What is extreme? What is radical?

Ed Katz at American Thinker has an essay on Harry Reid (and others)  who label those whom they oppose as radical and extreme.  Several paragraphs into the essay he has this to say:

In our present political context, resting the definition of terms like "radical" and "extreme" on the specious designs of politicians like Reid and Schumer will prove extremely harmful to America. What Americans need, in other words, is a more astute and trustworthy standard of "extreme" and "radical" in order to make judgments about the Democrats' highly volatile rhetoric.

In order to determine what is and isn't "radical" in today's context, Americans need look no farther than the very precise standard outlined by America's most important Founding Father: James Madison. In other words, without Madison's political and philosophical genius, the world would never have known the existence of what history now calls "American exceptionalism." 

"Factious leaders," says Madison, will attempt to inflame the country with their "wicked projects" from time to time, but thanks to a healthy number of opposing factions, the radicals will have trouble pervading the entire Republic with their malignant ideas:

A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State.

Simply put, "a rage for paper money" (inflationary government spending, among other things), "an abolition of debts" (federal bailouts), and "an equal division of property" (federal redistribution programs masquerading as nationalized "health care") constitute the bread and butter of the modern Democrat Party platform.

Read the whole article here at American Thinker.

Links for a busy day and week

Shock Audio: Facing ‘Obligations’ From Leadership, Democrat Congresswoman Leaves Voicemail for Lobbyist Cash - from Big government- read it -A couple weeks ago, House Member Eleanor Holmes Norton made a fundraising call to a lobbyist. The lobbyist wasn’t available, so Holmes Norton left a voicemail.

This one is actually funny:   Democratic Party Steals Logo From the Pizza Place Where I Used to Work  - This is from Chris Good at the Atlantic, go have a laugh, you probably need one.

From The Hill's Blog Briefing room:  Reid: Coons, 'my pet,' will win  un.be.lieve.able!

Lobbyists Back Reid

This is from Politico:
K Street bets on Harry Reid
by John Bresnahan & Manu Raju

K Street has placed a big bet in the Nevada Senate race, putting a bundle of cash behind Harry Reid.

During just a few weeks, the Senate majority leader racked up $56,000 in individual contributions from registered lobbyists, according to an analysis of his latest campaign fundraising records, which cover the final days before the Nevada primary through the end of June.

Republican Sharron Angle’s haul: just $500 from a single lobbyist in Washington.

Read more here.

Harry Reid Is Not a Racist

Harry Reid is an idiot.
Harry Reid is a hypocrite.
Harry Reid is a liar.
Harry Reid is socialist and Marxist.
Harry Reid is an arrogant bully.
Harry Reid is a corrupt "everyone has their price" good ole boy.
Harry Reid is a poor leader.
Harry Reid is a poor speaker / communicator.
Harry Reid is disingenuous.

But Harry Reid is not a racist.

His comment was nothing more than the same sort conversation any marketing person would have when discussing communication to various audiences and the delivery vehicle for that message and that audience. It shows no real anger. It shows no real malice.

But it is in stark contrast to what he and other powerful Democratic leaders have said, have claimed -- that they never (ever) considered race as a factor on their side. It reveals them (and him) as liars. Hypocrites. It reveals the true political greed and "racial profiling" of their ilk. It shows shallow, insincere struggle for power based on winning, not how you play the game.

And yes, I believe there were plenty of conversations like that in both parties at all levels during the last presidential election. That's why my taste for Tea increases on a daily basis. It's not about us, the people. It's not about helping us, or representing what we want. It's about marketing, getting power, so they can do what they think is right, for us. And that is wrong.

We can Pray This Happens

via Lucianne.com the Las Vegas Review Journal has this article:

2010 SENATE CAMPAIGN: Polls show potential GOP challengers would beat Harry Reid Tarkanian claims early GOP lead
by BENJAMIN SPILLMAN

It's the highest stakes ever for a Nevada election, and former boxer Sen. Harry Reid is on the ropes early. Either Republican Danny Tarkanian or Sue Lowden would knock out Reid in a general election, according to a recent poll of Nevada voters.

The results suggest the Democratic Senate majority leader will have to punch hard and often in order to retain his position as the most accomplished politician in state history, in terms of job status.

Good news if it works our way. Go read the whole article