http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/congress/ en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:01:38 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416105/posts Congressional Reform Act of 2010 The following steps for congressional reform were forwarded to me by a concerned American and friend, John Royall. I couldn’t agree more and my guess is most Americans will also agree! It is time the elite, messiahs come down a few notches from their high horses and start serving again. We have screamed about the self imposed elitism among most members of congress and the Senate but now there is no more coffee to spill and my voice is hoarse from screaming. It is time for action now. How is this for reform? 1. Term... CFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416105/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:01:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415653/posts Last night’s cloture vote on the Obama-Reid Big Government Healthcare Bill brought an end to any discussion of fiscal conservative or “moderate” Democrats. Two so-called moderate Democrats Ben Nelson and Arlen Specter betrayed taxpayers by violating their Taxpayer Protection Pledges and voting along with 58 other Democrats in support of the healthcare bill. (For a comprehensive list of all the tax hikes in this bill, click here.) They were the only remaining Democrat Pledge Signers not to have violated their Pledges on at least one occasion. House Democrats including Brad Ellsworth, Ben Chandler, Rob Andrews, and Gene Taylor have all... Americans for Tax Reform http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415653/posts#comment Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:52:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415626/posts The health-care-reform bill has passed in the Senate, but it has fallen short of the real reform President Obama promised on the campaign trail. The bill is now headed to a conference committee where it will be amended further. Meanwhile, a majority of Americans (55 percent, according to recent polls by Rasmussen Reports) disapprove of the Democrats' reform efforts. From its inception, the movement toward health-care reform has suffered from a dearth of leadership. The powerful Obama campaign machine that once gauged the pulse of the young, Internet-savvy generation has broken down, leaving in its wake the hordes of young... The Orlando Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415626/posts#comment Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:43:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415596/posts As my brother Kevin headed off to Christmas Eve Mass in the Maryland suburbs, I asked him how he thought the first year of Barack Obama had gone. He didn’t have to pray long over that one. “Fine,” he replied, “if you like unmitigated disasters like the Hindenburg and the Redskins season.” If it’s Christmas, it must be time for my conservative brother to take over my column and turn it a blazing shade of red. So without further ado, here is Kevin unplugged, offering a perspective from “the real America,” as one of his favorite Republican philosophers, Sarah Palin,... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415596/posts#comment Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:04:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415451/posts Federal health care legislation could add hundreds of millions of dollars in costs to Georgia’s state budge... Pages A1 (Front Page) & A15 in the Sunday December 27th edition in, and online at, The ajc. Atlanta Jouranl Constipation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415451/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:12:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415589/posts LOS ANGELES – A sign inside the Humming Motors auto repair shop says, "We do the worrying so you don't have to." These days, owner David Baur spends a lot of time worrying in his full-service garage near downtown Los Angeles. As cars become vastly more complicated than models made just a few years ago, Baur is often turning down jobs and referring customers to auto dealer shops. Like many other independent mechanics, he does not have the thousands of dollars to purchase the online manuals and specialized tools needed to fix the computer-controlled machines... AP via Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415589/posts#comment Sun, 27 Dec 2009 03:35:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415525/posts Prior to the 2008 Presidential election, I had my McCain/Palin plastic slip and piano wire sign stolen by some local socialist thugs. I replaced it with a 3x4' two sided wood sign set in concrete, using the official McCain/Palin design. After the election I scraped McCain off the top, and replaced him with a pink and sparkling "2012". This sign has remained in place on our back country road until a few weeks ago. Once again, a team of local socialist thugs stole my sign, smashing and pulling the sign out by the roots, despite the ground being frozen solid.... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415525/posts#comment Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:15:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415514/posts “It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” -- Winston Churchill In the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve the United States Senate skulked into their chambers under the darkness of night and passed Obamacare, a legislative nightmare that might be the most intrusive bill in American history. It not only gives the Congress complete control of one sixth of the American economy, it forces Americans to purchase health insurance under penalty of law and is a major step toward removing individual choice from healthcare. It... The Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415514/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:48:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415423/posts Baucus is drunker than a skunk, but I'm just as upset as him railing on the Republicans not being "Bi-Partisan" on healthcare. Other than that, funny (and sad sad sad) stuff. You Tube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415423/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:56:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2415392/posts Thanks to contributors David Donar at Political Graffiti, Curtis D. Tucker at Curtoons.com and "Michael" at the now-defunct My Personal Litmus blog, I was able to share a great number of fantastic editorial cartoons. Below, I share the first five of my Top 10 favorites of 2009 in no particular order. Click on any image below to read the posts in which the image appeared. Bob McCarty Writes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2415392/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:36:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415217/posts Santa came early on Christmas Eve 2009 for the embattled Democrats of the Senate who passed the Obama Healthcare bill as expected. Being forced to buy healthcare by the U.S. government will hardly be seen as a gift from Santa by the citizens of this country and even now, some republicans are planning to test the constitutionality of the bill. Special sweetheart deals for Florida and Connecticut are overshadowed by what may be the most expensive and openly public bribe in U.S. history for the state of Nebraska. The Corn Husker’s are mostly insulted by Sen. Nelsons last minute deal... Canada Free Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415217/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:25:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415171/posts One might expect Democrats to be euphoric during this holiday season. After recapturing control of Congress in 2006, and last year taking back the White House by electing America's first African-American president, Democrats are now on the verge of passing a historic health care reform law. But instead of celebrating, they are bitterly divided. Former Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean and liberal bloggers are urging the Senate to defeat the health care bill. Many are criticizing President Barack Obama for compromising too much, saying the proposal doesn't go far enough, while more moderate and conservative Democrats are petrified the bill... The London Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415171/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:34:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415081/posts Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said that Congress has the authority to mandate that people buy health insurance and that there is no constitutional limit on Congress’ power to enact such mandates, adding that this unlimited authority stemmed from the Commerce clause of the Constitution. And apparently 59 other Democrat senators agree with her. It is my understanding that the intent of the commerce clause is to assign the responsibility of regulating commerce (the transportation and trading of goods with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes) to the central government, taking the law-making responsibility for... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415081/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:56:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414871/posts WASHINGTON -- The spirit of Christmas seems to have escaped Congress, maybe even the country. Have you ever encountered such mean spiritedness and political conniving as are now on display on Capitol Hill? In the past, we have had great philosophical divisions in the struggle for civil rights, especially when southern legislators ran the show. In praise of democracy, fortunately they lost. And of course there also was the "red scare" fomented by Sen. Joe McCarthy, R-Wis., in the 1950s when he led the commie-hunting movement that ended up victimizing government officials, academia and Hollywood. We recovered from that, too.... TheBostonChannel.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414871/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 09:01:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414837/posts Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have really screwed up. First of all, the two congressional Democratic Party leaders discounted the black perspective that clearly saw white nationalism working through their leadership as they, and others, attempted to restrain President Barack Obama via an extension of the politics of containment. Along with other “corporate Democrats,” including the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – all of whom are dependent on corporate contributions and are thereby controlled by corporate interests – Reid’s and Pelosi’s intention is to keep the first black president from leadership of the Democratic Party. President... The South Florida Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414837/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:20:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2414755/posts Sarah takes on Big Oil: The compelling story of Governor Sarah Palin's battle with Alaska's 'Big 3' oil companies, as told by the state's top oil and gas editors, Kay Cashman and Kristen Nelson (Hardcover) Product Description Sarah takes on Big Oil illuminates Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's rise to power, along with her successes and failures in dealing with the industry that is the lifeblood of the state's economy. This book is a must read for those seeking to understand Palin's qualifications for national leadership. Purchasers of Sarah takes on Big Oil qualify for a free, two-year, online subscription to... Amazon.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2414755/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:33:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414731/posts Rep. Jim Carney, D-Pa., says he’s rebuffed efforts by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to switch over to the GOP. Meanwhile, some seemingly tough Republicans plan to take him on next year. Or as one person told National Review’s Jim Geraghty, “We are more interested in beating Democrats than flipping them.” It’s no surprise that Republicans would prefer a longtime Republican in office in 2011 over Carney or other potential party switchers. And in a normal year that might be the smart play. But right now the GOP needs just a few votes to block the Democratic health care plan, the... IBD's Capital Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414731/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:24:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2414659/posts I don’t see any indication Mr. Steele has got off his ass relative to my December 15th post “Michael Steele – A Simple Task For You” I am constantly reminded by my friends of the failing history of third party attempts to seek power in our government. And any suggestion of mine to throw all the bums out is often met with the typical response “why throw the baby out with the bath water?”. Third Parties lose, they lose, they lose – Trust me I get it. Third Parties siphon votes from the republicans – Trust me I get that... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2414659/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:44:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2414615/posts Our clueless federal government is intellectually, morally, and financially bankrupt I have three thoughts on this health care bribery and corruption porktacular slouching through senatorial Gomorrah, but they all involve long strings of profanities, so I'll share these three instead: Constitutional Buffoons Crapping Down Our ChimneysEd Morrissey at Hot Air has written an excellent summary on the constitutionality of this stinking heap of communist excrement Harry and the Pelosicrats are crapping down our chimneys just in time for Christmas.  Too much to summarize here.  Go read the whole thing; it is rich with links to smart people who are... Western Hero http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2414615/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:16:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414575/posts It’s no cause for celebration, and Sarah Palin’s not the type for schadenfreude, but she was right about the death panels. So right, in fact, that the death panels are receiving some very special and probably unconstitutional protection in the Senate health care bill. The creation of the so-called Independent Payment Advisory Board – the panel that decides who goes without coverage so costs can be cut – cannot be repealed, according to language Harry Reid has inserted into the bill, without a supermajority vote of two-thirds. Death panels? There are no death panels! Stop listening to that crazy cackling... The North Star National http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414575/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:13:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414570/posts because of the Senator DeMint’s objection, unless the House votes for the Senate bill unchanged — which is highly unlikely (see below) — then the Senate ObamaCare bill must be amended on the House floor to gain the votes they need to pass it on the House floor. And because of Senator DeMint’s objection to the appointment of the conferees, there will be no conference, or conference report. If the House amends the Senate bill, they then have to send the amended bill back to the Senate — where all the 60 vote margin cloture votes still apply — cloture... Red State http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414570/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:08:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2414555/posts Santa, you listening? Could you please give us some sanity in Congress this Christmas? After rushing headlong to approve a healthcare bill that many Constitutional experts say is blatantly unconstitutional, the chief idiots of the insane asylum that we call 'Congress' are now frantically attempting to show that the measure doesn't run afoul of clear Constitutional provisions. Perhaps the Einsteins among the Democratic leadership should listen to a statement made by their own President--that's right, Barack Hussein Obama. Columbia Conservative Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2414555/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:41:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414546/posts In nearly its final act of the year, the US Senate on Thursday approved a $290 billion increase in the nation's borrowing limit, a move that sets up a contentious debate about the federal government's largesse early in 2010. The additional $290 billion in borrowing ability lifts the total public debt the federal government can hold to around $12.4 trillion and will allow the government to keep borrowing through February. The House passed the measure last week. The Senate vote was 60-39, and was almost exclusively along party lines. Generally a vote on raising the debt limit requires only a... The New Media Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414546/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:18:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414162/posts Self-Evident Truths: Sen. Dianne Feinstein says it comes under the Commerce Clause. Rep. Steny Hoyer says it's mandated by the "general welfare" clause. Despite liberal wishes, health care is not a right. The "living Constitution" that Democrats and their court appointees have given us may be the death of our freedoms. Their constitution adapts to the times and serves the whims of the elitists. The Constitution is supposed to limit government powers. It does not allow government to do anything it feels like doing. Cass Sunstein, the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, is the author of... Investors.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414162/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:08:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414502/posts Attention Fox Network....My Christmas Wish http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414502/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:55:29 GMT