Obama’s Surreal Campaign

◼ He is running as if the last three years didn’t happen. - Victor Davis Hanson/National Review

As the election year heats up, we seem not to have noticed the surreal nature of the campaign. One would expect Barack Obama to run on his record from 2009 to 2012, and especially during 2009–10, when he had a solidly Democratic Congress and passed his signature Obamacare. But he is not....

I have no idea what “civility” is supposed to mean today. The more the president references the need for softer tones, the more we hear of things like “punish our enemies.” If a president is to take time out from a bad economy and a soon-to-be-nuclear Iran to offer commentary on a radio-show host’s use of a slur against a female student, how can his campaign affiliates take a million dollars from a humorless comedian who so trumps Rush Limbaugh that his style of misogynist attack requires asterisks even to be quoted? During the 2008 campaign the candidate who was called a healer boasted of bringing a gun to a knife fight, advised “getting in their faces,” deprecated working-class voters as clingers, had a crowd cheering with a middle-finger rub on his face when mentioning Hillary Clinton, suggested his grandmother was a “typical white person,” and asserted that he could not disown the racist Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and so it makes sense that Obama is now praised even as he polarizes.

...we are seeing a campaign apparently framed on four general themes: an omnipotent, omnipresent George W. Bush in insidious fashion still hampers the Obama administration; a Republican House (why it is now Republican is never quite explained) for 15 months has stopped all the good things that Obama and a Democratic House would have done; opponents have not appreciated the president’s unique postracial symbolism and are often quite racist; and anything Obama did was better than not doing it, and his not doing other things was better than what he might have done....

Could not Obama instead galvanize Democrats by running proudly on his record?

Executive Order -- National Defense Resources Preparedness

◼ For Immediate Release March 16, 2012 - whitehouse.gov

◼ Obama Executive Order: Peacetime Martial Law? - Protein Wisdom
◼ President Obama signs Executive Order allowing for control over all US resources - Kenneth Schortgen Jr/Examiner.com

On March 16th, President Obama signed a new Executive Order which expands upon a prior order issued in 1950 for Disaster Preparedness, and gives the office of the President complete control over all the resources in the United States in times of war or emergency.

The National Defense Resources Preparedness order gives the Executive Branch the power to control and allocate energy, production, transportation, food, and even water resources by decree under the auspices of national defense and national security. The order is not limited to wartime implementation, as one of the order's functions includes the command and control of resources in peacetime determinations....

◼ “National Defense Resources Preparedness” executive order: Power grab or mere update? - HotAir
◼ No martial law - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
◼ Obama’s latest EO… nipping conservative hysteria in the bud - Flopping Aces

MISSOURI GONE WILD: Caucuses Disrupted by Ron Paul Supporters

◼ Libertarians or anarchists? The NY Times reports, you decide: - The Other McCain

...These bogus “parliamentary” tactics are straight out of the radical playbook: Purposeful disruptions, intended to delay the normal procedure of events and provoke confrontations, with the hope of making such a farce of the meeting that regular citizens are discouraged from participating....

◼ Bob McCarty blogs about ”The St. Patrick’s Day Massacre” in Charles County, complete with video of Stafford’s arrest.

New RNC ad: Obama’s war on women

◼ Erin Burnett “annoyed” she appears in RNC ad - Tina Korbe/HotAir

Remember that excellent Republican National Committee ad of, oh, two days ago? The one that succinctly exposed “Obama’s war on women”? About that …

CNN’s Erin Burnett isn’t happy the RNC clipped footage of her to include in the ad. At first, she says, she was “amused,” but the more she thought about it, the more she was “annoyed.”

...While Burnett may certainly feel however she wants to feel, I can’t help but think she made a mistake expressing her emotions about this one. The RNC ad was edited to depict “Obama’s war on women,” yes, but the clips that included her speak for themselves. They show a conscientious reporter holding a public figure to account without regard for his political party. They show her putting into practice the very view she reflects above — the view that some words are just unacceptable no matter who says them. The clips reflect incredibly well on her. She could choose to actually look at this as free and positive publicity: The audience for the RNC ad probably isn’t identical to the audience for OutFront. Thanks to the ad, some hardcore conservatives might be more willing to give her show a chance — and she won’t risk many liberal viewers because most people watching the ad will know that Burnett didn’t volunteer herself to be in it.

Never underestimate the ability of Republicans to let loose with both barrels directly into their own foot!

◼ Missouri’s February primary, won by Rick Santorum, was a non-binding beauty contest. Delegates are to be awarded this year through the caucus process, and the St Charles County Caucus was to be held today, March 17. - Doug Edelman/St. Louis Conservative Examiner

The Caucus meeting was NEVER brought to order.

Standing rules established by the Central Committee included the prohibition of cameras, video or sound recording. This did not sit well with the caucus goers.

One particular individual protested the demand to put away his camera. Central Committee Chairman, Eugene Dokes refused to gavel the meeting to order until the camera was put away.

Caucusgoers sided, quite vocally, with the cameraman! And at that moment Stokes lost control of the caucus! Rather than address the question, perhaps calling the meeting to order and entertaining a motion and a vote on the subject, Dokes dug in his heels. Police were called. Threats of eviction and arrest were made. The caucusgoers became further disaffected, beligerant and resentful....

After amassing what appeared to be nearly the entire St Charles County police department on site, including a circling helicopter, it appeared that Dokes singlehandedly appointed a chairman of the caucus and other officers – without a vote. This again raised objection from the floor....

No business was conducted. No delegates were selected. Attendees were threatened with arrest for trespassing if they did not immediately vacate the premises. The entire affair was a comedy of mismanagement. Police involvement would not have been necessary if the initial moments of the caucus had been handled by Mr. Dokes with any measure of diplomacy, deference and tact.

Whatever the results of the Missouri caucuses statewide are, they will have been tainted and skewed by the lack of representation from the largest contingent of Republicans in the state.

If establishment Republicans wonder why the support from the grassroots is waning, the blatent disregard for those who vote them into office and to whom they should be answerable, as exhibited in this circus of a “caucus”, should be ample answer for them!

(W)e have witnessed a sickeningly dishonest press in the past few months not only allow the White House to advance a completely false narrative, but also assist the President's efforts to misinform the public.

◼ Shouldn't it be the media's job to expose a President's lies? - Newsbusters

Or is that asking too much when the current White House resident is a Democrat the press helped get elected?

DELEGATE CHAOS AT MISSOURI CAUCUS...

◼ UPDATE: Wild!…GOP Officials Shut Down St. Charles Caucus – Threaten Mass Arrests If Attendees Don’t Leave Building (Video) …Update: Police Chopper Called In- VIDEO - Gateway Pundit

Republican officials at the St. Charles Caucuses today abruptly shut down the caucus meeting and threatened to jail the attendees if they did not immediately leave the building. The attendees at the Francis Howell North High School in St. Peters, Missouri booed and started to chant, “Stay! Stay! Stay!”

Bob McCarty, who was there, called it a St. Patrick’s Day Massacre. At least one person was arrested....

◼ Largest MO Caucus Adjourns WITHOUT Conducting Business – No Delegates Selected - Examiner
◼ In Missouri, the G.O.P. Fight for Delegates Enters Round 2 (Post-Beauty Contest) - NYT via Drudge

Mitt Romney and his advisers pride themselves on vigorously pursuing every delegate in every corner of the country in their quest to secure the Republican presidential nomination.

That was not the case here at the Railyard Steakhouse, where Republicans convened their Chariton County caucus on Thursday evening. They voted to pledge their full share of delegates to Rick Santorum — without a word of objection from the Romney campaign.

The Republicans here were simply following the results of the February primary, which Mr. Santorum won by 30 percentage points. The Romney campaign argued that the contest was meaningless because no delegates were at stake.

Yet Mr. Santorum’s victory has had a lingering effect. This became clear here in Brunswick, a small town about two hours east of Kansas City, which offered a peek into the process that will unfold across Missouri on Saturday when Republicans convene caucuses to begin the arduous process of selecting delegates in the presidential campaign.

A quirk of election law makes Missouri the only state this year to essentially allow voters to take two attempts at choosing their favorite candidate. The first came during a primary in February, which was dismissed as a beauty contest, but one that gave Mr. Santorum a boost of momentum. The second comes on Saturday. (today)

GOP candidates fight lawsuit over Facebook pages

◼ The Romney, Santorum and Gingrich campaigns set aside their differences Friday to fire off a joint letter demanding a California techie drop his lawsuit against them over their Facebook pages. - Patriot Update

The lawsuit alleges that 4 million Facebook users are violating EveryMD’s patent, but Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are the only named plaintiffs. Weyer had initially sued Facebook and MySpace for patent infringement, prompting the companies to ask for a re-examination of the group’s patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which rejected EveryMD’s claims.

Though EveryMD is appealing the office’s decision, it was enough to prompt a judge to dismiss the case against Facebook and MySpace – hence the long-shot suit against the presidential candidates and others.

Who's talking about Sasha, Malia?

◼ AP: Obama keeps dragging daughters into politics... - AP via Drudge

In many ways, Ireland is blazing new trails on the kinds of issues and challenges that the United States and others are struggling to face up to—the need to restrain public spending and curtail unsustainable public payrolls and other entitlement programs. While, at the same time, fostering growth, enhancing competitiveness, and attracting the best talent.

◼ Irish Not Relying on Luck for Economic Recovery - Free Enterprise (image source)

Illinois Republicans Hold Similarly Favorable Views of Santorum and Romney

◼ Rasmussen’s polling shows Mitt Romney leading Rick Santorum by 9 percentage points (41 to 32 percent) in Illinois, yet likely primary voters in the Prairie State hold almost identically favorable views of each candidate. - Weekly Standard

Whaddayaknow? Rutherford B. Hayes, the TV flash in the pan, the horse is here to stay — they’re all at the Wikiquote page on “Incorrect Predictions.” Fancy that! You can also find his selected examples at the web page “Some Really Really Bad Predictions About the Future” and a bazillion others.

◼ Obama’s History Lesson - Mark Steyn/National Review Online

A great nation needs successful self-made businessmen like George Peck, and purveyors of scholarly excellence like Mary Somerville. It’s not clear why it needs a smug over-credentialed President Solyndra to recycle Crowd-Pleasing for Dummies as a keynote address.

They all laughed at Christopher Columbus, they all laughed at Edison . . . How does that song continue? “They laughed at me . . . ”

At Prince George’s Community College they didn’t. But history will, and they will laugh at us for ever taking him seriously.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Go raibh tú daibhir i mí-áidh
Agus saibhir i mbeannachtaí
Go mall ag déanamh namhaid, go luath a déanamh carad,
Ach saibhir nó daibhir, go mall nó go luath,
Nach raibh ach áthas agat
Ón lá seo amach.

May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
quick to make friends,
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

◼ Locally: St. Patrick's Day green-lit for Saturday: Irish incidents aplenty - Times-Standard

Will President Obama Condemn Cee Lo’s Lyrics Portraying Violence Against Women? TOO LATE

◼ Obama fundraising blitz stars Tyler Perry, Cee Lo Green - The Right Sphere

Cee Lo? Really? So after the left ran around palms up screaming about Rush Limbaugh calling Ms. Fluke a “slut,” President Obama is having a fundraiser headlined by the guy who said this:

I’ll put the barrel to your baby momma belly and squeeze off two
So the world won’t have to deal with another fuck nigga like you.

So do you think President Obama or his campaign will talk to Cee Lo about his lyrics portraying violence and disrespect towards women before or after the fundraiser?

◼ Cee Lo Green Sings ‘F*** You’ at Obama Fundraiser - ABC News

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Phone: (202) 456-1414 Fax: (202) 456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov

U.S. Senate:
Dianne Feinstein (D) (Who is running ads on Facebook asking you to sign her petition to stop the nonexistent REPUBLICAN #WarOnWomen)
Hart Senate Office Building
Room 331
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841 Fax: (202) 228-3954
San Francisco: (415) 393-0707
http://feinstein.senate.gov/ (contact via webform)

Barbara Boxer (D)
Hart Senate Office Building
Room 112
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3553
San Francisco: (415) 403-0100 Fax: (415) 956-6701
http://boxer.senate.gov/ (contact via webform)

U.S. Representative
Mike Thompson
Cannon House Office Building
Room 415
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3311
317 3rd St., Suite 1
Eureka, CA 95501
Eureka phone: 269-9595 Fax: 269-9598
http://mikethompson.house.gov/< (contact via webform)

Panetta refuses to predict Obama will be reelected

◼ Unlike Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta refuses to predict that President Obama will win a second term in the White House. - Joel Gehrke/Washington Examiner

Is the President asking TAXPAYERS to pay for FREE contraceptives for others?

◼ Will this end the controversy? - Gretawire

This is a really useful case study of how the left coordinates to create a full-blown media uproar. Democrats in Congress don’t typically rush out to respond to every insult from conservative radio hosts. But Rep. Nancy Pelosi managed to round up six other female congressional Democrats to release a joint statement condemning Limbaugh’s comments within hours of the broadcast

◼ Anti-Rush Campaign Was in the Works - Alana Goodman/Commentary @alanagoodman
◼ Media Matters astroturfed the Limbaugh secondary boycott - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion

The secondary boycott of Rush Limbaugh advertisers is portrayed in the media as a reaction to a groundswell of public outrage. In fact, the secondary boycott was initiated by and driven by Media Matters, which had a “Stop Limbaugh” campaign on the shelf waiting to be used, and was executed by Angelo Carusone, Director of Online Strategy for Media Matters.

Carusone was the person behind online efforts against Glenn Beck even before joining Media Matters in 2010, and also is behind Stop Fox News and Stop Limbaugh efforts. His role appears to be going after advertisers, and getting others to do so via Twitter and other online media....

Pap smears? Mammograms? Prostate exams? Not under Obamacare

◼ Slowly but surely the truth is coming out about Obamacare: Conservatives were right. - Don Surber/Daily Mail

Conservatives said Obamacare would cost trillions. Our intellectual and moral superiors on the left sneered.

The CBO reported this week that Obamacare will cost nearly $1.8 trillion in the first 10 years alone — nearly double what Democrats said it would cost. And instead of reducing the deficit, Obamacare will increase the deficit.

Conservatives said Obamacare would cost people their health insurance. Our intellectual and moral superiors on the left sneered.

The CBO reported this week that Obamacare already has cost 4 million people their health insurance.

Conservatives said there would be less health care under Obamacare.... This week, MSNBC reported:

Most women can go as long as five years between cervical cancer screenings as long as they make sure to get both a Pap smear and an HPV test when they do get examined, a government panel said Wednesday.

The interval between cervical cancer screenings can safely be extended for women between the ages of 30 and 65, according to the new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Women ages 21 to 30 should still get a Pap smear every three years, the interval currently recommended. But those younger than 21 and older than 65 can skip the screen altogether, the experts concluded.

The panel is urging a extended intervals in screenings in an attempt to cut back on the number of women who end up being treated for lesions that might resolve on their own.

◼ 20 million may lose employer insurance - UPI
◼ CBO report says healthcare law could cause as many as 20M to lose coverage - The Hill

Last year, CBO's best estimate was that only 1 million people would lose employer-sponsored coverage.

"President Obama's string of empty promises is quickly becoming a disappointing trail of broken promises," House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a statement. "He promised Americans that his overhaul of the health care sector would not jeopardize the health coverage of those who liked what they had. As nonpartisan analysts made clear today, millions of Americans will soon learn the hard way that Washington's overreach into their health care decisions will result in sharp disruptions to their coverage and their care."

COST OF LIVING SOARS... Obama budget deepens debt by $3.5 trillion

◼ Consumer Prices in U.S. Rose in February as Gasoline Jumped - Bloomberg via Drudge
◼ CBO: Obama budget deepens debt by $3.5 trillion - Washington Times
◼ 2013 deficit: $977 billion... - CBS

North Dakota Is One Step Ahead Of DC, NY and LA

◼ Drilling for natural gas has helped North Dakota drop its unemployment statistics and make its economy boom. Why isn’t the rest of the country following its lead? Better yet, why isn’t Barack Obama following its lead? - NetRightDaily

Newt responds to Obama: Strange to have American president who favors Saudi oil/jobs over American oil/jobs

◼ Obama attacked Newt’s $2.50 gas price strategy in a speech yesterday suggesting he was part of the flat earth society when everyone else knew the world was round. Newt responded this morning by suggesting that Obama denies the modern world that shows we have much more oil than we previously thought because it takes away his desire for government to control our lives. - The Right Scoop

#NotBetterOff: The Next Generation

◼ Obama’s Out Of Control Spending And Disregard For The Nation’s Debt Is Leaving A Burden To Be Shouldered By America’s Next Generation - GOP.com

OBAMA BROKE HIS PROMISE TO CUT THE DEFICIT IN HALF, INSTEAD HE RACKED UP A TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT EACH YEAR

An examination of the failed Obama record.

Drudge Headlines

Top Campaign Bundlers Among State Dinner Guests... *
NO TIME FOR WORK: 5 CAMPAIGN EVENTS ON POTUS SKED...
Ritzy party at actor Tyler Perry's home; $35,800 per head...
In Campaign Video, President Confronts Nation on Brink...

No 'Afghanistan' in new Obama campaign video...

White House moves into full reelection mode

◼ The Obama White House moved fully into reelection mode this week, leaving aside any pretense of being above the fray and beginning an unabashed political effort to lay the groundwork for what polls suggest could be eight difficult months of campaigning ahead. - David Nakamura/Washington Post

...Thursday seemed to mark a significant shift in approach and intensity, with overtly political speeches by President Obama and Vice President Biden and the release of a 17-minute documentary-style testimonial celebrating what the administration considers its most significant achievements.

The documentary, narrated by Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, is called “The Road We’ve Traveled,” but it has everything to do with what lies ahead.

Although it was produced weeks ago, the documentary’s release comes amid a spate of recent bad news for the president, including some of the lowest approval ratings of his presidency, news that his fundraising efforts have been less robust than expected and some political fallout from rising gasoline prices.

THE VETTING: OBAMA TEACHES CONSTITUTIONAL LAW -- PART II

◼ Yesterday, we explored President Barack Obama’s teachings at the University of Chicago Law School from 1996. We explored the first question (and answer) of his December 1996 final exam. Today, we move on to the second question. - Ben Shapiro/Big Government

...So here’s what we’ve learned today. Lecturer Obama believed deeply in Critical Race Theory – so much so that he advocated creative legal strategies to argue Critical Race Theory into law. He thought that facially neutral statutes were discriminatory thanks to the racism of the system. He even argued that the people of the states be stripped of their power to change local law, if such changes cut against narrow minority interests.

More to come …

California: Jerry Brown Surrenders on Ballot Tax Measure

◼ If there was ever any doubt that Gov. Jerry Brown is mighty worried about the chances of passing his tax initiative come November, he eliminated it Wednesday when surrendered to the “something for nothing” wing of the Democratic Party. - John Wildermuth/Fox&Hounds

Brown let himself get rolled by the soak-the-rich crowd, giving up his long-running mantra of “shared sacrifice” without even a fight.

That’s not the way he put it, of course. A release from his office said that the decision to merge his budget plan with the California Federation of Teachers “Millionaire Tax Initiative” is a winner for everyone.

“This united effort makes victory more likely,” Brown said in the statement.

That may be true, but you might note he didn’t say that the new and purportedly improved initiative is a fairer way of taxing Californians. That’s because it’s not.

Obama’s oil flimflam

◼ President Obama incessantly claims energy open-mindedness, insisting that his policy is “all of the above.” Except, of course, for drilling... - Charles Krauthammer Washington Post

...An oil crisis looms, prices are spiking — and our president is extolling algae. After Solyndra, Keystone and promises of seaweed in their gas tanks, Americans sense a president so ideologically antipathetic to fossil fuels — which we possess in staggering abundance — that he is utterly unserious about the real world of oil in which the rest of us live.

High gasoline prices are a major political problem for Obama. They are not just a pain at the pump, however. They are a constant reminder of three years of a rigid, fatuous, fantasy-driven energy policy that has rendered us scandalously dependent and excessively vulnerable.

◼ More Energy Lies From Obama - Powerline

New Chicago Law Requires Photo ID To Buy Drain Cleaner

◼ The law, which took effect Sunday, requires those who seek to buy caustic or noxious substances, except for batteries, to provide government-issued photo identification that shows their name and date of birth. The cashier then must log the name and address, the date and time of the purchase, the type of product, the brand and even the net weight. - Chicago/CBS local

Krauthammer: Troops Leaving Guns At The Door Like Helicopters On Roof Of The Embassy

◼ KRAUTHAMMER: That unprecedented picture of American soldiers leaving their weapons at the door when listening to a speech by their own Secretary of Defense. I mean, that is the equivalent of, the diplomatic equivalent of, helicopters on the roof of the embassy. - Real Clear Politics Video

It is a sign of how much our policy is in disarray and I think it comes from the top. When the president announces from the beginning of surge and withdrawal. We are now in a withdrawal phase and once a withdrawal happens in a counter-insurgency, it does downhill very fast.

An msnbc report

PALIN: BREITBART IS HERE

◼ There is a new street art poster that’s being emailed around and will no doubt eventually be spotted on a street corner near you. It’s a gritty black and white image of Andrew Breitbart looking both battle-worn and ever vigilant with the caption: “BREITBART IS HERE.” - Sarah Palin at Big Government

...Breitbart’s most immediate mission was the belated vetting of Barack Obama. This obviously is an issue very near and dear to my heart.

During the ’08 campaign, the same media that reported breathlessly about an old used tanning bed I purchased to get some sun during the dark Alaskan winter, couldn’t be bothered to investigate Barack Obama’s associations, statements or even his voting record as a state senator. Suntans and what I wore on the campaign trail were more important than Obama’s political background. Unbelievable.

But when you come to think of it, the media didn’t investigate either of our actual political records very closely.

Barack Obama and I both served in political office in states with a serious corruption problem. Though there is a big difference between serving as the CEO of a city, then a state, and regulating domestic energy resources, and being a liberal Community Organizer, bear with me on the comparison. The difference between my record and Barack Obama’s is that I fought the corrupt political machine my entire career (and I have twenty years of scars to prove it) on the local, state, and national level. But Obama didn’t fight the corruption he encountered. He went along with it to advance his career. Graft, cronyism, and quid pro quo are the methods of the Chicago political machine from which he emerged.

You would think the media – those watchdogs of the public trust – would be interested in this. But they refused to vet Barack Obama. With tingles up their legs, they shielded him....

◼ Palin. Breitbart. Nightstick. Boom. - Sister Toldjah

◼ A BRIEF SHINING MOMENT: AN EVENING WITH BREITBART AND PALIN - Chris Bannon/Big Government

I sat back from the table a few feet and just listened to the discussions which were fast, furious, brilliant, broad, and deep. It was an amazing thing to be a part of, even if I was just an uninformed passer-by. The discussion went on for hours and with great engagement by all until the Palins joined us. Then, the conversation shifted entirely towards Palin and her political plans and importance. A great night had gotten better, if that was possible. Breitbart pontificated and jousted with Bruce and the press and the handlers. Palin would listen and weigh-in as all sat on edge hoping for THE declaration or even a wink and a nod, but it did not come. So without it, everyone would sound off again, Breitbart would go off in style, and round and round the conversation would go, to everyone’s delight.

After several hours (2:00 AM), the Palins decided it was time to retire, and the group began to dissipate. I turned to the young hotshot journalist and asked him, "Does this happen all the time on the campaign trail?” And he looked at me and said, “Does what happen all the time?” I said, "The politician you are covering and her disciples come down, hang out and just casually engage with you all?” He looked at me through his beer goggles and said, “This never happens… I have never seen this ever happen and you were just treated to a unique event that most of us will go a lifetime without being a part of.” I was stunned; it seemed so casual and fun and interesting that I just assumed it was how it always played out.

California could decide the GOP nominee

◼ California is not exactly the GOP’s idea of home turf. But in the 2012 Republican presidential primary, it’s the most important state on the calendar. - Aaron Blake/Washington Post

...California’s June 5 primary, despite being the second-to-last contest, is looking more and more like it may determine whether Mitt Romney can win the Republican nomination or whether the party goes to its August convention without a nominee.

“If Gingrich drops out and Santorum can go at Romney one on one, it could be competitive all the way to California, in which case California would pretty much decide the nomination,” said John Ryder, a Republican National Committeeman from Tennessee who is an expert on the delegate process.

Part of the reason is the state’s sheer size. Because states are given three delegates to the Republican National Convention for every congressional district they have, California has a whopping 172 delegates. That’s more than 15 percent of the delegates needed to win the nomination.

California is technically a winner-take-all state, but because basically all of its delegates are awarded by congressional district, there is the possibility that they get sliced up any number of ways....

What Is Occupy Eureka?

Occupy - The most popular videos are here

◼ Humboldt Sentinel

Scott Brown has his groove back

◼ A string of recent polling, an agreement to bar outside money from the race and some savvy legislative moves have put Democrats on notice that ousting the first-term Massachusetts Republican will be anything but easy, even with a first-class challenger.

Ayers: 'Revolution' Needed To Stop 'White Supremacy'

- BreitbartTV

The Incredible Shrinking Postal Service

◼ It didn't have to end this way. - Peter Hannaford?American Spectator 3.15.12

Let's say you own a store with a good clientele, but sales have been slipping in recent years. A new store with new products has faster service at lower prices and is open 24/7. You're losing money. What do you do?

You consider two approaches. You could slash costs and service and hope the money saved would put you back in the black over time.

Or, you could streamline your business, improve your product and/or add new ones and give your customers better service.

As a business person who understands human nature and the nature of markets, you'll choose the second approach.

The U.S. Postal Service, understanding neither, is choosing the first.

Last year the USPS lost approximately $5 billion. It has announced drastic cuts that it hopes will result in $20 billion savings by 2015. It was once profitable, but the explosion of internet traffic (especially in correspondence and bill-paying) has sharply reduced the volume of First Class mail.

They have picked an odd way to try to turn this around: Close 700 or more post offices, cut Saturday mail deliveries, systematically jack up the price of a First Class stamp and, now, the pièce de résistance, "consolidate" distribution centers.

USPS management thinks it will save $3 billion a year by closing more than half of these centers, 252, across the country. It has begun announcing the closings. Two examples:
Humboldt County, on California's north coast, has more square miles in it that either Delaware or Rhode Island. It has one distribution center, in the county seat, Eureka. Letters addressed within the city or to nearby towns in the county are typically delivered the next day.

The USPS says it will "consolidate" this center with one in Medford, Oregon, about 150 miles to the northeast over slow mountain roads. Mail will be trucked nightly from Eureka to Medford, sorted, then that bound for Humboldt County will be trucked back to Humboldt post offices for delivery. Result: Customers will lose at least one to two days in delivery of their mail -- not to mention the wasted truck fuel and overtime of the drivers.

On the west coast of Florida, the Manasota Distribution Center will be "consolidated" with one in Fort Myers, about 60 miles away. This will mean an extra day for delivery to an area much more heavily populated than California's Humboldt County.

The inevitable result of this retrogressive action across the nation will be to drive away even more First Class mail from post offices and onto the Internet. It's elementary: Cut service, raise your prices, and make it inconvenient for your customers and you will sell less of it.

What could USPS management have done? Instead of sponsoring bicycle racing teams they could have spent some money on truly creative management thinkers to come up with out-of-the-box ideas for new services and products. And, if the thinkers came up empty-handed, management should consider radical restructuring in two ways: 1) Sell off package shipping by putting it out to bid. Fed Ex and UPS and possibly others could do the job efficiently at competitive prices -- they already do. (2) Don't expect a smaller USPS would be profitable with only First Class, Second and Bulk Mail. Instead of the U.S. Government lending it money every year (as it has) to pay its bills, subsidize it via the federal budget.

All this would take long-range thinking and plenty of courage to sell it politically, but it could be done.
__________________
Peter Hannaford was closely associated with the late President Ronald Reagan for a number of years. His latest book is Reagan's Roots: The People and Places That Shaped His Character.

Mitt Romney wins Wyoming caucus

◼ According to estimates by CNN and the Wyoming GOP, Romney will pick up 10 of the state’s delegates while Santorum will pick up nine. - Tony Lee at Human Events

One more state will caucus before 10 states vote on Super Tuesday -- March 6. Washington state holds its caucus on Saturday, March 3.

'Obama fanatic' pleads guilty to threatening to kill Sheriff Arpaio, family...

◼ A man described as a President Barack Obama fanatic pleads guilty to threatening to kill Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. - FOX/Phoenix

Cox will not go to jail. He was sentenced to supervised probation.

Drudge Headlines

Afghan president wants U.S. troops out of villages...
U.S. moves massacre soldier to Kuwait; Afghans furious...
Thousands protest, chant anti-American slogans...
Taliban suspends peace talks with U.S....
Obama Fills Out NCAA Basketball Bracket...

Transparency is a buzzword. How about we insist that it be an operating principle instead? If the president wishes to shut Catholic and other religious Americans out of the public square because he thinks believers are troglodytes not to be tolerated in polite company, then he should say so.

◼ Miserable ‘Women’ - Kathryn Jean Lopez/National Review Online

The Obligatory "Who Is Sandra Fluke" Post

◼ Who is Sandra Fluke? - Ann Coulter/Human Events
◼ Sandra Fluke’s Boyfriend, Adam “Cutie Pants” Mutterperl, And His Radical Socialist Family - Brooks Bayne/thegraph.com
◼ Poor Sandra Fluke… She Wants You To Pay For Her $9/Month Birth Control As She Frolics in Spain & Pompeii - Gateway Pundit
◼ She’s the latest recipient of the legendary “15 minutes of fame,” and she is surely making the most of it. Fluke is the Georgetown Law student who was invited to Nancy Pelosi’s little publicity stunt to bemoan the fact that she isn’t getting free contraceptives. - Neal Boortz at TownHall
◼ Sandra Fluke's Appearance Is No Fluke - JWF
◼ Bill O'Reilly: “Who is running Sandra Fluke?” - Glenn Beck

“So this whole deal comes back to the White House,” Bill says.

◼ Sandra Fluke is not a “slut.” She’s a femme-agogue tool; DCCC, Emily’s list fund-raise off of Rush - Michelle Malkin
◼ Sandra Fluke Does Not Speak for Me - Angela Morabito.Georgetown Law Student

Voter ID bill passes Pennsylvania House; governor has said he'll sign it

◼ Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to sign one of the nation’s toughest voter identification laws less than eight months before the presidential election, although a court challenge is also expected to the measure that handily passed the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives today. - pennlive.com

The 104-88 vote came after three days of debate and accusations by Democrats that the bill is a Jim Crow-style attempt to discriminate against minorities and that no trail of voter fraud exists to justify making it more difficult for the elderly, disabled and poor to vote.

The GOP-controlled state Senate approved the measure last week, and Corbett, a Republican, has said he will sign it.

The bill would require voters to show certain photo identification before their votes could be counted beginning with this year’s presidential election, prompting Democrats to accuse Republicans of trying to stop traditional Democratic-leaning voters — minorities, college students and the poor — from getting their ballots counted.

Republicans say the requirement is a common-sense step to prevent fraudulent double voting, voting by illegal immigrants, voter impersonation and fictitious voters. They also say that showing photo ID is a widely accepted function in daily American society. Voter ID has been a hot topic, with a number of Republican-controlled legislatures around the country passing such measures.

The Vetting: Obama Wants You to Open Your Hearts and Minds to Derek Bell, But What Will You Find?

THE VETTING: OBAMA TEACHES CONSTITUTIONAL LAW -- PART I

◼ Let’s take a trip via the wayback machine to the hallowed classrooms of the University of Chicago Law School. The year is 1996, and a young lecturer named Barack Obama is teaching constitutional law to a group of students. - Ben Shapiro/Big Government

The three-way races in Alabama and Mississippi

◼ link - Michael Barone/Washington Examiner via AEI

Will Alabama and Mississippi clear the field? I asked in a recent blogpost. The results are in and the answer is: To the contrary. These were close three-way races. But Rick Santorum’s wins in both Alabama and Mississippi ensure that he will stay in the race. His low-key election night speech, delivered in Lafayette, Louisiana, a locus of the state’s offshore oil drilling industry, claimed victory for his “grass roots” campaign over “the establishment” which was on the other side. He called on “conservatives to hold together,” in an obvious attempt to get Newt Gingrich to withdraw. But Gingrich, in his election night speech delivered in Birmingham, Alabama, made it clear he was continuing. He dismissed Mitt Romney as a front-runner that keeps running third and his campaign, in a memo released before the polls closed insisted that the race is far from over; but not very convincingly. As for Romney, he had hoped to win these two close three-way races; instead he finished a pretty close third in both....

Santorum and Gingrich in their election night speeches did not have the attitude of winners, while Mitt Romney, as least as this is written, has not appeared. What Romney has done this week is to win the lion’s share of delegates in the territories—Guam, Northern Marianas and Virgin Islands so far with American Samoa (whose population is 22% Mormon) and Puerto Rico still to come. The delegate counts so far are as follows, with 9 delegates in American Samoa and 20 in Hawaii still to be determined:

The bottom line is that despite his third place finishes, Romney has been doing just fine in delegates this week.

Oscar-Winning Producer of 'Schindler's List' Slams Obama, Salutes Breitbart

◼ It's starting - via Lucianne

My fellow patriots,

As we sit in our comfort-laden abodes, sipping our lattes or pink lemonades and either wishing the snow would be gone for another year or baseball season would start so there was something interesting to do, the world continues to move forward. But as we seek other interests, we are not listening to the sounds emanating from the world around us. If you would listen carefully you would recognize the woeful sounds of America gasping for its very breath of life and its inner soul.

Yes, the sounds are there. We just don't listen. We only hear (or see) what we want. As the country gasps for clarity of purpose, we the people figure someone or something else will come along and fix the problems for us. I don't think so. The warning signs have been there for a long time. A very long time. It is my humble opinion that, during these turbulent times, we find ourselves in the dilemma of our lifetimes. As a country we have been either asleep or just too comfortable in our own cocoons to realize the depth of our plight.

An event took place in 2008 that changed the world we live in. It changed the face of America, it changed the direction of our moral values, it changed how we view the future and how we see ourselves as human beings and it changed the make up of our basic freedoms that we so irreverently tossed aside for entitlement freebies and empty promises by the engineers at the helm.

Thus, I have some questions; As we sit at the precipice of financial collapse from debt and entitlements, how much time do we have? Can we reverse course? What can we as individuals do? Who best to bring us back from the brink? Or are we too late?... read it all...

◼ Some in Hollywood are peeling the 'scales' from their eyes and are asking what have we done. - Discussion at Lucianne

[You must help] the people in the community…feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and chance the future. [An] organizer must shake up the prevailing patterns of their lives—agitate, create disenchantment and discontent with the current values, to produce, if not a passion for change, at least a passive, affirmative, non-challenging climate. [You must] fan the embers of hopelessness into a flame of fight.

◼ HOW SAUL ALINSKY TAUGHT BARACK OBAMA EVERYTHING HE KNOWS ABOUT CIVIC UPHEAVAL - Awr Hawkins/Breitbart's Big Government

The Real Bias In 'Game Change'

◼ In "Game Change," there's lots of bias to go around -- not a surprise in a picture made by the same Hollywood writer-and-director team that produced "Recount," the pro-Gore HBO version of the 2000 election. - Byron York/Washington Examiner

But perhaps the strongest bias in "Game Change" is not about any particular politician. At its core, the movie's message is that the Republican base is filled with hatred, racism, and xenophobia.

"Joseph Stalin, pictures of Mao, pictures of Adolph Hitler. The pomp, the ceremony -- the flags like that"

◼ Vets angry over American flag featuring Obama - WFTV

Tempers are flaring over a version of the American flag flying in Lake County. A veterans group says the flag is an outrage.

The flag, which features a picture of President Obama, was taken down Tuesday afternoon.

Korean war veteran Don Van Beck said his blood was boiling.

"I can't describe how upset was because you just don't do that to the American flag," Van Beck said.

Van Beck found it flying outside Lake County Democratic headquarters under the stars and stripes. Marine Corps vet John Masterjohn was seeing red.

"Joseph Stalin, pictures of Mao, pictures of Adolph Hitler. The pomp, the ceremony -- the flags like that," Masterjohn said....

"If you've been a veteran and fought -- and some died for this flag -- you don't want to see it desecrated. That's how simple it is," Van Beck said.

◼ One nation, under Obama - It’s his country. You just live in it. - John Hayward at Human Events

...The idea that any citizen of the United States, of any political persuasion, needs to have the wrongness of this outrage explained to them is mind-boggling. The modern Democrat Party has become a culture so alien that if Captain Kirk encountered it, he’d beam back up to the Enterprise and slam the warp drive up to maximum to escape, lest his crew be driven mad by sustained exposure.

But the Democrat Party of Lake County, Florida still doesn’t really understand what’s wrong with their creepy and offensive cult of personality...

NJ Health Dept. May Shut Down Gov't Buildings Over Toilet Paper Shortage...

◼ Government Gridlock Leads To Toilet Paper Shortage In Trenton - CBS Philly

The toilet paper and paper towel supply for at least 11 buildings, including City Hall, are dangerously low.

“We have one box with about 15 rolls of toilet paper and that’s it,” acting Public Works Director Harold Hall said.

Hall says a City Council resolution to order more paper supplies, including paper cups, was voted down. Some council members didn’t think the cash-strapped city needed to buy the cups.

While you were sleeping, Romney rebounds to win Hawaii and American Samoa

◼ What it means: - IBD

Great headlines for Santorum last night, probably today too, as he tries to grasp The Ring as conservative alternative to Romney.

But guess what? Nothing changes. Due to the new proportional allocation, Santorum, Gingrich and Romney will each get about a third of the Alabama and Mississippi convention delegates. And Romney's lead of about 250 delegates remains intact.

Except -- oh, wait! -- after everyone went to bed on the mainland, Romney won all nine delegates from American Samoa. And in the Hawaii caucuses, he won again, capturing 45% of the votes and the lion's share of the 17 delegates. Santorum trailed with 25%, followed by Paul at 19% with Gingrich back at 11%.

So once again, the results of Santorum's big wins are that Romney's lead widens a little more. Even better news for the former governor, Santorum and Gingrich both vowed to press on, meaning voters who don't prefer Romney will still split.

◼ The road from Mississippi and Alabama: A look at the shifting primary landscape. - John Hayward at Human Events

...if Gingrich is serious about mounting a comeback, Louisiana may well present his best opportunity. It will be interesting to see if the polls shift in response to Santorum’s wins last Tuesday night, and change the Gingrich campaign’s calculations about whether such a comeback is still even remotely possible.

Greta Van Susteren: The Obama Campaign’s Ad on Gov. Palin

◼ Check out our discussion with the Washington Examiner’s Byron York from tonight’s news show and share your thoughts and join the debate! - Gretawire

Santorum sweeps Alabama, Mississippi primaries

◼ A resurgent Rick Santorum swept primaries in Alabama and Mississippi Tuesday night, upending the race for the Republican presidential nomination as he sought to push Newt Gingrich toward the sidelines. - AP

Mitt Romney was running third in both states.

"We did it again," Santorum told cheering supporters in Lafayette, La. He said it was time for conservatives to unite in an effort to defeat Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who is the faraway leader in the competition for Republican National Convention delegates.

Romney bristled in the hours before the votes were counted, saying Santorum was "at the desperate end of his campaign."

But it was Gingrich with the most to lose as he struggled for political survival in a part of the country he hoped would fuel one more comeback in the unpredictable race to pick an opponent to President Barack Obama.

He congratulated Santorum on his victories, and poked at Romney. "If you're the front-runner and you keep coming in third, you're not much of a front-runner," he said in Birmingham, Ala.

Mini-Super Tuesday in the South: Alabama, Mississippi vote

◼ Polls have just closed in Alabama and Mississippi. Mitt Romney wanted to put it away tonight, and that’s not happening. Before the votes were counted, the Romney camp already seemed set on skipping an election-night address. - Michelle Malkin

Early exit poll results show Rick Santorum slightly ahead in Alabama and Mississippi a three-way toss-up between Santorum, Romney, and Newt Gingrich. CNN exits showed Romney and Santorum tied among evangelicals.

Romney has outspent Santorum and Gingrich 4 to 1.

GYNESCARE IS NOT WORKING

◼ In 2011 the left fueled itself on Mediscare. In 2012 they seem to be going with Gynescare. - Big Journalism

But the early results aren't very promising. A NY Times poll released today asks two questions about birth control and finds that 51% of Americans believe employers should be able to opt out of coverage if they have a religious or moral objection. When the question is re-focused on religious institutions, such as Catholic hospitals, 57% agree and just 36% disagree.

That's even after weeks of media focused on the issue, nearly all of it following the Democratic line. Has even one reporter asked Sandra Fluke how she came up with the absurd $3,000 figure for the cost of birth control? Surely she's heard of Planned Parenthood?

Mark Levin Challenges Obama $50,000 To Debate

◼ "I will give $50,000 to Obama's Super PAC if he will debate me for one hour," Mark Levin said on his nationally syndicated radio program tonight. - Real Clear Politics

Levin: "I see my friend Sarah Palin has challenged Obama to a debate, because now he’s running ads against her. Come on. I’ll tell you what; I will give, are you ready for this Mr. Producer?

"I will give $50,000 to Obama's Super PAC if he will debate me for one hour. Now he’s flying all over the country in exchange for meals and handshakes and photos. People are giving a lot less than that. Just one hour, a debate. It doesn’t even have to be televised. In fact, we’ll do it right here on this program. Be very professional, be very fair, equal time, just a debate."

◼ Listen to archived show at marklevinshow.com

◼ Sarah Palin Mark Levin: Challenge Obama to Debate: “Man of Valor” Rankles Obama - Maggie's Notebook

CBO NEARLY DOUBLES OBAMACARE ESTIMATE...

◼ President Obama's national health care law will cost $1.76 trillion over a decade, according to a new projection released today by the Congressional Budget Office, rather than the $940 billion forecast when it was signed into law. - Philip Klein/Washington Examiner
◼ FLASHBACK: Obama pledges legislation will cost 'around $900 billion over 10 years' - WhiteHouse.gov
Plus:
◼ New study finds Obama's regulations cost $46B a year - Washington Examiner

Steven Chu. Remember him, the energy secretary, "the Nobel prize-winning" energy secretary who appeared before a congressional committee and said that he wasn't interested in gasoline prices coming down?

◼ Chu Retracts Desire for Higher Gas Prices - Rush

So in 2008, Chu said, "Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe." That's what he said in 2008. He was reminded of that comment today during his congressional testimony, and he backed away from it. "I no longer share that view," said Chu to Senator Mike Lee, Republican, Utah. Chu said, "When I became Secretary of Energy, I represented the United States government, and I think right now in this economic very slow return these prices with could very well affect the comeback of our economy." It sounds like he's not sure that gasoline prices might have a deleterious effect on the economy.

So Chu is now saying his previous statements are no longer operational. That's how the Democrats characterize their gaffes.

A Mere 80% Say They’re Not Better Off Than Four Years Ago

◼ In today’s CBS News poll - Jim Geraghty/National Review Online
◼ CBS News/New York Times Poll

Leno: Scary news: Gas could be $6 by summer. But the good news is Obama is aware of it & will continue to talk about it between fundraisers.

Breitbart Exclusive: O'Keefe Video Exposes Voter Fraud-Friendly Policies in Vermont

◼ James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas has released a new video exposing just how easy it is to commit voter fraud in Vermont. - CHRISTIAN HARTSOCK/Big Government

The video, a sequel to O'Keefe's "Primary of the Living Dead" in New Hampshire, shows a Veritas agent entering various voting places around the state of Vermont, giving a different name each time. Each time, he is given a ballot without showing an ID, to his disbelief.



◼ “It is a national disgrace that ballots can be given out in the names of dead people,” O’Keefe told Breitbart.com. “Threats of government intimidation will not stop us from protecting the integrity of the ballot box. If any state has a system which encourages ballots to be given out to the wrong person, dead or alive, we will come to your state, we will film your poll workers, and Project Veritas will put the videos on YouTube. States like Vermont and New Hampshire have to take dead people off voter registration forms and clean up their act, once and for all.” - BreitbartTV

Let’s Talk About the Real Issues, Mr. President

◼ The far Left continues to believe American voters are not smart enough to grasp the diversionary tactics it employs to distract us from the issues our President just doesn’t want to talk about – issues that affect us all every day and must be addressed. - Sarah Palin

Exhibit A in these diversionary tactics is an absurd new attack ad President Obama has released taking my comments out of context. I’m not running for any office, but I’m more than happy to accept the dubious honor of being Barack Obama’s “enemy of the week” if that includes the opportunity to debate him on the issues Americans are actually concerned about. (Remember when I said you don’t need a title to make a difference?)

Just off the top of my head, a few of these concerning issues include: a debt crisis that has us hurtling towards a Greek-style collapse, entitlement programs going bankrupt, a credit downgrade for the first time in our history, a government takeover of the health care industry that makes care more expensive and puts a rationing panel of faceless bureaucrats between you and your doctor (aka a “death panel”), $4 and $5 gas at the pump exacerbated by an anti-drilling agenda that rejects good paying energy sector jobs and makes us more dependent on dangerous foreign regimes, a war in Afghanistan that seems unfocused and unending, a global presidential apology tour that’s made us look feeble and ridiculous, a housing market in the tank, the longest streak of high unemployment since World War II, private-sector job creators and industry strangled by burdensome regulations and an out-of-control Obama EPA, an attack on the Constitutional protection of religious liberty, an attack on private industry in right-to-work states, crony capitalism run amok in an administration in bed with their favored cronies to the detriment of genuine free market capitalism, green energy pay-to-play kickbacks to Obama campaign donors, and a Justice Department still stonewalling on a bungled operation that armed violent Mexican drug lords and led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent people.

I’m sure I missed a few things, but the list is just for starters. Read The Rest...

◼ Team Obama’s Negative Ads Against Palin - Alana Goodman/Commentary Magazine @alanagoodman

The Obama campaign wishes so badly it could run against a divisive national figure like Sarah Palin that it’s decided to just pretend it actually is....

Maybe the anti-Sarah Palin campaign video really is just a sign the Obama team is in completely desperate straits and simply has nothing else to run on or against. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Democrats start trying to emphasize Palin’s influence in the Republican Party, and call on Romney, Santorum, et al, to condemn her comments in the coming weeks.

Big Update: MYSTERY DATA MINING COMPANY REVEALED – Dem Group Ran Illegal Robocalls for “Women of 99%” in 25 US Districts & 12 States (Developing)

◼ Late last week a shady liberal group (they don’t even have a website) calling themselves the “Women of the 99%” made tens of thousands of illegal robocalls across the US attacking Rush Limbaugh and Republican lawmakers in battleground districts. - Jim Hoft/Gateway Pundit

The organization “Occupy Women of the 99%” is not a registered PAC or lobbying group. Therefore, it is illegal for this group to make robocalls. The group is making the calls anonymously – which also is illegal.

Also, the cost of running a robocall message list this large would be well over $100,000. So who is this group? And, who is funding this group? And is it just a coincidence that most of these districts are DCCC targeted “Red to Blue” districts?

...BIG UPDATE: Sources in Washington DC say the contact data came from Catalist, a liberal company that represents several democrats in Congress. The data warehouse represents every liberal/progressive group in existence including Organizing for America, the DNC, Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid. The group is also affiliated with the AFL-CIO and Planned Parenthood.

What this means: Once we find who was writing the checks to Catalist we will know who funded these illegal robocalls.

It’s Official… Despite Obama’s Many, Many Promises, Obamacare Funds Abortion After All

◼ President Obama repeatedly promised during the healthcare debate that Obamacare would not fund abortions.



He lied.

The concern pro-life organizations had about the ObamaCare legislation funding abortions has been confirmed, as the Obama administration has issued the final rules on abortion funding governing the controversial health care law.

Nestled within the “individual mandate” in the Obamacare act — that portion of the Act requiring every American to purchase government — approved insurance or pay a penalty — is an “abortion premium mandate.” This mandate requires all persons enrolled in insurance plans that include elective abortion coverage to pay a separate premium from their own pockets to fund abortion. As a result, many pro-life Americans will have to decide between a plan that violates their consciences by funding abortion, or a plan that may not meet their health needs. ◼ Obama Admin Finalizes Rules: $1 Abortions in ObamaCare - Life News

Democrats sneak Uncle Sam into your bedroom

◼ They give donors, political allies at Big Pharma a wet kiss - Dr. Milton R. Wolf/The Washington Times

Pop quiz: What is the most expensive lunch you can buy? Answer: The one someone convinces you is free. Ask your average fifth-grader if there’s such thing as a free lunch. Now ask a Democrat. Care to wager who’s smarter? Another quiz: How can Democrats avoid discussions of Obamacare’s growing price tag, the failed stimulus, green job boondoggles, unemployment, bank bailouts, auto takeovers, food stamps, credit downgrades and soaring gas prices? Answer: Claim that Republicans want to steal your girly parts.

When the going gets tough, the left gets predictable. Democrats’ false promises of big-government utopia have collapsed once again and so they retreat to their well-worn playbook, which really only has three plays: class warfare, an overcharged race card and an equally overcharged gender card. Throw in some good old-fashioned corporate boondoggles and voila! Democrats have their re-election plan.

Santorum Concedes: He Can't Win The Nomination Outright

◼ Winning by losing? Strategy memo is less a “path to victory” as it is a path to a contested convention. - Buzzfeed

NOW President: I Want President Obama Re-elected so Mysogynist Remarks Don't Matter

◼ link - Katie Pavlich/Townhall

Last week, SHEPac released a video calling on President Obama's re-election campaign to give back a $1 million check written by "comedian" Bill Maher.

Despite Maher's disgusting remarks, NOW (National Organization for Women) President Terry O'Neill, who claims to stand up for women, wants President Obama to be re-elected and doesn't think he should return Maher's check.

NRCC: Americans Overwhelmingly Disapprove of Dems’ Gas Price Record But Democrats Are Celebrating Anyway

◼ Democrats Celebrate Economic Failure and Rising Gas Prices That Hurt Working Families - Comprehensive links and quotes here.

La. Gov. Jindal: Obama’s ‘Radical Environmental Policy’ Wreaks Havoc on Energy

◼ Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal contends that Republican criticism of the Obama administration’s handling of rising energy costs “lets the president off too easily.” - Newsmax

And President Barack Obama's “radical environmental policy” is one of the main causes for his failed national energy policy, Jindal writes in an Op-Ed in The Wall Street Journal.

“This administration willfully ignores rational choices that would lower energy prices and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign energy sources,” The Bayou State Republican writes.

Jindal, whose state relies on the oil and natural gas industries, also argues that the reason domestic oil production is higher now than it was in 2003 is because decisions to do so were “made by private companies before he took office.”

Jindal mentions several things President Obama should do to give certainty to the American people “that energy independence, not politics, will drive our nation’s security.”

◼ Obama's Politicized Energy Policy - BOBBY JINDAL/Wall St. Journal

Governor Brown Hypocrisy on Pension Reform

◼ Jerry is a labor guy and he, like the Democrats in the legislature, will do nothing to anger or upset their most valued constituency. - htja

In his State of the State Address, Governor Brown acknowledged the dire need for pension reform in California. But the immediate question on the minds of political insiders was two-fold: First, whether the Governor would support substantive reform (as opposed to just window dressing) and, second, how much, if any, political capital he would expend to see his plan enacted into law.

On the first point, Brown surprised us by proposing a fairly detailed 12-point plan that even his most harsh critics had to concede was substantive. But, regrettably, as HJTA predicted, the answer to the second question of how much effort he would use to see the plan to fruition was, simply, not much.

Ron Paul quietly scores first popular vote victory

◼ Texas Rep. Ron Paul secured his first popular vote victory of 2012 this weekend in the Virgin Islands. - Daily Caller

But although he won the most votes in the territory’s Republican presidential caucuses, he didn’t walk away with the most delegates.

According to results released by the Republican Party of the Virgin Islands, Paul received 112 votes, or 29 percent, to Mitt Romney’s 101 votes, a 26 percent share. Rick Santorum received 23 votes and Newt Gingrich attracted 18 votes.

National Federation of Republican Women to President Obama: 'Give It Back!'

◼ Maher's One Million Dollar Donation to SuperPac Should be Returned

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Rae Lynne Chornenky, President of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW), issued the following statement regarding a recent $1 million donation from Bill Maher to Priorities USA Action, a pro-Barack Obama Super PAC.

“We have a message for President Obama. It's difficult to take you seriously, Mr. President. You make a media spectacle out of personally contacting Sandra Fluke, saying that you did so because you want your own daughters to be able to participate in public debate without the threat of being personally attacked. But then you refuse to criticize your own supporter, Bill Maher, for the vile, sexist names he has called prominent Republican women. And, even worse, you accept a $1 million donation from him. Are we to assume that only liberal, Democrat women deserve civility in the public square? This is either the height of hypocrisy, or a phony, political gesture -- or both. Put your money where your mouth is, Mr. President, and return this donation.”

Founded in 1938, the NFRW has thousands of active members in local clubs across the nation and in several U.S. territories, making it one of the largest women’s political organizations in the country. The grassroots organization works to promote the principles and objectives of the Republican Party, elect Republican candidates, inform the public through political education and activity, and increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government.

For more information about the NFRW, visit www.nfrw.org.

Republicans Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney battled on Monday for conservative support in Mississippi and Alabama ahead of presidential primaries that polls showed have turned into tense three-way ties.

◼ Republicans in three-way battle in Deep South - Reuters

The California Republican Party Announces Endorsements for the 2012 Elections

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Republican Party announced its endorsements for the 2012 June statewide election this morning. The endorsements come as another "first" for the California Republican Party in response to Prop. 14 - The "Top Two Primary."

On Sunday, Republican Leaders met in Burbank to consider races from all over the state as part of a two-stage process. The first stage was at the local County Republican Party level which considered the races prior to the State Party. The State Party then considered the local Party endorsements and voted. The State Party passed by-laws for that process nearly a year ago which would help the organization adjust to the changes brought on by Prop .14.

"As the Party prepares to be a vigorous contender in California's first top two primary, we seek to promote the most competitive candidates in the field this Primary season," said State Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro. “As Chairman, I am very pleased with the level of thoughtful participation from around the state. It was an encouraging prelude to an invigorated Party getting ready for this important election year.”

Candidates were given a right to a hearing at the CRP Board Endorsement meeting (and some at the county level as well, if endorsements were conducted by a local Party). The hearing opportunities were allowed in person or over the phone. The hearing was open to the public and was live-streamed on the web.

◼ Please click HERE for the full list of endorsements.
__________________
Humboldt: The California Republican Party's board of directors met yesterday, heard from many candidates and voted its endorsements. In our Congressional District, the 2nd, the CRP endorsed our committee's choice, Dan Roberts. It made no endorsement in the 2nd Assembly District (Chesbro is the incumbent Democrat) because no Republican filed for the job. The CRP endorsed Elizabeth Emken for U.S. Senate (there are three other Republicans running).
__________________

Voters Catching on that Regulations are Burden to Business

◼ The (recent Public Policy Institute) poll found that 48% think government regulation is necessary while 43% took the side of ‘more harm than good.’ However, the numbers have changed dramatically since the last time PPIC asked this question. In 2008, 57% agreed that regulation was necessary while 34% believed regulations did more harm than good. - Joel Fox/Fox&Hounds

In addition, PPIC asked respondents if environmental laws and regulations were worth the cost. In famously environmentally conscious California, the results were split. While 47% said they were worth the cost, 45% said they cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. Again, that is a shift in numbers – a “marked change” PPIC called it –from previous polls on this question. The idea that environmental regulations were worth the cost consistently scored in the high 50s to low 60s percentile.

In our difficult economy, voters recognize the need for businesses to create jobs. Job creation is often hampered by both time consuming paperwork and costs of regulations. Given the numbers in the PPIC poll voters seem to understand that.

Obama Fares Worse Among Women after Month-Long Contraception Mandate Battle

◼ Washington Post poll contradicts Washington Post narrative about female voters. - Weekly Standard

How's the great contraception mandate battle of 2012 playing out? If you read the Washington Post's news coverage, the issue is supposedly killing Republicans among female voters. But the newest Washington Post/ABC poll tells a different story.

During the first few days of February, about a week before Obama declared a so-called "accommodation" to the contraception/abortifacient mandate, a Washington Post/ABC poll showed Obama's approval rating at 50 percent, with 46 percent of Americans disapproving.

Then, from March 7 to 10--a week into the national media firestorm surrounding Rush Limbaugh's degrading remarks about Georgetown Law student and liberal activist Sandra Fluke--Washington Post/ABC conducted another poll. It found Obama's approval rating at 46 percent, down four points from February, and his disapproval rating at 50 percent, up four points from February.
And in other polls:
◼ Poll: Only 37% Say Their Views More Like Obama’s Than Republicans, 59% Says He Is More Liberal Than Themselves… - Weasel Zippers
◼ 37% Say Their Views More Like Obama’s; 53% Pick One of GOP Contenders - Rasmussen
◼ ABC/Washington Post: Disapproval of Obama Handling of Gas Prices at 65%; Update: Salazar: President Feels Your Pain - Michelle Malkin

This helps explain the abrupt moratorium on any mention of our algae-powered future in Saturday’s energy address.

Update II: ◼ The latest CBS/NYT poll puts Obama’s approval at a new low of 41%. Word is the Department of Energy’s next contest will be a sizable award to the company that can invent a car that runs on contraceptives.

◼ CBS/NYT poll: Obama's approval ratings upside-down, hits new low - Politico

The numbers are similar to the dip his approval took in an ABC News/Washington Post poll earlier today, and the slippage is seen in lower-income households, and in relation to the economy and foreign policy, an issue that's been in the news of late.

◼ Poll: Obama's approval rating sinks to new low - CBS

◼ Obama has more problems than gas prices - Jennifer Rubin/Washington Post

At long last, a Senate plan to balance the budget

◼ One of the biggest myths propagated by Washington's professional politicians is the idea that balancing the federal budget requires some sort of superhuman political and budgetary wisdom. - Washington Examiner EDITORIAL

Both political parties are afflicted with this defeatist thinking. President Obama's latest proposed federal spending blueprint is a depressing case in point. The Obama proposal assumes $47 trillion more spending, $1.9 trillion in new taxes and a national debt of $25.9 trillion -- at the end of the decade. Things look somewhat better over in the Republican-controlled House, where the budget committee's Road to Prosperity proposal cuts $4.4 trillion more from planned spending than the Obama budget, but only "puts the budget on the path to balance," rather than eliminating annual deficits entirely.

Now along comes the Senate Tea Party Caucus with a budget proposal -- dubbed "A Platform to Revitalize America" -- that not only balances federal spending and revenues in five years, but produces a $117 billion surplus in 2017. The plan is the handiwork of the three senators who make up the Senate Tea Party Caucus -- Jim DeMint, R-S.C., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Mike Lee, R-Utah. "The whole point here is to show we can reasonably balance the budget within a five-year period. This idea that we have to look 30 years out to balance the budget is not only unnecessary, but it's improbable. We cannot continue to spend at our current rate for 10 more years, much less 20 or 30 more years. This is an urgent matter," said DeMint last week. Read the rest...

Obama's "None-of-the-Above" Energy Policy

Daily Contraception Mandate Lie: Who started it?

◼ [Hint, it was the side that issued the government *mandate*] - Timothy P. Carney/Washington Examiner @tpcarney

Defense of the contraception mandate has rested on not merely speaking falsely, but actually inverting the truth – saying the exact opposite of what is true. For instance, defending a government mandate that employers provide birth-control coverage by saying government and employers shouldn’t get involved in birth control is kind of like defending TARP by saying government shouldn’t get involved in banking....

...conservatives did not pick this fight. Obama’s HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius picked the fight by introducing government into a question that used to be private, thus infringing on individual liberty in a way that many Americans find violates their conscience.

We’re fighting back. Maybe you think that’s a losing political thing to do, but that doesn’t mean (a) we shouldn’t fight, or (b) that we started the fight.

Is it possible that Dorothy Brown and Soledad O’Brien are trying to mislead CNN’s viewers?

◼ Soledad O’Brien’s “Expert” On Critical Race Theory Lied. - The Right Scoop



Pay close attention to the main argument: Critical Race Theory “is nothing about white supremacy.”

That’s really interesting considering this same lady, Dorothy Brown, who “wrote the book on CRT”, said this in the book about CRT:

Although CRT does not employ a single methodology, it seeks to highlight the ways in which the law is not neutral and objective, but designed to support White supremacy and the subordination of people of color.

◼ Video: Derrick Bell Explains The Underlying, Racialist Assumption Behind Marxist Critical Race Theory - Nice Deb

◼ CRITICAL RACE THEORY EXPLAINED - Ben Shapiro/Big Government

Last week, Breitbart.com released video demonstrating Barack Obama’s close relationship with Derrick Bell, the father of Critical Race Theory (CRT). And we’ve seen Soledad O’Brien try to twist the definition of critical race theory in order to protect Obama by grabbing a quick definition from Wikipedia. But just what is CRT? Why is it so dangerous? And what role does it play in President Obama’s thinking? - Learn more at the link.

◼ Soledad O’Brien is right and everybody needs to shut up about it, says Soledad O’Brien (UPDATE: Did Dorothy Brown forget what she wrote?)

As a guy I used to know used to say: “It’s the Internet, and we can fact-check your ass.”

Politics versus principle.

◼ War on Conservative Women Update: Louis CK Pulls Out of Correspondents’ Dinner - John Hayward/Human Events

...Of course, those who understand this all about power, identity politics, and the suppression of dissent know that the only surprise in this whole affair has been the inability of the Left to exercise complete control over the media narrative.

Women like van Susteren and Michelle Malkin – whose “War on Conservative Women” column recounted some of the vile abuse she has been subjected to – are the unexpected complications liberals didn’t take into account, when they thought an opportunity to do some real damage to Rush Limbaugh presented itself. Writing at Red State last Friday, Lori Ziganto got “shake fisty” as she recalled some other pearls of liberal misogyny, dropped not by professional “comedians,” but by “serious” commentators, and even elected officials. There are few prominent conservative women who haven’t been called much worse than a “slut” by the contemptuous Left.

Surprised by the level of blowback, liberals have been reduced to offering a series of bizarre apologia for Bill Maher, explaining why his far more vicious rhetoric is no big deal, while Rush Limbaugh still needs to be forced off the air. The major talking points are that Maher’s language is acceptable because he’s a comedian, his audience is much smaller than Limbaugh’s, and the target of his slurs was a woman who held elected office.

Absolutely none of those talking points can be squared with President Obama’s claims that he got personally involved in the Sandra Fluke affair because he doesn’t want his daughters to worry about being called horrible names, should they choose to become involved in civic life. Are we supposed to believe Obama would be fine with his daughters being called “sluts,” and worse, because they stood for an election, or because their attacker claims to be a professional comedian? Of course not.

Justice Department files objection to Texas voter ID law

◼ The Justice Department is objecting to a new photo ID law in Texas for voters, saying the state has failed to demonstrate that the the law is not discriminatory by design against Hispanic voters. - FOX

Texas is the second state to have its voter ID law challenged. The Justice Department already blocked a similar law from taking effect in South Carolina

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they disapprove of the way the president is handling the situation at the pump, where rising prices have already hit hard. Just 26 percent approve of his work on the issue, his lowest rating in the poll. Most Americans say higher prices are already taking a toll on family finances, and nearly half say they think that prices will continue to rise, and stay high.

◼ Gas prices sink Obama’s ratings on economy, bring parity to race for White House - Washington Post

Let the president be duly warned.

◼ OBAMA IMPEACHMENT BILL NOW IN CONGRESS - Declares president's use of military without approval 'high crime, misdemeanor' - Drew Zahn/WND

Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., R-N.C., has introduced a resolution declaring that should the president use offensive military force without authorization of an act of Congress, “it is the sense of Congress” that such an act would be “an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor.”

Specifically, Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution reserves for Congress alone the power to declare war, a restriction that has been sorely tested in recent years, including Obama’s authorization of military force in Libya.

In ◼ an exclusive WND column, former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo claims that Jones introduced his House Concurrent Resolution 107 in response to startling recent comments from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

“This week it was Secretary of Defense Panetta’s declaration before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he and President Obama look not to the Congress for authorization to bomb Syria but to NATO and the United Nations,” Tancredo writes. “This led to Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., introducing an official resolution calling for impeachment should Obama take offensive action based on Panetta’s policy statement, because it would violate the Constitution.”

In response to questions from Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., over who determines the proper and legal use of the U.S. military, Panetta said, “Our goal would be to seek international permission and we would … come to the Congress and inform you and determine how best to approach this, whether or not we would want to get permission from the Congress – I think those are issues we would have to discuss as we decide what to do here.”

“Well, I’m almost breathless about that,” Sessions responded, “because what I heard you say is, ‘We’re going to seek international approval, and then we’ll come and tell the Congress what we might do, and we might seek congressional approval.’ And I just want to say to you that’s a big [deal]....”

The exchange itself can be seen below:



◼ OUR CHOICE: IMPEACHMENT OR DICTATORSHIP - Tom Tancredo/WND