zTruth

Bin Laden urged followers to target smaller cities yet counterterrorism funds to many smaller cities will be cut!

Documents found in the Bin Laden raid showed Osama Bin Laden eyed smaller cities as targets to expand their attack sites. 

He schooled his followers to work around U.S. counterterrorism methods which he was apparently well-versed.  He wrote of ways to ferment political dissent and play politicians against one another.  Bin Laden also wanted to exploit minorities that would help drive a wedge between them and others as a method to help tear down the country.  Is it just me or have you notice CAIR seems to do all these things?   What a remarkable coincidence.

We learned this week counterterrorism funding to half of the smaller cities will end.  Congress probably decided to cut these funds before these documents were discovered so I hope they are paying attention here.  Some of the thirty-three "smaller cities" include Syracuse, Tuscon, Columbus, Toledo, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, to name just a few.

Also this week, Congress leaders agreed to extend for four years a vast array of surveillance and search powers put in place since 9/11.  Both houses will vote on this agreement next week.

Rep. Pete King named House Homeland Security Chairman

CAIR is not pleased Rep. Pete King (NY) was named chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.  Read how they titled a FB post, pictured below, which links to a Newsday article titled King named House homeland security chairman.  King said he will hold hearings on Islamic radicalization in America. 

Left-wing political satirists to hold rallies in DC

How funny (or completely stupid) is it that satirists Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will likely mock the very palatable anger felt by voters when they hold a pair of rallies in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the November elections?

 

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to Hold Rallies on Washington Mall Oct. 30

Respectfully, Mr. Lankford about CAIR...

I posted a comment on James Lankford's Facebook campaign page about his failure to address his previous remarks about CAIR, an outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas infrastructure in America.  Well, within minutes it was removed.  So I posted another one:

Will it, too, be removed or will James Lankford finally speak out about CAIR in a manner that's knowledgeable instead of so PC or uninformed it's sickening?

I just checked and at around 10:17 AM CT it was remove - meaning my comment was only there less than 20 minutes or so.  Political courage is definitely not a quality of James Lankford who has already demonstrated he is way too PC for a political newbie.

Update 7/30/10:  CAIR Oklahoma Board Chair charged with conspiracy and more regarding mortgage fraud, also includes info that Razi Hasmi the Executive Director is leaving.  What timing!

Also see:

James Lankford's stand with CAIR very troubling!

Congressional Dems stand and applaud when President Calderon slams Arizona law

Something is seriously wrong when Congressional Dems give a standing ovation to a foreign leader after he slams the new Arizona immigration law during his address to Congress, including Attorney General Eric Holder and Attorney General Janet Napolitano! 

Federal law requires immigrants to register and carry proper papers (8 USC 1304(e) and 8 USC 1306(a))-  The Arizona law goes no further.  Hello???

Let's point out, in the 2005 Supreme Court case MUEHLER V. MENA (03-1423) 544 U.S. 93 (2005):

"..We have “held repeatedly that mere police questioning does not constitute a seizure.” Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 434 (1991); see also INS v. Delgado, 466 U.S. 210, 212 (1984). “[E]ven when officers have no basis for suspecting a particular individual, they may generally ask questions of that individual; ask to examine the individual’s identification; and request consent to search his or her luggage...”

Hummm....

This is by far the most disturbing anti-American moments I have ever witnessed in Congress which clearly differentiates and defines the Dems from conservatives and the majority of Americans.
 

Update: Yipee! Rep. Tom McClintock (R CA) spoke up with some outstanding common sense after the far-left wing in Congress, including some members of the president's cabinet, stood with Calderon!

 

Calvey Blasts CAIR Hypocrisy

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Calvey Blasts CAIR Hypocrisy

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 26, 2010) – Kevin Calvey, candidate for Oklahoma’s Fifth Congressional District, today condemned the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for hypocritically applauding a decision to disinvite the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, from speaking at the Pentagon. The pastor was to speak on May 6, the National Day of Prayer.

“CAIR claims to be a civil rights organization, but they have shown their own biases by heaping criticism on a Christian leader,” Calvey said. “Instead of upholding freedom of speech for all Americans, even those they disagree with, CAIR is merely pushing its own agenda of identity politics and division.”

The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice named CAIR as a co-conspirator in a major terrorist fundraising case. Calvey says CAIR has failed to address frequent anti-American protests by Muslims.

“I do not understand why CAIR leaders spend their time attacking the Rev. Graham instead of working to improve Muslim-American relations,” Calvey said. “I find it reprehensible that CAIR leaders would rather attack a peaceful Christian leader than condemn violent Muslim extremists like Hamas. CAIR needs to be more concerned with its own image than with the Rev. Graham’s opinions.”

Calvey is a small businessman and a conservative former state representative from Del City. Calvey volunteered to deploy to Iraq as a captain in the Army National Guard in 2007, and his mission in Iraq was to prosecute al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists in the Iraqi court system. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service. Calvey and his wife, Toni, live in Oklahoma City with their baby, Anastasia.

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The use of generic words to describe our enemy offensive

At least one person in Congress has some common sense about our enemy and isn't afraid to speak up:

Sen. Joe Lieberman slammed the Obama administration Sunday for stripping terms like "Islamic extremism" from a key national security document, calling the move dishonest, wrong-headed and disrespectful to the majority of Muslims who are not terrorists. The Connecticut independent revealed that he wrote a letter Friday to top counterterrorism adviser John Brennan urging the administration to "identify accurately the ideological source" of the threat against the United States. He wrote that failing to identify "violent Islamist extremism" as the enemy is "offensive." The letter was written following reports that the administration was removing religious references from the U.S. National Security Strategy -- the document that had described the "ideological conflict" of the early 21st century as "the struggle against militant Islamic radicalism."

This is not honest and, frankly, I think it's hurtful in our relations with the Muslim world," Lieberman said. "We're not in a war against Islam. It's a group of Islamist extremists who have taken the Muslim religion and made it into a political ideology, and I think if we're not clear about that, we disrespect the overwhelming majority of Muslims who are not extremists." 

Rep. Tom Cole's secret townhall meeting!

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R OK) has eleven townhall meetings planned over the next couple of weeks.  His townhall schedule lists all the locations, except for one, a meeting at Melody Hall on April 11th in Moore, OK.  For those of you who don't know, Melody Hall is owned Home Creations and brothers Mohammad and Jalal Farzaneh.  Do you remember, by chance, this was the original location of CAIR's anti-airport profiling meeting back in January and was the site of the first planned protest by Oklahomans Against CAIR Hate?  CAIR, then changed location the day before in order to ditch the protesters (yep, that's on their webpage).

States drowning in debt

From the leftist New York Times:

State Debt Woes Grow Too Big to Camouflage

Add to this growing crisis the expanded Medicaid program that's in the new healthcare law that will be put on the shoulders of these states.  Hummm...

Young adults health care premiums could rise 17%

Who would have thought?

Health premiums could rise 17 pct for young adults

Man arrested in death threat to Rep. Eric Cantor

A Philadelphia man by the name of Norman Leboon was arrested Saturday for making death threats against House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R) and his family in a YouTube video.

Here's Leboon in his own words (video) where he complained about being locked out of YouTube and how he got around it.  In this video, he talks about his faith.

Rep. John Dingell, it takes a long time to do the necessary steps --- to control the people

What an appalling statement Rep, John Dingle made about Americans regarding the heathcare bill

Video posted by CQblogger on YouTube:

Video cast doubt on spitting allegations by Rep. Cleaver

From what I see, a person may have accidentially sprayed some spit as he yelled "Kill the bill" as Congressman Cleaver walked by him going up the steps in this video found at Fox Nation.  The police were right there and didn't react in any way. 

Do you hear any racial words yelled in this 3.43 minute video, which covered the entire time Rep. Cleaver and other congressmen walked up to the building?  

 

Health care coverage explained

Confused about the new heathcare bill?  This may help but it doesn't really explain the complete nightmare this may cause over time.

Health care reform bill 101: what the bill means to you

Update 9:31 PM CT:  Baucus Admits ObamaCare Breaks Obama Tax Pledge

"...As Americans for Tax Reform has pointed out repeatedly, the healthcare bill signed into law today contains seven tax hikes that unquestionably violate Obama's middle class tax pledge.

Obama's promise remains for all to see at the Change.gov website: "no family making less than $250,000 will see their taxes increase."

John Boehner's passionate plea before the healthcare vote

This is one moving speech:

 

 

Pelosi: We will be joining those who created Medicare and Social Security

Those were some of the triumphant words spoken last night by Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the heathcare bill in the house passed.  A monumental accomplishment that would join with those who created Medicare (Lyndon Johnson, D) and Social Security (Franklin Roosevelt, D).   I wanted to throw up. 

Those social programs were touted as being healthy for our country's fiscal future when they were made law.  Now, Medicare and Social Security have unfunded liabilities that are nearly $107 trillion in today's dollars. Some success.   For Pelosi to claim the healthcare bill joins the rank of these programs is disturbing!   This bill may well be the ruin of our country and unprecedented intrusion in our personal lives.  Is it true that the CBO estimated 17,000 new workers will be needed to monitor our compliance or is that just a rumor? 

around the 15 sec mark.

 Update 6:00 PM CT:   CNN poll: 59 percent of Americans oppose just-passed health-reform bill

Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) - Anybody else notice how the libs can't tell us what's good about the health care bill but they promise they will? Jay didn't say Obama had a high ...

Kevin Calvey takes early lead in 5th district congressional race!

Yesterday, SoonerPoll revealed Kevin Calvey has taken the early lead in the republican primary for the 5th district congressional race in Oklahoma.

Calvey, a former state representative and Iraq prosecutor during the 2007 surge, is my choice for this important congressional seat.

His early lead could fade so he will need all the help and financial support we can give him.  I urge other Oklahomans to suport Calvey with a donation to his campaign this month.  Individuals can contribute

July 27th is the date of the primary.

CAIR associate, Rep. Shane Jett, enters 5th District Congressional race in Oklahoma

Rep. Shane Jett announced Friday he will join a crowded Republican field in the 5th District congressional primary (Oklahoma City area) for a shot at the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Mary Fallen (R), a candidate for governor of Oklahoma.

Jett is of particular concern because he associates with CAIR and appears to be quite ignorant of facts about this Islamic organization named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation Hamas terror funding trial for their relationship to the Muslim Brotherhood organizational structure in America that was outed by federal prosecutors in the trial in 2007.  The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamic supremacist organization banned in Egypt, the country where it was founded.  Its goal is to build a power structure worldwide for a new caliph. This type of religious ruling system ruled over most Muslims and those under its control since the inception of Islam until the last caliphate was defeated in 1924. 

If Jett isn't uniformed about CAIR,  then what does that say about him?   All candidates in this primary, so far, have shown they do not have a clue except one - Kevin Calvey.

Do not underestimate the Muslim Brotherhood presence and influence in America.

Jett was at CAIR's anti-airport profiling townhall meeting this past January.   In an article at the City Sentinel on Jan 21 titled Town hall meeting denounces violence by religious group,  it quoted what he said which seemed to imply our government was the problem.  While, Oklahomans should support Muslims in our state it is problematic and nearly impossible to do so if they involve themselves with CAIR. The FBI broke formal relations with this group for very valid reasons - unanswered questions about its ties and/or support of Hamas - a terrorist organization started by the Muslim Brotherhood,  which has not been resolved.  Muslims in Oklahoma should be encouraged to step up and stand separate from CAIR as other Muslims and Islamic organizations in America have done.

 

Jett was also at CAIR's 2008 annual dinner where controversial U.S Rep Keith Ellison spoke by satellite. The keynote speaker at CAIR's dinner was the new president of Northeastern State University in Talequah, Dr. Don Betz, although CAIR never identified him as the newly appointed president.  Also at the dinner,  was Nihad Awad a former leader at the Islamic Association of Palestine - a Muslim Brotherhood entity shut down by the federal government.  IAP was defined as the overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in United States vs. Yaser Bushnag (page 3. sec. 4a).  Awad is one of three co-founders of CAIR.

 

Recently, the director of CAIR's chapter in Oklahoma, Razi Hashmi, refused on six different occasions to answer any direct questions about the problems that plague CAIR.

 

Shane Jett is a worrisome candidate.

 

Update 7/12/10:  Oklahoma elected officials attending CAIR Oklahoma dinner!  Includes Shane Jett!

 

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Also see:

 

DOJ letter regarding CAIR dated 2/12/2010

Most Oklahoma 5th district congressional candidates ignorant on CAIR

Former state representative Kevin Calvey, James Lankford, Johnny Roy, Mike Thompson, and Rick Flanigan are vying to win the Republican spot in the 5th District Congressional primary for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mary Fallen.  Clark Duffe is the Independent candidate.   No Democrat has announced.

Today, after reading a new article about CAIR in the Edmond Sun by Mark Schlachtenhaufen it became abundantly clear most of these candidates don't know what the heck they are talking about regarding an organization that is the outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas infrastructure in America!  I write this because it is very important to point out the only candidate in this congressional race who did his homework about CAIR is Kevin Calvey.

In U.S. vs. SabriBenkahla CN 07-4778 on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th District on page 58, footnoted at the bottom, it's clear what the concern is about CAIR:

 
Did you get that?  From its founding by Muslim Brotherhood leaders, CAIR conspired with other Muslim Brotherhood affiliates to support terrorists and used deception to do so!

Razi Hashmi, the director of CAIR's chapter in Oklahoma has been giving six opportunities to address troubling facts about CAIR, of which the above court case is just one example.  Since November, he has either bragged about CAIR (OETA interview), called other liars here (Newson6) and here (interview) or distanced (OU Daily) CAIR Oklahoma from CAIR, or refused to answer questions (News9)  or claimed critics are misinformed (Edmond Sun).  I just want to point out that the Tulsa World has stayed out of the fray as they generally only publish what CAIR gives them to publish.

Hashmi darts all over the place as he deflect questions.  How can he sleep at night?

So, Calvey is on top of things here.  The other candidates in the 5th district race simply showed their total ignorance or unwillingness to talk about this troubling Islamic organization, which is quite worrisome.  James Lankford went off about free speech to show he is for everyone practicing the faith of their choice and couldn't possibly paint all Muslims and Muslim groups with a single, biased, broad brush -  i.e., the man has no clue about CAIR.

Duff, the Independent, said unless Calvey is privy to facts he is not, Calvey is suppressing the flow of information.   What?  He just didn't do his homework, folks.

The remaining three candidates, Roy, Thompson and Flanigan, declined to comment or admitted they did know enough to comment, which is utterly pathetic.

***UPDATE 7/9/10 Read a followup:   James Lankford's stand with CAIR very troubling!

Imam give opening prayer in U.S. House today

For only the third time in U.S. history, a Muslim gave the prayer before the U.S. House of Representative. Today, it was delivered by Imam Abdullah Antepli of Duke University

The prayer, itself, was fine.  But,  it's disturbing to see it featured on terror-supporter Yusef Qaradawi's Islamonline.  Qaradawi is the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and is banned from entering the U.S. because of his fatwas that approve of suicide bombings (see below). 

Imam Antepli was interviewed by Islamonline which opened an office in Washington shortly after Barack Obama was elected president.

Video:

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Also see:

Qaradawi is chairman of the board of Al-Balagh Cultural Society which owns Islamonline. 

2/8/10:  Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi Gives Broad-Ranging Interview to BBC Arabic on His Support of Mayrtdom Attacks  MEMRI 

9/28/09:  What is New about Al-Qaradawi's Fiqh of Jihad?  Islamonline

 

"...he was elected President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, as well as being the chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research and a number of charity organisations, and a member of various Islamic Studies academic committees, including the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. As for “political Islam”, he grew up inside one of its groups, the “Muslim Brotherhood”, occupying leading positions within it..."

Congressman Jim McDermott and other Dems are Hamas stooges

A number of Democrats have taken, what could be called the side of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip,  since they urge President Obama to pressure Israel to remove their blockade which protects the citizens of Israel from another terrorist attack by Hamas, a group classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

Hamas violently overthrew Gaza Strip in 2007 and embedded themselves among the civilians.  Yet, the Dems who signed the letter want Israel to ease the blockade!   What about calling for Hamas to get out of there?

Furthermore, Qatar-based Islamonline,  which is chaired by the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Yusef Qaradawi, who is banned from entering the United States for his fatwas that approve of killing Israelis - including women and children, has a copy of the letter!

This is how Islamists and their Democratic partners have worked their way into the very fiber of American government.

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Also see:

First, Olmert and Bush need to drop the fantasies
Jweekly.com - Jun 22, 2007
Witness last week's Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip; Sunday's reopening of the ...As this notion has it, envious Gazans will overthrow Hamas and the ...

7/4/2007 Carter: US 'criminal' for not supporting Hamas

Video: President Barack Obama speech at House Republican retreat

The speech is in the first video below and the Q& A is the 2nd video.

Q&A:

 

Undercover Acorn filmmaker arrested in Senator Landrieu wiretap plot

James O’Keefe, the Acorn 'gotcha' man, who went undercover to expose Acorn recently, and three other men were arrested Monday and accused of plotting to wiretap the New Orleans offices of Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.

Yikes!

Senator Jim Webb (D): Democrats needs to back-off health care now

Congratulations to the citizens of Massachusetts who spoke loud and clear yesterday when they elected State Senator Scott Brown (R) to the seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy for nearly 50 years.  Let's face it, folks it's just common sense not to elect a politician over and over again to any office for that long.

Even before Brown's victory speech, Democratic Senator Jim Webb issued an astonishing statement which called the election a referendum:

Calling the race “a referendum not only on health care reform but also on the openness and integrity of our government process” Webb said Democrats need to hold off on further action until Brown is formally sworn in to the chamber.

“It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated,” he said.

As long as President Obama continues to be dishonest and promises one thing and does another,  this will not happen. 

Conyers calls for DOJ Investigation in FBI mosque informants

John Conyers, the Chairman of House Judiciary Committee, has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calling for an investigation into the FBI practice of using informants in mosques.

Here's a glimpse how Islamists and Dems partner

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Also see:

4/10/09:  CAIR to the FBI: Our mosques, our Koran are off-limits!

Action: C-SPAN CEO to Dems: Open up health care reconciliation to public

The CEO of C-SPAN, Brian Lamb,  wrote a letter to top Congressional leaders on December 30th urging them to practice what they preach about congressional transparency as they reconcile the health care bills between the two chambers.  He urged them to allow full coverage of all session.

This was a campaign promise of Barack Obama.

Word is, though, they will fast track it behind closed doors.

ACTION:

Consider making a phone call to Democratic majority leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid urging full public transparency on the reconciliation of the two health care bills. 

Also, a call to the minority leaders Rep. John Boehner and Senator Mitch McConnell, wouldn't hurt.

The main switchboard number for the Senate is (202) 224–3121. 

Individual senator's phone numbers are here

The main switchboard number for the House is (202) 225-3121.

Individual representative phone numbers are here

Action: Flood senators' phones: Vote no on healthcare!

Enough with the fuming, already!  Let's take action and do something constructive - what do you say?  Soon 60 senators will speak for 300 million Americans - the majority of whom are against the senate's healthcare reform crap.

Every American, who is against the passage of the Senate's sneaky and corrupt health care bill, should call their senator to let them know, they work for you, and tell them how you want them to vote. 

There will be a vote at 1 AM Monday morning - while you sleep, to move the bill forward

Call now!  The main switchboard number is 202 224–3121.  Just tell the operator your senator's name and they will put you through to their office but you will probably have to leave a message.  Better yet, ask to be put through to Majority Leader Senator Harry Reids' office or call directly at 202 224-3542.

Individual senator's phone numbers are here

Update 12/21/09:  The procedural vote passed at 1 AM today.  Now there will be another vote to pass the bill itself in the Senate. 

There is still time to call on the final vote!

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Also see:

Nelson Accused of Selling Vote on Health Bill for Nebraska Pay-Off

Senator Ben Nelson's state will not have to be their share of Medicaid FOREVER for his yes vote!

Graham wants investigation of Dems' health care deal Greenville News

Leahy Announces Big Medicaid Win for Vt Vermont Public Radio

How Obama bought 6 senators Daily Mail - Charleston (blog)

Senate Democrats agree to move health care reform forward!

Senator Ben Nelson caved to his fellow Dems today, controlled largely now the far left libs, which  gives the Senate its 60th vote for passage.  Although another Dem could change his/her vote - its unlikely.

I guess Nelson believed President Obama dire warning that the U.S. will go bankrupt without its passage worked.

Have you noticed how many times Obama gives dire warnings?

Update 7:00 PM CT:  Nelson caved because the Democratic crooks in Congress exempted Nebraska from having to pay their share of Medicaid FOREVER!  Senator Harry Reid also did something similar for Nevada - the state he represents.

Isn't this illegal?  If not, it should be.

This is corruption.

Congress approves Guantanamo Bay trials in the U.S.

After the public had been assured by Congress they would not allow Guantanmo Bay prisioners into the U.S., they did just that!

I guess they thought you wouldn't pay attention.

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Also see:

Senate oks transfer of Gitmo prisoners for trials

FACTBOX-Items in Homeland Security spending bill

Reuters - ‎19 hours ago‎

Allows the transfer of foreign terrorism suspects held at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison to the United States to face trial, but would prevent them from ...

 

Guantanamo Bay closure inches closer InTheNews.co.uk

Sneaky Dems attach Guantanamo Bay amendment to bill.

Senate Guantanamo Bay Closure  

May 20, 2009 ... In a major rebuke to President Barack Obama, the Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to block the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to ...

2009 federal deficit soars to record high

The 2009 federal deficit soared to $1.4 trillion in the fiscal year that ended in September:

...At about 10 percent of the overall economy, the gap between federal spending and tax collections is the largest on record since the end of World War II, and bigger in nominal terms than the past four years of deficits combined.

..."There is no doubt we started the year in a difficult fiscal situation. But Congress and the administration have made a bad situation much worse with an unrelenting spending binge that has plunged our nation into a dangerous level of deficit and debt," said Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), the senior Republican on the House Budget Committee.

...Economists universally agree that the nation cannot run such massive deficits indefinitely...

Aside from this record deficit, the Dems want to add a repressive tax for using unclean energy onto businesses in their cap and trade bills that will be passed on to citizens in higher utility bills.  They also want to pay for the largest government led-expansion of health insurance in history in ways we don't even realize yet.  Seriously, who do you think is going to pay for it?

Both parties are at fault here.  That's why the Republicans were booted out of Congress in 2006 but the Dems aren't helping here, atl all.

Aren't struggling citizens and businesses at their wits end, already?  Their goals simply defies common sense and good judgment.

Sneaky Dems attach Guantanamo Bay amendment to bill.

The sneaky Democrats in the House of Representatives stuck an amendment to an appropriation bill that calls for Guantanamo prisoners (enemy combatants) to come to the U.S. for trial.  Get this, they did this after many of them helped pass a non-binding resolution against the transfer just two weeks ago! 

The House voted Thursday to allow detainees held at the American base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to be transferred to the U.S. for trial, boosting President Barack Obama's efforts to close the detention facility.

Democratic congressional leaders attached the measure permitting prisoner transfers to a $42.8 billion appropriations bill for the Homeland Security Department. That allowed lawmakers to vote for the broader bill instead of just on the Guantanamo issue. The measure now moves to the Senate.

Dozens of Democrats who two weeks ago voted for a non-binding resolution against prisoner transfers from Guantanamo voted Thursday for the appropriations bill enabling such transfers. The tally was 307-114.

Do they really think most of us won't take note of their actions?

CBO warns estimates on Senate Finance Health Care concept is "substantially uncertain"

Don't be fooled by the latest trick the Dems in the Senate are doing. The Senate Finance Committee does not have an actual health care bill.  They have a conceptual bill - an outline of sort.

The CBO scored what little they had to work with here. To me the actions of this committee was trickery.  You can bet your bottom dollar this figure will be way off and the CBO even warned their projections are subject to "substantial uncertainty", the Wall Street Journal quoted from their report (see below).

U.S. senate finance panel rejects public health option

A vote today in the Senate Finance Committee could be the kiss of death for the healthcare public option but other Dems say not so fast:

". A U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday rejected a government-run "public" insurance option as part of a broad healthcare overhaul, setting up a fight over one of the bill's most contentious issues.

..."I can count," Baucus said. "No one has been able to show me how they can count up to 60 votes with a public option in the bill."

Supporters of the option disagreed and said they expected more success when the issue is taken up in the full Senate and the House of Representatives, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has vowed the public option will be included in a final bill.

"The more the American people hear about the public option, the more they like it," said Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, who sponsored one of the amendments.

Senator Max Baucus stops Humana for contacting customers!

Humana sent a letter alerting some of their customers that their Medicare Advantage program will likely face benefit cuts.  Now, we learn Senator Max Baucus ordered an investigation that, in turn,  ordered the insurer to stop.   Baucus contemptuously imposed what appears to be a gag order here.  

The letter tells beneficiaries that “millions of seniors and disabled individuals could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare Advantage health plans so valuable,” according to the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). The letter, which was sent in an envelope that states it contains important information about beneficiaries' plans, also urges enrollees to contact their congressional representatives and protest the possible changes.

Senator Kennedy's grandson prays at his funeral for healthcare

Video:

Is there one federal entitlement program that is not going broke?  Just curious.

Lincoln: You can't make a weak man strong...

Below is a must watch video of Congressman Mike Rogers' (Michigan) opening statement on Health Care reform in Washington D.C. in July:

Quotes from Lincoln

Update 9/4/09:  It appears the quote used in the video above wasn't really from Lincoln but appeared in the newspapers to honor Lincoln, just so we have this clear:

The "Ten Points" appear every February 12th in newspaper ads honoring Abraham Lincoln from the pen of Reverend William John Henry Boetcker (1873-1962).

* You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
* 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 hatred.
* You cannot establish sound 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.

White House launches "Realty Check" website to calm fears

The White House has launched a new website called Realty Check to counter what they call is disinformation  about the 1,000+ page health insurance reform bill the administration and most of the Democratic controlled Congress want to pass. 

Time will tell if this website will be a source of totally accurate information.  Every statement, therefore, must be compared to the actual wording in the bill.  For example, on rationing a spokeswoman said "...To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies...."  Personally,  I believe some form of rationing will be inevitable.  Maybe it won't happen the first year or two but after that when the cost is significantly more than they told us it would be, it will come. 

The White House's unproven assurances should be viewed with skepticism.  We keep hearing President Obama say there will be no taxes on people making less than $200,000 but in this very bill there is a TAX on individuals who do no buy health insurance (see page 8 and 167 of the bill which is linked below).  This tax is 2.5 percent of adjusted gross income. 

There are also taxes on businesses.

Barack Obama's own words in a 2003 video said he is a proponent of a single payer (government-run) health system and so I believe this is probably the direction he wants to take our country.  Recently, he said he didn't wants the people he claimed caused all the problems to talk too much and get out of the way!   What a clever way to try to shut people up. 

In April, he questioned his own grandmother's hip replacement surgery during the final weeks of her life made him wonder about "expensive procedures for the terminally ill." 

The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, called those who complained at townhall meetings "un-American".  

Are you getting the picture?

Today at a townhall meeting, Senator Arlin Spector said the health care bill has not been written in the senate but according to CNN a Senate Committee Approved Health Care Bill in mid-July.  There's more coverage here, as well as the press release about the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. So what in the heck is he talking about?

Yep, a healthy dose of skepticism is definitely in order.

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Also see:

H.R. 11, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" the house bill on health insurance.  The date on this bill  is 7/14/09.  But I am sure more pages have or will be added at 3 A.M the week of the vote or there is another version somewhere else.  The URL on this bill is a .gov address..  This bill was introduced by Congressmen Dingell, Rabgel, Waxman, George Miller of CA, Stark, Palone and Andrews.  It has 1018 pages. A good part of the bill is about Medicare and Medicaid and training healthcare providers.

Another similar bill is below which I think is the one voted out of committee.  It also was authored by Dingell so it probably has similar wording as the bill above.

H.R. 3200 

Update 8:00 PM:  President Obama's “Senior” Moment?  ABC News - Rachel Martin, Jake Tapper 

President Obama today suggested that the health care reform legislation for which he's pushing has been endorsed by the American Association of Retired ...  IT HAS NOT

 

Update 8/12/09:  Citizens were bused in to Obama's townhall yesterday? (video)

Georgia Congressman David Scott (D) yells at his constituents

What a telling video about Democratic Congressman David Scott:

Rep. John Conyers shocking comment

Rep. John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, spoke out rather stupidly recently when he said what's the point of reading the health care bill.

Here's great insight into our totally dysfunctional Congress, which has been running this country into the ground for some time now:

Senate webcast and Supreme Court live blogging Sonya Sotomayor hearing

There is a live webcast here, provided by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Click on the blinking webcast button.  It's appears to be in real-time while my cable is a sentence or two delayed.

Also, the Supreme Court is live-blogging this event here.  There are a number of links that you may find useful that are being added as they live blog it, such as the prepared statements of the senators who are speaking now at the opening.  They are also making intersting statements such as at 10:40 Tom Goldstein wrote :  Proportion of reporters in the room doing something other than listening to the statements:   66%.

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References:

Transcripts of past Senate Judiciary hearings on Supreme Court nomination hearings through 1971 are available through the GPO web site:  

ActIon Alert: Cap and Trade Bill to be voted in U.S. House on Friday

The Cap and Trade bill, otherwise known as the "climate change" bill or the Waxman-Markey bill  or H.R. 2454,  will likely to come to a vote on Friday in the House of Representatives.  There are worrisome indications the bill has been altered and amendments added without proper debate.

This bill will increase your utility bills as these companies pass along the increase cost to meet the demands required in the bill.  There may be other fees and taxes that might be inserted in the bill before the end of the week.  The Congressional Budget Office estimates you will pay around $175 per household in 2020 for utilities.  Other critics argue it will cost far more.  For example, the Heritage Foundation claims their estimate is far too low and estumates it will cost your family an additional $1,500 a year. 

Unfortunately, I cannot find a source yet that has tracked the accuracy of CBO's cost estimates.  This is a service which is very much needed.

According to Open Congress:

"...This is a huge bill that, if passed, will have major and lasting effect on our environment and economy. Needless to say, it’s important that the House develops and debates this bill in a way that is transparent and gives the public (and lawmakers) enough time to understand the changes that are being made to it. Paul Blumenthal is rightly concerned about the sudden changes in the bill just before it goes to the House floor.

Read the new bill here (1201-page .pdf)>>

***Contact Congress to defeat this bill!***

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Government Spending Watchdog Calls For Defeat Of Energy Bill

In a statement released to the media, The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, or CCAGW, stated that its members sent more than "20,500 strongly-worded e-mails urging members of Congress to defeat the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009."

The message sent to members of Congress claims that the act will "place severe regulatory burdens on domestic industry" and raise the prices consumers pay for electricity, natural gas, and other products that use fossil fuels.

Democrats Grow Confident of Cap-and-Trade Win Washington Post Blogs

Cap and Trade Hits the Poor the Hardest

Heritage.org - ‎3 hours ago‎

The Wall Street Journal wasn't kidding when they argued that cap-and-trade could be the “biggest tax in American history.” The Reason Foundation contends ...

 

Warren Buffett Calls Cap And Trade A Tax

The Business Insider - ‎13 hours ago‎

[Environmental Capital] Warren Buffett calls cap and trade a regressive tax, once again. [Bloomberg] Iraq opens its oilfields up to foreign companies. ...

A sign of things to come? Carbon tax in Canada adds to healthcare woes

Here is a hint of what could be heading our way under the liberal Obama administration's policies that may be passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress.  For example, in Canada,  the carbon tax there is straining some of their nationalized health care providers:

The Lower Mainland’s health authorities will have to dig more than $4 million a year out of their already stretched budgets to pay B.C.’s carbon tax and offset their carbon footprints.

Critics say the payments mean the government’s strategy to fight climate change will further exacerbate a crisis in health funding.

“You have public hospitals cutting services to pay a tax that goes to another 100 per cent government-owned agency,” NDP health critic Adrian Dix said.

“That just doesn’t make sense.”

The Fraser Health Authority will pay $616,000 in carbon tax this year, rising to $821,000 next year, officials there said.

...Fraser Health officials are grappling with a budget shortfall of more than $100 million and potential cuts to patient services, while low on their list, have not been ruled out. Dix warned that some of the potential cuts – such as closing the ER at Mission Memorial Hospital – would actually increase carbon emissions by sending patients further afield...

Are you paying attention?

H/T:   People Press Collective

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Also see:

International Agreement on Climate Treaty Seems Unlikely in 2009

Reuters - ‎5 hours ago‎

A bill proposing a nationwide carbon tax was also introduced in the US Congress but experts fear that, if implemented, the bill would put a financial burden ...

 

Health care status quo unacceptable: US official

AFP - ‎26 minutes ago‎

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States' unwieldy health care system is "unsustainable," US health secretary Kathleen Sebelius warned Sunday as she ramped up calls to back President Barack's Obama health reform plans.

 

Canadian Doctor: Shortages So Bad North Of The Border Some Towns ...

Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck - ‎Jun 9, 2009‎

That grim spectacle aside, the point about nationalized health care systems being dependent on America's health care system is an apt one. ...

 

Related:

 

Canada Health Act

 

Healthcare wait times in Ontario

 

Healthcare wait times in British  Columbia (measured in weeks - Open heart surgery wait is 7 weeks)

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stonewalls media on CIA charges

Today House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she stood by her comments that the CIA mislead her but she refused to elaborate (see video below).

“I have made the statement that I’m going to make on this,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a news conference today. “I stand by my comment. And what we are doing is not being distracted from it.”

Pressed further, she said, “I won’t have anything more to say about it.”

So there, America.  Pelosi accused the CIA of lying, which is a crime, but then claims up.

Astonishing.

Democrats block probe into Nancy Pelosi's CIA claim

House Democrats today blocked an attempt by Republicans to propose the creation of a bi-partisan commission to look into her allegations the CIA misled Congress. 

Thanks Democrats for not letting us find out the truth:

"House Democrats today rebuffed the latest bid by Republicans to pummel Speaker Nancy Pelosi over what she knew about waterboarding and her accusations that the CIA misled her.

The House voted 252-172 to block a GOP measure that would have created a bipartisan congressional panel to investigate Pelosi's claims, which current CIA director Leon Panetta has denied.

Republicans have pilloried Pelosi, saying she should offer proof that the CIA lied to her during a 2002 briefing, as she asserted last week, or apologize.

"To have this charge out there and not have it resolved I think is damaging to our intelligence efforts, and certainly will have a chilling effect on our intelligence professionals around the world," House Republican Leader John Boehner told reporters..."

Boston.com

Senate Democrats nix funds to close Guantanamo Bay

President Obama's fellow Senate Democrats rebuffed the administration's request for funds to close Guantanamo Bay today because they didn't submit a plan on how to close it or move the prisioners to the U.S. or elsewhere, reports the Washington Post.

"We'll wipe out all the money, but I'll put in a provision saying none of the funds in this bill or any other bill may be used to pay for the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo to the United States," until there is some plan, said Senator Daniel Inouye, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and an author of the bill..."

On May 5th, I wrote about the tension raised between the House of Representatives and the White House when they also rejected funding.

CIA Director Panetta stands with his agency

Today CIA director Leon Panetta stood with his agency after the allegations were made against the CIA by Nancy Pelosi yesterday.  Did he in the process throw House Speaker Nancy Pelosi under the bus?

"Panetta who took office as President Obama's CIA chief in February, reasserted the agency's claim that it told congressional leaders about the use of such methods during a closed-door briefing in September 2002.

..."Our contemporaneous records from September 2002 indicate that CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of [suspected terrorist] Abu Zubaida, describing the 'enhanced techniques that had been employed,' " Panetta said.

"At every step of the way, the administration was misleading the Congress," Pelosi said in a news conference.

The CIA by law must inform a select group of congressional leaders from both parties about its covert activities. Lawmakers have sometimes complained that the briefings are short on detail and subject to secrecy rules that prevent sharing the information with others, including personal staff.

CIA records of the 2002 meeting consist of memos written after the event by agency participants. There were no recordings or transcripts, they say..."

Washington Post

CIA mislead Congress Nancy Pelosi stated again today!

Today, at a weekly Thursday news conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reaffirmed her accusations that the CIA mislead Congress about its use of enhanced interrogation techniques.  See video below.

"Under a barrage of questioning, Pelosi also again adamantly insisted that she was not aware that waterboarding or other enhanced interrogation techniques were being used on terrorism suspects and 

"I am telling you they told me they approved these and said they wanted to use them but said they were not using waterboarding," she said..."

But even left-leaning CNN reported on Tuesday, that a security aide confirmed Pelosi knew of waterboarding:

"...A source close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now confirms that Pelosi was told in February 2003 by her intelligence aide, Michael Sheehy, that waterboarding was actually used on CIA detainee Abu Zubaydah.

...Sheehy attended a briefing in which waterboarding was discussed in February 2003, with Rep. Jane Harman, D-California, who took over Pelosi's spot as the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee..."

Who do we believe?

Update 6:01 PM ET:  Hoyer Declines to Back Up Pelosi's Claim That CIA Misled Congress  "...House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer does not vouch for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's accusation against the CIA. Speaker Nancy Pelosi's deputy in the House declined to back her up on her stunning claim Thursday that the CIA misled Congress..."

'

Republican Senator Arlen Spector changes political party!

After 30 years as a Republican, Senator Arlen Spector has decided he is more of a Democrat than a Republican claiming the party has gone too far to the right.  Could it really have more to do with his reelection chances in 2010?  You bet. 

The timing of this announcement helps take some of the heat off the White House's insensitive move to fly a military jet low over New York City yesterday.  So it was probably put out today on purpose for that reason.  It's also just in time for the President's 100th day in office tomorrow.

The potential, though, of Spector's move to the left is far-reaching for all Americans.  More far-left agenda driven laws are now a greater possibility.  At least, until the 2010 mid-term elections.

"Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.

Specter's decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next Senator from Minnesota. (Former Sen. Norm Coleman is appealing Franken's victory in the state Supreme Court.)

"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," said Specter in a statement. "I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election."

He added: "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

The Washington Post

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Also see: 

Friday Senate Line: Fading Incumbents

Washington Post - ‎Apr 24, 2009‎

Arlen Specter's (R) problem is not of his making, but rather is the result of the shifting demographics of the state. President Obama's massive voter ...

Five members of the U.S. House of Representatives arrested at demonstration!

Taking a stand of defiance towards law enforcement, five democratic members of Congress were arrested today:

"Five members of Congress were arrested outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington Monday as they demonstrated against the situation in Darfur.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died in Darfur in western Sudan in what the U.S. State Department has described as genocide.

A spokesman for Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., told The Hill that the five and organizers of the protest from the Save Darfur Coalition crossed a Secret Service perimeter around the embassy and ignored three warnings to leave the property. They were expected to be fined for a misdemeanor and released.

Members of Congress arrested were Edwards; Jim McGovern, D-Mass.; John Lewis, D-Ga., a veteran of the civil rights movement in the 1960s; Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the only Muslim member of Congress, and Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif..."

Rep Dana Edwards

Rep. Keith Ellison

Rep Lynn Woosley

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Also see:

Keith Ellison's political donors: Why so many outside of state? 

Tea Party Day - April 15th

 

Find out where they will be held in your state here.

OKforTea website

Tea Party song: