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

Dems Feeling the Heat in Missouri

Dead heat in the Senate race, with Dem Sec. of State Robin Carnahan tied with No. 2 GOP House leader Roy Blunt. Rasmussen.

Could it have something to do with the economy?

Could it have something to do with the tea parties?

Scandal in Iowa

Hollywood in Iowa--the tax credit fiasco (Iowa Gov. Chet Culver is a Democrat--I mention this because the LA Times neglects to):

The program is the nation's most generous, with a rebate to filmmakers of up to 50% of what they spend. But Culver called a timeout last week, suspending the program and putting a halt on all reimbursements to film production companies. The reason: An internal audit found a number of, well, discrepancies, including using tax credits to pay for luxury vehicles that filmmakers never used in their movies.

I can just hear the film execs now: "Aren't all farmers rich because of ethanol? We really thought that Mercedes would bring authenticity to the shoot."

Coralville Courier here.

Pawlenty, Romney, Palin

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's Value Voters Summit speech was one of the best. Transcript here. NRO take here.

Mitt Romney compared The One to Jimmy Carter.

Sarah Palin, home to greet her son's return from Iraq, heads to HongKong this week. A new-media savvy Palin raises money for charity and gets her message out.

As far as Huckabee, I give him no chance. Thankfully.

More: Fargo Forum, "Pawlenty undecided on 2012 presidential run".

More: RCP Blog, Minnesota voters approve of Pawlenty, think he'll run.

Fall Fields

A Porn-Free Zone?

Missouri ACORN Claims Acorn Isn't In Missouri

Potemkin on the Potomac: Feingold Bolts

How out of touch is our President Barack Obama? He sets up his own town meetings, his own press--it's like he doesn't want to know. Are you listening Mr. President? Well, one Dem is, Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold:

Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin joined the anti-czar chorus Wednesday, asking Obama to detail the roles and responsibilities of all of the czars in his administration and to explain why he believes the use of czars is consistent with the Senate’s constitutional power to offer advice and consent on top-level executive branch officials.

“To the extent that this undercuts that role and people are put in the place of Cabinet people and really are the key authorities and you can’t question them, that’s something worth talking about,” Feingold said. “I think it’s a fair point.”

Feingold says he doesn’t know if there are any constitutional violations, but he suggested that he may hold an oversight hearing on the matter.

Yes, Obama's Chicago Machine campaign guru David Axelrod can refer to us as unhealthy, Sen. Durbin can make sexual slurs, The NY Times and the DNC call us an angry mob, Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can call us un-American, and now the Dems trot out their misery index miserable failure of a President Jimmy Carter to call us all raaaacists, but Sen. Feingold can apparently understand what he's hearing at his townhalls--this leftist up for reelection is furiously back-pedaling on cap and trade, and is now questioning the Czars--including the Czars' Czar, make no mistake.

P.S. Czar Talk.

They may be failures but the Obama administration wants to institutionalize them and perpetuate them. How typical of liberalism. And there is a cost to us of this--in dollars and in stalling real progress.

More: The real truth about the czars.

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

No Gitmo Terrorists to Threaten Toto

Ft. Leavenworth is off the Gitmo transfer list. KC prime buzz.

Welcome news, given the FBI is pursuing a new sleeper cell in NY and Colorado with plans to allegedly attack America on a 9/11 scale.

Infrastructure is not such an issue in mid-America, but smaller towns are more open.

School Bus Beating in Belleville

St. Louis media.Story. Video. Belleville News Democrat story:

Police are calling the Monday morning attack of a Belleville West High School student on a school bus racially motivated.

Two black juvenile suspects are in custody after they allegedly beat a white student on a bus heading to Belleville West, police and school officials said.

The two student suspects have been suspended. The bus driver just said sit down and drove on.

More. St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

A Belleville police spokesman now says an incident where a white student was beaten by teen black assailants on a bus “may not be racially motivated.”

“It was premature on my part,” said Belleville Police Capt. Don Sax. “It was my personal and emotional comment after only seeing the video briefly.”

Hmm. More reaction:

A teachable moment: Racial thuggery in St. Louis

White Kid Brutalized on School Bus, Noted Racial Healer Barack Obama Unavailable for Comment

Calling Al Sharpton... Vicious Racist Attack On Bus in St. Louis Region (Video)

More: A 9/12 Experience, Dangerous Times.

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

There or Here

We get the top terrorist in Somalia.

FBI nabs suspected Afghan terrorists in NYC.

12 year old Yemeni girl dies in childbirth.

Yemen is the birthplace of Osama bin Laden. His family was very prominent there. Now we know him as one of the most evil men who ever lived. Last known to be on the Afghan-Pakistan border.

We have to fight him and his ilk. There or here.

More: Sixth Minn. man, Muslim convert, reportedly dies in Somalia

--crossposted at BackyardConservative

T-Paw vs. The One

While a massive Tea Party protest was going on in DC, what was our President Barack Obama doing in Minnesota? Was he lauding the Mayo model?

He gave lip service to it, but the Dem bills do not incorporate what really works at the Mayo Clinic.

Prior to The One's visit, Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty outlined his top ten list of things to know about healthcare in Minnesota. The liberal Minneapolis Tribune notes the list but mentions only one of the ten. Here's a video of his remarks.

Dems are already targeting the possible GOP presidential contender. Gee, why don't they show the whole clip with Cavuto? Characterizing the Minnesota Nice governor as extreme won't work.

Pawlenty is making the media rounds. His appearance on ABC's This Week, video via RCP. Expect T-Paw to take on The One again.

P.S. The Minnesota GOP ran an ad in honor of the president's visit.

Is that grass greener?

A question, Mr. President

Red Stick Rant with an idea--put a safety on that trigger option.

An answer, Mr. President. 24th state on what the Dem bill means for a small business.

History is on her side

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-6th) is likely to win reelection. Smart Politics.

She's holding another town meeting this Saturday--not afraid to meet with her constituents. Unlike some.

Ears Ringing

The Kansas City Star highlights this story: Congress returns with ears ringing on health care

The Fargo Forum goes after the nonprofit BlueCross Blue Shield of North Dakota for excesses and financial mismanagement--which actually illustrates the need for insurance competition across state lines. Big government solutions bring corruption--only lots of competition and transparency protect us from that and give consumers choices.

In Arkansas, a key Democrat turns against the public plan.

Center Right

Obama's Montana Potemkin Village

I'd heard about the event from a friend of a friend who lives there, but didn't know how much to credit it. Apparently it's pretty much all true. Via Say Anything, who interviewed with Fargo radio's Scott Hennen. (Audio). Here's the email circulating:

Hello All,

By now you have probably heard that President Obama came to Montana last Friday. However, there are many things that the major news has not covered. I feel that since Bill and I live here and we were at the airport on Friday I should share some facts with you. Whatever you decide to do with the information is up to you. If you chose to share this email with others I do ask that you DELETE my email address before you forward this on.

On Wednesday, August 5th it was announced locally that the President would be coming here. There are many groups here that are against his healthcare and huge spending so those groups began talking and deciding on what they were going to do. The White House would not release ANY details other than the date.

On about Tuesday Bill found out that they would be holding the “Town Hall” at the airport. (This is only because Bill knows EVERYONE at the airport) Our airport is actually located outside of Belgrade (tiny town) in a very remote location. Nothing is around there. They chose to use a hangar that is the most remotely located hangar. You could not pick a more remote location, and you can not get to it easily. It is totally secluded from the public.

FYI: We have many areas in Belgrade and Bozeman which could have held a large amount of folks with sufficient parking. (gymnasiums/auditoriums). All of which have chairs and tables, and would not have to be SHIPPED IN!! $$$$$

During the week, cargo by the TONS was being shipped in constantly. Airport employees could not believe how it just kept coming. Though it was our President coming several expressed how excessive it was, especially during a recession. $$$$$

Late Tuesday/early Wednesday the 12th, they said that tickets would be handed out on Thursday 9am at two locations and the president would be arriving around 12:30 Friday.

Thursday morning about 600 tickets were passed out. However, 1500 were printed at a Local printing shop per White House request. Hmmmm…...900 tickets just DISAPPEARED.

This same morning someone called into the radio from the local UPS branch and said that THOUSANDS of Dollars of Lobster were shipped in for Obama. Montana has some of the best beef in the nation!!! And it would have been really wonderful to help out the local economy. Anyone heard of the Recession?? Just think…with all of the traveling the White House is doing. $$$$$ One can only imagine what else we are paying for.

On Friday Bill and I got out to the airport about 10:45am. The groups that wanted to protest Obama’s spending and healthcare had gotten a permit to protest and that area was roped off. But that was not to be. A large bus carrying SEIU (Service Employees International Union) members drove up onto the area (illegal)and unloaded right there. It was quite a commotion and there were specifically 2 SEIU men trying to make trouble and start a fight. Police did get involved and arrested the one man but they said they did not have the manpower to remove the SEIU crowd.

The SEIU crowd was very organized and young. About 99% were under the age of 30 and they were not locals! They had bullhorns and PROFESSIONALLY made signs. Some even wore preprinted T-shirts. Oh, and Planned Parenthood folks were with them…..professing abortion rights with their T-shirts and preprinted signs. (BTW, all these folks did have a permit to protest in ANOTHER area)

Those against healthcare/spending moved away from the SEIU crowd to avoid confrontation. They were orderly and respectful. Even though SEIU kept coming over and walking through, continuing to be very intimidating and aggressive at the direction of the one SEIU man.

So we had Montana folks from ALL OVER the state with their homemade signs and their DOGS with homemade signs. We had cowboys, nurses, doctors you name it. There was even a guy from Texas who had been driving through. He found out about the occasion, went to the store, made a sign, and came to protest.

If you are wondering about the press…..Well, all of the major networks were over by that remote hangar I mentioned. They were conveniently parked on the other side of the buildings FAR away. None of these crowds were even visible to them. I have my doubts that they knew anything about the crowds.
We did have some local news media around us from this state and Idaho . Speaking of the local media…they were invited. However, all questions were to be turned into the White House in advance of the event. Wouldn’t want anyone to have to think off the top of their head.

It was very obvious that it was meant to be totally controlled by the White House. Everything was orchestrated down to the last detail to make it appear that Montana is just crazy for Obama and government healthcare. Even those people that talked about their insurance woes….....the White House called our local HRDC (Human Resource and Development Committee) and asked for names. Then the White House asked those folks to come. Smoke and mirrors…EVERYTHING was staged!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very dismayed about what I learned about our current White House. The amount of control and manipulation was unbelievable. I felt I was not living in the United States of America , more like the USSR !! I was physically nauseous. Bill and I have been around when Presidents or Heads of State visit. It has NEVER been like this. I am truly very frightened for our country. America needs your prayers and your voices. If you care about our country please get involved. Know the issues. And let Congress hear your voices again and again!! If they are willing to put forth so much effort to BULLY a small town one can only imagine what is going on in Washington DC . Scary!!

Bachmann as Tom Sawyer

Despite efforts by the left to paint her as nuts, Minnesota GOP Rep. Michelle Bachmann is a woman who has a quick wit and a winning way with words.

Tom Sawyer blood brothers. A hero of Hannibal, Mo.

HT HotAir.

State by State Obama Approval Drops

Survey USA via Smart Politics. Record lows in Iowa and Wisconsin, which went blue last time but teeter every 4 years. Missouri also drops, and interestingly some big coastal states are unhappy too. Could it be they're broke, their tax burden is high and their people are unemployed?

Hmm, and maybe Minnesotans' economy faring a bit better could be due to their tax-cutting Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, which has meant a milder disapproval of our President Barack Obama than neighboring states.

Abortion is the issue

North Dakota Catholic Bishops, front page Fargo Forum, come out against abortion funding in ObamaCare.

More: U.S. Catholic Bishops assail parts of healthcare plan. Video.