The Tea Party has been a sleeping giant that has abruptly waken after years of allowing the government to grow to its current ominous state.  Sincere members of the movement are as angry at the American people as they are those that govern, because they know our mess is as much due to voter neglect as anything else.  Some have not voted in years, if at all, and they in particular are going to need to know the tough questions to ask aspiring candidates.  Here are just a few suggestions of what a candidate should be asked:

• What is your employment history? In my opinion, if a candidate has never owned a business and has never been subject to the payroll, regulations, taxation, and licensure laws that comes with it, they should not be taken seriously as a candidate.  Empathy is an important characteristic to leadership and I want a leader that understands what the engines of prosperity go through.
• What is your view of the Constitution? The tasks of a member of Congress are numerous, but the single most important duty is to carry out the responsibilities in the Constitution they have sworn to defend. They need to explain what the enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution mean. They need to articulate the role of the Tenth amendment in limiting federal power. If a candidate does not answer these questions in a manner in line with the Constitution, they have no business running for such an important office. This is the most important question to ask someone running for federal office, in my opinion.
• What other elected offices have you been in?  The US House and Senate are pretty significant offices. In my experience it takes politicians a significant period of time to “get their legs” in Congress. When I worked for the US Senate I was surprised by how little members knew when it came to conducting their duties. I believe that career politicians are a problem, but I also believe it makes sense for the House or Senate to be the “next step” after serving in a state legislature or similar position and not the first “step.”  If you have not held any office at all, try city council or the school board, before the US Congress.
• What other positions have you held? I think that many Americans will be a little reluctant to elect a career “community activist” to any office after the Barack Obama experience. For a long period of time people on every level of government (federal, state, local) were reluctant to elect attorneys to office because they did not want to elect individuals who make a living off the proliferation of laws.  That certainly makes sense. To me, the best candidate is the one who is most sympathetic and empathetic to the plight of all Americans and understand the challenges of job creation and economic growth.  Furthermore, they believe in the concept of rule of law.  The US government today is ran by a lawless crowd with their own agenda and it has little to do with the Constitution they swear to defend.

2010 could mark the beginning of a great era in American politics.  It could set the stage for a turn around and a move back to limited, constitutional, government.  However, if this is to happen, voters are going to have to be smart and ask the tough questions that politicians must honestly answer.  Voters must also have the courage to hold these politicians accountable and to the highest standards.

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Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media.  Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN radio).  Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com.  Visit the archive of past shows here.

Nichols was recently endorsed by former White House Advisor and Fox News Commentator, Dick Morris, citing “Natalie Nichols is one of the rising, young stars in the Republican Party.”

Other interest:

Speaking truth to race-hustlers

Time wonders how Obama lost his mojo

Arizona vs. the U.N. human rights police

HOW REPUBLICANS WILL WIN THE SENATE

Boot Barney Frank: Support GOP challenger Sean Bielat

Cities and counties dumping hospitals in advance of ObamaCare

The National Center for Policy Analysis points out that, in 2004, Edward Prescott (an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis) won the Nobel Price in economics for his paper “Why do Americans Work so Much More than Europeans?”  How much is “much more”?  Prescott found that the average production per adult between 1993 and 1996 in the United States was:

• 49 percent greater than in the United Kingdom
• 75 percent higher than in Italy
• And 35 percent greater than in France and Germany.

Regarding these findings, Prescott found that ”Most of the differences in output,” he wrote, were “accounted for by differences in hours worked per person and not by differences in productivity.”  Americans are not working more efficiently or effectively, per se, just much more.  “More” in terms of days of the week, the number of weeks in a year, and the number of years in a lifetime.

According to the research:

• In 2007, the average French or Austrian male retired at 58.7 and 58.9 respectively, the average American male works until 64.6.
• That same year, 72 percent of Americans between the ages 15 to 64, were in the workforce, compared with 59 percent of Italians and 64 percent of the French.

As a result, Americans produce and earn considerably more than Europeans.  For example, the average American makes $47,000 annually compared with $36,000 in Germany and the United Kingdom, and $34,000 in France.  In fact, the disparity between the US and Europe is so great that, citizens of our poorest states, like Mississippi have a higher GDP per capita than the Italians.  Meanwhile, Alabamans have a higher GDP per capita than the French, Belgians, and even the Germans.

So why are Americans more productive than their European friends? Prescott points to high taxes as a deterrent to economic growth and industriousness. Furthermore such taxes encourage people to want to retire early so they can get on the dole.  Where is all the money going?  According to writer James Glassman in Commentary Magazine (July/August 2010), it is not to maintain a strong defense, but to sustain the region’s giant welfare state.  This seems to be the path the United States is following.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media.  Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN radio).  Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com.  Visit the archive of past shows here.

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Other Articles of Interest:

Why the economy’s struggling: Too many people saving money

First Bennett, now Murkowski: Tea party keeps beating McConnell cronies

Another ass-kicking: Judge rejects Obama drilling ban again

Note: With race unfortunately becoming a hot topic these days, I thought I’d share with you the first chapter of my book,

‘A Nation of Cowards’

“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.”
~ Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General

“A nation of cowards.” Pretty harsh words coming from our newly confirmed attorney general, not yet one month removed from the inauguration of the first black president of the United States. Holder, himself a symbol of achievement as the first black to serve as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, was commemorating Black History Month by criticizing our inability, individually and collectively, to speak frankly on matters of race. Such a dialogue, he opined, is the only “way we can hasten the day when we truly become one America.”

Mr. Holder took a lot of heat for his comments and I was one of those bringing the heat:

[I]f we are a nation of cowards, Mr. Holder, it’s because the black community doesn’t encourage honesty but rather demands fealty to one worldview. If you want to eradicate cowardice in the national discussion on race, how about starting with us?

My beef with him wasn’t with the intent of his statement–I, too, welcome the day when we can be honest with each other about race without incurring each other’s wrath. The problems we have with, and perceptions we have of, one another can’t be addressed if we are guarded in our disclosures and refuse to show our hand.

No, my objection was and is to the likely outcome of any attempts to discuss race honestly, especially in the black community. Let’s be blunt: The white community isn’t going to talk about race in any form or fashion because they don’t want to be labeled as racists. It’s like inviting them to walk through a minefield. The chances of their getting to the other side unscathed are practically nil.

Black people who wish to have an honest dialogue about race in America aren’t treated any better. Ask Bill Cosby what happens when he speaks frankly about race and class to his fellow black Americans. Talk to Shelby Steele, John McWhorter, Thomas Sowell, Joseph C. Phillips, Star Parker, Ken Blackwell, Roy and Niger Innis, LaShawn Barber, Justice Clarence Thomas or any other black person who has dared to be candid about his or her views on race in America.

Not only will the high priests and scribes of the black orthodoxy lay waste to our reputations and integrity, they will sanction sympathetic whites to do the same. Oh, and no epithet is off limits, even if it is racially charged. The white enablers of the black orthodoxy are almost giddy with glee as they practice their best racist statements against those black men and women who dare to offer an opinion on race that deviates from the politically correct rendition of the state of blacks in America today.

I know this firsthand because I am a “sellout”–a Sambo, a Stepin Fetchit, a house Negro, an Uncle Tom. I know it because I refuse to become one with the hive and I am protective of the individuality and independence bestowed upon me by the Creator.

Incidentally, those who use the phrase “Uncle Tom” as a slur have no concept whatsoever of the character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Tom was a noble Christian man who endured the hardships of enslavement with amazing grace. He refused an order from Simon Legree, his cruel white master, to whip a fellow slave and was savagely beaten by Legree as a result. He also heroically resisted Legree’s attempts to break him of his faith in Christ.

Tom comforted the other slaves, encouraged two of them to escape and refused to divulge their whereabouts to Legree. Because of this, he was beaten to death by two black slaves, Sambo and Quimbo, who acted as Legree’s overseers. Tom forgave his assailants even as he was dying and they were so humbled by his mercy that they became Christians too. So Stowe’s main character is a man of great dignity and Christian faith.

Tom represented Stowe’s deliberate attempt to dispel the popular minstrel show stereotypes of black men as ignorant, lazy and frolicsome buffoons. In fact, it was the minstrel shows that subsequently took the Uncle Tom character and twisted him into a happy-go-lucky, boot-licking apologist for his white masters.

It seems that neither the minstrels nor the audiences of Stowe’s day were ready to accept the portrayal of a black man as better than a white man, no matter how evil the villain was. So in contempt for Tom’s goodness, many of the minstrel shows disposed of Simon Legree altogether.

Nonetheless, I smile when I’m called an Uncle Tom because, in the character’s original and intended incarnation, he is a Christ-like figure. My willingness to embrace what my adversaries think is an insult confounds them, which brings me even more pleasure.

The reason we are “a nation of cowards” when it comes to discussing race is because we don’t permit honesty to enter into the dialogue. There is a prescribed narrative that is deemed acceptable and no deviations from that narrative are permitted without negative consequences.

Yet I am no coward. Anyone who reads my articles on the internet–or anyone who’s read one of my letters to the editor of my local newspaper–can vouch for my fearlessness in discussing and debating issues of race or any topic related to politics, society and faith.

There’s an old saying that goes “Never discuss religion or politics in polite company.” Well, I broke that rule a long time ago and we may as well add race to the list because the response of “polite company” to that topic is likely to be equally charged as it would be to the first two.

So let’s talk about race in America, but from the perspective of a proud Uncle Tom and sellout. You may not like or accept what I have to say, but I am certain of my right to say it because it’s not a privilege to be granted or revoked by the black orthodoxy, their white enablers or anyone else. I was conceived in the image of God, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” I am a free man in the Creator’s universe with a view of the world that is uniquely mine and mine to express as I think best.

Jesus Christ says, “[Y]ou will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” I didn’t fully grasp what that meant until after more than 50 years of living. The knowledge of the truth instills in a person clarity, confidence and serenity, allowing one to stand firm against the lies and attacks of the world without fear.

Courage is true freedom and I came to that place because of Jesus Christ. Only in Him, the Eternal Word and Truth Incarnate, am I free to be a contrarian black man.

Ron Miller is a conservative writer and commentator, author of the book, SELLOUT: Musings from Uncle Tom’s Porch, and the president of Regular Folks United, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of individual liberty, free markets and our nation’s founding principles. The nine-year plus veteran of the U.S. Air Force and married father of three writes columns for several online sites and print publications, and his own website, TeamRonMiller.com. Join him on Facebook and Twitter.

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Other articles of interest:

Speaking truth to race-hustlers

HOW REPUBLICANS WILL WIN THE SENATE

Arizona vs. the U.N. human rights police

Wyden: For imposing the Obamacare individual health mandate before he was against it

• “According to the Tax Foundation’s Microsimulation Model, to erase the 2010 U.S. budget deficit, the U.S. Congress would have to multiply each tax rate by 2.4. Thus, the 10 percent rate would be 24 percent, the 15 percent rate would be 36 percent, and the 35 percent rate would have to be 85 percent.”  Obviously, in the real world, we would hopefully have people who are not participating in the tax system at all (roughly half of the population) to get into the action.  Still, even the most casual observer can see how such tax rates would wipe out the economy as capital would take flight to safer parts of the world (as it is already doing).
• “In 2010 the U.S. government is projected to issue almost as much new debt as the rest of the governments of the world combined.”  This one actually made me literally gulp.  I would love the source, but the numbers make sense because of the exponential rate of the growth of our deficits.  We now do annually what originally took 186 years to accomplish – trillion dollar debts.
• “Total U.S. government debt is now up to 90 percent of gross domestic product.”  Move over Greece, here comes the good old US of A!
• “Total credit market debt in the United States, including government, corporate and personal debt, has reached 360 percent of GDP.”  People continually talk about “robbing from the next generation to pay for this.”  Reality?  We are taking from our great, great, great grandchildren.
• “U.S. corporate income tax receipts were down 55% (to $138 billion) for the year ending September 30th, 2009.”  Capital is taking flight to other countries as the US now has the second highest tax rates of any industrialized country in the world.  Furthermore, our prohibitive tax and regulatory policies are causing business to reduce tax revenue generating activities.
• “There are now 8 counties in the state of California that have unemployment rates of over 20 percent.”  Watch out Cleveland, Detroit, and Camden, here comes California!  The Golden State is looking a little rusty.
• “According to a Pew Research Center study, approximately 37% of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have either been unemployed or underemployed at some point during the recession.”  There is a great old saying, “a recession is when your neighbor loses his job and a depression is when you lose your job.”  This recession is pretty depressing.
• “More than 40% of those employed in the United States are now working in low-wage service jobs.” This is that group that is being tired of being told that “any job is better than nothing.”
• “Over 1.4 million Americans filed for personal bankruptcy in 2009, which represented a 32 percent increase over 2008. Not only that, more Americans filed for bankruptcy in March 2010 than during any month since U.S. bankruptcy law was tightened in October 2005.”  I have interviewed many of these people on my radio show.  There are many personal tragedies out there in this economy.
• “In California’s Central Valley, 1 out of every 16 homes is in some phase of foreclosure.”  This is after how much money was spent to reverse this trend?  By the way, in that same vein, 80 percent of all homes that received help to avoid foreclosure found themselves in the same situation again, further proving the truth to the statement that you “cannot spend your way out of a recession.”
• “For the first time in U.S. history, banks own a greater share of residential housing net worth in the United States than all individual Americans put together.”  In spite of this reality, politicians are still trying to figure out how to develop more programs to build more houses.  I suggest they allow the market to force those in the building industry to do whatever is necessary to make a living where the market bears and not in an obviously glutted housing market.
• “U.S. commercial property values are down approximately 40 percent since 2007 and currently 18 percent of all office space in the United States is sitting vacant.”  This is a sneak peak into the next major bubble to burst. Which TARP number will this be?
• “In 2009, U.S. banks posted their sharpest decline in private lending since 1942.” Interesting and this came after bailouts equaling billions of dollars.  Banks did not have to lend as aggressively thanks to an artificial cushion created by Uncle Sam.
• “To make up for a projected 2010 budget shortfall of $280 million, Detroit issued $250 million of 20-year municipal notes in March. The bond issuance followed on the heels of a warning from Detroit officials that if its financial state didn’t improve, it could be forced to declare bankruptcy.” This may be the least surprising fact of all.
• “According to a National Foundation for Credit Counseling survey, only 58% of those in “Generation Y” pay their monthly bills on time.” Another non-surprise, considering the example they received from the generations that came before them.
• “According to a new report based on U.S. Census Bureau data, only 26 percent of American teens between the ages of 16 and 19 had jobs in late 2009 which represents a record low since statistics began to be kept back in 1948.” The administration’s answer to this was to allow minimum wage to go up to its historic high, even as the economy suffered from unemployment levels we have not seen in over a quarter of a century.  It is true, that minimum wage was passed by a previous president, but Obama had the numbers in Congress to put a hold on this job killing legislation.
• “According to an analysis by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation the health care “reform” bill will generate $409.2 billion in additional taxes on the American people by 2019.”  This includes 7 new taxes for those who make less than $200,000.  So much for the President’s promises to those who make less than that amount.

This is only a partial list, the whole article is worth reading and sharing with others.  The major media is not touching these type of stories because they are too invested in our economic system and fundamentally believe that big government is best.  Ironically, they are sitting on the biggest news story of the past hundred years.  Ideology prevents them from doing their job.  That burden falls on every American to spread the word.

Other articles of interest:

Left: The NYC Muslim cabbie stabbing was right-wing ISLAMOPHOBIA!…oh, wait a minute…

Quotes of the day

Will Murkowski run as an independent? Update: Libertarian Party the only option?

PARTY TREND HAS YET TO KICK IN

“Natalie Nichols is one of the rising, young stars in the Republican Party,” said Dick Morris, President of Vote.com. “She is struggling to make Bowie County a two-party government with checks and balances. Right now, it is run by the fiat of the Democratic Party organization.” Morris explained, “The Clerk’s office is the key to releasing the voting records of the Commissioners Court. The current clerk sits on the records and won’t release them without a formal request. Natalie, not to be deterred, now videotapes their meetings and posts them on her website for all to see.”

Morris worked as a Republican strategist before serving as a White House Advisor under President Clinton, and is credited for helping President Clinton succeed by convincing the President to adopt Conservative Republican policies. He is an 8 time NYT best-selling author, renowned political strategist, and a regular commentator on Fox News.

“We need the likes of Natalie in politics and, I suspect, the people of Bowie County need her, in particular, as an advocate. They couldn’t get a better one,” added Morris.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of Dick Morris, and am so grateful for his advice and friendship. I was deeply humbled when he wrote to offer the endorsement,” said Nichols. “He is one of the strongest voices in the Conservative movement today. His wisdom and wealth of knowledge is beyond compare. Public Information has been under lock and key in our county for decades. I will give our citizens every opportunity to view our elected officials’ voting records, without having to ask for them. The records in the County Clerk’s office do not belong to the Clerk, they belong to the people.”

Editors note:  Natalie Nichols is a co-founder of Political Integrity Now

Other Headlines:

Obama’s Beltway Chainsaw Massacre

Advice to GOP Candidates; Avoid Adjectives, Nouns are Good Enough

Big Labor’s Massive New $88 Million War Chest

Upset in Alaska?

Game Over:  McCain Crushes Hayworth

While it is important that our Nation once again secures solid leadership, let us not forget that Britain is  one of our biggest allies, and their success is something we should root for.  (Well, in my opinion, that is!)  Can you imagine if both of our Nations had Conservative leadership?  Hmm.  Like Reagan and Thatcher, yes?  Those were the days, indeed!

Congratulations, Mr. Prime Minister.  You have a lot of healing to bring to your Nation.  Best of luck, sir, and God Bless!

LONDON – David Cameron, the youthful leader who modernized the party of right-wing icon Margaret Thatcher, became prime minister Thursday after the resignation of Gordon Brown — capping a gripping election saga that returns the Tories to government after 13 years of Labour Party rule.

According to tradition, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Cameron at Buckingham Palace — the stately denouement to a behind-the-scenes dogfight between Cameron and Brown for the cooperation of Britain’s third-place party, after an election that left no party with a majority. Within minutes, Cameron was installed at No. 10 Downing Street and an announcement followed that Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, would become deputy prime minister after days of hard bargaining with his former political rivals.

The 43-year-old Cameron becomes Britain’s youngest prime minister in almost 200 years — the last was Lord Liverpool at 42 — and cemented a coalition deal with the third-place Liberal Democrats. Clegg and four other Liberal Democrats received Cabinet posts. A number of other Liberal Democrats would receive junior posts.

Read the rest here.

Steve Yeager of Arkansas said, “Quit spending money on anything except for national defense and economic recovery, period. No more pork barrel spending, I am sorry if your district does not get your small municipal airports re-paved, but the buck has got to stop here and now!” In my view, do not spend another penny on economic recovery, but instead create a tax and regulatory environment in which businesses can thrive. I certainly think that Steve has us heading in the right direction.

One popular “love to hate” theme among conservative activists is health care. Brandon Dupont of Louisiana said that we should “repeal health care, go after fraud In Medicare and Medicaid…drug test for welfare and food stamp recipients.” I believe the “drug test” theme might become a populist theme among Americans who are disgusted by the lack of accountability when it comes to government spending. Of course, welfare should be left entirely to the states and the citizens thereof. That, too, will be a popular mantra in 2010.

Another big concern is the amount of money the government is taking from its citizens and the type of things being taxed. There is an old saying, “the more you tax something, the less you get of it.” With that, why would one want to tax wealth and job creation? The US is about to have the highest tax rate of any industrialized country in the world and our job growth numbers continues to show weakness. In fact, the continuously stagnant economy of England has lower unemployment than the US. With that, Dee Dobson of Oklahoma calls for a “FAIR TAX! They take our freedoms through taxes!” Taxes also take our wealth and productivity. A Fair Tax would stop taxing wealth creation and instead tax consumption. This type of policy would go far in restoring our economic greatness.

One issue I often beat the drum on is corporate welfare. This form of fascism is destroying America’s economic fabric and is waging a war on entrepreneurship. Dave Smith of Texas noted that “Corporate welfare: end it. No subsidies, no special treatment, no tax credits for specific behaviors — just a simple, fair, efficient flat tax that is easily understandable and doesn’t favor or restrict businesses.” Those who do not favor a Fair tax, tend to support a flat tax of around 10 percent. Either one would have every person contributing to government spending and holding that government accountable in a manner we have not seen in generations.

One of the most important issues facing America is the restoration of constitutional government. Larry Sherman of Minnesota says we should “return to a republic.” Today, democracy and republican government are largely treated as synonyms, but the Founding Fathers clearly understood that true freedom is preserved in rule by law that protected the minority and even the individual, rather than through any form of dictatorship, be it popular or by a few.

Finally, Herschel Evans of Georgia may have put it best when he said, “Freedom! Freedom to succeed, freedom to fail. It should be all about Freedom!”

2010 should be about restoring limited constitutional government and restoring the rights of individual. It is time to replace the fast track to mob role (which invariably leads to oligarchy) with one of rule by law.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN radio). Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

It became very scary for Democrats when a Senate seat held by a Kennedy for almost 50 years found itself in Republican hands. Scott Brown won a race, in spite of the fact that the state is 3 to 1 Democrat. Even before this upset, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced he would not seek reelection. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), one of the most influential and longest serving members of the Senate, decided not to run after a year of accusations of political improprieties rocked his campaign. Now we have Evan Bayh (D-IN) announcing, essentially, that he is no longer “in love” with the Senate and is planning on moving on. His decision was so sudden, he gave his party less than a week to find someone to file for his seat. The “filibuster proof” Senate is already history and there are now thirteen races that looked very much in the hands of the Democrats that could be in the GOPs’.

Arkansas. Sen. Blanche Lincoln has been on political life support for months. Her approval numbers are in the tank. She has sheepishly supported Obama’s agenda and, now that her numbers are in serious trouble, she is lecturing Majority Leader Harry Reid for doing too much, too quick. In spite of the fact she has only attracted “B team” talent in Rep. John Boozman (R), she finds herself behind in a recent poll by 23 points.

Colorado. Michael Bennet (D) faces a tough race since he began from the position as an appointee (replacing Ken Salazar who joined he Obama Administration). He has no elective office experience, which is always dangerous. Furthermore, his nomination is anything but a shoe in, facing a tough primary challenge in the Colorado’s Speaker of the House (Andrew Romanoff). Worse still for Democrats, the GOP seems behind Lt. Governor Jane Norton, whose numbers appear stronger than either Bennet or Romanoff).

Delaware. New England has been a safe haven for the Democrats for years and the seat that is up for grabs is one that was once in the hands of the sitting Vice President, Joe Biden. Beau Biden, the Vice President’s son and Attorney General, has already declined a run, leaving this a very safe race for former Republican governor and current Congressman-at-large, Michael Castle.

Illinois. The President’s own Senate Seat is ripe for the GOP, according to many political pundits and Mark Kirk (R) may be the perfect candidate to replace Roland Burris. Kirk is a moderate from suburban Chicago, conservative on economic and defense issues and with moderate social views. In this open seat he will take on Alexi Giannoulias, the state treasurer, who could be a strong candidate, but has serious problems due to his relationship with former Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich. It appears that Kirk has, at least, an even chance of winning.

Indiana. This sate has been largely “red” for years but has been held solidly by Evan Bayh, a moderate Democrat hat learned to fit the state well. The race could have been tough ffor Bayh, acing former Senator Dan Coates (R), with Bayh pulling out, it now looks like a state that is solidly in the GOP column.

Kentucky. This open Republican seat is full of intrigue. This seat is currently in the hands of Jim Bunning who has considered his low poll numbers and has concluded that he is one of the most vulnerable candidates in the country. This caught the attention of Secretary of State Trey Grayson who was endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Grayson is strong, leading both Democrats battling in their primary in the polls. However, Rand Paul (son of Rep. Ron Paul), whom I knew as we were both activists in politics in college, is providing a tough primary challenge. Fortunately for the GOP, his numbers are better than the Democrats also.

Missouri. Kit Bond is giving up his seat and this could be the Democrats’ best chance to get a Senate office that is in the GOPs’ hands. However, the political environment has changed significantly and could fall either way. The Democrats offer a very strong candidate in Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (daughter of the late former Governor Mel Carnahan and Senator Jean Carnahan). Meanwhile, the GOP is running former Republican House Whip Roy Blunt. Carnahan has a slight lead, but pundits on both sides see this as a toss up.

Nevada. Harry Reid is poised to join a club that I do not think he wants membership. Like former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), he could find himself a leader of his party in the Senate that becomes unemployed running for reelection. Nevada is considered the best chance for a GOP pick up. His numbers are in the very low range (20s). Potential Republican opponents included Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki. Although Reid has serious money (an important element in winning such a race), this seat should be in the GOP column in 2011.

New Hampshire. This is another rare opportunity for Democrats to pick up a seat that is currently in the GOPs’ hands. Judd Gregg is retiring and the Democrats have an impressive candidate with Rep. Paul Hodes. Fortunately for Republicans they have a top-tier candidate of their own in former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who leads in the polls. Money and polls are on the Democrats side at this time, but the political winds could change everything.

There are several other “hot” seats to watch in 2010. New York provides an usually safe seat for Democrats, but the change in the political environment and a strong GOP candidate could even change this situation. In North Dakota, the retirement of Byron Dorgan (D) and the addition of Governor John Hoeven (R) into the race have made a Republican pickup almost certain. In Pennsylvania, Democrat “convert” Arlen Spector faces a tough reelection campaign since members of his own party does not trust him (remembering him as a Republican) and the GOP rank and file seems to have disdain for him. Former Congressman Pat Tooney (R) seems poised to create an upset in the Keystone state.

If you like politics, 2010 will be an interesting year to watch, its implications on public policy will be most profound.

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Kevin Price is the host of “Price of Business”, M-F at 11 am on CNN 650 and CBS Radio and can be frequently found in the “Strategy Room” at FoxNews.com. A syndicated columnist whose article appear at Reuters, Chicago Sun Times, USA Today, and other media, his BizPlusBlog.com is ranked in the top 1 percent of all blogs by Technorati. His articles also appear regularly at AmericanDailyReview.com and RenewAmerica.com, Examiner.com, and others.

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Other articles of interest:

Oba-Kabuki: A box-office bomb

Have you forgotten? World Trade Center bombing, 17 years later

Conrad: Reconciliation won’t work for ObamaCare

Obama to GOP: Catch the Olympic spirit and pass my giant health-care boondoggle

CALL THESE SWING CONGRESSMEN ON HEALTH CARE

“And that’s why we’ve excluded lobbyists from policy-making jobs or seats on federal boards and commissions.” Hold on there, Buckaroo! Once again, in true Obama fashion, the truth is distorted to an extent that it is completely false. He did sign an executive order that would prevent lobbyists from being able to “work on regulations or contracts directly and substantially related to their prior employer for two years.” However, Obama failed to mention that there is a “waiver” that allows former lobbyists to serve.

But moving right along:

Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests – including foreign companies – to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, and worse, by foreign entities.

Apparently, the President doesn’t like people playing in his back yard or looking at his playbook. Sure, he doesn’t want corporations, the likes of which the Democrats have been known to put the squeeze on, getting involved in campaign finances. And “foreign entities?” Please! Apparently the president has a chronic case of short-term memory loss. How much did he get for his presidential campaign from “foreign entities?” With that statement alone, we should challenge his current mental state with regard to his ability to make sound decisions.

Tonight, I’m calling on Congress to publish all earmark requests on a single website before there’s a vote so that the American people can see how their money is being spent.

No he didn’t! I’m sorry, but I just have to give out a big “ROFL” with that one. I mean, come on! Obama is going to bring up posting things on the internet for all to see before a vote is passed?

Let’s see…where to begin?

During his campaign, President Obama said that he “…will not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for FIVE DAYS.”

Is that so?

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay act was passed on January 27th, 2009 and signed TWO DAYS LATER by the president on January 29th, 2009. A few days later on February 4th, 2009, Obama signed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program only HOURS after it passed through Congress. Then the following month, Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 on May 22, 2009 – only two days after it passed through Congress.

So pardon me while I “ROFL” when the president charges Congress with upholding a standard that he will not hold himself to, even after he promised he would. I think this falls under the category of “Do as I say, not as I do!”

On this occasion, he has found a new way of blaming Bush. Instead of blaming things on the “previous administration”, he now describes it as “the last decade.” That Obama, he sure knows how to choose his words carefully, doesn’t he? Although it does seem at times that he’s struggling internally when he disagrees with the words that are scrolling on the teleprompter.

I also noticed the rise he got when he said “If these firms [big business] can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the tax payers who rescued them in their time of need.” Well, here is a thought, President Obama: If Congress can afford to give our legislators a raise when everybody else is losing money, then they can afford to give that money to the tax payers instead–who by the way pay them their salaries in the first place.

I’m glad that the president is finally focusing on jobs, but I am a bit perplexed. By the way Mr. President, why would you need to call for a “jobs bill” if your stimulus plan is working as well as you claim? Obama keeps telling of the stories of the business in Phoenix that is growing, the one in Philadelphia that has doubled its business, but he did not say what the business’ name is. He also wants to give $30 billion to small community banks, in the hopes that they’ll start lending to small businesses. It kind of reminds me of the phantom districts that received stimulus money and “saved or created” fictitious recordable jobs.

There was something I did like, no really, I’m serious. Obama said he wants to reduce the capital gains tax. I am all for cutting the capital gains tax and would have given him credit for bipartisanship had he given due credit to the Republicans (who have been pushing for that since he took office.) He also talk about persuing alternative energy.  But instead, he chose not to acknowledge that, presenting it as if it was a novel idea.

As an aside, did you happen to notice where Joe Biden was reading ahead on the teleprompter and started to applaud before the prompt, when Obama was mid sentence? By the way: Way to go, Joe! That was a great rapid response in recalling the clap before everyone else noticed. Major gaffe averted. I can’t wait to find the video…that was priceless! It wasn’t necessarily of importance, but at least it was certainly humorous, and typical of Biden.

Obama said that what frustrates the American people most is a Washington in which “every day is Election Day.” Oh how wrong he is. If every day were Election Day, people like Obama wouldn’t be able to go back on promises of transparency and making deliberations public on C-SPAN. They’d be on their best behavior. He says that neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill, just because they can. Well how about if every single bill is corrupt, should we just pass it to let them win one, American people’s wishes be damned? First, he reminds the democrats that they’re still winning and should forge ahead. Then to Republicans, he says if they “are going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, a Super Majority, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well.” I’m sorry, maybe I was flawed in my thinking all along. I thought for some crazy reason that we sent both Republicans and Democrats to D.C. to REpresent us, to present our views in our absence. Perhaps I am mistaken and the president is correct, being a constitutional law professor and all, that the Republicans should lead by not serving the ambitions of their Republican constituents. So let’s show the American people that we can do what together, Mr. President? As usual, his rhetoric doesn’t match his actions, or even the rest of his rhetoric. The entire speech is 1 hour and 10 minutes of contradictions. He says he’ll be addressing Republican leaders finally, on a monthly basis. It’s only been how long since they’ve been requesting meetings? Better late than never, I suppose.

This man, Barack Hussein Obama, just said to the American people, that we can argue all we want about who’s to blame, “but I’m not interested in re-litigating the past.” Hmmm, I am not quite sure what to make of the numerous references to “who is to blame” earlier in the speech then. He wants to put aside the schoolyard taunts about who’s tough. Kind of like a few minutes prior when he spoke to Democrats and reminded them they still had the largest majority in history and should act on it. To me that sounded oddly reminiscent of “We won, we won! We shot the b. b. gun!” but maybe I’m alone in that.

America’s greatest strength has been our ideals, says Obama, we find unity in our diversity, the notion that no matter who you are, and what you look like, if you adhere to our common [Democrat] values, you should be treated the same. I’m guessing that those who were locking the doors to keep people out of town hall meetings during the health care debates weren’t embracing our nation’s great diversity. He’s touting the idea that he’s going to ensure that gays have “the right to serve” in the military. Why on earth are their entrance exams to be accepted into the military? Could it be that it is to screen those who should be serving from those who should not? Could it be that they are looking to see who is equipped to serve and who is not? Does the overweight guy who can’t pass the physical fitness test have the “right” to serve in our military? ABSOLUTELY he does! Just as soon as he CHANGES enough to meet the high standards that the strongest fighting force known to mankind has set in place. The military does not require that a person stop being gay in order to serve, only that they not proclaim it to those they’re working alongside. Likewise if an overweight person does trim down enough to meet standards, the military doesn’t require that they stop eating the same amount they used to eat, but it does require that they not do so to the extent that it might put fellow servicemen in harm’s way.

With regard to his earlier statement about Republicans and furthering their own ambitions, Obama ends his speech with a fervent, “We don’t quit, I DON’T QUIT!” Mr. “it’s not all about me, it’s just entirely about me” President, how about, “I don’t give up on YOU,” no, that won’t do, that takes the emphasis off of him and places it on the people he’s supposed to be serving. After all, Obama doesn’t quit…when his ambitions are on the line.

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Please DONATE to Natalie Nichols campaign and support a true conservative running in a county represented by only one Republican in office.  “I refuse to compromise my values and beliefs!”

Natalie Nichols is currently TX District 4 Coordinator for Smart Girl Politics (SGP), a group that empowers Conservative women, and a contributing writer for Smart Girl Nation, SGP’s online magazine.  She is Co-Founder of Political Integrity Now, a Conservative online news, analysis, and commentary site.  Natalie is creator of the Texarkana TEA Patriots website, a site where local patriots can meet, organize, and take action.  Additionally, she is a member of Star of Texas Republican Women, one of the coordinators for the TEA parties in Texarkana, and is a member of the Bowie County Patriots and is running for local office.

You can follow Natalie on Facebook and Twitter.

Other articles of interest:

SOTU open thread: Blame the lobbyists! Fund high-speed rail boondoggles! Spending freeze plan met with near-silence, laughter; disses SCOTUS in front of SCOTUS

The state of Obama’s dis-union

Two sharp responses to Obama’s SOTU

SOTU open thread: Fightin’ president totally ready to fight or something

Ryan reintroducing GOP health-care reform bill today

Zzzzz: Two not-so-sharp responses to Obama’s SOTU

White liberal TV host can’t stop talking about president’s skin color

The State of the Union:  A Hollow Speech