A Burr-is In the Dem’s Side

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 20, 2009

When The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune call for a Democrat’s resignation, one can just picture the snow falling in hell. The gift that keeps on giving – Roland Burris and Illinois politics are embroiled in the continuing saga of “can anyone tell the truth in Honest Abe’s Land of Lincoln?”

Whether or not Burris perjured himself regarding his connection to former Illinois governor “Lightening” Rod Blagojevich and fundraising issues is becoming both murkier by the day and irrelevant as more and more supporters are calling for his resignation for the betterment of the people of Illinois. Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat, called for Burris’ resignation on Friday, February 20. Two days prior, nearly three dozen ministers and pastors from black churches who have supported Burris, have also called for him to step aside, demonstrating their lack of faith in the senator.

Judge Andrew Napolitano of the Fox News Channel indicated that Burris, could escape perjury charges, but still lose his law license for providing “misleading” testimony. Sadly such behavior would not cost Burris his Senate seat, but he has still demonstrated a diminution of honesty and integrity in the eyes of non-supporters and supporters alike. That would be strong circumstance for Burris to resign his seat and allow the people of Illinois to have their faith restored in a more forthright representative.

This situation is yet another reason to call for the amendment of the United States Constitution’s 17^th Amendment which, while allowing for the direct election of federal senators, grants the governor the right to appoint a senate replacement upon a vacancy. As has been demonstrated in recent weeks, this process leaves quite a bit to be desired when witnessing the activities in Illinois, New York, Delaware and what might have been in New Hampshire. For more information on that subject, read my February 4 column entitled “Special Elections Should Trump Special Exceptions” at http://sanfordhorn.blogtownhall.com/. Such special elections would avoid the stench of impropriety and potential quid pro quo.

Although Burris continues to maintain his innocence, in the best interest of the citizens of Illinois he should resign.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Rush to Bad Judgment

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 16, 2009

Congress and Barack Obama have mastered hurry up and wait to an art form; but it’s an art form that should rankle the American people to their core.

Obama wasted taxpayer dollars giving campaign-esque speeches in Elkhart, IN, East Peoria, IL and Fort Myers, FL demanding that Congress pass the so-called stimulus package as quickly as possible to meet his self-imposed deadline. The rush was no doubt to avoid having the details reach the light of day as the American people would wretch in horror if they knew how their hard-earned money was being given away, thus mortgaging their grandchildren’s futures.

The rush was such that not one member of either house of Congress could legitimately claim they actually read the 1000-plus page bill cover to cover. Any member who makes such a claim is a liar and should be removed from their cushy-tushy position for perjury. At a rate of roughly 650 words per minute, it would take 12 continuous hours to pour through the monstrosity, according to Mike Huckabee.

That a vote was taken on such a behemoth of a piece of legislation is irresponsible at the very least and perhaps even criminal. Every member who voted for this albatross should be recalled on the grounds of misconduct, misappropriation of taxpayer funds and irresponsibility. How can anyone in good conscience vote for something they have not read. Who’s to say some Congressional aide didn’t slip some language into the bill declaring war on Canada or giving voting rights to birds?

Shrieker of the House Nancy Pelosi and seven of her Democratic colleagues were in a rush to leave on their so-called working junket to Italy. Not flying a commercial airplane, the eight Democrats could have delayed their taxpayer funded flight at least a couple of days in order to actually do their jobs and read the bill prior to voting for it instead of automatically knee-jerk liberally voting blindly on the largest spending bill in the nation’s history. More irresponsibility.

And on top of all the insanity, after the rush job by Congress to get the crap package to Obama’s desk, there it sits until Tuesday, February 17 at the earliest when he will probably sign it – in Denver, using more taxpayer money. That is the epitome of irresponsibility – especially when Congress could have taken three or four more days to read the document that will irrevocably alter the economics of the United States.

Adding insult to injury, literally, were the unbelievably arrogant remarks made on the Senate floor by Charles (Chucky Schmucky) Schumer (D-NY). “And let me say this to all of the chattering class that so much focuses on those little, tiny, yes, porky amendments, the American people really don’t care.

Apparently more than 1,500 people cared, and cared enough send bags of pork rinds to Schumer’s office at the behest of Leland Conway of 630-WLAP radio in Lexington, KY. Kudos to his listeners! We the aggravated and insulted should continue this effort. Schumer’s DC office address is 313 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. The telephone number to his office is 202-224-6542. Send pork rinds, call and express your anger and displeasure in Schumer, but be polite and take the high road. Messages must be sent and efforts to defeat these scoundrels must occur in earnest.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Obama, La Hood-winked, Caterpillar and Canoodling

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 12, 2009

The oft used phrase politics makes strange bedfellows could not be more apt when examining the relationship between two Illinois politicos Barack Obama and Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood. Of all places for Obama to visit in the latest stop along his “I’ve got to shove the stimulus package down America’s throats” tour was the East Peoria plant of Caterpillar.

Obama had scheduled stops in Illinois for the same day, February 12, to commemorate the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. I don’t think Honest Abe would have looked too kindly upon Obama or La Hood. But of all places Obama could have visited, why Caterpillar?

Well, the over 80-year-old company that manufactures construction and mining equipment had planned to lay off roughly 22,000 workers according to forbes.com. Yet, one day prior, while speaking in Springfield, VA, Obama referenced Caterpillar in conjunction with upcoming construction projects and how the company would be able to rehire many of the unemployed. Obama reiterated the same thought while at Caterpillar noting that “Jim” could rehire workers upon passage of the stimulus bill.

At that point people’s crap detectors should have been working overtime. Jim, who Obama mentioned while at Caterpillar, is the beleaguered company’s CEO James W. Owens, who said there would be more layoffs before they start hiring again, also according to forbes.com.

So back to why Caterpillar for Obama’s visit. This is where La Hood comes in. La Hood is the former Republican Congressman who represented the district that includes Caterpillar’s corporate headquarters in Peoria prior to serving in Obama’s cabinet. Perhaps Caterpillar wouldn’t be in the financial straits it is currently experiencing if it hadn’t decided that a museum to itself was at the top of its “to do” list.

As I wrote on January 17 the Lakeview Museum in Peoria became possible partly due to a $330,000 earmark of La Hood’s and also due to Caterpillar’s own largesse. Oh, by the way, Caterpillar was La Hood’s biggest campaign donor. This earmark was merely the tip of the La Hood-wink pork-laden iceberg.

In 2008 alone La Hood sent up legislation calling for $60 million in earmarks, ranking him in the top 10 percent of all Congressional porkers. This was partly made possible by sitting on the highly coveted Appropriations Committee and allowed La Hood-wink to funnel larded-up legislation toward some of his more generous political donors.

And while the record is being set straight, Obama’s got a lot of ‘splainin’ to do regarding his own mathematics. During his speech-conference on Monday night February 9, Obama said his stimulus albatross would create or save four million jobs, yet two days later in Springfield, VA, at 11:18 a.m., he said his crap package would create or save three million jobs. Seems reminiscent of his campaign when each day the bar on the amount of income to be tax-increased kept dropping. Perhaps he just “misremembered.”

Additionally, Obama should be ashamed of himself for attempting to publicly embarrass freshman Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) and shanghai his vote on the stimulus monstrosity. This Obama did during his speech at Caterpillar, which is located in the heart of the 18^th District once represented by La Hood, and now Schock. This is just the kind of arm-twisting that would make Rahm Emanuel proud.

Making matters worse is that this so-called stimulus package is due to be voted upon Friday, February 13, which violates Obama’s own campaign pledge of five days of sunshine prior to signing. The sunshine refers to the opportunity for the bill to be examined by the public in Obama’s so-called era of transparency.

As of 10:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 12 Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) still had not received the bill, nor had his fellow legislators, he said, while being interviewed by Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. Graham further said, “I’m embarrassed to be in a Congress that would pass this spend-fest.” Graham was then critical of the $400 million returned to the package to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and the $1 billion to NASA, calling it a “national disgrace,” and that this is not a bill to create “jobs, but to help senators get reelected.”

If the senator thinks his hands are tied, imagine how the American people must feel. This is the kind of powerlessness of which revolutions are born.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Master of His Domain, But Little Else

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 9, 2009

In his first prime time press conference Barack Obama was certainly master of his domain – holding court in a campaign-like speech interrupted by the occasional question.

Obama’s goal, clearly, was to remind the American people who won in November and who’s in charge today with his continued fear mongering imploring Congress to hurry up and pass the albatross of our grandchildren’s future – the so-called stimulus package. In that, he succeeded, however, the so-called stimulus package that he optioned out to Nancy Pelosi, Harry “I can smell the tourists” Reid and their merry band of liberals is still the same spending orgy.

Obama, creeping ever closer to socialism, said that only government can solve this crisis, yet in the same breath claimed that 90 percent of the jobs to be created are in private sector, with, of course, no explanation as to how. Flashback to earlier in the same day, Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) pointed out that while small business creates 80 percent of the jobs in this country, only 3/10 of one percent of the so-called stimulus package is actually dedicated to small business.

More proof of the government boondoggle was presented by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) during the same afternoon. Inhofe noted, that of the roughly $1.2 trillion package, including interest – yes, the money is being borrowed, as the government ‘s cupboards are bare – a mere seven percent is actual stimulant and only $27 billion is being driven toward highway construction.

Yet, with enough pork to frighten all of Mecca, Obama had the audacity to say there wasn’t a single earmark in the so-called stimulus package. Inhofe pointed to trail improvements and federal building upgrades as examples of government excess spending that has no place in a real stimulus package. Just because no specific legislator’s name is attached to the various pork projects doesn’t mean their prints haven’t been found on the pen. Then Obama added that “I would love not to have to spend money right now.” This package was his idea.

Some of the money Obama wishes he did not have to spend is being designated for electric golf carts, decried Senator John Ensign (R-NV) on the Senate floor in a plea to “start over and get this right.”

Kyl, in his continued objections to the package indicated that it is a waste to spend $300 billion on government automobiles and another billion for Amtrak. Now that Joe Biden lives in the vice president’s residence, who else rides the beleaguered transportation system? “We are not being wise in the way we are spending this money,” said Kyl.

But to Obama, it’s all about control as he edges the nation closer to socialism. His blanket criticism during his press conference of the use of “corporate jets when it’s not necessary” is yet another example. Admittedly it is not the most prudent action for a financially strapped corporation to take, but if the company is not in Washington with its hand out, it is free to make whatever decision it chooses. However, don’t come begging for a bailout when stupidity catches up to you. Free markets depend upon the people, not the government, causing the success or failure of corporate America. When government crosses that line and has a hand in the corporate world, that is one step closer toward socialism.

Obama also reiterated his mantra of “step number one” being the creation or saving of four million jobs. Economists, conservative and liberal alike determined that the cost of such job creating has a price tag of approximately $300,000 per. That’s outrageous. And how exactly does the government plan to save jobs? That’s a question that has neither been asked by the fawning sycophants in the so-called media nor explained by Obama.

Obama also added that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” during his press conference. Not surprisingly nobody had the temerity to ask what it is called when people who do not pay taxes are given a so-called tax rebate. Sure sounds like a free lunch.

But the topper of the press conference is a tie between that doddering fossil Helen Thomas referring to the “so-called terrorists” and Obama actually taking a question from the Huffington Post and granting that outlet legitimacy.

While the Obama halo has yet to tarnish in the eyes of the so-called mainstream media, the popularity of this reckless spending travesty continues to wane with each additional light shed upon its absurd recommendations.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt." – Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Kercheval, 12 July 1816

RINO Virus Striking the Senate

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 8, 2009

With the potential, even likely, defections of Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (RINO-ME) along with Arlen Specter (RINO-PA), Barack Obama’s scare tactics may succeed in garnering enough so-called Republican votes in order to secure passage of the heinous alleged stimulus proposal.

No Republican in his or her right mind should support such a pork-laden insult to the American people. Quite frankly, the Democrats should also be ashamed for supporting such an excuse for political posturing, but this is typical. Note recent comments made by Dick Durbin (D-IL) when he accused the GOP of not playing ball or being team players and for depriving poor children of the necessities of life that this bill would supposedly provide. Does anyone recall Durbin being a team player during the Bush administration?

And then there’s Obama himself taking to the bully pulpit on an almost daily basis reminding the American people that “a failure to act, and act now, will turn [this] crisis into a catastrophe,” something he said on February 4. Adding to his own audacity, Obama also suggested that to even have this debate is both “inexcusable and irresponsible.” What is irresponsible is a government that bails out the banking industry and has no idea what happened to more than $80 billion. What is also irresponsible is the role the RINOs are playing as enablers.

Well, to paraphrase Franklin Roosevelt, a man with whom Obama has been oft compared, the only thing we have to fear, is Obama’s fear mongering. His doom and gloomism is frighteningly reminiscent of the Carter years. With each passing day of debate and discovery of the actual components of this revolting pack of sewage, there is less and less support for the so-called stimulus package by the American populous themselves. As more and more pork projects are unearthed and made public it is the public that is becoming more and more outraged. Outrage over projects like redecorating the Commerce Department building, water slides, and planting grass seed around the Jefferson Memorial for example. Telephone calls have flooded senate offices in Washington, DC as well as locally across the country by concerned citizens not wanting their great-grandchildren to be the unfortunate recipients of the bills for this institutional largesse.

As we approach the bicentennial of the birth of a great leader, Abraham Lincoln, it is another Lincoln that deserves praise. Senator Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat, yes, a Democrat, said on February 7 during an impassioned speech from the Senate floor that “we have to be patient… We have to deal with this crisis and put ourselves back on track. We can do it with timely and temporary measures.”

These measures ought to be temporary, not a permanent, perpetual boondoggle of priming the pump that will lead to almost certain permanent and perpetual dependence upon government instead of personal and corporate responsibility. This kind of behavior will ultimately manifest itself until the United States no longer is a free market economy, but one where the government runs every aspect of our lives; and judging by how they have done thus far, that is something to truly fear.

What people should not be afraid of, is failure. Thomas Edison failed hundreds of times before he achieved success. When business fails, there are reasons – poor management, poor product design, poor salesmanship – whatever the reasons, go back to the drawing board – that’s the purpose of the research and development teams. Government did not bail out the makers of the Nash, Packer or Oldsmobile – my first car, by the way. No, they went the way of the flashbulb, typewriter and dinosaur.

The problem with this bill potentially failing is that the government doesn’t have brains enough to go back to the drawing board. Instead, the party in power, the Democrats, attempts to cajole the leading team of RINOS – Collins, Snowe and Specter to stray from the rest of their pack. The Dems almost nabbed Senators George Voinovich of Ohio and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – but not this time.

The CEOs and CFOs harping over the possibility of a “mere” $500,000 salary should be thankful they have jobs. Quite frankly, any company going to the government with hands out should relieve the CEO/CFO and the entire board of directors from duty. Clearly they have not managed their ship safely to shore. Stockholders ought to determine the salaries of those who will run the companies, after all the stockholders are the real owners of the companies. Offer a reasonable salary with bonus options relative to the success or lack of same. Salesmen work on commission, why not corporate bigwigs. If they don’t like that plan, go back to work, roll up your sleeves and don’t come to Washington hat in hand.

Democrat Congressman Gene Taylor of Mississippi, who wisely voted against the House bill said, “The nation borrowed $800 billion between the Revolutionary War through Gerald Ford’s presidency. In one vote, the nation is going to borrow another $800 billion. This is nuts.”

What Democrats like Taylor and Republicans ought to be doing is trying to convince those who wish to shove this bill down the throats of the American people how wrong it is and scrap it. Trying to nickel and dime it down is akin to the old, but applicable, adage of the bandage on the bullet hole. Have the patience implored by Blanche Lincoln and invest the taxpayers money prudently and penuriously, if at all. What’s needed are more senators like Dr. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and South Carolina’s Jim De Mint – they are the cream of the Republican crop.

Lincoln also reminded her colleagues something that all elected officials should remember – “It is our responsibility, it is our duty, and it should be our honor to come together and work these problems out.” Responsibility, duty and honor. Elected officials best remember who put them in their positions in the first place. And the voters would do well to remember how those elected officials voted to spend the taxpayers’ money. For those who don’t approve, and the mounting objections speak volumes, the vote cast in November 2010 will speak louder yet when those elected officials are fired. We hired you and we can damn well fire you.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Special Elections Should Trump Special Exceptions

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 4, 2009

Hold the presses – I found something on which I agree with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). Following the Rod Blagojevich impeachment/Roland Burris appointment soap opera and the seemingly endless will she be or won’t she be appointed surrounding Caroline Kennedy, Feingold had enough, and he is not the only one.

We, among others, are against this concept of place-holders taking seats in the United States Senate. This is not some gentrified body akin to the British House of Lords with seats passed down through the generations. In this country members of the Senate are elected – and elected directly by the people – so sayest the 17^th Amendment of the Constitution, which was ratified April 8, 1913.

The one caveat to the direct election portion of the 17^th Amendment is in the case of a vacancy, which is then filled by an appointment made by the governor. This is the place where smoke-filled, back-room deals are forged – assuming there are still places for people to legally smoke.

Since the ascendancy to the White House by Barack Obama, himself a former member of the world’s most exclusive club, the Senate has been raided. Former Senator Joe Biden of Delaware no longer needs the services of Amtrak as the vice president has a DC residence. Former New York Senator Hillary Clinton is now Secretary of State, former Senator Ken Salazar heads up the Interior Department and New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg is on the cusp of becoming the Commerce Secretary. That’s five senators who have already moved or will move on.

Feingold has called for, and rightfully so, ending the system of filling Senate vacancies via gubernatorial appointment. Instead, holding special elections is the answer. This avoids any of the stench of impropriety that dragged the Land of Lincoln through the mud and in the year of his bicentennial, no less. This avoids the speculation as to whether or not a seemingly pre-ordained nominee would actually be nominated. This avoids the concept of the place-holder – a person appointed to fill the vacancy under the prearranged agreement that the new senator would not seek election in his or her own right because that seat “belongs” to a particular other person.

Nonsense. The seat belongs to the people of the given state and should be up to them to determine who is privileged enough to sit in that seat for six years – or longer should the people say so. If the 17^th Amendment granted the people the authority to directly elect its senators, that law should be consistent and grant the people the same authority when a vacancy occurs.

Throw it open to any qualified citizen of the state. There are but three qualifications to serve in the United State Senate: to have reached the age of 30 by the time of the swearing in, to have been a citizen of the United States for nine years and to be a resident of the state from which he or she has been elected. Nowhere in the Constitution are there any codicils granting anyone’s children a right to a vacated seat or that the new senator should be of the same political party as the former senator or any other quirky designation or stipulation regarding the filling of said vacancy. All of this can be avoided by amending the 17^th Amendment, which based upon past history, see the 18^th and 21^st amendments, would require an entirely new amendment to the Constitution.

Does Beau Biden have a right to the senate seat long held by his father, now the vice president? Based upon the above criteria, he does – provided he earns his party’s nomination and wins a general election that November. But to have Ted Kaufman appointed to “hold” the seat for the younger Biden knowing Kaufman won’t seek the seat in an election is absurd and quite frankly smacks of un-Americanism.

What right does Judd Gregg have in suggesting to New Hampshire Governor John Lynch that he will only accept the Commerce Secretary nomination if another Republican is appointed in his place? None. Lynch, a Democrat has the legal right to appoint any qualified citizen of New Hampshire based upon the above criteria. By appointing Republican Bonnie Newman to fill out Gregg’s unexpired term only to have her not seek election in her own right creates an open seat in 2010 and gives the advantage to the Democrats. After all, from south of Maine through Virginia there would be but one Republican senator on the east coast – Newman. Should Al Franken manage to steal the Minnesota senate seat, currently undergoing a recount, the Democrats are but one seat shy of a veto-proof body.

If this is a nation that believes in the people’s right to elect its leaders, let’s ensure their right to do so by allowing for special elections to fill vacancies.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Phelps’ Faux Pot

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 3, 2009

From the pool to pot Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps should probably sign on to endorse potato chips or ding dongs. His recent activities may finally explain his 8,000-plus caloric intake on a daily basis.

It’s a joke, sort of, but it’s really not funny. What is truly not funny is the lack of outcry from the companies with which Phelps has an association. Hopefully the companies for which Phelps shills had enough brains to require him to sign a contract that included a morals clause, and if so, it should be enforced.

At age 23, and if Dara Torres is any example, Phelps could very well compete in four more Olympiad. Whether he wants to be or not, he is a role model and as one has a social responsibility to be mindful of the fact that numerous eyes are always going to be on him. This in no way excludes Phelps from having a life, but breaking the law is another story. His recent marijuana smoking escapade in South Carolina could cost him up to $570 and up to 30 days in the gray-bar hotel – a penalty that should be fully enforced to the maximum. And if it costs him some endorsements, hopefully that will fall under the category of lesson learned.

I have nothing against Michael Phelps; I have never met the young man and I did in fact enjoy watching him break record after record this past summer in Beijing. That said, he should not get a pass because he is a celebrity. In fact, it is because of his celebrity that Phelps should suffer the most severe of penalties. Yes, there is a double standard – admittedly so. That may not be right, but it is a fact. As a role model who has many admirers, Phelps has a responsibility to carry himself in such a dignified manner to set a positive example to those who do look up to him. Young people should not get the idea that if an Olympic hero can smoke dope that they can as well. It’s called dope for a reason.

Former NBA star Charles Barkley has repeatedly said both during and after his playing days that he does not want to be anyone’s role model – that the role models should be parents and teachers. Well, in theory Barkley is absolutely right, but unfortunately, nobody is plunking down $100 to watch me teach an American History class. So, as long as people’s priorities are backwards, those gifted few who have athletic, cinematic, theatric and musical talent should remember their social and moral obligations while they are reaping their great rewards from those who watch their every move and hang on their every word. Fame and adulation are short and fleeting. They should be treasured and treated as a gift from G-d. Those who have those gifts should not be ingrates.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Daschle Dashed, and Rightfully So

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 3, 2009

Former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle, the designee to serve in the cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services has withdrawn his name from consideration for the post even before the entire Senate could take up the confirmation vote.

Clearly, Daschle made the right move, falling on his sword for two reasons. The most publicized reason was his failure to pay more that $120,000 in back taxes. This was due in part to the former majority leader’s claim of ignorance that his driver and car service were considered income. Why the former senator continued to use such a service after leaving office is a dome-scratcher, especially in the so-called era of conservation.

But the other less discussed reason has to be the fact that Daschle’s wife is a lobbyist in the same industry, thus creating a certain conflict of interest. This is just another example of the new administration not doing their homework and hoping the good-old-boy network – the Senate – the most exclusive club in the world, would give their former colleague a pass. After all, the Senate confirmed Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary without breaking a sweat by a large margin, and he will be running the IRS after having tax payment issues. Geithner also had a woman in his employ whose legal immigrant status expired under his watch.

No doubt Daschle saw the writing on the wall when the New York Slimes came out against his being confirmed. Apparently they so-called paper of record is attempting to pull itself up from birdcage fodder, but don’t hold your breath. Now the Senate can go back to work and hopefully tear apart the so-called stimulus package being shoved down America’s throats.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Steele Will Have the Mettle to Lead the RNC

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 30, 2009

After five ballots, I am pleased to announce that my friend and former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Michael Steele won election to become chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Not that Michael would make an issue of this, but he becomes the first black chairman of the RNC and brings enthusiasm and a popularity that will help grow the party as well as help lead the GOP back to victory starting with support of gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey this year, followed by retaking the House of Representatives in 2010. The GOP can retake the House when it nominates real Republican candidates who stand for fiscal conservatism and responsibility instead of handouts, bailouts and surrendering to the whims and slothful behavior of a Democratic Party who believe in womb to tomb Socialistic policies tethering a soon to be once free people to the puppet strings of government.

It is my hope as a Jewish Republican to see the tent of the GOP expand to include the fiscally and socially conservative Jews, blacks and Hispanics. These are constituencies that should have a natural affinity toward the Republican Party because of the desire to educate their children, believe in the family values of attending synagogue or church, working hard to provide for their families, support a strong military to defend this great nation, and a belief in personal responsibility, freedom and liberty.

I congratulate Michael Steele on becoming the new chairman of the RNC – to lead the party of Abraham Lincoln, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

“The stimulus package being discussed is politically smart and economically stupid.” – Economist, Walter E. Williams

A Little More Hoover, A Lot Less FDR

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 28, 2009

Don’t fix the stimulus package, as some are clamoring for. Instead flush the damn thing down the crapper, because if it is passed, the nation will surely follow. While the House of Representatives voted “aye” on January 28 by a margin of 244-188, the Senate still has to take its turn at bat. Kudos to the entire roster of Republicans and the 11 Democrats smart enough to comprehend what a boondoggle this $825 billion piece of detritus is.

I seem to recall Proverbs reminding us that “haste maketh waste.” This latest rush to judgment has a typical government mantra of hurry up and wait as roughly seven percent of the so-called stimulus package will actually see the light of day before 2009 crosses the finish line. The hardcore spending on alleged economic stimulus won’t see the light of day until 2010 or even 2011.

Under Section 1 of H.R. 1 the Short Title is the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.” This 647-page document is more pork-laden than a county fair in Iowa. The oversight costs alone are egregious. The “Government Accountability Office – Salaries and expenses $25,000,000 for oversight activities relating to this Act.” (P. 11) That’s the tip of a massive iceberg, demonstrating that Al Gore hasn’t clue one about global warming, by the way. Every category and every department involved has a similar price tag for salaries and expenses – just another boondoggle to pad the cost of government paying itself to oversee itself handing out money.

The first question anyone with a pulse must ask regarding the billions in salaries is, aren’t all the people working on these projects and programs already drawing a salary being gainfully employed by the government in the fist place? If not, then the unemployment crisis is single-handedly solved with this one stimulus package. Since that clearly is not the case, why does this so-called stimulus package list salaries as part of the expenditures to the tune of billions of dollars? If you are scratching your dome wondering the same things, pick up the telephone and call the House switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office of your member of Congress.

Here’s just a slice of the myriad ridiculous spending orgy:

Under the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Operations, Research and Facilities: “$400,000,000, for habitat restoration and mitigation activities.” (P. 52) Whose habitat? Certainly not people, as housing concerns are in another section.

Same administration: Procurement, Acquisition and Construction: “$600,000,000, for accelerating satellite development and acquisition, acquiring climate sensors and climate modeling capacity, and establishing climate data records.” (P. 52) If we don’t already have this, why do we suddenly need it? And how exactly is this stimulating the economy?

Under the category of Energy and Water: “For an additional amount for ‘Regulatory Program’, [sic] $25,000,00.” (P. 61) First of all, the comma belongs inside the quotation mark a consistent error throughout the document, and more importantly, there is no explanation as to what this “Regulatory Program” is or for what the money is to be used. Again, how does this stimulate the economy?

The Department of Energy: Fossil Energy: calls for $2.4 BILLION “for necessary expenses to demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration technologies.” That’s a hell of a lot of money for a “demonstration.” This will no doubt turn into an indictment against the automobile industry, which we are already bailing out to the tune of billions of dollars. Another fine example of robbing Peter to pay Paul. But since this is government related, I shouldn’t use such a phrase because the ever-so-touchy separation of church and state people might get offended.

Here’s a dandy from “Title VI – Financial Services and General Government: Subtitle A – General Services: Energy Efficient Federal Motor Vehicle Fleet Procurement,” the government will spend $600 million for the “acquisition of motor vehicles, including plug-in and alternative fuel vehicles.” (P. 76) Let’s try and wrap our brains around this one. The government, after bailing out the automobile industry for billions of dollars, is now going to spend another $600 million of taxpayer dollars on vehicles for, um, itself? We, the taxpayers are shelling out so the government can replace government vehicles.

Billions of dollars are listed as expenditures where no explanation is provided. The powers that be, and in this case, the Congressional Democrats, are counting on the American people either not reading this document or not caring about what is in it because we are beginning to trundle down the path of the nanny state. Once the American people have fallen hook, line and sinker for alleged stimulus packages it will be too late to turn back. The cat is crawling out of the bag and she is a socialist.

Explain how giving the Smithsonian Institution $150 million for “facilities capital” will stimulate the economy. (P. 121) Taxpayers already pay for the care and feeding of the Smithsonian via tax dollars and the benefit derived there is the free of charge admissions to visit these great museums. I suggest that any non-citizen be required to pay an admissions fee. Want to see Archie Bunker’s chair? Pony up a few bucks. I’m sure whatever country you come from owes the United States a war debt or two.

Then there’s another $50 million granted to the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts for the purpose of funding “art projects and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit art sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn.” (P. 122)

In other words the government will fund the arts because the private sector can’t any longer? Well, if the SEC could manage to do its job and prevent Bernie Madoff from his $50 billion Ponzi scheme, the arts wouldn’t have to suffer. So, because of government incompetence in the first place – the inability of the SEC to catch a thief, (hmm, a clever name for a TV show) the government is bailing out the arts community. Wow, government logic is like no other – thank goodness for that.

Keep the government out of the arts. If an artist is successful, then he or she can make a living at it. If an artist is unsuccessful, either keep trying or find another career, but don’t ask me to shell out for your lifestyle. Find a sponsor the way artists did in Europe. Musicians did the same thing – they found sponsors or patrons to pay for them to do their creative works. If nobody visits a particular museum why should the government use tax dollars to keep it afloat.

Sadly, I am not being paid to write this column. I send it to various places in hopes of having it published and having enough readers want to read my work that someone will pay me to provide the kind of written works that will draw an increasing number of readers to a publication for it to be cost effective. Based upon the logic of the government giving grants to the NEA, they should be showing some love to SDH as well.

If the Obama administration is hell-bent on stimulating the economy of the United States, stop sending money overseas. Not letting the Bush tax cuts expire will help stimulate the economy. Permanently eliminating the death tax would stimulate the economy. Cutting taxes across the board will stimulate the economy because when people have more money in their pockets, they spend it. We, unfortunately, have proven as a nation that we are spenders and not savers.

When people are out of work, they spend less. Cutting taxes puts money in people’s hands. That money is spent on products and services – products and services that require employees to produce. These are employees that are hired by businesses small and large who in turn pay taxes – tax dollars that feed the kitty of the giant porker in Washington, DC.

Having cherry-picked some of the more egregious items and having only reached page 122 for the purposes of this column, just under 19 percent of the 647 page monstrosity, I will say more about other parts of this bill sooner rather than later. Some of the other highlights, or in this case, lowlights, include $160 billion of federal money going directly to the states – call it a bailout of states who can’t seem to manage their own fiscal houses.

Another lowlight is the unconscionable amount of $5.2 billion, yes, billion with a “b” going to ACORN – the allegedly non-profit organization currently under federal investigation for massive voter fraud. Yes, ACORN, the same organization due to receive about $100 million from the first bailout worth about $700 billion last September to which House GOP members objected. And there is also the more $300 billion in interest alone this heinous bill will cost not just us, and not just my five and eight-year-old nieces, but their grandchildren’s generation. If that is not daunting enough o make people sit up and take notice, little else will.

Sadly, economist Walter Williams was correct when he declared this so-called stimulus package “politically smart and economically stupid.” It is politically smart because all the lemmings and sheeple that put Obama into office are thrilled that their guy is taking care of them, as a review of more of the document will demonstrate. However, it is economically stupid and perhaps suicidal, as this womb to tomb mentality will plunge the economy into an irrevocable disaster from which we will not be able to emerge intact. The rich will be taxed so deeply they will cease to be rich and there will be fewer rich people from whom to fleece. When the redistribution of wealth fund well runs dry everyone will suffer from the same parched state with no water in sight.

With tax cuts and prudent, responsible economic policies the nation will recover. It seems government like to do its tweaking with a sledgehammer when one is not needed, thus doing more damage. FDR did not pull the nation out the Great Depression via his New Deal. Sure FDIC was a good idea, but it took World War II to cure this nation’s economic ills. May G-d have mercy on the United States of America. Nero is rosining up his bow.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 28, 2009

Trouble is truly afoot in this great nation of ours. The latest group in need of a bailout is the Girl Scouts of America. Moments ago, I heard a report that in an effort to keep costs to the consumer down, there will be fewer cookies in the packages this year and in some cases the size of the cookies have shrunk. This is not an effort to fight obesity, but to combat the rising cost of sugar and other baking-related ingredients. This is not a drill, this is a real emergency. I need my Thin Mints.

I still support the Girl Scouts with my cookie purchases and encourage you to do likewise. After all, the organization still promotes good values.

This message has been brought to you by Sanford D. Horn. I now return you to your regularly scheduled bailout and/or government intervention in your life.

More Morantics, and Mrs. Morantics, Too

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 26, 2009

Usually we can count on the irascible Democratic Congressman Jim Moran (VA-8) for entertainment whenever he decides to open his mouth, but this time the irascibility was a tag-team effort with his wife LuAnn Bennett who both caused a scene on Inauguration Day at the Capitol.

Shortly after Obama uttered the words “the time has come to set aside childish things,” during his inaugural dicta, Moran’s wife demanded entry into the Capitol Building during the time when the Obamas were escorting the Bushes to their departing helicopter. Capitol police put up a barricade during President and Mrs. Bush’s departure, allowing entry to members only, which apparently ruffled the feathers of Bennett who after loudly arguing with the officers phoned her husband.

Moran, who upon hitting the scene was full of his usual bluster, shouted at the officer who refused Bennett entry – correctly doing his job, until he relented and allowed Bennett entry. By the way, the officers did not allow Mrs. Larry Summers entry. John Lawrence, Nancy Pelosi’s Chief of Staff, understood the rules and waited patiently.

Cleary this is not an attack on Democrats as two of them had no issues with the policy. As usual Moran and apparently his wife believe the rules are not for them. This may seem like a non-issue, but it is a prime example of what is wrong with our alleged leaders. Moran’s behavior has been chronicled since his days before being elected mayor of Alexandria. Between his litany of physical assaults and foot in mouth disease the voters, ignorant that they are, continue to return this buffoon to Congress every other year like clockwork.

Since 2002 I have seen GOP candidates come and go in the revolving door attempting to take down this Brahman bully, who for some reason has always been nice to me – really. (Probably until now, that is.) Quite frankly, if I could raise $3 million, I would challenge him in 2010. Any fund raisers out there?

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

GOP Waves White Flag on Hillary

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 21, 2009

With a vote of 94-2, the GOP has surrendered and capitulated, thus becoming the party of superfluousness. Two Democratic parties are not necessary, as the original is bad enough. In addition to the elected Democrats, there are now the RINOs behaving like fawning sycophants. Not only should Clinton not have been approved, neither should Geithner (Treasury), Holder (AG), Solis (Labor), Daschle (HHS), Duncan (Education) and La Hood (Transportation) be confirmed - EVER. For reasons why, please read my column: "The Time is Now for GOP to Grow a Set" at http://sanfordhorn.blogtownhall.com/.

Kudos go to Senators Jim De Mint (R-SC) and David Vitter (R-LA) for having the stones to stand up, do what is right and cast the two lone "nay" votes against Hillary.

Even the reliable Republican Kansas Senator Pat Roberts told Geithner during his continuing confirmation hearing that he would be confirmed. How can the Senate vote to confirm a tax evader and one who harbored an employee whose legal status expired under his watch. Do we really want a person in charge of the IRS who flagrantly snubbed his nose at that institution?

RINOs who continue down their current path should be prepared to face tough primary fights from real Republicans in 2010.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

“I will make mistakes.” – Barack Obama, January 17, 2009

“All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.” – 4^th President James Madison

The Time is Now for GOP to Grow a Set

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 17, 2009

Truer words could not have been spoken on the day the rhetoric express train pulled out of 30^th Street Station in Philadelphia with stops in Wilmington, DE to pick up the Bidens before stopping in Baltimore prior to the ultimate destination of Washington, DC.

Simply examine the choices Barack Obama has made for his cabinet. “We need to build up this government,” Obama said in the City of Brotherly Love, which demonstrated its nickname with an outpouring for Obama, his wife Michelle, who was celebrating her 45^th birthday, and their two daughters.

Well, to paraphrase the greatest president of the 20^th Century, Ronald Reagan, message to Obama: “Tear down this government!” Make no mistake, this is not a plea for anarchy, but instead for smaller, sensible, reasonable government.

Consider the words of the third president, Thomas Jefferson, who in a letter to Thomas Cooper in November 1802 wrote “I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.” No doubt the patriarch of the modern Democratic Party is spinning six feet under at the notion of how large this government is 207 years later. During Jefferson’s administration there were but five cabinet departments: State, Treasury, War, Navy and Attorney General.

Today there are three times as many cabinet departments and numerous cabinet-level positions to be filled by people who, so far, have proven Obama’s words, “I will make mistakes,” all too true. Even if the Obama cabinet were of Jeffersonian proportions, objections should be cast on three of the five departments: State, Treasury and Attorney General.

This is where the Republicans in the Senate, regarding confirmation hearings, must heed the words of another Reagan – Nancy, and “just say no.” It is not the least bit obstructionist for the minority party to vote against a cabinet nomination who, for one reason or another, should not be approved. For some reason too many Republicans feel the need to rubber stamp Obama’s nominees, either out of fear or a go along to get along philosophy, which is not why those people were sent to Washington in the first place.

“Spineless,” is the word former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee used on January 17 to describe members of his own party. “We used to stand for something,” he said.

The Republicans would do well to remember the words of Dwight Eisenhower, the 34^th president of the United States. “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

For starters, Hillary Clinton (D-NY) should not be confirmed as Secretary of State.  She carries with her too much baggage. Former President Bill Clinton has a multi-billion dollar conflict of interest with the money donated to his foundation by foreign governments, some of which are suspect at best. The now former Senator Clinton said she couldn’t understand why she was questioned about her husband’s dealings making an obtuse statement about how a cabinet nominee’s spouse has never been an issue before. How many cabinet nominee’s spouses have been president of the United States? Not a trick question, Hillary.

It’s probably a fair assumption that Elaine Chao fielded a question or two pertaining to her husband, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), prior to signing on as Labor Secretary. Aside from a minor dust-up over Bill, the remainder of the Hillary hearing featured the committee sycophantically fawning over the one-time presidential hopeful. Hillary Clinton no doubt will become the next Secretary of State, but it should not be handed to her on a silver platter.

For this next nominee of Treasury Secretary designate Timothy Geithner, readers will assume hell has frozen over as I assert conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer is wrong and the New York Times was right – there it is in print boys and girls. Krauthammer calls Geithner’s unpaid taxes a “triviality,” while the Times calls his nomination “tainted.” It is far from trivial when the person nominated to oversee, among other things, the IRS, has tax issues. In this case, Geithner failed to fork over about $43,000 in back Social Security and self-employment taxes, including interest, but no penalties, from his days working for the IMF. If everyone else is subjected to paying their taxes, so should the person picked to be top dog at Treasury.

Additionally, Geithner continued to have a housekeeper whose legal status lapsed in his employ claiming he was unaware of the situation. Ignorance is no excuse. This person worked for Geithner, he should have been on top of things. Too many Republicans want to give Geithner a free pass because he was a Wall Street guy and would probably be a better pick from the GOP perspective than someone else Obama could nominate. But there is a principle at stake here – first the tax issue and then the lapsed legal status of the housekeeper. Do the names Zoe Baird, Linda Chavez and Kimba Wood ring any bells? Geithner will also win confirmation, but shouldn’t.

Attorney General nominee Eric Holder conjures up thoughts of the Peter Principle. He was a disaster as Deputy Attorney General under Bill Clinton, now he’s up for a promotion, in a way. Staring with Holder the private practice attorney, he represented banana producer Chiquita, who paid boatloads of “protection” money to AUC and FARC terror organizations in Colombia. These organizations were responsible for exports of cocaine and massacres of thousands of people.

As Deputy AG, Holder recommended pardons for tax-evader-fugitive Marc Rich as well as members of FALN, a Puerto Rican terror organization – only one of which Holder claims he regrets. He said he made mistakes as Deputy AG, but mistakes that will help him on the job at the nation’s top lawyer. This from the guy who wrote that there is no definition of terrorists or terrorism. It should be a cold day in Guam before Holder is made Attorney General, but he will be confirmed by the Senate lemmings – Elephant and Jackass alike. With little exception, it’s becoming harder to tell them apart.

Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA) should not be confirmed as Labor Secretary for the simple reason that she has stated publicly on more than one occasion that she is opposed to secret ballots for union workers. In this republic of the United States secret ballots have been used for a couple hundred years with much success, but Solis does not think union workers should be afforded such a “luxury.” She is wrong and her nomination ought to be rejected.

Arne Duncan, the now former head of schools in Chicago, should go back to the Windy City instead of standing to be the next Education Secretary. In addition to being mired in academic hell, as test scores demonstrate, Duncan supported a “gay high school.” This is not 1896 and Plessy v. Ferguson is no longer law of the land. The notion of a gay high school, or any other segregated school, for that matter will not be good for its students who will be sheltered from the real world that they inevitably will have to face. Duncan should get a permanent time-out.

And to be fair, not all nominees to be rejected are Democrats. Former Representative Ray La Hood (R-IL) should be denied the opportunity to be the next Transportation Secretary. In 2008 alone La Hood sent up legislation calling for $60 million in earmarks, ranking him in the top 10 percent of all Congressional porkers. This was partly made possible by sitting on the highly coveted Appropriations Committee and allowed La Hood to funnel larded-up legislation toward some of his more generous political donors.

One specific example is the $330,000 earmarked for the Lakeview Museum in Peoria, IL as part of a project financed by Caterpillar – La Hood’s biggest donor. The project is a museum of the history of the company. Do not misunderstand, museums are good learning experiences. I am a founding member and contributor to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as well as the National Museum of the American Indian. But if corporate America wants museums to honor themselves, they can also pay for it themselves. Give La Hood a bus ticket back to Illinois.

In addition to the earmarks, wrong in their own right, there are the bailouts – of anyone and any institution that wants one apparently. Bailouts were wrong under George W. Bush and will be just as wrong under Obama. Not just wrong, but unconstitutional to boot. Republicans who voted for the bailout prior to November should have been turned out of office. Those who do so after January 20 should be dismissed in November 2010. Bailouts are not part of core GOP values. Real Republicans ought to be lining up to challenge the RINOs who support bailouts in primaries. Two sets of Democrats in Congress are not necessary.

Republicans should not be afraid to do the right thing. It is not obstructionist to tell potential homeowners to only buy a home they can actually afford. It is not obstructionist to tell businesses to sell what consumers will actually want to buy. If the auto industry is not willing to change itself in order to succeed, the government should not throw good money after a stubborn, insolent group of CEOs who feel entitled simply because their companies have been around for a century or more.

“The power to tax is the power to destroy,” said Chief Justice John Marshall.

The federal government should not be taxing the so-called rich more simply because they earn more money than their less fortunate peers. They key word is “earn.” The federal government should not be giving people who did not pay taxes a tax “rebate.” That is called state-sponsored welfare. This is not France, not yet, anyway; this is still the United States of America.

Couple Ike’s words with those of Mr. Conservative himself, Barry M. Goldwater, who said “We shall return to proven ways – not because they are old, but because they are true.” When the GOP can do that, they will stop wandering the desert in obscurity and irrelevance and return to their former greatness when they were leaders, not followers, this nation will also return to its status as leaders of the free world instead of cow-towing to an allegedly mainstream media that is socialist at best, a Europe that is an economic and moral wasteland and radical left-wing extremists seeking to turn the United States into a government-run, cradle to grave caretaker.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Kaine’s Prison Plan Should Be Handcuffed

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

January 13, 2009

So Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is interested in letting a few “good” prisoners out of the gray bar hotel 90 days early as a cost-cutting measure claiming they are “non-violent offenders who have been model inmates” and were due for a 30 day early dismissal, according to an article written by Anthony Barkow of New York.

Barkow, who authored “In Kaine’s Budget Plan, a Reality Check for Prisons,” is executive director of the Center on the Administration of Criminal Law at New York University School of Law. He penned this biased editorial to sing the praises of this early release plan of the non-violent, noting that “prominent Republicans” with backgrounds in criminal justice policy support this plan, but only names one Republican. Barkow then criticizes the current Virginia Attorney General, Bob McDonnell, the presumptive GOP nominee for governor later this year for not marching in lock-step with this less than savory idea.

Meanwhile, in Barkow’s Empire State, the king of the Ponzi Scheme, Bernie Madoff – pronounced Made-off, as in what he did with $50 billion – yes, billion with a “b” in people’s retirements and charitable organizations’ funds, rests easy in his $7 million home, instead of in a prison cell. People nationwide are outraged, and rightfully so, that a lowlife like Madoff is allowed to breathe the air of a free person while countless numbers of people have been bilked out of their life savings and charitable organizations are unable to do the good works they have done for years.

Just because a criminal is non-violent doesn’t mean he or she shouldn’t be incarcerated. In the case of Madoff, the death penalty is not unreasonable, after all, his misdeeds have inalterably affected the lives of people too old to return to work and certainly could not recoup their losses. Some people have even committed suicide because of the actions of this miscreant.

But back to the Commonwealth of Virginia and down the slippery slope the prison system is about to slide. Barkow claims more than $1 billion is spent annually on incarceration in Virginia and labels tough-on-crime positions “irrational,” suggesting that the non-violent offender who pose no danger to society not be imprisoned. As is typical of liberals, Barkow offers no suggestion as to his appropriate method of punishment, for although they may be non-violent, they are still convicts.

Barkow also suggests that to continue to incarcerate the non-violent offenders, schools and additional police on the streets will lose funding. Of course those scare tactics are exactly what he has in mind. Instead of calling for an to pork-barrel spending and a diminution of special-interest funding, which would make the most sense, Barkow wants to instill fear in the hearts and minds of the citizenry in order to garner support for a lame-brained idea.

There’s a reason Republicans like former governor and senator George Allen pushed hard for no parole in Virginia. When a criminal is sentenced to a term of 10 years for example, he or she serves that amount of time. There should not be early release for good behavior. Instead, there should be extended sentences for bad behavior. Stricter sentences should be the order of the day, not more lenient sentences.

Barkow went so far as to praise Kaine as a governor with “guts” for telling “people that the criminal justice system has gone too far.” Well, to be fair, Barkow is right – the criminal justice system has gone too far, just not in the way he thinks or in the right direction.

Prison should not be a pleasant experience for any inmate – white collar, blue collar or ministerial collar. Since when do prisoners have a constitutional right to cable or any television, for that matter. Weight rooms? Athletic equipment? Gone. If prisoners don’t want their muscles to atrophy, don’t commit crimes and end up in the clink. There’s some money saved as well. Strip these prisons down to their bare bones minimum. Prisoners ought to live like minimalists – smaller cells allow for more prisoners to be housed. If a prisoner wants books, newspapers or other reading material, let them procure it from the outside when family or friends visit. No more computers, radios or other electronic luxuries – after all prison is just that, and not summer camp.

Busy prisoners ought to be productive prisoners learning trades such as carpentry, plumbing, cooking, even first aid skills, all of which are marketable on the outside upon release having served their entire sentences. Any prisoner with a skill or a talent can teach other inmates.

Governor Kaine would be wise to procure a page out Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s playbook. Known around the country as “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” he runs the force in Maricopa County Arizona where there are both male and female chain gangs, prisoners painting over graffiti, cleaning the streets and even burying the indigent. Inside the prison Arpaio is known to have the cheapest meals in the United States – averaging roughly 15 cents and the inmates are only fed twice a day.

Now before all the ACLUeless attorneys get their briefs in a twist, once again, for those prisoners who object, don’t become a criminal. They make their choices and those choices come with consequences. There’s a boatload of money to be saved and trimmed from the budget without violating anyone’s rights or giving free passes to non-violent offenders.

While on the budget-trimming subject, any non-indigent sentenced must pay a fine and the money goes in the education and/or transportation coffers. Illegals should not be put in American prisons, but instead, deported to their country of origin. Notice, I do not say illegals who have committed a crime, because once they have taken that first illegal step on American soil, they have broken the law. And for those white collar criminals who have stolen from investors, raided pension funds, bilked charities, all their assets should be liquidated in order to make some form of remuneration to the victims. They may be non-violent, but their crimes certainly are not victimless and they do deserve to fulfill their reservations at the gray bar hotel – sans room service.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.