On Friday, the unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent after the economy shed another 193,000 jobs. But should we be encouraged by the White House claim of a million jobs saved or created by the stimulus? Which groups are having the hardest time finding work? How will the Obama agenda impact job creation? We ask Diana Furchgott-Roth, former chief economist for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Why is the nation’s largest seniors organization backing a plan that guts Medicare? Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute knows. She tells us and writes about it at www.galen.org. She also explains why the AMA is in revolt about its leaders decision to back the Pelosi plan.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis says the Army and the Ft. Hood community will recover from Thursday’s horrific killing spree. He explains how the military rallies at such a time and why troubled individuals are usually identified before such violence occurs. Maginnis says it’s possible for members of the military to fall prey to radical Islam but says we shold also recognize the service of many Muslim service members.
The Capitol Steps unveil their new Christmas CD, “Barackin’ Around the Christmas Tree”. This week, we hear “A Sarah Palin Christmas” and “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas”.
Arizona Rep. Trent Franks says he was amazed at the turnout for the hastily arranged rally against Democratic health care legislation. But did it do any good? Will any Democratic minds be changed? What will happen in Saturday’s vote? Will there be a vote? Do pro-life members have enough votes to prevent a vote from even happening? Why does Franks call the Pelosi bill the largest expansion of abortion in America since Roe v. Wade?
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo says Democratic leaders in his chamber won’t even release their health care bill. But he says the earlier versions and what we see emerging in the House is too expensive and will be far more expensive as time goes on. He also explains why Republicans walked out of Thursday’s committee vote on the Democratic bill on climate change.
John Gizzi of Human Events breaks down Tuesday’s election results. Why does he call Republican wins in Virginia an ‘avalanche’? How did Democrats lose in New Jersey? Did conservatives cost the GOP a House seat in New York? And will Democrats get their way in the House on Saturday’s health care vote?
Former Bush media guru Mark McKinnon says it’s hard to read too much into Tuesday’s elections, but there are some clear lessons. First, he says Democrats had some bad gubernatorial candidates but voters are very unhappy with Democrats overall concerning the economy. As for Republicans, McKinnon says conservative activists and GOP party bosses share the blame for blowing the House race in New York’s 23rd congressional district.
Georgia Rep. John Linder says Tuesday’s gubernatorial wins for the Republican Party are similar to 1993-1994, when Republicans won these key races in prelude to the Republican Revolution. Why are independents coming back to the GOP? What will Republicans need to do if they want good news on election night a year from now? How will this impact moderate Democrats in their upcoming vote on health care reform?
On Tuesday, voters in Maine rejected the legalization of gay marriage. The law had been approved by the state legislature and governor, but state law allows for voters to challenge any new law. So how significant is the win for traditional marriage in Maine? Why are pro-gay marriage activists wrong when they say they just want rights afforded to heterosexuals? Is the close vote a sign that the tide is turning, or is it evidence that traditional marriage wins even in very liberal places? And where will the next battlegrounds be? We ask Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs at Liberty Counsel.
