Government limits for athlete's and movie star's pay?

A new Rasmussen survey shows that 30% of Americans believe the government, yes, the government, should get involved in limiting the pay of athletes and movie stars.

While the pay may be astronomically ridiculous, I believe it's not just ridiculous that anyone would want the government to cap their pay, it's downright scary.

Can these people not see beyond the end of their jealous noses? Does any sane person think that having the government step into any aspect of private industry pay is a good thing?

I suppose that's a silly question. A huge number of people want the government to take back the AIG bonuses. Many want the government to stick their grubby fingers into the pockets of "fat cats" on Wall Street. Loads of people who should be mad at the government are being led by the nose to vent their ire at hardworking people.

I am so frustrated and angry with all those who are buying into Obama-tactics. Don't you think they WANT us to be mad at Wall Street? at AIG? at all those who make more money than we do? Don't you understand that we are playing right into their hands when we succumb to class envy?

The more we hate capitalists, the easier it is for them to further their quasi-socialistic (or fully socialistic) style of government.

While we're distracted with misplaced anger, they're sliding bill after bill through Congress that dramatically changes our country.

We're where we are in this country right now not simply because of "greed" as they'd like us to believe. We are here because the government mucked it up. We are here because many of us have been asleep, lulled by good times into focusing on our daily lives while ignoring what has been happening in Washington, in local government, and to the moral fiber of our country.

Remember the oft-repeated saying about how they came for this group but I wasn't a member of it so I did nothing? We are running out of groups for the government to come after. There is almost nothing left between you and big brother right now.

We all know the government doesn't know how to put out a camp fire without burning down a forest. Every time they start a program or get involved in regulating private industry it turns into a fiasco. No one in their right mind should be able to condone having the government tell any free market agency, any free individual, how much money they should make. Or how they should run their business or life.

I was appalled when I heard the stats from Senator Jim DeMint (video) saying over 50% of the American population was dependent on the government in some form or manner. 20% work for the government, 20% get social security and are on Medicare (or Medicaid, always get those two mixed up), and the remainder are on the dole with Welfare or some other similar program.

It's not surprising given those numbers that so many want more government involvement. But it is so sad. We are fast, fast, fast, becoming a nation made up of people with their hands held out for manna from the almighty government.

We have to find a way to turn this country around now. Maybe it is time for an Ayn Rand style Atlas Shrugged revolt. Maybe all the producers need to pack their bags and move to the hills. Let's all retire, then see who pays the bills for all the moochers.

You know, much as I'd like to do something like that at times, I can't. Call me Dagny Taggart if you'd like, but I'll fight until I'm forced to stop.

30% Say Government Should Limit Pay for Athletes and Movie Stars

While a great deal of public anger is focused at corporate executives these days, Johnny Depp and the Boys of Summer don't fare much better. Thirty percent (30%) of Americans believe the government should make it illegal to pay movie stars and athletes more than $1 million per year.

They're coming for your guns, too

Here's the first bill (HR45) introduced in the House this year that mandates licensing for all firearms owners:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h45ih.txt.pdf

- You will have to carry a photo ID firearms license.
- A training class is required to be licensed.
- Disclosure of your storage method is required for license.
- Makes private sales illegal.
- A thumb print is required for license.
- Every sale recorded by the federal government.
- Provides for inspection of your home (fourth amendment violation)
- If you move, and don't tell the Attorney General within 60 days, you are a criminal.
- If a firearm is stolen and you don't report it, you are a criminal.
- There will be no grandfathered firearms.
- If you do not obtain a license and report every firearm you currently own, you are a criminal.
- There will be a license fee and a fee for the "services" provided at purchase time.
- A release of any mental health records.
- Licenses must be renewed every 5 years.

In doing some light research I see mention of another Bill you may want to review, HR 1022. I haven't looked at it yet.

I've been out wandering around the Internet, here are a couple of interesting links you may want to check out:

http://www.rmgo.org/alerts/2009-HR45.shtml (has petition against)

But will it pass Congress?
Congressman Rush's bill an outrageous destruction of Constitutional Rights, but it's the compromises that are truly dangerous
Though far-left gun-haters routinely sponsor pie-in-the-sky legislation (anyone remember the days of Sen. Moynihan's annual 1000% tax on ammo?), H.R. 45 has set new lows for the depths to which hoplophobes will sink. Is H.R. 45 dangerous? Yes. But is it likely to pass? No.... it's too far-reaching. What is likely to pass, though, is a compromise, a deal cut with the gun-grabbers and the group that ostensibly represents gun owners, the NRA.

http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12117881

http://www.looktruenorth.com/liberty/right-to-keep-and-bear-arms/6769-talk-about-shredding-the-constitution-hr45-the-gun-grabber-bill.html

Keep calling, keep writing! Don't stop fighting!

The stimulus (porkulus) battle is not over yet! We have to continue calling, writing and faxing. I've read that the three turncoats who stabbed their Party and the rest of us in the back didn't have a clue about all the horrific things stuck in the government growth bill. They haven't read it.

Over the next few days Pelosi, Reid and friends are going to try and add as much as they can into the bill. We need to keep the pressure on them.

Although I'm going to call and write, because I'll go down in flames rather than sitting waiting for the bus to roll over me... I don't think the Democrats give a flying flip about any of their constituents now that they, and 3 Republicans, have their stimulus package. Once this stimulus package is fully implemented, they won't need us anymore. Our votes and voices are going to be worthless. Especially if they manage to implement the Fairness Doctrine and the Employee Free Choice Act.

Americans will be on life-support and the government will be the breathing machine.

Preying on the fear of Americans who aren't really paying attention, they've tipped the balance of power and we're no longer just dipping our toe into the socialist pool, we're halfway immersed.

I didn't mean to get on a rant here... I really just meant to post this email from the www.nostimulus.com group... forgive me, I'm heart sick about what is happening to our country. I'm praying we somehow manage to band together to stop the madness.

From Americans for Prosperity:

Just minutes ago in the U.S. Senate we suffered a difficult defeat as the $838 billion senate version of the Pelosi-Reid-Obama spending bill passed with 61 votes. While today's vote is a disappointing setback we cannot afford to be discouraged. Much of this fight still lies ahead in the next few days.

The bill still must to go to conference to work out differences between the House and Senate versions. Speaker Pelosi will fight to add back as much pork as possible, including brand new big government programs not in either the House or Senate version. So, we still have several days (most likely until Friday or Saturday) to keep turning up the pressure on these congressional barons.

At the same time, due to the dedicated work of people like you and the good common sense of our fellow citizens, our movement keeps exploding!

In less than 24 hours yesterday we went from 96,000 petition signers on NoStimlus.com to 204,000 signers! That's incredible and shows the momentum we've got. Simply put: as Americans learn about this bill and hear about our effort, they respond no matter what the pundits in the media say.

You and I both know about the outrageous pork barrel spending in this bill, but there is another element of this legislation that is simply chilling. That is the provision in this legislation for your health care.

Hidden in the dark recesses of this trillion dollar spending bill are the first steps towards government run health care including:

- Government rationing of your health care especially for seniors and the chronically ill
Federal ownership and control of your medical records

- Under the bureaucratic jargon of “Comparative Effectiveness Review” the package earmarks several billion dollars for the first steps towards taking us to a Canadian or, even worse, British health care system that will lower the quality of our health care while trampling individual rights.

Betsy McCaughey points out in a stunning piece on Bloomberg News, just how far the bill goes. Her article is currently featured on Drudge.

We have three to five days to drive home this new message. I know you signed the petition on www.nostimulus.com and for that I'm so thankful.

Many of you have called your senators telling them to vote no because of the pork and waste and debt in this bill. However, the earmarks in this Pelosi/Reid/Obama bill earmarking billions for the "Comparative Effectiveness Review" (meaning government run health care) is new information for most Americans and sadly, even most Senators. So, I'm asking you to go a step further than you've gone and call and email your representatives again to drive home the health care point.

Take a moment to read the McCaughey piece on Bloomberg News by clicking here now or go to Heritage.org for more information. Then, call and email your Senators to tell them this Pelosi/Reid/Obama bill threatens your health care and that's yet another crucial reason to vote NO.

On FOX news yesterday the commentator asked me if this bill could really be defeated. I told him what I know from my own experience: Americans don't give up.

That's why I know you and I are going to keep fighting straight through.

Sincerely,Tim Phillips
President, Americans for Prosperity

P.S. Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi are aggressively pushing to have a final vote by Friday night. They know what we know -- pressure is building against their trillion dollar spending spree because of folks like you. They are watching NoStimulus.com and see that thanks to you we're well over 200,000 petition signers. They're hunkered down in their offices getting the phone calls and emails. They know time is on our side. Let's keep building the pressure to slow down this vote.

And we think they can handle really big money???

We've already watched our government fritter away billions and billions of dollars with nary a dent in this "recession". Now they want us to believe they're going to be able to deal with a trillion or more? Are they nuts? Are we nuts? We need an uprising. We need to take back our government. We gave it away thanks to millions who didn't have a clue who or what they were voting for. Now we need to get off our duffs and take it back. Come on folks, get busy or we're going to lose our country completely.

Don't let them pass this stimulus, scamulus, porkulus bill!!!!!

AIG, Citi deals gave US Treasury least value-report
By David Lawder WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department bank bailout program received the least value from its investments in the most troubled surviving institutions -- American International Group and Citigroup, a new report from a watchdog panel showed on Friday. The Congressional Oversight Panel report said the Treasury overpaid financial institutions by about $78 billion in its capital injections last year through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. It paid $254 billion in 2008 in return for stocks and warrants worth $176 billion under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. This conclusion was first disclosed on Thursday by the panel's chairwoman, Elizabeth Warren, in U.S. Senate testimony. But the new report provided more details on the methodology and it also concluded that the U.S. government received far less value than private investors did in recent major transactions in the financial sector. The report showed that the Treasury got the worst deal on second-round investments in American International Group for $40 billion and Citigroup for $20 billion under special aid programs tailored for the two institutions. For each $100 spent on these two companies. the Treasury received securities worth $41,
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29045660/site/14081545/for/cnbc/

Panel: Bailout Overpaid $78B For Stocks
A government watchdog group says the federal government overpaid for stocks and other assets from financial institutions under its $700 billion rescue program.

Treasury Overpaid for TARP Bank Assets, Report Says
Treasury overpaid for financial-sector assets in TARP, a new report says.

Here's my favorite (bias showing guys???? Bush did it??? Uh huh, he personally wrote those checks. They are right, though, it was his administration...):

Bush overpaid banks in bailout, watchdog says
The Bush administration overpaid tens of billions of dollars for stocks and other assets in its massive bailout last year of Wall Street banks and financial institutions, a new study by a government watchdog says.

- AB

Price, Campbell & Issa on Porkulus

Economic Recovery Act is Wiser Alternative to Massive Spending
Chairman Tom Price (GA-06)
Congressional Democrats have engaged in a full offensive to convince the American people that another massive dose of borrowing and spending is the solution to our economic tribulations. They talk of an economic near-Armageddon without as much as a trillion dollars in new spending. The rhetoric, in point of fact, sounds remarkably similar to the appeals for their last economic solution, the disastrous Troubled Asset Relief Program. (Read more)

An Awful Excuse for a Stimulus Bill
Rep. John Campbell (CA-48)
Last September, we cautiously backed away from the precipice of financial collapse, but we are still a long way from getting our economy growing, flourishing, and functioning properly. Now, more than ever, we need innovative economic policies, not the political gamesmanship already playing out across all areas of government. (Read more)

The $825 Billion Earmark
Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49)
The more we learn about the proposed Pelosi-Obey $825 billion economic stimulus proposal, the more it looks like an $825 billion earmark. Excluded from the package are good government provisions that would prohibit use of economic stimulus funds for lobbying or political activities. Democratic leaders are repeatedly touting the importance of passing their bill, yet are taking the path of least resistance and failing to ensure that the funds actually go towards the stated goal of creating jobs and jumpstarting our economy. (Read more)

What I was trying to say... but said much better!

I just posted a blog about the stimulus package and why it doesn't matter whether we like it or not.... it's going through. This article (tweet link courtesy of @ZanP) outlines very clearly why Mr. Obama and the Dems are so fired up about passing this thing.

The Truth About the Obama Agenda, Part I
By Wayne Allen Root
I have been asked by radio talk show hosts across the country to talk about President Obama’s possible – if not probable — nationalization of the banking system. But there’s more to the story than just banks.

This issue ties in with every aspect of the Obama Socialist Agenda — bailouts, handouts, economic stimulus packages, giving too much power to the Federal Reserve … and let’s not forget tax cuts to people who don’t pay taxes.

The Obama agenda isn’t about saving the American economy. Rather, it is about putting Big Brother in control of our lives. It’s about the Nanny State — big government intrusion into every aspect of our lives in order to “protect” us. It’s about destroying capitalism and tearing down the U.S. economy to build a new economic system based on rewarding the “right kind” of Americans — those who support Obama and his agenda.
http://blog.robertringer.com/2009/01/31/the-truth-about-the-obama-agenda-part-i/

How long can we keep paying?

I saw the numbers flash across the screen the other day re: those filing for unemployment. We're cranking out benefits for first-time claims in excess of 550,000 per week right now! First-time claims for unemployment benefits in the week to December 13 was 554,000, the previous week's revised figure was 575,000 per the Labor Department.

Here's another stark statistic: The jobless rate has risen to 6.7 percent. This is the highest rate since October 1993.

I have no idea how much money is being shelled out to cover those benefits. I know the government keeps extending unemployment benefits. Businesses "fund" unemployment benefits through payroll taxes in part. It's administered through the state with the federal government funding the program when unemployment is high and the states can't cover the costs.

It was intended to be a short-term program to help cover basics while the unemployed individual looked for a new job.

Then we have the bailout. Our politicians are tinkering around with billions and billions of our current and future dollars to bail out select businesses.

According to the New York Times the Treasury has now spent the first $350 billion of the bailout (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/business/20tarp.html).

The states are in trouble and have their hands out. Insurance companies are trying to restructure to meet the bailout requirements. The government just changed the rules of the bailout and opted to throw money at the auto industry. Every time I tune into the news I hear of another business that is laying off people or another business group with their hands out.

I heard on the news that 7% of companies who were matching 401K employee contributions have stopped doing so. Businesses are cutting back. States are considering increasing taxes. Some governments and businesses are going to four-day work-weeks. Companies aren't giving out Christmas bonuses.

I could go on with the doom and gloom, but we're all aware of the state of the economy.

It's almost a vicious cycle, or maybe it's not "almost". I hear the bad news and I decide not to go buy the new car I wanted or to buy some Christmas gifts. I decide not to fly to see my family opting to save the money. You get the idea --- we're all hanging onto our money, just like the banks! The irony is that if we'd go shopping we'd help the economy and maybe stop that vicious cycle.

Sooner or later the government is going to have to shut off the money spigot. There's only so much of our money we can be expected to hand over to take care of companies that made bad decisions. My biggest fear is not that the economy will collapse and that we'll go through another depression, which would be horrible. No, my biggest fear is that Obama, Pelosi and friends will use it as an excuse to move us into a more socialistic society. I fear that more companies will let the government intrude inside their board rooms just to stay afloat. Given my druthers I'd choose bankruptcy and depression over socialism. One is temporary, the other is the ruination of the very foundation that has made America the greatest country in the history of this world.

The future... if we're not vigilant???

This is supposed to be funny, but it's a reality that skims to close to possibilities for many! I hope that the fact that Obama is choosing the same-old-same-old political insiders for his Cabinet means that the change he promised was nothing but the empty rhetoric that we hear from politicians day after day... Then again, he could just be trying to lull us into complacency. Only time will tell what the future holds for us. I know I'm going to fight to keep our country free.



Hat tip to http://www.dixiforlife.blogspot.com/ for finding this video and sharing!

Where's Joe?

I just watched part of a video tribute to Joe which was rather nice. It made me wonder what he was doing now that all the hype has passed. I wonder if he's still going to sue? Anyone out there keeping up with Joe the Plumber? He's a nice lookin' guy, bet he had gobs of women contacting him!

Can you imagine how his life changed? One day he's a regular old guy hanging out with his kids, working and trying to get ahead. One simple question and wham, his life is crazy.

Now it's done, gone, finished and his life might? maybe? possibly? go back to normal?

I know there was a big push to have him run for Congress. He may have had his fill of government. At least he's gone through the fire and won't be like most novice candidates who have no idea how nasty the game will get!

Obama thinks I'm selfish...

Obama is saying (broadly speaking) that anyone who doesn't buy into his tax plan is selfish.

I beg to differ. No, I don't beg, I'm telling you Mr. Obama, you are SO wrong.

I give and I give mightily. I spend a lot of time helping local charities and sit on a number of working (and I mean working) Boards. I work my butt off in my business, too. I CHOOSE who I give to though, I don't need you or any government hack telling me who I need to give my hard earned money to. (and yes, I know you're not supposed to end a sentence in a preposition)

I would bet that my percentage of monetary giving makes yours look like a distant star in the universe, too. I don't earn money when I give like you did as a "community organizer". I give because I care and because I want to make the world a little bit better.

I don't want to give my money to people who won't get off their backsides and do an honest days labor. I don't want to support illegal aliens, deadbeat dads and those who bilk the system.

I want my money to go to those who truly can't help themselves and those who need a leg up so they can get back on track.

Do you really think that by taxing the so-called rich (those making over $120,000 was the last number I heard from your campaign) and giving it to those who haven't earned it that you'll be helping the world?

Here's what's going to happen to the "rich" folks who are supporting your government:

1. They're going to stop giving as much to charity.
2. They're going to increase the price of their products.
3. They're going to lay off workers.
4. They're going to cut benefits if it's allowed in your authoritarian government.
5. They're going to stop handing out bonuses and raises.

I'm not selfish. It's people like you who expect the government to do it all who are selfish. You wouldn't roll up your sleeves and do an honest days work to help someone unless it involved a photo op with the media.

I don't mind working and I believe in giving. I just don't believe in giving the government the right to choose where I give the dollars I work hard to earn. I do believe in paying my fair share of taxes to keep this great country working like it should. However, when you and your buddies in the Senate take my tax dollars and waste them, you're getting too much from me.

Maybe Martha Stewart had it partially right when she said we'd all have to learn to budget so we could give your government more taxes. She just needs to turn the phrase around to say that you and the rest of government need to learn to budget so you don't need as much from taxpayers.

What They're Saying About John McCain Debate

"McCain Has Best Debate Yet In Final Face-Off," With "Aggressive, Assertive" Performance
Time's Mark Halperin: "McCain has best debate yet in final face-off. ... McCain: A- ..." (Mark Halperin, "Enough (!)(?)" TIME's "The Page" Blog, thepage.time.com, 10/15/08)

· Halperin: "During the first half of the debate, showed off the best of himself -- dedicated, sincere, patriotic, cheery, earnest, commanding--all without seeming old or anxious. Even scored some points in the 'change' category, against the candidate who has owned the theme. Clear, upbeat, and totally on message." (Mark Halperin, "Mark Halperin's Grades For The Final Presidential Debate," TIME's "The Page" Blog, thepage.time.com, 10/15/08)

· Halperin: "[I]f a majority of persuadable voters watched the debate, they saw why McCain's advisers have faith in him and still believe he can win this race." (Mark Halperin, "Mark Halperin's Grades For The Final Presidential Debate," TIME's "The Page" Blog, thepage.time.com, 10/15/08)

CNN's John King: "It was by far McCain's best performance of the three debates. ... It was by far McCain's most aggressive, assertive." (CNN, 10/15/08)

The Associated Press' Liz Sidoti: "John McCain Kept Barack Obama On The Defensive ... By That Measure, McCain Won The Last Debate Of The 2008 Campaign." "This time, John McCain kept Barack Obama on the defensive. The feisty Republican tried hard to find a lifeline Wednesday night, challenging his Democratic rival at every turn over his truthfulness, associations and record. By that measure, McCain won the last debate of the 2008 campaign." (Liz Sidoti, "McCain Puts Obama On The Defensive," The Associated Press, 10/15/08)

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell: "I thought John McCain had a very strong night. I thought it was his best debate, clearly." (MSNBC's "Post Debate Analysis," 10/15/08)

Former Clinton White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers: "I thought it was a stronger night for McCain, though, than the last debate, and he got in some licks, like the one that Dan was talking about where he said you know, if you wanted to run against George Bush you should have run four years ago. I think he brought up Joe The Plumber and used that quite effectively for most of the times he brought it up, which was a lot of times. So a stronger performance from McCain." (CBS's "Presidential Debate," 10/15/08)

CNN's Candy Crowley: "I would agree this was not Obama's best debate." (CNN, 10/15/08)

CNN's Gloria Borger: "John McCain finally got to say tonight I am not George W. Bush. ... That was his best line. That's the line he has been waiting to say." (CNN, 10/15/08)

CNN's David Gergen: "I thought that McCain had the best start than he's had in any debate. The first 30 minutes I thought he excelled, I thought he played very well to his base. Obama started to look, I thought, flat." (CNN, 10/15/08)

"McCain Has Done Much Of What He Needed To Do Tonight" "he Was Aggressive. He Was Strong. He Was On Offense."

ABC News' Rick Klein: "My sense is that McCain has done much of what he needed to do tonight..." (Rick Klein, "Live Debate Blog," ABC News' "Live Debate" Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 10/15/08)

· Klein: "The 'long line of McCains' remark a slightly emotional, and probably effective, close." (Rick Klein, "Live Debate Blog," ABC News' "Live Debate" Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 10/15/08)

Fox News' Charles Krauthammer: "I thought McCain was feisty and tough." (Fox News' "On The Record," 10/15/08)

ABC News' Charlie Gibson: "It was interesting -- my only thought, when he said that, first of all, very good line." (ABC News' "Vote 08: The Final Debate," 10/15/08)
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza: "McCain's best line of attack in this debate: Obama talks about bipartisanship but doesn't get it done." (Chris Cillizza, "The Fix Twitters The Final Debate!" The Washington Post's "The Fix" Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 10/15/08)

CNN's Bill Bennett: "Well remember last time I said I didn't think that McCain broke through. I think he did this time. He had a very strong debate." (CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," 10/15/08)

· Bennett: "Here is what I saw in John McCain -- he was aggressive. He was strong. He was on offense. I thought Obama was flat, professorial -- didn't rise to the occasion. ... McCain was just hammering and I think he scored a lot of points. The most interesting thing about it to me -- thematically - was you saw a real contrast between a conservative and a liberal. You saw a consistent, conservative refrain ... and a liberal refrain mantra from Barack Obama." (CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," 10/15/08)

MSNBC's Pat Buchanan: "I think it goes to McCain on the issues..." (Pat Buchanan, "Buchanan And Maddow: Live Debate Commentary," MSNBC's "First Read" Blog, firstread.msnbc.com, 10/15/08)

Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "We certainly saw a different side of John McCain tonight. He came out swinging a little bit more, a little more aggressive." (Fox News' "On The Record," 10/15/08)

Townhall's Amanda Carpenter: "If there is any winner in tonight's debate it's Joe the Plumber and that certainly puts McCain closer to the 'W' column than Barack Obama. By speaking directly to Plumber Joe McCain was able to explain why 'Senator Government,' a welcome Freudian slip, is wrong for the economy during these turbulent economic times." (Amanda Carpenter, "The Wrap Up," Townhall's "Amanda Carpenter" Blog, www.townhall.com, 10/15/08)

· Carpenter: "McCain finally showed he was not afraid to bring up Obama's relationship to the radical William Ayers and hit him for associating so closely with a fraudulent non-profit engaging in rampant voter registration fraud this election." (Amanda Carpenter, "The Wrap Up," Townhall's "Amanda Carpenter" Blog, www.townhall.com, 10/15/08)

Great column by Newt Gingrich (Economy, John McCain, Obama)

Where We Find Ourselves This October: The Bush-Paulson Economy is a Failure; Obama and the Left Would Be Worse; Can McCain Offer a Path to Economic Growth and Prosperity?

America this October is like a patient who has barely avoided a massive heart attack. We have no strategy for recovery, no strategy for economic growth, and no strategy for holding accountable those who have created this mess.

We're also far from out of danger. If we do not create an economic recovery program, we will be facing another bailout next year.

To put it another way: We can mop up water all we want but if we don't fix the leak we will simply have to keep mopping.

Similarly, we can pass a bailout, but if we don't fix the economy we will have more and more bailouts.

America Must Get Back to the Fundamentals to Be Healthy Again

If we don't develop an energy abundance plan, we will continue to send $500 billion or more a year overseas and our economy will continue to weaken.

If we don't focus on making it easier for small business and for entrepreneurial startups, we won't have the new jobs to replace the old ones that are fading away under the pressures of science, technology and the world market.

If we don't get government spending, government regulations, government bureaucracy and government-mandated litigation under control, our economy will continue to weaken and we will be hit with rising inflation.America has to get back to the fundamentals to become healthy again.

The Bush-Paulson Economic Strategy Has Been a Disaster

The Bush-Paulson strategy has been a disaster and has made things more difficult.This spring, the $152 billion stimulus bill was wasted money. It should have been invested in science, technology, energy, infrastructure and pro-jobs, pro-savings tax cuts.

Imagine repealing the business killing Sarbanes-Oxley bill, eliminating the capital gains tax, going to 100 percent annual expensing for small businesses, and other practical steps to create jobs and generate wealth to mop up the bad debts.

Imagine half of the $152 billion invested in clean coal, biofuels, solar power, wind power, nuclear power, natural gas vehicles, hydrogen vehicles and drilling for oil and natural gas. Imagine the other half being invested in the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and in a space-based air traffic control system that would increase capacity in the Northeast by 40 percent. That would have been a long-term investment strategy instead of a wasted stimulus package.

Amazingly, the Housing Bailout Contained $500 Million for Radical, Anti-Free Market Groups

To give you a sense of how failed the current strategy has been, consider this: This summer a $300 billion housing bailout was passed with a $500 million a year payment to a radical, anti-free market group called ACORN and other left-wing organizing groups.

ACORN is a left-wing, political extortion racket. It's currently busy bussing people to vote early in Ohio and elsewhere - these are your tax dollars at work. You get taxed to send a left-wing group money to use to elect left-wing predatory politicians to raise your taxes to give more money to groups who help them get elected, etc.

It was suicidal for a Republican president to sign that housing bailout bill and any bill that contains funding for groups so radically opposed to the values and interests of the vast majority of Americans.

The Paulson Bailout a "Paradigm Shift" Toward Big Government and Big Cronyism

The Paulson bailout was initially bad and made worse by the Congressional Democrats. Then, John McCain and the House Republicans moved the bill from terrible to merely bad.

Still, lobbyists are already lining up to get their piece of the Paulson pie. They see a goldmine of new government regulation and involvement in private industry for them to exploit for their clients. One lobbyist told the Hill newspaper: "This will ripple through every piece of major legislation we are looking at next Congress. This is a paradigm shift."

Too Little Too Late: The SEC Moves Away From Mark-to-Market Accounting

Finally, the Bush Administration resisted for months modifying the mark-to-market accounting system which has been the source of many unnecessary bankruptcies. The need to abandon the mark-to-market rule was the focus of my speech last Tuesday morning at the National Press Club. By Tuesday afternoon, to its credit, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) admitted the mark-to-market rule needed to be revised and announced a substantial change in its application. If the SEC had done this three months ago, it might have avoided $500 billion of the $700 billion in bad debt that Paulson wants to bail out with your money.

But If Bush-Paulson is Bad, Obama-Frank-Dodd-Pelosi-Reid Will Be Worse

Clearly, by any reasonable standard, the Bush-Paulson stewardship of the economy has failed.

But the Barack Obama-Barney Frank-Chris Dodd-Nancy Pelosi-Harry Reid-left-wing policies of big government, high taxes, more litigation, and insider deals for their left-wing special interests will be even worse.

We've heard a lot about predatory lenders in this current economic crisis. They deserve their share of the blame. But it's time to introduce a new term that gets us closer to the real roots of this crisis: Predatory politicians.

Predatory politicians are much more dangerous than predatory lenders. Predatory politicians have the power of the government to coerce you.Government under Obama, Frank, Dodd, Pelosi and Reid will be government by and for predatory politicians. It will make dealing with predatory lenders seems like a walk in the park.

McCain and Palin Should Sound the Call Against Predatory Politicians

The elite media has desperately sought to avoid the guilt of the left for the current crisis. But this is a topic Senator McCain and Governor Palin should spend at least one-third of their time on for the next four weeks. For more information on predatory politicians and their role in the making of the economic crisis, see my paper "Predatory Politicans, Destructive Leftwing Politics and the Roots of the Housing Crisis."

And if McCain and Palin find themselves in need of arguments against the left's all-purpose excuse that a lack of government regulation is all that is behind the economic crisis, they should read this conversation with Warren Buffet. The government had a 200-employee agency whose sole job was to watch over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and yet Fannie and Freddie still managed to bring the economy to its knees.

The Questions Senator Obama Needs to Answer

Senator Obama is intimately tied to corruption, left-wing radicalism, and predatory politicians. But the elite media has done everything it could to avoid asking the key questions. For a list of the questions Senator Obama needs to answer before we can judge his fitness for office, see my paper "Why is Barack Obama Afraid to Answer These Questions?"

Senator McCain and Governor Palin should spend another third of their time asking Obama and the elite media to answer these questions. They could use the same technique that Senator Richard Russell used in 1936 to defeat populist Georgia Governor Gene Talmadge. Russell literally posted a list of questions on the podium in Macon and told the crowd "Don't let him leave until he answers them." It was the psychological turning point of that campaign because Talmadge refused to answer and the people knew it.If everywhere Obama and Biden went for the next 28 days they were faced with these questions they would rapidly lose popular legitimacy.

The McCain Crisis: Danger and Opportunity

Senator McCain now faces the crisis of his career.He is behind.He will not catch up on a state-by-state basis.He will either win the argument in the national media, suddenly growing stronger in many states or he will lose the national debate and gradually decline further in a number of states.

The Danger For McCain

If Senator McCain is not prepared to separate himself from the Bush-Paulson economic program, he has no opportunity to win.The country is deeply fed up with the Bush presidency and angry about the Paulson bailout. If McCain is confused or uncertain about how bad this economic performance is, he will never get the country to listen to him.

The Opportunity for McCain

Just as Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan (as well as the House Republicans in 1994 with the Contract with America) created a large argument which led to a decisive result, so McCain has an opportunity to reach beyond the daily attacks and clever tactics and spend the last 28 days of this campaign making a large argument over America's future.

If McCain is prepared to declare that it is time for a fundamental change away from the failure of Bush-Paulson and away from the leftism of Obama (a "clean rupture" as French President Nicolas Sarkozy described it in breaking with President Jacques Chirac (watch my video on Sarkozy here) or "bold colors with no pale pastels" as Reagan described it in breaking with President Ford in 1976), then he has a huge opportunity on three levels:

First, small business and free markets are better than bureaucrats and socialism. We know this as a matter of American values and polling confirms it. The margin isn't even close; it's about 70 -20 or better. Clinton pollster Doug Schoen and Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway recently did a survey for American Solutions which proves the American people hold the government responsible for much of our current economic pain. On other key issues like energy and taxes, the Platform of the American People proves that McCain could build a big majority.

Second, the vast majority of the American people are deeply fed up with the corruption, dishonesty, and arrogance of Washington and of many of their state capitals. A candidate with the courage to tell the truth about Franklin Raines, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, the Carter and Clinton-era pressures for bad loans, the ACORN pressure for bad loans (trained in Chicago by Barack Obama in his community organizer days) would have an enormous response from a country which is sick of predatory politicians, arrogant bureaucrats, and elitist reporters.In short, the elites would be enraged but the American people would be enthusiastic.

Third, there are huge groups of Americans eager to have someone address their concerns and offer them hope. Millions of small business owners would like a program that cut spending in Washington and taxes on their businesses and reduced regulations and red tape.

Millions of drivers would like an energy program that offered them hope. They believe in drilling here and drilling now.

Every person who uses electricity is eager for a determined effort to develop clean coal.Millions of retirees or soon to be retirees would like a program that would strengthen the economy and increase the value of their investments.

Entrepreneurs and venture capitalists would fight for a program that abolished Sarbanes-Oxley, eliminated the capital gains tax, and expanded H-1B visas for talented workers.A bold program of the right changes would rally a massive number of activists and donors to fight for a better future.

"Action This Day"

That was the slogan Winston Churchill used to focus and energize the British Government when he became prime minister in the darkest days of World War II. If Senator McCain is prepared to be as bold as Winston Churchill and as aggressive as Theodore Roosevelt, this is an election that can be won and might be won by a shocking margin (like Harry Truman in 1948).

The choice is his. As for myself, I know of no other path that will work.

Your friend,
Newt Gingrich

P.S. -- Thanks to the determined effort of Americans like you, October marks the first month in a quarter-century when it is legal to explore for energy offshore. This is a huge victory, but many among the anti-energy left have already said they will do everything they can to stop it. You can arm yourselves with the facts about America's energy potential with my new book, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less (also available in audio) as well as Callista and my new DVD, co-produced by Citizen's United, called We Have the Power. You can also watch this video about the "Drill Here, Drill Now" efforts at American Solutions over the summer to have the Congress act to lower gas and diesel prices.

Platform of the American People Update

American Solutions Chief Advocate, Princella Smith will address a crowd of 200 at the Golden Triangle Republican Women's luncheon in Beaumont, TX this week. Energy, tri-partisanship, and the economy will be the focal points while attendees will be receive free Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less bumper stickers and engage in Q & A about American Solutions.

American Solutions had a great presence on the air this week including this appearance on Neil Cavuto by Princella Smith.

Stay tuned to AmericanSolutions.com and visit our blog for updates from the American Solutions team.

HAVE YOU SIGNED? Join the Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less Campaign, and get involved with the entire movement for the Platform of the American People! Contact: Princella Smith at info@americansolutions.com

John McCain's Weekly Radio Address

DOWNLOAD THE AUDIO FILE HERE: http://www.johnmccain.com/Downloads/100308_wra.mp3

Good morning, this is John McCain. And this week our government finally took a decisive step to regain confidence in our financial markets. It took Congress a while, but a majority finally awakened to the danger. And by the week's end, with the unity that this crisis demands, Congress acted to restore stability to the American economy.

On Thursday night, millions of Americans got to see a little more of why I chose Sarah Palin to be my running mate. In her debate with Senator Joe Biden, she showed the intelligence, heart and grace under pressure that our nation's capital desperately needs. I couldn't be prouder of my choice, or more certain that she's the right person to help me shake things up in Washington. And there were moments when I almost felt a little sorry for my old friend, Joe.

Pressure and crisis often have a way of revealing the best within us -- of showing what we are made of, and how much we can achieve when we are put to the test. This is true of the grave challenges we face in Washington today. Yet it should not require extreme emergencies to bring out the best in us, or to bring us together in service to the common good. We are supposed to do that even in the calmest of times. And if we worked together more often in that spirit, perhaps there would be fewer crises, close-calls, and near-disasters confronting our nation.

Our government is on the wrong track, our economy is struggling, and we got even more bad news with yesterday's unemployment report. It is a time for leadership and a plan to create jobs and get our country on the right track.

I believe in low taxes; spending discipline, and open markets. I believe in rewarding hard work and letting people keep the fruits of their labor. We will keep tax rates low. We will simplify the current tax code. We will double the child exemption from 3500 dollars to 7000 dollars. We will give every family a 5000 dollar tax credit to buy their own health insurance or keep their current plan, and we will open up the national health-care market to expand choices and improve quality. And my administration will reduce the price of food by eliminating the subsidies for ethanol and agricultural goods. These subsidies inflate the price of food, not only for Americans but for people in poverty across the world, and I intend to abolish them.

I believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of Americans, so they can create more jobs and keep our economy growing. So we will cut business taxes from 35 percent to 25 percent, to give American businesses a new edge in competition. We will spur new investment through R&D tax credits and expensing of equipment. And we will protect the right of workers to decide for themselves, by secret ballot, whether to unionize.

As president, I will also set this country on the straightest, swiftest path to energy independence. We will attack the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore, and we'll drill them now. We will build more nuclear power plants. We will develop clean coal technology. We will increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. In all of this, and more, we will create millions of new jobs, many in industries that will be the engine of our future prosperity -- jobs that will be there when your children enter the workforce.

If I am elected president, I will also act immediately with reforms to restore fairness, integrity, and financial sanity to the institutions that have failed us on Wall Street. We will apply new rules to Wall Street, to end the frenzies of speculation by people gaming the system, and to make sure that this present crisis is never repeated.

We must also realize that this rescue plan has serious implications for future spending. We cannot dedicate more than a trillion dollars to rescue failing institutions, and then go right back to business as usual in Washington -- as if there were no end to the resources of government or to the patience of taxpayers. Therefore, as president, I will impose a one-year spending freeze on every agency of the federal government, excepting only national defense, the care of our veterans, and a few critical priorities. Leadership requires candor. And I will tell you bluntly that America is already ten trillion dollars in debt, and to make our economy strong again we must reduce the burden of federal spending. We cannot tax our way to prosperity. I am committed to billions in spending reductions that will balance the budget, and get us on the path away from ruinous debt.

The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems in Washington isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.

Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as president. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it.

Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn't think of them first, let's use the best ideas from both sides. This great country can do anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and Independents to serve with me. And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability. We're going to finally start getting things done for the people who are counting on us, and I won't care who gets the credit.

Thanks for listening.

The economy problems were caused by George Bush... and John McCain

Sure.

I can't believe anyone is dumb enough to believe that.

But they are.

I was just listening to a reporter who's embedded with Barack Obama's campaign share that PRIVATELY the Obama people admit that George Bush and the Republicans didn't cause the problem, that it is a non-political issue, non-party issue. But still they play the blame game so they can dupe the dummies who haven't got a clue how things work and who're looking for a Messiah to save their bacon.

I get so tired of politics sometimes. I'd say it would be really refreshing to have someone just tell it like it is, but they'd never get past first base so we'd never know they were doing so. I know in local politics around my county a politician who speaks straight doesn't last long! People want to have someone to blame and they want someone to tell them it's going to be OK.

Sarah Palin and John McCain are about the two best I've seen yet when it comes to 'straight talk' as McCain tags his way of shooting from the hip. Sarah Palin has gotten where she is partially because she is a straight shooter (in more ways than one!). However, I'm noticing that the handlers are starting to have an affect on her. I hope she'll continue to stick to her guns and not let those guys ruin her. What is SO refreshing about Palin is her lack of Washington, her freshness and honesty. Well, there's a lot of things that are refreshing about Sarah!

Heard today Obama is going to stop trashing so much and start offering solutions. Bet they'll involved MORE government, MORE big brother. I think one of the reasons we have this problem is the government stuck their hands into business and the free market a bit more than they should. From what I understand, those crappy mortgages happened in large part due to the government breathing down their necks about not giving enough low-income loans. I said 'partially' because that's not the only reason. Human nature abhors the potential to ignore easy money, thus greed factored into the equation, too.

Who knows what the right balance between government regulations and free market should be? To me it's clear Obama goes way over the top and if he had his way he'd turn this country into a Socialist one if possible. The Libertarians may have the right idea, but they go a bit too far in a different direction. Not saying the Republicans are always right, but I can live with self-responsibility and less government a whole lot easier than the Democratic version of government and censorship.