One Citizen Speaking

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August 2013

Next month:
October 2013

Obama is talking to Tehran: Will this be a repeat of North Korea negotiating in bad faith while they perfect their nuclear weapon capability and make fools of the progressive socialist democrats?

Apparently President Obama needs a distraction from the impending Obamacare fiasco and the many scandals swirling around the democrat toilet bowl …

Obama Talks on Phone With Iran's Leader, Nego tiates With Tehran

Just now I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said. "The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach an agreement over Iran's nuclear program." This is the first time leaders from America and Iran have spoken since 1979.

"I reiterated to President Rouhani what I said in New York. While there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution.

"I've directed Secretary Kerry to continue pursuing this diplomatic effort with the Iranian government. We had constructive discussions yesterday in New York with our partners, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China, together with the Iranian foreign minister, and going forward, President Rouhani and I have directed our teams to continue working expeditiously in corporation with the P-5 plus one to pursue an agreement. And throughout this process we will stay in close touch with our friends and allies in the region, including Israel.

"I have made clear that we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy in the context of Iran meeting its obligations. So the test will be meaningful, transparent, and verifiable actions," said Obama, which could lead to a relaxation of sanctions.

Source: Obama Talks on Phone With Iran's Leader, Negotiates With Tehran | The Weekly Standard

Two accomplished liars, both with an anti-America agenda …

There is little or no doubt in my mind that President Barack Obama is a skilled and accomplished liar willing to lie boldly to the American public as he has so often done on the Affordable Healthcare and Patient Protection Act (Obamacare), and more recently about the events surrounding the killing of bin Laden and the alleged gun running of military weapons to anti-America terrorists in Benghazi, Libya.

There is also little or no doubt in my mind that the real power in Iran does not rest with the President of Iran, but the Mullahs that are behind the scenes and guided by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. So, in essence, President Obama is talking to an underling with a title and not the main man who sets Iranian policy.

As for Secretary of State John Kerry, his performance is likely to be a repeat of Secretary Madeleine Albright’s disastrous negotiations with North Korea.

Bottom line …

Israel is, once again, being disadvantaged by Barack Obama, a lazy, inept and incompetent President whose style, in his own words, is to “lead from behind.” With experience demonstrating that Obama refuses to take bold action, preferring to leave the heavy lifting to others – which he can throw under the proverbial bus if there are negative consequences. Pretending that he is as shocked as the American people as he promises to investigate and remedy the problem.

Of course, we have seen his never-ending investigations and they are worthless in accomplishing anything other than distancing Obama and his cadre of progressive socialist democrats from the immediate fallout surrounding adverse events. A prime example can be seen in the IRS political scandal where Lois Learner, who openly lied to Congress, was placed on “paid administrative leave” until she resigned days before the IRS announced that she was to be terminated; thus keeping her pension and benefits intact. There is little doubt in my mind that she and her cohorts in the government should be indicted for the criminal and felonious interference with a presidential election.

I only wonder how many billions of taxpayer dollars President Obama is willing to transfer to Iran to secure a bogus, meaningless, document pledging to curtail their nuclear activities – right up until the time they announce that North Korea has successfully tested their weapon and that they have ten or more weapons stockpiled for use. By then, Obama will be out of office and the next President will need to deal with a nuclear Iran and a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Full well knowing that the Islamic culture of death makes it likely that any MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) is ineffective and irrelevant to the historical development of the next Caliphate.

It appears that President Obama may be closer to Louis Farrakhan in his opinion of Israel and its Jewish population than he is to the preservation of Israel as the only stable and productive democracy in the region. After all, his spiritual mentor for 20+ years, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, also appears to promote an anti-Jew posture.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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The Solution to the NSA Information Collection Problem

It appears that the FISA court has decided to allow the NSA (National Security Agency) to collect an unlimited number of electronic records, both metadata (telephone numbers, date, time, etc.) as well as the actual conversations; to be kept in a secure “lockbox” until they are needed – by a showing of probable cause to a court of competent jurisdiction.

This presents a fundamental violation of your constitutional rights regarding search and seizure. That in addition to being able to mine the data for out-of-context snippets of electronic messages and conversations to prove one element of a crime: intent. Or, alternatively, to allow the law enforcement authorities to use these prohibited materials to develop “alternative” ways of developing similar incriminating information. And, not beyond the realm of possibility, inserting false information into these archived data banks to allow the government to coerce selected citizens into performing actions against the best interests or destroy their lives and careers with false and misleading information. It would not be the first time that “secret” government information has been leaked to the courts or the news media for in the pursuit of a political agenda.

Here is what the Court did …

NSA: Surveillance court says no upper limit on phone records collection

A U.S. surveillance court has given the National Security Agency no limit on the number of U.S. telephone records it collects in the name of fighting terrorism, the NSA director said Thursday.

The NSA intends to collect all U.S. telephone records and put them in a searchable “lock box” in the interest of national security, General Keith Alexander, the NSA’s director, told U.S. senators. “There is no upper limit” on NSA telephone-records collection, Alexander said. “I believe it is in the nation’s best interest to put all the phone records into a lock box that we can search when the nation needs to do it.”

The NSA would need to notify the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and Congress before collecting some other types of U.S. communications, including mobile-phone location information, Alexander told senators. The NSA doesn't currently have plans to collect mobile-phone location information, he said. Source: NSA: Surveillance court says no upper limit on phone records collection | PCWorld

This is a clear and present danger to all American citizens …

There is little or no doubt that corrupt politicians, organized crime, and a self-serving, self-perpetuating political bureaucracy has now begun to nibble at the edges of tyrannical behavior to create a permanent political class, protected at all cost, from the will of the people. There is also little or no doubt that corrupt law enforcement officials and prosecutors have falsified or withheld exculpatory evidence that has sent innocent men to jail or, even worse, to their executions. Pretty much why I no longer sanction the death penalty except in the most clear-cut of cases. Even the courts have been complicit in thwarting justice by refusing to hear new evidence or reconsider old evidence using newer forensic techniques. Some publically-elected police, sheriffs, prosecutors, and judges are no longer about justice, but the prolongation or elevation of their own careers.

The solution …

One, NSA or other covert surveillance can ONLY be used for national security purposes and cannot be used in criminal trials or to prepare for criminal trials. We have seen where the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) grew from a tool to be used against organized crime to a tool freely used to threaten individuals into admitting (sometimes falsely) a crime by enhancing the penalties or involving their families in the prosecution. It is only a matter of time until federal, state, and local law enforcement will be given access to this treasure trove of information as they have solid ties with the corrupt politicians who can legislatively or administratively grand access.

Two, any government employee, contractor, agent, informant, or third-party that accesses covert information and uses that information for personal, professional, commercial, political, or other non-sanctioned use will be guilty of a class-A felony and will be subject to a jail term without the possibility of a plea bargain, parole or a reduction in time and sentence for period no less than five years to life, depending on the outcome of the data breach. Should an innocent man be convicted, the penalty enhancement would be to serve the same sentence in addition to the original sentence.

Three, any politician improperly disclosing or using information would be treated like any other government employee.

Bottom line …

Our government appears to be turning against the people in a move towards a permanent political party and a government similar to Mexico, the oligarchs controlling corrupt politicians. All set against a background of socialism that sanctions the cronyism of the ruling elite and their special interests and the re-distribution of wealth and entitlements to purchase the votes required to remain in power. A very, very dangerous step down a slippery slope.

Already the government has developed a more massive and intrusive spying operation than the covert NSA activities. It is known as Obamacare and you are being forced – by the Internal Revenue Service – to participate or face criminal and/or civil sanctions.

Ask yourself, can we throw the progressive socialist democrats and their republican sycophants out of office during the 2014 congressional election cycle? You bet. But you must start now. First, by demanding candidates with decency and core values – not politically correct and corrupt lickspittles that are either the best of the worst or the worst of the best. It’s all up to you, because it is now a matter of life and death. Don’t believe me, check out your health insurance coverage for Obamacare when it comes to the one experimental procedure or drug that can save your life or your child’s life. Enough said!

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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OBAMACARE: THE SENATE VOTE THAT WILL DEFINE WHO IS A REPUBLICAN … HARRY REID NEEDS 6 REPUBLICANS TO VOTE WITH HIM TO FUND OBAMACARE!

The vote for “cloture” to limit debate, if it passes, will give Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid the power to fund Obamacare. It is an easy vote to understand. Harry Reid will vote “for” cloture and any Republican that joins him is voting with the progressive socialist democrats to fund Obamacare.

If not now, when? The time for talking an campaigning is over. This is a showdown vote.

All 46 Republicans in the Senate ran on the issue of defunding or limiting the damage of Obamacare. It was all talk with “zero” consequences. Tomorrow's vote is the real deal. Anyone who votes for “cloture” will be voting with Harry Reid and the progressive socialist democrats who are destroying America from within.

Squishy RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) like John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Saxby Chambliss, Johnny Isakson, Dan Coats, Roy Blunt, Tom Coburn, Bob Corker, Orin Hatch are all thought to be voting with Harry Reid and the progressive socialist democrats to fund Obamacare and make it harder for this Obamanation to be brought under control.

Some Republicans believe that Obamacare should be funded and allowed to collapse under its own weight – after hurting millions of Americans and losing thousands of jobs. Others want to simply vote “present” so that they have no record for which they can be held accountable. An old Obama trick used in the Illinois Senate to avoid having to take a stance on difficult subjects.

Bottom line …

This is one of those defining moments. If the Northeastern Liberal Elites in the Republican Party are satisfied with stealing their portion of the pork, and are unwilling to protect the Americans that count on these representatives to protect them from stunningly bad legislation, they should be thrown out of office at the earliest possible time. They should be publicly shamed and humiliated for violating their oath of office and funding a grossly unconstitutional act.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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CAN CLOUD PRODUCTS BE TRUSTED IN THE ENTERPRISE OR FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL PROJECTS?

It appears that the latest version of Google's Chrome released on the development channel can easily and seamlessly exist on top of an existing operating system to bring the Chrome experience to enterprise and entrepreneurial users at minimal implementation cost.

But given the recent NSA revelations of government access and spying using the facilities of major hardware and software vendors, I question the security aspect of running any additional software that stores data on unknown third-party servers and that is being made available under a unilateral terms of service/privacy contract that appears to provide little or no legal protection for the intellectual property of the user that might be disclosed by third-party monitoring of the communications stream or documents uploaded, downloaded or processed by a cloud-based vendor.

So, unless there are legal safeguards to protect and safeguard private, confidential, or proprietary information – along with substantial remedies for unauthorized access and disclosure, the idea of expanding my development activities to the cloud remain somewhat doubtful.

Yes, there are many benefits for both the enterprise and entrepreneurs when it comes to lowering the cost of entry and improving collaborative activities. But, at what price? With the current United States Patent System conferring preference on the first person to file, rather than the first person to reduce an invention to practice, anyone or any corporation monitoring the development of new ideas could, at this point in time, theoretically, beat an inventor to a patent – and should that party have more legal talent and funding than the inventor – it would be no contest; and the invention is lost to the corrupt individual or corporation. Lest you believe that this is an impossibility, one might consider that both industrial espionage and state-sponsored industrial espionage has been increasing over the past few decades.

And, there is a vested interest in a government being able to monitor developments in key industrial, electronic, and software fields that have an impact on national security. With some of these systems, it is like the government has a two-way connection into your home, office, and life. Given that the United States government has allegedly tried to subvert strong encryption on Internet-related communications, one must take precautions against both rogue agents and rogue governments. It would not be the first time that a relatively low-paid government agent with the “keys to the kingdom” has violated their oath of office and fiduciary duties to provide information to foreign sovereign governments, government contractors, corporations, and individuals for personal and/or ideological self-benefits.

The alternative model is to reduce collaboration to a bare minimum of people, and to insure that the development effort is compartmentalized. While there is a corresponding loss of creativity and security, there may be an offsetting gain of protecting your intellectual property.

Bottom line …

Until the laws regarding the access, storage, dissemination, and usage of digital properties are upgraded, cloud-based operations appear to make individuals, corporations, and nations more vulnerable to evildoers and malicious political parties.

There is also the possibility that key software components ("apps") used to facilitate your projects or communications can be easily withdrawn from the marketplace by those who control their own "app stores." Many plug-ins will may be obsoleted, like those based on older APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) or those that are perceived to present unacceptable security issues like Adobe Flash and other similar plug-ins.

And, let us not forget the inherent security risk of using xml-based data structures where each data element is clearly tagged -- sometimes to the point where the known tag structure and repetition migh provide insights that can be use to compromise encrypted communications.

Just saying – before you accept that free offer of software or services in return for scanning your communications to serve targeted advertising or improve the “user experience,” beware of the risks involved and implement prudent methods to mitigate those risks.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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BLACKS CALLING OUT THE PROGRESSIVE SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS AND THEIR ATTACK ON THE NRA …

This is probably one of the best videos that has been made that actually calls out the democrats for their evilness … especially pointing out that the NRA was founded to help blacks obtain weapons to fight the democrat-inspired, democrat-led KKK …

Bottom line …

Keeping it real!

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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Gun Control: CALIFORNIA WANTS TO CRIMINALIZE YOU AND YOUR GUNS … ACT NOW BEFORE OCTOBER 14, 2013

Once again, the progressive socialist democrats in the California Legislature want to disarm law-abiding citizens and create a new class of government-dependent victims that will be at the mercy of vicious street gangs, criminals, and thugs. This not only violates your right to self-protection using weapons capable of neutralizing the threat of multiple shooters, but your right to protect yoursel and your family when the authorities cannot arrive in time to save your life. Especially in times of widespread emergencies.

This is government tyranny to insure that "We the People" will always be dependent on government for our safety and security, and to protect those who want to tyrannize the population for their own self-benefit.

This single issue alone should be enough to convince you to throw out all of the progressive socialist democrats in local, state, and federal jurisdictions before the disarm the all of America and install themselves as a perpetual political party.

It’s time to act right now and continue until October 14^th. We need to generate enough noise to be heard by our state government. The following bills passed the California Legislature and are sitting on the Governor’s desk that must be vetoed to preserve your 2^nd Amendment right in California.

Warning!

You could even find yourself a criminal if you fail to act!

*AB-48 Nancy Skinner, Berkeley, (D) Firearms: MAGAZINE BAN * Bans all firearms magazines and magazine kits or rebuild kits and parts, over 10 rounds, no grandfathering existing purchased magazines. Criminalizes private sales, lending or giving away any magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds.

*AB-169 Roger Dickinson, Sacramento, (D) UNSAFE HANDGUNS * Will limit private party transfers, selling/consignments used handguns to a maximum of two used handguns per calendar year.

*AB-180 Rob Bonta, Alameda, Oakland, (D) Ammunition.*Allows Oakland to preempt state law with respect to firearms laws and set up their own laws. Therefore to fight Oakland city violence you could pay an ammo tax, or ban all firearms within a city. This dangerous precedent could then be used all over the state; It creates an opportunity to inadvertently trap and prosecute any firearms enthusiast by just the mere passing through any city with such preempted draconian firearms laws.

*AB-231 Phillip Ting, Sunset District San Francisco (D) * GUN-OWNER CRIMINAL LIABILITY will make you criminal if a ‘child’ less than 21 years old accesses that loaded firearm that includes anyone under 21. No exceptions.

*AB 711 Anthony Rendon, Lakewood, (D) Non-lead ammunition. This bill bans all lead containing ammunition in CA for the taking of ANY wildlife (even snakes and jackrabbits) in California, despite no scientific evidence whatsoever that lead ammunition is or ever has been a problem in CA animals or environment. Will make shooting unaffordable in CA and outlaw all existing ammo. Most shotguns won’t fire new shot w/o damage.

*SB-299 Mark DeSaulnier, Walnut Creek, (D) * REPORTING LOST/STOLEN HANDGUNS It’s back, Requires every person, w/ few exceptions, to report the theft or loss of a firearm he or she owns or possesses to law enforcement within 7 days of the time he or she actually knew, or reasonably should have known that the firearm had been stolen or lost. Issue? You could find yourself a criminal by reporting a stolen gun 7 days or more later after it was stolen. Example, while on vacation your home was burglarized, guns stolen, a week later you return, learn of the crime, report it, and because of the time periods specified in the law, you are a criminal for responsible theft reporting & can no longer own firearms, nor legally vote.

*SB-374 Darrell Steinberg, (D), Loni Hancock (D), Leland Yee (D) * SEMI-AUTO RIFLE BAN. Bans sale of all centerfire semi-automatic rifles, and Re-Classifies the same rifles with fixed, tube, or detachable magazines with a capacity of 10 rounds or less, as an ASSAULT WEAPON. You then must re-register each qualifying firearm as an assault weapon w/ hefty fee each, fingerprinting card for each & paperwork for each, or remove them from CA, or hand them in to police, or face felony charges. Once registered, they can’t ever be willed, sold, lent, or given to anyone including family members. This is their centerpiece anti-2^nd Amendment legislation and it’s a big one. This bill outlaws a whole class of rifles including rifles that have been legal for over 100 years.

*SB-475 Mark Leno, Daly City (D) Gun Shows. * Allows San Mateo County and city of San Francisco to ban gun shows on public property. Sets the stage for banning all gun shows in California.

*SB 567 Hannah Beth-Jackson, Santa Barbara, (D) Shotguns. * Revises the definition of a shotgun. Deletes requirement that it be intended to be fired from the shoulder, and would clarify that the projectile may be fired through either a rifled bore or a smooth bore. The intent here is to ban revolving cylinder .410/ .45 shotguns such as the Circuit Judge & currently legal, short barreled handheld shot type guns.

*SB 683 Marty Block, San Diego, (D) Used firearms: * Requires any firearms user or purchaser to have a new of CA state valid firearms safety certificate of some kind (yet to be defined by CA DOJ) and ads additional cost to purchase or use any type of firearm. It is not known if the existing handgun safety certificates will be valid. Non-gun owners will be required to get certificate to use a firearm. Can you imagine taking a novice shooter to the range for their first time and they have to get a certificate first.

*SB-755 Lois Wolk, Martinez, (D) Prohibited persons. Greatly expands the list of misdemeanor convictions that result in prohibiting firearms possession including alcohol related convictions. This is in direct contravention to many court rulings of late. Imagine, a misdemeanor could result in losing a constitutional right.

You must ACT, & Act Now

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION

Take action now and please contact Governor Jerry Brown at (916) 445-2841 or Fax (916) 558-3160, or contact him through his website.

Important Note: On the Governor’s email page; be sure to scroll down and select the appropriate bill number under the “Please Choose Your Subject” tab. After you press continue you will be able to write your email. At the top of this page will be a Pro or Con stance, be sure to mark you stance! As well, some of these bills may not yet have been added to the Governor’s website, so please keep up the phone calls on these until they appear.

Mailing address:
Governor Jerry Brown,
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173,
Sacramento, CA 95814

We need you, You are the future of the 2^nd Amendment in CA. You need to get involved! If you don’t this year, when will you? When it’s too late? Look at these bills, we are almost there. This Incremental-ism at its worst This is the last straw, the last opportunity. Call, write, fax, and email the Governor. Do all 3, please! Let him know you don’t enjoy them criminalizing law-abiding Californians like you. Stand and Fight for your rights,

DO IT NOW or lose your rights forever!

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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Navy Yard Massacre: Is the government willing to protect you or are they trying for a higher body count for propaganda use? Why isn’t the Admiral in charge not being relieved of command?

It is deeply disturbing when you cannot trust your government to protect you when they clearly have the opportunity to save lives. No, I am not referring to the “stand down” order issued by persons yet unknown when Americans were attacked by terrorists on the 9/11 anniversary in Benghazi, Libya. I am referring to the recent “stand down” order given to a heavily-armed, trained, response team that was present at the Navy Yard when a mentally-ill suspect opened fire and killed 12 people.

What is happening with our government, who gave the stand-down order, and why do we learn of this from the foreign media?

Navy Yard: Swat team 'stood down' at mass shooting scene

One of the first teams of heavily armed police to respond to Monday's shooting in Washington DC was ordered to stand down by superiors, the BBC can reveal. A tactical response team of the Capitol Police, a force that guards the US Capitol complex, was told to leave the scene by a supervisor instead of aiding municipal officers. The Capitol Police department has launched a review into the matter.

Aaron Alexis, 34, killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard. "I don't think it's a far stretch to say that some lives may have been saved if we were allowed to intervene," a Capitol Police source familiar with the incident told the BBC.

A former Navy reservist, Alexis was working as a technical contractor for the Navy and had a valid pass and security clearance allowing him entry to the highly secure building in south-east Washington DC. About 8:15 local time (12:15 GMT), Alexis entered Building 197, headquarters for Naval Sea Systems Command, which builds and maintains ships and submarines for the Navy, and opened fire. Armed with a shotgun and a pistol he took from a guard he had shot, he sprayed bullets down a hallway and fired from a balcony down on to workers in an atrium.

He fired on police officers who eventually stormed the building, and was later killed in the shootout.

Multiple sources in the Capitol Police department have told the BBC that its highly trained and heavily armed four-man Containment and Emergency Response Team (Cert) was near the Navy Yard when the initial report of an active shooter came in about 8:20 local time. The officers, wearing full tactical gear and armed with HK-416 assault weapons, arrived outside Building 197 a few minutes later, an official with knowledge of the incident told the BBC.

According to a Capitol Police source, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Washington DC's main municipal force, told the Capitol Cert officers they were the only police on the site equipped with long guns and requested their help stopping the gunman.

When the Capitol Police team radioed their superiors, they were told by a watch commander to leave the scene, the BBC was told.

Capitol Police Officer Jim Konczos, who leads the officers' union, said the Cert police train for what are known as active shooter situations and are expert marksmen. "Odds are it might have had a different outcome," he said of Monday's shooting and the decision to order the Cert unit to stand down. "It probably could have been neutralised."

Capitol Hill Police chief Kim Dine has ordered "a comprehensive, independent review of the facts surrounding the Capitol Police's response to the Navy Yard shootings". Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terry Gainer, who oversees the Capitol Police department, confirmed officials were pulling radio logs from Monday's incident and interviewing the officers involved. "It's a very serious allegation and inference to indicate that we were on scene and could have helped and were told to leave," he said. "It crushes me if that's the case."

Mr Gainer said that while the department's primary responsibility was to protect the Capitol complex, which houses the US Congress, that mission did not allow it to turn a "blind eye" when asked for help. Gwendolyn Crump, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department, which protects the city of Washington DC, said allegations that a Capitol Police Cert team was on scene and later stood down were "not true".

Source: BBC News - Navy Yard: Swat team 'stood down' at mass shooting scene

Where is the Navy’s command?

CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS AND WIFE TAKEN TO PENTAGON

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert lives on the Navy Yard and was at home when the shootings started, a Navy official said. Greenert and his wife, Darleen, were quickly escorted off base and taken to the Pentagon.

This afternoon Greenert issued the following statement: “Darleen and I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of today’s events at the Navy Yard. Our team of Sailors and Navy Civilians at the Navy Yard deserve our care and concern at this time. I applaud the efforts of all who immediately responded to this course of events in order to care for the injured victims and ensure the safety of our personnel.” <Source>

Vice Admiral William French was in the Navy Yard when the shooting began. He has the naval installations command.

"Like any time, you are pretty shocked when you hear gunshots anywhere, so I was on the base when that happened,” he said. “So I went to the emergency operations center. I think frankly most of my focus at that point was trying to make sure we had the right response and coordinating the response to address the issue and that took the better part of a day to deal with.”

Vice Admiral French said he is aware of the concerns of the Navy Yard’s police force and its claim there was not enough manpower or resources to adequately protect the base at the time of the shooting. <Source>

Who the hell is this staff weenie and where are the fighting men? Where are the Marines? NCIS? The rapid deployment force? Why are soldiers being disarmed and herded into “gun free” zones or is their a fundamental problem with the officers like in the Fort Hood massacre? Who is checking credentials and backgrounds?

Bottom line …

I wonder why the Navy did not respond to an attack on their own base. I wonder why civilians were involved. I wonder why the Capitol Police CERT team was told to stand-down. But, most of all, I wonder why incompetents and hyper-politicized people are running government operations.

Personally, I believe that Admiral William French should be relieved of command as this incident occurred on his watch and he clearly did not prepare his installation to respond to this emergency. An incident that could have been foreseen in these troubled times and countermeasures put in place. This man is as culpable as the officers who were relieved of command following an “on board ship fire.”

Turning military installations into gun free zones is crazy and negligent.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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Global Warming: Wealth Redistribution and Carbon Credits Created out of thin air!

Carbon credits are a socialist’s dream: created out of thin air by assigning an artificial value to an existing forest, these credits are nothing more than a wealth re-distribution scheme to transfer money from the industrialized nations to the third-world nations where the money is used for shoring up the regime in power and purchasing additional influence.

Carbon Credits can kill you. Gross polluters can purchase government-approved carbon credits to offset existing pollution that puts local individuals at risk from pollution-related diseases. It is a win-win for everyone except the citizens are risk from pollution and the ratepayers who are forced to pay for higher energy prices to allow companies to earn record profits from continuing their polluting ways. Not to mention the Wall Street Wizards who are creating, purchasing, trading, and banking pollution credits like any other commodity transaction.

Another scam …

Massive Carbon Credit Sale Announced in Madagascar -- Madagascar Puts First-Ever Government-Backed Carbon Credits On Open Market

WCS and Government of Madagascar create the Makira REDD+ Project to prevent the release of 32.5 million tons of carbon -- Carbon credit sale will protect Madagascar’s most wildlife-rich forest, support local communities, and fight climate change

The Government of Madagascar and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced today that 705,588 carbon credits are certified for sale from the Makira Forest REDD+ Project. WCS estimates that it will prevent the release of more than 32 million tons of CO2 over the next thirty years.

The Makira REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation "plus" conservation) Project is the first sale of government-owned, government-led REDD+ credits in Africa.

Through carbon credit sales from avoided deforestation, the Makira REDD+ Project will finance the long-term conservation of one of Madagascar’s most pristine remaining rainforest ecosystems harboring rare and threatened plants and animals while improving community land stewardship and governance along with supporting the livelihoods of the local people.

“This sale is a major step forward for the Government of Madagascar in advancing the use of carbon credits to fight climate change while protecting biodiversity and human livelihoods,” said WCS president and CEO Cristián Samper. “WCS congratulates Madagascar and is proud to partner with them on the Makira REDD+ project.”

REDD+ is an international framework that assigns a financial value to the carbon stored in forests, offering compensation to developing countries for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while investing in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. REDD+ additionally includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. Read more at: Massive Carbon Credit Sale Announced in Madagascar

To believe that these carbon credits help reduce global warming is to believe man can dial-back the Sun’s energy output, change the Earth’s position relative to the Sun, or affect the Earth’s rotational dynamics, volcanoes, deep ocean currents, and cloud formation.

Bottom line …

Global warming is a historic scam put forth by the international socialists and the special interests that would profit from the billions of dollars of transactions. Open your eyes and ears – learn the truth. This is pure political corruption – put forth by the progressive socialist democrats who should be thrown out of office or jailed for helping to destroy America from within.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IS EXPANDING AT AN EXPONENTIAL RATE AND NOBODY IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE!

Each and every year, politicians stand before the American people and vow to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs. Often claiming, falsely, that part of a program’s cost will be offset by curbing waste, fraud, and abuse – savings which never materialize or offset by other waste, fraud, and abuse.

The government spends billions on the creation and maintenance of accounting systems, yet they all seem defective by design. In some cases, government agencies simply bypass the accounting systems in favor of spreadsheets which cannot be consolidated, audited, or input into the accounting system. Spreadsheets which have a nasty habit of disappearing during a “computer crash,” accidental erasure, or unexplainably go missing.

Perhaps it is time to take a closer look at corruption in government and start holding appointees and department officials accountable for fraud, waste, and abuse that occurs on their watch. In this present case, Congressional committees are turning a microscope on the uncooperative Internal Revenue Service with regard to their possible interference in a presidential election – a felonious criminal act that can see people going to jail for their illegal actions.

But, who is watching the billions of dollars that are flowing through the agency? Other than the Inspector General and his staff, nobody appears to be that concerned that the nation’s premier law enforcement agency, and controller of trillions in taxable revenue, seems to have lost $67 million dollars – or, at least, could not properly document its expenditure.

TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION

Affordable Care Act: Tracking of Health Insurance Reform Implementation Fund Costs Could Be Improved

Some Affordable Care Act Implementation Costs Were Inaccurate or Not Tracked and Supporting Documentation Was Not Always Maintained

IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS

The IRS has a significant role in implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with responsibility to implement and oversee the numerous tax law changes.

From Fiscal Year 2010 to Fiscal Year 2012, the IRS’s reported cost of $488 million to implement the ACA was paid for by the Health Insurance Reform Implementation Fund (HIRIF) administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. Because implementation of the ACA remains an ongoing effort, it is critical that the IRS has complete and reliable information regarding all costs associated with the implementation in order to effectively manage taxpayer funds devoted to this effort.

WHY TIGTA DID THE AUDIT

This audit was initiated to determine whether the IRS has an adequate process to accurately account for and report selected ACA implementation costs charged to the HIRIF.

WHAT TIGTA FOUND

TIGTA identified several opportunities where the IRS could improve the process it uses to account for and report costs associated with the implementation of the ACA. For example, controls over the tracking of direct labor charges associated with the HIRIF could be improved.

Charges to the HIRIF related to direct labor were sometimes inaccurate and not always substantiated by reliable supporting documentation

TIGTA found that costs charged to HIRIF funding related to direct labor were sometimes inaccurate and not always substantiated by reliable supporting documentation.

The IRS did not track all costs associated with the implementation of the ACA

TIGTA also found that the IRS did not track all costs associated with implementation of the ACA including costs not charged to the HIRIF.

Specifically, the IRS did not account for or attempt to quantify approximately $67 million of indirect ACA costs incurred for Fiscal Years 2010 through 2012. Indirect costs include, for example, providing employees with workspace and information technology support.

The IRS established a methodology to track ACA costs in its accounting records. However, the IRS accounted for only direct costs, such as labor and contract costs, because it did not believe that indirect costs should be recovered from the HIRIF. The IRS’s use of HIRIF funding only for ACA direct costs is consistent with the HIRIF requirements.

However, by not also identifying and tracking indirect costs, the IRS lacks complete information regarding the full cost of ACA implementation.

This lack of complete information on ACA implementation costs limits the IRS’s ability to accurately report to stakeholders the total resources it applied to the ACA implementation and fully estimate the resources needed in the future for this effort

Source: Inspector General

And, it is not only the IRS that has issues …

US: ATF misplaced 420 million cigarettes in stings

Government agents acting without authorization conducted dozens of undercover investigations of illegal tobacco sales, misused some of $162 million in profits from the stings and lost track of at least 420 million cigarettes, the Justice Department's inspector general said Wednesday.

In one case, agents for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sold $15 million in cigarettes and later turned over $4.9 million in profits from the sales to a confidential informant — even though the agency did not properly account for the transaction.

The ATF's newly appointed director, B. Todd Jones, said the audit covered only selected, "historical" ATF investigations between 2006 and 2011, and said the agency had tightened its internal guidelines since then.

The audit described widespread lack of ATF oversight and inadequate paperwork in the agency's "churning investigations," undercover operations that use proceeds from illicit cigarette sales to pay for the ATF's costs. The audit came as a new blow to a beleaguered agency still reeling from congressional inquiries into the ATF's flawed handling of the Operation Fast and Furious weapons tracking probes in Mexico.

"ATF's guidance regarding churning investigations lacked breadth and specificity, and managers at ATF headquarters as well as managers and special agents at ATF field offices often disregarded it," Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz wrote in the 53-page audit. Source: ATF misplaced 420 million cigarettes in stings - My9 New Jersey

And, it is not always the federal government …

Undisclosed Pension Extras Cost Detroit Billions

Detroit’s municipal pension fund made undisclosed payments for decades to retirees, active workers and others above and beyond normal benefits, costing the struggling city billions of dollars, according to an outside actuary hired to examine the payments.

The payments included bonuses to retirees, supplements to workers not yet retired and cash to the families of workers who died too young to get a pension, according to a report by the outside actuary and other sources. How much each person received is not known because payments were not disclosed in the annual reports of the fund.

Detroit has nearly 12,000 retired general workers, who last year received pensions of $19,213 a year on average — hardly enough to drive a great American city into bankruptcy. But the total excess payments in some years ran to more than $100 million, a crushing expense for a city in steep decline. In some years, the outside actuary found, Detroit poured more than twice the amount into the pension fund that it would have had to contribute had it only paid the specified pension benefits.

And even then, the city’s contributions were not enough. So much money had been drained from the pension fund that by 2005, Detroit could no longer replenish it from its dwindling tax revenues. Instead, the city turned to the public bond markets, borrowed $1.44 billion and used that to fill the hole.

Even that didn’t work. Last June, Detroit failed to make a $39.7 million interest payment on that borrowing — the first default of what was soon to become the biggest municipal bankruptcy case in American history.

Read more at: Undisclosed Pension Extras Cost Detroit Billions - NYTimes.com

And so it goes, borrowing from the Wall Street Wizards at exorbitant interest rates or borrowing from internal accounts to cover operational accounts. Here in California, it is no surprise that some accounts are funded with a piece of paper – a mythical IOU from the government to the government – that replaces actual funds that were siphoned off for other purposes. If this were done in the private sector, the participants would be charged with embezzlement, grand theft, and account kiting – and go to prison.

Why are politicians like Rod Blagojevich and Jesse Jackson, Jr. sitting in prison when then real culprits who have stolen tens of millions, hundreds of millions, and possibly billions in taxpayer funds walk the street and have buildings and other facilities named after them. It all appears to be Kabuki Theatre in which the minor players are caught and punished and the honchos walk free. Sort of like a billion dollars going missing from “protected” hedge fund accounts and former New Jersey Mayor Jon Corzine walks away clean. Where are government officials and employees being held accountable for their actions?

Bottom line …

Corruption in government is causing taxes to rise and good programs to be subverted and downsized. It is time to implement reform. Spending reform, oversight reform, and accounting reform. Perhaps starting with putting the government on a strict diet and reducing unnecessary expenditures and personnel. There is my favorite line in the 2004 movie National Treasure involving the theft of the Declaration of Independence, where FBI Agent Sandusky (Harvey Keitel) tells Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) “Someone’s got to go to prison, Ben.”

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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TELL YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES TO ELIMINATE PHONY "RED LIGHT CAMERAS" AND DO THEIR DAMN JOBS TO MAKE STREETS SAFER …

There is little doubt in my mind that red light cameras are being used by municipalities as a means of revenue generation rather than making intersections safer for motorists and pedestrians. In fact, most red light tickets do not result from those running red lights, but from making right-hand turns on a red light without coming to a full stop.

There are engineering solutions to assist municipalities in providing safer intersections, but they are often ignored as “red light camera companies” lobbyists pour cash and other consideration into local political campaigns … convincing the politicians that red light cameras are good for their political careers and municipal income. Unfortunately, they are neither; increasing political corruption and doing little or nothing to solve the traffic safety issues.

One of the easiest engineering solutions to implement is proper intersection marking and longer yellow light cycles.

My friend Jim, the editor of the ultimate guide to red light traffic cameras, scams, and defense strategies, (www.highwayrobbery.net) has fought tirelessly to educate and inform both the public and the politicians about the issue of red light cameras. By way of illustration, here is one of his letters to the City Council of El Cajon, California. (Not shown is the attached PDF showing the Red Light Offender Traffic Statistics By Date, Lane, and Hour)

Courtesy of www.highwayrobbery.net …

To City staff: Please distribute this email to the members of the City Council, and place it on tonight's Council agenda with the red light camera item.

Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers:

I have written to you before about your red light cameras.

Those earlier emails are pasted at the bottom of this I am now writing.

Over the weekend there was another fatal t-bone crash, this time at Broadway and 3rd. That intersection is very similar to Washington and Mollison, the site of May's fatal crash. And, the two accidents seem similar - a motorist runs through the light, multiple seconds late, probably due to inattention, distraction, or impairment.

These very late runs are more likely when an intersection is not very prominent - as is the case at both intersections.

Turning the cameras back on will not stop these very late runs.

I again urge you to install the countermeasures detailed below, to make the intersections more prominent - with immediate attention to the painting of "signal ahead" on the pavement.

Regards,

Jim

There is even a technological solution that solves the problem of focusing driver attention and preparing the driver to stop. It is a modification of the outer rows of the green LED lights to count-down the time remaining to the yellow “caution” light …

Bottom line …

Red Light Cameras are a scam that disadvantages drivers – large traffic fines and large insurance premium increases – to benefit the politicians (campaign contributions) and the municipal revenues. Not to mention the significant profits accruing to the camera vendor/operators who often illegally participate in the fine revenue. Very little to do with reducing traffic accidents, and in some cases, increasing the probability of “read-enders” as a motorist jams on the brakes to avoid the hefty fine.

If you want safer intersections, become a more aware driver and practice defensive driving. Demand that your local politicians use sound traffic engineering solutions to reduce accidents and improve driver compliance with known and effective safety best practices.

If you want more information on red light cameras, snitch tickets, and defenses, you may wish to visit www.highwayrobbery.net.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba.”-- take nobody's word for it!

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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