The Daily Cooper

When Obama Speaks …

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:25:12 +0000

Listen carefully, very carefully from now on when President Obama speaks. Listen not only to what he says; listen to what he doesn’t say. Here are some key examples:

1. Obama says that Universal Health Care must be passed and passed very quickly to reduce the cost of health care.

a.   Obama “doesn’t say” what he actually means by reducing the cost of health care, how this will be accomplished, what health care will mean to you, the individual. As all common sense people know, everything has a cost either in dollars or in product or service. Obama doesn’t say” that health care will be rationed to save money; in other words you won’t receive health care the same way that you used to receive health care. He “doesn’t say or explain” that statistical analysis will be used to justify the denial of health care primarily based on age and probability of recovery.
b.   He “doesn’t say” or explain how spending 2 trillion on health care by borrowing from foreign countries actually generates a savings.
c.   He “doesn’t say” that all of this spending will NOT result in everyone being covered anyway … because it’s not enough money.
d.   He “doesn’t say” that you will give up your freedoms; freedom to choose your physician, to choose your hospital, to choose when you will get your care.
e.   He “doesn’t say” that up to 35% of the 46 million uninsured DON’T WANT IT; these are mostly young people who have done the math and decide that it isn’t worth it based on their age … not because they can’t afford it.
f.   He “doesn’t say” that 25-30% of the 46 million are illegal aliens and, at the least, should pay for the health care they receive without any subsidy from legal aliens and citizens as a simple matter of right and wrong.

2. Obama says he doesn’t wish to “meddle” with the internal situation in Iran or other countries.

a. Obama “doesn’t say” that he doesn’t wish to meddle with Israel. On the contrary, he creates a moral equivalency between the building or expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the fact that Israel has no partner in any serious peace negotiation because there is no Palestinian representative willing to recognize the State of Israel or even admit to any sense of legitimacy.

3. Obama says that we have to get back to fiscal responsibility and a “pay as you go” system.

a.   Obama “doesn’t say” that this is quite a statement since he just spent 10+ times more than any other modern day President in just the first 100 days of his administration and how that can make any sense at all.
b.   He “doesn’t say” that all Americans, rich, middle class and poor, will pay huge new taxes on virtually everything we pay for.
c.   He “doesn’t say” that under active consideration is a VAT (Value Added Tax) or National Sales Tax that we will all pay in addition to everything else. He further “doesn’t say” that the so-called tax cut on 95% of Americans is ultimately a ruse to help mask the real agenda of huge, unprecedented spending, taxation, regulation and huge infringements on our liberty we all face dead ahead.

4. Obama says that he has saved over 100,000 jobs so far and projects 600,000 saved jobs in the next 90 days.

a.   Obama “doesn’t say” that he has no idea how he can say this because there is no known metric for measuring “saved jobs.”
b.   He “doesn’t say” that we have lost an additional 2+ million jobs since inauguration day.
c.   He “doesn’t say” that the unemployment rate is now more than 1 percentage point higher than he said it would go.

5. Obama says that he doesn’t want to be in the auto business or the banking business or the insurance business.

a.   Obama “doesn’t say” that he is in the auto business and could have avoided it completely by letting the natural course of capitalism, the bankruptcy laws and the free markets deal with it as it has always done so well and efficiently.
b.   He “doesn’t say” that he did it to protect the labor unions for the votes and to shoot the finger to the capitalists that invested in the bonds of the auto companies.
c.   He “doesn’t say” that the he didn’t readily accept repayment of the TARP from the likes of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley because he doesn’t want to relinquish control and authority over executive pay.
d.   He “doesn’t say” that he has no interest in returning AIG back into the free market instead opting to maintain control of the largest insurer in the world affecting financial relationships across the country and around the world.

6. Obama says that he wants to make sure that all stimulus money is well spent and accounted for and that “no one messes with Joe” referring to Joe Biden who was put in charge of making sure of all of this.

a. Obama “doesn’t say” that the stimulus isn’t really about stimulus anyway. It’s mainly a political document that serves to reward all those constituents, mainly the labor unions that supported him and the Democrat Party.
b. He “doesn’t say” that the stimulus hasn’t resulted in 1 provable new job, at least in the private sector.

So, when President Obama speaks … LISTEN … but not just to what he says or how he says it … LISTEN to what he doesn’t say. The real truth about what drives this President and his policies can be found just by careful listening.

Arthur Cooper

Sotomayor and Obama

admin — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:21:28 +0000

“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”
- Supreme Court Nominee, Sonya Sotomayor

This statement on its face should cause all American’s grave concern. Just change one word … replace the word “Latina” with “White” and the word “white” with the word “Latina” and the main stream media would completely eviscerate the nominee charging racism, lack of sensitivity, poor judgment and surely much worse.

In a 2005 panel discussion at Duke University, Sotomayor told students that the Federal Court of Appeals is where “policy is made.” She said:

“Court of Appeals is where policy is made. And I know, and I know, that this is on tape, and I should never say that. Because we don’t ‘make law,’ I know. [Audience laughter] Okay, I know. I know. I’m not promoting it, and I’m not advocating it. I’m, you know. [Audience laughter] Having said that, the Court of Appeals is where, before the Supreme Court makes the final decision, the law is percolating. Its interpretation, its application.”

As a judicial activist, she jokingly admits “making policy” from the bench. I ask what about separation of powers, The Constitution of the United States and limited government. The Supreme Court and the Justice System is charged with applying and interpreting the law, not making the law. It makes me feel, as a citizen, pretty sour to hear this level of cynicism or sarcasm when referring to the role of the courts, particularly where it is diametrically opposed to the Constitution.

On Face the Nation, this morning, Senator Dianne Feinstein said that there is only one word that is wrong with the first quote; the word is “better” … and she says she feels like she knows what she meant and then goes on to not actually say what she felt she meant. I don’t know what she meant? I can only read or listen to what she actually says in the context of what she says. Feinstein then goes on to pontificate about what a great story she has referring to her life, her environment, accomplishments and career. While I am sure that the life of Sotomayor is a great and compelling story, it has little to do with choosing the very best Supreme Court Justice available; Latina, White, Black, Jew, Gentile, Atheist, Man or Woman. There are many great and compelling life stories. These factors should have nothing to do with the choice simply because all have a great life story with long and distinguished careers.

Sotomayor will surely be confirmed. Democrats will rubber stamp President Obama’s choice and not take on their Constitutional responsibility to “Advise and Consent.”
If Judge Roberts was confirmed who said the Supreme Court should be a neutral umpire, then how can we not have serious, sober debate about statements that are complete contradictions to Constitutional Law and the words of existing confirmed Justices. This is not to say that there cannot be differences between Justices; however, we are talking here of basic elements of the Constitution that cannot / should not be debated appropriately, unless, we were to call for a new Constitutional Convention.

Possibly more importantly, what does this nomination say about President Obama? President Obama used the word “empathy” or being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes as an important consideration in his choice. There is no elaboration from Obama. But when Sotomayor said in her writings that she felt in most cases people cannot be expected to rule out their background in judging cases, you cannot ignore linkage from President Obama’s statement on empathy in his choice.

In Obama’s weekly radio address, he warned against a long confirmation battle and urged consideration of her qualifications, background, etc and not prolong Senate approval. However, Senator Obama led the filibuster attempts against the nomination of Judge Alito who clearly had the background, qualifications et al. Senator Obama argued against the idea of just rubber stamping the President’s choice just based on intellect and “whether or not he is nice to his wife.” So we have the latest example of double standards, cheap politics, and hypocrisy coming from Washington. Change you can believe in … yeah, sure.

It is chilling to this writer how radical this President has proven to be.

So, what do you think of this nomination and what do you think this says about President Obama? Your comments are welcome … always.

Arthur Cooper

President Obama “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:24:33 +0000

In a speech at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills last night, President Obama emphatically affirmed his policies and approach telling the friendly and exuberant audience that we have stepped back from the brink referring to the economy. Seeming to believe that the news is better, Obama rallied the crowd by saying “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

So, Obama is starting to claim some measure of success. He says that things are calmer now. The only thing that is calmer is the main stream media because they don’t have a heart attack anymore over every poor economic number because they can’t continue blaming Bush for it. How can Obama claim success? Consider:

- - - - - Unemployment Rate is at a 25 year high
        - More Americans are collecting unemployment than ever.
        - One out 7 mortgages in foreclosure.
        - Thousands of Auto Dealerships being shut down.
        - The Dollar is dropping (losing value) due to the skyrocketing increase of the money supply courtesy of the Bush-Obama “Bail Out Nation,”

Now, I ask:

1.   Where are the shovel-ready jobs?
2.   Where and how is the $800 billion stimulus being spent?
3.   Where is the $1 Trillion in supplemental spending being used to benefit America?
4.   What evidence is there that a single job has been created as a result of the stimulus bill?

When President Obama says “you ain’t seen nothing yet” it doesn’t give much hope for conservatives that we will be getting “limited government” as is prescribed in the US Constitution anytime soon. It is just chilling to think what he does have in store for America. We already know that he is pushing forward at breakneck speed on Universal Healthcare, Cap and Trade and Saving the Planet. What else is in store for America?

However, I suggest that Obama hasn’t seen anything yet. His policies will prove to be a disaster simply on the basis of a few simple indisputable facts:

1. Increasing Taxes has never actually improved the economy. When the average American sees virtually everything they buy or do go shooting higher in price, Obama will and must pay a heavy political price.

2.   Massive Spending Increases - regardless of the purpose or the intent, massive government spending, using solely borrowed money, robs the private economy of needed capital and crowds out private industry.
3.   Nationalization of major sections of our economy; the government now controls major chunks of the banking industry and automobile industry … soon the government will seek to finalize a plan that essentially boasts “Medicare for Everyone.” There is no history that shows government control of anything, with the exception of our national defense, has proven to be an unmitigated failure.
4.   Obama claimed transparency in all areas of government, yet, there is no transparency and there is no “seat at the table” as was advertised. Someone, probably not the mainstream media, will point this out and will get through to mainstream America.
And where are the Republicans? Nowhere! Where are the true conservatives who can propose and effectively communicate supply-side economics, economic and tax policy that is based on incentives and not on entitlement? Where are the true constitutionalists that limit the power and control of government in subservience to the individual?

These are indeed difficult times. The inevitable response (and it is inevitable), will come from the grass roots. We have seen the tea parties. We need to see more. They need to be larger and louder. We need to demand better. We need to truly recognize what the Constitution stands for and it is ultimately up to the individual to reassert individual rights and responsibilities. It is up to the individual to reassert himself and reverse the growth in government control of our lives.

So, tell me what you think. What does the Constitution mean to you? What do Obama’s policies mean to you? Let’s air this stuff out. It’s important!

Arthur Cooper

Obama and Columbo

admin — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:36:53 +0000

Readers, this is not an original post. A colleague of mine shared it with me and I wanted you to comment and create a discussion. Simply, is there any real truth to the assertions made in this parody of Detective Columbo. They seem absolutely incredible to me but I frankly have no idea.

Ah . . Sorry to bother you Mr. Obama, Sir. .

Excuse me Mr. Obama, I mean President Obama, Sir. Um . . I know you’re busy, and important and stuff. I mean running the county is very important and — ah — I hate to bother you Sir. I will only take a minute. Ok Sir?
See, I have these missing pieces that are holding me up, and I was wondering Sir, if you could take time out of your busy schedule and help me out. You know, no big deal, just some loose ends and things.
Hey, you have a nice place here! The wife sees houses like this on TV all the time and says boy she wishes she had digs like this you know? Is that painting real? Really? Wow. I saw something like that in a museum once!
Oh, sorry Sir. I didn’t mean to get off the track. So if you could just help me out a minute and give me some details, I will get right out of your way. I want to close this case and maybe take the wife to Coney Island or something. Ever been to Coney Island Sir? No? I didn’t think so…
Well, listen, anyway, I can’t seem to get some information I need to wrap this up. These things seem to either be “Not released” or “Not available.” I’m sure it’s just an oversight or glitch or something, so if you could you tell me where these things are — I — I have them written down here somewhere — oh wait. Sorry about the smears. It was raining out. I’ll just read it to you.
Could you please help me find these things Sir?
1. Occidental College records — Not released
2. Columbia College records — Not released
3. Columbia Thesis paper — “Not available”
4. Harvard College records — Not released
5. Selective Service Registration – Not released
6. Medical records — Not released
7. Illinois State Senate schedule — Not available
8. Your Illinois State Senate records — Not available
9. Law practice client list — Not released
10. Certified Copy of original Birth certificate – Not released
11. Embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth — Not released
12. Record of your baptism — Not available

Oh and one more thing Mr. President, I can’t seem to find any articles you published as editor of theHarvard Law Review, or as a Professor at the University of Chicago. Can you explain that to me Sir?

Oh but, hey — listen! I know you’re busy! If this is too much for you right now — I mean — tell you what. I’ll come back tomorrow. Give you some time to get these things together, You know? I mean, I know you’re busy. I’ll just let myself out. I’ll be back tomorrow. And the day after. . .
What’s that Mr. President? Who wants to know these things?
We the People of the United States of America! You know, the ones that vote.

So, what do you think? Is this just extreme, off the wall junk or are there real questions here that the traditional media is ignoring or just sweeping under the rug. I am in search of intelligent responses that really can shed real light here.
Thanks

Arthur Cooper

The Obama Card

admin — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:34:09 +0000

All of us that use our credit cards responsibly and reasonably are going to get our just due; we will be punished. Let’s get used to it. Out of control government has done it again … they are changing the rules and regulations on credit card companies in the name of protecting the public. Sure, it all sounds good. They are requiring better communication to consumers and that is always a good thing.

Here is the good stuff:

1.   Credit Card Companies can no longer retroactively increase rates on card holders UNLESS you are 60 days late on your payments.
2.   Teaser Rates must have duration of at least 1 year.
3.   Promotional rates must last at least 6 months.
4.   Payments for accounts with multiple categories (credit, cash advance, etc) will be automatically applied to the account with the highest percentage rate.
5.   Late Fees cannot be assessed unless the card holder gets the bill at least 3 weeks before the due date.
6.   No over-limit fees unless you agree to it before hand. In other words, when you charge something that takes you over your limit, the charge will likely be denied, unless you have previously agreed to be charged a fee for that privilege.
7.   Minors (under 21) will need parental consent for credit card issuance.

Here is what is wrong:

1.   The credit card companies will respond to these imposed changes to counterbalance their reduced ability to protect their profit margins which allow them to employ their people and otherwise run their businesses.
2.   Interest Rates and fees will be increased as part of the counterbalance
3.   Credit cards will be revoked for those that cannot be carried by the credit card companies due to the rules.
4.   Credit limits will be imposed that will certainly include reduced credit limits.
5.   Credit cards will be less available especially for those with less than perfect credit scores.
6.   Credit will be less available.
7.   Bad for the individual and bad for the economy.

The Perspective

Remember to run away fast the next time government comes and tells you that they are here to help. I have little doubt that those in government have better intentions. However, few of them have ever run a business and / or understand how business or even capitalism even works. In other words they just don’t know what they are doing.

Don’t forget what President Obama said he wants to do; specifically he said that he wants to get the flow of credit moving again. Now reread and think about the above consequences of the actions. I don’t think President Obama is lying. I do think that he doesn’t understand or possibly believe in free market capitalism. This is not the first or the last time this administration and this Congress will enact anti-capitalistic, anti-competitive measures in the false notion that they are protecting the public.

Government this year has acted to:

1.   Protect those facing foreclosure at the expense of those who pay their mortgages on time.
2.   Protect those with poor credit at the expense of those with good or excellent credit.
3.   Protect failing banks at the expense of well run banks.
4.   Protect failing auto manufacturers at the expense of performing manufacturers and all consumers.
5.   Make payments to those who never paid income taxes at the expense of those who pay income taxes.

These poor policies are grounded in the belief that capitalism is the problem. However it is government that is the problem. Capitalism is a natural process. It involves risk, safety, fear and greed; all very human, very natural factors. Over the generations, there is a natural swing between fear and greed, risk and safety. Capitalism is a self-correcting process where fear is responded to by risk takers and greed is responded to by those who seek safety. It’s a dynamic process that involves ebbs and flows, excesses and shortages; it is the natural process.

Government, in the name of help and protection for the common man, consistently gets it wrong by trying to control the individual and businesses (collections of individuals) because they know better how their citizens should behave and what they really need. But what they don’t understand is that their attempts to control tend to distort the natural ebbs and flows of free market capitalism only to create new and often more challenging “unintended” issues.

Individuals need their natural rights and they need to act to reassert their natural rights in the face of an increasingly controlling government.

The credit card legislation is just another example of government losing its compass and its focus as opposed to what it really should be doing as stated in the Constitution.

Oh, one piece of good news. This won’t take effect until 2010.

What do you think? Should Government be more active or less active? Should individuals be more active or less active? Whose rights are being affected and how? Comment on this. Let’s have a discussion.
Arthur Cooper

Hurray for California – It’s not about Democrats vs. Republicans

admin — Sat, 23 May 2009 19:02:57 +0000

On Tuesday, California voters sent a resounding and complete rejection of new and confiscatory taxes on a whole range of Propositions. Too bad all states couldn’t do the same thing through this process of voting on specific proposed increases in spending and taxes. California has been a very “blue” state voting for liberal and democratic politicians, particularly over the past 15 years. Tax increases on income, sales, property, etc were all defeated on Tuesday. These were not squeaker votes; they were all landslides with 60%+ plurality. So Hurray for California, hurray for limited government and hurray for the individual … FINALLY!

California has sent the strongest message yet that REAL PEOPLE, though they may still like the style of President Obama, when it comes down to our daily lives and the reality of bigger government, controlling government, the country is really CONSERVATIVE on the ground.

Have no doubt about this: Obama, Reid, Pelosi and their ideology will be proven to be wrong, dangerous and detrimental to the country. Many who voted for Obama thought he was bringing to us a new day of change. However, it will become clearer and clearer, as the facts on the ground become evident, that raising taxes whether it is through income taxes, cap and trade, nationalizing health care, dictating to private industry and assuming more and more control of the individual are not in the interest of the country and the individual himself.

It was interesting and ironic that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t even in California on the day of decision by its citizens. He was in Washington DC, with President Obama, taking accolades for policies, initiatives and actions that do nothing but seek to control our lives. Specifically, Obama was praising the “governator” for California’s Auto Standards, environmental initiatives, etc. This is what Obama seeks for the entire country, despite the fact that these kinds of standards, initiatives and plain command and control of everything that they can get their hands on, has created one of the greatest financial crises in history. California is in deep deep trouble. President Obama is following California’s lead. All Americans are witness to this and are certainly beginning to see the cause and effect. The fact is, those that have been successful in California are leaving the state in droves. The same is also happening in all of the high tax states like New York, New Jersey, Michigan, etc. States like Texas, Nevada, Florida are gaining new citizens as a result … they DON’T TAX INCOME and their property taxes are very low, at least by comparison.

While high tax states are the losers so will the United States be the loser as we drive CAPITAL, the lifeblood of free markets and commerce, away from our shores. This is happening and will continue to happen as long as government continues to treat capital badly. When you tax investment gains, corporate profits, etc, private capital seeks a better place. The better places include Singapore, China et al that do not tax capital or corporate profits. As capital leaves to other countries that welcome capital and just plain treat it better, each and every one of us will suffer.
However, the citizens in California have sent the first real message of rejection to policies that can only lead to failure and hardship. This same state voted overwhelmingly for Obama just 6+ months ago. What has changed? One word … REALITY. The same is destined to happen across the nation as the realities of what President Obama’s changes will mean to the lives of individuals. When your utility bills whether it is oil, gas, electric, and hot water all skyrocket through Cap and Trade … all in the name of global warming … you will see what this all means to you. This carbon-based tax will significantly increase the price everyone pays for everything from gasoline to food and anything that uses carbon-based energy sources in the manufacturing and distribution process.

Likewise, when you see your personal choices are limited or removed by the government in virtually every aspect of your lives including health care, automobile purchases, financial services including credit cards and loans, etc, you too will ultimately reject these assaults on your personal freedom and liberty. Rather than change, you will come to realize that this is only the reemergence and acceleration of the long term trend of government to command and control over every aspect of your life in subservience to the state.

So, Hurray for California. We, the People, need to take back our country and reassert our natural rights and severely limit the power, authority and control of government as was the vision and the genius of the framers of our Constitution.

Arthur Cooper

The War on Private Property

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:44:11 +0000

What exactly do I mean by this title? Am I saying that government agents are coming to American homes, one by one, seizing your prized possessions? Am I saying that the government is taking away people’s homes? … Of course not. Private Property represents all those life’s possessions we have earned, traded for, acquired or inherited throughout our lives.

However, take a close look at this list and tell me what you think is happening to our private property.

1.   Income Taxes - all those earning a living, above the poverty line, pay federal and state income taxes. The rates generally range from 15% (a few pay 10%) to 35% depending on income level. The top rate will rise to 40%+ with the expiration of the 2003 tax cuts in 2011.
2.   Payroll Taxes - another 6%+ of your income for the first 100+K of your income. Payroll Taxes are supposed to go the Social Security Fund for you personally, but actually doesn’t.
3.   Medicare Taxes
4.   State Disability, Workmen’s Compensation and Unemployment Insurance Taxes collected by most states.
5.   Sales Taxes paid in most states.
6.   Property Taxes

Have I told anything you don’t already know? Probably not or at least you haven’t looked at your gross income as your private property. However, it surely is. But none of these taxes existed 100 years ago. We accept these taxes as part of the necessary truths we need to keep on going. I am not proposing a ban on taxes as the government certainly needs funds from its citizens to provide for the defense and protection of the country and the states, to provide certain essential services to insure a free-flowing and increasingly efficient society.

However, since 1933, and now under great acceleration under the Obama Administration, the government has seized a huge new mantle of “rights” that government, not the individual, bestow on the individual; this is as if the individual doesn’t have his own set of natural rights and responsibilities without the oversight or interference by a controlling central government.

So, now we have a huge acceleration of the war on private property; in fact, I maintain that it is a direct war on the individual himself.

Consider these unfolding facts:

1.   Cap and Trade - if enacted, all carbon-based products, processes, manufacturing, et al will be strictly controlled through punitive tax policy. This will trigger huge increases in the prices we all pay for everything we buy or use. Few understand what this will mean and it will only be recognized when the individual sees their utility bills double or worse, food prices skyrocket, gasoline go shooting up. Where will the money go … directly to the government.
2.   Universal Health Care - this is a multi-trillion dollar program dictated by a government seeking to further tax and ultimately control your life; under this socialized form of medicine, the individual is completely obliterated in favor of government control of exactly what health care will mean to you. Choice of provider (doctor, hospital, therapist and therapy) will be taken from the individual and controlled by the government. Statistics will be used instead of personal choice to justify and prescribe, what will be done, if it will be done, when it will be done and by whom it will be done. Don’t let anyone tell you that the government will pay for it … the government never pays for it … you pay for it … just another part of your private property.
3.   New Taxes Forever - whether it is smoking, alcohol, sugar, fats, preservatives, travel, gasoline, investments and capital gains, your private property is under attack … relentlessly. Even death carries a tax.
Why? … why does the government, regardless of party to a greater or lesser degree, continually grab more and more of your private property? Read “Liberty and Tyranny” by Mark Levin to get a very complete answer and insight. However, it comes down to the willful determination of a central government to control and direct the lives of the individual. Levin calls it the “statist” referring to the diminution of the individual and the absolute power of the state. You can call this the death of the individual. The government is seeking control of the banking system, insurance companies, the automobile industry, under the guise of protecting the public. It is nothing like protecting the public however. Freedom and free market capitalism is being wiped away. The very essence of our Constitution is being trashed and ignored towards this inexorable drive to control our lives in every way possible.
What made this country great is the flow of immigrants coming to a new world to gain true freedom, to build a life for themselves, by themselves with equal opportunity to pursue life, liberty and happiness. This country was born out of complete subservience to the individual and tight controls on the power of a central government; it was called Federalism and Reagen proposed a “new” Federalism 25 years ago to specifically reassert the principals and concepts of the US Constitution.

The statist is waging war on you and your private property. It is up to the individual, one by one, to work together to oppose this assault on our personal freedoms, rights and responsibilities.

What do you think?

Arthur Cooper

Hey Speaker Pelosi … Do you have a clue at all?

admin — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:29:56 +0000

Readers, it escapes me exactly how Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House or how she even became a power player in Washington. This has nothing to do with my decidedly conservative views or her liberal ones. It has to do with the obvious lack of conviction she has about any issue of substance to the American people. You can read from any blogger about her obvious major current embarrassment which clearly is a pathetic attempt to protect herself politically, and at all cost, including the false accusations of the CIA misleading or lying to her about water-boarding or enhanced interrogations.

It is clear that she only cares about one thing: Democrats Good, Republicans Evil, therefore destroy Republicans. She frankly is still attacking the Bush Administration … Nancy, MOVE ON!

More than all this, Nancy Pelosi has clearly demonstrated that she is completely scripted, not up on the issues ever and frankly is an embarrassing figure that sits in the #2 figure in the line of succession behind the Vice President. Many saw her stammering and stuttering but this is nothing new. Those paying attention have heard this for years. She is simply a political operative that for the last 8 years had only one agenda and that was to bash the hell out of President Bush. She is acting and continues to act as little more than an oppositional child rather than a serious legislator or leader.

Democrats really must act for the country to get her out as Speaker at least. She has handed the sword to anyone who needs to use it on her with her atrocious behavior. She needs to go away. CIA Director, Leon Panetta, thankfully, responded and, in effect, set the record straight and clearly implicated Pelosi as clearly and blatantly lying just to save her own political skin; the hell with the country, the war, our troops and all those selfless patriots who really have a soulful conviction about important things.

Speaker Pelosi, get out; Democrats, REMOVE HER! There is never a time to tolerate this level of incompetency and shamelessness, much less at this point in our present state of affairs.

Arthur Cooper

Health Care for Everyone!

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:05:32 +0000

Let’s see now … the US Government is trying to nationalize or socialize the health care system. To some, this sounds good. After all, it sounds like you won’t have to pay for health care; it will be a civil right according to Obama and the Liberal Left. The Obama administration states that we need to do it because there is no way we can deal with our long term economic problems unless we deal with health care to decrease cost. The “promise” is for universal coverage with improved quality.

So, the US Government is campaigning to take over the health care system. Let’s look at the track record of the US Government to see if it is qualified to assume full command and control of our health care:

US Postal Service - need I say more? Perennial annual losses, unionized work force, business decisions that defy logic. Since when does it make sense to constantly increase your prices in the face of declining usage? This business is a loser and is destined become irrelevant.

The Social Security Administration - a screaming fraud. Few Americans realize that the money that they pay in Payroll Taxes, the Social Security Tax, is not put into an account for them. Rather, it is used by the US Government for regular budget-busting spending. All the government is doing is providing you with a voucher that you paid the tax; kind of an IOU. Further, the historical return on the money for Social Security recipients is something like a paltry 1%. This is another “right” that was granted to US Citizens, originally by FDR, to provide the “right” to a secure retirement. How secure do you think people relying on Social Security are feeling? Why do I call it a fraud? It has never lived up to what it was supposed to be; a well-funded backstop to provide a secure retirement.

Medicare and Medicaid - destined for bankruptcy as documented by the Congressional Budget Office on numerous occasions.

Whether one agrees or not that the government should do anything other than exactly those things that are stated in the Constitution, the track record is terrible. Would you hire this man? When has the government ever … EVER reduced your cost of anything? Give me one example. Please comment.

Arthur Cooper

Conservative Radio … Part of the Problem?

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:05:10 +0000

As you realize, I am very concerned about the direction of our country. The ever-growing power of the state reaching into our wallets, our bedrooms and who knows what else is diametrically opposed to virtually everything I ever learned about the US Constitution and what truly has made our country the greatest in the world.

There is no doubt that I agree with much of what is said on conservative talk shows like Limbaugh, Hannity and Mark Levin. However, I am often deeply troubled at the tone or the style that the message is delivered in. Sure, I am reminded by some that these gentlemen are also entertainers of sorts. However, they are talking about very serious matters which are why I listen to them in the first place. It’s also very important that the good debate, the honest debate be won by conservatives because it is only conservative ideas and policies that have brought great wealth, power and ideals to America.

So, for instance, when Sean Hannity plays the everyday attack dog by incessantly pointing out the same things … over and over again, it sours me because I feel it’s counterproductive to the good debate. What good is it to show the slip-up of the oath of office that occurred on inauguration day? Why resort to what the Keith Obermans, Dave Lettermans, Chris Matthews, et al did virtually every day of the Bush administration? Why not take the higher road and just stick to principles? Why is it still necessary for him to keep bringing up Ayres, Rev. Wright, etc? How many times do you need to hear that to become convinced or have made your point? Talking about the very same things on the radio and on TV for 200+ days prior to the election didn’t really change the result, did it? I don’t understand how it is that Hannity doesn’t seem to understand that you can’t expect to get different results by doing the same thing. It seems to me that Hannity is actually part of the problem rather than breaking new ground in the hearts and minds of Americans.

Rush Limbaugh is the king of talk radio. However controversial he may be, I have heard him speak about great things, great ideals and when he stays on message, he is as compelling a speaker as there is. However, as with Hannity, Limbaugh uses inflammatory, provocative and derisive words to accentuate the negative when he speaks of the Liberal Left. He also over-defended Bush, part of what I call the “Bush can do no wrong” crowd. Surely, Limbaugh spoke of his disagreements with Bush but he did it with the respect and civility that we should all show all of our presidents including Obama and Bush. He should do more of this with his ideological adversaries, regardless of how he or other conservatives are treated by the left. Further, the name-calling; I won’t list them here because it bothers me so much. Again, I make no excuses for the left as they are shameless in their derision of all things conservative, never more venomous than how they treated Bush. However, using anything but their names is provocative and inflammatory; it just takes the low road which cheapens the real messages and lessons of conservatism.

Mark Levin just wrote a best-selling book, “Liberty and Tyranny,” which I just completed and I truly believe is a book that all Americans should read. It is truly a primer to better understand the historic and constitutional significance of what is going on in our country now. It is, as the tagline states, “A Conservative Manifesto.” However, as with Mr. Limbaugh, on his radio broadcasts, Levin resorts to name-calling, angry diatribes and derisive pet names for those, particularly in government and the media that he disagrees with on the left. It just cheapens his rich rich message and teachings. He makes no excuses for this; he knows he’s doing it and he feels justified in doing it because he feels they deserve it. I simply feel that they may deserve it but Mr. Levin would be so much more effective by sticking to his truly great understanding of the constitution and seek to teach what he knows to enrich everyone as he is so capable of doing.

These leading conservative talk show personalities have a great deal to offer. They command strong followings and surely have the top ratings in their field. It is hard to argue that they change anything as their success measured in all the numbers show that there should be no reason to change. However, still, I suggest that they can still improve and be even more effective by lowering their voices some, sticking to their principles as they surely will, but also deliver a more polished and poised message, free of incessant repetition and name calling. In this way, the message will not get lost or camouflaged; it will be clear and true. The fact is that they will never lose an honest debate; I say let’s have the honest debate and not lower ourselves to the tactics of our ideological adversaries.

Arthur Cooper