Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you know I've been named by The Human Events Group as Conservative of the Year. Thank you all for the good work. Let's continue on with the good oversight and get Obama until he screams.
Well, it looks like Darrell Issa is racking up the awards in 2013.
Last August, I reported that Issa received the Climate Change Denier award by San Diego environmentalists:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Now it appears The Human Events Group which focuses on "Powerful Conservative Voices" (as if there ever was a real distinction between any of these "conservatives") has awarded Darrell Issa the Conservative of the Year Award for 2013. In 2012, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker received the award. Only question: What's the actual trophy? A bronze statuette holding a gold dollar bill with Ronald Reagan on it?
You know of course where this is heading:
http://www.humanevents.com/...
The rule of law is a matter of much concern lately, thanks to President Obama’s extraordinary use, and often flagrant abuse, of executive power. Congress held hearings on the subject in December, with some of the most damning testimony coming from leading liberal intellectuals. For the past five years, no one has worked more diligently to hold this Administration accountable than Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), who represents northern San Diego County, and chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Darrell Issa diligent eh Human Events? Or diligent in bringing campaign contributions to the GOP? Oh well in that case, Issa certainly has been diligent in holding the Obama administration accountable: For the GOP's own goals.
But what's this Human Events Group is saying the most damning testimony coming from leading liberal intellectuals? Um, okay. Whatever you say there HEG.
And more on Human Events Group's propaganda piece:
http://www.humanevents.com/...
It has been the Administration’s lack of candor – its extreme reluctance to make documents and witnesses available – that make these hearings so chaotic, frequently obliging Issa to remind House Democrats and the White House that his function is a duty of Congress, not a sideshow in Washington’s never-ending spin wars. In an Administration that often seems to be composed entirely of rogue low-level employees, Issa never stops asking where the orders really came from… and they always turn out to be emanating from a higher level than agency heads or the White House initially claimed.
The public would not know much about these scandals, or the disastrous rollout of ObamaCare, without Issa’s efforts. The reason we know that only six people signed up on ObamaCare’s first day is that House Oversight came into possession of internal Administration notes. Most of the details about the botched design of the Healthcare.gov website, and the so-called “tech surge” intended to fix it, have emerged from Oversight committee hearings and document requests. Issa and his colleagues are the only people in government who seem interested in scrutinizing the hugely expensive “navigator” program of ObamaCare consumer assistants. And while the Administration touts the radical expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act as a huge success, the House Oversight Committee conducted an investigation into the New York program – the largest in the country – that led to a $1.2 billion crackdown on overpayments by the Department of Heath and Human Services.
We all know very well that the reason why the Obama administration has been reluctant to make documents available to Darrell Issa is because he is doing a witch hunt and no effective oversight whatsoever.
And in case Human Events Group didn't read what a former IRS operative had mentioned about Issa's antics in investigating the so-called "controversy" last year in Forbes (and they probably don't care to), here's some free insight for them on what Issa's "oversight" has produced from once-long time IRS employee Robert McKenzie:
http://www.forbes.com/...
Since that time he has conducted a series of hearings in a witch hunt against the IRS and its employees the likes of which have not been seen since Senator Joe McCarthy ran the Senate Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s. He has selectively released portions of transcripts that support his narrative of an alleged scandal and cover-up without releasing the portions that rebut that flawed theory. He has ignored facts that show that the IRS Tax Exempt unit also performed intensive reviews of liberal groups applying for tax exempt status. In fact, of the 200 groups receiving special scrutiny, only one group–a liberal group–was denied tax exempt status.
The fact that liberal groups were also subject to scrutiny has been ignored by Chairman Issa. He has continually alleged White House involvement but brought forth no evidence to support his wild speculation. He has alleged that an innocent visit to the White House by Bill Wilkins, IRS Chief Counsel with at least 10 other individuals for a photo opportunity with the President in April 2012, had a more sinister purpose of plotting an attack on tea party groups.
And more:
http://www.forbes.com/...
One must also look to the damage done to the morale of the IRS employees. The IRS is a model of diversity, with employees from all ethnic groups and political views. Most do their jobs in a businesslike and efficient manner. Each of them now bears the burden of being perceived as politically motivated in each of their enforcement decisions. As Chairman Issa systematically eviscerates IRS leadership, that leadership is now cowering in fear and not leading the agency through the current crisis. Who can blame them? Many have been forced to resign and new allegations are thrown at them each day by Congressmen who are acting like villagers with pitch forks in a horror movie.
But I guess Human Events Group (a funny name for a "conservative" online publication) doesn't care. And why should they? All they are doing is basically cheer leading Darrell Issa and his minions and offering absolutely ZERO insight that we didn't already hear verbatim from the Fox News Channel.
In response, Darrell Issa issued his acceptance speech statement for the Conservative of the Year award:
http://www.humanevents.com/...
“I am deeply honored that Human Events, the favorite newspaper of Ronald Reagan, has chosen me as 2013’s Conservative of the Year. As Chairman of the Committee for Oversight and Government Reform, I have endeavored to defend the American people’s right to know how their tax dollars are being spent. Increased transparency leads to increased accountability. Abuses occur under every Administration, but today with a sweeping new health care law, an IRS that got caught abusing its authority, and abuses of powerful technology to eavesdrop on American citizens, government is playing a more intrusive role in our lives than ever before. I view this award as recognizing the importance of oversight, a fundamental responsibility of Congress that has a been a greater point emphasis over the last year than any other point in my 13 years of public service.
“This year, the Oversight Committee focused on the many problems with ObamaCare and HealthCare.gov, the IRS’s inappropriate targeting of conservative groups, excessive government conference spending, ending billions in waste in federal IT procurement, stopping Medicaid fraud in New York and finding answers about the events surrounding the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, among many other issues. We have also advanced bipartisan legislation to improve transparency and spending, the DATA Act, which creates an online database so Americans can see just where their tax dollars are going, and pushed for postal reforms that would save taxpayers billions.”
And confirmed this on Twitter:
Along with Issa's fans:
And then there's Doug Rink of Talk South Radio issuing his response:
If you're tired of Darrell Issa and want more information on his Democratic challenger, Dave Peiser, and voter registration statistics numbers of CA-49, links are below:
Dave Peiser for Congress: http://www.peiserforcongress.com/
Donate:
ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/...
Nationbuilder: https://peiserforcongress.nationbuilder.com/...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/...
Dave Peiser on the Issues: http://www.peiserforcongress.com/...
Contact Information: http://www.peiserforcongress.com/...
Here's the voter registration as of February 2013 by the actual CA-49 Congressional District, which combines parts of San Diego and Orange County. Note the number of Decline-to-State/Independents:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/...
Orange County:
Democrats: 22,239
Republicans: 44,833
Decline-to-State/Independent: 19,077
San Diego County:
Democrats: 84,282
Republicans: 107,221
Decline-to-State/Independent: 70,938
Total:
Democrats: 106,521
Republicans: 152,054
Decline-to-State/Independent: 90,015
Here's the recent polling per PPP showing Darrell Issa vulnerable thanks to the government shutdown:
http://s3.moveon.org/...
Disapproval: 49%
Approval: 43%
If you live in or near California's 49th Congressional District and want a reason to start voter registration drives or take part in them, note that San Diego County Democratic Party has a calendar that keeps track of all activity going on, whether local Democratic club meetings or voter registration drive events:
http://www.sddemocrats.org/...
Start firing up the base in CA-49!