On Sunday several Republican would-be darlings of the liberal media signalled their willingness to raise taxes, despite longstanding unified opposition in their party and despite indications that Democrats would treat Obama's narrow election win as a major mandate and refuse spending cuts except to defense. 

During the upcoming negotiations over the so-called fiscal cliff, the President and leaders of Congress will each try to leverage the crisis they created to their advantage.

Via Mark Knoller of CBS comes the list of CEOs summoned to the White House to be told by the President when to jump, and how high. Judging by the donation pattern and public stances of the attendees, he won't have much convincing to do. 

Politicians love to talk about a "mandate" when they are elected, as if the margin of their victory or the issues on which they ran their campaigns form a basis for governing. In fact, the only mandate an elected official has is to perform his duties.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) underscored that idea in the current political environment in a speech to the Senate:

The Speaker of the House has incredible power. If the Republic is to last, he -- or she -- must wield that power effectively and now more than ever, rein in Congress. The Speaker of the House has the power to force repeal of Obamacare, to defund it, and generally to set the agenda for the government in ways not even the President can.

Under the guise of analyzing the final stages of the 2012 Presidential race, ABC News Political Director Amy Walter has furthered the spin of the Democratic National Committee and Obama campaign.

Some people think they have an ownership share in the product of my labor merely because we breathe the same air. I always thought that statement was a metaphorical straw man, a turn of phrase useful only for mocking the lazy. I was wrong.

Over the last several years, some friends introduced me to a strategy for renewing the American nation. Many freedom-loving activists have already begun following The Strategy, and the results are beginning to show. It's a strategy for remaking the way elections are won -- using all the same tactics you can learn at FreePAC, plus one small addition.

In a completely deceitful report, the Center for American Progress Action Fund continued its disinformation campaign covering what the Center appears to believe are presidential election battleground states.  This particular report targeted voters in Colorado.

FreedomWorks held another of its successful FreePAC grassroots activism events October 19, this time in Kissimmee, Florida, near Orlando.  Freedom-loving activists from around the region came to learn the basics of getting out the vote (GOTV) and to be inspired by great speeches. The highlight for this jaded blogger is getting to meet the heroes of the movement.