Weekly Wrap-Up

This week we saw the passing of Robert Bork, and there have been several nice remembrances – from the New York Post, the New York Sun and the Washington Times, among others.

And the New York Times chimed in with a rather petty take on how Bork wasn't the first Supreme Court nominee to be “borked.”

In another big story from this week (and the one before that, and the one before that): We’re now “teetering on the cliff,” as the Wall Street Journal puts it.  

The Journal also examines what we've learned from the failure of House Speaker John Boehner’s “Plan B” for a smaller tax increase.

The Heritage Foundation is happy that conservatives stood their ground against tax hikes... and they point out that if Senate Democrats had taken action earlier this year, we wouldn’t even be in this predicament. Thanks a lot, Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand.

Meanwhile, John Podhoretz has another take on the situation – he’s not happy at all with rebellious conservatives.

I’m not at all happy with the bait-and-switch we saw thisweek with the President’s “Save General Motors” campaign... but it’s not as though anyone in their right mind ever believed this was a good deal for taxpayers.

It’s still disappointing to talk about Barack Obama as our President, and not as our soon-to-be ex-President – but there’s no changing that now, and I’m ready to close out the year with a spirit of optimism and determination for the battles ahead.

Since this is the last Weekly Wrap-Up of 2012, we have a special “New Years Resolution” Weekly Poll: What are you planning to do in 2013 to fight even harder against the Obama agenda and for conservative principles?

I look forward to seeing how people vote – and have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

New York is still in deep fiscal trouble. In case you missed yesterday's article in the NY Post,  E. J. McMahon  (E. J. will be speaking at our conference) takes a critical look at the report issued by the State Budget Crisis Task Force issued on Monday and the structural problems New York faces.   The monthly report by the State Comptroller isn't much brighter as revenues continue to be less than anticipated. One of the reasons NY continues to have problems is shown in this 24/7 report on the states doling out the best (most expensive for taxpayers) and worst (most beneficial to taxpayers) benefits.  New York ranks #4 on the "best" list.

Speaker Silver is wrong in saying raising the minimum wage spurs economic growth,  yes, a few may have a small bit more to spend, but, fewer people will be working as employers won't be able to afford to hire more employees.  

Nicole Gelinas reminds us we are looking at another huge bill for the Tappan Zee and wonders how we will be able to pay it.  (Nicole will also be a speaker at this years' conference.)

Superstorm Sandy still wreaking havoc.

It isn't surprising that the Left is calling for more and tougher gun laws in the wake of the horrific massacre in Sandy Hook.  New York already has tough gun laws.  Guns are obviously inanimate object and need humans to operate them so why isn't the Left calling for more ways to "control" the evil that some humans do?  There are far too many questions that have not been answered (and may never be answered) to have a "knee-jerk" reaction and blame an inanimate object.  When a person has had too much to drink and gets behind the wheel  and takes the lives of innocent victims, we do not call for the banning of cars.  We propose and enact stricter drunk driving laws, take away licenses and punish the person responsible.  Why is it different with guns?  Should it be different?  Are we going to ban knives or demand that they are less sharp?  Some common sense has to prevail; get to the real problem. Ted Nugent lets us know his thoughts on the Sandy Hook massacre, I can't say that he is wrong.


Wow, Santa's "presents" have certainly changed since I was a kid.

We already know where VP Biden will go with gun control, seriously why make the pretense of looking at gun control and "other measures".

Red State hits the nail on the head.

The Security Chief has resigned along with two others, but, many questions are still unanswered.

Since I neglected to post any articles yesterday, you may have missed, Thomas Sowell and Wednesday's with Walter E. Williams.

As GOP leaders capitulate on core conservative values, the Heritage Foundation asks the question "Will they ever learn?"  No, they won't because voters are not holding them accountable, most are not engaged in the battle to save America from unnecessary spending but most of all because they keep sending the same people back to do the job.  Last month Barack Obama was returned to office for another four years, despite the extreme spending and narcissistic administration and the fact that he said to Russian President Medvedede ""This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility,"  President Obama believes his 3.3% margin gives him the winning hand and we as voters did not strengthen Congressman Boehner's hand.  Will they ever learn?  Not until we make them.

It is up to us to educate our, family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.  Discuss articles like this editorial in the Washington Examiner instead of who won this year's Survivor or Amazing Race. 

Proof that high taxes do not work. 

America falls from prosperity according to a London based think tank.

The elections are over, so the President has a new non-deportation policy.

File this under "the world is truly up-side-down".

Rich Lowry opines on the Sandy Hook tragedy.  So does John Podhoretz.

Hillary Clinton's head fake.

Tuesday's with Thomas Sowell  also on gun control. 

Nothing we can say will help stop the pain and horror of Friday afternoon's carnage in Connecticut.  No words will ever explain the inexplicable, no one will ever truly know why 20 children will never return to their parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members.  Another piece of innocence was taken from all of America on Friday, another act of depraved indifference to the sanctity of life took place on Friday and all weekend the reaction has been predictable.  Yes, President Obama, these tragedies must end.  And they must end now, hopefully by fully returning to the Judeo-Christian values that were the basis of our Constitution that  formulated this great nation and understand that victims rights must outweigh criminal rights.  The Founding Fathers could have put any ideal in the First Amendment and Second Amendment, yet they chose religion and self-defense,  isn't it time we do so also?

The NY Sun  opines so does the NY Post.

Guns should not be the only consideration to end the tragedies. 


Senator Jim DeMint has big shoes to fill, but Congressman Tim Scott may just be the right fit!

This is why people do not approve of Congress.  Take care of the people who need the help, the people who need to be able to live in a home with heat and electricity, Sandy's Relief fund certainly should not contain money for Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico fisheries, nor repair jobs at Kennedy Space Center. Disaster relief is disaster relief, nothing more should be in the bill.

How convenient.

Taxes have consequences, too.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Wow... you know that if Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand oppose a tax, it must be pretty awful.

Too bad they never had a chance to oppose this tax before. Oh, wait...

Well, it’s all part of the madness that is Obamacare.

But the biggest news this week is Susan Rice and her decision to take herself out of the running for Secretary of State.

Here you’ll find her obviously self-serving account of why she made this decision – if this is a decision that she made, that is.

Seems to me that if the Obama Administration wanted to further its Benghazi cover-up, steering Susan Rice away from the confirmation hearings she would have to endure as would-be Secretary of State would be a smart strategy.

What do you think – is Susan Rice’s abandonment of her Secretary of State dreams simply a noble act on her part (as she wants us to believe)? Or is this the Obama Administration’s way of sweeping the deaths of four Americans under the rug?

Vote this week in our new weekly poll...

If you ask me, here’s the funniest line from the Susan Rice column: “I deeply respect Congress’s role in our system of government.” Her boss doesn’t seem to share that respect...

The other big news this week was Big Labor – though the unions seem smaller than ever after their juvenile antics in Michigan.  Sore losers, as the New York Post calls them.

So legalizing marijuana is no big deal, right? Wrong, according to people “on the ground” where it’s happening.

Have a great weekend!

Erik Kriss has more on Governor Cuomo's litmus test  and  his future support.  Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope as Kriss reports it appears that the Republican leaders are standing up for the taxpayers.

Question to the Members of the NY City Council:  What message do these bills send to people?  It's okay to come into our country illegally, but all the other laws we pass must be followed?  Why, if it's okay to break one law, why does anyone have to follow any laws?

Here we go again.


News on Health Exchanges required by Obamacare.  (Governor Cuomo did not wait for legislative approval in New York, like President Obama, he just issued an Executive Order to get what he wanted.)  More on the Health Exchanges from the Heritage Foundation.

As this AP article points out, some think Obama's regulations haven't gone far enough and want more.  So Obama's Administration should stifle economic growth with regulations while the Federal Reserves cranks out billions to put people to work to create more regulations and the economy is supposed to get healthy with this kind of thinking.  Did anyone pass the Economics classes they took?

Don't cave on the necessary spending cuts, Congressman Boehner.  We all know if they are not done now, they never will be. 

Grover Norquist's war plan for the GOP.

Here's Karl Rove's take on what the President may really want.

The Wall Street Journal looks at the fiscal cliff's numbers. 

Where some of your money is being spent can be found here.  And that's just one agency!

Another glimmer of hope, this time for all who believe in religious freedom.

Instead of following Europe's fiscal morass, maybe we should turn to Singapore's economic plan....if they don't change it...they have a 1.9% unemployment rate.  This isn't a typo, 1.9% unemployment rate. 

Chairman Mike Long speaks out in the New York Times on the "New Model" for Albany.

Apparently, Governor Andrew Cuomo, believes his high ratings has given him the ability to impose whatever legislation he wants.  Do you remember his campaigning on Campaign Finance Reform or raising the minimum wage?  I also do not recall any campaign pledge to make New York State's abortion laws even more liberal than they are now, which happen to be the least restrictive in all of America.   A piece of advice Governor:  Don't let your ratings give you the impression you are unquestionably correct, you're not.  We, the Conservative Party, will also challenge you when your agenda conflicts with what is best for all New Yorkers.

Governor Cuomo likes to say New York is open for business, then today, completely shut down the possibility of New York becoming a "right-to-work" state.  Which is it Governor, open for business or continuing to hamper business with agency shop rules?

Why is the Left always so angry?

Hydrofracking facing more delays if this lawsuit goes forward.  

New York City fails to obtain $40M in school funds.

North Korea is successful and it is no surprise that Iran congratulates them.

Larry Kudlow's    thoughts on the Fiscal Cliff.

Someone send this to President Obama and those who need a visual on why cutting capital gains taxes are good.

Taxes are much higher than you think.

Bonus Thomas Sowell article:  Taxing the poor.

Wednesday's with Walter E. Williams.