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  James Tyler 9:09 pm on March 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Mob Politics, MobPolitics   

  Launch of MobPolitics, Shaving Blog Down to Weekly Post 

  I obviously have been posting erratically lately (and some of my readers have been wondering why) and here’s why: I’m launching MobPolitics, a new social bookmarking tool for political articles, news, and blog posts. Be sure to check it out and start sharing!

  In any case, because of the lack of consistency in my posts and my involvement in other business ventures, I’ve decided to only write one blog post per week.  I’d like to extend my gratitude to you readers who have made this blog what it is and assure you that I’m not going anywhere. Thanks!

  -James Tyler

   

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  James Tyler 7:02 pm on March 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Jim Bunning (2), Paul Krugman   

  Paul Krugman Doesn’t Know Why Senator Bunning Filibustered Unemployment Benefits 

  Paul Krugman recently wrote an op-ed in the New York Times criticizing Senator Jim Bunning (R Kentucky) for filibustering a one month extension of unemployment benefits to 100,000 people. As Mr. Bunning put it himself:

  Of course, we can have a vote on it, and, of course, it can be defeated, and then, of course, we can pass the bill without the money. I am not willing to risk that $10 billion being added to the deficit.

  The fact that many people, including myself, praised the maneuver because we don’t believe in handing out money to people just because they lost their jobs, doesn’t mean that Mr. Bunning agreed with us. To the contrary, Mr. Bunning wanted to extend the benefits! It would seem that Krugman’s claim that “Republicans live in different universes, both intellectually and morally” is a great misconception. If Senator Bunning was the only Republican to filibuster this bill and he supports giving unemployment benefits, then presumably the majority of other Republicans who all voted for in favor of the benefits actually favor the benefits too.

  Krugman ought to do some basic fact checking as well; he engaged in classic economic fear mongering when he invoked the Great Depression saying “long-term unemployment at its highest level since the Great Depression”. Really? Unemployment in late 1982 sat at 10.8% and is currently only at 10.4% (and has only been as high as 10.6% a few months ago).

  In 1996 Newsweek described Krugman as “ideologically colorblind.” It would seem that Krugman, a self described liberal, is really just a mouthpiece for the Democrat Party based on his unabashed fact twisting.

   
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  James Tyler 12:05 am on March 5, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: J.D. Hayworth, Joe Arpaio, John "Amnesty" McCain, John McCain (2), Russell Pearce   

  J.D. Hayworth is the Obvious Choice for Conservatives 

  A lot of people have expressed to me their support of J.D. Hayworth, a GOP candidate for the US Senate seat currently by John McCain. Hayworth was a congressman from 1995 to 2007 representing Arizona’s fifth district.

  Hayworth’s campaign is an encouraging model for insurgent conservatives across the country looking to challenge incumbent Republicans that have abandoned conservatism. Granted, his status as former congressman has helped his legitimacy. Be that as it may, the conservative message he is putting forward has compelled many to jump ship from John “Amnesty” McCain (as he has been called numerously on one of my petition pages).

  Of particular interest to me is Hayworth’s position on illegal immigration. Here it is from his website:

  A national leader in the fight to secure our borders, J.D. Hayworth has actually “written the book” on the subject, “Whatever It Takes”.  When John McCain proposed his Amnesty Plan—the Heritage Foundation said it would cost taxpayers $2.6 Trillion—J.D. Hayworth stood up and fought against it.  Taking on a U.S. Senator with nearly 30 years of seniority took courage, but  J.D. understood that our economy could not survive the long-term effects of the McCain-Kennedy plan, and that encouraging millions of people to break our laws was a recipe for disaster.

  J.D. has led the fight for real border security, interior enforcement, and requiring that law enforcement enforce our laws and protect our citizens.  It is no surprise that he has been endorsed by great leaders like Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and State Senator Russell Pearce.

  Hayworth’s website goes at great length to highlight the differences between himself and John McCain on the issues.  If Hayworth doesn’t strike conservatives as not only a credible candidate, but as the true conservative in this race, then I don’t know who will. We [conservatives] should all happily endorse him.
  

   
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  James Tyler 3:44 am on March 3, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Basic Pilot, e-verify, Immigration Reform and Control Act, Tom Tancredo   

  Tom Tancredo to James Tyler: E-Verify Can Help Fight Illegal Alien Efforts 

  I was recently on Newsradio 850 KOA talking to former Congressman Tom Tancredo about welfare subsidies to illegal immigration. The problem seems to be dismally ignored by Washington, but Mr. Tancredo offered a simple solution for hindering the efforts of illegal aliens to undermine our democracy: push state legislators to mandate usage of e-verify.

  For those of you who aren’t familiar with e-verify (as I wasn’t) it is a system that allows for employers to submit their applicants’ information to other government agencies to verify citizenship. Originally it was called “Basic Pilot” and it stems from the Immigration Reform and Control Act which was passed in 1986. Once  the information has been submitted to through the government website, the comparison is made against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security databases.

  The problem is that e-verify isn’t mandated in every state.

  Sure, some states have mandated it, yet many haven’t.  With enough pressure we can get our state legislators – in any state where this isn’t on the books – to introduce and pass e-verify mandates.

  You may be thinking that this is government overreaching. I would pose the question: since when has illegal immigration, a national security issue, not been an issue specifically concerned with the government from at all levels?  There is nothing sinister or Orwellian about mandating citizenship for employment. Illegal immigrants have depressed our wages and have shown the utmost disrespect for the laws of our republic. It’s time we fight back.

  terry mcclinton is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    terry mcclinton 10:33 am on March 3, 2010 Permalink

    your eloquence astounds…thnak you JIM!

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  James Tyler 12:56 pm on March 1, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Andy Dillon (2), Mike Cox (2), Pete Hoekstra (3), Virg Bernero (3)   

  Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon Jumps in Race for Governor 

  Andy Dillon, the Democrat House Speaker from Redford Township, has officially jumped into the race for governor. He remains in the long list of Democrats polling poorly against the major GOP candidates, Mike Cox and Pete Hoekstra.

  Still, Dillon is a clear favorite in the primary, especially if Democrats seriously look forward to the general election this year. According to the Detroit Free Press, Dillon is polling 9% ahead of Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero (did you hear he’s a fighter?), his key challenger in the primary. Still, that same article puts Dillon 9% behind Mike Cox and 8% behind Pete Hoekstra.

  Perhaps the bigger challenge for Dillon will be overcoming his pro-life standpoint in the primary.  Dillon hasn’t exactly positioned himself well with his base, which would be one of his biggest challenges looking forward (that and being a member of the party that has systematically run our state into the ground for the last eight years).

   
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  James Tyler 6:12 pm on February 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free and Strong America PAC (2), Mitt Romney, No Apology, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Sarah Palin (2)   

  Actually, Mitt Romney is the likely nominee in 2012, not Sarah Palin 

  J98EUTFCWT7M

  

  Sarah Palin

  Sarah Palin should be confusing to anyone who pays attention to her. I’m not saying this as someone who implicitly hates her for daring to debate Joe Biden on foreign policy (…take a look at the title of this blog). I’m saying this because she endorses whoever wherever, despite ideology. I mentioned once before the peculariaty of both supporting the quintessential establishment Republican for governor Texas, Rick Perry, and supporting the constitutionalist-libertarian candidate for the vacated Kentucky senate seat, Rand Paul.

  The simple answer is this: Palin is playing politics and covering her bases.

  Meanwhile, Mitt Romney has assembled a powerful political action committee (his Free and Strong America PAC) which has its claws in races at all levels everywhere around the country.  The PAC contributed $9,000 to Scott Brown’s campaign in January; Brown returned the favor in a speech saying, “”If you want to fix a broken economy, let me give you a piece of advice: you have to listen to governor Mitt Romney.”

  

  Mitt Romney

  Romney is also laying the groundwork down in Iowa and New Hampshire.  In New Hampshire has contributed to races for mayor of Manchester, Franklin, and numerous races for the state legislature. He’s also planning to roll through Iowa in the tour for his new book No Apology: The Case for American Greatness. Romney’s new book has much more substance than Palin’s, which was largely personal.  It will no doubt be a reference point for Romney on the campaign trail.

  Palin’s appeal can largely be found in the Tea Party movement; somewhere that Romney’s appeal has yet to be tested. Still, it’s unclear if the Tea Party movement will be a force to be reckoned with in the Republican primaries as it hasn’t completely codified itself as a GOP faction.  There’s also the bizarre “career” that Palin has had since leaving her governorship; Fox News commentator, author, Tea Party activist and more.

  Romney has an obvious financial advantage. He shelled out $45 million for his campaign in 2008; he is estimated to be worth nearly $250 million.  This is coupled with his long time high profile as a GOP leader and the trend of GOP runner-ups getting the nomination on their second try.

  Also, does anyone think Palin will do well in the general? Or that she has any moderate/independent appeal whatsoever? If Palin is somehow nominated, we may as well count on a second term for Obama.

   
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  James Tyler 11:28 pm on February 27, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Charles E. Grassley, Covington and Burling, Eric Holder, Michelle Malkin, Ronald Welch   

  Attorney General Eric Holder Still Refuses to Name His Terrorist Sympathizing Lawyers 

  Kudos to Michelle Malkin for continuing the pressure on Attorney General Eric Holder. Not because this is a partisan attack on him as you

  

  Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)

  may be guessing.  Mr. Holder refuses to release the names of Justice Department officials who have had to recuse themselves in terror related cases because of prior involvement in representing terrorists.  More specifically, is the conflict of interest that Holder has as a former partner of Covington and Burling, a firm that represented Gitmo detainees.

  Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) has been pressing the Justice Department for names of people who have recused themselves… not to much avail thanks to the secretive Justice Department (whatever happened to the transparency of the Obama campaign – keyword: campaign). The Washington Times reported Sen. Grassley’s frustrated remarks made on a hearing on Feb. 19th: “I asked for names, cases and recusals, and in return I received a five-page letter of bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo that failed to sufficiently answer my simple questions.”

  Ronald Welch, one of Holder’s aides, said that at least nine Justice Department officials had to recuse themselves.  Still, he refused to name them.

  Well, hopefully we’ll get some answers… hopefully. As Michelle put it, “Here’s that contact info again. Use it. As always, sunlight is the best disinfectant.”

  AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
  U.S. Department of Justice
  950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC 20530-0001
  Office of the Attorney General Public Comment Line – 202-353-1555

   
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  James Tyler 9:01 pm on February 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Bunning Unemployment, Dick Durbin (2), Jim Bunning (2), Richard Durbin   

  Unemployment Entitlements Stalled: Victory For Fiscal Conservatives 

  Do you want to shake senator Jim Bunning’s Hand? You should. Thanks to him, millions of dollars have been saved in money that would

  

  Jim Bunning, (R) Kentucky

  have otherwise gone to unemployed people simply by virtue of their joblessness. The GOP senator from Kentucky instigated a one man filibuster halting the legislation to extend these entitlements. Not only does the government not legitimately have the authority to hand out money this way, it is completely irresponsible to do so on the federal credit card.

  Of course, there were detractors. Illinois Democrat senator Dick Durbin said, “The simple fact of the matter is that this is an emergency situation and should be treated as such.”

  Really? How is not handing out free money to people an emergency? The only emergency worth mentioning is that of the ever growing national deficits and debt (Mr. Durbin doesn’t seem to care about that, however). The real emergency for senator Durbin is that he can’t claim to have “helped” people with his unlimited, taxpayer-funded credit line.

   
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  James Tyler 12:58 pm on February 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Bruce Caswell, Cameron Brown, Douglas Spade, Timothy Christner   

  Bruce Caswell Outraises Douglas Spade; Spade and Democrats Remain Delusional 

  The Michigan Senate 16th district seat, which is being given up by term-limited Cameron Brown who is running for Secretary of State, is being vyed for by current representatives Bruce Caswell and Douglas Spade.  Campaign finance records for 2009 indicate that GOP candidate Bruce Caswell has outraised by over $100,000, having raised $186,271.02. Also, in 2006, Cameron Brown utterly destroyed Timothy Christner – 52,699 votes for Brown to Christner’s lousy 28,126 votes.

  Still, none of this has stopped Democrat bloggers and strategists from calling this race at least in-play for Democrats.  Presumably they base this on turnouts for Obama, which are obviously not reflective of much considering McCain pulled out in Michigan.  There’s also the fact that this will obvioiusly be a strong year for the GOP, regardless of what happened in 2008.

   
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  James Tyler 8:03 pm on February 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Margaret Regan, Neal Conan, Talk of the Nation, The Death Of Josseline   

  Margaret Regan – An Illegal Immigration Apologist 

  On today’s Talk of the Nation on NPR, author Margaret Regan described stories of people who died trying to illegally enter our country.  Margaret was on the show promoting her new book, “The Death Of Josseline.”

  

  NPR - Your "Objective" News Source

  She and the show’s host, Neal Conan, discuss the devastation that placing tightly guarded walls on the border in more urban areas. The devastation being, of course, that it is harder for illegal immigrants to enter the country illegally because they now have to cross more rural borders into the desert. When one caller called in to empathize with the illegal immigrants, Neal asked Margaret this:

  Neal – Margaret, I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but I think you – it’s fair to say that you described it as a moral failure of the United States.
  Margaret – Yeah, I think that it is … Every year we have 200 people die here on the border.

  Wait – so it’s a moral failure of the United States that people are dying trying to enter our country illegally? That should stun the average listener/reader (though I doubt it stunned many NPR listeners). Of course, this segment on NPR was completely objective and had no liberal bias whatsoever… maybe that’s what I’m forgetting.

  To Answer the Question, Yes It’s a Moral Failure « Non-Happy Endings is discussing. Toggle Comments