Read My Lipstick Network

Online Piracy Legislation Gets Vote of Confidence From Sen. Harry Reid

2012-01-18T13:49:00.000-05:00

On a recent episode of "Meet the Press," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid threw his support behind advancing legislation to curb online piracy. Both chambers of Congress have drafted legislation to address online piracy from foreign websites, but both bills have faced strong public outcry that has put their chances of passage in doubt without significant changes.

The Senate is considering the Protect IP Act ( S 968), known as PIPA, while the House is considering the Stop Online Piracy Act ( HR 3261), known as SOPA. The Senate is expected to vote on PIPA on Jan. 24, and Reid has indicated there could be significant changes that would make the bill a "winner for everyone, not just for the content people."

MapLight has conducted an analysis of campaign contributions from key industry groups to members of the U.S. Senate (July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2011) and found that:

Entertainment interest groups that support these bills gave 7.2 times as much ($14,423,991) to members of the U.S. Senate as Internet interest groups that oppose these bills ($2,011,332).
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has received 4.8 times as much from entertainment interest groups that support these bills ($571,500) as from Internet interest groups that oppose these bills ($118,050).

Opponents of these two bills, such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, eBay, and Twitter, fear the measures as currently drafted will grant the U.S. government power to curb free speech online and, with it, snare otherwise innocuous third-party sites. The bills' supporters, such as Disney, Time Warner, Comcast, CBS, and the Recording Industry Association of America, hope to be able to use the expanded authority to shut down websites trafficking in pirated content. Drafting language that appeases both sides has been difficult and may result in Congress's choosing one side over the other.

METHODOLOGY: Includes reported contributions to congressional campaigns of senators in office during the 112th U.S. Congress, from Cable & satellite TV production & distribution, Motion Picture production & distribution, Entertainment Industry/Broadcast & Motion Pictures, Commercial TV & radio stations, Recorded Music & music production, TV production & distribution, and Online computer services interest groups selected by MapLight, July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2011. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org.

Stop SOPA / PIPA!

2012-01-18T10:43:00.004-05:00

Misguided Republicans are sponsoring a bill that will hurt YOUR freedoms. I actually LIKE some of the people who are sponsoring this mess, so I'm kind of with Eric Erickson / RedState (below). Here's a link for a Google petition you can sign to help send a message to Congress. Do some research. Take a look at this mess. Drudge has a link to a New York Times story that gives a good wrap up. Anyway, here's the petition link: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/. If you don't like Google, I would bet there are a zillion different ones floating around.

Oh, Heritage has a great article on this issue also. I received it in my morning email batch (love getting Heritage info, Morning Bell - be sure to sign up if you haven't). Here's a link to their write up: http://blog.heritage.org/2012/01/18/morning-bell-an-internet-blackout-over-sopa-and-pipa/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell.

You know, we have to teach our representatives to READ THE STUPID BILLS and think about the long-term repercussions of their actions. Grrrr....

One good thing about this one? All sides out here in non-political-elite-land, from Democrat to Libertarian to Republican to I-don't-care-a-fig-about-politics are united!

From Eric Erickson via email distro:

Today is an unusual day at RedState.

Many websites around the nation and the world are going dark today in solidarity against SOPA, the Stopping Online Piracy Act (SOPA) pending in Congress. Many of this site’s good friends, like Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Marco Rubio of Florida (a co-sponsor of the Protect IP Act in the Senate, which is the Senate version of SOPA) are supporters of this horrible legislation that would give Eric Holder and future attorneys general the right to shut down websites with minimal, if any, due process.

While it pains us to do so, we are committed to working against the re-election of each Republican co-sponsor of SOPA and Protect IP, including Rep. Blackburn and Sen. Rubio. Both pieces of legislation overreach their goals and will harm the internet.

We hope the Republican co-sponsors of these pieces of legislation will remove their names and we hope the legislation will die. In solidarity with those sites shutting down today to show you the potential impact of this legislation, RedState will suspend posting new content for much of today.

On the front page of RedState you’ll find a tool you can use to contact your member of Congress and urge they oppose both SOPA and Protect IP.

Camp Reaction to President’s Speech

2011-09-08T21:36:00.002-04:00

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), who is also a member of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, made the following statement on Thursday evening in response to President Obama’s address before a Joint Session of Congress:

“I appreciate the President’s focus on the economy and the need to get Americans working again. Where we agree – like the need to pass the long pending, job creating trade agreements – we should act and act now. All we need is for the President to send Congress the agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea so the American people can begin to take advantage of the up to 250,000 jobs they will create. However, I was disappointed that the President did not discuss the one area that can truly spark sustained private-sector job creation in this country – comprehensive tax reform. Given job creation stood at zero last month and roughly 14 million Americans remain out of work, I hope the President is not backing away from his support for one of the boldest actions that Washington can take to get America back on track. In the months ahead I look forward to reviewing the details of the President’s proposals and working with the Administration and my colleagues in the House and Senate on pro-growth policies that get America’s employers hiring again and workers back on the job.”

Westmoreland Reacts to President Obama’s Speech

2011-09-08T21:35:00.002-04:00

Tonight, President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress to unveil his initiative to create jobs. During the speech, he introduced his plan to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, and spend more than $200 billion on new infrastructure and in grants to state and local governments. In total, the president’s plan is expected to cost approximately $450 billion. The president promised that offsets of these costs would be a part of his plan, but didn’t mention any specifics during the actual speech. Below is Congressman Westmoreland’s reaction to the speech.

“Tonight, President Obama introduced his latest ‘jobs’ plan, the American Jobs Act. It’s a catchy name, sure, but I’m certain the people of Georgia’s Third Congressional District aren’t fooled by this catchy name. Like me, they look at this ‘jobs’ plan and see what it really is: more of the same old, same old.

“I mean, haven’t we already been down this road? Hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars thrown down the drain, chasing the belief that government is the only answer; that government must step in to save our economy. Isn’t this exactly what we saw a little more than two years ago when the president promised us that if we passed his $800 billion stimulus plan, unemployment wouldn’t rise above eight percent? Instead, as we all remember, all we saw was unemployment reach an unimaginable 10 percent and our national debt reach an astounding $14 trillion. And all the while, the president promised over and over that his new $450 billion so-called jobs bill would be paid for. I guess he’s right. It will be paid for by our children and grandchildren for generations – just like his last stimulus.

“The president’s speech tonight shows the stark difference between his beliefs and mine. He believes that government creates jobs. He believes that overregulation is necessary because small businesses don’t have enough to worry about. I just don’t agree. I believe that it is American ingenuity and the hard work of the American worker that drives this economy. I believe that private industry creates jobs and that through them we can revive our economy and return this country to the greatness we know it can be. And I believe that overly burdensome regulations put a strangle-hold on our small businesses and discourage them from expanding and hiring new people.

“Our economy is in a tough spot and we need serious reforms to our system to get us back on track. Unfortunately, it seems President Obama just wants to keep plugging away at his failed policies. We were told tonight’s speech would be a grand agenda; a new idea to get Americans back to work. And instead, I feel like it’s 2009 all over again. It reminds me of that old saying, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. While I would never call the President of the United States insane, it does make you think.

“Since gaveling the 112th Congress into session this January, House Republicans have spent this year working on legislation to encourage private companies to expand and grow, to alleviate the onerous regulations that strangle job creation, and to scale back federal spending. Unfortunately, Congressional Democrats and President Obama have done everything in their power to stop this – continuing their plan to spend us out of this recession. Now is the time for real action, not more speeches. The president needs to abandon his failed policies and work with House Republicans to enact legislation that will actually get Americans back to work and get our economy back on track,” stated Westmoreland.

First they came...

2011-09-03T10:36:00.000-04:00

First they came for my alcohol and I thought, hey, it's bad for you so it is good.
Then they relented, of course...
Then they came for my drugs and I knew it was good. That stuff is bad for you.
Then they came for my cigarettes. OK, I know they'll kill a person so stop them from advertising, go after the companies, put skulls and crossbones on the packages, I don't care. I quit already.
Then they came for my hamburgers. Well, not mine, I'm a vegetarian, so I know that nasty meat should be regulated. I hope they go after chicken, too.
Then they came for my sodas. Who cares, I thought, I don't drink them anyway. They make me feel bloated. I like my water, preferably in a bottle so I can carry it around easily, of course.
Then they came for my sugar and I thought, what the heck, I know that stuff is bad for you, glad they're going after it finally. Toxic stuff, you know?
Then they came for my cereal and I said, WHAT? I like cereal. But, oh, it's bad for you, I didn't realize. I guess I can live with it since it's nasty. Guess I better stockpile the stuff though.
Then they came for my peanut butter. Too much sugar, and too high in sodium. Huh, I thought, I can agree with them, it's bad, our kids are getting fatter, I'll hang with them on that one (but I'll still buy it with the warning labels and lack of advertising).
Then they came for my salt shaker. I was already cutting back so it didn't matter that much.
Then they came for my bottled water. Plastic is bad for the environment, bad for me, too they say. Well, I guess I'll pick up some water filters and use my cups made from potatoes. How's that for being environmentally correct?
Then they came for my vitamins. Now they were getting a little bit too close for comfort. I was all for making those nasty meat eating, sugar dunkin', high blood pressure sodium eater types cut back, but take my vitamins?
Then they came for my caffeine. They wanted it out of all coffee, tea and sodas. Oh wait, they'd already come for the sodas, they're off the market, gone out of business.

I watched as they came after movies, television programs, light bulbs, put gauges on my electric system to ensure I didn't use to much. I noted as they killed the auto industry with requirements that were impossible in an effort to "save" the world by cutting back on gas emissions. I tried to ride the train to work, the one that increased my taxes substantially, but it took three times as long to get to work, it smelled and I didn't feel safe with all the out-of-work thugs hanging out riding all day. Then I got laid off so it didn't matter anyway.

I wasn't really shocked when Wall Street crashed for the umpteenth time, heck, the number of companies still making a profit in the government regulated world were few and who had money to invest anyway?

Of course, by the time the America that existed when I was a child was gone anyway. The advertisers went first. Nothing much to advertise since the government regulated all the products and only certain ones were allowed to sell. The TV stations were all government subsidized and regulated because they couldn't make any revenue from advertising. The only people with jobs were those who worked for the government subsidized companies and farms. With the food industry being hit so hard by all the regulations most people went to the black market for their food fixes. The only place to get decent food was from the so-called 'third-world countries" assuming you had the money to buy it or travel on government owned planes or trains.

It's a shame I wasn't able to look at the bigger picture way back when and realize that with every incremental step the government took to "help" me they were eroding my freedoms and moving us one step closer to the end of a free America.

When they came for my home and my children I stood up and yelled, but there was no one left to hear or help.

Our Government Run Amok: Lacey Act Abuses Gibson Guitar

2011-08-31T10:49:00.000-04:00

In 2008 Congress implemented some amendments to the Lacey Act which gives the Federal government a LOT of power to harass American companies --- and you. If you unknowingly buy a product from a company that is in violation of the Act, even if they are unaware they are in violation, the government has the right to confiscate your item and charge you as a criminal. If you watched the video above, Gibson guitars are a prime example. If you sell your guitar, or take it with you when you travel out of the country, you'll be breaking the law.

It appears that the current administration is making hay and taking their powers to the ultimate limits. The government seems to have targeted Gibson, the guitar maker using the Act as their justification.

Whether it ultimately turns out that this company is right or wrong on the very tiny issue that caused this harassment, swooping down with armed SWAT teams from across the country to confiscate wood is flat out wrong. Wouldn't it have been much cheaper, simpler and less costly just to talk with the company, get the paperwork and let them prove they are in compliance? Fine them if they refuse? Allow them to make some changes?

The government has targeted Gibson not once, but twice. They have yet to prove their rationale for the first raid almost two years ago (shortly after the implementation of the Lacey Act).

Aren't they supposed to have proof of wrongdoing BEFORE they raid? The government first raided Gibson in 2009 regarding imports of wood from Madagacar. Gibson is suing to try and get the wood back. The government has recently asked for a stay so they can prove the company did something illegal (my interpretation of the government's statement when asking for the stay). That's definitely cart before the horse.

Our Federal government just dropped in with warrants, sent the armed SWAT teams into Gibson, sent workers home, shut the plant down and willy nilly confiscated items. It's costing Gibson around a million dollars a day. Nor did they notify them beforehand that they might be doing something wrong. Imagine how much it cost taxpayers to pay for the initial investigation, the legal costs and the cost of sending SWAT teams from at least three different states!

Is Tennessee a right to work state? Are the Unions behind this attack on this ONE guitar company? All guitar companies are using the same wood when making guitars. Why Gibson? They've hired 580 people in the last two years. Is the Obama administration singling out Gibson because they make things here in America? Are they trying to get them to move their operation out of the country? There is something more than just a simple non-compliance with the law of India going on here.

Yep, this is about a law in India they supposedly violated.

The company has all the paperwork from India, where the wood in question came from, the United States Customs signed off on it here in the United States. Gibson says they have provided all the proper paperwork and yet the government won't give up.

Here are some articles to read that will provide more information:

The Horrible Lacey Act & The Gibson Guitar Raids
http://leestranahan.com/the-horrible-lacey-act-the-gibson-guitar-raids

Gibson Guitar to Uncle Sam – “From my cold, dead hands”
http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/2011/08/31/gibson-guitar-to-uncle-sam-%25E2%2580%2593-%25E2%2580%259Cfrom-my-cold-dead-hands%25E2%2580%259D/

Cross The Border, Lose Your Bentley; The Lacey Act Applies To Automobiles, Too
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/08/cross-the-border-lose-your-bentley-the-lacey-act-applies-to-automobiles-too/

PICKET: (audio) Lieberman unsure he'll support Obama in 2012

2011-08-16T22:40:00.000-04:00

Senator Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, told host John McCaslin on America's Morning News radio show on Tuesday morning that he had not decided if he would endorse President Obama in 2012:

More: http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/aug/16/picket-audio-lieberman-unsure-hell-support-obama-2/

FRC Action Commends House, Urges Senate to Take Up 'Cut, Cap, and Balance'

2011-07-19T21:25:00.002-04:00

Family Research Council Action (FRC Action) praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2560, the "Cut, Cap, and Balance" bill and urged the U.S. Senate to take up the fiscally responsible legislation.

FRC Action President Tony Perkins made the following comments about the bill's passage:

"Today's passage of 'Cut, Cap, and Balance' is the first step toward putting America back on a financially stable path. We have a long way to go, but the Members of Congress who voted to pass the bill know that our rising debt can no longer be ignored, and putting further debt on future generations is both immoral and unsustainable.

"FRC Action commends congressional leaders like U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) who have put fiscal sanity and this nation's long-term interests ahead of political games in an effort to stabilize and grow our economy.

"We call on the U.S. Senate to take up and pass the 'Cut, Cap, and Balance' bill, and send it to President Obama as quickly as possible. It is a moral imperative that our nation returns to limits on spending and a balanced budget, so that future generations are not enslaved to our generations' debt," concluded Perkins.

Let's give it all back...

2011-05-19T18:15:00.000-04:00

In the spirit of Obama's support for the Palestinian position of a return to pre-1967 borders with Israel, it would follow logically that we as Americans should follow suit and return all the land to the Indians that we took under "manifest destiny".

Too far back in time for that remedy?

During the American Revolution we took lands that France, Spain and Great Britain claimed as theirs. Should we go back to those borders and give back "their" land?

Still too far back?

Many of our Hispanic citizens and illegal Hispanic aliens believe parts of the southern United States belong to Mexico. We acquired large areas we now claim as ours after hostilities with the Mexican government during the Mexican American war.

Is that the way the President is going to solve our illegal alien problem? It would again be a logical solution given his "solution" for Israel and Palestine.

While you're working to destroy our ally Israel Mr. President, why don't you go one step further and suggest that Israel give up their entire country? After all, the United Nations took the land from Bedouin nomadic tribes to create Israel. in 1947.

Does the President not understand that the world's borders have been changed irrevocably throughout history? In suggesting that Israel go backwards and give away sacred and Holy ground to people who want to kill them Obama is not standing with our friend, Israel. As Netanyahu said, '...it's indefensible'.

Good morning world...

2011-04-27T07:13:00.000-04:00

Woke up early, early this morning and flipped on Fox News as I was getting ready. Usually I go straight to the computer and don't watch Fox until later in the day -- at the earliest I see Fox and Friends, never earlier. Today was different. I had to be up at 5-ish (yawn).

I was brushing my teeth, doing the norm and swore I was on the wrong channel. Everyone speaking had a British accent. I walked in, took a glance and saw the Fox logo on the bottom. OK, I thought, must be something special going on and they have a British guest or they're just doing a short bit on, what else, the Royal Wedding (yes, it is now a capped event ;-).

I heard nothing about the wedding (oops, excuse me the Royal Wedding). If not for the accents I could have been listening to one of our financial debates here in the states. It was fascinating. The two financial pundits were talking about Greece, the Euro, and the British economy. One was advocating a fix of their version of tax and spend, the other was saying cut the spending. They talked about the price of gas, and pretty much all the same things we're talking about here.

I don't pay as much attention to the world outside of the U.S. like I should. I used to get updates from news media in Europe and Great Britain. I stopped at some point. I've decided that I better start looking at a bigger picture than the one provided by U.S. news outlets.

Anyone have any good suggestions for news outlets that give 'fair and balanced' outside of the U.S. I was listening to Sky news this morning, a Fox affiliate. They'll be on my list.

Matt's comment on passage of HB 87 / Immigration

2011-04-14T22:48:00.002-04:00

Rep. Matt Ramsey Comments on Passage of Common Sense Immigration Reform

State Representative Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) released the following statement today in response to the passage of House Bill 87:

“Today members of the General Assembly came together and firmly resolved to uphold the laws of our society. This legislation closes gaping loopholes that have allowed illegal aliens to flood into our country and state, where they unlawfully take advantage of taxpayer funded services. Current economic conditions have made it painfully obvious that the state of Georgia literally cannot afford to continue this broken system. Our classrooms are more crowded, our healthcare system is at its limits, our transportation infrastructure is overburdened and our law enforcement community is pushed to the brink. Georgians have demanded action, and their state legislature has complied. We continue to welcome and encourage legal immigration, and this legislation helps those individuals, as well as all other legal Georgia residents, by ensuring that employment opportunities are filled by legal residents.”

Georgia HB 87, Immigration Bill PASSED!

2011-04-14T22:47:00.000-04:00

Representative Matt Ramsey crafted a stellar immigration bill, which has, of course, created a lot of controversy. I'm not going to delve into it right now, it's late and I have an early morning. However, I just wanted to say I'm proud of Matt, pleased the Bill made it through. It's now headed to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal's desk for his signature.

We all know it's not over after watching Arizona, but Georgia has added its name to the list of states going in the right direction.

For all those who choose to write nasty comments or argue, please don't. All comments are screened and I'm not going to argue or post them.

Special interest groups gearing up to stop budget...

2011-04-13T08:54:00.000-04:00

Interesting this morning as I was doing my scan of news, checking Facebook, Twitter, etc., etc. Saw the following on a FB account:

URGENT PLEDGE: Tell Obama no cuts to Medicare/Medicaid benefits.

act.boldprogressives.org

Urgent! The White House announced that in a big speech tomorrow, President Obama will do what no Republican President has been able to do: Put Medicare and Medicaid on the table for potential cuts. Tell President Obama that if he cuts benefits, he'll lose your grassroots donations and volunteering i...

(note, that's a Facebook link, not sure if it'll work if you're not logged in. Try this if it doesn't: URGENT PLEDGE: Tell Obama no cuts to Medicare/Medicaid benefits.

Earlier I received an email from a group called Welfare Watch which included an "Action Alert" urging everyone to call their Representatives to 'urge them to oppose the Ryan Budget Plan". Why? They say his plan goes too far as it proposes steep cuts to Medicaid and other social safety net programs, and that it would 'eliminate the Medicaid expansion included in the Affordable Care Act."

They go on to say that 2/3's of the cuts in his budget would be made to programs that "serve low-income children and families".

In my life I've hit some real lows. I remember a time when things were so tight I took restaurant ketchup packets, mixed them with water, heated and ate over spaghetti at home. Yep, that was as disgusting as it sounds. It never, ever crossed my mind to go on the dole with the government. I was definitely eligible. However, I took on part time jobs, typed resumes, did whatever I could (legally) to make sure I survived.

If I had taken advantage of food stamps, welfare or whatever programs were available to me, I might not be typing this now. My son might have grown up thinking life was all about how to con the system and get more money out of Uncle Sam. I can't imagine taking the help, so I can't really imagine that I'd have succumbed to the enticement of the system.

End result of my choice though is that we survived that rough time way back when and now we're productive, happy, balanced individuals paying our own way.

I was probably the kind of person that the programs were designed to help. Someone who would use the system for a short time, then get back on the saddle. Instead what we have in our country is an entire culture of people dependent on others. People who could be taking care of themselves.

I know it's a huge problem. How to get people who've never know anything different, who are mired in the culture of dependence to change the way they look at the world, to get off their duffs and work. I also know there are a lot of people who are truly not capable, who only survive in this world because of the system I'm railing against.

I wonder where all the money we dump into government programs goes. I also wonder what good all the money we donate to charities is doing. Where is all the money going that we tithe to our churches going each month?

I used to go downtown regularly and feed the homeless. As part of our mission we would cook, serve, then serve ourselves and go sit with the homeless to eat. I have to say that most days I wasn't able to do more than go through the motions of eating, but it did open my eyes to the plight of many. There were many though who chose the lifestyle. There were many who, with a little bit of real help, could have gotten back out into the working and self-supporting world.

I started this blog to write about how the Left was gearing up to attack any changes to the system. They truly believe that just dumping money into taking care of people is compassionate. I wish we had a system of honesty, where people couldn't "work" the system. I wish we could ferret out those who abuse or take advantage of the system without true need. I wish the system trained people, had a true end time frame and that it worked more as a step program with measurable goals.

True compassion pulls people up, it doesn't keep them locked into a cycle of dependency. If there's never an end, why bother trying to rise up?

Seeing how all the powers are amassing to thwart any fixes to our woeful monetary problems, I am concerned more than ever that our weak politicians won't be able to make any real changes. Paul Ryan's plan has a lot of good things in it. I'm hearing all kinds of things that are said to be included in President Obama's plan. I will be surprised if we get anything more than watered down gruel when they get through stirring the pot in Washington.

I'm watching them all carefully. Based on what I'm seeing thus far, with few exception, I suspect in 2012 I'll be voting for an infusion of new blood in D.C.

Shocker! On his own, judge demands homeschool student IDs

2011-04-08T08:57:00.000-04:00

Issues order for attendance officers to provide names, addresses

By Bob Unruh
(c) 2011 WorldNetDaily

A Mississippi state judge has issued an order to public school attendance officers in his judicial district to provide the names of all homeschoolers there, prompting alarm at the Home School Legal Defense Association, which fights for the rights of homeschooling worldwide.

The order apparently is because the judge himself wants the information, as there appeared to be no case, motion or dispute prompting the request.

The HSLDA, which was alerted by its members in the 13th Chancery Court district in Mississippi, where Judge Joe Dale Walker issued the order, immediately sought and obtained a stay of the order from the state Supreme Court.

The judge's order noted that the "cause" for the order "came on for hearing on the court's own motion," but the HSLDA said apparently no hearing ever was held - and the order is the only document in the court file.

It also has no case number, the organization said.

Spokeswoman Beverly Kraft of the state court system told WND that the issue as it was presented to the state Supreme Court was a "confidential" case about which no documents, no information and no explanation was available.

The HSLDA said the order is highly unusual and could provide a "chilling" effect on not only homeschoolers but any group whose members' names may at some point be demanded by a judge.

The organization said the state Supreme Court ordered a stay in all proceedings in the case in which Walker demanded the names of all homeschoolers in his district. The order instructed Walker to explain to the higher court by April 18 exactly what's going on.

There was no explanation for why the judge issued the original demand for homeschoolers' information.

"At this time it is uncertain how the Supreme Court will proceed after receiving Judge Walker's response," the organization said. "It may simply issue an order disposing of the case or may require legal briefs and/or oral arguments before issuing a final decision.

"In any event, we will keep members advised of the status of the case."

An attorney for the group, James Mason, told WND that in the years he has worked with homeschool issues, he never before has seen such an order.

"It's a very chilling prospect," he said. "The plain fact is if judges start behaving this way - [targeted could be] people who attend churches or synagogues [or other groups]."

"That would have a chilling effect on freedom of association, and the exercise of other freedoms," he said.

A judge in a similar order could demand the names of patriot organizations, tea party groups, Democrat groups, GOP groups or even labor, teacher or parent groups.

HSLDA said that after attendance officers at the schools got the order, they notified homeschoolers, enclosing a copy of the judge's order.

"The letters cited the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and asked the families to notify the attendance officer by April 8, 2011, if they intended to initiate legal action to prevent release of the protected information sought by Judge Walker," HSLDA said.

The notice from the HSLDA to its members said the judge also wanted the addresses of all homeschoolers in Smith, Lawrence, Covington, Simpson and Jefferson Davis counties.

Walker's order listed no parties but only said "RE: HOMESCHOOL."

"We believe that Judge Walker's order is an inappropriate use of judicial power," said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA.

The state's court website says chancery courts "have jurisdiction over disputes in matters involving equity; domestic matters including adoptions, custody disputes and divorces; guardianships; sanity hearings; wills; and challenges to constitutionality of state laws. Land records are filed in Chancery Court."

The chancery courts also are given jurisdiction in juvenile matters in counties that have no county court.

Read more: Shocker! On his own, judge demands homeschool student IDs http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=284529#ixzz1IvNByCy3

Shared with permission of author.

URGENT CALL TO ALL REPUBLICANS

2011-03-15T12:43:00.002-04:00

We have just been notified that enough leadership in the Georgia House is joining with Democrat's to support the implementation of ObamaCare here in Georgia!!!

HB 476 sets up a basic structure for the government state-run Health Insurance Exchange and establishes an advisory committee to determine the best options available for our state in implementing and running a state-based exchange

Please call the Representatives below to OPPOSE THIS BILL!

THIS COULD BE VOTED ON AT ANYTIME. YOU MUST CALL ASAP!

Start with Leadership and then move down the list as far as you can. House Leadership is priority one.

CALL HOUSE LEADERSHIP

Speaker David Ralston (R) Ellijay O: 404-656-5020

Majority Leader Larry O'Neal (R) Bonaire O: 404-656-5052

Majority Whip Ed Lindsey (R) Sandy Springs O: 404-656-5024

CALL the SPONSORS:

Rep. John Meadows (R) Calhoun O: 404-656-6831

Rep. Richard Smith (R) Columbus O: 404-656-3480

Rep. Sean Jerguson is voting NO and working against this bill actively.

Rep. Mark Hamilton: O: 404-656-5132

Rep. Calvin Hill: O: 404-656-0129

Rep. Charlice Byrd is voting NO and has sent out action alerts on this bill.

Sen. Chip Rogers: O: 404-463-1378

Sen. Jack Murphy: O: 404-656-7127

CALL Gov. Nathan Deal to veto this bill! He has said HE WILL sign this bill.

Gov. Nathan Deal: O: 404-656-1776

Michele Bachmann's Response to State of the Union

2011-01-26T13:22:00.000-05:00

Two years ago, when Barack Obama became our President, unemployment was 7.8 percent and our national debt stood at what seemed like a staggering $10.6 trillion dollars. We wondered whether the President would cut spending, reduce the deficit and implement real job-creating policies.

Unfortunately, the President’s strategy for recovery was to spend a trillion dollars on a failed stimulus program, fueled by borrowed money. The White House promised us that all the spending would keep unemployment under 8 percent. Not only did that plan fail to deliver, but within three months the national jobless rate spiked to 9.4 percent. And sadly, it hasn’t been lower for 20 straight months. While the government grew, we lost more than 2 million jobs.

Here are unemployment rates over the past ten years. In October 2001, our national unemployment rate was at 5.3 percent. In 2008 it was at 6.6 percent. But, just eight months after President Obama promised lower unemployment, that rate spiked to a staggering 10.1 percent. Today, unemployment is at 9.4 percent with about 400,000 new claims every week.

After the $700 billion bailout, the trillion-dollar stimulus, and the $410 billion spending bill with over 9,000 earmarks, many of you implored Washington to please stop spending money we don’t have. But, instead of cutting, we saw an unprecedented explosion of government spending and debt, unlike anything we have seen in the history of our country.

Deficits were unacceptably high under President Bush, but they exploded under President Obama’s direction, growing the national debt by an astounding $3.1 trillion-dollars.

What did we buy?

Instead of a leaner, smarter government, we bought a bureaucracy that tells us which light bulbs to buy, and which will put 16,500 IRS agents in charge of policing President Obama’s healthcare bill. ObamaCare mandates and penalties will force many job creators to stop offering health insurance altogether, unless yours is one of the more-than-222 privileged companies or unions that has received a government waiver.

In the end, unless we fully repeal ObamaCare, a nation that currently enjoys the world’s best healthcare may be forced to rely on government-run coverage that will have a devastating impact on our national debt for generations to come.

For two years President Obama made promises just like the ones we heard him make tonight. Yet still we have high unemployment, devalued housing prices and the cost of gasoline is skyrocketing. Here are a few suggestions for fixing our economy:

The President could stop the EPA from imposing a job-destroying cap-and-trade system.
The President could support a Balanced Budget Amendment.
The President could agree to an energy policy that increases American energy production and reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
The President could also turn back some of the 132 regulations put in place in the last two years, many of which will cost our economy $100 million or more.
The President should repeal ObamaCare and support free market solutions like medical malpractice reform and allow all Americans to buy any healthcare policy they like anywhere in the United States.

We need to start making things again in this country, and we can do that by reducing the tax and regulatory burdens on job creators. America will have the highest corporate tax rate in the world. Look no further to see why jobs are moving overseas.

But, thanks to you, there’s reason to hope that real spending cuts are coming. Last November you went to the polls and voted out big-spending politicians and you put in their place men and women with a commitment to follow the Constitution and cut the size of government. I believe that we are in the early days of a history-making turn. Please know how important your calls, visits, and letters are to the maintenance of our liberties. Because of you, Congress responded and we are starting to undo the damage that’s been done.

We believe in lower taxes, a limited view of government and the exceptionalism of America. And I believe America is the indispensible nation.

Just the creation of this nation was a miracle. Who’s to say that we can’t see a miracle again? The perilous battle that was fought in the pacific, at Iwo Jima, was a battle against all odds, and yet the image of the young G.I.s in the incursion against the Japanese immortalizes their victory. These six young men raising the flag came to symbolize all of America coming together to beat back a totalitarian aggressor.

Our current debt crisis we face today is different, but we still need all of us to pull together. We can do this. And that’s the hope we hold tonight as Americans. We will push forward to reclaim the greatness of our country and to proclaim the liberty upon which we were founded. And we will do so because we the people will never give up on this great nation.

Just in case you missed Paul Ryan last night...

2011-01-26T13:05:00.000-05:00

Paul Ryan - Republican Address to the Nation

Congressman Tom Price: Let's Repeal ObamaCare

2011-01-25T07:23:00.000-05:00

Last week the House of Representatives voted with bipartisan support to repeal ObamaCare. As it stands, ObamaCare is a threat to quality, affordable health care in America, and it is undermining the ability of physicians to provide the level of care their patients need. We must fully repeal this massive government takeover and replace it with reforms that protect the rights of patients, families, and their doctors.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he will not schedule a vote to repeal ObamaCare even after a majority of members in the House voted to do just that. I urge you to call Leader Reid and explain that failure to act on a repeal vote ignores the will of the American people. He should allow Senators to vote on repealing a law that expands the reach of the government to unprecedented levels while undermining individual freedoms.

To contact Majority Leader Reid's office, call (202) 224-3542.

Thank you for your support in our efforts to uphold the results of November’s elections.

Yours truly,
Congressman Tom Price, M.D., Chairman
Republican Policy Committee

Radical Leftist Punk Band Inspired Accused Gunman

2011-01-11T21:17:00.000-05:00

Lyrics: 'Difference from Nazis is someone tried to stop them'

Loughner, 22, is in custody accused of opening fire into a crowd in Tucson, Ariz., killing six and critically wounding Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Understand what's happening to America's culture and what you can do to fight it with "How Evil Works," autographed, from the WND Superstore.

Almost immediately after the news of the shooting broke, Caitie Parker self identified on Twitter that she had gone to school and been in a band with Loughner:

Link: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=249741

Then, in responding to "anderosa," Parker made clear that Loughner "was a pot head & into rock like Hendrix, The Doors, Anti-Flag:"

Link: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=249741

"Anderosa" is the Twitter username for Anthony DeRosa, an employee of Reuters Media, who has had a history of tweeting continuing attacks on Fox News and Fox News talk show hosts Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly, as well as a wide range of conservative media and political figures.

In responding to a variety of twitter posters, Parker identified being a band member with Loughner in "an alternative band":

Here is the old photograph of Loughner that Parker found from her high school yearbook:

Link: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=249741

Publishing Parker's tweets, James King of the Phoenix New Times confirmed that Parker and Loughner went to school together at Mountain View High School in Tucson and that both attended Pima Community College.

Anti-Flag echoed Loughner's themes, posted in his YouTube channel, of mind control and antipathy to the U.S. flag in "Red, White and Brainwashed," a theme to the group's 1996 album entitled "Die for the Government."

The lyrics:

They use the flag to control us
Brainwash us to be their patrotic slaves
Programs our minds by controlling what we learn
The only difference from the nazis is that
Someone tried to stop them
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
The government says they're working for us
Just as long as we increase their pay
But the minute they get into office we're a has-been
A yesterday
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
The red stands for the blood of all the people
We've slain
The white for this racist, bigoted foundation
The blue for your aryan eyes - all empty
Empty because you're taught to bow down to the man
Fly that flag, that flag of freedom
Do what you can for your country
Go and fight their wars for them
They're not following in our footsteps,
KILL THEM!
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
They call that being a patriot
I just call it ignorant
If you don't fight to make things better
Then you're the one betraying the country
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED
RED WHITE AND BRAINWASHED

Anti-Flag's song "Free Nation?" from their 1999 album entitled "A New Kind of Army," echoed themes that should be familiar to anti-war protesters with a radical political consciousness that traces back to the 1960s.

Here are the lyrics to "Free Nation?"

State official talks of freedom
THEY-TALK!
In this country that we live in
THEY-TALK!
Free to be harassed and be beaten by the pigs
YOUR RIGHTS? NO RIGHTS!
Till you're f------ broken, crippled, or until you're f------ DEAD!

YEAH!

They pass laws unfair to gays
THEIR-WORK
And separatist laws to keep the non-whites in their place
THEIR-WORK
Family values as a smoke screen blowing in your face
THEIR TRUTH? NO TRUTH!
Family values isn't something that shouldn't be based on hate

Based on hate...

Justice presides over them, late into the night,
A blind fold covering their eyes, but something isn't right...
Under their arms, there are shackles on her legs
And the hands that once held up her scales are bound,
Are bound in chains!
Bound in chains...

And behind their closed door, they conspire through the night
MORE WORK? SICK WORK!
And they won't stop until this nation is all straight and all white!

NO!!

They call it a free nation... but all it is, is A NAZI NATION!!!

The song "Free Nation?" was evidently so popular that Anti-Flag included it again, in their 2002 album entitled "Mobilize."

Or, perhaps Loughner drew inspiration from a song entitled "We Are the One" on their 2009 album "The People or the Gun," a song that appears to have borrowed from a theme developed in the "Matrix" movie trilogy, a theme Barack Obama wove into his 2008 presidential campaign.

Here are the lyrics from "We Are the One":

It's time to make a move,
Change the times or they'll change you.
False promises of more.
Check that s--- at the door.
We're the ones we've been waiting for.
We are the one...Unified under none.
We are the one...The one to carry on.
Warfare is everywhere.
Poisoned land, water, air.
This routine is long old.
It's time to break that mold.
We'll break it up, then we'll break out.
Withstand the change.
Tear it down rebuild again.
Evolve with vision.
This year's eve, we will breathe fury.
I will scale the city walls.

Reviewers typically describe Anti-Flag as violent punk rock anti-government political music that derives its rhetoric from the radical left.

In an interview with Punxrukus.blogspot.com, Justin Cathal Geever, who goes by the stage name Justin Sane, Anti-Flag's guitarist and lead singer/songwriter, summed up the theme behind Anti-Flag as follows: "The idea behind Anti-Flag is to bring down the false barriers that are put in place by people in power around the world. We think that Patriotism and Nationalism - they're imaginary boundaries that are being set up by the people in power that divide the masses. We want to break down those barriers and bring people together. Instead of having different flags around the world, to have people united under one flag."

Author Profile and Information, Click Here: http://www.redalert.wnd.com
By Jerome R. Corsi
(c) 2011 WorldNetDaily

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jerome R. Corsi received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in political science in 1972. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books THE OBAMA NATION: LEFTIST POLITICS AND THE CULT OF PERSONALITY and the co-author of UNFIT FOR COMMAND: SWIFT BOAT VETERANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST JOHN KERRY. He is also the author of AMERICA FOR SALE, THE LATE GREAT U.S.A., and WHY ISRAEL CAN'T WAIT. Currently, Dr. Corsi is a Senior Managing Director in the Financial Services Group at Gilford Securities as well as a senior staff writer for WorldNetDaily.com.

Used with permission

More on Sheriff Duprik

2011-01-10T15:36:00.002-05:00

Sheriff Who Suggested Talk Shows May Have Incited Attack Was Asked by Fellow Democrats to Apologize for 'Inflammatory' Remarks on Immigration; Blamed Local Violence on Policymakers Who Stopped Institutionalizing Mentally Ill
(CNSNews.com) – Arizona’s Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, who on Saturday suggested radio and television talk shows were somehow responsible for inciting a man who may be mentally disturbed to kill six people and wound 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), once blamed policymakers for violence in his county because they had stopped institutionalizing mentally ill people...

Clyburn thinks he's 'speeecial'...

2011-01-10T13:40:00.000-05:00

Here's a quote Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) made Sunday on Fox News: “We’ve had some incidents where TSA authorities think that congresspeople should be treated like everybody else,” he said. “Well, the fact of the matter is, we are held to a higher standard in so many other areas, and I think we need to take a hard look at exactly how the TSA interact with members of Congress.”

Doggone those TSA types thinking that Clyburn and other congresspeople aren't special. What is it with those jerks, huh?

Years back when I first started in management I had someone give me a tip. They said that at the point that anyone thought they were indispensable they became dispensable. I'd modify that statement a little to say that at the point any of our elected officials begin to think they're special, set apart, better than those they serve, then they need to be dispensed with. And no, I don't mean in any way other than via the ballot box. It's time for them to go home.

Clyburn is really stretching the Rahm axiom not to waste any crisis past the point of credulousness. He said the above in response to questions about the sad, horrific shooting in Arizona. It's bad enough that they're turning this horrible mass killing by a bent individual into political hay. Clyburn goes over into the rhealm of ridiculousness trying to tie the fact that some, and I bet it's only a few, congresspeople happen to get patted down by security. Just like the rest of us.

Ya think that all the TSA folks know who all their elected officials are? Can you imagine the indignation Clyburn must show when someone doesn't recognize him? I gather he must have been chosen for the indecent pat down and just didn't like it.

Who knows?

His comments just show how far removed from reality our elected officials have become.

If, as Clyburn says, they're held to a higher standard in so many ways, why do we have so many tax evaders, ethics problems and other issues among our body of Congress? How do they manage to slide on all these things that would have you or I sitting in jail or giving up our assets? I'd like for him to list the ways they're held to a higher standard. If I had an affair with a subordinate, I'd lose my job. Not so in Congress. If I didn't pay my taxes I'd face serious consequences. Not so in Congress.

I never, ever want to see an elite ruling class in Washington. I want them treated just like I'm treated. When we get away from having 'real' people in elected office then we've lost everything that America stands for.

House Dem calls for 'beefed up' security, special treatment for members by TSA
By Sean J. Miller - 01/09/11 10:27 AM ET A top House Democrat said the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) should change how members of Congress are screened at airports.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/136849-house-dem-calls-for-beefed-up-security-special-treatment-by-tsa

Obama reading Ronald Reagan's Biography

2011-01-03T08:50:00.000-05:00

Saw a few stories on this one... and some more saying Obama's job approval was down. We all know why he's reading about Ronald Reagan, he is studying his actions. I bet he is watching old tapes of Reagan speaking, too. Obama is going to try to act like he's more conservative, sort of, on the surface. If it ain't in the heart it won't work, but he is a good actor. It'll be more 'hope and change' type rhetoric without substance.

He's already moving to do more damage behind the scenes, bypassing Congress completely. We've lamented before that even Democrats should be having problems with the way he goes around them to enact changes via the EPA or wherever. But nope, they are lemmings. Wimpy lemmings, yes they are. (Yes, I've been reading Cat in the Hat and other Seuss books, yes I have).

Now Obama is studying Ronald Reagan.

Obama's actions scare me in general as I firmly believe he's systematically killing the best of what makes our America wonderful. The fact that he's reading Reagan takes my anxiety level up a notch. He's escalating his game. He is going to do whatever he needs to do to get re-elected, even if it means trying to channel Reagan's persona. Not Reagan's heart, not his beliefs, just the outside shell in an attempt to fool even more Americans.

It's great, I hope, that Republicans now have the power to thwart more of Obama's actions. But if someone isn't acting like an extremely vigilant watchdog they're going to serve as cover. We and the press will be distracted by fights in Congress while behind closed doors Obama and crew make a change here, a change there, all building to ultimately get whatever it is he wants.

We're out here, far away from the inner workings of Washington. We depend on the press, on insiders, on those who scour every action and zap it out via Twitter, Facebook, newsletter or blog. (I love the Heritage Foundation, best watchdog we have on 'our' side.)

I think that Obama truly has a multi-pronged plan in the works. He's going to Reaganize and Clintonize himself up a bit more. He's going to take his show on the road more. He's going to get more devious. He's going to play a public game of giving token submission to some Republican actions, fight them in the arena of public opinion via the press and other means, mouth the words those who vote on whims like to hear... to distract, to paint an image.

If we're not careful, even more aware, we're going to wake up in a few years and find we've lost the best of what makes this the greatest free country in history.

Then again, maybe if Obama reads enough about Reagan and watches enough of his speeches, he'll have a conservative conversion. Hey, I can hope and dream, right? Wow, that'd be interesting. If he did have a conversion, picked up some true conservative values, would any of us be able to believe it? What would it take to convince you he'd really, truly changed? Hmmm....

Republican Shell Game

2010-12-22T08:05:00.000-05:00

We had an election. We worked hard to make a difference in Washington and in our local elections. We thought we sent a clear message and that both the Democrats and Republicans would 'get it'. The Republicans keep saying they got it. It appears they didn't.

I'm watching what is going on in this lame duck session and I am more disgusted than ever. It seems to me that the Republicans are simply playing a tricky shell game. They are moving targets, hiding behind a "good" vote in order to shove through a "bad" vote.

I picture a group of the Republican top dogs sitting around discussing the START treaty. They want it to go through but know the public is against it, that there are extremely valid reasons to wait until next year. Maybe the START treaty was a benign, so they thought, vote they could "give" Obama and crew if they gave the Republicans a victory in another area.

Discussion ensues as to how they're going to appease the voters yet obtain their objective... The current powers-that-be in the Republican hierarchy scrutinize the records of each of their co-horts, checking to see how strong they are in their home states and decide Georgia's Johnny Isakson is on point, is to be one of the designated sacrifices to get the thing through. They allowed him to vote the way they think the public would like on a requisite number of votes and now it's his turn to give one up for the team.

They know they have Scott Brown, Olympia Snow and the liberal end of the Republican Party, they just have to come up with a few more to get it through. Then they can beat their chests to the public and say they really didn't want the START treaty to pass. Lindsey Graham, who has been sliding in the estimation of conservative voters, is allowed to be the one to act like he's righteously indignant, is in tune with the tea party/9-12, etc. conservatives.

Isakson says he can't go it alone, his fellow Georgian Saxby Chambliss is going to have to vote, too. He also wants to make sure he's going to get some pet project included somewhere along the line if he's going to take one for the team. Negotiations start.

I have come to believe that on each of the votes that "we" have lost during the lame duck session, and prior, that type negotiation, or something very similar, has happened. These past few weeks Republicans have handed over victory after victory to the Democrats and Obama. It would be interesting to track the pattern of who votes on the Dem side on various controversial bills over time to see how the shell game works. They've always played it, but now it seems they've gotten a little sneakier.

As with any shell game the shill running the game is faster well able to fool most of us. Even knowing we're being duped it's virtually impossible to catch them at their game.

Yes, we busted the Omnibus bill, sent the Dems packing on that one. But we could have had it all. We could have held them off until the next session. If the Republicans stood strong we would have started fresh instead of ending the year with a whole lot of horrific baggage.

I guess we're going to need to work even harder to get rid of the rest of them and hope they haven't corrupted the new bunch we just sent to Washington by the time we send them some support in two years. I didn't expect things to change overnight, but I certainly wanted to believe that more would have gotten the message.

Dem administration advancing 'North American Union' agenda

2010-12-18T09:45:00.002-05:00

- from back on the 16th, but I'm just now reading it... so I'm just now sharing with you. Reprinted with permission.

By Jerome R. Corsi
(c) 2010 WorldNetDaily

Acting quietly, below the radar of U.S. public opinion and without congressional approval, the Obama administration is implementing a key policy objective of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, or SPP, to erase the border with Mexico and Canada.

The administration is acting under a State Department-declared policy initiative described in a March 23 fact sheet titled "United States-Mexico Partnership: A New Border Vision."

"Mexico and the United States have a shared interest in creating a 21st century border that promotes the security and prosperity of both countries," the State Department declared. "The U.S. and Mexican governments have launched a range of initiatives that challenge the traditional view of 'hold the line' and are developing a framework for a new vision of 21st century border management."

At the same time, CTV News in Canada has obtained a draft copy of a declaration between the U.S. and Canada entitled "Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Competitiveness," to be implemented by a newly created Canadian-U.S. "Beyond the Border Working Group."

The two documents strongly suggest the Obama administration is pursuing a stealth bureaucratic methodology to establish a common North American border around the continent, encompassing the U.S., Canada and Mexico, while simultaneously moving to erase the borders between the U.S. and Mexico as well as between the U.S. and Canada.

Under the Bush administration's SPP, the U.S., Mexico and Canada organized some 20 different "shadow government" bureaucratic working groups composed of agency heads and undersecretaries in the three nations. The groups span a wide range of policy areas, from e-commerce, to aviation policy, to borders and immigration, trilateral travel, transportation, energy, environment, food and agriculture, health and financial services.

WND has reported since 2006 that a blueprint published in 2005 by the Council on Foreign Relations entitled "Building a North America Community" called for the establishment of a common security perimeter around North America by 2010 to facilitate the free movement of people, trade and capital between the three nations of North America.

In his 2001 book, "Toward a North American Community," American University professor Robert Pastor, a co-chair of the CFR blue ribbon committee that authored "Building a North American Community," called for the creation of a North American Commission, a North American Parliament, and a North American Court on Trade and Investment.

The language of the documents declaring "A New Border Vision" with Mexico and Canada could easily have been lifted directly from the CFR report or Pastor's book.

The 2005 CFR report "Building a North American Community" called on page xvii of the Foreword for the "establishment by 2010 of a North American economic and security perimeter, the boundaries of which would be defined by a common external tariff and an outer security perimeter."

CTV News reported that the language of the draft agreement specified that "A New Border Vision" for the U.S. and Canada would involve "a perimeter approach to security, working together within, at, and away from the borders of our two countries in a way that supports economic competitiveness, job creation and prosperity, and in a partnership to enhance our security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people and goods between our two countries."

Similarly, the U.S. State Department fact sheet calling for "A New Border Vision" with Mexico specified five areas of "joint border management, co-responsibility for cross-border crime, and shared commitment to the efficient flow of legal commerce and travel," namely: enhancing public safety, securing flows of people and goods, expediting legitimate commerce and travel, engaging border communities, and setting policy.

Under "setting policy," the State Department fact sheet with Mexico called for achieving rapid policy change through "an agile inter-agency process within each country as well as a means by which both governments can easily coordinate at a bi-national level."

This provides additional support for the conclusion that the bureaucratic "working groups" established under SPP in the Bush administration will continue to operate under Obama administration.

CTV News reported that the draft declaration of "A New Border Vision" with Canada similarly also specified a cross-border policy agenda, including:

* An integrated cargo security strategy;

* A joint approach to port and border security and screening;

* Cross-border sharing of information between law enforcement agencies;

* A closer working relationship between the two militaries in the event of emergencies;

* A new level of collaboration on preventing and recovering from counter attacks.

Affirming the continuance of the working group process, the draft declaration with Canada specifies the U.S. and Canada "intend to address threats at the earliest point possible, including outside the perimeter of our two countries."

The origin of the SPP can be traced to a trilateral summit meeting in Waco, Texas, March 23, 2005, between President George W. Bush, then-Mexican President Vicente Fox and then-Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.

At the end of the Waco summit, the three leaders simply declared that the U.S., Mexico and Canada were now in the Security and Prosperity Partnership, without the signing of any international agreement between the three countries or the ratifying of any trilateral treaty by the U.S. Senate.

The SPP in the administration of President Bush appeared designed to replicate the steps taken in Europe over a 50-year period following the end of World War II to transform an economic agreement under the European Common Market into a full-fledged regional government, operating as the European Union, with its own currency, the euro, functioning as the sole legitimate currency in what has become known as "the eurozone."

The concern was that under the SPP, the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, could evolve into a regional government, the North American Union, with a regional currency, the Amero, designed to replace the U.S. dollar, the Mexican peso and the Canadian dollar.

WND has reported analysts have believed the North American integration plan will proceed incrementally, largely below the radar, since the SPP was declared "dead" by one of its chief architects, American University Professor Robert A. Pastor, who for nearly 15 years has been a major proponent of building a "North American Community."

Remarks on the House floor by Congressman Paul Ryan (WI-01)

2010-12-17T21:47:00.000-05:00

Senior Member of the House Ways and Means Committee; Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee
December 16, 2010

Let me address just a few of the issues that I have been hearing here on the floor. I'm hearing some of my colleagues from the other side of the aisle saying "We just can't afford these tax cuts." Only in Washington is not raising taxes on people considered a "tax cut". What we're talking about here is not cutting taxes; we're talking about keeping taxes where they are and preventing tax increases.

Second point: "We – meaning the government – can't afford this?" Whose money is this after all? Is all the money that is made in America Washington's money, government's money? Or is it the people's money who earned it? I hear all this talk about the death tax, the estate tax: "This is going to give a windfall to these people. All this money going to these privileged people who have built these businesses, made all this money." It's their money! We have a country built on equal, natural rights, where you can make the most of your life, get up, work hard, take risks, become successful, create jobs, grow businesses, earn success – and yes, pass it on to your kids. What on earth is wrong with that? That's the American dream.

To my friends on my side of the aisle, who simply do not like some of the spending in this bill: I do not like it either. Let's cut the spending next year when were in charge. There is junk in the tax code, everybody agrees with this. This is advancing some of the junk in the tax code and what I say to my friends on the other side of the aisle next year: let's get rid of the junk in the tax code when we are in charge. Right now – let's not hit the American people with a massive tax increase.

If we want to get this debt under control, if we want to get our deficit going down, there are two things we need to be doing: we need to cut spending and we need to grow the economy. We need prosperity in the country. We need job creation. We need people going from collecting unemployment to having a job and paying taxes.

Is this a growth package? No, it's not a growth package. It's only a two year extension [of current tax rates]. We're not talking about a pro-growth economic package. We're talking about preventing a destructive economic package from being inflicted on the American people in about two weeks. The last thing you want to do is put more uncertainty in the economy, hit the economy with a huge tax increase, trigger a stock market sell-off and lose jobs. So do we want to make these permanent? You bet we do and that is exactly what we are going to be advancing.

We need economic growth. We need spending cuts. That's exactly what we intend on doing, and I think that's exactly the message that voters sent us. Let's prevent this tax increase from happening. Let's clean up the stuff we don't like in this bill next year. Let's make sure that when people go home for Christmas, they know that they are not going to have a massive tax increase a few days later.

This is a bill that is necessary to prevent our economy from getting worse. This is not a bill that is going to turn it around. Next year, let's pass the policies that will turn our economy around.

President George W. and Laura Bush to Sign Books in Atlanta!

2010-12-14T12:43:00.000-05:00

signing
George W. and Laura Bush
Decision Points

Thursday, December 16, 2010 • 11:30 AM
>>Borders – Atlanta - Buckhead
3637 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. C | Atlanta, GA | 404.237.0707

Customers MUST have a wristband in order to attend the event. A limited number of wristbands will be distributed on Wednesday, December 15th beginning at 10:00 am at the Borders Buckhead while supplies last. One wristband per person. EACH customer must purchase one copy of both Decision Points and Spoken From the Heart to receive a wristband, with a limit two books of each title per person. For

Net Neutrality: Will Netflix destroy the Internet?

2010-12-13T13:29:00.000-05:00

The FCC is slated to make some decisions on the issue on net neutrality on December 21. Given a looming video-inspired bandwidth crunch, it's important those rules are less about "rights" than economics.
READ FULL STORY

Have yourself a very liberal Christmas...

2010-12-11T19:30:00.002-05:00

Hi all...

2010-12-06T09:48:00.001-05:00

I've been extremely busy,but plan to post more often soon.

Change the future... become a Hollywood star!

2010-11-04T08:44:00.000-04:00

Want to really make a impact on the future? I've put some thought into all the things we're doing to turn this big American boat around and headed back in the right direction. We are doing a lot of the right things. In some cases we're feeling our way slowly, making a few rookie mistakes, but overall our tugboats are changing the course the country has drifted onto.

It took us a long time to get here and we missed a lot of the slow nudges that got us where we are today so we can't expect to fix things overnight.

I started noodling on how we could keep the country on course long after you and I have passed on. What could we do to have a long-term, ongoing impact?

Here's a few things I came up with.

Raise our children to take over the media. We need news reporters, commentators, media outlet owners, producers, and worker bees.

Raise our children to be movie 'stars', producers, directors, buy up or start companies and be the most needed behind-the-scene workers.

Raise our children to be teachers, college professors, instructors and to be involved if they can't go into the field. We need more conservatives in the PTO / PTA's. Let 'em join the Unions, work their way up the ranks then turn them into feed and cloth the hungry organizations or some sort of organization that could have a positive impact on something other than wallets.

We already have plenty of kids who are headed into politics I'd imagine. Every child is taught that they could be the next President!

What we need is to take a page out of the lib playbook. They've infiltrated or flooded the outlets that capture our children's minds and every day they twist and shape the future.

I know we can't really train or force our children in the directions I mentioned above. We're not raising robots or mindless individuals who go where we point. In fact, if we steer them in one direction chances are they'll rebel and end up as 3-piece suit wearing bankers or corporation owners! Which is not a bad thing by any means.

However, we can talk to them while we're watching television and plant the seeds that it would be great to have more balanced reporters, movie stars who had strong values, teachers who understood the Constitution. We could talk about how great it would be to be a Robert Murdock who puts value on fair and balanced reporting. We could point out the conservative movie stars who were able to 'make it' like Kelsey Grammar or Jon Voight (although we do need to find some younger examples for upcoming kids I'd think!).

I wonder if our college conservatives are considering anything other than the normal career paths? I can't imagine how tough it would be as a college age kid to try and go into the Arts!

Anyone else have ideas for shaping our future?

As Races End, Tea Party Plans for Next Phase

2010-11-03T11:18:00.000-04:00

Tea-party leaders, cheering as some of their movement's most prominent figures won U.S. Senate seats in Kentucky and Florida, said Tuesday's elections were only the beginning of their quest to transform government.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703778304575591081953307288.html?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Heritage%2BHotsheet&mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTopStories

Cup half full?

2010-11-03T10:48:00.000-04:00

"I've tried to be a team player with Republicans for years," said DeMint, who spent six years in the U.S. House before serving his first six-year term in the Senate. "I decided a couple years ago that that wasn't working. The Republican establishment seemed happy with the status quo. And we've got to change that."

Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/11/03/kingmaker-demint-urges-change-within-gop#ixzz14E3lSdcV

----

I had to start with that quote from South Carolina's Jim DeMint, who won handily last night. He has become my new political hero over the past years. Many other Republicans are saying things that sound good, but I'll have to wait and see if they've had a true conversion or if they're just talkin' the talk to keep their butts in power. DeMint is walkin' the walk and now he has some others to give him much needed support.

----

Cup half full?

I was thinking this morning about all that we've accomplished in recent months to start the much needed cleaning up of our political system. Last night we took the House, we cleaned clock across the country in state races including the governors races and we increased our voice in the Senate. I should be elated.

I am happy. However, I can't help focusing on that half empty part of the glass. I wanted to bump Reid in Nevada. I was hoping we'd pick up the Senate seat in California despite the fact that they lean so far to the left that you have to dig holes to accommodate their slant.

I'm watching Alaska and will be following it closely but it looks like Murkowski, who'll do anything to keep her power, who was helped tremendously by sitting Republicans in Congress, might go back to Washington. Buck in Colorado is headed toward a probable recount and we know how the Democrats manage to find felons to tip the scales in their favor... Who else? Oh, still waiting to see if we can take out Murray in Washington.

Yet we had a HUGE victory last night. As said, I should be elated. I will be when I put things in perspective, which I'm attempting to do as I write!

Who'd have thunk that we'd have come roaring back so quickly after our resounding defeat two years ago? Time Magazine declared us dead. We listened to chants of "O-baa-maa" and watched as he twisted our country into knots and began shredding the Constitution.

During the past year or so the Tea Party, 9-12 groups and other similar groups have sprung up to fight for our country. Patriots across the board fought to push us back on the path to American sanity and prosperity. We made historic strides in the election last night and have a clearer path to redistricting in key states thus keeping conservatives in control... as long as they do what they say they're going to do.

Tea Party / 9-12evs won many high profile races: Marco Rubio, Nicki Haley, Rand Paul and others.We added a whole bunch of sturdy conservative bricks on our path to a bright future last night.

We also defeated all the pro-same-sex marriage advocate Supreme Court justices in Iowa. Joe Manchin won but did so by promising not to support many Obama initiatives and leaning very conservative, a place he'll have to stay if he hopes to get re-elected. California said no to legalizing marijuana for recreational use. There's a long list of positives we should, we need to focus on! Me included.

Ah, I just figured out part of my angst... some of the Tea Party candidates lost last night...and some of our strong female candidates also lost. Some very visible candidates, ones that the so-called main-stream said couldn't win. They also painted Tea Party / 9-12ers as out-there, fringe elements somewhat, barely, successfully.

However, I'm concerned because those in the 'losing' states are probably very discouraged. I don't want those who busted butt for the candidates who lost to stay that way. I don't want to lose the momentum. I don't want to lose their enthusiasm. We're awake and working hard to shake up a system that is entrenched and intent on conserving their power. The power-mongers aren't going down easy and they have a whole lot of support from the media and big money. They know how to corrupt minds, prey on our weaknesses and our strengths.

We need to reach out to the folks in Nevada and Delaware and even California and start working on the next election. We need to see where we can make changes within the states. We need to continue to strengthen our patriotic networks so that we won't have a Lisa Murkowski saying it was "outside" influences that put a Joe Miller into a winning position.

One thing I learned last night is that we have to focus on state issues just as much as the national in the next election. We mainly made it about the direction of our country, what Obama and Pelosi were doing to change the foundation of the country, and similar. People came out and worked as a result of that, but I'd bet many thought it was 'the other guy' who was the problem, not their guy.

Here's some final thoughts: It seemed that those we lost were the result of 1) unions 2) huge money and soldiers on the ground from the Democratic machine 3) the ability to paint the Tea Party candidate as whacko with the complicity of the media 4) their ability to make it a state race rather than a national referendum.

The mainstream media is going to continue to try and paint Tea Party / 9-12evers and conservatives as out-there, fringe, crazy types. We're going to have to get smarter, vet our candidates much better and raise our children to be conservative reporters (smile). We need to take some pages from their book and work behind the scenes, get involved in the school system, change things from the very local level up. If we don't have strong candidates on our local school boards, commission and city council seats, then we don't have a foundation to build upon.

OK, I'm back in form... especially since I just heard that Alex Sink is getting ready to concede in the Florida Governor's race! The glass is more than half full at the moment. The 'machine' is going to try and make us focus on the half empty part and they're going to try and tip some of the water out of our glass. We have to keep drilling wells, turn the faucets up and keep working to fill that old glass up completely.

Republicans, Tea Party, Americans for Prosperity, Pajamas Media...

2010-10-28T21:39:00.000-04:00

Yowzer, this "alert" paints us all as bad, bad, people... Ya'll need to quit complaining about voter fraud, it's upsetting the left ... Hey, according to these guys, it never happens, we're making it up...

From Minority News (Black Radio Network):

POLITICAL TURMOIL

Editors Note: The following was released today by Estelle Rogers, Director of Advocacy, of Project Vote a national nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) that works to empower, educate, and mobilize low-income, minority, youth, and other marginalized and under-represented voters.

WASHINGTON - As the hotly contested November election nears, it should be no surprise that voter intimidation and suppression schemes are ramping up too. Even beyond the usual partisan pre-election hysteria, this year the Tea Party has made "voter fraud" a rallying cry. Never mind that it's been proven time and again that voter fraud is largely a myth; it excites the right-wing base...

http://www.blackradionetwork.com/page.php?storyID=17939

You do know this kind of stuff is used to stir up their base, right? We knew it was going to be a tough election, can't begin to imagine what's going to happen between now and 2012 election...

Fired for wearing a USS George H W Bush shirt and hat

2010-10-26T08:52:00.000-04:00

There's a much better story / video on World Net Daily, but for some reason the code isn't working on here, just keeps vanishing. So, here's a link: http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=220049

I heard about this yesterday, or maybe the day before and didn't follow up to look at the details. Unfortunately, I am so used to this kind of story I just glanced and kept on going. But you know, if we don't pay attention to every story, if we don't speak up, if we don't keep fussing or commenting when things like this occur, then sooner or later it will become commonplace and people will just accept the new norm... so, I'm sharing and fussing.

Back in the 60's and 70's it was supposedly all about 'free speech', the rights of the individual... ah, how times haven't changed. Now they're mouthing the same words and thoughts, but the reality is glaring and many of those who might have been participated in the sham back then have wised up. It was and is really all about conformity, shutting down speech and expressions that don't promote a certain point of view. The intolerance of the unions, the left, the "I know better than you" crowd is, well, um, intolerable. I am fine if others want to speak their mind, but when they step over the line to stop me from speaking mine simply because they disagree, then they're nothing but dictators.

Think back to the 60's and 70's if you're old enough or have done some studying of that period of time. Everyone had to hate the war, wear the same type clothes, like the same kind of music, hate those money-grubbing capitalist pigs, hate the chemicals and pesticides, and so on. False words back then that captured the minds of the young, false words now that are doing the same thing... except those 60's and 70's "rebels" are now in positions of power and they're corrupting the minds of the young. Difference being they're now the rich fat-cats in many cases.

I'm so glad that we have a venue to speak our minds... and that many of us don't expect everyone to conform... that we truly believe in individual responsibility... that we've wised up...

Two stories to ponder...

2010-10-22T12:50:00.000-04:00

Union Leads in Outside Spending
The Wall Street Journal reports that while most attention has been given to the large spending initiatives by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other pro-Republican groups, the public-sector union American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, is "now the biggest outside spender of the 2010 elections" and is spending $87.5 million to boost Democratic candidates. Said the head of AFSCME's political operations: "We're the big dog. But we don't like to brag."

AND

Biden Says Outside Funding Jeopardizes House Control
Vice President Biden told Bloomberg TV that Democrats will retain control of the U.S. Senate but he worries that "hundreds of millions of dollars in anonymous donations to campaign groups backing Republicans could cost his party its House majority." Said Biden: "We will keep control of the Senate for certain, and I believe we'll keep control of the House. The only caveat I'd put in terms of the House is how much impact [the outside funding has]."

---

Money. ONE group is funneling $87 plus million to Democrats while Biden blathers about anonymous donations backing Republicans. One is a fact, the other is more Biden smoke. I thought it was interesting to see both stories, somewhat counter to each other, in the same email update (Teagan Goddard's Political Wire).

The Dems are laying the groundwork for the thrashing they're going to try and give the Republicans if they wrest control of House and / or Senate from Dems. I'm sure Democratic operatives already have strategies in place across the country for the way they're going to attack Republicans, blame them, attempt to twist things to bamboozle the American public over the next two years.

Think about how the try to blame the MINORITY Republicans for every lost vote, how they cast them as the party of no, the ones who have stopped Obama's agenda. Barf. Ooops, I guess that wasn't exactly an elegant response.

They conveniently forget that they held Congress for the last two years of Bush's term and stopped the reforms of Freddie Mac / Fannie May that Bush wanted... and blame Bush for all the problems we're experiencing.

I can see the slime oozing as they speak sometimes.

If we thought the last two years were bad, wait until we have the ability to really do something. The plans are being laid and the media is being primed. We need to be prepared, too.

Mara Liasson may have safest job in the country...

2010-10-22T07:31:00.000-04:00

NPR has placed themselves in an untenable situation.

After the debacle of Juan Williams absurd firing, any of their analysts or reporters who want to make money as contributors on Fox News should now have carte blanche. NPR can't fire Mara Liasson. If they do, they prove what everyone knows, not just the conservatives --- it's a lib media outlet.

Of course, they should also have to fire Mara Liasson based on their rationale for firing Juan. She expresses her opinions sitting right next to Juan every Sunday and at other times, too.

NPR would also have to fire Nina Totenberg, Terry Gross and well, Vivian Schilling, NPR's CEO.

One of the reasons given for firing Williams in an internal NPR email by Schilling was "analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts, and that’s what’s happened in this situation. As you all well know, we offer views of all kinds on your air every day, but those views are expressed by those we interview – not our reporters and analysts."

Right after issuing that she spoke publicly about the situation making references to Williams psychiatrist, inferring he was seeing one regarding his views. Views I might add that are shared by most libs and conservatives and even many Muslim Americans. Schilling rambled on, giving her opinions about the situation and, in my opinion, she opened NPR up to a slam-dunk lawsuit from Williams. Slam-dunk as long as the case doesn't end up in front of a lib activist judge.

If NPR is serious about the reasons they gave for firing Williams, then they need to clean house. I've been listening to NPR for countless years. My drive back and forth to work used to take 45 or more minutes each way. I enjoyed NPR then and still have it on my radio dial and listen to some of the shows. I had to quit listening to some of the shows I used to enjoy simply because there was so much Bush bashing, trashing of conservatives, and now they go after the Tea Party and others.

Listen to NPR for any length of time and Schilling's assertion that views are expressed by those they interview, not their reporters and analysts is cow poop.

All day yesterday I saw examples on TV and via the Internet of their so-called balanced reporters and analysts bigoted comments in regards to conservatives. They are down-right nasty in some of the comments they've made on ABC, NBC, CNN and other outlets. Newsbusters has documented a list that is damning and they only touched on a few examples.

The hypocrisy of NPR is appalling.

The donation of over a million dollars by George Soros with all the stipulations he included is interesting, possibly sinister.

I'd like to see what would happen if George Bush, Karl Rove or some other conservative NPR and friends likes to trash made a donation with similar restrictions. What if they wanted NPR to hire 100 conservative reporters? Sponsor conservative programs? How many of you think that all of a sudden there's be a policy violation of some sort that kept them from accepting the money with strings?

NPR needs to 'fess up, get honest. Then they need to learn to stand on their own two feet and get off tax-funded welfare. If they have programming that America wants to hear then they should be able to survive without living off the federal teat and begging for money.

Speaking of begging for money, this is their annual fund-raising week. I would bet that every lib out there is ponying up right now to ensure they have a big week just to make a point. I would also bet that phone lines are going to be tied up with people complaining about the firing of Juan Williams.

I need something to make me giggle... I think I'm going to call and make a nice donation to NPR this week with some strings... re-hire Juan Williams, fire Schilling.

-----

NPR's Nina Totenberg Dismisses Tea Parties as 'Cockamamie'
NPR's Nina Totenberg on Friday night was unsure as to whether the tea parties have "any legs are not" since "at almost any given time any cockamamie proposition in America will have at least 25 percent of those polled supporting it." On Inside Washington she called the anti-tax and anti-spending rallies "a good stunt," before declaring Americans "pay relatively small taxes" and then lecturing those unappreciative protesters about how taxes provide, as if they want taxes totally eliminated, "a civilized kind of social compact where you don't have massive civil eruptions. That is what taxes are for." To which, Newsweek's Evan Thomas chimed in: "I'm all for paying more taxes."

Christine M. Flowers: Foul air at National Public Radio
By Christine M. Flowers
Philadelphia Daily News
AFEW months ago, Mississippi Public Radio temporarily dropped "Fresh Air," the program hosted by local legend Terry Gross. The reason given was the program's "gratuitous discussions on issues of an explicit sexual nature." Read more: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/20101022_Christine_M__Flowers__Foul_air_at_National_Public_Radio.html#ixzz135NBwGBr
Terry Gross and Bill O'Reilly: Round Two
This is a partial transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," Sept. 21, 2004, that has been edited for clarity.
Watch "The O'Reilly Factor" weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and listen to the "Radio Factor!"
BILL O'REILLY, HOST: About a year ago, I appeared on NPR's "Fresh Air" program, hosted by Terry Gross (search), to talk about my book, "Who's Looking Out for You," now out in paperback. The interview became very, very controversial. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133177,00.html

"I Want Your Money" Movie Trailer

2010-10-18T11:33:00.000-04:00

Love Chris Christie! Video with Meg Whitman, shutting up a heckler...

2010-09-24T09:17:00.000-04:00

We hafta clone this guy somehow.

Spitzer Says Cuomo is "Dirtiest, Nastiest" Player

2010-09-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

In a fascinating interview on CNN, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) makes clear he's not a big fan of Andrew Cuomo (D).

Said Spitzer: "The problem that Andrew has is that everybody knows that behind the scenes, he is the dirtiest, nastiest political player out there and that is his reputation from years in Washington."

"When his father was governor, he was the tough guy. He has brass knuckles and he played hard ball. He has a lot of enemies out there. Nobody's been willing to stand up to him. When it appeared he was going to win, it was inevitable. If it appears not to be inevitable, things may change."

"He has a lot of folks, he's really been on the wrong side of who may stand up and say, wait a minute, he may not want to pretend he plays that game. He does, and he's worse at it." Spitzer Says Cuomo is "Dirtiest, Nastiest" Player

----

Seems to me there are a LOT of nasty, hard-hitting, rotten eggs in political office AND running for political office. It's amazing how much I've learned since starting to pay attention to those who shape our future. So glad for the Internet which gives us the ability to read all sides of issues (usually it's more than two sides, more like a circle of swirling opposing ideas!).

I know it takes someone with high regard for their own abilities to run for office. You also have to have super strong skin and the ability to think fast, talk smart. But some of these people are certifiable or psychopaths it seems. Not saying Cuomo is either, don't know much about him... Thought it was interesting that a fellow Dem, albeit one with questions attached to his reputation, would come out with the above.

Fantastic ad, please watch and share

2010-09-22T17:08:00.003-04:00

Someone just zapped a link to this on Twitter... sorry, didn't catch who it was or I'd say thanks on here. This is a great ad, hope you'll help make it viral, spread it around.

Note: I haven't checked out Citizens for the Republic, but watched a few of their videos, saw their president talking with Cavuto on Fox News. Seems like a group I could get behind...

Ms. Big Stuff Murkowski

2010-09-22T08:48:00.003-04:00

Change the lyrics very slightly... and think Lisa Murkowski... or maybe even Barack Obama. Big Stuff. Who do you think you are?

Jean Knight, Mr. Big Stuff

(Oh yeah, ooh)
Mr. Big Stuff
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You're never gonna get my love

Now because you wear all those fancy clothes (oh yeah)
And have a big fine car, oh yes you do now
Do you think I can afford to give you my love (oh yeah)
You think you're higher than every star above

Mr. Big Stuff
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You're never gonna get my love

Now I know all the girls I've seen you with
I know you broke their hearts one after another now, bit by bit
You made 'em cry, many poor girls cry
When they try to keep you happy, they just try to keep you satisfied

Mr. Big Stuff, tell me tell me
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You're never gonna get my love

I'd rather give my love to a poor guy that has a love that's true (oh yeah)
Than to be fooled around and get hurt by you
Cause when I give my love, I want love in return (oh yeah)
Now I know this is a lesson Mr. Big Stuff you haven't learned

Mr. Big Stuff, tell me
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You're never gonna get my love

Mr. Big Stuff
You're never gonna break my heart
Mr. Big Stuff
You're never gonna make me cry

Mr. Big Stuff, tell me
Just who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You're never gonna get my love
Mr. Big Stuff

Morning laugh... and rant...

2010-09-22T08:16:00.000-04:00

Murkowski Campaign Misspells its Candidate's Name

Given that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) hopes thousands of Alaskans will write her name onto their ballots, she can't be happy that her campaign pulled an ad after urging voters to go to "LisaMurkwski.com", the Washington Post notes.

Ironically, the ad aimed to inform voters how to correctly file a write-in ballot.

-----

Loved it that Republicans are punishing Murkowski. She is the poster child for "it's all about me, Me, ME". She is putting her own ego above that of not just the people of Alaska, but the Republican party as a whole, conservatives across the country and the overall future of our country.

Ya know, sometimes you just have to be willing to put your own hurt and anger aside and try to channel your better side. She probably could have used her loss and status to garner respect and a good job of some sort, maybe even come back in a few years to run for another seat successfully. The fact that she chose to hurt and lash out rather than do the right thing shows that she is not someone we want in office. The sense of entitlement that some of our political 'elite' have is shameful.

One note on the Murkowski name misspelling -- from what I've heard, it's doubly critical for her because if anyone misspells her name on the ballot, it's tossed. SO, if someone puts an "a" instead of the "o" or a "y" instead of the "i", the ballot is tossed. Let's hope that there are a lot of ballots tossed, or better yet, so few that they give her ego the beating it deserves.

If Joe Miller loses and the seat goes to a Democrat because of her ego, she will be a pariah forever. I hope Joe Miller trounces both his opponents.

We may be dependent upon election "quirks" to stop Dems

2010-09-10T18:13:00.003-04:00

I read a couple of articles over the past few days on election 'quirks' that might be to our benefit in November. We all know that the Dems are planning on ramming their agenda down our throats AFTER the Nov. 2nd election if they lose the majority, probably even if they don't. Come January hopefully they won't have the ability to cripple our country any further... as long as the Republicans stay smart and hang tough.

It's kind of crazy when you think about it. They've had the majority plus the Presidency for 18 months and could have passed anything they wanted. Instead they're going to wait until after the elections to do the worst of the worst in hopes that a few Dems won't be forced to vote and lose their election. If some of these all-of-a-sudden-sorta converted leaning-more-to-the-right Dems win, they'll become back-sliders the day after the election.

Anyway, there's a possibility that election laws may keep the Dems from having enough votes to slam stuff through regardless of their desire and attempts. Per the article below, and a similar one in the Wall Street Journal, they may not have as many votes as they'd like.

The article in the Wall Street (New Spat: Senator's Swearing-In Date, Sept. 10) highlights a dispute over what happens when someone is appointed. The Republicans officials are saying the state law indicates that Michael Bennet (D) steps down Nov. 2nd if his opponent, Ken Buck (R), wins.

This is interesting stuff and will be worth watching... Let's hope the courts interpret the law the way the Republicans see it for a change.

Quirks May Cut Senate Democrats' Majority in Lame-Duck Session

Quirks in state election laws may reduce Senate Democrats’ majority right after the November election, making the always-difficult task of legislating during a possible lame-duck session even tougher. The terms of Democrats Roland Burris of Illinois, Ted Kaufman of Delaware and West Virginia’s Carte Goodwin, all appointed to their seats, will expire with the Nov. 2 elections...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-08/election-law-quirks-may-cut-senate-democrats-majority-in-lame-duck-term.html

Box office $'s down this summer...

2010-09-02T07:35:00.004-04:00

I just read the article posted below on the dismal dollars pulled in from movies this summer. It caught my eye mostly because of John Cusack's rant over the weekend. I scanned the article, which was linked from Breitbart's Big Hollywood site. It has all kinds of reasons, bad movies, social media letting everyone know immediately that a movie was bad, higher ticket costs, etc.

I have a few reasons movies aren't bringing in the audiences that article author Paul Dergarabedian didn't list, probably didn't even think of when writing the article.

1. People like me whose movie attendance has declined as the rhetoric from Hollywood "starts" ratcheted up. We're putting our money where our principles are these days, paying attention and aren't going to support people who are contributing dollars and influence to those trying to destroy America. (see yesterday's blog)

2. People are hanging onto their money. Duh. If you have cable or a DVD player, you'll get to see the movie sooner or later if you care. Why spend $10, $15 or whatever on a ticket, plus the cost of overpriced (understandably) popcorn and sodas? At home you can spend time with your family, pause when you want to go to the bathroom and the popcorn is cheap. Have a few friends over and make it fun!

3. The messages in the movies aren't the kind that many parents want their children learning. I am personally so tired of the social engineering that's going on in movies... and television programs, in particular those cute little kids things they feed straight into the minds of our impressionable children.

4. We have better things to do. Been to a 9-12 meeting? a tea party rally? your local political party group meeting? watching Glenn Beck and thinking there are more important things afoot these days? paying more attention to the 'real world'? The elections this year are attracting much, much more interest than in the past. We're more involved, there's more at stake. Sure we all need a break from non-stop gloom, doom, working out butts off to save the country type activities, but we're more discerning now. Plus, I think many of us are spending more quality time with our families. Going to a movie is not a 'real' family activity -- you can't talk, interact, you can't comment when they push a Hollywood idea of the world at your kids...

I could come up with some more if I put my mind to it, but I am heading out the door in about ten minutes. After yesterday's article on Cusack and Dave Radio I had to comment... Have a fantastic day, register a new conservative voter and make it better than fantastic .

Summer 2010 box office: What went right, what went wrong (HWD)
By Paul Dergarabedian
The opening line of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" sums up the summer movie season of 2010 most accurately: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." and so it goes as we hit a revenue record of $4.35 billion, yet find ourselves with the lowest attendance since 1997.
http://hollywoodwiretap.com/?module=news&action=story&id=51536

Cusak, Hate, Satanic Death wishes

2010-09-01T07:19:00.003-04:00

John Cusack has gone of the deep end... the same deep end that many other libs have jumped into with open arms. He's called for a 'Satanic death cult center' at Fox News HQ, Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich, GOP, etc. on Twitter over the weekend.

Every time I see a mean-natured twisted comment or rant, get attacked, read the stuff that comes out of so many liberal / progressive type's mouths these days I wonder what happened to the peace and love the left has claimed as their mantle from the 60's forward.

I got into it slightly over the weekend with a local radio personality who tweeted some maybe-not-quite-so-Cusack tweets about Glenn Beck, but hateful none the less. One of his fellow DJ's joined the conversation, making it two from Dave radio. I retweeted a tweet from someone who'd seen the same comments I saw which attracted the DJ's attention, rightfully so since the tweet had his name in it ;-)

I don't do hate. I can debate issues with people who don't attack individuals, who don't wish for satanic death cult centers, who don't spit venom. Once I see that kind of anger I'm done, no point. I blocked the radio DJs, took their radio station off my presets in the car... and now I will never be able to watch a movie with John Cusack in it again. That's a sacrifice of sorts as I have enjoyed some of his movies, usually put them on the "going to see list" when he's in one.

It used to be you could watch movies and not know a darn thing about the people in them aside from fluff. It was great to get lost in a movie and sorta believe the actor could be the person they portrayed. Once Hollywood and music-types started opening their mouth and spewing hate it became impossible for me to transcend reality and get into some of their movies.

It's impossible to see a hate-a-conservative type playing someone in the military or a political type... or even in some cases a business person... and feel they're credible, ignore their well-voiced comments in opposition to the type character they're playing.

Since some of you are going to fuss at me and say that Cusack has been a long-time Obama supporter, left winger type, I'll have to admit that I don't hear most of the stuff they have to say until it hits the current Cusack-level. When it reaches my non-Hollywood following attention level, it's gotta be pretty rabid.

I watched a good portion of Glenn Beck's Kennedy Center thing on Friday night. It was nothing but good stuff, positive talk. On the sidebar there was a running commentary by viewers. A whole bunch of lefties and haters were making very nasty, snide, ugly comments about Beck. Personal stuff, attacks on his motivation, his personality, etc. Nothing of substance. Ditto the comments by the radio DJs. Just hateful stuff, personal attacks. It was interesting, as always, to see the same talking points being typed by the haters.

At least Cusak was original in his hate-mongering.

What's so weird is these same people who are slapping at conservatives for being racist, evil, horrible people are doing so in such a stinkin', evil, horrible, nasty way. Kettle black scenario, except they're talking about a kettle that's pretty shiny for the most part (yes, there are some uglies on the right side, too). But the hypocrisy of saying evil things and thinking it's OK is mind boggling. If I said the exact same things some of them are saying about a progressive, a liberal, a Democrat, or one of their icons, I'd be forever under attack and vilified. They say that stuff and the lib left pats 'em on the back. Skewed world.

So, OK, no more Cusak movies. Darn, darn, darn. He's cute and funny... oh wait, no, he's really not funny, I just saw who he really is via his Twitter messages.

I'm in mini-mourning. Because of a couple of stupid radio DJs I gave up my Dave radio station this weekend and now I'm choosing to give up John Cusak movies. Pretty soon the only people who'll going to movies will be progressives. At least I have a number of good rock radio station alternatives!

I've been reading all the articles and comments as to why various people think it's becoming so vicious. I think it's probably a combination of most of the factors I read. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts if you'd like to share.

I think social media is a part of it. We're anonymous and can vent our deepest, darkest thoughts. It's immediate so people can have a few drinks and then shoot off their mouth, no second tries.

It's more than just social media though, it's more than the main-stream media, more than the availability of news, more than the war... Did 9-11 trigger something or release something in us that was already there? Was it a trigger or just part of a series of events that brought us to this clear divide?

If we survived the next few years and history isn't re-written as they're trying to re-write it now, it will be interesting for our kids to look back at all the triggers. Those in the future will have much more information available to them about this time in history. We'll be able to chronicle thoughts that went out via blogs, facebook, twitter, etc.

John Cusack Calls for 'Satanic Death' of Fox News, GOP Leaders

Actor John Cusack went on a caustic Twitter rampage Sunday evening, attacking former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Fox News.

“I AM FOR A SATANIC DEATH CULT CENTER AT FOX NEWS HQ AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICES ORDICK ARMEYAND NEWT GINGRICH-and all the GOP WELFARE FREAKS,” Cusack tweeted.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/08/31/actor-john-cusack-calls-satanic-death-fox-news-gop-leaders/?test=faces

A Muslim College in America...

2010-08-28T07:38:00.000-04:00

Muslim liberal arts college takes root in Berkeley
Zaytuna College hopes to address U.S. Muslim community's desire for leaders who understand Islam in a western context.
At a fundraiser in February for Zaytuna College, organizers seemed intent on preempting critical questions.

"Why a Muslim College in America?" the Anaheim event was headlined, as if anticipating the query from audience members.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beliefs-zaytuna-20100828,0,741658.story

Why indeed.

Sarah Palin in Atlanta with Karen Handel

2010-08-09T21:56:00.000-04:00

Thought some of you might want to watch the video of Sarah's talk today. She was here in Atlanta to support Karen Handel who's running for Georgia Governor. I'm a huge fan of Karen's, known her for many years and think she'll make a fantastic governor. She's honest, ethical, a "real" person who is tough enough to stand up to Obama and all that Washington is throwing at us... Tomorrow is the run-off --- if you live in Georgia and you're registered to vote, go VOTE. If you're not registered, get your butt off the couch and do it... then start paying attention so you can make an informed choice in November.

Here are the links to Sarah's talk today (2 parts):

http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=490981532001#/News/Palin+Speech+Supporting+Handel+Part+1/49906865001/50317397001/490981532001

http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=490987384001#/News/Palin+Speech+Supporting+Handel+Part+2/49906865001/50317397001/490987384001

As Greta said, ouch, this ad hurts...

2010-08-09T09:49:00.000-04:00

Greta (@gretawire) just tweeted this and she's right, it hurts... Great ad mainly 'cause it's right on the money (fund raising money ala Obama I suppose).

Watch and share! They done good

Why do government employees need unions?

2010-08-04T10:34:00.000-04:00

Someone on Twitter (sorry, flew by quickly) just re-tweeted a point made by @seanhackbarth... This isn't the exact quote, but the gist was, 'why do we government workers need unions, doesn't the government treat them fairly?".

Wow, what an excellent point!

If you take a look at all the stats regarding how much government employees are paid as compared to the private sector, factor in their benefits, it becomes even harder to understand why they need the unions these days... Well, I guess someone has to help them get those extraordinary perks, huh?

Think about the whole picture. You and I pay their salary. Thus, you and I are paying their union dues and keeping the union bosses hoeing in high cotton as my Grandmother used to say.

Soooo, we are paying people to cajole the government to take more of our hard earned dollars to give to government workers. Sweet --- for those who have government jobs!

I've shared before that I used to work for the government. I wasn't union thank goodness or I'd have quit long before I did. The day my previously non-government job was swallowed up in the government bureaucracy is the day I started realizing that my work-aholic tendencies would not work well in that environment. When you're called into the bosses office and told you're working too hard and to cool it 'cause you're making the rest of the employees look bad, it's time to get back into the private sector (unless your a slug).

I'm not a huge fan of the government work force, federal or state, with or without union protections. Where are you treated the worst when interacting with others for services? Think about going to renew or get your driver's license, dealing with the IRS, and other areas that require you to interact with government employees. In the private sector they have to treat you well or suffer the consequences of a business down the tubes sooner or later. Not so for the government. Bad service? Who's their competition?

It's time to get rid of the unions for government employees. Our tax dollars should not be used to work against the needs of the very citizens who pay those taxes. We need to do more than clean out Congress, we need a clean sweep all the way down. Make the government employees have to live up to the same standards as the private sector and end the crazy protections that have us paying salaries rather than getting rid of the chaff. We can start by getting rid of the union protection racket.

(It crossed my mind a number of times as I wrote the above that I might wake up one day to see union thugs with bats standing on my front lawn... I guess I'm going to be on every government list before it's all said and done.)

Brave New Scary World

2010-08-03T07:52:00.000-04:00

Remember the book Brave New World? That book, along with 1984 and similar tombs, portray a future that none of us want to experience. I don't really think we're heading toward Huxley's version of anti-utopia, but there are shades of Brave New World, 1984, We, and maybe even Animal Farm erupting which are far more scary than what those authors imagined. Why? We're living them, not reading them. We can't put the book aside and pick up another lighter story.

We're being driven there by a government that "says" they want to take care of everyone and make sure all are treated well. Unfortunately, their idea of making sure all are treated well seems to be that those who work should pick up the tab for those who don't so everyone is "equal". We're dangerously close to having more have-nots in need of a hand out than producers. We all know that when those with their hands out vote they'll support the ones who make the best promises.

We're in a litigious society which to me is a symptom more of the "I don't want to work for my living" sickness than greed. Those who hire the attorney to fight for more than they deserve want to hit the jackpot. Everyone sues these days. Whether it's vengeance, anger, hurt, or another emotion that starts the ball rolling, ultimately it becomes a quest for money. Tort reform would be fantastic, but it's going to take a re-shaping of the free-world's thinking to truly reform the court system.

Hmmm, a thought... would I trade the current nationalizing of our health care system for nationalizing the court system. Oh, shudder, no. Banish that thought. Tort reform it is!

Similarly, we're going way, way too far in trying to make sure everyone feels good about themselves. Did anyone read that short story by Huxley (I think) where the world had evolved to a point where no one was allowed to excel? I remember a scene where the main character is watching a ballet at the theater. The ballerina's are all wearing various weights on their legs or encumbered somehow so that none dances better than the other. It's been a long time, but it seems that one ballerina ditches her weights and soars, giving everyone a glimpse of true beauty.

No one is bad these days.... as long as you're not a conservative or part of the 9/12 or Tea Party movement of course. Everyone whines about their civil rights being violated and the government steps in to protect, or sue, or threaten. You as an American citizen are not allowed to think less of someone or create something that isn't equally good for all. If someone out there can't use your product, the government will step in to make you change it...

It really does get ridiculous sometimes as illustrated in the following article. Where are we headed? 1984? Atlas Shrugged? Brave New Scary World? Soylent Green?

Byron York - Why did feds claim Kindle violates civil rights?

Did you know the Justice Department threatened several universities with legal action because they took part in an experimental program to allow students to use the Amazon Kindle for textbooks?

Last year, the schools -- among them Princeton, Arizona State and Case Western Reserve -- wanted to know if e-book readers would be more convenient and less costly than traditional textbooks. The environmentally conscious educators also wanted to reduce the huge amount of paper students use to print files from their laptops.

It seemed like a promising idea until the universities got a letter from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, now under an aggressive new chief, Thomas Perez, telling them they were under investigation for possible violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Obama's Beach Blanket Recovery: It's Happy, Snappy & Incredibly Crappy

2010-08-02T08:07:00.000-04:00

This is spot on, funny yet very serious... humorous yet sad... ya gotta watch and pass it along!

State to citizens: No more petitions for you

2010-08-01T08:22:00.003-04:00

Proposal would 'virtually eliminate' citizens' right to decide referendums

An amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution proposed by Democrats could virtually put an end to citizen-initiated referendums in the state. The amendment, proposed jointly by state Rep. Byron Rushing in the House and by state Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem in the Senate, would exclude any citizen petition that deals with issues concerning a person's right to "the enjoyment of life, liberty and property, according to standing laws."
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=185741

It's getting stranger and stranger in our world. One has to wonder if the people who propose things like this think beyond the moment. They seem to have an inability to look at the long-term affects of the legislation they propose, just like those who are doing the Obama crew's bidding.

We all keep asking the question of the public and the libs 'would you be applauding if the Republicans or Bush White House did the vast majority of things "your" folks are doing?'. The answer would be a resounding NO. They'd be screaming about the government invading their privacy, curtailing their freedoms, and so on.

We face multi-front ignorance mixed in with willful short-sighted self-interest these days.

The legislators are putting in legislation and acting with an eye out for immediate returns, not thinking about the long-term ramifications... or how the next "regime" might turn their new laws around on the very people now doing their bidding.

On another front we have the ignorance of the masses who embrace the platitudes, slogans and hype. Many are simply good people who believe the love mantra chanted as the cloak for under-the-sheets deceit. Others are just barely voting-age kids who haven't moved outside the cocoon of parental protection into the real world yet. Some are wolves in sheep's clothing. Others play the pied piper. It's a mixed crowd of all types, some who simply see that they can make a profit and believe they'll be part of the new elite.

Then there are those who are simply corrupt and will jump on any bandwagon that keeps them in power and/or riches. There are those who are scrambling to keep their power. There are true believers... it's a huge mixed bag. You have the ultra rich plagued with guilt about their riches who can be easily played, the ultra rich who don't have guilt but love being sucked up to... Then there's the media, a class all its own. Hard to figure out why they're so eager to give up their freedom of speech, their ability to be independent, isn't it?

Ah well, we all know we're at a cross-roads. We all know the very fundamental foundations of our freedoms are being attacked not just daily, but every minute of the day.

The name of the game is power. Every action the current regime has enacted, every attack, every change, ultimately corrals power into the White House and creates a "new" upper power class. We've seen similar actions throughout history. They ultimately fail because they can not be sustained. But oh, the times are dark until the people rebel or their system completely collapses.

We are in a unique situation when compared to similar country take-downs in the past in that we have the Internet, we have the ability to communicate and to shed light on actions. In the past things were done under the proverbial cloak of darkness. Today, everything sooner or later passes through the network and we see what they're doing.

I know Obama and friends are trying to shut down the media and our ability to write, share, expose what they're doing. November can't come soon enough.

Overcriminalization

2010-07-31T09:18:00.000-04:00

"Overcriminalization" includes applying criminal sanctions to conduct that traditionally has not been considered inherently wrongful, federalizing crime that properly belongs under state jurisdiction, and attaching criminal penalties without criminal intent. Reasonable people may disagree whether any specific bill included in the Legislative Update Alert is an abuse of criminal law or is in fact justified. Nevertheless, the Legislative Update Alert includes all bills our researchers have identified that add or enhance federal criminal penalties. Please visit us at Overcriminalized.com

It's part of the Heritage Foundation's huge library of things to scare the you-know-what out of you! Of course, they do more than scare you, they give you the tools to fight the good fight, too.

It's a great resource and chocked full of information that shows you just exactly what "our" politicians are trying to do to us. When you read this, combine it with all the other bits and pieces that we hear and read, you get a very clear, shockingly clear, picture of where this White House, and all their minions in Congress and throughout the country, are taking us. Guaranteed to spur you to work harder to change the culture in our government.

One thing I found interesting personally is that yesterday or the day before I posted a release from the Obama White House about the last item in this newsletter regarding Native American art, new penalties, etc. We have Arts Across Georgia, focusing (duh) on the arts. I got the release, glanced at it, then posted it not thinking anything much about it. That is, until I read the bit in the last paragraph of the newsletter below. I'm SO glad there are people at the Heritage Foundation who are looking at these things closely and clearly.

Here's a sample of the info included in yesterday's update:

S. 3598: Secure Water Facilities Act

Sponsor: Lautenberg (D - NJ)

Official Title: A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the administrator of the Environmental protection Agency to reduce or eliminate the risk of releases of hazardous chemicals from public water systems and wastewater treatment works, and for other purposes.

Status:
7/15/2010: Introduced in Senate
7/15/2010: Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Commentary: This bill calls on the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate new regulations establishing risk-based performance standards for the security of public water systems that serve more than 3,300 people or otherwise present a security risk. The bill and regulations would also protect certain information from disclosure, including any vulnerability assessment of a water system, documents that relate to audits or inspections of covered systems, and documents relating to a security threat or breach. “Whoever discloses protected information in knowing violation of the regulations” will be subject to imprisonment for up to 1 year, a fine as authorized by Title 18, U.S. Code, or both. If the person who unlawfully discloses protected information is a federal officeholder or employee, that person will be subject to possible removal from federal office or employment.

S. 3599: Secure Chemical Facilities Act

Sponsor: Lautenberg (D - NJ)

Official Title: A bill to enhance the security of chemical facilities and for other purposes.

Status:
7/15/2010: Introduced in Senate
7/15/2010: Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Commentary: This bill would modify and make permanent the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to regulate security practices at chemical facilities. It would call for the risk-based designation and ranking of chemical facilities that possess substances of concern or meet other criteria established by the Secretary of DHS. The bill and regulations would also protect certain information from disclosure, including information related to the assessment of the vulnerability of a chemical facility, documents that relate to an audit or inspection of a covered chemical facility, and documents relating to a security threat or breach of security. “Any person” who discloses protected information “in knowing violation of the regulations” will be subject to imprisonment for up to 1 year, a fine as authorized by Title 18, U.S. Code, or both. If the person who unlawfully discloses protected information is a federal official or employee, that person will be subject to possible removal from federal office or employment.

S. 3632:

Sponsor: Gillibrand (D - NY)

Official Title: A bill to provide for enhanced penalties to combat Medicare and Medicaid Fraud, a Medicare data-mining system and a beneficiary verification pilot program, and for other purposes.

Status:
7/22/2010: Introduced in Senate
7/22/2010: Referred to Senate Finance Committee

Commentary: This bill, a nearly identical companion to H.R. 5044, includes provisions that would double the criminal penalties for specified knowing and willful wrongful acts in connection with federal health care programs and that would create a new offense for those who, knowingly, intentionally, and with the intent to defraud, “traffic” in Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary identification numbers or billing privileges. One subpart of 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(a) prohibits the making of false statements or representations in connection with applications for benefits or payments under a federal health care program. The penalty for making such false statements or representations other than “in connection with the furnishing (by that person) of items or services for which payment is or may be made” will be doubled, with imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of $10,000 increasing to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of $20,000. The penalty for (1) making false statements or representations by someone in connection with that person’s furnishing of items or services for which payment is or may be made; (2) receiving kickbacks, bribes, or rebates; (3) making false representations with respect to the condition or operation of institutions: or (4) engaging in illegal patient and admittance practices would be doubled as well, increasing from imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of $25,000 or both to imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of $50,000, or both. In addition, the bill would create a new offense for, knowingly, intentionally, and with the intent to defraud, selling or distributing two or more Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary identification numbers or billing privileges. The violation of this provision would be punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 years, a fine as authorized by Title 18, U.S. Code, or both.

S. Amendment 4486:

Sponsor: Pryor (D - AR)

Official Title:

Status:
7/19/2010: Introduced in Senate

Commentary: This Amendment is proposed for H.R. 5297, which would create the Small Business Lending Fund Program. It addresses the Earned Income Credit (EIC) that can be claimed by some individual taxpayers. It would amend 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a), to address the problem of identity theft involving the EIC. Any person who “knowingly transfers, possesses, or uses, without lawful authority” someone else’s means of identification or a false identification document in connection with a willful attempt to evade or defeat taxes by claiming the EIC or submits a false or fraudulent statement in connection with a claim for EIC benefits would be subject to the penalties for identity theft set out in 18 U.S.C. § 1028(b), plus an additional term of imprisonment of up to 5 years.

S. Amendment 4488:

Sponsor: Boxer (D - CA)

Official Title:

Status:
7/20/2010: Introduced in Senate

Commentary: The Amendment is proposed for H.R. 5297, which would create the Small Business Lending Fund Program. A participating lender that “knowingly makes a false statement with respect to the income, assets, or other qualifications of a small business concern” in connection with a loan or loan application would be subject to imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of $500,000, or both.

H.R. 5788: Mine Safety Accountability and Improved Protection Act

Sponsor: Moore (R - WV)

Official Title: A bill to honor the nation’s fallen miners by requiring improved mine safety practices and compliance in order to prevent future mine accidents.

Status:
7/20/2010: Introduced in House
7/20/2010: Referred to House Education and Labor Committee

Commentary: This bill would increase the enforcement powers of the Secretary of Labor and establish a National Mine Safety Board and empower it to conduct independent investigations of mine accidents that involve 3 or more deaths. The bill would also increase the penalty for any willful violation of a mandatory health or safety standard or for any knowing failure to comply with orders issued by the Secretary. The penalty for a first conviction would increase to imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, from the current penalty of imprisonment for up to 1 year, a fine of $250,000, or both, as set out in 30 U.S.C. § 820(d). The penalty for subsequent violations would increase to imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of $2,000,000, or both, from the current penalty of imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of $500,000, or both. The bill would also make it unlawful to retaliate against anyone who has provided information “related to the existence of a health or safety violation or an unhealthful or unsafe condition, policy or practice” to enforcement officials. The penalty for that offense would be imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine as authorized by Title 18, U.S. Code, or both. The bill would increase the penalty that may be imposed on any unauthorized advance notice of any health or safety inspection to imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine as authorized by Title 18, U.S. Code, or both, from the current penalty of imprisonment for up to 6 months, a fine of $1,000, or both, as set forth in 30 U.S.C. § 820(e). Finally, where a business entity is responsible for the violation, any director, officer, or agent of that operator who “willfully authorized, ordered, or carried out such violation, failure, or refusal, or any policy or practice that contributed to the occurrence of a fatality” will be subject as an individual to the same civil and criminal penalties that can be imposed on the operator.

H.R. 5810: Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2010

Sponsor: Lungren (R - CA)

Official Title: A bill to amend Title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.

Status:
7/21/2010: Introduced in House
7/21/2010: Referred to House Judiciary Committee

Commentary: The bill would make it unlawful for any person to “knowingly aim[] the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft.” The bill does not safeguard those who aim a laser at an aircraft or its flight path accidentally, inadvertently, or with benign intent. It would not prohibit the aiming of a laser beam at an aircraft by authorized individuals conducting research, development, operations, testing, or training, or anyone using the laser to send an emergency distress signal. The penalty for unlawfully aiming a laser at an aircraft would be imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine as authorized by Title 18, U.S. Code, or both.

H.R. 5663: Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010

Sponsor: Miller (D - CA)

Official Title: A bill to improve compliance with mine and occupational safety and health laws, empower workers to raise safety concerns, prevent future mine and other workplace tragedies, establish rights of families of victims of workplace accidents, and for other purposes.

Status:
7/1/2010: Introduced in House
7/1/2010: Referred to House Education and Labor Committee
7/13/2010: Hearing Held by House Education and Labor Committee
7/21/2010: Mark up in the House Education and Labor Committee
7/21/2010: Ordered to be reported

Commentary: Section 820(d) of Title 30, U.S. Code, currently prohibits “willfully” violating a mandatory mining health or safety standard or “knowingly” violating or refusing to comply with certain orders issued by the Secretary of Labor. This bill would significantly lower the protectiveness of the mental state required to prove a violation of a mandatory health and safety standard from “willfully” to “knowingly.” Violators are currently subject to imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $250,000, or both on the first conviction, and imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of $500,000, or both for subsequent violations. This bill would increase the penalty for first violations to imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, and the penalty for subsequent violations to imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Under 30 U.S.C. § 820(c), a director, officer, or agent of a corporate violator who “knowingly authorized, ordered, or carried out” the conduct leading to the violation is subject to prosecution to the same extent as the corporation. This provision will not necessarily be interpreted by the courts to require the government to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the director, officer, or agent had any actual knowledge that what he or she authorized, ordered, or carried out was unlawful.

H.R. 5626: Blowout Prevention Act of 2010

Sponsor: Waxman (D - CA)

Official Title: A bill to protect public health and safety and the environment by requiring the use of safe well control technologies and practices for the drilling of high-risk oil and gas wells in the United States, and for other purposes.

Status:
6/29/2010: Introduced in House
6/29/2010: Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
7/15/2010: Mark up in the House Energy and Commerce Committee
7/15/2010: Ordered to be reported House

Commentary: This bill would, beginning one year after its enactment, require applicants for permits to drill for a “high-risk well” to attest to the capacity of their blowout prevention and remediation ability and call for the promulgation of regulations specifying the minimum standards for blowout preventers, third-party certifications, and documentation. Any person who “knowingly and willfully” violates any provision of the act or any regulation that implements it, makes a false statement in a document that is filed or required to be filed, or falsifies or tampers with a required monitoring device will be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the bill, an officer or agent of a corporation that is subject to prosecution who “knowingly and willfully, or with willful disregard” orders or carries out the prohibited activity is subject to prosecution to the same extent as the corporation. This provision will not necessarily be interpreted by the courts to require the officer or agent to have actual knowledge that what he or she authorized, ordered, or carried out was unlawful.

H.R. 5566: Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010

Sponsor: Gallegly (D - CA)

Official Title: A bill to amend Title 18, United States Code, to prohibit interstate commerce in animal crush videos, and for other purposes.

Status:
6/22/2010: Introduced in House
6/22/2010: Referred to House Judiciary Committee
6/23/2010: Mark up in the House Judiciary Committee
6/23/2010: Ordered to be reported
7/19/2010: Reported to House
7/21/2010: House passage of amended bill under suspension of rules.

Commentary: This bill replaces H.R. 5092 and is a response to the U. S. Supreme Court’s April 2010 decision in United States v. Stevens, in which the Court found that 18 U.S.C. § 48, which prohibits the commercial creation, sale, or possession of certain depictions of animal cruelty, violated the First Amendment because it was substantially overbroad. The Court noted, among other things, that the reach of § 48 was so broad that it would include depictions of hunting activities. Because the statute applied to depicted conduct that was illegal in any state where the depiction was created, sold, or possessed, the Court also observed that a “depiction of entirely lawful conduct runs afoul of the ban if that depiction finds its way into another State where the same conduct is illegal.” This bill would prohibit the knowing sale or distribution in interstate or foreign commerce of “animal crush videos” and create safe harbors for depictions of veterinary or animal husbandry practices and depictions of hunting, trapping, or fishing. It would apply to depictions of actual conduct that violate a criminal prohibition on cruelty to animals under Federal law “or the law of the State in which the depiction is created, sold, distributed, or offered for sale or distribution.”

H.R. 4173: The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009

Sponsor: Frank (D - MA)

Official Title: To provide for financial regulatory reform, to protect consumers and investors, to enhance Federal understanding of insurance issues, to regulate the over-the-counter derivatives markets, and for other purposes.

Status:
12/2/2009: Introduced
12/2/2009: Referred to House Financial Services Committee
12/2/2009: Referred to House Agriculture Committee
12/2/2009: Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
12/2/2009: Referred to House Judiciary Committee
12/2/2009: Referred to House Rules Committee
12/2/2009: Referred to House Budget Committee
12/2/2009: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
12/2/2009: Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
12/11/2009: House Passage
1/20/2010: Received in Senate
1/20/2010: Referred to Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
5/20/2010: Discharged Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
5/24/2010: Senate Passage
6/30/2010: Conference report passed in the House
7/15/2010: Conference report passed in the Senate
7/21/2010: Signed by the President

Commentary: This wide-ranging financial markets regulatory bill would, among many other things, establish a Financial Services Oversight Council including the heads of the Department of the Treasury, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Housing Finance Agency, and National Credit Union Administration Board. The stated purposes for the Council include monitoring financial markets, advising Congress of financial regulatory developments, and coordinating financial regulatory actions among member agencies. The bill provides for the establishment of a regulatory regime that will cover transactions in derivatives and give oversight responsibility to the CFTC, requiring the registration of traders and trading activities. Section 13(a)(5) of Title 7, U.S. Code, governs the trading of commodity futures and other instruments regulated by the CFTC. It provides that “[a]ny person” who “willfully” violates “any other provision of this chapter, or any rule or regulation thereunder” will be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of $1 million, or both, plus the costs of prosecution. Section 13(a)(5) further provides, “[N]o person shall be subject to imprisonment under this paragraph for the violation of any rule or regulation if such person proves that he had no knowledge of such rule or regulation.” Where the transaction involves securities-based derivative instruments, responsibility for regulatory oversight is vested in the SEC. Section78ff of Title 15, U.S. Code, specifies the penalties for violating the securities laws. [Editor's Note: The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' far more thorough description and analysis of the many criminal provisions in this wide-ranging bill is available at http://www.nacdl.org/public.nsf/whitecollar/HR4173].

H.R. 725: Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act of 2009

Sponsor: Pastor (D - AZ)

Official Title: A bill to protect Indian arts and crafts through the improvement of applicable criminal proceedings, and for other purposes.

Status:
1/27/2009: Introduced
1/27/2009: Referred to House Judiciary Committee
1/27/2009: Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
12/2/2009: Hearing Held by House Natural Resources Committee
12/16/2009: Mark up in the House Natural Resources Committee
12/16/2009: Ordered to be reported House Natural Resources Committee
1/15/2010: Discharged House Judiciary Committee
1/15/2010: Placed on House calendar
1/19/2010: House passage of amended bill under suspension of rules.
1/20/2010: Received in Senate
3/26/2010: Placed on Senate calendar
6/23/2010: Senate Passage
7/26/2010: House Passage

Commentary: As introduced, this bill was titled the Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act of 2009. It was identical to H.R. 7024 and S. 1255 in the 110th Congress and S. 151 in the current Congress and reduced penalties for some violations of the prohibition on misrepresenting goods for sale as having been produced by Native Americans. As passed by the Senate, the bill would not only reduce penalties set out in 18 U.S.C. § 1159 for some violations of the prohibition on misrepresenting goods for sale as having been produced by Native Americans, it would also change the sentencing powers of Native American tribal courts. With respect to misrepresentation, under current law, "knowing" violations are punishable by criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years for a first offense, and by criminal fines of up to $1,000,000 and imprisonment of up to 15 years for subsequent offenses. This legislation would change the penalty structure in two ways. First offenses concerning goods worth less than $1,000 would be punishable by fines of up to $25,000 and imprisonment of up to a year, and fines for subsequent offenses would be calculated under Title 18 rather according to the fines defined under this new penalty scheme. With respect to the sentencing powers of Native American tribal courts, current law does not permit a tribal court to impose a term of imprisonment greater than 1 year, a fine of $5,000, or both. Under the bill as passed by the Senate, a tribal court would be able to sentence a defendant who has previously been convicted of the same or a comparable offense by any jurisdiction in the United States, or a defendant who is being prosecuted for an offense comparable to an offense that would be punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year if prosecuted by the United States or any of the States to imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of $15,000, or both. Even when multiple charges are involved, the tribal courts would be unable to impose imprisonment longer than 9 years. Significantly, nothing in the bill as passed by the Senate would give a Native American tribe criminal jurisdiction over a non-Native American. Since 1990, tribes have been empowered to exercise criminal jurisdiction over any Native Americans, including those who are not members of the tribe.

Presidential Poll

2010-07-29T09:29:00.000-04:00

I'm sure many of you rec'd the email this morning with the Presidential Poll being conducted by the Western Center for Journalism. I don't normally do things like that, but was familiar with the Center so popped over and took the poll. You have to sign up for their updates, which isn't a bad thing at all... been meaning to do it anyway.

There are a bunch of choices, pretty much all the names being tossed about as potentials plus a few I hadn't heard were in the "maybe" mix. One they left off that I'd like to see is Paul Ryan, but that's just 'cause I think he's so, so sharp, articulate, on the money when it comes to most issues. I have no idea how many others might agree with me that he'd make a great candidate, or whether he has even a spark of interest.

The top winners in the poll at the moment are Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich. Next is Ron Paul, then Mike Huckabee... then in this order: Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindal, none of the above/don't know... The others on the poll are pretty much in low enough numbers not to matter, however just under 1500 have voted. I'm sure that once the list gets going the link will be forwarded to all the supporters of various candidates and the numbers will change dramatically.

Here's a link if you'd like to take the poll (and sign up for their updates... ):

https://fs6.formsite.com/westerncenterjournalism/form274689810/index.html

Excellent article on the "Disclose" Act

2010-07-29T08:24:00.000-04:00

Only in Washington Is This Transparency
The Senate Democrats' "DISCLOSE" Act -- "DISCLOSE" stands for "Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections" -- represents perhaps the baldest, if failed, power grab attempted this year. But you wouldn't guess it reading news stories on the bill.
http://townhall.com/columnists/DebraJSaunders/2010/07/29/only_in_washington_is_this_transparency

Guess ya'll know what I do first thing in the morning! Cuppa tea, fire up the computer, pop on Fox News most days, but always scan through headlines, blogs, twitter, facebook to find out how America was attacked by the crazies the day before... and I try to figure out where the next attack is coming from.

Just joined the Heritage Foundation (yes, I know I'm way, way late on that front). I already get their emails, which is great, but I want to do my tiny part to help keep their work alive. It was only $25 for the year, although I'm considering increasing the amount.

I manage over 200 blogs, ten websites (four of 'em are news sites), eight or nine Twitter accounts, etc., etc. It gets a bit hectic, especially since I do have a life and I am a potter, do shows, sell in galleries, etc. I also drop everything to spend time with my immediate and extended family. I only include this info to explain why it may seem I'm rather hit or miss at times. I may post something on our shared Barracuda Babes blog, or on some other blog we manage and it'll look like I'm neglecting this one... If you're interested in seeing all the blog info, follow us on twitter @readmylipstick, @gafrontpage, @ffrontpage, @artsacrossga (for those artist friends). We feed specific blogs to specific accounts. Also, you need to know that all the posts aren't mine, there are others who share.

I have a great friend who helps out tremendously. Don't know what I'd do without Ann!

Always looking for patriots who're interested in sharing our conservative blogs. If you're interested, tweet me on @readmylipstick or zap me a message on Facebook (Janet Dunn, the one with the lipstick avatar ;-)

Keep up the good fight, it's wonderful to see everyone who's kicking butt --- I don't mean physically --- the libs are hoping and praying one of us will do something nasty so they can blow us out of the water... I'm expecting some more plants at our rallies and events. Keep your tempers please! We're in this for the long haul and we won't get there if we lose our cool (except in the privacy of our own homes where we rant and rave at the computer or TV screens ;-)

Correct emails for sending (re: personal favor in last post)

2010-07-26T18:17:00.002-04:00

These are the correct e-mails:

kgannon@dekalbcountyga.gov
mspann@dekalbcountyga.gov
njmcbrid@dekalbcountyga.gov
jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov
larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov
sbsutton@dekalbcountyga.gov
lmay@dekalbcountyga.gov
conniestokes@dekalbcountyga.gov

Personal favor to ask...

2010-07-26T13:21:00.003-04:00

I'd appreciate it if all of my friends, followers, acquaintances would help me out on a local issue. Doesn't matter if you don't live in our area, and all I'm asking for is one email from each of you...

Issue overview: Big rezoning going on, huge church trying to rezone at the end of a residential neighborhood. They're wanting to change to zoning category that would result in loads of traffic as there's a cut-through that takes traffic right through the homes. It's already a problem given the size of the church, but office / commercial would phenomenally increase danger to the kids on the street. There's at least one special needs child on the block.

The church met with the neighbors, said they weren't going to sell, then turned around, hired a rather snotty attorney and they're going for it. Based on a survey the church did the majority of the members don't want to sell or move... but the rezoning is going ahead and it's up TOMORROW night.

The planning commission was initially against it, but one guy who is responsible for the district in question said he was for it and the way the County Commission in the county works, they defer to the Commissioner who represent the district... so now it's going forward as approved.

Bottom line --- I'd like to ask you to help bombard the Commissioners with emails letting them know that you are OPPOSED to the church being rezoned to ANY commercial, O & I or category. You can simply say something like "Please do NOT rezone the Rehoboth Baptist Church property" or "Please keep the Johns Road neighborhood intact and safe by not rezoning the church property" or "Don't change the Rehoboth Church zoning".

The header/subject line should indicate what you're writing about (Rehoboth Church rezoning or maybe Johns Road Neighborhood Safety). It helps if all the emails are not the same.

It's best not to include your location as they don't give a flying flip about people outside the district, and it's kind of looking like they're not really caring much about those who do... I know that many of you ARE in Dekalb County, Georgia anyway... My personal feelings are that there's probably some wheeling and dealing going on. The county in question is deeply in the hole, but they're doing the Obama thing where they just keep spending...

There have been petitions, emails, calls to the Commissioners. The ONLY Commissioner on the Board who has NOT responded to the neighbors is the lone Republican who also happens to be in charge of the district --- and her guy is the one pushing to get the rezoning approved. She's giving Republicans a bad name.

Here's the contact info to send emails to (Monday & Tuesday, only need one from each of my friends to be effective, feel free to ask your friends to send one, too):

Elaine Boyer (District 1)	Nancy McBride	404-371-2844	cnjmcbrid@co.dekalb.ga.us
Jeff Rader (District 2)	Caroline Enloe	404-371-2863	cjrader@co.dekalb.ga.us
	Debbie Schneider
Larry Johnson (District 3)	Margaret Britton	404-371-2425	clarryjohnson@co.dekalb.ga.us
	Steffanie J. Wilson
Sharon Barnes Sutton (District 4)	Judy T. Brownlee	404-371-4907	csbsutton@co.dekalb.ga.us
	Valerie S. Grigley
Lee May (District 5)	Latrese Nunnally	404-371-4745	clmay@co.dekalb.ga.us
	Edmond Richardson
Kathie Gannon (Super District 6)	Corrin Wagnon	404-371-4909	ckgannon@co.dekalb.ga.us
	Rita E. Morgan
Connie Stokes (Super District 7)	Lannetta Somerville	404-371-3053	cconniestokes@co.dekalb.ga.us

If for some reason those emails bounce back, take the first "c" out and try again. They changed their emails July 1 and haven't bothered to update their website with new contact info. I added the "c" because the one response I had indicated I needed to add it...

ADDITION: Here are the CORRECT email addresses:
kgannon@dekalbcountyga.gov
mspann@dekalbcountyga.gov
njmcbrid@dekalbcountyga.gov
jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov
larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov
sbsutton@dekalbcountyga.gov
lmay@dekalbcountyga.gov
conniestokes@dekalbcountyga.gov

Emergency Action Alert... (from Herman Cain)

2010-07-26T12:31:00.000-04:00

DISCLOSE Act: call and/or email your U.S. Senators IMMEDIATELY and insist they vote AGAINST the "Disclose Act" (S. 3295).

Harry Reid launched a sneak attack late Friday night to ram through the speech-killing "Disclose Act." The key vote to end debate and vote on the "Disclose Act" will be late today or early Tuesday.
Click here to find contact info for your US Senators

As I warned in the recent CAIN ALERT entitled "Freedom of Speech is Under Attack", the House voted on and passed their version of a controversial bill (HR5175) that would ban certain government contractors, corporations, and nonprofit organizations from engaging in any political speech. The vote of 219 - 206, opened the door for a full Senate vote.

The real purpose of the "DISCLOSE" Act (which is an acronym for Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections) is to impose restrictions on speech by corporations, nonprofit groups and others who express themselves through political campaign advertising.

Of course UNIONS would be exempt from most of the provisions of the bill since unions support Democrats almost exclusively. Read more here...

This is an emergency, so please call and/or email your U.S. Senators IMMEDIATELY and insist they vote for free speech and AGAINST the "Disclose Act" (S. 3295). We can't let this legislation slip through our fingers again! It is just another way for government to deny Americans their freedom of speech.

Click here to find contact info for your US Senators!

Interesting tidbit from Political Wire

2010-07-23T08:20:00.001-04:00

Another Bush for President?

Joshua Green makes the case for a 2012 presidential bid by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) noting he "has a solid conservative record that wasn't compiled in Washington and broad appeal in a critical state; for a party conspicuously lacking a positive agenda, he's also known as an ideas guy."

"Would Republicans dare coalesce behind Bush? Surely they would. The hallmark of today's politics is a truculent refusal to concede error. What could possibly show up those arrogant liberals like nominating another Bush? Nor is it apparent that doing so would be politically perilous. As Obama's approval ratings continue to fall, it seems ever more likely that the 2012 election will be hard-fought and close, regardless of who is the Republican nominee. And Jeb Bush's appeal to the center is at least as strong as that of his colleagues."

In Support of Christine O'Donnell, Delaware

2010-07-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

Rasmussen - Election 2010: Delaware Senate
Delaware Senate: Castle (R) 47%, Coons (D) 36%
Congressman Mike Castle’s support has fallen below 50% for the first time in his race with Democrat Chris Coons for the U.S. Senate in Delaware.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Delaware finds Castle with 47% support, down eight points from late April. Coons gets 36% of the vote, his best showing to date. Six percent (6%) favor some other candidate in the race, and 11% are undecided.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/delaware/election_2010_delaware_senate

Mike Castle is being challenged in the September 14 GOP primary by conservative Christine O’Donnell... and she's the one we ALL need to get behind! It looks like Castle is losing traction, which is good news for Christine.

Let's take another seat and turn it conservative! Many of you already know Christine O'Donnell from seeing her on various talk shows, particularly on Fox News... She's well worth checking out, following, supporting, donating to, etc., etc. Love to send another strong, conservative woman up there in D.C. to help straighten out the mess.

http://www.christineodonnell.com/

Obama Bumper Sticker Removal Kit - Available at BSRemoval.com

2010-07-21T07:34:00.000-04:00

Race tightening again in Nevada... let's help Sharron Angle win this one!!!

2010-07-21T07:27:00.000-04:00

Reid Holds Small Lead in Nevada

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Nevada shows Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) edges challenger Sharron Angle (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 48% to 46%.

Key finding: "Reid continues to have upside down approval numbers, but they've improved over the last six months. 44% of voters in the state like the job he's doing while 53% disapprove. That's a good deal better than earlier in the year when his approval was only 36% and 58% gave him bad marks. Since then Democratic voters have really rallied back around Reid and independents have softened in their feelings toward him as well. Reid's approval spread within his party is 80/14, compared to 67/27 over the winter. With independents he's still pretty unpopular at 38/60 but that's much improved from the prior standing of 24/68. Certainly the Republicans nominating Angle is the biggest reason this race is competitive again, but Reid's personal resurgence shouldn't be overlooked either."

My note: The above from left leaning Political Wire (.com). I'm not posting all the stuff I'm getting from the two big groups supporting Angle as they're mostly asking for money. I'm "assuming" you're already on those lists if you're interested in helping defeat Harry Reid. If you're not, check out the tea party express and I'll have to give you the name of the other one later as it's slipped my mind. It's something like "stop Harry Reid".

LMAO... Harry Reid slapped by the dead...

2010-07-14T12:52:00.000-04:00

Zinger from Beyond the Grave

You know you've got a tough re-election fight when you're even getting bad publicity in the obituary pages.

The Las Vegas Review Journal flagged this death notice: "We believe that Mom would say she was mortified to have taken a large role in the election of Harry Reid to U.S. Congress. Let the record show Charlotte was displeased with his work. Please, in lieu of flowers, vote for another more worthy candidate."

(From Political Wire update)

Updates on Florida, Brown, Nevada, Georgia, etc., etc.

2010-07-14T08:56:00.000-04:00

All of the following are from Taegan Goddard's Political Wire. Based on the slant I often see, I'd say he leans left... however, it's great info. I signed up for the briefs and they pop up in my inbox a few times a day with loads and loads of great political tidbits. www.politicalwire.com. Between Drudge & Goddard, I pretty much manage to keep up with political winds as they blow. Course, Fox News is where I always go for details and "fair and balanced" news!

Brown Walking a Tightrope or the Plank?

While Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) gave a major boost to Democrats when he announced his support for the Wall Street reform bill, Swampland notes that his recent "knack for delivering numero 60 for Harry Reid and Co. in a pinch" is infuriating the Republican base.

The evidence? Check the comments on his Facebook page.

Nevada Senate Race is Close

A new Rasmussen survey in Nevada shows Sharron Angle (R) just edging Sen. Harry Reid (D) for U.S. Senate, 46% to 43%.

Court Strikes Down FCC Indecency Rules

A federal appeals court struck down the FCC's indecency policy, saying the agency's efforts to punish broadcasters for allowing one-time or "fleeting" expletives is "unconstitutionally vague," the Wall Street Journal reports.

Crist Leads in Florida

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll in Florida finds Gov. Charlie Crist (I) holds a narrow edge over Marco Rubio (R) in a three-way Senate race, 35% to 28%, with Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) trailing behind at 17%.

Crist holds a similar 34% to 29% edge over Rubio in a three-way race with Jeff Greene (D) as the Democratic nominee.

Said pollster Cliff Young: "Generally incumbents have been at a disadvantage this year, but that hasn't been the case with Crist in Florida. The move to running as an independent has paid off. He's capturing the middle space."

Tight Race for Florida Governor

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll in Florida finds Rick Scott (R) edging Alex Sink (D) in the race for governor, 34% to 31%.

But Sink leads slightly, 31% to 30%, when matched against Bill McCollum (R) who is locked in a bitter Republican primary race with Scott.

Quote of the Day

"We have a three-pronged strategy: To keep the House, it's called the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost."

-- Democratic strategist James Carville, in an interview on ABC News.

Bentley Defeats Byrne in Runoff

In Alabama, self-described outsider Robert Bentley (R) defeated Bradley Byrne (R) in the Republican gubernatorial runoff, the AP reports.

Byrne finished first in the June 1 primary and had the support of much of the state's GOP establishment.

Handel Leads GOP Pack in Georgia

A new Magellan Strategies survey in Georgia finds Karen Handel (R) leading the Republican race for governor with 32%, followed by Nathan Deal (R) at 18%, John Oxendine (R) at 18% and Eric Johnson trailing at 12%.

A recent SurveyUSA poll had Oxedine leading the race.

National Immigration Policy Summit

2010-07-14T08:46:00.000-04:00

Spread the Word! MICHELLE MALKIN to Deliver Special Address to National Immigration Policy Summit!

(rec'd this via Facebook from Ken E., if some of the links don't work, it's cause I tried to "un-Facebook" them... I left the first one with the facebook info, but you'll have to have an account to get there - JMD)

http://www.facebook.com/l/0fe76bqiTfDsnIXWoFZT-3FcDWw;StandWithArizona.org/pages/Agenda
http://www.StandWithArizona.org/pages/Agenda

The National Immigration Policy Summit - July 30th-31st - Phoenix, Arizona

Arizona is under fire. We are STANDING WITH ARIZONA. Are you?

On Thursday, July 29th, Arizona's new immigration status enforcement law, known as SB 1070, will go into effect across the State of Arizona. Arizona will remove all "catch-and-release" policies in the state and require law enforcement to enforce our immigration laws. The next day, grassroots leaders, legislators and staffers will be joining SENATOR RUSSELL PEARCE and civil rights activist TED HAYES in Phoenix to learn more about the new law and how similar laws can be enacted in other states.

The National Immigration Policy Summit will feature a special live remote conversation with author, blogger, columnist and commentator MICHELLE MALKIN.

In addition to Sen. Pearce, Mr. Hayes and Ms. Malkin, the Summit seminars will feature a wide variety of presenters. Confirmed speakers include:

Constitutional Scholar John Eastman

Former INS Special Agent Michael Cutler

Activist and Tea Party Leader Katrina Pierson

Youth Activist Fernando Trevino

Activist and Tea Party Leader Ana Puig

Participating organizations include:

NumberUSA
FAIR
Stand With Arizona

(Tentative Summit Agenda as of July 12th - Subject to Change)

Friday, July 30th:

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM -- Memorial Service and Candlelight Vigil
Arizona State Capitol - FREE and open to the public

Saturday, July 31st: Summit Seminars at Arizona State Capitol

(Note : LIMITED SEATING FOR SEMINARS - APPLY HERE FOR TICKET: http://www.facebook.com/l/0fe76u09G8ts_xNuOcDOhWfME9Q;StandWithArizona.org/pages/application )

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Introduction: General Assembly (State Senate Chambers)
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM - Seminar Session I *
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Seminar Session II *
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Lunch Break
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM - Seminar Session III *
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM - Seminar Session IV *
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Closing: General Assembly (State Senate Chambers)

* - Saturday Seminar Sessions to Include (tentative):

The Effect of Illegal Immigration on Native-Born Workers
Debunking the Myths on SB1070
The Proper Scope of State and Local Authority Over Immigration Enforcement
The Civil Rights History of the 14th Amendment
By-the-Numbers : The True Cost of Illegal Immigration
The Proper Interpretation and Application of the 14th Amendment
The Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1964 and Their Application to Immigration Policy
At the Polls : The Political and Electoral Consequences of Immigration Policy Decisions
Immigration Amnesty : A Highjacking of the Civil Rights Legacy?
Reaching Out to Minority Populations on Immigration Issues

Apply here for ticket : http://www.StandWithArizona.org/pages/Application

6:30 PM -- 8:30 PM -- RALLY for SB 1070 and Legal Immigration
Arizona State Capitol - FREE and open to the public

http://www.StandWithArizona.org/pages/Application

Obama Administration Approves First Obamacare Abortion Funding

2010-07-13T20:32:00.000-04:00

Family Research Council Action Condemns President's Falsehoods on Abortion Funding

Family Research Council Action responded today to a discovery made by the National Right to Life Committee that the Obama Administration has given federal approval to send Pennsylvania $160 million in taxpayer funds which will directly fund abortions through President Obama's recently enacted health care law.

This is the first known instance of direct federal funding of abortion through what is called the "high risk insurance pools." Pennsylvania has already received approval from the Obama Administration to use the funds to provide abortions to pool participants; the abortion funding is available immediately.

Tom McClusky, Family Research Council Action's Senior Vice President, made the following comments:

"Never have we so regretted being right on an issue, but this $160 million for an abortion insurance program in Pennsylvania validates the arguments FRC Action made throughout the health care debate: Taxpayer dollars will fund abortions. For our efforts to remove the bill's abortion funding, we were called 'deceivers' by President Obama and 'liars' by his allies.

"Now we know who the true deceivers and liars really are.

"This action by the Obama Administration also exposes the worthlessness of President Obama's Executive Order that supposedly would prevent federal funding of abortion, but which both sides, including Planned Parenthood, agreed was unenforceable.

"While the American people deserve an apology from President Obama for his deception, we should only be satisfied when this Pennsylvania abortion funding is rescinded and the health care law repealed.

"Unfortunately, until the law is repealed, this will not be the last federal approval of abortion funding. The law also includes $12.5 billion for community health centers, and $6 billion for co-ops, through both of which abortions can be funded, not to mention the tax credits to pay people to buy plans covering abortion. Not even implemented, the President's plan is already being exposed as a high-taxing, poorly thought-out, and taxpayer funding of abortion monstrosity.

"It's time to replace this Congress, repeal this law and restore our constitutional freedoms," McClusky concluded.

Detainee Transfer Announced (Guantanamo)

2010-07-13T15:53:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of one detainee from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Yemen.

On May 26, 2010, a U.S. District Court ordered the release of Mohammed Odaini from custody at Guantanamo Bay. As a result, the Department of Defense has transferred him to his native country. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer Odaini at least 15 days before his transfer.

The suspension of Yemeni repatriations from Guantanamo remains in effect due to the security situation that exists there. However, the Administration respects the decisions of U.S. federal courts, which ordered the release of Odaini. As with all transfers, the U.S. Government will work with the Yemeni Government to the fullest extent possible to implement appropriate security measures.

Since 2002, more than 595 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, Georgia, France, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Palau, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen.

Today, 180 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.

Republicans force one-week delay in Judiciary's Kagan vote

2010-07-13T13:26:00.002-04:00

Senate Republicans have delayed the Judiciary Committee vote on Elena Kagan’s confirmation to the Supreme Court for one week.
By Susan Crabtree

Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/senate/108383-kagan-post-do-not-publish-

Sure wish they could delay it until after the 2012 election... ;-)

Whitman Leads in California

2010-07-13T09:29:00.000-04:00

A new SurveyUSA poll in California finds Meg Whitman (R) leading Jerry Brown (D) by seven points among likely voters in the race for governor, 46% to 39%.

Key finding: Whitman gets 77% of Republican voters, while Brown gets the support of 64% of Democrats. Independents break by a 5-4 margin for Whitman.

Whitman Leads in California

Something to check out...

2010-07-06T20:53:00.000-04:00

I started getting an email with link in my inbox for this site. I didn't click the link, but went to the website to see if it was legit. I was amazed at the combination of "White House Live", a listing of progressive radio stations, United Nations News, and, and... oh, go see for yourself. http://www.minoritynews.net/

Love the bit about it being "your unfiltered news center"...

Obama Admin Censoring Oil Spill Reporting?

2010-07-05T10:26:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine zapped me a commentary regarding free speech, Obama administration censoring reporting on the oil spill, etc. so I went a-wandering on the Internet to see what I could find. This may be old news to many of you, but it's new for me so I'm sharing.

In looking around I found all kinds of stories about the squashing of reporting on the oil spill, but loads on Obama's efforts to squelch all kinds of reporting... Here's one page with a listing of links to a wide variety of censorship efforts: http://www.examiner.com/x-6495-US-Intelligence-Examiner~y2010m6d13-Censored-news-Crackdown-on-news-leaks-Gulf-oil-spill-news-blocked-leak-amount-minimized-more (I don't know anything about the Examiner... but the links go to NY Times, etc.)

When Reuters reports, when CNN reports.... you know that Obama has crossed every possible line!

U.S. media union to monitor restrictions on spill coverage
(Reuters) - A major U.S. union representing broadcast journalists said on Thursday it would monitor reports of censorship and restrictions on access for reporting on the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) said it had launched a website to gather published accounts about journalists being hindered from gathering information about the worst oil spill in U.S. history. "We are concerned about continuing reports that journalists are being denied access to sources and public places necessary for them to fully cover this important story," AFTRA national president Roberta Reardon said in a statement.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66103X20100702

AFTRA's website: http://www.aftra.com/access4media.htm

Efforts to Limit the Flow of Spill News
June 10, 2010, New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/us/10access.html When the operators of Southern Seaplane in Belle Chasse, La., called the local Coast Guard-Federal Aviation Administration command center for permission to fly over restricted airspace in [the] Gulf of Mexico, they made what they thought was a simple and routine request.

I'm seeing stuff on Mother Earth News (definitely not a right leaning pub), etc. I don't have a lot of time to go into great depth right now, but there's a definite trend of media censorship floating across the web. We all know that Obama is working hard to grab control of the news, shape the way the media reports (I mean, just look at what they did with access to Kagan and her family... the in-house fairy-tale White House controlled 'interview' of her, etc.).

The Left used to scream that George W. was gonna kill free speech, monitor their phone lines and emails, etc., etc. They seem to be waking up to the fact that Obama is the embodiment of their fears...

Absolute BEST political ad I've ever seen....

2010-06-25T07:38:00.000-04:00

Disclose Act moving ahead...

2010-06-23T11:09:00.002-04:00

Rules Committee Meeting On DISCLOSE Act

By Reid Wilson

The House Rules Committee will meet today to formulate guidelines for a campaign finance bill aimed at increasing disclosure requirements as Dem leadership makes a final push toward getting the bill through the House. The DISCLOSE Act is likely to hit the floor on Thursday, according to multiple Dem sources. But aides aren't certain it has the votes to pass yet. A series of meetings with key constituencies within the Dem caucus today, leadership aides hope, will be enough to clear the final hurdles.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/06/rules_committee.php

Stop the Disclose Act!!! Action needed now...

2010-06-22T22:02:00.001-04:00

Fellow Tea Party Patriots,

DISCLOSE ACT is back on the calendar for tomorrow June 23, 2010! We must stop this 1st Amendment killing legislation. They are trying to stop our voices! Please call these Congressmen and tell them to Vote No on DISCLOSE ACT!

We have received information from Capitol Hill regarding the "Disclose Act" and we must work to defeat this bill. The vote is expected to take place tonight or tomorrow. We encourage you to find out more information about the DISCLOSE Act in the links below.

On April 29, 2010, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act. The bill is a direct response to Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (McCain- Feingold) - a First Amendment victory in which the Supreme Court overturned the prohibition on corporations and unions using treasury funds for independent expenditures supporting or opposing political candidates at any time of the year. Simply put, the DISCLOSE Act will limit the political speech that was protected and encouraged by Citizens United.

Speaker Pelosi and the House Majority Leadership are making it a priority to pass this bill. This bill is designed to take away the influence of Tea Party and other conservative groups in the upcoming November election. We feel like this bill will be successfully challenged in the courts, but the ruling will not come before the November election.

An exemption has been carved out for the Labor Unions and other leftist advocacy groups. The NRA was also exempted so they would not actively oppose it.

Roll Call Magazine reports today that they have carved out even deeper exemptions in order to assure passage and we believe it clearly shows the intent of the bill is to diminish the effectiveness of Tea Party groups and other newer conservative advocacy groups.

"Facing wide-ranging blowback from an exemption tailored for the National Rifle Association, House Democratic leaders have decided to expand the carve-out from disclosure requirements in a campaign finance measure they are trying to pass this week.

The new standard lowers the membership requirement for outside groups from 1 million members to 500,000. Those groups would still need to have members in 50 states, have existed for 10 years and can accept no more than 15 percent of their funding from corporate or union sources. The broader bill, called the DISCLOSE Act, comes in response to the controversial Supreme Court decision in January that struck down limits on corporate and union spending in elections. The bill would force groups participating in elections to name their top donors, among other changes."

We need you to make phone calls, send emails and faxes and urge the Congressmen listed below to vote no on this bill.
Together, we can make a difference!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38500.html

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/06/14/yet-again-the-nra-sells-out-to-democrats/

Disclose Act

DISCLOSE Act Seeks to Blunt Impacts of Citizens United

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration 202-225-2801 202-225-5823
Rep. Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy 202-225-5315 202-226-6866
Rep. Jim Matheson (UT-02), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications 202-225-3011 (202) 225-5638
Altmire, Jason (PA-04) 202-225-2565 202-226-2274
Baca, Joe (CA-43) 202-225-6161 202-225-8671
Barrow, John (GA-12) 202-225-2823 202-225-3377
Berry, Marion (AR-01) 202-225-4076 202-225-5602
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02) 202-225-3631 202-225-2203
Boren, Dan (OK-02) 202-225-2701 202-225-3038
Boyd, Allen (FL-02) 202-225-5235 202-225-5615
Bright, Bobby (AL-02) 202-225-2901 202-225-8913
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18) 202-225-6131
Carney, Christopher (PA-10) 202-225-3731
Childers, Travis (MS-01) 202-225-4306 202-225-3549
Cooper, Jim (TN-05) 202-225-4311 202-226-1035
Costa, Jim (CA-20) 202-225-3341 202-225-9308
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28) 202-225-1640 202-225-1641
Dahlkemper, Kathy (PA-03) 202-225-5406 202-225-3103
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04) 202-225-6831 202-226-5172
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02) 202-225-3915 202-225-6798
Gordon, Bart (TN-06) (202) 225-4231
Holden, Tim (PA-17) (202) 225-5546 (202) 226-0996
Kratovil, Jr., Frank (MD-01) (202) 225-5311 (202) 225-0254
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07) (202) 225-2731 (202) 225-5773
Markey, Betsy (CO-04)
http://www.facebook.com/l/6d209T0U_ajZF1Phx5sgT-NzTOA;202.225.4676 202-225-5870
Marshall, Jim (GA-08) 202-225-6531 202-225-3013
Matheson, Jim (UT-02) (202) 225-3011 (202) 225-5638
Melancon, Charlie (LA-03) (202) 225-4031 (202) 226-3944
Michaud, Mike (ME-02) 202-225-6306 202-225-2943
Minnick, Walt (ID-01) (202) 225-6611 202) 225-3029
Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05) (202) 225-2190 N/A
Moore, Dennis (KS-03) (202) 225-2865 (202) 225-2807
Murphy, Scott (NY-20) (202) 225-5614 (202) 225-1168
Nye, Glenn (VA-02) (202) 225-4215 202) 225-4218
Peterson, Collin (MN-07) (202) 225-2165 202) 225-1593
Salazar, John (CO-03) 202-225-4761 202-226-9669
Scott, David (GA-13) (202) 225-2939 202) 225-4628
Space, Zack (OH-18) (202) 225-6265 (202) 225-3394
Tanner, John (TN-08) (202) 225-4714 (202) 225-1765
Taylor, Gene (MS-04) 202-225-5772
http://www.facebook.com/l/6d209QVls1ivYBfo6RkuEygP0mA;202.225.7074

Congress wants to make you shut up. Will you let them?

2010-06-21T19:13:00.000-04:00

Fearful of what Election Day in November will bring them, liberals in Congress are pushing H.R. 5175, the "DISCLOSE Act," a bill disguised as campaign finance reform, but which is really designed to protect incumbents during the current election year.

Instead of addressing the problems often found in the financing of campaigns, H.R. 5175 adds to the already onerous burdens placed on law-abiding organizations by exposing their donors in places like TV, radio and newspaper ads. The bill exposes the hypocrisy of its supporters by giving special treatment to favored special interests, even though the bill is designed to crack down on the power of many other special interests!

These tactics are used to intimidate donors. They were used in the 1960s during the Civil Rights struggles, and more recently have been employed against Christians in states like Massachusetts, California and Maine for merely voicing their beliefs on marriage being between one man and one woman.

Now the Democrats want to intimidate you into silence as well!

The goal behind this bill, written by the head of the Democratic Congressional Committee and a liberal Republican who fears a primary challenge, is to influence this election in particular. Liberals are well aware that the DISCLOSE Act is unconstitutional. They know that the courts may eventually overturn the law, but not before November 2nd, 2010 -- election day. By then, the damage to free speech will have already been done.

Please contact your House Member today and tell him to oppose H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act.

Thank you and God bless you.

Please contact your U.S. House Member to oppose H.R. 5175, the "DISCLOSE Act" -- a bill designed to protect 2010 incumbents.

Sincerely,

Tony Perkins
President

FRC Action: 801 G Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001
P: 202/393-2100 or 877/372-2808 W: frcaction.org

Stop "Disclose Act" HR5175

2010-06-21T10:25:00.000-04:00

Disclose Act (HR5175):
VOTE NO To a Ban On Political Free Speech

Hello Intelligent Thinkers,

Soon, the House is expected to vote on a controversial bill that would ban certain government contractors, corporations, and nonprofit organizations from engaging in any political speech.

This "Disclose Act" (HR5175) aims to deter the criticism of incumbents, ban independent political advocacy by corporations, nonprofits and associations, and impose burdensome disclosure requirements. Of course UNIONS would be exempt from most of the provisions of the bill since unions support Democrats almost exclusively. Read more here...

Please call your US House Member now and urge them to VOTE NO to the "Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act". It is just another way for government to deny Americans their freedom of speech.

Click here to find contact info for your representative!

RMLN note: The above is from Herman Cain. I'm a member of his Intelligent Thinkers group... great info, great guy, hope you'll check it out and get on his list as he catches some things that others sometimes miss.

Support Christine O'Donnell in Delaware!

2010-06-11T09:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends:

If we can energize activists around the country (i.e., people like you) and, especially, those in Delaware, Christine O'Donnell will be the next US Senator from Delaware. She would be one of the most conservative -- and pro-American -- Senators.

Several people who played major roles in the victories of Scott Brown in MA and Charles Djou in HI are working full-time on Christine's campaign. There is a real sense of urgency in making sure she wins.

A key development this week was Christine's Money-Bomb; it will continue through today (Friday), and I hope you will: (1) contribute as generously as you can; (2) make all your contacts aware of the importance of ensuring Christine has the funds necessary to win. http://christine2010.com.

Those of us who know Christine believe she may be the best Republican candidate running this year for the US Senate. The pieces that appeared this week in RedState.com reinforce that view. The more people that see these pieces, the more likely it is that Christine will win both the primary (Sept. 14) and, seven weeks later, the general election. Christine O’Donnell: Why I’m running for U.S. Senate | RedState

Several people have asked about the campaign strategy, whether it's a "national" approach or a state-focused one. The answer is: it's both. As Christine's candidacy gets national attention, positive information and vitality will flow into Delaware, and conservative activists -- aware of the race's importance -- will contribute much-needed funds.

However, make no mistake, people outside the state will not cast one vote in the election. There will be an absolute necessity for Christine and her surrogates to be constant presences in Delaware, attracting not only Republican votes, but also Independents and many Democrats. We will need a ground game of unpredented magnitude and intensity to win, and we fully expect to have both.

It will be no "easier" for us to win in Delaware than it will for candidates like Pat Toomey in PA, Carly Fiorina in CA, Sharron Angle in NV, or Marco Rubio in FL to prevail. Like those candidates, we can win if we "do it right." The "we" in the previous sentence turns out to be "you," the activists who support Christine.

We need hundreds (and preferably thousands) of people on-the-ground in Delaware -- both before and after the Sept. 14 primary. I've been asking people to commit to coming to Delaware (in conjunction with the 8/28 and 9/12 events in DC). I'm hoping that a lot of people who never thought they'd get to see beautiful Delaware -- "the First State" -- will end up doing just that.

What's at stake in Delaware -- and in states like PA, CA, and FL -- is nothing less than our country. That's why we're hoping people will spend a day, or two, or more of their vacation campaigning in Delaware for Christine O'Donnell. An unpredented crisis in our country demands unprecedented actions -- and unprecedented sacrifices -- by Patriots -- that is, by you.

So, please contribute to Christine's campaign today (or, at the latest this weekend. Please consider donating $10 a month at: http://christine2010.com. Also, please think about coming to Delaware, as so many of you did in MA with Scott Brown.

Extraordinary times demand extraordinary responses. On Wednesday, Nov. 3, the day after the election, we'll know if we have gotten our America back -- or if we haven't. God bless you all.

steve maloney
TeamChristine2010

Volunteer or Donate to help Sharron Angle Defeat Harry Reid

2010-06-11T07:35:00.000-04:00

Hey Y'all!

I am so excited! I have been at Sharron Angle HQs all day and just loving every minute of it! I still am having to "pinch" myself to make sure I am not dreaming!!! What an election?

We are having so many calls here from well-wishers, people wanting to donate and just people that want to talk to us and express how happy they are! The other people in our complex here are dropping by just to say hi and the excitment in their faces as they tell me that they voted for Sharron!!!

Now is the time to get into all the excitment! Call to volunteer! I have been taking calls from all over the US today wanting to volunteer!

You may call our Las Vegas office @ 702-243-1976 or call Reno @ 775-787-6017. Either location, we are anxiously awaiting your call!!!

So happy to be part of the "right" Angle!!!

Night Y'all!

Cathie Lynn

Fox vs CNN

2010-06-04T08:33:00.000-04:00

I was out of town Memorial Day weekend, staying in a hotel. As I got ready to leave for my show on Saturday morning I did my usual and flipped on Fox News to see what was going on in the world. Fox was talking about a protest rally in Arizona against the illegal immigration bill they recently passed. After talking about it for a moment they then shared that there would also be a pro-bill rally by Tea Party activists. Fair and balanced.

I then went down for the freebie breakfast where CNN was playing. I munched on a bad breakfast while watching their "news". Ta da, they were also covering the protest rallies in Arizona... oops, take out the plural form there... make that "rally". They talked about the protest rally AGAINST the bill. No mention whatsoever of the PRO rally, or the Tea Party...

Fair and balanced? Hmmph... no way. Failing and Biased might be a better descriptor for CNN...

Romanoff Says White House Offered Job to Leave Race

2010-06-03T06:31:00.002-04:00

Colorado U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff (D) confirmed that White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina "suggested three administration jobs that would be available to him last September if he dropped his plans to run against U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet," Politico reports.

Ben Smith notes the admission shows governance "at its most transactional. But it's also a sign of something else: How little Establishment Democrats like Romanoff fear the White House. It's a remarkable act of defiance."

How far the divide...

2010-05-26T08:10:00.000-04:00

As a conservative artist I get to see and hear both sides of many issues. I opt to stay out of conversations with my liberal artist friends as they are immersed in their belief system and surrounded by like-minded friends. Just as I am on the other side of the divide.

And a divide it is... a huge divide.

I was just scanning some messages on a social network account and saw the following comments regarding Somalia's lack of government per a Rachel Maddow interview (which I didn't see ;-):

Hey, sounds like the kind of no-government-society a tea bagger would love! I'm not rich, but I'll give what I can for air fare for my disgruntled fellow citizens to flee to this Eden.

don't worry, none of them will go. they want all of the benefits of big government with none of the responsibility (i.e. paying for it).

A few years back, I saw almost identical comments from conservatives about paying for tickets for libs to leave the country. I imagine there are still many who'd pool their resources to send libs to a country of their choice!

Aside from the obvious misinterpretation or misunderstanding of what conservatives want of and from their government, plus the fact that the majority of the big government they're referring to IS being paid for by conservatives whether we like it or not, the rhetoric sparked some neurons in my brain and got it all stirred up.

We all see the huge and growing divide between conservatives and liberals / progressives. Libs are proud to pop "so liberal you can't reach" or "liberal / progressive" or "as left as you can go" or "far, far left" on their political belief lines on Facebook and other similar sites. Just like conservatives do the same substituting "right" and conservative.

We have our far right radicals, they have their far left radicals. Both sides seem to be louder and shriller these days though.

I don't look at those involved in the tea party as loud and shrill. Tea Party participants are, for the majority, not far left or right. They are also middle class Americans for the most part it seems. They, or should I say "we", are peacefully rallying to share frustrations with the direction the government is going, asking, no begging, our leaders to adhere to the Constitution and the ideals our country was founded upon.

I do think however that the Obama administration and friends are hoping they'll tip over into the same kind of radical nastiness that we see from lib supporting thugs. I fully expect to see the Dems plant some radicals in our midst to throw rocks or break windows so they can make us look bad and / or have a reason to squash any gatherings.

It seems that the middle is getting bigger, too. People are shying away from being labeled as a member of either side, although they're often times ending up in the tea party middle. Democrats and Republicans are waking up, getting more and more irritated and / or angry about what the suits in Washington are doing. They're becoming independents, libertarians, contitutionalists in some form or other, and some unfortunately are just throwing up their hands and walking away from it all.

How much of the divide is being manipulated and created by those in Washington? Is this a big game they're playing to ratchet up the radicalism on both sides? Are they trying to create a semi-controlled crisis? Did the Tea Party movement surprise them, throw a wrench in their plans? Or did they rub their Simon Legree hands together in anticipation of how they could "use" the movement?

I'm just toying in this post, popping thoughts out as they fly through my soon-to-be-caffeine-soaked-brain.

I can speculate all I want but way, way down here in the land of the normal outside D.C. and political insider circles, it's impossible to know what in the heck is going on. Some day we'll look back through the prism of history, assuming it's still being written and we have a free society, and know whether any of my speculations hit the proverbial nail on the head.

I get frustrated when I hear my fellow artist's thoughts at times. I used to try and debate them, but they are locked into their beliefs as they think I am. They blackball artists who don't fit into their way of thinking. Being blacklisted doesn't bother me as there are tons of conservatives and non-political types who love my art (thank you). It does bother me that they can be so intolerant, so willing to walk in lock-step and not see how they are acting just like the people they think we are. Plus, it shows just how nasty they can be... and oh can they be nasty, mean and intolerant! So much for love, and live and let live, huh?

The person I quoted above who said we conservatives and tea party types wanted the benefits of big government without paying for it was soooo, sooo of the mark it rattles me. We don't want big government. We don't mind paying for what we get. We don't want government intruding in our lives, which is something the libs used to believe in.

When did the hippies and yippies and lefties start WANTING big government? It used to be that they espoused freedom, less government, less intrusion. Now they want government to do everything. Don't they understand that the bigger government gets the hungrier it gets? Arts will be the first thing to suffer. If you're not with the government you'll lose your funding and support. There will be rules saying what you can and can't paint, sculpt, create.

Look at history.

It's funny. Because Obama is in power they now want all the things they didn't want when George Bush was in power. However, when the next President is elected, lets assume (and hope) he's conservative. How are they going to react to that president having the power they are wanting to give to Obama? Regardless of how strongly they feel, there are more conservative leaning people in this country than there are progressives. If there's another election, and sometimes I wonder if there will be, chances are we're going to dance over to the right side of the aisle.

What then my liberal friends?

Time to spend our money where our values are...

2010-05-20T08:21:00.000-04:00

I heard a bit yesterday - second-hand - about the Hollywood guy who wrote and sang the Tea Party song. I didn't catch his name or exactly what he did, movie producer? However it started me thinking about the fact that he felt the need to be anonymous for so long because of the strong possibility he'd be blacklisted and his work would dry up. Based on the lack of support from his friends in the industry, I'd say he's probably going to be living thin for a while.

As I was thinking about his plight I popped onto Facebook to review the 100 plus folks waiting to be my friend. I review them all and so it can be a time-consuming process. I always look at their "Info" page and check out the groups they've joined, pages they've liked and check out their Wall posts if they share. It struck me that many, many Tea Party patriots, conservatives, involved Republicans and similar also "liked" a lot of movies, programs, stores, products that are owned, supported or involve some very liberal, outspoken types.

Which led me to think about this revolution that many of us are involved in. We're trying to get back to core values, make sure the Constitution has its rightful place in our government and across the country... we're working for less government... to support real freedoms as outlined in the founding fathers' documents... and more.

However, we're supporting those who would oppose the very things we are fighting against. When we go to certain movies, flip on some TV stations or programs, pick up the latest thriller chocked full of progressive garbage, buy a t-shirt promoting a product or movie, buy insurance from a company that openly supports socialism, progressives, or worse --- we are donating money to keep them prosperous.

We decry buying oil from terrorist (or terrorist supporting) countries, saying drill here, drill now... and then we do the exact same thing on a minor scale without a second thought.

I think it's time we examined our spending habits. We need to suffer a little bit on the home front for our values. So what if we don't watch NBC? So what if we don't go see the latest and greatest movie? So what if we use a different search engine?

We have a lot of power if we use it wisely and we combine our efforts. It's well and good if we donate money to our causes, but it's just as good if not better if we stop supporting those who would shut those causes down.

We need to do a little bit of research and find out where conservatives are working, which programs they produce, books they write, companies they own and support them with our purchasing power.

It's time to spend our money where are values are...

Christine O'Donnell for US Senate

2010-05-17T08:40:00.000-04:00

Please help Republican Christine O'Donnell, a conservative, pro-life Christian is running for the US Senate in a primary against the most liberal Republican in the House, Mike Castle. Christine is a friend and a candidate who can win if conservative activists embrace her as you did Scott Brown. Help her by signing up as a Facebook fan at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/supportchristine?ref=ts. Then, please go to her website at: http://www.christine2010.com. If Christine can connect with conservative activists, and you'll inform your friends about her, she can win -- and win big. Thanks for your help.

Obama Choice for SCOTUS, Elena Kagan, Angers Pro-Troop Groups

2010-05-10T08:57:00.002-04:00

Kagan Choice a Slap in the Face to Military and their Families
The nation’s leading grassroots military-support organization, Move America Forward, says military families and their supporters are extremely displeased to learn that President Barack Obama has chosen Solicitor General Elena Kagan to join the U.S. Supreme Court.

During a time of war, when America faces threats from Islamic terrorists, and when we have troops fighting on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, we need a judge who understands and supports our military. Elana Kagan is not that person!” said Danny Gonzalez, Director of Communications.

“Kagan was the last person from Obama’s short list that military personnel and their families want to see appointed to the Supreme Court. Not only has Kagan never even been a judge, she has a record of being radically anti-military, most notably in her opposition to the Soloman Act.”

When Kagan was Dean of Law at Harvard University, she expelled military recruiters from campus in defiance of The Solomon Act, which she has argued against in writing and speeches. She, along with 40 other law professors, argued to the Supreme Court against the Soloman Act, but her arguments were rejected by even the most liberal justices.

“President Obama should be appointing to the Supreme Court only those who truly appreciate the heroism and contribution to our freedom we get from the United States military. Kagan fails that test, and we hope she will be summarily rejected in confirmation by the United States Senate.” concluded Gonzalez.

Karl Rove is coming to Peachtree City!

2010-05-05T20:43:00.000-04:00

I just bought Karl Rove's new book, Courage and Consequences, tonight! I got home from the store and within half an hour had a phone call telling me he's going to be here in Georgia May 15th & 16th. So cool... I think he is brilliant, witty, and he's at the very tip top of my list of people I'd love to have dinner with someday. I could wax eloquent about how I admire him but I won't because I know 99.9% of my readers would agree!

Unfortunately for me, I have an art show that weekend and will be sitting at a booth selling my pottery right down the street while he is signing books. I am bummed that I'll miss him, but still excited he'll be here... yep that's called bi-polarly emotions. I'll be ten minutes away and won't get to see him. I'll be at the art show both days he's here in the Atlanta area.

Mr. Rove, if you happen to read this, stop by my booth at the Old Courthouse Art Show in Fayetteville (really, ten minutes, straight down the road from Books-A-Million in Peachtree City) and I'll let you have any piece of my pottery you'd like, even my award winners... OK, OK, you can have two pieces (www.Hummingbird-Hollow.com if you'd like to look before you decide whether it's worth coming)!!! I'm gonna be famous one of these days and they'll be priceless family heirlooms you'll pass on to your favorite family member way, way in the future...

Ya'll know if Karl Rove showed up at my booth (#36, Fayette Fine Art Show, right on Hwy 54 East at the old Courthouse... oldest courthouse in Georgia... county seat of the biggest and most enthusiastic bunch of Republicans in the state...) I'd probably be so shocked I'd be speechless (and that'd be something most of my friends would love to see ;-)

I'm right on the street... you could pull up, come grab your pottery... have someone pick me up off the ground... take a photo of me with my mouth hanging open... sign my book if I could remember my name... call the medics to render CPR if I don't blink for more than a minute... then just jump back in your car and head straight down the road to the airport. It's only 20 minutes to the airport, too... straight shot from booth #36, Fayette Fine Art Show...

I am going to work hard to try and twist someone's arm to sit at my booth for a while so I can run down to the bookstore Sunday and get him to sign my book. It's a long shot 'cause there just aren't many who'd sit in a booth selling something they know nothing about... and who'd I'd trust with my money ...

For my friends in Georgia who won't be sitting at an art show selling pottery, here are the places, dates and times Karl Rove will be here in Georgia:

Borders
Saturday, May 15, 12:00-2:00 PM
4475 Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30062

Books-A-Million at Discover Mills Mall
Saturday, May 15, 4:00-6:00 PM
5900 Sugarloaf Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Books-A-Million at The Avenue at Peachtree City
Sunday, May 16, 12:00-2:00 PM
258 City Circle
Peachtree City, GA 30269
---
Twitter: @readmylipstick
A few of our other Political blogs:
http://jmacpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://barracudababes.blogspot.com/
http://republicancandidates.blogspot.com/
http://readmylipsticknetwork.blogspot.com/
http://republican-news-sweep.blogspot.com/
http://gfpteapartynews.blogspot.com/
http://statenationalpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://goodgovernmentga.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpitstop.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpotluckblog.blogspot.com/
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Quote that could spark a good blog or two:

2010-05-04T23:08:00.000-04:00

There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities. - Teddy Roosevelt

The Hill aggregrates lawmaker ratings

2010-04-26T10:01:00.002-04:00

The Hill has launched a new research tool to provide insight into the ideologies and voting records of every member of Congress. 
  
Using scores tagged to each lawmaker by 30 different advocacy organizations, The Hill has created a Lawmaker Ratings service — an easy reference where site visitors can check where elected representatives stand on different issues. 
  
There's a separate page for each of the 100 senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives. On each, The Hill has aggregated all the advocacy organizations' scores. It means people in government and other visitors can see the track records of any member of Congress on 13 broad issues with a one-stop shop at thehill.com  . 
  
This reference tool, updated whenever a new member arrives on Capitol Hill or an organization produces a new set of ratings, is available free at thehill.com  .

‘Fair Tax’ seen as wedge issue to push split between Republicans, Tea Party

2010-04-22T09:42:00.000-04:00

Democrats are eyeing the “fair tax” as a wedge issue in the 2010 elections, hoping to force Republican candidates across the country to take a stand on the conservative proposal.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/93455-fair-tax-seen-as-wedge-to-split-gop-tea-party
 
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Democrats are eyeing everything as a potential to split the conservative vote. We better keep our eye on the goal, be focused on winning the trophy, and be willing to vote the big picture rather than being one-issue voters (unless it something egregious)!!! Lets get conservatives in our elected offices and then next go around work on getting even BETTER candidates.
 

As someone commented on an earlier blog --- we should pull any new candidates voting record (as in, voted Dem, Republican or other) AND if they've been in office, also pull their votes while in office... research is EASY to do these days. It's also easy to get distorted and incomplete information from a candidates opponents so be sure NOT to take anything you read, get in the mail or see on the tube at face value. Go to the Internet and research before you accept any criticism or attack on a candidate you think is worth a potential vote.

Obama Gets No Health Care Bounce... well, duuuuhhh

2010-04-21T08:49:00.000-04:00

A new Quinnipiac poll finds President Obama's job approval at 44%, his lowest approval rating since his inauguration.

Notes pollster Peter Brown: "President Obama's approval rating hovers at an all-time low. The White House had predicted passage of the health care overhaul would boost his fortunes, but that has not been the case, and that legislation itself remains decidedly unpopular."

The survey also finds that 53% of American voters are "very confident" or "somewhat confident" the president will make the right decision in nominating a U.S. Supreme Court justice, while 46% percent are "not too confident" or "not confident at all." Read more: Obama Gets No Health Care Bounce
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OK readers, this is definitely an uh-duuuuh for most of us! And, unlike the mainstream media and Obamaites, we know it's not gonna do anything but go down, down, down as he keeps cramming his America-killing agenda down our liberty-loving throats.

Keep up the good work! Can you imagine what our world would look like if we didn't have so many patriots working so hard to reverse the socialistic agenda? if we didn't have talk radio to counter the lies? if we didn't have the Internet to connect so many like-minded Constitution supporting Americans together?

To win the war we may need to lose a skirmish or two

2010-04-20T14:05:00.000-04:00

Bob Schneider's graphic illustrates an excellent point: if we split the Republican vote in November, we may win a local skirmish, but lose the November battle and thus the overall war. If we ultimately lose the war for the soul of our country, those local election skirmishes that we win will be moot.

We need to keep the ultimate long-term goal in mind and not be short-sited when awarding our votes to candidates in the primaries and the November elections. We are trying to change a culture in Washington that makes the Mafia look like amateurs. It has grown and morphed for many, many years into our current day mess. It's going to take more than one or two elections to change it.

The election in November is a major battle in this war, and one we must win. If we slide in enough Republicans and true-conservatives to stem the lib tide in D.C. this year, then in subsequent elections we can work on getting rid of the remaining Republicans in name only (RINOs) and Alinksy-ites, and ultimately win the entire war. Winning the battle in November, even at the cost of a few lost local skirmishes, will make changing the culture and winning the war much more probable... and easier.

However, there's a balance. We still have to send a strong message to all those who want to jump into politics: you better walk the walk 'cause we won't put up with any disingenuous talk. We're awake, we're watching and we won't be going back to sleep. That could mean you have to make some tough choices if you're in an area where your choice is a great conservative third-party candidate, a Republican in name only (Rino) or lib Democrat... especially if your district or state leans to the left and voting for the best candidate hands the lib Dem the election.

Each election is going to be different. If the Independent is the most conservative and they have an excellent chance of winning, I'd say go for it, no quibbling. However, if there's only minimal difference, or if voting for the Independent could give the election to the lib and thus lose the battle in Washington for the soul of our country, consider holding your nose and voting for the Republican. Let the Republican know that you are only voting for them because you want to win the November battle. Let them know you'll be watching and that you will work hard to unseat them in the next election if they don't vote conservative. We can hold their feet to the fire for one term and if they don't measure up, we work to put a true conservative in the spot when they come up for re-election.

Obama and crew are coming at us from every angle imaginable. They aren't fighting on one front. They will split the vote wherever they can, they will undermine the tea party movement, manipulate or collude with the media to make us look bad and there's no doubt they'll sink however low they must to retain or increase their power.

If you think of this as a non-violent war, and try to think like a strategist, it will make that one-time nose holding a little easier if you're facing that position. Hopefully none of us will be put in that position! I'm tired of voting for the lesser evil, or not having good choices in the voting booth.

Let's shock 'em in November by taking even more seats than the pundits are projecting! Then let's continue to work together to get some truly good candidates in place for the next election cycles!

Election safety heads up...

2010-04-19T08:49:00.000-04:00

The closer we get to elections the more attacks there will be on our blogs, websites, via email and on our social networking sites. During the last election my Facebook page got shut down right after I had an onslaught of lib activist friend requests, which I ignored. That's inconvenient, but it's nothing compared to some of the attacks that have been tried since!

I'm not a professional and I'm sure there are better tips for safety out there, but I wanted to pass along a few suggestions and things to watch out for prior to the real heat of the election.

- Turn on comment moderation if your blog has that capability. I use blogger for all of our blogs, mainly because we have so many contributors and it's vanilla easy for all levels. One thing I really like about it is the ability in settings to turn on comment moderation. Every comment is pre-screened and we can approve or allow.

- Turn on the feature which sends any posts to your blog to be copied to your inbox if available. Blogs are hacked all the time. You're going on your merry way while some hacker is posting crud on your blog. It's simple to turn on and easy to delete the email that arrives in your inbox with the blog you just wrote. Hopefully you'll never get one from a hacker who's posted.

- Change your passwords frequently... and make sure they're weird and that they're different for each social network, blog, etc. Use a combination of upper case, lower case letters, numbers and symbols. We all know that one, but most of us thing we're immune to hackers or we just get complacent. I have so many passwords I have to keep a little file next to my computer. Yep, that's technically another no-no!

- Never click a link unless you absolutely know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it's safe. If your friends account has been hacked then you may get an email with a link that looks completely safe, but it's not. Here are a few things I do to try and stay safe:

I have a couple of bad, dummy email addresses set up at the beginning and at other points in my email address list. If someone hacks and tries to send using my email address book there are enough bad emails in the list (that look legit) that the email will bomb and get hung up in my send box. That something I've done for years, who knows if the hackers have figured out a way around it since I first started doing it!
If you hover your mouse over a link without clicking on it the "real" address should show up on your status bar in Internet Explorer, Foxfire, your email status bar, etc. If you see a bunch of numbers, symbols, the words "friendlyhacker" (ha ha) or anything even slightly fishy, don't click.
If in doubt you can always go onto the web and find the location by doing your own search. For instance is you get an email from Joe Smith's Conservative Network inviting you to read their articles, simply go type in the link yourself (assuming it's not weird) or do a search and go from there. 99% of the time I go that route these days rather than chancing it. But then again, I get over a thousand emails a day due to all the sites I maintain... I have to be more cautious than the average person.

- Make sure you have good firewalls, updated virus protection, etc. I use free stuff that I've downloaded via www.download.com. It's a CNet site and they test their stuff, give comments, and I give it high marks. I know there are others, that's just the one I've settled onto 'cause it's always more than met my needs for any software!

- Don't assume all bad stuff is from bad people. Recently I popped onto my Facebook page and saw a slew of avatars of naked men... My first thought was that I was going to unfriend this dude very fast. Then I popped over to his page, did a tiny, tiny bit of research and found he'd been hacked. A lot of people just unfriended him without considering that he may have been hacked.

- Be part of more than one social network and set up a blog. If Facebook shuts you down, you can use Twitter to inform friends and get back up and running quickly on a new page. When I got shut down I put the word out via blog and Twitter and within a few days had twice as many friends as I did when shut down. Word is out that Ning is considering charging, which means that many will move away from that platform. There are lots of free social, canned website services and blogging sites available on the Internet. MySpace seems to have lost its luster in "our" circles, but it's still there... Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, WordPress, Ning, are just a few to check out.

- Look for conservative alternatives to Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc. Heritage is working hard to get their alternative to YouTube going, ditto on a few others. Even if they're fledglings and don't have all the bells and whistles join and use if you have the time. Support those conservative networks. Aside from giving support, another big reason for doing so is that you can bet that if things continue the way they're going more and more conservatives will be banned or shut down on lib owned media (such as Blogger and Facebook). Best case we'll be closely monitored and may have someone from the gov't knocking on our door before long. Lest you think I'm being paranoid I was talking to a an acquaintance at a tea party event a few weeks ago who had that happen to them! Turned out to be nothing in the end, but it didn't do much for the old heart rate to have suits knocking at the door with ID badges ;-)

This has nothing to do with security, but it may save you some time... I have my blog set up to feed to Twitter, and Twitter set up to feed to my Facebook page. I still go on those sites and post comments when I have time, but it sure does save a lot of time to have an auto feed! Check out www.twitterfeed.com and www.feedburner.com for a couple of easy to use methods of setting up feeds.

I know there are a lot of other safety tips, and I may share more later as they pop into my brain. However, most of you know some great ways to protect yourselves on-line, and there are all kinds of blogs and sites set up that focus on those issues. Go check 'em out. Don't get so paranoid that you're system chugs at dinosaur speed due to all the protections you have on your computer though. Balance is more than just a word ... stay safe, be alert and know that as I type some lib nut job is scheming for ways to thwart our efforts some how, some way.

Stern to Resign from SEIU

2010-04-13T09:36:00.002-04:00

Ben Smith breaks the news that Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern, a prominent labor leader and a key player in the Democratic party, will resign from the organization he helped build after 14 years at the helm.

The news came as a shock to many, though those close to Stern "had expected him to resign during the first term of the president he helped elect, and after the achievement he'd spent years focusing on, widening access to health care." More: Stern to Resign from SEIU

Inquiring minds want to know... what's he going to become? Obama's Secretary of Labor???

Pataki Seems to be Gillibrand's Last Threat

2010-04-13T09:35:00.002-04:00

A new Quinnipiac poll in New York finds that if former Gov. George Pataki (R) jumps into the U.S. Senate race, he would beat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), 45% to 40%.

Gillibrand beats the only announced Republican candidate, Bruce Blakeman (R), 47% to 25%.

Notes pollster Maurice Carroll: "The threat to Gillibrand always has been from the Democratic left, but that seems to have evaporated. On the Republican side, former Gov. George Pataki could give her a run. IF he decides to run, that is."

Gillibrand now has a 47% job approval rating -- her highest score since she was appopinted Senator last year. More: Pataki Seems to be Gillibrand's Last Threat

47% Say Repeal of Health Care Law Will Be Good for Economy

2010-04-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters nationwide believe repeal of the recently passed health care law will be good for the economy. (47% Say Repeal of Health Care Law Will Be Good for Economy -- links to rest of story on Rasmussen)

Supreme Court Justice Stevens to retire

2010-04-09T11:01:00.000-04:00

We'd already heard he was going to retire, but this gives a purported time frame. I understood that Obama was wanting him to wait until after the elections...

By Bridget Johnson

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is going to retire when the court wraps up its work for the summer break. DEVELOPING...

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/91331-supreme-court-justice-stevens-to-retire

NPR archive describes Obama as 'Kenyan-born'

2010-04-09T10:51:00.000-04:00

File this one under "classic"... he he he, I just think it's funny...

NPR archive describes Obama as 'Kenyan-born'

Those crazy "birthers" are citing National Public Radio. Really? NPR? Archives for the tax-supported organization reveal that a 2008 report described then-Sen. Barack Obama as "Kenyan-born" and a "son of Africa."

Read the latest now on WND.com

Need a good laugh?

2010-04-08T09:57:00.000-04:00

If the election were held today, I'd win. - Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), in an interview with the Nevada Appeal...

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20100407/NEWS/100409635/1070&ParentProfile=1058

Stupak to Retire?

2010-04-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

First Read: "With just a few days to go before the end of this recess, House Democrats are cautiously optimistic that they could get through it without a single retirement announcement. That said, there is still a concern that some important incumbents in districts that they are uniquely suited could call it quits. At the top of the concern list this week: Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak. The Democrat best known this year as the Democrat who delivered the winning margin of votes for the president's health-care reform bill is said to be simply exhausted.

Obama Institutes New Personal Safety Policy as Extension of New Nuclear Policy

2010-04-06T10:03:00.000-04:00

While citizens in the United States and across the world buzz about the new Obama nuclear policy which calls for ultimate trust in other nations such as Russia and China, many have missed the secondary Personal Safety Policy attached as an addendum.

In keeping with "no nukes" if countries attack the United States with other less equal weapons (as defined by the Obama administration), citizens of the United States will now be called upon to react similarly in the event they are attacked.

To simplify the complex legal terminology of the addendum, effective April 15th if a person is attacked by a knife wielding malcontent they must first determine if the person is a friend or acquaintance. If they are somehow known to the person being attacked, they must use similar or lesser weapons to defend themselves.

For example, if the person being attacked is in possession of a gun, they may not use it --- they must put down their gun and either find a knife or other weapon of similar or lesser capability to the knife to defend themselves. Please refer to the list included in the addendum to determine allowed weapon similarities and capabilities.

In the event the person being attacked does not know the attacker, they may use their gun or defend themselves but must be prepared to prove they nor any of their friends were not acquainted in any manner with the attacker.

If they know beyond doubt that the person is an enemy, for instance the person clearly indicates they are enemies, they are on the FBI most wanted list, they have outstanding criminal warrants, or similar, then guns or any weapon of choice may be used.

The policy mimics the stance of the Obama administration in regards to nuclear attacks in that citizens are now allowed designate certain individuals as "rogues" or enemies in advance. Rogues and enemies may be registered in advance on the new "Rogue Persons of Interest" (RPI) listing. Certain exclusions, requirements and possible legal ramifications are noted in the fine print of the RPI thus we suggest that those choosing to register rogues and enemies should first consult their attorney. The RPI will be in place no later than April 20th according to the addendum overview.

It is also suggested that those who believe they may at some point in their life might suffer a mugging, a home invasion, car snatching or other attack on their being should check the RIP listing regularly. Local law enforcement agencies will be required to host local listings and the Obama regime will also host a national list at www.roguepersons.us.gov and www.yourenemies.us.gov.

More details will follow as we delve deeper into the new policy.

Union Behind D.C. Pro-Amnesty Protest Spends Nearly $700k in 4th Qtr. Lobbying

2010-04-05T23:16:00.000-04:00

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) spent more than $683,000 lobbying Congress during the fourth-quarter. According to the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, much of this was spent lobbying on behalf of immigration reform, health care, and labor laws.

The $683,000 figure is more than double the amount the union spent on Congressional lobbying during the third quarter and represents how desperately the SEIU wishes Congress to act on its core issues -- comprehensive amnesty being one of the most important issues.

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/march-30-2010/union-behind-dc-pro-amnesty-protest-spends-nearly-700k-4th-qtr-lobbying.html?jid=424045&lid=9&rid=3281&tid=634385