Quote of the Day

"Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction." 

Blaze Exclusive: TX High School Students Made to Recite Mexican National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance

Students in a Texas public high school were made to stand up and recite the Mexican national anthem and Mexican pledge of allegiance as part of a Spanish class assignment, but the school district maintains there was nothing wrong with the lesson.

It happened last month in an intermediate Spanish class at Achieve Early College High School in McAllen, Texas - a city located about 10 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

(Related: Listen to Glenn Beck interview the father of the girl who refused to recite the pledge)

Read More . . . 

Working Session

Tuesday Oct 18
7:30 - 9:00pm, the Rock

857 Main St, Harleysville

Come with some ideas for these topics:
1) "Why the Snake?" truth campaign
2) Upcoming row office election
3) Charity work (troop/veterans support, nursing home visitation/meals on wheels, street cleanup, etc).

 

Movie night

Thursday Oct 20
7:00 - 9:00pm, the Rock

"An Inconvenient Tax" - 1hr 19mins

Description:
During the Cold War Americans had always considered the CIA the sort of US counterpart to the Soviets KGB, but when the cold war was finished and information began to come out about the Russian's view on it all it turns out they considered The KGB to have a very different counterpart in the USA, the IRS. Their reason for this was because not only could the tax code be used as a weapon that our government could wield against it's enemies but also against it's citizens as well.

Join us for the second monthly Tea Party Movie night Thursday the 20th of October at 7PM! We will be watching the video An Inconvenient Tax, a film about our current ineffective and unconstitutional means of federal taxation and realistic and attainable alternatives to it.

Please join us, old or young, this is an event for all ages. Homeschooling families are especially welcome as this would be a great educational event for any families in the Tea Party looking for ways to get the message to their kids.

BANJOS AT DAWN- A DEBATE OF PARTISANSHIP AND JOURNALISM Featuring Chase Whiteside and James O'Keefe 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 6:00 PM - Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 8:00 PM (ET) Philadelphia, PA 

BANJOS AT DAWN

A DEBATE OF PARTISANSHIP AND JOURNALISM

FEATURING CHASE WHITESIDE AND JAMES O'KEEFE

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19TH, 6-8 PM, TEMPLE GALLERY

Temple Gallery at Tyler School of Art invites you to attend a lively and informative debate between Chase Whiteside and James O'Keefe. Although both Mr. Whiteside and Mr. O'Keefe focus on issues from opposite ends of the political spectrum, they each share values of ideological independence for the public services and media outlets their works address. The purpose of this event is to debate the challenges of providing consistent independent journalism within an increasing partisan media.

Chase Whiteside is a 23-year old documentary filmmaker and journalist who is most recognized by his films of Tea Party members. He is also the founder of New Left Media.

James O'Keefe is a 27-year old journalist who is known for his "muckraking" of tax-funded institutions such as Planned Parenthood, ACORN, and most recently National Public Radio.

Support for this event comes from the Pennsylvania State Council On The Arts, and the following departments and committees at Temple University: The Center for the Humanities at Temple (CHAT), Tyler School of Art, Department of Political Science, Department of Film and Media Arts, Lecture and Forums Committee, and the General Activities Fund.

Check it out Here . . . 

The Kitchen Table Patriots

are proud to join with

The Philadelphia Loyal Opposition

and Eagle Forum in support of

Al Schmidt (Only) for City Commissioner on Nov. 8th!

Have a beer with Schmidt at Schmitz!

Fundraiser to support Al Schmidt for City Commissioner

When: Thursday, October 20th

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Where: Brauhaus Schmitz

718 South Street

Donation: $100

Includes authentic German food and beer (wine, soda)

Please make checks payable to: "Friends of Al Schmidt"

Checks can be mailed to: P.O. Box 18538, Philadelphia, PA 19129

Or contribute online at: www.SchmidtForPhilly.com

For More Information:

Call: 215-624-1930

E-mail: info@SchmidtforPhilly

Dear Patriot,

I am reaching out to you in hopes of gaining your support.  I have taken the liberty of attaching a PDF recounting a compelling story which I contributed to with the team at the Chester County Hero Fund (501c3).

For the last year, I have been training for the Marine Corps Marathon, which I will run on October the 30th (just shy of my 68th--birthday) in D.C.

I'm running to raise money to build an accessible home for Jay Raffetto a wounded Marine.  Jay graduated from Conestoga H.S. with my daughter Jennifer in 2000.  I always gave him positive encouragement through his parents about the virtues of military service.  Jay became a medic with special operations (Force Recon, USMC) and unfortunately, last August he became a triple amputee-while on patrol in Afghanistan.

I'm asking for a donation to support his cause and I'm asking consideration for a Corporate Sponsorship as well---if possible.  I think this is a compelling cause.

Please see attached PDF with instructions on the bottom of the sheet.  

100% of your donation will go Jay and his wife Emily, Thanks in advance for your support of Jay, his family and our men and women in the Military.

Also please feel free to use this email and PDF to send to others you Feel might want to support this effort.

P.S. I know I can count on your help! 

Vr,

Sal

Richard (Sal) Salcido, M.D.

The William Erdman Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Senior Fellow, Institute on Aging, Associate, Institute for Medical

Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

AAMC Scholar in Residence for Diversity Policy and Research

Class of 2013, Penn GSE, Executive Doctorate in Higher Education

Management

U.S. Army, Medical Corps (Ret.)

Cellular (610).331.6898

Home (610)578.9019

See the flyer Here . . . 

 You Are Cordially Invited! 

Lafayette statue sketch, copyright 2011

To the 1^st Bucks County Patriotic Art Exhibition!

Friday, November 4, 2011

6:30-9:30 P.M.

The Historic Moland House

1641 Old York Road

Hartsville, Pennsylvania

Enjoy refreshments and live music, while

viewing Marra's Bucks County inspired works of art

Admission $5 per person

25% of art sales will be donated towards the Lafayette statue

Donations are accepted at the show and through the website lafayettestatue.blogspot.com

RSVP to Gregory Marra

610-294-8658

gwmarra@gmail.com

Welcome to Washington's Headquarters at the Moland House

1641 Old York Road, Hartsville, PA  18974

In the early evening of 10 August 1777, eleven thousand Continental and militia soldiers are marching up York Road towards the Cross Roads with Bristol Road [Hartsville, PA] on their way to Coryell's Ferry [New Hope, PA] to camp four miles across the Delaware River.  General George Washington receives a dispatch from John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress, placing the 260-vessel British fleet, hauling 17,000 troops under General William Howe, fifty miles south of the Delaware Capes [May & Henelopen] on 7 August. Unsure and wary of Howe's intentions, Washington immediately halts his force to encamp around the bridge over the Little Neshaminy Creek in Warwick Township, Bucks County.  Knowing the area and having ridden through only ten days earlier, he selects the substantial stone dwelling of Widow Moland as his Head Quarters on the farm north of the bridge.  

See & Download the Flyer Here . . . 

Glenn Beck to Keynote ZOA's Brandeis Dinner

Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel,

Please consider attending National ZOA's 114th Anniversary Louis D. Brandeis Award Dinner featuring Glenn Beck on Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 109 E. 42nd Street, New York City

The reception is a 5 pm, dinner at 6 pm.

There is a special discount for Philadelphia ZOA Members.

TV/Radio Host/Commentator Glenn Beck will receive the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Defender of Israel Award.

U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, will receive the Cherna and Dr. Irving Moskowitz Award.

Mark Langfan and William Langfan will receive the Justice Louis D. Brandeis Award.

Philadelphians Jerome and Judy Taylor will receive the Maccabee Award.

To purchase tickets, call the National ZOA Office at 212-481-1500. Please tell them you are from Philadelphia.

For transportation information, call the Philadelphia ZOA Office at 215-338-9188.

Nullify Now! Philadelphia

If you see a story that you believe would be useful and important to our readers, simply respond to this email with a link and a brief description of why it is important.  (Even if it may be obvious)

LISTEN LIVE TO REPATRIOT RADIO

"BETTER THAN EVER"

(all times are eastern)

Tuesday 5-6pm "LaRossa & Gallagher" - N.J.State Senator Richard LaRossa and Art Gallagher

Dear Patriot,

Please join Americans for Prosperity Foundation and thousands of grassroots activists for the 5th annual Defending the American Dream Summiton Friday and Saturday, November 4-5 at the Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, DC.

Last year, more than 2,600 of our best activists descended on Washington for the Summit to demonstrate to elected officials, government bureaucrats, and the national media that the grassroots movement is alive and well.  We focused on reining in out-of-control spending and taxation, advancing sound free market public policy, and in a very real way, defending the American Dream.

Special bus packages are running from PA and for only this week you can register for an additional $70 off those all-inclusive bus packages. Sign up now to take advantage of this great opportunity! Use the code "Bus70" when registering.

Bus packages from PA include round trip transportation and hotel accommodations on top of all the other benefits of the Defending the American Dream Summit.

Summit Highlights Include:

• Friday Gala Dinner
• General Session with Keynote Speakers
• Continental Breakfast on Saturday morning
• Special Interactive Sessions for Teens & College Students
• Movie Night featuring Entertaining Films By Liberty Loving Filmmakers
• Seminars for Youth On Why Freedom Matters and How they Can Make a Difference
• Bloggers Row
• Free-Market Job Fair
• State-Specific Strategy Meetings
• Network With Leading Activists From Across The Country

 ... and much more!

Don't forget, receive $70 off a bus package until midnight on August 14th! Click here to register today and help defend the American dream! Use the code "Bus70" when registering.

Defending liberty and promoting prosperity is a family affair.  Give your children the gift of freedom and bring the whole family to the Defending the American Dream Summit this year.  In fact, we're offering a discount for families and small groups! Click here for more information about our special packages.

Join us and thousands of fellow freedom fighters and send a message that the American Dream is alive and well in this great country!

Sincerely,

Tim Phillips
President
Americans for Prosperity Foundation 

The Doctrine of Abrogation: Open the Koran Day

It's time to sign up!

 

 Earlier this year we announced a major event for this fall, "The Doctrine of Abrogation: Open the Koran Day."

We have scheduled this event for the weekend of October 28 - 30, 2011, which is close to the two year anniversary of the Ft. Hood jihadist massacre perpetrated by Major Nidal Hasan (pictured at right).

If you would like to learn more about this national event, or would like to host a local venue, please click here.

Please read the description of the event and the sign-up instructions carefully, and then access the sign-up form at the bottom of the page.

Also, if you would like to study the Koran, we have a resource to recommend. The Qur'an Dilemma is an accurate, readable English translation that contains commentaries and analysis, including commentaries on the doctrine of abrogation, the history of the codification of the Koran, chronological sequence of the Koran, and the status of women in the Koran. To find out more visit here.
 

 2012 Presidential Candidate Selector
or Obama, His Allies & Critics Matching Quiz

Politicians have already indicated their 2012 presidential aspirations. This matching quiz includes President Obama, top members of his administration, Obama's most vocal critics (Boehner, Cantor, etc.) and likely White House prospects (Palin, Pawlenty, Jindal, etc.). You may select a position for every issue, or just select issues important to you. The political figures' positions are based upon their voting records, special interest group ratings and their statements in the public record. In cases where there is no known public record or statement, these politicos are not given a score on that issue. We add candidates, revise their views and include new issues as they become known or change. Check back often for updates.   

 Read more: 

RedState Morning Briefing

For October 18, 2011

1. Herman Cain Singlehandedly Revives an Old Stereotype

The other day, Herman Cain said if he was in charge of defending our borders, he'd build a twenty foot high wall, put barbed wire on the top, electrify it, and put a big sign on it that read "if you touch this, you will die!"

On Sunday, asked about it by the dimwit who replaced Tim Russert, Cain said he was joking.

The media headline: "Cain Retreats From Hardline Immigration Position."

Herman Cain has done something we all owe him a debt of gratitude for doing. He has singlehandedly revived a stereotype many people thought had been forgotten - the humorless liberal.

2. I Support Occupy Wall Street

I support Occupy Wall Street. And not in the ironic way that I'm sure many would assume upon reading that sentence. I literally support their protest and their desire to influence the political discourse. In fact, I want them to influence the political discourse. I want them push their ideas and have them heard by politicians whose hearts beat for the same reasons. I want those kindred spirits to run on campaigns that promise to fulfill all the objectives that Occupy Wall Street is demanding, and I want them to push for legislation and laws that will accomplish them.

The reason I want all of these things is because Occupy Wall Street is a purely ideological movement that, in many ways, is the antithesis of the Tea Party. For too long, the Tea Party has stood alone, holding signs in the streets and being told to sit down and shut up by the power structure of Washington, D.C. Having an ideological movement that pushes the narrative of half of the country, or at least half of our elected officials, further left is exactly what this country needs to rid us of a scourge that has plagued our political landscape for far too long.

Moderates.

3. Even #OWS Has A Point: Rent-Seeking In Higher Education

The #OWS movement has become like the Type II Diabetes of a customer at an all you can eat buffet. It won't go away, and it has become accepted as a problem of everyday life now. A portion of this longevity can be traced to its political expediency to a media-favored and embattled incumbent president. Part of this can be ascribed to the tenacity and organization of the protestors themselves.

So that begs another question. People have been out there since Sept 17. They've been doing this for long enough for the sanitation to get tenuous. They could be indoors sipping coffee instead. In another month it may not be very good for their health to sleep outdoors in a large group. It becomes possible that the most dedicated ones are legitimately angry and legitimately scared. The demands may have been only partially coherent, but at least some of these #OWSers actually have a point.

4. Little did we know how well Herman Cain was doing last week

Before the cold that really took me down since Friday (to explain my silence since), we checked in on the pre-debate polling for Herman Cain's first debate as a major contender.

It turns out that Cain's momentum had taken him even further ahead of the Tuesday debate, though post-debate polling suggests he took at hit in the national audience.

I'm far enough behind that I have four national polls to catch up on. First we'll check on the three that were in the field before the debate. In no particular order we have Ipsos for Reuters polled 410 Republican adults, mobile and landlines, MoE 4.8. Next is Hart/McInturuff for NBC News and the Wall Street Journal polled 336 GOP Primary voters, mobile and landline, MoE 5.35. Last is Public Policy Polling's survey of 484 "usual Republican primary voters," automated. MoE 4.5.

5. Herman Cain Thinks 9-9-9 Is A Really Bad Idea

or at least he did only eleven months ago.

Last week I took a couple of looks at Herman Cain's tax plan masquerading an economic plan called 9-9-9 (here | here)

What struck me about the plan was the extremely non-conservative nature of the plan (for the past 30 years conservatives have opposed new taxes or increases in existing taxes), in this case the implementation of a national sales tax, and the naïveté involved in proposing a brand new tax based upon the underlying assumption that no one will ever raise that tax.

Much to my surprise, or not, I found that his supporters were completely in favor of a new federal tax on retail sales and that the idea that said tax would ever increase was roundly discounted as bogus and a strawman. This despite the fact that the current federal income tax had a top rate of 7% when it was first introduced and the VAT debuted in Britain at 8% and now is a healthy 20%

Today I found out that Herman Cain agrees with me. A national retail tax is a really bad idea.

6. Save The Date: RedState Gathering 2012

We're going to the swing state of Florida in 2012. For Republicans, August will start and end there with the RedState Gathering the first weekend of the month and the Republican National Convention the last weekend of the month.

By then we should have the nominee and we hope he'll be at the Gathering. Of course, we're inviting Governor Scott, Senator Rubio, and senate candidate Adam Hasner, among others.

It should be a fun time. I'll have hotel details forthcoming and a great introductory rate.

But here's one thing you need to know - the event is expanded by a full extra day so it is going to be a bit more expensive. Why expand by a day?

Reclaim rock for conservatism:

Serenade them with Metallica's "Don't Tread on Me":

Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
once you provoke her, rattling of her tail
never begins it, never, but once engaged...
never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage...

Yay! Suck on that, socialist oppressor scum!

Ahlam Tamimi: Poster Child for Rule 303

This is why Israel should stop capturing terrorists alive
by Bill Levinson

We signed the petition "Remove Ahlam Tamimi from the list of terrorists to be freed" and we encourage others to do so as well. The petition explains,

We urgently call on Israel's Ministry of Justice to remove Ahlam Tamimi from the list of prisoners to be released in exchange for the return of Gilad Shalit.

Tamimi was sentenced to 16 consecutive life terms in jail for her involvement in the terrorist attack on the Sbarro pizza restaurant in Jerusalem in August 2001 that claimed the lives of 16 innocent victims, amongst them many Jewish children.

Tamimi has never expressed remorse and told reporters in 2006, "I'm not sorry for what I did. I will get out of prison and I refuse to recognize Israel's existence. Discussions will only take place after Israel recognizes that this is Islamic land."

Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing adds,

[The...

Read the whole entry »

Israel does not stand alone

Oren can't obscure the fact that virtually no one supports the legality of the settlements or our right to them or our right to an undivided Jerusalem. In this we stand alone. Ted Belman

By Michael Oren,- Washington Post 

The claim of Israel's isolation, echoed by Democratic and Republican leaders alike, is gaining status as fact. "Israel finds itself increasingly isolated, beleaguered, and besieged," John Heilemann wrote recently in New York magazine. The Economist reported that "Israel's isolation has .?.?. been underlined by the deterioration of its relations with Turkey and Egypt." New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "isolating his country," while Thomas Friedman described Israel as "adrift at sea alone."

But is Israel really more isolated now than in the past?

Isolation, of course, is not automatically symptomatic of bad policies. Britain was isolated fighting the Nazis at the start of...

Read the whole entry »

Mideast peace a pipedream

Op-ed: Radical Muslim minority powerful enough to ensure peace never takes root 
Avi Yesawich, YNET

A dubious conference that was scantly reported in the Western media took place in Iran this week, one that should serve as an unambiguous warning sign for proponents of the two-state solution and the prospects for establishing a lasting peace in the region.

The 5th International Conference for Defending the Palestinian Intifada wrapped up this past Sunday, and, like Tehran's previous Holocaust conferences, boasted a relatively impressive number of high-ranking politicians and scholars from nations around the world. The motto for this year's conference? "Palestine, home of the Palestinians."

Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal made clear that the two-state solution is invalid. "Palestinians must resort to resistance no matter how costly it is, until Palestine is free and Israel is destroyed."

Islamic Jihad Secretary General Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah stated,...

Read the whole entry »

Revolving Door Terrorism

The Shalit deal will release some of the worst murderers in Israeli history, including those responsible for the Dolphinarium disco bombing which killed over a dozen teenagers, the Sbarro pizza bombing which wiped out an entire family, the lynchers of two Israeli reservists and the Passover Massacre at the Park Hotel.

 

This is Israel's worst military defeat in its modern history and it is being celebrated with grins and cheers, not just in Gaza but in Tel Aviv.

What the deal really means is revolving door terrorism is back. Kill Israelis and you stay in prison only long enough for other terrorists to kidnap an Israeli and win their release. Those 25 year sentences mean nothing. A life sentence doesn't mean life, it means however many years it takes the Israeli government to give in to blackmail.

As over a thousand terrorists are freed, it is time to recognize that every Israeli institution has failed to deal with terrorism. Its court system packed with career leftists is a joke. Its prisons have become nothing more than temporary housing with free education and entertainment for terrorist murderers in between their release under international or Hamas pressure.

The military excels at targeted strikes on empty warehouses and at sending unprotected units without artillery cover into enemy villages. While the soldiers are fighting and dying, denied artillery and air support, the generals who sent them there are planning which party they'll join after they retire. Usually the left, which needs military credibility and cover more.

Domestic law enforcement is excellent if you want to crack down on some "right wing extremists" who might be putting up a hut somewhere in violation of some voluntary construction freeze. Elite units can be on the way as soon as possible, backed by intelligence from embedded assets and security agencies who will have dossiers waiting on all the participants.

But if you took a bullet through your windshield, or a fist sized rock, while driving near an Arab village it's best to drive home and tell no one about it. If you do contact law enforcement, a weary police officer will tell you the same thing. And if you still insist on being foolish enough, then an investigation will begin and the local friendly Mohamedans will claim that you fired shots at them first. If you're lucky you won't spend any time in prison, but you will spend months dealing with the legal system, while your attackers will be represented free of charge by NGO's funded by America, Europe and Soros.
 

October 17, 2011     Iran and the drug cartels
   
The foiled Iranian-backed terrorism plot exposed what Brigitte Gabriel and others have been warning about for years-Islamic terrorists exploiting our southern border and working with Mexican drug cartels.    

  CQ HOMELAND SECURITY

Iranian Plot Sparks Measure to Bolster
Counterterrorism Efforts in Western Hemisphere

By Jennifer Scholtes, CQ Staff     Pleas for the Obama administration to focus counterterrorism efforts in the Western Hemisphere have begun resonating on Capitol Hill this week following news that the Iranian government allegedly wanted Mexican drug cartels to carry out an assassination.

South Carolina Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan is rounding up cosponsors for legislation he introduced Oct. 11 after hearing the announcement that U.S. officials disrupted a plot by those within the Iranian government to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. The resolution (H Res 429) specifically sites the alleged foiled plot as one of the reasons the administration should include the Western Hemisphere as an area of focus in its 2012 National Strategy for Counterterrorism, to focus on the threat posed by "Iran's growing presence and activity" in the region.

Read more: 

Fellow patriots,

Ann Barnhardt, a woman of remarkable courage, teaches about Islam as a totalitarian political system from a uniquely Christian and politically incorrect perspective.  For Christian and non-Christian alike, she rips off the PC mask and reveals political correctness for what it is: a form of dhimmitude, where Christians have brainwashed themselves into thinking that it is unChristian to offend anyone.  This is exactly what the Pact of Umar, which defines the specifics of dhimmitude, requires (see http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pact-umar.asp ).  She then rightly points out that Jesus and most of the apostles were not killed because they were "nice" and didn't offend anyone, and calls on us to follow the true path of Jesus and stop worrying about offending Muslims.  Muslim offendedness is simply another control tool that ultimately leads to a Shariah state, because Muslims will only feel that they are being treated justly when they are able to live according to Shariah...and you do to!

With regard to the U.S. Constitution, Ann makes the memorable declaration: "Islam is sedition!  Islam is treason!"  And with regard to sexuality, "Islam is pure EVIL."  You may find her words too strong for comfort, but listen carefully -- is she right or wrong?  In listening to her, we may be confronted by the fact that we still have a few politically correct blinders on.

This is a revelatory lecture she gave on Islam and Sexuality, which she takes VERY personally.  I cannot urge you enough to take the time to watch these.  If nothing else, you should view them for a couple minutes -- long enough to know who this mighty woman is.

For your ease I list the parts in order and identifiable by the number of minutes and seconds they run:

Part 1:   15:26 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnBarnhardt?feature=mhum#p/u/3/aCfbYkXtHuA 

Part 2:   14:41 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnBarnhardt?feature=mhum#p/u/2/6mZPIbz-n_c   (IF YOU CAN ONLY SEE ONE, THIS IS THE VIDEO TO SEE, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT WHAT SHE SAYS, EMAIL ME AND I'LL PROVIDE SUPPORTING INFORMATION -- DAVE)

Part 3:   14:51 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnBarnhardt?feature=mhum#p/u/1/FEKAuJewbXg

Part 4:   14:34 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnBarnhardt?feature=mhum#p/u/0/rfqNPJVWzpw

We are being fed so much misinformation about Islam as a religion of peace etc, by our government, whose agenda it serves. Ms Bernhardt tells it like it is, and it is an eye opener, to say the least.   

If you agree with the importance of her talk, you may want to pass it along to awaken other Americans to the nature of the danger we face.  

There are other talks by her there, which I for one will be watching with great interest.

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dave

PS: One of the issues Ann discusses is the "no minimum age" marriage fatwa recently announced in Saudi Arabia.  It's so appalling, given that it comes from a "staunch ally" of the United States, that you may not want to just take her word for it.  Read about it for yourself:

New Saudi Fatwa Defends Pedophilia as 'Marriage'

by Raymond Ibrahim Jihad Watch July 21, 2011 http://www.raymondibrahim.com/9956/new-saudi-fatwa-defends-pedophilia-as-marriage

http://www.raymondibrahim.com/9956/new-saudi-fatwa-defends-pedophilia-as-marriage

Muslim "child-marriage"-euphemism for pedophilia-is making headlines again, at least in Arabic media: Dr. Salih bin Fawzan, a prominent cleric and member of Saudi Arabia's highest religious council, just issued a fatwa asserting that there is no minimum age for marriage, and that girls can be married "even if they are in the cradle."

Appearing in Saudi papers on July 13, the fatwa complains that "Uninformed interference with Sharia rulings by the press and journalists is on the increase, posing dire consequences to society, including their interference with the question of marriage to small girls who have not reached maturity, and their demand that a minimum age be set for girls to marry."

Fawzan insists that nowhere does Sharia set an age limit for marrying girls: like countless Muslim scholars before him, he relies on Koran 65:4, which discusses marriage to females who have not yet begun menstruating (i.e., are prepubescent) and the fact that Muhammad, Islam's role model, married Aisha when she was 6-years-old, "consummating" the marriage-or, in modern parlance, raping her-when she was 9.

The point of the Saudi fatwa, however, is not that girls as young as 9 can have sex, based on Muhammad's example, but rather that there is no age limit whatsoever; the only question open to consideration is whether the girl is physically capable of handling her husband/rapist. Fawzan documents this point by quoting Ibn Batal's authoritative exegesis of Sahih Bukhari:

The ulema [Islam's interpreters] have agreed that it is permissible for fathers to marry off their small daughters, even if they are in the cradle. But it is not permissible for their husbands to have sex with them unless they are capable of being placed beneath and bearing the weight of the men. And their capability in this regard varies based on their nature and capacity. Aisha was 6 when she married the prophet, but he had sex with her when she was 9 [i.e., when she was deemed capable].

Fawzan concludes his fatwa with a warning: "It behooves those who call for setting a minimum age for marriage to fear Allah and not contradict his Sharia, or try to legislate things Allah did not permit. For laws are Allah's province; and legislation is his excusive right, to be shared by none other. And among these are the rules governing marriage."

Fawzan, of course, is not the first to insist on the legitimacy of pedophilia in Islam. Even the former grand mufti of Saudi Arabia supported "child-marriage," since "the Koran and Sunna document it."

Nor is this just some theoretic, theological point; the lives of many young girls are being destroyed because of this ruling. Recall, for instance, the 13-year-old girl who died while her much older husband was copulating with her (it was later revealed that, due to her reluctance, he was tying her up and "raping" her-as if there is another way to describe sex with children); or the 12-year-old who died giving birth to a stillborn; or the 10-year-old who made headlines by hiding out from her 80-year-old "husband."

Then there are the countless anonymous girls who do nothing to warrant any media attention-such as die-and have learned to live with their elderly husbands pawing at them, like, no doubt, the girl who married Islam's most popular cleric, Yusuf Qaradawi, when she was 14.

What do we make of the fact that it is always Islam's religious, authoritative voices-not aberrant voices, not "terrorists," "extremists," or any other euphemism coined for the occasion-that are constantly demonstrating Sharia's savageries? Weeks before this fatwa, a female politician and activist in Kuwait called for institutionalizing sex-slavery (recommending that Muslims buy and sell female Russian captives from the Chechnya war); a popular Egyptian preacher not only said the same thing, but added that the solution to Islam's poverty is to go on jihad and plunder the lives and possessions of infidels.

Sounds odd? Perhaps; but it is perfectly consistent. After all, distilled and in the eyes of the non-believer, Sharia law is nothing less than a legal system built atop the words and deeds of a 7^th century Arab, whose behavior-from pedophilia and sex-slavery to war mongering and plundering-was very much that of a 7^th century Arab. Having enticed or enslaved his contemporaries into following him, his teachings continue to entice and enslave their descendants; and, now as then, it is always the innocent who suffer.

VIDEOS * TODAY'S HOT PICKS 

Gilad Shalit's Release: Israel's Deal With the Devil

Gadi Adelman 

As'ad Abukhalil: America's Hezbollah Propagandist

Attorney John Hajjar

A Lebanese-born lecturer who frequently appears on Hezbollah-owned al Manar TV is currently engaged in a war of negative propaganda against Middle East expert Dr. Walid Phares.

Jihadi Terrorism and Radicalism

Book Review 

Nancy Kobrin, PhD 

The Trauma of the Shalit Exchange

Mark Silverberg 

Iran and the Cartels

Drug routes are opportunities for terror. 

Colonel Kenneth Allard (US Army, ret.) 

Immigration, Migration, Politics and Policies

Alan Caruba 

America was built upon immigration but recently, has immigration been changing U.S. demography? How is the issue affected by the settling of illegal migrants?

We choose, you peruse.

Tapping Natural Resources to Address Maryland's Economic Problems

Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr.

America's Children Come Home to Roost

Stella Paul

The hordes of pathetic, dead-eyed pagans plowing through the streets of our cities with Occupy Wall Street are the crowning achievement of America's academy.

Report Card: Bio-terrorism Preparedness Gets Thumbs Down by Bipartisan Group

Jim Kouri, CPP 

Tea Party Represents America, Not Occupy Wall Street

Lloyd Marcus 

How the EPA is Ruining American Industry

Interview with Rich Trzupek, author of "Regulators Gone Wild" 

Rael Jean Isaac

-JIHAD ALERT-

Is the Muslim Brotherhood

directing

"OCCUPY ORLANDO?"

YOU BE THE JUDGE...

Occupy Orlando -- Muslim Brotherhood EXPOSED?

 "OCCUPY ORLANDO" or JIHAD ORLANDO?

On a beautiful October afternoon in Florida, The United West investigative team descended upon the Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Orlando to figure out the incoherent message of the "Occupy Wall Street" sister event..."Occupy Orlando."

On this mission we were NOT hunting jihadis...but one may have jumped out at us anyway!

For those with eyes to see, ears to hear and a wee bit of cranial activity, the jury is in, the facts are known and the words "Arab Spring," are synonyms for "Muslim Brotherhood." Though there is strong evidence for the Ikhwan's involvement initiating the various revolutions in Egypt and the northern Maghreb, it is indisputable that the Brothers are exploiting the incoherent chaos in these countries and taking a leadership role either overtly or through compliant proxies to move toward a shariah-compliant state. In the spirit of Rahm Emanuel, the Muslim Brotherhood will never let a good crisis go to waste.  

But...Is that also true here in the good ole United States of America?

MORE...

"F*** the U.S.A."

Posted: 16 Oct 2011 11:30 PM PDT

October 15, 2011 - Protesters at Saturday's Occupy Portland demonstration vented some of their anger at the capitalist system by setting the phrase "F*** the U.S.A." to "music."

Yes folks, these protestters are just decent, patriotic Americans concerned for the welfare of their country.

The Left Speaks of War

Posted: 16 Oct 2011 11:10 PM PDT

Just a reminder that these people mean business. A compiltation of recent  inflammatory speeches from the left.

Black & Union Leaders Follow Farrakhan Lead in Occupy Wall Street / America Protests

Lenin's 99 Percenters

Posted: 16 Oct 2011 07:50 PM PDT

By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

Occupy Wall Street has gone global. Marxists, Communists, Progressives, the disaffected, hippies, young idealists, the misinformed and the useful idiots have combined to spread a message of social justice and Marxism to all whether they want it or not. They are also spreading filth, violence, chaos, racism and class warfare... A very useful tool for the Obama administration. The perfect emergency that will certainly not go to waste.

It's the 'I deserve it!' culture run amok. Backed by the likes of Soros and Democratic elites. And it is all going according to the well laid plans of the Marxists who are 'fundamentally' changing America and not for the better. Their plan involves discrediting the Tea Party and/or co-opting as many of them into the OWS movement as possible. They will use students and union workers until they have served their purpose and then discard them or worse. Americans seem to be falling for vague platitudes and false flag protests out of fear and anger. This is a fatal error in judgment for survival purposes. The bill for 'something for nothing' is coming due and when it cannot be paid, the top will slam down forcefully on Americans with the gleeful assistance of our self-crowned dictator.

People are showing up by the thousands to demand that the rich pay their fair share and the banks be reformed. I agree that the Fed needs to go. So should the IRS. But the anger and outrage should be focused on the politicians who are behind this whole God-forsaken mess. There are a number of these elites that need to go to jail for a very long time for their part in the mortgage debacle and the financial meltdown in the US. But that isn't what will occur here. Nope, the Marxists and unions will pay and bus in as many supporters as they can to make numbers appear larger, but make no mistake, there are going to be many, many people involved in this on their own worldwide and the violence will escalate rapidly when it starts. The movement may be slowed by winter's frosty bite, but the movement will resurface and surge in the spring and summer of next year here in America.

These protesters don't seem to realize the very things they are protesting are what gave them a high living standard in the first place. What has destroyed the system is having easy money available with no real responsibility on how to spend or repay it. We have let crooks run our country with a get out of jail free card that can be used virtually any time. If we had stayed on the gold standard, worked to earn our money, shunned credit and demanded ethics and accountability from our leaders, we would not be in this mess today. Whatever money you personally put into the system should be yours - but lifetime bennies and trillion dollar ponzi schemes? That's insanity. Then putting thieves in charge of the till? Further insanity. But the biggest joke of all is pretending there is no problem while we gleefully wade into an ocean of unpayable debts and drown the America we all know and love. It's suicide by indulgence.

These same people want an ever bigger government that will cater to every need. Well, bigger government equals enslavement, misery and death.

Lenin wrote:

"The liberation of the oppressed class is impossible, not only without violent revolution, but also without the destruction of the apparatus of state power." Wiker wrote that Lenin demanded, "The bourgeoisie, the oppressive capitalist class, must be ferociously annihilated by the workers they oppressed, and a new revolutionary government built on the corpses."

That, ladies and gentlemen, is blood in the streets, slaughter and mayhem. It is exactly what Obama wants. In a Godless society such as our universities who promise a utopia, the only missing ingredient is Marxism. That has now been baked into the cake and the icing is revolution.

Lenin's view of what Trotsky termed the 'Perpetual Revolution:'

The proletariat [= mobs, unionists, workers, useful idiots] needs state power, the centralized organization of force, the organization of violence, for the purpose of crushing the resistance of the exploiters [= capitalists] and for the purpose of leading the great mass of the population - the peasantry, the petty bourgeoisie, the semi-proletarians - in the work of organizing socialist economy.

And as the pampered masses demand more and more, they play right into the Marxist plan of bottom up, top down, inside out. Lenin's prophecy come to pass: "The capitalists would sell us [communists] the noose to hang them with." A new world government threatens to be built on the dead bodies of the masses worldwide with a handful of elites at the helm. A Marxist utopia with an iron fist and equal debasement for all (except for the leaders of course). Lenin's 99 percenters will find that social justice in the end, applies only to those in power. The useful idiots along with patriots will become slaves and peasants if a New World Order is indeed brought to pass.

Communist Party U.S.A. in Solidarity with Occupy Chicago

They are truly the 99 percent of useful idiots.

Read more: 

Read more: 

 Video: Former KGB Official Explains Plan Unfolding in America Right Now!

CommieTunes - OBAMA's END GAME REVEALED - Obama Socialist / Communist / Marxist / Maoist

Brief · October 17, 2011

The Foundation

"Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition." --Thomas Jefferson

Opinion in Brief

"American Autumn" or Red October

"Take, for example, the complaints of the young Americans currently 'occupying' Wall Street. Many protesters have told sympathetic reporters that 'it's our Arab Spring.' Put aside the differences between brutal totalitarian dictatorships and a republic of biennial elections, and simply consider it in economic terms: At the 'Occupy' demonstrations, not-so-young college students are demanding that their tuition debt be forgiven. In Egypt, half the population lives in poverty; the country imports more wheat than any other nation on the planet, and the funds to do that will dry up in a couple months' time. They're worrying about starvation, not how to fund half a decade of Whatever Studies at Complacency U. One sympathizes. When college tuition is $50,000 a year, you can't 'work your way through college' -- because, after all, an 18-year-old who can earn 50-grand a year wouldn't need to go to college, would he? Nevertheless, his situation is not the same as some guy halfway up the Nile living on $2 a day: One is a crisis of the economy, the other is a crisis of decadence. And, generally, the former are far easier to solve. My colleague Rich Lowry correctly notes that many of the beleaguered families testifying on the 'We are the 99%' websites have real problems. However, the 'Occupy' movement has no real solutions, except more government, more spending, more regulation, more bureaucracy, more unsustainable lethargic pseudo-university with no return on investment, more more more of what got us into this hole. ... One of their demands is for a trillion dollars in 'environmental restoration.' Hey, why not? It's only a trillion. Beneath the allegedly young idealism are very cobwebbed assumptions about societal permanence. The agitators for 'American Autumn' think that such demands are reasonable for no other reason than that they happen to have been born in America, and expectations that no other society in human history has ever expected are just part of their birthright. But a society can live on the accumulated capital of a glorious inheritance only for so long." --columnist Mark Steyn

For the Record

"When fiscally conservative tea party activists held protests over the past two years, they filed for all the required permits and paid for their own power. Occupy Boston, by contrast, neither sought nor obtained any proper permits at any level, according to the Boston Globe. Instead, city and park officials have been cowed into providing them gratis electricity and camp space lest there be 'conflict.' Many of these occupiers are primarily occupied as paid rent-a-mobsters for unions, left-wing think tanks and the radical Working Families Party. While one collective hand soaks the taxpayers, the other hand is busy soliciting free stuff. Occupy Los Angeles activists took to Skype on their laptops to solicit donations of iPhones and iPads. Occupy Wall Street members on Twitter organized an ongoing '#needsoftheoccupiers' drive for everything from batteries and tarps to 'gently used' coats and sweaters, wool socks, sleeping bags and energy bars. Occupy Austin organizers publicized their wish list, including a free barbecue grill, portable toilets, extension cords, a Bobcat forestry cutter for clearing brush and network cameras for a livestream. These are not principled advocates of fiscal responsibility. They are professional freeloaders." --columnist Michelle Malkin

What do you think?

Faith & Family

"While the potentates of the press were paying homage to pot-smoking protesters demanding 'economic justice,' supporters of religious freedom were being massacred in Egypt. On Sunday, Oct. 9, more than 1,000 Coptic Christians held a vigil at the state television building in Cairo to pray for protection against radical Islamists burning their churches, homes, schools and businesses. According to Amnesty International, violent Islamist attacks against Egypt's Christian community -- which predates Islam by more than six centuries -- have increased exponentially since Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February. The peaceful gathering was attacked by armed Muslim militants and Egyptian army units. In the ensuing melee, at least 20 Copts were killed, and more than 75 were wounded. Eyewitnesses recorded victims being beaten, stabbed, shot, crushed by military vehicles and dragged through the streets of Cairo. Dr. Walid Phares of Fox News, one of the first to report the incident, rightly says, 'International news agencies, including AP, were late in reporting the real casualties.' So, too, was the White House in noting that the atrocity even happened. Apparently, Christians being brutalized in Egypt doesn't fit the O-Team's 'Arab spring' campaign theme song." --columnist Oliver North

Re: The Left

"In Obama's telling, it's the refusal of the rich to 'pay their fair share' that jeopardizes Medicare. If millionaires don't pony up, schools will crumble. Oil-drilling tax breaks are costing teachers their jobs. Corporate loopholes will gut medical research. It's crude. It's Manichaean. And the left loves it. As a matter of math and logic, however, it's ridiculous. Obama's most coveted tax hike -- an extra 3 to 4.6 percent for millionaires and billionaires (weirdly defined as individuals making over $200,000) -- would have reduced last year's deficit from $1.29 trillion to $1.21 trillion. Nearly a rounding error. The oil-drilling breaks cover less than half a day's federal spending. You could collect Obama's favorite tax loophole -- depreciation for corporate jets -- for 100 years and it wouldn't cover one month of Medicare, whose insolvency is a function of increased longevity, expensive new technology and wasteful defensive medicine caused by an insane malpractice system. After three years, Obama's self-proclaimed transformative social policies have yielded a desperately weak economy. ... This is about scapegoating, a failed administration trying to save itself by blaming our troubles -- and its failures -- on class enemies, turning general discontent into rage against a malign few." --columnist Charles Krauthammer

Political Futures

"Not only does Obama's re-election look to be in serious jeopardy, but his presidency has been an almost unmitigated disaster for progressive liberalism, nearly every tenet of which has been revealed to be untenable either practically, politically or both. Stimulus Sr. discredited Keynesian demand-side economics -- the notion that the way to produce employment and growth is through massive government spending. The real tragedy is that even after blowing hundreds of billions of dollars, Obama and many other Democrats failed to learn the lesson. ObamaCare proved a political fiasco, showing that there are limits to Americans' willingness to tolerate the expansion of the welfare state. ... The left got what it wanted in 2008: a liberal president with a sweeping agenda and big Democratic majorities capable of enacting it. The result has been a great and failed experiment in progressive politics and governance. In due course, one hopes, the left will absorb some lessons -- but for now, they seem to be suffering a nervous breakdown." --Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto

Essential Liberty

"The presidency is about more than balancing the budget and sparking the entrepreneurs of America to create wealth. It's about not just navigating international relations but ensuring that the flow of freedom is channeled in the right direction. We'll need not only the Reagan Recovery in the economy, but the Reagan Resoluteness in regards to international relations. President Ronald Reagan traveled to Berlin in 1987 to give a speech at the Brandenburg Gate. Tensions were high between the United States and the Soviet Union, but instead of placating the communists, Reagan upped the ante. Reagan provided clear language regarding whom he felt had 'won the war' and what must come next. There is 'one great and inescapable conclusion,' Reagan said. 'Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.'" --columnist Jackie Gingrich Cushman

The Gipper

Culture

"One might think that seeing as America elected its first black president, it would usher in the end of racism; but it's all a racist plot that's easily uncovered simply by asking: 'Who really elected Obama to the presidency?' It surely wasn't black people. Of the 69 million votes that Obama received in the 2008 election, I doubt whether even 7 or 8 million came from blacks. That means white people put Obama in office, and that means he is beholden to white people, not black people. You say, 'Williams, that's preposterous! What's your evidence?' Just look at the unemployment statistics. White unemployment is 8 percent, and black unemployment is double that, at 17 percent, and in some cities, black unemployment is near 30 percent. ... Obama told the Congressional Black Caucus to 'Stop whining!' 'Take off your bedroom slippers; put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. Stop complaining; stop grumbling; stop crying.' This kind of talk is unprecedented. Just ask yourself: 'When have I ever heard a Democratic or a Republican leader talk this way to his party's strongest supporters?' ... This kind of political treatment of blacks should not be surprising, because black people are a one-party people in a two-party system. That means Democratic politicians have learned to take the black vote for granted, and Republicans make little effort to get it. That's not smart for blacks to set themselves up that way." --economist Walter E. Williams

Post your opinion

Reader Comments

"Mark Alexander's essay Obama's Red October Uprising could not be more correct nor could he possibly be more articulate in his expression of the truth through simple facts and plain, straight forward logic. The protestors and liberals in general are ruled by their emotion, not objective rational thought and logic. Such a mess. The solution is obvious to anyone with half a brain. The protestors are operating under less than half a brain, and the emotional part of it at that. That is why you get the childish behavior and temper tantrums." --Rod

"I am not in the upper 1 percent but I can say I am a business owner. Most of the people protesting Wall Street appear to have never formed a business and thus, were never solely dependent on their own efforts, passion and labor to generate income. I have absolute ownership of my financial position. As a business owner, such has been met with prosperous times and times when I popped more antacids than was healthy. I contribute to people or organizations that I choose. I do not want the government involved in my life and business more than they already are." --Jim

"As we observe the acceleration of these events, surely orchestrated with Nov 2012 as a deadline, we must all do a gut-check. At what point do I make a stand? Have I myself grown complacent in my comforts? What am I willing to risk in Samuel Adams's 'animating contest of freedom'? The days are coming, when we must all make these decisions." --Oathkeeper Scott

The Last Word

"The hordes of so-called 'protesters' now polluting the streets of several U.S. cities, including New York, are sending confused messages about their grievances. The unemployed among them complain that the jobs available to them are beneath them. I guess that cancels out the old concept of starting in the mailroom and advancing step-by-step to the boardroom. It used to be the norm that one started at the bottom and worked their way up. This bunch seems to be living under the delusion that simply by virtue of having been born they are entitled to immediate arrival at the boardroom level with appropriate compensation. ... I am still amazed that these kids can find time to congregate in city streets, which are in many cases far from their hometowns. Somebody has to be paying their way; in most cases their beleaguered parents are stuck with the bill for their latest adventure, which has nothing to do with education and a lot to do with left-wing politics and public lovemaking, if that's what it's called. And the media willingly -- indeed, eagerly -- give the protesters lots of free publicity. Media outlets should start ignoring them and we'll see how fast they disband and slink back home. They thrive on the publicity the media provide. Finally, the long-suffering parents ought to close their pockets and deny their wayward brats the money that allows them to travel to the big city to make pests of themselves. Go home. Now. But before you do, clean up the messes you have made." --columnist Michael Reagan

Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!
Nate Jackson for The Patriot Post Editorial Team

October 17, 2011
 
  BLAZE EXCLUSIVE - KIDS 'PLEDGE' TO MEXICO  This exclusive video was sent to The Blaze by a concerned father. His daughter was being taught to sing the Mexican national anthem and pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag... in a Texas public school! Watch the video HERE.

HEATED DEBATE - COLLECTIVE VS INDIVIDUAL   Over the weekend, Charles Payne of the Fox Business channel was involved in an explosive and emotional off-air debate with a union leader. Fortunately, a Blaze camera was on the scene to capture this exclusive video. Watch the argument HERE.

NEW VIDEO FROM TIMES SQUARE PROTEST   The Occupy Wall Street protest moved to Times Square this weekend and the NYPD was hard-pressed to keep normal traffic moving while allowing protesters their right to assemble. New footage has just surfaced showing the interaction between the police and the protesters. See this enlightening video HERE.

FED SPENDING IS UP 5%, OBAMACARE UNRAVELS, & WHERE IS 'OCCUPY HOLLYWOOD?'   If you want to sound smarter than most folks in neighborhood, you'll take a virtual stroll through the Monday morning Must-Read stories on The Blaze. They await your review HERE.  

HERMAN CAIN - 'I PREFER BLACK AMERICAN'  Top GOP Presidential contender Herman Cain appeared on NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday morning and discussed a broad spectrum of topics, from his signature "9-9-9" tax plan to racism in America. Watch the highlights HERE.  

VIRAL VIDEO - DASHCAM VIDEO FROM the DEADLY INDY-CAR CRASH   On Sunday, two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon was killed in a multi-car crash during the racing season's final event in Las Vegas. Virtually every car in the race has a camera mounted on the dash to provide a driver's point of view for the TV audience. Watch the crash from the camera inside driver Will Power's car HERE.

TEA partiers must show "newly initiated" the differences between Republicans and conservatives

Oct 17, 2011 06:13 am | Coach Collins

By Kevin "Coach" Collins

The Republican establishment will lie to get Mitt Romney, the media's favorite Republican, our nomination for President. They may be able to fool the "newly initiated" to politics, but they can't fool us. We know the truth about Romney which is why he is virtually flat lining in TEA party polls. It' s up to us to teach people the truth.  We have to explain the differences between a Republican and a conservative to people new to politics because the Republican establishment and Karl "Tokyo" Rove types will lie to them.

Since few are more zealous than a convert, many of these "newly initiated" Republicans might march in and vote for Romney believing that will make them good Republicans. We can't let that happen.  

The case against Romney

"He can argue any side of a question. And sometimes you think he's really believing his argument, but he's not." Who said that? Ann Romney, ... Continue Reading:TEA partiers must show "newly initiated" the differences between Republicans and conservatives

comments | read more

American Minute for October 16th

Oct 16, 2011 05:13 pm | Coach Collins

 Coachisright.com is pleased to announce American history scholar; nationally known speaker and best selling author William J Federer's daily American Minute column will be part of CiR's afternoon update.

 Bill Federer is a tireless and meticulous researcher whose daily history lessons reflect the relationship between God and our nation. Bill is a regular guest on radio and television shows when getting American history right is essential.

 We're sure you will enjoy Bill's daily columns and want to share them with your friends and families. Bill Federer is an American patriot whose message needs to be heard by all.

  By Bill Federer, staff writer

    In 1746, French Duke of d'Anville sailed for New England, commanding the most powerful fleet of the time - 70 ships with 13,000 troops.
He intended to recapture Louisburg, Nova Scotia, and destroy from Boston to New York, all the way to Georgia.
Massachusetts Governor William Shirley declared a Day of ... Continue Reading:American Minute for October 16th

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The Government's tactical assault on our liberty

Oct 16, 2011 02:13 pm | Coach Collins

 By Doug Book, staff writer

  Two centuries ago the Founders feared a strong,  centralized federal government would establish a standing army,  an irresistible force capable of crushing those rights of individual liberty which had been so carefully and deliberately crafted into the Constitution.

 Today that fear has been realized,  not with the American military,  but in the increasingly disturbing form of paramilitary units and heavily equipped tactical assault teams which exist in even small town police departments and bureaucracies within the federal government.

 In Waco,  80 lives were taken by masked SWAT team members driving armored vehicles in what one writer properly called an  "...ATF publicity stunt gone awry." 

 Three years ago over 400 children were wrenched from their parents by body amour clad assault teams carrying automatic weapons,  all in response to a confidential telephone complaint of abuse which turned out to be a hoax. 

 In May of this year,  ... Continue Reading:The Government's tactical assault on our liberty

comments | read more

It's not just conservatives who are frustrated today. It is all Americans who long to see their nation regain its vitality, restoring freedom and prosperity at home and shining the light of human potential across the planet.
 
What is particularly frustrating is that the party out of power, the Republican Party, is supposed to be carrying the torch for these values. But it's barely happening. The Party has become bogged down with careerists, rearview-mirror thinkers and its own inside-the-beltway elite.
 
Nothing could speak more to this problem than establishment attitudes toward the remarkable Herman Cain.

Take, for instance, a recent column by conservative columnist Mona Charen. 

Read more: 

Here is Yet Another Flaw in ObamaCare:

Nobody was fooled when President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid claimed they could provide health care for millions more Americans and actually reduce federal budget deficits. Fortunately, the Obama administration has finally given up on trying implementing one of the worst of the accounting gimmicks in the health care law -- the CLASS Act. AFP Director of Government Affairs James Valvo profiles the issue today: "Welcome to ObamaCare VII: Acting up in CLASS (http://www.americansforprosperity.org/101711-welcome-obamacare-part-vii-acting-class)."

Last Week on Capitol Hill:

On Tuesday, the Senate passed S. 1619 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00159), a bill to punish China for currency manipulation. While some have argued that China's currency is a huge problem that gives an unfair trade advantage to Chinese imports, the bill gives unnecessary power to the Treasury Department to increase tariffs, hurts American consumers who buy Chinese imports, would do little to create American jobs, and could spark a trade war with China. Fortunately, the bill won't move much further, as Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is not expected to bring it up for a vote in the House.

Also on Tuesday the President's $447 billion "American Jobs Act," fell 10 votes short (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00160) of a 60-vote procedural threshold in the Senate. But we're not done fighting this failed government stimulus yet: Democrats have vowed to break up the bill and try to pass it in parts in the coming weeks.  

On Wednesday, both the House and the Senate passed three free trade agreements -- with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. This is a big win for free trade advocates, and the three measures are estimated to create as much as 250,000 jobs and add billions to economic output.

Unfortunately, the House also voted to extend (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll784.xml) spending on the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which provides expensive and wasteful government benefits for workers who claim to have lost jobs due to free trade competition.   The measure already passed the Senate a few weeks ago, and it is expected to be signed into law by the President this week.   AFP expressed frustration (http://www.americansforprosperity.org/101211-afp-letter-hill-regarding-pending-free-trade-agreements) with TAA extension last week.

Towards the end of the week, the House passed two measures to rein-in EPA regulation. On Thursday, the House passed (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll791.xml) the EPA Regulatory Relief Act, H.R. 2250. The bill delays and asks the EPA to rework the onerous "Boiler MACT" rules, which had put in place overly-stringent emissions standards for industrial boilers, incinerators, and process heaters. On Friday, the House passed (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll800.xml) the Coal Residuals and Reuse Management Act, H.R. 2273. Last year the EPA proposed to reclassify certain byproducts of burning coal (collectively referred to as "coal ash") as "hazardous waste," requiring expensive cleanup and handling. The bill eases this burden by asking the EPA to control coal ash waste under already-existing "solid waste" standards instead and gives state governments, not federal bureaucrats, enforcement powers.                                                                                        

Important Upcoming Legislation:

AFP has thrown its support behind a number of important pieces of legislation recently, and below is a quick summary of each.

The Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act (http://www.americansforprosperity.org/100511-letter-support-rep-walshs-capital-gains-inflation-relief-act-hr-2945), sponsored by Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), corrects a long-standing flaw in the tax code: taxing "phantom gains" on capital investments that result from inflation.

Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) introduced the EDA Elimination Act (http://www.americansforprosperity.org/100611-letter-support-rep-pompeos-eda-elimination-act-hr-3090), which would end a wasteful "back door" earmarking program and save American taxpayers up to $500 million annually.

The Foreign Earnings Reinvestment Act (http://www.americansforprosperity.com/101211-letter-support-foreign-earnings-reinvestment-act-s-1671), introduced as S. 1671 by Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC) and John McCain (R-AZ), provides tax incentives for companies to bring back over a trillion dollars stuck overseas and reinvest it in capital formation and job creation in the United States.

Rep. John Kline (R-MN) introduced a bill (http://www.americansforprosperity.com/101211-letter-support-rep-klines-workforce-democracy-and-fairness-act-hr-3094) that would stop the NLRB's imposition of "quickie" union elections, which deny employers an opportunity to respond to union claims and which fail to give employees enough time to make informed voting decisions. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing (http://edworkforce.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=263036) praising the bill last week.

The Consumer Debit Card Protection Act (http://www.americansforprosperity.com/101311-letter-support-repeal-durbin-amendments-debit-card-price-controls-hr-3156), H.R. 3156, introduced by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Bill Owens (R-NY), repeals the Durbin amendment's misguided price controls on debit card interchange fees -- price caps which have forced banks to increase fees on customers and end services like free checking.  

Sincerely,

Americans for Prosperity

Americans for Prosperity(R) (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 1,800,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 34 state chapters and affiliates. More than 90,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org (http://americansforprosperity.org)

Today's Headlines:  Monday, October 17, 2011

Cain: 'I Do Not Agree With Abortion Under Any Circumstances'

Jackson Lee: Abortion A 'Needed Action'; Refers to Babies' Heartbeats As 'Sounds'

Judge Blocks Release of Recusal-Related Emails Kagan Sent WH-Says They're 'Personal'

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Calif. Dems in Congress Want Obama to Refinance All Mortgages Held by Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

Energy Dept Should Have Sought Legal Opinion on Solyndra Loan, Treasury Official Tells Congress

Obama Presses Congress to Pass Pieces of His Failed Jobs Bill

ICE Arrests 5,270 Illegal Alien Gang Members in Dozens of U.S. Cities in Two-Year Period

Hamas Prepares Heroes' Welcome for Terrorists and Killers Israel Plans to Free

Chinese Activist Who Exposed Forced Abortion Figures Still Under 'Aggressive House Arrest'

After 3,000 Deaths, Arab League Still Divided Over Syria

COMMENTARY:

The Money Chase
By Rich Galen
The quarterly fundraising numbers are in and there are no surprises.

NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP:

Federal Appeals Ct. Lets Most of Alabama Law Stand

On Friday, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Alabama may continue to enforce most of its anti-illegal immigration law, H.B. 56. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had asked the 11th Circuit to enjoin much of H.B. 56 while it appeals the September 28 district court decision that allowed the law to take effect September 29 as planned.

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ACLU Sues South Carolina in Attempt to Strike Down Immigration Enforcement Law

On October 12, 2011, the ACLU, representing a slew of groups and individuals, filed a lawsuit against the State of South Carolina seeking to enjoin South Carolina Senate Bill 20 ("SB 20"). Like lawsuits brought by the ACLU in Arizona, Utah, Georgia, Alabama and Indiana, this lawsuit seeks to prevent the State from enforcing its immigration law.

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ICE Director Faces Questions about Administration's Backdoor Amnesty

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton faced serious questioning about the Obama Administration's backdoor amnesty as he testified before the House Immigration Policy and Enforcement Subcommittee last Wednesday. Similar to last week's hearing before the House Border and Maritime Subcommittee, at issue were a string of policy memos issued by Director Morton, as well as the Administration's recent announcement it would review and release those in deportation proceedings that do not meet the agency's "priorities."

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Over 40 Illegal Alien Felons Set Free in Chicago area; New York City to Follow Suit

Over 40 suspected illegal aliens arrested on felony charges have been released from Cook County jails since the implementation last month of a county ordinance directing local law enforcement officials to ignore U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. The detainers, sent to local jails, request officials detain illegal aliens for an additional 48-hour statutory period after local jurisdiction ceases so that an ICE officer may place the alien into federal custody.

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Terrorists Sought Mexican Drug Cartel to Carry Out Operations in the U.S.

The Department of Justice announced early last week that it had arrested an Iranian-American man attempting to bribe a Mexican drug cartel to murder the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S. Federal officials charged that the defendant, Mansour J. Arbabsiar, offered to pay a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informant, who he thought was a member of the Los Zetas drug cartel, $1.5 million to carry out the assassination by bombing at a Washington, D.C. area restaurant. The meetings between the suspect and the undercover DEA informant reportedly took place just south of the Rio Grande Valley in Reynosa.

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Chaffetz Bill Seeks to Eliminate Per-Country Caps

Members of the House Judiciary Committee will be reviewing "Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act" (H.R. 3012) during a mark-up session scheduled for next week. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) in September, would not increase the over-all number of green cards issued, but rather reduce restrictions on per-country quotas in an attempt to reduce the backlog of applications from certain countries.

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Walter Shapiro, October 15, 2011

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It's all about hopelessly indebted students. Or at least a lot of it is.

According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal:

"Student loan debt has continued to grow despite a financial crisis that
constrained credit elsewhere, and the increasing burden amid high
unemployment is driving at least part of the protests among the Occupy Wall
Street movement.

"Last year, Americans began to owe more on their student loans then their
credit cards, with student debt reaching the $1 trillion mark. Many have
flocked to higher education during the down economy, only to find themselves
still unemployed or underemployed.

"Zak Cunningham is a 22-year-old who graduated from Earlham College in
Indiana last spring. He says he 'doesn't know how much student loan debt' he
has, since he hasn't bothered to count. He doesn't have a job and wants to
go to graduate school, but is worried about the cost."

We have to wonder at this, good patrons. A man of even moderate reflection
would pause here. A man of unwavering conviction would not.

Mr. Cunningham is clearly convinced, despite mounting evidence to the
contrary, that more formal education is the key.

Yes, even modest reflection would lead a man in this situation to consider
another course of action. Something as radical as not taking on even more
debt to purchase something of diminishing value. Maybe start earning
whatever income he can.

Higher education has steadily been losing value and increasing in cost over
the past few decades. This may have something to do with government
subsidizing the loans and colleges playing ball by steadily lowering the bar
for entry.

Now we are to believe that absolutely everyone is college material...that at
least a bachelor's degree is necessary for middle-class existence...that any
amount of debt should be taken (and made available) for anyone who wants to
attend college to do so.

But now the return on that investment has gone negative. Students are
"underwater" on their student loans. Like the similarly deceived home
"owners" of the early 2000s, young adult students are finding themselves
holding the bag, in debt beyond what they can hope to pay, for an asset
whose dollar worth is plummeting.

The economic forces that drove both the education and housing bubbles are
the same. Nonmarket credit (thank you, Federal Reserve) got funneled by the
state into both housing and education. Price increases for both housing and
education were built on ever-expanding credit. Meanwhile, products of lesser
and lesser quality flooded the market.

An interesting difference is that the inevitable bust in housing is seen as
a crisis in housing...while the price increases themselves were seen as a
crisis in education.

We suspect that's because with housing, there's an asset that makes the
quasi-owner feel rich. With education, there is only the grinding sense of
indenture and worry about getting a job making enough to pay the loan back.
Unlike home "owners," however, these students can't just walk away. They're
in for life. The debt could even linger after their deaths.
But we stop to ask how it came to this. Why did so many come to believe this
would all work out fine. Jeff Berwick explains in today's feature article.

Whiskey & Gunpowder
by Jeff Berwick
October 14, 2011

The Education Trap
For decades, governments have been promoting school as being necessary.
Celebrities, probably thinking they are doing the "right thing," often
promote the message "stay in school," from people like Mr. T. and NBA
players and rappers.
No one ever thinks to ask, "Hey, Mr. T., did you learn to be an actor and
how to work out and grow a mohawk in school?" Nor do they ask the same
questions of a bunch of multi-millionaire basketball players and rappers.
Did Michael Jordan learn to play basketball "in school"? For the rappers, I
don't remember there being Hip Hop 101 in college.
All public schools in the U.S. today are prep camps for jail or for being a
cubicle rat for the rest of your life.
THE SCHOOL "SYSTEM"

Jim Rohn said, "formal education will make you a living. Self-education will
make you a fortune."

Read more: 

Do It For the Children, For Real

Read More . . . 

Media Notes: The Economist Gets It Right This Week

Read More . . . 

October 17, 2011 

Monday, October 17, 2011

To: Friends & Supporters

From: Gary L. Bauer


Cain Misspeaks On Marriage

I know many people have concluded in the past few weeks that Herman Cain is the best conservative we could nominate. Many are drawn to his 9-9-9 tax plan. Cain's surge in the polls has predictably led to increased scrutiny of 9-9-9, as well as his other positions, including on values issues.

National Review's Katrina Trinko reviewed Cain's weekly column, which he started writing after his 2004 Senate campaign. While Trinko finds much to admire, she notes, "Cain rarely dove into social issues in his columns, most of which were centered on the economy."

On Meet The Press yesterday, host David Gregory pressed Cain on abortion and homosexual "marriage." On abortion, Cain said, "I believe in life from conception and I do not agree with abortion under any circumstances." I applaud his clear support for the sanctity of life. But then Cain and Gregory had this exchange on normal marriage:

MR. GREGORY:  A couple more.  Same sex marriage.  Would you seek a constitutional ban for same sex marriage?

MR. CAIN:  I wouldn't seek a constitutional ban for same sex marriage, but I am pro traditional marriage.

MR. GREGORY: But you would let the states make up their own mind as they're doing now?

MR. CAIN:  They would make up their own minds, yes.

Whoops. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum quickly pointed out the flaw in Cain's response, saying, "I have been a longtime supporter of states' rights. However, I believe, as Abraham Lincoln did, that states do not have the right to legalize moral wrongs."

On this issue, Senator Santorum is exactly right. America will not have 50 different definitions of marriage. Either normal marriage will be the standard in every state or we will lose the institution of marriage as it has been understood for several thousand years.

Any politician who gives Cain's answer is either uninformed or disingenuous. When it comes to same-sex "marriage," the left will not permit each state to decide. It plans to have the federal courts order every state to recognize the same-sex "marriages" performed in other states. When that happens -- Voila! -- we'll have nationwide same-sex "marriage."

The Defense of Marriage Act prevents this from happening. But as we know, the Obama Administration has declared DOMA unconstitutional and is refusing to defend it in court. How would President Cain respond if his home state, Georgia, were ordered by the federal courts to recognize the gay marriages performed in Massachusetts? Only a federal marriage amendment can prevent that.

President George W. Bush, often accused of not being a "real conservative," supported a federal marriage amendment. I think this should be a key issue for values voters. If preserving traditional marriage is an important issue to you, and I hope it is, let Herman Cain know -- particularly if you are supporting him right now. You can send an email to the campaign here.


ObamaCare Takes Another Hit

Late Friday afternoon the Obama Administration jettisoned a long-term care portion of ObamaCare known as CLASS. It was a key legislative goal of Sen. Ted Kennedy, but everyone knew the program was a fiscal time bomb.

The Wall Street Journal notes that the plan was to eventually turn CLASS into another Medicare entitlement, financed by another payroll tax. But in the short-term, the bureaucrats just couldn't make it financially feasible.

Politico reports, "The Congressional Budget Office had scored CLASS as achieving $86 billion in savings over the next decade, because it would have collected premiums for five years before paying any benefits." So with CLASS gone, ObamaCare has just taken a $90 billion hit.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee, responded to the news by saying, "The smoke and mirrors that the Democrats employed to sell their health care overhaul are finally falling away, one broken promise at a time. When all of these gimmicks are stripped out, the new law would add hundreds of billions of dollars in red ink over the next decade... Now it is time for Congress to do the responsible thing: Repeal the disastrous new law and replace it with true, patient-centered reforms."


Obama Invades Uganda

There is a civil war raging in the African nation of Uganda between -- surprise, surprise -- radical Muslims and, shockingly, radical Christians. President Obama just ordered 100 combat-equipped troops, likely Special Operations forces, to engage in this civil war -- on the side of Uganda's Muslims. According to ABC News, Obama sent a letter to Speaker Boehner Friday in which he wrote that the deployment troops "furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign policy."

I am no apologist for the radical Christian camp known as the Lord's Resistance Army. I can't find any teachings of Christ that justify its tactics. But there is no danger that this group is going to sweep Africa and create national security threats for the United States. The obvious threat is the continued expansion of radical Islam. Once again Obama has committed U.S. forces for dubious reasons.


"Obama's Big Green Mess"

Obama's stimulus-funded "green jobs" effort has been such a disaster that even the liberals at Newsweek are turning against it. Consider this excerpt from a column entitled "Obama's Big Green Mess:"

"This summer, federal inspectors made a routine visit to 11 homes in St. Louis to see what taxpayers got for the $5 billion that President Obama spent to help Americans weatherize their homes to save energy. What they found was quite a surprise. Some of the energy-efficient furnaces installed at taxpayer expense spewed carbon monoxide that could poison occupants. New water heaters lacked required pressure valves, putting them in jeopardy of exploding. And a handful of contractors ... had used air blowers in homes with asbestos, potentially dispersing the cancer-causing agent."

The Media's Religious Test

Click here to read my latest Human Events column on what role a candidate's religion should play in presidential politics.
 

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) has just released our annual Congressional Ratings!  After analyzing 62 votes in the Senate and 46 votes in the House of Representatives on fiscal issues in 2010, CCAGW is ready to tell you how your elected officials in Pennsylvania stack up.

Every year, CCAGW releases our Congressional Ratings to let you, Congress, and the public at large know who is standing up for taxpayers and who is letting them down.  CCAGW rates members on a 0 to 100 percent scale and categorizes them as follows:  0-19 percent Hostile; 20-39 percent Unfriendly; 40-59 percent Lukewarm; 60-79 percent Friendly; 80-99 percent Taxpayer Hero; 100 percent Taxpayer Super Hero.

The average vote rating for the entire House of Representatives during the second session of the 111th Congress was 40 percent, while the average for the Senate was 42 percent.  In the House, six Representatives achieved "Taxpayer Super Hero" status, while 144 House members earned the moniker "Taxpayer Hero."  However, 30 Representatives - all Democrats - posted a perfectly abysmal score of zero.  In the Senate, there were four "Taxpayer Super Heroes" and 35 "Taxpayer Heroes."  Nineteen Senators scored zero.

I urge you to visit our NEW Ratings website, http://www.ccagwratings.org, to see how your U.S. Representative and Senators are performing.  And when you do, I also encourage you to take advantage of the feature that allows you to e-mail your members of Congress directly from the site - congratulating or condemning them for their ratings.

Telling your congressional delegation that you are paying attention to how they vote on issues that affect your wallet is the best way to hold them accountable.

Please visit our Congressional Ratings website and write to your members of Congress today.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Schatz, President

P.S.  Please help us spread the word about CCAGW's Congressional Ratings so more Americans can hold their elected officials accountable for their voting records on spending and taxes.  Forward this message to your friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

 ****  The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, and is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates legislation to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.  Because CCAGW engages in lobbying and grassroots activities, it is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(4) organization; therefore, contributions are not tax-deductible.  For more information about CCAGW, visit our website at www.ccagw.org. Make a contribution to help CCAGW publicize and distribute our 2010 Congressional Ratings today.

If you like unions, acorn, palestinians, higher taxes/unemployment/gas-food prices, less services then vote for josh Shapiro

he was the first politician in penna to endorse obama over Hillary.....great judgment

gene

Josh Shapiro at Abington High School (10/3/08)

The ShapiroObama Debt Curve - A New Direction

2011 DEBT:  For 2011, the government had to borrow 36 cents of every dollar it spent. The string of massive debts has made interest on that debt the fastest growing budget category.

 Susan's Paul Ryan Medicare Pamphlet - please print this and give it to your contacts

Van Jones still a commie? 

Despite being forced to resign his White House position in disgrace for being a 9/11 truther, Van Jones is still playing an influential role in the national dialogue. Van Jones, a self described communist, has never actually denounced communism. He's dropped the radical pose for the radical ends -- more evidence? The Communist Party recently attended his American Dream conference series and sang his praises. WATCH.

Blaze Exclusive: Texas High School students made to recite Mexican National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance