Another Obama Cabinet Nominee Faces Tax Troubles. This Time Its Health and Human Services' Tom Daschle

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, A democrat from South Dakota nominated to be President Obama's secretary of health and human services, has hit a huge snag on his way to confirmation through the Senate Finance Committee.

The controversy deals with a car and driver gifted to Daschle by a wealthy Democratic friend. Daschle used the chauffeur service for years without declaring it on his taxes.

After being defeated in his 2004 re-election campaign to the Senate, Daschle became a consultant and chairman of the executive advisory board at InterMedia Advisors in 2005.

Based in New York City, InterMedia Advisors is a private equity firm founded in part by longtime Daschle friend and Democratic fundraiser Leo Hindery, the former president of the YES network (the New York Yankees' and New Jersey Devils' cable television channel). That very same year he began his professional relationship with InterMedia, Daschle began using the services of Hindery's car and driver.

The Cadillac and driver were never part of Daschle's official compensation package at InterMedia, but Daschle -- who as Senate majority leader enjoyed the use of a car and driver at taxpayer expense -- didn't declare their services on his income taxes, as tax laws specifically require.

During the vetting process to become HHS secretary, Daschle corrected the tax violation, voluntarily paying $101,943 in back taxes plus interest, working with his accountant to amend his tax returns for 2005 through 2007.

(Daschle reimbursed the IRS $31,462 in taxes and interest for tax year 2005; $35,546 for 2006; and $34,935 for 2007, a Daschle spokesperson said, adding that Daschle had asked his accountant to look into the tax implications of the car and driver five months before Obama won the presidency.)

The Daschle spokesperson told ABC News that the senator, facing questions from the committee, has said "he deeply regretted his mistake. When he realized it was a mistake he corrected it rapidly."

His spokesman also added "In June 2008, Sen. Daschle mentioned the use of the car to his personal accountant and asked him if there were any potential tax consequences," the spokesperson said. "His accountant said that there could be tax consequences and said he was going to fix them as part of Daschle's 2008 filing. So when he got down to vetting, Sen. Daschle decided to amend his returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007, and he paid all the taxes. At the urging of Daschle, the accountant was very conservative in his estimates."

Really Tom Daschle?? You have not been paying your taxes since 2005, and 5 months before it looks likely that you will have a new boss and position where your taxes will be looked into, in 2008, you finally ask someone to look into that matter? Tom Daschle, how stupid do you think the American people are?

In the meantime, the White House and Democratic allies are coming to Daschle's defense.

"The president has confidence that Sen. Daschle is the right person to lead the fight for health care reform," White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said. "In preparation for his nomination, Sen. Daschle and his accountant identified some tax issues and fixed them. They filed amended return with the IRS and made payments with interest. Sen. Daschle brought these issues to the Finance Committee’s attention when he submitted his nomination forms and we are confident the committee is going to schedule a hearing for him very soon and he will be confirmed."

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., added: "Sen. Daschle will be confirmed as secretary of health and human services. He has a long and distinguished career and record in public service and is the best person to help reform health care in this country."

But Republicans have different feelings about the issues.

In a speech to his fellow Republican House members, Rep. Eric Cantor from Virginia, compared Daschle's issue with the tax problems that hindered the confirmation of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and those of Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., who is embroiled in a controversy over payment of taxes on a beachfront villa in the Dominican Republic.

"A pattern is developing," Cantor said. "The pattern is solidified. ... It's easy for the other side to sit here and advocate higher taxes because -- you know what? -- they don't pay them."

Should Daschle have difficulty being confirmed he doesn't have to worry about finding another job in the administration, since President Obama has also appointed him to serve as director of the new White House Office on Health Reform.

"Fast Eddie" Rendell Ponying Up $10 Million For Philadelphia Inquirer Bailout

It's sad to see that Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is still so desperately out of touch with his PA constituents. After it was announced this week that Pennsylvania is facing a $1.9 BILLIONdeficit, and the strong negative public reaction to Rendell's $35 million Bailout of Boscov's Department Store, Rendell is looking to secure a $10 Million bailout for blatantly left-wing biased news rag The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Chris Friend from the Philadelphia Bulletin, recently sat down with Chuck Ardo, the Governor's press secretary for clarification.
"The Bulletin: It has been reported that Inquirer publisher Brian Tierney has approached Gov. Rendell for a $10 million bailout for the newspaper.

Did that conversation take place?

Chuck Ardo: The governor and Brian Tierney have had a number of conversations over the course of the last several months. The governor has made no commitment as a result of those conversations.

TB: Is the bailout something that is still on the table?

CA: He would certainly be open to discussions with Brian, but we need to look at the situation that we are in economically and financially, and I think any discussions have to be seen through that prism.

TB: If the governor were to say, “Sure, we’ll do it,” from where would the money come?

CA: If the governor was persuaded to the wisdom of helping Philadelphia Media Holdings, the money could come from a number of revenue streams. It’s hard to say, and would depend on what kind of help they would need.

TB: Would that require legislative approval, or would it come from the executive branch?

CA: There are ways that the executive branch can do this without need for legislative action.

TB: Would the money be a grant or a loan?

CA: It would depend on what the discussions might lead to. But as of now, no commitment has been made at this point.

TB: It’s one thing when the government becomes involved in car companies and banks, but how do you think the public would react to a media company seeking and receiving government bailout money from Gov. Rendell? Can it truly be viewed as objective and unbiased in its political reporting?

CA: The entire concept of a democracy depends on an informed public. Newspapers are a critical source of information, so there is a fundamental need for newspapers to continue to provide that information to the public. Now whether that information rises to the level of triggering help from the commonwealth, is something we’ll have to wait for the future to unfold.“


Reactions all over Pennsylvania to this situation have been negative. “I guess my first reaction would have to be, ‘Are you kidding me?,’” said state Rep. Doug Reichley, R-134th, of Lehigh County. “Mack Trucks in Allentown could use a bailout, but I haven’t seen the governor’s office soliciting them to see how much aid they need. Maybe the governor’s office could make the best out of two bad situations by placing slot machines in all the Boscov’s stores,” he said. “That would be a way of drawing shoppers into the failing retail chain he is trying to prop up, and would assist the declining slots revenue until the two Philadelphia slots locations are done with litigation.”

“If the Inquirer didn’t alienate 50 percent of its potential customer base with left-wing nonsense masquerading as news, it wouldn’t be in Harrisburg with a cup in its hand. If I cut my customer base in half, I’d be out of business in a week,” said Kevin Kelly, founder of The Loyal Opposition in Philadelphia.

“Thomas Jefferson understood the importance of a free press in a free society when he said, ‘Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter,’” said Matthew Brouillette who is the president of the Harrisburg-based Commonwealth Foundation.

This whole bailout boondoggle, has this blogger wondering just how long The Inquirer was looking to slip their hands in the state's pockets, it might explain this slobbery little knob-job that was somehow granted front and center print distinction back in September of 2008. With tough investigative and unbiased reporting like that, it's hard to see why this paper is going under.

Michael Steele Elected RNC Chairman

From The Washington Post:
The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as its first African American chairman today in Washington, a decision that came after an excruciating series of ballots that displayed a level of drama rarely seen in national politics.

On the sixth and final ballot Steele bested South Carolina Republican party Chairman Katon Dawson 91 to 77.

In picking Steele, who had previously served as the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, the state's lieutenant governor, and the GOP nominee in the Maryland Senate race in 2006, the party regulars seem to be acknowledging the need for new -- and different -- faces at the top of its food chain.

"The winds of change are blowing at the RNC," said current chair Mike Duncan who stepped aside after losing votes on each of the first three ballots.

After five ballots, the race came down to Steele and Dawson. Republican party strategists in attendance at the meeting openly fretted about the possibility of electing Dawson, who had acknowledged his membership in a whites-only club, and the signal it would send to a country that had just elected Obama as the nation's first black president.

Of Obama, Steele offered the president congratulations for his victory but also sought to send a message to the Democratic chief executive; "How do you like me now," Steele asked.

It was -- interestingly -- former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell who ultimately swung the race to Steele when he dropped out before the fifth ballot and endorsed the former lieutenant governor. The move was somewhat unexpected as Blackwell had staked out the turf as the most socially conservative candidate in the field while Steele had had to beat back rumors that he was not sufficiently conservative.

Steele faces a massive challenge to rebuild a party that faces significant organizational, financial and messaging hurdles.

The Democratic National Committee is up and running and will have the benefit of the 13 million person strong email list that Obama built during the primary. Democrats also have the luxury of controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress.

Steele will provide a charismatic face at the top of the GOP but will be tested to show an ability to raise the money necessary to compete with the DNC in 2009 races (governors contests in Virginia and New Jersey) as well as the critical 2010 midterm elections.

Blagojevich is out!

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been convicted at his impeachment trial by Illinois state senate and thrown out of office. He now becomes the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed from office by impeachment.

Blagojevich insisted Thursday he had done nothing wrong and should not be removed from office over criminal charges and complaints about his decisions that could not be proven.

"You haven't proved a crime, and you can't because it didn't happen," Blagojevich said at his Senate impeachment trial. "How can you throw a governor out of office with insufficient and incomplete evidence?"

"The whole world is watching Illinois today, and you know what? I'm tired of it," said Democratic Sen. Terry Link of the Chicago suburb of Waukegan. "You don't know whether to get angry or cry because we've been duped again. You were with the last governor, and we were with this governor," he said, pointing first to Republicans and then to his fellow Democrats.

The two-term Democratic governor spoke for 47 minutes, then smiled and winked at reporters as he passed the press box on his way out of the Senate.

Each senator was given five minutes to speak before the final vote on Blagojevich's fate. Republican Sen. Dale Righter of Mattoon called him "a devious, cynical, crass and corrupt politician."

Senators then voted unanimously to convict Blago, 59-0 and shortly thereafter, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn was sworn in as Illinois' new governor.

Army Backsteps to Provide Retirement Retribution to Alaska WWII Militia

This story is an update on my previously postedArmy Cuts Retirement Pay For Alaskan National Guard

From Foxnews.com:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Secretary of the Army has authorized emergency funds to supplement a reduction in retirement pay for veterans of a largely Native militia formed to guard the territory of Alaska during World War II, Alaska's congressional delegation said Wednesday.

The reduction was a result of misinterpretation of a federal law that recognized the Alaska Territorial Guard's service as federal active duty, Army officials said last week. A new interpretation of the law says service in the five-year guard no longer counts toward the military's 20-year minimum for retirement pay.

According to the congressional delegation, Army Secretary Pete Geren will use an emergency fund to cover the retirement benefits for 26 former members of the largely Native guard. The monthly pay amounts to as much as $557.

The funds will cover two months' pay while Congress works to fix the law to allow service in the unit to count as active duty for calculating retirement benefits.

Alaska's congressional delegation applauded Geren's move, saying that cutting off the pay would be detrimental to those veterans.

"In this era of high fuel and food costs, it would be tragic to reduce the retirement checks of these elders who have done so much for our nation," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

An estimated 300 members are still living from the original 6,600-member unit formed in 1942 to protect the territory of Alaska from the threat of Japanese attack. Only a fraction had enough other military service to reach the 20-year requirement for retirement pay.

The territorial guards — nicknamed Uncle Sam's Men and Eskimo Scouts — received no pay or benefits for the job. Many took jobs as scouting patrols or did construction work on military airstrips.

The unit was disbanded in 1947, nearly two years after the war ended.

Congress passed a law in 2000 qualifying time served in the guard as active federal service. The Army agreed in 2004 to grant official military discharge certificates to members or their survivors. Those who qualified for military retirement benefits began receiving increased pay for service in the militia starting last June, when the former members also received retroactive payments to the law's passage in 2000.

SarahPAC Launches! Sarah Palin's Official Political Action Committee

Visit Sarah Palin's official Political Action Committee at SarahPAC.com.

From the website:
Dedicated to building America's future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation.

SarahPAC believes America's best days are ahead. Our country, founded on conservative principles and the fight for freedom, must confront the challenges of the 21st century with integrity, innovation, and determination.

SarahPAC believes energy independence is a cornerstone of the economic security and progress that every American family wants and deserves.

SarahPAC believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance that will build a better future for all. Health care, education, and reform of government are among our key goals. Join us today!

Note from the author of GOP4Liberty:
The picture of Sarah on the site's homepage seems to be taken the same day that I actually got to meet Sarah in Bethlehem PA. She's wearing the same ensemble! Here's the proof from my personal collection!:


That makes this blogger excited. haha.

ACORN Slated To Get 4.2 Billion From Proposed Stimulus Package

From Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner's website:
Washington, Jan 23 - The House Democrats’ trillion dollar spending bill, approved on January 21 by the Appropriations Committee and headed to the House floor next week for a vote, could open billions of taxpayer dollars to left-wing groups like the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). ACORN has been accused of perpetrating voter registration fraud numerous times in the last several elections; is reportedly under federal investigation; and played a key role in the irresponsible schemes that caused a financial meltdown that has cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars since last fall.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and other Republicans are asking a simple question: what does this have to do with job creation? Are Congressional Democrats really going to borrow money from our children and grandchildren to give handouts to ACORN in the name of economic “stimulus?”

Incredibly, the Democrats’ bill makes groups like ACORN eligible for a $4.19 billion pot of money for “neighborhood stabilization activities.” Funds for this purpose were authorized in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, signed into law in 2008. However, these funds were limited to state and local governments. Now House Democrats are taking the unprecedented step of making ACORN and other groups eligible for these funds:
“For a further additional amount for ‘Community Development Fund,’ $4,190,000,000, to be used for neighborhood stabilization activities related to emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes as authorized under division B, title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–289), of which—

“(1) not less than $3,440,000,000 shall be allocated by a competition for which eligible entities shall be States, units of general local government, and nonprofit entities or consortia of nonprofit entities[.]”

“(2) up to $750,000,000 shall be awarded by competition to nonprofit entities or consortia of nonprofit entities to provide community stabilization assistance […]”



The House Democrats’ trillion dollar spending bill also includes $1 billion for the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. CDBG funds are given by the federal government to state and local governments which often contract with nonprofits for services related to the purpose of the grant.

ACORN knows how to secure CDBG funds. Audit reports filed by ACORN’s headquarters with the Office of Management and Budget show that ACORN spent $1,588,599 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funds from FY 2003 through FY 2007. It is not clear from these records when or from what source the funds were awarded to ACORN. It is also not clear whether ACORN chapters or affiliates have received CDBG grants on their own.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) repeatedly urged President George W. Bush and other federal officials to withhold taxpayer funds from ACORN, including $17.2 million in federal grants awarded in December 2008 after numerous allegations of wrongdoing in connection with ACORN’s election activities were reported by the news media.

Leader Boehner also released a study of federal records in October 2008 listing tens of millions in federal grants received by ACORN. A new updated and more expansive study reveals that ACORN has actually received millions more than first thought. A review of the Federal Register and news releases issued by federal agencies showed that ACORN was awarded more than $53 million in taxpayer dollars. This amount does not reflect the millions more ACORN has received in federal block grant funds awarded to state and local agencies which passed them on to ACORN.

Pelosi Calls For a Eugenic Approach to the Economic Crisis

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on birth-control funding as part of the $825 billion stimulus package: "Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government."

Eugenics was a social policy pushed heavily by the academic and political elite prior to the end of World War II. The practice was used to categorize some people as unfit for reproduction based on their poverty status, IQ, or skin color, among other speculative traits.

For Nancy Pelosi to suggest that part of a package meant for stimulation of our economy, kill off the "undesirables" of society is absurd and ridiculous. Exactly who gets government help in contraceptive and abortion funding? The poor do. Planned Parenthood buildings are primarily constructed in poor inner-city neighborhoods.

To be pushing an agenda of government funded death and prevention on procreation in order to restore the sociological and productive order of things, seems to be a bit of a throwback to an uglier time in Germany. To be duping women into doing it by telling them it is their "choice" and they deserve to not contribute to the gene pool is even worse.

Pop Singer Adele's Truly Progressive Partisan Ignorance

British pop singer Adele has been blessed by Sarah Palin.

Adele, who had much success in the U.K with her album 19, was virtually an unknown in the U.S until guesting on Saturday Night Live with Sarah Palin guesting and the monster audience that tuned in to see her.

"She wasn't even meant to be on the week I was on, so the whole thing was totally unexpected. When I woke up the morning after the show, '19' was No. 15 on iTunes. By the time I got on the plane it was No. 8, and when we landed at home it was No. 1.", Adele told The Seattle Times in a phone interview.


Despite all that 20 year old Adele also admits "I did meet Palin, but I didn't want to,I was avoiding it. But she did come up and say hello, and she was perfectly nice. I had a big Obama pin on."

Now I am perfectly fine with Adele having supported Obama. What really gets me is how a young girl of 20 years old would not want to meet someone simply because she likes her opponent better. What is going on with the, so called "liberal", young people of the world, that respect can barely be feigned for someone not always seen eye to eye with? To think that a young woman would pass up a chance to meet someone who will become a part of history, is absolutely ridiculous. It is this ignorance, on both sides of the party lines, that causes such resentment and hate. My mind can barely fathom how the so called "progressives" can dismiss a kind of behavior like this. It is immature and disrespectful and so closed minded it actually makes me want to induce vomiting to think that people can be so ignorant. And it actually makes me kind of happy that when I tried to buy Adele's album from iTunes, the program froze up and the transaction didn't go through. I think my money could be better spent elsewhere.

Libertarian Leaning Republican Pat Toomey Running for PA Governor in 2010?

There are strong rumblings in the state of Pennsylvania that Libertarian Republican Pat Toomey, president of the anti-tax group Club For Growth, is accessing his viability as a candidate for the 2010 governors race in PA.

According to Keystone Politics, "He has also put calls out statewide to supporters this week with the aim of raising money to do some preliminary polling."

I also was pleasantly surprised this morning when I checked my facebook account and saw a invite to support Toomey in his run for Governor.

This is news all Pennsylvania Republicans can be excited about. Toomey is a candidate that supports individual rights and personal responsibility, a much deserved break from the big nanny state government policies of "Fast Eddie" Rendell.

Army Cuts Retirement Pay for Alaskan National Guard WWII Militia

From Foxnews.com:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Army has decided to cut off retirement pay for veterans of a largely Native militia formed to guard the territory of Alaska from the threat of Japanese attack during World War II.

The change means 26 surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard — most in their 80s and long retired — will lose as much as $557 in monthly retirement pay, a state veterans officer said Thursday. The payments end Feb. 1.

Applications for retirement pay from 37 others have been suspended.

The state is pursuing a remedy for "these brave Alaskans, who did so much for the cause of freedom during a time of great national peril," Gov. Sarah Palin said.

The action comes almost a decade after Congress passed a law qualifying time served in the unpaid guard as active federal service. The Army agreed in 2004 to grant official military discharge certificates to members or their survivors.

An Army official said the law was misinterpreted. The law applies to military benefits, including medical benefits, but not retirement pay, said Lt. Col. Richard McNorton, the Army's human resources command in Alexandria, Va.

"The focus is to follow the law," he said. "We can't choose whether to follow the law."

The Army doesn't intend to seek to recoup past pay, he said.

About 300 members are still living from the original 6,600-member unit called up from 1942 to 1947 to scout patrols, build military airstrips and perform other duties. But only a fraction had enough other military service to reach the 20-year requirement for retirement pay.

Among those who did is 88-year-old Paul Kiunya in the western Alaska village of Kipnuk. Kiunya was 16 when he joined the territorial guard and worked in communications, reporting by radio any unusual noises or the direction of aircraft, including some Japanese planes he spotted.

"We did not get one cent being in the territorial guard," he said. "And we worked hard."

Kiunya — who later put in 22 years in the National Guard and another decade in the Guard reserves — will lose more than $358 a month in his retirement package because of the Army's decision. With gasoline in his village at almost $10 a gallon, that's a huge amount to lose.

"I don't know why they trying to cut the pay. It's not good for us right now," he said in a phone interview. "It's not right."

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she and fellow Alaska Sen. Mark Begich are preparing legislation clarifying that service in the territorial guard counts as active duty for calculating retirement pay.

Murkowski said Alaska's congressional delegation has sent a letter to President Barack Obama, asking him to intervene so that those affected by "this tragic, tragic series of events do not lose the safety net."


Note for the author of Gop4liberty:
I think this is something that all American citizens should be very vigilant of. These brave men worked hard to be on the front lines of intelligence in a war that, at a certain point, could have gone either way. We owe a great deal of our freedom to these very men. For them to lose a chunk of their lifeblood, when they are at such a late point in their lives, and our economy is in the tank is dispicable. To think of all the federal money being used to bail out companies that have made bad decisions, this is chump change and these vets deserve all that they have gotten. I will keep you posted on the situation and any legislation the Senators Murkowski and Begich from Alaska draw up, so that you may contact your state's senators and show your support for the legislation.

Tim Geithner Blames Turbo Tax For His Tax Problem

From Michael McAuliff at theNYDaily News:

Let’s hope the economy is easier to figure out than TurboTax.

That’s the software that Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner used when he failed to pay about $34,000 in taxes, he admitted this morning in a confirmation hearing that was delayed because of his tax flubs.

“I used TurboTax to prepare my returns,” Geithner told the Senate Finance Committee, looking just a little embarrassed, and prompting laughs in the hearing room.

He wouldn’t blame the software for his errors, but he didn’t say it helped him spot them, either.

Asked if the program prompted him to report income and pay self-employment taxes on his work for the International Monetary Fund, he said, “Not to my recollection.”

Geithner is the departing New York Fed chairman who gets the most credit for crafting the opaque $700 billion bank bailout, and many think he’s the only one who understands it. Once confirmed, he’ll have the job of spending the $350 billion left in the fund.

And, oh yeah, he’ll head up the IRS.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)appreciated the honest answers, but seemed concerned.

“While I understand that the tax code is complex and sometimes even tax preparers get it wrong,” he said, “it would seem that minor due diligence on your part may have prevented the oversight.”

“It is deeply problematic if a U.S. citizen with your financial knowledge and expertise doesn’t consider whether he should be making a contribution to the Social Security Trust Fund,” Grassley said.

Black Republican Macho Sauce Releases Fiesty Video About Obama Inauguration

Prominent Young Black Republican Macho Sauce, has jsut released a new video with his thoughts on the Obama inauguration and the reaction by the black community:


Be warned. This video contains very graphic language which may be offensive to some. But once again, Macho Sauce makes his point. And he does it well.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski Asks Bush For Pardon Of Ted Stevens

What the frick!?!! And to think I had high hopes for Miss Murkowski, the 1st term Republican senator from Alaska.

According to KTUU Alaska
"Murkowski's spokesperson, Mike Brumas, confirmed the request in an e-mail to Channel 2 News, writing, "In answer to you question, yes Sen. Murkowski has requested that President Bush pardon former Sen. Stevens. I can't provide any further details at this time due to the sensitive nature of the issue."

Outside of this statement from her office, Murkowski declined to comment.

It's unclear when the application may have been made. The Department of Justice says as of Friday no one had made an application for a pardon on the Senator's behalf with the Office of Pardon Attorney, according to Laura Sweeney in the department's Office of Public Affairs."

Bush has until the time President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in at approximately noon Tuesday to grant any last minute pardons. But according to CBS Correspondent Mark Knoller no more acts of executive clemency are expected from President Bush. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino has also said that Bush's pardons spoken of earlier today would be Bush's last act of clemency.

Hopefully so.

As Republican red as my blood flows, Ted Stevens deserves no pardon. He is a liar and a corrupt bastard. As for Senator Murkowski? She has just dropped to the "barely above pond scum" level of respect in my book. I also think this is just about the most boneheaded of bonehead moves for Murkowski to make, when there are the footsteps of a Sarah Palin challenge for the Alaska Senate seat in 2010. Maybe Murkowski doesn't want her job too badly.

Bush Finally Pardons Border Agents Ramos and Compean

In what could be his final act of clemency, President Bush commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents who were convicted of shooting a Mexican drug dealer. The failure to pardon the agents previously, sparked much debate among both Republicans and Democrats.

The two agents were convicted in 2006 of shooting admitted drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks as he fled across the Rio Grande, away from an abandoned van load of marijuana. The border agents argued during their trials that they believed the smuggler was armed and that they shot him in self defense. The prosecutor in the case said there was no evidence linking the smuggler to the van of marijuana. The prosecutor also said the border agents didn't report the shooting and tampered with evidence by picking up several spent shell casings.

Although the two men have not recieved a full fledged pardon from Bush, their sentence has been commuted because Bush aruges that the 10 year sentence both men have recieved may be too much. Both men are expected to be released from prision within the next two months, both having served about two years of their respective sentences.

Obama Supporters Desecrate The American Flag in Baltimore

Inside Charm City posted this on the US Flag Code: “The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.”

Not Everyone Is Catching the Frenzied Obama Inauguration Fever

From Politico:

With Barack Obama's approval ratings in the 70s and his visage plastered on every shop window and Metro card in Washington, it's hard to remember that 58 million Americans voted for the other guy.

Even President Bush — who presumably counts himself among that group — said last week that Obama's inauguration is "a moment of hope and pride."

That's not exactly how Michelle Malkin describes it.

"Jan. 20 has turned into a schlock inauguration, (where) every last moocher has come to cash in on Obama," says the conservative blogger and pundit. "There are some of us who want to bang our heads against the wall."

While most Republicans now in office are saying all the right things about Tuesday's proceedings — roll tape on "peaceful transfer of power" and "historic moment for the country" sound bites — some conservatives can't quite get themselves in the "We Are One" mood.

Not even for a day.

On his radio show last week, Rush Limbaugh railed against "people on our side of the aisle who have caved and who say, 'Well, I hope he succeeds. We have to give him a chance.'"

"Why?" Limbaugh demanded. "They didn't give Bush a chance in 2000. Before he was inaugurated, the search-and-destroy mission had begun. I'm not talking about search-and-destroy, but I've been listening to Barack Obama for a year and a half. I know what his politics are. I know what his plans are, as he has stated them. I don't want them to succeed."

In the wake of the disputed 2000 election, only 47 percent of the public predicted that Bush would be an "above average" or "outstanding" president. In a new Associated Press-GfK poll, 65 percent of the public attaches those words to Obama.

Asked about Obama's inauguration last week, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay hammered on the cost.

If Obama were "serious" about changing Washington, DeLay said, "He would announce to the world: 'We are in crisis, we are at war, people are losing jobs; we are not going to have this party. Instead, I'm going to get sworn in at the White House. I'm going to have a nice little chicken dinner, and we'll save the $125 million.'"

DeLay said he understands why Republicans in Congress aren't complaining about this publicly: "Those in elected office are looking at Obama's popularity numbers and don't want to be perceived as anti-American by being anti-Obama."

He didn't name names, but the normally outspoken Rep. Michele Bachmann might fit the bill.

Just before the election, the Minnesota Republican told Chris Matthews that she thought Obama might have "anti-American views."

Last week, she told The Hill: "I look forward to working with him and I would expect to be as friendly as I would be to [any president]."

In March, Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King predicted that an Obama victory would have "the al Qaeda and the radical Islamists and their supporters ... dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11th."

Last week, King was still grumbling about Obama's middle name — Hussein — but he told Politico that he's "very respectful and appreciative of the historic moment" and counts it "among life's privileges" that he'll have a seat in Congress when Obama puts his hand on the Bible.

Malkin conceded that it's appropriate to show some deference to the occasion, but she complained that Republican lawmakers aren't standing their ground.

"Especially in the Beltway," she said, "they are more wrapped up in who got invited to what dinner and who didn't. And my criticism of the GOP establishment, as they've rolled on every [Obama Cabinet] nomination, is they are completely out of touch with how fly-over America feels about this spectacle."

Or, as Bob Anderson put it: "Pffffffffffffffffft."

Anderson, a retired chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, is the founder of the conservative grass-roots organization "What are we fighting for?"

Asked to elaborate on his onomatopoeia, Anderson said that "Obama-mania" is leading the country into bad times.

"The only positive thing I can see is hopefully it will be bad enough quick enough that the people will stop drinking the Kool-Aid and see what we're about to lose," he said. "I think we have a very short launch window."

RedState's Erick Erickson is blasting off.

"I think we're going to be treated to.hagiography for weeks if not months," Erickson complained. "The first time Obama uses the bathroom, Newsweek will do a five-page spread."

Tom Hoefling, the political director for Alan Keyes' group America's Revival, has had it with all the talk about the "historic" nature of Obama's inauguration.

"What's historic about it?" he asked. "So it's historical because of his skin tone? Isn't that a racist idea in the first place? ... I could care less what color his skin tone is. What matters is his philosophy -- his political philosophy and his ideology."

Anderson suggested that squeamishness about race is silencing the dissent.

"We're so focused with political correctness people are uncomfortable in saying your baby is ugly and stuff is broken," he said. "While we're sitting around the campfire and trying to sing Kumbaya, our country is slipping away from us."

Anderson won't be watching the inauguration. DeLay will be out in California to rally conservatives. And Richard Viguerie, the king of right-wing direct mail, said Tuesday will be "just another day at the office."

"Yeah, sure, we can be happy that we've taken another step in the racial progress, but I just am not about race, quite frankly," Viguerie said.

He doesn't necessarily begrudge those who will celebrate this week, so long as they keep it short. "You can take a sip of Kool-Aid. It's OK to smell it, stick your finger in it. But on Jan. 21, let's get back to business."



Note from the gop4liberty author:
Thank god there are still some sane people out there!

Californian Sarah Palin Effigy Is Now For Sale On Ebay. Noose Included.

The effigy hung in California by homosexual artists as a Halloween decoration that made headlines around the nation, is now for sale on eBay. You can see the listing here.

Milo Aviles and ChadMichael Morissete, who have made their home at Fountain Avenue and Orange Grove in West Hollywood a revolving progressive political art installation, are selling the mannequin - the spitting image of the former GOP Vice Presidential candidate complete with the hemp necktie (yes, the noose is free) - along with a large poster of her running mate Arizona Senator John McCain, in order to raise funds to fight Proposition 8 in the courts.

Having checked out the listing myself, the opening bid is $1000. So far there is only 1 bidder. I guess the item isn't as hot as the guys thought it would be. What I do find strangely surprising though, is that E-bay would let the listing stick. They do have a strict policy on what can be sold on the site and anything promoting violence or hate is not prohibited. I think an effigy is a pretty straight forward promotion of hate and violence, but that's just me. I wonder if E-bay would have the same reaction to a Klan member trying to sell an Obama mannequin in a noose. Something tells me they would not.

UPDATE!
As of Monday January 19th, the noosed Sarah Palin mannequin has been removed from eBay. ChadMichael Morissete has relisted the item and has updated the picture to a noose-less Palin. It is no longer being sold as an "effigy" but is now just listed as a mannequin. In the item description, Morissete confirms that all original items will be included when shipped. You can view the listing here.

Bailed-Out Citibank Top Donor To Obama Inauguration

Employees of Citibank, which received $45 billion in rescue funds in the federal bailout, have contributed the most to Barack Obama’s inauguration fund — at least $113,000 as of Wednesday.

And the bank is lobbying behind the scenes for more money from the second $350 billion installment of federal bailout funds, according to The New York Times.

Among the contributions from Citibank executives is $50,000 from Ray McGuire, the bank’s co-head of global investment banking, and $50,000 from Louis Susman, the recently retired vice chairman of Citigroup, the Huffington Post reports.

Susman also bundled $300,000 in donations for the inaugural committee.

Nearly 80 percent of the $35 million raised by Obama’s inaugural committee has come from just 211 bundlers, according to Public Citizen.


You know when the HuffPo is criticizing the Obamanaut it has to be bad:
"In recent weeks, Obama has vowed changes to the much-criticized $700 billion bailout program, demanding that the second installment should focus on helping families at risk of losing their homes and small businesses, and echoing Democratic criticisms of banks giving lavish bonuses to their senior executives.

Yet, as the New York Times recently reported, many of the banks, including Citigroup, need more bailout money and have been fiercely lobbying behind the scenes for a major piece of the $350 billion second installment.

Citigroup senior counselor and former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin was close to Obama, serving on his economic advisory team. But he recently resigned from the firm after months of criticism of his performance and his admitted failure to foresee the credit crisis.

In addition, Citigroup employees were Obama's 7th-biggest contributor, giving $586,866 to the candidate during the 2008 election cycle.

Other bailed-out banks, which have contributed to the inauguration fund, include Goldman Sachs ($44,500), JPMorgan Chase ($30,600), and Wells Fargo ($2,450).

Goldman Sachs employees were Obama's second-biggest contributor, giving $884,907 to the candidate. JP Morgan Chase employees were Obama's sixth-biggest contributor ($600,210). Morgan Stanley employees contributed $425,502 to the candidate."

PA Based Retailer, Boscov's, Will Get Promised Bailout

Boy this really pushes my buttons.

I used to work for this place during my college years, and let me tell you, Boscov's Department Stores do not deserve a bailout!! Everyone associated with the store saw the looming bankruptcy coming. Why are the Pennsylvania taxpayers responsible for their mess?

According to the Pottsville Republican(my hometown paper), 5 counties in PA are funneling money through the estranged and once again owner of the chain retail store, Al Boscov.

Schuylkill, Butler, Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna and Lebanon counties, will serve as a conduit for nearly $35 million in state government loans meant to keep the department store chain afloat.

“Boscov’s has been a stalwart in the community for years,” county Director of Economic Development Mark Scarbinsky said in a telephone interview Monday afternoon. “We’re only a conduit, a channel for this money. It is not local taxpayer dollars funding this.”

Seriously Mark Scarbinsky. Really. Local tax payer dollars are not funding this? Because it is the state's money you are using? Is that really your logic? You do realize that the locals in this community also PAY STATE TAXES RIGHT!?!?! Your incompetence is stifling, Mark Scarbinsky.

Snyder county has been the only county so far to refuse funds to Al Boscov. Kudos Snyder County! Do you have room for one more? I can't live in a place where the County Commissioner and Director of Economic Development think the citizens that live here are frickin idiots.

As for my fellow Schuylkill Countians and Pennsylvanian's alike, join me in boycotting Boscov's. It will be a cold day in hell before I step foot in that money-grubbing overpriced dollar store ever again. I have Christmas gifts that I would like to have returned there, but now I'm saying screw it, I'll donate my unwanted gifts. The Women in Crisis Center is much more deserving than that place.

I hear Bon-ton is falling on rough times. I say everyone that is through with Boscov's and their crap hi jinks, do your shopping at Bon-Ton and keep a business afloat in the right way.

NRA Comes Out On Top of Lawsuit Against San Fran Housing Authority

The National Rifle Association, an organization that strongely advocates the importance of our 2nd Amendment rights, has settled out of court on a lawsuit they filed against the San Francisco Housing Authority.

The lawsuit was in regards to a gun ban that the Housing Autority had been enacted in public housing units. Even though the case was setled out of court, the ban has been lifted in San Fransico. All legal and registered firearms are now unbanned.

From CBS5:
"The NRA sued the housing authority the day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26, 2008, that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives individuals the right to possess guns.

Under the settlement, signed by U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson on Monday, the agency will no longer enforce a 2005 rule that prohibited the otherwise legal possession of guns and ammunition in public housing units.

But the settlement states that illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in the units remains strictly prohibited.

Housing Authority attorney Jim Larson said, "We thought the settlement would be in the best interests of the housing authority."

Lawyers for the NRA were not available for comment.

In addition to the NRA, plaintiffs in the lawsuit included the Washington state-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and an anonymous gay public housing resident who said he needed a gun for protection against possible hate crimes.

In its ruling last year, the U.S. Supreme Court said the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms applies to individuals and not just to state militias."

Congressmen Ron Paul and Harry Mitchell Seek to Block Congress' Annual Payraise

Republican Congressman Dr. Ron Paul of Texas and Democrat Harry Mitchell from Arizona have sponsored federal legislation to stifle the $4700 receives yearly as a "cost of living adjustment".

Both men think that a raise of that magnitude in these troubling economic conditions, is not in the best interest of the nation.

Mitchell spoke out on the legislation in a statement "We’re in the midst of a recession, and our elected leaders need to do the right thing, for Congress to give itself a pay raise at a time when so many hardworking Americans are suffering is unconscionable.”

Ron Paul said that Congress turning down a pay raise would demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility.

If the Mitchell-Paul legislation becomes passes and becomes law, members of Congress would have to forgo their anticipated 2010 pay raise. That move would save taxpayers an estimated $2.5 million.

Mitchell and Paul introduced similar legislation last year to block the 2009 pay raise. H.R. 5087 earned 34 bipartisan co-sponsors.

The new legislation, H.R. 156, introduced yesterday has already garnered 57 co-sponsors, including another Texas congressman, Republican Michael McCaul.

In 1989, Congress passed a law that provides lawmakers with an automatic pay raise every January unless they vote specifically to reject the raise.

Obama Nominee For Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change is Member of Socialist International

This comes from obamanoms.com, a beautiful little clearing house of the President Elect's proposed cabinet members.

Carol Browner, Obama’s new Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, used to be listed as a member of the Commission for a Sustainable World Society for Socialist International. As of today, however, her bio was taken off the site.

Carol Browner's blurb is still visible on the cached version of the site however.

ACORN Worker Indicted With Voter Fraud Charges For '08 Election

From stl.news.

Deidra Humphrey, 44, of East St. Louis, has been indicted to appear in U.S. District Court in St. Louis this week.

Humphrey is accused of submitting forged and false voter registration cards for the Nov. 8 general election — including forging cards for nursing home residents — U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said Monday.

Humphrey worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (ProVote), not-for-profit organizations active during campaign seasons in registering low-income and minority voters.

ACORN was the target of criticism from Republicans and Libertarians who expressed concern the group was intentionally submitting flawed and/or blatantly bogus voter registration cards in key swing states. These thousands of bunk registration cards flooded local offices, making the verification of registrants much harder and time consuming on local officials and may have, in a worse case scenario, clogged the system until it was incapable of performing their duties on actual legitimate registration cards.

Republicans, Libertarians and Republican presidential nominee John McCain attacked Democrat Barack Obama for his previous affiliation to the group, which included his representing it in a 1995 lawsuit.

This is not ACORN's first run in with this sort of thing. ACORN workers have been tied to voter registration problems all over the country. In 2007, eight ACORN workers were indicted in St. Louis for fraudulent registration cards submitted for the previous year's general election. Former ACORN workers have been convicted of voter registration fraud in Missouri, Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

Nancy Pelosi To Reverse House Fairness Rules

From Human Events.

Nancy Pelosi is planning to re-write the House rules today ensuring that the Republican minority in congress is unable to have any influence. The fairness rules were originally written by Republican speaker of the house, Newt Gingrich, when he enacted his "Contract With America".

Changes to the House rules would make it nearly impossible for Republicans to offer alternative bills, amend Democrat bills or even the guarantee of open debate accessible by motions to recommit for any piece of legislation during the entire 111th Congress. The retraction of the rules will also greatly reduce the transparency in Congress and politician's personal accountability.

In reaction to Pelosi's effort Republican House leaders is sending an objection letter to Pelosi.

"January 5, 2009

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
H-232, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Madame Speaker,

We hope you and your family had a joyful holiday season, and as we begin a new year and a new Congress, we look forward to working with you, our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and President-elect Obama in tackling the many challenges facing our nation.

President Obama has pledged to lead a government that is open and transparent. With that in mind, we are deeply troubled by media reports indicating that the Democratic leadership is poised to repeal reforms put in place in 1995 that were intended to help restore Americans’ trust and confidence in the People’s House. Specifically, these reports note that the Majority, as part of its rules package governing the new Congress, will end six-year term limits for Committee chairs and further restrict the opportunity for all members to offer alternative legislation. This does not represent change; it is reverting back to the undemocratic one-party rule and backroom deals that the American people rejected more than a decade ago. And it has grave implications for the American people and their freedom, coming at a time when an unprecedented expansion of federal power and spending is being hastily planned by a single party behind closed doors. Republicans will vigorously oppose repealing these reforms if they are brought to a vote on the House floor.

As you know, after Republicans gained the majority in the House in 1995, our chamber adopted rules to limit the terms of all committee chairs to three terms in order to reward new ideas, innovation, and merit rather than the strict longevity that determined chairmanships in the past. This reform was intended to help restore the faith and trust of the American people in their government – a theme central to President-elect Obama’s campaign last year. He promoted a message of “change,” but Madame Speaker, abolishing term limit reform is the opposite of “change.” Instead, it will entrench a handful of Members of the House in positions of permanent power, with little regard for its impact on the American people.

The American people also stand to pay a price if the Majority further shuts down free and open debate on the House floor by refusing to allow all members the opportunity to offer substantive alternatives to important legislation -- the same opportunities that Republicans guaranteed to Democrats as motions to recommit during their 12 years in the Minority. The Majority’s record in the last Congress was the worst in history when it came to having a free and open debate on the issues.

This proposed change also would prevent Members from exposing and offering proposals to eliminate tax increases hidden by the Democratic Majority in larger pieces of legislation. This is not the kind of openness and transparency that President-elect Obama promised. This change would deprive tens of millions of Americans the opportunity to have a voice in the most important policy decisions facing our country.

Madame Speaker, we urge you to reconsider the decision to repeal these reforms, which could come up for a vote as early as tomorrow. Just as a new year brings fresh feelings of optimism and renewal for the American people, so too should a new Congress. Changing the House rules in the manner highlighted by recent media reports would have the opposite effect: further breaching the trust between our nation’s elected representatives and the men and women who send them to Washington to serve their interests and protect their freedom.

Sincerely,

Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), Republican Leader
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Republican Whip
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Conference Chairman
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), Policy Committee Chairman
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wyo.), Conference Vice-Chair
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), Conference Secretary
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), NRCC Chairman
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Chief Deputy Whip
Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.), Rules Committee Ranking Republican"


Please call and e-mail your representatives as soon as you can and let them know exactly how you feel about the voices of Conservatives all over this country being drowned out by a Democratic majority. These rule changes must be voted on and it is important that you let your congressperson know exactly how their constituents feel about this.

Governor Bill Richardson Scandal Heating Up As He Withdraws From Obama Cabinet

On December 15, 2008, I published a story about Bill Richardson's "pay-to-play" scheme involving a federal investigation into donations made to California-based CDR Financial Products Inc. The investigation comes after the company made a $75,000 donation to Richardson's campaign and was then rewarded with a $1 billion contract for a transportation system with the state of New Mexico, the state Richardson governs.

It seems the scandal may really be heating up as Richardson has just announced the withdrawal of his name as Secretary of Commerce in Obama's cabinet. Richardson said he is withdrawing because "I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process. Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing, I could not in good conscience ask the president-elect and his administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done."

Obama has said about Richardson's withdrawal "Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office. It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration."


Put the nation first? If this is what Obama thinks is putting the nation first I feel we may be in for a very bumpy 4-8 year ride

Team Sarah Trolls Revealed!

Thanks to the The RedState for breaking this story.

A week or two ago, The Huffington Post ran a story about racist remarks on the Team Sarah website. What I found most interesting about the story that it highlighted maybe 10 accounts of racism on a very active site with 63,723 members at my last count, negligable in my mind to say the least. But whatever, it's the HuffPo and as previously stated, they are all a bunch of "c-words".

But the RedState has uncovered, and has proof, that many of the racism coming from Team Sarah is actually Obama trolls posing as Sarah supporters, posting racist and hateful comments and then alerting the HuffPo.

The Red state has done its research and has traced down some of the offending posters to YAforObama, DemocraticUnderground


Team Sarah administrators supposedly have over 15 pages of information on the trolls and proof of thier invasions. We can only hope that HuffPo will write a retracton of the story. But something tells me they probably will not.