media lizzy & friends

For many of us, we have been very consistent: we believe Barack Obama is just not ready to be president.  SOme in that camp are Democrats, and committed Hillary supporters.  It’s not just about being a woman.  It’s about fairness and the integrity of the process.  After all, we live in a Representative Republic.  Our process, our Constitution separate us from any other country in the world.  Or in history.

No one should be surprised that many Hillary voters are starting to consider, endorse, and even campaign for John McCain.  We want what is best for our nation.  What is best for the American people.  John McCain is the best qualified, with the best judgement.  It’s time for us to reach across the aisle and support all Americans who support McCain.  It’s the Right thing to do.

—Media Lizzy

Breaking… Hillary & Bill Clinton have finally released their tax returns.  First look reveals $109 million in  income 2000 – 2007.  Most notably, former President Bill Clinton has received $15 million from a sheik in Dubai – a man who was once tied to child enslavement.  I’m not kidding.

They also donated about ten percent of their total income to charity. And have paid about$33 million in taxes.

 — Media Lizzy

Some things in politics defy any rational explanation.  So I will not even try.  Let’s just say… it’s definitely not “Obama-girl.”

MSNBC is reporting that schedules from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s time as First Lady of the United States will be released tomorrow by the National Archives.

The story is just breaking… but here’s my take: it’s conveniently timed to blunt the effect of the Obama speech.  It’s classic “BAM! Back to the campaign!” politics.  Steal the story – bury the story – or kill the story.  Never allow your opponent a moment in the sun without disrupting the mirage on the horizon.

MSNBC’s Political Director Chuck Todd is reporting that Florida Democrats will NOT hold a re-vote, or second primary for Hillary Clinton & Barack Obama.

My take: Tell Al Gore that Florida does not matter.  How can the Democrats disenfranchising Florida voters?

Developing…

Or… your tax dollars at work. As an Oregon resident, I’m all too familiar with state employees (Remember the PERS fiasco with teachers a few years ago – UGH!) hiding under the skirts of their unions and using the blame game as an excuse to raid the checkbooks of the folks they serve. The biggest fans of entitlement spending feel entitled to a retirement package that exceeds that most folks get in the real world.

Oregon residents are not alone. Recently, a friend in California brought my attention to a similar problem emerging there.  (Or should I say re-emerging?)  Here’s where the outrage begins:

California’s SEIU is pushing a particularly bad piece of legislation (AB 1967) that further politicizes investments by the state’s public employee retirement funds — CalPERS and CalSTRS. They want to force out private equity funds that take passive investments from certain sovereign wealth funds — disregarding the job-creating businesses these funds invest.

Naturally, the investments the left is trying to kill off are among the most lucrative for pension fund retirees. So much so that the Calstrs board (for retired teachers) stuck their neck out in the last week in strong opposition to this bill:
Private Equity
“We can’t eliminate the portfolio’s best performers by banishing the top-tier private equity firms,” Jack Ehnes, the fund’s chief executive, said in a statement.

“This bill ignores the realities of the global financial marketplace where sovereign wealth funds are passive investors in a growing number of the most attractive investment opportunities in the world,” Ehnes said.

The irony is that most if not all of the beneficiaries of state pension fund investments are retired union members, many of them SEIU members. The national and state unions are happy to undermine their former members’ retirements to score a political point. Shocking but not surprising.

The teachers’ retirement board isn’t the only one that thinks the union is putting its interest above that of its members and retirees. California United Health Workers head Sal Rosselli is waging war on SEIU national head Andy Stern over what he calls Stern’s “growth at any cost” strategy that puts scoring political points over measurable benefits for workers. RedState recently covered this HERE.

I will keep an eye on this story, and report back as I learn more. My opinion is my own, and I am actively seeking additional information. However, in the interest of full disclosure: In 2004, I was the California BC04 Delegation Media Director. In that role, I interacted with a lot of folks – including the California BC04 Chairman – Gerry Parsky. He was, and remains, a partner of Aurora Capital which reportedly works with CalSTRS and CalPERS. I also advised a firm that counted him as a client. To be clear, I never provided advice nor was involved in any of his pension works – that material is way outside my field of expertise. Good governance, like good journalism and most ‘good’ things begin with transparency.

The American people deserve some real answers. Now that CalPERS is offering an ‘opt-in’ to National Guard folks – this is looking like a blatant political move by the unions to co-opt a “support the troops” argument, in addition to the standard election year rhetoric and machinations we have all come to expect.

—Media Lizzy

For those of you interested in full coverage of the Antoin “Tony” Rezko trial, I recommend checking the Gavel-to-Gavel coverage by the Chicago Tribune. There is plenty of in-depth history, analysis and facts galore. The Democratic Governor, Rod Blagojevich, has been publicly identified as “Public Official A” and the hits don’t stop there.

Among my favorite articles…Rezko sells lot next to Obama – Obama still answers for old ties to Rezko – Rezko put in jail; bail is revoked – Funds tough to figure for Rezko aid -

Barack Obama has successfully redefined the 2008 presidential campaign – and made it entirely about “judgment.” Via the Rezko trial – the question becomes, “What judgment did Barack Obama exercise in maintaining a close relationship with Rezco?”

—Media Lizzy

The Hillary Campaign camp is hosting an “emergency” press avail (via phone) laying out complaints about the Caucus portion of the votes in Texas.  Tarrant / Dallas counties – part of the Houston area.  Apparently people are claiming there was intimidation and some weirdness surrounding the production/delivery of the Caucus packets.

Hmmmm.

Some people read tea leaves.  Some people get their tarot cards read.  But, for me… when Terry McAuliffe is on TV non-stop, it means a few things:  Hillary is about to win something important, donors have been given their marching orders, and political arms have been twisted.

Terry McAuliffe is the not-so-secret weapon at Hillary’s disposal.  He’s been on every network for the last two days.  Something is afoot.

—Media Lizzy 

Some stories are just cool. From the GOP Convention blog: (hat tip to Mr. Burns!)

An American Issue

A powerful story from the local ABC affiliate in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, KSTP (5 EYEWITNESS NEWS), on a Robbinsdale, Minn., soldier who will receive a new home. Sgt. Marcus Kuboy was injured in Fallujah while on patrol.

When the Republican National Convention comes to St. Paul in September, they will not only be picking a presidential nominee – they’ll be leaving behind a specially-adapted house for a hometown hero.

The new home is courtesy of Home for Our Troops, which has teamed with the Republican and Democratic conventions, credit unions, and the National Journal to build two new homes for injured servicemembers – one in Denver and one in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, sites of this year’s conventions. Sgt. Kuboy should be in his new home by September. From our perspective, it’s pretty simple: “Taking care of our veterans is not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue, it’s an American issue.”

We can’t wait to begin swinging hammers.

I’m so proud.

—Media Lizzy