Obama is CinC in name only

Hey PattieKate,

May I interject.

Obama is CinC in name only. His actions speak otherwise. Narcissism is the word.

When he made his world wind tour of Europe prior to the election, he displayed his love of the military. Upon arrival at Ramstein AFB, instead of driving only 5 miles to visit our wounded troops at Landstuhl Hospital, he took the press corp to the gym to watch him play basketball.

He resides only miles from Walter Reed Hospital, in the DC area, but has never visited our wounded troops. GW made the trip many times. Remember his jogging with some of the troops. Obama seems not to find the time.

Remember the great photo op of Obama saluting the coffin of a returning trooper at Dover AFB at midnight. Would you be surprise to find out that the White House had called the parents of the slain soldier to ask permission to take the picture. There was 18 coffins on the plane, only one granted permission to take pictures. Later the parents stated they granted permission because, "He is our Commander in Chief." The other 17 families seem to have disagreed.

And, after Obama's unsuccessful tour of the far east, he made a stop at an AFB en route home. The following video shows his opinion of our military:

http://www.exposeobama.com/2009/11/20/obama-to-troops-you-make-a-great-photo-op/

or,

http://tinyurl.com/ydja9w8

Don says: Obama seems to think the military is his toy to be used to gain his goals.

Don of Indy

List of Achievements so far

By T Nezwek

Victory ? I think Not

The Democrats and the OEM are crowing tonight because they are claiming a great victory. They got their 60 votes. By hook or crook, Harry Reid got his way. But, what did he win? He did not get an approved health care reform bill, he only won the right to bring the "proposed" senate health care reform bill to the floor of the Senate for a full debate.

IT AINT A DONE DEAL!

Over the next few weeks, every member of the Senate has a chance to speak, in public forum, as to their support, or not, of the senate version of the health care reform bill. We, each of us, still have a chance to express our opinion and to sway the final vote.

But, unlax next week. Unlike you and I, Congress gets the entire week off to celebrate Thanksgiving. There aint no body home in DC next week. So wait to send your emails, letters, faxes, phone calls, etc. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, get you emails, letters, faxes, etc. ready to send on Monday, 30 Nov. No later than the 1st or 2nd of Dec. And, think about this, those a$$holes are going to be taking off the 19th of Dec for three weeks for Christmas and New Years. So we've got three weeks to beat them about the head and shoulders. I encourage all of you to use your 1st Amendment rights and tell them what you think they should do.

How do you do that? First, don't send them a shotgun blast that simply states that, "I'm agin all the above." Be specific, give them some meat to chew on. Be personal, i.e. I'm afraid of losing some of my MEDICARE benefits because of the taking of over a half trillion dollars out to support health care for others. I think it is unfair to put people who are healthy and have the extra money in jail because they do not want to purchase health care insurance. Etc. etc. Senators, and Representatives, love talking points. Something they can point to, while on the floor, orating, i.e. "63 percent of my constituents do not like widgets made out of leather."

We can win this. We've got to make the Senate understand that we are not interested in socialized medical care. Yes, health care need reforming, but, we cannot afford Obamacare. We also need to keep the pressure on the House. Right now the House and the Senate bills are not reconcilable. For better or worse, we need to keep them apart and unsupportable.

Don says: Looking forward, I see this war winnable. Harry Reid won the battle today, but, he aint going to win the war. We can do this.

by Don of Indy

The Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

Hey Folks,

I captured this article from a newsletter published weekly by the Multi-National Corps – Iraq. I knew about this program, but, was not aware of how extensive it was. But, the number that caught me eye was not the number of people in the ceremony, nor the cumulative number over time. It was the number of countries represented. These 157 personal represent "60" different countries. Think about that, 60 countries. Can you even name 60 different countries?

Think about it. "Land of the Free" And, we have people from all over the world who want to be US/us. Be proud and lets try to keep it the "Land of the Free."

Don of Indy

Troops become citizens on Veterans Day

Thursday, 12 November 2009

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 157 service members became America's newest citizens during a naturalization ceremony in Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Baghdad. Photo by Lee Craker, MNC-I. BAGHDAD — A naturalization ceremony here on Veterans Day in Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace saw 157 U.S. Soldiers and Marines from 60 countries take the oath to become United States citizens. "How fitting it is that so many, on this Veterans Day, will gain their American citizenship while serving in 'America's Corps'," said Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., commanding general of Multi-National Corps - Iraq. "I can think of no better time, no better place and no better way to honor the devoted service of these men and women." Jacoby praised the men and women seated before him, noting that they had already contributed to the strength of the nation by serving in the United Stated armed forces. Their talents and abilities have continued to play a part in the mission here in Iraq, he said. Jacoby said that foreign-born service members was not a new concept to the military, as most of the regular Army in most of the 19th century was manned by large number of foreign-born Soldiers eager to earn the status of being an American. "This mixture of Soldiers from multiple nations, including those born in America, created an atmosphere of cooperation, acceptance and understanding that were necessary for mission accomplishment," Jacoby said. Now, in the 21st century, that ethnically diverse mixture is still present within the ranks and continues to add to the success of the U.S. military. That success lies in the hands of those brave enough to have taken the military oath and live up to their commitments, Jacoby said. Now it was time for them to take the oath of citizenship to the United States of America. Normally, a person wishing to gain citizenship in the U.S. must possess a green card for five years before becoming eligible, said Maj. Robert Baker, human resources officer in charge of plans and policies. If a person joins the armed forces, that time is reduced to one year. However, if serving in combat, service members are eligible for citizenship after serving one day in a war zone. Once eligible, the process takes approximately 90 days to complete. During those 90 days, the applicant will complete a test on reading, writing and speaking basic English; a test on basic knowledge of U.S. history and government, known as a "civics" test; and personal interviews with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agents, Baker said. Once complete, the oath of allegiance to the United States will be administered. "In this oath they will declare their loyalty to the United States and renounce their allegiance to any foreign state or ruler," Jacoby said. "Much like our forefathers, these Soldiers have come to America in search of freedom, opportunity and the hope for a prosperous future." In some cases, the Soldiers and Marines came to America to escape the clutches of death in war-torn countries like Kosovo and Liberia. Others came to pursue educational opportunities, to escape poverty or to improve personal skills, said Jacoby. "You represent opportunity, resilience and the freshness of the American experience and today we welcome you as brothers and sisters and as fellow citizens [of] our great nation," he said. The 157 Soldiers and Marines in attendance joined nearly 1,300 other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have been naturalized while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. To date, 15 naturalization ceremonies have been performed in Iraq. (By Sgt. Lindsey Bradford, Multi-National Corps – Iraq). by Don of Indy

Man's best friend never forgets.

Hey Folks,

Man's best friend never forgets.

http://www.break.com/index/dog-goes-nuts-when-soldier-comes-home.html

or:

http://tinyurl.com/y9ajuta

by Don of Indy

Tips for Writing Your Congressman

Hey Folks,

Here are two articles about writing your Congressman. Personally I use Congress.org (a free service) to contact my congressmen, on average, once a week.

First:

Five tips from Grover Norquist

The anti-tax advocate gives his advice on how to write Congress.

By Ryan Teague Beckwith

When you write Congress, you speak for hundreds of other people.

That's the lesson from Grover Norquist, a longtime anti-tax advocate and founder of the group 'Americans for Tax Reform.'

In a recent interview with Congress.org, he said that businesses have a rule of thumb that each letter they receive represents another 200 people who had a similar concern.

"Two hundred people thought about it, were mad, went home mad, said I'm going to write a letter, and then forgot to write the letter because they got busy," he said.

Still, there's more to it than just sending a letter, he said.

Here are a few other tips from Norquist:

* Tell — don't show — your anger. Writing in all capital letters or using foul language just makes you sound unhinged. "You can say how unhappy you are without swearing or calling anybody stupid," he said. "You can say, 'I'm very angry.' You don't have to sound angry. You can just say it. 'I'm very angry. This really irritates me. This is very bad.'"

* Don't be unreasonable. If the tone of your letter makes you sound as though you won't be happy no matter what politicians do, they'll ignore you. "They think, 'How can we please this person? They're crazy," Norquist said. "I have a very nice crazy file in my office, but I tend not to write back to those people."

* Tell them if it's your first letter. Norquist said it's very effective to let Members know this is the first time you've written or that you haven't written in a long time. It helps them understand how strongly you feel about the subject of your letter, he said. He compared it to the joke about the boy who ends years of silence to complain about the broccoli at dinner. "Until now, everything's been fine," he said

* Narrow your focus. Norquist said too many advocacy groups focus on a laundry list of issues. It's more effective to focus your energy on a single issue, he argued, pointing to advocates for home-schooling who have done well in fights against teacher's unions. "That's like marijuana growers went up against (pharmaceutical companies) and beat them," he said.

* Act locally. If you want to meet your Member of Congress in person, track them down when they're in town — not when they're in Washington. "I was a quiet critic of the idea of bringing people to D.C. for a rally," he said. "Why would you do that? If you have 1,000 people in North Dakota, have them talk to their guy in North Dakota."

Ryan Teague Beckwith is deputy editor of Congress.org.

=======

Second:

Why Congress prefers e-mail

Increasing use of the Internet and an anthrax scare are major factors By Leah Carliner

As Capitol Hill moves further online, constituents may be wondering if anyone still reads handwritten letters.

The answer? Yes, but they don't like to.

Each congressional office hires at least one legislative correspondent, or “L.C.” in Hill lingo, to sort and answer all kinds of mail.

Though routines differ depending on how much mail a Member of Congress receives, almost all offices prefer e-mail, according to John Clocker, a Congressional staffer who developed the software most use for electronic correspondence.

His program, called Write Your Representative, creates a form on Congressional Web sites where constituents can send e-mail. Outside Web sites such as Congress.org use their own software to connect directly to the program as well and ensure mail sent through them gets through.

Members like the program because it makes it easier for constituents to contact them and gives them an easy way to sort that mail.

"Probably more than 80 percent (of Hill offices) really prefer electronic communication to come in via Web," said Clocker, the Web branch manager in the Office of the Chief Administrator.

That office is in charge of helping congressional offices develop their electronic communications, but it also manages employee benefits and payroll, child care and even parking.

Write Your Representative was first created in 1996, though it’s become very popular in recent months as Congress has debated bailing out financial institutions, stimulating the economy and overhauling health care.

Jeff Ventura, a spokesman for the Chief Administrator, said that the rise in electronic submissions is logical given that the Internet is becoming increasingly more accessible people of all ages and economic backgrounds.

"It used to be a computer was a big appliance for the home," he said.

One question that constituents often have is why Members of Congress don’t make their e-mail addresses public.

"Really that's just not realistic," Ventura said. "When e-mail comes into a member office…those emails are distributed into sort of a constituent relations team to figure out. Sort of like sorting out the apples."

In the early 1990s, when Congressional offices were still learning how to use the Internet as a form of communication with their constituents, Ventura said several members did make their e-mail addresses public.

Their inboxes were soon flooded with more mail than they could handle, and it was impossible to undo.

Congressional e-mail really took off after the 2001 anthrax attacks, when letters containing spores of the deadly bacteria were sent to two senators. As a result of that scare, all constituent mail now has to go through a rigorous process that delays its receipt significantly.

"That’s when we really made the push to go electronic," Clark said. Since then, Write Your Representative has become increasingly popular.

Clark plans to improve the interface of Write Your Representative to make it more user-friendly. He’s also looked into letting constituents send text messages to their Members, but most cell-phone plans charge a fee and he hopes to find a way to make the service free.

"We’re looking at a lot of things," he said.

Leah Carliner writes for Congressional Quarterly.

Don says: Before I close, I have a pet peeve. I, like several of you I'm sure, receive daily emails from groups, bloggers, and organizations, alerting me to some pending piece of legislation, nomination, action, etc. which must be stopped. To stop the whatever, that org will send a fax, email, etc, in my name for only a $20 donation. Now I'm sure most, if not all, of these people have good intentions, but, I'm not going to pay them $20 to do something in my name, when I can do the same thing myself for free. I use Congress.org and there are many others. You can go to your congressman's web page and they have a direct link to send them your opinion.

That is the important part. LET THEM KNOW YOUR OPINION, DON'T BE SILENT ANYMORE! Let the squeaky wheel be oiled.

by Don of Indy

A Deathblow for Obamacare

The Morning Bell MONDAY, NOV. 16, 2009 A Deathblow for Obamacare Standing in the Rose Garden on November 7th, President Barack Obama celebrated the passage of the House health care bill claiming: “The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality, affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and our government, while strengthening the financial health of Medicare.” Recent Entries Video: Pelosi Says Jail “Very Fair” Punishment For Not Buying Health Insurance Obama to Copenhagen but No Berlin? Obama’s Public Option for Gitmo President Obama’s Trade Failure The Logic of Obamacare Quite a bold statement if true. But a report released Friday by the non-partisan and independent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency in charge of running Medicare and Medicaid, blows the lid off of every one of Obama’s claims. All of the following quotes are from the report itself: Health Care Costs Increase: “In aggregate, we estimate that for calendar years 2010 through 2019 [national health expenditures (NHE)] would increase by $289 billion, or 0.8 percent, over the updates baseline projection that was released on June 29, 2009.” In other words, Obamacare bends the cost curve up, not down. Millions Lose Existing Private Coverage: “However, a number of workers who currently have employer coverage would likely become enrolled in the expanded Medicaid program or receive subsidized coverage through the Exchange. For example, some smaller employers would be inclined to terminate their existing coverage, and companies with low average salaries might find it to their - and their employees’ - advantage to end their plans … We estimate that such actions would collectively reduce the number of people with employer-sponsored health coverage by about 12 million.” In other words, Obamacare will cause millions of Americans to lose their existing private coverage. Millions Pay Fines Yet Remain Uncovered: “18 million are estimated to choose not to be insured and to pay the penalty associated with the individual mandate. For the most part, these would be individuals with relatively low health care expenses for whom the individual or family insurance premium would be significantly in excess of the penalty and their anticipated health benefit value.” In other words, 18 million Americans will either face jail time or be forced to pay a new tax they will receive no benefit from. Millions Lose Medicare Advantage: “Section 1161 of Division B of H.R. 3962 would set Medicare Advantage capitation benchmarks … We estimate that in 2014 when the MA provisions would be fully phased in, enrollment in MA plans would decreased by 64 percent (from its projected level of 13.2 million under current law to 4.7 million under the proposal).” In other words, 8.5 million seniors who currently get such services as coor­dinated care for chronic conditions, routine eye and hearing examinations, and preventive-care services would lose their existing private coverage. Millions Placed on Welfare: “Of the additional 34 million who are estimated to be insured in 2019 as a result of H.R. 3962, about three-fifths (21 million) would receive Medicaid coverage due to the expansion of eligibility to those adults under 150 percent of the FPL.” In other words, more than half the people who gain health insurance will receive it through the welfare program Medicaid. Seniors Access to Care Jeopardized: “H.R. 3962 would introduce permanent annual productivity adjustments to price updates for institutional providers… Over time, a sustained reduction in payment updates, based on productivity expectations that are difficult to attain, would cause Medicare payment rates to grow more slowly than and in a way that was unrelated to, the providers’ costs of furnishing services to beneficiaries. Thus, providers for whom Medicare constitutes a substantive portion of their business could find it difficult to remain profitable and might end their participation in the program (possibly jeopardizing access to care for beneficiaries).” In other words, the Medicare cuts in the House bill are so out of touch with reality that hospitals currently serving Medicare patients might be forced to stop doing so. Thus making it much more difficult for seniors to get health care. Poor’s Access Problems Exacerbated: “In practice, supply constraints might interfere with providing the services by the additional 34 million insured persons. …providers might tend to accept more patients who have private insurance (with relatively attractive payment rates) and fewer Medicaid patients, exacerbating existing access problems for the latter group.” In other words, those 21 million people who are gaining health insurance through Medicaid are going to have a very tough time finding a doctor who will treat them. Reacting in part to Friday’s CMS report, Robert J. Samuelson writes in today’s Washington Post: The disconnect between what President Obama says and what he’s doing is so glaring that most people could not abide it. The president, his advisers and allies have no trouble. But reconciling blatantly contradictory objectives requires them to engage in willful self-deception, public dishonesty, or both. There is a reason why as more Americans learn about Obamacare, the less popular it gets. QUICK HITS Commenting on President Barack Obama’s meeting with Emperor Akihito of Japan, an academic with expertise about the Japanese Empire tells ABC News: “The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms….The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part.” Thanks to conservatives in Congress, President Obama has been “hobbled” in his search for a global warming treaty. The government paid more than $47 billion in questionable Medicare claims including medical treatment showing little relation to a patient’s condition, wasting taxpayer money at a rate nearly three times that of the previous year. Former Assistant Secretary of Treasury and Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush Tony Fratto explains why President Obama’s trip, and his “new engagement” with Asia, ignores the achievements of many past U.S. presidents. After $111 billion in bailouts for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Administration is also close to a taxpayer bailout. by Don of Indy

Congratulations go to Jack O'Connor '84, he was promoted to Brigadier General on 02SEP09

Hello Folks

It's been a while since I sent an email check out to see how many emails bounce.

Congratulations go to Jack O'Connor '84, he was promoted to Brigadier General on 02SEP09

Here's a shortcut to the pics from alumni section: http://pmdnetworks.com/rotc/rotc/pics.html , you'll see Jack's promotion pics there.

As always, updates of your info or info on fellow alumni need only be sent to me via email and I'll update accordingly.

Website: http://pmdnetworks.com/rotc

Dom Chang '82

Warning, metaphor alert.

Last week the Government told women that they should delay mammograms testing by ten years; instead of starting at age 40, that they start the testing at age 50. And, that the testing should not be conducted as often.

Today, they recommended that, "New guidelines for cervical cancer screening say women should delay their first Pap test until age 21, and be screened less often than recommended in the past."

Hello, can anyone see a pattern here. Can you read the tea leaves, or read the writing on the wall. Obamacare will not cost as much if there is less diagnostic testing. And, less cost for long term care, if more die from cancer not detected, or too late.

Hey guys, waiting for the shoe to drop? Wanna bet when they announce that we men should delay testing for prostate cancer until later in life, and not as often.

Does anyone remember Sarah talking about the 'death panels'. As the little girl in front of the TV said, "They're heeere!"

Obama blames the insurance companies for the cost of health care. I, for one, would rather pay for the insurance than take my chances with the risk of cancer as proposed by this administration.

by Don of Indy

Principles of Liberty in our Founding Documents

Hey Folks,

The following email may be a bit long, but, I implore you to take the time to read it. If you cannot spare the time now, then save it and read it ASAP.

If you are not a constitutional scholar like me, this will help you understand, a little better, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and our Constitution, in laymen terms. Especially when you get down to the Principles in the teens and beyond. As you read this, keep in the back of your mind what our President and our Congress are doing to US/us. At the bare minimum, they are ignoring (I would say they are deliberately acting to bypass) the Principles of our Constitution and the intent of our founding Fathers.

Remember that it is only 49 more weeks until the next election. Join with me it taking back this country, restoring the Constitution, and let's do it with a new set of legislators. Let's take away Obama's power base; the democrat control of Congress.

Don says: The trouble we face is that in the mean time, it appears that the Dems are willing to risk failing in the next election in order to put more socialistic programs in place. Knowing that it will take years of congressional work to undo the harm done. It will take hundreds of individual pieces of legislation to amend and null and void the harm done. Ignorance elected Obama and gave control to the democrats, knowledge to prevail will take time, but, in the long run, our great grandchildren will have a better life. This generation, and the next, are going to have to suck it up. But, LETS KILL THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. Or, at least, shocking them into the understanding the the majority of Americans are not interested in living within a socialistic state.

Don of Indy

Principles of Liberty in our Founding Documents

Click here if you have trouble viewing this email.

Principles of Liberty in our Founding Documents Those who are familiar with the 28 Principles of Liberty outlined in The 5000 Year Leap, are acquainted with the claim that these are the principles upon which the Founders based our new government, thereby assuring us of lasting peace , prosperity, and freedom. Occasionally the question is asked, “Where can we find these principles in our founding documents?” This letter will help the reader make that connection. First, however, one point needs to be made clear. There is a notion today that the Declaration of Independence is not really a part of American jurisprudence and that the principles contained therein cannot be referred to as a basis of American law. This line of thought is usually concluded by saying that if a principle cannot be found in the Constitution, such as a belief in a Creator, it is not part of American culture or law. This idea is blatantly false. The Declaration of Independence has been repeatedly cited by the Supreme Court as part of the fundamental law of the United States of America . (See John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution , pages 360-362) The following, then, are some of the ways in which the 28 Principles of Liberty were emphasized as the Founders structured our government. Principle 1. The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law. Natural law was defined as the order in which the Creator made everything work properly. There are certain laws which govern the entire universe, and just as Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence, there are laws which govern in the affairs of men which are "the laws of nature and of nature's God." If governments and human relationships are formed according to these laws, they will succeed, if not, they will surely fail, as history has proven. (First paragraph of the Declaration of Independence.) Principle 2. A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong. The Founders knew they could not succeed in this political building without the support of the “Supreme Judge of the world” and without a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence .” They knew this would not happen unless they kept His commandments which amounted to being virtuous and morally strong. (Last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence.) Principle 3. The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders. No greater case can be made of the damage done to a free people by power-hungry and tyrannical leaders than the long list of abuses Thomas Jefferson listed in the Declaration. While directed at King George, these abuses are typical of leaders who are without virtue and morality. (List of grievances in the Declaration of Independence) Principle 4. Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained. As in Principle 2, the Founders knew they could not succeed in this political building without the support of the “Supreme Judge of the world” and without a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence .” They believed they would have His support and protection if they relied on Him, constantly kept His laws, and taught their children to do likewise. (Last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence.) Principle 5. All things were created by God, therefore upon Him all mankind are equally dependent, and to Him they are equally responsible. The Founders considered the existence of the Creator as the most fundamental premise underlying all self-evident truth. The words Nature's God, Creator, created, Supreme Judge of the Universe, and Divine Providence are used throughout the Declaration of Independence. Principle 6. All men are created equal. (An exact quote from the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence) Principle 7. The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things. “—That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men…” (Second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence) Principle 8. Men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. (Second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence) Principle 9. To protect man's rights, God has revealed certain principles of divine law. The Founders knew that God had revealed certain laws for human happiness, such as laws against killing, stealing, adultery, lying, coveting, etc. These are reflected in the right of man to form a government to protect his unalienable rights of life, liberty, and property outlined in the Declaration and the Bill of Rights. Principle 10. The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people. The last paragraph of the Declaration makes it clear that the people as a whole, by their representatives in Congress, have complete authority from the Supreme Judge of the Universe to govern themselves in every way and to take their rightful place among the sovereign peoples of the earth. Principle 11. The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical. The second paragraph of the Declaration makes it clear that the people have a God-given right to throw off dictators and establish a government that will better protect them in their rights. Principle 12. The United States of America shall be a republic. Article 1.2.1 of the Constitution sets forth the provision that gives the American people the right to vote for their own representatives, thereby making the United States a constitutional republic of the people. Principle 13. A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of their rulers. In forming our government on the basis of Natural Law, the Founders dealt directly with the human nature characteristic that power almost always corrupts. The separation of powers, checks and balances, and limited governmental powers in the Constitution were all methods employed to check the human frailties which result in run-away power. That is why the Constitution will never be obsolete or outdated. Principle 14. Life and liberty are secure only so long as the right of property is secure. The fifth amendment of the Bill of Rights specifically prohibits the federal government from taking private property of the people for public use without just compensation. It is a recognition of the sacred right to property and that property is really an extension of one's life and liberty. Principle 15. The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free-market economy and a minimum of government regulations. Other than setting up a proper monetary system and ensuring the free flow of commerce between the states, no power is given to congress to regulate economic affairs of the people. It is a manifest intent to keep the federal government completely out of the free-market economy and to leave any needed regulation to the states. Principle 16. The government should be separated into three branches - legislative, executive, and judicial. Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution create this beautiful separation of powers to prevent the tyranny of consolidated government. Principle 17. A system of checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power. This constitutional system of pitting human nature against human nature by checking each other's power is pure genius. Principle 18. The unalienable rights of the people are most likely to be preserved if the principles of government are set forth in a written constitution. Of the 200 or so nations on the earth today, about 125 of them have written constitutions. However, ours is the oldest one—one of the youngest nations has the oldest written Constitution. The Founders were the first in modern times to realize that the best way to preserve good government and the rights of the people, is to write them down. Principle 19. Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being retained in the people. Article 1.8 contains the twenty powers delegated to congress; Article II contains the six areas of responsibility of the president; and, Article III contains the eleven kinds of cases assigned to the federal courts. The Tenth Amendment reminds us that all other powers are reserved to the states and the people. Principle 20. Efficiency and dispatch require government to operate according to the will of the majority, but constitutional provisions must be made to protect the rights of the minority. Article VI declares the Constitution to be the supreme law of the land. If a law is passed which violates the rights of people, it can be declared null and void by the guardians of the Constitution. Principle 21. Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom. The Tenth Amendment leaves most power to govern with the states and local governments. This is where freedom really manifests itself. Principle 22. A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men. The people reserve the right in Article I.1.1 not to be governed by any law not passed by their representatives. Article III gives the power to the judiciary to prevent a citizen from being prosecuted by an unjust law which violates the unalienable rights of the people. Principle 23. A free society cannot survive as a republic without a broad program of general education. The reaction of King George to the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence is an example of why tyrants want to keep the people ignorant of their actions. In order to preserve and encourage the sacred right of people to gain knowledge, the Constitution forbids the federal government from involving itself in education of the people. It leaves this responsibility to the states and the people where it can be locally controlled. (Tenth Amendment) Principle 24. A free people will not survive unless they stay strong. Article 1.8 gives Congress the power to maintain a military. Principle 25. "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations - entangling alliances with none." No authority can be found in the Constitution for the United States to tie its sovereignty to any other nation or to give the people's money to foreign rulers. Principle 26. The core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its integrity. No authority can be found in the Constitution to involve the federal government in family affairs. The Founders knew any laws dealing with these kinds of sensitive issues must be kept close to the people, thereby best preserving this most sacred institution. Principle 27. The burden of debt is as destructive to freedom as subjugation by conquest. Article 1.8 lists “to pay the debts” as the first use of public funds. The Founders considered it immoral to pass debts on to the next generation. Principle 28. The United States has a manifest destiny to be an example and a blessing to the entire human race. The entire Constitution was intended to be such a model for the world of how a people can govern themselves and thereby enjoy an unlimited amount of freedom, prosperity, and peace. Our greatest export was to be freedom. As we experience this season of Thanksgiving, let us be thankful that our Founders rooted our wonderful country in solid and lasting principles. Sincerely, Earl Taylor, Jr.

National Center for Constitutional Studies

37777 West Juniper Road
Malta, ID
83342
US

A Real President for the US

He may have had his faults, blunders and other entertaining issues, but at least he is not letting the Muslims off the hook like the OEM.

Andrew Malcolm of the L.A. Times's Top of the Ticket blog reports on the actions of a real president:

Last night former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura made a secret visit to the devastated military families at Fort Hood.

The Bushes instructed the commander of the mourning military base that they wanted no publicity. With their Secret Service detail, Bush and his wife made the 30 mile trip unannounced from their ranch near Crawford, Texas Friday evening.

Fox News broke news of the visit this afternoon. Other sources said the former first couple spent about two hours meeting with family and soldiers, talking quietly and at times hugging them as they did in private at other times of crisis such as post-9/11.

COMMENT: When President Obama went to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, earlier this week to be present for the return of war dead, he took his photographer with him.

There is a difference. And it goes beyond style.

by Don of Indy

RE: MAJ Hasan and the Fort Hood Shootings

Comments by Don of Indy:

RE: MAJ Hasan

I've read many comments trying to figure out how a MAJ came to this point.

First, let me explain how the Army works. Any person who has graduated from pre-med can join the Army and is automatically appointed to the rank of CPT; some to MAJ based upon their speciality. The Army does require them to attend an 8 week basic officer's course (mostly educating them about the Army, i.e. wearing the uniform, marching, UCMJ, firing a rifle, etc.) before they report to their first hospital position. A shrink is considered a Doc.

Also, members of the Medical Corp are managed outside the normal procedures for all other officers (except Lawyers). Their assignments and promotions are managed by only senior Docs. They are not subject to the same time-in-grade rules. Promotions are non-competitive, promotion is based upon performance. With a shortage of Docs, it doesn't take much to get promoted. Most are based upon longevity, or an enticement to remain in the Army after they have fulfilled their obligation.

That brings us to Hasan. Despite what the NYTimes says (Hasan is an alleged Muslim convert), is Lebanese born in the US as a Muslim. When he was in college he was disciplined for anti-words and actions. After he joined the Army there are records of him making and doing the same while stationed at Walter-Reed. He was transfered to Ft Hood, where he engaged in the same words and actions. Apparently, all of this overlooked and/or ignored.

Don's opinion. He got away with it in college due to PC. When he joined the Army, I'm sure the acquisition board where anxious to fill a need. The Army was getting bad press about all the mental problems and any new shrink would be welcome. And, him being a Muslim was a plus (diversity). So what he did in college did not out weigh what the Army wanted. While at Walter-Reed, the same two reasons kept him on the job. His little indiscretion were ignored. But, when he got to be too much, they farmed him out to Ft Hood, rather than create a vacancy or address the problem. They sent a hand grenade, with the pin half way pulled, to a point of no return.

Once he got to Ft Hood, he continued his words and actions. His medical supervisor, COL Lee, has admitted that he was aware of what was going on, but, stopped short of trying to solve the problem. Same two reasons. Hasan came down on order for deployment to Iraq and it pushed him too far.

His family are now saying that it is the Army's fault for not letting him get out of the Army. Hasan took his promotion to MAJ, not long ago, and when he did he incurred an additional obligation. Someone is holding his feet to the fire. The family say he was being harassed about his religion. Ignoring his rants that I'm sure caused some reaction.

I am not defending him, I hope he rots in hell. In my mind this was a planned attack and he deserves to be hanged for treason and shot for murder. Also, I hope the Army reviews it acquisition program and the Medical Corp comes to grips with its mismanagement of their officers. Ignoring discipline problems only leads to disaster.

Our Cinc is what?

Hey Folks,

12 Troops killed and 31 wounded, and O say, "Oh, by the way, I'm offended."

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/11/our_clueless_c_in_c.html

by Don of Indy

You didn't hear about this from the OEM (Obama Enabling Media)

Hey Folks,

You didn't hear about this from the OEM (Obama Enabling Media).

A fellow member of a Tea Party group I belong to made the trek to DC today. She was part of a contingent that were there to tell our two senators that we oppose the government's attempt to socialize our health care. Here is her trip report:

From: "cathy"

To: glennbeck-17@meetup.com

Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2009 4:27:26 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern

Subject: [Indy-Defenders-of-Liberty] A tale of two senate calls

We gathered this morning around 11:30 in front The office building. More people than we anticipated showed up so security at the front desk told us we had to split up and half visit Lugar while the other half visited Bayh. It appears that Move on dot org had been there the previous day and decided to break the one of the front windows on the way out. While in the elevator we decided we would not take her suggestion, as none of us were of the character to destroy property, and all went up to the 16th floor where Evan Bayh's office is located.

Inside we found two more members of our group waiting for us. (I am purposely omitting names since this is being posted on a number of sites and I want to respect privacy). We were ushered into a conference room where it was standing room only. Andrew the Staffer was VERY professional. He began by apologizing for the lack of chairs, but said he had no idea that so many people would be in our group. He calmly listened to all of our concerns ranging from Health care to czars. He listened to our questions and tried to answer them. We made it clear that we were against all health care legislation where the government takes over any part of it, that this is not about public option but of too much government control. We touched on a number of subjects and he listened intently. On the way out, one of our members mentioned the window downstairs and confirmation was given as to how he heard it had been broken.

Then we went down to the 11th floor to visit Lugar's office. When we got off the elevator the man at the front desk saw us through his window. The expression on his face was crystal clear that he was really hoping we were not heading his way.

We entered and introduced our group and asked if there was anyone we could talk to. We were lead into a conference room where we all took a seat and got to know each other better. After about 5 minutes a gentleman came into the room and sat at the head of the table. The simple question of "Where does Lugar stand on the Health Care bill?" lead to a long diatribe of double speak. After a while he was interrupted and asked again, "Is he for or against the bill" We then had to listen to another long line of double speak about more than one bill and community health centers and mammograms. Once again the question was asked and we were told that "in today's economic situation Lugar does not think it is responsible to add this kind of spending, but he feels the same way in about a number of bills" I clarified, "So if the economy was booming Lugar would be for the bill?" again we got a song and dance. He tried desperately to control the conversation by telling us where Lugar stands on a number of subjects. Finally I had had enough and was near the end of my patience. I told him that he needs to shut up and listen to us. That is the main problem, nobody is listening to us. That is when I got the lecture that Lugar works for all Americans not just Hoosiers, therefore he does not need to do what is good for us, but what he thinks is good for all of America. Lets just say it didn't go over real well.

Next the Czars were brought up and he reiterated Lugars belief that who ever any president of any party wants is the presidents prerogative and who is Lugar to stand in his way. There was more heated banter, then, thankfully when I was really ready to blow up, I had to go out and plug my meter.

On the way back up to Lugar's office, the elevator was packed. Right next to me was Andrew from Bayhs office. He asked me what was wrong, and I told him that this idiot in Lugar's office was really irritating me and raising my blood pressure. He apologized. I asked/stated "Why, you were professional and besides, you work for the other guy. I just don't think they get it, the republicans are not safe either, we are mad at the idiots, all the idiots, not just the ones in one party" he laughed and my floor was reached and I got off the elevator, that is when I noticed that standing directly behind me was the man who works at Lugars front desk. oops lolol

I returned to Lugars office to find that his staffer had brought in re-enforcements. I had missed the introductions so I never got her name. The topic had move on the the Copenhagen treaty. While normally I am shy and quiet, when angry I am a completely different creature. One of our men asked if Lugar would sign it, before the staffer had a chance to respond, I quipped in that "this question and already been answered, What ever the president wants, Lugar will back him". Both staffers said in unison, "Not on a treaty". Our group exchanged knowing looks.

Then the topic of Afghanistan came up. Once again we got song and dance. We somehow ended back up at the czars. The female staffer seemed to be actually surprised to hear about the school safety czar Kevin Jennings and his NAMBLA ties. After the meeting I told her to check it out. We left when all of our meters were running low. What I got out of the meeting with Lugar's staffers was simply this: Every rumor I have heard about how rude, callous and condescending these people are appears to be true. I honestly don't think anything will get through his head. I hope he enjoys his retirement in 2012. If he does not to decide to retire, we will make the decision for him.

" The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."

-- James Madison, speech in the House of Representatives, January 10, 1794

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"

Benjamin Franklin

"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature.... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation ... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces."

James Garfield, the twentieth president of the United States, 1877

Nancy Pelosi - WWW's Health Care Plan

Hey Folks,

Here, I've combined two emails into one to help you understand Nancy's (The Wicked Witch of the West) 1990 page health care plan that she wants a vote on before anyone has a chance to read it. Now is the time to contact your congressmen. And, to pass the word to everyone you know.

1.

November 2, 2009

Dear Mr. Schaeffer:

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. On October 29, House Democrats unveiled their 1,990 page health care bill. This legislation cuts existing Medicare Advantage benefits for seniors, taxes small businesses, fines individuals who do not purchase health insurance, and sets up the government takeover of one-sixth of the American economy.

H.R. 3962 creates a government regulated Exchange for the purchase of insurance plans. All plans in this Exchange will be subject to benefit standards set by government bureaucrats. Since the bill requires everyone to purchase insurance (or pay a penalty tax), Americans forfeit their freedom to choose a plan they like if the plan doesn't conform to the government standards. And since many existing private plans that nearly 90% of Americans are satisfied with may not meet these requirements, H.R. 3962 breaks President Obama's promise that "if you like your coverage, you can keep it."

This legislation's abandonment of the free market system will also likely have serious implications for medical professionals and hospitals. As more Americans are forced into the "public option" created in the bill, Congress will need to find ways to offset the cost of increased claims. Since the legislation requires the government to "negotiate" reimbursement rates with doctors and hospitals as it currently negotiates Medicare reimbursement levels, this bill will no doubt create the same problem Medicare currently faces. In fact, House Democrats introduced a separate, $285 billion bill the same day as H.R. 3926 to temporarily fix the flawed Medicare reimbursement levels and ensure doctors and hospitals receive payment for treating seniors.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to this flawed legislation. I continue to support several proposals that build on the successful health care system America already has. These proposals lower the cost of both health insurance and health care as well as guarantee every American has access to this affordable coverage.

Instead of taxing employer-sponsored health benefits as H.R. 3962 does, I support a proposal that makes health insurance premiums for self-employed and small business owners fully tax deductable. It's only fair that small businesses get this same tax benefit big corporations already have. And rather than compel Americans to buy insurance with fines and fees, I support a proposal that assists and incentivizes every American to buy coverage of their choice through tax reductions of up to $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family.

The cost of health insurance won't go down unless we also reduce the cost of care. That's why I support a proposal not mentioned in the Democratic plan - medical liability reform. Out of control malpractice claims drive up the cost of doing business for health care professionals. These costs are passed on to patients, making care more expensive. Another way to reduce the cost of care is to incentivize healthy living and disease prevention. That's why I support the expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). HSAs allow Americans to pay for health care expenses out of a personal, tax free account. By making efforts to stay healthy, HSA owners can save the money in these accounts for future needs. Unfortunately, H.R. 3962 places restrictions on these types of health insurance plans.

Lowering costs for health care and insurance is not enough if Americans are still denied coverage. That's why we must not allow coverage to be denied or dropped because of pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses and we must remove the lifetime caps on insurance policies. No American should go bankrupt because they get sick. That's why I support proposals that strengthen, expand and create new avenues for affordable health insurance through high-risk pools and reinsurance mechanisms. This may mean making direct assistance available for the 7.8 million low-income, long-term uninsured Americans.

These are real alternatives that involve minimal government involvement and cost taxpayers considerably less than the $1.022 trillion contained in the Democrat plan. Unfortunately, the President and his congressional allies have shown little interest in discussing these ideas.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to address the ongoing health care reform debate. For more information on this and other important issues, I encourage you to sign up for my weekly electronic newsletter at shimkus.house.gov.

Sincerely,

JOHN SHIMKUS
19th District, Illinois Member of Congress

------
2.

The Wall Street Journal is calling Nancy Pelosi's 1,990-page government takeover of healthcare the "worst piece of post-New Deal legislation ever introduced."

The Journal says it will create an "unrepealable middle class entitlement" that will cause taxes to "rise precipitously" and will result in "all medicine" being "rationed via politics." The CBO cost estimate is coming in at $1.055 trillion and that's just scratching the surface. The Journal says "ObamaCare will be lucky to cost under $2 trillion over 10 years; it will grow more after that."

+ + Bill loaded with taxes, fines, penalties and regulations

In case there was any doubt left that ObamaCare is a massive, tax-increasing power grab, consider what our research team unearthed about the words used in Pelosi's bill:

--181 instances of "penalty" or "penalties"
--214 times "taxes" or "tax" is recorded
--82 usages of "fee" and "fees"

…A total of 486 times any form of the words penalty, surcharge, tax, fine or fee are used!

--422 instances of "require," "requires" or "required"
--78 times the words "obligation" or "obligated" occur
--219 usages of "regulation(s)"
--106 times "impose, imposed or imposes" are used

…A total of 609 times any form of the words impose, require, mandate, obligation, license or regulation are used

+ + Pelosi promising vote by as soon as Thursday

We are now bracing for a floor vote in the House as soon as Thursday or Friday. That means we have just a few days to get our message through loud and clear.