Comrade of the Month!
Andrew Roth
Our country is at a crossroads. Bailout fever, trillion dollar deficits, and less economic freedom are on the horizon thanks to liberals pushing anti-growth policies in Washington and across the country. So let's condemn their discredited ideas with an award!
Starting this month, the Club will be giving out the "Comrade of the Month" award to the person who best lives up to the policies of big-government redistribution and restrictions on economic freedom.
Throughout each month, we'll encourage anyone to send us a nominee. You can do so here. Who qualifies as a nominee? Mostly public officials, but frankly, it can be anybody who supports and enables the kind of anti-growth policies that would cripple our economy and send us reeling into poverty.
Here are some good examples:
Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) once said, "[W]e've been guided by a Republican administration who believes in the simplistic notion that people who have wealth are entitled to keep it and they have an antipathy towards the means of redistributing wealth."
Or when talking about her support for the auto bailout on the Senate floor, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said: "...this is the Christmas season. My goodness, let's take a chance on this. Let's take a chance on this."
And let's not forget what President-elect Obama said just yesterday: "Only government can break the vicious cycles that are crippling our economy."
But it doesn't have to be a person's comments that will win them the award. It might be a bill they propose. Acting as everyone's Big Brother, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced a bill last year that would "force the Federal Communications Commission to turn down the volume of television commercials." Regrettably, Eshoo's colleagues Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) announced their support for it, along with 61(!) other members of the House.
Once the month ends, we will take all of the nominations, and whittle them down to the 5 worst. Then we'll let Club members vote to see who wins the notorious award.
No encroachment on liberty is too small to not be considered for the award so please SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION TODAY.
Thursday's Daily News
Andrew Roth
THE DAILY NEWS
Choosing the Right Mechanic for America's Economy - Mark Sanford, Esquire
Steel's 'Buy America' Ploy - Wall Street Journal Editorial
Will The Real Christina Romer Please Stand Up? - David Henderson, Forbes
The Stimulus and the Somme - Arnold Kling, EconLog
Government Equity Capital for Financial Firms - Eugene Fama, Fama & French
Why Obama Will 'Own' the Recession - James Pethokoukis, U.S News
McCain, Feingold Reunite to Battle Earmarks - Susan Crabtree, The Hill
The Reality of Government-Controlled Medicine - Tom Sowell, NRO
Six Lessons for Investors - John Bogle, Wall Street Journal
Obama Plans $200B Boost to Consumer Confidence - Scott Ott, ScrappleFace
Chris Matthews Not Running for Senate
Andrew Roth
The New York Times has the scoop.
The Liberty Tavern Doesn't Support Liberty
Andrew Roth
The Liberty Tavern, a restaurant in my neighborhood (picture here), apparently doesn't support liberty. I guess I won't be going there again.
Card Check By Any Other Name...
Andrew Roth
...is still a threat to democracy.
Microsoft and Free Trade
Andrew Roth
This almost makes me want to buy a Windows-based PC. Almost. From a Korean news service:
Microsoft has called for the incoming Barack Obama administration to push ahead with ratification of the pending free trade deal with Korea.
“Microsoft supports rapid passage of the bilateral Free Trade Area Agreements now pending with Colombia, Panama and Korea and the conclusion of the WTO Doha Round,” the U.S. software giant said in a policy recommendation to the Obama transition team.
In a policy report titled “The IT Industry Depends on Fair Trade and Open Markets,” Microsoft said, “Korea, by far the most significant of the FTAs in economic terms, establishes a foothold for the U.S. in Asia and ensures that a key market is committed to transparency and regulatory due process, along with expanding trade opportunities for the IT sector.”
Dumb Quote of the Day
Andrew Roth
From our esteemed President-elect:
"Only government can break the vicious cycles that are crippling our economy.” - Barack Obama
The Bleeping Blagojevich Burger
Andrew Roth
This man is a great American. I like the dig he gave to the City Council over foie gras as well.
Flake Not Going to Approps
Andrew Roth
It's not a surprise, but Erick Erickson has the details.
Pat Toomey on CNN
Andrew Roth
Club President Pat Toomey was briefly on this CNN segment about Obama's economic stimulus plan. Also check out the comment made by liberal economist Dean Baker. He actually prefers a bigger spending bill, even if some of it is wasteful!
Headline of the Day
Andrew Roth
From Paul Ibrahim's blog:
"The Republican Party Will Get Our Money When It Becomes More Like the Club for Growth"
More Details on the Stimulus Plan
Andrew Roth
House GOP Whip Eric Cantor provides more info on the evolving Obama stimulus plan. Note the "spending disguised as tax cuts" section.
New Blog on the Block
Andrew Roth
Right Wing Video by the tireless John Hawkins.
Wednesday's Daily News
Andrew Roth
THE DAILY NEWS
Small Bottoming Signs in the Economy - Larry Kudlow, Money Politics
The Road to Prosperity - Rep. Michele Bachmann, Washington Times
The GOP Should Fight Health-Care Rationing - Rep. Tom Price, MD, WSJ
A Better Stimulus - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial
Obama's Tax Cuts Leave Logic Behind - Donald Lambro, Townhall.com
Are Tax Revolts a Thing of the Past? - Steven Malanga, RCM
Union Revival Act - IBD Editorial
The Rich vs. The Pols - Walter Williams, Washington Times
Americans in the Gulag - Adam Hochschild, Times Online
PODCAST: Madoff for Social Security Commissioner - Mike Tanner, Cato
The Return of Trent Lott
Andrew Roth
Ugh. From Roll Call ($):
“I’m legal!” the usually jovial former Majority Leader — looking even more jovial than usual — was overheard announcing to former colleagues on Tuesday, as he mingled with the crowd gathered outside the Senate chamber following the swearing-in ceremonies. Lott was referring to the expiration of the ban that prevented him from lobbying. When Lott resigned his seat on Dec. 18, 2007, ethics laws prevented former Senators from lobbying Members of Congress for a year (if he had waited until 2008 to resign, the ban would have lasted two years under the ethics law that had just been passed).
The Mississippian, who now runs big-bucks lobby shop Breaux Lott Leadership Group with former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), had been offering advice to clients seeking lobbying services, but now he’s able to do the real thing.
The Best Liar of 2008
Andrew Roth
Drumroll, please. The best liar of 2008 was....a lawyer.
In related news, class action lawsuits are up 19%.
Boehner Responds to Dems' Earmark Proposal
Andrew Roth
House GOP Leader John Boehner said the Dems' earmark reforms "are welcome, but don’t go far enough." Excerpt from press release:
“I commend the majority for taking steps to increase the transparency of members’ individual earmark requests in appropriations bills, but the changes announced today by Chairmen Obey and Inouye fall short of the reform standards House Republicans have unilaterally adopted. There should be no more taxpayer-funded ‘monuments-to-me,’ in which members earmark taxpayer funds for projects named after themselves. There should be no more ‘airdropping,’ in which taxpayer-funded earmarks are dropped into House-Senate conference reports at the last possible minute to avoid public scrutiny and debate. House Republicans unilaterally banned these practices nearly a year ago, while the majority has declined to follow suit.
“I’m also disappointed House Democratic leaders declined to appoint members to the Select Committee on Earmark Reform established by House Republicans, which will begin its work shortly – sadly, without the participation of any members of the majority party.
“My hope and expectation is that the standards for early public disclosure outlined by the majority today will apply to the 2009 omnibus spending bill the Democratic leadership intends to bring to the floor. And I again urge the Democratic leadership to follow Republicans in banning outdated practices such as airdropping and constructing ‘monuments-to-me’ that abuse taxpayers’ hard-earned money for the purpose of protecting incumbent politicians.”
Dumbness on the First Day
Andrew Roth
Over 400 bills were proposed by congressional members on the first day of business yesterday. Jim Harper offers up some of his "favorites". Here are ones that stuck out in my mind:
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), an obvious Obama fan, is proposing (H.J.Res. 5) "an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President.
Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) is proposing a bill (HR 14), "To provide for ocean acidification research and monitoring, and for other purposes." I love the opaqueness of the often used tag line: "for other purposes."
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) is proposing a bill (HR 73), "To provide for the collection of data on traffic stops."
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is proposing (S. 38) "A bill to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act, and for other purposes." This chestnut is an long time favorite for McCain. The sport of boxing apparently is so out of control that it needs to be reigned in by the federal government.
Who were the most prolific bill writers? In the House:
Elton Gallegly (R-CA): 19 bills
Jose Serrano (D-NY): 16 bills
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX): 15 bills
In the Senate:
David Vitter (R-LA): 34 bills
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): 24 bills
Dan Inouye (D-HI): 23 bills
Now, not all proposals are big government spending plans. Rep. John Linder (R-GA) has re-introduced his favorite bill (HR 25) - to abolish the IRS and implement the Fair Tax. And Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) offered up a couple of gems. He wants to abolish the Appropriations Committee (H.Res. 17) and he wants to allow people who want higher taxes to be able to voluntarily send the federal government some of their extra money on their tax returns (HR 87).
Millionaires Lose 30% of Their Fortunes
Andrew Roth
The Wall Street Journal has the details.
Hollywood Loves Higher Taxes
Andrew Roth
From Hollywood producer Melanie Graham:
"I just had the same conversation with a friend that I’ve had hundreds of times with my Hollywood Lefty pals - Higher taxes? No problem! I won’t be affected! I’m incorporated! It’s the hypocritical secret here - the lefty actors and writers all incorporate themselves to avoid higher taxes but expect everyone in Rube State America to pony up."
Meaningful Earmark Reform?
Andrew Roth
From Roll Call ($):
The chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations committees on Tuesday jointly vowed to slice the level of earmarks while providing unprecedented disclosure of Member requests.
House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) and Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) said that starting with the fiscal 2010 appropriations bills, when Members make their earmark requests, they will be required to post the requests on their Web sites explaining the purpose of the earmark and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds.
The committees have long kept earmark requests secret, making it impossible to compare funded requests and those ultimately spurned by the committee. Journalists, Members advocating earmark reforms and outside groups have long sought access to those requests.
If this is meaningful and credible, it looks like the Republicans have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, letting the Democrats trump them on this issue.
Big News from Apple
Andrew Roth
From CNN Money:
[Apple Senior Vice President Phil] Schiller said iTunes will now offer three price points for songs: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29. It will also offer all of the 10 million songs in its library without copy protection, and will allow iPhone users to download songs through 3G wireless networks.
The three-tier price structure is a smart move, but what's really wonderful is that Apple is getting rid of its stupid copy protection, allowing iTunes users to transfer their songs to any device they want.
IRS Follies
Andrew Roth
The latest adventure in bureaucratic nonsense.
Dems' First Act: Make It Easier to Raise Taxes
Andrew Roth
House GOP Leader John Boehner explains how the Democrats plan to change House rules in order to make it easier to pass tax hikes.
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