Thanks Obama!!! Not Really, but…
November 16th, 2011 by Saul AnuzisWeekly Musing for 11-13-11
November 13th, 2011 by Saul AnuzisWeekly Musing 11-13-11
Saul Anuzis
MI: Republican National Committeeman
Great Debate: Last Week & Last Night
Last night the GOP had another debate in South Carolina and focused on foreign affairs. It was interesting, not determinative, but Romney came out on top, with Newt giving a strong showing.
For two cycles in a row, Michigan Republicans hosted another Presidential Debate for the Republican candidates this last week. Over 1,400 Republicans and over 400 journalist from around the world got to witness the best of what America has to offer – our Republican candidates and Michigan! Congratulations to the great team that pulled this off.
Obama Speaks…America Should Listen!!!
For once, I have to agree with the President.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MJj4lDmxUw
A Classic – Now More than Ever!
“A Time for Choosing” by Ronald Reagan
Some things are hard to say better or improve on…it’s as if he saw Barack Obama coming?!?
Romney right enough — I Agree!
“The path to victory will not be paved by those who sit on the sidelines waiting for the second coming of Ronald Reagan. In 2012, conservatives like George Will would do well to remember Voltaire’s warning not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/2011_1107romney_right_enough/
Clark Durant for U.S. Senate
Republicans have a great field of candidates running for the Republican nomination. I have decided to support Clark Durant for the Republican nomination. A movement conservative who help found the Cornerstone schools in Detroit, Clark is a principles conservative who can defeat Debbie Stabenow. To find out more see the links below:
Clark Durant’s Campaign Homepage:
http://www.clarkdurant.com/home/
My Endorsement of Clark Durant:
“Auto Guy” Bob Lutz’s Endorsement of Durant:
http://www.clarkdurant.com/2011/09/12/car-whiz-lutz-backs-durant-for-senate-spot/
RNC Memo Sent to Michigan GOP Leaders – How We Win Michigan
Memorandum
To: Interested Parties
From: Rick Wiley, RNC Political Director
RE: Wednesday’s Michigan Debate
Date: 11/09/2011
Last week USA Today and Gallup released the results of their first “Swing State Poll” conducted in 12 of the most important battleground states in next year’s election. An ominous finding for the President is only 37% of voters in swing states feel they’re better off today than they were when he was elected three years ago. And at a time when economic concerns dominate the political landscape, swing-state voters said a Republican candidate would do a better job handling the issues of the federal budget deficit and debt (+16%) and the issue of unemployment (+7%). It’s important to note all 12 of these swing states were won by the President in 2008.
The swing state with Obama’s widest margin of victory is Michigan – and on Wednesday that’s where our Republican candidates will be. At 8:00pm (EST) at Oakland University in Rochester they’ll participate in a Michigan Republican Party-sponsored debate where they’ll share their solutions for getting the country’s economy in order and Americans back to work.
It’s no secret Michigan has been hit especially hard during the economic downturn. Over half a million Michiganders are out of work. Unemployment in Michigan remains over 11% – the third highest state in the country behind only Nevada and California and like everywhere, jobs and the economy are the top issues.
Last month, Obama visited Michigan for the 9th time, this time touting his $80 billion bailout for GM & Chrysler and the recent trade deal with South Korea (a deal Republicans had been pressing him for since he took office). The frequency of his visits suggests he knows how important Michigan is electorally. But Obama’s problem is he must convince Michigan voters he not only likes to visit, but his priorities have been correct, and he’s providing the policies and leadership necessary to help states like Michigan recover.
Polling suggests Michigan voters aren’t convinced.
An October survey by EPIC/MRA shows only 14% of Michigan voters believe the country is going in the right direction. Conversely, the vast majority see the country going the wrong way. Seven in ten voters (71%) say things have “pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track”. In May of Obama’s first year in office the state was almost evenly split on this same question.
When asked about Obama himself, only 38% of voters gave the President a positive rating for the job he’s doing. That’s an embarrassingly low number for someone who carried the state with 57% of the vote just three years ago.
Although Michigan has supported the Democrat in the last five Presidential elections, it is far from a typical liberal blue-state. Michigan (Macomb County, specifically) has long been referred to as the unofficial home of the ‘Reagan Democrat’. Michigan has bucked the Democrat establishment before, and last year its voters decided it was time to rid the state of failed Democrat leadership. Voters gave Republicans a virtual sweep of state office by electing Governor Rick Snyder, Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, Attorney General Bill Schuette, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, a super-majority in the State Senate and a new majority in the State House. Equally as impressive as the size of the victory was where it occurred, with Republicans picking off legislative districts and local races across the state, including in traditionally Democrat territory around Detroit. Governor Snyder carried all but 4 of Michigan’s 83 counties and won with the largest victory margin for a Republican in 12 years.
It’s against this backdrop our Republican candidates will debate on Wednesday. One thing beyond debate is Michigan voters will see a stage full of candidates better suited to lead than Barack Obama. Michigan decided to replace a Democrat chief executive with a Republican in Lansing last year, and given the path it’s on, it seems reasonable to think Michigan will decide to do the same for Washington next year.
I could also mention the USA Today/Gallup swing state survey I mentioned earlier also shows a large enthusiasm advantage for Republicans in swing states, but that would be piling on.
Barack Obama is facing an anti-Big Government revolution — Amen!
“Taken as a whole, this week’s polls paint a picture of a country that is emphatically rejecting the Big Government experiment of the past few years, and turning more and more towards conservatism. The surveys are representative of a sea of polls revealing a deep-seated and mounting opposition to the highly interventionist economic policies of the current US administration, with the latest RealClear Politics average of polls showing 73 per cent of Americans believing the country is moving down the “wrong track”.
CBS TV Michigan Matters: Anuzis And Brewer
Had some fun with my old buddy Democrat Party Chairman Mark Brewer on Carol Cain’s Michigan Matters Sunday show last week.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/11/07/michigan-matters-anuzis-and-brewer/
Why Obama’s 2008 Coalition Won’t Save Him This Time
“This latter strategy—rebuilding support among Independents—implies that Obama’s task is one of persuasion as well as mobilization. He will have to convince some of the voters he has lost since his inauguration to give him a second look and another chance. This may seem to be mission impossible. If it turns out to be, his chances of winning reelection are remote.”
http://www.tnr.com/article/the-vital-center/97177/obama-reelection-strategy
Is Obama Toast? Handicapping the 2012 Election
A Great Analysis Worth Reading.
“Obama has gone from a modest favorite to win re-election to, probably, a slight underdog. Let’s not oversell this. A couple of months of solid jobs reports, or the selection of a poor Republican opponent, would suffice to make him the favorite again.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/nate-silver-handicaps-2012-election.html?_r=3
Obama – It’s Been Three Years — SHARE!
A great 1 minute RNC youtube using Obma’s own words that EVERY American should see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MJj4lDmxUw
Happy Days Aren’t Here Again – Why the Democratic Party still lays claim to Americans’ affection.
“What is called the tea party is the rightward part of the conservative base. They became angry that they had trusted the Republican establishment during a Republican presidency, only to see that establishment run up huge debt, launch foreign wars, contribute to the surveillance state, and refuse to control America’s borders. What made the anger deeper is that they were angry at themselves. They felt complicit: They had not rebelled, they had trusted the party: “They’re the GOP establishment, they must know what they’re doing.” What the conservative base had learned by 2008 is: Don’t trust the Republican party. Don’t trust its establishments. The old loyalty was over. It may or may not come back.
The Democrats’ challenge? They’re living on faded glory, and Mr. Obama has done nothing for the brand. In January 2009 it was bright and shiny. He has murked it up pretty good. The cascade of government-private sector scandals, from Fannie Mae to Solyndra, has dulled the brand further. Party of the working man? Party of the guy who kited the mortgage deals, got bailed out, and left the working man living in his car.
The Republicans’ challenge now: holding together, and breaking 20th-century stereotypes. They should distance themselves from government even as they prove they can govern, and not only oppose but propose. They should put themselves apart from the rigged, piggish insider life of Washington. And try not to look nuts while they’re doing it.”
Republican candidates on the issues
A pretty good summary of where the Republican candidates stand on the issues.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/07/v-print/2490470/republican-candidates-on-the-issues.html
NOTICE: Leadership Institute Campaign School December 3rd in Novi
The Leadership Institute is putting on a Campaign School for potential campaign staffers, college & high school students and others on Saturday, December 3rd. I’ve had the pleasure of both attending and teaching at these seminars in the past. A great opportunity to learn – IMPORTANT – looks good on your resume as you look for potential work on campaigns. More info as it becomes available, but save the date!
SHARING: MSU Campus Conservatives & CR’s
Join the MSU Campus Conservatives this Saturday, November 19, for an “awesome” NO-bama tailgate! Prior to the final home game against Indiana, they will hold a demonstration near Spartan Stadium. Bring your creative signs with phrases such as “Stop Stimulus Spending” or “One-Term President” – it is important to stay on message. They will meet up at our tailgate at 8:45 am which is where the old smoke stack use to be. You will not want to miss this opportunity to spread the truth in East Lansing! If you’re interested, contact Nick Kowalski, Chairman, at nknk09@gmail.com for more information.
On Tuesday, November 29, there will be a panel discussion entitled “What’s the matter with campus?” at Michigan State University’s Case Hall, Room 339, from 7:00-9:00 pm. Panelists include Amy Hawkins of Citizens for Traditional Values, Brian Koss of Michigan CPAC, MRP Youth Vice-Chair Sarah Ledford (invited), Cheyboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox, and student conservative and libertarian leaders. Come hear a lively discussion on how to reenergize the college political scene for the better. Reach out to Nick Kowalski (nknk09@gmail.com) for further details and check out the Facebook event page!
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Weekly Musing 11-6-11
November 6th, 2011 by Saul AnuzisWeekly Musing 11-6-11
Saul Anuzis
MI: Republican National Committeeman
NOTICE: Leadership Institute Campaign School December 3rd in Novi
The Leadership Institute is putting on a Campaign School for potential campaign staffers, college & high school students and others on Saturday, December 3rd. I’ve had the pleasure of both attending and teaching at these seminars in the past. A great opportunity to learn – IMPORTANT – looks good on your resume as you look for potential work on campaigns. More info as it becomes available, but save the date!
Michigan GOP Presidential Debate November 9th
Eight of the top GOP candidates for the Republican Nomination for President will be coming to Michigan November 9th to Oakland University. Unfortunately there are no more tickets available for the event, but there are many Debate Watching Parties by campaigns, party leaders and friends that are being organized statewide. Take advantage of the opportunity to participate!
http://www.migop.org/index.php/get-involved/attend-a-debate-watch-party/
Obama – It’s Been Three Years
“This country can’t take four more years of these failed policies…it’s time to try something new!” – Barack Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MJj4lDmxUw
Swing States poll: Obama’s path to 2nd term an uphill climb – Michigan On The List!
“One year before Election Day, the debut Swing States survey charts a narrower and more difficult course to victory for Obama than he navigated four years ago — and shows opportunities for Republicans in some states that have gone Democratic for decades.”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-11-03/swing-states-poll-obama/51062622/1
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Today – On Michigan Matters
Watch Michigan Matters today, Sunday on WWJ-TV CBS Detroit at 11 am. I join CBS’ host Carol Cain with Brooks Patterson, Denise Ilitch and Mark Brewer.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/show/michigan-matters/
Michigan Opportunity! Expand education choices – Why Would ANY Republican Legislator Oppose this Opportunity???
“The facts are clear: Charter schools in Michigan provide parents with high-quality choices and students with a tremendous education. They consistently outperform traditional public schools and give kids hope for a better future. That’s why two-thirds of Michigan’s charter schools, most in urban districts, have waiting lists as parents demand more choices and better results.”
http://www.detnews.com/article/20111103/OPINION01/111030336/1008/OPINION01/Expand-education-choices
Romney must defend auto bailout stance to Michigan voters – At lease the “headline”
“Others say Romney was spot-on in his message that simply got tripped up by a headline.
“During the previous Chrysler bailout the government was the lender of last resort,” said Saul Anuzis, former chair of the Michigan Republicans. “They loaned the money but didn’t dump (CEO Lee) Iacocca or tell him how to run the company. They let the process play out.”
“Not everyone understood the tough love Romney proposed,” Anuzis added.”
1934 Cartoon – Lessons Learned???
Back in 1934 an interesting cartoon was printed that relates as much today as it did then…check it out.
http://www.thatssaulfolks.com/2011/11/03/1934-even-then-some-got-it/
Barack Obama’s campaign style: Go negative, stay clean
“The early salvos are also familiar moves in a strategy that has worked in each of the four federal campaigns Obama has run: disqualifying character attacks from aides or outsiders, executed brutally as Obama himself floats above the fray.”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67504.html#ixzz1ceGB8wQt
Great Read – “Occupy” Is No Tea Party
“The Tea Party represents (and respects) America. The Occupiers may be well intended, but their demands would be very different from what the Founding Fathers gave us and would dramatically change America.
Any comparisons between the Tea Party which desires to liberate We the People from big government and the Wall Street Occupiers who want more government regulation is either misguided or made to intentionally confuse Americans.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/10/29/occupy_is_no_tea_party_111858.html
Democrats Bet on Populism – Will beating up on Wall Street bring back blue-collar whites?
“Democrats have been rediscovering their inner populist lately. President Obama is calling on the wealthiest Americans to pay their “fair share” in taxes. Elizabeth Warren, campaigning for the Senate in Massachusetts, has become a rising star by bluntly criticizing the business class. And the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out a petition last month aimed at leveraging the Occupy Wall Street movement against the Republican Party.
But the clearest test for whether Democrats can sell a message centered on income inequality won’t be in the presidential race, where Obama’s chances of victory depend heavily on the mood of upscale, white-collar professionals. Rather, the battle for the hearts and minds of the working-class will take place in the House race battlefields, where Democrats can’t afford to write off blue-collar voters if they hope to win the 25 seats they need to recapture the majority.”
http://nationaljournal.com/columns/against-the-grain/democrats-bet-on-populism-20111101
Thomas Sowell: Democracy Versus Mob Rule
“Among the favorite sloppy words used by the shrill mobs in the streets is “Wall Street greed.” But even if you think people in Wall Street, or anywhere else, are making more money than they deserve, “greed” is no explanation whatever.
“Greed” says how much you want. But you can become the greediest person on earth and that will not increase your pay in the slightest. It is what other people pay you that increases your income.
If the government has been sending too much of the taxpayers’ money to people in Wall Street — or anywhere else — then the irresponsibility or corruption of politicians is the problem. “Occupy Wall Street” hooligans should be occupying Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/11/01/democracy_versus_mob_rule_111895.html
Stay In Touch…Feel Free to Share
My goal is for this to be a weekly political update…sharing political news and analysis that should be of interest to most activists.
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1934 Cartoon – Even Then Some Got It!
November 3rd, 2011 by Saul Anuzis
Weekly Musing for 10-30-11
October 30th, 2011 by Saul AnuzisWeekly Musing 10-30-11
Saul Anuzis
MI: Republican National Committeeman
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.” Author Unknown from the Czech Republic
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Michigan Makes POLITICO’s “Monthly 10″ Most Competitive U.S. Senate Races List!
Clark Durant, my endorsed candidate for the Republican nomination, continues to challenge the status quo – the Washington Way!
10. MICHIGAN
Pete Hoekstra’s political conundrum was crystallized earlier this month when he brought in Iowa Rep. Steve King to stump for him. It was a signal to wary conservatives that he’s one of them. But as The Macomb Daily opined: “It wasn’t an attempt to win over independent voters who aren’t necessarily big fans of incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.” Hoekstra’s $1 million quarter may have put the fundraising demons to bed, but charter school co-founder Clark Durant’s $750,000 total was enough to get the front-runner’s attention.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67016.html
How class warfare weakens America –
by Congressman Paul Ryan
“Ironically, equality of outcome is a form of inequality — one that is based on political influence and bureaucratic favoritism.
That’s the real class warfare that threatens us: a class of bureaucrats and connected crony capitalists trying to rise above the rest of us, call the shots, rig the rules and preserve their place atop society. Their gains will come at the expense of working Americans, entrepreneurs and that small businesswoman who has the gall to take on the corporate chieftain.
It’s disappointing that this president’s actions have exacerbated this form of class warfare in so many ways.”
THE COOK REPORT: Underwater – President Obama will struggle to win reelection if his approval rating doesn’t rise.
“The best barometer of how a president is going to fare is his approval rating, which starts taking on predictive value about a year out. As each month goes by, the rating becomes a better indicator of the eventual results. Presidents with approval numbers above 48 to 50 percent in the Gallup Poll win reelection. Those with approval ratings below that level usually lose. If voters don’t approve of the job you are doing after four years in office, they usually don’t vote for you. Of course, a candidate can win the popular vote and still lose the Electoral College. It happened to Samuel Tilden in 1876, Grover Cleveland in 1888, and Al Gore in 2000. But the popular votes and the Electoral College numbers usually come down on the same side.
In his 11th and most recent quarter in office (July 20-Oct. 19), President Obama averaged a 41 percent approval rating among registered voters, according to Gallup. His average for the month of September was the same. For the week of Oct. 17-23, the president’s approval was 41 percent with a disapproval rating of 51 percent. It’s worth noting that in the Oct. 17-23 aggregation of Gallup tracking, Obama’s job-approval rating among independents was only 38 percent. This was a group he carried by 8 percentage points over John McCain in 2008, 52 percent to 44 percent. Among “pure” independents, those who don’t lean toward either party when pushed, the president’s approval rating was 32 percent.”
http://www.nationaljournal.com//columns/cook-report/the-cook-report-obama-underwater-20111027
The 53%: We are NOT Occupy Wall Street
“Occupy Wall Street protesters might say they represent 99% of the nation, but there’s a growing number of Americans who are making it clear they are not part of the dissident crowd.
They call themselves the 53%…as in the 53% of Americans who pay federal income taxes. And they are making their voices heard on Tumblr blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages devoted to stories of personal responsibility and work ethic.”
http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/26/news/economy/occupy_wall_street_backlash/index.htm?iid=Popular
The Red State in Your Future
“The study looks at factors that affect state prosperity and economic outlook, such as tax burdens and population change. What’s clear is that red or red-leaning states dominate the top positions while blue states have the dubious distinction of dragging in last. In the economic outlook section, for example, the top 20 states are bright red or lean red, while eight out of the bottom 10 are very blue: New York, Vermont, California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon and Rhode Island.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2011/10/21/the-red-state-in-your-future/
Obama’s Mythical Political Skills Not Enough
“take a closer look at Obama’s rise and a hole in his resume quickly becomes apparent: Obama never had to fight for and win the votes of people who don’t agree with him. Both his biggest political setback and his biggest political accomplishment — his defeat by Bobby Rush in a 2000 U.S. House primary and his victory over Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 — came during struggles within a liberal universe.”
The Divider vs. the Thinker: While Obama readies an ugly campaign, Paul Ryan gives a serious account of what ails America.
“Rather than raise taxes on individuals, we should “lower the amount of government spending the wealthy now receive.” The “true sources of inequity in this country,” he (Ryan) continued, are “corporate welfare that enriches the powerful, and empty promises that betray the powerless.” The real class warfare that threatens us is “a class of bureaucrats and connected crony capitalists trying to rise above the rest of us, call the shots, rig the rules, and preserve their place atop society.””
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203554104577002262150454258.html
Obama’s Crony Capitalism: Where do the stimulus horror stories end?
“Among the most frequently heard criticisms from Democrats of President George W. Bush and the pre-2006 Republican majorities in the House and Senate was that corporations were being coddled even as they were sending American jobs overseas. Then President Obama proposed his $787 billion economic stimulus program and promised that it would bring unemployment down to 8 percent or less while saving or creating up to 3. 5 million jobs. It’s nearly three years later, the official unemployment rate is still above 9 percent (and could be double that when those who quit looking for work or are underemployed are counted)…Obama administration officials approved the transfer of jobs to Finland.”
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/2011/10/where-do-stimulus-horror-stories-end
Happy Birthday Congressman Pete Hoekstra
Today, October 30th is Pete’s birthday. Wishing you and your family all the best and many more birthdays to come!
Stay In Touch…Feel Free to Share
My goal is for this to be a weekly political update…sharing political news and analysis that should be of interest to most activists.
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America going Red?!? For Good Reason
October 23rd, 2011 by Saul AnuzisThe Red State in Your Future
Voters around the country are concluding it’s better to be red than dead—applying a whole meaning to an old phrase. If you do not currently live in a red state, there’s a good chance you will be in the near future. Either you will flee to a red state or a red state will come to you—because voters fed up with blue-state fiscal irresponsibility will elect candidates who promise to pass red-state policies.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 25 state legislatures are controlled by Republicans and 16 by Democrats, with eight split (i.e., each party controlling one house). There are 29 Republican governors and 20 Democrats, with one independent. And there are 20 states where Republicans control both the legislature and governor’s mansion vs. 11 Democratic, with 18 split (one party controls the governor’s office and the other the legislature).
Read more…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2011/10/21/the-red-state-in-your-future/
Weekly Musing 10-23-11
October 23rd, 2011 by Saul AnuzisWeekly Musing 10-23-11
Saul Anuzis
MI: Republican National Committeeman
F.A. Hayek on Liberty… “Perhaps the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose one’s government is not necessarily to secure freedom.”
”The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best.” – Thomas Sowell
Barack Obama’s disastrous first 1,000 days
“It is hard to think of a presidency in modern times that has done more to damage the United States both at home and abroad than the current one, with the possible exception of Jimmy Carter’s. Like his Democratic predecessor in the 1970’s, Barack Obama has left the world’s dominant superpower on its knees, with faith in US leadership now being questioned across the globe.”
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100110552/barack-obama’s-disastrous-first-1000-days/
Occupy Wall Street Is Certainly No Tea Party
“there are three key characteristics that separate OWS from the Tea Party: First, the Occupy protesters pride themselves on provocative resistance to law enforcement and in some cases violence. Second, they disrespect public and private property. Third, and most important, the Occupy movement lacks a coherent guiding philosophy.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/mattkibbe/2011/10/19/occupy-wall-street-is-certainly-no-tea-party/
The Obamanomics Austerity Myth: Federal Spending Up 5% This Year
“In fact, in the first nine months of this year, federal spending was $120 billion higher than in the same period in 2010, the data show. That’s an increase of almost 5%. And deficits during this time were $23.5 billion higher.”
What Harry Reid Can Teach the GOP About 2012
“Reid won another term in the 2010 midterm election despite Congress’s widespread unpopularity, of which he was the leader, should serve as a lesson and warning for Republicans as the primary season begins.”
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/morning-jay-what-harry-reid-can-teach-gop-about-2012_598372.html
The GOP Pro-Growth, Flat-Tax Competition
“Part of the stock rally is based on strong corporate earnings, the mother’s milk of stocks. So far for the third quarter, almost three-quarters of reporting companies have beaten estimates, with overall profits coming in about 14 percent ahead of year-ago. And investors are hopeful that Europe will solve its sovereign-debt and banking woes.
But the sudden stock rally could also be discounting a new GOP growth plan that will replace the dreary Obama tax-the-rich mantra.”
COMING APART – A Great Read from the New Yorker – A Liberal’s Perspective
“For most of the decade after September 11th, liberals from New York and elsewhere felt marginalized, misrepresented, ridiculed, scapegoated, and, worst of all, ignored. For this treatment to befall that group of Americans who, by their own lights, got the decade mostly right—to be so reviled and so vindicated—inflicted a kind of painful pleasure. But the enduring problem for liberals, as for everyone else, is not whether history will judge them wise or foolish regarding the war on terrorism; it is, rather, the way that the past decade has splintered them away from other Americans. This fracture comes with a steep price: in today’s toxic atmosphere, liberals are no less cynical, shortsighted, and parochial than anyone else, and they understand their fellow-Americans just as badly as they themselves are understood.”
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/09/12/110912fa_fact_packer?currentPage=all
Key to Greatness is Working Memory, Not Practice
“In a series of studies, Hambrick and colleagues found that people with higher levels of working memory capacity outperformed those with lower levels — and even in individuals with extensive experience and knowledge of the task at hand.”
http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/10/06/key-to-greatness-is-working-memory-not-practice/30110.html
Adaptability Is Key for Social Media Success
“Among surveyed Fortune 500 marketers, 94% cite the ability to adapt quickly to change as the most critical enabler of social media success, followed by having an in-house social media champion (93%), clearly communicated executive support (90%), a solid education on social media (90%), and a culture of experimentation (88%). “
http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2011/6164/booz-adaptability-is-key-for-social-media-success
Fun Fact:
Chinese numerology and Feng Shui for 2011 This year we are going to
experience four unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11, and
that’s not all; Take the last two digits of the year you were born and
the age you will be this year and the result will add up to 111 for
everyone!!!!
Stay In Touch…Feel Free to Share
My goal is for this to be a weekly political update…sharing political news and analysis that should be of interest to most activists.
Please share.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter and/or Facebook.
On Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/sanuzis
On Twitter at:
@sanuzis
Thanks again for all you do!
Go Green!
October 23rd, 2011 by Saul Anuzis
What Cuts??? Government Continues to Grow!
October 17th, 2011 by Saul Anuzis
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Why Conservatives Should Not Rally Around Google
October 17th, 2011 by Saul AnuzisWhy Conservatives Should Not Rally Around Google
For many conservatives, the recent Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights hearing focused on Google might have appeared to take place in an alternative universe. A longtime big dollar Democratic donor and supporter of government marketplace intervention, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt suddenly became a champion of free market competition and minimal government regulation. Meanwhile, Republican Senators took a tough line that laid the foundation for antitrust action against Google. How can this be explained—and where should conservatives stand in this debate?
First, it is worth noting that Google—often by its own admission—has engaged in violations of laws governing consumer protection, privacy, public health and intellectual property. Regardless of the debate about competition policy, Google has attempted to competitively benefit by overstepping the law—behavior aimed at giving it an advantage against rivals that respect consumer and property rights.
The examples are many. The Google Books service was built around “wholesale, blatant copying without first obtaining copyright permissions,” according to the ruling of a federal judge. Meanwhile, a consortium that was developing a competing service—but sought permissions from copyright owners—shut down. Similarly, Google expanded its YouTube video service by hosting pirated video segments.
Google’s promotion of illegal online pharmacies, which often deal in mislabeled or counterfeit medications, not only undermines property rights; it also, “put at risk the health and safety of American consumers,” according to the Department of Justice. Again, regardless of one’s position on pharmaceutical imports, it is hard to justify Google’s aiding and abetting offshore companies that violate drug patents and trademarks.
Google also has a very poor track record on respecting privacy rights. After violating the Federal Trade Act by exposing consumer data when it launched the Google Buzz social networking service, Google was forced to reach a settlement with the FTC. Google also admitted to collecting personal data from unsecured WiFi hotspots when it built its Street View service. To date, it has faced no sanctions for this practice.
While conservatives are right to remain vigilant against overreaching antitrust enforcement, there can be no doubt that Republican Senators on the Subcommittee, led by ranking member Mike Lee (R-UT), are justified in raising questions about Google’s competitive practices. Google’s rap sheet is simply too long to ignore. Interestingly, liberal stalwart Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was the only Senator on the Subcommittee who wholeheartedly defended Google.
While Google aims to sidestep or minimize government action to bring its operations within the law, the company and its leaders have time and again promoted Democratic policies of government regulation and spending that favor its interests. Google, for instance, put considerable money and clout behind promoting Net Neutrality regulations. Just last Sunday, Eric Schmidt appeared on national television promoting Obama’s terrible stimulus spending plan and opposing government budget cuts.
All around Washington, Google is now trying to drape itself in the cloak of the free market to curry favor with conservatives. We should not be fooled. Google is no friend of the conservative movement.
In the Heritage Foundation’s adaptation of their First Principles Essays, they summarized Friedrich Hayek’s insights in the Road to Serfdom which “made it clear he was not advocating a system of pure lasses-faire, but one with a general system of rules that would enable individuals to carry out their own plans. Hayek’s contribution was to stress the importance of institutions – a market system, in a democratic polity, with a system of well-defined, enforced, and exchangeable property right, protected by a strong constitution, and operation under the rule of law, in which laws are stable, predictable, and equally applied.”
While antitrust enforcement has threatened marketplace competition in the past, it’s worth remembering that antitrust laws were developed by Republicans—and refined under the Rehnquist Court—to protect free enterprise. The telecommunications revolution began when Ronald Reagan enforced antitrust law and took the final step in dismantling AT&T’s government-sanctioned monopoly—and deregulating the industry. As someone who started a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier in Michigan and consults for Microsoft, I have first hand knowledge how important a limited and targeted regulatory structure can be. There is precedence for the conservative application of antitrust against companies that have benefited from growing too close to government protectors.
