Weekly Wrap-Up

What will people be talking about this Sunday at our 42nd Annual Political Action Conference? This week has given us plenty of topics...

First: Sen. Gillibrand – the latest example of Gov. David Paterson’s utter incompetence and the liberals’ complete lack of principles. Here’s a good overview of the whole mess...

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--nypolitics-analys0131jan31,0,2350266.story

Sen. Gillibrand’s first act was to sell out virtually everything she’s ever claimed to believe in, and make a pathetic bid for acceptance by New York’s most extreme special interests. First up: The mass immigration lobby.

http://www.nydailynews.com/other/2009/02/04/2009-02-04_immigration_reform.html

All this pandering will have Sen. Gillibrand in hot water when she runs for election in 2010 and tries as to actually win the seat she was given by Gov. Paterson – who will be facing a tough election fight of his own. Can anybody believe anything these two say?

But that’s the least of the Democrats’ worries right now. The big focus in the coming weeks will be the special election to fill Gillibrand’s House seat – which just happens to be a heavily Republican district. The Democrats are worried...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/02/01/2009-02-01_election_in_gillibrand_district_big_trou.html

This week also saw President Obama looking more and more desperate to pass his so-called “stimulus” (AKA “spend like there’s no tomorrow”) bill.

Our new leader sold himself as the President of hope, not fear. “Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill,” writes columnist Charles Krauthammer. As usual, he hits the nail on the head several times. Read it here...

http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2009/02/06/crisis,_catastrophe_are_these_words_of_hope

The stimulus battle has shifted to the Senate, and The Weekly Standard (http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/TWSFPView.asp) has a look at the GOP amendments the Democrats have rejected this week. They include...

- An amendment by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to cut $47 billion in wasteful spending.
- An amendment by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) cut corporate and individual income taxes and repeal the AMT.
- An amendment by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) to cut $5.2 billion in pet projects and replace it with the same amount of defense spending.
- An amendment by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) to cut the tax rate for the lowest tax bracket in half.
- An amendment by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) to repeal the 1993 Social Security tax increase.

Conservatives didn’t win these battles, but it’s good to see our allies fighting the good fight and standing up for taxpayers.

That’s what we’ll be doing Sunday in Albany at our 42nd Annual Political Action Conference. We’ll have some interesting guests, to say the least – including, as I’m sure you’ve heard, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who will present his recommendations on how New York can save money by consolidating local government.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02042009/news/regionalnews/cuomos_courting_the_right_153471.htm

A Cuomo at a Conservative Party event? That might be unheard of, but here’s the bottom line: This guy has some good ideas that will save money and streamline government. We should hear him out on this, even if we disagree with him on plenty of other issues.

Other speakers this Sunday will include Rick Lazio, who is being mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate for 2010, as well as Rep. Peter King, who is considering a bid for the U.S. Senate next year.

Join us Sunday – or check here to find out who’s saying what at CPPAC.

Have a great weekend!