American Republic Online

This is getting to be too funny.  The Obama transition has more scandals than many Presidencies, and the promise breaking -er- “brilliant political exceptions” just keep coming in…

WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama promised a “clean break from business as usual” in Washington. It hasn’t quite worked out that way.

From the start, he made exceptions to his no-lobbyist rule. And now, embarrassing details about Cabinet-nominee Tom Daschle’s tax problems and big paychecks from special interest groups are raising new questions about the reach and sweep of the new president’s promised reforms. …

PROMISES, PROMISES: No lobbyists at WH, except …

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Rush Limbaugh proposed a great comprise in leading the country out of this recession: Keynesian AND Supply Side economics - divvied up by voter split (54/46 for Obama in this case)  This is quite brilliant politically. Rush is calling for President Obama to put his money where his mouth is - both figuratively with all his talk of bi-partisanship and literally with his economic idealogy.

And this second part is the kicker.  If Obama and the Left are sooo convinced that their grow government tatics are the only way out of this recession - why not once and for all prove it.  Side by side with the republican’s tax cut methods - real life economic turn around data could be gathered.  Both sides CLAIM their method works, but never in history have both be tried in such a side by side manner.

How many jobs does a $100B tax cut create vs how many jobs does a $100B infrastructure program create?  Done simultaneously, you remove most of the external factors (since they would the same for both) that make such historical comparisons so difficult.  So again, if you are sure your stuff works - why not prove it?  Put up or shut up.

There’s a serious debate in this country as to how best to end the recession. The average recession will last five to 11 months; the average recovery will last six years. Recessions will end on their own if they’re left alone. What can make the recession worse is the wrong kind of government intervention….

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Orson Scott Card has a pointed piece on the absence of journalistic integrity these days.

An open letter to the local daily paper:

I remember reading All the President’s Men and thinking: That’s journalism. You do what it takes to get the truth and you lay it before the public, because the public has a right to know.

This housing crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. It was not a vague emanation of the evil Bush administration.

It was a direct result of the political decision, back in the late 1990s, to loosen the rules of lending so that home loans would be more accessible to poor people. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans…

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SNL had a funny and truthful sketch. satirizing the bailout mess. If your Tivo missed it youc an watch it below. Apparently it hit too close to home because it’s been yanked from the NBC web site… funny how that never seems to happen when the Republicans are at the brunt of the joke. A few quick facts before the sketch:

• The couple Herbert and Marion Sandler is actually true to life. They created a sub-prime mortgage company that they sold to Wachovia for $24.2 billion
• Our readers should already be aware that Bush (and to a lesser extent McCain) warned about Freddy & Fannie only to be defeated by the Democrats led by Barnie Frank
• I’m sure Soros is making bank on this crisis (tho not all $700B), but lets not forget Warren Buffet who grabbed a $5B piece of the pie at a guaranteed 10% return forever at a time when most stock holders are feeling ill. Which is great (i love capitalism as much as anyone), but  remember that the next time he gets preachy on “fairness” and “equality” amongst the classes.

I also found it funny that SNL sooo often makes fun of Bush’s intelligence that they had to have another (Democratic) character confirm that he was right so you didn’t miss the joke. Now enjoy the 8 minute show:

• NBC pulls video of SNL skit embarrassing Dems 

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That’s right, we even beat President Palmer himself to his connection with Obama and history.  What we wrote on April 19th is now being confirmed by 24 star Dennis Haysbert.  Heroes beget followers and copycats.  And sometimes other heroes.  We’ll let you decide which category Obama belongs.

• Former ‘24? President Credits His Role for Obama Rise

So I have to wonder if the strong portrayal of President David Palmer by Dennis Haysbert in the hit series 24 helped Presidential Hopeful Obama in the American mindscape. President Palmer was the ideal man for the job for most Americans. Lets look at his qualifications:

• Tall
• Attractive (don’t kid yourself - these matter)
• “Presidential Presence”
• Compassionate enough to wrestle with weighty decisions of life and death
• Yet still has the balls to take the fight to our enemies and authorize whatever-is-necessary Bauer to kick ass

I believe this mix of strength and compassion is what most people crave in a leader. After 3 Seasons, Dennis Haysbert secured the idea of a Black American as a great President and got himself his own show (the Unit).

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Between Super Tuesday and Romney stepping out, John McCain has all but locked up the Republican Nomination. And in much of the country there was weeping and nashing of teeth. In the past few days, I have spoken with countless Republicans that are struggling with which is stronger: their love of the party or their disgust with the Maverick.

McCain has been a liberal media darling for a variety of reasons: 1) historically he has tried his best to please the media (regardless of voter preferences) 2) the media sees him as a beatable candidate 3) if he some reason he did win, he’s liberal enough to be palatable as a Republican president. But NOW that the nomination has been sewn up for McCain the Democratic mouthpieces can focus on promoting Obama Mania.

WASHINGTON (AP) — While Republican John McCain is urging his conservative critics to rally around his presidential campaign, there is a lot of water under that bridge.

Here are the top 10 reasons some conservatives dislike the Arizona senator:

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New Hampshire state law allows towns with populations of less than 100 to start voting at midnight and close the polls as soon as everyone votes. This gives the minute by minute news coverage -well- something to cover, while the votes of significance take place later today.  It also allows the creation of misleading headlines like “McCain Takes 100% of Vote!” (never mind it was 8 votes in one town).  Ah yes, journalistic integrity.  And to think that some suggest that the new media (read internet) needs government regulation to protect the news product.

• Small New Hampshire Towns Get Extra Voting Time

The New York Times didn’t give this story a great headline or much play since it ended up on page 19. But the Times supports the troops and wants victory…. right?

American forces have routed Al Qaeda… from every neighborhood of Baghdad, a top American general said today, allowing American troops involved in the “surge” to depart as planned… “Murder victims are down 80 percent from where they were at the peak,” and attacks involving improvised bombs are down 70 percent, [Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil Jr., commander of US forces in Baghdad] said. “The Iraqi people have just decided that they’ve had it up to here with violence,” [General Fil] said,

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