Right in a Left World

Allen West to Liberals, "Get The Hell Out of the USA"

2012-01-29T22:38:00.000-08:00

Full speech here

Huffington Post reports, "Moments after the quote was mentioned on Twitter, former Reid spokesman Jim Manley responded via his own Twitter feed: 'Me to allen west. You first asshole'."

Obama's Job Creation Lie

2012-01-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

Looking around at some newspapers from across the country, I stumbled upon the following ad at the Orlando Sentinel.

I'm sure Democrats believe this chart and want others to. But, going to the very source the Obama campaign claims to use we find.

If you note, when Democrats were swept into congressional power in January 2007, in order to correct an "unbearable" unemployment rate, the rate of unemployment was 4.7%. After two years of their "fixing" things under the leadership of then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, unemployment grew to 7.8% when Obama was inaugurated in January 2009.

After peaking over 10.0%, the national unemployment rate did not drop below 9% for well over 2 years. The current 8.5% does not include those who ran out of unemployment compensation and just dropped off the unemployment roles or those who once worked full-time and are now part-time at a much lower wage.

As the following chart shows, again from the very same Bureau of Labor Statistics Obama's campaign claims to be using, unemployment remains much higher than when Obama took office.

I don't know what sort of math the Obama campaign is using, but when I see unemployment much higher today than when he took office, I tend to believe that there has been no job creation. If the claim of all of those jobs being created were true, unemployment should be lower, not higher than when he took office.

Don't fall for fancy looking charts. Look for their sources to verify claims as I did and you will realize that Barack Obama does not deserve a second chance. Remember, it was he who said if he couldn't fix the economy in three years he would be one term president.

He not only hasn't fixed it, he's made it much worse.

It's time to take America back and send both Obama and his Democrat cronies to the unemployment line.

OMG 2012

Obama Cronies Big Winners In Blocking Keystone XL Pipeline

2012-01-24T16:11:00.000-08:00

Ever since Barack Obama nixed the TransCanada Oil Pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf, many people, unions and Democrats included have been scratching their heads pondering why he would kill off so many potential private sector jobs during these dire economic times.

Yes I know it was all blamed on those evil Republicans, who pushed for a quicker decision after years of dragging it out, but what else is new from the Poseur in Chief? Everything is the fault of the Republicans according to Obama and his fellow Democrat Party leaders.

It seems now, with a new revelation, that some very wealthy people who have supported Obama and spoke on behalf of his policies that continue to bankrupt the country stand to make Billions of dollars off of this decision to kill off the Keystone XL Pipeline project.

A January 22, 2012 Bloomberg article tells us “Buffett’s Burlington Northern Among Winners From Keystone Denial.”

That is multi-Billionaire Warren Buffet who made news last year with his claim in support of Obama’s call for higher taxes on the wealthy by claiming he paid less in tax than did his secretary, subsequently shown to be a spurious claim.

We now hear from Bloomberg,

“Warren Buffett’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC is among U.S. and Canadian railroads that stand to benefit from the Obama administration’s decision to reject TransCanada Corp. (TRP)’s Keystone XL oil pipeline permit.”

With the denial of the pipeline, Canadian oil we import will come by trains that are currently operating at capacity carrying oil from the Bakken in North Dakota and Alberta at about 300,000 barrels a day. The Keystone Pipeline was projected to carry 700,000 barrels a day.

To meet the challenge, tank car production will have to rapidly increase to meet the increased output from the Bakken and Alberta. While that would mean jobs in that industry, shipping oil by rail instead of a pipeline will add $3.00 per barrel of oil to its cost.

Environmentalists were delighted to see the Keystone Pipeline denied as they feared it would increase the environmental impact, such as a loss of wetlands and agricultural productivity. Not realized though, is that shipping by rail will increase greenhouse gas emissions they constantly bray about.

What also must be considered is the “environmental impact” of train derailments compared to pipeline leakage. McAleer Law.com lists,

“United States train and railroad accident statistics estimate that almost every 2 weeks a train derailment leads to a chemical spill. Some of these spills are so serious that require the evacuation of local residents. The occurrence and frequency of train accidents has been escalating since 1997.”

The Department of Transportation informs us concerning pipeline safety,

“Pipelines are the safest and most cost-effective means to transport the extraordinary volumes of natural gas and hazardous liquid products that fuel our economy. To move the volume of even a modest pipeline, it would take a constant line of tanker trucks, about 750 per day, loading up and moving out every two minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The railroad-equivalent of this single pipeline would be a train of seventy-five 2,000-barrel tank rail cars every day. These alternatives would require many times the people, clog the air with engine pollutants, be prohibitively expensive and -- with many more vehicles on roads and rails carrying hazardous materials -- unacceptably dangerous.”

But, Warren Buffett and other cronies of Barack Obama don’t stand to reap Billions of dollars in profit off of a safer means of transportation like a pipeline.

John Hayward at Human Events tells us,

“As it happens, 75 percent of the oil currently shipped by rail out of North Dakota is handled by Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC… which just happens to be a unit of Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. What a coincidence!”

Fox News tells us,

“Killing the Keystone XL pipeline may help one of the world's richest men get richer. North Dakota's booming oil fields will now grow more dependent on a railroad the president's economic guru just bought.”

Dave Boyer at the Washington Times says,

“Warren Buffett, whom President Obama likes to cite as a fair-minded billionaire while arguing for higher taxes on the wealthy, stands to benefit from the president’s decision to reject the Keystone XL oil pipeline permit.”

He continues,

“Mr. Obama often cites Mr. Buffett as an example of a civic-minded billionaire because the entrepreneur has said he should pay a higher tax rate than his secretary. Mr. Buffett and the president like to tell the story of how Mr. Buffett pays a 15 percent effective tax rate, while his secretary pays a higher rate even though she earns only a fraction of what he does.

The president has called his push for higher taxes on the wealthy the “Buffett rule.”

The secretary, Debbie Bosanek, will sit with first lady Michelle Obama in her box in the House gallery at Tuesday night’s State of the Union speech.”

Little doubt Obama will make prominent mention of Buffett’s cry to tax the wealthy more using Buffett’s secretary as a prop, all the while not mentioning how it is he who ensures selected liberal Billionaires such as Warren Buffet increase their bottom line in areas of investment so their tax payments remain low.

For all of the talk of how Obama is looking out for the “little guy” and how it is Republicans always favoring the super wealthy, we see this one decision of his benefitting a super wealthy person while keeping us “little guys” unemployed and dependent upon government.

OMG 2012

Where is Ron Paul’s DD 214?

2012-01-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

Once again we see Ron Paul supporters boasting of his Military Service, 2 years active in the US Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and another 2 in the Air National Guard (the same Air National Guard President Bush was accused of hiding out from the draft and Vietnam service in) as a doctor.

As the undated photo of him in uniform seems to show, he has Captain’s bars on his shoulders, no ribbons and a basic medical corps badge above his left pocket, but no Flight Surgeon Badge.

US Air Force Flight Surgeon Badge

You might not feel it is relevant to ask to see Ron Paul’s Military Record, but just as with previous candidates who boast of Military Service, as Ron Paul did in the debates with Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and others, it is incumbent upon him to support his claim of service.

I have no doubt that he served as an Air Force doctor (Flight Surgeon) for 2 years, from 1963 to 1965 and then finished out with the Air National Guard (1965 to 1968), but since he now makes that service a central part of his campaign, we voters are entitled to know about his service, deployments (if any), character of service and rank attained.

While many say his active service was stateside, RonPaul.com, a major supportive web site claims in their sidebar, “Ron Paul is a proud Air Force veteran. He served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1965 and then in the U.S. Air National Guard from 1965 to 1968. During his military service Ron Paul spent time on the ground in Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, Turkey, Ethiopia and other countries.”

Another supporter asks in several places, “Why is Ron Paul’s exemplary military record not mentioned by the Media? They follow the question with, “Dr. Paul was drafted and served on active duty in the US Air Force (1963-65) as a surgeon, achieving the rank of Captain and also became a qualified pilot. Dr Paul served with distinction in the US Air Force from 1963-1968.”

Everywhere you look you’ll find supporters of Ron Paul boasting of his Military Service as if he deserves an edge over others due to it. This tactic was tried back in the 2007/2008 campaigns also.

In dealing with supporters of Ron Paul, who take great umbrage at anyone opposing him, as if committing blasphemy, it was unusual to receive comments such as “This man served in Vietnam,” “I'm voting for former Vietnam Combat Flight Surgeon,,, Ron Paul,” “Unlike Dick Cheney, George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, Paul served in Vietnam for duty… not booty,” “He is a Vietnam veteran - he is a doctor who served as flight surgeon in the Vietnam war - not like some of these phony veterans that you see prancing around Washington D.C. on the news all the time,” “The former Vietnam flight surgeon is the perfect candidate for President,” “As a result of this experience in the Vietnam War, Dr. Paul is a staunch advocate of getting the troops out of Iraq,” “Dr. Paul served his country, and its soldiers as a field surgeon, probably seeing the coldest side of the Vietnam War,” “He is a doctor, a historian, a war hero,” “Ron Paul served this nation in Vietnam honorably as a flight surgeon,” “Paul, a 10-term congressman from Texas, was one of a handful of Republicans to vote against military action in Iraq. The Vietnam veteran and physician voted against the Patriot Act and Military Commissions Act” and “Ron Paul is an Honorably Discharged Vietnam Veteran. Are you?”

Confronting Ron Paul’s supporters on theirs and his claim of Military service often draws a response such as, “Let us get back to the MAJOR BENEFITS of getting Ron Paul elected President instead of someone's DD214!”

I, for one, am a little tired of those who boast of Military Service they may not be entitled to. Supporters of Ron Paul boast of Vietnam Service but never wish to back it up with any proof of a Vietnam Service Ribbon or even a National Defense Service Ribbon.

Ron Paul and his supporters have made his brief service in the Air Force and the Air National Guard into a major part of his campaign again this year and still, no documentation of anything.

This must stop.

I call on Ron Paul to open his Military Records, make his DD-214 public to support his claims and those of his supporters.

If all others are “chickenhawks” as claimed, it is now incumbent upon Ron Paul to document his Military Service to show he too is not the real “chickenhawk.”

Ron Paul, show us your DD-214!

Obama Kills Pipeline, China Jumps In To Buy Canada’s Oil

2012-01-21T01:05:00.000-08:00

Years of planning, studies and promotion were flushed down the drain Wednesday when Barack Obama announced he would not approve of the Keystone XL pipeline that would have brought Alberta oil down from Canada to the Gulf Coast where it would be refined for use in America and exported to South American countries.

In plain simple words, Obama killed thousands of jobs at a time American workers are struggling to make ends meet, many still suffering from unemployment or underemployment. Not only were much needed jobs killed, our energy security is greatly hampered now, keeping us dependent on oil from the volatile middle east.

Outrage and opposition was nearly immediate as shown by ARRA News Service in Arkansas with the article, Newspapers, Dems, Labor Unions Blast Obama for Nixing Keystone Pipeline . Yes, even those considered to be Obama’s base are upset over such a ridiculous job killing decision at this time of deep and ongoing economic struggles.

As can be expected, even after three years of the permitting process, Obama laid all blame for his decision at the feet of the Republicans saying he “was not acting on the merits of TransCanada Corp.’s plan, but instead was forced to make the decision based on the ‘arbitrary’ deadline mandated by GOP provisions in December’s payroll tax cut extension deal.”

In a prepared statement he said, “As the State Department made clear last month, the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment.”

Apparently ignored by Obama is that TransCanada has gone well beyond safety requirements with state of the art measures and the implementation of some 57 safety measures not even called for.

Mark Green of the American Petroleum Institute reminds us that back in 2009, it was Barack Obama’s State Department who put forth the best argument in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline when it was stated, “… the addition of crude oil pipeline capacity between Canada and the United States will advance a number of strategic interests of the United States. These included increasing the diversity of available supplies among the United States’ worldwide crude oil sources in a time of considerable political tension in other major oil producing countries and regions; shortening the transportation pathway for crude oil supplies; and increasing crude oil supplies from a major non-Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries producer.

Canada is a stable and reliable ally and trading partner of the United States, with which we have free trade agreements which augment the security of this energy supply. Approval of the permit sends a positive economic signal, in a difficult economic period, about the future reliability and availability of a portion of United States’ energy imports, and in the immediate term, this shovel-ready project will provide construction jobs for workers in the United States.”

Of course, that glowing comment was given upon approval of the Alberta Clipper pipeline, but 2009 wasn’t an election year where Obama has to cater to the far left in hopes of being reelected.

As was brought out a few months ago, as wacko environmentalists continued to raise opposition to the creation of good paying private sector jobs that would be created with the Keystone XL project, China has been ready to step in and buy Canada’s oil sands oil, further undermining America’s energy security and growing their hold on the world’s oil supply.

With Obama’s rejection of the project, Canada is prepared to do business with China, growing Canada’s economy and providing Canadians with jobs denied American workers.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute has put together a group called Resourceful Earth.org that is not taking this lying down and are urging struggling taxpayers to help push back with a petition and assisting in other actions.

Resourceful Earth states, “The Obama Administration had until February 21 to look at the facts and make an educated decision on the Keystone XL project, but instead, he chose to jump-the-gun and have the State Department announce it will kill the permits necessary for work to get started on the pipeline.”

“This is a blatant political decision that postpones Obama having to make a real decision on the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline until after his re-election campaign, putting his own job ahead of the creation of American jobs and economic improvement.”

As brought out in an earlier post, another move this election year is Vote 4 Energy.

They are joined by Energy Citizens and Ethical Oil.org, a Canadian group supporting America and Canada continuing our long partnership in trading.

They have penned an article, “Obama’s cynical pipeline politics” that begins with “When Barack Obama was running for president of the United States, he made a bold promise. “If I’m president, I’m immediately going to direct the full resources of the federal government, and the full energy of the private sector, to a single overarching goal,” he said. “In 10 years time, we are going to eliminate the need for oil from the entire Middle East and Venezuela.”

President Obama has had four years to make good on that promise. He’s not even close. And his decision Wednesday to deny permission for a new pipeline that would replace oil from those OPEC countries with Canadian oil, indicates that he didn’t actually mean what he said. As the famed American energy investor T. Boone Pickens put it after the White House announced its veto on the Keystone XL pipeline, “We can kiss another chance at energy security goodbye. We must really like OPEC oil.”

Read the rest here.

As we continue to struggle in this recession, one of the longest lasting economic downturns in our history, we cannot afford to allow such irresponsible decisions by a politician to stand. We must push back and demand our lawmakers and elected leaders make decisions that improve our economy and get America’s workers back to work.

Empty and hollow promises won’t do. Pouring Billions of dollars into expensive, unreliable and inefficient “alternative” energy sources to must receive an influx of scarce tax dollars to operate must cease.

We need energy, we need revenues and above all, we need the jobs these projects provide.

I don’t know exactly whose side Barack Obama is on, but it is getting clearer every day that he is not on the side of struggling middle class taxpayers.

Forensic Accounting Analysis Released, Time To Pull The Plug On CRC

2012-01-19T22:34:00.000-08:00

After many months of work, Forensic accountant Tiffany Couch has released her CRC Forensic Accounting Analysis (81 page pdf)

Her work has "identified numerous significant questionable accounting and contracting practices involving the CRC."

Today, January 19, 2011, she held a meeting in the Republican Caucus Room with Washington State Legislators where she shared her findings with "Representatives Armstrong, Clibborn, Harris, Moeller, Orcutt, and Rivers. Washington State Department of Transportation officials on hand included: David Dye, Deputy Secretary of Transportation; Steve McKerney, WSDOT Director of Internal Audit; and Bob Covington, Director of Accounting and Financial Services. CRC project office officials and staff were invited but chose not attend."

As previously noted, Tiffany Couch was one of 15 speakers speaking at the Smarter Bridge Committee News Conference held last Thursday morning on the northern bank of the Columbia River, each expressing their own misgivings on the current project as planned.

Ms. Couch communicated questionable accounting practices on just where has some $150 Million of our tax dollars gone. She touched on this in the Executive Summary,

"As a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner it is my professional opinion - based upon the information I have reviewed, and measured against the continued difficulties I’ve experienced with Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project office members – that the accounting and contracting practices for the CRC project are characterized by irregularities and planning missteps on many fronts. The magnitude of these irregularities, in terms of quantity, amount, and qualitative aspects of the project, are more than adequate to indicate that this project is suffering from a severe lack of accountability, transparency, and oversight. It is my further opinion that these irregularities are of a sufficient depth to warrant an intervention on the project, and perhaps a termination or delay until procedures are in place that provide for centralized accounting and financial decision making, and compliance with federal and state contracting standards. Whether there is sufficiency to elevate these irregularities to a definition that would warrant the assertion of civil or criminal practices is not the subject of my comments today. Such definition could not be ascribed without further scrutiny and investigation. That responsibility from here forward falls to you – the elected officials who run these states – in your representation of your constituents, the citizens of Washington (and Oregon).

I have maintained for some time, based off of what I read in the Columbian, the Oregonian and the Willamette Week that an investigation is warranted and if need be, a criminal investigation conducted by the Department of Justice. That does not mean any actual criminal acts have been performed, but it would reveal just what has been going on.

We should not forget the rancor over a misplaced $100,000 in the city of Washougal just a couple years ago that resulted in a criminal investigation. Here we are concerned with over $150 Million so far!

Days ago the Portland Tribune published, "Irvington group gathers money for bridge legal fight Neighborhood coalition expected to appeal Columbia River Crossing to federal court" informing us the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods Inc intentions of "appealing the massive bridge project to federal court."

Few people don't agree that the bridge across the Columbia in the I-5 corridor shouldn't be replaced, but we also acknowledge that the current $3.5 Billion to $10 Billion design is much more than is needed and will not decrease congestion through that area. Most admit if reducing congestion is really the overall goal, more bridges would be needed and a vast improvement would need to be seen in the I-5 freeway through Portland, Oregon.

There is also the matter of forcing Clark County resident's to accept Portland's financially struggling light rail extended into our community, even though 3 past votes have indicated we do not wish it to be brought over here.

Speakers at the Smarter Bridge Committee news conference also brought out that there are at least 3 other proposals in existence to deal with replacing the bridge at a reasonable cost and that might actually reduce congestion that have not been considered.

Citizen efforts at accountability have been ignored and ridiculed by community elected leaders with the willing help of the Columbian who once featured a front page article with photos of the citizens who most often question the project.

Successful businessman David Madore, who hired Ms. Couch to do the work the government should have been doing and reporting became the target of elected leaders and the Columbian.

To their credit, even the Columbian has began questioning and publishing editorials expressing misgivings on the project too, here and here. As strong of a cheerleader as the Columbian has been, to see them now making such a drastic turnaround screams for some level of investigation.

Little doubt that Vancouver mayor, Boss Tim 'the liar' Leave-it' and county commissioner Steve Stuart will try to marginalize the report from Ms. Couch and continue trying to shove this project down our throats, whether we can afford it or even want it.

I hope that between the legislatures of both states as well as ODOT and WSDOT, this boondoggle will come to a screeching halt until questions are answered, proper accountability is put into place and if warranted, prosecutions taking place.

It can and must be done better.

See also Columbia River Crossing officials suggest significant downsizing to trim $650 million from the controversial project for Oregon Governor Kitzhaber's "Plan B" and Couv.com for Forensic accountant slams high costs, low competition of CRC

Delivering One Last Gift

2012-01-18T17:12:00.001-08:00

Very moving story.

Delivering One Last Gift, posted with vodpod

This Election, “Vote 4 Energy”

2012-01-14T22:09:00.000-08:00

Once again, we are faced with an election year. Democrats & Republicans and others will be begging for our vote and for our money while making lavish promises most have no intention of keeping or won’t be able to.

We’ll see and hear each candidate boasting of some record or grand idea to fix our continuing economic struggles. From raising taxes on the wealthy to stopping tax breaks to corporations that create the jobs many have. From making past tax breaks permanent to cries of shrinking the size of government.

We’ll hear promises of how “Green” energy is the answer to our reliance to foreign oil.

We’ll be hearing blame slung around and catchy slogans to grab our attention and vote.

But who will really address issues that have and continue to create economic havoc in our lives? Who will take a stand to the radical environmentalists and bureaucrats who keep us highly dependent upon foreign oil and mired in this elongated “Great Recession” by blocking job creation?

Our energy security is not a partisan issue, it’s an American issue. That point is the driving force behind a new advocacy group, Vote4Energy that lists on their homepage, “A Vote 4 Energy is a vote for more jobs, higher government revenues and greater energy security.”

Jack Gerard, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, who created the Vote4Energy recently delivered a State of American Energy address (video of the address here).

Early in the address Mr. Gerard noted,

“What we say here in Washington is important because it is here, after all, that policy that affects all Americans is made.”
“But there are millions of other voices across the country, and what happens here should be a reflection of what Americans are saying.”
“And in poll after poll, over the last year, they have voiced their opinions about our energy choices. They have framed the issues in ways that are most relevant to their families, businesses and communities.”

Acknowledging the words heard in the video, Mr. Gerard stated,

“You know, it’s never a bad idea to listen to the American people.”
“Their comments can cut to the heart of things and find clarity—in sharp contrast to the confusion that often prevails today inside Washington’s Beltway.”
“Americans look for consensus, which has become rare in here in Washington.”
“Without question, in this election year, what voters are saying is: give us leadership.”
“Give us leaders who share our vision of a strong and prosperous America, based on our ability to create and innovate.”

If only our elected leaders took the time to remember or even acknowledge that our voices actually do matter. Regardless of party, it seems all too often once seated in their “cushioned seats of authority,” our voices seem lost and ignored to various lobbyists and special interests.

We in Washington State do not have a large presence of known reserves to be recovered, but we do have 5 refineries operating within the state. A study by Wood Mackenzie recently showed that with a smarter policy addressing our energy industry, we could see the addition of “19,805 new well-paying jobs in the state of Washington by 2030.”

Mark Green of the Energy Tomorrow blog reminds of the industry’s ability to create jobs needed to spark a meaningful recovery when he wrote,

“One in seven of today’s recent college graduates live at home today because they can’t find good jobs. In North Dakota, young people working in oil and gas hold jobs that pay more than their parents earn. The average oil and gas salary in North Dakota is more than $90,000 a year – more than double the state average. In Pennsylvania, Governor Corbett’s staff told me that shale gas development generated more than 90,000 jobs between 2009 and 2011. That development has also generated many millions of dollars of revenue to the state treasury.”

Addressing the failure and lack of vision seen from our current leaders in regards to the Keystone XL Pipeline proposal, Mark quotes Jack Gerard,

“Frankly, this vision and its policies are disconnected from current economic and energy reality, which is a landscape of global economic struggles and geopolitical challenges. This vision ignores the jobs and the energy that could be produced here in the U.S. Instead, it’s on a course for less energy, not more. These policies are failing us.”

How right they are as we see the highest unemployment America has seen in decades with failed policy after failed policy coming from Washington D.C.

Hopes of alternate energy sources remain short lived as we see idled and rusting wind farms spotting the landscape, alternate energy advocates blocking construction in their own back yards and read of cockamamie ideas like pumping cold water into a central Oregon volcano to generate steam for geothermal energy.

Vote4Energy provides a link to our elected officials in order that we may learn how they voted on matters concerning our energy policies. Maria Cantwell, up for reelection to the senate received a 0% rating for her stand on energy, not surprising considering she joined in with the 5 other West Coast Senators in advocating a “Permanent Moratorium” on all off shore recovery along the West Coast.

Jay Inslee, who would just love to be our next governor, also received a 0% rating for his congressional stand on America’s energy independence and security.

Vote4Energy says,

“There is a straightforward way to create American job loss, tackle the national debt and alleviate concern over our energy future. By increasing access to domestic resources and implementing other pro-development energy policies, the oil and natural gas industry can provide one million new American jobs, contribute hundreds of billions in government revenue and significantly increase our energy security, all by 2020.”

America, we need the energy. We need the security. We need to revenues that could be generated and above all, we need the jobs.

As campaigns unfold and ads hit the airways, I urge you all to question candidates on energy and economic matters. Look at their records and question their claims and promises. Don’t accept any at face value.

Above all, let’s Vote4Energy and begin climbing out of this economic morass several past poor choices has put us in.

Don’t Ban, Recycle

2012-01-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

With all that the governor has placed on the table for the legislature to deal with in a short 60 day session, sales tax increase, $3.6 Billion in transportation wants, funding education and same sex marriage, why would they waste time considering a ban on plastic bags that will not help anyone in the state and in fact, would cost us more jobs in Washington State?

Younger folks might not realize it, but plastic bags were a demand of environmentalists’ decades ago in order to “save the trees.” Prior to that, brown paper bags were the norm, but tree huggers came along and with their demand to do away with the paper bags, the plastic bags we see today became the norm.

Early plastic bags were a made of a compound dependent upon petroleum and as the industry became aware of the drawbacks of petroleum based plastics, developed more bio-degradable materials to manufacture them from.

As recycling of such materials became more common, companies sprang up that recycled the bags and manufactured more out of the recycled materials.

One such company is Hilex Poly who says of their operations,

Hilex Poly’s sustainability goal is to establish a viable environmental program and product line that:
• Reduces the impact of plastic on the environment through recycling and increased recycled content
• Sets a high standard of industry leadership and corporate citizenship
• Creates meaningful benefits for the environment and the community
• Facilitates environmental action by retailers and the community

Left unsaid but obvious, they also employ American workers in America.

Just this past Wednesday, Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Policy for Hilex Poly, Mark Daniels appeared before our legislature to testify on what a ban on plastic bags would mean in the way of jobs and how the desired effect could not be met.

Mark said,

“Washington residents interested in reducing litter and protecting the environment would be far better served supporting a statewide recycling program rather than an all-out ban on retail plastic carry-out bags, a policy which will only push consumers to alternatives that are less sustainable, not more. The truth is banning one product that makes only one to two percent of litter will have no meaningful impact on litter. Instead, it will result in forcing consumers to use products such as reusable bags, which are mostly imported from China, made from foreign oil and are not recyclable, or to use paper bags, which have a larger carbon footprint than plastic bags.

“There is a better way. According to EPA data, plastic bag recycling increased 24 percent between 2009 and 2010 nationwide. Washington has the opportunity to show real environmental leadership and enact a comprehensive recycling plan that actually reduces litter, saves American jobs and protects consumer choice.”

In February 2011, Shoreline Liberal Democrat Senator Marilyn Chase appeared on KPAM 860’s Victoria Taft show speaking some of the most outrageous hyperbole I’ve ever heard on banning plastic bags. Listen here.

I find her position to be totally incredulous as she does not even consider recycling, even after many years of forcing recycling of all other recyclable materials on us.

The jobs lost during these dire economic times with such a ban are shown in a Fact Sheet compiled and supplied by Bag the Ban.com.

More information is located at 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK THOSE WHO WANT TO BAN OR TAX PLASTIC BAGS.

Our unemployment in Washington State remains above the national average with Clark County even higher than that. With the legislature placing the burgeoning budget gap on the back burner to push same-sex marriage first, pushing legislation that will cost more jobs and place more restrictions on taxpayers is not in the best interest of the state.

Do we really want to become more dependent upon China for shopping bags that have been shown to carry a much larger risk to retain bacteria that might be contaminating other food products placed in them?

I would hope not.

If you are as tired as I am of being pushed round by government and for reasons that will not benefit society, I urge you to sign this petition and tell our legislators, “Bag the Ban.”

We need to keep our jobs and our freedoms, not have even more restrictive policies passed on us by elected people who believe they know better and accomplish nothing!

Max Light Rail Beating - Removed by You Tube for "Hate Speech"

2012-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

See background at Victoria Taft

Union Cries Foul At Coast Guard Escort For Grain Ship

2012-01-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

The United States Coast Guard has a long history of protecting our coastal waterways and shorelines. They state on their website,

“For over two centuries the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded our Nation’s maritime interests in the heartland, in the ports, at sea, and around the globe. We protect the maritime economy and the environment, we defend our maritime borders, and we save those in peril. This history has forged our character and purpose as America’s Maritime Guardian — Always Ready for all hazards and all threats.”

Serving in the U.S. Coast Guard has often been shown honorable, yet hazardous in many of their missions.

Most Americans hold the Coast Guard, along with the rest of our brave younger people in other branches of the Military in highest regard, recognizing the sacrifices made on all of our behalf and appreciating their performance in the duties.

Apparently not in that group of appreciative people is members of the San Francisco Labor Council who has issued a condemnation of the announcement that Coast Guard vessels will escort the first ship due to dock at the EGT Grain Terminal at the Port of Longview, still embroiled in a labor dispute with ILWU local 21 in Longview, Washington.

The Longview Daily News reported on January 6, 2012 news of the Coast Guard escorting the first grain ship to dock at EGT’s terminal as large protests are also scheduled to meet the ship, with expectations of a repeat of the tactics seen before as ILWU members and supporters trespassed on company property, vandalized grain shipments in rail cars, terrorized security guards and blocked trains, drawing over $300,000 in fines from federal court for their illegal acts.

Jeff Washburn, president of the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Central Labor Council announced his group has passed a resolution calling for a protest, but stops short in calling for blocking the ship, a viewed shared by the ILWU.

However, the Occupy Anything But A Bar of Soap people see things differently as they have issued a nationwide call for supporters to stage a massive protest to interfere with the loading of the ship.

Lt. Lucas Elder, a spokesman for Coast Guard's Portland-based marine safety unit responded saying, “The Coast Guard is definitely going to be involved in making sure the port is safe.” He also adds that smaller boat captains refusing to get out of the way could face “hefty civil penalties.”

Maybe those who might think their smaller boats can stop a ship should think again as a ship is even harder to stop than is a train. A civil penalty just might be the least of their worries should they decide to place smaller vessels in front of a ship trying to get to port.

There currently is not a date set for the ship to arrive

Particularly offensive to me in reading the San Francisco Labor Councils condemnation is seeing the deep disdain they place on our military services. Reading the resolution you find,

“Whereas, now the US military, which has been oppressing, bombing and threatening other nations [a military that’s paid for with the workers’ taxes] is now being used against us, against American working people and our unions. To quote ILWU international President McEllrath: ‘ILWU’s labor dispute with EGT is symbolic of what is wrong in the United States today. Corporations, no matter how harmful the conduct to society, enjoy full state and federal protection while workers and the middle class get treated as criminals for trying to protect their jobs and communities’.”

Such language is what we could expect to hear from the malcontents in the Occupy Anything But A Bar of Soap people as well as the low-life anti-war crowds who see the Military and those serving in it as something less that human, worth only their disgust.

In reality, it is the other way around.

Their cries of the Military being used to “bust unions” are just ridiculous. As has been shown time and again, EGT hired another union to work their port after efforts by ILWU negotiators to shake down the company cost the ILWU the contract.

Protesters now spewing their filth towards our Military fail to see that the presence of the Coast Guard is as much for their safety as it is to protect the ship and its crew. As I mentioned above, smaller craft don’t stand a chance if they try to block the ship.

Would protesters, who have shown they feel no laws or decent conduct applies to them, try to storm the port and the ship? I have seen no reason to believe they would not.

Protesting is one thing. Terrorist acts against a vessel in our waterways are another.

I applaud the decision to give the ship a Coast Guard escort, seeing that the protesters cause more harm to themselves and others than any message they claim to have.

It’s also time Unions grew up and recognized how they have helped drag down our economy with their greedy demands that has caused several companies to close their doors in America and seek operations overseas where labor is affordable.

I hope again that any that plans on putting their smaller boats in front of the ship to stop is reconsider. But if they don’t, they have no one to blame but themselves.

Leave the children at home this time, if you really love them.

Did Ron Paul Really Claim to be a Democrat?

2012-01-07T23:13:00.000-08:00

A brief excerpt from the January 7, 2012 New Hampshire Debate

Sounds like that is just what he claimed.

Do we want someone in office who can't even tell what party he claims he is a member of?

Excerpt taken from highlights video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvZ5D_fU39w

Allen West Sets the Record Straight on NDAA & Detention of US Citizens

2012-01-07T13:23:00.000-08:00

I find Rep. Allen West to be much more believable than Alex Jones or Ron Paul.

Congressional Hypocrisy on Outsourcing Defense Contracts

2012-01-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

Once again, American workers, mired in an ongoing ‘Great Recession’ and facing some of the highest unemployment in decades, are seeing work that should be filled in America by Americans being outsourced to a foreign country. Worse yet, the work is in the filling of a defense contract.

Hawker Beechcraft, an established aircraft manufacturer based in Wichita, Kansas appears to have been shut out of a defense contract in supplying the U.S. Air Force with a light attack aircraft slated for use as a trainer and a potential ground attack plane in Afghanistan for their forces.

Without fanfare and apparently very quietly, the contract was awarded to the Brazilian aircraft company, Embraer, in partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation.

Since Hawker Beechcraft has been supplying an airplane to the U.S. Air Force for some time that fits the bill and has been the trainer of choice, the company has filed a lawsuit in federal court over the award.

To the best of my knowledge, both companies build very good aircraft. My intent in this post is not to promote one over the other, that is left to the courts and those who will evaluate the aircraft and the merits of Hawker Beechcraft’s allegations.

But reading the story on this, it all began sounding very familiar to me. It was like we had heard all of this before and not too long ago. And we have, back in 2008 when Washington State based Boeing Corporation lost their bid for supplying a new mid-air refueler tanker contract to EADs/Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Democrats especially were crawling all over each other to condemn the choice and the Bush administration in particular, especially Washington Senator Patty Murray. Mrs. Murray immediately took to the Senate floor where in speech after speech decrying the decision.

She said in part, “Our economy is hurting. We’re nearing a recession – if we aren’t already there. Families are struggling just to get by in part because their factory jobs have been moved overseas. This tanker contract wasn’t just one defense contract – it was a key piece of our national and economic security,” and “outsourcing a key piece of our American military capabilities to any foreign company is a national security risk.”

A quick search of Washington State newspaper archives reveals others eagerly jumping into the fray.

Then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the award “The Air Force’s decision to award the contract for a much-needed modernization of the nation’s aerial tanker fleet to Northrop Grumman and Airbus raises serious questions that Congress must examine thoroughly. The questions include ‘national security implications of using an aircraft supplied by a foreign firm,’ as well as whether the Air Force gave sufficient consideration to the contract’s effect on American jobs.”

Senator Hillary Clinton stated, “I am deeply concerned about the Bush administration's decision to outsource the production of refueling tankers for the American military.”

A Joint statement from Rep. Norm Dicks, Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Reps. Rick Larsen, Jay Inslee, Adam Smith, Jim McDermott and Washington State Republican Dave Reichert said, “This is a blow to the American aerospace industry, American workers and America’s men and women in uniform. At a time when our economy is hurting, this is a blow not only to our state, but the more than 40 states across the country who would help build this national plane. We will be asking tough questions about the decision to outsource this contract.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was quoted “At the very least, there should be congressional hearings,” over the initial contract award to EAD’s/Northrop Grumman.

Richard Michalski, vice president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said, “That general [that initially awarded the tanker deal to EADs-Northrop Grumman] should look at where his paycheck comes from. That general should quit his job, move to France and join the French Foreign Legion.”

Tom Wroblewski, president of Machinists Union District 751 was quoted, “Because of the Air Force decision, America has to rely on a foreign country to defend our nation. This is wrong. And we will not stand silent on this issue.”

Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) chimed in, “It is clear that there were major irregularities in the contracting process, which resulted in a flawed decision. There are also serious strategic issues with outsourcing our national defense instead of fostering a strong domestic defense industry.”

Not to be left out, then Senator Barack Obama said, “I find it hard to believe that having an American company that has been a traditional source of aeronautic excellence would not have done this job.”

With all of the cries of corruption and subsidized leveled against EADs in 2008 used to condemn the award of the Air Force Tanker Contract, Embraer being the subject of an SEC Investigation appears to not be drawing even a whimper from those who expressed such outrage over the Air Force Tanker award.

Once again we see mostly Democrats practicing their hypocrisy, apparently dependent upon who occupies the Oval Office.

They lined up to condemn the Bush administration over the Air Force awarding of the tanker contract to a joint European/American company, yet they are strangely silent when it comes to the Air Force awarding a defense contract to a Brazilian/American company.

What real difference is there except their party occupies the White House currently?

If Barack Obama found “it hard to believe that having an American company that has been a traditional source of aeronautic excellence would not have done this job,” back in 2008 when he was a candidate, why doesn’t he find it hard to believe in 2012 when he occupies the Oval Office?

I find it difficult to believe it is anything more than the usual rank hypocrisy we continue to see in Washington D.C.

Ron Paul Still Haunted by Racist Newsletters

2011-12-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

The controversy that just won’t go away, a series of newsletters published by aging Texas representative Ron Paul that clearly contain racist content. They have haunted him for several years now and in spite of several denials from Ron Paul, they just won’t go away.

Thanks to the efforts of the New Republic we can now view portions of several newsletters that clearly contain racist and offensive content.

Much speculation has been made over who authored such inflammatory rhetoric in the newsletters. Unconfirmed claims state that it was Murray Rothbard and Lew Rockwell who were the main authors, but Ron Paul remains mum on just who authored the newsletters bearing his name if he did not.

A May 22, 1996 Dallas Morning News has him not denying authorship and actually claiming, “they were being taken out of context” and “It’s typical political demagoguery. If people are interested in my character . . . come and talk to my neighbors.”

To objections raised by the NAACP over the racist comments in 1996, Ron Paul was quoted, “If someone challenges your character and takes the interpretation of the NAACP as proof of a man’s character, what kind of a world do you live in?”

In an October 2001 Texas Monthly interview Paul admitted, “I could never say this in the campaign, but those words weren’t really written by me. It wasn’t my language at all. Other people help me with my newsletter as I travel around,” but those “other people” remain hidden.

The New York Times reminds us when Ron Paul was confronted about the newsletters in 2008 he then claimed, “I absolutely, honestly do not know who wrote those things,” adding that he did not monitor the publications closely because he was busy with a medical practice and “speeches around the country.”

Confronted on the newsletters by CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger Dec. 21, 2011, Paul said, “I’ve never read that stuff. I’ve never read - I came - I was probably aware of it 10 years after it was written and it’s been going on 20 years that people have pestered me about this and CNN does it every single time.” Pressed further he stated, “I didn’t write them, didn’t read them at the time, and I disavow them.”

But, in 1987 he was promoting the newsletter during his failed Libertarian run for president.

Although he denies authorship of the newsletters, his signature appears on a 1993 solicitation letter that warns of a “coming race war” and is filled with paranoid ramblings on the “new money” introduced in the early 1990’s.

The letter warns, “The New Money will steal our freedom and our prosperity; it will accelerate the transfer wealth and power from the people to the government and its friends” as we would be forced to exchange all money for these new bills that would be used to track our transactions and monitor us.

In spite of his signature clearly seen at the bottom of the letter, the Ron Paul campaign issued a denial claiming, “Dr. Paul did not write that mail piece and disavows its content.”

Other than some questionable comments on Israel, claims made by former Ron Paul senior aid Eric Dondero and the newsletter published under his name, you would be hard pressed to find any racist comments actually made by Ron Paul.

That leads Michael Brendan Dougherty at Business Insider to believe the newsletters were part of a failed political strategy he calls the “redneck strategy,” given that “Murray Rothbard argued that libertarians ought to engage in ‘Outreach to the Rednecks’ in order to insert their libertarian theories into the middle of the nation’s political passions.”

Dondero is quoted in a Reason article, “Paul’s inner circle learned between his congressional stints that the wilder they got, the more bombastic they got with it, the more the checks came in. You think the newsletters were bad? The fundraising letters were just insane from that period.”

As Steve Horowitz puts it, “although I don’t think Ron Paul is a racist, like Archie Bunker, he was willing to, metaphorically, toast a marshmallow on the cross others were burning.”

Ron Paul did not help help his cause when he accepted donations and the support of known white supremacists and neo-Nazi’s in his 2008 bid for president nor with his initial pandering to the 911 Truthers

Personally, I feel the use of such racist material as a political strategy, failed or otherwise and to raise campaign funds even more offensive than actual racism.

Paul is looking more and more as just another cheap political opportunist, willing to say anything and pander to whatever group he feels will help propel him forward. We can see that in his long held stance of being against earmarks, but packing more earmarks onto bills than any other Republican in congress. That he then votes against them, knowing the bill will pass anyway is an old political trick, allowing him to divert federal dollars to keep buying votes while claiming he opposes them.

Ron Paul has long showed he is not suited to hold any office higher than he now has. It matters not exactly who authored the racist newsletters as they appear to have only been a poorly designed political strategy of pandering to fringe groups in hopes of building political power.

It also accounts for why they will forever haunt him as long as he strives to be elected to the presidency.

I doubt any of this will matter to those starry eyed worshippers of his, the ones that believe he does no wrong and excuse every utterance he makes. To them, he is as a cult leader and they hang on every word he speaks while launching scathing assaults on any who dare question their “messiah.”

No, it is doubtful Ron Paul is actually a racist. But, he is not fit to be president either. The newsletters that continue to haunt him only reveal his willingness to pander and say what he thinks people wish to hear.

City Managers Should Thank Struggling Taxpayers for Their Wage Increases

2011-12-27T15:50:00.000-08:00

That our national economy remains strained in this “Great Recession” is evident almost everywhere we look. Private sector jobs remain hard to find and we see median wages falling or remaining low.

According to a chart released by Washington State, Clark County’s median wage dropped over $3,000 a year between 2008 and 2009. 2010 showed an estimated increase in median wages in the county of a paltry $200 per year with a further estimate for 2011 of just $400 for the year, hoping to see a median wage of $54,951, still $3,000 below what was seen in 2008.

Many in the county, who are lucky enough to still have a job, have seen no wage increase at all and some have actually seen a significant drop in wages while at the same time we see taxes, rates and fees increasing across the board from city and county government.

However, not all of us have to sacrifice during these dire economic times. The Columbian tells us in November, “131 OPEIU members will get a 1.5 percent raise next year and another in 2013, followed by a 2 percent wage increase in 2014” as the city and the union reached their contract agreement. A small increase, but an increase just the same.

Earlier we saw settlements in contract disputes that also granted slight increases to city public union workers with an agreement for many to begin paying for a small portion of their health insurance premiums.

Last December taxpayers expressed their opposition to our 3 county commissioners receiving a wage increase that they wisely chose not to accept.

With such slight increases, while median income remains $3,000 lower throughout the county, little wonder even the Columbian questioned city manager Eric Holmes receiving nearly double a wage increase as did other city employees who avoided being laid off during this recession.

The slight outrage they expressed last week seems to be gone today as they report City managers’ pay rises across county, informing readers, “Four out of five [city managers] in Camas, Washougal, B.G., Vancouver, will receive increases in 2012.”

Chart from the Columbian

As seen in the chart above, appointed city managers are doing quite well in this recession while many middle class taxpayers continue unemployed, underemployed or with stagnant wages. Each city manager earns at least twice the current median income of taxpayers in the county.

The Columbian quotes Mark Stephan, a political science professor at Washington State University Vancouver, “Awarding pay raises to public leaders is important because it lessens the chance of a more affluent city or private company poaching them and, symbolically, makes the employees feel more appreciated.”

Stephan also rightly notes struggling middle class taxpayers will not receive the news of appointed city employees receiving these increases very well.

How nice to also read these wage increases do not include cost of living allowances that remain frozen “in order to save money.”

It cannot be forgotten that the governor wishes to increase the sales tax and public unions and members of the Democrat controlled legislature have filed a lawsuit against citizen initiatives to keep a high threshold for them to impose new taxes on us.

Locally, we continue to see our voices ignored as supporters of C-Tran, who is also giving wage increases to public union members engage in fearmongering to win a sales tax increase and working on yet another sales tax increase in 2012.

The CRC continues to suck up tax dollars with little accountability and working to keep taxpayers from voting on how we may want the project to go.

A searchable online database reveals over 250 public salaries in Clark County in excess of $100,000. Of the 661 salaries listed, over 600 are above the median income in Clark County.

We should also remember that shortly after lying his way into the mayor’s seat, Tim ‘the liar’ Leavitt floated the notion of making the job full time, presumably also with a six-figure salary while bombastic council member, Jeanne ‘gavel down’ Harris supported making city council positions full time that I have to believe would carry generous salaries.

It matters not whether or not these city managers deserve wage increases. Struggling middle class workers also deserve much, but we are not receiving increases, other than in what we must pay out in taxes, rates and fees.

Considering too that elected federal officials also receive $174,000 in base wage, plus extremely generous benefits that we struggling middle class taxpayers fund, it appears that being a public “servant” pays much better than those they allegedly serve receive.

It would seem the main incentive any of them have is devising ways to keep us paying for their lifestyles.

I’d say how nice it would be to at least receive a nice Thank You card from our public servants, but that too would probably come out of our pockets.

Washington State Democrat Party Chair, Dwight Pelz Shows A Disconnect

2011-12-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

If there was ever any doubt just how disconnected Democrats really are from the struggling middle class, Dwight Pelz, in his latest effort to instill fear and mislead the public in the run-up to the 2012 election shows it.

Click image for full size view

Pelz claims, "The Republican nominee for president will lead the right-wing effort to impose a selfish, self-serving political agenda on the American people."

Who is acting more "selfish and self-serving" in imposing an agenda on the rest of us that the current Democratic Party supported Occupy Movement? We do not see Republicans or Tea Party people taking over public parks, destroying them, demanding hand-outs, breaking into foreclosed homes and claiming them for themselves and denying struggling middle class workers the ability to feed their families by their selfish act last week of shutting down Ports up and down the West Coast.

So far, arrests of Occupy people has exceeded 5,000 while there has not been a single arrest in any Tea Party rally of a Tea Party person.

Pelz continues, "Their attack on our Democratic values of compassion and progress will run from the Presidential campaign, through the congressional elections, right down to our State Legislature elections."

So far, those "Democratic values of compassion and progress" has given us $15 Trillion in debt, some of the highest sustained unemployment in decades, nearly nationalizing banks and private industry and ever increasing taxes on the backs of the very struggling middle class people they claim they have so much compassion for.

While it is popular to place blame on President Bush, since our economy began its downward spiral while he was still in office, it cannot be forgotten that it also began just a few months after those "compassionate and Progressive" Democrats seized both houses of congress in large majorities.

It cannot be forgotten that their "compassion" has them blocking private sector job creation an a lessening on our dependence on Middle Eastern Oil by maintaining a moratorium on recovering our own resources off the shores of our country and within our own borders.

Our own state, Washington, has been under complete Democratic Party control for over a decade now. The Governor's office has been Democrat held since the mid-1980's. The recent special session to deal with the growing budget deficit dealt with just about everything but addressing that deficit and leaving us with only a $1.5 Billion deficit to deal with.

This is nothing more than the usual projection of blame and fearmongering from the very people that continue to bankrupt us.

We must not fall for it again.

Democrats have shown themselves to be completely inept in governing both our state and the country.

It is time for a real change by sending incumbent Democrats and RINO's packing this next election.

Syrians Know the Impotence of Barack Obama

2011-12-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

Hat Tip to Bad Rachel who states, "5,000 Syrians have been massacred by Bashar Assad since March, including 300 children. How are those sanctions workin’ out, Mr. Obama?"

For the inevitable troll claiming the sign being in English means it must be photoshopped, video of Syrian women protesting in the street carrying a sign clearly stating in English, "USA PEOPLE, YOU LIVED 11 SEPTEMBER ONE TIME, BUT WE LIVE IT EVERYDAY."

BHO is doing nothing other than kowtowing to the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist radicals.

The Arrogance of Barack Obama, the 4th Best President Ever?

2011-12-16T23:52:00.000-08:00

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president -- with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln -- just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history."

Better than Kennedy, Clinton, Truman, Reagan, George Washington, Eisenhower or Teddy Roosevelt, to just name a few?

And just what are his accomplishments? Highest unemployment in decades? Largest government expansion? The highest debt increase ever? The most out of touch president ever?

And, 60 Minutes Overtime conveniently omits the footage in their broadcast?

It's more accurate to claim his being the 44th best ever.

H/T Newsbusters

The full CBS interview

60 Minutes Overtime - Full Obama Interview
- Watch more Politics Videos at Vodpod.

KROFT: Tell me, what do you consider your major accomplishments? If this is your last speech. What have you accomplished?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, we’re not done yet. I’ve got five more years of stuff to do. But not only saving this country from a great depression. Not only saving the auto industry. But putting in place a system in which we’re gonna start lowering health care costs and you’re never gonna go bankrupt because you get sick or somebody in your family gets sick. Making sure that we have reformed the financial system, so we never again have taxpayer-funded bailouts, and the system is more stable and secure. Making sure that we’ve got millions of kids out here who are able to go to college because we’ve expanded student loans and made college more affordable. Ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Decimating al Qaeda, including Bin Laden being taken off the field. Restoring America’s respect around the world.

Didn’t someone else play a much bigger part in “decimating Al Qaeda?” Traveling the globe apologizing for America “decimating Al Qaeda” improves our image? Plunging us $15 Trillion in debt is an accomplishment? Expanding student loans while we have malcontents complaining about having to pay student loans back? Ending taxpayer bailouts, after giving more taxpayer bailouts than ever?

Is he on crack?

CBS 60 Minutes Overtime Transcript

Will Possession, Sales or Use of Tobacco in Washington State Become a Class C Felony?

2011-12-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

In a move sure to please city council critter Jeanne Harris, a group calling themselves ‘Tobacco-Free Washington’ has gotten approval for a new citizen’s initiative that would make the use of any tobacco product in Washington State a Class C felony!

Proposed by a Seattle based Dentist, Dr. Edward Dolan, a 1996 Western Washington University graduate, and director of the World Lung Association, in Medina, Wa., the measure is designed to “make the sale, manufacture, or possession of tobacco products a Class C felony and redefine tobacco products as including ‘any product containing tobacco or nicotine that is expected or intended for human consumption’.”

The initiative has received approval from the Secretary of State and assigned the number of “512.”

From page 3 of “Initiative 512”

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 9.91 RCW to read as follows:

(1) It is unlawful to sell, manufacture, or possess any tobacco products including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco.

(2) A person who:

(a) Sells or manufactures any tobacco product is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW; or

(b) Possesses any tobacco product is guilty of a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.

(3) For the purposes of this section, "tobacco product" includes any product containing tobacco or nicotine that is expected or intended for human consumption.

Few people defend tobacco use any longer and anytime we defend our freedom of choice, we are automatically labeled as defending big tobacco, wanting to hurt children, having no compassion, you name it.

But, in all of these efforts to demonize tobacco users and pushing smokers further and further into the back allies is the disproportionate amount of taxes the state collects off of tobacco, at a time they are crying not having enough revenue from our taxes to maintain budgets.

Prohibition of alcohol failed miserably back in the 1920’s and total bans of tobacco have not yet received much favor. Partial bans, like we saw when smokers were ushered outside and more recently as they are told they must not use tobacco of any nature within Vancouver Parks have found favor with many.

Such a total ban that would have only made the use of tobacco a misdemeanor was tried by North Dakota in 2003. Their legislature defeated the Republican proposed measure with a vote of 88 to 4.

Their measure received heavy opposition from anti-tobacco groups that testified against the tobacco ban, such as “the North Dakota Medical Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, North Dakota Public Health Association and North Dakota Nurses Association.” They claimed, “There's no evidence banning tobacco would prevent and reduce tobacco use because no such approach has been implemented.”

There was also the strong probability that such a ban would have taken away much of the funding for these groups for their tobacco control programs.

Legislators admitted also that the state was “hooked on tobacco,” even though many did not smoke. Republican Wes Belter admitted, “It is time for us to think about just how hooked we are on tobacco, whether we smoke or not,” recognizing then how states are dependent upon tobacco taxes.

At a rate of $3.025 tax per pack of 20 cigarettes, it is easy to see how profitable tobacco is for Washington State and should this initiative collect enough signatures to make it on the ballot and win voter approval that would be many millions of dollars in tax revenue the state will lose.

In what can only be labeled ironic, as signatures are being gathered to make smokers felons, signatures are also being gathered to legalize marijuana in Washington State. In spite of claims by potheads on how “safe” marijuana is, has been shown to carry many of the same harmful effects as claimed for tobacco.

Ultimately though, as we see more and more of these efforts coming down the pike, voters must begin thinking just how far are they willing to go in efforts to “change cultural behaviors,” as Harris put it.

Is it really beneficial to make smokers felons and lose their tax dollars as the state’s budget gap continues to grow?

David the Occupier Tries to Justify Lost Wages to Middle Class Workers

2011-12-12T23:26:00.000-08:00

David the Occupier, December 12, 2011 1pm [From Victoria Taft, KPAM 860]

It comes as no surprise that this group of malcontents, calling themselves “occupiers” but who in reality are nothing more than anarchists foolishly pushing for the country to become communist, justify their every action, no matter how much they hurt everyday workers.

Since they decided they have some “right” to take over and hold public parks, denying the rest of us our right to enjoy the parks, they have ratcheted up their discontent as they seek more notoriety, regardless of any destruction they may cause.

Just today, Monday December 12, 2011 we see them up and down the West Coast interfering with interstate commerce, shutting down ports, blocking middle class truckers from doing their jobs and earning a days wages. What they think they are accomplishing escapes me.

They claim the support of rank and file workers, but the online poll offered by KGW News shows overwhelmingly that they have little support among the middle class. I imagine the thousands of people who lost wages today due to their ongoing tantrum aren’t too happy about that.

One such protester, a young mother identified only as “Lotus” boasts of having her 4-year old daughter on the train tracks! (about the 1:15 mark)

“Lotus” claims, “The thing is, I have faith in humanity, I don’t think any person driving a train is going to haul through a bunch of peaceful people with children.” No doubt, had any injuries happened to the 4 year-old child, that ditz “Lotus” would be fast to find an ambulance chaser to sue the Port, the Rail Company and the city.

That these people are being tolerated by their illegal actions is an abomination upon itself. Their cries of “peaceful protest” are drowned out by their actions interfering with struggling middle class workers earning a living. And they still maintain support of rank & file workers, even though one sign seen in TV news reports stated, “Sorry for the inconvenience to your APATHY!”

To these twits, if you strive to care for your families, you are now “apathetic.”

The claim of sending a message to Goldman Sachs is laughable. How does taking money out of the pockets of middle class wage earners affect Goldman Sachs? They have the wealth to sit back and wait these morons out.

The longer these idiots are allowed to get away with such actions, the bolder they become. They falsely claim to be “the 99%” but are actually only the bottom 1% of society, those expecting to be spoonfed whatever they wish and contribute little, if anything to society.

Capitalism is what grew the middle class, not the communism and class warfare they advocate.

People across America are quickly getting fed-up with these freeloaders and mayors who abide by their wishes instead of dealing with the lawless fringe left. The media’s embracing of the jerks and the destruction they cause is equally as ridiculous.

Middle class workers are entitled to earn wages, without interference from anarchists and leftists trying to forcibly impose their desires on the majority.

Just as happened back in 1970, if the mayors and governors in America do not begin dealing with these whiny little freeloaders, others might know how to.

Democrats Shameless Support of the Occu-Twits

2011-12-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

For a group that continues to claim no leadership and being non-partisan, it is obvious that partisanship is what fuels the mobs.

If you believe this is a newly formed mob, you're wrong.

March 2007, Portland, Oregon

Summer 1968

Those claiming they are only trying to protect America and the American worker are really misleading the public. This movement is about bringing about the collapse of America as we have long known it. What made America great is repulsive to them.

Don't fall for their lies of fighting to improve anything.

Similar groups in the waning days of World War One did the same and many fell for their rhetoric, ushering in decades of oppression in the former Soviet Union.

Shame on any Democrats who stand with these people.

Tip of the hat to Campaign to Defeat Obama

Survivors of Pearl Harbor Share Their Memories

2011-12-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

Wednesday December 7, 2011 was the 70th anniversary of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that thrust America into World War Two. In this video report, survivors recounted the horrific day.

On this 70th anniversary, 11 survivors of the attack from the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area shared their memories at the commemoration services held at the Red Lion Inn at the Quay.

The event was hosted by the Pacific Northwest Sons & Daughters of the Pearl Harbor Survivors who will continue services previously hosted by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, who have announced disbanding due to an aging and declining membership.

May God continue blessing these heroes. May their sacrifices never be forgotten.

Occu-Commies Declare War on the Police?

2011-12-05T19:59:00.000-08:00

What unmitigated gall this bottom 1% has

Communism, even pseudo-communism is not the answer.

You're not as anonymous as you think. Your numbers are not as large as you think. We do not need your forgiveness for anything. We of the 53% do not forget either, especially as we see freeloaders who are only a pain in our collective butts.

Liberal Hate Cartoon Links Child Rapist to Republicans

2011-12-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

H/T Examiner

Vietnam Claims 40,000 Deaths From Old Munitions, But Ignore Millions of Deaths After the Communist Takeover

2011-12-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

It’s always heart wrenching to read or hear of deaths long after a war’s end, due to forgotten and discarded munitions. We still occasionally hear of the discovery of old munitions left from World war One and World War Two. I imagine that is why Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung says of the war that ended in with the communist take over 36 years ago, “The war’s painful legacy, which includes hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs and unexploded ordnance, continues to cause painful casualties every day.”

Dung claims 100,000 Killed, Hurt by Abandoned Weapons since the end of the Vietnam War in April 1975.

The ABC article is quick to point out, “The United States used about 16 million tons of bombs and ammunition while allied with the former South Vietnam government.”

We also read in the article, “Bui Hong Linh, vice minister of labor, war invalids and social affairs, said explosives remain on about 16 million acres (6.6 million hectares) of land, or more than one-fifth of the country.”

What is not said, and possible unable to determine is how much of those discarded munitions are actually not U.S. munitions, but landmines and other munitions laid their by the communist North Vietnamese to kill or wound American and South Vietnamese Troops during the many years of their struggle to remain a free people? Munitions built by the communist North Vietnamese as well as those supplied them by the former Soviet Union and Communist China?

In case people forget, it was not only America using weapons in that war and I would easily imagine the vast majority of landmines planted and forgotten were planted by the communist North Vietnamese themselves.

Another point and very heart wrenching is the “100,000 killed or maimed” over the 36 year period. No doubt a claim made to garner sympathy and more funds from other countries, most notably the United States. U.S. Ambassador David Shear states that America has already supplied some $62 Million towards the effort while Vietnamese continue to drag their feet in the effort to account for all of our missing POWs and MIAs.

As heart wrenching as the claim of “100,000” is, the Communist Vietnamese government ignores their own actions immediately after we saw tanks busting down the gates of the abandoned U.S. Embassy and Presidential Palace in Saigon long ago.

Only 2 years after the fall of Saigon, Vietnamese author Le Thi Anh wrote of the bloodbath occurring inside the country after America shamefully turned our backs on the struggling South Vietnamese and abandoned them with his article, The New Vietnam.

Just 4 years after the war’s end, CBS News broadcast a report, Re-education camps...or death camps? telling us how so many South Vietnamese who sided with Americans we sent off to “re-education camps” and how hundreds of thousands were ejected from the country on rickety boats, to become known as the “Boat People”, untold thousands perishing at sea as boats broke apart or never found their way back to land.

Reports of the continuing atrocities of the indigenous people of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, the Montagnards still flow out through the efforts of Montagnard-Foundation.org.

In an undated article we read, “At least 165,000 people perished in Vietnam's re-education camps after the fall of Saigon in 1975, according to published research in the United States and Europe. The Hanoi government declines comment,” followed by a lengthy “partial list” of those known to have perished.

An even more staggering claim of “through all this close to 3,800,000 Vietnamese lost their lives from political violence, or near one out of every ten men, women, and children. Of these, about 1,250,000, or near a third of those killed, were murdered” is made by R.J. Rummel at, Statistics Of
Vietnamese Democide Estimates, Calculations, And Sources.

Site after site documents the atrocities and revenge sought by the Communists after their victory in Vietnam go ignored by the Vietnamese Government, the United Nations and our own media today as they as they continue to play on our emotions, most likely to instill feelings of guilt in American citizens over our past allied efforts to help those who did not want to be subjected to brutality of communism.

The United Nations, more aptly labeled the “Useless Nations” by many, makes no effort to hold the Communist Government of Vietnam accountable for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of deaths of Vietnamese citizens who wished to remain free. Many who only worked alongside of us in a non-military capacity.

The anti-war left sarcastically labels such articles as seen at the top of this post as “War: The gift that keeps on giving” ignores their own complicity in dragging out our wars by their efforts emboldening enemy forces and eventually leading to victories for those enemies, causing many bloodbaths for innocent civilians in those countries.

By many accounts, North Vietnam was considering a negotiated surrender after they were decimated in their ill-fated Tet of ’68 Offensive, but fought on seeing how they had the sympathy of American Liberals who were marching on our streets in support of the Communist North. As history records, their tactic succeeded, to the detriment of the South Vietnamese people.

My effort is not to marginalize the claim of “100,000, 42,132 people killed and 62,163 others wounded” over the past 36 years, but to shine a little light and out it in perspective as Premier Dung seems to have forgotten the millions of Vietnamese claimed to have simply vanished in the immediate aftermath of the war.

Dung also seems to have forgotten that many of the very munitions lost and forgotten were placed there by his own forces all those years ago.

We in America will no doubt continue to help in the effort to clear munitions left over from the war, but I also feel a lot of that effort belongs on Vietnam itself as well as the Chinese and Russians who supplied many of those munitions to the Communist North Vietnamese as well as sent their own Military Personnel to Vietnam during the war.

Above all, we in America should never feel guilty that we tried to help a people struggling to remain free. If anything, we should feel guilt that we allowed our government to abandon freedom seeking people.

Portland Mayor Throws A Hissy Fit and Hangs Up On Radio Host

2011-12-02T19:57:00.000-08:00

Portland, Oregon's soon to be ex-Mayor, Sam Adams threw a hissy fit over being questioned about why City Hall is flying a flag at half-mast for a young gang banger who was shot and killed. Adams soon hangs up on Lars Larsen claiming to be “too disgusted.”

Begins about the 6:25 mark

Mayor Sam Adams Blows Up...Then Hangs Up by TheLarsLarsonShow

Illusory Unemployment Drop Celebrated, While Real Job Growth Remains Blocked

2011-12-02T15:12:00.000-08:00

“This holiday season is bringing more of the same bad news that millions of jobless workers heard last year… American workers are weathering the effects of an economy where there is only one job for every three individuals searching for a job.”

No, the above isn’t addressing our current economic quagmire, it is two sentences contained in the first paragraph of a letter sent to former President George W. Bush by Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader and Tom Daschle, Senate Democratic Leader in November 2003 complaining about what they felt was high unemployment then and urging more unemployment funding to combat it.

After suffering the worst terrorist attack in history, an attack right in the heart of our financial district and lingering effects of a recession that began shortly after taking office, unemployment had peaked at 6.3% in June 2003 and was dropping; reaching 5.8% in the very month the letter was written.

Democrats were complaining how unacceptable such unemployment numbers were as we heading into the 2004 election season.

Contrast that now as we see celebratory headlines like: Unemployment rate falls to 8.6 percent, lowest in 2½ years, with good signs for small business

Through the first two years of the Obama administration, Democrats had full and complete control of the government to implement the very policies they called for back in 2003. Unemployment, after dipping to 4.4% during the Bush administration, was setting at 7.8% when Obama took office, after two years of Democrats seizing control of both houses of congress in the 2006 election.

During that first two years of Obama’s reign, with full Democrat control of the country, unemployment peaked at 10.1% and for all but two months after the March 2009 “low,” remains at 9% and over, many Democrats calling 9% “the new normal.”

Don’t get me wrong, any drop in unemployment is good, if there really is a drop and not just a matter of cooking the books to create a false illusion of an improving economy. We’re told in the article linked above, “The country added 120,000 jobs in November” eliciting comments such as, “Something good is stirring in the U.S. economy,” by economist Ian Shepherdson.

We’re told the new numbers “clinched one of the best weeks in stock market history.”

As we head into the 2012 election season, with Obama seeking a second term, article and reports as this leads all to believe it’s all coming up roses.

What we do not read and should be considered is, “the main reason unemployment ‘fell’ is because the workforce has shrunk. Those who have given up looking for jobs are not included in unemployment statistics,” as shown in a Freedom Works post written by Celia Bigelow.

Confirming her claims, we read much deeper in the rosy article from the Washington Post,

“Still, more than 300,000 people stopped their job searches last month, so they were no longer officially counted as unemployed. That accounts for some of the drop in the unemployment rate.”
“The so-called underemployment rate, which counts people who have given up looking and people who are working part-time but want full-time jobs, did fall — to 15.6 percent from 16.2 percent.”
“But even with the recent gains, the economy isn’t close to replacing the jobs lost in the recession. Employers began shedding workers in February 2008 and cut nearly 8.7 million jobs for the next 25 months. The economy has regained about 2.5 million.”
“And most people aren’t getting raises. Average hourly pay slipped 2 cents last month to $23.18. In the past year, wages have risen 1.8 percent, but inflation has risen twice as fast, eroding buying power.”

Obama ironically says, “Now is not the time to slam the brakes on the recovery, right now it’s time to step on the gas,” as that is exactly what Obama and the Democratic Party has been doing while deepening our dependence upon foreign energy sources, by maintaining their moratorium on domestic and off-shore recovery of our own sources of energy.

From putting off construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta, Canada to the continuing moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico, even to the call by all six Democratic West Coast Senators to permanently ban recovering our own sources of energy off the Pacific Coast, millions of potential private sector jobs fall by the wayside. Jobs that pay very well and generate Billions of dollars of new revenue for the treasury.

In reply to questions by Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Edward Markey, challenging the industries studies showing there really are millions of jobs to be made available, CEO and President of the American Petroleum Institute Jack Gerard made clear that such projections are indeed accurate and corrected false views often made against our energy suppliers.

Just days ago, a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed The Non-Green Jobs Boom told us, “The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported recently that the U.S. jobless rate remains a dreadful 9%. But look more closely at the data and you can see which industries are bucking the jobless trend. One is oil and gas production, which now employs some 440,000 workers, an 80% increase, or 200,000 more jobs, since 2003. Oil and gas jobs account for more than one in five of all net new private jobs in that period” and “While Washington has tried to force-feed renewable energy with tens of billions in special subsidies, oil and gas production has boomed thanks to private investment. And while renewable technology breakthroughs never seem to arrive, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have revolutionized oil and gas extraction—with no Energy Department loan guarantees needed.”

While the Obama administration may celebrate an 8.6% unemployment rate, October saw North Dakota’s unemployment rate setting at 3.5% and straining the resources of the state with such rapid growth in a small region.

The resources will catch up in time, but the proof of the jobs waiting to be filled and that remain blocked by Obama and the Democrats is there for all to see. Opening other areas were known reserves of oil and natural gas sit, waiting to be recovered within our own country would not only alleviate the strain in North Dakota, but give much needed jobs across the country, speeding a real recovery for the country.

If Obama really thinks “right now it’s time to step on the gas,” he first needs to get his lead foot off of the brakes!

Democrats Prepare to Further Destroy Washington State’s Economy

2011-11-27T00:50:00.000-08:00

Governor Gregoire of Washington State has called the state legislature into Special Session, beginning Monday, November 28, 2011 to deal with the states ongoing budget gap and promoting her call for a “temporary” sales tax increase statewide. If you believe any sales tax increase will be temporary, I’d like to sell you a nice bridge I just happen have.

I covered the reason the “deep, obscene” cuts in the budget had no effect in the post Sorry People, But You Have No “Right” To Other People’s Money! where it was brought out how unions and special interest groups file lawsuits against those budget cuts, often being overturned by activist judges.

As House Ways and Means Chairman Ross Hunter, Democrat from Medina put it, “What we’re doing in the budget now is like full employment for lawyers,” addressing the numbers of lawsuits to counter any effort to reduce spending in the state.

Gregoire now says, “It’s a new day for me. I have seen the ramifications of the cuts. I can’t live with it” in an article from the Columbian Saturday. Maybe she will tell us which cuts actually stood and didn’t get overturned by activist judges.

So, the main thrust in our still Democrat controlled legislature is raising taxes, even though some appear hesitant at this time. Rep. Jim ‘Da Taxman’ Moeller, D-Vancouver, seems to still be chomping at the bit to “plug tax loopholes for the wealthy.”

We are now told of proposals made by The Economic Opportunity Institute that claims to be “an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit public policy center working to restore the promise of the middle class.”

Looking over their Board of Directors & Members list reveals they are anything but “non-partisan.”

The President of this group is Dawn Trudeau, Co-owner of the Seattle Storm and who according to CampaignMoney.com contributes 100% to Democratic Party candidates and matters.

The list of “members” lists Hans Dunshee Democrat State Representative, Snohomish, Washington; Karen Keiser, Democrat State Senator, Des Moines, Washington; Tina Orwall, Democrat Representative, 33rd District, Des Moines, Washington and Eric Pettigrew, Democrat Representative, 37th District, Seattle, Washington. Not one Republican legislator listed.

Add to that, also on their list of “members” is Larry Brown, Legislative and Political Action Director, IAM Local 751; Lynne Dodson, Secretary-Treasurer, Washington State Labor Council; Mike Ragan, Vice President, Washington Education Association (WEA); Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Co-founder and Executive Director, MomsRising.org (a spin-off of far leftist Moveon.org); Stan Sorscher, Labor Representative, SPEEA (Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace); Misha Werschkul, Senior Manager for State Legislative and Government Affairs, SEIU Healthcare 775NW and Diane Zahn, Treasurer, UFCW Local 21 for union and some special interest representation.

Obviously, “non-partisan” is but a joke up there.

Marilyn Watkins, policy director of the institute claiming she focused on “changes” that would have voter support and could be implemented right away said,

“We need the money now. We have been cutting back on health programs and home care and services for vulnerable seniors and children. We are putting individuals’ lives at risk and affecting people’s ability to live independently and in basic dignity…”

Their ideas they believe will win wide voter support are: “a repeal of the business and occupation tax deduction that banks enjoy on their profits on home mortgages (worth $120 million); an increase in the manufacturing and wholesaling tax rate paid by oil refineries (worth $250 million); a repeal of the B & O tax exemption for farms with gross incomes above $200,000 (worth $32.7 million), and $249 million in saving from a modernization of the tax code affecting interstate commerce” as well as “a 10 percent luxury tax on motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft valued at more than $50,000 (worth $70 million); a 50 percent increase in the estate tax (worth $45 million); and a repeal of the sales tax exemption for nonresidents (worth $25 million),” a measure Washington State business have long and consistently opposed.

Of note is the “10% Luxury Tax” that I emphasized. I did so because any who were working and earning wages back in 1990 should recall when Democrats talked Bush 41 into breaking his famous promise “read my lips, no new taxes” and tried that very tax nationwide. Almost immediately, it was a disaster for America’s middle class.

A May 11, 1991 New York Times article tells us,

“The tax -- 10 percent of a car's purchase price above $30,000 -- was viewed as a way to get more money from the rich, Mr. Huizenga said. Instead, he said, it has combined with the recession to cut luxury car sales 45 percent in the first quarter.
The dealership closings that resulted have put 3,700 dealers, mechanics and others out of work, he said, and many more people will lose their jobs unless the tax is rescinded.”

An April 14, 1991 New York Times article informs us,

“Buffeted by the recession and now the 10 percent Federal luxury tax on the anything over a $100,000 price tag on a new boat, yacht sales nationally have fallen steeply in the last year.”
“Yacht dealers and boating association officials say the imposition of the luxury tax on Jan. 1 has caused further devastation in what was already a recession-ravaged industry. Some extra sales were made in December to people who wanted to beat the tax, but sales so far this year appear to be behind even last year's dismal pace.”
“The tax adds $10,000 to the cost of a $200,000 yacht, for example, and that's on top of any state and local sales taxes. In states with high sales taxes, like Connecticut (8 percent), dealers say the extra cost makes even their wealthier customers flinch.”

Instead of the Billions of dollars in extra revenue Democrats thought they would receive when they dreamed this fiasco up on paper, they put thousands of middle class workers out of work, costing the treasury more in unemployment benefits than was brought in by the few sales made in the short run of the tax before it was repealed.

I have to wonder about this “non-partisan” institute that lays claim to being in support of “restoring the promise of the middle class” and in all of their research, failed to notice how such a change as they now advocate decimated the middle class in the early 1990’s.

If this is the group influencing Democrats in Olympia, little wonder the state is in such dire economic troubles.

As Albert Einstein is so famously credited with saying, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.”

Maybe they should do actual research instead of just perusing leftist propaganda.

As I have said many times now, we’ll never pull ourselves out of this mess until people learn that they have no rights to other people’s money.

Remember Me?

2011-11-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

It's been around before and has received over 30,000,000 views on YouTube. But, as we settle down for our Thanksgiving Dinners, let's pause and remember those far away who protect our freedom to enjoy the day.

The author of the video, Lizzie Palmer was but 15 years old when she created it.

Overcoming the Language Barrier

2011-11-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

I can't understand a word she says, but the gesture as the name Barack Obama is mentioned crosses all language barriers and explains a lot

According to the UK Telegraph, "The channel, which goes out to 120 million people across Russia, has declined to comment. But sources close to it have tried to defuse the row by claiming that the newsreader had believed she was off camera at the time and merely providing a voice-over for a report. According to the same storyline, the rude gesture was intended for studio technicians who had been trying to put her off her stride."

Another Look at the Pepper Spraying Cop

2011-11-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

We've all seen the short video presentation of the Cop slowly walking up and down in front of protesters steadily spraying them with pepper spray and heard the outrage from all corners over the incident.

But, were the Cops set up by protesters? A much longer video posted at Gateway Pundit claims the leader of the group "agreed to be pepper-sprayed!"

I can't say I condone the action, but others can be heard issuing cautions on keeping your eyes closed and protesters can be seen covering their mouths and faces prior to the spraying beginning. Officers can also be seen trying to remove protesters who were sitting, arms linked and not cuffed as they were being sprayed.

Were the Cops set up by protesters who now use a short clip of the video to show Police Brutality?

Could they have removed the protesters who refused to unblock the way any differently?

Sorry People, But You Have No “Right” To Other People’s Money!

2011-11-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

As we near the end of the 4th year of the “Great Recession,” seeing the national debt skyrocket and 9% unemployment nationwide being billed as the “new norm,” we once again see Governor Gregoire calling for more tax increases and of course, budget cuts.

We saw her recommend and the legislature pass some pretty deep cuts last year, but now see and hear they didn’t do much good; they didn’t help our ongoing struggles in this deeply recessed economy.

We all know that it is government spending that is the real problem and not the lack of revenue so much, as Democrats always claim in their desire to rape the taxpayers’ wallet even more, but what of those “deep obscene cuts” from last year? Why didn’t they help out as expected?

Asking myself that question, the answer seemed to come from a November 19, 2011 Seattle Times article, As state makes cuts, lawsuits are flying.

From public unions to illegal aliens, all used to being handed our money in entitlement programs, when the legislature made needed cuts to get the overspending under control, each found some slip and fall attorney to go before an activist judge to overturn cuts made by the legislature as we have demanded. We read:

“This month, a Thurston County judge overruled state plans to limit Medicaid clients’ nonemergency visits to emergency rooms, a decision that could cost the state $32 million between now and June 2013.
In October, a federal judge said the state could not kick 11,000 people off a subsidized insurance program because of their immigration status. That allows thousands to re-enroll at a projected cost of $17 million.
And in March, a federal judge ruled the state also could not reduce food assistance to people because of their immigration status. Potential cost: $16.5 million.
Overall, the state has been sued more than a dozen times because of cuts lawmakers made in recent years to curtail state spending and balance the budget.
“Everyone who gets cut off benefits is going to sue,” said House Ways and Means Chairman Ross Hunter, D-Medina. “What we’re doing in the budget now is like full employment for lawyers.”

And of course, we cannot forget how unions and Democrats fight nearly every single budget reform measure put forth and voted in by the people.

As entitlement programs were greatly expanded, with no consideration given to cyclical economic downturns, people have gotten used to receiving our tax dollars and apparently believe they are now owed our tax dollars as a “right.”

Through activist judges, the teachers union in Washington State sees some 70% of our state budget, much of it destined for education as ‘off-limits’ to budget cuts. Students are doing no better and tuition is increasing in higher education, but teachers and administrators paychecks are well protected, having seen minimal cuts if any.

And amazingly our governor is now proposing what she calls a “temporary” sales tax increase with much of it slated to go back into education!

The most indicative comment of why we remain deep in recession comes from an SEIU spokesman, Adam Glickman who says,

“The courts have been used throughout history to advocate for the rights of vulnerable populations, whether it’s civil rights or the rights of people with disabilities. Government can’t take away people's rights just because they don’t want to raise revenue.”

In what is probably one of the most arrogant statements I’ve heard from a union, Glickman adds,

“So if states don’t want to be sued for violating people’s rights, then they should stop violating people’s rights and instead raise revenue so that they don’t have to do that.”

Let’s set a few things straight. First, no one has a “right” to someone else’s money! None, nada, zip.

I don’t care if you are handicapped, injured on the job, poor as a church mouse or what race you might be, you do not have a “right” to receive someone else’s money!

Social programs to help these people are not a “right,” but are a privilege. A privilege that has been abused by far too many for far too long. An abused privilege that has effectively stolen available funds from those who truly deserve and need help.

We do not have a “right” to a job, a paycheck or employer benefits. Those too are privileges extended from the employer and that you may receive provided you perform your job adequately so long as you remain employed.

Second, unions, especially public unions do not have a “right” to collective bargain with the very politicians they donate campaign funds to in order to elect favorable people who will grant the unions ever increasing wages and benefits.

Collective bargaining too is a privilege that has long been abused and taken for granted as we see public unions continually balk at making minor sacrifices along with the rest of us in these severe times.

Even Franklin Delano Roosevelt, considered the father or modern socialism cautioned on public unions in 1937 when he wrote in part,

“All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress.”

FDR did not speak of finding an activist judge to overrule the will of millions of taxpaying citizens.

Indicating the severity of the sue happy attitude displayed by the Service Employees International Union spokesman, Governor Gregoire also informs us that her staff attorney now sits in on the budget meetings.

Third, raising taxes beyond a reasonable level hurts everybody, primarily the middle class. Taxes placed upon the wealthy business owners increases their cost of business which must either be passed along or employees cut to continue to be profitable.

In the case of public unions, we taxpayers take it on the chin as more and more taxes and fees are raised to pay the greedy union bosses.

So long as this particular segment of our society feels they are owed other people’s money as a “right,” we continue to flounder economically, spending our way into economic collapse.

As Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher so famously said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

That’s other people’s money that you have no right to in the first place.

Ode To The Welfare State - 1949

2011-11-21T09:43:00.000-08:00

"Patriotic Millionaires" Demand Their Taxes Be Increased?

2011-11-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

Besides the obvious thought of if they feel their taxes aren't high enough, why don't they just write a check to pay what they think they should, I have to wonder why Millionaires wanting their taxes raised also seek DONATIONS from the public?

If you look just above the 'N' and the 'A' in 'Millionaires' you will note "DONATE TODAY."

Do Millionaires really need us to fund their demand to pay higher taxes? Or, are they playing the public as was revealed in Warren Buffet's call to raise his taxes?

If they really believe raising their taxes is "the right thing to do," as they claim on their website and they truly feel they don't pay enough now, shouldn't they be able to fund their own campaign, given that they are Millionaires?

UPDATE: See how these "Patriotic Millionaires" react when asked if they would donate some of their own money to the treasury at the Daily Caller

I thought they felt they weren't paying enough?

Maxine Waters on Occupy Protests and the Tea Party

2011-11-16T21:16:00.000-08:00

If Democrats like Ms. Waters (no relation) get their way, the middle class will cease to exist. There would only be the socialist elite rulers and the poor.

For more, please visit CNS News.com

So Choose Another Baker and Show Your Tolerance of Others Beliefs

2011-11-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

The Iowa Supreme Court legalized same Sex Marriage in April 2009.

Did they also invalidate the First Amendment right to freedom of religious expression?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Is it really a civil rights violation if you, a private business owner, decline to do business with someone based upon your religious convictions?

With the issue once again being pushed in Washington State, does 10% of the population have a right to dictate to 90% of the population that their private businesses will do business with them, regardless of personal convictions?

Christian Baker Faces Boycott For Refusing to Make Lesbian Cake

In Case You Wonder Why We Are Going Broke

2011-11-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

Our state accountants are completing their final work on the states books and in spite of so called “deep cuts” the governor said we had, it looks like the last two year budget written and passed will close about $90 million in the red.

This ongoing “Great Recession” government keeps us locked in shows no signs of relenting and apparently, no one in government knows or has the guts to do what is actually needed to get us back out.

Instead, we see more money poured into the Columbia River Crossing Project, hopes of an admissions tax to bring a marginal class A baseball team to town complete with a sparkling new stadium, paid in part with more of our tax dollars all while we had to beg to the federal government for a temporary grant to reopen an staff Fire Station 6, recently closed because there is no money to keep it open.

If you want to know why we keep going broke and why I have long called on ousting Democrats at all levels, we need look no further than a recent action taken by the Vancouver city council, Vancouver approves $600K contract to build waterfront park, especially to comments made below the article by current city council member, Jack Burkman.

Many commenters complain about the city having enough money to pitch in for this new park to be located on the old Boise Cascade property down near the Columbia River, but not enough to adequately fund basic services for the city.

Burkman made a comment correctly pointing out that the $250,000 Vancouver is putting into this effort from the city parks impact fees “can only be used for capital projects” and “can't be used for operations such as police, fire, and such” due to state law.

But, when asked couldn’t the cities portion be better put to use to maintain and repair some of the 107 current city parks in existence, Burkman comments,

“Yes, depending on what was done to an existing park, refurbishing current parks may have met the legal requirement for the REET money. They wouldn’t have met the requirements for the state funds.”

“This is a good example where we get state money because we brought some of our money to the table – partnership investment that gets us more for our local money than if we did it alone.”

Even though we have 107 current parks, many falling into disrepair due to no funds available to maintain them, the city will come up with a quarter of a million dollars in order to receive tax dollars from the state so we can have 108 city parks?

First and foremost, what money the state adds into this, if they do, comes from us too. Various fees and taxes are collected to fund such projects, so we are receiving our own money back, with s little from the rest of the state.

But, the idea that this is a good project solely because the state will add money to what money we contribute is ludicrous. Why build something we really do not need just so we can get state money in order to build it?

It reminds me of the excuses often given for why Portland’s Loot Rail MUST be included with a new bridge so that the feds will hopefully add money to the project to help pay for the Loot Rail. If we eliminated Loot Rail all together, would we not lower the cost of the bridge and proposed freeway interchange improvements?

But, let’s drive the price sky high just so we can receive a portion from someone else to help pay for the reason the price goes sky high?

It is completely outrageous that while we have a citizen catching grief from the city for taking the initiative and at his own expense maintaining a park in his neighborhood, a park the city says they are unable to maintain due to no funds, that the city council will cough a quarter of a million dollars in seeking funding from the state to build yet another park that there obviously will not be enough money to maintain in a barren area by the river where the city hopes to one day have a major development of high density living and shopping.

It’s little wonder that our city, county, state and country remains locked in a deep recession when we continue to elect people that think along these lines and do not know how to set priorities on what city residents need the most.

Pie in the sky plans might be nice when times are good, but when we continue to see double digit unemployment throughout the county over the last few years and continually hear the cry of we struggling middle class taxpayers must cough up more revenue to pay for unneeded projects, they only drive us further into bankruptcy.

Let’s take care of what we have before spending on things we don’t need to climb out of the “Great Recession.”

Portland Occupier Attacks News crew

2011-11-08T17:18:00.000-08:00

I guess it escapes some of these loud foul mouthed protesters that the rest of us have rights too.

Barack Obama and His Church

2011-11-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

It amazes me that anybody places trust in what Obama says

Milton Friedman Sets Liberal Straight On "Too Many Millionaires"

2011-11-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

From a 1979 Donahue Show, economist Milton Friedman sets a liberal woman straight on the same argument fronted today by the Occupy Anything But a Bar of Soap crowd envious of other peoples success.

Isn't odd to see the same arguments and desperation people had under Jimmy Carter coming back up under Barack Obama?

Ronald Reagan led us out of the last mess. Who is there to do it today?

The Dark Underside of C-Tran and Proposition 1

2011-11-06T14:10:00.000-08:00

Like many other people, I am one who doesn’t appreciate being manipulated, not by anybody, especially government or agencies set up and maintained by government. What with the recent release of an independent audit of C-Tran Finances pertaining to Proposition 1, another demand for more tax dollars and copied emails between the auditor and certain elected officials in Clark County, all I see is pure manipulation on the part of C-Tran Board of Directors.

We’ve seen the article in the Columbian here of forensic auditor Tiffany Couch’s independent audit that leans heavily on C-Tran’s refuting her work and the Columbians refusal to post Ms. Couch’s point by point rebuttal of their assertions here, but the email exchange between Ms. Couch and County Commissioner Steve Stuart is a real eye opener.

Beyond the Columbians efforts to discredit her analysis due to her being hired by David Madore to independently audit CRC finances to see where over $140 Million of our tax dollars has gone, a task completely separate of C-Tran finances, commissioner Stuart, who ran for reelection with the promise of we would be given a vote this year on light rail operations and maintenance that he promptly joined others in preventing after winning, comes across as accusatory towards Ms. Couch and her analysis.

Stuart says,

“I think staff is very appropriately answering the numeric claims you made, and I'm not an accountant so I won't delve deeply into those. I was, however, a quantitative analyst trained to use statistics in product research, so I do know that there are certainly ways to manipulate numbers to help them say what you want to hear (the main reason I left statistics for law school - ironic. :)). We will follow up to make sure that isn't the case in C-Tran staff's numbers, and I would think it very sad if you were doing that, just before an election that means so much to some of the people most in need in our County. Sad as a Rotarian trying to pass a 4-way test, or as a professional with a strong code of ethics. Ironic, though, considering that exact claim of manipulating numbers has been leveled by you and others against the CRC.”

Ms. Couch responded,

“To imply that I, as a Certified Public Accountant, and Certified Fraud Examiner would manipulate numbers with respect to my analysis of C-Tran is disappointing. I’ve not done that in this case. Can you please point out, exactly, where you believe I’ve somehow manipulated the numbers? I’ve been VERY clear about the intent of my analysis, and how I came up with my calculations. I’ve sourced each and every number I’ve used (all which are C-Tran’s numbers, by the way). I had my report peer reviewed by no less than 5 other CPA’s and/or Public Transportation experts.”

“To imply that I have manipulated numbers to make them “say what I want people to hear” is simply untrue.”

County Commissioner Marc Boldt chimes in with his own accusatory threat,

“Tiffiny.this is a very important budget matter between you and C-Tran.you have stated this is not public but you have made it public.You have , in my view. told the public that c-tran employees have convinced the board to place a measure on the ballot when we have excess cash. I have spent alot of time this year on our budget numbers as well as the state auditor . I do have more faith in our numbers than yours however I will seek to find answers to the truth and hold either you or c- tran accountable .” (Spelling and punctuation errors from original)

Ms. Couch replied to commissioner Boldt,

“I have never stated that this was “not public”. I’m not sure where you get this information?”

“I also never told the public that C-Tran employees have convinced the board of anything. Again, where did you get the information? Rather, I was informed from C-Tran employees that they abide by what the board members and board policies direct them to do. This was directly stated to me, and is exactly what one would expect. Management of any organization must abide by what the board of that organization agrees (or does not agree) to do. Based on C-Tran’s 20 year plan and 2011-2012 budget documents as well as the 2000-2010 CAFRS, board policies are clearly stated. Those policies were confirmed by Mr. Hamm and Ms. O’Regan on Wednesday.”

What is this policy that has both commissioner’s Stuart and Boldt in such a turmoil that has now been revealed to the public?

“If Proposition 1 fails to pass, current C-Tran board policy indicates that High Capacity Transit project costs will take higher priority over current levels of bus service; causing bus service to decline or to be eliminated." You back that up with an unidentified quote from C-Tran staff: “When asked whether these initiatives would continue to take place if Proposition 1 fails, the answer was, “these are Policy decisions made by the Board of Directors and these initiatives will move forward.” In essence, it appears that current levels of bus service would be reduced or eliminated if Proposition1 were to fail; because the cost of these High Capacity Transit initiatives would take higher priority.”

Challenged by Commissioner Stuart as to just who expressed that policy, Ms. Couch replied,

“So, in answer to your first question, I’m quoting C-Tran CEO, Jeff Hamm.”

“Here’s the context of that conversation. Which also answers your second question. In reviewing all documents related to this issue, including: your “Public Transit Ballot Measure” marketing information on your website related to Prop 1; your 2011-2012 Budget; and, your C-Tran 2030 plan – the only information that I could find related to the potential budget cuts if Prop 1 didn’t pass was related to current bus service.”

“However, your board approved budgets and plans had millions of dollars of High Capacity Transit expenditures included in them. And:
• In no public messaging could I find references from C-Tran staff or board members that indicated that they needed the Proposition 1 funds because they were dedicating over $11M to High Capacity Transit expenditures in the next 5 years.
• In no public messaging, could I find references that indicated that the depletion of reserve funds would be accelerated because of High Capacity Transit expenditures, thus necessitating additional tax dollars from the citizens of Clark County.
• In no public messaging could I find references to the axing of said High Capacity Transit expenditures should Proposition 1 not pass.
• C-Tran is sitting on $47 million worth of unrestricted cash…yet only burning $2M worth of cash per year. Where is that in your messaging?”

“Those FACTS begged the question that any reasonable person would make based on this research. The very same question I posed to Mr. Hamm. Which was, “If Prop 1 doesn’t pass, are you telling me that C-Tran is going to cut bus service FIRST before the planned High Capacity Transit expenditures?” Mr. Hamm said to me, “These are board policies, Tiffany. Management of C-Tran can only implement the policies made by the board.” To which I replied, (by picking up the Ballot Measure piece from your website) “Well, Jeff, doesn’t the public deserve to know that this is the case? It does not say that anywhere on this material”. To which he replied that C-Tran has complied with all requirements of the information that needed to be put out to the voters.”

Being accused by Commissioner Stuart of the appearance of “not independently or objectively analyzing this issue, but instead cloaking your politics in your profession,” due to the timing of the release Ms. Couch responded in part,

“I have been sitting on this information for a long time. And the more I looked at it, the more troublesome it became. But I was afraid. I was afraid of the backlash it would cause me. I was afraid that people would think that David Madore was “behind this”. I was afraid to receive emails like the one you sent me today. But then…I looked in the mirror. I realized that I was a citizen of the United States of America. I realized that I was a CPA; someone with a DUTY to inform the PUBLIC of items in their best interest. And, yes, I realized that I was a Rotarian. I had an obligation to inform my fellow citizens of the information that I had. To sit on that information would have been in direct violation of everything I stand for.”

As we all can see, that is exactly what has happened. One brave person standing against the power elite that would cut off seniors and handicapped from bus service they can easily afford to maintain, all to continue the pursuit of an expensive bus and light rail system we do not need and have three times now expressed in our votes that we do not want.

Nowhere in any pro-Proposition 1 material is the public informed of this intent. And the person who brings it out is attacked and demeaned in classic shoot the messenger style, not only by our local so-called newspaper but by elected officials because of information voters have a right to know.

This is the dark underside of Clark County today and is clearly a manipulation of the public by a small number of power elites who ignore Clark County citizens in order to force upon us what we have said in the past we do not want.

If you haven’t marked and turned in your ballot for this Tuesday’s election, what more reason do you need to reject Proposition 1 than this?

Complete emails may be seen HERE and HERE

Occupier Wants "Jews Run Out of the Country"

2011-11-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

Last I heard, First Amendment Right does not absolve one of being held responsible for their actions and words.

STOLEN VALOR ACT “RIGHT TO LIE” CASE IN SUPREME COURT

2011-11-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

By Rees Lloyd

The U.S. Supreme Court has voted to grant review and decide the constitutionality of the Stolen Valor Act (18 U.S. Code Sec. 704) in the case of the fake "Medal of Honor recipient," fake "Marine," fake "American Legion member," former Tri-County Water Board politician in Southern California, and current incarcerated felon on conviction for fraud, Xavier Alvarez. (U.S. vs. Xavier Alvarez, USSC No. 11-210)

Alvarez brazenly boasted publicly that he was a former Marine and Medal of Honor recipient to boost his career as a minor Democratic Party politician, and decked himself out in a fake Army (not Marine) dress uniform with a chest full of medals which he didn't earn -- because he never served a day. (Alvarez' medal-bedecked photo appears in a California Bar Journal story on his case at: http://www.calbarjournal.com/November2011/TopHeadlines/TH1.aspx )

Alvarez, exposed by a real former Marine, Melissa Campbell, assisted by American Legion Post 79 and District 21, and by legendary broadcast journalist and WWII Marine the-late George Putnam, a member of Post 79(see below), pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of the Stolen Valor Act, which imposes criminal penalties for false claims of receipt of the Medal of Honor or other medals of valor by imposters.

However, Alvarez filed an appeal at taxpayer expense represented by the Federal Public Defender, cheered on by the ACLU, which never met a criminal, terrorist, or pervert it didn’t like, or a patriot it didn’t despise.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, in a 2-to-1 decision, overturned Alvarez’ conviction, holding that the Stolen Valor Act is an unconstitutional violation of First Amendment "freedom of speech." The dissenting judge criticized the decision for effectively creating a constitutional "right to lie."

The Ninth Circuit’s decision nullifying the Stolen Valor Act and establishing an unprecedented constitutional “right to lie” generated a tsunami of criticism. For one instance, Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady (USA ret.), a genuine Medal of Honor recipient (Vietnam), told me: “I just can’t understand how anyone, including judges, can believe that General George Washington and the Founding Fathers intended to create a First Amendment Constitutional ‘right to lie’ about military service and receiving the Medal of Honor or other medals of valor. It just defies common sense.”

Despite the nationwide outcry, the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for rehearing by the original three-member panel, or re-hearing en banc (i.e., by a full panel). Ironically, a concurring opinion supporting denial of rehearing was written by Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kosinski, an exposed Porno Pervert who is as much a disgrace to his public office as Alvarez was to his.

That is, Kosinski, in 2008, was exposed, tried, and convicted by a panel of his federal judge peers (who gave him a slap on the wrist) for publishing on his publicly available website graphic pornography degrading to women, including images of naked women painted as cows and posed on all fours in a field. Porno Pervert Kosinski, an unelected, unaccountable, federal judge for life, remains the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit.

It took the courage of former Marine Melissa Campbell to expose the dishonorable cretin Xavier Alvarez, whose conviction Presiding Pervert Kosinski, et al., have overturned. Melissa Campbell paid a heavy price for her courage: Alvarez used his position as an elected Water Board member to have her fired.

That is, when Campbell was involved in a business meeting between the firm for which she worked in community relations and the Water Board, the despicable Alvarez sat down next to her and tried to charm her with his tale of being an oft-wounded combat Marine who received the Medal of Honor. However, when Melissa Campbell responded that she, too, was a former Marine and began asking Alvarez questions about his Marine service, Alvarez, fearing exposure, changed his attitude and complained to her firm that she was harassing him with questions. He demanded that she be fired. She was fired, her firm fearing negative action on its business with the Water Board by Alvarez.

However, Alvarez’ attempt to silence Melissa Campbell by having her fired didn’t deter her. Legion Post 79 and District 21 became involved when I was contacted to provide representation to Melissa Campbell for her wrongful discharge. (I agreed, but she soon obtained other employment and decided not to sue.) I was also contacted to confirm that Alvarez was a member of The American Legion, as he claimed on the Water Board’s website. Another lie. I demanded the Water Board remove the false claim from its website or we would sue. It was removed. George Putnam, himself a Marine, was the first to broadcast on his “Original Talk Back” radio show news of the bravery of former Marine Melissa Campbell, and the corruption of the fake Marine Xaiver Alvarez. Federal investigation, prosecution, and conviction of Alvarez by guilty plea followed.

Alvarez, although publicly exposed, refused to resign his Water Board public office. He was removed upon his conviction. Although his Stolen Valor Act conviction was overturned, Alvarez remains in prison on conviction of fraud in his Water Board elected office which was discovered in the course of the Stolen Valor investigation.

The Supreme Court will now review the 9th Circuit’s creation of a constitutional “right-to-lie” in the Alvarez Stolen Valor Act case. That is good, but we cannot now sit with thumbs atwiddle in the mere hope that the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court will do the right thing. We must act to demand that the Congress and/or the Executive Branch act to protect the integrity of the Stolen Valor Act no matter what the Supreme Court does or doesn’t do.

“I hope a way will be found by Congress, and the Executive Branch, to protect the meaning and integrity of the Medal of Honor, and other medals of valor, from abuse and exploitation by charlatans under this 9th Circuit decision,” said Maj. Gen. Brady, one of only ninety living recipients of the nation’s highest medal of valor, the Medal of Honor. It is up to us, all Americans in general and veterans in particular, to take action to make that hope become a reality.

[Rees Lloyd is a longtime California civil rights attorney and veterans activist now residing in Portland, Oregon.]

We Are The 53%

2011-11-01T23:03:00.000-07:00

There is more truth in this one sign than in all of the Occupy anything but a bar of soap protest signs combined.

The problems lie at the feet of Politicians. If you need an example of why, read An Open Letter to the Citizens of Oakland from the Oakland Police Officers’ Association

Nobama 2012

2011-11-01T16:55:00.001-07:00

How can anybody with a sane mind still support this guy and want him to remain in office another 4 years?

Occupy Vancouver USA: "My Taxes Are Too Low"

2011-10-30T17:00:00.001-07:00

Love the "non-partisan" stance

Reality Bites For Protesters Too

2011-10-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

For days now I have been watching and speaking of how the Occupy anything but a bar of soap movement is doomed to fall apart, just as we saw back in the 1960's and 1970's. Pie in the sky dreams of a socialist utopia come crashing down on the bleeding heart feel gooders when they are smacked right between the eyes with the reality of the world and those in it who think they shouldn't have to work or carry their portion of the load.

We are beginning to see it in Occupy Portland as reports of discontent and unsanitary conditions are literally leaking out and running down the street.

People in California and other states are getting fed up with cries of protesters having constitutional rights while infringing on the constitutional rights of others to live in a peaceful community and freely use the public lands protesters have decided are theirs to hold instead. In Oakland, some found out the hard way that confronting the Police who are charged with restoring law & order is not conducive to freedom, much less their health.

In Portland, who decided in "incorporate" their movement is raising eyebrows as some $10,000 in donations seems to be missing now.

Occupy Wall Street is seeing increased discontent from within as some are realizing those in charge are no better than the government and corporations they are complaining about and protesting. A large big screen TV took precedence over laundering tons of wet clothes and blankets, angering those charged with laundering.

One protester at Occupy Wall Street fumed,

“The other day, I took in $2,000. I kept $650 for my group, and gave the rest to Finance. Then I went to them with a request -- so many people need things, and they should not be going without basic comfort items -- and I was told to fill out paperwork. Paperwork! Are they the government now?”

Most disgusting is seeing in Oakland how protesters, who would ordinarily just as soon spit on Veterans as look at them, now embrace and promote injuries incurred by one Veteran who was participating in confronting Police by trying to retake a park they were earlier ousted from. For some reason, he is held up as being above the very laws he once served to protect. Protesters there cry that the Police are to protect them, not injure them.

Occupy Oakland

That the Police are there to keep law & order for the entire community and the protests are disruptive and infringe on other people's rights totally misses these protesters. How their rights are more important than others is left unexplained, totally ignoring that they committing many of the very acts the claim to be protesting against.

I have been scoffed at and demeaned for saying these type of protests are a draw to professional freeloaders and societal misfits who do not want to contribute, only take. I have long maintained now that once those few sincere people wake up and see how they are being used, trouble will follow for the movement.

Occupy Wall Street is discovering that as I write with word coming out that kitchen volunteers are getting very frustrated having to work 18 hour days to feed those malcontents who wish only to take, never to contribute. Freeloaders flock to wherever they are offered a free ride and the sincere people end up being frustrated as they begin to see the difficulty faced daily by charities and governmental agencies who struggle to care for those who refuse to care for themselves, instead of taking a 'tough love' approach and cutting them off, forcing them to begin contributing instead of always taking. Otherwise, they starve, as it should be with freeloaders.

There is nothing new under the sun. It's all been here since the beginning and what we see being tried by protesters, who protest in a misguided manner, are doing nothing that hasn't been done before. It met with failure whenever it has been tried and as we continue to see unfold before us, it is failing once again.

Some just don't realize how good they actually have it until reality smacks them right between the eyes.

Reality bites, especially for bleeding hearts who do not listen and do not learn.

Confused About The Occupy Movement?

2011-10-26T17:22:00.001-07:00

A woman at Occupy Atlanta Explains what it is all about.

There, now you fully understand, don't you?

Thanks to the Actions of Which President?

2011-10-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

As usual, Barack Obama is creating yet another false illusion on his effectiveness as president. The following was received in email just today.


Click image for larger view

If you note the second sentence below the video, you will read, "Now, thanks to the actions of this President, we can say that conflict is coming to a close."

Nothing could be more deceptive. The Obama administration was actually negotiating a new Status of Forces Agreement to keep U.S. Troops in Iraq longer and negotiations ceased as the Iraqi's would not agree to US. Forces not being tried in Iraqi Courts.

The Dec. 31, 2011 deadline of having all U.S. Troops out of Iraq is not an agreement made by Barack Obama, but was agreed upon between President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki before Obama was even inaugurated.

As we read in a release from Defense Department dated December 15, 2008,

"The status-of-forces agreement outlines the framework for American forces withdrawal while providing authorization and protections for U.S. troops to continue support operations after the United Nations mandate expires Dec. 31."

"Although the pace of meeting those agreements depends on the Iraqi government and military, Bush said, the SOFA acknowledges that U.S. combat forces in Iraq are required to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages and localities no later than June 30, and it calls for a complete withdrawal of forces by Dec. 31, 2011"

Leave it to Democrats, who always blame everyone else for their misdeeds, to now come forth grabbing credit for what a Republican President set in place before they were even in office and not give any credit whatsoever to him.

Wouldn't it be great if they could be honest, just once?

A Stroll Through The Park - With Occupy Portland

2011-10-21T20:00:00.001-07:00

A short video I took walking through the campsites at "Occupy Portland" in Portland, Oregon today, October 21, 2011

The Columbians Glaring Hypocrisy

2011-10-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

Although we complain often, the bias seen in our media is glaring. What doesn’t get mentioned much is their hypocrisy. That is seen no brighter in the latest bash of businessman David Madore for the following flier a PAC he formed sent out.

Neither candidate had anything to do with the ad and what is stated is the brutal truth, save the claim of Clark County having the highest unemployment. Four counties are now higher, but we are not too far behind. We have been in double digit unemployment for over 2 years now.

But, for the Columbian to express any outrage over the ad is as hypocritical as can be.

County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick, when a candidate last year was accused of “running a negative, attack-dog campaign,” prompting him to play the song “who let the dogs out” at his campaign event.

Political page editor John Laird routinely refers to citizens who oppose the Columbia River Crossing Project, including light rail from Portland as “ankle biters” and “hounds from Whinerville.”

David Madore has also been frequently demeaned in the pages of the Columbian.

Local blogger Kelly Hinton of Clark County Politics has come under attack from the Columbian as efforts were underway to connect 18th legislative district representative Ann Rivers to him when she was a candidate. Hinton was labeled a “growing burden weighing her down” although his main connection was he drove a truck for her in parades. Kelly has an acerbic writing style not unlike political page editor John Laird, who receives praise for his bitterness by those at the Columbian.

On the other hand, Hinton was called mean with a “biting, shot-laden political blog” and compared to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, known for this outburst of “Not God Bless America, But Goddamn America” from the pulpit of the Church Barack Obama attended for 20 years.

Just days ago the Columbian, in issuing their endorsements of city council candidates stated about candidate Josephine Wentzel that she was “a toxic influence at council meetings, a chronic complainer whose frequent trips to the podium have followed a pattern of unproductive negativity,” and that she “has shown no capacity to cooperate with any elective body. Her obstructive, combative approach does not fit well in collaborative community discussions.”

The above labeling prompted Maria Salazar, a well known lady in our community for her involvement as an active member and local and national leader of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), to chastise the Columbian by leaving the comment under the article,

“I am totally outraged! “By contrast, challenger Josephine Wentzel has emerged as a toxic influence at council meetings, a chronic complainer whose frequent trips to the podium have followed a pattern of unproductive negativity.”- The Columbian. Whether you support Ms. Wentzel in her candidacy for Vancouver City Council or not. The Columbian clearly has gone too far! It rudely & unprofessionally printed code words that directed it readers to see Ms.Wentzel in the most negative way our community looks at ambitious women who stand up for themselves, their beiliefs, speak their minds and do things differently (have their own leadership skills) than others. Who is her own idea and not someone’s idea of what they think “she should be”, in more direct words that you can’t print, you have printed that she is a B______! As a women and Hispanic American I know too well the buried prejudice that exist in our community & American society. Calling powerful or ambitious women B word or using codes words to refer to her as B----and laughing about it or refusing to take a stand to confront it--reveals just another buried prejudice we need to dig up, air openly, and get rid of. To all the candidates endorsed by the Columbian: If you can’t even stand up for respecting women amongst your supporters, you are not worthy of my vote or others vote!”

No doubt Ms. Harris remains embarrassed due to her outburst last year, but she did do it and Mayor Leavitt did not make any move to quiet the meeting down. He sat back sheepishly allowing it to unfold as it did.

No doubt she regrets the outburst, especially once it went out on YouTube, exposing her temperament.

Many in the community wanted her to resign, but she chose to remain.

Likewise, many politicians have committed gaffes that are embarrassing that they would like to see forgotten, but they are not. Such public outbursts cannot be swept back under the rug once they get out.

But, for the Columbian to now come out crying foul over a political ad featuring the outburst after all of the acerbic swipes they have taken towards candidates and citizens has to be one of the most hypocritical articles they have printed.

Occupy A Paycheck

2011-10-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

We have all been seeing in the news about Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Portland, and Occupy Denver; Occupy everything except a bar of soap for some. The common theme we hear is that there are no jobs, corporate greed is holding back on jobs, the rich are stingy and not “paying their fair share” in taxes. The claim is that 1% holds all of the wealth and that 99% apparently do not, leading one to believe that 99% of the country is broke, out of work and dying of hunger.

According to the National Taxpayers Union, the so called rich already pays a disproportionate amount of income taxes and we also know that 47% of lower wage earners pays no income taxes.

Beyond taxes, as I said above, corporations are accused of being greedy, not wanting to hire people while they hold massive amounts of profits, yadda, yadda, yadda. That too is not quite accurate as there are corporations ready, willing and all too able to hire up to one million workers and it is the government blocking the access to those jobs.

I have long advocated on this blog for government to issues drilling rights to our oil companies so they can recover our own natural resources that we still must have to meet our energy needs. The so called “green” alternative sources remain inefficient, expensive and unreliable, as Britain found out when during one of the worst cold snaps they have ever seen, their alternative sources, windmills, froze and produced no electricity to heat homes.

While the oil & natural gas companies represented by the American Petroleum Institute, some 470 in all, stand ready to increase hiring during this ongoing economic downturn, some of the very people out “occupying” whatever, complaining they can get a job, are some of the very people who oppose oil companies putting people back to work.

Mark Green, of the API tells us, “Current policy is preventing this industry from doing more to help the economy - through job creation, investment and contributions to the federal treasury. Not to mention improving our energy security.”

He also informs us that, “these companies already contribute $86 million a day to the federal government in taxes, royalty payments, rents and bonuses.”

ExxonMobil brings to our attention a recent Washington Post article questioning industry claims of job increases due to the estimates “include jobs that are created in supporting the work of the oil and gas industry – service station employees or steel suppliers who provide raw materials for industry projects are two examples.”

I think any honest person can agree with their conclusion of, “a job is a job – and our country needs every one of them.”

ExxonMobil’s Ken Cohen goes on to list several examples of jobs in support of the oil industry, thousands as a matter of fact. Even locally, we recently saw a $200 Million oil rig constructed right here in Vancouver, Washington. Imagine how many more jobs would be opened up if government eased their restrictions, moratoriums and banning of allowing the oil companies to do what they do best, recover our own resources.

A petition is even being circulated to the White House for approval of the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline to carry Alberta's Shale Oil to the Texas Gulf, a project ready to create thousands of jobs.

Isn’t that the main reason we continue to hear are behind these nationwide Occupy anything but a bar of soap protests? No jobs from the “greedy” corporations?

And yes, I know that not everybody at these protests really want a job, but a good many people are frustrated as this Great Recession goes into another year with no end in sight.

What I don’t see are any of the Occupy anything but a bar of soap crowd protesting the White House or Congress, demanding they end the prohibitions and let oil companies achieve their capacity.

We continue to hear cries of “redistribute the wealth.” The best redistribution of wealth is from a decent paycheck. The oil companies are poised to begin hiring people, paying decent wages, increasing revenues to the treasury and supplying our energy needs, cutting off our need to buy foreign oil from enemies.

And yes, their wealth will increase.

But so will yours. A paycheck again in your pocket will increase your own wealth.

If you all must protest and really want to see an end to the Great Recession, it is time you changed direction and protested who is really keeping you locked out of work. Government!

Get government prohibitions out of the way and you too could soon be Occupying a Paycheck instead of an unemployment check.

Occupy Portland's Hit New Song

2011-10-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

While Vancouverites and those who came to attend from other cities held a relatively peaceful march and rally in Esther Short Park Saturday, October 15, the Occupy Portland crowd had an impromptu 'musical' band within their midst with their new hit song, "F*CK the USA"

Don't expect the Columbian, busted on their bias this week by publishing 8 supportive articles on Occupy Vancouver after not granting one single word to the April 17, 2010 Tea Party rally that drew nearly twice the amount of people, to mention this.

Like so many others in the deluded left, they know not what they asking for.

Nothing new for Portland.

The Disconnect of Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

The longer these “Occupy Whatever” protests go on, the more disconnected the “occupiers” seem to be. Now that they have decided to release their “demands” and another work in progress document, “The American Peoples New Economic Charter,” I am left wondering how these people expect to be taken seriously.

At one point in their documents, they call for an end to private sector student loans, saying such loans should be wholly subsidized. Later, they want forgiveness of the very loans they took out then state, “Get Wall Street out of the private student loan business and maintain fair and reasonable public loans for all students who need them.”

They ask for “Education should be funded with some of the $2 billion/week that goes to war-funding. At least 50% of it.”

They expect, “Socialize undergraduate level college. Make failing impossible to assure that everyone has the same chance in the work place post-college.”

They want to see, “Repeal “No Child Left Behind” [NCLB is basically a corporate $ maker. Make all education free from cradle-grave.”

After stating no student information should be shared with Military Recruiters, they then expect, “Establish a national service requirement for all young persons, incorporating the draft in time of war, and civilian service for all others.” Another ‘occupier chimed in, [Lets get our republic back first before we force people to die for it] Maintain the option of “conscientious objector.”
During time of service, young people will be provided room, board, and a small salary. This money will be paid from the $2 billion/week currently spent on war.”

On the subject of guns we read, “Eliminate all gun registration lists so they can not be published in newspapers for criminals to choose their victims (either for gun burglaries, or home invasions of the defenseless).

Another occupier entered in regard to that, “The government should act as a national database of citizens, with only such information as: name, dob, ss#/voter id, schools attended, driver’s license #, address/phone, medical record #. Citizens will not be allowed to own guns. They can be used in shooting ranges. We cannot let Jarred Louhgners to corrupt our society any more.”

Still later in the document we read the suggestion, “make guns illegal in our society. If even one mentally-ill person is able to get a gun, that makes everyone and anyone unsafe. Create safe and sane shooting galleries as entertainment businesses for those who like shooting.”

As expected, there is also the usual list of “prosecute and imprison corporate CEO’s,” “Free healthcare,” “repeal Citizens United” that gave corporations a voice in elections as Union have, “Stop home foreclosures” and more.

But, the single largest disconnect is found on the last page of the proposal, “New Salary Range Recommendations” supposedly “Based on Concepts of Economic Sustainability and Right Livelihood” The following is a list of their “range of Salaries.”

Bankers $20,000
Lawyers $27,500
Realtors $25,000
Doctors $28,000
Nurses $27,500
Teachers/Librarians/Train Engineers/Bridge Maintenance/Ship Pilots, etc. $35,000
Police $36,000
Public Servants $28,500
Laborers $20,000
Other public sector $30,000
Other private sector $29,000
Technical/Research/Academic $36,000
Entrepreneurs/Business Owners $10,000 (this annual payment by the government will serve to fund and support private businesses, which, if successful, can create needed and sought-after products. If the products are worthy and valuable, people will buy them, and entrepreneurs will be able to amass fortunes. Warning - products, such as derivatives, will probably not succeed in the new, fair economy)
Congress $30,000
President 40,000
Soldiers N/A
Defense workers $25,000
Etc.
All jobs include full health benefit for worker and family, full retirement benefits, full free education for children.

Besides being much lower than current salaries, who in their right mind would be willing to start any business and receive only $10,000 a year from the government while they pay employees twice that amount?

And, as brought out by the Washington Times, with soldiers being eliminated (presumably why Soldiers salary is N/A), why will there be defense workers?

We are also told that income taxes would be eliminated too and ““The only tax will be a sales tax for all goods and services, which will be fixed at 4%.”

But, even with such a low sales tax, much lower than we pay today, salaries so low and business start-ups discouraged, who would be able to fund all of the free education, free healthcare and those companies who have already packed up and moved overseas to afford to manufacture their product being hit with other taxes recommended in the document, which will undoubtedly force them to completely cut ties to the United States should such a pact be implemented.

All products to be purchased would have to be imported, which earlier in the document called for an import tax. Other countries would not be held to compliance of this pact as the past itself calls for an end to all colonialism, at home and abroad.

Another complete disconnect with reality is demonstrated on page 23 where it is written in response to no reporting on wars in the media, “There will be no war, so that’s moot. The government will have one media center in which it broadcasts/reports on its news. Who do these warmongers think are going to attack us?”

How can anyone reach adulthood and be so blindly naïve?

Democrats Come Out In Support of Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

Any doubt left that the Democrat Party has lost touch with mainstream America and is more interested in the destruction of America as we have always known it is laid to rest;

While the Democrat Party now demonizes corporations and continues to lay all blame on everybody else but them, they now come out in support of a disjointed group of malcontents whose goal is a total disruption of your life so they can receive a free ride. Democrats forget their own complicity in the continually degrading economy as they ask for more Billions in stimulus, promote bypassing of congress by Barack Obama to implement his radical leftwing views and continue to promote a socialist takeover of America.

The Chart Below, supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows where unemployment has been since the year 2000 to date.

Of note, ever since Democrats seized both houses of congress, in January 2007, unemployment has steadily increased. Once they had all control of government, with the inauguration of Barack Obama in January 2009, unemployment skyrocketed passed 10% and remains about 9%, at a time they had complete control with filibuster proof majorities and a president in complete agreement with them.

And, that is the fault of Republicans?

And now, they are fully supportive of protesters who are so disjointed they cannot articulate why they are protesting intelligently?

How can any of you ever vote to keep a Democrat in office or hand them back the majority?

Occupy Wall Street: A Good Investment Opportunity?

2011-10-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

James O'Keefe again and although primarily two people, funny just the same.

H/T Project Veritas

Occupiers Meet Tea Partiers

2011-10-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

H/T The Blaze

They Turned Down a Congressman Speaking For This?

2011-10-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Video of the Occupy Atlanta actions immediately after Rep. John Lewis was denied a few minutes to address the block here

Remember, an announcement is information. A proposal is a, well, err, a proposal.

Got that?

It looks too like Whitey is still calling the shots in Atlanta, Georgia.

Political Party Seeks to Hire "Occupiers"

2011-10-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Grassroots?


Click image for larger view

H/T HotAir.com

See also: Sex, drugs and hiding from the law at Wall Street protests

Marxist Protesters Stop Civil Rights Icon, Rep. John Lewis (D. Ga) from Speaking

2011-10-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

From the YouTube description:

"Many curious citizens and media outlets came to the first Occupy Atlanta event, and were visible shocked and confused by the consistent Marxism employed by the group. People abandoned their individuality and liberty to be absorbed into a hypnotizing collective. The facilitator made it clear that he was not a "leader" and that everyone was completely equal; words often spoken by leftists, but in this case they actually applied their philosophy. Into this surreal and oppressive environment, Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights hero and icon of American leftism, came to speak as has so often done at left-wing rallies and events in Atlanta. He is practically worshiped in Democrat circles, and was visibly stunned to see these Marxists turn him away. It was reminiscent of previous Marxist revolutions in history when those who ignorantly supported the revolutionaries are, over time, purged and rejected for the "good of the collective", when their usefulness has expired."

H/T Chicks on the Right

Lewis left Woodruff Park, still in support of these Marxist loons.

Congressman John Lewis at Occupy Atlanta

"I support the protesters in New York and here," Lewis told CL before leaving Woodruff Park. "It is the right time and the right place to be... It is the will of the people. When I was young we did similar actions. It is grassroots democracy at its best. I think something good will come of the moment."

Sad that a man of Lewis' stature and intelligence cannot see how he is being used, and cast aside.

Occupy Wall Street: What We Don’t See in the American Media

2011-10-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

As the malcontents of Occupy Wall Street spread their jealous rage across the country, it’s a downright shame that in order to see what is really happening we must turn to the foreign press. The image below was published in the UK Daily Mail, October 8, 2011 along with a host of other images showing the filth and garbage piling up.

Where have we seen this sort of disgusting act before? Oh yes, Portland, Oregon March 2007

Photo by Rachael Palinkas

No, this isn't indicative of all of those participating in this misguided protest, but I don't hear protest organizers complaining about it or telling followers not to engage in such disgust.

And these people complain about the Tea Party?

Occupy Wall Street Wholly Organized by Socialist Front Groups

2011-10-07T18:21:00.001-07:00

Read more at the Blaze

Yes, it brings Occupy Portland into question as well.

It seems "grassroots" requires quite a bit of organization and prodding on the left.

In all, just the same discontent seen since the early 1900's as Marxists the world over continue to call for change to socialism, in spite of it failing everywhere it has been tried.

Fine Tuning Ignorance

2011-10-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

Poet and Philosopher George Santayana is credited with the quotation, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” early in the 20th century. In various forms, it has been repeated since in an effort to warn people to educate themselves in historical matters, one most notably being “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it” in an epigraph by William L. Shirer in his epic book, “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.”

Many of us, during our years in school, found history to be a boring subject. It brought little interest and we couldn’t wait to get through the lesson for recess, lunch or something more interesting to us. I know my own interest in the subject didn’t pique until the 10th grade when I had the good fortune of being taught World History by Mrs. Pauline Watkins in her final year of teaching before retirement from South Broward High School in Hollywood, Florida.

Tragically, it was in her class that we saw a sad day in our own history unfold as President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

Perhaps that is why seeing the ignorance, the lack of education and paying attention to World History irritates me as it does as once again, we see masses of people taking to the streets and “occupying” parks, centers and even Wall Street with their unrealistic demands, some not even knowing why they are protesting, just going along with the flow.

From New York City to Portland, Oregon and several cities in between, people are marching and chanting slogans they have no idea have been heard before in variations that helped overthrow monarchies and even legitimate capitalist government, to usher in socialism and at times, socialist communism.

None having succeeded in improving the plight of the people escapes today’s protesters as they imagine forgiveness of debt they ran up, or as they demand jobs as a right while chanting capitalism has failed, not realizing having a job is capitalism.

Just as Hitler successfully painted the Jews as the cause of post World War One Germany’s troubles and the Bolsheviks painted the bourgeois as the cause of Russia’s economic plight towards the end of World War One, socialists in America are painting the wealthy and corporations as the cause of today’s economic woes.

“End Corporate Greed” is a common slogan heard from many who haven’t the desire to create their wealth through hard work or who have been misled to think corporations have stolen what is rightfully theirs.

Elected Government officials and wealthy liberals preach “redistribution of wealth,” but somehow don’t offer to redistribute their own.

We hear chants of how the wealthy need to “pay their fair share,” many repeating the chant oblivious to the fact that the top 5% of wage earners pay 70% of the income taxes while 50% of lower income pay no income tax and even receive refunds.

As was found out in the early 1990’s when Democrats led the charge of imposing a “luxury tax” on expensive items, boats, private aircraft and jewelry, the wealthy just don’t buy those items when they are unfairly targeted, putting manufacturers out of business and thrusting middle class workers out of work.

Also ignored is the philanthropy of many in the wealthy class in their ongoing financial support of charitable causes such as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Even as they pay the bulk of income taxes, they fund such causes to benefit those less fortunate and in return, they are targeted by those who desire only to see America brought to its knees and a socialist neo-communist system imposed.

Many are mourning the passing of Steve Jobs, a college drop-out who created an empire in Apple Corporation and brought home computers and many other technological advances to the people of the world. Even the “occupiers” protesting “corporate greed” are seen using those devices to inform the world how they are “bring down the man” in protesting the very “greed” that brought them the devices they use.

Under a socialist neo-communist system many have been convinced is the answer to their own lack of entrepreneurship, innovators like Steve Jobs would never have gotten off the ground, there being no incentive to even start as their dreams would only be taken over by government bureaucrats.

Instead, these “occupiers” listen to the likes of wealthy movie maker Michael Moore as he decries wealth, while filing lawsuits to increase his own. Or people like Roseanne Barr, former comedian who calls for “beheading” those who make over $100 Million and don’t give it up, while she clings to her own $80 Million.

Frances Fox Pivens has even spoken to the “occupiers” egging them on. Pivens sees her and her deceased husband, Richard Cloward dream of causing a collapse of the American system, first published in 1966 and known as the Cloward-Piven Strategy being fulfilled today.

They fall back on cries of wealthy Billionaires like Warren Buffet, who cries he doesn’t pay enough taxes and that he pays less than his secretary; all the while fighting payment of back taxes he never paid on his firm, Berkshire Hathaway. Nor does he pay his secretary more so she too can pay more taxes.

Historic and current examples of where these movements and what harm each has brought to citizens remain ignored or marginalized. The Soviet Union, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Red China, all have oppressed citizens and liberties all for the “common good” they are told.

The Soviet Union collapsed upon itself. North Korea is on the brink of starvation. China, making moves towards capitalism but still mired in communism pays union workers less that $2 an hour. Cubans sit around in poverty worse than they saw before the Castro revolution ousted President Fulgencio Batista.

Our country was founded on the principle of equal opportunity, not equal outcome.

Yes, history is a boring subject to many youths and adults alike. Ignorance of decades of history blinds so many to where they are really headed.

"This Is Still the Land of the Free"

2011-10-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

The latest from the kids at Tussing Elementary School in Virginia

Thank you too all who have served our country or love it.

Thank you Michael & Angela Souders

Do We Have a Viable Alternative Candidate for Washington State Governor?

2011-10-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

Shahram Hadian

With a little over a year to go to our next governor’s election, both political parties in Washington State have once made our selection for us on who we get to vote for. The Washington State Republican Party has given us State Attorney General Rob McKenna, who has long had his eyes fixed on one day occupying the governor’s mansion. The Washington State Democrat Party has decided on 1st District U.S. Representative Jay Inslee to occupy the governor’s mansion next, given that current Democrat Christine Gregoire has announced she will not seek a third term.

The establishment in both parties have drawn the lines and decided that is our choices, whether we like them or not.

For too long now we have had party elites deciding on who we get to vote for on many levels. Woe be upon any candidate who doesn’t just go along with the party elites. I saw a close up and personal view of just that in the 2010 election as the GOP undermined and back stabbed a good conservative candidate to ensure Jaime Herrera, the hand-picked and groomed candidate of the GOP establishment’s choice won the nomination.

With this in mind, I am pleased to see a third candidate standing up and willing to give us another choice to look at. Shahram Hadian is stepping up to the plate and by all outward appearances is a man deserving of our attention.

He immigrated with his family to America from his native Iran in 1978 when he was 7 years old, shortly before the Shah of Iran was overthrown and a brutal Islamic regime of took over, months later to see the Ayatollah Khomeini become the country's Supreme Leader. He is a graduate of the Washington Law Enforcement Academy and served as a Police Officer for the City of Redmond.

Hadian ran for Washington State Representative previously and converted to Christianity from Muslim over a decade ago. He has served as a pastor, police officer, teacher, coach, and small business owner, now residing in Everett with his wife and two sons.

He remains a strong voice against radical Islam and imposing Sharia Law in America.

Little is known concerning Hadian here in Clark County, but there are steps being taken to get him down for us to see who he is and what he stands for.

If he is what we want for governor, we conservatives will have to stand against the establishment and block any undermining and backstabbing that will surely come down from the Bellevue Mafia to ensure McKenna is the only choice we are given.

McKenna has acted on our behalf and pleased many of us as Attorney General. But, he has also taken several positions contrary to our views over the years too. He is a moderate, not a conservative. If the choice comes down to either McKenna or Inslee, I will no doubt hold my nose and vote McKenna.

But it is up to us, the voters in Washington State and Clark County to weigh our options and decide for ourselves who we want to occupy the governor’s mansion and lead us. For too long, political parties have made decision for us.

The only way we will be able to make our own choices is by giving candidates like Shahram Hadian a fair and serious look when we can and decide based upon what we see and hear.

It is hoped we will have a meeting with him in the near future and I will announce when and where such a meet will be scheduled.

He at least deserves a fair assessment by voters.

Roseanne Barr: Behead the Rich

2011-10-01T22:20:00.001-07:00

Comments made by Roseanne Barr on Max Keiser Report, October 1, 2011.

"I, first, would allow the guilty bankers to pay back anything over $100 million (in) personal wealth, because I believe in the maximum wealth of $100 million. If they're unable to live on that amount, they should go to re-education camps. And if that doesn't work, they should be beheaded."

The left gets scarier and scarier every day. I can only imagine the outrage if Rush Limbaugh or any conservative called for such a drastic measure taken against liberals.

Washington State, Let’s Honor Our South Vietnamese Allies

2011-09-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Most of us have heard the derision against the ARVN (Army Republic of Viet Nam), “Want to buy some ARVN rifles? Never been fired and only dropped once!” That it is a rehash from earlier times makes it no less stinging in its denunciation of the South Vietnamese Forces that fought in South Viet Nam many years ago.

It’s also very untrue. The South Vietnamese soldiers, sailors and airmen fought for their country as hard as any other soldier ever has.

While America lost over 58,000 of our sons in Viet Nam, South Viet Nam lost about 266,000 of theirs. In all, the South Vietnamese Forces were effective fighters, even though they were often under trained and under armed while facing a hostile communist force well trained and well armed by the Communist Chinese and the former Soviet Union.

Knowing this, I am left perplexed reading the Olympian’s headline, Plan to honor Vietnamese soldiers on memorial in Olympia angers U.S. vets.

It seems that a small band of U.S. Veterans groups, Vietnamese Veterans and community members has been working with the State Department of Veterans Affairs to add an inscription alongside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Olympia to honor both Republic of Vietnam and American soldiers who fought in Viet Nam.
Private donations are being sought for a simple small inscription to be placed adjacent to the Viet Nam Memorial in the Capital Campus in Olympia.

The inscription would read in English, “We remember with gratitude the soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam and the United States who fought and died for freedom and democracy in Vietnam.”

It would also be engraved in Vietnamese.

It is tragic to see former Combat Medic, Hal Lymus who was instrumental in raising the funds to construct the Viet Nam Memorial in Olympia among those expressing strong opposition to this project. While I respect his right to be opposed, I disagree with his reasoning.

He says, “We have nothing against the Vietnamese community whatsoever. It’s just that this wall is meant for one thing: the Washington citizens who died or are missing in action and for the guys who died as a result of their injuries.” He added in regards to the 1,116 names of Washington State citizens engraved on the Memorial, “A lot of these guys died in my arms.”

We lost 13 in my unit during my own 18 months in country. My best buddy was shot down and medevaced out to Japan before I could even see how he was. So I understand the intent of the Memorial, but I also see that many who were forced to flee South Viet Nam settled in Washington and were citizens when the Memorial was dedicated on May 25, 1987.

I also understand the bitterness many of us still feel concerning how we were received coming home from Viet Nam and the hostility shown us. That is a large part behind so many states and Washington D.C. dedicating specific Memorials just for our Viet Nam lost.

But I am also reminded it was not the Vietnamese refugees fortunate enough to make it to America after our government turned their backs on the struggling South Vietnamese who treated us that, but our own citizens.

Comments from the Vietnamese Community include, “The addition gives us a place to show our respect and remember our love ones who died in the war. After the war, our war dead have no place of honor in Vietnam. Their cemeteries were destroyed or moved by the communists.”

Dale Parsons a former Platoon Sergeant says, “I think it honors all those who fought and served in Vietnam. It’s about both countries; we fought side by side.”

A former infantryman named Lee adds, “It was pretty remarkable what happened there. There was a lot of testimony. A lot of tears were shed. … Everybody we talked to said, ‘Wow, great idea’.”

Still, there are those who seem to still be clinging to the myth of the cowardly South Vietnamese Soldier like Chuck Manley of Tumwater who says he is “digging in for a fight.” He says he has spoken to several Veterans about the addition of the inscription and received answers of “not no, but hell no.”

Manley also said, “This thing is going to turn into a battle. We’ve got numerous senators and representatives who are with us on this, who are concerned about it. All this project is going to do is cause bad and hostile feelings between Veterans, Citizens and the Vietnamese community.”

I find it very disappointing that there are those so adamantly against honoring our allies and citizens in Washington State that they say they are “digging in for a fight” and it’s “going to be a battle.”

Over the years I have had several Vietnamese, seeing me in my Vietnam Veterans Cap I am noted to wear, walk up to shake my hand and thank me for fighting in their country. The lady that cuts my hair was one of the Boat People who escaped in 1980 and now has grown sons of her own, all of whom either have or are serving in the American Armed Services, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

These people were not our enemies, they were our allies. And, for every tale heard of an atrocity committed, there were a thousand incidents of bravery and compassion that never made the news.

Supporters have already indicated they are not willing to further divide people over this and if the opposition is enough, will call it off.

I think the most tragic part of this is that those who fought so bravely and were basically sold out by a weak spine congress due to spoon fed disinformation from the anti-left and like John ‘F’in Kerry may be denied a simple honor from their fellow citizens of Washington State.

We Viet Nam Veterans did not receive a “welcome home” and have welcomed each other home over the years.

I think it is about time we welcomed the Vietnamese refugees to their new home.

Longshore Local President Dan Coffman on Escalating Union Thuggery

2011-09-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

After a carjacking, vandalism of rail cars, dumping (not spilling) grain, destruction of private property, interfering with interstate commerce, assaulting Police Officers, preventing security guards from leaving while they trashed the facility and the possibility of involvement in rail tampering, Governor Gregoire, it is time you called out the Guard to protect innocent American workers, Union workers in Longview.

This thuggery must stop before someone is seriously injured or killed at the hands of these thugs.

Read more and see full video at KOMONews.com

Of Union Thugs and Newspaper Writers

2011-09-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Longview Longshoremen have been making a lot of news lately, none of it very favorable to them. Since they are in a dispute with the EGT Grain Terminal in Longview over their hiring a another union to do the work, local 21 of the ILWU have resorted to vandalism of trains, threats towards the Police, assaulting the Police, breaking down fences and smashing out windows, keeping people against their will by blocking them from leaving the grounds during their early A.M. rampage a couple weeks ago, carjacking a security car and driving it off into a ditch an interfering with interstate commerce by repeatedly trying to block shipments of grain into the facility by sitting down on train tracks and holding up trains.

These are actions we most commonly refer to as “thuggery,” the actions of a ruffian; a hoodlum or as many of say, union thugs when they don’t get their way. You can also call it violent extortion, forcing a company to cave to their demands of higher wages or benefits, or else risk vandalism and destruction of the companies’ property.

Not all unions engage in such despicable conduct, but the ILWU in Longview recently has. Many suspect it was someone associated with or supportive of them that tampered with railroad tracks and shut down rail traffic for hours on Monday, September 26, 2011.

We all see whenever thugs of any type engage in such nefarious conduct. Be it union violence or thuggish teens and anarchist rioting, it is apparent and if reported in the local news outlets, even if not national media.

But how many of us have noticed or paid any attention to any media thuggery?

Yes, it’s there for them too, only we label it bias. From the Columbian to the New York Times and everything in between, all display their own version of thuggery in the bias read almost daily in regular news articles.

Editorials are where we used to read such biased positions but now they have filtered down to what is supposed to be news articles, primarily when covering political candidates.

For example, we need only go back to last year and see how then candidate for Clark County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick was treated by the Columbian here, here, here and here. Some of those, besides the one blog post from my other blog questioning why Peter was not even mentioned in their discussion on candidates, predate editorial endorsements.

We saw much of the same with candidates Alan Svehaug, Paul Harris, Scott Weber an a very confusing slam by editor Lou Brancaccio against Ann Rivers here where although endorsing her, connected her to independent blogger Kelly Hinton who has long stated his opposition to the Columbian on his blog and publicly.

At the time, Brancaccio had set his sights on Hinton in an effort to disparage him over his writing style and content.

During this time we also saw such writing against local businessman, David Madore who openly supports and donates to candidates that share his views. He is also opposed to bringing light rail from Portland to Vancouver and is well spoken and informed in his stated opposition, drawing the ire of many down at the Columbian, here, here, here and of late, a thinly veiled piece against Mr. Madore here.

Yes, that last one does give token mention to others, which is why I say it is a thinly veiled attack piece against him.

And candidates supported by him don’t fare much better in the pages in the Columbian. Vandalism against the home of a forensic auditor hired by Madore to inspect the public records of the Columbia River Crossing was deemed “not news” by a reporter with the Columbian, even though a couple years ago, less vandalism was used by the newspaper to raise sympathy for a supporter of a Democrat candidate here.

The paper has few kind words to say about Bill Turlay, Josephine Wentzel and other candidates he supports in surrounding communities.

Are they not trying to sway peoples’ minds even before editorial endorsements are made?

We have seen several articles in print around the country complaining about tax breaks for business, often oil companies or other large corporations. The newspapers somehow neglect to mention several of them, even here in Washington, sought and received tax breaks also so they could lower their costs and remain profitable.

National print media had to be dragged kicking and screaming to cover the Clinton/Lewisnky scandal in the late 1990s.

They only reluctantly finally covered much of the John Edwards love child scandal, but can’t wait to run with mere accusations when they hear them against conservative officials.

Look back at Hurricane Katrina and it was automatically the fault of George W. Bush what happened after the hurricane in New Orleans with no accusation against state and local officials who actually dropped the ball.

These are just a few examples off the top of my head. I’m sure most of you reading this can think of several more. But my point is media does what they can to sway opinions to their favored view.

Unions that resort to thug tactics are attempting to sway companies’ views to surrender to their demands do so by the use of baseball bats and axe handles.

Media attempts to sway views and get public support of their views by ink and paper.

Sometimes, I think Thomas Jefferson was more insightful I ever thought when he said, “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.”

ILWU Longview, Washington - Opening the Public's Eyes

2011-09-22T18:53:00.000-07:00

After yet another show of violence and more arrests of ILWU members in Longview, Washington, Local 21 V.P. says they are "opening people's eyes."Yes they are, but not in how he thinks.

Union Thugs Yanked Off Railroad Tracks By Police

2011-09-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Police earlier guarded rail crossings as the train passed through Vancouver.

Union thuggery has to stop. They make unrealistic demands and when they don't get them, set out to destroy a business? Extortion anyone?

KPTV.com

Saudi's Stifling Ethical Oil Ads in Canada?

2011-09-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

The ad that has the Saudi's upset?

Read more here

Rees Lloyd: A Liberty Milestone: CONSTITUTION DAY – SEPT. 17, 1787

2011-09-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

On September 17, 1787, after weeks of often bitter debate by delegates of the States gathered at the Constitutional Convention at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Constitution of the United States, beginning with the words, “We, the People,” was signed by thirty-nine of the fifty-five delegates. The world was changed forever as America began its “great experiment “in self-government.

Never before had a constitution been established in the name of “the People” of a nation, rather than by and in the name of a monarch, a state, or other governmental power. Many of the most erudite thinkers of the so-called “Age of Enlightenment,” did not believe that a constitutional republic of limited government “by, for, and of the people” could survive in a broad land containing a large and diverse population. America is still an ongoing experiment in liberty.

The Constitutional Convention had commenced on May 14, 1787, with a challenge to the conscience and integrity of delegates by George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army which had won the Revolutionary war. Washington, then and now the model American patriot, was elected President of the Constitutional Convention by unanimous vote.

“If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterward defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the event is in the Hand of God,” said Washington, who would later become the First President of the United States and be regarded as “the Father of his country.”

The delegates were learned American patriots who had studied history deeply to meet the task of creating a constitution fit for a free people. Thomas Jefferson, who authored the Declaration of Independence but did not participate in the Constitutional Convention because he was in Paris representing the United States, wrote of the delegates with utmost respect as “a gathering of demigods.”

The Constitution the framers wrought in the name of “We, the People,” was one creating a government of expressly limited powers – a limited federal government of not a national government of self-expanding powers.

The subsequently adopted “Bill of Rights,” contained in the First Ten Amendments, for which the efforts of James Madison earned him recognition as “the Father of the Constitution,” begins with five words limiting powers of the federal government over the people:

“Congress shall make no law…,” respecting an establishment of religion nor abridging the fundamental rights of free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, of press, of assembly, of petition for redress of grievance. These are rights which the Founding Fathers believed Americans were “endowed by their Creator,” as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. That is, the Founders believed these were natural rights, rights granted by the “hand of God, not the hand of a generous government,” as the late President John F. Kennedy would express it.

The Ninth and Tenth Amendments reinforced the words “Congress shall make no law…” by mandating that the people and the states retained all rights not enumerated as possessed by the central government.

Never before in history had “We, the people,” had their natural rights so expressly protected by a constitution so expressly limiting the government as to its powers. By changing the relationship of the people and their government, limiting the power of government and making the retained rights of the people superior, the Founding Fathers changed the world. Ever after, the people of the world who have dreamed of the freedoms of Americans have looked to the values expressed in the American Declaration of Independence, and the United States Constitution, as a model for liberty in a constitutional republic.

The framers of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers of America, were faced with a great challenge, and they met it. The Constitution which they framed was finally ratified by all states by January 10, 1791. It has now endured for 224 years since it was signed on Sept. 17, 1787.

“What kind of government have you given us, Mr. Franklin,” an American woman asked Founding Father Benjamin Franklin at the close of the convention.

“A republic, Madam,” Ben Franklin replied. “If you can keep it.”

That, the keeping of the free constitutional republic that the Founding Fathers bequeathed to us, is our challenge.

We owe a great debt to all those Founding Fathers and other Americans who came before us who preserved our freedom. We pay that debt by what we do to preserve freedom for those Americans who will come after us.

[Rees Lloyd is a longtime civil rights attorney, a veteran’s activist, and a member of the Victoria Taft Show Blogforce.]

DEMOCRATS; STOP FOCUSING ON JOBS, PLEASE!

2011-09-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

After Tuesday’s stunning defeat for Democrats in New York’s 9th district, where the Democrats have held the seat for nearly a century, the Democrat spin machine kicked into gear with several different excuses to deny that it was a repudiation of Obama’s poor leadership capabilities.

I was particularly struck by the comment from DNC Chair and Florida’s Representative, Debbie Wasserman Schultz who said the race had been run under “unusual circumstances,” and she asserted the public mood will change “when we begin to focus on jobs rather than spending cuts.”

It is quite a remarkable thing to hear a Democrat say “when we begin to focus on jobs” as I am under the impression that jobs has been their primary call since losing to George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election.

Bush came to office as a recession was growing and then the nation was blind-sided with the worst terrorist attack in history, throwing the economy in uncertainty. In spite of that, a March 8, 2002 CNN Money headline informed us, Unemployment drops to 5.5%, Jobless rate falls unexpectedly as nation begins to add jobs again.

A July 3, 2003 Associated Press article then screamed, Bush's Economy: Unemployment Soars. Sen. Jon Corzine, (D-N.J.), then chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee stated, “The verdict is in: The Republicans’ multi-trillion dollar failed economic policy is one the greatest disasters for working Americans in a decade.” In spite of the claims of the article’s writer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows actual unemployment in July 2003 was 6.2%.

November 2003 saw Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Tom Daschle send President Bush a letter saying, “American workers are weathering the effects of an economy where there is only one job for every three individuals searching for a job. And yet, the Republican leadership in Congress is refusing again this year - as it has in the past - to address this urgent problem.” Unemployment was 5.8%.

In a September 2004 interview with Don Imus, failed presidential candidate John ‘F’in Kerry (who served in Vietnam) stated, “But if you believe that we can put people back to work and stop losing all our jobs overseas and create better jobs here, be fiscally responsible,,, I think there’s a new direction.” Unemployment was at 5.4%

During the 2006 election, when Democrats swept into total control of both houses of congress, Nancy Pelosi issued a 31 page pamphlet A New Direction for America where several claims were made on how Democrats would improve and create jobs. Unemployment was 4.6% in January 2007 as they were sworn in.

In July 2007, after sweeping to power and passing their minimum wage increase, Kerry again stated, “By raising the minimum wage, we’re creating a prosperous future for our small businesses, their workers and their families.” Unemployment was 4.7%

In January 2008, after Democrats had control of both houses of congress for a year, Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer posted, “Bush Jobs Record the Worst since Presidents Herbert Hoover and George H.W. Bush” saying, “BLS Report Indicates Loss of 13,000 Private Sector Jobs and Increase in Unemployment Rate to 5 Percent. If there were ever a shot across the bow to this Administration to get off its laissez-faire boat and start helping the economy, this is it.” Unemployment was at 5%.

Campaigning for president in June 2008, Illinois Democrat junior Senator Barack Obama called for greater government investments “in a renewable energy policy that ends our addiction on foreign oil, provides real long-term relief from high fuel costs, and builds a green economy that could create up to five million well-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced.” Unemployment was 5.6%

In September 2008, Obama said, “the government needed to also take action to create jobs and help support distressed homeowners and communities.” Unemployment was at 6.2%

Obama won the presidency in November 2008 and as he was inaugurated in January 2009 unemployment had leaped to 7.8%

February 2009 saw the Democrat controlled congress approve Obama’s $787 Billion stimulus plan which was said needed to prevent unemployment from exceeding 8%. Unemployment hit 8.2% by the end of the month.

In June 2009 Obama was saying his $787 billion stimulus plan would create more than 600,000 jobs. Unemployment was 9.5%

As Democrats continued their focus on jobs, October 2009 saw unemployment exceeding 10%.

January 2010 saw Democrats again focusing on jobs as both Pelosi and Obama jointly called for a Jobs Creation Bill after a Labor Department report showed the economy lost 85,000 jobs in December 2009. Unemployment was 9.9%

Losing control of the House in the 2010 election and barely retaining the Senate, then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, reeling from the loss said, “President Obama and this Congress were job creators from Day One, saving the country from the worst economic catastrophe since the Great Depression. The Recovery Act created or saved more than 3 million jobs, and America is moving forward. October marks the 10th straight month of private sector job growth.” Unemployment was at 9.8%.

In his January 2011 State of the Union Address, Obama stated, “We measure progress by the success of our people. By the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer.” Unemployment was at 9%

Within months, we began hearing claims from the Democrats of High Unemployment around 9% being the “New Normal” with Wasserman Schultz, who is now saying “just wait until we begin to focus on jobs” then boasting about how “Obama Turned The Economy Around.” Unemployment was 9.5%.

In just the last days we see Obama proposing yet another “new and improved” jobs stimulus bill and speaking to American voters saying, “if you love me, you’ve got to help me pass this bill!”

Given the record seen with Democrats focusing on jobs for so many years, please, STOP focusing on jobs, Democrats. Obviously, the American worker is much better off when Democrats are not focusing on jobs.

Hopefully, if they stop their focus on jobs, the economy will actually recover and Americans can go back to work.

"All This Just For A Flag?"

2011-09-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

If lip readers are correct, can Michelle Obama and her husband be any more disrespectful? Paying homage to those murdered on September 11, 2001, as Bagpipes played towards the end of the ceremonies they attended and as the American Flag is being folded, she is seen leaning into Barack Obama, apparently saying, "All this for a flag?" Barack seems to nod his head in agreement.

The Washington Times explains the disrespect shown, "Perhaps Mrs. Obama thinks that all the pomp and circumstance she experiences in her daily life has something to do with her, rather than the unofficial office she holds. If so she should disabuse herself of that notion quickly. The official gestures of respect shown to her are the same shown to any First Lady, and if she wasn’t married to the president she would be just another citizen."

Recalling her frequent very expensive vacations and treatment to the very best there is, all at taxpayer expense, I can only nod in agreement with the Times as they say, “all this just for Michelle Obama?”

"Obama for America's" AttackWatch.com makes no mention yet of this latest Obama gaffe.

Apologists are claiming she actually said, "I love how they fold the flag."

Chuck Woolery on "Taxing the Rich"

2011-09-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

Foul Mouthed Union Thug Arrested on 4 Felony Counts

2011-09-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

Proving not to have come from top of the gene pool, 45 year old Kelso Washington resident Ronald Patrick Stavas, widely seen on the video where he verbally assaults a camera crew filming outside the Longview ILWU office has been arrested on four felony counts.

Stavas, who identified himself as F. U. [Blank]sucker in the video is charged with “burglary in the first degree, assault in the second degree, intimidating a witness and sabotage” for his participation earlier in the early morning invasion of the EGT Grain Terminal where guards were overpowered, blocked from leaving, a security car was carjacked and driven into ditch, windows smashed, brake lines cut on rail cars and grain poured out on the ground.

You just have to wonder who in the right mind would participate in such criminal activity then assault a camera crew while taping? Does he not realize there is an internet today and such videos are gold?

By all accounts, it was his appearance on the video that led to his identity being revealed and subsequent arrest. Obviously, he did not descend from the top of the gene pool.

CNN’s anchorette Carol Costello found the vulgarities wildly humorous, laughing through her report of the assault of a news crew.

I wonder now if his arrest on such grave felony counts is equally as comical to her?

Obama’s New and Improved Jobs Plan, Still Misses the Mark

2011-09-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting a different result. In a nutshell, that is how the new & improved jobs plan Barack Obama repeatedly told congress “you should pass right away” is best summed up. Same old, same old that plunges us deeper in debt, taxes the so called rich and places more burdens on business, which will cost us jobs, not create them.

Shortly after being coronated as king in 2009, in the minds of many liberals, Obama rolled out his multi-Billion dollar “stimulus” to spur job growth with the warning of it had to be passed to keep unemployment below 8% in America. Within months, we exceeded 10% unemployment and have remained above an 8% rate ever since, slightly above 9% at this time.

Oh, we’re told how well that one worked and saved jobs. DNC chair, transplanted Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz saying, “[The] mantra that the Recovery (stimulus) Act did not work is such baloney,” adding in regards to the new & improved plan, “the plan would be paid for by ‘closing corporate loopholes,’ bringing jobs back to the U.S., and by raising taxes on the ‘wealthy and more fortunate’.”

The very acts that sent American jobs overseas in the first place!

Wasserman Schultz continues, “At the end of the day, we have to make sure that we don’t continue to deepen our problems by laying off more teachers, firefighters and police officers. We have to make sure we put construction workers back to work like the American Jobs Plan would do by investing in the infrastructure we need, and we have to make sure that this is paid for by folks who are not paying their fair share now, making sure that the wealthy and more fortunate step up to the plate, and that's how we're going to get this done.”

Same old, same old. Spend tax dollars we don’t have to bolster public unions and construction unions, not one dime of new wealth created. The very new wealth that must be created to refill our dwindling treasury to pay for those needed services in the first place. And of course, the mantra of the left, stick it to the wealthy and corporations. The very corporations that produce wealth and sign paychecks while paying Billions of dollars each year in taxes, licenses, leases and fees, while the government spends Trillions.

Evidence that Obama and his Democrat minions in congress are clueless on our economy recovering lies in their ignoring millions of private sector jobs waiting to be filled in the Oil Industry. Yes, oil, that hated industry the left painted cross hairs on years ago and continues to try to bankrupt.

Mark Green of the American Petroleum Institute brings this out in his post The President's Missed Opportunity. Brought to our attention by Mr. Green, “A new study released this week by Wood Mackenzie showed that with pro-energy development policies in place, the oil and natural gas industry could generate an additional 1 million jobs by 2018, growing to 1.4 million by 2030 - all without additional federal spending. To the contrary, those added jobs would bring with them increased tax revenue, nearly $800 billion in cumulative receipts to government by 2030 - enough to have funded NASA's entire budget the past 50 years.”

The study, after informing us, “this report looks at the potential threats to production, jobs and government revenues associated with a continuation on the current path of an increased regulatory burden and slower permitting relative to historical levels,” warns of, “Wood Mackenzie’s analysis found that U.S. policies which encourage the development of new and existing resources could, by 2030, increase domestic oil and natural gas production by over 10 million boed, support an additional 1.4 million jobs, and raise over $800 billion of cumulative additional government revenue. Whereas increasing regulatory burdens on the oil and gas upstream sector will result in higher development costs, which can potentially hinder the growth of production, tax revenues, and job creation.

Continuing the current path of policies which slow down the issuance of leases and drilling permits, increase the cost of hydraulic fracturing through duplicative water or air quality regulations, or delay the construction of oil sands export pipelines such as Keystone XL, will have a detrimental effect on production, jobs, and government revenues.”

API President and CEO Jack Gerard released a statement, Monday September 12, 2011 saying in part, “The administration is not just turning its back on oil and gas jobs. It is proposing more taxes on an industry doing one of the best jobs of creating them while also delivering more than $86 million a day in revenue to the government.”

“Let’s exhaust every opportunity to create jobs and start by building on what works. Create more U.S. jobs by producing at home more of the oil and natural gas our nation will be consuming. With a few common sense changes in energy policy, an industry that created more than 9,000 jobs this summer alone – and now supports 9.2 million across the nation – could do far more.”

With OPEC dropping hints of cutting back on production, citing decreased demand, a large part being people who are unemployed and can’t afford to drive currently, we need not only the jobs ready to be filled by oil, but our energy security as well.

For all of the cries of “pay their fair share” we continue to hear, it remains lost by the left and others who continue to place cross hairs on the oil industry that it would be far better to “share the wealth” in the form on paychecks to millions of American workers, not just handed over to the government to squander.

Obama and his Democrat minions in congress continue to cry about “subsidies” to the oil companies and “tax loopholes” saying they are going to end them. Their misuse of the words raises the image of our taxes being given to the industry, when they are not, as explained in a Las Vegas Review-Journal article Big Oil ‘subsidies?’

Very revealing in this continual call from the left in ending “subsidies” and “loopholes” for the oil industry, which will decimate jobs there, not add any, is an open admission by California’s Democrat legislature that extending a $100-million film tax credit to Hollywood liberals “will create jobs.”

If retaining tax breaks to Hollywood film makers creates and saves jobs, how many more jobs could be created all across the nation by retaining them where there are millions of jobs sitting, just waiting to be given the go ahead?

For our National Security, Economic Security and the livelihoods of millions of American workers, it’s time the crosshairs came off of the oil companies they be allowed to do what they do best, employ millions more currently unemployed supplying our nation with the resources we so desperately need.

Islamofascists Disrupt London 9/11 Ceremony

2011-09-11T23:01:00.000-07:00

As the 10th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 draws to a close, it is distressing to see that radical Islamofascists in London took the opportunity of the day to disrupt a ceremony held outside the U.S. Embassy in honor of the British citizens murdered that day.

The radicals burned an American Flag, chanted anti-American slogans; spoke their messages of hate through megaphones all while brandishing signs condemning Christians and America, vowing “Islam will dominate the World.”

As seen towards the end of the video, London Police disbanded a group from the English Defence League who had gathered to counter the Islamofascists. Police moved them to “avoid an incident.”

It should also be noted that a smaller group of Muslims also was present to counter the radical Islamofascists. One moderate Muslim, Abdul Sallam is quoted saying,

“I’m a Muslim. What they’re doing is bringing shame on all Muslims. This is not part of the teachings of Islam. Islam teaches you that when you see anything bad or evil, you should speak out against it. If the moderate Muslims all came out and spoke out, that would defeat them. I am proud to be British. I love my country. All these people are doing is breaking Britain apart.”

I applaud the stand and the words, but I also wonder why even he calls on moderate Muslims to take a stand against Islamofascists, who we are told misuse the writings of the Qur’an and so few join him in taking a stand.

Radical Islamofascists are growing bolder in Europe, even as we see more calls for accommodation of Islam in America. Will we soon see radical Islamofascists protesting in America?

Words spoken at the ceremony by Britain’s Prince Charles instill no confidence in me. He stated,

“I find there are many of us who are not only tired of perpetual killing maiming and senseless terrorism that blights the human family but bewildered by it too, simply because our instinct tells us that seeking revenge actually does not achieve peace in the end.”

“It is surely only by avoiding vengefulness that we can rebuild what has been lost and save it from being lost again.”

“I recall that president Abraham Lincoln once spoke very powerfully of having wasted valuable hours imagining revenge or confusion. He spoke of the practical importance of a forgiving spirit, to dissipate anger and resentment. I cannot help feeling he was right.”

That “forgiving spirit,” first seen by former President Jimmy Carter in regards to the Iranian Hostage Crisis during his term has seen terrorist attacks growing in intensity since that time. From 63 killed in a car bomb attack in Beirut in 1983, 241 Marines killed in a truck bomb on the Marine Barracks in Beirut also in 1983, the PanAm 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all on board, the first bombing attempt on the World Trade Center, the attacks on our embassies in Nairobi, the USS Cole attack and the 9/11 attacks are just a few examples of radical Islamofascists hatred of the west and their intent to subdue western culture are what that “forgiving spirit” has wrought us.

There is no forgiveness for those who teach their children that killing innocent people who practice a different religion by suicide gains Gods favor. Islam itself should not show any forgiveness for those hiding in their midst preaching such hatred of others.

We can fight wars, kill terrorists, and show Muslims that we do not dishonor their beliefs, but it has to be Muslims themselves who take a stand against these radical Islamofascists.

As Abdul Sallam said in London, “If the moderate Muslims all came out and spoke out, that would defeat them.”

Those words must be spoken loudly inside every Mosque if we are to accept Muslims do not agree with these radical Islamofascists. It is the silence from the Muslim community that leads others to believe they agree.

BOATLIFT, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience

2011-09-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Revisiting 9/11: "Hit the buildings, Missed America"

2011-09-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

What happened, America? We came together as a people, united behind the President demanding justice for so many of our people being murdered in an senseless act of war.

How did we allow unscrupulous politico's to once again divide us?

Where did the resolve we read in the following go? I did not write the following, but wish I had.

Hit the buildings, Missed America

Posted By: Charles Brennan, Windrose 18, So. Florida
Date: 9/11/2001 9:07p.m.

An open letter to a terrorist: Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.

Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and pursue Happiness. (No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try!)

Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride. We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea, we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country.

If you're free enough.

Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time. That's an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in. It's unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger. The first we knew of the War of 1812, was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground. Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and it's not going to turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the first bully on our shores, just the most recent.

No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and so far, only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific idea, nowadays? News for you bucko, it was back then too, but we used it anyway. Only had two of them in the whole world and we used 'em both. Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told me once, that right up until they threw the switch, the physicists were still arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start a fissioning chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch anyway, because we had a War to win. Does that tell you something about American Resolve?

So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random camps, in far-flung places. Who think they're safe. Just like the Barbary Pirates did, IIRC. Better start sleeping with one eye open.

There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons, were overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was. First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns. The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big PITA then (especially in south Florida), but you're only the newest PITA, not the first.

You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it's called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit.

Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.

Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming.
Charles Brennan

How did we allow our citizens to be lulled back to sleep? How did we allow politicians to weaken our resolve as they scored political points off of the defending of our country?

More importantly, how did we ever allow it to be twisted to where we were the aggressor after being so savagely attacked?

Underdogma: How America's Enemies Use Our Love for the Underdog to Trash American Power

Union Thug Shows Why He Is A Union Thug

2011-09-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

Following the outrageous behavior seen the last few days coming from members of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union members, a KGW 8 reporter went to the union office in Longview to get their side of the story.

Strong language warning!

See previous posts here and here

And, we’re supposed to sympathize with thugs like this?

My sympathies to F. U. Cocksuckers wife and children.

9/11: I Woke Up To A Different World

2011-09-09T15:28:00.000-07:00

Very few days are so embedded in my mind as to recall almost every moment of the day. Among them are November 22, 1963 when I was a sophomore in High School and President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, my final trip home from Vietnam and the days my daughters were born. Ten years ago, September 11, 2001 was added.

Like most of the rest in America, I went to bed the night of September 10 with few cares or worries in regards to terrorism. I recall hearing that terrorist chatter had increased in the weeks leading up to the fateful day, but our embassies and posts overseas were put on alert, not America. The idea that we were going to be sucker punched just didn’t occur to us. After all, except for the February 26, 1993 attempted bombing of the World Trade Center, all terrorist activity remained outside of our borders.

A little after 6 AM my clock/radio went off that Tuesday morning. Unlike the rest of the days, I did not hear the music I was used to hearing, but heard news of the World Trade Center being on fire, having been hit by an airplane. Like I’m sure many others did, I assumed another accident, a wayward airplane of some sort impacting the building as happened back in 1945 when a B-25 bomber flew into the Empire State Building.

I turned on CNN News and was shocked to see the smoke pouring out of the building. I tried understanding how an aircraft could just fly into the building, seeing it was such a clear day. I began thinking it was a novice pilot in small plane as even the news wasn’t saying it was a passenger airplane yet.

Being in the Northwest, much had already happened as I continued viewing CNN and trying to wrap my groggy mind around what was unfolding before my eyes.

All notions of an accident disappeared quickly when I saw the second airplane hit and explode. My wife was just waking up herself and asking what was happening. I just looked at her and very somberly said, “We’re at war,” and remembering my own time in Vietnam.

I continued watching, feeling numb, not knowing what would come next. The news spoke of the Pentagon being hit, aircraft being grounded and mass confusion it seemed as they tried to land all of the across the country.

News came out that some could not be located and fighters were scrambled to seek them out.

This is not my America, I thought. We do not come under attack like this. We learned our lesson at Pearl Harbor decades earlier.

This was not the world I fell asleep in just last night. How did we change so rapidly and overnight? How did all of our high tech defenses fail to prevent this?

Two names entered my head, Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Both had been irritants to our country for some time and had been in the news frequently for a number of years.

I thought about my sons-in-law, both being of age to be called if a draft was reinstated. I thought of my grandson, one a toddler and the other an infant and would they be in danger. I thought of my daughter in Dallas, Texas, far away from where I might protect her. But overall, I was just stunned to see what was unfolding in front of me on TV. Scenes switched back and forth between New York and Washington D.C. with reports of as many as 10,000 people may be trapped in the World Trade Centers.

The TV screen switched back to New York for a breaking news moment, the reporter said. Behind him, he began describing another explosion maybe, a lot more smoke pouring out of the south tower and him saying he couldn’t tell for sure what was happening.

I yelled back at him through the TV, “My God, you can’t tell the building is collapsing?” Again, my thoughts went to all who were trapped, feeling surely no one could get out in time.

By now, it was time for me to go to work and I set off, still trying to wrap my mind around what was going on as I drove. Somewhere along the drive I realized some of my senses from Vietnam had returned as I was watching the roadside, watching the skies and looking at other people very warily.

During the time I drove to work the North Tower collapsed as well.

The radio was on at work all day as updates continued. President Bush came on speaking of the tragedy. News of Flight 93 crashing came out as well as warnings throughout the day of other buildings being weakened, leaning and expected to also collapse, WTC 7 doing just that later in the day.

I don’t think many of us accomplished much work that day, all trying to come to grips with what happened and how did it happen.

Within weeks, we invaded Afghanistan followed by Iraq a couple years later.

I saw Americans come together as I had never seen before. The divisions that still existed since Vietnam seemed to have been put aside as Democrat and Republican alike rallied behind President Bush and our Troops. The few anti-war voices raised were quickly ignored and cast aside.

For a little while, at least.

As tragic as was the terrorist attacks, those that twisted our intent in finally fighting back for political gain were even worse.

The divisions seen during the years of Vietnam returned. Those directing the defense of America were demonized and ridiculed. Incidents against our Troops were much less than during returning Vietnam Veterans, thanks in large part to Vietnam Veterans who as a group vowed “Never Again.”

Very craftily, America was changed from being the victim to being the aggressor by those who twisted events and used every incident possible to score political points, some right within America’s government.

After at least 15 Terrorist Attacks against American interests between 1979 and 2001, it was time to fight back, not score political points.

Longshore Union Thugs Crying Victim

2011-09-08T14:24:00.001-07:00

Found at the International Longshoremen's Association website.

"The International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO joins in solidarity with our Sisters and Brothers of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in condemning the attack by police in riot gear on hundreds of ILWU member-protesters in Washington State and the detention of ILWU President Bob McEllrath.

ILWU President McEllrath and hundreds of his members were peacefully protesting at a railroad tracks yesterday, blocking a train carrying grain to a foreign-owned loading facility in Longview, Washington.

"The ILA condemns this aggression against union workers seeking to protect the work that they have performed for over 80 years in the Port of Longview," said ILA President Harold J. Daggett. "They were peacefully protesting the failure by big grain companies to honor ILWU agreements," President Daggett continued. "I stand with ILWU President in proclaiming: 'It shouldn't be a crime to fight for good jobs in America'."

ILA President Harold Daggett pledged the ILA's full support in this struggle.

"The ILA stands with ILWU and will offer any help it can to make certain ILWU members rights and jobs are protected," added ILA President Daggett.

Ignored is the condemnation by the NLRB of their conduct and the violation of a court order barring them from such actions. No mention of how they got past guards or acknowledgement of damage to the train and company property.

Union Rent-a-Thugs Descend on Southwest Washington

2011-09-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

AP photo by Don Ryan

Ports up and down the Columbia River appear under siege by bused in thugs of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union as union goons escalate their dispute with the EGT Company at the Port of Cowlitz in Longview, Washington.

Union thuggery breaking out in Southwest Washington has attracted national news media as the Wall Street journal, the Associated Press and Fox News are covering the union goons storming the port, breaking down gates, to smashing glass to overpower security guards they held hostage for a few hours in the wee hours of the morning, Thursday September 8, 2011. From there, bussed in thugs rolled out train cars, cut brake lines and dumped food grain on the ground.

This is an escalation from Wednesday where hundreds of goons first stopped and blocked the train as it came through Vancouver Washington. Once it continued on, other goons blocked the train at Cowlitz County, tangled with the Police and vandalized the train. 19 union goons were arrested.

In a statement issued by Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson and published by the Columbian we read, “This was not like the peaceful protests we’ve seen in the past. The protesters today were loud, aggressive and assaulted my officers,” said Sheriff Nelson.

“We've danced this dance before. When our officers went in to make peaceful, lawful trespass arrests, they were rushed by a mob of hundreds of protesters who were resistive and throwing things at the officers,” he added.

It is now being reported that as the goons left Thursday morning they waved baseball bats and crowbars at the Police telling them they would “get theirs.”

This outrageous conduct on the part of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union falls on the heels of another outrageous comment made Sunday by Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa Jr., “President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these sons of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong.”

A timeline published by the Longview Daily News shows the escalation as the union doesn’t get their way during this dire economic downturn we continue to face.

An August OPB article cites Dan Coffman president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 21, “I look at it as they’re trying to bust a union. Everybody knows the ILW is one of the strongest unions in the United States, and I believe the attacks on.”

Negotiations between recently opened EGT and the union broke down earlier and EGT hired union workers from another union to operate the facility, angering the ILW, who feel they have exclusive right to work the port.

The federal judge handling the court case determining terms of a contract the union has with the port and the ILW had previously issued a restraining order against the union over their escalating violent acts.

The National Labor Relations Board has condemned the conduct of the ILW, writing in their complaint, “A longshore union has used death threats and physical assaults during protests at a new grain terminal at the Port of Longview” and “the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have used unfair labor practices. The board wants the union to write a formal letter saying that it will not block rail shipments to the facility managed by EGT.”

EGT head, Larry Clarke countered union allegation pointing out the union was demanding an outrageous $20 per man hour to be contributed to the union pension fund. Clarke said, “That is a significant figure. EGT did not create the multi-billion dollar shortfall in the ILW’s pension, and should not be responsible for filling that funding gap.”

Clarke added, “We believe the ILW’s illegal campaign of threats and violence is hurting the local economy.”

Both Clark and Cowlitz County’s have seen double digit unemployment for over 2 years now.

It is also being said today that wildcat strikes at other west coast ports seem to be breaking out. A spokesman from the ILW headquarters in San Francisco claims to not know anything about any such wildcat strikes, adding they must be doing it on their own initiative.

As our economy continues to struggle along, mired in high unemployment and closing businesses, union thuggery instead of sharing in the sacrifice with the rest of us is unacceptable.

As I recently noted, unions have a long history of such violent acts to force their way into private companies and now, public employment as well.

Such strong-arm tactics have raised our labor costs so high; many companies shut down operations and move to another country in order to remain profitable.

There is a plethora of evidence indicating the Unions destroyed the U.S. Auto Industry and is a major contributor in the decay of Detroit, Michigan.

And now, it seems they wish to destroy what few new jobs might come into Southwest Washington by their greedy, thuggish tactics.

Earlier on, the ILW president cried about “union busting.”

Given the escalating violence, mayhem and vandalism at the unions’ hands, maybe they should be busted and imprisoned.

Governor Gregoire, where is the National Guard? Will people have to be murdered by these union thugs before any action is taken?

Gunman Kills 3, Wounds 6 the Day After Teamsters Leader Calls for “Take Them SOB’s Out.”

2011-09-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Hoffa Jr., leader of the Teamsters Union outraged some people recently as he stood before a crowd, introducing Barack Obama saying, “President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these sons of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong.” I say some because apparently, such incendiary rhetoric coming from a Democrat is acceptable.

We know that anything said by a conservative is quickly linked to any subsequent crime or tragic event, as we saw this past January when Democrat Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot, others killed and wounded by an apparently mentally disturbed young man.

It didn’t take but minutes for the propaganda machine to rev up blaming the shooting on Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Republicans and conservatives of any sort. That there was absolutely no evidence of any nature of any political intent or linkage made no difference, liberals went on a verbal rampage of condemnation and many continue it even after it has come out that the shooter, Jared Loughner had no political affiliation other than a last known liberal leaning years ago.

That was quickly ridiculed and the manufactured outrage directed at conservatives continued to fly.

The media did little, if anything at all, to correct the rhetoric, sometimes adding their own manufactured connections to the fray. Barack Obama chimed in with a call for ratcheting it down and for more civility.

Not even he toned it down; he just tried to mask his accusatory rhetoric in the succeeding months. Neither he nor any other Democrat has come forward to condemn Hoffa’s incendiary call of “take these son of bitches out,” some diverting the discussion, one White House Press Secretary Jay Carney saying, “Mr. Hoffa speaks for himself. He speaks for the labor movement, the AFL-CIO,” adding when pressed a little further, “Can we move on?”

Unlike January’s shooting, blinders seem to have gone up today as we read National Guard Members Among Four Dead in Carson City Nevada Shooting Rampage the very day after Jimmy Hoffa Jr., acting in his capacity as head of the Teamsters Union and introducing Barack Obama called for “taking the son of bitches out.”

Just like when Ms. Giffords was shot, there is no known motivation for this shooting. There is no known affiliation between the shooter and anything. But, unlike this past January, no one in the media or the Democrat party is leaping forward to call to create a connection when it is one of theirs that has made such an incendiary comment and a mass shooting immediately follows.

Hypocrisy, thy name is liberal Democrat.

America is more divided than it has been in decades and such inflammatory rhetoric and double standards in excusing it from the left and the media supporting the left just continues to fan the flames of division.

It is time to call Democrats on this “never let a crisis go to waste” rhetoric as they strive to conquer the country and impose their views and their views only upon us.

It is time for voters to stand up to this over the top rhetoric and double standard coming out of the lamestream media.

If we wish to save America and become prosperous again, it is time to cast these divisive tactics out from our midst, vote these people out of office and ignore the lamestream media as they fuel this divisive conduct.

It’s time we became America again.

Just Another Example of Union Civility

2011-09-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Teamsters Union leader Jimmy Hoffa Jr. calling on Barack Obama and union members to "take out" the "SOB's", meaning Republicans and Tea Party members.

H/T RealClearPolitics

Just more of the typical union violence noted here

Bring it on, Mr. Hoffa. But don't be surprised when we fight back really hard.

You see Mr. Hoffa, it's not only our America too, but we are also workers, those who are fortunate enough to still have a job today.

Obama's reaction? He's "proud of Hoffa" and other union leaders here.