Incumbent Mitch McConnell Easily Defeats Tea Party Challenger Matt Bevin in Kentucky GOP Primary

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell defeated his GOP Tea Party challenger Matt Bevin in the Kentucky primary by 25%, just one of many races on Super Primary Tuesday. There is a saying, we get the government that we voted for. With so many people claiming to be tired of the same old way that Washington DC is run … last night in primaries across the United States on both sides, the same old establishment candidates won. In Georgia, a Senate Republican primary headed to a runoff with the two candidates, ex-CEO of Dollar General David Perdue and Rep. Jack Kingston.

Mitch McConnell and Alison Lundergan Grimes ran victory laps Tuesday in Kentucky as they rallied their party faithful to nominate them for a colossal showdown in November that could help decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.

Grimes, Kentucky’s Democratic Secretary of State, rolled to victory over nominal primary opposition. And McConnell easily defeated tea party-backed challenger Matt Bevin, who spent $3.3 million in his failed bid to oust the five-term Republican Senate leader.

Um, isn’t Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell one of those powers to be that he is referencing in his own speech?

As Powerline opines, it is time for Republicans and Conservatives to understand who is their greater foe, “As John has pointed out, McConnell’s lifetime ACU rating, after 28 years in the Senate, ‘is certifiably right-wing at 90%.’ Given that record and the importance of wresting control of the Senate away from Harry Reid and the Democrats, it’s difficult to believe that Republicans will not unite behind McConnell in the fight against Grimes.”

Senate Primaries Results by State.

House Votes To Hold IRS Official Lois Lerner in Contempt of Congress in IRS Targeting Tea Party Scandal

The House of Representatives voted to hold IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress by a 231 to  187 vote. Lerner has invoked her 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination not once, but twice at Congressional hearings. Many believe that Lerner waived her 5th Amendment rights by testifying in front of a Congressional hearing by making an opening statement and then going silent. The matter will now be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and the contempt charge will then be referred to a grand jury. However, it is unknown how the Eric Holder Justice Department will proceed, if at all. If ever convicted, Lerner could face between one and 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $100,000. Lois Lerner has since left the IRS, but not without being able to keep her whopping six figure pension.

Wasn’t the Obama administration supposed to be the most transparent presidency ever?

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to hold a former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with an ongoing investigation into the agency’s special targeting of groups with “tea party” or “patriot” in their names that were seeking tax-exempt status.

On a 231 to  187 vote, the House approved a contempt citation against Lois G. Lerner, whose admission last year that the tax-enforcement agency had targeted conservative groups infuriated lawmakers in both parties, led to an overhaul of the IRS and Lerner’s eventual retirement from government service.

The House also passed a resolution Wednesday that called on Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the IRS’s targeting of conservative groups. House lawmakers voted 250 to 168 to pass the resolution in which 26 Democrats joined all voting Republicans to approve it.

CBS News-DC: US Attorney To Oversee Lerner Contempt Case Appointed By Obama.

The matter now goes to Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Federal law says Machen has a “duty” to bring the matter before a grand jury. But a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service said it was unclear whether the duty is mandatory or discretionary. Machen was appointed to his job by President Barack Obama.

“We will carefully review the report from the speaker of the House and take whatever action is appropriate,” Machen’s office said in a statement.

The vote calling on the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel was 250 to 168, with all Republicans voting in favor and most Democrats voting against.

Attorney General Eric Holder has denied previous requests to appoint a special counsel, saying it was unwarranted.

UPDATE I: Democrat House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi misses Lois Lerner vote for fundraiser.

House Oversight Committee Holds ex-IRS Official Lois Lerner in Contempt … Full House Vote to Follow

LOIS LERNER HELD IN CONTEMPT …

The House Oversight Committee voted 21-12 yesterday to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt for her refusal to answer questions regarding her role in the targeting of non-profit Conservative and Tea Party groups. The vote was along party lines. Democrats will rue the day that they voted in favor of defending Lois Lerner and the IRS controversy of specifically and intentionally targeting conservative groups. A note to Democrats voters, next time it could be you. As reported at Mediaite, Committee Chairman Darrell Issa said that they “need Ms. Lerner’s testimony to complete our oversight work and bring truth to the American people,” and they took the vote just a day after the House Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to the Justice Department recommending they consider criminal charges for Lerner. Don’t hold your breathe that Eric Holder will do anything. Lerner evoked her 5th Amendment Rights, not once, but twice … but not before she made a statement before the committee stating her innocence.

“I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations and I have not provided false information to this or any other Congressional committee.”

A House panel voted along party lines to hold ex-IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress on Thursday, paving the way for a full House vote as Republicans turn up the heat on the woman at the center of the controversy over tax-exempt tea party groups.

If approved by the full House as expected, it would be one of about a dozen congressional contempt votes in the past 35 years. Republicans voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt over the Fast and Furious matter in 2012.

The House Oversight Committee voted 21-12 along in a straight party line vote to hold Lerner in contempt for refusing to answer questions about her role in the IRS tea party scandal that erupted last May. The full House is expected to follow suit in the coming weeks. Democrats compared the process to the 1950s when Sen. Joe McCarthy directed a series of contempt votes on Americans who refused questioning about what he called their “un-American” activities.

“We need Ms. Lerner’s testimony to complete our [investigation],” said Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). “Taxpayers don’t get to plead the Fifth [Amendment] and escape all accountability when the IRS audits them. … It would irresponsible for the committee not to vigorously pursue her testimony.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) Wins CPAC Presidential Straw Poll in a Landslide … 2nd Sen. Ted Cuz (TX), 3rd Ben Carson

Look for Democrats and their liberal MSM minions to go after the rising new anti-establishment star of the Conservative movement, Rand Paul.

Rand Paul wins the presidential straw poll at CPAC going away. Paul received 31% of the vote, while his fellow anti-establishment Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz finished in second place with 11%.  Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who came to prominence when he let America and Barack Obama know what he felt about Obamacare at the 2013 National Prayers Breakfast, finished third with 9%. Paul is a very dangerous and formidable opponent for Democrats as he energizes the GOP base and brings in the young and libertarian vote.

Rand Paul handily won the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday, one gauge of the Republican base’s mood less than two years before the 2016 primary season kicks off.

The Kentucky senator received 31 percent, far ahead of second place Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who received 11 percent. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson finished third with 9 percent, ahead of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who received 8 percent.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum tied for fifth place, with 7 percent.

Um, Chris Christie who? The Republican that the media just drools over, including Fox News, finished distant 4th.

1. Sen. Rand Paul – KY (31%) – Although I do not agree with all of his policies, Paul is a Conservative and breath of fresh air from the power-elite GOP establishment.
2. Sen. Ted Cruz – TX (11%) – A Conservative rock star, who if he can run, would make a great President and follow the US Constitution.
3. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson (9%) – From out of nowhere Carson has taken the Conservatives by storm. I would vote for Ben in a heartbeat.
4. Gov. Chris Cristie – NJ (8%) – RINO has no chance of winning GOP primary if Republicans ever want to be anything more than Democrat-light.
5. Gov. Scott Walker – WI (7%) – A solid GOP governor who will one day be a president.
6. Former Sen Rick Santorum – PA (7%)
7. Sen. Marco Rubio – FL (6%) – His stance on immigration amnesty has made Rubio toast with the base.
8. Rep. Paul Ryan – WI (3%) – The base not enamored with establishment Republican and 2012 VP nominee.
9. Gov. Rick Perry – TX (3%) – His performance in the 2012 GOP primaries may be too much to overcome.

Four others pulled 2%: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Rand Paul energizes the faithful at 2014 CPAC.

The Hill:

While other addresses at this year’s CPAC focused on specific policies and red-meat issues like gay marriage and ObamaCare, Paul spoke in broad metaphorical terms of the need to “stand together for liberty.”

“It isn’t good enough to pick the lesser of two evils,” he said. “We must elect men of principle and conviction and action who will lead us back to greatness. There is a great and tumultuous battle underway, not for the future of the Republican Party, but for the future of the country.”

Paul framed the libertarian-ideas that have gained prominence within the party in recent years in historical terms, positioning his values as descending from the nation’s Founding Fathers. Paul name-dropped foundational American thinkers ranging from Daniel Webster to John Adams, James Madison to Montesquieu, but also quoted Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters.

One of his biggest applause lines seemed specifically geared toward the digital generation that has special resonance in the wake of the ongoing debate over privacy and NSA surveillance.

“I believe what you do on your cellphone is none of their damn business,” he said, to extended cheers from the crowd.

Rand Paul released the following statement touting his win:

“The fight for liberty continues, and we must continue to stand up and say: We’re free and no one, no matter how well-intentioned, will take our freedoms from us,” he said. “Together we will stand up for the Constitution. Together we will fight for what is right. Thank you, and onwards to victory.

Lois Lerner, Will She or Won’t She Testify Today in IRS-GATE House Oversight and Government Reform Committee? (Update: Lois Lerner Evokes Her 5th Ammendment Rights Again)

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is set to begin in about 15 minutes and the question still remains, will former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official Lois Lerner testify, plead the 5th or ask for a continence? So what will she do? 

Will she come clean and save herself, or continue the cover up?

When embattled former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official Lois Lerner appears before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Wednesday, the biggest question is whether she will testify or invoke her Fifth Amendment rights, as she has done before.

As of Sunday, the answer to that question is anyone’s guess.

Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., appeared on “Fox News Sunday” with the breaking news that the attorney for the woman at the heart of the IRS targeting scandal said she would testify before the panel.

“We’ve had a back and forth negotiation. But quite frankly, we believe that evidence that we’ve gathered causes her in her best interest to be summoned to testify,” Issa said.

The problem: Lerner’s attorney says it’s not true.

“As of now, she intends to continue to assert her Fifth Amendment rights,” William W. Taylor, Lerner’s attorney, told Politico. “I do not know why Issa said what he said.”

FOX News has the Four questions Lois Lerner must answer about IRS scandal.

1. What Did You Know and When Did You Know It?
2. Did You Know About the Politically-Driven Call to Investigate Conservatives?
3. Who Else is Involved?
4. Why Were Only Conservatives Targeted & Confidential Documents Leaked?

UPDATE I: Although Committee chair  Darrell Issa (R-CA) said on Sunday that Lerner would Testify, She has once again evoked her 5th Amendment rights to not incriminate herself.

Former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner has once again invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to testify, refusing to answer questions during a hearing Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

YUP, NOT A SMIDGEN OF SCANDAL.