Gallup ran an interesting poll recently; it turns out that conservatives are recognized as the top ideological group in the country. The numbers show that 40% of Americans identify themselves as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. Gallup also notes that from 2005 through 2008, moderates and conservatives were essentially tied, and liberals made about a two or three point jump. Is this good news, or what?
It seems good on the surface, but I have a bad feeling that conservatism is about to be tainted.
Flashback to 2006. The Democrats destroyed the GOP at the ballot box in the mid-term elections, with pretty much the only exception being Bob Corker from Tennessee winning one of the more contested races. Lincoln Chaffe, Jim Talent, Rick Santorum, and George Allen were among the casualties in the Senate races.
What President Bush described as a thumpin' was actually a pretty shrewd move. The Democrats got a bunch of "conservative" Democrats to run in these races; notice how a lot of them were pro-life, pro-gun, and supposedly pro-tax cuts and anti-spending. They also locked away Howard Dean and Harry Reid for about a week before the elections and gave Nancy Pelosi another plastic surgery so the liberal base was out of sight to help seal the win. They even rolled out Trojan horses like Allen Grayson in Florida among others in 2008, and we all know that Barack Obama was just a misunderstood moderate, right?
The Gallup poll is relevant to my recollection of the past two elections because it's about to happen again. Now that Gallup shows that most Americans classify themselves as conservatives, you can bet that Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, Nancy Pelosi, and the rest of the far-left crowd will be waving the conservative/moderate banner. Even though supporting the stimulus, the health care debacle, passing cap and trade, and not supporting our troops fighting terrorists proves otherwise, we're soon to be reminded on just how "moderate" or even "conservative" they really are. Notice how Democrats don't even use the substitute word "progressive" anymore.
Hopefully the GOP will do its homework and start moving to the right again, and not recruit candidates where they have to run to the middle or even to the left. There is a golden opportunity to make a huge dent in the Democratic majority or even take the majority back in the 2010 mid-term elections. 2012 may even give Republicans the presidency. But it's time that the GOP realizes that conservatism works, and when elections are about ideas and solutions instead of campaign slogans, it wins every time.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Democratic Party....Proud to Only Stand Up for the Skinny Person
I make it a habit to skip anything related to MSNBC, but they had somewhat of an interesting article regarding the healthcare bill.
Basically, the Senate Finance and Health committees passed healthcare reform bills saying you need to lose weight or pay a hefty price. Now, it's a known fact that a lot of company health plans offer lower rates to people who exercise more, don't smoke, and generally take better care of themselves. I actually agree with this. I used to weigh 340 pounds five years ago, and have lost over 100 pounds leading up to now. I exercise at least four days a week and eat a ton of healthy foods. In a free market system, I think people should be rewarded for taking the initiative to stay in shape.
However, the crux of the matter is the fact that President Obama has promised healthcare for everyone, and is mandating that insurance companies and his public option/co-ops cover people with pre-existing conditions. I don't necessarily have a problem with that either. However, if someone was considered "fat" or "obese" prior to the legislation, isn't that a pre-existing condition? Should all of the medical care related to being overweight be covered?
The article quotes Ann Kempski from the SEIU as saying "everybody said that we're going to be ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. But this is in effect discrimination again based on pre-existing conditions." She has a point, and it's no big secret that the SEIU is quite unhappy with other provisions in the healthcare legislation floating around Washington. How can the Grand Hypocrite (Obama) himself say that pre-exsiting conditions be covered, then throw higher costs to people just because they have a little more bulge around the belly?
Look, I'm all for voluntary wellness provisions, where employees can voluntarily submit medical records to show what they do to take care of themselves to try to pay lower healthcare premiums. I think it's a good idea and an outstanding example of how free market principles will improve healthcare legislation. But Obama has painted himself in yet another corner where he's promised one thing in campaign mode, and his lackeys in the House and Senate are giving us another. It will be interesting to see how he can wiggle his way out of this one.
Basically, the Senate Finance and Health committees passed healthcare reform bills saying you need to lose weight or pay a hefty price. Now, it's a known fact that a lot of company health plans offer lower rates to people who exercise more, don't smoke, and generally take better care of themselves. I actually agree with this. I used to weigh 340 pounds five years ago, and have lost over 100 pounds leading up to now. I exercise at least four days a week and eat a ton of healthy foods. In a free market system, I think people should be rewarded for taking the initiative to stay in shape.
However, the crux of the matter is the fact that President Obama has promised healthcare for everyone, and is mandating that insurance companies and his public option/co-ops cover people with pre-existing conditions. I don't necessarily have a problem with that either. However, if someone was considered "fat" or "obese" prior to the legislation, isn't that a pre-existing condition? Should all of the medical care related to being overweight be covered?
The article quotes Ann Kempski from the SEIU as saying "everybody said that we're going to be ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. But this is in effect discrimination again based on pre-existing conditions." She has a point, and it's no big secret that the SEIU is quite unhappy with other provisions in the healthcare legislation floating around Washington. How can the Grand Hypocrite (Obama) himself say that pre-exsiting conditions be covered, then throw higher costs to people just because they have a little more bulge around the belly?
Look, I'm all for voluntary wellness provisions, where employees can voluntarily submit medical records to show what they do to take care of themselves to try to pay lower healthcare premiums. I think it's a good idea and an outstanding example of how free market principles will improve healthcare legislation. But Obama has painted himself in yet another corner where he's promised one thing in campaign mode, and his lackeys in the House and Senate are giving us another. It will be interesting to see how he can wiggle his way out of this one.
Friday, October 16, 2009
About Me
Welcome to the Visible Underground! If you've stumbled across the blog on accident, or if you're looking for conservative commentary with a bite, I welcome you to pull up a cozy chair, grab a cold beer from the fridge, and make yourself at home.
I'm creating this blog for two main purposes. First and foremost, I realize the danger this country is in to being turned into a European socialist country led by President Barack Obama and his leftist cronies. I want to spread the word to help stop this transformation and mobilize all true patriotic Americans to get involved. I'll help lay the groundwork that so many prominent conservatives have started so our country can be on the road back to freedom.
Second, I wish to relay my experiences as an average, middle class American and mobilize all of us to take our country back. It's time for us to rise up and take our country back from the corrupt career politicians who have thrown the values of this great nation aside for the sake of power. This will involve exposing people on both sides of the aisle.
What do I believe? Well, I'm an old-fashioned, limited government conservative Republican. I've been labeled from a Goldwater Republican, a Reagan Republican, to a rabid right wing nutjob. I'm married, have two kids, teach Sunday school, and work for a large insurance company in Nebraska. My political beliefs will get touched on several times during the course of the blog.
Comments will not be moderated or censored. To take our country back, we need to encourage debate from all sides. This means we have to deal with the civil and the ridiculous.
Thanks for stopping by!
I'm creating this blog for two main purposes. First and foremost, I realize the danger this country is in to being turned into a European socialist country led by President Barack Obama and his leftist cronies. I want to spread the word to help stop this transformation and mobilize all true patriotic Americans to get involved. I'll help lay the groundwork that so many prominent conservatives have started so our country can be on the road back to freedom.
Second, I wish to relay my experiences as an average, middle class American and mobilize all of us to take our country back. It's time for us to rise up and take our country back from the corrupt career politicians who have thrown the values of this great nation aside for the sake of power. This will involve exposing people on both sides of the aisle.
What do I believe? Well, I'm an old-fashioned, limited government conservative Republican. I've been labeled from a Goldwater Republican, a Reagan Republican, to a rabid right wing nutjob. I'm married, have two kids, teach Sunday school, and work for a large insurance company in Nebraska. My political beliefs will get touched on several times during the course of the blog.
Comments will not be moderated or censored. To take our country back, we need to encourage debate from all sides. This means we have to deal with the civil and the ridiculous.
Thanks for stopping by!
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