Conservative Blog

A new online outlet for conservative political donations and activism

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:02 AM

On July 1st, 2008, a new project will be launching that will help coordinate and advance the conservative cause by encouraging donations and activism. www.LetsGetThisRight.com will be a tool to focus on electing McCain and select other candidates, and also to target specific regions. Also launching will be a Slatecard.com area that will allow you to donate to McCain and any or all of the other candidates featured on the Let’s Get This Right site. These are candidates that have a real chance in November but are not receiving a great deal of party support. The Slatecard address is www.slatecard.com/slatecards/letsgetthisright.

I think this is a great project, particularly for the regional candidates who need our support. You can also attach issue “badges”, like “Drill Here. Pay Less.” badges, to your contributions to allow you to show the issues that are important to you when you contribute. To read more about the importance of sites like this to the conservative movement, go here.

Evil Conservatives to Kill Santa Claus, Polar Bears and Penguins

Written by Paul Zannucci on 1:25 PM

(All of these photos were a part of news stories about the plight of polar bears and included misleading captions about melting ice.)

Watch the telethon for our troops until midnight tonight (6-26-08)

Written by Paul Zannucci on 4:41 PM

McCain: He's Not Just the Lesser of Two Evils

Written by Paul Zannucci on 12:01 PM

There are many compelling reasons to vote for John McCain. Near the top of the list is Barack Obama, but I would argue that the best reason is John McCain, himself--a man of faith and principles, a fiscal and social conservative in the model of Ronald Reagan.

Taxation: Instead of proposing tax increases and allowing some of the Bush tax cuts to expire, as Barack Obama is suggesting, McCain is fully for the Reagan model of economic stimulus--giving the economy more of its own money to invest in itself and grow. Taken from John McCain's campaign website, these are the topic headers about his plans regarding taxation:

• John McCain Will Cut Taxes For Middle Class Families
• John McCain Will Double The Personal Exemption For Dependents
• John McCain Will Keep Tax Rates Low--Entrepreneurs should not be taxed into submission
• John McCain Will Maintain The Current Income And Investment Tax Rates And Fight The Democrats' Plans For A Crippling Tax Increase In 2011
• John McCain Will Make It Harder To Raise Taxes
• John McCain Will Reduce The Federal Corporate Tax Rate To 25 Percent From 35 Percent
• John McCain Will Ban Internet Taxes
• John McCain Will Ban New Cell Phone Taxes
• John McCain Will Establish Permanent Tax Credit Equal To 10 Percent Of Wages Spent On R&D
• John McCain Will Propose An Alternative New And Simpler Tax System – And Give America A Real Choice

If you are a conservative, that should be a pretty exciting list of proposals regarding taxation, and it's a certain sign that John McCain "gets it". Lower taxes spur growth and raise revenue. Why is raising revenue important? Because deficit spending is a main issue driving the value of the dollar down. In case you don't know, we print more money when we deficit spend. In that sense, money becomes just another commodity in the supply and demand formula.


Limited Government: So what does McCain say about government spending?

• John McCain Will Stop Earmarks, Pork-Barrel Spending, And Waste
• John McCain Proposes A One-Year Spending Pause To Evaluate Programs
• John McCain Has The Leadership And Courage To Make The Right Spending Choices
• Eliminate Broken Government Programs
• John McCain Will Reform Social Security
• John McCain Will Act To Control Medicare Growth

If you think McCain is just blowing smoke on these issues, you are wrong. McCain is perhaps the most "anti-spending" member of the Senate and has proposed $0 in earmark and pork spending.

Social Issues: If you're a social conservative and aren't impressed yet, consider this abbreviated laundry list of goals:

• Excellence, Choice, and Competition in American Education
• Securing the Border
• Overturning Roe v. Wade
• Protecting Marriage
• Addressing the Moral Concerns of Advanced Technology
• Protecting Children from Internet Pornography

And, of course, all of this doesn't mention his plans to improve trade, to drill for oil, to improve the security of America, to improve the plight of America's veterans and to have a strong and sensible foreign policy.

The bottom line, my friends, is that McCain is absolutely NOT the lesser of two evils. John McCain is a very good man and a very good leader. He is not the lesser; he is the greater--the greater choice for 2008.

Breaking News

Written by D. Pitney on 8:03 AM

In breaking news today Barack Obama announced he would eliminate the Department of Homeland Security. Sources close to the candidate say that his policies of “meeting and talking” to terrorist leaders will all but eliminate any threat they may have been. The same sources are also quick to admit that they feel no such threat ever existed. This announcement was followed closely by a statement that a new cabinet post would be created, The Department of Greenland Security. Speculation is that Al “No Carbon Footprint” Gore will head this new department following several closed door meetings between the two party leaders. A brief summary of the department’s objectives follows:

By 2012 all clothing will need to be made from organically grown materials and assembled by United States union shops (please note that it will still be illegal to smoke the material)
An immediate cars for bicycles trade will be established
All farms must grow organic corn for ethanol (details are still being worked out on how farmers will be able to plant with out tractors, combines etc. as we all know that mass scale farming “rapes” the planet)
Households will be allowed small organic gardens (you will be only allowed to produce enough food for you own use as we will be pushing forward a law preventing the sale of these goods to friends and neighbors. As further explanation profit from the sales would only lead to a reversal of the good we will be accomplishing)
Power companies will be shutting down after 7 PM each evening (you may have a small wind or water powered generator as long as it creates no noise pollution and the source does not disturb any local wildlife: although we have yet to find any source where this is possible)
Households will be allowed to own a single goat for milk production (cows create too much flatulence leading to global warming). You will of course need to gain the goat’s permission prior to stealing her milk. A separate sub branch will be established to handle goat complaints.
An additional law banning meat from all sources will also be enacted for several reasons. First the health risks. Second the well know and established effects of cow flatulence (we assume the same from other sources). Third the impact of fishing on the world’s oceans.

This list is far from exhaustive as details are just becoming available. We will continue to monitor and notify our readers around this ongoing development.

The Fight is On!

Written by D. Pitney on 5:30 PM

Just give up. The election is over. Crown Obama and move on. I am so sick of the media’s idea that the race is complete. We haven’t even hit the meat and potatoes yet. I just point this out to simply make sure that the good guys don’t start taking this garbage to heart. (As my friend Paul likes to say it makes me want to hurl) Those of us who are vocal need to make sure we do everything we can to excite our base. We need to get them talking about the important issues like energy, national security, conservative justices and taxes. We need to put a damper on this Obama “excitement” that is being driven for free by the media. We don’t get the advantage of “free advertising” that Obama does. The conservative pundits, blogs, etc. do not give their candidates free passes like the “main stream media” does for Obama. So we need to double our efforts to make sure we focus on the key platform items we do agree with. I don’t know about you but I can’t personally afford Obama and his Socialistic agenda. I completely understand that McCain may not have been your first choice but don’t stand by quietly and let Obama win with out a fight. God Bless America

How does that help?

Written by D. Pitney on 7:52 AM

You just have to love liberal thinking. Obama’s plan for high oil prices is to invest $150 billion over ten years in clean fuels (or whatever the current buzzword is). You just have to ask yourself “how does that help?” He is being praised as a saint by the left for this brilliant move. Talk about catering to the extremists. Anyone with half a brain has to realize this will have the exact opposite effect we are looking for. Has he been asked yet how he plans to pay? I would guess he is not volunteering his own money. Let’s think about this for a minute. The government gets money from taxes (that’s us folks). Therefore to pay for this he has to increase taxes. Therefore not only does the price of oil not go down but your taxes go up as well. All I can hope is that enough voters wake up and do the math to keep Obama and his buddies out of office. Thank goodness McCain has started to move in the right direction on this issue. In November we need to make sure we elect some officials who will have enough nerve to stand up to these fringe kooks and get to drilling. God Bless America

News and Notes: 06-25-08

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:26 AM

From NewsMax: Bill Clinton Offers Support to Obama :

Bill Clinton extended an offer to help in a one-sentence statement from spokesman Matt McKenna. "President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States," McKenna said.

Just another example of how passing gas has become newsworthy. In this case, it's actually laughing gas. What a tightrope the Clintons have to be walking these days, knowing that if Obama wins, Hillary can't run in 2012. Yet they have to appear to be helpful and unified with Obama, who is someone who makes them sick to their stomach.

Speaking of gastrointestinal problems and passing gas:
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From the Eagle Times: Local Democrats thrilled with Obama, Clinton visit: Senators coming to Unity on Friday

Yes, a town named Unity. A town in New Hampshire. A town that split the vote, 107 to 107, between the two candidates. And, look away, here they come...

State Rep. Tom Donovan, D-Claremont, said he's "grateful and excited" that the two senators chose to come to Unity."It's really an honor," he said. "As far as I know this will be the first time they've joined hands."

Well that's good. Half of America will be brought to tears by this symbolic, politically expedient, display. This half-wit susceptibility is why Obama, the most ridiculous candidate in generations to run for President, is pulling out to such a Grande (I'm drinking coffee) lead in the polls.
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From LA Times: Obama holds 12-point lead over McCain, poll finds

Buoyed by enthusiasm among Democrats and public concern over the economy, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has taken a sizable lead over Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the opening of the general election campaign for president, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

Yes, concerned about the economy, we've decided we need someone who'll tax it back to health and encourage high gas prices for the good of the planet.
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International Herald Tribune: Life on the fringes of U.S. suburbia becomes untenable with rising gas costs

Suddenly, the economics of American suburban life are under assault as skyrocketing energy prices inflate the costs of reaching, heating and cooling homes on the outer edges of metropolitan areas.

But don't worry. We'll develop alternatives in about 20 years. Meanwhile, we can only hope that demand will continue to fall and burst the gas bubble.
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From Bloomberg: Gasoline Demand Falls 2.7% Amid Record Prices, MasterCard Says

U.S. gasoline demand fell 2.7 percent last week...It was the ninth consecutive week of declines from the year-earlier period.

They make the rather interesting claim that this is because people are cutting back on vacations, even though nine weeks ago we were at the beginning of April. Reality is tough, and the reality is that people who were living paycheck to paycheck can't afford an extra $200 per month for gas. People who can't afford $4 gas are simply out of luck. They are having to find work-arounds.
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From the AP: Rockets fired at Israel from Gaza shake truce

Palestinian militants fired three homemade rockets into southern Israel on Tuesday, threatening to unravel a cease-fire days after it began, and Israel responded by closing vital border crossings into Gaza.

Forth of July is coming and no one will report when my neighbors shoot professionally made rockets into my yard, and this has only been going on for a few years. Trouble in Palestine has been going on since Joshua led Moses' people across the Jordan to conquer Canaan. That's 3200 years for those keeping track at home. Sure, there were some spans there when there was peace, but not that many.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. There is still plenty of time for peace before Iran finishes its nuclear program. Then the only question will be whether the landscape will be too contaminated with radiation to drill for oil.
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Make art, not war:

Great Oxytocin and Liquid Trust Spray Experiment

Written by Paul Zannucci on 10:02 AM

(For those who have come here actually seeking help, please see this post instead: http://conservativeprincipals.blogspot.com/2009/02/final-results-oxytocin-and-liquid-trust.html)

In the best of the shock jock tradition, now moving to the shock blog, I'm going to conduct a test of Liquid Trust Spray (for what that is, see this post). I'm going to order some today. After I get it, I'll spray it on myself and watch a series of Barack Obama ads on the internet. We'll see if I become a Barack Obama fan, at least during the supposed duration of the drug. If so, then I'll spray it on myself again and go visit my father and see if I can convince him to vote for Barack Obama.

If that works, I'll let you know, but it will be my last post, as I'll be heading over to the Univeristy of Tennessee campus to become the leader of my own cult, The Nudist Coed.

(Experiment Update: I have made my purchase:

SKU: 1Item Name: Liquid Trust (2 month supply)Cost: $49.95Shipping: $6.99TOTAL: $56.94Thank you for your order from Vero Labs Llc. We hope we meet or exceed your expectations. If there are any questions or concerns you may have please email us.All the best,Vero Labs, TRUST IS POWER - Lao Tzu, 2500 BC

Please note that I optimistically went for the 2 month supply which provided excellent savings over the 2 week supply (in the sense that I'm getting more nothing for the money). This will give me the ability to test the spray in as many situations as I want and which I can then report on here. If you have any suggestions for ways of testing Liquid Trust, please let me know.)

News and Notes: 6-24-2008

Written by Paul Zannucci on 9:08 AM

There's a chance we may not have to worry about Obama after all. According to this article from TheRegister, CERN declares Large Hadron Collider perfectly safe.

For those who don't know, the Large Hadron Collider, is a particle accelerator that might generate black holes. Of black holes, the LSAG declares: "According to the well-established properties of gravity, described by Einstein’s relativity, it is impossible for microscopic black holes to be produced at the LHC. There are, however, some speculative theories that predict the production of such particles at the LHC. All these theories predict that these particles would disintegrate immediately. Black holes, therefore, would have no time to start accreting matter and to cause macroscopic effects."

In other words, physics still hasn't advanced far enough for them to do the math to prove that black holes won't be generated and grow, but the theories say it won't happen.

In the spirit of Monty Python's Life of Bryan, always look on the bright side of life! If they are wrong and we get sucked into a man-made black hole later this summer, at least the country won't have to endure another step down the primrose path of liberalism.
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Speaking of the apocalypse, we have a story on the anti-Christ, Dobson accuses Obama of `distorting' Bible.

I'll let readers choose which one is the anti-Christ, Dobson or Obama; however, I'd like to point out this comment from the article, "Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.

What a hideous view of Christianity Obama has if he considers Al Sharpton a spokesman for the religion. Personally, I can't stand Dobson, but Sharpton? Geez. He's about as much a spokesman for Christianity as Pee Wee Herman.
__________

Another victim of the gas and economic crunch, In weak economy, forgoing $4 lattes for home brews. Is it just me, or was paying $4 for a latte always stupid--even before the economic downturn?
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Religion continues to unravel. Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way to Heaven. It's no longer about what the religious texts say; it's about what feels right and sounds good.

"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.

Ain't that the truth. And all this theology of convenience is having a toll on faith in general. Even atheists are struggling: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it.

Hmmm. Would it be too misanthropic of me to pull for the black hole thingy?
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Speaking of being misanthropic, there is a cure for me right around the corner: Scientists find childbirth wonder drug that can 'cure' shyness .

As it turns out, the drug, oxytocin, is a sort of real love potion, creating a feeling of attachment for the person taking it, making them like, or love, other people more and thus lifting their shyness, making them more trustful, etc. Count me out. I'll just stay in my cabin writing my manifestos.

But this is especially funny given this product, Liquid Trust Spray, which promotes oxytocin as an aerosol you can use to get others to trust you. Seriously, go look at the site; it's kind of freaky. But as you are filling out the order form and typing in your credit card number, keep in mind that you're actually spraying the stuff on yourself, which means that it will be you, much more than the people around you (if they are impacted at all, which is doubtful) who will suddenly become drunk with love and trust. It will be like having one too many drinks at the bar and thinking that suddenly everyone around you is finding you funny.

On the bright side, there is real science out there being conducted on this drug as a therapy for autism and certain anxiety disorders. Just stay away from the Liquid Trust.

(Ed update: I decided to conduct the Great Oxytocin and Liquid Trust Spray Experiment--purely in the name of science)

New and Notes: 06-23-08

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:58 AM

(sorry I'm late. I was on the phone all morning.)

From AP: Oil rises despite Saudi output pledge

Saudi Arabia said Sunday it would produce more crude oil this year if the market needs it. The kingdom announced a 300,000 barrel per day production increase in May and said before the start of the meeting in Jeddah that it would add another 200,000 barrels per day in July, raising total daily output to 9.7 million barrels.

There you go, the awful truth. Saudi Arabia announces that it's trying to help and pushes production up a measly 200,000 barrels. Please note that their entire production will then be 9.9 million barrels a day and that we could be getting 7.5 million barrels a day for the next 20 years out of ANWR. Yet people say that the amount of oil in ANWR isn't worth the effort. That means they are lying.
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From TheGuardian: Put oil firm chiefs on trial, says leading climate change "scientist"

James Hansen, one of the world's leading climate "scientists", will today call for the chief executives of large fossil fuel companies to be put on trial for high crimes against humanity and nature, accusing them of actively spreading doubt about global warming in the same way that tobacco companies blurred the links between smoking and cancer.

Once again, major media outlets forget to use quotation marks when referring to climate "scientists". Let's make something absolutely clear about science. Science works within a paradigm. Scientists almost always have an end result in mind when they formulate theories and run experiments. These "end results in mind" typically fall under the umbrella of the current scientific paradigm. This is well and good. However, climate science is in its infancy and is really too complex at this point for the normal model to work. You see, the paradigm is too grand right now due to a lack of knowledge. Climate "scientists" can never break the paradigm because there is always just another way of looking at the information. And a new science without a breakable paradigm is not a science at all. It's closer to astrology.

If the hurricanes weren't worse, then they weren't supposed to be. If it's raining a lot this year, then it's supposed to be. If the hole in the ozone layer magically closes, then it was supposed to close. If we have a few years cooler than normal, then we were supposed to. You see, the current state of climate knowledge is so poor that anything that happens can be worked into the climate change, anthropogenic global warming paradigm.

It's bunk, and I don't care if they sue me.
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From the AP: McCain offers $300 million for new auto battery

The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting thinks the government should offer a $300 million prize to the person who can develop an automobile battery that leapfrogs existing technology.

Now we're talking. They had people falling over themselves to win a few million dollars in the x-prize race to space. Perhaps $300 million can, in fact, inspire a new technology; although people in the know who I talk to say it isn't possible under the laws of physics and chemistry to improve battery technology that much. I suppose we'll see.
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Iraq to award oil contracts to foreign firms

Iraq will award contracts to 41 foreign oil firms in a bid to boost production that could give multinationals a potentially lucrative foothold in huge but underdeveloped oil fields, an official said on Sunday...Iraq's crude reserves are estimated at about 115 billion barrels, but it is sorely lacking in infrastructure and the latest technology to which it was denied access under years of international sanctions after the 1991 Gulf War.

Get that? 115 billion barrels? That's 100% of the current U.S. consumption for over 15 years. That's a lot of oil. Sorry Dems, but if the war wasn't about oil, maybe it should have been. Get rid of the bozo, terrorist dictator and let Iraqis restore their economy and get at their natural resources. Sounds like a win-win to me.
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Supreme Court meets Monday morning

No quotes. Just asking for a moment of silent prayer after their last decisions.

How's Life with a Democrat Majority? A Contract ON America

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:14 PM

Ah, it was only a year-and-a-half ago, and yet it was the good old days. Gas prices were up just a bit because of hurricanes, but the Democrats had a plan and a promise. Sweeping into Congress, they had a "Contract on America": The Pelosi Premium.

Gas prices under the Democratic Majority. Hmmm. If this were a temperature chart, the Democrats would say it proved anthropogenic global warming.






Hey, why not pay a little extra over here so we can stop using all that oil that China and India need to grow their economies? Thanks to the boom in China and India, not one whiff of Carbon has been reduced from American efforts. So lets just pay a little extra on everything while they work it out, Kyoto free.








I can only hope that the Democrats don't fail so miserably in their promises this next time around.

Sign the petition. Call your congressman. Kill the "Fairness" Doctrine

Written by Paul Zannucci on 11:33 AM

Site Notes: News and Notes and Google Page Rank

Written by Paul Zannucci on 10:53 AM

I've decided to try to do the "News and Notes" every day (except Sunday) along with my usual posts and to try to incorporate a wider variety of topics when I find something that I like, be it political or otherwise. This will give the handful of readers who find me amusing something to read every morning. The rest of my readers can ignore that and wait for my hyperbolic conservative rants.
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A lot of folks have been, or previously had been, finding my site by typing "Conservative Principles" into Google. Somehow, I have angered the Google gods, however, and I have dropped from a page 1 ranking to a page 18 ranking, and I continue to fall. In fact, if you type my own name into the thing, my primary site (other than American Sentinel, I suppose) comes in somewhere in the middle of page 2.

All this is to say, please bookmark this site if you are one of the many persons who uses Google to find it. I suspect the slide will continue since I don't know what is causing it, and I may even be delisted. This is all fine. I get plenty of readers from elsewhere, but I just wanted to put this out there for those have been coming here via Google.

News and Notes: 6-21-08: Obamatized, Life on Mars, Armageddon Comes Earlier Every Year, Pooh--Secretary of Defense

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:12 AM

Obamatized! A huge leap in the polls. Newsweek is tingly all over.

Michelle's baby's daddy has apparently, but not really, taken a huge lead in the latest Newsweek polls. Never mind that the data is so far away from every other poll out there, which seriously calls into question its accuracy, Newsweek jumps all over it with unadulterated glee.

"With numbers consistently showing rock-bottom approval ratings for President Bush and a large majority of Americans unhappy with the country's direction, the opposing-party candidate should, in the normal course, have attracted more disaffected voters. Now it looks as if Obama is doing just that(!)"

Yes, I added the exclamation point. It just seemed like it needed it.

Gee, I guess it's okay that he went ahead and adapted the Presidential Seal to his own use.
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Scientists ponder whether ice on Mars ever melted

If there were ever liquid water on Mars, that would make it a better environment for life.

"The holy grail is to find water near the surface of Mars," said astrobiologist Mitch Sogin

I just want to point out two things. One, why is there a field called astrobiology? Talk about foresight. We can't even get back to the moon right now, and we have people who major in astrobiology?

Second, I know a planet where the conditions for life are absolutely perfect. Yet, so far as we know, life doesn't continuously and spontaneously develop on Earth. What makes us think that life would have spontaneously developed in a puddle on Mars? Of course, I'm no astrobiologist.
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U.S. "experts": Forecast is more extreme weather

Yes, Armageddon does seem to come earlier every year.

For some reason, MSNBC forgot to put quotation marks around "experts" so I corrected that for them. Probably just an oversight. Anyway, we learn that a group of climate chicken littles from the U.S. Climate Change "Science" Program (they keep forgetting to put the quotation marks around "science"), says that we can just keep expecting worse and worse weather.

"Heat waves and heavy downpours are very likely to further increase in frequency and intensity," the report stated. "Substantial areas of North America are likely to have more frequent droughts of greater severity. Hurricane wind speeds, rainfall intensity and storm surge levels are likely to increase. The strongest cold season storms are likely to become more frequent, with stronger winds and more extreme wave heights."

They came up with this data during a seance, after which the lead channeler of the Earth Spirit had to be helped from the room due to exhaustion.
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Since Obama wants to use Winnie-the-Pooh as an example of how to conduct foreign policy, Photoshop users everywhere have been inspired: http://michellemalkin.com/2008/06/19/the-obamapooh-photoshop-collection/

Top 15 Reasons I’ve Decided to Vote For Barack Obama

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:39 PM

(Editor's Note: this is in response to the I'm Voting Republican Because ad that is running on YouTube)


1) I’m voting Democrat because I’d rather deal with terrorists after they come to America rather than fight them on their own soil.

2) I’m voting Democrat because I believe my property is only mine so long as local governments can’t find a more profitable commercial developer to give it to.

3) I’m voting Democrat because I think that the U.N. and the E.U. should have more say on American policy and how American companies conduct business.

4) I’m voting Democrat because I believe in giving as much of my paycheck as possible to other private citizens in the form of entitlements and pork projects.

5) I’m voting Democrat because I believe in freedom of speech so long as the mainstream media are tilting opinion in my favor; otherwise, I believe in the Fairness Doctrine.

6) I’m voting Democrat because I think terrorists should be dealt with in the judicial system, like embezzlers, rather than like enemy combatants.

7) I’m voting Democrat because I think the solution to education problems is more money—the more the better—because nothing makes you smarter than cash.

8) I’m voting Democrat because I think the problem with elections is that some polling places are insistent on undermining the voice of the people by determining if folks are registered voters, citizens, alive and only voting once.

9) I’m voting Democrat because I believe it’s better to pay $5 for a gallon of gas and have $300 heating bills than to drill for more oil and build new nuclear plants.

10) I’m voting Democrat because I believe the best way to stimulate the economy is to tax it. It’s like tough love.

11) I’m voting Democrat because I believe the best voter is one that can be convinced he’s about to lose something important to him; or one who can be convinced he’s owed something he didn’t earn.

12) I’m voting Democrat because I believe it’s not about what I can do for my country, but what my country can do for me.

13) I’m voting Democrat because I believe the true meaning of liberty is not that all are given equal opportunity but that all are made equal by law.

14) I’m voting Democrat because I believe in negotiating with terrorist states.

15) I’m voting Democrat because I am more outraged by photographs of nude terrorists at Abu Ghraib than I am by videos of planes hitting the twin towers.

McCain Wobbling on the Tightrope

Written by Paul Zannucci on 9:33 AM

News and Notes: 6-20-2008

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:53 AM

From NewScientist: Scrapping 'mpg' could boost sales of greener cars

What they are wanting to go to is a system that shows how many gallons per 100 miles a car uses: "For instance, trading in an SUV that travels 10 miles for every gallon of fuel for another that can go 20 miles, saves 5 gallons on a 100 mile journey. However, trading a small 25-mpg car for a 50-mpg car saves only 2 gallons per 100 miles travelled."

They also suggest that the car seller should try to help you understand the math: "The researchers also think consumers could make more informed choices if...dealerships helped them make the correct calculations."

First of all, dealerships are well known for helping you understand math, are they not? I'm sure they would take a few extra moments away from convincing you that you just made a financial deal Warren Buffet would be amazed by to help you calculate how much your new mini-van was going to cost you at the pump.

Why not just put the cost of fuel per year and month based on the average mileage driven at the current cost of fuel (you could provide a table so that you don't have to change the sticker all the time). For instance, at $4 per gallon, my 12 MPG Jeep costs $4000 per year to run for 12,000 miles, the national average. If, on the other hand, I bought the 29 MPG Escape Hybrid, it would cost me $1655 per year for gas. That would save me $2345 per year, or $195 per month, on gas. If people think about it in those terms, as impacting their monthly budgets, it could actually change buying decisions.
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From CNN: McCain attacks Obama for opting out of public financing

In (an) e-mail, Obama said the public campaign financing system allowed "special interests [to] drown out the voices of the American people" and asked his supporters to "declare our independence from a broken system."

Conveniently, now that Obama has raked in major cash, he sees things a little differently than he did just a few months ago:

QUESTION: “If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?”
OBAMA: “Yes. I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. I introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and am the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) bill to reform the presidential public financing system. In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (r-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.” (Sen. Barack Obama, “Midwest Democracy Network Presidential Candidate Questionnaire: The Responses Of John Edwards And Barack Obama,” Midwest Democracy Network, Released 11/27/07)
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From Yahoo News: Scientists believe Mars lander exposed ice crumbs

"Crumbs of bright material initially photographed in the trench later vanished, meaning they must have been frozen water that vaporized after being exposed, Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, said in a statement."

Good thing they spent a lot of money putting all sorts of sophisticated instruments on that lander. The soil dug out of the trench was found to NOT contain any water. Now if ET can just walk past the camera, we'll know if there's life on Mars.
__________

From International Herald Tribune (NYT): U.S. says exercise by Israel seemed directed at Iran

"Israel carried out a major military exercise earlier this month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities."

There's been no word that I know of from Barack Obama who hasn't ruled out, and in fact seems to prefer, an alliance with Iran.
__________

From CNS: Dems Challenge Bush on Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling

In typical Democrat fashion, they didn't actually address the issue but just spit back a pile of half-truths and liberal rhetoric. President's Bush's call on Wednesday for Congress to lift its 27-year moratorium on offshore drilling is an "example of typical Bush White House politics," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) told Cybercast News Service Thursday.
__________

Dick Morris Says McCain is Winning the Energy War

Written by Paul Zannucci on 10:16 PM

Our favorite Democrat john turned conservative commentator, Dick Morris, has an article at Real Clear Politics extolling the political virtues of John McCain's call for offshore drilling. Pointing out, as I've said over and over, that such a call leaves Democrats in the uncomfortable position of being on the wrong side of the polling on an extremely important issue.

He also points out the fatal mistake by OPEC. By allowing it to come to this, they have doomed themselves. They have no product but oil, and now America is damned and determined to stop buying it from them. Not only that, we're determined to out-produce them and make oil obsolete all at the same time. So where are they going to get their money then? Well, there's always gum Arabic, I suppose, and maybe saffron--and, of course, lunatics. They have lots of those to export.

McCain Scores With Offshore Drilling Proposal

Rant Time: Obama, Democratic Rain Man

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:11 PM

Or maybe that's rainmaker. Anyway, according to reports all over the news today, Mr. Obama has decided to forgo public financing for his campaign and "just" use money raised by his campaign. What this means, besides the fact that he'll be able to outspend McCain by 3 to 1, is that I won't be able to watch television after the conventions, which is when this money will really start to hit. It's not bad enough that this guy has it all going for him--a complicit media and public. Now he gets to flood the world with unprecedented amounts of propaganda, perhaps $500 million worth, during the run-up to the election.

And this isn't counting all the ads from outside organizations like moveon.org. Never before in the history of American politics have we seen what we're about to see. Thank goodness for DVR's. One can only hope that there will be a backlash against it.

By the time the election gets here, anyone with any sense will be rolled up in a fetal position under their desks. Meantime, the majority of Americans will probably be flipping the Obama switch in their local voting booth, a vacant sort of grin on their faces.

Seriously, is there anything more insipid than a Democratic ad? Is there anything that can pack so much stupid dishonesty into 30 seconds? Is there anything that can make your blood pressure shoot to 290 over 180 quicker than watching some collection of "concerned citizens" telling you how worried they are about children and the elderly because of Republican policies?

Get ready. Brace yourself. Practice meditation. Count to ten, or maybe 500 million.

New Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less. Update

Written by Paul Zannucci on 3:12 PM

Thanks to your help and support we just passed one million signatures on the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition.

I’d also like to point you to a couple more exciting developments. We launched this new national television ad last night on Hannity and Colmes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZQPy8an12g .

And Senator Jim DeMint just announced he signed the petition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvrxyGhz3Bs .

Thanks again,

Dan Kotman
Press Secretary
American Solutions

Nuke Here. Nuke Now. Pay Less.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 11:33 AM

Yesterday John McCain continued to lay out an aggressive energy plan by calling for 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030. From the MyWay article we read:

McCain said the 104 nuclear reactors currently operating around the country produce about 20 percent of the nation's annual electricity needs.

"Every year, these reactors alone spare the atmosphere from the equivalent of nearly all auto emissions in America. Yet for all these benefits, we have not broken ground on a single nuclear plant in over thirty years," he said. "And our manufacturing base to even construct these plants is almost gone."

It goes on to say that the longer term goal would be to add an additional 55 reactors.

For reasons only a Democrat could give, this country lags far behind the developed world in nuclear power, despite how clean and efficient nuclear energy is. I'm sure that baby Alex's mother is out there somewhere worried about a core meltdown or what is going to happen with all the waste, but all of these issues are nothing more than liberal talking points. Nuclear, today, is truly a safe option, and while we've heard of poorly stored waste, that, too, is an issue that is easily addressed.

Unfortunately, thanks to liberal stonewalling, even this will take some work, though. Much like we haven't found any new sources of oil or built any new refineries in ages, we haven't taken a serious look at nuclear technology in some time.

"We will need to recover all the knowledge and skills that have been lost over three stagnant decades in a highly technical field," (McCain) conceded.

Thanks, Democrats.

Obama, You Can't Have My Wallet

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:07 AM

(New: See a collection of seven YouTube responses to the baby Alex ad)

Playing off the awful Moveon.org baby Alex ad, we have this nice piece:

Another, and probably the best, choice for John McCain: Sarah Palin.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:32 PM

Advantages:

1) Youth

2) Female--welcome aboard Clinton supporters.

3) Extreme popularity in her own state that would probably translate somewhat nationally.

4) Conservative but moderate positions on some controversial topics. For instance, she is against abortion, but is a member of Feminists For Life, which manages to promote the pro-life position without much of the angry rhetoric that tends to make the battle so tiresome for so many of us. Also, while opposing gay marriage, she also signed a same-sex benefits law and used her first veto on legislation that would have barred the state from granting benefits to gay state employees and their partners.

5) She has many of the same positions on global warming and energy policy as John McCain, though she is a bit more aggressive on the energy side, which should help to warm her constituency up.

6) She is known to be fearless in going after corruption and waste.

7) Most battleground states have women (I just got this from Wikipedia--I don't know if it's actually true).

8) She picked up my endorsement.

Negatives:

She is almost as inexperienced as Barack Obama, but not quite. Republicans are in no danger of losing Alaska. The liberal media will almost certainly attempt to portray her in some sort of demonic, medieval, pre-sufferance light, as they just won't be able to suffer through an attractive female Republican going up against their golden boy Obama. Newsweek has already compared her to Venezuelan socialist dictator Hugo Chavez.

Here is a YouTube ad for Sarah Palin for V.P.

Go here to the Draft Sarah Palin for Vice President blog.

Newt Gingrich endorses Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal for V.P.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:02 AM

Jindal, a young and charismatic newcomer on the national scene, could best be described as an uber-Republican. He might just be the antithesis McCain needs on the ticket to help solidify the conservative base.


Here are just a few of the things Jindal brings to the table that might be of interest to some voters and conservatives:



1) Youth. No need to expand on that.


2) 100% voting record on pro-life.


3) Receive an A rating from Gun Owners of America


4) Favors offshore drilling and tried to eliminate the moratorium against it in 2006.


Jindal is also Indian American, which is one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in America, with a current estimated population of around 2.5 million. There are reasonably large Indian American populations in the following states: California, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Ohio. Of those states, expect NJ, PA, FL, MI, VA and OH to have close votes.


Prior to the endorsement by Gingrich, Jindal has been mentioned by various sources, most notably Rush Limbaugh, as a possible candidate for VP.

The downside to such a nominee would be that Jindal would likely turn off many of the disaffected Clinton voters; yet, I have to still believe that our country is fundamentally conservative and that inspiring the conservative base is much more important than pandering to Democrats.

To see the endorsement, click here.

Desperate to terrorize citizens into voting for them...

Written by Paul Zannucci on 11:48 PM

Democrats shoot their entire list of fables at the world in one ridiculous three-and-a-half minute online ad. I'm voting Republican because "Women just can't be trusted to make decisions about their own bodies"; "We like knowing that even if we're separate, we're still equal"; "I'm voting Republican because companies should not have to clean up environmental damage." The list of Republican atrocities runs non-stop for the entire length of the ad. These are the people we are up against. They are stupid and evil, plain and simple.

MoveOn.Org and Baby Alex: Stupidity Unleashed

Written by Paul Zannucci on 11:34 PM

This has got to be the most ridiculous ad I've ever seen (make that second most--see above). It's so stupid that it would be hard to get mad at it if it weren't for the typical liberal fear mongering that the Democrats use in every election. Playing off the McCain statement that he would stay in Iraq 100 years if necessary, we have a histrionic mother with an infant telling McCain that "You can't have baby Alex". Maybe she better tell that to the Democrats who are the only ones to try to institute a draft lately.

With enemies like these, McCain must be making progress

Written by Paul Zannucci on 1:57 PM

McCain's call for opening up offshore drilling has riled up the usual suspects. So far, the League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club and the Socialist Party's nominee for President, Barack Obama, have all cried out against the measure.

From the Washington Post: "It's disappointing that Senator McCain is clinging to the failed energy policies of the past," said Tiernan Sittenfeld, legislative director for the League of Conservation Voters.

Actually, the failed energy policy that McCain is wanting to end is the one that has prevented offshore drilling for the last twenty-seven years. When this moratorium was first introduced, offshore drilling was a messy thing. Even when there weren't official spills, there were spills, and the fragile ecosystem off the coasts was under constant attack. That was twenty-seven years ago. Not only has the technology improved and become much cleaner, but we can now drill farther out to sea than ever before.

Again from the Washington Post: "John McCain's plan to simply drill our way out of our energy crisis is the same misguided approach backed by President Bush that has failed our families for too long and only serves to benefit the big oil companies," Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan said.

Yet, in fact, President Bush has continued to renew the moratorium on offshore drilling. But apparently this misleading statement, which managed to throw in the Socialist Party's favorite words, "big oil", into the deceitful equation, didn't contain quite enough hyperbole for the man who would be the Party's leader. Obama managed to spit out, "Oil money pays for the bombs going off from Baghdad to Beirut."

There's nothing like liberal dogma for giving me that warm and fuzzy feeling about the Republican candidate. Go, John McCain.

To read the story from the Washington Post, go here: McCain Seeks to End Offshore Drilling Ban

McCain Needs to be Living in the Midwest

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:28 AM

McCain Calling for Lifting of Oil Exploration Moratorium

Written by Paul Zannucci on 6:58 AM

In a move that could potentially ease the burden of gas prices, reduce our dependence upon foreign oil, and ease our transition to renewable, alternate energy sources, John McCain will today announce that he is calling for the lifting of the federal moratorium for states that wish to permit exploration.

This is a have our cake and eat it, too, solution. Unfortunately, it's almost certain to be blocked by the Democrats.

Newt talks on a number of different issues.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 9:36 AM

Energy, the Supreme Court, Unions, Security, John McCain's Running Mate.

Prominent Democrats and Independents Join "Citizens for McCain"

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:58 AM

Continuing to show remarkable support across party lines, we get this press release from the McCain campaign.

For Immediate Release
June 14, 2008 Contact: Press Office
703-650-5550

Prominent Democrats and Independents Join "Citizens for McCain"



ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's campaign today announced a group of prominent Democratic and unaffiliated leaders and activists who have joined "Citizens for McCain," a new grassroots effort headed by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to rally Americans of all political parties to support John McCain's candidacy.

"Citizens for McCain is an organization within the McCain campaign for people who put country before political party and support the presidential candidate who has a proven record of bipartisanship," said Senator Joe Lieberman.

As part of the campaign's continued effort to build on growing support from voters joining "Citizens for McCain," John McCain, along with RNC Victory Chair Carly Fiorina, will participate in a virtual town hall with Democrats and Independents today to discuss John McCain's record of putting country before political party. Many town hall participants are expected to be former supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign. The town hall will be held today Saturday, June 14th at 3:30pm EDT. To participate, the general public should please visit cityhall.johnmccain.com. Members of the media should email press@mccain08hq.com to receive call-in information.

PROMINENT DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS JOIN "CITIZENS FOR MCCAIN"

Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson (Arizona)
Former Arizona State Legislator Phil Hubbard (Arizona)
Mammoth Mayor Craig Williams (Arizona)
Former Arizona LULAC Director Ray Gans (Arizona)
Democratic 25th Precinct Chair Silverio "Silver" Salazar (Colorado)
Adviser to Democratic Presidential Candidates and Georgetown University Professor Robert Lieber (District of Columbia)
Blogger on HillaryClinton.com Renee Slater (Florida)
Former Sheriff of Highlands County Howard Godwin (Florida)
Jewish Outreach Adviser to Senator Hillary Clinton Rabbi Cheryl Jacobs
Georgia Political Director for Gore-Lieberman '00 Joseph O'Farrell Jr. (Georgia)
Former Democratic Des Moines County Chair Bruce Shulte (Illinois)
Former State Representative Brian Golden (Massachusetts)
Commander of Newport Memorial-VFW Post 1119 Francis Harding, Jr. (Maine)
Former Palmyra Budget Committee Member Herb Bates (Maine)
Former Lt. Governor and State Supreme Court Justice Alexander "Sandy" Keith (Minnesota)
Former U.S Representative and 2002 Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tim Penny (Minnesota)
Former State Representative Steve Wenzel (Minnesota)
City Clerk Judi May (Mississippi)
County Supervisor Gary Dearman (Mississippi)
Alderman Bill Mosby (Mississippi)
Former State Representative Jim Gamache (Missouri)
Presiding Commissioner in New Madrid County, Clyde Hawes (Missouri)
Former Concord Mayor Bill Veroneau (New Hampshire)
Former Democratic Mayor of Waterford Township George Fallon (New J ersey)
Former Democratic Committeeman in Warren Township Jeffrey Golkin (New Jersey)
Former State Chair of Environmentalists for Clinton-Gore 1992 Roberta Weisbrod (New York)
Former Majority Leader in the State Senate David Carlin (Rhode Island)
Former Texas Democratic Party Chairman Roy Orr (Texas)
Elected National Delegate for Senator Hillary Clinton Debra Bartoshevich (Wisconsin)
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Frye (West Virginia)

Needless to say....

Written by Paul Zannucci on 2:30 AM

When Iraq's foreign minister meets with a presidential candidate, he picks the one who understands foreign policy and the situation in Iraq. Thanks to the surge, America's goals of a free and democratic state for Iraq, one that doesn't support terrorism, are going to be met. Here, McCain talks about his meetings and how successful the surge, which Obama voted against, has been.

McCain on why the Supreme Court made a lousy decision.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 10:05 PM

Another good reason to see McCain as the sane choice.

First of all, you have recidivism. And these are not drunk drivers. These are terrorists. When you have recidivism amongst terrorists, potentially thousands could die. Already some 30 released prisoners have gone back to their old trade.

Next, you have cost and information security. How much will it cost to bring all these folks to trial in U.S. courts? Besides standard court costs, I doubt that any of them will be calling the family attorney to represent them. We'll have public defenders, at taxpayer expense, filing motions to delay proceedings, to release confidential information, to pay for expert witnesses, etc. Then, just when you think you're about done, the terrorist will demand a new attorney...and get one.

Last, you'll open up an avenue for anyone who is then released to come back and file lawsuits.

Twenty out of the last 28 years we've had conservative presidents, and this is as good as we've managed to get the Supremes. Don't think Obama will squander his opportunity to advance the liberal agenda in the courts.

So How Much Oil is Really Out There? Yes, we can drill ourselves out of it.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 4:40 PM