Recordor et Credo

Message in a Bottle: Wall of Light

2012-02-14T20:00:00.000-05:00

There is a wonderful art installation being planned in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It will honor all our military personnel currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places around the world. I urge all area residents to participate.

The artists will construct a "wall of light" in a downtown park using plastic water bottles. Each bottle will contain a 5-word message of appreciation and hope to our deployed servicemen and women. Their design is for "an illuminated, translucent wall, 6 feet high and 200 feet long. They estimate it will take 34,000 bottles to build this wall.

That's a lot of bottles, and this is where every Jacksonville area citizen's involvement is needed. The artists need you to furnish the bottles. It couldn't be easier. Write a message of only 5 words to the troops in ballpoint or waterproof ink on a piece of paper and insert it into the bottle. Put the cap on and remove the label. Drop it off at one of the collection points around the city. Go to http://www.messageinabottlejax.com/ for the convenient locations.

This is a great family, church, club or neighborhood project. Each bottle is an individual act of gratitude. Stacked together, all the bottles are a community message from the entire city of love, remembrance and appreciation to our troops.

Will the Real Mitt Romney Please Stand Up?

2012-01-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

As a member of the First Coast Tea Party's research committee, I was asked to research Mitt Romney. It took much longer than I had anticipated because my goal originally was to fairly and accurately portray his positions on issues important to conservative voters. These include abortion, gun rights, gay marriage, tax reform, government spending, immigration, fair trade, global warming, energy policy, health care, and education.

Early in my research, I ran into a problem. I found Willard Mitt Romney has multiple, often conflicting positions on many of these issues. There were times when I felt whiplashed watching a too-fast tennis match while reading his positions. Like on the old TV game show "To Tell the Truth," at the end of my research, I am asking, "Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up?

Because I have no idea who the real Mitt Romney is or what he stands for, I decided the best thing to do was catalog his positions on the issues chronologically. You, the reader, are left to draw your own conclusions. I hope you find the information helpful. If you find any errors or omissions, please include reliable source citations in your comments. I will make corrections if I am able to confirm the information.

Biographical Information:

Full Name: Willard Mitt Romney
Birthdate: March 12, 1947
Primary Residence: Belmont, Massachusetts
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Parents: George & Lenore Romney. His father was the former President & C.E.O. of American Motors, governor of Michigan, and a presidential candidate in 1968. His mother ran for the U.S. Senate in 1970.
Marriage: Married childhood sweetheart Ann in 1969. Ann was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998; it is currently in remission.
Children: 5 sons & 16 grandchildren
Religion: Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon)
Net worth (estimated): $190 - $250 million
Education: Attended Stanford University in 1966. After Mormon missionary trip to France, enrolled at Brigham Young University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University in 1971 as Valedictorian of his class. Earned both an M.B.A. from Harvard University Business School & a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1975.

Resume:
2008: Ran unsuccessfully for President.
2004: Appointed by President George W. Bush to the Homeland Security Advisory Committee.
2003 - 2007: Governor of Massachusetts. Created a scholarship program that rewards the top 25% of Massachusetts high school students with a tuition-free education to any Massachusetts public college or university. Proposed and signed legislation that requires all Massachusetts residents to have health care. Backed a proposed state constitutional amendment in 2004 that would have allowed civil unions and banned gay marriage (the amendment failed to pass). Withdrew his support of this amendment, however, in favor of a 2005 petition that banned both.
1999 - 2002: C.E.O. of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Organizing Committee with $1.32 billion budget, 700 employees and 26,000 volunteers. The Games netted a $100 million profit. He was asked to take the job because the organization was in the midst of budget shortfalls and numerous scandals that jeopardized the 2002 Winter Games. He donated to charity the $1.4 million in salary and severance payments he received for his three years as president and CEO.
1994: Ran unsuccessfully against Ted Kennedy for U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
1990 - 1992: C.E.O. with Bain & Company, where he had previously served as vice president and a business consultant
1984 - 1998: Co-founded Bain Capital, a private equity investment company that started or acquired over 100 businesses, including Staples, Domino's Pizza, and The Sports Authority.
1978 - 1984: Vice President with Bain & Company
1974 - 1978: Intern, then business consultant with The Boston Consulting Group
1966: Served as a Mormon Missionary in France.

Books published:
No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, St. Martin’s Press, 2010
Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership and the Olympic Games, Regnery Publishing Inc., 2004

Sources:
http://www.mittromney.com/ viewed 1/9/2012
http://mamagrizzlyscubs.com/y4p-blog/mitt-romney-s-resume viewed 1/9/2012
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-mitt-romney-defends-work-at-bain-capital-20120108,0,7680084.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fpolitics+%28L.A.+Times+-+Politics%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher viewed 1/9/2012
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71214_Page1.html & http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71214_Page2.html both viewed 1/9/2012
http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/group/white-house-run-for-2012-presidential-candidates/forum/topics/mitt-romney-former-massachusetts-governor viewed 1/9/2012
ttp://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/candidates/mitt-romney/ viewed 1/9/2012
http://www.infoplease.com/us/government/presidential-campaign-2008-mitt-romney.html viewed 1/9/2012
http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/Mitt-Romney viewed 1/9/2012
http://www.republicanprofiles.com/presidential-candidate/mitt-romney/ viewed 1/20/2012
http://www.issues2000.org/2012/Mitt_Romney_Principles_+_Values.htm viewed 1/20/2012

On Abortion:

1994: Romney ran and lost as a pro-choice candidate against Senator Ted Kennedy. Romney stated in a campaign debate, "Many, many years ago, I had a dear close family relative who was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion. It is since that time that my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we cannot force our beliefs on others in that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that." He endorsed legalization of RU-486, the morning-after pill.

2001: Romney told the Salt Lake City Tribune, “I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice.”

2002: Romney ran and won as a pro-choice candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. Answering a NARAL survey, he wrote, "I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose." He promised Planned Parenthood that he supported "the substance of" Roe v. Wade, taxpayer-funded abortions, and emergency abortion drugs. He received the endorsement of the "Republican Majority for Choice." He promised he would do nothing to weaken Massachusetts laws that allow abortion. During a campaign debate, he said, "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose and I am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard. I will not change any provisions of Massachusetts's pro-choice laws."

2004: Romney claimed to have made a pro-life conversion following a meeting with Harvard embryonic stem-cell researcher Douglas Melton. However, he told the American Right To Life group, "To be personally pro-life means to be officially pro-choice."

2005: Romney wrote in a Boston Globe editorial his pro-life conversion and now opposes abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, or to protect the mother's life. He stated that Roe v. Wade was judicial activism and should be overturned to return the question of abortion rights to the states. He vetoed a bill allowing morning after abortion pills without a prescription because it allowed them for minors without parental consent. The Democrat-controlled legislature overturned his veto. The same year, he supported taxpayer-funded embryonic stem-cell research, appointed pro-abortion Democrat Matt Nestor to a Massachusetts' district court, supported increased taxpayer funding of abortion counseling, sought a federal waiver to give chemical abortion (morning-after) drugs to rape victims, and issued an executive order requiring all hospitals (including Catholic) to furnish morning after abortion drugs to rape victims. In a May press conference, he reiterated, "I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice and so far, I have been able to successfully do that. And my personal philosophical views on this issue are not something that I think should distract from a more critical agenda." Reacting to all of this, a Boston Globe editorial stated, "Flip, flop, flip… Romney has now executed an Olympic-caliber double flip-flop with a gold medal performance twist-and-a-half."

2006: Massachusetts' Commonwealth Care (MCC) was signed into law by Romney. Unlike Obamacare, MCC or "Romneycare" fully funds abortions with patient co-pays ranging from $0-$100. Romney appointed 7 of the 10 members of the Board which oversees MCC, including a representative from Planned Parenthood. At the same time, he gave charitable contributions to conservative groups, including Massachusetts Citizens for Life.

2007: Romney both supports and opposes a Constitutional "Human Life" Amendment to ban abortions. For the most part, Romney supports allowing each state to decide for itself whether to allow or bar abortions and under what circumstances. He claims in a CNN interview, "You can look at my record as governor, in you can see in my record as governor that I have consistently been pro-life on every piece of legislation that dealt with life." On Meet the Press, he opposed punishing women who have partial birth abortions. He added, "In the case of a doctor, the kinds of penalties would be potentially losing a license or having some other kind of restriction." Although he would outlaw embryo farming, he would allow, "on a private basis, the use of surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization."

2010: Romney stated in his book No Apology: The Case for American Greatness: "The debate over abortion puts two of our fundamental values in conflict: our respect for life and our love of personal freedom. Arguments in support of abortion generally revolve around the right of a mother to make decisions about her own body. But in any decision about whether to end a pregnancy, we must remember that two lives are involved, and own this point, courts have been long and conspicuously silent. Because the fact is that two lives, not one, is involved. I am unapologetically pro-life. Both mother and child are human beings, but only one does not yet have a voice to defend itself."

2011: Romney believes Roe v. Wade could be overturned but doubts a federal Human Life Amendment is feasible. He said he would not propose federal legislation to overturn Roe v. Wade or "precipitate" what he called would be a "constitutional crisis" with a Constitutional Amendment. "What I would look to do would be appoint people to the Supreme Court that will follow strictly the constitution as opposed to legislating from the bench." In a Manchester, NH town hall meeting, he recommends, "Let the states make their own choice. I'm pro-life. I think that this is a decision best handled like many other things, at the state level." In the June NH presidential debate, he claimed his record was to have been pro-life from birth to death.

Sources:
http://prolifeprofiles.com/romney viewed 1/9/2012 & 1/20/2012
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Governor/Massachusetts/Mitt_Romney/views/Abortion/ viewed 1/20/2012
"On the Issues" website: http://www.issues2000.org/Mitt_Romney.htm viewed 1/20/2012

On the Second Amendment (Gun Rights):

1994: Romney, in his run against Ted Kennedy in the Senate race, stated, "I don't line up with the NRA" on gun control. He supported strong gun control laws in Massachusetts. He supported the Brady Bill, which requires a 5-day waiting period for hand guns and banned semi-automatic weapons.

2002: Running for Governor of Massachusetts, Romney said he does not "line up" with the National Rifle Association (NRA) or Gunowners of America (GOA). He bragged, “We do have tough gun laws In Massachusetts. I support them. I won’t chip away at them. I believe they help protect us and provide for our safety.”

2004: Romney signed a firearms control bill that required waiting periods for handguns and permanently banned semi-automatic weapons, the first such legislation in the country. However, it also relaxed other gun control laws, resulting in the bill winning support from the NRA and other gun owner groups.

2006: Romney became a Life member of the NRA.

2007: In a Meet the Press interview, Romney explained he supported the work of the NRA as a member but not their position on every issue. He supported most of the Brady Bill and many of its provisions were in the assault weapon ban he signed as Massachusetts governor. Still, he claimed at NRA and National Shooting Sports Foundation meetings, "I support the Second Amendment as one of the most basic and fundamental rights of every American. It's essential to our functioning as a free society, as are all the liberties enumerated in the Bill of Rights."

2008: While running for President, he claimed he was a gun-owner and had a life-long devotion to hunting. It turns out he had gone hunting only twice for "small varmints" (rodents, rabbits, etc.). He supported the ban on semi-automatic weapons during a GOP presidential debate in Boca Raton, citing legislation he had signed as Governor of MA. He said he supported the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold individual rights to keep and bear arms.

2011: Romney tries to reassure voters, “The Second Amendment protects the individual right of lawful citizens to keep and bear arms. I strongly support this essential freedom.” As of January 20, 2012, he has not answered the GOA's Presidential Candidates' survey. There is no mention of gun rights on the Mitt Romney website.

Sources:
http://www.issues2000.org/2012/Mitt_Romney_Gun_Control.htm viewed 1/20/2012
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=47940 viewed 1/20/2012
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/nov/02/jon-huntsman/jon-huntsman-accuses-mitt-romney-flip-flopping-gun/ viewed 1/20/2012
http://gunowners.org/mittromney-2012.htm viewed 1/20/2012

On Immigration:

2004: Romney reluctantly vetoed in-state tuition and opposed driver's licenses for illegal aliens. He told the Boston Globe, “I hate the idea of in any way making it more difficult for kids, even those who are illegal aliens, to afford college in our state.”

2005: Romney called the McCain immigration reform legislation "reasonable" in a Boston Globe interview.

2006: Governor Romney authorized the round-up of illegal aliens by Massachusetts state troopers despite Massachusetts' sanctuary laws shortly before his term ended. His successor rescinded the order and it was never put into effect because no troopers were able to complete the required 6-week training. During Romney's term, there is no record that he ever took any actions against four sanctuary cities in the state despite his opposition to the idea. He said, "Governors aren’t responsible for mayors who are not following the law." The Massachusetts' health care plan, signed into law by Romney, includes a program call the Health Safety Net. It allows uninsured illegal aliens to get taxpayer-funded medical care. He claims this provision was approved after he was out of office.

2007: Romney became caught up in a controversy regarding a landscaping company he hired that had some illegal aliens working on his property for 8 years. He terminated the contract and advocated for a reliable employment verification system. Perhaps this is why he opposed jailing employers who hired illegal aliens. Instead, he said they should "be subject to the same kind of sanctions you get for not paying your taxes." He reiterated his opposition to sanctuary cities, in-state tuition and drivers' licenses for illegals. He advocated for the federal government to defund sanctuary cities and English be the official language. He believes, "It’s important to end illegal immigration so we can maintain and encourage legal immigration. Immigration is good for this country; it’s helped us over our history."

2008: Romney supported allowing American employers to hire more foreign workers in certain skilled professions. However, he advocated that illegals be forced to return to their home countries at a speed dependent on how long they have been here, allowing them to get their affairs in order in a "humane and compassionate way." He opposed the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill, especially the Z-visa, which would have allowed illegal aliens to pay a fine and stay here permanently.

2010: In his book No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Romney disagreed with current immigration policies that require foreign students to return to their home countries after graduation. He opposed bilingual education, advocating for English immersion for immigrant children.

2011: Romney opposes amnesty because it encourages more people to come to the U.S. illegally. He advocates that legal aliens be given a card that shows they are here legally that employers would be required to inspect. He continues to oppose in-state tuition discounts for the children of illegals, as he did when he was governor of MA. He supports building a border fence along all 2,600 miles of our southern border and hiring enough border guards to patrol it to stop crossers. "Amnesty is a magnet." Despite unemployment rates over 9%, he told Iowans in a debate that he would "like to staple a green card" to foreign students' diplomas if they came here to study legally, saying it is important "that America welcomes the best and brightest in the world."

Sources:
http://www.issues2000.org/2012/Mitt_Romney_Immigration.htm viewed 1/20/2012
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-10-24/politics/30315476_1_illegal-immigrants-romney-signed-mitt-romney viewed 1/20/2012
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/10/mitt-romney-hire-illegal-immigrant-rick-perry-/1 viewed 1/20/2012
http://www.cfr.org/united-states/campaign-2012-candidates-immigration/p26803#p4 viewed 1/20/2012

On Homosexuality:

1994: Romney did not believe same-sex marriage was politically feasible, suggesting civil unions as the alternate. He stated that the question should be left up to the individual states. However He believed gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military. He supported Clinton's don't-ask-don't-tell policy to allow gays to serve in the military "as a step in the right direction." If elected to the U.S. Senate, he vowed to co-sponsor the Federal Employee Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) and broaden it to include housing and credit. In private meetings with gays and lesbians, he compared his support for gay rights to his father's support for civil rights and told them, "I’m with you on this stuff… I’ll be better than Ted Kennedy.” He wrote the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts, seeking their endorsement, "We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern." He told Bay Windows, a gay newspaper in Massachusetts, “I think the gay community needs more support from the Republican Party, and I would be a voice in the Republican Party to foster anti-discrimination efforts.”

2002: As head of the Salt Lake City Olympics, he enacted a workplace non-discrimination policy for homosexuals. Romney circulated a flyer at a Gay Pride rally proclaiming the need for equal rights for all regardless of sexual orientation. He promised to “support everything that it calls for in terms of recognizing unions between people. But just don’t use the M-word." He distanced himself from his wife and son's decisions to back a state constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and legislation to bar domestic partner benefits to state employees.

2003: Throughout his governorship, Romney appointed gays to his cabinet and to state courts. When Massachusetts Supreme Court declared gays had the right to marry, Romney objected, "Marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. I will support an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to make that expressly clear. Of course, basic civil rights and appropriate benefits must be available to people in nontraditional relationships, but marriage is a special institution between a man and a woman, and our constitution and laws should reflect that.” In the meantime, he worked to get the Massachusetts legislature to pass a law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples to satisfy the Court.

2004: The Massachusetts Spreme Court rejected civil unions as an acceptable alternative to marriage. Romney said he would abide by the Court's ruling that allowed gay marriage. Despite lobbying by the Catholic League for a "conscience exception," he threatened to fire state employees who refused to issue marriage licenses to gays or perform civil marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.

2005: Romney became more vocal in his opposition to gay marriage as well as civil unions, explaining that children have a right to both a father and a mother. He upset many in the gay community when he expressed disapproval of gay adoptions. He hoped a state constitutional convention or the legislature would allow the people of Massachusetts to vote on an amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. He told Chris Matthews on MSNBC's HardBall that he supported domestic partner benefits.

2007: Asked about gays in the military by George Stephanopoulis on ABC-News, Romney said he was always skeptical that don't-ask-don't-tell would work. However, the policy having been in place for a decade, he opposed changing it. He added, "What I can tell you is I oppose discrimination on the basis of race, gender, but also sexual preference."

2008: In a speech to the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC), Romney said, "The development of a child is enhanced by having a mother and father. Such a family is the ideal for the future of the child and for the strength of a nation. I wonder how it is that unelected judges, like some in my state of Massachusetts, are so unaware of this reality, so oblivious to the millennia of recorded history. It is time for the people of America to fortify marriage through Constitutional amendment, so that liberal judges cannot continue to attack it."

2009: Romney supported an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage. He believed that it was untenable for different states to have different standards for marriage. He told Eric Cantor on John King's CNN show, "Marriage is a matter of national consequence. It's a status, it's not an activity, and as a result there should be a national standard."

2011: In a NH debate, CNN's John King asked the candidates if same sex marriage should be handled with a Constitutional amendment or as a states' rights issue. Romney was unequivocable, answering simply, "Constitutional."

2012: Romney has signed a pledge with the National Organization for Marriage promising to support a federal constitutional amendment "defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman." He also promised vigorous enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act, which Obama has not, and to appoint only judges who do not support gay marriage.

Sources:

Email received & viewed from the First Coast Tea Party on 11/20/11 at 9:36 a.m. forwarding a text from Kristi Dunn, citing http://romneyfacts.com/ and http://www.whichmitt.com
http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/10589-rabbinical-alliance-urges-social-conservatives-to-reject-romney viewed 1/20/2012
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20088274-503544.html viewed 1/20/2012
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/governor/Massachusetts/Mitt_Romney/views/Gay_Marriage viewed 1/20/2012
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/01/17/405214/in-private-meeting-with-gay-leaders-romney-compared-lgbt-equality-to-fathers-fight-for-civil-rights/?mobile=nc viewed 1/20/2012

On Tax Reform & Government Spending:

1996: Romney strongly opposed the flat tax and called it a “tax cut for fat cats.”

2002: Romney pledged to Massachusetts voters that he would not raise taxes, although he refused to sign a no-tax-raises' pledge. He opposed a ballot proposition that would have eliminated the state's income tax. He wanted to impose an excise tax on SUV's and a "greenfields tax" on development in the ocean. “All voters care about great education, improving our environment, bringing more jobs to Massachusetts and balancing the budget without raising taxes."

2003: Romney refused to endorse the proposed Bush federal tax cuts, which won him praise from Rep. Barney Frank. Romney also agreed an increase of the federal gas tax might be appropriate. When he became governor, Massachusetts had a $650 million deficit; he cut $343 million with legislative approval.

2004: Part of the economic reform measures pushed by Romney were fee increases of $240-$259 million. Romney claimed these were justified since many of these fees had not been raised in 20 years and they were narrowly tailored. Some of the fees raised included deed registrations, court filing fees, marriage licenses, professional registrations, firearm licenses, and gasoline deliveries. He closed tax loopholes, generating $128 to $170 million in additional revenues from 2004-2006 and cut state aid to cities and counties. The result was elimination of a $3 billion deficit. Romney wanted to cut the state’s income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.0%, but the state legislature refused.

2005: Standards & Poor's upgraded Massachusetts bond credit rating while Romney was governor because the state had reduced its deficit, cut spending, and balanced its budget. Romney credited the fact that legislators from both parties cooperated to accomplish these improvements under his leadership. His proposal to provide property tax relief to seniors was passed by the Democrat-controlled legislature. Many of his proposals to eliminate duplicative or wasteful expenses were blocked by the legislature.

2006: Romney cut $425 million from the state budget and stopped the legislature from using the state's "rainy day fund" for local earmarks.

2007: Romney proposed a state budget that was 10.12% higher than the previous year's budget because Massachusetts now had surplus revenues. Romney commented in a Des Moines debate, "I don’t stay awake at night worrying about the taxes that rich people are paying." Instead, he pushed for middle class tax cuts. He opposed the death tax. He signed the no-new-taxes pledge of the Americans for Tax Reform. He continued to oppose the flat tax, calling it "unfair."

2008: Romney claimed to have supported the Bush tax cuts. Although there is no record that he ever opposed them, there is also no public record that he endorsed them either. He advocated eliminating taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains for all who earn less than $200,000 per year. He told Fox News, "Lowering taxes grows the economy." He supported the Wall Street bailout. He wrote an editorial for the New York Times entitled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt," which opposed a bailout for car manufacturers unless they "come up with a win-win proposition." He advocated for increased federal spending on alternative energy research.

2011: Romney opposes the Flat Tax and the Fair Tax because he believes they would benefit the richest and poorest with lower tax rates at the expense of the middle class. Instead, he would like to make tax rates flatter, such as reducing the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 25% and cutting capital gains taxes on those with incomes below $200,000, and plugging special tax breaks. He supported continuing the Bush tax cuts. In a CNBC debate, he said, "Let me tell you, I'm not looking to raise taxes. What I'm looking to do is to cut spending." He supports ethanol subsidies.

2012: Romney wants to permanently extend the Bush tax cuts, eliminate taxes on investments or savings for middle class taxpayers (those who earn less than $200,000), reduce corporate income taxes, eliminate the estate tax, and repeal taxes related to Obamacare. He would allow the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the expanded earned income credit and child credit, which were part of Obama's stimulus package, to expire. Based on current law, the Romney tax plan would reduce projected federal revenue by 16 percent or $180 billion in 2015 and reduce tax liabilities for "about three-fourths of taxpayers by an average of more than $4,700," according to the Tax Policy Center (TPC).

Sources:
http://www.issues2000.org/2012/Mitt_Romney_Tax_Reform.htm viewed 1/20/2012
http://taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/romney-plan.cfm viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Governor/Massachusetts/Mitt_Romney/views/Taxes/ viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/whitepapers/?subsec=137&id=905 viewed 1/21/2012

On Foreign Trade & International Relations

2005: Romney supported the Central American Fair Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

2007: Romney advocated for elimination of most trade barriers. He said in a CNBC interview with Larry Kudlow, “Any economy that's tried to put barriers up to keep itself from having to compete with innovation around the world is an economy which ultimately ends up collapsing and becoming second tier.” Although he supported the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), he opposed the proposed North American Union and the North American Superhighway. He supported free trade with India and China. He claimed that free trade made the average U.S. family "$9,000 a year richer." He agreed that future trade agreements must better protect U.S. patents and intellectual property, however. He said businessmen, not politicians, were best qualified to negotiate trade agreements.

2008: Romney campaigned with a trade policies tht included approval of the Doha Round to reduce trade barriers and advocated the President should be allowed to negotiate free trade agreements without Congressional interference by enacting the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

2010: Romney called for going to the World Trade Organization about China's unfair trade policies and currency manipulations. However, he warned against protectionism because it stifles productivity.

2011: Romney unveiled his "Believe in America Plan," which proposes increasing free trade and getting more free trade agreements signed, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership to expand trade with existing partners as well as Vietnam and Malaysia. He claims that the current free trade agreements (FTAs) with 17 countries have created 5.4 million jobs for Americans. He said U.S. trade policies promoting fair trade with China were harmful to us and penalties should be imposed if their unfair trade practices, including theft of intellectual property and currency manipulation, do not end. He criticizes Obama for not getting new FTAs with Korea, Colombia, and Panama enacted because of labor union opposition. Romney opposes Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which assists workers who lose their jobs because of foreign trade. He reiterated his support of the TPA, eliminating Congress' role in trade agreement negotiations. He proposes forming a "Reagan Economic Zone" for developing nations who agree with the principles of free enterprise and open markets.

2012: Romney supports tariffs on ethanol.

Sources:
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/whitepapers/?subsec=137&id=905 viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Governor/Massachusetts/Mitt_Romney/views/Trade_Policy/ viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.issues2000.org/Mitt_Romney.htm#Foreign_Policy viewed 1/22/2012
http://www.issues2000.org/Mitt_Romney.htm#Free_Trade viewed 1/22/2012

On Global Warming & Energy Policy

2004: Romney proposed a "Climate Protection Plan" to reduce greenhouse emissions by 25% by 2012 by enacting California's standards for vehicle emissions, subsidizing low-income people to upgrade their oil burners, and implement regional climate change plans.

2006: Romney pulled Massachusetts out of the New England climate change pact to control greenhouse emissions.

2007: Romney said he believes in man-made global warming, although he is unsure as to how much culpability mankind has. He agreed energy conservation was needed but also we needed to increase domestic energy production. He linked energy independence with national security. He called on oil companies to use their profits to build more oil refineries in the U.S. He supported giving tax incentives for fuel efficient vehicles. He opposed provisions in the Kyoto treaty that imposed carbon caps on the U.S. but not on China and India but would support cap-and-trade if it was worldwide. He advocated for more production or development of biofuels, ethanol, nuclear power and liquified coal. He supported both offshore and Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) drilling. He told an Iowa Town Hall meeting, "I will work on a global basis to get other nations to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in a way that is fair to us and the other people of the world."

2008: Romney told Californians that states could impose their own caps on greenhouse emissions, if they wished. He called nuclear power a "win-win" because it produces no CO2 or energy imports. He proposed spending $20 billion for energy research and new vehicle technology. He said, "I side with states being able to make their own decisions, even if I don't always agree with the decisions they make."

2011: Romney supports global cap-and-trade if it is fair. He continues to support increased use of nuclear, clean coal, shale gas, natural gas, solar, wind and other renewable energy sources as well as drilling in ANWR and offshore. He feels Nevada should be compensated for nuclear waste stored in Yucca Mountain. He continues to believe in global warming and that man contributes to it to an unknown extent. At a Town Hall meeting in Manchester, NH, he stated, "I believe that the world is getting warmer. I can't prove that, but I believe it based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that. I don't know how much..."

2012: Romney criticized Obama's moratoriums on ocean drilling following the BP Gulf Coast spill. In Romney's economic plan, he wants to fast-track permitting for exploration and drilling, overhaul the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, and make it easier to build nuclear power plants through regulatory reform. He believes government should fund energy research and development of new energy technologies. He supports partnerships with Mexico and Canadian, such as the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline to bring Canadian oil to the U.S. He is highly critical of Obama's use of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose more regulations that will cost U.S. jobs. Romney's economic plan states, "Energy policy is critical to our country’s economic future...The bad news is that self-defeating policies have left us less secure as a country and weakened our economy. The good news is: we can change."

Sources:
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/whitepapers/?subsec=137&id=905 viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Governor/Massachusetts/Mitt_Romney/views/Energy_and_the_Environment/ viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.issues2000.org/Mitt_Romney.htm#Environment viewed 1/22/2012
http://www.issues2000.org/Mitt_Romney.htm#Energy_+_Oil viewed 1/22/2012

On Education Reform

1994: Romney campaigned on a position to eliminate the Department of Education. He supported charter schools, school vouchers, and home schooling.

2002: Romney continued to call for the abolishment of the Department of Education. He supported replacing underperforming schools with charter schools, using means-tested vouchers, abstinence-based and family values' education, but not teaching religion or prayer in public schools.

2004: Romney presented an education policy that included full-day kindergarten, mandatory parent preparation programs and full college scholarships for the top 25% of graduating high school seniors. He vetoed a bill that would have placed a moratorium on new charter schools; he favored expanding the number of charter schools to increase school choice for poor students. He asked, when announcing his plan for education reform in Massachusetts, "What legacy will we leave our children? I am convinced that our legacy should be a legacy of learning."

2007: Romney called for a national merit-based scholarship similar to Massachusetts' Adams scholarships that pay 100% of college tuition for the top 25% of high school graduates. He backed English-only programs for children whose native language is not English. He proposed tax-free college savings for those earning less than $200,000 annually. He supported the Bush's No Child Left Behind reforms and credited his state's testing program as a model for it. He admitted changing his mind about eliminating the Department of Education, a position he supported in his 1994 Senate campaign. He told the Des Moines Register, "Having a federal department of education can encourage and promote the testing of kids."

2010: Romney called the failure to educate minorities a "civil rights issue." He attacked teachers' unions for their opposition to student testing and school choice.

2011: Romney no longer advocates the elimination of the Department of Education. He supports No Child Left Behind. In a Fox News debate, he proclaimed, “The Department of Education can actually make a difference.”

Sources:
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/whitepapers/?subsec=137&id=905 viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Governor/Massachusetts/Mitt_Romney/views/Education/ viewed 1/22/2012
http://www.issues2000.org/Mitt_Romney.htm#Education viewed 1/22/2012

On Healthcare Reform

2006: Romney signed into law a comprehensive healthcare plan for the state of Massachusetts with Sen. Ted Kennedy in attendance at the signing ceremony. The MassCare plan included an individual mandate requiring citizens to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. Insurance companies could not refuse coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Low income people would receive subsidies to pay for their policies. It created a government-run "exchange" tasked with approving and regulating all healthcare policies sold in the state.

2007: Romney reiterated his support for individual mandates that force people to buy heathcare insurance, calling those without coverage "free riders." A hospital rating system was established with internet access for healthcare consumers. He said, "The best way to find new solutions in health care is to allow the states to be laboratories for experiments on coverage."

2008: Romney called mandating individuals to buy health insurance was "conservative."

2011: Although modelled in many of its features after the Massachusetts' plan, Romney says he would work to repeal Obamacare if elected President. In the interim, he says he would issue a waiver from its provisions to all 50 states. Instead of Obamacare, he has proposed a healthcare plan that would return control of healthcare to the states and reduce regulations that increase costs. He would keep the ban on insurance companies refusing coverage due to pre-existing conditions. He advocates medical liability reform. He continues, however, to defend his state's plan, even though healthcare premiums paid by Massachusetts' citizens have risen 21-46% faster than the national average and subsidized care for low-income patients has gone from $133 million in 2007 to $800 million in 2009. Massachusetts' citizens have paid $12 million in penalties from the individual mandate, and the 2010 budget for the state's plan was $880 million. In an Iowa debate, he called Obamacare "bad law," an unconstitutional violation of the Constitution's Tenth Amendment. He added, "The right answer for every state is to determine what's right for those states and not to impose Obamacare on the nation. That's why I'll repeal it."

2012: Romney's campaign website calls for making "health care more like a market." He would like to expand health savings acounts (HSAs), for example, to allow their use to pay for premiums. He wants to give states block-grants for Medicaid and funds for care of the "chronically ill." He would allow small businesses and individuals to form pools to purchase insurance and allow health policy purchasers to cross state lines. Tort reform is part of his plan because "the current medical liability system encourages defensive medicine and drives up health care costs."

Sources:
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/whitepapers/?subsec=137&id=905 viewed 1/21/2012
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Governor/Massachusetts/Mitt_Romney/views/Health_Care/ viewed 1/22/2012
http://www.issues2000.org/Mitt_Romney.htm#Health_Care viewed 1/22/2012

On the Confederate Flag

2007: Romney stated, "That flag frankly, is divisive and shouldn't be shown. Right now with the kinds of issues we've got in this country, I'm not going to get involved with a flag like that. The people of our country have decided not to fly that flag. I think that's the right thing."

2008: In a CNN/YouTube debate, Romney again proclaimed his opposition to the Confederate flag's display, a hot issue in South Carolina. He said, "That flag shouldn’t be flown," and "that’s not a flag I recognize.”

2011/2012: The presidential candidates have largely avoided the Confederate flag issue that was so hot in South Carolina in the 2007/2008 election cycle.

Sources:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/18/mccain-romney-hit-over-confederate-flag/?page=all viewed 1/20/2012
http://confederatewave.org/wave/southern-heritage.phtml viewed 1/20/2012
http://www.newser.com/tag/21118/1/confederate-flag.html viewed 1/20/2012
http://standrews.patch.com/topics/Confederate+Flag viewed 1/20/2012
http://scvcamp.org/barnesvilleblues/index.php?Page=26 viewed 11/29/2007

Hurricane Season: Seven Basics for Emergency Kits

2011-08-23T11:15:00.000-04:00

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
Pack a minimum of a week's supply of food, water, and other provisions, such as medication or cat litter.
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

2011-08-06T02:27:00.000-04:00

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?

2011-08-03T18:47:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-01T14:04:00.000-04:00

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?

2011-07-29T11:38:00.000-04:00

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:

Hubris born of success
Undisciplined pursuit of more
Denial of risk and peril
Grasping for salvation
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

2011-07-27T19:30:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-09T16:44:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-06T13:26:00.000-04:00

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?

2011-07-04T19:37:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-22T23:59:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-20T20:27:00.000-04:00

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"

2011-05-19T13:05:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-13T17:34:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-02T20:23:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-26T19:27:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-26T12:25:00.000-04:00

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”

2011-03-24T18:41:00.000-04:00

“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

2011-03-05T16:56:00.000-05:00

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"

2011-01-25T03:15:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-16T13:46:00.000-05:00

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

2011-01-10T19:55:00.000-05:00

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

2011-01-10T19:25:00.000-05:00

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)

Reflections on an Election: November 2, 2010

2010-11-03T18:52:00.000-04:00

American voters may have saved the United States yesterday, November 2, 2010. The stakes in this midterm election were just that high. I awoke this morning with renewed hope.

Overall, the results should hearten conservatives who believe in limited federal government, rule of law according to the Constitution as intended by our Founding Fathers, fiscal responsibility, and free market capitalism. With a few exceptions, the country roundly repudiated Obama and his far left modus operandi. So far, thirty-one Tea Party candidates won election.

There were a few disappointments for me. Foremost was the reelection of Harry Reid to the U.S. Senate from Nevada. I was rooting for Ken Buck for U.S. Senator from Colorado and Tom Tancredo for Colorado’s Governor. However, I knew they were long shots. Republican insiders sabotaged Delaware’s Odonnell; I blame them for her defeat. Results from Alaska will be delayed until November 18th. It is looking as though U.S. Senator Murkowski may have won reelection as a write-in candidate, which would be disappointing. However, these are blips on the radar screen compared to the sweep of Republican victories nationwide.

What struck me, as I watched the returns through the night and into the wee hours of the morning, was the breadth and depth of the conservative victory. A sea of red ink floods maps of the United States at the county level. Democrats in small islands of blue are even more isolated than before. Naturally, the national media focused on the national races for Congress and the Senate and, to a lesser extent, the governors’ races.

Not only did the U.S. Congress flip to a Republican majority, but so did many state legislatures. Come January, there will many more states with Republican majorities in both legislative bodies and a Republican governor. Some of these have not had Republican control since the Civil War.

This state-level Republican control will have profound long-term effects. This being a census year, these Republicans will control redistricting in their states, which must be completed for the 2012 election. Future national leaders often emerge from these state bodies. The most successful presidential candidates have been governors historically. A strong electoral base can swing the results in national races for the state through better organization and enthusiasm.

So, how did my candidate and referendum choices fare? The following candidates I voted for won:

· Marco Rubio for U.S. Senator

· Rick Scott for Governor & Jennifer Carroll for Lieutenant Governor

· Pam Bondi for Attorney General

· Jeff Atwater for Chief Financial Officer

· Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture

· Charles McBurney for State Representative (District 16)

For race results already announced, only Ander Crenshaw (District 1 Congressional Representative) and John Thrasher (District 8 State Senator) won without my vote. Also, all the judges were retained, and I always vote against all of them because I do not believe in lifetime appointments or the process by which they are selected. I am still waiting to hear results on the Soil and Water Conservation District races. I voted for Phillip Laibe for Group 1, Curtis Winkler for Group 3, and Stuart J. Coffin for Group 5.

The only amendment or referendum that did not go the way I voted was No. 1 to repeal public campaign financing. Voters did not give it the 60% approval necessary to pass a Florida constitutional amendment.

Passage of constitutional amendments 5 and 6 was especially pleasing. I have long fought against “minority access” districts; Florida has now outlawed them. Districts will have to be drawn to be as compact, equal in population, and use existing geographical boundaries as is feasible. District lines cannot be drawn to favor incumbents or a political party or to deny equal participation in the political process.

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, Florida’s most embarrassing politico, announced today she would file suit against these amendments. Her district is one of the most convoluted in the country, extending from Jacksonville to Orlando. She knows she will lose if she has to run in a geographically contiguous district here in Duval County. That prospect alone persuaded me to vote for amendments 5 and 6, despite opposition from most establishment Republicans and the Tea Party. Many Republicans and conservatives have come to love these minority districts because it isolates voters who generally vote Democratic.

2010 Florida Republican Primary Candidate Recommendations

2010-08-09T19:21:00.000-04:00

Here are my recommendations for the Florida Republican Primary election. Early voting began today and continues through August 22, 2010. The election itself is on Tuesday, August 24, 2010.

U. S. Senator from Florida: William Escoffery III
Governor of Florida: Rick Scott
Attorney General of Florida: Holly Benson
Florida State Senator District 8: Charles Perniciaro
Florida State Representative District 16: Charles McBurney
Florida Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Group 25: Samuel P. Garrison

As always, whether you agree with my choices or not, I urge you to vote. Below is detailed information on all the candidates and how to contact them so you can make your own decisions.

2010 Primary Candidates

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Early Voting for Primary: Tues., August 9 - Sun., August 22, 2010

Last Day to Request Absentee Ballot for Primary: Wed., August 18, 2010

Last Day to Register to Vote or Change Registration for General Election: Mon., October 4, 2010

Last Day to Request Absentee Ballot for General Election: Wed., October 27, 2010

General Election: Tues., November 2, 2010

For More Information:

Jerry Holland, Duval County Supervisor of Elections

105 E. Monroe St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

(904) 630-1414

U. S. Senator

William Escoffery III

Address:
265 Country Club Road
Shalimar, FL 32579
Phone: (850)225-7228
Website: www.senatebill.us/
Email: Dr.Escoffery@senatebill.us/

Medical doctor. "Bible-believing Christian"

Platform:

Limit big government (reduce taxes & regulations)
Cut taxes
Expand jobs (free market; stop bail-outs)
Protect life (pro-life)
Keep America safe (identify terrorism, prosecute terrorists under military tribunals)
Guard our borders (stop illegal immigration & deport illegals here; no amnesty)
Control the courts
Root out corruption
Restore Bible values
Strengthen the family
Defend U.S. sovereignty
Safeguard individual rights

William Billy Kogut

Address:

12 Winchester Road

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

Phone: (386) 316-3133

Website: http://kogut2010.intuitwebsites.com/

Businessman & realtor in Flagler County since 1995. Memer of the Flagler County Planning Board. Former Municipal Chairman for Wallington, New Jersey. "Bible-believing Christian"

Platform:

Protect our Constitution
Repeal Obama Care
Strongly Support our Military
Oppose Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants
Audit U.N. and Federal Reserve
Supports Fair Tax
Pro-gun
Pro-life
Supports traditional marriage

Marco Rubio

Address

4027 South LeJeune Road

Coral Gables, FL 33146

Website: http://www.marcorubio.com

Email: marcorubioforsenate@gmail.com

Private-practice lawyer & visiting professor at Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center. From 2000-2008, Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives. During this period, he served as Majority Whip, Majority Leader and Speaker of the House.

Positions:

Anti-amnesty for illegals and pro border security, employment verification.
Pro-gun: "A" rating with NRA & endorsed by Gun Owners of America
Opposes cap-and-trade carbon tax
Opposed Obama's stimulus plans
Supports balanced budget amendment & line-item veto
Pro-life

Agenda in Florida House:

lower taxes
better schools
a leaner and more efficient government
free market empowerment
protect private property rights
championed a major overhaul of the Florida tax system that would have eliminated all property taxes on primary residences in favor of a flat consumption tax
blocking the expansion of gambling in Florida

Endorsed by: Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, Mitt Romney, Rudy Guiliani, The Club for Growth, Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida, FL Right to Life, Eagle Forum

FL Governor

Mike McCalister

Address

3201 Foxden Lane

Plant City, FL 33565

Phone: (727) 641-4873

Website: http://mikemccalister4governor.com/ or http://mikemccalister.com/

Email: bmccalister@earthlink.net

Single parent, retired USAF Colonel, educator, small-business owner, health care professional, farmer. PhD in Management

Websites have long list of endorsements and resume but no information on issue positions. Both seem to be primarily aimed to sell his book, The Right Future for Florida and You… Starting Right Now!

Bill McCollum

Address

Post Office Box 915006 or

Longwood, FL 32791

Phone: (850) 241-1885

Website: http://billmccollum.com

Email: info@BillMcCollum.com

Florida Attorney General; former U.S. Representative

Positions:

Pro-gun rights: "A" rating with NRA
Illegal immigration: supports amended AZ law; opposed amnesty; voted to make hiring illegals illegal; pro-English language
Economy & Jobs: wrote “Real Solutions, New Jobs: A Roadmap to Florida’s Future” with Steve Forbes. It provide tax relief, regulatory reform, litigation reform, and property tax cuts, and to improve Florida’s education, transportation, water and energy infrastructure.
Pro-life: 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee.
First Attorney General to file suit against Obamacare, which 19 other states have joined now.

Endorsements: Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, Ander Crenshaw, Cliff Stearns, etc., FL Right to Life - A rating

Rick Scott

Address

1400 Gulf Shore Blvd., North

Suite 148

Naples, FL 34102 or

300 S.E. 2nd Street

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Phone: (954) 915-3360

Website: www.rickscottforflorida.com

Email: info@rickscottforflorida.com

Businessman: former Founder & CEO of Columbia/HCA hospital system & Solantic Urgent Care Centers. Started Conservatives for Patients’ Rights, an organization founded to defend free market principles in health care that focused successfully on defeating President Obama’s government-run public option plan. Supports and has attended & spoken at Tea Party rallies.

Positions:

Cut government workforce by 5%
Phase out the corporate income tax
Reduce regulations
Cut state property taxes by 19%
Pro-gun: highest rating from NRA & Unified Sportsmen of Florida
Pro-life: wants Roe v. Wade overturned
Illegal immigration: bring AZ's new law here; opposes amnesty
7-7-7 Plan: these 7 steps will create 700,000 jobs in 7 years:

1. Implement Accountability Budgeting
2. Reduce Government Spending
3. Enact Regulatory Reform
4. Focus on Job Growth and Retention
5. Invest in World Class State Universities
6. Reduce Property Taxes
7. Phase out the Business Income Tax

Endorsements: FL Right to Life - A rating

FL Attorney General

Holly Benson

Address

2640-A Mitcham Drive

Tallahassee, FL 32308 or

P.O. Box 998

Tallahassee, FL 32302

Phone: 850-224-3800

Website: http://www.hollybenson.com

Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration; former Secretary of the Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation and State Representative

Positions:

Will continue lawsuit against Obamacare & supports tort reform
Will support AZ's illegal immigration law for FL Hold the federal government accountable for the costs to Florida’s taxpayers of illegal immigrants who attend our schools, receive care in our health care facilities and consume needed services.
Pro-gun: A+ rating from NRA
Pro-life & pro-family: 100% rating from the Christian Coalition as a state rep.

Endorsements: cross-section of local and state officials

Pam Bondi

Address

610 South Boulevard

Tampa, FL 33606

Phone: 866-246-9110

Fax: 866-702-3290

Website: http://www.pambondi.com/

Email: info@pambondi.com

Prosecutor for 18 years. Hillsborough County elections records show Bondi registered to vote as a Democrat in 1984 and switched to Republican on July 21, 2000. Election records also show Bondi didn't always vote when she had the chance. She skipped party primary elections in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2002 and 2008. She did not cast a ballot in the last presidential primary in January 2008.

Positions:

Pro-gun: A rating from NRA
Supports AZ immigration law for FL
Wants to stop Obamacare
Pro-life

Endorsements: Bob Martinez (her campaign chairman), Associated Builders & Contractors of FL, Associated Industries of FL, Chamber of Commerce of FL, and the pro-life Susan B. Anthony Candidate List Fund. 4 of the 5 largest newspapers in Florida: St.Petersburg Times, Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune and the Orlando Sentinel

Jeff Kottkamp

Address
Post Office Box 10787

Tallahassee, FL 32302

Phone: 850-701-2377

Website: http://www.jeffkottkamp.com/

Email: info@JeffKottkamp.com

Lt. Governor of FL; former State Representative

Issues:

Pro-gun: A+ rated by the NRA. Co-sponsor of the Castle Doctrine law. Banned government from registering guns owned by individuals. Stopped the anti-gun lobby from filing frivolous lawsuits against gun makers and owners of shooting ranges.
Supports AZ immigration law for FL. Would sue the federal government to recover the millions of dollars paid out each year by our taxpayers as a result of illegal immigrants in our state.
Pro-life: Sponsor of the Parental Notification bill signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush. Led the fight to punish drunk drivers who kill unborn babies. Faith and Family Award presented by the Christian Coalition. Defender of Life Award by the Florida Catholic Conference.
Will continue lawsuit against Obamacare. Has successfully sued the federal government in the past. Supports Tenth Amendment

Endorsements: Florida Police Benevolent Association, Florida Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Right to Life PAC, Connie Mack, FL Right to Life

State Senator Dist. 8

Charles Perniciaro

Address

Post Office Box 331178

Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

Phone: (904) 372-4494

Website: www.charlesperniciaro.com

Email: senatorcp@aol.com

Medical doctor, the Director of Dermatopathology at Bernhardt Laboratories. Member of Beach United Methodist Church. Recently changed voter registration from Democrat to Republican. "I've always been a conservative. I've been working to help Republicans get elected throughout my entire career. My contribution records from the Florida Division of Elections, going back 15 years, are public record. All of those contributions were to Republicans and committees that support tort reform. No Democrats. I've also hosted fund raisers in my home for Republican candidates. My prior voter registration was from the days when conservatives were all Democrats in the South. Although I didn't get around to correcting my party registration at the courthouse until recently, I‘ve lived and voted as a Republican for a long time. This primary will be a referendum on what it means to be a Republican, and about which Republican is running for the right reasons."

Issues:

Refuses to accept PAC donations to campaign
Jobs are the first priority. Spend money on backlogged transportation projects. Reduce regulations.
Opposed Thrasher's SB 6 for education reform, which was vetoed by Gov. Crist and had wide opposition.
Illegal immigrants should not be eligible for state or federal benefits. Ports & borders must be secured. Prosecute illegals & businesses that hire them.
Opposes Obamacare. Limit Medicaid to set budget.
Pro-gun.

Endorsements: the Republican Liberty Caucus of NE FL, the Jacksonville Liberty Journal.

John Thrasher

Address

4963 Beach Boulevard

Jacksonville, FL 32207 or

109 Premiere Vista Way

St. Augustine, 32080 Phone 904-607-2226

Phone 904-607-2226

Website: http://electthrasher.com/

State Representative; former Speaker-of-the-House. Interim chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Florida co-chair for the George W. Bush for President campaign in 2004. Former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Florida State University. Former Clay County School Board member; chairman and vice chairman. Former Counsel to the Jacksonville law firm of Smith Hulsey & Busey. Former partner of Southern Strategy Group, a Tallahassee-based governmental relations firm.

Positions:

Keep taxes low
Grow our job base and our local economy
Improve our children’s education
Preserve the St. Johns River and our beautiful beaches

Endorsements: NRA and Unified Sportsmen of Florida, , Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Florida United Businesses, the Florida Right to Life Political Action Committee, Mitt Romney, Ander Crenshaw, Jeb Bush, FL Right to Life

State Representative Dist. 16

Charles McBurney

Address

6326 Christopher Creek Road E.

Jacksonville, FL 32217 or

76 S. Laura St., Ste. 590

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: (904)731-7726 or (904) 798-0002

Website: http://www.votemcburney.com/

State Representative. Lawyer. Former Assistant State Attorney (prosecutor). Deacon in South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church.

Issues:

Sponsored & passed Civics Education bill.
Combat gangs and gang-related violence
Voted to balance the State's budget every year
Led the fight to make our schools more accountable and to improve their performance by directing more dollars into the classroom
Introduced “Florida Taxpayers Protection Act”, House Bill 1197. The legislation would tax non-residents on Florida property transferred as a result of estate or inheritance to the extent a State imposes an estate or inheritance tax on Floridians for property in that other state.

Endorsements: NRA, John Delaney, Ed Austin, FL Right to Life

Luis Melendez

Address:
1401 Riverplace Boulevard, #610

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Phone: (904)962-8932

Website: www.electmelendez.com

An Allied Health Professional and a medical educator at a Jacksonville technical college. Small business owner, President of the Florida State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists. A naturalized American citizen who served honorably in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman with the Fleet Marine Force serving the United States Marine Corps.

Issues:

Support sports' teams such as the Jaguars for economic impact they bring.
Have criminals serve their full sentence and make prisons more spartan or restrict privileges.
Government benefits should be time-limited & require drug screening.
Supports Fair Tax. No tax increases -- cut spending.
Pro-gun: member of NRA.
Supports term limits.
Supports school choice with student accountability for grades made if receive gov't. assistance to attend private schools.
Pro-life.
Supports AZ's immigration law & pro-English.

Endorsements: Republican Liberty Caucus

Fourth Circuit Court Judge Group 25

Samuel P. Garrison

Address

1223 Orange Circle North

Orange Park, FL 32073 or

221 N. Hogan St., Suite 382

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: (904)303-5212

Website: http://www.garrisonforjudge.com/

E-mail: Garrison@garrisonforjudge.com

Assistant State Attorney, Senior Prosecutor in Homicide & Major Crimes; previously in the Special Assault & Repeat Offenders' division. Member of New Grace Church of Fleming Island. Founder of Clay County Victims' Services. Past Chairman of the Clay County Task Force on Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence. Past member of the Orange Park Medical Center Board of Trustees. Young Life of Clay County committee member.

Endorsements: Jennifer Carroll, Steve Wise, Mike Weinstein, Matt Shirk, Lake Ray, John Rutherford.

Mark Hulsey

Address

200 East Forsyth Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: (904)353-7188

Website: http://www.votehulsey.com/

Certified Family Mediator & Child Custody Evaluator. Has practised law in 4 of the 5 areas covered by Circuit Court. Law educator at JU, FSCJ & UNF. Military veteran: Army Captain. Participated in Pro Bono work with the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid since 2000 and with the City Rescue Mission since 2000. Member of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral.

Endorsements: Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters, Association of Fire Chiefs, Duval Teachers United, Ed Austin, John Delaney, Jake Godbold, Tommy Hazouri, Martha Barrett, Nancy Broner, Vicki Drake, Brenda Preistly-Jackson, Daniel Davis, Michael Corrigan, Kevin Hyde, Dr. Johnny Gaffney, Mike Hogan, Jim Overton, Alberta Hipps, Kris Barns, Aaron Bean, ,Tony Hill, Betty Burney

Chicago-Style Immigration Reform

2010-07-11T12:02:00.000-04:00

Whose aunt was caught as an illegal alien? Whose aunt was denied asylum and ordered deported in 2004 by a federal immigration judge? Whose aunt defied this order and stayed in the U.S., living in H.U.D.-financed housing in Boston? When caught a second time, whose aunt was allowed to repetition for asylum instead of being deported in 2009? Whose aunt found another federal judge who voided the previous deportation order and granted her political asylum on May 17, 2010?

If you answered President Barack Obama, you should get a prize. He is the nephew of Zeituni Onyango, a native of Kenya. She entered the country originally on a visitor's visa, which she overstayed. What made the difference between the outcome of her case in 2004 and 2010? Could it possibly be that having your nephew elected President of the United States gave her special privileges and status not enjoyed by other illegals? Is this what we can expect from immigration reform under Obama? For a Chicago politician, it would be business as usual.

BP’s Oil Spill: Why Do I Wish Sarah Palin Was Our V.P.?

2010-06-27T16:07:00.000-04:00

Answer: BP and the oil spill in the Gulf. Governor Sarah Palin knows how to deal with Big Oil. She has been there and done that as chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) and as Governor of the state of Alaska. She also has empathy for the personal and financial fears of the people of the Gulf that comes from what she and her husband experienced following Alaska’s Exxon Valdez spill. All of this is clear by reading her 2009 autobiography Going Rogue: An American Life (Harper Collins Publishers, NY), which I highly recommend for its insights into modern politics.

Before Palin became Governor of Alaska, the big three oil companies were use to favorable deals being negotiated behind closed doors with often-corrupt lawmakers and state staffers. Palin threw the door open, having made it clear during her campaign that she was committed to “begin anew with a process that would not and could not be tainted by previous secret negotiations and corrupt legislative votes. During our first week of conferencing with the oil executives, every man – and they were all men – who entered that room knew things had changed. I made a point of saying, ‘We’re leaving the door open.’ Their inches-thick proposals would be displayed out in the reception area for the public and the media to see.” (Pg. 128)

Palin’s description of her first meetings with oil executives is priceless: “I walked into those meetings with coffee in hand, cookies to serve our guests and thought to myself, Hmmm. You just spent a year trying to kick my ass. I just spent a year trying to kick yours. And now we’re in this room together. Out loud I asked, ‘Want a cookie?’” (Pg. 127)

One of the major issues Palin confronted head-on was adherence to the terms and conditions of the leases made by the oil companies with the state of Alaska. Big Oil routinely ignored lease terms. Palin knew how to change that; she threatened to permanently pull their leases and offer them to other oil companies willing to play by the rules.

“When you deal with oil executives, you have to remember that they are used to winning…The executives themselves are armed with bottomless bank accounts and highly trained platoons of fire-breathing lawyers. Thus, reminding our friends in Big Oil that they have a contract that they’re obligated to fulfill was really not going to scare them. A $20 million fine? Pocket change. But with their leases on the line – permanently – the question…executives finally had to ask themselves was, do we really want to give up prime parcels that are loaded with billions of dollars’ worth of natural resources that the public and our shareholders want us to develop?” (Pg. 197)

Palin’s previous experience as AOGCC chair helped. “As AOGCC chair, when I wasn’t butting heads with the state GOP, I was getting a thorough education in issues surrounding oil and gas recovery and production…As a state chief executive, sitting across the table from well-heeled, lawyered-up oil executives, it was a given: you have to be committed to the position that is right for the people who hired you. You can’t blink. And we didn’t. Once we put our foot down, we won ruling after ruling after ruling.” (Pgs. 198-199) The end result was a competitive bidding process that “unlocked the Big Three oil companies’ development monopoly and threw open Alaska’s doors to true competition and free enterprise.” (Pg. 205)

Palin understands that any business is obligated to look after its own bottom line and put its shareholders’ interests first. She was crystal clear about her role. “My business was to look out for Alaskans’ bottom line. Our state Constitution stipulates that the citizens actually own our natural resources…In fulfillment of my oath, I would make decisions based on the best interests of our shareholders, the people of Alaska.” (Pg. 126)

Palin’s husband Todd worked for BP on the North Slope, “earning a king’s ransom of $14 an hour” (Pg. 50) when he started. This did not stop her from taking on BP directly as Governor for “trying to save money for years by cutting corners on oil pipeline maintenance on the North Slope.” Her administration created the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office (PSIO). “With the creation of the PSIO, Alaska became the first state to require industry operators to document their compliance with maintenance and quality assurance standards, and to share that information with the state.” (Pg. 153)

It is not just as a politician that Palin has experience in dealing with Big Oil. Her family was directly impacted by the Exxon Valdez catastrophe, the largest oil spill in American waters before BP’s Gulf blowout. Besides Todd’s employment with BP, he ran the family’s commercial fishing business in Bristol Bay, far from the site of the Exxon Valdez spill. As Todd predicted, “There will be a taint on our fish, too…Buyers will assume all Alaska salmon is oiled. Watch our price drop this summer.” Drop they did, going “from $2.35 to 80 cents a pound.” They feared for Todd’s new job with BP, too. “The rumor was that Alaska’s oil production would be shut down, which I believed would be an unnecessary, knee-jerk reaction that would destroy our state’s ability to recover.” She, her family, and friends helped in the clean up on the Sound. (Pgs. 60-61)

Palin knows the fight ahead to force BP to make good on its promises to pay for and make right the damages done by its oil spill on the people, businesses and environment in the Gulf. The Exxon Valdez occurred when she and Todd was a young couple awaiting the arrival of their first child. Twenty years later, when she was Governor of Alaska, ExxonMobil was still litigating claims from Cordova and Valdez fishermen. Knowing the suffering this caused, she stepped in as Governor, ordering “our attorney general to file an amicus brief on behalf of plaintiffs in the case, and, thanks to Alaska’s able attorneys arguing in front of the highest court in the land, in 2008 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the people. Finally, Alaskans could recover some of their losses.” (Pg. 62)

President Obama recently disparaged Palin when she spoke out about BP’s and his response to the Gulf oil spill. Instead of spewing the Democratic party line that she is ignorant, he would do well to call her in as a consultant. Palin, not Obama, has the expertise and experience needed to deal with BP effectively in defense of the interests of the people of the Gulf and all Americans in this crisis.

Are Rick Sanchez and CNN Biased?

2010-06-02T13:43:00.000-04:00

I just sent the following comment to CNN: Is Rick Sanchez and/or CNN backing Florida's Attorney General McCollum against Rick Scott in the Republican primary for Florida's next governor? The reason I ask is the McCollum campaign is using in a political ad a segment of an interview between Rick Sanchez and Rick Scott about his hospital corporation and Medicare fraud from August 6, 2009. The ad, through clever editing, makes it appear that Mr. Sanchez is making a statement against Mr. Scott, not asking a question. If either Rick Sanchez or CNN have given McCollum's campaign permission to use tape from this interview, then it proves media bias by CNN.

Rick Scott founded Columbia Hospital Corp. and Solantric Urgent Care Centers. The hospital corporation was accused of and fined for Medicare fraud. Scott has countered with a disarming ad in which he takes responsibility for the mistakes as CEO, then goes on to cite what McCollum doesn't. Columbia Hospitals have achieved higher ratings for quality of care than most.

Scott personally financed much of the campaign against Obamacare. He supports the Tea Party movement and many in it support him, although the Tea Party does not collectively endorse candidates. I have not yet decided whom I will back, although I am leaning toward Scott. I have more research to do on this Medicare fraud case as well as other positions of both candidates before I make my choice. However, I do not appreciate CNN or Rick Sanchez trying to influence the outcome of a Florida primary.

Kentucky Derby Pie

2010-05-15T16:20:00.000-04:00

Below is my recipe for Kentucky Derby Pie. It is wickedly rich. I make it every year just for the Kentucky Derby. Today, it is on to the Preakness. Since it is run in Maryland, I'll be having some artichoke crab dip.

Kentucky Derby Pie

1 9-inch unbaked piecrust (I usually use Pillsbury refrigerated piecrusts)

1 c. granulated sugar

1/4 c. butter, softened

3 eggs

3/4 c. light corn syrup

1 t. vanilla extract

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1 c. chopped pecans

Optional: 2 t. Kentucky bourbon or 1/2 t. bourbon extract

Cream sugar & butter together. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition until light and fluffy. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Mix in chocolate chips and nuts. Stir in bourbon or bourbon extract, if desired.

Spray 9-inch pie pan with butter-flavored cooking spray. Line with piecrust; fold under edges and flute. Do NOT prick piecrust.

Pour filling into piecrust. Protect piecrust edges with metal ring or aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 350-degree F oven for 45-50 minutes or until sharp knife inserted midway between center and edge comes out clean. Top with whipped cream, if desired. Serves 8-10.

Hot Tropical Elixir

2010-04-22T17:48:00.006-04:00

Memorial Hospital's E.R. doctor sent me home with the usual prescriptions for bronchitis Sunday afternoon: antibiotic, Mulcinix DM, and prednisone. I take them dutifully as a compliant patient. However, what really got me breathing better Monday was what I call my Hot Tropical Elixir. I make it in a slow-cooker and drink 2-3 cups daily until I'm cured. The F.D.A. probably prohibits any healing claims, but I always feel better when I drink it if I have a cold, the flu, an asthma attack, sinus infection, allergies or bronchitis. Here's the recipe to try if you're suffering a respiratory ailment:

Hot Tropical Elixir

Ingredients:

1 46-oz. can orange juice (not drink)

1 46-oz. can pineapple-mango or pineapple juice

4 bags each green and black tea

4-6 Tbsp. honey

1-2 cinnamon sticks (optional)

1 unpeeled orange, sliced thinly

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker. Stir to mix and cook on low for at least 3-4 hours. Remove tea bags and cinnamon sticks (if used).

Serve hot with an orange slice and inhale steam while drink cools down enough to drink comfortably.

Refrigerate leftovers and reheat in microwave.

Drink 2 - 3 mugs per day until feeling better.

Hope it helps!

2010 Census Burning Taxpayers’ Money

2010-04-11T17:15:00.004-04:00

My experience this week with the 2010 Census made me livid. Let me go back a few weeks, first.

So far, I have received one letter and two postcards informing me that the census form was coming and to please fill it out promptly. One of the postcards came AFTER I received and returned the completed census form. I have seen and continue to see numerous television and newspaper ads urging cooperation with the census. I have read about the cross-country tour of 2010 Census promoters; Jacksonville was visited this week.

So, when my census form arrived approximately three weeks ago, I filled it out the evening I received it and mailed it back the next day. Although it asks for more information than required by the Constitution, I was relieved to see it was far simpler and less intrusive that the last several I have filled out.

This Wednesday, April 7th, there was an announcement here where I live that a Census worker was in the building to help residents fill out their forms and to please let her in if she knocks. Okay, no problem. She did not stop by my apartment since I had mailed my form back, or so I thought.

We have lunch weekdays in our dining room downstairs at noon, and I went down a few minutes before. As soon as I wheeled into the dining room, this census woman, who it turned out is from Columbia and speaks barely passable English, accosted me. She told me she needed to fill out a census form for me. When I told her I had already done so and mailed it back, she informed me, “Oh, that doesn’t matter.” I gave her my birth date when she asked, and then wheeled around, announcing, “I need a drink.”

Returning to my seat with my lemonade, she told me she had filled out the form and had all the information she needed on me. I asked her pointedly, “Does this mean I will be counted twice?” She told me, “Oh, don’t worry about it.”

Excuse me, but I am going to worry about it. The Census is constitutionally mandated for one reason and one reason only: to determine how many U.S. representatives each State should have. Numbers matter. Duplications in the Census would result in a state having more representatives than it should.

All through lunch, I scolded about the utter waste of taxpayers’ money this Census is costing us. This woman was here most of the day. The job ads for Census workers here state the wages are $11.25 - $16.50/hour. At an average hourly rate of $13.87, her visit cost around $100.

Late that night, I was reading the news online. One of the articles from The Associated Press on yahoo! news was about the Census: “Census Bureau concerned about head count problems” http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100408/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_census_debacle_scenarios . The Census Bureau, according to it, has a number of concerns regarding their efforts, including “mass identity theft.” It reported that census field workers would not be going out until May. They would wait until the mailed-in forms could be tabulated and lists created of those who had not returned them. Makes sense to me to do it that way.

That article really raised my suspicions. Who was this woman? Was she really from the Census Bureau? She had an I.D. badge hanging around her neck, but I did not look at it closely enough to verify it was a Census Bureau tag. I will ask Representative Ander Crenshaw, and Senators Bill Nelson and George LeMieux to investigate.

This whole Census boondoggle has given me yet another reason to participate in the Tea Party on Thursday, April 15th at the Jacksonville Landing. I want to tell the federal government to just stop it: stop wasting our money.

We American citizens are not stupid. Just send the census form and the vast majority will fill it out as requested. Then, go out and find those who do not or cannot do it by themselves. And, while you are at it, if you find illegals, do not count them. Call I.C.E. to round them up and have them deported. But that is a rant for another day.

White House Easter Egg Roll

2010-03-30T23:03:00.003-04:00

Only Washington public school children have been invited to this year's annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Private school students have been excluded from the invitation list. Does this mean that President Obama's daughters will not be allowed to attend since they attend a private school? Unlikely.

Actually, I think the two girls should attend and participate. Then, at the end of the Easter egg hunt, their dad should take their baskets and give away all the eggs they collect to the poor public school children. This would be the perfect lesson for his daughters to learn what income redistribution really means.

2010-02-20T19:47:00.002-05:00

"What if a crippling attack struck the country's digital infrastructure?" Current and former national government officials tackled the question in a Washington hotel ballroom on Tuesday, February 16, 2010. The results, which will be broadcast on a special CNN report soon, were not comforting.

Michael Chertoff served as the national security advisor in the exercise. The Bipartisan Policy Center sponsored the exercise. The scenario was developed by Georgetown University and companies such as PayPal developed the cyber-attack scenario. Participants did not have knowledge of the scenario beforehand.

For me, the most alarming statement was the last sentence in the Los Angeles Times story: "In the end, no grand plan emerged, but the group did agree to advise the president to federalize the National Guard, even if governors objected, and deploy the troops -- perhaps backed by the U.S. military -- to guard power lines and prevent unrest."

To read the full Los Angeles Times article, go to:
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-cyber-attack17-2010feb17,0,803757,full.story

Get Ye to the Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville

2010-02-07T23:43:00.004-05:00

Today, I enjoyed an absolutely delightful afternoon at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining here in Jacksonville, Florida. After a delicious luncheon buffet, I saw "High School Musical." The food was plentiful and excellent. The play was fun and full of youthful enthusiasm.

The Alhambra Theatre is the oldest professional dinner theatre in the country. After 42 years of continuous operation, it closed its doors briefly in 2009 due to the economy. Thankfully, a group of investors quickly reopened it in December 2009.

They recruited one of Jacksonville's premier chefs, Matthew Medure, to revamp the menu. The luncheon buffet today featured baked chicken, seafood newburg, baked ham, and a variety of sides. An absolutely fresh salad with an assortment of greens and vegetables was served at the table beforehand. Two desserts are offered: bread pudding and chocolate mousse. Both were good, but the mousse was to die for.

The group of twelve seniors I was with included four in electric wheelchairs and several others who use walkers or canes. Physical improvements to the theatre helped, especially a new fully accessible restroom. The staff could not have been more helpful in accommodating our needs. They made trips to the buffet to bring our food.

The Alhambra has always offered wonderful theatre productions. Fortunately, founder Tod Booth, Sr. continues to be involved. The actors and actresses today were excellent with strong voices and seemingly endless physical vigor for the strenuous dance routines.

I encourage everyone to support the Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville. Coming shows here in 2010 include:
42nd Street: March 10 – April 25
Cinderella: June 16 – August 8
Amorous Crossing: August 11 – September 5
The Wedding Singer: September 8 – October 10
The King and I: October 13 – November 28
It’s a Wonderful Life: December 1 – December 24

The Alhambra Theatre is located at 12000 Beach Blvd. on Jacksonville's Southside. Their phone number is (904) 641-1212. Go to www.alhambrajax.com for current ticket prices or to make reservations online. You will be glad you did.

Bah Humbug to Political Correctness

2009-11-24T18:49:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again when liberals who worship at the altar of diversity and political correctness attack Christmas. They do it by convincing retailers to reject terms like "Merry Christmas," "Christmas trees," "Christmas shopping," "Christmas gifts," etc. Instead, everything should be generic, such as "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings." The reason for the season is to be avoided at all costs.

The latest example is at St. John's Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Instead of a "Christmas tree," they lit "The Great Tree." Funny, it's decorated like a Christmas tree, but evidently Druids manage this shopping mall owned by Simon Management Group.

Now, the St. John's Town Center is one of my favorite places to shop and dine. I was really looking forward to spending a day there in the next month now that I have my electric wheelchair. I was going to explore from one end to the other and end with dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.

However, I have a strict policy that my Christmas dollars do not go to malls and retailers where Christmas is not acknowledged or is disguised. Let them rely on non-Christians and pagans to move them into the black at the end of their financial year. So, instead of St. John's Town Center, I will go to the Jacksonville Landing where they still have a "Christmas" tree.

Here's the complaint I sent to Simon Property Group from their website's feedback form: http://www.simon.com/about_simon/contact_spg/default.aspx

St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida has fallen victim to the silliness of political correctness. Instead of having a "Christmas" tree, someone decided to call it "The "Great Tree." I can only guess this person was afraid to offend believers of other religions by calling what is clearly a Christmas tree by its proper name.

However, as a Christian, I am offended when people refuse to acknowledge with its correct name the Christmas holiday I am celebrating and for which I am shopping for presents and decorations. I am not celebrating just any holiday or season. I am buying Christmas presents, I am putting up Christmas decorations, I am sending Christmas cards, etc.

This silliness and discrimination against Christians needs to stop. If you had a Hanukkah Menorah, would you call it "The Great Candle Display"? I doubt it.

I was looking forward to going out to St. Johns Town Center to do some Christmas shopping and enjoy dinner at The Cheesecake Factory in the next few weeks. However, I refuse to spend my Christmas shopping dollars at malls or stores that refuse to recognize the season for which I am shopping. I will go where I hear and see "Merry Christmas," not just the generic "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons Greetings." You can keep your "Great Tree." I plan to shop where they still have Christmas trees.

Another way to contact Simon Property Group, owner of St. John's Town Center, is:

Corporate Headquarters
Simon Property Group, Inc.
225 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 636-1600

Are the Brownshirts on Order Yet?

2009-09-27T17:59:00.004-04:00

Several years ago, I told an audience that I considered it child abuse to send children to our public schools. The reason was the humanistic, socialistic propaganda that has become endemic to the public school curriculum. I advised parents who kept their children in public schools to watch like hawks what was being taught in the classroom and the textbooks.

Then, I saw the You Tube clips of New Jersey school children singing the praises of Barack Hussein Obama. The B. Bernice Young School in Burlington Township is for grades K through 2. The video, which came to light in the media last week, dates back to February 2009, a few weeks after Obama's inauguration. It features a class of children in a Black History Month school assembly singing a song that virtually worships Obama. Here are the words:

Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said all should lend a hand to make the country strong again.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must be fair today, equal work means equal pay.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said take a stand, make sure everyone gets a chance.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said red, yellow, black and white, all are equal in his sight.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama.
Yeah! Barack Hussein Obama.
...Hello, Mr. President, we honor you today
For all your great accomplishments, we all do say hooray.
Hooray, Mr. President, you are No. 1
The first black American to lead this nation.

Proof that Obama is being portrayed as though he was God is in the stanza: "He said red, yellow, black and white, all are equal in his sight." These words are taken from the hymn "Jesus Loves the Little Children." In addition, the children sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and included the refrain, "Hooray, Mr. President." (Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090926/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_school_song)
At the end of the video, it appeared as though the children raised their right arms in a stiff-armed salute. Although their hands were clinched, it was chillingly reminiscent of the "Heil, Hitler" salute of the Nazis.

Michelle Malkin said it best, "Out: readin', writin' and 'rithmetic. In: rappin', revolution and radicalism. Mmm, mmm, mmm." (Source: "The three R's in the age of Obama: Rappin', revolution and radicalism" http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=697234)
Has the White House ordered the brownshirts for our youth, yet?

Email Response to Senator Bill Nelson

2009-09-15T09:37:00.002-04:00

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) sent an email entitled "Taking Action on Health Care Reform." Before his senate career, Nelson was Florida's Insurance Commissioner; he was fiercely protective of consumers. He brings a great deal of knowledge of the economic realities of and experience working with the insurance industry. He is a moderate Democrat for whom I have voted in the past. Nelson invited constituents to respond with their concerns regarding health care reform. Below is mine:

Dear Sen. Nelson:

Thank you for the email regarding your position on health care reform. I am happy you are on the Senate Finance Committee because I know you will bring your experience as Florida's Insurance Commissioner to this issue.

My biggest concerns are:

1. Adding enforcement procedures to bar illegal aliens from receiving benefits. Without those, the law forbidding it will be a toothless tiger.

2. Assuring that taxpayer funding of abortions will never be allowed under this legislation. Again, without explicit language regarding this, the legislation might be used to undermine or overturn current restrictions.

3. Reliance on Medicare "savings" to fund a large portion of insurance coverage for the uninsured. Even the CBO, along with many other health insurance experts, doubts there is enough "fraud and abuse" in Medicare to add up to the savings estimates. Even if all fraud and abuse in Medicare is eliminated, the reality is Medicare costs will escalate in the next decade. It is unrealistic to expect "cuts" in these expenditures at the same time enrollments will grow by 30% as more baby boomers become eligible. The result can only mean a reduction in benefits or rationing of care or long delays in services. All of these are unacceptable.

Thank you for your continued work on this issue. Please reach across the aisle and help our country solve the problems in our healthcare system without destroying it.

Sincerely,
Susan M. Lamb

You Rock, Rep. Joe Wilson

2009-09-11T20:39:00.002-04:00

Here's the text of an email I just sent to South Carolina's Representative Joe Wilson:

RE: HR 3200.
Dear Rep. Wilson,

Although I am not a constituent, I just want to let you know I support your efforts to get the truth told about the proposed health care reform legislation, especially H.R. 3200. I have read all of it.

The other night when President Obama proclaimed that illegal aliens would not get health care under it, I was shouting at the T.V., "That's a lie." Ditto when he said it wouldn't cover abortion, wouldn't result in benefit cuts in Medicare, and wouldn't increase the deficit.

You apologized to President Obama for shouting out, "You lie." It may have been rude, but you told the truth. Now, I am waiting for the President's apology for lying to you, your colleagues, and the American people.

Best wishes,
Susan M. Lamb

Let Your Children Listen to President Obama's School Speech

2009-09-07T18:42:00.004-04:00

Parents, I encourage you to allow your children to hear President Barack Obama's speech to school students scheduled tomorrow, September 8, 2009. I just finished reading the text of his speech, which was released earlier today.

Now, anyone who reads this blog, knows I am no fan of Obama. I oppose his idealogy, his policies, and most of his associates with vigor.

However, there is nothing objectionable in this speech. In fact, it is a speech that every student needs to hear and take to heart. It instructs each student to take responsibility for his or her education and to overcome obstacles. Obama urges them to work hard for their sake and for the good of the country. He uses examples from his own life as well as other students.

Parents should keep a close eye on any follow-up homework assignments. The teacher's guide was revised that asked students to write the President on how they could help him achieve his goals. Instead, the assignment now focuses on how the students can achieve their goals.

Why Are Grandma & Grandpa So Riled?

2009-08-23T12:08:00.006-04:00

Seniors across this nation are up in arms over the proposed cuts in Medicare of $50 billion in the healthcare bills before Congress. President Obama and the Democrats are pretending that these cuts will not result in healthcare rationing and accessibility problems. They claim the cuts will all be from cost-savings or the introduction of new efficiencies. They say there will be no change in the healthcare that grandma and grandpa receive. Seniors know better.

Grandma and grandpa have plenty of past experience with the outcomes of previous Medicare cuts. When Medicare reimbursements to doctors are cut, doctors drop out of Medicare. Many seniors have been forced to change doctors who accept Medicare assignment unless they could afford to pay the difference between what the doctor charges and Medicare pays for services. Premier healthcare providers such as Mayo Clinic become inaccessible to all but wealthy seniors because Mayo Clinic no longer accepts Medicare assignment. If grandma and grandpa live in rural areas, they have an especially difficult time finding healthcare, often having to travel long distances to find providers who accept Medicare assignment.

Let’s look at H.R. 3200, the most fully developed healthcare reform bill presented to the American people thus far. For grandma and grandpa, it is a disaster.

“In 2010, 40.2 million seniors 65 years and older will be eligible for Medicare. That number is projected to rise to 54.8 million in 2020 and 88.5 million in 2050, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.” (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/06/end-life-counseling-intensifies-health-reform-debate/) Grandma and grandpa are smart enough to know that you cannot cut Medicare expenses by over ten percent at the same time you increase enrollees by thirty percent without drastic impacts on services.

To adequately provide for these new enrollees, you would have major cuts in services even if you had zero reductions in Medicare’s budget. That budget needs to grow in order to provide current benefits to both current and those additional enrollees. The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] warned that the proposed Independent Medicare Advisory Council [IMAC] “to rein in Medicare spending would do little to save the government money over the next 10 years.” The CBO estimated it might save $2 billion between 2010 and 2019, a pittance (less than 0.2%) of the $1 trillion plus cost if H.R. 3200 passes. Furthermore, CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf wrote, "In CBO's judgment, the probability is high that no savings would be realized." (Source: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/cbo-medicare-council-would-have-little-savings-effect-2009-07-25.html)

During his presidential campaign in October 2008, Obama accused his rival, Senator John McCain, of supporting “drastic cuts” in Medicare. Obama said, “If you count on Medicare, it would mean fewer places to get care and less freedom to choose your own doctors. You’ll pay more for your drugs. You’ll receive fewer services. You’ll get lower quality care. I don’t think that’s right. In fact, it ain’t right.” (Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203517304574303014243807246.html)

What a difference a few months make! Obama and the Democrats have declared war on grandma and grandpa’s health plan. “The federal government is going to decrease Medicare payments to physicians 37% over the next nine years. In that same nine years the cost of treating patients is expected to rise 22%.”

We will need over 124,400 new doctors (a 23.6% increase) by 2025. In-patient hospital care is expected to increase by 36.6%. Currently, medical school enrollments are down, and more doctors are retiring or leaving the profession. The reasons include the high cost of medical education, the long hours, the paperwork required by insurance companies and Medicare, and the ever-present fear of lawsuits. As Dr. David Kahn, D.C., of Fernley Chiropractic wrote, “All this adds up to someone who [is] getting paid less for doing more work, with more obstacles in the way.” (Source: http://www.rgj.com/article/20090729/FERNLEY03/907290353/1306/fernley) Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), in commenting on government-run health care, said, “It won't matter if 100 percent of Americans have health insurance if they don't have a doctor to see them when they are sick.” (Source: email newsletter from CMPI, July 27, 2009)

Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Florida) was bluntly honest when she said the House healthcare bill essentially tells senior citizens to "drop dead." "Despite their promise to care for our seniors, Democrats have decided that it's too expensive to care for my senior constituents… This bill would cut an additional $156 billion from the Medicare Advantage program in order to pay for the government expansion of healthcare for the young, the healthy, and the wealthy." (Source: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=616402)

Former Senator Tom Daschle, Obama’s first choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, has been called back to the White House to consult on how to get healthcare legislation through the House and Senate. Grandma and grandpa should be alarmed. Daschle wrote in his book, "... Health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them." (Source: http://whitehouse.gov/assets/hero/hero_weeklyaddress_7-18-09_CK-0081.JPG)

The fact is old people need more healthcare than young people. Ninety percent of an individual’s healthcare costs will be incurred during the last ten percent of his or her life. That is reality. Unfortunately, too many in Obama’s administration, if not Obama himself, believe that seniors do not have the same Creator-given, inalienable rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as younger people. The signers of the Declaration of Independence did not discriminate against any age group when they wrote those words.

Many in Obama’s inner circle believe it is moral to discriminate against seniors. They would deny seniors healthcare at the time they most need it. A prime example is Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, Obama’s special health policy advisor and brother to the President’s Chief of Staff. In the January 2009 issue of the medical journal The Lancet, he wrote that if healthcare has to be rationed, he prefers the "complete lives system," which "discriminates against older people." This system assumes that seniors can be denied health care in the later years because they have lived “complete” lives. Scarce resources should go to younger people who have not yet had the chance to live a “complete” life. Ten years earlier, in an article in the Hastings Center Report, Dr. Emanuel wrote health services should not be guaranteed to "individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens," giving as "an obvious example… patients with dementia." (Source: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=616402)

In case you think grandma and grandpa are being paranoid, just look at the newly released directives from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)regarding swine flu vaccinations. In the past, seniors have always been among the first to receive vaccines because the elderly are considered at great risk for complications from the flu. However, with the swine flu vaccine, seniors are not at the head of the list of recipients. They are not even on the list! Instead, children top the list, then healthcare workers and first responders, then young adults, the middle aged, and finally those 55-64. If you are 65 or older, the C.D.C. evidently does not consider you even worthy of consideration for protection from a potential swine flu pandemic.

Now, do you understand why grandma and grandpa are so upset? Why so many are showing up at Town Halls angry and vocal? Why many of them are resigning from the A.A.R.P.?

The words “ration” and “rationing” of healthcare do not appear anywhere in the 1,800+ pages of H.R. 3200. They don’t have to be spelled out explicitly. Seniors know the only possible outcome of the radical cuts proposed for Medicare can mean one thing and one thing only: rationing of care. And any politician who says otherwise is flat-out lying.

Latest Obama Jokes

2009-07-29T13:44:00.006-04:00

Q: What do God and Obama have in common?
A: Neither has a birth certificate!

Q: What is different about God and Obama?
A: God knows He isn't Obama!

Seriously, if there is no problem with Obama's birth certificate, why has Obama refused to share the original certified copy, which remains under seal with his school records? He has never given his campaign or White House staff permission to release the certified copy. What they released was what Hawaii calls an "authentification." According to The Patriot Post and other media, "Even those not born in Hawaii can obtain a short-form document like the one Obama has posted online" (The Patriot Post, July 17, 2009). It does not show information regarding the birth hospital and attending physician as would the full, certified birth certificate.

Now, we have the case of U.S. Army Major Stefan Frederick Cook, who refused to be deployed to Afghanistan as ordered. According to his lawyer, Orly Taitz, he was afraid he could be prosecuted as a war criminal because he believes Obama is not consitutionally qualified to be President because he was not born a U.S. citizen. Taitz was preparing to fight this issue in court. Cook had previously applied to be a conscientious objector.

The Army's response was surprising. One would have expected that they would have pursued court martial proceeding against Cook for failure to obey a legitimate order. Instead, Cook was granted his conscientious objector status and his deployment order was rescinded.

Taitz's stated afterwards, "It means that the military has nothing to show for Obama. It means that the military has directly responded by saying Obama is illegitimate -- and they cannot fight it. Therefore, they are revoking the order." Does that make the good folks in the Department of Defense "nutballs," the term one radio talkshow host, Andy Johnson (www.radiofreejax.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DowntobusinessAndy/), suggested for anyone who doubts Obama's citizenship?

Obama could easily settle this issue once and for all by releasing the certified copy of his Hawaiian birth certificate. The fact that he will not perpetuates the rumors that he was not born in the United States and that he attended college here as a foreign student.

Duty to Die, Redux

2009-07-27T10:41:00.004-04:00

Former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm declared in March 1984, "We've got a duty to die and get out of the way with all of our machines and artificial hearts and everything else like that and let the other society, our kids, build a reasonable life." (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/29/us/gov-lamm-asserts-elderly-if-very-ill-have-duty-to-die.html) He claimed he was not referring to the elderly only as having this “duty to die,” however his saying that this duty is necessary so “our kids” can “build a reasonable life” puts the lie to that disclaimer. Perhaps Lamm also had in mind younger disabled people in the group with this “duty to die.”

Fast forward twenty-five years to what the Democrats in Congress are proposing in today’s health care reform. H.R. 3200, The American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, has over eighty sections altering or reducing Medicare provider reimbursements. Estimated reductions, if this legislation were passed, would be $361.9 billion (Source: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lewin-house-bill-heritage.pdf.This would represent a ten percent reduction over a ten-year period at the same time that Medicare enrollment is expected to increase by thirty percent as baby boomers become eligible.

Specifically, Medicare reimbursements would be reduced by 267.6% to hospitals, 10.8% to physicians, 11.2% to home health agencies, and 37.4% to skilled nursing facilities. Reductions for prescription drugs would equal 34.8% (Source: Congressional Budget Office, July 8, 2009, Preliminary Estimate of the Effects on Direct Spending and Revenues of Division B, Titles I-VII and Section 1872, of the House Tri-Committee Health Reform Discussion Draft. ).

The inevitable result will be reduced supply of Medicare providers at a time of rapidly escalating demand. H.R. 3200 demands seniors bear an inordinate burden to pay for health care for younger and working Americans. Under H.R. 3200, seniors on Medicare can expect longer waits for doctor appointments and procedures or outright denial of services.

President Obama recently echoed Gov. Lamm, telling the aged “to consider hospice care instead of treatment.” Tom Daschle, Obama’s first choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services and an advisor on health care reform, wrote, "... Health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them" (Source: whitehouse.gov/assets/hero/hero_weeklyaddress_7-18-09_CK-0081.JPG).

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel is Obama’s special health policy advisor. He openly advocated healthcare rationing to the elderly in a January 2009 article in the medical journal The Lancet. In the Hastings Center Report, he wrote it would be appropriate to deny health care to "individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens." He said an example would be “patients with dementia." Speaking of H.R. 3200, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Florida) says "Despite their promise to care for our seniors, Democrats have decided that it's too expensive to care for my senior constituents and everyone else's constituents…in order to pay for the government expansion of healthcare for the young, the healthy, and the wealthy" (Source: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=616402).

Clearly, Obama and the Democrats pushing their draconian health care reform think grandma and grandpa should find a nice iceberg and passively float away. No wonder they are so fearful of global warming. They will need all the icebergs they can get for us baby boomers in the next ten years if H.R. 3200 passes.

Bon Voyage, Uncle Walt

2009-07-18T09:37:00.004-04:00

Walter Cronkite always wanted to ride in space. He loved the space program, and my fondest memories of him was his reporting on it. He often talked of his desire to go into space. Unfortunately, by the time space tourism started, he was too old or not in the necessary physical shape.

Now that he has passed, "Uncle Walt," as many called him, has taken his "spacewalk." Undoubtedly, if far surpassed any ride N.A.S.A. could have given him.

Walter Cronkite was a true icon of the Twentieth Century. He shaped broadcast news. Like many Americans, I grew up watching CBS Evening News and still do. He was a good role model for me as a teenager. I used his example -- to get the story, get it right and tell it straight -- in the research I did for different classes. He will be missed.

Run, Sarah, Run

2009-07-05T18:44:00.002-04:00

The 2012 presidential campaign began on Friday, July 3, 2009. Sarah Palin's resignation amazed and dismayed most in the media. Most were highly critical of her move, especially her timing.

They will not admit it, but they were irked because she made the announcement on the day before a holiday. Most of the regular anchors and pundits were off because the Fourth of July fell on a Saturday this year. The announcement was made around noon in Alaska, which made it late afternoon for the East Coast media. They had to scramble to find commentators and reporters to cover the story in time for the evening news. Most of the interviews were via telephone. The irritation of having their holiday interrupted was clearly audible in their voices.

This is why I love Sarah Palin. You go, girl. The media muses said her announcement was proof she does not know what she is doing politically. I disagree. She knew exactly how to needle her media opponents in this most subtle way. She also knew exactly how to please those of us who support her. The more the media rail against her, the more we love her. We get it; they do not. All I want to know is where do I sign up to work on her campaign?

Enough Already

2009-07-03T09:23:00.005-04:00

Eight days ago, Michael Jackson died. Ever since, the news media has exploited his death ad nauseum. I have had it, and I know I am not the only one. To the media I want to say, "Enough already. Give it a rest." From now on, when coverage is given to Jackson, I am switching channels. If this weekend is anything like last weekend, I may be watching the Weather Channel.

Now, I will admit I have not been a Michael Jackson fan. His and the Jackson Five's music is okay, but I never wanted to buy one of his albums. The moonwalk is amusing to watch, but I would never have bought a concert ticket to see him.

To me, Jackson is just another case of an extraordinarily fortunate but narcissistic entertainer who ruined himself with drugs and self-indulgence. Reportedly, he died over $400 million in debt. Sackfuls of drugs were removed from his home by investigators, according to press reports.

Jackson's death is sad but not tragic. He made wrong choices, and he reaped what he sowed. Faced with life's pressures, he was a coward, as every addict is.

On the same day Jackson died, Farrah Fawcett died. Now, that was tragic. Farrah did not choose cancer. Yet, when faced with it, she responded with courage and bravery. She was a good example to people of all ages of how to deal with life's struggles.

Fawcett's death received about two hours of coverage before Jackson's death was announced. After that, she received hardly any mention. Now, I am not suggesting that her death should have received the amount of time spent on Jackson's by the media.

In a world rife with real crises and important issues, neither death deserved more than short reports for a couple of days. We have an economy in a death spiral with mounting unemployment and a collapsing dollar. The legitimacy of two governments, Iran and Honduras, are in question following a disputed election and a coup, respectively. While troops are withdrawing from Iraq, war efforts in Afghanistan are ramping up. Korea is threatening to launch long-range missiles at Hawaii. Korea and Iran are thumbing their noses at the world as they pursue development of nuclear weapons. Congress is debating health care reform and global warming measures. The list goes on and on. Yet, for the weekend after Jackson's death, a viewer was hard-pressed to find any coverage of any of these stories. No, it was Michael Jackson all the time. Even Fox News fell into this trap. As one commentator said, "We have become the United States of Entertainment."

The media's coverage is lazy journalism. It is much easier and cheaper to let one story consume all their time and resources. This cult of celebrity provides an escape from the tough issues for both reporters and viewers. What makes it dangerous is it gives cover for nefarious politicians. While our collective attention is diverted, what are foreign and domestic leaders doing? Are they working for or against us?

Finally, this worship of Jackson is particularly disgusting because of the allegations of child abuse. I cannot know if Jackson ever molested any children when they visited his Neverland home. A jury acquitted him when some charges were brought against him. On the other hand, he made multi-million dollar settlements with some of his accusers. The one thing I do know is that, if he did molest any children, he answered to God for it. If he faked out that jury with the help of his lawyers, he did not fake out God. If his victims did not get justice here on earth, they can know they have it now.

Jacksonville Waterspout, An Awesome Sight

2009-06-28T14:52:00.011-04:00

Friday afternoon, June 26, 2009, had a little excitement here in Jackonville, Florida. A fully formed waterspout took a leisurely cruise up the St. Johns River from near the Buckman Bridge to San Marco. It was visible for over twenty minutes.

Around 5 p.m., a friend called me to tell me to look out my window because there was a tornado. I thought she was nuts. The sun was shining. I live on the third floor on the east side of a high rise apartment, and she is on the opposite side of the building on the 12th floor. I had my television on a local channel. There was a severe thunderstorm warning, there was no tornado watch or warning. I told her I would come right up. I wanted to reassure her.

My first clue that maybe something really was happening was when I got on the elevator. Another resident told me she was going to her apartment "to escape the tornado." However, this resident is mentally challenged so I was not convinced.

The second clue was the remarks of one of our security workers. She was rushing downstairs and said to me, "Be careful, there is bad weather nearby." That gave me pause. Maybe my friend was not being alarmist.

When I walked into her apartment and looked out the west-facing window, my jaw dropped. Right in the middle of the window was this perfectly formed stovepipe tornado reaching from a wall-cloud to below the tree line. I was shocked. I had a hard time believing my eyes.

The sight was both frightening and beautiful. It was a rich blue, backlit by the sun. It was on the leading edge of a storm that trailed behind with menacing black clouds. I was mesmerized. The photo taken by a Florida Times-Union photographer from University Blvd. West is exactly what we saw. Go to: http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=24344779&event=785549&CategoryID=29031 to see it.

Together, my friend and I watched the tornado slowly move from south to north, which was a relief. It was not moving towards us. I said to my friend, "If it is on the ground, there is going to be major damage." However, as I watched it, I became hopeful that it was a waterspout on the river. The distance from us looked right, and the blue color told me it was not picking up debris.

As it moved further to the north, it gradually shrank in size and began to rope out, indicating that it was weakening. The TV stations began reporting on it, confirming that it was a waterspout.

My biggest concern was the bend in the river at downtown. Would it follow the river around that right angle bend or would it make landfall into downtown? What would happen if it crossed the Fuller Warren bridge which carries I-95 across the river on the south edge of downtown? It was the height of evening rush hour. There are some very dramatic shots looking south across the bridge at the approaching waterspout and the traffic on the bridge. Fortunately, it dissipated or lifted before reaching the bridge.

The storm that was trailing to the south of it hit our building full force, obscuring our view of the waterspout. The lightning was horrendous and very close, and the rain came down in wind-whipped sheets. There was a small amount of pea-size hail. I did back away from the windows, then.

The television stations showed several pictures of funnel clouds reforming and attempting to lower over downtown or Riverside, but none of them reached the ground. Just this morning on Channel 4, I saw a Riverside viewer's photo looking straight up into a funnel. It was close enough to the ground to see the debris (leaves, shingles, small branches) swirling in and around it. Fortunately, there was only minimal damage from the storm.

Having grown up in the Midwest, I went through many tornado drills. Afterwards, I realized I broke all the rules that had been drummed into me about what to do in a tornado. I went up, not down, in a highrise. I did not get away from the windows. I did not go into an interior room or stay out in the hall. Instead, I stood there and watched. I now have an inkling of what attracts storm-chasers to see tornados. It was an awesome sight.

N.I.M.B.Y.: Where to Put Gitmo Detainees?

2009-06-21T11:46:00.004-04:00

Most Americans are emphatic when it comes to the Gitmo detainees and their proposed release: Not in My Backyard! President Obama is running into intense opposition to the idea of releasing any of the Guantanemo prisoners here in the United States. Congressmen and Senators have proposed legislation to bar their entrance into the country.

Obama does not seem to understand their concerns, so here is my proposal. Obama has a house in Chicago that he is not using, and it has an empty lot next to it, courtesy of his old pal Riszk. Why not let the Gitmo detainees camp out there? If Obama is so confident that moving them to the U.S. should not be cause for concern, then he should have no objection to making them his family's new neighbors.

Shed No Tears

2009-06-01T18:05:00.004-04:00

Murder is wrong. The commandment "Thou shalt not kill" is correctly translated, "Thou shalt not commit murder." Therefore, the killer of Dr. George Tiller, the late-term abortion doctor gunned down Sunday, May 31st in Wichita, was in the wrong. He sinned.

However, I cannot shed any tears or feel any sadness whatsoever that Dr. Tiller is no longer amongst us. He was a murderer, too. In fact, he was a mass murderer. He killed the most innocent and vulnerable amongst us, the unborn. He has been an abortionist for 21 years. How many babies died at his hands in that time? Thousands upon thousands, undoubtedly. He may have been attending church at the time of his death, but he died an evil man unless he had a sudden unknown, last minute change of heart. He sinned.

My vision of what happens to unrepentant abortionists is that, as they approach the pearly gates, all their victims are there to greet them with the question, "You want in where?" Then, the devil taps them on the shoulder and says with a gleeful smile, "Come with me."

"Freedom Tower" Name Change Says It All

2009-03-31T18:46:00.003-04:00

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the World Trade Center site, announced on Thursday, March 26, 2009, that the name "Freedom Tower" would be dropped for the skyscraper at the heart of the rebuilding of what was the World Trade Center (W.T.C.). Instead, the replacement building will be named "One World Trade Center." The name change says it all.

The building was intended as a symbol of rebirth and recovery from the September 11th attack that brought the World Trade Center Towers down. The original name of "Freedom Tower" was a message to past and future terrorists that the American people would not let hatred and evil defeat us.

Now, the Port Authority has changed horses and names. Instead of defiance in the face of evil, they are cowering. They have decided that the name "Freedom Tower" would make the building a target for future terrorist acts. It is laughable if they believe changing its name to One World Trade Center would shield it from attack or make the building more marketable to tenants. After all, that was the official name of the former North Tower that was destroyed by terrorists on September 11th. What company's employees would want to be reminded of the memories of that day every time they entered the building?

New York Governor George Pataki was offended by the name change. He protested:

"The Freedom Tower is not simply another piece of real estate and not just a name for marketing purposes," Pataki said.

"In design and name, it is symbolic of our commitment to rise above the attacks of Sept. 11. Where 1 and 2 World Trade Center once stood, there will be a memorial with two voids to honor the heroes we lost — and, in my view, those addresses should never be used again."

When I first heard this report, it made no sense at all. Then, I heard who the first major tenant is Vantone, a Chinese real estate conglomerate closely affiliated with the Chinese Communist government. The Port Authority board voted to change the building's name after signing a 21-year lease with Vantone. They deny the name change had anything to do with this particular tenant, but that is a questionable, if not just plain silly, denial.

In any event, if Communist Chinese front companies are the target market for this building, then calling it the "Freedom Tower" would be an oxymoron. "One World" trade, government, etc., would be a more accurate descriptive.

Sources: The Associated Press http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9XWcHZvMy8EVBpnerZveJg68ZZAD9776LQ00
MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29913195/

$30 Million to Save the Saltwater Marsh Mouse

2009-02-27T17:49:00.003-05:00

Nancy Pelosi claims there are no earmarks in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. But, there are plenty of pet projects, including one near and dear to her heart for years.

American taxpayers are about to spend $30 million for habitat protection for the endangered Saltwater Marsh Mouse, a native of Pelosi’s San Francisco district. Yes, America, you are about to spend $30 million to save vermin or rodents. Aren’t you proud? What a country!

Now most normal people want to avoid or destroy mice, rats, and other disease-bearing rodents, especially when located near or in major metropolitan areas. Humans have learned over the eons that vermin and people should not mix. Of course, here we are dealing with a far left liberal from California so normalcy is out of the question.

So, what will the advantages of this federal largesse to Pelosi’s pet mouse be? Well, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a long list of all the wonderful diseases that rodents like Nancy’s Saltwater Marsh Mouse may offer us in return for our tax dollars:

“Worldwide, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. Rodent-borne diseases are spread directly to humans through bite wounds, consuming food or water that is contaminated with rodent feces, coming in contact with surface water contaminated with rodent urine, or through breathing in germs that may be present in rodent urine or droppings that have been stirred into the air (a process known as ‘aerosolization’). Diseases from rodents are also spread indirectly to humans by way of ticks, mites, and fleas that transmit the infection to humans after feeding on infected rodents. In some cases, the rodents are the reservoirs (carriers) of the diseases, while in other cases the ticks, mites, or fleas act as the disease reservoirs."

Diseases directly transmitted by rodents, including mice and rats, are plague, salmonellosis, various hemorrhagic fevers, tularemia, lymphocytic choriomenigitis, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Diseases indirectly transmitted include babesiosis, various tick fevers, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, cutaneous leuhmaniasis, various typhuses, various encephalitises, and rickettsialpox. (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/index.htm)

Evidently, Nancy wants to keep San Francisco hospitals full. Don’t they have enough AIDS patients already? Some of these diseases, especially plague and tularemia, are biological agents the Department of Homeland Security is trying to keep terrorists from bringing to us. Nancy again proves Pogo’s truth: “We’ve met the enemy and they are us.”

What Would I Buy for $13?

2009-02-20T10:46:00.003-05:00

Mike Huckabee asked on his FoxNews television show last weekend what viewers would buy for the additional $13 workers will receive in their paychecks under the recently passed stimulus plan. That is the amount employees will receive weekly in 2009 due to reductions in the payroll taxes. Next year, the amount is reduced to $7.75 per week.

Now, even though I am disabled and unable to work, I decided to answer the question. I googled "buy" and "$13." I received 3.6 million hits! I found several favorites, but one was absolutely perfect.

For $12.95, I would buy "Money to Burn Fire Starters." These are wax rolls of fake $100 bills. The description reads: "Impress friends and family with your phony wealth by starting a fire with these benjamins coated in slow-burning wax so they stay lit until the firewood catches. You can also light your fine hand-rolled Cuban cigar! Because money is nothing to a high roller like you, right?"

What would be more appropriate considering that Congress is burning through our money like there is no tomorrow with this stimulus package?

Goodbye, America

2009-02-15T02:01:00.006-05:00

America, as we know it, ended late Friday night, February 13, 2009. When the Senate passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, it plunged the knife up to the hilt into the heart of American capitalism. For all intents and purposes, our financial system and economy have been nationalized.

When President Barack Obama signs this so-called stimulus package into law on Tuesday in Denver, America will become officially a socialist or, more accurately, a fascist nation. Even if businesses remain in private ownership, the federal government will control their operations. In many cases, the government itself will take over majority ownership.

Of course, it is no surprise. Socialists and communists have mentored Obama since his teens. Nor can he bear total blame for this end of American capitalism and financial freedom. We have been on this road for a long time, since President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty and President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Republicans, too, share blame. Never in my wildest dreams [or nightmares] would I have believed that a Republican President, George W. Bush, would nationalize the banks like he did by signing the first “stimulus” package that was rushed through Congress last Fall.

All sides acknowledge, now, that package did not work. Did Congress learn from that hasty mistake? Obviously, it did not. Most Democrats and a few Republicans stubbornly believe, despite all historical evidence to the contrary, that it is possible to spend our way out of recession. They often cite the example of FDR’s New Deal, forgetting that World War II, not the New Deal, lifted this country out of the Great Depression.

Analysis of this legislation has just begun. The Act, which spends $787 billion, is 1,071 pages long. Legislators had only fifteen hours to digest it before the vote. It is safe to say not one single Congressman or Senator read this bill before voting on it. They would have to have read 71 pages per hour or just over one page per minute, without any breaks during those fifteen hours. Previously, Speaker Nancy Pelosi had promised they would have at least 48 hours between release of the bill’s text and the vote being taken. And, it was only released in printed form. Normally, bills are published digitally, which allows Congressional staffers to do computer keyword searches to evaluate the worthiness of any piece of legislation.

The devil will be in the details. Supporters claim this act will create 3.5 million new jobs. Most economists put the number lower, at 2.5 million. But, let’s give the Democrats the benefit of the doubt and go with the 3.5 million number. That means it will cost $224,857 in government spending for each one of those jobs. Let me say that again so its truth can sink in: every single new job created by this stimulus act will cost taxpayers $224,857!

The press, both left and right, is finding all kinds of funky features buried in this bill. Some are silly, like the millions to save some endangered mouse in Speaker Pelosi’s district. Although maddening, voters should not let themselves be diverted by these trifles. This bill is too dangerous at the macro-level for us to be consumed by such micro-details.

The most alarming fact about this stimulus act is how much it raises the statutory limit on the national debt. It allows the national debt to increase from its current limit of $789 billion to $12.1 trillion. Think about it. We have never had a national debt over $1 trillion, yet the Democrats and three “Republicrats”voted for our nation’s credit line to go to a mind-boggling $12.1 trillion.

So far, the media has barely noticed this all-important detail. Yet, it is perhaps the most dangerous provision. What does it mean to allow such an increase in our national debt limit? It tells us just how much spending the Democrats are planning to do. This $787 billion must be just a down payment.

If the Democrats under Obama pass the kind of spending a $12.1 trillion national debt limit allows, it means hyperinflation. Even the U.S. with its sterling international credit rating cannot borrow that kind of money. There simply is not that much investment money in the entire world to support that kind of spending. And, some international bankers are expected to lower our nation’s bond ratings. That means higher interest rates on what we are able to borrow. If we cannot borrow the money to support our spending at reasonable rates, the government has one other option and that is to print money. It monetarizes the debt, lowering the value of the dollar so that high value dollars borrowed are repaid with lower value dollars.

This is what President Carter did in the early eighties when we had the worst recession since the Great Depression. We had double-digit inflation in a stagnant economy. If we come even close to a $12.1 trillion debt, we will have triple-digit inflation. We will be like the Germans during the Weimar Republic before Hitler. Then, it took a wheelbarrow of cash to buy a loaf of bread. That is what Americans will soon face unless the Democrats are held in check, and I am not at all optimistic that we can or will do that.

President James Madison warned, "If our nation is ever taken over, it will be taken over from within." The Socialists have taken possession of the land. Goodbye, America.

President Barack Obama Spams

2009-02-09T16:13:00.007-05:00

On Monday, February 2, 2009 10:33 AM, I received spam from President Barack Obama. It took awhile for me to figure out how he obtained my email address. I have never emailed or registered with either the Obama campaign or the Democratic National Committee. Then, I remembered that I had sent an email message to Hillary Clinton after the last presidential primary, encouraging her to take her fight to the Democratic Convention in Denver. My best guess is that she sold or gave my address to them without my permission.

In any event, it was a shock to see email from the President in my inbox. I was incensed that he had the gall to send unsolicited email to me. Then, when I opened it, I became amused.

The silly man sent a lifelong Republican an invitation to host an “Economic Recovery House Meeting” the weekend of February 7th-8th. Its purpose would be to drum up support for the economic stimulus package. Hosts were suppose to show a video with Governor Tim Kaine “outlining the recovery plan and answering questions about what it means for your community.” I could even submit my questions regarding the plan online prior to the meeting.

Oh, I was so tempted to volunteer to host a meeting. This Republican would have had one heck of a good time explaining and reviewing this so-called stimulus package. I thoroughly reviewed the information on the host guides. They gave the suggested agenda and timeframes as well as action plans before, during, and after the meeting. I chuckled my way through the “talking points” for the economic stimulus plan.

However, I resisted the temptation to host one of these meetings. After all, volunteering would only encourage future email from Obama and the Democrats. I get enough spam, thank you, even with a spam filter.

Instead, I am filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This piece of email violates existing anti-spam legislation in two ways. First, it was sent without invitation to someone who has no existing business relationship with the President or the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Secondly, it did not correctly identify the physical address of the sender as required. Finally, the purpose of the email was not clearly defined in the subject line.

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act), which became effective January 1, 2004, “bans false or misleading header information. Your email's 'From,' 'To,' and routing information – including the originating domain name and email address – must be accurate and identify the person who initiated the email.” This email’s header showed:
From: "President Barack Obama"

However, at the bottom of the email was this information:
“Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org.
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003”

The FTC clearly instructs that the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 requires that every commercial email “also must include your valid physical postal address.” Now, everyone knows the President’s actual physical address is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., not 430 S. Capitol St. SE, which is where the DNC has its headquarters. Clearly this violates the F.T.C. rules.

Another proviso of the Act “prohibits deceptive subject lines. The subject line cannot mislead the recipient about the contents or subject matter of the message.” The SUBJECT LINE of this email was: “What recovery means for you.” One can legitimately debate if this was deceptive. However, the email did little to answer the question posed in the header’s subject. Instead, it primarily focused on this meeting and organizing support for passage of the stimulus package.

Each violation of these FTC rules “is subject to fines of up to $11,000.” Stay-tuned for the outcome of my complaint. If successful, it will be far more beneficial for my personal economic stimulus than anything in the President’s plan.

Southerners Snubbed?

2009-02-01T22:13:00.001-05:00

The Associated Press reported on December 20, 2008, "The South may have inched toward Democrats in November, but that progress isn't showing in President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet selections. Obama hasn't nominated a single Southerner among his 15 Cabinet secretaries."

A very few with Southern roots have made it onto Obama's appointment list. Former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk has been tapped for U.S. trade representative, a relatively obscure post. Lisa Jackson, Obama's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, grew up in New Orleans. However, she has lived and worked in the Northeast for most of her life. Obama's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, is from Alabama and has worked for several Southern representatives on Capitol Hill.

Nonetheless, this is the first administration since President Dwight Eisenhower without a Southerner in a cabinet post. Southerners need not apply," said disgruntled Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. "It's hard to believe that there wasn't anybody qualified for something from the South." It was a region Democrats held without dispute before the Reagan revolution, and they hope to return to their majority status in the South. Does snubbing Southerners make sense, then?

“Do As I Say, Not As I Do”: Business as Usual in Washington

2009-01-31T20:09:00.002-05:00

Word is that President Barack Hussein Obama does not like to be cold, so he has ordered the White House thermostats turned up. Senior advisor, David Axelrod reminds us, “He’s from Hawaii, Okay? He likes it warm.” Axelrod went on to say that it was hot enough in the Oval Office to grow orchids. (Source: The Patriot Post, 1/30/09)

Now, this would be fine except that President Obama is one of those who hyperventilate about global warming. Environmentalists have lectured us that we should all turn our thermostats down to 68º in the winter to save the planet.

Does the President want to destroy spaceship earth? Or, is this just another example of liberal double standards? You and I should sit in our chilly rooms, wearing heavy sweaters, while the liberal elite enjoy warm and cozy rooms in their shirt sleeves.

This is not the only example of double standards in the first two weeks of this new administration. Our new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner fails to pay income taxes on time and still gets confirmed by the Senate. Now, Senator Tom Daschle is reported to have tax-paying troubles, too.

Surely everybody knows tax laws that require paying the full amount of taxes owed on time are only for us “little people,” don’t they? Surely, the liberal elites themselves should not be held to the same standards. After all, if they were, it might inhibit the speed at which they increase taxes and spend revenues.

Then, we have the new ethical standards regarding lobbyists and their relationships to the White House that Obama ordered on his first day in office. The goal is to keep the two at arms’ length by barring lobbyists from working in the administration for two years. While campaigning, Obama promised lobbyists “won’t find a job in my White House.” Yet, both Geithner and Daschle have been Washington lobbyists.

Geithner named Mark Patterson, a former Goldman Sachs lobbyist, as his chief of staff. Obama has appointed William Lynn, who lobbied on behalf of defense contractor Raytheon, as deputy defense secretary. Both of these appointments are clear violations of Obama’s self-imposed new ethics.

Ah, but the new rules allow exceptions. Poor Robert Gibbs, the new White House Press Secretary, had the unenviable task of justifying these two appointments. He tried Wednesday to convince us that granting these exceptions does not conflict with “the strongest ethics and transparency policy...seen in the history of our country.”

Can you imagine what the press would be saying if former President George W. Bush had pulled this stunt? He would have been strung up as the most craven hypocrite. But, because this is the press’s darling, a fellow “progressive” President, Obama gets a pass. Ethics rules are for others, not him. Hmm, sounds like Washington business as usual.

"We've Only Just Begun" to Deal with Scandals

2009-01-19T15:34:00.005-05:00

The Obama transition team has been hit by a number of scandals in its two-month existence. For the most part, they have fumbled on the ball. Given Obama's Chicago and Illinois political roots, scandals will become presidential business-as-usual for the next four years.

The post-election scandals began with the shocking-to-all-who-do-not-live-in-Illinois behavior of Governor Rod Blagojevich. His attempt to essentially sell Obama's senate seat is classic Illinois politics. Blagojevich, most likely, sincerely believes he did nothing wrong. He seems confused that people in other parts of the country are outraged at his alleged actions. After all, in Illinois, you cannot become a dog catcher or trash collector without paybacks of some kind.

Because so many of Obama's most trusted advisors on his transition team come from the Illinois and Chicago political swamps, it is not surprising that they have run into problems with some of their appointments. They simply do not understand the ethical standards that most Americans expect of their politicians.

Thus, they allowed Obama to appoint New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary despite an alleged pay-to-play scandal with state contracts. Timothy Geithner has been nominated as Treasury Secretary. Geithner failed to pay self-employment taxes from 2001-2004. The Obama team is trying to pass this off as a "mistake." However, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)audited him for 2003-2004. Geithner paid $16,732 in taxes and penalties, as a result. However, he failed to amend his 2001-2002 tax returns and pay the $25,970 owed until he was nominated. Given the earlier audit, it is hard to understand how this was not a deliberate omission, not a mistake.

While the team quickly accepted the withdrawal of Richardson's nomination, they are defending Geithner. They do not seem to understand that Americans are not happy to see a Treasury Secretary who will be responsible for the IRS not paying his taxes in a timely fashion.

The problem with Illinois and Chicago politics is there is a double standard. Politicians and citizens have two different, often diametrically opposite, standards of behavior. Politicians there routinely enjoy special privileges not granted to ordinary citizens. Politicians there are given a pass and often do not have to abide by the laws other citizens must.

During the campaign, I tried to warn that it would not be good to have the Chicago machine, financed by the Mafia, running the country. Unfortunately, the American people did not listen to those of us who cautioned them. So, for the next four years, get use to scandal after scandal. For these Illini who are about to enter the White House, it will be business-as-usual.

Take the Martin Luther King Quiz

2009-01-16T17:22:00.002-05:00

Take the Martin Luther King quiz at http://yankeereb.blogspot.com/search/label/%22Martin%20Luther%20King%20Day%22 in this webblog. The original posting was on January 14, 2007. 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.

2009 Fearless Forecasts

2009-01-01T19:12:00.003-05:00

Another year, another set of fearless forecasts designed to prove psychics are no more reliable predictors of the future than anybody else. Here are my 2009 predictions. Please join in the fun and make your own. If you are having a New Year’s Eve party, get your guests involved. Write all their forecasts down and save the list to reveal the results at next year’s party.

· The economic downturn will be much worse by year-end. Some economists will say we are in a depression as predicted by the Elliott Wave Theory.
· Deflation will be a problem. Housing prices, in particular, will be in free fall again or still.
· The Dow will drop to 5,500 or lower, then rebound to around 8,000. Gold will go to above 1,000.
· Unemployment will be 9.9% or higher by year-end.
· The bailouts of the financial system will not work, and large banks, brokerage firms, etc. will fail because the Federal Reserve Bank cannot lend at less than 0% interest.
· Thousands of retail stores and restaurants, including national chains, will be forced into bankruptcy or will close to stop losses.
· Shortly after Barack Obama’s inauguration, he and/or his staff will be implicated in Chicago or Illinois political corruption. By year’s end, the media will have turned on Obama with vicious attacks.
· The Midwest will have flooding problems again this year due to higher than normal snowfall.
· A Montana earthquake will surprise people. It will cause little damage and no loss of life.
· We will be mired in an Afghan war where we will be unsure who our enemies and friends are. It will be compared to what the Russians experienced or Vietnam.
· Suicide bombers will come to North America, either in Canada or the U.S. If here, they will target Las Vegas.
· Jacksonville will continue to dodge hurricanes despite a very active hurricane season.
· Israel will attack Iran if we do not, and this will cause an explosive counter-reaction among Arabs. Russia, not the U.S., will intervene. Most of Europe, especially Germany, will side with Russia against Israel.
· Despite saber rattling, Pakistan and India will not go to war.
· U.S. troops will make repeated incursions into Pakistan’s northern areas to flush out Al-Qaeda.
· Mexican drug lord terrorists will continue cross-border intrusions into the U.S. The tragic death of an innocent child will galvanize public opinion and force a reluctant administration to crack down and counter-attack.

Here’s one much longer-term prediction: If Obama fulfills his campaign promise to raise taxes on the wealthy, it will guarantee a depression, and he will become the 21st century’s Herbert Hoover. It will also assure the return of Republican control of the House in 2010 and his defeat in 2012.

2008 Fearless Forecasts Results

2008-12-29T08:51:00.003-05:00

Here are the results of my fearless forecasts for 2008 to prove psychics have no more power than anyone else to predict the future:
· Ron Paul will shock mainstream media and alarm Republican party activists by a stronger-than-expected showing (around 10%) in many of the primaries. (A tiny bit of truth. Paul did better than expected in several primaries.)
· Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for President. (Wrong)
· Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination and the Presidency. (Wrong)
· The outcome of the 2008 Presidential election will be strongly influenced by Third Party or independent candidates who will pull votes from both Republicans and Democrats. The winner will have less than 50% of the total vote. (Wrong)
· There will be a mild, not major, tsunami along the Pacific coast triggered by an Alaskan earthquake. (Wrong)
· The Atlantic hurricane season will continue to confound forecasters by being less active than predicted. However, Florida will have at least one category two or three hurricane. It will not affect Jacksonville, except for rain. (Mixed. It was the fourth most active season on record. Florida, but not Jacksonville, was hit by a hurricane. Jacksonville received a direct hit from tropical storm Fay, which dumped a lot of rain.)
· There will be a terrible rafting accident either in Colorado or on the Colorado River. (Correct)
· Housing prices will continue to fall, and the economy will be in full recession after the election and weak all year. The dollar will be weaker, too. (Correct)
· The drought in the Southeast will be broken, and residents will be wishing for less rain due to flooding by year's end. (Mixed. Rain has increased this Fall, but there has not been enough to say the drought is over.)
· The Florida4Marriage amendment will not pass because 60% of voters must approve it. It will get over 50% approval, however. (Wrong – Thank you, God.)
· At least one current or former member of Jacksonville's (FL) City Council will be indicted due to sunshine law violations. (Wrong. The Grand Jury report was very critical of several members, but there were no indictments.)
· Something from or in space will cause a combination of alarm, fear, and wonder. (Wrong. The discovery of a black hole in our galaxy surprised astronomers and might qualify.)

Of the 12 predictions, I was correct on only two (17%), partially correct and partially wrong on three (25%), and dead wrong on 7 (58%). Psychics do no better. Now, feel free to join the fun by posting your own fearless forecasts for 2009.

Garden Ridge Sells Signs "Carolers Will Be Shot"

2008-12-01T18:25:00.000-05:00

A church friend advised me on Sunday, November 30, 2008, that she had gone shopping at a local Garden Ridge store on "Black Friday." As she was about to leave, she saw a yard decoration for Christmas on sale that stunned her. It was a sign with lights and caroler figures with the warning "Carolers Will Be Shot." She promptly asked a to see the manager. She asked the manager, "What are we teaching our children? Why would you have a sign like this on sale in a city with a high murder rate?" The manager's response, "I only work here," showed a cowardly refusal to take responsibility for her store.

The Garden Ridge store in question is located at:
201 Monument Road
Jacksonville, FL 32225
Phone: (904) 721-6226

Some buyer thought the signs were cute or funny. However, this crosses the line from humor to threat. It is especially inappropriate during the Christmas season. Carolers are Christian people trying to spread some good cheer and joy in our neighborhoods. In fact, this sign could be interpreted as anti-Christian and bigoted. Can you imagine the uproar if a store sold yard signs that warned "Blacks Will Be Shot" or "Homosexual Couples Will Be Shot"?

Here in Jacksonville, Florida, we are struggling to reduce a murder rate that is the highest in the state. The mayor's program, the Jacksonville Journey, is a joint effort of government leaders, businessmen, educators, ministers, and law enforcement to come together to solve this problem. We do not need a store selling signs that threaten more violence against anyone. If you find this as objectionable as I do, please call the store's manager and complain.

Most likely, these signs are available at other Garden Ridge stores. Stop by or call your local store to see if they are selling them. Let the manager know that you cannot shop at a store that sells items that threaten violence, especially during the season of peace and good will towards all.

Another action strongly recommended is to write Garden Ridge's corporate headquarters as well. Online, they invite email comments and questions to: customercareline@gardenridge.com .

Then, let their President and CEO Albert J. Neupaver know that you do not approve of his company promoting violence. The toll-free phone number is (888) 621-3814 and the Houston headquarters' number is (281) 579-7901. The FAX number is (412) 825-1019. The mailing address is:
Garden Ridge Corporation
19411 Atrium Place, Ste. 170
Houston, TX 77084

What's Next?

2008-11-15T23:52:00.001-05:00

A League of the South friend sent me a link to an article by Gerald Celente entitled "Food Riots, Tax Rebellions By 2012...Trend forecaster, renowned for being accurate in the past, says." Celente is a well-respected and often accurate prognosticator of future trends. In this article, he predicts that the United States will be in the depths of a severe depression that will result in food riots, tax rebellions, and middle class revolution by 2012. My friend asked for my response to the article, which is posted below. (Go to http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ad_1226630673 to read it.)

If Barack Obama succeeds in raising taxes as he plans, then he will be the 21st century's Herbert Hoover and a depression will be unstoppable. Even without tax increases, it may be too late to stop the slide. The major difference between now and 1929 is that, back then, most people were able to grow their own food. We were less urbanized, so many people either had or knew relatives who had farms. Most men knew how to hunt and fish. They might be poor but they had sources of food. Even people who lived in towns and cities usually had vegetable gardens that sustained them. Women knew how to can or preserve food and bake bread. Today, hardly anyone knows how to grow or preserve food. So, Celente is on the mark that food riots and desperation will be more likely in a depression today.

Also, the whole moral fabric of society has broken down. In 1929, almost everyone went to church and had a strong belief in Christian values. The whole extended family structure was stronger and closer. Neighbors helping neighbors was the norm, not the exception. So, despite their poverty, crime actually decreased during the Great Depression. That won't be the case today.

Will we have a revolution or a new civil war? I don't know, although Celente isn't the first to expect one. Frankly, I think Celente is being optimistic in thinking we'll have until 2012 before it happens. The likely response with Obama and his Marxist ideology will be martial law and severe repression by the federal government. Current laws and executive orders allow the federal and state governments to confiscate private holdings in declared emergencies. Read them and weep.

My best recommendation for people is to become as debt-free as possible, keep as little as possible in the bank, and buy junk silver coins. I say silver because it is more liquid and less likely to be confiscated or made illegal again than gold.

I'm already doing what my grandfather did before the Crash of '29. It was preceded by a credit crunch like today. All of a sudden, his business's vendors started asking for immediate payments, and he noticed that, if he wrote their salesman a check, they cashed it immediately at his local bank. Since he and his father had done business with these firms for years and he knew it wasn't because he was a poor credit risk, he deduced something bad was coming. So, he started doing the same thing with his customers. (He was a John Deere farm implement dealer.) If he received a check, he cashed it the same day at their bank. He also withdrew almost all his money from his bank accounts, keeping in them only the minimum needed to operate his business or pay personal bills. He sold the few stocks and bonds he owned. He did this several months before the banks collapsed and the stock market crashed. As a result, he was relatively well off during the Depression and was able to help friends and neighbors during it. I now withdraw most of my disability income the same day I receive it. I keep in the bank only what I need to pay rent, phone, cable, etc. I am being very frugal in anticipation that those checks might suddenly stop coming, and I am reviewing my own survival plans and options.

I also recommend people who have any land at all to learn to grow vegetables and plant fruit bushes and trees. Even those who have only a small yard or patio can grow food through intensive farming techniques. Fruit bushes and trees can replace nonproductive landscaping and still look attractive. Buying a small plot (half an acres or more) of sunny, well drained rural land with a water source would be a good idea, too. It could give a refuge from urban riots and a place to grow food. If I have to camp in a tent, I sure don't want it to be in an urban tent city.

Of course, keeping emergency food and household supplies is always recommended. The Mormons set an example in this regard; they advise their followers to keep a two-year supply of all household and food necessities in storage. Getting off the electric grid, having a water well, saving rain water, and composting are all things one can do to become more self-sufficient. All will help you save money today, be good for the environment, and help you survive a crisis.

If you don't have firearms, get them now along with sufficient supplies of ammunition. Obama and the Democrats in Congress will go against our gun rights very quickly. He has long advocated "confiscatory" tax rates on ammunition sales, so stock up. Besides self-defense weapons (handguns), hunting rifles and shotguns provide food, if needed. Training in hunting, shooting, and other outdoor survival skills are essential. Firearms do no good if the owner doesn't know how to use them safely. One of the best books to have is How to Survive in the Woods. Army survival manuals are good to have in your library, also.

Finally, if you don't already have a passport, get one. Worst case, you may want to leave. It takes 6-8 weeks minimum to get one. It costs $100 for a new one if you have never had one or it has been over 15 years since you had one. There is also a new $45 passport card but it is valid only for land or sea travel (no air) to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. You can apply for a passport at most post offices. Go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html for complete instructions. Personally, I'm applying for mine before January 20th because history tells me repressive governments put travel restrictions in place very quickly.

Thanks for sending this article. Now is the time to prepare. Each family should assess their situation, determine what they need to learn and have in order to be more self-sufficient, and begin executing their plan so they aren't in panic when trouble comes. Nothing beats being prepared for the worst while praying and hoping for the best. Deo Vindice.

Deo Vindice: Nathan B. Forrest High School’s Name Retained by Duval County School Board

2008-11-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

Lovers of the South, we had a great victory last Monday, November 3rd, here in Jacksonville, Florida, CSA. The Duval County School Board voted 5-2 to retain the name of Nathan B. Forrest High School. Tremendous pressure had been placed on the Board over the past two years to change the school's name.

Please accept my grateful thanks to all of you who wrote and called School Board members or spoke at the meetings on behalf of our Southern heritage and history. Your efforts made the victory possible. I admit I was very worried that we would lose this one because several of the Board members are about to retire or cannot run again due to term limits; they would not have to answer to voters. Instead, they listened and remembered their history.

In today's Sunday Florida Times-Union, there is a front page story on the decision. (See http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110908/met_353875219.shtml ) According to it, our Mayor John Peyton, Executive V.P. of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Jerry Mallot, and Public Relations guru Michael Munz are unhappy with the decision. If you like, you can contact them at:

Mayor John Peyton
City Hall
117 W. Duval St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 630-1776
Email: jpeyton@coj.net

Mr. Jerry Mallott, Executive Vice President
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce
5000 Norwood Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32208
(904) 366.6654
Email: jerry.mallot@jacksonvillechamber.org

Mr. Michael Munz
Dalton Agency
140 W. Monroe St., Ste. 200
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 398-5222
FAX: (904) 398-5220

As Jesus told us, we must be ever vigilant for the enemy lurks around waiting to devour. Nothing could be more true than with the name of Nathan B. Forrest High School here. Every few years, we have to refight this battle. I will keep you posted as to any future developments.

What Does Obama Mean When He Calls for a “Civilian National Security Force”?

2008-11-02T17:29:00.000-05:00

On July 2, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama said, "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded." (Joseph Farah, "Obama's 'Civilian national security force'," World Net Daily, July 15, 2008, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=69601) What is a Civilian National Security Force (CNSF) suppose to do that it needs to be “as powerful, strong, and well-funded” as the United States military?

The mainstream media has given no attention to this proposal even though it involves a mind-boggling federal budget expense. Only World Net Daily, the Chicago Tribune, and the Congressional Quarterly reported on it. More interestingly, neither Obama himself nor any of his campaign staff have been willing, so far, to answer any inquiries on the subject. They scrubbed these sentences from the transcript of the speech, claiming they were ad-libbed remarks, and removed the video. A thorough review of the Obama’s official campaign website finds nary a mention of a “Civilian National Security Force.”

The closest approximation of the term was in a section entitled “Develop Whole of Government Initiatives to Promote Global Stability” under “Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Plan.” There is a paragraph: “Create a Civilian Assistance Corps (CAC): An Obama-Biden administration will set a goal of creating a national CAC of 25,000 personnel. This corps of civilian volunteers with special skill, sets (doctors, lawyers, engineers, city planners, agriculture specialists, police, etc.) would be organized to provide each federal agency with a pool of volunteer experts willing to deploy in times of need at home and abroad.” (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/defense/)

The Obama-Biden plan calls for “universal voluntary public service.” He has proposed to “expand AmeriCorps from 75,000 slots today to 250,000,” improve “programs that connect individuals over the age of 55 to quality volunteer opportunities,” “double the Peace Corps to 16,000 by 2011,” and “set up an America's Voice Initiative to send Americans who are fluent speakers of local languages to expand our public diplomacy.” (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/service/)

Lee Cary of American Thinker believes this expansion of national service is the context for Obama’s call for a CNSF. “They were about turning America into one, giant, community organizer's sandbox at enormous cost to taxpayers” with Obama as “Community Organizer in Chief.”

“He plans to double the Peace Corps' budget by 2011, and expand AmeriCorps, USA Freedom Corps, VISTA, YouthBuild Program, and the Senior Corps. Plus, he proposes to form a Classroom Corps, Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Veterans Corps, Homeland Security Corps, Global Energy Corps, and a Green Jobs Corps. Here a corps - there a corps - everywhere a corps corps.”

His plan calls for “a Social Investment Fund Network to link local non-profits with the federal government.” (Lee Cary, "Obama's Civilian National Security Force," American Thinker, July 20, 2008, http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/07/obamas_civilian_national_secur.html)

Cary calls the plan “Orwellian-like” because the way it extends the tentacles of the federal government into every aspect of traditionally private-sector volunteer efforts. Others have worried that Obama’s plans are more Hitler-like. Is Cary correct in saying that it is the massive expansion of government-run volunteer opportunities that Obama was talking about in Colorado Springs when he spoke of a CNSF? I am among the concerned skeptics.

Joseph Farah, the World Net Daily reporter who broke the story, inquired,

“Who will Obama appoint to administer this new ‘civilian national security force’? Where will the money come from? Where in the Constitution does he see justification for the federal government creating such a domestic army? The questions are endless. Certainly there have been initiatives like this elsewhere – Cuba, the Soviet Union, China, Venezuela, North Korea. But has anything like this ever been proposed in a free country?”

(Joseph Farah, "Obama's 'Civilian national security force'," World Net Daily, July 15, 2008, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=69601)

The numbers alone do not add up to mean Obama’s volunteer program proposals alone. The Department of Defense (DOD) budget in 2008 is about $480 billion. Even if Congress authorized funding for every one of Obama’s volunteer expansions, it would not come close to half a trillion dollars. Yet, he said the CNSF must be “just as well-funded" as the military.

As one blogger questioned, “The statement was made in the context of youth service. Is this an organization for just the youth or are adults going to participate? How does one get away from the specter of other such “youth” organizations from Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union when talking about it?” (The Blue Collar Muse, “What in the world is Obama’s Civilian National Security Force,” July 16, 2008 http://conservablogs.com/bluecollarmuse/2008/07/16/what-in-the-world-is-obamas-civilian-national-security-force/)

The context just before the CNSF mention in Obama’s Colorado Springs speech was:

“As President, I will expand AmeriCorps to 250,000 slots, and make that increased service a vehicle to meet national goals like providing health care and education, saving our planet and restoring our standing in the world, so that citizens see their efforts connected to a common purpose. People of all ages, stations, and skills will be asked to serve. Because when it comes to the challenges we face, the American people are not the problem - they are the answer.

“We’ll send more college graduates to teach and mentor our young people. We’ll call on Americans to join an Energy Corps to conduct renewable energy and environmental cleanup projects in their neighborhoods. We’ll enlist veterans to help other vets find jobs and support, and to be there for our military families. And we’ll also grow our Foreign Service, open consulates that have been shuttered, and double the size of the Peace Corps by 2011 to renew our diplomacy.”

Most commentators believe that the CNSF is an additional organization and not part of the previously cited propositions. I agree based on both the context and the key phrases “security force” combined with “just as strong.” Will the CNSF be a way of imposing martial law without violating “posse comatatus” laws? Will it be a federalized police force? Under the Constitution, the Founding Fathers were careful to delineate the boundaries of “civilian” and “military” matters. They put civilians firmly in charge of the military, knowing that without such controls, rights of citizens can be trampled. The CNSF sounds too much like a paramilitary operation.

Of course, the whole matter could be resolved if Obama would answer some questions about what he met when he called for a CNSF. “If what he really meant was Americorps and the the Peace Corps, then why won’t he say so? Why have the video and text been scrubbed from so many places? Why isn’t it available even at his own website? Might it have been a trial balloon that failed in spectacular fashion reminiscent of the Hindenburg?” (Ibid.)

Farang Korat on October 18, 2008, shared a conversation he had with members of the Nation of Islam, “I was told that sometime soon after Obama is ‘elected’ he will announce the creation of large ‘training camps’ in a few large urban cities.” He was told that “the instructors at those camps would be from the ranks of Farrakhan’s ‘Fruit of Islam’ (his bodyguards).” Could this be the beginning of Obama’s CNSF? (Ibid.)

When I first heard this term “CNSF,” I had two reactions. One was a recall of Hitler’s youth corps, the Brown Shirts. The other was Hitler’s SS Corps. Here is the American Heritage Dictionary’s definition of “SS”: “An elite quasi-military unit of the Nazi party that served as Hitler's personal guard and as a special security force in Germany and the occupied countries. ETYMOLOGY: German, abbr. for Schutzstaffel : Schutz, defense + Staffel, echelon” [emphasis added]. (The American Heritage Dictionary Fourth Edition 2000 http://www.bartleby.com/61/88/S0688800.html) I report. You decide.

Hot off the British Press: Obama’s Illegal Alien Aunt Living in Boston Public Housing

2008-11-02T01:39:00.000-04:00

Barack Hussein Obama has an aunt living in Boston public housing who is in the United States illegally, according to an Associated Press story published by British papers, The Guardian and The Times. Her name is Zeituni Onyango; she is the half-sister of Obama’s father. She entered the United States on a tourist visa about nine years ago, then sought asylum when it expired. An immigration judge denied her request and ordered her to leave the country four years ago. She never did. She attended Obama’s installation as a U.S. Senator in 2004. Instead, Zeituni “lives in a disabled-access flat on a rundown public housing estate in South Boston.” She received a weekly stipend from the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) as a “volunteer resident health advocate between December 2007 and August this year.” She illegally donated $260 to Obama’s presidential campaign, using the BHA office’s mailing address. (James Bone, ET .al, “ Found in a rundown Boston estate: Barack Obama’s aunt Zeituni Onyango, “ The London Times, October 30, 2008 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5042571.ece)

In Obama’s book Dreams from My Father, he calls her "Auntie Zeituni" and describes her as "a proud woman" with a steady job as a computer programmer in Nairobi, Kenya. However, he acknowledged that Kenya had “no government safety net. There was only family, next of kin; people burdened by similar hardship.” Obama went on to say, “Now I was family, I reminded myself; now I had responsibilities.” (Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father, Three Rivers Press, New York, NY, 1995, p. 329) Zeituni explained to Obama many of his father’s complicated family relationships.

Zeituni took Obama to visit another aunt [Sarah] in the rapidly expanding shantytown at Mathare in Kenya. He described it as “miles and miles of corrugated rooftops.” They walk down an unpaved road where there were “on either side rows of small hovels, their walls a patchwork of wattle, mud, pieces of cardboard, and scavenged plywood.” Zeituni leads him to a concrete building where Sarah lives in “a small room, ten feet by twelve.” (Ibid. p. 331-2) Sarah chastises Obama for taking so long to visit her. She admonishes him, “Look how I live. Why don’t you help us, instead of these others?” (Ibid. p. 333) Before leaving, he gives her the equivalent of $30 in shillings. Zeituni explains, after they leave, “This is what happens to old women who have no husbands.” (Ibid. p. 334)

Zeituni went on to warn Obama to learn from his father’s life. “If you have something, then everyone will want a piece of it. So you have to draw the line somewhere. If everyone is family, no one is family.” (Ibid. p. 337) Evidently, Obama took his Auntie Zeituni’s advice to heart.

Publication of this case “led to an unusual nationwide directive within Immigrations and Customs Enforcement requiring that any deportations before Tuesday's election be approved at least at the level of the agency's regional directors,” according to an AP report. Boston'S Mayor was mystified as to how Zeituni could have been allowed to rent in public housing under a deportation order. When confronted with the facts, William McGonagle, deputy director of the BHA, imitated Colonel Klink of Hogan’s Heroes, protesting “I know nothing about it and I've got no comment.” (Nedra Pickler, "Obama says he didn't know aunt's illegal status," The Guardian, Nov. 1, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7972198) Later, McGonagle acknowledged that Zeituni had been a public housing tenant for five years. “She has been an exemplary resident,” McGonagle said. (Jessica Fargen, "Campaign confirms Obama aunt in South Boston," The Boston Herald, Oct. 30, 2008, http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/2008/view/2008_10_30_Barack_Obama_s_aunt_living_in_South_Boston_housing_project)

Is this not typical of leftwing liberals? Obama wants to spread your wealth around to take care of people like his aunt. Yet, he fails to spread his own wealth around to help her or his half-brother George who lives on $1 a day in a Kenyan hovel. So much for liberal compassion.

Check Out Who Is Endorsing Obama

2008-11-01T18:14:00.000-04:00

When Pastor John Hagee endorsed John McCain, the Democrats and their sycophants in the mainstream media went crazy. They insisted McCain had to repudiate Hagee’s endorsement, which he did.

So, let’s look at some of the endorsements made for Barack Hussein Obama. They may surprise you since the mainstream media has been completely complacent about them thus far.

Muslim Extremists:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared, “If Obama enters the White House, then Islam will conquer the heart of the American nation.” Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust and advocates the destruction of the state of Israel.

Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America." Hamas is a terrorist organization in control of the Gaza Strip. Another Muslim Jihadist group, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, hopes Obama will win election.

Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, called Obama “the Messiah” and "the hope of the entire world" in recent speeches endorsing him.

Raila Odinga is a cousin of Obama and a past candidate for President of Kenya. Obama supported Odinga’s candidacy even though he advocated imposing Muslim Sharia law on Kenya, one of Africa’s few functioning democracies. Odinga is a fundamentalist Islamic whose followers have committed human rights’ atrocities against his opponents in Kenya that almost plunged the country into civil war. Odinga, not surprisingly, has endorsed his cousin Obama for President of the United States.

As Naseem Jamali wrote for Al-Jazeera, the Muslim television network that regularly receives and televises Osama bin Laden’s taped threats, “Obama may not want to be counted as a Muslim but Muslims are eager to count him as one of their own.” Others have noted the excitement for Obama throughout the Arab world. For example, Thomas L. Friedman of the New York Times noted that Egyptians expect that, if Obama is elected, “it would mark a sea change in America-Muslim world relations.”

Communists and Socialists:

The Communist Party USA, called Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill), “Americans’ most feasible option for a progressive policy that will further the country’s move toward a truly socialist future.” Many other Far Left groups in the United States have endorsed Obama. Among them are the Communist Party Illinois and the Socialist Party USA.

Marxist and Socialist leaders around the world have endorsed Obama. They include Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua’s Sandinista leader, Cuba’s new President Raul Castro as well as Fidel Castro, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the Socialist/Labour Party said he hopes Obama will be the next U.S. President. “His social views are more in line with progressive thinking around the globe. We like him because he is more like us.”

Am I the only one that finds it astonishing that no one else is objecting to these endorsements?

Obama Is a Pro-Abortion Extremist

2008-10-31T17:11:00.000-04:00

In his 2004 U.S. Senate race, Barack Hussein Obama’s website proudly proclaimed he would fight “right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to choose.” (Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope, Three Rivers Press, New York, NY, 2006, p. 195) He has kept this promise. Without a doubt, Obama is “the most pro-abortion member of the Senate, with his straight A+ report card from the National Abortion Rights Action League and Planned Parenthood.” (Patrick J. Buchanan, “A Catholic Case Against Barack,” Human Events, August 2008)

Now, a majority of Americans do not want all abortions outlawed. Even many of those who believe Roe v. Wade is bad law – that the issue should be decided at the state level – do not want to completely ban all abortions. Of course, others believe all abortions are wrong, citing religious beliefs or echoing the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence that life is a fundamental human right.

For most Americans, though, some procedures or practices are so beyond the pale that they have no problem saying they should be banned. These include partial birth abortion, a late-term procedure “where the baby's skull is stabbed with scissors in the birth canal and the brains are sucked out.” (Ibid.) As the late Democrat Senator Patrick J. Moynihan described it, partial birth abortion "comes as close to infanticide as anything I have seen in our judiciary." (Ibid.) The vast majority of Americans believe that babies who survive an abortion procedure should be given medical care rather than be allowed to die without it.

Obama supports partial birth abortion and opposes life-saving measures for abortion survivors. He voted against a measure in the Illinois Senate in 2001 that would have treated surviving fetuses of botched abortions as human babies, saying he would have supported it if it mirrored federal law. Going back on his word, Obama led the battle in 2003 to defeat a bill that duplicated the federal “Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.” Yet, he claims that among the anchors of his faith is certainty regarding “the Golden Rule” and “the need to battle cruelty in all its forms.” (Op.cit. p. 224)

During questioning by Pastor Rick Warren at the Saddleback Church forum, Obama was flippant about the abortion issue’s fundamental question. Pastor Warren asked him, “When does life begin?” Obama joked, “You know, I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.”

Cling to Your Guns: Obama Lies about Gun Control

2008-10-29T02:54:00.000-04:00

Few politicians have the gall to blatantly lie in their television ads. Barack Hussein Obama has plowed new ground in his audacity of deceit to run a political ad in which he claims he is pro-gun rights. When I heard it, I laughed out loud after I picked my jaw up off the floor.

With friends like Obama, who needs enemies? As a Life Member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), I know Obama is no friend of my Second Amendment rights. He has an “F” from the NRA. Any gun owner needs to pay close attention to Obama’s words and, more importantly, his actions. Despite his few years as a politician, he has a long string of anti-gun votes.

Obama served on the board of the Joyce Foundation, which has given millions of dollars to anti-gun groups, from 1994-2001. He wrote in his own handwriting on a candidate questionnaire in 1996, when he first ran for the Illinois Senate, that he would like to “ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns.” Similarly, in 1998, he supported a ban on the sale or transfer of all semi-automatic weapons. (NRA-ILA Staff, “Obama: Issue by Issue,” America’s 1st Freedom, Nov. 2008, p. 36) Back in 1999, Obama proposed increasing taxes on firearms and ammunition by 500 percent. He also called for a federal ban on gun stores within five miles of any park or school. A study of these “Obama Exclusion Zones” determined that over ninety percent of all gun stores would be forced to close and “most major metropolitan areas and their suburbs, and even small towns, would become ‘gun store-free zones’.” (Ibid. p. 39)

As an Illinois State Senator, he voted to limit handgun purchases to one per month in 2003. He supported S.B. 1195, another 2003 anti-gun bill, which would have banned “all single-shot and double-barreled shotguns 28 gauge or larger, and many semi-auto shotguns…along with hundreds of models of rifles and handguns.” (Ibid. p. 38) Any Illinois resident found in possession of one of these guns ninety days after passage would have been charged with a felony. Fortunately, the bill did not pass.

Obama voted ‘no” four times on S.B. 2165 in 2004. This bill would protect citizens from prosecution who used a gun in self-defense in their home against an intruder or attacker. He also said in 2004, “I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry.” He proposed “federal legislation that would ban citizens from carrying weapons, except for law enforcement.” He continues to oppose citizens’ right-to-carry laws, stating in April 2008, “I am not in favor of concealed weapons.” (Ibid. p. 39)

More recently in 2005, Obama supported Sen. Edward Kennedy’s ban on center-fire rifle ammunition used in hunting and sport shooting. Even the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) opposed it. Fortunately, this Kennedy amendment to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act failed. He voted “yea” on S.397 in the U.S. Senate in 2005. This terrible bill would have made firearms’ manufacturers responsible for illegal use of their products after sale. It would also have outlawed most types of rifle ammunition. (www.gunbanobama.com) Both Obama and his running mate Sen. Joseph Biden voted against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This bill protects legal firearm manufacturers from lawsuits resulting from the illegal acts of armed criminals. Obama supports Biden’s bill (S.2237) that would reinstate Brady Bill bans on “roughly 200 makes and models of semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and handguns on the basis of things like the shape of their grips, and on ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.” (“Joe Biden: The Voice of Anti-gun Experience,” America’s 1st Freedom, Nov. 2008, p. 41)

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the handgun ban in Washington, D.C. recently in District of Columbia v. Heller. Over 300 members of Congress joined in a brief asking the court to uphold the Second Amendment rights of individuals. Neither Obama nor Biden joined them. This decision was decided 5-4. Key to this landmark decision in defense of your individual right to keep and bear arms was Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. and Justice Samuel Alito. Both Obama and Biden voted against confirming these justices and expressed strong disagreement with the Court’s decision. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the decision. At an August 2008 candidate’s forum, Obama stated he would not have nominated him or Justice Clarence Thomas who voted with the majority.

Biden, during a speech to the N.A.A.C.P. convention during the presidential primary, predicted: “The next president is likely to name at least one, if not three new Supreme Court justices.” (Wayne LaPierre, “Vote for the Second Amendment,” America’s 1st Freedom, Nov. 2008, p. 9) If you own guns of any type or believe you should have the right to do so, then you do not want Obama to be the one nominating Supreme Court Justices and hundreds of lower-level federal judges. If you, like the Founding Fathers, believe the Second Amendment is essential to freedom from government tyranny, then McCain-Palin is the ticket to support.

Obama would like to ban all handguns and semi-automatic firearms, revoke state Right-to-Carry laws, ration purchases of other firearms, and impose gun licensing and registration. (www.nrapvf.org) As NRA President John C. Sigler warned, “Taken together, Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden constitute the most anti-gun ticket ever to run for the White House.” (John c. Sigler, “Obama-Biden a Clear and Present Danger,” America’s 1st Freedom, Nov. 2008, p. 10)

The divide between Democratic and Republican views of the Second Amendment is clear in their party platforms. The 2008 Democratic Party platform says, “We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation, but we know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne.” This new concept that Constitutional protections are subject to regional differences has been dubbed “geo-constitutionalism.” It flies in the face of our Founding Fathers’ intent and the concept of equal protection under the law.

In contrast, the Republican Party platform states, “We uphold the right of individual Americans to own firearms, a right which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by the Second Amendment. Gun ownership is responsible citizenship, enabling Americans to defend themselves, their property and communities.” Voters, cling to those guns! Vote for McCain-Palin.

Why Is Karl Marx Cheering from the Grave?

2008-10-26T18:46:00.000-04:00

Karl Marx, the author of the failed economic system of communism, must be cheering from the grave over the prospect of Barack Hussein Obama becoming President of the United States. If the polls are correct (and I pray they are not), then the American people are about to elect a trained and avowed Marxist as President. How can I say this?

It is the result of having read both of Obama's books, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope. In them is revealed the degree to which Obama has been and continues to be influenced by the principles of Marx and Marxism. Likewise, his continued relationships with radical leftists, whom he refuses to disavow, also show it. Finally, his actions as an Illinois State Senator and a U.S. Senator illustrate his commitment to radically changing America’s economic system of capitalism.

As a youth, Obama disdained American middle-class values, what Marx would have ridiculed as “bourgeois” [capitalist] values. “Theirs [his white grandparents] were the faces of American Gothic, the WASP bloodline’s poorer cousins…the world in which my grandparents had been raised, the dab-smack, landlocked center of the country, a place where decency and endurance and the pioneer spirit were joined at the hip with conformity and suspicion and the potential for unblinking cruelty…where fear and lack of imagination choke your dreams…” (Dreams from My Father, Three Rivers Press: New York, pgs. 12-13; 15)

Obama’s white mother, who grew up in the Midwest, tried to instill her values (“Honesty – Fairness - Straight talk - Independent judgment”) in him, but he rejected them. “My mother could give voice to the virtues of her Midwestern past…I would dutifully nod my assent, but she must have known that many of her ideas seemed rather impractical…My mother’s confidence in needlepoint virtues depended on a faith I didn’t possess…a faith that rational thoughtful people could shape their own destiny…” (Ibid. pgs. 49-50) Later, he wrote, “…Her [his mother’s] faith in justice and rationality was misplaced, that we couldn’t overcome after all, that all the education and good intentions in the world couldn’t help plug up the holes in the universe or give you the power to change its blind, mindless course.” (Ibid. p. 96)

One of Obama’s early mentors, a kind of father figure during his teen years in Hawaii, was a man he calls by only his first name, “Frank,” in Dreams from My Father. He warned Obama as he prepared to enter college, “Understand something, boy. You’re not going to college to get education. You’re going there to get trained. They’ll train you to want what you don’t need. They’ll train you to manipulate words so they don’t mean anything anymore. They’ll train you to forget what it is that you already know. They’ll train you so good, you’ll start believing what they tell you about equal opportunity and the American way and all that shit…” (Ibid. p. 97)

Who was this “Frank”? He was a black poet named Frank Marshall Davis. He was also a card-carrying member of the Communist Party U.S.A. [CPUSA] during the years it was controlled by the Soviet Union. Davis joined the CPUSA during World War II and never resigned before his death in 1987. His membership was confirmed in a 1951 report of the Commission on Subversive Activities to the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). He moved to Honolulu from Kansas in 1948 and wrote columns for the Honolulu Record. Davis was a friend of Obama’s white grandfather, who introduced the young Obama to Davis.

Professor Gerald Horne, a contributing editor of the Communist Party journal Political Affairs and a history professor at the University of Houston, talked about the relationship between Obama and Davis in March 2007 in a speech, "Rethinking the History and Future of the Communist Party," at the Tamiment Library at New York University where CPUSA archives are housed. “Davis ‘befriended’ a ‘Euro-American family’ that had ‘migrated to Honolulu from Kansas and a young woman from this family eventually had a child with a young student from Kenya East Africa who goes by the name of Barack Obama.’” Horne wrote Davis “became the young man's mentor, influencing Obama's sense of identity and career moves.” (Cliff Kincaid, "Obama's Communist Mentor," Accuracy in Media, Feb. 18, 2008 http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-communist-mentor/)

Dr. Kathryn Takara, a professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa did her dissertation on Davis. She confirmed Davis was the “Frank” in Obama’s first book. She notes that Davis had “‘an acute sense of race relations and class struggle throughout America and the world’ and that he openly discussed subjects such as American imperialism, colonialism and exploitation.” He "espoused freedom, radicalism, solidarity, labor unions, due process, peace, affirmative action, civil rights, Negro History week, and true Democracy to fight imperialism, colonialism, and white supremacy." (Ibid.)

Writing of his days at Occidental College, Obama heeded his mentor’s advice, “To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets…We were resisting bourgeois society’s stifling constraints.” (Op.cit. pgs. 100-101) While there, he became involved in the efforts to force Occidental College to divest its investments in apartheid South Africa. Among his efforts was “contacting representatives of the African National Congress to speak on campus” (Ibid. p. 105) The African National Congress [ANC] was and is a communist-backed front group.

Obama completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia University in New York City. He continued his Marxist studies, where, “Political discussions…came to take on the flavor of the socialist conferences I sometimes attended at Cooper Union or the African cultural fairs that took place in Harlem and Brooklyn during the summers – a few of the many diversions New York had to offer…” (Ibid. p. 122)

Upon graduation, Obama set out to become a community organizer. However, he could not find a job in that field. “Eventually a consulting house to multinational corporations agreed to hire me as a research assistant. Like a spy behind enemy lines, I arrived every day at my mid-Manhattan office.” (Ibid. p. 135) Frustrated working in a capitalistic, profit-making enterprise, “In search of some inspiration, I went to hear Kwame Touré, formerly Stokely Carmichael of SNCC and Black Power fame, speak at Columbia. At the entrance to the auditorium, two women, one black, one Asian, were selling Marxist literature and arguing with each other about Trotsky’s place in history. Inside Touré was proposing a program to establish economic ties between Africa and Harlem that would circumvent white capitalist imperialism.” (Ibid. pgs. 139-140)

Finally, Obama was hired by Marty Kaufman, a white Chicago community organizer and moved to Chicago. There he “came into contact with more far-left political forces, including the Democratic Socialists of America, which maintains close ties to European socialist groups and parties through the Socialist International (SI), and two former members of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), William Ayers and Carl Davidson.” Marx founded the SI.

After two-and-a-half years, Obama decided to enroll in law school. His stated purpose was to learn “power’s currency in all its intricacy and detail, knowledge that would have compromised me before coming to Chicago but that I could now bring back to where it was needed…bring it back like Promethean fire.” (Ibid. p. 276) He returned to Chicago after receiving his law degree from Harvard Law School and went to work as a Civil Rights attorney. Later, he was a part-time professor of Law at the University of Chicago.

Obama remained true to his Marxist disdain of the bourgeoisie, even when he began visiting Trinity Christian Church in Chicago and consulting with its pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Tellingly, he wrote, “There was one particular passage in Trinity’s brochure that stood out…’A Disavowal of the Pursuit of Middleclassness,’ the heading read. ‘While it is permissible to chase ‘middleincomeness’ with all our might,’ the text stated, those blessed with the talent or good fortune to achieve success in the American mainstream must avoid the ‘psychological entrapment of Black ‘middleclassness’ that hypnotizes the successful brother or sister into believing they are better than the rest and teaches them to think in terms of ‘we’ and ‘they’ instead of ‘US’!’” (Op.cit. p. 284)

In 1996, Obama ran for the Illinois State Senate. He received the endorsement of the Chicago branch of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). “DSA describes itself as the largest socialist organization in the United States and the principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International. The Socialist International (SI) has what is called ‘consultative status’ with the United Nations.” ("Is Barack Obama a Marxist Mole?” Accuracy in Media Report, March 18, 2008 http://www.aim.org/aim-report/is-barack-obama-a-marxist-mole/)

“Later, the Chicago DSA newsletter reported that Obama, as a state senator, showed up to eulogize Saul Mendelson, one of the ‘champions’ of ‘Chicago's democratic left’ and a long-time socialist activist.” Chicago Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky endorsed Obama and “was honored in 2000 at a dinner sponsored by the Chicago chapter of the DSA.” (Cliff Kincaid, "Obama's International Socialist Connections," Accuracy in Media, Feb. 14, 2008 http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-international-socialist-connections/)

With DSA encouragement, U. S. Senator Obama sponsored “The Global Poverty Act” (S.2433), which “commits the U.S. to spending hundreds of billions of dollars more in foreign aid on the rest of the world, in order to comply with the ‘Millennium Goals’ established by the United Nations.” Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Obama’s vice presidential pick, pushed S.2433 through the committee. It is currently awaiting a vote by the full Senate. (Op.cit.)

Much has been written about William Ayers, the self-admitted and convicted Weather Underground domestic terrorist, and Obama’s working friendship with him. Obama served on the board of the Woods Foundation and authored the foreword to Ayers’ book. Ayers and his wife Bernadette Doerhn, another Weather Underground terrorist, helped launch Obama’s state Senate campaign by hosting an early “Meet and Greet” party in their home.

Few have looked at Obama’s on-going relationships with other Chicago radical leftists. Carl Davidson is active in the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS), an offshoot of the old CPUSA; he “helped organize the 2002 rally where Obama came out against the Iraq War.” (Cliff Kincaid, "Obama's Communist Mentor," Accuracy in Media, Feb. 18, 2008 http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-communist-mentor/)

Another CCDS activist is Leslie Cagan, who organizes anti-Iraq War demonstrations through a group called United for Peace and Justice (UPJ). Herbert Romerstein, a former Congressional investigator on communist activities, said the CCDS has “a close working relationship with the Stalinist remnants in the former East Germany, now called the Party of Democratic Socialism.” ("Is Barack Obama a Marxist Mole?” Accuracy in Media Report, March 18, 2008 http://www.aim.org/aim-report/is-barack-obama-a-marxist-mole/)

Lance Fairchok wrote accurately, “Barack Obama has a thing for Marxists. He befriends them, listens to their counsel, and he even hires them to work in his campaign. And they seem to feel the warmth.” For example, Sam Graham-Felsen is Obama’s official presidential campaign blogger. He also a writer for the Socialist Viewpoint, the mouthpiece of the Socialist Workers Organization (SWO). Graham-Felsen, “after being expelled from Socialist Action in 1999,” helped found the SWO “in an attempt to carry on the project of building a nucleus of a revolutionary party true to the historic teachings and program of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky.“ (Lance Fairchok, "Another Obama Marxist," American Thinker, April 2008 http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/04/another_obama_marxist.html and Socialist Viewpoint socialistviewpoint.org)

"Marx once compared revolutionary struggle with the work of the mole, who sometimes burrows so far beneath the ground that he leaves no trace of his movement on the surface. This is the old revolutionary ‘mole,' not only showing his traces on the surface but also breaking through." Frank Chapman, a CPUSA supporter, penned these words in a letter to the party’s newspaper “hailing the Illinois senator's victory in the Iowa caucuses.” (Cliff Kincaid, "Obama's Communist Mentor," Accuracy in Media, Feb. 18, 2008 http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-communist-mentor/)

Voting Recommendations for Duval County [Florida] Residents

2008-10-25T14:19:00.000-04:00

Below are my recommendations for Duval County residents. As you will see, I have split my ballot more than I usually do. Whomever you chose to support, what matters most is that you exercise your right to vote.

President: John McCain (REP)
Congressional District 4: Jay McGovern (DEM)
Public Defender: Bill White (DEM)
Clerk of Courts: Jim Fuller (REP)
City Council-at-large, Group 2: John R. Crescimbeni (DEM)
School Board, District 1: Stan Jordan
School Board, District 3: W. C. Gentry
Soil & Water Conservation Board, Group 2: Jonathan McGowan
Soil & Water Conservation Board, Group 3: Victor L. Wilhelm, Jr.
Soil & Water Conservation Board, Group 4: Katrina L. Finley

On the judges, I could find no agregious decisions, so I voted to retain all.

Here are my recommendations on the Amendments:

#1: No (A 'yes' vote would give "equal rights" to illegal aliens under Florida's Constitution and prohibit the Legislature from "discriminating" against those who are in the United States illegally.)
#2: Yes (This amendment puts the current definition of marriage under Florida statute in the Constitution to prevent activist judges from ordering Florida to allow homosexual marriages. Current law defines marriage as between a man and a woman. This amendment will have no other impact.)
#3: Yes (This gives homeowners the incentive to make hurricane protection and energy conservation improvements without penalizing them with higher property tax assessments.)
#4: Yes (It encourages property owners to maintain their undeveloped property for conservation purposes with tax breaks.)
#5: Removed from ballot by the Florida Supreme Court
#6: Yes (It requires property tax assessments on working waterfront properties to be assessed according to their current usage, not future or potential usage. It protects small businesses, such as marine repair, commercial fishers, and marinas, from being forced out of business by higher assessments because their properties could be used for condos or resorts, etc.)
#7: Withdrawn
#8: No (This amendment would allow an increase in sales' taxes. Although the purpose is good, increasing taxes on anything at this time of economic turmoil is bad.)

Again, I hope this helps you and please, get out and vote! Deo Vindice, Sue

Invitation to Pray & Fast

2008-10-21T15:45:00.001-04:00

Two weeks from today is Election Day. Many Americans are voting already in early voting and via absentee ballots. There is still much electioneering to do. I plan to devote every spare moment to the effort to get John McCain elected President. However, there is more to be done by Christians than the usual blogging, emailing, phone calling, letter writing, pamphlet distribution, and sign waving.

The Bible recommends prayer and fasting for the nation in times of trouble. The Lord advised Solomon: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (1 Chron. 7:14).

The prophet Jonah went to Nineveh and prophesied that the city would be destroyed in forty days. The people of Nineveh “declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:5). The King ordered, “Let everyone call urgently on God” (Jonah 3: 8). Thus, God chose to withhold his anger and the city of 120,000 was saved from destruction.

God promised Abraham that whoever blessed Israel would be blessed, but whoever cursed Israel would be cursed (Gen. 12:3). National security is an important issue in this election. The Bible instructs, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you [Jerusalem] be secure’” (Ps. 122:6).

Please join me during the next two weeks in praying and fasting for our nation. Ask God that our new President be a true man of Christ and a follower of the Bible. Please join me in begging God that we remain faithful to our promises of protection to Israel. Plead that the next President will be the one who will appoint judges who will end the holocaust of abortion. Our nation needs spiritual revival; ask God for an outpouring of His Spirit upon us.

Follow the Money: Palestinians Make Illegal Donations to Barack Hussein Obama

2008-10-16T18:45:00.000-04:00

A review of Barack Hussein Obama’s Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings reveals that he has accepted illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and they exceeded the maximum allowed from individuals. Federal election laws forbid all campaign contributions from foreigners. If received, the law requires that such contributions be returned to the donors promptly. Moreover, the maximum amount allowed from any single donor is $2,300 per campaign.

Obama received illegal donations to his presidential campaign from Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, beginning in September 2007. The FEC records show three contributors: Monir Edwan (or Adwan), Hosam Edwan, and Osama Edwan. Monir, an accountant, has given $28, 380. Hosam, also an accountant, donated $7,502. Osama, a trader, has given $1,809. Thus, two have exceeded the limits for contributions by individuals.

These three brothers reside in the Tal Esaltan neighborhood of Rafah, a Palestinian refugee camp in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. They are not Americans living abroad, who would be allowed to make contributions; they are all Palestinians. The brothers claim not to be members of Hamas, but other members of their family are in leadership positions with this terrorist group.

In fact, the FEC filings from his campaign appear to be an attempt to disguise or hide these donations. These donations are listed under the state of Georgia (GA). The street address is listed as “Tal Esaltan” or “Tal esoltan 295/5”, the city as “Rafah,” and zipcode “972xx” in “GA.” (See http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/MapAppRefreshTran.do?tranComeFrom=stateMap&cand_id=P80003338&cand_nm_title=&tranType=stateZip&showType=all&stateName=GA&zip_3=972 and http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/MapAppState.do?stateName=GA&cand_id=P80003338 )

No atlas shows a town named “Rafah” in the U.S. state of Georgia. Georgia post office zipcodes range from 300xx to 398xx. The “972” in the filings is actually the telephone area code for Israel, including the Gaza Strip.

When caught, the Obama campaign claimed that these donations had been returned. However, according to Monir Edwan, “No, we did not receive any money back from the Obama campaign at any time.” He tried to deny these were political contributions to World Net Daily’s Jerusalem bureau chief Aaron Klein. Instead, he claimed the brothers had purchased $29,000 worth of Obama T-shirts to sell to Obama supporters in Gaza. When asked, he could not explain how these supposed shipments could have been received. At the time, the Gaza Strip was closed by Israel to imports from June 2007 until June 2008. However, even if he had received the tee shirts, it would still constitute an illegal contribution. All monies used to purchase items in the “Obama store” on his website are considered campaign donations. (See “Illegal cash to Obama: WND stands accused. Website suggests donation scheme concocted to make Dem look bad,” Word Press, August 7, 2008: http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/illegal-cash-to-obama-wnd-stands-accused-website-suggests-donation-scheme-concocted-to-make-dem-look-bad/ )

Asked why he supports Obama, Monir said, “We just like Obama and believe he will be the best for the Palestinians and for the world." He went on to say, “Not just the people in Gaza but people from all over the world are rooting for this great man.” (See Aaron Klein, “Illegal Obama donors: Middle Eastern Arabs,” World Net Daily, August 4, 2008: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71431 )

The FEC has challenged Obama’s filings repeatedly for illegal foreign contributions. “On 4/15/08 the FEC sent a letter requesting additional information for 36 contributors the Obama campaign had submitted. There is an attachment to this letter with the names, dates and amounts,” including seven of Hosam’s donations. Obama filed the required amended filing on May 15, 2008 for contributions received between October 10 and December 31, 2007. On July 30, 2008, the FEC requested clarifications or corrections on an additional sixteen pages of this same filing. Twenty contributions from Monir Edwan were questioned. (See http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/ )

This may be just a small part of a much larger problem. According to Pamela Geller, author of the Atlas Shrugs blog who does extensive investigative reporting, “An auditor for the Federal Election Commission is attempting to have his bosses seek a formal investigation into the collection by the Obama for President campaign of more than $200 million in potentially illegal political donations, including millions of dollars of illegal, foreign donations, and has sought a request for assistance from the Department of Justice or Federal Bureau of Investigation.” (See Pamela Geller, “Obama Foreign Illegal Contributions: Infiltration at FEC, DOJ, and FBI,” Atlas Shrugs, October 2, 2008: http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/obamas_foreign_contributions/ )

Researchers have found suspicious contributions from over 68 foreign cities and nations to Obama’s campaign in FEC filings. There are also suspicious patterns to some of these contributions. For example, the same donor makes multiple small contributions on the same day or over a period of a few days. Other donors listed have names, occupations, and cities of residence that are either gibberish or obviously phony. Examples include: A donor named “Jkbkj Hbkjb,” working for a fictitious Kuman Bank as a “Balanon Jalalan” and living in the city of “Jkbjnj,” gave $1,077.23 on April 30, 2008. A donor named “Doodad,” employed by “FDGFDGF” as a “DFGFDG,” gave 1,044 donations totaling $10,780. (See Pamela Geller, “Obama’s Foreign Donors: The media averts its eyes,” American Thinker, August 14, 2008: http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/08/obamas_donor_contributions_sil.html )

On Monday, October 6, 2008, the Republican National Committee (RNC) finally filed a complaint with the FEC over Obama’s alleged foreign contributions. The FEC will have no choice but to investigate and rule on this complaint. Unfortunately, it will happen long after Election Day, November 4th.