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Libertarian
Commentary on The News
August 23, 2010By Nathan A. Barton © 2010 I did not comment on the death of former Senator Ted Stephens last week, when he died (like his first wife) in a plane crash, together with several others, who might as well be nameless, for all the press coverage THEIR deaths received. I sincerely do feel regret at the death of anyone, no matter whether they be enemy or tyrant - and especially feel sad when someone dies without ever repenting of his evil. Like Senator Stephens. Unlike his comrade from the
same area
(Mike Gravel), Stephens was an unmitigated, vindictive, incredibly
corrupt, career politician who stole from his state, his constituents,
US taxpayers in general, his business clients, and even his elitist
buddies and rivals. He finally got the boot over the Bridge to
Nowhere, but that was just part (and a very small part) of the billions
he stole and gave away to maintain his power and that of his cronies.
His political connections - both GOP and Democrat - survived his
fall
from the Senate, and he enjoyed the wealth he had looted to the very
last. His family and political connections to the “elite” of the United States can praise him all they want, and by so doing reveal to a few more people what a real oligarchy and tyranny of a few families (increasingly interbred) we have. As he takes his place in the fire, I only hope that discovering that his companions are people like Uncle Adolph and Uncle Joe makes him a bit more miserable. I am sure that, like his predecessor, he wishes that he could come back to earth and tell his family and buddies the real destination of their way of life and policies and actions. MondayPolitics 2010 Democrats and GOP spar over Manhattan mosque Washington Post President Obama's remarks Friday and Saturday on a proposed mosque and Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero sparked heated exchanges on the Sunday morning news shows. This issue is not going away, even with the historic commission approval. More and more people are claiming that it is more than a matter of property rights and religious liberty, but of common decency and common sense - even fairness. And I think that they are right. Seventy percent of Americans are not so hopelessly racist and prejudiced that we don’t want the Muslims of NYC to have 101 mosques (instead of 100) or to have a “cultural center.” People, even people who will say that it is this Cordoba Project’s right to do what they want with their land, are angry - extremely angry. Too many people, with some good reason, view this as a victory monument and see this imam and his backers (Saudis, at least in large part) as using our customs and liberties against us. This last week, the First Citizen opened himself up for that same anger directed at him when he virtually endorsed the construction - an amazing involvement in local politics in itself. Since then, the anger quickly caused him to back off some, but the anger is not assuaged. Politics 2010 Democrats divided over how to approach election Washington Post The Democrats passed the stimulus package. They passed health-care and Wall Street overhauls and revamped the financing system for higher education. Their other main priorities, on immigration and energy, appear to be headed nowhere. Actually, the word I have from various sources is that the Democrats are remarkably of one mind about the elections - sheer, mindless, unmitigated panic. Real Clear Politics, for example, shows 22 “horse races” for the Senate with Republicans getting 9, Democrats getting 4, and 9 “toss-ups.” But other folks are saying that at least HALF of all Democratic incumbents are toast, which would mean 18 GOP victories: all of the “toss-ups,” or a 52-48 GOP majority in the Senate. THAT, by the way, is not enough to change the current Administration’s victories and planned actions - just gridlock on certain future issues. In the House, out of 253 Democratic seats, Real Clear Politics shows that 146 are “safe” and only 108 are in play, of which they say only 57 “might” go to the GOP, who will also lose 3 GOP seats to Democrats, for a net increase of just 54, leaving the GOP in control with 232-203, maybe. But if 50% of Demo incumbents are in trouble, it means up to 126 Demo losses - or as many as 300 Republicans and only 135 Democrats; a much different situation, and MAYBE enough to put paid to the the First Citizen’s agenda. If the GOP had the guts they need - but they don’t. Mama's Note: And so, the game goes on with the economy and our liberty rushing downhill like an avalanche. Each year the people who vote are determined that "this time" they will make a real difference, elect the "right people" and turn this thing around without violence. I do wish they were correct, but after more than 40 years of watching this game I know that the only ones who "win" elections are the very politicians and bureaucrats destroying the economy and our liberties. And far too many people not only allow this, but cheer on the process as long as it is their "party" that wins. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for dinner. The two wolves are called "Democrat" and "Republican." Other wolves would like to join the game. Politics 2010 Are Democrats running away from the president? Washington Post Fight or flight? That is the question Democratic incumbents and challengers in this fall's elections are asking themselves when it comes to dealing with President Obama. Is the best course to distance oneself from a president whose job-approval rating has sunk below 50 percent... No foolin’? See my discussion above. Politics 2010 - Nazgul Judicial campaign funding surges Washington Post While Washington politicians argue over the role of money in federal elections, a growing number of states are starting to grapple with their own challenge: a tide of special-interest money flowing into local judicial races. Special interest, or just people sick of the Nazgul dominating their lives? Local tyranny - spying Smile! Aerial images being used to enforce laws Yahoo News High-tech eyes in the sky — from satellite imagery to sophisticated aerial photography that maps entire communities — are being employed in creative new ways by government officials, a trend that civil libertarians and others fear are eroding privacy rights...Online services like Google and Bing give users very detailed images of practically any location on the planet. Though some images are months old, they make it possible for someone sitting in a living room in Brooklyn to look in on folks in Dublin or Prague, or even down the street in Flatbush. Sean Walter, an attorney and first-term town supervisor in Riverhead, N.Y., insists he is a staunch defender of privacy rights and the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure. But Walter supported using Google Earth images to help identify about 250 Riverhead homes where residents failed to get building permits certifying their swimming pools complied with safety regulations. All but about 10 eventually came to town hall...."There are lots of ordinances where this can be used. In California, where they deal with brush fires, could a satellite image show if a homeowner has brush growing too close to his home? What if someone has junk cars on their lot in violation of ordinances?"... This kind of thing - and not just using Google, but using real-time EROS imaging, struck home for me a few months ago, when one of my clients got a call from a government agent asking them why they hadn’t done something about the oil spill under a piece of equipment parked off in a seldom-visited part of their site... an unnoticed and relatively small spill that occurred a lot more recently than the latest Google image posted on-line. Stupid cop tricks DC: FBI police harass student for photographing "sensitive" area CarlosMiller.Com "Jerome Vorus, who is becoming a full-fledged photo rights activist while still in his teens, had yet another confrontation Friday over his photography. The 19-year-old college student was taking pictures outside the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington DC when an FBI police officer ordered him not to take her photo. First he turned on the video camera on his cell phone. Then he informed her that that she didn't have an expectation of privacy. 'I wasn't even taking her photo in the first place,' he said in a phone interview with Photography is Not a Crime. As he was walking away, another FBI cop pulled up in a car and ordered him to stop." (08/14/10) In America? Surely not - but what kind of place are the real thugs going to go work for - certainly not a small-town marshal or constable. These kinds of incidents are making the news two or three a week - how many more DON’T we hear about? Our right to self-defense PA: Township removes gun ban in parks Lancaster Online "Most people going to East Hempfield Township's parks are usually carrying tennis rackets, Frisbees or bocce balls. But township officials have amended park rules to protect individuals who practice their constitutionally-protected right to carry firearms. The township supervisors voted last week to approve a revised ordinance governing their parks. Before, visitors to East Hempfield parks were not allowed to carry or discharge firearms. But that rule was not constitutionally correct, township officials said. So park rules were amended, removing the ban on simply carrying firearms. It is still illegal 'to discharge firearms, bows and arrows ... or slings, except in authorized areas' ..." (08/13/10) I wish I could assume that the law states “... except in authorized areas or when necessary for defense of one’s self or another...” Stupid government tricks - Local tyranny San Francisco Seeks to Ban Happy Meals AOL News ...But no more Happy Meals? That's the ban that San Francisco is mulling over. Some city supervisors say the toys in McDonald's Happy Meals unfairly lure children to eat unhealthy food. Thanks to Gary for this one. His comments: It's OK to have 'Gay' (Happy) sex in SF, but it's not OK to have Happy food? I don't get it. McDonalds should close all its stores in the City by the Bay and do business where they're wanted. Gary is right - McD’s needs to vote with its feet, and tell its tens of thousands of customers exactly why they have to drive to Oakland, San Mateo, or Novato for a fries fix. San Francisco is the poster child for Tranzi nanny-state government: bottled water and plastic shopping bags are illegal, vending machines in government buildings sell only diet soft drinks, they are considering a ban on ammunition sales (since the Chicago decision won’t let them ban gun sales), their city agencies (including the cops) won’t enforce or abide by state and federal laws even on things like rape and muggings, to say nothing of issuing “marriage licenses” and granting safe-haven and such modern amenities as public nudity and sex regardless of time or place. I wonder if anyone has ever put a time line of the descent of Babylon-by-the-Bay into depravity - indeed, to call it BBTB is to insult Babylon. What I find disturbing about this is how many commenters are cheering San Fran on in this evil action. Home front EXCLUSIVE: Arizona Sheriff: Border Patrol Has Retreated from Parts of Border Because It’s ‘Too Dangerous’ CNSNews Sheriff Larry Dever of Cochise County, Ariz., one of four Arizona counties contiguous with the U.S-Mexico border, said Friday that the U.S. Border Patrol has pulled back from parts of the border in his and neighboring counties because manning those areas has become too dangerous. “And you frankly have Border Patrolmen--and I know this from talking to Border Patrol agents—who will not allow their agents to work on the border because it is too dangerous,” Dever told CNSNews.com in a videotaped interview. “Now what kind of message is that for crying out loud?” I saw another mention about the lack of morale in the Border Patrol, and the number of agents that are committing suicide. Supposedly this is because they are depressed that they cannot do their job - but I wonder if it isn’t more than that, as this story hints at. And I also wonder if all these suicides really are that. Mama's Note: The border is "too dangerous" for the paid, armed patrol, but there are still areas where many people are forcefully prevented from owning or carrying the most effective means of self defense. Once again, our government tells us clearly the mundanes are of little or no importance. Home front - Politics 2010 Republicans Fault Obama for Endorsing Mosque Construction Near Ground Zero CNSNews House Republican leader John Boehner (Ohio) says the decision to build a mosque two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 terror attacks in lower Manhattan is “deeply troubling” - and so is President Barack Obama’s decision to “endorse” the mosque construction. “The fact that someone has the right to do something doesn’t necessarily make it the right thing to do,” Boehner said in a statement issued on Sunday. A lot of Democrats, including one of his fellow triumvirs, seem to be faulting the First Citizen, too. Actually, it is a first - first time I’ve heard the First Citizen publicly speak out in FAVOR of a right guaranteed by the Constitution. But he misses the point entirely, in favor of bashing America and Americans for our hate and bias and racism. This is, apparently, no insult, no offense. Heaven forBID that HE insult other religions by leaving a crucifix showing on the wall of a room (on a Catholic University campus) where he is speaking - but it is all right for Muslims (“moderate” or not) to insult the 95% of NYC which is Christian or Jewish. Home front - Islamic war Ground Zero Mosque Controversy, As Viewed From the Muslim World CNSNews Commentators in the Islamic world see “Islamophobia” behind growing opposition in the United States to the planned building of a mosque near the New York City site where al-Qaeda terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in 2001. Here are excerpts from recent editorials and columns published in the Islamic world. This IS, I suspect, the entire reason for the mosque/cultural-center controversy as created by this “moderate” imam: to use to “demonstrate” to the world how phobic we ugly, eeevvviiilll Americans are. It is worth reviewing, just to know what these real purveyors of hate and bigotry (for almost 1400 years) think. First Citizen - Manmade disaster Oversight Report Slams Obama ‘Failure’ on Oil Spill CNSNews A new oversight report from Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the senior Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, details what many analysts see as the failures of the Obama administration in dealing with the Gulf oil spill. “President Obama and Administration officials failed in several instances to remove regulatory and bureaucratic impediments, and to ensure that proper and adequate resources were available to address the BP disaster,” the report states. This strikes me as "faintly praising by limiting your condemnation" - in other words, the GOP just does NOT get it yet: to paraphrase Reagan: "Government is not the solution to the problem, government IS the problem." The Deepwater Horizon spill - at BEST - was the result of excessive government interference with good business and engineering practices AND the government's skewing of the normal relationship of liability and actions. The failure of BP (or anyone else!) to respond in a timely and effective manner was, again, most certainly due mostly to government and its refusal to allow anyone or anything else to react without begging its permission every step of the way. Inhofe cannot recommend any viable solution, because he refuses to understand that any governmental involvement means that there IS no solution. Culture wars - Nazgul Prop 8 Ruling Could Criminalize Christianity, Leaders Warn CNSNews Religious leaders warn that if an Aug. 6 ruling by a federal judge on same-sex marriage is upheld, it could wind up putting a gag on Christians speaking out about homosexuality – a gag that a top Southern Baptist leader says his denomination will not accept. When I first read this, I thought that these people are probably exaggerating - and they may even think that they are, for the sake of being heard: hyperbole to make their point. But the more I think about this and read the opinion and combine that with what is happening in the States and elsewhere, the less I think they are being too alarmist. Indeed, this same thing has already happened in Canada, in the UK, in Sweden, and elsewhere: the freedom of homosexuals to not be "offended" by ANYTHING which can be construed as "homophobic" or "anti-diversity" or "hate" trumps anyone else's freedom to teach, preach, comment or complain. This judge has made it an official part of American legal theory that the ONLY reason that 52% of California voters are against "gay marriage" is because they hate and fear homosexuals. Therefore, any opposition to "gay marriage" can and will be treated by the courts, the bureaucrats, and a large minority of the nation as identical to antisemitism, discrimination against blacks, Asians, Hispanics, or any other favored ethnic group, and condemned sightly more strongly than burning a flag. But the language of the ruling is not the only thing - it is the long-term consequences of what amounts to Federal endorsement of this "gay marriage" that we need to pay attention to. Just as courts started by prohibiting mandatory prayer in school; which led within 30-40 years to a total removal of any but certain "privileged" religion from schools and public meetings; just as legislation which authorized divorce for more and more reasons until literally grounds could be nothing more than burned toast; and just as Roe v Wade led in a few decades to millions dead and the brain-vacuum of half-born children, so this will reverberate through society. Too many people have too little faith to stand against the seeming approbation of society and to reject the idea that "legalization" equals morality. They will accept this, and worse, their children will take it for granted, and the next edict of government will be more easily rammed home. I am not saying that there SHOULD be mandated prayer in schools, but I AM saying that government has no more right to dictate to people what grounds for divorce are moral, or what constitutes "acceptable" homicides in killing the unborn than it has to state that a policeman or a soldier can gun down anyone that they please - or define what marriage is. All of these things have resulted from government penetrating more and more deeply into our lives, our minds, and our beliefs: something neither legal by the Constitution or by the laws of nature. If government had not taken over and run (and ruined) schools, there would have been no coercive act of government to force prayer on those who didn't want it - private schools have no such power. If government had not intervened in marriage (originally to prevent, yes, PREVENT mixed-race marriages; and then later as a form of eugenics and revenue-generation - and as a way of discriminating against LDS and Catholics), there would have been no reason for government to get involved in defining and enforcing divorce - or today defining and enforcing marriage. If the FedGov had not already intervened in (and messed up) the medical profession AND begun dictating the minutia of life to the States, there would have been far less fallout from the Roe v. Wade ruling - if such had even made it to the Supreme Court in the first place. The solution to bad government is NOT more government! But government IS a hammer that those who wish to force THEIR political and moral opinions on others can and DO use constantly. And the homosexual, "gay-marriage" advocates of 2010 are using that hammer just as much as Roman Catholics who tried to force their church's views on divorce into the law in the early 1900s did. And the consequences of giving more and more government control over more and more of our lives is just that - more and more control. The vicious cycle must end: perhaps it will be Southern Baptists and LDS and others who will refuse to accept that "gag" with all the rest of government and help us free ourselves from this evil state. First Citizen - Politics 2010 Even the Poor Are Abandoning Obama, According to Gallup Poll Data CNSNews In every week of his presidency until now, Barack Obama has enjoyed a majority approval rating in the Gallup Poll from people earning less than $2,000 per month. But that changed in the Gallup survey conducted from Aug. 2-8, when only 49 percent of Americans in that income bracket said they approve of the job Obama is doing. This marks the first time since Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009, when Americans in all four of the income brackets reported in Gallup’s weekly survey of presidential approval gave Obama less than 50 percent approval. Man, when I made $2000 a month, I didn’t consider myself poor - but I didn’t live in NYC or off-post in San Francisco, either. Of course, it has been a long, long time since I made that much after business expenses, but I’m not starving, at least. However, it seems that this depression is hurting even people on welfare - and they are realizing it. And have decided that it is no longer “Bush’s fault,” to boot. Islamic war - South Asian front U.S. Military’s Relief Effort in Pakistan Prompts Suspicions About Its Intentions CNSNews The U.S. military is pressing ahead in its efforts to support Pakistan’s army in bringing relief to millions of people affected by the worst flooding in the country’s history, undeterred by suspicions about its intentions. “We’re not here to conduct anything other than humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata told reporters in a conference call from Pakistan. Some conspiracy theories say that U.S. forces deployed in Pakistan could also be used against terrorists. And of course, this is what the purveyors of hate and bigotry claim about the US - that we used our harps or whatever to CAUSE this flooding so that we would have an excuse to go kill Pakistanis. Of course, isn’t that what was claimed about Indonesia, and Haiti, and Honduras? Oh, if only the world were so simple, and it was all America’s fault, and really, not ALL of America’s fault - just Bush’s fault. Tuesday Politics 2010 - Home front Democrats split on N.Y. mosque issue Washington Post President Obama's defense of a proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan has left many Democratic candidates and strategists concerned about the impact the issue might have on their midterm election campaigns this fall. Speechless? Hardly. Stupid government tricks - First Citizen White House Directive: Erect Signs at All Stimulus Projects as ‘Symbol of President Obama’s Commitment to American People’ CNSNews.com Federal contractors receiving money for projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act )—the $862 billion economic stimulus law President Barack Obama signed in February 2009—have been encouraged and, in some cases, required by the administration to post signs that say their work is funded by that specific act, a measure some congressional Republicans are calling propaganda for the administration. The law itself does not require the signs. The program sprang from a March 2009 directive issued by the Office of Management and Budget in the Obama White House. I suppose this is the modern-day version of Egyptian pharaohs and Babylonian thief-kings building and carving stella to tell how they showed their love for the gods by going out and slaying infidels and enslaving their women - or is that what is going on a couple of blocks away from Ground Zero? This is an expensive version of your congressman using their franking privilege (free mail) to tell you how many wonderful, wonderful things they have done for you poor peons in their district. All bow down and worship those who steal your money, give you back 10 percent to build monuments to themselves - and brag about it! Stupid government tricks Obama Administration Spending $63 Billion on ‘Woman-Centered’ Global Health Care Program CNSNews.com The Obama administration is focused not just on health-care reform in the United States – but also on improving health care systems around the world, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on Monday. The six-year, $63-billion plan has a “woman- and girl-centered approach,” according to an administration fact sheet. This floors me - why are we spending billions around the world, when supposedly our own health-care system is so bad? And why, given their oh-so-feminist policy claims, are women getting this preferential treatment? Mama's Note: Well, some "animals" on this farm really are "more equal" than others, aren't they? This would be the government compliant type women and girls only, I presume. Culture wars: killing babies N.C. Students Who Opt Out of Abortion Coverage in Campus Health Plan Won’t Get Premium Reduction CNSNews.com Starting this school year, University of North Carolina students will be required to purchase a private insurance plan or enroll in a campus plan that includes abortion coverage. And while the UNC administration has agreed under pressure from pro-lifers to opt out of the abortion coverage aspect of the campus plan, students on the 16 campuses in the UNC system who opt out will pay the same premiums as those who do not. Coercion - but what do you expect out of a theft-funded, government-ruined school - especially one as Tranzi as the UNC system? This violates the principle of “attractive nuisance,” the moral equivalent of putting a $500 bill on a sidewalk and hiding in wait to pounce on the first person to try and pick it up, then arresting him for theft. And that is the major purpose - more than just having more money to pay for other abortions: it is essentially tempting vulnerable women (and their boyfriends or husbands) to do something that they would not do in a less emotional time: “I’ve already paid for it, so why don’t I take advantage of it? Maybe they are right and it is just a lump of tissue.” Stupid people tricks Proposed Casino Near Gettysburg Battlefield Would Be a ‘National Disgrace,’ Says American Legion CNSNews.com A proposed casino located half-a-mile from the Gettysburg National Military Park could bring much-needed jobs and income to the local community, according to proponents. But critics of the plan call casinos “predatory” businesses, and they say opening a casino near Gettysburg is a “national disgrace” that dishonors fallen Civil War soldiers. “National disgrace” is - to put it mildly, overkill. And totally NOT the AL’s business. This casino (unless it is government-owned, of course) is no disgrace to CSA or USA fallen. And, if we are looking for disgraces to their memory, we only have to go 80 or so miles SSE to DC to see “disgrace.” Actually, a casino is a reminder of how this nation has slid steadily downhill since a Black Republican Congress refused to deal fairly and honestly with almost half the nation. It is a disgrace that a community in Pennsylvania should think that this is their only hope, as though Gettysburg were some decaying gold- or silver-mining town. I agree with a historical preservation group. Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association President Brendan Synnamon wrote in a statement that converting the Eisenhower Inn into the proposed Mason Dixon Resort & Casino involves no new construction, and that the hotel “already exists as a commercial facility.” The casino project “would not go beyond” the property’s “already existing boundaries,” explained Synnamon.” This is making a mountain out of a molehill, and as a Life Member of a premiere historical preservation group myself (Council on America’s Military Past, aka Council on Abandoned Military Posts) I think that the AL and historians should sit down and back off - this is converting an existing facility (the Eisenhower Inn and Conference Center) into a casino - nothing more. It is not building Las Vegas on a graveyard, or desecrating the battlefield or the memory of those Southerners who defied the thugs of DC for the sake of liberty - or those Pennsylvanians who died defending their homeland, or even those poor misguided Abolitionists who thought they were dying for the liberation of black slaves and not for the enslavement of free man AND the former black slaves by a rapacious government. And frankly, I think you could claim that the kitschy Boyd’s Bear Country, less than 1,000 feet from the proposed casino, is a WHOLE lot more tacky and “disrespectful” to the dead. Islamic war - Persian front Don’t Expect Us to Stop Enriching Uranium Once Russian-Built Reactor is Online, Say Iranian Officials CNSNews.com Iran’s plan to fire up its first nuclear power reactor will not affect its ongoing uranium enrichment activities, despite Western governments’ arguments that the power plant’s operating arrangements will render enrichment unnecessary. But Iran says it needs to produce nuclear fuel to feed addition nuclear reactors that it plans to build in the future. “Naanahnahnah, nah! Take that, you Great Satan, you!” The kind of reactors that burn all their fuel in a few milliseconds, of course. Iran has again found a way to tease and egg on the US and the EU. Wednesday Apparently Wednesday is Stupid Nazgul day around these parts, as several stories relate below. Politics 2010 In two Ohio races, it's Bush and Wall Street vs. the economy Washington Post COLUMBUS, OHIO -- There could not be two better examples of what President Obama and the Democrats want the fall elections to be about than Ohio Republicans Rob Portman and John Kasich. The WaPo, at least, doesn’t want us to forget it is all Bush’s fault. Home front - Stupid government tricks Justice threatens to sue Arizona sheriff Washington Post A federal investigation of a controversial Arizona sheriff known for tough immigration enforcement has intensified in recent days, escalating the conflict between the Obama administration and officials in the border state. I suppose they figure that this will endear them to the dozens and dozens of people who hate Joe Arpaio, and convince other sheriffs in Arizona (and elsewhere) that they better shut up and toe the line. Mama's Note: Not necessarily. I think the voters of that county should send Apiro packing because he thinks he is above the law. Has nothing to do with the federal government. If the voters keep him, they share responsibility for the tyranny and torture he practices. Congress in action - Theft by government Frank: Abolish Fannie, Freddie Reuters "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be abolished rather than reformed as part of the Obama administration's planned overhaul of the government's role in housing finance, Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee, said on Tuesday. 'They should be abolished,' Frank said in an interview on Fox Business, when asked whether the mortgage giants should be elements in housing market reform. 'They only question is what do you put in their place,' Frank said." (08/17/10) Yeah, right, Mr. Frank. Whatever it is, you can rest assured that they will have room in their budgets for a big fat profit (excuse me, campaign contributions) for Barney and his friends. I guess since he can’t milk it any more, he’ll just flush them down the toilet. Like he does his district and his “friends,” like Waters and Rangel. Mama's Note: He's not really talking about getting rid of this filthy cancer, of course... Just replacing it with something similar that doesn't have quite so much negative baggage. Nazgul - Freedom of expression TX: Badu fined for public nudity Agence France-Presse "US singer Erykah Badu has agreed to pay a 500 dollar fine and serve six months probation for shedding her clothes in a video filmed at the site where president John F. Kennedy was shot dead in 1963, the Dallas Morning News has reported. Badu, a native of Dallas, paid the fine on Friday, a city spokesman told the Texas newspaper. In the video, titled 'Window Seat,' Badu descends from a car and in broad daylight walks down the street shedding her clothes." (08/17/10) Five hundred bucks is of course her royalty for a day’s worth of sales of her albums, if that - and the probation will just mean more people buy tickets to her concerts - she’s a “bad girl.” The video is not, by current standards, all that “hideous” - even if she could do with some more exercise. But it does show the stupidity which is taken for “art” and the decline of morality. Even in Dallas, NO ONE tried to get her to cover up or said anything at all, even when children were present. Nazgul - Liars and theives Appeals court: Stolen valor act unconstitutional South Bend Tribune "A three-year-old federal law that makes it a crime to falsely claim to have received a medal from the U.S. military is unconstitutional, an appeals court panel in California ruled Tuesday. The decision involves the case of Xavier Alvarez of Pomona, Calif., a water district board member who said at a public meeting in 2007 that he was a retired Marine who received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration." (08/17/10) I suppose this explains how the First Citizen and his minions can get away with all the whoppers - “jes’ exercising my free-speech rights.” Right. So tell me, just what is covered by free-speech: tax returns? If lying about medals is okay, then putting down whatever you want to (or wish to) on tax returns, on permit applications, on your drivers license exam and application - or on your passport application, is all jus’ fine, eh? Now I see why these thugs don’t care whether border jumpers use someone else’s identify or not - it is their “right.” Like I said, Stupid Nazgul Wednesday. Nazgul - Islamic wars Federal judge throws out piracy charge against six Somalis CNN "A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a piracy charge against six Somalis in the April attack on the USS Ashland naval ship in the Gulf of Aden. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson granted a motion by the defendants to dismiss the piracy charge. They still face other charges in the attack, in which one of their companions was killed." (08/17/10) ...Jackson noted that the Somali attackers never attempted to board the Ashland. He ruled that the U.S. government failed to demonstrate that any attack on the high seas amounts to piracy. Other charges still pending against the defendants include assault with a dangerous weapon on federal officers, attack to plunder a vessel, violence against persons on a vessel and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Like I said, Stupid Nazgul Wednesday. I am sure that even Down Below, the likes of Blackbeard and Cap’n Kidd must be laughing their heads off, and wishing that British judges were similarly stupid back in the 1600s. Self defense GA: Neighbor praised as "hero" for shooting alleged thief WRDW "The 39-year-old says he watched Hayes enter his neighbor's truck and that's when he called 9-1-1. He then went outside with a pistol and told Hayes to stay put until the police arrived. Hayes pulled out an object from his pockets and that's when Gunby fired at him, according to the police report. Investigators say the shooting was self-defense." (08/16/10) Interesting case here. Now, it seems obvious that a thief caught in such a way (by either a cop or anyone else armed) would be a total fool to put his hands in his pocket once confronted with a drawn gun. But it happens. Now, if this thief had been confronted by a cop, and was shot for reaching for his cell phone... we'd be all over it as a rogue act by the cop, I suppose. We do have to be careful of a double standard ourselves, I think. Congress in action - Theft by government Corker proposes cap on spending to control politicians' debt Tennessean "Sen. Bob Corker is proposing a cap on federal spending, an idea that he says will curb the burgeoning national debt. Barnstorming the state during a congressional break, Corker said Monday in Nashville that he is working to build support in Tennessee for a bill that would tie spending by the federal government to the size of the nation's economy. Corker plans to introduce a bill laying out the cap in January. A cap would make it easier for politicians to resist spending increases, much as the balanced-budget statutes on the books in Tennessee and many other states do, he said." [editor's note: Could it be that this guy actually IS an improvement over the Gores and Frists? - SAT] (08/17/10) This would be great - IF they even knew what the Constitution says, much less what the bills that they pass say. And of course, IF they thought the laws applied to them... except for the tax laws - but then, we’ve seen even that barrier has been breached by Congress here recently. Nazgul - Freedom of expression Utah: Tenth Circuit Court Bans Crosses on Highways Christian Science Monitor ...the court said. “The massive size of the crosses displayed on … public property unmistakably conveys a message of endorsement, proselytization, and aggrandizement of religion that is far different from the more humble spirit of small roadside crosses,” the court said. The judges said they were also concerned that the memorials included the insignia of the Utah Highway Patrol. They said the combination of the cross and insignia links the state with a particular religious symbol. And that, they said, “may lead the reasonable observer to fear that Christians are likely to receive preferential treatment from the UHP – both in their hiring practices and, more generally, in the treatment that people may expect to receive on Utah’s highways.” The judges added: “The reasonable observer’s fear of unequal treatment would likely be compounded by the fact that these memorials carry the same symbol that appears on UHP patrol vehicles.” The decision notes that most residents of Utah were raised as or are followers of the Mormon religion, which does not view the cross as a religious symbol. The judges noted that “cross-revering Christians comprise approximately 18 percent of the population of Utah.” With this as justification, the prohibition of all crosses and other religious symbols in military and veterans cemeteries becomes that much more certain. Nazgul - freedom of religion Judge says on-line religious group “not church” Wall Street Journal God may be listening, but the IRS isn’t — or at least, not if you’re preaching online. The federal tax agency won a victory Monday for its decision not to grant church status to a religious organization that primarily conducts its worship services via radio and internet, reports the National Law Journal . Why would it matter? Because non-church non-profits are subject to greater regulatory scrutiny and oversight than are churches. Yes, one more stupid Nazgul ruling - government is not given any authority - by the Constitution OR God - to define what is and is not a church. This is an issue I’m familiar with from almost a decade ago when a busy-body (who happened to be a county commissioner and then a state legislator) claimed that a small church “really wasn’t one” because they didn’t meet in a “real church building” and convinced the rest of the county commissioners to deny tax-exempt property status for their storefront meeting house. It took thousands of dollars - money that would otherwise have been spent for preaching and benevolence in Africa and on reservations here in the US - to pay lawyers to fight (and win) the battle. This is one more hammer to use on people that government employees and officials don’t like. Mama's Note: Personally, I don't see any real difference between government theft from a church and the same theft from anyone else. Taxation is theft, regardless of who or what is being taxed. Nazgul - Private Education and Freedom of Religion North Carolina: Religious College Police not “Real Cops” according to Court World Net Daily A state appeals court in North Carolina has pulled the rug from under campus police officers at church-linked colleges with a determination that the state cannot become "entangled" with religion by commissioning the police forces. But the court also appeared to realize the impact of its ruling, recommending that the state Supreme Court review the case, which stemmed from the arrest of an allegedly drunk driver near the campus of Davidson College. This definitely takes some thought. A religious college cop would, ultimately, be the same as a security guard, and a security guard SHOULD have a power of arrest on the property that they are guarding - even against drunk drivers. And private citizens have the power of “citizen’s arrest” to prevent a crime from being committed or to prevent a felon from escaping. Why shouldn’t an industrial park cop or an office complex cop - or a church college cop? Nazgul - our right to self defense Georgia: Preacher in court over guns in church building Macon News A minister's fight to bring a gun to his Upson County church is now a federal case in Macon. State and Upson County officials had the case moved to the U.S. District Court in Macon on Friday....Jonathan Wilkins of the Baptist Tabernacle of Thomaston, which is partnering with GeorgiaCarry.org Inc. on the lawsuit. Wilkins said he has a constitutional right to be armed in church, which is now prohibited under state law.... The case is trying to overturn a portion of a state law that bans people from “carrying a weapon or long gun” in a place of worship. The law also covers government buildings, mental hospitals and bars, but those other locations are not being challenged under this lawsuit. Monroe said he doesn’t expect the case will need a jury because there likely won’t be any factual disputes. A judge may settle the case in the first half of next year. As Mama said, this is a case to watch. Several things to note: the plaintiff is arguing two distinct freedoms have been stolen by the state: worship AND self-defense. Second, this is EXACTLY what Juries are intended for. The stupid lawyer apparently thinks that juries are only about “factual disputes” - but the most famous court cases in history have been about juries deciding that the LAW was wrong. And that is the case here. Third, why does it take A YEAR to decide this case - and what does Wilkins do until then - carry a golf club to defend himself? I wonder how much of this law dates back either to Georgia’s origins as a penal colony (can’t trust those transported convicts - look at Australia!) or because of disarmament of ex-slaves after the War Between the States. Thursday First Citizen Poll: 1 in 5 thinks Obama is a Muslim Washington Post The number of Americans who believe -- wrongly -- that President Obama is a Muslim has increased significantly since his inauguration and now account for nearly 20 percent of the nation's population. Gee, now I know why we should all be reading the WaPo - apparently they have people who can read minds - like the First Citizen’s. Yes, I KNOW that the First Citizen has stated a number of times that he is a “christian” and not a Muslim. But considering how often he lies, why should I believe him about this (or, for that matter, about where he was born, what his name is, or what color the sky is)? And I for one do not consider that bilious bag of wind called Jeremiah Wright to be any kind of christian that I can find in the Bible - or anything close to it. Yet the First Citizen and his wife were members of Wright’s church for a long, long time (I know, he was just there, he didn’t inhale... I mean, listen). The “God the Father” and “Messiah” that Wright (and therefore, presumably the First Citizen) follow is NOT the God that I worship and serve. Mama's Note: It can't rationally matter what faith the president claims. He could claim to be a rock star or a pearl diver, but his actions and choices would tell us all we needed to know about him anyway. He has proven himself to be a liar many times over. What more does anyone need to know? Politics 2010 Fewer familiar faces running for governor Washington Post It's a grim time to be a governor. With state budgets in their worst shape since the Great Depression, nearly every one of them has had to spend the past few years slashing popular programs, laying off workers, draining rainy-day funds and, in some cases, raising taxes. Oh, I feel so bad for them... Mama's Note: Those elected in their place will not be doing anything different. Unfortunately, they will be elected because they promise to steal from "someone else" to make their budgets balance. American front In Haiti, musician Jean could be real contender for presidency Washington Post PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- In the space of two weeks, Wyclef Jean has redrawn the map of Haitian politics, emerging as a new force -- and perhaps the leading contender -- in the country's presidential contest. As if Haiti’s history had not already been a thing of horror... Stupid government tricks - Islamic war State Dept. sponsors trip for imam connected to N.Y. mosque project Washington Post Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the Park51 Muslim community center and mosque proposed on a site near New York's Ground Zero, leaves this week for a three-nation Middle East tour on behalf of the State Department, during which he is expected to speak about the controversy surrounding his... Gee, the mainstream media has FINALLY broken this story - that has been on the alternative news sites for more than a week. And they wonder why people don’t pay attention to them anymore. Home front Nearly Half of United States Considering Arizona-Style Immigration Legislation CNSNews Twenty-two states are now in the process of drafting or seeking to pass legislation similar to Arizona’s law against illegal immigration. This is occurring despite the fact that the Obama administration has filed a lawsuit against the Arizona law and a federal judge has ruled against portions of that law –- a ruling that is now being appealed. Of course, the question is how many cops and bureaucrats will even pay attention. Last week, a whistleblower pointed out that Colorado bureaucrats in charge of giving away welfare are ignoring EXISTING Colorado law that requires that recipients demonstrate that they are legally living in Colorado. So this becomes “feel-good” legislation and nothing more. Home front EXCLUSIVE: Sheriff’s Challenge to Obama: Give Me Half Hour, I’ll Show You How to Secure Border CNSNews Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County, Ariz., says if President Obama would simply spend a half hour with Babeu in Arizona, Babeu will convince the president he can successfully secure the border and thus make himself a hero who transcends partisan politics. Yeah, right - I’m sure the White House is planning the itinerary right now. Home front La Raza: Deporting 12 Million Illegal Aliens ‘Not a Realistic Situation’ and U.S. Should Stop Trying CNSNews “We have to recognize that our immigration system has been broken for 20 years and there are now 12 million people living and working and praying among us who are here without documents. Many have spouses who are citizens or children fighting for our country,” a spokeswoman for the National Council of La Raza told CNSNews.com last week. The group is calling for the termination of a federal program that allows ICE to work with local law enforcement to target illegal aliens for deportation. I have heard this garbage for years, and hearing it from La Raza (which is dedicated to seizing the land lost by Los Estados Unitos Mexicana to the United States of America in 1848 AND stealing the land bought outright from a willing seller in 1854 (the Gadsden Purchase for $10 million (almost $1.5 billion today, but many times that in purchasing power)) doesn’t make me feel any more reasonable about it. It is, frankly, a bogus argument for many reasons. First, that is not that many people: there are 250 MILLION people crossing the border every year - of which probably 247 thousand (99%) are legal. Even if we were to send everyone of the illegals out of the country through a single airport - that is not that much: Miami International Airport alone has 34 million boardings a year - and it ranked #15 in 2008 (latest for which rankings are available). This is NOT as humongous an effort as people want to make it out to be. Would every one of them be rounded up? Please, give me a break: of course not. But would we have to round up everyone? Hardly. I suspect that after the first half-million or so demonstrated that the states are serious about resisting this invasion of border jumpers, and got sent home, (with felony convictions for identity theft, theft of services, trespassing, making false statements, and the other REAL crimes - not counting such things as driving without valid licenses or insurance, not paying FICA and withholding, and other non-crimes that are still illegal and get people upset - and with suspended sentences provided that they don’t return to the States) that a lot more would decide that it might be best to go home on their own power. And even if only one in three of them had legit jobs, we’d see unemployment dropping greatly, and a good many other problems going away. Mama's Note: Who did you have in mind to rob in order to pay for a vast new police force in order to carry this out? The usual? Sorry, most of us are tapped out at the moment. Theft by government Obama Administration Will Spend Almost $2 Billion in Stimulus Funds to Subsidize Broadband Internet Service in Poor, Rural Areas CNSNews One administration official described the subsidies as “investments.” He said the taxpayer money would help build high-speed Internet networks in areas where the private sector had been “unwilling or unable” to do so. No, it is welfare - we can provide our own internet service, thank you. If you would get rid of the draconian and incredibly expensive regulatory and tax structure which even cooperatives are slammed by federal and state agencies - especially federal agencies, the private sector (for-profit and non-profit) would provide better and cheaper service. Instead, this welfare program will compete with, and drive out of business, a good many hundreds of companies who are providing this service now - whether it is bigger firms like Wild Blue or mom-and-pop outfits like our own ISP (plug here for VelocityNet - way to go, Jim!) who provides the service wirelessly to hundreds of homes and businesses in a pretty-hardscrabble pair of counties in rough mountain terrain. New religions: Global Warming - Islamic war: South Asian front Islamic Bloc Blames ‘Global Warming’ for Pakistan Flooding CNSNews 'We have to act instantly and decide on the best way forward to support Pakistan, which has been struck by the effects of global warming and climate change,' OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said at an emergency OIC meeting in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The bloc of 56 Islamic states has agreed to consider setting up an emergency fund to respond to future disasters like that one now unfolding in Pakistan. Oh, please, give me a break. This hypocritical response is designed to do nothing but open the purse-strings of Transnational Progressive/Socialist (Tranzi) organizations and donors. Unfortunately, this WILL work - too many Tranzis could care less about polygamy and the abuse of women, the incredible illiteracy rates of these countries, their tyranny and acceptance of massive killings on a daily basis, as long as the Muslims embrace their global warming agenda. Obviously, the Muslims have figured out how to jerk the Tranzi’s chains. Islamic war - South Asian front/Stupid people tricks Pakistan Disaster Apparently Not High on CAIR’s Agenda CNSNews The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Web site opens with welcome screen inviting donations during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan to support CAIR’s ‘civil rights work,’ to help it to ‘challenge Islamophobia’ and for the group’s ‘Share the Quran campaign.’ But the welcome screen is silent on the disaster in Pakistan, and on CAIR’s full Web site itself the issue gets scant attention. Actually, this is exactly what you’d expect - evangelization IS the primary (and nearly, only) goal of groups like CAIR, who consider death to be “business as usual.” Yes, I know that “charity” (alms giving) is one of the “five pillars of Islam” and ranked higher than jihad. But their zakat is only 2.5% of the “extra wealth” - and certainly nothing compared to the tithe of Hebrews (10% of their earnings - NOT their profits or “extra wealth”) and the “give as you are prospered” using the Old Law tithe as the baseline of giving which is commanded in the New Testament. The preferred method of zakat or even the totally voluntary and “encouraged” sadaqa for Muslims seems to be dropping coins into the begging bowl of a whimpering, self-abasing, diseased and crippled begger on a street corner. Muslims - AS A PEOPLE, 1.5 BILLION of them - give less than 1/10 of what Americans give (and I’m not counting government “giving”) to disaster recovery. The US has given 62 million so far - Turkey has given $0.27 million. Indeed, many Muslims are simply saying that the floods are Allah’s punishment for having a secular government, and sucking up to the West. Friday Self-defense - NOT MI: Mistrial in burglary suspect’s death Detroit Free Press “Despite vehement objection by the prosecution, Wayne County Circuit Judge Michael Hathaway declared a mistrial Tuesday when the jury deadlocked over whether to convict Detroit homeowner Tigh Croff for chasing down and fatally shooting a suspected burglar. Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Molly Kettler told Hathaway that she was shocked by his decision when the jury did not declare itself hung. ‘Your shock is duly noted,’ Hathaway said. ‘I’m going to declare a hung jury in this case.’ Hathaway later met privately with jurors and said the group ‘was about evenly divided.’ Jurors declined to speak, expect for one man who said the panel was split and that some believed Croff had acted in self-defense.” (08/18/10) Mama’s Note: Unfortunately, most people don't understand the nuts and bolts of self defense, moral use of deadly force, or even the "laws" where they live. It's really hard to see how a jury could come to rational decisions in cases like this. And, of course, the way most juries are selected would eliminate the most rational and educated from the start. Nathan: Assuming the facts are reported rightly, this is NOT self-defense in my opinion, but as Mama points out, in a typical modern jury trial, who would know? No wonder the jury deadlocked. Self-defense OH: Would-be robbers flee from gun-toting owners Chillicothe Gazette “At about 4:54 p.m. Saturday, two men wearing camouflage and carrying an assault-style rifle and shotgun entered the Zaleski General Store at the intersection of Ohio 278 and Ohio 677 and demanded money, according to a release from the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office. Store owner Letha Toops retrieved a small handgun from under the counter and fired four shots into the floor in front of the would-be robbers, who then fled.” (08/18/10) Mama's Note: Mega-sigh."Warning shots" again. Four of them? Brilliant. I'm glad this person did have a gun. Too bad they don't really know how to use it. Nathan’s thoughts: Too many people have a very hard time trying to use deadly force, and watch too many movies. Lucky, wasn’t he? Stupid government tricks - Welfare MA: Food stamp discount for buying produce Boston Globe “More than two dozen cities and towns in Western Massachusetts will be the focus of a major federal initiative being announced today to increase low-income families’ consumption of fruits and vegetables, as part of the nation’s efforts to combat obesity. The Agriculture Department awarded $20 million to Massachusetts and a Cambridge-based research firm to test whether providing subsidies for buying produce will encourage food stamp recipients in Hampden County communities — including Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke — to eat more nutritious meals.” (08/19/10) Mama’s Note: First these poor folks would have to understand something about nutrition, which most don't, and then they'd have to give a damn... which most don't. Fixing problems via subsidies. Works so well everywhere else... Nathan’s thoughts: I thought this was a joke when I first saw it. Food stamps ARE a “subsidy” (tactful name for welfare), but now they want to add insult to injury. People eat poorly in this country because they WANT to - an apple is still cheaper than a candy bar (often by quite a bit) and milk is cheaper than soda. Our British Cousins - Liberty UK: Big Society defined as smaller government Washington Post “The Obama administration might be reasserting the government’s place in American life. But on this side of the Atlantic, the so-called Big Society vision of Britain’s new Conservative prime minister is of a nation with minimal state interference. David Cameron’s three-month-old ruling coalition is launching an effort to reduce the role of government, seeking to vest communities and individuals with fresh powers and peddling a new era of volunteerism to replace the state in running museums, parks, and other public facilities. … The idea, one with distant echoes of the Tea Party movement in the United States, is to pluck decision-making out of the hands of bureaucrats.” [editor’s note: How ironic, if the empire from which America freed itself were to become the bastion of liberty we were seeking, while USA Inc. sinks slowly in the West? - SAT] (08/19/10) Mama’s response: Not a chance, Steve. Nathan’s comments: I often am amazed at the potential for humans to delude ourselves and see things getting better when indeed they are getting worse. Cameron has done exactly the same thing as conservatives have done here in the US when taking power back from liberals: kept the status quo as a baseline of evil state meddling and moved a tiny bit back to the right before charging ahead (albeit at a slower pace) to the left. Cameron is doing nothing about the destruction of the House of Lords and the total loss of its check on the powers of Parliament, he is not de-nationalizing industry or health care, he is not restoring any liberties to her Majesty’s subjects, and he has sold even the already-mortgaged soul of the Commons to the Tranzi left through proportional representation, in which MPs will no longer represent PEOPLE - constituencies, but instead, political parties. Cameron is NO FRIEND TO LIBERTY, and liberty no longer has a homeland in the British Isles. Stupid government tricks - manmade disasters Oil plume lingering in Gulf, study confirms Austin American-Statesman "New research confirms the existence of a huge plume of dispersed oil deep in the Gulf of Mexico and suggests that it has not broken down rapidly, raising the possibility that it might pose a threat to wildlife for months or even years. The study, the most ambitious scientific paper to emerge so far from the Deepwater Horizon spill, casts some doubt on recent statements by the federal government that oil in the Gulf appears to be dissipating at a brisk clip. However, the lead scientist in the research, Richard Camilli, cautioned that the samples were taken in June and circumstances could have changed in the past two months." (08/19/10) While I do not believe anything the gov’t says on this problem, I also doubt that this “dispersed” plume is such a serious problem as they want to make it out to be - it is in all these groups interest (including the government’s) to make the future as fearful as possible, and this strikes me as just a way to send more terror into the hearts of people on the Gulf. Oil IS a natural product and DOES break down: faster under some conditions and slower in others; but it is a matter of months and not decades. Theft by government - Congress in action Despite Record Spending, Congress Failed to Fund Detention Space to Hold Captured Illegals From Terror-Sponsoring Countries CNSNews Even as Congress increased overall federal spending in fiscal 2010, it appropriated only enough funds for the Homeland Security Department to provide a fraction of the additional 40,000 detention spaces for illegal aliens that had been authorized by a 2004 immigration law. Because it lacked adequate detention space, DHS says it was forced over the last three years to release hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens who were being processed for deportation. This reminds me of another story, about federal attempts to buy MORE land to add to their portfolio, reminding me that the national park system has a $9 BILLION dollar backlog of maintenance and repair. Why could not one of the stimulus projects have been a straight-forward: fix ALL the national parks? Same thing here - they are lying and playing games. Mama's Note: I have an idea... get the immigrants to fix the parks! Problems solved. Stupid government tricks - Theft by government DOT Asked Contractors to Post Signs 'Solely Used to Publicize' Obama's Stimulus Law, IG Report Says CNSNews The Transportation Department imposed strict guidelines for the placement, size, and visibility of signs promoting the $862-billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus law), according to a review by DOT’s inspector general released on Thursday. The IG review came in response to questions by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) about the cost and propaganda aims of the Recovery Act signs. You’ve probably seen some early versions of these, and gotten as disgusted and sick as I have. Many states have used similar signs before to tout the “generosity” of Governor Thug - but this is the first time that the FedGov has done this - and to tout the “giving” of the First Citizen. Would it be civil disobedience to add something to these signs like “Simon Says, The Money for this Project was Stolen from You and Your Grandchildren.” Mama's Note: Mike Vanderboegh has a great suggestion for dealing with these signs. World wars - Congress in action Congressmen Urge State Department to Return Vietnam to List of Human Rights Violators CNSNews “I fear that when the U.S. granted Vietnam normal trade relations in 2001, we lost crucial leverage that puts pressure on the Vietnamese government to improve a very poor record on human rights,” Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) said at a congressional hearing on Wednesday. “Over the last year, we’ve seen Vietnam’s record on human rights and religious freedom take a turn for the worse.” ANY government that mistreats people, steals from them, denies them rights, forces laws down their throats, denies them the liberty to worship and live as they will, peaceably and without being bled dry, should NEVER have “normal trade relations,” and should be considered an enemy, even if not an “enemy we have declared war on.” Not just Communist states like Vietnam and China and Cuba and North Korea, but dictatorships and “tyranny-by-election” or “elected-mastership” governments, too: Haiti, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UK, Mexico, and many others come to mind. Mama's Note: Hmmm, well, the one that comes to my mind is the good old USA. Just how does this pot call any kettle black? Theft is theft, whether it is a dime or a billion bucks so the relative extent of the violations is irrelevant. The US hasn't got a leg to stand on. Islamic war - South Asian front - Natural Disasters Hillary Clinton Downplays Concerns About Militants Exploiting Pakistan Emergency CNSNews Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday played down concerns that militants could take advantage of the floods in Pakistan to extend their influence, although that is exactly what some analysts say happened after the last big natural disaster in the region. Clinton implied that the concerns were being raised as part of politically motivated criticism of the Pakistani government. Notice that she did not address claims that (1) this is Allah’s punishment on Pakistan, or (2) this is caused by the eeeeviillll Americans using harps or harpoons or - gasp, praying to their God to punish Pakistan. Of course, her claims are bogus, too - of COURSE the jihadists will take advantage of this - indeed, they already are. Theft by government - Congress in action Congressional Budget Office Predicts 2010 Deficit Second Largest Since WWII CNSNews The Congressional Budget Office, in its mid-year budget update, has projected that the 2010 budget deficit ($1.3 trillion) will be the second highest on record since the end of World War II, eclipsed only by the deficit of 2009 ($1.4 trillion). All told, CBO projects that the government will run up a total of $6.2 trillion in new deficits between 2011 and 2020. Like I said, money stolen from us, directly and indirectly, and from our children and grandchildren. Even if this government collapses and the debt is repudiated, the future generations will pay and pay and pay for this spending, in lost opportunity if nothing else. It will take decades for this nation to recover from another war of secession, however essential such a war is. Islamic war - Mesopotamian front In Hailing End of Iraqi Combat Mission, Democrats Praise Obama, While Republicans Nod to Bush CNSNews “[T]he drawdown of U.S. troops that began under the previous administration has been able to continue," House Republican Leader John Boehner said on Thursday. The drawdown is "evidence that the President (Obama) has fulfilled his promise to the American people to bring combat operations in Iraq to an end," DNC Chairman Tim Kaine said in his statement. Their praises are as hypocritical as the declaration of an end to hostilities is. The body bags won’t stop coming home to the US, or showing up in Mesopotamian neighborhoods. But too many people on the Home Front will think that there is no more combat, no more dying. Crash of 2009 113 Bank failures this year - so far Investment Advisor A tally of bank failures so far this year reveals a troubling trend, but hardly surprising; the number of failures has sharply increased over last year as the economy continues to struggle to regain footing. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation lists 110 banks [Fox News announced three more were closed today, Friday 20th Aug] as having failed through August 13. This compares with 79 bank failures through August of 2009 and 140 bank failures for all of last year. In 2008, 10 banks had failed through August and 25 failed for the entire year. This is no “double-dip recession” and there is no “summer of recovery;” there may be a few BIG companies doing better - like GM. But most small businesses and self-employed, and many employed and unemployed people are seeing this for what it is - a Depression, a Crash. And one seemingly to get much worse before something happens. Commentary - The Truth Hurts We tend to marry into families who share our like values!! By: John Popovich Before I came to Cincinnati, I was a news reporter at WOC in Davenport Iowa. I covered a lot of city council and a lot of political stuff. One of the guys I covered was Ed Mezvinsky, who was the Congressman from Iowa's first district. Seemed like a pretty nice guy, but when he ditched his wife for a New York reporter, the Iowa voters ditched him. My most vivid memory is that he sat on the House Judiciary Committee that was deciding the fate of President Nixon. Anyway, years later, "Fast Eddie" got caught with his hand in the till. He cheated investors out of more than $10 million dollars. He went to prison for several years. This weekend, his son married Chelsea Clinton. Quote of the week This is the flag of Islam, for you cannot separate the Muslim league from Islam. Many people misunderstand us when we talk of Islam, particularly our Hindu friends. When we say this flag is the flag of Islam, they think that we are introducing religion into politics, A FACT OF WHICH WE ARE PROUD. Islam gives us a complete code. It is not only a religion, but it contains laws, philosophy and politics. It contains everything that matters to a man from morning to night. When we talk of Islam, we take it as an all embracing word. - Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (11th January 1938) Your comments and feedback are welcome! Now PoL has its own forum at The Mental Militia! Check it out Nathan Barton is writing from either the Four Corners or the Black Hills - two places where there is still a hope of liberty and freedom for the 21st Century and beyond. He is a libertarian (a lover of liberty) because he is a Christian; a follower of Christ Jesus, Who came to make all men free in all ways. He was born, by God's grace, a Westerner, an American; he is a Christian, and therefore a libertarian, again by God's grace and his own free will and choice. Nathan's writings and words and life seek to live up to the potential of all these things, knowing that he can never achieve perfection on this earth in any of those things, but never giving up trying. Be sure to visit my blog, Liberty's Outpost. Special Feature! Add your signature to the NEW Declaration of Independence By Robert Greenslade To Read previous Commentaries, go to the archives page and click onto the link for the week. The commentaries are linked from the weekly front pages. Please note: Information about readers is never given or sold to anyone for any purpose. Remember, however, that many people can read and recover anything posted to web sites or email unless it is carefully encrypted. Please take personal responsibility for what you post anywhere. MamaLiberty) |
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