Erick Erickson's Blog, page 196

A Concern About Reince Preibus

I have a concern about Reince Preibus and it has nothing to do with whether or not he or his law firm helped communities get stimulus money.

Back in January of 2009, I raised the concern that Michael Steele was using Blaise Hazelwood to run his campaign for the RNC. The concern related to the willingness and ability of the Republican consultant class to glum on to their preferred RNC Chairman and bilk the GOP of gobs of cash.

At the time, Michael Steele, seeking to address the concerns I raised, sent out an email saying, "No member of the RNC staff will benefit financially from the RNC beyond their salary. The RNC will utilize a RFP process that mirrors best practices among national non-profit organizations. Contracts will be awarded strictly on merit."

In fact, after Michael Steele won, Hazelwood, the Andersons, and others — all good people mind you — did in fact continue getting grand sums from the RNC. The RNC paid Hazelwood $761,000 for grassroots targeting, $48,000 for web advertising, and her husband received over $2 million. See here, here, and here.

Well, this year it turns out that the same cadre of consultants who backed Michael Steele in 2009 are backing Reince Preibus. I'm told that these same consultants were consultants for the Wisconsin GOP in the 2010 campaign cycle.

There is speculation among the parlors of Republicans interested in these games that Preibus is a moderate proxy for Steele to divide up conservatives — much like what happened in 2009.

I don't think that is necessarily the case. But I do think it is a very troubling sign that the same consultants who pushed Michael Steele in 2009 and then went on to make large sums from the RNC are pushing Reince Preibus in 2011.

Morning Briefing for January 3, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For January 3, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
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Happy New Year!

1. House Rules Package is a Nice First Step to Control Spending

2. A Concern About Reince Preibus

3. SIGA's stocks more than double since SEIU's Andy Stern was hired on board

4. A Union Boss in Charge of Procurements? What could possibly go wrong?

5. Paul Ryan given power to bind and to loose.

6. MTV's Teen Abortion Sales Pitch: It's Just "A Ball of Cells"

7. Klein's Crazy Constitutional Commentary.

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1. House Rules Package is a Nice First Step to Control Spending

Just before the holidays, House Republican leaders released their proposed "rules" package for the next Congress. It will be considered first on January 4th by House Republicans alone, and then thereafter by the full House of Representatives. Since the House is not a continuing body (like the Senate), it must adopt a new set of rules and procedures every two years when a new Congress is sworn in. Normally, they take the existing rules and make a few house-keeping tweaks. This time Republicans are attempting to write some real checks into their rules to help limit federal spending. I finally had a chance to read through the full package of reforms, and it does some nice things. Nothing groundbreaking, but some very important reforms nonetheless. Why is any of this important? As Rep. John Dingell once said, "If I let you write substance and you let me write procedure, I'll screw you every time." In short, procedure dictates policy.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. A Concern About Reince Preibus

I have a concern about Reince Preibus and it has nothing to do with whether or not he or his law firm helped communities get stimulus money.

Back in January of 2009, I raised the concern that Michael Steele was using Blaise Hazelwood to run his campaign for the RNC. The concern related to the willingness and ability of the Republican consultant class to glum on to their preferred RNC Chairman and bilk the GOP of gobs of cash.

At the time, Michael Steele, seeking to address the concerns I raised, sent out an email saying, "No member of the RNC staff will benefit financially from the RNC beyond their salary. The RNC will utilize a RFP process that mirrors best practices among national non-profit organizations. Contracts will be awarded strictly on merit."

In fact, after Michael Steele won, Hazelwood, the Andersons, and others — all good people mind you — did in fact continue getting grand sums from the RNC. The RNC paid Hazelwood $761,000 for grassroots targeting, $48,000 for web advertising, and her husband received over $2 million. See here, here, and here.

Well, this year it turns out that the same cadre of consultants who backed Michael Steele in 2009 are backing Reince Preibus.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. SIGA's stocks more than double since SEIU's Andy Stern was hired on board

Former SEIU boss Andy Stern doesn't quite deserve all of the credit. After all, SIGA Technologies' scientists did come up with ST-246 (a smallpox vaccine) long before Stern was brought on board to pitch the company to his friends in Washington. However, hiring Andy Stern (who happened to have a key to the back door of the White House) was most assuredly a good investment since, a mere four months after his hiring to SIGA's board of directors, SIGA was awarded the brass ring of contracts that may be valued up to $2.8 Billion.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. A Union Boss in Charge of Procurements? What could possibly go wrong?

If you're anything like me, until today, you probably had very little idea what the Government Printing Office is all about. And, because there are more important things in life than keeping track of every little-known governmental agency and the administration's various political appointees, you might have missed the White House press release letting us know that President Obama just made a whole bunch of recess appointments on Wednesday.

One of those recess appointments, as it turns out, is the appointment of William Boarman, one of eight sector vice presidents with the Communications Workers of America. The President, it seems, has opted to bypass the Senate (again) and appointed Boarman to head the Government Printing Office as the Public Printer of the United States.

Another presidential appointment of another union boss to a position of power…So, what's new? [At least, that was sort of my reaction until looking into the GPO a bit further.]

As it turns out, the Government Printing Office is a kind of a big deal.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. Paul Ryan given power to bind and to loose.

Elections. Have. Consequences.

And here's one coming up, now: the incoming House majority will be establishing a rule that will give the House Budget chair the ability to set the spending ceiling for any 2011 budget. This rule is currently causing House Democrats to freak out like koalas deprived of their eucalyptus leaves/junkies deprived of their heroin/hipsters deprived of their iPhones, for two reasons:

The Democrats never passed a budget in 2010, so this is going to affect spending for this fiscal year. A lot.
Who is going to be the House Budget chair? Why, Rep. Paul "Embrace the sweet pain that comes from cutting entitlements" Ryan.

And when I say "freak out," I mean freak out: the Democrats are so upset about this that they've lost all control of their higher brain functions and have reverted to babbling about Social Security privatization. And unilateralism! We haven't heard that one in a while.

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6. MTV's Teen Abortion Sales Pitch: It's Just "A Ball of Cells"

In July of this year, leftist Feminists were openly, and proudly, rooting for an abortion to be portrayed on prime-time television. And in April of this year, leftist Feminists like Jessica Valenti of Feministing were grossly bemoaning the fact that Mtv's show, 16 and Pregnant, did not portray any teenage girls having abortions. They wanted sixteen year old girls to have abortions. On television. Way to be pro-woman and For The Children ™, faux feminists! By For The Children, I of course mean totally not at all for the children – unless they can be used and exploited to further an agenda, natch. You see, it's never actually about women nor children to them; it's always about an agenda and an ideology that treats motherhood as a yoke around a woman's neck. Motherhood is so old school and oppressive and stuff! What with those pesky children wanting to be nurtured and loved, while providing a joy that fills one's heart so full that it cannot be adequately put into words. Well, and wanting to, you know, live. Who do they think they are?

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7. Klein's Crazy Constitutional Commentary.

Ezra Klein, the Washington Post's young liberal pundit has offered up a brilliant bit of left-wing honesty. Klein admitted on national television that he thinks the U.S. Constitution is confusing because "it was written more than 100 years ago."

It really makes you wonder why liberals were so upset with George Bush supposedly shredding the thing if it confuses them anyway. The video really is a must see video.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

I'm Quotin' GOD!

Last night was my finest night on radio ever. This, by the way, was one of the highlights. Enjoy it.

I'll be back on the radio tonight filling in for Herman Cain between 7pm and 10pm ET. You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com. You can call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

Georgia Democrats Descend Into Parody and Race Baiting

If you are a Republican, you wear white sheets and attend midnight meetings. That is if you believe Robert Brown.

Brown is now, after the decimation of Democrats in Georgia, the highest ranking Democrat in the whole state. He serves as leader of the Democrats in the State Senate.

On a local television program in Middle Georgia, Senator Brown was asked about a series of party switchers from Democrats to Republicans. Brown responded, "I mean, what does the wife do then, put on some red sheets on the bed and say 'You know we can get rid of the blue sheets, but keep the white one over there because we might need that one for the midnight meeting.'"

Robert Brown has a history of racially incendiary remarks, having in the past accused Republicans of "Willie Horton" politics and other supposed racist actions.

It could be that Robert Brown is unfamiliar with what typically goes on between sheets, in which case we might forgive him. But whether he's race baiting or just that dumb, it's hard to mount a convincing case that he should actually be the highest ranked state level Democrat in Georgia.

Morning Briefing for December 30, 2010

RedState Morning Briefing

For December 30, 2010

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

1. Georgia Democrats Descend Into Parody and Race Baiting

2. On Vick and values

3. Union Pickets Baltimore's City Paper Demanding Reporter's 'Resonation'

4. What the BLS survey modification will and will not do.

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1. Georgia Democrats Descend Into Parody and Race Baiting

If you are a Republican, you wear white sheets and attend midnight meetings. That is if you believe Robert Brown.

Brown is now, after the decimation of Democrats in Georgia, the highest ranking Democrat in the whole state. He serves as leader of the Democrats in the State Senate.

On a local television program in Middle Georgia, Senator Brown was asked about a series of party switchers from Democrats to Republicans. Brown responded, "I mean, what does the wife do then, put on some red sheets on the bed and say 'You know we can get rid of the blue sheets, but keep the white one over there because we might need that one for the midnight meeting.'"

Robert Brown has a history of racially incendiary remarks, having in the past accused Republicans of "Willie Horton" politics and other supposed racist actions.

It could be that Robert Brown is unfamiliar with what typically goes on between sheets, in which case we might forgive him. But whether he's race baiting or just that dumb, it's hard to mount a convincing case that he should actually be the highest ranked state level Democrat in Georgia.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. On Vick and values

As Tucker Carlson similarly stated, I, too, am a Christian and believe in forgiveness and redemption. And Vick did his time in jail and claims to be rehabilitated. Fine. But let's not forget how we got here in the first place and why he's back in uniform: because we increasingly place more value on scoring points/runs/goals - and perhaps on winning elections - than we do on the character of those who are directly involved and on the values that should drive behavior in America. In the words of one of my esteemed Redstate colleagues: wouldn't it be nice if there was as much rage over the millions of aborted babies in this country as there has been over the dogs that Vick killed?

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3. Union Pickets Baltimore's City Paper Demanding Reporter's 'Resonation'

Back in November, Baltimore's City Paper ran a rather lengthy story about the corruption of Baltimore's Local 333 of the International Longshoremen's Association. It was a good piece, filled with colorful examples (like the one below) of the characters who load and unload containers from ships in Baltimore's port.

In December, the City Paper also did a short follow-up to its November story. As could be expected, though, the union hasn't taken too kindly to having light shed on its otherwise tarnished reputation. So, on Monday, the union did what unions are known to do when they find themselves under scrutiny: The union attacked the messenger, taking their message about "human rights" to the sidewalks outside the City Paper.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. What the BLS survey modification will and will not do.

You may have heard that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has modified its survey of unemployment. There is probably going to be a good deal of confusion over what's being changed, so let me summarize the situation.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Filling in for Herman Cain Tonight & Tomorrow

Tonight and tomorrow night I am filling in for Herman Cain on WSB radio in Atlanta. The show airs live from 7pm to 10pm ET. You can call in and be part of the show at 1-800-WSB-TALK. You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com.

Consider this an open thread.

The quintessential example of media bias for the 2010 election cycle

Over the next few days, various news networks, newspapers, magazines, and others will present a retrospective on 2010: what the media got right, what the media got wrong, best moments, worst moments, etc.

Let me present what has to be the quintessential example of media bias in coverage of the 2010 elections.

The candidate was the upstart upset. With the state's political players all lined up in the primary for the other guy — including the party chairman, the congressional delegation, EVERYBODY — the candidate beat the establishment pick, upset the apple cart, had people crying foul, and went on to be annihilated in the general election.

That candidate was not Christine O'Donnell, though you'd think so given the facts as I presented them. Certainly that was her story too. And the media covered the heck out of Christine O'Donnell.

But I'm talking about Alvin Greene. Remember him? I'm sure you do, though not if any major news outlet had anything to do with it.

The media was quite titillated at the idea that Alvin Greene was a Republican dirty trick. They clung to Congressman Jim Clyburn's every word when he made those accusations. There was a great "whodunit" story the media circulated. But an investigation discovered Alvin Greene saved his money, paid his fee, and won fair and square.

Then the media went silent on Alvin Greene, only pulsing when the drumbeat of YouTube clips turned into a roaring din of the absurb. Otherwise, the media pretended Alvin Greene did not exist. They only wanted to cover Christine O'Donnell.

There were two candidates who rocked the boat, shocked everyone, and caused unforeseen upsets. I don't know whether it was because of his party, his skin color, his IQ, or what, but the media willfully ignored Alvin Greene.

Instead, they gave such over the top coverage to Christine O'Donnell many Democrats were left venting that other candidates escaped the media pat down. That's also why Christine O'Donnell is my big hero for the 2010 election cycle. Because she so distracted the media, others had a chance to win they might not have gotten.

Morning Briefing for December 29, 2010

RedState Morning Briefing

For December 29, 2010

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

1. The quintessential example of media bias for the 2010 election cycle

2. How Liberals Plan To Destroy The Senate With 51 Votes

3. University Study Confirms Renewable Energy Isn't Economically Feasible

———————————————————————-

1. The quintessential example of media bias for the 2010 election cycle

Over the next few days, various news networks, newspapers, magazines, and others will present a retrospective on 2010: what the media got right, what the media got wrong, best moments, worst moments, etc.

Let me present what has to be the quintessential example of media bias in coverage of the 2010 elections.

The candidate was the upstart upset. With the state's political players all lined up in the primary for the other guy — including the party chairman, the congressional delegation, EVERYBODY — the candidate beat the establishment pick, upset the apple cart, had people crying foul, and went on to be annihilated in the general election.

That candidate was not Christine O'Donnell, though you'd think so given the facts as I presented them. Certainly that was her story too. And the media covered the heck out of Christine O'Donnell.

But I'm talking about Alvin Greene.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. How Liberals Plan To Destroy The Senate With 51 Votes

Progressives, liberals and left of center politicians have teamed up to radically curtail the rights of Republican Senators in the next Congress. They have a plan to "kill the filibuster," so that they can establish a top down system of control next year in the Senate. This plan to kill the filibuster will stifle dissent and relegate Republican Senators to observer status in the newly reformed Senate. If you thought that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) ran a tight ship during her tenure, get ready for a Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) willing to obstruct all Republican opportunities to offer amendments and extend debate.

The left is promoting a myth that the filibuster can be changed with merely 51 votes. Progressive Katrina vanden Heuvel wrote over at the Washington Post demanding that liberal Senators rid the Senate of Rule 22 by a simple majority vote in the new Congress. This is nothing more than a naked power grab by the left so they can confirm far left wing nominees to the Courts and to establish complete control over the agenda of the United States Senate.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. University Study Confirms Renewable Energy Isn't Economically Feasible

Colorado State University recently completed a study on the economic feasibility of increasing the usage of renewable energy. The results of this study were published in the world-renowned science periodical, The Coloradoan. Another stimulus-funded study of the obvious? No, what we have here is simply a heavy dose of reality for academicians who aren't willing to match their rhetoric with their pocketbook. Some of the quotes in this article are quite humorous.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Morning Briefing for December 28, 2010

RedState Morning Briefing

For December 28, 2010

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

We're back! Hope you had a great and Merry Christmas. I'll be sending out the Morning Briefing all this week, including New Year's Eve.

God bless,

— Erick

1. Senate Democrats Poised for Power Grab

2. President Meets With Union Bosses to Discuss Government-Union "Partnership"

3. Read Biden's Lips: new taxes in 2013!

4. Carole Shea-Porter… BROUGHT DOWN BY THE PRC?

5. The Public-Pension Plague Persists: Tony Soprano Pays a Visit to Sweet Home Alabama

6. The *true* John Conyers scandal.

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1. Senate Democrats Poised for Power Grab

Senate Democrats are presently working over the Christmas break to deliver a lump of coal to the American people in the form of a radical changing of the Senate's rules. This is a naked power grab by liberals in the Senate pure and simple.

The National Journal reports that Senate Democrats are laying the groundwork to chip away at the filibuster on January 5, 2011. They are going to push the idea that a simple majority of the Senate can abolish the filibuster rules, or radically change the rules, in a new Congress.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. President Meets With Union Bosses to Discuss Government-Union "Partnership"

The U.S. Department of Labor, which has become akin to the Ministry of Workers' Councils, regularly issues a newsletter via e-mail and posts it on the Ministry's website. This week, among other items touted, was this little gem on union bosses meeting with President Obama to discuss growing the economy and the government-union partnership.

It's funny that the administration still refuses to admit that unions are the antithesis of private-sector job creation. In fact, it seems the only way unions create jobs is to buy politicians who steal other people's money, then reward the union bosses with taxpayer dollars and government-approved discrimination.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Read Biden's Lips: new taxes in 2013!

Vice President Joe Biden, bless his heart, is promising that there's going to be a tax hike (including one on small businesses) in 2013. This, despite the fact that that the Republicans used their 58/42 minority in the Senate and 256/179 minority in the House to somehow prevent the current ruling party from moving ahead on the promised tax hikes: no doubt the President will make a speech and shine the light of his countenance upon the 112th Congress, thus causing them to tremble and flee the righteous Hope-and-Change of the Lightworker. Or the President will pout, which will probably have roughly the same effect.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Carole Shea-Porter… BROUGHT DOWN BY THE PRC?

That's the implication, at least: Soon to be former Congresswoman Shea-Porter is going around telling people that the reason that she lost was because of all that dirty, dirty (and apparently foreign) special interest money. The quote: "They're in the halls of Congress everywhere, and it means, for example, that you sit on a committee and you say something about concern about Chinese influence or something, you don't even know if in the next election, somehow or another, they manage to send some money to some group that now doesn't even have to say where they got it."

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. The Public-Pension Plague Persists: Tony Soprano Pays a Visit to Sweet Home Alabama

It is hard to imagine a more diverse pair of places that have been overrun by the infestation of public-sector pension problems than Prichard, Alabama and the withering Garden State of New Jersey. One might expect the problems in the Garden State of New Jersey, which is home to such luminaries as Grover Cleveland, Thomas Edison, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and (the fictitious mob boss) Tony Soprano, and where a senator-turned-governor sleeps with a union boss and still nearly wins re-election. However, unlike New Jersey, Prichard, Alabama is hardly an example union bosses run amok—in fact, as a Right-to-Work state, 12 percent of Alabama's workforce is unionized. Nevertheless, both are the latest examples in a string of bad news stories involving public-sector pensions.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

6. The *true* John Conyers scandal.

Background: back over Thanksgiving weekend John Conyers III (the son of Rep. John Conyers) reported a theft of computers and concert tickets from the car that he was using. The problem? John Conyers III was using the car unlawfully: it was leased to his father's Congressional office as an official vehicle, and Conyers was not using it in an official capacity. And it wasn't anything like an one-time event, either: John Conyers III also got a speeding ticket on the car back in September. The behavior was so egregious that Rep. Conyers isn't even trying to fight it: he's just swiftly reimbursing the government as comprehensively as possible before the 112th Congress gets sworn in.

None of this is the true scandal. The true scandal is that we're only hearing about this now. Rep. Conyers - who is, by the way, still the JUDICIARY CHAIR - has a history of abusing official resources. His wife is in jail for bribery. There is thus zero excuse for the media not to jump on this with both feet… and if the man had an R after his name, they would have. Then again, if Rep. Conyers had had an R after his name the media would have destroyed him years ago.

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Merry Christmas

From all of us here at RedState to all of you, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

— Erick

The Gospel of Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.