Conservative Musings

Republican Party Picnic

Last night's Jefferson County GOP picnic resembled a sort of minature Fancy Farm picnic.  Food, speeches, and campaign stickers galore.

Two of my favorites:

There were the standard representatives there for Mitch McConnell and Anne Northup.  Anne herself was one of the speakers, giving us all an insight into the directions she is wanting to head.  The second sticker above covers that topic real well.  She reminded us all of the oil-blocking representative we currently have representing us in John Yarmuth.

This picnic was a good move on the part of the local GOP.  Setting up local grassroots activists is always a good idea.  Sure, the $1,000-plus campaign fundraisers like McCain's recent visit are also good moves.  But getting the "common folk" involved may not gain the same dollars.  Just more important stuff.....votes.  A good way to shop for votes in a local setting.  Not where people can't vote for you, like say, oh, Berlin?

-Colonel Steve

a messiah has come

No, not The Messiah, but a messiah.  Gerard Baker, of the UK's The Times, nails it with his parody of Barack Obama. 

-Colonel Steve

Arctic's Resources

I've noticed lately that our liberal press likes to label great energy finds with low-ball numbers.  Take this story about the oil and natural gas found in the arctic.  It's entitled "Arctic's oil could meet world demand for 3 years."

Another case of confusing you with the facts.  Sure, if the arctic area in question was the sole source of oil, it would supply the world for only 3 years.  But how much of it would really be leaving North America?  One would have to read further into the story to see this:

But the Arctic's oil is not intended to replace all the supplies in the rest of world. It would last much longer by boosting available supplies and possibly reducing U.S. reliance on imported crude in the future, if America developed the resources.

The Arctic accounts for about 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil, 30 percent of the undiscovered natural gas and 20 percent of the undiscovered natural gas liquids, the agency said in the first publicly available petroleum resource estimate of the entire area north of the Arctic Circle.

More than half of the undiscovered oil resources are estimated to occur in just three geologic provinces: Arctic Alaska (30 billion barrels), the Amerasia Basin (9.7 billion barrels) and the East Greenland Rift Basins (8.9 billion barrels).

More than 70 percent of the undiscovered natural gas is likely to be in three provinces: the West Siberian Basin (651 Tcf), the East Barents Basins (318 Tcf) and Arctic Alaska (221 Tcf), the USGS said.

Some of these areas are North American natural resources.  By using these vast resources ourselves, we can actually replace the oil and natural gas being shipped in from overseas.  We'd be getting back to depending on ourselves.

Nothing like self-reliance for getting ourselves back on our own economic feet.

-Colonel Steve

Republican Party Picnic

Tomorrow night (Friday, July 25th), the Jefferson County Republican Party will be holding a picnic at Charlie Vettiner Park off of Billtown Road.  A perfect opportunity to rub elbows with those seeking your vote.

-Colonel Steve

McConnell's "Only Energy" Plan

On the heels of President George Bush removing the executive order blocking offshore drilling comes word of Senator Mitch McConnell's plan in the Senate.

Senate Republicans have threatened to block nearly all other bills pending before the August recess if Democrats refuse to vote with them on expanding offshore drilling.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said bills that do not pertain to energy can wait until after the August recess, with gas prices now surpassing $4 per gallon.

McConnell and top Republicans indicated Wednesday they would oppose any procedural votes to take up other legislation, which require 60 votes to succeed.

"We think there is nothing more important that we can do right now than to deal with the Number One issue of the country," McConnell said. "This is the biggest issue since terrorism right after 9/11. People are pounding on their desks, saying, 'Why don't these people get together and do something about this problem'?"

With gasoline prices hovering at just under $4.00 a gallon, this is a smart move.  It will showcase the issue that liberals would prefer to talk rather than really help the American people.  Keep an eye on who joins them in tackling energy issues.  Those will be the ones to remember come November.

(HT: Blue Grass, Red State)

-Colonel Steve

Obama McCain Together

Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California has managed to get both presidential candidates on the same stage at the same time.  Barack Obama and John McCain will be at Saddleback on August 16th.

Intriguing.  I'm afraid, tho, that it'll somehow be much like being interviewed by the MSM....softball questions for Obama, hardball for McCain.  I'd actually like the idea, if I didn't have this underlying fear.  With no "seperation of church and state" folks hollering yet, I'm even more concerned.

-Colonel Steve

John McCain's Gift To Press Corp

As a gift to the press corp following Barack Obama's current overseas trip, the John McCain campaign has sent out a 17 page press briefing.  It makes for a good summary of Obama's flip-flops on Iraq, Afganastan, and Israel.

These flip-flops have turned into opportunities for Obama or his campaign to admit that the candidate has changed his mind for one reason or another.  Sadly, they've decided to airbrush it away, like they did with their website recently.  Sounds to me like they've taken political advice from George Orwell's 1984 novel, by rewriting history and removing all evidence so stories can be changed at will.  Makes one wonder what his administration might be like should he be elected.  With the left wing media in his back pocket, it would make this historical rewriting even easier.

Just waiting for Obama's idea of a new cabinet level deparment...the Ministry of Truth.  Orwell would be so proud.

(HT: Marc Ambinder)

-Colonel Steve

Congressional Polling

Democrats promised change when they came into office after the November 2006 elections.  One of those changes has been their approval ratings, which have sunk to single digits FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

From the Rasmussen Report:

• This month, just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job.
• The percentage of Democrats who give Congress positive ratings fell from 17% last month to 13% this month.
• Among Republicans, 8% give Congress good or excellent ratings, up just a point from last month.
• Voters not affiliated with either party are the most critical of Congressional performance. Just 3% of those voters give Congress positive ratings, down from 6% last month.

If I were an incumbent, I'd be real worried.

-Colonel Steve

Publicizing More Obama Flip-Flops

I overheard one Rhode Island lady on Sean Hannity's show today tell Sean that Barack Obama has NEVER flip flopped.  She then proceeded to try to discuss John McCain's flip-flops.

Maybe she should see the RNC's latest ad.

I think it's pretty effective.

-Colonel Steve

Pet Owners and McCain

Pet owners are picking John McCain over Barack Obama 42% to 37%.  Here at Conservative Musings, it's 100% of pet owners (all 3 of us) for John McCain.

Honestly, I'd say it's more of a vote against Barack Obama.  But that's still 100% by default.

-Colonel Steve