We must care if we are to make a difference.

The full Senate will be voting on the healthcare reform bill in the next 2 to 3 weeks. We have a unique opportunity in Louisiana to help defeat this bill. One tactic that may be used by the left is a procedure known as 'cloture". This procedure would end debate on the healthcare bill and rob the American people of a chance to read it. Senator Mary Landrieu is one of 13 key Senators that can be pressured in to voting no to the use of cloture. We only need ONE democrat Senator out of 60 to defeat the Cloture procedure so contact Mary Landrieu today and tell her to vote "NO" on using the cloture procedure.

Senator Mary Landrieu (LA)
Chief of Staff: Jane Campbell (jane_campbell@landrieu.senate.gov)
Washington, DC (202) 224-5824 / (202) 224-9735 fax
New Orleans (504) 589-2427 / (504) 589-4023 fax
Baton Rouge (225) 389-0395 / (225) 389-0660 fax
Shreveport (318) 676-3085 / (318) 676-3100 fax
Lake Charles (337) 436-6650 / (337) 439-3762 fax

Beat the Bond: Metro Council to Hold Special Meeting

The Baton Rouge Metro Council has formally announced that a special meeting on removing the bond proposal from the November ballot will be held on October 12 @ 2:00pm in the Metro Council Chambers. It is vital that we have a strong presence of people that favor removing the bond from the ballot at this meeting. Removing the proposal from the ballot now will save our state approximately $480,000!

Also, continue to email the metro council and let them know that you would like them to remove the proposal from the ballot: metrocouncil@brgov.com

Health care Town-Hall with Rep. Bill Cassidy

The Baton Rouge Tea Party will be hosting a health care town-hall will Rep. Bill Cassidy. The health care debate has changed significantly since the August recess and this is a great opportunity for everyone to get informed and be up to date. Be sure to let your friends, family and coworkers know about this great event.

What: Health Care Town-Hall with Congressman Bill Cassidy

When: October 19^th @ 6:00pm

Where: Baton Rouge Marriot. 5500 Hilton Ave.

Tailgaiting Organizer Needed

We are looking for someone to head up our tailgaiting efforts at all LSU home games. We have the tents and banners, now all we need is YOU! Email info@batonrougeteaparty.net if you would like to volunteer to help with LSU tail gaiting.

Canvassing Day on October 17^th. WE NEED YOU!!!

Our "Beat the Bond" campaign is well under way and we are making great progress. To keep up this pace we need your help! On Saturday, October 17^th we will be canvassing neighborhoods with information about the bond and our Town-Hall meetings. LSU has a bye this week so it is a great opportunity to get out there and make our voices heard. We will meet at the Jones Creek Library @ 12:00 noon. (Please note: if the bond is taken off of the November ballot then we will canvass neighborhoods with information on our Health Care town-hall with Rep. Cassidy.)

The Tea Party is continuing to make a difference on all levels of Government. Come and join us this weekend as we unwind a little and cheer our LSU Tigers on to victory. We will be Tail Gaiting all day so it should be great time. We will send a follow up email to everyone to let you know where we will be set up. Also, be sure to take a look at the side bar and click on the link for the Book Club. This is a great opportunity to meet with folks and exchange ideas.

Sincerely,

Dwight Hudson

Chairman, Legislative Action Committee

_________________________________________________________________________

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God Bless,
Stacy

www.SingleWOG.blogspot.com
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Stopping State Contracts to ACORN

2009-10-01T01:03:00.001-05:00

Having trouble reading this email? Click here to view it on your browser.

Dear Friends,

This past week we reiterated our commitment to protecting Louisiana taxpayers' hard-earned dollars by issuing an executive order preventing the state from funding or entering into contracts that benefit the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The Executive Order will prevent any state departments, agencies, offices, boards, and officers from entering future contracts with ACORN, as well as force those entities to immediately eliminate funding for the organization, and for state agencies to report any such contracts to my executive council's office.

Thus far, our search through current state records has led to, as reported by the Alexandria Town Talk, the "terminat[ion] financing of two social services contracts with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now." The actions carried out by ACORN have shown us all that Louisiana taxpayer dollars should not be used to assist the organization in anyway, and we will continue to protect your hard earned tax dollars as we move forward.

We also welcomed the reopening of Northwest Pipe Company's facility in Bossier City last week, which has been idle for three years. Once the plant is fully operational, it will bring up to 120 new jobs to our state that average $39,000 annually.

As the Shreveport Times reported, the company's officials were ""were pleasantly surprised how strong the economy was here, much better than any of the other locations where they operate facilities." This is yet another step forward in creating a world-class economy right here in Louisiana, and is a great example of how our state continues to outpace both economies around the south and the nation as a whole.

We brought the Louisiana Working Tour to Lutcher, Destrehan, Simpson, and Patterson last week to spread the word of our economic success throughout the state. As the Leesville Daily Leader wrote, "Despite the national economic downturn, Louisiana's economy was recently rated the best in the south," and I am proud to lead the hardworking men and women of our state as we strengthen our economy.

We also awarded 423 of our state's veterans with the Louisiana Veterans' Honor Medal in Mansfield, Dodson, and Rayne. As I said in the Shreveport Times, "Their sacrifice and willingness to stand in harm's way is why we honor them with these medals," and I look forward to presenting these symbols of our appreciation to more of our veterans in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Governor Bobby Jindal

Paid for by Friends of Bobby Jindal

Friends of Bobby Jindal
PO Box 86258
Baton Rouge, LA 70879

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David Vitter: update 9 29 09

2009-09-29T16:29:00.001-05:00

e-update
09.29.09

This month, we recognized the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Rita's impact on Louisiana. I also made a move to reduce the power of the president's "czars" and to increase our gas and energy exploration to help reduce costs and create new jobs.

Below you can read about these and other issues that I'm working on, such as ensuring that your tax dollars don't go to ACORN.

P.S. – Please feel free to forward the newsletter to your friends, neighbors and business associates, and encourage them to sign up for their own copy by visiting my Web site at http://vitter.senate.gov/.

Photo Spotlight

Here I am pictured with representatives of the Louisiana Green Building Council when they came by my DC office to talk about the efforts and goals of their organization.

REMEMBERING HURRICANE RITA

This past week, we paused to remember the impact of Hurricane Rita on southwest Louisiana. Rita's significant impact on our state is often overlooked by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina but this event affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of our friends and neighbors. On the fourth anniversary of Rita's impact, I wanted to remember this event and recognize the spirit and determination of southwest Louisianians as they continue the recovery process even today. Read the text of my full statement here.

REINING IN THE PRESIDENT'S "CZARS"

This month, I filed an amendment that would limit the power of the president's "czars" to make and implement policy. These advisors now number somewhere in the 20s, and they wield significant power over domestic programs and government agencies despite their not being approved by the Senate like members of the president's cabinet. You can read more about this amendment here.

PROMOTING OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE OCS

Last year, the prohibitions on OCS drilling expired, allowing us to move ahead with a more sensible approach to gas and energy exploration that would allow us to greatly reduce costs on American families. But now we are seeing delays from the Obama Administration that would stall that progress we made. That's why I filed an amendment to the Interior-Environment appropriations bill that would prevent funds from being used to delay the implementation of an expanding drilling program that would boost our economy and increase our gas and energy supplies. You can learn more about the amendment here at my website.

ENSURING THAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS DON'T GO TO ACORN

Over the past year, we've all seen stories about the voter fraud and other allegations against the activist group ACORN. Last week the U.S. Senate voted to block future taxpayer dollars from being awarded to ACORN. But this month, it came to my attention that ACORN had been awarded a $1 million grant from a program that was designed to assist firefighters and fire departments. This is simply unacceptable, and I wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking her to rescind this grant and see that this money goes to those fire departments in the need of most assistance. To learn more about this situation, click here.

For any other questions or concerns visit my Web site at: www.vitter.senate.gov.

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Audit the Fed Hearing Tomorrow! Your help needed now!

2009-09-25T02:49:00.001-05:00

September 24, 2009

Dear Friend of Liberty,

This Friday, the House Financial Services Committee will meet at 9 am eastern to hold a hearing on Congressman Paul's Audit the Fed bill, HR 1207.

We have come a long way in this historic effort, but your action is needed now more than ever.

Click here to find the names of the representatives on the Financial Services Committee and to get their contact information.  Even if they do not represent your district, be sure to call as many of them as you can anyway, as their work on the Committee greatly impacts every one of us.

Urge them to pass the Audit the Fed bill to the floor on its own merits and not as part of an overall package that would strengthen the Federal Reserve and further damage our economy.  Transparency in our monetary system is too important to be smothered in yet another Washington regulatory bill.

If your representative is not on the Committee, please contact him as well and tell him you want to know what the Fed has done with your money.  Demand a standalone vote on Audit the Fed and that he cosponsor HR 1207 if he has not yet done so.

The hearing will be streamed live on the Committee's website.

This hearing would not have taken place if not for all of your hard work in calling, writing, faxing, and petitioning Congress to support HR 1207 and S 604, its Senate companion.

It's incredible to see all the support we have amassed in this historic effort, but if we want to achieve a complete victory, we must now push harder than ever and turn the heat up!

Your call could have a critical impact on your representative's decision.  Contact them immediately!

In Liberty,

John Tate
President

P.S. C4L and its members are already having a huge impact on the political landscape, as evidenced by this historic hearing.  Please donate today to help us finish this fight to Audit the Fed and continue to beat back the forces of big government.

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Audit the Fed Will Get Hearing in House Committee!

2009-09-10T02:05:00.001-05:00

September 9, 2009

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Your hard work in this historic movement to Audit the Fed continues to pay off!

Thanks to the thousands of Campaign for Liberty members who have tirelessly dedicated themselves to spreading the word, gathering petitions, and putting continuous pressure on Congress by calling, writing, and faxing, Congressman Ron Paul informed C4L today that House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank has officially agreed to hold hearings on HR 1207! The hearings are tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 25 at 9:00 am.

Your efforts have resulted in Washington's most secretive institution having to defend itself before the media, the American people, and now at a House hearing specifically focused on transparency.

This exciting victory is only one more achievement in a battle that we must see through until the end.

Contact your representative and senators and urge them to cosponsor HR 1207/S 604 if they have not yet done so. If they have already signed on, tell them it is imperative that Audit the Fed receive a standalone, up or down vote on its own merits. Full transparency in our nation's monetary system is too important to be a minor footnote in yet another massive Washington bill, and C4L will vigorously oppose any attempts to include HR 1207 in a regulatory reform package that increases the Fed's power over our economy and lives.

Less than a year ago, a thorough audit of the Federal Reserve wasn't on anyone's radar. Now, we have the support of seventy five percent of the American people, almost two thirds of the House of Representatives, nearly a quarter of the Senate, and an official hearing before the House Financial Services Committee!

There will be more exciting information to follow soon, but I wanted you to know right away. Now is the time to turn the heat up even more.

Together, we will finish this fight!

In Liberty,

John Tate

President

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Great Victory for conservatives - CNN Fires Roesgen

2009-07-20T14:40:00.000-05:00

We have some great victories to pass along to our fellow conservatives - further evidence that your efforts and activism are paying off!

1st: CNN is dumping their liberal, anti-Tea Party correspondent, Susan Roesgen. Roesgen was the reporter who decided to harass those who attended the April 15th Tea Party in Chicago, IL, instead of serving as an unbiased journalist (yes, we know -- a bit of an oxymoron there). In response, we here at the Our Country Deserves Better Committee launched an online grass roots effort that flooded CNN's offices with tens of thousands of phone calls and emails. And CNN felt the heat - first sending Roesgen on leave for a suddenly scheduled vacation, and now deciding to part ways with Roesgen altogether.

2nd: Polls show a further drop in support for the Barack Obama/Nancy Pelosi socialistic health care plan. We here at the Our Country Deserves Better Committee are working on a new TV ad that we will unveil this week that will push further to defeat this awful, big-government montrosity. If you want to help us fight back to defeat Obamacare, please make a donation to our TV ad campaign by - CLICKING HERE.

3rd: Our TV ad, "It's Not Iran, It's Obama's Administration" continues to attract attention from across the nation. More than 227,000 people have watched the ad online at YouTube alone in addition to the broadcasts of the ad so far!

4th: And that's just the beginning. In about 40 days we will launch the "Tea Party Express" that will take the tea party movement to the next level - bringing real change to government as we take back our country from the far Left, tax-spend-bailout liberals who currently control Congress and the White House. Be sure to sign up and get involved for this huge national effort at: http://www.TeaPartyExpress.org

_____________________________________________________

COMING THIS THURSDAY...

We unveil our new TV ad campaign calling for the defeat of the masive, big-government socialistic health care program being advanced by Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.

You can support our ad campaign against Obamacare by making a contribution online - CLICK HERE to DONATE.

Please donate as much as you can afford. Whether it's a generous contribution of $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more - or a more modest contribution of $25 or $50. The maximum contribution allowed by law is $5,000 per individual. Donate online - CLICK HERE.

Or mail in a contribution to our finance headquarters:

Our Country Deserves Better Committee

ATTN: Betty Presley, Treasurer

30151 Tomas Street

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

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URGENT ALERT: Hate Crimes Bill up for Vote Tomorrow (7/16) in US Senate!

2009-07-16T23:36:00.001-05:00

This is going to be voted on by the Senate tomorrow (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09071505.html.

Take a moment to call and email your Senators and watch the status of the bill (and others) at http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s909/show.

Reid—under the thumb of Obama and Holder—is attaching the bill to an unrelated defense bill, in order to force Senators to vote for it if they want to protect our troops. He is allowing no amendments. And he is calling for cloture to rush the bill through before any debate can take place. The Obama "hate crimes" bill is one of the most dangerously bigoted pieces of class warfare legislation ever to come before Congress. We need to stop it now. So, call your Senators now at 202-225-3121 and tell them to vote NO to the Obama's bigoted attempt to make racial division the law of our land!

From AFA- The Hate Crimes legislation would authorize the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute certain bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Even more troubling is that S.909 could create special protections for pedophiles. Democrats voted down an amendment to the bill that would have excluded pedophilia and other "sexual orientations" from the definition of "sexual orientation." For years, AFA and other pro-family groups have issued warnings about federal Hate Crimes legislation. The reality is that the purpose of this bill is to silence those who speak out against homosexuality. If the legislation passes, pastors could be prosecuted under the federal inducement statute for preaching the biblical view of homosexuality. For example, a person could commit an act of violence against a homosexual individual and blame it on the pastor's sermon. Similar laws have been used to prosecute religious speech in the U.S. at the state level and abroad.

Senator Leahy Announces Intent To Introduce Hate Crimes Amendment To DOD Authorization Bill – And that bill is scheduled for a Senate floor vote Wednesday, July 15 2009 – that's TODAY!

Read this press release now: http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200907/071309b.html

Here's the Senate floor schedule (see right sidebar referencing S.1390 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010"): http://www.senate.gov/

We can't confirm the amendment anywhere on the bill… but Senator Leahy's intent is clear. Even liberal websites are all abuzz about getting this passed quickly and quietly, see here (caution, very liberal website): http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/14/753383/-Take-90-Seconds-and-FIGHT-HATE-NOW.-

Even though CCM can't confirm this as an official amendment, we must take no chances and act now to stop Hate Crimes legislation from passing…

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP THIS?

1) Stop what you're doing… and email, phone and/or fax all Senators now. Tell them NO Hate Crimes Legislation!

2) Go here to find your US Senate contact information: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

3) Forward this alert to all your friends, family, neighbors and encourage them to do likewise.. now!

***

As a reminder, here is some summary information about the Hate Crimes bill, compiled from Janet Porter of WorldNet Daily:

- It criminalizes speech against groups already identified.

- It adds sexual orientation to the list.

- Pastors could be charged with inciting a hate crime for sermon content.

- Individuals could be charged with inciting a hate crime for resisting the actions or advances of a homosexual/lesbian.

- It would criminalize Christianity by turning those who disagree with homosexual agenda into felons.

- It would elevate pedophiles as a special protected class, since the term "sexual orientation" includes them in the American Psychiatric Association's definition of various sexual orientations.

- Denies freedom of speech and constitutes thought control as we're denied the right to express opinions without risking fines or arrest.

- Would deny us 14^th Amendment right of equal protection under the law.

- Would identify a special "preferred" class of victim with more rights than the average citizen would have as victim of similar crime.

- Federal funds would be proffered to local law enforcement encouraging them to prosecute crimes against this preferred class.

***

SAMPLE LETTER – Use the following letter as a template and personalize it, or write your own.

***

Dear Senator:

Vote NO on any Hate Crimes Legislation.

(1) Hate Crimes legislation is unconstitutional. The 14th Amendment requires that all citizens be given equal treatment under the law. Hate crimes laws create special classes of victims and do not treat all victims fairly.

(2) Hate Crimes legislation could ultimately lead to prosecution for thoughts and restrictions on free speech and religious liberty. Although it prosecutes only "acts of violence" and does not prosecute expressions or opinions, it opens the door to examining the thoughts of not only a criminal, but everyone with whom he may have come into contact. This bill could be used to advance the politically correct agenda by providing greater protections for certain classes of people. Future legislation could expand these protections and place restrictions on religious liberty and free speech.

(3) Hate Crimes are unnecessary. Many states already have a hate crimes law and there is no evidence that the states are failing to prosecute hate crimes. States which do not have hate crimes laws still prosecute the crimes under existing criminal laws. A federal hate crimes bill would only increase the control and scope of the federal government.

(4) All crimes are hate crimes!

Vote NO on any and all Hate Crimes legislation!

Sincerely,

-Name-

-Address-

-City State Zip-

- Email/Phone -

***

This alert provided by Coalition for a Conservative Majority, Colorado Springs. To be added to our alert list, go here: www.ccm-cos.com

To unsubscribe, email info@ccm-cos.com and write "un-subscribe" in the subject line.

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You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
--William J. H. Boetcker in 1916

Colorado Springs Tea Party Team

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Cap & Trade - Yes or Maybe Voters

2009-06-26T16:34:00.001-05:00

Call them now!!

Rep. Michael Ross (AR) 202-225-3772
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA) 202-225-4031
Rep. G. Butterfield (NC) 202-225-3101
Rep. Zack Space (OH) 202-225-6265
Rep. Michael Doyle (PA) 202-225-2135
Rep. Bart Gordon (TN) 202-225-4231
Rep. James Matheson (UT) 202-225-3011
Rep. Rick Boucher (VA) 202-225-3861
Rep. Peter Welch (VT) 202-225-4115
Rep. Jay Inslee (WA) 202-225-6311
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX) 202-225-8885
Rep. Charles Gonzalez (TX) 202-225-3236
Rep. Al Green (TX) 202-225-7508
Rep. Gene Green (TX) 202-225-1688
Rep. Steve Driehaus 513-684-2723

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Huge Tax Increase Vote Tomorrow

2009-06-25T20:41:00.001-05:00

Dear Stacy,

This week a late night deal was struck on the national energy tax. Clearly, Speaker Pelosi is running a machine, and was able to strong-arm a number of moderate Democrats to stand against their own districts and support this energy tax. Now, Speaker Pelosi is trying desperately to get a vote by tomorrow.

This national energy tax would possibly be the largest tax increase in American history, cause gas and electricity prices to skyrocket*, and add to our already spiraling federal deficit. We cannot afford this.

You can help in two ways right now that will have a big impact:

Make a small contribution of $15 to keep our TV ad on the air. Your contribution will also be used to run newspaper ads in key districts to inform voters about this bill.
Call your member of Congress now, and urge a vote against the national energy tax, H.R. 2454. Nancy Pelosi is desperately trying to corral as many Democrats as possible to vote with her, even though many of them have serious reservations. Your call right now can change the game.

If you're wondering what to tell them, here are some points* to bring up. The energy tax would:

Reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion
Destroy an average of 1-3 million jobs, every year
Raise electricity rates 90 percent after adjusting for inflation
Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent
Raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent
Raise an average family's annual energy bill by $1,500 annually
Increase the federal debt by 26 percent, which is $29,150 per person

Remember, we only have until tomorrow. Thanks for what you're doing.

Sincerely,

Dan Varroney
Senior VP and COO
American Solutions

P.S. Keep up to date on all the key issues by joining our Facebook Page and following us on Twitter.

* "Son of Waxman-Markey: More Politics Makes for a More Costly Bill," Heritage Foundation. May 18, 2009.

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ABC News Airing Day-long ObamaCare Infomercial

2009-06-22T16:22:00.001-05:00

From the Desk of:
David Martin, Executive Vice President

MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER
6/22/2009

Brent Bozell Message to the MRC Action Team Regarding ABC's ObamaCare Infomercial

President Obama is trying to put our nation on the fast track to socialized health care, and on June 24, the ABC network will help him sell this bill of goods to the American people.

Next Wednesday, ABC News will transform the White House into their newsroom for what has been described as an unabashed infomercial promoting the Democrat agenda—more specifically, government-run health care.

++ ABC News Emphatically Rejects Opposing Views

ABC News has abandoned all pretense of journalistic integrity in its bid to be the administration's official salesman for ObamaCare. ABC flatly rejected Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay's request to add opposition views to ensure all sides of the health care debate were represented in the "town hall" forum.

Not only that, ABC News Vice President Kerry Smith responded by saying, "ABC News alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the President."

As if that wasn't enough, ABC then rejected an ad from a conservative group trying to counter the liberal health care agenda. They clearly are not interested in a balanced presentation on this subject.

Void of opposing views, this "news special" becomes nothing more than an extended infomercial designed to scare and manipulate the American people into supporting a trillion-dollar government takeover of the highest quality health care system in the world!

++ Hold ABC News Accountable

stacy, health care is an issue of life and death. If you don't want politicians and faceless bureaucrats making your personal health care decisions – which medical procedures you need, which treatments are affordable, which medications you can have – then stand with us and demand the media present a balanced view on how to reform health care.

That's why we are asking MRC Action team members to do two things TODAY. First, take a moment right now to call ABC News executives and demand balance in the health care debate. Ask them why they won't allow the conservative point of view on this show.

Second, click here to submit questions to be asked at this "town hall" on Wednesday – questions the liberal media aren't asking. Questions like:

· How much will your plan cost?

· How will it be paid for?

· Can you name one example of the government taking over an industry and the costs falling as a result?

Click here to hear MRC founder Brent Bozell's exclusive message to the MRC Action team explaining why we all need to act NOW to stop what he calls "one of the worst examples I've seen in all my years of observing media bias."

Here is your contact information:

David Westin
President, ABC News
(212) 456-6200

Anne Sweeney
President, ABC-Disney Television Group
(818) 569-7700
anne.sweeney@disney.com

++ Alert your Friends and Family

A firestorm of protest can bring about quick change. That's why after taking action, we're asking you to forward this update to 25-30 friends and family members. Let them know what is happening, and how they can play a pivotal role by calling as well.

President Obama has already taken over the banks, and General Motors … now he's using ABC television to ram his socialist health care plan down our throats unabated. Make your calls, and forward this important message today!

Thank you in advance for taking action with the MRC.

David

P.S. To help you track all the news surrounding ObamaCare and the liberal media slant on health care reform, we created a special website where we will post all the latest news and stories in the coming weeks. Please visit it often to stay on top of this life or death issue.

(Note: Please do not reply directly to this e-mail message. This e-mail address is not designed to receive your personal messages. To contact the Media Research Center with comments, questions or to change your status, see the link at the end of this e-mail.)

Comments? Questions?

Email: MRCAction@mediaresearch.org

The Media Research Center is a research and education organization operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible for income tax purposes.

To donate to MRC, please click here.

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Ron Paul's Audit the Fed Bill Passes 218 Cosponsors!!

2009-06-12T01:12:00.001-05:00

June 11, 2009

Dear Friend of Liberty,

We wanted to make sure you were the first to know that your hard work and dedication has resulted in Ron Paul's Audit the Fed bill, HR 1207, gaining the support of a majority of the House of Representatives!

Just moments ago, Dr. Paul's congressional office issued a press release announcing that HR 1207 had received its 218th cosponsor, and that the list has now grown to 222!

Read their press release here.

Since our last update put the number at 207 on Tuesday, here is the list of representatives that have signed on:

-Rep. David Loebsack
-Rep. Gary Miller
-Rep. Frank Wolf
-Rep. Corrine Brown
-Rep. Jackie Speier
-Rep. Bruce Braley
-Rep. Donna Edwards
-Rep. Bobby Bright
-Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao
-Rep. Jared Polis
-Rep. Dennis Kucinich
-Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon
-Rep. Howard Coble
-Rep. Jean Schmidt
-Rep. Heath Shuler

This is an incredible victory for the freedom movement, but our work to Audit the Fed is only just beginning! Now we must concentrate on seeing the bill through the committee process and getting it to the House floor for a vote.

With your continued support, we will do just that. Together, we will restore transparency to our nation's monetary system.

Thank you for all you do for the cause of liberty!

In Liberty,

John Tate

President

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Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T17:09:00.001-05:00

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to those who served/serve our great country & help make the freedoms we have possible. Without you we would be just like any other country:less individual freedom, more government control, less individual prosperity, more fear. Out of respect for your service we should exercise & stand up for our constitutional rights so we will always remain the land of the Free & the home of the Brave.

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To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

2009-05-14T23:52:00.001-05:00

Baton Rouge Tea Party!

2009-04-19T02:25:00.000-05:00

We went to the Baton Rouge Tea Party! It was a great event!

There were close to 800 Tea Parties across the nation!!

Thousands of people who are FED up and have had ENOUGH!

We are no longer the SILENT majority!

If you are not fed up... you are not paying attention!

TAX DAY TEA PARTY SLOGAN/SIGN IDEAS!

2009-04-15T04:02:00.001-05:00

PRINT OUT A SIGN ON CARDSTOCK!
MAKE YOUR OWN SHIRT!
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD (READ!)

Here are some suggestions I have found by looking at other tea party sites:

1. Don't tax me bro.

2. Obama lied the economy died.

3. Government by the people is now government vs. the people.

4. Stimulus, the audacity of dopes.

5. I owe WHAT???

6. (For children) Sorry daddy, I don't have 1 trillion dollars to loan you.

7. Honk if you are paying my mortgage.

8. Vote you out of office? Yes we can.

9. You cant spend your way out of debt.

10. Don't tread on me flag.

11. Who is John Galt?

12. (For children) Obama, stop stealing from my piggy bank.

13. Restore the republic.

14. Repeal the pork or retire.

15. Next time read the bill.

16. Party like it's 1773.

17. Legalize capitalism.

18. Socialism is not an American value.

19. (For college students) Full time student, two part time jobs, paying my own way.

20. (For children) When I grow up I want to be free.

21. Shrugging.

22. "I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask him to live for mine." John Galt.

Stimulate My 401k

Baby Boomer Not on Board

All Big Business Ever Gave Me was a Good Living

Spread the Wealth – What's Left of it!

Capitalism Works – Try it Sometime

Thanks, Grandkids For All Your Money

Try the New Pork Free Diet

Go Ahead and Waste It – Its Only My Hard Earned Pay

Investors on Strike

Common Sense Needs a Bail Out

Hey, Congress! Remember Economics?

Public Works Don't

Press 1 Now to Cut Your Government Debt in Half

Building a Bridge to Nowhere

Halt Economic Climate Change

I (heart) Taxpayers

Just Say No! – Our Governor Did

Help Cure Fiscal Insanity

Make Love Not War on Success

Hey Big Spenders – Don't Spend Trillions on Me

Silent Majority No More!

How's That War on Poverty Working Out?

What's a Few Trillion If It Gets You Elected

I'm With Stupid He Paid His Mortgage!

It's the Market Economy, Stupid

Money for Acorn is Nuts!

Isn't Generational Theft A Crime?

Earmark Congress for Defeat

Congress Spends, Retirement Dream Ends

Hey, Mary! Are you with Harry & Nancy or Us?

Victim of Affordable Housing

Its Not "Affordable" If You Can't Afford It

Democracy of Dunces

unborn without representation

America failing with representation

Dear Congress,

What part of We the People do you not understand?

CONGRESS, YOU'RE FIRED!

MEDIA, DO YOUR JOB!

DON'T MESS WITH OUR CONSTITUTION

"1976 - Declaration of Independence; 2009 Declaration of Dependance"

Washington - GET OFF MY BACK AND OUT OF MY POCKET! I'm thinking of doing a list of NO's on the front ...still tweaking it, but this gives you some ideas...

NO bailouts - stop rewarding failure with OUR MONEY
NO pork - again, it's OUR MONEY
NO government controlled healthcare
NO government take-over of private companies
NO creating trillions of $ out of thin air
NO higher taxes
NO funding special interest groups
NO voting on bills without reading them first
NO to leaving our grandchildren trillions in debt

YES to Government OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE

We're taking names, and you can bet WE VOTE!

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To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

On April 15, be part of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party rally in your community

2009-04-11T21:22:00.001-05:00

On the day you pay your taxes, Wednesday, April 15, join others across the country and in your hometown who will be participating in TAX Day TEA party rallies in front of their city halls. The TAX Day TEA party rally will begin at 12 noon. See this video - the momentum is growing!

Are you fed up with a Congress and a president who:

vote for a $500 billion tax bill without even reading it?
are spending trillions of borrowed dollars, leaving a debt our great-grandchildren will be paying?
consistently give special interest groups billions of dollars in earmarks to help get themselves re-elected?
want to take your wealth and redistribute it to others?
punish those who practice responsible financial behavior and reward those who do not?
admit to using the financial hurt of millions as an opportunity to push their political agenda?
run up trillions of dollars of debt and then sell that debt to countries such as China?
want government controlled health care?
want to take away the right to vote with a secret ballot in union elections?
refuse to stop the flow of millions of illegal immigrants into our country?
appoint a defender of child pornography to the Number 2 position in the Justice Department?
want to force doctors and other medical workers to perform abortions against their will?
want to impose a carbon tax on your electricity, gas and home heating fuels?
want to reduce your tax deductibility for charitable gifts?
take money from your family budget to pay for their federal budget?

If so, participate in the TAX Day TEA party rally, the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party.

Bring your cell phone and call Congress and the president while attending the TAX Day TEA party rally (Representative and Senators, 202-224-3121; President, 202-456-1414). Tell Every American about this effort by forwarding this invitation to your friends. Together we can make a difference.

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To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

CALL TO ACTION

2009-04-06T18:24:00.001-05:00

the insanity coming out of D.C. refuses to cease. We HAVE to put an end to it. We HAVE to be heard!!!!!!

You MUST call your Senators about the Cap & Trade bill that is in Congress right now. The ramifications of this bill on Americans and Businesses will overwhelmingly tax the hell out of us in more ways than one:

1. Our electric bills will rise to costs between $700 - $3,100 per year.

2. Businesses will see an even bigger rise in their electric bills.

3. When businesses see a bigger electric bill that cost will be added into the price of all consumer goods that we purchase. EVERYTHING WE BUY will be up to twice as expensive.

4. This could potentially cause job losses as businesses will have to cut somewhere and they won't be able to cut these costs – think about factories, machine shops, the very automakers that we now own.

5. College tuition will go up even more because their electric bills will double also.

6. Public schools will have to pay more in electricity, which means higher taxes at a state level.

7. Cable companies will have to pay more – and we will pay the costs.

8. Grocery stores will be paying more in electricity which means WE will be paying even more for food.

9. Rents will go up if electricity is included. People are already having a hard times paying their rent – what will happen when their rent is increased even more?

10. Phone companies, restaurants, the Post Office, local government, pet stores, convenience stores, museums, ballparks… it affects EVERY SINGLE PERSON AND BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTRY!

The above doesn't even include the increase in gas prices which will add ANOTHER whammy of taxes that will be paid directly by consumers and then again indirectly by businesses passing on the costs to consumer goods.

WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY TRYING TO SAVE THE 'ATMOSPHERE'. No other countries are on board with this – how much of the atmosphere are WE alone really going to save????

Americans are being punished for an ideology that has not yet been proven. We are already in dire straights as a country – millions of people losing their jobs, not being able to pay their mortgages, their rent, provide food for their families and Obama wants to add THIS TAX BURDEN TO US???

This affects ALL AMERICANS, not just tax payers. The single Mom who can barely make ends meet for her family. The college kids who are already over stretched with student loans. The middle class family of four whose parents work hard and are trying to save for their kids' college tuition. The poor welfare mother who hit hard times and just needs temporary help will never be able to climb her way off of the welfare roles.

Any of you who have Senators who are DEMOCRATS need to call, call, fax, email, write over and over again to GET THE POINT ACROSS THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!! No Republicans are going to vote for this insanity and some Democrats seem to have found a brain cell or two and are realizing voting for this would jeopardize their re-election and yeah maybe some of them actually care about their constituents. THESE are the ones that need to be targeted.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

FOREIGN IMPORTERS will not be affected by this. So THEIR prices will remain lower. Businesses in this country will be put OUT of business because they will NOT be able to compete. They are already struggling in this country and fleeing. This will force MORE businesses to flee.. more jobs to be lost... the economy will delve further into the nether regions!!!!!!

www.ConservativeToday.org

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To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

thoughts on earth hour...

2009-03-28T18:49:00.001-05:00

why is the country not "making a statement" about the spending of OUR money by the government? or the violations of the constitution by the government??? Why are the priorities so out of wack!

if we are turning off lights to make a statement it should be to say that we are doing it to SAVE money because soon we wont be able to afford the light bill because of the wasteful spending by obama!!!

lets protest the killing of innocent babies who survive abortions!! lets protest and make a statement about keeping the Dollar safe!

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

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To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

Michelle Bachman asks about constitutionality of actions

2009-03-28T13:06:00.002-05:00

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To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

Cheney says Obama endangers U.S.

2009-03-16T06:54:00.001-05:00

By MIKE ALLEN | 3/15/09 3:01 PM EDT

Asked Sunday on CNN if he thinks President Obama "has made Americans less safe," former Vice President Dick Cheney said: "I do."

Looking slimmer and relaxed, Cheney told John King on "State of the Union" that Bush administration policies on detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists – some of which were immediately modified by Obama — "were absolutely essential" to preventing another 9/11-style attack.

"I think that's a great success story. It was done legally. It was done in accordance with our constitutional practices and principles," the former vice president said. "President Obama campaigned against it all across the country. And now he is making some choices that, in my mind, will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack.

Cheney said the Bush administration "made a decision after 9/11 that I think was crucial: We said, 'This is a war. It's not a law-enforcement problem.'"

"When you go back to the law enforcement mode, which I sense is what they're doing – closing Guantanamo and so forth – that they are very much giving up that center of attention and focus that's required, and that concept of a military threat that's essential if you're going to successfully defend the nation against further attacks," he continued.

The former vice president, who now has a BlackBerry, said he plans to spend "the bulk" of his time in the next few months working on a book.

Cheney said he has talked with President Bush three times in recent weeks, and has expressed displeasure that his aide Scooter Libby – whose sentence on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice was commuted — was nevertheless left "sort of hanging in the wind" without a full pardon.

"I think he's an innocent man who deserves a pardon," Cheney said.

The former vice president noted that radio host Rush Limbaugh has challenged Obama to a debate.

"Hell, I'd pay to see that," Cheney said. "I think Rush is a good man and serves a very important purpose."

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To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

the 2009 Omnibus spending bill = 410 billion dollars ($410,000,000,000)

2009-03-05T23:18:00.001-06:00

As you probably know, the 2009 Omnibus spending bill, which consists of over 8,500 pork projects, recently passed the House and is on its way to the Senate. The bill will cost 410 billion dollars ($410,000,000,000) of taxpayers’ money and includes items such as the following:

-$1,117,000 for grasshopper and Mormon cricket activities in Utah.

-$472,000 for beaver management and control in Mississippi.

-$2,000,000 for the promotion of astronomy in Hawaii.

-$1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa.

-$6.6 million for termite research in New Orleans.

-$1.7 million for a “honey bee factory” in Texas.

-$333,333 for a sidewalk in Texas.

-$951,500 for a “sustainable Las Vegas.”

And there are over 8,000 more pork projects like these.

Your job is easy. Call your senators ASAP and tell them to vote no on this abominable waste of taxpayer money. Ultimately, yes, the bill will pass. Politics is about numbers and, unfortunately, right now we don’t have them. We’re going to lose a lot of battles in these early days. If we can ever kill a piece of legislation, great, but right now that’s not what’s important. What’s important now is making sure that the Democrats OWN every bit of egregious legislation that works its way through the lower intestine of congress. Here’s your contact info for all 100 Senators: http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

eliminate the right to vote by private ballot?

2009-03-04T21:25:00.000-06:00

Dear Stacy,

In a closed-door meeting Tuesday, President Obama told over 100 top union officials that "we will pass the Employee Free Choice Act."

It's now clear that President Obama, Big Labor, and their left-wing allies in Congress, will attempt an unprecedented power grab that is a mortal threat to our economy and our democratic values.

This is being done in a stealth manner because its backers know that this bill will not pass if the American people understand its destructive nature.

To expose and stop this effort, I've joined American Solutions as National Chairman of our "Freedom Not Fear" campaign, and you can join us by signing our petition here.

The Employee Free Choice Act, or "Card Check," would eliminate the right to vote by private ballot when deciding whether to join a union, and it would undermine the right to freely negotiate contracts.

We can't tolerate this. We must stand for freedom, not fear in the workplace.

We cannot afford to be intimidated. Please stand with us now.

This is about protecting our fundamental right to vote privately without coercion.

It's about protecting the right of employers and employees to negotiate freely.

It's about allowing businessmen and women, not bureaucrats and union bosses, to run our businesses.

And in the end, it's about saving and protecting American jobs.

Please sign the petition now.

Sincerely,

Saul Anuzis
National Chairman, Save American Jobs Project
American Solutions

P.S. Big labor has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars to push through this coercive, job-killing bill. And they are prepared to spend millions more. With your generous financial support, we will run a grassroots, internet-based campaign to get our message directly to the American people. Can you chip in $10 or more today to help us organize this state-by-state grassroots effort?

Exclusive Excerpts of Governor Bobby Jindal's Response

2009-02-24T17:07:00.001-06:00

Below are exclusive excerpts from Governor Bobby Jindal's Response to the State of Union:

...

As I grew up, my mom and dad taught me the values that attracted them to this country - and they instilled in me an immigrant's wonder at the greatness of America. As a child, I remember going to the grocery store with my dad. Growing up in India, he had seen extreme poverty. And as we walked through the aisles, looking at the endless variety on the shelves, he would tell me: "Bobby, Americans can do anything." I still believe that to this day.
...

Republicans are ready to work with the new President to provide those solutions. Here in my state of Louisiana, we don't care what party you belong to if you have good ideas to make life better for our people. We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation's capital. All of us want our economy to recover and our nation to prosper. So where we agree, Republicans must be the President's strongest partners. And where we disagree, Republicans have a responsibility to be candid and offer better ideas for a path forward.
...

The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and enterprising spirit of our citizens.
...

To solve our current problems, Washington must lead. But the way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians. The way to lead is by empowering you - the American people. Because we believe that Americans can do anything.
...

Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.

...
In recent years, these distinctions in philosophy became less clear - because our party got away from its principles. You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust - and rightly so.
...

A few weeks ago, the President warned that our nation is facing a crisis that he said "we may not be able to reverse." Our troubles are real, to be sure. But don't let anyone tell you that we cannot recover - or that America's best days are behind her.

...

Paid for by Friends of Bobby Jindal

Click here to unsubscribe.

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Obama’s 3 Big Lies and His Plan to Destroy the GOP

2009-02-23T03:23:00.000-06:00

An urgent message from our Newsmax Sponsor,
The National Republican Trust PAC

Obama’s 3 Big Lies & His Plan to Destroy the GOP

Dear fellow American:

Let me tell you the real reason Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid pushed through the biggest spending bill in history – without proper debate, without Republican input, and without any public scrutiny at all.

Simply, they are trying to turn the United States into a one-party country and to put the Republican Party out of business once and for all.

The massive appropriation called a stimulus – some $787 billion of your money – is really a political war chest for the Democrats.

They want to change the face of American politics forever, and they want to use your taxpayer money to do it.

They want to use billions from our treasury to reward their political friends – and have huge amounts of cash to dole out before the 2010 and 2012 elections.

Some people have wondered why, if the country is in dire need of emergency “stimulus,” most of the money appropriated by this law will not even be spent this year.

Instead, spending will go on for five to 10 years.

There is no mystery here, as the answer is simple: These billions in taxpayer funds will fund the Democratic political machine for many years to come.

Chicago Machine Takes over Washington

You must remember – the media won’t tell you this – that Barack Obama is a product of the corrupt political machine in Chicago headed by Mayor Richard Daley.

Chicago is run as a one-party city. The Democratic political machine and the government are one in the same.

Just like we saw recently in Congress, there is no real debate in Chicago. Deals are brokered in the back rooms among the ward leaders, the mayor and their cronies.

What the political machine decides, the public has to accept it. The city council serves simply as a rubber stamp – much the same way the Congress just acted for Obama.

And public money in Chicago is used to protect and serve the interests of the machine.

Obama – as I will reveal to you with the stimulus plan – is simply replicating the Chicago machine in Washington.

It is a frightening thought because our freedoms depend on a vibrant two-party system.

But that’s what you believe, not what Obama and his crew believe.

Barack Obama and his Chicago gang, which includes his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, also a congressman from the Chicago machine, have a starkly different view.

They want a one-party system headed by a strong man.

We at the National Republican Trust PAC are deeply troubled not only by how much the stimulus plan spends but also the way it was implemented.

We just witnessed how the basic and open democratic process of our republic was flouted.

We fear that the actions by Obama and Congress that we just witnessed threaten the very foundation of our republic.

Consider that we have long believed America is the greatest democracy in the world.

Yet Congress passed the largest spending bill in its history – by essentially suspending vital democratic processes, including debate and public examination of the pending law.

We know that the Democrats, working late into the night, secretly agreed to a “compromise” bill among themselves – and then refused even to share it with Republicans or the public until just hours before the bill went to the floor for a vote.

The final stimulus bill was 1,079 pages long. We know Barack Obama never read the bill.

Many members of Congress have admitted not one senator or congressman even read the bill before they voted for it!

The Democrats say they suspended normal procedures because the country so desperately needed to avoid what Barack Obama said was an economic “catastrophe.”

The bill apparently was so urgent that the Democrats even excluded Republican leaders from any involvement in negotiations on it.

When, in our republic, does Congress simply vote on a bill when its members have no idea what it says?

And, how could congressional leaders like Pelosi and Reid, as well as President Obama, present a monumental law but not allow even one day of scrutiny by Congress, its staffs or the public?

Help us fight the takeover of Congress and Washington – Go Here Now

Big Lie No. 1: The Emergency

They told us that the country is in such a dire situation that it was an emergency.

That was Big Lie No. 1: The bill was not an emergency measure.

This was a ruse. They falsely claimed it was an emergency bill to cut off all debate.

The lie about the urgency was made clear when President Obama, rather than immediately signing the bill, went on vacation to celebrate Valentine’s Day with his wife in Chicago. [Amazingly he had been in Washington less than a month before he took his first vacation!]

In fact, Obama took almost four days to sign this “urgent” bill.

Big Lie No. 2: Immediate Stimulus

And then there is Big Lie No. 2: The bill offered immediate help to our ailing economy.

The truth: The bill does not offer significant, immediate stimulus.

Most of the stimulus money won’t even be spent this year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office!

And the CBO has warned that the bill actually will hurt long-term economic growth.

Infrastructure programs, including items such as $8 billion for a high-speed train between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, will take a decade or longer to complete – if environmentalists ever let the project begin.

Republican traitor Arlen Specter, who backed the stimulus bill, got more than $6 billion in the bill for “medical research” – another lulu that has nothing to do with immediate economic stimulus.

Big Lie No. 3: Bipartisan Support

Then there is Big Lie No. 3: This bill was a bipartisan effort to save the economy.

It was anything but.

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham said bluntly: “If this is going to be bipartisanship, the country's screwed."

Indeed, every Republican in the House voted against the bill, along with six courageous Democratic congressmen.

In the Senate, almost every Republican opposed the bill except three liberals: Sens. Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and Arlen Specter.

Obama promised he would change the “old politics” of Washington. Instead, he is playing hardball partisan Democratic politics of the Chicago type.

He has used the weakening economy as his Reichstag fire event to get to pass an incredible amount of money so he could funnel huge amounts of pork and political payoffs to his Democratic cronies and allies.

And now, he is even talking about a second stimulus program! Why not? Congress just passed his first bill without even reading it! What a joke . . .

Help us expose Obama’s Big Lies – Donate to Our Campaign – Go Here Now

The Real Purpose: Abolish the GOP

I have no doubt what the real purpose of the stimulus bill was.

Simply, it was to lay the ground work of the remaking of America’s political system into a one-party system.

Yes, a one-party socialist state that destroyed countries like Mexico.

We have seen what one-party rule has done to cities like Cleveland, Detroit, other cities – and corrupt Chicago.

The media will never tell you this, but that’s the real agenda behind the Obama stimulus bill.

This is why so little of the stimulus is spent now, but spread out over several years.

This means Obama and Democrats will have hundreds of billions to disburse to their supporters, creating a new party cadre that will help them win re-election in 2010 and 2012.

Don’t believe me?

Well, we all know the fraud perpetrated by groups like ACORN to register Democratic voters.

In the run-up to the 2009 election, millions of new “voters” were registered – and it clearly helped elect Obama – and gave the Democrats big majorities in the House and Senate.

Their game plan for 2008 worked. Now they want to use public funds – our tax dollars – to pay for more of their political activities.

For example, the final stimulus bill gives $3 billion to groups like ACORN.

Consider that, in 2008, Obama claimed that he raised $750 million for his campaign. Compared with that amount, ACORN’s $3 billion is staggering.

No doubt, these billions will help ACORN in its political work of “community organizing” – a euphemism for Democratic activitism.

We don’t have billions – we need your help to fight – Go Here Now

But it’s not just ACORN who is getting “stimulus.”

The bulk of the Obama stimulus goes directly to the powerful government employee unions that helped get Obama elected and are the backbone, the shock troops, of the Democratic Party.

Amazingly, it’s been estimated that half of the stimulus appropriation directly benefits government employee and service employees union that played key roles in Obama’s election.

Second, the bill gives tens of billions to state and local governments to dole out to their cronies. This means there will be even less accountability by Congress.

And then there are massive payoffs to the special interests to the Democratic Party, with giveaways such as $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, $300 million for new cars for government bureaucrats, $1.2 billion for “youth activities,” tens of billions for “green, environmental and energy programs” — they even include $3.7 billion to help “green” military bases and another $125 million to restore “abandoned mines.”

Shockingly, the bill creates 33 new government programs!

The stimulus money will give the Democrats the opportunity to become the dominant political party for the next generation.

Counter the Democratic machine by helping us today – Go Here Now

Our Plan to Stop Obama

Despite the massive political payouts Obama, Reid and Pelosi are funneling to their allies across the country, they can still be stopped.

The polls show Americans want a two-party system. They don’t want corrupt, Chicago-style politics in Washington.

They don’t want their taxpayer funds used for political shenanigans and payoffs.

We at the National Republican Trust PAC want to expose the incredible rip-off the stimulus bill will be to the taxpayers.

If Americans knew that the bill would place an additional $9,400 in debt upon each household in America, they would be appalled.

If Americans knew the extent to which this bill is going for political payoffs to groups like ACORN, they would be outraged.

We know that Americans will wake up to what Congress has perpetrated on them with this stimulus.

But we also know we can’t rely on the media to tell the facts.

This is why we want to keep up our media efforts to expose Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

We now know they have a radical plan for the nation.

There are already calls among Democrats for a new Fairness Doctrine to close down talk radio and hosts like Rush, Hannity, Boortz, Beck, Savage and others.

The Democrats are already talking about legalizing 12 million illegals, making them citizens and voters overnight.

They know that, if they do this, they will instantly change the political landscape in the nation for a generation or more.

This is why your support for the National Republican Trust is critical – Go Here Now

This is why we urgently have launched a media campaign in exposing Sen. Specter in Pennsylvania and Sens. Snowe and Collins in Maine. We want their constituents to know exactly how their senators voted against the public’s best interests.

We also have targeted Democratic senators like Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

We are doing this because we know that Obama is passing sweeping legislation, and that we need to put these senators and congressmen on notice: If they vote for Obama’s plan, they will pay a heave price back home among their voters.

We at the National Republican Trust PAC have already played a critical role. We were a key factor in Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ landslide victory in the special Senate run-off in Georgia.

CNN has called us one of the most “powerful” political action committees in the nation.

Dick Morris, the Fox News analyst, has called the National Republican Trust the most important political force in the nation. He says we are now doing the work of the Republican Party.

But our success depends on people like you.

We don’t have fat-cat donors and corporate sponsors.

We depend on Americans like you who care about this country and who want us to keep fighting.

Your donations help us not only to fight but also to prepare for the coming major battles ahead with Obama, Pelosi and Reid.

We need your support today, please donate – Go Here Now.

Thank you and God bless you.

Yours for America,

Scott Wheeler
Executive Director

P.S. As the full details of the stimulus come to light, the American people will be shocked, and many of the backers will regret their votes for this shameful bill. Our job is to expose those that voted for the bill. If we do so, it is doubtful Obama will have the votes in the Senate to pass more of his radical agenda. But we need your support to stop him. It’s urgent you help us today, please do so – Go Here Now

Paid for by The National Republican Trust PAC.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
2100 M St. NW Suite 170-340 Washington, DC 20037-1233

Contributions to The National Republican Trust PAC are not
deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
No corporate funds are accepted.

Barack Obama has made a power grab to take over the census bureau

2009-02-18T17:16:00.001-06:00

Dear CU members:

There are two important things we'd like to bring to your attention so bear with us. I'll get the least important of them out of the way first. We'd like to compile an e-mail list of people who would like to receive updates about various events concerning our website (http://conservativetoday.org/). Obviously, we can reach you anytime via Facebook mass message, but there's simply too much going on to do that. Mass messages will be used sparingly, mostly reserved for calls to action over impending egregious legislation and the like. However, anyone who would like to be notified through e-mail with updates about the group and CT website may send your email addresses to this guy right here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6849715&ref=profile#/profile.php?id=1540290069. This is only for people who want this service. We also have an RSS feed available for anyone who wants to subscribe in that way: http://blog.conservativetoday.org/. It's the orange button in your address bar. And we do strongly encourage you to visit our website.

Now, to more pressing things…

As you may or may not know, Barack Obama has made a power grab to take over the census bureau. Traditionally, the Census Bureau is independent and is overseen by the Commerce Department. However, Barack Obama has decided to break over 100 years of precedent by putting the responsibility of computing the 2010 census under the watchful eye of Rahm Emmanuel, his chief of staff. This isn't your typical gerrymandering. With the white House controlling the census bureau with no one to answer to or keep them in check, there is nothing to stop the administration from manipulating statistical data in order to mitigate or completely erase the additional electoral votes that were expected to be allocated to red states like Texas, as well as other southern states. I suspect this is the administration's aim. This is, after all, the same administration that just congratulated Hugo Chavez on his success in removing term limits in Venezuela, paving the way for indefinite rule.

What we'd like you to do is very simple. First, email your Senators to express your disapproval of what the administration is doing. If you have Republican Senators then ask them to speak up about it and speak up about it loud. Unless Republicans force this issue into the spotlight, the media will continue to ignore it and the public will have no idea of the administration's flagrant abuse of authority. Second, do the same thing with the congressman of your district and ask that there be a House investigation into the administration's actions regarding the Census Bureau. Your emails don't need to be long or complex or super sophisticated. What's important is that you make your point and that these people hear from us… lots of us.

Contact info for all 100 Senators: http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Contact Congress: http://www.house.gov/. If you don't know who your congressman is you can find out by looking in the upper left hand corner where it says "Find your Representative." Just enter your zip code in the space provided; a link with your representative's name will pop up. Follow the link and you should be able to find all of your representative's contact info, including email. Usually there will be either be a "contact" tab that will take you directly to your representative's contact info or a "services" tab that opens up a drop-down menu that includes a "contact" link.

Also, if you're feeling up to it, you might want to email Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell (http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm) and House Republican leader John Boehner (http://republicanleader.house.gov/Contact/) and tell them to rally the GOP to this cause.

Sincerely,

Misha

PS: If you are an administrator of your own group feel free to copy and paste the above message and send it out to your own members.

--
To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

"I love you barack"...watch it...its hilarious!

2009-02-12T19:19:00.000-06:00

Why the White House wants to control the Census...

2009-02-11T02:16:00.001-06:00

...and why we shouldn't let them get it!

Its a very simple reason why the white house wants to control the census...and it has nothing to with making sure there is "accountability" or "accuracy" because we all know thats not gonna happen...at least not for the next 4 yrs. Its clear that Obama still thinks he is running for something...and is still playing the politician card...and the good speech guy....but that can only get you so far! It has not impressed me yet and he won't impress me still he says something true...and steps up and stands up for what this country was built on. And tht is nothing he has spoken of so far. But I digress....

The white house wants to control the Census because ....guess who decides districts....and electoral colleges? If the white house has any kind of influence on this you can guarantee who ever runs against Obama in 2012 probably wouldn't have half a chance because of the results of the "accurate" census. That is the very simple reason that we can't let them get their greedy hands on it. This bailout is a joke and is only a payback to the people who got him elected. I mean seriously....how is money for ACORN gonna stimulate the economy? haha! But they sure did stimulate his "eligible" voter pool.

Your thoughts? I know you have some. Don't hold back....thats the problem...we have been silent too long!

--
To order my JUST RELEASED poetry book (Layers) please visit www.BuyStacysBooks.com

Another post worthy email....

2009-02-06T03:30:00.001-06:00

Dear CU Members

As you know, the Senate is about to pass what is probably the most fiscally irresponsible spending bill in US history. This bill is being pitched as a "stimulus" package necessary to jump start our economy when in fact the bill is little more than a pent-up wish list of leftist spending priorities that have nothing to do with our economy anyway. The Obama administration is now engaging in shameless fear tactics to cajole Americans into letting this bill be rammed down our throats, promising doom and gloom if the bill is not passed immediately. In reality, the bill will only perpetuate and exacerbate our current economic situation.

From Grassfire.org—

"This Spending Bill will cost you and me well over $1 trillion -- and
liberals in Congress are using this "stimulus" to funnel billions of
dollars into social programs and pork projects that have nothing to
do with our economy.

In fact, according to Newsmax.com, many economists are "beginning to sound
alarms that the U.S. economy is perilously close to a 'tipping point,'
where so many voters will be on the public payroll it will be politically
impossible to rein in entitlement programs.""

We don't have much time left, but it's not too late. In the link below is the contact information of all 100 US Senators. Your task is simple: Call your Senator, go on the record opposing this bill and tell them you want them to do the same.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Sincerely,

Misha

There is news OTHER than the "spending package"

2009-02-06T01:50:00.001-06:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123378027003448977.html

http://iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/02/05/africa/OUKWD-UK-IRAN-NUCLEAR-RUSSIA.php

First Obama nominee with tax issues:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1871563,00.html

Second Obama nominee with tax issues:
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/02/01/Daschle_taxes_0201.ART_ART_02-01-09_A6_M2COLUL.html?sid=101

Third Obama nominee with tax issues:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/02/another-tax-pro.html

FOURTH Obama nominee with tax issues:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090205190240AAkifLS

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/02/president-oba-2.html

Vote NOW!

2009-01-30T17:19:00.001-06:00

Your vote counts!
Subject: Will NBC be surprised?

Here's your chance to let the media know where the people stand on our faith in God, as a nation.
NBC is taking a poll on "In God We Trust" to stay on our American currency.
Please send this to every person you know so they can vote on this important subject.
Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off the web page.
Poll is still open so you can vote.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

"stimulus"....please!

2009-01-29T23:49:00.003-06:00

Only 5 percent of $819b plan would go toward infrastructure

Critics say transportation is shortchanged

By Michael Kranish Globe Staff / January 29, 2009

WASHINGTON - Five weeks before becoming president, Barack Obama urged passage of a massive economic stimulus package, vowing that it would "create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s."

But the bill passed by the House yesterday dedicates only about 5 percent of the $819 billion measure to highway, mass transit, and rail projects, analysts said. That has prompted even some Democratic supporters to complain that the transportation spending was gutted by Republicans who insisted on more tax cuts - none of whom voted for the measure anyway - and by Obama advisers who shifted priorities to advance policy goals.

Many economists have argued in recent weeks that spending on infrastructure would do more to quickly create jobs and pull the country out of recession than tax cuts for individuals and businesses, or investments in healthcare and alternative energy - such as grants for health information technology and for a smart electricity grid. The tax cuts and investments are now sizable elements of the recovery package, with Obama's assent.

Representative Michael Capuano, a Somerville Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said he has watched with frustration as spending for rapid transit and rail dropped during negotiations over the bill. For example, after an initial burst of enthusiasm for inter-city rail projects, the amount was reduced to $5 billion and then to $1.1 billion, he said.

The bill has $30 billion for roads and bridges and $12 billion for rapid transit, with decisions on specific projects to be made by state and local officials. But that's far less than originally sought by some Democrats, and could make it more difficult to fund some Massachusetts projects, such as work on roads, bridges, and the MBTA system, or a proposed extension of the commuter rail line from Lowell to Manchester, N.H.

"Priorities changed," Capuano said. "Someone says, 'How about food stamps, how about early childhood education?' "

Nonetheless, Representative Edward J. Markey, a Malden Democrat, praised the bill last night and said it would provide more than $6 billion for Massachusetts and could save or create thousands of jobs.

Capuano said he still supported the bill because it provides much-needed money for an array of interests, but said he would have preferred some of the tax cuts were replaced by transportation spending. He compared $1.1 billion for rail projects with $145 billion to provide $500-per-taxpayer rebates. "I know it is politically popular, but I don't think it will stimulate the economy," Capuano said of the tax relief.

The chairman of the transportation panel's subcommittee on highways and transit, Peter DeFazio of Oregon, became so angry about the reduction in transportation spending that he recently accused Obama's top economic adviser, Lawrence Summers, of arguing against such funds because he "hates infrastructure."

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki responded yesterday, "Before he joined the administration and since, Larry Summers has consistently supported infrastructure funding as a means of stimulus." Psaki said that the stimulus bill has "a significant investment in infrastructure" and will be followed by other legislation, adding, "The goal has never been to accomplish every legislative goal in one fell swoop."

But in a sign of dissatisfaction among members of both parties with the amount of transportation spending, an amendment to increase the total from $9 billion to $12 billion passed by a voice vote yesterday.

The bill is expected to be reshaped further in the Senate in coming days, but it is not yet clear whether the transportation funding will grow.

Senator John F. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat who has been pushing for a $25 billion national high-speed rail network, said yesterday that he hopes the stimulus bill will provide an opportunity to get the plan underway. So far, Kerry said, he and other supporters have secured $2 billion for high-speed rail in the Senate bill, but he said "we have to do much more."

The American Society of Civil Engineers said in a report released yesterday - ahead of schedule to try to influence the stimulus debate - that the nation's infrastructure is so degraded that it gets a grade of "D." The report urged $2.2 trillion in spending, not including money for high-speed rail, which Obama and his vice president, Joe Biden, have said is a priority.

"Our greatest concern is that Congress is going to pass the stimulus and think that they have checked the box on infrastructure, when in reality there is much more to be done," said Janet Kavinoky, director of transportation infrastructure for the US Chamber of Commerce.

Shortly before Obama outlined his stimulus plans in a Dec. 6 radio address, the nation's governors told him that they had about $150 billion in transportation projects ready to build. It was estimated that each $1 billion of spending would produce 40,000 jobs. John Krieger, the federal transportation policy analyst at the US Public Interest Research Group, said that while his groups supports the bill, Obama initially left the impression that it would have such a massive component of urban transit and high-speed rail that it would lead to a "generational change" in transportation comparable to that of the interstate system of 1950s.

An analysis of the stimulus bill by Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Economy.com, says most of the infrastructure spending will not occur until 2010, while some tax cuts might have more immediate impact.

That study, however, also found that a cut in corporate taxes would have an impact of 30 cents for every reduction of $1 in the coming year, while infrastructure spending would result in a payback of $1.59 for every $1 spent. The biggest impact could come from items that had been inserted into the bill with relatively little fanfare but which could be quickly enacted. The extension of unemployment benefits would have a payback of $1.63 per $1 spent, and an increase in food stamps would pay back $1.73.

Mchael Kranish can be reached at kranish@globe.com.

READER COMMENTS (14) Post a comment

Retirement accounts are evaporating, jobs are disappearing by the 10's of thousands every week, government is not addressing true fixes and is continuing it's huge spending and government growth pattern. The American population is sinking into a financial hole so deep we will never be able to get out of it.

Yet we, the people, have been so programmed into a democrat vs republican mentality, we don't see the apparent damage being done every day right before our eyes. Totally incompetent leaders in Washington, I predict, will be the cause of a backlash by the people one day that none of us are going to like. How is it America became so great over the past 200 years and now our country is being high jacked by a group of left wing socialists. If they prevail America is finished.

by BobRet January 29, 3:18 PM

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$119 billion classified for "other". The third biggest category and they can't even define it. Sounds like alot of pork to me.

by juerls January 29, 2:10 PM

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RedisRight-1...you are right, spending on infrastructure does not provide a lifelong job to every worker. NOR IS IT MEANT TO. The idea is to provide jobs now, short term, for the growing segment of the population who have lost their jobs and cannot find a new one. Ideally, once we get out of the depression, those workers can then find a new job, hopefully in their original area of expertise. A tax cut is not super helpful if you have no job and therefore have no income for an extended period of time.

by mixie104 January 29, 12:57 PM

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Stowe, are you that stupid? Read your history, what incentive does it give people to work if they're given credits? In 2005, a $286.4 BILLION dollar infrastructure bill was passed, jobs are created and then end because the work is completed. Tax cuts give people more of their money in their pocket, allows businesses to keep more of their money to hire more people, reinvest capital, etc. Get a clue before you spew nonsense about hope because Obama is representative of the new DC, same as the old DC.

by RedisRight-1 January 29, 12:48 PM

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Bye Bye Blago!

2009-01-29T21:11:00.002-06:00

Finally, something is done right! Well, kinda! That seems to be all we can hope for these days...is things done "kinda" right. Yes, Blago was impeached....BUT if the investigation had been allowed to go on longer...I think it would have led to even more corruption and probably found its way back to Obama. Of course that would never be allowed to happen. However, I would bet money that if it had been a Republican situation...it would have been plastered everywhere and there would be more than one person going down.

Blago is gone. Good. One less currupt person in a high office. The thing I am worried about is the person in the HIGHEST office who wasn't ever in a "high office" before he was elected to run the country. My fear is that he is going to run the country into the ground.

Reasons the "Stimulus" should never pass

2009-01-29T18:02:00.003-06:00

These are just a few of the reasons that the "stimulus" should never be passed:

*Massive stimulus didn't work in the Great Depression. As this Heritage Foundation study notes: "After the stock market collapse in 1929, the Hoover Administration increased federal spending by 47 percent over the following three years. As a result, federal spending increased from 3.4 percent of GDP in 1930 to 6.9 percent in 1932 and reached 9.8 percent by 1940. That same year-- 10 years into the Great Depression--America's unemployment rate stood at 14.6 percent." Same goes for Japan and its Great Stagnation of the 1990s.

*Alberto Alesina of Harvard and Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago want to adress the fear and confidence issue by creating "the incentive for people to take more risk and move their savings from government bonds to risky assets. There is no better way to encourage this than a temporary elimination of the capital-gains tax for all the investments begun during 2009 and held for at least two years."

*University of Chicago economist and Nobel laureate Gary Becker doubts whether all this stimulus spending will do much to lower unemployment: "For one thing, the true value of these government programs may be limited because they will be put together hastily, and are likely to contain a lot of political pork and other inefficiencies. For another thing, with unemployment at 7% to 8% of the labor force, it is impossible to target effective spending programs that primarily utilize unemployed workers, or underemployed capital. Spending on infrastructure, and especially on health, energy, and education, will mainly attract employed persons from other activities to the activities stimulated by the government spending. The net job creation from these and related spending is likely to be rather small. In addition, if the private activities crowded out are more valuable than the activities hastily stimulated by this plan, the value of the increase in employment and GDP could be very small, even negative."

Source: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2009/1/27/10-reasons-to-nix-the-stimulus-plan.html

This gave me a little laugh...

2009-01-27T15:15:00.000-06:00

Ive seen this on the news once!

2009-01-27T00:46:00.001-06:00

I am so sick of the media playing games with us. Good reporters are few and far between now. Especially the news shows now...it's all about ratings and pleasing the viewers! I don't want to be spoon fed the news or brainwashed by them choosing what I get to see! That is sadly what a lot of people settle for...the easy way.

When Bush overturned Clintons abortion policy it was all over the news. Where are all those "reporters" when Obama is doing the same to Bush?

"WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama overturned what he described as an "unwarranted" eight-year ban on US government funding for family-planning groups which carry out or facilitate abortions overseas."

Can someone tell me ....WHY in the world are we paying for it OVERSEAS? I wouldn't want to pay for it in my own country but especially not someone elses! And yes I said "I" wouldn't want to pay for it because whether you realize it or not these "government funded programs" are taking money right out of your pockets! This is the "cut back in spending" Obama promised? That makes no sense! Can anyone explain that to me?

"Anti-abortion groups were up in arms and vowed to fight the move.

"We were prepared for this and we will work very hard in Congress to see what we can do to get this overturned," Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, told AFP.

"I think it's a horrible tactic to take toward third world countries if the best we can do for them is provide organizations with the money needed to perform abortions on their children," she said.

Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, said lifting the gag rule was tantamount to "exporting a culture of death," and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor said he was "saddened by this decision and the lives that will be lost because of it." - www.rawstory.com

I am hopeful that Obama will wake up and realize that his plans and what he wants to do to this country will lead to nothing but a huge mess. But you won't hear about it on the news...so don't worry....they can't afford to let him look bad. They have another term to think about. And of course anything your kids read about him in school will be about how great he is/was as a president....think about it tho....WHO runs the school system? Do some research. Why do you think there is so much talk about revamping schools and changing curriculum? They do it all the time and all it has led to is the "dumbing down of our country" and the children are the ones that pay for it in the end. Parents need to get more involved in not only their kids schooling but also in politics! I know it sounds so hard and so time consuming and you might even get into a debate or two....GOOD! Get off your butt and do something about the way our country is behaving. I am sick of it....and you should be too!

Can anyone tell me who to complain to?

2009-01-24T23:56:00.001-06:00

So in the last week alone two people I know have been laid off! The job market is terrible. I am looking myself right now too. However, mine is because I had to move because of circumstances out of my control. Which meant that I had to quit the 2 jobs that I was working because I couldn't find one job that would pay enough. Even though it was hard I did like both the jobs I had. It just makes me so sick when all I see on the news is stuff about the dumb bailout that is just taxpayers money down the drain. I mean...DID IT WORK LAST TIME? Why don't they give us lower taxes and let us keep our money! The ones who actually want to live better and get out of debt will do so and the ones who still haven't learned will waste the money and end up fueling the economy for REAL! (instead of a "stimulus package" that does not really stimulate anything but Government control) Or what about getting rid of the income tax? When people work hard and GET TAXED for it....that makes NO sense! TAX what people BUY! That way seems fair to me. But that probably won't happen because that would mean that the government actually did something that makes sense or is fair across the board. And it really wouldn't fit in with the whole "share the wealth" thing obama has planned. I mean it is crazy to think that people who work for their money should actually get to keep it?!?! Right! HA! What I think is crazy is people who are able to work but don't because its easier to take a handout from the government. Of course to them it makes sense. Because they are selfish. I am not talking about people who can't work! So don't start getting defensive! I am talking about people who can but choose not to. And really...they are thinking what I think sometimes....why should I bother? All I can find for work is a low paying job that ends up paying even less when they take out taxes so really...I'll just stay home and get paid to do nothing! The thing is I choose not to do this because even tho it seems like the easy thing to do and maybe even the right thing to some people because they can "stick it to the government"....its not. Someone pays for this choice. We may not feel it now...but our children will...and our grandchildren will. But all I hear from people on the news who are in favor of this bailout crap or the "spread the wealth" garbage is that we have to think of ourselves now EVEN when we know that our kids and grandkids will be paying for our bad choices because of our selfishness. Does that make sense to anyone? I don't want my grandkids asking me why the USA isn't what it used to be and all I have to tell them is that people didn't care what shape they were going to leave the country in for them. So I know they job market is bad...I am still hunting for a job. But I do know jobs are out there. I also know that people are being too picky. People are sitting around going into debt waiting for the perfect job to fall in their lap. Its not gonna happen people! Get off your butt and work somewhere you might not like to pay the bills! One of the two people who I mentioned at the start of this post is applying anywhere they can! This not the time to be picky. The government isn't going to help those of us who actually want to work. But the other choice to sit at home and collect a check from the government isn't a good choice either...think about the future of this country. We can't become a country dependent on the government for our livelihood. If we end up there....they might as well call us the Hopeless States of America.

*another venting post! :D

It makes me tired...

2009-01-15T04:44:00.000-06:00

What are we doing!?!?!

It all makes me so tired!

I don't wanna think about it sometimes...because it just frustrates me that our nation has.....decided to do this to themselves

we just continue to drown in more and more debt as a country

And its only natural for the children to do as the parent...right? so of course most of the individual citizens are in debt too!

The blame is not fully on the Government tho. We as consumers have not done a good job of staying informed and being smart shoppers. We just put it on the plastic to "get the points". What we don't take time to realize is...the amount of money you actually have to put on your card (spending money you don't really have that ends up costing you twice as much!)...ends up being enough to buy 4 trips to Europe instead of the ONE trip you "earn" with your points. You aren't EARNING ANYTHING!!! Unless you are one of the few out of the population who really does pay off the card in FULL at the end of the month...you are on the losing end of the deal! You end up paying for that trip, that free shirt, that dinner, whatever the "prize" may be, ten fold when you add up the interest and fees you are charged!

We should not be following in the Governments footsteps. I mean look at the mess they are making of our financial system...would you really want to follow them? We also need to stand up and take control of ourselves. Too many people are looking for the government to step in a "fix" things. I really don't want to give the government that much control of my life...do you? They already have too much power and have had too much power for a long time now... which results in the situation we are in now.

We as a country should be fighting the raising of taxes! That is the worst thing to do in a bad economic time! It just makes sense to keep taxes low for the people. But see the thing that is hush hush from the government is...it isn't really about the "people" anymore...its about government.

We should also be fighting income tax. It is money that we all work hard for and YET we PAY taxes on the money we EARN! What kind of sense does that make? Tax the things we BUY! .... If you give more people more money in their pockets....history has shown that most of the country doesn't know how to manage their money...and will end up spending it rather than saving it or paying off their debt! This will be good for everyone. And really...the smart ones would use the money to pay off debt or to save for an emergency. Everyone splurges from time to time...but right now I think less and less are doing it because there is so much fear in the economy. If we all hold on to our money...it will only get worse. The government is holding tightly to "their" money by not lowering taxes (giving a tax cut to people who don't work does not count as a tax cut!) and by taxing our income! And like I said earlier...the child is going to act like the parent. So be careful how you act..and in this case....where the government is the parent....choose to be a Rebel.

DISCLAIMER: this post is me blowing off steam...if it doesn't make sense to you...sorry! ahah! PLEASE leave a comment and let me know your thoughts...I really mean that! I am open to discussion and want to hear your views! :D Thanks for reading!

2009-01-02T05:05:00.001-06:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

FREE REDBOX RENTALS

2008-12-10T10:41:00.001-06:00

Every Sunday in December (and the first Sunday in January), you can get a free rental from Redbox locations inside of Walmart stores. All you need to do is use the code specific to the Sunday you are renting on.
The codes are:

12/07/08 - 11MOMS4US
12/14/08 - 11MOMS4UA
12/21/08 - 11MOMS4UN
12/28/08 - 11MOMS4UT
01/04/09 - 11MOMS4UA

Notice the end of the code spells out "SANTA" across all 5 weeks. So, enjoy the codes courtesy of Redbox, Walmart, and the Eleven Moms.

And remember, these codes only work at Walmart locations on the Sunday specified

Clinton? Is this Obamas idea of change?

2008-11-15T17:23:00.001-06:00

From Gloria Borger, Jessica Yellin and Sam Feist
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama has spoken with two former rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination about the secretary of state position in his administration, sources told CNN on Friday.

Sen. Hillary Clinton has been mentioned as a candidate for Obama's secretary of state, sources say.

Obama spoke with Sen. Hillary Clinton on Thursday and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday about the key Cabinet post, multiple Democratic sources said.

Over the course of the past 24 hours, sources close to Clinton have softened their one-time solid public position that she would not be interested in a Cabinet position. Those sources now say she is clearly contemplating how she can serve the Obama administration.

Clinton traveled to Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday to meet with Obama, sources said, and the two had a "serious discussion" about the issue.

Clinton's response to Obama's overture is unknown, but sources said the New York senator left the meeting with the impression that if she were interested in the post, it would be hers. Watch more on the speculation surrounding Clinton »

Under these circumstances, one source said, a president-elect does not meet with potential Cabinet secretaries unless he is serious about making an offer.

Obama has had "great interest" in asking Clinton to be secretary of state "for a while," another source close to the Obama transition team said. iReport.com: Whom should Obama pick?

"You've got to assume that Hillary Clinton did not come to visit the city of Chicago," the source said.

Should Clinton take the position, the transition team and the senator would have to work out how her husband, former President Clinton, would continue his work with the Clinton Global Initiative without complicating her work as secretary of state, another source close to the Obama transition team said.

"I am happy being a senator from New York. I love this state and this city," Clinton said Monday in response to a reporter's question. "I am looking at the long list of things I have to catch up on and do. But I want to be a good partner, and I want to do everything I can to make sure [Obama's] agenda is going to be successful." Watch whether Clinton would join Obama's team »

On Friday, Obama spoke with Richardson about the position, a senior Democratic source said. The source said Richardson has always been on Obama's list of possibilities for the key Cabinet position.

Richardson also traveled to Chicago to meet with Obama, according to a source who said the idea of Clinton as secretary of state is "not a done deal."

Richardson withdrew from the race for the Democratic nomination January 10 and later endorsed Obama.

Clinton battled on until June, eventually throwing her support to Obama as well.

A source close to transition team said Obama is trying to build a diverse Cabinet that includes women and minorities and that works as a team.

Obama campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs is widely expected to be named White House press secretary, and chief strategist David Axelrod is expected to be picked as a White House senior adviser.

Also Friday, the Obama transition team announced that the Illinois senator will meet with the man he defeated in the general election, Republican Sen. John McCain, on Monday.

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach 'Change'

2008-11-04T14:25:00.001-06:00

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach 'Change'

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30 I celebrate my independence day and on July 4 I celebrate America's. This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my independence.

On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba and a few months later I was in the United States to stay. That I happened to arrive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.

I've thought a lot about the anniversary this year. The election-year rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what transpired there. In the late 1950s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, and they were right. So when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least receptive.

When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the old system, the press fell in love with him. They never questioned who his friends were or what he really believed in. When he said he would help the farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all, everyone followed. When he said he would bring justice and equality to all, everyone said "Praise the Lord." And when the young leader said, "I will be for change and I'll bring you change," everyone yelled, "Viva Fidel!"

But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner's guns went silent the people's guns had been taken away. By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed. By the time everyone received their free education it was worth nothing. By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him. By the time the change was finally implemented Cuba had been knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status. By the time the change was over more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes. You can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans. And now I'm back to the beginning of my story.

Luckily, we would never fall in America for a young leader who promised change without asking, what change? How will you carry it out? What will it cost America?
Would we?
Manuel Alvarez Jr.

Senator Obama's Four Tax Increases for People Earning Under $250k

2008-10-28T20:12:00.001-05:00

Today at 7:38pm

October 27, 2008 (American Thinker)
Senator Obama's Four Tax Increases for People Earning Under $250k
By Ned Barnett

I confess. Senator Obama's two tax promises: to limit tax increases to only those making over $250,000 a year, and to not raise taxes on 95% of "working Americans," intrigued me. As a hard-working small business owner, over the past ten years I've earned from $50,000 to $100,000 per year. If Senator Obama is shooting straight with us, under his presidency I could look forward to paying no additional Federal taxes -- I might even get a break -- and as I struggle to support a family and pay for two boys in college, a reliable tax freeze is nearly as welcome as further tax cuts.

However, Senator Obama's dual claims seemed implausible, especially when it came to my Federal income taxes. Those implausible promises made me look at what I'd been paying before President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, as well as what I paid after those tax cuts became law. I chose the 2000 tax tables as my baseline -- they reflect the tax rates that Senator Obama will restore by letting the "Bush Tax Cuts" lapse. I wanted to see what that meant from my tax bill.

I've worked as the state level media and strategy director on three Presidential election campaigns -- I know how "promises" work -- so I analyzed Senator Obama's promises by looking for loopholes.

The first loophole was easy to find: Senator Obama doesn't "count" allowing the Bush tax cuts to lapse as a tax increase. Unless the cuts are re-enacted, rates will automatically return to the 2000 level. Senator Obama claims that letting a tax cut lapse -- allowing the rates to return to a higher levels -- is not actually a "tax increase." It's just the lapsing of a tax cut.

See the difference?

Neither do I.

When those cuts lapse, my taxes are going up -- a lot -- but by parsing words, Senator Obama justifies his claim that he won't actively raise taxes on 95 percent of working Americans, even while he's passively allowing tax rates to go up for 100% of Americans who actually pay Federal income taxes.

Making this personal, my Federal Income Tax will increase by $3,824 when those tax cuts lapse. That not-insignificant sum would cover a couple of house payments or help my two boys through another month or two of college.

No matter what Senator Obama calls it, requiring us to pay more taxes amounts to a tax increase. This got me wondering what other Americans will have to pay when the tax cuts lapse.

For a married family, filing jointly and earning $75,000 a year, this increase will be $3,074. For those making just $50,000, this increase will be $1,512. Despite Senator Obama's claim, even struggling American families making just $25,000 a year will see a tax increase -- they'll pay $715 more in 2010 than they did in 2007. Across the board, when the tax cuts lapse, working Americans will see significant increases in their taxes, even if their household income is as low as $25,000. See the tables at the end of this article.

Check this for yourself. Go to http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/ and pull up the 1040 instructions for 2000 and 2007 and go to the tax tables. Based on your 2007 income, check your taxes rates for 2000 and 2007, and apply them to your taxable income for 2007. In 2000 -- Senator Obama's benchmark year -- you would have paid significantly more taxes for the income you earned in 2007. The Bush Tax Cuts, which Senator Obama has said he will allow to lapse, saved you money, and without those cuts, your taxes will go back up to the 2000 level. Senator Obama doesn't call it a "tax increase," but your taxes under "President" Obama will increase -- significantly.

Senator Obama is willfully deceiving you and me when he says that no one making under $250,000 will see an increase in their taxes. If I were keeping score, I'd call that Tax Lie #1.

The next loophole involves the payroll tax that you pay to support the Social Security system. Currently, there is an inflation-adjusted cap, and according to the non-profit Tax Foundation, in 2006 -- the most recent year for which tax data is available -- only the first $94,700 of an unmarried individual's earnings were subject to the 12.4 percent payroll tax. However, Senator Obama has proposed lifting that cap, adding an additional 12.4 percent tax on every dollar earned above that cap -- and in spite of his promise, impacting all those who earn between $94,700 and $249,999.

By doing this, he plans to raise an additional $1 trillion dollars (another $662.50 out of my pocket -- and how much out of yours?) to help fund Social Security. Half of this tax would be paid by employees and half by employers -- but employers will either cut the payroll or pass along this tax to their customers through higher prices. Either way, some individual will pay the price for the employer's share of the tax increase.

However, when challenged to explain how he could eliminate the cap AND not raise taxes on Americans earning under $250,000, Senator Obama suggested on his website that he "might" create a "donut" -- an exemption from this payroll tax for wages between $94,700 and $250,000. But that donut would mean he couldn't raise anywhere near that $1 trillion dollars for Social Security. When this was pointed out, Senator Obama's "donut plan" was quietly removed from his website.

This "explanation" sounds like another one of those loopholes. If I were keeping score, I'd call this Tax Lie #2.

(updated) Senator Obama has also said that he will raise capital gains taxes from 15 percent to 20 percent. He says he's aiming at "fat cats" who make above $250,000. However, while only 1 percent of Americans make a quarter-million dollars, roughly 50 percent of all Americans own stock – and while investments that are through IRAs, 401Ks and in pension plans are not subject to capital gains, those stocks in personal portfolios are subject to capital gains, no matter what the owner’s income is. However, according to the US Congress’s Joint Economic Committee Study, “Recent data released by the Federal Reserve shows that nearly half of all U.S. households are stockholders. In the last decade alone, the number of stockholders has jumped by over fifty percent.” This is clear – a significant number of all Americans who earn well under $250,000 a year will feel this rise in their capital gains taxes.
Under "President" Obama, if you sell off stock and earn a $100,000 gain -- perhaps to help put your children through college -- instead of paying $15,000 in capital gains taxes today, you'll pay $20,000 under Obama's plan. That's a full one-third more, and it applies no matter how much you earn.

No question -- for about 50 percent of all Americans, this is Tax Lie #3.

Finally, Senator Obama has promised to raise taxes on businesses -- and to raise taxes a lot on oil companies. I still remember Econ-101 -- and I own a small business. From both theory and practice, I know what businesses do when taxes are raised. Corporations don't "pay" taxes -- they collect taxes from customers and pass them along to the government. When you buy a hot dog from a 7/11, you can see the clerk add the sales tax, but when a corporation's own taxes go up, you don't see it -- its automatic -- but they do the same thing. They build this tax into their product's price. Senator Obama knows this. He knows that even people who earn less than $250,000 will pay higher prices -- those pass-through taxes -- when corporate taxes go up.

No question: this is Tax Lie #4.

There's not a politician alive who hasn't be caught telling some minor truth-bender. However, when it comes to raising taxes, there are no small lies. When George H.W. Bush's "Read my lips -- no new taxes" proved false, he lost the support of his base -- and ultimately lost his re-election bid.

This year, however, we don't have to wait for the proof: Senator Obama has already promised to raise taxes, and we can believe him. However, while making that promise, he's also lied, in at least four significant ways, about who will pay those taxes. If Senator Obama becomes President Obama, when the tax man comes calling, we will all pay the price. And that's the truth.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/senator_obamas_four_tax_increa.html

* Go to website for tax charts!*

one of the best analogies I’ve ever seen to explain the downfall of Socialist taxation policies.

2008-10-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

The Parable of 10 Men in a Bar

from: http://itooktheredpill.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/the-parable-of-10-men-in-a-bar/

Not a Bible parable, obviously, but one of the best analogies I've ever seen to explain the downfall of Socialist taxation policies.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes,it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100%savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got'

'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works!!

The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

[Found on Internet, here's what Snopes has to say about the authorship. Regardless of who wrote it, it explains the concepts very well.]

"Spreading the wealth around" never results in a better outcome for people. It always results in destruction. Case study: Zimbabwe.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

This entry was posted on October 22, 2008 at 6:41 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to "The Parable of 10 Men in a Bar"

Isolden Says:
October 22, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I heard this first on Rush's show and thought it a very appropriate analogy. Wish more ppl knew about it - pass it on -
ozarksky Says:
October 22, 2008 at 11:17 pm
This is great!!! It's so simple…yet BHO just doesn't get it. Or…perhaps he does…get us all drunk (for free) and have his way with us. Count me out!!
sweetakin Says:
October 23, 2008 at 11:20 am
While sitting at our coffee table with my 8th grader studying for an upcoming test, political news was on the t.v. in the background. My son was observing the treatment of "Joe the Plumber" and asked why people (media) were bashing him for asking a question. After my explanation, my son remarked, "Mom, that would be like me making 100 on my test, a classmate making a 25, my teacher taking points away from me, and giving them to the other student all so that our grades would be equal. But then we'd both fail."

I replied, "Yes, but maybe that would be fair." To which he replied, "Or maybe he/she didn't study, or better yet, didn't even care to study because he/she knew they would get some of my points. In that case, why should I study?" To which I replied, "Bingo son, you get it."

P.S. Bless you for the "shout out" on MM! You're terrific! I understand that this time of year she would be inundated with trolls, so I will continue to read and learn.
itooktheredpill Says:
October 23, 2008 at 12:10 pm
sweetakin,
Your son is wise! You have taught your children well.

Thank you for your kind words.

Sincerely,
Red Pill.

wooops

2008-10-18T15:49:00.001-05:00

wooops
Originally uploaded by jimshitz010010010010000101

Proof that Obama's camp faked his birth certificate

Uploaded by jimshitz010010010010000101 on 16 Oct 08, 12.18PM PDT.

Obama Citizenship??? Why should we trust him??

2008-10-18T15:34:00.000-05:00

Why should someone tell me where my money goes???

2008-10-17T18:15:00.001-05:00

An editorial by Paul Marx, Owner of radio station KBON 101.1FM

I was brought up believing that the United States of America was the
country that gave anyone the opportunity to be as successful as one
can achieve, but now it seems that many people believe that if you
become too successful you should be "punished"; if you make "too
much" money with your success some of that money should be taken away
from you and "shared" with those less fortunate, but aren't we are
already sharing?

Aren't the so called "less fortunate" in this country already being
taken care of? After all they get Federal housing, Food stamps,
medical cards and God knows what else. How much more should we give
them?? We have become a country filled with too many people who want
something for nothing. Do we just keep giving and giving to those who
contribute the least to the country? Shouldn't there instead be some
sort of plan to reward those who contribute to the country or at
least let those who earn success, enjoy it?

Why is it always so popular for a politician or political candidate
to talk about "more taxes" on the rich? Why can't people understand
that in most cases it is those so called "rich people" that own
businesses and create jobs. They are people who in many cases
started at the bottom and worked their way up, many taking a gamble
by investing their life savings into a business or idea. So, they
invest, build their business with hard work, hire people to work for
them and see some well earned success, then we punish them. That's
right folks, while the word "tax" is being used it's not
really "taxing" those people who earned success, it is punishing
those people. Is it fair that we take from these people
to "distribute the wealth"? Distribute to who??

I don't want the government to take money that I have worked hard for
and give it to someone who most likely does not contribute to this
country. I am fed up with driving down the streets at mid-day and
seeing people sitting outside smoking, drinking and playing cards
under a tree while I have to worry about my business; how the downed
economy will affect it. I am tired of going into a store all times of
the day and seeing people buying expensive steaks with food stamps
but having the cash to buy cartoons of cigarettes, bottles of wine or
whiskey and cases of beer. I am tired of driving by bars during work
hours and seeing the same cars there day after day. These are some of
the very people Presidential candidate Barak Obama wants to "spread
the wealth" to.

Anyway don't financially successful people spread the wealth on
their own by spending more money? I would think that they probably
buy bigger, more expensive homes, more expensive furniture, more
expensive automobiles, send their kids to college, etc. In other
words, besides creating jobs for other people who WANT to work, they
help the economy by spending that money that they have earned.
I agree with this "post" I found on a discussion board: "It is not
the governments job to determine who makes" too much" money, only to
make fair rules for all to follow. The smart and motivated will
succeed, the lazy will not".
To Quote "Joe the Plumber": "That's the American Dream to me. You
work hard. You're going to get what you want eventually. It's not
going to happen overnight by no means, but if you work hard enough
you will get it. I resent the government or Obama's plan to take more
away from me." -- (Joe Wurzelbacher, October 12, 2008).

As "Joe" told Diane Sawyer recently: "Americans should get treated
equally. Why do we have escalating tax brackets on higher incomes at
all? Why are we penalizing the success that we proclaim as the
American Dream"?

A writing by Peter Ferrara titled "Federal Income Taxes: Who Pays and
How Much" states: "Facts are that the top 1% of income earners are
paying 40% of federal income taxes, almost twice their share of
income, so the rich certainly seem to be paying their fair share, and
then some. Liberal politicians who say we need to raise taxes on the
rich so they will pay their fair share are either abusively
misleading the public or hopelessly ignorant regarding federal tax
policy. If 40% is not fair for the top 1%, what would be fair, 50%,
100%? Secondly, liberal politicians wailing about Republican tax cuts
for the rich are also either misleading the public, or hopelessly
uninformed. With the top 1% now paying 40% of income taxes, the top
5% paying 60%, and the top 40% paying 99.4%, where are the tax cuts
for rich? Clearly, federal income taxes are overwhelmingly paid by
upper income earners".

In my opinion, Barack Obama's political strategy seems to be more
welfare and give-away programs at the expense of not only who he
considers to be "rich", but also at the expense of the hard working
middle class Americans (Even though many of them may not realize that
yet); taking from them and giving to those who contribute the least
to this country.
It's very sad but it seems that America is becoming a nation of more
& more people with their hands out for charity & freebies, and I have
to give Barack Obama this. He's smart enough to realize that
promising to give more of "something for nothing" to these people
will get him millions of votes.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. This election, maybe more than ever, it is very
important that you THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE and put AMERICA FIRST!

Thank you,

PAUL MARX
Owner/KBON 11.1FM
www.kbon.com

P.S. One more thing. Ask yourself, who would you have voted for if
this election had been right after 9/11? In your honest opinion who
do you think would have best acted on America's behalf?

CHANGE... WE NEED!??

2008-10-04T03:51:00.001-05:00

CHANGE... WE NEED!
Originally uploaded by hhsc/Greg

view profile
~ Sailor ~ Pro User says:

Ha! You are gonna get your CHANGE alright. Venezuela got their CHANGE. It's a brave new world, folks. HOPE you can afford the taxes given to another 35,000,000 non-tax paying citizens.

95% of Americans will get a tax cut! NEWS Flash - 30+% of Americans DON'T pay taxes. Do the math!

HA! I quit. I have started with nothing but the shirt on my back 3 times. Not again.

Obama can mail my check and you can keep your CHANGE.

Ha, this is gonna be almost as fun as the 1960s.

Hey, if by chance Obama does lose, will y'all be attending the riots?
Posted 13 hours ago. ( permalink )

obama chicken

2008-10-04T03:38:00.001-05:00

obama chicken
Originally uploaded by eywmm0

an orange beach resident put this on the back of their truck.

Uploaded by eywmm0 on 15 Sep 08, 7.16AM PDT.

Obama Truth Squad

2008-10-04T01:41:00.001-05:00

Obama Truth Squad
Originally uploaded by malagent

The Barack Obama Truth Squad - Missouri Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Publicly Threaten Obama Critics
Find more info and related video at the links above.
Barack Hussein Obama really can't handle any criticism at all. the Obama campaign has asked MO Law Enforcement and Prosecutors to go after anyone who lies, misleads or uses "character attacks" against Obama.
Just Imagine what it would be like if he is elected?
© 2008 Malagent's NObama 08 Campaign

Uploaded by malagent on 27 Sep 08, 2.33AM PDT.

A new low in politics from Obama

2008-09-30T02:53:00.001-05:00

From: http://beltwaysnark.com/2008/09/15/did-obama-seriously-try-to-get-iraq-to-stall-on-a-pullout/

WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence.

According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.

"He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington," Zebari said in an interview.

Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops - and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its "state of weakness and political confusion."

"However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open." Zebari says.

Though Obama claims the US presence is "illegal," he suddenly remembered that Americans troops were in Iraq within the legal framework of a UN mandate. His advice was that, rather than reach an accord with the "weakened Bush administration," Iraq should seek an extension of the UN mandate.

Wow. Just wow. Even the Iraqis can see what Obama was trying to do.

Iraqi leaders are divided over the US election. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (whose party is a member of the Socialist International) sees Obama as "a man of the Left" - who, once elected, might change his opposition to Iraq's liberation. Indeed, say Talabani's advisers, a President Obama might be tempted to appropriate the victory that America has already won in Iraq by claiming that his intervention transformed failure into success.

Maliki's advisers have persuaded him that Obama will win - but the prime minister worries about the senator's "political debt to the anti-war lobby" - which is determined to transform Iraq into a disaster to prove that toppling Saddam Hussein was "the biggest strategic blunder in US history."

Other prominent Iraqi leaders, such as Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Kurdish regional President Massoud Barzani, believe that Sen. John McCain would show "a more realistic approach to Iraqi issues."

If this can be proven, Obama might as well hang it up. Not only is meddling in ongoing US negotiations with Iraq a no-no of epic proportions, the idea that Obama would even dare to suggest to Iraqis that they should not deal with the Bush administration in creating a timeline (thereby leaving troops in Iraq longer than needed) just to try and make Dems look better if he takes office is sick.

And I don't know why I'm so surprised, I always thought the Dems would do whatever it took to claim the Iraq victory for themselves. I just never thought they'd go so far as to leaving our troops exposed for years longer than necessary to do it.

UPDATE - Here's the word from Team Obama.

But Obama's national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi said Taheri's article bore "as much resemblance to the truth as a McCain campaign commercial."

In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a "Strategic Framework Agreement" governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office, she said.

…

"Barack Obama has never urged a delay in negotiations, nor has he urged a delay in immediately beginning a responsible drawdown of our combat brigades," Morigi said.

That statement didn't help Obama's case much, seeing as his national security spokeswoman just admitted that Obama stuck his two cents where it didn't belong. That's still tampering with an ongoing US-Iraq negotiation, and the idea that Obama didn't urge a delay in negotiations is negated by the fact that he did indeed say that the Iraqis should wait until the next administration to do anything. I'm no genius, but that counts as urging a delay in negotiations to me. And if Taheri's report is correct, that's how the Iraqis interpreted Obama's remarks.

'Urine or You're Out'

2008-09-20T20:25:00.001-05:00

THE JOB - URINE TEST

(Whoever wrote this one deserves a HUGE pat on the back!)

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.

What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.
Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their tush, doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't. Hope you all will pass it along, though. . Something has to change in this country -- and soon!!!!!!!
I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'

Hurricane Gustav tracking models

2008-09-01T05:22:00.001-05:00

Hurricane Gustav tracking models
Originally uploaded by DigitalLyte57

during the latest Hurricane in the region, Hurricane Faye (which made a record-breaking 4 landfalls as she hit the Florida peninsula), the NGPS tracking model was the least accurate ... and the GFDL model was the closest in accuracy ... so if that holds true this go-round ... Hurricane Gustav is predicted to be in the Houston area this weekend ... in any case, more rain is on the way for the Labor Day holiday weekend!

Uploaded by DigitalLyte57 on 26 Aug 08, 7.44PM PDT.
spacer image

McCain-Palin Rally 171

2008-09-01T05:17:00.001-05:00

McCain-Palin Rally 171
Originally uploaded by buddhakiwi

McCain-Palin rally, Washington, PA. August 30, 2008.

Sarah Palin

2008-09-01T05:14:00.001-05:00

Sarah Palin
Originally uploaded by Celeste Van Kirk

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, claps with her husband,Todd, and daughters Willow, center, and Piper, during a rally at Consol Energy Park in Washington August 30, 2008

Uploaded by Celeste Van Kirk on 30 Aug 08, 5.57PM PDT.

Evacuations!!!!!

2008-08-30T22:48:00.004-05:00

The Governor announced that the following parishes have declared mandatory evacuations, and state continues to work closely with all coastal parishes as they execute their evacuation plans: (updated 8/30 - 7:30 pm)

Plaquemines, St. Martin, and St. Charles Parishes - 12 Noon today, Mandatory

Lafourche Parish - 3 PM today, Mandatory

Terrebonne, St. Mary, and St. Bernard Parishes - 4 PM Today, Mandatory

Calcasieu Parish - Sunday at 12 Noon, Mandatory

Cameron Parish - Expected Mandatory evacuation Sunday Morning

Iberia Parish - 7 AM Sunday, Mandatory

Lower Jefferson Parish - Voluntary going on today.

Orleans - Expecting mandatory tomorrow at 8 AM.

The Governor also announced today that the state is on track to begin the Central LA contra-flow plan at 4 AM Sunday morning and run through midnight Sunday. Louisiana State Police's 1,150 force is currently working double shifts to assist in preparations for contraflow and evacuation efforts. State Police has already worked with DOTD to preposition cones and traffic signs along the roadways in order to prepare to activate contraflow operations.

Evacuation guides for Southwest and Southeast Louisiana can be viewed at: www.GetaGameplan.org

Contra-Flow Maps: www.dotd.louisiana.gov/maps

Hurricane Gustav: Be prepared

2008-08-29T16:08:00.002-05:00

Take Protective Measures

Before a Hurricane
To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:

Make plans to secure your property. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8" marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed.
Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
Determine how and where to secure your boat.
Consider building a safe room.

During a Hurricane
If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:

Listen to the radio or TV for information.
Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
Turn off propane tanks.· Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
Moor your boat if time permits.
Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

You should evacuate under the following conditions:

If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.
If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure—such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground.
If you live in a high-rise building—hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.
If you feel you are in danger.

If you are unable to evacuate, go to your wind-safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:

Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
Close all interior doors—secure and brace external doors.
Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm - winds will pick up again.
Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

A note from Bobby Jindal

2008-07-21T23:27:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends,

Holding Town Hall Meetings

Beginning this week, I look forward to sitting down with you around the state to share about the progress we have made, but more importantly, to hear the concerns facing your community firsthand. We have accomplished a lot in a short time, but still have much work to do when it comes to making sure that our students have access to a quality education, our roads are safe to travel, citizens have access to quality and affordable health care and the state is investing your money wisely.

A recent letter to the Baton Rouge Advocate is reminiscent of what I have heard from a number of you over the past week encouraging us to continue moving forward with Louisiana's new era of fiscal common sense. The letter states, "Thank you, Gov. Bobby Jindal for taking the first steps in creating a budget for the entire state, for removing the projects that should be under community, philanthropy, church, local government, self-help and/or any concerned citizen."

As I said last week, there will always be more worthy causes than there will be state funding. But it is our job to ensure tax dollars are wisely spent and invested in state priorities that will further the creation of a New Louisiana that encourages business growth and job creation so our kids do not have to leave home to pursue their dreams.

The Monroe News-Star pointed out that the $16.14 million I vetoed last week in the state budget is "no chump change, especially if it represents money that was taken from the pockets of Louisiana taxpayers." They continued by saying our "intention was to protect the taxpayer," and that "the governor's actions were… consistent with the governor's promises to the people of Louisiana. He promised to be a good steward of public funds."

I look forward to visiting with you in the coming weeks. On Tuesday we begin our town hall meetings in Northwest Louisiana. I hope to see you there.

Tuesday, July 21

12:15pm – Homer (Claiborne Parish), City Hall

2:00pm – Springhill (Webster Parish), Community Activity Center

3:30pm – Vivian (Caddo Parish), Vivian Elementary and Middle School

Preparing for Hurricane Season

As evidenced by the appearance of a strong storm in the Gulf of Mexico this week, this year's hurricane season is upon us, and it is critical that every Louisiana family have a gameplan if faced with an approaching storm.

A few weeks ago I told you about our "Get a Gameplan" hurricane preparedness campaign, featuring LSU football coach Les Miles and New Orleans-based rock band Better Than Ezra. Last week we unveiled the public service announcements that you will soon see on television. You can get a sneak peek at the spots here.

I encourage you all once again to visit the state's new preparedness website, www.GetaGameplan.org, and utilize the tips and information found there to ensure that your family is prepared this hurricane season.

Improving Social Services

Too often, when a family requires human or social services, they are required to go to several locations to fill out multiple forms, creating layers of unnecessary red tape that hinder their ability to receive the help they need. Last week I traveled to New Orleans to sign legislation that created Neighborhood Place, taking a great step forward to cutting that red tape.

Senate Bill 701 creates Neighborhood Place, which will bring the Departments of Social Services, Education, Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Office of Juvenile Justice together at a single location, creating a much more efficient delivery of services. As reported in the Times-Picayune, the first facility will open at the Mahalia Jackson School in Central City New Orleans and will offer prenatal care, nutrition programs and job training. Community leaders in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, West Feliciana and Sabine Parishes have also expressed interest in opening a facility.

Welcoming Our Troops Home

I would also like to extend a special thank you to the 175 members of the Louisiana National Guard's 769th Engineer Battalion that returned home to Louisiana last week after serving oversees protecting our freedom. I was pleased to meet the Battalion at the Baton Rouge Airport upon their arrival, and seeing the faces of the troops as they were reunited with their families and friends is certainly an experience I will never forget.

As this article in the Baton Rouge Advocate illustrates, these men and women are true heroes, regardless of your stance on the war, and deserve our highest honor and respect.

Unfortunately we were reminded once again today of the dangers that our military faces every day in doing their job when a B-52, based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, crashed off the coast of Guam this morning. Our hearts and prayers go out to those families who lost a loved one in the accident, as well as the hope that those that continue to remain missing are found safe soon.

Sincerely,

Governor Bobby Jindal

Oprah...whats going on??

2008-07-13T18:34:00.001-05:00

In the Prophecy Connections archive . . .

"Oprah and Friends" To Teach Course on New Age Christ

By Warren Smith

Oprah Winfrey will be letting out all the stops on her XM Satellite Radio program this coming year. Beginning January 1, 2008, "Oprah & Friends" will offer a year-long course on the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles.1 A lesson a day throughout the year will completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook." For example, Lesson #29 asks you to go through your day affirming that "God is in everything I see."2 Lesson #61 tells each person to repeat the affirmation "I am the light of the world."3 Lesson #70 teaches the student to say and believe "My salvation comes from me."4

By the end of the year, "Oprah & Friends" listeners will have completed all of the lessons laid out in the Course in Miracles Workbook. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset—a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is "in" everyone and everything. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life. The Course Workbook bluntly states: "This is a course in mind training"5 and is dedicated to "thought reversal."6

Teaching A Course in Miracles will be Oprah's longtime friend and special XM Satellite Radio reporter Marianne Williamson—who also happens to be one of today's premier New Age leaders. She and Conversations with God author Neale Donald Walsch co-founded the American Renaissance Alliance in 1997, that later became the Global Renaissance Alliance of New Age leaders, that changed its name again in 2005 to the Peace Alliance. This Peace Alliance seeks to usher in an era of global peace founded on the principles of a New Age/New Spirituality that they are now referring to as a "civil rights movement for the soul."7 They all agree that the principles of this New Age/New Spirituality are clearly articulated in A Course in Miracles—which is fast becoming the New Age Bible. So what is A Course in Miracles and what does it teach?

A Course in Miracles is allegedly "new revelation" from "Jesus" to help humanity work through these troubled times. This "Jesus"—who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ—began delivering his channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology by the name of Helen Schucman. One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a course in miracles. Please take notes."8 For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this inner voice that described himself as "Jesus." A Course in Miracles was quietly published in 1975 by the Foundation for Inner Peace. For many years "the Course" was an underground cult classic for New Age seekers who studied "the Course" individually, with friends, or in small study groups.

As a former New Age follower and devoted student of A Course in Miracles, I eventually discovered that the Course in Miracles was—in reality—the truth of the Bible turned upside down. Not having a true understanding of the Bible at the time of my involvement, I was led to believe that A Course in Miracles was "a gift form God" to help everyone understand the "real" meaning of the Bible and to help bring peace to the world. Little did I know that the New Age "Christ" and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles were everything the real Jesus Christ warned us to watch out for. In Matthew 24 Jesus warned about false teachers, false teachings and the false "Christs" who would pretend to be Him.

When I left the New Age "Christ" to follow the Bible's Jesus Christ, I had come to understand that the "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles was a false "Christ," and that his Course in Miracles was dangerously deceptive. Here are some quotes from the "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles:

"There is no sin. . . "9
A "slain Christ has no meaning."10
"The journey to the cross should be the last 'useless journey.'"11
"Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'"12
"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol. . . . It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray."13
"God is in everything I see."14
"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."15
"The oneness of the Creator and the creation is your wholeness, your sanity and your limitless power."16
"The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."17

Most Christians recognize that these teachings are the opposite of what the Bible teaches. In the Bible, Jesus Christ's atoning death on the cross of Calvary was hardly a "useless journey." His triumph on the cross provides salvation to all those who confess their sin, accept Him and follow Him as their Lord and Saviour. His victory on the cross rings throughout the New Testament. It has been gloriously sung about in beloved hymns through the ages and is at the heart of our Christian testimony. I found the Jesus of the Bible to be wholly believable as He taught God's truth and warned about the spiritual deception that would come in His name. The "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles reveals himself to be an imposter when he blasphemes the true Jesus Christ by saying that a "slain Christ has no meaning" and that we are all "God" and that we are all "Christ." It was by reading the Bible's true teachings of Jesus Christ that I came to understand how deceived I had been by A Course in Miracles and my other New Age teachings.

I was introduced to A Course in Miracles by Dr. Gerald Jampolsky's book Love is Letting Go of Fear. Jampolsky declared in his easy-to-read book how the teachings of A Course in Miracles had changed his life. As an ambassador for A Course in Miracles over the years, Jampolsky has been featured not only in New Age circles but at least twice on Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. While Schuller introduced Jampolsky and his "fabulous"18 Course in Miracles-based books to his worldwide television audience, it was Marianne Williamson's appearance on a 1992 Oprah Winfrey Show that really shook the rafters.

On that program, Oprah enthusiastically endorsed Williamson's book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Ironically, all of this was happening after I had left the Course and the New Age. In fact, I was doing the final editing on my book The Light That Was Dark that warned about the dangers of the New Age—and in particular A Course in Miracles.

After being introduced to the world on Oprah, Marianne Williamson has continued to grow in popularity and, as previously mentioned, has become one of today's foremost New Age leaders. Williamson credits Winfrey for bringing her book about A Course in Miracles before the world: "For that, my deepest thanks to Oprah Winfrey. Her enthusiasm and generosity have given the book, and me, an audience we would never otherwise have had."19 In her 2004 book, The Gift of Change, Williamson wrote: "Twenty years ago, I saw the guidance of the Course as key to changing one's personal life; today, I see its guidance as key to changing the world. More than anything else, I see how deeply the two are connected."20

Thus the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles are about to be taught by Marianne Williamson to millions of listeners on Oprah's XM Satellite Radio program. Listeners are encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course. An audio version of A Course in Miracles recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas is also available on compact disc. Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the "brilliant writing" of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world.21 Williamson's New Age colleague, Neale Donald Walsch, said his "God" stated that "the era of the Single Saviour is over"22 and that he ("God") was responsible for authoring the teachings of A Course in Miracles.23 Meanwhile, Gerald Jampolsky's Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, "Rethink Conference" at his Crystal Cathedral.24

At this critical time in the history of the world, the New Gospel/New Spirituality is coming right at the world and the church with its New Age teachings and its New Age Peace Plan. But this New Age Peace Plan has at its deceptive core the bottom-line teaching from A Course in Miracles that "we are all one" because God is "in" everyone and everything. But the Bible is clear that we are not God (Ezekiel 28:2; Hosea 11:9). And per Galatians 3:26-28, our only oneness is in Jesus Christ—not in ourselves as "God" and "Christ." What Oprah and Marianne Williamson and the world will learn one day is that humanity's only real and lasting peace is with the true Jesus Christ who is described and quoted in the Holy Bible (Romans 5:1).

Oprah Winfrey's misplaced faith in Marianne Williamson and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles is a sure sign of the times. But an even surer sign of the times is that most Christians are not taking heed to what is happening in the world and in the church. We are not contending for the faith as the Bible admonishes us to do (Jude 3). It is time for all of our Purpose-Driven and Emerging church pastors to address the real issue of the day. Our true Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed right in front of our eyes and hardly anyone seems to notice or care. If we want the world to know who Jesus Christ is, we need to also warn them about who He is not. There is a false New Age "Christ" making huge inroads into the world and into the church. The Apostle Paul said that "it is a shame" we have to even talk about these things, but talk about them we must (Ephesians 5:12-16).

If people want to follow Oprah Winfrey and the New Age "Christ" of A Course in Miracles they certainly have that right. But let them be warned that the New Age "Christ" they are following is not the same Jesus Christ who is so clearly and authoritatively presented in the pages of the Bible.

Warren Smith is a former New Age follower who at one time was deeply involved in the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles. He is the author of The Light That Was Dark: From the New Age to Amazing Grace and Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church. His book Reinventing Jesus Christ: The New Gospel is available free online at www.reinventingjesuschrist.com

Endnotes:
1. http://marianne.com/book/index/htm
2. A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume (Glen Ellen, California: Foundation for Inner Peace, 1975), (Workbook), p. 45.
3. Ibid., p. 102.
4. Ibid., p. 119.
5. Ibid., (Text), p. 16.
6. Ibid., (Preface), p. ix.
7. Neale Donald Walsch, Tomorrow's God: Our Greatest Spiritual Challenge (New York: Atria Books, Simon & Schuster, 2004), pp. 262-263.
8. Robert Skutch, Journey Without Distance: The Story behind "A Course in Miracles" (Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts, 1984), p. 54.
9. A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume, (Workbook), p. 183.
10. Ibid., (Text), p. 425.
11. Ibid., p. 52.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid., (Teachers Manual), p. 58.
14. Ibid., (Workbook), p. 45.
15. Ibid., (Text), p. 147.
16. Ibid., p. 125.
17. Ibid., p. 237.
18. http://www.hourofpower.org/interviews/interviews_detail.cfm?ArticleID=3079
19. Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles A Course in Miracles (New York: Harper Perennial, 1996), p. ix.
20. Marianne Williamson, The Gift Of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2004), p. 5.
21. Wayne Dyer, "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem," Public Broadcasting System broadcast in 2001.
22. Neale Donald Walsch, The New Revelations: A Conversation with God (New York: Atria Books, 2002), p. 157.
23. Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God: an uncommon dialogue, Book 1 (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1996), p. 90.
24. http://www.rethinkconference.com (See also WorldNetDaily.com 10/30/07 "What is Robert Schuller 'rethinking'?" by Joseph Farah and "Rethinking Robert Schuller" by Warren Smith. See also Herescope: "Rethinking Culture" and "Rethinking and Reinventing" (10/30/07)

posted by Discernment Research Group @ 11/09/2007 12:35:00 PM

LINK: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/11/oprah-and-friends-to-teach-course-on.html

"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect -- if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time."

-- Jesus (Matthew 24:23-25, NIV)

Stay informed and keep watching . . .

PAY RAISE VETOED!!!

2008-07-01T18:52:00.002-05:00

OUR VOICES WERE HEARD!!!

Gov. Jindal listened and has vetoed the pay raise! He realized he made a mistake and did the right thing and took steps to fix his mistake! Below is the recap from the advocate:

"

Governor: Act will miff legislators

By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Jul 1, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:10 a.m.

Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed a legislative pay raise Monday in an abrupt reversal of his week-long stance that he would allow the salary increase to become law.

The governor acknowledged that the veto of the raise — a more than doubling of legislators' pay that was supposed to kick in today — means he is breaking his word to legislators. He said he expects them to be angry with him.

"I clearly made a mistake by telling the Legislature that I would allow them to handle their own internal affairs. … I am correcting my mistake," Jindal said during a news conference at the State Capitol.

The veto prompted organizers of a recall drive against Jindal to drop their efforts.

The pay raise legislation's author, state Sen. Ann Duplessis, said she plans to let the issue die with the veto.

Duplessis, D-New Orleans, said the people behind the public outcry are not in favor of any kind of raise.

"I will not continue to create this circus," Duplessis said. "There was outrage, but I think it was orchestrated outrage."

The pay raise was easily the most controversial measure to emerge from the legislative session that recently wrapped.

There was a tremendous public outcry against the raise, leading to recall efforts against Jindal as well as five legislators, including the House speaker and two Baton Rouge lawmakers. Protesters greeted Jindal in Shreveport last week.

From the moment the controversial measure hit his desk, Jindal blasted the raise as excessive. But he also was steadfast in his refusal to veto the measure.

He appeared to have a change of heart over the weekend, if not sooner, when the raise became interview fodder on national television.

Jindal told CNN Sunday that there was still time to stop the raise. He had until July 8 to veto the measure that generated the harshest criticism the governor has experienced in his six-month term.

Duplessis said the media confused people into thinking all legislators are wealthy.

"There were people who thought … 'They're greedy, greedy, greedy.' That's not the reality of it," she said.

Duplessis noted that Jindal wants to give his economic development secretary a $74,000 pay raise.

She said it is strange that the governor has not vetoed legislation that would raise the pay of public service commissioners.

A rally was scheduled for July 7 to protest the legislative pay raise. Organizer Stephen Sabludowsky said Monday after Jindal's veto that the protest is canceled.

Jindal and five state representatives were the target of recall petitions.

All five are Republicans who voted for the pay raise.

Jindal's veto put an end to at least one of those efforts.

The leader of House Speaker Jim Tucker's recall effort said he was dropping it.

"Our goal all along has been to stop the pay raise bill," said John Roberts of Gretna, organizer of the Tucker recall. "We feel like we have accomplished our goal and in all likelihood it is going to be stopped."

But an organizer against state Rep. Stephen Pugh of Ponchatoula said the Jindal action made no difference.

"Even though Bobby Jindal vetoed this bill, it still doesn't excuse the fact of what was done," said Danny Wallace of Ponchatoula, organizer of Pugh recall.

"I can't see backing up. What he (Pugh) did has nothing to do with the veto," Wallace added.

House Speaker Tucker, R-Terrytown, did not respond to three calls for comment. Tucker handled the pay raise bill in the House and gave an impassioned plea for it on the House floor.

In a prepared statement, Tucker said he is committed to working with the governor.

"I respect Governor Jindal's veto. … Our goal was to assure that citizens from all walks of life could afford public service," Tucker said.

Jindal refused to say whether the hue and cry caused him to change his mind.

"I realized this pay raise is inconsistent with a new Louisiana," he said.

Jindal said he informed Tucker and Senate President Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, of the veto Monday morning.

Chaisson did not return a call for comment.

Brenda Hodge, spokeswoman for the state Senate, said Chaisson, who is a lawyer, was in court.

Jindal said he expects legislators to be unhappy that he nixed their bid to more than double their base pay.

Previously, in refusing to veto the pay raise, he cited concerns that lawmakers would unravel his initiatives.

Jindal said it became clear to him that the legislators' bid to raise their pay was inconsistent with his initiatives.

"They've got a right to be angry with me. I hope they take their anger out on me instead of the people," he said.

Jindal said any pay raise should take effect after the next election.

Senate Bill 672 by Duplessis would benefit the lawmakers currently in office by increasing their $16,800 annual base salary to $37,500. Legislative leaders — such as the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate —would get more money.

Legislators also get a $6,000 expense allowance and $143-a-day per diem payments for every day in session or committee.

The bill cleared the House with three votes more than the minimum needed for final approval.

Three legislators who voted for the pay raise later said they regretted backing the bill.

While the session still was ongoing, 13 House members and seven senators signed affidavits declining the raise.

The governor said he hopes the public remains interested in state government instead of tuning out now that the pay raise issue likely is over.

"To the citizens who've became so vocal on this issue, so involved in this process, I say thank you and I say stay involved," Jindal said."

CALL TO STOP SENATE PAY RAISE....

2008-06-19T18:42:00.003-05:00

CALL TO SHARE YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE %100 PAY RAISE SENATE GAVE THEMSELVES AND THEN WOULD NOT GRANT A $900 A YEAR PAY RAISE FOR FIREMAN/COPS...BECAUSE IT "WASN'T IN THE BUDGET".....I WONDER WHY!

FIREMAN AND POLICE SHOULD GET THE PAY RAISE INSTEAD!

225. 342.7015.... LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!

Senators Support Their Own Pay Raise!!!

2008-06-16T22:13:00.004-05:00

TheNewOrleansChannel.com
updated 10:03 a.m. CT, Wed., June. 11, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - State Sen. Ann Duplessis said she and fellow senators are ?on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week? and so she and her peers approved a raise of $34,000 per year Tuesday. Click Here: Watch The Story

The raise would increase the average salary for part-time legislators from $16,800 dollars to more than $50,000 a year. A House committee also approved the raise Wednesday morning, and it moved to the floor for debate.

That would put Louisiana in the top ten when it comes to legislative pay.

Lakeview resident Desiree West Durham, who lives in the midst of a neighborhood still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina, takes issue with legislators getting a raise.

"I feel like that are robbing Peter to pay Paul," Durham said. "They are taking out of state tax payers pockets and putting it in their own. I don't think it's right."

These senators voted for the legislative pay raise: Senator Ann Duplessis, Senate President Joel Chassion and Metairie Senator Danny Martini among others.

Woting against the pay raise: Sen. Julie Quinn from Metairie, Sen. John Alario from the Westbank and Senator David Heitmeier from Algiers.

"Although we have had a lot of negative press on this, at the end of the day this is positive for our state," Sen. Duplessis said.

But Durham called it Louisiana politics as usual. Gov. Bobby Jindal has said he is opposed to legislative pay raises but if it passes he will not veto it.

The governor released this statement saying: "I strongly disagree with this pay increase. They are a separate branch of government and must manage their own internal affairs."

IT GETS WORSE! Not only did they pass the bill for their pay raise but they "put aside" a pay raise for police/firemen. The pay raise was only $900 A YEAR!!! They say they "can't find it in the budget"...I WONDER WHY???

EMAIL LOUISIANA SENATORS TO TELL THEM YOU OPPOSE THIS BILL!

List of Senators:
Senator Robert Adley
Senator John A. Alario, Jr.
Senator "Jody" Amedee
Senator Sharon Weston Broome
Senator Bill Cassidy
Senator Joel T. Chaisson, II
Senator Sherri Smith Cheek
Senator Donald R. "Don" Cravins, Jr.
Senator A.G. Crowe
Senator Jack Donahue
Senator Yvonne Dorsey
Senator Ann Duplessis
Senator Reggie P. Dupre, Jr.
Senator Dale M. Erdey
Senator D. A. "Butch" Gautreaux
Senator "Nick" Gautreaux
Senator Cheryl A. Gray
Senator Troy Hebert
Senator David Heitmeier
Senator Lydia P. Jackson
Senator Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka
Senator Eric LaFleur
Senator Gerald Long
Senator Robert "Rob" Marionneaux, Jr.
Senator Daniel "Danny" Martiny
Senator Joe McPherson
Senator Michael J. "Mike" Michot
Senator Dan "Blade" Morrish
Senator Willie L. Mount
Senator Edwin R. Murray
Senator Ben Nevers
Senator Julie Quinn
Senator Neil Riser
Senator B.L. "Buddy" Shaw
Senator Derrick Shepherd
Senator John R. Smith
Senator Francis Thompson
Senator Mike Walsworth
Senator Seat District #9 Vacant

Tomato outbreak

2008-06-11T16:57:00.000-05:00

Tomato outbreak is reminder to follow food safety tips

Associated Press - June 10, 2008 8:54 AM ET

A salmonella outbreak linked to raw tomatoes serves as a reminder to take extra care with summer fruits and vegetables.

More than 20 people have been hospitalized as the government investigates the source of the tomatoes responsible for the illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Salmonella can be transmitted to humans when fecal material from animals or humans contaminates food. Symptoms are similar to the flu, but the poisoning can be fatal to young children, pregnant women and other people with weakened immune systems.

Properly cooking meat, poultry and eggs, and washing produce are generally the best methods to prevent illness.

While there is no way for consumers to detect salmonella (you can't smell, taste or see it), there are some things you can do reduce the risk:

CHECK YOUR TOMATOES

The Food and Drug Administration is advising people to eat only tomatoes not associated with the outbreak: cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and tomatoes grown at home.

Preliminary data suggest that raw red plum, Roma, or round red tomatoes are the cause, according to the FDA.

"The best thing to do if you have those certain types of tomatoes, throw them away or take them back the grocery store," says Karen Blakeslee, an extension associate in the food science program at Kansas State.

For other tomatoes, wash thoroughly and cut away the part that is attached to the plant and the button on the other side, says Julie Miller Jones, a professor of nutrition and food science at The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn. That part can carry a foodborne illness because it's a hard area and organisms can attach themselves to it, she says.

Cooking tomatoes at 145 degrees will kill salmonella.

INQUIRE AT RESTAURANTS

Ketchup and cooked sauces are not affected by the outbreak. And several restaurants are not serving tomatoes - on Monday, McDonald's said it had stopped serving sliced tomatoes in its U.S. restaurants.

Blakeslee advises finding out what the restaurant has done in response to the outbreak.

If you are really concerned, tell the restaurant to leave the tomatoes off the sandwiches and salads, says Jones. She says even if you remove them once your order comes, the food could still be contaminated

I am concerned...

2008-01-18T03:18:00.001-06:00

As I was watching the news I started to wonder...about WHY people vote and support candidates. I am concerned that we migrate to people who are like us. Well, people who are like us on the outside that is. I have a feeling there are women out there who are only supporting Hillary because she is a woman. And I would almost bet money that if you asked those supporters for more detail as to why they support her...you wouldn't get a very sound response. I also hope that the same thing is not happening for Obama...because he is a Black man. The same thing is probably happening with Huckabee as well. That because he is a Christian...other christians just assume that they would agree with his views. The same thing is probably happening with Romney too...because he is a mormon. I could go down the list of candidates...but I'll stop for now.

I hope that we would all just take a few minutes and look at WHO they are...WHERE they come from....WHAT they want to do to our country and then decide! If we don't...we will regret it.

*22 Ways To Be A "Good" Democrat

2008-01-11T00:28:00.000-06:00

I got this as a forward...and thought it was funny....and yet sad at the same time! I thought this would be an interesting list for us to read...and for those of you who don't get why some of them are funny...maybe you should take a deeper look at Clinton.

22 Ways To Be A "Good" Democrat

THIS IS NOT SO HARD -- EVEN A CAVE MAN CAN DO IT....

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion
on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and
governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding
Americans are more of a threat than U.S. Nuclear weapons technology
in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that there was no art before
Federalfunding.

5. You have to believe that global temperatures are lessaffected
by cyclical documented changes in the earth'sclimate and more

affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being
homosexual is natural.

7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of
federal funding.

8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach
fourth graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same
kids about sex.

9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but
loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.

10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than
actually doing something to earn it.

11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his

own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" forfinancial gain

only.

12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supportscertain

parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU isgood because it supports

certain parts of the Constitution.

13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are
too high.

14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem
are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas
Edison, and A.G. Bell.

15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist,but
racial quotas and set-asides are not.

16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a
very nice person.

17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't
worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't
been in charge.

18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in
jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag,

transvestites, and bestiality should beconstitutionally protected,

and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

20. You have to believe that illegal Democrat Party funding by the
Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United
States

21. You have to believe that this message is a part of avast, right
wing conspiracy.

22. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers the
day off on Christmas Day ..........but it's not okay to say "Merry
Christmas."

Ready to vote???

side-by-side comparisons of candidates

2008-01-04T00:05:00.000-06:00

Below you can download side-by-side comparisons of where the GOP candidates stand on:

Family Values Issues

2nd Amendment Rights and Crime

Securing America's Borders

Fiscal Responsibility

Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa

2008-01-03T23:38:00.000-06:00

Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa

Barack Obama wins, with Edwards 2nd and Clinton 3rd in Democratic race, CNN projects

CNN projects Republican Mike Huckabee wins too, beating Mitt Romney into second place

Entrance polls indicated young Dems went for Obama; Huckabee favored by religious voters

Joe Biden and Chris Dodd withdraw from Democratic race after caucuses

what are your thoughts? are you glad?

I am soooooooo glad that Hillary Clinton did not win! I am scared for our nation if she becomes president! Are you?

*The violent unrest

2007-12-31T03:37:00.000-06:00

Pakistan's electoral commission has delayed its decision on whether to put back elections planned for 8 January.The violent unrest which has followed the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has put the election date in doubt.

The violent unrest which has followed the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has put the election date in doubt. Her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, said her Pakistan People's Party would contest the poll. He and his son, Bilawal, will take over the leadership of the party.

Pakistan's stocks fell by 4.7% as they resumed trading after three days of mourning following Ms Bhutto's death.

from: "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7165448.stm"

* Fastest growing cause of women dying in pregnancy

2007-12-04T00:01:00.000-06:00

This is an article I found about how being overweight during pregnancy can increase the risk of death. Yes, we all should know that....and even if we do know it...we still don't exercise like we should! I know I don't! I am talking about the people who are capable...and don't have other health issues that may make losing weight more difficult. Maybe I will remember this article next time I want a cheeseburger! ....I am not close to being pregnant now...but I wouldn't want to be unhealthy when I do become pregnant!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maternal deaths linked to obesity
By Branwen Jeffreys
BBC News Health Correspondent

Maria Thornton

Pregnant and 19st

Obesity is the fastest growing cause of women dying in pregnancy or childbirth in the UK, a report shows.

More than half the 295 women who died during or after pregnancy between 2003 and 2005 were overweight or obese.

Experts say the number of deaths - from a total of two million pregnancies - is low - but the trend is very worrying.

The Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (CEMACH) report calls for more support and advice for obese women before and during pregnancy.

Obese pregnant women are probably at four or five times greater risk of suffering maternal death than a woman of normal weight - and the same for their babies dying
Dr Gwyneth Lewis
Maternity tsar

Calculate your BMI

Gwyneth Lewis, CEMACH director and the government's maternity tsar, said the figures showed that childbirth was very safe in the UK.

But she said the growing evidence of a link to obesity was a cause for concern.

Significant problem

The figures suggest that a modest amount of extra weight in pregnancy carries little extra risk, but obesity poses a significant problem.

Fifteen per cent of the mothers who died were morbid or super-morbidly obese.

Dr Lewis said: "Obese pregnant women are probably at four or five times greater risk of suffering maternal death than a woman of normal weight - and the same for their babies dying."

Catherine Collins

Nutrition advice

She is concerned many women are not aware of the risk associated with obesity.

Overall, the UK has one of the lowest rates of maternal death in the world, at seven per 100,000 pregnancies.

In comparison, the rate in the US is 14 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies, and in France it is 18.

However, the death rate in the UK has stopped falling. With obesity levels predicted to soar experts say it is vital that women are fully aware they should try to get to a healthy weight before trying to conceive.

The report says excess weight not only puts a woman at risk of medical complications, it can mask symptoms and cause logistical problems.

In one case, there was a delay in spotting that a woman was at risk of seizures, because a blood pressure cuff could not fit around her arm.

2007-11-22T03:18:00.000-06:00

http://freerice.com/

It's a simple word game.

One right answer is 10 grains of rice for someone without food.
If everyone answers just a few questions a day, it will add up.

Make it your home page.
Invite your friends.

Feed the hungry.
Improve your vocabulary.

Here's how it works:
They're not sitting on a pile of rice, waiting to decide how much to give...
Nor are they manipulating poor farmers to donate rice.
The ads at the bottom of the website fund the purchace of the rice, which is distributed through the United Nations World Food Program.

What is driving oil prices so high?

2007-11-19T01:30:00.001-06:00

Oil prices have surged to record highs above $97 a barrel.

Prices have more than quadrupled since 2002 and are currently 40% higher than at the start of the year.

What factors are causing this unremitting increase and what are the likely consequences for consumers and the global economy?

What is causing the latest price spike?

This was triggered by simmering tensions between Turkey and Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq and fears of possible incursions by Turkish troops into Iraq.

Prices have remained above $70 a barrel for most of the year

The amount of oil produced in northern Iraq is actually very small while the major pipeline linking the Iraqi town of Kirkuk, just south of the Kurdish region, with Turkey has been shut for long periods since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

But it is fears that the dispute may escalate and threaten oil output in the wider region - Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia between them account for 20% of global supplies - which have fanned the price rises.

In particular, there are concerns about potential Kurdish reprisals on an important pipeline in Turkey, which delivers 700,000 barrels a day from Azerbaijan to the port of Ceyhan.

The situation in northern Iraq is just one of a number of geopolitical factors which are causing uncertainty in the market and helping to push prices up.

Iran's push to acquire nuclear power and, many believe, nuclear weapons has sparked concerns it could use its own oil supplies as a bargaining chip in any future showdown.

Barely-veiled threats from the US, suggesting that military action remains a live option, have further accentuated fears.

Militant violence in Nigeria's largest oil-producing region and recent violence in Afghanistan and the Yemen has also served to inflate prices.

The weak dollar, which makes it cheaper for importers to buy dollar-denominated oil supplies, is also a major factor.

Is demand for oil continuing to soar?

Yes. The biggest catalyst for oil's seemingly remorseless rise has been the simplest economic driver there is: the balance between demand and supply.

Demand is at an all-time high, fuelled by the continued breakneck economic expansion of the Indian and Chinese economies.

With more than a billion people in each country, and both economies growing fast, manufacturers and consumers are sucking in energy at an ever-increasing rate.

China's booming economy is sucking in a huge amount of oil

China overtook Japan as the world's second-largest consumer of oil in 2003 and is closing in on the US, with demand for oil growing at about 15% a year.

Analysts worry global demand for oil is so intense that supplies may not keep pace.

Demand will rise by an average of 2.2 million barrels a day next year, the International Energy Agency says, compared with the 1.5 million-barrel rise seen in 2007.

It says annual demand will rise 2% up to 2012, while other projections suggest demand could soar from about 90 million barrels a day to as much as 140 million over 25 years.

What is Opec doing about the situation?

As the leading oil supplier in the world, producers' cartel Opec is under constant pressure to do something about the price bubble.

It recently bowed to pressure to pump more oil, agreeing to raise its production quotas by 500,000 barrels a day from 1 November.

Reports suggest the move was forced through by Saudi Arabia and that few other Opec members either have much stomach for increasing output or much capacity to spare.

Opec has said the market is "very well supplied" with crude and will continue to be so in the immediate future.

It has blamed speculation by market traders - who can make money by betting on the future direction of prices - for the continuing price rises.

Critics of Opec say it must act more aggressively to bring prices down.

"The response from Opec has been pretty poor so far," says John Roberts, an energy security analyst with commodities research firm Platt's.

"The sentiment in the market is that it is time for Opec to increase production again."

Who are the winners and losers from costly oil?

Taking inflation into account, prices are still below levels seen in late 1980, when a barrel of oil - in today's prices - was worth more than $101.

Back then, costly oil helped contribute to a recession in the US and similar fears are resurfacing now.

The Bush administration has said it is "very concerned" about current price levels, at a time when the economy is already expected to slow significantly next year.

High energy prices make life more expensive for consumers and businesses, having an knock-on effect on their spending in other areas.

Gasoline prices are hovering not far below the $3-a-gallon mark in the US, while UK petrol retailers have warned prices could soon rise above £1 a litre.

But on the other side of the fence, oil giants such as ExxonMobil and BP are having a wonderful time, while oil-rich countries are also smiling.

Oil wealth has underpinned President Hugo Chavez's efforts to reshape Venezuela, allowing him to fund extensive social programmes and reject US criticism of his policies.

Russia's oil and gas bonanza has underwritten efforts by President Vladimir Putin to exert state control over the country's energy sector.

Where will prices head next?

Many people scoffed when analysts from investment bank Goldman Sachs said in 2005 that prices could eventually top $100 a barrel.

This now seems a real possibility, although analysts caution that the market remains volatile.

"There is every reason to suppose the price could hit $100," says Platt's John Roberts.

"At the same time, one good thing goes right and the price goes tumbling back down to $70 or $60."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7048600.stm

*Birth control for 11 year olds?

2007-10-24T18:42:00.000-05:00

Below is a blog from "http://momblog.gainesville.com/default.asp?item=689868" and this is a mothers prospective on this issue. I do not agree with the schools move to give students as young as 11 birth control! For so many reasons! A child at the age of 11 should not be worried about if they will get pregnant...and if they are...then i think the school has other issues to worry about before they start handing out birth control! Also, the health issues that could result in a childs life if they started birth control at 11 and continued until marriage...this could be 10 years in most cases...this could cause a child to not be able to become pregnant when they finally want to....those are two of my main reasons....now lets hear from a mothers side:

"Birth control for 11 year olds?

Okay, how can we not discuss this one?

School officials at King Middle School in Portland, Maine, have passed a policy that will allow children as young as 11 to obtain birth-control pills at a middle-school health center without their parents knowing about it, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Parents are required to sign a waiver allowing their children to receive medical care at the school. However, now that medical care -- in the area of birth control -- is kept secret from the parents.

The school defended its decision by saying that the new policy is aimed at a tiny number of sexually active students. It also said that birth control would be given out only after extensive counseling, and no prepubescent children would get it.

The school will become the first middle school in Maine, and apparently one of only a few in the nation, to make available a full range of contraception, including birth-control pills and the patch.

I understand what this school is trying to do -- they are trying to protect sexually active children, who maybe cannot talk to their parents, from getting pregnant. But I think they are missing it. So, here are the big issues I have with this:

1. Birth Control is a medication: Like all medications, there are a slew of side effects that the pill can cause, not to mention the danger of drug interactions. If a kid who is on another medication takes the pill, there could be severe consequences.

2. STDs: I think that simply handing out the pill could give a young girl a false sense of protection. While she may not get pregnant (assuming that she could responsibly take a daily pill that most adults even forget,) what about the risk for STDs?

3. Parents' right to know: This is a big one for me, as a mom. So, you are telling me that you -- the school -- could give my child prescribed medication and I am not allowed to know about it? The thought of that simply makes my blood boil. In trying to protect a small number of students, you are trampling over my rights as a parent.

Okay, so let's hear it. I know there are people on both sides of the fence. Honestly, how do you feel about this? Parents across the country are furious, especially in Portland, Maine. If it were your kid's school, what would you do?"

Go ahead and tackle her questions here!

*Your LA TOPS information LOST!!!

2007-10-22T15:28:00.000-05:00

click on the following link to access a secure website to see if you were among those affected:
https://osfantweb.osfa.state.la.us/Notice.nsf/

Additional information, including a toll-free call center number will be provided to you once you have completed this on-line query.

"Sensitive data for virtually all Louisiana college applicants and their parents over the past nine years were in a case lost by a Boston-based contractor last month during a move, officials said.

The lost case held backup data for every Louisiana application for federal student aid -- just about anyone who applied to college -- from 1998 through Sept. 13 of this year. It also involved anyone who had a college savings account under the START Saving Program or who applied for the TOPS scholarship program in those years.

The data included Social Security numbers for applicants and their parents; the bank account information for START account holders also was involved. Sophisticated equipment and knowledge would be required to access the data.

The case was lost Sept. 19 when a driver for a Boston-based contractor failed to follow company procedures when loading it onto his vehicle, according to a statement e-mailed Wednesday by Laura Sudnik, spokeswoman for Iron Mountain Inc.

"Our entire business is built around high security and reliability and we regret that this employee error took place," the data-protection and storage company said.

The driver was fired. Sudnik said the man had worked five years for Iron Mountain and his work record had been in good standing. The loss of the case was an accident without malicious intent, Sudnik said.

The data was being moved from Iron Mountain's Port Allen storage building to Baton Rouge. Iron Mountain said it notified the state immediately of the problem, but Amrhein said the office waited until this week to discuss the loss publicly to allow time to find the case.

Colleges did not learn about the problem until Monday, said Jim McCoy, LSU vice provost for enrollment management. "We're working diligently today to find out exactly what this means," McCoy said.

The student aid office set up a telephone hotline and posted a notice on its web site with a link to a secure site where people can find out if their records were among those lost. It advised people affected to place fraud reports with credit agencies and for those whose bank accounts were affected, to change the accounts.

More than 60 college-related records breaches have occurred nationwide this year, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

State Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Savoie said he was shocked by the large number of breaches. "The whole issue of identity protection is something everyone needs to be concerned about," Savoie said."

Student aid's office notice, with secure link:

http://www.osfa.state.la.us/notice.htm

http://www.ironmountain.com/index.asp

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/10/17/sensitive_financial_data_lost_on_louisiana_college_applicants/

*LAST MINUTE ELECTION INFO!!!

2007-10-20T18:18:00.000-05:00

Use the link below to visit and compare candidates so you can make an educated Choice!!!

http://www.commoncause.info/LA/results.php

*Info about upcoming LA elections!

2007-10-14T18:02:00.001-05:00

Election Information...
^Click the link above to find out any of the following...
>Dates and Times
>My Ballot
>Candidate Qualifying
>Where Do I Vote?
>What District Am I In?
>Ballots by Parish
>Proposed Constitutional Amendments
>Important Dates for 2007 Election Cycle for State Legislators
>Other Statewide Races
>Members Elected Without Opposition: Senate House
>Members Retiring: Senate House
>Members Term-Limited: Senate House
>Campaign Finance Disclosure
>Campaign Finance Contribution Report
>Campaign Finance Expenditure Report

Louisiana Candidates and Referendums
November 2007 General Election
^This is a directory of Louisiana Candidates and Referendums November 2006 General Election provided by Vote-USA.
Use the candidate name links to obtain
a) biographical information about each candidate,
b) each candidate's position and views on issues, and
c) a pictures of each candidate.

Use the office buttons to obtain side-by-side comparisons of the candidates' views and positions on various issues.

Who is running for what???

*Hillary would ruin this nation!

2007-10-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

This is one of the reasons why I will NOT BE VOTING FOR HER! As much as I think it would be a big step for women...I can't vote for her! I think that she would not only be the first woman president...she would also be the last!

If you are voting for her..tell me why?!!?? I do not understand why anyone would choose her of all the candidates...even tho our choices are lacking....but HER??!! As far as I am concerned if the name "Clinton" never made it back into the white house the US would be better off!

Convince me otherwise?! Who are you voting for...and why? Let your voice be heard! We are becoming a silent generation and we are slowly killing our freedoms and leaving no hope left for our children and grand children. Is it that you really don't are? Or are you scared?(post with no name then!)....or are you just lazy??

visit this link if you need help with who to vote for...it is a chart of where they stand on popular issues:

http://www.2decide.com/table.htm

Have a good one!

*The Jena Six...

2007-09-23T03:10:00.000-05:00

In a small highly segregated rural Louisiana town of Jena in September 2006, a black student asked permission from school administrators to sit under the shade of a tree commonly reserved for the enjoyment of white students. School officials advised the black students to sit wherever they wanted and they did. The next day, three nooses, in the school colors, were hanging from the same tree. The Jena high school principal found that three white students were responsible and recommended expulsion. The white superintendent of schools over-ruled the principal and gave the students a three day suspension, saying that the nooses were “a youthful stunt.” Black students decided to resist and organized a sit-in under the tree to protest the lenient treatment given to the noose-hanging white students.

Racial tensions remained elevated throughout the fall. On Monday, December 4 2006, a white student who allegedly had been racially taunting black students in support of the students who hung the nooses got into a fight with black students. Allegedly, the white student was taken to the hospital treated, released, reportedly attended a social function later that evening.

As a result of this incident, six black Jena students were arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder. All six were expelled from school. The six charged were: 17-year-old Robert Bailey Junior whose bail was set at $138,000; 17-year-old Theo Shaw - bail $130,000; 18-year-old Carwin Jones--bail $100,000; 17-year-old Bryant Purvis--bail $70,000; 16 year old Mychal Bell, a sophomore in high school who was charged as an adult and for whom bail was set at $90,000; and a still unidentified minor.

On the morning of the trial, the District Attorney reduced the charges from attempted second degree murder to second degree aggravated battery and conspiracy. Aggravated battery in Louisiana law demands the attack be with a dangerous weapon. The prosecutor was allowed to argue to the jury that the tennis shoes worn by Bell could be considered a dangerous weapon.

When the pool of potential jurors was summoned, fifty people appeared, all white. The jury deliberated for less than three hours and found Mychal Bell guilty on the maximum possible charges of aggravated second degree battery and conspiracy. He faces up to a maximum of 22 years in prison.

The rest of the Jena 6 await similar trials. Theodore Shaw is due to go on trial shortly. Mychal Bell is scheduled to be sentenced July 31. If he gets the maximum sentence he will not be out of prison until he is nearly 40 years.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETETION!
http://www.petitiononline.com/aZ51CqmR/petition.html

TO SEE THE FULL STORY LOOK @ THIS VIDEO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuoiZnr4jLY

*FLY THE FLAG

2007-09-06T00:57:00.000-05:00

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive how the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

George Washington

Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign and please tell everyone about this effort and for them to pass on the word. We have a little less than one week and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America .

On Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 , an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States . Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this anniversary of our country's worst tragedy. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds.

Thank you for your participation.

Today in History

2007-08-29T00:19:00.000-05:00

August 29

1533

Atahualpa, the last ruler of the Incas, was murdered as Francisco Pizarro completed his conquest of Peru.

1786

Shays's rebellion, an insurrection of Massachusetts farmers against the state government, began.

1842

The Treaty of Nanking was signed, ending the Opium Wars and ceding the island of Hong Kong to Britain.

1877

Brigham Young died in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1949

The U.S.S.R. tested their first atomic bomb.

1957

Strom Thurmond ended the longest filibuster in U.S. Senate history. He spoke for more than 24 hours against a civil rights bill; the bill passed.

1966

The Beatles played their last major live concert at Candlestick Park, California.

1981

Stacy Nason was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

1991

The Supreme Soviet, the parliament of the U.S.S.R., suspended all activities of the Communist Party, bringing an end to the institution.

2005

Hurricane Katrina slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast, destroying beachfront towns in Mississippi and Louisiana, displacing a million people, and killing more than 1,000.

*Teacher in Space!!!

2007-08-16T00:52:00.001-05:00

"HOUSTON — Teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan transformed the space shuttle and space station into a classroom Tuesday for her first education session from orbit, fulfilling the legacy of Christa McAuliffe with joy and also some sadness.

"I've thought about Christa and the Challenger crew just about every day since 20-plus years ago," Morgan said in a series of interviews right before class got under way. "I hope that they know that they are here with us in our hearts."

Morgan, 55, who was McAuliffe's backup for the doomed 1986 flight, got her first opportunity to talk with schoolchildren late Tuesday afternoon, almost halfway through her two-week mission."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293170,00.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought some good news would be a nice change of pace. We don't get as excited about space travel as we used to. The nation used to stop in its tracks to watch a space launch. History was made this past week as a teacher finally made her way to space to teach from the shuttle! It is still an amazing thing that we can travel to space. Check out the link above for more photos and video of the historic event!

*Hidden Taxes You're Probably Paying

2007-07-25T18:48:00.000-05:00

From Forbes.com I just thought you might want to be aware of these taxes!

Payroll Tax

Employers and employees split the cost of payroll taxes--the Social Security, Medicare and miscellaneous taxes you see listed as "FICA" on your paycheck. But many economists argue that you're paid less so that your employer can compensate for tax it pays just to keep you on the payroll. If you earn $97,500 or less, this could mean a 15.3% reduction in your take-home pay. (Half in the payroll tax you pay, half in your employer's share.) According to the Tax Policy Center, about two-thirds of all wage earners fork over more to Uncle Sam in payroll taxes (including the employer's share) than in income taxes.

Alternative Minimum Tax

The IRS' National Taxpayer Advocate calls the AMT "the poster child for tax law complexity." And because it's not indexed to inflation, it's ensnaring more of the middle class--particularly families with lots of kids and second mortgages. The AMT affected 4 million taxpayers in 2006, but this number could balloon to 23 million this year if Congress does not fix the problem, as it has done in years past. Why don't lawmakers just eliminate the AMT? Because it's expected to bring in about $800 billion in government revenue over the next 10 years.

Sources: Tax Policy Center, Internal Revenue Service
Social Security Tax

For your entire working life, Uncle Sam takes a chunk of your pay to help pay for Social Security. But when you start receiving a Social Security paycheck, you still may be taxed on some of this income--sometimes as much as 85% of it. If your total income plus half of your Social Security benefits exceeds $34,000 ($44,000 for couples filing jointly), you get stuck paying the 85% rate. Others, who earn less, either have 50% or 0% of their Social Security taxed. Like the AMT, these figures aren't adjusted for inflation, meaning an increasing number of people are being ensnared by the tax. Some price for retiring!

Sources: IRS, Tax Policy Center

We must care if we are to make a difference.

SWAMPLAND FOR SALE

BRTP Action Alert

Stopping State Contracts to ACORN

Friends of Bobby JindalPO Box 86258Baton Rouge, LA 70879

David Vitter: update 9 29 09

Audit the Fed Hearing Tomorrow! Your help needed now!

Audit the Fed Will Get Hearing in House Committee!

Great Victory for conservatives - CNN Fires Roesgen

URGENT ALERT: Hate Crimes Bill up for Vote Tomorrow (7/16) in US Senate!

Cap & Trade - Yes or Maybe Voters

Huge Tax Increase Vote Tomorrow

ABC News Airing Day-long ObamaCare Infomercial

Ron Paul's Audit the Fed Bill Passes 218 Cosponsors!!

Happy Memorial Day!

Baton Rouge Tea Party!

TAX DAY TEA PARTY SLOGAN/SIGN IDEAS!

On April 15, be part of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party rally in your community

CALL TO ACTION

thoughts on earth hour...

Michelle Bachman asks about constitutionality of actions

Cheney says Obama endangers U.S.

the 2009 Omnibus spending bill = 410 billion dollars ($410,000,000,000)

eliminate the right to vote by private ballot?

Exclusive Excerpts of Governor Bobby Jindal's Response

Obama’s 3 Big Lies and His Plan to Destroy the GOP

Barack Obama has made a power grab to take over the census bureau

"I love you barack"...watch it...its hilarious!

Why the White House wants to control the Census...

Another post worthy email....

There is news OTHER than the "spending package"

Vote NOW!

"stimulus"....please!

Only 5 percent of $819b plan would go toward infrastructure

Critics say transportation is shortchanged

Bye Bye Blago!

Reasons the "Stimulus" should never pass

This gave me a little laugh...

Ive seen this on the news once!

Can anyone tell me who to complain to?

It makes me tired...

What are we doing!?!?!

FREE REDBOX RENTALS

Clinton? Is this Obamas idea of change?

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach 'Change'

Senator Obama's Four Tax Increases for People Earning Under $250k

one of the best analogies I’ve ever seen to explain the downfall of Socialist taxation policies.

The Parable of 10 Men in a Bar

4 Responses to "The Parable of 10 Men in a Bar"

wooops

Obama Citizenship??? Why should we trust him??

Why should someone tell me where my money goes???

CHANGE... WE NEED!??

obama chicken

Obama Truth Squad

A new low in politics from Obama

'Urine or You're Out'

Hurricane Gustav tracking models

McCain-Palin Rally 171

Sarah Palin

Evacuations!!!!!

Hurricane Gustav: Be prepared

Take Protective Measures

A note from Bobby Jindal

Oprah...whats going on??

PAY RAISE VETOED!!!

CALL TO STOP SENATE PAY RAISE....

Senators Support Their Own Pay Raise!!!

Tomato outbreak

I am concerned...

*22 Ways To Be A "Good" Democrat

side-by-side comparisons of candidates

Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa

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Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa

*The violent unrest

* Fastest growing cause of women dying in pregnancy

What is driving oil prices so high?

*Birth control for 11 year olds?

*Your LA TOPS information LOST!!!

Friends of Bobby Jindal
PO Box 86258
Baton Rouge, LA 70879