Larry Kudlow Endorses Gov. Palin for VP.

Yes, I'm a one-trick pony. His endorsement is here. However, his interview leads me to believe she might not want it this time around (emphasis mine):

Palin: But as for that VP talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does everyday? I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S., before I can even start addressing that question.

She wants to be a busy vice president, if one at all. Now, here's Sen. John McCain:

"The vice president really only has two duties. One is to cast a tie-breaking vote in the case of a tied vote in the Senate. And the other is to inquire daily as to the health of the president."

Gov. Palin strikes me as someone with greater ambitions than being--at best--a one-term vice president with no prominent role in the administrations day to day activities. 

Update: I gives the people what they wants!



True story: She didn't actually catch the fish, it jumped into her arms, risking certain death just to be closer to her. 

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 03:50 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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The GOP can strike black gold here if they act boldly for once

They need to at least allow the current ban to expire in October, and refuse to let a new one pass.  John Hawkins has been sending around this post and urging conservatives to write about the oil issue and the need for the GOP to finally take a strong stand on something. 

I was a little disheartened by this report earlier in the day, where a squishy compromise looked like it was being hammered out.  I thought, great, here we go again.  I almost bailed on writing about the oil issue, because I figured the GOP would continue to be their lazy selves and do the minimum. 

Then I saw this, Nancy Pelosi decided to shut down the lights and cameras in the House while the GOP was discussing and debating energy policy and oil policy.  It's turning into a circus, and I'm hoping this stunt by Pelosi finally lights a fire under their asses and they start acting bold.  Since they shut the chamber cameras down, they have Rep. John Culberson outside of the chamber with a handicam reporting and Twittering.

From Pete Hoekstra's Twitter account,

Shame! Shame! Capital Hill police working under strict orders to shut Capital down at 430 pm today. Speaker Pelosi wants this shut down now

Some of the GOP Congressmen are calling on people to call their Representatives, and to call the House leadership to demand a vote!  This is how you do it, GOP!  More of this, please!

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 02:25 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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20 Years

Rush celebrates 20 years of talk radio today. 

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 12:21 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Government Cheese

Wisconsin's own Paul Ryan trashes the Freddie/Fannie buyout in rather stark terms:

The core housing bill is dangerous because it would bailout big banks and mortgage lenders that made risky bets in the housing bubble – putting up to $300 billion worth of taxpayer dollars at risk. Many argued that the underlying housing bill was built on the entirely unfair premise of forcing 95 percent of Americans (those who rent, own their own homes outright, or are on time with their mortgages) to bail out the other five percent (those who are near or in foreclosure). There are better ways to help the housing market recover.

Congress is now being asked to further expand this taxpayer unfriendly bill to include a breath-taking bailout of Fannie and Freddie. This bailout could put taxpayers on the hook for as much as $5 trillion dollars worth of risk – that’s larger than the economy of every single country in the world except the U.S. or China. That’s enough money to buy 10 gallons of gas a week at today’s rates for every passenger car in the U.S. for more than the next 17 years. In the worst case scenario of these companies completely failing, though unlikely, taxpayers would see the $9.5 trillion national debt explode with the snap of a finger.

When did it become impossible for major companies* to fail in this country?  Can't we just let badly managed corporations die the death they deserve so fresh, efficient corporations can move in and take over their business?  Of course no; Adam Smith's invisible hand has been replaced by the mailed fist of government and we all know where they're sticking it. 

* - Unless they are politically unpopular like oil companies, etc.

(h/t: Boots and Sabers)

Posted by: Moron Pundit at 03:07 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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What would a dream McCain Administration look like?

Randall Hoven at the American Thinker runs through all the possibilities.  There's a lot to like in it, especially his choices for Vice President, head of the EPA, OMB Director, and Attorney General. 

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 08:34 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Exconservacation: Michael Savage

There are many voices in the conservative movement and most are welcome and refreshing. From time to time, however, a self-proclaimed member of our movement becomes so habitually counterproductive that there is only one thing left to do: exconservacate them. As a public service, it is my pleasure to officially deal with Michael Savage once and for all.

Yeah, Mikey. That's it, you're out.

On his broadcast, Savage called autism "a fraud, a racket ... In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. ... They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron. ... Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot.' "

As is often the case, Savage's point is not 100% retarded (more like 99%) but that is beside the point. His resistance to internal consistency, undeserved arrogance, rudeness and propensity to say incredibly inflammatory and stupid things makes him only a liability to everything we are trying to accomplish.

He claims that he's being unfairly attacked by the 'marxists' and that is true but just because our enemies hate someone doesn't mean we should defend them.  That group-think resistance to calling an apple an apple is exactly what we deride in the left.  When someone like Larry Craig broadens his stance, we don't defend him, we roundly criticize and ostracize him. 

Savage deserves the same treatment.  He is an embarrassing tool who's method of 'defending' conservatism is so hostile and confrontational that he can't possibly serve any purpose other than to turn moderates against us.

I say, good riddance.

more...

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Spirit of '94

Lauraw has this posted at the Moron-in-Chief's, but it should be posted everywhere.  This is exactly the kind of thing that needs to be sent to the GOP.  Lauraw also points out this piece on the obscene spending and government growth coming from our GOP "leadership", again, this is the kind of message that needs to be sent.  This may be a site to watch.

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 11:09 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Jeff Flake's about to have some company

It always makes me happy to hear a candidate for Congress talk like this:

"I'm angry at Republican leadership and I'm angry at the people who have demeaned the political process by claiming corruption," Cannon said during an interview this week.

And it appears his successor plans to follow in the mold of one of the politicians Cannon railed against by name: Jeff Flake. In an earlier interview, Jason Chaffetz, who beat Cannon in Utah's June primary for the Republican nomination, lauded Flake, the anti-earmark crusader, and said he wants to be Flake's "wingman."
   
Cannon says that Flake, an Arizona congressman, is a friend, but has harped on earmarks to the detriment of his own party by not fully explaining the issue.

I haven't blogged about Rep. Flake over here at doubleplusundead, but he is one of my favorite House members.  Chaffetz' use of Flake as a model, especially contrasted with the incumbent's position, makes me proud to support him. 

You can donate to Jason Chaffetz' campaign here. 

(Also, if you know of any other candidates in the mold of Jason Chaffetz of Utah or Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska, please tell me and if I will toss up a story or two for them.)

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 01:37 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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Parnell at RedState and Palin on JibJab

Since we are saddled with McCain, one of my pet projects this election season is promoting House candidates who ascribe to conservatism. One such candidate is Jason Chaffetz (see here and here) and another is Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska who is seeking to unseat kleptocrat Rep. Don Young in Alaska's GOP primary on August 26.

Today he stopped by RedState to make his pitch. There is a link to donate at the top of the entry.

Also, I noticed that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin shows up in the latest JibJab presidential video.


It's about thirty seconds in, and she appears on McCain's campaign bus with other VP contenders, second in line to Mitt Romney. That's a pretty prominent place to be for someone who has "no name recognition."

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 12:19 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I think it should have been my guy, too.

Karol has started a series of entries on her blog featuring people who have had to face the reality that their chosen candidate didn't make it. 

- Karol explains her transition from "anybody but McCain" to McCain.

- Guest blogger Todd Seavy explains his switch from NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Bob Barr.

- A former Romney staffer follows his old boss' lead and supports Sen. John McCain.

- A Paulbot comes to grips with the fall of the rEVOLution, and embraces Bob Barr.  (Barr's level of Jew-hatred isn't where it needs to be, but he's making peace with that.  I keed, I keed.)

- A FredHead from SavetheGOP.com stumps for McCain.

My guy was Rudy Giuliani.  I was with him from January 2007.  It was in that month that I made my first ever donation to a political campaign.  I briefly volunteered for his campaign in Virginia, before I had to move back to Kentucky in October.  His campaign began crumbling shortly thereafter, I like to think it was because I was no longer working for him.  I even kept the bumper sticker on my car until he officially bowed out after the Florida primary.

Right now I plan on voting for Sen. McCain in the fall.  There are only two things that could change that.  First, if McCain chooses to be a mavericky maverick and choose a maverick vice president like Gov. Charlie Crist or (God forbid) Sen. Joe Lieberman he loses my vote.  Second to that would be a move to Washington, DC.  Living in a city that votes 90% Democrat is freeing that way.  I could vote for Bob Barr without feeling I was helping a Marxist like Obama get into office.  (So if you are in a position to hire someone in DC, hint hint.)

I don't know about you all, but I'm ready for 2012. 

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 12:34 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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A (probably) fruitless effort that needs to be made

Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has some advice for Sen. McCain if he plans on stopping the 10% of African-Americans who voted for President Bush in 2004 from embracing their inner hopenchanginess.  (There's a run-on sentence for you to diagram.) 

The whole article is worth a read, but Blackwell left out something that I think should be very important to minority communities: the death tax.  Minority-owned small businesses have been on the rise for years.  When the death tax goes back to a 55% rate in 2010, will a President Obama object?  Of course not.  He plans on reinstating the death tax while McCain (umm...as of this election season) wants to kill it. 

I think that is something that Sen. McCain should definitely bring up when he speaks before the NAACP Convention next week.   

(h/t)

Update:  When I was interning in DC, I shared office space with the folks at the American Family Business Institute, whos sole purpose is the elimination of the death tax.  They're great people and do great work.  Go check them out.

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 10:14 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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George Will Defends The Moron Lifestyle!

Normally, I find George Will to be a bit of a dour gasbag who is too content to be accepted by the DC Cocktail Party Circuit. But today, I have found a reason to sing his praises, especially since he seems fit do defend beer!

Now, he masks it in sociological dork-speak and wonkishness, but here is why I have a newfound love of a Cubs fan:

Suffice it to say that the good news is really good: Beer is a health food. And you do not need to buy it from those wan, unhealthy-looking people who, peering disapprovingly at you through rimless Trotsky-style spectacles, seem to run all the health food stores.

So let there be no more loose talk -- especially not now, with summer arriving -- about beer not being essential. Benjamin Franklin was, as usual, on to something when he said, "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Or, less judgmentally, and for secular people who favor a wall of separation between church and tavern, beer is evidence that nature wants us to be.

Now, if he endorsed Val-U-Rite Vodka, I may even give him a tongue bath.

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Lengthy article and interview with Rush Limbaugh

From the New York Times of all places, and it is actually a pretty good article.  Limbaugh calls Bill O'Reilly Ted Baxter in the interview.

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Canadian Human Rights Council dismisses charges against Mark Steyn

One down, he still faces the British Columbia Human Rights Commission.  Allah links Ezra Levant's commentary on the situation,

The only question remaining is whether Heather MacNaughton, chief kangaroo of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, will convict Maclean's. The "jurisprudence" is there; Maclean's surely is "guilty" of "likely" "exposing" someone to "hatred or contempt". Everyone's guilty of that; so the only question is who gets charged.

Levant and Allah have this right, this isn't over, the various Human Rights Commissions of Canada are likely to lay low for a while and try and pick off lower profile people until they get to where they can take out bigger fish like Steyn, Levant, publications like Maclean's and all the Canadian conservative bloggers they're going after. 

They're only declining to pursue these cases for now because they can't get away with it, politically speaking.  I wonder if they may well take out some conservative bloggers still, they might think they can get away with it because they don't have the clout of a Levant, Steyn or Maclean's.  Don't let them be right, Canada.

It is imperative we keep this type of blight on free speech in the Western world from spreading into the US any more than it has already. 

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Definitely good for McCain, but conservatives can go further

I agree with Vintage here, but I think there's more to be said.  In Vintage's post, he links Hotair, where Allah correctly notes that a lot of social conservatives are going to be pissed about McCain's meeting with the Log Cabin Republicans, and this will probably hurt McCain, politically speaking(I was reading that post too). 

This speaks to a fundamental problem, we're beginning to see a rift between small government conservatives and the social conservatives, many want to simply abandon the social conservatives, sometimes out of frustration, sometimes out of animosity or hatred, or personal hurt, many social conservatives want to ditch the small government wing and use the government to protect traditional social views.  Cathartic as it might be, that isn't the answer.  We small government conservatives need to offer an alternate path to social conservatives, and we must do so quickly. 

This problem became clear with the rise of Mike Huckabee in the primary this year, those of us that saw Huck for the walking disaster he was managed to stop him from taking the nomination, yeah, we ended up with stupid McCain, but Huck would have been worse, which is horrifying in itself. 

Huckabee is still pounding his Christian Democrat message, and he has a solid base of sympathizers and followers.  If you look at that post, you can see how Huckabee slimes small government conservatives and lays waste to several straw men, caricatures of ruthless libertarians and robber barons crushing working people and old folks underfoot.  We know that isn't true, but clearly many people don't, we need to combat this notion, and keep the Christian Democrats from winning the heart of the social conservative movement. 

The problem with Huckabee and many other social conservatives is that they're trying to solve social problems largely caused by overreaching government.  In essence, he and those who think like him are trying to cure illnesses by treating the symptoms of an illness, not the root cause. 

We have to offer an alternative to social conservatives, and we have to work to convince them that our vision isn't the horror show the Mike Huckabees of the world demagogue and portray it as. We have to explain why it is reducing government power won't create social decay, and will likely reverse it.  How working to allow things like private school vouchers allow them to accomplish what they've tried and failed to accomplish in the courts.  I'm sure you can come up with plenty more examples, but there are a few.  

The time to preach the word of small government conservatism is now.

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 08:43 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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BREAKING: Gov. Sarah Palin writes Harry Reid, causes blogger to have heart palpitations

Gov. Sarah Palin played the Absolute Moral Authority Card^tm to tell Sen. Harry Reid (Doucebag-NV) to drill in ANWR (PDF). Allah has a post on the letter here, but I think he missed the most interesting part:

Yet there is an even more important point. The location and quality of oil production are changing world geopolitics. Countries that produce significant quantities of oil and natural gas are gaining in power and prestige. Several of these countries have objectives and value systems that are antithetical to U.S. interests. We are becoming increasingly dependent on these insecure sources to our long-term detriment. Further, it has become clear that U.S. petrodollars are financing activities that are harmful to America and to our economic and military interests around the world.

One of the biggest concerns people have with putting Gov. Palin as McCain's vice president is that she has no foreign policy experience*. I think this is a savvy way for Palin to both raise her national profile on an important issue and get on record on a foreign policy issue.

Keep it up, Palin!

*Apparently she lacks the foreign policy acumen and experience of Govs. Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty, and Mitt Romney despite the fact that, as Captain Ed notes, the state she governs is the only one bordered by two foreign nations.

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 09:45 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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In which I shill for Sarah Palin...

Philip Klein over at the American Spectator's blog thinks that Gov. Sarah Palin could be McCain's best bet for VP.  I think he makes an interesting point here:

I could see her helping on the national security issue. Beyond the Iraq War, I think one of the reasons Republicans are having more trouble appealing to voters on national security grounds is that tough rhetoric often comes across as testosterone-driven, locker room, chest pounding. But as a mother of five with her eldest son in the Army, Palin could really make the case to other security moms as to why McCain is the best candidate to protect their families. I was watching this Charlie Rose interview with her, and (around the 10 minute mark), she talks about her son joining the Army, and says, "This kid is doing all that he can within his power to help secure and defend the United States, every elected official had better be asking themselves, are you doing as much also? Are you doing all that you can?"

Be sure to head to the link to see Klein's concerns about having Palin at the bottom of the ticket. 

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 02:33 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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The Club for Growth endorses Sean Parnell

Those of you who read my blog in the past already know this, but for the uninitiated, one of my biggest annoyances is when conservatives use a bad presidential candidate as a way to excuse inactivity in grassroots activism. If you don't like the top of the ticket, you need to find someone further down the ticket to help out through donations, volunteering, or promotion.

My candidate of choice this election season is Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska, who is trying to get rid of Kleptocrat Don Young. He's secured the endorsements of Gov. Sarah Palin, RedState, and National Review. Now, we can add the Club for Growth to that list (emphasis mine):

The reason for the endorsement is simple. Mr. Parnell is a solid conservative who led the fight for lower taxes and spending in the state legislature, and joined Gov. Sarah Palin in pushing for reform in the state. The man he is hoping to replace isn't economically conservative in the least. Mr. Young is actually a poster child for what has gone wrong with the Republican Party in Washington.

Over his 35 years in Congress, Mr. Young made himself into the most powerful Republican on the House Transportation Committee. But instead of using his power to steer Republicans down a principled, conservative track, he helped derail the GOP train in 2006.

[...]

The Alaska primary represents a crossroads for Republicans. Will party leaders line up behind Mr. Young, even as the Justice Department is looking into his earmarks? Or will they tell him they cannot support a member who has flagrantly disrespected taxpayers and abandoned Republican principles?

Sadly, we already know the answer to this question. If you can help Lt. Gov. Parnell, please do.

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 01:16 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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finally!

A test to see what a Jackbooted RethugliKKKan Fascist you are.  I scored like a 2.63333something...I was ranked as a Liberal Airhead, I guess I failed.

(H/T MyVRWC)

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 09:06 PM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
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