SZONE.US Forums - Politics http://www.szone.us/ Politics, not enough said. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:55:44 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.szone.us/images/misc/rss.jpg SZONE.US Forums - Politics http://www.szone.us/ Obama FEC Turns Blind Eye to SEIU http://www.szone.us/f22/obama-fec-turns-blind-eye-seiu-49194/ Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:42:54 GMT Obama FEC Turns Blind Eye to SEIU

Big Labor's high command spent well over a billion dollars electing Barack Obama and other forced unionism proponents in 2008.

But where did they get the money?

Just weeks before the election, the National Right to Work Foundation exposed a shady scheme by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that threatened local affiliates with financial penalties for failing to meet a fundraising obligation to the SEIU's Political Action Committee (PAC).

But PAC contributions are only legal if they are truly voluntary, and unions cannot funnel cash from their general treasuries into a PAC.

Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the Obama Federal Election Commission (FEC) has refused to investigate the SEIU's crooked scheme.

Worse, the FEC stonewalled for months before releasing its reasoning behind the decision -- well after the 60-day limit for Foundation attorneys to appeal in federal court expired.

Read more about the SEIU's PAC fundraising quota and the Obama FEC's stonewalling in my latest column in the Washington Examiner.


The Foundation relies on the voluntary support of individual Americans who believe in our cause and wish to advance our strategic litigation program. To make a fully tax-deductible donation in whatever amount, please click here.



The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, is assisting thousands of employees in nearly 200 cases nationwide. Its web address is www.nrtw.org/. ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/obama-fec-turns-blind-eye-seiu-49194/ <![CDATA[NRA's "non-endorsement" statement gave Harry Reid $4,950 this year]]> http://www.szone.us/f22/nras-non-endorsement-statement-gave-harry-reid-4-950-year-49173/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:01:16 GMT Dear Steve,
Last week the National Rifle Association officially announced they were not endorsing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D - NV).
They also went out of their way to make it clear they were not endorsing Reid's opponent, Republican Sharon Angle -- who filled out the National Association for Gun Rights Federal Candidate Survey 100% pro-gun. A typical Washington non-statement, statement.

The NRA's "non-endorsement" statement brings up a number of important questions.
Does giving a candidate money not constitute a more-than-tacit endorsement? The NRA's Federal PAC gave Harry Reid $4,950 this year, for his 2010 reelection campagin.
Does speaking glowingly of a candidate or politician during an election year not constitute an endorsement? In the June 2010 edition (page 16-18) of the NRA's magazine, the American Rifleman, they featured an article highlighting the work Harry Reid has done with the NRA.
I firmly believe that actions speak louder than press releases.
In that spirit, our cartoonist outlined just what that the NRA's "non-endorsement" really means.

Help fight gun control. Donate to the National Association for Gun Rights!
Attached Images
 
]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/nras-non-endorsement-statement-gave-harry-reid-4-950-year-49173/ Living Social(ist): Alerting America to Dumb Government Policies http://www.szone.us/f22/living-social-ist-alerting-america-dumb-government-policies-49171/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:43:27 GMT Living Social(ist): Alerting America to Dumb Government Policies


CFIF has released a Living Social(ist): Bad Deal Alert, a new take on the trendy deal-of-the-day email coupon services exploding in popularity across the country. Instead of offering half-priced chocolate spa baths or $1 admissions to your local petting zoo, we highlight a truly foolish idea currently being considered by President Obama and Congress.
This particular "coupon" -- which is being offered to foreign, mostly state-owned energy producers like Hugo Chavez's Citgo -- calls attention to a dubious new tax hike in the president's proposed 2011 budget. It's a great deal for foreign competitors as it would double-tax domestic oil and gas producers on money earned overseas, leaving foreign-owned companies with a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Plus, it comes with the added benefit of limiting America's access to energy resources that fuel our economy, provide 9 million domestic jobs and ensure our access to affordable energy.
We hope this humorous take on a serious issue will inspire readers to join CFIF in opposing this job-killing proposal.
Read more now.

Contact your Members of Congress now! Urge them to stop preferential tax treatment for foreign oil.

Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836. ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/living-social-ist-alerting-america-dumb-government-policies-49171/ An American Communist and a Soviet Defector Offer Different Interpretations of Obama http://www.szone.us/f22/american-communist-soviet-defector-offer-different-interpretations-obama-49170/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:41:24 GMT An American Communist and a Soviet Defector Offer Different Interpretations of Obama at Beck Rally


Though Glenn Beck's August 28 "Restoring Honor" rally in Washington, D.C. was decidedly not political, that didn't stop attendees from expressing their own views about President Barack Obama's agenda.
Mark, a middle-aged native of Russia who emigrated to America in the 1970s, came to Beck's rally because he's heard President Barack Obama's shtick before. "When I was growing up in the Soviet Union, going to school, I heard the same rhetoric, saw the same policies. I lived in a socialist country; I know how bad it is for people. That's why I came here as soon as I could."
Read more now.

Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836. ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/american-communist-soviet-defector-offer-different-interpretations-obama-49170/ Exclusive: The Lost First Draft of Obama’s Iraq Speech By Troy Senik http://www.szone.us/f22/exclusive-lost-first-draft-obama-s-iraq-speech-troy-senik-49169/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:38:08 GMT Exclusive: The Lost First Draft of Obama’s Iraq Speech By Troy Senik
Thursday, September 02 2010 The following document, a lost original draft of President Obama’s August 31 speech to the nation on the war in Iraq, was produced by inside sources close to the White House. As the contents of the document do not jeopardize any vital national security interests, it is expected that the leakers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
President’s Address to the Nation – August 31, 2010
Draft # 1

Good evening, my fellow Americans. I speak to you tonight from a newly refurbished Oval Office. During our 10-day vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Michelle reminded me that I often don't do enough for myself. So I took her advice, partially because after 18 years of marriage I have learned to trust her unquestioningly, and partially because the woman's capacity for sheer physical violence is a source of incapacitating fear in me.

The result is what you see before you tonight. This beautiful redesign is anchored by our new rug, which features quotes from many great Americans. Of course, I am conscious that there is no room for extravagance in this time of economic hardship. Even the federal government has cut corners. Thus, we’ve truncated a quote of Abraham Lincoln’s, rendering it essentially meaningless. Our proposal to include a lyric from Jay-Z's "99 Problems" was shelved entirely. And in a sign of respect for the sacredness of this space, neither Bo nor the Vice President will be allowed on the rug until they are effectively housebroken.

Our early research indicates that this new look polls well in blue states. In many red states, however, we find that many voters get bitter and cling to IKEA designs to explain their frustrations with the makeover.

Anyway, I'm told that my remarks this evening are to focus on Iraq. My staff informs me that Iraq is a Middle Eastern nation where the United States has been at war since 2003. These facts were not included in the bullet points sent over by the Center for American Progress, but I have no reason to doubt my aides, apart from the guy who played Kumar.

Tonight, I am proud to note that the American combat presence in Iraq is coming to a close. The sounds of gunfire have gone quiet, and by the time they resume we will be far enough away so as not to hear them. This drawdown will allow us to refocus on the real threat of terrorism in Afghanistan, where there are still enough Al-Qaeda members to form a pick-up basketball team. Those radicals should make no mistake – we have them in our sights. This is a game of H-O-R-S-E that we will not lose.

As we face forward, however, we can look back on what we have accomplished in Iraq over the past seven years. Earlier today, I spoke with former President George W. Bush. I called collect. Though it was hard to hear the former president over the sound of a chainsaw, I expressed my gratitude to him for championing the bold policy of "the surge" at a time when a similar stance would have cost me the Democratic nomination for president. And I made him an unwavering promise: that someday my memoirs will create enough ambiguity on my true views of the surge to give the impression that I may have been for it. In reality, I will only have acknowledged that the motives of the surge's proponents stopped somewhere short of genocide. People will take this as a moral compliment. What can I say? I have a gift.

We should not, however, expect to see an Iraq transformed overnight. The task of democracy is one that requires patient and dedicated action. Because we chose to give Iraq a parliamentary system on the European model, we won't know that their efforts at self-government are successful until witty Englishmen can regularly be heard shouting each other down in Baghdad’s halls of power. This is not my judgment; it is C-SPAN's. I know this because C-SPAN is now on the channel formerly inhabited by ESPN on the White House's cable.

Other vexing problems remain. Violence is still a major threat to Iraq's future. But as my administration begins Middle East peace talks this week, that threat should abate. For as many of our leading foreign policy experts have told us, we can't expect harmony in the Middle East at a time when the United States stops short of telling Israelis where they can build condos.

Iraq also suffers from crippling infrastructure problems, such as a lack of basic electricity at a time of 120 degree heat. This is another challenge that my Administration is tackling head on. As we speak, I've dispatched the head of NASA to the region to assure the locals that Thomas Edison had a second cousin who was one-quarter Jordanian.

Of course, as this war winds down, Americans are still left with one overwhelming concern: what about the dire state of our economy. To that I have only one thing to say [President jangles car keys] LOOK OVER HERE! WHAT ARE THOSE? YOU WANT THEM? YOU WANT THEM?

That concludes my remarks for the evening. But that only begins our great national conversation. E-mail your comments to unwashedmassesgriping[at]whitehouse[dot]gov to share your thoughts about tonight's speech. And please ignore the out-of-office auto response. After all, Pebble Beach isn't going to play itself. Good night and God bless you.

#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836.





[x] close ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/exclusive-lost-first-draft-obama-s-iraq-speech-troy-senik-49169/ Comparisons to Reagan in August 1982 Provide Obama Little Refuge http://www.szone.us/f22/comparisons-reagan-august-1982-provide-obama-little-refuge-49168/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:35:32 GMT Comparisons to Reagan in August 1982 Provide Obama Little Refuge


Unable to defend their governance with citation to substantive achievement, liberals frequently resort to comparing Barack Obama's approval rating with Ronald Reagan's at this point in his tenure.
Unfortunately for Obama, such comparisons are inapposite. They begin to highlight the two presidents' differing trajectories, as well as the healthy optimism engendered by Reagan versus the destructive pessimism Obama sows.
Read more now.

#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836. ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/comparisons-reagan-august-1982-provide-obama-little-refuge-49168/ <![CDATA[O'Donnell now leads Castle in 2 out of 3 counties in Delaware]]> http://www.szone.us/f22/odonnell-now-leads-castle-2-out-3-counties-delaware-49099/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:20:19 GMT Conservative Republican Christine O'Donnell has made a dramatic surge in the polls, and now trails Liberal RINO Mike Castle by a margin of just 43.7% - 38.0%. But wait - it gets better. O'Donnell now leads Castle in 2 out of 3 counties in Delaware!

Make a donation. And tell a friend to help too. Heck, please tell 10 or more friends to help. We've got a lot of work to do - and the Election is just 12 days away!




Our Country Deserves Better and we ask you to join our fight for conservative beliefs as we strive to make this a better and brighter America.
Conservatively yours,
Hon. Howard Kaloogian, Chairman
 ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/odonnell-now-leads-castle-2-out-3-counties-delaware-49099/ Jeff Gorell has a 13-point lead over Ferial Masry http://www.szone.us/f22/jeff-gorell-has-13-point-lead-over-ferial-masry-49034/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:15:40 GMT
VC Star: Gorell Holds Substantial Lead Over Masry





From The Ventura County Star Blog - Ingemusings
Summer is just about over--kids are back in school, and Labor Day is approaching, the unofficial start of fall. That also means that it's campaign season, with the November general election only two months away.
Tonight, much of the local politicos will be glued to their TV's watching Carly Fiorina debate Barbara Boxer in the campaign for the U.S. Senate as the incumbent struggles for her political life against her toughest challenger yet.

In the 37th Assembly District, where Republican Jeff Gorell is running against Democrat Ferial Masry, a new poll shows that Gorell's opened up a 13-point lead over his opponent, including leaners. More bad news for Masry: Democrats don't seem to be all that energized by their nominee; the poll indicates that Republicans are about 25 percent more likely to support Gorell than Democrats are willing to support Masry.
Read the full article at Ingemusings


 ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/jeff-gorell-has-13-point-lead-over-ferial-masry-49034/ Congratulations Jo Miller as Lisa Murkowski Concedes Us Senate Race http://www.szone.us/f22/congratulations-jo-miller-lisa-murkowski-concedes-us-senate-race-48971/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:53:48 GMT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2010
CONTACT: Levi Russell at (509) 979-6615 or via email at: Levi@FrontLineStrat.com
Tea Party Express Congratulates Joe Miller As
Lisa Murkowski Concedes U.S. Senate Race

ANCHORAGE - The Tea Party Express (website: www.TeaPartyExpress.org) congratulates Joe Miller on winning the race for the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in Alaska.


"Tonight Senator Lisa Murkowski conceded the race for U.S. Senate to Conservative Republican Joe Miller. We here at the Tea Party Express couldn't be more excited," said Amy Kremer, Chairman of the Tea Party Express.


"We congratulate Joe Miller on winning the political shocker of the year. Joe Miller's campaign based on a constitutional conservative platform resonated with the state's Republican primary voters and should serve as a wake up call to the political establishments of both parties.


"We also thank and congratulate Gov. Sarah Palin who first called our attention to this race. She was right in her proclamation that Joe Miller was a first-rate candidate who offered a vision for the future of this country and how to return America to the right track," said Amy Kremer.


"Up next: Christine O'Donnell for U.S. Senate in Delaware," Kremer said.

The Tea Party Express spent nearly $600,000 in this race, with $400,000+ spent in the final two-weeks of the campaign, of which approximately $314,000 spent in the final week after a poll commissioned by the Tea Party Express showed Miller surging 25% in less than three-weeks. ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/congratulations-jo-miller-lisa-murkowski-concedes-us-senate-race-48971/ Christian or Muslim, I Don’t Give a Damn!- Tommi Avicoli-Mecca http://www.szone.us/f22/christian-muslim-i-don-t-give-damn-tommi-avicoli-mecca-48940/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:13:29 GMT Christian or Muslim, I Don’t Give a Damn! *BLOG SOAP* Tommi Avicoli-Mecca (*BeyondChron.com* (http://www.beyondchron.com/)) You’dImage: http://citywatchla.com/images/stories/aug10/cw8-69g.png have to be a Martian who just woke up from a few centuries of suspended animation not to have heard that according to the latest survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, one in five Americans think that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. The number is up substantially from last year when one in 10 Americans thought the president wasn’t a Christian. It doesn’t help that Rev. Franklin Graham and his ilk obsess over whether the highest office holder in our nation worships their god or some other being in the clouds. Graham, the son of the Billy, who used to advise presidents on religious matters, believes that while Obama may be a Christian now, he was born a Muslim. “I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim,” said the chip off the old blockhead, “his... Christian or Muslim, I Don’t Give a Damn! BLOG SOAP
Tommi Avicoli-Mecca (BeyondChron.com)

You’d have to be a Martian who just woke up from a few centuries of suspended animation not to have heard that according to the latest survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, one in five Americans think that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. The number is up substantially from last year when one in 10 Americans thought the president wasn’t a Christian. It doesn’t help that Rev. Franklin Graham and his ilk obsess over whether the highest office holder in our nation worships their god or some other being in the clouds. Graham, the son of the Billy, who used to advise presidents on religious matters, believes that while Obama may be a Christian now, he was born a Muslim.

“I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim,” said the chip off the old blockhead, “his father was a Muslim.” No, the president’s problem is born-agains like Graham who should keep getting born again until they get it right.

“The seed of Islam is passed through the father,” explained Graham, “like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name.” And Graham’s father gave him the name of a cracker.

“Now it’s obvious that the president has renounced the prophet Mohammed and he has renounced Islam and he has accepted Jesus Christ,” Graham said. “That is what he says he has done, I cannot say that he hasn’t.”

Who cares one way or the other?!

The economy is still tanking; the wars drag on endlessly; homeowners are losing their homes through foreclosure (and the greed of the banks that have gotten bailed out); unemployment is almost as high as during the Great Depression; homelessness, hunger and poverty are at epidemic proportions; and America’s youth is besieged with diabetes from junk food.

Yet Obama’s press people have to spend precious hours answering stupid inquiries about the president’s religious beliefs.

To wit: Bill Burton told the press that while the president may not attend church every Sunday, “he prays every day. He talks to a wide range of pastors and religious leaders periodically. And you’ll see him in church again. I mean, he’s been to church as president. He’ll go to church once again. But he is getting spiritual guidance on a regular basis.”

Again, who cares?!

This is NOT a Christian country, no matter what some evangelist who profits big time from saving souls says to the contrary. A person’s religion or lack of such is his or her own business. Politicians do not have to answer for their religious convictions or whether or not they attend a house of worship or the city zoo on Sunday mornings.

Muslim or Christian or anything else, I just don’t give a damn.

(Tommi Avicolli-Mecca is co-editor of Avanti Popolo: Italians Sailing Beyond Columbus.. Avicolli-Mecca also blogs for BeyondChron.com where this article was first posted.) -cw


NewsLetter from; CityWatch exists to monitor the political business of City Hall, and other government agencies, to monitor the progress of the empowerment of LA's neighborhoods and to encourage grass roots civic engagement.
CityWatch is an electronic journal of observations, analysis and perspectives ... complimented by ideas and information all viewed and presented from the POV of LA's myriad grass roots neighborhoods engaged in the ongoing struggle for empowerment. We hope you find it useful, informative and provocative.
For those of you who have been with us for the two years past, we thank you for your support and your input. Without which we could not have grown from the 256 email addresses of two years ago to the better than 60,000 subscribers of today ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/christian-muslim-i-don-t-give-damn-tommi-avicoli-mecca-48940/ While Members Suffer, Unions Waste Millions on Political Campaigns http://www.szone.us/f22/while-members-suffer-unions-waste-millions-political-campaigns-48804/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:40:05 GMT While Members Suffer, Unions Waste Millions on Political Campaigns


Today's labor movement claims to hold its individual members' welfare paramount. So what message do its leaders send when they opt to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on political campaigns while members continue to suffer very difficult economic times?
This week alone, media reported a coordinated campaign between the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to spend approximately $100 million on this November's midterm elections.
Read more now.

#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836.

http://www.cfif.org ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/while-members-suffer-unions-waste-millions-political-campaigns-48804/ <![CDATA[John Boehner is Right; Obama's Economic Policies Have Failed the American People]]> http://www.szone.us/f22/john-boehner-right-obamas-economic-policies-have-failed-american-people-48803/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:36:16 GMT John Boehner is Right; Obama's Economic Policies Have Failed the American People


In a speech to the City Club of Cleveland, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) called on President Barack Obama to ask for and accept the resignations of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and National Economic Council chief Larry Summers. With the private sector on life support and the job market continuing to shrivel, the only quibble with Boehner's call for top-level resignations is that it doesn't go high enough.
Read more now.

#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836.

http://www.cfif.org ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/john-boehner-right-obamas-economic-policies-have-failed-american-people-48803/ Obama Should Address the Nation on Iran, Not Iraq http://www.szone.us/f22/obama-should-address-nation-iran-not-iraq-48802/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:34:11 GMT Obama Should Address the Nation on Iran, Not Iraq


Given the public's distemper at the sight of the President, it's not surprising that the Commander-in-Chief is developing a taste for delivering major addresses to a solitary camera in the Oval Office. Yet even that doesn't quite explain President Obama's decision to deliver a nationally televised speech from the White House next Tuesday on the state of the war in Iraq.
The reality is that when Obama takes to network television to celebrate the departure of the last combat troops from Iraq, he will be touting a success that he had no hand in designing - and in fact actively opposed.

Read more now.

#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836.

http://www.cfif.org ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/obama-should-address-nation-iran-not-iraq-48802/ Facing budget gaps, cities sell parking, airports, zoo http://www.szone.us/f22/facing-budget-gaps-cities-sell-parking-airports-zoo-48756/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:58:04 GMT Facing budget gaps, cities sell parking, airports, zoo

Cities and states across the nation are selling and leasing everything from airports to zoos-a fire sale that could help plug budget holes now but worsen their financial woes over the long run. California is looking to shed state office buildings. Milwaukee has proposed selling its water supply; in Chicago and New Haven, Conn., it's parking meters. The deals illustrate the increasingly tight financial squeeze gripping communities. Many are using asset sales to balance budgets ravaged by declines in tax revenues and unfunded pensions.
Wall Street Journal

About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com
Los Angeles Police Protective League
1308 West Eighth Street
Los Angeles, California 90017
phone: (213) 251-4554
 ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/facing-budget-gaps-cities-sell-parking-airports-zoo-48756/ Ground Zero Mosque: Legal Not Ethical Rights -Stephanie McNeal http://www.szone.us/f22/ground-zero-mosque-legal-not-ethical-rights-stephanie-mcneal-48632/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:02:59 GMT Ground Zero Mosque: Legal Not Ethical Rights *RIGHTS DEFINED* Stephanie McNeal (*NeonTommy.com* (http://www.neontommy.com/)) ThrouImage: http://citywatchla.com/images/stories/aug10/cw8-67e.png ghout the week, President Barack Obama has reiterated that he supports the right of what has been dubbed “the Ground Zero mosque,” a highly controversial project that plans to build a mosque and a Muslim community center two blocks from Ground Zero. His declarations have followed a statement of qualified support he first made last weekend, after the initiative, which is backed by local imams and supporters, exploded into a debate about Islam in America and freedom of religion more broadly. Conservative leaders have blasted the mosque as being hateful and anti-American, and some leaders in New York are even putting together a television ad urging Con Edison to use its power to stop the building of the mosque. However, many Democrats and others, including New York City’s... Ground Zero Mosque: Legal Not Ethical Rights RIGHTS DEFINED
Stephanie McNeal (NeonTommy.com)

Throughout the week, President Barack Obama has reiterated that he supports the right of what has been dubbed “the Ground Zero mosque,” a highly controversial project that plans to build a mosque and a Muslim community center two blocks from Ground Zero.

His declarations have followed a statement of qualified support he first made last weekend, after the initiative, which is backed by local imams and supporters, exploded into a debate about Islam in America and freedom of religion more broadly.

Conservative leaders have blasted the mosque as being hateful and anti-American, and some leaders in New York are even putting together a television ad urging Con Edison to use its power to stop the building of the mosque.

However, many Democrats and others, including New York City’s Independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have defended the right to build the mosque under the Constitution and the First Amendment. (The rest of Stephanie McNeal)

(Stephanie McNeal is staff writer for NeonTommy.org where this article was first posted.) -cw

NewsLetter from; CityWatch exists to monitor the political business of City Hall, and other government agencies, to monitor the progress of the empowerment of LA's neighborhoods and to encourage grass roots civic engagement.
CityWatch is an electronic journal of observations, analysis and perspectives ... complimented by ideas and information all viewed and presented from the POV of LA's myriad grass roots neighborhoods engaged in the ongoing struggle for empowerment. We hope you find it useful, informative and provocative.
For those of you who have been with us for the two years past, we thank you for your support and your input. Without which we could not have grown from the 256 email addresses of two years ago to the better than 60,000 subscribers of today ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/ground-zero-mosque-legal-not-ethical-rights-stephanie-mcneal-48632/ Terrorism. Illegal immigration. Identity theft. Drugs. Fraud. http://www.szone.us/f22/terrorism-illegal-immigration-identity-theft-drugs-fraud-48612/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:11:18 GMT Dear Steve,

Terrorism. Illegal immigration. Identity theft. Drugs. Fraud.

Call me cynical, but whenever I hear anti-gun politicians talk about these issues nowadays, I've come to expect a new thinly-veiled assault on our Second Amendment freedoms.

Either they want to ban our guns, track our guns . . .

. . . Or track us.

Well, after years of watching our illegal immigration problem grow steadily worse -- and watching our elected officials refuse to lift a finger in response -- the politicians' "fix" is finally in.

It's a new Federal Biometric ID card.

That's right. Instead of controlling our borders, the politicians want to control you and me. They want to give amnesty to illegal immigrants and make us prove we're not criminals!

And President Barack Obama, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are all working hand in glove to ram this new scheme into law as part of their new "comprehensive immigration reform" package.

That's why it's vital you sign the petition to your Congressman and Senators IMMEDIATELY.



If passed, the Federal Biometric ID card included in the new amnesty bill will:
  • Include a "unique biometric identifier" -- like fingerprints, retinal scans or even a scan of the veins on the back of your hand; and,
  • Allow bureaucrats to watch your every move, as the Federal Biometric ID card will almost certainly be produced with RFID tracking technology; and,
  • Include virtually unlimited amounts of personal information about you -- like what guns you own, for instance.
And this new Federal Biometric ID would be required for any person wishing to hold a job legally in the United States.

So I guess the welfare recipients don't have to get one.

I don't know about you, but I'm outraged.

It seems that whenever politicians are using terrorism, crime, illegal immigration or something else as their excuse, it's really you and me in their crosshairs.

Just remember those Department of Homeland Security memos listing pro-gun, pro-constitution activists as "domestic extremists."

How would you like to be told you can't board a plane because your new Federal Biometric ID Card told a TSA agent you supported some political candidate the new anti-gun regime thinks is too "pro-constitution?"



Even if you place complete 100% trust in the intentions of all federal government bureaucrats, what if there's some "accident?"

After all, you and I have heard the news stories of government officials "losing" laptops chockfull of hundreds of thousands of records including folks' names, social security numbers, addresses and birthdates.

And, of course, you and I cannot ignore the fact that since ID cards are required to purchase a firearm, the Federal Biometric ID scheme will likely create a de facto national gun registry.

That's why it's so important you click here to sign the petition IMMEDIATELY.

Unfortunately, this fight will not be easy -- just take a look at the makeup of Congress.

Anti-gun, anti-freedom Speaker Nancy Pelosi has an enormous House majority.

Throwing party labels aside in the Senate and counting EVERY anti-gun Senator leaves you and me with a steep hill to climb.

And, of course, we can't forget about President Obama.

He's already come out publicly in favor of Senator Lindsey Graham's and Chuck Schumer's "bipartisan" bill -- so you and I must expect he'll do whatever it takes to enact the Federal Biometric ID scheme.

There's no doubt about it -- our backs are against the wall.

But there is good news.


Coming on the heels of the Healthcare fight -- and all the lies, smoky backroom deals and outright bribery employed to ram the bill into law -- there's not a real cozy feeling of "bipartisanship" right now in the U.S. Senate.

That's a HUGE plus.

It could be that with the exception of Senator Graham and perhaps a couple of others, you and I may not have as much difficulty in keeping even marginally pro-gun Republican U.S. Senators in our fold as we would normally.

Also, many key Democrat Senators come from states that have recently REFUSED to comply with the original DANGEROUS ID Bill.

As we move deeper into this election year, many of these Democrats are going to grow even more nervous about voting AGAINST their state legislatures to pass the similar new Federal Biometric ID Scheme.

That means we can win this fight, but it won't be easy.

The anti-gun politicians believe their best shot at passing the Federal Biometric ID scheme is to move FAST.

That's why your IMMEDIATE help is so vital.

So in addition to your signed petitions, I hope you'll consider making a generous contribution, as well.

You see, I've already prepared a massive targeted mail, phone and e-mail program that I'm ready to launch as soon as I can pay the up-front costs.

And then if I can raise the resources, I'd like to run hard-hitting radio, TV and newspaper ads, as well.

The goal is to start a grassroots fire against a new Federal Biometric ID scheme in the states represented by key Republican and Democrat Senators.

We'll point out that there's an overwhelming majority of citizens in their states who are opposed to a Federal Biometric ID card.

We'll also mention these voters are ALL watching these Senators' votes very carefully this election year.

Believe me, these Senators WILL get the message.

But I can't do any of this without your help.

I know I'm asking a lot from you. But this could be it.

This could be the major, knock-down, drag-out fight we've been waiting for ever since President Obama was elected.

Until now, we've beaten the gun-control crowd to the punch -- publicizing and mobilizing a firestorm of grassroots opposition to the gun-grabbers radical schemes before they could even get them off the ground.

But unless you act now, we won't be so lucky this time.

That's why I hope, if at all possible, you will agree to a contribution of $25.

Of course, if that's simply too much, and you can't afford such a contribution at this time, I understand.

But will you agree to chip in at least $5 or $10?

I know you understand what's at stake.

So please rush me your most generous contribution of $25, $10 or at least $5 TODAY!

Sincerely,

Dudley Brown
Executive Director

P.S. The key provision in Senators Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) and Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) amnesty bill backed by President Obama is a new mandated Federal Biometric ID card that would be required for any person to hold a job in the United States legally.

This card would include untold amounts of personal information (like gun ownership) and biometric tracking technology that would allow government bureaucrats to track our every move.

That's why it's vital you sign our petitions to your Congressman and Senators IMMEDIATELY along with your most generous contribution of $25, $10 or $5 TODAY!
NAGR newsletter ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/terrorism-illegal-immigration-identity-theft-drugs-fraud-48612/ Tea Party Must be an Intellectual Movement First, a Political Movement Second http://www.szone.us/f22/tea-party-must-intellectual-movement-first-political-movement-second-48537/ Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:18:53 GMT Image: http://cfif.org/v/templates/rt_terrantribune_j15/images/blue/logo.png Tea Party Must be an Intellectual Movement First, a Political Movement Second (http://cfif.org/v/index.php/commentary/54-state-of-affairs/716-tea-party-must-be-an-intellectual-movement-first-a-political-movement-second) By Troy Senik (http://cfif.org/v/index.php/about-cfif/about-cfif-staff/12-cfif-staff/5-troy-senik) Thursday, August 19 2010 Image: http://cfif.org/v/images/articles/2010/10/tea-party-must-be-an-intellectual-movement-edit.jpg For the Tea Party to retain its long-term viability, it will need to put ideas above politics. That doesn’t mean lowering its sights; it means widening them.


Tea Party Must be an Intellectual Movement First, a Political Movement Second
By Troy Senik
Thursday, August 19 2010



For the Tea Party to retain its long-term viability, it will need to put ideas above politics. That doesn’t mean lowering its sights; it means widening them.




Eighteen months after it was born on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange during an impassioned call to arms by CNBC’s Rick Santelli – and three months prior to its first widespread test at the ballot box – the Tea Party Movement has become the most salient grassroots uprising in America. Yet for all its influence, the most noteworthy fact about the congealing constitutionalist movement may be that even many of its supporters are unsure of its true purpose. Is it a conservative insurrection? The beginnings of a third party? Or simply a check on the GOP’s flirtations with “big government conservatism”?

Writing in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Freedomworks President and CEO Matt Kibbe (the closest thing the Tea Party Movement has to organizational godfathers) attempted to answer that question, declaring, “The tea party movement is not seeking a junior partnership with the Republican Party, but a hostile takeover of it.” Let’s hope Armey and Kibbe reconsider. For nothing could be more hazardous to the movement’s future.

As some of America’s most devoted disciples of the Founding Fathers, Tea Party activists should recognize that the federal government was explicitly designed to counteract sweeping change, be it ideological or interest-driven. The backlash engendered by President Obama’s left-progressive agenda should constitute sufficient proof that the American body politic rejects transplants that are too sweeping.

If Tea Party activists aim to commandeer the GOP and return it to philosophical purity, they will be brought to grief. While they can perform an extremely useful function by giving the Republican Party a robust ideological anchor, the task of building governing majorities (the only effective way to accomplish public policy goals) is one which requires more philosophical flexibility than a principled movement like the Tea Party will be able to offer.

Winning majorities means winning over the political center. But that’s not what the Tea Party is interested in (nor should it be). For instance, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, one of the leading lights of the movement has said, “I’d rather have 30 Republicans in the Senate who believe in the principles of freedom than 60 who don’t believe in anything.” DeMint’s broader meaning is well taken, but any political party with less than 40 seats in the Senate could stay home without anyone knowing the difference.

That doesn’t mean there’s no place for Tea Party members within the GOP; as some of the most articulate defenders of the party’s core principles, they are essential – both as voters and as elected officials – to Republican success. What it means is that there has to be room for others outside of their ranks. For tangible proof of this necessity, one need look no further than this year’s Senate races. Republicans can’t hope to take back the upper chamber without an assist from moderates like Mike Castle of Delaware and Mark Kirk of Illinois. Even the minority necessary to sustain a veto was contingent on the election of Massachusetts’ Scott Brown, hardly a conservative poster boy.

For the Tea Party to retain its long-term viability, it will need to put ideas above politics. That doesn’t mean lowering its sights; it means widening them. Since the Tea Party will never be a vehicle for centrist outreach, it has to become a vehicle for reshaping the national conversation on politics. Rather than pandering to centrists, it can perform the more noble work of redefining what centrists find palatable.

There is a long and proud history of this intellectual yeoman’s work on the right. When Milton Friedman introduced the idea of school vouchers, he was widely dismissed as a crank. Today, even core Democratic constituencies are seeing the wisdom of loosening government’s death grip on the education of American children. When Ronald Reagan began pursuing welfare reform as Governor of California in the early 1970s, it was widely dismissed as an extremist reaction to the Great Society. But within a few decades, a Democratic president was touting its federal implementation as one of the cornerstones of his legacy.

Thus, it’s time for the Tea Party Movement to put its shoulder to the wheel and develop the big ideas of the next generation. Ideas like the abolition of unnecessary and unwieldy cabinet departments, market-based reforms of the entitlement state, property-rights based conservation, and consumer-driven healthcare may seem fringe now, but through consistent, honest articulation they can become the foundation of major public policy shifts in the not-too-distant future.

If the Tea Party Movement wants real political change, this is where they will start. As Margaret Thatcher said, “First you win the debate, then you win the vote.”


#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836. ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/tea-party-must-intellectual-movement-first-political-movement-second-48537/ Obama: “Driving Us Out of a Ditch,” or Setting the Car on Fire? http://www.szone.us/f22/obama-driving-us-out-ditch-setting-car-fire-48536/ Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:14:44 GMT body{font-family: sans-serif;}.bc-blue .contentheading,.bc-blue #main-section a,.bc-blue .moduletable h3,.bc-blue #left-column .module h3,.bc-blue #right-column .module h3,.bc-blue #left-column .module-menu h3,.bc-blue #right-column .module-menu h3,.bc-blue #bottommodules1 .module h3,.bc-blue #bottommodules2 .module h3,.bc-blue #sub-menu a,.bc-blue-text,.pollerTitle,.result_pollerTitle,#donateText { color: #2c486e;}.contentpagetitle ,a,a:hover,a:visited,a:active {clear: both;font-weight: bold;text-decoration: none;font-size: 100%;line-height: 100%;color: #2c486e;}Image: http://cfif.org/v/templates/rt_terrantribune_j15/images/blue/logo.png Obama: “Driving Us Out of a Ditch,” or Setting the Car on Fire? (http://cfif.org/v/index.php/commentary/43-taxes-and-economy/717-obama-driving-us-out-of-a-ditch-or-setting-the-car-on-fire) By Timothy H. Lee (http://cfif.org/v/index.php/about-cfif/about-cfif-staff/12-cfif-staff/4-timothy-h-lee) Thursday, August 19 2010 Image:... body{font-family: sans-serif;}.bc-blue .contentheading,.bc-blue #main-section a,.bc-blue .moduletable h3,.bc-blue #left-column .module h3,.bc-blue #right-column .module h3,.bc-blue #left-column .module-menu h3,.bc-blue #right-column .module-menu h3,.bc-blue #bottommodules1 .module h3,.bc-blue #bottommodules2 .module h3,.bc-blue #sub-menu a,.bc-blue-text,.pollerTitle,.result_pollerTitle,#donateText { color: #2c486e;}.contentpagetitle ,a,a:hover,a:visited,a:active {clear: both;font-weight: bold;text-decoration: none;font-size: 100%;line-height: 100%;color: #2c486e;} Obama: “Driving Us Out of a Ditch,” or Setting the Car on Fire? By Timothy H. Lee
Thursday, August 19 2010 Simple arithmetical and history shortcomings aside, it’s disgraceful that Obama resorts to scapegoating his predecessor by name in his larger campaign to avoid responsibility for his own incompetence.




Remember the summer of 2002, when President Bush conducted the midterm Congressional election campaign by blaming Bill Clinton at every opportunity for the tech bubble recession and 9/11 plot he inherited?
Or the 1982 midterm campaign, when Ronald Reagan degraded the office by blaming Jimmy Carter for the economic and Cold War calamities he inherited?
Obviously not, because neither sank to that disgraceful depth.
In fact, we don’t recall Bill Clinton resorting to attacking George H. W. Bush by name during the 1994 campaign, although ascertaining that would require chest-high rubber waders to navigate Bubba’s behavioral swamp.
So leave it to President Obama to set another low in presidential standards. Here was Obama, speaking at a Chicago fundraiser:
“They haven’t come out with a single solitary idea that is different from the policies that held sway for eight years before Democrats took over, not a single policy difference that’s discernable from George W. Bush. Not one. They’re betting that you just forgot about the eight years that they were in charge of Washington. They’re betting that you didn’t notice that the recession started under their watch and the deficit started under their watch.”
It’s sad enough that Obama can’t even get simple math and recent history straight in his head. After all, this is a Congressional election, and his own party reclaimed Congress in 2006 under Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid – two years before the 2008 recession started. Moreover, the budget surpluses that he referenced didn’t arrive until 1998, four years after the Republicans reclaimed Congress in 1994.
Of course, this is the same Obama who spoke of traveling to “57 states” after a pause for thought, so perhaps he and his teleprompter just need some quality time with daughter Sasha’s math and history tutors.
Simple arithmetical and history shortcomings aside, it’s disgraceful that Obama resorts to scapegoating his predecessor by name in his larger campaign to avoid responsibility for his own incompetence. Again and again, Obama has returned to his tired analogy that Republicans “drove the car into a ditch” and now want reclaim the wheel.
Combining metaphors, Politico’s Carol Lee describes this line as Obama’s all-purpose “Mr. Potato Head”:
“It has since become the Mr. Potato Head of campaign stump speech metaphors. The president keeps expanding on it. This week, as he repeated it at fundraisers across the country, it continued to balloon into several paragraphs with bells and whistles tacked on in all directions. Obama changes features around. He introduces new characters. He adds new props. The other day, he decided Republicans were sipping Slurpees as they watched Democrats dig out the car. (Incidentally, Obama is the only president to ever use the word ‘Slurpee’ in a speech, according to the archives of The American Presidency Project.) There’s been a lot of mud in the ditch. It’s been all over Democrats as they push and shove, sometimes with their shoulders. In some speeches Obama has the Democrats wearing boots. Other times they’re wearing galoshes. He’s added bugs and sweat to the scene.”
Then along comes Obama, portraying himself as a Richard Petty who pulled the car from the ditch and got it speeding down the road to recovery.
But Obama’s tired analogy doesn’t correspond with reality any better than his poor math. He hasn’t salvaged a car in a ditch, he’s threatened to set it on fire.
For instance, Obama needlessly fanned the national flames surrounding the proposed New York City mosque this week by sanctimoniously lecturing Americans against religious bigotry. A president should unite Americans, but he inexplicably chose to fuel the divisive fire.
Events in Iraq provided another rebuttal to Obama’s campaign theme this week. There, the last American combat brigades withdrew in victory from Iraq, thanks to the troop surge ordered by President Bush but opposed by Barack Obama. In fact, Obama predicted in January 2007 that the surge would make things worse, not better. President Bush shouldn’t hold his breath awaiting Obama’s thank you note.
Meanwhile, to use his own imagery, our car swerves in Afghanistan with Obama now at the wheel, and the threats from Iran, North Korea, Gaza, China and Russia grow.
On the economy, Obama’s own economic advisors forecast that unemployment would be down to 9% and declining by now even if we did nothing and allowed the cyclical economic recovery proceed without more government interference. Instead, unemployment remains elevated in the neighborhood of 10% after Obama’s multi-trillion dollar spending binge and regulatory onslaught. Initial claims for unemployment also rose to 500,000 this week, an alarming development.
Obama isn’t towing our collective car from the proverbial ditch. He’s pouring gasoline on it by way of dangerous spending, taxation, debt, regulation and unsteady leadership.
Fortunately, the unamused electorate is coming with a fire engine and tow truck in the form of the November election.



#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836. ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/obama-driving-us-out-ditch-setting-car-fire-48536/ CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL RECEIVING SUPPORT from CODE PINK http://www.szone.us/f22/california-attorney-general-receiving-support-code-pink-48518/ Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:51:04 GMT *RALLY TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM TERRORIST SYMPATHIZERS GROUP CODE PINK!* The anti-war group CODE PINK, which professes to love peace but in reality only supports a radical left wing Marxist agenda, has long been a bitter rival of Move America Forward’s. Ever since CODE PINK began supporting the terrorists in their war on America and aided their efforts to kill American troops, Move America Forward has mobilized to thwart CODE PINK at every turn. We’ve shown up to counter-protest their anti-war rallies, we’ve stood up and supported our troops wherever CODE PINK went to trash and berate the military. We’ve stood toe-to-toe against these vile, un-American kooks, and that’s why we’re asking you to stand with us and support our troops and stand against CODE PINK again! *This SATURDAY, AUGUST 21st, there is an event for California Attorney General Jerry Brown that is hosted by CODE PINK’s founding member Jodie Evans....
RALLY TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS:
CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM TERRORIST SYMPATHIZERS GROUP CODE PINK!


The anti-war group CODE PINK, which professes to love peace but in reality only supports a radical left wing Marxist agenda, has long been a bitter rival of Move America Forward’s. Ever since CODE PINK began supporting the terrorists in their war on America and aided their efforts to kill American troops, Move America Forward has mobilized to thwart CODE PINK at every turn.

We’ve shown up to counter-protest their anti-war rallies, we’ve stood up and supported our troops wherever CODE PINK went to trash and berate the military. We’ve stood toe-to-toe against these vile, un-American kooks, and that’s why we’re asking you to stand with us and support our troops and stand against CODE PINK again!

This SATURDAY, AUGUST 21st, there is an event for California Attorney General Jerry Brown that is hosted by CODE PINK’s founding member Jodie Evans. Evans is a principal leader of the radical group and is one of their wealthy benefactors who bankrolls the group’s activities. She’s holding an event at her home in Venice, California this weekend to provide support and funds to Jerry Brown, who is running for Governor of California and obviously will take money from anyone – even disgraced anti-troop people like this! The next thing we will hear is that Jane Fonda will be there!

We’re calling on Jerry Brown to cancel his event with CODE PINK because any real American should know better than to associate with a group like CODE PINK who actively aided and abetted our enemies in the war on terror. CODE PINK sympathizes with the terrorists’ point of view, and sees America as an evil, imperialist nation that deserves to be destroyed by the terrorists.

CODE PINK hopes to bring about a period of peace and socialism after mainstream capitalist America burns to the ground. CODE PINK sees Al Qaeda and the terrorists as freedom fighters and actually provided over $600,000 in cash and medical supplies to the terrorists and their families during the battle of Fallujah, when our Marines were still being shot at by the enemy!

Another one of CODE PINK’s founders, Medea Benjamin, is quoted in a French newspaper bragging about the unprecedented nature of their group’s support for the terrorists in Fallujah.

“I don't know of any other case in history in which the parents of fallen soldiers collected medicine...for the families of the ‘other side,’” Benjamin said. “It is a reflection of a growing movement in the United States...opposed to the unjust nature of this war.”


They’ve also traveled to Venezuela to meet with and praise Marxist anti-American dictator Hugo Chavez. They are opposed to the USA and Israel taking any action to stop and neutralize Iran’s nuclear capability! They want the terrorists to have access to nuclear material!


Cindy Sheehan, JODIE EVANS, Hugo Chavez and Medea Benjamin in their CODE PINK!

Friends this is not a group that ANY AMERICAN, much less any politician should EVER associate with, THEY ARE TRAITOROUS! Why would Jerry Brown accept money from this woman and go to her house and accept money from her friends? Is the money more important to him than our troops or the importance of winning the war against the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 ???

MOVE AMERICA FORWARD is mobilizing!

SO JOIN US and bring your AMERICAN FLAGS, signs to support the troops, and bring PINK SCARVES, SHEETS AND OTHER PARAPHERNALIA TO MOCK CODE PINK'S PROTEST TACTICS

For more details or instructions contact Danny Gonzalez, Director of Communications danny@moveamericaforward.org or call (714) 926-6189

MAKE A DONATION


If your e-mail client has trouble displaying this message, or you would like to link to this message on your blog or social network, Click here for a Web Based Version ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/california-attorney-general-receiving-support-code-pink-48518/ Senator Boxer is no friend to the troops http://www.szone.us/f22/senator-boxer-no-friend-troops-48421/ Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:05:59 GMT *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * *August 18, 2010 * *CONTACT: Danny Gonzalez * *(714) 926 - 6189 * *danny@moveamericaforward.org * *SENATOR BOXER TRYING TO FOOL CALIFORNIANS * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2010


CONTACT: Danny Gonzalez
(714) 926 - 6189
danny@moveamericaforward.org


SENATOR BOXER TRYING TO FOOL CALIFORNIANS
PRETENDING SHE SUPPORTED THE TROOPS ALL ALONG
PRO-TROOP GROUP CONDEMNS ATTEMPT
TO ‘CONUSE AND DECEIVE’ CITIZENS

Move America Forward, the nation’s largest pro-military grassroots organization issued this statement today, in response to the announcement that Senator Barbara Boxer is leading the formation of a Senate Military Family Caucus:

Move America Forward condemns Senator Boxer for claiming to support military families when she has been anything but a friend to our troops throughout her career. Few members of congress have been as insulting and demeaning to high ranking military officers as Senator Boxer. Still fewer members of congress have the audacity to say a life of dedicated military service is comparable to that of a career in congress.

By associating herself with the Military Family Caucus, Senator Boxer is attempting to confuse and deceive the American public into believing that she supports the troops. We know from her ridiculous ‘Don’t call me ma’am’ statement earlier this year that she thinks highly of herself and her position, but this is the absolute height of hypocrisy as she has consistently failed to support our troops and their missions.

Looking back over this Senator’s career, you’ll see a pattern of trampling and demeaning the brave men and women who serve in our military. She is quick to criticize them whenever they are being attacked, and she is conspicuously absent when they need her support. Her supposed leadership of this caucus is no more than a political gimmick to distance herself from her most recent comments about the military that were both shameful and insulting.

The Military Family Caucus is a noble effort, but Senator Boxer is no friend to the troops or their families and her title as part of the caucus does not make up for her lack of support or leadership for military families in the past.

We doubt very seriously that this maneuver will fool anyone. Rather, it will be seen for exactly what it is – a transparent and insincere attempt to curry favor from a group for which she has never shown interest or respect.
Move America Forward ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/senator-boxer-no-friend-troops-48421/ Gov. Sarah Palin to help Sharron Angle defeat Harry Reid http://www.szone.us/f22/gov-sarah-palin-help-sharron-angle-defeat-harry-reid-48408/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:39:49 GMT The big news out today is about Gov. Sarah Palin coming fully on board to help Conservative Republican Sharron Angle defeat the corrupt Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid. Palin says Angle “has got guts” and we here at the Western Representation PAC couldn’t agree more. We joined with the Tea Party Express in endorsing Angle in April because we saw that she had more guts than any other Republican challenger to Reid. She was not afraid to stand behind her conservative constitutionalist principles and she had a lifelong record of fighting for those principles. Friends, so many people have tried to mock or ridicule Sharron Angle. They call her an “extremist” a “whack job” and a “nut” because they say she’s too conservative. But these smears infuriate me – because Sharron Angle is pretty much in line with the views of our Founding Fathers. And guess what – they were ridiculed, demeaned and mocked as well. It wasn’t too long ago that Ronald Reagan was called the same things when... The big news out today is about Gov. Sarah Palin coming fully on board to help Conservative Republican Sharron Angle defeat the corrupt Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid. Palin says Angle “has got guts” and we here at the Western Representation PAC couldn’t agree more.

We joined with the Tea Party Express in endorsing Angle in April because we saw that she had more guts than any other Republican challenger to Reid. She was not afraid to stand behind her conservative constitutionalist principles and she had a lifelong record of fighting for those principles.

Friends, so many people have tried to mock or ridicule Sharron Angle. They call her an “extremist” a “whack job” and a “nut” because they say she’s too conservative. But these smears infuriate me – because Sharron Angle is pretty much in line with the views of our Founding Fathers. And guess what – they were ridiculed, demeaned and mocked as well.

It wasn’t too long ago that Ronald Reagan was called the same things when he first got behind Barry Goldwater, then led a conservative uprising across America during the 1970s and 1980s.

Let’s help Sharron Angle do the same thing now. We here at the Western Representation PAC were one of the first independent groups out with an ad campaign supporting Sharron Angle. Today we are preparing to increase the size of this push for Sharron Angle, getting behind Gov. Sarah Palin and her support for Angle as well.

We’re looking for 50 people to contribute $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more to this effort. You can make a contribution -------HERE---------.

And if you can’t afford a contribution of $100 or more then please donate what you can whether that’s $10, $25, or $50. Again to donate just -------CLICK HERE--------.

As always you can send your contribution to:
Western Representation PAC
PO BOX 50655
Sparks, Nevada, 89435
Thank you for your support,
Dustin Stockton Chairman WRPAC
www.WesternPAC.org
 ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/gov-sarah-palin-help-sharron-angle-defeat-harry-reid-48408/ <![CDATA[Union head urges workers to confront 'job-cutters']]> http://www.szone.us/f22/union-head-urges-workers-confront-job-cutters-48252/ Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:05:16 GMT Union head urges workers to confront 'job-cutters'

The head of the AFL-CIO defended public union pay and benefits Friday and urged private-sector workers to unite with public employees to confront the nation's "job-cutters." "Some people see public employees as an island of privilege," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said at a City Hall rally in support of transportation projects. "Here's the truth: When public employees and union workers everywhere negotiate decent pay and decent benefits, well then, all of us get lifted up with that. Every worker in America gets a chance at a better deal." He called on private-sector and public employees "to come together and face the job-cutters."
Associated Press

About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com
Los Angeles Police Protective League
1308 West Eighth Street
Los Angeles, California 90017
phone: (213) 251-4554 ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/union-head-urges-workers-confront-job-cutters-48252/ Five Questions Facing Indicted LA Councilman Richard Alarcon http://www.szone.us/f22/five-questions-facing-indicted-la-councilman-richard-alarcon-48197/ Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:42:12 GMT Five Questions Facing Indicted LA Councilman Richard Alarcon POLITICS
Paresh Dave (NeonTommy.com )

1. Will his council colleagues temporarily kick him out of City Hall?

The charges against Alarcón allege that he is an illegitimate representative for the City of L.A.'s seventh district since he does not live within that district's boundaries. He did nothing wrong while in office, but as lawyer and former mayoral candidate Walter Moore put it, "The charges relate to whether he should ever have been allowed to occupy office in the first place."

L.A.'s City Charter allows for an elected official to be suspended if he or she is pending trial of a felony or misdemeanor offense "involving a violation of official duties, including, without limitation, a violation of the conflict of interest and government ethics provisions of the Charter or City ordinances."

If his office is vacated, the council would appoint someone to step in until June 30. A special election would have to be held to fill Alarcón's seat from July 1, 2011 until his term expires at the end of 2012.

Even if a false declaration of candidacy charge is enough to call for his suspension, it's highly unlikely to happen with 12 of his 14 colleagues also being Democrats.

"He's well-liked, hasn't made any enemies and he's considered to be one of the 15," said Jaime Regalado, the director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A. "This is not a very contentious or divided council and that greatly reduces the chances that they oust him from office."

2. How will he pay his legal bills?

Neon Tommy broke the news in mid-July that Alarcón had raised $9,000 to put toward legal expenses. He said through a spokesperson on July 20 that he had no plans to spend any of the money. The situation appears to have changed. We'll know more about how much legal debt he is accumulating when his next financial disclosure statement is due in October.

For now, his and his wife's legal team includes attorneys Fredric Woocher, Roger Rosen and Henry Salcido. (The rest of Paresh Dave)

(Paresh Dave is staff writer for NeonTommy.com … where this column was first posted.) -cw


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CityWatch is an electronic journal of observations, analysis and perspectives ... complimented by ideas and information all viewed and presented from the POV of LA's myriad grass roots neighborhoods engaged in the ongoing struggle for empowerment. We hope you find it useful, informative and provocative.
For those of you who have been with us for the two years past, we thank you for your support and your input. Without which we could not have grown from the 256 email addresses of two years ago to the better than 60,000 subscribers of today ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/five-questions-facing-indicted-la-councilman-richard-alarcon-48197/ <![CDATA[Message to Congress: Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!]]> http://www.szone.us/f22/message-congress-dont-just-do-something-stand-there-48191/ Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:20:22 GMT Message to Congress: Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!

The current Congress deserves a special place in history for what is either an inability to read public opinion or a thinly-veiled contempt for it. That further bailouts or increased talk of amnesty are even on the table in August 2010 shows halting misjudgment. But the political miscalculation supersedes any foolishness on policy.
Democrats in Congress somehow came to the conclusion that what the public most wanted from them was bold, strategic action - thus the decision to meet over the August recess. They thought that propping up union jobs would be seen as being aggressive on unemployment. They thought a head fake on border security would anaesthetize the public for amnesty. If they wanted to prop up their sagging poll numbers, they were trying too hard. The most popular action they could have taken was to stay at home.
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Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836.

http://www.cfif.org ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/message-congress-dont-just-do-something-stand-there-48191/ <![CDATA[Why We're Boiling Over: Federal Salaries Now Twice That of Private Sector]]> http://www.szone.us/f22/why-were-boiling-over-federal-salaries-now-twice-private-sector-48190/ Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:17:54 GMT Why We're Boiling Over: Federal Salaries Now Twice That of Private Sector


Former Reagan Administration speechwriter and current Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan authored a widely-acclaimed commentary last week entitled "America Is at Risk of Boiling Over."
Noonan mourned the increasingly hostile state of our union, that "fraying of the bonds that keep us together." She also recalled with unease a 1994 column in which she forewarned, "I can imagine, for instance, in the year 2020 or so, a movement in some states to break away from the union, which would bring about, of course, a drama of Lincolnian darkness."
The sources of heat inciting that boil are many and multiplying. Three separate but related recent outrages, however, manifest the centrifugal dynamic she describes well.
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#CFIF
Center for Individual Freedom. based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) corporation that relies on private financial support from individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call us at 703-535-5836.

http://www.cfif.org ]]> Politics Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f22/why-were-boiling-over-federal-salaries-now-twice-private-sector-48190/