The Lonely Conservative

• In 2004 Obama Slammed Bush Over Economy, Unemployment was 5.4%
  In 2004, when unemployment “unexpectedly” went down to 5.4%, then State Senator and US Senate candidate Barack Obama delivered a radio address slamming George W. Bush for “three dismal years of job loss.” He wondered how people would retire with dignity. Today, people are dropping out of the work force in despair, which is the only reason the official unemployment rate isn’t at 11%. Even with the government fudging the numbers, it’s still over 8%. Of course, back then he was slamming corporate profits and tax cuts just like he is today. Tweetvaso link
  
  
• Obama Names Advocate for Illegal Immigrants
  Deficits and the national debt are out of control, so the last thing we need is another federal bureaucrat, especially one advocating not for Americans, but illegal immigrants. But that’s just what we’re getting. The Washington Times reported that the Obama administration has announced the creation of a new “public advocate” for illegal immigrants. The Obama administration on Tuesday announced a new “public advocate” charged with listening to immigrants’ concerns about its law enforcement policies — but Republicans said the position amounts to an official mouthpiece for illegal immigrants being deported. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the advocate will “serve as a point of contact for individuals, including those in immigration proceedings, NGOs and other community and advocacy groups, who have concerns, questions, recommendations or other issues they would like to raise.” The agency — part of the Homeland Security Department — said Andrew Lorenz-Strait will be the first advocate. But Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that meant elevating the concerns of illegal immigrants. [Read More] You know they won’t be creating any taxpayer advocate positions. Tweetvaso link
  
  
• Look What the DC Occupiers Did to McPherson Square
  This is what progressive progress looks like. Take a look at what the Democrat-endorsed DC Occupiers did to McPherson Square. This would be well after cleanup efforts were under way. No doubt we the taxpayers will be on the hook for restoring the park to its former state. Via The Washington Examiner, where you can find a “before” photo. It’s like night and day. American Glob asked: “Which America would you rather live in?” It’s amazing that anyone would choose the mud bowl. In case you’re wondering why tents remain in McPherson Square after the eviction, they are allowed to keep tents there as long as they don’t sleep in them. Oh, and the mud replaces $400,000 in new sod recently installed through stimulus funding. Tweetvaso link
  
  
• Brian K. Hill – Conservative US Senate Candidate in Connecticut
  This afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking with US Senate candidate and former JAG officer Brian K. Hill from Connecticut. When it comes to picking Senate candidates to support in primaries, Hill is worthy of attention. It looks like he could have a primary battle with Linda McMahon (who lost her last Senate bid) and former Rep. Chris Shays (who is not exactly conservative.) Hill said he’s running because we’re “on the decline as a country.” He noted the “unprecedented attack on business, both nationally and in Connecticut,” the sorry state of our schools and cities, and the all-too prevalent entitlement mentality. He described the war on poverty and expanding welfare state as “destroying the American spirit by fostering dependency on government.” Hill is proud to claim that he’s the only candidate who has actually cut government spending. As a JAG attorney it was his job to sign off on military expenditures and review government contracts. In one instance, he saved the taxpayers a “couple of million dollars” when he rejected a contract for the purchase of new computers. He directed the department to shop around for a better per unit price and after about forty five days the [...]
  
  
• Staffers from Teachers Union Embarked on Caribbean Cruise
  How nice for staffers from the National Education Association to have embarked on a seven day Caribbean cruise at the expense of the dues-paying workers, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayers. I’m sure they will find a way to say their fun in the sun is all “for the children.” Imagine your organization is facing attacks from all sides. Imagine it’s losing members and revenue. Imagine governors and mayors – of both political parties – publicly denouncing your industry as “broken” and move swiftly to stifle your power and influence, while you flail away helplessly. What to do? What else to do but go down drinking? That’s what members of the National Education Association’s National Staff Organization have apparently decided. The NSO is an association of sorts for teachers’ union staff – political and communications types. Following an “Advocacy Retreat” with the theme “Building Our Unionism,” members set sail on a 7-day cruise from Miami on February 5th “with stops at Cozumel, Grand Cayman Island and Isla Roatan.” Sounds fun! [In case the Facebook link disappears, never fear: here’s a PDF of the NSO newsletter.] (Read More) Via Fox Nation Tweetvaso link
  
  
• Some Congresscritters Used Earmarks to Gussy Up Own Neighborhoods
  The Washington Post reported that a number of our representatives in Congress have used earmarks to gussy up their own neighborhoods. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could take other people’s money to increase your own property values and make your neighborhood a better place to live? A U.S. senator from Alabama directed more than $100 million in federal earmarks to renovate downtown Tuscaloosa near his own commercial office building. A congressman from Georgia secured $6.3 million in taxpayer funds to replenish the beach about 900 feet from his island vacation cottage. A representative from Michigan earmarked $486,000 to add a bike lane to a bridge within walking distance of her home. Thirty-three members of Congress have directed more than $300 million in earmarks and other spending provisions to dozens of public projects that are next to or within about two miles of the lawmakers’ own property, according to a Washington Post investigation. Under the ethics rules Congress has written for itself, this is both legal and undisclosed. (Read More) There’s an infographic here if you;d like to see if your representative has been in on the action. Speaking of earmarks, Maggie’s Notebook has an in-depth article on the earmark [...]
  
  
• Those Pesky Founders Keeping Obama From Fully Implementing Agenda
  During his Super Bowl pre-game interview, President Obama said he deserves a second term. He also blamed those pesky founders for the checks and balances they implemented which are keeping him from fully implementing his agenda. I guess he didn’t stop to think that’s exactly what they had in mind. “Our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change than I would like sometimes.” He went on to say that one of the great things about being president is “You get better as time goes on.” Better at what, his golf game? Via Freedom’s Lighthouse, via Fox Nation Tweetvaso link
  
  
• Obama Gives Super PAC a Big Hug
  President Obama whines about Super PACs, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving his own Super PAC a great big hug. President Barack Obama — in an act of hypocrisy or necessity, depending on the beholder — has reversed course and is now blessing the efforts of a sputtering super PAC, Priorities USA Action, organized to fight GOP dark-money attacks. On Monday morning, Obama reviled the “negative” tone of the super PACs, a dominant fundraising source in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. But by the evening, word leaked to POLITICO that Obama had offered his support for Priorities USA Action, which thus far has raised a fraction of what GOP-backed groups have raked in. Obama’s top campaign staff and even some Cabinet members will appear at super PAC events. The president himself will not address super PAC donors, although there’s nothing to legally prohibit the president, first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden from expressing their support for the group — as GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney has done for the super PAC that backs him. … I wonder if Senator Chuck Schumer will say this doesn’t pass the smell test. Another awkward timing [...]
  
  
• Does Panetta Intentionally Blab US Intel?
  The following is a guest post by Joseph Hall. *** Does Panetta Intentionally Blab US Intel? In the past few weeks, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has openly discussed issues that would seem best said only behind closed doors. This can be viewed as either rank amateurism in foreign affairs, or a cleverly devised plan to create havoc among our enemies by issuing conflicted messages. The current hot button item is the Iranian threat to build nuclear weapons targeting Israel and the United States. This predictable conflict could result in a new world war. Iran is a terror driven country on a jihadist mission to destroy Israel and dominate the region. With an unprecedented troop drawdown in the Middle East and the disbanding of combat units, the nagging question is: Can the Obama Administration negotiate from a position of strength? Last week, Panetta seemed to throw Israel under the bus by allowing discussions to leak out that Israel was planning a possible preemptive air strike against Iran as soon as Spring 2012. This came on the heels of an overt threat by Iran to launch an internal attack on the US due to economic sanctions designed to discourage Iran’s nuclear weapons [...]
  
  
• Occupy DC Plans to Thwart Security and Infiltrate CPAC
  It was reported the other day that unions are planning a protest of the Conservative Political Action Conference that begins on Thursday. The union announced the protest was to take place Friday at lunchtime and again “after work.” I assumed that meant they would be outside the Marriott where the conference is taking place, and that attendees (myself included) wouldn’t have anything to worry about inside the hotel. Now it looks like the degenerates from Occupy DC are planning ways to thwart security measures and infiltrate the conference. Their plans include violence and actions that could cause physical injury to thousands of people, according to The Foundry. During a Thursday meeting at McPherson Square, until Saturday the epicenter of the protests, Occupiers brainstormed tactics for shutting down or disrupting the conference, according to a source who was present at the meeting. The protesters suggested pulling fire alarms in the hotel where the conference will take place, screaming “fire” during conference activities, “glitter-bombing” participants, cutting electrical power, and barricading entrances to the hotel, according to the source, who requested anonymity. “Speakers will be physically assaulted, not just verbally confronted,” the source told Scribe in an email. Two Occupiers, who the source [...]