During the last distraction of ‘Weinergate‘, then CIA Head Leon Panetta had his Senate confirmation hearing for head of the Department of Defense. Normally that would gather attention, but it was Weinergate that soaked up all the headlines. The same is now occurring with Olso Bombing/Anders Behring Breivik and The Debt Ceiling Crisis with Operation Fast and Furious.

Say what you will about Watergate, yes ‘Tricky Dick’ gave his famous ‘Freudian Projection’ on not being a crook, but no one died over the break-in at the The Watergate unlike ‘Operation Fast and Furious‘.

When ATF deputy assistant director William McMahon testified before the House Committee Oversight and Government Reform on ‘Operation Fast and Furious’, he noted multiple Agencies were involved in Operation Fast and Furious. In making such a statement, it also sent a deafening ringing of the contradiction bells that any budding ‘Woodward and Bernstein‘ would jump upon. As this clearly embarrasses the ‘Democratic’ Obama Administration, it explains why such a prospect can be easily be ignored.

Republicans should really take note of the following:  If they do decide on using a ‘November Surprise’ on ‘Operation Fast and Furious’ against Obama in 2012.  Ask yourself the following:  If no one care now (thanks to the media not covering the incident), how will using a November Surprise move on ‘Operation Fast and Furious’ not deliver an equally dismissive collective shrug from the shoulders from the voting public?

Further Reading: Bipartisan fury at ATF gun-smuggling operation – Politico

Further Video: House Committee Oversight and Government Reform Hearing: ATF Weapon Opperation – 7/26/11 – CSPAN

The above image was from 2009, even then it showed the Obama Administration taking upon extra curricular items without considering the existing agenda it vowed to take on. Now in 2010, with an Oil Spill, increasing the Afghan War, allegations of White House involving in the Blago Trial, the Kagan hearings, Sestak Job offers, Financial Overhaul, now Obama wants to add Immigration Reform to the mix?

Let’s get something cleared here, even if you don’t agree with the President, you still expect them to fulfill their role without going off the rails. When you have world leaders at the G8/G20 saying you need to tighten the belt and Obama encouraging more spending, then you have a President that lacks understanding consensus and a comprehension of economics.

The decision to add Immigration Reform to the Obama plate is disastrous.   Whomever is advising this President needs to be given their marching orders.  If Obama made this decision on his own accord, then his advisors are only for qualified for being ‘Yes-Men’.

The America public have never been patient with incompetence.   Especially when a date with the ballot box is near, courting hot button issues is political suicide.  For some reason, Obama has the naivety to think he is immune to it but those facing the Mid-Terms wont see it that way.

Craig Edwards

During my recent interview with Ari David, he mentioned that he perceived his generation as ‘Reagan / South Park Conservatives’.  It is with this reference in mind, that I make this point.

During South Park Episode 1205, a sub-plot saw the character ‘Cartman’ poses as a Latino high school teacher named “Mr. Cartmenez” at a under-preforming urban high school.  During this time, “Mr. Cartmenez”, installs the values of ‘cheating‘ to motivate, and improve the lives of his students.

LANGUAGE WARNING

Much like this example, the final scoreboard was 219 vote for Health Care Reform.  The final score does not count the kick backs, the arm twisting, or back room deals needed for the final vote.  Nor did it count the fact the bill being voted upon, was an incomplete Senate version, originally passed merely as a procedural vote pending a final amendment.  All that counted for Pelosi at the end of the day, was the 219 ‘Cartmanesque’ votes for Obamacare.

Now Obama and the Democrats have to sell (convince people), what they passed by force was worthwhile.  What you will instead see, will be the Democrats still attacking those raising reasonable concerns over Obamacare.  What Pelosi and her ilk showed, was their ignorance conquers all when emotional rationalization, and self justification are added.  When the dust settles, the middle class will see what Obamacare offers, and how much it will hinder them.  That is, if the dust can be allowed to settle.

Act 2: Orchestrated Distractions: And so starts the next thorny issue of public debate on Immigration Reform.  Any rage over Health Care Reform, or worrying about Obamacare will be pushed aside while a new battle is fought.  

Welcome to the tactic of  Orchestrated Distraction. Compared to the 12 months it took to pass Obamacare, November 2nd is a hard deadline they can’t get around.  So expect the push for Immigration Reform, Economic Reform, Cap & Trade to be rammed past the House and Senate. Even if Obama loses the Democrat controlled House in November, Obama gets everything he needed in time.   Even if the Senate loses a few Democrats in the Mid-terms, Obama can still pass everything he want in the Senate, by tweaking the rules and pushing for reconciliation with the 51 remaining Democrat votes.

The fact is this, Obama and Pelosi wont let the dust settle until they are finished implementing the most expensive social engineering program the world has ever seen.  After which, a few billion spent on Iraq, and Afghanistan for eight plus years of warfare will be viewed as a bargain.

Hold onto your hats folks, we’re not even close to the end.

Craig Edwards

When I think of how ‘Obamacare’ has dragged on, I can’t help but compare it to Roman times.  If ‘Obamacare’ was fighting with gladiators, it would’ve been on the ground begging for mercy.  The Coliseum

Several political pundits have pondered why the Obama Administration have spent over a year urging ‘Health Care Reform’, especially trying to implement reform during one of the worst economies since the ‘Great Depression’. As America’s economy sinks, the jobless rate rises, the deficit climbs to new highs, ‘Health Care Reform’ is barely a blip on the priorities index. While ‘Health Care Reform’ could be seen as Obama fulfilling a campaign promise or implementing leftist ideologue, it appears more likely the pursuit of ‘Obamacare’ is Obama’s procrastination.

Let’s face it, ‘Health Care Reform’ was just far easier for Obama to deal with rather then fixing the economy, creating non-government jobs, or reducing the endless deficit spending.  When ‘Obamacare’ dies, Obama’s next topic of procrastination will just be cap & trade, immigration reform, and then creating imaginary green jobs.

As Obama and Pelosi both hijack the Democratic Party to drive it over the cliff,  House Democrats should be wise enough at this stage to avoid seeing the Massachusetts result in their district.  As ‘Obamacare’ heads for the ‘up or down’ vote in the House, the Democrats could defeat ‘Obamacare’, but Obama’s next round of procrastination will be waiting around the corner.

The ‘Change’ they really need, could start with changing a house speaker.

Craig Edwards

Can Nancy Pelosi Get the Votes?

By MICHAEL BARONE

Are there enough votes in the House to pass the Senate’s health-care bill? As of today, it’s clear there aren’t. House Democratic leaders have brushed aside White House calls to bring the bill forward by March 18, when President Barack Obama heads to Asia. Nevertheless, analysts close to the Democratic leadership tell me they’re confident the leadership will find some way to squeeze out the 216 votes needed for a majority.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indeed shown mastery at amassing majorities. But it’s hard to see how she’ll do so on this one. The arithmetic as I see it doesn’t add up.

The House passed its version of the health bill in November by 220-215. Of those 220, one was a Republican who now is a no. One Democrat who voted yes has died, two Democrats who voted yes have resigned, and one Democrat who voted no has resigned as well. So if everyone but the Republican votes the way they did four months ago, the score would be 216-215.

Read Complete Article at WSJ.com

Hat tip to one of our readers Jerald for this one.  In light of our most recent Podcast, no prizes for guessing who gains from the Toyota recalls : Craig Edwards

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration’s top transportation official sharply criticized Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday for dragging its feet on safety concerns over its gas pedals, suggesting the automaker was “a little safety deaf” to mounting evidence of problems.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told The Associated Press that federal safety officials had to “wake them up” to the seriousness of the safety issues that eventually led Toyota to recall millions of popular brands like Camry and Corolla. That included a visit to Toyota’s offices in Japan to convince them to take action.
“They should have taken it seriously from the very beginning when we first started discussing it with them,” LaHood told AP. “Maybe they were a little safety deaf.”

LaHood also said the government was considering civil penalties for Toyota over its handling of the recalls but declined to elaborate. The potential fines were first reported by the Detroit News. The largest auto industry fine came in 2004, when General Motors paid $1 million for responding too slowly on a recall of nearly 600,000 vehicles over windshield wiper failure.

Read More at AP/Yahoo