Contents
It has until lately been a received and uncontradicted opinion that the prosperity of the people of America depended on their continuing firmly united, and the wishes, prayers, and efforts of our best and wisest citizens have been constantly directed to that object. But politicians now appear, who insist that this opinion is erroneous, and that instead of looking for safety and happiness in union, we ought to seek it in a division of the States into distinct confederacies or sovereignties. However extraordinary this new doctrine may appear, it nevertheless has its advocates; and certain characters who were much opposed to it formerly, are at present of the number. Whatever may be the arguments or inducements which have wrought this change in the sentiments and declarations of these gentlemen, it certainly would not be wise in the people at large to adopt these new political tenets without being fully convinced that they are founded in truth and sound policy.
This is in case you missed it:
Townhall.com | FACT CHECK: Obama inflates hopes in spill recovery
OBAMA: “We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused and we will do whatever’s necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy. … Tomorrow, I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company’s recklessness. And this fund will not be controlled by BP. In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent, third party.”
THE FACTS: An independent arbiter is no more bound to the government’s wishes than an oil company’s. In that sense, there is no certainty BP will be forced to make the Gulf economy whole again or that taxpayers are completely off the hook for any of the myriad costs associated with the spill or cleanup. The government can certainly press for that, using legislative and legal tools. But there are no guarantees.
It took 20 years to sort through liability after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, and in the end, punitive damages were slashed by the courts to about $500 million from $2.5 billion. Many people who had lost their livelihoods in the spill died without seeing a check.
Ed Morrissey (HotAir.com) | Dems balking at spending demands from WH, leadership
The grumbling on a lack of messaging assistance comes from Democrats belatedly getting the message from their constituents. Free-spending Democrats have not only failed to keep their 2006 and 2008 promises of fiscal responsibility, they have also failed to adhere to their own Pay-Go law, signed by Barack Obama in February. The $50 billion bailout for the states will have to come from new borrowing, as will almost all of the pending big-ticket legislation on the floors of the House and Senate.
Instead of working with Capitol Hill leadership, the White House has begun dictating positions through press releases, and their colleagues don’t appreciate it. In fact, they wonder whether the White House has any idea what Congress has been doing all along. The $50 billion request includes the $23 billion bailout ostensibly aimed at teachers that Congress considered last month. The White House didn’t lift a finger to support it at that time, when Tom Harkin tried getting it approved in the Senate. Rather than provide leadership at that time, when it may have helped, Obama and his team decided to “drop a bulls*** letter” on a Saturday night.