Democrat Hypocrisy: Show Me Your Papers – The National Edition

This has to be the most stunning display of hypocrisy I have ever seen. For over a week the Democrats and the media have been deriding Arizona’s new law as Nazi-like.  They have all said Arizona’s law would lead to people being asked; “Show Me Your Papers”.  So what do the Democrats suggest for national immigration reform, a national ID card.

The Hill: A plan by Senate Democratic leaders to reform the nation’s immigration laws ran into strong opposition from civil liberties defenders before lawmakers even unveiled it Thursday.

Democratic leaders have proposed requiring every worker in the nation to carry a national identification card with biometric information, such as a fingerprint, within the next six years, according to a draft of the measure. […]

The national ID program would be titled the Believe System, an acronym for Biometric Enrollment, Locally stored Information and Electronic Verification of Employment.

It would require all workers across the nation to carry a card with a digital encryption key that would have to match work authorization databases. 

“The cardholder’s identity will be verified by matching the biometric identifier stored within the microprocessing chip on the card to the identifier provided by the cardholder that shall be read by the scanner used by the employer,” states the Democratic legislative proposal. [...]

It is simply unbelievable that on one hand the Democrats can demigod a state law for made up fears and then in the blink of an eye propose a policy on a national scale that actually makes those fears true.  Worse yet, this would require all LEGAL citizens of the United States to get finger printed. Even the illegal aliens in Arizona don’t have to do that.

The ACLU isn’t even on board with this hypocrisy. 

The American Civil Liberties Union, a civil liberties defender often aligned with the Democratic Party, wasted no time in blasting the plan. 

“Creating a biometric national ID will not only be astronomically expensive, it will usher government into the very center of our lives. Every worker in America will need a government permission slip in order to work. And all of this will come with a new federal bureaucracy — one that combines the worst elements of the DMV and the TSA,” said Christopher Calabrese, ACLU legislative counsel.  

Who ever is composing these massive reform bills for the Democrats, might want to sit down and have a chat with the demagoguery wing of the Democratic party, because clearly the two are not in sync.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill

Who is the mystery man at the health care protest?

Big Government is hunting down all the video it can find of the March 20 health care protest, to find the Tea Partiers chanting the N-word. Still no such video can be found, however in their search they did find a mystery man. 

BigGovernment: While scouring the thousands of videos that exist on YouTube from the March 20th health care bill protests in Washington DC, we were able to uncover four different angles of the Cannon Office Building at the precise moment Rep. Andre Carson and Rep. John Lewis descended the steps on their way to Capitol Hill.

We have noticed that there is a mystery man positioned at the bottom of the steps of the Cannon Building with a video camera.  He is in the exact position to capture the moment that Rep. Carson later described to reporters.  He is dressed in a dark suit and he is wearing some kind of credential on his jacket.

Who is this guy? 

My best guess, congressional aide. The CBC members were clearly expecting something when they took their walk across the street. Jesse Jackson Jr. had two cameras rolling and another fellow in the group also had a camera rolling. So it would not surprise me if they had a congressional aide waiting at the ready.

If any of you readers know who this guy is, email BigGovernment: tips@biggovernment.com

Via: Big Government

Charlie Crist announces he will run as an Independent

New York Times: MIAMI — Gov. Charlie Crist announced Thursday that he will run independently for the United States Senate, giving Florida a race that will once again make the state a gawk-worthy stage of American politics, where the country's desires, fears and conflicts play out.

Mr. Crist told supporters in his home town of St. Petersburg that his decision to leave the Republican party is "the right thing for America" and "the right thing for Florida."

"My decision to run for the U.S. Senate as a candidate without party affiliation says more about our nation and our state than it says about me," Mr. Crist said. "Unfortunately our political system is broken. I think we need a new tone in Washington." […] 

Did anyone really need a crystal ball to see this coming? Charlie Crist is basically doing exactly what Arlen Specter did, but without the blunt admission. For Crist and Specter it is all about keeping themselves employed on the public dime.

Polling data shows that Rubio is more than capable of beating the Democrat Kendrick Meek. If Charlie Crist really believes that America needs a new tone in Washington, then he should have stepped aside and allowed Rubio to bring it.  By running as an independent, Crist is turning an easy GOP pick up into a crapshoot. Hopefully Florida voters will reject this self-serving opportunist.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Times

Via: Rasmussen

Who’s that lady? Nancy Pelosi on the cover of Capital File magazine

Someone went a little hog wild with the Photoshop. Is it just me or does Nancy Pelosi now look like Katie Couric’s younger sister? 

Yeas and Nays: […] Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Ayman Hakki of Luxxery Medical Boutique in Waldorf, Md., said although he believes Pelosi has had work done (specifically Botox of the frown lines, fat injections, a mini face-lift), the image is not the product of additional plastic surgery.

“There is airbrushing around her eyes, her upper lid has been airbrushed to make it look like there is less fat on the inside,” Hakki told Yeas & Nays. “And there is airbrushing on the line of her jaw.”

 He also noted her neck has been blended, and the lines on her face are very subtle.

Pelosi did not give the mag an exclusive photo op. The photos were purchased from Vintage Books and Anchor Books of Random House. Pelosi’s camp said the picture has not been airbrushed, and Capitol File did not respond for comment.[…]

As a photographer, I will tell you, every portrait needs retouching, especially when you get those tight face shots. However the key to retouching a portrait is subtlety.  When all the work is done, you should not be able to tell the photo was retouched.

Given Nancy Pelosi’s popularity, the person who retouched this photo should have known people would notice. The Pelosi camp should also know better than to think anyone would believe for a hot second that the photo was not retouched.

To give you some idea how retouching can be done right, watch the video below. Notice how all that work produces an effective, yet subtle change.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Yeas & Nays

Obama: I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money

Yesterday Obama was giving a speech on Wall Street reform in Quincy, Illinois. During the speech, Obama let his mask slip and once again we caught a glimpse of his inner Socialist. 

From Hot Air: We’re not, we’re not trying to push financial reform because we begrudge success that’s fairly earned. I mean, I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money. But, you know, part of the American way is, you know, you can just keep on making it if you’re providing a good product or providing good service. We don’t want people to stop, ah, fulfilling the core responsibilities of the financial system to help grow our economy. 

Of course he begrudges success, otherwise why should anyone have any sort of ceiling on his or her earning potential? What is a certain point anyway? Is that point the same for everyone or just for people who do not think like Obama? Who gets to decide what is enough? The whole share the wealth nonsense is so damn arbitrary. Some silly despot gets to pick winners and losers at a whim.  No thanks; I will stick with Capitalism. So long as you are earning your income honestly, who the hell has any right to say enough is enough?

I think this type of thinking comes from the fact that many on the left view wealth as finite. They look at the nation’s wealth as a great big pie where everyone gets a cut. Most of us on the right view wealth as dynamic, kind of like a balloon that can expand and contract for everyone.

The other thing about Obama’s remark, that Ed Morrissey catches, is how Obama views the role of the private sector.

... Furthermore, the responsibility of an entrepreneur isn’t to “grow our economy,” core or otherwise. It’s to grow his own economy. In a properly regulated capitalist system, the natural tension of self-interests create economic growth through innovation and efficient use of capital and resources. 

So true, people do not go into business for the government, or the economy or reasons of social justice. People go into business for themselves. In that process of self-enrichment, others can benefit too, in the form of jobs, technical innovations or better services.  For Socialists/ Statists like Obama, control of those benefits is really what they are all about.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Hot Air 

Comedy Gold! Riot Police Called Out For Quincy Illinois Tea Party Rally

Quincy Herald Whig: Quincy Tea Party members wanted President Barack Obama to know they were present Wednesday afternoon during his appearance in Quincy.

About 200 people protesting Obama's policies loudly chanted "USA, USA" as his motorcade made its way out of the Oakley-Lindsay Center, then sang "Hey, hey, hey, goodbye" as the vehicle went by.

The participants were vocal but well-behaved as they stood on the north side of York Street across from the OLC. […]

There were a few tense moments when the crowd moved west down York toward Third Street after the president's motorcade arrived. A Secret Service agent asked the crowd to move back across the street to the north side.

When the crowd didn't move and began singing "God Bless, America" and the national anthem, Quincy Deputy Police Chief Ron Dreyer called for members of the Mobile Field Force to walk up the street.

The officers, mainly from Metro East departments near St. Louis and dressed in full body armor, marched from the east and stood on the south side of York facing the protesters.

There was no physical contact, and the officers did not come close to the crowd, but there were catcalls and more than a few upset tea party members, including a woman who shouted, "This is communism!"

McQueen also assisted in asking people to step back to the north side of York. The crowd moved back, the officers stayed for about 15 minutes and left, and there were no other incidents.

"It's just a communication issue. We were trying to get them to move across the street," Quincy Deputy Police Chief Curt Kelty said. "We were just trying to move them back, they complied, and it was fine."

Several of the Quincy Tea Party members thanked Kelty as they left the area.[…] 

If you think thats funny, just watch the video below. 

This has to be the politest riot I ever saw.  I have lived in NYC for much of my life and as such I have seen protests galore. I don’t think I ever saw one where riot police were present and people were saying “please” and “thank you”.

I certainly hope the police checked out these two, especially the one on the right. I bet that is no collapsing lawn chair, looks like it could be a surface to air rocket launcher!

More images of the "menacing" tea partiers at Gateway Pundit.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Quincy Herald Whig

Video h/t: Hot Air

Video: Peter Orszag explains how ObamaCare will ration healthcare

Remember how the left completely freaked out over Sarah Palin’s Death Panel remark? They insisted that under ObamaCare bureaucrats would not be making decisions about your health and that there would be no rationing. Well, just like the price tag of ObamaCare, the left lied.

Watch the video below and listen to how Obama’s Director of Office Management and Budget, Peter Orszag, explains how the Independent Payment and Advisory Board (IPAB) will move our health care system from one of quantity to “quality” by aggressively putting forward proposals that will hit economic targets.  Also pay close attention to how Orszag describes the high threshold for overriding the IPAB.

So let’s recap, we have un-elected bureaucrats that can enact immediate proposals to our health care system based on bending the cost curve downwards, regardless to our individual health care needs. Furthermore, a super majority in Congress is needed to override these proposals. Too bad our neutered media did not bring this to our attention before the bill was passed.

Hot Air has more information on the IPAB.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Sarah Palin’s Facebook Page

Via: Hot Air

Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and Karl Rove come out against the Arizona immigration law.

Yesterday several Republicans came out against Arizona’s new immigration law. They are Senator Lindsey Graham, Florida senatorial candidate Marco Rubio, Governor Jeb Bush and Karl Rove. Each had reasons for their opposition.

Lindsey Graham:

CBS News: Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) said Tuesday he thinks Arizona's new immigration law is unconstitutional and that "it doesn't represent the best way forward" when it comes to addressing illegal immigration.

He added, however, that the law reflects "what good people will do" when they are left with no other options.

Speaking at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Graham said Congress eventually needs to tackle immigration reform but that it will be "impossible" to achieve reform until citizens in states like Arizona feel that the borders are secure.

"In this environment there is no hope of it passing," he said.

Graham did not say on what grounds Arizona’s law is unconstitutional and considering Graham’s past, I am not too sure he knows why either. What we do know is that he, like his buddy McCain, is all about the amnesty.  What Graham did get right though is that until the border is secure Americans are not going to be happy with any suggestions for immigration reform.

Marco Rubio:

The Buzz: Our legal immigration system must continue to welcome those who seek to embrace America’s blessings and abide by the legal and orderly system that is in place. The American people have every right to expect the federal government to secure our borders and prevent illegal immigration.  It has become all too easy for some in Washington to ignore the desperation and urgency of those like the citizens of Arizona who are disproportionately wrestling with this problem as well as the violence, drug trafficking and lawlessness that spills over from across the border.

States certainly have the right to enact policies to protect their citizens, but Arizona’s policy shows the difficulty and limitations of states trying to act piecemeal to solve what is a serious federal problem.  From what I have read in news reports, I do have concerns about this legislation.  While I don’t believe Arizona’s policy was based on anything other than trying to get a handle on our broken borders, I think aspects of the law, especially that dealing with ‘reasonable suspicion,’ are going to put our law enforcement officers in an incredibly difficult position.  It could also unreasonably single out people who are here legally, including many American citizens.  Throughout American history and throughout this administration we have seen that when government is given an inch it takes a mile.

I hope Congress and the Obama Administration will use the Arizona legislation not as an excuse to try and jam through amnesty legislation, but to finally act on border states’ requests for help with security and fix the things about our immigration system that can be fixed right now – securing the border, reforming the visa and entry process, and cracking down on employers who exploit illegal immigrants.

Rubio adds a new concern, the pressure the law puts on law enforcement with “reasonable suspicion”. Given the national attention this law has received, Arizona police officers will have to dot every “i” and cross every “t” to make sure they do not become the poster child for racial profiling. Despite overblown claims from the left, I think for this reason, police officers will use this law very carefully. 

Rubio also raises the very same concern I had about giving the government an inch and them taking a mile. After watching Congress blatantly steamroll the public to pass ObamaCare, I think we should all be cautious about giving government new authorities.

Jeb Bush:

Politico: […]"I think it creates unintended consequences," he said in a telephone interview with POLITICO Tuesday. "It's difficult for me to imagine how you're going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well."

The measure, signed into law last Friday, would require police to check the immigration status of any individuals they reasonably suspect are illegal immigrants and arrest them if they can't prove legal status.

Bush said he understood the anger that prompted the bill, but that immigration should remain a federal issue.

"I don't think this is the proper approach," he said.[…]

Jeb mirrors Rubio a tiny bit, in regards to the pressure the law puts on the law enforcement. However, Jeb is being a little disingenuous when he makes the law sound like police will just pull people over they suspect of being illegal. Section 2B of the law makes clear that the police must first have lawful contact with the individual (e.g. you get caught speeding or the police come to your house because of a disturbance), then if they have reasonable suspicion can they ask about your immigration status. Jeb, like his brother George, is an amnesty guy.

Karl Rove:

Orlando Sentinel: Rove, speaking to a crowd of about 500 at the mammoth senior community as part of a national book tour, said that while the law is understandable, it does present difficulties. The law has become the nation’s toughest anti-immigration measure.

“I think there is going to be some constitutional problems with the bill,” he said to the standing-room-only crowd at the Colony Cottage Recreation Center. “I wished they hadn’t passed it, in a way.”

Still, Rove, who was promoting his book Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight, objected to comments by critics including President Barack Obama that the law will lead to problems such as racial profiling by police.

“These are modern police forces that respect the rights of people in their communities,” Rove said. “They’re going to do it on the basis of reasonable suspicion that these people are here illegally, like they’re driving a car with a Mexican license plate or they can’t speak English or they don’t have a drivers license.”

However, Rove said there may be other ways to tackle the issue.

“At the end of the day … I think there are better tools,” he said. “But I understand where it’s coming from.”

Rove too claims the law is unconstitutional, but also does not say how. I am not sure how it is unconstitutional since the reasonable suspicion part doesn’t kick in until after the police have lawful contact with a person.

The objections raised by the four of these men can all be tied to political reasons. In Rubio’s case it is because he is running in a state with a huge Latino population. In the cases of Graham, Bush and Rove, they are all thinking like Democrats, that amnesty will buy Hispanic votes for their party.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: CBS News

Via: Tambabay.com

Via: Politico

Via: AZLegal.gov

Via: The Orlando Sentinel

Republicans and Democrat Ben Nelson block advance of Financial Reform bill

Washington Post: Republicans voted unanimously Monday to block an effort to overhaul financial regulations from reaching the Senate floor, pledging to hold out for significant changes to the bill even as they acknowledged the political risk of appearing to obstruct a popular cause.

The 57 to 41 vote in favor of beginning debate, short of the 60 needed, was expected, although Democrats did suffer an unanticipated defection when Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) joined Republicans as a no. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) was prepared to call further votes Tuesday, Wednesday and beyond.

"We need to keep the pressure on to get a deal as quickly as possible," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said. [MORE]

Let the game begin. Harry Reid and the Democrats aren’t really that serious about reforming the financial industry. If they were, how come such troublesome things like, Fanny Mae, Freddy Mac, the sub prime mortgage market or Mortgage Backed Securities are not addressed? These were the things that damn need brought down our financial house.  Instead, what we get is another 1300+-page bill, which seeks to give government more control over the private sector.

Democrats are looking for issues to run on in November. By trying to paint Republicans as defenders of Wall Street excess, they hope to give themselves something else to run on other than ObamaCare. Look for Reid to drag out this bill for all it is worth.

Ben Nelson is also playing a game here too. He wants to distance himself from Reid and Pelosi whenever and wherever possible in a sorry attempt to erase the memory of the Cornhusker Kickback. Good luck with that, Ben! In the end, should a significant Republican issue be addressed in a rewrite of the bill, old Ben will be right back on board with the Democrats.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Washington Post

Via: banking.senate.gov

Video: Obama calls on youth, blacks, Latinos and women to return in 2010

 

Politico: The Democratic National Committee this morning released this clip of the president rallying the troops, if rather coolly, for 2010. Obama's express goal: "reconnecting" with the voters who voted for the first time in 2008, but who may not plan to vote in the lower-profile Congressional elections this year.

Obama speaks with unusual demographic frankness about his coalition in his appeal to "young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women who powered our victory in 2008 [to] stand together once again."

This appeal is nothing new. Democrats have been playing divisive politics for eons. The only difference here is that it is actually spelled out rather clearly. What is also noticeable is who is left out, independents, gays and Asians. Does this mean Obama and the Democrats have already given up on these groups?

Obama and the Democrats may have their work cut out for them in regards to the youth vote. Just today, Gallup releases a poll showing that young voters are unenthusiastic about the midterms as they always are. Getting saddled with trillions of dollars in debt might just have something to do with that.

If the comments at the end of the Politico story are any indication, I would say the youth are not the only ones feeling less than enthusiastic about voting Democrat.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Via: Gallup

Underpants Bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in Al Qaeda training video

A Yemeni journalist working for ABC News obtained this video. The video depicts the Underpants Bomber Abdulmutallab training with Al Qaeda. When Abdulmutallab was captured he stated that he had trained with others, and now we have proof. What I find rather alarming is that there were so many “others”. Let’s all hope that the CIA and FBI are capable of finding all of them,

Via: Memeorandum

Via: ABC News

National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones tells “Jewish joke”

When I first heard of this story I was expecting something much worse that the joke Jones told. This is not to say the joke isn't offensive, just that I was expecting a whole lot worse. Perhaps this is why so many in attendance were not offended. 

Political Punch: As first noted by the Jewish newspaper The Forward, at an event last week at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy – a pro-Israel think tank – National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones (Ret.) told a joke about a “Jewish merchant” that didn’t sit well with everyone.

While many in the largely Jewish audience laughed, others didn’t find it so funny, including Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.

“It's inappropriate,” Foxman told ABC News. “it's stereotypic. Some people believe they need to start a speech with a joke; this was about the worst kind of joke the head of the National Security Council could have told.”

The Forward noted that the “joke drew a wave of laughs and applause from participant” but it went on to report that an anonymous “prominent think-tank source who attended the event said the joke was ‘wrong in so many levels’ and that it ‘demonstrated a lack of sensitivity.’ The source also asked: ‘Can you imagine him telling a black joke at an event of African Americans?’” [MORE]

I think one of the reason why some are not excusing this joke is because of the administration’s treatment of Israel. Just this weekend there was a major pro-Israeli prostest in NYC and the folks were not too pleased with Obama.

Jones has of course issued an apology, but will it be enough or will the whole incident just add a little more fuel to a growing fire?

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Political Punch

Via: Atlas Shrugs

Al Sharpton to protest in Arizona

Where ever race and politics intersect, you are sure to find Al Sharpton. With the recent passage of Arizona’s new immigration law, Al Sharpton has decided to join forces with Lillian Rodriguez Lopez from the Hispanic Federation in New York City to commit civil disobedience in Arizona.

The Washington Post: NEW YORK -- The Rev. Al Sharpton says he's ready to travel to Arizona and march in the streets to protest the state's new immigration law.

Sharpton joined Lillian Rodriguez Lopez from the Hispanic Federation in New York City on Sunday to speak out against the law. They say activists are prepared to commit civil disobedience to fight it.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill Friday. It requires police to question people about their immigration status - including asking for identification - if they suspect someone is in the country illegally.

The law will take effect in late July or early August.

President Barack Obama has called the new law "misguided" and has instructed the Justice Department to examine it to see if it's legal.

On illegal immigration, Democrats are going to stir the racial pot big time. Without their filibuster proof majority in the Senate, getting amnesty passed this year will be difficult. The next best thing for the Democrats would be to create a very ugly racial ruckus over illegal immigration, in hopes to boost Hispanic support for the party.

When it comes to creating an ugly racial ruckus, who better than Al Sharpton?

Via: The Washington Post

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service and No Gay Dogs Too!

I see an opportunity for PETA and ACT UP to combine forces to fight canine homophobia! 

NineMSN: An Adelaide restaurant that refused a blind man entry because a waiter thought his guide dog was "gay" has been ordered to apologise and pay compensation.

Ian Jolly was told he could not take guide dog Nudge into the Thai Spice last May because a member of staff objected, The Sunday Mail reported.

The restaurant's owners said a misunderstanding had arisen between Jolly's female companion and a waiter who understood the woman "to be saying she wanted to bring a gay dog into the restaurant".

"The staff genuinely believed that Nudge was an ordinary pet dog which had been desexed to become a gay dog," the owners said in a statement to South Australia's Equal Opportunity Tribunal.

The tribunal on Friday ordered the restaurant to pay Jolly $1500 and offer him a written apology for discriminating against him on the grounds of disability.

The restaurant, which displays a "guide dogs welcome" sign, refused to comment to the newspaper and was unavailable to respond on Sunday.

Jolly told the Sunday Mail he was happy with the result.

"I just want to be like everybody else and be able to go out for dinner, to be left alone and just enjoy a meal," he said. 

Via: Memeorandum

Via: NineMSN

So much for civility, Newsweek looks at the Coffee Party

One month after the much-ballyhooed Coffee Party gatherings, Newsweek interviews Annabelle Park, leader of the Astroturf Coffee Party.  What we learn is that Coffee Party members are, surprise, surprise, hardcore lefties who do not want civility but payback. 

Newsweek: When Annabel Park imagined what it would be like to head a new national political movement, here is what she had in mind: a coming together of engaged, intelligent citizens who had tired of the angry rhetoric and accusations of the Tea Partiers; Americans of all political persuasions joining in a spirit of equanimity to discuss the nation's problems, and maybe even share a laugh. It was this beautiful vision that danced in Park's head on a recent Saturday as she made her way to Busboys and Poets, a cafe in Washington, D.C., for one of nearly 500 Coffee Party meetings taking place nationwide that day. She knew the house would be full—word had spread quickly on the group's swelling Facebook page. Park, a documentary filmmaker, was especially pleased that C-Span had arranged to broadcast the meeting.

But from the moment folks in the crowd stood up to speak their minds, Park knew these people had not come to sip cappuccinos and set an example of civility for an overheated nation. They were angry. They hated the Tea Party, and the Republican Party. They wanted to get even. One audience member said America was under the thumb of oligarchs and denounced "moneyed interests." A few people hissed when Sarah Palin's name was mentioned. Also on hand were the usual suspects drawn to the C-Span bat signal. A man representing Code Pink, the left-wing protest group, said that "racism was the basis for everything that's going on right now." He also seemed to have a real problem with "fear-based rhetoric" and Northrop Grumman.

Park, a 42-year-old Korean-American with a smile that can only be described as "kind," regularly tried to steer the talk back to the group's more centrist principles. But when someone asked how many people in the room were Republicans, all 80 hands remained down. "I like the civility idea, but I hate the Tea Party people," said attendee Karen Anderson. By the end of the event, some in the crowd had decided the movement, barely two months old at the time, needed a new leader. China Dickerson, a 26-year-old community organizer, said the Coffee Party wouldn't last "unless we get someone a little more powerful to head it." She wanted a rabble-rouser, "not someone that says we can all work together." Park seemed a little rattled after the meeting. "If they want to fire me, this may not be the group for them," she said later. "We don't want conflict and confrontation."

Well so much for that bi-partisan civility nonsense. The media has made much noise about the “anger” of the Tea Parties. This so called anger is really passion. Passion against what many see as an illogical direction the nation has taken, large deficits, wild spending and a congress that is interested in issues best suited for its immediate needs rather than the people’s immediate needs.

To think one could counter the Tea Party’s passion with quietly sipping coffee and making signs is pretty ridiculous.  Of course, most of the folks who showed up for the Coffee Party kick off would be hardcore lefties looking to combat the coffee party.  Given the Coffee Party’s Astroturf roots, aren’t angry lefties what they were going for from the start?

I don’t see the Coffee Party growing into anything more than numbers on a Facebook page. Unless they rip the mask off and come out as angry leftist looking to support Obama’s hard left agenda and challenge the Tea Parties, many will simply lose interest in it and move on.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Newsweek

Lindsey Graham pulls the plug on climate change bill

Lindsey Graham (RINO-SC) has thrown a hissy fit and penned a letter stating he is pulling his support for Climate Change legislation.  What has Graham in a snit? Dingy Harry wants to move on immigration legislation before climate change.

I give the old RINO Graham some credit for correctly calling out Reid and the Democrat’s naked political maneuver. 

The Daily Caller: “Moving forward on immigration — in this hurried, panicked manner — is nothing more than a cynical political ploy,” Mr. Graham said. “I know from my own personal experience the tremendous amounts of time, energy and effort that must be devoted to this issue to make even limited progress.”

In 2007, we spent hundreds of hours over many months with President Bush’s Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, and nearly every member of the U.S. Senate searching for a way to address our nation’s immigration problems. Unlike this current “effort,” it was a good-faith attempt to address a very difficult national issue.

Some of the major provisions we embraced in 2007 — such as creation of a Virtual Fence using cameras, motion detectors and other technological devices to protect our borders — have been scrapped for the time. Other issues we found agreement on at the time, such as a temporary guest worker program, have unraveled over the past three years.

Expecting these major issues to be addressed in three weeks — which appears to be their current plan based upon media reports — is ridiculous. It also demonstrates the raw political calculations at work here.

Let’s be clear, a phony, political effort on immigration today accomplishes nothing but making it exponentially more difficult to address in a serious, comprehensive manner in the future.

Graham is correct; the Democrats are not interesting in creating real and lasting immigration reform, their true goal to pass amnesty before election time.  Graham also knows that much of the nation is in no mood for amnesty (which he supported last time) and the Republican base is certainly not in the mood for the higher taxes of climate change legislation. Even though Graham is not up for re-election until 2014, he might be realizing that it would be better to remove his fingerprints from both pieces of legislation.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Times

Via: The Daily Caller

EPIC FAIL: Eugene Oregon Anti Palin Protest

Other than this picture providing yet another example of classic liberal hypocrisy, why is this story even news?  It seems to me that from the size of the crowd at the event vs. the number of protesters outside, this protest was an Epic Fail. 

Oregonian: [...] "When the other party's wrong, we stiffen our spines," Palin told about 900 people who attended a fundraising dinner for the Lane County Republican Party. "Why not be the party of not just no, but hell no," she shouted. 

Palin's visit to what is considered Oregon's most liberal city attracted dozens of protesters who waved signs and taunted the mostly well-dressed crowd entering the Eugene Hilton, where the event was held. 

So more people in Oregon’s most liberal city were willing to pluck down good money to hear Palin than were willing to come out and protest her. That isn't what I would call a very successful protest. 

Left Coast Rebel has more background information on the protest organizers.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Oregonian