Video: Mitch McConnell Calls Obama Out For His Crass Political Calculations In Debt Ceiling Talks

Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor today to express his frustration with the president’s crass political calculations in the debt ceiling fight. He said leaders in both parties offered the President a bipartisan proposal to avoid default, but he rejected it out of hand.

“Not for economic reasons, understand, but as he put it, quote, ‘to extend this debt ceiling through the next election’”.

An extension that would be the single largest increase in the debt limit in history. McConnell had to remind Obama that (with all due respect) there are more important things to worry about than getting through the next election.

This President is such a disgrace!

The complete quote from the President: “The only bottom line that I have is that we have to extend the debt ceiling through the next election.”

The Latest On the Debt Ceiling Talks

I’ve been keeping up on the news during our mini  weekend mini-vacay and  I’m typing this in haste as the fam packs up to leave our hotel room and head back home, so excuse any typos I make.

Last night, news came out that Reid was folding – “throwing in the towel” with a deal had cuts in spending greater than the increase in the debt ceiling, a raising of the debt ceiling that will take us into 2013, allowing it to be a campaign issue for 2012, and no tax increases.

If that sounds too good to be true, it’s because it probably is. We’ve yet to see details about the cuts Reid is willing to make. Remember, we are dealing with Democrat Socialists, here, who are absolutely wedded to their left-wing constituencies.

A dubious Phillip Klein at the Washington Examiner threw cold water on Reid’s towel, turning it into a wet blanket:

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., telegraphed the likely approach during a Friday session with liberal bloggers. Talking Points Memo’s Brian Beutler quoted Pelosi as saying, “We could use the offshore — the Overseas Contingency [the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan] — could take us to two-and-a-half trillion dollars.”

In other words, if you count the savings from ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — which are expected to end over the next 10 years anyway — add some additional discretionary spending cuts and assume lower interest payments, it could reach the number that Reid is proposing.

However, such a proposal wouldn’t represent $2.5 trillion in real cuts, nor would it even start to address the trajectory of our long term debt, which the rating agencies said puts us at a risk for a downgrade, even if the debt ceiling is raised.

Whatever the specifics in the in the deal were, without the tax hikes, they weren’t good enough for Obama, Ed Morrissey reports:

If this is true, then Barack Obama just took full and complete ownership of the debt-ceiling crisis and whatever ensues:

A Republican aide e-mails me: “The Speaker, Sen. Reid and Sen. McConnell all agreed on the general framework of a two-part plan. A short-term increase (with cuts greater than the increase), combined with a committee to find long-term savings before the rest of the increase would be considered. Sen. Reid took the bipartisan plan to the White House and the President said no.”

Jen Rubin writes that “the President is playing with fire” if this report is correct, and that’s most certainly true.  This might also explain why Reid turned around and decided to offer a bill that basically meets Republican demands.  If Obama won’t accept a bipartisan compromise from Reid and McConnell, then Reid might as well just let Obama deal with Boehner instead.

As I’m sure you can imagine, Obama is handling it all with typical self-effacing modesty: Obama: I’m Dealing With Debt-Ceiling Negotiations Like Abraham Lincoln Did With Slavery…

Obama’s politically calculated insistence on a long term deal that takes him safely through the 2012 election is “Lincolnesque” how exactly?

Oh, the huge sacrifices that he’s making….“National Crisis: Obama Cancels Two Monday Night Fundraisers Because Of Debt Ceiling Impasse:

A campaign official for President Barack Obama tells CNN the president has cancelled two political fundraising appearances Monday night because of the debt ceiling situation.The president’s week-ahead schedule, released Friday night, stated he was to attend two Democratic National Committee events in Washington Monday evening. But the events were not listed on a schedule released Sunday night.

And even more tragic, he may have to postpone his lavish birthday party/fund-raiser/community organizer extravaganza on August 3, if Congress doesn’t get their act together, and eat their peas like the lecturer in Chief told them.

Our modern day Lincoln did take time away from debt talks, today To Push For Amnesty During Speech To La Raza Conference…

UPDATE:

Byron York, Washington Examiner: Reid played key role on debt bill before Obama nixed plan:

“I think Reid wants to get this done,” says the senior Republican.  “The problem is, the White House is so far out on a limb on vetoing anything that doesn’t get Obama through the 2012 election that it’s now kind of personal.”  For Reid to keep working with the GOP would be a slap at the president and leader of the Democratic party — a virtually impossible scenario for the Majority Leader.

So with the debt deadline still approaching, what does Reid do now?  He is said to be working on his own bill, which will include a reported $2.7 trillion in cuts, made up mostly of what Republicans call “paper savings” from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  (Those “paper savings” involve counting money that was never going to be spent on those wars as new spending cuts.)  It’s not clear whether Reid will introduce his own bill or try to attach it to something else.

That’s what the Dems have to offer: Lame smoke and mirrors stuff. They’ve dug in.

More via Weasel Zippers: GOP Rep. Steve King Says Obama Will Be Impeached If He Allows Nation To Default…

At this point, I can think of a lot of things Obama should be impeached for.

McConnell is reportedly very bitter about how things have shaken out: McConnell: Debt deal ‘was literally within our reach’In an angry speech on the Senate floor, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans and Democrats were tantalizingly close to an agreement to resolve the debt ceiling standoff over the weekend — until President Obama nixed the deal.  “A bipartisan plan to resolve this crisis was literally within our reach this weekend,” McConnell said.  “We offered the president a bipartisan proposal to avoid default so that we could have the time we need to put together a serious plan for getting our house in order.  He rejected it out of hand.”

More on the Dems’ phony “Smoke and Mirrors” deal: Details From Reid’s $2.7 Trillion Debt Plan Emerge: Cuts $1.2 Trillion From Discretionary Spending, $1 Trillion From Ending Afghan, Iraq Wars…

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Progressives are calling Reid’s plan “a cave” because there are no tax hikes, and since most of the cuts are of the imaginary variety, it’s unpalatable to Republicans, as well. This one is probably dead in the water, too.

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UPDATE:

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WZ: Obama Insists He Wants Debt Deal That Includes Tax Hikes…

Of course he does. Massive tax hikes were always part of his agenda, even when he was promising tax reductions for 95% of us.

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And now via Drew at AoSHQ, comes a Hail Mary pass from Speaker Boehner and Co:

Fox News has received details of the “Two-Step Approach to Hold President Obama Accountable” that Speaker John Boehner will pitch to his fellow House Republicans Monday at closed-door conference meeting. The pitch centers on new legislation that includes a $1.2 trillion cap on discretionary spending.

The approach was received from a senior GOP leadership aide and reads as follows:

Two-Step Approach to Hold President Obama Accountable

Republicans insisted if the President wants his debt ceiling increase, the American people will require serious spending cuts and reforms. This two-step approach meets House Republicans’ criteria by (1) making spending cuts that are larger than any debt ceiling increase; (2) implementing spending caps to restrain future spending; and (3) advancing the cause of the Balanced Budget Amendment – without tax hikes on families and job creators. While this is not the House-passed “Cut, Cap, & Balance,” it is a package that reflects the principles of Cut, Cap, & Balance.

The plan includes cuts that exceed the debt hike, caps to control future spending, a balanced budget amendment, entitlement reforms and savings, and no tax hikes.

Drew at AoSHQ thinks this one may have a chance:

As Boehner said, it’s not “Cut, Cap and Balance” but that died in the Senate. This is in that spirit and it might pass. Given that we only have control over 1 out of 3 political levers of power, that’s not bad. Serious entitlement reform along the lines of the Ryan plan was never on the table with a Democratic Senate and Obama in the White House. Plus, it cuts Obama out so he gets no credit or his “balanced” (aka “hike taxes’), so Mr. Adult in the Room looks like the brat he is being dragged along, kicking and screaming.

If, big if, Boehner can pull this off and it’s acceptable to the majority of the House GOP caucus, he just might end up rolling Obama, Reid and the Gang of 6 in the Senate. Not a bad days work. I won’t even make fun of him if he cries when it’s done.

One more thing:

Dems spread the narrative, today, that Paul Ryan’s budget proposal had the same phoney military budget cuts as Reid’s plan does. I didn’t report it because I figured they were lying, but didn’t have time to check it. (Dems rely on that, you know – people being too busy or lazy to check their b.s.)

AoSHQ: Ryan: My Budget Didn’t Count Money Not Spent on Unfought Wars As Savings At All

Your Sunday Hymn: Consider The Lilies

An oldie but goodie performed by “The Joyful Singers”.

Lyrics:

Isn’t He The Funny One…Obama Jokes That It’s Too Hot For Golf…

And here I was thinking that Dear Leader was skipping golf these last few weeks because it was looking incredibly crass for him to continue playing a “rich man’s game” while the country is going bankrupt.

Nope, it’s just too hot for golfing, apparently:

At the beginning of today’s 11:00 am debt negotiations meeting, President Obama and Speaker Boehner engaged in light banter about the sport they both love to play on weekends.

“I think everybody agrees it’s too hot to play golf today,” Obama told Boehner.

Little if anything was accomplished at the meeting with the Congressional leaders who were  “summoned” to the White House, this morning:

US President Barack Obama met with leading members of congress on Saturday to forge agreement on the balance of tax and spending cuts that Republicans will accept if they are to agree to raise the level that the government is able to borrow.

“The bipartisan leadership in congress is committed to working on new legislation that will prevent default while substantially reducing Washington spending,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell after the 50-minute meeting.
Top Republican leaders broke off negotiations with Obama on Friday aimed at raising Washington’s $14-trillion (9.75 trillion-euro) debt ceiling, just 11 days before a default deadline.

The White House on Saturday urged Congress to “refrain from playing reckless political games” with the economy.

“Reckless political games”. That’s a good one coming from  guy who refused for three years to release his “long form” birth certificate, fought it in court, watched as half the country questioned his legitimacy, watched an army officer go to jail for insisting on answers, uh – ostensibly because it helped him politically for conservatives spin their wheels on the slippery issue..

Nothing weird or “recklessly political” about that, at all.

Speaking of weird….as you know, Obama’s throwing himself a lavish 50th birthday party/fundraiser, August 3rd. How crass and cultish is this thing going to be?

Well, since you asked…

ABC News’ Devin Dwyer (@devindwyer) reports: No gifts, please. Just your name will do.

That’s the message President Obama’s re-election campaign is pushing in an elaborate nationwide effort to expand the president’s grassroots network on his 50th birthday.

While aides plan a glitzy Aug. 3 fundraiser-bash for Obama at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom, organizers are encouraging thousands of supporters who can’t attend to plan and host house parties of their own.

The campaign has rolled out a website dedicated to promoting the parties — and a glossy 4-page, step-by-step guide that instructs would-be hosts on everything from “recruiting” attendees to electronically relaying participants’ personal information back to headquarters.

Who should be invited? “At least 50” friends and neighbors.

Where should it be held? “A quiet and focused place to talk and organize.”

When should it start?  “Sometime between 6:30 PM and 6:45 PM ET.”

Aides say Obama will deliver a live video message to house party attendees that will stream over the internet on hosts’ computers once the events are underway.

They’re also offering help with decorations, selling special “host packs” of birthday hats, buttons, balloons, stickers and signs, all emblazoned with a giant 5-0, “Happy Birthday,” and the campaign’s official logo.

The $150 Obama Birthday Host Pack has “everything you need for a party to grow this movement as you help President Obama ring in his 50th.”

With a contribution of $150, we’ll send you 50 balloons, 50 hats, 50 buttons, 200 stickers, 20 signs, and one limited-edition T-shirt to commemorate the event.

Aren’t you excited? Especially the part about the “live video message” from Dear Leader that will stream over the internet to hosts’ computers…..

You know what’s sad? Not just that we have a President who’s a raging narcissist, but that he has so many enablers, and still so many of Americans who are willing to vote for him.

It would certainly be a terrible shame if his very special day had to be postponed because of the Republicans’ reckless political maneuvering.

Sarah Palin, whose eagle eyes don’t miss a thing, pounded Obama on her Facebook page, Friday,  calling him a “lame-duck President”:

After listening to the President’s press conference today, let’s keep in mind the following:

This is the same president who proposed an absurdly irresponsible budget that would increase our debt by trillions of dollars, and whose party failed to even put forward a budget in over 800 days! This is the same president who is pushing our country to the brink because of his reckless spending on things like the nearly trillion dollar “stimulus” boondoggle. This is the same president who ignored his own debt commission’s recommendations and demonized the voices of fiscal sanity who proposed responsible plans to reform our entitlement programs and rein in our dangerous debt trajectory. This is the same president who wanted to push through an increase in the debt ceiling that didn’t include any cuts in government spending! This is the same president who wants to slam Americans with tax hikes to cover his reckless spending, but has threatened to veto a bill proposing a balanced budget amendment. This is the same president who hasn’t put forward a responsible plan himself, but has rejected reasonable proposals that would tackle our debt. This is the same president who still refuses to understand that the American electorate rejected his big government agenda last November. As I said in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Tax Day Tea Party rally, “We don’t want it. We can’t afford it. And we are unwilling to pay for it.”

Now the President is outraged because the GOP House leadership called his bluff and ended discussions with him because they deemed him an obstruction to any real solution to the debt crisis.

He has been deemed a lame duck president. And he is angry now because he is being treated as such.

His foreign policy strategy has been described as “leading from behind.” Well, that’s his domestic policy strategy as well. Why should he be surprised that he’s been left behind in the negotiations when he’s been leading from behind on this debt crisis?

Thank you, GOP House leaders. Please don’t get wobbly on us now.

2012 can’t come soon enough.

- Sarah Palin

She hit on all the relevant points, there, and I agree with every word of it – especially the “2012 can’t come soon enough” part.

UPDATE:

After Reid followed Obama’s lead, accusing Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) of “intransigence” in their approach to the debt talks, Boehner says a “two stage” process is now inevitable:

It is not “physically possible” to get everything done before the Treasury Department’s August 2 deadline for raising the debt ceiling, Boehner said on Fox News Sunday. “There is going to be a two stage process.”

“I don’t want to get anywhere close to [default],” he said. “This is about what’s doable at the eleventh hour.”

Boehner also criticized President Obama for recommending a debt ceiling deal be timed to last beyond the next election season.

“The president’s worried about his next election, but my God, shouldn’t we be worried about the country?” Boehner said.

 

Saturday Movie Matinee

James O’Keefe, Project Veritas: VIRGINIA Medicaid Drug Smuggling Investigation:

“DON’T PUT THAT ON THE APPLICATION,” says the Medicaid official in Richmond, VA after a man posing as a wealthy drug dealer says he deals in illicit drugs and prostitution. The Worker gives medicaid application that states, “If you knowingly give false, incorrect, or incomplete information in order to help someone else receive benefits, you could be arrested and prosecuted for fraud.”

oversightandreform: Fast & Furious: Who Knew What, When at the Top of the Obama Admin?

The Right Scoop: Crowder slams Bill Maher over rape jokes and sexism

Via Rick Amato at Big Government:

Famed economist Art Laffer on air with Rick Amato on Pres. Obama, 2012, and our economic future ig Government Interviews Art Laffer:

With the unemployment rate at 9.2%, a contentious budget battle underway in Washington and small businesses- the very backbone of the U.S. economy- burdened by an ever growing list of government regulation, many might wonder what would Ronald Reagan would do today.

Well Arthur Laffer the famed economist who served as economic adviser under Reagan, tells me the Gipper would go after burdensome regulations to stimulate the economy, starting with President Barack Obama’s health care plan.

Charles Krauthammer has been on a roll, lately…

Charles Krauthammer Tells PBS Inside Washington Host, “You manage to introduce a hell of a lot of bias”

Krauthammer on Obama’s Peevish, petulant speech, today at Breitbart TV:Krauthammer: Who is Obama to ‘Summon’ Leaders to White House?

The man is a national treasure.

Video: Boehner Walks Out On WH Budget Talks, Obama “Left At The Altar”, Again

As well it should be. Obama is handling these negotiations so clumsily, it’s hard to imagine he’s doing anything but cynically orchestrating an economic crisis so he can blame it on Republicans. Nothing the man does is in good faith. Nothing he does is done with the good of the country at heart.

First, here’s John Boehner’s comments from his press conference after the talks failed.

Text via Hot Air:

“The White House moved the goalpost,” Boehner said in a news conference, claiming that the talks broke down when the White House demanded an additional $400 billion in new revenues to the $800 billion that was agreed upon, “which was going to be nothing more than a tax increase on the American people.”

Boehner also said, “They refused to get serious about cutting spending and making the tough choices that are facing our country on entitlement reform.”

In a hastily arranged news conference in the White House briefing room before Boehner spoke to reporters, a visibly irritated Obama said that “it’s hard to understand why Speaker Boehner would walk away from this deal.”

“This was an extraordinarily fair deal,” he said, explaining that the White House offered more than $1 trillion in cuts to discretionary spending, both domestic and defense and $650 billion in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in exchange for $1.2 trillion in new revenues.

After informing the president in a phone call of his decision to walk away, Boehner sent a letter to lawmakers saying, “In the end, we couldn’t connect. Not because of different personalities, but because of different visions for our country.”

Obama gave his usual  peevish, pretentious polemic. Yes, pretentious – he wants us to believe that he,  the Keynesian genius, whose blizzard of  spending got us into this unholy, “shovel-ready” mess, is more serious about debts and deficits than Republicans.

It’s almost too much for a sane person to take.

The Hill summarizes:

The president, in possibly his most emotional and stern appearance to date, said in no uncertain terms that he is summoning congressional leaders to the White House on Saturday morning.

“I want them here at 11 o’clock tomorrow,” Obama said. “We have run out of time, and they are going to have to explain to me how it is we are going to default.”

Obama’s fury toward Boehner was on full display as he several times accused the Speaker of walking away from the talks.

“I’ve been left at the altar now a couple of times,” Obama said.

The president was angry on a number of counts, but he seemed especially miffed by Boehner’s refusal to communicate with him on Friday before he walked away from the table.

Obama said he had a “cordial” relationship with Boehner “up until sometime today when I couldn’t get a phone call returned.”

…To that end, Obama questioned “how serious” Republicans are about wanting to address debts and deficits.

“Or do you simply want it as a campaign ploy going into the next election,” the president said.

Classic liberal projection. Obama’s the one who’s trying to benefit politically from this. And he has a hell of a nerve questioning how serious Republicans are after putting out a budget in February that was so unserious, so lacking in deficit reduction it was unanimously rejected in the Senate 97-0. His feigned concern over the debt, after his maniacal 2 1/2 year spending spree is profoundly unconvincing, to say the least..

Via Drew at AoSHQ, here’s Senate Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell’s statement following Friday’s debt talks:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Friday regarding the announcement that Speaker Boehner will work with the Senate Leadership on deficit reduction legislation:“It’s disappointing that the talks with the White House did not reach a favorable conclusion, and I appreciate the Speaker insisting on reduced spending and opposing the President’s call for higher taxes on American families and job creators. It is similarly disappointing that the White House has refused to join Republicans in our effort to cut Washington spending now, cap runaway spending in the future and save our entitlement programs and our country from bankruptcy by requiring the nation to balance its budget. Speaker Boehner has informed us that he will work on a new path forward with Leader Reid to develop a solution that will prevent default, without job killing tax hikes, while substantially reducing Washington spending.

“As I’ve said before, it’s time now for the debate to move out of a room in the White House and on to the House and Senate floors where we can debate the best approach to reducing the nation’s unsustainable debt.”

Team Boehner fights back.

WH flip-flopped after Gang of Six, walked away from key areas of potential agreement … is that leadership, Mr. President?

See Also:

Freedom’s Lighthouse: Krauthammer Slams Obama for Angry Press Briefing: “This is Obama at His Most Sanctimonious, Demagogic, Self-Righteous and Arrogant” – Video 7/22/11

Video: 20 Democrats Have Supported a Balanced Budget Amendment

Senate Democrats shot down Cut Cap and Balance, (otherwise known as the  “worst legislation” in US history),   as expected,  but Senator Jim DeMint has pledged  to force another vote on CCB. Not a bad idea given the fact that there are 20 sitting Democrats who are on record supporting a balanced budget amendment, including Dingy Harry :

video via club4growth

People have to understand that when push comes to shove, Democrats always do what’s in the party’s best interest – not the country’s.

Never fear, Guy Benson says, we’re in great hands…

Up next?  The McConnell plan (gulp), the Gang of Six framework (triple gulp), or some other apocryphal proposal like the rumored Boehner/Obama pact, or a short term deal.  Isn’t this fun?

No.

Jim DeMint made the following statement after the vote, today:

“The bipartisan House-passed Cut, Cap, Balance bill remains the only plan on the table, the only one that preserves our AAA rating, and is only four Democrat votes away from a Senate majority to end this debt crisis,” said Senator DeMint. “I will work to force another vote on Cut, Cap & Balance next week because the President and Democrats have not offered the American people any other viable solution.

“It is outrageous that every Senate Democrat voted against even allowing a debate on balancing the budget within 10 years, a plan supported by two-thirds of Americans with wide support across all party lines. Why are Senate Democrats so afraid to debate a balanced budget? Cut, Cap, Balance is the compromise plan that passed the House and can end the wasteful spending that caused this debt crisis. It gives the President the debt limit increase he has asked for in return for immediate spending cuts, enforceable spending caps, and a constitutional amendment to force Washington to stop spending more than it brings in.

“The President and Democrats have been beyond reckless in this debate, refusing to offer any serious solution to our fiscal crisis. The only plan the President has offered would increase our debt by $10 trillion and push our nation into bankruptcy.

“I urge Republican leaders to stop letting the President drag you back like children into secret meetings where he pretends to do something constructive. The President created this crisis by irresponsible spending and borrowing that has left our economy in shambles, and if he’s unwilling to simply agree to balance the budget in 10 years then he is not a credible negotiating partner.

“No more closed door meetings, no more phony compromises that don’t solve the problem, no more useless commissions. We have a balanced approach supported by a bipartisan House majority that ends our debt crisis if just four Senate Democrats would keep their promise and support a balanced budget.

“We must pass Cut, Cap & Balance to keep our nation from falling off a fiscal cliff.”

At least 22 Senate Democrats and one Senate Independent have supported a balanced budget, including: U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-Montana), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Tom Carper (D-Delaware), Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota), Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin), Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana), Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut), Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska), Bill Nelson (D-Florida), Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), John Tester (D-Montana), and Mark Udall (D-Colorado).

RELATED:

Catherine Austin Fitts: Now That We Got Your Money We’re Going To Change The Deal

Podcast interview with Catherine Austin Fitts, who says the economic collapse that is happening globally, is by design.

Her Wikipedia bio:

Fitts served as managing director and member of the board of directors of the Wall Street investment bank Dillon, Read & Co. Inc., as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing^[3] Commissioner at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in the first Bush Administration, and was the president of Hamilton Securities Group, Inc., an investment bank and financial software developer. She is now the president of Solari, Inc., a managing member of Solari Investment Advisory Services, LLC., and managing member of Sea Lane Advisory Services, LLC.

Fitts has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the Wharton School and studied Mandarin at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She publishes a column, “Mapping the Real Deal,” in Scoop in New Zealand.

H/T Brian B.

Hat tip: Gateway Pundit

Video: New Drug Spenditol All The Rage In Washington

Especially among Democrats, I hear:

Brought to you by Concerned Women For America, via Freedom’s Lighthouse:

“Spenditol is Washington’s answer to all the painful problems Americans face. How to borrow $800 Billion for a Stimulus that didn’t create jobs or fix the Economy? Spenditol!”

Side effects include (government) bloating, amnesia, enlarged debt, nausea, anxiety, heart palpitations,  loose rules, and (national) suicide.

Hat tip: Brian B.

 

Video: Allen West Digs In – Apology To Wasserman-Schultz “Not Happening”

Good for him. He didn’t say anything in his email that wasn’t absolutely true. And the fact of the matter is, she’s the one who made it public, not him.

Fox News reported

Rep. Allen West dug in his heels after congressional Democrats called on him to apologize for a heated email he sent to the Democratic Party chairwoman, adamantly denying reports that he had already done so.

West claims he was in his right to send fellow Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz an email Tuesday calling her “vile” and “not a lady,” in response to her criticism of him on the House floor.

“Don’t poke me in the chest, that’s the bottom line,” he told Fox Business Network on Thursday, adding that an apology is “not happening.”

Democrats, of course, are trying to make political hay over the letter, hoping to paint West as some sort of anti-woman bigot because of his less than flattering words towards Wasserman-Schultz.

Weasel Zippers reports, House Dem Congresswomen Demand GOP Leadership Condemn Allen West, Accuse Him Of Sexual Harassment…

(Politico) — Several House Democratic women on Wednesday called on Rep. Allen West to apologize to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for his e-mail that called her “vile,” “despicable” and “not a Lady.”

The lawmakers said they were sending a letter to House GOP leadership, asking them to condemn the e-mail from the freshman Florida Republican. The group of five House Democrats said West’s e-mail was indicative of a larger problem — both inside Congress and out — of gender discrimination in the workplace.

“For his own good, they ought to take him into the woodshed and say, ‘if you want to survive in this work environment, you’ve got to keep your word, you’ve got to be cordial and congenial and civil even when you’re disagreeing,” said Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) “It makes for a very hard career otherwise.”

“Sticks and stones will not break Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s bones, and neither will Congressman West’s Blackberry,” added Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) who charged that in other workplaces, West would be hit with a sexual harassment claim.

There was nothing in that letter that could be construed as “sexual harassment”. He called her “vile,” “despicable” and “not a lady”. He could have just s easily called  a male colleague, “vile,” “despicable” and “not a gentleman”.  This is straight out of the Dem victim-mentality playbook.

 

Hat tip: Gateway Pundit

Video: Fox News Locates Operation Fast And Furious Straw Buyers

Next Tuesday, July 26th, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing entitled: Operation Fast and Furious: The Other Side of the Border.

This Tuesday’s hearing, Operation Fast and Furious: The Other Side of the Border, will feature the testimony of U.S. law enforcement officials who witnessed a different side of the controversial operation. These officials saw the steady stream of Operation Fast and Furious guns recovered at crime scenes in Mexico and were given orders from superiors not to alert Mexican authorities. Members of the Committee will also have their first opportunity to question ATF supervisors who have defended Operation Fast and Furious and the Justice Department’s decisions to committee investigators.

“The Acting Director of the ATF has told congressional investigators that the Justice Department is attempting to shift blame in Operation Fast and Furious away from its political appointees,” said Chairman Darrell Issa. “Examining the accounts of witnesses who did not participate in Operation Fast and Furious, but were nonetheless disturbed as they watched it unfold is critical to understanding the scope of this flawed program. This testimony is especially important in light of the Justice Department’s willful efforts to withhold key evidence from investigators about what occurred, who knew and who authorized this reckless operation.”

Fox News covered news of the upcoming House Committee, yesterday:

Reportedly, while publicly claiming F &F took down a major drug running operation, agents privately called it “a joke” as 19 out of 20 suspects ended up back on the streets:

More MSNBC Pwnge: This Time It’s Contessa Brewer’s Turn To Be Humiliated

The hacks at MSNBC are spinning wildly for their boyfriend in the White House, a little too wildly as Tingles found out, yesterday, and Contessa  Brewer found out when she tried to bully the genteel, intellectually superior Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL).

This is the rhetorical equivalence to yanking the mic out of her hand and hitting her over the head with it, only he couldn’t have been more polite.

“Do You Have A Degree In Economics?”

“Yes Ma’am, I do. Highest honors”

Beautiful.

According to his Congressional page: “Mo graduated from Duke University in three years with a double major in political science and economics, with highest honors in economics. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Alabama Law School.”

Hat tip: @Afterseven

Video: Rep Joe Walsh Takes It To Chris Matthews

Oh my goodness!!! Matthews hit a brick wall, and hard, when he went up against freshman congressman from Illinois, Joe Walsh with his  usual bullying and interrupting routine. Matthews started out by trying to push the narrative that somehow Grover Norquist is the leader of the Republican party, based on the fact that he put out a petition, (huh?!) which was instantly ridiculed by Walsh…

How surreal was this interview? At one point Walsh has Matthews bellowing “Your word!….. Tingles is  your word…”, and Walsh, says, “Okay, He doesn’t give me a thrill up my leg, alright?”

I think Matthews was happy when it was time to cut to a commercial.

Previous posts featuring my favorite congressman from Illinois:

Congressman Walsh To Obama: “Quit Lying”

Video: Rep Joe Walsh: Obama ‘acted like a 10-year-old’ In Presser

Video: Rep. Joe Walsh “Disgusted and Discouraged” After Meeting With Geithner

Video: Rep. Joe Walsh on Obama’s Moats And Alligators

Hat tip: Legal Insurrection.

Linked by Conservative Commune, thanks!

Hump Day Link-Around

Lisa Benson cartoon via Townhall

 Cut, Cap and Balance passed in the House, last night, so the ball should be in the Dems’ court, but a “gang” in the Senate (which includes Republicans) is currently negotiating a grand “compromise” which cuts some spending, someday, maybe, and includes massive tax hikes. Some compromise.

@#$% – you very much, Senate Republicans.

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Chris Christie comments on the budget talks:

“I think it’s incumbent upon the President to put a plan out there”…

“The executive has an obligation to lead.”

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Townhall: Surprise: The Brain Behind Democrats’ No-Plan, Class Warfare Approach Is…

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Boston Herald: Prez’s vacation makes little $ense right now:

…a new Marist Poll says that for the first time ever a majority of American adults — 55 percent — will not be booking a summer vacation this year. They’re too worried about jobs and money. The “Staycation” of 2009 has morphed into the “Naycation” of 2011.

But Obama, who’s got us panicked over this debt-ceiling stalemate, will soon be off — again — to Blue Heron Farm, Martha’s Vineyard. Check out the pictures of this “farm” online. You practically drool. It looks like the centerfold of “Town & Country,” the magazine for aspiring zillionaires.

But unless Obama fixes this fiscal disaster — now — he can’t go. He should have a staycay like the rest of us.

Instead, he’ll be looking at 28 acres on the water from a pristine white Victorian farm house handsomely appointed with Restoration Hardware-style chairs and tables on an elegant patio. There’s also a reconstructed Pennsylvania hay barn dating back to the 1800s and a boat house for the Boston Whalers and catamarans to cruise Tisbury Great Pond. Plus a golf green and pool and flower gardens, vegetable gardens and apple orchard — not a droopy leaf in site. And don’t forget the basketball court.

Let’s call it a Barack-acation.

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The latest in gunwalker news…

Bizzy Blog: Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself:

So I’ll let the person who sent the following to the NewsBusters email box do the talking (bolds are mine):

With Fast and Furious the Obama Administration is effectively a state sponsor of terrorism. This is a scandal of epic proportions. It includes coverups to the highest levels of government and involves the death of federal employees. In short this is Watergate on a steroids/crack cocktail. We continue to be told the media is out for controversy. What could be more controversial?

Meanwhile, a media mogul has some of his employees in one country performing some potentially illegal acts. But THIS guy owns Fox News.

So which is getting more stories and minutes devoted to it in American news, the President or Attorney General giving guns to drug cartels to kill Americans so as to attack a Constitutional Amendment, or some phone hacking and bribes by a media branch in England?

Few things are a better sign of undeniable bias.

Confederate Yankee: DOJ Pressured Gun Dealers to Supply Guns to Cartels:

Hope and change and death…

Sipsey Street Irregulars:

Deputy Attorney General James Cole Involved in ‘Fast & Furious’ Whistleblower Cover-up?

The Gunwalker Scandal and Mexican Presidential Politics

NRA News: Obfuscation: Dems Push Gun Control To Hide ‘Gunwalker’ Scandal

Video of Confederate Yankee, Bob Owens interview at link.

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Michelle Malkin: Obamacare Fables: The Greatest Hits Video:

Last week, I published The Ever-Expanding Catalogue of Obamacare Fables.

This week, MRCTV and BreitbartTV bring you an excellent and handy video of Obama’s favorite health care takeover tall tales in his own words.

All it needs is an “Unhappily Ever After” end page.

Watch video at link.

Hard and fast rule — whenever Obama says, “true story”, understand that he is about to lie to your face. Corollary to that rule: Whenever Obama opens his mouth, understand that he is about to lie to your face.

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Another hard and fast rule: “Never trust a source as cited by Rachel Maddow.”

Newsbusters: Maddow Dishonestly Claims Texas Voter ID Law Exempts Residents with Concealed Handgun License

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iOWNTHEWORLD: “At this Point, Anyone with an Obama 2012 Bumper Sticker is a Threat to the Gene Pool” – Allen West

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Zombie, PJ Tatler: Tomato Protest at Trader Joe’s: Prototypical Example of Alinsky Tactics and Smug Self-Immortalization

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WND: ‘Irrefutable’ proof of Obama forgery Document details show typewriter had variable type way back in 1961?

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Atlas Shrugs: Holy War in Texas Escalates: Texas clerk Faces Grand Jury for Defending the Pledge, Possible Jail Time and Removal from Office

Right after the Fourth of July, I broke the story of Natalie Nichols, a newly elected county clerk in Texas, who questioned a rogue court that actually voted to remove the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer from the court’s official records. She refused to do it, and made it her official stance. She now faces charges.

After my story ran on July 6 over at WND, Holy War in Texas, Natalie Nichols found herself facing Grand Jury charges and possible prison time.

Natalie’s husband told me, “Is this what we are to now expect when we dare take a stand? A public official, no doubt? Retribution for some trumpted-up mess? Prayers, please! Right now, she is alone in this here.”

Time for Texans to rally around this brave woman.

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1st ever Twitter Presidential debate to start at 3:00 eastern.

Moderator: For the Twitter Prez debate we’ll be asking the candidates YOUR questions too, so tweet them to @140Townhall #140Townhall

@wepolls After the @140townhall debate, vote to say who won, or vote now to say who you think will win. #POLL: bit.ly/oHThct

Thanks to Brian B. for many of those links.

O’Keefe Medicaid Sting: Part II

Good grief. What does a person have to do to be ineligible for government assistance in this country?

Project Veritas asks that question in its latest investigation.

In the latest video, filmed in several Medicaid offices in South Carolina, an undercover reporter, dressed in a kilt and driving an expensive sports car, poses as an IRA terrorist.  He explains that his comrades have gunshot wounds and is in need of  twenty-five Medicaid applications.

The Medicaid case worker tells the reporter, who is identified as “Sean Murphy” that “his business is his business.  She does not probe into the nature of his work.  One of the Medicaid workers helps Murphy fill out a form and lists an injury as “shot offshore.”

A wealthy Irish drug and gun smuggling terrorist needs Medicaid for 25 foreign compatriots with gun-shot wounds. (Never-mind the IRA hasn’t been active for years)…What will the Medicaid office do????

“In this time of economic uncertainty, the American people deserve to know how their tax dollars are being wasted.” said James O’Keefe.   “This is hardly an isolated incident.  Government workers willing to aid people with criminal backgrounds and great wealth should be an outrage to every American.  After tapes were revealed yesterday of a similar investigation in Ohio, one Medicaid worker has already been put on paid administrative leave.  This should be a wake-up call for close scrutiny of the Medicaid system.”

Official Media Matters response: HOAX!!11!!! He didn’t wear the hat into the office!!!

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James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles are currently being sued by the ACORN employee seen in the San Diego ACORN sting video.

A complaint filed July 7, 2010 indicates ACORN employee Juan Carlos Vera (seen here in the ACORN San Diego investigation) is suing James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles in federal court for at least $75,000.  Vera alleges Giles and O’Keefe violated the Invasion of Privacy Act when they videotaped him giving advice regarding underage prostitution to the fake pimp and prostitute in 2009.

You can support Project Veritas and help O’keefe and Giles fight in court by donating here.

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UPDATE:

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The Ohio Medicaid sting already seeing dividends:

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AoSHQ: Ohio Orders Retraining of Medicaid Officials-

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Ace says retraining’s all well and good, but not enough:

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No matter what the job is — even in non-bureaucratic positions — an employee’s real directive is to avoid complaints by clients and hassles from superiors and above all else not get fired.

If a system is in place — and I don’t give a fig what’s in the employee manuals; I mean the real governing system in place — has all the incentives on one side of things (here, to just give out money willy-nilly; in the Army, to just promote Muslim officers even if they were giving “psychiatric research presentations” celebrating Islamic jihad — then that is how the bureaucrats will act.

If bureaucrats began to get fired based on what we saw here in Ohio, there would at least be some incentive on the other side of things to deny money to plainly-ineligible fraudsters. As things stand, there is not.

These employees need to be very publicly fired.

Hat tip: Brian B.

Video: Wasserman-Schultz’s Shameless Demagoguery And Lies Too Much For Allen West To Take

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor could barely contain his disgust with the hypocrisy and lies coming from Dems when he spoke on the House floor, earlier today. Specifically, he objected to Dems railing against corporate loopholes, pretending  that the Republicans support them when they know from their negotiations that Republicans are open to tax reform, (not that eliminating loopholes would  make much of a dent in our massive debt).

But lies and demagoguery are all Dems got, and happens to be Wasserman-Schultz’s specialty.

Congressman West was so disgusted by Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for directing her brazen demagoguery at him when he was no longer on the floor, he fired off this email in a fit of pique and rage.

Email via The Politico:

From: Z112 West, Allen
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 04:48 PM
To: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Cc: McCarthy, Kevin; Blyth, Jonathan; Pelosi, Nancy; Cantor, Eric
Subject: Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman-Schultz

Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!

I am bringing your actions today to our Majority Leader and Majority Whip and from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior……which dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign hqs, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach.

You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!

Steadfast and Loyal

Congressman Allen B West (R-FL)

UPDATE:

Guess I should have mentioned: GOP Passes Cut, Cap and Balance Act:

Paul Ryan declares victory:

“The House of Representatives continues to advance serious solutions to get our budget on the path to balance and our economy on the path to prosperity.  The Cut, Cap and Balance legislation passed today cuts $5.8 trillion in spending over the next decade, locks in those savings with enforceable caps on spending, and forces Washington to finally live within its means with a Balanced Budget Amendment.

“The coming debt crisis is the single most predictable economic disaster in the history of this nation. Unfortunately, the White House refuses to put forth a credible plan to solve our spending problem, and Senate Democrats have not passed a budget in over 800 days. I remain hopeful that responsible leaders will work with us to advance specific solutions that uphold our solemn commitment to leave the next generation with a stronger, more prosperous nation than the one we inherited.”

Linked by Michelle Malkin in Buzzworthy, and  Free Republic USA, thanks