MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!

America: The Last Stronghold of Faith

I couldn't resist copying and pasting part of this article from Tony Blankley. I hope you will be as inspired and proud as I was in our country when you read it. There is real beauty in liberty.

When a democratic public loses faith in the future -- as France did in the 1930s, as Britain did in the 1970s, and as too many Americans have today -- it is something to promptly correct, not secretly rejoice in. Optimism is a source of our strength.

Of course, in this week before Christmas, Christians are particularly reminded of the reason for optimism and faith -- Jesus was born 2010 years ago to redeem us.

But whatever our religion, or lack of a religion, Americans have solid political grounds for swelling with optimism as we end 2010.

For me, the miracle of the American spirit began to reveal itself in the late spring of 2009. We were still in the midst of an economic meltdown. Our homes and 401(k)s were (and for many of us still are) shockingly reduced in value.

Many of us had lost our jobs or had our incomes substantially reduced. The greatest corporation in American history -- General Motors -- was going bankrupt. The great Wall Street banks that commanded the heights of world finance were illiquid and moving toward insolvency. And the newly inaugurated president, in the early weeks of February, had talked about our economic collapse being a catastrophe from which we might never recover.

Most of the country had turned fearful (I know I was scared -- and so were some very experienced New York financiers whom I personally knew.) President Obama started applying the typical remedies: bailouts, nationalizations, trillion-dollar stimulus -- spreading the wing of the state to "protect" the helpless people.

And then the American miracle occurred; not in Washington, but in the hearts and heads of the American people. The polls started to show that the American people wanted Washington to do less, not more. They didn't want to be sheltered under the wing of the state.

The American people feared the permanent loss of liberty more than they feared the temporary loss of their income or property.

The tea parties self-formed without leadership from above. But millions of people who didn't join the tea parties nonetheless endorsed their sentiments and values -- so that by last month, polls showed that the tea parties were more identified with than the Republican Party, which itself had just won the greatest election victory in well over half a century.

No other people in the world would have responded to economic danger by seeking more liberty and less government protection.

No other people would have thought to themselves, "If I have to suffer economically in order not to steal from my grandchildren, so be it."

We know this is not true of other nations. Just look in the streets of Greece, France, Ireland ... my dear old England found its streets filled with violent people demanding their "right" to retire early or have heavily subsidized university fees or guaranteed government jobs -- even if it means the impoverishment of their progeny.

Such attitudes reflect not a faith in their future -- but an indifference to the future of their civilization.

I believe that 2011 will reveal an American people who will go into the streets not with violence to protest government spending cuts -- but in peace and discipline to protest any failure by their government to make such cuts.

So in this Christmas season, as many of us prepare to fall to our knees in thanks for the gift of our eternal optimism and salvation, let us also celebrate the continuing miracle of the American people's abiding love of liberty -- and acceptance of the sacrifices it will take to keep that liberty.

Merry Christmas, and, pray God, continue to Bless America.

2010 Tax-Friendly Politicians and Groups

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) just issued its naughty and nice list for 2010. In it, it rates various politicians under the category "naughty" if they have taken a position suggesting they are in favor of more taxes and "nice" those that have done the opposite.

As expected, President Obama topped the naughty list along with Robert Gibbs and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for her campaign to tax and fine emissions-causers. However, there were surprises as Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels made the list for even considering a VAT. 

The nice list encompassed the tea party movement, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie "for staring down government union bosses" (woo woo!) and even Snooki, for busting Obama's inclusion of a 10% tanning tax in Obamacare. And last but not least, House member Charlie Rangel made the list, "for lowering at least one American's tax burden." You gotta love that sarcasm.

State House Winners

The 2010 census reapportionment numbers today told of winners and losers state-wise. The lone star state, Texas, was the big winner with a pick up of four House seats and New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania were the biggest losers with a loss of two seats each. Sunny Florida gained two seats while Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington all picked up only one. Conversely, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and New Jersey all lost a single seat. Let the redistricting begin!

Census Speaks Well for GOP

The 2010 census report that's due out tomorrow will apparently be well received by Republicans. There has been a continued migration from Democratic-leaning Rust Belt states to Republican-leaning Sun Belt states. The biggest gain in population has been in Texas, a GOP heavy state expected to gain up to four new House seats, for a total of 36. The states that lost the most were dark blue New York and purplish Ohio, which will likely lose two seats each.

This population shift, in conjunction with landslide GOP victories in state legislatures in 2010, which will allow GOP majorities to create new districts "to their liking," will add more electoral pressure for Obama and the Dems. Since each House seat represents an electoral vote in the presidential election process, the states that Obama lost will have more votes and the ones he won, less. I can't wait to watch it all unfold.

Dem Leaders Refuse to Attend Tax Bill Signing

The $900 billion tax cut and unemployment benefits package is now the law of the land. The tax cuts are with us for another two years. Period.

The signing ceremony was conciliatory between the President, the GOP and most members of his party, but not all. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi were invited, but had "scheduling conflicts," aides said. Right. How juvenile. Thank God at least Pelosi will be in the distant background very, very soon.

Health Care Split

The repeat Rasmussen surveys on health care show a general unpopularity, but more interestingly, they show the break down by legislative area of concern:

One little-noted aspect of the debate was a disagreement over the purpose of the legislation. Most voters identified cost as the biggest problem with health care in America today, but about one-in-four said the lack of universal coverage was the top issue. Among those who see the lack of universal coverage as the biggest problem, 86% favored the legislation. However, among the majority who see cost as the biggest issue, 68% opposed the health care bill.