Congress doesn't need to raise debt ceiling.

There is no doubt that America is amid a great financial crisis, but while those of us in the real world are tightening our belts to adapt to the current economic environment, Democrats in Washington want permission to spend even more and add to our crippling national debt.

The conversation in Washington D.C. for weeks had centered, for the most part, on how much our leaders are willing to listen to the American people and head down the path to financial responsibility by taking steps to curtail the burden on our sons and daughters. The budget produced by the House of Representatives that passed Friday was more of a flinch than a step in the right direction. The final amount cut from spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office, was a less-than-whopping $352 million. This rate is much lower than the $38 billion advertised and the $100 billion promised earlier, to be exact the actual cuts made are just under one percent of the promise and they are just minutia compared to the $3.8 trillion national budget. To put this in comparison, the average income in Southwest Missouri is about $33,000, so the cut that Congress man is equivalent to you cutting your annual budget by about $3.05.

Now with these modest budget cuts, that were nearly to blame for shutting down the government, behind us, the discussion will soon turn to raising the debt ceiling. In February of last year, the debt ceiling was raised to $14.294 TRILLION with an unprecedented increase of $1.9 trillion dollars (over double what it had been raised before.) Currently, our national debt is approaching 96% of our Gross Domestic Product, around a 35% increase of what it was only four years ago.

Increasing the debt ceiling has been characterized by those on the left as necessary, Obama has claimed that defaulting on the debt could "plunge the world economy back into a recession" and Treasury Secretary Geithner claimed that the discussion regarding NOT raising the debt ceiling could be "catastrophic." Geithner told news sources this weekend that "Congress will raise the debt ceiling" and seemed unperturbed by anything to contrary. Now, it seems that Republican leadership may continue to pander to the left instead of fixing government spending. But what would be the implications if they refused?

Some experts suggest that the danger implied by the left is overstated and that a failure to raise the debt ceiling would simply require the federal government to use its revenue to pay the interest in lieu of contributing to our bloated budget. Options are not limited to blindly raising the ceiling, and must include either putting a hold on the ceiling or pairing the raise with large, meaningful cuts. No family could be sustained by increasing their credit limit amidst encumbering debt, especially without making a serious budget overhaul to ensure that debt is corralled. The government shouldn't be afforded the option, either.

If Republicans are serious about restoring fiscal sanity, they need to say no to increasing the United States' already-maxed-out credit. Conservatives in Washington must show leadership on this issue to regain the people's confidence that was lost in them after failing to make legitimate budget cuts.

The Most Ridiculous Attack Yet

In politics, seeing unfair & unfounded attacks against elected officials & candidates is all-to-common, and (despite myths to the contrary) has been so, since our nation began.

One paradigm shift that has definitely taken place, of late however, is the hostility towards religion - especially Christianity - in the public arena.

Still, I have been extremely-surprised, seeing the nature of the attacks, against U.S. Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL).



The Congressman has been one of the [increasing!!] number of GOP elected officials who use Twitter, and the related "Web2.0" networking services. On his Twitter page, you will frequently see Bible verses.

So far, nothing unusual, right?

Note: I know Congressman Shimkus, and I also know longtime reporter for the State Journal-Register, Bernie Schoenburg. And I have been fans of both. I was quite disappointed therefore, to find, in Mr. Schoenburg's column from a few months ago, that he was criticizing the Congressman, for Tweeting Bible verses.


The Post-Election [intra-party] elections
This seemingly-noncontroversial matter has arisen again this month, because the Congressman is notably seeking the Chairmanship of the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Check out this "news" article, from the prominent national Hill newspaper.
(Fortunately, the comments section there appears unanimously on the side of common sense!)


I was alarmed, after doing a quick web search the other night, and seeing that this silliness seemed to have spread, throughout the web. In looking back, I saw that a lot of the criticism is regarding Congressman Shimkus' opposition to the global warming alarmism. That attack is also wrong, though not as absurd as the aforementioned one!


**Best of luck to U.S. Congressman John Shimkus, in his bid to become Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Commerce and Energy!!


Note: As said in the sidebar here, all blog entries reflect only the views of their author.

MONEYBOMB: Rev. Isaac Hayes for Congress!! - As done before, we CAN pick up this Dem seat!

Like the "Massachusetts Miracle" earlier this year... We have a RARE opportunity to pick up Democrat seat!!


10/13 "Moneybomb" for Rev. Isaac Hayes

This is the year for GOP pick-ups in [what were once] "safe" Democrat seats! In the last comparable year (1994), Chicago powerhouse Dan Rostenkowski was [shockingly!!] defeated for re-election, by his Republican opponent. [LA Times: GOP 'David' knocks off 'Goliath']

We now have another situation, in which a scandal-plagued Democrat Congressman can be ousted.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. has a 72% UNFAVORABLE rating!

Leading pollster & analyst Dick Morris said that IL's 2nd Congressional district is now in play due to the amazing effort of GOP nominee Rev. Isaac C. Hayes, and the sex and dirty money scandals of incumbent Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.


Rev. Hayes needs your help to defeat this dirty pol -- go to www.isaac4honesty.com to make a donation or volunteer now!!





Listen in the video above to this wonderful riff by Hayes at the Cook County GOP Convention:

"President Ronald Reagan once said, 'there is sin and evil in the world, and we are enjoined by Scripture to fight it.' Reagan was talking about the Soviet Union. But he may has well been speaking about the South Side of Chicago."

And

"Senate Candidate #5 has the wrong idea of what it means to be a Congressman. He should go back to his cronies in Chicago and tell them Chicago's sons and daughters are his no more -- they are free. We must fight for every neighborhood, every precinct and every block in this district and we will win."

Hayes is a modern-day Braveheart -- slaying the dirty, sexy, money grubber Jackson. He's the long sought conservative solution to the corruption of Junior Jackson and the Chicago Democrats, and is endorsed by the American Conservative Union (ACU), the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), and the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA). Volunteer or DONATE NOW online!!




Let's throw everything we have @ Junior Jackson NOW -- www.isaac4honesty.com



Related news:

NBC Chicago: Overnight change: Isaac Hayes' phone now ringing!
NewsMax: "Hayes could be poised to score a major upset."
Black Voice News: Will the Real Congressman Jackson Stand Up?
Hill News: Race of the Day: IL-02
Medill Reports: IL-02 race now on GOP radar
Windy Citizen: Challengers: Jackson's More Vulnerable After New Allegations
Chicago Now: Hayes offers Jackson free lessons in Hindi language
RedState.com: "When you're given a free shot, you should take it."

Washington Post: GOP gains traction in Jesse Jackson Jr.'s district

Chicago Tribune: Somebody brought it on
("He has a safe seat. You would think." ;-)

RACHEL CAMPOS-DUFFY

Rachel Campos-Duffy discovered the precious meaning of being involved in the home life of her children rather gradually at first.

"I was a finalist for co-host of ABC’s The View twice," Rachel explained in a May 7, 2010 interview for the NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE http://article.nationalreview.com/433755/a-real-housewife-of-wisconsin/kathryn-jean-lopez?page=1.The second time I narrowly lost out in the competition, it occurred to me that I was already doing what God was calling me to do — being home, taking care of my kids. Before that, I sort of thought I was “between gigs,” waiting for my next big break. My oldest was five at that time, and I was starting to see the fruits of my time at home with them — their manners and sense of compassion, the things that happen when you parent well. As I began to appreciate what I was doing as a mom, I simultaneously became aware of how little the culture values it."

But since she has found her true calling, she has embraced it with a fervor that only a dedicated stay-at-home mom would proudly advocate - so much so that she wrote about it:
Stay Home, Stay Happy - 10 Secrets to Loving At-Home Motherhood http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780451228079,00.html# was released in 2009. The celebrity mom and wife of 7th congressional candidate




She also is active in her own local politics. She is currently the Communications Director for the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women http://www.wifrw.org/ohana/website/index.cfm?p=95575656375.

According to IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133309/bio, Rachel, grew up in a military family with her father, Miguel, being a CM Sgt in the Air Force. Her mother Pili is from Spain. Born on October 22, 1971, she has 3 siblings; brothers, Joe and Patrick, and sister, Leah. She graduated from Desert High School at Edwards AFB, CA in 1989. Wikipedia states she graduated from Arizona State University in December 1993 with a degree in Economics. She tried out for and then was cast for the MTV Reality Show: Real World San Francisco in 1994 as a conservative. After her role in the series was over, she also appeared in Road Rules: All Stars in 1998, a reality show featuring alumni from all of the past Real World shows.

It is a well-known fact that Rachel met husband Sean Duffy on the Road Rules: All Stars set in 1998, but it is not as well known that union wouldn't have happened if during the filming of the 5th season of the Real World; 1997, Rachel's life took another, fateful turn. She was involved in a major car accident traveling at the time with her fiance, who was a producer for the Real World. Says Rachel in her PARENTDISH blog on September 9, 2009:

"Thirteen years ago, I survived a head-on collision after the driver of an oncoming vehicle fell asleep at the wheel. The accident was gruesome. My boyfriend and his friend, the driver of our rental car, died in the accident. I was ejected out of the passenger-side window and sustained very serious injuries to my right leg that still affect me today (I have arthritis, a limp and difficulty running)."

Afterward she got together with Sean and they were married on April 4, 1999. In the National Review Online article, Rachel recalls:

"We fell in love and married while I was auditioning for The View. The deal we made was if I got the job, we’d move to New York City. If I didn’t, I would move to Hayward, Wisconsin, his hometown. I didn’t get the job, and I moved from Beverly Hills to rural Wisconsin. I have fallen in love with the people of Wisconsin for the same reasons I fell in love with Sean. They are kind, unassuming, good-natured, and honest."

Rachel and Sean now have 6 children together: Evita Pilar, Xavier Jack, Lucia-Belen, John-Paul, Paloma Pilar and MariaVictoria Margarita. Her most recent, MariaVictoria was regarded as a high-risk pregnancy but the Duffy's didn't consider any other option but bringing the baby to full term.

Rachel was able to give me some of her thoughts about the decision to write her book, her activities, and her life as a dedicated stay-at-home mother and wife of a candidate in a major congressional race.


Read the rest at: http://conservativefeatures.com/?p=1868

News Release: Illinois College Republican Federation

The last entry here contained a press release from the Missouri College Republicans, for Independence Day 2009. Below is a release issued the following day, by Matt Zimmerman, Chairman of the Illinois College Republican Federation:


News Release
July 5, 2009
Contact:
Matt Zimmerman, Chair
Illinois College Republican Federation
217.493.5530
matt.zimmerman.icrf@gmail.com


The past week and a half has been an eventful one as concerns the direction of our nation. The Illinois College Republican Federation would like to take the time to address the future.



"Cap and Trade" legislation was narrowly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 26. Under this bill, industries that produce the most carbon emissions will be heavily taxed for their emissions. Industries such as agriculture and heavy industry will be forced to either lay off numerous employees to pay the increased taxes or go out of business. In good economic times, this legislation would be disastrous. In today's economy, this legislation is borderline insanity. Some estimate that this legislation would increase the average family's energy bill by thousands of dollars a year and will drive up the price of all consumer goods.

While this bill is being sold by the Obama Administration that it will decrease our dependence on foreign energy sources, many argue otherwise. Domestic producers of oil and natural gas will more than likely be forced to close down increasing our dependence on foreign supplies of energy.

One would think that legislators should take time to think this legislation through. Instead, at the last minute, a 300 page amendment, was added to the bill at three in the morning the day before it was voted on. After its passage through the House, reports have surfaced that the bill was not at the Well of the House when it was debated and voted on. The legislators could not have read the bill or the amendment if they wanted to.

With Norm Coleman's concession, Harry Reid will have another crucial vote in passing radical legislation such as this through the U.S. Senate. Forget the questionable ballots discovered in the trunks of cars for weeks after the election -- The Democrats now have complete control of the Executive Branch and both chambers of Congress. One only needs to look at the current state of Illinois government to see what one party rule can do.

The Democratic Party controls every statewide office in Illinois along with near-supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. In under eight years, they have proved that they are incapable of running the state. They refuse to look at ways of reforming our pension systems, education, and social service programs, and instead blame Republicans for refusing to vote for a tax increase.

If the recent history of Illinois is a guide, the future of our country is unappealing at best.

###


--- The Illinois College Republicans are working with candidates at all levels of government across the State of Illinois. We will fill a crucial piece of the puzzle in taking back Illinois and our Country.