CNN's Sanchez to DeMint: 'What the hell does that mean?'

Rick Sanchez, CNN pundit, doesn't understand the concept of freedom.Shortly after Sen. Arlen Specter “thrilled” President Barack Obama by jumping the fence to join the Democratic Party, CNN pundit Rick Sanchez interviewed South Carolina senator Jim DeMint. Sanchez led with predictable comments such as Republicans are making it hard for Republicans to get elected and the GOP is shrinking the electorate. DeMint pointed out the GOP has the “biggest tent of all—the tent of freedom.”

Sanchez erupted. “What the hell does that mean? The biggest tent is freedom?” Then he shrieked. “Freedom? You gotta’ do better than that!” I must mention CNN pundits often ask a subject a question but foam at the mouth before the subject can answer the question.

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Facebook group forms to stop HR 1388; massive expansions in volunteerism bills

UPDATE Mar. 23: This bulletin from the Stop HR 1388 Facebook Group: They are now trying to mask it!!! HR 1388 has been listed again! Now S 3577 and called the NATIONAL SERVICE REAUTHORIZATION ACT!!!!

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=111-s20090319-55

Senator Reid passed a motion Thursday night to vote for cloture at 6pm, March 23. That's Monday. This thing may be passed without debate.


CLOTURE BY 6PM!!! CALL YOUR SENATORS!!! BURN UP THE PHONE LINES!!! STOP THIS BILL!!!!

Ed. Note: Group membership now stands at 1,259 members in approximately a 24 hour period. Links to additional blogs and articles are posted on the message board at Stop HR 1388.

Screen shot of the US Public Service Academy fundraising and lobby site. An excellent tool for growing a class of political elitists.The new group Stop HR 1388 has formed at Facebook for the purpose of derailing HR 1388 as it heads to the US Senate after marching its large body through the House of Representatives. The bill is a massive social program that many libertarians and conservatives believe will not only once again contradict the U.S. Constitution, but also create yet another expensive, ineffective program at a time when taxpayers are levying heavy criticism at administrations past and present. The bill makes bloated social programs of the past look stick thin. Hundreds of people have signed up; the group was formed one day ago.

Officially titled the “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act” (GIVE), the bill amends and broadens the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. Had the government a grip on reality, members would realize volunteerism is alive and well in the US, and it doesn't come near the cost this program expansion requires.

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Steele challenge: GOP infighting continues with insults to RLC

The Republican Liberty Caucus is holding its national convention in Jacksonville March 27-29. I plan to cover the conference. For more information, visit the RLC website by clicking on the photo. [Photo of Jax by Kay B. Day.]Michael Steele, recently elected chair of the Republican National Committee, has his work cut out for him in the wake of losses in recent election years. Steele must deal with a hostile, Democratic-favoring establishment media and he must also deal with a few hostiles at the grassroots level. As a political observer, I’ve noticed complaints about Republicans and the complaints aren’t coming from liberals or Democrats. They’re coming from other Republicans.

Case in point: The Republican Liberty Caucus. I received an email this week with a snippet of commentary from a personal blog set up at Townhall. The commentary basically dissed the RLC, suggesting the group has no place at the GOP table. The writer alluded to members of the RLC as trash—“Let’s take out the trash,” he wrote.

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The inauguration and the flu

I planned to watch the inauguration today, but what I didn’t plan was getting the flu. I rarely get sick, so it came as a surprise. A nasty one, arising suddenly in the middle of the night. But I managed to stay conscious long enough today to see Itzhak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma play a special composition ‘Air and Simple Gifts.’ I heard Aretha Franklin sing a hearfelt ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee.’ And a poet read a very accessible work—the praises of the common man. It was, all told, a beautiful ceremony. And though I didn’t vote for President Barack Obama, I sincerely wish him well. To do otherwise would be to wish harm to my country.

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On the eve of historic day, first Vietnamese-American wins Congressional seat

(Commentary)-Anh Joseph Cao will head to Congress to represent former Congressman William Jefferson's Louisiana district. Cao is the first Vietnamese American elected to Congress.[Photo from Joseph Cao for Congress.]On Saturday, the day before the 67th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States saw another kind of history being made. In Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao ousted Democrat William Jefferson from the congressional seat he’d held for 17 years. Cao is the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress. Cao came to the U.S. when he was a child after politicians abandoned the war effort begun by John F. Kennedy and Saigon fell in 1975. In America, Cao became a lawyer.

Jefferson faces trial on bribery charges.

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On C-Span Gov. Sanford gets tongue lashing, but last laugh on Democratic critic

Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) is shown at right attending a political event. [Photo SC Governor's website.]Gov. Mark Sanford (R) of South Carolina did a stint on C-Span Wednesday, and one caller from Michigan gave him a tongue lashing. Phoning in on the Democratic line, the woman basically thanked God Michigan has a Democratic governor. She unleashed a stream of criticisms at Sanford for recent budget cuts in the Palmetto State. Sanford responded with the melodious, “Yes, ma’am,” characteristic of those we think of as Southern gentlemen. And then he calmly defended himself by explaining the cuts were necessary and were across the board.

Sanford is categorized as a moderate populist conservative by the website On the Issues. He’s a true fiscal conservative in spirit, and I suspect he does what he can with a state that’s run for a long time on Democratic principles no matter who controls the legislature.

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