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Seeing that the media controls public perception, I have to agree.

Taking a look at the major news outlets last night and today, these hearing were not even close to the top story with the exception of Fox News.

Hoping I’m wrong, but if the media continues to ignore Benghazi, odds are good the happenings on Sept 11, 2012 will remain unnoticed by most.

Thinking about something which was said by one of the Left’s leadership (I think John Kerry) about reducing terrorism to the “nuisance” level.

This administration seemingly just accepts that acts of terror will continue. Rather than trying to stop such actions, their strategy seems to be more focused on responses.

They certainly know that our “unofficial” open border policy just adds to the risks, but that voting block is more important.

Have a memory of the one time I got to meet Jonathan Winters. I was a kid and he was promoting a movie which was being shot somewhere in Los Angeles in the late 60’s (The Midnight Oil (?)) I was too young to actually know who he was, just heard my mom talking that he was famous and he was one of my dad's favorites. Since my dad had his own business, I decided to approach him and give him one of my dad's business cards. I remember him taking the card, signing the back and handing it back to me. I didn't understand why he did this and I handed the card back to him telling him “ no, this is for you”. I remember him looking at me kind of perplexed, then realizing what I was trying to do. He turned to someone sitting next to him and said (laughing) “I always wanted this autograph”.

RIP Mr. Winters.

What I think about are the many long time JCP employees who were dumped, I mean people I knew who were at the various stores for over 20 years.

As for the survival of the store, I don’t know. Likely there will have to be some store closings along with the sale of some real estate assets. But in the long run, will the former customer base forgive the path the store chose (remembering the arrogant Johnson statement “we have to reeducate our customers”)?

God love you and others that tolerated the situation and stayed as employees.

The Romney campaign never even attempted to tap into the 2010 momentum of the Tea Party or Sarah Palin. Big mistake.

Was it a mistake....or by design?

Its been apparent for quite some time that those who run the Republican Party dislike Conservatives. Don't get me wrong, they want the Conservative vote and (at times) will say things which appeal to Conservatives. But, when the rubber hits the road, they are far more comfortable with their Liberal cousins.

I don't know if Gov. Huckabee is right or not in his reasoning. What I do know is since the 70's, history reflects that "Moderate" Republican Presidential nominees lose elections while those seemingly Conservative win. As this track record is certainly no secret, you can draw your own conclusion as to what the GOP actually represents.

Little doubt the majority of all “news” is scripted, not just the Sunday shows. The Media is a powerful weapon which continues its' assault.

I'm not certain how others feel, but I have been still stinging over the election results of last November and have been feeling less optimistic (daily) regarding the future of this Country.

We're in a period of the Socialist Left imposing their values on us. Since we have little representation from a so called opposition party, we are in a position of having to live with the agenda they continue to implement. That doesn't mean we have to like it.

My thinking, or rather, the belief I continue to cling to is that a plurality of the population feels the same way. I don't think those of Conservative ideology are fewer, just that we're feeling helpless.

I know we're going to need an actual leader to emerge in the coming months if we're going to end the feeling of helplessness and alter this destructive period. I also know that we have a tough opponent in an establishment that will likely promote a choice of Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton on us.

Today being Easter, I'm reminded to not lose my Faith.

The GOP is a product of the Washington belief system, aka, believing the media narrative which is controlled by the Left.

The GOP is not a party which supports the belief system of their constituency, rather a party which believes the (false) perception of the electorates’ belief system.

Just on a political front, this is a continuation of the belief that the Republican Party must continue to be more Liberal in order to be victorious, ignoring the track record that moderation is a failure in elections.

Odd...I was educated through public schools that a war ended the Great Depression. Now I've learned (from this article) that a war provides no job creation and is purely one massive expenditure.

As taxpayers, we're all on the hook for that estimated $6-trillion tab. That's nearly half the current national debt.

On a lesser note, simple arithmetic I learned from public schools was also wrong as I learned from the LA Times that 6 Trillion is one half of 16.7 Trillion.

One thing which continues to strike me is the assumption by most that Obama is the driving force behind all the socialistic changes being implemented. I have never viewed this guy as being as clever (politically) as he’s usually given credit. Instead, he continues to have plenty of help from many within the Republican Party.

Actually, the worthless dollar are the main reason for the higher stock markets here. I gave up a while back trying to equate rising stock prices with values. It’s mostly about Fed Policy these days.

The one thing about McCain that should be apparent by now is he is no friend to Conservatives.

Oh, every once in a while he and his buddy make some statement or take some stance that sounds good, but when the rubber hits the road, both of these guys vote and think like their Democrat “friends”.

Your observation regarding McCain's (and Graham's) passion for exposure and acceptance by the media is dead on.

Is this the same Rand Paul who opposed the nomination of Chuck Hagel before voting for his confirmation?

It seems that every week a federal holiday is involved the jobless claims number falls.

...And Rand Paul proved to me he isn't what he's claimed to be.....

The more we see the Republicans concede, it's more clear there are two parties that are supporting the Obama agenda.

Now waiting on Republicans to support another tax increase. It's what Obama wants.

I like your idea of calling this The Obama Sequestration for a big reason.

Looking ahead to the likely ramifications of the tax increases passed a couple of months ago, the economy will be slowing even further. Like many here, I don't really think these pending cuts are more than a drop in the bucket. The way this has been set up, the implementation of the sequestration accomplishes cover for Democrats, something to blame a slowing economy on. As the Obama team has been successful (thus far) in turning the sequestration into a Republican idea, guess who will be blamed when the economy goes from bad to worse?

About the only political win I can see for Republicans is to use the successful Democrat strategy of repeating a talking point over and over again. Thus, this should always be referred to as "The Obama Sequestration".

I understand how you feel as the similarities between the two major political parties are striking. Yet, one party is far more clever politically than the other, hence they remain in power.

Attempting to change either party (at this point) is a huge challenge as the disconnect between government and the electorate is as great as I’ve ever seen.

I continue to hear the argument (strongly supported by the establishment) that a third party is hopeless. But, I continue to wonder if a third party isn’t now an easier path to representation than attempting to change either the existing Democrat or Republican parties.

Is this satire?

The NY Times is extremely concerned how some partisan political organization is driving this Menendez story. So, they turn to Citizens for Responsibility and Melanie Sloan, as some sort of unbiased expert on political crimes and media.

Then there's the idea that a “Newspaper” which is owned by the Left and itself specializes in partisan reporting is now so concerned about partisan groups promoting certain stories? LOL!

I've heard this disclosure before, I believe from Michele Bachmann. Yet, if our (supposed) side is half as good as they claim to be, I would think they could figure a way to starve this thing. But, they are who they are, intimidated by the Left and their media.

For the time, lets just say there is no way to defund Obamacare. Why not then refuse to fund other unnecessary government programs and agencies, using the fact that Obamacare is going to take Billions more to implement than originally disclosed?

Much like the Amnesty issue, when does the Republican Party draw a line in the sand and say, “enough is enough”. Is the fear of losing political power worth losing the Country most of us grew up in?

I'm sorry to be replying like this, but as days go by it certainly appears that both of our major political parties are actually participating in “fundamentally transforming” our Country.

As I read through this entire thread, your are the only one I see who has commented about the role of Congress in this. Last time I checked, the House still controls the purse strings. Yet, I've heard not a word about this Republican House refusing to fund this thing. Why is that?

It's more a case of putting way too much stock in the concept of one individual, Ron Johnson.

While you're correct that retail is already a tough market, this guy has basically destroyed the customer base this company has acquired over the years. The elimination of the coupon, the ads and (keeping in mind that a number of JCPenney stores are part of the community) the past treatment and firings of some long time employees have been the main causes.

This entire hiring (of Johnson) was dumb from the start. They took a guy who was successful in expanding new stores (Target) and opening new retail stores (Apple). They allowed him complete control to implement changes which were never proven successful. No where on his resume does he have any experience in improving an existing retailer with 1100 stores.

I'm not one to complain about anyone’s compensation, but I find it ironic that for a company that is now cash strapped, Johnson received over $53 Million in compensation in 2011.....I can't find what his numbers were for last year.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I still believe this applies today.

I'm impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, “We must broaden the base of our party” – when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.

Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?

Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.

Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government’s coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.

It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.”

Ronald Reagan

Are you saying that the key to winning elections is to move to the Left?

Put history in perspective. Since Gerald Ford, all moderate Republican nominees have lost Presidential elections.

Yes, Reagan was a solid Conservative and while one could make an argument of the Conservative credentials of Bush 43, for the most part he was far more Conservative than his dad.

As for Castle and Lugar, while I concede they likely would have won their respective elections, what if they would have won? Would they have supported a Conservative agenda or would they have acted more like the Maine twins?

If the Republican Party continues to sell out traditional Conservative values, acting like the Democrat lite party, what have we or the Country actually gained?

I submit that those who turn out to vote in such elections would rather vote for the real thing instead of an imitation, while Conservative voters will mostly just stay home (which looks to be what transpired in the 2012 Presidential Election).

Keeping in mind this is the NY Times, I still can't help but wonder what the true goal of such a SuperPac can be?

Karl Rove and his establishment got their perfect Presidential ideological candidate last time, a “Moderate” (truly a Liberal), and the result was the same as every time the Republican Party runs a “Moderate” nominee, a loss. Now they will continue to employ such a strategy on the Senate?

Either the Republican establishment truly likes being the minority party or they are truly blind to reality.

Question is, does the Conservative plurality continue to attempt to regain control of this Party, or do we look elsewhere?

I found video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbJSrmuPa48&feature=youtu.be

At this point, media reporting is the best laugh I get on a daily basis.

or trying to add 11 (at least) 30 million more workers where there are no jobs.

Made your post more accurate.....

since the recession ended

Yea, we all must have missed that the recession ended.

Waiting for the media to put a positive spin on this GDP number.

This is the new interpretation of the First Amendment, freedom of some of the press. Get used to it.

You know what? The current Republican Party is dominated by mushy moderates who truly cannot stand Conservatives.

They believe that in order to be successful as a Party, they must move more to the Left, a move that has been so successful in the past.

All you need to look at is Presidential election history to see these successes....Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain and the most Moderate (or more accurately, Liberal) Republican Presidential nominee of them all, Mitt Romney.

Even with all these successes, this Republican Party continues down the same path.

Our dilemma is that actual Conservative leaders actually lead and do appeal to the majority of the electorate. But, they are few at present, either afraid to take on the Liberal media or not Conservatives at all.

Gov. Palin is about the only National figure I can think of that continues to be both Conservative and unafraid. We need her and more like her.

Republicans rolled again is inaccurate, for this Republican Party seems to happily go along with the progressive agenda.

Thanks for the post.

I didn’t have a chance to follow the hearings today, but from what I’ve read and heard it sounds like more of the same from the former opposition party (the Republicans) with a couple of exceptions. In other words, the reasons for the Benghazi attack and the cover up which followed are seemingly going to go unchallenged.

Sad times we live in.

Maybe we should get out of the current recession before we guess when the next one will be.

Exactly!

The media continues to feed the population that the economy is getting better. Yet in my travels to various areas of the Country, I continue to see no evidence of improvement.

What I see are bogus statistics (such as the unemployment number) touted by the media and repeated by Democrats and "so called" Republicans, attempting to promote a false perception of improvement.

Based upon historic economic principals, there is no way that a government which continues to over spend and raising taxes will lead to an economic upturn. Instead, it will eventually cause a complete collapse of our economic system.

Actually somewhat surprised to see Scott Rasmussen write a piece like this, and while it's old news, it repeats a truth by a media figure that we (Conservatives) don't have a representative Party.

I used to believe that our only option was to reclaim the Republican Party. Now, I think we'd have about the same chance taking over the Democrat Party. Hence, our best option is another Party.

It's a bad thing on several different levels. Firstly, you have the government dictating who can and can't qualify for home loans. Secondly, anyone who is self-employed, using a schedule C on their 1040’s, is likely not going to qualify. Last, by making home loans even tougher to obtain, they're taking more buyers from the equation, meaning prices will continue lower and foreclosures will continue to rise.

As for the people who were screaming they were “suckered”, they were simply repeating what their leader (in the White House) and his Party were saying in numerous speeches.

Looking at it from the other side, if these new government dictated regulations towards real estate financing are so good, why not apply similar rules to auto loans, credit cards, student loans and all business loans?

What gets me is anyone with half a brain knows full well the 7.8% number is a fantasy. Yet, I continue to hear leaders from the Republican Party, the former “No Tax Increase” Party, cite the same number giving it undo credibility.

Why would they do that?

Pelosi does worship government, the bigger the better, as long as she retains power and (of course) as long as she is exempted from the very rules she and her Party impose.

I think initially you’re correct. Yet, it seems when one matures (and that certainly isn’t everyone), people take individualism far more seriously. This is the likely reason the youth vote mostly supports the Socialist ideology. Even the leaders in the (now) Socialist Democrat Party personally view their own individualism as a fundamental right, as they feel exempted from the very rules they impose upon society.

Although not as prominent as it is now, the Socialist ideology did exist in the 80’s when Ronald Reagan won two Presidential elections in landslides. While it might be more difficult for a Conservative to win election today for the reasons you stated, I still believe an afraid Conservative can convey the wisdom and success of the ideology. It’s just that as such a Conservative, you’re not going to be popular with the Leftist Media.

I still wonder why if these leaders of the current Republican Party are so concerned with the Media’s opinion of them, why don’t they just switch Parties?

While there's little doubt the demographics of the electorate have changed in the past 30 years, I still believe a plurality of the voters are Conservatives. The problem we have now is a lack of representation.

When I view the leading members of the Republican Party today, I see people who are far more concerned with what the MSM thinks than the voters. Since the MSM is a branch of the Democrat Party, it basically comes down to these Republicans basing their decisions on what Liberals will say. What they (the Republicans) cannot seem to comprehend is no matter what stances or decisions they take, they will be viewed upon with disdain.

President Reagan was a proud Conservative who was concerned with the feelings of the electorate and not the Media. In other words, he was recognized by voters as a true (Conservative) leader, which is why he not only turned out Conservative voters, but also appealed to many Democrats.

In the last Presidential election, a “Moderate” Romney didn't turn out the base and didn't appeal to Democrats (even though he shared many Democrat beliefs). Had Republicans run an unafraid Conservative, the election wouldn't have even been close and Obama would now be planning his retirement.

President Reagan would win election today just as he did before. It's like Rush says, “Conservatism works every time it's tried”.

Very well stated!

Nothings permanent. They can say what ever they want.

Bottom line, Graham and most of his Senate Republican colleague's voted for major tax increases and more spending. Regardless of what happens, the media will blame anything bad on Republicans. Now, the Republican Party will own the certain economic decline, unless by some fluke, enough Republican House members see the light and remember who they are.

More details here;

http://washingtonexaminer.com/tax-portion-of-fiscal-cliff-deal-done-senior-gop-source/article/2517223

I can’t speak for anyone else, but my affiliation with the Democrat Lite Party is over come Wednesday.

Republicans and Democrats will see these actions create even less revenue as economic growth will continue to sink. Yet, Democrats will not pay the price at the ballot box. Instead Republicans, being the more hypocritical Party and obviously far less politically intelligent than their Democrat cousins, will suffer the blame.

What Obama is counting on is for the Republicans in the House to fold and vote in a tax increase for the job creators. If he's successful, not only will the media pound away on Republicans as being hypocritical, but they will also blame Republicans for the certain future result of such tax increases, an even worse economy.

Why is there no strong voice representing the Republican Party and going after these delusional beliefs of the Socialists? Taxing job creators will do nothing to pay down the deficit, instead accomplishing the opposite. And why is no one speaking to the huge tax increase already scheduled on the "Middle Class" in the form of Obamacare?

The best hand the Republican Party has as a Party and for the Country is to stand by Conservative principles and not vote for any tax increase.

Actually there were many loans available back then with a 3-5% down payment, but (as you said) at 18%. The biggest differences in financing between then and now is mortgages were far easier to obtain in the 80’s when a mortgage application was actually examined by an underwriter, who made their decision based upon a borrowers ability to repay the loan. Today, you basically have a computer software program (with criteria dictated by the government) approving or rejecting an application.

Color me suspicious of these housing numbers as I haven't witnessed any surge in sales activity on new single family homes with my own eyes. What I have seen are more multifamily dwellings being built as the rental market continues to rise.

Notice no mention of the week being shortened by Thanksgiving.

Democrats can blame high unemployment on Sandy for the next four years.

You're exactly right.

Further, a part of the premise of this article is incorrect. The housing market has not made recent improvements, as per a number of folks I know in real estate sales (and related industries) nationwide. Many of the positive stories the media promoted prior to the election appear to be nothing more than politics.

Added to this, the full implementation of Dodd/Frank is going to mean further restrictions on lenders which translates into even fewer sales.

There is only one bright side to tonight's results. Moderate (or Liberal) Republican candidates don't win Presidential elections. I know that many of us were so desperate to get rid of Obama that we fooled ourselves into believing that Romney was a Conservative. But in reality, he was probably not even close.

While I'm fearful of what's going to transpire in the months or weeks ahead, and we'll never know for sure, a Romney victory tonight might have eliminated Conservatism for good. I'm in the minority I'm sure, but even though I ended up voting for the guy, I still believe he wasn't our friend, just a little less bad than the other choice.

Now the question becomes, is our ideology still prevalent enough to fight whats coming with tonight's results?

The chatter I’ve read is that it involves Menendez.

Eh, it won’t matter anyway.