Have a Blessed Christmas

Drill Baby Drill

Free Nobel Peace Prize With Oil Change

Gasoline Prices in Minnesota Up 49 Percent from One Year Ago

Drill baby drill.

Will North Dakota Turn This Time?

Well, Gov. Hoeven may not be running, but this is quite an indicator of the sentiment in a Red State that is represented in Congress by Democrats across the board. RCP Blog: ND Sen Poll: Hoeven Trounces Dorgan

Haven't you heard?

It's clear the Tribune's Kathleen Hennessey is writing from D.C. Her snide piece on Michele Bachmann exudes the conventional wisdom, and it's obvious Bachmann is a stand-in for Palin, who has inspired similar attacks, though more venomous and hysterical.

I'd say the beltway GOP was responsible for the NY loss, and it appears they may have learned their lesson. Even moderate New Trier back here in the Midwest is not willing to endorse a Dede Dem-light mush.

As for Hennessey's attempt to define what's mainstream by mockery of those who are concerned (Robert Rubin a rightie?!!) about our massive IOU's to China, or disagree with the gullible global warming crowd, look around. Those lightbulbs are hazardous, especially for children, and awfully dim, especially for older readers. It's not just the "right brigade" that is concerned, people are worried--why can't they have a choice--why must it be a government mandate? I'd say she should look for her news outside the MSM to realize what's really going on in the world.

As far as our President Barack Obama being anti-American, well, reasonable people have their doubts. About that and other things.

The tea party is mainstream. As is Bachmann. George Will:

Some of her supposed excesses are, however, not merely defensible, they are admirable. For example, her June 9 statement on the House floor in which she spoke of "gangster government" has been viewed on the Internet about 2 million times. She noted that, during the federal takeover of General Motors, a Democratic senator and one of her Democratic House colleagues each successfully intervened with GM to save a constituent's dealership from forced closure. One of her constituents, whose dealership had been in the family for 90 years, told her that the $15 million dealership had been rendered worthless overnight, and, Bachmann said, "GM is demanding that she hand over her customer list," probably to give it to surviving GM dealerships that once were competitors.

In her statement, Bachmann repeatedly called such politicization of the allocation of economic rewards "gangster government." And she repeatedly noted that the phrase was used by a respected political analyst, Michael Barone, principal co-author of the Almanac of American Politics, who coined it in connection with the mugging of GM bondholders in the politicized bankruptcy. Bachmann, like Barone, was accurate.

George Will is hardly a member of the "right brigade".

But even if he were, haven't you heard?

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

Nelson's Fecklessness and Treachery

Nebraskans must be proud this morning. Legal Insurrection.

Shorter Ben Nelson: Killing Indian Babies is Fine, Just Don’t Kill White Babies. RedState.

For The First Time In US History A Sweeping, Unpopular Bill Passed On A Purely Partisan Vote. Say Anything.

CBO Sees Diminished Quality of Care and Reduced Access. Ruby Slippers

Despite the sneering left giving her an award for her death panel characterization, I'd say Sarah Palin was Right.

And we see the big lie of ObamaCare and the Dems, just the latest lie.

The Church at Advent

For a smaller government

Rasmussen: 66% Of Americans Prefer Smaller Government That Does Less

America is majority conservative.

TEA party leadership seminar plans in Dallas in January. Riehl World View.

Nebraska Gov. To Sen. Nelson: Kill the Bill

HotAir. Great comment:

I seriously can’t believe that both Mark Warner and Jim Webb will vote for this thing either, after the landslide victory by Bob McDonnell in Virginia. I would love to see McDonnell write both of them a similar letter. This bill will blow a huge hole in Virginia’s state budget too.

Tim Pawlenty ought to do this too. Make Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken own up to the costs they are going to impose on the citizens of Minnesota.

In fact, it would be a good tactic for Haley Barbour to have all Republican governors write to their senators urging them to oppose this bill.

rockmom on December 17, 2009 at 10:52 AM

That means North Dakota most especially. Put Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan on the spot, Gov. Hoeven. Then there's South Dakota, with Sandlin already vulnerable.

P.S. The other Senator from South Dakota, Republican John Thune, The Democrats' Health Care Plan Doesn't Deliver

More. Al Franken needs to be brushed back.

T-Paw in New Hampshire

Carl Cameron on Special Report tonight described him as very conservative. I wouldn't say that. I would say conservative. And successful in a blue state, a remarkable achievement.

I wouldn't rule Pawlenty out, even though Mitt Romney lives in New Hampshire.

That said, this reimportation of drugs from Canada idea is really annoying. Where do the drugs come from anyway? Are they made in Canada? Under its socialized medicine? Nah. They come from elsewhere. And they're cheaper because Canada fixes the price, among other things.

So don't give us this cheap populist talk. Please governor. You know better.

P.S. Talk about the Mayo Model again.

More. Pioneer Press, with this snippet at the end:

Peter Spaulding, formerly John McCain's state chairman, said he is more familiar with Pawlenty due to the governor's visits to the state on behalf of McCain. He also praised the speech.

"I think he did very well. He talked about the fact that the Republican Party needs to be inclusive, to expand our base. He also mentioned several times that the party has to be a party of ideas, new ideas. Overall, I thought it was very well done," Spaulding said.

"I thought he had a good personality, a good delivery. He had a little bit of humor. Those are all things that go over well in New Hampshire."

He's good at retail politics. Union Leader. OK, this is good:

Today, Pawlenty blasted the Obama administration and the Democrats for promoting a what he described as a far too costly health care plan.

"President Obama was here in New Hampshire on New Hampshire primary night and said he was going to fix health care by bringing Republicans and Democrats together," he said. "Well, here we are in New Hampshire and now what we see is a monstrosity being jammed down our throats on almost a purely partisan basis and maybe entirely partisan basis." He called the Democratic-led process on Capitol Hill that has led to the likely passage of a health care reform package "one of the largest political bait and switch tactics in the modern history of the country." He said the Minnesota health care system, while imperfect, gives participants broad market choices. He said the state employee plan has kept cost increases at or near zero percent for the past five years.

Read on. Like the affinity with the tea party.

Heartland Dems on the Spot

Five Democrats Acknowledge Massive Middle Class Tax Hikes

Dems Vote In Opposition To The Core Of The Democrats’ Health Bill; Just One Of Five Will Be Needed To Stop Tax Hike On 42.1 Million Americans

Senators Bayh, Cantwell, Klobuchar, Lincoln, & Nelson [NE] Vote For Sen. Crapo’s Motion To Recommit

(S.Amdt.2961 To H.R.3590, Roll Call Vote #376, Motion To Recommit Failed 45-54: R: 40-0; D 5-52; I 0-2, Sens. Bayh, Cantwell, Klobuchar, Lincoln & Nelson [NE] Voted Aye, 12/15/09)

“Crapo’s Motion Proposes That Families Earning Up To $250,000 A Year — Or Individuals Earning Up To $200,000 — Do Not Have Their Taxes Raised To Pay For Health Care Reform.” (“GOP Woos Health Bill Moderates,” Roll Call, 12/15/09)

Under The Reid Bill: “In 2019, 42.1 Million Individuals And Families Or 25% Of All Tax Returns Under $200,000 Will, On Average, See Their Taxes Go Up.”

“Reid’s Proposal Would Be Financed Through Billions Of Dollars In … New Taxes.” “Like the House bill, Reid's proposal would be financed through billions of dollars in Medicare cuts, as well as new taxes.” (“Senate Health-Care Bill Diverges From House On Key Provisions,” The Washington Post, 11/19/09)

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE MINORITY STAFF ANALYSIS OF JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION FINDINGS: “In 2019, 42.1 million individuals and families or 25% of all tax returns under $200,000 will, on average, see their taxes go up. This is even after taking into account the premium tax credit.” (“Non-Partisan Congressional Analysis Indicates that the Reid Bill Increases Taxes By a 3 to 1 Ratio on People Making Less than $200,000 a Year,” Senate Finance Committee Minority Staff, 12/08/09)

Herseth Sandlin Vulnerable

New PPP poll.

Will she be another Dem dropout? RCP here.

More at via South Dakota War College blog. Dems' making anti-Semitic remarks?

Stop Stephanie.com.

Pawlenty Loves Minnesota

So much he touts a Spam sandwich. Well I had some too when I was a kid but I preferred peanut butter for my regular lunch. The Minnesota governor and presumed Republican presidential candidate was in Chicago the other day and sat down with our favorite and reliably irreverent local conservative columnist, the Chicago Tribune's John Kass. Here you go.

Cold Water

Renaissance Woman:)

Sarah Palin continues to astonish. Some. Others know bone-deep she is a rare thing. Like me:)

Sarah the Lionheart.

Even gadfly Alaskan Dem Mike Gravel is impressed: Sarah America:)

She is who she is. (Even AP starting to get conflicted. Times of London.) The truth gets through.

Previous posts: Sarah Competitive with The One, Palin 2012?

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

Gray Lady Worried

The NY Times front page today features the rural elderly as the latest victims for them to exploit in aid of their big government ObamaCare agenda--which would actually harm most rural states and the elderly who inhabit them. Yet even in the Times own story is the real story. 80 year old Norma Clark slipped and broke her hip. She tied her legs together with rope and dragged herself back:

A dutiful farm wife, Ms. Clark somehow even got to her feet to latch the gate. And her first call when she got to the house was not to 911, but to a daughter 30 miles away.

A "dutiful farm wife"? How patronizing, how typical Times. How about an individual honed by a lifetime of responsibility and self-sufficiency? (This reminds me of a Times' reporter describing my dad as having a "bucolic twang" years ago. His dad was from New York and my dad spoke like Walter Cronkite.) People in rural areas primarily rely on family, friends and neighbors. Granted, Norma Clark now gets the help of a nursing assistant, but if ObamaCare passes she would probably be warehoused somewhere, on the road to the death panel. She would probably choose to move in with her daughter.

From the Washington Post comes the meme that the Tea Party movement is divisive and will rip the GOP apart. Dream on. Tea Party concerns permeate the party outside of the beltway--even in bastions of moderation, like Illinois' north-suburban 10th congressional district. And those who espouse common sense tea party reform are gathering broad support.

No wonder the Gray Lady is worried to distraction.

Pawlenty vs. Romney

On the Massachusetts health care plan, not a miracle upon closer scrutiny.

This is a key hurdle for Romney to overcome for 2012. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, Sarah Palin is making (good) headlines.

Geese in the Park

Hmm, home again. How about Egg Nog of the old Cajuns. It's getting cold around here. This is a warm recipe. And Red Stick Rant is skiing the decline:)

A Long Recession?

James Pethokoukis on the Goldman Sachs forecast.

Maybe I'll learn eBay.

Since I may not be able to sell my empty-nester house, auction it off little by little.

And plant a better garden next spring.

I'll keep my little dog, though. She's sweet but she has sharp teeth. Don't knock on my door, Barack.

Weathervane at Mt. Vernon

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

George Washington

Back blogging in a week or two.

Pungent Imagery from Pawlenty

“They should be focused like a laser on jobs, not acting like a manure-spreader in a wind storm,” Pawlenty told Iowa Republicans gathered in an exhibition hall at the state fairgrounds, criticizing Democrats for their efforts on healthcare and energy.

The Minnesota Governor and presumed GOP presidential candidate also went after President Obama on the failure of the stimulus and the high unemployment rate. Pawlenty proposed tax cuts to grow the economy again. Politico. Pawlenty behind the scenes:

Sneaky Pomeroy

Did Earl Pomeroy Vote For A Health Care Ponzi Scheme?

Peterson, Pomeroy No for Now

Peterson voting against health care bill for the sake of his grandkids. Fargo Forum.

He's not alone. More:

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN): We Are Adding More Entitlements When We Can't Pay For The Ones We Have Now. "I wish people would quit asking about the public option because it's not what the issue is. This is complete ideology run amuck. The issue is we are not reforming Medicare. We are adding more entitlements without being able to pay for the entitlements we have now." On the Medicare-payment reform studies in the House bill, Peterson added, "There are not reforms there, it's a study. "I mean. I have so many problems with this bill I don't even know where to start - too much government bureaucracy, not making the reforms that we need to make in the health care system overall. "I don't think there's any way that I could support what they're doing unless they start over. That's how bad it is. (Tom Scheck, "Collin Peterson A Firm No On Health Care Bill," Minnesota.publicradio.org, 10/30/09)

Next door in RedState North Dakota Dem Rep. Earl Pomeroy feeling the heat too.

Mellow Fall

TeaParty HealthCare House Call

Minnesota Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann rallied 10,000 or so TeaParty Patriots to make a house call on their representatives to express their opposition to the Dem bill, and voice their views on alternative reforms.

Initial news reports were that some conservative protesters had been arrested at the Capitol but it turns out they were Code Pinkos, which Politico noted deep in their story.

The Dems have the majority but do they have the votes? Abortion is still an issue.

I blogged a bit on the rally here.

Independents Flex Their Muscles

Look especially at upscale suburban districts--they went for Obama last time, falling for his so cool persona amid the financial bust last fall. But the Barackstar has taken us over a liberal big government cliff, plunging us into economic peril and promising never-ending tax increases. Michael Barone, Washington Examiner draws lessons from the election results.

This should impact Chicago suburbs as well in next year's election. The stimulus has been a sad joke in Obama's home state. Add to that the parallels of Illinois to New Jersey on their failing economic models, taxes and rampant corruption and you have a glimmer of hope for the Land of Lincoln to turn purple too in 2010.

The electorate is in a state of flux, the TeaParty movement was an early indicator, but the shift is clear--to the right.

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

Conservative Challengers 2010: Kirk Target

The Politico calls it a "nightmare scenario". We shall see. Conservative Eric Wallace has withdrawn for the Senate in Illinois, so conservative support should coalesce around anti-tax Patrick Hughes. ( A bit of a rookie politically) NBC5Chicago:

Hughes is currently the Chairman of Sensible Taxpayers Opposed to Increased Taxes. STOP-IT is a committee whose mission is to prevent any increase in the state income tax, cut wasteful spending and lessen the impact of special interests in Springfield. They are responsible for lobbying for fiscal responsibility and restraint in state government. According to his campaign site, "Pat was credited by state party leaders, including House Minority Leader Tom Cross and State Senator Kirk Dillard, with playing a major role in defeating Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed 50% income tax increase on Illinois taxpayers."

Kirk got in trouble because he voted for cap and tax. Yes, it was a massive tax under cover of a feel good greenie lalaland bill--with corporate and crony subsidies. (Note Al Gore's greedy gambit finally exposed in the NY Times.)

To his credit he is at least listening now, and says he won't vote for it again in the Senate. And he has blasted SEIU/ACORN.

Fiscal issues, jobs and the economy predominate this year and barring any miraculous recovery, will continue well into 2010. The conservative mood of the country is on the march. Match it or fall by the wayside.

HT Memeorandum.

More. Mary Kate Cary, USA Today, American Mainstream Is Looking More Like Republican Mainstream. Related posts, Just Words from Valerie Jarret. And No Uncle Joe.

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

Iowans for Tax Relief

Opinion: Budget reduction measure #4: Charge for state employee health insurance

Low income families pay more for their insurance than state employees.

Sarahcuda in Play:)

HotAir.

Dr. Melissa made a good point the other day too.

Who shall lead us? :)

Who indeed: What a fisherman said about Sarah Palin.

And I would add this:

The Culture of Minnesota is a subculture of the United States with influences from Scandinavian Americans, German Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, Polish Americans and numerous other immigrant groups.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_betcha

Don't misunderestimate us, and Palin's appeal.

Related post: Winners and Losers in NY-23

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

A Look Back at Summer Green

There are some wild turkeys in the shade, trust me.

Let's Harass Earl Pomeroy (D-ND)

RedState has the SCOOP.

And hold Dem Sen. Kent Conrad's feet to the fire. A phony fiscal conservative.

P.S. Earl Pomeroy doesn't like taking questions from the alternative media. Rob Portman, Say Anything. Audio.

Straight Talk from Iowa

Coralville Courier: Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) exposes hypocrisy of NFL Commissioner Goodell:

Some independence

Pushback in Kansas on ObamaCare.

Pushback in North Dakota on beltway GOP cupidity.

Pro-life Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak is adamant on not funding abortions.

And in Iowa, Locals voice opinion on franchise tax and Obama. Video:

Michele, Blue State Belle

The conservative Michele. Bachmann. Smart Politics: Bachmann Raising Significantly Larger Out-of-State Funds Per Capita from Obama States than McCain States

In fact, 10 of the top 12 locales contributing at the highest rate to Bachmann are in Obama Territory, led by the District of Columbia, which sets the pace at a rate of $688.37 per 100,000 residents.

Only the red states of Nebraska (#2, $583.15) and Wyoming (#4, $478.72) crack the Top 12, with deep blue states like Maryland (#3, $516.54), Illinois #7 ($324.57), Vermont (#8, $321.92), and California (#9, $279.57) all perched in the Top 10 in per capita contributions to one of the U.S. Houses' most conservative members.

Can I take credit for Illinois?:) We know Obama well. Put it that way. And have great respect for savvy women bucking the tide in Blue States:)

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

The ACORN Man Series

24th State.

Will on Michele Bachmann

A nice piece by former Illinoisan George Will. Powerline fills in some blanks--Bachmann is a former tax litigator.

More. She's getting strong small donor support.

Sere

How ObamaCare will Impact States

Heritage. The End of Federalism: How Obamacare Will Impact States

Sticking the States with ObamaCare's Tab

This continues to be mostly under the radar, as Dem governors mostly won't address this publicly but the healthcare bill's HUGE unfunded mandates are an issue in Missouri, as the ranking Republican speaks up. Kansas City Star Prime Buzz: Kinder calls health care bills an "economic nightmare"; challenges McCaskill and Nixon. Video here.

Trust and Consequences

RedState: The October Rasmussen Trust numbers. (Ten for ten)

Yukio Ngaby, Critical Narrative: Obama Morals, the Selling Out of Hope

James Pethokoukis: America's Banana Republic Economy

NetRightNation: Government Should Stay Out of Media, Let the Press Fend for Itself

Hugh Hewitt blog: Hoaxes and Busted Polling. Just Another Day in MSM.

Moi: What would Mao do?

2010. The tsunami.

--cartoon by Michael Ramirez, IBD

Case Still Open on Ayers' Authorship

Thomas Lipscomb, Pajamas Media, "What If Ayers’ ‘Joke’ About Writing Dreams Is On the Press?"

P.S. Just to clarify--it didn't occur to me that it was a set-up by the Obama administration. Any way you look at it this was not in Obama's interests. It did not at all defuse speculation.

Commenters on the PM post consider it a shot across the bow by Ayers on education. Yes. Also on the course of the war. Earlier post on this here.

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

Previous posts: Is Obama a Gifted Writer?, Barack Obama, America's Author in Chief, Obama Ayers Queering your Kids, Screw Math and Science, Will Ayers Write Obama's Nobel Speech?, Ayers Publishing Timeline, Earth to NY Times

A Few More Flowers

These from George Washington's Mt. Vernon. Early snow in the north country, so a splash of summer from Virginia. Taken on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Ah, the correct word is "whipping."

No, Garrison. We conservatives are not betting against America. We Americans are not betting against America.

You see, it's not all about The One.

(Garrison's a bit of a snob--Norway in December---it's not all about you Garrison. How bout let Rio do the Nobels next.)

Many Americans saw their soul-mate in Barack Obama. Some gave our President Barack Obama the benefit of the doubt. Others, being from Chicago, knew grave doubt. (Still others saw great...opportunity.) But now we mostly know..kind of Lincoln-y...

Barack Obama is not America. He is the anti-America.

Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility would weep.

Whipping. You don't say.

More. Daniel Henninger, WSJ: This Nobel is About Political Decadence.

Previous post: His Goodist Yet

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

Bachmann on Offense

Smart Politics: Bachmann 'Sends a Message to the Left': Raises $89,000 in One Day. She does well raising money especially from individuals and donors. And get your conservative women calendar here.

The NY Times today takes a whack at her, referring to Bachmann as an "agitator", though they do note further down,

Still, Ms. Bachmann, a lawyer, former state senator and mother of five who with her husband, Marcus, a clinical therapist, has opened their home to 23 foster children

Obviously suspect.

Her likely Dem opponent Tarryl Clark is sure to raise taxes (she turned left after Reagan--obviously no tax is high enough)--how does that "keep people in their homes"?

A lot of what raises eyebrows at the flute-toned NY Times seems like common sense to me--and she's not the only one worried about the dollar as a measure of our financial strength--or weakness, as it stands now. I'd say she's pretty sharp.

More. This is interesting. Apparently the residents of 30 states are now to be marginalized by the Left as "Tenthers". Middle of the road Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa states his own concerns. The tea party spirit spreads.

Keep Michelle Bachmann in Congress

Powerline.

Agreed. And a Minnesota Nice mom with a quick wit. The left is targeting her in a big way, naturally.

Support Michele Bachmann.

Pawlenty on the Baucus Bill

The Baucus Prescription: Higher Taxes and Higher Premiums

Big Government.

Obama Communications Failure to Communicate

White House "Communications" Director Anita Dunn accuses Fox of not being a news network, and whines that they actually fact-check. I'd say this was a failure to communicate, hmm, hmm, hmm. (Apropos video below) Newbusters handily debunks, including this quip:

Wow! Isn't that terrible. Imagine the nerve of a journalist actually fact-checking a member of the White House.

Horrors.

Of course, on a related humorous note, the network she was praising, CNN, last week actually spent time fact-checking a "Saturday Night Live" routine.

I guess in Dunn's view, assuring the accuracy of a comedy sketch is far more worthy of a cable news network than auditing what a White House official said.

Note to Ms. Dunn--what do you think voters in red states that went blue last time usually watch in airports, or at home. Those may be back to being swing or red states these days, district by district. Americans like to make up their own minds--they're independent that way. Demonizing a network demonizes those who watch it. You do that at your own peril. Patriots Not Politicians are rising. I'd say it was a serious failure to communicate. The Obama administration, holding the whip hand: P.S. NY Times weighs in, with this at the end:

During the presidential campaign, Ms. Dunn said, it booked campaign representatives on Fox to try to reach undecided voters, but by mid-October, the campaign had mostly withdrawn them from the channel’s programs.“It was beyond diminishing returns,” she said. “It was no returns.”

Well, and Fox has more viewers now--how are you going to get them back? The election margin of victory for the Obamabots was not all that big. (P.P.S. Maybe the Obama administration should withdraw to the liberal MSM fortress of the Gray Lady. Who will they call a stalker next?)

We are all stalkers now.

Finally, I would say this. The President of the United States should be the president of all Americans. That is the difference between campaigning and governing.

That this administration does not realize they have a duty and responsibility to communicate to all Americans says a lot. That this administration does not seem to know it's not always about the votes but about the good of the country says a lot.

No wonder they are wrecking the country, they don't know how to manage their way out of a paper bag in the real world, all the while thinking they are God's gift--well, maybe we're being charitable--they think they're gods. And Barack Obama is their supreme being.

More. Michael Barone, 'Conceptual language' hides health care's cost. We the people want to read the actual bill, not be pushed around with "conceptual language" and our intelligence insulted by farcical costs that our children and grandchildren will be paying for. STOP LYING TO US--when you even deign to talk to us.

More. Legal Insurrection, Bloggers in Pajamas Unite! First they came for FoxNews...

UPDATE: Huffpo--

But while the administration certainly appreciates progressive new media, it remains wary of it. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, in particular, regards the online left as impractical and counterproductive.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/12/bloggers-furious-at-white_n_317424.html

And Tea Partiers turn on GOP leadership. The Politico. This is news?

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

Nobel, You Betcha

Number 1: Paco Enterprises locates the transcripts from the proceedings of the Nobel Prize Committee and discovers It's Yewnanimous

Chairman Thorbjøm Jagland: Vell, ever’body, let’s get dis herring boat on de fjord. Ve vill now take under consideration nominations fer de Nobel Peace Prize. Sissel, vould yew like to go first?

Sissel: Ja, tank yew, Meester Chairman. I’d like tew nominate de Dalai Lama.

Thorbjøm: Yumpin’ yimminy, Sissel! Yew alvays go fer de easy pickins! Yew got tew larn tew t’ink outside de box. Ja, ja, Kaci, I see yer hand flappin’ in de air like a vind sock. Go ahett.

Kaci: I t’ink ve ought tew giff de prize tew Yorge Boosh [suggestion met with jeers and catcalls]. Vait a goldarn minute, folks! Hear me out. Now, ve all know dat Yorge Boosh had fascist tendencies, but he stopped short a’ launchin’ a kew d’etat. Mebbe ve giff him de prize, he don’t come back, by golly. read the rest here.

If you need to compare any of the above to last night's opening here it is:

The Nobel Prize
by Daily Motion

P.S. If you can't talk to your kids about lutefisk, who will?

tulip O mania

Political Tulipomania. Legal Insurrection. (The photo, the legacy)

Will SNL prick the bubble tonight?

P.S. Hope Diamond: small dead animals...Chamberlain should have got one too....David Warren:

In the event, he could not hold it off. All he had succeeded in doing was cutting the throat of an important ally, Czechoslovakia, and giving away the Czechs' formidable defences in Sudetenland. It was, finally, Chamberlain himself who declared war on Sept. 3, 1939.

And Rob at Say Anything.

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

The Middle Coast Goes to Washington

A British tourist with binoculars told me it was FoxNews broadcasting. (On the left.) The backdrop: Too much going on this week with the Ayers' firestorm. Back to the regular beat next week:)

Bill Ayers No Dream

There I was, sitting in Reagan National Monday morning, sipping a Starbucks by the United counter before going through security. I had a little time, so I was browsing through the news. Some military guys had borrowed a chair from my table. I looked up from time to time to enjoy the sun streaming through. That's when I saw Bill Ayers, an instant blight. Scruffy, thinning beard, dippy earring, and the wirerims, heading to order. I gathered my things, got my camera ready, and snapped a shot right when he got his coffee.

I asked--what are you doing in D.C. Mr. Ayers?

For a moment I thought he might be on my flight back to Chicago. Charming. Initially I guess he thought I was laying claim to his coffee or something. He gave me an uneasy cheesy smile when he realized I was taking his picture. I asked him if he was speaking at GW? (Only I said GFW, guess I had the VFW on my mind) He said oh you mean GW, he said no...was trying to decide if I was a fan, then said he was giving a lecture in Arlington to a Renaissance group on education--that's what I do, education--you shouldn't believe everything you hear about me, you know nothing about me. I said, I know plenty--I'm from Chicago, a conservative blogger, and I'll post this. (Oh, yeah, Bill Ayers, quite the Renaissance man, nail-bomber extraordinaire. Gee, I see another friend of Barack, U.S. Sec. of Education Arne Duncan was there too. "The conference theme is “A Time for Reflection, Celebration and Rebirth.” How touching. At best, useless, at worst, so wrong.)

Then, unprompted he said--I wrote Dreams From My Father. I said, oh, so you admit it. He said--Michelle asked me to. I looked at him. He seemed eager. He's about my height, short. He went on to say--and if you can prove it, we can split the royalties. So I said, stop pulling my leg. Horrible thought. But he came again--I really wrote it, the wording was similar. I said I believe you probably heavily edited it. He said--I wrote it. I said--why would I believe you, you're a liar.

He had no answer to that. Just looked at me. Then he turned and walked off, and said again his bit about my proving it and splitting the proceeds.

But the question remains--is Barack Obama a fraud? Is his myth-making creation and only major accomplishment a product of Bill Ayers' imagination? (or his own) Is our President Barack Obama's biography written by an unrepentant domestic terrorist?

Perhaps I'll become Bill Ayers' favorite conservative blogger and he can prove his authorship himself--turn over your notes Bill. And how about turning yourself in for your crimes.

I remember that era, Mr. Ayers. People died because of your actions, including your girlfriend. More would have if you had been more successful. And yet you have the gall to teach the teachers of our young. I won't forget your murderous intent, your shameful acts, your contemptible lies and evasions. And when history is written, I hope you'll be reviled--or forgotten.

As for our President, the verdict is still out. But Barack Obama called Bill Ayers friend and colleague for years. That in itself makes a damning statement.

UPDATE: My friend John Ruberry, Marathon Pundit links with remarks. Chicago News Bench links as well. If I ever write a book (of my own), I will love Tom Mannis to do a blurb for the jacket.

UPDATE: Jack Cashill, who first fleshed out the theory that Ayers ghostwrote Obama's book, on the new unofficial bio of Barack and Michelle, at the end of September:

In his new book, "Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage," Best-selling celebrity journalist, Christopher Andersen, has blown a huge hole in the Obama genius myth without intending to do so.

Relying on inside sources, quite possibly Michelle Obama herself, Andersen describes how Dreams came to be published -- just as I had envisioned it in my articles on the authorship of Dreams. With the deadline pressing, Michelle recommended that Barack seek advice from "his friend and Hyde Park neighbor Bill Ayers."

Read it all. Cashill's site here. Professor Ron Radosh with comments as well. James Simpson, DC Independent Examiner on the media silence.

More: Chicago Daily Observer links, lead story.

UPDATE: Comments enabled. Getting some email from conservatives, and one frustrated liberal:

Just admitted it. Unprompted. Just like that. Said he completely authored the entire Obama bio.
Almost as if he knew exactly what your most burning question for him would be.

What a load of horseshit. It even reads like fiction. But that's really all it takes to convince wingnuts. A lil innuendo.

Given all the circular links to reference other posts within your own blog, it seems you have a particularly unhealthy obsession.

It's a smart move on your part to not accept comments and feedback. Conservatives never cease to amaze me in the depths they will stoop to deceive.

I'm so glad your movement is fractured beyond near term repair. Enjoy your misery in the wilderness.

Cody Kessler

My response:

I enabled comments. Forgot to do it when I updated my format.

It wasn't my burning question at all. But it was obviously his.

I would have liked to ask, did you still feel you didn't bomb enough. But we were near security. In an airport. In D.C.

UPDATE: Just so readers know, I have been tracking Ayers for some time. I have an MBA from the University of Chicago. I've lived in the Chicago are for 30 years, so I know the Hyde Park and Chicago radical leftie milieu. And I first noted the release of his flag-stomping photo from the Hillary blog back during the campaign. My earliest posts on Ayers: Barack's Bomber Buddy, Taking Stock of Barack: A Radical Primer, Obama Responds on Che Flag, Judging Barack Obama, Clout List: Rezko Realtor on Obama Sale, Ayers-Dohrn SDS Reunion Tapes, Whiner Ayers, Ayers' Murderous Intent, The Trouble with Ayers, Fascist Obama Campaign, Obama's Founding Brothers, Subversives for Obama, Obama Ayers Khalidi

Barack Obama claims he hardly knew him. Bill Ayers was his political godfather.

UPDATE: Thanks for the links. Palin Twibe Blog. Punch.

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

The last few tomatoes

Another Wrinkle on States Rights

Earlier it was an issue of being forced to accept stimulus funds. This time it's been thrown up by the healthcare battle. True North notes a NY Times story highlighting a Minnesota congressman:

Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota is among the lawmakers in several states who are trying to outlaw the requirement that everyone be insured or pay a penalty.

In more than a dozen statehouses across the country, a small but growing group of lawmakers is pressing for state constitutional amendments that would outlaw a crucial element of the health care plans under discussion in Washington: the requirement that nearly everyone buy insurance or pay a penalty.

Heritage on the policy. And jailtime? It's no wonder people are upset and state legislators are consulting their constitution. If nothing else this whole discussion spotlights how big the federal government has gotten--to the point where Americans are hearkening back to our founding documents for guidance, and protests are welling up as Tea Parties.

ACORN Connections in Senate races

The Carnahan campaign. An issue in the Senate race of the perennial swing state of Missouri, already neck and neck. 24th State. It's practically incestuous.

An issue in the Illinois Senate race as well. Lately these races aren't close here, but this year may be different.

How many other races will ACORN impact?

In hindsight, what about ACORN's role in Minnesota Sen. Al Franken's victory? Katherine Kersten, Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

And can the Dems win without ACORN?

P.S. And as long as we're thinking along these lines, what about Wisconsin? There has been documented vote fraud in Milwaukee, which could impact a Feingold race--he's up in 2010. We know they targeted key states for the Obama victory. Other Senate races? Well, I can't imagine North Dakota has an issue. Ah yes, Nevada. Hmm, Ohio. Well, Jennifer Brunner?! That's enough for now. Bears watching.

P.P.S. Can Princess the Goldfish survive?

More. ACORN head organizer in Missouria admits dual roles. 24th State.

Mayo Holds its Own

Excellent WaPo (9/20) piece on the Mayo Clinic model for healthcare. Front page Fargo Forum this week, as it mentions those hale and hearty Norwegians. (Shortened). Denver Post has it. (Updated and shortened.)

Not to be outdone, Wisconsin hosts model clinics as well, with a rebuttal to the naysayers:

Officials at Mayo and the other model centers reject the argument that their cost figures are explained mostly by demographics. Gundersen’s Thompson points to the high rates of smoking and drinking among many Wisconsin residents. “The stereotype that we’re all bachelor Norwegian farmers out there working till we’re 95 isn’t exactly right,” he said. Gundersen vice president Kathy Klock chimed in, “Have you ever been to Packers stadium?”

No need to encourage any more Packer-Viking rivalry this year. There might be blood.

Ripening Beans

The Audacity (Mendacity) of ACORN

Uncle Barney threw them under the bus, the IRS followed the Census in cutting ties, now this: Treasury agrees to formal review of ACORN

But ACORN is still lashing its wounded tentacles, filing bogus lawsuits against those who exposed their endemic corruption and sending its SEIU partners in crime out to accuse critics of child sex rings of being anti-American. (Gee, where have we heard that kind of thing before)

Back in Illinois, it's business as usual, as the SEIU/ACORN endorses our sitting Dem governor for reelection, including the other usual suspects who supported our indicted and impeached Dem Gov. Blago for reelection--even as he was under 9 separate federal corruption investigations.

And the same union/ACORN thugs have the audacity to openly endorse Dem Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias, who is such a slime he thinks this is a dandy idea (well, he's a granny grifter, it figures) and who still hasn't given a credible explanation of his family bank's relationship to mobster Jaws Giorango, among other outrages. (Nor has our President Barack Obama reiterated his call for clarity, made so many years ago)

And yes, our most brilliant of Presidents, The One, who understands the ENTIRE WORLD is not following closely (Yes we can ) what ACORN has wrought. (Haven't you been communicating with Valerie lately?)

--crossposted at BackyardConservative