Republicans: Our Energy Proposal Creates “Real Jobs”

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

“Innovation, conservation and production,” were the key messages coming from the Republican Study Committee and the Western Caucus as Congressional Republicans unveiled their alternative energy proposal today.

Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) said, “Republican are wholly committed to finding positive solution to the challenges we face. Like with the stimulus, like with the budget and now in contrast to the Democrats national energy tax we are here to offer our vision.”

The American Energy and Innovation Act, as the proposal will be labeled, will create jobs and reduce debt according to Republicans. The main aims outlined in this bill are to, “encourage innovation” by creating renewable fuel options and environmental jobs. “Promote conservation” by “providing incentives for easing energy demand and creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment” and “increase production” by making use of all available technology and resources.

Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) said there were now “two roads” Americans could chose to tackle energy needs. “The Democrat road is saying it can’t work we are not even going to it, our road is saying we have the ideas now is the time to do it, said Bishop.

Adding that “The Democrats have already given us an option on energy issues that will cost individuals up to $3000...the Republican road we want to go down is one that actually grows our energy supply so that no-one is harmed and in fact we have the chance to reduce the cost of energy.”

Bishop compared the two strategies to the movie ‘Back to the Future’ saying, “Remember those sequels to ‘Back to the Future’ where there were the two worlds? Our world is the one where the McFly family is happy, the Democrat version is the one where Biff runs everything.”

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said the bill would be a “common sense act that is going to use our natural resources and our advanced technology to meet our energy needs and most importantly help our economy grow.”

In closing, Congressman John Fleming (R-La.) added, our vision “creates a vision for jobs, more jobs, not the so called paper mache jobs the green jobs, but real jobs created by industry.”

Sen. DeMint on radio censorship and fairness doctrine

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
During a press briefing on the fairness doctrine, Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) says that,
“we can celebrate a victory of sorts today, after taking a message to the American people about radio censorship, the potential of muzzling radio talk show hosts, we were able to force a vote this week on the broadcasters freedom act that would bar the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) from bringing up what is misnamed the fairness doctrine.”

Pelosi discusses Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) at press conference

During the weekly press conference, Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggles to answer a question about Congressman Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) who {indicated that he got encouragement for his position/crusade against the spending} of the stimulus package.

by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Harry Truman is turning in his grave because of the mistakes made in Iraq

The report being made public today, "Hard Lessons", addresses an almost staggering number of issues and problems; poor contracting practices, inadequate staffing at all levels, inexperienced staffing, goals that are beyond our capabilities, and a shocking lack of planning," said Linda J. Gustitus, of the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first hearing was on: Lessons from the Inspectors General: Improving Wartime Contracting. This was the first of what will be many hearings discussing the failed contracting efforts in Iraq.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) wants Iraq to assume more responsibility for their own reconstruction. She also wants to ensure that goods and services purchased by the American government are truly the best value for the tax payer. She said that this is important because "last year the federal government spent 532 billion dollars, last year alone, in contracts, and that is a 140% increase from 2001-2008".

"Every interested American knows that there was rampant fraud waste and abuse following the invasion of Iraq. They all know it and they want us to demonstrate that we are willing to do something about it, not simply in terms of process, but in terms of accountability," said Senator Jim Webb (D-Va). He expressed the view that the obligations that the Commission will face is that of the most important oversight obligations, and that while there is a role for contractors, he believes that "the pendulum has swung way to far."

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) says that Harry Truman has been rolling in his grave for the past five years and that he would be astounded at the fact that "we allowed this problem to get this far out of control. This has been a massive failure. We have failed our military, and we have failed the American people." She emphasized that accountability is missing with this situation.

Stuart W. Bowen, Jr. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction was put in the hot seat during the hearing as he discussed what went wrong in Iraq. When asked which mistakes to avoid repeating in Afghanistan he replied, "don't replicate the weak quality assurance that has characterized the effort in Iraq" which essentially means that government experts go out to sites to make sure that the work meets contract expectations. Since there is no system of checks and balances to ensure that money cannot just vanish into thin air, much of the the money spent in Iraq has just disappeared.

by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service and Staff

Republican Party Needs To Roll Forward Not Back

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin, senior policy adviser for the 2008 McCain Presidential Campaign; Jim Pinkerton, senior adviser for the 2009 Huckabee Presidential Campaign, former domestic policy aide to Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and contributor to Fox News; Reihan Salam, fellow at NAF and author of "Grand New Party: How Conservatives Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream"; and David Gray, director at the Workforce and Family Program at NAF met today to discuss how the Republican Party can move on from their 2008, Presidential, election defeat.

David Gray opened the debate by asking the panel how the Republican Party needed to reflect on their 2008 performance. There was mixed consensus amongst the panel as Douglas Holtz-Eakin focused on the economy as being the downfall for the Party in the election campaign.

Holtz-Eakin said, "Right after the convention we were leading in the polls and then the wall street breakdown occurred. Then people started to look backwards." He claimed that in the election the Republican's lost every age group except the 85 and over, every minority group, working woman and college students.

Jim Pinkerton also blamed the economy, stating he felt the "recovery plan was a bad move," adding that "on competence the Republican Party deserved to lose." Describing how he felt , he said the party should "move forward" from their defeat. Adding, "I would advise the Republicans to fight global warming and fight tax increases to the death." Pinkerton also claimed that national security would have to be an key issue for the Republicans.

Reihan Salam said that concentrating on global issues would hep the Republican Party progress. He said: "the Republicans need to think outside the box purely in carbon price."

Holtz-Eakin further said that the Republican defeat had led some conservatives to believe that a return to the "Reagan handbook" would help the party. "I think the party is at a significant moment and replaying the 1980's handbook would not be useful." Holtz-Eakin insists that the party should move forward instead if looking back. He said, "we need to be more appealing to a wider demographic. We need to have a message for urban areas. We have to restore the integrity."

Holtz-Eakin also blamed mixed messages among the electorate for creating a downturn in Republican support in the election. In order for the Republican party to move forward Holtz-Eakin suggested, "we need to be for education reform...we need to send the message that we are here for the kids of America." He concluded saying, "you have to have a role for government, you have to be proud if it and the Republicans need to define that role."