Opinion:  Investor’s Business Daily

Will Washington’s Failures Lead To Second American Revolution?

By ERNEST S. CHRISTIAN AND GARY A ROBBINS Posted 06:30 PM ET

The Internet is a large-scale version of the “Committees of Correspondence” that led to the first American Revolution — and with Washington’s failings now so obvious and awful, it may lead to another.

People are asking, “Is the government doing us more harm than good? Should we change what it does and the way it does it?”

Pruning the power of government begins with the imperial presidency.

Too many overreaching laws give the president too much discretion to make too many open-ended rules controlling too many aspects of our lives. There’s no end to the harm an out-of-control president can do.

Bill Clinton lowered the culture, moral tone and strength of the nation — and left America vulnerable to attack. When it came, George W. Bush stood up for America, albeit sometimes clumsily.

Barack Obama, however, has pulled off the ultimate switcheroo: He’s diminishing America from within — so far, successfully.

He may soon bankrupt us and replace our big merit-based capitalist economy with a small government-directed one of his own design.

He is undermining our constitutional traditions: The rule of law and our Anglo-Saxon concepts of private property hang in the balance. Obama may be the most “consequential” president ever.

The Wall Street Journal’s steadfast Dorothy Rabinowitz wrote that Barack Obama is “an alien in the White House.”

His bullying and offenses against the economy and job creation are so outrageous that CEOs in the Business Roundtable finally mustered the courage to call him “anti-business.” Veteran Democrat Sen. Max Baucus blurted out that Obama is engineering the biggest government-forced “redistribution of income” in history.

Fear and uncertainty stalk the land. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says America’s financial future is “unusually uncertain.”

A Wall Street “fear gauge” based on predicted market volatility is flashing long-term panic. New data on the federal budget confirm that record-setting deficits in the $1.4 trillion range are now endemic.

Obama is building an imperium of public debt and crushing taxes, contrary to George Washington’s wise farewell admonition: “cherish public credit … use it as sparingly as possible … avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt … bear in mind, that towards the payment of debts there must be Revenue, that to have Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised, which are not … inconvenient and unpleasant … .”

Opinion polls suggest that in the November mid-term elections, voters will replace the present Democratic majority in Congress with opposition Republicans — but that will not necessarily stop Obama.

A President Obama intent on achieving his transformative goals despite the disagreement of the American people has powerful weapons within reach. In one hand, he will have a veto pen to stop a new Republican Congress from repealing ObamaCare and the Dodd-Frank takeover of banks.

In the other, he will have a fistful of executive orders, regulations and Obama-made fiats that have the force of law.

Under ObamaCare, he can issue new rules and regulations so insidiously powerful in their effect that higher-priced, lower-quality and rationed health care will quickly become ingrained, leaving a permanent stain.

Under Dodd-Frank, he and his agents will control all credit and financial transactions, rewarding friends and punishing opponents, discriminating on the basis of race, gender and political affiliation. Credit and liquidity may be choked by bureaucracy and politics — and the economy will suffer.

He and the EPA may try to impose by “regulatory” fiats many parts of the cap-and-trade and other climate legislation that failed in the Congress.

And by executive orders and the in terrorem effect of an industrywide “boot on the neck” policy, he can continue to diminish energy production in the United States.

By the trick of letting current-law tax rates “expire,” he can impose a $3.5 trillion 10-year tax increase that damages job-creating capital investment in an economy struggling to recover. And by failing to enforce the law and leaving America’s borders open, he can continue to repopulate America with unfortunate illegals whose skill and education levels are low and whose political attitudes are often not congenial to American-style democracy.

A wounded rampaging president can do much damage — and, like Caesar, the evil he does will live long after he leaves office, whenever that may be.

The overgrown, un-pruned power of the presidency to reward, punish and intimidate may now be so overwhelming that his re-election in 2012 is already assured — Chicago-style.

• Christian, an attorney, was a deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury in the Ford administration.

• Robbins, an economist, served at the Treasury Department in the Reagan administration.

Many downtown businesses and building owners feel this is a turning point for Downtown Bloomington’s survival. 

There are two clear opinions: 

1.  We CAN revitalize downtown Bloomington and bring people back to spend their money downtown.  We need more money to do this.

2. We CANNOT revitalize downtown Bloomington as a draw for the spending public.  We are not investing any more taxpayer money.

Asking for more money from taxpayers is always difficult but not always impossible; today however,  cities, counties, states and nations are in financial crisis mode.  A new Rasmussen Poll shows that 86% say Americans need to cut back on spending.  

Chicago Mercantile Exchange trader and news commentator, Rick Santelli, summed up public sentiment in a recent televised rant: I WANT GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE SPENDING! STOP THE SPENDING! STOP THE SPENDING!

There is no clear or simple answer to downtown Bloomington’s concerns for revitalization. 

DBA WANTS AN SSA. . . WHAT’S AN SSA?

Why the need, or push for this SSA (special service area)?  The downtown Bloomington funds received from their district’s TIF has expired. From this TIF money, which has now run out, the  DBA received it’s funding of $175,000 per year.   Money has run out for the DBA.

So now, the Downtown Bloomington Association (DBA) has requested an SSA; which is a “self-tax”.  However, when this SSA was presented to the Blomington City Council this past week, instead of just a “self-tax”, the DBA was asking the City for more funding.  The headlines the next day read, DBA fund request surprises Aldermen.

There have been three SSA presentations this past week detailing the SSA; what it means; what it requires.

While the SSA will “self-tax” the downtown businesses, it also will ask the City of Bloomington and the County, to agree to self-tax themselves as they are currently tax-exempt. 

DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON. . . MANY YEARS AGO

Since the onset of the “shopping mall culture” in the 1980’s, there have been struggles to bring shoppers back; struggles to “save downtown”.

The Livingston Building, downtown Bloomington, late 1950's. Photo from McLean Co. Museum of History.

Downtown Bloomington, like nearly every downtown across the nation, was thriving.  Up-scale stores and other shops like Livingston’s,  Roland’s, Klemm’s, Ensenbergers, Moberly and Klenner’s, J.C. Penny, Sears, Roebuck and Co.,  Montgomery Ward, Stern Furniture and the popular high-school hangout, Kresge’s where my sister worked the lunch counter during high school, brought throngs of people to downtown.

When the “mall culture” hit in the 1980’s, once bustling downtowns started drying up; dying.  Shoppers took their dollars to the new “mall”; on the east side of town, off what is now the busy Veterans Parkway.

ARE THERE EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL SSA’s?

The SSA presenter was asked to provide a list of current towns who have implemented SSA’s.  That list is to be available soon.  Galesburg is the closest Illinois city that has an existing SSA.  We’ll be visiting and speaking with Galesburg officials next week, to get their take on how this is working for them.

Here a link to information about SSA’s (hat tip to Mary Kramp) for the head’s up.  If you Google SSA’s there is a access to a lot more information as well.

To be continued. . .

L-R: Nancy Brady, GOP Governor and Lt. Gov nominees, Bill Brady & Jason Plummer

Latest Rasmussen just released today, bodes well for Illinois Republicans with 4 months to Election Day as the Brady/Plummer GOP ticket moves ahead of Democrat Governor Pat Quinn by seven points:

Republican State Senator Bill Brady has now opened a seven-point lead over embattled Governor Pat Quinn in Illinois’ gubernatorial race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Brady picking up 44% of the vote, while Quinn earns support from 37%. Eleven percent (11%) prefer a different candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided.

Earlier this month, Quinn pulled within three points of his challenger following an announcement that he was cutting state spending by $1 billion as he wrestles with one of the worst state budget deficits in the country.

But in June, Brady was ahead 47% to 36%. The Republican has maintained the lead since early March when he was declared the winner of the state GOP Primary. However, his support prior to this month has ranged slightly higher, from 45% to 47%. Support for the incumbent has remained in the narrow range of 36% to 40% since March.

 

Eminent Domain is a hot topic everywhere, and a legitimate concern, especially for those whose property is at risk for government take-over.  Certainly there are pros and cons to Eminent Domain. 

By definition, eminent domain is “the right of the state to take private property for public use; the Fifth Amendment that was added to the Constitution of the United States requires that just compensation be made.”

Orange County, California has just said “no” to an eminent domain attempt.

This link is from the website of Red County, not to be confused with Red State. 

What is unique to this relatively new site, is they have writers (I’m one) from counties throughout the nation; which gives a unique opportunity to find what issues are out there in all parts of America.  They are seeking to eventually have a writer from every county in the nation, so if you know of someone who might be interested, let them know.

Last night, the City of Orange voted unanimously to approve a Resolution opposing High Speed Rail’s push to take property in their City by eminent domain, for an underfunded transportation project.

Within 20 minutes the California High Speed Rail Authority released this statement, accusing Orange elected officials of opposing something good for the people of their community; indeed the HSR is being promoted as the salvation of the entire State of California. What absolute horse-feathers! The Orange City Council cites quite specifically in their Resolution the very arguments that communities up and down the State are citing in their opposition to this boondoggle.

The Resolution calls out the State for:

• Using eminent domain powers to cut through neighborhoods and business centers
•  A viable finance plan to fund construction does not currently exist, and current plans lay out an unrealistic scenario.
•  The State Auditor Report says, “The program risks significant delays without more well developed plans for obtaining or replacing federal funds.”
• The CHSRA ridership and revenue scenario for the CHSR has been inflated in order to continue to move this project forward with unachievable goals.
• Increasing fiscal costs to complete the project.

By now you have heard that Federal District Court (trial court) Judge Susan Bolton, a democrat, has issue a preliminary injunction against key parts of the Arizona law allowing its police to enforce the United States’ illegal alien laws, largely on the federal pre-emption argument. For a nice summary of what is enjoined and what is not (and there’s a lot that’s not) Click Here.This is subject to change pending trial but I think it’s unlikely to change. And Arizona is in the 9th Circuit and those fools will do anything to kiss Obama’s ring, so don’t look for help there. Picking up from some of Rush Limbaugh’s thoughts on this, I actually think this is a huge victory for the Tea Party Movement and absolutely seals the doom of Congressional Democrats in the 2010 elections coming in November. People have wondered if the right’s rage would abate over the long, hot summer. I never thought it would but this late summer ruling insures the issue of an over-reaching national government, unresponsive to the concerns of the citizens, will remain a red hot issue. Polling proves over and over again this illegal alien issue is a dead bang winner for those opposing the alien invasion.

Here are some interesting random thoughts as to how the rest of this may play out:

1. Since the judge forbids AZ cops from inquiring re immigration status and the feds are ignoring their responsibility in that regard, is Arizona now wide open for invasion? Are the illegal superhighway? Muslim terrorists must be dancing in the streets of Mexico City now, their unchallengeable entry point into the the US now having been propped wide open by the Obama administration and this democrat Federal Judge.

2. The judge has issued her ruling, can she enforce it? What if Governor Brewer or even Sheriff Joe Arpaio loudly defies the judge and orders their police to carry out the AZ law? The easy answer is that they will be cited into court to face contempt charges. What if they refuse to go? Will we see armed Federal Marshals facing off against armed local police?

3. What happens if Texas or Utah go ahead and pass the same law now, leading to a revolt by several states against the national authority?

4. Is Harry Reid going to really brag and boast on his campaign about defeating the AZ law? I hope so.

Interesting stuff. Pass the popcorn.

News for a hot Wednesday afternoon:

Judge nixes key parts of Ariz. law Politico

Blagojevich trial goes to jury  Chicago Tribune

Rasmussen

The Illinois Senate race remains very close.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Illinois finds Democrat Alexi Giannoulias with 43% support to Republican Mark Kirk’s 41%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and 10% are undecided.

Both men have been battling ethics questions for weeks. Thirty-one percent (31%) of Illinois voters now rate Giannoulias as less ethical than most politicians, and 21% say the same of Kirk.

Voters tend to grade politicians on a curve and most Illinois voters still say both men are at least as ethical as most politicians. For Giannoulias, 52% hold that view including eight percent (8%) who say the Democrat is more ethical than most of his political peers.

For Kirk, the numbers are only slightly better. Sixty percent (60%) say his ethics are at least as good as most politicians while 10% view him as more ethical.

Earlier this month, Giannoulias, the state’s current treasurer, led Kirk, a U.S. congressman, 40% to 39%.

The slight uptick in Kirk’s numbers appears to signal an end to a downward trend for the Republican candidate. For Giannoulias, it’s the fifth straight single point increase in support.

In six previous surveys back to February, Giannoulias has earned 37% to 44% of the vote. Kirk’s support in those same surveys has ranged from 39% to 46%.

Illinois remains one of seven Toss-Up states in the Rasmussen Reports Senate Balance of Power rankings.

"Going green" may cause Normal's snow plows to "Go crazy"

Taken in Uptown Normal recently.  Just an observation that kind of stood out like a sore thumb.

Some friends of mine from Chicago were in the area recently and we had an outstanding meal, with great service, at Maggy Miley’s Irish Pub in “Uptown” Normal.

Not that Chicagoans know everything, but they commented on two things.  When we tried to parallel park, there is very little room between cars, and it’s difficult to see.  Hard to explain, but go try it sometime.

Second:  Apparently in an effort to “go green”, Normal has placed little concrete planters with greenery along portions of the main walk/shop area.  As you can see in this photo, there are other smaller concrete planters sticking out in the street along the sidewalks all along this area.  (See right in front of this car.)  Immediate reaction was, “I bet the snow plows are going to be having a nightmare with those things when there is a foot of snow.  They’ll be hitting those things every time.  Who thought to stick those things there?”

Some college-age kids were sitting outside in the eating area just behind us, and joined the conversation, “Ya, it’s a joke, everyone is talking about it.”

I bet we see these numbers widen as more and more people are sickened by Halvorson’s lying attempt to smear Kinzinger?

House Race Spotlight: IL-11
By Sean Trende – July 26, 2010

The Eleventh Congressional District is an irregularly-shaped slice of downstate Illinois and exurban Chicago, cutting across the state from Indiana almost to Iowa, with a salient extending down into Bloomington. It is marginal political territory, casting its votes for Barack Obama and George W. Bush at almost exactly their national average.

The Representative from the Eleventh is former state Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson. Halvorson won a landslide 58%-34% win in 2008 after Representative Jerry Weller decided to retire in the face of scandal. Halvorson has supported most of the Obama Administration’s major initiatives, including the stimulus, cap-and-trade, and the health care bill. Halvorson will face off against ex-McLean County (Bloomington) Commissioner Adam Kinzinger, who has managed to raise about half of what the incumbent has raised. There has been a fair amount of polling in the district, none of which is good for Halvorson. We Ask America showed her trailing Kinzinger 42%-30%, while the Republican polling outfit Public Opinion Strategies shows her trailing at 44%-38%. These are rough numbers for an incumbent, and RCP starts the race off as Leaning Republican.

Real Clear Politics

There has never been a dull moment (did we doubt it?), in the trial of former Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich.

Today, it may be Rod’s  lawyer who goes to jail.

Fireworks in Blagojevich’s corruption case were taken to a new level as a federal judge threatened to hold the former governor’s lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., in contempt of court and the attorney vowed to go to jail, in an episode that sidetracked the day’s proceedings.