Immigration Back In News.

Hey folks,

Looks like immigration is making a come back in the news. President Bush called on Congress to get to work on it a few days ago. Presidential candidates are being asked about it. People are renewing their arguments against illegal immigration. We still do not have a secure boarder.

According to The LA Times-Bush unveils new immigration proposal, By Johanna Neuman.

President Bush released a new immigration plan on Monday, a mix of tougher border enforcement and a complicated path to legal status for illegal immigrants that the White House hopes can break the congressional deadlock over the thorny issue.

"It's important that we get a bill done," Bush said at a Border Patrol station, asking Congress to send legislation to his desk this year.

Most of you remember the big march last year and asll the debate over this. Nothing really has changed.

Although the president was vague about the details of his new effort, proposals being discussed among White House officials and GOP lawmakers seem designed to bring recalcitrant Republicans aboard.

For instance, one plan would require illegal immigrants wishing to remain in the United States to return to their country of origin first and pay a $10,000 fine to obtain a three-year work visa. The visas would be renewable, at a cost of $3,500. Also, illegal immigrants who were in the U.S. before June 1, 2006, who paid various fees and fines and who met other criteria, including learning English, eventually could seek to become citizens.

These conditions for visas and citizenship are more stringent than provisions in a Bush-supported bill that the Senate passed last year. But it remains uncertain whether tougher conditions will overcome the objections of those who consider it amnesty to provide any path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.

Bush said in his Monday speech — as he has throughout the immigration debate — that he opposed amnesty, which he defined as "the forgiveness of an offense without penalty."

We’ll see what happens in congress this time around. Notice that since the LWL took over, no fence? Then the LA Times talks about the march coming up. According to LA Times-Feelings mixed as marches near, by Teresa Watanabe and Francisco Vara-Orta.

City officials are bracing for thousands of marchers to converge Tuesday on Central Los Angeles in two separate May Day rallies for immigration reform and labor rights, gatherings that are stirring anticipation among immigrant-rights advocates but anxiety, even anger, among some business owners.

It’s not just business owners. It’s real Americans. We, regardless of race, have no problem with immigration. What we DO have a problem with, is rewarding those that come here by their first action being breaking our laws. We do not what ANY illegal persons being rewarded for invading this country. According to the AP -Immigration protests planned nationwide, by PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press Writer.

Demonstrators demanding a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants hope that nationwide marches will spur Congress to act before the looming presidential primaries take over the political landscape.

Marches, meetings and voter registration drives were planned Tuesday from California to New York, a year after 1 million flexed their economic muscle in a nationwide boycott during last year's May 1 activities.

Though this year's turnout will likely be lower, organizers say immigrants feel a sense of urgency to keep immigration reform from getting pushed to the back burner by the 2008 presidential elections.

"If we don't act, then both the Democratic and Republican parties can go back to their comfort zones and do nothing," said Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "They won't have the courage to resolve a major situation for millions of people."

If they came here illegally, they are NOT Americans. Period. You know, my friend, and our friend here at the OPN, Bill, posted a piece at the NTL. I asked him if he could join us today here and he said yes. So here he is. I’ll let him wrap this up today. I think this pretty much put things in prospective. See you tomorrow.

I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food. But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue. Then came the poop, it was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, and the table -- everywhere. Then some of the birds turned mean: They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket. And others birds were boisterous and loud: They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food. After a while, I couldn't even sit on my own back porch anymore. I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone. I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio. Soon, the back yard was like it used to be -- quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now let’s see, our Government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care and education and allows anyone born here to be a automatic citizen. Then the illegal's came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families: you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room Doctor. Your child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English. Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box. I have to press "one" to hear my bank talk to me in English; and people waving flags other than "Old Glory", are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties. Maybe it's time for the Government to take down the bird feeder.
Bill.

Sources;
LA Times-Bush unveils new immigration proposal
LA Times-Feelings mixed as marches near
AP -Immigration protests planned nationwide

End of WEEK Roundup

Hey folks,

Since I haven’t been able to be here due to technical difficulties. I have to comment on a few things in the news in abbreviate form. First up, Paris Hilton.

Now as we all know, she thumbed her nose at the law. She is out of control and going down the same road as Anna Nicole Smith. I was truly happy to see that she got jail time. Unfortunately, Sheriff Lee Baca decided to show her favoritism and send her home. By the way, she is STILL being shown favoritism, more on that in a second.

The Judge ordered her back to jail, rightfully so, and the Sheriff SHOULD be fired. He trys to defend this idiotic decision but he really can’t. According to LA Times -Tug-of-war over Hilton raises larger questions By Tami Abdollah and Megan Garvey, Times Staff WritersJune 9, 2007


He cited an undisclosed medical condition as the reason to allow the hotel heiress to switch from a tiny cell to home detention and electronic monitoring, noting that she had served the 10% of her sentence currently being served by most female inmates in the county.

10 percent? Oooooh.

But Friday, an irritated Judge Michael T. Sauer ordered Hilton back to court and said he alone had the power to decide how her sentence was served. Sauer criticized the Sheriff's Department for letting Hilton out without his permission and remanded the 26-year-old multimillionaire — who cried throughout the hearing — back to jail.


As she was led out a side door by deputies, Hilton twisted back toward her parents. "Mom, Mom!" she cried. "It's not right!"

Poor spoiled brat. This may actually SAVE your life. Well, it may have if it would actually happen.


"For decades, where [inmates] were housed and how they were housed was up to the Sheriff's Department," said Stan Goldman, a professor of criminal law and procedure at Loyola Law School. "Now that all may change, thanks to, of all people, Paris Hilton."

It should. The Sheriff also needs to be charged with contempt of court.

Baca defended his decision to let Hilton leave jail and said he was concerned about how Sauer's order — if copied by other judges — would affect the jail system.

"This has the strong potential to set up what will become an untenable precedent because of overcrowding in jail and the lack of adequate housing," Baca said in an interview.

Get this.

A Times investigation found that many of those released early since 2002 had felony convictions and a history of violence and gang activity. Sixteen men released early were later charged with committing murders when they should have still been behind bars, and at least seven have been convicted in those slayings.

Now do not get me wrong. Paris is not a murder. YET. Continuously drinking and drugging along with driving? May become one in the future. Anyway, he cannot defend this. He showed, and continues to do so, her favoritism. What do I mean continues to? According to the AP- Paris Hilton vows to serve jail sentence By ALEX VEIGA, Associated Press Writer

Paris Hilton said Saturday she was "learning and growing" from her time behind bars and will not appeal her 45-day jail sentence for a probation violation in a reckless driving case.

The hotel heiress was at a maximum-security detention center, where she was believed to have undergone medical and psychiatric evaluations to determine the best jail to keep her in.

"Being in jail is by far the hardest thing I have ever done," Hilton said in a statement released by her lawyer, Richard A. Hutton. "During the past several days, I have had a lot of time to think and I believe that I am learning and growing from this experience."

SO why the sudden change? One, she was home for a bit. Able to "curb" the withdraw the started going through after her three day jail stint. We’ll see if a few more days changes anything. But then you have the fact she is NOT in jail.

Although Whitmore wouldn't discuss Hilton's condition, citing privacy laws, Baca indicated at a news conference Friday that it was psychological.

{Laughing} We KNOW she is nuts. But great way to hind the fact of favoritism.

When she went to Twin Towers, Baca said he was placing Hilton in a "better facility for her condition, meaning one that has a more intense form of medical support." He said she'd be kept under close watch to ensure "that there isn't anything harmful done to herself by herself, which is a great concern to me."

Whitmore said she'll be there at least through Sunday.

Twin Towers is equipped to treat acute medical and mental health needs, although inmates in need of more serious attention are moved to a hospital. About 40 inmates are housed per floor, and most of the rooms are designed for one patient at a time.

Hilton is truly living the simple life, in a room Whitmore described as a little more than 100 square feet, with a toilet, sink and "a sliver of a window."

Better than a 12 by 12 cell. What do you think would happen to you if YOU did this. Get caught DWI. Then,

In the months that followed, she was stopped twice by officers who discovered her driving with a suspended license. The second stop landed her in Sauer's courtroom, where he sentenced her to jail.

I bet you would NEVER have been given this treatment. Now she is in a hospital. {Sigh} Life is hard.

Next up, immigration. You DID IT! According to The Contra Costa times -After setback, immigration bill on its last legs in Senate By Dave Montgomery MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU Contra Costa Times

Article Launched:06/09/2007 11:39:05 AM PDT WASHINGTON -- With a White House-backed immigration bill on life support in the Senate, the likelihood that Congress can overhaul the nation's tattered immigration system before the onset of the 2008 presidential election year is growing increasingly remote.

The White House, Senate leaders and the bill's supporters insist that the measure can be resuscitated. But thus far they've been unable to bridge a maelstrom of colliding special interests, and the challenges will only intensify as election-year politics complicate their efforts.

"There's a faint pulse there, but it suffered a heavy blow on Thursday," said Daniel Griswold of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank that embraced Bush's call for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. "It would be a major surprise at this point if it came back to life."

The 627-page bill was pulled from the Senate floor late Thursday after Democratic and Republican leaders failed to resolve a standoff regarding GOP demands to submit additional amendments. The bill's collapse dealt a withering setback to President Bush, who had made a comprehensive restructuring of the nation's immigration laws his top domestic priority.

Good, it needed to be stopped. As for 627 pages? Where did the rest of it go? Anyway, this is a good thing. This was brought to event by YOU. This should tell you something folks. You can do it. You DO matter. Keep this in mind as the 08 elections grow near. YOU have the power to keep America the way you know it to be, or give it up to the LWL and change it into a Socialist country. You have the power.

Like I just pointed out. This is not a hard problem to solve. It is just this easy. Instead of even this new number of 627 pages, how about just 6 things.

1- Secure the boarder first. Both physical and high tech fences.

2- Smart cards. An ID card that using DNA, so that they cannot be faked.

3- Give them a chance to become registered. If they fail to do so, when we catch them, they are gone.

4- Commit a crime after you arrived here? You are GONE.

5- Evaluate all new REGISTERED immigrate case by case. If there is health issues, or criminal histories. Gone.

6- HUGH fines for business owners for hiring those without the ID. Possible Jail time for the Executives.


Up next? Global Warming. I’ll be right back.
Peter

Source;
LA Times -Tug-of-war over Hilton raises larger questions
AP- Paris Hilton vows to serve jail sentence
The Contra Costa times -After setback, immigration bill on its last legs in Senate

Anti-Illegal Alien Bill Equals Bullying?

In a special YCMTSU Category, can you say REACHING?

Hey folks,

I know, I know, I get it. I'm a Racist. Because I care about this Country, and the Rule of Law, I must not like others that don't look like me. No. Wait. Oh yeah, I disagree with Obama's Policies so I'm already a Racist. I almost forgot. I was worried there for a second. But all is cool.

However, if YOU like those that are attempting to get a handle on Immigration, and reward those that come here LEGALLY, you RACIST you, you are also guilty of something else. Bullying. Yup. Bullying. According to Fox News - Immigration Law Blamed for Reported Bullying of Hispanic Students in Alabama Published October 22, 2011 Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – It was just another schoolyard basketball game until a group of Hispanic seventh-graders defeated a group of boys from Alabama.

The reaction was immediate, according to the Mexican mother of one of the winners, and rooted in the state's new law on illegal immigration.

"They told them, `You shouldn't be winning. You should go back to Mexico,"' said the woman, who spoke through a translator last week and didn't want her name used. She and her son are in the country illegally.

OK STOP! Hang on a second. Read that AGAIN! "She and her son are in the Country Illegally." SO? A statement like this; "You shouldn't be winning. You should go back to Mexico." is NOT Bullying. It is a STATEMENT OF FACT! Regardless of your opinion on Immigration Laws, the FACTS are the FACTS. The TRUTH is the TRUTH! If you go into a Museum after it Closes, you do not belong there. You are TRESPASSING and whatever you do, even if it's dusting, vacuuming the Carpets, whatever, IS ILLEGAL. You have no RIGHT to be there. Go there the RIGHT way, when it's open, and you are allowed in, you know, follow the rules, you are more than Welcome. Why is this so hard for some people to grasp?

Spanish-speaking parents say their children are facing more bullying and taunts at school since Alabama's tough crackdown on illegal immigration took effect last month. Many blame the name-calling on fallout from the law, which has been widely covered in the news, discussed in some classrooms and debated around dinner tables.

Justice Department officials are monitoring for bullying incidents linked to the law.

"We're hearing a number of reports about increases in bullying that we're studying," the head of the agency's civil rights division, Thomas Perez, said during a stop in Birmingham.

The Justice Department has established a bilingual telephone hotline and special email account for residents to report any violence or threats based on racial or ethnic background that could be linked to the law. Officials would not provide a breakdown on the types of complaints being received.

Yet the Alabama Department of Education hasn't received any reports of bullying linked to the law, said spokeswoman Malissa Valdes, and it isn't tracking the issue to determine whether there could be a problem. Any parents who call the state with complaints would be referred to their child's principal, she said.

So WAIT a second. There are NO complaints? I bet there will be now. Since the idea is now out there. Have Illegals BLAME the Law, that makes them Illegal, for someone saying that they ARE Illegal. Am I following this correctly? Now it goes on to say those that object to it, like Obama hunting for the Hispanic Votes, say that the LAW, is creating, ready, I love this,"a climate of fear and mistrust." I have a solution. COME HERE LEGALLY! If you do not belong somewhere, ANYWHERE, you can not be upset with ANYTHING that happens to you. You should not be there. It's all a matter of CHOICE. You CHOSE to go somewhere you do not belong. Whatever happens to you, would NOT have happened, had you not been there.

Now I do truly believe that the Laws against Robbing Banks, the Drug Laws, and the Law in general, create "a climate of fear and mistrust." How is the Pimp supposed to enjoy the same opportunities as other Americans if he is worried about someone calling him a Drug Dealer. Or how is the Bank Robber supposed to live a peaceful life, seeking the American Dream, if he is worried about the Popo coming and knocking on his door. They are fearful that the Police will come and rip them away from their Families and throw them in Jail. So let's just do away with the Laws. They are real people with real feelings, just like you. It's not fair.

The Supporters, you know, the RACISTS, state what is FACT. Remember when we talked about all the States that were upside down? The Budget gap was in the Billions. Take away the cost of Illegal Immigration, those States would not only have Balanced Budgets, they would have SURPLUSES! SAVE all that money it cost to House, Care for {Medically} Feed, Educate, Cloth, Jail, ETC, those that should not even BE HERE, would bring things into balance. In some cases, tip the scale by BILLIONS, in the other direction.

The Liberal Dems want the Laws ignored, because they want the VOTES. "But Pete, Illegals can't Vote."{Sigh} OK. Believe that if you want. But they feel those that are "eligible" will because their Illegal Family members are here. And not being Deported.

Those that are here Illegal, of course they do not want the Law enforced. Duh? Now with the Obama Administration's Anti-Bullying Campaign in full swing, now the Immigration Law, and those enforcing it, are causing Bullying. Keep in mind though, this is all the start of it. This whole Article is a catalyst of what is to come. As of right this second, there is not ONE single complaint. Bet that will change soon.

You REALLY Can't Make This Stuff Up!
Peter

Sources:
Fox News - Immigration Law Blamed for Reported Bullying of Hispanic Students in Alabama

Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

Misconceptions and Personal Views

Hey folks,

On Sunday April 25, 2010, I awarded the DLA to Gov Jan Brewer DLA For 042510. I said this.

Now wait a second. She did not sign a Bill making it Illegal, they ARE Illegal. She signed a Bill telling Law Enforcement to Enforce the Law. Well it's about time.

Then on Tuesday, I said this.

Monday was also the day that the Senate was suppose to come out and announce Cap and Tax. That didn't happen either. Why? Amnesty. That's right, Amnesty. They have been Governing AGAINST the Will of the People. Even some of their own are now done with them. Obamacare was Political Suicide. They know this. Cap and Tax, the "Financial Overhaul," AKA Socialising the Private Industry, are as well. The People are not happy. They need NEW People. So in the back, smoke filled rooms, while all this is going on upfront and personal, Amnesty looms.

I continued.

It's all about Votes. Forget that 70% of Arizona Voters FAVOR the new State measure cracking down On Illegal Immigration. It is PURELY Political. They do NOT care about Immigrants. They care only about their Votes. It really is just that simple. Just like they do not care about YOU.

Now the latest NATIONAL Poll shows that 70 percent of AMERICANS favor Arizona's new Law to enforce Federal Law. Which Prompted Peter, a true OPNer and who some have labeled my "Arch Nemeses" to post a comment playing the Race Card. More on that in the next Post.

On Wednesday?

So what is happening? States are getting tired of the Federal Government either FAILING to enforce the FEDERAL Law, or they are getting tire of the Federal Government coming into their States and DICTATING to them what they can and can't do. They are standing up for their RIGHTS. It is a GREAT thing to see.

So of course there is this little thing called Immigration Reform going on in Arizona right now. The Governor says that her State is being overrun and hurt by Illegal Aliens. The Federal Government is failing to enforce the LAW. So, she signs a Bill telling the Police, "Start enforcing the Law." Now we are hearing every thing from "Nazis" to things like this piece from AOL NEWS that compare it to China, fascist Europe and the United States during segregation.

{Laughing} No. Not even the Obama State Run Media can make sense reporting this. "New Arizona Law Makes It Illegal to be in Arizona Illegally." What? If you are Illegal, you are already Illegal. Incredible.

Now the MMD {Mass Media Drones}, State Run, Drive by Media, whatever you want to call them, got their Phrase of the Day. The man behind the little Black and White Curtain said "Papers." "Let me see your Papers." {In Russian accent}

Some bought this hook line and sinker. Problem is, it's purposefully incorrect. The new Arizona Law does NOT give the Police authority to stop you for "driving while Hispanic," knock down your doors, or just walk up and ask you "Let's Me See Your Papers." {In Russian Accent} It actually follows the FEDERAL LAW, of which says if, while in investigation of another Crime, Violation, Misdemeanor, Felony, ETC, the Police have the Right to find out WHO you are, and if you have the legal Right to be here.

I asked, what is the first thing the Cop asks you when you get stopped? "Let me see your Papers." I could not be here on Thursday so everyone else broke this little fact, but what is the first thing you are asked when renting a car? "Let's Me See Your Papers." Hotel? "Let's Me See Your Papers." Fly? "Let's Me See Your Papers." Buy alcohol or Cigarettes? "Let's Me See Your Papers." We, as US Citizens are asked "Let's Me See Your Papers" countless times on a daily bases. Uh, with the exception of maybe the VOTING BOOTH! Which is the point.

The Arizona Law does NOT give the Police power to hunt down and round up Illegals. It tells them they should find out who they are dealing with in the commission of a CRIME. Imagine that.

So over at Facebook, Rev. Jim posted a link for a group of people against the new Arizona Law. I thought it was Jim, but it wasn't, it was Sean Sullivan that said this.

Couple of issues here. Firstly immigration is a Federal issue and that should be so, individual States like AZ doing what they... See More’ve done here will largely push their problems into other states which s why we need COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL! (Sorry for shouting)

The problem is Sean, the Federal Government is NOT doing anything. That is why Arizona and now Texas, and others, are looking into enforcing it themselves.

Secondly, decades of piss poor immigration law combined with piss poor enforcement have left us with some 15 million people who waltzed in and stayed. This is something like SEVEN TIMES our current prison population…all of it. You are not going to solve this problem by demanding to see identification and kicking down freaking doors. We are going to have to welcome the truly desirables, the ones who built lives and families and work etc etc so that we can focus on the truly undesirables, those truly leading lives of crime. There is a distinction there, some of their lives are a crime because they came here and others came here and led lives of crime. Hell, we only kneecap ourselves chasing the good folk and it ties up our resources from chasing the bad.

Can't do either if you are hindered from asking who they are in the first place. Amnesty will legalize ALL of them. The Criminal along with the "desirables," as you put it.

COMPREHENSIVE immigration reform does include not breaking the chops of those who are good citizens in all things but their lack of citizenship. We simply don’t have the resources to do much about them and quite frankly why would we anyway?

No one is going to be knocking down doors, or approaching anyone, just because of the color of their skin. It enforces commonsense and LOGICAL Laws already in place. "WHO ARE YOU?"

Finally Pete on this “come here legally and we welcome you” thing, you need to get a little more in touch with the human element. Seriously Pete, it aint that easy and it aint that simple. You’re a husband and Dad so you know this. If you can’t provide for your family where you are and a law and a fence stands between you and a place where you could work and provide for them, what are you Pete Carlock going to do. Work and feed your family tomorrow or put the kids to bed hungry and hope you win the immigration lottery ten years from now. “Come here legally and we welcome you” are easy words to people risking life and limb to get here offered by those of us owing our own citizenship to an accident of birth. Would you feed your family?

April 25 at 11:20pm

EXCELLENT QUESTION. The short answer is YES. Of course I would. If I were living somewhere where my family was poor, starving, living in a shack, jump at the opportunity to come to the greatest country in the world? Of course I would risk my life to come here. If a Politician came along and said, I want to give you Citizenship, free money, free Healthcare, free housing, OF COURSE I would Vote for them. I understand the compassion issue here Sean. I get it and YES, I would be out there rallying for the "powerful and all knowing Man" that wants to give me everything I need. But that doesn't mean I deserve it. That doesn't mean that I have earned it. At the same time, if someone came up to me and asked me "Let me see your papers." I would understand THAT also. I'm NOT here legally. I KNEW this was a possibility when I came here. I TOOK THAT CHANCE to come here.

True story Sean. Back in the day, I spent three and a half years working with Chief Rowley in NY, in Cooperate Investigations. One of the properties that we were in charge of was Thruway Markets in Walden NY. Thruway, is like Super Wal-Mart before there was a Super Wal-Mart. When we were not locking up Employees, we were helping to stop Shoplifters. I can not tell you how many times I or one of the others, stopped someone from stealing FOOD. Some were homeless. Some where unemployed. One was working two jobs, yet couldn't afford to buy Food.

In that case, I took money out of my own pocket to pay for the Food that this young lady took to feed her family. Chief Rowley did the same thing on a number of occasions. We PAID for them to eat that night. Yet, they still were guilty of Petty Theft, and we BARRED them from ever returning to the Store. We had compassion on them, yet, we enforced the LAW as well.

Should we change the Federal Laws to say it's OK to steal, if you can not afford food? It's OK to rob a bank if you are unemployed? It's OK to steal from others to meet your needs because you are less fortunate then someone else? No. Of course not. We ARE compassionate in this country. We are the most compassionate ant country in the world. but that does not mean that we do not enforce our LAWS to keep OUR Citizens safe. How many stories do you hear about someone killed in Drunk Driving Accidents by someone who should have never been here to begin with. Most likely been arrested before. Home invasions? Look at Arizona's crime rate. Who is committing most of these crimes? I understand that most are here to make a better way for themselves. I get that. I have no problem with that. I also agree with you that those that are here, for those reasons, should be given a helping hand in the PROCESS and become Legal. But those that are committing crimes should be thrown out. Problem is though Sean, some do not want to know who is who. They just want the Votes.

Be right back.
Peter

Amnesty, Taxes, Cap and Tax, Obama Agenda

Yesterday Roundup

Hey folks,

My head is spinning. What a day yesterday was. Seriously. From everything I read, heard, saw, and the people I talked to, I do not even know where to begin. This Administration is out of control. Plain and simple.

Let's just look at some of the things that came out yesterday. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said we can't win In Afghanistan, and that Obama and Crew will HAVE to raise taxes to counter this out of control deficit that THEY caused. General McChrystal apologizes for telling the truth and then resigns. We learn that the Judge in the case against Obama's Drilling Ban is intelligent, more on that in a few minutes, and that Obama may actually USE this Ruling to attempt to further is agenda.

I'm going to talk more on the Ruling in just a few minutes, but follow me on this. According to my friend, who shall we say is in the inside, told me that the Loons on the Left {My words} are going to do everything they can to ram through Cap and Tax. He said that they lost the whole Global Warming argument {Told you so} and that they we using this Deep Horizon Accident to push it {Cap and Tax}. Now this Judge has blocked them. My friend said this.

"Pete, I wouldn't be surprised if Obama and those on the Left, did now use this Ruling. Now they can say 'Look, Obama tried to do the right thing here. He tried to pause and step back. He is concerned about the safety of these Oil Rigs and those that work on them. But this Judge, most likely paid off, blocked the right thing from happening, so now we have no other choice than to impose stiffer regulations and fees to ensure that they are doing the right thing.' Of course, as he said with the Coal Industry, they can Drill, but they will go bankrupt. Know what I mean?" Interesting point. I guess we will have to wait and see. More on the Ruling in just a minute. But right now I want to talk about this.

Over the Weekend, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl said this.



Now of course Obama and Crew DENY that he said this. But the Senator is sticking with his version of what he claims Obama said. Which DOES make sense. Now according to ABC News Political Punch - Sources: Justice Department to File Lawsuit Against Arizona Immigration Law, Likely Next Week By - Jake Tapper

Obama administration sources tell ABC News that Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to file a lawsuit against the state of Arizona for its immigration law, likely next week.

Hillary DID say that they were planning on doing this. This Arizona Law hinders their agenda. As I have been telling you.

Look, I do now have to tell you that the Left WANT Amnesty. Especially now. They need the votes. They KNOW that they are governing against the Will of the People. They KNOW that they are about to be thrown out of power if they do nothing. So NOW they, Obama, want to get Amnesty done as soon as possible.

Every time they try, YOU kill it. Now Obama seems tired of trying. Now he wants to, with a stroke of a pen, grant blanket Amnesty to all Illegals. that's right folks, No due process. No Votes. No input from you. Just Amnesty. According to Numbers USA - Senators Challenge Pres. Obama on Rumors of Executive Order Amnesty

Several Senators have learned of a possible plan by the Obama Administration that would provide a mass Amnesty for the nation's 11-18 million illegal aliens. Led by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), eight Senators addressed a letter to the President asking for answers to questions about a plan that would allow DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano to provide an amnesty if they can't secure enough votes for a bill in the Senate.

The letter that was sent to Pres. Obama earlier today asks the President for clarification on the use of deferred action or parole for illegal aliens. The executive actions are typically used in special cases and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but if 60 votes can't be secured in the Senate to pass a mass Amnesty, the Administration may use the discretionary actions as an alternative
ABC News Political Punch - Sources: Justice Department to File Lawsuit Against Arizona Immigration Law, Likely Next Week.

Here is the Letter.

Dear President Obama:

We understand that there’s a push for your Administration to develop a plan to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal aliens in the United States. We understand that the Administration may include aliens who have willfully overstayed their visas or filed for benefits knowing that they will not be eligible for a status for years to come. We understand that deferred action and parole are discretionary actions reserved for individual cases that present unusual, emergent or humanitarian circumstances. Deferred action and parole were not intended to be used to confer a status or offer protection to large groups of illegal aliens, even if the agency claims that they look at each case on a “case-by-case” basis.

While we agree our immigration laws need to be fixed, we are deeply concerned about the potential expansion of deferred action or parole for a large illegal alien population. While deferred action and parole are Executive Branch authorities, they should not be used to circumvent Congress’ constitutional authority to legislate immigration policy, particularly as it relates to the illegal population in the United States.

The Administration would be wise to abandon any plans for deferred action or parole for the illegal population. Such a move would further erode the American public’s confidence in the federal government and its commitment to securing the borders and enforcing the laws already on the books.

We would appreciate receiving a commitment that the Administration has no plans to use either authority to change the current position of a large group of illegal aliens already in the United States, and ask that you respond to us about this matter as soon as possible.

Check out the PDF File HERE.

This is completely unbelievable. Well, OK, NOT unbelievable. I believe it. And you should as well. This is how desperate they have become. Now since they know you are nearly ALL against this, and that many States are now looking into following the Arizona Law, Obama will simply wave his hand, and then there will be no Illegals in this country. Nothing to enforce. It will be like Obama saying this "Hey, look you people. The White man might hate you because you have Brown Skin, uh they hate me. But I do not hate you. Uh, look, uh, here is Citizenship. Yeah. I do not know who you are, or uh, where you came from, or uh, if you are a criminal or not, but I, uh, do not care. You are now all Citizens. Remember those evil Republicans hate you. But I don't. Look what I did for you. So uh, Vote for me and the rest of those of us on the Left. As long as we are in power, you are , uh, safe. Vote for me."

Folks, November HAS to change a whole bunch of things. Now Obama is even talking about pushing the Public Option through NOW. Forget 2014. He wants it NOW. Why? Votes. Forget that this will add another few hundred Billion Dollars. Forget that it will not work. Forget that all these Illegals will ALSO cost a great deal MORE money. Not to mention we really do NOT know how many are criminals on top of everything else. Just a stroke of a pen.

Things can be repealed in November. Cap and tax, if they jam it through. Obamacare. A lot of the Tax increases. The War effort could actually become an EFFORT. But Amnesty? Sorry, I'm not sure how THAT can be repealed. I'm not sure that it can be stopped now. These Loons are on a mission to remake this country. Obama said that this was his intent the whole time. They will not be stopped. They are on a Political Suicide mission. They do not CARE about you. Or what YOU think or say. What are YOU going to do about it? Vote them out? Fine, but before they go, they WILL do whatever it takes, Legal or not, mostly not, to achieve their objectives.

I truly think that they think you will Vote the Republicans in. They will attempt to repeal a bunch of this stuff, and then you will throw THEM out, given the power back to the Loons. Or, they think that they will lose the House, or the Senate, not both, which will give them the ability to BLOCK any attempts to repeal this insanity. It's up to you to let them know, YOU will not rest, until THEY are stopped.

Be right back.
Peter

Sources:
ABC News Political Punch - Sources: Justice Department to File Lawsuit Against Arizona Immigration Law, Likely Next Week
Numbers USA - Senators Challenge Pres. Obama on Rumors of Executive Order Amnesty

True Heart Felt Blessings On Sen Kennedy and His Family

May they have the strength and peace they need in this time.

Hey folks,

Just this past Sunday, I told you about Sen. Ted Kennedy being rushed to the hospital after he suffered a seizure at his Cape Cod home on Saturday morning. I said this.

"First, may Senator Kennedy recover fully and may he and his family be at peace in this time of need. As you may already know, he was rushed to the Hospital."

Then this.

"Yes I know. He is not my favorite person. Yes I know his past. But unlike some of the card carrying members of the LWL, I wish illness, suffering, or death, on no one. I truly wish him and his family the best."

I do not know what faith he may or may not follow. He REALLY is not one of my favorite people. But I do, sincerely, wish him and his family the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit and may God give him the strength to fight, and the peace to recover. May his family also receive the peace and comfort they are going to need in this time.

Turns out, he got bad news yesterday. The New York Times reported it this way.

BOSTON — Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the longtime Massachusetts Democrat and patriarch of the Kennedy family, has a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said on Tuesday.

Doctors here at Massachusetts General Hospital, who were investigating the cause of a seizure that Mr. Kennedy, 76, suffered at his Cape Cod compound on Saturday, said preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain had revealed that he has a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe, the upper left part of his brain.

Dr. Lee H. Schwamm, the hospital’s vice chairman of neurology, and Dr. Larry Ronan, Mr. Kennedy’s primary care physician at the hospital, said in a statement that “the usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy” and that “decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Senator Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis.”

Like him or not, he IS a fighter. Sen Kerry said that he was in "A fighting Mood," and that he was asking questions about the best way to proceed.

News of the brain tumor jolted people in Washington, Massachusetts and beyond, generating reaction from around the world, where Mr. Kennedy’s legendary family legacy and his 46 years in the Senate have made him a well-known figure.

Aside from an unsuccessful run for president in 1980, Mr. Kennedy has focused his energy on issues including health care, education and civil rights. Despite his liberal ideology and occasional loud clashes on the Senate floor, Mr. Kennedy is held in high esteem by the opposition for his determination, understanding of the issues and a willingness to work in a bipartisan fashion on subjects like education, health care and immigration.

“Senator Kennedy enjoys great respect and admiration on this side of the aisle,” said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader. “He is indeed one of the most important figures to ever serve in this body in our history.”

He really is. I do not like him. I do not like the choices he has made. But he DOES have my respect and he DOES have a history of doing the right thing. I have tried in the past to get past some of his history, but I just have not been able to. But ANYONE that has given what he has for the last 46 years, deserves respect.

In a statement, President Bush said, “Ted Kennedy is a man of tremendous courage, remarkable strength, and powerful spirit.” Mr. Bush said he and his wife, Laura, “join our fellow Americans in praying for his full recovery.”

Amen!

Senator John McCain echoed that sentiment, and both Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton invoked Mr. Kennedy at length on Tuesday night in their speeches declaring victory in the Oregon and Kentucky primaries, respectively.

Doctors and people close to Senator Kennedy said that he would remain in the hospital for the next couple of days. The doctors said he was “in overall good condition” and “remains in good spirits and full of energy.” He has not had another seizure since he was hospitalized, they said.

“Right now, he’s his normal self, except for the news that he’s dealing with,” said a close friend who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I bet he’ll be back at the Cape sailing this weekend. I expect he’ll go back to work” after the Memorial Day recess.

Senate Democrats and Republicans learned of Mr. Kennedy’s condition as they were gathered for their weekly closed-door party luncheons, and members of both parties were visibly shaken by the news.

As he opened debate on the Iraq spending bill, Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, at 90 the only current senator to serve longer than Mr. Kennedy, was distraught. “Ted, Ted, my dear friend, I love you and miss you,” Mr. Byrd said in halting remarks on the floor.

Malignant glioma is the most common form of brain cancer, accounting for about 9,000 cases diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. They are more common in older people, especially those between the ages of 75 and 84, according to the American Cancer Society.

The prognosis varies depending on the type and severity of the tumor, and the patient’s age. The American Cancer Society said that survival rates drop with increasing age.

Dr. Patrick Y. Wen, clinical director of the Center for Neuro-Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said the average prognosis for the most aggressive type of glioma is 14 to 15 months, while the prognosis for slower-growing tumors is two to four years.

“This is a sad situation,” Dr. Wen said. He said that such tumors can sometimes affect sensation, speech, or vision, and that tumors in older people tend to be harder to treat. “These are unfortunately aggressive tumors.”

Alain Charest, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Tufts Medical Center, said if the tumor could be removed surgically doctors would do so, although gliomas are difficult to remove because cells from the tumor tend to travel to other parts of the brain. Radiation and chemotherapy usually follow surgery.

Dr. Carl B. Heilman, chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Tufts Medical Center, said that most people go back to work after a biopsy, and that many patients respond well to radiation therapy and oral chemotherapy at first.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts said on Tuesday in Washington that he had visited Mr. Kennedy over the weekend.

Oh, here you go.

“He’s in a fighting mood,” Mr. Kerry said. “He is asking questions about what the choices are for him. He’s deeply involved in making all the kinds of personal decisions that any of you would.”

Mr. Kerry added: “He would call you and help arrange a discussion with a bunch of doctors to talk about a wife who was sick or a child or any number of things — now everybody needs to do that on behalf of Ted. Everybody needs to pull for him and his family and remember that this guy is one unbelievable fighter.”

In Massachusetts, the impact of Mr. Kennedy’s persona and political legacy is hard to overestimate.

“There’ll never be another Ted Kennedy,” said Paul S. Grogan, president and chief executive of the Boston Foundation, which finances nonprofits involved in economic development and other state issues. “He’s sort of Horatio at the bridge. He’s been such an outsized figure, so influential, so effective.”

You cannot deny that.

Mr. Grogan said that Mr. Kennedy had given Massachusetts a level of political prominence beyond what would normally be accorded a state of its size, and that he had helped engineer policies and financing mechanisms that benefited important sectors of the state, including universities and medical centers.

“He’s single-handedly postponed the onset of Massachusetts’s political decline,” Mr. Grogan said. “His vigor, his vitality and his longevity has kind of encouraged us all to believe that he’s immortal, and we’ve gotten used to the idea that he’s going to be around forever. But this is a reminder that he’s not.”

Cameron Kerry, a lawyer who is the brother of Senator Kerry, said the news of the brain tumor was “like an earthquake,” adding, “He’s just such a colossus that this kind of shakes the ground underneath everything.”

Mr. Kerry said that “on a political level, he’s just been so good to my brother and to the whole family. He really is like family.”

Jack Connors, a businessman who is active in Democratic causes, said: “Ted Kennedy raised public service to an art form. Ted Kennedy has really been a hero for people who don’t really have much of a voice.”

Representative Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, called him “clearly the most influential senator in U.S. history.” Mr. Frank added: “His personality, his understanding of the legislative process, his dedication. He has a good sense of other people, a lot of empathy. And he hires first-rate people and knows how to benefit from them.”

Legislators close to Mr. Kennedy, like Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, said on Tuesday that they were certain Mr. Kennedy would return to work and would battle the tumor with his characteristic tenacity and energy.

“He’s a fighter,” said Representative Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, “and he’s definitely ready for this fight.”

I truly hope he is. I hope he can beat this thing, and get back to work. God bless you Senator Kennedy. We are all pulling for you.
Peter

Sources:
OPNTalk - Our Prayers Are With You Sen. Kennedy
NYT - Senator Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor

From The Emails 021708

Hey folks,

I know it's Sunday. But since the breaking news about the House being bought off by Trial Lawyers and walking out on America was happening on Friday, I felt that was a bit more important to talk about. Now, I want to thank all of you who sent in emails this week. Friday / Saturdays night was GREAT Emails. Seriously. I really enjoyed going through it. Today I will highlight two. Both having to do with Senator and Presidential Candidate Obama.

First up, by Gary D. Halbert. Gary D. Halbert is the president and CEO of ProFutures, Inc. and its related companies, collectively known as "ProFutures Investments." Located in Austin, Texas, ProFutures Investments is a highly diversified investment advisory firm that manages hundreds of millions of dollars for investors all across the U.S.

Finally, Be Careful What You Wish For!

No doubt, many conservatives, and indeed a growing number of Democrats, would like nothing more than to see Obama take out Hillary, with no return of the Clintons to the White House. But those who are cheering Obama on had better realize just what they're in for if he becomes our next president.

On the foreign policy front, he has no experience. What we do know is that he intends to talk directly to foreign despots such as Kim Jong Il, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez and others. He also wants to talk directly with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, perhaps in the US at Obama's invitation. On the war in Iraq, Obama has made it clear he will withdraw our forces as soon as possible, no matter what the inevitable results will be for Iraq.

When Obama was asked if he thought an immediate withdrawal from Iraq would lead to chaos and genocide, the Associated Press reported he said: "The United States cannot use its military to solve humanitarian problems and that preventing a potential genocide in Iraq isn't a good enough reason to keep U.S. forces there."

Maybe Obama thinks he can sit down with Iran's madman Ahmadinejad, perhaps on Oprah's show, and convince him to stay out of Iraq after he pulls US forces out and leaves Iraq to the takers. Can he really be that naive? We just do not know.

On domestic policy, Obama has made it clear that he will raise taxes on upper income Americans in the first year of his presidency, in addition to eliminating the Bush tax cuts. Obama says he would cut taxes for middle class Americans, but he has offered no specific plan for doing so that I can find. Sounds like "get elected" rhetoric to me.

Obama has proposed eliminating the earnings cap on Social Security taxes - read raise taxes - now set at the first $102,000 of income. Those earning $102,000 or more would get an immediate tax increase, so the "wealthy" would become those earning just over $100,000 a year. Think about that. According to the Heritage Foundation and other watchdog groups, Obama's tax proposals would also raise taxes for millions of Americans that are considered to be in the middle class, despite his rhetoric to the contrary.

Also don't forget that employers are going to be required to pay half of the increased Social Security tax burden. Faced with an additional 6.2% of all payroll in excess of the $102,000 per worker, corporate profits will suffer and employers will likely look for ways to reduce costs. That could mean the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the economy. Hmmm...suddenly, soaking the rich doesn't sound like such a good idea, does it?

Obama has made it clear that he will institute his version of nationalized health care. While his socialized health plan differs somewhat from Hillary's, the results would be largely the same. He would put the world's greatest health care system in history on track to become on par with those of Europe and Canada over the next decade. Do we really want that? And more importantly, how do we pay for it? Can you say much higher taxes?

Next, Obama's higher income taxes will come at a time when the US economy is very possibly in a recession. Have we not learned the lesson that you don't raise taxes in a time of recession; just the opposite, that the best medicine for a recession is tax cuts? I guess not if you are Barack Obama (or Hillary). Unfortunately, most American voters don't think these issues through, and Obama knows it. Just vote for the candidate that promises the most.

And finally, what about the military and national security? Other than ending the war in Iraq as quickly as possible, little else is clear in regard to Obama's positions on these two issues based on what he has said publicly. Many left-wing ideologues tend (privately) to despise the military and want it reduced. Yet day after day, we hear that the US armed forces are already stretched too thin, and we need to strengthen the military. This is a key national security issue, and we need to know where Obama stands.

I could go on with the list of things we should be concerned about with regard to Barack Obama. But what concerns me even more is that Obama has said virtually nothing with regard to his specific policy positions. For the most part, all Obama talks about is "hope" and "dreams" for his presidential reign, and very little of substance. Maybe that is because of his inexperience.

Whatever the reason, Obama is clearly the most charismatic political candidate in a long time; yet he is the best at saying virtually nothing of substance. Nevertheless, it seems to be working.

Obama has been successful in bringing millions of younger Americans into the political process. This is the primary reason why the Democrats voting in this year's primaries have dwarfed the number of GOP voters.

Say what you will, but Barack Obama is a "paradigm shift" in American politics, for better or worse. Barring some big surprise, he is on track to knock out the Clintons for good in the next month or two. And if so, he has the potential to steamroll John McCain in November as well. I hope not.

Republicans have some important decisions to make just ahead: Will they get behind McCain or stay at home? The stakes are now very high.

Be careful what you wish for.....

Next week, we return to investment and retirement themes.

Very best regards,
Gary D. Halbert

Then this from someone who said this. "I thought you might be interesting in more information of Obama." Here is the link. Accuracy in Media - Obama’s International Socialist Connections, by Cliff Kincaid

Campaign workers for Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama are under fire for displaying a flag featuring communist hero Che Guevara. But Obama has his own controversial socialist connections. He is, in fact, an associate of a Chicago-based Marxist group with access to millions of labor union dollars and connections to expert political consultants, including a convicted swindler.

Obama's socialist backing goes back at least to 1996, when he received the endorsement of the Chicago branch of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for an Illinois state senate seat. Later, the Chicago DSA newsletter reported that Obama, as a state senator, showed up to eulogize Saul Mendelson, one of the "champions" of "Chicago's democratic left" and a long-time socialist activist. Obama's stint as a "community organizer" in Chicago has gotten some attention, but his relationship with the DSA socialists, who groomed and backed him, has been generally ignored.

Blogger Steve Bartin, who has been following Obama's career and involvement with the Chicago socialists, has uncovered a fascinating video showing Obama campaigning for openly socialist Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Interestingly, Sanders, who won his seat in 2006, called Obama "one of the great leaders of the United States Senate," even though Obama had only been in the body for about two years. In 2007, the National Journal said that Obama had established himself as "the most liberal Senator." More liberal than Sanders? That is quite a feat. Does this make Obama a socialist, too?

DSA describes itself as the largest socialist organization in the United States and the principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International. The Socialist International (SI) has what is called "consultative status" with the United Nations. In other words, it works hand-in-glove with the world body.

The international connection is important and significant because an Obama bill, "The Global Poverty Act," has just been rushed through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with the assistance of Democratic Senator Joe Biden, the chairman, and Republican Senator Richard Lugar. The legislation (S.2433) commits the U.S. to spending hundreds of billions of dollars more in foreign aid on the rest of the world, in order to comply with the "Millennium Goals" established by the United Nations. Conservative members of the committee were largely caught off-guard by the move to pass the Obama bill but are putting a "hold" on it, in order to try to prevent the legislation, which also quickly passed the House, from being quickly brought up for a full Senate vote. But observers think that Senate Democrats may try to pass it quickly anyway, in order to give Obama a precious legislative "victory" that he could run on.

Another group associated with the SI is the Party of European Socialists (PES), which heard from Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, back in 2006. Dean's speech is posted on the official Democratic Party website, although the European socialist parties are referred to as "progressive." Democrats, Dean said, want to be "good citizens of the world community." He spoke at a session on "Global Challenges for Progressive Politics."

Following up, in April 2007, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen reported that European socialists held a meeting "in the Democrats HQ in Washington," met with officials of the party and Democratic members of Congress, and agreed that "PES activist groups" in various U.S. cities would start working together. The photos of the trip show Rasmussen meeting with such figures as Senator Ben Cardin, Senator Bernie Sanders, officials of the Brookings Institution, Howard Dean, and AFL-CIO President John W. Sweeney, a member of the DSA. The Brookings Institution is headed by former Clinton State Department official Strobe Talbott, a proponent of world government who was recently identified in the book Comrade J as having been a pawn of the Russian intelligence service.

The socialist connections of Obama and the Democratic Party have certainly not been featured in the Washington Post columns of Harold Meyerson, who happens not only to be a member but a vice-chair of the DSA. Meyerson, the subject of our 2005 column, "A Socialist at the Washington Post," has praised convicted inside-trader George Soros for manipulating campaign finance laws to benefit the far-left elements of the Democratic Party. Obama's success in the Democratic presidential primaries and caucuses is further evidence of Soros's success. Indeed, Soros has financially contributed to the Obama campaign.

It is not surprising that the Chicago Democrat, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, has endorsed Obama. Schakowsky, who endorsed Howard Dean for president in 2004, was honored in 2000 at a dinner sponsored by the Chicago chapter of the DSA. Her husband, Robert Creamer, emerged from federal prison in November 2006 after serving five months for financial crimes. He pleaded guilty to ripping off financial institutions while running a non-profit group. Before he was convicted but under indictment, Creamer was hired by the Soros-funded Open Society Policy Center to sabotage John Bolton's nomination as Ambassador to the U.N.

After his release from prison, Creamer released a book, Listen to Your Mother: Stand up Straight: How Progressives Can Win, described by one blogger as the book that was "penned in the pen." A blurb for the book declares, "Some people think that in order to win, Democrats need to move to the political center by adopting conservative values and splitting the difference between progressive and conservative positions. History shows they are wrong. To win the next election and to win in the long term, we need to redefine the political center."

In addition to writing the book, Creamer is back in business, running his firm, Strategic Consulting Group, and advertising himself as "a consultant to the campaigns to end the war in Iraq, pass universal health care, change America's budget priorities and enact comprehensive immigration reform." His clients have included the AFL-CIO and MoveOn.org. In fact, his client list is a virtual who's who of the Democratic Party, organized labor, and Democratic Party constituency groups.

Creamer's list of testimonials comes from such figures as Democratic Senators Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Harold Meyerson, MoveOn.org founder Wes Boyd, and David Axelrod, a "Democratic political consultant."

Axelrod, of course, is much more than just a "Democratic political consultant." He helped State Senator Barack Obama win his U.S. Senate seat in 2004 and currently serves as strategist and media advisor to Obama's presidential campaign.

Be right back.

Peter

Obama and Clinton On Race, Thomson Has Arrived

Hey folks,

The big news is Obama and Clinton sparring over the Clinton and some that work for the Clinton's sudden flurry of Racial comments. First there was “Spade Work..” Then we heard about “Chuck and Jive” and then there was the fact that Hillary gave more credit to President Lyndon Johnson than Martin Luther King for advancing the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Reuters- Clinton, Obama spar as race heats up Jeff MasonSun Jan 13, 10:41 PM ET

Race became a focus of the Democratic presidential campaign on Sunday with Hillary Clinton accusing rival Barack Obama of distorting remarks she made last week about the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement.

Obama, who would be the first black president, called this "ludicrous" but said Clinton had offended some Americans who believed her comments last week had marginalized the role of black leader Martin Luther King in advancing those rights.

Clinton, who would become the first woman president, and Obama are locked in a close race for the right to represent the party in the November 4 election to succeed President George W. Bush. Republicans too are in a tight race.

As the Iraq war has moved off the front pages, issues such as the faltering economy have gained attention. Candidates vying for support in states holding nominating contests this month spoke on Sunday of their plans for boosting the economy.

Interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press," Clinton was asked about remarks to Fox News last Monday, which some had interpreted as giving U.S. President Lyndon Johnson more credit than King for advancing the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The act outlawed segregation of blacks and whites in schools and other public places. King was a leader of the civil rights movement and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated four years later.

"Dr. King didn't just give speeches. He marched. He organized. He protested," Clinton said on Sunday. "And he campaigned for political leaders including Lyndon Johnson because he wanted someone in the White House who would act on what he had devoted his life to achieving.

"The Obama campaign is deliberately distorting this," said the 60-year-old New York senator, a former first lady.

No he isn’t Mrs. Clinton. You DID say that if Johnson didn’t sign off on it, it would not have happened.

Obama, 46 and an Illinois senator, has garnered support among blacks, who make up about 13 percent of the population. But Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have long had strong support from the black community.

Doesn’t mean they like Blacks. Doesn’t mean they CARE about Blacks. All it means is that they are good at telling all people what they want to hear, according to polls, no matter if they have actually DID anything for them.

Obama said he had never commented on her earlier statement but said it had "offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King's role in bringing about the Civil Rights Act.

"She is free to explain that but the notion that somehow this is our doing is ludicrous," he told reporters.

Rival Democrat John Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, took a swipe at Clinton too.

"I must say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real change came not through the Rev. Martin Luther King, but through a Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that," he told a church group in Sumter, South Carolina.

Democrats are preparing for contests in Nevada on Saturday and South Carolina on January 26 while Republicans are focused on Michigan on Tuesday and South Carolina on Saturday.

Clinton is to blame for the mess she is in right now. No one else.

On the Republican side. It seems that Fred Thompson has arrived. A friend of ours sent this to me in an Email over the weekend. It is a New York Times article that is posted on Thompson's website Fred 08.

New York Times

PAUL VITELLO

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — John and Ann Berenberk dutifully watched the umpteenth Republican presidential debate on television on Thursday night and had an epiphany. It was about the candidate they had previously referred to as the tall, silent one. Fred D. Thompson.

The last of the candidates to enter the race, Mr. Thompson, 65, a former Tennessee senator, has so far seemed to distinguish himself mainly by a laconic style that has made him almost invisible beside the others on the stage in past debates, the Berenberks said.

“But then last night — we hadn’t even been thinking about him — all of a sudden it was clear he was the one,” said Mr. Berenberk, a retired teacher. “The bluntness, the forcefulness. He was really impressive.”

This IS who he is. It's about time that he started to show it.

Whether this was a new Fred Thompson, or just a sign of mirage-inducing campaign fatigue among voters, many people attending Mr. Thompson’s campaign rallies here on the day after the debate reported having similar revelations.

Mr. Thompson, who remarked Friday that he had “always been laid back — laid back when I became a U.S. prosecutor at 28, laid back when I became staff counsel to the Watergate committee at 30, laid back when I ran and won election twice to the United States Senate” — was clearly more combative on Thursday night than he had been in past debates.

It IS about time.

He attacked former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, accusing him of stealing his tax plan, tagged Senator John McCain of Arizona as soft on illegal immigration and jabbed repeatedly at former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas for taking what he called “liberal” positions. Mr. Thompson scored one of the more crowd-pleasing remarks of the evening when he said about a recent encounter between a Navy ship and several Iranian speedboats: “I think one more step and they would have been introduced to those virgins they’re looking forward to seeing.”

In an official statement, a campaign spokesman, Todd Harris, said Mr. Thompson’s performance showed that he was the only candidate that voters in the Jan. 19 primary here should trust “to be a strong, consistent conservative.”

I tend to agree with that.

Mr. Thompson has made all the same points during campaign events throughout the state, aides said. But many voters who flocked to his rallies on Friday had never heard him make them until they heard him in the latest debate on the Fox News Channel.

Jim Sickles, a retired corrections officer; Natalie Bankowski, an office manager; and Maryanne Gasper, who said she was “a waitress, with two other jobs,” were among a dozen people randomly interviewed who said they had been undecided or leaning toward other Republican candidates — mainly Mr. Huckabee — until Thursday night.

In person, Mr. Thompson, who is a television and movie actor in his life outside politics, conveys a message that perfectly matches the medium of his slow, well-paced, deep-baritone voice: He says the problems facing the next president “cannot be fixed overnight,” and admonishes voters not to believe candidates who say they can.

At some events, he prefers to talk sitting down rather than standing up, and has a habit of rocking on the back legs of his chair. In answer to questions, he tends to give long, discursive answers that start with “let’s go back to where this all started.”

In matters of foreign policy, economic policy and military affairs, he usually ends up with an endorsement of the way things have turned out. In answer to questions about Social Security, social programs and morality, he most often draws the conclusion that things need to change.

With a well-worn face atop an angular, 6-foot-4 frame, he looks like the smartest man in town holding forth at the county courthouse.

Chip Felkel, a longtime South Carolina political consultant who is not working for any of the candidates, said Mr. Thompson initially seemed to be a candidate who might appeal to all the major voting groups in the state. “Social conservatives from Huckabee, military votes from McCain, economic conservatives from Romney,” Mr. Felkel said, referring to former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.

“But so far he hasn’t done that,” said Mr. Felkel, who added that he had watched Mr. Thompson’s debate performance on Thursday and was skeptical that it had helped him much.

That is what a lot of people are saying. That he may have gotten in too late. He may not be getting his real message out to the voters. This was a BRILLANT showing. But is it too little too late? Some of these same people said Obama would beat Clinton by double digits in New Hampshire also. Still really too early to tell about Fred.

Sirita Long, a construction forewoman from Moncks Corner, disagreed. “He’s a straight-up shoot-from-the-hip guy,” said Ms. Long, who said she had been leaning toward Mr. McCain until the debate. “I could see him staring down our enemies.”

I can also. I personally like Fred. I always have. But I also fear that this was too little too late. Where has this been? I can tell you this, on the trust issue, I DO trust Fred Thompson more than I do any of the others. Rudy maybe just a little bit behind him for me. I do not agree with some of Rudy's social issues, but I DO trust him. He tells it like it is. But I do think that more and more people will go for Thompson, as long as he can get his message out there. Fred? BE FRED.
Peter

From The Emails 051508

Sad but true.

Hey folks,

OK, back to the Emails. The sender included this note.

"No wonder Republicans are losing. They are no better than Democrats!"

Ain't that the truth. Here is the article.

Will Congress Outlaw Local Laws?
by William Campenni

One has to admire the Sisyphean tenacity of the Congress as it starts to roll another boulder up the mountain of public opposition to the federal encouragement of illegal immigration. The latest attempt, HR 5515, masquerading under the euphemistic label “New Employee Verification Act” (NEVA) is another unworthy successor to the recently demised “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act” and “Dream Act” in its insolent attempt to procure cheap labor and voting constituencies for the political ruling classes, Democrat and Republican alike.

Pushed as replacement for the current E-Verify system (formerly Basic Pilot) by which employers can use the Internet to verify the legal work status of workers, this bill would create yet another massive computer database requiring seven million US employers to query for all newly-hired employees. E-Verify has been successful for its relatively few users, but it does suffer from faults due to poor and incomplete data. The new NEVA system would presumably, but not convincingly, fix some of these faults, so at first glance it sounds like a good deal. But then one must consider the recent experience with government computer projects like the new, and now abandoned, “virtual fence” on the Arizona border, which sucked up $20 million only to provide high-tech nesting towers for Arizona vultures.

As always when dealing with the political class growing ever more distant from the populace it rules, the NEVA devil is in the details. For all of its noble goals, hidden in the voluminous wording of this legislation is the true agenda of its sponsors, to wit, the section on preemption, Section 101(b)(2)(A), which reduced to simple language* would preempt and ban any and all state or local law for immigration-related issues enacted to impose employer fines or sanctions, or would forbid any laws requiring employers to verify work status or identity for work authorization. It would also prevent any unit of government from verifying status of renters, determining eligibility for receipt of benefits, enrollment in school, obtaining a business or other license, or conducting a background check.

This preemption, buried deep in the text of the bill, would kill all the laws recently enacted by long-suffering states and localities in response to the federal government’s unwillingness to enforce its own federal laws on immigration. Gone would be the recent highly effective and highly successful enforcement legislation of Arizona and Oklahoma, the local laws and ordinances of towns like Hazleton, PA, Costa Mesa, CA, Herndon and Prince William, Virginia, and over a hundred other localities, and of hundreds more in process of enactment.

For one example, the control of business licenses is now one of the few areas not preempted. It is one of the few tools still left to states and local governments to fight the presence and hiring of illegal workers, and the award of benefits and welfare. NEVA would take even those tools away. Having abdicated its own responsibilities on immigration enforcement, the Congress is apparently on a search-and-destroy mission for any lower elected body that might actually want to follow the rule of law and provide the protection for its citizens that the federal government seems incapable and unwilling to provide.

The oxen now being gored by these successful local initiatives have been given a considerable role in crafting this debilitating legislation. The whining exploiters and profiteers of illegal labor in Arizona would love to see that state’s tough yet effective laws removed, and the Chamber of Commerce, a leading advocate for open borders and unlimited cheap labor, has contributed via testimony and a revolving door for some of its alumni in Congressional staff positions. They have not been hesitant to push for total preemption of all state actions in their Congressional testimony and policy papers.

While the preemption clause is the most fatal of the flaws in this legislation, there are others embodied within. For example, it only applies to new workers applying for positions after the date of enactment. It ignores the tens of millions of illegal workers already in the country. There is no requirement to “re-verify” workers already employed, even if they are not entitled to work, or even to be, in the United States. Once enacted, no further inquiry would be made of those here illegally unless they apply for a new job.

As long as a currently-positioned illegal does not apply for a new job, he is home free from further inspection. You can bet there will be a massive surge of “hiring” to get workers on the roles before the legislation takes effect, even if they don’t do much work for a while. This intentional omission guarantees a continuing cheap labor pool of millions which should satisfy the exploiters’ needs for quite some time, say until amnesty and a path to undeserved citizenship make them permanent.

Also lurking in the text is a safe harbor position that holds employers accountable only for the hiring decisions related to their own employees, not those of their subcontractors. Many if not most current illegal workers are employed through subcontractors, many of whom are unlicensed and working “off the books”. In the mid-Atlantic area it’s called the “Verizon Exemption”, based on that company’s penchant for hiring numerous subcontractors for its billion dollar cable-laying operations who almost exclusively employ illegal workers. Of course, the practice allows Verizon to say, probably with great accuracy and greater duplicity, that it does not hire illegals. But it sure pays for a lot of them, if indirectly and at a rate that is far below union wage scales and benefits it used to pay its now laid-off American employees.

It should be said that there are some good components to the NEVA Act. Theoretically, it could improve on the E-Verify system, assuming that a government program which spans three massive bureaucracies (Social Security, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services) can create and administer a massive new and secure data system. It could also eliminate some of the paper record-keeping requirements of the current system, like I-9 Forms. Another positive provision would be the use of the data as a tool for denying benefits (Social Security entitlements, welfare and education benefits) to those not legally entitled to them.

But beside the legal issues, there are other deficiencies in the proposed NEVA system of an administrative or technical nature. The proposed database is not a new creation, but an expansion of the system now used to track “deadbeat dads” (a rather sexist statement itself). NEVA is assumed by its proponents to be an improvement over what it claims is the error-prone E-Verify system, a statement not backed up by the statistics. But the “deadbeat dad” system has its own catalogue of errors and wrong identities, so it is debatable that in its expanded design it will be any better. NEVA also relies on source documents which themselves may be as compromised as the current false document plague inflicting other systems. For example, a driver’s license would be adequate for anyone who claims they are a US national (and who won’t). For the uninformed, driver’s licenses are those little cards you get down at the DMV, or from the guy at the day labor site, or some basement print shop which can also get you a matching Social Security card.

Why spend large sums to modify the “deadbeat dad” system with its own deficiencies rather than improve the E-Verify system specifically designed for the work eligibility task? Perhaps we should follow the money and see which government contractor has a vested interest in this new procurement.

The Act also requires that an employer actually hire the worker before he checks the NEVA system on eligibility. Trial lawyers and the ACLU will love this provision, as it will open the door for subsequent legal mischief if the employer finds out things that would have prevented that individual from being hired in the first place. It also provides for private entities to set up a parallel “Secure Employment Eligibility Verification System” (SEEVS) which can be used in lieu of the federal government system. There are no specified constraints on who can set up these external systems. It could be IBM, but it could also be La Raza or the ACLU. They would have access to normally secure and privacy restricted personal information in immigration and Social Security databases – and a lot of opportunity for mischief. But to be fair, La Raza opposes NEVA because it does not also include amnesty and a path to citizenship.

Although labeled “bipartisan”, this bill submitted by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Tex.) is overwhelmingly Republican in its sponsorship (28 out of 31). It appears to be a counter to Democrat Heath Shuler’s SAVE Act legislation, a much better, if not perfect, alternative now blocked by fellow Democrat Speaker Pelosi’s pro-illegal obstinacy.

Apparently the Republican leadership in Congress, not having been slapped around enough by the voters in the disastrous 2006 elections for its disconnect with those voters, is hell-bent on continuing to fight the overwhelming majority of Americans who want the illegal immigration problem fixed, not facilitated. Rather than listen to the people, they seem to be more attuned to the special interests whose siren call on Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2006 led Republicans into the minority.

It would also be informative to hear what the Presidential candidates think about this legislation. Has John McCain still gotten the message -- “secure the borders first” -- or would he support this usurpation of local and state governments, including his own Arizona, by a federal authority with a history of apathy and indifference?

Candidates for the coming election are now a monotone chorus chanting “change”. Well, a welcome change for them and the rest of the inside-the-Beltway crowd would be to start enforcing the ample and adequate immigration laws we already have. A welcome change would also be to get off the open-border cheap-labor bandwagon and start paying attention to what the people want. If not, then let’s kick that boulder back down the mountain, and see if they want to try it again.

You be the judge here folks. This time is the Republicans seeking to do the things you have rejected and defeated over and over again. Even with "Operation Chaos," the complete ignorance on the Left, and the fact that neither of the two Democrat candidates could possibly win on their own, NEVER underestimate the Republicans ability to lose an election.

This should be a walk in the park for the Republicans. They have the Senate, House, and even the White House HANDED to them. But their inability to be Conservative is blinding. Their complete ignorance as to what the people in this country actually want is mind boggling. Then they wonder why they lost three Republican seats?
Peter

Sources:
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HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE

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