Brain-Jockey

Juvenile Delinquent Politicians: It’s How We Got Here

Written by Audrie Zettick on March 31, 2009

PA Leadership Conference recently held in Harrisburg, PA. Congressman Armey is now with Freedomworks and was the kickoff speaker for the PLC’s 20th Anniversary conference. Basically, he asked the question, “How the hell did we get here?”     

Over 570 conservatives were in attendance at this year’s conference, the biggest ever.  I saw people there I haven’t seen in years.  In fact, I’ve been missing in action from this conference though here in spirit.  Busy doing my part raising kids, running a business and generally trying to keep ahead of all those daily responsibilities.

I was scared off my duff this past year, as I watched American policy carried along by the rush of popular politics, not deep thought. That’s why I was there and why I’ll be at the Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party.  Tweeting, blogging and Facebook have their place, but elbow to elbow with like-thinkers is invigorating in this time of national stress. And Armey’s message hits home.

He asked: how in the world can you get so many billions of dollars in bad business decisions?  Politicians in action have gone beyond sensibility to the absurd.  He explained:

• Almost all bad ideas can be worked into a rationale for building bigger government…that ultimately benefits elected officials by allowing them to build a bigger empire.It’s a natural impulse. 
• Politicians are drawn to economic issues for power, control, and authority over your life and money. 
• Politicians accept bad ideas because they are easy and nonrigorous. 

I don’t mean to beat up politicians.  I’m a former county-wide elected official (Clerk of Courts), committeewoman, judge of elections, and ran for Congress, among other positions.  But I’m a firm believer in term limits, limiting one’s time in office in order to keep connected to the “real world” the rest of us live in.  Armey’s message nails the problem. 

According to Armey, politics today is form of juvenile delinquency and citizens are living with the consequences. He noted that it’s time to stop accepting this behavior.   

I say, let’s perform an intervention.  The Tax Day Tea Party protests are a good start (or continuation, for those of you have been to the previous Tea Party protests).  See you there.

Sweden To GM: A Fickle Finger

Written by Audrie Zettick on March 23, 2009

A while back, I wrote about how Bailouts Are Blarney, with the Irish government refusing to bailout failing Waterford Wedgwood PLC, their famous maker of crystal. 

Now, Sweden has put the kibash on bailing out failing Saab.  Who’d a “thunk” it?  This from a country that nationalized its banks.   Seems a bit fickle.

With GM’s withdrawal from Saab, the company filed for protection from creditors.  GM’s bankruptcy, of course, would have forced renegotiation of the union contracts that have hogtied any chance of the renewal of the automaker.

Mind you, GM is the one blamed for destroying the Saab brand; known for its uniqueness and quirkiness, sales plummeted drastically after GM purchased the brand. Once a small but highly-sought brand based on its performance, the brand image became muddied once GM started inserting parts from Opel and making changes to try to compete against BMW. 

The Swedish government saying “no” to a Saab bailout is probably akin to giving the U.S. automaker the finger.   

Revolt, Repeal, Retire: Time for a New Tea Party

Written by Audrie Zettick on February 26, 2009

A host of taxpayers will make their voices heard this Friday, February 27 at noon (EST) and beyond at regional or virtual “tea party” protests. Coordinated by groups Top Conservatives on Twitter, Smart Girl Politics and the #Dontgo Movement, it was originally billed as a Chicago Tea Party in response to CNBC on-air personality Rick Santelli’s rant on a Chicago trading floor about needing a new taxpayer protest a la the Boston Tea Party.  It has spread like wild fire to a nationwide effort.  

The intent is to let Congress know that we want them to repeal all their irresponsibile spending bills.  If not, we’ll retire THEM in the 2010 election.  We are mad.  We know technology.  And we intend to use it toward that end.

Congress must repeal :

The Mortgage Bailout
The $1 Trillion Pork-Laden Stimulus
The Auto Bailout
The Wall Street Bailout

If you are like me, you’ve been busy.  You have obligations (hey, we’re selling our family business this week AND my local tea party in Harrisburg is scheduled for when my scout troop has a cookie booth obligation!).  Nonetheless, there are so many ways to participate, you can find one.  I will.

• Find a local event (see this list or this list.  (Not all are on Friday, Feb. 27).   You can RSVP and network with others on these local events on Facebook here.  But if you are not a Facebook user, fear not.  Just use the info off the other links I gave above.  
• Host a local event (again, can be for any date). Find helpful guidelines here.
• Twitter at that time, using the hashtag #teaparty
• “Attend” the virtual tea party in Second Life (I’m new to this, but may try.  The worst that can happen is that I wander around lost in a virtual world….they say they’ll have signposts to follow, so perhaps this can’t be any worse than IKEA.  The best that can happen is that people think I AM actually tall and thin…).  Here’s a link to a video about how Second Life works.  And here is info on where the protest will be: 
• Friday, February 27, 2009
  9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. SLT/PST
  12:00 n. - 12:30 p.m. EST
  Sagamore Island Dock
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sagamore/165/155/32
  Follow markers from the landing point (gazebo) to the dock

If you want to make a sign for the protest, here are suggested slogans.

Or get a chuckle out of the related videos on the tea party protest theme posted on Michele Malkin’s blog. 

Here, I have the inspiration for the entire event.  See you at the Party.

Let Them Eat Chocolate: One Company’s Economic Stimulus

Written by Audrie Zettick on January 27, 2009

While continuing to read and track issues related to economic stimulus and HR 1, I stumbled across this article about Hershey Foods.  (Full disclosure: I live in the Hershey, PA area and like have a passion for chocolate.)

Seems that Hershey’s sales rose in the 4th quarter, to the tune of 2.6%, resulting in profits being up 3.8% for the year.  Improved management–including decreased costs, price increases and better advertising–went a long way toward achieving these results.  Perhaps the Big Three Automakers could learn something from Hershey. 

I’d like to offer another spin: with the Democrats controlling Congress, the economy in the tank and massive government debt growing, more people are turning to the endorphin-rush of eating chocolate to deal with anxiety (endorphins lessen pain and stress).   It’s been documented that chocolate also produces serotonin and that dark chocolate contains a similar ingredient to marijuana, creating a sense of euphoria.  (Wait, are they already serving dark chocolate in the House Democrat caucus?)

Whatever.  It’s economic stimulus for my hometown.  That works for me.

Survive Obama Inauguration Day and Beyond: Let Your Heart Be A Twitter

Written by Audrie Zettick on January 20, 2009

Many heads are in the clouds and hearts all a twitter with this historic inauguration.  To heck with the size of our carbon footprints, let’s make a carbon caldera as we party like it’s 1999.  

Actually, I’m staying home but I don’t behoove Obama supporters (except perhaps those in the media) their fun and adoration of “the One.”  I avoid fawning over pop culture icons, but admit to being speechless the first time I met Reagan.  I wore “Reagan red” in the 1980s—but only because I looked “hot” in the color. 

And you’d have to have a heart of granite not to be moved by the inauguration of our first black President, in a town where the Capitol was build by slaves.  

Yes, I’m for Hope and Change.  Hope that Obama’s inauguration leads to an historic presidency where the first family becomes less a pop culture figure but more an example of a healthy, intact family to emulate.  Hope that President Obama’s speech on accountability and responsibility isn’t about government’s responsibility as a nanny state, but our’s as citizens. And I hope that I still have change in my pocket after Nancy Pelosi’s majority gets through with my purse.

But as I watch the inauguration today, I’m still filled with dread.  Our local paper drove home why I feel that way with an opening line that reads “Today, America changes course.”  With high level officials like Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder at the helm of major policy-making departments, I’m anxious. Lesser known figures such as Cass Sunstein and several at the Justice Department frighten me even more. As regulatory “czar,” Sunstein is in a position to advance his principles, which include designing regulations around how people behave.  He definitely doesn’t behave the way the folks in my family do, where we eat meat, have relatives that hunt, and haven’t included our pet fish in our wills.

Last week, I came across many lists about how to survive the inauguration, such as this one that gives the advice not to wear sequins lest you become stuck to another sequin-attired attendee at an inaugural ball. Not what I had in mind.  Alas, how do conservatives make it through today, tomorrow and next week without our heads exploding?

Fear not, my friends.  I have found the solution.  Attend the Twitter Ball (see Washington Times) hosted by Smart Girl Politics at 9 p.m. tonight (Jan. 20).  Why?

• It beats wrapping your head in duct tape.
• You can wear sequins without worrying about getting stuck to folks like Nancy Pelosi.
• You can wear pajamas…or less.
• Some of us from #TCOT (Top Conservatives on Twitter) will be there.
• You can rub “virtual elbows” with people like Saul Anuzis, Chip Saltzman, Amanda Carpenter, and others.
• It’s less calories than chocolate (my personal choice for relieving anxiety)
• You can engage in several tracks of discussion, such as 2012, Taking Back the Congress and more.
• You can turn these discussions into action.
• It’s a hangover-free event and even cheaper than Wild Turkey.
• No worry about how many porta-potties are present. 

See you online.

The “Right” Women in Politics

Written by Audrie Zettick on January 15, 2009

In case you didn’t catch my post on Smart Girl Politics, here it is again.  And it’s partly why I’ll be in their chat room tonight (1/15/09) at 10:00 p.m. EST to have some fun with like-minded folks.

I read with interest Michelle Malkin’s recent blog post on “Pelosi: We need more back-scratching Big Govt hacks in skirts like… It reminded me of how tough it is to be a female Republican.

When I ran for Congress (1990, PA-8), I had to put up with comments from both inside and outside the party. On the campaign trail, I had someone shout at me “why aren’t you home having babies” (that was from a democrat woman). I was interviewed for a news article in which I was asked how I’d handle family (I had no kids yet) if elected. Sigh. Instead of the clever retort of “do you ever ask the guys that question” I actually tried to answer. I noted that I’d deal with it, and bring kids to the Capitol if necessary. Then I received flack from some Republicans, who claimed “I’d be using taxpayer money for babysitters.” (Didn’t say the staff would be watching them).

My mom, Elaine Zettick, was the first woman elected County Commissioner in Bucks County, PA. She received flack for the structural changes she made to the Commissioners’ bathroom (the entrance from the back of the 3-commissioner area went only into the men’s room). She wanted to be able to use the shower there. She sometimes slept on her couch when events necessitated a late night stay up-county and she couldn’t make it home.

Even as a county commissioner, Mom sometimes had to sneak onto golf courses disguised as a man (registered as E. Zettick). Often, the only way to network with the “old boys” and big shots was on the golf course. (She’d beat them in the longest drive…proof that there is justice in the world).

Much has changed since the late 1970s and 1980s. But not everything.

As a Republican woman voter, I’d like to help elect more women. But more importantly, I vote for what is right for my country and state, not for gender politics.

One reason I’m involved in Smart Girl Politics is to help build a network of like minded women. Encourage them to be activists. Perhaps even run for office. Grow our “farm team.”

Then maybe my choices on election day could include the “right” woman.

From the Land of Politically Incorrect: Nixon Ciggies

Written by Audrie Zettick on January 15, 2009

My first foray into real campaigning was “manning” (womaning?) the phone banks for the Committee to Re-Elect the President (yes, for you young-uns, that’s CREEP) in 1972.  (I was, of course, but an infant.) 

While clearing out some old files of my mom’s (who was involved in managing the campaign for Bucks County, PA), I stumbled onto a myriad of cool things, from memos on GOTV (get out the vote), ad strategy, to old news clippings. 

Being a forward-thinking child, I had already stashed away ephemera and didn’t expect to find anything new.  But here’s my surprise: Nixon-branded cigarettes. 

Turns out Nixon wasn’t the first to give out cigarettes.  Eisenhower, Stevenson and others had used them (examples here).  And unlike with Obama, smoking or not smoking wasn’t seen as an issue.

Two things struck me as funny about Nixon ciggies. Nixon himself signed the 1970 legislation banning cigarette ads in the broadcast media.  And, if you look closely…..  

….the imprint says these are for the “descriminating voter.”  

I guess history has proven that some people involved in the Nixon campaign weren’t rocket scientists…or brain jockeys.  

Can you say that with a straight face?

Written by Audrie Zettick on January 14, 2009

At both the national and state levels, I find democrats making statements so outlandish it’s hard to believe they do it with a straight face. 

At the national level, the nomination of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary continues, despite his late payment of taxes (some uncovered during the vetting process for the nomination, some known earlier).  Now an effort to expedite the nomination process has moved forward resulting in a hearing scheduled for this Friday-with less than the 7 days notice required.  

• Max Baucus, Senate Finance Chair, is still supporting Geithner’s nomination.  Somehow this all fits the Obama mission of “change.”  Obama spokesperson  Robert Gibbs says Geithner is the “right person.” (Sounds like more of the same to me.)

At the state level, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell ignored his own hiring freeze-instituted because of a projected budget deficit of $1.6 billion —creating a new position for an ousted state representative.   Dan Surra will receive $95,000 in annual salary as an advisor for “Pennsylvania Wilds,” a tourism program.      Like many of his brethren, he lost re-election last year, likely due to support in 2005 for a 16-34% legislative pay raise. 

• Rendell’s press secretary said this was not a make work post for an out of work politician and that it’s a wise investment. He went on to say, “it would have been tragic to allow that much talent to disappear from public service.”   (Must do wonders for state government employee morale.)

All presumably said with a straight face. 

Taxes Aren’t So Taxing For Obama Treasury Secretary Nominee

Written by Audrie Zettick on January 13, 2009

Just got off the phone with my Dad, trying to plan when I was going to drive 2 hours back to the family business to do taxes.  You know, those pesky quarterly returns we do to file and sometimes make payment on various federal and state taxes.

Oh, and guess I need to do my own self-employment quarterly deposits.  I have to because I’m no different from you and countless other self-employed or small business owners. 

In between doing all that administrative work, I checked my twitter feed and found Michelle Malkin’s tweet on her blog post. 

Turns out, if I was part of the Obama administration, I could have waited to worry about those pesky taxes.

Timothy Geithner, Barack Obama’s choice for Treasury Secretary missed filing a whole buncha taxes from 2001 to 2004.  About $42,702 in total, of which $25,970 was paid shortly before being nominated in November, to be exact. 

Max Baucus (Chair of the Senate Finance Commitee) and President-Elect Obama aren’t concerned with the oversight.  It’s just “honest mistakes.”   And honest mistakes they’ve known about for weeks but did not make public.

So much for transparency.

The Obama Transition Team claimed Geithner is part of an economic team that has “the best minds in America.”

I’m all for forgiving “honest mistakes” on personal taxes.  But appointing someone who missed critical details time and time again is a different matter.   Maybe this is what they meant by “immediate relief” for America’s families (as stated in the Obama plan). 

Somehow I don’t think I’d feel “relief” but rather the wrath of the IRS if I did the same thing.

Of Filthy Juicy Profits, Pantyhose & Duct Tape: Cuban Policy

Written by Audrie Zettick on January 13, 2009

Fidel Castro has criticized legal and illegal taxis in Cuba for their “juicy profits.”  He was also once quoted as saying:

I find capitalism repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating… because it causes war, hypocrisy and competition.

Some filthy juicy profits may be coming to the rescue of Cuba’s ailing transportation system, as Raul Castro is allowing new taxi licenses to be issued and some taxi drivers to set their own rates.  One mother of a state engineer is quoted as wanting her son to consider giving up his day job to use their car as a taxi. 

Of course, their car is a 1950s Chevy.  (I wonder what all these Cubans would think of the Hershey Car Show each fall, with all those “vintage” cars spiffed up and for sale).

Yes, capitalism at work.  Of course, it’s far from ideal.  Cabs in more populated areas will be more highly regulated and price controlled.    

Even though it’s been ten years since the Cuban government approved new taxi licenses, it hasn’t stopped drivers from offering the service.  So with some of the government brakes off, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

When my hubby and I were in Ukraine (for an adoption trip) we primarily traveled by taxi.  Each morning we’d guess at what kind of vehicle would show up at the apartment.  Dented?  All windows working?  Any seat belts? Do we have duct tape and pantyhose in case we need to help with on-the-road repairs?  (click here for photos on various auto duct tape repairs and here for a video on replacing your fan belt with hose).

We were taking our lives in our hands–cars in less-than-ideal condition plus bad roads is not a good combo. One member of our independent adoption group was killed in a head-on collision during an evening drive the previous winter because her driver had no headlights.  

Strangely, along with my fear of riding in a cab was delight that these folks were making an independent living.   

President-elect Obama has suggested changes to U.S. policy toward Cuba.  I propose sending duct tape and pantyhose to Cuba to support these budding entrepreneurs. 

Capitalism built on duct tape.  Not a bad idea.  It can be as difficult to remove as an incumbent Congressman.