Posts in "senate"

Many Lessons in 2010 Midterm Election

Nov 3, 2010 at 3:10 PM

As I was watching returns last night, I recalled a conversation I had with Jeff Frazee and another prominent beltway r3volutionary about three years ago. The topic was the US House of Representatives and how to create a functional Constitutionalist base within that body. We figured out that over 90% of the House votes (in 2006) were determined by less than 30 members. For me, the story is not the Republican victory, but the Constitutionalist victory. I'll need a couple of days to determine how many seats we actually won, but the foot is in the door.

The same holds for the Senate. Paul, Johnson, Lee, Rubio, Toomey, and Demint won. There is now a TEA Party caucus that can prevent any legislation from coming to the floor. I have been arguing that this is actually a better outcome than an outright win in the Senate. Why? Republicans have achieved functional control of legislation without making a Republican Senate the President's straw man. In other words, Obama can't blame the "do-nothing" Senate for his legislative failures and Republican successes. In two years, 21 Democrats are up for re-election, but only 12 Republicans. By losing now, Republicans created an opportunity to score a filibuster-proof in 2012.

Purdue Chapter Going Strong

Mar 2, 2010 at 11:10 PM

By Thomas Gräber

Murphy's Request, Tom's Gift

The Purdue University YAL chapter is persistently fighting for liberty on campus. Their next event is one of their monthly "Freedom Forums," this time about concealed carry on campus. The image above is one they are distributing on campus and the area.

Who Says Government Isn't Bipartisan?

Feb 26, 2010 at 6:18 PM

By Kelse Moen

At least the House is. And the Senate isn't too "obstructionist" either. From the Boston Globe:

House Votes to Extend PATRIOT Act With Few Changes
The House voted, 315 to 97, to extend the Patriot Act, sending the bill to President Obama. Without the bill, the provisions would expire Sunday.
The Senate approved the extension Wednesday. The privacy protections were cast aside when Senate Democrats lacked the necessary 60-vote supermajority to pass them. Some in Congress had sought to increase restrictions and scrutiny on the government's authority to spy on Americans and seize their records....The three sections of the Patriot act that would stay in force:
■ Authorize court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones.
■ Allow court-approved seizure of records and property in antiterrorism operations.
■ Permit surveillance against what's called a "lone wolf,'' a non-citizen engaged in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group.

(Emphasis added.)

Peter Schiff's Sacrifice

Jan 22, 2010 at 7:42 AM

By George Edwards

It dawned on me while reading Lew Rockwell's blog (well, randomly some period after reading it) that the reason that no one in government understands why we are in such a financial crisis, with the exception of Ron Paul, is because of the opportunity cost of being in Congress while understanding the intricacies of the financial markets is massive.

In what one author hoped would be a nice little criticism of Peter Schiff's success turns out to be an inadvertent testimony to the unrealized wealth Schiff would give up if he won his Senate race. After quoting a guy accusing Schiff of being unpatriotic for investing overseas, the article illustrates Schiff's opportunity cost very nicely.

If elected, Schiff may have a tougher time maintaining the source of the bulk of his income — his salary as president of Euro Pacific Capital, a Westport-based brokerage. . Senators generally are barred from practicing a profession on Senate time, from serving as an officer of a regulated entity, and from receiving compensation from an organization that provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship.

READ YOUR CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN IT!!!!

Oct 8, 2009 at 6:15 PM

By Shaun Bowen

Her 4th day on the job in Iraq Jamie Leigh Jones was drugged, assaulted, and gang raped by seven U.S. contractor. When she awoke with massive physical and emotional damage, instead of finding a company who would help her in her quest for justice, she was forced by armed guards into a storage container and denied food, water, and medical service. Fortunately one of the guards' humanity was not completely gone and he allowed her to call her father who, after contacting Rep. Ted Poe, had the U.S. Embassy rescue her from her confinement.

What's in the Senate Bill?

Sep 1, 2009 at 12:38 PM

By Preston Mui

We've written about H.R. 3200, the House version of Obamacare, a few times now. But that's the House bill -- what about the Senate bill? What new horror stories lie in that bill?

I wish I could enlighten you, but I can't -- the Senate HELP committee won't even let us read it.

On July 15, six weeks ago, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed an amended $1 trillion health-care bill, with acting Chairman Chris Dodd calling it a "historic achievement." Too bad the committee won't reveal this history even to other Senators, much less to the public.
Three weeks ago Republicans on the committee wrote Mr. Dodd "to reiterate our request for a full copy of the bill as amended, in the four-week mark-up." Mr. Dodd has refused to comply. The Senate bill that is available on the committee Web site is 790 pages long. While that is some 300 pages shorter than the House health bill, that's in part because it doesn't include nearly 200 amendments that passed when the committee redrafted the bill.

Transparency my foot!

Comments (1)

Rand Paul Officially Running for U.S. Senate

Aug 5, 2009 at 6:06 PM

By Robert Bentley

Rand Paul, son of Congressman Ron Paul, has officially announced his intentions to seek the Kentucky Senate seat held by Jim Bunning.

From the AP:

A Kentucky ophthalmologist who has been eyeing a U.S. Senate campaign says he will run for the seat now held by Jim Bunning.

Republican Rand Paul of Bowling Green ended months of speculation Wednesday when he told The Associated Press in an interview that he is entering the race. Paul told the AP of his decision in advance of a series of planned media events, including an appearance on national television Wednesday evening.

Finally. Another Voice of Reason.

Jul 8, 2009 at 12:41 AM

By Justin Page Wood

Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina brings up the Federal Reserve in both a philosophical and practical legislative manner to a Senate hearing.

If you haven't already seen it, this video brings a refreshing new voice of reason to Washington D.C. with a slightly new perspective.

The answer isn't government...

Jun 26, 2009 at 11:28 PM

By Bonnie Kristian

...or more politics, regardless of who's in the White House. Brian Keeter discusses this very point on LewRockwell.com today, arguing that while Peter Schiff in the Senate would certainly be an improvement over the current selection, it might not be the best option for a man of his talents:

Senate Apoligizes for Slavery

Jun 18, 2009 at 10:16 PM

By Justin Page Wood

Today, the Senate approved a non-binding resolution apologizing to African-Americans for the wrongs of slavery throughout America's history. A recent article from CNN.com reported:

Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery.