tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:04:25 +0000http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/steve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)Blogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-8142875117423400795Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:16:00 +00002009-12-30T16:16:32.272-05:00Scott Brown (R) has released the first advertisement in the general election for the U.S. Senate seat once held by Ted and John F. Kennedy, the Boston Globe reports. In the ad, called Different People, Same Message, JFK morphs into Brown as both read from a 1962 Kennedy speech calling for tax cuts. I have always said the Democratic Party has moved further and further to the left. I like that a http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/gop-senate-candidate-brown-comes-out.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-7097206963352720133Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:45:00 +00002009-12-28T15:47:42.129-05:00With the anniversary of Obama's inauguration and his upcoming State of the Union speech we all have to get ready to listen to pundits from all persuasions give the obligatory grade for the president's first year. Obama himself famously stated on Oprah that he thought he deserved " a good solid B+."  But before we start arguing whether he deserves a B, C, or D, we should really decide on what http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/grading-obama.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-7984748712153424762Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:51:00 +00002009-12-26T08:51:52.906-05:00A constant refrain from campaign '08 was that earmarks were bad and needed to go. Both Obama and McCain agreed on that and tried to out-due each other in how they would work to get rid of them. From The Hill: Fiscal hawks in Congress say President Barack Obama hasn't followed through on a pledge to lower federal spending on local projects. Earmarks are expected to total nearly $12 billion in http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/earmarks-returndid-they-ever-leave.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-2095761311170219344Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:42:00 +00002009-12-24T07:45:06.806-05:00 One of my regular reads is Thinking Faith, the online journal of the British Jesuits and for this Christmas holiday I anted to share a recent article on the first Christmas and what it means. Can we ever really know what happened in Bethlehem at the first Christmas?  Nicholas King SJ suggests that while they may not provide a historical account of the birth of Christ, the gospel narratives http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-5973814369649669042Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:35:00 +00002009-12-23T06:35:10.401-05:00Many of us on the right are operating under the assumption that the Tea Party Movement will help ushering in a new Republican majority in 2 or 4 years. However, Thomas Del Baccaro has a sobering review of this meme. At its core, the Tea Party movement is a pro-liberty – limited government movement.  Its activists continue to believe in Reagan’s cogent message about government.  Beneath that http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/sobering-reality-of-tea-party-movement.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-4159843147612564564Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:18:00 +00002009-12-22T09:18:47.836-05:00With the Senate voting on health care reform this week it is more than interesting to view the latest poll numbers.  American voters "mostly disapprove" of the plan 53% to 36% and disapprove 56% to 38% of President Obama's handling of the health care issue, according to a new Quinnipiac poll. Will there be reprecussions come next November, or will the electorate forget about the issue by then? http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/does-congress-speak-for-you.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-5811187295556987245Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:33:00 +00002009-12-21T20:33:31.336-05:00My Friend, Early this morning at 1am, the Senate voted 60 to 40 in favor of moving the Democrats' health care bill forward. The final vote to pass the bill is scheduled for Christmas Eve, and I pledge to you that I will not only continue to cast my vote against this bill, but will actively fight it every step along the way. Democrats have used Bernie Madoff-style accounting to assess the costhttp://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/letter-from-john-mccain.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-7031233010526067724Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:28:00 +00002009-12-21T20:28:59.233-05:00I created a new and updated look and feel to the blog for the new year. There are some new sections, new graphics and some new sponsor links as well. I would love to hear feedback from regular readers.http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-format-for-rockefeller-republican.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-6321257337161980056Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:36:00 +00002009-12-21T05:38:24.041-05:00More math on health care bill from the Congressional Budget Office:CBO expects that Medicare spending under the legislation would increase at an average annual rate of roughly 6 percent during the next two decades—well below the roughly 8 percent annual growth rate of the past two decades (excluding the effect of establishing the Medicare prescription drug benefit). Adjusting for inflation, http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/health-care-reform-or-not.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-2212435701830662085Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:17:00 +00002009-12-20T14:20:52.082-05:00Michale Goodwin, writing in The New York Post, tells a story I have heard from quite a few aquaintences. The short article is worth a read. Here is an excerpt. President Obama, for whom I voted because I believed he was the best choice available, is a profound disappointment. I now regard his campaign as a sly bait-and-switch operation, promising one thing and delivering another. Shame on me. http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/profound-disappointment.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-7830577233761459631Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:48:00 +00002009-12-16T05:55:18.553-05:00OK, I am a couple of days late in finding this article as it appeared in Monday's WSJ, but it so aptly described what I consider to be the modern reinvention of the Rockefeller Republican that I had to share it. Michael Petrilli makes the case that for the GOP to succeed it needs to cultivate what he calls Whole Foods Republicans.What's needed is a full-fledged effort to cultivate "Whole Foods http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/rockefeller-republican-whole-foods.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-4457187036505852901Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:01:00 +00002009-12-15T09:04:13.230-05:00Excellent article today over at Big Government by Dr. Jane Orient. She makes the case that insurance can actually get in the way of treatment. Fascinating case study and something to keep in mind when we talk about health care reform. I'd be curious to hear if anyone has any similar stories, or contradicting ones...http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/is-insurance-bad-for-you.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-5138169385323904713Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:55:00 +00002009-12-14T08:55:27.972-05:00http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/health-reform-support-on-life-support.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-7118986629773365499Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:30:00 +00002009-12-14T08:31:53.188-05:00My favorite economist writes a new editorial in the New York Times. Mankiw is always recommended reading.http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/tax-cuts-instead-of-stimulus.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-5990531398327329039Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:06:00 +00002009-12-11T08:07:20.747-05:00There are plenty of things I could criticize about yesterday's speech: it was too long at over 4,000 words, his use of first person (34 times) just exacerbates the messianic image, the repetition of the hope/change message. However, by and large I felt good about what was said. My personal favorite: Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: the United States of America has helpedhttp://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/obama-and-nobel-prize.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-1985593710219781449Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:55:00 +00002009-12-10T16:57:56.208-05:00According to Keith Hennessey I am going to be paying considerably more per year for my family's health insurance. Want to see how you'd do? Check out this link.http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-will-reid-bill-affect-me.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-371969790366229066Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:49:00 +00002009-12-10T07:52:00.955-05:00One of my favorite economic bloggers is Greg Mankiw. The other day he posted an entry on the conclusion of his freshman seminar at Harvard. I want to make note specifically of his freshman's view once the class had ended.I also asked the students how their views had changed over the course of the semester. Those who started out liberal said they came to appreciate market mechanisms more. Those http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/logic-of-center.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-1091849440676318178Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:39:00 +00002009-12-09T15:42:31.588-05:00From The Hill:Nearly $6 million in stimulus money was paid to two firms run by Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton’s pollster in 2008.Federal records show that $5.97 million from the $787 billion stimulus helped preserve three jobs at Burson-Marsteller, the global public-relations and communications firm headed by Penn.I don't think I need to add anything to this clip. Let the indignation begin....http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/mor-stimulus-money-hard-at-work.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-5920803417909416081Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:30:00 +00002009-12-08T05:37:04.035-05:00From The Hill:Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) gave his clearest words to date that he is seriously mulling a 2012 presidential bid. "Absolutely — absolutely taking a look," he told ABC's "Top Line" webcast Monday afternoon. The former Pennsylvania senator has previously exhibited an interest in running in 2012. However, he has, to this point, hedged his language quite a bit, allowing his http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/santorum-in-2012.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-1237981302460983780Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:33:00 +00002009-12-06T10:41:55.296-05:00I recently finished Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism, The Secret History of The Left, and while the title suggests another boiler-plate special from the likes of Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity or Ann Coulter, what is presented is a chillingly sane explanation of the history of the early 20th century and how its influence can still be felt today. Goldberg is at pains to make clear that this is not just http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/liberal-fascism.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-2146845117905304826Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:04:00 +00002009-12-05T14:04:19.820-05:00http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/scientism.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-4162543015777437610Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:55:00 +00002009-12-04T06:00:29.242-05:00 Poor Al Gore. Global warming completely debunked via the very Internet you invented. OH. OH the irony.-Jon StewartIn related Al Gore news- He was committed to a lecture at the upcoming climate summit. The event cost $1200 per person and 3000 people signed up. Over $3 mil! Gore canceled and did not give a reason, leaving the organizers "greatly annoyed and disappointed". Any guesses why he http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/quote-of-day.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-1092794749218345927Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:05:00 +00002009-12-01T17:08:44.265-05:00The new Washington Post poll on the state of the Republican party is something all political junkies should check out. The most disturbing part for me? That Sarah Palin gets 17% [the highest mark] support for 2012 GOP primary.http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/state-of-gop.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-6843550516170898600Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:47:00 +00002009-12-01T09:50:36.623-05:00With Mike Huckabee's presidential aspirations coming to a halt this past weekend it raises the question of who gets his support. While it is obviously still very early he had been polling in the lead for 2012. There doesn't seem to be an obvious successor (Palin?) so would they go to Romney by default?http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/who-gets-huckabees-vote-now.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258127857088261427.post-811997313816861073Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:31:00 +00002009-11-24T09:33:10.262-05:00 <!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; http://rockefellerconservative.blogspot.com/2009/11/conventional-wisdom.htmlsteve_brady@ymail.com (Steve B)4