You know what they say about payback-

by George Dienhart

I keep seeing these news articles about former Clintonistas abandoning Hillary and flocking to Obama. Notably Bill Richardson, and now former DNC Chairman Joe Andrew: From the AP:

By AP's Nedra Pickler: 'A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to 'heal the rift in our party' and unite behind the Illinois senator. Joe Andrew, who was Democratic National Committee chairman from 1999-2001, planned a news conference Thursday in his hometown of Indianapolis to urge other Hoosiers to support Obama in Tuesday's primary, perhaps the most important contest left in the White House race. He also has written a lengthy letter explaining his decision that he plans to send to other superdelegates. ... 'Bill Clinton appointed Andrew chairman of the DNC near the end of his presidency, and Andrew endorsed the former first lady last year on the day she declared her candidacy for the White House. ... He said Obama took the principled stand in opposing a summer gas tax holiday that both Clinton and McCain supported, even though it would have been easier politically to back it. And he said he was impressed with Obama's handling of the controversy surrounding his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.'

Makes me think back to stories in the 90’s about what a shrill witch Hillary was, and how the whole White House staff started to hate her. She is not a coalition builder, and not much of a people person. She also micro-manages. These are not traits we look for in a president. In fact, it is these vary traits that caused her health care plan to go up in smoke in the 90’s. Dick Morris is constantly talking about her personality issues. That coupled with her poor management skills would make for an extremely ineffective president, that will have trouble passing any kind of legislation, even if the Dems maintain control of congress. When you factor in the bridges she burnt, it will turn her presidency in to the train wreck from which it will take years to recover.

Scratch one more bad guy.

By George Dienhart

 

Fox News Reports that the Al Qaeda in Somalia leader has been killed by a US air strike. That’s one more win for the good guys.

Quote of the day-

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole “(Preserving water levels in Georgia will) "starve the Apalachicola River and Bay of freshwater flows needed to keep the ecosystems, species, and economy alive."

And not providing drinking water to Metro Atlanta doesn’t have the same effect in Georgia? Probobly a mute point as Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has said that the federal government will impose its own solution if necessary. Hey Dirk, maybe it’s time to make that call?

Culture of incompetence

By George Dienhart
Now I’m sure that there are people who think it would be wrong to blame the majority party for high gasoline prices. We hear that the prices are a combination of several “perfect storm” elements: low value of the dollar, not enough refining capability, and supply and demand constraints brought on by increased demand out of Asia. Certainly this all makes sense, and it would be just plain wrong to blame the majority party of Congress for high gas prices. Ask any Democrat, and you will hear how it is not Congress fault, and we really should not blame poor Speaker Pelosi- after all, she’s made no promises. Except for the following press release:

Monday, April 24, 2006
Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush’s, Speaker Hastert’s, and the Republican Congress’ empty rhetoric on gas prices. Key facts on the Majority's failure to address gas prices follows Pelosi’s statement.
With skyrocketing gas prices, it is clear that the American people can no longer afford the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress and its failure to stand up to Republican big oil and gas company cronies. Americans this week are paying $2.91 a gallon on average for regular gasoline – 33 cents higher than last month, and double the price than when President Bush first came to office.
“With record gas prices, record CEO pay packages, and record oil company profits, Speaker Hastert and the Majority Congress continue to give the American people empty rhetoric rather than join Democrats who are working to lower gas prices now.
“Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.”
* * *
So, it’s okay for Democrats to blame Republicans for this mess, but Democrats won’t take responsibility for growing the mess to epic proportions over the course of less than 2 years? With this in mind, I thought it might be a good time to check in with the six for 06 promises. The rather vague (unlike the Contract for America) promises were:

• National security- "We will protect Americans at home and lead the world by telling the truth to our troops, our citizens and our allies. We believe in a strong national defense that is both tough and smart, recognizing that homeland security begins with hometown security." This was a back handed slap at he president, and a nice way of saying isolationism, with out saying that they would withdraw the troops. I believe the troop level is higher now than it was when they made this promise. So, to summarize, they tried to say that they would pull out of Iraq, without saying they would pull out of Iraq. This “promise” was a failure on so many levels. This promise was a failure to take a stand, a failure to follow through and a failure to be honest about what they were promising.
• Jobs and wages- “We will create jobs that stay in America and restore opportunity for all Americans, starting with raising the minimum wage, expanding Pell grants and making college tuition tax deductible. We also believe in budget discipline that reduces our deficit.” They did pass a higher minimum wage, then the current economic slow down started. Could this be the result of additional pressure put on the small businesses that drive the economy? Probably, but the MSM will bury that story. Congress has made no progress on the deficit.
• Energy independence- “We will create a cleaner, greener and stronger America by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, eliminating billions in subsidies for oil and gas companies and use the savings to provide consumer relief and develop energy alternatives, and investing in energy independent technology.” There are currently no new energy alternatives, and relying on the corn crop for ethanol has caused food riots around the world. Way to go Dems- your green policy is starving the world.
• A healthcare system that works for everyone- “We will join 36 other industrialized nations in making sure everyone has access to affordable health care, starting by fixing the prescription drug program and investing in stem cell and other medical research”. Best I can tell they did absolutely nothing here.
• Retirement security- “We will ensure that a retirement with dignity is the right and expectation of every single American, starting with pension reform, expanding saving incentives and preventing the privatization of social security.” Well, Social Security was not privatized, but that effort had already died. Nothing else came of this.
• End the “Culture of Corruption”- We will end the Republican culture of corruption and restore a government as good as the people it serves, starting with real ethics reform". From Wikipedia:
  o New Jersey former State Senator Joseph Coniglio (D-NJ) indicted for abusing state grants, mail fraud and extortion(2008)
  o New Jersey State Senator and former Newark Mayor Sharpe James (D-NJ) James is accused of numerous corrpution charges including, mail fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud and using city money to boost his salary and pension and to pay for his numerous sexual affairs. (2007)
  o New Jersey State Senator Wayne Bryant (D-NJ) pension padding, no-show jobs, mail fraud, wire fraud and bribery (2007)

Apparently, the word didn’t get out to New jersey, or for that matter, New York. Or Detroit. Or California.
o John Burton (D-CA) former California Senate Pro Tempore - accused of sexual harassment by a female employee at his charity organization (2008)
o Kwame Kilpatrick (D-MI) Detroit Mayor - extramarital affair with his Chief-of-Staff, Christine Beatty. Racy text messages between them uncovered by the press contradicted their sworn denials of an affair. Also alleged to have stayed at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC with a woman named Carmen Slowsky, who was not his wife (2008)
o Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) New York Governor - went through a prostitution service called Emperors Club VIP where he allegedly met with a prostitute in a Washington, DC hotel. He was linked to the prostitution ring by a wiretap of his cell phone.(2008)

Just curious- any of you Democrats feel burned? Is this the kind of Change you are looking for? Feel free to discuss amongst yourself…