Rick Santelli's Chicago Tea Party

President Obama First 100 Days News Conference Posted: 29 Apr 2009 06:01 PM PDT What questions would you have asked the President and how would you respond to his address?

Less than 25% of voters call themselves Republicans Posted: 29 Apr 2009 03:31 PM PDT According to a recent Pew Research poll, just 23% of voters identify themselves as Republicans.  That’s down from 30% in 2004.    Meanwhile, 35% of voters identify themselves as Democrats, registering only a 2% jump since 2004.  Apparently, the Republican exodus is leading to more and more self-proclaimed Independents.  In the last four months alone, those who identify themselves as Independents have grown to 39%. Read more Many “pundits” believe the Republican Party is facing an identity crisis.  They believe the party is splintered into three, large groups:  Libertarian Republicans, Socially Conservative Republicans, and Moderate Republicans.    When it comes to Libertarian Republicans, some Republicans like their strict, fiscal conservatism and dedication to limited government, but other Republicans feel they are too rigid with their constitutional ideology and too weak on national security.  When it comes to Socially Conservative Republicans, some Republicans like their social conservatism and hawkish views on national security, but other Republicans feel they spend too much money,  are too socially conservative, and do too much to expand the size of government.  When it comes to Moderate Republicans, some Republicans like their flexible social stances, pragmatic approach to politics, and hawkish views on national security, but other Republicans feel they compromise their conservative principles, are too socially liberal, advocate too big of government, and spend too much money. Are Republicans on their way out?  Will the party splinter into two or more distinct parties?  Is an Independent Party in the offing, despite the electoral hurdles and media bias against 3rd parties?  Or, will the Republican Party find a way to unite based on a set of common principles?  If so, which principles, since the different factions seem to be at odds with one another? Let’s hear your thoughts. Read the article here.

Read your Constitutions tonight Posted: 29 Apr 2009 11:59 AM PDT While President Obama gives his  prime time press conference tonight, why not take this opportunity to take out your Constitutions and have a read?  Read a few lines, a couple Articles, or the entire document.  Reconnect with our nation’s political “bible”.  Read it by yourself.  Read it with your family.  Discuss it with your children. Until we ourselves become more constitutionally literate, we will continue to vote in the same old politicians, continue to witness the explosive expansion of government power under both major parties, and continue to base our opinions almost exlclusively on personal feelings. The time has come to put our government to the test.  The time has come to put our politicians to the test.  The time has come to put our political parties to the test.  And it’s time to put our own beliefs to the test. How do you put these things to the test?  Line it up against the Constitution. So, when the next big issue, debate, or headline strikes, instead of asking what your favorite network thinks, what your political party thinks, what your friends think, or even what you think, ask yourself, “What does the Constitution say?” But, in order to discover what the Constitution says about a particular issue or policy, we must read it first.  Let’s start tonight.

Bipartisan Letter to Budget Chairman Urges Federal Reserve Transparency Posted: 29 Apr 2009 11:12 AM PDT In a letter to John Spratt signed by Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Peter Defazio (D-Oregon), Ron Paul (R-Texas), and Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), the House Chairman of the Budget Committee was asked for Senate language to be incorporated in the House version of the current Budget Resolution to increase transparency at the Federal Reserve: Dear Chairman Spratt, As you meet with fellow conferees to reconcile the House- and Senate-passed budget resolutions, we urge you to adopt the Senate provision regarding the Deficit Neutral Reserve Fund for Increased Transparency at the Federal Reserve in the final version of the resolution. This language calls for the Federal Reserve to identify banks and other financial institutions that have received more than $2.2 trillion in taxpayer-backed loans and other financial assistance since March 24, 2008. Under Chairman Bernanke, the central banking system has opened a range of extraordinary funding facilities that are providing additional credit to banks, large financial institutions, and primary brokers, as well as guaranteeing commercial paper. All of this activity is happening in secret, with the Federal Reserve disbursing money and credit to the large financial institutions that have put our credit markets and economy at risk. The Federal Reserve has resisted FOIA requests, and will not make public even the terms of payment for the contractors it is using to run these extraordinary programs. At the very least, Congress and the public should have knowledge about which banks are receiving taxpayer money, what they are doing with the money, and the credit risk taxpayers are taking on through the Federal Reserve. The Senate language encourages such transparency, allowing for audits and public disclosure of secret loans and financial assistance from the Federal Reserve to these large institutions. We urge you to include the Senate language in the final Budget Resolution.

Democrats say Republicans should be more like them Posted: 29 Apr 2009 10:52 AM PDT After Senator Arlen Specter’s politically expedient switch to the Democratic Party, Congressional Democrats are recommending Republicans to become more moderate.  Some believe the Republicans ran a moderate, John McCain, for President, while others believe the Republican Party needs to return to its more fiscally & politically conservative roots.  Some believe the Republican Party must adopt more moderate stances in order to compete, while others believe compromise has badly hurt the party.  Still others believe there is little difference between the two parties, as both parties pass $3 trillion budgets, add more debt, endorse huge bailouts, and increase the size & scope of the Federal Government.  What do you think? Read the article here.

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