Not talking politics this time... curious if Comcast as bad for you as me?

We just had yet another bad experience with Comcast and their pitiful customer service. Box went out on our TV -- option was to drive 40 minutes to exchange the box or wait until they mailed replacement. Opted to drive as we had company coming to watch a ball game with us... Finally found the place, there were close to 50 (yes FIFTY) people in line, one guy working. The guy in front of us had already been there for 30 minutes...

Another rep came in, we asked how long, she said "who knows". Huh.

Called Comcast back, 20 minutes to get someone to answer. Lady said they've consolidated their service centers, long lines at all of them. I said I thought it was time to check out Dish or some other option. No response. We could have the box mailed to us... ummm, what if it turns out it's not the box, maybe it's a cable? Well, we could then do a service call, and go another three or four days without cable.

I said, no, lets just go ahead & put in a service call. We have to wait from Saturday until Tuesday to get someone out here, but at least we'll have them until it's fixed. I guess. I suppose.

Having to cancel friends coming over to watch the ballgame, guess we'll go to someone else's house...

We've had ongoing problems, seems like it's one thing after another. Still have a cable across the back of the yard waiting for them to bury it after the last visit.

I've been out wandering the Internet comparing Comcast to Dish, not looked at Satellite yet. Wondering if any of you have suggestions? I'd be fine without a TV except I like my Fox News!

I see that Dish gets high marks for tech support and service... Comcast gets trashed mightily. I had a problem a while back, wrote a blog and they jumped right on it. Not writing this for that reason, think we're probably on their do not try list at this point... shoot, they ripped us off by not giving us our HBO which was supposed to be included when they "fixed" the last problem, not sure I care to have that kind of fix again...

Anyway, would love to have your input. Watching the upcoming political events, getting my news is tops for me.

Anyone happy with Dish? Satellite? Not sure I know the difference at this point, but I will real, real soon!

It's not just the Presidential election...

There's a lot of focus, and rightfully so, on the battle for the White House. We need to FILL that empty chair with someone of substance, who can begin to fix the problems rather than play the blame game!

We need to do more though than elect a new President --- we need to give him a support team so he doesn't spend his first two years having to battle Congress. If we can give him the Senate in November we'll be giving him the ability to DO something rather than wade through political gamesmanship, one-up-manship.

I just saw an ad on Drudge that sparked this thought process... clicked, went to a page where they're asking for donations. 100% off the donations go to the eight candidate on the page. You choose your candidate or candidates, pop in the amount and they get it. Every one of them is needed. None are in my state but that doesn't mean I can't support them, donate.

Here's the link: https://2012.senateconservatives.com/?c=5e8c0af64840016bc2dda3c6598cc247 (that one has code that gives Drudge a click through. If you don't want to use that one here's the "vanilla" link with no credit to Drudge: https://2012.senateconservatives.com/step0).

If you can't donate dollars, maybe you can make a few phone calls or send some emails, blog about the candidates, tweet, or think of some other way to support them.

Putting a conservative with the ability to actually do something to put us back on course is extremely important. Giving him a Congress that will enact the policies he proposes is just as important, if not more so.

Foundation shares free-market links to Supreme Court hearing on federal health law

Next week is huge for the 26-state coalition challenging the constitutionality of the Obama administration's Patient Protection and Affordability Act, and Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens will be among the handful of people in Washington on Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court hearing.

On Thursday, Olens updated attendees at a Georgia Public Policy Foundation Leadership Breakfast on the litigation. To view his videotaped speech on the Foundation's YouTube channel, click here. To watch Foundation Senior Fellow Ronald E. Bachman discuss state-focused solutions during the same event, click here. And click here to read Bachman's commentary on Georgia reforms released today: "It's Not Too Late for Georgia Health Reform." And to read more health care solutions published by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, click here.

The U.S. Supreme Court will not break its longstanding policy against live broadcasts of its proceedings. So you can join the pundits, politicians, policy-makers and other citizens on Monday through Wednesday following the traditional media coverage. Or you can follow the Foundation's recommended links to keep you up to speed from a free-market, limited-government, state-based perspective:

• For a schedule of the three days of oral arguments in the case (provided by the Washington Examiner) click here.
• For ongoing coverage each day, go to PPACAction.com, a new microsite from our sister think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. It will provide a daily preview of that day’s argument plus a synopsis of major news coverage; a recap of the day’s argument plus a special daily edition of “Texas PolicyCast,” with audio excerpts from the courtroom and expert analysis; real-time analysis; links to research, and TPPF's three amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court in this case.
• The Heritage Foundation has outlined the impacts on Americans if the federal health care law is implemented. Click here to learn more.
• The Cato Institute has a wealth of coverage, from analyses to testimony to briefs, here: www.cato.org/universal-health-care.

About the Georgia Public Policy Foundation: Established in 1991, the Foundation is an independent, state-based think tank that proposes practical, market-oriented approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians. The Foundation’s regular events include Leadership Breakfasts and Policy Briefing Luncheons. Weekly publications are the Friday Facts and Friday Idea commentaries. Visit our Web site at www.georgiapolicy.org. Join The Forum at http://forum.georgiapolicy.org/. Become a fan of the Foundation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gppf.

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

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!

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

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

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...

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

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

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'

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...

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...

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

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!

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...

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

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

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

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...

Paul Ryan - Republican Address to the Nation