Hope and Change in Massachusetts

I've been up since early morning watching the news, Legal Insurrection's live feed, Twitter feeds, and ever other source of information I can find on events in Massachusetts.

I'm praying enough Brown supporters get out and vote to make it a victory, no, a landslide victory for Scott Brown.

A landslide victory will send a clear message to our run-away government that We-the-People are fed up and aren't going to take it anymore.

Any victory will be wonderful, even a tight race with a loss will send a message; but to get through to the thick-headed, we will do it our way liberals; we need a landslide.

As someone commented on one of the sites I visited this morning (Twitter or Legal Insurrection's live feed, sorry I forgot which one it was): 'A landslide today will give them warning of the tsunami in November.'

Lets Roll, Massachusetts! Get out there and elect Scott Brown!

Brown has Scared the Bejebers Out of the Dem’s in Mass.

I'm not a resident of Massachusetts, but am watching the Senate race there with interest.

I'm absolutely gleeful that Scott Brown is leading in the polls. My husband and I both shout "Go, Scott, Go!" at the television every time we hear more encouraging news.

I get much of my information on the Brown vs. Coakley race from William A. Jacobson's blog, Legal Insurrection. He's honest and I trust what he says. Reading his blog this morning (well afternoon) I see that the liberal bloggers are approaching severe panic mode due to polls that show Brown with a narrow lead. They are sinking to new lows in an attempt to smear Brown's reputation and credibility at the last minute.

Figures.

If you can't win on merit, win by telling lies on your opponent.

Now, the Liar-in-Chief is in route to "help" pull Coakley out of the fire. I hope it is the kiss of death for her campaign.

Scott Brown is our last hope to head off the run-away Senate. No matter where you are in this great nation, do what you can to support him.

Go, Scott, Go!

Party Hardy at Copenhagen

At least that's what it sounds like our HUGE contingent of senators and their cohorts did. CBS reports:

CBS) Few would argue with the U.S. having a presence at the Copenhagen Climate Summit. But wait until you hear what we found about how many in Congress got all-expense paid trips to Denmark on your dime.

CBS investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports that cameras spotted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the summit. She called the shots on who got to go. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and embattled Chairman of the Tax Committee Charles Rangel were also there.

They were joined by 17 colleagues: Democrats: Waxman, Miller, Markey, Gordon, Levin, Blumenauer, DeGette, Inslee, Ryan, Butterfield, Cleaver, Giffords, and Republicans: Barton, Upton, Moore Capito, Sullivan, Blackburn and Sensenbrenner.

That's not the half of it. But finding out more was a bit like trying to get the keys to Ft. Knox. Many referred us to Speaker Pelosi who wouldn't agree to an interview. Her office said it "will comply with disclosure requirements" but wouldn't give us cost estimates or even tell us where they all stayed.

Senator Inhofe (R-OK) is one of the few who provided us any detail. He attended the summit on his own for just a few hours, to give an "opposing view."

"They're going because it's the biggest party of the year," Sen. Inhofe said. "The worst thing that happened there is they ran out of caviar."

Our investigation found that the congressional delegation was so large, it needed three military jets: two 737's and a Gulfstream Five -- up to 64 passengers -- traveling in luxurious comfort.

Add senators and staff, most of whom flew commercial, and we counted at least 101 Congress-related attendees. All for a summit that failed to deliver a global climate deal.

As a perk, some took spouses, since they could snag an open seat on a military jet or share a room at no extra cost to taxpayers. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was there with her husband. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was also there with her husband. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) took his wife, as did Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). Congressman Barton -- a climate change skeptic -- even brought along his daughter.

Until required filings are made in the coming weeks, we can only figure bits and pieces of the cost to you.

 Three military jets at $9,900 per hour - $168,000 just in flight time.

 Dozens flew commercial at up to $2,000 each.

 321 hotel nights booked - the bulk at Copenhagen's five-star Marriott.

 Meals add tens of thousands more.

Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense, wasn't against a U.S. presence. But he said, "Every penny counts. Congress should be shaking the couch cushions looking for change, rather than spending cash for everybody to go to Copenhagen."

Nobody we asked would defend the super-sized Congressional presence on camera. One Democrat said it showed the world the U.S. is serious about climate change.

And all those attendees who went to the summit rather than hooking up by teleconference? They produced enough climate-stunting carbon dioxide to fill 10,000 Olympic swimming pools.

Which means even if Congress didn't get a global agreement - they left an indelible footprint all the same.

I'm still pondering on this. All these VIP's, along with the President . . . looks like an excuse to party at our expense to me. But then, that's not unusual, is it?