate.

In fact, Barclay's Bank specifically noted in its statement about what it all meant that "This announcement was not about the debt ceiling; in fact, the debt ceiling is not even mentioned in the S&P release. In sharp contrast, the reason why U.S. government ratings came under pressure in 1995-96 (Moody's put parts of U.S. government debt on negative watch) was the debt ceiling impasse at that point. This means that even if the debt ceiling debate were to be resolved in the near term, it would not be enough to restore the outlook to stable."

Certainly, if things were dragged out long term there would be an impact, but not over the short term. As Senator Pat Toomey and others have noted, the United States brings in more money each month than is owed on the interest payments we must make to service our debt.

That has not, however, stopped the Democrats from trying to claim the S&P decision is about the debt ceiling.

Witness Democrat Party mouthpiece subsidized by the Washington Post Ezra Klein spinning the S&P madly into a demand that we raise the debt ceiling and screw the cuts.

This is going to be the Democrats' new tactic. Back in 2006, Barack Obama, in opposition to the debt ceiling increase at that time, said, "Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally."

Harry Reid joined him, saying, "Given the explosion of debt in recent years, it is long past time for Washington to change the course and adopt a new fiscal policy." The Democrats have adopted a new fiscal policy and it has exploded the debt. Despite Democrat rhetoric about George W. Bush's out of control spending, the Democrats these last two years have made George Bush's spending spree look amateurish.

Now the Democrats want to increase the limit on the national credit card instead of paying down the bill. They want a free pass to more spending. Instead, the Republicans should accept the fact that no matter what they do they will never win over the press and should instead refuse to raise the debt ceiling without massive cuts and entitlement reforms.

The American people understand what it means to refuse to pay down credit cards and instead get new credit cards. They understand that is what government is doing. And they are tired of it.

If the Republican Party will not aggressively fight for real cuts and real reform in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, if at all, it very much will be time for a third party in this country.

Morning Briefing for April 20, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For April 20, 2011

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

1. The Left Takes the Debt Ceiling Debate Hostage to the S&P

2. Let's Take Barack Obama's Advice on the Debt Limit

3. Is Obama Planning to Impose DISCLOSE Despite FEC, Congress & the Supreme Court?

4. Lafayette, Here We Come?!

5. One Year's Worth Of Union Dues Could Support 265,447 U.S. Workers For A Year

6. WaPo Poll: More Trouble for Obama on the Economy

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1. The Left Takes the Debt Ceiling Debate Hostage to the S&P

It is worth noting that when Standard and Poor issued its warning about American debt it did not mention the debt ceiling debate.

In fact, Barclay's Bank specifically noted in its statement about what it all meant that "This announcement was not about the debt ceiling; in fact, the debt ceiling is not even mentioned in the S&P release."

. . . .

The American people understand what it means to refuse to pay down credit cards and instead get new credit cards. They understand that is what government is doing. And they are tired of it.

If the Republican Party will not aggressively fight for real cuts and real reform in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, if at all, it very much will be time for a third party in this country.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Let's Take Barack Obama's Advice on the Debt Limit

Back in 2006, as the vote on the debt limit came up, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Harry Reid all voted against it.

Here is what I am calling on all Republicans to do.

They should go to the floor of their respective house in the congress and, before pledging to vote against the debt limit just like Barack Obama did when he was there, they should quote Barack Obama. Every single one of them.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Is Obama Planning to Impose DISCLOSE Despite FEC, Congress & the Supreme Court?

Having launched his $1 billion election campaign a mere two weeks ago, Barack Obama appears to be moving quickly to try to further tilt the political landscape to favor his union cronies through an Executive Order that implements certain portions of the failed DISCLOSE Act.

As first reported by Pajamas Media, the White House is circulating a draft Executive Order (in full below) to agencies for comment. As drafted, the Executive Order would only affect government contractors—not unions—and would require the contractor, as well as its directors or officers, to disclose any contribution or expenditures.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Lafayette, Here We Come?!

I will post two recent items from the White House. I let you decide if they reek of total incoherence. The first was written in response to a call for a more rapid removal of US forces from Europe.

The second comes from President Obama's recent campaign polemic on deficit reduction.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. One Year's Worth Of Union Dues Could Support 265,447 U.S. Workers For A Year

Union bosses have been engaging in class warfare for so long now that it's become standard for the media to echo the meme without challenge. An example of such mainstream Marxism is in today's Bloomberg piece entitled 'Runaway CEO Pay' Could Support 102,000 U.S. Jobs, AFL-CIO Says. Bloomberg's piece relies heavily on the AFL-CIO's Executive Pay Watch, which was set up years ago to conduct a haves vs. have nots class warfare campaign to eventually have CEO pay limited by law or regulation. This was something union bosses accomplished to some degree with last year's "Wall Street Reform."

Please click here for the rest of the post.

6. WaPo Poll: More Trouble for Obama on the Economy

As I have stated before, the economy is the Democrats' signature issue, and the one on which they rely to win elections, particularly on a statewide and national basis. The Washington Post has a poll out today which demonstrates further why Obama is vulnerable in 2012: In February, 2009, voters approved of his handling of the economy by a 60-35 margin. Today, they disapprove of his handling by a 57-42 margin. A stunning 46% of voters strongly disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy. Note, of course, that this is a different issue from Obama's handling of the deficit, and Republicans should be wary of confusing the two.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Obama's Polling #EERS

Tonight we will explore Obama's polling on the Erick Erickson Show. You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

The show starts at 7:05 p.m.

Consider this an open thread.

The Koch Brothers Get a Death Threat

Goodness.

The Koch brothers have received a death threat from a man in California. The FBI has tracked the man down and is making his life difficult.

There's just one problem. The death threat went to Iowa to the Koch Brothers who run an office supply store. They're no relation to David and Charles Koch of Koch Industries.

Consider this an open thread.

I'm Supporting Adam Hasner for the Senate

There are a lot of important Senate races shaping up in 2012 and my strong fear is that many tea party activists are going to be so focused on beating Barack Obama — a worthy cause — that they are going to drop the ball on Senate races.

I have not really weighed in yet on endorsing any candidates for the United States Senate, but with an every growing pool of potential candidates in the Florida Senate race, I want to go on record now supporting Adam Hasner.

Former Senator George LeCrist, hand picked by Charlie Crist to keep his seat warm, is running as are several others. I think conservatives need to be wary of many of them and we cannot afford to take Florida for granted as a Republican state.

Adam Hasner has, I think, the best background and most conservative record to run in Florida. I hope you will join me in supporting him. We cannot afford to lose Florida to either the Democrats, or the squishy Republicans.