Weekly Wrap-Up

Greetings from Washington, where I’m taking part in the annual CPAC convention.

You can follow CPAC online, and get caught up on speeches from yesterday and this morning: http://www.cpac.org/default.asp

Conservatives representing practically every issue and every part of the country are here in our nation’s capitol to find out the best ways to take on the Obama Administration, the liberals in Congress and the left-wingers in our own states.

This week has given us a look at just how tough a fight we’ve got on our hands...

President Obama’s State of the Union Address proved what you and I already knew – that our new President who talked so much about “change” is really just an old-school, tax-and-spend liberal. As for the new budget he just released... I think the New York Post says it best: “Big government is back - and so are big taxes.”

Here are the numbers: $3.6 TRILLION.... that’s the total cost of the Obama budget – paid for with $1 TRILLION in higher taxes.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02272009/news/politics/1t_in_taxes_is_hell_to_pay_157199.htm

These are taxes on “the rich,” according to the Democrats. I have a feeling more and more of us are going to be considered “rich” as the liberals look for more money to pay for all this new spending.
Make sure you read this Wall Street Journal editorial, if you haven’t already – it explains how the Obama Administration’s “class warfare” agenda is going to hurt all of us...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123561551065378405.html

In New York, the big story of the week has been Sheldon Silver’s push for more taxes and new tolls to bailout the MTA.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02272009/news/regionalnews/deal_for_tolls_on_free_bridges_all_but_d_157203.htm

According to Sheldon Silver, “Nobody likes taxes and no one likes tolls.” You’d never know it from all the taxes, tolls and fees he has supported.

What do you think about this new plan? That’s our poll question this week. Make sure you take a minute to vote.

Even with all these taxes and tolls and spending, there is some good news: Spring training is underway, and baseball will be here before we know it. The Mets are 2-0 so far in spring training, with a nice 9-0 win against the Marlins yesterday.

Is it too early to hope for a great season?

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=nym

And don’t forget these guys...

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

Have a great weekend!

Spend, Spend, Spend....http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022502587.html?hpid=topnews

The great orator has spoken and the liberal media is pleased with the speech. Unfortunately, many who listened only heard what they wanted to hear and the rest of us realize that the shift in policy will be much worse than we anticipated. http://www.nypost.com/seven/02252009/postopinion/editorials/obamas_oratory_156792.htm
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02252009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/o_seeks_historic_shift_in_us_politics_156883.htm
We must be diligent and not allow the greatest nation in the world...the nation that has, in its short history, made life better for most of the world...allow the fundamental changes the current administration is looking to make.
President Obama is right on one issue...America’s economy will recover...as long as government keeps out if its way!
More from Michelle Malkin on the foreclosure “victims”: http://townhall.com/Columnists/MichelleMalkin/2009/02/25/those_foreclosure_victims_deserve_no_sympathy

We have new video’s posted on our website: www.cpnys.org one on the foreclosure victims and one that creates a virtual debate between the our greatest orator...Ronald Reagan and the current great orator Barack Obama. Listen to it, then come back and comment on the differences.

I don't remember if I read this or heard someone say it on my favorite news station, but it was a pretty good analogy. The question was, if a family is deeply in debt, how does the debt "go away" by spending more on their credit cards? Personally I think every elected official should offer an answer to that question, beginning with the President right on down to your local councilman. Maybe President Obama will explain tonight how he will cut the deficit by spending more on his beloved social programs.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02242009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/its_his_economy_now_156633.htm

Even organizations who have leaned to the left in the past, understand the importance of cutting spending: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02242009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/worse_than_9_11_156634.htm

Cal Thomas speaks for us in his article: http://townhall.com/columnists/CalThomas/2009/02/24/changing_nation

While many are focused on the enconomy, raising taxes, and what CEO's should make, Thomas Sowell reminds us just how serious the threats of those who are determined to destroy America as we know it are: http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2009/02/24/a_fatal_trajectory

The Mayor of New York City wants one more term but it appears that he is having some trouble in finding a political party that wants him to have one more term: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02232009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/mike_marches_left_156471.htm

But there are some who appear to support his quest:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/02/22/2009-02-22_rudy_giuliani_george_pataki_push_gop_to_.html

Our newest Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, may be having second thoughts on giving up her congressional seat: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02232009/news/columnists/gilly_getting_the_willies_156503.htm


The MTA must look internally to cut costs before tolls and taxes are considered. http://www.nypost.com/seven/02212009/postopinion/editorials/share_the_pain__twu_156215.htm

And New York's Senator Schumer should really start listening to the people he represents:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02212009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/as_the_feds_spend_on__a_revolt_is_rising_156202.htm

While former President Clinton is hailed for welfare reform, we know it was the pre-RINO Congress, that forced the President to sign onto welfare reform, which is now in serious jeopardy due to three current RINO Members: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02222009/postopinion/editorials/welfare_blindness_156400.htm

Our Weekly Wrap-Up has been posted as well as our new question. Last week 97% of the respondents agreed that increasing the personal income tax does not solve the budgetary problems. We had the most respondents last week since we began and hope that each week the number of respondents increases...you can help by telling your friends and families about our blog.

Are we no longer a nation that believes in personal responsibility? Our government, both state and federal, seems to reward those who have abandoned personal responsibility. What message is being sent to our children? What we teach in our home is undermined by what this administration is doing. If 92% of us pay our mortgage/rent on time...why do we have to bail out those who don't? It is time for the silent majority to speak up! http://townhall.com/columnists/LawrenceKudlow/2009/02/19/subsidize_bad_behavior

And support the few in government that get it right some of the time: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02202009/postopinion/editorials/sticking_with_welfare_that_works_156033.htm

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02202009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/food_stamps__the_mayors_good_call_156019.htm

Weekly Wrap-Up

Let’s close this week with a new blog feature, and a look at some interesting poll numbers...

We now have a “Conservative Call to Action” on the blog – a place that we’ll be updating frequently, that will tell you about a hot issue that is up for debate in Albany... so you can call members of the state Senate and Assembly and tell them where you stand as a voter and taxpayer.

Now, the polls... Shaun Marie noted this earlier in the week here on the blog, and in a Conservative Party press release: Most New Yorkers understand what the Conservative Party has been saying for years... that spending is the problem.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02192009/news/regionalnews/take_knife_to_state_budget__not_taxpayer_155885.htm

According to the Post, “More New Yorkers back spending cuts than tax hikes in the battle over how to close next year's projected $14 billion budget deficit, according to a poll released yesterday.”

Sheldon Silver isn’t listening... he’s pushing for higher taxes – supposedly just on “the rich,” but we know that more and more of us would fall into that category if the politicians get creative enough.

But even some Democrats are put out by Sheldon’s devotion to higher taxes. Most notably, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, who believes that higher taxes will chase even more people out of our state:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02122009/news/regionalnews/top_senate_dem_attax_silver_plan_154774.htm

“Obviously, taxes have the ability to shift people’s desires and interests,” Smith notes. “I’m not sure that we want to explore that possibility by instituting an income tax and then wait to see what happens.”

Can we get Sen. Smith to teach some of his fellow liberals how the world really works?

Quinnipiac University also released poll numbers this past Tuesday showing that Gov. David Paterson is in deep trouble with the voters of this state:

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=771128&category=REGION

The big findings: Andrew Cuomo would best Paterson 55 percent to 23 percent in a Democratic primary. And the Governor’s job approval rating dropped to just 45 percent – his lowest as governor – with a 41 percent disapproval rating.

It’s not hard to imagine why New Yorkers aren’t sold on Gov. Paterson. Seems like every single day there’s a new scandal. The latest: Big pay raises for political appointees, at a time of fiscal disaster for our state – and at a time when Gov. Paterson has proposed more than $4 billion in new fees and taxes...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/02/16/2009-02-16_political_appointees_in_new_york_still_g.html

But on this question, Mr. Cuomo can’t hit Gov. Patterson with too much criticism. According to this article, Cuomo dished out 15 raises totaling $108,000 – and “all but three of the raises went to assistant attorneys general, many of whom made well over $100,000.”

As I told the Daily News: “You solve the deficit problems before you consider raising people’s salaries.”

Check out this week’s survey question, which is based on the following article:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/02/18/2009-02-18_queens_homeowner_pleads_i_need_your_help.html

Some headline: “Queens homeowner pleads: I need your help, President Obama”... Do you think this guy deserves to be helped out with your tax dollars, after he bought more house than he can afford, and ran up huge credit card bills?

Vote today... and of course, have a great weekend!