Facebook eliminating those with conservative ideology?

Many conservatives around the country have found the social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter are useful tools to network with other conservatives. After all these sites are specifically designed to assist people in networking, but it appears that at least one may not wish conservatives to be able to network with each other. Stories of conservatives being deleted from Facebook have been floating around the internet for months, but until it happened to a few friends on Facebook and then myself I though they were only rumors.

For me problems began shortly after appearing on the Fox News Channel, which is owned by News Corp which also owns Myspace, Facebook’s larger rival in the social networking internet realm. An influx of new friend requests and new friend suggestions began to roll in from people of like minded conservative ideology. Shortly after accepting the new friend requests and suggestions that Facebook was suggesting I began to get warnings about possible abusive behavior. After reading the “Terms of Use” I could not find anywhere where I was being abusive for responding to friend request and suggestions, so I requested clarification by contacting Facebook.

Inquiries to Facebook only resulted in automated responses, “The Facebook Team has received your inquiry. We should get back to you soon.” Nothing beyond this response was ever received. My experience is not unique among conservatives across the nation. One Conservative Facebooker, of Ames, IA, kept having her accounts deleted, but could get no where when trying to find out why, “I never got my original account back. I got my 2nd account back after a month after 30 emails someone finally bit and told me I was banned. I asked for specifics, [they] couldn't answer me.” Many conservatives are reporting that Facebook is unresponsive to request for information as to why their accounts are being deleted.

The deletions do not just affect the individual Facebook account of the user; sometimes they have far reaching effects. A Facebook event listing for a dinner with RNC Chairman Michael Steele, himself a Facebook member, was deleted along with the conservative user that posted the event. For many this was their only point of contact for the event which included times and directions. Friends and political connections also are also lost when Facebook is the only point of contact. The Iowa Conservative said, “I am very involved in politics. This is NUTS. I am losing friends like crazy to accounts being disabled.”

It has been reported in the media that Facebook has had problems with people registering under fake names and they are disabling those account, but so far most of the conservatives having their accounts disabled have had fairly normal names. The Iowa Conservative believes “We need a conservative Facebook NOW!”

The Republican Party Will Come Full Circle in the Kanawha Valley This Week

On Friday, May 22nd the chairman of the Republican Party returns to one of the origin points of its noblest crusade. This year the Grand Old Party elected a black for the first time as leader. A successful businessman from Maryland defeated after several votes a man who himself had attended segregated schools in South Carolina. In choosing Michael Steele as chair, Republicans did not embrace a new direction, but reaffirmed their roots as the party of freedom and liberty for all. Chairman Steele's visit to the Kanawha Valley this week has very symbolic overtones.

Few people remember today that the region surrounding Charleston can lay claim to being a cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. Before the Civil War, Booker T. Washington of Malden (about fifteen miles east of Charleston) lived as a slave. By 1900 he grew into the preeminent spokesman for the advancement of blacks in America.

Washington advocated a stance for the black community controversial in his time and rejected today. He witnessed the horror inflicted upon politically active blacks in the South. Washington relentlessly advocated the education of blacks in a region hostile to them advancing beyond menial labor. Ku Klux Klan terror raids bullied and often killed blacks who pushed into the political world in the 1870s and 80s. As a result, he spoke in Atlanta about separate development. Washington told the black community to embrace education and develop themselves economically in the present. When it attained a certain financial status, it could then use its clout to peacefully obtain civil and political rights. W. E. B. DuBois derided this in terms that we would today call "appeasement" but it is clear that the social and political culture of the South was very violently antagonistic to DuBois' immediate goals. Washington offered a path that families and individuals could follow in the nineteenth century without fearing for their lives.

Regardless of how modern ears regard Washington's message, his staunch advocacy of education and establishment of the Tuskeegee Institute helped to advance his cause considerably. Interestingly enough, Washington himself had engaged in political activism as a young man.

In the 1870s, while working in Kanawha Valley salt furnaces and coal mines, Washington opened his activist career as a political orator. He stumped the region speaking on behalf of the Republican Party and its candidates. This took courage considering that Kanawha County had strong Confederate sentiment during the Civil War. It would only take one ex Rebel with a grudge to have changed history. Luckily Washington remained safe as he preached support for the GOP. From this springboard he traveled to the Hampton Institute in Virginia to formally receive an education.

The ideas Washington spoke about to the Republican faithful in the Kanawha Valley in his youth will likely be similar to Steele's. First and foremost the Republican Party has always embraced expansive freedom for everyone. Washington found limits as a young man in that certain jobs were just not open for him. The GOP today seeks to expand access to opportunity while enhancing the incentives to succeed. Democrats believe that all should end up equal in the end regardless of effort or risk. Ensuring this "equality of outcome" means that freedoms and opportunities for the energetic and industrious will be diminished while handouts for others increase.

Michael Steele's visit to the Kanawha Valley this week is indeed hsitoric and symbolic. He has the opportunity here to reaffirm the traditional principles of freedom while charting a new course of action. Success is essential.

No Logic in States Numbers on Corridor H Funding

Recently an article appeared in the Charleston Daily mail entitled, “Official targets slow work on Corridor H” and state officials gave reasons for the continued delay of the highway. Most of the reasons given by the state make little or no sense.

The state claims they couldn’t pay the back the bonds. According to the article, “Even if the Legislature raised the cap, Walker said the state still couldn't pay back the debt on such a project.” This statement is totally illogical, as the bond method builds the highway at a lower cost. Consider that the current estimate for completing constructions is 1.5 billion dollars over the next 26 years. Of those 1.5 billion dollars, the state is responsible for 20% matching funds as outlined by the Appalachian Region Commission and that cost would be $300 million dollars.

Now if the state issues bonds to complete the final 50 miles of Corridor H that have yet to receive funding, at 22 million dollars per mile , then total construction cost would be approximately 1.1 billion dollars. The states portion of that would be $220 million saving the West Virginia taxpayers 80 million dollars and saving the US taxpayers 400 million dollars.

Walker went on to say, “"It would completely bleed the state road fund. If we were able to do all of that, very important programs, like paving and bridge repairs, would have to be sacrificed." My question to Mr. Walker would be; why would freeing up an extra 80 million dollars from Corridor H, require the state to cut other projects? Those 80 million dollars in savings from Corridor H could be used to increase funding of very important programs, like paving and bridge repairs. The reality is the exact opposite of what Mr. Walker says; the state will have to cut $80 million worth of future projects, because they are not changing the funding method.

Now it is estimated that Corridor H over its length will create an additional 8,000 jobs in the state. If we bond the highway and complete it in 2015, then using the median income in the state, 32,589 dollars , those 8,000 jobs will create an additional 260 million dollars of annual income in the state. The state taxes as on that median income will be around 15.6 million dollars in annual revenue for the state. From an early completion date of 2015 to 2035 the current funding completion date, the total taxes collected from those new jobs, adjusted for inflation , will be 439 million dollars. The estimated annual Federal Tax from the new jobs will be 39 million dollars annually or 1.1 billion over 20 years adjusted for inflation.

So our choices are continue with the current funding method of Corridor H, which will complete it around 2035 and cost the taxpayers of the nation and state 1.5 billion dollars with small increase in employment during the construction phase, or build it over the next 6 years at a cost of 1.1 billion generating around 1.5 billion in new state and Federal tax revenue between 2015 and 2035 in the process as those new jobs are created in the near term. I prefer the method where Corridor H is completed early and pays for itself with taxes generated from the new jobs it will create. We have to start being smart about how we build highways and other large projects in the state. We must be fiscally responsible.

Blast from the Past: Three Ring Government

The Inappropriate Sense of Humor of Barack Obama

So Barack Obama, as we saw last week, considers dredging up traumatic memories of 9/11 and scaring New Yorkers half to death to be fodder for a joke. The CNN commentator did not even stray from neutrality as she gleefully introduced the poor attempt at humor. He joked about his children taking Air Force One for a joyride.

The real story here is not the fact that Obama made a stupid and crass joke at the Correspondent's Dinner. No one responded or reacted to this.

The amazing thing is the contrast between Obama's humor and his predecessor. President Bush generally, in such situations, had the self-confidence to ridicule himself. The best example was when he brought out the impersonator and spoke alongside him. President Bush understood that he was funny, but also did not push it past the point where he would injure his dignity as president. Obama is not yet aware that his presidential persona is a huge target for ridicule.

There's nothing wrong with a president lightening up and joking around in the right forum. They still need to be respectful when considering joking about the worst attack on this nation within most of our lifetimes.

Interestingly, Obama was caught laughing at a statement about Rush Limbaugh being killed. Now in an unguarded moment, something similar could happen to any of us. However, compare the lack of comment to the heaps of abuse thrown at CBS golf analyst David Faherty. Faherty toured the Middle East and recounted his assessment of US troops' opinions of liberal politicians. "Despite how the conflict has been portrayed by our glorious media, if you gave any U.S. soldier a gun with two bullets in it, and he found himself in an elevator with Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Osama bin Laden, there's a good chance that Nancy Pelosi would get shot twice, and Harry Reid and bin Laden would be strangled to death." In his apology, he explained that he was simply trying to explain how US soldiers feel about their current commander-in-chief. CBS and the PGA Tour blasted his statements, which, like the Rush Limbaugh murder joke, were inappropriate.

Will anyone condemn or distance themselves from Obama and his friend yukking it up over their fantasized death of Limbaugh? Probably not.

Corridor H could be complete in less than six years

From the time of the Romans over 2000 years ago it has been known that a good road system promotes business and commerce. In 1965 the much needed Corridor H project was initiated as part of the Appalachian Development Highway System for the same reasons. Now some forty-four years later about a third has yet to be completed.[i] For comparison in March of 1942 the US Army began constructing a road to connect Alaska to the rest of the nation. They finished the 1,422 mile unimproved two-lane road through a complete wilderness eight months later in November of 1942.[ii] Interstate 80 which was the first transcontinental Interstate to be completed took only thirty years to complete[iii] its 2899 mile length. The estimates for a Corridor H completion date is still twenty-six years away.[iv] An entire generation of West Virginians will have been born, gone through school, worked a life time and retired before Corridor H’s completion. To build 133 miles of the transcontinental Interstate 80 took an average of sixteen months.

The question to many; Why is the 133 miles Corridor H taking close to seventy years to complete? The short answer for the long delay is the flawed funding mechanism the state is currently using. It relies too heavily on fickle Earmark funding from Washington, funding that can be easily taken away as happened recently.[v] Barry Goldwater once said, “A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away”[vi] and that is exactly what happen with the Corridor H funding. The state is required to pay 20% of Corridor H construction cost with the Federal Government providing the other 80% through the Appalachian Region Commission.[vii] The reason stated by the Obama Administration for eliminating the latest Corridor H funding was because the Federal portion was exceeding the 80% formula.[viii]

West Virginia can no longer afford to wait to finish Corridor H and as a result we must change the funding model the state is currently using. Let’s compare the current model the state is using to build Corridor H to building a new home. It would be as if when you got your pay check you took a small portion and used that money to buy a few two by fours, some sheet rock or shingles. You would then build a small portion of your new home. Every once and awhile you might get a tax refund or better yet a stimulus check (Earmark) from the government, then you run out, splurge and build a bigger chunk of your new house. The problem with this method is the part of your home you are building now would be much more expensive then the part you built in 1965, meaning overall construction cost will be much higher in the end. Additionally you will not have your home ready to move into until your ready to retire and you would be unable to use it to raise your family. That is why, for the most part, we don’t fund new home construction in this way.

The way most new homes are constructed is we borrow the money, build the new home in a short period of time, move in and pay for it over time. This accomplishes several things. One it locks the price in to the prices at the time of construction. Two it still allows us to pay for the new home over the same amount of time. Lastly it allows us to use the home during our life time. The state should be using the exact system funding method to complete the final sections of Corridor H over the next four to six years, instead of waiting the estimated twenty-six years to completion.[ix]

West Virginia’s bond rating is in the middle of the pack,[x] and the state has been working hard to maintain or improve it. In other words the state has a good credit rating and this gives us the ability to have a good interest rate on a loan to complete Corridor H in the near future. Right now the estimate for building a mile of Corridor H is $22 million per mile.[xi] If we continue to use the current funding method, that final mile of Corridor H will cost the taxpayers around $51 million to build in twenty-six years,[xii] costing the tax payer an additional $29 million the last mile alone. If we build it now by issuing bonds we lock the construction cost in at $22 million per mile. We cannot wait to complete Corridor H and continue this current fiscal irresponsibility.

We must borrow the money to complete Corridor H within the next four to six years locking in the cost savings to the taxpayer. It will provide a strong economic impact in the construction industry during construction over the next four to six years helping to offset the current job losses in the state. As the road nears completion the increased traffic along the route will help create jobs in the travel service industry from Hardy County to Lewis County. The increased ease of transport will help retain and attract industry along the route now, all the while increasing tax revenue for the state without increasing taxes.

The increased tax revenue will make it easier for the state to pay its 20%, while the rest of the loan payments are made with the guaranteed 80% Federal matching funds. If we change now and stop waiting on earmark funding, then we take control of our own destiny and will no longer be subject to whims of Washington politics. Now is the time for West Virginia to stand up, be fiscally responsible and complete Corridor H within six years.

---

[i] WVCorridorH.com, The Route, Project Timeline

[ii] MSN, Encarta Encyclopedia, Alaska Highway

[iii] Federal Highway Administration, Celebrating the Eisenhower Interstate System, Facts of the Day March 5, 2009

[iv] Foxnews.com, Byrd’s Road to Nowhere, March 10, 2009

[v] Charleston Daily Mail, Obama’s budget eliminates Corridor H funds, May 8, 2009

[vi] Famous-Quotes.com, Famous Quotes by Barry Goldwater

[vii] Appalachian Regional Commission, ARC Project Guidelines, Section 3.2

[viii] The Intermountain, Obama budget eliminates Corridor H funds, May 8, 2009

[ix] Foxnews.com, Byrd’s Road to Nowhere, March 10, 2009

[x] Michigan State Senate, Senate Fiscal Agency Memorandum, Table 2 State Bond Ratings, Feb. 20, 2007

[xi] Foxnews.com, Byrd’s Road to Nowhere, March 10, 2009

[xii] InflationData.com, US Long Term Inflation Rate

Presidential Retribution Inflicted Upon Eastern West Virginia and Elsewhere

The slow gradual pace of Corridor H construction in eastern West Virginia may soon grind to a halt.

Obama recently axed all funding for the project that, according to current plans, will create a four lane link between Exit 99 on Interstate 79 and the Virginia border near the Interstate 66 terminus at Front Royal.

An infuriated Senator Byrd, whose influence obtained funding for the road in the first place, responded that only Congress has the power of the purse. Byrd assured West Virginians that the money would be restored to the purse.

But will it?

The highway runs through the district of Republican Representative Shelley Moore Capito. Also, Byrd has remained almost as critical of Obama as he was of President Bush over executive infringement upon congressional powers. President Bush never touched this funding or this project, but it appears that the independent nonagenarian Democrat has earned a rebuke from the Obamanation. Possibly that extends to West Virginia voters themselves who chose McCain by a large margin and would probably vote for a dead dog before choosing him to succeed himself. The counties through which the highway runs, even staunchly blue Hardy, rejected Obama.

All is not lost. A return of Congress to GOP control would give Congresswoman Capito more influence. Also the state funding plan proposed by Gary Howell on FOX News remains a viable option, since it worked in South Carolina already.

It is interesting to see Obama reject the ideals of the president who remains ideal in so many liberal eyes. Kennedy was a tax cutter who understood the needs of national security while proposing Appalachian corridor highways as a national investment. Obama has nixed all three of these ideals of JFK while running up unfathomable deficits.

By the way, other rural counties, such as Elk in Pennsylvania also saw funding slashed. They also sinned by voting Republican in the last presidential election. High numbers of affluent communities will get most of the funds from the stimulus. Of course most of them voted for guess who.

His Ruthlessness said exactly what he thought about rural Americans during the campaign, that they were deranged armed zealots. And they get no stimulation. Especially if they voted against the Won.

Scare Force One Picture, All too Symbolic

Look really hard at this picture. It speaks at least a thousand words and this was an intentional shot.

Look at how the president's plane dominates the foreground. Look how insignificant the Statue of Liberty became in comparison.

Does this photo speak volumes about the last hundred or so days of American history or what?

Awakening The Sleeping Giant - A Bicycle Ride for Honesty

For Immediate Release – For more information contact; “Michael Maresco” - info@libertyrider.com

Political Mileage – Be a Part of Something Big

The Ron Paul Rider is at it again... Herding cats from the freedom movement known as the r3VOLution, Michael Maresco is getting back on his bicycle to help spread the message, coast to coast. Going from the Statue of Liberty, to Alcatraz, the undercurrent of the trip is, “America; Freedom to Fascism.”

Named “Ride for Honesty”, it will attempt to promote honest discussions on problems facing our country, and the solutions promoted by the r3VOLution. In addition to the normal canvassing associated with such a stunt, the event will attempt to build rapport between local activists, and county sheriffs all along the route. The idea was born in an online discussion of Sheriff Richard Mack’s latest book, “The County Sheriff- America’s Last Hope” and how “we should all deliver them to our sheriff’s.” Thinking on the worth of that idea, this project was born..

In addition to Sheriff Mack’s small book, Campaign for Liberty has generously provided 100 copies of “The Revolution; A Manifesto”. Also included in the delivery pack will be a DVD of Dr. Edwin Vieira’s, “Power of the Purse and Sword” speech. Basically, an introduction to a r3VOLution that highlights love, honor, respect.

Ways you can help:

Covering the States of NJ, PA, WV, OH, IN, IL, MO, OK, NM, AZ, NV, and CA, the hope is to meet, and interview for a blog, a string of supporters across this great nation. whose simple task will be to help get the books into the right hands and see that Michael's route for their area is safe, and sound. At 94 counties, it’s a pretty big herd of cats, any networking help will be golden. If you live in, or know folk along the route, please become part of the it by emailing, locals@libertyrider.com , including your state’s abbreviation in the subject line.

It is hoped that the trip inspires others to reach out and build better rapport with officials in their county, in that regard, networked blogging will be golden, as well, If you want to help document the project on your favorite social network, become a part of it by emailing socialnet@libertyrider.com

If you are work in any form of media, and want to help promote this event, be a part of it by emailing media@libertyrider.com

And finally, this all costs money, and anyone can “be a part of it” by chipping in $17.76 here.

http://michael4rpr.chipin.com/ride-for-honesty-support

Bio - Michael Maresco was living an idyllic life, on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i, when he was astounded by the spontaneous uprising of support for Congressman Ron Paul’s presidential run. He wasted no time in joining the rVOLUtion and was one of the original members of Hawaii Meet-up #112. He first organized his meet up to help with a 130 mile 5 day Walk for Ron Paul, in the early summer of ‘07, building the group. By winter 07 he had one upped that stunt with a 3500 mile bicycle trip across the USA, (on his first ever roadbike, a $250 Schwinn from WalMart.) Pulling a trailer festooned with signage he distributed materials, made the front page multiple times, got interviewed on local Fox, and generally built support for the Good Doctor, while inspiring others to step outside the box and get into the streets.

Following that, Michael got into GOTV mode and volunteered for OLFD in NH, he went to SC, and covered two precincts in NY State. In early spring of ‘08 he went to TX to help with the primary challenge for Ron Paul’s congressional seat, and spearheaded a phone bank getting people to the caucuses. During the District 14 effort the Revolution March started gaining steam and Michael was recruited onto the core team, who pulled off that pure grassroots event with style. From there Michael was recruited onto the Walk4Freedom crew, who walked 300 miles across Wisconsin to the Rally For The Republic, holding townhall meetings and handing out Pocket Constitutions all along the way. He was then asked to accompany and assist the producers of the docum3ntary project; For Liberty, where his intimate knowledge of the players and progression of the r3VOLution came in handy. By then it was fall and time to go help GOTV for BJ Lawson. Since the election, he has volunteered and helped promote; both End the Feds, the Boston Tea Party 08, CPAC09 , and the recent Rally on Lexington Green (hosted by Committees of Safety and attended by Oath-Keepers.)

And with this latest venture he shows no signs of letting up…

In addition, as a moderator on Ron Paul Forums he has helped raise money for all of the above, and countless other small, and large projects. Now, he is asking for your help.

Donate today.

http://libertyrider.com/

Time For the Republican Party to Get Back to Basics

The Republican Party since its birth in the 1850s has traditionally stood in some way or another for rights. At that point its rights platform emphasized the right to not be owned just because of your skin color. The Grand Old Party has always been at its best and truest when arguing a positive platform of the right of each individual to enjoy what was promised by the Declaration of Independence and enshrined by the Constitution.

Constitution? Declaration of Independence? Even now that they are terrorist manifestos, they ought to be easy sells to the American people in the upcoming elections right?

The art of selling (and it is an art despite pollsters trying to turn it into a science) requires focus. Right now the Republican Party lacks cohesive focus. Remember when we stormed back in 1994? We had a strong and deep vision that was well articulated. It was based upon the political values and economic principles that have always been Republican strong suits.

We believe in the right of individuals to choose within the law except when those choices result in direct bodily harm to another individual.

We believe that America must retain a strong role in world affairs because we realize if we do not, more unpalatable nations will rise to the fore.

We believe that when the government is knee deep in the private sector instead of an impartial referee, it leads to favoritism and corruption. The Credit Mobilier scandal of the 1870s sprang from direct government involvement in railroads. Lots of politicians stuck their hands into that cookie jar, including future President James Garfield.

Obama is gutting the Constitution and is a real threat to our natural rights. We need to focus our message on a positive alternative vision. Right now we are simply reacting and muddying the water with other issues.

Social conservatives will argue with this, but it is time to jettison gay marriage as a major issue. This is my own opinion, not Gary Howell's. This issue contradicts our general stands on limited government and individual choice. Now on the issue of extending sexual education into elementary school with the idea of teaching children in ways that contradict parental prerogatives, that is an issue of rights where Republicans stand on firm ideological ground. Honestly what are we going to do if gays want to call themselves married? Put shock collars on them? The private sector already recognizes these relationships for insurance and other purposes. This issue muddies the waters and drives away to the Democrats many victims of Obama's stealing, I mean, tax policies.

Abortion, on the other hand, is an issue we need to continue to fight. It is a human rights issue. Children have the right to live, regardless. When the Declaration of Independence says that every person has the right to life, it gets no plainer than that. That is why this is not only a social conservative issue and should not be fought as one. We can even take this one into traditionally Democratic territory. One in three babies aborted is black. That is an astounding statistic. It should be better publicized by the Republican Party.

It's very simple. We only need to get back to the ideals upon which this country was founded. We separated from Britain for economic and individual freedom. We made those ideals our law. They are based upon the right to choose. If we stand by these two founding documents and fight on issues that flow directly from them, we are always strong.

The Pakistan Plan

We'd better have a plan ready. Now.

Since Obama took office, the situation in Pakistan has gone from bad to worse as Taliban forces continue to build momentum and march on the capital. A crucial American ally in the region is about to go the way of Iran and South Vietnam. We had better have a expeditionary force of some sort ready.

Why? Why not let them fall into history like South Vietnam? Why risk more US lives in endless wars against fundamentalism halfway around the world.

Nuclear weapons, that is why. We cannot let terrorists acquire nuclear weapons, especially a group willing to die for their cause. Even worse, they would likely be more aggressive towards Pakistan's historic enemy India, who also has nuclear arms.

Is India likely to tolerate such as disastrous situation on its own borders? At this point it is hard to tell. The only possible help for this situation is a United States currently in a mode of Defense Department firesale.

First, whether they want it or not, US air power must be used against the Taliban to break up and break down their forces. If all else fails, we need an international team of special forces to seize all Pakistani nuclear components before the country falls.

Allowing Pakistani nuclear arms to fall into the hands of Islamic fundamentalist militants who have encouraged destructive attacks on the United States would be a criminal act of folly on the part of the Obama Administration. It is time to stop wasting money on frivolities, stop gutting the Defense Department, and start rounding up a posse to prevent a nuclear Taliban.

Blast from the Past: Shot heard round the world

The Audacity of $500 Tennis Shoes and Obama's Managed Mediocrity

I remember driving down a country road in Hardy County once. We passed by a nondescript house with a nondescript truck in the front. My wife commented, "believe it or not, those are some of the richest people in this county."

In their time, whatever method they used to make their money, I imagine that the government did not spend a lot of time telling them how and how not to earn it. Obama plans to unveil a bewildering array of new taxes and regulations that will hamstring corporations and investors alike. The goal lies in reducing the dynamic nature of American capitalism and imposing Obama's dream of managed mediocrity.

Managed mediocrity means that most people have to learn to live in a less prosperous America. Why? Because Barack and Michelle Obama say so! No one should get rich off of good old fashioned risk and reward. That is just too American. And nobody ever accused the Obamas of being American. Perhaps they hold US citizenship, but their ideas do not come from the traditions of our country.

It all comes back to the shoes that Mrs. Obama wore to a charity event. Five hundred dollar sneakers. Only rich people can afford to spend so much on their feet, unless there is a crying medical need. I suppose they got rich in the approved liberal way, instead of the evil capitalist way, investing in companies and putting Americans to work.

In Obama's new America of Managed Mediocrity, we will not be able to achieve the nouveau riche dream of wearing $500 tennis shoes. Only rich liberals can do that.

Jeb Bush Is Right

Don't get me wrong. I do cherish and respect what President Reagan did for our party and our country. His ideas and his efforts gave America twenty-five years of prosperity. Had Clinton followed his foreign policy example, we may have seen a much more secure America as well.

It's time to move on. It really is.

I am not saying we should forget Ronald Reagan. We never forgot Abraham Lincoln or Dwight Eisenhower. We should do a lot more to remember William McKinley who was a stronger supporter of free markets than the more flamboyant Theodore Roosevelt. However he belongs to history now.

People my age and older will have a hard time with this. We lived through the 1970s and remember the misery. Ronald Reagan raised us from all of that and restored our country's position in the world. But we must remember that millions of voters were not even alive when he was president. To them, he is as unreachable as Lincoln, a picture in a history book instead of a living example. If we continue to venerate Reagan, we risk looking like the old Franklin Roosevelt stalwarts of the not too distant past. Who in West Virginia even in the 80s and 90s did not know at least one person who voted the straight Democratic ticket because of FDR?

The Republican Party must start searching for the next Reagan because America will need some renewing in 2012. Obama has deconstructed much of our economic and diplomatic position in a shockingly short amount of time. Who will be the Republican to inspire this generation? Where will the ideas that wil shape the 21st Century come from? Hopefully we see one emerge soon.

Do not forget the past, but do not let the past blind us to the present or the future.

****************************************************************************

Remember when we said on this blog that Ford Motor Company will not only be fine, but end up in a strong position when this economy shakes out?

Ford just leapt over Toyota to once again seize second place in US auto sales last month. Ford's new midsized Fusion is a hit with consumers and recreates the success enjoyed by that company in the 1990s with the unspectacular, but dependable Taurus.

General (soon to be renamed "Government?") Motors is still the nation's best selling company, but they and Toyota both lost market share to the aggressive and still completely private sector Ford Motor Company.

To be honest I still think GM should be split into two if not three parts. Chevrolet and Cadillac would probably prosper alone.

Kudos to Ford!

Nixonian Foreign Policy and Obama

A couple of days ago, I described Hillary Clinton's foreign policy as being that of Richard Nixon and the more I thought about it, the more I felt that point needed clarification.

Nixon's main achievements came in the field of foreign policy. Lyndon Johnson's tax and spend approach to welfare combined with his mismanagement of the Vietnam War led to a period of American weakness. High inflation, breakdowns of social cohesion, and a declining ability to project power meant that by the late 60s, that weakness was real. Nixon adjusted US policy accordingly. For the first time since World War II, we dealt from a position of weakness rather than one of strength. This required Nixon, more so than other presidents, to engage enemies with despicable domestic records. Mao Tse Dong was the worst of the lot. However, Nixon did this with an overall vision of m,aking our enemies (USSR and China) more afraid of each other than of us. It worked, giving us breathing room before the American Renaissance of Ronald Reagan.

Obama has insisted that we show disrespect to our friends and love to our enemies (who use the opportunity to slap us in the face when they get the chance.) It is the Nixon concept of engaging enemies, without the overall plan of how to use that engagement to secure security. What is most galling is that at the end of 2008 the United States was the most secure and strongest power in the world. Obama's excessive borrowing has placed us at the mercy of our adversaries. His policy of apologizing for every slight, real or imagined, has dissolved the international respect so carefully established by Bush and Rice.

So a point of clarification. I used Nixon to describe Clinton and Obama's policy because liberals believe that Nixon is worse than Hitler and Judas Iscariot rolled into one. However it does use some aspects of Nixon's process without the overall vision or savvy that will lead to an enhanced American security.

WVGOP announces Underwood internships for 2009

CHARLESTON – Five participants in the West Virginia Republican Party’s new Cecil H. Underwood Intern Program have been announced today, including four college students and one high school student.

The program participants are:

* Patrick Heavner, a freshman accounting major at Marietta College and originally from Mineral Wells. He has volunteered on several local West Virginia campaigns and is the secretary for the Wood County Young Republicans. He wants to build the WVGOP team through engagement at the grassroots level.

* Micalyn Kuhl, a senior political science major at Marshall University. Originally from Elizabeth, Micalyn served as a Herndon Fellow working with the legislature and Secretary of State’s office. She believes interning with the party will allow her to gain valuable experience as she pursues a graduate degree in policy research, and help the future of the state.

* Scott Robertson, a junior political science major attending Marshall University. Originally from Man, Scott is the president of Marshall College Republicans. He wants to intern because he believes the WVGOP is the only party that will stand up for hardworking people and spur economic development in the state.

* Nina Orndorff, a graduate student at West Virginia University pursuing a degree in Public Administration. Hailing from Buckhannon, Nina has served as a Burke Intern with the West Virginia Legislature. In the face of economic uncertainty, she believes now is the perfect time for our party to grow its presence and lead the way to bettering the state.

* Ben Adams, a junior at Capital High School in Charleston. Ben has interned with the Pennsylvania Republican Party and extensively with the West Virginia McCain ‘08 campaign. Ben believes that the Republican ideals are the best vehicle to change government and wants to be part of the process.

The day to day operation of the program will be overseen by Shane Wilson, a graduate of Washington & Lee University in Virginia, who is preparing for law school at West Virginia University this fall. Shane has recently worked in the office of the Secretary of State.

“We’re excited about the new intern program and the valuable experience that will be gained by these bright young Republican activists over the course of the summer,” said state GOP Chairman Doug McKinney. “We appreciate everyone who applied for the program, and our hope is that in future years, we can expand its reach to include even more young people who exhibit such pride in their communities and a desire to make their state a better place to live.”

McKinney said the intern program will provide logistical and ground support for the party, grow new ideas and talent with potential future leaders and party staff, and publicly demonstrate an active, growing, and community-oriented party. Interns will develop conservative values and leadership skills, and gain valuable work experience and interaction with party and community leaders.

The program is named in honor of former Governor Cecil H. Underwood, who first ventured into politics in 1944 at age twenty-two with his election to the House of Delegates. He retained this seat until 1956, serving as House minority floor leader in 1949, 1951, 1953, and 1955. In 1957, he became the youngest governor in the history of the state and the first Republican governor in twenty-four years. In 1996, Underwood became the state's oldest governor, forty years after his first election to the office.

Enact a Constitutional Amendment Now to Democratize Planning and Health Boards

It is time for the West Virginia Legislature to consider an amendment either making various health, economic development, and other planning commissions elected, or strip them of their power to enact law.

Rule of law is the most important guarantor of democracy. In a free society, laws are made by representatives of the people. They are strictly written and enforced consistently. One example of where rule of law breaks down is when government organs seek to perpetuate themselves and enhance their powers.

The 20th century brought with it occasional manic periods of planning. These often followed years of tremendous expansion that ended with the inevitable corrections that caught the poorly prepared off guard. Planners seek to regulate development and growth to fit their vision of what is proper and appropriate. To achieve their goals, they often require sweeping legal mandates enabling them to do what they feel is right and proper. This removes certain aspects of regulation from the legislative and places it in unelected bodies, thus undermining the democratic ideal of rule of law. Local planning agencies, such as the health departments, enact legislation routinely that affect large numbers of people and businesses. Why do unelected boards have such power?

A multiplicity of laws or a vague legal code affects rule of law in adverse ways as well. Individuals or businesses can find their freedom to act hampered by a bewildering array of regulations that even the most observant may find themselves violating. When the government enacts vague, badly written, or inconsistently enforced laws, this also enhances the confusion. At this point the government becomes the arbiter, the main source of guidance, and the enforcement arm. This grants it extraordinary power as well as the ability to act in arbitrary ways. The United States tax code, enforced by the Internal Revenue Service, remains a prime example of a system whose complexity breeds fear of the government among law abiding citizens that ought to be considered unnatural in a free society, not a part of doing business. At both the federal and state level, the tax code has been used to harass law abiding opponents of the party in power. How much simpler would life be if we maintained the simple, restrained ideal of government originally created!

Real economic education in the schools would prevent much of the pain caused by such periods, but many would rather just blame capitalism itself and beg the government’s assistance.

In short, planning undermines rule of law, expands the power of unelected authorities, and diminishes freedom. It is time to democratize the process.

You're most likely part of the Militia

This is the current US Law without commentary.

Title 10, Subtitle A, Part I, Chapter § 311

§ 311. Militia: composition and classes

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

(b) The classes of the militia are—

(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and

(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

Pirates Take on Capitalism and Lose While Democrats Admit That Cap and Trade Is Really a Substantial New Tax

Pirates attempted to attack an Italian cruise liner named Melody and came away singing some sour notes.

Far be it for BBC or other news networks to report this, but the attack was thwarted by an Israeli security team hired to protect the liner and passengers. It shows that what is actually a low grade threat perpetrated by low rent thugs can be handled in a sophisticated and effective manner by trained private sector professionals.

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Meanwhile even Democrats from states with manufacturing and mining interests continue to criticize the Obama Administration's continued push towards cap and trade regulations. They could not get it past Congress, so they had the EPA declare that climate change was a threat to the nation so the executive branch could enact it anyway.

Congress must step up to prevent the administration from rendering them powerless on an issue that will damage the economy and destroy jobs. Especially as global warming advocates have been disappearing fairly quickly as of late.

Representative John Dingell, Democrat from Michigan, fired away at Obama's enviromunists by saying "Nobody in this country realizes that cap and trade is a tax - and it's a great big one."

Where will our congressmen and women stand on this? We know that Capito and Byrd have stood up for their West Virginia constituents on this issue. How about the rest of them?

Blast from the Past: No more Kings