For several days, I have come home to find calls on my Caller ID from Wash DC (area code 202). Since I am sure that my Senators and Representatives are not calling me to ask my opinion about the Budget, Stimulus plans or the like, I have made a mental note and refreshed the Caller ID. They do not leave a message, so I am sure that if it was something important like Representative Clay asking me what I think about his Pro-Life voting record or Senator McCaskill wanting to know how she should vote on the next great bailout, that they would leave a message for me to get right back to them. So while I was curious, I was not THAT curious.
This morning, while I was getting ready to run some typical Saturday errands, the phone rang with another call from Wash DC and I decided to take it. It was from the Republican National Congressional Committee. A bright, polite and engaging young man proceeded to ask me what I wanted from them in the next Congressional election......I don't know if he was ready for what came next. OK, if you want my wish list of the perfect legislator, let me count the ways....
1. A REAL conservative---not a squishy RINO.
2. Someone who will restore the tenets of conservative policy.
3. Someone who wants tax cuts for all people and businesses.
4. Someone who favors smaller government.
5. Someone who favors lower government spending.
6. Someone who will fight against nationalized health care and the spread of entitlements.
7. Someone who will follow the precepts of the Constitution and not modify them to suit their needs.
8. Someone who will unflinchingly defend my Second Amendment Rights.
9. Someone who will close our borders and deal definitively with illegal immigration.
.....and as I drew a breath so that I could continue, he jumped right in and agreed with everything that I said and told me that was what the Republicans are going to do this election cycle. They were going to find and support real conservatives who would restore the trust of conservative Americans everywhere!
Since in the past I had given money to this cause, and because the need is dire right now, the young man wondered if I would like to increase my level of giving by a full $50-$100 over what I had done in the past? My response.... "Well, I'd love to do that, but since the Republicans frittered away a golden opportunity and the trust of their base, and started the ball rolling down this debt mountain that is now increasing at a mind numbing rate, I just don't have that kind of money anymore. In fact, I can't even begin to match the amount that I gave you in the past. How about this, I'll give you $25 and if you PROVE that you will do what the conservative base demands, then I'll give you more??? My contributions will be based on performance. I will keep my eye on who you get, what they have in their platforms and how the rest of the guys in Washington act in the coming days and months and you will get money on that basis. What do you think?"
Well, he agreed that we are all in this together, that my $25 contribution was welcome (was better than nothing at all) and that the RNC would have to earn back the trust of their constituents. He thanked me and sent me to the supervisor who would confirm my address and information.
The supervisor was another bright, polished and intelligent young man who politely confirmed my information and then asked if I wanted to make my contribution on a debit or credit card. He also had to bear the brunt of my irritation, because I let him know that I had spent the past three years on a self imposed debt reduction program and, having succeeded in ridding myself of all of my consumer debt except my mortgage and one car loan that is a 0% loan, I would not be using either of these methods. If they would send me a statement, I would be pleased to write a check and if not, they weren't getting my money. I then told him that this was what I expected from the future candidates who would be selected and supported and it was what I expected from the current representatives and senators who are presently in Washington. This is how I am supposed to conduct my personal finances and our government should do no less. My parting salvo was to share with the supervisor that I felt that my contributions to the NRA got me more results than my prior contributions to the RNC and its PAC's.
This weekend there were tea parties all over the country protesting the unbridled spending of the taxpayer's money. In St. Louis, the tea party attracted a large (800-1000 strong) gathering of participants of all ages and colors. Elderly people on fixed incomes mingled with young suburbanites, families of home schoolers and conservatives of color. The undercurrent of resistance is becoming more and more apparent and it is time that those who are representing us know that we expect them to fish or cut bait. They are on probation right now and their job is hanging in the balance.
So when the political fundraising organizations call, answer the phone! Don't dodge them. They want something so give them a piece of your mind and whether or not you give them money is totally up to you!!
About Me
- Carolyn
- St. Louis, MO, United States
- What the name sez, Christian, conservative, 2nd amendment supporter. Physician, wife, daughter and loving mother.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A New Economic Proposal from Common Sense America
Some of the things that circulate around on the internet contain the simplest and most common sense ideas...This is could be one of those....
If you are happy with how Congress spends our taxes, you just need to sit back and let the good times roll, HOWEVER, if you are NOT happy, then you know what to do......
A NEW ECONOMIC PROPOSAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT
When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers need to find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well. Wall Street, and the media, normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his Board of Directors gives him a big bonus!
Our government should not be immune from similar risks.. Therefore:
Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218, and the Senate from 100 to 50. The support staff for the lost congressional members would also be gone. Also, reduce the remaining support staff by 25%. This would be accomplished over 8 years...2 steps/2 elections, and of course this would require some redistricting.
Some yearly monetary gains would include:
$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for legislators (267 members x 165,200)
$97,175,000 for elimination of their legislative staff (estimate $1.3 M in staff per each member of the House, and $3 M in staff per each member of the Senate) per year.
$240,294 for the 25% reduction in the remaining staff.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel earmarks each year. (Those members whose jobs are gone.) Current estimates for total government pork barrel spending is at $15B per year.
The remaining legislators would need to work smarter and would need to improve efficiencies. We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might be even easier to keep track of what your representatives are doing. Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country!
Congress did not hesitate to head home for their holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. Also, we have 3 senators (McCain, Clinton and Obama) that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ months (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. This alone supports a reduction in senators and congress.
Summary of opportunity:
$44,108,400 reduction of Congress members.
$282,100,000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.
$150,000,000 for elimination of the reduced senate staff.
$56,675,000 for 25% reduction of remaining house member staff.
$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of remaining senate staff.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members.
$8,073,383,400 per year, estimated total savings.....just to start!
Big business makes these types of cuts all the time.
If Congress were required to serve 20,25 or 30 years (like all of us at our jobs) in order to collect retirement benefits, there is no telling how much we would save. Now they can get full retirement benefits after serving only ONE term.
If you are happy with how Congress spends our taxes, you just need to sit back and let the good times roll, HOWEVER, if you are NOT happy, then you know what to do......
Saturday, February 21, 2009
How To Wrap Your Head Around Our Government's Spending
Since I have had the Federal Debt widget running at the top of my blog (less than one month!), MY portion of the debt has grown to $198,000! As the Porkulus funds are "Spread Around" these numbers will escalate dramatically. The numbers being bandied about with Porkulus, TARP,TARP II, Automotive Bailout, Banking CRISIS Bailout, and the threat that this is "just the beginning" are numbers that are incomprehensible to most common folk. Of course, this may be the goal...make things so "out there" that people just cave because they can't wrap their heads around the concept.
With that in mind it is no wonder that there is a growing resentment bubbling under the surface and beginning to rise to the top, where common people are saying ENOUGH! Rick Santelli's rant at the Chicago Board of Trade was one salvo in the call for some kind of revolution against the nationalization of OUR tax dollars to give to people and causes that have no right to them. This little video is an attempt at pointing you to the enormity of the financial problem the Obama administraton has just put on the backs of generations of taxpayers.
Now that you have that accomplished, get active, put your mouth in action and spread the word. Go to www.Americanissuesproject.org and see how you can join the groundswell of voices letting our government that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
On February 27, 2009, there are going to be "Chicago" Tea Parties in cities all over the country sponsored by a coordinated Netroots consortium of conservative activist groups. If you want to add your voice to this effort, visit this site and RSVP to the Party! It is unfortunate that it takes the British press to actually pick up this idea and publicize it...
With that in mind it is no wonder that there is a growing resentment bubbling under the surface and beginning to rise to the top, where common people are saying ENOUGH! Rick Santelli's rant at the Chicago Board of Trade was one salvo in the call for some kind of revolution against the nationalization of OUR tax dollars to give to people and causes that have no right to them. This little video is an attempt at pointing you to the enormity of the financial problem the Obama administraton has just put on the backs of generations of taxpayers.
Now that you have that accomplished, get active, put your mouth in action and spread the word. Go to www.Americanissuesproject.org and see how you can join the groundswell of voices letting our government that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
On February 27, 2009, there are going to be "Chicago" Tea Parties in cities all over the country sponsored by a coordinated Netroots consortium of conservative activist groups. If you want to add your voice to this effort, visit this site and RSVP to the Party! It is unfortunate that it takes the British press to actually pick up this idea and publicize it...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
We Want a Divorce!
We have a little local conservative group that was founded via talk radio and we have found our selves on the internet. It is fledgling at best and is just starting to hit its stride with exchange of information and ideas among people who have never met each other! That said, I wish to credit Margaret, one of the members of our group for this little internet exchange that was sent to all of the group. While it is sent in fun, there is a kernel of truth present and so I share it.
Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists,Obama supporters, et al:
We have stuck together since the late 1950s, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile, chalk it up to irreconcilable differences, and go our own ways.
Here is a model dissolution agreement:Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by land mass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but we must come to a friendly agreement. After that it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don't like re-distributive taxes so you can keep them. You will take all liberal judges and the ACLU.
Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA, and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie O'Donnell (you are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move them). We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies, and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan Hockey Moms, greedy CEOs, and Rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood.
You can make nice with Iran , Palestine , and France , and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or way of life are under assault, we'll provide them job security.
We'll keep our Judeo-Christian Values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology,Humanism, and Shirley McClain. You can have the U.N. but we will no longer be paying the bill. We'll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Saturn, Prius & Subaru Station Wagon you can find. You can give everyone healthcare, if you can find any practicing doctors (that is practicing, Howard Dean) who will follow to your turf. We'll continue to believe health care is a luxury and not a right.
We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and The National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach The World To Sing, Kum Ba Ya, Give Peace a Chance or We Are the World.
We'll practice trickle down economics, and you can give trickle up poverty its best shot. Since it often so offends you. we'll keep our History, our Name, and our Flag.
Would you agree to this? In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you ANWAR on who will need whose help in 15 years.
Sincerely,
P.S. Please take Barbara Streisand
Monday, February 16, 2009
Thought for the Day
"It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." ---Samuel Adams
Keep this thought in front of your eyes as we, as the minority opposition, work our way through the next two years. While many people are rightfully irate as the Porkulus package has been stuffed down our throats, to be followed by a soup course of Auto Bail Out Deux, and a dessert of TARP II and III, followed by what will likely be a second helping of Porkulus to follow, we have to be tireless in our opposition to programs that are irresponsible and reprehensible. So keep it up and keep the pressure on whenever and wherever the chance arises.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Out of the Mouths of Babes
This young girl makes the case for Pro-Life positions better than almost any adult I have heard.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Americans Will Rise to the Challenge without Stimulus
With the Federal legislative reconciliation committee working overtime to get the Spendulus bill ready for presentation with an apple in its mouth, American's are becoming increasingly distrustful of the package and the RAMifications of its passage. At set of 13 mini speeches that served as a press conference on Monday, President Obama blew off a question about TARP II and teased the presser scheduled for the next day by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Like the Monday night press conference, it failed to live up to its billing and Geithner was left looking like a fool without a real plan for spending $1 Trillion ADDITIONAL tax dollars.
So, do we REALLY need a SPENDULUS plan??? No, we need a STIMULUS plan.
A grassroots, netroots conservative plan has been wending its way through the blogosphere for the past week and it sounds like a better plan than anything that has been offered by any government source. The plan is simple and provides targeted, immediate stimulation of the economy with obvious immediate chances for job creation. The plan is best known at the TCOT Plan. It doesn't take thousands of pages to outline, in fact it can be put on one sheet of paper. The plan, pure and simple asks government to immediately cut the federal withholding tax in half for all taxpaying individuals and corporations and maintain this cut for the rest of 2009. With the addition of money in the pockets of individuals and corporations, people could spend more, do more, give more to charities, and afford additional education. Employees would cost less to employ, and as a result of increased spending, demand for goods and services would also increase, thus creating or re-creating lost jobs.
Since it was posted on Friday, hundreds of ordinary Americans have left comments on the internet on how this plan would impact them vs. how the Spendulus plan would impact them. Overwhelmingly, the responses are enthusiastic in support of this sort of stimulus and most of the responses suggest very common sense uses of the money to pay down debt, pay down mortgages, pay for health related issues like dental work, pay for tuition to go back to or continue in schooling and buy or maintain cars. Many people also suggested that savings was a priority once debts were reduced or eliminated. Sounds like common sense to me. Small business owners all felt that reinvestment to grow and expand would be a priority for them with increased money in their pocket. Many people also mentioned increasing support of church and charitable organizations that would result with more money in their pocket.
Tomorrow night, February 12, 2009, TCOT has challenged conservatives all over the nation to host small house parties and invite your guests to compare the TCOT Plan with the government's Spendulus plan and then talk about what you would do with the additional money in your wallet with each plan. TCOT is planning to feed this information live to media outlets during the evening time period. If you can host a house party, let them know and plan to participate in helping to take down the Obama Spendulus bill. This is the same tactic that got BHO elected with grassroots small groups working to empower ordinary people. Well, lets give them a taste of their own neighborhood organizing.
Yesterday, on our local FM Talk station, during AM drive time, a woman caller called the station and identified herself as the wife of a local small businessman who had a small printing business that he had helped to build over the past 20 years. She indicated that the business was in jeopardy now due to economic conditions. The host finally asked her to disclose the name of her husband's business and then asked the listening audience to think of them if they were looking for a company to do printing. That was the end of the topic......until today.
This morning, the same woman sent an email to the host thanking him for the gesture yesterday and letting him know that they received several orders for printing jobs yesterday as a result of the radio recognition AND a local wholesaler of printing ink GAVE them ink to help them out. THIS IS HOW AMERICA RISES TO MEET CHALLENGES.
So, do we REALLY need a SPENDULUS plan??? No, we need a STIMULUS plan.
A grassroots, netroots conservative plan has been wending its way through the blogosphere for the past week and it sounds like a better plan than anything that has been offered by any government source. The plan is simple and provides targeted, immediate stimulation of the economy with obvious immediate chances for job creation. The plan is best known at the TCOT Plan. It doesn't take thousands of pages to outline, in fact it can be put on one sheet of paper. The plan, pure and simple asks government to immediately cut the federal withholding tax in half for all taxpaying individuals and corporations and maintain this cut for the rest of 2009. With the addition of money in the pockets of individuals and corporations, people could spend more, do more, give more to charities, and afford additional education. Employees would cost less to employ, and as a result of increased spending, demand for goods and services would also increase, thus creating or re-creating lost jobs.
Since it was posted on Friday, hundreds of ordinary Americans have left comments on the internet on how this plan would impact them vs. how the Spendulus plan would impact them. Overwhelmingly, the responses are enthusiastic in support of this sort of stimulus and most of the responses suggest very common sense uses of the money to pay down debt, pay down mortgages, pay for health related issues like dental work, pay for tuition to go back to or continue in schooling and buy or maintain cars. Many people also suggested that savings was a priority once debts were reduced or eliminated. Sounds like common sense to me. Small business owners all felt that reinvestment to grow and expand would be a priority for them with increased money in their pocket. Many people also mentioned increasing support of church and charitable organizations that would result with more money in their pocket.
Tomorrow night, February 12, 2009, TCOT has challenged conservatives all over the nation to host small house parties and invite your guests to compare the TCOT Plan with the government's Spendulus plan and then talk about what you would do with the additional money in your wallet with each plan. TCOT is planning to feed this information live to media outlets during the evening time period. If you can host a house party, let them know and plan to participate in helping to take down the Obama Spendulus bill. This is the same tactic that got BHO elected with grassroots small groups working to empower ordinary people. Well, lets give them a taste of their own neighborhood organizing.
Yesterday, on our local FM Talk station, during AM drive time, a woman caller called the station and identified herself as the wife of a local small businessman who had a small printing business that he had helped to build over the past 20 years. She indicated that the business was in jeopardy now due to economic conditions. The host finally asked her to disclose the name of her husband's business and then asked the listening audience to think of them if they were looking for a company to do printing. That was the end of the topic......until today.
This morning, the same woman sent an email to the host thanking him for the gesture yesterday and letting him know that they received several orders for printing jobs yesterday as a result of the radio recognition AND a local wholesaler of printing ink GAVE them ink to help them out. THIS IS HOW AMERICA RISES TO MEET CHALLENGES.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
IT'S COMING!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!
It creeps, it lumbers, it expands and it is going to engulf us all! It's the massive Porkulus package and all of its appendages such as TARP II and TARP the Sequel!!! Brought to you by Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter and Susan Collins!! Please be sure to thank them.
The way has been set for the massive and growing Porkulus bill to wind its way back into the reconciliation process where it is likely that the little that has been trimmed in the Senate will be added back with more. Then the Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, who cheats on his taxes and crafted the useless TARP I, rolled out more of the same today to the sound of the Dow falling like a rock. Obviously the trust our financial institutions have in Porkulus , TARP II and TARP the Sequel is not well placed.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Point Counterpoint in Florida
In October, 2008, in Homestead, Florida the world's most premature baby celebrated her 2nd birthday. Amilia Taylor was born at 21 weeks of gestation and weighed only 10 ounces. She is truly a miracle, but in a clinic outside of Miami, Florida, at 23 weeks of gestation another baby was born alive after an abortion gone wrong and was quickly exsanguinated and tossed into the trash even as she struggled for breath. Sycloria Williams went to a Miami clinic for a midtrimester abortion and after having laminaria stents placed in the cervix to dilate it, was given prostaglandin to induce contractions and sent to a clinic to await the delivery. When she rapidly progressed to deliver her baby, there were no qualified medical personnel in attendance. Her baby was liveborn and began to struggle to breathe. An unqualified attendant cut the cord and placed the baby into a plastic bag with the placenta and disposed of the body in the trash. The decomposing remains were discovered one week later. At autopsy, there was air in the infant's lungs, verifying that the infant had been breathing prior to death. While this unfortunate situation is murder, it serves to underscore the problem of abortion in the 21st century and the schizophrenic moral dilemma that it sets up.
Back in the day of Roe v. Wade, neither of these babies would have survived even with the best of medical care. Today, one woman's abortion is another's beloved child. If we can make it possible for babies of 21 to 23 weeks of gestation to survive, how is it that we can also condone the abortion/murder of fetuses at these same gestational ages?
As non-medical a source as Wikipedia contains the following information about the lower limit of fetal viability:
Human fetus, age unknown
We have given away the moral compass of our country in slow sequential concessions and baby steps so that now we are standing on the precipice and have no where else to go except to jump off to our own certain destruction....and we did it all by ourselves.
Back in the day of Roe v. Wade, neither of these babies would have survived even with the best of medical care. Today, one woman's abortion is another's beloved child. If we can make it possible for babies of 21 to 23 weeks of gestation to survive, how is it that we can also condone the abortion/murder of fetuses at these same gestational ages?
As non-medical a source as Wikipedia contains the following information about the lower limit of fetal viability:
Viability
President Obama has said that one of his Presidential goals will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which will effectively take away the restrictions to abortion in this country. Since he also was against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, scenes such as those involving Sycloria Williams' baby will be allowed to play out again and again without apparent repercussions. He has surrounded himself with advisors of like mind and his judicial nominees stand in lock step with him in this area.The lower limit of viability is approximately five months gestational age, and usually later.[35] According to The Developing Human:
Viability is defined as the ability of fetuses to survive in the extrauterine environment... There is no sharp limit of development, age, or weight at which a fetus automatically becomes viable or beyond which survival is assured, but experience has shown that it is rare for a baby to survive whose weight is less than 500 gm or whose fertilization age is less than 22 weeks. Even fetuses born between 26 and 28 weeks have difficulty surviving, mainly because the respiratory system and the central nervous system are not completely differentiated... If given expert postnatal care, some fetuses weighing less than 500 gm may survive; they are referred to as extremely low birth weight or immature infants.... Prematurity is one of the most common causes of morbidity and prenatal death.[36]
During the past several decades, neonatal care has improved with advances in medical science, and therefore the limit of viability has have moved earlier.[37] As of 2006, the two youngest children to survive premature birth are thought to be James Elgin Gill (born on 20 May 1987 in Ottawa, Canada, at 21 weeks and 5 days gestational age),[38][39] and Amillia Taylor (born on 24 October 2006 in Miami, Florida, at 21 weeks and 6 days gestational age).[40][41] Both children were born just under 20 weeks from fertilization, or a few days past the midpoint of an average full-term pregnancy. Despite their premature births, both developed into healthy children.
We have given away the moral compass of our country in slow sequential concessions and baby steps so that now we are standing on the precipice and have no where else to go except to jump off to our own certain destruction....and we did it all by ourselves.
The #TCOT Plan: A Common Sense Alternative Approach to Stimulate the Economy
Yesterday evening I posted an article about the #TCOT Plan and asked all of my readers to take the #TCOT Challenge. The #TCOT Plan is simple and would immediately infuse money into the economy in the hands of those who will spend it to increase sales and thus create demand again. This increased demand will then increase the number of jobs needed to meet that demand and decrease the number of unemployed workers in all areas of the job market.
The #TCOT Plan would immediately cut in half the amount of federal income tax withheld on each paycheck for the rest of 2009. It would also cut the corporate income tax in half for the same period. There you have it---instant infusion of capital into the economy for immediate use by all.
The #TCOT Challenge asks each person to look at their paycheck and see how much a 50% reduction in their federal withholding would put back into their pocket. Once you see how much you would receive per pay period, go to the comments area and LEAVE A COMMENT FOR YOUR LEGISLATORS telling them what you would do with this extra money AND whether you would prefer this plan or their bloated Stimulus package which would divert your money into some puny tax breaks that you might or might not qualify for, and a LOT of spending on projects that would either create jobs in the future or create one time jobs for projects that, once finished, are ......well..... over.
The goal of the #TCOT Challenge is to have 1000 responses by MONDAY MORNING!! Responses have been trickling in since these links went live yesterday evening, but there needs to be a tsunami of responses TODAY!! This means that you have to tell ALL of your friends and neighbors to give this a few minutes of effort TODAY. Even if your friends and neighbors are not politically engaged they are affected by the economy and , THEY WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE STIMULUS PACKAGE. The comments will be given to Senators Jim DeMint (R) and John Thune (R) to read from the floor of the Senate during debate tomorrow to show how REAL PEOPLE would use equivalent amount of money to the Stimulus package in jump starting the sagging economy.
If you can't muster the effort to take the #TCOT Challenge and stand up to those who are irresponsibly wasting your tax dollars, then BEND OVER AND GRAB YOUR ANKLES, because they are getting ready to have their way with all of us.
The #TCOT Plan would immediately cut in half the amount of federal income tax withheld on each paycheck for the rest of 2009. It would also cut the corporate income tax in half for the same period. There you have it---instant infusion of capital into the economy for immediate use by all.
The #TCOT Challenge asks each person to look at their paycheck and see how much a 50% reduction in their federal withholding would put back into their pocket. Once you see how much you would receive per pay period, go to the comments area and LEAVE A COMMENT FOR YOUR LEGISLATORS telling them what you would do with this extra money AND whether you would prefer this plan or their bloated Stimulus package which would divert your money into some puny tax breaks that you might or might not qualify for, and a LOT of spending on projects that would either create jobs in the future or create one time jobs for projects that, once finished, are ......well..... over.
The goal of the #TCOT Challenge is to have 1000 responses by MONDAY MORNING!! Responses have been trickling in since these links went live yesterday evening, but there needs to be a tsunami of responses TODAY!! This means that you have to tell ALL of your friends and neighbors to give this a few minutes of effort TODAY. Even if your friends and neighbors are not politically engaged they are affected by the economy and , THEY WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE STIMULUS PACKAGE. The comments will be given to Senators Jim DeMint (R) and John Thune (R) to read from the floor of the Senate during debate tomorrow to show how REAL PEOPLE would use equivalent amount of money to the Stimulus package in jump starting the sagging economy.
If you can't muster the effort to take the #TCOT Challenge and stand up to those who are irresponsibly wasting your tax dollars, then BEND OVER AND GRAB YOUR ANKLES, because they are getting ready to have their way with all of us.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Arlen, Susan, Olympia--We are taking the #TCOT Challenge
As the Republican turncoats in the Gang of 4, Arlen Specter (R) PA and Susan Collins (R) ME have a lot to answer for in their squishy justification for the minimally modified Compromise Spend-U-Lose bill. Lauded by Harry Reid for their magnanimous gesture of bipartisanship, these two traitors are now being asked "What were you thinking?"
Today on Fox News, Susan Collins was called upon to defend this compromise bill. She said that she was proud that the compromise cut $100 Billion from the original bill----Big freakin' deal, Susie---there is still $700+ Billion of spending in it and that is TOO MUCH. When pressed about why she would support this, she indicated that there was urgency to get this done, and if passed, it would go to conference to rectify the differences between the House and Senate versions. She went on to say that she would still vote against the bill if the reconciliation bill was too "porky." A rather lame response.
So what about Arlen??? He's up for re-election in 2010, but he is also 80 and probably doesn't care that much. That said, I would think that the people of Pennsylvania would care, after all Arlen is playing with their money. In an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Specter said that the compromise bill was "the best they could do." A pretty lame response, if I do say so, made sillier when Specter went on to bad mouth the bill.
So, Susan says that the compromise bill could get unacceptable during reconciliation and Arlen says that we needed to do something right now and we made this crappy bill to make Obama happy.
So why do we need to bow to this bill? Are there no other alternatives?? #TCOT, a grassroots organization arising from the internet social media and blogosphere has proposed their own alternative bill and it is a thing of beauty. The #TCOT Plan would cut ALL personal and corporate income taxes in half immediately for the 12 months of 2009.
The plan is simple, easy and puts all of the money in the pockets of Mr. and Mrs. America to do with as they wish. Which would you prefer??? A bunch of tax money borrowed from YOU that goes to STD's and ACORN.... or...... half of your federal tax withholding put back into YOUR pocket to use as you see fit???? If you aren't sure, get out your last pay stub and look at the amount taken out for federal income tax, cut that amount in half and see how much your take home pay would increase.....easy, breezy.
Click this link to Take the #TCOT challenge whether you live in Pennsylvania, Maine or everywhere else. Leave your comments for Arlen, Susan and YOUR Senators and Representatives telling them which plan you prefer and what you would do with this extra money in your pocket. If you like #TCOT's plan, demand that they scrap the whole Stim-U-Lose bill and start over with a plan that really will really work.
Take the #TCOT Challenge now!
Today on Fox News, Susan Collins was called upon to defend this compromise bill. She said that she was proud that the compromise cut $100 Billion from the original bill----Big freakin' deal, Susie---there is still $700+ Billion of spending in it and that is TOO MUCH. When pressed about why she would support this, she indicated that there was urgency to get this done, and if passed, it would go to conference to rectify the differences between the House and Senate versions. She went on to say that she would still vote against the bill if the reconciliation bill was too "porky." A rather lame response.
So what about Arlen??? He's up for re-election in 2010, but he is also 80 and probably doesn't care that much. That said, I would think that the people of Pennsylvania would care, after all Arlen is playing with their money. In an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Specter said that the compromise bill was "the best they could do." A pretty lame response, if I do say so, made sillier when Specter went on to bad mouth the bill.
And the bad point of that is........?Specter said he had already noted "certain grave concerns" with the stimulus legislation and had asked President Obama why he was "wedded" to completing action on it by Feb. 13. Specter said he told Obama this was too fast "for a bill of this magnitude."
But he said that Obama had stressed the urgency of action, so while "I don't like it," Specter said, "we're responding to this timetable."
Parts of the bill "give me heartburn," Specter said.
He outlined some of the $145 billion in spending reductions made to get to the consensus bill - for example, child care was allotted $2 billion initially, but $1.4 billion in the tentative deal. Many people are unhappy with such reductions, "but absent this bill, they get zero," he noted.
"There are reasons to argue that it's a bad bill," Specter said, "but I do not believe that there is any doubt that the economy would be enormously worse off without it."
So, Susan says that the compromise bill could get unacceptable during reconciliation and Arlen says that we needed to do something right now and we made this crappy bill to make Obama happy.
So why do we need to bow to this bill? Are there no other alternatives?? #TCOT, a grassroots organization arising from the internet social media and blogosphere has proposed their own alternative bill and it is a thing of beauty. The #TCOT Plan would cut ALL personal and corporate income taxes in half immediately for the 12 months of 2009.
Lost revenue over the 2009 Calendar year would be approximately $800 billion (A full $900 billion less than the current version of PORKULUS floating through the Senate). This is based on 2007 Federal personal income tax receipts of approximately 1.2 trillion, and Corporate income tax receipts of approximately $345 billion.
The plan is simple, easy and puts all of the money in the pockets of Mr. and Mrs. America to do with as they wish. Which would you prefer??? A bunch of tax money borrowed from YOU that goes to STD's and ACORN.... or...... half of your federal tax withholding put back into YOUR pocket to use as you see fit???? If you aren't sure, get out your last pay stub and look at the amount taken out for federal income tax, cut that amount in half and see how much your take home pay would increase.....easy, breezy.
Click this link to Take the #TCOT challenge whether you live in Pennsylvania, Maine or everywhere else. Leave your comments for Arlen, Susan and YOUR Senators and Representatives telling them which plan you prefer and what you would do with this extra money in your pocket. If you like #TCOT's plan, demand that they scrap the whole Stim-U-Lose bill and start over with a plan that really will really work.
Take the #TCOT Challenge now!
Kill Bill ---Time to drop the F-Bomb
Gird your loins---it is time to Kill the Bill with the F-bomb. It is time for the ordinary Joe and Jane to step up to the plate and become more vocal than ever in contacting all of the Senators and asking them to STOP the Spend-U-Lose bill in any form it morphs into. The fate of the Spend-U-Lose package rests with that august legislative body of our country known as the Senate. With the $820 Billion (really $1 Trillion plus if you count the interest on this "loan" from you and me) House version being touted as "simply a bad bill," but passed against the votes of 11 dissenting Democrat representatives as well as ALL of the Republicans, the Senate has the responsibility to "make it work," or fix it so that the legislature can go home for a President's day holiday (they work so hard!!!). So, rising to the occasion, the past few days have resulted in a laundry list of amendments to the house version of the bill, each pompously "debated" by senators on both sides of the aisle and then voted up when they are sponsored by Democrats and down when they are offered by the Republicans (not unexpectedly).
If you have never watched your legislature in action brought you you by the cameras of C-span, it is something you should do. You will see the pomposity, arrogance and stupidity of the people YOU have sent to Washington to represent you and spend your money. From committee hearings to floor debate it will both amaze and apall you! Since our legislature usually works banker's hours and makes sure that they never miss meals, I rarely get a chance to watch this circus played out...(I have a job that makes sure that I am in early, out late and I usually eat at my desk while I work)...but when I do, it never fails to amaze and reinforce the fact that the majority of our elected officials are worthless uses of skin.
The latest Rasmussen poll done this week reported that ONLY 37% of the population supports this messy, bloated Spend-U-Lose package. The more we the people see about this bill, the more it stinks to high heaven. Even the Democrats know that this thing stinks, because they have resorted to the used car salesman hard sell rhetoric..."This will only last for the next 2 hours, or if you don't buy this cream puff (read lemon) now, it probably won't be here tomorrow.." and if we fall for it, we do not have a buyer's remorse clause in the contract. The Dems have even have put out a call for poor Ted Kennedy, who was last seen having a seizure on Inauguration Day, to come back to cast a vote for this piece of crap.
So last night with the prediction of a Compromise bill coming down the pike and a Senate forced to "work" through the evening, I curled up to watch an episode of "Your Dollars At Work" brought to you by Harry Reid and the cast of 100! Just moments after I tuned in, the announcement was made by Sir Harry, with ruffles and flourishes, that a wonderful compromise had been crafted by a bipartisan group of sincere and gracious Senators with only the most lofty intentions in mind. This group of Heroes with supernatural powers had risen above the flotsam and jetsam of the legislative pollution to bring you this compromise bill that is $7 BILLION DOLLARS BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINAL HOUSE VERSION!!!! These wonderful ladies and gentlemen were:
While the details of this bill were not there for discussion last evening, each of the crafters got some time to talk about their part in and support of this bill, and it didn't sound very different from the stinky bill that we already have come to know and hate. Details may be forthcoming over the weekend because the Senators will have to work today (WAHHHHH, WAHHH, WAHHH) and "debate" this some more.
Rebuttals against the compromise were given by selected loyal opposition with the lead off coming from Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky as the Minority Leader. John McCain (R) Arizona gave an empassioned speech that, had he given in October and also stood against the first TARP bill, might have given him the election. John Thune (R) South Dakota gave a thoughtful and reasoned speech that fleshed out some of the points that McCain made. The most striking of the points made by these speakers is that this was NOT a Bipartisan effort when only 2 (maybe 3) turncoat Republicans will support the compromise.
Then the Senate went back to work and added a bunch of amendments to the original Spend-U-Lose package and voted against some very good amendments that would remove parts of the bill and relegate them to appropriations procedures in the future. The most laughable of these was an amendment sponsored by Senator David Vitter (R) Louisiana which would remove the $40 Billion in this package that would go to ACORN. Senator Vitter cited the role of ACORN in the sub-prime mortgage debacle that started this ball rolling and the role of ACORN in election fraud through the years. Senator Richard Durbin (D) Illinois rose and delivered the most pompous, arrogant and transparent response. He turned toward Senator Vitter and ceremoniously railed against this amendment calling on the old chestnut of Hurricane Katrina and making it seem that ACORN had single handedly saved New Orleans. How anyone can stand there and say such stupid things is WAY beyond my ability to comprehend. Then the amendment was voted down, so ACORN is still alive and well in the SPEND-U-LOSE bill.
While all of this was being played out in Washington, Joe Biden, the gaffe machine, was at a Democrat retreat where he told the attendees that there is a 30% chance that this Spend-U-Lose package WILL NOT WORK. He also warned that if it doesn't work, those who support it will be nailed as responsible in the next round of national elections. So, if this is a huge gamble for the political futures of the Democrats and squishy Republicans (not to mention WE THE PEOPLE), what's the rush? Why not step back and work this out in a way that will be best for those who provide ONGOING jobs as opposed to one time jobs that, when done, disappear? Why not strip ALL of the fat from this bill and look at the presentation of SIGNIFICANT tax cuts for small business and ordinary people who are the ones that create jobs and are being hurt by the current economic climate. Why not think about something very novel that will put money into the hands of working men and women instead of the arts, ACORN and STD testing? This is a high stakes game that is being played with unprecedented amounts of OUR money and to hear this should make EVERYONE say WHOA!!! Is this the "gird your loins" challenge that he warned of???????
So back to the task at hand. A grassroots plan has been proposed that would infuse tons of money into the hands of taxpayers right away. You want responsible, targeted, timely and transparent, this grassroots plan is exactly that. EVERY resonsible moderate Democrat and EVERY Republican should stand against the current and compromise crappy plans that are lumbering through the legislature. It is time for the F-bomb...stop this Spend-U-Lose bill with a filibuster. Voters are watching their every move and will not forget who put us in this uncomfortable position. There is still time to bombard the Senate phone lines, emails and Fax lines to let them know that Biden was right...We WILL hold them ALL responsible for CONTINUED irresponsible spending and use of our tax dollars at the voting booth in 2010 and beyond. And when they get this wrong, Biden and Obama will be at the top of the S***list as the leaders of the pack.
Debate on the Compromise will start at noon EST and you can watch it live on C-Span or stream it live on http://www.c-span.com. Then, when your head is about to explode and blood is shooting out of your eyes (should take less than 30 minutes), pick up your phone, Fax, email or pitchfork and storm the Senate with your outrage and indignation!! If you behaved as irresponsibly at YOUR job, you would get fired. Well, ladies and gentlemen, in case you forgot, WE ARE THEIR BOSS!!
If I have to spoon feed you, Senate Contact information can be found here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
If you have never watched your legislature in action brought you you by the cameras of C-span, it is something you should do. You will see the pomposity, arrogance and stupidity of the people YOU have sent to Washington to represent you and spend your money. From committee hearings to floor debate it will both amaze and apall you! Since our legislature usually works banker's hours and makes sure that they never miss meals, I rarely get a chance to watch this circus played out...(I have a job that makes sure that I am in early, out late and I usually eat at my desk while I work)...but when I do, it never fails to amaze and reinforce the fact that the majority of our elected officials are worthless uses of skin.
The latest Rasmussen poll done this week reported that ONLY 37% of the population supports this messy, bloated Spend-U-Lose package. The more we the people see about this bill, the more it stinks to high heaven. Even the Democrats know that this thing stinks, because they have resorted to the used car salesman hard sell rhetoric..."This will only last for the next 2 hours, or if you don't buy this cream puff (read lemon) now, it probably won't be here tomorrow.." and if we fall for it, we do not have a buyer's remorse clause in the contract. The Dems have even have put out a call for poor Ted Kennedy, who was last seen having a seizure on Inauguration Day, to come back to cast a vote for this piece of crap.
So last night with the prediction of a Compromise bill coming down the pike and a Senate forced to "work" through the evening, I curled up to watch an episode of "Your Dollars At Work" brought to you by Harry Reid and the cast of 100! Just moments after I tuned in, the announcement was made by Sir Harry, with ruffles and flourishes, that a wonderful compromise had been crafted by a bipartisan group of sincere and gracious Senators with only the most lofty intentions in mind. This group of Heroes with supernatural powers had risen above the flotsam and jetsam of the legislative pollution to bring you this compromise bill that is $7 BILLION DOLLARS BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINAL HOUSE VERSION!!!! These wonderful ladies and gentlemen were:
- Susan Collins (R) Maine
- Arlen Specter (R) Pennsylvania
- Ben Nelson (D) Nebraska
- Joe Lieberman (I) Connecticut
While the details of this bill were not there for discussion last evening, each of the crafters got some time to talk about their part in and support of this bill, and it didn't sound very different from the stinky bill that we already have come to know and hate. Details may be forthcoming over the weekend because the Senators will have to work today (WAHHHHH, WAHHH, WAHHH) and "debate" this some more.
Rebuttals against the compromise were given by selected loyal opposition with the lead off coming from Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky as the Minority Leader. John McCain (R) Arizona gave an empassioned speech that, had he given in October and also stood against the first TARP bill, might have given him the election. John Thune (R) South Dakota gave a thoughtful and reasoned speech that fleshed out some of the points that McCain made. The most striking of the points made by these speakers is that this was NOT a Bipartisan effort when only 2 (maybe 3) turncoat Republicans will support the compromise.
Then the Senate went back to work and added a bunch of amendments to the original Spend-U-Lose package and voted against some very good amendments that would remove parts of the bill and relegate them to appropriations procedures in the future. The most laughable of these was an amendment sponsored by Senator David Vitter (R) Louisiana which would remove the $40 Billion in this package that would go to ACORN. Senator Vitter cited the role of ACORN in the sub-prime mortgage debacle that started this ball rolling and the role of ACORN in election fraud through the years. Senator Richard Durbin (D) Illinois rose and delivered the most pompous, arrogant and transparent response. He turned toward Senator Vitter and ceremoniously railed against this amendment calling on the old chestnut of Hurricane Katrina and making it seem that ACORN had single handedly saved New Orleans. How anyone can stand there and say such stupid things is WAY beyond my ability to comprehend. Then the amendment was voted down, so ACORN is still alive and well in the SPEND-U-LOSE bill.
While all of this was being played out in Washington, Joe Biden, the gaffe machine, was at a Democrat retreat where he told the attendees that there is a 30% chance that this Spend-U-Lose package WILL NOT WORK. He also warned that if it doesn't work, those who support it will be nailed as responsible in the next round of national elections. So, if this is a huge gamble for the political futures of the Democrats and squishy Republicans (not to mention WE THE PEOPLE), what's the rush? Why not step back and work this out in a way that will be best for those who provide ONGOING jobs as opposed to one time jobs that, when done, disappear? Why not strip ALL of the fat from this bill and look at the presentation of SIGNIFICANT tax cuts for small business and ordinary people who are the ones that create jobs and are being hurt by the current economic climate. Why not think about something very novel that will put money into the hands of working men and women instead of the arts, ACORN and STD testing? This is a high stakes game that is being played with unprecedented amounts of OUR money and to hear this should make EVERYONE say WHOA!!! Is this the "gird your loins" challenge that he warned of???????
So back to the task at hand. A grassroots plan has been proposed that would infuse tons of money into the hands of taxpayers right away. You want responsible, targeted, timely and transparent, this grassroots plan is exactly that. EVERY resonsible moderate Democrat and EVERY Republican should stand against the current and compromise crappy plans that are lumbering through the legislature. It is time for the F-bomb...stop this Spend-U-Lose bill with a filibuster. Voters are watching their every move and will not forget who put us in this uncomfortable position. There is still time to bombard the Senate phone lines, emails and Fax lines to let them know that Biden was right...We WILL hold them ALL responsible for CONTINUED irresponsible spending and use of our tax dollars at the voting booth in 2010 and beyond. And when they get this wrong, Biden and Obama will be at the top of the S***list as the leaders of the pack.
Debate on the Compromise will start at noon EST and you can watch it live on C-Span or stream it live on http://www.c-span.com. Then, when your head is about to explode and blood is shooting out of your eyes (should take less than 30 minutes), pick up your phone, Fax, email or pitchfork and storm the Senate with your outrage and indignation!! If you behaved as irresponsibly at YOUR job, you would get fired. Well, ladies and gentlemen, in case you forgot, WE ARE THEIR BOSS!!
If I have to spoon feed you, Senate Contact information can be found here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Denny's is a Genius!!
Millions of people watched the Super Bowl last Sunday and whether you were into the game or just came along to watch the commercials, there is no doubt that you heard that today, February 3, 2009 from 6A-2P, Denny's was giving away a FREE Grand Slam breakfast to everyone who came in. This is the way to stimulate the economy---to hell with the Stim U Lose package!
My husband and I set out at 7 AM today to grab a little of the freebie breakfast and headed out to the Denny's down the street--you know the one that I pass each morning on the way to work. You know the one that would have 6 cars on the parking lot on a Tuesday at 7 AM. The lot was full to capacity and people were starting to park in places that really weren't designed for parking. We decided to go to another Denny's farther away that was located in a corporate complex, thinking perhaps it would be less well known. No luck and same thing!! So, needing to go to work, we did the honorable "spread the wealth" thing and went to a little neighborhood Mom and Pop diner and had breakfast there. By 8:30 AM, my husband was passing the first Denny's we visited and now there was a line of people spilling out the doors....and that was with a temperature of only 9 degrees outside!!!
So how does this help the economy??? Let me count the ways...
1. Millions of people dined at Denny's today who would not have done so otherwise...maybe they will come back again some time soon.
2. There were millions of cups of coffee, tea, soda, milk and juice and extra side dishes SOLD to go with those free beakfast meals.
3. The millions of diners who got free food, would, I hope, leave liberal tips for the servers who worked today during this incredible rush.
4. And lastly, those of us who could not stand around all day waiting for breakfast, but were up for dining out, went to neighborhood restaurants and spent money thus spreading the wealth around!
Tonight on the way home from work, I passed our local Denny's. At 7PM there were 10 cars on the lot! If you feed them, they will come!
My husband and I set out at 7 AM today to grab a little of the freebie breakfast and headed out to the Denny's down the street--you know the one that I pass each morning on the way to work. You know the one that would have 6 cars on the parking lot on a Tuesday at 7 AM. The lot was full to capacity and people were starting to park in places that really weren't designed for parking. We decided to go to another Denny's farther away that was located in a corporate complex, thinking perhaps it would be less well known. No luck and same thing!! So, needing to go to work, we did the honorable "spread the wealth" thing and went to a little neighborhood Mom and Pop diner and had breakfast there. By 8:30 AM, my husband was passing the first Denny's we visited and now there was a line of people spilling out the doors....and that was with a temperature of only 9 degrees outside!!!
So how does this help the economy??? Let me count the ways...
1. Millions of people dined at Denny's today who would not have done so otherwise...maybe they will come back again some time soon.
2. There were millions of cups of coffee, tea, soda, milk and juice and extra side dishes SOLD to go with those free beakfast meals.
3. The millions of diners who got free food, would, I hope, leave liberal tips for the servers who worked today during this incredible rush.
4. And lastly, those of us who could not stand around all day waiting for breakfast, but were up for dining out, went to neighborhood restaurants and spent money thus spreading the wealth around!
Tonight on the way home from work, I passed our local Denny's. At 7PM there were 10 cars on the lot! If you feed them, they will come!
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