You are hereFeed aggregator / Sources / Campaign For Liberty
Campaign For Liberty
The Judge on Arizona
Fri, 07/30/2010 - 14:47By Matt Holdridge
Judge Napolitano weighs in on the controversial Arizona immigration law. Judge Susan Bolton recently blocked Arizona from enforcing the new policy.
The Arizona legislature deemed the law, "critical to address serious criminal, environmental and economic problems Arizona has been suffering as a consequence of illegal immigration and the lack of effective enforcement by the federal government."
What are your thoughts on Judge Napolitano's verdict?
Ostracizing the Hawks
Fri, 07/30/2010 - 14:29By Tim Shoemaker
There are some ideas whose time never should come... this is certainly one of those. On Thursday, Newt Gingrich suggested America should attack the rest of Bush's "Axis of Evil"...
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich twice called on the United States to attack North Korea and Iran Thursday because the United States has only attacked "one out of three" of so-called "Axis of Evil" members by invading Iraq. He also claimed that Muslims are trying to install Sharia law on America and said that the "War on Terror" should have been a war on "radical Islamists" instead.
Speaking at an American Enterprise Institute event, Gingrich compared not following through on President George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil" agenda with not fully engaging the Axis power in World War II.
"Regime Change" was one of the worst (and most dangerous) policy decisions the neoconservatives ever put forth during the Bush administration. The concept was to quickly move from one country to the next, first Iraq, then Iran, and eventually North Korea. After the US toppled Saddam's regime and Bush declared "mission accomplished", it seemed only logical the Pentagon had set their sights on the Iranian regime next. Perhaps it was an act of providence the US military became bogged down fighting a prolonged insurgency in Iraq that thwarted any potential plans for going after the next target.
Newt Gingrich and furthermore neoconservative chickenhawks in general deserve to be ostracized from the Republican party. Like a gangrenous limb, they must be cut off, never to return to power. These people are not conservative, nor do they stand for truly limited government (which you cannot possibly hope to attain with an interventionist foreign policy). President Bush and the neoconservatives almost destroyed the right completely with eight years of their failed policies. A resurgence of these views should be shunned by anyone who is a friend of small government, personal freedom, and a truly strong national DEFENSE.
Daily Newsline: China on the rise, CIA and Google team up, Recession worse than thought
Fri, 07/30/2010 - 13:35By Gary Howard
Daily Newsline
Friday, July 30, 2010
Day's Theme: Learn Chinese, this boat is sinking
First thing: "I thought I told ya'...we won't stop"
Calls to renounce are silly.
Headline: CHINA BECOMES SECOND BIGGEST WORLD ECONOMY
China has overtaken Japan to become the world's second-largest economy, the fruit of three decades of rapid growth that has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Depending on how fast its exchange rate rises, China is on course to overtake the United States and vault into the No.1 spot sometime around 2025, according to projections by the World Bank, Goldman Sachs and others. (CNBC)
My take: Gotta get that Rosetta Stone for Chinese.
Told you that China was making a come up: From Tiananmen Square to Possible Buffett Successor
We are all screwed (I thought the motto was "Don't be evil"?):
The investment arms of the CIA and Google are both backing a company that monitors the web in real time - and says it uses that information to predict the future.
The company is called Recorded Future, and it scours tens of thousands of websites, blogs and Twitter accounts to find the relationships between people, organizations, actions and incidents - both present and still-to-come. In a white paper, the company says its temporal analytics engine "goes beyond search" by "looking at the 'invisible links' between documents that talk about the same, or related, entities and events."
An ongoing meme, proved faux again and again. (pot calling kettle)
Headlines: Recession deeper than gov't previously thought
The recession was deeper than the government previously thought. The Commerce Department, in revisions issued Friday, estimates the economy shrank 2.6 percent last year -- the steepest drop since 1946. That's worse than the 2.4 percent decline originally estimated. The economy's plunge underscores why the unemployment rate surged to 10.1 percent in October, a 26-year high. (AP)
My take: We already, even if the government didn't.
Headline: July is deadliest month of Afghan war for US
Three U.S. troops died in blasts in Afghanistan, bringing the death toll for July to at least 63 and surpassing the previous month's record as the deadliest for American forces in the nearly 9-year-old war. (AP)
Headine: Health Bill's New Tax Rules Under Fire
Democrats may water down or repeal new tax-reporting rules that are supposed to raise $16 billion for health-care legislation, facing a chorus of criticism about the rules. (Wall Street Journal)
I thought he had better things to do.
Last thing: [2nd]Best job on the planet (1st?)
July deadliest month in Afghanistan
Fri, 07/30/2010 - 10:46By Tim Shoemaker
As the conflict in Afghanistan continues to drag on, it seems each month is deadlier than the last for the armed forces. The AP reports three soldiers died in blasts in Afghanistan bringing the total for the month to 63 US troops, surpassing last months high of 60. Last month had also been the deadliest for international forces with 104 deaths. How many more must die to save face in Afghanistan?
Will You Join C4L's Patriot Club?
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 15:13By SteveBierfeldt
Campaign for Liberty knows how important it is to listen to and respond to the ideas of our grassroots activists throughout the country. As Campaign for Liberty has grown, we have received a number of inquiries and suggestions about new projects and programs that you, our dedicated supporters would like to see.
Within the next few months, Campaign for Liberty would like to launch a number of new programs, the first being a brand new quarterly print newsletter. This newsletter will be filled with updated information, helpful activism tips, in depth interviews, profiles in courage, and much more. A private message from Campaign for Liberty Chairman Ron Paul is featured in each issue. Our newsletter is printed in full color and is delivered right to your home. Impress your liberty loving friends by knowing the, "Who, what and where," before anyone else.
Today we are proud to announce the start of Campaign for Liberty's "Patriot Club," a monthly giving program of $10 or more that will allow us to fund our projects and provide greater access to our grassroots activists. Individuals who sign up to contribute at least $10 or more per month are enrolled in our Patriot Club, and will receive.• In Liberty our official, full color, quarterly newsletter • Supporter recognition gifts, sent to you throughout the year • Exclusive access to "The Movement," our Grassroots Conference calls featuring special project briefings, updates from coordinators and stories from the field from grassroots activists throughout the country • Exclusive acess to "Leaders in Liberty," our interactive tele-town Halls featuring guest speakers, authors, tv/radio hosts and other leaders in the liberty movement.
The plan to fund these projects is ambitious. Initially it requires 500 supporters to join the Patriot Club by October 1st. If we can reach this mark, we will be able to start implementing all of the above. It will then require an additional 500 supporters, or 1,000 total, to join the Patriot Club by November 1st in order to have all of the projects fully functioning, and provide some additional exciting benefits to our members.
As true believers in fiscal responsibility, Campaign for Liberty will not spend money it does not have. Just as we refuse to believe the United States government can continue to tax and spend without consequence, we also refuse to carry debt, no matter how tempting the project may be. That is why these projects, including the first printing of our official newsletter, will only take place when we reach 1,000 members in our Patriot Club.
I hope you are excited about these new projects and the additional grassroots activism they will be able to create. Our race to 1,000 supporters in our Patriot Club begins right now!
Regulating Facebook
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:24By Tim Shoemaker
Whether you love it, or hate it, Facebook has changed the way people interact, stay in touch with old friends, network, etc... Last week, the company announced they have surpassed 500 million users and Congress has set their cross-hairs on the organization after several highly publicized privacy policy changes.
Company executives testified in two separate congressional hearings this week, answering lawmakers' questions about online privacy and the risks posed to consumers who share personal details online.
Both the House and Senate are considering legislation that would place sweeping new rules around how Internet companies are allowed to collect, share and store sensitive information for advertising purposes. Bret Taylor, Facebook's chief technology officer, warned senators Tuesday that imposing vague technological regulations would stifle online innovation.
In April, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) led a group of senators in demanding that the company implement easier-to-use privacy controls. Schumer also sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission calling for regulators to come up with clear rules for Facebook and other social networks.
Congress is once again wading into something they do not understand and do not belong engaging in. People join Facebook voluntarily and put whatever information they choose on their profile. As far as I know, noone has been forced to join Facebook against their will (maybe in extreme cases their friends peer-pressured them into it).
While I would certainly agree with Sen. Schumer the privacy controls on Facebook should be simpler, this is an issue that should be dealt with between the users and the company, not a third party regulator creating arbitrary guidelines.
Daily Newsline: FBI to invade more privacy, Gov makes fake jobs, Californians confirm craziness
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:23By Gary Howard
Daily Newsline
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Day's Theme: The more things change; you get more of the same.
First thing: Not much to celebrate, there's still a drug war.
And a war on freedom: Headline: FBI access to data may expand
The Obama administration is seeking to make it easier for the FBI to compel companies to turn over records of an individual's Internet activity without a court order if agents deem the information relevant to a terrorism or intelligence investigation. (WashPost)
My take: What change? Stand up for the little guy - then go beg "fat cats" for cash...No change here.
More 'JournoList' - more awful 'revelations' about so-called mainstream media.
Most ridiculous quote:
"My point was that fascists had the wherewithal to be truly popular - they offered (racially vetted) people material benefits, that was one of the things Germans and italians liked about them. I don't see american reactionaries making the same offer. that is (one reason) why I don't see them as today's equivalent to the Nazis and Italian fascists. Who were, I guess i need to say this, incomparably evil." [emphasis added for obvious reasons] (Good grief!)
Oh my, spoke too soon again:
"I'd also say that the fascist and National Socialist right had an intellectual heft that the contemporary American right lacks. I'd much rather read Heidegger, Junger, Schmitt, Wyndham Lewis, Ezra Pound etc. than Limbaugh, Coulter, Beck, Mark Steyn, etc."
These folks have serious issues.
Headline: Job Subsidies Also Provide Help to Private Sector
States are putting hundreds of thousands of people directly into jobs through programs reminiscent of the more ambitious work projects of the Great Depression.
But the new efforts have a twist: While the wages are being paid by the government, most of the participants are working for private companies. (NY Times)
My take: If it's paid for by government, it's just a welfare program not a job.
More of the same corruption: OMB nominee got $900,000 after Citigroup bailout
Headline: Court ruling unlikely to change politics of immigration (FYI: Partisan article)
A federal judge's rejection of the most controversial elements of Arizona's immigration law is unlikely to change the entrenched immigration politics in Washington, where not a single Republican senator supports the overhaul that many experts say is needed to fix what President Obama calls a "fundamentally broken" system. (LA Times)
My take: All sides love to keep a 'political football' in play. (No change)
Last thing: Admit it, you thought this already: One In Five Californians Say They Need Mental Health Care (Score!)
So much for transparency...
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 11:02By Tim Shoemaker
"The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act...enacts the toughest Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression...establishing unprecedented levels of oversight, transparency and accountability in the financial system." -- Rep. James Clyburn (SC)
On the heals of President Obama signing the Dodd/Frank Wall Street Reform Bill, Tuesday the SEC cited a provision of the new law that exempts them from disclosing information to the public.
Under a little-noticed provision of the recently passed financial-reform legislation, the Securities and Exchange Commission no longer has to comply with virtually all requests for information releases from the public, including those filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
The law, signed last week by President Obama, exempts the SEC from disclosing records or information derived from "surveillance, risk assessments, or other regulatory and oversight activities." Given that the SEC is a regulatory body, the provision covers almost every action by the agency, lawyers say. Congress and federal agencies can request information, but the public cannot.
That argument comes despite the President saying that one of the cornerstones of the sweeping new legislation was more transparent financial markets. Indeed, in touting the new law, Obama specifically said it would "increase transparency in financial dealings."
The article goes on to argue the SEC is using the provision to cover up their own failures.
The SEC cited the new law Tuesday in a FOIA action brought by FOX Business Network. Steven Mintz, founding partner of law firm Mintz & Gold LLC in New York, lamented what he described as "the backroom deal that was cut between Congress and the SEC to keep the SEC's failures secret. The only losers here are the American public."
FOX Business Network sued the SEC in March 2009 over its failure to produce documents related to its failed investigations into alleged investment frauds being perpetrated by Madoff and R. Allen Stanford. Following the Madoff and Stanford arrests it, was revealed that the SEC conducted investigations into both men prior to their arrests but failed to uncover their alleged frauds.
FOX Business made its initial request to the SEC in February 2009 seeking any information related to the agency's response to complaints, tips and inquiries or any potential violations of the securities law or wrongdoing by Stanford.
Fox Business has announced they will challenge the SEC's interpretation of the new law in court.
Our "Allies" in Afghanistan
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 11:02By Doug Bandow
No wonder the war is going so well!
Consider the allies with whom our troops have to patrol.
Sigh. American personnel are dying because they are trying to build a modern nation state whose security forces prefer to get high than fight bad guys.
Ron Paul on the Fair Sentencing Act
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 16:47By Anthony Gregory
Here Dr. Paul talks on the House floor about the horribly unjust and inequitable drug war, and an effort to stem some of the greatest sentencing abuses. It's a good start, but does not go far enough, Paul concludes.
Here's some more info on the bill.
Obamacare's Bureaucratic Monstrosity
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 13:30By Tim Shoemaker
Republicans serving on the Joint Economic Committee have produced a chart mapping out merely 1/3 of bureaucratic nightmare created by the 2,801 page boondoggle known as Obamacare.
Click here to see a .pdf version.
"For Americans, as well as Congressional Democrats who didn't bother to read the bill, this first look at the final health care law confirms what many fear, that reform morphed into a monstrosity of new bureaucracies, mandates, taxes and rationing that will drive up health care costs, hurt seniors and force our most intimate health care choices into the hands of Washington bureaucrats," said Brady, the committee's senior House Republican. "If this is what passes for health care reform in America, then God help us all."
Brownback, the committee's ranking member, added, "This updated chart illustrates the overwhelming expansion of government control over health choices and the bewildering complexity facing everyone affected by this law. It doesn't take long to see how the recently signed health care bill causes a hugely expensive and explosive expansion of federal control over health care. Personal choices that should be between a doctor and a patient will quickly be strangled in a never ending web of bureaucracy."
Well Nancy, Congress passed it and now Americans are beginning to find out what's in it and it isn't pretty.
Slipping into war...
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 11:19By Tim Shoemaker
Yesterday, Ron Paul spoke on the House floor during debate on a privileged resolution to invoke the War Powers Act and remove our troops from Pakistan.
Dr. Paul highlights how many people thought this administration would shrink our foreign wars. Instead, drone attacks have doubled, civilian casualties are high, we sent $7.5 billion in "aid" to Pakistan and instead of spending it on infrastructure, much of the funds went to fund the ISI (Pakistani intelligence service) who it turns out have been funding the Taliban. Rather than declarations of war, Dr. Paul states "we slip into wars" by slowly increasing the amount of our involvement.
We pay for these wars with an enormous amount of blood and treasure and we can't afford to increase either at this point.
UPDATE: The video has been changed to incorporate all of Congressman Paul's portion of the debate.
Will Obama face an anti-war primary opponent?
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 10:50By Tim Shoemaker
Yesterday, Congress voted to pass the $59 billion war funding bill for Afghanistan. Even though the House Democrats were heavily divided over the bill, and in the end 101 voted against final passage, it still passed 308-114.
Huffington Post highlights an interesting segment on MSNBC's Morning Joe yesterday between Pat Buchanan and PA Governor, Ed Rendell.
PAT BUCHANAN: [Anti-Vietnam sentiment] drew an anti-war candidate, Eugene McCarthy, first into the New Hampshire primary, and after he did fairly well with 42%, it drew Robert Kennedy in against their own president, tore the Democratic Party apart, and led, of course, to a Republican era. If the president is still hanging in to Afghanistan in 2011, 2012, do you see an anti-war candidate coming out of the Democratic Party?
ED RENDELL: It's possible, Pat. It really depends on how far it deteriorates. But on the other hand, if troop withdrawal begins in 2011, if there's some signs that we're trying to get out of there, and I heard, I think you were talking about, if there are only 3,000 American troops, we still have a presence. But if we start to begin to reduce our presence, I think that's probably enough to keep an anti-war candidate out of the race."
It certainly will be something to keep an eye on as the country moves towards the 2012 primaries, but as the author Sam Stein points out: "A primary challenger in 2012, while a sexy topic for political conversation, still seems like a bridge too far."
What do you think? Is it possible the anti-war left will field a candidate that could pose a serious contender against Barack Obama in the primary? Or, do you think they will simply go along to get along and hold their noses to vote for Obama?
Vote on DISCLOSE Act Today!
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 15:59By Tim Shoemaker
Folks, the pressure you're keeping on the Senate is working. Even though the cloture vote is being held today, the path to the 60 votes needed for cloture is still as blurry today as it was one week ago. In fact, as Politico reports this morning, even with President Obama throwing his political clout behind the bill yesterday, it's not guaranteed the entire Democratic caucus will vote for it.
Ben Nelson of Nebraska, for example, broke with his party in 2002 to vote against the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill. His office did not respond to requests Monday about how the senator, who also has voted against his party on recent unemployment benefit packages, intends to vote Tuesday.
However, this is no time to ease up, these final hours before the vote are the most important time when your Senators need to hear from you.
The article quotes Chuck Schumer as saying: "We're working very hard on getting a Republican. You never know until you call a vote."
Call your Senators today and tell them to OPPOSE DISCLOSE by voting NO on all votes including cloture for S. 3628, the DISCLOSE Act.
UPDATE: Here's the link to the live stream debate on C-SPAN2.
UPDATE II: The Senate will reconvene at 2:15pm and the cloture vote has been pushed back till 3pm. Keep those calls coming!
UPDATE III: Vote Fails: 57-41, roll call can be viewed here.
Petitions Delivered
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 14:38By Heather D
Our petitions opposing the DISCLOSE Act were delivered to Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris this morning, ahead of the Cloture vote, which is expected at 3:00 P.M. eastern. Each Senator received 39 page faxes with 1,857 signatures.
Click here to watch the live-stream debate on C-SPAN 2.
There is a very real chance that cloture will fail, so keep making those calls and tell our Senators to vote NO on DISCLOSE.
Dick Durbin - 202-224-2152
Roland Burris - 202-224-2854
For talking points, please see this link.
Daily Newsline: Iraq War boondoggles, Double-dip recession, More DISCLOSE Act
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 14:38By Gary Howard
Daily Newsline
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Day's Theme: Double up
First thing: I like this (humor)
Headline: In Iraq, $2.6B unaccounted for -- That's called boondoggle.
Because of poor record-keeping and lax oversight, the Department of Defense cannot account for how it spent $2.6 billion that belonged to the Iraqi government, according to the inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. (WashPost)
Oh wait...it's even worse than that.
The Defense Department is unable to account for $8.7 billion of the $9.1 billion in Development Fund for Iraq monies in received for reconstruction in Iraq. This according to a study published today by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. (FedNewsRadio)
In other news of incompetence: Great job guys.
For more double whammy headlines-see below:
Headline: Chance of Double-Dip US Recession is High: Shiller
The state of the U.S. economy is worrisome and there is a high possibility of a double-dip recession, one of the property market's most well-known economists said Tuesday.
"For me a double-dip is another recession before we've healed from this recession ... The probability of that kind of double-dip is more than 50 percent," Shiller said. "I actually expect it." (CNBC)
Headline: Consumer Confidence Falls, Lowest Since February
U.S. consumer confidence sank in July to its lowest since February on job market worries, underscoring the slow path to economic recovery, and home prices rose in May but without signs of a sustained rebound, reports released Tuesday showed. (CNBC)
Don't worry, apathy always creeps up on you.
Headline: Dem DISCLOSE push 'reeks of fear'?
A key procedural vote scheduled in the Senate this afternoon on the DISCLOSE Act doesn't appear to have a good chance of passing after Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she wouldn't vote to break filibuster. The House has already passed its version of the bill, but the Senate includes several changes made by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) intended to make the bill more palatable to moderates. (Politico)
Headline: U.S. Senate Democrats Seek to Force a Vote on New Campaign Finance Rules
Corporations and unions seeking to support candidates had been required to spend through regulated political action committees. Companies are still banned from contributing directly to candidates.
The bill would affect all political advertising, including so-called issue ads that are designed to elect particular candidates without directly asking voters to support or oppose them.
Business trade groups such as the Chamber of Commerce would be required for the first time to reveal the companies that fund their political ads. Union-funded organizations running ads for or against candidates also would have to disclose their donors. (Bloomberg)
Book Bombs Away
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 15:33By Matt Holdridge
Commissioned by Campaign for Liberty and written by former Reagan administration official Bruce Fein, American Empire: Before the Fall chronicles how far our foreign policy has come from the Founders' intentions, details the threat to America's security and prosperity posed by mortgaging our future to support the rest of the world, and lays out a plan to strengthen our nation by restoring a foreign policy that adheres to the Constitution.
We want to get the word out on this important new work, and you can help us do that by participating in our August 2nd “Book Bomb.”
Let’s push the book into Amazon's Top One Hundred and demonstrate the strength of support for a constitutional, common sense foreign policy!
Click here to pledge to purchase a copy of American Empireon August 2nd.
As we continue fighting the war of ideas, American Empire: Before the Fall’s vital and powerfully articulated arguments will arm us with the knowledge needed to successfully promote and defend a constitutional, noninterventionist foreign policy.
Daily Newsline: WikiLeaks returns, Journolist again, DISCLOSE Act still?
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 15:33By Gary Howard
Daily Newsline
Monday, July 26, 2010
First thing: WIKILEAKS strikes again, telling us stuff we kinda already know.
Headline: W.H. condemns 'irresponsible' leaks
The White House responded swiftly and sharply to publication Sunday evening of more than 91,000 secret documents painting a bleak picture of the Afghanistan war, calling the leak "irresponsible" and saying that the source - the whistleblower website WikiLeaks - "opposes U.S. policy in Afghanistan."(Politico)
My take: If someone "opposes" U.S. policy, it doesn't mean that what was leaked isn't true.
This 'Journolist' stuff just gets ick-ier, doesn't it?
From the Daily Caller:
Wow: "Palin matters because she is in the spotlight. She's the celebrity. she's the personality kid!
We can't be passive. she won't destroy herself - her flubs will be explained away or equated with slips by the Dems or rebraned [sic] as amusing foible (like GWB's "Grecians") and the charlie gibson media will go along."
Geez: "It requires no particular strategic genius or "message coordination" to recognize that we and the Obama campaign have the next two months to demonstrate that McCain and Palin represent the status quo party..."
Just because you keep saying it, won't make it true.
Headline: Down To Zero For DISCLOSE Act
Senate Democrats have rewritten the DISCLOSE Act, their answer to the Supreme Court's ruling to free up corporate and union political spending, in a last-ditch bid to win over reluctant GOP moderates. But the bill remains in trouble. (National Journal)
My take: Bad news, bad bill
Exempting themselves from the rules everyone else must follow, must be congress.
Last thing: Dumb story of the day: Odorless underwear (I kid you not). Spoke too soon. (Good grief!)
Fantastic Educational Opportunity
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 11:06By Andrew Ward
You can watch the Mises University week-long seminar for free here. Be sure to pass this along to friends and friends who need to hear how and why liberty is the only cure for our economic woes.
Changing Tune
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 11:01By Tim Shoemaker
As President Obama begins to make his case to the American people before the midterm election, he's faced with the daunting challenge of convincing voters things should stay the same in Washington, D.C. rather than his 2008 mantra of "change you can believe in."
The AP writes about Obama's new talking point, accuse Republican policies of causing the crisis and heralding the Democrats for pursuing policies that are "leading us out of the mess."
In order for Republicans to prove they are little more than extensions of ex-President Bush's failed policies (like TARP and the auto-bailout, in addition to much, much, more) the party needs to design clear, articulate plans as to how they would cut the deficit and debt, not just talk about it but actually do it.
One way may be to reign in our foreign policy and have a strong national defense here at home, saving ourselves nearly $1 trillion per year. Another would be to look at wasteful departments and agencies that overlap on issues or that have outlived their purpose (hint: a major problem with bureaucracies is their ability to always draw up some reason to justify their existence and expansion, don't buy it).
In the midterm election it will come down to this, voters will either support the same failed policies that got us into this mess (i.e. bailouts, stimulus, too lose of credit, deficit spending) or they'll pursue what they see as change if it's there for them to see.