A Good Omen

Senator Clinton’s campaign is in shambles and she is nearly out of ammunition. The queen of the Democrats is being stoned in the public square. There is a sweet irony here. The retribution being hurled at her was stolen from her stockpile.

The Clinton machine controlled the rules in the Democratic playbook. They expected to ride into the White House on her gender. They calculated that Hillary’s option to wear a skirt would provide a Teflon coating and cement the feminist vote.

It almost worked. She dispatched the white, male candidates in the first few debates. They were toothless—sent packing because they were scorned for attacking a woman. That’s a no-no in the politically correct world the Clintons groomed and thrive in.

But Senator Obama holds the trump card. In the world of political correctness ethnicity trumps gender. The Clintons knew this, but dismissed Obama’s chances. Rightfully, they saw he had no money, no organization and no experience.

Nor could the Clintons conceive that white voters would pull the Obama lever. They fell victim to their own propaganda, which deliberately incites racism and rancor, and postulates that blacks need white protectors. They bet on racism, expecting this Democratic strategy to keep African Americans in their camp.

Michelle Obama’s “no pride in America” statement substantiates that many had been duped by this propaganda. But those who fabricated it should have known better. The Clintons’ mistake can be written off to arrogance—their belief that they could fool everyone any time they wanted.

It seems they were all surprised by the white rejection of the racist innuendo perpetuated by the Democrats for decades; and that so many blacks believe in themselves. That’s a good omen for America.

Senator Obama’s presumptive nomination is a backlash against racism and the policies that undermine black accomplishment. But don’t believe that his nomination will immediately benefit black Americans. Other than pride in their ancestry and a greater insight into white America’s values, they have gained little.

The big winner is Middle America. They have been freed from the slur of racist epitaphs by demonstrating (with their votes) that racism is more a political device than a reality. The cynicism of the Democrats’ divide and conquer strategy has been exposed.

Change takes time. It will be years before it is near universally agreed that the Democrats undermined its African American constituency for five decades.

Senator Obama’s nomination provided all Americans with the opportunity to unmask the deceit. And for that the nation should be thankful.

A Sad, Disappointing Message

The recent remark of Michelle Obama, the wife of the presidential candidate, clearly defines who she is and what motivates her. For those of us sitting on the sidelines, the comment was sad, incongruous and disappointing.

There stood an accomplished, wealthy, Princeton/Harvard educated woman with illustrious work credentials on a national podium who stated that she was never proud of her country until her husband’s quest for the most prestigious office on the planet was within his grasp.

These are the words of a bitter person. That can’t be denied. They reflect the mantra of the leftwing—that the nation is rooted in evil. It’s obvious that Michelle is a disciple of those who spend their lives dining on racism—a brotherhood of self-ordained victims.

Do her words provide insight into her definition of personal responsibility? Probably. She is obviously a devotee of the excuse mongers. It’s difficult to imagine that she didn’t blame racism for every setback she ever suffered. At least this is the conclusion her words provoke.

And her remark is a testament to her ignorance. She seemed utterly surprised that whites voted for a black man. Certainly she doesn’t understand, or would refuse to believe, that many cast Obama ballots only because he is black.

They sent a message that Michelle and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan have failed to hear. Americans are tired of being called bigots, tired of race baiting, tired of those who thrive on it and tired of those who instigate it.

They are tired of the demand placed on whites to accept blacks without qualification and without exception. Michelle and Jesse and Al and Louis believe that acceptance is a right.

But acceptance is earned in the United States—it’s not guaranteed. It’s only an opportunity. Senator Obama’s success was never guaranteed; he earned it the American way. He has proved his worthiness to compete in the contest.

It appears he is going to get the nod to be the Democrat’s nominee. He may not win the general election. If he loses, Michelle and Jesse and Al and Louis will blame it on racism. It’s a shame they are so small minded. They don’t see that they are the root cause of racism.

Her remark begs the question: Did she reflect Senator Obama’s mindset? He must concur, unless Michelle and her husband don’t communicate and don’t function as a team. Don’t kid yourself. Michelle was expressing and was comfortable comporting with his point of view.

That’s what this country needs—two racists in the White House. It’s sad, incongruous and disappointing. She eliminated the only solace a conservative could feel if Senator Obama is elected—that racism would become an historic artifact.

Statistics and Reality

According to the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation hovered around 2.85% in 2007, and has been teetering between two and three percent annually since 2000. If this was gospel, the majority of Americans would be classified as heretics.

The cost of government entitlements, social security, unemployment compensation, bureaucratic overhead, education, medical care and municipal expenditures are all impacted by inflation.

Low inflation rates reduce mandated government payments, which in turn should keep tax growth down. Yet, the current Congress is preparing the largest tax increase in US history.

Although the tax bite of states is slowing, the budgets are exceeding the CPI rate of inflation. But to pretend that state and local governments are staying even with inflation is contradicted by reality.

The infrastructures under state jurisdiction are deteriorating. Preventive maintenance has been cut to the bone, repairs neglected and projects stalled. The budgets are borrowing from the future. The states’ balanced budgets have become a shell game.

Families see the cost of gasoline, home heating and groceries soaring. Americans are limping along. Reducing trips, turning down the thermostat and buying off-brand products only hides the inflation pressure measured by the CPI.

The quality of hard goods continually declines. No one believes the durability of the major and small appliances and tools they purchase today begin to equal the quality of yesterday. Again, inflation is buried in shoddier materials and lower standards.

The value of the dollar is shrinking in the international currency markets. The prices of goods purchased from China or Indonesia—lower in cost than American made goods—keep increasing as the dollar devaluates. This inflation is hidden in comparative costs as Corporate America continues to abandon local manufacturing.

Inflation benefits borrowers and pinches lenders because debts are re-paid in depreciated dollars. The greatest beneficiary of inflation is the federal government because it is the largest borrower in the world.

It is understood that deficits don’t reflect well on our nation’s political leaders. And tax increases are as popular as tooth decay. Low inflation numbers keep the cost of compulsory entitlement increases from rocketing. It protects politicians from making unpopular decisions.

Our representatives benefit politically from the pretense of low inflation. They have no reason to challenge the accuracy of the CPI numbers.

But the day of reckoning is approaching. Anyone responsible for a family budget knows that inflation is far worse than the government’s statistics indicate. Credit card debt, foreclosures and delinquencies are soaring. Family incomes are being stretched to their limits.

The next administration—Republican or Democratic—will come face to face with a major recession if the crushing inflation isn’t recognized.

Poll Distortion

The election season is filled with political posturing, predictions of catastrophe, slippery answers and sound bites. The partisans defend and interpret their candidate’s misstatements, twist their opponent’s words and bellyache about the media coverage.

Everyday we are barraged with poll results by news anchors and political pundits dissecting the latest tidbits. These opinion snapshots are treated as text from the Bible. The media types take it upon themselves to explain to those of lesser gods the true implications of the results.

Near universally, the media acquaints the public with the historical accuracy and trustworthiness of the pollster prior to embarking on what the statistics mean. Most of the poll questions are straight forward—but not the choices.

And in most cases it’s the choices that skew the results and mislead the public into believing the poll data should be taken seriously.

Answer this question: Would you rather have your tax dollars spent on Iraq or used to repair the nation’s infrastructure? Most Americans would choose the infrastructure. But it’s a false choice because the question ignores the ramifications of the terrorist threat.

Answer this question: Do you believe that everyone in the country should have access to affordable, quality healthcare? Again, most Americans would answer yes. But it’s a false choice because the question ignores the ramifications of the annual trillion dollar price tag.

Answer this question: Do you believe illegal aliens should be treated compassionately? The question implies that the alternative is beating them unmercifully and throwing them back over the fence. Again, it’s a false choice.

Answer this question: Do you believe job security is important? This question would be answered with a resounding yes by most Americans. But it’s a false choice because it implies that there are multiple alternatives to letting private enterprise determine its needs.

Answer this question: Do you believe protecting the quality of the environment is more important than the cost of reducing pollution? Few people would vote for polluted land, water and air. But it’s a false choice because it neglects the impact on the cost of goods and services, family energy costs, employment and US energy independence.

Most polls do a disservice to the country. They categorize people and place them in opposing camps. They create bitterness and dissention where there is little. Polls are misleading because they ignore the complexity of the solutions.

There are no simple answers to the challenges facing the nation. So why are polls so popular?

Polls manufacture and inflate the discord, and offer a handy excuse for our representatives to point their fingers across the aisle. It’s always easier to kick the problems down the road. Polls grant cover to the “Solution Free Zone” we call Congress. And the media thrives on conflict.

So expect a steady diet of polls and the dissension they create.

Obama's Greatest Asset

Mr. Amnesty, Senator John McCain, has all but wrapped up his nomination. This is a tribute to his resolve. His near miraculous resurrection surprised us all. He can thank independents, moderate Democrats, a handful of Republicans and the national media for his success.

Expect the Republican establishment to rally to his defense. A cadre of undertakers would be better prepared for this mission.

McCain is an old, cantankerous, vindictive man, incapable of generating excitement. He will spend the months between now and November spreading a message of doom and gloom if Senator Obama wins.

His ramblings will paint a desultory defense of the principles upon which this nation was founded. He doesn’t have a vision. He doesn’t have an infectious message. He doesn’t have ardent supporters. He doesn’t smell like success. And he looks like death warmed over.

But there is a ray of sunshine on the political front. It appears the majority of Democrats are tired of the Clintons, tired of their tricks, tired of their deceit and tired of their ruthlessness. Senator Obama, the altar boy, is not winning on message. He is winning by comparison.

It would be foolish to count the Clintons out of the contest. Everyone knows that there is nothing too squalid for them to do to seal Hillary’s nomination. And nothing embarrasses them. But they are in a quandary.

Their take-no-prisoners campaign style only rehashes what the nation will again face with them in the White House. The Clintons’ scorched earth tactics have backfired. Their campaign has made Senator Obama appear noble and undaunted.

Senator Obama’s best credentials belong to the Clintons. Senator Obama’s greatest asset is the Clintons’ reputation.

Certainly, the Republicans are cheering for a Clinton victory. It takes a freight train to carry the couple’s unsavory political baggage. Obama’s delegate lead signals that a majority of super liberal Democrats, liberal independents and neighborhood Democrats concur. They no longer see a Clinton advantage.

An Obama win in the primary will benefit America.

It will signal the world that the proponents of racism—the Democratic Party—exaggerated it for decades to gain political advantage. Secondly, his win will put the Clintons in the nation’s rearview mirror. Thirdly, Senator Obama will be forced to define his definition of change.

Senator Obama is a formidable primary candidate. But Hillary’s defeat will destroy his greatest asset—the Clinton legacy. He will be at the mercy of his own credentials in the general election.

Ignore McCain

Senator John McCain is the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party. At least this precludes him from running as Senator Hillary Clinton’s Vice President.

The Senator’s nomination offers all the resonance and excitement of a water logged firecracker.

The moment Senator Obama or Clinton solidifies the Democratic nomination, the liberals and independents who voted for McCain in the primaries will immediately defect.

They have no reason to vote for a closet Democrat when they can cast their ballots for an unabashed, pro-amnesty, pro-tax socialist.

Senator McCain is betting that conservatives will hold their noses and vote for him in the general election. He is relying on their fear of Senator Obama or Clinton packing the Supreme Court with dangerous leftwing judges, and treating Islamic terrorists as misunderstood friends.

Although these fears are real, they won’t carry McCain into the Oval Office. The numbers just aren’t there. The Democratic turnout in the primaries is double the Republican turnout. Their hatred of President Bush has turned the 2008 election into an obsession.

McCain has nothing in his arsenal—including conservative support—to overcome this fervor. In truth, President Bush would never be reelected by Republicans. His lack of fiscal restraint and pro-amnesty credentials made the label “social conservative” a dirty phrase.

The President’s mandatory endorsement of McCain will only inspire Democrats and turnoff Republicans.

Of course, the die-hard Republican establishment hopes McCain can turn the election around by selecting a conservative running mate. Only a politician with nothing to loose would team with him.

The designated Vice President will either share the blame for the loss, or watch his/her reputation be permanently stained when McCain sides with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid. The Republican presidential future is dim because McCain will be a colossal failure if he wins or loses.

The recent Super Bowl suggests a Republican strategy. The Patriot team stunk up the stadium. They had no legitimate excuse for being crushed by the Giants. If the Patriot quarterback, Tom Brady, had been injured and unavailable, the Giant’s win would have been an empty victory.

If millions of Republican voters join an organization that officially refuses to vote for McCain, the Democrats will win an uncontested election. They can paint the win anyway they want. But in truth, it will be a rejection of both candidates.

The Republicans would be best served with the slogan “Forget McCain.” Rather than donating a single penny to his campaign, this organization should solicit Republican contributions to support the congressional races. This is Middle America’s best hope of salvaging its future.

A Dismal Portent

Super Tuesday left the Republican Party in a shambles and propelled the Democrats to within inches of winning the White House. The candidates’ post-election speeches clearly exhibited the tenor of the contest.

The Democratic choruses were wildly jubilant and the Republicans were polite, introspective and un-noteworthy. The Republican speeches bored voters and the Democrats’ inspired them.

Governor Huckabee seemed astounded by his wins and Senator McCain was smug. Governor Romney’s predictable pledge to continue the fight rang hollow. Barring an earthquake, Senator McCain will be the Republican candidate.

America is a crossroad and McCain doesn’t know which side of the street he lives on. While the Democratic nominee campaigns to win the hearts of independents, McCain will spend his time convincing Republicans that he is not a Democrat. Good luck John!

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) convenes in Washington DC, on February 7. Over 6,000 conservatives are expected to attend. Senator McCain will use this menu to convince conservatives that he is a worthy Republican candidate.

The crowd’s reaction should be interesting as he boycotted the affair in 2007. Just the mention of his name spontaneously raised a chorus of boos. It’s difficult to imagine he will incite anything beyond perfunctory applause.

Reality bites. Senator McCain has all the personal appeal of Bob Dole in a coma. Mr. Straight Talk will be pummeled in the fall election. The Democrats will win by a landslide.

Super Tuesday didn’t settle the Democratic race. But the economic polices of Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are nearly identical.

With the full cooperation of Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid, entitlements, amnesty, ACLU sponsored judges and retreat in the Middle East will be featured. The Middle Class will see taxes soar, the terrorists heartened and the economy grinding to a halt.

The kernel of good news—McCain’s defeat will lay the groundwork for another Republican revolution in 2010 because the Democratic agenda will self-destruct. And McCain will ride off into oblivion.

We can only hope the lighted path that Clinton or Obama, Pelosi and Reid will provide the terrorists can be shut off in time.

Political Establishment Miscalculations

Senator McCain is anathema to conservative Republicans. When Ann Coulter, a correspondent for Human Events and a Republican provocateur, states she would support Senator Clinton in a Clinton/McCain contest, it summarizes the conservative stance.

She is joined by conservative radio talk show personalities, such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, in their virulent dislike of the Arizona Senator’s politics.

On the face of it, McCain’s endorsement by every national and local, liberal media outlet makes every knowledgeable conservative question his credentials. When this support is buttressed by the praise of Democratic lawmakers, his stature as a conservative is totally suspect.

McCain’s legislative record explains the conservative backlash. He has pulled the Democrats’ wagon since George W. Bush was inaugurated.

So with all these “closet Democratic” descriptions floating around his campaign, why is Senator McCain the Republican frontrunner?

The conservative political pundits ascribe his success to any number of factors, including the national polls that indicate that 66% of Republicans believe he has the best chance of defeating Senator Clinton or Senator Obama in the general election. They want a Republican in the Oval Office.

Others suggest that aged and naïve Republicans don’t understand the consequences of a McCain win. Still others state that Governor Huckabee, Mayor Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Governor Romney split the conservative vote which guaranteed a McCain plurality.

Certainly, all of the above have played a role in McCain’s year-to-date triumphs. But most importantly, the Republican establishment failed to coalesce around the only viable conservative—Mitt Romney. They have only themselves to blame.

The liberal commentators—all pro McCain—near universally agree that moderate Republicans and independents are carrying the day for him, and that the fracture in the Republican camp is caused by the lack luster stable of Republican candidates.

This is the antithesis of what’s happening. McCain’s popularity is based on the Democratic electorate’s rejection of its leading candidates. Rank and file Democrats—not to be confused with the rabid leftwing—are carrying McCain, along with liberal independents and rubber stamp Republicans.

Moderate Democrats don’t see a winning future with Clinton or Obama. McCain is the neighborhood Democrat’s compromise candidate. Their assessment is accurate and well founded. His bona fides as a Democratic partisan are well established.

In the final analysis, McCain’s standing in the polls is principally due to the middle of the road Democrats’ rejection of Hillary and Obama. That’s why the liberal media will regret hyping his candidacy to block the conservative candidates.