After taking a break (way too long) Walton’s Wall is pleased to announce that it will begin publishing once again in 2012. We will be begin postings the first week of January. In the meantime please take a look at some of the previous posts on Walton’s Wall.
Should the Dem’s say Bayh to Senate Majority?
Yesterday Indiana’s Democratic Senator Evan Bayh stunned the political world and announced that he would not seek reelection this November. Bayh’s decision caught Senate Democratic leaders off guard as Politico is reporting that “Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV.) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) were not informed of Bayh’s decision until Monday morning, according to several Democratic insiders.”
In announcing his decision Bayh cited the partisan back and forth played a major factor:
“Two weeks ago, the Senate voted down a bipartisan commission to deal with one of the greatest threats facing our nation: our exploding deficits and debt. The measure would have passed, but seven members who had endorsed the idea instead voted ‘no’ for short-term political reasons,” he said.
“Just last week, a major piece of legislation to create jobs — the public’s top priority — fell apart amid complaints from both the left and right. All of this and much more has led me to believe that there are better ways to serve my fellow citizens, my beloved state and our nation than continued service in Congress.”
The political implications of Bayh’s retirement are huge. Many thought, including this blogger, that Bayh would coast to reelection with his overwhelming popularity and large campaign war chest (around 13 million dollars).
With the fierce head wind this election season Democrats couldn’t take anymore Senate retirements, especially from fairly safe Senators that represent Red states. Senator Bayh’s announcement yesterday puts the Democratic Senate majority in jeopardy.
After the announcement, The Rothenberg Political Report changed its rating for the IN Senate to Toss Up saying that Bayh’s decision “gives Republicans another excellent takeover opportunity.”
The Cook Political Report moves its rating to Lean Republican saying that while Democrats “have not had the opportunity to assess their options, it is unlikely that they will be able to come up with a strong enough candidate to compete in a GOP-leaning state in the current political climate.”
Finally, it looks like Sen. Bayh’s decision could ultimately aid in the Democrat’s saying “Good Bayh” to their control of the upper chamber in Congress.
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Stimulus Bill Creates Jobs… In China
Last evening ABC’s Jon Karl reported on World News that the 787 billion dollar stimulus bill was creating lots of green jobs; however, these jobs aren’t being created in America, but China.
The Obama Administration should not only be embarrassed by this report but also ashamed. When the Stimulus passed President Obama projected that it would create 408,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector, a sector that would be the home to green jobs such as wind turbines.
Not only have these jobs not been created using the Stimulus funds, but they money is going across the Pacific Ocean to Communist China. This is a disgrace and the Federal Government should not be sending the American people’s taxes to help another country create jobs.
It’s now up to President Obama to fix this tragic mistake and to use the money in the Stimulus to create jobs here in the Land of Liberty.
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Palin’s Palm Problem
On Saturday evening former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin spoke to the Tea Party Convention in Nashville, TN. She spoke the supportive crowd for about 45 minutes and then proceeded to take questions for 15 minutes from a moderator.
In her speech Palin railed against President Obama’s constant use of a teleprompter among other things. After the speech a photo of Palin showed that on her left palm she had written topics to remember to cover in the speech and during the question and answer session.
Courtesy AP
Courtesy AP
Palin’s left palm illustrates the many problems that she has in becoming someone who the American people can call their leader, or as some wish the President. In throwing a stone at Obama it’s clear that she was in a glass house as she relied on her palm rather than a teleprompter to answer questions.
Moreover, this shows that Palin still has trouble with the big issues and that she has no strong foundational beliefs. Anyone who seeks to speak out on any issue should be able to to talk about them with confidence. Having a check list of things to remember makes Palin look like she belongs in the minor leagues.
It’s apparent that if she wants to stay in the big leagues of politics that she must better command the issues and be able to do so without writing on her hand like a student in elementary school.
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John Stewart Goes on The O’Reilly Factor
Last night Jon Stewart the host of The Daily Show took his intellectual comedic self and appeared on the O’Reilly Factor.
Now, I think Stewart did a fantastic job in his interview with Bill O’Reilly, and this is coming from someone who is less than enthusiastic about Stewart. I was impressed at the cogent arguments that Stewart laid out. Furthermore, in his first of two nights on The Factor, Stewart did more than just hold his own with O’Reilly.
Prior to the interview I viewed Stewart as someone who would not do well when faced with a tough questioner like O’Reilly; however it’s clear to me that Stewart is more than capable of tough scrutiny and that he doesn’t melt under the pressure.
One criticism of Stewart is that he relies too much on his comedic personality to help him evade some tough questions. All in all Bill O’Reilly gave a tough, but fair interview to Stewart.
I would challenge O’Reilly to keep his interruptions of Stewart (and other guests) to a minimum. O’Reilly has a tendency to let his passions get the best of him, thus leading him to interrupt his guests in mid sentence. These interruptions can, and often does, cause his guest to lose their train of thought or make it seem like he is bullying the guest. However, in the end O’Reilly is a quality interviewer who knows what he is talking about.
Be sure to tune into The Factor tonight to see the second part of the Stewart interview.
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The Terrorist Two-Step
What once seemed liked a certainty now appears to be in doubt as it looks like the trial of 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed “KSM” will be moved away from New York City. This apparent reversal of the Obama administration comes as New York leaders have turned against the idea of hosting the trial due to the “disruptions” and “cost” that will come with it.
But, while I support the notion of innocent until proven guilty, I question why even bother having a trial in the first place. It is clear that everyone, including White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, has already convicted KSM and sentenced him to death.
Gibbs even went on to say that, “[KSM] would meet his maker.”
Being that Mr. Obama is a lawyer, he wants to make sure that everyone, including terrorist, get their full legal rights (even giving Miranda Rights to the Christmas Day bomber).
It’s apparent from Mr. Gibbs statement that everyone has already prejudged the outcome of KSM’s trial. That being said, the process of going through a trial would be a farce thus is unnecessary. There is no where in the United States where you would find an untainted jury pool.
Let me be clear, I am proud of our justice system in America and everything that it stands for, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. But with all honesty, can anyone give a rational reason for spending 200 million dollars in this economic environment to put on what would turnout to be nothing than a show trail to convict someone who everyone knows is guilty.
It’s clear Mr. President that it would be wiser and more cost effective to let KSM stand before a military judge for verdict and to put a stop to this attempt of a “fair” trial that would be nothing more than a dog and pony show
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State of the Union, Initial Thoughts…
President Obama’s speech seamed more like a camping style speech that was geared towards independents….
It was shocking that the President of the United States would use the SOTU to admonish the Supreme Court, and actually do it in front of 6 members of the high court….
I found it interesting that it took 40 minutes for the President to bring up an unfinished issue that has dominated the past year, that being health care….
When the President talked about, doing “work openly” I thought back to the promise that he made on the campaign trail about C-SPAN and health care discussions…
I applaud the President for committing our resolve to stand and complete the job in Afghanistan…
Looking at spending, I don’t see how you are going to cut the deficit substantially while at the same time continuing out of control spending…
The White House soften the ground on the President calling for a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, this change while significant represented only one line in the entire SOTU…
Finally, there is a new star in the Republican Party in Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell; he did an outstanding job in the Republican Response.
Walton’s Wall will take an in-depth look into the State of the Union and the Republican Response in the next few days…
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Pre-State of the Union Thoughts
Later this evening President Obama will fulfill one of his constitutionally required duties as president when he updates the Congress and the country on the State of the Union. Many have billed this speech as the most crucial Obama’s year-old presidency as he tries to regain a foothold on his agenda and quall the ever growing concerns from the American people.
For President Obama to have a successful night he will have to walk a tightrope as to not alienate his left-wing base and the majority of the American people. To have an effective SOTU, Obama needs to be straight with the American people and tell them that he hears what we are saying, especially in the aftermath of the election of Scott Brown.
If Obama continues down the he has been on for the last year, then his primetime address will be a spectacular failure. Also, Obama must come across as if he truly understands what’s going on throughout the Main Streets of America; even if there is a hint of “political empathy” in his speech the American people will see through it and Obama’s approval and policies will continue to decline.
All-in-all I see Obama giving a C- worthy speech later tonight. Like always his delivery will be grand, but his substance will be subpar.
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I will predict that the Republicans response, given by the new Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, will be outstanding and will provide a fresh set of ideas for the American people to consider.
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Obama Spending Plan, A Smoke and Mirrors
The Washington Post is reporting that in his first State of the Union speech on Wednesday, President Obama will announce a three-year freeze on discretionary, “non-security” spending. The spending freeze would not apply to spending on defense, intelligence, homeland security or foreign aid or on veteran’s benefits.
While I applaud the efforts of President Obama to rein in the out of control spending of Washington DC, it’s nothing more than a dog and pony show. The spending freeze, to take effect in October, will save at most 15 billion dollars, which is no where close to the estimated deficit of one TRILLION dollars.
To get our country out of this debt and deficit America needs to cut out unnecessary and underperforming programs. It would be great for the Obama to live up to his campaign promise and go through the budget line by line and get ride of items that no longer deserve a place in the budget.
With out cutting and eliminating programs Obama’s spending plan is simply smoke and mirrors.
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