NebraskaPatriot

The State of the Union? ? ?

restless, uneasy . . .

Each year at this time, the President of the United States gives the State of the Union address. So I have to ask, What is the State of our Union?

This pretty much sums up my view:

 

Big Wow! News out of Wichita

Boeing has announced that it will be closing its plant in Wichita by the end of 2013. The closer is the result of reduced Defense spending as the Wichita plant focuses primarily on Defense related matters.

The closer will cost over 2,100 jobs.

Click here to read the full article on the closure.

 

Now Is The Time For Nelson To Show Leadership

We've seen and heard the political ads that tell us Ben Nelson is a leader and a doer. Well Mr. Nelson, it's time you Lead and Do.

The United States Senate has not produced a budget in over 960 days. Let me do the math for you:

960 days    365 days in a year    = 2.63 years

It's been almost THREE years since the Democrats who control the Senate have produced a budget. Budget bills from the House are stacking up against the door of the Senate and yet nothing for:

THREE YEARS

If I'm a Republican for the U.S. Senate, I'm hammering Nelson every day on this. This alone disqualifies this guy for another six-year term. We'd would all get fired at our jobs if performed our job this way.

Ridiculous . . .

 

When A Satirist Nails It . . .

 

 

 

 

I Just Woke Up From A Nightmare . . .

unfortunately, it's a nightmare in reality . . .

 

 

Post Office Financial Mess an Opportunity

it's time to think out of the box . . .

The U.S. Postal Service has a long and storied history in this country. In fact, it’s the second oldest department or agency in our Federal Government. In 1789, President Washington appointed the first Postmaster General.

Most of us know someone who has or does work for the Post Office. Throughout our history, it has been the way folks communicated across the country. But as does happen, time moves forward and technology advances. Today, social media, e-mail, etc, have rendered the Postal Service more and more irrelevant in our daily lives.

Consequently, the Postal Service is hemorrhaging red ink with no solution in sight. Reports indicate that almost 80% of the Postal Service’s expenses are related to employee wages and benefits and the mail system is staring at a $10-Billion loss this fiscal year.

Folk, there are very few, if any companies in the country that could sustain year after year loses as the U.S. Postal system has and still be in business. What you hate to see is good people losing jobs but I'm afraid that's the path we are going down if things don't change and soon.

How about this suggestion.

I would bid out the U.S. Postal Service.

I would allow bids on any part or on the entire system. To me, this is an opportunity that is a target rich environment just waiting for entrepreneur expertise that we have in this country. Let’s allow the entrepreneurial spirit to step in. As President Reagan said, "The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would steal them away."

I know the fear of the unknown can be a bit much for some but do we really have another choice? We can not just continue to bleed 10-billion a year.

I’m well aware that there may be parts of the country that no one would want. I’m sure the Sandhills area for example would be challenging. I also have no idea how the rate system would work; how mail would transfer between areas, etc. but that is all something that can be worked out and there would be a natural incentive for companies to work together.

This process and aftermath would also spur the entrepreneurial juices resulting in better ways; newer technology and options that no one has ever consider in the past.

If there a better solution, the American taxpayers are listening . . .

It's the Math, Senator

1 + 1 = ? ? ? ? ? ? 

If I’m a Republican candidate running against Senator Ben Nelson, I start each appearance before voters by writing the following numbers on a board:

300

180

120

And I would tell folks that this is the legacy of our Democrat U.S. Senator Ben Nelson:

1. The Federal Government spends $300 BILLION each month
2. The Federal Government takes in $180-BILLION each month
3. The Federal Government borrows $120-BILLION each month to fund government

I would point out that Senator Nelson has and will tell you that Republican efforts this past summer to CUT spending and move toward a balance budget have, as he is quoted in the August 23^rd Lincoln Journal-Star, “led to the downgrade of the country’s credit rating and turmoil in the stock market.”

Now think about that for a minute . . . 

How warped has Senator Nelson’s reasoning become that he ACTUALLY believes that efforts to CUT the budget deficit led to the First Ever downgrade of our nation's credit rating and then the ensuing roller coaster stock market.

It's the math, Senator.

The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) is now showing that spending in fiscal 2011, which ends on September 30th, will hit a new high of $3.6 TRILLION, that is an INCREASE of $141-BILLION from 2010.

It's also higher than the previous record which occurred in 2009 of $3.5 TRILLION, which ironically was suppose to be the high water mark in the now infamous Stimulus plan that our esteemed Democrat Senator Ben Nelson help user through the Senate to passage.

We all know how well that worked out. All it stimulated was unemployment to levels over 9% and inflated the pockets of every Liberal special interest group in the country with our hard earned tax money. I think Senator Nelson has some 'splaining to do on this one.

But folks, if you think the math is horrifying now, just wait for Senator Nelson's much cherished ObamaCare law and regulations to fully kick in. It's going to blow the doors off our current monthly borrowing of $120-BILLION. 

Man oh man is that going to be some math for Senator Nelson to explain. Oh that's right, he's leaving that mess for the rest of us to deal with and figure out.

Nice, real nice . . .

The Tangled Web that Has Become Senator Nelson's Reality

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."  

-Sir Walter Scott

It's always good to hear from our Democrat U.S. Senator Ben Nelson. I do have to say that I do appreciate that he is not one that goes out of his way seeking a microphone.

So when he does, you do take notice and notice is certainly in order after his comments in today's Omaha World-Herald.

The headline alone was interesting:

"Sen. Nelson: Tea party put U.S. at risk"

Omaha World-Herald reporter Robynn Tysver then follows with this opening line:

"Sen. Ben Nelson is no fan of the tea party movement."

Interesting.

Tysver continues:

"They were prepared to put this country at risk, and they did," said Nelson, referring to Republicans who pushed for deep budget cuts while opposing any changes in the tax code or tax increases."

Ok, let me stop here for just a moment. Senator Nelson opposes tea party affiliated Republicans because they opposed "any changes in the tax code or tax increases".

Interesting.

To try and understand Nelson on this point, we have to step into unfamiliar territory and into the tangled and muddled world of Washington-political speak.

Here in Nebraska, when we talk about changes to the tax code, we mean finding simpler and more common sense ways for our tax system to function because the current system is a convoluted mess.

But in Washington, when Democrats talk about changes to the tax code, that is Political Speak for tax increases because Democrats are only looking for more tax dollars to spend on programs that they deem as good because they of course, are much smarter with our money than us dumb ol' boys out here in every day Realville.

Consequently, when one separates reality from fiction, it taints Senator Nelson's statement as, well, political desperation. Does he really and truly believe what he said in the Omaha World-Herald?

By all assessment, the last couple years have not been real good to his stature with Nebraskans, with his support of record federal spending with almost all of it going to Liberal programs that don't work and are a waste of tax dollars. And then there is ObamaCare and in particular older Nebraskans who were and still are up in arms over his part in getting passed into law the most expansive increase in Federal Government intrusion since the Great Society in the 60's. And we all know how well those programs worked out.

I ask, over the past three years, when has Senator Nelson held up the budget process due to his demand for "changes in the tax code". Ok, step back again into the ways of Washington. In the U.S. Senate, ONE Senator can stop legislation in its tracks due to the various rules that govern the Senate. That plays a large role into why the Senate has always been viewed as the "Deliberative body".

For Senator Nelson, there has been no moral indignation the past three years over changing our tax code that I know of. Rather the Good Senator has spent his time voting for huge budget deficits and reckless spending.

Oh but the web gets even more twisted as Tysver writes:

"Nelson voted against the debt ceiling deal. He said he believes it is a "first step" in a GOP-led effort to balance the budget while rolling back the Medicare and Social Security programs.

Ok, let me reference everyone back to my blog entry on July 21, 2011 entitled, "Senator Nelson Heeds Nancy Pelosi's Advice" in which the following appeared:

"Oh by the way, this is nothing, I'm waiting for when Senator Nelson gets to sections where his ObamaCare law cuts MEDICARE. As I wrote previously:

"I should point out that ObamaCare which Senator Nelson is personally responsible for getting passed into law imposes "record breaking payment cuts for Medicare providers" according to a study by the Heritage Foundation.

"As the Heritage Foundation reports:

"ObamaCare imposes record-breaking payment cuts for Medicare providers—plus an unprecedented hard cap on Medicare spending to be enforced by the newly created Independent Payments Advisory Board, an unelected board of bureaucrats empowered to lower provider payments to preordained levels indexed to inflation and economic growth. This will ensure rationing of care through provider payment cuts."

That is what Senator Ben Nelson has hoisted onto the backs of older Nebraskans through his undying support of ObamaCare."

And then you are going to love this. Senator Nelson uses Washington-political logic to explain this all away in today's Omaha World-Herald article:

"Nelson has noted that Medicare would not be cut under the health-care plan, but that the $500 billion reflects savings the nation would reap through improved efficiencies in the system."

Apparently Senator Nelson still hasn't read the ObamaCare bill that he helped get passed into law because it specifically uses $500-billion in Medicare cuts on the revenue side of the bill.

All of the Nelson speak is so easy to refute but this apparently is the reality in which Ben Nelson now resides. A world of spinning and weaving and to what ever length he must.

I guess using Senator Nelson's acquired Washington logic and spin, when Nebraskans tire of his tangled web and defeat him in November 2012 we can classify that as improving the "efficiencies in the system"?

 

Now This My Friends Is a U.S. Senator

Status quo, you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in'." - President Ronald Reagan

Marco Rubio is the Republican U.S. Senator from Florida. I've heard him several times and have liked what I've heard.

Below is his passionate speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate yesterday.

It's 14 minutes long, but this my friends is worth it, especially when one of our favorite Democrat Senators, John Kerry, the haughty one from Massachusetts tries to debate Senator Rubio.

Common sense and facts are impossible to challenge:

 

 

Hey, He Speaks

the indefensible quandary Nelson finds himself in . . .

Our Democrat U.S. Senator has come out from under the dome of silence.

The problem is not that he spoke but rather the utter gaul that came forth.

In today's Omaha World-Herald, there is an article entitled, "House Awaits Senate's Debt Bill." Near the bottom of the article, writer Joseph Morton pens:

"Nebraska's senators split on the House bill, with Republican Mike Johanns in favor and Democrat Ben Nelson opposed.

Nelson said that the House bill would provide only six months of stability and that he wants legislation that will solve the problem beyond the start of 2013.

"We need longer-term stability for long-term growth and jobs," Nelson said. "It's about getting this economy straightened out."

First, I believe Senator Nelson when he says he wants "long-term growth and jobs" but that's about the only point in his comments that put the people of this country and Nebraska first.

Ben Nelson is following the man for whom he campaigned for in 2008 and whom he helped pass ObamaCare and record budget deficits. And like President Obama, Senator Nelson sees the issue of the debt ceiling as nothing more and nothing less that being about his political survival. It's absolutely 100% about the 2012 election.

So when you read or hear Ben Nelson and/or Barrack Obama say they want legislation as Nelson put it today, "that will solve the problem beyond the start of 2013" what they are saying is we don't want to have to revisit this next year and in Nelson's case, have to defend to the citizens of Nebraska his complicity in driving this debt to astronomical levels that have this country on the brink of economic disaster.

I'm guessing that Nelson hasn't figured out that we aren't dumb-old-boys back here in Nebraska. His contradictions and smoke-and-mirror words can't hide the fact that Nebraska's Demcrate U.S. Senator has a lot for which to answer. 

As someone once said:

"It’s better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool rather than open it and resolve all doubt."