Weekly Wrap-Up

The big news of the week is the end (at least for now) of the Senate soap opera in Albany.

http://tinyurl.com/l66sb9

But this story is far from over. There’s no shortage of commentary and analysis of this whole saga – and here are some links to show what New York has lost in all this drama.

We’ve lost any confidence we might have had that the politicians can do their jobs...
http://tinyurl.com/nsehuy

Respect for New York’s senators is a thing of the past...

http://tinyurl.com/m2amm3 (From the NY Post)
http://tinyurl.com/lpa5yj (From the NY Dail News)

Basic respect for the law has taken a big hit...

http://tinyurl.com/nttg9n (NY Post)
http://tinyurl.com/lk3qgb (NY Daily News)

Taxpayers have lost a good bit of money... more than $5 million, according to the Post...

http://tinyurl.com/m9y8ho

Maybe the time has come for the Conservative Party to take out a “Help Wanted” ad for 62 new Senators? Our state needs to hire some real leaders.

The U.S. Senate isn’t faring much better. The latest: Comedian Al Franken was sworn in as Senator from Minnesota, after a recount that gave him just enough votes to win. Here's the story from CBS News:

http://tinyurl.com/l6kbcr

That gives the Democrats 60 seats in the Senate. As far as Chuck Schumer is concerned, that gives the liberals a blank check in the debate over socialized health care...

http://tinyurl.com/nc3w9f

If Chuck and Al get their way, the same kind of people who run the New York Senate will be in control of our prescriptions, doctor visits and medical coverage.

That makes me feel a bit queasy.

Here’s a headline from USA Today: “Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08” (http://tinyurl.com/mmbueu)

Think that sounds fishy? Fear not. The Obama Administration assures us it’s just a coincidence. From the article: “‘There’s no politics at work when it comes to spending for the recovery,’ White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says.”

I love to end these weekly wrap-ups with a good laugh. Have a great weekend.

Could it really be over? http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/07/deadlock-ending-deal-near.html

Will the Governor's appointment of a Lt. Governor withstand a court challenge? Will there be a court challenge? Or is it all moot now? Have the last 4 1/2 weeks been a total waste of taxpayer's dollars? And how many taxpayers dollars will continue to be wasted?

Mike Goodwin has a good article on the Senate Saga: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/columnists/goodwin/index.html

And E. J. McMahon has a an excellent article on "Diffuse the Pension Bomb" http://www.nypost.com/seven/07092009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/defuse_the_pension_bomb_178292.htm

On the International front, maybe we should not worry about North Korea's dropping a bomb, rather their ability to invade cyberspace: http://www.nypost.com/seven/07092009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/kims_cyber_strikes_178306.htm

Karl Rove believes President Obama has a math problem: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124709502661214861.html

And the WSJ is reporting that most economist oppose another stimulus http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124708099206913393.html

Michael Barone gives us reason to believe that many Americans are starting to understand the problems with big government: http://townhall.com/Columnists/MichaelBarone/2009/07/09/getting_cold_feet_over_democratic_proposals

Sometimes one misses a very good article, and yesterday I missed this one:
http://tinyurl.com/q7fvvg

Here is the second article from Manhattan Institute: http://tinyurl.com/n2kgqa

Nothing new to report on the Senate Saga as of now.

President Obama continues to make America vulnerable with his negotiations, this time with Russia. "Mr. Medvedev's solution is to negotiate, inviting the U.S. to make real cuts, while Russia eliminates nothing that it wouldn't retire in any event." Read more by Professor Keith Payne here: http://tinyurl.com/klzypc

More about the Administration's Energy Plan: http://tinyurl.com/n9nahf

And the Employee Free Choice Plan: http://tinyurl.com/onv8ek

Thomas Sowell has another excellent article on the Ricci Case : http://tinyurl.com/mlp7e8

Check back later to find out if anything new happened in the Senate today...Hope springs eternal!

Hope everyone enjoyed America's Birthday and had time to thank a veteran.

Apparently Fred Dicker had time to take a walk down memory lane and wrote about the changes in Albany since he has been here.Definitely worth the read: http://tiny.cc/qwKhj

Week five on the Senate Saga and not much has changed. Assemblyman Gianaris had a press conference earlier today and tried to sell an idea he had that would end the impasse. Liz Benjamin writes about his suggestion and the fact that AG Cuomo does not believe it is constitutional. She also points out that, possibly, the AG has his own agenda. Interesting read: http://tiny.cc/fg1u8

With Senator John Sampson's ascending to a leadership role in the NYS Senate the NY Post has an article on the links between his member items and contributions: http://tiny.cc/NU20B

If you thought your pension was safe because you work for government, you may want to think again: http://tiny.cc/SfaAJ

More information from the CATO Institute on Health Care Reform: http://tiny.cc/4tkJr

Somebody please give President Obama a copy of Oliver North's column "Wrong Again" http://tiny.cc/3UT4s

Weekly Wrap-up

Another week has slipped by and the Senate stalemate continues. If someone submitted the last three and a half weeks as a movie script, it would be tossed aside as being too absurd!

Speaking of absurd, did the Washington Post really think we would believe their explanation that the “fliers appear to be the product of overzealous marketing executives.” http://tiny.cc/OpI9u

Also under the absurd adjective this week is the passage of the Waxman/Marley bill and what it will cost Americans http://tiny.cc/af6tU

Al Franken will sit in the United States Senate http://tiny.cc/2RvGh and I wonder how long it will take him to join the Congressional travel club http://tiny.cc/9cul7

There is nothing wrong with a President having Town Hall meetings to explain his agenda; however, this week’s meeting to explain his healthcare policy was more of a show than a genuine town hall meeting. http://tiny.cc/SP3eX

Another big news story this past week was the U. S. Supreme Court decision overturning Sonia Sotomayor in the Ricci Case, certainly her judgment regarding this case has to be examined. http://tiny.cc/f8k6a

Enough of what is absurd! Tomorrow we celebrate America’s 233^rd Birthday. As American’s we have been blessed by living in a country where we have freedoms unheard of in other parts of the world. And all of these freedoms have been paid for with the blood of our brave armed service members. Yesterday, Karl Rove wrote about one family http://tiny.cc/IeTSX. We salute them and all the families who have protected our way of life. When we get on a bus, sit outside in a restaurant, attend a traditional fireworks display, or even a family barbeque, we are reasonably certain that a suicide bomber will not attack us. Prior to September 11, 2001, we never knew the fear a suicide bomber could evoke. Then America survived September 11, 2001. And we will never forget how that day changed us forever. We are resolved to never experience the horrifying, terrifying fear, the unspeakable shock of seeing the deliberate destruction and death of almost 3000 innocent people ever again: http://tiny.cc/Ltfgf

So as America celebrates, as family and friends gather to watch parades and fireworks, take the time to thank a veteran and their family for keeping us safe and if possible, please support: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Semper Fi and may God continue to bless America

According to the New York Post Mayor Bloomberg should "Fight Back - Or Lose" http://www.nypost.com/seven/07022009/postopinion/editorials/fight_back____or_lose_177166.htm

And they certainly are correct in this editorial: http://www.nypost.com/seven/07022009/postopinion/editorials/doing_well_by_doing_______wrong_177165.htm

Was Jacob Gershman a "fly on the wall" (good thing President Obama wasn't around if he was) during some of the on-going negotiations? http://www.nypost.com/seven/07022009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/civil__clown__war_177159.htm

Does President Obama and staff choreograph town hall meetings? http://fixhealthcarepolicy.com/

How many Czars are too many? http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=331340805541601

What the democrats in the NYS Senate are doing now is disgraceful! Do they really believe that they can consider a Senator just walking through the Chamber as voting for the legislation they want to pass? Are they serious? Even Governor Paterson, who would do almost anything to end this charade has stated that he will not sign the legislation passed yesterday. The legal question become...does he have to??

Some of the reporters' blogging on the Senate Saga...

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/16423/dems-gear-up-for-court-battle/

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/16417/assembly-dragged-into-it/

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/07/bloomberg-irresponsible-reckle.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/07/sampson-its-called-school-gove.html

As of June 8, the State Senate, under the leadership of the Democrats had passed 169 bills in 58 working days, almost three bills each working day. Since June 8 nothing. Unless you count yesterday, of course. Which believe me...if they really think that Sen. Padavan's just walking through is their 32nd vote...is pathetic! Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, its time to recognize that you have been elected to lead...you hold a position of responsibility...it is time to that you show your leadership and act responsibile.

In other news of the day:

More on Obamacare: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124640626749276595.html

Thomas Sowell has another excellent article, this one on Equality on Trial: http://townhall.com/Columnists/ThomasSowell/2009/07/01/equality_on_trial

And more on the same topic from George Will: http://townhall.com/columnists/GeorgeWill/2009/06/29/on_race,_the_slog_goes_on