Erick Erickson's Blog, page 183
February 17, 2011
The Erick Erickson Show: Wisconsin
The Erick Erickson Show is now on at http://wsbradio.com. You can call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.
I'm going to be talking about Wisconsin and lightbulbs and Sunday Sales in Georgia a lot tonight.
Morning Briefing for February 17, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For February 17, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. Chicken
2. Enviro's CPAC Ambush Backfires
3. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) Introduces Amendment to Defund Union-Controlled NLRB
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1. Chicken
So President Obama believes the U.S. economy is still in the game-playing stage does he? It's certainly the way the Democrats act right now–that the economy is fine enough that they're willing to play a game of political chicken.
These are the same folks who brought a comedian to testify to Congress. These are also the same people who lost in November. No one believed the Democrats took the problems that face our nation seriously–including jobs and the economy–so they lost.
Republicans seem hesitant to take the President on–he's still popular enough and he has the bully pulpit and he's already shown a willingness to cynically invoke the trauma to women, children and the elderly.
Republicans should feel confident and go boldly.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. Enviro's CPAC Ambush Backfires
The environmentalist in this video was heckling Ann McElhinney of Not Evil, Just Wrong while she was being interviewed by Ed Morrissey of Hot Air. The confrontation took place directly after, briefly interrupting another Hot Air interview. As you can see, Kenny G. thought he was ambushing Ann. Unfortunately for him, Ann turned the tables quickly and the rest is just plain, organic awesome. Like the Hollywood Hypocrites Ann and Phelim McAleer routinely expose, Ron Slater here wants you to do as he says, not as he does.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) Introduces Amendment to Defund Union-Controlled NLRB
As the union-controlled National Labor Relations Board continues its job-killing push to unionize America's workplace—including deciding whether to break-up and unionize company employees by classification—Republican Congressman Tom Price (GA) has introduced an amendment to completely defund the NLRB through the end of FY 2011.
February 16, 2011
Politics Trumps Security
The Heritage Foundation has the details on how the Democrats have decided unionization trumps objective security concerns. Those security concerns could legitimately be hampered by unionization.
Last night, on a purely partisan 47–51 vote, the Senate rejected an amendment that would have stopped government unions from organizing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. The vote was made possible by an announcement two Fridays ago by President Barack Obama political appointee and TSA Administrator John Pistole. Pistole rejected TSA's original policy that collective bargaining's inherently adversarial process would impair TSA's ability to protect American air travelers. Pistole's decision, coupled with Democratic control of the Senate, will net the labor movement—a majority of whom already work for the government—45,000 new members and $18 million a year in dues that are ultimately paid for by you, the taxpayer.
Morning Briefing for February 16, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For February 16, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. Losers Unite!
2. President Obama's Budget - Debt to Me
3. Mulvaney to Obama Budget Director: Not Credible
4. Why Does the NLRB Need More Money to Push Its Job-Killing Union Agenda?
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1. Losers Unite!
Are you a loser? If you are the Heritage Foundation, Media Research Center, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, the American Principles Project, Jim DeMint, Jim Jordan, Rush Limbaugh (given his comments yesterday on CPAC), and others — you are losers.
Grover Norquist says so. Norquist, last week, called those who chose not to participate in CPAC and those who share those views "losers."
But wait . . . there's more.
I'm not even going to get into Americans for Tax Reform suddenly opposing an end to the ethanol subsidy on the grounds that it would be a tax hike.
No . . . Grover Norquist is caught on tape praising Democrats' sympathetic views toward muslims in America and attacking Lt. Colonel and Congressman Allen West for "attacking Muslims." West, who served in Iraq and was a civilian adviser in Afghanistan, might just know what he is talking about.
But Grover Norquist compares Congressman West to crazy Democrat madman Alan Grayson.
So this gets me thinking.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. President Obama's Budget - Debt to Me
President Obama's budget is debt to me. The President's budget does not implement promised cuts to spending, taxes nor the federal debt. The budget goes in a different direction increasing spending, increasing taxes and triples our national debt by end of this decade. I am not the only one who dislikes the President's budgetary ideas. The President's budget has been received on Capitol Hill like a Sputnik in a punch bowl.
It should be clear to all Americans, the President's budget is debt to me, debt to my kids — debt, debt, debt.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Mulvaney to Obama Budget Director: Not Credible
Rep Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina's fifth district points out what many are starting to realize: These numbers just aren't realistic.
Mulvaney alleges results oriented accounting and said that the President's budget is "not a credible document." Mulvaney says "two years ago he told us the deficit this year would only be $900 billion dollars in his budget. Last year he told us the deficit this year would be $1.3 trillion dollars. Yesterday he told us it was $1.6 [trillion]. Two years ago he told us that the projected that the budget deficit next year would be $557 [billion]. Last year he told us that number would be $829 [billion]. Now he is telling us the number is going to be $1.1 [trillion]." Mulvaney concluded that "we can't believe the numbers." In other words, fool me once — shame on you. Fool me twice — and our national debt doubles in ten years.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Why Does the NLRB Need More Money to Push Its Job-Killing Union Agenda?
As the nation's debt reaches 102% of the GDP and the President pushes a $3.73 trillion budget with more government spending than America can afford, there are innumerable ways in which the politicians should be slashing spending, but aren't. One agency that could use a budget-cutting knife to the heart is the union-controlled National Labor Relations Board.
February 15, 2011
CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN: This Rule Should Be Defeated
GO HERE NOW. TELL YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO VOTE AGAINST THE RULE. READ BELOW FOR DETAILS.
Last night, the House of Representatives' Rules Committee shut down Rep. Steve King's ability to offer an amendment to completely defund Obamacare on the continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the year. House Republicans are now hiding behind parliamentary rules to say that it would somehow violate what the new Republican Majority is all about.
This is just complete and utter nonsense.
Obamacare was a mix of what is called discretionary and mandatory spending. King is trying to defund the entire law, but the parliamentarians are arguing that his amendment would be out of order (i.e. against House Rules) because it attempts to mess with programs that are not strictly discretionary.
But the thing that people need to understand about the House of Representatives is that every major bill that comes to the floor is governed by a "special rule" that sets the parameters of the debate and the amendment process for that bill. You don't need a special rule to consider a bill, but House Rules are viewed as so inefficient and cumbersome that each bill needs its own special dispensation. And that is where the Rules Committee comes in and constructs a special rule that in essence waives House Rules. Normally, in a situation like this, the Leadership of either party, if they support what the rank and file member is trying to do, makes the amendment in order.
So this idea that the Rules Committee (an arm of Leadership) could not have made the amendment in order because they didn't want to give "special treatment" to it is nonsense. If that is "regular order" then the Rules Committee should be disbanded completely, and the era of special rules be ended. That would actually be pretty good for America.
Furthermore, Leadership put Steve King in this position by not adding the proper language to defund Obamacare in the underlying bill, notwithstanding the fact that these sorts of riders are a matter of routine on appropriations bills. What is not routine is bringing an appropriations bill to the floor of the House without having it be considered in committee where these sorts of amendments could have been more easily included.
The plain fact of the matter is that Leadership doesn't want a major fight to defund Obamacare on the continuing resolution and are hiding behind House Rules to save face. The continuing resolution is a must-pass bill and prime opportunity for the House to try and shut down Obamacare with its historic "power of the purse." At least force the Democrats to use political capital to get the provision out of the bill in the Senate.
Conservatives should vote against the Leadership's rule today and force the Rules Committee to make the King amendment in order or include the provision in underlying bill before it comes to the floor. Call your Congressmen and urge them to vote no and bring down the rule!
Losers Unite!
Are you a loser? If you are the Heritage Foundation, Media Research Center, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, the American Principles Project, Jim DeMint, Jim Jordan, Rush Limbaugh (given his comments yesterday on CPAC), and others — you are losers.
Grover Norquist says so. Norquist, last week, called those who chose not to participate in CPAC and those who share those views "losers."
But wait . . . there's more.
I'm not even going to get into Americans for Tax Reform suddenly opposing an end to the ethanol subsidy on the grounds that it would be a tax hike.
No . . . Grover Norquist is caught on tape praising Democrats' sympathetic views toward muslims in America and attacking Lt. Colonel and Congressman Allen West for "attacking Muslims." West, who served in Iraq and was a civilian adviser in Afghanistan, might just know what he is talking about.
But Grover Norquist compares Congressman West to crazy Democrat madman Alan Grayson.
So this gets me thinking.
The source of Grover Norquist's power comes from two things: (1) Americans for Tax Reform's Tax Pledge, which could easily be duplicated by an organization not headed by someone who picked up checks written by a man serving 23 years in jail for financing jihad activities; and (2) the Wednesday morning meeting in which tons of conservative groups participate.
(By the way, did Grover ever give that money back or send it to a charitable cause?)
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, Grover Norquist has an off the record meeting every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in which candidates come to pitch themselves, conservative organizations come to promote their wares, and even Al Gore and George Soros have come to.
It's become a "see and be seen" sort of meeting and information exchange. Mitch McConnell typically sends someone. The House Republicans send someone. Etc., Etc., Etc.
Grover Norquist's latest remarks, both regarding principled social conservatives and Congressman West, are deeply troubling. If you aren't troubled yet, google Jack Abramoff Grover Norquist.
I suggest a new Wednesday morning meeting of conservatives — one that combines the fiscal conservative organizations that constantly see their legs cut out from under them when Grover sides with UPS and the unions against FedEx, the national security organizations that continue to be concerned about Grover Norquist's ties to possible jihadists, and the social conservative organizations Grover Norquist would like to purge from the movement.
Make it the place to plan and strategize within the conservative movement — something that does not really happen any more at Grover's place. Make it the first step to taking back the conservative movement and moving away from the pay to play concerns that have so plagued the few, but taint so many.
It is time. Losers Unite!
The Human Events Teleforum (updated)
Today Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET, you can join me on a teleforum hosted by Human Events. Details are here.
Jason Mattera, Human Events' Editor, will host the call and I'll be talking about 2012 races, politics, and policy. You'll be able to participate and pick my brain.
The Human Events Teleforum
Today at 2:00 p.m. ET, you can join me on a free teleforum hosted by Human Events. Details are here.
Jason Mattera, Human Events' Editor, will host the call and I'll be talking about 2012 races, politics, and policy. You'll be able to participate and pick my brain.
Morning Briefing for February 15, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For February 15, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. The Human Events Teleforum
2. President Obama's Budget - Increased Spending and Taxes
3. No Wonder Non-Union UFCW Reps Want a Union at Their Jobs…
4. Law? What Law? SEIU Now Opposes E-Verify.
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1. The Human Events Teleforum
Today at 2:00 p.m. ET, you can join me on a free teleforum hosted by Human Events. Details are here.
Jason Mattera, Human Events' Editor, will host the call and I'll be talking about 2012 races, politics, and policy. You'll be able to participate and pick my brain.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. President Obama's Budget - Increased Spending and Taxes
The President's budget is out today. Do not believe the hype that the President is cutting spending and balancing the budget. A cursory review of the budget tables in his proposal indicates that the free spending Obama Administration is going to increase spending and taxes, yet claim that they are freezing spending and cutting the deficit.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. No Wonder Non-Union UFCW Reps Want a Union at Their Jobs…
A couple of weeks ago, a group of union representatives filed a petition with the NLRB to hold a secret-ballot election to determine whether or not to become unionized at their employer, UFCW Local 400.
While the post (here on Redstate and cross-posted on LaborUnionReport) was highlighting the hypocrisy of a union that backs card check (as opposed to secret ballot elections) yet refuses card check with its own employees, it drew an unusual comment (on the LUR site) from a "unique" visitor that just had to be shared with you.
Here it is, in total.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Law? What Law? SEIU Now Opposes E-Verify.
It seems incredible in a country supposedly ruled by law and not men that an institution, regardless of what kind of institution, is permitted to exist while openly, willfully, and without shame encouraging and profiteering off of violations of federal law. Yet, that seems to be the case with the SEIU time and time again.
Last year, the SEIU organized protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (better known as ICE) for the agency's enforcement of the law.
February 14, 2011
God Bless America. Jeff Flake is In!
Jeff Flake is running for the Senate.
He'll be my first campaign contribution for the 2012 season.
I know some of you are not fans of Flake's because he sided with McCain on immigration. But I have to tell you, that he is so uncontrollable and, other than that issue, so much one of us, I'll forgive him that.
His score card for the Club for Growth has been 100% consistently for several years. He is now on the Appropriations Committee and, as Politico recently noted, "[I]n a striking display of defiance, Flake exercised his right to file alternative views in the committee report — something rarely done in Appropriations by a member of the majority party."
He is one of us. I will gladly support him in this endeavor.
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