The Jobs Spin

Watch this and then read below!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/02/unemployment-rate-rises-to-7-percent-economy-add-171000-jobs/

A few thoughts that will make you question the government jobs spin:

First the stats on 11/02/08:
Officially unemployed = 10,563,275 Actual unemployed* = 13,558,658
Food Stamps Recipients = 32,659,311

Compared to the stats today:
Officially unemployed = 11,992,107 Actual unemployed* = 22,645,113
Food Stamps Recipients = 47,109,282* = includes those who have given up

So in summary we are being told that the percentage of unemployment based only on the official number is within 0.1% (7.9% vs. 7.8%) of where it was when Obama took office. There are 2 problems with this misrepresentation. First the number does not include those who have given up. Second, the economy is growing so slow and families have lost so much that people are retiring at a slower rate plus new graduates are entering the workforce faster than they can be absorbed. So forget the percentage 22 million people need work – twice as many as when Obama took office. Time for a new strategy!!

 

Wake up America! Restore the Republic, Reject Socialism

The Ad Romney Should be Running

If the Romney campaign wants to blow Obama out of the water the simplest way to do it might be to simply take these two videos, edit them together and run it over and over in prime time followed by a simple question: “What Does He Mean?”

Wake Up, America! 4 more years of this type of fundamental change and you will no longer recognize your country.

Restore the Republic! Reject Socialism while there is still time.

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” – Patrick Henry

Obama… the numbers don’t Lie!

So here are some stats to help you when you are discussing the election with your undecided friends. These are the facts and the numbers don’t lie. It doesn’t take a CPA to figure out if something doesn’t change quickly we are headed for an economic collapse. The tipping point is already on the horizon…

The Economy, Jobs & Taxes:

America’s Rank in Global Business Competitiveness: Before BO #1 Currently #7 (Source: US News & World Report)

Current National Debt – $16.2 Trillion   (Source: US Treasury)

New Debt Added Since Obama was elected – $5.5 Trillion  (Source: US Treasury)

Your share of the National Debt – $51,419 (Source: US Treasury)

Increase in your share since Obama took office – $17,554 (Source: US Treasury)

Federal Budget Deficits – 2 highest in history: 2009 – $1.416 Trillion & 2011 – $1.298 Trillion respectively (Source: CBO)

Proposed Tax Increases in Obama’s Proposed Budget – $1.9 Trillion (Source: OMB)

New Taxes Hidden in Obamacare – $810 Billion (Source: CBO)

Medicare cuts in Obamacare: $716 Billion (Source: CBO)

# of people Officially Unemployed: 12.014 Million (Source: US Labor Dept.)

# of people Unemployed, Underemployed or have given up – 22.728 Million (Source: US Labor Dept.)

The real Unemployment Rate: 14.7% (Source: US Labor Dept.)

# of people Unemployed More than 27 weeks: 5.0 Million (Source: US Labor Dept.)

Consecutive Months of Unemployment over 8% – 43 (Source: US Labor Dept.)

Pages of new Federal Regulations since Obama took office: 11,327 (Source: Federal Register)

Healthcare, Food, Gas & Education:

Avg. Increase in the cost of a family health plan since Obama took office: $3,065 or 24.2%  (Source: The Kaiser Foundation)

# of people on Food Stamps: 47,025,030 (Source: US Dept. of Agriculture)

Avg. increase in cost of Groceries for a family of 4: 5.15%  (Source: US Dept. of Agriculture)

Increase in the price of gas: 106%  up from $1.89 to $3.89 per gallon (Source: US Dept. of Transportation)

Avg. Increase for In-State Tuition since Obama took office: 25% (Source: The college Board)

So there you have it. The numbers speak for themselves. We can’t afford to keep spending at these levels and increasing taxes stunts growth while killing jobs. We saw the same trends during the Carter Administration. Reagan corrected the problem by managing down the size of government and cutting taxes to stimulate growth. We rode that wave all the way through the Clinton Administration. We can do it again but not with a president that is more interested in “redistribution” than growth and creating opportunity.

Wake up, America! Reject Socialism and Restore the Republic!

“If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy” – Thomas Jefferson

2016: Obama’s America – A Review

I decided to watch this movie On Demand this morning because I was in the mood for a little politics and could not bear watching the usual Sunday morning talking heads. I must admit I had low expectations going in and no idea exactly what to expect. I was very surprised for two reasons. First, I was surprised at how balanced the approach was – no hysteria or over the top attacks or accusations. Second, the movie took a methodical approach to laying out the facts around what shaped Obama’s beliefs and how his personal story may have forged his philosophy. In short it does not appear to be a hatchet job.

From the movie’s website here is a brief description:

“2016 Obama’s America takes audiences on a gripping visual journey into the heart of the world’s most powerful office to reveal the struggle of whether one man’s past will redefine America over the next four years. The film examines the question, “If Obama wins a second term, where will we be in 2016?”

Across the globe and in America, people in 2008 hungered for a leader who would unite and lift us from economic turmoil and war. True to America’s ideals, they invested their hope in a new kind of president, Barack Obama. What they didn’t know is that Obama is a man with a past, and in powerful ways that past defines him–who he is, how he thinks, and where he intends to take America and the world.

Immersed in exotic locales across four continents, best selling author Dinesh D’Souza races against time to find answers to Obama’s past and reveal where America will be in 2016. During this journey he discovers how Hope and Change became radically misunderstood, and identifies new flashpoints for hot wars in mankind’s greatest struggle. The journey moves quickly over the arc of the old colonial empires, into America’s empire of liberty, and we see the unfolding realignment of nations and the shape of the global future.”

Obama: Love him or hate him, you don’t know him.

Creative forces behind the film

Dinesh D’Souza – Author of the New York Times Bestseller The Roots of Obama’s Rage which serves in part as the basis for this film. D’Souza wasborn in Mumbai, India and has truly lived the American Dream. He moved to the United States to attend Dartmouth College. Upon graduation he went to work in the Reagan White House as a policy analyst. He has been a fellow of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University and the American Enterprise Institute. His other book titles include the popular What’s So Great About Christianity, Letters to a Young Conservative, and The End of Racism.

Gerald R. Molen – produced many of the most memorable films in the last three decades including blockbusters like Jurassic Park, Twister, Days of Thunder, Hook and Minority Report. He was a producer for the Academy Award winning film Schindler’s List and co-producer for Rain Man which won the Oscar for Best Picture.

For more info visit the website at: http://2016themovie.com/

After watching this film, a lot of the things that I instinctively believed seem to have been confirmed. Using Obama’s own words from speeches and his book “Dreams from my Father” it’s hard to deny that there is a well guarded side of the president that if fully revealed would change the opinion of many. The movie lays out a credible case for a personal agenda that does not align with traditional American values. The president has said many times that his election would begin a fundamental change of America. This film definitely creates a glimpse of not only what will shape this change but also who is influencing the direction and what it might ultimately look like.

If you love the America of our grandparents, believe in the American Dream and the Constitution created by our founders – you owe it to yourself and your country to watch this film and decide if this is the Change you want.

Wake up, America!

“The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground” – Thomas Jefferson

“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves” – George Washington

The Post Racial President or Divisive Manipulator

“I am president.  I’m not king.  I can’t do these things just by myself.  If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying we’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us, if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s going to be harder, and that’s why I think it’s so important that people focus on voting on November 2nd. …Well, I’m disappointed, too.  Many Republicans who used to support comprehensive immigration reform, like John McCain, decided not to support it.  The problem that we have is that until I can get some cooperation from the other side, then people who are anti-immigration reform can continue to block it.  And that’s why this election coming up is so important because we essentially have to say that those who are politicizing the issue, who are supportive of the Arizona law, who talk only about border security but aren’t willing to talk about the other aspects of this, who don’t support the DREAM Act, who are out there engaging in rhetoric that is divisive and damaging, those aren’t the kinds of folks who represent our core American values”. – Barack Obama on Univision, 10/25/10 

Obama also said, “Republicans had driven the economy into a ditch and then stood by and criticized while Democrats pulled the economy out, and now the progress has been made, we can’t have special interests sitting shotgun.  We gotta have middle-class families up front in the car.  We don’t mind the Republicans joining us.  They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in the back.’

How ironic is this statement? After all this is the President of the United States talking. The president who is suppose to be a healer and “post racial”. He was the president that was supposed to inspire and unify America. When before in history has a U.S. President suggested that fellow citizens that didn’t agree with his policies are the enemy and should be punished? Obama has finally showed his true colors in a public forum in a way that can’t be denied.

Given the tone of this statement, how can he accuse anyone else of “rhetoric that is divisive and damaging”? Does the president even know anyone who represents core American values?

So far the only thing this president has demonstrated is the ability to divide as well as unbelievable arrogance and a stubborn streak a mile wide. Since taking office he has repeatedly sent the message that it’s his way or no way. There is no evidence that he is capable of meaningful compromise. He has had many opportunities to give small compromises to the Republicans during the past two legislative sessions. There were opportunities in both the Stimulus and Healthcare debates. In either case small compromises would have helped him neutralize the Republican objections but his ego wouldn’t permit it. Here are some examples of his arrogant posturing:

On the Economy:

After a long meeting with Congressional leaders prior to the passing of the Stimulus Bill, Republican leaders were voicing there disagreement and offering ideas on ways to compromise on the contents of the bill. After shooting down all their ideas, Obama told the Republicans, “on some of these issues we’re just going to have ideological differences.” The president added, “I won. So I think on that one, I trump you.” 

At a DNC fundraising dinner in San Francisco, President Obama took a shot at his critics saying, “Another way of putting it is when, you know, I’m busy and [Speaker] Nancy [Pelosi]’s busy with our mop cleaning up somebody else’s mess — we don’t want somebody sitting back saying, you’re not holding the mop the right way.” Or from a Virginia fundraiser, “I don’t want the folks who created the mess to do a lot of talking. I want them to just get out of the way so we can clean up the mess!” In others words – Shut Up!

On the Tea Party and Conservatives:

In a meeting with Congressional democrats to promote his healthcare reform bill Obama was quoted by the New York Times as saying, “Does anybody think that the teabag, anti-government people are going to support them if they bring down health care? All it will do is confuse and dispirit” Democratic voters “and it will encourage the extremists.”

At a San Francisco fundraiser Obama said, “You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations”.

Apparently, all conservatives or anyone for that matter who disagrees with his policies is a frustrated, bigoted, extremist.

On Immigration:

On July 2nd, President Obama gave a speech at American University and said, “…it’s not just that the law Arizona passed is divisive — although it has fanned the flames of an already contentious debate. Laws like Arizona’s put huge pressures on local law enforcement to enforce rules that ultimately are unenforceable. It puts pressure on already hard-strapped state and local budgets…. These laws also have the potential of violating the rights of innocent American citizens and legal residents, making them subject to possible stops or questioning because of what they look like or how they sound.” 

“One of the things that the (Arizona) law says is local officials are allowed to ask somebody who they have a suspicion might be a illegal immigrant for their papers. Now, suddenly, if you don’t have your papers and you took your kid out to get ice cream, you’re gonna be harassed. That’s something that could potentially happen.” – Barack Obama 

Based on the above comments, Obama’s recent remarks on a webcast designed to fire up his supporters seems quite hypocritical…

“The question, once again, is going to be whether hope overcomes fear. Essentially, what the other side has decided is that they are going to try to ride fear and anxiety all the way to the ballot box on November 2.” – Barack Obama

And let’s not forget, the President also struggles with his own feelings on Race and Racism: 

“I ceased to advertise my mother’s race at the age of twelve or thirteen, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.”

“I found solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother’s race.”

“To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully.  The more politically active black students.  The foreign students.  The Chicanos.  The Marxist professors and structural feminists.”

“I learned to slip back and forth between my black and white worlds.  One of those tricks I had learned: People were satisfied so long as you were courteous and smiled and made no sudden moves.  They were more than satisfied; they were relieved — such a pleasant surprise to find a well-mannered young black man who didn’t seem angry all the time.” 

“The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity.  She doesn’t.  But she is a typical white person…”

“That’s just how white folks will do you.” 

–         All of these quotes are from Obama’s books, writings and speeches 

And one more contradiction for good measure – Obama on why the democrats are having such a tough time in the mid-term elections:

“Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now, and facts and science and argument does not seem to be winning the day all the time, is because we’re hard-wired not to always think clearly when we’re scared. And the country is scared.’’  Apparently, we are not real smart. 

Some of the Presidents friends and supporters have also weighed in on why the democrat’s strategies are failing and their concerns about the conservative message:

Sen. John Kerry -“We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on, so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth.’’  John, can you say “Hope and Change”? 

ABC’s Christiane Amanpour – “I mean there’s been a long and venerable tradition of conservatism in this country. You can go back at least to Ronald Reagan, William F. Buckley, all of that sort of intellectual conservatism that lasted about 30 years and people are saying that right now, it’s really gone to the extreme. People are looking at the tea party and saying this is not conservatism as we knew it, but it’s extreme”.  Apparently, conservatives used to be smart, now we’re just scary! 

Rob Reiner explaining his fear of the Tea Party with a Hitler comparison:  “He wasn’t a majority guy, but he was charismatic and they were having bad economic times – just like we are now – people were out of work, they needed jobs and a guy came along and rallied the troops. My fear is that the Tea Party gets a charismatic leader, because all they’re selling is fear and anger and that’s all Hitler sold – “I’m angry and I’m frightened and you should hate that guy over there.”  Ironically, polls indicate that unemployment is highest among those who likely voted for Obama.

But there you have it, if you breakdown the opinions and commentary from the left as laid out above, you would probably conclude that conservatives are scared, angry, ignorant, bigoted, simpletons who will follow the first smooth talking shyster (lawyer/community organizer) with a great slogan (Hope & Change) that comes along, down a path that will destroy America.  Wait a minute!! So why aren’t these people jumping on the Obama bandwagon?  Oh, yeah their conservatives with American values. 

This president has attempted to divide America on the basis of race, class and partisanship for his own political gain and to further his progressive agenda. He is not above telling a big lie and repeating it with conviction to manipulate his listeners. Now using his “big lie” techniques and out of desperation to avoid a mid-term electoral disaster as a last resort, the president is calling for “punishing of our (political) enemies” and the “rewarding of our (political) friends”. 

Wake up, America! It is time to clean the House and the Senate of the “friends” of the Progressive Agenda! It is time to take back our country and stop its fundamental transformation. On Nov. 2^nd vote for America and freedom. Vote conservative! 

Restore the Republic, Reject the Agenda of the Progressive Left! 

“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves” – George Washington   

“If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen”- Samuel Adams 

“A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins” – Benjamin Franklin 

The Conservative Revolution: The Truth about the Real America

 Since early 2009 a conservative backlash has been brewing in America. It started slowly with a few small local Tea Party rallies, mostly focused on the impact of high income tax and excessive government spending on families, the economy and America. Tax Day (April 15^th) 2008 marked a turning point as rallies large and small were held across the nation. Suddenly conservatives realized two things – there were a lot more of us than we realized and we could loosely organize to make a difference.

 The nationwide Tax Day rallies were the result of a grassroots internet campaign. These rallies were self funded and run almost exclusively at the local level. I know – I was one of the organizers of the St. Paul MN rally held on the steps of the state capitol building. Our rally drew over 7,000 attendees that day. Even in liberal Minnesota there were signs of the coming backlash.

 So here we are nearly two years later and halfway through the first term of the Obama presidency. Obama was swept into office with a message of “Hope and Change”. Many of those who voted for him bought into the slick marketing of his campaign. They believed that this president would right the wrongs and end government as usual. He promised fairness as well as a new prosperity that would make America a better place and people bought it. His campaign positioned him as “the post racial president”, a healer and center left moderate but in reality he is a progressive.  As people began to realize who they had elected the euphoria which reined after his election quickly turned to discontentment.

The mood of America is now colored with grim concern. The independents and blue dog democrats that helped elect Obama have come to realize that he does not share their values or belief in the American way of life. In fact, they finally understand what Obama meant when he said that “we are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America” in an Oct. 31, 2008 speech in Missouri. Obama and his cohorts would like to create a new foundation for America, a foundation based on progressive values which have their roots in socialism/communism.

Their idea of government would be more of the European model of a socialist democracy with over reaching government controls, entitlements and heavy taxes to support a “nanny state” approach to “social justice”. There are two major problems with this model. First, it doesn’t work. It has not worked anywhere it was tried. It’s already falling apart in the liberals current favorite example of social democracy, Venezuela.  Second, Europe is an economic disaster. Its’ citizens are rioting in the streets as their governments try to figure out how to make good on all the entitlements they promised as their economies tank. (See Greece, France and Portugal for examples) To add additional salt to the wound, European society has begun to spiral out of control as years of “open borders and society” has resulted in a Muslim occupation in some areas of Europe leading to bitter fights over the secular rule of law versus Sharia law. These are all consequences of a social democracy.

If we are not careful we will end up in the same place. Just this year, the Congressional Budget Office said that our national debt as a percentage of GDP will triple by 2035 which would be 185% of GDP. This represents nothing short of an economic train wreck.

To stay on a path that leads to a social democracy would be a fundamental transformation of America! As it turns out though this is not what most Americans want. Most Americans (75% overall) still believe in the American Dream and traditional American values according to recent surveys. Here are some other findings of recent polls that indicate that America is still a Christian leaning, patriotic, capitalist, center right country with traditional values:

• The majority of Americans in every age group still believe that America is the land of opportunity.
• 75% of Americans still believe “America is the greatest country in the world”.
• 80% of Americans claim Christianity as their religion and 50% of Americans believe life in the United States would be better if more people lived Christian values
• 64% of voters say the country is on the wrong track and this number is steadily increasing.
• 90% of Mainstream voters favor a free market economy. 75% of likely voters overall believe in a free market economy rather than one controlled by the government.
• 58% of all voters favor increased competition over increased government regulation as the best way to hold big business accountable.
• 65% of voters overall, prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes rather than one with more services and higher taxes. Even 32% of Democrats now prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes.
• 83% of Americans believe it is somewhat likely that the federal government will have to cut government spending in the next 10 years.
• 53% of likely U.S. voters favor repeal of the health care law, including 43% who Strongly Favor repeal.
• 51% of Americans believe the healthcare law will increase the federal deficit. Only 30% believe it will reduce it.

Data sources: Rasmussen Reports, Real Clear Politics, ABC News, The Arizona Republic

It appears that Americans are reconnecting with their values. Sometimes it takes hardship to reawaken our spirits. I believe that recent times have taught us to value our freedom and our way of life. So now that we have the momentum to change the direction of our country and return to our core values, what’s our next move?

First, we must remember that the Republican Party has been a part of the problem as much as the Democrats for the past 20 years. Many moderate Republicans are progressives, too.

If we give the Republicans our votes – it should be done with this clear message – you work for us and from now on you will be held accountable for each and every vote you cast. No more back room deals, no more compromising. You campaigned on a platform that earned our votes, in return you need to vote the agenda that got you elected. If you don’t there won’t be another term.

This is the message that needs to be sent. No more politics as usual. There are many new faces on the political scene this year – most are riding the resurgent conservative wave. Hopefully they are who they say they are. Republicans, Independents and Tea Party candidates need to now do what is necessary to put America back on the right track. It’s time.

Restore the Republic, Reject the Agenda of the Progressive Left!

 “If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values – that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control”.  – Martin Luther King

Obama, Muslims and the Mosque

A recent poll conducted by  Pew Research Center and its affiliate Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 18% of Americans now believe that the president is a Muslim, up 7% from last year. The flack has gotten so bad that The White House Bill Burton even felt the need to issue a statement saying, “(Americans) are not reading a lot of news about what religion the president is. The president is obviously a Christian. He prays everyday.”

While the mainstream media continues to defend the president, concern among the average American grows – mostly driven by the president’s own behavior.

For two years in a row President Obama has been a no show on the National Day of Prayer, but has yet to miss hosting a Ramadan festival at the White House since becoming president. 

The list of overtures that Obama has made to the Muslim world has caused many to wonder why he feels the need to try so hard to listen to Muslims and win them over while virtually ignoring the voice of Americans who do not agree with his policies.

While still a candidate for president, Obama was quoted as saying: “I think that the [political] right might worry a bit more about the dangers of sectarianism. Whatever we once were, we’re no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”

Remember that the President’s father was a Muslim and Obama grew up in Indonesia which has one of the world’s largest Muslim populations. His administration has pushed hard to mend relations with Muslims. I do not know anyone who thinks that finding a way to peacefully co-exist with the Muslim world is a bad thing – but what price are we willing to pay for their cooperation. Are we willing to continue to allow the President’s pandering to them cause division within our own nation?

Here are a few more examples of Obama’s efforts and overtures to the Muslim world:

On Ramadan: “I know this to be a festive time,” he had said. “A time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But I also know that Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection, a time when Muslims fast during the day and perform tarawih prayers at night, reciting and listening to the entire Koran over the course of the month. These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.” For the past 10 years there has been very little evidence of Islam advancing any of these values or promoting peace!

Summer of Service Program: Obama has touted the “many Islamic organizations that have joined other faith-based groups at the forefront of his “Summer of Service” program to encourage Americans to volunteer in their communities.” Why go out of your way to specifically mention Muslim participation?

First TV Interview as President: Obama gave the first TV interview of his presidency to Al Arabiya, saying, “My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy.”

The Cairo Speech (a couple of excerpts): “So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed.  That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn’t.  And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. …  Now, much has been made of the fact that an African American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President.  But my personal story is not so unique.  The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores — and that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average.” Why does there always seem to be a shot at America or Americans in his comments?

The Christmas Decorations Controversy: Last December, word leaked out that the Obamas were planning a “non-religious Christmas”, whatever that is. According to Social Secretary Desiree Rogers the Obamas had decided not to put the White House Nativity scene on display which would have ended a longtime East Room tradition. All of this was reported in the NY Times, Fashion & Style section. In the article the White House confirmed to the Times that there had been discussions about the need to make Christmas more inclusive. In the end the Obamas caved to tradition but it has to make you wonder why a Christian family would consider such a move in the first place. Is it just political correctness gone awry or is there more to this?

And now the President’s latest fiasco – The Ground Zero Mosque Controversy:

“Recently, attention has been focused on the construction of mosques in certain communities — particularly New York. Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. And the pain and the experience of suffering by those who lost loved ones is just unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. And ground zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.

But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.” – Barack Obama 

In a series of recent comments, the President said that Muslims have the right to build a mosque near New York’s ground zero and that he supported the developers’ right to build there as well. Obama also stated that Muslims have the same right to freedom of religion as anyone else. All of which is true but does this make such a move the right thing to do? This is an administration that likes to harp on doing what’s right – so?

The mosque would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from the site of the World Trade Center which was attacked and destroyed by Muslim terrorists on Sept.11, 2001. Almost 3000 people were killed in that attack.

Many Americans now feel betrayed by Obama’s comments. While it is true that a core American value is freedom of religion, there is also the recognition of the right to establish community standards. 

 As Democrat, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. describes it, “We have what we call in this country ‘community standards,’ and community standards ought to be left up to the community. The decision on permitting for any building, be it a mosque or a church, or whatever may be a place of worship, or be it a grocery store or a liquor store, those things are left up to community standards…”

In this case the standard might be simply based on common decency and respect.  

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y weighed in saying, “President Obama is wrong. It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero.”

Democrats disagreed also, Senate candidate Jeff Greene (D) FL said, “President Obama has this all wrong and I strongly oppose his support for building a mosque near ground zero especially since Islamic terrorists have bragged and celebrated destroying the Twin Towers and killing nearly 3,000 Americans. Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of ground zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else.”

Many believe that building a mosque near ground zero is a deliberately provocative act and extremely insensitive. Others are just disappointed in the president’s position. “Barack Obama has abandoned America at the place where America’s heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see,” said Debra Burlingame, who lost her brother that day. He was a pilot of one of the hijacked jets.

Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office issued a statement saying, “The First Amendment protects freedom of religion. Senator Reid respects that, but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else.”

As for the Muslims who want to build this mosque claiming it will be a place that will foster understanding and cooperation between the Muslim community and their neighbors – here is an idea toward that goal; show a little sensitivity… build somewhere else!

I’ll stop here even though I could go on with questions about the theory that this is a “victory mosque” or question the credibility and motives of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the effort to build this mosque. However, none of that is the real story here – the real story or better yet question is – what does Barack Obama really stand for and what is his plan for America? One could argue that he has done more damage to the long term health of our country in less than two years than any president in history. (record deficit spending, healthcare reform, financial regulations and government takeovers of banks and companies, etc.)

Certainly none of this proves that the President is a Muslim or that it even matters. However in these few examples (and there are many more) one can not help but question why the President always seems to be on the side of everyone but Americans and that does matter. Whether we are talking about illegal immigration, America’s role in the world, the Constitution or capitalism – the President seems to always be opposed to core American values, beliefs and a constant critic of all that we stand for. Remember he wants to fundamentally transform America and so far he is succeeding.

It is time to stop this madness. Let’s not get distracted by this smoke screen. The President lobbed out these comments and went on vacation, secure in the knowledge that we will waste our time debating this instead of focusing on the systematic destruction of our country and our economy. I don’t know if the President is a Muslim, but I am damn sure he is a socialist!

Wake up, America! Restore the Republic, Reject Socialism!

“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it”. – Mark Twain

The Gulf Oil Spill – Too many coincidences…

April 20: Deepwater Horizon explodes. 

84 days later, the leak continues spewing a much debated number of gallons per day into the Gulf of Mexico (estimates range from 800,000 to 3 million gallons/day). 

Speculation on the how’s, the who’s and the why’s behind this “accident” is running rampant in the media and on the internet. Yet for all the media coverage available – getting the facts on Tiger Woods’ extramarital activities or whether or not, Brittney Spears is wearing panties seems easier and the evidence is usually more conclusive. Maybe we need TMZ to cover this story instead of the mainstream media. 

The official story is riddled with inconsistencies and missing details, but what is clear is that there are too many unexplained coincidences. These inconsistencies easily lend themselves to conspiracy theories that become difficult to simply dismiss. 

Leading up to the accident is a list of strange events and coincidences…   

Since the Obama administration took over in Jan. 2009, the Center for American Progress, led by former Clinton Chief of Staff, John Podesta, has played a major role in forming the administration’s energy policies. CAP , of course is the George Soros sponsored “progressive” think tank. In April 2009, a CAP report stated that the America has a moral obligation to spend whatever is necessary to help poorer nations deal with the effects of the “global warming” caused by industrialized nations like the U.S.  They already used the EPA to declare that emissions of six key greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride “threaten the public health and welfare of the American people”. Since the inauguration the administration has been pursuing Cap & Trade, the Copenhagen Treaty and the rest of the “green agenda” with a passion. At one point the White House even appointed a known progressive revolutionary, Van Jones as their “Green Jobs Czar”. He has since stepped down and returned to a role at CAP.

In Feb. 2009, George Soros invested $900 million in Petrobras, the state controlled oil company of Brazil. Then, as “luck” would have it (for Soros), the Obama administration decided in Aug. 2009 to loan Petrobras $2 billion for a deep water off shore drilling project off the coast of Brazil. The proposed project is in water up to 4 times deeper than the Deepwater Horizon well that exploded in the Gulf. After the well explosion, the administration immediately suspended all new drilling operations and shut down 33 other wells in the Gulf due to safety concerns with deep water drilling. I wonder if Petrobras would benefit from such a decision? 

According to reports and confidential BP internal documents, the well had a variety of problems including bad wiring, a leak in the “blowout preventer” and sealing problems that may have led to the methane eruption. Some of these problems appear to have been known as early as February, two months before the accident. Additionally there were procedural and safety problems with the oil rig that may have also contributed to the explosion. BP is now also reporting undocumented tampering with well sealing equipment. 

In another interesting twist, just one week before the explosion, Halliburton a major player in this saga, acquired Boots & Coots, a small but extremely experienced oil well control company. Their claim to fame was the work they did in Kuwait extinguishing and cleaning up the well fires set by retreating Iraqi troops during the first Gulf War. Was Haliburton worried about problems with the well? 

As for Haliburton themselves, they admitted during the recent Congressional hearings that they had   carried out a cementing operation on the Deepwater Horizon only 20 hours before the rig exploded.

Both workers and BP officials now say gases were leaking through the new cement, prior to the blast. Investigators say the leaks are probably the cause of the accident.  

Coincidentally (considering all the well problems since Feb.), Goldman Sachs decided to sell 44% of its’ BP stock holdings (4,680,822 shares) during the same timeframe. The transaction was worth $266 million and helped them avoid a $96 million loss in the weeks after the explosion. 

Also according to the U.K. Telegraph, BP CEO Tony Hayward sold about 33% of his BP stock in the 30 days prior to the spill. The transaction involved 223,288 shares which sold for $2.066 million. This sale helped Hayward avoid a loss of approximately $625,000. Hayward quickly used his profits to pay off his mansion in Kent. Did Goldman Sachs and Hayward know something about the troubles before the well blew up? 

Then, there is the suspicious behavior of our government. To start with there was the refusal to waive the Jones Act to allow foreign ships to help with the relief efforts. There were also offers from several countries such as the Netherlands, Romania, Norway, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Sweden and Britain made a variety of offers of aid, from skimmer ships to technology. Only Canada, Mexico and Norway’s offers were accepted, the rest were either turned away or remain “under consideration”. 

Additionally, the federal government has blocked and hindered the efforts of Louisiana, and the other Gulf states in taking action to protect their own coastlines. Efforts by Gov. Bobby Jindal to build sand berms to help keep the oil from washing ashore were blocked by the federal government. The Coast Guard also broke up a flotilla of barges set up to create an oil barrier. 

There were also those bizarre Congressional hearings with BP and the bulk $20 billion prepayment for spill damage claims. The money was given to the federal government to administer. Who hands over that much money when they claim they haven’t completed their own internal investigation of the cause? It is worth pointing out that they (BP) like to say that BP stands for Beyond Petroleum and that they are heavily invested in many forms of alternative energy as well as a proponent of carbon credits and trading. They also were a huge contributor to Obama’s presidential campaign. Even after all the bad press and the $20 billion payout is there enough upside in Cap & Trade to make it worth staying in the President’s good graces? Remember carbon trading is an estimated $10 trillion annual business if Cap & Trade passes. 

There are also other controversies such as the oil dispersants being used. The criticisms run from the EPA’s claim that they are too toxic to the fact that the ones being used are new and untested. Kevin Costner claims to have an oil/water separator system that could capture oil from the surface and return clean water to the Gulf. Since the system is untested, the EPA is concerned over environmental impact so they are moving slowly with putting the system into service. Could the environmental impact of removing the oil from the water without chemicals really be worse than doing nothing or using the questionable dispersants?   

Another significant piece to this story is that most deep water wells have redundant (2) “blow out preventers” yet for some reason BP was a given a waiver to operate with only one on the Deepwater Horizon well, even though it is a very deep well. The waiver was granted last year by the U.S. Minerals Management Service. Why? Do campaign contributions buy waivers? Just asking. 

Need more? The FAA declares area over the spill a no-fly zone. Obviously they want to keep unnecessary aircraft out of the area (media helicopters, for sure) but are they hiding something else? There is speculation in the oil and gas industry trade publications that this disaster is far from over and things have the potential to get a lot worse. Some experts believe that BP has tapped into a massive oil field that is covered by a large methane gas bubble capable of creating pressure at the well head of 100,000 psi which is 100 times what the equipment is designed to deal with. This has the potential to create an underwater oil volcano which could wreak havoc on the surrounding area by generating tidal waves and clouds of toxic gas. Is there imminent danger that the government is not telling us about? A cover up? 

Check out this article from Petroleum World, titled “The Well from Hell”: 

http://www.petroleumworld.com/sf10062001.htm 

Over the past several years we have seen the formation of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), which is funded by a variety of organizations, many of which have ties to the administration, pushing the “green agenda” of Cap & Trade. We have watched Al Gore (by the way a major investor in CCX) turn climate change into a full fledged industry. We have watched the U.N., the world’s elite and environmental extremists turn “climate change” into a radical movement bent on reshaping the global energy structure and redistribution of wealth. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that as a carbon credits trading operation, CCX will have the potential to make its’ investors very rich (some estimate $10 trillion annually) if Cap & Trade passes. So the question is -Is this about saving the planet or greed? Is the real green agenda more cash for the elite?

Will there soon be a cry from the Progressive Congressional Caucus calling for the nationalization of the oil industry?  In the past, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D) CA., a socialist moonbat, has called for nationalizing the oil companies, as have left leaning commentators such as MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. What’s even worse is that many Democrat voters actually believe this might be a good idea. Surely the answer to our problems is the government not greedy businesses like BP, right? Funny though how political donations from the evil corporations are still accepted by our saviors! I guess when you are saving the world no money is too dirty. 

“You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”  – Rahm Emanuel 

So ask yourself – what’s really going on here? Is the accident in the Gulf a “crisis” of opportunity for the administration to push through Cap & Trade? Is there a dragging of feet to get this thing capped to make the point that fossil fuels are unsafe? Remember according to Carol Browner the administration is in charge and calling all the shots in the Gulf, so no excuses right? It can’t be lost on most rational people that there are many glaring inconsistencies in this story and its’ relevant subplots. What is the real root cause; greed, incompetence, coincidences or conspiracy? My hunch is some of each but regardless this feels like another crossroads. Will this “accident” fuel more fundamental transformation of our country and our way of life? Will it be an excuse to further destroy our economy by becoming the catalyst for Cap & Trade? 

Wake up, America! Ask questions and demand answers! Time is running out…

 Restore the Republic, before it’s too late. 

Warnings from the Founding Fathers: 

“If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.” – Samuel Adams  

“Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world.” – Daniel Webster  

Obama’s Numbers in Freefall

Today’s Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows President Obama’s approval ratings freefalling to an approval index of -20. The poll shows that 46% strongly disapprove of his performance while only 26% strongly approve of it. Additionally only 43% of those polled even somewhat approve of the President’s job performance while indicate they disapprove. This represents a 3 – 4% negative shift from his average or the last 6 months.

In the past 4 weeks the President has also taken a -20 point hit in the polls for his handling of the Gulf oil crisis. 46% of all voters give him a poor rating for his handling of the event. With mainstream voters this slips even further to 61%. Still 60% of voters still support offshore oil drilling and think it should be allowed to continue. This may be because 67% believe the leak could have been prevented with closer government inspection of the wells. It is also worth noting that 64% of Americans claim they are following the story very closely.

58% of voters still favor repeal of the healthcare reform bill. 69% of voters feel the country is now headed the wrong direction.

       

Calderon Lectures Congress

This week Mexican President Felipe Calderon visited the U.S. and decided to take the opportunity to weigh in on the new Arizona immigration law.

“It is a law that not only ignores a reality that cannot be erased by decree but also introduces a terrible idea using racial profiling as a basis for law enforcement,” he said

Calderon says Mexico rejects efforts “to criminalize migration so that people (who) work and provide things to this nation will be treated as criminals.” He went on to say “We oppose firmly” the Arizona law, which is “partial and discriminatory.” Adding, (we) “need to fix a broken and inefficient system … the time has come to reduce the causes of migration and to turn this phenomenon into a legal, ordered and secure flow of workers and visitors.”

Watch excerpts from his speech and other comments:

Calderon went on to say, “we cannot ignore the fact that the challenge to our security has roots on both sides of the border.” As evidence he cited the high demand for drugs by Americans as a driving factor for the border problems and violence. He also called on Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons which expired during the Bush presidency, blaming the availability of high-powered weapons for increasing drug-related violence along the border.

Calderon said Mexico planned to have universal health care by 2012 which he claimed would give Mexicans “one less reason” to migrate to the United States.

During his speech to Congress, Calderon addressed Mexicans living here in Spanish saying, “Mexicans (in Mexico) admire and miss them and are working to protect their rights”. Really? They are going to work to protect their rights. Really? Newsflash – if you are here illegally the only right you have is to be deported!

Notice he doesn’t offer the Mexican Immigration Law as a model for us to emulate. Wonder why? It’s tougher than ours, that’s why! Here is a quick snap shot of Mexican Immigration Rules, go to:

 http://michellemalkin.com/2010/04/28/police-state-how-mexico-treats-illegal-aliens/

Are you ready to throw up yet?! Enough is enough. This a travesty. Calderon is the president of a crime ridden, impoverished, train wreck of a country. He and his government are not do anything to help with the problem.

Why should they when it is estimated that illegal workers in the U.S. send back to Mexico between $15-22 billion a year. That influx of cash helps to make up for a lack of a national economy.

Furthermore, he had the nerve to suggest our gun laws and the American appetite for drugs are our contributions to the overall problem. What happened to diplomacy and decorum? Even if this guy believes this – shouldn’t it have been a private discussion between two leaders? To stand on the lawn of our White House and on the floor of our Capitol then proceed to tell us that he supports the rights of his citizens, who are here in our country illegally is unbelievable. Even more unbelievable is that the Democrats applauded him and the Republicans didn’t get up and walk out. Where is our patriotism?

Through all of this “our” President never disagreed or even addressed that Mexico needed to do more. Worse yet, this is what he did say, (the law) “has the potential of being applied in a discriminatory fashion. … A fair reading of the language of the statute indicates that it gives the possibility of individuals who are deemed suspicious of being illegal immigrants from being harassed or arrested. The judgments that are going to be made in applying this law are troublesome.” He went on to promise a full review by the Justice Dept.

So clearly the President hasn’t read the bill yet. The bill is clear on how the law is to be applied. It provides for punishment of officers who use it improperly. Ironically, the law is almost a mirror image of the federal law that is not being enforced. Also any law has the potential to abused by its’ enforcers without appropriate oversight. Also at the end of the day this is a state’s rights issue.

Read the bill:  http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdfThe 10th Amendment allows state’s to make their own laws to protect the interests of their citizens. Arizona is tired of the crime, the murders, kidnappings, drugs and the drain on the state’s finances. The federal government wasn’t helping so what other choice did they have? The only one showing any real leadership in this situation is AZ Gov. Brewer.

Gov. Brewer has support too. 71% of Arizona voters support the new law as do 69% nationwide according to Rasmussen Reports. Rasmussen also says that 55% of all voters would favor similar laws in their states and 67% say Mexico is not interested in stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S.

I am running out of new things to say about what is going on. America – this is wrong! What has happened to our country in just over a year? Where is our nationl pride? This my friends is not how it is supposed to be in America. Stand up, Fight back and Make your voice heard!

Restore the Republic, Reject the Progressive Left!

“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” – Mark Twain