Year-End Wrap Up

What is your choice for 2009’s biggest news story for conservatives? There are lots of options...

Spending: Barack Obama talked a lot about “change” during his campaign, but as President he’s shown himself as just another tax-and-spend liberal. Together with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid – and with plenty of help from New York’s Chuck Schumer – the Obama Administration has spent like there’s no tomorrow, saddling America with a record budget deficit in 2009 and forcing the government’s debt limit up to a whopping $12.4 trillion.

National Security: Gone are the days of a consistent, aggressive War on Terrorism. That phrase has even been banned in Washington. Now we have the Obama Administration planning to close down Guantanamo and bring terrorists to New York City to stand trial. After much dithering, the President decided to go with a mini-surge in Afghanistan, while at the same time Democrats like Barney Frank called for huge cuts in the defense budget. And then, thanks to the failed attack on Christmas Day, we were reminded that the threat of terrorism is still horribly real.

Health Care: President Obama and the Democrats expected smooth sailing as they sought to takeover all Americans’ health care choices – but all Americans wouldn’t keep quiet. Throughout the summer of 2009, citizens spoke their minds at town hall meetings and rallies across the nation – only to be branded as “un-American” by Nancy Pelosi and her minions. Madame Speaker, Harry Reid and the Democrats in Washington showed their disdain for the majority of Americans by passing ObamaCare by any means necessary.

Doug Hoffman: GOP bosses thought conservatives would play along when they chose “moderate” Republican Dede Scozzafava as their candidate in what should have been a run-of-the-mill special election to replace John McHugh. Well, she wasn’t a moderate – she was a liberal. The Conservative Party brought a principled conservative to the race – local business leader Doug Hoffman. The rest is history. The Conservative Party’s goal was to stand on principle – and to stand up to the corrupt and self-serving party bosses who could care less about the voters of New York. In doing so, we can most certainly declare victory.

The New York Senate: Partisanship, backstabbing, power plays and political posturing – all in a day’s work for the politicians in Albany. But this past summer’s Senate spectacle brought “politics as usual” to a new low, and made New York a laughing stock as the most dysfunctional state in the nation (an impressive feat after the high standard set by Rod Blagojevich in Illinois.)

Gov. Paterson: From mishandling the task of replacing Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate (and angering the Kennedy clan!) to playing the race card when he couldn’t handle the pressure of politics, Gov. Paterson repeatedly established himself in 2009 as the accidental governor. Will he end up being the big story for 2010, when he faces a tough election battle?

What do you think was the biggest story of 2009? Vote in our poll, and find out how many people agree with you. Or, if there’s something else you believe was the biggest news of the year, tell us what you think in the comments section.

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

Unfortunately, this gentleman is correct, where are the American papers saying the same?

The Heritage Foundation, former VP Dick Cheney have the courage to tell President Obama his shortcomings. However, the President seems unable to admit when he is wrong about closing GITMO. Even Sen. Diane Finestein is calling for no more detainees to be sent to Yemen!

President Obama has to learn that we are at war.

Making TSA agents unionized is not the problem.

The other problem is obviously the health care bill as Thomas Sowell writes.

New York is down to "petty cash" after dealing with a decade of debt. The budget will be very interesting next year.

Homeland Security Secretary under fire, rightfully so and here also. Ralph Peters writes "Our government gets no thanks for preventing a tragedy. Only the bomber's ineptitude preserved the lives of nearly 300 innocents." Read more here.

The Heritage Foundation calls for "smarter security, not more money".

Cal Thomas thinks we got lucky also.

RedState Blog likes the way Jack Tapper took on Robert Gibbs.

Now this Administration is concerned about deficits after a year of uncontrolled spending.

Hundreds of al-Qaeda millitants planning attacks from Yemen and this Administration wants to send GITMO detainees there?

Well, thank you very much Senator Dodd, we all feel safer now! NOT!!

Is this what New Yorkers can look forward to?

We trust you all had an enjoyable Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year, and what a year it will be. If Washington and Albany continue to spend as they did this year, we may all be unable to celebrate any holiday in 2010!

ACORN is unconcerned about the future.

Mexico is very concerned about its future.

Tim Pawlenty has the right ideas for the future of his state. If only New York would do the same.

Good news, voters are paying attention and making some uncomfortable due in part to columns written by Michelle Malkin and Daniel Henninger.

Has Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano finally reached the same conclusions we have with the security failure on Flight 253 Christmas Day?

Congressman Bart Stupak apparently isn't allowed to exercise his First Amendment rights. Of course, if you believe that the democrats lost control of Congress in 1994 due to the failure to pass health care reform, as White House COS Rahm Emanuel does, you will go to any length to get a bill passed. I guess that includes keeping the Junior Senator from New York quite, despite the fact that the health care reform bill puts additional fiscal burdens on all New Yorkers who pay taxes. More here on how Obamacare will bankrupts states.

Michael Goodwin speaks for all of us when he writes how our country needs Mr. Smith.

Jonah Goldberg reminds us how President Obama has failed his words.

Congressman Murtha's is in the news again.

Just when you are beginning to think every Member of Congress should be forcibly retired, your faith is restored that some are worth keeping, but then you realize they don't want to stay in the cesspool and hope they can make a difference before they leave.

In case you didn't check this out before, all five parts are available now. Read about the antics of the Working Family Party here then ask your legislator why they would ever consider running on that line.

Ronald Reagan's first year in the Presidency was a difficult one, yet at Christmas he still offered hope in his first Christmas address as president. Ronald Reagan reminds us in his Christmas message that all children are gifts from God; we now live within an administration that believes it is acceptable to use tax dollars to end their lives. If this is what is consider progress, most Americans do not want any part of it.

May the joy and hope of Christmas be with you all.

Democrat Congressman from Alabama who is also a doctor, cites Health Care Bill for changing his affiliation to Republican. While another democrat says all the horse-trading for the bill is "small stuff".

Politics as usual continues, no wonder President Obama's approval numbers continue to plummet.

There really is a method to their madness.

New York State Medicaid program used $92 M for improper payments, 26,000 recipients with multiple identification numbers, and this before the federal government adds more to the rolls.

Charter Schools can help New York's budget crunch.

Is Dennis Prager right? Cal Thomas seems to think so. If the Health Care Bill becomes law, will it be legal?

It's Tuesday, so it must be time for Thomas Sowell .

Politics as usual in Washington, DC, nothing has changed despite what was promised. Votes are taken in the middle of the night to pass legislation that most Americans oppose. Sweetheart deals for certain states while the taxpayers in other states will be paying for the special concessions given to the favored few, including Sen. Dodd. (Of course, Sen. Dodd is used to special deals especially for himself.)

Sen. Schumer believes the democrats will see a health care bounce. Time for a reality check for Sen. Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand, his protegee. Americans do not want this bill. Period! More on what the bill contains here and here.

What is bigger than Watergate?

A street for Sean Bell?

This Congressman is a disgrace, does he even understand our Constitution?

Human Events names its Conservative of the Year.