President Reagan's First Inaugural Address

Twenty-eight years ago today, President Ronald Reagan delivered his first Inaugural Address. His was a true message of hope and change, ideals that he believed resided within the American people and not simply one man.

Surely There Will Be No Missing "O"'s

Remember eight years ago today when the outgoing Clinton administration left $15,000 worth of "damage, theft, vandalism, and pranks" to government property on their way out the White House door? Oh, those rascally Democrats.

At the time, Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer played down the Clintonian shenanigans:

"Whether things were done that were perhaps less gracious than should have been, it is not going to be what President Bush focuses on, nor will it be what his staff focuses on. Whatever may have been done, we are going to just put our heads down and look ahead,'' he said.

The bad thing is, many of these jokers will be returning.

But I'm sure President Obama will find all the "O"'s on his keyboards.

Not Without a Hitch

Not exactly off on the right foot, huh?



UPDATE: In fairness, Chief Justice John Roberts messed up first. The oath should read: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States..." Roberts said "execute faithfully" instead, which may have caused Obama to stumble on his words.

I wonder if this is the first time the Oath of Office has been flubbed by an incoming President?

The Obama Regime Has Begun

It's a tough time to be a conservative Republican right now.

All weekend and for the past two days, you can't turn on the television without being inundated with everything Obama. My kids can't even watch Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel without being indoctrinated by the ridiculous worship of the man. The left-minded media can't get enough of him, and if this is any indication of the kind of softball press he will receive, it's going to be a long four years for the 58,343,671 people in this country who didn't vote for him.

It is commendable that our nation--one that critics continue to hammer as racist overall--has elected the first African-American to its highest office. Thus the inauguration of Barack Obama is a significant moment in American history, and he will be justly remembered for it.

But it's sad that so many people are placing all their hopes for a better America on the shoulders one man, one human being. He has changed people's lives. He has given people hope, at least those whose personal emotions depend on which political party occupies the White House. He's being compared to Lincoln and Kennedy without having done a single thing to deserve it. He has given those who voted for him the belief that the "whole nation" is coming together for his coronation...err, inauguration. They are literally worshiping him like the Liberal Messiah!

For the liberals who have lamented and anguished over the past eight years, congratulations. Your nightmare is now over. You can live your lives henceforth free from the man who tormented your liberal minds for so long. Now you know how conservatives felt after eight years of the scandal-ridden and sleazy administration of William Jefferson Clinton, who was one of the top five worst presidents in our nation's history.

But what will happen when the Great Obama fails to live up to your expectations? What if he can't fulfill all the lofty promises he made in the campaign? The bar has been set so high for him, it will be impossible for him to make everyone happy. Four years from now, will you still want to keep that Obama commemorative plate on your mantle?

Bipartisanship...As Long As Democrats are in Control

"Hopefully we're entering a new bipartisan era. But it's up to the Republicans -- who ought to be happy because they have a Republican speaker -- to decide whether they're going to be petty or not." -- Rep. Henry Fincher (D-Cookeville)

One thing that should be crystal clear from this whole debacle with Rep. Kent Williams' back-stabbing ascendancy to Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives is that Democrats cannot be trusted. They will do anything--even vote for a Republican--to keep their power.

You would think after close to 140 years in control of the House, Democrats could be magnanimous and pass the gavel to a new majority, just as power is transferred from one party to the other in other state governments. That for once, Jimmy Naifeh would do something that doesn't benefit Jimmy Naifeh. Oh, but not Tennessee Democrats. Like the stubborn jackass that is their party symbol, they cannot unselfishly relinquish their power. They cannot step aside and allow the majority to run the show for two years. As much as we've heard them preach "Change," "Change," "Change," it doesn't apply when they are in control.

Now Democrats are suddenly advocates of bipartisanship after using so-called political "gamesmanship" to gain the upper hand again. With smiles still on their faces from their sabotaging endeavors, they want Republicans to work with them and their puppet Speaker and just forget about what happened. Let bygones be bygones. We got a Republican after all, didn't we? (Ha ha)

Bipartisanship cannot exist if both sides don't trust each other. As the Jackson Sun points out, Democrats have destroyed whatever chance there was for it by their schemes:

Clearly, Democrats pulled a fast one on the unsuspecting GOP majority. But while they may have gotten what they wanted in the short term - someone of their choice as speaker and favorable committee assignments - they likely have hurt themselves in the long run.

By sabotaging Republican plans, they have destroyed the already tenuous trust that existed between the parties. How does that help them when they have a legislative issue they care about and need Republican help to advance? It doesn't. How does it help manage the serious financial problems facing the state that need bipartisan cooperation? It doesn't.

Because of the arrogance of House Democrats, the chamber will be in gridlock and nothing significant will be accomplished for the next two years. Until Republicans can gain a significant majority in 2010, the people of Tennessee will continue to be susceptible to these back room deals because Democrats will do absolutely anything to stay in power. After 140 years, it is time for this kind of politics to end.

Seeds of Deception

In his first press conference as House Speaker today, Kent Williams divulged one-sentence tidbits about how this whole corrupt bargain with House Democrats came about:

Q: When did the Democrats first approach you about this?

Williams: The Democrats didn't approach me. I approached them.

Q: And what did you say?

Williams: I told them I'd like to be speaker of the House. It was maybe a couple of days ago, I don't know.

Q: What did the Democrats say to you? OK?

Williams: Evidently.

A man of a great many words, to be sure.

So now we know that Kent was not led astray off the Republican reservation; he went of his own free will. He initiated the deal. The details seem to be a little fuzzy at the moment, but hopefully we'll learn more in the coming days.

Open Letter to Kent Williams

I couldn't help but let our new House Speaker know what I thought of his treacherous deal with House Democrats, so I emailed him this ditty:

Mr. Williams,

I am not a constituent in your district, but I am a state taxpayer, a voter, and a supporter of the Republican Party.

For the first time since the end of Reconstruction, there is a Republican majority in the House. At least there WAS one before today's session. As a member of the House Republican caucus, you signed a document committing yourself to vote for a Republican candidate for speaker and speaker pro tempore. You were quoted in the Chattanoogan on November 7, 2008 as saying: “I want to state today, unequivocally, that I pledge to vote for a Republican for Speaker of the House. I have every reason to expect that the Republican nominee will be Leader Jason Mumpower. We are grateful that the people of Tennessee have given us the opportunity to lead. We will make them proud.”

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_138597.asp

Instead of making your constituents proud, you have deceived them. You have done the same to your Republican colleagues. You have made some sort of back room deal with Democrat representatives to gain their trust and their votes to make yourself speaker. While "technically" you may have voted for a Republican for speaker (yourself), you unequivocally broke your signed pledge by voting for a Democrat for Speaker Pro Tempore.

Politics of deception, Mr. Williams, is NOT the kind of so-called "change" we need in the General Assembly. Your action today is no shining example of how a public servant and an elected official should conduct himself or serve those who elected him.

Polite but truthful, I think.

Kent Williams Strikes Corrupt Bargain with House Democrats

Nothing like a corrupt political bargain to awaken this Tennessee Conservative from his winter slumber...

What should have been a historic day for Tennessee Republicans instead has become one of shock and frustration at the back room wheelings and dealings that Kent Williams made with Democrats in the state House of Representatives to make himself Speaker. The only truthful part of his acceptance was this jewel:

"I'm a Republican but not for much longer because you guys are going to kick me out, probably."

Can you blame them? It's interesting that he had to be protected by the Tennessee Highway Patrol while at the podium and when he was escorted out of the chamber. Looks like you're not a very popular guy right now, Kent.

The clincher was the first thing he did as Speaker: Allow Jimmy Naifeh to preside from his pedestal the rest of the day. Unbelieveable. (I'm sure this was part of the deal too.)

If Kent Williams believes everything will be hunky dory with his Republican colleagues from now on, he's sadly mistaken. Of course, the trouble now is the rogue member of their party is now in control of committee chairmanships and appointments, so they can't be too venomous in their reactions.

So much for that signed unity pledge to support a Republican for the office (which was supposed to be Jason Mumpower, not Williams) or what he told the Chattanoogan back on November 7, 2008:

“I want to state today, unequivocally, that I pledge to vote for a Republican for Speaker of the House. I have every reason to expect that the Republican nominee will be Leader Jason Mumpower. We are grateful that the people of Tennessee have given us the opportunity to lead. We will make them proud.”

Yep, you've sure made the folks back home proud. One more lying politician to add to the bunch.

UPDATE: The nerve of this guy! Here's his response to why he didn't vote for House Republican leader Jason Mumpower: "I think I'd make a better speaker and a better leader."