From the GateWay Pundit:

New information reveals that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was indirectly sending messages to the FARC. The Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is designated as a terrorist group by the US government. Speaker Pelosi was doing this while at the same time she refused to bring a free trade agreement with Colombia up for a vote in the US House. In fact, Pelosi took extraordinary steps to block this trade agreement with America’s closest ally in South America.

So, here we have Pelosi working …

Not that anyone should be shocked, but definitely frustrated, but today’s Washington Post provides some insight to the plans of Congress with regard to converting more and more land over to federal protection control.  You know what’s scary?  If this had been the approach Congress took when Thomas Jefferson was president, we’d still be all stuck on the east coast, the western 1/3 of the country would be part of Mexico, and everything from Ohio to the Rockies would still be under Indian control (well, maybe not) and undeveloped.  Oh, and we’d still be using outhouses.

The thinking is, Congress may set aside as many as 2 million additional acres in this year.

Wilderness areas, which have the strictest level of federal protection, account for

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Eager to put appropriate cover on their actions so that they don’t jeopardize their reelections, House Democrats are proposing breaking up the Wire-tapping Bill into two pieces: one to provide the authorization to execute the program, and the other to provide protections for communications companies against lawsuits.

From what I’m hearing, it sounds like both bills would pass, but some legislators want the option to vote against one or the other.  From the LA Times story:

“The objective would be to pass something that is less controversial,” yet still allow Democrats to register their objections to the immunity provision, said one senior Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and other party leaders have yet to reach

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Hat Tip to BitHead for this, who aptly asks  “Anyone want proof there’s a God?” while referencing this article by Roger L. Simon at PajamasMedia on the potential demise of Ron Paul’s seat in Congress.  Evidently,  Chris Pedena, newcomer to national politics (a city councilman and CPA) is running against Ron in the March 4th primary.

I’ve previously said that Ron needs to exit the campaign so he can serve his constituents, and I alluded to the fact that the more he campaigns for President, the more his district learns about his views and character that they (perhaps) did not know before, or at least did not understand how extreme they were.  Frankly, I’m surprised the polling numbers aren’t worse from the sheer embarrassment …

That economic stimulus package (mentioned here just a couple of hours ago) got turned around quick in the House!  Looks like we’ll be seeing some cash.  I just want to know when they want it back.

Daniel Gross at Newsweek doesn’t think it will work.  He’s got some great background referenced, including American Century Investment survey that shows only about 27% of Americans plan to spend this money.

There was at least one sane sounding voice in Congress:

“We have to remember that every dollar being spent on the stimulus package is being borrowed from our children. And our children’s children,” said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., who voted against the bill.

There’s gotta be a better way.

Hat Tip to MSNBC and KCCI-TV.…

The US Senate passed a stimulus package a short while ago.  From the Wall Street Journal:

The Senate passed an economic rescue plan that would speed $600 to $1,200 in rebates to most taxpayers and $300 checks to low-income people, including disabled veterans and the elderly. The 81-16 vote capped more than a week of political maneuvering that ended only when majority Democrats dropped their demand that the proposal offer jobless benefits, heating aid for the poor and tax breaks for certain industries.

Evidently, House leaders are working on trying to get passage started tonight.

I haven’t seen the bill yet.  Hopefully the text will be available this evening.

Not having seen any reason to believe it will actually stimulate the economy (I and …

I’ve read and heard a number of conservatives (and I myself have struggled with this) who appear to be giving up on this year’s elections already. I’m disappointed. Ann Coulter certainly exuded an extreme version of the conservative angst (although she’s definitely on the wrong track by suggesting Hillary is a viable alternative to McCain). However just as effective as Coulter’s idea of supporting Clinton are the following ideas:

1. Vote for any candidate on the ballot other than McCain
2. Don’t vote for any candidate for President
3. Skip the election altogether

A man named Rick Warren penned these words in the book The Purpose Driven Life:

It’s not about you.

I think this applies here, with a few more words: “It’s not about the President, …

I am amazed that the Republican Party in Iowa is intent on rolling over so easily this year. In a story in today’s Des Moines Register, we find out that party leaders and potential candidates have essentially decided it’s not worth the effort to put up a race against Leonard Boswell (Democrat-Iowa 3rd District US House of Representatives) or Tom Harkin (Democrat-Iowa US Senator).

Boswell does face a primary contest, but no Republican challenger has emerged.

According to the Register:

Part of the outlook is the chilling effect on the party of losses in 2006. That’s when Iowa Democrats reclaimed legislative majorities, won two of four U.S. House seats held by Republicans and elected the party’s first successor to a Democratic governor in 70

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