Republicans Of The Year, 2012

Cherie and Rob Arkley

Mitt Romney’s Speech on Freedom Given at NRA Convention in St. Louis

◼ Mitt Romney uses NRA convention as platform to attack Obama - Jonathan Lemire/New York Daily News (image source)

Mitt Romney addressed the National Rifle Association’s annual convention Friday and pledged to protect their firearms — but mentioned the word “gun” only once in his speech.

Romney, who also brought his wife, Ann, on stage for an impassioned defense of motherhood, appealed to the powerful gun lobby for support by warning that President Obama wants to crack down on their personal liberties.

“We need a President who will enforce current laws, not create new ones that only serve to burden lawful gun owners,” he said at the convention in St. Louis.

“President Obama has not,” Romney added. “I will.”

◼ Mitt Romney warns NRA against an 'unrestrained' second-term Obama - Mitchell Landsberg/LA Times
◼ TRANSCRIPT - Fox News Insider

WaPo whines about donor to GOP Super PAC, omits fact that Obama's once again disabled all credit-card security on his website

◼ In 2008, Barack Obama collected as much as $100 million from illicit sources. - Doug Ross

With this as context (not to mention hundreds of millions in donations from public sector unions), we relay ◼ this whiny missive from the Washington Post

◼ Obama Donations - Anyone, Anywhere - DEMO on YouTube

The Obama campaign does not have the universal 3-digit security code feature for credit card transactions on their website. It appears that anyone, anywhere can donate to President Obama's re-election campaign, all you need is a credit card number. Watch me put Obama's donation system, as well as his opponents, to the test.

A searing firestorm of controversy erupted, and Obama operatives found themselves furiously scrambling away from Rosen and trying to distance her from the President, even though she’s visited the White House 35 times, which is more often than General David Petraeus, CIA director Leon Panetta, and Vice President Joe Biden combined.

◼ The Obama @WaronWomen goes hot - The dumbest talking point of an unpleasant campaign blows up in their faces. - John Hayward at Human Events

This has been a really bad week for the idiotic “War on Women” talking point Democrats have been pushing....

The crowning moment of this disastrous week for the Obama War on Women came when Democrat strategist Hilary Rosen made a sandwich of her own shoe on CNN by sneering that Mitt Romney’s wife Ann has “never worked a day in her life...”

Unfortunately for Team Obama, Rosen is still furiously digging away and refusing to apologize, rapidly becoming a Twitter laughingstock. The damage is done. There’s far more concrete “evidence” of Barack Obama and the Democrat Party waging a “War on Women” than anything introduced against Republicans, who have primarily been castigated for insisting that some women shouldn’t be forced to pay for other women’s birth control. Of course, anyone interested in facts and logic never had much patience for this idiotic political narrative to begin with.

◼ The Left's War on Women is Actually a War on Families - Demetrius Minor/Townhall

Soros-funded Media Matters For America and the gender-gap

◼ Soros funded MMfA hates women? Gender pay inequity rocks anti-Semitic Dem operation - Michelle Malkin via Twitter

...how does the progressive organization measure up to the “equal pay,” diversity quotas, and gender equity standards it accuses Republicans of failing to meet?

After reviewing the Soros monkey’s recent tax filings, (some) inconvenient facts have come to light at the link #WaronWomen #MApoli #tcot #p2

Four years later, Obama's in trouble, which is why he's visiting college campuses more often than a Red Bull delivery truck. He's talking louder and getting more shrill, because his campaign knows how desperately it needs to replicate -- or even come close to replicating -- his success with the youth vote in 2008.

◼ In Battle for Young Voters, Romney Should Play it Uncool - Jonah Goldberg/Townhall

...Obama's approval rating among 18- to 29-year-olds hovers around 50 percent (after almost a year of bad press for the GOP). But a late 2011 Harvard survey found that only 12 percent of young people felt the country was moving in the right direction. An outfit called Generation Opportunity, which is trying to organize young voters on economic issues, finds that 77 percent of young people have had to put their lives on hold because of the economy....

Indeed, Romney should take some lessons from Ron Paul on this score. There is quite literally nothing hip or cool about Paul, but of all the politicians this cycle, he probably generates the most excitement among young voters. Now, part of Paul's appeal Romney cannot copy. Paul's esoteric and conspiratorial theorizing about the Federal Reserve, for instance, won't help Romney in the general election.

But what Romney can learn from the 76-year-old Paul is the appeal of authentic nerd chic. It's cool to be really into your issues and interests. And one of the things that distinguishes the millennial generation is an understanding that nerds -- Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs et al. -- get things done, and get rich as a result.

After four years of dashed expectations, a studiously uncool Romney might offer a welcome contrast to Obama's audacity of hype.

Fast and Furious Scandal Launched Into 2012 Presidential Election by Mitt Romney

◼ GOP Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney applauded House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley for their efforts to investigate the Obama Justice Department’s lethal Operation Fast and Furious scandal today during a speech at the NRA Annual Meeting Leadership Forum in St. Louis. - Katie Pavlich/Townhall

"I applaud Congressman Issa and Senator Grassley for their work in exposing the “Fast and Furious” scandal. And I applaud NRA leadership for being among the first and most vocal in calling upon Attorney General Holder to resign," Romney said.

◼ Napolitano perjured herself to Congress in Fast & Furious testimony - Neil W. McCabe/Human Events

(T)he women of the right are fighting their way through a hostile cesspool of misogyny that has been SOP for the feminist left.

◼ Real Moms of the GOP versus White House SOP - Michelle Malkin

Rosen and her media defenders dismissed "faux outrage" about her attack. But the real moms of the GOP have launched their own Occupy movement in the social media space once dominated by Obama's army. And they're winning.

◼ Thank You, Ms. Rosen - David Limbaugh/Townhall

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: PALIN TALKS PAIN AT THE PUMP AHEAD OF FOX NEWS SPECIAL

◼ In an exclusive interview to Breitbart News, Sarah Palin discussed energy policy and her Fox News Special (with Eric Bolling) "Paying at the Pump," which airs tonight on FNC at 10pm ET. - Breitbart News

She also touched on some other topics of the day. From the interview: "The problem is not the American people or our vast resources. The problem is a lack of political will. Our politicians don’t have comprehensive energy plans. They have a couple of talking points that they spout over and over. Obama is a perfect example of this."

TWO NEW NATIONAL POLLS SHOW ROMNEY BEATING OBAMA

◼ With the media completely on President Obama's side and his cynical, divisive national community organizing in a full racial and gender rage, two new polls show none of it's working. - John Nolte/Breitbart's BIG Government

Obama’s women problem

◼ Contrary to the Democrats’ claims, there is no “war on women.” But there is a war for women’s votes. It is a war Romney can win — if he listens to what women want. - Marc Thiessen/Washington Post

With polls showing Mitt Romney losing ground with women voters, many in Washington have been buzzing in recent days over Romney’s “woman problem.” They’ve got it backward: It is Barack Obama who has the bigger problem with women.

When he took office in 2009, Obama’s job approval rating with women had reached 70 percent; today it has slipped to 49 percent — a precipitous decline of 21 points. This is why the president has been working overtime to court the women’s vote — weighing in on whether women should be admitted to the Augusta National Golf Club (even though nobody asked what he thought); publicly taking the side of a female Georgetown University law student in her spat with Rush Limbaugh; and forcing religious employers to provide coverage for contraception and abortion-inducing drugs.

But here’s the interesting thing: It’s not working. As these controversies have dominated the news in recent weeks, Obama’s approval rating among women has not gone up; it has actually declined slightly. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because country club membership and who pays for birth control are not the issues women voters are most concerned about.

The No. 1 issue women said was a priority for them is health care. Obamacare remains deeply unpopular with the American people, and women are even more opposed to it than men.

The No. 2 issue women identified on their list of priorities: Gas prices. Not a winning issue for the president.

The No. 3 issue for women? Unemployment.

The No. 4 issue for women? The national debt.

Far from having the upper hand when it comes to the women’s vote, Obama is either vulnerable or in deep trouble on almost every key issue women voters say they care about.

Fox News Poll: Romney Edges Obama as Approval of President Drops

◼ Republican Mitt Romney holds a slim edge over President Obama in a head-to-head matchup, a Fox News poll released Thursday shows. In addition, the poll finds the president’s job rating has dropped to its lowest point of the year. - FOX

...More Republicans (42 percent) than Democrats (32 percent) or independents (34 percent) say they are “extremely” interested in the upcoming presidential election.

...Among the highly sought after group of independents, the poll found 43 percent back Romney and 37 percent Obama.

...The poll shows the gender gap may not solely be a problem for the Republican candidate. Women are more likely to back Obama (by 49-41 percent), while men are even more likely to give their support to Romney (by 52-38 percent).

...Obama’s overall job approval rating stands at 42 percent, down from 47 percent last month. The drop comes mainly from Democrats: 80 percent approve now, down from 86 percent in March. A 51 percent majority of voters disapproves of the job Obama is doing.

More voters think Obama’s policies have hurt (37 percent) rather than helped the economy (31 percent). Three in 10 say his policies haven’t made much a difference either way (31 percent).

By more than two-to-one voters say the spending is out of control and the country must take action to reduce the national debt. Much more at the link

"The scandal is: They let the mask slip. They let it show."

◼ It's the turning point in the presidential race... strangely, and yet not surprisingly. The trajectory changes right here. Today. - Althouse

As we'd talked about earlier: The Democrats don't really believe anything. They're just working on various voting blocs. They started this "war on women" theme, but it was a means to an end. Women were out there, so numerous, so richly exploitable. The campaign made its move. And then... the slip.

What the hell? Liberals consider this an “apology”?

◼ Once again demonstrating the enduring truth that, if it weren’t for double standards, Democrats would have no standards at all. - The Other McCain

Rosen is defending, not apologizing for, her hateful attitude toward traditional wives and mothers. And please tell me who spent weeks trying to “score political points” on this issue, huh?

◼ From Hillary Rosen Spare me the faux anger from the right who view the issue of women’s rights and advancement as a way to score political points. at Huffington Post
◼ ROSEN’S WAR ON ROMNEY - The Washington Free Beacon
DEMOCRAT WHO BASHED ANN ROMNEY HAS TIES TO WHITE HOUSE, DNC

New Romney Bumper Sticker: Moms Drive The Economy

◼ Get your BUMPER STICKER: Moms Drive the Economy

◼ DEMS DOWNLOAD ON ROSEN... - Rachel Weiner/Washington Post via Drudge

Democrats have engaged in a full-court press in pushing back on strategist Hilary Rosen’s comment on CNN Wednesday night that as a wealthy stay-at-home-mom Ann Romney “never worked a day in her life.” ...Rosen apologized to Romney Thursday, but only after kicking up a firestorm over stay-at-home motherhood and drawing a rebuke from the president himself.

◼ 'This is going to be an ugly campaign season'

"The modern-day campaign and the swiftness of the charges and the counter charges and the intensity of it is enormously frightening for campaign professionals and for consultants and for candidates alike," she said. "This is going to be an ugly campaign season and if this ends up being the start to it, so be it."

Apologizing again, Rosen said she saw no need to meet with Ann Romney face-to-face to discuss the issue.

◼ Axelrod to CNN: Rosen is 'your employee, not ours' - Politico

In Interview, Obama Pressed On Taking So Many Vacations While Americans Suffer

During an interview with KMOV of St. Louis, President Obama gets questioned on taking so many vacations at tax payer expense

◼ Who foots bill when Obama travels? Answer gets murky on combined campaign-official trips - Susan Crabtree/Washington Times

When President Obama traveled to Florida this week, he sandwiched a partisan speech at Florida Atlantic University between two multimillion-dollar fundraisers for his 2012 campaign, allowing him to label at least part of the trip to a critical battleground state as official business.

While Mr. Obama can rely on Air Force One and other military aircraft at his disposal for official business, federal election laws require his campaign to pay for these presidential perquisites at just a fraction of the cost — the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket — whenever he or other administration officials are using federal government resources for political activity....

A search of Obama campaign Federal Election Commission reports turned up less than $5,500 in payments last year to the U.S. Treasury — and those payments did not list the purpose behind them....

As of March 6, Mr. Obama has participated in 191 fundraisers, already topping the re-election cycle totals of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, who held 167 and 173 fundraisers, respectively, according to Mr. Doherty, who has been tracking figures for an upcoming book, “Rise of the President’s Permanent Campaign.”

In addition, Mr. Obama has deployed Cabinet members and senior aides across the country in aggressive and unprecedented ways. The officials will appear as surrogates at so-called “super PAC” events, as well as campaign and party events. The campaign’s “Speaker Series” programs sells time with White House advisers and Cabinet officials. For $5,000, supporters can buy a “season pass” to see officials when they come to town.

“This affidavit does not even make it to probable cause,” Dershowitz concluded. “everything in the affidavit is completely consistent with a defense of self-defense. Everything.”

◼ Harvard Prof. Alan Dershowitz: Zimmerman Arrest Affidavit ‘Irresponsible And Unethical’ - Noah Rothman/Mediaite

“But it’s worse than that,” said Dershowitz. “It’s irresponsible and unethical in not including material that favors the defendant.”

◼ THE TRAYVON TIMELINE: HOW LOCAL CRIME STORY BECAME NATIONAL RACIAL OUTRAGE - Joel B. Pollak at Breitbart's BIG Journalism

FLASHBACK: BREITBART PREDICTS TRAYVON RACE WAR AT 2012 CPAC

◼ In his celebrated address to the Conservative Political Action Conference this past February, Andrew Breitbart predicted that the left and the media would do exactly what they are doing today: concoct false accusations of racism to divide Americans and intimidate opponents of President Barack Obama. - Joel B. Pollak/BIG Journalism

Breitbart specifically singled out Al Sharpton and MSNBC, anticipating that they would cynically use empty "dog whistle" accusations to inflame racial tensions. He noted that it made no sense for Sharpton to have a prime time program "unless you understand what they're doing":

This is gonna be the dog whistle election cycle. They tested it in 2011, so that [Sharpton] and his pal Touré, and that punk, Tim Jacob Wise, and Ed [Schultz], and [Rachel] Maddow can sit there and call everyone who's caucasian racist--"I heard it! I used 'is' instead of 'are'! He's a racist! That's a dog whistle"

Ann Romney: "We need to respect the choices that women make"

#Occupy Obama's Pocket

◼ Cartoon by William Warren

DEMOCRATS PANIC, BRING OUT FLOTUS FOR "WAR ON MOMS" DAMAGE CONTROL

◼ Sadly, this isn't about standing up for true women's equality (what of Obama's own pay inequality again?) but rather this is all optics for a campaign. - Dana Loesch at Breitbart's Big Journalism

The blowback from Democrat strategist Hilary Rosen's remarks against stay-at-home moms reached a fever pitch this morning, kicking the campaign into massive damage control mode. Last night David Axelrod and Jim Messina threw Rosen under the bus and this afternoon Michelle Obama joined them.

◼ Hilary Rosen, Frequent White House Visitor

A Democratic consultant with ties to the Obama administration sneering that Ann Romney “never worked a day in her life” is an opportunity for the Romney campaign, but a small problem in the big picture. In the big picture, women who are unable to find work in Obama’s economy are a bigger one.

Having said that, White House visitor logs indicate that “Hilary Rosen” visited the White House 35 times.

Gen. David Petraeus, head of our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the current CIA director, nine times.

◼ WAS HILARY ROSEN THE OBAMA SPIN DOCTOR BEHIND SANDRA FLUKE? - it is increasingly likely that Rosen was the PR genius advising the DNC and Obama behind the scenes. - Breitbart News

UPDATE: ◼ (Barack) Obama Says Rosen's Comments on Ann Romney Were 'Ill-Advised' - FOX

Obama and DNC advisor Attacks Ann Romney...

◼ Hilary Rosen talks Ann Romney tweet - Dylan Byers/Politico

Democratic strategist and DNC adviser Hilary Rosen took a swipe at Mitt Romney's wife on CNN tonight, claiming that Ann had "never worked a day in her life" -- a statement that led to criticism on Twitter from not just Ann but from the Obama campaign as well.... “I could not disagree with Hilary Rosen any more strongly. Her comments were wrong and family should be off limits. She should apologize,” Obama campaign manger Jim Messina tweeted. “Also Disappointed in Hilary Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney. They were inappropriate and offensive," Obama strategist David Axelrod added.... But Rosen isn't backing down.

◼ After insult, Romney hits back with lightning speed - Byron York/Washington Examiner

Want a preview of the hyper-speed political warfare that will mark the general election campaign? Look no farther than a skirmish, conducted first on Twitter and later everywhere else, that erupted Wednesday night over a Democratic strategist's accusation that Ann Romney has "never worked a day in her life."

It started on CNN, when Hilary Rosen, a longtime Democratic operative, appeared in a segment alongside fellow Democrat Paul Begala and conservative blogger Erick Erickson. Rosen denounced Republicans for -- she claimed -- wrongly attributing the phrase "war on women" to Democrats. And then, Rosen said this:

With respect to economic issues, I think actually that Mitt Romney is right that ultimately women care more about the economic well-being of their family and the like. But he doesn't connect on that issue, either. What you have is Mitt Romney running around the country saying well, you know, my wife tells me that what women really care about are economic issues, and when I listen to my wife, that's what I'm hearing. Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life. She's never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing in terms of how do we feed our kids, how do we send them to school, and why we worry about their future.

Within seconds, Rosen's statement that Ann Romney has "never worked a day in her life" began to burn up Twitter. Mrs. Romney, after all, had raised five children, as well as dealt with MS and cancer. That was work, no matter how much money her husband made.

◼ CNN liberal commentator: Ann Romney never worked a day in her life - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion

◼ The Left’s war on conservative women: We’re damned if we do stay home, and damned if we don’t - Michelle Malkin

◼ Here’s who Democrat hitwoman Hilary Rosen visited at the White House, (at least 35 visits) including at least 5 POTUS meetings - Michelle Malkin

Ex-BofA chief, an Obama backer in 2008, will co-host Romney fundraiser in Charlotte

◼ “Really, I’m supporting Mitt Romney in the Republican primary,” Hugh McColl told the Observer this week... - Tim Funk/Charlotte Observer

McColl (is) now listed as one of the co-chairs of a Charlotte fundraiser next week for Mitt Romney, Obama’s likely Republican opponent...

He’ll join fellow co-hosts C.D. Spangler and Johnny Harris – two other well-heeled Charlotteans with clout – at the April 18 event at Myers Park Country Club.

Strong men more likely to vote Conservative

◼ Physically strong men are more likely to hold right wing political views because they believe society should be geared to personal struggle and self-preservation, an academic study claims. - Telegraph

Gallup Poll: 42% of GOP voters favor Romney

◼ Mitt Romney is the preferred presidential candidate of 42 percent of Republicans polled nationwide, Gallup said Wednesday.

George Zimmerman charged with 'SECOND DEGREE MURDER'

◼ Second-degree murder charge in Trayvon Martin case - AP
◼ Issue capias charging Zimmerman with second degree murder
◼ Homicide Vs. Murder: The Differences - Yahoo

◼ "Let me tell you, the things that's about to happen, to these honkeys, these crackers, these pigs, these pink people, these ---- people. It has been long overdue. My prize right now this evening ... is gonna be the bounty, the arrest, dead or alive, for George Zimmerman. You feel me?" - New Black Panther Party chief of staff Michelle Williams 'apologizes.'

Job Killing Bills Hobble California in Global Competition

◼ CalChamber released its list of Job Killing legislation yesterday – 23 bills that would further curb California’s competitiveness and chill our investment climate. - Loren Kaye/Fox&Hounds

Expect on cue from labor unions and the tax-and-regulation lobby: tearing of hair and rending of garments. In their view, reforms to improve flexibility for workers and expedite permits for job-creating development is “a race to the bottom.”

I hate to inform them – we’ve already reached the bottom. We’re bringing up the rear in competitiveness, business tax climate, and trail the pack in regulatory climate. By an overwhelming margin, executives and owners tell us that it’s harder to do business in California than in other states.

A survey of the 2012 crop of job killers reveals a dreary choice – the authors of these bills are either ignorant of the fundamental conditions necessary for job creation – or they simply choose to ignore them.

Female employees in the Obama White House make considerably less than their male colleagues, records show

◼ HOSTILE WORKPLACE - OBAMA WHITE HOUSE PAYS WOMEN LESS THAN MEN, RECORDS SHOW

According to the 2011 annual report on White House staff, female employees earned a median annual salary of $60,000, which was about 18 percent less than the median salary for male employees ($71,000)....

President Obama has frequently criticized the gender pay gap, such as the one that exists in White House.

“Paycheck discrimination hurts families who lose out on badly needed income,” he said in a July 2010 statement. “And with so many families depending on women’s wages, it hurts the American economy as a whole....”

The president and his Democratic allies have accused Republicans of waging a “war on women,” and have touted themselves as champions of female equality. Obama’s rhetoric, however, has not always been supported by his actions.

◼ Past reports: The White House Boys’ Club: President Obama Has a Woman Problem - Amy Sullivan/TIME (2011)

◼ Oh my: Obama White House paying women employees less than men? - HotAir

◼ Romney campaign says 92.3% of the jobs lost under Obama were women's jobs. - Althouse

Spring has sprung! It's Tea Time...

NOTE: There is no General Meeting in April. Instead you are all invited to our Annual Membership SPRING TEA. We welcome new and prospective members to attend (yes, guys are welcome, too.) This year's Fashion Show will be hosted by Ferndale Clothing Co. There will be mouth-watering sweets and scrumptious hors-d’oeuvres, music, drawings, and gifts! It's a lot of fun and we hope you can all attend! Bring friends! Location: Jo Ann Stanhope’s home: 3430 Buttermilk Lane, Arcata. Questions? Call JoAnn at 822-4776.

Reince Priebus: "I'm not going to walk back. I'll double down on it. This war on women is a fiction"

Was it Confidence or Money that Prompted Gov. Brown to Stop Signature Drive?

◼ Most initiatives need professional signature gatherers to help get the necessary signatures to qualify a ballot measure. The governor’s compromise initiative is already spending three dollars a signature, well above other current initiative efforts. - Joel Fox/Fox&Hounds

Because of the tight deadline for acquiring over a million signatures in about five or six weeks the cost will probably go up as the petition drive nears its deadline.

The governor also has recently used direct mail to promote his measure. The accuracy rate for valid signatures is better with direct mail than collecting signatures at the mall. That’s because signatures gathered on the street present a greater likelihood of problems such as individuals not registered as voters signing. However, direct mail is more expensive.

Rushing to get signatures means that the validity rate might be lower than anticipated. Joe Mathews reported on this site last week that petition circulators are facing penalties for bringing in too many false signatures. As Mathews wrote, “Petition circulators told me that they are being threatened with penalties – 50 cents each deducted from what they’re paid – for even the smallest problems with signatures.”

This means Brown needs more money to fund his qualifying effort.

Chairman Del Beccaro Supports Republican Leaders' Call for Action on Pension Reform

◼ California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro today issued the following statement in support of Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff and Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway’s call for committee discussion of Governor Brown’s “Twelve Point Pension Reform Plan:”

“Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York and Former Governor of Pennsylvania Edward Rendell helped usher through much needed pension reform for their respective states, easing the financial burden on hardworking taxpayers.

“So far, in California, the only obstacle in the way of tackling the pension system’s massive unfunded liability is Governor Jerry Brown and members of his own party. Brown should govern all of California and not just the special interests, by demanding immediate legislative action on his ‘Twelve Point Pension Reform Plan.’ Inaction for 5-months after introduction of the plan makes it seem as if the Governor and legislative Democrats are simply hoping the pension crisis will go away.”

BUDGET FACT:
State Pension General Fund costs for CalPERS has risen from $370 million in 2001-02 to $2.1 billion in 2011-12, a $1.7 billion increase. To put this in perspective, the state spends $2 billion annually to fund the 23 campus California State University.

Mark Levin: Obama's 'Such A Liar,' 'He Sounds Like Marx'

◼ After playing a clip of Obama touting his newest tax, the “Buffett Rule,” Levin said, “Stop. Stop. He’s such a liar, that I really have to constrain myself…despite what the government is doing, we’re the most successful people on the face of the earth.” - CNS News

April Newsletter

April 2012 HRWF Redwood Alert

Remember that you can always find past and present issues at the ◼ Newsletter tab, above.

Paul Ryan: Obama creating ‘government-centered society’ of ‘debt and decline’

◼ Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said that President Barack Obama is creating a “government-centered society” that will lead to the “decline” of America unless the federal government changes its current fiscal policy.

“...On the one path, we’ve got the president’s path: A government-centered society, a society on the path of debt and decline — the path we’re on today. On the other path is what we’re proposing: A path to prosperity,” said Ryan at the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s “Tax Policies For 4% Growth” conference at the New York Historical Society on Tuesday.

“A path to actually getting us back onto growth, fixing these problems and pre-empting a debt crisis. And this November, what we’re asking for is the affirmation of the county to give us the permission and the obligation to put these things into place to fix this before it gets out of our control. … I would argue that President Obama is bringing us toward this government-centered society. He is putting his trust in government and this is a trust that puts us down the path of debt and decline....”

Romney needs to make the case that current policy — what Obama has fallen back on — is leading to a crash in which government will fail to keep its promises.

◼ Obama Is Out of Date - Michael Barone/Washington Examiner

...There is a huge tension between the personalize-your-own-world ethos of the iPod/Facebook generation and the command-and-control, mid-20th-century welfare-state programs of the Obama Democrats.

The young are stuck with disproportionate insurance premiums by Obamacare and with student-loan debt that can’t be discharged in bankruptcy. Some hope. Some change.

Romney needs to make the case that current policy — what Obama has fallen back on — is leading to a crash in which government will fail to keep its promises.

He needs to argue that his “opportunity society” means vibrant economic growth that can provide, in ways that can’t be precisely predicted, opportunities in which young people can find work that draws on their special talents and interests.

Obama’s policies, in contrast, treat individuals as just one cog in a very large machine, designed by supposed experts who don’t seem to know what they’re doing (see Obamacare, Solyndra). Their supposedly cutting-edge technology (electric cars, passenger rail) is more than a century old....

THE ROMINEE

◼ With Rick Santorum’s decision to bow out of the Republican presidential nomination race, Mitt Romney becomes the default nominee for the Republican Party. But then again, he was the default all along – he was everyone’s second choice, beloved by few, respected by all. - Breitbart

In the end, though, Romney was the best candidate. That doesn’t mean he was the best conservative, or the most principled politician, or the most electable man on the stage. It means that he weathered attacks with aplomb, showed he had sharp elbows, and didn’t make any crucial gaffes to undercut the basic message of his campaign: that he was a highly skilled and competent campaigner. Romney campaigned on his managerial skills, and if his campaign is any indicator, he is indeed a master manager.

The question now is whether the master manager can defeat the master manipulator.

Obama team signals nasty White House race

◼ President Barack Obama's campaign formally welcomed Republican Mitt Romney to the White House duel Tuesday, with a caustic warning: the more Americans see of him, the less they like him. - Google/AFP

◼ Obama’s Team Is Overconfident? Really? - John Hinderaker/PowerLine

◼ York: Obama team mocks, underestimates Romney - Byron York/Washington Examiner

(W)ith a president facing a still-suffering economy, a troubled war in Afghanistan, and a signature accomplishment -- Obamacare -- that might be declared unconstitutional, the experienced operatives at the Obama campaign have a lot of serious things to think about. For one thing, even though the president is well into his bid for re-election, he doesn't have much of an agenda for a second term.

Higher taxes? More green energy? Something on immigration? Obama has so little to talk about in terms of serious policy proposals that he and his Democratic allies are devoting a lot of energy to a new drive for the Buffett Rule, the proposal that taxpayers who make more than $1 million a year pay their "fair share" -- at least 30 percent -- in federal income taxes. It's not a terrible idea, and the world wouldn't end if it were enacted. It's just not very significant. A recent study by the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimated the Buffett Rule would raise about $47 billion in new revenues over the next decade. That's less than $5 billion a year -- not much when the annual federal budget deficit is $1 trillion. Basing an economic proposal on the Buffett Rule just isn't serious, but at least it's not car elevators and dog stories.

The Romney campaign is fully aware of the derision directed at Romney by the Obama camp. They don't know what the president himself thinks, but they certainly believe the Obama campaign has no real respect for Romney, either as a politician or a man. But they're not particularly troubled by it, because they suspect the end result will be that the Obama campaign will habitually underestimate Romney. When you're running for office, it's almost never a bad thing to be underestimated by your opponent.

Gingrich: 'Last Conservative Standing'

◼ In a statement, Gingrich made a play for Santorum supporters. "Rick has waged a remarkable campaign. His success is a testament to his tenacity and the power of conservative principles," Gingrich says in a statement. - Daniel Halper/Weekly Standard

"I am committed to staying in this race all the way to Tampa so that the conservative movement has a real choice. I humbly ask Senator Santorum’s supporters to visit Newt.org to review my conservative record and join us as we bring these values to Tampa. We know well that only a conservative can protect life, defend the Constitution, restore jobs and growth and return to a balanced budget."

VIDEO: Feinstein on losing millions to treasurer Kinde Durkee

◼ Sen. Dianne Feinstein spoke up about being a victim of what's thought to be the nation's largest campaign treasurer fraud ever prosecuted, calling the situation a "very hard thing." - Video by Torey Van Oot, Sacramento Bee.

Campaign treasurer Kinde Durkee recently pleaded guilty to defrauding her clients of at least $7 million. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who lost millions in the embezzlement scheme, gives her reaction after speaking at an April 10 event in Sacramento.

"She had a big business," she said. "She was the go-to Democratic fiduciary."

Jerry Brown's so-called "millionaire's tax" raises sales tax on us all and defines millionaires as anyone making $250k.

◼ We're All Millionaires Now - Jon Coupal/Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Thanks to Jerry Brown, we’re all millionaires now.

The governor has joined forces with the California Federation of Teachers, a powerful public employee union, to back passage of what is titled the “Millionaires Tax of 2012.”

The problem is that this so-called “Millionaires Tax” raises the sales tax on everyone -- and most of us are not millionaires. So is Jerry talking about the income tax part of his plan? He and CFT want those making $250,000 or more per year to pay the hike. But the last we looked, $250,000 doesn’t equal $1,000,000. Clearly, this a violation of the truth in labeling act.

When challenged by reporters, Brown responded, “Anybody who makes $250,000 becomes a millionaire very quickly, if you save.”

OK, let’s examine the governor’s logic. If someone making a quarter of a million dollars a year could save tax free, while living on air – that we hope is still free – for four years, it would seem to make that person a millionaire....

Rick Santorum calls Mitt Romney to concede

◼ FULL SPEECH: Rick Santorum suspends his campaign - The Right Scoop

◼ Santorum is scheduled to make an announcement at a press conference in Gettysburg, Pa., at 2 p.m. ET. - Yahoo

◼ Thanks and prayers to Santorum and his family for their energy and passion. - Michelle Malkin

◼ Breaking: Santorum to suspend campaign - HotAir

◼ Live Feed - CNN

Mitt Romney: "Senator Santorum is an able and worthy competitor, and I congratulate him on the campaign he ran."

Zimmerman family challenges Holder on New Black Panthers, says no arrests ‘based solely on your race’

◼ In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday, obtained exclusively by The Daily Caller, a family member of George Zimmerman asked the nation’s top law enforcement officer why he has chosen to not arrest members of the New Black Panther Party for their rhetoric — some of which may fit the federal government’s definition of a hate crime — throughout the Trayvon Martin case. - Matthew Boyle - The Daily Caller

The family member believes the reason Holder hasn’t made those arrests is because he, like the members of the New Black Panther Party, is black.

“I am writing you to ask you why, when the law of the land is crystal clear, is your office not arresting the New Black Panthers for hate crimes?” the family member wrote to Holder.

“The Zimmerman family is in hiding because of the threats that have been made against us, yet the DOJ has maintained an eerie silence on this matter. These threats are very public. If you haven’t been paying attention just do a Google search and you will find plenty. Since when can a group of people in the United States put a bounty on someone’s head, circulate Wanted posters publicly, and still be walking the streets?”

The New Black Panthers have issued ultimatums to the Sanford authorities, saying they want Zimmerman arrested “dead or alive.” They have placed a bounty on Zimmerman’s head, and have called for the building of an army of vigilantes to track him down and effect a citizen’s arrest.

Most recently, the New Black Panther Party has called for violence.

In a conference call recorded over the weekend, the militant group said it planned to “suit up and boot up” and prepare for the next stages of the “race war.”

How long do politicians have to keep on promising heaven and delivering hell before people catch on, and stop getting swept away by rhetoric?

◼ Why Politicians Promise Heaven And Deliver Hell - Thomas Sowell at IBD

Have you noticed that what modest economic improvements we have seen occurred during the much-lamented "gridlock" in Washington? Nor is this unusual. If you check back through history, doing nothing has a far better track record than that of politicians intervening in the economy.

With all the talk about people paying their "fair share" of income taxes, why do nearly half the people in this country pay no income taxes at all? Is that their "fair share"? Or is creating more recipients of government handouts, at no cost to themselves, simply a strategy to gain more votes?

Some people are puzzled by the fact that so much that is said and done by politicians seems remote from reality. But reality is not what gets politicians elected. Appearances, rhetoric and emotions are what get them elected. Reality is what the voters and taxpayers are left to deal with, as a result of electing them.

Instead of following the tired old formula of having politicians and bureaucrats give college commencement speeches, in which they say how superior it is to follow a career as politicians and bureaucrats — "public service" — why not invite someone like John Stossel to tell the graduates how much better it is to go into the private sector, supplying what people want, instead of imposing the government's will on them?

In politics, few talents are as richly rewarded as the ability to convince parasites that they are victims. Welfare states on both sides of the Atlantic have discovered that largesse to losers does not reduce their hostility to society, but only increases it. Far from producing gratitude, generosity is seen as an admission of guilt, and the reparations as inadequate compensations for injustices — leading to worsening behavior by the recipients.... Read the rest...

Congressional panel launches probe of California's high-speed rail project

◼ The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform wants to look into possible conflicts of interest and how backers plan to spend billions in federal funds.

A congressional committee has launched a wide-ranging examination of the California high-speed rail project, including possible conflicts of interest and how the agency overseeing it plans to spend billions of dollars in federal assistance.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), notified the California High-Speed Authority about the review Monday and ordered the agency to preserve its documents and records of past communications.

Committee members say they want to ensure that tax dollars are being spent appropriately and check for possible conflicts of interest involving rail officials and contractors. They also plan to determine whether a large government commitment to the bullet train would siphon federal tax dollars away from other important transportation projects.

"California high-speed rail was sold to voters as a grand vision for tomorrow but in practice appears to be no different than countless other pork-barrel projects — driven more by political interests and consultant spending than valid cost-benefit analysis," Issa said. "Before more taxpayer money is sent to the rail authority, questions must be answered about mismanagement, conflicts of interest, route selection, ridership and other risks."

The REAL #WarOnWomen

◼ Via Lucianne

Jarvis group launches 'Don't Sign the Petition' anti-tax campaign

◼ Less than a week after Gov. Jerry Brown started using robotic telephone calls and mailers to gather signatures for his ballot initiative to raise taxes, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association plans to launch its anti-tax campaign today on the conservative "John and Ken" talk radio show. - Sacramento Bee

The taxpayers group this morning posted a red banner on its website inviting viewers to join a "Don't Sign the Petition" campaign. The banner links to a campaign website opposing Brown's effort to raise the state sales tax and income taxes on California's highest earners.

Jon Coupal, president of the Jarvis group, criticized as misleading Brown's characterization of his tax measure as a tax on millionaires. It includes a proposed sales tax increase and higher income taxes on people who earn at least $250,000 a year.

"A second grader," he said, "knows that $1 million does not equal $250,000."

◼ Don't sign the tax hike petition! We're taxed enough already! - NoNewTaxes.net

Don’t Be Fooled! Petitioners Will Tell You It’s for Schools – but It’s Really a Tax Increase!

Petition gatherers may tell you their measure is to increase school funding. But simply put, It’s a Tax Increase! California is already a poorly managed state. We have a $15 billion budget deficit - a result of overspending - $500 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, a tax and regulatory climate that drives businesses away, wasteful and ineffective use of our tax dollars and a political system unduly influenced by special interests. We do NOT need higher taxes. Join us by telling everyone you know not to sign Jerry Brown's tax initiative.

◼ 'LIKE' the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association on Facebook

O'KEEFE VOTER FRAUD INVESTIGATION: YOUNG MAN OFFERED HOLDER'S BALLOT

◼ U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has declared that there is no proof that in-person voter fraud is a problem. He's about to see proof that even he can't deny. - Breitbart/BIG Government



In a new video (below) provided to Breitbart.com, James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas demonstrates why Holder should stop attacking voter ID laws--by walking into Holder’s voting precinct and showing the world that anyone can obtain Eric Holder’s primary ballot. Literally.

The video shows a young man entering a Washington, DC polling place at 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW, on primary day of this year--April 3, 2012--and giving Holder’s name and address. The poll worker promptly offers the young man Holder’s ballot to vote.

The young man then suggests that he should show his ID; the poll worker, in compliance with DC law, states: “You don’t need it. It’s all right. As long as you’re in here, you’re on our list, and that’s who you say you are, you’re okay.”

The young man replies: “I would feel more comfortable if I just had my ID. Is it alright if I go get it?" The poll worker agrees.

"I’ll be back Faster than you can say Furious,” the young man jokes on his way out, in a reference to the Fast and Furious gunwalking scandal that has plagued Holder’s Department of Justice.

◼ FUND: 'WE NEED VOTER ID LAWS NOW' - Breitbart/BIG Government

◼ Why We Need Voter-ID Laws Now - John Fund/National review

Filmmaker James O’Keefe demonstrated just how easy it is on Tuesday when he dispatched an assistant to the Nebraska Avenue polling place in Washington where Attorney General Holder has been registered for the last 29 years. O’Keefe specializes in the same use of hidden cameras that was pioneered by the recently deceased Mike Wallace, who used the technique to devastating effect in exposing fraud in Medicare claims and consumer products on 60 Minutes. O’Keefe’s efforts helped expose the fraud-prone voter-registration group ACORN with his video stings, and has had great success demonstrating this year in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Minnesota just how easy it is to obtain a ballot by giving the name of a dead person who is still on the rolls. Indeed, a new study by the Pew Research Center found at least 1.8 million dead people are still registered to vote. They aren’t likely to complain if someone votes in their place.

'Orphan' state parties worry GOP

◼ National Republicans have begun to intervene in a handful of key Senate and House battlegrounds where state parties are in disarray, seeking to head off the possibility that local mismanagement could cost the party control of Congress. - Politico

These “orphan states,” most notably behemoths with traditionally weak parties like California, Illinois and New York, are increasingly the focus of top GOP officials in the nation’s capital this spring....

In California and Illinois, the state parties have more debt than cash on hand for federal races, while the New York Republican Party had just $54,000 in federal funds in the bank at the end of February.

...GOP strategists in the states are equally frustrated with some of their parties.

“We’re just going to have to do a work-around,” said Jeff Miller, a top Sacramento Republican who served as finance chair of the California GOP in 2010. “Latino voter outreach, voter registration and candidate recruitment are all going to have to be done through vehicles outside the state party.”

The cash disparity is stark in California, where redistricting could bring more than 10 competitive House races this year. State Democrats began the year with $9.3 million — that’s not just in federal funds — while California Republicans had less than $439,000. That’s in part because of the money the state GOP spent on an unsuccessful attempt at blocking the newly-redrawn state Senate map.

“A lot of donors here were upset that that’s what their money was getting spent on,” said Rob Stutzman, a California-based GOP strategist.

A third California Republican operative grumbled about ideologically-driven activists being more interested in party purges than winning elections. This Republican noted that the first big party gathering after their dismal 2010 showing was marked not by soul-searching about what went wrong but was dominated by a resolution about whether GOP legislators who supported allowing voters to decide how to fill the budget deficit should be deemed as “traitorous” and recalled from office.

“The party has been co-opted by some folks who aren’t very good at raising money or winning elections,” said the California Republic

Barbra Streisand won't sing at Obama's L.A. fund-raiser

◼ Published reports had suggested that the singer -- who has lent her lungs to Democrats dating back to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson -- would entertain at a May 10 event to be hosted by DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg. Party officials have set a $2 million goal for the event. - Reuters

But a source close to Streisand told TheWrap that she will not be performing.

◼ Oprah: No Huge Endorsement Event For Obama This Time - Real Clear Politics

◼ Hillary Clinton will skip DNC Convention in Charlotte - Charlotte Observer

Gingrich: Romney Most Likely Republican Nominee

◼ "I do think there's a desire for a more idea-oriented Republican Party, but that doesn't translate necessarily to being able to take on the Romney machine," Gingrich told "Fox News Sunday" in a reflective interview. - NEWSMAX

"I hit him as hard as I could. He hit me as hard as he could. It turned out he had more things to hit with than I did. And, that's part of the business. He's done the fundraising side brilliantly," Gingrich said.

NEW BLACK PANTHERS: RACE WAR FOR TRAYVON APRIL 9TH 'DAY OF ACTION'

◼ On the organizing phone call for their Trayvon Martin April 9th National Day of action protest The New Black Panther Party engaged in violent, racist, hate filled speech. - Breitbart.com

Mitt Romney relaxes during Easter holiday in California

◼ Boogie boarding, painting Easter eggs, chasing the kids on the lawn next door -- GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney is taking an unusually long, but well-deserved four-day break from the campaign trail to celebrate the Easter holiday at his beachfront home in the one of the loveliest (and most upscale) beach communities in Southern California. - LA Times

The Romneys seem to be enjoying a traditional Easter weekend, beach-style. On Friday, the campaign posted an Instagram photo of Mitt and Ann Romney, surrounded by grandchildren, painting Easter eggs. Romney looked sunburned and relaxed, and appeared to be in the patio area of his beachfront tear-down on Dunemere Drive in La Jolla.

HAPPY EASTER

President Reagan's Radio Address to the Nation on the Observance of Easter and Passover on April 2, 1983.

For more information on the ongoing works of President Reagan's Foundation, please visit ◼ http://www.reaganfoundation.org