"When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." - Benjamin Franklin;
"And when politicians find that honor and character matter less than buying votes and a constituency, that too will herald the end of the Constitution. When that happens we must work tirelessly to change their minds, or their occupation!" - Hoping The Blind Will See

Friday, August 7, 2009

Don't You Just Love The Demoncratic Spin Machine?

Well, the new jobless numbers are out. Looks like 247,000 new Americans are out of work. And the spin machine is celebrating. Obama himself says this is an indication that we're on the right track. "we're losing jobs at half the rate we were losing them when I took office". Gibbs says we've stepped back from the brink of a Depression. How can that be? We have nearly 3 million Americans being counted as out of work since Obama took office. But they don't count everybody. Doesn't it stand to reason that less people would be losing their jobs now? I mean, really, how many people do they think will eventually be out of work? Over 5 million Americans are actually out of work, and have been for the past 27 weeks. That's the highest number since they started recording that data 61 years ago. It equates to over 16.5% unemployment right now. It would not be surprising if we reached 20%. That's one out of five out of work. But his stimulus is working, his economic policies and actions are working. Yeah right! Someone help me up, I'm ROFLMAO! Wake Up America!

Healthcare - How I See It

Almost everyone agrees that some form of reform is needed for healthcare because the costs are pretty high. I agree they are high, but I don't agree with the Obama's administration of why they are high, or what needs to be done to address the issue. But I do know what I want to see, and what I don't want to see, regarding any healthcare reform. Here's my Wish List. 1. Do not do something just because it is agreed something needs to be done. Develop a complete strategy to address the healthcare issues - costs, portability, and availability (not a mandatory component) before any vote is conducted. 2. Do not do anything that will increase the deficit - no more spending! That also means don't use money slated for other budget items (do Social Security taxes and Roads & Bridges taxes come to mind? Both taxes were designated for specific issues - only to be used to address those issues - but both have been used otherwise). And don't divert funds from an existing program, like Medicaid only to tell us later that we need to raise taxes for that program. Again, no additional deficit increase, no additional unfunded financial obligation to any existing programs. 3. No Government component/option of any magnitude, regardless of how small. We all know those doors eventually fall off their hinges, and the floods come rolling in. 4. Absolutely a tort reform component - litigation has to be curbed and capped. That is one of the biggest contributors to healthcare cost increases. 5. Get out of the insurance regulation business - don't mandate what has to be covered. Somethings are not health insurance responsibility. 6. Insurance companies should be able to insure clients across state lines - it would provide competition and drive costs down! Again, get out of the insurance regulation business. 7. NO health coverage for illegal aliens - send them back to their own country when they show up for treatment, and after we treat them. None of the above would result in increased tax burden on the American People. ALL of the above would help to drive costs down. There may be other health care cost drivers as well; they can also be addressed independent of total healthcare reform that includes a government component. If you agree, contact your Senators and Representatives. If you disagree, welcome to my blog my socialist friend. Wake Up America!

13 Isn't So Unlucky After All

For those of you who have forgotten or perhaps NEVER knew; here is a reminder. First, go get a One Dollar Bill, then continue reading. On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States . The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved. If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin 's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything. 'IN GOD WE TRUST' is on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, 'God has favored our undertaking.' The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, 'a new order has begun.' At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI) If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments; Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States , and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean. The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak you will read, 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' meaning,'one from many.' Above the Eagle, you have the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunde rstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one. Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows. They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this: -13 original colonies, -13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, -13 stripes on our flag, -13 steps on the Pyramid, -13 letters in, 'Annuit Coeptis, -13 letters in 'E Pluribus Unum, -13 sta rs above the Eagle, -13 bars on that shield, -13 leaves on the olive branch, -13 fruits, and if you look closely, -13 arrows. And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know that it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions but died a pauper. I always ask people, 'Why don't you know this?' Your children don't know this, and their history teachers don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all. So now you know what's on the back of the UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for!

I Believe Him

I believe Obama. I believe that he will not increase taxes for healthcare. I think he is sincere when he says that. But what he doesn't say is that he is going to divert existing tax revenue from other programs to pay for his health care reform. If people allow it, once health care reform is in place, he will then raise taxes to pay for all the programs he diverted money from! And then he will stand in front of you and smugly declare, "We made health care happen, and it didn't cost the American people a dime." There is no place in American politics for half-truths and semantics. This President has got to go. Was that plain enough? Wake Up America!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

America Is Not A One-Man Show...

nor is it a 535 man show. It is a show of the people, for the people, by the people. Maybe, because the people we elect are richer than us, we assumed they were smarter than us. And so, for the past 50 years at least, but probably more like 100 years, we have allowed our richer, "smarter" elected officials to run the show as they see fit. Just because a man has the ambition, and in some cases the ruthlessness, to aspire to the presidency does not authorize him to remake America in his own image - regardless of who that individual is. The Presidency was designed to allow the following authority only: - Command the armed services as Commander-in-Chief - With the consent of the Senate, thePresident can enter into treaties - The President can nominate and appoint, with the consent of the Senate, Ambassadors, and judges of the Supreme Court - The President can grant reprieves and pardons that do not involve impeachment - The President is to provide information relative to the State of the Union - The President is responsible to ensure the laws are faithfully executed That's it. No where in the Constitution does it allow for the President of the United States to actively pursue a personal political agenda. In fact, the President of the United States should be above politics or agenda's. He should ensure the law of the land is enforced, period. Those laws should be debated and created in the Congress. Somewhere along the line, the Office of the President has become an activist office. That does not allow for the best interest of the country being served. The President can be impeached for only very specific offenses. Those offenses are the conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. So the question is, why are Congress and/or the American people allowing this President now, or any President at any time, to use the highest office in the land as a platform to push their own ideology and agenda? Congress, and the President, are authorized by the constitution to pursue only the people's will. We are in a historic moment in our country's history. We are witnessing the people awakening to their power and their responsibility to hold elected officials accountable. It is a glorious time in American politics, and in her history. Immerse yourself in these events for when they have concluded, they will not come again in our lifetime. You're Waking up America, and I for one appreciate it!

The Greatest Patriot

I would like to commend the outstanding work of one American patriot. He has taken the leadership role in educating Americans on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and what our Founding Father's wrote or said outside those two documents. He has investigated organizations and individuals who present a danger to our liberty, and exposed those people and organizations. He has tirelessly and patiently tried to explain the realities of the threat facing the continuance of our Republic. He has done it in such a way that it has been enlightening and educational, without being droll or boring. He has kept us engaged! He has also implored all of us to act responsibly during these trying times. He has told us that any form of violence will damage the credibility of the grass roots movement that is sweeping the nation, and will ultimately reshape America in a way that Barack Obama could never have foreseen. Thank you Glenn Beck, from the bottom of my heart. You are The True Patriot, and I applaud your integrity and perseverance to uncover the truth and expose it. I applaud your unwavering acceptance to take on the responsibility of that task. I am in awe of your tenacity, strength of character, vision, focus and ability to organize the facts, and juggle the many balls those facts pertain to. I am in awe of your ability to keep your sanity, your humor, and your humility during this period in American history considering your extensive role in it. I am proud to know that there is at least one person with access to 'the masses' that understands the biggest picture, and is willing and able to articulate what that picture means for liberty. Thank you Glenn Beck, thank you! If you aren't listening to Glenn Beck on the radio, or watching him on the TV (Fox News Channel) you are missing a huge chunk of the big picture. Don't stay out in the dark! Wake up America!

The Growing Discontent of Americans

I have been espousing on this blog that Obama and his administration are basically Chicago thugs. These people are wolves in sheep's clothing, as the saying goes. And nothing could be more true. Recently Rep. Darrell Issa, the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, was so incensed by the tactics of the current administration that he wrote a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel . In that letter he alludes to the fact that “While this type of scare tactic may work in Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other members of the United States Congress.” He further wrote, “I and others have dared to bring these facts to the attention of President Obama, the Congress, and the American people,” Issa wrote. “You’ve unfortunately reacted by once again resorting to the playbook of the Chicago political machine.” “At what point do you believe your practice of Chicago-style politics violates a public official’s right to speak out in favor of alternative policies?” Issa asked in his letter. “The American people have a right to know what role you played in developing the threatening letters to Gov. Brewer and whether you intend to continue to engage in these tactics in the future.” Finally Issa wrote “The American people have a right to know what role you played in developing the threatening letters to Gov. Brewer and whether you intend to continue to engage in these tactics in the future. “Since I represent a district in the great state of California, I hope that you will not take this letter as an indication of Gov. Schwarzenegger's position on stimulus funds dedicated to California nor his position on any other public policy issue. I can assure you that any attempt to intimidate me or silence my criticism of the stimulus through such Chicago-style tactics will be futile.” I know nothing about this Congressman or his performance on the issues. But I do like the fact that he has the integrity to speak out about the obvious corruption that is rampart in the White House. When Americans are asked to report "fishy" health care information to the White House, or Obama himself - the occupant of the highest office in the land - can speak on TV and provide only partial information as he attempts to push through his agenda; one that is increasingly more and more unpopular as people learn the real facts. Or that the President has engaged in an obvious power grab by appointing Czar after Czar after Czar, then we have a major national problem. More and more people are seeing the bloom come off the rose, and they aren't happy with the thorny stem that remains. It seems that everything Obama does now, whether it's a press conference, a policy position articulated, an appointment, etc ends up with him stepping in a pile of *&%&! He may wriggle out of some of it, but he won't wriggle out of all of it. Too many people are mobilized now, too many people are watching and asking substantive questions; many of which can not be answered. When a Senator stands up and says "We split up the bill (among staffers) because we have to act quickly" or another Senator stands up and says, and I paraphrase 'What difference does it make if I read the bill, I don't have two days or a lawyer or two to tell me what it means', then we have a huge problem in Washington, being led by an incompetent President in 'community organizer' mode. Obama's style of Chicago politics are NOT what America expects from it's President. He has compromised the integrity of that office, and many, many Americans are appalled at his tactics. Rep. Issa is just one of them. So am I! Keep Waking Up America!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Congressional Perks

Here are some of the perks our Congressmen and Congresswomen receive. There are others as well. Retirement Benefit - In the final analysis, Congressional pension benefits are 2-3 times more generous than what a similarly-salaried executive could expect to receive upon retiring from the private sector, and depends upon their salaries and how long they live after retirement. Annual Allowance - In the House, most recent data: In 2005 amounts tended to range between $1.2 and $1.4 million. _ In the Senate, most recent data: Senate allowances range from an estimated $2 million to just under $4 million. Salaries - For both Senators and Representatives range from $174,000 to $223,500 depending upon the position. However, Congress has the authority to raise their salary as they wish, without having to hold a vote. Isn't that nice! Health and Life Insurance - approximately 3/4 and 1/3 of whose costs, respectively, are subsidized by taxpayers. Perks from Lobbyists - Despite ethics regulations regarding gifts from lobbyists, Members of Congress are still able to use their lobbyist ties to get into events that regular peyou or I simply do not have access to. For example, if a Member of Congress wanted a prime ticket to a sold-out event, he could still get that ticket from lobbyists he’s close with, as long as the face value of the ticket is reimbursed by the Member. However, this money doesn’t have to come from the Member’s pocket, but instead can come from the usually deep campaign account, which usually contains money from lobbyists and their associated PACs. Days Off - While most Americans get one day off for Memorial Day and sometimes Presidents Day, members of Congress get the entire week off. However, Congress doesn’t like to call these vacation days, but instead call them “District Work Periods,” even though there is nothing requiring them to be in their district during those times. Congress also gets a number of additional recesses, some lasting as long as a month. Imagine if we all got to decide what we wanted and would accept for benefits from our employer - wouldn't that be glorious! It's time for legislation that eliminates 'conflict of interest'. How about we let the American people decide on what our elected officials, our 'employees', get for benefits. How many in Congress would rush headlong to vote for that legislation without reading it? Wake Up America!

An Interesting Perspective

Utopia vs. Freedom by Thomas Sowell - Syndicated Columnist OneNewsNow - 8/4/2009 10:10:00 AM "Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom." We have heard that many times. What is also the price of freedom is the toleration of imperfections. If everything that is wrong with the world becomes a reason to turn more power over to some political savior, then freedom is going to erode away, while we are mindlessly repeating the catchwords of the hour, whether "change," "universal healthcare" or "social justice." If we can be so easily stampeded by rhetoric that neither the public nor the Congress can be bothered to read, much less analyze, bills making massive changes in medical care, then do not be surprised when life and death decisions about you or your family are taken out of your hands -- and out of the hands of your doctor -- and transferred to bureaucrats in Washington. Let's go back to square one. The universe was not made to our specifications. Nor were human beings. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that we are dissatisfied with many things at many times. The big question is whether we are prepared to follow any politician who claims to be able to "solve" our "problem." If we are, then there will be a never-ending series of "solutions," each causing new problems calling for still more "solutions." That way lies a never-ending quest, costing ever increasing amounts of the taxpayers' money and -- more important -- ever greater losses of your freedom to live your own life as you see fit, rather than as presumptuous elites dictate. Ultimately, our choice is to give up Utopian quests or give up our freedom. This has been recognized for centuries by some, but many others have not yet faced that reality, even today. If you think government should "do something" about anything that ticks you off, or anything you want and don't have, then you have made your choice between Utopia and freedom. Back in the 18th century, Edmund Burke said, "It is no inconsiderable part of wisdom, to know much of an evil ought to be tolerated" and "I must bear with infirmities until they fester into crimes." But today's crusading zealots are not about to tolerate evils or infirmities. If insurance companies are not behaving the way some people think they should, then their answer is to set up a government bureaucracy to either control insurance companies or replace them. If doctors, hospitals, or pharmaceutical companies charge more than some people feel like paying, then the answer is price control. The actual track record of politicians, government bureaucracies, or price control is of no interest to those who think this way. Politicians are already one of the main reasons why medical insurance is so expensive. Insurance is designed to cover risks -- but politicians are in the business of distributing largesse. Nothing is easier for politicians than to mandate things that insurance companies must cover, without the slightest regard for how such additional coverage will raise the cost of insurance. If insurance covered only those things that most people are most concerned about -- the high cost of a major medical expense -- the price would be much lower than it is today, with politicians piling on mandate after mandate. Since insurance covers risks, there is no reason for it to cover annual checkups, because it is known in advance that annual checkups occur once a year. Automobile insurance does not cover oil changes, much less the purchase of gasoline, since these are regular recurrences, not risks. But politicians in the business of distributing largesse -- especially with somebody else's money -- cannot resist the temptation to pass laws adding things to insurance coverage. Many of those who are pushing for more government involvement in medical care are already talking about extending insurance coverage to "mental health"-- which is to say, giving shrinks and hypochondriacs a blank check drawn on the federal treasury. There are still some voices of sanity today, echoing what Edmund Burke said long ago. "The study of human institutions is always a search for the most tolerable imperfections," according to Prof. Richard Epstein of the University of Chicago. If you cannot tolerate imperfections, be prepared to kiss your freedom goodbye.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Dear Senator___________/Representative_______________

To borrow a favorite phrase of President Obama’s, let me be clear. Under no circumstances do I want you to vote for health care legislation that has a government option – period. I also do not want you to vote for any health care legislation that does not include a comprehensive tort reform component. Most Americans do understand that health care costs are increasing – but Congress, and the President himself, has been disingenuous by not explaining why. The biggest influence driving health care cost is litigation – pure and simple. Insurance premiums and excessive & unnecessary medical testing to avoid malpractice suits are just two of the results of that litigation. Past government mandates on "conditions" insurance companies must cover have also added to the cost. Why would we want government to be further involved? Generally speaking, we have the best doctors in the world, the best medical research in the world, and perhaps the most dedicated and compassionate health care workers in the world. I, one of 'we the people', do not want that to change, and I do not trust that Congress will get any form of health care legislation right, never mind a bill that is rushed through Congress for the sake of “getting something passed and on the table”. I do not want the details to be worked out later – I want to know exactly what will be contained in the bill before it is slated for a vote. I expect you to convey that expectation to every member of Congress, and I expect to be able to view the finished product for a minimum of 7 days prior to it being voted on. Not signed by the President, voted on. Are you listening? Many American people share my view, and people in Washington need to understand that it will be a long time before I, and many like me, stop watching you and all the other members of Congress. I have spent 8 months educating myself on what Congress is, and has been, doing. Many millions of other Americans have done the same. And I do not like what I see so far, and I guarantee you that I have scratched only the surface of the corrupt behavior in Congress. There will be greater accountability for Congress in the months, years and decades to come. The days of free reign for Congress is over. You work for me, for us – we the people, and you will honor our will, or you will be looking for another job. No more personal agenda’s or ideological agenda’s will be tolerated, only the will of the people. Don’t presume to know what that will is - listen to us. Hold town hall meetings – not staged – that will allow you to learn what the people want. If what the people want does not match your agenda or ideology, then I suggest you look for a new line of work. You may find the tone of this message to be offensive, perhaps even disrespectful. It is not intended as either, but it is designed to catch your attention. It is designed to make you “hear” what I am saying. Rest assured, I do not like the tone coming out of Washington. I intend to be part of the solution to change that tone. You can change with it, or you can leave Congress – willingly or not. It’s your choice. Disclaimer: I wrote this letter to my two Senators and my Representative. Please contact yours! Wake up America!

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Czar Squad

Obama has appointed 35 czars so far to positions that mirror the government Secretary positions in many cases. He plans to appoint a total of 44 czars. These individuals answer only to the president. They are not questioned prior to their appointment by Congress, nor can Congress question them during their tenure. They are not accountable to the courts. They are not accountable to the American people. This is an unprecedented presidential power grab, but why? What plan(s) does this administration have for us? These czars should make you very, very afraid. Visit this link to see how corrupt these people are. http://michellemalkin.com/2009/07/26/culture-of-corruption-czars-of-the-obama-underworld/ Some have admitted to being members of the Socialist Party of America or the Communist Party. All are radical left thinkers. All are intent on changing (that's a code word for destroying) America as we know it. Then, when you have some time, go visit a book store and pick up Michelle Malkin's new book - culture of Corruption. You see just how much of the Chicago political system is now running things in Washington. Wake up America!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

52%

Barack Obama, try to remember that you won the presidency by a "whopping" 4% of the vote - 52% to 48%. That's hardly a resounding mandate by the people now is it, no matter how you spin it. You need to pop your head out of your a$$, take a deep breath of clean, fresh air, and look around you. And you see? Oh yeah, those people. Those people, you know, your cabinet members and czars sitting around the table with you, they're part of the 52% who voted for you. You feel comfortable with them, don't you? Take a look a little further out though - see those people turning green? They voted for you too. They have BRD syndrome -Buyers Remorse Disease. They thought you were going to change Washington, not the foundation of America. They didn't think you would change who we held close around the world as allies either, or which countries we held in disdain for their behavior and beliefs. But you have, you lover of Chavez and Ahmadinejad. And then if you look out on the horizon further still you will see all those people holding signs. Signs that say "I Love America", Stop The Spending", "Leave the 2nd Amendment Alone", "Fair Tax", "No Obama", "I'll Keep My Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness - You Keep Obama", and on and on and on. Those people did not vote for you, but they are coming for you. They may not be that close yet, so their footsteps may sound muffled. But soon, very soon, you'll hear the thundering footsteps of hundreds of thousands, even millions of people as they come for you. You have forgotten that 52% is not a mandate - in fact, 52% is laughable. And yet you show nothing but disdain for the other 48%. What's not laughable is your arrogance, your bully tactics, your disdain for America and her long-standing allies, and your obsession to push your agenda on 50% of the country that does not want it. Yes, many of those who voted for you now have buyers remorse. So you do not even have the majority of people on your side any longer. Actions have consequences, Mr. President, and you and your cronies will find that out very soon. The elections for 2010 are just a short time away. Listen! Shhh, listen! Do you hear them? Do you hear the footsteps? They are coming. We are coming! You will reap what you have sown! I hope you enjoy the harvest!!!


Wake up America!

Who's Your Hero?

I spent this weekend with two heroes. Both are in their twenties and are active Marines. One has been to Iraq; both are heading to Afghanistan in November. Both are part of the growing number of our youth who feel compelled to serve their country - and in doing so, to serve you. They are idealists, certainly. But they also obviously believe strongly in the Marine tradition that preceded them - adapt and overcome - so that freedom can continue to flourish around the world. Ironic, isn't it, that they would be fighting for freedom thousands of miles away, when we are losing ours right here in America, more and more each day? I was particularly awed by how genuinely kind and respectful they were. These were two good, decent people - fine representatives of the thousands of the members of the armed forces, and specifically the Marines, who literally put their lives on the line for us each and every day that they are deployed over seas, and who serve this country selflessly. We talked some about military life, and some about mundane topics - movies, books, their personal lives "back home". They are just young adults - not much different than you or I, or our kids. They have the same desires, the same dreams, and the same goals as we all have at that age. Perhaps their patriotic spirit is a little keener than ours. I want everyone who reads this to know that these two men specifically, and all the men and women like them, are my heroes. I am proud to know them. I am proud to stand beside them, or any member of any branch of the armed service. I am proud that they are one of the few people, out of all the billions in the world, who will willingly fight for freedom around the globe. Maybe we need more of that type of thinking right here in America. Before you close down this page, please send out a prayer to them asking God to protect them, to send them home safely to their families, and to protect the ideals and principles for which they stand. And then ask yourself, who's your hero?