Huge quake hits Chile

Our thoughts and Prayers are with those in Chile.

Hey folks,

AP - Huge quake hits Chile; tsunami threatens Pacific By ROBERTO CANDIA and EVA VERGARA, Associated Press Writer Roberto Candia And Eva Vergara, Associated Press Writer – 40 mins ago

TALCA, Chile – A devastating earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, toppling homes, collapsing bridges and plunging trucks into the fractured earth. A tsunami set off by the magnitude-8.8 quake threatened every nation around the Pacific Ocean — roughly a quarter of the globe.

Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said the most powerful quake to hit the country in a half-century killed at least 82 people, but the death toll was rising quickly.

In the town of Talca, just 65 miles (105 kilometers) from the epicenter, Associated Press journalist Roberto Candia said it felt as if a giant had grabbed him and shaken him.

The town's historic center, filled with buildings of adobe mud and straw, largely collapsed, though most of those were businesses that were not inhabited during the 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. EST, 0634 GMT) quake. Neighbors pulled at least five people from the rubble while emergency workers, themselves disoriented, asked for information from reporters.

It was pretty bad there folks. Also now Tsunami Warning Center called for "urgent action to protect lives and property" in Hawaii.

"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts," the warning center said. It did not expect a tsunami along the west of the U.S. or Canada.

The largest earthquake ever recorded struck the same area of Chile on May 22, 1960. The magnitude-9.5 quake killed 1,655 people and left 2 million homeless. The tsunami that it caused killed people in Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines and caused damage to the west coast of the United States.

Lets hope we do not have a repeat.

BREAKING NEWS:First tsunami from Chile quake hits Japan, initial waves small AP

Coming right up today.

Obama To Take Control of the Internet
How Much Is Enough?

Emergency shipment of condoms headed to Olympic athletes

Your Mood Effects Your Health

DLA for Sunday 022810

IWA For Sunday 022810

Did you catch THIS?

UK Express - WEATHER: HOTTEST JANUARY EVER SAY CLIMATE EXPERTS By Donna Bowater

{Laughing} OK.

CLIMATE scientists yesterday stunned Britons suffering the coldest winter for 30 years by claiming last month was the hottest January the world has ever seen.

The remarkable claim, based on global satellite data, follows Arctic temperatures that brought snow, ice and travel chaos to millions in the UK.

Yeah and 21 inches in NYC. More Snow than the last 4 years. Record cold Nationwide. Snow in EVERY State of the union, including Florida. {Sigh} They are basing it on global satellite data? The same that use those measuring sticks that have been proven to have been messed with? Or the DATA that has been proven to have been completely made up and the REAL tempts suppressed? Whatever folks. Like I said, just plain silly.

By the way, you can also follow the Our Opinion Network on Twitter - peteropntalk, Facebook - Peter Carlock, Tom Sullivan Radio Listeners Club - Peter Carlock, and as always, the Email is opntalk@gmail.com. Then again, you can find me all over the Internet. You never know where I might pop up. {Smile}

Going to fill my cup, be right,,,you know,,I still can't get over the Emergency Condoms in route to the Olympics. {laughing} Coming right up in a few. I'll be right back.
Peter

Sources:
UK Express - WEATHER: HOTTEST JANUARY EVER SAY CLIMATE EXPERTS
AP - Huge quake hits Chile; tsunami threatens Pacific
ABC News - Tsunami Warning: Sirens Put Hawaii on Alert Ahead of Waves

Obama To Take Control of the Internet

I have been warning you.

Hey folks,

I have been warning you all about Obama. Back on September 24, 2009 I said this.

Yes. He wants to be King of the new USSA. Obamanation. He is working at BREAKNECK SPEED to achieve this. To bring this new Obamanation into being. Seriously folks. He is attacking ALL the things that MAKES this country great. He has and is:

Taken over Private Businesses. Taken over the Financial Structure. Housing. He wants total control of Healthcare. In which case would give him TOTAL control over EVERYONE'S Daily Life. He wants to control ALL Businesses and Private Lives in the name of Saving the Planet. GWBS. By the way, did you notice all of a sudden, we are all going to die again because of Global Warming? I guess that has been taken off hold. He wants total control of Information be it from Radio, print, and even the Internet. He WANTS oppressive Taxation to make most reliant solely on Government for EVERYTHING.

These are not conspiracies. These are not the ramblings of someone with a tin foil hat and blacked out windows. These are FACTS of what he is, and is trying, to do. He is coming right out and TELLING you he is attempting to do all this. He has Czars and others in place to bring this all about. There are people in Washington working on these very things as we speak.

I pointed out that he wants to control the Internet Just the day before.

I could spend all day today with "I told you sos" I really could. Back on August 31, 2009, I posted THIS. Some of you laughed. Some of you said it will never happen. Some of you REALLY did not think it was even possible. Well, well, well, looky here. According to Newsmax.com - Obama Plans Internet Grab: FCC to Embrace 'Net Neutrality' Sunday, September 20, 2009 7:16 PM By: John O. Edwards

Since the Internet took root as a mass communications phenomenon in the mid 1990s, a quiet war has raged in Washington over the extent to which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would regulate the new medium.

Until, now the Internet has been largely self-regulated, and the FCC has taken a hands-off approach.

But that could change dramatically soon if the Obama administration has its way.

He hasn't given up that dream yet. According to The Hill - Cybersecurity bill to give president new emergency powers By Tony Romm - 02/26/10 02:30 PM ET

The president would have the power to safeguard essential federal and private Web resources under draft Senate cybersecurity legislation.

According to an aide familiar with the proposal, the bill includes a mandate for federal agencies to prepare emergency response plans in the event of a massive, nationwide cyberattack.

Which is just the front for what he wants to do. A crack in the door of which he wants to jam is foot in.

The president would then have the ability to initiate those network contingency plans to ensure key federal or private services did not go offline during a cyberattack of unprecedented scope, the aide said.

It will give him unprecedented power and control over the Internet, with the ability to shut down sites if he deems them a Threat to National Security. Make no mistake about this. All this is, is yet another Power Grab from this Administration. we can not allow them to get away with this one either.
Peter

Sources:
OPNTalk - King Hussein Obama
Newsmax.com - Obama Plans Internet Grab: FCC to Embrace 'Net Neutrality'
The Hill - Cybersecurity bill to give president new emergency powers

How Much Is Enough?

Didn't they just give out Bonuses?

Hey folks,

You know them, you love them, Fannie and Freddie. Those that started us down this long and lonely road. We all know the history. They were giving out loans to people that could have NEVER paid them back. They were in trouble for a while when the REPUBLICANS in Government wanted MORE regulations, and they were stopped every step of the way by those in the Democrat Party who was getting a lot of money from them.

I know people do not like to hear this. But that doesn't change the FACTS. The Videos are out there of the Democrats calling the Regulator Racist, and calling for an investigation on HIM. Frank saying he saw nothing wrong with Fannie and Freddie.. Pelosi, Reid. These people are making money left and right from them. So they PROTECTED them. We all know what happened.

Along comes Obama who gives them even more money. What do they do? Continue business as usual, and give out even MORE Bonuses. Which of course, Obama is all OK with now. NOW? Bloomberg - Fannie Seeks $15.3 Billion in Aid After 10th Loss

Feb. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Fannie Mae, the mortgage-finance company under federal conservatorship, said it will seek $15.3 billion in aid from the U.S. Treasury after posting a 10th straight quarterly loss.

A fourth-quarter net loss of $16.3 billion, or $2.87 a share, pushed the company to request its fifth draw on an unlimited lifeline from the government, Washington-based Fannie Mae said in a filing today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Unlimited Lifeline?" WHY?!?! Let them fail already.

Fannie Mae, which posted $120.5 billion in losses over the previous nine quarters, has taken $59.9 billion in federal aid since April. Its shares, which peaked at $87.81 in December 2000, closed at 99 cents today in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The Treasury owns 79.9 percent of Fannie Mae’s outstanding common shares.

Washington-based Fannie Mae, which owns or guarantees about 28 percent of the $11.8 trillion U.S. home-loan market, has been hobbled by a three-year housing slump that wiped 28 percent from home values nationwide and led to record foreclosures. Fannie Mae lost $74.4 billion for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, compared with $59.8 billion in 2008.

LET THEM FAIL!!! Get out of the PRIVATE SECTOR! Folks WE OWN Fannie and Freddie. We are now being asked to give them another $15.3 billion? After we have already given them $59.9 billion? THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE for the mess we are in, and they keep giving out Bonuses. Where is the outrage?

“Our financial results for 2009 reflected the continued adverse impact of the weak economy and housing market, which has resulted in record mortgage delinquencies and contributed to our recording significant credit-related expenses and net losses during each quarter of the year,” Fannie Mae said in the filing today.

YOU CAUSED IT!

Avoiding Receiver

Fannie Mae’s borrowings from Treasury will total $76.2 billion after the next payout, carrying with it an annual dividend cost of $7.6 billion, which the company said it will repay by borrowing more money from the Treasury. “This amount exceeds our reported annual net income for all but one of the last eight years, in most cases by a significant margin,” the company said.

Completely Bogus folks.

The company said the ability to tap continuing cash infusions from the Treasury this year “is critical to keeping us solvent and avoiding the appointment of a receiver.”

The loss in the fourth quarter was driven in part by a $5 billion writedown on low-income housing tax credits that the Treasury Department barred the company from selling. Rival Freddie Mac took a $3.4 billion charge for the same reason.

Losses at Fannie Mae are likely to grow with rising unemployment and costs to implement President Barack Obama’s plans to reduce foreclosures, the company said.

Thank you Obama.

Housing Slump

Fannie Mae and McLean, Virginia-based Freddie Mac survived last year on investments the government made in the companies after regulators put them in conservatorship in September 2008. The Treasury on Christmas Eve removed a $200 billion limit on each company, extending unlimited backing through 2012.

The two companies own or guarantee more than $5 trillion in U.S. residential debt, and were responsible for as much as 75 percent of the new mortgages made last year.

OF BAD LOANS!!! I'm done with this story folks. You want to know why our dept keeps going up? Liberal policies and friends taking free rides. Like I asked before, where is the outrage? If F & F were AIG, or Heavens Forbid, and company with Conservative ties? You got it. Obama would be denouncing them. We would have hearings galore on Capital Hill. The LWL {Left Wing Loons} would be calling for the CEO's Head. Madness and Mayhem. Yet? Since it is Fannie and Freddie, they will get the extra money. They will carry on Business as usual. Amazing.
Peter

Sources:
Bloomberg - Fannie Seeks $15.3 Billion in Aid After 10th Loss
OPNTalk - Will There Be Show Outrage For Fannie Freddie Bonuses?

Emergency shipment of condoms headed to Olympic athletes

YCMTSU 022810

Hey folks,

Sorry, but when I think of the Olympics, I just do not think about SEX. I see these beautiful, usually underage Ice Skaters and other athletes, and sit in amazement of their skills. But I guess there is a REAL Emergency going on in Canada.

Vancouver Now - Emergency shipment of condoms headed to Olympic athletes
February 24, 2010 6:07 PM By John Shmuel

Rowdy curling crowds; spontaneous street parties; public drunkeness. You don't have to look far for evidence that the crowds at Winter Games in Vancouver know how to have a good time.

And, as if anymore proof is needed that a wild Olympic atmosphere permeates B.C.'s largest city, now there's an apparent condom shortage.

That's right. As you read this, an emergency shipment of condoms is desperately making its way across Canada to the West Coast city.

{Laughing} And you thought I was making this up?

Health officials in Vancouver have already provided 100,000 free condoms to the roughly 7,000 ahtletes and officials at the Games. That's about 14 condoms per person. But as of Wednesday, those supplies started running dangerously low.

So naturally, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS research decided to step and make sure there were no hitches in Olympic action.

"When we heard about the condom shortage in Vancouver, we felt it important to respond immediately," said Kerry Whiteside, CANFAR's Executive Director. The organization assembled three large boxes of about 8,500 condoms, much to the relief of libidos at the Olympic Village. They're expected to arrive on Thursday.

Free condoms first started to be distributed at the Olympics in Barcelona at the 1992 Games. This appears to be the first time that a shortage has struck the Games.

{Sigh} Be right back.
Peter

Your Mood Effects Your Health

Pretty Commonsense.

Hey folks,

You have been told for years that laughter is the best medicine. This is true. But it is more than just laughter. More than just Sickness. Happiness can effect your entire Health and well being.

How many times have you seen someone depressed. EVERYTHING, from their Work, Friends, Hobbies, Family, everyone and everything is effected. Most of the time in a NEGATIVE sense.

Happy people? Everything seems to be effected in a POSITIVE Sense. It even seems to be contagious from time to time. Spend time with a truly HAPPY person, and sometimes it will rub off on you. So how can you "get happy?" Well, legally? Here is some tips from Live Science - 5 Things That Will Make You Happier By Clara Moskowitz, LiveScience Senior Writer posted: 22 February 2010 07:54 am ET

SAN DIEGO – The pursuit of happiness is sometimes easier said than done.

Some scientists have argued that happiness is largely determined by genetics, health and other factors mostly outside of our control. But recent research suggests people actually can take charge of their own happiness and boost it through certain practices.

"The billion-dollar question is, is it possible to become happier?" said psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside. "Despite the finding that happiness is partially genetically determined, and despite the finding that life situations have a smaller influence on our happiness than we think they do, we argue that still a large portion of happiness is in our power to change."

Lyubomirsky spoke here Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She and colleagues last year reviewed 51 studies that tested attempts to increase happiness through different types of positive thinking, and found that these practices can significantly enhance well-being. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Here are five things that research has shown can improve happiness:

1. Be grateful – Some study participants were asked to write letters of gratitude to people who had helped them in some way. The study found that these people reported a lasting increase in happiness – over weeks and even months – after implementing the habit. What's even more surprising: Sending the letter is not necessary. Even when people wrote letters but never delivered them to the addressee, they still reported feeling better afterwards.

2. Be optimistic – Another practice that seems to help is optimistic thinking. Study participants were asked to visualize an ideal future – for example, living with a loving and supportive partner, or finding a job that was fulfilling – and describe the image in a journal entry. After doing this for a few weeks, these people too reported increased feelings of well-being.

3. Count your blessings – People who practice writing down three good things that have happened to them every week show significant boosts in happiness, studies have found. It seems the act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad.

4. Use your strengths – Another study asked people to identify their greatest strengths, and then to try to use these strengths in new ways. For example, someone who says they have a good sense of humor could try telling jokes to lighten up business meetings or cheer up sad friends. This habit, too, seems to heighten happiness.

5. Commit acts of kindness – It turns out helping others also helps ourselves. People who donate time or money to charity, or who altruistically assist people in need, report improvements in their own happiness.

You know, I was reading this to my Wife Laura, and she said to me, doesn't this sound just like something you would hear in Church? Good point. She is right. Maybe God had it right all along? {Smile}

So what are Bad thoughts? Stress, Doom and Gloom, Anxiety, Lack of Self-control, Fretting, Lack of Meaning, Cynicism. These are negative thoughts, emotions and actions.

So the lesson here? Don't worry, be happy. {Smile}
Peter

Sources:
Live Science - 5 Things That Will Make You Happier

DLA for Sunday 022810

Brilliant, Bold, and RIGHT.

Hey folks,

There is nothing much to add here. Just Watch.



Now of course, between our winner, and others that were brilliant, and bold enough to tell Obama the truth. Obama didn't take to kindly to it. He ended the summit with this.

"I don't think, Tom, we're going to have another one of these because people don't have seven to eight hours a day to work some of these things through. The question I'm again asking myself and I ask all of you is, is there enough serious effort that in a month's time or a few weeks time, six weeks time, we could actually resolve something? And if we can't, I think we have to go ahead and make some decisions, and that's what elections are for. We have honest disagreements about the vision for the country and we'll go ahead and test those out over here the next several months until November."

Yeah and we need to let him KNOW in November that his policies are NOT wanted. This is why he is pushing so hard for it. He knows, in November, even if they ram this through by reconciliation, the PEOPLE have there say, and the Left are out of power. I bet you that Obama will act like a spoiled little kid when this happens. When the Right take back power, and there is again Balance in Government, he will most likely whine about it all the time how he can do nothing. Who knows, maybe he would just quit. Can't get his way? Maybe he'll take his ball and go home. He does have a juvenile mentality.

Congratulation Paul Ryan. For having the intelligence to understand the reality of what Obamacare is all about, the guts to tell Obama the truth, and the articulation to get your message out so ANYONE can clearly understand it, you ARE the winner of this week's Display in Logic Award. Great Job.
Peter

IWA For Sunday 022810

Typical Liberal Democrat.

Hey folks,

Yup. Typical Liberal Democrat. Typical State Run Media coverage of a CORRUPT Liberal Democrat. No one seems to care. {Sigh} This is an example of WHY these people are not fit to be in charge.

Our Idiot this week, accepted Corporate sponsored trips to the Caribbean. He has failed to pay taxes on Rentals, and HE is in charge of writing Laws that will send YOU to jail for not paying taxes.

The latest charge against this Moron is that he knowingly accepted Corporate funded {Pay offs} trips to greatly desired Vacation spots on THREE known occasions. Did his Boss ask him to step down in this CLEAR VIOLATION of House Ethics Rules? Nope. Pelosi said, "We'll just see what happens next." Talk about a culture of corruption?

According to the AP - Rangel refuses to step aside after ethics slap By LARRY MARGASAK and TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writers Larry Margasak And Tom Raum, Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON – Rep. Charles Rangel said Friday he won't step down as chairman of the powerful House tax-writing committee after being admonished by an ethics panel for accepting corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean. The public rebuke of one of the Democrats' most outspoken leaders posed more woes for a party that had vowed to end a "culture of corruption."

The House ethics committee said that aides to the 20-term New York Democrat tried at least three times to show him the trips — to Antigua in 2007 and St. Marten in 2008 — had corporate sponsorship, a violation of congressional gift rules.

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee claimed that Friday's report by the ethics panel "exonerates me" because it cites no evidence that he knew the trips were sponsored by corporations.

Rangel denied to investigators that he saw any of the written communications from staff members.

The report said investigators could not determine whether Rangel saw two staff memos to him mentioning corporate sponsorship in 2008 and a letter addressed to him in 2007.

{Laughing} Don't be faithful to these people because they eat their own. I told you this. He blames his staff. He will hang them out to dry in order to save his own butt. Of course, this from a guy who when asked about his unpaid taxes, tax payer paid Cadillac, and his shady rental property deals, which he is LEGALLY obligated to answer, said this.

“Why don’t you mind your goddamn business?”

But who cares? His other Boss isn't going to make him step down.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, noting that multiple ethics complaints remain pending against Rangel, declined to say whether he should stay on the job. "We'll just see what happens next," Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters.

In addition to the trips, Rangel still faces potentially more serious allegations, including failing to disclose rental income on a villa in the Dominican Republic, use of his congressional office to raise money for a college center in his name and belated financial disclosure of hundreds of thousands of dollars in previously unreported wealth.

The latest ethics controversy presents yet another headache for Democrats in a difficult year as they try to revive stalled health care legislation and face a likely midterm election loss of seats in Congress. It also was a setback to Pelosi, who had promised to "drain the swamp" of ethics abuses as part of the Democratic campaign to win back the House in 2006.

{Laughing} If she was serious, there would be no Liberal Democrats in power.

The ethics panel — formally known as the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct — cited three written communications that it suggested should have alerted Rangel to the role of corporations:

_A memo to Rangel by a staff counsel on Sept. 25, 2008, discussing corporate sponsors for the 2008 conference in St. Maarten.

_A letter from the group listed as the conference sponsor, the Carib News Foundation, to American Airlines regarding tickets for the 2007 conference he attended in Antigua. It contained a line indicating a copy was sent to Rangel.

_An Oct. 23, 2008, memo from the staff counsel to Rangel, discussing an article in the New York Post that was critical of the 2007 conference because of allegations regarding corporate sponsorship.

Rangel told the committee he did not recall receiving the two memos or the letter about tickets, adding that he "did not know why he would have been copied" in on the airline letter.

The committee said that while it could not prove that Rangel did or did not see the communications, he was responsible for the actions of his staff.

Rangel on Friday brushed off the panel's criticism and focused on its inability to prove whether he knew about the corporate sponsorship. "Clearly the wording exonerates me," he told reporters.

Notice he did not say I'm innocent. He said "Clearly the wording exonerates me," I guess if "It depends on what the word IS is." is good enough for these corrupt Idiots, this is just fine.

He said he didn't even have "constructive knowledge" of the corporate sponsorship of the trips and couldn't be held responsible for something staff members may have known but which he didn't.

Asked if he planned to remain committee chairman in light of the admonishment, Rangel responded: "Why don't you ask me am I'm going to stay chairman of the committee in light of the fact that we're expecting heavy snow in New York?" He said that would be just as relevant.

Pelosi said she hadn't yet read the ethics panel's report, only a summary of its findings. She said she wanted to read the full report before commenting more fully. "There's more to Mr. Rangel's situation and we look forward to hearing from Mr. Rangel on that," she said.

BS she is stalling. This is why you folks out there need to FIRE these people. They can not govern themselves.

While Pelosi is standing by Rangel for now, some rank-and-file Democrats are not.

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., said Rangel should "either step down or step aside until this is resolved." Taylor is one of the most conservative Democrats in the House. Rangel, who represents Harlem, is one of the most liberal.

Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H., said: "Washington must be held to the highest ethical standards. Regrettably, with the finding of ethics violations, Charlie Rangel should step down from his leadership position."

"I think the report speaks for itself," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "They admonished him and he said he will pay for his trip. They made a finding that he did not knowingly violate any rules. ... And the other issues remain under review and they need to render a judgment expeditiously."

Should he step aside as chairman? "That would be disproportionate" to the panel's bipartisan finding of "no knowing violation," Van Hollen said.

Republicans have been demanding that Democrats replace Rangel at Ways and Means since investigations began last year.

The ethics panel exonerated five other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were on either of the 2007 and 2008 trips or on both. But the panel said all six would have to pay the costs.

They were Democratic Reps. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, Yvette Clarke of New York, Donald Payne of New Jersey, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan and Donna Christensen, the nonvoting delegate from the Virgin Islands.

The ethics committee said the traveling House members relied on false information from the listed official sponsors of the trips, the Carib News, a New York newspaper, and the Carib News Foundation.

Peter Flaherty of the National Legal and Policy Center, an ethics watchdog group, attended the 2008 conference in St. Maarten and filed an ethics complaint that listed companies that had signs and materials at the event. He said Citigroup, Pfizer, American Airlines, AT&T, Verizon, Macy's and IBM were among them.

Rangel, 79, was first elected to the House in 1970 from New York's Harlem district, defeating Adam Clayton Powell Jr., at the time the most prominent black politician in the country and one with his own ethics problems.

Folks, it's time for a REAL Change in Congress. Fire this moron and the rest of the Lot in November. In 2012, FIRE Obama. They are destroying this country and taking a free ride while doing it.

Congratulations Charlie, you ARE the Idiot of the Week, in the running for Idiot of the Year. If I were a member of your staff, I would walk out on you on the stop. The sad thing is, there are a line of Idiots out there waiting to jump into that spot. Why? I'll never know.

That's it, I'm outta here. Have a great rest of day. Great Monday. See you right back here on Tuesday. Stay warm out there folks.
Peter

Sources:
AP - Rangel refuses to step aside after ethics slap
NEWSMAX - Democrat Calls for Rangel to Yield Tax-Writing Job
OPNTalk - This IS Our Goddamn Business

Homeland Security? We Don't Need No Stinking Homeland Security

"Homeland Security? We don't need no stinking Homeland Security. Why do we even have them if 'King Hussein Obama' is going to go it alone anyway?"

Hey folks,

Happy Friday to you. Hey you know what? It's FRIDAY! You know what that means? Yes, we are going to go to the Emails. However, that also means I'm here. I've been here ALL Week! {Laughing} Made it the whole week. {Smile} First time in a while. Ah, feels like old times.

OK. To the Emails. The Sender does have a point. According to CNS News - Obama Administration Did Not Consult Its Own Homeland Security Secretary Before Deciding to Try KSM in NYC Thursday, February 25, 2010 By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer

(CNSNews.com) – At a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she was not consulted before the decision was made to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other terror suspects in U.S. federal court in New York City.

She also said she has not taken part in discussions since that decision was made, including any that may have taken place to discuss whether the trials should be moved to another location.

“Were you consulted about homeland security risks or costs of providing security for the 9/11 terrorist in New York City before the attorney general made that decision?” Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the committee, asked Napolitano.

“Mr. Chairman, we were not consulted before but we have been part of a process to give cost estimates of what the security costs would be after the decision,” said Napolitano, who heads the department that was created after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 to protect the United States from future harm.

“In recent weeks – at least the last couple of weeks – there have been some statements and some rumors that the administration is reconsidering the question of trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9/11 conspirators in New York City,” Lieberman said. He then asked if she had been involved in discussions about homeland security issues as they relate to trying terrorists on U.S. soil.

Napolitano made the remarks at a hearing to discuss the proposed $56.3 billion budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2011. The budget includes $200 million for security for trying Sheikh Mohammed in New York City.

When asked by ranking minority leader Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) why the DHS budget spends money on securing the trials of terrorists in the U.S. while cutting funding for U.S. Coast Guard, Napolitano defended the Obama administration’s stance on the matter.

“Decommissioning part of the Coast Guard’s 13th elite maritime security safety teams that protect waterfront cities makes absolutely no sense given the threats to our ports,” said Collins, adding that she believed the Senate would not fund security for terror trials in the U.S.

“We are going to have terrorist trials in the United States,” Napolitano said. “There will be security costs that accompany those trials.”

After she met with King, CNSNews.com twice asked Napolitano if she had spoken with President Barack Obama on Christmas Day about the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 that day. She initially answered that she would not discuss her conversations with the presient. The second time she was asked the quesion, she answered that "we" were in contact with "the president's office."

“Yes, we were in contact with the president’s office,” Napolitano said.

A Feb. 3 report by CNSNews.com pointed out that FBI Director Robert Mueller, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair and Napolitano all told congressional committees following the Dec. 25 attack that they were not consulted about the decision to Mirandize bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

In her prepared remarks on the DHS budget, Napolitano said DHS has five main missions – to prevent terrorism and enhance security, secure and manage U.S. borders, “enforcing and administrating” immigration laws, “safeguarding and securing cyberspace,” and disaster preparedness and response.

Spying on Americans that disagree with Obama is another one. But you are right BTN, why do we need HS is Obama and Crew are not going to talk to them about one of the biggest threats to the US? Bringing terrorist here to try them as Criminals and open up whatever venue that be, as a HUGE Target for others who wish to attack US and make them a Martyr? Just another sign or the brilliance that is Obama. {Sigh}

Link - CNS News - Obama Administration Did Not Consult Its Own Homeland Security Secretary Before Deciding to Try KSM in NYC
Peter

Note: From The Emails is a weekly Segment every Friday, or occasionally anytime, that appears here at the OPNTalk Blog. Please feel free to Email any Articles, Comments, Thoughts, Whatever, that you may like to share to opntalk@gmail.com As always, you never know what you may see here.

Wake Up American Media

Why don't they get it?

Hey folks,

Seriously, why doesn't the American Media get it? NYT laying off more people. LA Times, other National Papers. Local Papers disappearing left and right. TV? No one watches CNN, NBC, ABC, ETC. Relatively speaking. Katie Couric will be taking a heck of a Pay cut if not fired outright.

ABC? They just announced that they are going to cut three hundred positions. To add insult to injury, they will replace some full time Employees with TEMPS. {Laughing} Sweetness and Light has this. According to Sweetness and Light - ABC News to cut 300 positions By Annalyn Censky, staff reporter February 23, 2010

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — ABC News is expected to cut roughly 20% of its staff, the company said Tuesday.

The New York-based media company said the cuts would affect roughly 300 of its U.S.-based employees. Beginning on Wednesday, the company will offer voluntary separation packages to all full-time non-union, non-contract employees.

Meanwhile, foreign Media is growing by leaps and bounds. Conservative Talk Radio and the rest of the "New Media," Blogs, Internet News, Cable, ETC, are growing in leaps and bounds. So WHY is this?

Isn't it obvious? It should be. The American Media has always leaned Left. Until the early 90s, they attempted to at least MASK who they are. They would report the NEWS, with a bit of a twist to make the Left look better, but they would report the news. They would attack the Right with vigor, but at least report the NEWS. But then, during Clinton, they started getting a bit bolder. Then with Bush, they gave up masking, and started to show us who they really are. Making up stories. Reporting rhetoric as fact. So on and so forth. They got away with it until the Fox News Network. Then the boom of the Internet. Blogs started popping up all over the place. FACTS and TRUTH started being put out there. THEN they started having some problems. They started getting CAUGHT.

We have the foreign Media reporting about Clinton. American Media covering it up and down playing it. Foreign Media reporting our winning in Iraq. American Media giving Body counts and giving unlimited air time to those attacking our Commander and Chief, and saying things like "This war is lost."

Barack Hussein Obama? Foreign Media, who is he? Why no Medical Records? Why no Educational Records? Why no Birth Certificate? No experience. No plan. No details. American Media? "He's Brilliant." "I get chills down my leg." "He will be the BEST President EVER." "He is God like."

Climategate? Foreign Media broke the story. American Media? {Crickets Chirping} Measuring posts have been MOVED. Himalayan Glacier Melt is bogus. 16 of the "Facts" in the IPCC report have been proven to come from Envionut Groups, NOT real Scientists, and they are false. Professor Jones also conceded the possibility that the world was warmer in medieval times than now – suggesting global warming may not be a man-made phenomenon. Scientists have been forced to withdraw a study on projected sea level rise due to global warming after finding mistakes that undermined the findings. Yvo de Boer, head of the UN’s climate change body for the last four years, has unexpectedly resigned in a move which could further set back the global negotiations.

America Media? World is warming faster than first thought. The Sea Levels will rise to engulf coastal Cities. The Congress MUST pass Obamacare, Cap and Tax, and other things NOW, before it's to late. We are all going to die. ETC. Climategate? {Crickets Chirping} Until they could no longer ignore it. Then they reported that the hackers should be arrested and that it was no big deal. It changes nothing. All the FACTS denouncing it? {Chirp Chirp} The Science is sound and just, and uh, just accept Obama and Crew and what they are trying to do.

The UNBALANCED and UNFAIR Double standard in the Press on the side of the Liberals and against the Right, Religion, and anything Conservative, has driven people away from them. The Majority of Americans ARE Conservative. This is forcing the old Media to be propped up by Private Investors and NOT their readership or viewers. They are in such bad shape that there are those in Congress that want to have the Federal Government take over and fund the Media.

First Wall Street. Then Detroit. Now the media? That's the talk among some in the news biz who want a government bailout. "I would argue it is the only answer," says John Nichols, the Washington correspondent for the Nation, a liberal magazine. His argument: The Founding Fathers wanted the public to be informed. "So what did they do? They created a media system" with subsidized papers. Nichols argues that, with the right policies, the modern government can give the media a boost through tax cuts, postal subsidies, and other initiatives—like funding high school newspapers—to make sure communities are getting coverage.

Enter the Waxman

Rep. Henry Waxman trekked from Capitol Hill to Federal Trade Commission headquarters today to deliver a message to journalists and news consumers: All of you need to reach a consensus about working with the government in order to bail out the struggling news industry.

They are already State Run. They simply report, or not, whatever they are told to. This is why I call them the MMD, the Mass Media Drones. True Journalism is dead. The Mainstream Media, the MMD, have become nothing more than an extension of the Extreme Liberal Left in change of running this country. ABC had become the All Barack Channel. NBC is the New Barack Channel. CNBC? The Constant Never ending Barack Channel. CNN, the Clinton News Network. People are tired of it.

Rush Limbaugh has in his audience, in any 15 minute segment, MORE listeners than all of them combine during PRIME TIME. Fox News is number one. The Internet is exploding as the number one news source out there for most people. People like Glenn Beck are on the rise, and the Hannitys, O'Reillys, and Savages, are continuing to grow. Bill O'Reilly, yeah not a big fan, but he is the number one watched Cable News Show for the last eight years. The Foreign Media is becoming the NEW Mainstream Media here in this country. Why? They report the FACTS. They tell you the truth. They do not tell you what you should believe. They tell you what is going on, that in most cases the American Media is told to ignore, and they let YOU decide what to believe or not.

Folks, the American Media needs to wake up, or they will find themselves disappearing even faster. Private Investors only invest in a failing proposition for so long. They did not make their money investing it in failures.

The American Media need to remember who they are and the whole reason they are here. They need to wake up and look around. Why are they doing so poorly? Because we are NOT a Communist nor Socialist Society. We are a FREE People and a People that want knowledge of things going on around them. We do NOT want obvious lies and falsehood, propaganda, and agenda driven dribble. We want the News. Yes, even if it goes against your little gravy train. Yes, even if it shows the Liberal Loony Left for who they are. Yes, even if it means people will lose BILLIONS they invested in a SCAM. People seek the truth. They will go where ever it can be found.
Peter

Sources:
Sweetness and Light - ABC News to cut 300 positions
US News and World Report - A Government Bailout for the Media?
AIM - Rep. Waxman Advocates Media Bailout

Where is Pelosi, Reid, Kerry, and Code Pink?

21 civilians killed in Afghanistan.

Hey folks

Where is the outrage?

"This war is lost."

"Killing innocent civilians in cold blood."

"Terrorizing Women and Children in the dead of night."

Were are the people to say "You see Obama was RIGHT! Our troops in Afghanistan are 'just air-raiding villages and killing civilians'." Obama 8/13/07

Where is CODE PINK! Why is this not headline news? Why is this not Front Page? 21 civilians killed in Afghanistan. How many even know WHEN this happened? Or even IF this happened? How is it being reported? Yeah it sucks and we're sorry, but we are winning. I'm not kidding.

Arlington, VA --The nation's top military official has expressed regret for an airstrike that killed at least 21 civilians in Afghanistan.

Sorry. But?

Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he believed an offensive in Afghanistan was making steady but slower than expected progress, and said war is "messy" and "incredibly wasteful." "But that doesn't mean it isn't worth the cost," he told reporters at the Pentagon.

For his part, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he trusted the judgment of General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. Commander on the ground there. "I'm not going to try and second-guess Stan McChrystal from 9,000 miles away," he said.

And while acknowledging that progress of the recent offensive in Afghanistan was slower than expected, Gates said plans are continuing apace. "I haven't seen anything that indicates it has had any impact on the future planning that General McChrystal is doing for subsequent operations," he said.

CBS

Where are the stories of little Aatifa? Now an Orphan because of the big evil US Military. Because of this horrible war? What is little Aatifa going to do now that her Parents have been killed ob orders of our President?

You see folks, this War is unjust. we should not be there. It's America's fault that the world hates us. If we only had a President that was wise enough to realize that. A President that could calm things down. cool them off. If we only had a President that could make the world see that we are here for friendship and reconciliation. our Troops could come home. The war would be over. instead, we have a President who doesn't care about the people of Afghanistan. 21 innocents were just killed. There should be hearings on this. The President, and Commander and Chief, need to be held accountable. He needs,,,,,,

Oh wait. Uh, oh yeah, Barack is president now. Uh, never mind. Move on to something else. Uh, OH TIGER. Yes. Talk about Tiger. Or talk about how Bush screwed things up so bad that Obama has to spend another few hundred Billion. Or talk about the Olympics. Oh mention that some civilians were killed and we are very sorry, but no big deal. It's War. Sometimes there is collateral damage. you know. Then move on to something else. Hey, I know, tell everyone we are winning. Now on to Tiger. {Sigh}
Peter

Sources:
WFMY News 2 / CBS - Military Officials Respond To 21 Civilians Killed in U. S. Airstrike

Monitoring The Economy Via Energy Consumption

From the Energy Front 022310

Hey folks,

We keep hearing the President tell us that we are "back from the brink." He just toted, at the one year anniversary of the Stimulus, that the Stimulus, and he, saved us all from utter disaster. One, uh, no. Make that TWO million jobs created or saved.{Coughing} Yeah. Unemployment stabilizing. Birds singing. Sea levels lowering. OH WAIT. did you catch this? Climate Scientists withdraw journal claims of rising sea levels? {Laughing}

From the UK Guardian {Of course not a US MMD} Climate scientists withdraw journal claims of rising sea levels by David Adam

Scientists have been forced to withdraw a study on projected sea level rise due to global warming after finding mistakes that undermined the findings.

So again, there is even more evidence that GW is nothing more than BS. Yet, Obama and Crew are still using this as a bases for all the insanity that they are trying to push. Well, except Obamacare.

So let's look at his claim. the economy is thriving, or at least on the mend. So what does that mean? It means we are not still losing jobs. Right? It means no one is losing homes. Right? It means you can get a line of credit. Right? That means, that YOU have more money in your pocket. Right? By you having the money money, and no fear of losing your job, you are out and about. you are taking Vacations, shopping, and living your life once more. Right?

Well, let's see. If you are out and about more, that would mean you pack up your cars, and head out. Lets see. Total petroleum deliveries fell 3.8 percent to 18.4 million barrels a day in January 2010 from the same month a year ago. According to API's Monthly Statistical Report issued last Friday.

Now it DOES show a SLIGHT increase in gas. 0.9 percent. However, Gasoline demand was far below the peak of 9.6 million barrels a day reached in July 2007. So I guess you are NOT driving more. Hmm.

Well, you are out there, buying more stuff. you know, driving the economy. You spend. Retailers sell, make profits. Grow, hire more people. Manufacturers make more stuff, hire more people, ship it out to the Retailers, giving increased business to Transport Companies, who hire more people. Let's see. We saw a sharp drop last month in demand for Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel. Hmm.

So you are driving less. Trucks are hauling less to Stores. Manufacturers are producing less. Therefore shipping less. Therefore, NO ONE is hiring. The Economy is better, why?

We already know that the unemployment rate is still, just "under" 10 percent. We know the REAL number is somewhere around 17 to 18 percent. We know people are STILL losing their jobs, Homes, and no one can get credit. So where is all this improvement?

So instead of doing what we have discussed in the past, allowing the Oil and Natural Gas industry to do their thing. Which would create over a halve Million NEW and REAL jobs, increase revenue to the States and Federal Government in the Billions and up to TRILLIONS of dollars Annually. Obama decides to continue to lie. Completely Lie. Completely just make stuff up. The problem is, everyone KNOWS he is lying. Why can we not learn from history? Cut taxes and increase revenue to the Government. Cut spending, save money. Get out of the way of the driving force of our economy, and watch it flourish. It really is not all the difficult to understand. It really is not.

Peter
Sources:
Energy Tomorrow Blog - Economic Indicators: Diesel Demand and Jobs

Obama's Speech Nothing But Lies

Why bother?

Hey folks,

YES! I have it. I really do. Actually, thanks to some of you out there, I have a couple of copies of it. Obama's little propaganda Speech about the year anniversary of the Stimulus Bill passing. No I'm not going to post it. Why? Because is was nothing more than a big lie. The whole thing was a lie.

Welcome to the big Sunday Edition of the OPNTalk Blog. Glad you stopped by. You can also follow us on Twitter - peteropntalk, Friend me on Facebook - Peter Carlock, and the Tom Sullivan Radio Listeners club. As always the Email is opntalk@gmail.com.

Obama comes out and states that the Stimulus brought us back from the brink. Really?

We have the highest homeless rate in history.
Highest unemployment in history.
We are in greater debt than anytime in history.

People are being turned away from shelters and food Pantries in NY.

Banks are still not lending, yet, still giving out big bonuses, {Which Obama is now OK with} As a matter of Fact, General Motors CEO Whitacre to get $9M pay package; ex-CEO Henderson rehired as a consultant. That's right,Henderson, who was forced out of the job in December, will work 20 hours a month and will be paid $59,090 a month, the company said.{Laughing} YOU are paying this.

We keep raising the debt ceiling, spending more, yet we have NOTHING to show for it.

"95 percent of people got a tax cut."

No, a lot of people got a one time tax credit. Not cut. And that was about enough to buy a gallon of milk and maybe a tank of gas.

"We created or saved two million jobs."

Folks, that is just completely bogus. Did they count all those jobs in those non-existent Districts? I guess, if they did, and they counted anyone that worked for longer than 5 minutes, not kidding, that was a created job. Then all those Construction Companies that were told, "OK you have 80 people, you get 5 jobs funded with stimulus, you have to count all eighty, FIVE TIMES, even though they were already your employees. {Again not kidding} I guess if you play with the numbers enough, you may come close to the Two Million mark. But it is all completely bogus.

Even Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) who is retiring, admits Congress created NOTHING. Did you catch this today?

"If I could create one job in the private sector by helping to grow a business, that would be one more than Congress has created in the last six months," Bayh said.

{Laughing} The latest polls show something like 94 percent of all Americans fail to believe that the Stimulus saved or created ANY jobs. Yet there is Obama repeating the same old lies.

You see, THIS is why I signed the The Mount Vernon Statement. {Posted Wednesday} This is why there is now, let me check, 24,500 signatures. EVERYONE knows Obama and Crew are lying. Lying about Global Warming. Lying about Cap and Tax. Lying about the Stimulus. Lying about Obamacare. Lying about EVERYTHING! Yet they keep coming out with the same old lies. As a matter of fact, Pelosi just said this Friday.

"Never before has the need for health insurance reform been more urgent. Comprehensive reform would keep insurance companies from continuing to gouge average Americans. We will continue to work to rein in unfair premium hikes; drive down costs; limit out-of-pocket spending by our middle class; end discrimination based on pre-existing conditions; and prevent our workers from losing their coverage when they get sick.

Next week, the House will vote on legislation to remove the special interest anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies. And as we prepare for the bipartisan meeting with the President and Congress next week, we must remember that American families cannot afford the health insurance status quo. We must pass health insurance reform that saves money, saves lives, and secures a better future for all Americans."

It does NOTHING that they claim. It IS a Socialistic Take over of one Sixth of the Economy. EVERYONE knows this now. {Sigh} Keep it up. All the Loony Left are doing is guaranteeing defeat later this year.

Coming right up today?

Joseph Stack is NO Teabagger
Joseph Stack Rant
Sir Elton John Declares Jesus was Gay
Food Additions Are Real
DLA for Sunday 022110
IWA For Sunday 022110

Oh, I have a question. Today is February 21, 2010. February 21. 21 days into "Black History Month." Is it just me? Have you noticed that there is little to nothing out there celebrating Black History this year. Seriously. I get so tire of hearing about black History Month every year. Unless you have a Native American Month, Chinese Month, Korean Month, God forbid anyone even hinted to a White History Month, I think the whole thing is Racist to begin with. But I figured that it would be intensified this year because of Obama. But I have seen little to nothing this year. What's up? Or should I not ask?

And this. When asked about what he thought about Joseph Stack flying his Plane into the IRS building, Actor Wesley Snipes asked "What's new?" {Laughing} He said this.

"I think it was an issue even for the early colonists and the British, so what's new?"

Excellent point. The guy was nothing more than a Nut Case. What Snipes just said was everyone has a problem with the IRS. Oppressive Taxation, ETC. So why is this such a shock? He has a point folks. But of course there are some that want to make this guy a Teabagger, or a Rightwing nut, or now even a Terrorist. Truth is, he is just a Kook who snapped. Yet, it does sound an awful lot like Snipes was giving the guy Kudos. {Smile} More on the Kook in just a second. Uh, Joseph Stack, NOT Wesley Snipes

Going to fill my cup. Today is a NEW one. Godiva Chocolate Coffee, "Chocolate Truffle." Now I will be honest, I have no idea where this came from, but YOU can get it directly from them. Just go to www.godivacoffees.com. It's great coffee. Anyway, go get yours and I'll be right back.
Peter

Sources:
Yahoo Finance - GM CEO Whitacre receives $9M pay package
Source: Office of the Speaker of the House
AP - Snipes asks 'What's new?' about IRS plane crash

Joseph Stack is NO Teabagger

He is NO Terrorist.

Hey folks,

He is a KOOK. I just posted his Rant, Manifesto, Suicide Note, Whatever you want to call it. READ it. It's pretty clear to me who this guy was. Nothing more than a KOOK!

Now we have all day on Friday, some of the day Saturday, some in the Mainstream Media STILL trying to link this guy with the folks in the Tea Party Movement. They are still trying to link him to the Right. Nihad Awad, CAIR National Executive Director,wants him labeled a Terrorist. He was NONE of these things. Some are even saying he was a disgruntled Lib. He was not that either. He was a KOOK.

READ the whatever. He hates Reagan, Bush, Tax Cuts, Tax Increases, Socialism, Freedom, his last two lines speak VOLUMES.

"The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

So what does that mean? Sound like he is in agreement? Against it? Just stating it? Why? Then this.

"The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed."

Well, THAT does not sound like a ringing endorsement. This sounds just like some Left Wing Dribble to me. But it doesn't sound like he likes either. So what's left? He attacks BOTH Parties. He said this.

"I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say."

There has NEVER been a Politician. He never said Democrat. Nor did he single out Republicans. He said There has NEVER been a Politician. He attacked Religion, Marriage, and the Government in General. He ended it with this.

"I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.

I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn’t so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of s--t at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.

I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well."

I'm sure they will. Truth is, no one will even really remember this Kooks name. This is not the way we do things here. What we do, is VOTE. Which I am firmly confident will bring about TRUE Change both this year, and in 2012.

No folks, this guy was not part of any bigger conspiracy. He was not a Rightwing Nut, Terrorist, or Extreme Left Wing Kook. He was nothing more than a lonely Kook looking for 15 minutes of Fame. Nothing more. Nothing less. It really is, just that simple.
Peter

Joseph Stack Rant

Joseph Stack Suicide Rant

If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt asking yourself, “Why did this have to happen?” The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time. The writing process, started many months ago, was intended to be therapy in the face of the looming realization that there isn’t enough therapy in the world that can fix what is really broken. Needless to say, this rant could fill volumes with example after example if I would let it. I find the process of writing it frustrating, tedious, and probably pointless… especially given my gross inability to gracefully articulate my thoughts in light of the storm raging in my head. Exactly what is therapeutic about that I’m not sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers. Remember? One of these was “no taxation without representation”. I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood. These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a “crackpot”, traitor and worse.

While very few working people would say they haven’t had their fair share of taxes (as can I), in my lifetime I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.

Why is it that a handful of thugs and plunderers can commit unthinkable atrocities (and in the case of the GM executives, for scores of years) and when it’s time for their gravy train to crash under the weight of their gluttony and overwhelming stupidity, the force of the full federal government has no difficulty coming to their aid within days if not hours? Yet at the same time, the joke we call the American medical system, including the drug and insurance companies, are murdering tens of thousands of people a year and stealing from the corpses and victims they cripple, and this country’s leaders don’t see this as important as bailing out a few of their vile, rich cronies. Yet, the political “representatives” (thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate) have endless time to sit around for year after year and debate the state of the “terrible health care problem”. It’s clear they see no crisis as long as the dead people don’t get in the way of their corporate profits rolling in.

And justice? You’ve got to be kidding!

How can any rational individual explain that white elephant conundrum in the middle of our tax system and, indeed, our entire legal system? Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand. Yet, it mercilessly “holds accountable” its victims, claiming that they’re responsible for fully complying with laws not even the experts understand. The law “requires” a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing; if that’s not “duress” than what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.

How did I get here?

My introduction to the real American nightmare starts back in the early ‘80s. Unfortunately after more than 16 years of school, somewhere along the line I picked up the absurd, pompous notion that I could read and understand plain English. Some friends introduced me to a group of people who were having ‘tax code’ readings and discussions. In particular, zeroed in on a section relating to the wonderful “exemptions” that make institutions like the vulgar, corrupt Catholic Church so incredibly wealthy. We carefully studied the law (with the help of some of the “best”, high-paid, experienced tax lawyers in the business), and then began to do exactly what the “big boys” were doing (except that we weren’t steeling from our congregation or lying to the government about our massive profits in the name of God). We took a great deal of care to make it all visible, following all of the rules, exactly the way the law said it was to be done.

The intent of this exercise and our efforts was to bring about a much-needed re-evaluation of the laws that allow the monsters of organized religion to make such a mockery of people who earn an honest living. However, this is where I learned that there are two “interpretations” for every law; one for the very rich, and one for the rest of us… Oh, and the monsters are the very ones making and enforcing the laws; the inquisition is still alive and well today in this country.

That little lesson in patriotism cost me $40,000+, 10 years of my life, and set my retirement plans back to 0. It made me realize for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie. It also made me realize, not only how naive I had been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the crap about their “freedom”… and that they continue to do so with eyes closed in the face of overwhelming evidence and all that keeps happening in front of them.

Before even having to make a shaky recovery from the sting of the first lesson on what justice really means in this country (around 1984 after making my way through engineering school and still another five years of “paying my dues”), I felt I finally had to take a chance of launching my dream of becoming an independent engineer.

On the subjects of engineers and dreams of independence, I should digress somewhat to say that I’m sure that I inherited the fascination for creative problem solving from my father. I realized this at a very young age.

The significance of independence, however, came much later during my early years of college; at the age of 18 or 19 when I was living on my own as student in an apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My neighbor was an elderly retired woman (80+ seemed ancient to me at that age) who was the widowed wife of a retired steel worker. Her husband had worked all his life in the steel mills of central Pennsylvania with promises from big business and the union that, for his 30 years of service, he would have a pension and medical care to look forward to in his retirement. Instead he was one of the thousands who got nothing because the incompetent mill management and corrupt union (not to mention the government) raided their pension funds and stole their retirement. All she had was social security to live on.

In retrospect, the situation was laughable because here I was living on peanut butter and bread (or Ritz crackers when I could afford to splurge) for months at a time. When I got to know this poor figure and heard her story I felt worse for her plight than for my own (I, after all, I thought I had everything to in front of me). I was genuinely appalled at one point, as we exchanged stories and commiserated with each other over our situations, when she in her grandmotherly fashion tried to convince me that I would be “healthier” eating cat food (like her) rather than trying to get all my substance from peanut butter and bread. I couldn’t quite go there, but the impression was made. I decided that I didn’t trust big business to take care of me, and that I would take responsibility for my own future and myself.

Return to the early ‘80s, and here I was off to a terrifying start as a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ contract software engineer... and two years later, thanks to the fine backroom, midnight effort by the sleazy executives of Arthur Andersen (the very same folks who later brought us Enron and other such calamities) and an equally sleazy New York Senator (Patrick Moynihan), we saw the passage of 1986 tax reform act with its section 1706.

For you who are unfamiliar, here is the core text of the IRS Section 1706, defining the treatment of workers (such as contract engineers) for tax purposes. Visit this link for a conference committee report (http://www.synergistech.com/1706.shtml#ConferenceCommitteeReport) regarding the intended interpretation of Section 1706 and the relevant parts of Section 530, as amended. For information on how these laws affect technical services workers and their clients, read our discussion here (http://www.synergistech.com/ic-taxlaw.shtml).

SEC. 1706. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.

(a) IN GENERAL - Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:

(d) EXCEPTION. - This section shall not apply in the case of an individual who pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker engaged in a similar line of work.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. - The amendment made by this section shall apply to remuneration paid and services rendered after December 31, 1986.

Note:

· "another person" is the client in the traditional job-shop relationship.

· "taxpayer" is the recruiter, broker, agency, or job shop.

· "individual", "employee", or "worker" is you.

Admittedly, you need to read the treatment to understand what it is saying but it’s not very complicated. The bottom line is that they may as well have put my name right in the text of section (d). Moreover, they could only have been more blunt if they would have came out and directly declared me a criminal and non-citizen slave. Twenty years later, I still can’t believe my eyes.

During 1987, I spent close to $5000 of my ‘pocket change’, and at least 1000 hours of my time writing, printing, and mailing to any senator, congressman, governor, or slug that might listen; none did, and they universally treated me as if I was wasting their time. I spent countless hours on the L.A. freeways driving to meetings and any and all of the disorganized professional groups who were attempting to mount a campaign against this atrocity. This, only to discover that our efforts were being easily derailed by a few moles from the brokers who were just beginning to enjoy the windfall from the new declaration of their “freedom”. Oh, and don’t forget, for all of the time I was spending on this, I was loosing income that I couldn’t bill clients.

After months of struggling it had clearly gotten to be a futile exercise. The best we could get for all of our trouble is a pronouncement from an IRS mouthpiece that they weren’t going to enforce that provision (read harass engineers and scientists). This immediately proved to be a lie, and the mere existence of the regulation began to have its impact on my bottom line; this, of course, was the intended effect.

Again, rewind my retirement plans back to 0 and shift them into idle. If I had any sense, I clearly should have left abandoned engineering and never looked back.

Instead I got busy working 100-hour workweeks. Then came the L.A. depression of the early 1990s. Our leaders decided that they didn’t need the all of those extra Air Force bases they had in Southern California, so they were closed; just like that. The result was economic devastation in the region that rivaled the widely publicized Texas S&L fiasco. However, because the government caused it, no one gave a s--t about all of the young families who lost their homes or street after street of boarded up houses abandoned to the wealthy loan companies who received government funds to “shore up” their windfall. Again, I lost my retirement.

Years later, after weathering a divorce and the constant struggle trying to build some momentum with my business, I find myself once again beginning to finally pick up some speed. Then came the .COM bust and the 911 nightmare. Our leaders decided that all aircraft were grounded for what seemed like an eternity; and long after that, ‘special’ facilities like San Francisco were on security alert for months. This made access to my customers prohibitively expensive. Ironically, after what they had done the Government came to the aid of the airlines with billions of our tax dollars … as usual they left me to rot and die while they bailed out their rich, incompetent cronies WITH MY MONEY! After these events, there went my business but not quite yet all of my retirement and savings.

By this time, I’m thinking that it might be good for a change. Bye to California, I’ll try Austin for a while. So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done. I’ve never experienced such a hard time finding work. The rates are 1/3 of what I was earning before the crash, because pay rates here are fixed by the three or four large companies in the area who are in collusion to drive down prices and wages… and this happens because the justice department is all on the take and doesn’t give a f--k about serving anyone or anything but themselves and their rich buddies.

To survive, I was forced to cannibalize my savings and retirement, the last of which was a small IRA. This came in a year with mammoth expenses and not a single dollar of income. I filed no return that year thinking that because I didn’t have any income there was no need. The sleazy government decided that they disagreed. But they didn’t notify me in time for me to launch a legal objection so when I attempted to get a protest filed with the court I was told I was no longer entitled to due process because the time to file ran out. Bend over for another $10,000 helping of justice.

So now we come to the present. After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I’d never enter another accountant’s office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.

When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to Bill Ross, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl’s unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, Ross knew all along this was missing and I didn’t have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.

This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around.

I remember reading about the stock market crash before the “great” depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything. Isn’t it ironic how far we’ve come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn’t have any say in it, elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it’s “business-as-usual”. Now when the wealthy f--k up, the poor get to die for the mistakes… isn’t that a clever, tidy solution.

As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.

I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.

I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn’t so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of s--t at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.

I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.

The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.

Joe Stack (1956-2010)