John Randall posted an announcement to the cause Elect Republicans to the House. (This is a Facebook group the Read My Lipstick Network participates in).
I wanted to let everyone know the NRCC is sponsoring a Basketball Pick'em Challenge. The winner will receive two tickets for the Senate-House Dinner June 8 in Washington DC - with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the keynote speaker.
You can register to receive log-in information at www.nrcc.org
Monday, March 16, 2009
Palin Keynotes Major Fundraiser
Palin Keynotes Major Fundraiser
Atlantic Online - USA
Sarah Palin (R-AK) will keynote the Republican campaign committees' top fundraiser in June, a sign of her enduring popularity with the Republican base and a ...
Atlantic Online - USA
Sarah Palin (R-AK) will keynote the Republican campaign committees' top fundraiser in June, a sign of her enduring popularity with the Republican base and a ...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Palin plans Outside political trips
Political action committee will cover her expenses.
Published: March 11th, 2009 07:15 PM
Last Modified: March 12th, 2009 07:37 AM
JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin is planning at least two trips out of state paid for by her political action committee, which told backers on Wednesday she'll be traveling the country to support those who share her vision.
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/719704.html
Published: March 11th, 2009 07:15 PM
Last Modified: March 12th, 2009 07:37 AM
JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin is planning at least two trips out of state paid for by her political action committee, which told backers on Wednesday she'll be traveling the country to support those who share her vision.
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/719704.html
Thanks to our Network members!
You are all a great bunch of bloggers and people as a whole. Thanks for the suggestions and support for the change in blogroll / logo placement.
A few questions were asked:
- Could we make it the first half of the blog instead of the top 1/3 for blogroll / logo placement?
Sure. That's still fair. We appreciate everyone's support. Some of your blogs are getting dynamite traffic, others are still struggling for readership - you've all responded positively thus far! Wow. I was so impressed with your willingness to support the "cause", especially some of our high readership bloggers. Good people all. (On readership: We have some more things we'll be doing to help. See below.)
- Logo color change?
It was a fun suggestion and a tongue-in-cheek reply. Being in public relations and marketing for years, one of the things I know is that branding is extremely important. It's not just the Coca-Cola name and shape of the lettering, it's the color of the logo. You know that Coca-Cola red. They may do a black & white in an ad that doesn't offer color, but generally you're going to see that red.
However, that said, we're thinking about having a 2nd blogroll with just the name at the top with a tiny little lipstick logo to the left. Time is the problem with that one. Hard to re-key all those blogs into a new blogroll, etc. Just know we heard you and we're thinking about it.
- Indenting blog names on the blogroll so they read better
We're going to see if we can figure that one out. I think it might take coding experience and we had to have help on what we already did. It's easy to center, left justify, etc. I'll have someone look at it and see if it's possible. We agree, it would look better.
New subject - Upcoming things we're doing to help your readership.
1. We're going to finish setting up your free rss page on the main site. We got started a while back on providing all of our members a free page with blog information and an rss feed that showed the last 15 blog posts (title link and a few lines). We got sidetracked with the holidays, and then Feedburner started transitioning to Google we discovered they didn't support multiple accounts, kept bumping blogs, etc. However, we have all the blogs transferred over now and we're going back to getting the free (full) pages set up.
2. We've added a long, long blogroll on the side of this blog where we're adding all our member blogs. As you update or write, you move to the top. We haven't added our newest members yet, will have it done by the weekend.
3. We're going to start grabbing random blogs and highlighting them on the front page of our main site.
4. We're going to continue grabbing blogs and popping them on here. However, we thought that rather than grab a chunk like we've been doing, we'd try to highlight one at a time. That way your blog gets seen on here, on the main site (where this blog feeds), our Twitter account and our Facebook account.
5. We're thinking about a newsletter that's comprised simply of our member blogs. I may have mentioned that before. There's a reason it's number 5 on this list --- it's labor intensive if we do it the "right" way. There is an "easy" way to do it using blogger. We could set up a Read My Lipstick Newsletter, give each of you posting access and let you post one blog a week OR just the title link and the first 2 or 3 lines whenever you wanted. We would feed the newsletter onto our main site.
6. I own the Georgia Front Page and the Fayette Front Page. We're setting up special political sections on each where we'll be feeding your blogs. We get thousands of hits a day on each of the sites so that should give you some more exposure, albeit in a targeted area (but nothing is really area specific in the web world, is it?).
7. We're networking with some other really dynamic groups who are asking us to recommend blogs, exchange links and logos, etc. As we continue to network we're getting access to your blogs out into new areas you might not typically venture into. All the cross promotion is going to help.
One really good thing that happened is that BLOGROLLING is back!!! I checked stats on the blogroll and we had over 3,000 hits on it in the past month or so. And it wasn't even active until about a week ago. Imagine what is going to happen now that it's back and we have all the blogs listed? We have the blogroll on a number of non-member sites, too.
IF you made it through this entire post, kudos and an extra gold star!
Instead of posting comments on here about the above, please send them to readmylipstick at live dot com.
(In case some of you are wondering why I don't just list the address, it's to try and thwart those pesky bots that scour the Internet looking for addresses. They have many other ways of getting them, but I figure no reason to hand it to them on a silver platter. Or a lipstick smeared platter.)
A few questions were asked:
- Could we make it the first half of the blog instead of the top 1/3 for blogroll / logo placement?
Sure. That's still fair. We appreciate everyone's support. Some of your blogs are getting dynamite traffic, others are still struggling for readership - you've all responded positively thus far! Wow. I was so impressed with your willingness to support the "cause", especially some of our high readership bloggers. Good people all. (On readership: We have some more things we'll be doing to help. See below.)
- Logo color change?
It was a fun suggestion and a tongue-in-cheek reply. Being in public relations and marketing for years, one of the things I know is that branding is extremely important. It's not just the Coca-Cola name and shape of the lettering, it's the color of the logo. You know that Coca-Cola red. They may do a black & white in an ad that doesn't offer color, but generally you're going to see that red.
However, that said, we're thinking about having a 2nd blogroll with just the name at the top with a tiny little lipstick logo to the left. Time is the problem with that one. Hard to re-key all those blogs into a new blogroll, etc. Just know we heard you and we're thinking about it.
- Indenting blog names on the blogroll so they read better
We're going to see if we can figure that one out. I think it might take coding experience and we had to have help on what we already did. It's easy to center, left justify, etc. I'll have someone look at it and see if it's possible. We agree, it would look better.
New subject - Upcoming things we're doing to help your readership.
1. We're going to finish setting up your free rss page on the main site. We got started a while back on providing all of our members a free page with blog information and an rss feed that showed the last 15 blog posts (title link and a few lines). We got sidetracked with the holidays, and then Feedburner started transitioning to Google we discovered they didn't support multiple accounts, kept bumping blogs, etc. However, we have all the blogs transferred over now and we're going back to getting the free (full) pages set up.
2. We've added a long, long blogroll on the side of this blog where we're adding all our member blogs. As you update or write, you move to the top. We haven't added our newest members yet, will have it done by the weekend.
3. We're going to start grabbing random blogs and highlighting them on the front page of our main site.
4. We're going to continue grabbing blogs and popping them on here. However, we thought that rather than grab a chunk like we've been doing, we'd try to highlight one at a time. That way your blog gets seen on here, on the main site (where this blog feeds), our Twitter account and our Facebook account.
5. We're thinking about a newsletter that's comprised simply of our member blogs. I may have mentioned that before. There's a reason it's number 5 on this list --- it's labor intensive if we do it the "right" way. There is an "easy" way to do it using blogger. We could set up a Read My Lipstick Newsletter, give each of you posting access and let you post one blog a week OR just the title link and the first 2 or 3 lines whenever you wanted. We would feed the newsletter onto our main site.
6. I own the Georgia Front Page and the Fayette Front Page. We're setting up special political sections on each where we'll be feeding your blogs. We get thousands of hits a day on each of the sites so that should give you some more exposure, albeit in a targeted area (but nothing is really area specific in the web world, is it?).
7. We're networking with some other really dynamic groups who are asking us to recommend blogs, exchange links and logos, etc. As we continue to network we're getting access to your blogs out into new areas you might not typically venture into. All the cross promotion is going to help.
One really good thing that happened is that BLOGROLLING is back!!! I checked stats on the blogroll and we had over 3,000 hits on it in the past month or so. And it wasn't even active until about a week ago. Imagine what is going to happen now that it's back and we have all the blogs listed? We have the blogroll on a number of non-member sites, too.
IF you made it through this entire post, kudos and an extra gold star!
Instead of posting comments on here about the above, please send them to readmylipstick at live dot com.
(In case some of you are wondering why I don't just list the address, it's to try and thwart those pesky bots that scour the Internet looking for addresses. They have many other ways of getting them, but I figure no reason to hand it to them on a silver platter. Or a lipstick smeared platter.)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Drum roll please... the 150th member joins the Network!
Seems like just a few short months ago we were thrilled to have ten members. Oh wait, it was just a few short months ago! The Read My Lipstick Network came into being during the latter part of the 2008 election cycle. We've lost a few blogs along the way as some who fought for McCain/Palin got discouraged after the election. Temporarily! They'll be back. For every one discouraged blogger a hundred seem to be taking up the cause these days. The energy is fantastic.
Today I announce our 150th member! Fireworks please! Drum roll! 150 gun salute. Whatever. It's neat.
Our newest member is cool with shades. She wears 'em day and night as you'll see when you check out her blog.
Rosie Shades - http://rosieshades.blogspot.com/
I love the shades and I particularly like the background in remembrance of Sept. 11th. She has some very neat stuff on the sidebar (including our blogroll), too.
If you'll scroll down her blog entries you'll see the "Honk if you're paying my mortgage" bumper sticker with a link so you can get your very own. (I want one that says "Honk if I'm paying your mortgage")
Enough about all the extras. You're going to like her writing, too!
Here are a few samples:
Modern Day Eugenics
Welcome to the world of Progressive Eugenics...
Here's a great little tutorial on eugenics if you're not familiar with it.
This new executive order reversing the ban on taxpayer funded research on humans, coupled with the plan Obama has for creating government funded/socialized medicine makes me wonder what these progressives have in mind. It all seems OK as long as you're not the one that's targeted. Right now it's embryos. It's not the first time we've removed morality from science and plunged headlong into ideas that were un American and ungodly at the expense of the innocent so don't kid yourself into believing we're immune.
The Bubbly Fed
There never should have been a central/federal bank in the united states. That was something our founders had fled from. Seeing that the government thinks they can do everything more productively than we can, it hustled in the Federal Reserve bank to supposedly end inflation forever. As usual, the government failed.If you haven't studied up about the Federal reserve bank and the reason we were forced to leave the gold standard, you should.
Today I announce our 150th member! Fireworks please! Drum roll! 150 gun salute. Whatever. It's neat.
Our newest member is cool with shades. She wears 'em day and night as you'll see when you check out her blog.
Rosie Shades - http://rosieshades.blogspot.com/
I love the shades and I particularly like the background in remembrance of Sept. 11th. She has some very neat stuff on the sidebar (including our blogroll), too.
If you'll scroll down her blog entries you'll see the "Honk if you're paying my mortgage" bumper sticker with a link so you can get your very own. (I want one that says "Honk if I'm paying your mortgage")
Enough about all the extras. You're going to like her writing, too!
Here are a few samples:
Modern Day Eugenics
Welcome to the world of Progressive Eugenics...
Here's a great little tutorial on eugenics if you're not familiar with it.
This new executive order reversing the ban on taxpayer funded research on humans, coupled with the plan Obama has for creating government funded/socialized medicine makes me wonder what these progressives have in mind. It all seems OK as long as you're not the one that's targeted. Right now it's embryos. It's not the first time we've removed morality from science and plunged headlong into ideas that were un American and ungodly at the expense of the innocent so don't kid yourself into believing we're immune.
The Bubbly Fed
There never should have been a central/federal bank in the united states. That was something our founders had fled from. Seeing that the government thinks they can do everything more productively than we can, it hustled in the Federal Reserve bank to supposedly end inflation forever. As usual, the government failed.If you haven't studied up about the Federal reserve bank and the reason we were forced to leave the gold standard, you should.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
We've had a request... for a new lipstick color
I know it was in jest, but I thought it was something to consider. After all, many of us ARE ladies, and we do change our lipstick to match what we're wearing... so why not a logo with lipstick to match the decor... of a website???
I'll put it on my list of things to do.
Just so you all can keep up, it's item number 2, 354. I'll keep you posted as it moves up.
(I just got back from a meeting that should have been an hour that stretched into three... yawn. Heading over to add our newest blog members to the blogroll, sorry for the delay, things like these killer meetings really steal time.)
I'll put it on my list of things to do.
Just so you all can keep up, it's item number 2, 354. I'll keep you posted as it moves up
(I just got back from a meeting that should have been an hour that stretched into three... yawn. Heading over to add our newest blog members to the blogroll, sorry for the delay, things like these killer meetings really steal time.)
Change in Membership "Rules"
We're making a slight change in the requirements for membership: The RMLN linking logo or blogroll must be displayed in the top third of the member blog or website.
We expend a lot of effort promoting our member blogs, sharing your columns on other blogs, maintaining and paying for websites, keeping up with membership lists, blogrolls, etc. We do it simply to "help the cause" --- there's no money involved in this for us and every single one of us working on the RMLN do it without any expectation of ever making a penny.
When the blogroll or linking logo is displayed in the basement of a page, it's not doing what it was designed to do --- help promote every Network member equally. It's an unfair partnership. Those with the logo or blogroll prominently displayed are promoting everyone else's blogs while those with the logo or blogroll hidden somewhere are not reciprocating.
Of course, another reason for displaying the logo/blogroll is to help grow membership in the Network, which in turn helps get more attention for all member's blogs.
If you have the Read My Lipstick Network blogroll or logo off in never-never land somewhere, please be nice, fair, helpful and move it up on the page. We're changing all our info to reflect the change.
We're hearing from various circles that the Network is getting ready to be promoted like crazy. Yahoo!
We hope you're proud to be a member of the Network and that you'll proudly display the logo or blogroll.
We expend a lot of effort promoting our member blogs, sharing your columns on other blogs, maintaining and paying for websites, keeping up with membership lists, blogrolls, etc. We do it simply to "help the cause" --- there's no money involved in this for us and every single one of us working on the RMLN do it without any expectation of ever making a penny.
When the blogroll or linking logo is displayed in the basement of a page, it's not doing what it was designed to do --- help promote every Network member equally. It's an unfair partnership. Those with the logo or blogroll prominently displayed are promoting everyone else's blogs while those with the logo or blogroll hidden somewhere are not reciprocating.
Of course, another reason for displaying the logo/blogroll is to help grow membership in the Network, which in turn helps get more attention for all member's blogs.
If you have the Read My Lipstick Network blogroll or logo off in never-never land somewhere, please be nice, fair, helpful and move it up on the page. We're changing all our info to reflect the change.
We're hearing from various circles that the Network is getting ready to be promoted like crazy. Yahoo!
We hope you're proud to be a member of the Network and that you'll proudly display the logo or blogroll.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Conn. Group Files To Back Sarah Palin For President
Conn. Group Files To Back Sarah Palin For President
Hartford Courant - United States
AP WATERBURY - A Connecticut group says it is the first in the nation to register to raise money to draft Sarah Palin for president. ...
Hartford Courant - United States
AP WATERBURY - A Connecticut group says it is the first in the nation to register to raise money to draft Sarah Palin for president. ...
E-Verify Needs Your Help - Tonight!
E-Verify Expires: Time for Congress to Reauthorize the Program On March 6, Congress allowed E-Verify to expire. This program gave employers a method by which to confirm the eligibility of employees to work in the U.S. Letting E-Verify expire was a mistake and a step backward in efforts to enforce America's immigration laws. Heritage Foundation - Mar 09 9:51 AM
IMPORTANT E-VERIFY UPDATE! URGENT-WE ALL MUST CALL TODAY!! MONDAY, MARCH 09, 2009. (or first thing in the morning) THE VOTE WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN TONIGHT OR TOMORROW.
CAN YOU MAKE ONE PHONE CALL TODAY (or first thing in the morning)? JUST ONE??
I just received a very important update from www.numbersusa.com. Please go to the website for the full story. Here is the short version.
Your phone calls to your Senators are especially important today to ensure that E-Verify opponents don't kill the 5-year re-authorization by just "running out of time. Call your Senators now at 202-224-3121. Check www.numbersusa.com for talking points, and here are a few suggestions:
Do NOT vote for "cloture" (cloture= to terminate debate by calling for a vote) to shut off debate on the Omnibus before the E-Verify amendment comes up for a vote.
A vote for cloture before an E-Verify vote will be graded by NumbersUSA as a vote AGAINST E-Verify and a vote FOR hiring illegal aliens.
Because of your activism, Sen. Sessions' Amendment 604 to the Omnibus Bill (HR 1105) is on the list of amendments to be debated and voted on tonight and tomorrow. Please call your Senator to urge them to support E-Verify! Go to: www.numbersusa.com.
Since December of 2007, 4.4 million jobs have been lost while the federal government continues to bring in approximately 1.5 million foreign workers per year. Go to: www.numbersusa.com for a fast and effective ways to help.
The jobless rate jumped to 8.1% according to numbers released by the Labor Department this morning. It's the highest rate since 1983. Another 651,000 jobs were cut in the month of February. We Need Immigration Reform and We Need To Start With E-Verify!!! Please share this information with everyone you know and call today. Go to: www.numbersusa.com. They make it very easy and quick. If we all made one phone call think of the impact we would have.
---
More info:
Senate votes to preserve controversial earmarks in 1,000-page plus spending bill
Major Amendment dropped from the STIMULUS! YOUR JOBS! It is the Last chance to save American jobs and to demand our lawmakers reinstate E-Verify as a MANDATORY law.
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune - Mar 04 9:38 AM
Lack of E-Verify provision in stimulus bill irks some Anderson-area politicians
Many Anderson-area political leaders are expressing anger that the final version of the federal economic stimulus bill does not include a provision requiring the use of the E-Verify system to hire employees for federal stimulus projects.
Anderson Independent-Mail - Feb 21 7:16 PM
Please read the following info (rec'd via email) and make a call. This is a BIG issue and it's getting very little play because there are so many other really big issues on the table.
IMPORTANT E-VERIFY UPDATE! URGENT-WE ALL MUST CALL TODAY!! MONDAY, MARCH 09, 2009. (or first thing in the morning) THE VOTE WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN TONIGHT OR TOMORROW.
CAN YOU MAKE ONE PHONE CALL TODAY (or first thing in the morning)? JUST ONE??
I just received a very important update from www.numbersusa.com. Please go to the website for the full story. Here is the short version.
Your phone calls to your Senators are especially important today to ensure that E-Verify opponents don't kill the 5-year re-authorization by just "running out of time. Call your Senators now at 202-224-3121. Check www.numbersusa.com for talking points, and here are a few suggestions:
Do NOT vote for "cloture" (cloture= to terminate debate by calling for a vote) to shut off debate on the Omnibus before the E-Verify amendment comes up for a vote.
A vote for cloture before an E-Verify vote will be graded by NumbersUSA as a vote AGAINST E-Verify and a vote FOR hiring illegal aliens.
Because of your activism, Sen. Sessions' Amendment 604 to the Omnibus Bill (HR 1105) is on the list of amendments to be debated and voted on tonight and tomorrow. Please call your Senator to urge them to support E-Verify! Go to: www.numbersusa.com.
Since December of 2007, 4.4 million jobs have been lost while the federal government continues to bring in approximately 1.5 million foreign workers per year. Go to: www.numbersusa.com for a fast and effective ways to help.
The jobless rate jumped to 8.1% according to numbers released by the Labor Department this morning. It's the highest rate since 1983. Another 651,000 jobs were cut in the month of February. We Need Immigration Reform and We Need To Start With E-Verify!!! Please share this information with everyone you know and call today. Go to: www.numbersusa.com. They make it very easy and quick. If we all made one phone call think of the impact we would have.
---
More info:
Senate votes to preserve controversial earmarks in 1,000-page plus spending bill
Major Amendment dropped from the STIMULUS! YOUR JOBS! It is the Last chance to save American jobs and to demand our lawmakers reinstate E-Verify as a MANDATORY law.
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune - Mar 04 9:38 AM
Lack of E-Verify provision in stimulus bill irks some Anderson-area politicians
Many Anderson-area political leaders are expressing anger that the final version of the federal economic stimulus bill does not include a provision requiring the use of the E-Verify system to hire employees for federal stimulus projects.
Anderson Independent-Mail - Feb 21 7:16 PM
Texas: Don't Forget: Rally for the Voter ID Bill at the Capitol Tomorrow!
Join fellow supporters of Voter ID on the South steps of the Capitol at 7:45 AM tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10!
Tomorrow the Texas Senate hears debate on SB 362, a bill that would reduce voter fraud by requiring a photo ID in Texas to vote. Even though this legislation has the support of more than 70% of Texans and politicians from both sides of the aisle, liberal special interests are intent on burying this bill and denying Texans a fair election process.
To show your support for this important legislation, join Texans from around the state at the Capitol tomorrow at 7:45am and wear red. If you'd like to testify any time during the day, head to the 2nd floor of the East Wing, and sign up at the table in front of the Senate Chamber. You can also register your support by filling out the card for SB 362 outside the Senate chamber in the Capitol. Simply check "Support," and "Does not wish to provide oral testimony" to encourage the Texas Senate to pass this legislation.
If you would like any further information or wish to leave comments about Voter ID, please visit our Web site to share your thoughts.
Get involved! Visit RickPerry.org/blog to join the conversation, join the Governor's Facebook page, or follow the Governor on Twitter.
The above rec'd via email from Rick Perry campaign.
Tomorrow the Texas Senate hears debate on SB 362, a bill that would reduce voter fraud by requiring a photo ID in Texas to vote. Even though this legislation has the support of more than 70% of Texans and politicians from both sides of the aisle, liberal special interests are intent on burying this bill and denying Texans a fair election process.
To show your support for this important legislation, join Texans from around the state at the Capitol tomorrow at 7:45am and wear red. If you'd like to testify any time during the day, head to the 2nd floor of the East Wing, and sign up at the table in front of the Senate Chamber. You can also register your support by filling out the card for SB 362 outside the Senate chamber in the Capitol. Simply check "Support," and "Does not wish to provide oral testimony" to encourage the Texas Senate to pass this legislation.
If you would like any further information or wish to leave comments about Voter ID, please visit our Web site to share your thoughts.
Get involved! Visit RickPerry.org/blog to join the conversation, join the Governor's Facebook page, or follow the Governor on Twitter.
The above rec'd via email from Rick Perry campaign.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
House Schedule for Next Week
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009:
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for Morning Hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Unlimited One Minutes per side. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (3 Bills)
1) H.Res. 210 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that providing breakfast in schools through the National School Breakfast Program has a positive impact on classroom performance (Rep. Moore (WI) – Education and Labor)
2) H.Res. __ - Congratulating the National Assessment Governing Board on its 20th Anniversary in measuring student academic achievement (Rep. Castle – Education and Labor)
3) H.R. 131 - Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act (Rep. Gallegly – Oversight and Government Reform)
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009:
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for Morning Hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Suspensions (11 Bills)
1) H.Con.Res. 64 – Urging the President to designate 2009 as the ‘‘Year of the Military Family’’ (Rep. Skelton – Armed Services)
2) H.Con.Res. 37 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby (Rep. Hoyer – Transportation and Infrastructure)
3) H.Con.Res. 38 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service (Del. Holmes Norton – Transportation and Infrastructure)
4) H.Con.Res. 39 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run (Del. Holmes Norton – Transportation and Infrastructure)
5) H.R. 813 - To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 306 East Main Street in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as the "J. Herbert W. Small Federal Building and United States Courthouse" (Rep. Butterfield – Transportation and Infrastructure)
6) H.R. 837 - To designate the Federal building located at 799 United Nations Plaza in New York, New York, as the "Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building" (Rep. Rangel - Transportation and Infrastructure)
7) H.R. 842 - To designate the United States Courthouse to be constructed in Jackson, Mississippi, as the "R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse" (Rep. Thompson (MS) - Transportation and Infrastructure)
8) H.R. 869 - To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 101 Barr Street in Lexington, Kentucky, as the "Scott Reed Federal Building and United States Courthouse" (Rep. Chandler - Transportation and Infrastructure)
9) H.R. 887 - To designate the United States courthouse located at 131 East 4th Street in Davenport, Iowa, as the "James A. Leach United States Courthouse" (Rep. Loebsack - Transportation and Infrastructure)
10) H.Res. 194 - Supporting the goals of International Women's Day (Rep. Schakowsky – Foreign Affairs)
11) H.Res. __ - Recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the 50th Anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being forced into exile, and calling for a sustained multilateral effort to bring about a durable and peaceful solution to the Tibet issue (Rep. Holt – Foreign Affairs)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11; THURSDAY, MARCH 12; FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009:
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.
On Friday, the House is not expected to be in session.
Last Vote: Thursday p.m.
H.R. 1262 - Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 (Rep. Oberstar – Transportation and Infrastructure) (Subject to a Rule)
Possible Consideration of H.R. 157 - District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009 (Del. Holmes Norton – Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule)
* Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.
* Motions to go to Conference should they become available.
* Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for Morning Hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Unlimited One Minutes per side. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (3 Bills)
1) H.Res. 210 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that providing breakfast in schools through the National School Breakfast Program has a positive impact on classroom performance (Rep. Moore (WI) – Education and Labor)
2) H.Res. __ - Congratulating the National Assessment Governing Board on its 20th Anniversary in measuring student academic achievement (Rep. Castle – Education and Labor)
3) H.R. 131 - Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act (Rep. Gallegly – Oversight and Government Reform)
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009:
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for Morning Hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Suspensions (11 Bills)
1) H.Con.Res. 64 – Urging the President to designate 2009 as the ‘‘Year of the Military Family’’ (Rep. Skelton – Armed Services)
2) H.Con.Res. 37 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby (Rep. Hoyer – Transportation and Infrastructure)
3) H.Con.Res. 38 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service (Del. Holmes Norton – Transportation and Infrastructure)
4) H.Con.Res. 39 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run (Del. Holmes Norton – Transportation and Infrastructure)
5) H.R. 813 - To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 306 East Main Street in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as the "J. Herbert W. Small Federal Building and United States Courthouse" (Rep. Butterfield – Transportation and Infrastructure)
6) H.R. 837 - To designate the Federal building located at 799 United Nations Plaza in New York, New York, as the "Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building" (Rep. Rangel - Transportation and Infrastructure)
7) H.R. 842 - To designate the United States Courthouse to be constructed in Jackson, Mississippi, as the "R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse" (Rep. Thompson (MS) - Transportation and Infrastructure)
8) H.R. 869 - To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 101 Barr Street in Lexington, Kentucky, as the "Scott Reed Federal Building and United States Courthouse" (Rep. Chandler - Transportation and Infrastructure)
9) H.R. 887 - To designate the United States courthouse located at 131 East 4th Street in Davenport, Iowa, as the "James A. Leach United States Courthouse" (Rep. Loebsack - Transportation and Infrastructure)
10) H.Res. 194 - Supporting the goals of International Women's Day (Rep. Schakowsky – Foreign Affairs)
11) H.Res. __ - Recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the 50th Anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being forced into exile, and calling for a sustained multilateral effort to bring about a durable and peaceful solution to the Tibet issue (Rep. Holt – Foreign Affairs)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11; THURSDAY, MARCH 12; FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009:
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.
On Friday, the House is not expected to be in session.
Last Vote: Thursday p.m.
H.R. 1262 - Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 (Rep. Oberstar – Transportation and Infrastructure) (Subject to a Rule)
Possible Consideration of H.R. 157 - District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009 (Del. Holmes Norton – Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule)
* Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.
* Motions to go to Conference should they become available.
* Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.
Conservatism for a Millennial Joins the Read My Lipstick Network
I'm beginning to think that I could give up work and do nothing but read our member's blogs! We have the best of the best on our list and we're adding more every day. I am inspired by all of you who care enough to share your thoughts, research hot topics, design blogs, network and do all of the other things you do for our country and to protect our values.
Here's another fantastic new blog member:
Conservatism for a Millennial
http://www.truthfullyright.blogspot.com/
A twenty-something wises up.
Palin lovers are going to love Anne's blog! Conservatives in general are going to love it, too. She has some great info and excellent insights in her posts that I think will attract quite a few of you as regular readers.
I just popped over to grab some of her writings and decided that I had to share the video that's on her current post. Here's the link so you can read what she has to say about it: Trig, Piper and Sarah: Filling Your Heart up with Joy
Here's another post that caught my eye:
Ed Rollins: "A Good Night for Sarah Palin"
Fellow GOP'ers: Chill on Jindal. Yes, he was off of his game last night, and talked like he was selling a ShamWow to 5 year olds, but don't count him out; don't tear him down because of one speech. He is a strength in the Republican Party - a smart, intuitive, progressive, young rising star. You don't attack those on your team. And we need all of the help we can get. However, I am on Team Palin, and I believe that anything Jindal does, she can do better...
Here's another fantastic new blog member:
Conservatism for a Millennial
http://www.truthfullyright.blogspot.com/
A twenty-something wises up.
Palin lovers are going to love Anne's blog! Conservatives in general are going to love it, too. She has some great info and excellent insights in her posts that I think will attract quite a few of you as regular readers.
I just popped over to grab some of her writings and decided that I had to share the video that's on her current post. Here's the link so you can read what she has to say about it: Trig, Piper and Sarah: Filling Your Heart up with Joy
Here's another post that caught my eye:
Ed Rollins: "A Good Night for Sarah Palin"
Fellow GOP'ers: Chill on Jindal. Yes, he was off of his game last night, and talked like he was selling a ShamWow to 5 year olds, but don't count him out; don't tear him down because of one speech. He is a strength in the Republican Party - a smart, intuitive, progressive, young rising star. You don't attack those on your team. And we need all of the help we can get. However, I am on Team Palin, and I believe that anything Jindal does, she can do better...
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Four new blogs join the Read My Lipstick Network
You are going to love this new group of bloggers who've joined our Network!
The Spyglass
http://the-spyglass.blogspot.com/
The author shares a "wandering eye over religion, politics, and other important matters". It's a great mix of conservative thought and an excellent blending of religion, politics and... other important matters".
The News Factor
http://TheNewsFactor.com
You're going to want to bookmark this great conservative news site. It's another blend with just the right kinda news. I'm adding it to my rss feed. Guarantee you'll like it.
Common Sense Conservatism
www.comebackconservatives.blogspot.com
As promised in the title, loads of common sense in this blog! I found myself reading every post, nodding my head in agreement, and wishing that there were more people with Laura's brand of common sense! Here's a sampling:
Mr. President, you need a lesson in Economics 101
The President just doesn’t understand economics and his policy team doesn’t seem to understand either. The markets like specifics and the Obama administration has yet to provide them with any...
A Republican come back?
The Republicans in the House took a giant risk against this new president by voting NO twice on the porkulus bill. It was a risk I think was worth taking...
Notoriously Conservative
www.notoriouslyconservative.com
Great blog! I got a kick out of the Twelve Step Program for Liberals. And, I'd been meaning to go check out the video of 14-year old Jonathan Krohn speaking at CPAC - it's on there. I watched. I will share with you on my personal blog later, long after you've visited Notoriously Conservative to see it!
---
I'm going to toss in another plug for Twitter. I "met" a few of the bloggers above on Twitter. It is a fantastic way to connect with other conservatives and to keep up with all the news. It can be a bit intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it you'll be hanging out on it.
You can set you blogs to feed to Twitter. And set Twitter to feed to Facebook. You maximize your writing efforts by utilizing all the various social networks you can find time for. In the upcoming election, in the days ahead as we're fighting tooth and nail for our country, we're going to need every tool imaginable. I strongly encourage you to stretch yourself and go beyond blogging if you're not already doing so.
Twitter, Facebook, and the various Ning sites are a few of the great ways to network.
The Spyglass
http://the-spyglass.blogspot.com/
The author shares a "wandering eye over religion, politics, and other important matters". It's a great mix of conservative thought and an excellent blending of religion, politics and... other important matters".
The News Factor
http://TheNewsFactor.com
You're going to want to bookmark this great conservative news site. It's another blend with just the right kinda news. I'm adding it to my rss feed. Guarantee you'll like it.
Common Sense Conservatism
www.comebackconservatives.blogspot.com
As promised in the title, loads of common sense in this blog! I found myself reading every post, nodding my head in agreement, and wishing that there were more people with Laura's brand of common sense! Here's a sampling:
Mr. President, you need a lesson in Economics 101
The President just doesn’t understand economics and his policy team doesn’t seem to understand either. The markets like specifics and the Obama administration has yet to provide them with any...
A Republican come back?
The Republicans in the House took a giant risk against this new president by voting NO twice on the porkulus bill. It was a risk I think was worth taking...
Notoriously Conservative
www.notoriouslyconservative.com
Great blog! I got a kick out of the Twelve Step Program for Liberals. And, I'd been meaning to go check out the video of 14-year old Jonathan Krohn speaking at CPAC - it's on there. I watched. I will share with you on my personal blog later, long after you've visited Notoriously Conservative to see it!
---
I'm going to toss in another plug for Twitter. I "met" a few of the bloggers above on Twitter. It is a fantastic way to connect with other conservatives and to keep up with all the news. It can be a bit intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it you'll be hanging out on it.
You can set you blogs to feed to Twitter. And set Twitter to feed to Facebook. You maximize your writing efforts by utilizing all the various social networks you can find time for. In the upcoming election, in the days ahead as we're fighting tooth and nail for our country, we're going to need every tool imaginable. I strongly encourage you to stretch yourself and go beyond blogging if you're not already doing so.
Twitter, Facebook, and the various Ning sites are a few of the great ways to network.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Great group
I'm involved in a lot of political action groups, couldn't list them all if I were forced (have to depend on email updates!). There are some that jump to the top of the list though, some that are really organized, working hard to keep us informed, and acting to try and change things. The Wake Up American Movement is one that I encourage everyone to check out. Once you join (free) you'll start getting an occasional email when something big is happening. They give you tools to fight and / or inform. You can become as involved as you'd like. They have tele-vents where they discuss options, answer questions, suggest courses of action.
Hope you'll sign up and let them know the RMLN sent you in their direction.
TO HELP WAKE UP AMERICA,
sign in to Get Involved here:
http://www.wam08.org/GetInvolved.html
Hope you'll sign up and let them know the RMLN sent you in their direction.
TO HELP WAKE UP AMERICA,
sign in to Get Involved here:
http://www.wam08.org/GetInvolved.html
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Help protect conscience rights of health care workers
It only takes a minute to send an email through the the Action Alert tool linked in this email. This is an urgent call for action. I'm still investigating the impact this would have on our health care system, particularly where Christian hospitals are concerned. Feel free to pass this on to others. Silence is complicity! Thanks so much. - Why Mommy is a Republican
As noted previously on Why Mommy is a Republican here and here, the Obama Administration has announced that it is considering the rescinding of the Bush Administration's policy which has protected the conscience rights of health care workers who do not want to participate in abortion.
Since this President is the most pro-abortion in history and has even supported the practice of infanticide by opposing the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, we can consider that it is practically a given that the conscience rule will be rescinded.
It remains vitally important that Americans who value not only the inalienable right to life but also freedom of conscience let the Obama Administration know in no uncertain terms that we do not approve of any attempt to force health-care workers to participate in abortion or risk losing their jobs. The issue is open for public comment for a very short time (only thirty days) so it is urgent that all people of good will take the opportunity NOW to send the Obama Administration a message -- that freedom of conscience MUST BE PROTECTED.
As of Friday, the full notice hadn't yet been drafted and my own search for a public comment area on the conscience rule at the White House website yielded no results, however you may easily send a quick email to the White House on this specific issue through this Action Alert tool at the website of the American Family Association.
House Republican Leader John Boehner issued a statement about this on Friday and provided much more detailed information in a post on the House Leader Blog yesterday which you may find at this link.
In that post, Boehner referred to Senator Tom Coburn's comments about this in an informal interview with CNS News. Coburn is an OB/GYN who says he and many other health care providers would go to jail before submitting to the President's will that people opposed to abortion on moral grounds must participate in it. Boehner also shares comments made by former President Ronald Reagan to CPAC in 1982 where he called abortion "a great moral evil" as well as the public statement released by Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence in which Pence refers to the "devastating impact" that rescinding of the policy would have not only for health care providers, but also patients.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops expresses "grave concern" and urges the public to take advantage of the public comment period to voice the opposition that surely most Americans still possess in regard to violation of conscience. Boehner, in his blog post, noted that the conscience clause decision will come "on the heels" of a "stinging rebuke" by the Vatican which had been issued in immediate response to Obama's decision to repeal the ban on taxpayer funding of abortion overseas. [TIME offers details in a report entitled "The Vatican Slams Obama Over Abortion."]
NRLC, in a press release dated on Friday, calls Obama's move to rescind the conscience rule the "next step in enactment" of the "expansive Obama abortion agenda".
Rob Stein, writing in The Washington Post, notes his belief that the public comment period "could result in a compromise" but adds that the Administration "acknowledged that [middle ground will] not always be possible."
Please act immediately by sending an email today to the White House through this Action Alert tool at the website of the American Family Association!
As noted previously on Why Mommy is a Republican here and here, the Obama Administration has announced that it is considering the rescinding of the Bush Administration's policy which has protected the conscience rights of health care workers who do not want to participate in abortion.
Since this President is the most pro-abortion in history and has even supported the practice of infanticide by opposing the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, we can consider that it is practically a given that the conscience rule will be rescinded.
It remains vitally important that Americans who value not only the inalienable right to life but also freedom of conscience let the Obama Administration know in no uncertain terms that we do not approve of any attempt to force health-care workers to participate in abortion or risk losing their jobs. The issue is open for public comment for a very short time (only thirty days) so it is urgent that all people of good will take the opportunity NOW to send the Obama Administration a message -- that freedom of conscience MUST BE PROTECTED.
As of Friday, the full notice hadn't yet been drafted and my own search for a public comment area on the conscience rule at the White House website yielded no results, however you may easily send a quick email to the White House on this specific issue through this Action Alert tool at the website of the American Family Association.
House Republican Leader John Boehner issued a statement about this on Friday and provided much more detailed information in a post on the House Leader Blog yesterday which you may find at this link.
In that post, Boehner referred to Senator Tom Coburn's comments about this in an informal interview with CNS News. Coburn is an OB/GYN who says he and many other health care providers would go to jail before submitting to the President's will that people opposed to abortion on moral grounds must participate in it. Boehner also shares comments made by former President Ronald Reagan to CPAC in 1982 where he called abortion "a great moral evil" as well as the public statement released by Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence in which Pence refers to the "devastating impact" that rescinding of the policy would have not only for health care providers, but also patients.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops expresses "grave concern" and urges the public to take advantage of the public comment period to voice the opposition that surely most Americans still possess in regard to violation of conscience. Boehner, in his blog post, noted that the conscience clause decision will come "on the heels" of a "stinging rebuke" by the Vatican which had been issued in immediate response to Obama's decision to repeal the ban on taxpayer funding of abortion overseas. [TIME offers details in a report entitled "The Vatican Slams Obama Over Abortion."]
NRLC, in a press release dated on Friday, calls Obama's move to rescind the conscience rule the "next step in enactment" of the "expansive Obama abortion agenda".
Rob Stein, writing in The Washington Post, notes his belief that the public comment period "could result in a compromise" but adds that the Administration "acknowledged that [middle ground will] not always be possible."
Please act immediately by sending an email today to the White House through this Action Alert tool at the website of the American Family Association!
Ready to Rumble for Rush
The Saul Alinksy-ites are continuing to go after Rush Limbaugh. Love him, hate him or happen to be somewhere in the middle, this is a MUCH bigger issue than Rush Limbaugh. This is about free speech, talk radio, an attempt to split conservatives, and much more.
We've mentioned it before, but here's the blog that focuses on the issue: http://readytorumbleforrush.blogspot.com/. The Read My Lipstick Network has also dedicated a page on the main site to "the cause".
You are welcome to snitch the logo (above or left depending on your browser). If you'd like to link it to the blog that's fantastic, great, much appreciated and preferred. If you'd like to set up a page on your own site instead, go for it. However, a mention and link on the page would be appreciated as the logo, title and blog are "owned" by Ready to Rumble for Rush Limbaugh.
With everything we do, we're not in it for the glory, we're in it to preserve our freedoms and our country. As conservatives we need to work together and get our egos out of the way. This is too important to squabble and divide. That's another one of the tactics used to win wars. Don't succumb --- step above it and work together.
OK, that's my pep talk for the day.
We've mentioned it before, but here's the blog that focuses on the issue: http://readytorumbleforrush.blogspot.com/. The Read My Lipstick Network has also dedicated a page on the main site to "the cause".
You are welcome to snitch the logo (above or left depending on your browser). If you'd like to link it to the blog that's fantastic, great, much appreciated and preferred. If you'd like to set up a page on your own site instead, go for it. However, a mention and link on the page would be appreciated as the logo, title and blog are "owned" by Ready to Rumble for Rush Limbaugh.
With everything we do, we're not in it for the glory, we're in it to preserve our freedoms and our country. As conservatives we need to work together and get our egos out of the way. This is too important to squabble and divide. That's another one of the tactics used to win wars. Don't succumb --- step above it and work together.
OK, that's my pep talk for the day
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
E-Verify Expires March 6th (screening of illegal aliens)
CONGRESS EXPIRES CRITICAL TOOL FOR SCREENING ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT!
The E-Verify Program, on which businesses across the country rely to screen employment of illegal aliens expires this Friday, March 6. E-Verify has been in use since 1997 by businesses nationwide - but Congress appears to be 'hoping' Americans won't notice that they removed the extension of this regulation from the "Stimulus Plan" and the issue has been ignored and screened out of Mass Media news coverage.
LET'S SHOW WASHINGTON WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION and we are opposed to the hiring of illegal aliens.
SIGN the Urgent E-VERIFY PETITION Now - and send this link to your friends to sign on in support of this "Smart Business Practice."
http://www.wam08.org/TakeaStand.html
The above is from the Wake Up America Movement.
The E-Verify Program, on which businesses across the country rely to screen employment of illegal aliens expires this Friday, March 6. E-Verify has been in use since 1997 by businesses nationwide - but Congress appears to be 'hoping' Americans won't notice that they removed the extension of this regulation from the "Stimulus Plan" and the issue has been ignored and screened out of Mass Media news coverage.
LET'S SHOW WASHINGTON WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION and we are opposed to the hiring of illegal aliens.
SIGN the Urgent E-VERIFY PETITION Now - and send this link to your friends to sign on in support of this "Smart Business Practice."
http://www.wam08.org/TakeaStand.html
The above is from the Wake Up America Movement.
ALG: A Defective Drug Czar
With everyone from the NAACP to Second Amendment groups – and the vast majority of his own police officers – having risen up in protest, R. Gil Kerlikowske, Barack Obama's drug czar designee has engendered more than his share of controversy. And with good cause. If Mr. Kerlikowske's past is prologue, the new “Office of Drug Control Policy” may soon be dangerously drug out of control.
Gil Kerlikowske has been involved in law enforcement for over three decades. Starting in Florida, he oversaw two tiny police departments where he seemed able to escape offending his small constituency. Then he shuffled off to Buffalo, and the controversies began.
In Buffalo, his highest praise seemed to come from his own captain of administrative planning who excitedly told the Buffalo News that his boss “almost singlehandedly took this department from using typewriters and carbon paper into the latest and greatest computer technology.”
Others not in Mr. Kerlikowske's direct employ were far less enthusiastic. In particular, they criticized his frequent absences from the job, as well as his decided tendency to spend his time consulting with college professors and social workers when he did deign to stop by the office.
Following a stint at the Justice Department—where he worked with Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder and issued grants to community policing projects—Mr. Kerlikowske was hired as Seattle police chief, the position he has held since 2001. And it was there that controversy exploded.
That same year, the infamous drug-infested Seattle Mardi Gras riots broke out, in which marauders brutally attacked revelers. They sexually assaulted a number of women, injuring 72 people in all. And they ultimately killed 20-year-old Kris Kime who was attempting to defend one of the assaulted women. During the height of the riots, Kerlikowske instructed police to not intervene, but rather to simply enclose the rioters and establish a perimeter for three whole hours.
Instead of taking action to interdict the riots, he opted only to contain them, ordering his troops to ignore pleas for help and allowing the mayhem to continue unabated. His excuse: He said he didn't want to add to the violence, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Sgt. Daniel Beste later sent a letter of apology to Kris Kimes' mother, saying "we also were aware of the rising tide of violence long before your son was killed and continually asked, 'Why don't we stop this?' Unfortunately, my question was never answered." Sgt. Beste also enclosed the $200 he had received for the "amount of overtime I was paid by the taxpayers of this city to stand by while they were beaten and your son killed." The $200 was later used to help pay for Kris Kimes' last hours, spent on a life-support system.
Following the Mardi Gras tragedy, the city government announced that the actions (or, lack of the same) taken by police were unwise and had put the city at risk. Eventually, as a direct result of Kerlikowske's order to his troops to stand down, the city of Seattle was forced to settle with the family of the murdered youth, giving them $2 million as restitution.
As a result of this—and other incidents, including the public reprimand of an officer who was accused of being “rude”—Chief Kerlikowske received a “no-confidence” vote by the local police union. A full 90 percent of the beat officers voted against their chief. Said one of the officers: "We hope the mayor and the City Council understand that it's not a few whining officers. It's a significant frustration of the vast majority of the department." That did not sway the mayor, however, who kept Kerlikowske on the job, despite his disagreement over how the riots were handled (and undoubtedly his pleasure over the department's disposal of typewriters and carbon paper).
Only a few short years later, the chief was again in the news for what many felt was malfeasance on the job. This time, it was over his personal weapon—a Glock 9mm handgun—which was stolen from his unlocked unmarked police car while he was shopping with his wife. Second Amendment groups immediately criticized him for the incident, labeling it as ironic because of his strict anti-gun stance. Said Alan Gottleib, chairman of Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA):
"During his eight-year tenure as Seattle's police chief, Gil Kerlikowske has established himself as a devoted lobbyist for every restrictive gun law proposal. That's pretty hypocritical of a guy whose own gun was stolen out of his department car on a downtown Seattle street. He may pass an FBI background check for an appointment, but he flunked the responsible gun owner's test."
Gun groups aren't the only ones whose ire has been drawn by the Seattle police chief. In 2006, the local NAACP called for his resignation, after word broke that Kerlikowske interfered in an investigation of two officers who were accused of 'roughing up' a black man. As a result, the officers got off with only a slap on the wrist.
Added to all these incidents is the disturbing pattern of his dealings with marijuana. In drug-laden Seattle, the police chief was lenient on pot users, causing some marijuana advocates to express joy at his presumed appointment. Comments range from calling the appointment “brilliant” to “what a blessing – the karma gods are smiling on the whole country, man.” The latter comment inspired no doubt by Mr. Kerlikowske's enthusiasm for speaking at Seattle's “Hempfest.”
In fact, the police chief stated that pursuing marijuana arrests was a “low priority” for his department, and drug-related arrests dropped during the drug czar nominee's tenure. With little wonder.
When the people of Seattle pushed forward a ballot measure calling for stricter enforcement of laws against marijuana, Chief Kerlikowske not only opposed the ballot measure, he drug up a red herring by arguing that citizens should not be able to pick what laws are enforced. The fact of the matter, of course, was that the citizens were not trying to “pick what laws are enforced,” they were simply asking that the man charged with enforcing the laws act in accordance with the law itself. Kerlikowske, instead, maintained the prerogative of deciding for himself which laws were “low priority.”
This disturbing flaw—that the rights he denies the people can only accrue to himself—is the same logic by which he can carelessly lose his own weapon and then work to limit gun ownership by law-abiding citizens who are far more careful than he. And it makes one wonder exactly which laws Mr. Kerlikowske will choose to enforce – or deny – should he don the mantle of drug czar.
In a short two months in office, Barack Obama has established an unenviable reputation for appointing associates to top positions who show little, or no regard for the laws they are expected to enforce. Surely, it is not too much for the American people to ask that the new Office of National Drug Control Policy not be allowed to go to pot from day one. They can do it in memory of Kris Kimes.
Author Isaac MacMillen is a contributing editor to ALG News Bureau.
http://alg31blog.timberlakepublishing.com/default.asp?Display=1007
RMLN note: We encourage you to sign up for "The Daily Grind" and get info like we've just shared. www.getliberty.org.
Gil Kerlikowske has been involved in law enforcement for over three decades. Starting in Florida, he oversaw two tiny police departments where he seemed able to escape offending his small constituency. Then he shuffled off to Buffalo, and the controversies began.
In Buffalo, his highest praise seemed to come from his own captain of administrative planning who excitedly told the Buffalo News that his boss “almost singlehandedly took this department from using typewriters and carbon paper into the latest and greatest computer technology.”
Others not in Mr. Kerlikowske's direct employ were far less enthusiastic. In particular, they criticized his frequent absences from the job, as well as his decided tendency to spend his time consulting with college professors and social workers when he did deign to stop by the office.
Following a stint at the Justice Department—where he worked with Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder and issued grants to community policing projects—Mr. Kerlikowske was hired as Seattle police chief, the position he has held since 2001. And it was there that controversy exploded.
That same year, the infamous drug-infested Seattle Mardi Gras riots broke out, in which marauders brutally attacked revelers. They sexually assaulted a number of women, injuring 72 people in all. And they ultimately killed 20-year-old Kris Kime who was attempting to defend one of the assaulted women. During the height of the riots, Kerlikowske instructed police to not intervene, but rather to simply enclose the rioters and establish a perimeter for three whole hours.
Instead of taking action to interdict the riots, he opted only to contain them, ordering his troops to ignore pleas for help and allowing the mayhem to continue unabated. His excuse: He said he didn't want to add to the violence, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Sgt. Daniel Beste later sent a letter of apology to Kris Kimes' mother, saying "we also were aware of the rising tide of violence long before your son was killed and continually asked, 'Why don't we stop this?' Unfortunately, my question was never answered." Sgt. Beste also enclosed the $200 he had received for the "amount of overtime I was paid by the taxpayers of this city to stand by while they were beaten and your son killed." The $200 was later used to help pay for Kris Kimes' last hours, spent on a life-support system.
Following the Mardi Gras tragedy, the city government announced that the actions (or, lack of the same) taken by police were unwise and had put the city at risk. Eventually, as a direct result of Kerlikowske's order to his troops to stand down, the city of Seattle was forced to settle with the family of the murdered youth, giving them $2 million as restitution.
As a result of this—and other incidents, including the public reprimand of an officer who was accused of being “rude”—Chief Kerlikowske received a “no-confidence” vote by the local police union. A full 90 percent of the beat officers voted against their chief. Said one of the officers: "We hope the mayor and the City Council understand that it's not a few whining officers. It's a significant frustration of the vast majority of the department." That did not sway the mayor, however, who kept Kerlikowske on the job, despite his disagreement over how the riots were handled (and undoubtedly his pleasure over the department's disposal of typewriters and carbon paper).
Only a few short years later, the chief was again in the news for what many felt was malfeasance on the job. This time, it was over his personal weapon—a Glock 9mm handgun—which was stolen from his unlocked unmarked police car while he was shopping with his wife. Second Amendment groups immediately criticized him for the incident, labeling it as ironic because of his strict anti-gun stance. Said Alan Gottleib, chairman of Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA):
"During his eight-year tenure as Seattle's police chief, Gil Kerlikowske has established himself as a devoted lobbyist for every restrictive gun law proposal. That's pretty hypocritical of a guy whose own gun was stolen out of his department car on a downtown Seattle street. He may pass an FBI background check for an appointment, but he flunked the responsible gun owner's test."
Gun groups aren't the only ones whose ire has been drawn by the Seattle police chief. In 2006, the local NAACP called for his resignation, after word broke that Kerlikowske interfered in an investigation of two officers who were accused of 'roughing up' a black man. As a result, the officers got off with only a slap on the wrist.
Added to all these incidents is the disturbing pattern of his dealings with marijuana. In drug-laden Seattle, the police chief was lenient on pot users, causing some marijuana advocates to express joy at his presumed appointment. Comments range from calling the appointment “brilliant” to “what a blessing – the karma gods are smiling on the whole country, man.” The latter comment inspired no doubt by Mr. Kerlikowske's enthusiasm for speaking at Seattle's “Hempfest.”
In fact, the police chief stated that pursuing marijuana arrests was a “low priority” for his department, and drug-related arrests dropped during the drug czar nominee's tenure. With little wonder.
When the people of Seattle pushed forward a ballot measure calling for stricter enforcement of laws against marijuana, Chief Kerlikowske not only opposed the ballot measure, he drug up a red herring by arguing that citizens should not be able to pick what laws are enforced. The fact of the matter, of course, was that the citizens were not trying to “pick what laws are enforced,” they were simply asking that the man charged with enforcing the laws act in accordance with the law itself. Kerlikowske, instead, maintained the prerogative of deciding for himself which laws were “low priority.”
This disturbing flaw—that the rights he denies the people can only accrue to himself—is the same logic by which he can carelessly lose his own weapon and then work to limit gun ownership by law-abiding citizens who are far more careful than he. And it makes one wonder exactly which laws Mr. Kerlikowske will choose to enforce – or deny – should he don the mantle of drug czar.
In a short two months in office, Barack Obama has established an unenviable reputation for appointing associates to top positions who show little, or no regard for the laws they are expected to enforce. Surely, it is not too much for the American people to ask that the new Office of National Drug Control Policy not be allowed to go to pot from day one. They can do it in memory of Kris Kimes.
Author Isaac MacMillen is a contributing editor to ALG News Bureau.
http://alg31blog.timberlakepublishing.com/default.asp?Display=1007
RMLN note: We encourage you to sign up for "The Daily Grind" and get info like we've just shared. www.getliberty.org.
ALG / Net Right Nation Editorial: Popping the Appropriations Bubble
Congress has once again proven itself to be just about the only entity in America that considers a deepening recession just cause to whip out the credit card and go on an unbridled spending spree.
In fact, judging from the most recent bloated appropriations spending bill passed last week in the House by a lopsided 245-178 party-line vote, it seems clear that government actually thrives during such periods of economic uncertainty. H.R. 1105, also known as the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, doles out money to nine separate appropriations, bills which then in turn feed a multitude of government agencies and programs.
“Engorge,” however, might be the more appropriate term.
When all the numbers are tallied, H.R. 1105 contains $410 billion in spending on the included agencies and programs. This marks a $32 billion—or 8%—increase in funding over the FY 2008 levels. And remember: this comes at a time when the national debt is already approaching $11 trillion.
Notwithstanding, the following represents a portion of the funding increases the members of Congress have just approved:
• Transportation/HUD: $55 billion – $6.2 billion (13%) above 2008 levels
• Agriculture: $20.5 billion - $2.4 billion (13%) above 2008 levels
• Energy and Water: $33.3 billion - $2.4 billion (8%) above 2008 levels
As the Republican Committee on Appropriations points out, this staggering surge in funding marks the single largest increase in annual discretionary spending since the “national malaise” days of the Carter Administration (9/11 funding excluded). The included earmarks and pork-projects are similarly outrageous.
It's no wonder, therefore, that President Bush had promised to veto the Democrats' Omnibus Appropriations spending bill should it have arrived on his desk during the waning days of his presidency last year. Such an egregious inflation of government spending ought not to be tolerated by any President—even one with a tendency to occasionally cave to big-spending pressures.
And if the $410 billion wasn't enough to send the fiscally-responsible into a frenzy, the Omnibus Appropriations bill contains funding for agencies that were already funneled money through the federal “stimulus” package. The combined grand total for spending on these agencies and programs tips the scales at a whopping $680 billion.
That tallies at a $301 billion increase—or an 80% swell—over the amount these agencies received in 2008.
The Republican staff of the Appropriations Committee also outlined a number of pork projects and national policy changes included in the legislation. These include:
$2.9 billion—in addition to the $1 billion provided by the “stimulus” bill—towards the 2010 decennial census. This is particularly troubling given the White House's efforts to “supervise”—i.e. control and manipulate—the 2010 national headcount.
$310 million—in addition to the $50 million provided by the “stimulus” bill—for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.
$545 million for family planning, including spending for the UN Population Fund for contraceptives.
Moreover, the Omnibus Appropriations bill eases travel and trade restrictions with regards to Cuba, fails to prohibit the future implementation of the “Fairness Doctrine”, attacks school choice in the dismal educational environment of Washington, D.C., and more.
Although the “here and now” of the $410 billion H.R. 1105 is reason enough for national outrage, the true calamity is what awaits the nation down the road should such excessive spending continue.
Facing a national debt of nearly $11 trillion, Barack Obama's recently unveiled $3.6 trillion budget, coupled with an escalating annual deficit, portends nothing short of an economic apocalypse. And the immediate result of this spending spree will ineluctably be higher taxes, higher interest rates, and – sooner rather than later – staggering inflation.
One way or another, the American people will be forced to foot the bill for a Congress spending far outside of its means. And in tough economic times such as these, more taxpayer burden is the very last thing a strapped American people need.
The nation's leaders in Washington ought to step back and face the fact that their out-of-control spending has gone too far. If politicians really want to absolve the deepening economic crisis and set the country on a path towards recovery, they need to trim down the government, cut their costs, and tighten their belts.
Instead, they vote time and again to make the “Appropriations Bubble” grow bigger by the day, blithely ignoring the stark fact that a federal government trying to spend itself solvent is a surefire recipe for an economic “pop” heard round the world.
ALG CTA: Big Government has been so busy bailing everyone out tlast year hat it never got around to passing the regular budget. So, now they need to bail themselves out. Go to StopBailouts.net and sign the petition to put an end to the bailouts once and for all! And don't forget to contact your Congressmen and Senators--before it's too late--and tell them to vote against H.R. 1105 and that not another cent should go to Washington! The Capitol Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
http://alg31blog.timberlakepublishing.com/default.asp?Display=1008
In fact, judging from the most recent bloated appropriations spending bill passed last week in the House by a lopsided 245-178 party-line vote, it seems clear that government actually thrives during such periods of economic uncertainty. H.R. 1105, also known as the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, doles out money to nine separate appropriations, bills which then in turn feed a multitude of government agencies and programs.
“Engorge,” however, might be the more appropriate term.
When all the numbers are tallied, H.R. 1105 contains $410 billion in spending on the included agencies and programs. This marks a $32 billion—or 8%—increase in funding over the FY 2008 levels. And remember: this comes at a time when the national debt is already approaching $11 trillion.
Notwithstanding, the following represents a portion of the funding increases the members of Congress have just approved:
• Transportation/HUD: $55 billion – $6.2 billion (13%) above 2008 levels
• Agriculture: $20.5 billion - $2.4 billion (13%) above 2008 levels
• Energy and Water: $33.3 billion - $2.4 billion (8%) above 2008 levels
As the Republican Committee on Appropriations points out, this staggering surge in funding marks the single largest increase in annual discretionary spending since the “national malaise” days of the Carter Administration (9/11 funding excluded). The included earmarks and pork-projects are similarly outrageous.
It's no wonder, therefore, that President Bush had promised to veto the Democrats' Omnibus Appropriations spending bill should it have arrived on his desk during the waning days of his presidency last year. Such an egregious inflation of government spending ought not to be tolerated by any President—even one with a tendency to occasionally cave to big-spending pressures.
And if the $410 billion wasn't enough to send the fiscally-responsible into a frenzy, the Omnibus Appropriations bill contains funding for agencies that were already funneled money through the federal “stimulus” package. The combined grand total for spending on these agencies and programs tips the scales at a whopping $680 billion.
That tallies at a $301 billion increase—or an 80% swell—over the amount these agencies received in 2008.
The Republican staff of the Appropriations Committee also outlined a number of pork projects and national policy changes included in the legislation. These include:
$2.9 billion—in addition to the $1 billion provided by the “stimulus” bill—towards the 2010 decennial census. This is particularly troubling given the White House's efforts to “supervise”—i.e. control and manipulate—the 2010 national headcount.
$310 million—in addition to the $50 million provided by the “stimulus” bill—for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.
$545 million for family planning, including spending for the UN Population Fund for contraceptives.
Moreover, the Omnibus Appropriations bill eases travel and trade restrictions with regards to Cuba, fails to prohibit the future implementation of the “Fairness Doctrine”, attacks school choice in the dismal educational environment of Washington, D.C., and more.
Although the “here and now” of the $410 billion H.R. 1105 is reason enough for national outrage, the true calamity is what awaits the nation down the road should such excessive spending continue.
Facing a national debt of nearly $11 trillion, Barack Obama's recently unveiled $3.6 trillion budget, coupled with an escalating annual deficit, portends nothing short of an economic apocalypse. And the immediate result of this spending spree will ineluctably be higher taxes, higher interest rates, and – sooner rather than later – staggering inflation.
One way or another, the American people will be forced to foot the bill for a Congress spending far outside of its means. And in tough economic times such as these, more taxpayer burden is the very last thing a strapped American people need.
The nation's leaders in Washington ought to step back and face the fact that their out-of-control spending has gone too far. If politicians really want to absolve the deepening economic crisis and set the country on a path towards recovery, they need to trim down the government, cut their costs, and tighten their belts.
Instead, they vote time and again to make the “Appropriations Bubble” grow bigger by the day, blithely ignoring the stark fact that a federal government trying to spend itself solvent is a surefire recipe for an economic “pop” heard round the world.
ALG CTA: Big Government has been so busy bailing everyone out tlast year hat it never got around to passing the regular budget. So, now they need to bail themselves out. Go to StopBailouts.net and sign the petition to put an end to the bailouts once and for all! And don't forget to contact your Congressmen and Senators--before it's too late--and tell them to vote against H.R. 1105 and that not another cent should go to Washington! The Capitol Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
http://alg31blog.timberlakepublishing.com/default.asp?Display=1008
Video sets record straight on Kincaid comments at CPAC
Video sets record straight on Kincaid comments at CPAC
AIM editor Cliff Kincaid gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, in which he made some comments perceived to be controversial about where Presidents Reagan and Obama were born. These comments were deliberately misrepresented by a George Soros-funded "think tank" called the Center for American Progress. In order to understand how the comments were misrepresented, we offer you access to this YouTube video, produced by a website called 24ahead.com. This video sets the record straight about what Cliff Kincaid said and didn't say. This effort to set the record straight is greatly welcomed and appreciated. The lies told by the Soros-funded "Think Progress" should be exposed.
AIM editor Cliff Kincaid gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, in which he made some comments perceived to be controversial about where Presidents Reagan and Obama were born. These comments were deliberately misrepresented by a George Soros-funded "think tank" called the Center for American Progress. In order to understand how the comments were misrepresented, we offer you access to this YouTube video, produced by a website called 24ahead.com. This video sets the record straight about what Cliff Kincaid said and didn't say. This effort to set the record straight is greatly welcomed and appreciated. The lies told by the Soros-funded "Think Progress" should be exposed.
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