Hurricane Season: Seven Basics for Emergency Kits

Okay, folks, it's peak hurricane season, again. Nobody in a hurricane-prone area should be caught off-guard. If you live anywhere along the East or Gulf coast, you should be ready with a 72-hour emergency kit for you and your family now. And, don't forget your pets. Even if you don't live in a hurricane area, keeping an emergency kit on hand at all times is just smart because you never know when trouble will come.

Do you have these basics for your home? The American Red Cross recommends:

1. Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person. Each person requires one gallon per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation or 3 gallons for 3 days for each person. 
2. Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. Don't forget a manual can opener.
3. Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. Do not forget your prescription drugs or specialized medical equipment or supplies. 
4. Include other necessary tools and supplies for daily living, sanitation, and clean-up during recovery in your evacuation kit. This should include cash since ATMs will not work without electricity, and banks will be closed. Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person. Also, take bedding or sleeping bags if you must evacuate to a shelter. 
5. Assess the special needs of family members with special requirements, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons. Plan ahead, especially if they will need specialized care or continuous electricity for medical equipment. 
6. Include entertainment items to pass the time and provide psychological relief during the storm. Board games and other games that don’t require batteries or electricity. Books, travel board games and a deck of cards are good choices.
7. Keep important financial and personal records in a waterproof, portable container. Take these with you if you have to evacuate. Before the storm, make copies or scan them onto a computer disk and send them to a trusted friend or family member who lives in another part of the country. Make a list of important phone numbers, including friends and family members. 

Remember your pets. Do not leave your pets behind.

1. Plan ahead as to where your pet will be sheltered. This may include accompanying you to a pet-friendly shelter; most require advanced registration and proof of vaccinations. Kennels outside evacuation zones are another option; make reservations early. Make reservations early if you hope to stay at pet-friendly hotels or motels. Arrange foster care of your pets with friends or family members, if needed.
2. Make sure your pet has current tags on its collar and carry proof of rabies vaccination and a recent photograph of your pet. Put the phone number of a friend or family member on the tag, too, in case your pet gets loose and is found by someone.
3. Keep pets in sturdy, secure pet carriers throughout the storm, even if you remain in your home. Keep them on leashes or harnesses when they are out of the carrier.
4. Pack a minimum of a week's supply of food, water, and other provisions, such as medication or cat litter.
5. Talk to your veterinarian about tranquilizers for your pets, especially if they have a history of becoming highly stressed during storms or when traveling. Include toys or comfort items for your pet, too. 

Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the supplies' kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Review your kit and family needs at least once a year. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container," such as a covered trash container, a camping backpack, or a duffle bag.

For more information, go to
http://www.hurricanesafety.org/hurricanesafetychecklists.shtml

Heroes & Traitors: The Debt Ceiling Votes

Below is the list of the heroes in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate who had the courage to stand up to their leadership and vote against the debt ceiling raise deal. It proved, once again, that politics makes for strange bedfellows. For example, it is rare that Florida's conservative Rep. Cliff Stearns and liberal Rep. Corrine Brown vote alike.

U.S. Senate, August 2, 2011: The legislation passed with a final total of 74 yeses and 26 noes. The heroes who voted NO (against raising the debt ceiling):

• Ayotte, Kelly NH-R
• Chambliss, Clarence GA-R
• Coats, Daniel IN-R
• Coburn, Thomas OK-R
• DeMint, James SC-D
• Gillibrand, Kirsten NY-D
• Graham, Lindsey SC-R
• Grassley, Charles IA-R
• Harkin, Thomas IA-D
• Hatch, Orrin UT-R
• Heller, Dean NV-R
• Inhofe, James OK-R
• Johnson, Ron WI-R
• Lautenberg, Frank NJ-D
• Lee, Mike UT-R
• Menéndez, Robert NJ-D
• Merkley, Jeff OR-D
• Moran, Jerry KS-R
• Nelson, Earl NE-D
• Paul, Rand KY-R
• Rubio, Marco FL-R
• Sanders, Bernard VT-I
• Sessions, Jefferson AL-R
• Shelby, Richard AL-R
• Toomey, Patrick PA-R
• Vitter, David LA-R

Senate traitors who were endorsed by the Tea Party and cowardly voted FOR Harry Reid's debt ceiling bill:

• Boozman, John AR-R
• Burr, Richard NC-R
• Crapo, Michael ID-R
• Hoeven, John ND-R
• Portman, Robert OH-R
• Thune, John SD-R

The House of Representatives voted on August 1, 2011 with 269 yeas, 161 nays, and 3 not voting. The House heroes who voted AGAINST raising the debt ceiling are:

• Ackerman, Gary NY-D
• Akin, William MO-R
• Amash, Justin MI-R
• Bachmann, Michele MN-R
• Baldwin, Tammy WI-D
• Becerra, Xavier CA-D
• Bishop, Robert UT-R
• Blumenauer, Earl OR-D
• Boswell, Leonard IA-D
• Braley, Bruce IA-D
• Brooks, Mo AL-R
• Broun, Paul GA-R
• Brown, Corrine FL-D
• Buerkle, Ann Marie NY-R
• Burton, Danny IN-R
• Butterfield, George NC-D
• Capuano, Michael MA-D
• Cardoza, Dennis CA-D
• Carson, Andre IN-D
• Chaffetz, Jason UT-R
• Chu, Judy CA-D
• Clarke, Hansen MI-D
• Clarke, Yvette NY-D
• Cleaver, Emanuel MO-D
• Cohen, Stephen TN-D
• Conyers, John MI-D
• Cravaack, Chip MN-R
• Crowley, Joseph NY-D
• Cummings, Elijah MD-D
• Davis, Geoffrey KY-R
• DeFazio, Peter OR-D
• DeGette, Diana CO-D
• DeLauro, Rosa CT-D
• DesJarlais, Scott TN-R
• Doyle, Michael PA-D
• Duncan, Jeff SC-R
• Edwards, Donna MD-D
• Ellison, Keith MN-D
• Engel, Eliot NY-D
• Farr, Samuel CA-D
• Filner, Robert CA-D
• Flake, Jeffrey AZ-R
• Fleischmann, Chuck TN-R
• Fleming, John LA-R
• Forbes, James VA-R
• Frank, Barnett MA-D
• Franks, Trent AZ-R
• Fudge, Marcia OH-D
• Garrett, Ernest NJ-R
• Gingrey, John GA-R
• Gohmert, Louis TX-R
• Gonzalez, Charles TX-D
• Gowdy, Trey SC-R
• Graves, Tom GA-R
• Green, Alexander TX-D
• Griffith, Morgan VA-R
• Grijalva, Raul AZ-D
• Hahn, Janice CA-D
• Hall, Ralph TX-R
• Harris, Andy MD-R
• Hartzler, Vicky MO-R
• Hastings, Alcee FL-D
• Holt, Rush NJ-D
• Honda, Mike CA-D
• Huelskamp, Tim KS-R
• Hultgren, Randy IL-R
• Hunter, Duncan CA-R
• Jackson, Jesse IL-D
• Johnson, Timothy IL-R
• Jones, Walter NC-R
• Jordan, Jim OH-R
• Kaptur, Marcia OH-D
• King, Steve IA-R
• Kingston, Jack GA-R
• Kissell, Larry NC-D
• Kucinich, Dennis OH-D
• Labrador, Raul ID-R
• Lamborn, Doug CO-R
• Landry, Jeff LA-R
• Larson, John CT-D
• Latham, Thomas IA-R
• Lee, Barbara CA-D
• Lewis, John GA-D
• Loebsack, David IA-D
• Lofgren, Zoe CA-D
• Lujan, Ben NM-D
• Mack, Connie FL-R
• Maloney, Carolyn NY-D
• Markey, Edward MA-D
• Matsui, Doris CA-D
• McClintock, Tom CA-R
• McCollum, Betty MN-D
• McDermott, James WA-D
• McGovern, James MA-D
• McIntyre, Mike NC-D
• McNerney, Jerry CA-D
• Miller, Brad NC-D
• Miller, George CA-D
• Moran, James VA-D
• Mulvaney, Mick SC-R
• Murphy, Christopher CT-D
• Nadler, Jerrold NY-D
• Napolitano, Grace CA-D
• Neal, Richard MA-D
• Neugebauer, Randy TX-R
• Nunes, Devin CA-R
• Olver, John MA-D
• Pallone, Frank NJ-D
• Pastor, Edward AZ-D
• Paul, Ronald TX-R
• Payne, Donald NJ-D
• Pearce, Stevan NM-R
• Peters, Gary MI-D
• Pingree, Chellie ME-D
• Poe, Ted TX-R
• Posey, Bill FL-R
• Price, David NC-D
• Quayle, Ben AZ-R
• Rangel, Charles NY-D
• Rehberg, Dennis MT-R
• Reyes, Silvestre TX-D
• Richardson, Laura CA-D
• Roby, Martha AL-R
• Rokita, Todd IN-R
• Ross, Dennis FL-R
• Roybal-Allard, Lucille CA-D
• Ryan, Timothy OH-D
• Sanchez, Linda CA-D
• Sarbanes, John MD-D
• Scalise, Steve LA-R
• Schakowsky, Janice IL-D
• IL R Schweikert, David AZ-R
• Scott, Austin GA-R
• Scott, Robert VA-D
• Scott, Tim SC-R
• Serrano, Jose NY-D
• Slaughter, Louise NY-D
• Smith, Adam WA-D
• Southerland, Steve FL-R
• Stark, Fortney CA-D
• Stearns, Clifford FL-R
• Stutzman, Marlin IN-R
• Sutton, Betty OH-D
• Thompson, Bennie MS-D
• Tierney, John MA-D
• Tipton, Scott CO-R
• Tonko, Paul NY-D
• Towns, Edolphus NY-D
• Turner, Michael OH-R
• Velázquez, Nydia NY-D
• Visclosky, Peter IN-D
• Walsh, Joe IL-R
• Waters, Maxine CA-D
• Watt, Melvin NC-D
• Waxman, Henry CA-D
• Welch, Peter VT-D
• Westmoreland, Lynn GA-R
• Wilson, Addison SC-R
• Woolsey, Lynn CA-D
• Yarmuth, John KY-D
• Yoder, Kevin KS-R

House traitors who cowardly voted FOR the debt ceiling raise despite Tea Party endorsements are:

• Adams, Sandra FL-R
• Bass, Charles NH-R
• Benishek, Dan MI-R
• Berg, Rick ND-R
• Bilbray, Brian CA-R
• Black, Diane TN-R
• Bucshon, Larry IN-R
• Calvert, Kenneth CA-R
• Camp, David MI-R
• Campbell, John CA-R
• Canseco, Quico TX-R
• Chabot, Steven OH-R
• Coffman, Michael CO-R
• Cole, Thomas OK-R
• Crawford, Rick AR-R
• Denham, Jeff CA-R
• Dold, Robert IL-R
• Duffy, Sean WI-R
• Ellmers, Renee NC-R
• Fincher, Stephen TN-R
• Fitzpatrick, Michael PA-R
• Flores, Bill TX-R
• Fortenberry, Jeffrey NE-R
• Gallegly, Elton CA-R
• Gardner, Cory CO-R
• Gibbs, Bob OH-R
• Gosar, Paul AZ-R
• Griffin, Tim AR-R
• Grimm, Mike NY-R
• Guinta, Frank NH-R
• Hanna, Richard NY-R
• Heck, Joe NV-R
• Herger, Walter CA-R
• Herrera, Jaime WA-R
• Huizenga, Bill MI-R
• Jenkins, Lynn KS-R
• Johnson, Bill OH-R
• Kelly, Mike PA-R
• Kinzinger, Adam IL-R
• Lankford, James OK-R
• Lewis, Charles CA-R
• Long, Billy MO-R
• Lucas, Frank OK-R
• Lummis, Cynthia WY-R
• Lungren, Daniel CA-R
• Marino, Thomas PA-R
• McCarthy, Kevin CA-R
• McCotter, Thaddeus MI-R
• McKeon, Howard CA-R
• McKinley, David WV-R
• McMorris Rodgers, Cathy WA-R
• Meehan, Patrick PA-R
• Miller, Candice MI-R
• Miller, Gary CA-R
• Nunnelee, Alan MS-R
• Paulsen, Erik MN-R
• Pompeo, Mike KS-R
• Renacci, Jim OH-R
• Ribble, Reid WI-R
• Rivera, David FL-R
• Rohrabacher, Dana CA-R
• Royce, Edward CA-R
• Runyan, Jon NJ-R
• Schilling, Bobby IL-R
• Simpson, Michael ID-R
• Smith, Adrian NE-R
• Stivers, Steve OH-R
• Sullivan, John OK-R
• Terry, Lee NE-R
• Upton, Frederick MI-R
• Walberg, Timothy MI-R
• Walden, Greg OR-R
• Webster, Daniel FL-R
• West, Allen FL-R
• Womack, Steve AR-R
• Young, Todd IN-R

Correction: Who Owns the National Debt?

On my last post, I made an error in reporting who owns the federal debt, and I apologize for any confusion it may have caused. I originally reported 86 percent is owned by and owed to Americans. Here are the correct facts:


The total public debt as of 8/1/2011 is $14.3 trillion or $46,708 per U.S. citizen. It is higher than the total value of China's, the United Kingdom's and Australia's economies together. Our national debt is growing by $3.5 billion per day or $2 million per minute.

Only 32 percent or about $4.6 trillion is owned by the federal government (intragovernmental holdings) as IOUs for Social Security, federal pensions, etc. About $3 trillion is owed to Social Security and the Federal Reserve Bank holds about $2 trillion.

About $5.3 trillion or 37 percent are private holdings by American investors, corporations (especially banks and pension funds), and holdings by state and local governments.

The remaining $4.4 trillion or 30 percent is owned by foreigners. China owns 8 percent of our debt or about $1.2 billion. This makes the Chinese the third largest holder of U.S. debt. Only the Social Security Trust Fund and the Federal Reserve Bank hold more.

Therefore, about $9.9 trillion or 69 percent, not 86 percent, of the national debt is owned by and owed to Americans.

Sources used include: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/moneymatters/ss/How-Much-US-Debt-Does-China-Own.htm  http://www.usdebtclock.org/

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np
http://www.fms.treas.gov/bulletin/index.html
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/mfh.txt
http://www.defeatthedebt.com/

Picturing the National Debt

The website http://usdebt.kleptocracy.us/ has created a series of graphic images of what our current and future national debt looks like. I highly recommend taking a look at it. It helps one understand what is facing us or, more accurately, our children, if we do not get our national spending under control.


One hundred million dollars, stacked, would be a pallet-load on a standard shipping pallet. It would stand about chest high on an average size man. Still, it is a trifle compared to our debt.

One billion dollars would require ten $100,000,000 pallets. Although more impressive, it is still a drop in the bucket.

Now, take 20,000 of those $100,000,000 pallets and stack them double-high. To equal a trillion dollars, you would fill a football field with double-stacked pallets. In 2010, the U.S. government racked up a deficit of $1.7 trillion or one-and-a-half football fields of double-stacked pallets.

The total national debt for 2011 is projected to total $15 trillion, "20% of the entire world's combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product)" and more than 100% of the value of all goods and services (GDP) produced in our country. To equal $15 trillion, take these $100,000,000 pallets and stack them 60 pallets high, and then fill two football fields with these 60-pallet stacks. If the Statue of Liberty was placed next to the them, the stacks would reach chest-high on Lady Liberty.

Now, if you are not depressed and distressed enough, take a look at our nation's unfunded liabilities. To fully fund the Medicare, Medicare Prescription Drug, Social Security, Military and federal civil servant pension plans as currently structured would require -- are you ready? -- $114.5 trillion dollars. (This figure does not include Obamacare, by the way.) A single layer of our double-stacked pallets would equal $1 trillion dollars so the total would soar to 114-1/2 layers high, well over the tops of the fallen World Trade Center towers, almost three-quarters higher than the Empire State building, and higher than the 1,976-story Freedom Tower under-construction at Ground Zero. That is how much $114,500,000,000,000 is.

It is easy to depersonalize these numbers. We say, it is the government's debt or it is owed to others, such as China and other countries. Some say the national debt does not concern or effect them. Well, these facts may surprise you:

Who is the government? "We the People of the United States" are the Constitution's first words. The U.S. government is not some disembodied entity. It is you and me together; we are the government. Thus, the national debt is our debt. We owe it. And, it may surprise you, but most of it -- about 86 percent -- is owed, not to other nations, but to ourselves. Government agencies borrow and lend to one another. In other words, we take money from one of our hands and give it to the other.

For example, you have probably heard about the "Social Security Trust Fund." The naive think this is some kind of special savings account set up by the government to protect the funds received from our paycheck withholdings until they are needed when we retire. The sad truth is all of those funds -- every single dollar of it -- has been lent back to the federal government to be included in the general revenues used to pay all the government's bills. It is not reserved to pay just Social Security claims, as many falsely believe. The so-called Social Security Trust Fund is just a stack of IOU's (government bonds) from the U.S. Treasury. These bonds are a promise to you that you will pay yourself back sometime in the future when you need the funds. The same is true for most of the other unfunded retirement promises owed to veterans and federal pensioners. Can you spell P-O-N-Z-I scheme?

For additional information, go to www.USdebtclock.org.

America's Decline: Where Are We?

On Sunday, July 24th, the Florida Times-Union published one of the most cogent, well-written editorials I've ever read. It's title was "How America Can Get Moving Again." (Go to http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2011-07-24/story/editorial-how-america-can-get-moving-again for the entire text.)

It outlines five stages of decline, taken from How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Compaines Never Give In by Jim Collins, and applied to our nation. The five stages are:

1. Hubris born of success
2. Undisciplined pursuit of more
3. Denial of risk and peril
4. Grasping for salvation
5. Capitulaton or death

My only disagreement with the writer is what stage our nation is in. He says stage 3, "denial of risk & peril." I say we are well past that. Obama's election was our "grasping for savation," stage 4. The debt ceiling debate is the choice of stage 5: "capitulation or death."

Frankly, I am not optimistic that our leaders will choose to take the painful medicine that will stop the unsustainable spending and lead us back from the waterfall of national bankruptcy. We may be too far down that river already, out of reach of rescue, to stop our country from going over the precipice.

Debt Ceiling: Letter to Florida's Senator Bill Nelson

Senator Bill Nelson (Dem.-FL) sent an email asking for his constituents input regarding the debt ceiling issue. Below is a copy of the letter I sent in response:

Dear Senator Nelson:


The cycle of constant expansion of the nation's debt has to stop. It is bankrupting us and our children. It is unsustainable. I support these principles:

1. Every dollar of debt ceiling increase must be matched by spending cuts. These cuts must be made BEFORE additional dollars may be borrowed. The old trick of raising the ceiling on the promise of future cuts that never seem to come must be avoided. For this reason, I do not like either the Boehner or Reid plans. We do not need yet another commission. Congress needs to do its job and cut the red ink.

2. There should be no income tax increases on anyone, especially corporations, during a recession. Even President Kennedy knew tax cuts, not increases, promoted job growth and economic expansion. I support a Fair Tax, but only if the 16th Amendment is repealed. It is wrong that the top 2% of taxpayers pay 80% of taxes and that over 50%, including myself, owe none.

3. No debt ceiling increase should be granted until the President submits a balanced budget. It is dereliction of duty for him not to have submitted a budget for the current fiscal year. He insists we do not need a balanced budget amendment. I say, "Prove it!"

4. The current Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs are not sustainable and must be reformed. I support increasing or even removing the cap on income subject to FICA withholdings. The current $250,000 maximum is too low to keep the system solvent.

5. If a default is unavoidable because Congress continues to fail to act and the President continues to refuse to lead, then payments of our debts need to go out in this order:

a. active duty military
b. retired military
c. Social Security recipients (retirees, disabled, & children)
d. government contractors
e. government civil service workers
f. U.S. bondholders
g. foreign aid recipients
h. all other obligations
i. elected officials and their staff

Sincerely,
Susan M. Lamb

H.R. 2417 BULB Act: Save the Incandescent Lightbulb

Here's the text of the message I sent today to Rep. Ander Crenshaw to save the right of American consumers to choose the incandescent lightbulb to light their homes. You can send yours via the easy to use link at http://capwiz.com/eagleforum/issues/alert/?alertid=51211291#action.

Dear Rep. Crenshaw:
I urge you to vote YES on H.R. 2417, the Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act because:

1. CFL's are too expensive and new studies show they do not last as long as the government and manufacturers claim.

2. Few people know or will bother to follow the EPA's instructions on how to safely dispose of CFLs or handle and clean up broken CFLs, which contain mercury. The result will be more dangerous mercury in our
environment.

3. Scientific medical studies have linked CFLs to migraines, seizures, cancers and cataracts to vulnerable populations.

4. Americans should have the freedom to choose the products they desire. The most the government should do is provide consumer information so they can make informed decisions and assure the safety of products.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns.

Respectfully yours,

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Some commentators, including attorneys and judges, on cable and network television have stated that the jury did not declare Casey Anthony "innocent." They only declared her "not guilty" on the murder, manslaughter and aggravated child abuse charges. These talking heads insinuated that this meant Casey Anthony could or should still be considered guilty.


Excuse me, but under our system of law the accused is considered innocent until proven guilty. Neither she nor her defense attorneys had any obligation to prove her innocence. Likewise, the jury's duty was not to declare her innocent. Their only duty was to review the evidence presented against the requirements of the law and make a determination as to whether or not the prosecution had successfully proven her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The jury's decision that she was not proven guilty as charged means that continues to be innocent of murder, manslaughter and child abuse, according to the law. If we are a nation of laws, then we as a society have an obligation to accept the jury's decision and treat Casey as innocent of those charges.

If Casey is treated equally under the law, the judge will release her tomorrow on the charges (lying to law enforcement) for which she was found guilty. These misdemeanor charges carry a maximum sentence of one year each. The judge has the discretion to have these sentences served concurrently or consecutively.

Casey has been jailed without bail for nearly three years. She had no prior arrest record before the disappearance of Caylee. (She did plead guilty and was sentenced to time served and probation for the theft of a friend's checkbook that occurred after Caylee disppeared.) Typically, offenders without criminal history are not given the maximum sentence, and they would be served concurrently. Therefore, Casey should be released for time served. She should not be given a harsher sentence than any other offender because we would like her to be punished for Caylee Anthony's death. Whether we agree or disagree with the jury's decision, Casey is innocent of Caylee's death under the law and must not be selected for extra punishment for these misdemeanors.

As I wrote in my last post, I do not know who killed Caylee Anthony, if anyone, or how she died. According to the jury, neither does the State of Florida. As a Floridian, I am relieved that we will not put her to death, and I say that as a strong supporter of the death penalty.

Casey should be allowed to go free and start to rebuild her life. I sincerely hope she will get treatment for her obvious psychological problems. As her attorney Jose Bias said in his remarks to the press yesterday, she needs to grieve and heal. I hope the whole family goes into family therapy because they have all been traumatized and the fractures in their family dynamics were plain to see as each appeared on the witness stand.

As a Christian, I believe there is One who knows exactly what happened to Caylee Anthony. If her death was not accidental, God knows who the perpetrator is and will deal with him or her accordingly. Paul admonishes us not to seek revenge in Romans 12:19: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' saith the Lord." Because of my faith, I know that Caylee Anthony will receive justice eventually, if she died at the hands of someone else. It is my obligation, as a Christian, to pray for repentance and salvation for anyone involved in Caylee's death.

Of course, many people are angry. Already, Casey's family has had to go into hiding due to death threats received yesterday after the verdict. This  anger should be redirected from Casey and her family to the State Attorney's office, the Orange County Sheriff's office, and the Orange County Coroner or Medical Examiner's office. They flubbed the case, as the defense showed. As tempers calm and reason comes back into play, I hope Orange County residents will insist on thorough investigations and consequences for the errors made in the search for, examination of and prosecution of Caylee's death.

Is Casey Anthony Quilty of First Degree Murder?

After watching a fair amount of the trial and all of the closing arguments, including the prosecution's rebuttal, I am glad I am not a member of Casey Anthony's jury. After yesterday's closing arguments, I was convinced there was enough reasonable doubt to void a quilty verdict for first degree murder. Today, I am not so sure.

Until today, I did not know that there are two types of first degree murder. One is premeditated; the other is called felony murder. Premeditation is not always a condition for a first degree murder verdict. Felony murder comes into play if a death is the result of other actions such as aggravated child abuse, when actions not intended to kill but which are egregious or dangerous enough that the victim dies.

All along, I have speculated that Casey Anthony may have used chloroform to sedate her daughter when Casey wanted to party or be with her boyfriend. The duct tape may have been used to keep her cries from being heard by passersby if she was left in a car in a parking lot. Little Cayle may have died when Casey accidentally gave her too much chloroform or Cayle aspirated her own vomit because her mouth was taped shut, which could cause her to drown in her own fluids. I have never believed Casey intended to kill Cayle and panicked when it happened.

As a result, I have suspected that political or career ambitions on the part of prosecutors entered into the decision to make this high-profile case a first degree murder case. Second degree murder or manslaughter made more sense to me, especially since we do not know the exact manner of Cayle's death nor the time of death.

Casey was not well-represented by her attorney, Jose Bias. Amazingly, this is Bias' first capital murder trial. If my life was hanging in the balance, I sure would not want my lawyer cutting his trial teeth on my case. His inexperience showed throughout the trial in various missteps that resulted in most prosecution objections being sustained and most of his objections being rejected by the judge.

Still, Bias was able to raise a number of issues that could cause reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors. He also blew a lot of hot air up their skirts and trousers. As much as the jury is ready to go home, I expect their deliberations to take some time, and I will be surprised if they come back with a first degree conviction. If I were on the jury, I know I could convict on manslaughter, child abuse, obstruction of justice and lying to law enforcement officers. I am not so sure about second degree murder or aggravated child abuse.

However, this is the wonder of the justice system our founding fathers created. A jury of peers comes together to look at and hear all of the evidence before rendering their verdict. Whether the jury comes back with the same verdict I think I could vote for does not matter. I will accept and trust the jury's decision. Watching this courtroom drama unfold was not how I had planned to spend this 4th of July weekend, however I think it was a uniquely appropriate way to celebrate our nation's birthday.

One thing is certain. Casey Anthony is a liar, perhaps a pathological liar. The trial made it clear where she learned this skill -- from her parents. Neither her father nor mother were credible witnesses in my eyes. Yet, I have sympathy for both of them, especially her mother. Silly as her testimony was, Cindy tried desperately to cover for her daughter's internet searches for chloroform. As a woman, I can understand her desire to protect her child. For their sakes, I hope the jury does not bring back a death penalty recommendation if they do convict Casey of first degree murder.

The Florida Times-Union Has Lost Its Mind

The Florida Times-Union’s management has lost its collective mind. They want to charge readers up to $72.28 per year for the new TV Weekly. This is scheduled to replace the weekly TV schedule that has been included in the Friday paper at no additional charge beginning June 5, 2011. If you are a subscriber, you can get it for as low as $34.84 per year with a 24-month subscription. This works out to 67¢ per week. Their promotional ads have the nerve to call this the “BEST DEAL” in bright red letters as though they were doing us subscribers a favor.

Well, this subscriber is not so gullible. After reviewing the free sample included in today’s Sunday paper, I went online to see what a subscription to TV Guide would cost. What I found at www.tvguide.com/magazine was a subscription rate of $16.50 for 56 issues if you paid immediately by credit card or $16.50 for 48 issues if you wanted them to bill you. For credit card payers, that works out to only 29¢ per issue or a savings of 38¢ every week over the best offer for the Times-Union’s TV Weekly. TV Guide’s format is very similar to TV Weekly’s and TV Guide has made major improvements in its coverage of daytime and local stations. Plus TV Guide has more extensive editorial content. In other words, I can get a better product for substantially less. That’s a no-brainer for any savvy consumer who wants a paper TV program schedule. (Yes, I know I can check the current schedule on the TV itself or online. However, I like to know ahead of time what is going to be on so I can plan my schedule accordingly.)

So, I immediately subscribed to the TV Guide to save $18.34 per year for a paper television schedule. That is not the only savings I will be enjoying. The only reason I subscribed to the Friday-Saturday-Sunday (weekend) package of the Times-Union was to get the TV schedule that came in the Friday paper. Now, I can go back to a Sunday-only subscription for the coupons. This will reduce my subscription cost from $12.79 to $8.54 per month, a savings of $51 per year. Even after deducting the cost of the TV Guide, I will save $34.50 a year.

It really pleases me that I can reduce the money I give the Times-Union after their support and active promotion of Alvin Brown for Mayor. If it were not for the shopping coupons I use from the Sunday paper, I would cancel my subscription all together. (And, yes, I know I could get coupons online but then I have to pay for the ink and paper to print them out. Plus, it costs a lot more time to find them than clipping coupons from the paper while I watch TV.)

Tomorrow, May 21, 2011, Will NOT Be the End of the World or the Rapture

Many are abuzz with the prediction made by Harold Camping that the Rapture will happen tomorrow, May 21, 2011, at 6 p.m. Some media erroneously say that Camping has predicted the End of the World because they do not understand that there is a difference between the two events.

Just in case you or any of your friends or family are worried about tomorrow, let me reassure you. Better, trust Jesus Himself that neither the Rapture nor the End of the World will happen tomorrow.

How can I be so sure? Easy. The Bible tells me so. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus tells his followers, "No one knows, however, when that day and hour will come--neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows." The day and hour this passage refers to is the return of the Son of Man, often referred to as the Rapture when the Lord comes to catch his followers--first, the dead; then, the living--up to heaven.

The day and time of this event is so privileged that only the Father knows it. You talk about top secret information. The Father has not even shared it with His beloved Son. And, Harold Camping thinks he is privy to it?! I would bust out laughing at the very idea if such predictions were not so harmful.

All Camping and his followers have done is hold Christians and Christianity up for ridicule and derision by unbelievers. Some mentally unstable people might be so frightened that they harm themselves or others. Others who are searching for a spiritual way may be disillusioned and persuaded to give it up when nothing happens out of the ordinary tomorrow. Weak or new Christians, who may not know enough about Bible prophecy yet, may lose their way.

The Rapture, a seven-year period of severe tribulation and a world leader worse than anything the world has ever seen, the last batte of Armageddon, and the end of the present world are all coming. The Rapture could happen in the next 30 seconds, 30 minutes, 30 hours, 30 days, 30 weeks, 30 years...Nobody knows when.

There is nothing left that has to happen before the Rapture, according to Bible prophecy. From my studies of Scripture and observations of world events, I agree with those who expect the Rapture to come sooner rather than later. Jesus told His followers, "Let the fig tree teach yo a lesson. When its branches become green and tender and it starts putting out leaves, you know that summe is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you will know that the time is near, ready to begin..." (Matthew 24:32-33)

What are "these things" Jesus is referring to as signs for His believers that the season of His reappearance is near? He details them in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. They include:

• Impersonators of Jesus or false Messiahs who mislead many
• Wars and rumors of war
• Ethnic strife and revolutions
• Famines and plagues
• Earthquakes everywhere
• Persecution and hatred of Christians, even from their own family members and friends
• Falling away of the faithful
• Dissension and betrayal among Christian believers
• Practicing Christianity becomes a capital offense
• Many false prophets who fool many people
• Love will grow cold due to the spread of evil
• The Gospel of Christ preached worldwide
• Especially difficult times for pregnant women and the mothers of young children
• Strange and terrifying things coming from the sky
• Strange phenomena happening to the sun, the moon, and the stars
• Roaring seas and raging tides causing despair among nations
• Heavenly bodies driven fom their normal courses

Sounds pretty scary, huh? Or, it sounds like the nightly news. I have many friends who can no longer bear to watch the news on television or read the newspaper. They tell me it is just too depressing, upsetting and frightening.

Should you be afraid when you see these things happening? Well, the Gospel is from the Greek word for "good news." So, no, Jesus told His followers, "When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvaton is near" (Luke 21:28). If you are a believer in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then rest confident in His Love and Mercy. Be glad and rejoice that you may have the privilege of seeing with your own eyes what generations of believers have hoped to experience. What a great and glorious day that will be when "the Son of Man will appear coming in a cloud with great power and glory" (Luke 21:27) "like the lightning which flashes across the whole sky from the east to the west" (Matthew 24:27).

If you are not yet a believer, then His harvest is still ongoing. It is not too late, even if the time is drawing near. You, too, can look forward to His return if you sincerely repent of your sins, seek His forgiveness, and accept the gift of His Love and Mercy. He stands at the door of your heart, knocking. God is such a respector of your free will that the handle to open that door in on your side, not His. All you have to do is use that handle and open your heart to Him. Jesus and His Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Maranatha. (Come, Lord Jesus.)

Election of Alvin Brown: "Yes, Massa; No, Massa"

Jacksonville, Florida elected Alvin Brown as its mayor on Tuesday. He is the city's first black mayor. Today's Florida Times-Union screamed "Historic Election" on its frontpage.

In the accompanying articles, many expressed their expectations of "change" for the city. Where have we heard that before? Ah, yes, Obama promised transformative change for the nation. God help our city if we experience that kind of change here. The bad news for those expecting change in Jacksonville by voting for Alvin Brown for mayor is, in reality, they were snookered into voting for more of the same old, same old. They will be sorely disappointed in the next four years.

For decades, Jacksonville has been run as a plantation by a clubby group of local businessmen, landowners and developers. Whatever they wanted, they got. They owned City Hall. I once overheard a discussion between several of this group in which one of them expressed regrets that the "natives were getting restless" and it was getting "harder to manage the plantation."

If any politician, mayor or councilmember, dared to defy them, this group financed and backed their replacement. Few dared such defiance, and even fewer survived in office if they did. One of those who did stand up to this group on occasion was Mike Hogan, Brown's Republican opponent in the mayoral race.

Jacksonville's powerbrokers were horrified when Hogan won the primary in May. Their support was split between Rick Mullaney and Audrey Moran, although the bulk went to the latter. That was a strategic mistake that allowed Brown to squeek by Moran for second place. Even Brown's supporters were surprised that his mobilization of the black vote gained the prize of a run-off against Hogan.

So, what did the majority of Jacksonville's Republican (in name only) plantation owners do? They decided to back Democrat Alvin Brown. Led by Pete Rummell, a former St. Joe Paper executive, the group of thirty or so business leaders poured money into Brown's campaign coffers. They did so because Brown, unlike Hogan, promised to watch out for their interests, especially the development of downtown Jacksonville.

For decades now, this group has promoted downtown over the interests of other neighborhoods and needs in the city. Thanks to them, we have the mostly riderless Skyway Express, the shopperless Jacksonville Landing, the businessless LaVilla section, the workerless office buildings, the dinerless restaurants, the walkerless sidewalks, the readerless Main Library, the conventioneerless Prime Osborn Convention Center, the winless Jacksonville Jaguars and the residentless condo high-rises in downtown Jacksonville.

A few weeks ago, I had an appointment at a doctor's office in LaVilla. Riding through downtown, even I was shocked at how dead downtown was at 10 a.m. Almost the only people I saw were the homeless. Yet, we have the monuments to this gang of thirty's skewed priorities of the Baseball Grounds and Everbank Field that sit vacant most days and the money pit of the new County Courthouse under construction.

Those of us who think other areas and other priorities -- like jobs, the port, transportation, taxes and small businesses -- deserve City Hall's attention saw hope for change in Hogan. He promised to give downtown no more (and no less) attention than other neighborhoods around the city. In other words, he was willing to buck the plantation's owners.

Unfortunately, the owners whipped Hogan. They showed him, Brown, and all the other politicians in Jacksonville that they better not dare to buck the plantation system. Brown is completely beholden to these plantation owners. When they tell him to do or not do something, he had better answer "Yes, massa" or "No, massa" if he wants to keep his new job.

Senate Bill S.679: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Senator Chuck Schumer (Dem-NY) has introduced Senate Bill S.679. It has an appealing title:
"Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011." Now, we are all for efficiency in and streamlining government, right? Not so fast.
 
Article II, Section 2.2 of the U.S. Constitution states the President has the power "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate" to appoint "Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States." This section also allows the Congress to allow certain "inferior Officers" to be appointed without the Senate's "Advice and Consent," which they have done.
 
However, S.679 is the most sweeping granting of absolute appointment power to the President in history. Examples are many Assistant Secretaries of the various departments, the Director of the Mint, DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN’S BUREAU, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS, CHIEF SCIENTIST of the NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, etc. It affects every federal department as well as many government commissions and corporations (e.g., COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION, National Council on Disability, etc.). I counted at least 83 separate appointees who would no longer require the Senate's approval. Not included in this total are an unknown number of members of boards, commissions, and officer corps for Public Health and N.O.A.A. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
 
Why would senators want to relieve themselves of their "advice and consent" responsibilities and turn these powers over to the exclusive use of the President? Are they too lazy to do their jobs? Or, is their intent more nefarious? Is this consolidation of power in the Executive Branch be an attempt to ramrod radical leftists into positions of power who would not be able to pass the smell test of the background investigation that is part of the "advice and consent" process?
 
The answer can be found in Section 3 of S.679: WORKING GROUP ON STREAMLINING PAPERWORK FOR EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS. This group would consist of designated government bureaucrats to produce a report in 90 days for the President and Senate to find ways to simplify and speed up the required background checks for Presidential appointees. Among its provisions, it calls for this group to "assess the feasibility of using personnel other than Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel" to conduct these background checks. The group is also required to consider allowing varying standards for the extent of these investigations "depending on the nature of the position for which the individual is being considered."
 
This is the real crux and danger of S.679. President Obama has been frustrated by the Senate's rejection of a number of his appointees because they could not pass F.B.I. background checks, which is a requirement for White House and government officer positions. Senate Republicans have forced the withdrawal of or blocked the appointments of several radical leftists to crucial positions. The President, in many cases, has circumvented the "advice and consent" of the Senate by appointing more so-called "czars" than any other previous President.
 
Schumer and his Democratic colleagues who are sponsoring this Senate bill are deliberately consolidating power to the President to circumvent the historical separation of powers our founding fathers so wisely wrote into the Constitution. S.679 is a very dangerous piece of legislation that will undermine the balance of power that has been the foundation of our Republic.
 
This bill reminds me of what happened in ancient Rome. Caesar undermined and diminished the role of the Roman Senate until they became powerless and corrupt puppets. As a result, the Roman Republic evolved into an Empire headed by dictators with absolute power. The Democrats might like this to happen to our country. Is this what you want? If not, write your Senators today to oppose with vigor S.679.

Thank You, Jesus: Osama Bin Laden Is Dead

And thank you, Navy Seals for your courage, bravery and skills in accomplishing your mission. Thank you, President George W. Bush for authorizing waterboarding and other interrogation techniques that made this intelligence actionable. Thank you, all who worked in the various intelligence services who analyzed and developed the information that made this raid possible. And, yes, thank you, President Barack Hussein Obama for ordering this raid that led to the death of Osama Bin Laden, one of history's most horrible men.

Last night, I was watching Geraldo Rivera on Fox News. I had planned to watch House Hunters on HGTV at 10 p.m., but at the last minute, I decided to switch to Geraldo. I am so glad I did. About ten minutes into the program, it was announced that the President would be making a statement to the American people soon. This is highly unusual on a Sunday night. Like Geraldo, I knew immediately something big, even alarming, was happening.

Geraldo and other commentators started speculating as to what it would be. Had we or NATO taken out Gaddafi? Were we taking action against Syria in support of their rebels? Was there something going on with the tornado recovery operations? The latter was quickly discounted as not warranting action late on Sunday night. Gaddafi was more likely.

Then, Geraldo asked, what if it is even bigger -- much bigger -- than Gaddafi? Could it be they got Osama Bin Laden? This was about ten minutes before the first reports from the Associated Press and others started coming in that it was indeed news about Osama Bin Laden. Geraldo's reporting instincts, honed by years of experience, had nailed it.

Like most Americans, I had a whole range of emotions in the next few hours as I watched the President's announcement and the coverage after it. Thank you, Jesus, were the first words out of my mouth, especially after hearing no American troops died in the operation. I felt elation and pride in America, especially our military. I felt joy and satisfaction, especially for the families of 9/11 victims who have waited almost ten years for this. I also felt concern because I know there are still jihadists who will seek revenge through acts of terrorism or attacks on our troops deployed around the world. As CIA Director Leon Panetta wrote in a memo that congratulated the agency for its role in the operation, "Bin Laden is dead. Al-Qaida is not."
Today, as I have heard and read more reports with the details of the raid, I have to add anger to my reaction. There is no way Pakistani military and government officials did not know where Osama Bin Laden was living. His compound was "less than a kilometer away from Pakistan's Military Academy at Kakul." This is their version of our West Point. According to other articles, the area was favored Pakistan military retirees and professionals. Pakistan has a lot to answer for in harboring Osama Bin Laden.

Finally, I feel relief that the Navy disposed of his body at sea. No one can build a shrine at his grave. Shark bait is a fitting earthly end to this despicable excuse for a human being. I am relieved that Osama Bin Laden did not surrender peacefully. I am glad the Seals did not capture him to bring him back for trial. What a nightmare that would have been. I leave it to God to deal with Osama Bin Laden's soul as he deserves. But I admit I hope that, instead of the 72 virgins jihadists are suppose to get in heaven, it will include 7200 demons to torture him in Hell for the rest of eternity.

Sources:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bin_laden
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599206906900
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_bin_laden_sea_burial

Jacksonville in the War Between the States: 1861

Few know the interesting local story of this epic war. According to the 1860 Census, Jacksonville had a population of just over 2,000 people. Most lived in the area of today’s downtown. H.H. Hoeg was Mayor.


The chief amusements of Jacksonville citizens were dinner parties, picnics, oyster roasts, card playing, and dancing. Camping, then called “marooning,” on the St. Johns riverbank was popular when the moon was full.

Romantic serenading was common. One was known as “charivari” or “shiveree,” targeting the newly married. Friends and neighbors would make noise with tin pans, horns, and whistles outside the couple’s home, and it would not stop until the couple invited their harassers in for cake and wine.

The road to today’s Lake City, then called Alligator, began at Monroe Street. Bay, Julia, and Forsyth streets bound the Judson House, Jacksonville’s most fashionable hotel. Today’s Robert E. Lee High School is located on what was Magnolia Plantation. Its owner, Elias G. Jaudon, raised cattle. Florida would be the Confederacy’s primary source of beef and dairy products throughout the war. The Union forces’ goal in their frequent North Florida raids was to shut down this supply line.

Anna Kingsley, widow and former African slave of Zephaniah Kingsley, presided over her family’s businesses after returning to Jacksonville from Haiti in 1860. She, along with her daughter Mary and son-in-law John Sammis, operated Kingsley Plantation on Ft. George Island, Laurel Grove in today’s Orange Park, and Anna’s Plantation on Mandarin Point. They also owned a sawmill, sugar mill, cotton gins, and a brickyard that provided bricks for many buildings in the growing town. They sided with the Union despite being the number one slave-owners in the area.

When Florida withdrew from the Union on January 10, 1861, it intended to be an independent republic, but it joined the Confederate States of America (the C.S.A.) a few months later. After Florida’s secession, citizen militias formed quickly. The Jacksonville Light Infantry garrisoned at the mouth of the St. Johns River near today’s jetties. The Duval Cow Boys took a position up on St. Johns Bluff near Fort Caroline. All understood the St. Johns River would be the route of any Union assault on Jacksonville.

Helen Broward of Duval County designed Florida’s secession flag with three stars and the motto “The Rights of the South at All Hazards.” The flag hung in the state’s House of Representatives throughout the war.

St. Augustine-born Edmund Kirby Smith, an 1845 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and veteran of the Mexican War, resigned from the U.S. Army in 1861 to join the Confederate forces. He was commissioned a colonel of the cavalry. He was assigned to serve as chief of staff to General Joseph E. Johnston at Harper’s Ferry and helped organize the Army of the Shenandoah.

Joseph Finegan was Florida’s most famous Confederate warrior. Born in Ireland, he settled in Nassau County as a planter, lumberman, and railroader. He served as a member of Florida’s secession convention. He was appointed as commander of all of east Florida.

To be continued

© 2011, Susan M. Lamb

Jacksonville City Election Recommendations

Mayor: Mike Hogan (Republican)
Do you like what President Obama has done to our country? If so, you might like what Alvin Brown, whom Obama has endorsed, will do to Jacksonville. Personally, I do not believe my city needs similar inexperience and incompetence, so Mike Hogan is my choice for mayor. He has served on the City Council, in the state legislature, and is our current Tax Collector. In all these positions, Mike has gained an unmatched reputation for honesty and integrity, especially in his dealings with his constituents. He is a fiscal conservative, winning the endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. He has been endorsed by the N.R.A., too. I give my highest recommendation to Mike Hogan for Mayor. Website: www.hoganformayor.com.

Tax Collector: Dick Kravitz (Republican)
Dick Kravitz brings a wealth of legislative and business experience to the position of Tax Collector. He has served on the City Council and in the state legislature. He has been fiscally conservative on budget and tax matters and has been endorsed by the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. Website: www.kravitzfortaxcollector.com.

Council-at-Large Group 1: Kimberly Daniels (Democrat)
This has to be one of the strangest races in Jacksonville history. Our choice is a lawyer who has been in the past and is currently under investigation by the Florida Bar Association for ethical violations, one of which could lead to criminal charges. The other candidate is a former prostitute and druggie who is now pastor of a Northside Christian congregation with 400 members. Because the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County gave her opponent an ANTI-endorsement, I decided to vote without enthusiasm for Kimberly Daniels. Website http://www.votekimberlydaniels.com.

Council-at-Large Group 4: Jim Robinson (Republican)
Neither of the candidates for Council-at-Large Group 4 have run for or held political office previously. The Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County endorsed both and both are conservative Republicans. I am voting for Jim Robinson because he is a 30-year resident of Jacksonville, a former US Army Transportation Corps Officer and a Civil Engineer who has owned his own business in Jacksonville. He recently retired, allowing him to devote full time to the city’s needs. Website http://votejimrobinson.com

Council-at-Large Group 5: Robin Lumb (Republican)
This is another race in which none of the candidates has previous political experience. Robin Lumb won my recommendation because of his active opposition to Obamacare, including organizing Town Hall meetings and public forums, and his advocacy for expansion of JaxPort for job generation. A fiscal conservative, he does not believe tax hikes will solve the city’s budget problems. He wants to focus on essential services and basic needs (public safety, roads, parks and libraries). He is a small business owner and has served on many civic and charitable organization boards. Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County has endorsed him. Website: www.votelumb.com.

As always, no matter whom you support, please get out and vote.

“We Don’t Need No Stinking Constitution”

“We don’t need no stinking Constitution. And we sure don’t need no advice and consent from Congress. National sovereignty? Oh, please! That’s so twentieth-century.” At least that seems to be Barack Obama’s position today.


Obama thumbed his nose at Congress and the American people when he authorized the use of American military assets to invoke a no-fly zone over Libya. If news reports are accurate, Obama called Congressional leaders to the White House Saturday, not to discuss with them the pros and cons of U.S. involvement in the Libyan civil war. No, he called them over to inform them of the decision he had already made to commit U.S. forces to enforce a no-fly zone for the United Nations.

Now, there is no question that Muammar el-Qaddafi is a bad guy. Undoubtedly, the Libyan people will suffer greatly if he remains in power after the recent rebellion against his dictatorial rule. He promised to kill his opponents, and we know his ruthlessness in the past. Many innocent civilians have and will die unless he is removed.

Nonetheless, the United Nations’ resolution to order a no-fly zone over Libya to protect the rebels is a dangerous precedent. Our involvement is militarily unwise, financially disastrous, a threat to our national sovereignty, and constitutionally questionable.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich declared Obama’s decision an "impeachable offense” because of his failure to consult with Congress or get Congressional authorization beforehand. The Constitution in Article I, Section 8.11 is clear: Congress, not the President, holds the power “to declare war.”

Because of presidential abuses during the Vietnam era, Congress passed the War Powers Act in 1973 to rein in the President. Under it, the President may engage U.S. troops only if the U.S. or its territories are under imminent threat of invasion by a foreign power or if U.S. citizens need to be extracted from an imminent threat in a foreign nation. Otherwise, the President must go to Congress to seek a declaration of war or a Congressional mandate prior to any military action involving U.S. troops. In no case, can the President use the U.S. military if “imminent hostilities” are expected to last for sixty days or more. Some exceptions allow the timeframe to be extended an additional thirty days.

Thus, technically, the President may have the right to engage U.S. forces without any Congressional consultation first under the War Powers Act. It should be noted, though, that many legal scholars consider the War Powers Act itself to be unconstitutional. It has yet to be fully tested in a Supreme Court case.

Obama is the first President to take military action without any consultation with Congress. Every other President, including the Left’s hated George W. Bush, has made his case to Congress and sought advice or a Congressional resolution before sending our military forces into harm’s way.

The irony is that Obama’s previous position was that it is unconstitutional for a President to go to war without Congressional approval. For example, in a December, 20, 2007 interview with Charlie Savage, a Boston Globe reporter, Obama said: “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”

Savage asked his question specifically in regards to bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities, if needed to stop their development of nuclear weapons. Then-Senator Obama elaborated, “As for the specific question about bombing suspected nuclear sites, I recently introduced S.J. Res. 23, which states in part that ‘any offensive military action taken by the United States against Iran must be explicitly authorized by Congress.’”

Today, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden enthusiastically support the sending of U.S. fighter pilots on the mission to ground Libya’s air defenses under the War Powers Act. They surely did not believe in it when Bush was President.

Savage asked Clinton the same question during her presidential campaign. Then-Senator Clinton gave a very similar answer to Obama’s regarding the War Powers Act. She supported Obama’s S.J. Res. 23 against bombing Iran without Congressional approval.

In 1998, then-Senator Joe Biden gave an impassioned speech on the Senate floor in opposition to “monarchist” Presidents who sent troops into military actions without Congressional approval. He fully outlined the history and intent of the Founding Fathers regarding the Constitution’s restrictions on presidential powers to make war. In this speech, Biden criticized fellow Democrats President Harry S. Truman for his “police action” in Korea and President Bill Clinton for bombing Iraq under United Nations resolutions.

Recommendations for 2011 Jacksonville City Election Primary

Mayor: Mike Hogan (Republican)

Mike Hogan has served on the City Council, in the state legislature, and is the current Tax Collector. In all these positions, Mike has gained an unmatched reputation for honesty and integrity, especially in his dealings with his constituents. As a member of City Council, I personally experienced the fact that he made himself readily available to anyone who wished to discuss issues before the Council. Although we did not always agree, I found him always willing to listen carefully and consider all points of view before making a decision. He is a fiscal conservative, winning the endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. He has been endorsed by the N.R.A., too. I give my highest recommendation to Mike Hogan for Mayor. Website: http://www.hoganformayor.com/.

Sheriff: Soren G. Brockdorf (No Party Affliation)
With Jacksonville still the murder capital of Florida, it is time for entirely new leadership in the Sheriff’s Department. Soren would bring to the Sheriff’s office both a law enforcement and business background. In law enforcement, he has been a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer, a Clay County Deputy and a Federal Agent. He is a Supreme Court Certified Family and County Mediator. He has outlined precise plans to reduce administrative costs that will allow for more monies for officers on the streets. For example, he wants to introduce software that will get needed information directly to officers in the field while eliminating 120 administrative positions. He has pledged to put more officers in the neighborhoods with the highest crime rates and to reduce response times to police calls. He wants to add a DNA lab with a two-day turnaround so rape victims do not have to wait six months for results, which currently allows perpetrators to remain on the streets to victimize other women. Website: http://www.1sheriff.com/.

Property Appraiser: Jim Overton (Republican)
Jim is the current Property Appraiser and has done a good job of creating efficiencies in how the office operates while reducing the budget. He has put much of the information online that taxpayers need. He won the endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. Website: http://www.jimoverton.com/.

Tax Collector: Dick Kravitz (Republican)
Dick Kravitz brings a wealth of legislative and business experience to the position of Tax Collector. He has served on the City Council and in the state legislature. I found him willing to listen to differing points of view on issues before making decisions. He has been fiscally conservative on budget and tax matters and has been endorsed by the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. Website: http://www.kravitzfortaxcollector.com/.

Council-at-Large Group 1: Steve Burnett (No Party Affiliation)
If you read the report in The Florida Times-Union, the race for Council-at-Large Group 1 is colorful. Each candidate has background issues and none is ideal. Steve is a twenty-year Navy veteran who advocates limited government as defined by the City Charter. After retiring from the Navy, he owned and operated 50 Jackson Hewitt tax preparation offices with 300 employees in Florida and Georgia. He is a registered Republican, although he chose to run without party affiliation. When he sold his Jackson Hewitt franchises, he was caught by a local TV news crew throwing records into a dumpster without shredding them, making clients and employees vulnerable to identity theft. Because of what I consider more serious issues with the other candidates, I will vote for Steve for Council-at-Large Group 1.

The Republican candidate, David A. Taylor is a lawyer by trade, specializing in commercial litigation and adoptions. He has been in the past and is currently under investigation by the Florida Bar Association for ethical violations, one of which could lead to criminal charges. The NE Florida Builder’s Association, both the Firefighters and Police unions, First Coast Manufacturer’s Association and JAXBiz have endorsed him, but the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County gave him an ANTI-endorsement. These caused me to decide not to support David Taylor.

Steve’s other opponent is Democrat Kimberly Daniels, a self-admitted former drug abuser and prostitute. She now is pastor of a Northside Christian congregation with a reported 400 members. She pays no property taxes on her home because it is listed as a “rectory.” There are questions regarding the propriety of using church funds to make enhancements to the property, including a swimming pool with screened enclosure.

Council-at-Large Group 2: John R. Crescimbeni (Democrat)
John has served on the City Council for a combined total of ten years. Despite his Democrat affiliation, he has been one of the most consistent fiscal conservatives in city government. He practices what he preaches by being the only council member who does not have a paid legislative aide; he answers his own phone and does his own research. He has never missed a regularly scheduled City Council meeting in all ten years and has one of the best committee attendance records. He asks the tough questions on contracts such as those with the Jaguars or for the landfill. He opposed the county courthouse cost overruns. He voted against tax and fee increases, winning the endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. Website: http://www.johnforcitycouncil.com/.  

Council-at-Large Group 4: Juan Diaz (Republican)

None of the candidates for Council-at-Large Group 4 have run for or held political office previously. After careful review of all their proposals and positions, I have decided to vote for Juan Diaz. He is a young corporate attorney who has served on a variety of local boards, committees and civic organizations. He is a fiscal conservative and won a co- endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. He advocates job creation through expansion of JaxPort, Mayport Naval Station, the Cecil Commerce Center and Jacksonville’s healthcare facilities. He opposes tax or fee increases as a means of balancing the city’s budget. Instead, he would work to eliminate duplication of services, make pension reforms, privatize some services, etc. The Northeast Florida Board of Realtors and United Christians of Florida P.A.C also endorse him. Website: http://diaz4jax.com/.

Council-at-Large Group 5: Robin Lumb (Republican)
This is another race in which none of the candidates has previous political experience. Robin won my recommendation because of his active opposition to Obamacare, including organization of Town Hall meetings and public forums, and his advocacy for expansion of JaxPort for job generation. A fiscal conservative, he does not believe tax hikes will solve the city’s budget problems. Instead, pension costs need to be brought under control along with budget discipline that focuses on essential services and basic needs (public safety, roads, parks and libraries). He is a small business owner and has served on many civic and charitable organization boards. Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County has endorsed him. Website: http://www.votelumb.com/.

The primary will be held on Tuesday, March 22nd. Early voting begins Monday, March 7th. Whether you agree with my selections or not, please vote.

MTV's "Skins"

After watching tonight's episode of MTV's new series Skins, I wish I could take my brain out of my head and give it a good scrubbing. Skins included teens engaged in lesbian sex, drinking, drug use, masturbation, heterosexual sex, and foul language, all within the first 15 minutes. It was all I could do to keep from switching channels at the first commercial break.

The series has created a media firestorm of outrage because the actors and actresses are under the age of 18. Many are calling for the adults responsible for this series to be prosecuted under laws forbidding child pornography. Under them, children are not allowed to be filmed in portrayals of sexual behavior. Clearly, this series does that.

The Parents Television Council called Skins the "most dangerous program that has ever been foisted on your children!" That is why I kept watching until the end of the episode. I have a strict policy of not commenting on books, movies, TV shows, music, etc., until I have read or seen the original. I do not rely on secondhand information and opinions.

By the end of the hour, I was seriously depressed and disillusioned. I have never put much stock in the idea of UFO's and aliens visiting planet Earth, but now I'm not so sure. Am I even on the same planet I was on when I was a teenager? Has it really gotten that bad in our schools and homes?

Why would any reasonably responsible adult ever produce -- or even want to produce -- such a show? Or, loving parents permit this show to be aired in their homes? Or, any advertisers want their businesses associated with it? Or, any teens want to watch it?

Far worse than the explicit sex is the show's degrading of our teens. It portrays them as totally irresponsible, self-centered, immoral, lazy, anti-social and stupid. The producers and writers disdain, if not hate, today's teenagers. Now, I know I don't have a whole lot of close contact with teenagers anymore. But, the ones I do know are not at all like the ones portrayed on this show. If they were, I would completely despair for our future. I don't because I think the show is reflecting the self-hatred of the adults -- the producers, directors and screenwriters -- behind it.

The show's writing is atrocious, and the acting is worse. Poor quality should kill the show, if nothing else. I am a little heartened that several advertisers have bailed already. Maybe I am too naive, but I do not think this show will appeal to most teens. The show should bomb in the ratings because no self-respecting teen will want to waste his or her time on this trash. That said, I would advise any parents whose children do find this show appealing to get them into counseling immediately.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quiz

Check out the Martin Luther King, Jr. quiz. You will be surprised at the answers, originally posted on January 15, 2007, which can be found at .http://yankeereb.blogspot.com/search/label/%22Martin%20Luther%20King%20Jr.%22.

2011 Fearless Forecasts

Florida, but not Jacksonville, will take a direct hit from a category 3 or higher hurricane.


A major earthquake (6.0 or higher) will rattle a major city on the West Coast.

The Tea Party will strongly influence the Jacksonville city council and mayoral elections. Rick Mullaney will not be our next mayor.

Sarah Palin will decide not to run for President.

Inflation will be above 5% by year-end, primarily due to higher food and gas prices. Gas will be $5/gallon or more.

A second round of foreclosures will cause further declines in the real estate market. Commercial real estate defaults will bring another banking crisis, although not as severe as the last one.

The stock market will decline during the first three quarters but rise slowly in the fourth quarter back to 11,500.

War will break out on the Korean peninsula. China will intervene to stop it.

Israel will take matters into her own hands and strike at Iran’s nuclear production facilities. Obama will be furious at Israel.

Terrorists will hit a train or subway in the U.S.

Osama bin Laden will be captured, thanks to a Special Ops. Unit.

A tornado will hit Godfrey, Brighton or Jerseyville in Illinois.

Hilary Clinton will resign as Secretary of State.

A dormant volcano will roar to life in Europe or Russia.

An earthquake in Afghanistan will kill and injure some U.S. troops, but the subsequent rush to bring aid to locals will help solidify U.S.-Afghan relations with local leaders.

Flooding from Spring runoff in western Colorado or Utah will take out a portion of the old D&RGW rail-line between Denver and Salt Lake City.

Unemployment will stay stubbornly above 9%.

President Obama will announce he will not run in 2012 due to revelations of the Chicago-style corruption throughout his inner circle. Indictments will be expected, if not delivered, by year-end.

Rahm Immanuel, Obama’s former chief-of-staff, will not be elected Mayor of Chicago.

A major art museum will suffer a truly stunning and audacious art heist.

Although Obamacare will not be repealed, Congressional Republicans will be successful in defunding major provisions. Federal courts will continue to hand down mixed decisions on its constitutionality. Eventually, the Supreme Court will declare the mandatory purchase of health insurance unconstitutional but not in 2011.

The news media will be abuzz with the “state nullification” movement as a way of reining in federal power.

2010 Fearless Forecasts Results

Below are the results of the Fearless Forecasts I made at the beginning of 2010. I think I forgot to post them, but as you can see, the results show that I continue to be about 50/50 right and wrong. (The results are in parentheses after each prediction.) I have been doing these forecasts since college days. The practice started with a Catholic priest, chaplain of the campus Newman Club, who became concerned about us believing Jeanne Dixon, a famous soothsayer of the sixties and seventies, had special predictive skills. He challenged a group of us to make our own for that year, which he kept. The following New Year's, he took them out so we could compare our results with Dixon's. Ours were the same as hers: 50/50 true and false. For years, our group made and saved our predictions for our New Year's Eve party. I kept it up long after our party days had passed, and the results are always the same. My next posting will be my forecasts for 2011.

Jacksonville will experience a snowfall; it may not be officially measurable but it will accumulate slightly on grassy areas. (True: trace officially recorded on 12/26)


The Jaguars will not sign Tim Tebow. (True)

The St. Louis Cardinals will play in the World Series. (False)

The Bad News: Healthcare reform will be signed into law. (True)

The Good News: Healthcare reform will cause the Democrats to lose control of the House and the Senate. (Half true: Republicans took control of the House, not the Senate)

The Tea Party movement will grow and become more organized. (True)

The housing market will experience another precipitous drop in prices – 8% or more – due to more foreclosures from rising mortgage interest rates. (False: prices dropped but not by 8%+)

There will be a successful suicide bomber attack in the U.S., probably in Las Vegas. (False)

Jacksonville will not have a direct hit from a hurricane but Florida will. (Half true: neither was hit by a hurricane)

A damaging tornado will hit Jacksonville or the metropolitan area (St. John’s, Clay, or Nassau counties. (False)

A cruise ship will be hijacked by pirates or sunk by terrorists. (False)

Scientists will become more alarmed over seismic activity in the Yellowstone caldera. (Neutral: some are; some aren’t)

The economy will not recover much, especially unemployment, which will remain above 8%. (True)

The stock market will have a correction back down to @ 8,000, then sluggishly return to above 10,000 but less than 11,500 by year-end. (Half true: dropped but closed slightly above 11,600)

The Senate will block immigration reform if it has any type of amnesty for illegals. (True)

The upper Mississippi River valley will have major flooding this Spring. (False: had some)

Congress will halt the closing of Guantanemo or the transfer of terrorists to Illinois. (True)