Aug 312012
Aug 192012
In the summer of 2009, President Obama and congressional Democrats faced a dilemma. In the midst of a severe economic downturn, and less than a year after the national debt had reached the 14-figure mark for the first time in American history, they wanted to launch a brand-new federal health care entitlement—and they needed a way (at least on paper) to pay for it. They were only willing to fund about half of it with tax hikes, so they needed to come up with a lot of additional money. Their chosen funding source is now coming back to haunt them.
It is doing so as Democrats try to ride to victory by demagoguing Paul Ryan’s (and Mitt Romney’s) proposed Medicare reforms—which would help keep Medicare (and the nation) solvent by giving future seniors more freedom, more choice, and more opportunity to pursue value. But raising the Medicare issue also brings to light this inconvenient fact: Medicare is where the Democrats decided to get the rest of the money to fund Obamacare.
via Obamacare at Center Stage | The Weekly Standard.
Aug 182012
With all the media attention on Vice Presidents, it seemed like a good time to unleash the latest Union-Toon video.
Jul 152012
As Republicans hope to pick up additional House seats and even capture the Senate in November, they are nettled by the growing prospect of losing an otherwise safe House seat in North Carolina to Democrats.
Two Republicans are battling in a primary run-off for the 9th District seat held by retiring Republican Rep. Sue Myrick, who has held it for 18 years. But the frontrunner is so plagued by scandals that the party fears the Democrat candidate in the race could exploit them and possibly win Myrick’s largely conservative congressional district located south of Charlotte, N.C.
Tuesday’s [July 17] run-off election will decide the primary race between Robert Pittenger, who garnered 32 percent of the vote, and Jim Pendergraph, who took 25 percent.
Despite his edge in the polls, Pittenger is considered “damaged goods,”according to a GOP congressional leader in Washington.
“Robert Pittenger is a bad person,” said the official, who wished to go unnamed. “The guy is involved in public corruption by FBI definition.”
In 2007, she publicly severed ties with Pittenger after he spread what she called false rumors that they had cut a deal whereby she would run for North Carolina governor and endorse Pittenger for her congressional seat.
No fewer than 16 current and former elected officials from Myrick’s district – including seven mayors – have endorsed Pendergraph over Pittenger, largely because of the ethical cloud hanging over Pittenger.
In fact, Pittenger, a former North Carolina state senator, may soon become a target of investigation. And party officials worry Democratic candidate Jennifer Roberts will seize on the news during the general election.
via ‘Damaged’ GOP candidate to hand Dems safe seat?.
Reader Note: I am not a fan of quoting unnamed sources as used in the article linked above, but in this case, common sense would lend credence to the use. Democrats, with the aid of a liberal media has made Mitt Romney’s departure from Bain Capital into a felony, what do you think they will do with the alleged corruption of Robert Pittenger? How much more of his millions will Pittenger spend after the primary? How much enthusiasm can the GOP muster to support damaged goods?
Jul 092012
Total Raised and Spent
2012 Race: North Carolina District 09
Robert Pittenger (R)
Raised: $2,329,340
Spent: $2,238,926
Cash on Hand: $90,414
Last Report: June 27, 2012
PAC contributions $11,000 (0%)
Individual contributions $369,580 (16%)
Candidate self-financing $1,923,582 (83%)
Other $25,178 (1%)
Jim Pendergraph (R)
Raised: $354,575
Spent: $346,480
Cash on Hand: $8,095
Last Report: June 27, 2012
PAC contributions $17,210 (5%)
Individual contributions $317,365 (90%)
Candidate self-financing $20,000 (6%)
Other $0 (0%)
Jennifer Roberts (D)
Raised: $106,424
Spent: $35,611
Cash on Hand: $70,813
Last Report: April 18, 2012
PAC contributions $0 (0%)
Individual contributions $106,424 (100%)
Candidate self-financing $0 (0%)
Other $0 (0%)
Opensecrets – NC09 Campaign data
Jul 092012
Republicans Jim Pendergraph and Robert Pittenger will meet for their first, and probably only, televised debate today (July 9). They meet in a July 17 runoff in the 9th Congressional District.
• The debate will air at 8 p.m. Monday on News 14, and at 7 p.m. on WTVI.
• WTVI will rebroadcast the debate Thursday at 9 p.m. News 14 will rerun it at 8 p.m. July 15.