The 11th Commandment

The vast and ever changing field of 2012 GOP Presidential Candidates loves to quote Reagan but, so far, the emulation ends there.

Reagan attributed this rule to the head of the California GOP, Gaylor Parkinson, the year he ran for the Governor's seat, 1966. Reagan wrote: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. It's a rule I followed during that campaign and have ever since."

Reagan looked at the state of California, and indeed the nation, in 1966, and knew that he need not attack his colleagues but rather run on the facts of their principles and positions. Their ideas contrasted to his own were losing ideas. His truth would win per ipsum. It needed only telling. And what a master teller the Great Communicator was.

Looking at the halflings of his legacy, we see Santorum attacking Romney, Newt attacking Paul Ryan's budget (Ryan must be wondering why he's suddenly the enemy...), Ron Paul attacking everybody who is not shrugging with Atlas, and a whole slew of trolls, goblins and circus freaks attacking Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin. They would all gang up on Tim Pawlenty if it seemed worth it.

Why few are taking the position that the attacks will and should come from we the people is beyond me. We will, in good time, destroy them all in turn for that is what Americans love to do in politics. Bush, Clinton, Bush and even Obama have felt the love turned rage that is the sceptical and fickle American voter.

So my advice to the candidates- not that they would take it because, of course, they know better, is to shut up. Tell your story, stake your claim in the ground and let us decide. 2012 is so winnable. Barack Obama is so beatable- he knows it, the media knows it, the people know it. Why waste energy and resources attacking each other when even the worst candidate amongst you, yes even Gary Johnson the baby killing pot smoking hippie would still be better than the liberation theologian, marxist who currently sits at the Resolute desk, feet up and coat off.

Reagan never took his coat off in the Oval. He thought the room and the Office were both worthy of such etiquette. That's another lesson any President could learn from Reagan.

Big Numbers

Republicans claim victory over some odd $38 billion in spending cuts for the remainder of FY '11. And relatively speaking, $38 billion is a lot of money. In Congressional terms, especially the way the GOP elephants spend money, $38 billion is peanuts.

I'm looking at my expenses for this month. My budget for rent, food, restaurants, concerts, expenses, etc. is $4,200. I realized that was a bit steep... so I looked for ways to cut out some of the fat. Did I really need to eat out as much? Do I need to go to 930 Club again?

So I stayed up all night looking at the details of my $4,200 monthly budget... and at the end of dramatic, detailed study and statements to the press, I managed to cut out $38 dollars. I'm down to $4,162. Who's patting me on the back for the great work...eh? Who's the man?!?!

And this juvenile analogy doesn't even include the debt. Nor does it mention that I only make about $3,300 a month and that I'm still going in the hole for this month. "Savings"?? Can I really talk about saving anything?

Seriously? How can we look honestly at Republicans for savings or at Democrats for complaining about these cuts? The whole thing is a joke.

Show me $400 billion for FY '11 and $1.3 trillion for FY '12... then I'll cheer. Until then it's all a joke and lies. And I don't see anyone honest enough to tell the truth.

Except Michelle Bachman and Jim Jordan. And I thank them for their honesty.

What's the difference between a "shut down" and a "snow day"?

A paycheck.

It's not supposed to be funny because it's not a joke. Last year when DC was walloped by "snowmageddon", the Federal Government shut down for 4 consecutive days. I wrote about it here.

Yet, satellites did not fall from the sky. Doctors delivered babies. Chickens laid eggs. We survived. Despite the fact that millions of people did nothing for 4 straight days, we survived. (I'd even argue that we prospered! 4 days of a bunch of morons not sticking their noses into our business or watching online porn).

So now we face this looming "shut down" of the government and everyone, left, right and Obama, is blaming someone else for the impending doom. What's going to happen?

Nothing. Except they will not get paid for doing nothing- unlike the snowstorms of yesteryear. Well... unlike most days of the year. This time the bloated federal government, union protected, step increase assured, pension guaranteed with health benefits for life loafers... this time they don't get paid.

That's probably not a bad thing.