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A couple prominent Democrats have now publicly split with President Government over the size and scope of the administration’s continued march toward federal control of everything.
First, the former Klansman and current Democratic Senator from West Virginia, Robert Byrd, has accused Obama of using the economic crisis as a power grab:
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the longest-serving Democratic senator, is criticizing President Obama’s appointment of White House “czars” to oversee federal policy, saying these executive positions amount to a power grab by the executive branch.
In a letter to Obama on Wednesday, Byrd complained about Obama’s decision to create White House offices on health reform, urban affairs policy, and energy and climate change. Byrd said such positions “can threaten the Constitutional system of checks and balances. At the worst, White House staff have taken direction and control of programmatic areas that are the statutory responsibility of Senate-confirmed officials.”
While it’s rare for Byrd to criticize a president in his own party, Byrd is a stern constitutional scholar who has always stood up for the legislative branch in its role in checking the power of the White House. Byrd no longer holds the powerful Appropriations chairmanship, so his criticism does not carry as much weight these days. Byrd repeatedly clashed with the Bush administration over executive power, and it appears that he’s not limiting his criticism to Republican administrations.
Byrd also wants Obama to limit claims of executive privilege while also ensuring that the White House czars don’t have authority over Cabinet officers confirmed by the Senate.
For once, Robert Byrd and I are on the same page. Funny how the enemy of my enemy is my friend, isn’t it?
Next, adding to the chorus of Republican governors refusing some of the wasteful stimulus money, the Democratic Governor of Tennessee, Phil Bredseen, has also begun challenging the porkulus plan:
WASHINGTON — Tennessee and Georgia may turn down some of the economic stimulus money if the restrictions outlined in the package cause budgetary hardship in the future, the governors said Monday.
After meeting with President Barack Obama, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said some provisions in the package for unemployment benefits would force states to expand their programs permanently, even though the stimulus funding only lasts for two years.
“We are evaluating this piece of money, whether it makes sense for us to take it,” he said. “We may well be one of the states that say we can’t take on that portion of it.”
Of issue is the package’s unemployment modernization provisions, which require states to update their unemployment insurance systems and provide jobless benefits to workers who now don’t qualify for benefits.
The governors aren’t morons like those in Washington, they know they have to run their states more efficiently than the federal government or they’ll be tossed out. People like Bredesen can’t just drink the Obama/socialist kool-aid and call it hunky-dory like the clowns in Washington.
How stupid is it that the so-called stimulus plan from Washington will force states to change laws if they want money, yet then the states will be saddled with the bill 2 years from now. No, thank you.
The states don’t want to rewrite their laws to comply with the socialist mandate from Washington. They also do not want to begin receiving funds based on the number of welfare recipients they can signup.
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“WHO IS JOHN GALT?”
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.whoisjohngalt.com/
by John Galt
“A serious view for once, no bananas, no snippy commentary.
Last night the American people heard zero, zip, nada.”
“We have no specifics one month plus into the Obama administration.”
“We have no honesty. This man said his administration would hit the ground running and start solving all of the problems we witnessed and endured under the Bush administration. That he would have a plan in place for the economy.”
“Bunk.”
http://www.johngaltfla.com/
DD
Someone you should know more about
Nate
How true when you said not all Democrats are Obama Groupies recently. In such short order cracks are developing in his armore. Many cracks. Seems like I am saying that alot lately
Does Sen. Robert Byrd bring up possible impeachable issues. One can only wait and see. And hope ! Wasn’t Bill Clinton a very popular President ?
Thank God for our free thinking Democrat brothers and sisters. CHANGE IS IN THE AIR.
Bill……..While I find your links to websites about John Galt interesting I had no idea they even existed.The only thing that refers to the character in Ayn Rands book I mentioned was the quote above the masthead on the second website.These bloggers are simply using his name and I wasn’t condoning their views but using an appropiate quote from a book on a current subject.
So let me get this straight… Before the stimulus package, states were not getting any on the money coming from the stimulus package. Now that there is a stimulus package, states have the right to take pieces of it, whole chunks of it, all of it, and finally, none of it if they so choose.
So really, they have options. Wow, i thought by the way you all were going on and on about this whole things, that the end of the world was here and there were no options.
Still, I love your two examples… Firstly, “Byrd said such positions “can threaten the Constitutional system of checks and balances.”
“CAN” threaten, not “ARE” threatening. This sounds to me to be a warning to the president to be careful and not overstep his bounds. Good example… And an enemy of your enemy is still your enemy it is just that you all hate each other. It does sum up where you all are. HATERS. It is funny that you guys consider this a crack in the armor.
Secondly, Phil Bredseen has only said that he is reviewing if this piece of the stimulus is something his state is willing to implement. If not than he is going to turn it away. He didn’t say that he disagreed with the policy but that his state may not be ready or able to meet the requirements for the money, while other states already are.
It is called Choices and I too am glad that our governors have them.
“It does sum up where you all are. HATERS.”
Predictable liberal victim line, if you disagree with them (or beat them in a discussion) they label you a “hater” with the arrogant “better than you” attitude they play so well.
I think “HATERS” is code for “I can’t respond meaningfully.”
JD…….Not according to the interveiw Vice President Biden gave ABC News states don’t have a choice.You can veiw it on the thread called “Facts,Stock Casualties of Obama Speech….it’s the first clip.He clearly says states will be presured to accept the money through embarressment in the media.Now that takes cojones.
No, DD, the statement was if they abuse the money. Not if they don’t except it. Again, you hear what you want to hear but that is to be expected.
Nate, I threw in the hater part in response to “the enemy of my enemy, is my friend” that part of my response was merely a sentence or two out of a response dealing with both senator Byrd and Governor Phil Bredseen.
You are the only one playing the victim but you have played it well, since Obama took office. You have also played Chicken little with the whole “sky is falling”.
JD……….Upon further reveiw …..I stand corrected.My apologies in this case you are correct.
“You are the only one playing the victim but you have played it well, since Obama took office.”
I’m not the victim, American liberty and capitalism is.
I don’t rely on the government for my very existence the way you do.
I realize you are the true victim because you’ve been demoralized to believe the government is the solution to your problems which leaves you dependent and desolate waiting on the socialists to ride in on their white horses to rescue you from yourself.
You need help, JD. Your Messiah is the one who keeps screaming the sky is falling – 19 times in one speech. Even Clinton advised him to lighten up. You haven’t taken your medication today, have you? Swallow it down with that leftover koolaid.
JD……So far all I am hearing from you is the parsing of words in response to us and the parrying of any legitimate defense of President Obamas agenda.You can continue with the hogwash of calling us “haters” and trying to convience yourself everything will be hunky-dory but I have yet to hear anything but straddling about what the President is trying to accomplish.Your verbal gymnastics end now and you need to tell us more than sketchy information we have been hearing from you thus far.Just how is this stimulus program going to create jobs,and why should we just trust the administration with the money to do the right thing? Why isn’t it wrong for the President to double up on the debt? Why did he shove it through Congress without ANYONE READING IT if there isn’t any pork in it?
I’m tired of this administrations inflated sense of significance and the ouija board answers it’s supporters are giving.
DDMao
You need to go back into last year records. jd backed Bush 100%. Never disagreed with Bush. No cussing or any garage.
He feels we should follow his example concerning o.
Sorry jd there are so many articles you must by-pass today. Maybe there will be less tomorrow ?
Bill, you’re making a joke, right? JD hates Bush, always has.
Babs
Or course. I am throwing jd logic in his face.
1.We are to accept o because he is president. Just like jd accepted Bush when he was president.
2.In truth, Jd did not back Bush, but jd feels we must back o or we are haters.
3.jd logic does not hold water. Double standard
Babs…….You and I are showing our age with phrases like Kitten kaboodle and hunky-dory…..LOL
Babs
In above logic
4. only way to be true is if jd hates Bush. Then jd is a hater like us. Thus a draw.
So jd needs to drop the hate bull crap
Babs
There is a lot I could say about jd’s behavior. His desire for importance by trying to make his point of view superior (claiming degree). Then denied he said that with written proof staring him in the face. Unwillingness to say he was wrong. That’s all low self esteem.
I think jd reflects our points by different claims like “hate.” (Reflection). We stop our assult with facts and begin defending ourselves against being haters. Subject changes and jd avoids being trapped in a corner with no place to hide. He’s been using this tactic for many years and serves him well I expect. It has been working well here.
If he even acknowledges this comment, he will pick what he believes is weakest point to attack. Maybe I mis-spelled a word or ask me if I have a degree (Reflect)
jd does not hate us. He’s flustered. He needs to win for self esteem
I feel like I’m back in my parents 1954 Plymouth with my brother.Richard would say “Mommy Mommy Bob is mean to me” and I would respond “Well Richard was mean first”.
This isn’t a discussion of the issues and it’s not even an open dialogue.Being accused of being a hater has many definitions and distinctions but one thing it doesn’t have is being used in a forum of ideas.But then this isn’t any longer a forum of ideas but regurgitating the same poverty of imagination.
As you know I expressed my views on the new scorched earth direction the site took but thought I could find a comfortable compromise.I realize now I’m no longer comfortable with the peripheral engagement of issues and defending the petty name calling.
I leave wishing everyone all the best.
D.D.Mao
Babs & Nate… You guys keep insisting that this country is turning into a socialized state. We have heard the same things throughout history.
When Safety regulations came in and said you need a safe work environment… You screamed about the death of Capitalism.
When a standard amount of hours was created for a work week… you screamed about the death of Capitalism.
Every market requires rules. Even this website has rules or else I should be complaining that I can’t post Porn on this site. Oh, yeah, this site isn’t a democracy is it? This site has an owner and he\she makes up the rules.
How are we turning into a socialized state? What programs is Obama putting into play that will steal capitalism away? I didn’t agree with the Iraq war yet my taxes went to it…So I completely understand why you are upset.
So, yes, I disagree with you but, No, I do not think Government is the “only” answer as you all make me seem. However, Government can “help” in certain situations.
You are so anti-socialism that you don’t realize that we do have good social programs already in place… MILITARY, FIRE Departments, Police Departments, Public education.
Safety, Education, and infrastructure is the governments business (both National and State) , now can those business be run better… sure.
P.S. has anyone noticed that the site defers to Rush’s web page when we are having difficulties? I almost threw-up when it did that. It burned my eyes like light on a vampire.
JD I will respond to your horrible attempt to defend socialism:
“When a standard amount of hours was created for a work week… you screamed about the death of Capitalism.”
You envy those who have more than you and have no problem taxing them, you feel as if these people should be taxed more b/c they dare to work over the hours our gov’t has deemed acceptable. Success comes at the sacrifice of blood, sweat and tears, pass that on to your leader, the community organizer.
“Every market requires rules. Even this website has rules or else I should be complaining that I can’t post Porn on this site. Oh, yeah, this site isn’t a democracy is it? This site has an owner and he\she makes up the rules.”
And the rule of the U.S. market is CAPITALISM. Everywhere you look from the Constitution to Wall Street our country’s foundation was based on these principals or “rules” of Capitalism. History speaks to when our constitution was founded and the very conversations that took place amongst the Federalist and Anti-federalist, but parties agreed that this government would be governed by the constitution and the constitution would point to a “free market” hello, CAPITALISM. From the first amendment which according to one of my law professor, assures you, JD, the right to your porn. All the way to the Commerce Clause that gives states to govern “free market rules” as they see fit because one state’s economy will always be different from another state’s. This Clause just insures oversight.
“How are we turning into a socialized state? What programs is Obama putting into play that will steal capitalism away? I didn’t agree with the Iraq war yet my taxes went to it…So I completely understand why you are upset.”
Where should I start?
1. Obama is trampling gun ownership rights. The Second amendment states “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Do you even began to know the history behind this amendment? It was the second amendment in the Bill of Rights b/c the founders found it essential for Americans to have this right. I will remind you that was before our country had a Military. I know JD you will never be able to understand this but here goes, the founders, government officials, wanted to ensure it’s citizens had the right to overturn the government if the government became a tyranny. It was the ultimate check and balance, something Obama doesn’t believe in, just look at the “President’s Fiscal Responsibility Summit”, this was a violation of our constitutional rights to checks and balances. I bet you didn’t even think about that did you?
So according to Eric Holder the AG, the Obama administration is going to squander the rights to “bear arms” b/c another country “Mexico” is concerned. Well maybe JD you should ask your President who those ILLEGAL MEXICANS bought there guns from, not a LEGAL seller.
2. Controls on health care, yes, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE that was buried in the pork bill.
3. Nationalizing the banking industry
4. Mortgage bailouts to irresponsible buyers
5. Taxing the wealthy at rates only socialist countries tax at. Watch out b/c Obama will work his way down the tax bracket ladder.
That’s just this week!!!
“Safety, Education, and infrastructure is the governments business (both National and State) , now can those business be run better… sure.”
You bet your ass that those programs can be run better, PRIVATIZE them. Public education is the only MONOPOLY our government allows to exist. Do you realize that education’s origin is this country was started in Churches and that’s where it should have stayed. Do you really feel that the education system is successful? Nate went to a private Christian school and had a much better education that I did at a public school.
On Safety and infrastructure, if the government is doing such a great job why is it that infrastructure is crumbling at the hand of government? Just look at the bridge in MN, people lost lives b/c the state was waiting on funding. Doesn’t sound very “safe” to me.
The bottom line is that every inch forward towed less personal responsibility and more government dependence is a step toward socialism. Anytime you begin telling people the government is their messiah instead of themselves creating a destiny, you have created a socialized society. You welcome this so you ignore it and/or don’t want to admit it, and that’s fine, we’ll fight the fight for you since you’re incapable.
Good job, CG! Let me just add to this, JD. First of all, the work week and safety regulations have nothing to do with the true ideal of capitolism, and I didn’t protest that.
What I do protest is the government’s intervention in private business. That’s what Capitolism is. The best example is the automakers. They are private businesses – that is to say not government entities and for individual profit – if they cannot sustain themselves, they should be no different than any other private business. The option to run to government to pay their bills and keep them afloat is not an option in a Capitolistic society, nor should it be.
The banks are the same situation. They are private businesses – not government entities – and the government has no business picking and choosing the ones who survive and the ones who die.
These things are more of a socialistic government – not a capitolistic government. This is government wanting to own everything, and dictate everything. People call this socialism. I’m more inclined to call it communism, but that’s just judgmental old me.
1.) Gun Ownership. So he is just replacing the Assult weapon Gun ban that was in place back in 1994 which, I would like to remind you smart Republicans… The Senate vote on the ban was 95 in favor, 4 against, and 1 abstention. 50/53 (94.3%) Democrats voted for the legislation. 45/47 (95.7%) Republicans voted for the legislation.
Republicans we just as much for it as the Dems back when it was instated. The Gun Ban has a sunset clause that is only effective on assault weapons created after the Ban date.
Finally, I personally don’t care. Keep your assault riffles but we are going to need jet planes (which didn’t exist when the constitution was formed), Tanks (which didn’t exist when the constitution was formed), Satallites (which didn’t exist when the constitution was formed), and Un-manned air-crafts (which didn’t exist when the constitution was formed) if we are to over throw the Military of the United States of America. Iraqis had assault riffles and what good did it do them?
Why are you only complaining about a ban on assault riffles? You should be complaining that you can’t buy tanks, and mortar rounds, Apache helicopters, and F-22 fighter planes.
Give me a break… Assault riffles to over throw the US military. lol. I am proud to say we live in a political state where we can kick the president out (or any public official) if enough people organize without firing one bullet.
By the way, I don’t see what that has to do with socialism…and again, republicans voted 95% in favor for the ban back when it was en-stated.
2. Universal healthcare would be a socialized program much like law enforcement, Fire-department, and Elementary-high school. This does not mean we are now a socialized nation. But I do see your point of view. You believe a price can be put on a human life and believe the market\insurance campanies are doing a great job at it. I don’t know about you but I feel like I am worth a million bucks but, darn it, I don’t have a million dollars to pay.
Do you realize insurance companies are essentially a system of socialization but a “for profit” system. think about it. All of us join and we pay in a fee (tax), so that it will help drive down and share the cost for everyone. The only problem is the Insurance companies are for PROFIT.
You and I disagree on this area… big suprise. I think health care should be no different than education or keeping us safe from crime or fire. But that is my opinion.
3.) I think you forget your history… lets go back to Alexander Hamilton who as Secretary of the Treasury, he established — against the intense opposition of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson — the country’s first national bank. Hamilton justified the creation of this bank, and other increased federal powers, with Congress’s constitutional powers to issue currency, to regulate interstate commerce, and anything else that would be “necessary and proper”.
Jefferson, on the other hand, took a stricter view of the Constitution: parsing the text carefully, he found no specific authorization for a national bank.
This controversy was eventually settled by the Supreme Court of the United States in McCulloch v. Maryland, which in essence adopted Hamilton’s view, granting the federal government broad freedom to select the best means to execute its constitutionally enumerated powers, specifically the doctrine of implied powers. Which is where we are today.
Besides, buying shares into the companies…(40% share holder not 51% share holder) does not make it a national bank. Not to mention when the banks are back on their feet, we can sell the stocks and recover the money we put into them.
4.) Bush supported the bank bailout so did many republicans in the house and senate. The truth is we would be in much worse situation if we allowed 5 huge banks to go under. Now, I think punishment needs to come to the heads and those responsible in the banks for the bad debt… maybe make them work at McDonalds for a few years.
5) Tax… Obama is returning the tax rate to where it was when Reagan was in office. Do some research.
CG – “On Safety and infrastructure, if the government is doing such a great job why is it that infrastructure is crumbling at the hand of government?” This is because your precious STATE Government isn’t taking care of their roads. You forget that we have three tiers of Government. City, State, and National.
Also, anytime government wants to fund fixing the roads… People like you whine bitch and complain about paying for it. then fight tooth and nail against it. If you want to blame someone…look in the mirror.
CG – “Do you realize that education’s origin is this country was started in Churches and that’s where it should have stayed.”
WOW… keep it in churches… that is a scary thought. Which church? Muslim? Budist? Catholic? Babtist?
The first American public school was authorized on January 2, 1643 by the Town of Dedham in the Massachusetts Bay Colony — nearly 150 years before the establishment of the United States.
Separate Roman Catholic and Jewish schools were established in the mid-nineteenth century, first in New York City, and later across the country. This was in response to the overly anti-Catholic and anti-Jewish positions presented by most textbooks used in public schools throughout the nation, in the interest of promoting Protestant views throughout the United States.
My goodness, JD, who wants to overthrow the military of America? And what does that have to do with second amendment rights? You’ve rambled yourself into incoherency.
Previous votes aside, Holder’s reasoning for re-instating the gun ban is because it will possibly help the current violence in …………Mexico??? Maybe you can follow his logic, I can’t – and neither can many other Americans. He also made it abundantly clear this is a first step. It’s the second and third step that scares me. You know, JD, as a parent you should know that when you allow your child to get away with something wrong once, it serves to give them a license to do it again and again. At which time they will throw it in your face that you didn’t punish the first time they did it, so you have no right to punish them on the second and third offense. And they’d be right. Frankly, I think Holder should have been held accountable by obama over his “nation of cowards” statement concerning race. Since he didn’t, Holder seems to think he has a free hand to implement whatever liberal law he would like see come to fruition, and justify with whatever ridiculous reason he wants to give.
Bab’s – “My goodness, JD, who wants to overthrow the military of America? And what does that have to do with second amendment rights?”
Babs, My point was in response to CG saying, “the founders, government officials, wanted to ensure it’s citizens had the right to overturn the government if the government became a tyranny. It was the ultimate check and balance”
She was suggesting the point of the second amendment was for us to have the ability to overthrow the government. i was just pointing out that we are not allowed to buy a lot of weapons like mortar rounds… why they just complaining about assault riffles?
BABS- “Previous votes aside, Holder’s reasoning for re-instating the gun ban is because it will possibly help the current violence in …………Mexico???”
I went back to your article and it said at the “very least” it would help with violence and gun trafficking at the border. Here is the exact quote from the article posted on Youdecidepolitics.com
“I think that will have a positive impact in Mexico, at a minimum.” Holder said at a news conference…
Look, I agree with you, when you talk about the nation of cowards… I don’t think we are a nation afraid of race, in fact, I would say that our children are and live in a more tolerant society than we were when we were there age.
I had a neighbor when I was growing up the would always say N-word this and N-word that. He even pulled me aside to tell me that I should trust my friend because he is black and because he is black that he would probably steal from my family when we weren’t looking. I think I was about 10 or 11. Shocking, but he comes from a different day and age. I think race is an issue that we are all healing from and although we pick at the scab, we are still healing.
Gotcha on the government overthrowal thing now.
I didn’t post the Holder article, but I went back and read it again. I wasn’t really referring to the text in the article as much as all the discussion of his reason that’s everywhere on the net and TV. Even if he didn’t expound on it much in the quote from the article, it was the only reason he gave for taking the action. Absent any other reason, one has to assume he’s using that very poor one as the primary reason.
As far as the N-word goes, I graduated in a class of 40 from high school – two of us were white. I was voted by my classmates in the whos-who (do they do that anymore in school?) as class favorite, most talented, and most likely to succeed. That should tell you I got along well with black people. I tell you this to assure you that I’m not being a racist when I say the hoopla over the N-word is overblown. It’s a common word blacks use when talking to each other, and when I asked a group of my friends one day why they could use it, but I couldn’t, they laughed at me. And said that a “N” was “anyone who acted out of their race”. No kidding. Using their definition, the word is harmless, and could apply to anyone no matter what color they are. But they also said it meant no more than if someone called me “white trash”. So Holder or anyone else who says we need a “dialogue” about race is someone who doesn’t live in reality – on the streets and in the schools. We’ve had that dialogue for decades among small communities. And by the way, I graduated in 1972 in south Alabama, actually in George C. Wallace’s hometown. Weren’t we supposed to be the hotbed of prejudice then? *ROFL*
I personally think the N-word should be dropped by everyone. However, I think the irritation on using it (no matter the definition) is that it does imply something negative. So it is a fine line and one that is ofter mis-understood.
It is like calling your mother a crack whore… even if I was joking, it can be taken in so many offensive ways that it isn’t worth using it.
So again, I think no one should be using it but we are not to that point yet. I think one day down the road this will no longer be an issue.
I will say that I have seen people get in fights over being called white trash (I went to an in “country” high school). By no shape was I in the deep woods of Alabama but country enough.
No one likes being called white trash or N-word whether it is two whites or two blacks. The only time it doesn’t matter is if it is some how excepted as a joke but again it is so fine of a line that it isn’t worth risking.
I agaree, JD. Name calling is for people with limited vocabularies.