Weekly Wrap-Up

Is Barack Obama planning to go to work for the Journal News after he leaves office?

We’re starting to see what Obama meant when he promised Russia he’d have “more flexibility” after the 2012 elections, as CharlesKrauthammer points out.

But talk about flexibility – after two years of at least trying to pretend to be a “centrist,” Andrew Cuomo tilted all the way to the left in this week’s announcement of his run for the White – er, I mean, in the Stateof the State Address he delivered Wednesday, outlining an agenda that was quickly embraced without question by the New York Times (which should tell you plenty).

As I said after the State of the State speech (it was repeated on the Fred Dicker broadcast that Shaun-Marie posted yesterday), Andrew Cuomo seems to have metamorphosized into Mario Cuomo.

Fortunately there are a few news outlets who are not so blindly devoted to the Cuomo legend. 

In their response to the Governor’s speech the New York Post noted that “Cuomo’s heavily left-leaning, kitchen-sink agenda — and the near-hysterical manner in which he pitched it — seemed to mark a sharp turn in his two-year-old term.”

In what might be the understatement of the year, the Post warned: “For average New Yorkers, the shift may mean bad news ahead.” 

The liberals’ almost total control of New York has already given us an 8.3 unemployment rate and one of the highest tax burdens in the nation.  What do you think this new “progressive” push from Andrew Cuomo will mean for New York?  Cast your vote in our new Weekly Poll.

Here’s another understatement, this one from the New York Times: “How the state would pay for any new programs was not clear.”

Cuomo has pledged to not raise taxes, but as even the New York Times had to point out, that’s a promise he’s made and broken before.

What is clear is that we’ll be seeing a new and probably unprecedented (even for New York) push for gun control, which was front-and-center in Gov. Cuomo’s left-wing extravaganza.  The Conservative Party will soon be releasing a Legislative Memo on the Second Amendment.  Check our website (or your emails, if you’re on our list) for updates. 

And have a great weekend!

Governor Andrew Cuomo launches Presidential Campaign in his third State of the State Address.

The Albany Times Union, certainly not a center right paper, says "Cuomo Leans to Left", we say he's gone back to his roots.

The New York Times was certainly pleased by his return to his progressive (even wonder why liberal is now progressive) ideals. 

The Daily News quotes Speaker Silver's reaction to the State of the State "“I think he’s emphasized his own liberal, social agenda which he’s always had,” Silver said.  (A rare moment of honest in Albany!)

Hmm, we understand why Governor Cuomo believes he has not made a left turn, he is after all just promoting his true beliefs and pushing for women's equity.

Listen to what Fred Dicker said on his radio program about the Governor's third State of the State.

If Governor Cuomo gets his radical abortion law passed, New York's religions freedoms will go the same way  Obamacare is closing in on them on the federal level.  

Governor Cuomo and President Obama think alike. 

One of the problems in raising the minimum wage is outlined here. 

Are we facing a new recession?
 
Is it ironic that Senator Harry Reid's "secret amendment" in the Affordable Health Care Bill may limit the ability of the feds to collect firearms registration data?  Before New York State makes any changes to gun laws, they best be aware of what else may be hidden in Obamacare. 

Where we rank in Economic Freedom, once the leading nation, we are now ranked 10th.  This is President Obama's gift to Americans, I shudder to think where we will be by the end of his term. 

If you thought solving the fiscal cliff morass would save you money, think again.  Heritage Foundation lists 13 tax increases we will be paying in 2013. 

While we seldom agree with the Editorials of the Albany Times Union, this one is right, we must have relief from  unfunded mandates. 

Speaker Silver sees the light!

Newly elected Congressman Chris Collins has been given a rare honor, the Chairmanship of Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology.  Kudos to Congressman Collins and we certainly look forward to hearing him speak at this year's CPPAC.  (You can register for our conference by downloading the registration form at www.cpnys.org)  

I can't help but think since this Administration has been elected in 2008, much of what it wants to accomplish is by fiat.  Watch out, they are attempting to by pass Congress and a US Supreme Court decision, by having the SEC rewrite its rules.  In short, they are trying to overturn, by regulation, the Citizens United vs FEC decision.   I'm certain when Citizens United President, Dave Bossie, addresses our CPPAC Luncheon, he will tackle the proposal.  (Remember to register for CPPAC at www.cpnys.org)

The US Supreme Court will hear arguments on two gay marriage cases in March.

Really?  Obama supporters are shocked, angry on new tax increases.  Did they really think they wouldn't have to pay more?  They should learn to read more than the headlines!

We are doomed to never knowing all the answers on the deaths of Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.  We can only hope that Secretary of State Clinton will be forthcoming when she testifies before Congress, but past history may prevail.

Tuesdays with Thomas Sowell.

The United States unfortunately is not the only entity reaching its debt limit, according to Comptroller DiNapoli so is New York.

More bad news for New York as E. J. McMahon explains health insurance premiums will cost more despite the fact that Governor Cuomo claims to have saved New Yorkers money when he denied increases in private health insurance. E. J. also has an opinion piece in today's New York Post on how the feds squeeze NY's golden geese.

Seriously, Governor Cuomo, do you really think New York has lax gun laws?  Maybe you should run ads about how the democratic controlled Assembly coddles criminals instead!  And you should seriously stop this talk about ending stop and frisk as that one action takes numerous illegal guns off the streets.  Go after the criminals, not law abiding citizens.  New York still bans assault weapons, a fact that Governor Cuomo does not seem to be aware of according to a quote in Liz Benjamin's blog.  (Check New York Penal Law 265 for a list of weapons that are outlawed.) 

Another major mistake by Sheldon Silver and those who want citizens to be dependent on government services.

Only the very naive are surprised by this headline. 

Only $375,000,  can't help but wonder what it will be for the 2012 election cycle.

The Heritage Foundation on the s l o w dismantling of Obamacare.

Freshmen Republican Class in Congress says bring it on.

Do you feel safer with these potential heads of Defense and CIA?  Neither do we. 

Weekly Wrap-Up

“Guns are good for the goose but NOT for the gander,” reports the Rockland County Times, which is providing an outstanding public service by reporting the hypocrisy of New York’s very own Journal News. 

They’re the ones, you’ll recall, who launched an ideologically-inspired witch-hunt against legal, law-abiding gun owners in New York by publishing the names and addresses of pistol permit holders in Rockland and Westchester counties.

When their gun “exposé” sparked a negative response, the Journal News bosses – in “a stunning display of media hypocrisy,” as the Wall Street Journal’s James Taranto puts it – quickly hired armed guards to protect themselves.

Putnam County officials have refused to play along with the Journal News’s so-called journalism.  They have not released the names and addresses of the county’s law-abiding gun owners, but they’re under increasing pressure to do so.

Should they? Or should Putnam County stick to its guns, so to speak?  Give your opinion today in our new Weekly Poll.

Republicans are sticking with John Boehner as House Speaker – but just barely, reports the Washington Times, which also notes the difficult road ahead for Republicans.

Meanwhile the New York Post celebrates Speaker Boehner’s “stealth win” in the fiscal cliff debate.

But Charles Krauthammer is not so impressed.

The Washington Examiner is encouraging Speaker Boehner to take a radical step: Enforce the rule requiring that we, the people actually be informed of what Congress is doing.

You can stay informed throughout 2013 right here on the Conservative Party’s blog.  Have a great weekend!

Some good news on the religious liberty in the health care bill..

Senators had all of three minutes to review 154 page "fiscal cliff" bill.

President Obama still thinks the rich are not paying their fair share.

The Heritage Foundation opines on the uproar over the Sandy Aid package.

Politico is calling the deficit Obama's Debt....finally!

Bryon York writes how for Obama the economy never comes first.  And Fred Barnes writes about the President who wants it all.

24/7, a division of the Wall Street Journal, writes about the states that have recovered most from the recession.  Unfortunately for New Yorkers we ranked # 49, only followed by New Jersey.

Is Hydrofracking coming to New York soon?

CPNYS hopes everyone had a very good Christmas Holiday and that 2013 is a good year for you.  We hope that you are prepared to pay more in taxes, as the deal that President Obama got to avert falling over the fiscal cliff is going to cost you and future generations more than you realized.  If you though because an agreement was reached you wouldn't be facing a tax increase, you will be very disappointed and you will be disappointed because for every $1 in spending cuts there is $41 in tax increases.

The Heritage Foundation looks at the deal here and here. 

Here is the Washington Times analysis.

77% of households will pay more taxes.

As Charles Gasparino wrote in today's New York Post "This 'cure' worse than the disease."  (This is what Charles Gasparino said about the deal prior it its passage.)  The NY Post Editorial calls it "an ugly deal".

Forbes supported no deal and thinks we would have been better off with no deal.

More on the deal from the Wall Street Journal.

Here is what Charles Krauthammer thinks of the deal.

And just in case your friends still think it may have been a good deal, have them  read this.

Then let them know more taxes are on the way.

Nicole Gelinas (who will be one of our guest speakers at this year's CPPAC) lets us know that Wall Street is facing fiscal woes in 2013.

George Marlin writes about LIPA's predictable failure. 

Georgetown Law Professor is teaching students that our Constitution is "downright evil".

We stand firm with no new gun control laws.

Thomas Sowell's Tuesday's column.

Wednesday's with Walter E. Williams.