THE OBAMA $TIMULU$: STIMULATING THE CYCLE OF CORRUPTION?

Where is our money going?

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that one of the greatest reasons that governments on the local, state and federal levels are running major deficits is because they not only have to fund ongoing public safety, education and social programs, they must also fund ever-growing employee wage and benefit programs which offer the average government worker lifelong employment, above average wages and almost obscene health and retirement benefits when compared to the private sector.

"We have far less to spend on core services, such as public safety, education, parks and senior centers," Mayor Michael Bloomberg wrote in December of the city's pension costs. "That defies common sense, and it's hurting our city."                     -- F0rbes

And the reason for this outrageous behavior is because the public has very little input into the process. They have been frozen out of the picture by the unholy alliance between politicians and the unions.

A perfect illustration of the cycle of corruption …

Capture2-10-2009-7.02.08 PM

Politicians pander to the unions to obtain the financing and votes to gain or maintain political office. Then they are reluctant to vote against union demands for higher wages and better health and retirement benefits. And because the union can put additional sums of money into paid advertising during election campaigns, is it any wonder that the unions come first and the electorate comes in dead last?

Socialism …

I do not know what disturbs me most about unions …

  • The apparently socialistic roots and support for Marxist organizing tactics;
  • Their unholy alliance with organized crime in some cities;
  • Their leadership which seems to run the union for their own benefit;
  • Their acceptance of illegal aliens in their ranks while knowing full well that other illegal aliens are depressing wage rates and taking jobs from their members;
  • That the members may have little or nothing to say about which political parties or politicians are supported;
  • Their nefarious dealings with government leaders knowing that they have the advantage of possessing “inside knowledge” provided by their membership;
  • Their onerous and detailed work rules which have employees sitting idly by while other employees perform the work – or even worse, make a requester wait while employees of more than one union are required to complete a single job;
  • A grievance process which makes it almost impossible to fire a poor performing worker;
  • A grievance process which intimidates members of middle management to the point where they will simply walk away from egregious behavior because it isn’t worth the trouble of tangling with union representatives;
  • A system which rewards seniority over merit and accomplishment and which often results in productive workers being chastised by their slower counterparts for making them look bad or setting a superior standard of accomplishment;
  • Their propensity to strike at the most inopportune times to force the general population to suffer mightily as to coerce the politicians to settle the strike on terms favorable to the unions;
  • Their association with the democrats, especially in one-party governments, where a disproportionate portion of the waste, graft and corruption can be associated with unionized projects; or
  • Their latest flirtation with union organizing: the card-check program which denies American workers the right to a secret ballot and exposes the individual worker to coercion and thuggery.

Look around at most cities controlled by the democrat party and which feature an active union presence. Note the level of decay and political corruption. In my mind, cause and effect.

Why are public sector unions even necessary?

What was wrong with civil service? In many ways, it was almost as cumbersome as union representation – but without the propensity to strike.  For years unions have claimed they were necessary to fight against the excesses of the capitalistic private sector. So why are they necessary to protect the rights of public sector employees when a civil service arrangement would suffice? With the added benefit of allowing the public sector employee to keep more of their money as a real stimulus to the economy? Not to mention a corresponding reduction in political corruption?

It is about time to set aside the old myths …

The myth that public service workers are provided with guaranteed employment because they receive substantially lower pay than employees in the private sector has long been disproven.

“In public-sector America things just get better and better. The common presumption is that public servants forgo high wages in exchange for safe jobs and benefits. The reality is they get all three. State and local government workers get paid an average of $25.30 an hour, which is 33% higher than the private sector's $19, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Throw in pensions and other benefits and the gap widens to 42%.”           --Forbes

The myth that public safety personnel deserve significantly better benefits because they put their lives on the line is also mostly untrue. Especially when you consider what our volunteer soldiers are actually paid. True first responders and those who risk their lives daily are a relatively few in number when you consider cubicle workers with similar benefits. Yet is is this group of dedicated employees which are always featured in position advertising whenever anyone attempts to cut salaries, overtime or benefits.

The myth that it’s for the children and that we have underpaid union teachers is mostly that: a myth. Paying teachers outrageous sums for non-teaching administrative jobs is also out of control. There is something wrong with the picture of a  teacher forced to buy classroom supplies out of their pocket while the school district spends $320 million dollars for a monstrosity of a modern art high-school to soothe the ego of a politically-active billionaire. Especially when the teachers unions complain about crowded classrooms -- when three high schools could have been built for the cost of that modern art monstrosity.

And the worst and mostly false myth of all: that government knows what is wrong and can provide a solution with legislative controls and stimuli.

What Obama has done …

By not demanding work standards and competitive bidding from both union and non-union sources, he has increased the cost of all government projects and subjected them to the usual type of waste, fraud, corruption and mismanagement that plagues most government contracts. Projects which are sure to feature cost overruns and additional funding to complete the project.

By not demanding hiring controls, Obama has promoted another class of government employee who will stay employed long after the stimulus funding has run out – and another 20-30 years of guaranteed employment with wage, benefits and retirement funds which will further cripple government operations. Further draining the treasury and placing a burden upon us all.

“Four in five public-sector workers have lifetime pensions, versus only one in five in the private sector. The difference shifts huge risks from government to private-sector workers.”                        --Forbes

By enlarging government, Obama has contributed to a critical mass of government employees, many of them union-controlled, that can simply override the public’s input and continue with their self-interest programs to increase their benefits.

By bailing out state and local governments, Obama has rewarded those who spent profligately on special interest projects and social engineering. Perhaps, pumping new life into the political careers of poseurs such as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And most importantly, by acting in this egregious manner, Obama has provided aid and comfort to our enemies who want to see our economy and military decimated. If Obama had only studied history, he would have seen that it was Russia’s inability to finance further military and economic actions that led to their downfall. Obama is in the process of insuring that we meet the same fate.

Solutions …

We need to get government costs under control. One, by eliminating unions in favor of civil service programs. Two, by imposing work rules and requirements (for non-sworn personnel) that eliminate any disparity with the private sector. And three, by eliminating politicians from selling their votes – however subtle their actions are. We need to prosecute transgressing politicians and not simply allow them to file amended reports and returns.

We need to educate the people into seeing what corrupt losers their politicians have become and the damage they have done to their community, their state and the country.

Another solution is to separate those first-responders and others who have risky lives or an increased probability of harm from those who live their lives as cubicle functionaries and are more likely to die choking on a donut than while engaged in life-saving activities.

And even these benefits should be capped at some reasonable amount that does not count overtime and other such factors when computing retirement.

Public service people should be employed at will – with no guarantee of life-long employment – and the ability to double dip in the retirement pool.  They should be hired for their abilities and fired when they are no longer productive. They should have the same type of 401(k) retirement programs of the private sector.

Remove the employee unions and you eliminate much of the waste and corruption in government. We will deal with the waste and corruption involved with private sector special interests also.

Talk about working for the man …

Here were are, the American public, now forced to work to provide wages, benefits and retirements to an expanding cadre of government workers – benefits which will include healthcare and retirement that will not be available to the average American under an Obama-driven socialized healthcare plan and with the meager amount of money remaining in our retirement plans.

Welcome to the third-world where government and its friends enjoy life and everybody else struggles to make do. 

-- steve

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

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

Reference Links:

The Employee Suppression Of Choice Act|Forbes

Gilt-Edged Pensions|Forbes


flag


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


Representative John Conyers: a pattern of promoting victimhood for political advantage?

This is not the first time …

This is not the first time that Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) has utilized the Marxist tactic of dividing the population into classes of victims which can then be pitted against each other for political advantage.

Proposing special legal protections for those whose religion commands them to kill  or enslave “infidel” non-believers …

Once again, we find our enemies using our own freedoms and laws against us as they plot and prepare to attack the United States from within. There have been numerous accounts of radical hate speech being preached in Mosques, some of which are being funded by foreign radical Wahabist elements emanating from Saudi Arabia. One need only open their eyes to observe what happens when the Islamic community grows to critical mass in a Country – and then starts demanding the implementation of Sharia law and creating areas which are not welcoming of existing civil authority. Another instance of the demographic bombing of a nation leading to the creation of foreign-dominated influence within communities. Leading, of course, to gaining sufficient political power to ride roughshod over the original community’s laws. To the end of forcing those who do not agree to move away from the community and thus concentrating political power in the hands of those who advocate a radical philosophy.

According to Conyers’ own words …

“Text of My Resolution Regarding Religious Intolerance”

“I received a large number of comments, and quite a spirited debate, concerning my resolution opposing religious intolerance, including desecration of the Quran. I appreciate all of the comments, both those supporting and opposing my actions. I continue to believe that given recent events, it is worthwhile for the Congress to actually express its support for the freedom of religion.”

The resolution was drafted to oppose all religious intolerance. To the extent it mentions the Quran and Islam specifically, that is obviously to respond to those who believe our nation would tolerate disrespect of that religion or its holy book. Clearly we should not, at least in my opinion.”

“Anyway, below in the extended entry is the full text of H. Res. 288. I hope you agree that read in its totality, it is a fair and appropriate resolution.”

“Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning bigotry and religious intolerance, and recognizing that holy books of every religion should be treated with dignity and respect.”

We are definitely living in an Orwellian world, when up is down, white is black and right is wrong. You need only ask yourself a single question: What other modern religion openly promotes religious  intolerance and bigotry as does Islam?

“Whereas believers of all religions, including the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, should be treated with respect and dignity;”

Right off the bat, we can see the democrats fondness for moral equivalency and their treatment of good and evil. Nowhere in the Judeo-Christian philosophy does it encourage those to kill non-believers and spread the religion at the point of a sword. At least, not in modern times and using modern weapons of mass destruction.

(And am I the only one to note that the Quran does not apparently have any reference to the creation and seems to be a selective mixing of existing Judeo-Christian principles with self-serving rules promulgated by a then local warlord?)

Whereas the word Islam comes from the Arabic root word meaning “peace” and “submission”;

Whereas there are an estimated 7,000,000 Muslims in America, from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, forming an integral part of the social fabric of America;

Whereas the Quran is the holy book for Muslims who recite passages from it in prayer and learn valuable lessons about peace, humanity and spirituality;

How conveniently Conyers overlooks toxic passages which urge its followers to commit barbarous acts of horror over the centuries to support the “religion of peace.”

    • “The only reward of those who make war against Allah and His messenger
      and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be murdered or crucified,
      or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land.
      Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom; 005.033 [AL-MAEDA (THE TABLE) HOLY QURAN]”
    • “Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.” 005.082 

Hardly peace and religious tolerance for other non-Muslim peoples.

“Whereas it should never be official policy of the United States Government to disparage the Quran, Islam, or any religion in any way, shape, or form;”

It is already the policy of the United States to open accept all religions – it’s codified in the Constitution as the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

“Whereas mistreatment of prisoners and disrespect toward the holy book of any religion is unacceptable and against civilized humanity;”

What would a radical agenda be if it did not attack the government’s treatment of prisoners? 

The prisoners are not American citizens, protected by the Constitution and, in almost all cases, are not subject to the Geneva Convention due to their conduct on the battlefield. Conyers’ resolution does not mention that the prisoners have no compunction against killing, beheading, torturing, maiming, raping anyone that does not accept their religion. Or that the prisoners Conyers wants to be treated with religious respect were taken from the battlefield where they were engaged in attempting to kill or actually killing Americans. In my opinion, this “prisoner issue” is part and parcel of the democrats disregard for America as they attempt to regain and maintain political power. 

Restating the obvious …

“Whereas the infringement of an individual’s right to freedom of religion violates the Constitution and laws of the United States:

And creating another legally protected class enabling the enemy to self-fund their operations through extortionate lawsuits …

Now, therefore, be it  Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) condemns bigotry, acts of violence, and intolerance against any religious group, including our friends, neighbors, and citizens of the Islamic faith;

The clause “and citizens of the Islamic faith” is totally unnecessary and should be stricken. In fact, the entire clause should read: “condemns bigotry, acts of violence, and intolerance against any religious group.” But that would hardly suit Conyers’ political agenda.

(2) declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all individuals, including those of the Islamic faith, should be protected;

Again, the phrase “including those of the Islamic faith” should be stricken as being totally unnecessary.

(3) recognizes that the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as any other holy book of any religion, should be treated with dignity and respect; and

Here I disagree … any book, holy or otherwise, which urges believers to kill non-believers or force them into submission is not to be treated with dignity or respect – even if it forms the basis of a religion. If the book advocates violence and the suppression of God-given human rights and freedoms and demands fealty, it should be treated as any other political book.

(4) calls upon local, State, and Federal authorities to work to prevent bias-motivated crimes and acts against all individuals, including those of the Islamic faith.

<Source>

And, once again, the phrase “including those of the Islamic faith” should be stricken.

Is Conyers a racist or simply a self-promoting politician?

One may ask yourself, is Conyers’ reinforcing the rights of all American citizens, acting as a politician with a self-promoting agenda or is openly perpetrating an act of divisive racism by urging the separation of a single class of people, based on nothing more than their religion, as alleged victims of some overarching government or civil conspiracy?

Now consider Conyers’ current proposal: rewarding those for the actions of our ancestors …

Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act (H.R. 40 Introduced in House)

“To acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery, subsequently de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.”

In literature, law and other areas of life, the abominable actions relating to the practice of slavery have been denounced. However, it appears to be the democrat’s dream to somehow create another level of “victimhood” out of the ancestors who may have suffered under slavery and then create another entitlement program to compensate the “aggrieved descendents” for the actions of people long dead. All for the political advantage of gaining the votes of a large class of current American citizens who have been traditionally treated by the U.S. government as a class of victims and worthy of special privileges.

Considering the amount of money that has gone into the war on poverty, affirmative action and other social programs which have not yielded broad reforms – I believe that we have already paid any debt owing to those who were enslaved by historical precedence. As for their modern descendents, I believe their grievance should be with the democrat party who has siphoned off monies that were legitimately owing to the American people and who have promoted egregious racists policies that have resulted in the breakup of the black family. By insisting that those requiring financial assistance not have a black male or father present in the house and by the upwards scaling of benefits to those who have a larger number of unaffordable children, I believe that the democrat party has wreaked havoc on black society and are the ones that should be punished for their actions.

Truth-be-told, it seems that it was the democrats who opposed racial equality and promoted racist policies at every turn of the political path. And were the most complicit in denying those American citizens who happen to be black decent housing, employment, education and other necessities of life – as they stole their birthright in an orgy of political and personal corruption. It is hard to think of a single major democrat-controlled predominantly black area that does not feature waste, fraud, corruption and a staggering crime rate.

My thoughts …

Why should any money be given to any citizen for the past actions of people long dead?

Why should I, the average American taxpayer, be taxed or surcharged for the actions of those over whom I exerted no control and, in fact, were not be related to me at all?

If society did owe a debt to some class of oppressed people, be they indigenous natives or people brought here against their will, has it not been long extinguished by the creation of “special” social programs like affirmative action. We have now spent trillions of dollars on the so-called democrat “Great Society” and the “War on Poverty.” There programs were abject failures and the democrats want to spend even more money.  

The problem is democrats not slavery …

We seem to have created a society where the average American citizen will go out of his way to avoid being labeled as a racist. A condition which has led to the rise of corrupt black leaders who feel that they are entitled to special privileges because of their skin color.

What we have inadvertently done to destroy much of the individualism and personal initiative that was championed by our forefathers is to create a sense of entitlement in those who are being portrayed as victims by those who want to secure and maintain power by creating an unbreakable bond of social benefits that can never be breached by the opposition party – a battle between those who offer opportunity to achieve and those who offer payments to the terminally lazy.

Obama’s change …

To those who can see clearly, consider that Barack Obama’s program of change and hope is really one of smoke and mirrors; put forth by a charismatic, telegenic and well-spoken (at least with a TelePrompTer) individual. Look behind the scenes and you will find an opportunist who has, by sheer luck, found himself in the Office of the President of the United States – not by popular acclaim, but by being the antithesis of one of the most maligned Presidents in modern history. An historical fluke. Consider Obama’s associations with radical anti-American, anti-Semitic, terrorist and corrupt people. People in and of the corrupt Chicago political machine. Now consider the number of corrupt democrats who are coming out of the woodwork.

Furthermore, consider the radical agenda of the democrats who seem to be willing to do or say anything to secure their future power. Especially by promoting “victimhood” and further entitlements.

One need only took at the so-called “stimulus” bill which was an amalgam of democrat pork barrel spending and social measures guaranteed to reward those who voted for democrats.

Institutionalized democratic crime?

Closer to home, consider Conyers’ wife, who appears for all intents and purposes to come from the Cynthia McKinney “crazy as a loon” branch of the democrat party.

According to the Detroit News

“Bribe probe ensnarls Conyers”

“Feds: Surveillance evidence suggests councilwoman took money tied to waste pact”

Federal investigators have electronic surveillance evidence that allegedly links Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers with receiving a payment or payments in connection with a city-approved sludge contract, two people familiar with the investigation said.”

“Conyers -- who changed her position from speaking in opposition to the sludge contract to voting in favor of it -- and at least one other council member are under FBI investigation in connection with possible bribes related to the $47 million contract with Synagro Technologies Inc. of Houston, one of the people familiar with the investigation said Friday. Bribes allegedly paid to people connected with the city but not members of the City Council also are under investigation, one person said.”

Of course, Conyers has professed innocence, but remains absent from her position. \

See Monica Conyers in action …

What can YOU do?

Study your history of civil rights and notice it was the Republicans and not the democrats who were fully engaged in promoting civil rights and the appointment of qualified blacks to positions of high office.

See if you can find a major city that is being run by democrats (one-party rule) that is not is serious trouble in terms of housing, employment, crime and poverty? Along with a disproportionate number of corrupt politicians.

Consider the democrat’s Marxist propensity for dividing people into various classes of victims along class, ethnic and racial lines for the purposes of political manipulation.

Vote for politicians who seem honest, ethical and who promote individual achievement over Marxist collectivism and further enslaving entitlements.

Demand that your elected officials punish corrupt politicians from both sides of the political aisle.

For the democrat victims among us, remember, you are an American first. Not a hyphenated-American who is somehow diminished by history. Our country guarantees equality of opportunity, not equality of outcomes. Suggested reading material: “While African Americans Slept: Leadership by Parasites” by Dr. Lenton Aikins.

Perhaps we should follow the army’s prescription for harmony: everybody is green, everybody is treated equally – like crap -- and rank, when not abused, has its privileges.  And incorporate the Navy’s command philosophy” everybody has a boss, everybody is accountable – and if it happened on your watch, you will be held responsible! 

-- steve

Quote of the day: “Know your enemy and you won't be defeated." -- Sun Zi

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

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

Reference Links:


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


The Evil Empire Strikes: The demographic bombing of their enemies?

Consider the United Nations …

What is the real agenda of the United Nations, a consortium of third-world nations that seems preoccupied with an environmental policy that starts and ends with population control?

The problem is the Earth’s population …

It was bad enough when the United Nations’ wildly optimistic population growth numbers were based on the faulty assumption that population growth was linear and the numbers were climbing so drastically as to endanger the planet. But it was their prescription: limit population growth by any means before we destroy the planet, that I found objectionable.

A matter of food …

Then it was on to the problem of feeding the world. Again, being short-sighted and not fully pressuring those despotic rogue nations to release the food received via international aid societies to starving people rather than diverting the food to the friends and military of the DIP (despot in power); with the surplus sold on the black market. Of course, the United Nations blamed the problem of commodity shortages on the rampant population growth – and once again their prescription was: limit population growth by any means before all of the world’s people starve. Unfortunately, there was enough food to go around and those who were being denied sustenance were in areas controlled by evildoers. Something the United Nations does not recognize as they promote diversity, multiculturalism and worst of all, the moral equivalency between good and evil, freedom and enslavement.

Global warming …

Now comes global warming. Dire predictions of population dislocation and rampant hunger as our planet’s ability to produce food is severely compromised by the weather. The prescription: limit population and its impact on the global climate. This time by a scheme to control the energy production of industrialized nations to reduce their prosperity and increase the financial impact of having additional children.

Idiot politicians …

So why am I not surprised when I read in London Sunday  Times …

  “Two children should be limit, says green guru”

“Couples who have more than two children are being ‘irresponsible’ by creating an unbearable burden on the environment, the government’s green adviser has warned.”

“Jonathon Porritt, who chairs the government’s Sustainable Development Commission, says curbing population growth through contraception and abortion must be at the heart of policies to fight global warming. He says political leaders and green campaigners should stop dodging the issue of environmental harm caused by an expanding population.”

“A report by the commission, to be published next month, will say that governments must reduce population growth through better family planning.”

“ ‘I am unapologetic about asking people to connect up their own responsibility for their total environmental footprint and how they decide to procreate and how many children they think are appropriate,” Porritt said.”

“ ‘I think we will work our way towards a position that says that having more than two children is irresponsible. It is the ghost at the table. We have all these big issues that everybody is looking at and then you don’t really hear anyone say the ‘p’ word.”

“The Optimum Population Trust, a campaign group of which Porritt is a patron, says each baby born in Britain will, during his or her lifetime, burn carbon roughly equivalent to 2½ acres of old-growth oak woodland - an area the size of Trafalgar Square.”

“The British population, now 61m, will pass 70m by 2028, the Office for National Statistics says. The fertility rate for women born outside Britain is estimated to be 2.5, compared with 1.7 for those born here. The global population of 6.7 billion is expected to rise to 9.2 billion by 2050.”

Demographic bombing …

Has anyone noticed that population control is exactly what our enemies, those who do not wish us well under our present political system, want. To be able to massively grow their population base while the “concerned” people reduce the very population growth needed to sustain their own culture – that which makes the people of the region unique.

By granting citizenship to those who give birth within a nation’s geographical borders, by overtly or covertly encouraging the migration of illegal aliens, and by promoting policies granting amnesty and citizenship to those who have broken the law, you are complicit is destroying the character of your nation.

Which is not a problem for the United Nations with their aspirations to serve as the seat of a “One World Government” and the arbiter of all things political, social and financial.

Eurabia: a convenient illustration is at hand …

“Europe is undergoing two profound changes. The first is the weakening of Christianity. The second is demographic decline. Presently, across Europe, there are only two-thirds the number of children born necessary to sustain the population. The consequent drop in population has mostly been made good by immigration of Muslims. The fast-growing Muslim population is generally not integrated into the host societies nor politically acculturated to its norms. To the contrary, radical Islamic movements are gaining in strength among these émigré populations. In addition, European governments, especially the French, have developed foreign policies aimed at winning the favor of Middle Eastern regimes.”

“The question arises: is this a temporary aberration or is Europe on the road to losing its historic identity? The latter: Europe is rapidly being transformed into ‘Eurabia,’ a cultural and political appendage of the Arab/Muslim world that is fundamentally anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, anti-Western and anti-American.” <Source>

Israel …

Israel faces much the same problem as other industrialized nations and it will be only a matter of time until the Israelis vanish from their land – especially when listening to a regime who wants to give up land for peace and remove self-contained and fertile settlers from the land promised by God.

In fact, had it not been for the meddling of certain muddle-headed Brits; the very people who, on a Sunday afternoon, reshaped the Middle East by drawing lines on a map to provide an aggrieved Prince Abdullah with a country (Jordan) because his brother, Faisal, was granted an arbitrary patch of sand now known as Iraq; much of the Middle East tribal conflict would have reduced as indigenous trade and cooperative governments developed. <Source: Kingmakers: the Invention of the Modern Middle East>

Los Angeles, California …

And across the pond, here in America, we are experiencing much the same thing. Consider that in the core of California’s largest city, Los Angeles, it appears as if you are in Little Tijuana: the signs are in Spanish, the dominant language is Spanish, a large number of the politicians are Hispanic and cater to their Hispanic constituency: legal citizens and illegal aliens alike – and law enforcement is extremely reluctant to enter certain areas without heavy reinforcements and advance planning. Vicious gangs, mostly comprised of illegal aliens, is slowly tightening their grip on the immigrant population with occasional spill-over into traditional society. This very demographic is pushing hard to create so-called anchor babied which, upon their birth in the United States, become automatic U.S. citizens. One wonders exactly how long it will be before the U.S. experiences a de facto annexation by Mexico or is forced by exigent circumstances (including the possible collapse of the Mexican government and infrastructure) to assume Mexico as either a protectorate or some other legal form of confederation?

The “elites” know best …

The point being: while the so-call intellectual elites and limousine liberals spout drivel about reducing population growth and saving the planet, we are being demographically being forced out of our homes and into accepting a foreign culture. Incrementally, of course, but it is happening. Of course, those limousine liberals who visibly support these policies are the very ones who are insulated, by wealth, power and position, from the consequences of the policies they foist on others in order to make some of them feel that they are contributing members of society instead of the wastrels, clowns and dilettantes they are in reality.

Who are our enemies?

Other than the radical Islamists and power-hungry dictatorships, why are we so afraid of pointing out that our enemies walk among us as they do their best to convert, co-opt and coerce those “do good – feel good” liberals into becoming fellow travelers in a nefarious plot to weaken Western civilization and the freedoms it holds dear.

“Porritt, who has two children, intends to persuade environmental pressure groups to make population a focus of campaigning.”

“Many organisation think it is not part of their business. My mission with the Friends of the Earth and the Greenpeaces of this world is to say: ‘You are betraying the interests of your members by refusing to address population issues and you are doing it for the wrong reasons because you think it is too controversial,” he said.

And just what are the interests of the members of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth in addition to the normal ones of providing a social meeting ground for the disaffected, increasing their funding, expanding their leadership and allowing the members to “feel good about themselves” by associating with a cause bigger than their individual lives – saving their planet for future generations.

I wonder just how many of their members have noted that the old “cold warriors,” the Marxists, the Communists and the Anarchists have infiltrated the environmental movement to obtain tax-free funding from gullible people who can be easily fooled and led about like sheep. Not to mention pushing their political agenda while they aggregate political power by pointing the way to electing their fellow travelers for elective office. And appointing their cohorts when the arrive “on station.”

Let them die: it’s good for the planet …

“Porritt, a former chairman of the Green party, says the government must improve family planning, even if it means shifting money from curing illness to increasing contraception and abortion.”

“He said: ‘We still have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Europe and we still have relatively high levels of pregnancies going to birth, often among women who are not convinced they want to become mothers.”

To be fair, perhaps Porritt did not mean that we should ignore curing illness as a means for limiting population – or then again, maybe he did. There is no doubt in my mind that there are those who look towards pestilence, disease and weather-induced famine as means for achieving their goal of limited population.

A failure of religion?

Here in Los Angeles, under the direction of open borders advocate, Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the church is attempting to revive its flagging fortunes (dissipated by the international pedophile scandals) and declining membership. Since the Church is responsible to Rome, rather than Washington, D.C., it should be no surprise that they are welcoming illegal aliens into their flock and advocating an open borders policy – based, of course, on humanitarian grounds. As with the Cardinal’s apparent obstruction of justice in moving known pedophiles around his fiefdom, he appears not to concern himself with the destruction and decay that is slowly rotting Los Angeles and turning it into the equivalent of a third-world nation. Where productive and creative people are abandoning California for more business friendly and culturally attuned climes – and states which do not spend a massive amount of money catering to illegal aliens at the expense of their own legal constituency. One might ask, where is the morality in all of this? Is the Church also complicit in allowing our nation to be demographically bombed by illegal aliens who are pumping out anchor babies with abandon, not even mindful of the financial consequences of having unaffordable children as they seem to be well taken care of by California’s social benefits system. An entitlement system that will be greatly expanded by Barack Obama has he consolidates his “entitlement” constituency.

What can YOU do?

Decide for yourself whether or not you can afford to have, nurture and support children without state assistance. It is a personal God-given freedom that should not be abridged by church nor state.

If you disagree with the direction our elected officials are taking us, consider working with a grass-roots group to recall them or elect ones more beneficial to the constituency. Demand that those politicians who have committed crimes be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. For those who have committed acts that are short of criminal prosecution and have been allowed to file retroactive reports, turn them out of office.

It is time we take back our country from the political elites who believe they are entitled to dispense the taxpayer’s hard-earned money for their personal political benefit and personally profit from the results of  their actions.

It is also time to dial back the adoration of celebrity, knowing that most of these people are trained actors who are quite unlike the people they may portray on stage. Many of these “respected” people are sick puppies and would be shunned by decent people had the truth about their private actions become public. But then again, maybe not, as our culture is beginning to reward both the famous and the infamous.

As for the United Nations, consider the consequences of removing them from our shores and de-funding their initiatives. In my opinion, the UN is comprised of too many self-righteous, self-indulgent political hacks who pander to the worst among them.

As for the future, and at this point in time, it seems that our politicians and their special interest friends have temporarily doomed us to additional suffering – all in the name of the “quick buck” and political power play. Can you even imagine, in any other historical time, when politicians like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George Bush (41 &43) and Jimmy Carter could be considered leaders? Or when the political parties would sacrifice their principles on the altar of political office – just to obtain access to the power to dole out funding to their friends?

We are screwed. Or as my best friend puts it, “doomed.” That is, unless we start to right the ship of state and stem the tide of liberalism that surely will become our downfall. If we continue to progress as is, those receiving entitlements will continue to vote for bigger and bigger entitlements and the political party that doles out the treats. Until we bankrupt ourselves and find the fruits of our labors accruing to the Chinese, the Indians, the Japanese and others who have not embraced the type of silly, superficial liberalism that is being spewed by our political leaders and celebrities – and widely publicized by a media that has compromised its journalistic ethics for corporate privileges doled out piecemeal by the politicians they pretend to cover.

Bottom line: take care of yourself and your family first. Be well and be safe.

-- steve

Quote of the Day: “Freedom is not a laughing matter, nor can it be bought from those who do not have the right to sell it.” – steve

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

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

Reference Links:

Two children should be limit, says green guru - Times Online


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


AL GORE: A FEW MORE INCONVENIENT QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS APPEARANCE BEFORE A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ...

Today, Congress and the media were complicit in providing a forum to former Vice President Al Gore in order to commercially advertise and advocate for his global warming initiative. All of which leads me to ask a few inconvenient questions:

Question One: Why the Senate Foreign Relations Committee  and not the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works?

While a case may be made for hearing Al Gore’s speechifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the basis of their oversight of international treaties that would be used to implement any foreign agreements relating to global climate change, it is my contention that this presentation would have been more carefully considered under the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, whose Ranking Member, James Inhofe (R-OK) has done extensive work to shed light on the issue of global climate change and which is more than a rubber stamp for majority democrat positions which lead to bigger government, higher taxes and the incremental reduction in the freedoms of the average United States Citizen. 

Question Two: While it is widely assumed that you cannot lie to a Congressional Committee, why was Al Gore’s so-called testimony not submitted under oath?

It seems prudent to me that if any Senate Committee accepts what they widely characterize as “testimony,” that such information be submitted in a sworn statement by someone who is administered an oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Question Three: Where the scientists who can refute Al Gore’s one-sided view of global climatology and why were the American people denied access to such testimony in order to present the issue in a fair and balanced manner?

The purpose of solicited testimony is to present Congress and the American people with the background information needed to develop effective, efficient and informed public policy legislation. It is not to promote the positions of a single political party or advocate for the self-serving enlargement of government; at least not without be subject to further scrutiny.

Question Four: Why is nobody questioning Al Gore’s apparent conflict of interest since he owns an interest in an enterprise which will be the recipient of any government funding for global warming?

Congress is known to cast a jaundiced eye on oil company executives when they are testifying, under oath, for the need to increase offshore drilling or executives and others who testify for the need to greatly expand our nuclear energy capabilities if we are ever to achieve some measure of energy independence.

Question Five: Why is Al Gore’s commercial enterprise based off-shore and out of reach of United States regulatory agencies which regulate financial offerings of a commercial nature?

Here is a former Vice President of the United States seeking billions of dollars for his pet project and yet his main commercial enterprise, Generation Investment Management, LLP  is based in London where it is regulated by the Financial Services Authority rather than the more stringent United States Regulatory Agencies and Commissions. For all intents and purposes, this company appears to be just another unregulated hedge fund that is preparing to capitalize on “cap and trade” programs as well as manage a global pool of capital in making so-called “green” investments. It should be noted that the brains behind the enterprise is David Blood, formerly the chief executive of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Amusingly, the firm is nicknamed “Blood and Gore” based on the founder’s last names.

Gore’s other major effort,the Alliance for Climate Protection, is based in the United States and by their own literature is “aiming to persuade people of the importance, urgency and feasibility of adopting and implementing effective and comprehensive solutions for the climate crisis" Of course the Alliance for Climate Protection is a 501(c)3 organization and contributions made to the Alliance are tax deductible.

Question Five: Why is no one challenging Gore’s assertion that Carbon Dioxide is the prime trigger and/or contributor to global warming when CO2 is more plant food than pollution?

Statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee As Prepared

The dangerous and growing threat – a crisis (of course nobody would listen if there were not an artificially induced panic over a crisis)

“We are here today to talk about how we as Americans and how the United States of
America as part of the global community should address the dangerous and growing
threat of the climate crisis
.”

Need for immediate action … (quick, before you have time to think about it or adverse scientific facts are revealed)

“We have arrived at a moment of decision. Our home – Earth – is in grave danger. What is at risk of being destroyed is not the planet itself, of course, but the conditions that have made it hospitable for human beings. Moreover, we must face up to this urgent and unprecedented threat to the existence of our civilization at a time when our country must simultaneously solve two other worsening crises.”

Linking real problems with artificial ones … (a prime example of the left’s attempting to create equivalency between clear and present dangers and not-so-clear and not-so-present dangers)

“Our economy is in its deepest recession since the 1930s. And our national security is endangered by a vicious terrorist network and the complex challenge of ending the war in Iraq honorably while winning the military and political struggle in Afghanistan.

Truth be told, the current effects of this recession are less than those that occurred under another democrat administration, that of Jimmy Carter. And, of course, we need to gratuitously throw in “ending the war in Iraq” to appease those who do not wish us well – but continue to fund the democrat party.

“As we search for solutions to all three of these challenges, it is becoming clearer that they are linked by a common thread – our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels.”

“As long as we continue to send hundreds of billions of dollars for foreign oil – year after year – to the most dangerous and unstable regions of the world, our national security will continue to be at risk.”

“As long as we continue to allow our economy to remain shackled to the OPEC rollercoaster of rising and falling oil prices, our jobs and our way of life will remain at risk.”

I wonder if Al Gore has noticed that the current economic crisis was caused by the Wall Street Wizards who were playing games with the type of derivatives Al Gore and others propose for the energy markets, the extreme leverage of the banks as they sought to juice their investments, the unregulated non-insurance insurance that was sold to the ratings agencies to convince them to place an “investment grade” rating on junk securities, and the actions of unregulated hedge funds like the one he is currently running in England?

“Moreover, as the demand for oil worldwide grows rapidly over the longer term, even as the rate of new discoveries is falling, it is increasingly obvious that the roller coaster is headed for a crash. And we’re in the front car.
Most importantly, as long as we continue to depend on dirty fossil fuels like coal and oil to meet our energy needs, and dump 70 million tons of global warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, we move closer and closer to several dangerous tipping points which scientists have repeatedly warned – again just yesterday – will threaten to make it impossible for us to avoid irretrievable destruction of the conditions that make human civilization possible on this planet.”

Not only is this hyperbole of the worst kind … but he could have just said – implement a nuclear solution for power and 80% of your problem disappears, but nooooooo…. that would not serve the interests of the anti-war, anti-nuke, anti-America crowd.

“We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that’s got to change.”

“For years our efforts to address the growing climate crisis have been undermined by the idea that we must choose between our planet and our way of life; between our moral duty and our economic well being. These are false choices. In fact, the solutions to the climate crisis are the very same solutions that will address our economic and national
security crises as well.”

Al Gore is dead wrong: these are correct choices – we should not cede our sovereignty, our economic future and our personal freedoms to benefit Gore and his fellow travelers as they make billions on the road to converting American into socialism. Our moral duty is to make America stronger, not weaker. And to base our actions on unproven and inaccurate “computer models” marks Gore as a self-serving dupe of those who do not wish the United States well. (Think George Soros whose funding is behind major initiatives to destroy American infrastructure)

“In order to repower our economy, restore American economic and moral leadership in the world and regain control of our destiny, we must take bold action now.”

Yes, I agree. We must take back our government from corrupt and self-serving politicians. We should tell Gore and those of his ilk to pound sand – preferably in Saudi Arabia.

“The first step is already before us. I urge this Congress to quickly pass the entirety of
President Obama’s Recovery package
. The plan’s unprecedented and critical investments in four key areas – energy efficiency, renewables, a unified national energy grid and the move to clean cars – represent an important down payment and are long overdue.”

“These crucial investments will create millions of new jobs and hasten our economic recovery – while strengthening our national security and beginning to solve the climate crisis.”

This is not true – and there are severe unintended consequences to allowing the democrats unfettered access to these funds – most of which are giant pork barrel projects for those who helped the democrats to win office.

And still no mention of nuclear energy …

“Quickly building our capacity to generate clean electricity will lay the groundwork for the next major step needed: placing a price on carbon. If Congress acts right away to pass President Obama's Recovery package and then takes decisive action this year to institute a cap-and-trade system for CO2 emissions – as many of our states and many other countries have already done – the United States will regain its credibility and enter the Copenhagen treaty talks with a renewed authority to lead the world in shaping a fair and effective treaty. And this treaty must be negotiated this year. Not next year. This year.”

Out credibility comes from our combined strength and resolve … not for appeasing European Socialists who are on their way to becoming the next conquest of IslamoFascists.

“A fair, effective and balanced treaty will put in place the global architecture that will place the world – at long last and in the nick of time – on a path toward solving the climate crisis and securing the future of human civilization.”

Complete and utter bullshit …

What chutzpah – solving the climate crisis, securing the future of human civilization? This man is corrupt, stupid and delusional. Of course, this is all aimed at the Messiah, the political deity who will either save us from extinction or move us down the road to socialism and a dictatorship. Where is this asshat’s proof of what he is saying. At this point it time it is all conjecture posed by those who have a self-serving agenda and whose scientific opinions have been compromised by political machinations.

“I am hopeful that this can be achieved. Let me outline for you the basis for the hope and optimism that I feel.”

“The Obama Administration has already signaled a strong willingness to regain U.S.
leadership on the global stage in the treaty talks, reversing years of inaction. This is
critical to success in Copenhagen and is clearly a top priority of the administration.

Developing countries that were once reluctant to join in the first phases of a global response to the climate crisis have themselves now become leaders in demanding action and in taking bold steps on their own initiatives. Brazil has proposed an impressive new plan to halt the destructive deforestation in that nation. Indonesia has emerged as a new constructive force in the talks. And China’s leaders have gained a strong understanding of the need for action and have already begun important new initiatives. Heads of state from around the world have begun to personally engage on this issue and forward-thinking corporate leaders have made this a top priority.”

This is complete and utter crap …

“More and more Americans are paying attention to the new evidence and fresh warnings from scientists. There is a much broader consensus on the need for action than there was when President George H.W. Bush negotiated – and the Senate ratified – the Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 and much stronger support for action than when we completed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.”

Where are the non-political scientists testifying under oath? Where is the proof? In the mathematical models of an ethically-compromised computer modeler who is manipulating the raw data?

“Retired senior NASA atmospheric scientist Dr. John S. Theon, the former supervisor of James Hansen, NASA’s vocal man-made global warming fears soothsayer, has now publicly declared himself a skeptic and declared that Hansen ‘embarrassed NASA’ with his alarming climate claims and said Hansen was ‘was never muzzled.’ Theon joins the rapidly growing ranks of international scientists abandoning the promotion of anthropogenic global warming fears.”

“Theon declared ‘climate models are useless.’ ‘My own belief concerning anthropogenic climate change is that the models do not realistically simulate the climate system because there are many very important sub-grid scale processes that the models either replicate poorly or completely omit,’ Theon explained. ‘Furthermore, some scientists have manipulated the observed data to justify their model results. In doing so, they neither explain what they have modified in the observations, nor explain how they did it. They have resisted making their work transparent so that it can be replicated independently by other scientists. This is clearly contrary to how science should be done. Thus there is no rational justification for using climate model forecasts to determine public policy,’ he added.

“As Chief of several of NASA Headquarters’ programs (1982-94), an SES position, I was responsible for all weather and climate research in the entire agency, including the  research work by James Hansen, Roy Spencer, Joanne Simpson, and several hundred other scientists at NASA field centers, in academia, and in the private sector who worked on climate research.”

“Award-winning NASA Astronaut and Physicist Walter Cunningham of NASA’s Apollo 7 also recently chastised Hansen. ‘Hansen is a political activist who spreads fear even when NASA’s own data contradict him,’ Cunningham wrote in an essay in the July/August 2008 issue of Launch Magazine. ‘NASA should be at the forefront in the collection of scientific evidence and debunking the current hysteria over human-caused, or Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW). Unfortunately, it is becoming just another agency caught up in the politics of global warming, or worse, politicized science,” Cunningham wrote.”  <Source>

According to Cunningham …

“NASA should be at the forefront in the collection of scientific evidence and debunking the current hysteria over human-caused, or Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW). Unfortunately, it is becoming just another agency caught up in the politics of global warming, or worse, politicized science. Advocacy is replacing objective evaluation of data, while scientific data is being ignored in favor of emotions and politics.”

“There are excellent correlations between the regular fluctuations of the Sun and the Earth’s temperature, while scientists cannot find a relationship between industrial activity, energy consumption, and global temperatures. But global warming is an issue no longer being decided in the scientific arena.”

“Saying the Earth is warming is to state the obvious. Since the end of the ice age, the Earth’s temperature has increased approximately 16 degrees Fahrenheit and sea levels have risen a total of 300 feet. That is certain and measurable evidence of warming, but it is not evidence of AGW—human-caused warming.”

“We can track the temperature of the Earth back for millennia. Knowing the temperature of the Earth, past or present, is a matter of collecting data, analyzing it, and coming up with the best answer to account for the data. Collecting such data on a global basis is a NASA forte.”

I believe in global climate change, but there is no way that humans can influence the temperature of our planet to any measurable degree with the tools currently at their disposal.”

“Any human contribution to global temperature change is lost in the noise of terrestrial and cosmic factors.”

“Our beautiful home planet has been warming and cooling for the last 4.8 billion years. Most recently, it has been warming—be it ever so slightly—but there is nothing unusual about it! The changes and rates of change in the Earth’s temperature, just since the Industrial Revolution, have occurred many times in our climatic history. While climate scientists generally agree that the Earth’s temperature is always changing, not many of them would say that humans are responsible for those changes.”

None of this is to say there are not legitimate reasons to restrict emissions of any number of chemicals into the atmosphere. We should just not fool ourselves into thinking we will change the temperature of the Earth by doing so.” <Source>

According to AL Gore’s “testimony …”

“The elements that I believe are key to a successful agreement in Copenhagen include:

  • Strong targets and timetables from industrialized countries and differentiated but binding commitments from developing countries that put the entire world under a system with one commitment: to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants that cause the climate crisis; 

Binding commitments which institutionalize control over our respective economies and populations.

  • The inclusion of deforestation, which alone accounts for twenty percent of the  emissions that cause global warming;

The halt to industrialization in third-world countries.

  • The addition of sinks including those from soils, principally from farmlands and grazing lands with appropriate methodologies and accounting. Farmers and ranchers in the U.S. and around the world need to know that they can be part of  the solution;

Further control over the world’s food supply and a possible move to legislate “vegetarianism.”

  • The assurance that developing countries will have access to mechanisms and resources that will help them adapt to the worst impacts of the climate crisis and technologies to solve the problem; and,

Wealth redistribution from the United States to other countries to either mitigate the financial impact of our policies on their economies and possibly as reparations for our damage to their portion of the planet with our outrageous and profligate behaviors.

  • A strong compliance and verification regime.”

The creation of an extra-judicial, world-wide police force that can bridge sovereignty issues as they interfere with the economies (and military) of other sovereign nations.

“The road to Copenhagen is not easy, but we have traversed this ground before. We have negotiated the Montreal Protocol, a treaty to protect the ozone layer, and strengthened it to the point where we have banned most of the major substances that create the ozone hole over Antarctica. And we did it with bipartisan support. President Ronald Reagan and Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill joined hands to lead the way.”

Cite bi-partisanship and throw in the work of a few revered conservative icons.

The Al Gore dog and pony show: Earth in the Balance – Part II … 

“Let me now briefly discuss in more detail why we must do all of this within the next year, and with your permission Mr. Chairman, I would like to show a few new pictures that illustrate the unprecedented need for bold and speedy action this year.”

The blind leading the blind …

“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I am eager to respond to any questions that you and the
members of the committee have.”

The questions should come from climate scientists not politicians who rarely read and/or understand the legislation they are voting on. Most politicians are vain, stupid and motivated by self-interest. And while they pretend to represent their constituencies, in reality, they represent the power players and special interests who funded their campaign and the groups who could turn out large vote counts.

Question Six: Why are those who have mismanaged our economy pushing so hard to allow stimulus and other governmental funds to be used to combat as yet unproven climate change public policy initiatives?

There is no doubt in my mind that billions of dollars of the taxpayer’s money have been siphoned off by nefarious corporations and individuals for uses never intended by Congress or the taxpayers whose pocket is being plucked by those of dubious character. By distracting and confusing the public about the exact use of these so-called bailout or stimulus funds, those who are complicit in the crime of the century will escape scot-free; and with enough money to faithfully reward those politicians and bureaucrats that enabled the theft; either through campaign contributions, honorariums and future employment for them and their relatives. 

Question Seven: Why do the global climate change poobahs never mention nuclear energy as the most effective way of curbing pollution and achieving energy independence which would strengthen our nations and insulate us from foreign domination by oil and gas blackmailers?

The short answer is that the “peace at any price” appeasers, the anti-nuke brigade of the Marxist/Communist party and others who do not wish us well have co-opted the environmental movement as a source of funding and as a political action weapon against the United States. Our enemy has learned how to generate funding from weak-minded individuals who profess to be “do-gooders” and to use our own laws against us – whether to cripple our economy by reducing water flow to Southern California (to save the delta smelt) or to cripple our military (by disallowing the use of sonar that is necessary to protect our coastlines from foreign vessels). Occasionally, these people will mention nuclear energy – which is green, sustainable and scalable – in the same breath as wind power, wave power, solar power and other unreliable, unscalable energy generators which require government subsidies to be commercially viable. Citing of course, forty-year old reactor technology and hoary tells of nuclear terror from the Chernobyl days.

In the same way low-level conflict is promoted by arms dealers, we find our enemies, the energy companies and the politicians complicit in milking the productivity of the American citizen for their own personal purposes. Wealth transfer to the rich and powerful while weakening the United States.

And the most important final question: How does one maintain accountability for funds when the very character and nature of global climate change precludes measuring and tracking any so-called progress improvement?

It is a fact that any man-made effort to control climate change cannot be directly measured as the global temperature measurements are little more than extrapolated estimates in regional areas and that any true effect on the global mean temperature will not be seen, if ever, for hundreds of years – long after we are dead and the money has disappeared into the pockets of a few wealthy families which will continue to control local and global politics through their purchased politicians.

Of course, there are artificial measures, such as tons of CO2 allegedly eliminated which are all based on corrupt reporting systems run by those with the most to gain from fudging the numbers.

The quiet revolution – funded by us!

Before we consider the traitorous nature of our politicians who are ceding political control to environmentalists and freebooters who are attempting to loot our treasury and enslave us in more government regulation and lifelong debt, perhaps we should open our eyes and stop this craziness before it continues past the tipping point: when we have lost control of our government to those who purchased it for a pittance and those who we are forced to serve via our everyday labor.

As never before, we face an enemy that is close to conquering the United States without a single shot being fired. By using our own politicians and citizens as a culpable fifth column who are willing to sell out America in exchange for campaign dollars, a comfortable lifestyle and the chance to feel good about themselves.

Funded by our enemies and those who do not wish us well, evildoers have infiltrated education, the government, the media and other critical infrastructure. It is these people who, wittingly and unwittingly, are advancing the causes of worldwide socialism. A threat far greater than IslamoFascism as it is not a clear and present danger – it is hidden among the many words and deeds of our corrupt and possibly well-meaning politicians as they continue to pursue a policy of fiscal neglect and social change.

Even the media cannot be trusted to sound the alarm – they are smitten with celebrity and the sound of their oh so politically correct voices. Imagine John Wayne meeting with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez or any other dictator and proclaiming that one one hand they appear to be murderous thugs, but on the other hand they appear to want the best for their people? Hard to imagine, unless you see an unrepentant Marxists-like liberals  like Sean Penn and Danny Glover spout such nonsense.

We are doing it to us. Middle America is being compromised by those from Manhattan to Malibu by way of Washington, D.C..

The acid test is simple: nuclear energy will provide us with energy independence, dramatically lower pollution, abundant and cost effect electrical power and will solve many of the problems that are claimed to be associated with global warming. So why are these global warming alarmists and others not pushing this solution.

Could it be that what I said about the infiltration of our infrastructure by the Marxists/Socialists/Communists and their old-style anti-war and anti-nuke agenda is running rampant in the United States – funded by a variety of liberal sources, both foreign and domestic – and being advanced by their fellow travelers? 

That’s the way I see it. Prove me wrong.

What can YOU do?

Am I the only one who noticed that we are proposing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on climate research and computer modeling -- even though Al Gore tells us that the science is settled and that the majority of the scientists concur with his conclusions. Either the models are flawed and cannot be relied on to support a $6 TRILLION dollar policy decision -- or Al Gore is right and everything has already been determined. In my opinion, Al Gore is nothing but a jumped up grifter arrogantly demanding action and hoping nobody important calls "bullshit."

Before we spend more of our hard earned dollars on speculative climate ventures promoted by the socialists, communists, anarchists who have infiltrated the environmental movement in order to weaken the economy and military posture of the United States; before we cede our sovereignty to foreign-based organizations, panels and commissions which would be allowed to use the United States Courts to enforce their will upon American companies and people – let us prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that global climate change is more than just the natural variability of natural weather cycles and that the money that will be used to mitigate its effects would not be better spent on curbing pollution and becoming energy independent which will do more to improve our climate that the bullshit carbon cap and trade system that will only benefit the politicians, the Wall Street Wizards and our enemies.

You will notice that Senator John Kerry and other politicians and those with a vested interest, for either personal, professional or for profit reasons, speak in terms of certainty, of established scientific fact, in terms of crisis, catastrophe and the cost in human lives. With little more than climate models and supposition, these people want to, for their own purposes, dominate the United States and push it toward European socialism. They speak of the catastrophe that will be fall Earth if temperature rises only four degrees. And yet, it should be taken with a grain of salt. For those of you who are only enough to remember the United Nations’ dire predictions for a world beset with unbridled population growth – our nation, as well as the rest of the world, would have already experienced catestrophic breakdowns in social order and massive starvation. The United Nations was wrong then and they are wrong now. The difference is that nobody will be able to prove that our carbon reductions are having a climate effect, now, in our lifetime, and not for hundreds – if not thousands – of years. You must ask yourself, do we want to cede control of our nation to a group of politicians and special interest entities? The fruits of our labor, or more importantly, our freedoms? I think not.

Do not elect ideologues or political hacks that spout self-serving nonsense merely to get elected. Avoid those Marxists who, in the guise of liberal democrats, would sell out the United States to gain even a modicum of personal wealth and power.

Before we can do good for the world, let us consider doing good for ourselves.

Be well, be safe, and protect your life and money – nobody will do it for you unless they are on your payroll.

-- steve

Quote of the day: “Congress is like the weather, with a purpose that changes from day-to-day and can be predicted over the short term by taking the temperature of the surrounding public.” – steve

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

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

Reference Links:

Watch Gore’s “testimony” – Note: there is a late start to the committee hearing and you might want to scroll forward to 21:35 where the action commences and the sound begins. (Talk about wasted bandwidth)

Statements:

Senator Kerry's Opening Statement
Senator Lugar's Opening Statement

Witnesses:

The Honorable Albert A. Gore, Jr, Former Vice President of the United States, Nashville, TN


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


The public relations push to grant amnesty to illegal aliens on humanitarian grounds?

Activists say …


“Thieves are increasingly targeting Hispanic illegal immigrants who are reluctant to report robberies to the police for fear of deportation, US activists and law enforcement agencies say.”

“The victims of the robberies in Florida and other Southern states are often farm workers paid in cash because they have no bank accounts due to a lack of official identification.”

" ‘Many robberies (of illegal immigrant workers) are committed but not reported,’ said Cheryl Little, executive director for the Florida Immigration Advocacy Center.”

Just like "Special Order 40" – California’s don’t ask, don’t tell law for illegal aliens …

"But advocate groups and police departments are trying to spread the word that illegal immigrants will not face deportation if they report a crime.

" ‘One of the things that we try to point out, when we go into local Hispanic communities to talk about this, is that if you're a victim of a crime, your deportation status doesn't matter,’ said Elizabeth Watts, spokeswoman for the police department in Clearwater, Florida.”

Only half the story? 

“The city, which has a large number of Mexican immigrant workers, had 55 robberies in 2008 in which the victims were Hispanic males, according to Watts.”

Where is the statistics that show that the great majority of ethnic crime is actually perpetrated by other illegal alien gang members who terrorize their own communities?

And since when do the law abiding citizens of any city need to respond with measures that decrease their safety and security for only 55 reported victims among thousands of illegal aliens?

A push for legal identification … but only the      kind that does not note that the holder is an illegal alien …

“To combat the problem, authorities in Austin, Texas sought help from local banks to enable more immigrant workers to open up accounts.”

" ‘We went into partnership with a number of banks to help Hispanic immigrant workers to open bank accounts,’ said Brian Miller of the Austin Police Department.”

Let’s see: most illegal aliens have stolen or forged social security numbers which creates havoc for legitimate tax paying citizens – especially when they find their retirement funds and medical accounts compromised.

And let us not forget the banks who allowed ITINs (Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers) to be used in lieu of social security numbers , along with Matrícula Consular cards, for account identification. And who were complicit in pushing predatory loans to their customers to purchase houses which they could never afford. Is it any wonder that the great majority of housing in certain communities has been abandoned by those who could not pay rent on a rental property, but suddenly found themselves the “owners” of a $300,000 home?

For those who think the banks really care about their illegal alien customers, just consider that the illegal alien base provides more money in repatriation transfers (along with hefty fees) than most accountholders. With banks, it’s all about the money and they are willing to do or say anything to increase their cash flow.

A rather low estimate by other accounts … 

“There are an estimated 11.9 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, according to a recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center.”

And there are still other studies which prove that illegal aliens cost the taxpaying citizens of the United States $22,000 over and above all labor contributions and taxes paid.

Why I am steamed …

Before you call me a racist (although I really don’t give a rat’s ass what you may think), consider that I have witnessed the destruction of our healthcare, educational. judicial, retirement, social and cultural infrastructure here in California – especially in gang-ridden areas that look like little Tijuana.

The solution …

I have a rather simple common-sense solution. Give all illegal aliens 90 days to register with the United States Post Office as a foreign national. After the expiration date, any unregistered illegal aliens and their families will be deported. Those who have been registered will be enrolled in an orderly process to teach them English and undergo a background security check. Upon the completion of an English proficiency exam (except for small children, of course), they would be given a work permit to remain in this country. No citizenship for them – and certainly no citizenship for their children. Their children will assume the citizenship of their parents and be registered at the local consulate of the country of origin. If a registered person commits a serious crime, fails to maintain continued employment, receives social service benefits for more than 12 months, they are deported. After ten years, the threat of deportation is removed, except for major felonies. After twenty years, the subject of citizenship can be broached once again. This would provide for the orderly assimilation of the large illegal population over time.

Should anyone overstay their visa, deportation! Travel permits for family shall be freely given and travel restrictions across the border eased (with biometric documents).

Anyone wishing to become a citizen prior to the twenty year exclusion, deport yourself and apply in your country of origin – step to the rear of the line.

-- steve

Should anyone care to disagree or comment further, please feel free to e-mail me or use the comment mechanism at the bottom of this blog entry.

Reference Link(s):

Hispanic illegal immigrants hit by wave of robberies in US


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


What can you believe in?

January 2o, 2009  was a monumental day which should be officially memorialized …

2009tombstone

When one considers the last minute deals and the character of the incoming Administration, it appears that the public trust and faith in our government has died.

We have entered the realm of political celebrity, where good intentions and a well-crafted speech serve as a measure of accomplishment – even though little or nothing may have been accomplished.

Where the special interests reign supreme and those who contributed mightily to the campaign are now expecting their rewards.

Where the media is afraid to jeopardize its corporate interests by telling truth to power and is complicit in sycophantically covering up the stone cold truth.

Where the word “crisis” is used to suspend the normal rules and conventions of the government, to allow egregious acts of self-interest and public deception to take place on the national stage; often without a fight or words of dissent.

While observing the pageantry and solemnity surrounding the inauguration, I became even more convinced that Barack Obama was, up until now, an empty slate upon which the voters projected their own wants, needs and desires.

Truly a symbol of hope and change … if one looked only at the rhetoric and ignored the actions of the politicians and their political parties.

It is almost inconceivable that slightly more than half of those who took the time and trouble to vote ignored the environment of corruption and special dealing which surrounded Barack Obama. And, most importantly, ignored the fact that Obama was, at best, a dupe or an opportunist when he associated with those who were corrupt, harbored anti-American sentiments or were judged to be unrepentant domestic terrorists.

That a good portion of Barack Obama’s personal history has remained hidden from public scrutiny and shrouded in mystery. And the portion of what has been revealed surrounded with contradiction and controversy.

That his party, the democrats, by means fair and foul, have managed to corrupt the election process by their suspicious voter registration drives and election practices which, in some cases, count more votes than citizens voting.

That his staunchest supporters rely on the precepts of moral equivalency to justify their actions; to claim that President Bush and his Administration led the way in corrupt, special interest dealings. All under the guise of inoculating themselves from future blame by claiming the roots of any corruption and/or crisis should be attributable to the Bush regime.

So I ask again, “what can you believe in?”

And there is but one answer: YOURSELF!

It is time to take defensive measures …

It is time to take defensive measures and insulate yourself from the physical, emotional and spiritual consequences of a government which has proven to be increasingly out of control.

A government where Orwellian definitions indicating black is white, up is down and good is evil abound. Where lawyers parse sentences to find favorable meaning where there is none. Where profligate spending on special interest projects which never work or are canceled before the acid test of everyday usage abound.

Where people are encouraged to sacrifice for the common good, even though that good benefits only the special interests.

It is time to take matters into your own hands. To manage your own health and physical well being, to isolate yourself from those who are crazy-makers and demanding that you blindly follow their latest schemes, to educate yourself when education is being dumbed down and perverted by social activists, to protect your own employment future when CEOs simply shed employees to improve their bonuses and to manage your finances in an age when the government wants you to spend yourself further into debt claiming it is your patriotic duty to help spend our way to a strong economy.

We can no longer trust those institutions which have failed America. Education which is more about union control and supporting minorities than it is about providing a sound basis for adult maturity. Finance, where those who you trusted to prudently manage your finances, gambled on speculative derivatives to earn outrageous bonuses in the tens, and sometimes, hundreds of millions of dollars.

And unfortunately, this same toxic environment extends to local and state governments. Where personal self-interest pervades party politics and those who do not wish America well are busy enabling our enemies, both foreign and domestic, to take over our cities, states and federal government without a single shot being fired. Using the tools of political correctness, multiculturalism and diversity to further divide and conquer our legal citizens.

There is much that is right with America and there is every chance that this recession will turn the corner soon. But we need to take action now. To position ourselves to benefit from bad times as well as good times. To become strong enough to lend support to our families and our communities.

Beginning YOUR journey …

Today, the day after the inauguration, should be a solemn day. A day in which you begin your journey into the future. Putting aside all of the past angst and confusion over politics and moving forward with your own programs that benefit you. In essence, your inauguration into the world of YOU!

To this end, I am going to dedicate a portion of my time to building a web site that will be dedicated to self-protection and the encouragement of personal achievement.

Join me in becoming personally proactive …

If you should wish to join me on the journey, you can sign up for my free report on job loss related panic at www.aminext.com or by clicking on the site logo below.

subscribe to aminext.com

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for reading my OneCitizenSpeaking blog and encourage you to sign-up for the future benefits yet to come.


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


Bush: Half measures from a LAME DUCK to assure he is still welcome in Texas?

Bush proves once again that he is a day late and a dollar short …

Like many things associated with lame duck President George Bush, it is a day late and a dollar short. While we should be pleased that the President exercised his personal initiative and “commuted” the sentences of U.S. Border Patrol Agents  Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, it appears that it may have not been justice that drove Bush’s decision.

As you may remember, the Border Patrol Agents were vigorously prosecuted and convicted by Bush buddy U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton for the 2005 shooting of an illegal alien drug dealer who was fleeing from the United States to Mexico after having wrestled one agent, insert, to the ground.

The men were convicted of trying to cover up the shooting although there were numerous people on the scene and the violation was a technical one involving “picking up spent ammunition casings” and filling out paperwork.

It appears that these agents were doing their duty in keeping drugs out of the United States where they wreak havoc on U.S. citizens.

Unfair trial …

Circumstances seem to have conspired against the agents as exculpatory evidence relating to illegal alien drug dealing was purposely  kept from a jury and that a mandatory weapons enhancement was applied against a “non-civilian” who was required by the nature of their job to carry the weapon. At the prosecution’s request, evidence from Aldrete-Davila’s known drug smuggling efforts was sealed by trial judge Kathleen Cardone during the trial.

Bush is no Texan …

Like Fred Thompson’s “down home” red pickup truck which is trotted out for campaign appearances – and which he has been seen leaving for a Lincoln Town Car just miles down the road while an aide drives off in the pickup truck – President Bush’s ranch seems to seem a similar purpose. In the parlance of Texan’s he was “all hat and no cattle.” The ranch did not seem to be a working ranch, little or no livestock, a few horses for photo opportunities, and tons of brush which the President always appeared to be cutting – but to what end, since it was not a working ranch. The house was ecologically friendly and politically correct. Now Bush chooses to live in an upscale executive area in Dallas – not on his “oft stated” retirement ranch.

A majority of congressmen from both sides of the aisle were joined by the delegation from Texas to urge Bush to grant clemency.

Commutation is not a pardon …

The Border Patrol Agents who were performing their jobs received commutations which is a reduction in sentence rather than a pardon which restores their full rights. Both men have served about two years for doing there sworn duty.

Bush, friend of Mexico …

There is little doubt in my mind that this was a political prosecution designed to curry favor with the Mexican government – a corrupt entity whose members seem tainted with drug money. Armed Mexican police and army members routinely cross our borders to assist those in the drug trade. Why Bush backed Johnny Sutton’s prosecution of these men is not that mysterious when you consider that Bush was trying to push amnesty for illegal aliens and demonstrate how accepting he was of cross-border travel.

Sutton should be prosecuted …

In my opinion, Sutton, who claimed that there was no evidence linking drug smuggler Aldrete-Davila with an abandoned van of marijuana – even though the van was located in close proximity to Aldrete-Davila , should be tried for prosecutorial misconduct and sentenced to the time that was actually served by these Border Patrol agents. The fact that the jury did not hear evidence of Aldrete-Davila’s drug smuggling led to the conviction. After the trial, some jurors expressed dismay that they were not presented with all of the facts and said it would have influenced their decision. The agents were convicted of a number of charges including “assault with a dangerous weapon which resulted in serious bodily injury, violation of civil rights and obstruction of justice. The obstruction of justice charge was overturned on appeal.

It should be noted that the case of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila was suspiciously started when a family member of a Border Patrol Agent allegedly received a call from Aldrete-Davila or a family member. Aldrete-Davila was given immunity for his crimes, medical care and compensation – plus a border pass which allowed him to pass freely between the two countries in return for his testimony.

It is alleged that, using his government-supplied pass, Aldrete-Davila continued to run drugs into the United States.

As for the charges that the Agents tampered with evidence, any person who constantly shoots a weapon is taught to “police their brass” – pick it up lest it become just more roadside litter.

Justice will be served when the Agents receive a full pardon, compensation for their ordeal and a Presidential thank you for their service in helping to keep America safe and free from drugs. Considering the amount of armed border crime that is being overlooked by the United States Government as they seek amnesty for illegal aliens, this is the least that they can do for these two men who were ripped from their families, left penniless and without prospects for ever receiving a job involving their police skills.

Aldrete-Davila was not killed or seriously wounded, only suffering a slight wound to his butt. He was subsequently prosecuted for drug smuggling by Sutton– when moving drugs under the watchful eyes of the Border Patrol – who had no choice but to act to avoid the further evidence of impropriety in his prosecution.

It should be noted that this is not the only controversy involving Johnny Sutton who has prosecuted other law enforcement personnel for civil rights violations involving Mexican nationals.  More information on Johnny Sutton can be found here. It could very well be that Sutton is just another incompetent member of Bush’s inner circle much in the same way an incompetent and ineffective Alberto Gonzales was forced to resign as the United States Attorney General. (Sutton worked for Texas Governor Bush under the Governor's General Counsel Alberto Gonzales)

In my mind, Bush gets no credit for this action – which on the surface seems to be more self-serving – than the pursuit of justice.

-- steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


PROSECUTION OF BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD?

Should members of Congress be emboldened to attempt the criminal prosecution of members of the Bush Administration regarding actions taken while defending America against her enemies, they would be wise to consider that the American people may also demand the investigation and prosecution of those sitting members of Congress whose family members have engaged in acts which were never disclosed and which may be considered to be prosecutable under the law. In addition to members of Congress who filed “amended” reports of actions which were not only unethical, but may have been criminal.

This is a Pandora's box which, once opened by the politicians, may not be shut in time to prevent both sides from embarrassment and incarceration.

One need only to remember that any public official, be they local, state or federal who takes something of value might be charged with bribery.

According to Fox News …

“Pelosi Open to Prosecution of Bush Administration Officials”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is receptive to the idea of prosecuting some Bush administration officials, while letting others who are accused of misdeeds leave office without prosecution, she told Chris Wallace in an interview on ‘FOX News Sunday.’"

" ‘I think you look at each item and see what is a violation of the law and do we even have a right to ignore it,’ the California Democrat said. ‘And other things that are maybe time that is spent better looking to the future rather than to the past.’"

“Rep. John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced Friday he wants to set up a commission to look into whether the Bush administration broke the law by taking the nation to war against Iraq and instituting aggressive anti-terror initiatives. The Michigan Democrat called for an ‘independent criminal probe into whether any laws were broken in connection with these activities.’"

If Conyers had half a brain … he would realize that a replay of the news sources of the time could produce members of both sides of the aisle, as well as the foreign heads of state, parroting the same message about Saddam Hussein and Iraq. Case closed.

If Obama should attempt to re-politicalize the Department of Justice and other agencies, this could result in yet further criminal prosecutions brought against those who inappropriately applied political standards to the people’s business. 

Obama would be wise to step lightly …

President-elect Barack Obama has not closed off the possibility of prosecutions, but hinted he does not favor them.”

Considering the President-elect’s past environment and associations, I would think that he would be sensitive to any prosecutions based on favoritism and special privilege.

" ‘I don't believe that anybody is above the law,’ he told ABC News a week ago. ‘On the other hand, I also have a belief that we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards.’"

“Pelosi, during the interview in her ceremonial office, said there is merit in both arguments.”

"I don't think that Mr. Obama and Mr. Conyers are that far apart," she said. ‘There are different subjects and you treat them differently.’"

“She hinted that the law might compel Democrats to press forth on some prosecutions, even if they are politically unpopular, adding: ‘That's not up to us to say that doesn't matter anymore.’"

Hint to Madam Chairperson Pelosi …

Again, it might compel some Republicans to level corruption and other criminal charges on those Members of Congress and their families who received “special” assistance” in profiting from the war on Iraq. What about the House member who was found with $90,000 in his freezer? Or what about an investigation of Senator Christopher Dodd, the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, who allegedly received a mortgage loan at preferred rates from Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide Financial? Pelosi and others should know full well that corruption is bi-partisan and that misuse of federal agencies in the post-Nixon, post-Clinton, post Bush era is becoming increasingly problematical to the American public.

Unbridled hypocrisy …

" ‘We cannot let the politicizing of, for example, the Justice Department to go un-reviewed,’ she added. ‘I want to see the truth come forth.’"

Considering Bill Clinton, Janet Reno and matters like the Henry Cisneros Affair (See the Barrett Report), one can hardly believe that one can prosecute those who might have politicized the Justice Department without a review of the previous Clinton Administration; many members of which will be assuming high office.

“The Barrett Report is a 400 page report created by special prosecutor David Barrett. Initially tasked with investigating allegations of lying to the FBI against Henry Cisneros, Secretary of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development under U.S. President Bill Clinton, the investigation eventually delved into allegations that President Clinton had used the U.S. Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service as political tools against American citizens.”

What can YOU do?

Personally, I believe it is all just another attempt of one political party to demonize the other. Truth be known, both parties are replete with dirty politicians who have enough skeletons to fill Arlington Cemetery to overflowing. Therefore, these pronouncements and idle threats should be considered to be somewhat playing to the base.

We need to become aware of the inherent corruption in the campaign funding process and the influence of lawyer/lobbyists and other special interests in regard to existing and pending legislation.

As always, take care of yourself first. Be well and be safe.

-- steve

Quote of the Day: “If you want to be miserable, think about yourself, about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay you and what people think of you.”    -- Charles Kingsley

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

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

Reference Links:

Pelosi Open to Prosecution of Bush Administration Officials | Political News - FOXNews.com


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


Clinton's Attorney General, Janet Reno, and Bush's AG, Alberto Gonzales, were BAD; but Obama's Eric Holder may be worse!

What happens when the people of the United States have little or no faith in the competency and independence of the nation’s top law enforcement officer, the Attorney General of the United States. 

Clinton had Janet Reno …

In the case of Bill Clinton’s Attorney General, Janet Reno, we say a politicalized Justice Department which was run mostly from the White House. Political considerations trumped both fairness and justice. Although the democrats promised the most ethical Administration in the history of the United States, it appears in retrospect to be among the most self-serving and corrupt – and that’s not even considering President Clinton’s outrageous behavior in the Oval Office.

“In March 1995, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno secured the appointment of an Independent Counsel, David Barrett to investigate allegations that Cisneros had lied to FBI investigators during background checks prior to being named Secretary of HUD. He had been asked about payments that he had made to former mistress Linda Medlar, also known as Linda Jones. The affair had been 'public knowledge' for a number of years - during the 1992 presidential campaign, George H. W. Bush's Treasurer Catalina Vasquez Villalpando (R) publicly referred to Cisneros and candidate Clinton as "two skirt-chasers." Cisneros lied about the amount of money he had paid to Medlar. The investigation continued for three and a half years.”

“In December, 1997, Cisneros was indicted on 18 counts of conspiracy, giving false statements and obstruction of Justice. Medlar used some of the Cisneros hush money to purchase a house and entered into a bank fraud scheme with her sister and brother-in-law to conceal the source of the money. In January, 1998, Medlar pleaded guilty to 28 charges of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and obstruction of justice.”

“In September, 1999, Cisneros negotiated a plea agreement, under which he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of lying to the FBI, and was fined $10,000. He did not receive jail-time or probation. He was pardoned by President Bill Clinton in January 2001.”

It was stated by Independent Counsel Barrett that the Clinton’s succeeded in one of the most successful cover-ups in history and that had he been allowed to continue with his inquiry he would have been able to prove the allegations that federal agencies were approached by the White House to aid the cover-up of Cisneros' activities. As a side note, Henry Cisneros went forward to serve on the Board of Countrywide Financial Corporation.

Bush had Alberto Gonzales …

In the case of George Bush, we have Bush crony Alberto Gonzales who not only further politicized the Department of Justice, but introduced an element of gross incompetency and overall stupidity. The botched prosecution of Scooter Libby for a non-crime, the dismissal of U.S. Attorneys, and various human rights issued marked the tenure of the hyper-political Gonzales who was finally forced to resign the office.

And now Obama wants to give us Eric Holder …

In my opinion, Holder has three major flaws:

One, he does not understand the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution which implicitly guarantees an individual’s right to self-defense as well as the right to keep and bear arms. Holder has done much to prevail upon the Supreme Court to rule that the Second Amendment is a “collective” right and not an “individual” right. The court did rule that the matter was an individual right and that the good, law-abiding citizens of Washington D.C. did have the right to keep weapons in their homes for the purposes of self-protection as per the Second Amendment.

Two, he appears to be complicit in arranging inappropriate pardons for political purposes. Two of the more egregious which were the pardoning of known terrorists and the pardoning of Marc Rich and his partner Pincus Green who not only traded oil with Iran while they were holding American hostages, but also evaded millions of dollars in taxes. Both pardons involved special influence, alleged payments to various parties and the circumventing of the professional staff of the Department of Justice.

And three, I am not sure that Eric Holder will be a bulwark against terrorism. Supporting the far left liberal position that terrorists should not be tried in a military tribunal as enemy combatants, but should receive justice in a federal court under the same Constitutional standards as those provided to citizens of the United States.

This marks Eric Holder as a man who cannot be trusted with high office and someone who is ideologically blind to the sanctity of the United States Constitution. I question both his judgment and his ability to be a fair and impartial Attorney General.

According to the Washington Post, I am not alone in my opinion and criticism of Eric Holder …

“Obama's Attorney General Pick Faces Growing Criticism”

“Eric H. Holder Jr. is facing increasing resistance to his bid to become the next attorney general, emerging from President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet nominees as the prime target of Senate Republicans, both because of troubling episodes during his service in the Clinton administration and because of the sensitivity of the post overseeing the Justice Department.”

Comparison to hyper-partisan Alberto Gonzales …

[Republican Senator Arlen] “Specter previewed the main line of attack in a floor speech this week, asserting that, in Holder's years as President Bill Clinton's deputy attorney general, he at times ‘appeared to be serving the interest of his superiors’ rather than heeding recommendations from career Justice Department lawyers.”

“The argument echoed criticism that former attorney general Alberto R. Gonzales, who resigned in 2007, had acted to please his friend President Bush rather than to uphold the principles of justice.”

Blagojevich connection?

“In a pointed effort to scrub Holder's past, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (Iowa) and two other leading GOP Judiciary Committee members submitted a public records request this week to Illinois officials, seeking information on a thwarted $300,000 legal services contract that Holder won from now-disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D).

“The [nominee’s] questionnaire emerged as an issue after the Chicago Sun-Times asked why Holder did not include the contract with Blagojevich's office. The 2004 deal called for Holder and his law firm, working at a reduced rate, to investigate the award of a gambling casino in Rosemont, Ill. No irregularities have been alleged about the arrangement.”

“Prosecutors have accused Blagojevich of engaging in pay-to-play schemes in which state jobs and contracts were auctioned off for the governor's personal gain.”

Second Amendment issues …

“Senate researchers also are probing Holder's record on gun control -- an issue that could bring strong opposition from gun rights groups, many Republicans and some conservative Democrats.”

“Last year, Holder and other former Justice Department officials from Democratic administrations filed a friend of the court brief in a landmark D.C. gun ownership case, arguing that the Second Amendment gives citizens a ‘collective right’ to bear arms rather than individual ownership rights. The Supreme Court last year ruled in the case, in favor of individual rights.”

Holder's views are relevant because the court's ruling probably will lead to challenges of other gun control laws in which the Justice Department will have an interest.”

National security issues …

“Republicans may try to point out inconsistencies in Holder's approach to national security. In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he gave interviews in which he appeared to leave room for extended detention of terrorism suspects without charging them with crimes.”

But in recent years, Holder has been more critical of Bush administration policies on detention and interrogation, saying the government's tactics have harmed international relations and violated civil liberties.”

His views on international relations are irrelevant as he is charged with supporting and defending the United States Constitution from its enemies, both foreign and domestic. Whether we are liked or disliked in a world filled with envious and/or hostile nations pursuing their own self-interested agenda should have absolutely no bearing on the cases he handles as a member of the Department of Justice.

Leniency for proven terrorists; or was Holder doing a political favor for a candidate who needed votes?

“Senate staff members said the hearings could include potentially hostile witnesses, including victims of bombings carried out by the FALN, a Puerto Rican nationalist group. Members of the group won clemency in 1999 while Holder held a top Justice Department post overseeing the pardon process under Clinton.”

Even the Senate, including the democrats, were outraged …

“The Senate passed a bipartisan resolution that year saying Clinton should not have granted clemency, which prosecutors and the FBI opposed. This week, two former Justice Department pardon lawyers told the Los Angeles Times that Holder had pressed them to change their recommendations and support the clemency bid, even after one of them says he warned Holder and his top aide that the move would backfire politically.”

Mea Culpa: after the fact apology …

“Holder has previously apologized for not paying sufficient attention to a request to pardon fugitive financier Marc Rich in early 2001, and for telling White House officials that he was ‘neutral leaning toward favorable’ on the idea. The last-minute presidential pardon touched off investigations by federal prosecutors in New York and congressional inquiries into contacts between Holder and Jack Quinn, a Clinton White House lawyer working for Rich. Bipartisan committee reports later described the incident as ‘bad judgment’ by Holder.”

Obama’s task …

Obama’s major task is restoring the people’s confidence in the government and, in particular, the Department of Justice and other high-profile agencies. This is a matter which cannot be taken lightly – especially when one considers the cesspool of corruption in which Obama functioned and the number of dubious characters in this past associations.

A current example of why the integrity of the Attorney General is important …

From the Washington Post …

“Reagan-era White House budget chief David A. Stockman told everybody who would listen that he was innocent of fraud charges after he was indicted in New York nearly two years ago.”

“Yesterday, after a behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign, the boy wonder of 1980s Washington convinced the only audience that mattered: prosecutors and a federal judge, who disposed of the criminal case against him with the stroke of a pen.”

“In a move that longtime securities lawyers called next to unprecedented, the acting U.S. attorney concluded that prosecuting Stockman and three other men who worked under him at the defunct Michigan auto parts maker Collins & Aikman ‘would not be in the interests of justice.’"

Veterans of the federal courthouse in Manhattan could not remember another case against such a high-profile defendant that fell by the wayside. The closest that New York lawyers could come was the dropped prosecution of Richard Wigton, who was hauled out of his Wall Street office in handcuffs by then U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani in 1987.”

I have absolutely no idea whether Stockman is guilty or the pro or con merits of the case which faces him and the others involved. What I can tell from the article is that a former top-level Republican appointee received, what some are calling, unusual treatment by the Department of Justice. 

This is exactly why we need a man of integrity on the side of the people of the United States rather than a hyper-partisan doing the political bidding of the White House when it comes to their special interest friends. Especially in a time when a number of high-profile, politically-connected financiers may be facing action for defrauding the investing public.

As one who has lost a substantial portion of the value in his retirement fund, I can assure you that I do not care if they were Republican crooks or democrat crooks – I want them prosecuted in a fair and impartial way. Considering the political contributions of those who are now facing inquiry, I do not want to hear that they used their money to purchase a favorable government outcome – even if they offer to re-build the Taj Mahal as the new Obama Presidential Library.

What can YOU do?

Call your Senator and urge a “no vote” on the confirmation of Eric Holder for the position of United States Attorney General. Explain that this position should be given to a person with a proven judicial track records, untainted by politics or the appearance of past impropriety.

Engage in the political debate. It’s your country too – and from all appearances, it is being sold piece-by-piece by the politicians and their special interests to the highest bidder. Your birthrights are being severely eroded and your Constitutional rights are being extended to those illegal aliens and others who not only do not respect our Constitution, our laws and our customs – but do not wish us well as the pursue their own agenda.

Stand up and be counted. Patriotism is not an empty label that someone applies to your lapel at a political rally – it is an every hour of every day support of our Constitution, our Country and our Troops and others who make this country great.

-- steve


Quote of the Day: “A thing is not necessarily false because badly uttered, nor true because spoken magnificently. -- with apologies to Saint Augustine

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

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

Reference Links:

Obama Attorney General Pick Eric Holder Facing Increasing Criticism|Washington Post

Federal Charges Dropped Against Stockman|Washington Post


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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


Democrats: the party of and for lawyers ...

Lawyer’s are like life’s croupiers: no matter who wins or loses, they rake in the house’s percentage …

From CNSNews …

“House Democrats Push Bills to Extend Limits on Pay Discrimination Lawsuits”

“House Democrats expect to pass two anti-pay discrimination bills Friday that Republicans charge will not only increase the number of lawsuits but virtually end the statute of limitations for filing claims against employers.”

Pelosi continues to lie …

“ ‘This should be the highest priority to us,’ said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) during a Thursday conference call with reporters. ‘This means economic security of our country. Tomorrow, Congress passes serious civil rights legislative reforms that prove our commitment to equality in this country.’”

Considering the foreign policy perils we now face and the disastrous state of our economy, you think that politicians would concentrate on important matters and leave the trivial political payback issues on the back burner.  Pelosi appears with increasing frequency to be out of touch with reality and can hardly equate the “lawyers full employment opportunity act of 2009” with the ongoing economic disaster. This issue has nothing to do with the economic viability or security of our country. And the use of her code words “civil rights” and “commitment to equality” appears to signal more rights for illegal aliens who want to win settlements to augment the benefits that they are already receiving from the generous American public.

Continuing to support illegal aliens and their activist lawyers …

Perhaps one should demand that the right to sue over employment issues be restricted to those who can be legally employed … else the government is recognizing and condoning scofflaws that employ illegal aliens.

Many lawsuits are brought by activists supporting illegal aliens, both to earn legal fees for their organizations and to gain media attention. We need to stop those who are employed illegally from seeking redress. Or simply deporting those who file and reveal their illegal status.

“The two proposals would apply to both the private and public sector, said Aaron Albright, spokesman for Democratic members of the House Committee on Education and Labor.”

““Title Seven of the Civil Rights Act applies to all federal, state, and local employees, and the Congressional Review Act says all those acts apply to congressional employees as well,’ Albright told CNSNews.com.”

This could be relevant if the equal-pay proposals are signed into law by President-elect Barack Obama. Salary information for congressional staff is public information.
Supporters of the legislation point to Census Bureau statistics that show, on average, women earn 77 cents for every $1 earned by men in the workforce.”

Attacking Obama?

“While serving as a senator, Obama paid women 78 percent of what he paid men, according to a CNSNews.com analysis in September of data from the Secretary of the Senate report. Both Census and the Secretary of the Senate statistics are without regard to education, experience or job position.”

“One of the bills, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, passed the House last year but was stopped by a Republican Senate filibuster. Pelosi hopes the Senate will pass the legislation this time.”

We have enough lawyers complicating our legislation and engaging in frivolous lawsuits, it is time to bring common sense back into legislation and de-monetize incentives for petty lawsuits.

-- steve

Reference Links: 

CNSNews.com - House Democrats Push Bills to Extend Limits on Pay Discrimination Lawsuits


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“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