Monday, December 13, 2010

Obamacare Unconstitutional

Score! I've been saying it all along. Obamacare is unconstitutional. Of course I am not anyone that anyone is going to listen to. So, here it is from CBS news:
U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled that the bill's requirement for every American to acquire health insurance, which is known as the individual mandate, "exceeds the constitutional boundaries of congressional power." The Obama administration has argued the individual mandate is constitutional under interstate commerce rules, but the judge rejected that argument.
Now what? Now we move on. I have no beef with generically making sure all Americans have access to health care. My beef was the whole "mandate" issue. Just like social security, the government telling me how they are going to manage my money and my life is wrong. Write your congressman now and tell him/her to pile on the pressure and let the Constitution be your guide.  

FTFGIMAD  
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Sunday, December 12, 2010

A Razors Edge

"To provide for the common defense, To promote the general welfare...
And to pay for everything in between? Not hardly. We cannot really control our federal government's spending. Our politicians are corrupt and the special interests print money to keep them bought and paid for.

With the budget busted and the deficit starting with a capital "T" we must reduce spending. I suggest that every line of the budget be arbitrairily reduced precisely by one percent. Don't bother trying to figure out which programs get a big cut. Simply reduce everything by the same percentage. It's not rocket science.

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Saturday, December 11, 2010

Bernie Sanders Fights His Version Of The Good Fight

Bernie Sanders, of Fanny and Freddie Fame, took the floor and filibustered for nine hours against extension of the Bush Tax Cuts. Y'know, I don't like his politics or his philosophies. But, I have to respect someone who will stand and fight for his beliefs.

Bernie, you are going to lose. You will lose because lower taxes for everyone is the right path to take. But, unlike the majority of the people you caucus with; you are a worthy opponent.

Have a beer on me.  

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The Dream Is Dead

Dreamin. Yep, the DREAM ACT is history for now. I'm not anti-kid. I even get that some kids are in the country illegally through no fault of their own. But, the overall numbers of illegal aliens demand that our government take a stand. Personally I would rather that we ease or eliminate quotas and let in anyone who isn't a criminal. The caveat is that they get five years to assimilate and test for citizenship. Or, let them join the service, and test at the end of the enlistment. It's not programs like DREAM that we need to clog up an already bloated government. We need reform that follows the American dream from the ground up. Anything else is a waste of time.

FTFGIMAD  
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

WikiLeaks Is An Enemy Combatant

WikiLeaks has done it again. This time Wikileaks posted classified diplomatic cables. I'd say that this is obviously another front in the war on terror. WikiLeaks should be reclassified as an enemy combatant and the NSA needs to do a full on assault on them wherever they are.

First it was Iraq and Afghanistan operational information. A terrorist now has all the information needed to set up a "court" and behead a captured American Soldier live on the web.

Write your Congressional Representative and urge them to classify WikiLeaks as an enemy combatant or terrorist organization.

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Infatuation With The Constittution

If you are a loyal American who cares about your country, don't read this. It's going to make you mad no matter where you fall on the political line. If you are not angered, then I have to call your patriotism into question. Fair enough? Onward.

In a Washinton Post OpEd, Richard Cohen was digging deep into a certain female GOP'er. No problem, we see parodies and scathing editorials alike flung against our opponents all the time. But, Mr. Cohen has gone off the deep end and I am not sure he's holding his breath. Part of the oped is shown below.

This fatuous infatuation with the Constitution, particularly the 10th Amendment, is clearly the work of witches, wiccans and wackos. It has nothing to do with America's real problems and, if taken too seriously, would cause an economic and political calamity. The Constitution is a wonderful document, quite miraculous actually, but only because it has been wisely adapted to changing times. To adhere to the very word of its every clause hardly is respectful to the Founding Fathers. They were revolutionaries who embraced change. That's how we got here.

Let's only take it seriously when it suits us. Like, uh, whenever we nationalize health care, the auto industry, banks, insurance, run up the debt, and do other things the founders never included in the document.

Being a revolutionary is great. I wonder if Mr Cohen noticed that the very things he wants us to not be infatuated with were placed into the document to address issues with how we'd been governed.

I am glad that he openly advocated 'adapting' the Constitution to changing times. There's a way to do that. It's called the Amendment Process.

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Monday, September 20, 2010

Defense Appropriations, Gay Rights, and Immigration Reform

If  you don't vote to fund the troops you are anti-american. But, voting to fund the troops means you are voting to repeal the don't ask, don't tell policy. So, we've found the rock and the hard place. What do we do? Realistically, we do nothing since stuffing disparate issues into "must pass" bills is a truly bipartisan tactic.

In this instance, the defense appropriation includes a repeal of DADT as well as incorporation of the controversial DREAM ACT. One is the Clinton ERA policy that replaced the outright prohibition on gays serving in the military. The other is touted as a path to legal residency for some "undocumented aliens".

The conundrum is obvious. Failure to approve the bill will deny a well earned, if really substandard, pay raise to our military. Failure to approve the bill will delay the monies needed for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Approval means that hard line opponents of gays in the military or illegal aliens will have to swallow bile and look for ever sneakier ways to get around the intent of the law.

My beef isn't with the issues. I am opposed to multiple issue bills that create this squeeze play in the first place. Part of the reason our government is so huge and convoluted is political games like this.

Call or write your representatives and demand that they craft a single issue bill requiring that all future legislation be single issue. As an extra credit bonus demand that this bill require all legislation to specify in detail exactly how the Constitution authorizes the Congress to take this action.

FTFGIMAD
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Bailouts on Sale: Today Only, Union Pensions At $167,000,000,000

Ya gotta love todays Congress, they do think big. I mean, we've bailed out everyone but the working man. We've nationalized the health care industry. We've nationalized a car company and given a part-ownership to the union that bankrupted GM in the first place.

Now we are buying into mismanaged union pension funds. The best guess is a minimum of one hundred sixty seven billion dollars. If you can't conceive of a number that large, read this post.

Can you say massive  Tax Increase or a crash that makes 1929 look like the 1890's? Are you getting mad yet? Call, write, bitch, and moan. Get loud and obnoxious. It's too late for us. Maybe we can save the women and kids.

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Islamic Center Attracts Protesters on Both Sides - NYTimes.com

In a glaring headline with lurid pics, the NYTimes reports on the latest ground zero mosque info. Bah, humbug. As usual the sheep are milling about and not noticing the wolves among them.

From the NYT:

Islamic Center Attracts Protesters on Both Sides - NYTimes.com: "Two protests on Sunday morning, in the normally quiet blocks north of Ground Zero, claimed to be on the side of tolerance. One camp stood in favor of the mosque and Islamic center that has been proposed for the area; the other argued against.

Wolves among the sheep include a lady in line for the Presidency. You did know that she advocated investigating the protesters right? No one in NY that I've read about agrees with her. But, it sure smacks of some of the late great socialist nations of the former USSR. Papers Please?

Remember this. Any protests should swell from the local community. And any calls to investigate the protesters is just as unAmerican as can be. There should be no federal involvement at all in what is a state/local issue. Send an email to Madame Pelosi telling her that those remarks smack of Socialism and are not why she was sent to DC.

FTFGIMAD

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Sunday, August 15, 2010

More Big Government Socialism

It'sSocialism I tell ya! That, or a varient of it, is the battle cry of folks on the right wing of American Politics in the 21st Century. Boo Friggen Hoo. From my humble observations the majority of Americans fall into a group I call the McUSA family. Mr. and Mrs. McUSA are the overwork, overfat, undersexed, overstressed, majority that simply doesn't have time to do anything but hope that the country didn't go to hell while they were trying to pay the mortgage.

Your Mission: Explain socialism to your neighbors. Use this list of admitted socialists.

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Saturday, August 07, 2010

More on US v. Arizona

Truthdig is a website that purports to apply the truth to controversial issues. In fact it is a liberal site that "digs" the issues that are the current issue-of-the-day. In fact, truthdig can be likened to townhall or redstate on the right.

And, why pray tell, should I care? Because it isn't simply presenting a point of view or opinion. Instead, just like a lot of other partisan hack sites, it is a propaganda vehicle for the current prez.

Look at this article covering the US v. Arizona case. The thrust is the supposed unconstitutionality of the requirement to verify immigration status.

Am I the only guy in the country to get that you must establish a full and complete identity on everyone apprehended by law enforcement? There is nothing unconstitutional about it. By treaty all foreign nationals apprehended must be divulged to the appropriate consulate. This allows the home-nation to assist one of their citizens who has run afoul of US law.

It's not that tough. Just put a bit of rational thought into it and you will see that there is no conspiriacy here.

I hope the judge in the long run is as smart as she is educated.

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Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Cops Hiding From Cameras In Some States

Oh Hell No!

Check out the story about the Air National Guard Staff Sergeant who was cut off by an unmarked car, approached by a stranger in civilian attire brandishing a gun, and then arrested for making a video of what turned out to be a cop. It seems that he faces up to sixteen years (yeah that's YEARS) for allegedly violating anti-wiretapping laws.

It's amazing that cop cams are on the dashboards of virtually every one-horse cop town car in America but a private citizen can't return the favor. It's freaking outrageous! This is a clear case of DA's making an attempt to play good-ol-boy-network-game number 603A. It's known as cover your buddies ass. In a public servant it's totally un-freaking-sat.

Don't misunderstand me. As far as I am concerned, if you are not on your own private property you are subject to monitoring. I personally see no expectation of privacy in your car on a public road. If you are on a public street then you should have no problem with corner cameras and stop light cams. As long as there are crimes then video is good. It just ticks me off that some District Attorneys are coming across with a do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do attitude.

Source

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Business of Business is No Longer Business

There's no business like show business or so they say. But with the Obama administration that may become the second string. This month business in general has taken a beating at their hands. Honestly, I just don't get it I guess. I cannot believe that so many educated people concentrated in one place can be so stupid.

Look at this new law. My buddy from work clued me in on this one. If you, in your role as a business person, get more than $600.00 worth or merchandise you have to fill out a Form 1099. This form requires a name, address, and SSN by the way.

Supposedly, the law is intended to capture lost tax revenues. That might happen. What will happen for sure is that some unscrupulous business owner will sell that info. And, it appears that collectors of virtually anything from baseball cards to gold coins will be hit disproportionately harder than others.

I guess that "change you can believe in" is the loose change in your pocket and your privacy. To avoid this, get your transactions closed before New Years Day in 2012.

Oh, and don't think that you can play the market with impunity any longer. The SEC is now exempt from any Freedom of Information Act inquiries. A big part of any citizens trust in their government is related to how transparent it operates. With this act of Congress, murky is putting it mildly.

At the other end is the new agency that will "protect" consumers by adding yet another layer of regulation to the financial industries. To really drive the point home, consider some of these tidbits. This agency will not be controlled by Congress. Instead they will work for a Presidential appointee of a Director who isn't going to be confirmed by the Senate. Even though the Federal Reserve will be footing their bills, they will have no oversight authority either.

Still not enough .gov interference for you? Don't worry, the year isn't over and there is more to come.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Charly Rangel, LIndsay Lohan, & Three Mile Island

Lindsay Lohan v. Deaths in Middle East. Quick! How many service members died in the middle east today? How well was their lives profiled on the national media services? But is there any way you didn't know that Lindsay Lohan went to jail? What does that say about society and the media that feeds it?

Rep. Charles "Charly" Rangel won't step aside despite the ethics trial coming up. I don't mind a principled man fighting to save his name. I don't expect Mr. Rangel to actually resign. Instead I would have had him step aside from all of his duties (not just committees) and focus on the fight. Once vindicated, then he could resume his duties. The military does this all the time. I wonder why people in congress are somehow unable to follow a good example. Check these posts out for more thoughts on Congressional Ethics.

BP v. 3 Mile Island: Back in the day, Jimmy Carter faced an energy issue oriented year. We were talking about using more nuclear power to stave off dependence on foreign oil. But, with the incident at Three Mile Island, anti-nuclear activists derailed the dream. Fast forward to today with the BP incident adding to an already long list of petro-disasters. I wonder if we can swing the pendulum. Nuclear energy has a safety record to be envied if only the media would fairly report it.

Realistically speaking what we can do is:
Urge Rep. Rangel to step aside from all Congressional duties until the ethics trial is concluded.

Urge your elected officials to review the safety records of petro and nuclear energy production. Once they see that nuclear energy is a victim of bad PR and zealous activists ask them to support building more nuclear plants.

Remember that every day should be memorial day if only for a moment. Let Lindsay have her fifteen minutes, but give others the same time.

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The Same Old Song and Dance

My new job means that I simply don't have evenings available to peruse the news. I don't have the time in the day to listen to the news either since I am not driving. The word(s) of the day is/are 'sweat' and 'news deprivation'. Now I rely on the "charity" of my friends to send me things that will be most interesting. There is a guy at work (new job) that has his own little mailing list and he sends out some really good news bytes.

This much fun stuff in such a short post needs a rhythm to get it going. I love this song. It's one of those timeless classics that won't ever go bad.

Raindrops on racists and high handed mandates
Bright brand new taxes and fixed senate hearings
Ever more regulation all tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

(chorus)
When the tax bites
When the scandal stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad


The question now is; What are we going to do about it? Or do we have the will to do anything at all.

Worth Reading: Who Killed the Constitution
Worth Hearing: The Fame of our Fathers & The Road To Independence

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Old Immigration Lawsuit On Today's Radio

In these days of litigation and other immigration follies I thought it was cool to take note of a lawsuit in (where else?) California. I heard about it on a radio show today and had to look it up. Be advised that this occurred in 2006. So it isn't current. But it brings some of the problem into focus.

Border Fence Firm Snared for Hiring Illegal Workers
by Scott Horsley

A fence-building company in Southern California agrees to pay nearly $5 million in fines for hiring illegal immigrants. Two executives from the company may also serve jail time. The Golden State Fence Company's work includes some of the border fence between San Diego and Mexico.

After an immigration check in 1999 found undocumented workers on its payroll, Golden State promised to clean house. But when followup checks were made in 2004 and 2005, some of those same illegal workers were still on the job. In fact, U-S Attorney Carol Lam says as many as a third of the company's 750 workers may have been in the country illegally. -- Full Story

Nothing has changed. Watch for changes and challenges. And, of course, don't be fooled. There is a reason the problem hasn't been solved. Chase down who benefits from having illegal aliens in the country. Take away the incentives and the problem will go away. Of course we could go after the really radical solution and actually make it easier to legally enter the country.


FTFGIMAD
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Thursday, July 08, 2010

The Lawsuit Against Arizona Moves On, Media Trying To Remain Relevent

And the punditry is in full swing. The Obama lawsuit should be heard in the fall and the media is lining up to tell the public in advance that the fed will win.

One article is pretty bold. They actually comment about the Arizona judge being under pressure to rule against the US.

“It’s very hard to predict what the district court is going to do,” says Legomsky, the John S. Lehmann University Professor. “Its decision will be made by just one randomly selected judge, and that judge will be an Arizona resident who might come under intense personal pressure to defend his or her state’s law against federal intervention.’’ -- source article

Our friends and neighbors over at the NY Daily are at least openly pro-lawsuit. While my high school journalism teacher would have edited out any hint of bias, standards in this day and age are not so high. The following excerpt is not in an opinion piece, but within the "News" column.

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration sued Arizona on Tuesday to kill, or at least stall, the state's hotly disputed new law allowing local cops to target suspected illegal immigrants. -- Source Article

I hope I am not the only one to notice the disinformation? I read the revised, signed, bill. The cops cannot target anyone. But, the spin is still out there and still being ladled out to anyone who won't do their own homework.

I personally don't care where you stand on the issue as long as it's your stand. The news media can be your first source, but don't let it be your only source. From what you read, take the time to do some research and then you can do a gut check with facts.

FTFGIMAD
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Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Lawsuit City: USA v. Arizona

Well it finally happened. The DOJ has filed a lawsuit against Arizona over the new immigration law. The really sad part is that it isn't needed.

The law doesn't, as some believe, give unlimited deportation powers to Arizona. All the cops can do is report suspected illegals to the federal authorities. One executive order to ignore all reports based on the AZ law nullifies it. Yep, that executive order would cost the taxpayers scads more than a long and drawn out lawsuit.

"The United States Constitution forbids Arizona from supplanting the federal government's immigration regime with its own state-specific immigration policy," the suit says. "A policy that, in purpose and effect, interferes with the numerous interests the federal government must balance."

Amazingly enough the fed now considers reporting violators of federal law to be unconstitutional. Amazing no?

Here's what should happen: The judge throws out the case as the USA has no standing since it isn't harmed by the law.

Here's what could happen: The judge throws out the case on the grounds that Arizona is taking no action other than reporting violators of federal law. Additionally the judge commends Arizona for ensuring that all potential foreign nationals identified under this law have the opportunity to contact their respective consulates as required by treaty. In fact, this law may have the unintended consequence of providing yet another safeguard demonstrating that all persons within the USA are afforded full civil liberties.

Here's what's most likely to happen: The judge will decide that the fed is in the right. At the end of the day the law will be struck down by the best disinformation campaign since the KGB went out of business. The Obama/Holder team will continue to do nothing about the problem except pontificate.

Here is the text of the lawsuit for your own perusal.

Another spin on Fox News.

FTFGIMAD 
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Monday, July 05, 2010

FOXNews.com - NASA Chief: Next Frontier Better Relations With Muslim World

Once again, the guy holding the office of the president has managed to do something so incredibly stupid that it defies belief. Come on Mr. Obama.... please leave NASA alone so they can continue to be the best example of what good a government can do if politics is mostly left out of it.

FOXNews.com - NASA Chief: Next Frontier Better Relations With Muslim World: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

FTFGIMAD
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July 4, 2010

On the fourth of July in the year of our lord seventeen hundred and seventy-six, we declared ourselves to be a nation independent of the rule of good King George. As things go, in today's terms it was a glorified press release. But, back in the day it was freakin huge! Imagine this little upstart buncha rednex telling the superpower of the age to pound sand and get out of town. The world laughed, and then stared with jaws dropping and the upstarts eventually did as they promised.

The rest is history. From that press release came the nation Ronald Reagan called "the bright shining city on the hill". In the past couple of centuries that upstart nation rose to a level of dominance that good King George could only fantasize about. In the process we saved the world and set an example that can only be called miraculous.

The question I have for you is whether we would have the courage of our convictions to rival that of the first generation of American patriots? Are you ready to lay it all on the line for a philosophical position? I hope it never comes to that. Instead, I hope that the American people wake up to the enormous legacy handed to us and the burden of greatness history has placed upon us.

I hope everyone celebrated our independence and for just a moment gave thanks to that first generation of patriots.