Article 1 Section 5
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
US Flagged Ship Hijacked
A US flagged ship has not been hijacked in over 200 years. So it must be coincidence that during Dear Leaders bash America and apologize for our arrogance tour a cargo ship delivering aide gets hijacked by pirates.
I am not a conspiracy theorist but when you go from having a strong leader in the White House that retaliates when you mess with us to a weak empty suite its no surprise that someone would test us. This is only the beginning my fellow Americans. Today its a hijacking, tomorrow it could be a nuke. It sounds far fetched but on Sept 10th 2001 if you would have said crazy Muslims would fly planes into our buildings people would have had you committed to a crazy house.
On the bash America tour Dear Leader not only appeared weak his actions said he was weak. No President in history has appeared as weak as this guy. Obama bowed to King Abdulllah! That is unprecedented. It is utterly inappropriate for our head of state to make a gesture of submission to any kind of foreign ruler. Especially an absolute monarch. The people in Saudi Arabia do not have constitutional rights, they are merely subjects and are required to bow to their king. Obama is not a Saudi native and Abdullah is not his king but when he bows before him he admits submission.
I am afraid Obamas inexperience and willingness to throw us under the bus is going to be very costly to our freedom and status in the world.
I am not a conspiracy theorist but when you go from having a strong leader in the White House that retaliates when you mess with us to a weak empty suite its no surprise that someone would test us. This is only the beginning my fellow Americans. Today its a hijacking, tomorrow it could be a nuke. It sounds far fetched but on Sept 10th 2001 if you would have said crazy Muslims would fly planes into our buildings people would have had you committed to a crazy house.
On the bash America tour Dear Leader not only appeared weak his actions said he was weak. No President in history has appeared as weak as this guy. Obama bowed to King Abdulllah! That is unprecedented. It is utterly inappropriate for our head of state to make a gesture of submission to any kind of foreign ruler. Especially an absolute monarch. The people in Saudi Arabia do not have constitutional rights, they are merely subjects and are required to bow to their king. Obama is not a Saudi native and Abdullah is not his king but when he bows before him he admits submission.
I am afraid Obamas inexperience and willingness to throw us under the bus is going to be very costly to our freedom and status in the world.
Tax Day Tea Party Information
I am currently listening to a national talk show on Sirius. The host has a couple of guest that are promoting the tax day tea party. They are warning everyone that plans to attend not to give out your personal information to anyone. There is a plan by ACORN to dress up in "tea party" shirts and ask for your email address and other personal information. They did not say what the information would be used for but if the past is representative of the future, I would not put it past the Obama administration to use the information against you any way they could. This administration practices Castro type antics when dealing with nonconforming citizens. If you are not an Obama supporter you are leaving yourself open to the type of treatment Joe "The Plumber" had to deal with for simply asking Dear Leader a simple questions.
Again the organizers of the tea parties are not going to ask you for any personal information.
"Dear Leader" and the picture above are property of The King Dude, Mike Church.
Biden is at it again!
Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday his predecessor, Dick Cheney, is "dead wrong" when he says President Obama's national security policies are making the United States less safe. Biden said the exact opposite is true and added that President George W. Bush's vice president was part of a dysfunctional decision-making system.
"I don't think he is out of line, but he is dead wrong. ... The last administration left us in a weaker posture than we've been any time since World War II: less regarded in the world, stretched more thinly than we ever have been in the past, two wars under way, virtually no respect in entire parts of the world," Biden said. "And so we've been about the business of repairing and strengthening those. I guarantee you we are safer today, our interests are more secure today than they were any time during the eight years" of the Bush administration.
Since becoming president, Obama has ordered the closing of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and banned certain interrogation methods for suspected terrorists.
Cheney last month said the Bush administration programs involving suspected terrorists were critically important and overturning them had made the country less safe.
"I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoyed of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since 9/11," Cheney said.
"I think that's a great success story. It was done legally. It was done in accordance with our constitutional practices and principles," he said. "President Obama campaigned against it all across the country. And now he is making some choices that, in my mind, will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack," Cheney said.
Biden said he and Obama are working to repair the United States' reputation, which was damaged abroad by the unpopular 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also said Obama's team is working together, unlike Bush's.
"Look, everybody talks about how powerful Cheney was," Biden said. "His power weakened America, in my view. Here's what I mean by that. What I mean by that was, there was a divided government."
He said Cheney had his own sort of national security council and there was the actual National Security Council.
"There was (Secretary of State Colin) Powell, who didn't agree with Cheney," Biden said, "and Cheney off with (Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld."
Biden promoted Obama's administration as more conducive to better decision making.
"The strength of this administration is that the president and I work in concert. I am very straightforward in my views. I am as strong ... I hold them as strongly as I ever have."
But he said those decisions are made with one National Security Council, "a united national security team."
Courtesy of www.foxnews.com
"I don't think he is out of line, but he is dead wrong. ... The last administration left us in a weaker posture than we've been any time since World War II: less regarded in the world, stretched more thinly than we ever have been in the past, two wars under way, virtually no respect in entire parts of the world," Biden said. "And so we've been about the business of repairing and strengthening those. I guarantee you we are safer today, our interests are more secure today than they were any time during the eight years" of the Bush administration.
Since becoming president, Obama has ordered the closing of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and banned certain interrogation methods for suspected terrorists.
Cheney last month said the Bush administration programs involving suspected terrorists were critically important and overturning them had made the country less safe.
"I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoyed of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since 9/11," Cheney said.
"I think that's a great success story. It was done legally. It was done in accordance with our constitutional practices and principles," he said. "President Obama campaigned against it all across the country. And now he is making some choices that, in my mind, will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack," Cheney said.
Biden said he and Obama are working to repair the United States' reputation, which was damaged abroad by the unpopular 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also said Obama's team is working together, unlike Bush's.
"Look, everybody talks about how powerful Cheney was," Biden said. "His power weakened America, in my view. Here's what I mean by that. What I mean by that was, there was a divided government."
He said Cheney had his own sort of national security council and there was the actual National Security Council.
"There was (Secretary of State Colin) Powell, who didn't agree with Cheney," Biden said, "and Cheney off with (Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld."
Biden promoted Obama's administration as more conducive to better decision making.
"The strength of this administration is that the president and I work in concert. I am very straightforward in my views. I am as strong ... I hold them as strongly as I ever have."
But he said those decisions are made with one National Security Council, "a united national security team."
Courtesy of www.foxnews.com
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-8-2009
Article 1 Section 4
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
GOP Considers Filibuster
This is exactly what Obama said he was going to do during the campaign. I am not sure why everyone is acting all surprised. I am happy that there are some Republicans that are big enough people to stand up to the most liberal president in US history.
President Obama's nominee to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel once compared "forced pregnancy" with slavery. Now Republicans are considering a filibuster to block her confirmation.
The controversy stems from comments made 20 years ago by Dawn Johnsen, a law professor at Indiana University, whose nomination is pending before the full Senate.
In a brief filed when she was a lawyer with the National Abortion Rights Action League, Johnsen cited a footnote that said forcing women to bear children was "disturbingly suggestive of involuntary servitude, prohibited by the 13th Amendment, in that forced pregnancy requires a woman to provide continuous physical service to the fetus in order to further the state's asserted interest."
At her confirmation hearing last month, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., asked whether Johnsen had said abortion rights should be protected by the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery.
"It seems to me just candidly beyond the pale," said Specter, who supports abortion rights.
But Johnsen said she merely suggested an analogy in the footnote and "never believed the 13th Amendment had any role" in the abortion issue.
At least 45 House Republicans have co-signed a letter to Obama asking him to withdraw Johnsen's nomination because of her "brazen" abortion rights stance.
But supporters of Johnsen are fighting back, most notably her former employer.
NARAL said this week it is mobilizing its nationwide network of activists and supporters to pressure the Senate to confirm Johnsen and two other Obama nominees -- Judge David Hamilton and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius -- and stop what it deems attacks on nominees who support abortion rights. Filibusters won't be tolerated, the group said.
"The use of the 'F' word when referring to any of these nominees is unacceptable -- and this threat will not go unanswered," NARAL president Nancy Keenan said in a press release.
"Our activists will make it clear to their senators that derailing nominees for critical positions in the Obama administration and in the federal court simply because they have taken pro-choice positions is not an option. We will keep up the pressure until we go three for three and see these distinguished nominees confirmed by the Senate."
Ryan Patmintra, a spokesman for Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., a member of the Judiciary Committee, told FOXNews.com that Specter's vote will determine whether Johnsen gets confirmed because of his ranking status on the Judiciary Committee.
His moderate position also gives him considerable influence in the Senate where Democrats hold a 58-41 majority and need at least two Republicans to cross the aisle to block filibusters.
Specter's office did not respond to a request for an interview. But a Senate aide to the Judiciary Committee told FOXNews.com that there's no way Specter will vote for Johnsen's nomination because it could damage his prospects in what is shaping up to be a tough primary next year against conservative Pat Toomey, a former congressman and current president of the Club for Growth.
Story found HERE on www.foxnews.com
President Obama's nominee to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel once compared "forced pregnancy" with slavery. Now Republicans are considering a filibuster to block her confirmation.
The controversy stems from comments made 20 years ago by Dawn Johnsen, a law professor at Indiana University, whose nomination is pending before the full Senate.
In a brief filed when she was a lawyer with the National Abortion Rights Action League, Johnsen cited a footnote that said forcing women to bear children was "disturbingly suggestive of involuntary servitude, prohibited by the 13th Amendment, in that forced pregnancy requires a woman to provide continuous physical service to the fetus in order to further the state's asserted interest."
At her confirmation hearing last month, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., asked whether Johnsen had said abortion rights should be protected by the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery.
"It seems to me just candidly beyond the pale," said Specter, who supports abortion rights.
But Johnsen said she merely suggested an analogy in the footnote and "never believed the 13th Amendment had any role" in the abortion issue.
At least 45 House Republicans have co-signed a letter to Obama asking him to withdraw Johnsen's nomination because of her "brazen" abortion rights stance.
But supporters of Johnsen are fighting back, most notably her former employer.
NARAL said this week it is mobilizing its nationwide network of activists and supporters to pressure the Senate to confirm Johnsen and two other Obama nominees -- Judge David Hamilton and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius -- and stop what it deems attacks on nominees who support abortion rights. Filibusters won't be tolerated, the group said.
"The use of the 'F' word when referring to any of these nominees is unacceptable -- and this threat will not go unanswered," NARAL president Nancy Keenan said in a press release.
"Our activists will make it clear to their senators that derailing nominees for critical positions in the Obama administration and in the federal court simply because they have taken pro-choice positions is not an option. We will keep up the pressure until we go three for three and see these distinguished nominees confirmed by the Senate."
Ryan Patmintra, a spokesman for Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., a member of the Judiciary Committee, told FOXNews.com that Specter's vote will determine whether Johnsen gets confirmed because of his ranking status on the Judiciary Committee.
His moderate position also gives him considerable influence in the Senate where Democrats hold a 58-41 majority and need at least two Republicans to cross the aisle to block filibusters.
Specter's office did not respond to a request for an interview. But a Senate aide to the Judiciary Committee told FOXNews.com that there's no way Specter will vote for Johnsen's nomination because it could damage his prospects in what is shaping up to be a tough primary next year against conservative Pat Toomey, a former congressman and current president of the Club for Growth.
Story found HERE on www.foxnews.com
A World Without Nukes -- Just Like 1939
In Prague on Sunday, President Obama committed his administration to putting us on a "trajectory" toward "a world without nuclear weapons."
This Story
Of course, we had a world without nuclear weapons not so long ago -- say, in 1939. The war that began in that nuclear-free world led to a crash project to develop nuclear weapons. It ended with America's use of them -- something Obama alluded to: "As a nuclear power, as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act."
It is not clear whether this statement implies disapproval of our use of nuclear weapons in 1945. It's telling, however, that Obama never referred in his Prague speech to the Second World War. Instead, he called the existence of thousands of nuclear weapons "the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War." This framework makes it possible to think of the elimination of nuclear weapons as a logical response to the end of that conflict: "Today, the Cold War has disappeared but thousands of those weapons have not."
The story continues HERE
This Story
Of course, we had a world without nuclear weapons not so long ago -- say, in 1939. The war that began in that nuclear-free world led to a crash project to develop nuclear weapons. It ended with America's use of them -- something Obama alluded to: "As a nuclear power, as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act."
It is not clear whether this statement implies disapproval of our use of nuclear weapons in 1945. It's telling, however, that Obama never referred in his Prague speech to the Second World War. Instead, he called the existence of thousands of nuclear weapons "the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War." This framework makes it possible to think of the elimination of nuclear weapons as a logical response to the end of that conflict: "Today, the Cold War has disappeared but thousands of those weapons have not."
The story continues HERE
Israel successfully tests Arrow 2
The Arrow 2 ballistic missile defense system was successfully tested in southern Israel Tuesday morning, when it destroyed a missile simulating an Iranian Shihab 3.
A previous 'Arrow' missile test
It was the eighteenth test of the Arrow, and the first in which the recently modified Arrow 2 was tested in its entirety, along with a new radar system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The test was conducted jointly by the IAF and the US Missile Defense Agency. The Arrow is a project developed in cooperation by the IAI and Boeing.
The defensive missile was launched around 11 a.m. from the army's Palmahim base near Ashdod, and intercepted a Blue Sparrow missile fired by a fighter jet and impersonating a Shihab 3.
Defense officials lauded the successful launching as another indication of Israel's defense capabilities in the face of Iran's continued quest for a nuclear weapon. They said that the Arrow system could protect Israel from all of the missiles in Iran's arsenal.
The new Green Pine Radar - an integral part of the Arrow missile defense system - was first tested a year ago. In that test, the system also tracked a Blue Sparrow missile and, after locating and identifying it, related the information to the Arrow battery. However, an interceptor missile was not actually fired in that exercise.
The Blue Sparrow, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, mimics an advanced Iranian Shihab 3 ballistic missile carrying a split warhead and with advanced radar evading capabilities. The Shihabs in Iran's current arsenal do not possess such capabilities.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who was flying back after a tour of the South, stopped near Palmahim base to personally observe the test.
Story can be found HERE
A previous 'Arrow' missile test
It was the eighteenth test of the Arrow, and the first in which the recently modified Arrow 2 was tested in its entirety, along with a new radar system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The test was conducted jointly by the IAF and the US Missile Defense Agency. The Arrow is a project developed in cooperation by the IAI and Boeing.
The defensive missile was launched around 11 a.m. from the army's Palmahim base near Ashdod, and intercepted a Blue Sparrow missile fired by a fighter jet and impersonating a Shihab 3.
Defense officials lauded the successful launching as another indication of Israel's defense capabilities in the face of Iran's continued quest for a nuclear weapon. They said that the Arrow system could protect Israel from all of the missiles in Iran's arsenal.
The new Green Pine Radar - an integral part of the Arrow missile defense system - was first tested a year ago. In that test, the system also tracked a Blue Sparrow missile and, after locating and identifying it, related the information to the Arrow battery. However, an interceptor missile was not actually fired in that exercise.
The Blue Sparrow, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, mimics an advanced Iranian Shihab 3 ballistic missile carrying a split warhead and with advanced radar evading capabilities. The Shihabs in Iran's current arsenal do not possess such capabilities.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who was flying back after a tour of the South, stopped near Palmahim base to personally observe the test.
Story can be found HERE
United States/Bush Bashing Tour
Is President Barack Obama now taking a page from GOP Chairman Michael Steele's failed communications strategy?
As you may recall, Steele's controversial criticism of Rush Limbaugh occurred when he appeared on CNN's now-defunct show "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News."
For a Republican, of course, CNN is hostile turf -- one might even say, foreign territory. Apparently seeking to impress the hostile liberal host and audience, Steele rejected the notion that Limbaugh was the "de facto leader of the Republican Party," and then took a few shots at what must have appeared to be (on CNN, at least) an easy target.
Steele's goal was presumably to appear as a "reasonable" Republican. From a strategic standpoint, this makes sense. You throw an unpopular team member under the bus in order to be perceived by the crowd as being "reasonable" yourself. If done correctly, so the theory goes, this technique will earn you bona fides -- which then enables you to reach out to the other side.
Of course, it didn't work; as they say, you can't make friends of your enemies by making enemies of your friends. ... This is not to say that Republicans should never criticize Republicans and Democrats should never criticize Democrats, but it is to say that it is a mistake to do so merely in order to be perceived as "reasonable". And if you occupy a position of leadership, you should also make sure your criticism comes in the proper venue.
Which brings me to Barack Obama...
As he travels abroad this week, Obama also faces a skeptical foreign audience. His goal, it seems, is to concede past mistakes (read throw an easy target -- George W. Bush -- under the bus), in order to gain their respect. There are several examples of this maneuver, but the following regards Obama's speech in Turkey:
As he has been repeatedly doing throughout this trip, President Obama apologize for their tense relationship during the Bush administration, which resented Turk officials' refusal to allow US troops to enter Iraq through their country.
"I know there have been difficulties these last few years," he said. "I know that the trust that binds us has been strained, and I know that strain is shared in many places where the Muslim faith is practiced. Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not at war with Islam.
(Obama Translation: Look, I know the guy before me was a right-wing redneck nut who clings to God and guns. I'm a lot cooler and more cosmopolitan than that.)
If the notion that a President of the United States can improve the image of his country by apologizing for a past President (as well as for his own nation's past actions) angers you -- it ought to. Just as Steele and Limbaugh ought to be political allies domestically, Obama and Bush are on the same team when it comes to facing the rest of the world. In both cases, they essentially decided to sacrifice a weak family member in order to appease the gods.
Clearly, Michael Steele committed a political gaffe which has hurt his reputation and damaged the GOP. But Barack Obama has done something much worse: By breaking the tradition of not criticizing your own country abroad, Barack Obama has undermined this nation in an attempt to be popular with Europeans and the Muslim world -- and to perceived as a "reasonable" American. And unlike Steele -- who made his remarks under duress -- Obama is reading from a Teleprompter ...
Story by Matt Lewis. Can be found HERE.
As you may recall, Steele's controversial criticism of Rush Limbaugh occurred when he appeared on CNN's now-defunct show "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News."
For a Republican, of course, CNN is hostile turf -- one might even say, foreign territory. Apparently seeking to impress the hostile liberal host and audience, Steele rejected the notion that Limbaugh was the "de facto leader of the Republican Party," and then took a few shots at what must have appeared to be (on CNN, at least) an easy target.
Steele's goal was presumably to appear as a "reasonable" Republican. From a strategic standpoint, this makes sense. You throw an unpopular team member under the bus in order to be perceived by the crowd as being "reasonable" yourself. If done correctly, so the theory goes, this technique will earn you bona fides -- which then enables you to reach out to the other side.
Of course, it didn't work; as they say, you can't make friends of your enemies by making enemies of your friends. ... This is not to say that Republicans should never criticize Republicans and Democrats should never criticize Democrats, but it is to say that it is a mistake to do so merely in order to be perceived as "reasonable". And if you occupy a position of leadership, you should also make sure your criticism comes in the proper venue.
Which brings me to Barack Obama...
As he travels abroad this week, Obama also faces a skeptical foreign audience. His goal, it seems, is to concede past mistakes (read throw an easy target -- George W. Bush -- under the bus), in order to gain their respect. There are several examples of this maneuver, but the following regards Obama's speech in Turkey:
As he has been repeatedly doing throughout this trip, President Obama apologize for their tense relationship during the Bush administration, which resented Turk officials' refusal to allow US troops to enter Iraq through their country.
"I know there have been difficulties these last few years," he said. "I know that the trust that binds us has been strained, and I know that strain is shared in many places where the Muslim faith is practiced. Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not at war with Islam.
(Obama Translation: Look, I know the guy before me was a right-wing redneck nut who clings to God and guns. I'm a lot cooler and more cosmopolitan than that.)
If the notion that a President of the United States can improve the image of his country by apologizing for a past President (as well as for his own nation's past actions) angers you -- it ought to. Just as Steele and Limbaugh ought to be political allies domestically, Obama and Bush are on the same team when it comes to facing the rest of the world. In both cases, they essentially decided to sacrifice a weak family member in order to appease the gods.
Clearly, Michael Steele committed a political gaffe which has hurt his reputation and damaged the GOP. But Barack Obama has done something much worse: By breaking the tradition of not criticizing your own country abroad, Barack Obama has undermined this nation in an attempt to be popular with Europeans and the Muslim world -- and to perceived as a "reasonable" American. And unlike Steele -- who made his remarks under duress -- Obama is reading from a Teleprompter ...
Story by Matt Lewis. Can be found HERE.
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-7-2009
Article 1 Section 7
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Monday, April 6, 2009
New Senate bill could give Obama control of internet
A pair of bills introduced in the U.S. Senate would grant the White House sweeping new powers to access private online data, regulate the cybersecurity industry and even shut down Internet traffic during a declared "cyber emergency."
Senate bills No. 773 and 778, introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., are both part of what's being called the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, which would create a new Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor, reportable directly to the president and charged with defending the country from cyber attack.
A working draft of the legislation obtained by an Internet privacy group also spells out plans to grant the Secretary of Commerce access to all privately owned information networks deemed to be critical to the nation's infrastructure "without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule or policy restricting such access."
Who might be watching you without you knowing it? Get "Spychips" and see how major corporations and government are planning to track your every move!
Privacy advocates and Internet experts have been quick to sound the alarm over the act's broadly drawn government powers.
"The cybersecurity threat is real," says Leslie Harris, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology, which obtained the draft of S.773, "but such a drastic federal intervention in private communications technology and networks could harm both security and privacy."
"The whole thing smells bad to me," writes Larry Seltzer in eWeek, an Internet and print news source on technology issues. "I don't like the chances of the government improving this situation by taking it over generally, and I definitely don't like the idea of politicizing this authority by putting it in the direct control of the president."
Story continues HERE.
Senate bills No. 773 and 778, introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., are both part of what's being called the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, which would create a new Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor, reportable directly to the president and charged with defending the country from cyber attack.
A working draft of the legislation obtained by an Internet privacy group also spells out plans to grant the Secretary of Commerce access to all privately owned information networks deemed to be critical to the nation's infrastructure "without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule or policy restricting such access."
Who might be watching you without you knowing it? Get "Spychips" and see how major corporations and government are planning to track your every move!
Privacy advocates and Internet experts have been quick to sound the alarm over the act's broadly drawn government powers.
"The cybersecurity threat is real," says Leslie Harris, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology, which obtained the draft of S.773, "but such a drastic federal intervention in private communications technology and networks could harm both security and privacy."
"The whole thing smells bad to me," writes Larry Seltzer in eWeek, an Internet and print news source on technology issues. "I don't like the chances of the government improving this situation by taking it over generally, and I definitely don't like the idea of politicizing this authority by putting it in the direct control of the president."
Story continues HERE.
Global Farce, I Mean Warming.
If you were on Mars and you read the story below you would think the planet earth had warmed so much that people in Montana wore shorts all winter. The people like Al Gore would have you believe the evil automobile driver is pouring CO2 into the atmosphere causing the ice caps to melt. What the global warming clowns do not tell you is that 358 records have been set this winter. These are not heat records, they are cold records! If you have watched the news today you know that it is snowing in the deep south today, April 6th. It should be in the mid 80's this time of year in Dallas Texas but in fact it is below freezing! Wake up people, global warming is a farce. I am not older enough to remember but I have read the Time Magazine that warned us the next ice age was coming. When that did not get any traction the same people decided to say it was global warming. And in the event you missed the day of science class where they talked about plants, plants need CO2 to live. Do you know what happens if we do not have plants eating CO2? WE DIE! Plants consume CO2 and spit out oxygen, yes the oxygen we need to breath.
PARIS — A massive ice shelf anchored to the Antarctic coast by a narrow and quickly deteriorating ice bridge could break away soon, the European Space Agency warned Friday.
The Paris-based agency said satellite images show the bridge that connects the Wilkins Ice Shelf to Charcot and Latady Islands "looks set to collapse."
"The beginning of what appears to be the demise of the ice bridge began this week when new rifts" appeared and a large block of ice broke away, it said.
The Wilkins Ice Shelf — which like the rest of Antarctic's ice sheet "was formed by thousands of years of accumulated and compacted snow" — had been stable for most of the last century before it began retreating in the 1990s, the statement said.
The shelf, which was originally the size of Jamaica or Connecticut, is located on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, which thrusts up from the continent toward the southern tip of South America.
Originally covering about 5,000 square miles, the ice shelf lost 14 percent of its mass last year alone, the statement quotes a scientist Angelika Humbert of Germany's Munster University as saying.
In two 2008 incidents, large chunks of the ice bridge fell away, shaving it down to just 985 yards across at its narrowest, the statement said.
As a result, "In the past months, we have observed the ice bridge deforming and its narrowest location acting as a kind of hinge," Humbert is quoted as saying.
Scientist are examining whether global warming is behind the shelf's breakup, the statement said. Average temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula have risen by 3.8 degrees Farenheit over the past half century, the statement said — higher than the average global rise.
Story courtesy of www.foxnews.com
PARIS — A massive ice shelf anchored to the Antarctic coast by a narrow and quickly deteriorating ice bridge could break away soon, the European Space Agency warned Friday.
The Paris-based agency said satellite images show the bridge that connects the Wilkins Ice Shelf to Charcot and Latady Islands "looks set to collapse."
"The beginning of what appears to be the demise of the ice bridge began this week when new rifts" appeared and a large block of ice broke away, it said.
The Wilkins Ice Shelf — which like the rest of Antarctic's ice sheet "was formed by thousands of years of accumulated and compacted snow" — had been stable for most of the last century before it began retreating in the 1990s, the statement said.
The shelf, which was originally the size of Jamaica or Connecticut, is located on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, which thrusts up from the continent toward the southern tip of South America.
Originally covering about 5,000 square miles, the ice shelf lost 14 percent of its mass last year alone, the statement quotes a scientist Angelika Humbert of Germany's Munster University as saying.
In two 2008 incidents, large chunks of the ice bridge fell away, shaving it down to just 985 yards across at its narrowest, the statement said.
As a result, "In the past months, we have observed the ice bridge deforming and its narrowest location acting as a kind of hinge," Humbert is quoted as saying.
Scientist are examining whether global warming is behind the shelf's breakup, the statement said. Average temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula have risen by 3.8 degrees Farenheit over the past half century, the statement said — higher than the average global rise.
Story courtesy of www.foxnews.com
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-6-2009
Article 1 Section 6
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Obamas FIrst Test
North Korea, rejecting international criticism, launched a rocket late Saturday night in what could be a step toward putting a nuclear warhead on a missile capable of reaching the U.S. and beyond.
President Obama called the launch — which defied Washington, Tokyo and others who suspect it was a cover for a test of its long-range missile technology — a move that threatens the security of nations "near and far."
Obama condemned North Korea for threatening the peace and stability of nations "near and far." The U.S. and its allies vowed to press for stronger economic sanctions at Sunday's emergency session of the U.N. Security Council, requested by Japan just minutes after liftoff.
U.S. defense officials told FOX News "nothing went into orbit" and any space launch of a satellite was therefore unsuccessful. The officials also said two stages of the missile fell into the Pacific.
"Stage one of the missile fell into the Sea of Japan. The remaining stages along with the payload itself landed in the Pacific Ocean. No object entered orbit and no debris fell on Japan," North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command said.
Story continues HERE.
President Obama called the launch — which defied Washington, Tokyo and others who suspect it was a cover for a test of its long-range missile technology — a move that threatens the security of nations "near and far."
Obama condemned North Korea for threatening the peace and stability of nations "near and far." The U.S. and its allies vowed to press for stronger economic sanctions at Sunday's emergency session of the U.N. Security Council, requested by Japan just minutes after liftoff.
U.S. defense officials told FOX News "nothing went into orbit" and any space launch of a satellite was therefore unsuccessful. The officials also said two stages of the missile fell into the Pacific.
"Stage one of the missile fell into the Sea of Japan. The remaining stages along with the payload itself landed in the Pacific Ocean. No object entered orbit and no debris fell on Japan," North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command said.
Story continues HERE.
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-5-2009
Article 1 Section 8.2
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-4-2009
Article 1 Section 8.1
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
Friday, April 3, 2009
He Should Come Here Illegally
An Iraqi translator who has earned commendations for risking his life repeatedly to save the lives of many American soldiers in combat has been denied a visa to live in the United States because of nonviolent actions he took to overthrow Saddam Hussein — at the same time the U.S. government was calling for regime change in Iraq.
This guys should cross the boarder illegally. He would be hailed a hero and give more social program money than he knows what to do with. Our government is the laughing stock of the world. How can we justify not giving Jasim a visa after all he has done for this country yet we grant CITIZENSHIP to job stealing mexicans that cross the boarder illegally every single day! SHAMEFUL.
Jasim, whose name is being withheld for his safety, has received strong support from the U.S. military, and the Department of Homeland Security approved his application for a visa. But the State Department has denied Jasim a visa because he was arrested in 1996 for actions against the Saddam dictatorship.
Some of Jasim's supporters, however, believe the real reason he's been denied a visa is that he has become a "nuisance" to State Department personnel at the Baghdad Embassy. The State Department, citing privacy concerns, declined to discuss Jasim's case.
Because Iraqi translators are seen by jihadists and former Baathists as "traitors," Jasim's life is at greater risk the longer he stays in Iraq, according to multiple State Department and U.S. military officials. A number of translators and their families have already been tortured and/or murdered.
Jasim said his stepbrother, in fact, was captured in the fall of 2007 and was tortured to death in an effort to get to him. The U.S. Army officer who received and processed the report on the murder, Major Leslie Parks, told FOXNews.com that Jasim's stepbrother was tortured with an electric drill through his eyes.
Story Continues HERE.
This guys should cross the boarder illegally. He would be hailed a hero and give more social program money than he knows what to do with. Our government is the laughing stock of the world. How can we justify not giving Jasim a visa after all he has done for this country yet we grant CITIZENSHIP to job stealing mexicans that cross the boarder illegally every single day! SHAMEFUL.
Jasim, whose name is being withheld for his safety, has received strong support from the U.S. military, and the Department of Homeland Security approved his application for a visa. But the State Department has denied Jasim a visa because he was arrested in 1996 for actions against the Saddam dictatorship.
Some of Jasim's supporters, however, believe the real reason he's been denied a visa is that he has become a "nuisance" to State Department personnel at the Baghdad Embassy. The State Department, citing privacy concerns, declined to discuss Jasim's case.
Because Iraqi translators are seen by jihadists and former Baathists as "traitors," Jasim's life is at greater risk the longer he stays in Iraq, according to multiple State Department and U.S. military officials. A number of translators and their families have already been tortured and/or murdered.
Jasim said his stepbrother, in fact, was captured in the fall of 2007 and was tortured to death in an effort to get to him. The U.S. Army officer who received and processed the report on the murder, Major Leslie Parks, told FOXNews.com that Jasim's stepbrother was tortured with an electric drill through his eyes.
Story Continues HERE.
Iowa Has Slipped Down The Slippery Slope
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that marriage is no long between one man and one woman. Iowas is not the 4 state in the union that allows gay marriage. Starting in 3 weeks, April 24th, gays will be allowed to marry.
The ruling is viewed as a victory for the gay rights movement in Iowa and elsewhere, and a setback for social conservatives who wanted to protect traditional families.
What are we teaching our children? Homosexuality is not "natural". If it were natural we would not be in existence. Two men do not have the ability to produce a child so if everyone was "born gay" the human population would cease to exist. This is a lifestyle choice that has only become acceptable in recent years. All of you evolutionist out there that say Christians are crazy and that God did not put humans on the earth but believe we come from apes, can you please point to a gay ape family? THEY DO NOT EXIST!
The story can be found HERE
The ruling is viewed as a victory for the gay rights movement in Iowa and elsewhere, and a setback for social conservatives who wanted to protect traditional families.
What are we teaching our children? Homosexuality is not "natural". If it were natural we would not be in existence. Two men do not have the ability to produce a child so if everyone was "born gay" the human population would cease to exist. This is a lifestyle choice that has only become acceptable in recent years. All of you evolutionist out there that say Christians are crazy and that God did not put humans on the earth but believe we come from apes, can you please point to a gay ape family? THEY DO NOT EXIST!
The story can be found HERE
No More Nukes?
Obama is still to ignorant and inexperienced to know that the evil dictators in the world will say one thing to your face and do the opposite behind your back. Obama thinks he can get the leaders of Russia, France, China, and North Korea to agree to dismantle nukes and they will all really do it. We will but they will not. Then this inexperienced president will allow us to get caught with our proverbial pants down.
President Obama you sir are a naive fool!
Taking the world stage once again, President Obama attempted to build a global consensus Friday on the need to collectively confront nuclear proliferation, recession, terrorism, poverty and drug trafficking.
Obama spoke to a large crowd of French and German citizens, many of whom were students, at a town hall-style meeting in Strasbourg, France, ahead of a major NATO summit.
In a speech delivered before taking questions from the audience, Obama invoked the slogans of his presidential campaign and stressed U.S.-European unity -- much as he did during his pre-election speech in Berlin over the summer. Whereas many U.S. presidents have strived during their time in office to build a domestic consensus, Obama further demonstrated his commitment to leading a new era of cooperation around the world.
"This is our generation, this is our time and I am confident we can meet any challenges as long as we are together," Obama said.
He drew huge applause when he said he is setting a dramatic goal of "a world without nuclear weapons."
He said he would outline details in Prague in the coming days.
The rest of the story can be found HERE
President Obama you sir are a naive fool!
Taking the world stage once again, President Obama attempted to build a global consensus Friday on the need to collectively confront nuclear proliferation, recession, terrorism, poverty and drug trafficking.
Obama spoke to a large crowd of French and German citizens, many of whom were students, at a town hall-style meeting in Strasbourg, France, ahead of a major NATO summit.
In a speech delivered before taking questions from the audience, Obama invoked the slogans of his presidential campaign and stressed U.S.-European unity -- much as he did during his pre-election speech in Berlin over the summer. Whereas many U.S. presidents have strived during their time in office to build a domestic consensus, Obama further demonstrated his commitment to leading a new era of cooperation around the world.
"This is our generation, this is our time and I am confident we can meet any challenges as long as we are together," Obama said.
He drew huge applause when he said he is setting a dramatic goal of "a world without nuclear weapons."
He said he would outline details in Prague in the coming days.
The rest of the story can be found HERE
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-3-2009
Article 1 Section 9.1
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
Mr. Jefferson
This song was written and video put together by my good friend Mike Church. Take a couple of minutes to watch it, you just might learn something.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-2-2009
Article 1 Section 8.3
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Washington DC Tax Day Tea Party Update
I have received confirmation that Mike "The King Dude" Church will be the guest of honor at the Washington DC Tax Day Tea Party. We are hoping for around 2 million people. We have to make it so big that the main stream media has not choice but to report on it. If you would like information let me know, I will be happy to help anyone I can.
Come on down to DC if you are able, we need all the help we can get. I received my Tax Day Tea Party shirt last nigh. It is great! If you want one you can go HERE and purchase them.
These are very nice shirts and the back of them says "President Obama, are you listening?" If we can make DC as big of a turn out as we are hoping for Obama will have not choice but to listen.
WE ARE NO LONGER THE SILENT MAJORITY!
Come on down to DC if you are able, we need all the help we can get. I received my Tax Day Tea Party shirt last nigh. It is great! If you want one you can go HERE and purchase them.
These are very nice shirts and the back of them says "President Obama, are you listening?" If we can make DC as big of a turn out as we are hoping for Obama will have not choice but to listen.
WE ARE NO LONGER THE SILENT MAJORITY!
With Any Luck Chris Dodd Will Be Outta Here!!!!!!!
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd is trailing several potential Republican challengers in the 2010 Senate race, according to a new state poll which shows the veteran Democratic lawmaker suffering from fallout over the AIG bonuses.
The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows Dodd with record low approval ratings. Just 33 percent of Connecticut voters approve of the job Dodd is doing in the Senate.
The numbers foretell a challenging race for the five-term senator in 2010. In one matchup, the survey shows Dodd trailing former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, an announced rival, 50 to 34 percent.
In two other matchups, Dodd trails state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, 41 to 37 percent, and former ambassador Tom Foley, 43 to 35 percent.
Simmons, who acknowledged that his standing against Dodd could fluctuate drastically over the next year and a half, said it's still "exciting to start not only even but way ahead."
He said Dodd's numbers are a reflection of the controversy over the $165 million in bonuses doled out by American International Group -- the insurance giant that distributed the bonuses despite being bailed out by the federal government to the tune of more than $180 billion. Some employees have since pledged to return their bonus money.
"This is a historic low (for Dodd's numbers), but these are historic times," Simmons said.
Dodd is chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and took heat for a provision added to the February stimulus bill that exempted previously negotiated bonuses at companies like AIG from certain pay restrictions.
"People up here feel he has abdicated his responsibility and vacated his office," Simmons said, referring to Dodd's failed presidential bid.
The Quinnipiac survey shows 27 percent of state voters believe Dodd is most to blame for the bonuses, while 28 percent pin the blame on former President George W. Bush.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was the top scapegoat for 20 percent, while 7 percent blamed President Obama.
The poll surveyed 1,181 registered Connecticut voters and had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points. The poll was conducted between March 26-31.
courtesy of www.foxnews.com
The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows Dodd with record low approval ratings. Just 33 percent of Connecticut voters approve of the job Dodd is doing in the Senate.
The numbers foretell a challenging race for the five-term senator in 2010. In one matchup, the survey shows Dodd trailing former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, an announced rival, 50 to 34 percent.
In two other matchups, Dodd trails state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, 41 to 37 percent, and former ambassador Tom Foley, 43 to 35 percent.
Simmons, who acknowledged that his standing against Dodd could fluctuate drastically over the next year and a half, said it's still "exciting to start not only even but way ahead."
He said Dodd's numbers are a reflection of the controversy over the $165 million in bonuses doled out by American International Group -- the insurance giant that distributed the bonuses despite being bailed out by the federal government to the tune of more than $180 billion. Some employees have since pledged to return their bonus money.
"This is a historic low (for Dodd's numbers), but these are historic times," Simmons said.
Dodd is chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and took heat for a provision added to the February stimulus bill that exempted previously negotiated bonuses at companies like AIG from certain pay restrictions.
"People up here feel he has abdicated his responsibility and vacated his office," Simmons said, referring to Dodd's failed presidential bid.
The Quinnipiac survey shows 27 percent of state voters believe Dodd is most to blame for the bonuses, while 28 percent pin the blame on former President George W. Bush.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was the top scapegoat for 20 percent, while 7 percent blamed President Obama.
The poll surveyed 1,181 registered Connecticut voters and had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points. The poll was conducted between March 26-31.
courtesy of www.foxnews.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Tax Day Tea Party
I will be spending April 15th in Washington DC with my good friend Mike Church. We will be participating in the peaceful protest planned for the day. We want this government to know we are not the silent majority any longer.
You can get information about the DC tea party or a tea party in your area by going to
www.taxdayteaparty.com or simply click HERE.
You can get information about the DC tea party or a tea party in your area by going to
www.taxdayteaparty.com or simply click HERE.
Constitution Reading Of The Day 4-1-2009
Article 1 Section 9.2
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
House Republicans Offer Budget Alternative
Last week CNN ran the headline "GOP=Got 0 Plans". CNN, the Obama Administration, and all other parrot press corp folks asserted that the GOP was simply a say "no" group with no real plans. The GOP has come out today with their budget. There is absolutely no chance the liberals in Congress will entertain the budget but it shows that the Republicans do have a solution. They are not simply acting like Democrats.
If the Republicans had acted like this from 1994 to 2006 they would not be in the minority now. It amazes me to see the studious work of the out of power party but when they get in power they do nothing. I blame Newt Gingrich for the collapse of the Republican party. The Republicans in 1994 promised the American people that if they were given another chance in power things would be different. The only thing they did was welfare reform. Then they sat back and became more and more involved in unethical scandals while the Dems worked to position themselves to take back all both houses and the white house.
If you Republicans keep acting like clowns you will be treated like clowns.
House Republicans are calling for the economic stimulus package passed in February to be rescinded starting in 2010 as part of their alternative to President Obama's budget blueprint.
After being criticized last week for lacking specifics in their budget rebuttal. the Republicans said Wednesday they also want a freeze on non-defense spending and a moratorium on earmarks for Congress.
"This is a budget with real policies and real numbers," said Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. "We're going into an ocean of red ink in this country. There will be a time when others won't buy our bonds."
The GOP plan also proposes major changes to the tax code. It would allow taxpayers to either file under the current system or choose a simpler option: Individuals earning $50,000 or less, and couples earning $100,000 or less, would be taxed at 10 percent. The rate for income above $100,000 would be 25 percent.
Republicans say they would allow taxpayers to fill out their income taxes on an index card.
House GOP members were criticized last week for holding a press conference to unveil their budget alternative without providing a lot of specifics. They said they would need more time to unveil specifics in the ensuing weeks.
As Obama's $3.55 trillion fiscal 2010 blueprint makes its way through Capitol Hill, Republicans have repeatedly said his plan spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much.
"If we don't tackle these fiscal problems, they're going to tackle us," Ryan said Wednesday.
Story can be found HERE.
If the Republicans had acted like this from 1994 to 2006 they would not be in the minority now. It amazes me to see the studious work of the out of power party but when they get in power they do nothing. I blame Newt Gingrich for the collapse of the Republican party. The Republicans in 1994 promised the American people that if they were given another chance in power things would be different. The only thing they did was welfare reform. Then they sat back and became more and more involved in unethical scandals while the Dems worked to position themselves to take back all both houses and the white house.
If you Republicans keep acting like clowns you will be treated like clowns.
House Republicans are calling for the economic stimulus package passed in February to be rescinded starting in 2010 as part of their alternative to President Obama's budget blueprint.
After being criticized last week for lacking specifics in their budget rebuttal. the Republicans said Wednesday they also want a freeze on non-defense spending and a moratorium on earmarks for Congress.
"This is a budget with real policies and real numbers," said Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. "We're going into an ocean of red ink in this country. There will be a time when others won't buy our bonds."
The GOP plan also proposes major changes to the tax code. It would allow taxpayers to either file under the current system or choose a simpler option: Individuals earning $50,000 or less, and couples earning $100,000 or less, would be taxed at 10 percent. The rate for income above $100,000 would be 25 percent.
Republicans say they would allow taxpayers to fill out their income taxes on an index card.
House GOP members were criticized last week for holding a press conference to unveil their budget alternative without providing a lot of specifics. They said they would need more time to unveil specifics in the ensuing weeks.
As Obama's $3.55 trillion fiscal 2010 blueprint makes its way through Capitol Hill, Republicans have repeatedly said his plan spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much.
"If we don't tackle these fiscal problems, they're going to tackle us," Ryan said Wednesday.
Story can be found HERE.
Citizen Grand Jury Indicts Obama
President Obama has been named in dozens of civil lawsuits alleging he is not eligible to be president, with one man even filing a criminal complaint alleging the commander-in-chief is a fraud, and now a citizen grand jury in Georgia has indicted the sitting president.
The indictment delivered to state and federal prosecutors yesterday is one of the developments
in the dispute over Obama's eligibility to be president under the U.S. Constitution's requirement that presidents be "natural born" citizens.
Orly Taitz, a California attorney working on several of the civil actions, also announced she has filed another Quo Warranto case in the District of Columbia, where, she told WND, the statutes acknowledge that procedure.
The Quo Warranto claim essentially calls on Obama to explain by what authority he has assumed the power of the presidency.
The story continues HERE
The indictment delivered to state and federal prosecutors yesterday is one of the developments
in the dispute over Obama's eligibility to be president under the U.S. Constitution's requirement that presidents be "natural born" citizens.
Orly Taitz, a California attorney working on several of the civil actions, also announced she has filed another Quo Warranto case in the District of Columbia, where, she told WND, the statutes acknowledge that procedure.
The Quo Warranto claim essentially calls on Obama to explain by what authority he has assumed the power of the presidency.
The story continues HERE
Another Obama Nominee With Tax Problems
This is a real shocker! I would not be happy if Obama actually nominated a tax and spend liberal that actually paid their own taxes. This just speaks of the hypocrisy of these people. They came down hard on Joe The Plumber for a tax "oversight" but expect us to acknowledge that they simply made a mistake. The problem is they think they are better than we are. They do not think they have to follow the same rules we do.
The below story can be found HERE on www.foxnews.com
Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius recently corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes after finding "unintentional errors" -- the latest tax troubles for an Obama administration nominee.
The Kansas governor explained the changes to senators in a letter dated Tuesday that the administration released. She said they involved charitable contributions, the sale of a home and business expenses.
Sebelius said she filed the amended returns as soon as the errors were discovered by an accountant she hired to scrub her taxes in preparation for her confirmation hearings. She and her husband, Gary, a federal magistrate judge in Kansas, paid a total of $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest to amend returns from 2005-2007.
Asked by The Associated Press to comment on the amended tax returns as she left a Capitol Hill restaurant Tuesday night, Sebelius said, "We put out a statement and the statement speaks for itself."
Several Obama administration nominees have run into tax troubles, notably the president's first nominee for HHS secretary, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. He withdrew from consideration while apologizing for failing to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest.
Timothy Geithner also faced questions about his failure to pay back taxes before the Senate confirmed him as Obama's treasury secretary. Geithner apologized, saying it was an honest mistake.
And Hilda Solis was confirmed as Obama's labor secretary only after the confirmation process was delayed by news reports that Solis' husband recently had settled unpaid tax liens on his California auto repair business for about $6,400. White House officials said Solis and her husband were not aware of the liens.
After news broke Tuesday of Sebelius' letter admitting the errors, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., quickly issued a statement supporting her nomination.
"Congress is going to need a strong partner at the Department of Health and Human Services to achieve comprehensive health reform this year, and we have that partner in Gov. Sebelius," Baucus said. "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Gov. Sebelius has the political experience, determination, and bipartisan work ethic to get the job done with Congress this year. She's the right person for the job."
There was no comment from the White House.
Sebelius is to appear Thursday before Baucus' committee, which will vote on sending her nomination to the full Senate. Sebelius testified Tuesday before the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before the tax issue became public, getting a friendly reception.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, said through a spokeswoman that he is reserving judgment until the vetting process, including the nomination hearing, is completed.
In her letter to Baucus and Grassley, Sebelius wrote that the accountant discovered these errors:
--Charitable contributions over $250 are supposed to include an acknowledgment letter from the charity in order for a deduction to be taken. Out of 49 charitable contributions made, three letters couldn't be found.
--Sebelius and her husband took deductions for mortgage interest that they weren't entitled to. The couple sold their home in 2006 for less than what they owed on the mortgage. They continued to make payments on the mortgage, including interest. But since they no longer owned the home they weren't entitled to take deductions for the interest. The same thing happened with a home improvement loan. Sebelius said they "mistakenly believed" the payments were still deductible.
--Insufficient documentation was found for some business expense deductions.
An administration official said Sebelius filed the amended returns before documents formalizing her nomination were sent to the Finance Committee. Sebelius advised the committee of the mistakes, and senators requested an explanation, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
In a letter to Sebelius dated Tuesday, Baucus and Grassley wrote that they'd reviewed the three years of amended returns and "no additional items were identified that needed to be addressed."
The below story can be found HERE on www.foxnews.com
Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius recently corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes after finding "unintentional errors" -- the latest tax troubles for an Obama administration nominee.
The Kansas governor explained the changes to senators in a letter dated Tuesday that the administration released. She said they involved charitable contributions, the sale of a home and business expenses.
Sebelius said she filed the amended returns as soon as the errors were discovered by an accountant she hired to scrub her taxes in preparation for her confirmation hearings. She and her husband, Gary, a federal magistrate judge in Kansas, paid a total of $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest to amend returns from 2005-2007.
Asked by The Associated Press to comment on the amended tax returns as she left a Capitol Hill restaurant Tuesday night, Sebelius said, "We put out a statement and the statement speaks for itself."
Several Obama administration nominees have run into tax troubles, notably the president's first nominee for HHS secretary, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. He withdrew from consideration while apologizing for failing to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest.
Timothy Geithner also faced questions about his failure to pay back taxes before the Senate confirmed him as Obama's treasury secretary. Geithner apologized, saying it was an honest mistake.
And Hilda Solis was confirmed as Obama's labor secretary only after the confirmation process was delayed by news reports that Solis' husband recently had settled unpaid tax liens on his California auto repair business for about $6,400. White House officials said Solis and her husband were not aware of the liens.
After news broke Tuesday of Sebelius' letter admitting the errors, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., quickly issued a statement supporting her nomination.
"Congress is going to need a strong partner at the Department of Health and Human Services to achieve comprehensive health reform this year, and we have that partner in Gov. Sebelius," Baucus said. "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Gov. Sebelius has the political experience, determination, and bipartisan work ethic to get the job done with Congress this year. She's the right person for the job."
There was no comment from the White House.
Sebelius is to appear Thursday before Baucus' committee, which will vote on sending her nomination to the full Senate. Sebelius testified Tuesday before the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before the tax issue became public, getting a friendly reception.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, said through a spokeswoman that he is reserving judgment until the vetting process, including the nomination hearing, is completed.
In her letter to Baucus and Grassley, Sebelius wrote that the accountant discovered these errors:
--Charitable contributions over $250 are supposed to include an acknowledgment letter from the charity in order for a deduction to be taken. Out of 49 charitable contributions made, three letters couldn't be found.
--Sebelius and her husband took deductions for mortgage interest that they weren't entitled to. The couple sold their home in 2006 for less than what they owed on the mortgage. They continued to make payments on the mortgage, including interest. But since they no longer owned the home they weren't entitled to take deductions for the interest. The same thing happened with a home improvement loan. Sebelius said they "mistakenly believed" the payments were still deductible.
--Insufficient documentation was found for some business expense deductions.
An administration official said Sebelius filed the amended returns before documents formalizing her nomination were sent to the Finance Committee. Sebelius advised the committee of the mistakes, and senators requested an explanation, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
In a letter to Sebelius dated Tuesday, Baucus and Grassley wrote that they'd reviewed the three years of amended returns and "no additional items were identified that needed to be addressed."
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