Today, in 1776, Virginia passed its ‘Declaration of Rights.’

There is a scene in the movie Braveheart in which King Edward I (Longshanks) laments that there are too many Scotts. His solution is to declare reinstatement of the old practice of primae noctis, which is to allow his nobles to have the right to take the Scots’ newlywed wives to their beds on their wedding night. Upon declaring primae noctis, Longshanks states (in obvious reference to impregnating the Scots’ brides), “If we can’t get them out, we’ll breed them out.”

While there is wide speculation that the practice of primae noctis is, in fact, fictional, it seems the leaders of the California’s SEIU, feeling there are too many conservatives holding public office in California, have adopted their own union version of primae noctis: If we can’t get them out, we’ll breed them out.

California’s SEIU leaders are planning on getting rid of California’s conservative lawmakers by taking over the California Republican Party by recruiting their own GOP candidates. (more…)

Weiner-mania: if the story weren’t so infuriating and sad – and such a damning commentary on our society – it would be laughable. Alas, here we stand at a moment in time when a sitting US congressman – a newly married, sitting US congressman – felt it was “okay” to take pictures of his erect penis and send them – unsolicited – to much younger females. And if that weren’t bad enough, we are led to believe that it is appropriate to have a “discussion” as to whether this idiot should resign or not. Of course he should resign! To believe otherwise is to engage in moral relativism and – contrary to what the Progressive Movement believes – that is a bad thing.

All one has to do to divine whether Congressman Weiner’s actions were as unacceptable as I feel they were, is to consider this singular point. If your daughter was to receive an unsolicited photograph of an erect penis from a man more than twice her age, a photo accompanied by salacious and suggestive comments, would that be acceptable to you? If you say yes then you have some terribly troubling issues that you should seek help with immediately.

The simple fact of the matter is that Mr. Weiner has both an ego and a low self-esteem problem. Obviously (and I am not a psycho-therapist, just a witness of the human condition), Mr. Weiner craves attention and validation. I find it ironic, yet disturbingly appropriate, that Mr. Weiner has chosen a profession that thrives on opinion polling. In the end, however, these personal foibles are owned by Mr. Weiner. But where they affect his personal life – and the lives of those related to him in both familial and professional manners, they also affect the lives of those who depend on Congress to do right by the electorate; the citizenry. To this end, We the People should also hold accountable those who elected Mr. Weiner to office.

Two moments in time lead me to insist that the country hold the voters of New York’s 9th District accountable for their vote to place Mr. Weiner in a position of power: the 17th Amendment and advancing federalism.

(more…)

About 15 years ago, Grant McCracken went to a shopping mall to interview teenagers about their identities. He found that the old rigid categories of “preppie,” “jock,” and “nerd,” had given way to a much longer list: There were surfer/skater guys, b-girls, goths, punks, heavy-metal rockers, and many other types of kids wandering around.

In books such as Plenitude, McCracken catalogued the explosion of new lifestyles and identities in North America and the developed world more generally. In his most recent volume, last year’s Chief Culture Office, McCracken argues that an understanding of how consumers play with their identities is key to making products that people want. His next book, Culturematic, will be published next year and examines how people create self-replicating cultural experiments that producers and audiences either dig or reject. One example: MTV’s invention of reality television in 1992, just as the station’s old programming model was beginning to flag. Out of a moment of desperation grew today’s dominant form of serial TV.

Trained in anthropology, the Canadian-born McCracken is a research affiliate at Convergence Culture Consortium at MIT and a brand consultant; his blog covers everything from arcane academic research to Gossip Girl plot threads.

(more…)

UPDATE: From National Journal:

Weiner told them that he would not make a move until his wife Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, returned from her trip to Africa and the Middle East with Clinton. Abedin is expected back on Wednesday.

***

Anthony Weiner does not intend to resign right away, but is apparently seeking a leave of absence from Congress to attend sex rehab.  It looks like calls to resign from Nancy Pelosi and Debbie Wasserman Schultz were not persuasive to him.  If Pelosi isn’t enough, we can think of only one Democrat leader who could put a stop to this saga now: Barack Obama.  The President has been radio-silent on this issue thus far.  It might be time for him to offer his sage wisdom.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Rep. Anthony Weiner is asking for a temporary leave of absence from the House while he seeks professional treatment in the wake of his Twitter scandal.

A spokeswoman for the New York Democrat says he has left for professional treatment and will focus on “becoming a better husband and healthier person.”

Spokeswoman Risa Heller says Weiner wants the leave of absence so he can be evaluated and work out a course of treatment.

The statement doesn’t say what Weiner would be treated for.

Just before the statement, leading Democrats demanded that Weiner step down. (more…)

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty turned out a blockbuster economic-growth plan this past week, including deep cuts in taxes, spending, and regulations. It’s really the first Reaganesque supply-side growth plan from any of the GOP presidential contenders. And he caps it all off with a defense of optimism as he charges ahead with a national economic growth goal of 5 percent.

That’s right: 5 percent.

Pawlenty calls this target aspirational. Okay, fine. But deeper down, he’s basically saying no to the declinists and pessimists who seem to populate the economic landscape these days. Big government doesn’t work. Let’s try something different.

Ronald Reagan always believed that America is exceptional. By removing obstacles to growth, the Gipper held that economic policies could unleash a massive outpouring of risk-taking, creativity, and entrepreneurship. He was right, and his policies launched a two-decade-long boom.

Actually, the first couple years of the Reagan recovery came in at over 7 percent. And as Pawlenty noted in his speech at the University of Chicago this week, between 1983 and 1987, the Reagan recovery grew at 4.9 percent annually. I note that Pres. John F. Kennedy also had a 5 percent growth target, a response to Ike’s three recessions.

So while those on the left criticize Pawlenty, and while even some conservatives scoff at his growth target, history says we’ve been there before.

(more…)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Shultz (D-FL) and fellow New York Representative Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee all called on embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) to resign today.  The move is a complete reversal of Pelosi’s position from just twenty four hours ago.

From the The Hill:

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and two other leaders of the Democratic Party on Saturday called on Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) to resign, shattering any semblance of party support for the embattled congressman.“Congressman Weiner has the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents, and the recognition that he needs help. I urge Congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a Member of Congress,” Pelosi said in a statement Saturday.

Her call was issued nearly simultaneously with pleas for Weiner to quit from Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz (D-Fla.), the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

(more…)

Exclusive Video of President Obama’s Secret  Try-Out of  New 2012 Stump Speech Pundits all across  America are wondering, just how the heck is he going to do it. With the country in such lousy shape, unemployment up, factory orders down, economists predicting a double-dip recession, relations with our best allies such as Great Britain and Israel in such lousy shape, just how the heck does Barack Obama expect to win re-election in 2012?

Well in a Big Government exclusive,  you the reader will know. Thanks to a secret meeting between my cousin Ben, the spy, and a not to be named member of the Obama re-election team, I have obtained a copy of a video of the President giving his 2012 stump speech a tryout.

How did Ben do it? Well lets just say that my cousin had some information that the Obama campaign operative did not want to become public knowledge.

As you can see in the video below, President Obama plans confront his challenges head-on and will give clear explanations for all his policy failures:

(more…)

The states’ lawsuit against Obamacare took a turn before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta this week. Florida has joined 25 other states and the National Federation of Independent Business in filing the lawsuit. The primary issue is whether the law’s mandate that all Americans purchase health insurance, or pay a fine, is within the constitutional powers of Congress to regulate commerce.

In Atlanta, the three-judge panel hearing the case consisted of Judges Hull and Marcus, both appointed by President Clinton, and Judge Dubina, appointed by President George W. Bush.

Until this point, lower court rulings appear to have been made along partisan lines, with four federal district judges, appointed by Democratic presidents, upholding the law’s constitutionality, and two appointed by Republican presidents, ruling the law is unconstitutional.

Excellent coverage about the case before the Eleventh Circuit is provided by Carrie Severino at National Review Online, and Hadley Heath of Independent Women’s Forum.

Over 30 individuals and organizations have filed lawsuits against Obamacare since it was enacted in March of 2010. Approximately 1400 waivers have been granted, thus far, by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to companies, unions, and other entities which stated they were unable to meet the law’s annual limit requirements.

(more…)

Seriously, I’m getting really tired of all the comments accusing my articles of being satirical.  Cut it out.  It’s not funny and you cannot defend the indefensible.   I’m pressing on anyway with my plan for fixing America.

Foreclosures

The housing crisis is completely and entirely the fault of the banks.  I reject the notion that borrowers had any culpability whatsoever.  All those rules and regulations made it necessary to have a Ph.D. to understand all those mortgage documents.  There was too much paperwork for any borrower to actually wade through and read.  And don’t give me the excuse that all that paperwork was the result of government regulation.  We needed all that paperwork so that banks wouldn’t take advantage of borrowers.  And even though we had all that paperwork, they still took advantage of borrowers.  Everybody knows that nobody reads contracts, so saying that it was the borrower’s fault for signing something they didn’t understand makes no sense.  The borrowers were all duped into signing all that mortgage paperwork and didn’t understand that mortgage rates would reset and that they couldn’t afford to own the home.  Besides, the housing bubble was so out of control that who could blame a borrower for wanting to cash in?  Everybody else was!

So I say that anybody who can’t pay their mortgage should not have to pay their mortgage.  Banks should be forced to modify any loan that any borrower has fallen behind on.  They should modify it so that the borrower can live in the house for as long as they want as long as they can’t pay the mortgage.  The bank never should have approved the loan in the first place, even though the loan documents weren’t necessarily truthful.  The banks should be able to read people’s mind, and since they can’t, they should pay the price.

For everyone who has paid their mortgage on time, why should you get a break for being responsible?

(more…)

There’s a reason labor unions are chided for acting like bullies and thugs.

Just ask Michigan State Rep. Marty Knollenberg, who recently had dozens of unionists picketing outside his business due to education reform legislation currently under consideration in the state legislature.

Knollenberg is supportive of school reforms, so the teachers union has decided that his  business and his customers should be targets for intimidation and thuggery.

This certainly isn’t unique.  Wisconsin unions took similar action against business owners who refused to condemn Gov. Scott Walker’s reform efforts.

How would the unions feel if tea party members protested outside the homes of public employees and their union bosses? They don’t, because they understand that all Americans have the freedom to believe what they want to believe without having to fear for their safety or livelihoods.

The brash antics of unions may intimidate politicians, but they do nothing to win over the public.

(more…)

Today, in 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a “Committee of Five” to draft a declaration on independence. The wheels were set in motion.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who has been under fire after admitting to sending graphic photos to women online, acknowledged Friday that he had online contact with a 17-year-old girl in Delaware but said the communications were “neither explicit nor indecent.”

New Castle County police officers went to a high school junior’s home north of Wilmington Friday afternoon to speak with the girl about her contact with the New York Democrat, police have confirmed. The interview was first reported by FoxNews.com, which had a reporter at the home when police arrived.

Weiner spokeswoman Risa Heller said in a one-sentence statement Friday night, “According to Congressman Weiner, his communications with this person were neither explicit nor indecent.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed that officers had interviewed an area teenager about online contacts with the congressman.

“They were made aware of an alleged contact between Congressman Anthony Weiner and an area teen,” said Officer Tracey Duffy, a New Castle County police spokeswoman. “The teen has been interviewed and disclosed no information regarding any criminal activity.” (more…)

The passage of SB1028/HB1353 (Material Support to Designated Entities Act of 2011) in the Tennessee Legislature on May 21, 2011 after months of controversy, and inaccurate and misleading reporting in local and national media marks a sea-change moment in America’s awareness and understanding of, and response to, the threat of Islam and its doctrine of jihad.

The bill passed the Tennessee Senate with 26 Yes, and 3 No; the vote in the House was 76 Yes, 16 No, and 1 Present/Not Voting. This bi-partisan support for a bill that does nothing if not increase the ability of the legal and law enforcement authorities of Tennessee to better protect the citizens of that state from terrorist threats (including organizations/entities that encourage/support terrorism) shows that a certain rationality has returned to public discourse, and re-focused the response of government, at least in Tennessee, from politically correct falsehoods and multicultural wishful thinking, to a more pragmatic acceptance of threats and a realistic approach to terrorism prevention.

When the bill is signed into law by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam once an entity has been designated as a terrorist organization, it is a felony for anyone to knowingly help that entity with money, advice or any other aid.

Previous versions of the bill had included the words “jihad” and “Sharia” but the passed version of the bill does not. In fact, there is no differentiation made in the passed legislation between any specific ideology, or religious views that might encourage terrorism, or violence. All those who might support “entities” or “organizations” designated as a terrorist organization whatever their religious or ideological views might be, will fall under the purview of this new law.

The bi-partisan passage of the “Material Support to Designated Entities Act” in Tennessee is an official acknowledgment of realities and a long overdue response on the part of high level politicians in America that threats (and actions) of jihad and terrorism are the results of a specific ideology. The bill did not pass in a political vacuum.

(more…)

From Fox News:

NEW CASTLE, Del. — Police on Friday afternoon came to the home of a 17-year-old high school junior to ask her about direct online communications she has had with Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Two officers from the New Castle County Police Department arrived at the girl’s home around 4:30 p.m. and asked to speak with the girl’s mother about the daughter’s contact with Weiner. Another officer appeared at the home a short time later. A FoxNews.com reporter was at the home when the police arrived.

[...]

Sources close the student said the girl followed Weiner on Twitter after seeing him speak during a school trip to Washington on April 1. Weiner direct-messaged the girl back on April 13, the sources said, though it is not clear what other communication the two may have had between or after those dates. (more…)

Big Government recently noted that the Texas legislature voted to ram through a California-style tax-hiking “Amazon Tax” bill.

Gov. Rick Perry subsequently vetoed that bill, but Big Government has learned that Texas legislators have renewed their push for policy that is unconstitutional on its face by wrapping their proposal into SB 1, Texas’ fiscal matters bill, which is under consideration by the Texas House.

Texas conservative groups and leaders have been working to get the “Amazon Tax” provisions stripped out of that bill.  However, those efforts appear to have been unsuccessful to-date. As the Dallas Morning News reports, House members are persisting in their pursuit of the tax hike.

(more…)

[White House exercise facility]

MICHELLE:  Well, come in, people.  Geithner, Carney–get your skinny butts over here and spot for me while I press 250.  Everybody else, pull up a mat and sit so we can start.

JOE BIDEN:  Huh?  Why’s the Boss over in the corner in his PJs staring out the window?

MICHELLE:  Off the record.  He’s stressed out.  I’m running things until his therapist clears him for duty. Anybody got a problem with that?

DAVID PLOUFFE:  No Ma’m, but, uh . . . .

MICHELLE:  What happened?  Yesterday, he had to layup on the first par 5 at Burning Tree and couldn’t choose between a 6-iron and 7-iron.  Told his playing partners he wanted to sleep on it.  At dinner, a steward asked what flavor parfait he preferred for dessert.  Midnight, he was still muttering, “I like the strawberry, but the peach appeals to me, too.”

BILL DALEY:  Deteriorating decision-making skills.  It’s worse than when I came on board.  Hell, CIA knew where bin Laden was hiding since mid-2009.   The President couldn’t pull the trigger.  I had to use his autopen to sign the order okaying the Seal operation on Osama’s compound.

MICHELLE:  Hmmph.  Didn’t have a problem deciding on those chili dogs and stepping on my nutrition message the other day. (more…)