Clinton Underground

Thought for the day... You can tell how big a scandal is by how quickly Hillary gets out of town and how long she stays in hiding.

Seriously. Where is the Secretary of State during all of these international crises?

Perhaps the price for Bill to support Barack in 2012 was to have Hillary protected from all of the Benghazi/Middle East fallout. Regardless, I think the phone is ringing a lot at 3:00 a.m., and no one is there to answer.

Semper Fi

Happy Birthday, Marines. Today we celebrate--and are thankful for--237 years of dedication, strength, and uncommon valor.

Four More Years

Gosh, wouldn't it be nice to have an administration that can go just 48 hours without a scandal or coverup?

It seems the only time classified information about our national security gets protected is when it protects Obama's end goals. This administration could release all of the details of the bin Laden raid 24 hours after the fact--with no concern for operational repercussions or the safety of the special forces involved--but it takes several days (including Election Day, shock) to reveal that Iran attacked one of our military drones.

Plus, it seems that it's just fine for the government to release sensitive operational details to Hollywood directors making a movie glorifying Obama's role in the bin Laden raid. But if the actual Navy SEAL heroes of the raid collaborate with a video game maker, they're reprimanded and docked pay.

Think about it. Who would be more careful about protecting the classified and sensitive nature of operations? Some schmuck whose greatest risk was deciding which hallucinogen to take in college, or the American patriots who've given their lives to protecting the nation. Which one is more likely to know what's safe to talk about and what's not?

Who really has skin in this game? If this is what the first three days are like, just imagine the next four years.

A Bitter Pill

Wow. I truly am stunned by the election results last night. It's not so much that Obama won--it's that he won so quickly and so completely.

Not only that, but my beloved Virginia couldn't overcome the overwhelming liberal majority in Fairfax County, which is where the election was truly lost. And once again the Commonwealth is colored blue.

Beyond all the political ramifications and legitimate concerns for the nation and its electorate, I'm most heartsick at the fact that a truly good man was defeated by an enigma. Mitt Romney is an honorable, decent, honest American. His words matched his works--his love of country drove his campaign.

And America voted against this.

Well done, Mitt and Ann. Thank you for giving America hope and for reminding us what it's like to have faithful, classy, and honest leaders so close to the White House.

Predictions

Here's my prediction for the election. Romney wins with 282 electoral votes compared to Obama's 256.  Romney will take Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Colorado, in addition to his other solid states.

Stay out there and vote. It's not over until all the polls close. This is the moment.

Let's Go, Virginia!

We just got back from voting and from the polling places here, turnout is high in the Valley. This is a good sign for Romney.

Nothing better than seeing that check next to the Romney/Ryan line.

Romney was on the Chris Plante show this morning, and he said that the road to victory goes right through Virginia. Let's go, Old Dominion! He may not be from here like Washington or Jefferson, but we can get him there.

Election Day

This is it, folks--election day. Get out there and vote for Romney. I'm not going to give you that wishy-washy line, "I don't care who you vote for. Just go vote." That's crap.

Go vote for Romney/Ryan. Vote for a better America. Vote for a brighter future. Vote for real change.

Throughout the day I'll post some of the best and inspirational videos and articles. Because it's not about what the media pushes and it's not about what Obama wants.

It's about winning back America. Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose.

Romney/Ryan Rock Red Rocks in Colorado

Virginia Can't Take Four More Years

After 82 years, Bill's Barbecue in Richmond closed up for the last time. Check out this commercial from the Romney camp highlighting the human cost of Obama's failed economic policies.

Think about that. Bill's opened in 1930. That means they survived the Great Depression. World War II. They saw 15 presidents get elected. They served Richmond through economic boom and bust. They were there for generations.

But all it took was four years of Obama to shutter their doors. One man. Four years. Total failure.

Pretty Songs, Sweet Faces, and Political Rot

Check out this chilling video that uses brainwashed children to spread the heinous lies of the left.

And now tell me if you see any parallels between those kids and the youth in this scene from Cabaret. 

Forward to tomorrow? No thanks.

VA Dem's Son and Voter Fraud? Nah...

Congressman Jim Moran, the Joe Biden of Virginia, seems to have passed his upstanding political convictions on to his son.

But there's no reason to worry about voter fraud. Here's the article.

Romney's Winning Answer

This is what the election boils down to. Well said, Mitt.

ROMNEY: I think you know better. I think you know that these last four years haven't been so good as the president just described and that you don't feel like your confident that the next four years are going to be much better either.

I can tell you that if you were to elect President Obama, you know what you're going to get. You're going to get a repeat of the last four years. We just can't afford four more years like the last four years.

He said that by now we'd have unemployment at 5.4 percent. The difference between where it is and 5.4 percent is 9 million Americans without work.

I wasn't the one that said 5.4 percent. This was the president's plan. Didn't get there.

He said he would have by now put forward a plan to reform Medicare and Social Security, because he pointed out they're on the road to bankruptcy. He would reform them. He'd get that done. He hasn't even made a proposal on either one.

He said in his first year he'd put out an immigration plan that would deal with our immigration challenges. Didn't even file it.

This is a president who has not been able to do what he said he'd do. He said that he'd cut in half the deficit. He hasn't done that either. In fact, he doubled it. He said that by now middle-income families would have a reduction in their health insurance premiums by $2,500 a year. It's gone up by $2,500 a year. And if Obamacare is passed, or implemented -- it's already been passed -- if it's implemented fully, it'll be another $2,500 on top.

ROMNEY: The middle class is getting crushed under the policies of a president who has not understood what it takes to get the economy working again. He keeps saying, "Look, I've created 5 million jobs." That's after losing 5 million jobs. The entire record is such that the unemployment has not been reduced in this country. The unemployment, the number of people who are still looking for work, is still 23 million Americans.

There are more people in poverty, one out of six people in poverty.

How about food stamps? When he took office, 32 million people were on food stamps. Today, 47 million people are on food stamps. How about the growth of the economy? It's growing more slowly this year than last year, and more slowly last year than the year before.

The president wants to do well. I understand. But the policies he's put in place from Obamacare to Dodd-Frank to his tax policies to his regulatory policies, these policies combined have not let this economy take off and grow like it could have.

You might say, "Well, you got an example of one that worked better?" Yeah, in the Reagan recession where unemployment hit 10.8 percent, between that period -- the end of that recession and the equivalent of time to today, Ronald Reagan's recovery created twice as many jobs as this president's recovery. Five million jobs doesn't even keep up with our population growth. And the only reason the unemployment rate seems a little lower today is because of all the people that have dropped out of the workforce.

The president has tried, but his policies haven't worked. He's great as a -- as a -- as a speaker and describing his plans and his vision. That's wonderful, except we have a record to look at. And that record shows he just hasn't been able to cut the deficit, to put in place reforms for Medicare and Social Security to preserve them, to get us the rising incomes we need. Median income is down $4,300 a family and 23 million Americans out of work. That's what this election is about. It's about who can get the middle class in this country a bright and prosperous future and assure our kids the kind of hope and optimism they deserve.

Second Amendment Thoughts

Sure, Obama--you believe in the Second Amendment. Especially when it comes to arming Mexican drug lords and restricting the rights of Americans.

"I think you know better."

A great start to the best answer of the night. Romney is crushing Obama's last four years with each new sentence. Text to follow... oh, you can bet it!

What?

"Governor Romney feels comfortable having a politician in Washington tell them how to make their healthcare choices."

Did he really just make that point as a negative? Hello, what's Obamacare?!

Obama Strategy

Guaranteed... Obama will take shots during the rebuttal section at Romney that Romney won't be allowed to respond to. Throw the dirty hit when the other guy can't jab back.

Love that Romney pointed out the problems with Obama's math and the deficit.

Why So Serious?

Did Joe Biden remind anyone else of The Joker during the debate tonight? From a politico/image perspective, I'm sure the campaign told him to just smile and laugh away all of Ryan's statements. "It'll undermine him," they said. "It'll be the image that people take away from his words."

Well, that might have worked during the first 10 minutes, but after 90 minutes of the smile--I'm sorry, about 70 minutes, the other 20 showed him as menacing and angry looking--it was just disturbing.

Why are you the only person smiling in the room, Joe? Please, let us in on the joke.

                               Courtesy The Washington Post

I think Joe did what the campaign needed him to do. They needed him to come out and look aggressive against the young guy. Or, as Paul Ryan so perfectly put it, "Mr. Vice President, I know you're under a lot of duress to make up for lost ground, but I think people would be better served if we don't keep interrupting each other."

But what ended up happening was Biden delivering one of the least civil debate performances I've ever seen.

What started out as a strong performance quickly lost the facade of competence and gave way to the condescending face of frustration. Biden seemed to unravel during the Afghanistan conversation; he even went after the moderator--a definite no-no when you're trying to look like the one in control.

MS. RADDATZ: Let me go back to the surge troops that we put in there. And you brought this up, Congressman Ryan. I have talked to a lot of troops. I've talked to senior officers who were concerned that the surge troops were pulled out during the fighting season, and some of them saw that as a political — as a political move. So can you tell me, Vice President Biden, what was the military reason for bringing those surge troops home before the fighting season ended?

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: The military reason was bringing — by the way, when the president announced the surge — you'll remember, Martha — he said, the surge will be out by the end of the summer. The military said, the surge will be out. Nothing political about this. Before the surge occurred — so you be a little straight with me here, too — before the surge occurred, we said, they'll be out by the end of the summer. That's what the military said. The reason for that is —

MS. RADDATZ: Military follows orders. They — I mean, there — trust me, there are people —

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Sure —

MS. RADDATZ: — who were concerned about pulling out on the fighting season.

"So you be a little straight with me here, too." He said, pointing at the female moderator. Um, no.

                                                  Courtesy FOX News

Martha Raddatz did a good job, asking hard questions of both men and keeping Joe in check. And I can't help but think that she didn't appreciate having Joe's strobe-light teeth bared at her during that exchange--because she didn't just take it. She came back and didn't let him off the hook.

Ryan, on the other hand, came across as cool and calm. Could he have been a little more engaging? I think so.

One of the greatest unsaid lines was a slap back against Joe talking about Romney-Ryan needing to take responsibility. It would have been a great chance to say, "Really, Joe? How about you and Barack Obama taking responsibility for the last four years instead of blaming the last administration? How about taking responsibility for a failed foreign policy, a failed economic policy, and a failed healthcare policy? Who's been in charge for the last four years, Joe?"

But he didn't lose anything for the ticket, and he was able to keep a handle on things despite Biden's baiting. Ryan was especially strong on Afghanistan and domestic policy--and Joe wasn't smiling so much during those segments.

I don't think either man changed many minds tonight. But I do think that Biden gave us all a glimpse at the frustration and desperation within the Obama campaign to keep control of this election.

Full-Bird Obama

Obama's been running around this week talking about Elmo, Big Bird, and Sesame Street.

Mitt Romney delivered a barn-burner speech in Lexington, VA to the cadets at VMI.

Who's more presidential?

Romney: 1 Obama: 0

The first round of debates in the 2012 presidential election went solidly in Mitt Romney's camp on Wednesday evening. I'd say he won the debate within the first 15 minutes.

                                                      Courtesy: BusinessInsider

Both men came out looking presidential, but it quickly became obvious that Romney was there to debate, while Obama was there to be The Great Leader--unquestioned and unchallenged in his views and statements. We saw how four years of a pathetic press corps and an insular administration can atrophy the mental muscle of a politician who relies on lies and one-liners...and it was beautiful.

The winning attitude for Romeny was this--he didn't accept the premise of any of Obama's lies. Obama kept repeating that Romney would have $5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in defense spending increases. And every single time Romney slapped that back and refused to let Obama get away with lying about the facts. And he defended his tax plan against the typical talking points parroted by Obama.

"I know that you and your running mate keep saying that, and I know that's a popular thing to say with some people, but it's just not the case," Romney said. "Look, I've got five boys. I'm used to people saying something that's not always true but just keep repeating it and ultimately hoping I'll believe it. But that is not the case." 

There were many other great moments, but the other one that stood out was Romney schooling Obama on energy taxes and breaks. Obama took after Exxon and "Big Oil," saying that they got a $4 billion tax break. 

Obama said:  The oil industry gets $4 billion a year in corporate welfare. Basically, they get deductions that those small businesses that Governor Romney refers to, they don't get. Now, does anybody think that ExxonMobil needs some extra money, when they're making money every time you go to the pump? Why wouldn't we want to eliminate that? Why wouldn't we eliminate tax breaks for corporate jets? My attitude is, if you got a corporate jet, you can probably afford to pay full freight, not get a special break for it.

And Romney totally destroyed the talking point: 

First of all, the Department of Energy has said the tax break for oil companies is $2.8 billion a year. And it's actually an accounting treatment, as you know, that's been in place for a hundred years. Now...

OBAMA: It's time to end it.

ROMNEY: And in one year, you provided $90 billion in breaks to the green energy world. Now, I like green energy as well, but that's about 50 years' worth of what oil and gas receives. And you say Exxon and Mobil. Actually, this $2.8 billion goes largely to small companies, to drilling operators and so forth.

But, you know, if we get that tax rate from 35 percent down to 25 percent, why that $2.8 billion is on the table. Of course it's on the table. That's probably not going to survive you get that rate down to 25 percent.

But don't forget, you put $90 billion, like 50 years' worth of breaks, into — into solar and wind, to Solyndra and Fisker and Tester and Ener1. I mean, I had a friend who said you don't just pick the winners and losers, you pick the losers, all right? So this — this is not — this is not the kind of policy you want to have if you want to get America energy secure.

Love. And excellent usage of "Solyndra!"

After their initial, 15-minute exchange, it was clear that Obama was lost. He was caught in the undertow and never got his feet back under him. The only time his condescending, nose-in-the-air stance appeared was briefly during the Obamacare discussion, but that was quickly replaced by his posture of the night--eyes downcast, standing off balance, unwilling to confront Romney.

                                                            Courtesy: SALON

Now, I did think that at the beginning Romney's confidence had the danger of coming off as being too aggressive and impolite. He seemed to talk over the moderator and looked too eager to slap at the president. (Not that I minded, but it could have looked that way to the meek and diffident lefties out there.)

In fact, I'm not so sure that part of the Obama strategy was to let Romney look overly aggressive, as Obama submitted to him several times. Because the people who might still have a swing vote might not necessarily want a "cowboy" personality. It's just not nice.

But Romney reined it in and struck the balance between defending his record, getting out his message, and owning the night.

Now the Romney campaign just has to be prepared for every leftist talking head, writer, and blogger in the media to come after them to do the job Obama wasn't willing or able to do.

The questions were fair, the moderator was excellent--letting the debaters truly have the stage while maintaining the forum of the evening--and the politicians allowed their true colors to come through.

Romney was golden. Obama was just yellow.

You Are What You Eat

Check out this video that goes after Michelle O's school lunch program.

Romney Leads, Obama Follows

Romney is speaking on the Libya situation and is sounding more like a president than the current President. He's talking about strength, freedom, the White House's mistakes, and not taking anything from the press. The only beef I have is that they should have waited until after Obama spoke. Now Obama can use Romney's statement and temper his own statement to reply/flank Romney's. Transcript to come.

The media went after him and after him, asking why he's "politicizing" this when we should all stand together--in the media's estimation, regardless of how irresponsible, weak, or confusing the Obama administration is. He's politicizing? Who has a campaign stop in Las Vegas today while the Middle East explodes? Who's the one running around on late night shows and taking calls from rappers while ignoring the Israeli leader?

Guess those intelligence briefings are seeming pretty important today.

UPDATE: Wow, guess there was no reason to worry about when Romney came out. Obama just made his statement and said basically nothing. He offered condolences (of course, who wouldn't) and spoke at length about our military (mostly from the convention speech and in a desperate attempt to pander to America). But he mostly talked about himself--what he did, who he saw yesterday for 9/11 (just in case anyone missed it).

"Justice will be done," he said. What does that mean? Could we possible have a strong condemnation without being couched around his deep respect for Islam? If the situation weren't so serious, it might be entertaining to see how they get out of this one.

US AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA KILLED

Well, here we go, folks. In addition to the travesty of setting the consulate on fire on 9/11, this should be reason enough for the United States to teach these street thugs who the superpower is.

We should just get our people out of there and give them the Embassy. And then show them how well our military pilots can target buildings in urban situations.

US Ambassador and Three US Citizens Killed in Libya

U.S. Ambassador to Libya John Christopher Stevens and at least two other embassy staffers were reported killed Tuesday in an assault on the American consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Wire services and reporters on the ground said Libyan government officials confirmed that Stevens and the others were fleeing the consulate when a rocket-propelled grenade struck their vehicle. Al-Jazeera’s correspondent in Benghazi said the bodies of the dead had been taken to the Benghazi airport.

Anyone else thinking about the Carter/Iranian hostage situation in 1978? Let's see how Obama leads this one from behind.

9/11

What was that day 11 years ago?

Shock.

Confusion.

Horror.

Fear.

Destruction.

Courage.

Honor.

Resolve.

Strength.

Remember what happened. Remember that day.

But beyond the American response, remember who did it. Remember that it was an act of war against our country.

"None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world." ~ President George W. Bush, 9/11/01

History vs. Polls

Political scientists at University of Colorado Boulder have released their predictions of the election outcome--and it doesn't look good for Obama. Since 1980, this analysis has correctly predicted the outcome of every election. So, despite what the polls say this week (and probably for the next month), keep this article in mind.

According to their analysis, President Barack Obama will win 218 votes in the Electoral College, short of the 270 he needs. And though they chiefly focus on the Electoral College, the political scientists predict Romney will win 52.9 percent of the popular vote to Obama’s 47.1 percent, when considering only the two major political parties...

In 2012, “What is striking about our state-level economic indicator forecast is the expectation that Obama will lose almost all of the states currently considered as swing states, including North Carolina, Virginia, New Hampshire, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida,” Bickers said.

Read the full text from the CU-Boulder press release. 

Obama? Oh, please.

The overwhelming volume of empty words and downright lies in Obama's speech was stunning. Here's just one example:  he had the gall to say of Romney/Ryan, "They want your vote, but they don't want you to know their plan."

Really? This from the same team who had Pelosi saying on healthcare, "We have to pass the bill so you can find out what's in it."

Trying to tie his rhetoric to reality is like trying to argue with a drunkard. Thankfully, Charles Krauthammer expertly summed up the evening.

 I was stunned. This is a man who gave one of the great speeches of our time in 2004, and he gave one of the emptiest speeches I have ever heard on a national stage. Yes, it had cadence, and yes, there were deceptions in it, but that is not what is so striking about it. There was nothing in it. This is a man who believes that government can and should do a lot. There is nothing in here that tells us how he's going to go from today to tomorrow. For any of the so called goals and what government is going to do, what is he going to enact?

At least Romney had a five point plan. What we heard from Obama was a vision. And he pulls numbers out of a hat. 100,000 new math and science teachers. 600,000 more people working in natural gas. Two million more trainees, and he doesn't say how we get from A to B. It's a vision. I have a vision of an America where there is no disease and everybody has a private airplane, but unless I tell you how we get there, I’ve said nothing. And what is so surprising, is that - all he had left - he can't speak about his record on the economy, and it's not a good one. As we heard, he didn't speak about achievements, the one that's liberals like, ObamaCare, stimulus and etc… they're unpopular.

One Nation Under...

They'll follow anyone except God.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. ~2 Peter 2:19

Ratings Roulette

It will be interesting to see the ratings numbers from night two of the DNC convention. They put potentially their most effective speaker--Bill Clinton--up against the opening night of the NFL.

And night three, featuring Obama, is pitted against the MTV Video Music Awards, which could draw the 18-24 crowd. Obama's endless talk of student loans (as if that's the biggest problem out there) could fall on deaf ears as his targeted youth vote tunes out politics for entertainment.

Now, the VMA's could turn into an Obama love-fest, which isn't totally out of the question. And I think the youth vote is perpetually overrated in elections.

But I think the campaign is quickly learning that this isn't 2008. And whether it's the half-empty campaign kick-off or a poorly scheduled convention, not even Obama will be able to fill a stadium or warrant the undivided attention of the public this time around.

Clinton Speaks...And Speaks...And Speaks

I'd like to say I saw the entirety of Clinton's speech last night because, whatever your politics, there's no denying Clinton is a great speaker. He had some pretty convincing lines in the first part about working together, and he brought that "Don't Stop Thinkin' About Tomorrow" vibe to the place.

But then he spiraled into blaming Bush for the economy Obama created. And by the fourth or fifth subject change, I had completely lost interest. Good speech from a good speaker--if only it had been half as long!

Listener fatigue can suck the energy from the best of speeches.

I'm guessing anyone who was not a devoted Democrat felt the same way last night. If you have six hours to spare, here's the transcript and video.

Random Thoughts on the Democrats...

1)  Did it strike anyone else that they're running this convention as though Obama's not the incumbent? They're attacking and Bush and Limbaugh and talking as though there's no record or history of the last four years.

They want to reinvent the Obama administration--without admitting to what they've done during the current administration.

2) Why is it a bad thing to want someone successful to be president? Being successful--and having parents who were also successful--should not be a disqualification to hold office. I'd rather have a responsible and proven leader at the helm than take a chance on an unknown, unqualified, empty chair.

DNC--Do Not Complain

Watching the DNC Convention tonight was surreal, infuriating, and at times incomprehensible. The prime time speeches showed glimmers of the people we've come to know and loathe during the past four years. But for the most part, they were trying so hard to wrap themselves in the flag that they've previously wanted to burn that I couldn't even recognize them.

For sanity's sake (mine, and yours!), I'd like to point out one particularly galling idea in Michelle's speech. 

She said:

"And as president, you get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people. But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as president, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are."

She mentioned this in the context of having a devoted family and dedicated guardians. She spoke of the humble lives she and her husband enjoyed, and the hard work that their parents and grandparents did on their behalf.

  

But what is the subtext of these stories now in the "new normal"--that hard work is to be rewarded and a better life is open to all who work for it?

No. The truly insidious subtext is this:

"Yeah, things suck now. But your parents and grandparents went to work and lived their lives without complaining, you selfish Americans. You should just take these hard times. We're all equal in our suffering."

Every generation should not have to start back at square one. 

That's exactly what our parents and grandparents were working against.  A new college graduate should not have to take a bus to her secretarial job because she couldn't find a better position available in her field. A young man should not have to work three jobs because he can't find one full-time one out there that can pay the bills for his family.

But that's the way it is in Obama's country today.

There are lots of nations out there where each generation starts in exactly the same position as the previous ones. But that's not this nation.

Michelle, you talk about how the people you grew up with shape who you and your husband are today.  And it's great to talk about your parents and grandparents. But you can't skip the others influencing your thoughts and beliefs during the formative years of early adulthood.

Like Rev. Wright.

Like Bill Ayers.

Like Frank Marshall Davis.

Why did all the frosted memories and sweet reminiscences only include childhood and the White House? What happened in those years during which you incurred that much-touted student debt?

Don't sanitize your past when you want to control our future. And don't lecture us about what true success is when, after four years, the best job you can give us is "incomplete."

 

Meet Mitt Romney

The final night of the convention was the celebration of the type of person we all wish we could be--driven, blessed, humble, compassionate, joyful, optimistic, strong. It was the definition of a life lived in service. A life dedicated to lifting others up, making the most of freedom and opportunity, and pushing on to a better tomorrow.

It showed what true leadership is.

It showed what an American president should be.

Go Ahead...Make My Day

Clint Eastwood was the surprise in more ways than one. Watch the man in action. 

"I thought it was somebody's stupid idea to try terrorists in downtown New York City."

"Of course, we all know Biden is the intellect of the Democrat Party. Just kind of a grin with a body behind it."

Ryan Highlights

                                                                                               Courtesy of Human Events

Paul Ryan's speech--with a few nerves, some great lines, and full of conservative convictions--capped off an electric evening last night. Here are a few of the best lines:

"So our opponents can consider themselves on notice. In this election, on this issue, the usual posturing on the left isn't going to work. Mitt Romney and I know the difference between protecting a program, and raiding it. Ladies and gentlemen, our nation needs this debate. We want this debate. We will win this debate."

"Now all that's left is a presidency adrift, surviving on slogans that already seem tired, grasping at a moment that has already passed, like a ship trying to sail on yesterday's wind."

"Ladies and gentlemen, these past four years we have suffered no shortage of words in the White House. What's missing is leadership in the White House."

"President Obama is the kind of politician who puts promises on the record, and then calls that the record."

"College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life."

"None of us have to settle for the best this administration offers- a dull, adventureless journey from one entitlement to the next, a government-planned life, a country where everything is free but us." (My favorite line of the night!)

"Each of these great moral ideas is essential to democratic government- to the rule of law, to life in a humane and decent society. They are the moral creed of our country, as powerful in our time, as on the day of America's founding. They are self-evident and unchanging, and sometimes, even presidents need reminding, that our rights come from nature and God, not from government."

Here's the full transcript.

When Greatness Speaks

Condoleezza Rice just left the stage and left the entire convention on a high. What a great speech. What a great speaker. A woman with humble grace, intellectual greatness, and personal convictions. How refreshing to finally, after four years, hear someone with the capacity for greatness highlight hard truths and hopeful promises.

From the transcript available on Drudge:
After all, when the world looks to America, they look to us because we are the most successful political and economic experiment in human history. That is the true basis of “American Exceptionalism.” The essence of America – that which really unites us -- is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion – it is an idea -- and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. That it doesn’t matter where you came from but where you are going.

Ours has never been a narrative of grievance and entitlement. We have not believed that I am doing poorly because you are doing well. We have not been envious of one another and jealous of each other’s success. Ours has been a belief in opportunity and a constant battle – long and hard -- to extend the benefits of the American dream to all – without regard to circumstances of birth.

But the American ideal is indeed endangered today. There is no country, no not even a rising China, that can do more harm to us than we can do to ourselves if we fail to accomplish the tasks before us here at home.

Right On, Republicans!

Rand Paul is lighting up the convention tonight. I don't agree with him on everything, but on Obama he's on fire. Watch the live feed from C-SPAN or the GOP Convention site.

If this is any indication, last night's "love" theme is being replaced by "war" tonight. All's fair.

UPDATE:
Tim Pawlenty had some great lines. I especially loved his zinger to Obama, "A lot of people fail at their first job." And now Huckabee's bringing it to Obama.

Conventional Christie

So, I just finished watching the convention speeches. First...the women were on fire tonight. Mia Love, Nikki Haley, Ann Romney--they were highlights this evening.

Second... I liked Christie's speech, but I didn't love it. I don't want to nit-pic. But it's a political blog--so I will.

His tone was great. He's a commanding public speaker who is obviously passionate about politics and is fired up. He had a lot of good points and strong statements. But I was left feeling a little "meh" about the whole thing. Here's why:

1) Never, never use the term "shared sacrifice" or anything like it as a positive thing. It makes people think of Obama. And Marx. And Commies in general. Even if you mean that we'll all have to join together to cut government freebies and wasteful spending. It's not a "shared sacrifice"--it's an American success. It's the power of a united people, striving together, working together, moving together for a stronger future. It's not a "shared sacrifice"--Christie used that term twice.

2) "It doesn't matter how we got here." Excuse me? It damn well does matter how we got here and who took us here. That's what the election's about! There's not "enough blame to go around." It rests squarely on Obama and the Democrats who shoved through legislation, shouted down dissent, and shamelessly sold the future of the nation to the tune of $5 trillion. If it doesn't matter how we got here, then what's the point of all of this?

3) Several lines were set up to be knock-outs but just turned out to be glancing blows. They were like Don Corleone saying, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can take or leave." Just doesn't have that heat. Like Christie saying, "You see, Mr. President, real leaders don't follow polls--real leaders change polls." Does that mean they change the views? They lead and the people come around? Or Christie saying, "Their plan:  whistle a happy tune while driving us off the fiscal cliff, as long as they are behind the wheel of power." The visual imagery just doesn't compute. They're going to drive themselves off the cliff? Meh.

However, there were a few lines that did strike bada-bing--all over their nice, Ivy League suits.
"They believe in teachers unions. We believe in teachers."
"We have never been victims of destiny. We have always been masters of our own."
"I know this simple truth and I'm not afraid to say it:  our ideas are right for America and their ideas have failed America."

Overall, I'd give it a B. What did you think?

Here's the text, courtesy of Drudge.

Two Conservative Giants

Morton Blackwell is being interviewed right now by Mark Levin regarding the travesty against conservatives from the RNC at the convention. Morton is a true and humble leader--conservative to the core--and has great perspective on this and other issues. Audio link to follow...

UVA Schools Obama

Aside from being one of the best schools in the nation, University of Virginia has just shocked the Obama administration by not dropping everything to accommodate an Obama visit. The local NBC affiliate reports that, due to logistical reasons--which included having to cancel nearly 200 classes on the second day of school--UVA denied the request.

From the NBC29 report:
UVA says the Obama campaign requested the use of one of two outdoor venues - the Amphitheater or the Harrison-Small Library plaza.  The university declined the request for a number of reasons including class cancellations, which UVA estimates could be more than 186 classes on the second day of school.  The other main reason is they would have to take on the full cost of security, and because of university policy and their federal and state tax exempt status, they would have to offer the same opportunity to the other candidate so as not to show favor for either candidate.

Huh. An establishment taking costs and the law seriously. Guess UVA has some lessons Obama needs to learn.

Not only that, but UVA offered the John Paul Jones Arena, but were told it "was not academic enough" for the campaign. Now, both venues requested are beautiful--and relatively small for a presidential appearance. 

Perhaps the arena truly is not academic enough...or perhaps they're worried they don't have enough supporters to fill the larger venue.

Read the full story and statement here.

Dishonorable Disclosures: Must See

Check out this video from some true American heroes. Please hear these patriots out--it's the least we can do for those who have risked so much for our nation.

Just Desserts

A bakery in Virginia that won't bow to the VP?! That's a great inaugural link for this blog. I'm glad to share that there was so much support from my fellow Virginians that the bakery ran out of food halfway through the day.

VA Bakery Bucks Biden

Check out Crumb and Get It, the fabulous bakery in Radford.

New Blog from the Old Dominion

Sweet Tea Conservative... conservative views, political insights, and just a few sweet treats from a bitter clinger. Welcome to my blog!