Enough is Enough

Ron Paul on the floor of the Congress last night, speaking on the ridiculous treatment of citizens by the TSA:

Terrorism is bad.
The 4th Amendment is good.
Fear should not rule our intellect.
Fear does not trump inalienable rights.
Let's reinstate the 4th amendment--then there wouldn't be a need for his bill.

Are You Kidding Me?

Staying at a hotel the other evening, I received a complimentary copy of USA Today (Fri., Sat., Sun. edition Sept 11-13, 2009).

They posted, on the front page, results of a survey given by TripAdvisor. The question was: Should congress place size limits on carry-ons?

54% of respondents replied yes

46% of respondents replied no

Are you telling me that it has gotten to the point that 54% of traveling

Americans believe that Congress should even consider such a ridiculous notion? Please tell me it was an anomaly in sampling and that USA Today was just trying to drive more traffic to the story about "Representative" Lipinski.

What do you think? Am I way off the mark?

Jim Rogers on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Insolvency

Jim Rogers speaks about insolvency of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Thanks to an Austin reader who brought my attention to this one.

Letter to Lamar Smith re: Economic Stabilization Bill

Thankfully, the vote to have working Americans pay for the golden parachutes of crooks and liars fell short today.  You can read the verbiage of the bill here.  The bill failed 205 to 228. 

I watched the news and they are saying that the bill needs to be renegotiated.  We need to keep on our representatives in both houses to keep them from redistributing wealth from working American citizens to banks and corporations that have acted irresponsibly.

Rep. Ron Paul provides his view on the failure of the bailout bill right after the vote:

I wrote a letter to my State Representative before and after the vote. If you feel like contacting your representatives, you can do it easily by clicking here and filling in your zip code in the "my elected officials" search box.  

Here is the letter I wrote to my State Representative.  (He is one of the few Texas Reps that actually voted for it.):

Dear Representative Smith,

I saw how you voted on the Economic Stabilization bill and am surprised. I have differed with your views in the past, but am shocked you voted for this...as is everyone I have spoken with today.

As a constituent, I ask that you stem the socialization of debt & privatization of profit this bill and others like it provide. This is one of the most impacting decisions of our time. Please side with conservatism, responsibility, accountability, free markets, transparency and the American way. Please be a fiscal conservative, please stand up for your constituency, please be a defender of our country's financial interests in the future.

I know you speak to people around you about the issues that face us. As someone who offices in the same complex as you, I speak to a lot of the same people you would. I have not met a single person in your district that supports the way you voted this time. I hope that you continue to speak to the people you represent and that time provides insight that might change your mind regarding this huge redistribution of wealth.

Sincerely,

Erik Kuykendall

Hope you write Your represenatatives and Senators.

Nas - Y'all My Niggas

This video smacks you in the face, it is supposed to. (Not for suitable young ears.) Don't turn it off because it isn't what you usually listen to. 

We use the word everyday

Now we don't know the capacity of this word

Are we headed for conflict or not? (Yes sir)

Because we did not break down the capacity

Of the same what (The same word)

Brothers and sisters, this is why we hung up the consciousness

We've been taught wrong

My favorite part is the epilogue.  If you don't make it to the end, this is what he has to say:

"Hey yo, I'm American born. Love America, love my people, love all mankind, all nationalities.

Ya know...I think it has just been recently where everybody started to feel like there is an elite group that runs everything. And everybody else was sheep, ignorant.

 Making all ethnicities, colors and creeds...niggas. Blind to what's really going on.
So I say take off the wool from your eyes. 

Out with the old America, in with the new. End all racism, all injustice, all oppression to poor people...any people anywhere on this planet. Let's come together. A new day is rising!"   ~Nas

Deputy House Leader Demands New 9/11 Investigation

Party Deputy House Leader Libby Davies delivers a Parliamentary Petition signed by over 500 Canadians demanding a new 9/11 investigation in Canada's House of Commons on June 10, 2008:



Here is the full text of the petition with the ability to electronically sign here.

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada draw the attention of the House to the following:

THAT, scientific and eyewitness evidence shows that the 9/11 Commission Report is a fraudulent document and that those behind the report are consciously or unconsciously guilty of covering up what happened on 9/11/2001. This evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that World Trade Center Towers 1, 2 and 7 were brought down by demolition explosives and that the official theory of the towers collapsing from the airplanes and the ensuing fires is irrefutably false.

We further believe that elements within the US government were complicit in the murder of thousands of people on 9/11/2001. This event brought Canada into the so-called "War on Terror," it changed our domestic and foreign policies for the worse, and it will continue to have negative consequences for us all if we refuse to look at the facts.

THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon Parliament to:

(1) Immediately launch its own investigation into the events of 9/11/2001 on behalf of the 24 Canadian citizens murdered in New York City.

(2) Act lawfully on the findings of its own investigation by helping to pursue the guilty parties in the international courts.

Committed to truth and accountability,

State of the Union Address?

The manufactured drama has gone beyond satire. It isn't even good propaganda:

We're winning and bringing troops home! Be afraid, be very afraid of terrorists. We should prepare to invade another country that has not attacked us. 9/11,9/11. $1000.00 in your pocket. 9/11,9/11. ...We must provide retroactive immunity for those who trounce(d) your rights! This from he who is sworn to "...preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

(picture acquired from defenselink site)

Thankfully there is the pre and post-address punditry so we know how we should feel about it.

I am tired. I'm going to bed.

Church & State Make Nice

I heard about this and had to look it up for myself. I will withhold comment and allow you to read the bill and make up your own mind. Please feel free to comment and share your views.

You can look it up for yourself on the Thomas Law Locator:


110th CONGRESS 1st Session

H. RES. 847

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 6, 2007

Mr. KING of Iowa (for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. BAKER, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CARTER, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Ms. FOXX, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HERGER, Mr. ISSA, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. POE, Mr. SALI, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. TERRY, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, and Mrs. DRAKE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

---

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;

(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;

(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;

(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

Stop the FCC!!!

Speak up now to STOP THE FCC Chairman!!!

December 11th is the last day to contact your representatives to stop the FCC from rushing, against public outcry and public interest, to grant media conglomerates more control. The FCC Chairman wants to allow "A company that owns a newspaper in one of the 20 largest cities in the country to purchase a broadcast TV or radio station in the same market."

Please add your voice to the ground swell of public opposition combating the attempt of the FCC chairman to sneak through a devastating blow to media diversity.

On November 2, 2007, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin announced that the Commission would hold the sixth and final public hearing on media consolidation November 9, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein blasted the Chairman's decision to give the public only five business days notice before the hearing:

"With such short notice, many people will be shut out ... This is outrageous and not how important media policy should be made."

The chairman said, "I've been as transparent as I could be." Since when did it become imperative to keep the public in the dark to protect them?

Please write your representatives in Congress and the FCC. You can click here to have your voice heard.

Bill Moyers on

Bill Moyers addresses the argument over presidential power in his segment, "When the President does it, does it make it legal?" I found the historical perspective particularly interesting.

It's about 10 minutes long, but worth watching.

Protect America Act 2007

Our Congress, Senate and Administration make me sick!!! These people are supposed to be our representatives and they are destroying all of what I thought America stood for. They have decided that ideas such as the Posse Comitatus Act, habeas corpus and the Fourth Amendment are all pre-9/11 thinking and have done away with them, among other tenets of our once-respected nation.
Another piece of liberty crushing legislation was signed into law by George Bush on 5 August 2007. The ironically-named Protect America Act of 2007 may (will likely) allow warrantless eavesdropping on U.S. soil as it redefines electronic surveillance.

"The dispute illustrates how lawmakers, in the end-of-session scramble, passed legislation they may not have fully understood and may have given the administration more surveillance powers than it sought."
(NY Times quoted in the Seattle Times.)

I urge everyone to submit and support bills in the legislature that require our lawmakers to read the bills they sign. Their excuse for passing the Patriot Act?: We didn't read it!!! Their excuse for getting rid of an essential legal protection for the first time since 1215 A.D.?: We didn't understand!!! Why? Because they didn't read it!!!

I say we stop letting them play the "We didn't know card" and hold them responsible for the laws they are passing. I find it unconscionable that our "representatives" are enacting laws they don't "fully understand.

Earmarks in Congress

What Accountability?

CNN reports on how Congress spends taxpayer money and how earmarks work: