Pennsylvania Going Republican--Latest Polls Show Hope

I never thought I'd live to see the day where Arlen "Magic Bullet Theory" Specter would be unseated. Here in Pennsylvania, he's become almost as entrenched in his seat as Ted Kennedy was. By now, the actual seat itself is probably growing into Specter's gluteus maximus. From all accounts, though, it looks like Specter's days are numbered as are the rest of the Dems in this state (I will NOT use the word 'commonwealth').

In a poll conducted by The Philadelphia Daily News, Pat Toomey, a former U.S. Representative from the Allentown area, has opened up a 14-point lead over Specter in the fight for the Senate seat coming up for grabs. Could Pennsylvania be the next Massachusetts? I pray so.

Among likely voters, Toomey leads Snarlin' Arlen 45-31 percent with 20 percent undecided. I will tell you folks that in Pennsylvania, that's saying something.

"I can't deny it's all very encouraging," Toomey said. "But I'm also very aware of the fact that the election is nine months away. A lot can happen. So I'm going to run like I'm 20 points behind."

Pat Toomey lost to Specter in 2004, but it was a narrow victory for Specter, who defected to the Dems last year.

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D), of Delaware County, is leaving his job to challenge Specter in the primary. In the poll, Sestak doesn't fare as well against Toomey as Specter does.

Among likely voters, Toomey leads 41-19 percent with 37 percent undecided. Registered voters favor Toomey over Sestak 28-16 percent with 51 percent undecided. In short, a Toomey-Sestak matchup would be a massacre.

Also in Pennsylvania, the reign of "Fast Eddie" Rendell is coming to an end (THANK GOD!) after Rendell served the maximum two terms as governor. In this race, the most likely candidates are going to be former AG Tom Corbett for the Republicans and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onarato for the Democrats. Trust me when I say that the people of Pennsylvania DO NOT want Onarato as governor. When one looks at how Allegheny County has been run in recent years and how the assessment of property has been bungled, it proves that Onarato is not the man to be running the state.

How this all plays out is going to be interesting to watch. I'm sure ACORN is going to be VERY active in Pennsylvania. There are a lot of dead people that need to register to vote.

In Celebration of Last Night

To celebrate Scott Brown's massive win in Massachusetts, I decided to post this song since the Dems made such a hoopla about the fact that Scott drives a truck. The words to this song are pretty appropriate!

A Message From Beyond the Grave

Hey all. It's everyone's favorite former senator from Massachusetts. Thought I'd stop by and give my opinion on this Tuesday's upcoming race for MY seat. Yes, MY seat. Or at least the Democrats' seat. After all, we bought and paid for it.

Scott Brown better be thankful that I'm not among the living right now. Rest assured that if I was, I'd be offering to drive him around the state on the campaign trail. The Kopechne family will tell you what kind of driver I am!

And what is going on with Martha Coakley (who I would love to make the next sandwich)? Has she lost her marbles? I can't believe that she didn't do the honorable thing and kick that reporter her aide pushed down! She's disgracing the Democrats' reputation of hypocrisy, and I'm none too happy about it. There's only one thing women are good for, and I tried like hell to get as much of it as I could in my stint on Earth.

If Brown wins on Tuesday, it'll be a disgrace to everything I worked so hard for in the Bay State. What are people thinking up there? Don't they know that the most important issue is doing what I want despite the fact that I'm not there? Damn, it makes me mad!!!!

Well, it's time for me to go. I've been assigned the top job down here when the boss is away visiting his son in the White House. It's tough torturing souls for eternity, but hey...I did a damn fine job in Massachusetts.

Sincerely,
Ted Kennedy

Brown Mentions TRICARE Cuts During Debate

Monday, a post ran at neo-neocon.com about the recent debate between candidates vying for Ted "Chappaquidick Fats" Kennedy's seat. Right now, Republican candidate Scott Brown has the Dems in Massachusetts breathing into paper bags.

During the debate, Brown was talking healthcare with David Gergen. This clip shows that Scott Brown knows about the proposed cuts and increased premiums to military personnel who have TRICARE insurance.



Where Mr. Brown read about it will probably never be known, but considering I ran a post on Friday about it, there's the possibility that I have a new reader.

Should Brown or one of his staffers be reading this: Go get 'em, Scott!!! And thank you ever so much for your service to this country.

(Thanks to Eric Dondero at Libertarian Republican for alerting me to this. Click on the link below the header on my page to visit his site!--B & G)

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Now that we are officially in the beginnings of an election year, the Democrats are hyperventilating over abysmal poll numbers. Approval ratings for their beloved messiah have tanked, and many Democratic politicians are in danger of losing their jobs as the American people continue to voice their concerns over the slow encroachment of government into their personal lives.

In November, all seats of the House of Representatives and approximately half of the Senate seats are up for grabs. Pelosi, Reid, Specter, and many other Dems are going to spend the majority of their time until then interviewing for their jobs in the media, trying to convince Americans that they are best-suited for the position.

The question of the day for Americans who may be mulling over their political ideologies is simple. What's the worst that can happen if we elect a fiscally-conservative, constitutionally-savvy Congress? Let's see...

1. The ultimate death of socialized medicine in this country
2. Americans keeping more of their own money in the form of tax cuts or, possibly, tax cuts for businesses (large and small) that eventually help individuals prosper. Reagan and JFK were both supply-siders.
3. A movement back to the ideals set forth in the Constitution by the Founding Fathers
4. A push to secure this nation and its borders. Gee...we didn't hear of underwear bombers between 2001 and 2008. Wonder why?
5. A sense of personal responsibility and personal liberty
6. A government whose representatives remember just who is in charge. WE THE PEOPLE!
7. Returning to a time when it wasn't politically incorrect to invoke the name of Jesus Christ or say that America is the greatest nation in the history of mankind
8. A renewed respect for our fighting forces and the sacrifices they make
9. A sense of charity among the private sector to care for the elderly, disabled, and needy. That is NOT the job of those in government.
10. Blessing of this country from God. "Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord." -- Psalm 33:12

Consider all the events that have transpired over the past year. Now ask yourself "How many of these ten items have been brought to fruition by the current administration?" [B & G Warning: Don't blow a blood vessel trying to think of one let alone ten.]

Now that it's been pondered, I ask one last question: What's the worst that can happen?

Want to Look Better? That'll Be 5%, Please.

Last year, I decided to have my first elective "cosmetic" procedure done to enhance my looks. After wearing glasses since the third grade, I had PRK laser surgery to correct eyesight that had gotten so bad that contacts were not an option, and I had a hard time reading the big "E" at the top of the eye chart. Had I waited and had it done next year, I may have been paying a 5% tax on the procedure.

In the Senate version of the hideous health care bill is a provision that would impose a 5% tax on all elective cosmetic surgery. Botox treatments (Pelosi is probably hyperventilating), laser vision correction, nose jobs, and liposuction would all be taxed. The tax would apply to all procedures done after January 1, 2010.

The provision of the bill reads as follows:

Page 2045 SEC. 9017. EXCISE TAX ON ELECTIVE COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURES. (a) IN GENERAL.-Subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: ''CHAPTER 49-ELECTIVE COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURES ''Sec. 5000B. Imposition of tax on elective cosmetic medical procedures. ''SEC. 5000B. IMPOSITION OF TAX ON ELECTIVE COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURES. ''(a) IN GENERAL.-There is hereby imposed on any cosmetic surgery and medical procedure a tax equal to 5 percent of the amount paid for such procedure (determined without regard to this section), whether paid by insurance or otherwise. ''(b) COSMETIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL PROCEDURE.-For purposes of this section, the term 'cosmetic surgery and medical procedure' means any cosmetic surgery (as defined in section 213(d)(9)(B)) or other similar procedure which- ''(1) is performed by a licensed medical professional, and ''(2) is not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease. ''(c) PAYMENT OF TAX.- ''(1) IN GENERAL.-The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by the individual on whom the procedure is performed. ''(2) COLLECTION.-Every person receiving a payment for procedures on which a tax is imposed under subsection (a) shall collect the amount of the tax from the individual on whom the procedure is performed and remit such tax quarterly to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as provided by the Secretary. ''(3) SECONDARY LIABILITY.-Where any tax imposed by subsection (a) is not paid at the time payments for cosmetic surgery and medical procedures are made, then to the extent that such tax is not collected, such tax shall be paid by the person who performs the procedure.''. (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.-The table of chapters for subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by this Act, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 48 the following new item: ''CHAPTER 49-ELECTIVE COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURES''. (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.-The amendments made by this section shall apply to procedures performed on or after January 1, 2010.

Many people (especially women) take plastic surgery to an extreme. They have numerous nose jobs, tummy tucks, boob jobs, and face lifts in the name of vanity. A lot of times, they look so fake that any natural beauty they possessed is forever gone. But you know what? THAT'S THEIR CHOICE! They pay for the procedures out-of-pocket. Now the government wants to make sure that the free exchange of money for medical services is hit.

Passage of this provision starts us on a very slippery slope. Today, elective cosmetic surgery. Tomorrow, a tax on tests to monitor diabetes and heart disease. Mark my words. This crowd hasn't met a tax they didn't like.

I always said that if I were to hit the lottery, the first thing I'd get is man-made boobs. Nothing a la Pam Anderson, but something to give me just a little shape. Now it appears that that's just one more dream shattered by the current administration.

Hold on to Your Cell Phones!

The Senate is to hold a hearing on Monday regarding a possible link between cell phones and brain cancer. The FDA has found no such link, but, evidently, the Senate has nothing better to do.

The powermongers in the Senate are going to consider a recent study stating that cell phone use over 10 years increases a person's risk of a rare form of brain cancer by 50 to 90 percent. The study also says that children are more at risk because their skulls are thinner and more easily permeated by radiation emitted from cell phones.

Now, regardless of what some of you may think, I'm not a conspiracy nut. Okay, not much of one. I wonder, though, whether this is all a way of back-door censorship. Stay with me here.

Let's say, hypothetically, that the Senate panel sides with the study on this. Next could come legislation to ban cell phones citing public safety. Not only from a possible cancer risk but from concern over people driving while talking or texting. It wouldn't be the first time they've used that argument to cram bad ideas down our throats.

Would a move like that be a way to silence the growing number of critics of this administration's policies? You bet. The FCC Diversity Czar has been appointed to help stem the rising tide of dissent, and a cell phone ban would guarantee control of people's speech by eliminating twitter and texting to exchange information.

While such measures are most likely not going to occur, let's be honest. Given this administration's track record of thug tactics and coercion, it's not totally out of the question if they at least give it a try.

Call me paranoid, but at least, for now, you can still call me.

Specter in Trouble

Politico.com has reported that a Netroots Nation straw poll shows Specter behind Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA) by a large margin.

Netroots Nation, a group of progressive and liberal bloggers and activists, is showing overwhelming support for Sestak with 48 percent of the 252 votes submitted. Specter got 10 percent. One third of the votes were undecided, and seven percent voted 'neither.' This could be Specter's Waterloo.

Specter stunned absolutely no one when he announced his switch to the Democratic Party earlier this year. We knew for years that he definitely was not a Republican. Speculation was that the switch was made out of fear of losing the Republican primary to Pat Toomey. Well, that just didn't pan out very well, did it? In fact, a recent poll pitting Specter as the Democratic candidate against Republican Toomey showed that Snarlin' Arlen would lose...big time.

While I definitely would not support Sestak, I do find it ironic karma has come around to bite Specter in the butt. Sestak, former Rear Admiral in the Navy, has received a 100% rating from NARAL, a group that would die before letting Roe v. Wade be overturned. Joe has also been quoted as saying that he was “150 percent behind a public option” when it comes to Obamacare.

Netroots Nation, in their poll, also had 95% of their voters give Dear Leader a very favorable rating in job performance. Of course they did. They represent the sort of mindless simps that Dear Leader would like everyone to be. Blind followers; nothing more.

It's going to be interesting to watch this play out. Pennsylvania law prohibits the loser of a primary from running as an independent in the general election.

Bye Arlen! You should've been gone long, long ago.

Coburn on Obamacare: This Guy's Got Cojones

It seems that Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) is giving the smackdown to Congress. The senator/doctor is now introducing an amendment that would require all members of Congress to enroll in any healthcare legislation that is passed.

"So that we feel the same effects of that plan as every other American that ends up in it and the data shows that a 104 million Americans are going to end up in that plan, so what's good for us ought to be good for everybody else," the Oklahoma Republican and doctor said.

Democrats are already bristling at the idea because they claim that the assumption will be that a public option (government run socialist plan) will be the only plan offered. At first it may not be, but eventually....

"Members of Congress will very likely be in the same situation as every other American will be vis-à-vis the public option," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "They can choose it, or they can not choose it. So the idea that members of Congress would be forced into it disrupts the whole notion that underlies it -- that this is a choice." [Author's note: Mr. Gibbs left out the words "for now."]

Surprisingly, other Democratic senators supported this amendment that came out of the Senate Health committee. Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. joined most of the Republicans in supporting the amendment. The lone Republican "nay" vote on the committee was Senator Judd Gregg. According to Coburn, Gregg's rationale for voting against it was that he didn't want to subject ANYONE, including fellow senators, to a public option.

The amendment would have to be merged with other versions from other committees, and some political analysts say that it may not survive.

"If I had to make a guess, I'd say that they will try to create a requirement to be in a public plan with a number of loopholes that would enable most senators to avoid the requirement," said Michael Franc of the Heritage Foundation.

Dear Leader seems to be in favor of this amendment.

"You know I would be happy to abide by the same benefit package," Obama said. "I'm going to be honest with you; I'm the president of the United States so I've got a doctor following me every minute," he said, drawing laughter. Yeah...that was hysterical. Do we get that too? What a big piece of fecal matter!

In my opinion, the high-ranking Dems are supporting this for one reason: They know that while it has a chance, it may not make the final cut. Then they can say they supported it and had no hand in killing it if it dies.

I must give credit where credit is due. Tom Coburn seems hell-bent on exposing and trying to make sure that, should this pass, Congress is put on the same playing field as everyone else.

Now there's change I can hope for.

The Pork Never Ends

Citizens Against Government Waste has just released a report on pork stuffed into the Senate version of the fiscal year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 308 projects are costing us $199.1 million. Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has $58 million for 30 projects and Subcommittee Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) added $3 million for 11 projects, for a combined total of $61 million. That is 30.6 percent of the $199.1 million in the bill.

Here's some of what we're getting for our money:

1. $11,190,000 by 20 senators for 25 projects under the Historic Preservation Fund, including: $250,000 by Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) for restoration of the Blount Mansion in Knoxville and $200,000 by Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee member Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) for the State Theatre in Sioux Falls.
2. $4,000,000 by Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Alcatraz Island). According to her website, the project is a “valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will provide the public with an opportunity to visit this historic building in a refurbished state, which contributes to the national priority of preserving historic buildings.” Earmarking $4 million during an economic crisis on building preservation is not a national priority.
3. $1,820,000 by Senate appropriator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) to acquire more land for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The earmark will be used to purchase 1,000 acres of fragmented land contiguous to the trail from owners who expressed interest in developing their land. Instead, the federal government will buy the land and leave it undeveloped.
4. $1,200,000 by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) for rat eradication at the Palmyra Atoll Natural Wildlife Refuge. That money can buy 600,000 rat traps.
5. $1,000,000 by Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee member Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways receive 10 million visitors annually. This earmark could be covered by charging each visitor 10 cents, which would take the burden off taxpayers.
6. $1,000,000 by Senate appropriator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) for the Sewall-Belmont House in Washington, D.C., which holds private events, offers catering, and is visited by tourists who are encouraged to leave donations.

These people REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need to go!!! They need to get the message loud and clear that we have had it up to our eyeballs with all of the wasteful spending that goes on in BOTH parties. The economy is in bad enough shape, and Obama wants to add to it with his socialized healthcare, and yet these people keep spending money like a drunken sailor on shore leave.

As for me, I plan on keeping track of what each of these greedy government wonks wastes our money on. Remember these posterior orifices at re-election time!!

RED ALERT: Tonight's Menu....PORK!!

I guess this has kinda become my calling for now. I'm working on earmarks put into the cap and trade mess, but I had to table that for a preemptive strike.

The Senate version of the FY2010 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act is going to be coming up for debate and a vote. Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has uncovered some projects stuffed into this legislation that are suspicious to say the least. While we definitely need to fund DHS, tell me if some of these don't have a rotten smell about them.

Buckle up, kids!!

• $50,500,000 by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senate DHS Appropriations Subcommittee member Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Senate appropriator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC) in their states. The Senate bill appropriates $132 million to the NDPC without the earmark; Nev., N.M. and Texas already have $23 million for NDPC programs.
  
• $43,300,000 by Senate DHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.): $39.7 million to construct the Advanced Training Center (ATC) and $3.6 million for an Operations Systems Center’s operating expenses; both are located in West Virginia. The Civil War Librarian blog reported that on May 31, 2008, Sen. Byrd visited the ATC’s new firing range, and told a crowd of more than 300 that “Today, the efforts of hundreds of people are spread before us like a blessing.” The blog noted that Sen. Byrd was “proud” that he secured $123 million in design and construction funds for the ATC since 1999, as well as $26 million from Customs and Border Protection. Byrd received one of “many rounds of applause” when he said “That ain’t chicken feed.”
  
• $20,865,000 by Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) for the Southeast Region Research Initiative in Tennessee.
  
• $10,000,000 by House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) for the National Institute for Hometown Security (NIHS). According to the Institute’s website, “NIHS is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. NIHS was organized in 2004 through the leadership of Kentucky Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers. Congressman Rogers suggested organizing the higher education institutions of Kentucky to more effectively compete for research funds and projects aimed at improving homeland security. The Kentucky Homeland Security University Consortium resulted from his efforts. NIHS is the administrative manager for the Consortium.” In other words, Americans are paying $10 million so these institutions can be more effective at getting more of the taxpayers’ money.
  
• $900,000 by Senate DHS Appropriations Committee member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) for an Emergency Operations Center in the city of Whitefish, Montana. In 2007 Whitefish had a population of 5,849; the earmark equals $153.87 for every resident.

The number of projects decreased by 79.6 percent, from 113 in fiscal year 2009 to 23 in fiscal year 2010, while the dollar amount dropped by 31.9 percent, from $229.6 million in fiscal year 2009 to $156.2 million in fiscal year 2010.

Call your senators. Tell them the earmarks go or they do. This nation can't afford their pet projects.

60? Maybe Not.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Yesterday, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Al Franken (D) stole...oops...I mean won the contested Senate race for that state. That makes Franken the 60th Senate Democrat, which would insure a filibuster-proof majority. Or does it?

The Senate DOES have 60 Democrats after Snarlin' Arlen Specter defected to the party earlier this year, but ramming through controversial legislation is not a given.

Many senators on that side of the aisle are sticking their fingers in the wind to ascertain just how politically-suicidal their vote may be. They know the American people are getting more and more fed up with being forced to live with policies the majority of people don't want. Also, the American people are catching on to the fact that we are being hoodwinked. If there's one thing the Dems love, it's power, and if they think they'll lose that power by voting for hot-button issues the wrong way, I think they'll save their own pudgy pink butts.

Toss into the mix that two very powerful Democrats have health issues that could make a 60-count vote iffy, and there may just be a fight on the Senate floor. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) have both had serious health issues. Kennedy's vote has been unreliable after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, and 91-year-old Byrd was just released from the hospital after a month-long stay for a staph infection. Both men have missed votes during their illnesses.

The only hope that Harry Reid (D-NV) has is this: Dems have to be as strongly united in their vote as the Reps are in theirs. If even one Democratic senator wavers, or, if Kennedy or Byrd are not well enough to vote, kiss that filibuster-proof majority goodbye. And the longer it takes to get a vote to the floor, the more time the American people have to get educated. And they REALLY don't want that.

A Letter to the Senate

Dear Sirs and Madams:

Last night, the House of Representatives passed what is commonly called "Cap and Trade" in what was a narrow vote. Unfortunately, they did not listen to what the people wanted. They instead voted for what their lobbyists and high-roller campaign donors wanted.

Consider this a notice to ALL of you. The citizens of this country are watching and paying attention to every move you make on this piece of legislation. And, right now, we are not happy.

The bill passed in the House of Representatives last night had a 300-page amendment put in and made public at approximately 3 a.m. Eastern Time. How many representatives do you truly believe were able to read the entire bill let alone that one amendment? We citizens are not stupid. We're learning very quickly all the petty tricks used to get something the American people don't want passed. And it makes us sick. My suggestion? Read and understand the bill before you vote on it.

We out here in America don't care what letter you put after your name. We are sick and tired of all the snarky little political games played at our expense. Just because your party may have the majority, you do NOT have the right to vote against the will of the people. Should you decide to do so, we will remember. None of you have a lifetime appointment to Congress, and many of us have already vowed to see that none of those who voted "yea" last night are re-elected.

Expect to get numerous phone calls and emails from the American people. We crashed the switchboard once, and we know we can do it again. This time, don't make the same mistake your colleagues in the House did. See that for what it is: The voice of the people. If you truly believe the promises you are forever making to the people about how much you care about us, listen.

From a personal perspective, this is for Mr. McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader:

A lot of conservatives are angry with what we are now calling the Republican 8, those among our party who voted "yea". Mr. McConnell, I beg you to show the base that the ideals of the Founding Fathers are not being lost to self-serving special interests. We believe in freedom, limited government, and capitalism. We come from all walks of life: housewives, factory workers, waitresses, mechanics, doctors, lawyers... Though we may not be able to contribute thousands of dollars to a campaign, does that make our voice less important? Please show us that our party still believes in what many of the Founding Fathers risked their lives to give people they knew they would never know.

I am going to leave all members of the Senate with a quote. Please think about it; the American people are watching.

I shall choose friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters. And I shall choose only such as please me, and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey. And we shall join our hands when we wish, or walk alone when we so desire. -- Ayn Rand