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THE FOUNDATION

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one." --Thomas Paine

THE DEMO-GOGUES

Transferring wealth to those to whom the wealth belongs: "We have lived through an era where too often, short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A federal budget surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn't afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day." --President Barack Obama in his Tuesday night address

Federal budget equals vision for America: "In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America -- as a blueprint for our future." --Barack Obama

Government is the be all, end all: "I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity." --Comrade Obama

Big talk: "If a federal agency proposes a project that will waste that money, I will not hesitate to call them out on it and put a stop to it. What I will need from all of you is unprecedented responsibility and accountability.... The American people are watching. They need this plan to work. They expect to see the money that they've earned, that they've worked so hard to earn, spent in its intended purposes without waste, without inefficiency, without fraud." --Barack Obama on spending our money, our children's money and our grandchildren's money

Not making this up: "We cannot and will not sustain deficits like these without end. Contrary to the prevailing wisdom in Washington these past few years, we cannot simply spend as we please and defer the consequences to the next budget, the next administration or the next generation." --Barack Obama **Translation: Get ready for a HUGE tax hike.

Cutting the wrong thing: "I would be very happy if there was some way to make it a misdemeanor for people to talk about reducing the budget deficit without including a recommendation that we substantially cut military spending." --Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

Non Compos Mentis: "You know, I'm embarrassed -- you know the Web site number? (looks off camera) I, shh-uhhh, I should have it in front of me and I don't. I'm, I'm actually embarrassed. Ah, ah 'scuse me, it -- no, it is recovery.gov -- recovery.gov, .gov." --Vice President Joe Biden, who doesn't seem to know much about the Internet, when asked about the "accountability and transparency" Web site run by the Obama administration

EDITORIAL EXEGESIS

"Anyone who thought the recession and financial market turmoil would moderate President Obama's policy ambitions discovered the opposite last night. Far from suggesting limits on Congress or federal spending, the new President made clear in his first State of the Union address that he believes in government power as the answer to our current difficulties, and he intends to use it. ... Mr. Obama is slowly revealing himself as a President who meant what he said going back to the primaries. He believes in the power of the state to drive prosperity, to reform the financial system and health care, and even to transform the entire energy economy. Mr. Obama said at one point that he didn't believe in government for its own sake, but his policy emphasis showed otherwise. ... Mr. Obama clearly believes the recession has created a political moment when Americans are frightened enough to be open to a new era of expanded government. The question is whether his vast ambitions will allow the private economy to grow enough even to begin to pay for it all." --The Wall Street Journal

UPRIGHT

"Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs or build a prosperous future for our children." --Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in his rebuttal to Obama's address Tuesday night

"President Obama's line in Tuesday night's speech, 'We have identified more than two trillion dollars in savings over the next ten years' drew applause from the Congress, but wait'll they see which of their favorite programs -- which go to their favorite constituents and donors -- get whacked." --political analyst Rich Galen

"Let's remember that most folks -- even those with underwater mortgages, where the loan value is more than the home value -- do not walk away from their obligations. They don't want to wreck their credit -- and their homes are their castles. That's the American way. But if we penalize the good guys and subsidize the bad ones, we are undermining the moral and economic fabric of this country." --Lawrence Kudlow

"Disgraced Democratic Sen. John Edwards was right about one thing: There are two Americas. One America is full of moochers, big and small, corporate and individual, trampling over themselves with their hands out demanding endless bailouts. The other America is full of disgusted, hardworking citizens getting sick of being played for chumps and punished for practicing personal responsibility." --columnist Michelle Malkin

"Racial 'sensitivity' requires not eradicating racial stereotypes but keeping them alive --and not only keeping them alive but remaining acutely conscious of them at all times." --Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto

"If black people continue to accept the corrupt blame game agenda of liberal whites, black politicians and assorted hustlers, as opposed to accepting personal responsibility, the future for many black Americans will remain bleak." --economist Walter E. Williams

INSIGHT

"Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state lives at the expense of everyone." --French economist, statesman and author Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850)

"With the exception only of the period of the gold standard, practically all governments of history have used their exclusive power to issue money to defraud and plunder the people." --economist Fredrich von Hayek (1899-1992)

"Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views." --commentator, author and founder of National Review William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008 )

DEZINFORMATSIA

Calling such ambition good: "This was the most ambitious president we've heard in this chamber in decades. The first half of the speech was FDR, fighting for the New Deal. The second half was Lyndon Johnson fighting for the Great Society, and we've never seen those two presidents rolled together in quite this way before." --CNN political analyst David Gergen

How dare they: "Do you think the Republicans are digging themselves in a hole by not being more supportive of the president's proposals?" --CBS anchor Katie Couric to House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

'We Are All Socialists Now': "If we fail to acknowledge the reality of the growing role of government in the economy, insisting instead on fighting 21st-century wars with 20th-century terms and tactics, then we are doomed to a fractious and unedifying debate. The sooner we understand where we truly stand, the sooner we can think more clearly about how to use government in today's world.... Whether we like it or not -- or even whether many people have thought much about it or not -- the numbers clearly suggest that we are headed in a more European direction." --Jon Meacham and Evan Thomas in Newsweek's recent lead article

Media heart Obama: "The success of the stimulus package may be measured less by visible achievements than by what does not happen -- the home that is not foreclosed, the family that doesn't slip into poverty, the disease that does not go undiagnosed." --the Associated Press, crediting Obama for what doesn't happen ++ "I like to say that, in some ways, Barack Obama is the first president since George Washington to be taking a step down into the Oval Office. I mean, from visionary leader of a giant movement, now he's got an executive position that he has to perform in, in a way." --ABC's Terry Moran

Let them pay taxes: "Another source of revenue being proposed -- allowing the Bush tax cuts for a family earning over $250,000 a year to expire in 2011, increasing that tax rate from 35 percent to 39.6 percent." --ABC's Jake Tapper **As if the money belonged to the government in the first place, or as if tax increases automatically generate more revenue.

Newspulper Headlines:

Maybe Better Spam Filters Should Be a TARP Precondition: "Nigerian Accused in Scheme to Swindle Citibank" --The New York Times

Fortunately, the Stimulus Includes $15 Billion for Chum: "Shark Attacks Drop; Expert Cites Ailing Economy" --MSNBC.com

That's Not the Only Thing He Should Have Better Regulated: "Bill Clinton: I Should Have Better Regulated Derivatives" --CNN.com

The Terrible Truth About Nazi Germany: "Adolf Hitler Had 'Shocking' Table Manners" --Times (London)

Everything Seemingly Is Spinning Out of Control: "Experts Warn of 'Terminator'-Style Military-Robot Rebellion" --FoxNews.com

Bottom Stories of the Day: "Carter Voices Confidence in Obama Stimulus Plan" --Associated Press

(Thanks to The Wall Street Journal's James Taranto)

VILLAGE IDIOTS

This week's "Quid Pro Homo" Awards: "If Harvey Milk had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by the churches, by the government, by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you, God, for Harvey Milk!" --"Milk" screenplay writer Dustin Lance Black at the Academy Awards ++ "I think it's a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame, and their shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone." --actor Sean Penn, who won "Best Actor" at Sunday's Academy Awards for his portrayal of Harvey Milk

"Someday we'll have to confront the notion that our silly gods cost the world too greatly." --atheist Bill Maher on his film "Religulous"

"What America needs to remember is that this nation is built on the backs of you -- workers who have dedicated their lifetimes to working on behalf of the issues that are so important to this nation. And before we do anything here in this town -- in this country -- we thought it is important to say 'thank you' for the work that you've done, thank you for the work that you're gonna do because we're going to need you working so very hard over the next several years." --Michelle Obama to Department of Agriculture bureaucrats **"Memo to Mrs. Obama: This nation wasn't built on the backs of government workers. Government was built on the backs of government workers. America was built on the backs of those in private enterprise." --Carol Platt Liebau

"It's a mistake. It's a colossal mistake. And, you know, we've seen this happen before ... We've seen a hopeful presidency, Lyndon Johnson's presidency, burn up in the furnace of war. I fear that this brilliant young man, this hopeful new administration, could easily burn their prospect of a great presidency in the war in Afghanistan or elsewhere." --unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers on Obama sending 17,000 troops to Afghanistan

"I don't regret anything I did it to oppose the Vietnam war." --Bill Ayers on setting bombs as part of the Weather Underground

SHORT CUTS

"Britain's Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, is best known for an inspired change of terminology: Last year she announced that henceforth Muslim terrorism (an unhelpful phrase) would be reclassified as 'anti-Islamic activity.' Seriously. The logic being that Muslims blowing stuff up tends not to do much for Islam's reputation -- i.e., it's an 'anti-Islamic activity' in the same sense that Pearl Harbor was an anti-Japanese activity." --columnist Mark Steyn

"Hillary Clinton met with China's President Hu Jintao in the palace in Beijing. She sat grim-faced as China's president issued a stern warning. The last thing the Obama administration wants to hear right now is that Communism doesn't work." --comedian Argus Hamilton

"And now, on top of everything else, Obama has irritated John Galt." --political analyst Rich Galen

"Being gracious winners, this week, liberals howled with delight at George Bush for coming in seventh-to-last in a historians' ranking of the presidents from best to worst. This was pretty shocking. Most liberals can't even name seven U.S. presidents." --columnist Ann Coulter

*****

Veritas vos Liberabit -- Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus, et Fidelis! Mark Alexander, Publisher, for The Patriot's editors and staff.

(Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm's way around the world, and for their families -- especially families of those fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, who granted their lives in defense of American liberty.)