A good place to start cutting

"Calculations by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and other independent fiscal experts show that the $1.1 trillion cost over the next 10 years of the Medicare prescription drug program, which the Republican-controlled Congress adopted in 2003, by itself would add more to the deficit than the combined costs of the bailout, the stimulus and the health care law." (nytimes)

I have spoke to a few people and they are always surprised how cheap this program is. That might be great but if it is just our money paying for their low prices it can't last. Medicare is hundreds of times more expensive then originally projected and so will this program.

Thomas Jefferson thought the constitution might be rewritten every 19 years, but instead of that I think major laws (ranked by expenditures) should be voted on every 10 years. This will force our representatives in the House and Senate to make a political statement in their vote instead of taking a position that never gets tested.

November 3rd and beyond

In 2008, John McCain was leading Barack Obama until September when the financial crisis hit home. McCain was flip floppy when he canceled his campaigning only to do nothing and then vote for the first bail out. Obama did nothing but looked less uncertain and more ‘Presidential’. Voters did not have time to process what was the right thing to do and voted for the new guy hoping for new ideas.

2 years later people have had a chance to see the results of the “crisis” and the 3+ trillion dollars in added deficits and have rejected Washington solutions.

The Republican majority in the house is slim and the Senate is even with the White House to keep them in check. I believe the White House will now actually get involved with law making, instead of allowing Pelosi and Reid to do what they want and just sign rubber stamp it.

Deficit spending will decline, and passed bills (healthcare, cap & trade) will be cut back before they take effect. Most importantly the tax code will be shored up with a continuation of the Bush tax cuts for a majority of people (not exactly like it is now) and you will see businesses decide it is okay to hire and invest to expand.

I believe it will be a while before banks loosen up credit as we are going to be going through another housing bubble for more expensive homes. This is a subject not yet discussed in the mainstream media.

Thus begins the 2012 election cycle. Have fun, but for now no more crappy campaign ads.

Why the Democrats loose.

Last Thursday I heard the nastiest radio ad ever. A group supporting Boswell ran an ad with back ground noise like a 911 call for the woman that called the police on Brad Zaun some 10 years ago. No such recording exists. The tone would lead you to believe that Zaun was a rapist and almost killed the woman. It was disgusting.

All over the country Democrats, especially those that are incumbents, have taken the gloves off, suggesting their opponents are mentally ill, or a Nazi. It is one thing to question one’s views on issues, it is out of bounds to say if they disagree they are mental.

Voters will turn against those that run these ads and add to the route for the night.

Quick hit: Sen. John Kerry (who served in Vietnam)

"We're in a period of know-nothingism in the country, where truth and science and facts don't weigh in. It's all short-order, lowest common denominator, cheap-seat politics." – Sen. Kerry (D-MA) (boston.com)

This from a man who sits in his tub soaking with his Ketchup queen wife and wonder how he lost to that idiot G.W. Bush. This from a man who wants us to just sit down, shut up and let him and the other lizard overlords rule over us.

My ballot for November 2, 2010

I am for term limits, baring legislation I will try to impose them at the ballot box. 10 years maximum at any level of government.

US Senator – John Heiderscheit (Libertarian Party) I like Sen. Grassley but I just can no longer vote for him, too long in office.

US Representative – Brad Zaun (Republican Party)

Governor & Lt. Gov. – Johnathan Narcisse & Richard Mariar (Iowa Party) Branstad has more than 10 years as Governor and I don’t see a lot of difference between him and Culver. Narcisse is a fighter and believes in the best things for our children and Iowa.

Sec. of State – Matt Schultz (Republican Party)

Auditor of State – David Vaudt (Republican Party) His last term.

Treasurer of State – David Jamison (Republican Party)

Sec. of Ag – Bill Northey (Republican Party)

Attorney General – Brenna Findley (Republican Party) Tom Millers second time around has had some good points but still just too long in office.

State Representative – No vote – Scott Raecker (Rep.) has been in for 11 years, just too long.

Co. Treasurer – Mike Adams (Republican Party)

Co. Recorder – Eric Zingler (Republican Party)

Co. Attorney – No Vote – Sarcone has been in too long but has no one running against them.

Judges – I’m voting no on all of them to allow Branstad (if he wins) to have the ability to put in new people if he chooses.

Constitutional Questions
1 – Water and land legacy – No Vote- It wants to set up a 20 million dollar fund, we don’t have the money.
2 – Constitutional convention – No Vote – Even with problems our state constitution is the best we can do and has remedies for any problems we have.

Public Measure for Prairie Meadows
Yes – I would like for the casino to be private but the county has been too involved to get out now.

"They knew who I was." – Rep. Boswell

Hopefully that will be how we remember Rep. Boswell, as a name, as a footnote. As for how he represented the 3^rd District it was very unremarkable. He has had no reason to be remarkable, the independent vote has asked nothing of him and just falls in line and re-elects him every 2 years. When asked what his 16 years as a congressman has produced his claim was a veteran’s bill to help with suicide issues after serving, don’t get me wrong they need all the help we can give veterans. He also mentioned live stock legislation attached to a farm bill, but after 16 years that is an awful long time to only be able to mention 2 pieces of law when he personally has collected 1.6 to 2 million in salary as a congressman. If he is defeated next week what type of pension will he receive? The only one who has benefited from our relationship with Leonard Boswell is Leonard Boswell.

It is time for a change. Brad Zaun has his own issues like all of us do, and as a people we have struggled with financial and personal issues, he too has been there. As a Councilman, Mayor and State Senator Brad Zaun has always been an honest broker and a man who has been available and in touch with his community.

Boswell vs. Zaun Iowa Dist. 3

10/25/2010

Neither candidate did anything to hurt themselves, however, no one did anything to help themselves either and that is bad news for Brad Zaun. He is 28 years younger than the Congressman and should have shown a lot more energy and be able to respond more quickly to things like, when Boswell said he was not worried about challengers, I would have said "because you have taken the Independent and Democrat support for granted and don't even try any more."

Most of Boswell's responses were typical main line Democrat. There was absolutely nothing that he said that Barney Frank or Pelosi would disagree with. Brad was very vanilla too, maybe an attempt to win some moderate votes. His one point he did bring home was Boswell's promise to 3 terms and a need for change in D.C. Boswell's response was to tell us he and his seniority is the thin red line between Iowans and congressman from other states that would control everything. Of course those are Democrats so there wouldn't be any difference.

They did agree that we need more boarder security, with no details, and employers need to be held more responsible for hiring illegal immigrants.

I will update as I review my notes.