The Adult in the Room?

Newt Gingrich seems to be the flavor of the month of Republican candidates for president having just picked up the endorsement of the highly-influential Manchester Union Leader Newspaper in New Hampshire – an endorsement right in Mitt Romney’s home turf.
The continuing search by republican voters looking for the ‘anti-Romney’ continues. So just what is the rap against Romney? First, he could be the poster child for the ‘evil rich people’ the Obama administration has been demonizing for months in their continuing efforts to fan the flames of class warfare. Second, Romney’s unlike-ability factor – he just doesn’t seem like the type of guy you’d want as your bud – you know, someone you’d have over to watch a football game or meet up for a beer after work. Romney, rather true or not, displays an air of arrogance. He’s probably is a great guy, a wonderful family man – but that doesn’t matter if the voters don’t ‘like’ you. Remember, like ability is what got Obama in the White House, he exuded a rock star persona and turned the 2008 campaign into a season of American Idol.
So is Gingrich just the flavor of the month, or is his rise in the polls the result of the voters searching for consistency of position and someone who demonstrates leadership? We have seen Bachman, Perry, and Cain ride high only to crash and burn in the polls. Will Gingrich be the same?
The Old NCO’s take is maybe not. His rise in popularity among republican voters has been slow and steady. His performance at the debates has been one of solid, consistent, positions on the issues. But one thing that has separated Gingrich from the others is his willingness to take on the moderators – telling them to get serious about running the debate and stop trying to find, in his words, the “Got Ya’s” – while the other candidates bicker with each other about what illegals mowed who’s lawn or mandating innocent young girls to be vaccinated with an alleged deadly injection.
Gingrich’s continuing criticism of the mainly liberal debate moderators, although not a defining moment, is reminiscent of Ronald Reagan’s now famous “I paid for this microphone” moment during a 1980 debate in New Hampshire - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO2_49TycdE where Reagan took on the moderator. For many, this was when Reagan won the nomination. I see this type of determined leadership in Newt. And if he wants to win, he needs to show more of it.
So is Gingrich the ‘adult in the room’? He might be. I’m not jumping on the Gingrich bandwagon just yet, but if he does go on to win the nomination, this will be a presidential race where the Republicans offer America the leadership it currently lacks and the Democrats will offer again, their rock star. It will be the baby boomers and senior citizens vs. the hordes of crazed youth wanting again, a ‘cool’ President.

Thanks Steve..

Thank you Steve, I love my iPhone.
Rest in Peace.

I Have a Plan Too!!

The Jobs Bill, as the President calls it, is a fraud. It has no chance of passing Congress – in fact; it has no chance of ever being introduced into Congress. Like I said, it’s a fraud. President Obama’s henchmen determined that since the Republican candidates for President all had plans to save the country from the Obama Depression, then the President needed a plan too. So when you hear the President’s standard stump speech which includes a credo of “Pass this Bill”, just know it is a bunch of empty words. For one, how can Congress pass a bill when the President’s own leader of the Senate, Senator Harry Reid won’t even introduce the bill to Congress?
So why the fraud?? It is part of the Democratic Party’s strategy to help re-elect Barack Obama. When you have nothing but failure on your resume, the only way you get the job you want is to blame everyone else for your failures. That’s Obama’s only hope. How sad. So when you hear Obama talk about the evil rich people, those fat cats on Wall Street, or those evil oil companies with all of their tax loopholes and corporate jets, know that you are being played. Yes, being played by a slick Chicago politician. Oh ya, and I forgot, Obama will still be blaming George W. Bush too. Hey Democrats – that’s just pathetic.

It’s not a Tax, it’s just a Fee – Get it?

President Obama unveiled his tax plan today and presented it as the only solution to get our country’s spiraling debt under control. And while he touts this plan as ‘fairness’ in that he is going to finally get those evil rich people – there is some fine print in his tax plan that makes his claim of fairness laughable. While Obama claims to not raise taxes on ‘ordinary Americans’, here’s some ‘fees’ he dreamed up to collect the trillions he needs to support more wasteful liberal spending.
So who did Obama target? Here’s a rundown…

Military Retirees -- Any retiree that ‘earned’ military retirement and health care by volunteering to lay their down their lives for their country will now have to pay $200 upon turning 65 to continue to receive Tricare (the military healthcare plan). Plus, there are fees to be charged for any non-generic drugs prescribed to military retirees. So if you don’t pay Obama, he will take away your healthcare. As most liberals hate the military anyway, this is a big winner with Obama’s radical left. Result: More Vets denied health care – something the government once said would be ‘free for life’ if you volunteered.

Frequent Flyers -- Obama plans to double the Federal Security Fees on airline tickets – granted, that is only from $5 to $10 a ticket, but by 2017, he wants it to go to $15. For a family of four to fly – add $60 to the price. Maybe they’ll just stay home and skip the $15 TSA hand massage. Result: More empty seats on airliners.

Federal Employees – Obama plans to take another 1.5% bite out of your paychecks to supposedly to go help with federal pensions. Do you really think that’s where the money will end up? It will probably be raped just like the Social Security Fund. Result: No increase in the federal pension fund – just smaller paychecks for ALL federal workers (not just those at the upper end of the pay scale)

Mortgage Applicants – Yep, you too!! Obama wants to add a fee of $15 a month to your mortgage – that’s $5400 over a 30 year mortgage. Result: Those applying for mortgages on the bubble financially will no longer qualify for a mortgage – more house setting empty needing qualified buyers.

Corporate Jet Flyers** – Obama will charge you $100 for EVERY flight. That’s right, Obama has made you evil rich corporate types with your fancy cars, and your big houses, and fancy clothes and corporate jets the face of EVIL in this country – but wait, he says this isn’t class warfare… (** but you need to be punished anyway) Result: I hope you weren’t looking for a job manufacturing or maintaining corporate jets.

Now I fail to see how any of these actions will help the economy. So, the Old NCO’s take here is this “Stimulus II” (sorry Nancy, I said a bad word) is the liberal’s one last chance to “Tax and Spend” as they have all but written off any reelection of Barack Obama in 2012.

Texas Justice

Rick Perry’s comment about Social Security being a “Ponzi” scheme at the recent debate at the Reagan Library is currently overshadowing what I believe was a defining moment for this Presidential election – and further defined Governor Rick Perry as the best hope for conservatives to retake the White House in 2012. The MSNBC sponsored debate featured Brian Williams as one of the two moderators. It’s no secret MSNBC a liberal news network, having been ‘in the tank’ for President Obama for years. Late in the debate, Mr. Williams tried to paint Governor Rick Perry as a “mad killer” over Texas’ death penalty laws – and it backfired on him, much to Mr. Williams’ amazement and surprise. For those of you who missed it, the exchange when like this:

Williams: “Governor Perry, a question about Texas. Your state has executed 234 death row inmates, more than any other governor in modern times. Have you . . .”
(APPLAUSE from the audience interrupts Brian William’s question)
“Have you struggled to sleep at night with the idea that any one of those might have been innocent?”
Perry: "No sir," pointed out that death-row convicts are entitled to extensive appeals, and crisply declared: "In the state of Texas, if you come into our state and you kill one of our children, you kill a police officer, you're involved with another crime and you kill one of our citizens, you will face the ultimate justice."
(More applause from the audience)
Williams: "What do you make of that dynamic that just happened here, the mention of the execution of 234 people drew applause?"
Perry: "I think Americans understand justice. I think Americans are clearly, in the vast majority of cases, supportive of capital punishment. When you have committed heinous crimes against our citizens--and it's a state-by-state issue, but in the state of Texas, our citizens have made that decision, and they made it clear, and they don't want you to commit those crimes against our citizens. And if you do, you will face the ultimate justice.”
This exchange, to me, was the ‘moment’ that defined Governor Perry from the rest of the Republican pack – and why he probably will end up with the nomination next summer.
So all I can say to Brian Williams for his attempt to embarrass Governor Perry is “Thanks”. And just in case you forgot what the Governor told you, Mr. Williams, he, and most all other Texans, sleep just fine at night.

Amen

I’m reminded of Danny DeVito’s character “Larry the Liquidator” from the movie Other People’s Money, where he spoke at a shareholder’s meeting of New England Wire and Cable. The president of the company, played by Gregory Peck, had just spoke to the shareholders and told them they needed to trust him and hang in there -- staying the course -- and the company’s economic woes would turn around and return to profitability. After Peck sets down, DeVito gets up, grabs the microphone and calmly says “Amen”. Going on to say he didn’t know the local customs, but where he came from, they always said “Amen” at the end of a prayer. “And that’s what you just heard” he states, “A prayer”.
I believe that is what the President delivered the special session of Congress and the nation last night - a prayer. A prayer for his failed economic policies - a prayer for his political future - and a prayer for his chances for re-election in 2012. So I for one, would like to put the finishing touches on the President’s speech and say “Amen”.

Let Me Check My Calendar, Mr. President

The news cycle is full of the events today where President Obama sent a letters to Congress, one to Senator Harry Reid in the Senate and one to House Speaker John Boehner, today inviting himself to speak to Congress at 8PM EST next Wednesday, September 7th – the exact same time as the Republican Presidential Debate which has been scheduled for months out in California. Violating centuries of protocol of how Presidents request special time to speak to Congress, the President decided to dictate, with his usual arrogance, the time and place were “his” Congress would hear him speak. Evidently, he has recently discovered that the country is in the middle of an economic crisis, unemployment is too high and worst of all -- his approval ratings have hit an all-time low. So the President decided he better get off of the golf course and do something about it. I’d get into what he is proposing, but that’s too much info and deserving of a separate blog article.
So back to the scheduling of the President’s meeting with Congress – supposedly, there was a ‘confidential’ conversation between Barack Obama and John Boehner about the President’s request to speak to the Congress before the letter was sent – although both sides now deny this ever happened. However, be not dismayed -- the Old NCO’s crack investigative team has obtained a recording of that conversation.
Ring, Ring, Ring….
Rep Boehner’s Office: “Good Morning – this is the office of the Speaker of the House of Representative, the House Majority Leader, the Honorable John A. Boehner, representing Ohio’s 8th District – may I help you?”
White House: “This is the White House calling – is the Majority Leader in?”
Rep Boehner’s Office: “Yes, may I tell him who is calling?”
White House: “It’s the White House – who do you think is calling?”
Rep Boehner’s Office: “One moment please – I’ll connect you to the Speaker” At this point, Rep Boehner’s assistant places his hand over the phone and yells, “Sir, the White House is on line two”
Rep Boehner says, “who from the White House” – the Assistant answers “It’s Him – I think he wants to complain about the Tea Party again”
Rep Boehner “Go ahead and put him through”
JB: Good Morning Mr. President
BO: Good Morning John. I need to speak with you about something important. It’s a matter of national urgency.
JB: Are you talking about the devastation of Hurricane Irene?
BO: No John, fortunately, the Hurricane didn’t interfere with my golf in Martha’s Vineyard – this is something really important.
JB: Yes Sir, I understand – so how can I help you?
BO: Well John, I’ve been informed that my last stimulus plan isn’t working out as planned – you see, unemployment is still over 9% and I promised…..
JB: Sir, I don’t mean to cut you off, but unemployment has been over 9% for months – and you know the stimulus bill you passed with your Democratic House and Democratic Senate hasn’t worked – and it’s even made things worse.
BO: Now, John, let’s not get into that.. What I really need is to come up there to the hill and talk to you guys.
JB: Sounds good Mr. President, when did you have in mind?
BO: Well John, I was thinking next Wednesday, the 7th – about 8PM in the evening.
JB: OK, Mr. President, let me check my calendar…..
JB: Mr. President, you must be aware that’s the same time as the Republican Presidential Debate that’s scheduled out in California?
BO: Really, I didn’t know. I’m really gonna yell at my staff about that – but about the time, is it OK?
JB: Mr. President – you can’t be telling me you didn’t know about the debate and this is just a coincidence?
BO: Well, John, let’s put the country first and politics second – we need to work together to get this country working again.
JB: No disrespect Sir, but please reserve your campaign speeches for your party faithful.
BO: So John, next Wednesday’s OK then?
JB: No Sir, I can’t say that it is – for one, all of the representatives will just be getting back in town – and second, I really can’t believe this isn’t just politics to grab airtime away from your possible presidential contenders.
BO: Now John, that’s not true. I believe this is a time of crisis, and I need to tell the American people what I plan to do.
JB: Respectfully, Sir, that ship sailed a while ago. Let me suggest something to you, how about the next night? That would be Thursday, the 8th – does that work for you?
BO: No Way – the Packers play the Saints in prime time – who would listen to me vs. watching NFL Football?
JB: My point Sir.
BO: Click.
JB: (with a grin on his face) Click.