Here’s to an inspirational conservative woman–and to Roy Blunt for selecting a brilliant chairman for his Senate campaign.

Mrs. Wagner and I graduated from the same high school. She sent the kindest words of encouragement to me a few years ago when I passed along a blog post I wrote defending myself from a nasty attack. I’m so thankful a woman with her character is undertaking the important work of electing Roy Blunt to U.S. Senate.

Her bio, featured in the Monday press release announcing her new role in the Blunt campaign, follows:

Following nomination by President George W. Bush and confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ann Wagner was sworn in as the 19th U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg where she served for four years until July, 2009. Previously, Ann Wagner was Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee for two terms and also held the position of Chair of the Missouri Republican Party for more than six years. She served for nine years as a local committeewoman in Lafayette Township, Missouri. In the private sector, she held management positions for two Missouri companies: Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, and Ralston Purina in St. Louis. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Ambassador Wagner earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, attending university on a vocal music scholarship. Ambassador Wagner, a St. Louis native and her husband, Ray, live in Ballwin. They have three children: Raymond III, 20, Stephen, 19, and Mary Ruth, 14.

Popularity: 32% [?]

Who else is tired of the health care debate? Sen. Mitch McConnell is right: the American public doesn’t like this and doesn’t support it. Shouldn’t that be enough?

“While final details of this bill are still unknown, here’s what we do know: It will be a thousand-page, trillion-dollar bill that raises premiums, raises taxes and slashes Medicare for our seniors to create new government spending programs. That’s not reform. So, wholly aside from the debate over whether the government gets into the insurance business, the core of the proposal is a bill that the American public clearly does not like, and doesn’t support.”

Who’s ready to move on?

Popularity: 26% [?]

I’m a Sunday subscriber to the Washington Post largely because I like the idea of reading the paper and drinking coffee on a Sunday morning.

In reality, I end up getting so frustrated by the bias and the politics that the only section I read in full is the Arts section, in search of an excuse to get to the Kennedy Center. In reality, Sunday often gets away from me and I sometimes recycle the outdated paper without having read a word.

I’m thrilled to say that didn’t happen today.

No, today I woke up and didn’t need to hurry anywhere, so I opened up the paper–albeit reluctantly–wondering what the staff of the Post would have to say today. Like a masochist, I made my usual first move: the unsigned editorials. And I was shocked to find the Post unexpectedly and unabashedly opposing a second stimulus plan and defending Michelle Rhee, a take-no-prisoners enemy of the AFL-CIO.

They didn’t sound like “the liberal media” today:

“Government has managed to blunt the recession, but at a cost — a higher national debt burden, which future Americans must pay off by working harder and saving more than they otherwise would have. The real question is whether the benefits of pumping even more government fuel into America’s engine outweigh the risks.”

Spoken like a Rush baby, right? It gets better.

“So what is really the cause of the continuing rift between school and union leaders? Is it Ms. Rhee’s blunt style and her budget-mandated reduction in force? Or is it that the union cannot abide, above all in the nation’s capital, a contract under which schoolteachers — like employees throughout the private sector — might have their work judged, and their compensation awarded, in part on how well they do their jobs?”

Take that, union thugs.

The Washington Post better be careful; if they keep up this refreshing attitude on their editorial page, they’re never going to shake this right-wing subscriber.

To be clear, I’m not saying today’s paper was without bias. I’m saying the unsigned editorials were. The top story, “In Today’s Viral World, Who Keeps a Civil Tongue?” suggests that Michelle Malkin doesn’t. It’s the tone I’ve come to expect from the Post, with a forced attempt to appear fair–finally, they acknowledge CodePink is irrational!– and a broad smack at the Right, plus a personal attack at Michelle. I expect articles like this in the Post, as I’m sure Michelle does, too.

But I think Michelle would also applaud the Post for needling the AFL-CIO and Democrats who want to drive the country further into debt.

It’s one small step for the Post, one giant leap for reasonable dissent.

Update: Hmm… Interesting.

Popularity: 55% [?]

If you need a break from politics, head over to TheFoodventure.com, born out of popular food posts from this blog, written by my boyfriend and I. Though it sat fairly dormant for awhile, it’s back and better than ever with daily updates, more pictures, more interaction, more reviews, more wine and, most importantly, more delicious food.

Tomorrow on TheFoodventure.com, look for a review of Sticky Rice, a sushi restaurant in DC’s trendy (but still a little dangerous) H street. You know you love a restaurant when the food makes you sick and you keep going back! Details tomorrow.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheFoodventure.

Popularity: 53% [?]

Posted via web from Katie’s posterous

Popularity: 46% [?]

Kudos to Missouri governor Jay Nixon for recognizing that Missouri isn’t as excited about putting government in control of health care as the Democratic Governor’s Association.

Talking Points Memo reports:

It gives a sense of how tough the health care battle is that Democrats could only get 22 of the 28 governors from their own party to sign a letter to Congressional leaders urging they pass a bill this year.

It’s a standard letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Boehner, telling them states “will only achieve the health care security and stability they need if we succeed in working together with the Congress and the President to achieve health care reform.”

But missing from the signatures at the bottom are six governors: Mike Beebe (AR), Jay Nixon (MO), Bev Perdue (NC), John Lynch (NH), Dave Freudenthal (WY) and Brad Henry (OK).

The letter, circulated by Reid’s office and the Democratic Governors Association late Friday, is by no stretch of the imagination controversial.

“The status quo is no longer an option and we support getting health reform done this year,” the letter reads, making no mention of the public option or anything else that might rattle politicians.

The post goes on to explain that the letter moved quickly, which could account for some of the missing signatures–but let’s hope that Nixon’s absence is no accident.

Popularity: 45% [?]

You have probably heard by now that Gen. Stanley McChrystal announced that he’d talked to the president only once since his June appointment. What you may not have read is that earlier this year, Andy Stern, president of SEIU, estimated that he meets with Obama once a week at the White House.

Why is this a problem? Well, take a look at these headlines and click through to read the posts if you’re looking for more evidence:

SEIU and the “persuasion of power;” Update: St. Louis thuggery on tape
SEIU MEMBER SMASHES FEMALE TEA PARTY PROTESTER IN FACE (Video)
Who’s Manufacturing the Angry Mob Now?
Unreal!… SEIU Thugs Who Beat a Black Conservative & Smashed a Woman’s Face Claim They Were the Real Victims …Update: SEIU Leader Behind Attacks
SEIU exploiting swine flu risk in Chicago schools
SEIU Leader Sentenced to 25 Years for Child Molestation
Inside SEIU president Andy Stern’s culture of corruption

…and those are just a few instances from the last 2 months or so. We could go on and on.

Now, McChrystal and Obama have spoken since that 60 Minutes interview–Lefty blogs said Obama was bowing to pressure; I say he was doing his job–but the fact remains: Obama has prioritized corrupt labor unions over victory in Afghanistan.

But…don’t take my word for it. Read what Michael E. O’Hanlon of the liberal Brookings Institution told the New York Times: “I don’t think I can defend him for being out of touch with his commander. He has other people who advise him. But there’s no one else with the feel on the ground that McChrystal has.”

What do you think? Do you find the presidents’ priorities alarming?

Popularity: 47% [?]

Posted via web from Katie’s posterous

Popularity: 59% [?]