E Pluribus Unum

As a child of LEGAL immigrants who worked hard, learned English, learned about this country, and assimilated into this Country -- without losing our own identity -- I heartily concur with Representative McClintock.  As a naturalized American citizen, I find it to be the proverbial breath of fresh air to see a representative of our American government have the courage of his convictions and patriotism.

I would think that the American people who love and are proud of their country would loudly denounce the insults offered by the President of Mexico as he addressed Congress!  It is bad enough that our own liberal representatives are so eager to acquiesce to and support all insults to our Country, but now we have presidents of other countries who see nothing wrong in standing in front of our own legislative bodies and insult the country straight out.

And, we were treated to the revolting sight of the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and half the Congress applauding the insults!

It is about time that sincere, patriotic representatives in the House and Senate start standing up for, and defending, our Country.  Lord knows, if they, who have the power, the voice, and the pulpit to do so do not say this loudly and strongly . . . who will?

We the People, with what little voice we do have, have been roundly ignored by Mr. Obama and his cohorts.  It is past time that at least one strong, patriotic voice is heard!

Thank you, Representative McClintock!

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A Response to President Calderon


By Jon Huey, on May 20, 2010

Rep. Tom McClintock gave this speech in response to President Calderon's lecture to Congress. Given in the House Chamber, Washington, D.C. May 20, 2010.


M. Speaker:

I rise to take strong exception to the speech of the President of Mexico while in this chamber today.

The Mexican government has made it very clear for many years that it holds American sovereignty in contempt and President Calderon’s behavior as a guest of the Congress confirms and underscores this attitude.

It is highly inappropriate for the President of Mexico to lecture Americans on American immigration policy, just as it would be for Americans to lecture Mexico on its laws.

It is obvious that President Calderon does not understand the nature of America or the purpose of our immigration law.

Unlike Mexico’s immigration law -- which is brutally exclusionary -- the purpose of America’s law is not to keep people out. It is to assure that as people come to the United States, they do so with the intention of becoming Americans and of raising their children as Americans.

Unlike Mexico, our nation embraces immigration and what makes that possible is assimilation.

A century ago President Teddy Roosevelt put it this way. He said:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

 That is how we have built one great nation from the people of all the nations of the world.

The largest group of immigrants now comes from Mexico. A recent RAND study discovered that during most of the 20th Century, while our immigration laws were actually enforced, assimilation worked and made possible the swift attainment of the American dream for millions of immigrants seeking to escape conditions in Mexico.

That is the broader meaning of our nation’s motto, “E Pluribus Unum” – from many people, one people, the American people.

But there is now an element in our political structure that seeks to undermine that concept of “E Pluribus Unum.” It seeks to hyphenate Americans, to develop linguistic divisions, to assign rights and preferences based on race and ethnicity, and to elevate devotion to foreign ideologies and traditions, while at the same time denigrating American culture, American values and American founding principles.

In order to do so, they know that they have to stop the process of assimilation. In order to do that, they must undermine our immigration laws.

It is an outrage that a foreign head of state would appear in this chamber and actively seek to do so. And it is a disgrace that he would be cheered on from the left wing of the White House and by many Democrats in this Congress.

Arizona has not adopted a new immigration law. All it has done is to enforce existing law that President Obama refuses to enforce. It is hardly a radical policy to suggest that if an officer on a routine traffic stop encounters a driver with no driver’s license, no passport, and who doesn’t speak English, that maybe that individual might be here illegally.

And to those who say we must reform our immigration laws – I reply that we don’t need to reform them – we need to enforce them. Just as every other government does. Just as Mexico does.

Above all, this is a debate of, by and for the American people. If President Calderon wishes to participate in that debate, I invite him to obey our immigration laws, apply for citizenship, do what 600,000 LEGAL immigrants to our nation are doing right now, learn our history and our customs, and become an American. And then he will have every right to participate in that debate.

Until then, I would politely invite him to have the courtesy while a guest of this Congress to abide by the fundamental rules of diplomacy between civilized nations not to meddle in each other’s domestic debates.

Repeating the Mistakes of the Past

Please note the year and source of the cartoon below.  The similarities to today's political situation are shocking. Every single item depicted and deplored in the political commentary below is applicable today. 

If one did not know the year of the original cartoon, one would immediately think it is a very contemporary representation of life and politics today, in 2010.  Sadly, frighteningly, it is just as accurate today as it was in 1934. 

One would think that 76 years later, We the People would have learned by now that liberalism is wrong, it is evil, and it does not work!

Cartoon from 1934  Chicago Tribune

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

~George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905

Clearly, the lessons of the past, unbridled government spending, increasing deficits, government control and attempts to destroy our Constitution. Our Country survived the previous attempts to destroy our history, our Country, our Constitution, and our future . . .

We must ensure that we survive the current attempts to destroy us as a Country.  Our last chance, I truly feel and fear, is November, 2010.

This is our last chance to fight against the machine from Chicago that is working intensely to bring every single liberal dream on their decades long wish list to fruition, regardless of the ever-growing mountain of evidence that the majority of the American people have never wanted their brand of "governance" -- not then, and not now.

This is our last chance to tell the liberal machines that our Country is a Republic, a country of laws, with a Constitution and a Bill of Rights applicable to all American citizens (and legal residents). 

This is our last chance to show the liberal machines that we do love and are proud of our Country and our History as it is, warts and ugliness and all.  We must emphatically reject the culture of the left that requires a wholesale and dishonest revision of who we are as a Country and as Americans.

This is our last chance to leave a legacy of truth to the next generations of Americans and show them how we survived as pilgrims, as daring adventurers forging routes into wild, unknown territories, as slaves and slave owners (parts of every country's history), as warriors in a Civil War, and our arrival as a whole country with a common history and a common foundation of Truths that we believe.

This is our last chance to retain and maintain our Sovereignty as a Country, without submitting to the yoke of "global governance" so desired by the liberals for some unfathomable reason.  We are not a colony in a "global" liberal, European-controlled world.

It would appear that there are enough reasons to look "over there" and decide that we Americans do not want or need to be "like them."  There are infinite reasons to reject the demands of the left that we submit to the will of the Europeans, from the cultural problems they have created for themselves to the economic problems they are trying to completely blame on America.

Lord knows, we've made enough economic mistakes ourselves, thanks in no small part to the influence, control, and demands of the liberals in our own Congress.  We certainly do not need to be additionally "guided" by the failed policies of the Europeans.

We are Americans.  We have been since the inception and creation of this country.  We have maintained our identity and independence as a country for 234 years!  We cannot allow 4 short years of an extremely liberal administration to destroy everything our Country has worked for, bled for, and died to achieve.

We must stop the liberal, European-influenced machine from completely destroying everything Americans have worked so very hard for so very long to achieve.

We must not allow America to go the way of Europe!

Does the N.E.A. Really Need More Money?

This is a fascinating and extremely frightening report of the state of education in one of the largest -- and most liberal -- states in the country.

This is the type of environment that the Federal Department of Education has created with its deterioration of standards over the past many years.  For this, the Department is continuously demanding more of our tax dollars?

Here's an excellent instance to "just say no!"


The following is a letter written by a real teacher in the California school system.  Her pleas should resound with all of us; all of our tax dollars are included in paying for this outrageous situation which is doubtlessly repeated in many areas throughout the country.

When are We the People going to have the gumption to tell the progressives and liberals enough is enough!
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This English teacher has phrased it the best I've seen yet.

Tomatoes and Cheap Labor

This should make everyone think, be you Democrat, Republican, or Independent.

From a California school teacher - - -

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As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal immigration, there are some things of which you should be aware:

I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower socioeconomic and income levels.

Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, etc., where these students are protesting, are also Title 1 schools.

Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I say "free breakfast,"  I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll -- but a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten.

I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids.

I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; my budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new computers for the computer learning center, half of which, one month later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America.

I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students, here in the country less than 3 months, who raised so much hell with the female teachers, calling them "Putas" (whores) and throwing things, that the teachers were in tears.

Free medical, free education, free food, free day care, etc., etc, etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to demand rights, privileges, and entitlements?

To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes: spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.

Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new diseases. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.

Americans, We need to wake up.

Illegal immigration has nothing to do with "cheap labor." It does, however, have everything to do with culture: It involves an American third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate, and an American culture that has become so weak and worried about “political correctness” that we don't have the will to do anything about it.

To listen to the rantings and blame placing of many liberals, it would appear that "CHEAP LABOR" is the basis for all of this.  Isn't that what they claim the whole immigration issue is about?  The liberal excuse for allowing Mexicans to enter and remain as illegal immigrants is to put the blame on:

--  Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.

--  Consumers don't want expensive produce.

--  Americans who supposedly don't want the jobs.

The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie. There is no such thing as "cheap labor."  It is merely another method used by the liberals to try to "shame" opponents into submitting to their demands.

Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or 6.00/hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.   (Most of the illegal aliens are greatly encouraged by many immigration activities organizations to do just that.)

• He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.  Mu husband and I had once visited a "Section 8" condominium when we were looking for an apartment.  It was a beautiful place, large, well-laid out, and unbelievably cheap!  We were told we could not possibly qualify for that type of apartment because, between the two of us at the time, we earned approximately $32,000 a year because we both worked and paid our own way.  However, if we were willing for at least one of us to quit our job we could easily qualify.  We refused to join the ranks of the moochers.
• He qualifies for food stamps.
• He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.
• His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.
• He requires bilingual teachers and books. (No other immigrant children receive 'special education' in their native language -- not French, German, or Hindi; only Spanish.)
• He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
• If they are, or become, aged, blind, or disabled, they qualify for SSI. If qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicaid. All of this is at (our) taxpayer's expense.
• He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.
• Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins, and printed material.
• He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.

By contrast, working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6..00/hour left after paying their bills and his.

This is what the liberals call "cheap labor"?  I emphatically beg to disagree with that description!  What the liberals are looking for, and determined to get through this open borders mentality is a voting block of grateful residents, whether legal or not, who would be placed immediately on the track for citizenship (to allow them to vote).

"Cheap labor"?  I think not!  More like "cheap, ignorant votes."

These are the questions we should address to the Congressional Members of either party.   When they lie to us and DON'T DO AS THEY SAY, WE MUST REPLACE THEM.

Candidates' perspectives on immigration legislation must be considered in 2010.

If the candidate supports the "open borders" or "amnesty," he or she should immediately be discarded from consideration, whether Republican or Democrat.  Our Country has always welcomed immigrants, but this premise of just open the barn doors, let everyone in, never mind whether or immigration laws are followed is unacceptable.

Just as unacceptable is to have half the representatives of the American people stand up to applaud the president of the country most responsible for breaking immigration laws when he chastises us for adhering to our own laws.  Those selected representatives of the people should be removed at the earliest possible moment: November 2010.

If anyone still wonders why this is important, look around you and see how it has already been detrimental to working Americans, our economy and our American culture and heritage.

Institutionalized Hypocrisy

This past week we have witnessed intense reactions from the Administration and their supporters regarding the law passed in Arizona against illegal immigration.

The immediate reactions from the exalted heights of the Presidency straight on through the Congress, down to the liberal left was to quickly and vociferously condemn the law as "racist," "dangerous," having the potential -- potential, mind you -- to lead to racial profiling. 

Those were the nice comments!

On top of the many ridiculous and close to hysterical reactions came the admissions, in Congressional testimony, of several administration officials, Janet Napolitano and Eric Holder most notably, that they had not even read the law at all.

As hypocritical and base this may be, it appears to be completely in line with their ideology to automatically condemn a law, or anything else they chose to perceive as "wrong," no matter whether they even have factual information about it.

Whatever happened to "Just the facts, Ma'am?"  Or, as simplistic as it may be, what about, "Look before you leap?"

That concept appears to be gravely missing in the mentality of the administration under which our country currently labors.  It appears more clearly than ever that their intent is nothing less than to denigrate, lie about, misrepresent, distort, and possibly ultimately destroy anyone who has the gall to act against them.  It is increasingly undeniable, even after having witnessed Mr. Obama's infamous "Apology Tour," that those who are currently in charge are only interested in one thing: to literally bow to any other power that appears to be contrary to America, from China to Mexico.

I am sure that the majority of those who voted for "Change" in November 2008 did not have any expectation that the "change" would lead to this. 

We now have an administration following in the footsteps of their rabid supporters.  The extreme left has used the methodology of "destroy to conquer" ever since the appearance of Mr. Obama as presidential candidate.  This methodology was made official throughout the campaign when any suggestion or hint of disagreement was deemed "racist."  It was brought to extremes during the attacks against the T. E. A. movement demonstrations (described as terrorists and "astroturf" by Nancy Pelosi).  It was glaringly apparent in Mr. Obama's automatic (shall we say "knee-jerk"?) reaction to the altercation between his Harvard professor friend and the Boston policeman.

Today, it is taken to the depths of hypocrisy by these two highly placed administration officials who are more than ready to destroy a sovereign state of our great country because the lawmakers in that state dare to attempt to take care of an intensely difficult problem -- without following the dictates of the administration.

Soon after, comes the proverbial salt in the wound:  once again, we have the President of the United States of America, a sovereign country, kowtowing to the president of Mexico about illegal immigration, providing a soapbox (an address to Congress) for that individual to insult and tear down our country.

When one thinks about it . . . we should not be surprised that many in Congress applauded the insults to our laws and our states.  Hasn't Mr. Obama himself been insulting our laws, our country, and our history ever since he set foot on the road as a candidate?  Is it any wonder that foreigners now feel perfectly immune to repercussions if they do the same?

It is hard for me to believe that the numbers of Americans who voted this man and his cronies into power do not feel even the slightest measure of discomfort at hearing their own country torn down from the well of the Congress.  But, at the same time, I have to admit that it is merely a parroting by a stranger of what a great many Americans have done for many years.

We should not be surprised, I guess.

The Peanut Gallery Speaks

Woody Allen: First Vote for "Dictator Obama"

It is not surprising at all that an individual such as Woody Allen would make such a statement.

He is -- and has always been -- a perfect example of the elite left who disdains all who do not agree with his and his comrades' views.  I have never been able to get through more than perhaps the first 20 minutes or so of any Allen movie and have never  understood their attraction.  Yet, for the elite left, his movies are the most "intelligent," "high-minded," "extraordinary," and yadda-yadda, etc. "ever made."

Allen's statement is all too easy to understand.  As exemplified in Germany under Hitler, in Italy under Mussolini, in Haiti under Duvalier, and in countless other countries under countless other dictators, those who mindlessly and unquestioningly agree with and support dictatorships are always the ones who have an intense, dishonest desire to be "on top," "in control," and "in charge" -- supposedly because they "know best!"  Those are always the ones who merely want "power" to be able to do as they wish, whatever that may be.  Their dishonest and base evil mentality is always reflected in their immediate desire to silence others and deny the same rights they enjoy to any who disagree with them.

It appears that Allen clearly sees that his possible resurgence, his potential future as a powerful film maker would be limitless as a fawning sycophantic supporter of an Obama "Regime," in the same way Leni Riefenstahl, Hitler's film maker, glorified the reign of that particular madman and acquired great power for herself (at least for a while).  I would not at all be surprised if she was Allen's "hero."

Regardless of the above, because of our Bill of Rights, our Constitution and our adherence to the Rule of American Law, Allen and his kind cannot and should not be stopped from spouting idiocies and stupidities.  The rest of us, however, can, should and must speak loudly and emphatically against him and his comrades.

We must maintain our voices just as loudly and just as clearly as the left.  As in the current battles about immigration, school text books, government spending and takeovers, we must not allow ourselves to be intimidated or browbeaten into silence.  To allow that to happen would be to pave the very path desired by Allen and his ilk -- directly to a dictatorship.

Once we allow our freedom of speech to be destroyed, our Country is destroyed as well.
We must steadfastly support, speak for, and represent our Country and our Constitution and our Bill of Rights always.

"For those that don't know history...Here is a condensed version" - Patriot Update

"For those that don't know history...Here is a condensed version" - Patriot Update

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Arizona

I very much doubt that when Neil Diamond sang Arizona there was anyone in the country who would have imagined the outrageous events that have recently occurred because of that state's legal actions.

One of the very best things about our Country is Freedom of Speech which protects every citizen's right to protest, yell, jump up and down, march, wave signs around, and all around complain vociferously about our government's actions or inaction, as the case may be.

So far, so good.  Nothing about that inherent, inalienable right should be changed.  I pray to God nothing ever causes that right to be abridged.

However!  There are limits to protests, regardless of the inalienable rights afforded all American citizens and legal residents by our Constitution.

One of those limits has been breached most egregiously by the inane actions of the City of Los Angeles.  They, and others of the liberal ilk, have essentially declared economic war on the state of Arizona.  Why?  For the simple reason that Arizona passed a law requiring and reiterating that Federal Laws regarding legal immigration be adhered to.

How outrageous!  How outlandish that a state is being threatened by other localities for not only following but enhancing long-standing, existing Federal Law!  How incredible that a state should threaten another state, that elected officials in Congress should take to the airwaves to denigrate Arizona for following Federal Law.

Come to think of it, there's really nothing so incredible about it.  It is, merely, just one more example of the liberal perspective of "anything goes" . . . as long as the advantage is theirs and supports their ultimate agenda.

The liberals in Los Angeles and a few other places throughout the country are up at arms in reaction to Arizona's immigration law which merely requires LEGAL immigrants to be able to prove LEGAL RESIDENCY should they be stopped for LEGAL REASONS.

For those of you who are not up on these kinds of things, here's the "Cliff Notes" version of LEGAL immigration procedure.

A foreigner (anyone born in a country other than the United States, in simple terms) who wishes to come to this country will apply for a  document called a "visa."  This document can be issued as a "student visa" or as a "tourist visa."  Both types have specific lengths of time during which they are in effect.  It is (or, at least used to be) the responsibility of government agencies to ensure that neither type of foreigner overstays the length of the visa. 

No matter the length, in general, one always had the option of applying for extensions upon providing proof of the reason for requesting the extension, for example, more classes needed or the tourist did not get to go to the Grand Canyon on a mule.

Government entities (formerly the INS, currently ICE, for example) have the responsibility to ensure that all visas are monitored and remain in compliance.  Those same entities, upon determining that a visa holder was out of compliance, have the responsibility to locate and then send the foreigner home.

This, by the way, is standard operating procedure for all countries of the world.  Some handle the process a bit more nicely and courteously than others . . . compare, say, England's procedure to Iran's.

All foreigners, once they enter our country LEGALLY, always have the option to apply for permanent LEGAL residency.  There are various ways to do this, depending on situations and the countries from which the foreigners come.  All ways end in the foreigner being issued appropriate documentation of LEGAL residency:  the "green card."

Existing laws also require that LEGAL residents always carry their "green cards," in the same way that AMERICAN CITIZENS are always required to carry identification.  See how that works?  American citizens carry ID, Legal Residents carry ID.  Simple.

What, may I ask, is either "discriminatory" or "racist" about that?

I will NOT accept the response that "brown" people will be more subject to questioning than non-brown people because of the Arizona law!  That is a ridiculous and racist comment in and of itself.  It is merely a way for the left to browbeat any opposition into silence by the threat of being branded "racist."  (Clearly, that threat has worked for years, why would they stop now?  It got Mr. Obama elected, didn't it?) 

Common sense states that if "brown" people of any background commit more illegal acts than others that bring them to the attention of authorities, then of course they will be more subject to questioning!  However, one must never try to insert logic into any liberal methods; it just does not compute.

In even more simple terms, for those who refuse to accept facts:  If an ILLEGAL alien commits a crime of any kind, from running a red light to acting as a drug mule, that is already breaking our law.  At the point of contact with police authorities, the authorities can and should require proof of LEGAL RESIDENCY for any reason that causes suspicion, such as, for example, a number of individuals in a car or van, driving late at night on a back road, none of whom can speak a syllable of English.

How difficult is that concept?

To listen to the liberals and our esteemed Mr. Obama, however, the law does nothing less than allow jackbooted thugs to invade ice-cream parlors in order to drag any "brown" individual (and their poor, innocent child, of course!) kicking and screaming to the nearest gulag!

Why are reasonable, thinking Americans so hesitant to label that claim stupid and absurd?

Worse than the above idiocy is the reaction of many Republicans who have started to scramble desperately to justify their mild and timid support for the law.  That is not the manner in which such outrageously stupid assertions should be responded to. We need strong legislators who will not fold at the first sign of protest from the left.  We need legislators who will stand true to America, our laws, and our Constitution in everything and NOT allow themselves to be browbeaten into weak submission because of the illogical, inaccurate (lies) rantings of a loud and obnoxious group.

This has got to stop!  We, Americans, must realize that "open borders" is merely the fast track to complete destruction of our heritage, our history, and our identity as AMERICANS.

Mexicans should no more be excused from meeting the requirements of this law than should Haitians (many of whom have "brown" skin), West Indians in general (--ditto--), Hindus (--ditto--) and countless other nationalities who fall under the "brown" category.

My family and I emigrated from the West Indies over 40 years ago.  We followed the rules and requirements of LEGAL entry into this country as was required of all who hoped to enter at the time.  Our entire family came, even though my Dad had to wait an additional year before he was able to join the rest of the family.  We spent over 35 years carrying our "green card" with us at all times, and were proud to present it to any who requested it, because we were proud LEGAL residents.

Was that discriminatory or "racist" because some of my family are "brown," others are "black," and still others in my family are almost "white"?

No, it was not!

The premise is really simple:  there are rules and laws in place that are to be followed by ALL immigrants to this country.  Once in this country, there are rules and regulations applicable to ALL immigrants that must also be followed.

Why on earth would we want to welcome a group of people -- no matter what their skin color -- who prove even before coming into the country that they have no regard for our laws?

More insane is the thought that there are elected officials, sworn to uphold the laws of this country, who are actively aiding and abetting the breaking of laws.  Mr. Xavier Bacerra, among others, has been on national TV ranting and raving about the "dangers" of following Federal Law.  I have to wonder if he ever accepted, truly accepted, the oath he took as a Representative of the US House of Representatives to support and uphold the Constitution of the United States of America -- as opposed to the Mexican states.

Additional insanity is added to the mix by the rantings of the so-called history "professor" who stands in front of a group of students and clearly incites his listeners to overthrow our government!  I doubt that "speech" got much airtime, though.  Our esteemed liberal media outlets are much too busy chasing seniors at T. E. A. Parties to report on this event!

On top of  this unsightly heap of stupidity (just for the moment, I'm sure) is the gall of the Chicago-area High school administrators' choice to punish the girls' basketball team by forbidding them to attend a tournament which they earned through their own hard work and dedication -- because the tournament is held in Arizona.

I suppose nothing is too important not to be sacrificed at the altar of liberalism!

Does anyone else not see the outrageousness of a school's making a blatant political statement at the cost of the students they are there to teach, support, and guide?

Does anyone else not see the blatant stupidity of our elected officials' refusing to tell the truth about legislation, strictly because of their own political agenda?

It is past time to say: Enough, already! 

We who are honest, sincere, hardworking Americans must stand up to these people and emphatically refuse to accept their lies, misrepresentations, and their agenda -- no matter who they are.

Mrs. Obama and the Nanny-ization of the Country

Every First Lady in American history has had their "thing to do," from "Just Say No" to literacy campaigns.
None of those activities, however, has ever been so intrusive into the entire country's personal life as the intent of Mrs. Obama's stated mission to "fix" childhood obesity -- under the typical liberal guise of "protecting" the children.

Is Mrs. Obama going to work directly with parents -- adults -- to try to provide them resources and information (as if there weren't enough out there  already!) to help PARENTS determine what best to feed their children?

Of course not!  That would be much too sensible.

The process, of course, will require targeting and demonizing the food industry in general.  The intent is to make the entire food industry the cause of children's obesity, while, as always, forgetting (or ignoring, as is always the liberal case) the true reasons children are obese in the first place!

True and Accurate Reasons Children are Obese

• Children get no exercise anymore, neither at school nor at home.  They are driven to school, no matter what age they are, they are driven to the mall to 'hang out, they are driven to activities on a schedule.

• There is no more physical education class in a great number of schools.  Schools have regularly chosen to cut phys. ed. classes out of the curriculum when trying to supposedly balance their budgets.  However, let's ignore the fact they are perpetually claiming never to have enough money, yet the various state lotteries were justified because the proceeds were targeted to support education.

Regardless of the above and any others Mrs. Obama may invent to justify her new experiment, the primary reason children are obese is the following:

• Parents have long rescinded their responsibility as parents to say, among many other things, "No, you can't have another cheeseburger for dinner."  Parents have long used fast food as a quick-n-easy way to feed their families because it is convenient, does not interfere with their own activities and schedules too much, and meets the minimum parental responsibility to feed one's own children.
• Parents are the most responsible for the state of their children.  It is parents who allow their children to eat what they will.  It is parents who provide the funds for their children to purchase the so-called "bad" foods.

That, Mrs. Obama, is the fundamental reason for childhood obesity, NOT the food industry from which you have financially profited so much.

Attempting to take over yet another aspect of our free market through this typically underhanded, back-door, deceitful manner is just another step on the liberal march to take over our Country in all areas imaginable.

Parents must STOP allowing the liberal guilt-mongering to facilitate their further abdication of their parental duties and responsibilities.  Parents must tell the government "No!  I can decide for myself what my child will or will not eat -- including at school."

Constituencies

One of the primary things I noticed in the past year is that not only is our current administration not listening to the voice of the majority of the people in general, it is not allowing American citizens to have the opportunity to even contact the Representatives of the People.

It started during the so-called "health care/health insurance reform debate."  Representatives of the Democratic persuasion started to restrict e-mail access to their constituents only.  Understandable, to an extent.  I am sure they all receive an immense number of e-mails regularly. 

However, it is unconscionable that they restrict access to them only to their immediate constituents at all times.  This reflects their choice to ignore the simple fact that their actions very often affect many more Americans than just their immediate constituents.

When it comes to "reform" legislation such as "healthcare/insurance," "cap-and-trade," and now immigration "reform," ALL Americans are affected by ALL representatives' votes.

This factor alone demands that they hear comments and opinions from all Americans.  They must take responsibility for their votes and accept that their constituencies go far beyond the borders of their districts when it comes to such wide ranging legislation.

I attempted to contact Congressman Xavier Becerra  to comment on his position vis-a-vis the outrageous boycott of Arizona, but the gentleman's "E-mail Congressman Becerra" link does not allow anyone outside California to e-mail.

When are these elected representatives of the people realize that they work for all of us?  When their decisions, actions, opinions, and behavior affect all Americans, then they work for all Americans.

President Teddy Roosevelt on Immigration

President Teddy Roosevelt was very strong, and very prophetic in his words. We must ensure they are known today as well.

The year is 1907, one hundred and 3 years ago.

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American ...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

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These words and thoughts are timeless.  Over 100 years later, these words are even more relevant to what is happening in our country today than they ever were before.

This country has been made up of immigrants from its inception, including the visits by Cristobal Colon.  The immigration laws in place in this country are neither bigoted nor racist as some activists with specific political agenda have alleged.  The existing immigration laws are there to protect our country and to ensure that all who come here are able to become citizens because of a sincere love for this country -- after having been legal residents for the required length of time.

I am proud to say I became an American citizen after over 40 years' residence as a LEGAL immigrant.  Every immigrant who comes here LEGALLY proves their intent and desire to follow our laws and support our country.  Why should the laws not be followed by everyone?

It is revolting and repugnant for Mr. Obama, as the current President of the United States, to impugn the integrity of the entire law enforcement community, as well as the entire legislature of a state.  His and the liberal left's claims that enforcement of federal and state immigration laws will supposedly allow his imaginary jackbooted agents to drag any immigrant and his children from an ice cream shop to subject them to interrogation are absurd, disgusting, and frankly of grave concern, when one considers who is expressing these views.

It is the horrendous and disgusting perspective, exemplified by Mr. Obama's comments, perpetuated by the liberals, which have caused this country to come to this difficult pass.

It is time for Americans to stand up for the truth.  We who are reasonable people -- thankfully, still the greater majority of Americans -- must respend, must set the record straight, and must not allow the misrepresentations and lies to continue, even if the lies and misrepresentations are perpetrated by the man holding the highest and most important office in the land.

It is imperative that our country's laws be followed by, and applied to, ALL who wish to come here, as long as they wish to meld and assimilate into our Country, support our Constitution, and not expect some special considerations not afforded to the millions of others who wish to come to our country.

"FAREWELL AMERICA -- WE'LL REALLY MISS YOU!"

My husband and I had the pleasure of attending a local "Tea Party" on April 15, 2010 and were honored by the presence of several very special Patriots. In addition to a particularly soul stirring speech by Star Parker, founder and president of CURE (the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education), we were edified by the speech made by Mr. Lou Pritchett, a noted expert on change management.

Shortly after Mr. Obama's election in November 2008, Mr. Pritchett wrote an open letter titled, "Mr. Obama, you scare me." In that letter, Mr. Pritchett had clearly stated specific reasons for concern that Mr. Obama was elected President of the United States of America. Unfortunately, a very short passage of time shows that his and others' fears were extremely well-grounded.

It is now what it is -- and many of us feel that all we can do is pray for our Country. It is important, however, to not despair. As important as prayer is, we can do more than pray.

It is imperative that we keep fighting against the 'fundamental transformation' of our Country promised and being implemented by the current administration.

By frightening us with a huge dose of potential and current reality, Mr. Pritchett's words help give us the strength to continue to stand strong against those trying to 'fundamentally change' our Constitutional Republic.

I truly believe that the only chance left to save our Republic is in November, 2010. No other electorate in the world will ever have had such an important vote to make. All who love this country and who want to preserve it as it was intended to be have the responsibility to vote.

Please, let's make sure it is the right vote, this time.
 

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Lou Pritchett’s Speech at Tax Day Rally April 15th

Reprinted April 18th, 2010
Source: firstcoastteaparty.org

I was born in year two of the Great Depression (1931) and spent the first 10 years of my life influenced by the extreme hardships of the depression. By today's standards my family was about a mile below today's so called 'poverty level'; but if you never 'had'—doing without was not so 'bad.'

Borrowing shoes to graduate from the 8th grade didn't seem at all demeaning because most of the 8th graders did the same thing. On June 6, 1944, my only brother, Joe, was killed in action on Utah Beach in Normandy, France during the D-Day landings. Exactly one year later, my father died and left me, my mother and my sister to go it alone. And alone we went. My mother went to work at a department store, my sister dropped out of school and joined her and and I went to work shining shoes on the streets of Memphis for a dime a shine. Government assistance was not available and if it were I am confident my mother would have refused it because she never wanted the government involved in our lives.

I mention this bit of personal history to help you understand that millions of Americans, including your parents and grandparents, grew up like me during the Great Depression and never expected nor wanted the government to offer them anything except an OPPORTUNITY.

Today, I am a practicing “Tea Party” conservative because this movement is founded on the principle of smaller government, lower taxes and fewer entitlements.

Recall during Obama's campaign for the Presidency he constantly repeated the mantra —”CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN”. That sounded good to a lot of people. However, after one year in office it is crystal clear that what he really meant was not “change we can believe in”, rather it was “CHANGE WHAT WE BELIEVE IN”.

Mr. Obama, we’ve got news for you–we aren’t changing what we believe in for you or anyone else!!!

As you know I was invited to this Tea Party because of a letter I wrote a year ago to Obama titled “YOU SCARE ME”. I sent the letter to Obama, the New York Times, and a dozen friends and within 24 hours I began to receive emails from around the world. For some reason, which I cannot explain, the letter went viral and at last report it has had over 7 million hits on the internet.

What you probably don't know is that just two days after the November 2008 election, I wrote another letter. This one to both the NY TIMES and the FLORIDA TIMES/ UNION, titled "FAREWELL AMERICA." The NY Times ignored it but the T/U published it on November 6, 2008. It never went viral but in the opinion of several students of American politics, this letter accurately predicted what Obama and his band of 'progressive thieves' would do within the first year of his presidency.

As I share it with you—–remember it was written just two days after Obama won.

"FAREWELL AMERICA -- WE'LL REALLY MISS YOU!"

Farewell to the America we have loved for two centuries and hello to a new far- left driven president who promised change and will most likely deliver on it.

Farewell, to an America driven by individuals with strong work ethics to one which will resemble French, German, and British societies where big government, big welfare, union controlled labor, four day work weeks, ten week vacations are the rule. Societies which constantly ask “—where’s mine?”

Farewell to capitalism, job creation, lower taxes, smaller government, fewer entitlements, safer cities, personal responsibility and sound work ethics.

Farewell to adequate military defense spending to protect us from our enemies who wish and plan to kill us.

Farewell to close ties with our best and only friend in the middle east—Israel.

Farewell to maintaining a conservative Supreme Court.

Farewell to any chance of keeping Health Care out of the hands and control of government.

Farewell to the famous American standard of living–a magnet to the world.

Farewell to conservative ‘talk radio’ as an antidote to the biased media. The Fairness Doctrine will return.

Farewell to any hope for educating our college kids in something other than liberal mush.

Today is truly a sad day for millions of Americans as they slowly allow the election results to sink in. Today, for the first time in modern history, America took a giant step toward changing not only the direction, but the entire character of the country from free enterprise driven to big government driven.

Our only hope is to start now planning and building a strong conservative base which can reclaim the Presidency and Congress in four years and start repairing the damage. God help us if we fail.

If you compare what I wrote with reality, some say it looks like I had a crystal ball. Consider what Obama has done in just one year—

1) He has ‘forced’ a complex and convoluted health care reform package on the American people who, according to the polls, reject it three to one. In his effort to ram this bill through he has used all of his old Chicago machine tricks, including the use of tax payer money to bribe senators for their support.

2) He has surrounded himself with far left communists, socialists, and Marxists who are committed to helping him transform our country into a European socialist state.

3) He has burdened future generations with the largest deficits and the largest national debt ever seen in America.

4) He has declared war on Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Fox News simply because they dare to stand up to him.

5) He has been personally disrespectful to the Israeli Prime Minister and seems more concerned with Israel, building houses than he is with Iran building nuclear bombs.

6) He believes that there are no terrorists, only “extremists,” “man-made disasters” and “isolated cases” such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. He considers terrorism a challenge for law-enforcement officials rather than for military personnel.

7) He has bought in to the discredited ‘Cap and Trade’ (global warming) nonsense which will do nothing but drive up consumer energy cost and cripple America’s industrial strength and cost American jobs.

Without question, Obama has proven in one year to be the most divisive and least “presidential” president in history by listening only to those who agree with him and ignoring, excluding, marginalizing and demeaning those who do not.

So far this evening I have been preaching to the choir.

Now let me close by telling you how I view the Tea Party movement. A movement still in it’s infancy, yet so powerful and effective that the top three leaders in our government fear it like nothing they have ever feared before.

A quick glance at American history reveals that we are a nation of “movements” which over the last two hundred years have not only shaped our politics but our culture. Consider the following— starting in the 19th century we have had — THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT, THE SUFFRAGIST MOVEMENT, THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT, THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE ANTI -WAR MOVEMENT, and THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT to name only a few.

Each of these movements were the result of large sections of the population feeling that there were ‘wrongs’ that needed to be ‘righted’ and those who could and should right them, namely politicians, seemed totally disinterested and preferred to look the other way.

Each of these movements went through three phases. First–FRUSTRATION, second, ENERGY and third, COMMITMENT.

I believe the Tea Party movement has now entered phrase 3–COMMITMENT!

Across America the Tea Party movement is shouting in unison–”we will not take Government abuse any longer.”

The Tea Party movement is putting an insensitive big government with an acute hearing problem on ‘notice.’

The Tea Party movement is speaking for those who believe that politicians of both parties, aided by the current President, are the problem as they create more and more and bigger and bigger government—government which is now on the verge of bankrupting the country enroute to ‘transforming’ it to pure Socialism.

History has proven again and again that when any government loses contact WITH and support OF the people, and demeans them with phrases like–Right Wing Lunatics, Terrorists, Morons, Gun Toting Bible Thumpers, and scream ’sit down and shut up’, they are inviting revolution!

Our situation today is very similar to that of the great Indian reformer Mahatma Ghandi. As Ghandi struggled to change a ‘British Colony’ into an Independent Nation—here is what he said about his thousands of critics and opponents—

First they will ignore you, then they will ridicule you, then they will fight you, then—you win!

— and win the Tea Party will because it is the torpedo into the USS “HOPE & CHANGE.”

— it is the bumper sticker proclaiming “GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM.”

— it is the voice of millions of disgruntled Americans who feel they have no Washington representation and worse still—no voice.

— Finally, the Tea Party movement will win because it is America’s “wake up” call.

Folks, let me remind you that no politician will ever change, even when they “see the light,” they must also feel the heat and the Tea Party movement is providing that heat. This means that the Tea Party movement, this amazing, new, enlightened and energized electorate, unknown a year ago, must continue to rise to the occasion and shout to the roof tops ALARM! ALARM, just as Paul Revere did 234 years ago when he first saw the British Red Coats coming.

Our only hope is when informed citizens with a belief, with a conviction, with a willingness to pay the price, come together to collectively right the ship of state and I am proud to be standing among thousands of you this afternoon.

Let me end on my favorite quote which I think is very appropriate for each of us today—

"TO EVERY MAN THERE COMES IN HIS LIFETIME THAT SPECIAL MOMENT WHEN HE IS PHYSICALLY TAPPED ON THE SHOULDER AND OFFERED THE CHANCE TO DO A VERY SPECIAL THING, UNIQUE TO HIM AND FITTED TO HIS TALENT; WHAT A TRAGEDY IF THAT MOMENT FINDS HIM UNPREPARED OR UNQUALIFIED FOR THE WORK WHICH WOULD BE HIS FINEST HOUR.”

Those words spoken by Winston Churchill over 70 years ago are very appropriate for The Tea Party Movement today.

For if each of us is prepared and is qualified then this just might be our and our Country’s finest hour as we reclaim it from the Obama’s, Pelosi’s and Reid’s and all the other politicians who have either forgotten or chosen to ignore our Constitution.

GOD SPEED FELLOW PATRIOTS!

No Truer Words!

I wish I could take credit for this one . . . I commend the person who said it and only wish credit could be given where it is definitely due.

We can only hope and pray that more Americans are coming to this realization and what they did if they voted for Mr. Obama on 11/04/2008.

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency.
It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president.
Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”

-- Author Unknown

Coming to the T.E.A. Party?

There has been a lot of activity this past year from the “T.E.A. party” groups throughout the country. My husband and I have been fortunate enough to be able to attend several and were thrilled to be publicly expressing our displeasure with this current administration’s policies.


Unfortunately, the pundits all over the place (including the generally reasonable FNC bunch) are having a grand ole time speculating about whether the T.E.A. “party” is “a party,” whether it is “against” the Republicans, whether it will fracture the republican vote and ultimately defeat itself to the advantage of the liberals now in control.

Lots of hullabaloo, lots of speculation, lots of provocative commentary. So what?

I think what is being missed here – and utilized to great advantage by the liberals and progressives – is that there is no "Tea Party" per se! There is no official or unofficial third political party operating under the name “Tea Party.”

There is, however, a broad based, grassroots movement of extremely concerned American citizens who gather beneath the banner of "T. E. A." which stands for "Taxed Enough Already." It seems that few remember that little fact already. This is not a "party" unless one listens to those who try to denigrate, fracture, and incite conflict among those of us trying to withstand the progressive onslaught.

This is not a new or separate party. I do not believe that it was ever meant to be a new, independent party to complete with either the current republican or democrat parties.

The T.E.A. "party" movement was created out of the frustration and anger – yes, progressives, “anger” – of American citizens as we came to understand what kind of "fundamental change" Mr. Obama meant when he campaigned. Very few among the electorate understood exactly what he meant at the time; he was elected. Now that the majority of folks understand clearly what he meant, he can get "un-elected."

That is how the voices of those of us under the banner of T.E.A. want to be heard and want to have an effect on our government. Those candidates who present themselves as thoroughly understanding and supporting the need to get our Country back on the path as a Republic, with a strong, solid – not fluid – Constitution, Bill of Rights, and economic independence will get our votes.

We do not need a third party in order to get this done. What we DO need is to make sure the Republican/Conservative candidates are true to the ideals we hold dear in our Country: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the limited role of government in our daily lives, controlled government spending, no encroachment on our civil liberties and freedoms through unending government imposed regulations and rules, etc., etc.

Those candidates who convince us of their sincere belief and intent to support those ideals will get the votes of those who have protested under the T.E.A. banners.

Republican "Hypocrisy"?

The headline today on the Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com) -- above the title, no less -- is about our newest Senator, Scott Brown voting for the so-called "Jobs" Bill. I have not yet read the article but the headline immediately reminded me of the most recent grating 'laments' from the democrats. Apparently, it is suddenly a very, very bad thing to accept government funds if some of one's party voted against the allocation of those funds in the first place.

Well . . . here's another example of a chunk of non-logic floating off on a plank of the ridiculous spin-stream.

As a fiscal conservative, I am against all of the government spending that has gone on since the last year of President Bush's administration. (We were against the prescription drug program, regardless of its intent, because it was unfunded and added to the deficit.) We were against the bank buyouts, the automobile manufacturers/union buyouts, and certainly against the wall street buyouts. We do not believe there is anyone or anything "too big to fail."

If an individual or a company mismanages their business enterprise to the brink of failure through their own bad choices and decisions -- they deserve to fail.

However, when the federal government grabs more chunks of taxpayer monies from ALL states and spreads those funds around -- then ALL states have a right to that money, whether or not the representatives of a particular state voted for the funds.

Why? Because it is TAXPAYER money that the government is spending -- not "democrat" or "republican" money, to be used only by the party that voted for its expenditure.

Simple fact of the matter is NONE of those the funds should not have been spent in the first place -- our Country did not and does not have the money in the bank. We could not and cannot afford all that expense: from the TARP to the Return of TARP to Stimulus to the "Jobs" Bill (aka Son of Stimulus), we could not and cannot afford any of the money this administration has been spreading about like so much popcorn practically since the first weeks of this administration!

The fact, however, is that the money is available for states to use to the benefit of the states (aka the TAXPAYER). The money has been allocated by the Federal Government -- from the same pot of tax dollars that all states pay into. How, then, is it hypocritical to accept funds from the pot into which ALL TAXPAYER funds have been included?

I will support the democrats' lament about supposed "hypocrisy" when there is a "republican" and a separate "democrat" pot of TAXPAYER funds. Until then, whatever goes into the pot from the TAXPAYER is equally available to ALL taxpayers.

All this sidesteps, of course, the issue that this kind of spending should not have happened at all. All this ignores, too, that our Country is pretty much dead broke and getting broker by the minute. Is it any wonder China and Japan pretty much own us?

The discussions should not be between who is "eligible" for taxpayer funds or not . . . it should be about who is going to sign the check when Japan and China call in their IOUs.
 
 
02/23/2010: Originally posted on "PatrioticResistance.com"

Ir's That Time of Year!

To All Our Democratically Inclined Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practice of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calender year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great.  This is not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. 

This wish is made without regard to race, creed, color, age, physical disability, religious faith, or lack thereof, or sexual preference of the wishee.

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To All Our Conservative and Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2010!

From a post in USA Today-on-line, 12/10/2009

Giving Thanks and Gratitude

I am, of course, infinitely grateful for my family. My husband and I have traveled difficult roads together and have come through to achieve our goals.  Our love has withstood external buffets to reach a level of steadiness and quietude that neither one of us takes for granted. We have worked extremely hard to achieve what we consider our "American Dream."  We each have good jobs, we share a nice home we can afford, and own a good vehicle that we can afford.

My Mom and my husband are good friends, and our perpetual puppy Victoria Elizabeth rounds out our little family perfectly. Between the four of us, and with the constant help of God, we take care of each other, deal with each other, and always love each other.

I am extremely grateful for and proud of my nieces, one who did an excellent job in bringing her life back under control by taking responsibility for herself, and the other proudly serving our country in the Armed Forces and establishing a marvelous career and a bright future. For them, I thank God and pray for their continued safety.

I am grateful for the relationship rebuilt between my husband and his children from previous marriages. Family is much, much too important to waste because of a silly reason like divorced parents; he and his children are now family again.

I am grateful for my brother. Though our relationship is far from the best, far from the ideal hoped for by our Mom, he is still my brother and I thank God we are family. Once we manage to get over all the stupid remnants of childhood sibling issues, I pray it will not be too late for us to build a good relationship. When all is said and done, we will probably only have each other to lean on at the end.

I am grateful for all our wonderful friends who, though many live miles and miles away, I know would come running in an instant should we need their help, as we would for them. We are grateful to have been a part of the happy times we shared when we were geographically closer. We count on those warm memories to sustain our continued friendship.

As I listen daily to the various news reports, the latest decrees, pronouncements, and declarations coming out of the Congress, and the decisions made by the current leaders of our country, I fear for our future as individuals, as a family, and as a country. This fear, however, in no way diminishes the gratitude I feel in being fortunate enough to live in the United States.

I was not born in this country. My family emigrated when I was very young. I grew up as a foreigner but came to love this country as if I could look back at generations before me. I came to understand and fully appreciate the reasons behind the establishment of this country and the reasons for which it was established the way it was. I came to see that there really is no other better country on this planet. Even today, in the dread-inducing days through which we struggle to survive, I know I would rather struggle here than anywhere else on earth.

I am grateful for all those citizens of our country who are working hard to save our country in so many ways: from participating in "Tea Parties" to getting the nerve to run for elected office, to standing up to demand accountability from those currently in office. Those of us who cannot do those things are also active by writing and calling our elected representatives to remind them of the fundamentals on which our great country was built: the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution.

Those original building blocks are fundamental corner stones of this Country. They are not to be “reinterpreted” or “fundamentally changed” to suit one specific ideology, whether that ideology happens to be “in charge” or not. I am grateful for those courageous citizens who have made it their mission to do all they can to save our country through active protests and declared displeasure with the government. Citizens can be so vocal in their protests and not fear for their lives as a result in few other countries. This country is, so far, one of the few remaining.

My family is not rich; ironically enough, we were much “richer,” from the worldly perspective, in our native land. Through my marriage to an American, I have come to appreciate this country in ways many foreigners generally do not.  I am confident that we have achieved the real “American Dream” as exemplified by the Founders: we are self-sufficient and confident in our abilities. This is based in the knowledge and pride that we can take care of ourselves through our own hard work, without the government’s “assistance” and control – just as our Founders had when they created this extraordinary Country.

America’s past success is based on love of and trust in God, Family, and Country. We who believe those are the core values of this country must work together with one goal in mind: to return those core values to the forefront. We must all be confident that we can save her from the terrifying future toward which the government of “change” has set our path.

It is up to each American who believes in our history to fight against the moochers, fight against the dictatorship of those who wish to bring the government’s control into every tiny crevice of our lives. That level of control invariably leads to tyranny of the very type this country was created to escape. It is up to those of us who strongly believe in the fundamental strength and original purpose of our Country to ensure that it is not changed and ultimately destroyed.

We must tell the government in no uncertain terms that we are strong individually and can only be stronger as a Country by sustaining, not destroying, the foundations of this country as established in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights.

For that foundation, I give thanks to God and gratitude to the Founders.

The "Nanny State" Expands

Our esteemed representatives are currently working very hard, we are told, to achieve a solution for the so-called "crisis" in health care (or is it insurance?). With myriad bills in the Senate and the House, we have come to accept the realization that the majority of our so-called representatives have not read, nor intend to read, the documents. We are, however, exhorted to accept their word that these bills are best for the country as a whole as well as for each individual American citizen simply because they have told us so.

As difficult as it is for many of us to admit, our current government was elected based on their being our caretakers, our "Nannies."  The winning campaign spent much time explaining to us what we needed (whether we realized it or not) and how the government they offered would be there to provide us with everything we need . . . as long as the government alone decides what it is we need. We are, as the majority of We the People tacitly admitted by our votes, apparently incapable of deciding for ourselves what is best for us as individuals or as a country.

Those of us who disagreed with that premise were not loud enough nor forceful enough to counter the intensity of the "Nanny State" campaign. We were apathetic and allowed ourselves to be beaten into submission by the variety of weapons employed by those offering the "Nanny State" style of government.

Those weapons included insults (all disagreement was, during the campaign, and is, now more than ever, "racist"), threats of physical violence (the supposedly 'new' Black Panthers supposedly providing 'security' at voting places), and intense use of character assassination as a means to an end (the stridently hateful attacks on Joe Wurzelbacher and Sarah Palin and her family to silence and discredit).

The majority of We the People stood by with hardly a dissenting word or protest. (Whether from fear, apathy, or disgust, I will never understand.) This silence, apathy, or fear -- whatever it was -- brought us the "Nanny State" in which we find ourselves.

Thankfully, we have slowly started to react.

Loud, active protests throughout the country by a very broad cross-section of citizens have expressed the will of the people clearly and distinctly. We have unmistakably stated we do not want the government to be our caretakers. Regardless, our selected representatives have taken it upon themselves to decide for all of us what we will say when we speak (“Hate-crimes” legislation), who will be permitted to say what they think (new FCC regulations aimed at Conservative talk radio) and, most recently and frighteningly, how and to what extent we will be permitted to have our health taken care of.

Despite the ongoing, ever-expanding “Tea Party Protests,” our esteemed congressional representatives insist the protests are representative of only a small, inconsequential group of people, and should not be taken seriously. To the disgust of many honest Americans, Ms. Pelosi has even attempted to align the protesters with murderers such as those who killed Harvey Milk.  (Hopefully, her hypocrisy and crododile tears did not inffluence many.) 

It has become very clear that We the People committed many errors in recent years, exemplified by our current representation, from the President right through to most of the Congress, as reflected in Mr. Reid and Ms. Pelosi.

This result has been directly caused by our years-long apathy towards anything “political.”

It is time this apathy stop. It is time for We the People to accept our responsibility as citizens of this country and elect the right candidates to represent what the majority of us believe and want. It is time for We the People to accept our responsibility as citizens of this country and ensure that those whom we have selected to represent us do the work the majority of We the People want them to do.

Starting with the mid-term elections of 2010, We the People must secede from the Nanny State and become once again the strong, self-sufficient, independent citizenry on which this country was created.

Dismantling America, Part II

Mr. Sowell continues his analysis and shares an anecdote that has been dramatized many times over these past few months.

As inconceivable as it may have appeared a few years ago, We the People are now active participants in the "change" mantra of simply silencing all opposition through any means possible.  Exemplified many times during the summer of 2009's "Tea Party" gatherings and "Town Halls," many who dared speak out against the current administration were often simply shouted down by their very companions -- citizens of this country. One must wonder at their ability to demand "freedom of speech," "acceptance," and "tolerance" from others while refusing to grant it to others. 

That, of course, has always been the fascinating Liberal Conundrum.

To me, the experience Mr. Sowell recounts in academia is not surprising.  The greater majority of academicians represent some of the most intolerant, close-minded individuals ever to take advantage of the precious freedom of speech.  They, however, are always among the first to impose restrictions of speech on others, and actively try to silence any who dare oppose them.

They, of course, are the only ones who are "right thinking."

~ MCzwz

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Thomas Sowell - Syndicated Columnist - 10/30/2009 10:00:00 AM

Many years ago, at a certain academic institution, there was an experimental program that the faculty had to vote on as to whether or not it should be made permanent.

I rose at the faculty meeting to say that I knew practically nothing about whether the program was good or bad, and that the information that had been supplied to us was too vague for us to have any basis for voting, one way or the other. My suggestion was that we get more concrete information before having a vote.

The director of that program rose immediately and responded indignantly and sarcastically to what I had just said -- and the faculty gave him a standing ovation.

After the faculty meeting was over, I told a colleague that I was stunned and baffled by the faculty's fierce response to my simply saying that we needed more information before voting.

"Tom, you don't understand," he said. "Those people need to believe in that man. They have invested so much hope and trust in him that they cannot let you stir up any doubts."

Years later, and hundreds of miles away, I learned that my worst misgivings about that program did not begin to approach the reality, which included organized criminal activity.

The memory of that long-ago episode has come back more than once while observing both the actions of the Obama administration and the fierce reactions of its supporters to any questioning or criticism.

Almost never do these reactions include factual or logical arguments against the administration's critics. Instead, there is indignation, accusations of bad faith and even charges of racism.

Here too, it seems as if so many people have invested so much hope and trust in Barack Obama that it is intolerable that anyone should come along and stir up any doubts that could threaten their house of cards.

Among the most pathetic letters and e-mails I receive are those from people who ask why I don't write more "positively" about Obama or "give him the benefit of the doubt."

No one -- not even the president of the United States -- has an entitlement to a "positive" response to his actions. The entitlement mentality has eroded the once common belief that you earned things, including respect, instead of being given them.

As for the benefit of the doubt, no one -- especially not the president of the United States -- is entitled to that, when his actions can jeopardize the rights of 300 million Americans domestically and the security of the nation in an international jungle, where nuclear weapons may soon be in the hands of people with suicidal fanaticism. Will it take a mushroom cloud over an American city to make that clear? Was 9/11 not enough?

When a president of the United States has begun the process of dismantling America from within, and exposing us to dangerous enemies outside, the time is long past for being concerned about his public image. He has his own press agents for that.

Internationally, Barack Obama has made every mistake that was made by the Western democracies in the 1930s, mistakes that put Hitler in a position to start World War II -- and come dangerously close to winning it.

At the heart of those mistakes was trying to mollify your enemies by throwing your friends to the wolves. The Obama administration has already done that by reneging on this country's commitment to put a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe and by its lackadaisical foot-dragging on doing anything serious to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. That means, for all practical purposes, throwing Israel to the wolves as well.

Countries around the world that have to look out for their own national survival, above all, are not going to ignore how much Obama has downgraded the reliability of America's commitments.

Iraq, for example, knows that Iran is going to be next door forever while Americans may be gone in a few years. South Korea likewise knows that North Korea is permanently next door but who knows when the Obama administration will get a bright idea to pull out? Countries in South America know that Hugo Chavez is allying Venezuela with Iran. Dare they ally themselves with an unreliable U.S.A.? Or should they join our enemies to work against us?

This issue is too serious for squeamish silence.


COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305.
Opinions expressed in 'Perspectives' columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates.
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Dismantling America I

This is one gentleman with the power of his convictions. Not only does he clearly and consistently state what he thinks and believes, he has done so for years, regardless of the political tone of the times. In these particular times, I find him extraordinarily courageous.

I am absolutely neither detracting from, nor ignoring, the numerous other voices of dissent who literally take their lives into their own hands these days, every time they express an opposing opinion. Our country should be very grateful that we still have them to help protect our Country's past, present, and -- hopefully -- our future.

But, for Mr. Sowell, dissent with the current administration may be particularly dangerous as he will no doubt be deemed a "terrorist," according to Ms. Pelosi, but probably also a "traitor to his race" by the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

The double race club.

Today's times coat every disagreement, every dissent and opposing point of view with the tars and feathers of "racist!" no matter how logically presented an argument. Mr. Sowell once again presents an argument that cannot be denied . . . except of course by all who simply wish to deny the realities of their mantra of "change!"

Whether those of us who feel the fear this "change!" has awakened in us continue to be strong in our protestations remains to be seen. Whether we are able to hold tight to our republican convictions (as in the Republic of the United States of America founded in 1776) in the face of torrential insults, threats, browbeating, and racial clubs also also remains to be seen.

I hope and pray I live to see it. Should the citizens of this country not continue to protest, hold fast to our Republic, fight hard against those attempting not only to "change" but to destroy her, we are simply doomed as a country.

~ MCzwz
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Thomas Sowell - Syndicated Columnist - 10/27/2009 10:50:00 AM

Just one year ago, would you have believed that an unelected government official -- not even a Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate, but simply one of the many "czars" appointed by the President -- could arbitrarily cut the pay of executives in private businesses by 50 percent or 90 percent?

Did you think that another "czar" would be talking about restricting talk radio? That there would be plans afloat to subsidize newspapers -- that is, to create a situation where some newspapers' survival would depend on the government liking what they publish?

Did you imagine that anyone would even be talking about having a panel of so-called "experts" deciding who could and could not get life-saving medical treatments?

Scary as that is from a medical standpoint, it is also chilling from the standpoint of freedom. If you have a mother who needs a heart operation or a child with some dire medical condition, how free would you feel to speak out against an administration that has the power to make life and death decisions about your loved ones?

Does any of this sound like America?

How about a federal agency giving school children material to enlist them on the side of the president? Merely being assigned to sing his praises in class is apparently not enough.

How much of America would be left if the federal government continued on this path? President Obama has already floated the idea of a national police force, something we have done without for more than two centuries.

We already have local police forces all across the country and military forces for national defense, as well as the FBI for federal crimes and the National Guard for local emergencies. What would be the role of a national police force created by Barack Obama, with all its leaders appointed by him? It would seem more like the brown shirts of dictators than like anything American.

How far the President will go depends of course on how much resistance he meets. But the direction in which he is trying to go tells us more than all his rhetoric or media spin.

Barack Obama has not only said that he is out to "change the United States of America," the people he has been associated with for years have expressed in words and deeds their hostility to the values, the principles, and the people of this country.

Jeremiah Wright said it with words: "God d--- America!" Bill Ayers said it with bombs that he planted. Community activist goons have said it with their contempt for the rights of other people.

Among the people appointed as czars by President Obama have been people who have praised enemy dictators like Mao, who have seen the public schools as places to promote sexual practices contrary to the values of most Americans, to a captive audience of children.

Those who say that the Obama administration should have investigated those people more thoroughly before appointing them are missing the point completely. Why should we assume that Barack Obama didn't know what such people were like, when he has been associating with precisely these kinds of people for decades before he reached the White House?

Nothing is more consistent with his lifelong patterns than putting such people in government -- people who reject American values, resent Americans in general and successful Americans in particular, as well as resenting America's influence in the world.

Any miscalculation on his part would be in not thinking that others would discover what these stealth appointees were like. Had it not been for the Fox News Channel, these stealth appointees might have remained unexposed for what they are. Fox News is now high on the administration's enemies list.

Nothing so epitomizes President Obama's own contempt for American values and traditions like trying to ram two bills through Congress in his first year -- each bill more than a thousand pages long -- too fast for either of them to be read, much less discussed. That he succeeded only the first time says that some people are starting to wake up. Whether enough people will wake up in time to keep America from being dismantled, piece by piece, is another question -- and the biggest question for this generation.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305.
Opinions expressed in 'Perspectives' columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates.
All Original Content Copyright 2006-2008 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved.
News Network - All Rights Reserved

Moral Imperative?

I do not believe it is the government's "moral obligation" to provide healthcare for all anymore than it is the government's "moral obligation" to decide for me what and how much I eat, drink, smoke, where I live, what I drive, what type of radio or television programs I listen to etc., etc., etc.

This "health care" ploy is merely one more extraordinarily blatant attempt to coerce the entire country under the wing of the "save the world" mentality of the progressives/liberals/democrats. In their long, patient march throughout the years, the have finally reached the pinacle of their "success."

The progressive/liberal/democrat cadre are on the verge of literally taking over not only "health care" but the complete care and feeding of this entire country. The individual, formerly the backbone of this country, is about to be assimilated into the collective of the whole -- again under the guise of "Papa Government" taking better care of us than we are capable of doing ourselves.

In addition to being an extremely frightening possibility, it is an infinitely sad aspect to contemplate . . . that the strong, independent United States of America should come to this point.

I pray intensely our countrymen will come to their senses next year and make the correct choices to try to start to reverse the course of self-destruction on which "We the People" voted to set ourselves on 11/04/08.