When one is embarrassed by their own words, an oft-used option (at least in DC) is to retreat into claims of being misrepresented. So it goes after we recently brought you the troubled Tweets of former HuffPo writer, labor activist, and self-described 3rd-generation union organizer Mike Elk, who broadcast: “We need to find those scabs and kick their ass.”

Mr. Elk feels, apparently, treated unfairly by us directly quoting him, so we’re airing his grievance and letting you decide. He claims that listing his Tweets out of order (to improve readability) was “unethical journalism.” We are greatly amused at such talk from a guy who was seemingly, allegedly bounced from his unpaid gig writing at Huffing Post because he used the guise of journalism to support highly aggressive union organizing actions. But check out his Twitter stream for yourself (see Wednesday, July 20, 2011) and you be the judge if his direct quotes misrepresent him.

More importantly, the Elk’s Dodge was “I dont promote physical violence of any kind against scabs, just verbally heat exchanges w/ scabs, u misinterpted plz correct”. Unfortunately for that flimsy claim, he’d already added that “I dont support physically violent attacks on scabs just verbally violently attacks on scabs which I was referring to there”. Verbal violence? When does verbal violence turn into physical violence?

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Right after the Fourth of July, I broke the story of Natalie Nichols, a newly elected county clerk in Texas, who questioned a rogue court that actually voted to remove the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer from the court’s official records. She refused to do it, and made it her official stance. She now faces charges.

After my story, “An unholy war in Texas,” ran on July 6 over at World Net Daily, Bowie County Clerk Natalie Nichols found herself facing Grand Jury charges and possible prison time.

As county clerk, Nichols keeps the minutes of the proceedings of the Commissioners Court, which are held before an audience and begin with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. While Nichols was away attending a county clerk training conference on June 13, the Commissioners Court voted to remove the invocation from the minutes of a previous meeting. Why? Nichols said that County Judge Sterling Lacy told her that he “didn’t want some group like the ACLU to come in and sue.” They removed the Pledge of Allegiance from the minutes also.

According to Red Flame Wire, last Monday Lacy tried to spin the removal of the Pledge and the prayer from the minutes to lessen his own responsibility for their removal, whereupon Nichols got angry and interrupted, telling him: “But you’re lying.” And he was. “It was Lacy,” says Red Flame Wire, “and three other members of the court who voted to remove the Pledge and Prayer from the records from a June 13th meeting in which Nichols was out of town. Nichols refused to do so. There is one problem for Lacy, it was caught on tape.”

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Gee, some could make the case that what Governror Scott Walker and legislative Republicans are doing in Wisconsin just may be working.

While Nation Sputters on Jobs, Wisconsin Economy Begins to Hum

[Madison, Wisc…] Earlier this month, analysts were dismayed by the nation’s anemic job creation numbers. On Thursday, state officials were pleased as they released data that showed more than half of the net new jobs added in the US in June came from Wisconsin.

“We have made difficult decisions in our state, but they are beginning to payoff,” said Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R). “The national job figures remind us that we can not rest after one month of good news; while there will be ups and downs along the way, we must help lead the nation to recovery.”

Using seasonally adjusted data, the 12,900 private-sector jobs created in June marks the largest one-month gain in Wisconsin since September 2003. The state’s net new job gain for June is 9,500 jobs, more than half of the nation’s net gain of 18,000 jobs for the same month. Read more>>

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On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Congressmen Bill Cassidy, Steve King and Jeb Hensarling to talk about the House passage of Cut, Cap and Balance, the Gang of Six plan in the Senate and more.

We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.

Related Links:

House Passes Cut, Cap and Balance; Faces Stiff Opposition in Senate
Cut, Cap and Balance will avoid default
The Gang of Six Disaster: The Worst Plan So Far
Americans still think raising debt ceiling a dodgy idea
Paul Ryan Responds To “Gang Of Six” “Bipartisan” “Deficit-Cutting” “Plan”
Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D.
Congressman Steve King
Congressman Jeb Hensarling

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Like many, you may know that union bosses put up inflatable rats outside businesses they are trying to intimidate into handing over their workers. But this week — in true turnabout-is-fair-play style — someone put up an inflatable rat outside the National Labor Relations Board hearing where Obama appointees are attempting to neuter real union organizing elections.

Well, that set off union activist and writer Mike Elk. He’s getting angry, and you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. He views those who differ with him as “scabs” and says:

I am very non violent person, but theres something about my background that gets me so upset about scabs

… and …

like I remember being at Ravenswood as a kid and those guys would just go slash tires of scabs basically all day

… and …

its a weird violent streak I have in me, like a very non violent guy but u bring up scabs and i just become a differnt guy

… which leads to …

BIGGER QUESTION – who the fuck let union busters rent a giant rat? We need to find those scabs and kick their ass

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Results of a recent Washington Post/ABC poll, conducted with 1,001 random adults- not likely voters- found that 77% of those polled believe that Republicans are being too stubborn and uncompromising when it comes to the debt debate. The survey also found that 62% of the respondents believe that a combination of cutting spending and increasing taxes is the best way to reduce the federal budget deficit. These results follow along with common stereotypes that Republicans are rigid, rather than principled, about important issues concerning the nation, and that “all of the above” is better- or, for non-committal types, more convenient- than one option. After all, why bother to educate yourself about the options, when you can simply choose everything?

Similarly, a CBS News poll regarding the debt talks, conducted with 810 random adults- 24% who gave their political affiliation as “Republican,” 35% “Democrat,” and 41% “Independent-” found that 43% approve of the president’s handling of the debt talks, 31% approve of the Democrats, and only 21% approve of the Republicans’ management of the negotiations. This survey also found that half of Republicans, 51%, disapprove of how members of their party in Congress are handling the negotiations. It should be noted that, while the poll did not obtain responses from equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats, some Americans who identify themselves as “Republicans” are indeed disapproving of their congressional representatives- but because they believe they are not being principled enough.

Keep in mind that likely voters are not representative of the general population of telephone owners. Likely voters are generally more aware and informed about the issues, enough to commit to get out and vote.

Enter Rasmussen Reports, which, this week, finds that a generic Republican presidential candidate earns support from 47% of likely voters, as President Obama earns 41% of support. Similarly, for the second week in a row, Republicans were shown to have a six-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot, 44-38%. Unaffiliated voters prefer the Republican candidate by a 40% to 25% margin.

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The Obama Administration has threatened to veto the House of Representative’s “Cut, Cap and Balance” deficit reduction legislation; because it does not preserve what the President refers to as “investments that encourage economic growth”. A signature example of that Presidential encouragement has been prioritizing production of the Chevrolet Volt electric car in the government bankruptcy restructuring of General Motors. But after six months and a $700 million to build the cars; only 2,745 Volts have been sold at the $39,995 price tag and 508 unsold vehicles are languishing in dealer inventories. Deficit spending to finance losses of $255,009 per unit doesn’t sound like an investment that will encourage growth.

The Administration effectively fired the CEO; forced bondholders to take 75% loss; and “invested” $50 billion of tax payer money to gain 61% control of GM’s stock. Since the restructuring, the independent Government Accountability Office has issued reports that cast “substantial doubt” on the likelihood taxpayers will fully recoup their investment. More troubling is the Administration, at the behest of the UAW, forced GM to withdraw from their profitable NUMMI joint- venture with Toyota in California.

GM reported the NUMMI plant’s production in 2008 of 149,000 Toyota Corollas, 122,000 Toyota Tacomas, and 71,000 Pontiac Vibes 2008. According to Motor Trend Magazine, Toyota stated: “Our hope was for the 50/50 joint venture to continue,” and indicated willingness to move production of their wildly successful Prius Hybrid from Japan to NUMMI. But under pressure from the Administration, General Motors opted out of the 25-year-old California venture with Toyota and spent hundreds of millions building Volt manufacturing in UAW friendly Michigan.

NUMMI ceased operations on April 1, 2010. The closure left 4,700 employees jobless at the Freemont plant and affected another 25,000 supplier jobs around the state, according to a study commissioned by California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer.

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Normally, for a situation to be blown out of proportion, there must be a situation to actually blow out of proportion. And Allen West’s comments to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz are precisely not a situation, but liberals have failed to grasp this common knowledge.

As you read this, those on the Left are cowering in a corner, because due to the email that congressman West sent to congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz, Keith Olbermann thinks that West might actually shoot someone. Because clearly, using the words “vile”, “unprofessional”, and “despicable” are the worst things someone involved in politics has ever said.

Liberals seem to have made a sport of selectively criticizing comments made by elected officials or people in power, especially those who identify as conservatives. It seems that their buddies-in-arms have been given a free pass, so long as they vigorously defend the philosophies of a president who promotes socialist health care plans and flip-flops on more subjects than any president I have heard of.  To be fair, I might be made to believe that West was wrong in his comments….if making such comments were not the modus operandi of the Left.

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The Minnesota shutdown draws to a close after a very long month for many Minnesotans. Once all the details were hammered out in the five days of closed-door negotiations between Republican leadership, Committee chairs, and the Dayton administration a special session was called Tuesday 7-19-11 at 3p.m. The session went throughout the night, ending with Gov Dayton signing the legislation 9a.m. Wednesday morning.

The budget deal came after Dayton agreed to the GOP budget as proposed before the shutdown with some changes. The Governor agreed to not raise taxes and instead adopt the Republican proposal to delay school aid payments and sell bonds based on future proceeds from the state’s settlement with tobacco companies totaling $1.4 billion in one-time money. The Republicans agreed to Dayton’s terms and dropped the social issues, let go of their proposed 15 percent reduction in the state’s workforce, and agreed to assemble a $500 million bonding bill.

Some of the social issues that will be dropped include the Baby Pain Bill, which would have stopped abortion after babies can start to feel pain, banning funding for stem cell research,  public employees’ bargaining rights, and the Voter ID Bill.

In a press release from Majority Leader Senator Amy Koch, Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) said, “This budget accomplishes what we set out to do: it does not raise taxes, cuts projected spending by $2.5 billion and bends the cost curve of unsustainable state spending. Our economy will be stronger as a result of not increasing taxes on businesses and job creators.”

In the same press release House Majority Leader Matt Dean (R-Dellwood) said, “We looked at every area of the budget for reform to reduce costs and improve service delivery. We didn’t cut for the sake of cutting but for the preservation of sustainable services that meet the evolving needs of Minnesotans. Our nation-leading reforms, particularly in the area of health care, will serve as a model for other states.”

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For some strange reason, some union activists prefer their organizations be referred to as “associations,” as opposed to unions.  That’s odd, given that the National Education Association has grabbed the union mantle with both hands, and the American Federation of Teachers adopted the slogan “A union of professionals.”  That seems like an oxymoron, but I suppose it makes them feel good when they run the letterhead through their laser printer.

So color me humored when Marc Severson, blogging as the “Tired Tucson Teacher” (that inspires parents to request him for their kids, I’m sure…) attempted to explain, “It’s an association, not a union.”

“Let me start by saying I have been a member of AEA/NEA and my local association since the first hour of my student teaching. I refused to walk into the classroom without being a member. You might say I bleed association red.

“My reasons for belonging are numerous but suffice to say, the most important one is that as a professional I believe it is concomitant upon me to belong to my professional organization.”

It goes on from there.  Strangely, he never actually defines the difference between a union and an association, and I hate to break it to Marc, but he belongs to a brass-tacks, take-no-prisoners union.  He can put as much lipstick and perfume on that pig as he wants, but the thing still oinks and jumps in the mud.

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Today, in 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run was fought. It dissuaded any notion that the Civil War would be an easy thing.

Comedy gold or a pathetic partisan ploy can characterize Kathleen Sebelius’s testimony when she attempts to minimize the immense authority granted to the Independent Medicare Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), when so many of us know the raw real deal. On July 13, the House Subcomittee on Health and Energy held hearings on the controversial IPAB, in which Sebelius attempted to minimize and circumvent the truth (pdf and a must read) with regards to the IPAB.

Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX and yes, he is also Dr. Burgess) questioned Secretary Sebelius on several key factors, including the unelected 15-person panel, their potential recess appointments to avoid Senate confirmation, and the ultimate effects of this panel in reshaping the health care system. Burgess does not let Sebelius off the hook, but pushes her on the IPAB’s power and lack of judicial oversight. The entire exchange is worth watching:

Sebelius touts that the IPAB is only a “fail-safe” and only makes recommendations if Congress does not act:

But Sebelius was defiant against claims that IPAB risks usurping the power of Congress to make changes to Medicare. “All final decisions remain in the hands of Congress,” Sebelius said in her prepared statement. “If Medicare costs are rising at an unsustainable rate, it’s Congress’s choice whether to accept those recommendations, or come up with recommendations of its own to put Medicare spending on a stable, sustainable path.” She reiterated her argument from yesterday’s Budget hearing that IPAB serves as a “backstop to ensure Medicare remains solvent for years to come.”

However, former OMB Director Peter Orszag has a quite different analysis regarding the IPAB with this interview, highlighted by Naked Emperor News for Breitbart TV:

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Hard to believe, right?  Well, it’s true … and it happened in Bowie County, Texas.

Just when I thought nothing could be as outrageous as my recent post “God Bless Our Military … just not at the Houston National Cemetery” where veterans are being censored for religious speech, I hear about what is happening in our furthest county of northeast Texas.

Seems the Bowie County Commissioners Court voted on June 13, 2011, to remove our country’s Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation from their county meeting minutes.

As reported on the Red Flame Wire:

… on June 13, 2011, the Commissioner Court, with the exception of Commissioner John Addington, decided that they no longer wanted the records to reflect that the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation were said for fear it would give the perception that it is the courts official stance.

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Ten oil rigs have left the Gulf of Mexico since the Obama Administration imposed a moratorium on deepwater oil and gas drilling in May 2010, according to documentation the Pelican Institute obtained from Sen. David Vitter’s (R-La.) office.

The ten rigs named in the document are: Marinas, Discover Americas, Ocean Endeavor, Ocean Confidence, Stena Forth, Clyde Bourdeaux, Ensco 8503, Deep Ocean Clarion, Discover Spirit, and Amirante. The rigs have left the Gulf for locations in Egypt, Congo, French Guiana, Liberia, Nigeria and Brazil.

“This highlights the problem we have with losing domestic energy production as a result of the drilling moratorium and the slow permitting,” David Kreutzer, a research fellow in Energy Economics and Climate Change at the Heritage Foundation, said. “We must also keep in mind that the impacts are not instantaneous, the rigs may be idle for a while, but once they move it’s going to be difficult to move them back once they are drilling in say Nigeria or Brazil.  The oil companies must have confidence they can move forward with their drilling plans and to know these plans won’t be revoked. Only certainty will bring them back.”

Although federal officials announced they were lifting the restrictions last October, a “de-facto moratorium” remains in effect that stifles energy production and undermines large and small businesses in the Gulf region, industry officials have argued. (more…)

From The Hill:

President Obama could agree to a short-term hike of the debt ceiling if there are concrete plans in place to move quickly with a grand bargain, the White House said Wednesday.

White House press secretary Jay Carney stressed that Obama is opposed to temporary increases to the U.S. borrowing limit, but he opened the door a crack, saying that Obama could agree to something short-term in order to give lawmakers time to finalize a deficit-reduction plan like the one unveiled by the bipartisan Senate Gang of Six.

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Having taken a closer, objective look at the GOP primary in Missouri’s new 2nd District, it would seem former Bush Ambassador Ann Wagner is a far better choice for Conservatives, than is Ed Martin – and then some. In fact, some of what I’ve seen on and from Martin is at least mildly troubling – enough so to raise a red flag, or two.

When I saw a link for Jim Hoft’s site, Gateway Pundit on Martin’s site, I assumed he was backing Martin and gave Jim a call. To be clear, Jim spoke well of both potential nominees, though he is backing Ann Wagner. After speaking with Jim, I certainly don’t want to go out of my way to run down Ed Martin, but research, facts, records, reputations and actions are what they are. Adding up what I’ve been able to ascertain, Ann Wagner is hands down by far the preferred candidate in the race.

For starters, Wagner bested Martin 5 – 1 in their latest reported fund raising efforts and added twice the number of new donors. It’s also important to note that Martin rolled in dollars from his abandoned Senate campaign to up his published numbers quite a bit.

He threw his name in the US Senate race. In time, Ed Martin realized he was no match for Sarah Steelman’s lackluster campaign. How sad is that! Steelman’s last two fundraising quarters has many in the media calling the campaign in real trouble. So Martin wandered off into another US House race only to have Ann Wagner join the race too. Once again, we see the lack of enthusiasm for Mr. Martin.

With Russ Carnahan a likely entry on the Democrat side, it’s going to take real money, solid support and a tenacious fighter to ensure a win, even in the Republican leaning District. Wagner has demonstrated her significant ability to raise campaign dollars, not only for herself, but for several other conservative Republicans, as well –  that’s a team player and something of a campaign all-star in my book. Helping others achieve their goals also pays great dividends in terms of support and endorsements. There’s nothing bad about that, it’s actually how the system works best for everyone involved.

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From the Associated Press:

The last of the more than 60,000 Confederate veterans who came home to Alabama after the Civil War died generations ago, yet residents are still paying a tax that supported the neediest among them.

Despite fire-and-brimstone opposition to taxes among many in a state that still has “Heart of Dixie” on its license plates, officials never stopped collecting a property tax that once funded the Alabama Confederate Soldiers’ Home, which closed 72 years ago. The tax now pays for Confederate Memorial Park, which sits on the same 102-acre tract where elderly veterans used to stroll.

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On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson is joined by Pejman Yousefzadeh and Elizabeth Blackney to discuss the Gang of Six plan to settle the budget deal and what “increased revenue” might mean, then we’ll talk about the British scandal centered around Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World.

We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.