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Great speech. Now I must listen to the Democratic response given by Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. I can tell already it's going to be a downer. Time is running out, families can't pay their bills, blah, blah, blah. Think I'll just skip it.
President and Mrs. Bush brought honor and dignity back to our White House. They will definitely leave it a much better place than they found it.
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she was going to Florida to assure Democrats that "their voices are heard" and to underscore her commitment to seeing the state's delegation seated at the national convention.
Though the Democratic presidential candidates largely have heeded the national party's request that they not campaign publicly in Florida, Clinton said it's time to pay attention to voters there who are showing heavy interest in Tuesday's primary. Early voting is under way and drawing strong interest, she said.
"Hundreds of thousands of people have already voted in Florida and I want them to know I will be there to be part of what they have tried to do to make sure their voices are heard," Clinton said in Memphis, Tenn., before heading for Florida.
Technically Hillary is sticking to her no-campaign pledge but there's more than one way to campaign and leave it Hillary to find it.
She arrived in Sarasota taking care to abide by the details of the agreement, because events in Sarasota and later in Miami were not open to the public.
With a wink at the deal, Clinton carefully staged her arrival so she left her airplane with palm trees in the background for photographer. Asked if she was happy to be in Florida, she said: "How could you not be. It is absolutely glorious. It is a perfect day here in Florida."
Perfect if you have a commanding lead in the polls. Would Hillary be in Florida if the poll numbers were reversed? Would she be advocating changing the rules and seating Florida delegates if Obama had a nineteen point advantage in Florida? No. She would be ignoring Florida just as she's ignoring South Carolina.
John McCain is building himself quite a coalition of pro-amnesty, open border supporters:
The reality of just how dangerous John McCain winning the nomination and perhaps the Presidency is showing through more and more. Within days of each other, Pro-Amnesty and Open Border advocates the NY Times, Senator Mel Martinez and “journalist” Geraldo Rivera have all come forward and offered endorsements to John McCain.
Add Florida Governor Charlie Crist to that list.
Not forgetting Dr. Juan Hernandez, McCain's director for Hispanic outreach. McCain's spokesman told Jerome Corsi that Hernandez is just a non-paid volunteer:
McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers emphasized to WND that Hernandez is "a non-paid volunteer to the campaign, and he does not play a policy role."
"Juan works with us to reach out to the Hispanic community to meet with the folks in the various states," Rogers said.
Asked if the McCain campaign has repudiated Hernandez's "Mexico first" declarations, Rogers did not give a direct answer.
I wonder what the "indirect" answer was? Corsi does not say.
There is nothing wrong with reaching out to Hispanic voters. The problem here is that McCain's non-paid volunteer is, in his own words, for Mexico first:
In an interview on ABC News’s Nightline, Hernandez stated bluntly that he was betting that the Mexican American population in the United States –all generations– “will think Mexico first…”I want ‘em all to think Mexico first.”
And when McCain's campaign was asked about it, his spokesman would not answer. I think it's fair to say we are in an illegal immigration crisis in this country. The problem is out of control and we need a solution that puts American interests first. We will not get that from John McCain.
The immigrants who are waiting in line, doing it right, are ill-served by our dysfunctional immigration policies. We reward the law-breakers, effectively flipping off those who would come here legally. This will continue under a President John McCain, for the law-breakers will get the ultimate reward. Amnesty.
Caroline Kennedy has endorsed Barack Obama. A President Like My Father:
OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
[...]
I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.
Princess Caroline speaks and crowns Obama the new King of Camelot. Please, dear, get over yourself. Camelot was a fairy tale and so is Obama. Just ask Bill Clinton. Who, by they way, has a few things in common with your father.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist just endorsed Senator John McCain. I read an article earlier today that stated the governor probably would not endorse anyone in the primary. I guess Romney's promising poll numbers caused him to reconsider.
This is not good news for Mitt Romney. Come on Jeb, ENDORSE MITT.
Hillary Clinton wants her delegates:
"I hear all the time from people in Florida and Michigan that they want their voices heard in selecting the Democratic nominee.
"I believe our nominee will need the enthusiastic support of Democrats in these states to win the general election, and so I will ask my Democratic convention delegates to support seating the delegations from Florida and Michigan. I know not all of my delegates will do so and I fully respect that decision. But I hope to be President of all 50 states and U.S. territories, and that we have all 50 states represented and counted at the Democratic convention.
"I hope my fellow potential nominees will join me in this.
"I will of course be following the no-campaigning pledge that I signed, and expect others will as well."
Hillary cares about the voters, how convenient. Has it just now occurred to Hillary that voters in Michigan and Florida want their voices heard? Ed Morrissey:
Would Hillary defy the DNC if she hadn't won Michigan's primary after somehow neglecting to have her name removed from the ballot? Would she champion Floridians if Barack Obama was beating her in the polls? Of course not. She'll wrap all sorts of high-flying rhetoric about fairness and empowerment of the voter around it, but Hillary would have become the Defender of the DNC Faith had anyone else won Michigan.
None of this should surprise anyone, although Memeorandum highlights some of the outrage on the Left over this cynical Clintonian calculation. Republicans have known all along how the Clintons play their game. We're encouraged that progressives have finally started to notice it after 16 years.
Something tells me the outrage on the Left would be a little more muted if it weren't for Barack Obama. If Hillary's stunt were directed at Republicans we would be hearing *crickets* from the Left.
As Karl at Protein Wisdom noted, the delegates will probably be seated anyway but the controversy gives Hillary a golden opportunity to show her "compassion" for voters in Florida and Michigan.
No more “monuments to me."
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
H-132, the Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515Dear Speaker Pelosi:
The earmark process in Congress has become a symbol of a broken Washington. Wasteful pork-barrel spending has outraged American families and eroded public confidence in our institution. Both of our parties bear responsibility for this failure.
We write tonight to notify you that House Republicans believe that the earmark system should be brought to an immediate halt, and a bipartisan select committee should immediately be established for the purpose of identifying ways to bring fundamental change to the way in which Washington spends taxpayers’ money.
In the spirit of bipartisan cooperation fostered by our recent cooperation on a short-term economic growth package, we offer our hope that you and the members of the House Democratic Caucus will join House Republicans in supporting these steps, which are urgently needed to begin the process of fixing Washington’s broken spending practices and restoring trust between the American people and their elected leaders. We respectfully ask that you and your Caucus consider these urgently-needed actions and join us in supporting them by the conclusion of your Caucus retreat next week.
In the interim, until a complete earmark moratorium is in place and a bipartisan panel is formed to identify ways to fix Washington’s wasteful pork-barrel spending habits, House Republicans will proceed with the adoption of a series of earmark reform standards we will insist that all House Republican members honor. These earmark reform standards include:
*No more “monuments to me.” Lawmakers should not use taxpayer money to fund projects named after themselves.
*No more “airdrops.” The process by which Congress spends the American people's money should be completely transparent. Members of Congress should not circumvent transparency by airdropping earmarks into bills in conference at the last minute.
*No more “fronts” or “pass-through” entities. Taxpayer funds should not be laundered through “front” operations that mask their true recipients.
*Members of Congress who request earmarks should put forth a plan detailing exactly how the money will be spent and why they believe the use of taxpayer funding is justified. Members of Congress who “secure” earmarks should place these plans in the Congressional Record well in advance of floor votes on those earmarks.
*To improve accountability, Members of Congress should require outside earmark recipients to put up “matching funds” where applicable so that American taxpayers do not bear all the risk for such expenditures.
*The Executive Branch should be held accountable for its own earmark practices. The Executive Branch asks for earmarks, too, and has done so under administrations Democratic and Republican alike. Members of Congress should hold present and future Administrations accountable for the way in which taxpayer-funded earmarks are used.
It is our hope that you and your members will discuss and move quickly to adopt similar standards during your Caucus retreat.
The American people believe Washington is broken. Bold action must be taken to show them we can fix it. We believe the actions House Republicans are taking today can be a starting point for this kind of change. We hope that by the end of your own Caucus retreat next week, you and all House Democrats will join us in supporting an immediate moratorium on all earmarks and the immediate formation of a bipartisan panel for the purpose of identifying ways to end wasteful pork-barrel spending in Washington and bring needed change to the way in which Congress spends taxpayers’ hard-earned money.
Sincerely,
John A. Boehner
Republican LeaderRoy Blunt
Republican WhipAdam Putnam
Chairman, Republican ConferenceThaddeus McCotter
Chairman, Republican Policy CommitteeKay Granger
Vice-Chair, Republican ConferenceJohn Carter
Secretary, Republican ConferenceTom Cole
Chairman, National Republican Congressional CommitteeEric Cantor
Chief Deputy Whip
H/T: Erick at Red State
I just put the "FredHeads for Mitt" button on my side-bar and I see this at Hugh Hewitt's blog:
The debate demonstrated that with November in mind, the GOP would be extraordinarily well served by either Romney or Giuliani at the top of the ticket, and made Huck a very tempting choice for Veep given his abilities to communicate.
Huck a tempting choice for Vice-President? Good grief Hugh, don't put that out in the air. Please.
From The Corner:
Sen. Jeff Sessions, who led the effort to stop the McCain-Kennedy amnesty, spoke today at Heritage, describing the substance of the immigration debate so far in the presidential campaign as "unsatisfying." To rectify that, he presented a list of 15 specific questions to the candidates to determine their seriousness about fixing immigration.
REAL IMMIGRATION REFORM
A Roadmap for Demonstrating Presidential Credibility on One of America’s Most Important Issues
I. SECURE THE BORDER
1. Border Fence and National Guard: If elected President, will you secure the border, including completing construction of the 700 mile southern border fence required by the Secure Fence Act, constructing more miles if needed, and keeping the National Guard on the border until it is secured?
□Yes or □ No2. Border Prosecutions: If elected President, will you deter illegal entry by expanding the already successful Zero Tolerance Prosecution Policy (Operation Streamline) from 3 to all 20 border sectors, and support statutory mandatory minimums for the crimes of illegal entry, reentry, and reentry after deportation for any felony?
□Yes or □ No3. Control Visa Overstays: If elected President, will you give our immigration system integrity by completing the 10-year past due exit portion of The USVISIT (Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) system and eliminate other weaknesses in the system so that future visa overstays can be identified?
□Yes or □ NoII. END THE MAGNET AT THE WORKPLACE
4. Enforceable Employer Verification System: If elected President, will you end the jobs magnet by requiring all employers to use the electronic verification system to check the legal status of all employees, reduce fraud by decreasing the number of documents employers must accept to prove legal status, and will you offer cooperating employers a safe harbor?
□Yes or □ No5. Biometric ID Card For All Non-Citizens: If elected President, will you require a biometric (fingerprint encoded) identification card for all aliens authorized to work?
□Yes or □ No6. Eliminate Identity Theft: If elected President, will you increase security for legal workers by requiring social security earnings statements to list all employers reporting wages under an individual’s social security number so that fraudulent use of that number can be spotted and will you fight to keep using "no match notices" as evidence that employers knew they were employing an illegal alien under a social security numbe issued to someone else?
□Yes or □ NoIII. STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
7. Form Effective Partnerships: If elected President, will you form effective immigration enforcement partnerships with state and local law enforcement by clarifying their authority to enforce federal immigration laws, deputizing state and local officers in every state (through the 287(g) program), offering a basic training course for all state and local officers, and compensating state and local entities for immigration enforcement related expenses?
□Yes or □ No8. Federal Response To State And Local Arrests: If elected President, will you promptly evaluate the 27% of prisoners that are non-citizens so that illegal alien criminals can be processed and deported at the end of their sentences, and will you implement a mandatory federal response to state and local law enforcement when they apprehend an illegal alien for a DUI, child abuse crime, or any felony?
□Yes or □ No9. End Catch and Release: If elected President, will you put an end to the existing policy that allows illegal aliens caught inside our country to be released on bail after their arrest while they await their initial court appearance?
□Yes or □ No10. List Illegal Aliens In the NCIC: If elected President, will you immediately expand the National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) Immigration Violators File to include: (A) aliens against whom a final order of removal has been issued; (B) aliens who have signed a voluntary departure agreement; (C) aliens who have overstayed their authorized period of stay; and (D) aliens whose visas have been revoked?
□Yes or □ NoIV. DISCOURAGE SANCTUARIES
11. Deny Federal Funds: If elected President, will you encourage compliance with Federal law by implementing a reduction of at least 10% of discretionary federal grants and highway funds to cities, states, universities, and other entities that undermine Federal law by implementing sanctuary policies, issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, or offering education benefits to illegal aliens (such as in-state tuition) that are not available to all legal residents and citizens?
□Yes or □ No12. Close Financial Loopholes: If elected President, will you rewrite the Treasury regulations to close the loophole that allows illegal aliens to open U.S. based bank accounts?
□Yes or □ NoV. IMPROVE THE LEGAL IMMIGRATION PROCESS
13. Replace Visa Lottery and Chain Migration with Merit Based Immigration System: If elected President, will you eliminate the visa lottery program and change current preference categories that guarantee automatic entry for aging parents and extended family members and replace it with a system that fairly and objectively evaluates at least 50% of applicants based on characteristics such as education, skills, English ability, and age?
□Yes or □ No14. Pathway to Citizenship: If elected President, will you take a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens off the table?
□Yes or □ No15. Seek Necessary Authority: If elected President, will you ask Congress for necessary laws or funds to execute these commitments?
□Yes or □ NoBy signing this document, I express to the American people that I understand the challenges of ending illegal immigration, I am personally committed to that goal, and I will take the actions reasonable and necessary to achieve it.
________________________________________________ _____________________
(Signature of Candidate) (Date)
Thank you Senator for keeping the issue on the front burner.
***Update 11:17 PM CT***
Here is a video of Senator Sessions on Fox:
