LIGHTHOUSE BLOG

Was Barney Frank too deep into Freddie, Fannie?

 

Who's to blame for the crisis?  Watch & learn what Barney Frank and John McCain said years ago here...

Democrat Partisanship Fails America Again

First, despite call after call for regulation from Republicans over the last several years, congressional Democrats failed to act to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Near catastrophe resulted.

Then, Democrats fail America by heading for the beaches and Disneyland during the oil crisis, taking a month long vacation while ignoring the calls of Americans pleading for relief from climbing gas prices.

Now, at the eleventh hour, and minutes before one of the most important votes in history, Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrecks any chances of the bill passing by tossing false accusations of blame at those who are barely, if at all, culpable.  So outrageous were the Speaker's remarks that 1/3 of Democrats decided to vote against the legislation.  If just 12 of those 91 opposing Democrats has voted for the bill, it would have passed.

Speaker Pelosi is dangerous.  She consistently puts politics and her craving for more power ahead of the country.  She needs to resign, or be removed for the sake of our country.

"Tramp Train" Starts in Phoenix

In Detroit, where I grew up, we called the rail system the "Mugger Mover" because few business people in downtown Detroit were ever going to ride it. 

Denver actually had the foresight to put the rail line in a place that connects bedroom communities to their jobs, making that rail system a success.

Phoenix has just begun the testing phase of what I call the "Tramp Train," a light rail fiasco that was heavy on costs and travels through some of the more seedy areas of town known well for harboring hookers, whores, and tramps.  I don't know anyone that will drive down and leave their cars at 48th Street and Washington and then wait for a train to go downtown.  It's simply much faster, easier, and far safer to drive yourself.

While the testing phase is more about mechanics and making automobile drivers  aware of the rail cars prior to loading civilians, I wish the testing phase were more of a "try it out for 30 days and return it for a full refund if you aren't completely satisfied" kind of deal.  No such luck.

Phoenix is now saddled with this boondoggle, and will be bleeding more money as a result.  Nice work "leaders."

The Bridge To Nowhere: Who Really Killed It?

Democrats are claiming Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is lying about "killing the Bridge to Nowhere," a bridge linking a small island in Alaska to the mainland which was to cost about $400 million.  Democrats claim that Congress killed the bill and thus killed the bridge.

The reality is that though the bridge language was stripped from the congressional bill, Congress, in it's finite wisdom, decided to send the money for the bridge to Alaska anyway.  So although the language was killed, Alaska could have easily built the bridge since they were sent the funds.  Palin, as Governor, killed the idea and prudently used the money for other state infrastructural needs.

Trooper-gate: Where's the beef?

Some people with historic memories will remember that the term "Trooper-gate" referred to Bill Clinton's use of state troopers to ferry around his various women of interest while Governor of Arkansas.

Today it has new meaning, and was resurrected to refer to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's alleged effort to apply pressure to have a state trooper fired.

Governor Palin denies the allegations, and the man she supposedly pressured says he was not asked to fire the trooper.  Nonetheless, Democrats are investigating.

For the sake of an interesting academic exercise, let's assume the worst and review this as though the Governor did as is alleged.

The man the Governor allegedly tried to have fired was the former husband of her sister.  The trooper had threatened the life of the Governor's father, and had used a taser on a 10 year old boy. 

I ask you, what is wrong with a Governor asking why this guy is allowed to remain a state trooper given his abuse of power, threats on someone's life, and the violence toward a 10 year old boy?  To me, the Governor is completely within her rights, and probable obligations, to inquire as to why the rogue officer was still employed.

Does any honest person, regardless of who they support in the election, believe a man with the aforementioned issues should be allowed to be a state trooper?  I think not, and if not, why is this new Trooper-gate treated as any kind of scandal?  It seems that this is nothing more than a political witch hunt.

Obama Slams Seniors

Barack Obama released a new ad today attacking John McCain for not knowing how to use a computer.

The ad is already backfiring, as seniors across the country feel ridiculed for having been born before the computer age.

Senator Obama needs to remember that seniors were working in and defending this nation long before the dawn of the computer age. And, life and running the country are far more complex than computer games.

The Senator needs to apologize.

Talk Show Hosts Hurt Republican Cause

   A few years ago, it occurred to me that some right-leaning talk show hosts do more damage than good for our cause.  As a conservative, I find it frustrating that people who are supposedly on our side can do so much damage, and negatively impact the very causes they claim to support.

I think there are several tiers of talk show hosts that are right-leaning.  The classiest of all talk show hosts has to be Dennis Prager.  He does not personally attack guests or subjects of discussion, and treats callers with considerable respect and dignity.  Callers, though they may be corrected, return to his show day after day because they were not abused or called names.  Thus, Prager is able to continually teach and persuade, which he does very successfully.

Tier two contains, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Miller, Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh.  They are only on a different tier than Prager because they often hit back harder, and can sometimes go after callers and guests who display egregious idiocy.  They are far more classy than tier five, however, and they dialog and not attack their guests, and treat callers respectfully. 

Tier five includes Mark Levin and Michael Savage. There are no tiers three or four, indicating just how bad is tier five.  Though Levin isn't quite as bad as Savage, he attacks callers and attempts to make them feel stupid.  He calls them names and attacks them personally.  Savage's show is just disgusting on all levels.  There is simply nothing redeeming about it, and it is nothing short of an embarrassment to Republican and conservative ideals.  It is my belief that the hosts in this tier do far more harm to our causes than good.  And though I agree with them on many issues, I simply can't listen to their shows.  Most good people I know can't either.

In Phoenix, we have two talk show hosts that are also in tier five.  Those are JD Hayworth and Bruce Jacobs.  Jacobs, a vehemently anti-Catholic bigot, has nothing to offer people besides personal attacks.  Accidentally catching his show this morning, I heard him say Barack Obama "hates" this country.  Then he went on to attack Michelle Obama personally.  I was disgusted.  No honest person believes Obama "hates" America.  JD Hayworth has great stuff to say, but is still on the same attack-dog track that cost him his last election.  He comes off as angry and belligerent, and it's a big turnoff to listeners.

I think Republican and conservative causes would be much better served if certain talk show hosts would learn to display class and decency.  Disagree with people on issues all you want, but be honest, respectful, and polite.  It is those qualities - those exemplified by the hosts in the first two tiers - that draw people into our causes.  Education, persuasion and example succeed, not attacks and anger - two tools usually attributed to the left.  

If we want to continue to win elections and help Americans learn about the correctness of our causes, the rest of us - the listeners, need to rebel against the jackals who embarrass us all.

Palin Fares Well Against Condescending Gibson

Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin sat down with Charlie Gibson of ABC News today for her first network interview since becoming John McCain's running mate.  Despite what were very condescending questions from Gibson, about whether or not she's met a head of state and where she's traveled outside the US, Palin fared pretty well.  If she was off at all, it most likely due to her frustration with being spoken down to by a New York media elitist who was clearly treating her like a schoolgirl.

Gibson clearly began the interview with a job to do - discredit her.  His bias was very evident, and though Sarah didn't, I would have punched him had he asked me some of the same questions.  Gibson's assumption was clear - that a Governor of a western state and mother of five must by definition be clueless. 

The View's Elizabeth Hasselbeck Assailed For Comments

At a Cindy McCain luncheon last week, Elizabeth Hasselbeck mentioned that Cindy McCain came on The View, a left-wing daytime rant show where Hasselbeck is the only one even remotely right-leaning, without any off-limits questions. 

Here's what Hasselbeck said, "Cindy came into our hair and makeup room fresh as can be, and unlike another wife of a political candidate who shall remain nameless, she didn't come with a list of topics we weren't allowed to touch....nope, that's because she has nothing to hide."  View video.

Liberals are in a frenzy because Hasselbeck supposedly outed Mrs. Obama as someone who can't answer tough questions.  Yet Hasselbeck never mentioned her name, and the show has had on plenty of politicians. 

Hasselbeck is being called, among far more vicious things, unprofessional and tacky.  I don't know the show's rules about speaking about guests but I can assure you far worse things have been said on the show itself about Republicans such as Bush and Palin.  

The big issue here is not that Hasselbeck said it, it's that Michelle Obama had a list of off-limits topics.  What were those topics, and why are they off-limits?  Blaming Hasselbeck for Michelle Obama's list is like blaming Bob Woodward for Watergate.  Blame the messenger, not the culprit. 

Not to worry about Hasselbeck in this controvery; she's a survivor. :)  Keeping kicking butt Elizabeth!

Arcadia High School Teacher Allegedly Shows Students Porn

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