Health care Moment #5

It is established that there will be “Navigator Programs”.  This is a program which will give grants to organizations that can help to manage the citizens in the new Healthcare program.  Organizations that will be eligible for these grants and who can apply are identified.  In that list, are the unions!  Also, on that list are organizations identified  by description.  Those descriptions fit organizations such as ACORN!  ACORN is being investigated in over a dozen states for election fraud.  They are also under investigation for the promotion of illegal activities.  This is who Harry Reid and the democrats think should be eligible to manage the citizens on the healthcare program.  This is who they think is eligible for grant money to help them do this.  I submit to you that the corruption in the Senate is worse than we could have imagined.

Andy Stern of the SEIU has visited the White House 22 times since the new administration took over.

He was also invited to a panel in November 2009 that debated the topic redistribution of wealth at the meeting of the Federalist Society organization.  This organization is made up of highly esteemed lawyers and judges throughout the USA.

On the day of the big vote on the Healthcare bill in the Senate, what group was gathered at the capitol surrounded by Harry Reid, Chris Dodd, Charles Schumer, and others?  It was the SEIU and they were showcased by kicking this press conference off with a speaker from the SEIU.

 Is it the unions that are running the White House?

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

One Step Closer to a Socialist America

One step closer to a Socialist America

In recent months, strange occurrences have happened on a regular basis in the Congress and Senate.  Bills are being passed that give unprecedented power to the government and severely curtail the liberty of the American population.  This is an attempt to report on the most detrimental of those actions and what we can expect in the near future.   There are a series of events forming a distinct pattern. This premature decision making is pushing America further down the path to Socialism.

Now is a good time to take a look at the foundation of our constitutional republic.  So how is the republic faring these days?  In the constitution, individuals are given the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The government now regulates the automobile industry, the banking industry, the Federal Reserve, Social Security, the mortgage industry and healthcare (soon to be completed). They also have monopolies on Flood Insurance and Student Loans.  As the government has grown, the choices of the individuals have been minimized.  Immediately after the healthcare reform is completed, there is a large Cap N Trade bill coming up.  This legislation will dictate how much electricity you will be permitted to use, the type of lightbulbs to used, the choice of energy used in the home, the specific construction of new homes, how much you travel, and what type of travel (car, bus, airplane) is permissible to individuals.  The frequency of travel will also be legislated. New laws are being introduced that will mandate the choices an individual will be permitted to have by the government.  After this passes, what is left of the individual freedoms in this country?   Of equal importance is the fact most of these efforts involve a redistribution of wealth in America.

Have you been following the bill being proposed that will curtail freedom of speech? Bill 733 is waiting in the wings to be brought to the fore, when America begins shouting too loudly about losing her freedoms.  This bill will give the government the power to control the internet nationwide in the best interest of cyber security”.  The proposal is that people would have to apply for a license, pay a fee, and get approval from the government for internet access.  The “type” of permissible user will be mandated by the government. Currently there are discussions of adding language to legislate journalism as well.  Journalism meaning all newspapers and television news shows, talk shows, radio blogs, and standard blogs.  The regulatory Czar contends this is the only way to ensure quality journalism.  Imagine how the difficulty  if there were no internet, news media, etc.  How would the people know what was going on?  Mmmm, maybe that is the point! Three out of four primary news networks are controlled by the government to a large degree.   The regulatory Czar has already made alarming statements that in his opinion “people criticizing their government should be guilty of treason”. 

Not too long ago on Cspan, there was a fascinating speech about this very topic from Senator Alexander from Tennessee.  He commented that people were getting letters and veiled threats from the administration when they disagreed with policies or had negative comments of any kind.  People have had their “hands slapped” by people in the administration and threats of withholding stimulus funds for their constituents were made.  This administration, much like the former Nixon Administration have been forming an “enemies” list.  Their attacks on conservative media have included several direct comments by the President.

We are currently involved in a domestic struggle to save our constitutional republic.  There are many in high places in the government who have determined they know what is best for America, regardless of what the constitution states.  Several of them are known advocates of Socialism and Marxism.  These elitest people with the controlling notions truly believe they are smarter than the 312M+ patriots who live in the USA.  Their idea is to “protect” us by telling us what we can and cannot do. 

The majority of current government representatives agree with the administration and  believe in redistributed wealth.  One of the easiest ways to get redistributed wealth to work is via heavy taxation.  The government retains control of most of the public’s money and distributes funds to whom they deem to be worthy.  This whole effect is called socialism.  The movements toward Socialism  have been creeping up on Americans for decades.  Look at the number of taxes we currently have (over 20).  There will now be 9 more taxes with the health “plan” passed by the Senate in the form of direct and excise taxes.  Examine the billions given in grants each year or in government allocations.  Re-distribution of wealth has been at play for a while now in America.

It is time to stand up and demand these people vote in line with the Constitution.  They do not have the rights to govern our liberties and determine how much liberty an individual has in the United States of America.  Let your voices be heard.  More to follow…..

The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.     Samuel Adams

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

Health care moment #4 to think about

We now have the Senate version of the healthcare bill. In this masterpiece of paperwork, otherwise known as massive evil personified, we find the first semblance of rationing and discrimination toward a large demographic group in the United States.

Today’s standards on breast cancer prevention, have been set by reknown oncologists who based their recommendations on years of exhaustive studies. Currently they say beginning at age 40, women should have annual mammograms to be safe. Doctors worldwide advise their patients to do self-examinations on a regular basis to catch this disease if it occurs between the annual check-ups. The reason for this was based on the rapid spreading of this particular type of cancer.

What do we have in this healthcare bill? The new plan proposed by the Senate outlines their plan for preventative healthcare for women. The document specifically states women beginning at age 50 will receive a mammogram every two years. In addition, they say there is no reason to continue the self-examinations. I was incredulous when a Democratic Senator on the floor of the Senate was  justifying all of this based on one new opinion submitted by a study group.  Statistics introduced by the Democrats say 1 person out of every 1,904 will get breast cancer before 50. Application of this new statistic applied to millions of women over the age of 40 indicates these are considered the “acceptable” losses by the Democratic party.

In addition, there have been statements by several of the Senators in their speeches, that women really don’t need to continue the self-examination process any more. This has been advocated by the medical profession worldwide for decades due to the rapid growth of this particular type of cancer.

If you have friends, mothers, sisters, daughters, please share this information with them. It is discrimination at best and it is advocating an “acceptable” loss of life for women. Make a note this will be the first outright rationing of healthcare in the United States, and it hasn’t been passed yet. What other medical decisions will the bureaucrats make for the rest of us?

I will close this update with a sobering quote as we continue the investigation into the proposed government healthcare.

Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have … The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases.     Thomas Jefferson

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

Health care moment #3 to think about!

The following text was from a report sent to the Woodlands Tea Party of Northeast Houston area.  They had sent a delegation to be a part of Representative Michele Bachman’s House call.  I am simply copying the beginning of the report verbatim.  It speaks volumes. 

Greetings Suzanne, and fellow Americans

I was proud and happy to represent Texas in Washington DC yesterday with Michele Bachman.  It was vital that we sent as many patriots as possible to show Washington that we mean business.  For such short notice, we had an extremely respectable showing.  Unlike the 9/12 march on DC, I detected a more hostile and aggressive mood among the crowd.  To my knowledge, there were at least 2 arrests.

Unfortunately, most of the representatives were conveniently out of their offices.  It was obvious they refused to face their constituants.  We encountered hostility in certain offices by office personnel, the worst being the staff members of Charles Rangel and Gene Green the tax dodging machine.  My group personally encountered John Conyers in the hall.  We managed to surround him and question him about the Total control bill (aka health care).  He was unable to answer any of our questions since he has not read the bill.  I asked the question, “Why aren’t you personally getting this healthcare?”  His answer, “well (laughs) because mine is much better!”  Enough said.

Click here to see the report in it’s entirety.  Thank you to the Northeast Houston Tea Party for sharing this with the public!

http://www.thewoodlandsteaparty.com/2009/11/06/update-from-our-delegation-in-washington-dc-for-the-house-call/

Health care Moment #2 to think about!

There are a few places in the Pelosi Health Plan that is leaving the door open to add services shortly after the bill is passed.

Here is example one, here they may determine to add dental care to the package. This will add 10’s of millions with the addition of dental care to the current proposed package.

Report regarding includion of oral Health Care in Essential Benefits Package
—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of a study determining the need and cost of providing accessible and affordable oral health care to adults as part of the essential benefits package.

The text below is a promise to provide assistance to hospitals and Doctors that want to help with the setting of standards for the electronic set up for the country’s medical population. This equals future promises to the healthcare community that are now supporting him and giving input. This money has not been calculated into the price tag of this bill.

(D) programs to provide incentives for, and ease the burden of, health care providers who volunteer to participate in the process of setting standards for electronic transactions;

The following states the government haven’t identified the initial benefit standards, so at this point no one knows the actual price of this gargantuan experiment.

DEADLINE.—The Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall recommend initial benefit standards to the Secretary not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

Health care Moment #1 to think about

Here are two big items buried in the text of the new Pelosi Health care Plan.

Take a look at the unique verbage our government is using to mandate health coverage for illegal aliens. Take a look at how we define who is covered…

(A) Section 59B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, except that any resident of the territory who is not an affordable credit eligible individual but who would be an affordable credit eligible individual if such resident were a resident of one of the 50 States (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) may be treated as covered by acceptable coverage.

The information below puts current retiree benefits through their former employers at risk. In addition, if you retire after a certain time, you will no longer be permitted to have that insurance benefit offered by the former employer. In many cases retirees from large corporations pay little if any for their premiums. Now they will have unforseen expenditures on the public option – and this on their fixed income.

As of Y1, day 1 of the Government program, no retiree will be permitted to sign up for a retiree health insurance plan from their employer.
As of Y1 day 1 of the Government program, no current retiree health care plan can change the benefits offered or the cost. At this point, the government committee will review the plan to see if it is “acceptable”.  If the plan is deemed unacceptable, the retiree will be enrolled in the consumer option.

Watch this space for more…please circulate.

German Speech to Joint House Session Today

I was in process of doing my blog research this morning by watching the joint session of congress. Pelosi and the President had arranged for the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel to speak. The end goal of the Marxists and Socialists in our government, may be apparent after hearing her speech.

1. The chancellor gave credit to JFK for the actual fall of the wall.
2. She is calling for the importance of a “global economy” shared by the countries of the world to avoid economic problems in future
3. Further the chancellor is talking about how key a world order will be to help preserve our planet.
4. Chancellor Merkel gave several examples about how the various countries had all helped each other in the past, to lay the initial groundwork in her speech.
5. Bear in mind it was Germany who led the way in the formation of the European Union.
6. In several instances, she reiterated Europe is free like us!
Editorial note: Europe is NOT like us. I have lived and worked there in the past. We have far more liberty as individuals.
7. The chancellor also spoke a great deal about the importance of allies standing united on common goals and the importance of the UN for peacekeeping.

Let’s examine the role of the global warming argument and see how this fits into what we are seeing and hearing from many around the world (including our own government). Noted scientists around the world (including our own from MIT) have published reports that global warming cannot be proven in any way. Perhaps this is another intellectual notion by the “inventor” of the internet, Al Gore? Global warming is a “scam” by the left to control the economy of the world.

I listened to Lord Monckton last evening at a tea party rally in Houston. Read the Copenhagen Treaty to get more information. It is now my strong opinion this is the “end goal” of the group of socialists and marxists who have exerted control of the government. They want a world order which will firmly establish them with power and wealth beyond anything imagined.

The government now controls automobile, banking, and social security amongst other things. Is it coincidence that Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, spoke about a preference for a world currency? The Manufacturing Czar spoke about free enterprise being bad for everyone. The Science Czar spoke about the importance of using less material resources so the poor will become prosperous.  The Nobel prize committee are made up of primarily socialists and marxists.  The committe made statements after the award that they hope for significant change in the world due to President Obama.  America, where are you in this line of thinking?  And now the proposed Health care plan will ensure yet another major control over Americans and begin the redistribution of wealth inside the USA.

We must be vigilant and resist in every way possible. The first thing we need to do is stop the healthcare plan from moving forward. In Tandem, I suggest we need to educate others as quickly as possible about the ramifications of the suggestion of a world order. A major step toward that “world order” will be redistribution of wealth via the Copenhagen Treaty.

It has never been more critical to reach out to our neighbors, friends, and colleagues to get the word out. America is a constitutional republic and will be staying that way!   It is up to us.

New Health Plan set to “Crush” the Middle Class

Editorial note: All the numbers and facts were obtained from the Census Bureau, Unemployment figures, Medicaid and Medicare information, the CBO letter to the House and the Healthcare Proposal released on October 29, 2009.

Let’s begin with stating the facts we can all agree upon at this time. The most pressing problems with current healthcare systems are as follows:

1. Non-coverage of pre-existing conditions
2. Some people don’t have coverage
3. Can’t afford it
4. CHOOSE not to have it and save money
5. High premiums

The new plan, will allegedly result in a neutral monetary impact for the government (current admiministration claim). The Congressional Budget Office claims the cost will be close to 1Trillion dollars. Yet with the increased taxes on the people, there will be minimal negative impact to the government deficit. With the increased tax, and medicare and Medicaid cuts, it won’t impact the government. It will most severely impact the middle class. The Medicaid cuts won’t begin to address the fact they are including a larger group of people in the Medicaid program under the new Healthcare plan. The people who work and contribute will be paying exorbitant premium increases to accommodate the many new inclusions in the healthplan.

In a nutshell, here is how the new plan will be paid for by working Americans (numbers from Bureau of Census, Unemployment Department and the Social Services Branches of government respectively) : The premium percentage limit specified will be based on the modified gross adjusted income of the people who are working. If you strive to work hard and reap the rewards of a free enterprise system, this Healthplan will be penalizing you on the reward.

Take a look at the numbers:

1.  # of 18 and under: 73.9M
2.  # of unemployed in the country at this writing: 15.1M
3.  # of working age adults = 191.2M

What do the numbers mean to America with this new health plan?

191.200,000        Working age people in this country.

- 15.100,000        Unemployed people

176.100,000        Working age people  employed

- 3,950,357           Working age people on welfare

172,149,643          Working age people who are employed

- 46,995,000        Approximately uninsured in the country

125,154,643          Working age people who are employed

- 11,900,000       Estimated number of illegals in the country as of March 2009

113,254,643        Approximate total number of gainfully employed people

 

 307,818,616         Total population per census bureau

-255 ,143 ,000      # of people covered on insurance in 2008 census

  52,675,616           Not insured

- 11,900,000        Estimated illegal aliens 

40,775,616            People who are legal and uninsured (13.25% of population)

If we look at the number of gainfully employed people (primarily middle class), these numbers and the newly proposed healthcare plan tell a specific story:

1. Increase benefits for Medicaid recipients from 57% contribution by the government to 91%
2. Poverty level now to be determined by up to 150% of the actual poverty guidelines (Millions more of the population will be able to go on government sponsored Medicaid)
3. Employers will be better off financially paying the fine, not offering coverage, and simply have employees take public options
4. Parents will be required by law to provide insurance coverage for children up to the age of 27

Whether we include the illegal immigrants or not, the tax burden for the above mentioned items, and to insure non-working people falls squarely on the shoulders of the middle class. There are some slight numerical differences noted in the reports from the various government agencies – but you can see the concept of what is happening here. The primarily middle class working Americans will be paying for everyone. The majority of the companies will opt to pay the fines and the employees will need to go on the public option. This will save the companies money and result in a premium that is 3-4 times higher (conservative estimate) than what a person pays today. This factors in the company is no longer subsidizing the person’s premiums, benefits are improved, and the person must contribute to paying for the non working individuals.

**New plan includes $558 billion in revenues from tax provisions (per CBO)

 The changes in revenues include effects on Social Security revenues, which are classified as off-budget. Starting in 2013, nonelderly people with income below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty guidelines would generally be made eligible for Medicaid; the federal government would pay a share of the costs of covering newly eligible enrollees that averaged about 91 percent. (Under current rules, the federal government usually pays about 57 percent, on average, of the costs of Medicaid benefits.) In addition, states would be required to maintain current coverage levels for individuals under Medicaid and some children in CHIP through 2019. Beginning in 2014, states would shift some children in CHIP to Medicaid, but the federal government would continue to provide enhanced reimbursement, which currently averages about 70 percent, to states for providing such benefits. CBO estimates that state spending on Medicaid would increase on net by about $34 billion over the 2010–2019 period as a result of the provisions affecting insurance coverage.

There were many other “addons” that were unnecessary but which directly burden the taxpayers. This is another good example of zero fiscal responsibility in the House at this time. They won’t be paying the bill – we will! For instance the government will judge the geographies of each state to determine cost of living adjustments. An example would be that Texas has a good economy and a much better cost of living than California. The cost of living adjustment means a Californian would pay less and a Texan would pay more to make up the difference. If you believe the country is suffering economically now, just wait until your insurance premiums quadruple to pay for all the extras in the new plan. It doesn’t just “fix” the issues in the healthcare system, there are noticeable “improvements” for the non working people in the country. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a classic redistribution of wealth in the country.

#12 Representative Henry Waxman, It is time to go!

Congressman Henry Waxman (Dem) was elected to Congress in 1974.  He is up for re-election in 2010. 

There are volumes about this man and what he has done in the government since 1974.   I will attempt to touch on the most salient points, as I found him to be one of many “blights” we are seeing in the American government today.  Representative Waxman has moved residence 3 different times in his career and has been elected in three different voting districts.  He has sponsored 149 bills in his career and 6 have passed.  The primary watchdog groups in the country have rated him as being consistently far left in his views.

Representative Waxman has worked with the Apollo Institute to generate the Cap N Trade Bill.  People reported on the ideas of the Apollo Group for economic recovery and Cap N Trade as far back as 2003.  Evidence can be found of this.  The bills that were passed by the Congress are almost identical to the left wing lobbyist ideas to be found on the Apollo Institute website. 

Who is the Apollo Institute?  They are an organization made up of various unions in the country and other special interest groups gathered under the umbrella of Apollo Institute.  One of the many left wing financial supporters Apollo Institute is the Joyce Foundation. This is the group often associated with trying to get rid of the people’s right to bear arms. There are numerous known Marxists and Socialists who support the Institute. The Apollo Institute claims to be a non-profit and is owned by the Tides Corporation.  These are the people who produced the indoctrination video that was purchased by over 7,000 schools.  The film taught the children that capitalism is bad for the people of America.  Do you know who will benefit from the Cap N Trade Bill that was designed primarily by the Apollo Institute? Their board members consist of people who own heavy interests in alternative energy companies and in companies that produce the components for solar energy.  The majority of their members are the 17 largest unions in the country and the major lobbyists in the US.

There are two obvious questions to ask.  What is in it for all the unions?  What is their real end goal in getting their goals accomplished?  What did they get out of the American Recovery Act and what will they get from the Cap N Trade?  What was in it for Representative Henry Waxman to do their bidding on two major pieces of legislation (Healthcare bill HR3200 before Congress and the Cap N Trade Bill)? 

The small business groups have rated Congressman Waxman in the lower percentile groups throughout his career.  He does not favor small entrepreneurial enterprises in his legislative votes.   Clearly his allegiance is to the labor groups and lobbyists if one looks at his overall record on voting and his public speeches.  The American Taxpayer group has rated his performance an F most recently and very low in prior years.  Representative Waxman has voted to spend more money and grow government at every opportunity regardless of the state of the economy.  The conglomerate of lobbyists and unions has the ear of Henry Waxman , more than the people of the United States.

He was a co-author of legislation that abolished mandatory retirement for Federal employees and raised the retirement age in the private sector from 65 to 70.  Please note this increases the time an elderly person must work in most cases.  It also does NOT apply to the politicians in the Congress, Senate, and Judiciary that govern all of us. 

Representative Waxman voted against the proposed bill to withhold federal funds to ACORN.  This organization is being investigated in 14 states for voter fraud.  There have also been several covert films made recently that captured the ACORN people advising people on how to handle businesses with underage prostitutes.  This man clearly has some kind of motivation to “protect” interests with ACORN.

In 2009, Rep. Waxman became Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Energy and Commerce Committee has principal responsibility for legislation and oversight in the areas of public health, consumer protection, food and drug safety, air quality, the environment, energy, telecommunications, and interstate and foreign commerce.  After all the years of dubious associations, poor judgment, and lavish spending, can Henry Waxman be entrusted with such a powerful position in our legislature?

His allegiances aren’t in the best interest of the people, if you look at his entire record.  There is no plausible explanation as to why he would choose to continue to give taxpayer money to an organization under investigation in so many states.  Representative Waxman, you have been in office too long.  It is time to go!

“If we resort for a criterion to the different principles on which different forms of government are established, we may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior.”
James Madison (Federalist No. 39)

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

#11 Representative Anthony Weiner, It is time to go!

Congressman  Anthony Weiner (Dem), was first elected to the House in 1998.  He is up for re-election in 2010.

This Representative  has become known for being one of the “point” people on the Healthcare Reform options being considered by the Congress and the Senate.

Weiner Responds To Senate Finance Committee Rejection Of The Public Option

Congressman Anthony Weiner (D – Queens & Brooklyn), Co-Chair of the Caucus on the Middle Class and member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee released the following statement on today’s Senate Finance Committee vote rejecting the public option:

“It should come as no surprise that the Finance Committee rejected the public option amendment offered by Senator Rockefeller”

“After all, the health insurance lobby has won virtually everything it has fought for in the Finance Committee to date.”

“Fortunately, the bill is not being written in the Senate Finance Committee.”  “The American people support a public option. Doctors want a public option. The President has said he wants a public option. Without a public option there will be no competition, no cost containment and less choice. That is why it will be part of the bill.”

Polls and newscasts have begun to show the “facts” stated above, in the Senator’s speech, are not true.         

Here are some key facts on the Senator’s record:

1)     Weiner has been onboard completely with the Obama administration’s lavish economic policies from  the beginning. 

2)      His “good judgment included a request to release a man from prison who had received a life sentence for passing classified information to Israel.   Clearly the deed was serious enough to receive this sentence as dictated by the laws of the land, yet Congressman Weiner wanted a “custom” justice mandated for his cause.

3)      He touted how much the stimulus plan would “help NYC”.  It is now nearly at the end of October 2009.  There have not been any new jobs created in the entire state of NY by this bill (per recovery.gov).  Given the text of his earlier speech it appears the NYC area will be recipients of entitlements and grants.  The entire country (primarily the middle class) will be taxed to pay for NYC initiatives is what this means.  People in Brooklyn and Queens (the middle class) will be getting new taxes as well to help pay for the enormous stimulus package.  Somehow in the speeches he fails to alert constituents of the tax bill they will be paying for many years due to this law.

4)      Most recently, he had blasted the Social Security Administration for not giving a cost of living raise to the elderly.   This seemed odd given there was no cost of living increase in the economy this year per statistics.  **Remember he is up for election in 2010.

His resume and speeches indicate a person very “hungry” for the power and notoriety that comes with politics.  For instance, since the beginning he has touted a special “bond” and support for the middle class.  The middle class represents the majority of his New York district.  Usually he has attempted to introduce tax cuts for the middle class when it is close to an election year.  Yet, he is now proposing a sweeping Healthcare Reform Bill with a public option that would result in a much heavier taxation of the middle class and impose hardships on the elderly.  Representative Weiner has been in the “limelight” on the House Floor anytime there is an opporunity to be high profile on pro-Obama administration positions.  His speeches for the middle class are visible in every major talk show.  This keeps the people back in his District happy because they visibly “see” him saying things in support of them.  However, on the floor of the Congress  he has has been a strong supporter of virtually every major spending initiative by this administration (which will definitely result in hardship for the middle class).  This ensures he will get campaign support on a priority basis from this administration.

Recently in the Congress several amendments were brought forward to “itemize” several Solar studies and projects in the range of hundreds of millions of dollars.  May I remind everyone that Exxon Mobil, and all the other oil majors around the world have done exhaustive studies in this area and determined the technology is not there at this time to make this a cost effective solution for America or anyone else.  Yet, the Democrats passed all the amendments without flinching spending hundreds of more millions of dollars when the country is deep in debt and in extreme trouble financially.  Senator Weiner has made statements that this administration is progressive and “tackling” all the hard issues.  So now the politicians believe they can resolve all the issues with solar, regardless of the consistent and numerous results found by other expert studies over the past 5 years.  Did I mention that many of the companies who will be recipients of these millions of dollars in funds for studies are heavy Democrat supporters?  How convenient as we are approaching another election year for many of the heavyweights in the Democratic party!

So what is real?  His desire to help the middle class in election years, or his eagerness to “perform” on camera for the White House?  There is a consistency in his voting and numerous speeches on the House Floor.  He will support  all visible Democrat initiatives regardless of whether it benefits his beloved middle class.

Representative Weiner has been the protégé of Senator Schumer for several years, and is well-known as someone who has full and easy access to all the powerful people in the current administration.  From all appearances and from his pattern of behavior this appears to be another “Schumer in training”.  Is this really a good thing for the Constitutional Republic?  Congressman Weiner has quickly become the “consummate” politician learning how to placate his constituents in a visible manner and be the “popular guy” with the White House.  For this adept ability to speak from both sides of his mouth almost simultaneously, Congressman Weiner, it is time to go!

Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct.  ~Thomas Jefferson

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

Obama, the Nobel Prize and the “Wicked Web”

Like many others around the world, I was stunned by the public news today.   President Obama had received this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.  Most of all, I felt it was a sharp contrast to prior winners who had measureable impact already evident from their actions.  Bear with me as I share some facts with you regarding this odd circumstance.  There are clearly suspicious things around this award.  

Here is some background on how this may have occurred:

There are 5 members of this committee.  Let’s see who they are and what we know about them and various connections.

For this year, the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) has elected Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland (born 1950) and Ms. Ågot Valle (born 1945) as new members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

New Chairman and member as of 2009: Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland

Jagland is currently President of the Storting (Norwegian Parliament), representing the Labour Party.  He is also the Secretary-General of the  Council of Europe.  What do we know of Mr. Jagland’s background?  He left as Prime Minister of Norway after a series of scandals and missteps by himself and his cabinet.  This is the most notable:  In August, a former Soviet spy described Jagland as a friendly politician during the 1970s and 80s. Jagland said he held diplomatic talks with the Soviet unions and that all the conversations were innocent exchanges between them. He was classified as a “confidential contact” by the Committee for State Security (KGB).

Deputy Chairperson: Kaci Cullman Five

Mrs. Five is a politician in the conservative party.  She has served on the committee since 2003 and was appointed deputy this year.  In her business life she also serves on the Board of Directors for Statoil and Radio Channel P4.  She is both politician and business woman.  Mrs. Five owns a company that helps other countries set up democracies and electorates.

Ms. Agot Valle: New Committee Member as of 2009

Valle is a member of Parliament and leading spokesperson on international affairs of the Socialist Left Party.  In 2007, she took an active stand on a controversial movie that came out in Norway about a man serving a prison sentence in America.  The movie detailed the circumstances of Dr. Sami Amin Al-Arian.  In 2006 he made a plea agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy to help a “designated terrorist” organization, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.  Ms. Valle took special interest in this movie and had a private screening in her home.  This man’s wife and daughter had became overnight celebrities in Norway.

Here are some of Ms. Valle’s comments: “Franklin D. Roosevelt warned the American people not to give in to fear,” Valle told me. “Giving in to fear may lead us to infringe human rights, civil rights, freedom of speech — the basis of democracy.” She went on to say that since 9/11, Americans have been consumed by fear, “but a movie like this, I think will bring a new debate on how far stripping of civil liberties will go and not to give in to fear”.  Editorial comment:  So we should not convict someone for supporting a terrorist group??

Further comments from Ms. Valle (specific to the award this year of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama):   “she hoped the selection would be viewed as support and a commitment for Obama.”

Sissel Marie Rønbeck – Committee member

She is a Deputy Director for the Directorate for Cultural Heritage.  Google her and see how many references you see with regard to George Soros providing funding for her organization.  Follow the George Soros money to various foundations and groups in Norway, many of which she is managing/guiding/or sitting on the board.  Former member of parliament and cabinet minister for the Labour Party. She has been a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee since 1994.

Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, – Committee member

She is a former member of Parliament for the Progress Party (right wing political party).   Ms. Ytterhorn has been a member of the committee since 2000.

There appears to be a common thread with some of the committee members.  One of the primary supporters of President Obama monetarily and otherwise is George Soros.  In 2006 George Soros was a sponsor of  EITI in Norway in 2006. EITI is the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. It began when the George Soros organization known as Publish What You Pay, aided by propaganda from the Soros-funded Global Witness group, demanded that nations with valuable natural resources be compelled to turn over to mutinational cartels and to the British government, all records of their transactions on these resources — so as to stop bribes!  This included all locations and records of oil and gas in each country.  Bear in mind that the government of Norway owns one of the most successful oil companies in the world, Statoil.  We also have a Nobel Prize committee member who serves on the Board of Statoil.   Mr. Soros has had many trips over the past few years to Norway and has been quoted in their news and magazines on multiple occasions. 

In 2006, EITI’s governing secretariat was set up in Norway and placed under Soros management, with money from Open Society Institute and EITI board members from Soros agencies Publish What You Pay, Revenue Watch Institute, and Global Witness.

Over the past few years is widely known that  financial support has been given by George Soros to the Norwegians.  Connect the dots.  Name another time when the Nobel commmittee has chosen to name someone  as the prize recipient for “what they may do in the future”?  Maybe you can think of a way to explain  all of  these relationships and the result we just witnessed.   Add a guy with KGB affiliation, a person from the socialist left, at least one person who has reaped direct benefits from George Soros, and the Norwegian government who is very grateful to their philanthropist friend and what do we have?  

No one can predict what results will occur in future from today’s actions.  It was many years before the committee recognized the results from Mother Theresa’s activities.  Nobel Peace Prize Recipients have been rewarded when the fruits of their labors were apparent to the world. 

What do you think happened?

#10 Senator Schumer, It is time to go!

 

Senator Charles Schumer was first elected in 1998 to the Senate.  He is up for re-election in 2010.

Schumer Offers Major Revision To Health Care Reform Bill To Address Affordability Concerns

Proposal Would Expand Hardship Waiver To Exempt More Americans From Mandate To Buy Insurance If Affordable Plans Are Not Available–Current Bill Sets Threshold At 10% Of Income; Schumer Amendment Lowers Bar To 8% of Income

Schumer Amendment Would Also Eliminate Penalty For Americans Who Fail To Buy Insurance In First Year Of Overhaul; For Second Year, Penalty Is Reduced By 50 percent

Editorial Note:  This is what the Senator has not “revealed” in his effort to save money for the poor:  It is true the poor will not be forced to pay for insurance if they cannot afford it.  The other half of the truth is that all of the Democratic speeches for the last several months and the President all concur that no one will be without insurance.  Connect the dots and I guess the “hardship” cases will be funded by the government (taxpayer money)?  A bill has already been drafted to insure all “illegal aliens” will be given amnesty.  This will automatically make them eligible for the public offering of insurance.  Do we believe the amnesty bill will happen (thus covering the aliens) and the government will not “bail out” the poor?

The Senator has helped to make his case, so we will let him tell you in his own words, what he is has been thinking and doing recently.  In the following video, Senator Schumer declares the American People don’t really care about the pork projects in the stimulus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfICUoWKBw

Pork Projects definition: Funding created by a legislature for projects that are not essential but are sought because they pump money and resources into the local districts of the legislators.

When he made that speech what were some of the Pork Projects he was referring to in the stimulus that the “American public would not care about”?

Questionable or Non-Stimulative Spending:

• $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts Editorial Note: These are the people who have made all the posters and artwork promoting the President’s healthcare project,  and other items on his agenda. All of the American taxpayers have paid for this propaganda material
• $2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund   Editorial Note:  providing funds to organizations such as ACORN, which  as been accused of practicing unlawful voter registration in recent elections and encouraging citizens on other illegal activities
• $300 million for the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program  Editorial Note: There is nothing about this that creates jobs, only continues to give away taxpayer dollars that we do not have
• $2 billion to support the manufacturing of advanced vehicle batteries Editorial Note: These were stipulated to be in the form of grants
• $1 billion for Community Development Block Grants
• $198 million to authorize payments to certain Filipino veterans from WWII  Editorial Note: most of them do not live in this country
• $300 million for federal procurement of plug-in and fuel efficient vehicles Editorial Note:  This is definitely not feasible for states with large land masses where cities are widespread across vast geographic areas.
• $8 billion for a High Speed Passenger Rail Program, after the House did not include any funding for the program and the Senate included $2 billion, which will fund at least one project from Las Vegas to Los Angeles
• $15 million for historic preservation at historically black colleges and universities
• $170 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to research the causes, effects, and ways to mitigate climate change
• $200 million for Americorps and other paid “volunteerism” programs   Editorial Note: Volunteer means no money, and there should be no government interference
• $400 million for NASA to accelerate climate research missions
• $5.5 billion for federal buildings (GSA), including $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings into “high-performance green buildings” and $450 million for a new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security. 
• $210 million for a new grant program to modify and upgrade local fire stations  Editorial Note: Why can’t individual states or communities address these needs, as they are specific to areas?
• $25 million for the Smithsonian Institution for maintenance backlogs
• $650 million for Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupons Editiorial note: Doe the government assume there is a “right for every American” to have a television?

These items make it a certainty that future generations will be paying for the money used by special interest groups.  

Here is a video clip where Senator Schumer is justifying the money spent by the government on “good nationalization” of the banks.  This is a very few months after the largest stimulus bill in history was passed by the House. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMuqjr1fbN0

What about our rights?  In the debate over what to pass for Healthcare Reform, they are trampling all over the rights of individuals.  It is our right to choose the best healthplan option for us.  It is our right if we do not want insurance.  We the people have the right to tell them what we want.  The government does not have the right to nationalize the banks in any of the defined framework given in the Constitution or the Declaration.   The government does not have the right to determine where billions of  dollars of our money should go as outlined by the constitution.  This is the same Senator who is fighting to get a “fairness” doctrine in place that will curtail our Freedom of speec, a right given to the people in the Constitution.

Senator Schumer, because you have forgotten who you are working for and also forgotten our Constitutional rights, it is time to go!

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government.
Thomas Jefferson

 

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

 

 

 

 

 

 

#9 Representative Charles Rangel, It is time to go!

 

 

Representative Charles Rangel (Dem) was first elected in 1970.  He is up for re-election in 2010.

He is currently the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful committees in the House. The job of that committee is to oversee the IRS and the Federal tax code.  Representative Rangel has evaded taxes for over a decade and yet pays none of the penalties and interest charges the IRS piles on the average taxpayer for far less serious offenses.

For 16 months he has been investigated on charges of multiple tax, errors in federal disclosure, and ethics violation charges.  Most recently, in August 2009 Representative Rangel made new confessions of failure to report nearly a million dollars in assets on federal disclosure forms.  The investigation began in July 2008 and has already been expanded twice  – before the latest revelations. .  The Democratic majority appears to have a difficulty with understanding ethics applies to all parties, as they have voted to have him stay in this position until the investigation is over.  How many more “ethical” decisions will this man be making in his role of oversight of the IRS and Federal tax code in the coming months?  What does the decision by the majority of the House to overlook this, say about their own ability to be ethical and honest?

This whole situation illustrates there is a double standard alive and well in the House.  One standard is for the powerful and rich, and one for the average American.  This is an absolute disgrace that the Representative has been permitted to stay as head of this powerful committee dealing with the very laws he has broken. 

I refer you to a letter dated  May 24, 2006 by the Minority Leader at that time, Nancy Pelosi  “cited “high ethical standards” in a letter to Representative William Jefferson asking that he resign his seat on the Committee on Ways and Means in light of ongoing investigations into alleged financial impropriety by Representative Jefferson.

Editorial Note: Minority Leader Pelosi did the right and appropriate action is asking Representative Jefferson to resign the seat on the Committee in light of the investigations.  Why did she not instruct Representative Rangel to do the same thing? 

In closing, I’d like to share an excerpt from a speech given in February 2008 by Representative Rangel in his role as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee:

“Our massive trade deficit reflects years of a passive, misguided trade policy by the Bush Administration. Too often, our trading partners are allowed to break international rules, to keep U.S. exports out of their markets, and to engage in unfair trade practices. We need a more assertive approach to the enforcement of our international agreements and trade laws”.

What do we learn from this speech?  Chairman Rangel expects lawbreakers to be brought in line via assertive enforcement.  Apparently this philosophy does not apply to him.

There are dozens of other examples where Representative Rangel has chosen to disregard the rule of law and the principles of the Constitution.  It is pointless to waste time acknowledging or delving into those – as there is no need.  He has broken the law repeatedly in a premeditated manner over a decade.  Several infractions have been admitted by Representative Rangel.  If it were any one of the general population that had committed this type of offense, there would be many penalties and dire consequences to face.

There is no question Representative Rangel, We the people ask you to leave now for the good of the country.

“Our government…teaches the whole people by its example.  If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” 

Louis D. Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice (1856 to 1941)

 

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

#8 Senator John McCain III, It is time to go!

Senator John McCain was first elected to office in 1986. 

He is up for re-election in 2010. Let me preface this finding with an acknowledgement of the conflict many people will find (including myself) surrounding the topic of Senator John McCain.  Everyone in America appreciates his service in the military and the price he paid for all of us.  This goes without saying.  I, like many others fully support and respect the men and women who have courageously served their country.  That being said, we should not allow our bias of support for the men and women who have served in the military to interfere with our views on how is he performing in the Senate.  These are two entirely separate topics.

Senator McCain is usually one of the first to offer compromise on major bills before the House.  It has been difficult for him to “stand his ground” on behalf of the American people and the Constitution.  Furthermore his principles/values/beliefs fluctuate on a regular basis as he attempts to “compromise” with his peers in the House.  What follows are some examples of poor judgment, and the various impacts to Americans by those decisions.

 

Voted YES on the Second Economic package – 10/2008  – HR1424

Vote to pass a bill that allows the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions, with a total outstanding balance of up to $700 billion, and also provides tax incentives for alternative energies and contains income tax and alternative minimum tax provisions. 

Editorial Note:  Did we see any charges brought against the institutions that “promoted” the bad mortgages and made billions in profits at the expense of the mortgage holders?  Now we want to give the same mismanaged institutions money when they are clearly suffering the consequences of bad business decisions?   People and institutions will learn (just as children do) when they suffer consequences for their actions.

 

Voted YES on the First Economic Package – 02/2008 – HR5140

This bill provides economic stimulus through recovery rebates to individuals, incentives for business investment, and an increase in conforming and FHA loan limits.

Editorial Note:  In this bill was the following verbage:  “- Increases the limits on the maximum original principal obligation of mortgages for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and for the Federal Housing Administration (Sec. 201, 202)”.

Here is an extract from Senator McCain’s comment on the First Economic Package that they were about to vote upon: 

“The bill pending before the Senate–a compromise product between the House and the President–is not perfect. Certainly we can all agree on the important yet limited improvements I mentioned such as ensuring our senior citizens and disabled veterans are not left out of this stimulus package. While perhaps none of us will be fully satisfied with the final measure, we simply cannot afford to include every member’s wish list in this package. I believe the measure we will send to the President is one that almost all of us can and will support”.

Editorial Note:  No one in the House or Senate should “compromise” when there are such wide sweeping constitutional implications to the American public.  Earlier in his speech Senator McCain said the compromises were necessary to ensure the disabled veterans and seniors were included in the tax relief.  So, we pass legislation based on “deals” between the parties.

The two packages listed above helped Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to get deeper in trouble, made temporary tax cuts, put us deeper into debt, and did nothing to curtail the spending in the House.

Here is an excerpt from a speech on the Senate Floor by Senator McCain:  “I know these words will fall on deaf ears, but it is certainly not responsible for House to continue to load up appropriations bills–and, yes, authorization bills–with wasteful and unnecessary spending. Americans all over the country are hurting. People are losing jobs, their savings and their homes. Yet we continue the disgraceful earmarking process, elevating parochialism and patronage politics over the true needs and welfare of our men and women in uniform and the taxpayers”.

Editorial note: Although he said the above in a speech on the Senate Floor, he has voted for several bills that included earmarks just to be able to get the main bill through on the vote.

Senator John Sidney McCain, III repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff. What is the political courage test? The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, it was discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.   The majority of the Presidential Candidates, Senatorial, and House candidates have filled out this brief form for the public to review. 

Editorial Note:  Why would a candidate be against transparency?

The Constitution and the Declaration were very clear on the rights given to the people and the government.  There shouldn’t be any “compromise” on the issues at the expense of any of those individual rights.  Senator McCain, it is time for you to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#7 Congresswoman Mary Whitaker Bono Mack, it is time to go!

 

 

Representative Mary Whitaker Bono Mack (Rep) represents California.

She has been in office continuously since 1998 and will be up for re-election in 2010.

There are voting instances in  Representative Mack’s voting record that are somewhat disturbing. The primary issues we found with her record are specific to a lack of fiscal responsibility, yet speaking out to the public stating the importance of fiscal responsibility in these harsh economic times. 

Voted YES on Cap N Trade in June 2009

Congresswoman Mack  represents the great state of California that is bankrupt and suffering from high unemployment rates.  Bearing this in mind, she voted yes to a bill incurring high costs to the taxpayers when her state and the entire country are operating in the red.   This was fiscally irresponsible to vote yes for the Cap N Trade bill that the experts say will add an equivalent 12-15% tax hike on everyone in her district.  This is just a small sample of the spending and further expenses to be paid by the taxpayers of this country:

 -Appropriates $600 million for fiscal years 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 respectively to establish the Best in Class Appliances Deployment Program for the following reasons (Sec. 214):

-Appropriates $200 million for fiscal year 2009-2010, $250 million for fiscal year 2010-2011, $300 million for fiscal year 2011-2012, $350 million for fiscal year 2012-2013 and $400 for fiscal year 2013-2014 for the Hollings Manufacturing Partnership Program (Sec. 247).

-Appropriates $15 billion for fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 respectively to establish the Clean Energy Manufacturing Revolving Loan Fund Program for issuing grants to States to issue loans to manufactures for investments in clean energy technology, including, but not limited to, wind turbines, solar energy, fuel cells, biomass equipment, geothermal equipment, advanced biofuels, ocean energy equipment, carbon capture and storage, and advanced batteries, battery systems, or storage devices (Sec. 246).

-Appropriates $2.5 billion to establish the Residential Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program for issuing grants to States, metropolitan cities and urban counties, Indian tribes, and insular areas to carry out energy efficiency improvements in new and existing single-family and multifamily housing (Sec. 296).

-Appropriates $5 billion to the Alternative Energy Sources State Loan Fund established by this Act for the Secretary of Energy to issue loans to states and Indian tribes to provide incentives

Voted YES Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions  HR 3221

July 2008

She chose to spend more money yet again.

Increases the national debt limit from $9.82 trillion to $10.62 trillion (Sec. 3083).

-Establishes the Home Ownership Preservation Entity Fund to fund the HOPE (Home Ownership Preservation Entity) for Homeowners Program, which will insure up to $300 billion for 30 year refinanced loans for distressed borrowers between October 1, 2008-September 30, 2011 (Sec. 1402).

Editorial note: Giving loans to unqualified borrowers is what has caused the majority of the housing issue.  People should be accountable for their actions, not rewarded for poor judgment.  Let them learn the hard lessons so it won’t be repeated .  People can live in rental properties until they can afford to do better.

 

Voted YES for HR1424 – Second Economic Package October 2008

Voted to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that allows the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions, with a total outstanding balance of up to $700 billion, and also provides tax incentives for alternative energies and contains income tax and alternative minimum tax provisions.

Editorial Note: One would think that this Representative would be especially sensitive to spending as her state is bankrupt (literally). 

 

In her speeches and papers she speaks of fiscal discipline and curtailing spending. Her voting record states otherwise.  Please see the speech excerpt below that conflict this action of votes with words: 

 “Congress must stand for fiscal discipline and reform. I am very concerned about the level of federal spending. One of my top priorities is to reduce unnecessary and wasteful federal spending. It is clear that Congress must work to achieve some balance between the costs that continue to place pressure upon mandatory spending programs and the actual effectiveness of these programs. As we advance in areas like health care, defense, and education, continual changes must be considered that ensure money is spent more efficiently and effectively”. 

There are a lot of “nice to have” ideas about the environment, the arts, etc.  No one denies this to be true. However, these ideas are not critical at this moment when the country is deeply in debt, unemployment rates are higher than they have been in over 50 years, and people struggle to make house payments.  This was irresponsible to vote yes for the Cap N Trade bill that the experts say will add an equivalent 12-15% tax hike on everyone.

This is a matter of priorities and fiscal responsibility.  It is time to get back to our country’s foundation as a constitutional republic.  Representative Mack, it is time to leave.

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

#6 Senator Chris Dodd it is time to leave!

 

 

Senator Chris Dodd (Dem) was first elected in 1980.  He will be up for re-election in 2010.

Looking at Healthcare, Senator Dodd has some radical ideas.  First he wants to force a government run system on the people.  Even worse, he is for the illegal aliens and all their children to be covered by the plan.  His theory is it will prevent the American population from catching things from them, and after all – they will pay.  In the healthcare plan, and in all the speeches it has been stated the premiums set for individuals and families based on their ability to pay.  In other words, the poor would pay very little and be subsidized (so to speak) by the people who are able to pay more.  Let’s say you have 50M illegal aliens, how much do you think the rest of working America will have to pay to make up the difference?

What is it that is so difficult for Senator Dodd to understand about the word illegal?  He appears reluctant or unwilling at best to address what they are going to do about enforcing the law.  This is criminal for a United States Senator to speak of “taking care” of all the millions of illegal aliens at the expense of the people who pay his paycheck.

This is a quote from the Senator:  “I’ve got a five-year-old and a two-year-old and one has a strep throat and the other has an infection of adenoids. But it’s important to know what families go through who have young children. I’m a US Senator. I’ve got a wonderful health care program. I want every single American in this country to have as good a health care program as every member of the US Congress. That ought to be something we’re going to stand there and fight for”.  Everyone applauds this concept.  Isn’t it strange that the Senate will not be participating in this government run program?  They will keep their benefits, and we will have something separate.  If it is so wonderful, why doesn’t he take it for his family?  Why doesn’t he propose the entire Senate be on the plan?

Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages.

Vote to provide federal protections, such as access to specialty and emergency room care, and allow patients to sue health insurers in state and federal courts. Economic damages would not be capped, and punitive damages would be capped at $5 million.  Editorial Note:  This type of “sue mentality” without any caps is what has driven the insurance rates so high.  Senator Dodd has contributed to our rates being high, by voting yes on this bill.  Lawsuits cost everyone.

Voted NO on an amendment prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion

All I can say is the thought of a teenager sneaking across state lines for abortion (probably without parental knowledge) is a horrible thought.  How could he possibly justify allowing minors the right to cross state lines for abortions? 

Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)

How could anyone say a crime had not been committed when an unborn fetus is harmed during the commission of a crime?  This is unbelievable!

Remember the hedge fund managers that have caused such turmoil with the market and investors over the last few years?

The Stanford Advocate (paper in his hometown), reported that Senator Dodd, the Senate Banking Committee chairman has stated his reluctance to hike taxes on hedge fund profits.  He led in political contributions (when he ran for President), $726,950, from the booming investment sector. The tax code allows hedge fund executives to pay capital gains taxes at 15% instead of paying the personal income tax rate at 35%.” Senator Dodd raised campaign money from these hedgefund managers, and then the legislation which would raise their tax rate got killed afterwards.  Does anyone believe this was a coincidence?  The hedgefund managers had a huge part in the economic upheaval on Wall Street over the past several years.

Voted NO on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)

Don’t we all want the government to have constraints legally that bind them to doing the right thing and balancing the budget?  Shouldn’t a United States Senator that represents America be fiscally responsible?  Why would he not vote to have a balanced budget?  As Americans, do we have to balance our checkbooks?  Can we spend unchecked without any consequences?

Senator Dodd admitted to adding a loophole in the Stimulus package that would allow AIG executives to get bonuses

He admits to adding the loophole so the amendment would pass!  Is this kind of “deal making” in the best interest of the country?

See link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GoK0539Gl4

Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)

How does it feel to have worked all your life in America and have to share your pension with the illegals?  This is something Senator Dodd thinks is “ok”.

And as if that weren’t enough, take a look at this:  Last year, Congress overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation granting immunity to telecommunications companies that have cooperated with federal authorities’ anti-terrorism efforts.  Senator Chris Dodd, the extremely vulnerable incumbent Democrat, has re-introduced legislation to open those telecom firms to civil and criminal lawsuits.  So we vote to grant immunity to gain help last year on anti-terrorism and now he wants to penalize them for helping us.

This man hasn’t exhibited common sense, or morals.  Otherwise how could he possibly stand for the items listed above?  There are dozens of other equally bad choices this Senator has made in his career representing the people.  Senator Dodd is not serving the American people.  It is time for the Senator to go.  We the people deserve better.

#5 Senator Boxer it is time to go!

Senator Barbara Boxer came to office in 1992.  She is up for re-election in 2010.

What does she stand for?  Senator Boxer is for a government run healthcare plan.  This plan takes away a person’s right to choose healthcare options.  Let’s talk about how that is possible when the exact verbage stating that is not in the Healthcare Plan.  The government committee would “vet” the current 1300+ insurance companies in this country.  They would have the right to negotiate different benefits and prices on the plans the public currently have.  The government committee would also be the only ones that could approve those individual plans being offered from those companies.  Clearly they would be in a position to create a government monopoly, thus destroying free enterprise.  Why is this so important?  We are a country based on free enterprise.  As the private insurance companies go out of business, all their employees will be left without jobs.  In the meantime, the people of this country will be solely dependent on waiting for months for a “whimsical” approval by the government committee for the treatment of chronic illness and other maladies.  People will die while waiting for the bureaucrats to make decisions on what they are eligible for on their medical problems.

The government has taken over the automobile industry in this country.  Senator Boxer supported this effort as well.  Now the government is  attempting to enforce what car to drive by indiscriminately adding taxation to vehicles they do not deem to be acceptable.  The government argument is these vehicles use too much gas and they emit too much carbon.  Yet, the government officials fly to meetings for the afternoon and drive SUV’s and ride in limos, which greatly damage the environment they want to protect – or so they say.   When the Senate is in session, the Senator spends the weekdays in Washington and often comes home to California on the weekends (jets home and back leaving a big carbon footprint)

Next up is Cap N Trade.  Americans will pay fees for how many light fixtures you have, the type of windows you have, how many cars and type you will have.  This bill will add approximately 15% equivalent tax each year to a family’s tax situation.  Cap N Trade is one of the pet projects of Senator Barbara Boxer.  So cap and trade will be sold to Americans as a way of fighting global warming by increasing the costs of carbon-based energy usage so radically that both American industry and consumers would be forced to begin using alternate energy sources. One might also look at the energy efficiency of her home.  Senator Boxer is more affluent than a lot of Americans at this point in our economic plight.  She will be able to afford what she is foisting on America.

Free enterprise built our energy industries, and only free enterprise can build the new energy capacity we need. It cannot do this, however, unless the enormous burden of taxation, regulation, and litigation (and subsidies of favored industries) Washington has placed on the backs of American workers is removed, not increased by the additional oppression of “cap and trade.”

There is no resource problem. The United States is overflowing in essentially unlimited quantities of all the fuels—uranium, coal, oil, and natural gas —these industries require. The environmental lobby and its congressional retainers insist, however, that these fuels not be used.

The American public is struggling now with the economy, unemployment, and heavy taxation. What is she thinking adding all of this on top of the current problems?  Perhaps she isn’t thinking about the impact to her consitutents?

Senator Boxer is consciously choosing to promote the Healthcare Bill and Cap N Trade, which will bankrupt many Americans if passed.  The Healthcare Bill is estimated at an equivalent of a 12-15% tax increase on Americans.  The Cap N Trade bill is estimated to have a 15% equivalent tax increase on the people of this country.   One may say the millionaires in Washington will be able to handle it, but the majority of the country will suffer under the consequences of these two bills.  This bill is unconstitutional.  Isn’t it time we got back to the discipline of the constitution and follow the laws of the land?

Let’s take a look at her inability to conduct herself with the decorum the office of Senator deserves.  To adequately represent the people, one would hope the person would have respect and dignity for the office.  Senator Boxer has accused concerned well-dressed constituents at Town Halls of being “plants” by the insurance companies.  She is known for her personal verbal attacks on others when they disagree with her.  Senator Boxer has shown arrogance and disrespect on a regular basis to others that are peers and to people being questioned by the Senate.  She has even been accused of racial prejudice when questioning a person in a Senate forum. You may say, ok, why does this matter?  Have you worked with someone who is constantly disrupting the flow of work in a corporation?  Not much gets done.  Also, a lot of people in the Senate will take an opposite point of view (regardless of how they believe) if embarrassed or angered by such offensive public tactics.  She has disgraced the office of Senator representing the good people of California.  The people deserve the best representation.  The people deserve someone who will check their personal biases and prejudices at the door and resolve to do whatever it takes for the good of the people.  And oddly enough, she is the first one to be outraged and request admonishment if others display flaring tempers and rude behavior.  Senator Boxer has not been held accountable on any of these occasions. 

Senator Boxer, your grandiose ideas are driving Americans to bankruptcy and trampling our rights.  For that, and for the disrespect to the office of Senator, you need to go.

Please see the links below for corroborating material on her difficulties in controlling her temperament: 

Barbara Boxer showing disrespect to a Brigadier General.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmZOL42Ck1A&feature=related

 

Senator Barbara Boxer accused of racism by head of Black Chamber of Commerce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FoekBjhtWE&feature=related

 

Senator Barbara Boxer, California wants people to believe the “unruly angry mobs” are shills for the insurance industry and Nazis.  She is suspicious as they are “too well-dressed”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Mdxa-cKyk

 

Well-dressed constituents of Senator Boxer voice their concerns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyg9a0nxwnY

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: texasfor56

Twitter: texasfor56

Grassroots’ Candidates are coming forward!

 

 

 

Over the past 4 weeks, I’ve become aware of a phenomenon sweeping the nation.  One by one, state by state, there is news of grassroots activists becoming candidates for office.   The notion of serving our country was “catching fire”.  Announcements have been made for brand new candidates running for City Offices, State offices, and Federal offices.

Recently I attended the local campaign kick-off for a candidate named Mary Huls.  Mary is one of the grassroots activists who has decided to be a part of the process for improvement. She will be running for State Representative for Texas. Mary  is a constitutional conservative.  I came with an open mind, wanting to see for myself – what makes a person step up to such a daunting task?  This would be the ultimate test of the grassroots movement. 

What I found was a passionate, articulate woman who had a vision of what could be.  She spoke to the issues, where she stood, and handled some tough questions.  What I appreciated the most is she wasn’t sure on a very few issues, as to how to best affect the change required for improvement.  Mary was unashamed to admit she will need to look at all the information before making a recommendation.  It was refreshing to witness such a straightforward dialogue without the usual sidestepping of issues we have witnessed the last few decades.

The crowd was intently listening to her every word.  You could hear a pin drop in the room it was so quiet.  This is the moment many people in the grassroots movements have been waiting for.  Much like our founding fathers, people of good moral character and conviction are stepping up to the ultimate challenge.  They want to serve the country.

People such as Mary will face ridicule from local politicians and political parties.  There are far too many people who automatically vote for incumbents without looking at their records.  This is a big part of the problem we have in the government today.   Our founding fathers faced a lot of obstruction as well.  Can it be that we are experiencing  the beginning of a tide to refound our country?  The new candidates from grassroot organizations will need to be tough, and face down many negative detractors.

What can we do in the grassroots movement to help these people of courage and honor who are stepping up to the ultimate challenge?  They need our support and encouragement as much as possible.  This is what America needs – not more of the same, but people who care enough to stand up and be counted for the future of America.  I am thankful for Mary Huls and all the people like her, that stand ready to take the country back to an adherence of the framework of our government and our nation.

One man with courage is a majority.
Thomas Jefferson

 

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56

#4 Senator Harry Reid, it is time to leave!

 

 

Senator Harry Reid (Democrat) was first elected in 1986.  He will be up for election again in 2010.

In February 2009 when the country was struggling with high unemployment numbers and a terrible economy, this is how he voted to spend more of your tax dollars (plunging us deeper into debt for future generations):

1)  Voted to pass a stimulus package worth billions when the country is already deeply in debt.  The excuse  was that it would create jobs and help the economy.  In the stimulus package were the following things to “help the economy”:

•   Voted to keep a $245M earmark in the stimulus bill to “help Hollywood” via tax credits
• $15.84 billion for student financial assistance, including Pell Grants (Div. A, Title VIII) Editorial Note:  When millions are out of work, is it important to plunge us deeply into debt to pay for more student’s college education?  Let them work their way through school like so many generations of college students before them.  
• Included not less than $250,000,000 shall be available for competitive grants for innovative programs to encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service
• Included an additional amount for `Scientific and Technical Research and Services’, $220,000,000.
• To the National Endowment for the Arts: For an additional amount for `Grants and Administration’, $50,000,000, to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities  Editorial note:  This group most recently has used their money and abilities to provide signage and art to support the President’s pushing of the government run healthcare program.  These were your taxpayer dollars furthering the personal agenda of pushing government healthcare on everyone.

Senator Reid has many, many examples such as the one above where he is more than willing to commit trillions of dollars for almost anything, as future generations will be the ones committed to paying it back.

 Growing the government to take more control (these excerpts are from laws he voted for)

1)      Establishes the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to oversee appropriated funds and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Div. A, Title XV).  Editorial note:  There are laws on the books that can prevent the fraud, waste, and abuse, the laws haven’t been enforced for decades)

2)      Establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to allow for the electronic use and exchange of information that secures and protects patient health information, improves health care quality, reduces medical errors and health disparities, reduces costs from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate or duplicate care, and incomplete information, and improves coordination of care between hospitals, laboratories, and physician offices (Div. A, Title XIII).  Editorial note: This is setting up a focal point who will ensure there is a health technology network in place nationwide -  in preparation for the Government run healthcare that the House and Senate Democrats are trying to pass. 

In 2001, Senator Harry Reid voted against an amendment that would prohibit the use of funds from tax-exempt organizations and labor unions for broadcast ads supporting federal candidates.  Apparently he wanted to preserve the “free reins” of the special interest groups to help in federal campaigns.

And finally there is the matter of common sense and being non-partisan for the good of the country.  Recently Senator Reid led a vote against permitting 72 hours of public viewing time of the Chairman’s mark of the Healthcare Proposal.  He and his fellow democrat Senators voted to not have any time to review the finished product and associated financing prior to the vote.  This is absolutely a disservice to the country.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked by over 20 other Senators recently to instruct pertinent Senate committee chairmen to investigate ACORN’s offenses and identify the sources of all federal funds that ACORN and its affiliates receive. Despite the fact that the U.S. Senate has at its disposal 20 committees, 68 subcommittees, and 4 joint committees, the Majority Leader has denied the request, stating he will not instruct Senate leaders to do anything that would detract from efforts to address the issues currently before Congress.  ACORN is involved in a criminal case now involving voter fraud.  There are 10 other states investigating similar voting fraud charges.  In addition, they have had several offices filmed advising people on how to handle taxes on businesses with underage prostitutes.  Acorn is under investigation in several states for these last items as well.

This is a standard, straightforward request that has occurred previously with other sessions for both the House and Senate.  Under the direction of this same Majority Leader, in conjunction with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congress has held more than 150 oversight hearings on Bush-era practices and activities – transcribing more than 3,200 pages of witness testimony and printing more than 17,000 pages of unclassified, publicly available reports. For Majority Leader Reid, it seems that ‘oversight’ is a selective responsibility, and the misuse of taxpayer dollars by a fraud-ridden organization does not qualify as a priority in his purview as the Leader of the U.S. Senate.

For the inability to be fiscally responsible, uphold the duties of your office in an honorable manner, and provide unbiased leadership in the Senate, there is only one thing left to say.  Senator Reid, you have served special interests more than the people, and it is time to go.

Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.
Karl Kraus

 

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook:  Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56 

 

#3 Congresswoman Lee, it is time to go!

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee  (Democrat) represents Texas.  She has been in office continuously since 1994.  Her next election will be in 2010.

Sheila Jackson Lee has used every possible opportunity in the previous years to vote in favor of spending money regardless of the economy and has consistently voted for government expansion in the lives of the individuals in this country.  There were so many examples of being fiscally irresponsible and examples of questionable character that it was difficult to be brief on this topic.  For that reason, it appears to be more prudent to concentrate on clear cases of poor judgment exhibited through the most recent time period.

Rep. Jackson Lee was one of five members of Congress who took part in a Citigroup-funded junket to the sunny Caribbean island of St. Maartens shortly after all five voted for TARP. The trip was led by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), who cheated on his taxes and proposed tax increases to fund health care.

Most recently when the country was deep in debt, she voted yes to pass a huge stimulus package for the country that contained a lot of earmarks.   The voting record shows that she votes yes for almost every bill that will cost the taxpayers more money.

Now we are in the midst of a healthcare debate shortly after passing one of the largest “handouts” in the history of the country.  What is her contribution to the debate?   First of all, she argues why all the illegals should be covered under the plan.  What part of the word illegal does she not understand?  America has laws in place for a reason.  Why would a representative of our government suggest benefits be given to those guilty of criminal actions?  Rather than address the issue of illegal aliens, she speaks about them as if they have the same rights as the working citizens of this country.  Congresswoman Lee clearly views them as equal to the American citizens.

Sheila Jackson Lee justifying illegal aliens in the Healthcare Plan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWk6OYUv1QU

 

What about her character?  What do we know?   We know that at a townhall to discuss healthcare in August 2009, there was behavior indicative of someone who doesn’t want to listen to her constituents.  Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee picked up her cell phone while a cancer survivor recounted her story and begged her not to endorse the President’s health care plan.  This was not quick, the Congresswoman had a lengthy conversation on the phone while ignoring the lady in the audience.  Numerous news outlets interviewed her after this debacle.  Although the Congresswoman explained she had a reason for the call, there was no intention to apologize for her behavior.  Clearly the constituents were not the priority at the townhall.

Sheila Jackson Lee being rude to lady at the Healthcare Town Hall:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L3FnWNkIzU

In another townhall, there was a woman who identified herself as a Doctor and asked a question to Congresswoman Lee.  The exchange was quite pro-Healthcare plan on the part of the Doctor.  People later discovered the Doctor was actually not a Doctor (nor a Sheila Jackson Lee constituent), but someone on the Obama staff.

Sheila Jackson Lee at townhall with woman pretending to be a Doctor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxna9SfmBgs

Her recent contributions include complaining that hurricane names were too Caucasian and proposing a resolution praising Michael Jackson as the world’s greatest humanitarian.  Bear in mind this was also the man who was investigated at great length for his suspicious behavior with children.

In September of 2009, she voted against a bill to pull the funding from ACORN.  This community group has been charged and is in a criminal trial for voter fraud.  There are 10 states that are also investigating them for voter fraud.  This is also the same company that was exposed in the media recently for advising people on underage prostitutes and other criminal activities.  This was an expose on this company in multiple cities.  With all of this happening, Congresswoman Lee voted against the bill to put an end to their federal funding.

What is she thinking?  At best, her judgment appears to be horribly skewed.

Lack of fiscal responsibility, consistently voting to grow the government, poor judgment, and a willingness to overlook illegal patterns of behavior puts this lady on our NOT the 56 list.

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
Thomas Paine

www.texasfor56.wordpress.com

Facebook: Texasfor56

Twitter: Texasfor56