U.S. Congress: Keepers and Klunkers

Ever wondered who in Congress is worth keeping? Many believe that in 2010 we should get rid of them all, no questions asked.

Generally speaking I am in favor of term limits, but with exceptions. Some do such an admirable job at attempting to serve, protect, and defend the Constitution and our rights that they deserve to be sent back to Congress.

Well, I have compiled a list, for what it's worth. You can read it at Columbia Conservative Examiner.

Admittedly, most in the House and Senate need to be given the boot. But who deserves another term? Take a look to see.

A Conservative Action Plan for August Recess

Perhaps never before in the history of the Republic has an August Recess been so important for conservatives in terms on political activism.

Find out how you can help change the course of the present government at Columbia Conservative Examiner.

Plenty of resources and ideas are available.

ALERT! Dems Scheme to Vote on HC by Friday

This is a special alert.

House Democrats are meeting behind closed doors today to attempt to bring the massive multi-trillion dollar government takeover of healthcare bill to a floor vote on or before Friday.

Don't let these scalawags get away with it! Read the breaking news at Columbia Conservative Examiner, and burn up those phone lines.

Don't let them tell you the vote is off, either! They are lying.

Free Market Solutions for Healthcare

One of the things you have not heard much about in the current debate raging over the nation's healthcare is that free market solutions exist, and they work.

Barack Obama and the Democrats, however, had just as soon you not be aware of those wonderful alternatives...not even the so-called 'blue dog Dems' who are themselves proposing a version of 'government takeover light.'

Read my latest discussion of these solutions in my column today at Columbia Conservative Examiner, entitled, 'Free Market Solutions to Healthcare, but What Will the Blue Dogs Do?'

Spread the word!

EXCLUSIVE--Interview with Conservative for Congress

In this Columbia Conservative Examiner exclusive, we have a chat with a true-blue conservative running against an entrenched liberal Democrat for U.S. Congress.

Click on the link above to read about Mike Yost, the kind of man we need to be sending to Washington.

If the GOP expects to regain the confidence of the American public, it had best be pulling out all the stops to support candidates such as Yost.

Tell a friend?

STOP CAP & TRADE IN U.S. SENATE!

Today we the citizens MUST get back to work to stop the ominous Cap and Trade bill that Democrats, Obama, and some Republicans want to shove down our throats.

Friends, this albatross will sink the economy at a time when we cannot withstand such a hit. Not only is it a bad concept, but the timing comes at the worst possible moment for the American economy.

Michelle Malkin has the latest on the battle in the U.S. Senate that starts TODAY.

Time to burn up the phone lines, faxes, and emails to let ALL Senators know that the citizens are OUTRAGED that they would even briefly consider such a sham. And let them know they WILL have hell to pay if they vote for this monstrosity that will cost over a million U.S. jobs and raise our taxes and energy costs by an extra $1300 to $3000 PER YEAR.

And be sure the RINOS get the message--John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and others of their ilk who will sell out the citizens in order to 'cut a deal' with the devil.

Pelosi Should Step Down

With her integrity increasingly in doubt, it is time for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to relinquish her role as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

This is the subject of my latest op-ed at Columbia Conservative Examiner.

What can we say about someone who would prosecute government officials for waterboarding, when she admits she knew it had been used as far back as 2003, yet said and did nothing?

DERAIL THAT TRAIN!

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stated that she would place the Obama agenda 'on the fast track' when the House reconvenes.

This seems to be the Obama game plan. Get as much done as quickly as possible in the first few weeks of the new administration.

But wait just a minute here.

A TRILLION DOLLAR package awaits the approval of Congress that they have only one week to read before the vote.

It's time to derail that train!

How in heaven's name can a conscientious Representative or Senator vote in good conscience on a bill they have never read? Yes, I know it's done, but it's a shoddy way to do government.

We had better know what's in that bill before it is rammed down our throats.

The GOP in the House and Senate had better get ready for the onslaught. We know what the Democrats are doing to do. That gives the GOP time to get ready.

I say, block, block, block!

The country's march toward Socialism must stop NOW. And yes, the filibuster is appropriate under these circumstances.

We must block their attempts to complete the job of socializing the economy and business. We must block their nominees to the courts. These two things are of absolute necessity. This is no time for the faint of heart.

Unconscionable

This is absolutely, positively unconscionable:

The sotto voce announcement that Congress, after wagging their collective head over executive pay and perks, decided to vote itself a $2.5 million raise was a depressing portent. “With economy in shambles,” read a headline in The Hill, “Congress gets a raise.”

Congress is controlled by the Democrats, the very ones who have been lambasting corporate CEOs for extremely large paychecks. Yet the Congressional hypocrites give themselves a payraise right in the middle of the biggest economic meltdown since Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s.

This is unacceptable by anyone's estimation, my friends. Read the rest of the story HERE at Pax Parabellum.

Message to Congress: Halt Gasoline Taxes NOW!

As they usually do every few years, members of Congress hauled in the oil company executives on Tuesday for a trip to the woodshed, blaming them for everything from global warming to high gas prices to *gasp* actually making a good profit for shareholders.

I will not waste my time and energy on the imbecilic charges and inexplicable holier-than-thou display staged by Congressional Democrats.

Instead, let's get down to the nitty gritty, shall we?

Congress needs to place a moratorium on gasoline taxes at the pump. In addition, state and local governments need to follow suit. This will save the average American at least $24 bucks at the pump every time we fill up.

Government already makes windfall profits off of oil companies, raking in at least 7 times the profit margin of the oil companies on a gallon of gas.

In hard times one would think that the Party that likes to proclaim itself the 'friend of the little guy' and the 'Party that cares about the working people' would wish to repeal all taxes on gasoline, given the massive amount of money it would save average Americans.

The repeal would only need to be temporary until we can get ourselves back into some stability in the oil markets, which are totally out of the control of the oil companies themselves.

Democrats in Congress claim that the profits of the oil companies are 'obscene.' And what, pray tell, would we call the taxes the government collects from gasoline?

You see, Liberals believe that it is immoral for a business to make a profit for its owners/shareholders. But when government rakes in multi-billions of dollars in taxes from those 'obscene profits,' everything is perfectly fine.

This double-standard, frankly, is nauseating.

Thus, let the Demos in Congress put their money where their lying mouths are. If they are serious about helping 'the little guy' who needs a break from prices at the pump, then place a moratorium on all gasoline taxes.

This would mean that a normal fill-up that would cost you $60 bucks would then cost you only $36 bucks.

Do I believe this will happen? Only when pigs fly. Money-grubbing, sticky-fingered politicians of the Liberal type are more greedy than ANY oil company executive.

LIBERTY ALERT! MICROSTAMPING IN U.S. CONGRESS!

For those who may not yet be convinced of the 'slippery slope' theory of the gradual removal of rights, here is something for you to put in your pipe and smoke. A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, co-sponsored by Ted Kennedy, to make the California gun microstamping law effective in ALL FIFTY STATES.

My friends, this is what we are facing on a much broader scale in November of 2008, particularly if Obama or Hillary get elected along with a Democratic Congress.

If these purveyors of tyranny and anti-freedom have the gall to do this now, just wait until November.

Read the whole stinking piece of shit here:
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200802/NAT20080213a.html

What Now?

My belief that Fred Thompson would win South Carolina was more than just wishful thinking or baseless optimism. I actually believe that his views more closely reflect the views of the citizens in this state than any other candidate.

Yet for some reason or another, South Carolina Republicans decided to go with McCain, with Huckabee coming in a close 2nd.

The thing that makes this fact very puzzling to say the least is that John McCain is the very man who took a shellacking from GOP activists in the state for his support of amnesty for illegal aliens. Several GOP county delegations in the state were condemning Senator Lindsey Graham's support of the McCain plan to the extent that they suggested recalling the Senator and conducting another election.

A very telling poll tells the story. Those who voted for both McCain and Huckabee said they did so 'because they believed the candidate would do something about illegal aliens.'

Either these particular voters are showing their vast ignorance, or else both McCain and the Huckster hoodwinked South Carolina Republicans into believing they were strong on doing something about the immigration problem.

In actuality, Fred Thompson is the only one in the top three in S.C. who actually advocated for strong leadership on the issue long before McCain and Huckabee had a sudden 'change of heart.'

But, after all, the Huckster is a Baptist preacher. Nobody would expect him to lie. And McCain is a war hero. Everyone knows war heroes do no wrong.

Nonetheless the voters have made their choice and this is what we are facing.

The question becomes, what now? Do we fold up the tents and go home? Do we sit out election day? Do we consider a vote for a 3rd party candidate?

First of all, Fred is not out of it. I know that his advisers, including many of his supporters, are encouraging him to carry on until Super Tuesday. This would be my advice to the Senator as well.

Second, as for me, I think it is a big mistake to fold up the tents and go home or to sit out election day. It's not over until it's over, as Yogi would say. And, in the event of a brokered convention, Republicans could well turn to Fred Thompson to reunite the Party behind solid Reagan principles.

In addition, some have suggested that should McCain win the nomination, he could well ask Thompson to be his running mate to appeal to the GOP base and heal rifts within the Party. Thompson and McCain go back a long way in the Senate, and the two are good friends despite their policy differences.

Third, I will in no way, shape, form, or fashion vote for or advocate voting for a third party candidate, unless that person shows enough solid support in the electorate to win and not just be a spoiler for the Republican candidate.

So far I have not seen anyone, not even Ron Paul, who has that kind of support.

Thus, I will support the GOP candidate because, frankly, ANYBODY is better than Hillary, Obama, or Edwards. And that includes Giuliani, Romney, and McCain.

When it comes to beating outright Socialists who truly wish to rob citizens of liberties, including their gun rights, I truly do not care about some of Romney's less than admirable qualities as Governor of Massachusetts. He is for tax cuts, he is pro-business and pro-free enterprise, he supports smaller more efficient government.

Both Rudy and McCain share those views as well.

I can handle that any time, any day of the week over a European-styled Socialist who wants to give us socialized medicine which hangs like an Albatross around the necks of British citizens or who believe that government is the entity to cure all of society's ills.

Hillary, Obama, and Edwards each share these views which are absolutely deplorable and are a threat to our Republic.

With a Democratic-controlled Congress there will be nothing, absolutely nothing, stopping these tyrants from unleashing their voodoo magical cures on society by robbing the citizens of more of their hard-earned income.

At least with a Republican President there will be the all-important veto.

Finally, let's not forget Court appointments. Let's face it, my friends, with Hillary, Obama, or Edwards in the White House, along with a Democratic Congress, you can kiss goodbye getting Judges and Justices who believe in the Second Amendment as an individual right, Federalism, or any of the views propounded by the Founders of the Republic.

Someone needs to be sitting in the Oval Office who will stop the assault on individual liberties as perpetrated by the imbeciles who are now running Congress.

Think about these things long and hard, my friends. If you think that allowing a Democrat to be elected to the Oval Office while Democrats control Congress is a good thing for individual liberty and the Constitution, then I am afraid all of my appeals to good sense and reason will fall on deaf ears and blind eyes.

As Fred said in his speech in South Carolina Saturday night, 'Keep on fighting! Keep on fighting!'

A Wing-Ding with Cartwheels in Congress

Leave it to the perennial featherweight, the wisp himself, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, to keep the clown show going under the Democrats in Congress.

Reid stated this week that he would do absolutely anything, including cutting cartwheels down the aisles of the Senate floor, in order to call attention to the supposed 'Republican obstructionism.'

Apparently the chief clown in the Senate has his shorts in a bunch because he can't get all of his legislation passed. Despite clear majorities in both Houses of Congress, Democrats have not been able to pass all of the legislation they intended when they took over Congress earlier this year.

Heaven forbid that there be any serious debate, disagreement, and the healthy locking of horns when it comes to the important business of the country.

And let's not forget that both Reid in the Senate, and Fuhrer Pelosi in the House, have had plenty of opposition from their own Party.

It is much easier and expedient, however, to blame Republicans.

And thus, with a clown show there is always a big wing-ding. This one, of course, is not celebratory but one in which the dignity of the office of Senate Majority Leader is ripped to shreds by a clown who wants to do cartwheels down the aisles.

Many of us were sincerely hoping that Reid would make good on his promise. But alas, the Senator apparently backed out of the display at the last minute.

Wonder if he can even do cartwheels?

Nancy's Mongrels Blame Her for U.S. Success

This was not supposed to happen. Once the Democrats took control of Congress in November of 2006, we were supposed to be out of Iraq immediately. At least this was the game-plan of the Leftwingers who put Nancy and her mongrels in charge.

Not only did this fail to happen, but Nefarious Nancy and her gang of gratuitous grubs failed to pass a single bill limiting funding for the war.

In fact, the Democratic-controlled Congress has failed to pass a single major initiative that they supposedly had a broad 'mandate' to pass.

So dismal is public support for the nation's legislative branch that even Nancy herself stated last week that she disapproves of Congress.

The mongrels, however, are presently making it clear that part of the blame rests with Pelosi herself, and they are making their complaints known. It seems the mongrels are a-snarling, and their problem is that the surge in Iraq is working. Nancy was supposed to get us out of Iraq before the U.S. had a chance to turn things around.

This was the ultimate game-plan--take advantage of U.S. losses in Iraq, bring all the troops home, and then blame Bush and the GOP for whatever aftermath occurred.

Now that the U.S. clearly has the upper hand in Iraq and Al Qaeda is on the run, the mongrels in Congress are livid that Pelosi and the Democratic Congressional leadership did not move more forcefully to get the U.S. out of Iraq while America still had a good chance to lose.

In short, these defeatist and dastardly despots wanted America to lose. To them, for us to win is a bad thing.

I see a massive anti-incumbent move on the horizon during the 2008 election cycle, and it frankly will not matter whether the candidate is Democrat or Republican. But the Dems will take the worst hit simply because they are in power and under their watch the American people overwhelmingly lost faith in their Congress...to the tune of 89% of the electorate.

Not only is Nancy taking the blame from her mongrels in Congress, but in her own state of California, more people express opposition to her leadership than those who express support, according to the latest poll.

If the liberals who populate California feel that way about her, then it is not difficult to determine how the rest of the country feels, especially in the heartland.

Pelosi is bad for America, and her mongrels are bad for America. We can only hope they will be shown the door next year.

Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Mason Now Terrorists

Are the hooded, jackbooted thugs coming for us next?

The latest legislation passed by our illustrious Congress, which has a mere 11 percent approval rating by the citizens, has succeeded in making Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, Mason, and the other Founding Fathers 'homegrown terrorists.'

The bill, which is aimed at targeting American citizens who are engaged in terrorism, is written in such a way as to implicate millions of unsuspecting, law-abiding citizens merely because they agree with the Founders that the biggest threat to liberty is big government, and that if big government attempts to remove the rights of the people, the people are justified in taking up arms to squelch the power of that government.

In short, it is now tantamount to being a federal crime to believe in the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, or the statements of Thomas Jefferson on the dangers of government power. In fact, such beliefs could get you labeled by the government as a terrorist.

David Codrea has the chilling details here, at War on Guns:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-homegrown-terrorist.html

Petraeus, Patriots, Prostitutes, and the Pimp

By all accounts the appearance of General David H. Petraeus before Congress yesterday was nothing less than a three-ring circus. The entire fiasco can be laid directly at the feet of the Democratic leadership who obviously did nothing, or very little, to insure a mature, orderly proceeding.

The embarrassing buffoonery started when Democratic committee chair Ike Skelton refused to listen to GOP warnings about potential disruptions at the hands of pinko anti-war demonstrators.

And disrupt, they did.

But first, we were treated to the highly embarrassing episode of the dead microphones. Neither the General's nor the Ambassador's microphones would work. Perhaps, as one blogger put it, this was perfectly symbolic. The Democrats had no intention of actually listening to the report, since they had already begun attacking it before it was issued.

Once the microphones were working, it was time for the pinkos to protest.

Of course, Rep. Skelton was forced to put on his best 'I am highly offended' face and throw the bums out...but not before they were allowed to heckle General Petraeus and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.

Perhaps Mr. Skelton believed that these types of made-for-TV demonstrations would somehow help to show Americans that those awful, despicable, war-mongering symbols of America's shame in Iraq returned to Washington only to face a massive outpouring of spontaneous heckling and hatred.

Why else would he allow them entrance to the committee hearing given that he had already been warned that troublemakers were on the prowl?

Yet, it could well be that Skelton's plot backfired. Petraeus appeared calm, steady, and professional under intense pressure. His character had already been impugned before he was allowed to speak a word, yet the General conducted himself with utmost dignity and steadiness.

Congressional Republicans conducted themselves with dignity, patriotism, and maturity as their colleagues in the other Party threw a tantrum.

It was the Democrats who came off looking like desperate, eager opportunists, searching for everything--anything--they could get their hands on to try to discredit the General and the Ambassador.

In fact, they appeared almost as if they were prostitutes, having sold themselves to individuals and entities that have anything but America's best interests at heart.

For example, Moveon.org, the anti-war organization of the Democratic Party, referred to General Petraeus as 'General Betray-Us.' They even bought a full-page ad in the New York Times to say it.

In the ad Moveon also accused Petraeus of 'cooking the books,' lying about the figures, in order to present a positive picture.

Back down at the funny farm in Congress, Democrat Tom Lantos launched into a lengthy Petraeus-bash prior to the General's report, and stated forthrightly about the General's ensuing words, 'I don't buy a word of it.'

U.S. Representative and Republican Presidential hopeful Duncan Hunter, R-California, responded to the attack by reminding the committee that Petraeus had been confirmed unanimously by Congress earlier this year, and that the proceedings should continue only with the stipulation that all would presume that Petraeus would offer 'a candid, independent assessment with integrity.'

Perhaps Hunter's stipulation was a bit too much for the ethically-challenged members of the Democratic leadership. Having sold themselves to the highest bidder, i.e., the anti-war, pinko nutcases of the extremist leftwing, these prostitutes would now sell the nation's soul to them as well.

At this hour, not a single Democratic candidate for President, nor any Democratic member of Congress has denounced, repudiated, or condemned Moveon.org for its blatant disrespect and character assassination of one of the America's most trusted military officials.

Former Democrat and Independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman joined with John McCain in drafting a letter to be sent to the Democratic leadership in the Senate, calling on the Majority Leader to denounce and distance himself and his Party from the Moveon.org ad.

Senator Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, refused.

Of course he refused. When you have sold out like a prostitute, you are forever indebted to the pimp. And in this case the pimp is somewhat elusive but encompasses the Democratic National Committee and those it needs to please in order to get the cash.

But what about the patriots? Where did they stand on yesterday's clown show that was not worthy of a hearing for a General?

John McCain stated that this was a McCarthy-like attack on the character of an American patriot.

Indeed, it was.

Fred Thompson accused Moveon of libel, and stated that the Democratic Party and every single Democratic candidate for President should repudiate the libel of this patriotic American.

We agree. And Mr. Thompson himself is a great American patriot as well.

When David H. Petraeus received his unanimous confirmation by the Congress, he also received the pledges from Congressional Democrats to 'give the surge a chance,' and to 'wait until the report is issued in September before passing judgment.'

It is clear after today's fiasco that the Democrats lied. They had no intention of supporting Petraeus or of giving the surge a chance to work, simply because to do so would ruin their most effective 2008 election tool, i.e., claiming that the War in Iraq is a big mistake and no progress is being made.

And the news today which shows a steep decline in the number of deaths and a dramatic increase in safety and security in sectors that once had been nothing more than death-traps, is not good news for those whose political fortune rests on the failure of America.

But of course, the act of selling oneself to the highest bidder is not an exercise in love for country but a race to see who gets the most cash at the end of the day. I am sure that the pimp will be most pleased.

Washington: The Beautiful Sound of Silence

Whenever the U.S. Congress goes into recess, the most beautiful sounds one will hear during the entire year emanate from the nation's capital--the sound of silence.

One of those times is now. The Congress has been in recess, but will return with a vengeance on Tuesday after Labor Day.

The Founding Fathers never intended for the Congress to be a full-time job for Senators and Representatives. Perhaps the complications and complexities of modern life have necessitated that change, but I have often wondered if we would not be much better off doing it the way the Founders did it.

Congress was historically in session only as long as it took to take care of the nation's business. Elected officials then had to quickly return home to earn a living and care for families.

Today, Congress is in session so much that it sometimes appears they create for themselves work to do, particularly in that massive and cumbersome monster of a pseudo-government they created called 'the federal bureaucracy.'

Federal bureaucrats are ultimately dependent on Congress granting them the funds and the means to meddle more and more in the affairs of the citizens. Without the meddlesome task of regulating the lives, the property, and the businesses of private citizens, these bureaucrats would have nothing to do.

It is without doubt the ultimate insult, the most ill-informed point of view, and the most blatant display of ignorance to judge an elected representative by 'how many bills they introduced.' Rather, the thing I wish to know is how successful was my Congressman or Senator in stopping legislation from being passed.

We have enough laws on the books as it is, most of which are never enforced, such as the nation's specific and thorough anti-illegal alien laws. Why, then, do we need more laws unless those particular laws expand liberty for the citizens rather than restrict and regulate?

A pet peeve of mine concerning the upcoming formal announcement of Fred Thompson as a candidate for President revolves around this very issue. Critics maintain that 'Thompson is not known for introducing legislation when he was a Senator.'

Well, HALLELUJAH! Amen! We should be celebrating that fact rather than bemoaning it!

The fact that Fred Thompson is not known for getting more laws passed in Congress is a key indication that he adheres to the philosophy of Jefferson--'the government that governs best governs least.'

A politician who adheres to the philosophy of the Founding Fathers is not going to be known for the legislation he or she passes. Rather, they will be known for legislative restraint.

Socialists such as Ted 'Senator Blowhard' Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Harry Reid, John Kerry, and company are the ones who have a corner on 'introducing legislation' that subjects the citizens to more restrictions and regulations. In fact, let them wear that badge of 'honor'--horror would be more like it.

And since this is the gang that controls Congress at present, although with only 16% of the public approving of the job they are doing, it is a good thing--a VERY good thing--that they are out of town on recess. If only they could stay out of town a bit longer.

Thus, when the present Congress is not in session, it is time to stop and count our blessings. For every day they miss work we don't have to worry about more and more cumbersome regulations and 'new legislation' designed to delve us ever deeper into the 'nanny state.'

Washington can actually be a very beautiful place--when the halls of Congress are silent.

Senate Debates Government Child Healthcare

Under the guise of 'providing uninsured children with access to healthcare,' two bills have been introduced in Congress, one in the House, the other in the Senate, that would renew and expand the government child healthcare program.

The Senate debated their version of the plan today. Senators sparred over the necessity of such a massive socialized system for a tiny minority that does not have health insurance.

Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, questioned the wisdom of such a plan when at least half of the estimated 9 million children who would be covered already have private health insurance.

Indeed, this is the key question.

If this plan is what the Democrats claim it is, then why are they seeking to cover millions of persons who already have private health insurance?

The fact that Congressional Democrats do such things is the smoking gun that proves their true intent. They wish to dismantle America's premier healthcare system, which is the envy of the world, and replace it with socialized medicine.

The only problem is that Americans would resist such a massive upheaval if it were done all at once. Thus, the Democrats' plan is to do it in increments.

Their program to 'provide access to healthcare for children who are not covered' is but a ruse, a small step in the direction of the ultimate goal to place all of our healthcare system under the control of the federal government.

Four important considerations must be addressed before the country goes marching headlong into this ill-advised program.

First, if the plan is designed to give uninsured children access to healthcare, then why are upwards of 14 million children covered under this plan, when only 9 million at most need it?

Democrats even conceded today that some adults are covered under this plan.

So much for the so-called 'children's healthcare plan.'

Second, if this plan is designed, as the Democrats claim, to provide access for uninsured children, then why are an estimated 4.5 million out of the 9 million targeted for coverage ALREADY covered under private insurance plans?

Obviously, somebody is lying about the true intent of this plan.

Third, there is a vast difference between 'access to healthcare' and 'healthcare insurance.' Every single human being in the United States of America has access to healthcare through the nearest hospital emergency room, free clinics, and other support services.

The mere fact that someone may be lacking health insurance does not mean they do not have 'access' to healthcare.

Most private hospitals must donate a portion of their services to the poor each year in order to stay in business. And publicly funded hospitals are forbidden from denying care to those who need it.

Thus, the Democrats' carefully chosen terminology for their plan, i.e., 'providing access,' is highly misleading. Their plan is not about providing something that is already available. Rather, their plan is for the concept of government-run, socialized medicine to seize one more segment of the U.S. healthcare system.

Fourth, does anyone know how many of the estimated 9 million children targeted under this plan are illegal aliens?

So far, we have not been informed of any estimates on the number of illegals this program is designed to benefit. But we know this is part of the equation.

It is estimated that there are upwards of 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. today. We know for a fact that a sizable portion of these 20 million are children, given the high birth rates within that sub-group.

This being the case, is this 'children's healthcare program' simply another giveaway program, implemented by Democrats, to appease one of their core constituencies--illegal aliens?

Senator Sessions pointed to many other problems with this program in his remarks before the Senate today, not the least of which is funding and the inequities that allow higher-income states, such as Massachusetts, to spend more federal funds on the program than poorer states, such as Mississippi.

In fact, Sessions 'outed' the Democrats' dirty little secret, that in Massachusetts children living in households with an income of $60,000 per year can be covered under this plan.

SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS? The poverty level is a fraction of that, and besides, we have been told by the Democrats that this program is for poor children who 'do not have access.'

Apparently, this is yet another lie.

As we have stated many times before on The Liberty Sphere, we are all for programs designed to provide health coverage to those who do not have it. But we are vehemently opposed to government doing it.

We are even more opposed to these programs covering those who already have insurance.

Gonzalez Faces Hostile Congressional Leaders

U.S. Attorney-General Alberto Gonzalez was on Capitol Hill Tuesday to meet with Congressional leaders. The meeting was largely hostile as Gonzalez continues to be dogged by questions concerning the firing of eight federal prosecutors.

Many on the Hill in both Parties expected Gonzalez to be gone by now, either by his own choice to resign or by termination by the President.

It is no secret in political circles that there are major problems at the Department of Justice. From the unjust prosecution and imprisonment of two innocent Border Patrol agents to a rogue bureau, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), the DOJ seems to suffer from a grossly inordinate amount of corruption.

In no way can all of this be laid at the feet of the Attorney-General. Large, overgrown government monoliths tend to begin to feed off of their own power, only to grow larger, often without adequate accountability.

Yet as the Attorney-General, Gonzalez is ultimately responsible for what occurs under his watch at the DOJ.

And this constitutes his biggest problem.

Gonzalez has been lax as a chief executive in exercising oversight of the department under his charge. This has created a scenario in which a rogue federal prosecutor such as Johnny Sutton can unleash his attacks against those who attempt to secure our southern border.

And, much worse, this scenario is one in which a rogue government bureau such as the BATFE can flourish.

The BATFE has been allowed to get away with unlawful and unconstitutional practices designed to harass law-abiding, private citizens into submission to government power.

Although there are lieutenants under Gonzalez who are charged with the oversight of these components of the Department of Justice, a good Attorney-General would insist that the law be obeyed, that employees tell the truth to Congressional oversight committees, and that the highest ethical standards of professional conduct be followed.

Gonzalez, for one reason or another, has failed to insist on these standards, and thus, the DOJ has been allowed to drift.

Is this reason enough for Gonzalez to be fired? It depends.

If the President begins to pressure his Attorney-General to clean up the DOJ, implementing strict guidelines of behavior and conduct, including the termination of unethical personnel, then it would not necessarily be a good thing to get rid of him.

So far, the Democrats have used Gonzalez as a whipping boy to get at the President for the firing of the eight federal prosecutors, who are political appointees serving at the pleasure of the President.

Thus, the Democrats have chosen an issue that is much ado about nothing.

If Congressional Democrats on Capitol Hill truly want the best thing for the country, politics aside, then they will work with Republicans to pressure the President to lay down the law to Gonzalez about cleaning up the DOJ.

That way our southern border will be infinitely more secure, Border Patrol agents will be free to do their jobs, the BATFE will be reigned in and restricted from its attacks on citizens, and DOJ personnel will no longer lie to Congress.

If the President is not successful in getting Gonzalez to make these necessary and urgent changes, then he should get rid of him and appoint someone who will.

NYT Report--Relations in Congress Volatile

Washington, DC (TLS). Matt Drudge has the early scoop on Friday morning's New York Times headlines concerning contentious relations in Congress.

According to a special report published in the Times, not only is public approval of Congress running at an all-time low of just 16% but personal relationships are suffering between Congressional members themselves.

The special NYT report states that Senate Republicans in particular are quite unhappy with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV. Arlen Specter in particular has complained that Reid is increasingly rude and nearly impossible to deal with.

Reid interrupted Senator Specter repeatedly during a Senate session on Thursday.

Many Senators in both Parties admit that rarely in recent history has there been such a volatile climate within the U.S. Senate.

The Liberty Sphere is not surprised at all. Look at who is in control for the explanation.

Read the Drudge scoop here:
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash5.htm