Freedom Line Blog

WSJ – U.S. Shelves Missile Shield
Political Wire – Presidential Jinx in VA?
Boston Globe – Senator Dukakis?
Cato Institute – More Evidence of U.S. Socialism

Washington Post – ACORN and Democrats
Rep. Latta – ObamaCare is “Big Government”
WSJ – Tea Parties Continue to Protest … Metro
Steny Hoyer – House Schedule

Federal Debt: $11.819 trillion

The bill contains 204 instances of the word tax(es), 36 occurrences of the word fine(s), 26 instances of the word shall, and 69 occurrences of the word must.  This version of the visualization omits the “current law” language in the bill.

Click here for the full visualization.

Here is a nifty visualization (by frequency of words) of Senator Baucus’ “America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009.”

Washington Post – White House Tries to Counter Punch
ABC News – Too Much Obama?
WSJ – House “Disapproves” of Rep. Wilson
Political Wire – Democrats Prepare to Go Alone
John Fund – ACORN Runs Off the Rails

Rep. Jeff Flake – Tire Tariff Will Create Trade War
National Review Online – Please Read the Bill, Mr. President
Mark Perry – Tariff Will Punish American Consumers
The Hill – Obama Ruined Democratic Realignment
Sen. Max Baucus – America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 (223 pages)

Federal Debt: $11.816 trillion

The vote, as one would expect, was mostly a party-line vote (240-179).  Seven Republicans voted for the resolution while twelve Democrats voted against “censuring” Wilson.  Five members voted present (Engel, Foster, Frank, Shea-Porter and Skelton).

Here is the full roll call.

U.S. Condemned For Pre-Emptive Use Of Hillary Clinton Against Pakistan

House Democrats apparently aren’t accepting Representative Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) apology for his outburst last week.  Today, House Democratic leaders will move forward with a “Resolution of Disapproval” for Wilson’s “You Lie” statement.

Wilson recently pledged, “I won’t be offering any more apologies.”

WSJ – Senate Votes to De-fund Acorn
Political Wire – Women Lawmakers More Effective?
Cafe Hayek – Witless on Trade?
Cato Institute – Evidence Against Big Government
Ed Royce – D.C. Spending Kills the Dollar
Steny Hoyer – House Schedule
Politico – Revolving Door for Health Care Aides

National Debt: $11.812 trillion

Yes, the U.S. health care system has its flaws.  The cost, payment by third parties, government involvement, and defensive medicine are all factors that limit access and drive up costs.  But, with the slice of capitalism that still exists in our system, money will always allow patients to receive care in a timely fashion.

In Canada, the government runs the single-payer system and determines what procedures are covered and who receives care.  Fortunately, capitalism still exists across the border and a firm has started to make money off of long waiting lines.

Yes, one stop to Timely Medical can drastically reduce your waiting time and allow you to leave the rationing to the bureaucrats.  One has to wonder if such a company will exist here if the U.S. goes the single-payer route.

Here’s another great video from the 9-12 march on D.C.  This is courtesy of our friends at Reason.

This one is courtesy of Matthias Shapiro. Some of his videos have netted more than 1 million views.

WSJ – Gloomy Anniversary
Political Wire – Intensity in Health Care Debate
Cafe Hayek – Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Cato Institute – Obama to Impose Tariffs

Steny Hoyer – House Schedule
Government Bytes – 9-12 Rally: What I Saw
Politico – Ex-Governors Want Another Shot
Politico – Senator: House Health Care Bill Won’t Pass

9-12 Video: Trying to Get Through the Crowd

The 9-12 taxpayer rally was simply an amazing experience.  I arrived just before noon, having to endure a packed Metro ride full of taxpayers headed to the event.

It took about 30 minutes to walk from 12th and Pennsylvania to the Capitol.  Contrary to what some left-of-center pundits might say, the rally was not packed with crazies preaching secession.

The rally was full with ordinary taxpayers who drove thousands of miles for the rally.  I met a group from Georgia who drove through the night to attend the rally.  They planned to drive through the night again because they couldn’t afford to spend two nights in a hotel.  They weren’t paid off by anyone to come and this was actually the first protest they had ever attended.

This was not an AstroTurf rally.  The 9-12 rally was a legitimate expression of taxpayer frustration over reckless taxing and spending.  Estimates vary from 60,000 to 100,000, but whatever the number, the experience was amazing and the politicians in this city ought to listen.  As our friend Andrew Moylan noted, “Hell hath no fury like a taxpayer ignored.”

Here is some footage:

The taxpayer protests must be working because the left is angry …  so angry that they called in a bomb threat to the offices of FreedomWorks today, forcing an evacuation.  FreedomWorks is the lead sponsor of the 9-12 rally in D.C. tomorrow (CFIF is also a co-sponsor), and they have even received death threats to their office.

I don’t think that the felon who phoned in this threat realizes his call only strengthens our resolve to fight harder against elements that obviously can’t tolerate dissent or alternative plans for health care, taxes, and regulatory reform.

The march will go on tomorrow and it will be a success, despite the radicals calling in to threaten the lives of people in their 20’s and 30’s working solely to limit the size and scope of Uncle Sam.

It is an old Washington refrain: political friend supports a presidential candidate and then gets a plum ambassadorship in a swanky country, likely one with a nice view or a beach.  This political quid pro quo happens countless times in D.C. but I was somewhat surprised to learn that it also happens across political parties, though the motivations might be the same.

Douglas Kmiec, Reagan official and former Dean of Catholic University Law School, drew some right-of-center criticism for his endorsement of President Obama.  Kmiec, a devout Catholic, was even refused communion because of his support for the pro-choice candidate.

However, despite the policy differences, Kmiec publicly endorsed Obama in an LA Times op-ed, and even wrote a book about then-Candidate Obama’s qualifications for office.

Of course, in D.C., no good deed goes unpunished and I learned from Catholic University this morning that Kmiec had been appointed ambassador to the beautiful island nation of Malta.  Surrounded by nothing more than the Med and fine dining, I’m sure Kmiec deeply regrets his decision last year, and I’m sure his vocal support for the President had nothing to do with his appointment.

Here’s a pic of the sunset in Malta.  It looks like rough times ahead for our new ambassador.

Here’s a great video from our friends at Americans for Tax Reform:

Cato Institute – Congressional Conflict of Interest
Representative Tom Price – Health Care Fact Check
Chris Cillizza – A Re-Energized Democratic Base?
Reason – Big Stimulus Winners and Losers
Political Wire – Obama Speech a Boon to Health Care Fight?
Cafe Hayek – Benefits Have Costs

D.C. 9/12 March on Washington

Remembering 9/11:

Today, we remember the fallen heroes of eight years ago and their enduring legacy for our country.

Tomorrow, taxpayers and citizen activists will be marching on Washington for the 9/12 taxpayer rally.  The Center for Individual Freedom is a proud co-sponsor of the event and we hope that you will be able to join us as we march down Pennsylvania avenue.  Here is more information about the event.

According to CNN, capitalism, the original inventor of fantasy sports, steel, smiles, ice cream, and prosperity has reinvented itself in the shadowy realm of fantasy football.

For those who follow the pigskin, you’ll remember that the quarterback for the New England Patriots (Tom … something) tore several ligaments in his knee last year.  Fantasy owners who drafted him were left with a huge loss in point production, and had to settle with an inferior quarterback, likely one from New York or Philly.

In response to this suffering, some intrepid entrepreneurs decided to essentially offer insurance for the fantasy sports market.  Fantasy “players” can now buy insurance for players, in the event they are lost to injury.  As a result of such genius innovations in the market, fantasy sports are now an $800 million industry.  Regrettably, the number of relationships and marriages that fantasy sports has destroyed is incalculable at this moment, but I wouldn’t put it past the market to give everyone an estimate.

Of course, fantasy football was already a nice product of capitalism before people started making money off of it.  For millions of over-enthusiastic beer-drinking football junkies across the nation, fantasy sports provide plenty of psychic income.  Thankfully, the IRS has not yet begun to tax this potential revenue stream.

Congressional Budget Office – September Budget Review
WSJ – GOP Response
Political Wire – Biden Predicts Health Care Bill by Thanksgiving
Cato Institute – Thoughts on Citizens United v. FEC

Steny Hoyer – Today’s House Schedule
John Stossel – Free Speech Watch
Greg Mankiw – Judging Downturns
Government Bytes – A Missed Opportunity for Obama

Federal Debt: 11.796 trillion