NW Republican

Human-Caused Global Warming Myth Implodes

2008-07-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

HT: Max has the story.

The American Physical Society, an organization representing nearly 50,000 physicists, has reversed its stance on climate change and is now proclaiming that many of its members disbelieve in human-induced global warming.

Hey Al Gore? That phone booth must be really really big.

The Real Ben Westlund

2008-07-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Our friends at the Democrat Party of Oregon recently launched a website called The Real Allen Alley. Funny thing about being the head of a public company, your life is an open book due to all of the public disclosure laws.

So, they've found plenty of material...ok, they've found a little material...around which to build a website criticizing Alley for the stock performance of Pixelworks, the company he founded.

Too bad the collective brain trust at the DPO wasn't put in charge of the company. It certainly would have flourished.

I don't know that I'd particularly care for Alley if he were running for the legislature or something. I mean I just don't know. It may be that he's another Portland RINO and part of the vaunted downtown business community. But, Alley is a successful capitalist. I'll give him that. So, consider this a shout out to the doers out there. The actual players in the game of business who are constantly criticized by analysts, shareholders, reporters, and bloggers (excluding your's truly of course) who rest their considerable girth in an arm chair and throw darts from a comfortable distance.

I just don't have a lot of freaking patience for people who have never run a business (like liberals) and then sit around and mock and chastise those who have. I'd prefer you just salute smartly and be on your merry way.

This new DPO site does beg the question: Who is the real Ben Westlund? What public information is available about him? His businesses have all been private (we won't hold our breath for him to release the info so everybody can do an actual side-by-side analysis of the two).

He is the son of obscenely rich Lake Oswego parents (oil money! Yikes!) who has lived a privileged, quixotic life. His business ventures mostly failed, which was fine since he hovered comfortably above a king-sized safety net of family money. He then went on to be a professional politico and has donned the uniform of whichever team happens to give him the best chance of winning in any given year. Perhaps this explains his affinity for baseball?

Unfortunately for Ben, the only publicly available information on him is a criminal rap sheet and a legal binder that would make Lindsy Lohan blush. It's filled with all kinds of tidbits - some serious, some wistful, some just downright weird. But, in the end, it all adds up to the "real Ben Westlund." (NOTE: Ok that is not a REAL picture of Ben Westlund...just in case you were wondering. However it looks like Nick Nolte could play Westlund in a movie about his life?)

The tidbits and background of Ben Westlund is really quite fascinating. If you like miniature train wrecks that is. We could almost start breaking out the Britney Spears photos for the Britney/Westlund morphs. We will start a little series on Ben Westlund.

Watch for more to come...

Yip Yip

Poll: Oregon and Washington citizens say DRILL

2008-07-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

There are two new Rasmussen polls there and they confirm my gut and the rumors I have heard about other private polls out there. That is that the people in the NW are in favor of drilling off-shore!

The Washington poll says: While 48% of voters think offshore drilling should be allowed, 41% disagree.

And that is just the beginning folks. The trend is definitely in the direction of drilling and come September I am thinking you are going to see Democrats either getting on board or they are going to start getting flat out loony to try to stop the tide.

Meanwhile the Oregon numbers are even better. Oregonians are in favor of drilling by a 12 point margin at 51 to 39.

UPDATE: Potential showdown over off-shore drilling is building
A great editorial over at NRO by Ed Frank tells how the Democrats are getting themselves all twisted in knots regarding their oil double speak:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls for the president to tap into the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, saying this would “expand available supplies and help reduce the record prices.” She then turns around and describes as “an absolute hoax” the idea that prices would drop as a result of building supplies through increased production.
Likewise, congressional Democrats claim that oil “speculators” are artificially driving up prices by betting future oil supplies won’t meet demand. Yet those same policymakers presume those same “speculators” won’t respond to expected increases in production, selling futures contracts and pushing down barrel prices today. So which is it?

Frank suggests that the Democrats may attempt to shut down the government in order to EXTEND THE CONGRESSIONAL BAN on off-shore drilling.

The Republicans should say "bring it on."

These people are not human and we are not safe

2008-07-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

So Israel made the deal with the terrorists and let a monster out of jail in trade for the bodies of two Israeli service men. The monster is Samir Kuntar.

Around midnight, we were asleep in our apartment when four terrorists, sent by Abu Abbas from Lebanon, landed in a rubber boat on the beach two blocks away.
As police began to arrive, the terrorists took Danny and Einat down to the beach. There, according to eyewitnesses, one of them shot Danny in front of Einat so that his death would be the last sight she would ever see. Then he smashed my little girl's skull in against a rock with his rifle butt. That terrorist was Samir Kuntar.

And Kuntar was welcomed by the Palestinians with a heroes welcome.

What kind... what kind of a society extols such animals? Can you ever, EVER trust a national mindset like that in anything? Any kind of agreement?

Remember this next time some liberal moonbat whines about the Palestinians getting some perceived short end of the stick.

And don't give me the garbage that somehow America is as bad because of some of our atrocities. The point is that knowing what this guy did this nation would not welcome him home as a hero.

We are not safe
Yet this monstrous mistake is not the end. The capitulating to the terrorists has only provided them with more resolve. Something even more scary is going on and you probably have not heard about it in the mainstream press.

Hizballah has taken control of 7,800-foot Mt. Sannine, a strategic asset capable of determining the outcome of the next war. Big deal you say? Well consider that this location will give them access to all the major trade routes and even more disconcerting:

Radar-guided missile positions and an early warning station have since been deployed on its summit, which are capable of monitoring and threatening US Sixth Fleet movements in the eastern Mediterranean and Israel Air Force flights.

Do you get the feeling that there is a new round of violence getting ready to break out in the middle east?

The animals have figured out that they can hold hostages to gain what they want from their enemies and they don't even have to provide the hostages ALIVE to get what they want.

One of their heroes was just released and they are all piped and jazzed up about that.

Now they own a high tactical military position and they are taking orders from Syria and Iran.

What do YOU think could be the end result of the events of the last few days?

In the immortal words of Samuel L. Jackson in Jurassic Park "hold on to yer butts."

WA State Senator Honeyford says DRILL

2008-07-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

"Unfortunately, the Governor and our two United States Senators appear unwilling to support this additional drilling even as their constituents pay the higher cost for fuel, food prices soar, and we see increases in prices for all products due to the impact of fuel cost on trucking."

The parade of NW Republicans in favor of drilling in the NW continues. Which should give hope to Republicans all around.

The gas prices always were laying out there dormant as a potential issue and I knew the Republicans could pick up on it. And you know what? The people are WITH us on this issue and the Democrats know it.

Here is Senator Honeyford's full statement:

“I applaud the President’s decision to lift the executive order ban on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and urge Congress to act immediately to help alleviate our nation’s energy dependence on foreign nations.

“According to experts, there are more than 18 billion barrels of oil, or approximately 10 years of current domestic supply, available in the OCS.

“New drilling technology makes environmental impacts from reaching that supply nearly a thing of the past, and tapping into our domestic sources of oil will help send a message to the OPEC oil cartel that we are serious about addressing our energy needs. This will ultimately help drive down prices.

“Unfortunately, the Governor and our two United States Senators appear unwilling to support this additional drilling even as their constituents pay the higher cost for fuel, food prices soar, and we see increases in prices for all products due to the impact of fuel cost on trucking. The average family is paying more than $800 more in gas than they were last year.

“By not supporting domestic exploration, the Democratic leadership in D.C. and Olympia are, by default, supporting the high costs of fuel and the inflation it causes.

“While the President is seeking to move things along at the federal level, I call on my colleagues in the Washington Legislature to begin taking steps to enact a responsible, environmentally-friendly energy agenda for Washington state. We need a comprehensive energy policy that will really save consumers money – not a hodge-podge of ‘feel good legislation’ or a ‘cap and tax’ system that just expands government and limits personal freedom.

“A responsible energy policy must include more refinery permits, more nuclear power, more wind and solar, recognition of hydropower as a renewable fuels source, clean coal, tidal power, and natural gas. We also need to improve the transmission capabilities throughout the Northwest.

“Other specific steps we should consider include:

· encouraging expansion of refinery capacity through, among other things, a more reasonable permitting process;
· saving consumers money on their natural gas and electric bills through a cap on the public utility tax;
· giving renewable electricity developers and investors more certainty by extending and expanding renewable electricity exemptions; and
· examining all environmental and biofuels policies to make sure they are in line with current science and still make economic sense.”

Honeyford is the Ranking Republican Member on the Washington State Senate Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee.

Watch how in the very near future the Democrats start dealing with this issue. At first like a wild animal backed into a corner they will lash out in wild and flailing attempts to change the subject.

Then eventually they will be tamed into talking like a Republican and suggesting they are in favor of off-shore drilling when everyone knows they will be lying.

Change the AFL-CIO can believe in

2008-07-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Organizer-in-Chief?

When Barack Obama - the ex-union and ACORN organizer - speaks to an audience of labor unionists, he is quite artful at stirring them up.

Too bad most folks don't get to see this side of him. Although Barack pumps up union operatives regularly, News Guild'ers in the mainstream media just don't want us forming our opinions based on his presentation to Big Labor. Here is Barack addressing the recent AFL-CIO convention. Check it out. Is this the change "we" can believe in?

Barack rips management

HT:

Oops, another good poll for McCain

2008-07-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

These have got to start hurting the moonbats. From ABC News/Washington Post:
Would McCain be a good Commander in Chief? Yes: 72%
Would Obama? Yes: 48%

Sen. Whitsett says DRILL!

2008-07-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

It looks like the Oregon Republicans are starting to show some spunk. Gas prices are true kitchen table issues and they are issues where the Democrats are blatantly (dangerously?) wrong.

State Senator Doug Whitsett is calling the governor and the Democrats out on this issue and it is happening at just the right time. Watch folks as the Democrats see this issue begin to cut into some of their margins and see how they begin to squirm and twist.

Read Sen. Whitsett's statements. Internalize them. Repeat them.
-----------
Whitsett says new resources needed to curb pain at the pump and in grocery stores

Governor ignores plight of Oregon families

Salem, OR – While the Governor turns his back on the economic difficulties in Oregon, Senator Doug Whitsett (R-Klamatha Falls) is calling for an end to the moratorium on off-shore exploration for resources that could provide financial relief to Oregon families.

“Oregon, like the rest of the United States, is one of the most resource-abundant places on the planet, and yet we aren’t managing those resources effectively and Oregon families are struggling to afford gas, milk and healthcare,” said Whitsett. “With today’s technology we can manage off-shore exploration while protecting the environment. This is no longer just a good idea, it is a necessity.”

According to the US Minerals Management Service, the United States currently imports 4.5 billion barrels of oil a year. Exploring the Outer Continental Shelf would produce an estimated 86 billion barrels of oil.

Governor Kulongoski issued a statement Monday opposing a national proposal to fight high fuel costs and dependence on foreign oil by exploring for domestic sources of energy in off-shore deposits. Meanwhile, according to the US Energy Information Administration, the average price of a gallon of gas was $4.40 on Tuesday, $1.20 more than a year ago. On January 4, 2007, when Democrats took control of Congress gasoline averaged $2.33 across the nation.

“Alternative sources of energy and conservation are certainly pieces of the solution, but Oregon families are going to be left with a big bill if we don’t offer some real solutions right now to mitigate their costs at the pump and in the grocery store,” said Whitsett.

The price of food is predicted to increase by as much as 5.5% in 2008, which for Oregon families means they will be paying 10% more at the grocery store than they were two years ago.

Another reason grocery costs have escalated so high over the last two years is a shortage of corn created by the Governor’s so-called ‘clean fuel requirements.’ These mandates are part of the reason milk and bread have reached such stratospheric price ranges.

“Solutions to our energy dependence need to be based on substance, not merely symbolic gestures that only create more problems in the long run,” said Whitsett.

Sources
USDA, Economic Research Service: http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/CPIFoodAndExpenditures/
US Energy Information Administration: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/business/worldbusiness/15food.html?pagewanted=print
The Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1215487520291830.xml&coll=7

###

Obama busted "scrubbing" his website of old positions

2008-07-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Busted!

HT: Hot Air blog

I wish I could have said this better but Ed Morrissey did such a good job:

Barack Obama has purged his website of criticism of the surge, and has now credited American troops with the security gains of the last year. The move comes as John McCain repeatedly points out that Obama opposed the surge in January 2007 and said it would make the situation worse...

On second thought I did predict this when I posted some of the rules in the "moonbat rulebook." Specifically it is moonbat rule 7.0 "always attack the military."

However this time Obama got BUSTED!
The story is in the Daily News and it makes the light weight Obama look even more shallow:

The presumed Democratic nominee replaced his Iraq issue Web page, which had described the surge as a "problem" that had barely reduced violence.
"The surge is not working," Obama's old plan stated, citing a lack of Iraqi political cooperation but crediting Sunni sheiks - not U.S. military muscle - for quelling violence in Anbar Province.
The News reported Sunday that insurgent attacks have fallen to the fewest since March 2004.
Obama's campaign posted a new Iraq plan Sunday night, which cites an "improved security situation" paid for with the blood of U.S. troops since the surge began in February 2007. It praises G.I.s' "hard work, improved counterinsurgency tactics and enormous sacrifice."

You know there was a time that I actually had respect for Obama. And I was honest about, at the time, hoping that he would be the nominee. Because I thought that at least his presence would be more genuine than Hillary Clinton's.

Wow was I wrong. This man is showing himself to be an absolute snake in the grass and doing so over things that involve the military. That really chaps my hide.

Hey Barack? If you were wrong just freaking SAY you were wrong. Believe it or not millions of Americans do it every day. John McCain has done it on immigration and drilling off-shore.

You know it is only a matter of time before this act has run itself out. Obama is already tanking in the polls and stuff like this, over time, is just not going to help. Then watch the moonbat left start going completely bonkers. Perhaps accusing Karl Rove of being secretly involved in the McCain campaign and employing some brain ray installed in space to cleanse the minds of dim-witted Americans. Just wait.

"Change we can believe in?" Indeed.

Even talk of drilling is driving down oil prices

2008-07-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

This from Larry Kudlow:

Crude-oil futures for August delivery plunged $9.26, or 6.3 percent, almost immediately as Bush was speaking, bringing the barrel price down to $136.

See that is why Democrat politicians are all wet and something they definitely don't want the American people to know. That is that drilling for our own domestic oil will drive prices back down. Not just in the future but in the short term as well.

The party that has voted for higher gas prices 86% of the time actually wants the American people to believe them when it comes to oil policy? They won't... The Democrats have a real problem here and the reality of the markets IS going to bite them in the butts.

Traders took a look at a feisty and aggressive George Bush and started selling the market well before a single new drop of oil has been lifted. What does this tell us? Well, if Congress moves to seal the deal, oil prices will probably keep on falling. That’s the way traders work. They discount the future. Psychology and expectations can turn on a dime.
The congressional ban on offshore drilling expires September 30, so that becomes a key date. A new report from Wall Street research house Sanford C. Bernstein says that California actually could start producing new oil within one year if the moratorium were lifted. The California oil is under shallow water and already has been explored.

The only hope the Democrats have is to go on an all out mis-information offensive like the tried regarding the surge in Iraq. All the while hoping for the worst (like the did when they were hoping that body counts would rise with the surge.) and that somehow they can convince the markets to drive up gas prices.

Because after all the Democrats really are not interested in the little guy unless it is controlling the little guy.

Meanwhile the Democrats continue to try to parrot the talking points that it will take 10 years to see any effect on oil prices (because they say it will take 10 years to actually SEE the oil from those new locations.). Sad argument and an argument they will be making 10 years from now should we not begin drilling today.

I wonder how many years it will take for a total build out of hydrogen filling stations? Is anyone challenging the left on how long it will take for THEIR grand plan to actually drive down gas prices? Oops, I forgot they WANT higher gas prices, as was admitted by the Democrat presidential candidate Obama.

Just one other up side of drilling our own oil is that a larger percentage of the money spent will actually STAY in America. Of course again the Democrats don't want anyone talking about that. Because it would mean more good paying jobs for Americans and Democrats just can't have that.

If Fannie and Freddie were Enron

2008-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Then you KNOW the media and the Democrats would be going bonkers over the political connection. But since Fannie and Freddie are connected (and protected), in a much larger degree, to Democrat politicians, of course, mums the word.

Even after accounting scandals arose at the two companies a few years ago, attempts to push through stronger oversight were stymied because few politicians, particularly Democrats, wanted to be perceived as hindering the American dream of home ownership for the masses.

James A. Johnson, a longtime member of the Washington establishment who previously worked as a campaign adviser to former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, ran Fannie for most of the 1990s.

“Jim Johnson was the architect of Fannie’s lobbying strategy. He was the muscle guy, if you will. The guy who would walk the halls of Congress,” said Bert Ely, a banking consultant in Arlington, Va., and longtime critic of the companies. Freddie, Mr. Ely said, soon copied Fannie’s playbook...

Later on, Mr. Johnson ramped up the influence of its charitable arm, the Fannie Mae Foundation, by doling out money to thousands of nonprofit groups and similar organizations. (Mr. Johnson was compelled to step down as the head of Senator Barack Obama’s vice-presidential search team last month after he was criticized for receiving mortgages on favorable terms from Countrywide Financial.)

Yeah... Mr. Johnson knows who is protector will be. Just like Tony Rezko?

Yip Yip

Si Newhouse's over-the-top bad taste

2008-07-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Left-wing Obamamaniacs go nuts

The owner of The Oregonian, Si Newhouse, is a native of New York City where he presides over a glitz & glam magazine and newspaper empire whose value has been estimated as at least $20 billion. Take a quick look at the stable of magazines here (it includes The New Yorker) and at the Newhouse newspaper chain here.

Si's father, Sam, busted the Portland News Guild to establish his statewide monopoly in Oregon, as chronicled in the series "Striking it rich". Si is more subtle. A life-long friend of the notorious mob lawyer Roy Cohn (see "Si Newhouse's mob story"), Si is staunchly anti-union at his own businesses. But as a good collectivist multi-billionaire, he promotes unions for everyone else. This double-standard will be all-too-familiar to NWR readers in Oregon.

The profitable business has plenty of problems that are papered-over by free-spending fashionista advertisers. Many folks are allergic to Si's high-chemical content perfume ads. There's massive deforestation and greenhouse gas release from newsprint manufacturing, and a Love Canal of paper-stream waste that pollutes the air we breathe and the water we drink. One-sided leftist political advocacy and strident opinions infect all Newhouse publications. Advertisers are finding far better results from craigslist while readers take their information increasingly from ad-blocking internet browsers.

Now, Newhouse has approved a cover for July 21 issue of The New Yorker that has his collectivist friends cringing, and that his flacks excuse as legitimate anti-GOP 'satire'. No doubt you've heard of the dust-up. Here's the cover:

Democrat runs (no I mean litterally RUNS) away from question of "Card Check"

2008-07-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

This would be funny if it were not so embarrassing for this Democrat. Oiy...

HT: Labor Pains

There is a sleeping giant of an issue out there right now in this political cycle. Actually it is probably more of a sleeping "termite." It is out there eating away at the house of the Democrats. The house that has been built on the corrupt Union Thug money.

We may be the only local blog to have been talking about this and you never hear the liberal blogs talking about it. It is "card check" or as the Democrats like to call it the "Employee Free Choice Act." It is the legislation that eliminates your right to a private ballot in Unionizing.

And the issue does not poll well and in fact it polls terribly amongst the Union rank and file.

Here is a clip of one politician who is litterally RUNNING AWAY from answering the question on card check.

Watch this issue folks. This issue could begin to effect a lot of local races as there is plenty of time for this to raise it's head amongst voters. The fact that Democrats want to do away with the private ballot.

How un-Democratic of the Democrats.

Jeff Merkley thinks it's OK to assault a minor

2008-07-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

I had heard about the letter from Crime Victims United to the campaign of Jeff Merkley but I had actually not read it until this morning.

Wow I had no idea that Merkley was so tight with criminals. I mean the ONLY one to oppose a bill that would outlaw assaulting an infant?!

Here's the letter.

Dear Speaker Merkley:
I am writing today because I was appalled by the press release you issued yesterday attacking Senator Gordon Smith’s crime record, and touting your own record and plan to “protect children and families from violent crime.”

I cannot believe that you would have the audacity to criticize anyone when it comes to the safety of Oregon families and children. On issue after issue you have failed to protect Oregonians from sex offenders, rapists, and child predators. Your comments are disingenuously hypocritical.

When I look back over the last decade of your service in the state legislature, I find numerous instances where you voted against protecting crime victims and keeping our families safe. In case you’ve forgotten, here are a few highlights from your record on crime as a legislator.

• You were one of a handful of legislators who opposed extending the statute of
limitations for sex crimes, including rape, incest and sex abuse of a child.(HB 2316) (2005)

• You were the only member of the legislature to oppose a bill specifically
outlawing assaulting an infant. (HB 2307) (1999)

• As Speaker, you blocked legislation to create the crime of sexual servitude of a minor.(HB 3533) (2007)

• As Speaker you blocked legislation to prevent paroled sex offenders from residing in communities without 24/7 police coverage. (HB 2861) (2007)

• As Speaker you failed to fund 24/7 police coverage of the I-5 corridor needed to help combat Meth Trafficking.

• You were one of only 15 House members to oppose tougher sentences for violent, gang related crimes. (HB 2313) (2005)

Obama dropping like a rock

2008-07-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

HT: Hot Air

This news story from Newsweek shows what some of us have been saying for a long time. That Obama, while a rock star to the hyper-liberal Democrat base, will not be playing well with the great American middle.

Obama's rapid drop comes at a strategically challenging moment for the Democratic candidate. Having vanquished Hillary Clinton in early June, Obama quickly went about repositioning himself for a general-election audience--an unpleasant task for any nominee emerging from the pander-heavy primary contests and particularly for a candidate who'd slogged through a vigorous primary challenge in most every contest from January until June. Obama's reversal on FISA legislation, his support of faith based initiatives and his decision to opt out of the campaign public-financing system left him open to charges he was a flip-flopper. In the new poll, 53 percent of voters (and 50 percent of former Hillary Clinton supporters) believe that Obama has changed his position on key issues in order to gain political advantage.

More seriously, some Obama supporters worry that the spectacle of their candidate eagerly embracing his old rival, Hillary Clinton, and traveling the country courting big donors at lavish fund-raisers, may have done lasting damage to his image as an arbiter of a new kind of politics. This is a major concern since Obama's outsider credentials, have, in the past, played a large part in his appeal to moderate, swing voters. In the new poll, McCain leads Obama among independents 41 percent to 34 percent, with 25 percent favoring neither candidate. In June's NEWSWEEK Poll, Obama bested McCain among independent voters, 48 percent to 36 percent.

Ouchie wowchie

Barack to make water flow uphill

2008-07-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Progressive Messiah defies gravity

As we have seen, collectivist economic theory can be very confusing to reasonable folks. Last week, the left-wing megaphone brigade began amping-up a scheme they call "trickle up economics".

Today's Progs - formerly known as liberals - are full of new definitions. According to their accepted wisdom, the term 'recession' no longer refers to consecutive quarters of economic contraction. Also, the economic growth that began to take off with Ronald Reagan's election in 1980 didn't really happen (except during the Clinton Era) ... and even if it did, it's been a disaster for America.

With that in mind, and since you will likely be hearing more about 'trickle-up', here's a little background from my.barackobama.com. Do a little digging into this yourself ... and take the challenge: See how many moonbat rules you can find that apply to this revolutionary economic concept!

JohnMcCain has his economic head up his memory. Reagnomics - otherwise known as "trickle down," is a vestige of the past. However, no matter what you think of trickle down economics, intelligent people could craft a rationale for it at the beginning of Reagan's first term. Since then our economy has undergone wrenching changes, and the case for trickle down has lost all credibility. Today, with 70% of economic growth driven by consumers, we need to be practicing (and talking about) Trickle Up Economics.

Yes, it's a bit of a slogan. But Hillary and Bill have reminded us how effective slogans can be. Fortunately, in this case "trickle up" makes a complex concept readily understandable by voters, and this campaign desperately needs that.

Collectivism explained

2008-07-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

There's been some comment on this blog recently about 'the anti-Republican, foreign collectivist billionaire George Soros.'

If you're like many folks who call themselves 'American', it is very difficult to comprehend the idea of collectivism. After all, being an American is all about honoring liberty. That's why many people from nations all over the world will risk everything they have to come and live here. Even the French understand this, having sent us an eponymous statue in 1886 commemorating the Enlightenment-era idea.

Conceptually, collectivism is really the antithesis of liberty. While it is true we agree to give up some of our freedoms in order to sustain a legal system that protects liberty ... defending liberty is in fact the core duty of constitutional government. America's founders believed that every generation would have to fight for liberty anew, as the natural tendency in any society is for political power to gain and liberty to yield.

Under the agenda of President Barack H. Obama - the most 'collectivist' member of the U.S. Senate during his short tenure - and a union-vetted, Democrat-controlled Congress, the United States of America will be opting to replace liberty with collectivism. Thus, it is timely for NWR to present a short video that helps explain the intellectual theory that underpins the new direction. Understanding collectivism a little better will help us all cope with the promised 'change' that the folks with the loudest megaphones want for our country.

The video begs the question: Is this 'change we can believe in'?

HT:

Tony Snow R.I.P.

2008-07-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a sad year as conservatives have lost some truly good men.

While there were some things that I disagreed with Tony Snow on he was just one of those lovely human beings that you could disagree with agreably.

Our prayers go out to his family.

:'-(

Inartful Jesse

2008-07-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Another 'reverend' for Obama: "See, Barack been, um ... talkin' down to black people on this faith-based ... I wanna cut his nuts off. Barack - he's talking down to black people."

HT:

Bill Bradbury, Secretary of Stupidity

2008-07-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

Ouch. From PolitickerOR

Jeff Merkley; Rumblin, Stumblin, Bumblin

2008-07-10T11:04:00.001-07:00

That really seems to be the theme of the Jeff Merkley campaign.

Over at "PolitickerOR" they have a post regarding the Bend Bulletin editorial board calling Jeff Merkley "the master of muddle."

It really is pretty damaging stuff for a guy, who while running for the US Senate, is trying to pass himself off as Mr. Squeaky clean.

At issue are a series of TV ads paid for by the Democratic Senate Committee that include, rather prominently, Speaker Jeff Merkley.

The problem is that Jeff Merkley and the Democrats are merely trying to get around campaign finance laws and the Bend Bulletin calls them on it.

"When asked about the FEC rules, Merkley's campaign claimed the ads were just permitted ‘issue' ads and their purpose was not to help Merkley or hurt Smith. Merkley must possess a cocktail of self-righteousness and egotism to believe that fantasy,"

Ooops... Seems that some folks are not going to fall for the old Democrat line that they (the liberal Democrats) can say anything they want and define every thing that they want THEIR way!

Remember that this is the same Jeff Merkley who voted against "robo-calls" then quickly used robo-calls before the law took effect. Always looking for the angle and playing fast and loose with the laws.

Meanwhile the barking moonbats over at BlueOregon published a post the other day that said the Smith campaign was "whining" when they called the Democrats on it.

Whining? Well it seems dear moonbats, that it was not just the Smith campaign that had a problem with Merkley's double speak.

This is no small issue either as PolitickerOR notes:

If the FEC rules that the ads did in fact promote Merkley or his campaign, then the money spent on the ads will put Merkley over the dollar limit of campaign contributions from the state party.

Oh don't worry, if Merkley is found guilty you just know that the Democrats will find some way to invoke moonbat rule 3.1 and blame it on the Republicans.

I have lost track of Merkley's bumbles and now I wish I would have been cataloguing them all along. Correct me if I am wrong and add others if you wish, but haven't there been:

Robo-call issue
Out of state campaign bus
Opposing the private vote
Employing lying "trackers"
"Charter School-Gate"
Fundraising during the legislative session...then called on his hypocrisy

Anyway... something like that.

Yip Yip

DEVELOPING HARD: Sec. State Bradbury ignoring Oregon law

2008-07-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

Democrat Secretary of State Bradbury willing to violate State law to stop Oregon initiative!

NWR readers may remember this post from July 1st that Democrat Sec. State Bill Bradbury had not certified any initiatives for the November ballot even though it was widely reported that there were sufficient signatures. We said at the time that, knowing the Democrat SoS like we do, that something was amiss and that they were going to look for ways to screw Oregon voters and more specifically thousands of people who signed petitions.

Well it is happening on the Merit Pay for Teachers initiative. Apparently there are approximately 1,800 signatures that the Sec. State is refusing to accept because of a 3 or 4 day lapse in the time that petition circulators submitted their SEL 308 and 309 forms and the time that the SoS ended up "processing" the form. In the end the SoS authorized the 12 new circulators.

Here is what is happening.

On June 19th 12 circulators who had been circulating for other petitions (already had badges and had been registered) submitted a form UPDATING their original form indicating that they would be circulating another petition. In this case it was the Merit Pay for Teachers initiative.

Over that weekend, June 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd those circulators gathered signatures. Over that period more than 1,800 Oregonians signed the petitions.

On June the 23rd the Democrat Secretary of State actually "processed" the submitted forms from June 19th.

Currently the Democrat Secretary of State is saying that all those signatures are "invalid" because his office did not get around to "processing" the forms until the 23rd.

Now here is the real rub. The real rub is that Oregon Administrative Rule 165-014-0280(6) states:

(6) Whenever any of the information disclosed on the Circulator Registration (SEL 308) changes, the circulator must report the change within 10 calendar days by filing an amended SEL 308 with the Elections Division. If the change being disclosed is additional or different initiatives, referendums or recalls for which the person will be circulating, the circulator may not begin gathering signatures for the additional or different petitions until an updated SEL 309 signed by the chief petitioners is submitted.

Now dear readers...go back and read that statute very carefully. It states that circulators may not begin gathering signatures for additional petitions UNTIL and updated SEL 309 is SUBMITTED.

In other words the Democrats are all in favor of lambasting Republicans for every jot and title of THE LAW as in the case of Jeff Duyck. Even though the mistake was made by the SoS office. However when the Democrat Sec. State finds it appropriate to get wishy washy with his interpretation it is OK.

What do you think? Do you think that the SoS will abide by the law or do you think he will find a way to hinder a conservative initiative.

Again I want to remind folks that when the liberal Justice Schuman was running for election and failed to comply with the SoS's own rules about meeting the deadline for his voter's pamphlet statement, what did Democrat Bill Bradbury do?

Why he said that he (Bradbury) did not want a mistake by his office to get in the way of the ultimate good. In fact Democrat Bill Bradbury said at the time: Acknowledging the error, the Secretary of State's Office sought to correct the mistake. In other words when it comes to helping out a liberal then Democrat Bill Bradbury can find creative ways to fix the situation.

Now in this case you have an initiative petition that was circulated by an Oregon citizen and signed by literally hundreds of thousands of Oregonians, and at least 1,800 Oregonians on the weekend of June 20th and what is Bradbury's response?

There are now several attorneys working on this initiative. This initiative should have the requisite number of signatures by at least a thousand. Now it looks like, if Democrat Bill Bradbury has his way, it will miss the ballot by 200 signatures.

And it will all stem to that one weekend and the fact that Bradbury's office did not "get around" to processing those sheets AND that Bradbury is willing to willfully overlook ORA 165-014-0280(6).

UPDATE: Here is a copy of the attorney letter to Bill Bradbury's office.

Letter to SOS on registration change - Upload a Document to Scribd

Oregon Democrats failing schools and the economy

2008-07-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

HT: CMP News

According to a University of Oregon study, Oregon Democrats have overseen the loss of 6,700 jobs in Oregon. While trying to claim things are going GREAT!

And...

Democrat legislative Bills are costing schools hundreds of thousands of dollars due to forced "insurance pools." Because of course it is for the children.

...discuss over there...

Change that works for Barack

2008-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

U.S. Senate's most liberal Democrat attempts a dodge to the center:

HT:

Moonbat Rulebook

2008-07-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

Some folks have already noticed the "moonbat rulebook" rules on the sidebar of NWR. It has been suggested that it be included in a post all of it's own. So... OK... Here it is. As time goes on we will disclose more rules and other contents of the secret moonbat rule book. However, if in the meantime any of you have any news suggestions for the book then have at it!

A Moonbat "Rule Book" was found left behind at a Starbucks coffee shop in Portland Oregon. Here are a few of the rules that moonbats are attempting to place on the rest of society.

Rule 1.0 - If you don't agree with our unfair stereotype of conservatism, you will be guilty of conforming to our unfair stereotype of conservatism.

Rule 2.0 - All Republicans are guilty of something and it is usually mass murder.
Rule 2.1 - If Republicans have not been found guilty of something just give us time and pay for the investigation. We will find something.

Rule 3.0 - Democrats are NEVER guilty of anything. Ever.
Rule 3.1 - If a Democrat ever makes a mistake or is accidentally found guilty of something; BLAME THE REPUBLICANS.

Rule 4.0 - It is not who VOTES that matter. Rather it is who COUNTS the votes that matter. Please refer to Washington State and Oregon State elections offices.
Rule 4.1 - It is OK for Democrats to fix elections and find votes for dead people. It is NOT ok for Republicans to find fault with that.

Rule 5.0 - Americans share our moonbat values. However never, ever campaign on Moonbat values because Americans are stupid and will never actually vote for Democrats if they really KNEW they shared our moonbat values.
Rule 5.1 - Never, ever under any circumstances admit rule 5.0.

Rule 6.0 - Bush did it. Unless it is good.

Rule 7.0 - Make sure we always attack the military. However, ALWAYS say we are defending the military when we are attacking them. The mainstream press will never know the difference.

Rule 8.0 - Do not ever speak in public or post to a conservative blog the way we normally speak amongst ourselves. We know we have potty mouths but we really really don't want everyone else to know it.

Rule 9.0 - It is OK to hate. Just so long as you hate conservative Republicans.
Rule 9.1 - Remember all Republicans are Nazis so it is OK to hate them and if anyone backs you into a corner you can always yell "NAZI!" and that will usually fix things.

Rule 10.0 - Confusion is our ally. Any fallacious argument that can be made will help advance the cause and mire the opposition in refutation of our logical inconsistencies.

...any more suggestions?

Keep these rules in mind when dealing with or talking to a liberal moonbat or surfing any of their blogs.