Weekly Wrap-Up

Here it is, your “Weekly Wrap-Up” – the Fiscal Cliff Edition! Has there been anything else in the news this week?

Charles Krauthammer wonders why Republicans are playing along with the Democrats’ latest crusade for tax hikes.

George Will explains how the fiscal cliff fits perfectly in the Democrats’ agenda. 

The GOP is getting a stern warning from conservatives.

And National Review has a message for Republicans: Don’t be lemmings.

The Heritage Foundation offers “Six Fixes to America’sFiscal Crisis.”

A lesson from Great Britain on what happens when you “tax the rich.”

The Wall Street Journal explains Obama’s real fiscal problem– the lack of growth in our economy.

According to Kimberly Strassel, also writing in the Journal, with his initial “compromise” proposal, “The White House this week finally explained just how serious it is about averting a fiscal cliff that could throw the country back into a recession. The answer: not serious at all.”

What do you think is the most important part of avoiding the “fiscal cliff” and preventing another recession? Vote today in our new Weekly Poll.

And have a great weekend!

The NY Post  is absolutely right in questioning what Governor Cuomo is thinking regarding his plans to close Indian Point nuclear  power plant.

Another revenue set back for New Yorkers.   This is the problem with finding "new" revenue streams, they dry up and the expenditures don't.  What worries me and should worry every New Yorker, is what will Legislators dream up to replace the dwindling cigarette tax revenue....guaranteed it will be another dangerous and bad idea.


What will the Senate look like if there is a coalition?  The Daily News wants to know and Liz Benjamin looks at the constitutional questions.

Read what Chairman Long has to say about the probability of a coalition.

Natural Gas developers are fighting back in New York, finally.

Senator Tom Coburn has a plan to save money, obviously Senator Reid does not have a plan, nor does he bother to read Senator Coburn's plan.  (Here's a video for Sen. Reid, this way he just has to listen.)Over three years and the Senate still has not passed a budget, but voters continue to let them get away with it.  Three quarters of the voters in New York gave both New York Senators a pass and continue to do so every day by not demanding they do their JOB!  Senator Reid, while unable and unwilling to pass a budget even with the majority wants even more power for his chamber......the Heritage Foundation says we can make his power grab work for us.

Once again, Senator Reid and the rest of you who want to tax the rich:  tax hikes will only fund 8 days of government.

Listen up President Obama, Senator and Congressmen:  Americans do not want government run health care.  Another win, albeit it may be temporary, for religious freedom.  Read what Great Britain is doing when sick babies are born.  This could be our future, if we remain silent.

GOP beware:  Obama is setting a trap for you.  Let's hope his fellow GOP'ers  listen and understand  what Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner is saying because he gets it....remember make a fool of me once, shame on you, make a fool of me twice, shame on me.

How many times must it be said, Washington does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.  Republicans must stand strong!  Grover Norquist is right!  The pledge (a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something:) that Members or future Members signed was not about him, it was and is about the future of America.  Compromise and believing that spending cuts will come later is the exact reason we are facing the fiscal crisis' of today.  If the Republicans who signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge abandon the pledge they made, for example Congressman Chris Gibson and Congressman Richard Hanna here in New York, rest assured they will be hoodwinked by the left and the Lefts agenda will turn America into Greece.  Frankly, I thought the battlefield in Washington would be easier than the Middle East battlefield, and Congressman Gibson wouldn't  have given  up on America so easily.  If he abandons his pledge to his constituents, he obviously is abandoning the fight for the American Dream.  By the way, last time I checked, a pledge does not have an expiration date.

The British are leaving  England due to the high taxes.  A while back we posted how the French were leaving France for the same reason.  Californians are leaving California, New Yorkers have left New York and yet some Congressman believe abandoning their pledge will solve the problem.  Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.  Ronald Reagan regretted agreeing to higher taxes in the belief that spending cuts would be adopted.  The spending cuts never came and neither did the immigration reform promised if he would just this once allow for amnesty.  Democrats are good at making promises then abandoning them, now unfortunately Republicans seem to be following the same path.

And apparently it is not only in Washington that Republicans are forgetting what they stand for.  The New York Times reports today that Senator Jeff Klein and his Independent Coalition favors a GOP Coalition in the State Senate.  This is not good news for conservatives  and those who think fiscally conservative.  A coalition means I'll give you what you want if you give me what I want.   Trust me, Senator Klein isn't forming a coalition without getting the groups most favored legislation.  Since the latest articles on the still open 46th Senate District looks like it will remain in the democratic column,  this coalition is not going to be good for the taxpayers  and conservatives in New York state.

Take a look around America and look at the changes happening:  Marriage is in decline, dogs are protected by domestic violence orders, and a person who killed a puppy goes to jail while a woman who demands free birth control and the morning after pill  is celebrated by TIME magazine as a possible person of the year.

It doesn't surprise me that most Americans do not even take the time to vote.  It certainly disappoints me that most Americans are allowing our elected officials to quickly bring about the demise of the greatest nation ever created by men who understood the value of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Wednesdays with Walter E. Williams and bonus Thomas Sowell column. 

When you think of someone or a family as being poor, what is the image that you see?  Homeless? Unable to afford health insurance?   Certainly not a family with a plasma television.  Prepare yourself as you learn the new definition of poor according to our government.  Poverty, and the government programs dedicated to eliminating poverty, are here forever more.

That explains why Congress and this Administration is determined to hike  the tax rate on the "rich".  The Heritage Foundation explains why Warren Buffett is wrong on tax hikes. 

The debt is even worse than we have been told, far greater than the $16 trillion. 

With all of the debt and talk of changes, is your mortgage interest deduction safe?

And just in case you think the world is against Grover Norquist, you should  read these two articles;  here and here, in fact the  NY Sun calls it Norquist's Finest Hour.  Grover Norquist can obviously defend himself.

Let's hope that Governor Cuomo truly understands what he says when he says “Put it simply,” Cuomo said. “The people of this state cannot afford to pay any more taxes — period.”

It isn't  a secret that New York is considering expanding Casino Gambling by having voters decided in the voting booth by amending the State Constitution.  Currently 7 casinos are being considered, will the number expand because of the economic losses suffered as a result of Superstorm Sandy's devastation?  Is this any way to solve economic problems?

This is not good news for New Yorkers!   Governor the State needs money and people need jobs!  Seriously, do you think Casinos are better than becoming energy independent?

Wise words written by David Limbaugh. 

More wise words from Dennis Prager.

Tuesday's with Thomas Sowell.

The Heritage Foundation writes about Egypt's President Morsi's lunge for dictatorship, not much of a surprise to us nor anyone who is aware of the goals of the Muslim Brotherhood.  The timing was the only surprise, the praise of Hillary Clinton were still echoing when Morsi declared that all his decisions were not subject to the laws of Egypt.  Freedom loving Egyptians have made their voice heard in the streets of Cairo and today, there may be a glimmer of hope that Morsi will rescind his declaration.

The Cabinet shuffle begins.

Since 1966 a cigarette package has carried the warning "Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health" and in the last 46 years that message has become a mantra about just how dangerous smoking is to ones health.  Cigarette taxes have increased, smokers can't smoke indoors, and in some outdoor areas, yet people continue to smoke despite the 46 year campaign to enlighten people to the danger of smoking.  Enter Blair Horner, vice president for advocacy for the American Cancer Society for New York and New Jersey, who is defending a program that uses your tax dollars to give to medicaid patients up to $250 on a debit card to get healthy.  The inmates are running the asylum and using your money to do so.  Chairman Long calls the program outrageous, as should every New Yorker and American.

While government is trying to micromanage our daily lives, it often does so with many programs that duplicate the same goals.  While the Conservative Party does not believe in government's long term programs to provide untold benefits to otherwise healthy individuals, it makes sense to combine New York's programs.  Some of New York's families who are truly in need, would benefit by unifying the delivery system under Medicaid.  Read what Russell Sykes has to say here.  Normally, anything the federal government proposes is something to run far away from, but Sykes makes a pretty good case for streamlining. But, Sykes' idea  is also tied into the health exchanges that have their own problems.

Obamacare/Tax back in the news and this may be good news for those of us who want to see Obamacare defeated.

New York needs jobs, New Yorkers need jobs, why is the Governor stalling on hydrofracking?

Some New York Judges say 27% pay raise is insufficient.  Some New Yorkers would just like to have a job!

Obviously President Obama is not concerned about spending, nor does want to end spending on failed ideas.  According to CNS News, he is giving away our hard earned tax dollars to Asia to promote clean energy. 

The Administration unveils Obamacare/tax regulations here. And the Manhattan Institute examines the "Pre-existing Condition Problem."

Diana Furchotgott-Roth writes how unions and environmentalists came together to damage the US economy, while the Heritage Foundation asks' the question "Should We Pay Government Employees More?"

The Obama Administration continues to  over-regulate; 102 new proposals yesterday.

How ironic is this?  In California (be aware of the fact that New York and California elected officials are very similar in thought processing, so this idea may be heading for New York) in many retail stores you have to show your ID in order to return items, yet you are not required to show ID when voting? 

Governor Andrew Cuomo likes to say "New York is open for business", yet the greatest legitimate business boom, one that helps us become more energy independent and is helping other states is being kept out of New York, by the decisions or lack of decisions being made by Governor Andrew Cuomo.  The very same Governor that apparently will not have a problem forcing small businesses to raise the minimum wage which results in fewer jobs.  New York is open for business?  Sorry Governor, actions speak louder than words.

This could be good news for criminals, not for the rest of us.

The meaning of Thanksgiving Day. 

Michelle Malkin writes about the generosity of Americans. 

The Wisdom of Upholding Tradition!  (An absolute must read)

Thomas Sowell's lighthearted look at travel and staying in hotels.

Wednesday's with Walter E. Williams.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!   CPNYS Salutes our Veterans for keeping America Safe and Secure,our Law Enforcement, First Responders and all those who have given and continue to give to those in need.  God Bless America. 

We will post again on Monday.

Federal disability payments now exceed Pentagon Procurement Payments, and the really disturbing news is that the number of people receiving disability payments has increased 29% over the last four years with no slowdown in the increasing rate in sight.

Also disturbing is an article in C/NET that Sen. Patrick Leahy has  rewritten his Bill on Americas' email privacy that now gives 22 federal agencies the ability to access accounts without a search warrant. (By the way, the accounts in postings on Facebook.)

CBS News is reporting that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence cut the al Qaeda reference (any reason why we should believe CBS News who has been derelict in reporting the truth?) The  DesMoines Register wants the Obama Administration to come clean on Benghazi.  The Weekly Standard opines on Larry Bell's summary of unanswered questions.  And the Heritage Foundation asks the question:  Who altered the Benghazi talking points.  Maybe Leahy's new rewritten bill (if passed as proposed) will get us the answers Americans deserve regarding the cold-blooded murder of 4 Americans; actually it may be the only way to get honest answers since this Administration is quite incapable of doing so.  (This does not mean that Senator Leahy's proposal is acceptable or should be passed, the very last thing Americans need is a government with free reign to spy on its citizenry; in fact, call Schumer and Gillibrand to urge a no vote:  202-224-3121.  While your at it, tell Senator Leahy to withdraw his Bill or click here.)

Law enforcement has been able to thwart terrorist plots without free reign to spy on all citizens and have been doing an excellent job keeping us safe.  Kudos to them for being able to protect us within the confines of personal liberty. 

The NY Post Editorial shares our concerns with a post-election legislative session, nothing good will be achieved in post-election sessions. 

Tuesdays with Thomas Sowell.