by Thomas Craig

It is not enough these days for our Leaders to spend our money on ridiculous little pet projects from Hawaiian canoes to tattoo removal.  Now, in the midst of this economic crisis, we will be sending $900 Million to the Gaza strip for rebuilding and humanitarian aid.  My problem with this is not that we are reaching out a helping hand to Palestineans, but that this money will not go to benefit the People of Gaza.  Not only will Hamas be taking this money and using it for terrorist purposes against Israel and most likely the USA, but we contradicting the point of the Israeli strikes.  Hamas will continue to bomb Israel and we are contributing to the carnage by helping to finance them.  Perhaps if we stood by Israel and allowed the destruction in Gaza to resonate with their Leaders, progress could be made.  Instead, Hamas knows that any result of Israeli actions will lead to “charitable donations” by Nations such as ours, which will fix the damage and refill their wallets.  If Hamas did not provoke these attacks by firing rockets on Israeli towns, perhaps I would feel different about it.  As it stands, our tax dollars will go to a terrorist regime that despises us as well as our greatest ally in the Mideast. 

Furthermore, not to be the Scrooge here, but can we really afford to donate this money right now?  Ignoring the fact that the money will not be used in the way it is attended, aren’t there a plethora of Americans who could really use this money right now?  I’m sure California would greatly appreciate that money and quite frankly, if we are going to throw away almost a billion dollars, we might as well throw it away by contributing to the life support of the most fiscally irresponsible State in the Union.  (In full disclosure, my state of NY is a very close second).  Do you know what $900 million dollars could buy?  It is equivalent to one year earnings for 66,059 federal minimum wage earners.  Of course I completely support our charitable givings to the world (We give more than any other Nation), all I’m asking is that we consider the plight of our own citizens before we throw good money to bad people such as Hamas.

by Thomas Craig

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is in my opinion, everything that is wrong with Washington.  Remember in Willy Wonka when Wonka told Charlie that he would take over the chocolate factory?  Well this is what happens when Charlie gets high on chocolate and power.  He turns into Nancy Pelosi.  I am considering dedicating a page on the site to her and her quotes, legislation, and absolute upsurdity.  Right now though let us focus on the budget.  I either laughed or cried when I watched her earlier sing the praises of the budget proposal and claim that it was an example of good government.  This budget so far has over 9000 earmarks!  Pork-filled projects which are stuffed into the budget so that politicians can go back home and buy constituents votes.  Good government?   New healthcare, education, and energy programs are being proposed.  All excellent causes but after spending hundreds of billions of dollars, can we please come up with a plan more concrete to pay for this other than increasing taxes on the top 2%.  Oh but remember what Pelosi says, "It's not about raising taxes, its about ending tax cuts."  Well she has proved time and time again that she doesn't regard Americans to be very intelligent, and this further proves that point.  Perhaps she can personally explain to people who lose their jobs that the reason they lost it is because when the company they worked for was going through a tough time, she decided to raise their taxes and add an additional burden which led them to cut costs and downsize.  Look, i'm not rich.  I understand it is easy to blame rich people and easy to punish them and write it off as "they can afford it".  The truth though is that those "rich" people are your bosses, your investors, and the entrepreneurs who bring goods and services to your town.  Besides, as we all know, when the revenue increases in Washington, the spending simply increases as well to make sure that we are screwed for years and years to come.  Congress needs to look inward at their spending and waste.  Hey what do I know though, maybe Congress did need that $4000 "cost-of-living" bonus they each received in January while the rest of us lose our shirts.

by Thomas Craig

Last night was a perfect example of how far the Democrats have come regarding their marketing to the People and how dismal a job Republicans are doing.  First let's address the President's speech.  The President made a strategically excellent move last night.  With all the noise in the media coming from all directions and confidence in our markets and our economy hitting a new low, the President came out with an inspiring, ambitious, optimistic and vague blueprint for this Nation.  Well done, sir!  Visually the President had the advantage which all President's have by standing at the podium back dropped with the American Flag in a historical room filled with applause from both sides.  The image alone always inspires Americans and instills a sense of leadership.  He outlined ambitious goals such as healthcare and education reform, as well as cutting the deficit in half.  Based on his speech, it seems that his only details in regards to how to accomplish all of this is to remove the Bush tax cuts.  Any reduction of spending in Iraq is just being offset by the increase of spending in Afghanistan.  His goal last night, however, was not to offer details- it was to inspire Americans to support him, which it did.  He told Americans what they wanted to hear from pulling out of Iraq to curing cancer.  Americans as a whole don't want details, they just want to know that everything is going to get better and that is what he told them last night.

Gov. Jindal on the otherhand is another story.  In the words of Frank Luntz, "it's not what you say, it's what they hear" (and also see).  Visually I saw a backdrop of a bland hallway with a sprial staircase, not exactly something every American has.  On the two far edges of the screen were slivers of the American and Louisiana Flag.  Only a sliver showed because they were too far out to be fully in the frame.  Gov. Jindal came out from around the corner as if he were hiding in the shadows and awkwardly walked to his mark.  He seemed a bit slouched over and nervous as he approached.  Without a moments hesitation, he began his speech which seemed poorly rehearsed, amateurish, and anything but genuine.  His anecdotes were poorly delivered and the tone and overall syntax were dismal at best.  I felt like I was in kindergarten and my teacher was telling me about the Little Engine that Could.  It was a terrible response and it made the hill which Gov. Jindal plans to climb to run for President that much steeper.  (I have posted the speech on the Video page for you to see what I mean.)

My suggestions to Gov. Jindal would have been this.  Move the setting to someplace much more public.  Make sure the American Flag is in full view in the background and well lit.  Behind you (but not too far back), have families standing and filling out the frame of your shot.  Acknowledge one or two examples of small business owners or heroes of Hurricane Katrina who are standing with you (such as the sheriff he spoke of).  When you enter, enter from the rear and give yourself time to move through the crowd, acknowledging and shaking hands with the families; say hello to their children.  Approach your mark with your head up high and your chest out.  When you hit your mark, don't immediately speak- instead give a smile to the camera and let the viewers take you in for a moment.  When you begin speaking, speak slowly and confidently.  Don't just rush out the words, take your time to effectively get your message across.  Don't speak to the viewers as if you're giving a high school oral exam, instead speak to us as if you were speaking to three of your closest friends.  This should help relax you.  Remember, your message is just and genuine and you have a lot of supporters out there but the truth is that what we see and hear is just as important as what you say.

by Thomas Craig

Tonight President Obama will address the Nation on the economy.  I applaud the President for the new level of transparency he has brought to the Office.  The People should have plentiful updates regarding the Country, especially in times like these.  What I can't stomach though, is hypocrisy.  The President wants to cut the deficit which of course we all support, however, it is almost comical for anyone on the Left to speak of fiscal responsibility after spending over $1 Trillion just a week ago that was borrowed by the Chinese (my apologies to Spkr Pelosi's Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse which received $30 million from the stimulus).  We have committed our future generations to paying off this debt, we have put ourselves into an even deeper handicapped position with China, and we have done it all for the "hope" that this plan will work.  All this despite the fact that this spending plan has failed every time it's been tried, either here or abroad.  What also bothers me is that many Americans do not realize that there is more spending to take place.  Many people think about the stimulus and fail to realize that we are not even half way through this fiscal year (Oct 1-Sept 30).  There are many more opportunites for the Democrats to spend and believe me, they will!  After all, remember what Rahm Emanuel says, "You can't let a crisis go to waste."

by Thomas Craig

In these times of economic uncertainty, it is easy for us to look at our own personal problems which overwhelm our thoughts.  I try to remind everyone I meet that while the media seems to have forgotten the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we should not.  The only mention of Iraq in the news is when a politician uses it as a derogatory reference to former Pres. Bush.  17,000 additional troops were recently sent to Afghanistan and it was merely a blurb in the media.  We her at AmericanTusk want to thank all of the Men and Women in our Armed Forces who are risking their lives every day for freedom.  We appreciate your sacrifices and the sacrifices of your family and you all are in our prayers.

by Thomas Craig

Congressional Republicans (with the exception of 3), proved to themselves as well as America that the GOP understands the need to return to core values.  That being true, the stimulus has been passed and signed by the President so the attention is now on the disbursements.  The news is playing up the fact that a few Republican Governors, such as Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA), are possibly going to reject a small portion of the stimulus which is intended for their states.  The true story in the press is the "hypocrisy" of Republicans who opposed the stimulus accepting the money from the stimulus.  I personally think it would be fiscally irresponsible for any Governor to turn down this money, regardless of their stance on the stimulus.  No elected official should be in the position to tell their constituents that they will not receive money yet they will still be on the hook for paying off this outrageous debt.  If by rejecting their portion of the stimulus, the People of that particular State would not be required to commit the next few generations of their family to paying this off, then I would support rejecting the funds completely.  Unfortunetly, we all are going to have to pay this off no matter what, buy hey, at least we'll get an extra $13 per paycheck.  Perhaps that will cheer up your child when they are asking why they pay all of their income to taxes.  I do have one question... If the stimulus will create jobs, won't it take a continual ongoing budget of the same enormity to KEEP those jobs later on?  Aren't we just kicking the problem down the road?  (Forgive me, I'm new to socialism and curious to see so many People in the country celebrate the fall of capitalism.)

by Thomas Craig

I always advocate two ways for the Republican Party to regain its footing.  The first is the increasingly popular notion that we must get back to our core beliefs of limited government and fiscal responsibility.  Thankfully the Party leaders are getting the point due to the overwhelming efforts of citizens throughout the Country.  The other way for the GOP to improve itself is in its branding.  The Democrats have terrible branding as a Party but great branding for its Leader.  Pres. Obama is sustaining the Democrats much in the same way a mother bird will hunt for a worm, catch it, then go back to the nest and feed its young.  Pres. Obama knows how to speak to everyday Americans and he is taking his platforms straight to them while Pelosi, Reid, and the rest of the gang hang up their pictures of Chairman Mao and plot to “change” America from the evil Capitalist Democracy which they so hate.

Republicans, on the other hand, just can’t get their message out as well as the President does.  Yes the press conferences and television appearances are important and they are doing that but I’m talking about something stronger and more meaningful.  First, I would like to see some of the old faces less and some of the newer faces more.  I would like to see the Party embrace Young Republicans and incorporate them into the GOP system more.  Obama is taking his platforms on the road and holding townhall meetings, so should we.  I want to see someone speaking to Americans and answering questions from them.  I don’t want to see a man in a suit read off statistics to a crowd that can barely stay awake.  Roll up your sleeves and get involved.  I want to see a Republican gathering of all ages protesting the out of control spending in Washington.  Once you remind Americans of the differences between Liberals and Conservatives, they will return to the Party.  But first we need to get out there and step up.

I have to make mention of the White House's promise that President Obama will "oppose any move to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine."  I am a Republican but I am an American first and I have no problem thanking the President when he pledges to oppose Anti-American legislation even when it is strongly supported by his own Party including Nancy Pelosi and former President Clinton.  Time will tell if he walks the talk but for now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. 

by Thomas Craig

The good Rev. Al Sharpton has reached a new low.  Is he really that bored?  Is there really so little to do that he is resorting to a ridiculous fight with the New York Post over a political cartoon which pokes fun at two recent events; the hastily written/pork-filled stimulus and the recent shooting of that chimpanzee who bit off a woman's face.  Both have been in the news and the cartoon is a reference to both of those stories.  Rev. Al feels differently about it.  He sees the cartoon as a racist jab at the President.  Anyone with half a brain can see how ridiculous this is.  Rev. Al can no longer make the case that an African-American cannot make it in America.  He can no longer try to capitalize on the suffering of others and be the publicity seeking celebrity he is.  Of course he has done a lot of good, but this man NEEDS racism to live on.  This man has made a career on exploiting racism and implying it when there is none.  Now I understand he is scared to lose his job, a lot of people are right now, but it's time he tries to contribute to his country instead of promoting our differences and exploiting every opportunity that comes along.  I have news for Sharpton... it wasn't just Black people who voted for Obama.  A lot of White people voted for him as well.  More importantly, every American including political cartoonists have the right to point out the injustices and mismanagement of our government in any way we deem fit.  Obama is not the Messiah, he's an elected politician who is subject to all the commentary, opinion, and analysis as any other politician.

While we all have been distracted by the small matter of the economy and the generational theft bill being signed by President Obama today, I thought it would be fun to point out a couple of other matters our Congress has been discussing.  Two bills in particular caught my attention.  The first bill is yet another attempt to undermine the 2nd Amendment and continue the process of peeling away our individual rights.  The good Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) sponsored this bill.  We will be discussing gun rights in a future post, but for now I just wanted us to all consider what the Democrats are doing while we are distracted.  The other example of beneficial politics I wish you to consider is the tiny bit of legislation proposed by Rep. Jose Serrano.  His proposal is to repeal the 22nd Amendment, thereby removing term limits for the Office of President.  That's right.  Rep. Serrano feels that we should open the way for a permanent President.  You can view both bills on our Cogitation page.  We will continue to monitor them.

Distract the People.  Dangle impossible promises, rob them and their children by burying them under an unbelievable debt, and woo them with collectible plates, honorary coins, and colorful t-shirts... all the while you carefully strip away their individual freedoms as they smile and thank you for it.  Americans need to snap out of it before they wake up one day and can no longer remember the Democratic Republic which was once the United States of America.