Hey big spender! Your outspending FDR

When the Democrats regained control of Congress in January 2007, they promised fiscal responsibility. They passed PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) which requires Congress to find a way to pay for programs without raising taxes.

However, in their first year, they increased spending by $454 billion, raised taxes by $98 billion, and added an additional $356 billion to deficit spending. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) once told his senate colleagues “If you want to have a new program, figure out a way to pay for it without raising taxes.” Attention Senator Reid, if you want health care reform, a stimulus package, a climate bill, and a “jobs” bill, then find a way to pay for it without taxing us into oblivion.

Liberals now, as in 2007, have used their large majorities to increase discretionary spending faster than syrup dripping on a pile of pancakes. In 2007, they blackmailed President Bush into agreeing to an additional $17 billion in unrelated domestic spending. They told the president that if he wanted his requested troop funding then he would have to agree to their increase.

Within his first 100 days in office, President Obama has spent the second half of the TARP bill ($350 billion), signed into law a failed economic stimulus bill ($872 billion) and the Omnibus bill ($410 billion), and submitted his $3.6 trillion 2010 budget. In his “Era of Personal Responsibility”, he proposed increasing discretionary spending by 12 percent. While the president “supports” the PAYGO law passed by the House, he managed to spend $1.5 trillion over tax receipts.

President Obama likes to blame his predecessor for our current budget woes, but let’s look at the numbers (courtesy of The Heritage Foundation).

President Bush expanded the federal budget by $700 billion; Obama expanded the same federal budget by $1 trillion. President Bush’s stimulus bill in 2008 was only $150 billion; Obama’s stimulus bill in 2009 was $872 billion.

President Bush was the first president to spend 3 percent of GDP on antipoverty programs; President Obama has increased this so far by 20 percent.

President Bush presided over a $2.5 trillion increase in the public debt by the end of 2008 (after 8 years); President Obama is set to add $4.9 trillion in only 6 years.

With all his spending, President Obama is set to be the biggest spender-in-chief since the 1930's. While President Roosevelt had to respond to the attack on Pearl Harbor, federal spending as it pertains to gross domestic product (GDP) averaged only 9.85 percent. It is estimated that with Obama’s spending, the GDP will average around 24 percent. While both Obama and Roosevelt had wars to contend with as well as a down economy, so did President Reagan. However, even with the Cold War, Reagan’s highest deficit as a percentage of GDP came in 1983 when it hit 6 percent.

Democrats claim that the PAGYO legislation turned the country’s deficits into surpluses in the 1990's. But what they fail to mention is that those surpluses came about during the last 6 years that President Clinton was in office when Congress was controlled by Republicans. I will admit that the Republicans went on a spending spree during the first six years of the Bush administration, a fact that doesn't sit well with many Conservatives.

During his tenure in office, President Calvin Coolidge managed to cut spending by 50 percent! If President Obama and the Democrats are serious about cutting the deficit and getting spending under control, then they would cut spending, cut taxes, cancel their efforts to pass health care and return the repaid TARP money to the Treasury.

Otherwise, its time for the American people to tell them “You’re Fired!”

Obama’s first year in office – a missed opportunity

Instead of listening to the American people whose focus in 2009 was the economy and jobs, this president decided to spend his first year on health care. Because as he said, seven presidents have tried and failed in getting health care legislation passed and he was bound to make history and be the last. Forget about the millions who lost jobs in 2009, he focused on what he wanted and in return...

Missed an opportunity;

The elections of Republican governors to New Jersey and Virginia aren't anything new. Virginia has for the most part been a red state and every once in awhile New Jersey elects a Republican to lead them. But again, this president didn't listen to the voters. Instead, the White House reported that he didn't even watch the returns and brushed the results off stating that they had nothing to do with him. President Clinton brushed of the New Jersey and Virginia Republican gubernatorial wins in 1993 and he lost his majority in November 1994. It appears President Obama…

Missed an opportunity;

The election of Senator-elect Scott Brown in Massachusetts should have been a wake up call to President Obama. The state was electing someone to fill a seat held by a democrat for more than 50 years. In the bay state, Democrats out number Republicans 3 to 1 and Independents out number Democrats 2 to 1 so the White House should listen to the voters. Like in 1994, Independents tried to tell the Democratic Party that they weren't happy with their tax and spend policy and their desire to take over the health care system. This special election was an opportunity Bill Clinton didn't have in 1994. It appears President Obama….

Missed an opportunity;

Many pundits thought that with his party losing in MA the president would have no choice but to move to the center. But his State of the Union speech showed us that he won't give up trying to change the tone of Washington and continue to use liberalism as a way to separate America. During his address, he scolded Democrats, Republicans, Washington, the Supreme Court and the American people. Since his election, he has talked to the American people as if they were school children. The "we know what is best for you" attitude isn't cutting it with voters. We might as well have all been sent to after school detention. It appears President Obama...

Missed an opportunity;

When Obama campaigned for president, he promised hope and change. After one year, the “change-agent-in-chief” is showing us he has nothing to offer but more of the same. Back doors deals with democratic senators in order to get their vote and deals with union leaders in order to get their support, just to get his agenda passed. With a super majority, he could have taken the high road and worked with the opposition party. Instead he decided to tell them to get out of the way. He told them during the summer that he didn't' want the people who created this mess to do a lot of talking, just get out of the way. It appears President Obama…

Missed an opportunity.

A year ago the nation handed him a super majority and skyrocketing approval ratings. After one year, his approval ratings have plummeted and his super majority decided to not become “yes men” to his agenda. On top of that, he let far left groups such as Apollo Alliance write major legislation like the stimulus bill. When Bill Clinton lost his majority in 1994, he rolled toward the center. He knew there would be “painful compromises” with Speaker Gingrich and his party. But some of Bill Clinton’s most successful legislation (welfare reform in 1996 and balanced budget legislation in 1997) came about when he worked with the Republican Party.

According to Rep. Marion Berry, democrat from Arkansas, the president told him that the Democrats in Congress have one advantage they didn't have in 1994, the president himself. When the Democrats lose control of the House and the Senate is split 50/50, will the president miss another opportunity?

Why the Independent voter will decide the 2010 elections

Last Tuesday, the Independent voters of Massachusetts unleashed their frustration with the Obama administration by electing a Republican to a seat held by the Democrats for almost 50 years. Republicans should not think that the Massachusetts win means voters have seen the light and are returning to the GOP. Remember, in the bay state Democrats out number Republicans 3 to 1 and Independents outnumber the Democrats 2 to 1.

Senator-elect Scott Brown’s win is a backlash against the Democratic Party on the national level no matter how the White House tries to spin it. Independent voters have always been conservative when it comes to fiscal issues and they aren't too keen for big government. In 1994, Independents and soft partisans were tired of the tax and spend liberals in DC and were not so sure about “HillaryCare” (sound familiar?) so they voted in the GOP.

Mr. Brown’s win should make the remaining Democratic senators who are up for re-election this year quiver. They may have the support of their base but the Independent voter is watching and will be out in force. At this point, the GOP should be able to hold on to most of their open seats. The states of Missouri, Ohio and New Hampshire could be in play but right now the GOP candidates have a strong lead in each race.

Senators Boxer (CA), Reid (NV), Lincoln (AR), Bayh (IN), Landrieu (LA), and Specter (PA) are all in trouble. Senator Boxer only has a 46 percent favorable rating and Senator Specter will face challenges in his own primary. Senator Bayh comes from a conservative state but with his record he could win again. Senator Lincoln has voted against the will of the people one too many times and Senator Landrieu was bought off, again defying the will of the people of her state.

Right now Senators Murray (WA), Wyden (OR) and Feingold (WI) don't have much competition but if Massachusetts can go red, then so can they. The seats of New York, Delaware, Illinois and Colorado currently have senators who were appointed so this will be the first time they will face the people. It’s possible that we will see GOP pick ups in at least Delaware, Illinois, and Colorado.

It's easily conceivable that the GOP will regain control of the House and could pick up enough seats in the Senate for a 50/50 split. With the wrath of the independent voter on hand, Democrats might actually have to work for re-election.

Get ready for a Constitutional throw down

As Congress gets ready to work on a behind closed doors compromise health care bill, one that will merge the House and Senate bills, lawyers and attorney generals across the country are gearing up for a constitutional throw down. Two issues that are being looked at are the individual mandate and the sweetheart deals.

The first issue the Supreme Court will have to deal with is the mandate that an individual purchase coverage. The federal government does not have authority to force a citizen to purchase a good or service. When President Clinton tried to pass health care legislation in 1994, which included a mandate for every citizen to purchase insurance, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) weighed in on the issue stating “The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States…”

The Supreme Court has already weighed in on the issue in the cases of United States v. Lopez (1995) and United States v. Morrison (1995). In both cases, the high court “it was outside the reach of Congress’s Commerce power.” The Supreme Court rejected Congress’ argument that they had the power to regulate any and all activities by an individual. The health care bill with its mandate goes against this ruling. The Commerce clause does give Congress the authority to spend money but it does not give them the authority to tell an individual how they can spend their money.

A reporter with CNSNews.com recently asked two Democratic senators what “specific part of the Constitution authorizes Congress to mandate that individuals must purchase health insurance.” Here are the answers and they are mind-boggling. Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) stated the U.S. Constitution gives authority to the government “to provide for the health, welfare and the defense of the country." But as CNSNews.com pointed out, the word “health” is not mentioned in the Constitution, not even once. Burris’ Communications Director James O’Connor tried to help his boss out by saying the senator was referring to the Preamble of the Constitution, which covers the “general welfare.” Again, the word health is never mentioned.

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) who couldn’t pinpoint the specific location of the Constitution that authorizes Congress to mandate such a purchase compared mandating a citizen to purchase health care to registering for selective service. The senator said that making men sign up for the draft was “necessary for the functioning of the government over the past several years.” Forcing people to buy insurance is not necessary for the government to function.

The second issue that the Supreme Court will have to deal with is the constitutionality of “sweetheart” deals that were granted to certain states just to secure their votes. The most famous one being the Nebraska deal made with Senate Ben Nelson that will exempt Nebraska from having to cover the increased cost from the expansion of Medicaid. That cost will be covered by the remaining 49 states some of which are hurting financially and can’t afford to take on anymore expenses. The 14th amendment of the Constitution provides equal protection under the law. Giving some states a sweetheart deal to obtain their vote, defies that amendment. Governors and Attorney Generals in at least 13 states are arguing that the treatment some states are getting violates the 14th amendment.

Our current leaders, it appears, have forgotten what the Constitution says they can and cannot do. Congress has the authority to regulate economic activity that an individual chooses to engage in but they do not have the authority to mandate that an individual engage in the activity in the first place.

If Congress attempts to use the Commerce clause as its “legal” way to make us buy insurance, then what’s next? Do they make us buy a Toyota Hybrid each year, or require us to buy energy-efficient appliances?

In the case of Marbury vs. Madison (1803), Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, “The powers of the legislature are defined and limited; and that those limits may not be mistaken, or forgotten, the Constitution is written." When Speaker Pelosi was asked if forcing Americans to purchase insurance was constitutional, her response was, “Are you serious?” Well, yes, Madame Speaker, we are serious.

Excerpt from "You're Fired"

Reason 5- They Never Learn

On Foreign Policy - Despite his claims, Obama is not this nation’s "First Pacific President." Yes, he did live in Hawaii for 14 years; but Richard Nixon ended the freeze between U.S. and China in 1972 and both Nixon and Reagan resided in California. Two other presidents, Kennedy and George H.W. Bush both had war experience in the Pacific. And least we not forget, William Taft, American’s 27th president, governed the country of the Philippines for 4 years (same amount of time Obama lived in Indonesia). And the list goes on. Harry Truman commanded over the Korean War; Ulysses S. Grant and Gerald Ford visited Japan. Grant was the first president to shake the hand of the Japanese Emperor (while our “first Pacific President” bowed to him, perhaps he was looking to make sure nothing was on his shoes?). President Theodore Roosevelt received the Nobel Peach Prize for helping end the Russian-Japanese War.

On Fiscal Policy - President Obama spoke early in his administration about Japan and her "lost decade." He believed that the Japanese government didn’t act in time to save their economy. After the 1987 stock market crash, President Reagan’s plan of action was to keep interest rates low and enact some bank regulation. A year later, the US economy was growing again. Japan, however, took a different path. Their plan included nationalizing some banks, pumping trillions into the markets and bailing out companies. They thought enacting an “emergency fiscal stimulus” package would rescue their economy (sound familiar?). Banks were no longer able to lend money and many were kept alive by the skin of their teeth. After almost two decades of failed fiscal policy, economist Heizo Takenaka was named the new Minister of Economy and Finance. Mr. Takenaka changed the failed policies of the past and said banks aren’t too big to fail.

Celebrating Freedom around the world, the fall of the Berlin Wall

It is despicable that the President of the Untied States is not at the 20th anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was after all President Reagan who stood at the wall some 22 year ago and told Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall." President Reagan saw America as exceptional and a leader. These of course run contrary to the view Obama has of America, one that is just another county and should be bow down to the United Nations. Even the late democratic president John F. Kennedy who flew to Berlin in 1963 denounced the wall as "an affront to history." Kennedy like Reagan saw the Cold War as the defining battle between freedom and totalitarianism. A war both men believed that the West, with America had the helm, had to win.

The White House is taking heat over their decision not to send the president and they should. The fall of the wall showed that democracy can triumph and he has chosen to ignore it. Instead, he has chosen to attend some 26 fundraisers, play multiple rounds of golf, make an impromptu visit to Copenhagen to try and win the Olympics for Chicago and will travel to Oslo in December to accept the Nobel Peach Prize which he doesn’t serve.

Basically, Obama told German President Angela Merkel that he was too busy to attend the celebration but yet other world leaders past and present managed to rearrange their schedule and attend. It’s just plan pathetic.

This president sees the Cold War as an irrelevant historical artifact, a time when Americans felt the way to resolve a conflict was with fear instead of warm/fuzzy speeches. It seems as long as this president sits in the Oval office, America is no longer a champion of freedom. This will make the next 3 years very dangers for those of us who live here.

What the 2009 election tells us about 2010

Let me quote the lyrics of a 1980s Dead or Alive song – "You spin me right round, baby right round like a record." The Democratic Party is trying so hard to spin the results of the 2009 election that it’s enough to make you dizzy.

The losses of two governorships are big, especially New Jersey, the bluest of blue states. In VA, there was a 26 point swing in favor of the GOP candidate over Obama’s win by 8 points (the GOP candidate won by 18). In New Jersey, there was a 19point swing over Obama’s win by 15 points (the GOP candidate won by 4).

Here are some numbers that should make Obama and the Democratic Party worry. In Virginia, Governor-elect Bob McDonnell carried the affluent and immigrant heavy Fairfax County by 21 percent (a county carried by Obama in 2008). Mr. McDonnell also carried nine out of Virginia’s eleven congressional districts, including three districts that went democrat in 2008 with votes of 62 percent, 61 percent, and 55 percent respectively. Exit polls showed that 46 percent of voters in Virginia said the economy was the main concern while only 25 percent said it was health care.

Over in New Jersey, Governor-elect Chris Christie, who was out spent by his opponent, managed to cut outgoing Governor Corzine’s margin in heavily democratic Bergen Country from 16 percent (which Corzine carried in 2005) down to 1 percent in 2009. He also took 7 counties that voted for Obama in 2008 turned them red in 2009.

Obama won’t be able to focus solely on one state in the 2010 elections as he’ll be criss-crossing the country trying to save blue politicians in red states. Blue politicians in red states must now think twice before voting for cap-and-trade and healthcare. In the House alone, there are 84 democrats that come from districts won by either President Bush in 2004 or John McCain in 2008. Election year 2008 was a snippet in time, a one-shot deal never to be repeated.

What the White House can’t overlook is the growing discontent that Americans have for they way they have governed. Americans have begun to pay attention to a government that doesn’t care about trillion dollar deficits, combined 50 percent tax rates in most states, sky rocketing unemployment which is now at 10.2 percent or a radical agenda that if passed will kill jobs.

If anything, the election of a Republican governor in NJ has given hope to Republicans in other blue states like Massachusetts, New York, or New Hampshire whose governors are up for re-election. Last Tuesday’s win lets the Republican Party live to conquer another day. It was just last year the pundits wrote off the GOP for the next election cycle, maybe even the next generation.

The president needs to face the realization that his left of center agenda doesn’t sit will with a right of center nation. By allowing the left coasts of the U.S. to write important legislation, he is exciting the left, enraging the right, and frightening the center. Come 2010, Obama may be the “right” answer to the GOP’s problems.

The White House will tell you that the election was not a referendum on the president and democratic loses had nothing to do with Obama. It now appears that the voters in at least these two states want nothing to do with him.