Austin Hill Blog

It's Waaay Too Much Like Chavez...

2009-03-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

I've been disturbed about President Obama's attempts to simply "silence" anybody in the media who may dare to question him, or, worse yet (GASP!) - - DISAGREE with him.

He still has this very inconvenient thing called The United States Constitution, and the First Amendment, that prohibits him from entirely shutting-down the media he doesn't like.

But recall that, during the presidential campaign, when a local TV news anchor in Florida dared to ask VP nominee Joe Biden if the Obama/Biden economic plans were intended to make the U.S. more like a European socialist state, the campaign made it clear afterwards that the particular television station involved would "never again" have access to either candidates Obama and Biden, nor President Obama and Vice President Biden.

Now, in less that 7 weeks as President, Obama and his "team" have taken to personally attacking no less than three American media personalities who have dared to question or disagree. The White House plan to attack Rush Limbaugh is well known. But financial talk show host Jim Cramer of CNBC television (who is definetly non-political on his show) has been a target of the President, and so has CNBC TV's Rick Santelli (details HERE).

Cramer has offered his own response to the White House, and you can read it HERE.

But the really bad news here is that the President of the United States is behaving like the Dictator of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. Read the story of Dictator Chavez "cracking down" on media in his country that dares to question or disagree with him (story HERE) - - and consider the differences between Obama and Chavez.

The only thing standing in the way of Obama "going all the way Chavez" is the United States Constitution - - an "old, antiquated document" that has very little relevance to many Americans today

Awakening The Welfare Recipient Within...

2009-03-01T07:15:00.001-08:00

For millions of my fellow Americans, President Barack Obama is awakening the welfare recipient within.

Perhaps it’s his dulcet-toned voice. Maybe it’s his charming personality. Whatever the reason, it appears that in the era of Obama, millions of Americans have discovered that there is a welfare recipient deep within them.

For some Americans, an inner welfare recipient is not news. Yet for others, this seems to be a new discovery, and Washington’s invitation (which in some cases is a demand) to feast at the public trough is not only irresistible, it is as welcomed as a cup of cool, refreshing water.

To be certain, those with an inner welfare recipient comprise a diverse bunch. It includes highly paid corporate executives who, having managed their companies into failure, and not only welcome but demand welfare, lest they have to experience the consequences of their management.

It includes state Governors who without hesitation disavow responsibility for leading their state into deficits, blame it all on “the recession,” and now welcome the life-saving federal welfare to “close the budget gap.” Included here is the never-girly-man-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who, with California teetering on bankruptcy, instinctively sang praises to Obama for providing “relief,” and then implemented yet another crushing tax hike on the citizenry (note to Arnold: your state’s economy has long been lauded as “the sixth largest economy in the world,” but during your tenure it has slipped to number nine - - how girly-man is that?).

It includes people who purchased more of a house than they could afford, and now can’t make their house payments. It even includes Americans whose home is worth less than what they owe on their mortgage, and, while they can still make the payments, gosh darn, it just seems so “unfair” to have to keep your commitments in a situation like that…

It includes Americans who need condoms and digital tv converter boxes and environmentally friendly golf carts and tattoo removal and “cricket control” and childcare and “the arts” - - and don’t want the burden of paying for these things themselves.

In the short time since the current Congress convened and President Obama took the oath of office in January, we’ve seen lots of our scarce, hard-earned dollars allotted for things that awaken the welfare recipient within. Millions, billions, trillions - - who can really keep track of just how many of our dollars have been spent? President Obama and the Congress call this economic “stimulus” spending. But those who will be on the receiving end of these expenditures understand that, in reality, it is the welfare recipient within that is truly stimulated.

I, for one, am unable to relate to any of this. I was abused by my Great Depression-era Parents who indoctrinated me with the idea that independence and self-reliance were the means to a good life, and that there is a level of “shame” entailed in being a welfare recipient. But thank God Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina was on hand to set me straight, noting that it can actually be shameful to NOT be the recipient of government welfare. In fact, Congressman Clyburn went so far as to say that if South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford were to refuse federal welfare for his state, that act alone might even be deemed “racist.”

My only hope is that there are others in America who are like me, and believe that cultivating an inner welfare recipient is something to be avoided. Obviously, I’m out of step with the “values” of Barack Obama and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nancy Pelosi and Dick Durbin and James Clyburn and Chuck Schumer - - heck, I’m even out of step with those family -oriented “Utah values” of Harry Reid.

But last week, After President Obama’s address to the nation, Michael Maslansky of the Luntz-Maslansky Strategic Research firm in Virginia conducted a poll. He discovered that there is now a new divide that has emerged in our country, a divide even greater than that between Republicans and Democrats. He calls it the “responsibility divide,” a philosophical distinction between those who, to use my terms, “have an inner welfare recipient,” and those who believe that our government has now begun to enable other people’s irresponsible behavior.

It’s not clear yet as to which category is greater in number - - those who embrace the welfare state, and those dull, boring, mean-spirited, humorless folks like me who are responsibility advocates.

But the era of Obama has now been defined, and the lines have now been drawn. And as more of our fellow Americans discover their inner welfare recipient, watch for the “responsibility divide” to get even bigger.

President Obama and "Only Government"

2009-02-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

It was a rough press conference, to say the least.

President Obama was questioned about more bizarre remarks made by his own Vice President, and he seemed to laugh right along with the reporters in the room, as they were laughing at Biden.

More importantly, and more tragically, President Obama continued with his apocalyptic rhetoric about what will, necessarily, happen to the United States economy, if American citizens don't fully embrace (and the United States Congress doesn't pass) the big government giveaway bill, jokingly referred to as "the economic stimulus bill."

More alarming, still, was his insistence that - - to use his words - - "only government" can break the recession (read the details HERE).

No reference to the hard work and productivity of the American worker.

No reference to the job creation brought about from investors who take risks with their money and build business that employ others.

No reference to the fact that, even in an economic downturn, the wondrous American economy still produces a greater GDP than any other nation - - greater than that of China, a country with three times the population of the U.S.

Last fall, I published a national column about the similarities on economic ideas, between then-Senator Obama, and Mr. Obama's father, Barack Hussein Obama Sr.

Drawing from research compiled by Investor's Business Daily, I specified how Senator Obama's plans for the United States economy mirrored the proposals put forth by his communist father, while he was working for the government of Kenya back in the early 1960's.

Worse still, Senator Obama's socialistic ideas were seemingly being embraced by the American people. Yet the plans put forth by his communist father were resoundingly rejected by the Kenyan government, because Kenya was actually undergoing a pro-Western, free-market revolution, and Mr. Obama's socialistic ideas were considered to be a "step backwards" from where Kenya really needed to go.

In fact, Barack Hussein Obama Sr.'s plans were so extreme, he actually was fired from his job in the government of Kenya.

But President Barack Obama knows with certainty that "ONLY GOVERNMENT" can save the United States from the current recession.

It's been said that each new generation must, in some cases, learn the same lessons over and over again.

But must each new U.S. President learn - - on-the-job, no less - - how and why the U.S. economy works, while third-world economies do not?

"Change" is underway, and it's going to be a rough ride. Stay tuned. And stay vigilant.

Power Corrupts

2009-02-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

As the government hand-out bill is hanging in the balance on Capitol Hill, my latest column from Townhall Dot Com details how quickly President Obama, members of his Adminisration, and members of Congress have abandoned campaign pledges, broken promises, and have embraced their own self-serving agendas, in this new era of "Hope and Change."

The link to the column is HERE

Stay tuned. This is NOT the end of wealth re-distribution in this current Congress. It is ONLY the beginning.

But If He's Republican, Is He Really "Black?"

2009-01-30T16:48:00.000-08:00

Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele has been elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

I think this is great news.

But will Liberal America actually accept him as "truly black?"

Recall that 8 years ago, when Colin Powell was selected to be President Bush's Secretary of State, he was chided as "not really black." But why not? Powell's ancestry traces back to Jamaica, not to American slaves, and that was supposedly why he wasn't regarded as "truly black."

But more realistically, Powell was serving in a Repubplican Administration, and he himself (at the time anyway) was a Republican. And "real black" Americans can't be Republicans, right?

And when it was Condoleeza Rice's turn to be Secretary of State, she got the same treatment. A black person who is a Republican, just isn't "really black."

So what is to come of Michael Steele?

Let's talk about it tonight on the Austin Hill Show.....

www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for streaming audio. Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL...

Are You On The Side Of The Republican Party, Or On The Side Of Rush Limbaugh?

2009-01-27T16:50:00.000-08:00

Politico Dot Com broke a story late this afternoon indicating that a Republican Congressman, Phil Gingrey of Georgia, has told Rush Limbaugh to "back off."

Over the past two days, Limbaugh has responded to President Obama telling Republican congressional leaders to "stop listening" to his show. Limbaugh has surmised that Obama MAY BE more threatened by himself, than by the Republican leadership in the Congress - - and that doesn't speak well of the Republican congressional leadership.

Limbaugh has also surmised that, in any event, Obama is talking about him, so as to distract people's attention from the real issue - - his huge, "stimulus" spending legislation.

NOW, however, Republican Congressman Gingrey has told Limbaugh to "back off," and claims that Limbaugh, Hannity and "the rest of them" (all us talk show hosts, I guess) don't understand what it is to exhibit leadership in the Congress.

Is he right?

And whose side are you on?

Listen on line at www.TheAustinHillSHow.Com . Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Is It Time For America To Become A Weaker Country?

2009-01-26T16:42:00.000-08:00

President Obama campaigned on a pledge to reduce weaponry in space. Today, Reuters reports that on the President's website, there is a pledge to rid the universe of "weapons" in space....a nice goal, perhaps, but it is difficult to determine what a "weapon" is in space, given that even a weather tracking satellite can be used as a "weapon." If Obama enters into an international agreement, and commits the U.S. to not deploying "weaponry" in space, this would weaken the U.S.

Additionally, President Obama announced plans to allow individual states the freedom to set individual auto emissions standards...which makes it more difficult for an ailing car industry to manufacture cars tailored to more, individualized specifications...which makes the cost of the care rise....

In short, this will weaken the automobile industry.

And of course, last week President Obama ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prision facility.

We seem to be headed on a path of a weaker America, weaker economically, militarily, and otherwise. Could this, perhaps, be the goal?

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright once lamented that America was during the Clinton years (and still is) the world's only remaining "superpower."

Could this lament now be permeating the Obama Administration?

And is it time for us to be "weaker" - - just to make it more fair for the rest of the world?

We'll talk about it tonight on The Austin Hill Show - - 1 - 888 -630-WMAL, if you'd like to join the discussion. Listen at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

A Better World For Terrorists...

2009-01-22T16:15:00.001-08:00

On his second full-day in office, President Obama has ordered the closure of the Gitmo detention center.

On the surface this looks like America is "lightening up" and "going easier" on combatting terror. . How else should the world's terrorists think of America, knowing that one of our new President's top priorities is to close down a prison facility where some of our best interrogation work is done?

But beneath the surface, a serious political problem could be brewing for President Obama. What do we do with the approximately 245 terrorists that remain at Gitmo, chief among them, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?

Talk is underway to place some of these thugs in the Fort Leavenworth "Disciplinary Barracks." Located in Kansas, Fort Leavenworth is the only maximum disciplinary facility in the entire Department of Defense.

But why should the smalltown community surrounding Fort Leavenworth be forced to deal with the threat of dangerous enemy combatants in its own community? Their town would immediately become a terrorist target in a far greater way than they are now.

We'll talk about this big news, tonight on The Austin Hill Show.

Listen at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

And join the program from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Does President Obama Get A "Pass" Because He's Black???

2009-01-21T16:39:00.000-08:00

You might think that's a "racist" sort of question. But no less than Juan Williams, Fox News commentator, probes this question today in the Wall Street Journal. Williams says we ned to judge Obama on his "performance," and NOT on his racial status.

But will we judge Obama that way?

We'll talk about that tonight.

Also....earlier today at the National Cathedral, the Obamas, the Bidens, and the Clintons attended a prayer service.

Not big news, in and of itself, but as the National Anthem was being played...only Obama and Hillary placed their "hand over their heart."

Tacky? Bad taste? A problem?

Bill Clinton, to his credit, was singing his heart out. But the former Prez, and the Vice President and his wife, did nothing.

Let's talk about this, and more tonight. Get streaming audio at www.Theaustinhillshow.com and join the show at 1-888 630-WMAL.

Can America REALLY Be Friends With "All Nations?"

2009-01-20T16:31:00.000-08:00

President Obama said in his inaugural address today that, in essence, America is now, once again, a friend to all nations.

Is that true?

Have we ever been friends to "all nations?"

And is that a realistic, or even desirable objective, today?

Let's talk about it tonight.

Also....how long will President Obama remain the "teflon President?" How long can he continue to blame President Bush for a declining stock market, rising unemployment, or even a terrorist attack?

I suspect that because he is the "First Black President," he may remain immune from just about all potential presidential criticisms for most of the next 4 years.

We'll talk about these, and other items, today, on a special "inaugural addition" of "The Austin Hill Show."

Listen to the show at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com.

Also........join the program at 1-888-630-WMAL.

It's All About Bush, And His "Farewell..."

2009-01-14T16:32:00.001-08:00

Tonight, we'll be broadcasting President George W. Bush's "Farewell Address To The Nation," beginning at 8pm Eastern Time.

Bush is typically a man of relatively few words, and we are told that his nationwide address will only last ten to fifteen minutes.

However, I'm prepared for it to go a bit longer, given the historical nature of this moment.

But no matter how long it does or does not last, we'll talk about it on The Austin Hill Show, afterwards.

What is Bush's true legacy?

Has his impact on the world been primarily good, or primarily bad?

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

So, What Really Is His Legacy???

2009-01-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

President George W Bush held his final press conference at the White House today. He reflected on his presidency briefly, defending himself on some issues, lamenting the outcome of others, and casting his vision for the future.

But how would YOU rate this President?

Join me tonight on The Austin Hill Show, and we'll talk about it.

The number is 1-888-630 WMAL; for streaming audio visit ww.TheAustinHillShow.Com .

Also on the show tonight.........is it time to legally "ban" mobile phone use while driving a car, in D.C.?

And a report in the Los Angeles Times indicates that Obama's first decision, after he becomes President, will be to close Guantanamo Bay Prison by executive order.

Good thing or not?

We'll talk about it, tonight...

Is It Worse When Republicans Do It???

2009-01-09T16:47:00.001-08:00

"Do what?" you ask....I mean, is it worse when Republicans advance the "cause" of big, wasteful government, or is it worse when Democrats do it?

One would expect "big government" from Democrats. But in his final days in office, Republican President George W. Bush seems determined to be as wasteful as possible.

What do you make of it?

We'll talk about this, and more, tonight on The Austin Hill Show.

Call 1-888-630-WMAL from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada to join the show. And listen online at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com ...

Breaking: Obama To Negotiate With Hamas

2009-01-08T16:50:00.001-08:00

Not much time for me to post here tonight. But a British journal reports that Obama is going to "open up discussions" with Hamas, to negotiate for "peace."

Join the Austin Hill Show tonight, at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Listen online at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

Also on tap for tonight....

What can we expect from Obama on illegal immigration? As tough a stance as President Bill Clinton offered?

Listen...you may be surprised at what you hear...

Cutting Back On Social Security? How Dare He???

2009-01-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Today President-elect Obama hinted at the need to 'regin-in" spending on Social Security (read the story HERE).

This is interesting coming from a Democrat. In previous years when Republicans proposed NOT to cut back on Social Security spending, but rather to modestly allow for "private" investing of one's Social Security withholdings, Democrats went NUTTS, claiming that Republicans are going to destroy the retirement plans of All Americans.

But now it's okay for Obama to propose cutting back on benefits?

WOW!

Let's talk about this tonight, on The Austin Hill Show.

Also.......the "Adult Entertainment" industry is seriously petitioning the U.S. Federal Government for a corporate bailout.

Is there any end in sight to who will shamelessly beg for government handouts?

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Is It Time To Be "Friends" With Our "Enemies?"

2009-01-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

Bloomberg News is reporting that Obama may make good on his pledge to befriend America's enemies, by meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez first. It indicates that Obama might like to "negotiate" with the Communist Dictator of Venezuela, on issues of "mutual interest between the nations" - - like poverty, drug control, and so forth.

Is it time? Is this the "change" in U.S. policy that you were hoping for?

We'll talk about it tonight on The Austin Hill Show. www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for streaming audio.

Also.........Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that Senator John McCain is "ready to work with Democrats" to enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform again.

Sounds like McCain's best attempt to "stick it in the eye" of the Senate Republicans.

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL. That's toll free from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.

See you tonight from 8 til 10pm Eastern.

Is It Time To Be "Friends" With Our "Enemies?"

2009-01-06T16:13:00.001-08:00

Obama Prepared To Be "Friends" With "Enemies?"

2009-01-06T16:07:00.002-08:00

Obama Prepared To Be "Friends" With "Enemies?"

2009-01-06T16:07:00.001-08:00

What Is Worse?

2009-01-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

Last week, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, facing criminal charges, announced that he WAS INDEED going to appoint a successor to fulfill Barack Obama's Senate term, despite Obama, and most of the U.S. Senate, calling on him to resign and let "the next Governor" make the appointment.

When that happened, Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois made the point that Blago's selection, Roland Burris, would be the ONLY black person in the U.S. Senate. He then insinuated that it would be wrong to "block" the appointment of America's only would-be black Senator.

Today, Roland Burris has declared that "the Lord has ordained" that he become a Senator.

So.........which is worse? Playing the race card, or playing the "religion card?"

We'll talk about it tonight, on The Austin Hill Show. Visit www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for streaming audio.

Also........Barack Obama has declared that if HIS economic stimulus plan is not implemented immediately, unemployment in the U.S. could rise to 10%.

Why is he insisting on using threatening and manipulative language to move his agenda forward? Why must he instill fear, to show leadership?

Join the show from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada at 1-888-630-WMAL.

What I Saw At McCain HQ, On Election Night 2008

2008-12-27T14:51:00.000-08:00

This column will publish at Townhall Dot Com at 12midnight Eastern Time, tonight.

Here it is in advance......

Viewing the United States through the eyes of a foreign national is one thing. And viewing the United States through the eyes of foreign media professionals is another thing.

So as we close-out 2008, and begin a new year with the soon-to-be President Obama, the view from the “foreign news desk” may shed some light on some of the ways in which the world misunderstands both our country, and our President-elect.

I don’t have any “McCain scandal” to tell. No tabloid-style inside scoop about John McCain and Sarah Palin squabbling behind the scenes on election night, or Palin’s daughter’s boyfriend’s mom doing drugs, or “marital tension” boiling-over between celebrity Sarah and jealous husband Todd.

But on November 4, I was at McCain-Palin headquarters in John McCain’s hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. The headquarters were set-up at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore Hotel and Resort, a facility where Mr. McCain has spent election day for every one of his previous Senate campaigns, relaxing and watching the returns being reported.

I was hunkered-down in the “central media center,“ which was, essentially, a very large banquet facility packed with electronic equipment, and journalists and technicians from, literally, all over the world.

By 1pm Mountain Time, having watched multiple reports on the Fox Newschannel and CNN about “exit interviews” at polling centers on the east coast, there was a bit of a “lull in the action.” That’s when Ian, a reporter from Dublin, Ireland seated at the work station next to me, asked me to join him for lunch. And after some shop talk over food and beverages, the conversation got really interesting.

“You realize Europe wants Obama to win this thing, don’t you?” he asked.

“I know that’s a widely-held perception” I replied.

“You don’t think the polls are accurate?” he asked.

“I’m skeptical of them."

“The problem with McCain,” Ian explained, “is that he is perceived as being another war monger, jus like Bush, and Europe is fed-up with Bush.”

“Yes, that is another widely-held perception” I told him. “But I’m even skeptical of this supposed hatred of Bush.”

“What’s to be skeptical about?” he asked.

“Well, consider this” I told him. “During the Bush presidency, no less that four heads-of-state have campaigned on Bush-like themes of cutting taxes, and taking a strong stance against Islamic-driven terrorism, and also promised to their countrymen closer ties with the United States and the Bush Administration itself. Stephen Harper of Canada, Angela Merkel of Germany, Nicolas Sarkozy in France, and Tony Blair of England all campaigned on these platforms, in one fashion or another, and they all won their respective elections. So while the opinion polls may reflect Bush hatred, ballot boxes have conveyed something different, and I take the election outcomes more seriously than I do opinion polls.”

Ian seemed a bit surprised by this analysis, yet he didn’t try to argue about it. Changing the topic, he then asked me “so is Fox Newschannel really the most popular cable tv news outlet in the U.S.?”

“Yes, it is consistently ranked the highest in viewer ship” I told him.

“I find that ‘fair and balanced’ moniker to be very amusing” he said.
“Seems to me that much of what I see there is anything but balanced.”“I think you need to separate the news from the talk shows” I told him. “Fair and balanced is meant to describe the news product, while the talk shows are opinion and editorial-based.”“But do you even agree that the news is either fair, or balanced?” he asked.

“I do” I told him. “Juxtaposed with the liberal bias that is inbred within other news organizations, Fox is refreshingly un-biased.”

“That’s interesting” he said with a smirk on his face. I could tell he was skeptical, but was politely choosing not to argue.

Later that night, when the clock struck 9pm on the West Coast, and California was “called” for Obama, and Obama was thus declared the winner of the election, several American journalists began cheering, “high-fiving” each other, and dancing about in the McCain media center. A shot of staffers jumping and hugging on the set at CNN in Atlanta appeared on our big screen monitors, as well.
“Oh dear God,” Ian exclaimed in his thick Irish brogue. “You weren’t jokin about the bias.”“Pardon me” I replied, not quite understanding his point.

“I said you weren’t jokin about bias in American media” he said. “What’s with all this celebration for one candidate over the other?”

“It’s real” I told him. “You’re seeing some American media professionals in a rare moment of candor. Usually the bias is more subtle, but it’s always present. That’s why you can’t believe all the wonderful things told to you by the American press about Obama and other liberal politicians, nor can you believe everything terrible told to you about Bush and other conservatives.”

Conservative Americans have developed a healthy skepticism of our nation’s dominant, mainstream media. It’s time, now, to develop a skepticism of how our nation is being portrayed in the foreign media, as well. This will be especially important as we enter into the era of Obama.

Can He (Bush) Change Your Mind Now?

2008-12-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

An interesting poll is out today, indicating that Barack Obama is the "most admired man in America." However, President Bush is still the second "most admired man in America."

How can that be?

President Bush has an approval rating of 29%; his disapproval rating is 67% (4% of Americans are "unsure").

And what is also noteworthy, is the fact that Bush was the number one "most admired man in America" for the previous seven years - - despite the fact that his disapproval rating has been quite high for the past 2-3 years.

So how "bad" is Bush, really?

And while we're at it - - is there anything he can do on his way out the door that would change your mind about him?

For me, the very best thing he can do on his way out, is to offer a presidential pardon to former Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos, and Jose Compean.

If you don't know about these guys, visit www.AgentRamos.Com and you'll get the idea.

We'll talk about this tonight on The Austin Hill Show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for links and streaming audio).

Also...are you stimulating it? I'm referring to "the economy." Shopping bargains galore are available all over the country.

And what needs to happen next, in the ongoing Blagojevich-Obama scandal? It's a mess...we'll spell it out, explain where it stands currently, and get your response as to how the mess should be "cleaned up."

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Rick Warren? Or The Democratic Party?

2008-12-22T16:19:00.000-08:00

Who best represents your view of marriage and family: Rick Warren, or the Democratic Party?

And isn't it time for the Democratic Party to just be honest and declare itself to be the party of gay marriage?

The furor over Pastor Rick Warren's selection to perform the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration continues...and the Democratic Party is outraged with both Warren, and the next President.

Which side are you on?
We'll talk about it tonight.......

Also.......Joe Biden said that he and President-elect Barack Obama are working to support "working families."

What does that mean?

And who is not a part of a working family?

And is it the government's job to support non-working families, too?

And isn't it true that Obama and Biden promised to impune and damage SOME working families - - that is, didn't they pledge to raise taxes and take money away from working families that worked too hard and made too much money?

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Listen online at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

Patience Is Running Out? Oh, Really, Mr. Obama? With Whom?

2008-12-19T16:11:00.000-08:00

Today the President-elect stated that "the American People's patience is running out" with the Auto companies.

Oh really?

Is it a problem with the car companies? or with the United Autoworker's Union? Or with the President? Or the Congress? Or the President-elect?

As I see it, the car companies have allowed themselves to be crippled by the UAW.

The UAW has done the crippling.

And the politicians are enabling the behavior to continue.

How 'bout you? Who are you angry with here? With whom have you become impatient?

We'll talk about it tonight on The Austin Hill Show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com ).

Also......in Maryland, a restaurant owner is being criminally charged for hiring illegal immigrants to work for him.

Is this an appropriate response to the problem of illegal immigration?

I think a more appropriate response is to secure the U.S. borders, and deport illegal immigrants, rather than impugn American business owners.

But you tell me...join the show from anywhere in the United States at 1-888-630-WMAL (9625).

So Why The "Warren Flap?"

2008-12-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

I've been shocked at the outrage over Pastor Rick Warren's selection to offer the invocation at Obama's inauguration.

What's this all about?

On the left, homosexual activists are irate about a "pro marriage, anti abortion" Pastor. And this is symptomatic of things to come (Obama simply can't keep all the lefty activists happy).

On the right, however, social conservatives are behaving outrageously.

And we're going to talk about it tonight.

1-888-630-WMAL is the number.

To hear streaming audio, visit www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

So, How Bad Is It (The Economy) Really?

2008-12-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

There is some evidence out today that suggests that we are starting to turn a corner with the economic downturn, and that we are poised for a rebound.

And perhaps equally as important, there is polling data out today that suggests that people's perceptions of how bad or good the economy is, might be improving a bit.

What's interesting is that when Americans are asked about their own personal economic situations, most Americans feel pretty good. It isn't until you begin asking about the economy, generally, that people start going negative.

So, what's that all about? And how bad is it - - really?

We'll talk about that. And, who is more entitled to be a Senator: Caroline Schlossberg (Kennedy), or Chelsea Clinton?

Join the Austin Hill Show at 1-888-630-WMAL; and for streaming audio, and audio on-demand, visit www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

Is The Obama Administration Mired In Corruption Before It Begins?

2008-12-15T16:10:00.000-08:00

"Obama will report contacts with Governor Blagojevich next week." That's the headline that has been prevalent all afternoon and evening today.

In the meantime claims that a "review" indicates that there was no "inappropriate" contact between his camp, and the Governor's. But the "review" was conducted by Obama's own lawyers.

So if there was nothing inappropriate, why not just come on out and reveal it all - - NOW?

We'll talk about this tonight.

Also....is John McCain still the leader of the Republican Party? Was he ever the "leader," in the minds of most Republicans?

He was certainly acting like he still is, in his nationwide television interview yesterday.

But why?

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

And listen online at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

Who Do You "Blame?""

2008-12-12T16:32:00.001-08:00

So who do you "blame" for the failure of the so-called automotive industry "bailout bill?"

If there is any "blame" entailed in this at all, it lies squarely with the UAW union....

The Republican Senate minority - - the only road blocks to the passage of this bill - - made a whole heck of alot of concessions, but the UAW? Oh, no, not them....The Senate Republicans wanted "a date certain" whereby the UAW would adjust downward the wages of the American auto manufacturers, and made the wages commensurate with those of Japanese manufacturers that assemble here in the U.S.

Pretty reasonable demand, but not for the UAW...

So...who do you "blame?"

We'll talk about it tonight on The Austin Hill Show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com )...

Also....is Rush Limbaugh bad for the Republican Party? Colin Powell thinks so.

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL...

Better-Off With, Or Without?

2008-12-11T15:56:00.001-08:00

The wranging continues over whether or not our federal government should "bail out" America's automotive manufacturers.

With roughly 63% of Americans opposing the idea, it's interesting that the Democratically controlled congress is still pushing for the bailout legislation. And it's even more interesting that Republicans in the more-moderate-than-the-House U.S. Senate seem to be the roadblock that is preventing the legislation.

So would we be better-off with it, or without it? And is "saving" a U.S. industry a "patriotic" thing to do?

We'll talk about it tonight on The Austin Hill Show.

Also.......some are saying that President-elect Barack Obama needs to put forth an agenda for "Black America," and that he has, thus far, failed to do so.

Is that true? And what would that agenda look like?

Join the show from 8-10pm Eastern at 1-888-630-WMAL...

Is America's Government Going To Be Thrown Off Course?

2008-12-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

Are you concerned that America's Government will be thrown off-course, given the scandal of the Illinois Governor and President-elect Obama's connection to it?

If you're an ardent Obama supporter, you might find that offensive.....the very insinuation that the Dear Leader Obama is "involved."

But he does have a long-standing close relationship with the Governor of his home state (as any US Senator would).

And even if Obama didn't discuss the "sale" of his Senate seat with the Governor, could it be that Obama's "staffers" - - David Axelrod and Rahm Immanuel - - did discuss the "sale?"

Sadly, a new Presidential administration is about to begin, mired in scandal.

Could this distract the new President from leading the nation through what he has labeled "the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," and from protecting the nation from terrorism?

We'll talk about it tonight on The Austin Hill Show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for links and streaming audio).

Also.........Obama granted his first interview to a newspaper recently, and the interview appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. He made it clear that he intends to "repair" America's image in "the Muslim World."

So, does America have "repair work" to do, or does the Muslim World have its own repair work to do?

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL (toll free from anywhere in the United States and Canada).

2008-12-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

Today the Washington Post stated in an editorial that Montgomery County, Maryland needs to "get tougher" about policing illegal immigration.

Montgomery County has endured a 1 year old shot on a county bus, an elderly woman burned alive in her house, and a waiter stabbed to death by suspected illegal immigrants.

Okay...and is there a region of the country that needs to "go easier" on illegal immigration?

We'll talk about that tonight...

Also.....President Bush took a tour today of the National COunterterrorism Center in McLean, VA today....and afterwards, spoke to the press and reasserted that the greatest threat to the United States today is a terrorist attack.

He's been saying that for over 7 years.

And now that he'll be gone from office in 43 days, one has to wonder....is he still right about this?

Join us tonight....the number is 1-888-630-WMAL.

Streaming audio is at www.TheAustinHillSHow.Com

Will the SCOTUS Be Politically Correct?

2008-12-05T16:47:00.001-08:00

If the Supreme Court of the United States does NOT choose to hear the Donofrio case - - the case arguing that Barack Obama is not a "naturally born citizen" and therefore inelligble to be President - - will it be because of "political correctness?"

Some would say so. And it's interesting that on a day like today, when many Americans are waiting in suspence to see what the Supreme Court does with the matter, OJ Simpson ran out of political correctness-based good luck, and was convicted kidnapping and armed robbery.

We'll talk about the timing of these two events, tonight on The Austin Hill Show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com).

Also.......is there really a "War On Christmas" this year? Hostility in the United States towards Christmas has been on the uptick in recent years - - but how about this year?

Join me - - 1-888-630-WMAL is the number from anywhere in the U.S.

Supreme Court Weighs Obama Presidency..

2008-12-04T16:02:00.001-08:00

Tommorrow, we should know if the SCOTUS is going to consider a challenge to President-elect Obama's status as a "natural-born citizen" of the U.S.

Quite frankly, I don't think the court will intervene on this, nor do I believe that this is a good idea.

But I'll be talking about it tonight, on The Austin Hill Show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com).

Also..........if Obama critics remain focused on his "country of origin," doesn't that take the focus away from where it should be....like scrutinizing his national security plans, his economic plans, and so forth?

The problems that are still unfolding in India spell major trouble for the United States, and Americans best be focused on how our government, and our President-to-be, address them.

We'll talk about these items, and more, tonight from 8-10pm Eastern.

To join the program, it's 1-888-630-WMAL.

A New, Acceptable Form of Bigotry In The Age Of Obama?

2008-12-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

Say it isn't so! An "acceptable form of bigotry" in America, just as we prepare to inaugurate our "First Black President?"

Well, if you happen to be a Mormon, you might feel that way. And truthfully, anyone who dares to allow their religious faith - - especially if it's "Christian Faith" - - to permeate their lives and their values, might be feeling this way as well.

In California, "Proposition 8: The Musical" has emerged as a short-form, roughly 4 minute video, mocking social conservatives who helped to pass the constiutional amendment in that state that defines marriage as a heterosexual institution.

View the video HERE.

Imagine such a mockery of a production, insulting Muslims...or African-Americans, or Hispanics....

We'll talk about this tonight on The Austin Hill Show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com ).

Also..........if America will be have more nicely to terrorists, will terrorists be nicer to America?

Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff seems to think so.

We'll talk about it all, tonight, on The Austin Hill Show.

1-888-630-9625 if you want to join the conversation.........

Can They Earn Back Your Trust?

2008-12-02T16:28:00.001-08:00

I'm talking about the "journalists" among the ranks of the old fashioned Mainstream Media.........

Some in the Obama press corp got ticked-off when the President-elect got flippant over a question about his "changing perspective" of Hillary Clinton.

Obama glibbly said that the media was "having fun" with this........

And then, CNN's Campbell Brown got really defensive, and editorialized against the Dear Leader (see the story, and the video, at The Huffington Post right now).

Also.......how comfortable are you with the United States Military watching over you, and "patrolling" domestically here in the U.S.?

We'll talk about all of this...and we'll keep you updated on the run-off election returns from Georgia, tonight on The Austin Hill Show. Visit www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for streaming and on-demand audio...

1-888-630-WMAL if you want to join the show.

Are Walmart Shoppers "Victims" Of Advertising?

2008-12-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

You could ask that question of most any shopper at any retail outlet in the U.S. - - are they "victims" of advertising?

I wrote about this phenomena in my weekly column at Townhall Dot Com over the weekend.

Apparently, some people actually believe that "lower income folks" are "vicitims" of Walmart's advertising, such that they lose control of themselves and "have to get ahold of the item" that Walmart is advertising, and will "do anything to get it."

We'll talk about this tonight on The Austin Hill Show.

Also.......is "gay" the "new black?"

An article in the Washington Times suggests that the struggle for "gay rights" is the same as the struggle that black Americans have fought for decades, in pursuit of "civil rights."

And one particular gay rights activist quoted in the article, who happens to be both gay, and black, says that "black people are equal now, and gay people aren't."

Oh, really? Does a majority of black Americans agree with that statement?

Join the show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Things Just Don't Seem to Add-Up...

2008-11-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

President-elect Barack Obama speaks regularly from the so-called "Office Of The President Elect."

One problem, though.

There is no such thing as the "Office Of The President Elect" (Fox News has provided some details on this tonight).

And while questions still abound regarding whether or not Barack Obama was even born in the United States - - and whether or not he was constitutionally eligible to run for the presidency in the first place...

Now, there are questions about whether or not Obama committed a federal crime regarding his registration for the "selective service" (the Military draft).

So, why are there so many questions about our new President-elect? And does anybody care?

We'll talk about this tonight...

Also, the government of California is officially "investigating" the Mormon Church.

Why? Because Proposition 8 was successful. That is, the California ballot initiative that provides for the amending of the California Constitution to define marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman.

The Mormon church is being "blamed" for this.

Yes, religious freedom is under attack right now.

Join me tonight on The Austin Hill Show, and we'll discuss it.

1-888-630-WMAL is the number from anywhere in the United States.

Less Harsh, More "Understanding"

2008-11-24T15:57:00.001-08:00

Is America becoming "less harsh" towards criminals?

It is widely known that President-elect Obama intends for the Gitmo prison to be closed. And he wants a "more inclusive" approach to immigration in our country.

Less widely known is the "new approach" being taken in Virginia on illegal immigration.

Because of budget constraints, the state essentially intends to "focus on the economy," rather than policing illegal immigration.

This is, afterall, a Virginia that is under the leadership of a Democratic Governor, and a Virginia that just "voted Obama" in the electoral college.

So is this a predictor of things to come?

We'll talk about this tonight on The Austin Hill Show.

Also.........is the election of a black President good or bad for "diversity?"

There are some interesting reports out today about "diversity" in the forthcoming Obama Administration...and depending on how you gauge "diversity," the reports are a "mix bag."

Join the show from anywhere in the United States at 1-888-630-WMAL.

And listen online ("real time" or "on-demand") at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com .

Is Obama Insufficiently "Hopey And Changey?"

2008-11-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

The liberal, left-wing blogosphere is livid with President-elect Barack Obama's choices for cabinet officers. The thought of Hillary Clinton - - a "war supporter" - - for Secretary of State, has some liberals furious with B.O.

And it raises the question:

Is Obama embarking upon Bill Clinton's Third Term?

We'll talk about it tonight.

Also..........is conservative talk radio just simply being too mean to the Presidnt-elect?

Join the program by telephone, as always, at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Listen on line at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

Is It Time For "Special Minority Rights" For Gays And Lesbians?

2008-11-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

You thought the election was over...and you thought that California, and Arizona, and Florida, and several other states had "settled" the issue of re-defining marriage. And settled it by determining that the historic definition - - a marriage being defined by the union of one man and one woman - - as the voters in, most notably, California, chose to amend the state constituion so as to reflect that hostoric definition.

Well, not so fast. On last night's show the news was breaking that the California State Supreme Court will hear arguments against the newly passed constitutional amendment. And the arguments going before the court opposing the constitutional amendment claim that the amendment "abridges the civil right of a vulnerable minority group."

Oh, really?

So is it time to regard homosexuals as "minorities," in the same way that ethnic minorities are regarded?

We'll talk about it tonight on "The Austin Hill Show."

Also......why isn't President-elect Barack Obama saying anything about the economy and the markets?

The markets seem to be reacting in fear of his and the Democratically controlled Congress' vows of radical tax increases. Couldn't Mr. Obama calm the fears if he would simply state that he will forego tax hikes for now?

Join the program at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Does The Republican Party Need "Less God?"

2008-11-19T16:27:00.001-08:00

An intriguing editorial appears today in The Washington Post by Conservative Writer Kathleen Parker, suggesting that the GOP neeeds less "G-O-D."

Is that really true? Is the Republican Party's absolute failure in the national election earlier this month because of too much "conservative Chrsitian" influence?

And another thing...

Where has President-elect Obama been with the proposed "bailout" of the "big 3" automakers?

He said that it was necessary last week. And lately he's been "M.I.A."

Why?

We'll talk about it tonight on The Austin Hill Show. 10888-630-WMAL if you want to join the program.

My Agenda For Tonight...

2008-11-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

First, I'll explore whether or not President-elect Obama has developed a "cult of personality" around him, and if there has been some level of "Obama worship" surrounding him.

Secondly, we'll contemplate what President Ronald Reagan might do, given current economic problems, and, now, the nation's three auto makers begging for federal dollars to stay afloat.

The question isn't so much about Reagan - - it's more about the future of the Republican Party. Republicans need to take a stand, and to articulate a message here.

What is that message? What should that stand consist of?

Join The Austin Hill Show at 1-888-630-WMAL.

Is It "Obama Worship?"

2008-11-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

This story appeared in The Arizona Republic newspaper - - that is, ironically, in John McCain's hometown of Phoenix - - last Saturday.

Make of it what you will - - I will have more to day about it later tonight.

by Christine Keith

Barack Obama's election victory inspired celebrations at Black black churches across the country, including in Phoenix. At First Institutional Baptist Church, Pastor Warren Stewart Sr. delivereda sermon Sunday 11/9 called “Ten Commandments Learned From President-electBarack Obama's Life.”

Some showed their support by wearing Obama T-shirts. Stewart's list began with the Obama-inspired version of the FirstCommandment: “Do dare to dream and hope big!”

The congregation's young people gathered at the front of the church, and he went through the other nine commandments, including “Do not let excuses stop you” and “Do keep your cool in difficult situations.” In his pastoral comments, Stewart wrote, “After 232 years, we in the United States now have a President who is a person of color. The world now has aU.S. president of color who can relate to what it means to be on the‘underside' of society.”

During his comments Sunday, he pointed out that it took people of allcolors to elect Obama.A picture of the first family-elect was projected on a high screen in thefront of the church. The African-American congregation looked up to the smiling family. Voices sang out with thanks and joy and praises of God, as they have every Sunday in this fellowship of faith since 1905, when the congregation was founded as just a Sunday school.

“The election of Obama is something that I wouldn't have ever believed in,”said Elmer Curry, 82, a deacon. “… I've seen that over a period of yearsthat the hearts of people in the country are changing.”

Clueless? You Decide.

2008-11-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

Stunning new video has emerged displaying a level of cluelessness among Obama voters. Shot at a polling place in suburban Los Angeles on election day, November 4th, it demonstrates that while these Obama partisans had no clue which party currently controls Congress or who Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid are, they did nonetheless know that Sarah Palin was the political candidate whose party spent $150,000 on a wardrobe.

When asked which candidate (presidential or vice presidential) won their first ever election by getting three opponents from their own party kicked-off the ballot, everyone interviewed assumed that it was either Sarah Palin, or, as one interview subject stated, "that sounds like something McCain would do."

Nobody had a clue that a young Barack Obama had done that when he was running the first time for the Illinois state legislature.

I'll play some of the audio on The Austin Hill Show tonight, and then get your reaction.

Also.......is Obama headed for his first presidential failure with respect to the proposed General Motors bailout and the lack of support for it?

To join the show, as always, the number is 1-888-630-WMAL.

Breaking "News"

2008-11-17T10:46:00.001-08:00

There is some staggering news that is about to "break" later tonight. I can't say too much about it yet, except that some disturbing polling data will be unveiled tonight, and tommorrow. The data reveals a frightening lack of awareness among Obama supporters as to some very basic facts about the presidential candidates, our Congress, how our government operates, and so forth.

I'll also have audio from an amazing new video project, that I'll reveal on The Austin Hill Show tonight.

More info, shortly...

"Media Reform" And The Assault On Free Speech

2008-11-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

"Meda Reform" And The Assault On Free Speech

by Austin Hill

Is the United States about to face a constitutional challenge?

As we near completion of the first two weeks since Barack Obama’s election to the presidency, the path is being established for what I believe could be a serious challenge to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and the right to free speech that is protected therein. Any American who cares about such freedoms should be watching and listening very carefully. Unfortunately, it appears to me that most Americans are not.

As of late, much attention has been paid to the possibility of our federal government re-instating the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” a regulatory policy that, earlier last century, required federally licensed broadcast outlets to present “important” and “controversial” subjects in a “balanced” and “equitable” fashion. The lifting of this regulation allowed for entertaining, highly opinionated, individual hosts to proliferate, thus giving rise to the media genre we know as “conservative talk radio” (it has also allowed for the emergence of “liberal talk radio,” although thus far this genre has not been as commercially successful as its conservative counterpart).

On June 29th of this year, I authored a column wherein I suggested that the antiquated “Fairness Doctrine” might be the least of our concerns. I further surmised that a President Obama and a Democratically controlled Congress may pursue something I termed “comprehensive media reform” - - a much broader, all-inclusive attempt to more fully regulate media content and ownership.
I believe the stage is now set for such an effort. I’m imagining a rather sophisticated public relations campaign that would play out in the context of “experts” testifying before the next Congress, and “research” that would be reviewed in congressional investigations.

I envision something on the order of what the Clinton Administration and the Democratically controlled Congress did to tobacco companies back in the 90’s, only with broadcasting executives, and perhaps owners of web-based media outlets, being subpoenaed to answer questions under sworn oath.

Some will object to this comparison, given that tobacco is a verifiably dangerous product, and opinion based media is constitutionally protected. But I’m not assuming that factual truth, or constitutionality, matter to members of Congress.

Washington politicians have over the years very successfully demonized American industries that they don’t like - - both the tobacco and oil industries come to mind - - and have not only tarnished the ways in which those industries are viewed by millions of Americans, but have also achieved a wide array of “concessions” from those industries. Media owners, especially those who dare distribute “conservative content,” now need to be fully aware that their turn on Capitol Hill might be next.

Some of the “testimony” and “research” to be dramatized in the coming congressional show has already begun to emerge. For example, on September 30th of this year, Reuters news service published a “report” suggesting that conservative talk radio led to the initial failure of the calamity-preventing Wall Street ‘bail out” bill in the U.S. House. The article further suggested that Rush Limbaugh’s criticism of the bill caused stocks to “take a beating” and drove the world closer to global economic collapse, while syndicated talker Neal Boortz exacerbated matters by suggesting that more time was needed to allow the bill to “flesh itself out.”

Last week, “new media” took a hit as domestic terrorist-turned university professor William Ayers, in his much anticipated interview on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America,” explained-away both his terrorist background AND his personal friendship with President-elect Obama. Why did he wait until after the election to answer questions about he and Obama? Because, he explained, he didn’t want to give credence to the “dishonest narrative” that was being spread around about him by internet bloggers.

Additionally, Ayers claimed in a written essay last week that John McCain didn’t participate in that “dishonest narrative” that tied Obama to his terrorist past, until McCain did a one-on-one interview with Sean Hannity. From there, the presidential campaign turned vitriolic - - all because of Hannity and the Fox Newschannel.

Additionally, Media Matters, a liberal, Washington, DC-based think tank group has for some time been compiling and publishing “research” on both local and national conservative talk radio hosts. Last week, Media Matters released a report documenting how conservative radio’s “vitriol” has not been “reserved for Obama,” and has targeted women, minorities, “immigrants,” and “autistic children.”

None of the incidents that they sight rise to the level of libel, or would be legally actionable, and are all based on individual hosts’ opinions. Yet they are nonetheless characterized as “attacks” that are intended to “foment hate and suspicion.”

The “Fairness Doctrine,” as it was once known, may or may not be on the horizon. But a plea to "stop the hate" is almost certainly in the works, and a call for “media reform” will necessarily follow.

Constitutionally protected “free speech” doesn’t matter nearly as much as people’s ability to create perceptions about that speech, and the stage is set for a full-scale demonization of conservative talk media on Capitol Hill.

Wheww! Finally, We Now Understand The Relationship Between Our President-Elect And An American Domestic Terrorist...

2008-11-14T16:08:00.000-08:00

William Ayers has spoken.

Watch the video for yourself right HERE.

And notice how he "explains away" both his relationship with Mr. Obama, and his own behavior as a terrorist.

He was a "militant," fighting against the immoral atrocities of the Viet Nam War...and, to use his words, he was on "the right side" of the issue.

Understand what's going on here: The United States Military was fighting against aggression and encroachment of communists in South East Asia (hence "the Viet Nam War"), and William Ayers was bombing the United States Capitol, The Pentagon, and other public buildings...and he was on "the right side" of the issue.

So now, do you feel like you understand the terrorist-turned-university professor better? Can you "relate?" Do you now "empathize?" Are you now convinced that the ties between the terrorist and our President-elect are really "nothing?"

This is 60's, hippie-era, moral relativism at it's worst, and baby boomers should be ashamed of this.

We'll talk about this tonight on The Austin Hill Show. Join the show, and "share" the "understanding" that I'm sure is now deep within your heart. The number from anywhere in the U.S. is 1-888-630-WMAL.

Oh, and speaking of shameful, 60's, hippie-era, moral relativism....we'll also contemplate on the show tonight whether or not our President-elect should bring the Clintons into the administration.

This, and more, tonight from 8-10pm Eastern.

How Do You Like It So Far?

2008-11-13T16:52:00.001-08:00

What is the "it" that I'm talking about?

"Hope" and "Change."

In 9 days, we've begun to see the President-elect's plans take shape.

A Clintonista as Chief Of Staff..

All Democrats in the transition team....

Government "owning" a percentage of American auto makers....

Federal funding for the United Nation's forced abortion programs...

Meanwhile, Russia is engaging in military manuevers in Venezuela AND Cuba...and Iran is testing missles....and our American mainstream media is focused on what kind of dog the Obama's should adopt for their White House stay.....

Let's talk about it tonight...as well as lots of other items....1-888-630-WMAL (9625) is the toll-free number to join the show...and listen online at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

This Should Be Interesting...........

2008-11-12T16:26:00.001-08:00

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has changed course, at least a little bit, and now says that the U.S. Government will NOT buy back "troubled mortgage assets." He proposes that the so-called "bail out" money will be used to infuse lending institutions with capital.

So, are you confident that he knows what he's doing? Or is the problem much worse than he originally thought? Or is the Bush Administration - - Paulson included - - in a panic?

Also, about those "humanistic" billboards inhabiting the MetroRail's train stations.......what is the "message" in the billboards really saying? And if there is no God (or "god" to use the American Humanist Association's "little g" wording), then who decides what is "good?"

This and more, tonight on The Austin Hill Show. 1-888-630-WMAL if you want to join-in.......

Who DOESN'T "Deserve" A "Bailout?"

2008-11-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

As we wrap-up day number 7 of "hope" and "change," word is that Speaker Pelosi wants a special legislative session to allow a financial bailout for America's automotive makers, General Motors specifically.

The details are HERE at the Wall Street Journal. And didn't I just predict this? If our government under Republican control was not going to allow banking and lending istitutions to fail, then our government under (more-less) Democratic control is sure as heck not going to allow an American automobile manufcaturer fail.

So who's next? Circuit City? You?

We'll talk about this tonight.

Also...The American Humanist Association has launched a new billboard ad campaign on the DC Metro. The signs read:

Why Believe In A "god?" Just Be Good, For Goodness Sake

(see photo above)

Got any problem with this? And what do you suppose it's supposed to "prove?"

Join the program at 1-888-630-WMAL. Listen NOW at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

Esxcursions In Acceptable Forms Of American Bigotry...

2008-11-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

Click HERE and watch the video for yourself (it's new video from Salt Lake City's KSL-TV News) - - a homosexual rights activist group in Los Angeles has taken direct aim at the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, blaming "them" for the passage of California's Proposition 8, an amendment to the California state Constitution that defines marriage as a relationship between one man, and one woman.

The fact is, 70% of Obama supporters voted in favor of the Constitutional Amendment in California, along with the "mostly white" members of the Mormon church.

But the Mormons are the ones that are being singled-out.

Does this mean that in the Era of Obama, in the age of "Hope and Change," there is now a new minority group that is approriately singled-out and maligned - - Mormons?

We'll talk about this......and whether or not the US Federal Government should bail out General Motors, tonight on The Austin Hill Show.......call 1-888-630-WMAL if you care to join in the conversation.

Message To Conservatives: You Are Racists And Should Be Silenced

2008-11-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

For a while I thought it was just me. But in the final days leading up to the national election, I began to notice it on both local and national talk shows around the country.

And now that we are a few days past Mr. Obama’s election night victory, it seems quite clear: things have gotten more intense, not less.

I’m writing here about the attacks that are being telephoned-in to conservative talk radio hosts around the country. I’ve noticed a consistent increase of people that I’ll call “Obama enthusiasts” popping-up as callers on conservative talk shows, and no matter what the topic on the show may be, the assertions from the callers follow a predictable pattern.

The precise choice of words that the caller uses in their line of attack may vary, but the pattern essentially goes like this: A) The caller asserts to the host that “all you ever do is attack Barack Obama;” B) The caller then comes around to asserting to the host that “you are obviously a “racist” (or “you are a bigot,” or “you think Black people are inferior to White people,” or something of that sort); and then the caller concludes with C) “you should be removed from the ‘public airwaves’” (or some variation of the general sentiment that “you should just be silenced” or “you should shut-up”).

Now let me be clear: I’m not complaining about this, not at all. In fact, I welcome it on my talk show at 630 WMAL radio in Washington, D.C. It’s no secret that talk radio thrives in controversy, and conversely, a talk show can become boring if everyone is “in agreement” with the host.

But entertaining talk show content is one thing. And the broader implications of people’s words outside of a talk show can be something different (I’m reminded here of the many times over the years that I’ve heard Rush say “words mean things”). And the implications, the “meaning,” of the pattern that I’ve identified above, seems to be this: If you so much as question the President-elect, you are necessarily a “racist,” and your voice should, therefore, be removed from the public square.

I must also add that, while the hostility I’m hearing on conservative talk radio is mostly directed at white, male hosts, it’s not necessarily a “black against white” phenomena. For example, on my show last Friday while I was discussing Mr. Obama’s remarks about the economy at his recent press conference, I received a call from “Roberto,” a man with a Hispanic sounding accent in Arlington, VA. Roberto’s opening salvo was to say that I was being “patronizing” when I pronounced his name with the traditional, Spanish “rolling R” sound.

Now, I grew up in Southern California surrounded by Spanish speakers, and I was taught by my “white Mom” that, as a matter of respect, I should speak Spanish as it was intended to be spoken, and NOT like a “gringo.”

But never mind that “respect” thing. As far as Roberto was concerned, I was just simply offensive. And then, of course, the pattern kicked-in - - I was questioning the President-elect’s remarks because I’m a racist, and therefore I should be silenced.

I’ve heard this rhetoric enough times, and on so many different talk shows in addition to my own, that I believe there is some organizational effort behind it. I’m not insinuating that the finger prints of our President-elect are on this, and the participants in this might be quite loosely organized, at best.

But there is a certain mindset, a certain philosophy that underlies this rhetoric, and it is becoming more widespread. It is the belief that if you are not in lock-step with the President-elect’s agenda, or if you even so much as dare to question it, you are obviously motivated by your hatred of ethnic minorities, and you have no place in the broad national debate. And it is an anathema to our freedoms under the First Amendment.

Conservative Americans in particular need to understand that in this new era, the rules have changed. And to understand this change, conservatives need to begin by reading “Rules For Radicals,” a book published in 1971 by noted “community organizer” (and a man who is said to have influenced Mr. Obama) Saul Alinsky.

Column space is limited here, so you’ll have to get a copy of the book for yourself. But consider this notion from Alinsky’s rule #5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.”And consider this language from rule #11, wherein Alinsky suggests that the main job of a “community organizer” is to bait his opponent into reacting in a certain way: “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”

Welcome to the new era of "Hope And Change."

Why No Talk Of Taxes? And Where's "The Love?"

2008-11-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

In his first press conference since becoming President-elect, Barack Obama reiterated the dyer economic conditions that we are in, and talked about the immediate need for an "economic stimulus" plan.

By why no discussion about the promised tax hikes on rich people?

Obama made it a central theme of his 22 month campaign to "roll back Bush's tax cuts for the rich" - - which is to say, he intended to "raise" taxes on the rich.

In other words, he PROMISED to economically punish rich people and to get even with them.

So now, after he's won election and he needs to talk specifically about the economy, why not show how he's going to "get even" with those evil rich folks??

Another point.....I've noticed a tremendous uptick in the number of callers to my show, and other "conservative" talk shows - - including The Mike Gallagher Show, The Sean Hannity Show, and yes - - even The Rush Limbaugh Show - - from angry "Obama supporters" who want to reassure all us conservative talkers that we're bigots, and racists, and we should just "shut up" and get off the air.

Why the hate? Where's the Love??

We'll talk about this, and more tonight, on The Austin Hill Show - - www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for streaming audio. To join the program, it's 1-888-630-WMAL.

So, What Are YOUR Expectations?

2008-11-06T16:31:00.001-08:00

Today The Economist Magazine in London published a piece stating that now, having won an extraordinary victory, President-Elect Barack Obama is having to figure out "who he's going to disappoint."

In other words, Obama has set expectations so incredibly high among his many fans and supporters that he cannot possibly meet all those expectations.

Similarly, Rick Moran at Pajamas Media had a first-hand account of these extraordinarly high expecations of Obama's supporters, while he was "in the crowd" at Obama's election night speech in Chicago.

And the amazing video of Florida resident Peggy Joseph, stating that with an Obama Presidency, "I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car" and "I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage" has been making its way around in cyberspace, and on talk radio.

So, given all these "great" expecations......what do you expect from President Obama? In the first 30 days, in the first 100 days, in 4 years?

Good or bad, we'll discuss this, tonight on The Austin Hill Show.

To join the program, it's 1-888-630-WMAL.

....And what Other Industries Does He Want To Bankrupt???

2008-11-03T16:33:00.000-08:00

A recording of Obama saying that he plans to bankrupt the coal industry in America has surfaced (get the details HERE).

And it begs the question.......what other industries would he liked to destroy?

Also..........is Obama sounding defensive?

Clark Judge, former Speech Writer for Presidents George HW Bush and Ronald Reagan, thinks so.......read his analysis HERE.

We'll talk about this, and more, tonight on The Austin Hill Show.
Call 1-888-630-WMAL from anywhere in the United States to join the program.

"Selfishness," "Neighborliness," "Fair," "Unfair," And Other Concepts That Even A Kid Can Understand...

2008-11-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here's my weekly column for Townhall Dot Com that will post Sunday (tommorrow) morning. There is so much I have to say (and will say) on this subject shortly...but for now, an "advance relase" of Sunday's thoughts.

Barack Obama And The Economics Of Sesame Street

by Austin Hill

Forget Wall Street. And forget Main Street. The economic considerations in both those places - - fraught with all that crazy obsessing over start-up capital, balance sheets, budget projections, profit and loss statements, and so forth - - that’s just all too complicated.

So let’s not even try to think about those things. And while we’re not thinking, let’s usher-in a new President who can shelter us from the harsh considerations of risk and reward, market competition, investment and planning, and all the rest. Let’s elect a President who has distilled economic realities into simple juxtapositions that even a kid can understand- - things like “fairness” versus “unfairness,” and “selfishness” versus “neighborliness.”

That’s right, it’s time for President Obama and the economics of Sesame Street.

Does that sound harsh? Well, consider this: while most Americans find it distasteful, if not blasphemous, to single-out a minority group for undue maligning and punishment, Senator Obama has made “profiling” of a “minority group” a normative thing. We’re not talking here about a racial or cultural or sexual minority. We’re talking about a socioeconomic minority - - the more economically productive people in our society, or, to put in Obama-speak, the group he vaguely defines as “rich people” - - and punishing this minority group is, by his definition, “fair” and “neighborly.”

It’s true. When Senator Obama was interviewed by Bill O’Rielly at the Fox Newschannel in September of this year, O’Rielly began the segment on taxation policy by saying to the Senator “you’re a big ‘tax the rich’ guy, aren’t ya?” Near the end of the discussion, Obama asserted that it is a matter of “neighborliness” to take ever-increasing levels of cash from the nation’s highest income earners, and give it to lower income earners.

And let me be clear: this is not what I envision for my neighborhood, or my country. But for the very multi-cultural, Mister “I-grew-up-in-Indonesia-and-I’ve-seen-how-terrible-America-is-from-the-other-side” Barack Obama, this is the way things ought to be.

Days after the O’Rielly interview, Obama’s running mate Senator Joe Biden made the redistributionist economics even more easily understood. “We want to take money” Biden told a host at ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” (with no reference to whose money he wants to ‘take” or how the money is earned), “and put it in the pockets of the middle class.” He quickly followed up that explanation by insisting that the plan was “patriotic,” and was all about “fairness.”

And now after roughly three weeks of McCain and Palin questioning the wisdom of Obama’s redistributionist economic plans (and just when you thought he could not possibly get more “audacious”), we saw Obama introduce another emotive, Sesame Street-friendly term into the big economic debate last Friday. McCain and Palin, according to the Senator, have made a virtue out of “selfishness.” That’s right, those of us who want to retain most of our hard-earned revenues - - those of us who think that we can manage our money to better ends than government agencies can - - we are “selfish.”

If only we would practice our “neighborliness” a bit more often…

It’s sad that economics - - a subject that is dry and boring and academic to some, yet it is essential to our very essence as human beings - - has been so horribly trivialized and reduced down to a few simple, emotive categories. And yet the campaign is working phenomenally well. I hear from the “Obama Automatons” on a regular basis, when they call in to my talk show at Washington, DC’s 630 WMAL radio.

Just last Friday I took a call from a gentleman who, with campaign talking points in hand, insisted to me that there is no need for concern about Obama’s economic plans - - he just wants to change course from the “disastrous policies” of the Bush years and return America to the economic prosperity of the Clinton era.

“Oh really,” I said to him, “what was the capital gains tax rate while Bill Clinton was President?”

“I don’t know” the caller replied.

“And what is Mr. Obama proposing for a capital gains tax rate?” I asked.

“I‘m not sure,” he said, “I’m not an expert.”

“I understand” I said to the man. “You’re just reading the campaign talking points and you weren’t expecting any questions from me…”

“I am not just reading talking points” the man shouted angrily. “I work in Obama’s campaign as a volunteer.”

“And yet you still have no idea what you’re talking about with Obama’s economic proposals - - that‘s very interesting” I replied, as I thanked him for his call and moved on.

I suspect there are millions of Americans who have absolutely no comprehension of the substance of Obama’s proposals, yet they have worked for, and will vote for “Hope” and “Change.”

I hope they’re able to enjoy their Sesame Street economic fantasy while it lasts.

Opposing Obama - - Or His Policies - - Is Racist?

2008-10-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

Guest Columnist Kevin Martin weighs-in on the issue...enjoy:

There Is Nothing Racist About Opposing Socialism

by Kevin Martin

First of all there is nothing racist in opposing, “Socialism” no matter the skin color it comes in as we are a Constitutional Republic.

“Excuse me,” but Socialism in itself is rooted in racism as it uses class envy and the power of government to take from those who have achieved success and give to the masses without choice or repercussion.

I thought Democrats and Social Liberals were all about choice, so I get it now. If you are opposed to a Socialist, who happen to be Black then it must be based on his race rather than his ideology.

I am not going to be lecture by press which is made up of mostly Social Liberals on what is and is not racism in America. This is the same press that smears people no matter their skin color or gender, who they have ideology disagreements with even proof or repercussion.

Many Socialists in the press feel that a majority Americans is simply stupid for their own good and we have to be told what is best for us. The Press is even willing to withhold damning evidence in an effort to elect officials and drive public opinion along the lines they want thru selective outrage.

We even now have Socialist Democrats such as Congressmen Barney Frank Congressmen Jack Murtha and Senator Harry Reid picking up on the supplied talking points from their allies in the press and Congressmen Murtha has even taken to throwing his own constituents under the bus by labeling them without charge or proof as, “racists and rednecks.”

If Democrats like Murtha, Frank and Reid are so damn concerned about some of their constituents possibly being racist, then they should resign from represent them, as they are suppose to be the Party of Civil Right, yet the Democrat Party can trace their roots back to the Ku Klux Klan and even have a former Klansmen as a elder U.S. Senator.

Yet these Socialist Democrats seem to operate from a Sense of Entitlement and Barack Obama is no exception as any questions about his past association have been considered by the press and his fellow Socialists as off limits and anyone who talks about those associations is smeared as a “racist” without charge or proof.

“Do you think the press would give a Conservative or Republican, the same free pass they have to Senator Obama for his past associations with Socialists, Racists and even Terrorists?” Does this not make Senator Obama a hypocrite as he and his fellow Socialist Democrats have blocked Republicans Judicial Nominees over the last 7+ years on charges of questionable past associations.

Yet, we are told by Socialists, “That past associations should not matter when you running for President as catchphrases and promises of Pet Government do. Now we have a smooth talking Socialist that wants to lead our government over the next 4-8 years with a Supermajority of fellow Socialists in the Congress, but ask your this, “Could some these Socialists get “a Security Clearance” to be a civil servant and if not would that to be racist?

In the last 20 years Socialism has been rejected in most of Europe, Africa and Asia, “Does according to the likes of those who are supporting Obama make these nations, now racist?”

A Socialist Government and a Constitutional Republic can’t exist in the same nation as power can’t be taken from the people and given to the government in a Constitution Republic no matter what color or how smooth talking the Socialism maybe. Socialists use the power of government to remain in power and oppress the will of the people at the same time, now if that is not racism against the masses, I don’t know what is and there is nothing racist in opposing on who promises this form of government.

What Kind Of "Change" Does Obama Have In Mind???

2008-10-30T16:29:00.001-07:00

Barack Obama has been preaching "change" for nearly two straight years. And yesterday, in an appearance on "The Daily Show" on the Comedy Central Network, he said that he believes that most Americans are "conservative" - - not in an ideological sense necessarily, but in terms of being resistant to change.

Yet, in "hard times," Americans, so Obama believes, are more open to "change."

So what does he have in mind?

We'll talk about it tonight. Also, Al Queda has "issued a statement" (I'm not sure what exactly it means for a terrorist group to "issue a statement") saying that "they" (whoever "they" are) want President Bush and Republicans to be thoroughly humiliated in our next election.

Does that mean that the Democratic Party is the party of Al Queda?

Join me on "The Austin Hill Show".......1-888-630-WMAL.

Okay, So, It's A Prediction...

2008-10-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Evans and Novak have weighed-in with their predictions for the U.S. election outcomes...

Their data is HERE. It is what it is. If nothing else, it gives hope that the Democratic Party won't have a complete green light to go "hard left" with policy positions.

However, I still think we will not know who the President-elect is on Tuesday night. I think we're headed for a rough night...maybe several of them, next week.

More to come....

Does A Candidate's "Family" Matter?

2008-10-29T16:41:00.001-07:00

News has surfaced from journalists in England (NOT American journalists) that Barack Obama's Aunt is living in poverty in Boston.

The story is HERE.

The Aunt of our "Spread The Wealth Around" Multi-Millionare Senator Barack Obama, and the second Obama relative found to be living in abject poverty (remember George Obama who lives "in a hut" on "less than a dollar a month?" A British media outlet broke that story, as well).

Does this matter? Does it set well with Americans, when a would-be President wants to "crack down" on people who make too money, yet he himself is a multi-millionare who can't lend a helping hand to his own relatives living in squallor??

We'll talk about this, plus the latest from the "Obama/PLO videotape" that the LA Times is sheltering, tonight from 8-10pm Eastern.

Log-on to listen at http://www.theaustinhillshow.com/, and to join the program call 1-888 - 630-WMAL from anywhere in the continental United States.

Breaking: The Source Of The Obama/PLO Video Tape...

2008-10-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ali Abunimah is the likely original source of the oh-so secret Obama/Khalidi/Ayres Tape. The LA Times' Wallsten likely Plagiarized noted blogger Debbie Schlussel. At least that's what Schlussel says herself. Read her details, HERE.

We also are seeing on the blogosphere that there is a $150,000 reward being offered for the Obama/PLO tape...details are HERE.

More info as it becomes available.....

So, Now $150,000 A Year Is "Rich," And Warrants A Tax Hike

2008-10-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

A story in this morning's New York Post tells us that Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden has now lowered the magic "threshold of taxation." For months the Obama campaign has insisted that under Barack's economic plan, Americans making less than $250,000 a year would get a "tax cut."

Sadly, Americans making $250,000 a year or more would be subject to sharp tax increases. And the implication here is that the multi-millionaires Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that if you earn (notice I didn't merely say "have," but "earn" - - most of us don't just simply "have" or "get" money, we work for it, we "EARN" it) $250,000 a year or more, you deserve to have a larger portion of your earnings taken away.

But wait, there's more.......NOW, V.P. Nominee Biden has lowered that magical tax hike threshold to $150,000 a year more more! See the story in the New York Post, HERE.

Also note.....yesterday on Newstalk 550 KFYI in Phoenix, AZ, Host Michele Larson was talking with Barry Young (on "The Nearly Famous Barry Young Show") about Obama's assertion that his economic adviser, Warren Buffett, has repeatedly told him that his tax hike plans (which include a near doubling of the capital gains tax rate) are "okay" and "won't hurt the economy."

Larson pointed out that maybe, just maybe, there's a significant difference between earning $250,000 a year, and having a multi-billion dollar stockpile like Warren Buffett has - - and hence, maybe Warren's doesn't see things from the "I'm rich with my 250 grand a year" perspective...

And isn't this obvious? Why doesn't anybody else in the media see Obama's scheme here: Rich Man Obama takes advice from Rich Man Buffett on how to make sure that other Americans don't get "too rich."

This is a case of the "wealthy class" seeking to rule over the "peasants." It is the beginnings of a caste system. It is absurd. It is UN-American.

I believe Larson's discussion with Young on this subject was in the 9am hour of Tuesday's show - - get the podcast HERE.

How Do You Suppose Election Night Will Go?

2008-10-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

Today's Washington Post details a "controversy" in Virginia over counting the ballots of military personnel stationed overseas. VA Attorney General Bob McDonnell will weigh-in on tonight's show, discussing how he brought the matter to resolution.But still, there are doubts across the country as to how accurately ballots will be counted - - and plenty of people who seem to be intentionally disrupting the voting process.Also........my colleague Fred Grandy of the Grandy and Andy Morning Show at 630 WMAL suggested this morning that McCain cannot win the presidential election, so he should spend his remaining campaign time stumping for Republican congressional candidates rather than campaigning for his own, lost cause.Yet, at the close of this very day, the latest Gallup Tracking Poll has McCain and Obama statistically in a dead heat again. In fact, all three major tracking polls show McCain on the way up - - again - - and all within a 5 percentage point margin.Should McCain REALLY throw in the towel?We'll talk about it tonight, on The Austin Hill Show. 1-888-630-WMAL is the toll free number where you can join the discussion.
Tuned by Gram at 10/28/2008 04:33:00 PM 0 Performance upgrades

2008-10-28T16:29:00.001-07:00

How Will Things Go On Election Night, Anyway???

2008-10-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Journalism? What's That???

2008-10-28T09:29:00.001-07:00

Last night on "The Austin Hill Show" I talked about the "winners" and "losers" thus far in this election cycle, among the American media. I also read a bit from a striking new column making its way through the blogosphere from Tech Journalist (I hesitate to call him that, because he does far more than write about "tech," yet that's what he's most widely known for) Michael S. Malone. Read the column in its entirety, HERE.

Malone levels a - - shall we say, "stinging indictment" - - of what has become of "journalism," and warns of the consequences.

If Malone's assessment of the job "journalists" have done with the election is accurate - - and I believe that it is - - it is even more startling to think of how Americans might become even less informed if, indeed, a President Obama and a Democratically controlled Congress attempted to regulate media content, and in so doing decimated various forms of "alternative media" - - talk radio specifically.

And speaking of "regulating media content" - - F.C.C. Commissioner Michael Copps was interviewed in Baltimore and asked about the possible reinstatement of "The Fairness Doctrine." He made it clear that, in his view, the "version" of the Fairness Doctrine that was repealed in the 1980's would like not return.

But that leads us with the possibility of a "different version" of the Fairness Doctrine, or perhaps a different type of media content regulation.

I've been suggesting for many months that we could be headed for an era of "comprehensive media reform" (read my remarks on that, HERE).

The remarks of Commissioner Copps would seem to suggest that "comprehensive media reform" might be in the works, eventually (read Copps' remarks HERE.).

Can We Please Go "Old School" On Our Economic Thinking?

2008-10-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

I've said many times that we live in an era of "economic illiteracy." With that in mind, I'm pleased to present - - and I hope you will contemplate - - the wisdom of Dr. B.B. Robinson...

Finding Financial Security Through Old-School Wisdom

Isn't it rich when something that was drilled into your head when you were a child starts making perfect sense? For me, it was Proverbs 4:7 - "Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding." During the current economic crisis, this advice is especially relevant.

Black Americans appear to have been disproportionately affected by the subprime loan crisis. Consider that, according to a study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, subprime mortgage loans were more prevalent than prime loans among blacks in 98.5 percent of 331 metropolitan areas surveyed in 2003. Why were subprime loans so prevalent? Where were the warnings? Passage of the Community Reinvestment Act - which essentially required increased diversity in lending - and other easy money lending policies were catalysts for increased subprime lending. Motivated by profit, mortgage companies aggressively marketed subprime loans to financially-questionable Americans, black and white, who snapped them up. Business is about contracts, and subprime mortgages were contracts stacked against the uninitiated and unaware.

After becoming sick due to the consumption of subprime loans, the nation is now turning to economists for healing. If economists are supposed to be able to prescribe a cure, why didn't they warn us about them at the outset? Specifically, where were the black economists? Why didn't they sound the alarm so that black Americans could avoid the subprime loan trap in the first place?

For many black economists - and white economists for that matter - it was not a case of knowing and not telling. It was more a case of not realizing the problem until it was too late. Like other disciplines, economics is compartmentalized. Unless one specializes in financial economics, one wouldn't necessarily be familiar with or focusing on developments in the financial markets. Too many black economists instead specialize in labor economics and focus on employment discrimination. These black economists do a lot of getting, but they aren't getting a balanced understanding.

Subprime mortgages were a creation of the financial sector. As a member of the National Economic Association, an association of black economists, I know that the number of black financial economists is miniscule. Black economists missed the warning signs. Now, who's responsible for saving those harmed in black America? How about individual responsibility?

Those in trouble should fend for themselves. Don't look for black economists to come to the rescue. They didn't in the past, so why expect them now? Thankfully, there is a means to get out of this crisis. It's easy to say, "That stuff is too complicated - only the experts understand it." How, then, did the experts learn it? They either taught themselves or were taught. But, even with good teachers, it is often better to do your own research and develop your own methods of problem solving.

The idea that one should not practice on their own behalf - that is, serve as your own doctor or lawyer - does not necessarily apply to financial matters. Learn the basics. Keep to simple practices. Avoid complex investment schemes such as derivatives and subprime loans unless you completely understand them. If you follow sound economic and financial principles, you can help solve any financial crisis you may face. Avoid the "suffering servant," "victim" and "I-need-an-expert" mentalities.

Endeavor to learn the basics of the financial system, as it will give you a better chance of weathering the storm. Not only will this course allow you to gain knowledge, but also get you the proper wisdom and understanding necessary to survive and thrive economically.

# # # B.B. Robinson, Ph.D. is a member of the national advisory council of the black leadership network Project 21. You can visit his website at www.blackeconomics.org. Comments may be sent to Project21@nationalcenter.org.

Can This Year's Presidential Race End Peacefully?

2008-10-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year (July 20th to be precise) I published a column entitled “If Obama Loses In November, Will America Suffer?” In it, I referenced the many things that were being said and written about the historical and cultural significance of Obama’s candidacy (especially the many things that Obama has written about his “life’s journey,” and the extraordinary declarations that he has made about his own historical significance). I then contemplated what might happen if, despite all the “significance” of his candidacy, Obama were to actually lose the election.

As I pointed out in that column, many influential friends of mine from both political and business circles, and from both the East and West Coasts, were telling me that they feared “trouble in the streets” if Obama lost the election. That was in July. And now, as we begin the last full week before the election, I can’t help but think that we’re even closer to “trouble in the streets,” regardless of the election’s eventual outcome.

I say ‘eventual outcome,” because I do not anticipate that we’ll actually know who the President-elect is on election night. I may be wrong about this, and the Obama camp’s predictions of a Reagan-styled landslide may come to pass. But I expect a “close score” on this one, and for election night to be clouded with claims of voter fraud, and demands for investigations and ballot re-counts, all of which will likely delay the declaration of a “winner” for several days.

As for “civil unrest,” it appears quite clear to me that many of our fellow Americans are planning for this. A report that appeared in a recent edition of the Washington publication “The Hill” indicated that law enforcement agencies throughout the country are beefing-up their resources, in anticipation that there could be civil unrest on election day and the days that follow. The report included quotes from several agency spokespersons, many of whom seem to be saying, essentially, “we don’t expect trouble - - but the S.W.A.T. team will be on high alert just in case…”

Other law enforcement agents indicated that this year’s presidential election has attracted a level of “youthful enthusiasm” comparable to that usually reserved for high-profile sporting events, and noted that, even when a team wins a championship (say, a Superbowl, or a big collegiate competition), the hometown crowd often trashes its own surroundings in “celebration.” Whether or not you accept this “sports team wins big” analogy, law enforcement professionals are making these observations, and it is worthwhile for the rest of us to make note of them.

And law enforcement folks aren’t the only ones anticipating election night “action.” At the liberal activist website MWCNews Dot Net (media with conscience), the following rhetoric appeared in a “report” filed last week:

“If your television declares John McCain the president elect on the evening of November 4th, your television will be lying. You should immediately pick up your pre-packed bags and head straight to the White House in Washington, D.C., which we will surround and shut down until this attempt at a third illegitimate presidency is reversed.”

The implications of such language are obvious - - a McCain presidential victory simply will never exist, and anyone who might declare that such a thing exists will be lying.

Later in the piece, the author writes:

“If Obama officially wins, McCain is likely to challenge it, charging the Obama campaign with some of the very crimes engaged in by McCain himself. Our reaction should be exactly the same in the event of a McCain challenge as in the event of a McCain ‘victory.’ We should not sit back for even a split second and wonder how it will work out…We should be prepared already to immediately travel to Washington, D.C., head straight for the White House, occupy Lafayette Square Park, the Ellipse, and surrounding streets, block entrances, and shut the place down until Obama is recognized as the president elect or we are guaranteed a credible election with universal registration and hand-counted paper ballots. We may be there for days or weeks or months…We must show each other, and the nation, and the world that we have had enough, that we will not stand for one more stolen election, that we will not give in to fear, lies, theft, and intimidation…”

Additionally, Rolling Stone magazine published a piece last week written by the “esteemed” Robert Kennedy Jr. Kennedy claims that Republican “operatives” around the country - - Secretaries Of State, Lieutenant Governors, County Clerks, and other elected officials - - have a well-coordinated system of disenfranchisement in place, even better than in 2004, and will be arbitrarily throwing-out untold numbers of ballots so as to “give it” to McCain.

I suspect we'll be in for a rough night in November - - and maybe several of them.

New Details In The Obama Birth Certificate Scandal

2008-10-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

On Friday evening's show, I spoke with News Anchor/Reporter Ramsay Wharton,
of KGMB-TV 9 in Honolulu.

Ramsey explained on-air with me that as she has examined the Obama birth certificate, she has discovered her own discrepancies. Most notably, the document lists the father of Senator Obama as being "African." According to Wharton, the vernacular of that time suggests that Barack Hussein Obama Sr. would have more likely been listed as "negro" (even though he was from Kenya).

She also finds peculiarities in the formatting of the document, formatting that would seem to be inconsistent with the common means of formatting that were used back in the early 1960's.

It leaves one to wonder why Obama doesn't simply answer the questions, and produce a "vaulted" (non-duplicate) copy of the birth certificate and get the issues cleared-up once and for all.

Nonetheless, Wharton indicated that the news team at KGMB-TV9 will be doing their own investigating of this matter, and I will likely speak with her again on-air during Monday evening's show.

So, Who Do You Believe?

2008-10-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

Some polls indicate that Obama has a double-digit lead, whereas others show that Obama and McCain are in a virtual dead-heat.

Yahoo News summed it up pretty nicely HERE.

But you and I are left with the question "who's right and who's wrong?"

We'll talk about it tonight.

Also.......in light of the negative attention drawn over his "spread the wealth" comments 3 weeks ago, Obama as asked this week if he regretted the comments. He said "NO."

And his wealth-spreading plans involve steep tax hikes in nearly every sector of the American economy, along with dramatic restrictions on otherwise free-trade.

Of course, in response to the stockmarket crash of 1929, America raised taxes and imposed tough limitations on trade..and the "Great Depression" ensued.

So....why is it a good time to raise taxes now, in the midst of a global economic slowdown?

Join me tonight on The Austin Hill Show (click HERE for streaming audio and audio on demand); to join the program call 1-888 630-WMAL.

What A Stupid "Mistake"

2008-10-24T15:04:00.001-07:00

Some people just don't get it, when it comes to the technology in our lives. John McCain's brother Joe was stuck in traffic for fifteen minutes....and what does one naturally do when one is stuck in traffic for 15 minutes? Call 9-11 on one's mobile telephone, and then when the 9-11 operator questions the "emergency" nature of your call, you tell the operator "F-You," with, of course, no thought that the operator might trace your call and discover your identity....that's what!

See the video report from DC's WJLA-TV HERE.

And while I've heard reports that Joe was listening to "The Austin Hill Show" on 630 WMAL in his car at the time of the unfortunately stupid incident, I'm still trying to get confirmation on those reports.....stay tuned (or logged-on).

Is It Even Possible For This Year's Presidential Race To Come To A Peaceful Conclusion???

2008-10-23T16:16:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm serious about this question. I hate to admit, but I honestly don't think so. I believe that, no matter what happens on election night, we still will not know who actually is the President-elect (I suspect we'll be re-counting ballots for a few days beyond that). But worse, still, I suspect we'll experience some level of "civil unrest" - - hopefully not a "high" level, but some, nonetheless.

One blog is reporting HERE that a McCain "win" would be, be definition, "theft," and there are plans for "resistance" should this happen.

Another blog aledges that Rev. Jesse Jackson has, along with other Democrats, "pledged" to riot of McCain wins.

And even if you don't believe that, activist groups (like this one HERE) have organized for the specific purpose of not allowing a Democratic Party loss this year.

And law enforcement agencies around the country are bracing for civil unrest, regardless of who wins the presidential race.

Even today, there have been two reports of violence against McCain supporters.

In one case, a 20 year-old female McCain supporter was mugged, and when her assailant noticed a McCain sticker on her car, he struck her to the ground and carved a "B" on her face.

And in another incident, a Florida State Republican Party operative had his home "shot up."

And we're 12 days away from knowing how the voting is going to go.

What happens on election night - - and thereafter?

We'll talk about this...as well as ponder the question "why DOES Obama insist on raising taxes in the midst of an economic downturn?"

For show audio, visit http://www.theaustinhillshow.com/.

To join the show between 8 and 10pm Eastern, call 1-888-630-W-M-A-L.

Now We Know What Biden Was Thinking...

2008-10-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

At least, I think we now know part of what Biden was getting at, when he stated that "President Obama" will, in the first six months of his presidency, face an international crisis. Click this link HERE:

Haaretz is, essentially, a mainstream media outlet in the nation of Israel. Reports there have surfaced tonight (Thursday morning there) that Iran is planning an attack on Israel.

So...since Biden is claiming that Americans might not think Obama is doing the right thing, as he responds to the coming "international crisis," is that to say that a President Obama would not seek to defend Isarel against Iran?

We'll talk about that tonight...and, we'll contemplate this question: In light of U.S. Senator Bingaman's hope to re-instate the "Fairness Doctrine," is America's media necessarily "unfair?"

For audio, go to http://www.theaustinhillshow.comTo join the show, it's 1-888-630-WMAL.

Crackdown On "Conservative" Media...

2008-10-22T10:30:00.001-07:00

Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico, made it clear: the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" SHOULD be re-instated. The goal, obviously, is to crackdown on "conservative" media, because on cable-tv and talk radio, "conservative" content wins with audiences. The choices of free people, free people freely making consumer choices from among a bevy of choices offered to them by the free market economy, has produced an outcome that is undesirable to Democrats, so.....it's time to crackdown on conservative media. That is the plan of the Democratic Party, once they win the White House, and strengthen their domination of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

Listen to the audio of Senator Bingaman being interviewed on the subject, at Radio Station KKOB / Albuquerque, at our homepage, www.AustinHill.Net .

The Economy, Or National Security???

2008-10-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

What is the most top-of-mind issue in the current presidential election cycle? Is it the economy, or national security, or both or neither one?

In the days following the Republican National Convention (the convention from which McCain and Palin got quite a significant "bump" in the polling data), the top issue for voters regarding the next president seemed to be trustworthiness.

And on that issue, McCain seemed to have an edge over Obama.

But that was in September.

Then towards the end of September, President Bush spoke to the world and essentially said that, if the Congress didn't pass legislation to stabilize the financial markets, then the world would soon come to an end.

And panic ensued.

And the eyes of American voters were focused almost solely on the threat of economic collapse.

And Obama rose dramatically in the polls, while McCain shrunk.

Now, we've seen a few days in a row of, at least, a more stabilized Wall Street, and - - whether your saw it or not - - some positive economic news.

So what are Americans focused on now, as they get ready to vote (or are already voting) in the presidential race?

We'll talk about this, and more. Listen at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com .

To join the show, it's 1-888-630 - W - M - A - L.

So Why Do We Want Him To Be President?

2008-10-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

If Joe Biden's prediction from last Sunday - - that an international crisis will emerge in the "first six months" of the Obama presidency, a crisis that will "test" Obama's leadership - - then why should any American want him to be President?

That's the question I'd like to ask Biden, Obama, and now, Madeline Albright.

The former Secretary of State was interviewed on CNN about Biden's assertions (you can see the video HERE) and claims that Biden is right - - "President Obama" will be "tested."

Nobody has predicted that the election of John McCain to the presidency would necessarily bring about an international crisis within his first six months of office. But that's what is being more-less guaranteed, with the election of Obama.

Why? Why should America "go there?" Why would we, the people, desire to elect a candidate who will bring about an international crisis?

More on this, later today..

What In The World Is Biden Saying???

2008-10-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

Cryptic...that's a good word to describe Joe Biden's comments at a campaign fundraiser in Seattle over the weekend. He seems to have been caught off-guard, as though he forgot that media professionals were in the room. Read it for yourself, HERE.

What is he getting at,when he says that President Obama will, with certainty,. have his "mettle tested" within the first six months of his presidency? Does Senator Biden have some foreknowledge of a plan by our enemies? Is he withholding information from the American people? Is it such sensitive information that he never should have mentioned it in the first place?

And what are these "unpopular decisions" that Biden is referring to, decisions that Biden is suggesting? Would a President Obama lead us into unilateral disarmament? Would he form an official alliance with the PLO? What is "Slow Joe" alluding to???

Join me tonight, on The Austin Hill Show, as we discuss it.

The Threat Is Real...

2008-10-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting and important new report in the New York Post today, regarding the Democrat''s likely intentions to "regulate" talk media next year.

The writer of the report, Brian Anderson, has just recently published a book on the subject, and I take his very seriously his perspective on the matter.

I've written on this subject before, and I take it very seriously. I happen to think that the Democratic Party will NOT attempt to reinstate "the Fairness Doctrine," in so many words. But will attempt to "reform" media in a variety of ways, so as to acheive the same result as the "Fairness Doctrine" might accomplish. Anderson alludes to this idea, as well. And my article on the matter is HERE.

This is a serious, and potentially very dangerous situation.

I'm keeping my eyes on this, and will have much more to say about it, very soon.

Governor Palin, "Joe The Plumber," And The Real Middleclass

2008-10-18T15:42:00.001-07:00

Why has a guy named Joe from Holland, Ohio, been a hot topic among the two dominant presidential campaigns?

Could it be that there are millions of other Americans just like him, and we pose a challenge for politicians of all stripes - - especially Democrats?

Of course, I’m referring to Joe Wurzelbacher, the plumber from Ohio who, caught on video questioning Barack Obama about his tax hike plans on October 11^th, was told by the Senator that “when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

Since the publicizing of that video on Youtube Dot Com, Joe has appeared as a guest on the CBS Evening News, Fox News channel’s “Your World With Neil Cavuto,” And ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America.” Joe was also referenced more than 20 times at the third and final presidential debate last week, as John McCain looked into the tv camera and assured Joe that he won’t raise Joe’s taxes, and then repeatedly criticized Obama’s plan to “spread the wealth.”

A week later, the candidates are still talking about this guy. McCain and Palin speak supportively of Joe the plumber, and express their intentions to keep Joe’s tax burden low. And amazingly, presidential candidate Barack Obama and vide presidential candidate Joe Biden, with people around the globe watching their every move, have taken to belittling, impugning, and maligning their fellow American, the very-middleclass Joe Wurzelbacher.

Insisting that his tax plan will only raise taxes on those earning in excess of $250,000 a year, Obama has repeatedly scoffed at Joe the plumber, asking “how many plumbers make a quarter of a million dollars?” And Biden joked on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno that he wants to help real plumbers who are “actually licensed.”

Obama and Biden may both be surprised to know that, in many states, individual plumbers can practice their craft under the auspices of someone else’s license - - like, for example, the owner of the plumbing company that employs them. They may also be shocked to learn that, yes, plumbers and owners of plumbing companies can, and often do earn $250,000 a year or more. We still call them “small businesses” - - and they are some of the very businesses that will be endangered should the Obama-Biden economic plan become law.

But why is Obama, the multi-millionaire graduate of an elite Ivy League school, spending his precious campaign time trying to discredit one blue collar, middleclass man from the swing state of Ohio? Perhaps it is because Wurzelbacher threatens Obama’s assumptions about America.

Joe Wurzelbacher symbolizes the American middleclass in ways that we simply haven’t seen it symbolized in the media for a long time. So far as we know, Wurzelbacher has no direct or familial connections to the epicenters of American power - - elite schools, Fortune 500 companies, Washington politicians, and so forth. But this doesn’t leave Joe feeling like a victim.

Indeed, the hard working “Joe the plumber” apparently views himself as upwardly mobile, and fears that his government will punish him financially once he achieves his idea of “the American Dream.” To be sure, Wurzelbacher never told Obama that he earns over $250,000 a year (that’s Obama’s own misrepresentation of the facts). On the contrary, Joe said that he intends to, in the future, generate that level of income.

But perhaps most importantly, Wurzelbacher (and those of us like him) doesn’t get any satisfaction from tax policies that impugn those above him on the social ladder. We are horrified, not enchanted, by Obama’s third-world style class warfare and politics of envy. We aspire to achieve as the millionaire’s in our midst have achieved (even the millionaire named Barack). And we also understand that to economically malign one category of Americans, is to malign us all.

Governor Sarah Palin represents this middleclass paradigm beautifully. And she articulates the middleclass vision better than anyone else in the current race.

But regardless of whether or not the McCain/Palin ticket wins next month, the independently-minded American middleclass has been awakened, thanks in no small part to Joe, and Sarah. Consequently, Obama, Biden, Pelosi and company will find it far more difficult to enact their socialist vision for America.

Why Is "Joe" Still Such A Hot Topic???

2008-10-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Joe Wurzelbacher, the "plumber" from Ohio who John McCain made famous in this week's presidential debate, described himself to a reporter as "a flash in the pan." While admitting that he and his son were both enjoying his few "minutes of fame," he anticipated that his media stardom would soon go away.

Frankly, I thought he'd be old news by tonight. The people that he represents won't go away, but honestly, I thought the phenomena of Joe Wurzelbacher, the individual person, would be less phenomenal tonight.

But that's not the case.

And tonight we'll talk about why "Joe" is still a big subject in the headlines.

Listen-in at www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

To join the show by telephone, it's 1-888-630-9625.

About Those "Plungers"...

2008-10-17T07:12:00.001-07:00

The discussion last night on the The Austin Hill Show regarding a "Million Plunger March" in Washington has tipped-off some interesting discussion at Free Republic - - here is the link:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2107850/posts

I'll have more to say about this shortly.

Matt Drudge is still "reporting" the "shock poll" from Gallup, showing McCain and Obama in a statistical dead heat among "likely voters." Go to this page

This data is buried, even on Gallup's website....but it exists. I'll have more on that later, as well.

Thank You, Max In Arlington...

2008-10-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

Max was the Austin Hill Show listener who recommended a "Million Plunger March" through the streets of the District...Why plungers? Well, "Joe The Plumber" is still big in the news. And a plunger illustrates how so many of us would, in Max's terms, "to expunge our government of all this socialist crap!"

I think there are millions of Americans who feel as Max does. And yes, maybe we actually can organize something here in the nation's capitol.

But take heart. Americans, in some number, ARE beginning to question Obama's claims about taxes.

And some people are suggesting that Obama made a HUGE mistake with his "spread the wealth" nonsense.

Perhaps Americans are collectively beginning to wake up and smell the french roast...

So, What Concerns You Most About This Election?

2008-10-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a big day for campaign news. We now know that the FBI is investigating claims of voter registration fraud by the ACORN community activist organization, in at least five different states.

The "Joe the plumber" phenomena has become mainstream media fodder, and, thus, Obama's plans to raise taxes have become more widely known.

The Ohio Secretary Of State has appealed to the United States Supreme Court, for direction on how to handle up to 200,000 fraudulent voter registrations.

And the economy, and the stock market, are on a "roller coaster ride" right now.

Join me as we talk about it all, tonight from 8-10pm Eastern. Listen at
www.TheAustinHillShow.Com and participate at 1-888-630-WMAL.

...And There Are Millions Of Us, Just Like Him...

2008-10-16T05:06:00.000-07:00

"Joe The Plumber" is the new symbol of the hard working middleclass in America.

And thank God for him.

Despite the best intentions of Barack Obama and other liberals, the American economy cannot easily be characterized by two categories, "the rich" (who by definition deserve and "need" a tax increase) and "everybody else" (who be definition deserve to have some of the wealth possessed by "the rich").

Joe Wurzelbacher, the plumber from Holland, Ohio who confronted Obama on a campaign stop earlier this week, illustrates this beautifully.

By his own acknowledgement, Wurzelbacher is "middle class," yet he seemed to indicate that, because of his extraordinarly hard work as a business owner and operator, he is upwardly mobile. He pointed out to Obama that the Senator's tax hike proposals would hurt him, and his business.

Obama's response was to say that he didn't want to "punish" Joe's "success," but that he wanted to "spread the wealth around."

And after John McCain picked-up on the story last night and (finally) opened-up the issue to debate, the American discussion on economics and "fairness" has now changed. Despite what Obama told Joe the plumber, a person is "penalized" when their tax burden is increased.

I'll be discussing this issue, and the other issues surrounding last night debate, on the Salt and Demetri Morning Show at 96 Rock FM Radio in Raleigh, NC this morning, 8:35am Eastern.

Click HERE for a link to the radio station website.

FInally!!!

2008-10-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

Mac was back tonight. Maybe too little, too late, but I don't think so. After a weak, sleepy, stumbling start, he got fired-up.

The "Joe the plumber" critique was solid. McCain put Obama on the defensive, over his radical, redistributionist economic plans.

Additionally, McCain was unapologetically pro-life, pro-capitalism, pro "choice" on healthcare.....AND finally, McCain questioned Obama's trustworthiness and willingness to create alliances with a terrorist named Bill Ayers.

I just wish Mac would have done this 2 debates ago.....

Can McCain Turn Things Around?

2008-10-15T15:57:00.001-07:00

That seems to be the question I'm being asked from listeners and readers all over the country.

While some national polls have Obama so far ahead that there would seem to be no "catching up" for McCain, others, like the latest from Zogby, would suggest otherwise.

One thing for sure - - if there is a chance that McCain can still come back, he needs to regain his "straight talk" momentum and call it as he sees it, regarding Obama.

Can McCain authentically and convincingly point-out realities about Obama's alliances with a domestic terrorist in Chicago? Or with a a thuggish "community organization" called A.C.O.R.N.?

Or how about some "straight talk" about Obama's new welfare program, that is disguised as his "tax reform plan" (he's proposing to simply take more money away from wealthier Americans, and give money away to less-wealthy Americans - - it IS wealth redistribution after all)?

What does McCain need to do if he has any hope at all of turning things around?

We'll talk about it tonight, from 8-9pm Eastern, and then end the program early so as to air the debate itself.

Join us - - www.TheAustinHillShow.Com

Call It A "Robin Hood Moment"

2008-10-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

Charles Hurt at the New York Post accurately ascribed the "Robin Hood" comparison to Barack Obama's recent comments about his intent to "spread the wealth around." Read it HERE.

And David Brooks at the New York Times offered this analysis of what is hapenning before our eyes, and what is to come, right HERE.

And think about this: what questions would you like McCain and Obama to be asked at tonight's third and final presidential debate?

To be continued....

The Obama/ACORN Activists Are "On Duty"....

2008-10-14T19:34:00.001-07:00

With respect to the issue of voter registration fraud, I DID ask the question "who do you blame for this?" on tonight's edition of The Austin Hill Show.

If you listen to 630 WMAL much at all, you know that we pride ourselves in being highly interactive with our audience. And interactive we were Tuesday night.

The Obama/ACORN activists were quick to jam-up the phone lines, and were quick to explain why the voter registration fraud incidents are really "no big deal."

"John McCain once spoke at an ACORN sponsored event, so he's complicit with ACORN as much as Obama is."

"Obama is way out ahead in the polls, and he's going to win anyway, so what difference do a few illegally registered voters make?"

"How do we know that these illegally registered voters will actually vote?"

The excuses and retionalizations were numerous and non-stop.

My friend Sean Hannity stated on his show earlier today that "Conservatives are in exile" right now. I agree. I also believe that American Democracy is under seige right now.

Be strong and courageous.

Who Do You Blame For This?

2008-10-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

We'll take-on this question on tonight's show, from 8-10pm Eastern. Click HERE for realtime streaming audio, and on-demand show audio.

What is "this" that I'm speaking of? Voter Registration Fraud....investigations of such atrocities are underway right now in a minimum of 13 different states....how could any American who understands democracy feel good about this? And how many of our fellow Americans DON'T understand democracy?

Join me tonight....

VOTER FRAUD ALERT

2008-10-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

I don't care what British Editorialist Brad Friedman has to say about voter fraud in America being a hoax.....

Our democracy is facing a serious crisis, and here are a just a few reports of fraud cases from the "swing states:"

A male teenager is paid to register 73 times - - with ACORN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVapPVz0VG8

A 7--year old girl registers to vote (plus video of the Ohio teenage male who registered 73 times) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUZyRjxlBs

A teenaged female fradulently registers to vote in Ohio --http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYtItWkUuQg

And here's another "doozey" -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31kC9h9AeD4

Stay tuned - - we WILL address this matter on this evening's show....

Jesse Jackson Alert!

2008-10-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

As the world finds itself with a serious case of "Obamania," guest Editorialist Stephen Roberts provides some perspective on Rev. Jesse Jackson...

Jackson Getting It Both Ways Means Some Get Nothing

by Stephen Roberts, M.Div. (bio)

Anyone believing "you can't have it both ways" doesn't know Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Jackson has flip-flopped on important issues, finding alleged civil rights justifications on both sides. While politically advantageous to Jackson, the practice leaves him with a troubling legacy
Before he developed presidential ambitions, the pro-life movement had an ally in Jackson. In 1977, Jackson wrote in Right to Life News: "The question of 'life' is The Question of the 20th century." He further wrote that "life is the highest human good because life is sacred," asserting that abortion is fundamentally immoral.

In that same article, Jackson pointed out the implicit racism of population control, finding it "strange" that people "start talking about population control at the same time that black people in America and people of color around the world are demanding their rightful place as human citizens."

Jackson also likened abortion to slavery, comparing abortion proponents' arguments about a right to privacy to the defense of a past injustice: "If one accepts the position that life is private, and therefore you have the right to do with it as you please, one must also accept the conclusion of that logic. That was the premise of slavery."

Jackson's abortion opposition was brilliant and eloquent, but he betrayed his own eloquence for enhanced partisan viability. Writing about the 1988 presidential race, Washington Post columnist Colman McCarthy noted: "No other candidate this season, fallen or still standing, has shifted positions as radically as Jackson on abortion."

Civil rights was Jackson's rationalization for his radical shift. At a 1989 rally, he called the pro-abortion agenda a "fight for the right to self-determination," surmising that "people have choices" endowed by God - including the choice to terminate a pregnancy and end a life.
Now, Jackson flip-flops on the lending issues, particularly "redlining." The term describes how areas on a map - poor and usually minority communities - are restricted from investment options such as mortgages.

Lenders restricted lending, fearing defaults on loans. Jackson considered this racial, and supported laws such as the Community Reinvestment Act to prohibit redlining. But these protections gave rise to lending practices that included the terms "subprime," "interest only," "no collateral" and "adjustable rate."

It was Jackson, hosting the CNN program "Both Sides," who praised former NationsBank CEO Hugh McColl in 1998 for promising $115 billion in housing loans to low-income communities. McColl noted that his institution, which later merged with Bank of America, was "able to uncover wonderful people that were not [previous] bank customers." At a 2000 Property/Casualty Insurance Joint Industry Forum, Jackson praised this new willingness to lend, saying, "At first it was by regulation, now it's by profit motive."

Jackson apparently couldn't even agree on a compromise. Illinois lawmakers created the "Predatory Lending Database Pilot Program" in 2005 to target select zip codes in the Chicago area plagued by bad mortgages. The program mandated credit counseling for people seeking risky loans or possessing bad credit ratings. One participant, who sought a $50,000 home equity loan, later told the New York Times, "The counseling helped me understand this was on the excessive side."

Jackson, however, told the Chicago Tribune the program had "the smell of apartheid." His opposition, and the protests of others, led to the program ending after just a few months.
When it all came crashing down and people began losing their homes, Jackson changed his tune. At the Reuters Housing Summit in February 2008, he condemned the institutions he once praised, charging: "They began to stereotype and target and cluster whole communities. It's kind of like reverse redlining."

Be it lending or life, Jackson is a chameleon, ready to adapt to whatever political environment he finds himself in. As this double-minded man is blown and tossed by the waves of time and public opinion, should he be trusted?

Stephen Roberts, M.Div. is a research associate for the Project 21 black leadership network and seminary graduate. Comments may be sent to Project21@nationalcenter.org

As I Was Just Saying - - "Everyone Gets A Trophy"

2008-10-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

As I wrote here yesterday, and as I spoke about on The Show last evening, it seems that millions of Americans have emerged into a mindset of "less competition."

Today John Tamny of www.RealClearMarkets.Com has posted a column on what he describes as the "everyone gets a trophy" economy.

Nobody wants to come out and say "we need a society with less competition," or "America should become less competitive." But when people are so disdainful of struggle and failure and hardship, they are essentially aguing a case for less competition, because by definition, competition means that there are both winners and losers.

So......perhaps we'll take up this matter again tonight on the show.

Also, keep your eyes out for more "voter fraud" news.....a columnist in the U.K. swears that all these investigations of voter fraud involving the A.C.O.R.N. organization are false - - all of them.

Yet, McCain and company have serious, and, I believe, legitimate concerns about what is, and is not, going on.

Stay close...there's more coming up....

Life just shouldn't be uncomfortable...

2008-10-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

..That seems to be the prevailing mindset among many Americans, particularly younger Americans, today. On Monday evening's show (www.TheAustinHillShow.Com ) we talked about how this mindset, as exemplified by a caller to the show last Thursday evening (10/09/08) named Akin from Maryland, is impacting the presidential race.

Akin said, in no uncertain terms, "if you work hard, you shouldn't have to struggle...you shouldn't have to worry about how to pay your bills."

No regard for what kind of good or service you provide to the economy....no regard for the level of skill involved in your work....if you "work hard," you should have a comfortable life.......working in a restaurant, or working at the surgeon's table.......it doesn't matter........you "work hard," you should be "comfortable.."

Well, isn't that just the kind of mindset that Mr. Obama is appealing to these days?

Yes, I'd say so......and although "these people" wouldn't think of it in this way, what they really are looking for is a country, an economy, a world, where there is less competition.........no "winners," no "losers".........everyone gets the same amount of everything......everyone is "comfortable...."

Monday night's show will be posted in "on demand" format by early Tuesday morning....listen to it when you can....some of the callers are staggering........

Competition = Bad???

2008-10-13T14:38:00.001-07:00

Is it time to make America "less competitive?"

Fear over the economy, and a volatile stock market, along with Barack Obama's pledge that, when he becomes President, he'll make sure that America begins to "share the wealth" (see the video HERE)...all these items, and more, compel me to take-on this question on the show tonight.

Also.......does anybody really care if Obama is constitutionally qualified to be President? The big, old-fashioned media is ignoring it, nonetheless, doubts persist as to whether or not Obama was born in the United States...I'll play audio excerpts of this new video from Democrat Attorney Phil Berg, and have you answer the question yourself.

Visit www.TheAustinHillShow.Com for both livestreaming, and "show on demand."

And I'll see you tonight at 8pm Eastern..................

Just In From The "Isn't This Obvious?" Department

2008-10-13T09:59:00.001-07:00

Barry Young and Michele Larson host one of the most enlightening and entertaining radio shows in America at Phoenix Arizona's Newstalk 550 KFYI.

While talking about the stock market, and the "panic" surrounding the stock market and the economy, Barry made the point on today's show that despite claims that Americans have "lost 3 trillion dollars" of wealth because of declining stock prices, in reality this is not literally true. A stockholder only loses money when he/she sells shares at a price lower than what he/she paid for them.

And Michele made the point today that anytime a person buys stocks, they assume a level of...are you ready for this......RISK!!!

DUH! Isn't this obvious?

The true answer is "no, this is not obvious!" The concept of economic risk has become foreign to a culture that has become familiar with ever-increasing prosperity and opportunity, and this culture needs to be reminded about RISK in a big, big way.

I'm not sure of Barry Young and Michele Larson are re-educating their listeners to basic truths about the economy, or educating some of their listeners on these matters for the very first time.

No matter, the show makes for highly enlightening and entertaining radio listening.

As far as I know, the show is NOT YET available in an archived, on-demand format.

But listen realtime Monday through Friday, 8-10am Arizona Time (currently Arizona is on Pacific Time, and will switch later in the Fall to Mountain Time).

Streaming audio is at www.KFYI.Com.

Meet the cast of the show HERE.

And Now, Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming...

2008-10-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Many, including myself, believe that if the stock market begins to stabilize this week, then economic panic will subside, and, therefore, American voters will begin to more closely scrutinize the character of the candidates AND take a more critical view of their respective economic plans....

McCain has struggled (and that's putting it mildly) to articulate the virtues of economic choice (as in "health care choice") and low taxes.

But despite all his rhetoric about a "middle class tax cut," Obama's policy is officially to eliminate the so-called "Bush tax cuts for the rich," to raise taxes on those he calls "rich," and re-distribute that wealth into the hands of the not-so-rich.

VP running mate Joe Biden explained that quite clearly 4 weeks ago on the "Good Morning America" tv show, stating "we want to take money (no recognition of whose money it actually is that he's taking) and put it in the pockets of the middle class..."

Well, now Obama has changed his position on raising taxes on the rich.....and why? Could it be that some significant number of Americans aren't thrilled by that prospect, and recognize the damage that could do to the overall economy?

And could it be that, if not now, then soon, Americans will begin to care about Senator Obama's ties to an organization called "A.C.O.R.N.," a group that is the subject of multiple investigations of voter registration fraud in multiple states?

And could it be that Americans begin to care about Mr. Obama's collaborative background with Chicago-area terrorist Bill Ayers?

And could it be that Americans really are curious about the story that just won't go away - - speculation that Obama was not actually born in the United States, and his refusal to produce an original birth certificate document to prove otherwise?

Last week we had some fascinating discussions at 630 WMAL, between myself and callers explaining that the terrorist and voter fraud ties really AREN'T an important issue; and all people really care about is the economy; and yes, it IS time to raise taxes on the rich - - that would only be fair.

Visit www.TheAustinHillShow.com to listen to archives of last week's programs.......and listen live, realtime tonite from 8-10pm Eastern to find out how things might have changed from last week.........

Why NOT Raise Taxes On "The Rich?" Don't They Have Enough Money Already???

2008-10-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Is American capitalism becoming a thing of the past? No, not hardly. Evidence to the contrary can be found in the strangest places - - even within the presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama.

First the bad news. In the past two weeks, American stocks have lost approximately 25% of their value. In dollar terms, we‘re talking about a loss of roughly $3.16 trillion, which is more than four times the controversial $700 billion “rescue” plan that the United States Congress hesitantly approved a few days ago.

Additionally, none of the moves made by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson have produced their desired outcomes, at least not yet. The money markets remain “frozen,” and the free-flow of credit has not yet resumed.

But consider carefully how they have responded to the crisis. The new policies from both the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury have been structured so as to actually support the prices of financial assets. This contrasts with the stock market drop (I’ll refrain from calling it a “crash” since there seems to be some controversy over the technical definition of that term) of October 1987, when, President Reagan’s tax cuts not withstanding, U.S governmental policy was in many ways working against the stock market.

And notice the global response to the crisis. Finance ministers and heads of central banks were quick to pursue a coordinated response with the U.S., and Chairman Bernanke led the way. The outcome was an international round of interest-rate cuts (not interest rate increases), which included the major central banks of Europe, and with the exception of Japan, the central banks of Asia, including those in China.

Now, the crisis is not over, the long-term impact to our economy is not yet knowable, and it’s easy to kick Bernanke, Paulson, and Bush while the chips are down. But don’t miss the big picture.

In previous crises, the instincts of policy makers have most often been to tighten monetary policy, and to implement more governmental control over economic resources. Today, policy makers around the world instinctively want to loosen monetary policy, and to encourage more economic resources to flow into the coffers of private individuals and institutions. Now, more than in previous eras, it is understood that the real hope for economic productivity is found in the private sector, and not in the halls of governments.

This may be a subtle point, and it is certainly a point that is overlooked by most of the media. But it is an important point nonetheless, and serves as further evidence that global sensibilities today lean more in a capitalistic direction than they did in earlier generations.

And now, back to the White House race. If John McCain is having a difficult time getting traction with his message of keeping tax rates low (and he is), Barack Obama is having a difficult time selling Americans on the supposed virtues of high taxes. But how could this be so?

For most of his nearly 21-month presidential campaign, Senator Obama has made a cottage industry out of hating free market enterprise. He has proposed governmental limits on corporate executive salaries. He has repeatedly expressed indignation over “excessive” corporate profits. He has promised to “reign-in” free trade, and has promised to instill “economic justice” in America (he has never clarified what he means when he says “economic justice,” but he has made it clear that America’s economy is necessarily unjust).

And more than any other economic idea, Obama has throughout his campaign reiterated that it is time to end “Bush’s tax cuts for the rich.” The term itself is misleading, in as much as earlier this decade President Bush and the U.S. Congress cut taxes across the board, not merely for “rich people.” But never mind the facts, Obama has hit political homeruns by putting a bullseye on the backs of America’s highest income earners.

Yet last week Obama backed-off from eliminating Bush’s dastardly “tax cuts for the rich,” insisting that, because of Bush’s ailing economy, it won’t be feasible to raise taxes on the wealthy right away. But why not? His sudden change of heart tells us two things: A) some significant portion of the American electorate is NOT enchanted by his politics of class warfare and envy; and B) just like those of the world’s finance ministers, the instincts of many Americans lead them to understand that wealth creation and productivity comes from the private sector, not from government - - not even from an Obama government.

American capitalism is alive and well, and it won’t be dying-off any time soon. Americans now need to decide whether it is best to elect a President who will nurture the world’s preferred economic system, or one whose passion it is to weaken it.

Do We Even Want This ???

2008-09-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

Today is the day. It is the day we commemorate the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 (I prefer to call it a commemoration, rather than an "anniversary" - - anniversaries are things we celebrate, and this is most certainly NOT one of those things).

John McCain and Barack Obama agreed long ago to, essentially, suspend campaigning on this day. They are set to make a joint appearance at "Ground Zero" in New York. The rough-and-tumble of campaigning will presumably resume AFTER today - - that is to say, tommorrow.

And I wonder - - do we the people want this day set aside for a "kinder, gentler" approach with the presidential candidates? This commemorative day should remind all of us that we have enemies, and that we remain incredibly vulnerable to further attack, and that we have remained - - THANK GOD - - free from further attack for seven years. And those realities should inform the ways in which we view the presidential candidates.

And those realities should stir tension in the hearts and minds of all Americans. It's not the stuff of "kinder, gentler" campaigns. In this election cycle there are radically different views about America, its place in the world, and its moral authority, that are in play. There is, no doubt, a "great debate" happenning in our midst.

Let the battle rage on..............

"Does Patriotism Matter Anymore?" Part 563.......

2008-09-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Now comes the news that thousands of American flags were tossed in a trash dumpster, after a Barack Hussein Obama campaign rally.

A sad state of affairs, and yet another reason to question "who is this guy, and what is he really about?"

Denver Post writer David Harsanyi questions just what it is, exactly, that the Obama gang was supposed to do with "thousands of left over handflags." That's probably what Obama's campaign team wondered, as well.

And that's why we should all question the son of a former bureaucrat in the communist government of Kenya.

My family heritage has been, for several generations, distinctly American. As such, I was taught to respect the United States flag. Big flag, little flag, cloth flag, paper flag, expensive flag, cheap flag, whatever. You don't let it touch the ground. You don't let it get dirty. When you store a flag, it should first be properly folded. You show it RESPECT at all times.

You show it respect, not because it has a utilitarian value, like leftover cups and napkins. You show it respect because of what it is - - the American Flag.

And now we have Obama and company wondering what to do with leftover flags, and, apparently deciding there is no useful purpose for them, dumping them in the trash.

Perhaps they could have been donated to a veteran's cemetery (there are plenty of military installations near Denver)???

And this exotic, multicultural man-on-a-mission wants to command our military...........

Maybe Obama Needs A "Change?"

2008-09-05T04:59:00.001-07:00

Last night, after John McCain's big speech at the Republican National Convention, I was in a convention media room doing some television interviews for KGMB-TV 9 in Honolulu.

After Reporter Ramsay Wharton finished interviewing me, I happened to walk past a FOX Newschannel media booth. The discussion happening on the set at FOX at that moment was about whether or not Barack Obama will need to "drop" Joe Biden from his ticket, simply because, in the face of the Republican V.P. nominee Sarah Palin, Joe Biden might be ineffectual.

In one sense, this discussion seemed silly to me. Obama cannot, with credibility, "drop" the man he picked to be his running mate three weeks ago, nor will he. However, the very fact that this discussion was taking place demonstrates how dramatically Governor Palin's presence in this race has changed it all - - literally, "everything" about this year's White House race.

I'm in flight today - - more when I return home...