Who would ever think that lightweight liberal Democrat permanent Washington state U.S. Senator Patty Murray could Chair the bogus Congressional “Supercommittee” and actually get that the problem in Washington, D.C, is that the Federal government SPENDS TOO MUCH and that the SPENDING HAS TO STOP.  Our nation has serious leadership problems IN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY!  All they need to cut is 3% of the budget!  The rest of us can do that, why can’t they?  In the meantime, unemployment will go up because of her failure and for the rest of us our retirement funds will fall to even lower levels.

Time to throw all the incumbent Democrats out of office!!!

Dear Mr. President:

I am in complete agreement with the statement you made at the recent APEC conference in Honolulu: “We’ve been a little bit lazy over the last couple of decades. We’ve kind of taken for granted — ‘Well, people would want to come here’ — and we aren’t out there hungry, selling America and trying to attract new businesses into America.”

You have hit the nail on the head and here’s my analysis of why you are right.

We have become lazy. Laziness is subsidized through a myriad of government programs that make it easy and profitable to be lazy.

That’s precisely the reason we aren’t hungry. We can be lazy and still have more than enough to eat. Our number one health problem is obesity.

That’s why we take what we have for granted. People (like my grandmother who was a Polish immigrant) used to come here because it was the land of opportunity. That has changed though. Since 2008, nearly a third of a million illegal immigrants have left California alone for destinations outside the U.S. The unintended consequence of a job killing economy is that it has proven to be an effective deterrent to immigration.

And we aren’t out there selling America and trying to attract new business. It’s a tough sell because we have the second highest corporate tax rate in the world and saddle U.S. businesses with a myriad of onerous government regulations.

As a business development consultant I want to offer my services to our country pro bono. Here’s my solution. We should quit providing incentives for people to be lazy. They will get hungry real quick. We should quit providing businesses with incentives to leave the country. If we do that I guarantee that selling America will be easy. People will once again want to come here. That’s the way America used to be — and we took it for granted.

I want to work with you and Congress to take action on the initiatives I have recommended. I will encourage all of my clients and readers to join me in this cause.

Purposefully yours,

Jim Whitt

(Jim Whitt is an unapologetic people provoker. For more than 20 years Jim has provoked people and organizations to reach their full potential as a speaker, consultant and author. This piece was first posted on his blog, Purpose Unlimited.)

For the 450 or so guests in attendance at the Claremont Institute’s annual Churchill dinner Saturday night in Newport Beach, remarks made by Congressman Paul Ryan struck a deep cord: “The shadow of our ever-growing national debt hangs over businesses and workers—hangs over senior citizens, who wonder if Washington is making empty promises over retirement—hangs over parents, who worry that they are leaving behind a weak, poor inheritance for their children, with fewer opportunities than they once had.”

The Wisconsin congressman attended the Claremont event to receive the Claremont Institute’s statesmanship award but he focused his remarks on the challenges that are ahead for the United States.  Ryan painted a gloomy, dismal picture of America’s future, if the nation continues down the path it is currently traveling. He stated that America has been “repeating the errors of Europe”, aggravating our debt by continually borrowing and “living from hand-to-mouth.” Criticizing the policies of the Obama Administration, Rep. Paul Ryan denounced the excessive, burdensome taxes and said that the regulations are crippling our economy and moving us backwards.

The truth is that the government cannot overcome its debt by merely taxing its population, and relying on regulations for its source of income. Congressman Ryan relayed facts and figures from his research on tax rates for the next generation. The numbers that the analysts in Washington came up with were stunning: the lowest tax bracket goes up to 25%, middle-class to 63%, and the highest bracket rounds off at 88%, all to provide for Obama’s expansive government. “Tax hikes will chase higher spending, until we can’t borrow another dime,” he declared. “The problem is all of the empty promises made to future generations.” Indeed, the President works to grow entitlements, and combining all of the unfunded liabilities and promises brings the total cost of Obama’s borderline-socialist regime to $99.4 trillion. To simply keep all of the promises that Obama has made to America’s generations, we would have to invest nearly $100 trillion into the US government, just to have those finances. That’s the situation that Europe finds itself in today. We are not threatened by foreign aggression, but by the “titanic imbalance of money.” The economy clearly isn’t growing enough to bring new jobs—so why is the government making it harder to bring businesses that have the capability to grow jobs? “Canada is lowering its business tax to 15%, while Obama wants to grow it to 50%,” said Congressman Paul Ryan. In an increasingly globalized world economy, the US can’t afford to make it difficult for its own business to compete.

“It is no question that the president inherited a difficult situation, but his policies have made things much worse. Washington is spending dollars we don’t have on programs that don’t work.” Congressman Paul Ryan cited Obama’s politics of division, fear, envy, and resentment. The President is sowing “social unrest” and pitting groups against each other, only to “distract us from the real issues at hand.”

“Americans know that they’re in trouble, and they’re ready to be talked to like adults, not pandered children,” stated Rep. Paul Ryan. The Wisconsin congressman cited Churchill’s leadership as an example, stating that the famed British leader had great faith in his people—faith in his words, and faith in the people that he was speaking to. He was confident that his people would prevail, that victory would not come easily, but be earned. The facts were somber, but the greatest sin, according to Churchill, was the refusal to tell people the facts they needed to make the proper decisions to act. It is total injustice to “lie to the American people” about the profound choice that must be made on the path we take in this country. The problem in Washington today is timidity and fear of losing the next election due to speaking the truth. Churchill challenged his people to face the threat and move forward. “Nothing is more predictable than the fiscal train wreck,” said Rep. Paul Ryan. “But there is time to reform the tax code, control debt, restore economic prosperity, and repeal the healthcare law.”

Congressman Ryan concluded his speech asking the guests in the room: “Do you want the President’s path of debt, doubt and decline, where government goes from promoting equal opportunity to equalizing the results of our lives? Or do you want the American idea: the opportunity society with the safety net, dedicated to liberty, equality of opportunity, and upward mobility?” Judging from their reaction, the audience—perhaps representative of the broader electorate—prefers the latter.

(Josephine Djuhana is Assistant Editor for the California Political Review.)

In January, California Governor Jerry Brown placed redevelopment agencies on the chopping block, stating that shutting down nearly 400 municipal redevelopment agencies would save the state’s 2011-2012 budget $1.7 billion.  But in June, state legislators passed bills AB 1X 26, which essentially eliminated agencies on October 1, and AB 1X 27, which prevents dissolution if cities pay their prorated share of $1.7 billion by the end of the year, and over $400 million annually.  In response, San Jose, Union City, and other cities have filed a lawsuit with the California Supreme Court, claiming that redirecting the money is unconstitutional and a violation of Proposition 22, which expressly prevents the state from raiding local tax coffers—including RDAs, they argue.  The case is scheduled for November 10, and implies a host of consequences for the state, the budget, and city redevelopment.

What is redevelopment?

According to the California Redevelopment Association, redevelopment is “a process authorized under California law that enables local government entities to revitalize deteriorated and blighted areas in their jurisdictions.”  Redevelopment agencies are tasked with the specific goal of rehabilitating blighted areas, and provide initial plans and funding for the projects to begin.  RDAs are locally governed and overseen by the local city council, county board of supervisors, or a separate board, which, in theory, makes the agencies accountable to the public.

Proponents of redevelopment assert that RDAs foster economic growth.  San Francisco Planning & Urban Research Association’s Executive Director, Gabriel Metcalf, states that RDAs are essential to long-term economic growth in California.  Metcalf argues that redevelopment is a tool to start the flow of private investment dollars back into blighted urban areas.  Redevelopment creates sustainable jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurship, and revitalizes deteriorated communities by replacing and upgrading outdated city infrastructure, providing affordable housing, and increasing the quality of life in struggling neighborhoods.  Advocates say that shutting down RDAs would permanently freeze planned and undergoing development projects, and that Gov. Brown has essentially tossed away a tool for growing the economy.

The opposition, in favor of Gov. Brown’s elimination of redevelopment in the budget plan, claim that redevelopment is just another perk of being a developer.  Assemblyman Chris Norby (R-72) calls redevelopment an “unknown government” that supplies “the most wasteful, the most fraudulent, and the most abusive” spending in California government.  In fact, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office recently reported that there was no reliable evidence that redevelopment programs improve overall economic development in California.  Corruption and incompetence in agencies abound across the state, as revealed by one LA Times investigation.  According to state data, more than 120 cities spent over $700 million of their affordable housing funds between 2000 and 2008 without building a single new unit.

In any case, wiping redevelopment agencies off the face of California seems to be little more than a quick fix, Band-Aid type of solution to the bigger problem of the rapidly growing state deficit.  While cutting back expenses is a proper step in the right direction for reducing our deficit, there are certainly bigger fish to fry in the state—namely that high-speed boondoggle that will literally be the biggest train wreck in California history.  Redirecting $1.7 billion from the budget is mere chump change when compared to the whopping $98 billion we’ll be spending on California’s new choo-choo train.  Pension reform would also produce long-term, lasting results in mending our state budget and reducing government spending.  And, realistically, eliminating redevelopment agencies will not deliver the actual dollars needed to seal the budget gap and put our state finances back in order.

So—what’s the plan of action?  Should California commit $1.7 billion as a subsidy for public and private development, and risk the ongoing corruption and misuse of taxpayer dollars?  Or should it be rededicated to funds for education, public safety, and child welfare, putting economic growth and jobs on the line?

(Josephine Djuhana is Assistant Editor for the California Political Review.)

Nearly three weeks ago I visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library when the venue played host for the GOP presidential candidate’s debate featuring eight Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for the presidency. All of the candidates in attendance, accomplished politicians in their own rights, made an impression on the mostly friendly audience; still none of them, with the possible exception of Texas governor Rick Perry, seemed to really capture the minds and sentiments of the attendees.

Just a few hours ago though, New Jersey governor Chris Christie addressed a similar crowd (except twice the size of the presidential debate) also at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California but the energy was different—Christie mesmerized the room.

While the current GOP field is diverse and intriguing, none of the candidates have the rock star effect that Christie has among Republicans.

Gov. Christie spoke about leadership and the lack of leadership he sees from the White House and President Obama. He spoke about the Obama administration’s lackluster foreign policy and deficiencies in addressing major national challenges, inferring Obama’s policies have been mostly reactionary and off base. “Real leaders don’t read polls,” Christie said “they change polls.”

That was not the only applause line in Christie’s speech, but the biggest ovation that came during the evening was not from a remark made by Christie, but rather a woman in the audience given a microphone to ask a question. Instead of asking a question, her voice cracking slightly, she made a long yet tasteful and simple plea to the governor of the Garden State to enter the presidential race: “We need you, our country’s needs you.”

Her remarks caused the audience to rise in unison offering a standing ovation.

Christie had already been asked several question about whether or not he would run for president and he referred to his previous answers, but even he seemed taken aback by the way this particular audience member pleaded with him.

What Chris Christie has over the current field of Republican presidential candidates is a rock star following capable of evoking magnified emotion. Even if Christie does not run for the presidency in 2012, he is quite possibly the most powerful messenger for the GOP today.

(Click here to see more coverage of Christie’s speech from Orange County Register Opinion.)

During his remarks accepting the state GOP’s lifetime achievement award, cancer stricken Orange County Republican Party Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes offered a “fond farewell” the Republican Party and in his last speech to the party went on the attack against some of the state GOP’s more prominent figures including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meg Whitman and billionaire political donor Charlie Munger.

Below are Fuentes’ remarks:

Mr. Chairman,

Honorable and Distinguished Guests,

Fellow Republicans, all,

Thank you very much for this honor.   I am humbled and flattered by your recognition.

It has been more than 50 years since I  walked my first precinct, in Los Angeles – this,  the city of my birth –  for our Republican nominees in 1960.  Ever since, Orange County has been home.

Since that time, I have come to know you; to love our party; and to share wonderful times of work and victories with you.  By your kindness, I have enjoyed roles of leadership, along side of you.

Today, as I come to bid you a fond farewell,  I ask you to continue your good efforts.  Continue to work as we have worked for so many years, together, to foster the noble and wholesome ideals of our conservative cause.

Be not afraid, my friends.

When next you see the likes of an Arnold Schwarzenegger, do not be afraid to reject him.  He and his circle were a cancer in our party – a cancer far worse than mine –  for which we will long pay a price.

When next you see a candidate who thinks that only money is the way to win, like Meg Whitman, do not be afraid to tell her and her paid henchmen so.  Remind her that ideas are demanded by the people.  Not platitudes.

When next you see a legislator who is worried only about his re-election or his next move, rather than the growth of our party to a majority, do not be afraid to challenge him to engage in truly building our party.

And, most especially, at this unique moment in time when moneyed special interests are set  to gut our party’s traditional conservative platform, do not be afraid to stand firm and tell them that we are not just a party of big business and special interests.  We are a party  of people, with  values and principles that must be defended.

California has become a failed place.  The vulgarity and violence that pours out of Hollywood goes unchallenged by our civic leaders.  Crime is rampant in the streets.  The adulterous conduct of ranking elected officials is common place.  Our children are left without heroes and role models.  These are social issues that, too, are a part of what must be addressed by a party of leadership.

Do not abandon the unborn and the elderly.  Be Republicans.

The Silicon Valley and its selfish sentiments are not what we want as a culture for California. Our party is not just for the rich or elite.

Yes, our numbers are in the minority in Sacramento, today.  But, our elected Republican legislators and office holders, across the state, must each and all become vibrant and vocal in their Bully Pulpits.  And, we must be there to support them in their vital role of Loyal Opposition.  We Republicans have  to offer the people real ideas and solutions if they are to join us in victory.

Again, I thank you, for this honor, today.

I ask you to not sell out our party to the highest cash bidder.

My friends, be not afraid.

Remind Mr. Munger that he has only one vote in the ballot box, just like you and I do. Sustain  our platform  as a true conservative Republican platform.

Thank you very much.

God bless you all.