Archives for June 2012

Twice in the past week, Attorney General Eric Holder faced very tough questioning from House and Senate committees probing the ‘Fast & Furious’ gunwalking scandal.  Republicans on both panels demanded his resignation or at least much greater compliance in turning over subpoenaed documents to investigators.  Rep. Blake Farenthold is a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and called for Holder’s resignation months ago.  Farenthold tells us why lawmakers have little choice but to approve a contempt citation but also explains how such a step could still be preventable.  Farenthold says the paper trail makes it very clear Holder has stonewalled and misled Congress.  And in an ironic twist, Farenthold reveals a contempt citation would trigger a Justice Department investigation of its own boss.

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Sometime this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a series of rulings on the constitutionality of the Obama health care laws.  Michigan Rep. Dan Benishek says after witnessing some of the oral arguments in person he’s confident at least part of the law will be struck down and perhaps large parts of it.  Benishek is a longtime physician and surgeon.  He says the Obama laws as currently constructed will destroy the American health care system through the gutting of Medicare and government intervention in personal decisions through the Independent Payment Advisory Board.  Benishek says the Obama plan focused on expanding coverage but is greatly eroding the quality of care patients can receive.  The congressman also explains what the GOP can do to advance its cause while Democrats control the Senate and White House.

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Greg Corombos of Radio America and Kevin Williamson of National Review are encouraged that Republicans are putting more heat on Attorney General Eric Holder and are very close to holding him in contempt of Congress.  They also break down President Obama’s highly misleading contention that he inherited a trillion dollar deficit and that he’s actually the most fiscally disciplined president in 60 years.  And they counter Obama’s assertion that small businesses should feel no additional burdens from the Obama health care plan.

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Tuesday is primary day in a number of states around the country.  However, in addition to the House and Senate races, some key ballot initiatives are also being decided.  One that’s garnered a lot of attention in recent days is Measure 2 in North Dakota, which would abolish property taxes.  Charlene Nelson is chairman of the Empower the Taxpayer movement behind the referendum.  She says the property assessment process is frustratingly arbitrary and different zoning areas carry much different tax rates.  Nelson also argues that if she owns her property there’s no reason why she should still have to ‘pay rent’ on it to the local government.  Supporters of the repeal have an uphill climb according to recent polls but the effort is still competitive despite being outspent by an estimated 30-1.  Nelson says organized labor, big business and other interests are all aligning against the plan.  They worry that abolishing the property tax will drain valuable resources from the government for schools and other priorities.  Nelson says that money will still be there and tax hikes in other areas won’t be necessary to make up the difference.

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Several weeks ago, a group of former NASA astronauts, engineers and other scientists sent a letter to the agency to rebuke the current leadership for its active embrace of the climate change agenda.  Now NASA officials have responded to those concerns but have only served to infuriate their former employees even more.  Leighton Steward is a geologist and author of “Fire, Ice and Paradise”.  He has worked closely with the astronauts and scientists in explaining why climate change science is far from settled and why many of the common conclusions from NASA leaders and others are flawed.  Steward also says NASA leaders are guilty of speaking out of both sides of their mouths.  The response to the former scientists claimed NASA does not offer hard conclusions in the climate change debate but just days later top scientists were making very dire predictions before Congress.  NASA leaders also said climate change is a moral danger on par with slavery.  Steward now tells us how the ex-NASA personnel are responding and where the battle goes from here.

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Five months ago Virginia Del. Bob Marshall made a late entry into the Republican field for the 2012 U.S. Senate nomination.  On Tuesday, Marshall hopes to be the one emerging from a four-person race to take on Democratic nominee Tim Kaine.  Marshall says he brings a solid 20-year record from the state legislature – a record of leadership and independence.  Marshall touts his sponsorship of the legislation that would shield Virginians from the individual mandate inside the president’s health care plan.  He also proudly notes his bill fighting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provision that allows for indefinite detention of American citizens if they are deemed a national security threat.  Marshall also describes himself as a thorn in the side of his own party, being punished by his own leadership team for refusing to back a rule that would keep subcommittee business out of the public record.  When it comes to his GOP competition, Marshall says he has a consistently conservative record, has successfully locked horns with Kaine in the past and is not vulnerable to attack on spending and debt issues like frontrunner and former Sen. George Allen.  Virginia’s primary is on Tuesday.  There is no registration by party affiliation in the Old Dominion, so all voters may participate.

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Last year, businessman Bob Turner shocked the political world by winning a special election in New York’s heavily Democratic ninth congressional district.  His reward was to watch the state eliminate his district through reapportionment.  So now Turner is running for U.S. Senate and looking to defeat Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.  Turner says Gillibrand is ranked as the most liberal member in the entire chamber – even more liberal than Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders who is an avowed socialist.  Turner points to Gillibrand’s reliable support for every Obama initiative from the stimulus to the health care plan and more as proof she is out of touch with the needs of New York.  The congressman says the economy is the biggest issue and his business background gives him the perspective to help create conditions favorable for job creation and reduce the debt.  Before Turner can truly focus on Gillibrand, he has to actually win the GOP nomination.  The primary is June 26 and the Conservative Party is already behind Wendy Long, who is also seeking the GOP nod.  Turner tells us it’s been a very positive tone in the primary campaign, but he firmly believes the only way for a Republican to beat Gillibrand is to be competitive in New York City.  He contends no other Republican hopeful is capable of winning the kind of support he can draw in and around the city.

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Human Events Political Editor John Gizzi sizes up the week in politics.  Just back from covering the rough and tumble Wisconsin recall fight, Gizzi explains why Scott Walker survived this heated challenge and why organized labor is coming out as the biggest loser in this battle.  He also offers his insight into the role Bill Clinton seems to be playing in the 2012 campaign by endorsing President Obama but also making regular comments that undermine the re-election strategy.  Gizzi weighs in the member vs. member House race between Democrats in New Jersey.

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