The bill currently in front of the House of Representatives must be stopped. It is a massive tax increase – the burden of which will be placed on every American.

The goal of this bill isn’t to improve our country’s ecology, but rather to dramatically increase the income of the Federal Government in a sly, back-door way. Even Greenpeace says this bill is no good – what more proof do you need?!

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS NOW!

Call the House’s phone switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If the line is busy, keep trying, but also give your Congressional Representative’s local office a call (find the right number here). Tell them you want them to vote NO against this horrendous piece of legislation. Tell them you will actively campaign against them if they vote yes or present.

Reasons to Deny Cap and Trade

• Increases the cost of products manufactured here, in the United States. Are corporations going to accept less profit? No! They’ll move the jobs outside the country (thanks Democrats for pushing more jobs to India!).
• Any additional expenses brought on by this new tax will be passed directly onto you – the American consumer. We’ll all be paying more to our Government (and what do we get back?).
• This bill gives the already powerful EPA even further reaching authority – who will stop these eager government bureaucrats from sticking their noses into everything?
• This bill disproportionately affects lower class Americans – who really stands for this group (hint: not Liberals)?

Right or Left, we’ve all done it. And it felt good. We have bashed the opposition party’s leader (Bush or Obama) just for the pure joy of putting down someone we don’t agree with. For Conservatives slamming President Obama feels a bit like getting even for the treatment of Mr. Bush by Liberals. We can create excuses and reasoning for this behavior all day.

It’s time to stop.

I am not a fan of Obama’s policies, or even really of him. I don’t agree with many of his beliefs and I probably wouldn’t want to share a meal with him. Regardless, the constant assault on him is not helping anyone.

The Republican party is particularly involved with these attacks; GOP Chairman Michael Steele himself sends out email after email blasting Obama for being ineffective and offering the wrong solutions to today’s problems. I agree, but where are the right solutions?

I believe that most Americans are truly Conservatives – maybe not to the same level as I am, but most of my fellow citizens just want the government to leave them alone (maybe they’re Libertarians…). A Liberal here would be considered a right-leaning Moderate in Europe – America is a Conservative country. (Europe is a scary place)

Many in the American population would support a party defined by smaller government, more personal freedom, and greater individual responsibility. That being said, the constant attacks and negative words flying out the Republican machine are alienating all these citizens who would likely support the party. Republicans aren’t yet offering their own solutions; at least the Democrats are putting forth proposals (as horrible as they are).

To become the party of America, Conservatives must also be the party of hope (stole that word right off an Obama campaign flier). We must stop focusing all our attention on Obama and instead promote our ideas to the country. Stop Blasting the opposition, and Start Solving.aa

If you want to get involved and share your opinion, I would suggest taking a look at The 9/12 Project. Also, visit The Conservative Underground (a great place to talk directly with others regarding your opinions and ideas).

Earlier this week President Obama released a list containing 121 proposed programs he would like to cut which he claims will save taxpayers approximately $17 billion. He continually referred to these program terminations as “cuts”. This couldn’t be much further from the truth.

A “cut” would be a decrease in overall spending. A prime example would be Obama’s $100 million cut several weeks back (even though it was minuscule relative to his proposed budget). With his new $17 billion he is not reducing spending, just transferring it to other programs he wants to fund. This doesn’t save the taxpayers a single penny.

Let’s talk numbers:

$17 billion (that’s a whole lot o’ moola) is about 0.050% of Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget. In other words, it is about the same as cutting (not really, though…just transferring) $250 from the budget of a family earning $50,000 a year. The $100 million he actually cut is a teeny tiny 0.003% of the budget ($1.50 to that same middle class family)…yikes.

The people over at the Heritage Foundation made a great illustration demonstrating Obama’s horrible money management. I highly suggest taking a stroll over to their site.

Now is the time to stand up and voice your concerns. Let them know you want real fiscal responsibility, not illusions. Call your Senators, call your Representatives. It’s quick and painless. Send an email. DO SOMETHING!

Ugh. Activist judges are a problem. Dismissing a group’s opinion based solely on their stance on a different issue (same sex marriage in this case) doesn’t dimish this fact.

As a supporter of same-sex marriage I freely admit I am not a supporter of how the change was brought about here in Iowa. It is completely true that an activist judge set social policy. Public and social policy should be in the realm of our elected officials, not determined by someone none of us originally selected.

This judge should have forwarded the case to the Iowa Legislature. In this way Iowans would have been able to express their desires. Instead, a judicial appointee made the decision for everyone.

The recent steps taken by New Hampshire and Maine are entirely appropriate, and I praise them for it. The people’s representatives made the choice and change was brought about how our founders imagined it should.

We need to reign in these judges, regardless of their political stance. Their only job is to weigh arguments and determine their validity based on our laws (including the Constitution). Never should their personal beliefs or desires weigh in the decision. It would be a hard job, but that is why we need the best people for it.

Visit the radio host’s site: Bradshaw @ 98.3 WOW-FM

What is a rightwing extremist? you might ask. According to the very same report rightwing extremists are defined as not just racist or hate groups, but also people that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.

I strongly believe our founding fathers had it right – a limited Federal government with individually powerful states. The more local a government is the more it actually represents its citizens. My state representatives now what Iowa needs much better than people in Washington, DC. I also trust them more (only a bit more, but it’s something).

From that statement, I must now be labeled a RIGHTWING EXTREMIST. So is Governor Rick Perry of Texas (he supports the 10th Amendment to the Constitution restating the limits of the national government).

The report was released on April 7, just days before the huge Tea Party events begin on April 15, or Tax Day here in the United States. Coincidence? DHS itself notes they have no evidence or “specific information that rightwing terrorists are currently planning” anything.

Check out Tax Day Tea Party to see a list of confirmed Tea Parties and plan to attend one. Let your opinion be heard!

I will try to attend the Des Moines Tea Party tomorrow at the State Capitol (starting at noon). Stop by – don’t be afraid Leave a comment below if you are attending and I will try to find you tomorrow.

A note to the Obama-haters – the Tea Party is not a bash Obama/Democrats event. It is designed to attempt to create change at all levels of our government; to try to get us back on course and following the Constitution (still the greatest document the world has created). If you just want to gripe about Obama, please: stay home.

Borger’s only evidence that Republicans are destroying their credibility is in that former House Speaker Newt Gingrinch was not nice enough to President Obama after the successful conclusion of the pirate hostage situation.

Gingrich was micro-blogging on Twitter about the Somali pirate situation this past weekend. Gingrich stated that not dealing with the pirates makes the US “look weak.” After the successful rescue he then gave a congratulations to the SEAL team, the Navy, and directly to President Obama.

This wasn’t enough for Obama-crazed sheep, though. Gingrich didn’t kneel down and beg for forgiveness from their ruler. How dare he?!

Back to Borger – Gloria stated that Republicans are losing credibility. So, who are the other Republicans she found who acted so wrongfully? Anyone? Not a single other Republican is quoted, named, or even referred to in this horrible piece of journalism.

Oh, and for the record. I do want to give a sincere “Job well done” to Obama. This was the right move, and I am proud he made it. Oops, I just blogged away my credibility.

Original article: Visit CNN.com

This very issue was questioned months ago by Congress, but at the behest of President Obama and the Democratic leadership an exemption was placed on these very bonuses that everyone is now so worked up over. If the Democrats were truthful and forthcoming we would have all had the opportunity to enter our opinions – instead the debate was behind closed doors where there is no accountability. Senator Chris Dodd lied directly to the public regarding his responsibility for the exemptions saying he had nothing to do with the ammendment that opened the way for the AIG bonuses. On Wednesday he completely reversed that statement and announced he was the man you enter the ammendment and made the changes. Dodd, as we all know, is a leader of Democrats in the Senate and campaigned for president just last year.

More importantly than Dodd’s bold-faced lies, however, are Obama’s weakness over the whole “scandal.” Dodd stated the Obama administration “asked for modifications.” And now Obama is spouting his own innocence saying he knew nothing about the bonuses until last week despite the fact the Treasury Department has known about them for months. Isn’t Obama the President, and the Treasury works for him? Either he is lying or he has chosen poor leaders for his department.

It is time to stop giving the Democrats so much slack. They have been making blunder after blunder and passing the blame on to others. They must be held accountable for their actions and deeds. Unfortuantely, their actions prove them to be inept, power-mongering individuals who are not in Washington to serve their country.

More about Chris Dodd’s duplicity: CNN.com

Last night President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address to Congress. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal provided the minority party’s direct response after Mr. Obama concluded.

Jindal described several of the incredibly wasteful expenses included in the recently passed “stimulus” package. $300 million for new government cars (at least the big three auto makers will have a few sales this year), $8 billion for the development of high speed rail from Las Vegas to Disneyland (congrats to Senator Harry Reid for the huge piece of pork), and $140 million to monitor volcanic activity. Jindal is right – Congress “should be monitoring the eruption of wasteful spending.” The Democrats spending spree is irresponsible and only stimulates the growth of government, not of its citizens.

The government must cut waste, control energy expenses (which includes increasing renewable energy, drilling for more oil, and more nuclear power plants), allow for private universal health care (not government run, but rather patient managed), and a huge focus on bettering the education of our children.

Congress hardly read the massive $800 billion stimulus bill and did not offer the opportunity to the American people to review the package and provide their opinions.

The way to strengthening of our country is to decrease spending, empower small business owners, grow our economy, and create new jobs. It is not to grow government as the Democrats would have us believe. “Don’t let anyone tell you America’s best days are behind us.”

Bob Vander Plaats

Already the 2010 gubernatorial campaign in Iowa is heating up. Chet Culver, the Democratic incumbent, is up against Republicans Bob Vander Plaats and Bill Northey (along with several other potential candidates).

It seems we already have a defining issue for the campaigns – the proposed Gas Tax increase. Both Vander Plaats and Culver oppose the idea, while a few other Republicans support it. The increase is designed to ease the financial shortcomings of the state. The current legislature does not want to erase any existing services, but income has dropped. “Where to get the money?” they asked.

How can this be considered acceptable? If I, as an individual citizen, lost a portion of my income would it be deemed appropriate to demand that my lifestyle not be affected? No, I would be expected to cut my expenses – I couldn’t just require others to give me more money.

Iowa needs to realize the need to cut expenses. Over the past few years this state’s government has increased under Chet Culver’s leadership. It is time to scale back and remove the unused, poorly implemented, or ineffective programs that are dragging us into debt. Rather than grab more money from the citizens to make up for poor planning Iowa needs to find a way to do with what it currently has.

Will it be hard? Probably. But no one should be forced to make up for someone’s errors – especially when that someone is the government.

Your Thoughts, Please!

Please let me know what you think! Write your thoughts, opinions, or points in this articles Comments. I appreciate everyone’s responses!