Quote of the Day - November 2, 2011

Riot Gear and Bonfires: Occupy Oakland Degenerates Into 'Chaos' Overnight

OAKLAND, Calif. (The Blaze/AP) - A day of demonstrations in Oakland that began as a significant step toward expanding the political and economic influence of the Occupy Wall Street movement, ended with police in riot gear arresting dozens of protesters who had marched through downtown to break into a vacant building, shattering windows, spraying graffiti and setting fires along the way.

"We go from having a peaceful movement to now just chaos," said protester Monique Agnew, 40.

Texas GOP Vote

Restore Renew Reunite

 

How Can You Watch the Cain-Gingrich Debate? 

By Texas GOP Vote

If you are not able to make the trip to Texas, the C-SPAN Network, WSB Radio Network and The Neal Boortz Network will offer fully televised and audio live broadcasts of The Cain-Gingrich Debate on November 5th in The Woodlands, TX, which starts at 7pm. It will also receive coverage from major media networks as well as TexasGOPVote.

"We have had tremendous interest in this debate," says Julie Turner, President of the Texas Patriots PAC. "This event fundamentally changes the way 'We the People' make decisions about whom to support. We believe these news and media organizations are a perfect fit for this format. We are committed to provide access to what happens in this historic debate to the most people for the longest period of time, and we will do that after the event using the web."

The one and a half hour debate will be lightly moderated by Rep. Steve King of Iowa and Ben Streusand, Chairman of the Texas Advisory Board of Americans for Prosperity. The candidates will be seated for a roundtable discussion. This will be a unique opportunity for people to really get to know each of these candidates - you will not want to miss out!

Visit the Site Here . . . 

National Popular Vote Vs. The Electoral College

The Electoral College has fallen on hard times. A new Gallup poll reveals that a majority of Americans-62 percent-would prefer that the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide becomes President, while 35 percent would keep the Electoral College. Since the 2000 U.S. presidential election, there have been many ill-informed calls to abolish the Electoral College. The National Popular Vote (NPV) plan is the latest in a long line of schemes designed to replace the Electoral College. NPV rests on flawed assumptions about the Electoral College, violates the Constitution, and is rife with practical problems.

The National Popular Vote is an interstate compact in which participating states agree in advance to disregard the popular vote results in their states and allocate their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. This agreement would go into effect if enough states cumulatively possessing 270 electoral votes (the number needed to win an election) join the compact. So far, eight states and the District of Columbia (accounting for 132 electoral votes) have signed on to NPV and promised to ignore their citizens' choice for President.

The National Popular Vote wrongly assumes that the Electoral College does not reflect the nation's choice for President. As Tara Ross explains in "The Electoral College: Enlightened Democracy," the Electoral College rewards candidates who build national coalitions and confers a mandate to govern. With the Electoral College, presidential candidates compete in simultaneous elections across 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state, except Maine and Nebraska, has a "winner-take-all" system, whereby the presidential candidate who wins the state receives all the state's electoral votes (calculated by adding the number of Representatives to the number of Senators in the state). A President is elected when one candidate obtains a majority of the states' electoral votes.

The Electoral College ensures that candidates build nationwide coalitions and demonstrate that they will be good representatives for a diverse nation composed of both small and large states. Candidates who focus too narrowly on a handful of states, regions, or metropolitan population centers will not gain enough electoral votes. The Electoral College also magnifies the margin of victory for presidential candidates and, therefore, confers a sense of legitimacy to the new President.

By attempting to alter the Constitution through an interstate compact without congressional consent or an amendment, the NPV is unconstitutional. The Compact Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 10, Clause 3) prohibits states from entering into any agreement with another state without the consent of Congress. Supporters of the NPV claim that, because Article II of the Constitution gives state legislatures the power to determine how electors are chosen, the NPV is constitutional and requires no approval by Congress. "Because it is politically easier to convince a smaller number of states with the required electoral votes to join the compact than to persuade two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states to amend the Constitution " Hans von Spakovsky explains in his latest paper, "the compact is an expedient way for proponents of the NPV to circumvent the Electoral College without formally amending the Constitution."    With the NPV, a candidate does not need to win a majority of the national vote to be President. The NPV awards the presidential election to whichever candidate receives a plurality rather than the majority of the national popular vote. With its plurality requirement, the NPV could encourage the rise of third parties and lead to the election of presidential candidates by unprecedented, small margins. A President elected by only 25 or 35 percent of the American people would not have a mandate to govern, and questions about his legitimacy could pose grave consequences both for the nation and for any actions he took as President.

To make matters worse, the NPV would encourage voter fraud and make recounts more problematic. Currently, a fraudulent vote is counted only in the district in which it was cast and therefore can affect the electoral votes only in that particular state. Under the NPV, however, voter fraud in any state would affect the aggregate national vote. Additionally, any suspicions necessitating a recount in even a single district would be an incentive for a national recount. Thus, rather than just forcing a single state with a close vote to go through the painful process of recounting votes by precinct, a recount will effectively challenge the tallies of each the nation's 180,000 precincts.

Replacing the Electoral College with the National Popular Vote would be a disaster. For more than two centuries, the Electoral College has proved itself to be both effective in providing orderly elections for President and resilient in allowing a stable transfer of power of the leadership of the world's greatest democracy. And that makes it a constitutional process worth keeping.

A Special Invitation
To a Two-Day Campaign Training
Presented by Pennsylvania Family PAC

Changing the Culture by Winning Campaigns

November 9-10, 2011

Harrisburg, PA

Voters today - perhaps more than at any time in recent history - are yearning for principled candidates committed to standing strong for the timeless values upon which our country was founded and standing stronger against the politics-as-usual establishment working to undermine those values.

•         Are you such a candidate - or do you know one running in your area that you'd like to help? or
•         Do you wish you had the skills to help elect a good candidate? or

• Have you thought about running for local or state elected office - or know of someone else?

The Winning Campaigns training school shows pro-life, pro-family, principled - candidates, campaign staff, and grassroots activists how to run winning campaigns without compromising their values - with a special emphasis placed on running and winning primaries (even against incumbents). 

Who should attend?
Local or state candidates, potential candidates, campaign staff, campaign volunteers, grassroots leaders, and concerned citizens - who are committed to advancing pro-life/pro-family principles. This training is perfect for anyone who wishes to learn how to run or assist the local campaigns of those running for elected office.

What's the cost?
Nothing; registration is free, but you must register in advance. 

More details on the event and an informational brochure are available by request. To get more information or to register, call Dan at 717-545-0600.

THIS IS BY INVITATION ONLY. YOU are invited (as a PA Family supporter), but if you know of someone else who could benefit from this training as a candidate or potential candidate or campaign worker, please let them know and have them contact us directly. But hurry, space is limited and reservations should be made by November 4th.
 

Dear Members and Friends,

Here's what FreedomWorks had to say (in quotes) about the upcoming vote (today & tomorrow) on the phony School Choice Bill (SB1).

"We can achieve school choice this year, but the time to make your voice heard in Harrisburg is RIGHT NOW."

Our rebuttal:

SB1 would achieve school choice only for a select few low income

students who live mostly in the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg school districts--provided their parents make 130% of the poverty level or less (purposely vague language). Children whose parents are considered working poor or middle income would not qualify.

A low income student from an urban school district would receive thousands of dollars more than a low income student from another district. The resulting disparity could be as much as $10,000.

Rep. Curt Schroder's bill, HB 1768, would provide a $5000 voucher to every child in PA regardless of income level or school district. His bill, if passed, would achieve real school choice.

"On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee is set to vote on an amended version of SB1 that is being sponsored by Senators Piccola and Williams. If it passes out of committee, SB1 is expected to come up for a floor vote in the full Senate on Wednesday, October 26th."

Our rebuttal:

Even though SB1 was declared dead in June--like Freddy

Krueger--it has come back to life to haunt us this Halloween season.

"This bill will finally put parents and students in charge of Pennsylvania's education system by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit program and instituting Opportunity Scholarships for students trapped in failing schools."

Our rebuttal:

SB1 creates another entitlement program. It would only help low income students attending the Commonwealth's 144 persistently failing public schools.

Middle income children and those whose parents are considered

working poor will not be able to escape--the bill would leave roughly 30,000 students in those failing public schools.

Rep. Schroder's bill, HB 1679, would provide $5000 vouchers to all children attending the 144 persistently failing public schools--regardless of income level or county of residence. If those 144 persistently failing schools close as result--so be it.

The Earned Income Tax Credit program, also known as HB 1330, which has already overwhelmingly passed the PA House, should be introduced separately in the PA Senate (not as part of SB1) and voted on quickly.

Please call your State Senators and those sitting on the fence (see list below).

Ask them to support Rep. Schroder's bills--HB 1678 & HB 1679--and not SB1. Also ask them to support HB 1330 as a separate bill.

Undecided Republicans:

Jane Earll, 717-787-8927, jearll@pasen.gov

Mary Jo White, 717-787-9684, mwhite@pasen.gov

John Gordner, 717-787-8928, jgordner@pasen.gov

Gene Yaw, 717-787-3280, gyaw@pasen.gov

Elder Vogel, 717-787-3076, evogel@pasen.gov

Pat Vance, 717-787-8524, vance@pasen.gov

Undecided Democrats:

Michael J. Stack, 717-787-9608, stack@pasenate.com

Shirley M. Kitchen, 717-787-6735, kitchen@pasenate.com

Lawrence M. Farnese Jr., 717-787-5662, lfarnese@pasenate.com

Lisa Boscola, 717-787-4236, boscola@pasenate.com

John Yudichak, 717-787-7105, yudichak@pasenate.com 

Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.

On behalf of the Association Board of Directors,

Teri Adams

The first ever National Day of Remembrance for victims of illegal alien crimes will be held on Sunday, November 6. November 6 is the 25th Anniversary of the amnesty given to illegal aliens by President Ronald Reagan.  It was supposed to prevent future amnesties.  It didn't work.  Immigration laws were not enforced then and they are not being enforced now.  

Twenty-five years is too long to ignore the victims and their families.  According to U. S. Rep. Steve King, there are approximately 9,000 Americans killed every year by illegal aliens. By initiating this memorial, the Tea Party Immigration Coalition (TPIC) plans to offer their condolences to the families and friends who have lost their loved ones and to grieve with them in their loss.

TPIC has invited concerned American citizens everywhere to stand up and recognize the undeclared, unnecessary war that our government ignores. We must insist that our immigration laws are enforced.  TPIC hopes to expose the magnitude of the crimes committed by those who have invaded our country and who ignore our laws.

This national event will be held in various cities throughout the United States.  

In Philadelphia, the Day of Remembrance is scheduled for November 6 from 1-3 p.m. at Love Park, 16^th and JFK Blvd., diagonally across for City Hall.

I urge you to stand with me and co-sponsor my new legislation, "American and Pennsylvania Laws for Pennsylvania Courts." This legislation protects the individual constitutional rights of the people of Pennsylvania from the incursion of foreign laws, in cases in which the application of a foreign law or foreign legal doctrine would violate someone's constitutional rights. 

Go here to see the full document . . .:   

Our constitutional rights and founding principles of freedom should not be abridged by any offshore entity, including and especially those who would promote Sharia law. 

Kerry Benninghoff

Scott Boyd

Dom Costa

Tom Creighton

George Dunbar

Frank Farry

Neal Goodman

Seth Grove

Kate Harper

Dick Hess

Scott Hutchinson

Rob

Kauffman

Daryl Metcalfe (asked to be listed as a 2nd)

Carl Metzgar

Scott Perry (asked to be listed 3rd)

Rick Saccone

Stan Saylor

Curt Schroder

Jerry Stern

Dick Stevenson

Will Tallman    Here are the action steps:

    1.  read the attached letter from Rep. Swanger, which went out in early June to all PA House members

    2.  visit, or call, your representative and ask him/her to call Rep. Swanger's secretary, Lily Horst, 717-787-2686, or email her at lhorst@pahousegop.com to be added to the list of the bill's cosponsors
 
    3.  timing: please move quickly, as they may be getting to the next step (obtaining a bill number).   Make contact, and gain their commitment, by August 1.  Having many co-sponsors on a bill, as you know, will help build momentum in the right direction quickly.

Thank you for your efforts.

Signed, your Legislative Focus Group
American and Pennsylvania Laws for Pennsylvania Courts

Sincerely, Sarah Hart
Chapter Leader, ACT! Pittsburgh
ACT! for America Chapter

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!

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 . . . 

Surviving an Economic or Natural Disaster Meeting - Saturday, November 12^th 6pm

Speaker:  Gordon Smith

Where:  P J Ryan's, 231 Bridge Street, Phoenixville - downstairs private dining area.
 
Natural disasters can strike at any time.  Economic downturns can wipe out your savings, your retirement and your ability to support yourself.  This session focuses on what you should do to protect your family in a financial or economic disaster.  Will you have enough food, water and medicines?  Can you survive without electricity and urban infrastructure until help arrives?  Can you support your family if your job is outsourced or eliminated? This session will help you assess the risk and offers realistic suggestions to ensure you and your family are prepared for the challenges when faced with a physical disaster or economic setback.
 
Gordon Smith retired from his international security firm last year to devote himself to the Tea Party movement.  He is dedicated to the restoration of our country and protecting our freedoms. A successful author and lecturer, he specializes in analyzing political issues, separating the truth from the chaff.  His direct approach ensures that the message is not muddled with platitudes.  Factual, straight forward, articulate and often humorous, Mr. Smith's passion for the issues, makes his presentation well worth attending.  

For additional info contact Maggie at Maggie@theunsolicitedopinion.com or Diane at uncanny2@verizon.net 

Click to visit their site and see a bigger poster . . .

A call to action has been issued! Will or can you attend?

Patriots Union.org and Veteran Defenders.org have issued  the call to action.

A DECLARATION TO RESTORE THE CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC

NATIONAL CALL FOR UNITED ACTION

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." - from the U.S. Declaration of Independence

An undisclosed number of American Veterans and former service members have come together to prepare and present this Call-to-Action on behalf of the U.S. Constitution, the Republic, the Rule of Law and equal justice for all freedom loving citizens of the United States of America. Acting together as one, via The Veteran Defenders of America, co-sponsored by civilian patriot group The Unites States Patriots Union, LLC - we issue the following CALL.

1. We CALL upon every member of federal, state and local government, legislative, judicial, law enforcement and military, who have taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitutional Republic from all enemies, foreign and domestic, to act upon those oaths for the stated purpose of restoring the Constitutional Republic.
2. We CALL upon ALL veterans and veteran organizations in America, who still believe in their oath to protect and defend, to unite with us at once - in this Declaration to Restore the Constitutional Republic.
3. We CALL for ALL citizens who still desire freedom and liberty, to stand with us in peaceful protest, and carry our demands to right the wrongs against our nation in the preservation of freedom, liberty, justice and the rule of law.

This is a NATIONWIDE Call-to-Action!

"We are Facing a Battle That Will Decide our Fate as a Nation!" - Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely (Ret.)

The time to unite and fight for the American way of life has arrived... We did not choose this fight, or this time. The fight has come to us in our time and we will not shrink from our responsibility to protect and defend the United States of America, our Constitutional Republic, and the American way of life. We CALL upon ALL freedom loving Americans to JOIN US in this honorable endeavor. We do so on the following basis...

Abuses and Usurpations

Barack Obama's once strong approval rating now stands at only 19%. The approval rating of congress is no better. The people have lost all faith in their government...

The demise of our Constitutional Republic has been underway for nearly a hundred years. As the people placidly accepted intolerable offenses against the republic, the states, and the Constitution for decades, the Central power in Washington D.C. grew ever more powerful, ever more abusive, and ever more disconnected from the very people it was formed to represent.

During the last three years, the current administration has committed the most egregious offenses against the people, the states and the Constitution, since the founding of our country and today, they operate as a virtual dictatorship, against the governed, beyond the scope and authority the people granted them in the Constitution and at odds with the will of the vast majority of American citizens.

The actions of the Obama Administration in total, rise to the level of treason against the United States and its people.

The Democratic Socialists of America are currently running Washington D.C. and they recently issued this statement in a Call-to-Action for their millions of members -

"We are the alternative to the tea party conservatives, the Republicans whose only program is to say no, the Democrats who have forgotten what progressive politics really are and the progressives who think that they can stand apart from the left."

This must not be permitted to stand...

Among other offenses, abuses and usurpations, is the following list of transgressions - (detailed in Appendix A) - altering our constitutional form of government and system of justice without authority...

• Violations against Article I of the U.S. Constitution - Congress
• Violations against Article II of the U.S. Constitution - The office of President
• Violations against Article III of the U.S. Constitution - Judicial Powers
• Violations against Article IV of the U.S. Constitution - The State
• Violations against Article V of the U.S. Constitution - The Amendment Process
• Violations against Article VI of the U.S. Constitution - Oath to the Constitution
• Violations against the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 3rd Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 4th Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 5th Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 6th Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 7th Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 8th Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 9th Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Violations against the 10th Amendment of the Bill of Rights
• Unlawful use of Military force, here and abroad
• Violations of International Treaties and Laws
• Numerous violations of the public trust
• Misuse of the people's resources
• The bankrupting of the nation, the states and the people
• Taxation without representation
• Confiscation and Redistribution of the people's earned assets
• Abuse of Judicial power

At this late date, the individually itemized list of abuses and usurpations would require an encyclopedia of unconstitutional offenses to the Republic and there is no evidence to suggest that there remains even one legitimate honest courtroom in the country to which all evidence could be presented.

There is no Article or Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which the current leadership in Washington D.C. has not abused and/or usurped over the last three years.

As a result, the normal courses of action for redress may not be adequate to solve the problem today, as all three branches of the federal government are currently acting as one, all of them beyond the scope and power granted them by the Constitution, against the principles of freedom, liberty and self-governance, and at odds with the vast majority of citizens.

Yet the Constitutional Representative Republic must be restored, no matter the means or the cost.

It is on this foundation that we morally and rightfully call for all good people to rise up, stand together, move to restore the Constitutional Republic, and hold those who have and would stand against the people, fully accountable.

WE THE PEOPLE

On behalf of the Veterans and former Service Members of America, who fought and died for freedom and liberty here and abroad, and all good and decent American citizens from sea to shining sea, we the people of the United States of America hereby demand the immediate restoration of our Constitutional Republic and an end to the Democratic Socialist abuses and usurpations which have become commonplace in the daily corruption of our governmental offices. As the true American people sit idle, the enemy grows in number and strength.

No longer will we sit idly by and tolerate the utter destruction of our country, at the hands of anti-American elitists in Washington D.C. who have mistaken the people's peaceful tolerance for acceptance of their ill-advised behaviors. The time for all good and decent Americans to stand together, in defense of the Constitution, the Republic, freedom and liberty, has arrived. The Rule of Constitutional Law must prevail. We call upon all who have taken an oath to protect and defend, to take appropriate measures now.

We the people hereby demand

1. The immediate and unconditional orderly resignation of Barack Hussein Obama, II
2. The immediate and unconditional orderly resignation of Joseph R. Biden

In addition to the known fact that the Obama/Biden ticket was advanced by way of fraudulent representations concerning the constitutional eligibility of Barack Hussein Obama II, under Article II requirements for the office of President, the Obama/Biden has committed countless crimes against the U.S. Constitution, our Republican form of government and the American people while in control of the Executive Branch.

They are not able to do this alone, but with the help and cover of many anti-American players, who have also acted at odds with their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution, our Republic and the people of the United States. As a result, these players must be removed from office and held accountable for their actions as well.

This group includes, but is not limited to the following individuals -

1. The immediate and unconditional orderly resignation of the entire Obama Cabinet, including but not limited to;

• the White House staff and unelected Czar's
• Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner
• Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta
• Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.
• Interior Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar
• Acting Commerce Secretary Dr. Rebecca M. Blank
• Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis
• Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
• Energy Secretary Steven Chu
• Education Secretary Arne Duncan
• Homeland Security Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
• EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
• Office of Management & Budget Director Jacob J. Lew
• UN Ambassador Susan Rice, the entire Council of Economic Advisers
• Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan
• Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
• ·         House Speaker John Boehner
• ·         House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
• ·         Senate Leader Harry Reid
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell - all of whom have committed treasonous acts against the people, the states and the U.S. Constitution.

Further, to reinstate the rule of law and the Law of this Land, the U.S. Constitution and our constitutional republic -

1. In compliance with Article II - Section I of the U.S. Constitution for the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, -- the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
2. That every verifiable member of The Communist Party USA, The Socialist Party USA and The Democratic Socialists of America be immediately publicly identified and removed from office for overtly acting against freedom, liberty and the Constitutional Republic.
3. That in the event that these individuals refuse to immediately resign in an orderly fashion designed to serve the best interests of the United States, we demand that the 66 members of the people's House who voted against the recent raising of the nation's debt ceiling, to immediately begin impeachment proceedings against every member of the Obama administration.
4. That the seven remaining members of the U.S. Supreme Court place an immediate stay on all Executive and Legislative actions taken under the term of the unconstitutional administration beginning January 20, 2009.
5. That remaining members of the House and Senate immediately act to name new majority and minority leaders of congress, and work with the U.S. Supreme Court in the assigning of new temporary Executive Branch members, acting on behalf of the people and the will of the American majority until such time that the citizens of the United States can elect their new representatives in 2012.
6. The immediate and unconditional dissolution of all special interest congressional caucuses, including but not limited to The Progressive Caucus, The Black Caucus. In addition, the immediate closure of any and all congressional committees which have been given unconstitutional powers, including the Debt Committee of twelve just formed. Individuals are elected by the people to represent ALL of the people, not special interest groups.
7. That each state government immediately act to enforce its 10^th Amendment right to protect and defend the people of their state against a tyrannical central power in Washington D.C., by recalling all State Guard troops home to protect the sovereignty and security of their respective citizens, as well as state resources and governments.
8. That each state government act immediately to cut itself off from federal funding, and take the necessary actions to balance their own state and local budgets immediately.

These are our initial demands and nothing less than complete compliance with each of these demands is acceptable to the people of the United States. These demands have been published for public support and delivered to all members of Congress.

Further, it is our position that the normal constitutional line of succession to the presidency does not apply in this circumstance, due to the widespread complicity by members of congress, regarding both the original fraud that placed this administration in power and the ongoing effort to cover up the greatest fraud ever perpetrated on the American citizens.

The abuse and usurpation of the U.S. Constitution will not be allowed to stand. It is on this basis that We the People make these demands, in full compliance with the law of this land, the Constitution of the United States of America.

It is our sincere desire to affect these immediate and unconditional changes to the people's government through peaceful processes, causing a minimum degree of disruption to the vital ongoing business of the people and their representative government.

The individuals named in our demand for immediate and unconditional resignations have acted directly and overtly against the people, the states and the Constitution and they must be held fully accountable for their actions.

Call for the People to ACT Now

We are openly

for the American people to draw a final line in the sand and take a moral and righteous stand for the Constitutional Republic, the rule of law and the future of freedom and liberty.

The time to be tolerant and silent has passed and the time for serious action has arrived. Only the people can restore the Constitution as the Supreme Law of this Land. We must do it peacefully if at all possible and our Founders provided all the tools necessary for peaceful corrections of a ship set off course by internal enemies.

We are calling for the following specific actions, by every active and former service member and every patriotic citizen, no matter their political stripe...

• We call upon all members of the U.S. Military, the U.S. Supreme Court, Federal, State, County, Local Law Enforcement, and all Intelligence agencies, to direct all assets of the people of the United States towards the restoration of the Constitutional Republic and stand with the American citizens in compliance with their oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution and the people of the United States.
• We call upon ALL American citizens to provide necessary pressure on all law enforcement, judicial, intelligence and military agencies, until those who have sworn to protect and defend the Constitution begin to act upon those oaths.
• The current administration has done all it can to whip racial tensions and class warfare into full-blown riots and civil war, including scheduling a "U.S. Day of Rage" for communists, labor union socialists, illegal immigrants, Muslims and blacks across the country. Their "Day of Rage" was scheduled for Constitution Day, September 17, 2011, and although it was a total flop, they will continue to rage against America. It is an open assault on free-market capitalism, waged by modern day Marxists who must be stripped of their entitlement mentality. The LEFT is also planning a "Cairo style occupation of Washington in October, on the ground on Wall Street now and headed towards Washington D.C." These events are being run by the Obama White House, via a number of left-wing front organizations.
• We The Veteran Defenders of America and The United States Patriots Union call for a "unified march" from ALL fifty (50) states to Washington D.C. on Friday November 11, 2011, Veterans Day - led by American veterans and former service members with a clear purpose - to demand the immediate restoration of the U.S. Constitution, the removal and prosecution all of the individuals named herein, by voluntary resignation or articles of impeachment, and the end to Sharia Law on American soil. The Veterans March on D.C. Day - In defense of freedom, liberty and justice.
• We call for all Americans who truly do support our troops to march on D.C. with our veterans. We call upon ALL independent truckers, independent contractors, all non-union workers, all independent business owners, agents and investors, all who support free-market capitalism and the right to work, earn and own, to march together with our veterans and former service members on November 11, 2011 - Veterans Day!
• To be prepared to act as citizens to protect and preserve the Constitutional Republic, in the event that our public servants, who have sworn an oath to the Constitutional Republic, refuse for any reason, to act upon those oaths.
• To act peacefully, but prepared for a violent reaction from our nation's enemies. To avoid if possible, the RACE WAR being incited by the Obama Administration and the Black and Progressive Caucus's.
• Locally, to confront all anti-American infringements upon our Natural Rights with boots on the ground whenever and wherever local, state or federal officials act beyond their scope of authority, or at odds with the Constitutional Rights of the people.
• To begin to openly identify and address government corruption at the local, county and state levels, too often found in both governmental and law enforcement offices, also sworn to protect and serve the people of the United States.
• To be ready and willing to end the taxation without real representation by refusing to fund the anti-American regime currently in control of Washington D.C., until such time as the taxpayers of this nation are once again properly represented.
• To make the necessary provisions to secure and protect your families and neighborhoods in the event of economic instability and social chaos, similar to events already witnessed abroad, by stocking up on cash, food and water supplies, as well as personal protection items.
• In the event that the current administration or its thug supporters attempt to use government or civilian force and violence to silence the people, as in the cases of Syria, Libya, Yemen, China's Tiananmen Square, the Bonus Army of 1932 in the United States, or the UK presently wrestling with black and Muslim violence, the people must be prepared to defend themselves against such tyrannical tactics. We cannot expect that the federal government will act in the best interest of American veterans or citizens.

This CALL FOR ACTION is being issued as a joint initiative, by the leaders and members of The Veteran Defenders of America, The United States Patriots Union. All citizens who want to see the Constitutional Republic restored immediately are encouraged to immediately join one of these unified organizations and become directly engaged in our joint missions to restore America to that shining city on a hill, and beacon of freedom and liberty around the world. We the People are the solution!

Volunteer leaders across the country must join one of these organizations to take part in leading in their local areas. All supporters who do not wish to join these organizations but who do support the initiative can keep up with information concerning the action here.

Foundation for Our United Action

Our Declaration of 1776 establishes the principles upon which The United States of America was founded. On September 17, 1787, our nation's Founders ratified The United States Constitution, forming a Constitutional Representative Republic as our system of self-governance. From that day forward, the American people are guaranteed a Constitutional Representative Republic of, by and for the people, which was to at all times, operate within the confines of the limited authority provided the government by the people and their respective states.

For decades, our federal government has been operating beyond its constitutional authority, infringing upon the Natural Rights of every American citizen and every American enterprise, until our government has indeed become destructive of the common cause of freedom and liberty.

In its usurpations of the Constitution, it has committed atrocities against the people for which it was designed to protect and serve, until the people are forced to rise up in the name of freedom and liberty, casting off the shackles of soft tyranny and it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Our United Mission

We are finished with changing America to suit every anti-American whim... This time, the change is coming to Washington D.C.

It is not our intent to separate from any foreign King, nor to abolish or alter our Constitutional Representative Republic, but rather to restore it, as the Supreme law of this land, under which both the government and the governed must live.

Our united mission is to end the march of democratic socialism, which has become the most dangerous modern threat to American peace, prosperity, freedom and liberty and reinstate the republican form of self-governance guaranteed every citizen in the U.S. Constitution.

To accomplish this objective, the people responsible for the usurpation of the Constitution must be immediately removed from office and held fully accountable for their actions, setting an example for future generations, who must also be forever vigilant in the common defense of freedom and liberty.

The long train of abuses and usurpations must be brought to a swift end and the Constitutional Republic must prevail, or the United States of America will soon cease to exist.

Our mission is just - it is moral - it is legal and constitutional and it is necessary...

This is not a call to overthrow our entire institutions of government, or subvert the Law of the Land, but rather to restore those institutions to their honorable constitutional forms. As such, and under their oaths to the Constitution and the people whom they are sworn to protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic, it is incumbent upon every citizen, veteran, soldier, officer and agent to use the tools of the people to protect the people and return our government to a Constitutional Republic of, by and for the people.

Let Freedom Ring! May the Creator, who endowed each of us with certain unalienable rights, among them the right to Life, Liberty and the individual Pursuit of Happiness free from government tyranny, bless this mission of, by and for the people of the United States, and may the Lord let freedom ring in America, once again.

We demand an end to government corruption, an end to despotic leadership in D.C., an end to the current assault on all decent and honest American taxpayers, businesses and honorable public servants of the people.

We demand the peaceful return of the people's government, and we will remain resolute in the defense of the Constitution and the United States of America until the people can once again, feel secure in their nation and government.

IN GOD WE TRUST!

JOIN the MISSION HERE - http://www.veterandefenders.org/ or HERE - http://www.patriotsunion.org/

Non-member supporters can follow the mission here - http://www.facebook.com/groups/262343767138128/

Sign your name in support of the mission here!

Requests for information or interviews should be sent here!

APPENDIX "A"

As a preface to APPENDIX "A", the following items only scratch the surface. The blatant abrogation of the United States Constitution, trampling the boundaries of law-based authority, deceit, bribery, aiding and abetting our sworn enemies, illegal manipulation of our election process and subverting election laws, and hundreds of other affronts and assaults to our liberties and freedoms, all fall under the category of "high crimes and misdemeanors." 

1. Obama is a National Security threat since he definitely has questionable allegiance to the United States, not to mention his refusal to complete and release full, frank and truthful answers as to who he is. Obama has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the public safety and security.

2. Obama and his handlers released an obvious forged birth certificate after release at least two fraudulent COLBs (Certifications of Live Birth).

3. Obama and his incompetent advisors have wreaked economic tyranny on the American people, all the while calling for the rest of us to endure economic sacrifice.

4. Obama has destroyed accepted administrative process by creating 32 Czars who only report to him, bypassing the Congress and Cabinet. *

5. In one year, Obama and his minions doubled our national debt, which took 200 years to accumulate.

6. Obama and his Justice Department sided with a foreign government (Mexico) when they sued the State of Arizona in order to force the continuation of illegal immigration. *

7. Obama and his henchmen proposed a 1% tax on all bank transactions (HR4646) to be implemented after the November 2012 elections.

8. Obama signed HB1388 to use $20 million in taxpayer money to immigrate Hamas refugees to USA, and other migration assistance to Palestinian refugees.

9. Obama passed "Dream Act" by Executive Order which aide's illegal aliens through

"prosecutorial discretion" all to garner votes for his election. The Heritage Foundation has provided extensive proof that illegal aliens and immigrants with green cards are committing rampant voter fraud. *

10. Obama's socialist, radical, dictatorial Moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, for thirty years a major source of energy for America, and which a Federal Court ruled was unconstitutional, continues to prevent drilling, all under the pretense to protect the environment and the fraudulent notion of global warming. He is indifferent to the loss of 10,000 jobs and 87,000 workers destroyed. Perfect excuse to push "Cap and Trade" with environmental regulations, and to push for governmental control of energy industries, i.e. General Motors, banking and healthcare.

11. Obama and his Czars want to tax church contributions and replace charities with government welfare. *

12. This administrations massive expansion of the federal government (350,000 employees) through agencies and Czars, whose goal is to "fundamentally transform America."

13. Obama's own Federal Elections Commission documented that he got at least $33.8 million from disallowed foreign contributions, including 520 contributions from interests in Iran, and $30,000 from Hamas-controlled Gaza area. *

14. Obama said, "We must reward our friends and punish our enemies." 70 individuals who raised $50,000 or more for him "have been rewarded with ambassadorships or high Ranking jobs." 

15. Obama and the cabal's National Security Strategy released in May, allows for the targeted assassination of US citizens including "homegrown terrorists" without due process. *

16. Obama dhimmitude given Ramadan and Iftar dinners in the White House, while he cancels the National Day of Prayer without one word of objection from the Congress.

17. Obama and his Muslim buddies agree and defend a 15 story mosque, bankrolled by terrorist sympathizers and anti-American Muslim groups, to be erected feet from the hallowed ground of the World Trade Center.

18. Obama and his Justice Department's refusal to support, defend and enforce US law, i.e. Defense of Marriage Act, stating it was unconstitutional, thereby circumventing established law and the rulings of the courts. *

19. Obama and his warmongers attack Libya without any authority from Congress. *

20. ObamaCare ruled unconstitutional and ordered stopped by the Federal Court...it was implemented regardless of the Federal Court. *

21. Congress said Cap and Trade was unconstitutional and refused to pass the same.  Obama ordered the EPA to enact the provisions regardless of the Congressional ruling. *

22. Obama's use of taxpayer money to pay for Democrat propaganda including $15 million for The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act road signs and $18 million for the continually misleading recovery.gov website. *

23. $770 million of taxpayer funds given to Egypt and Cyprus for the restoration of mosques through USAID. *

24. Obama has disgraced the United States by bowing to foreign potentates, while at the same time snubbed our longtime allies, Great Britain and Israel. Obama and his friends have deliberately fostered hate against the Jews and Israel by promoting a Palestinian State.

25. Obama's Department of Justice refusing to prosecute Black Panthers in Philadelphia caught on tape brandishing weapons in front of a voting site to intimidate voters. Further the stated intentions of political appointees of Obama who said they would ignore voter crimes committed by blacks, Latinos and other minorities. *

26. Obama and his Cabinet intentionally refusing to secure our nation's borders is in direct violation of Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution. This is an effort to blackmail Republican support for comprehensive immigration reform. They are in essence holding the Border States and residents as political hostages during a time when they live in fear and danger. *

27. Obama and his handlers continually ignore Congress's constitutional obligation to vet presidential appointees, as none of his 32 Czars was vetted by Congress, and his appointment of the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was appointed during Congress recess. *

28. Department of Homeland Security now investigating to determine the political association for those making Freedom of Information Act Requests. If you are a Republican you request will be delayed and even ignored altogether.

29. Obama's Justice Department refusing to sue sanctuary cities for violating US immigration law. *

30. Obama's executive order which allows Interpol to operate in the US with no restraints, and without any oversight from Congress, courts, FBI or local law enforcement. *

31. Obama's administration and Justice Department discourage whistleblowers and prosecute them.

32. Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton's ongoing effort to create international small arms accords that will subvert the Second Amendment rights of US citizens.

33. Obama and his State Department has failed to treat as an Act of War the takeover of sovereign land  belonging to Arizona by the Mexican drug cartel.

34.  The State Department used $23 million in taxpayer money to transform Kenya into a constitutionally communist country where freedom of speech is limited and property rights are based on social justice. Don't forget the Kenyan constitution allows for Sharia Law in some regions, which means women will not have basic human rights. *

35. As part of the auto industry bailout and forced closings, shut down an unbelievable disproportionate number of dealerships in rural areas that did not vote for Obama.

36. Obama's refusal to have a press conference and answer the difficult questions as is expected by every US President. And as is usual with his total lack of respect for anyone but himself...he is always late for everything.

37. Obama and his minions have downgraded the value of human life with their opposition to his signing "Born Alive Infants Protection Act"; however they lifted the ban on overseas abortion funding using US taxpayer's money.

38. Obama's State Department foreign policy continually will do anything to insult our allies, embarrass the United States, all the while elevating and promoting third world Muslim countries. *

39. Obama and his environmentalist henchmen are prohibiting US industries from taking advantage of our own natural resources including coal, oil, uranium and timber. *

40. Despite all the political rhetoric about the historical downgrade of our nation's credit rating, the devaluation was a mere shadow of the colossal degradation Obama and his socialist cadres have inflicted on our Country since January 20, 2009. More significant than our nation's credit, our nation's credibility as a constitutional republic has suffered relentless and ruthless damage and offense. *

41. Obama deployed 1200 National Guard troops to Border States, where they will, under no circumstances, be used to stop the flow of illegal aliens and drug traffickers.

42. Despite a court's ruling and Congress's opposition, Obama's FCC continues to try to gain control over the Internet, by reclassifying internet companies as telecommunications providers, thereby making them subject to FCC regulation. *

43. A slick move no one noticed moving the Census Bureau out of the Commerce Department directly into the White House and under the control and management of Rahm Emmanuel, Chief of Staff.

44. Obama attempts to run this Country with Executive Orders.

45. Under the cover of secrecy and without any input from Congress, state or local officials and current land owners, the Department of the Interior plans to take control of millions of public and private lands in Western states by designating them national monuments.    

46. Obama through Eric Holder has handcuffed and taken over the CIA, which has been the most critical, independent information gathering resource safe-guarding our national security. Obama has revealed, ridiculed and condemned CIA interrogation methods which were previously approved by Congress and cleared through the Justice Department. He has demonstrated to our enemies (terrorists) that they need not fear us. *

47. Obama's known history is replete with symbiotic associations and participation with admitted anti-American radicals, many of which/who advocate the destruction of American imperialism and capitalism, even though violent means. Consider William Ayers, Khalid Al Mansour, Rhashid Khalidi, Jeremiah Wright, Sol Alinsky, James Cone, Mike Klonsky, as well as organizations such as the Weather Underground, STORM, Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Woods Foundation, ACORN, which have all received major tax payer funded support. Obama has never denied or even argued about his nefarious involvement with these people and organizations.

48. At the expense of the American taxpayer to the tune of  $6 Billion, Obama and his handlers have established their own Civilian Paramilitary Security Force made up with the likes of SEIU, STORM, ACORN, RUCKUS, The Apollo Project (Soros), AmeriCorps, Color of Change, Drummond Pike/Project and others who choose to remain anonymous. *

49. Loss of free speech to the tune of half a billion dollars of taxpayer money, given to Obama appointee Mark Lloyd "FCC Diversity Officer", and avowed pro-Chavez radical, ordered by Obama to rein in free speech on the airwaves by reorganizing the FCC and placing a tax equal to annual operating costs on local radio stations, which they either pay or lose their license to a new minority owner. *

50. Historic and unprecedented move by Obama's cabal to indoctrinate our children in socialist, humanist garbage, sent a video to all schools, and naturally this scheme was promoted by the NEA, with the children taking a pledge, "...to be a servant to our president and to all mankind", and then they chant over and over "together we can." He is asking our children to choose him and his agenda, over anything you might teach at home. *

51. Obama's appointment of Safe Schools Czar, Kevin Jennings, founder of Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, has determined required reading material for our schools which promotes pornography, not to mention homosexuality.

52. Obama protected union interests over those of GM and Chrysler bond holders during bankruptcy proceedings, forcing investors to accept millions in losses, funds which they were legally entitled to. *

53. In a time when Americans are asked to sacrifice, I guess this does not apply to Michelle Obama, since she has 22 personal assistants, which does not include a markup artist and hair stylist, at the cost to the American taxpayer of $6,364,000 for 4 years. These assistants' sole duties are to facilitate her social life. She must be a lot more incompetent than first thought, since as First Ladies Hillary Clinton only had 3 assistants, Jacqueline Kennedy had 1 assistant, and Laura Bush had 1 assistant.

54. On June 9, 2011, Obama signed Executive Order 13575 establishing the "White House Rural Council" which establishes unchecked federal control into rural America in education, food supply, land use, water use, recreation, property, energy, and the lives of 16% of the US population. No Congressional or local government oversight or input. *

55. Obama's handler's establishment of the "Super Committee" is the final nail in our republic's coffin, and the establishment of a Marxist dictatorship. Congress has always had committees which meet and return to the main body with ideas and suggestions, which is then amended, debated, rewritten, and finally voted on. Not this Super Committee, their determinations are presented to the Congress who are not allowed to discuss debate, modify, rewrite. The Congress is limited to a straight up or down vote.

56. Obama forced British Petroleum to set up $20 billion slush fund supposedly to compensate Gulf coast residents and businesses, and sets up an Obama appointee to administer funds with no judicial or congressional oversight. *

57. Obama's cabal canceled 77 oil field development contracts already certified as proper by the Bush administration. This deliberate affront by Obama's Interior Secretary prevents the extraction of 3 trillion gallons of oil in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and North Dakota, which is more than enough to end our dependence on foreign oil. *

58. Obama signed the Russian-American START treaty which hampers US missile defense development and makes it difficult for us to modernize our rapidly aging nuclear weapons arsenal. It represents unilateral disarmament by the US in return for nothing more than Russian good will. What a joke.

59. Perhaps one of Obama's most pathetic stunts was his chair of the UN Security Council, never done by a US sitting President. He was in the right place sitting as chair over an organization ruled by tyrants, and showing his true dual loyalties.

60. We need to look at Obama's character, or in this case, his lack thereof. Obama is a total incognito with zero accomplishments. No experience, no education, no business sense or experience (only 8% of his entire administration has ever held a real job or run a business, other than being on the government dole), no military experience, a dangerous and treacherous narcissist, arrogant, incompetent, no class, serial liar, no humility, juvenile, no dignity, no genuine empathy, his personal narcissism and arrogance veiled by his hollow spoken empathy, quite ignorant, racist, Muslim, bereft of conscience, unable to determine between his fantasy and reality, incapable of genuine caring or con

concern, artificial, blames everyone else for his failure, and most of all Obama is a puppet, owned by his handlers, who maneuvered and manufactured his pathetic life. 

61. Misuse of federal power and money in illegal international gun and drug running, the mis-distribution of taxpayer funds and manipulation of foreign governments, racketeering and smuggling, such as Project Gun Runner, resulting in the murder of U.S. agents.

A Message from Col. Harry Riley, USA, Ret.:

A day-long muster/rally at 0600 hours on 11-11-11 at the Washington Monument.

Our natons rudder is broken patriots...we're sending Libyan rebels to Germany for treatment in US Military hospitals and you wonder who pays?  Guess what....we do!.  At the same time Senator McCain is agreeing to rape military TRICARE health benefits to save funds.  Just lost 12 or 13 warriors in Afghanistan today thanks to a anti-American commander-in-chief that undermines our military at every turn. This doesn't even touch government selling guns to Mexican drug dealers; millions to failed energy company; CZARS side-stepping Congress; on and on.  What  are we doing?  Obama is the enemy and people are snoozing, wondering if he will get reelected? We must stop this traitor, betrayer of the US Constitution.  This is what 11-11-11 Declaration Rally/muster in D.C. is all about...bringing to a screaming crescendo the failures and outright criminal behavior of the Obama Administration and his supporting Congress critters.

We all need to pitch in so it won't be so hard on any of us...Obama and his cohorts are slowly, like a cancer, eating away at our strength...soon we will be weakened to point of no alternative.  Be part of the fight, help with funding and lock arms and stand shoulder to shoulder together in D.C. on 11-11-11.  Our freedom and liberty is at stake...you tell me what's more important.

Col. Harry Riley, USA, Retired

Join the VFP on Nov.11 at the Phoenixville C.C

Learn how to use Electronic and Social media to defeat Obama in 2012

------Jeff Morgan will present a live demonstration of the Valley Forge Patriots website and the tremendous information and resources it provides.

------ Michelle Libor will show us all about "Facebook"  and how we can use this "social media" to get our message out, and help defeat Obama in 2012. It would be helpful to have a Facebook account in advance.

----- Folks from the Commonwealth Foundation (Dawn Meling  and jay Ostrich) will demonstrate their website "Cap--Wiz" and how it can make it easy for each of us to send powerful "letters to the editor" and letters and e-mails to our legislators. "Cap-Wiz" has templated letters on a number of issues.

Food and Drink service is available.  Parking is free.

Patriots,

Attached is a suggested list of items for the troops.  We will also need Money for shipping & boxes - we have some boxes & I think flat rate is the way to go.  A form must be filled out w/ details about what is in each box & approx. value. 

PLEASE bring items to our next VFP meeting Nov. 11th at the Phoenixville Country Club. Lets show our troops we care !!! 

Here's a list of preferred items to donate.

CANDY

Candy (hard candy/heat resistant)
Gum
Throat Drops
Twizzlers

CORRESPONDENCE
Journals
Padded Envelopes
Pens/Pencils
Writing Paper and Envelopes

DRINK
Coffee (instant)
Coffee Creamer
Gatorade
Hot Cocoa
Kool-Aid bursts- to freeze
Powdered Drink Mixes
Tea Mixes (sweet)

ELECTRONIC
CD Fanny Packs
CDs (music, books on CD)
DVDs (comedy, American travel)
Hand held electronic games
MP3 Players
Tapes

FOOD (including dry goods, snacks)
Beef Jerky
Canned Food (cheese, meats, etc)
Canned Fruit (pop top cans)
Cereal (in small boxes)
Chips
Cookies (including Girl Scout)
Crackers
Energy Bars (Cliff or Balance)
Granola Bars
Oatmeal (instant)
Pistachios and other nuts
Pop-Tarts
Popcorn
Ramen Noodles/Cup of Soup
Ravioli (pop top cans)
Salsa & Bean Dip
Snack Mix & Fruit Roll ups
Sugar packets
Sunflower & Pumpkin seeds
Tuna Kits

GAMES
Board Games
Checkers (travel size)
Chess (travel size)
Crossword Puzzles
Drawing pads/art pencils
Playing Cards
Sudoku books

PRINTED MATERIALS
Books (novels, short stories, history)
Comic Strips/Joke Books
Magazines
Newspapers (local)
Post Cards from Home

SPORTING EQUIPMENT
Baseballs/Gloves/Bats
Dart Board
Footballs
Golf Balls
Hacky Sacks
Soccer Balls

TOILETRIES/HYGIENE
Baby/Wet Wipes
Callous Removers
Dental Floss
Deodorant (gel or solid)
Eye Drops
Eyeglass Wipes
Facial Scrub
Femine Hygiene Products (for female soldiers)
Foot Powder
Hairbrushes
Hand Sanitizers (waterless)
Lip Balm with SPF 15+
Lotion (hand/body/face)
Mouthwash
Nail Clippers
Nose spray
Powder (Gold Bond)
Q-Tips
Razors (disposable)
Shampoo/Conditioner
Shower Shoes
Sunscreen
Tissues (heavy duty - i.e. Puffs)
Toilet Paper (name brand)
Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
Travel size body wash
Tweezers
Tylenol/Motrin (individual packets)

OTHER
American Flags (small)
Baggies (with zip lock)
Batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V)
BBQ cooking supplies/tools
Boot laces (brown/tan)
Bowls (large for Ramen noodles/popcorn)
Bug Spray (must be packaged in zip-lock bag)
Cameras (digital, disposable, Polaroid)
Camping Items/Equipment
Chair (folding camping chair)
Duct Tape (olive green)
Dust pan (for sand)
Fans (battery powered - small - with extra batteries)
Flashlights (mini/mag lite, extra bulbs, lots of batteries)
Fly Strips & Swatters
Fly/Ant/Mouse Traps
Foot Massager
Gloves (Nomex Aviator's)
Hand and Foot Warmers
Hometown stuff
Instant Ice-Packs
Letters from veterans & citizens
Neck Scarf/Gator
Patch Kit
Phone Cards (pre-paid, AAFES)
Photo Albums
Pinch Lights
Plastic spoons
Shoe Insole Cushions
Socks (cushioned white calf high)
Socks (moisture-wicking boot socks)
Spray Bottle (for water)   

Nullify Now! Philadelphia

LISTEN LIVE TO REPATRIOT RADIO

"BETTER THAN EVER"

(all times are eastern)

Thursday 3-4pm "America's Black Shield" - Ted Hayes and Terrance Lang

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.

Right now we are offering $100 off to anyone from PA -- all they have to do is use the code: PABUS100 (or they can just call me and I'll do it for them).

And..., Americans for Prosperity Foundation will send for FREE to the Summit (including bus, hotel, tickets to all venue and $50 for food), any person who books 15 or more people (including themselves).

Here are the details:

Americans For Prosperity Foundation is excited to announce that businessman and GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain will be joining Mark Levin, John Fund, Grover Norquist and many more at the 2011 Defending the American Dream Summit on November 4th & 5th at the Washington Convention Center.

Act now and register for one of our bus packages from your state (For PA: $259 single occupancy and $179 double occupancy [with the discount])! These packages include bus transportation, hotel accommodations, and Summit registration for one low price.

Simply click here to register.

Summit Highlights Include:

• Friday "Tribute to Ronald Reagan" 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

Also, learn about public policy issues, grassroots activism, new media strategies, foundations of economic freedom ...and much more!

Click here to register today and help defend the American Dream! Use the online discount code "PABUS100" on the registration page to get the $100 off all bus packages. Give your children the gift of freedom and bring the whole family to the Defending the American Dream Summit this year.

Please join Herman Cain, Mark Levin, John Fund, and Grover Norquist, along with thousands of fellow freedom fighters, and send a message that the American Dream is alive and well in this great country!

We have finally arrived at the point where Germany was in 1930. For general enlightenment; remember, this was signed into law last year!

Take the time to read this break down of Health Care Plan owned and operated by just a few, who are exempt. It is so very important that this gets repealed.

 

 

Since government health care will be MANDATORY - watching this should be, too. Please watch the entire video.... This is a MUST! Then send it to everyone you know - ASAP!

 

Know the TRUTH about the Government Health Care Bill H.R.3200 - Key Points

NO Ban on Light Bulbs!

  Sledgehammer Action Alert:

Urgent Action Needed! 

Repeal the Light Bulb Ban

After January 1, 2012 you will not be allowed to buy incandescent light bulbs - by order of Congress.

Your Senators and Representatives in Congress need to hear from you today.

Unless Congress takes action to repeal the so-called "energy efficiency standards" before January 1, 2012, it will be illegal to buy incandescent light bulbs. 

The replacement "green" bulbs are more expensive and give off a harsher light. 

Above all, there is no reason to force Americans to buy the bulbs. This is part of the Agenda 21 controls over energy use. It's a false premise. 

It is also part of a public private partnership (PPP) between the U.S. Government and General Electric, Sylvania and other electric light manufacturers. They green bulbs cost more and skyrocket profits to these international corporations using the "environment" as a excuse to gouge consumers. 

As in healthcare, government should not be allowed to dictate consumer choice.  

Tell Congress NO ban on light bulbs!  

Urgent that you take action now to stop this ban.

  Action to Take: 

Call your two Senators and your representative in Congress and tell them you want the ban on incandescent bulbs repealed. It must be done before January 1, 2012. 

There are several options being considered by Congress to repeal the ban. Nothing specific has been decided yet. But it is vital that they hear from you now so they know you support the repeal of the ban. 

Capitol Switchboard: Senate - 202- 224-3121

                               House - 202-225-3121

Ask for your Senators and Representative by name and you will be connected to their office. 

Call today and pass this on to your friends and family.

More victories in the battle to stop Agenda 21

Clallam County, Washington and Abington, VA have officially joined the ranks of communities voting to end their contracts with ICLEI and begin the journey down the long road toward freeing their residents of Agenda 21, (Sustainable Development) policies. These new communities bring to 12, the American Policy Center's official count of communities taking this action across the nation. However, some other publications are now reporting several more anti- ICLEI efforts which we are thrilled to add to our own total, including: Carver, MA, Pinellas County, Florida, Garland, TX, and Sarasota County, FL. If you know of more - let us know.  

That would bring the total since January, 2011, to sixteen communities that have rejected ICLEI and its Agenda 21 invasion. ICLEI had set a goal of 1,000 American member cities by 2015. We are now taking away existing member cities faster than ICLEI can add them. The momentum is picking up in our favor!  Our goal, by 2015, is that there are no ICLEI cities in the free United States of America.

Thank you for reading,



Tom DeWeese
President
American Policy Center
tom@americanpolicy.org
americanpolicy.org
    Tom DeWeese's Newswire:

Maryland Considering Flush Fee Hike/ Fee could triple in 2015
Knoxville is considering a rainwater runoff fee, i.e., you pay a tax when it rains. While reading about it I was wondering what other weird taxes our esteemed leaders would come up with and wishing at the same time that I had the imagination to come up with stuff like this (then I would sit down and write the great American novel). But I don't have the imagination so I guess that I won't get to be one of the useful idiots for the global elite. The scary thing is that while these two schemes are on the lunatic fringe now, one is already being utilized and the other probably is somewhere other than Knoxville. So in the not to distant future the powers that be will be finding even more bizarre and ridiculous ways to tax us into redistribution hell.

Poll: Clinton favored over 2012 GOP candidates
USA Today  |   "A new Time magazine poll shows Clinton easily defeating the major Republican candidates, were she somehow to become the 2012 Democratic nominee for president." That doesn't need a stretch of the imagination to be believable when Ron Paul isn't ever included in the field. But I also think it goes to show that there is no differentiation between Republicans and Democrats at the national level; they are all promoting the same sick ideas, the same belief in global governance. What is the difference between Hillary and Rick Perry? They both wear pants, they both support Sustainable Development, and they both will say whatever it takes to get to where they want to be.

Edited by Kathleen Marquardt, Vice President 

Please TAKE ACTION by calling or e-mailing these House Leaders to request them not to support SB1.  No more redistribution of wealth ant-poverty programs.   Support a School Choice programs that encompasses all Pennsylvanians, regardless of color, creed, community or economic status. It's time for Republican legislators to stand up for conservative values.

Speaker: Sam Smith -  (814) 938-4225 shsmith@pahousegop.com
Majority Leader: Mike Turzai - (412) 369-2230 mturzai@pahousegop.com
Floor Leader: Stan Saylor - (717) 244-9232 ssaylor@pahousegop.com
Whip: Sandra Major - (570) 278-3374 smajor@pahousegop.com
Education Committee Chair: (215) 257-0279 pclymer@pahousegop.com

RedState Morning Briefing

For November 3, 2011

1. Grow the RedState radio empire. Please support Ben Howe today.

Ben Howe. You may know him from such RedState posts as Attacking Attack Watch's Attack on my Attack on the Auto Bailouts and Happy Birthday President Obama!

What you may not know though is that he's in the running to have his own radio show on WBT in Charlotte. Please consider going to the WBT website today and clicking the "Like" button (this isn't a Facebook thing) on that webpage toward the bottom to vote for Ben Howe in the WBT's Next Talker event.

Ben's a good guy. I've met him a couple of times. The man can tell a story and I think he'd be great on radio.

2. The Herman Cain Campaign Is Stuck on Stupid

If I were allowed to use the word retarded these days, I'd use it to describe the Herman Cain campaign these days. But it is another word we've axed on the list for some legitimate reasons. Truth be told, I sometimes still use it and I think it might fit here.

Nonetheless, I'll go with stupid.

The Cain Campaign has made it official. It believes the Rick Perry campaign is behind the allegations about the women. This is stupid, if not retarded, for a number of reasons, chief among them is that if the Cain campaign believes Curt Anderson is responsible (something Anderson denies even to the Politico, which would give the Politico reason to out him if it were him, and they have not done so), then the Cain campaign has known about these accusations since the campaign started and still bungled the response.

Bizarrely, by the end of the day, the Cain camp was not only blaming Rick Perry, but sources close to Cain were claiming the Democratic Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, relayed the story to the Perry campaign, though somehow Curt Anderson is also involved. Huh?

More troubling, the Cain Campaign statement was sent out by its press secretary who himself has sexual harassment issues while at the Pentagon. Thus far, all we know about that is he bizarrely accused a female reporter of sexually harassing him.

Even more troubling, in blaming the Perry campaign with no more evidence than those blaming Romney have (several National Restaurant Association current or former executives are Romney supporters), the Cain campaign has managed to take a unified front in defense of him, divide it up, and come off looking like he'd be perfectly okay with Mitt Romney as the nominee so long as no one else but him could be the alternative.

A friend of mine tells me the Cain campaign thinks that so many have gone out on a limb defending Cain, claiming it was the Democrats, that now to save their own credibility these people will have to turn on Rick Perry and finish him off. I don't see that actually happens. But think about the number of people who rushed to his defense, claimed only the Democrats would do such a thing, and now have Herman Cain claiming Rick Perry did it. Talk about putting these people in an awkward position.

3. The Rick Perry Statement on Herman Cain

It is here. Just interviewed him.

More later with video.

4. Why It Doesn't Matter Who Leaked The Cain Sex Scandal

Sure it's fun trying to figure this out, but in the end it really doesn't matter because Herman Cain has been accused of some variety of sexual harassment by at least three former employees. And unless we're going to play the part of Lanny Davis and James Carville in 1996, Herman Cain owes everyone some answers.

For the record, despite the pathetic mewling by Cain and his campaign manager Mark Block blaming the Perry camp for pointing Politico towards the Cain sex scandal story, I don't see anything there more substantive than some enmity Cain obviously holds for Perry. I say enmity because of his egregious pile-on of the nothingburger "N*****head Rock" story and his statement that he would not support a Perry candidacy. Personally, I think the preponderance of evidence points to Romney.

Having said that, I don't care. Whomever pointed this story out to Politico did the GOP a great service. I can't imagine what the landscape would look like if Cain had won several primaries, or Heaven forfend, the nomination and then had this drop.

5. Frank Lautenberg/Rush Holt paid out race-tinged hush money?

I believe that the word that both the senior Democratic Senator from NJ, and the Democratic Congressman from NJ-12, would insist on seeing here would be allegedly. As in, allegedly former canvass worker Christopher Nastuk was told that it would be, ah, "demographically undesirable" to use African-American canvassers in Holt's lily-white district. Or, allegedly the minority canvassers that Nastuk did hire were fired anyway "and replaced by white canvassers whose names were provided by e-mail in a text document titled "nobrolists" - which Nastuk said he took to mean "no bro-thers," in a disparaging slang." Not to mention, allegedly Nastuk got fired after raising a stink about this. And, finally, allegedly Nastuk and four other plaintiffs took this to court and got a 40K settlement out of Lautenberg and Holt.

Heritage Hotsheet

Experts on the Day's Hottest News

Items for November 3, 2011

Colorado Says Occupy This

WSJ POLITICAL DIARY

Domestic Woes Sideline Foreign Policy

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Israel test-fires missile as Iran debate rages

REUTERS

Europe's Greece Ultimatum

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

House Republicans Back Tax Revenue in Supercommittee Plan

BLOOMBERG

Obama Aims at New Election Laws

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Latest Heritage Research:

Bad Medicine for Federal Workers and Taxpayers: Killing FEHBP Competition

by Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D.

November 2, 2011

True Tax Reform: Improves the Economy, Does Not Raise Taxes

by J.D. Foster, Ph.D.

November 2, 2011

Pick a fight with a liberal on: 

LIBERAL DOUBLE STANDARDS.
As Ann Coulter says, funny, isn't it, how liberals want everything they dis-approve of banned (smoking, guns, practicing Christianity, ROTC, the Pledge of Allegiance) and whatever they approve of (abortion-on- demand, gay marriage, pornography, condom distribution in public schools, screenings of An Inconvenient Truth) made mandatory. 

List just a few of the things environmental and health advocacy groups would have banned on the "precautionary principle," if only they'd had the chance: 

Fire: too hot, hazardous, and burn-y

The wheel: dramatically increased risk of vehicle accidents

Electricity: can cause electrocution; creates obesity in people who sit too long in front of TV sets

The internal combustion engine: burns potentially planet-destroying fossil fuels.

The internet: might be used to disseminate dangerous information casting doubts on Man-Made Global Warming and/or pouring scorn/mockery on well-intentioned environmental and health advocacy groups thus impeding their noble battle to make the world entirely safe for everyone.

Why Obama Believes He Can Tame the Islamists and Why He's Dead Wrong

By Barry Rubin, Rubin Reports 

What does theocracy look like? This is what theocracy looks like! *

Many people find it hard to comprehend what the Obama Administration thinks it's doing in the Middle East. But it's really very simple if you know the history of the arguments, read carefully administration speeches and documents, watch their actions, and talk to some of those involved.

Leaving aside a number of points I've made in a previous article (which would be good to read in conjunction with this one), I want to focus here on one concept: the idea that the U.S. government has outsmarted the Islamists.

After all, it has "lured" them into elections and a share of power, thus supposedly locking them into democracy and compromise, a permanent adherence to the rules of the electoral and democratic game.

And if the Islamists' can't deliver the goods-more jobs, housing, and cheaper prices-they'll just lose the next election. Supposedly,...

Read the whole entry »

Israel is separating Gaza from J&S

Slater confirms what Shaked said about separating Hamas from Fatah. But he explains it much more clearly. This also explains why Lieberman was bashing Abbas and saying he prefers him to be deposed. Looking good. Looking very good. Israel doesn't have to blockade Gaza. It just has to bomb the shit out of them if they attack Israel with their new weapons. Also there will be no land corridor connecting them.

DEBKA noted previously,that this trade came about because

Those clauses, negotiated directly between Panetta and Hamas' political chief Khaled Meshaal, entailed the shutting down of Hamas headquarters in Damascus in order to undercut Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and Hizballah and loosen their hold on the Palestinians. Meshaal who visited Tehran a week ago agreed to gradually downgrade his ties with Iran in return for American patronage of Hamas.

But the bigger question is, has the US thown "Palestine" under the bus? Ted Belman

Read the whole entry »

Missiles pound S. Israel for third day

DEBKAfile Special Report October 31, 2011, 9:34 PM (GMT+02:00)

Beersheba, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Sderot were under missile attack from Gaza Monday night, Oct. 31 - hours after Israel's Home Front Minister Mattan Vilnai stated the Jihad Islami offensive launched Saturday was over. Seven missiles flew across the border on Day 3 of the assault, one intercepted in Beersheba by an Iron Dome battery. Sunday night Israeli mayors and council heads of key southern towns questioned the military assessment and kept schools closed. The continuing barrage and the army's decision to park an nterceptor battery in Rehovot, 32 kilometers northeast of the Gaza Strip, proved they were right.

debkafile reported earlier Monday:

Israel is seeing its first ever crisis of confidence between a large normally docile civilian population and the heads of the armed forces.Mayors and local council heads representing the three quarters of-a-million inhabitants of the southern towns of Beersheba,...

Read the whole entry »

NCJA provides its own "Unity Pledge"

(plus translation of ADL/AJC pledge)

The two towering pygmies of American "organized" Jewish "leadership," the ADL's Abe Foxman and David Harris of the AJC, issued a call on October 19th, for Jewish organizations and individuals to join them in signing what they called the "National Pledge for Unity on Israel," the aim of which was, they said, "to rally bipartisan support for Israel while preventing the Jewish State from becoming a wedge issue in the upcoming campaign season." After receiving little support but lots of withering criticism, the twins pouted about being misunderstood and their message distorted.

We at the National Conference on Jewish Affairs offer for your viewing pleasure what we think is an accurate translation of their pledge, followed by our own pledge, which we think is pretty clear.

THE ADL/AJC UNITY PLEDGE, IN TRANSLATION

1. We shall be silent.

2. We shall be weak.

3. We shall be...

Read the whole entry »

King Abdallah of Jordan on How No One Trusts Obama...

By Barry Rubin

Earlier this week, The Washington Post's Lally Weymouth interviewed King Abdallah of Jordan. Here's how King Abdallah responded to Weymouth's question, "Do you and other leaders in this area believe you cannot rely on the U.S.?"

He replied:

"I think everybody is wary of dealing with the West....Looking at how quickly people turned their backs on Mubarak, I would say that most people are going to try and go their own way. I think there is going to be less coordination with the West and therefore a chance of more misunderstandings."

This is devastating. I'm not shocked that the king thinks that way but I am shocked that he says so openly. In other words he isn't afraid of Obama's being angry and thinks he has nothing to lose because things aren't going to be better. That's how far the situation has deteriorated.

Imagine that instead of going to Jordan (which is also an...

Read the whole entry »

UN Votes to Make "palestine" Full Member of UNESCO

Laura: Fittingly on Halloween the ghouls, monsters and vampires in the UN have voted for the terror entity of "palestine" to become a full-fledged member of UNESCO. It's time to cut the UN off. No American taxpayer money for anti-Semites and annihilationists.

Palestine becomes member of UN cultural body Associated Press PARIS (AP) - Palestine became a full member of the U.N. Cultural and educational agency Monday, in a highly divisive move that the United States and other opponents say could harm renewed Mideast peace efforts.

U.S. Lawmakers had threatened to withhold roughly $80 million in annual funding to UNESCO if it approved Palestinian membership. The United States provides about 22 percent of UNESCO's funding.

Huge cheers went up in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization after delegates approved the membership in a vote of 107-14 with 52 abstentions. Eighty-one votes were needed for approval in a hall with 173 UNESCO...

Read the whole entry »

Israel test fires missile that can hit Iran

 

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel successfully test-fired on Wednesday a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and striking Iran.

Israel considers Iran its most dangerous threat. It cites Tehran's nuclear program, its ballistic missile development, repeated references by the Iranian leader to Israel's destruction and Iran's support for anti-Israel militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran denies the allegations that it aims to produce a bomb, saying its nuclear program is meant only to produce energy for the oil-rich country.

  VIDEOS * TODAY'S HOT PICKS 

Post Ignores Sexual Assaults in Wall Street Protests

Cliff Kincaid 

From Tippecanoe to Roosevelt's Patrol

Military History, W. Thomas Smith, Jr. 

Today's Hot Topics

We choose, you peruse. 

UNESCO Fiasco

Claudia Rosett

Was Anne Frank Murdered At Auschwitz?

Moshe Phillips

Shall We Dance?

Darlene Casella 

Occupy Oakland's Dangerous "Strike" Follies

Michelle Malkin 

Administration Sues South Carolina Over New Immigration Law

Jim Kouri, CPP 

South Carolina Sued, While Southern Border is Still Porous

Immigration News Update 

Iraq's "Mission Accomplished" Banner Hides True Realities of U.S. Withdrawal

Lt. Colonel James G. Zumwalt, USMC (ret) 

"Prince Nayef's ascent is a victory for the Wahhabists. He may be a foe of Al-Qaeda but the problem of radical Islam is much bigger than Al-Qaeda. Prince Nayef is part of that problem, not the solution...."   

Read more: 

First shipment of aid from Israel heading to Turkey

Five portable structures, 2,000 fleece coats, 2,000 fleece blankets and 100 inflatable mattresses will be delivered to quake-ravaged region. Another aircraft carrying aid expected to depart Friday morning

Boaz Filer

All of the above will reach Turkey late Wednesday in the first shipment of aid from Israel in the aftermath of the earthquake that has claimed the lives of 471 people.

"We are a nation that views humanitarian aid as a fundamental value," a Defense Ministry spokesman explained the decision to help Turkey in what may help improve the strained relations between the two countries.

Read more: 

The State of the Race

The race for the Republican nomination has all the appeal of a three-legged sack race by a bunch of blindfolded angry drunks-- and it's not entirely the fault of the candidates. Elections used to be events, now they're a permanent process that begins some time after the last election wraps up. The long round of debates is the slow long road to the primaries that succeeds in making everyone seem unequal to the task.

After the battle of 2010, conservatives were looking for a candidate to raise the standard and lead a charge on Washington D.C., instead we're stuck with a bunch of politicians with feet of clay and clumsy soundbites. The debate isn't about ideas, not about what needs to be done in Washington D.C. or even what the candidates believe, it's a bunch of personality clashes between men who want the job, but lack the combination of ideas, competence and inspiration to make it happen.

We have inspirational candidates, we have candidates with ideas and we have candidates who project competence-- but we don't have all three in the same man or woman, and so we're left having to pick and choose between the negatives.

There isn't much for the candidates to do except make appearances, raise money, get their name out there and figure out a way to edge out their rivals. But where a genuine leader would have raised a banner of ideas, instead we get petty attacks funneled through the gutters of the press. The wrangling and the soundbites don't reflect leadership, and that's the real problem here.

While Obama is assembling a campaign built around class warfare, there is no serious challenge  coming from his opponents which means the left is achieving its mission of creating an Anti-Tea Party to take back the debate. The victories of 2010 rewarded the insurgent party. Now Obama's people are determined to present him as the insurgent fighting against a GOP congress and big business. It's a narrative tailored to peel away enough independents and conservative Democrats to score a win and it may work.

There's been a little too much complacency after the victories of the midterm election and the weak numbers for the White House have convinced some politicians that they're fighting over a carcass. They're not.

November 02, 2011
 
  RUSH BLASTS MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR  Talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh is frequently the target of partisan vitriol from the Left, and he rarely dignifies those statements with a response. Following an attack by a commenter on MSNBC's "Last Word" however, Rush was compelled to reply. Read the details HERE.
  CAIN'S ACCUSER WANTS TO TELL HER STORY   One of the women at the center of the 1999 Herman Cain sexual harassment allegations is hoping to break her confidentiality agreement and tell the media her story. Learn what is holding her back HERE.
  IS THE EUROZONE NEAR COLLAPSE?   The U.S. stock market has been on a wild, "roller coaster" ride that seems to be tied directly to the tenuous financial situation in the European Union. See the latest details on the European union HERE.

Condi TO cain - lose the race card, WHAT EXACTLY 'CAN'T WAIT?', IS NCAA THE MOB?  What's the second best thing you can do for yourself today? Peruse all of the Must-Read stories HERE.

Tired of the President's big government stimulus plans that have failed to create jobs?    Well, do not despair, a new conservative jobs plan called "Jobs Through Growth" is here and is being introduced today in the United States House of Representatives!    Jobs Through Growth, which was developed under the organizing principle that private sector growth unleashed by getting Washington out of the way will result in massive private sector job creation. And it needs YOUR support!    Will you go to www.JobsThroughGrowth.com and email your Representatives asking them to support Jobs Through Growth?    Click here to learn more about the specific components of the comprehensive Jobs Through Growth plan!  

George Soros Trader Involved in Bankrupt Firm Tied to Obama  

 Read more:

Virginia State Senator Edd Houck's Anti-Family Record
Nov 02, 2011 11:00 am

Italy Faces Up to the Evil Within
Nov 02, 2011 10:50 am

Where Do Things Come From?
Nov 02, 2011 10:44 am

The White House Shell Game
Nov 01, 2011 08:16 pm

Post Ignores Sexual Assaults in Wall Street Protests
Nov 01, 2011 05:22 pm

Is Democracy the Killer of Liberty?
Nov 01, 2011 04:59 pm

The European Disaster Is Far Larger Than Greece
Nov 01, 2011 03:31 pm

The Ashton Equation
Nov 01, 2011 12:44 pm

Saudi Succession and Stability
Nov 01, 2011 12:30 pm

BENADOR: Kidnapping is a Crime - Beware the IDF, Soldiers of G-d
Nov 01, 2011 10:31 am

Iran's Proxy War from Gaza
Nov 01, 2011 10:20 am

When Will Americans Find True Sanctuary in Our Cities?
Nov 01, 2011 09:59 am

The Education Bubble
Nov 01, 2011 09:53 am

Media Whitewash Ghannouchi's Radical Islamist Views
Nov 01, 2011 09:42 am

Chronicle · November 2, 2011

The Foundation

"To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted." --Alexander Hamilton

Editorial Exegesis

Is there income mobility?

"Consider these data compiled by the Federal Reserve and put in a chart by the American Enterprise Institute's Mark J. Perry in Tuesday's Examiner. The data showed that fully 56 percent of those who in 2001 were in the lowest 20 percent quintile of income earners had moved up to a higher income quintile. At the opposite end of the spectrum, 66 percent of those who in 2001 were in the highest quintile of income earners dropped at least one quintile by 2007. And, as Perry notes on his Carpe Diem blog, lest anybody think the period spanning those years might not be representative because of the housing boom that triggered the Great Recession of 2008, data cited by the Fed point to the same pattern of high income mobility from 1996 to 2005. Fully 57.5 percent of those in the top 1 percent of income earners dropped to a lower quintile by 2005, while 57.8 percent of those in the lowest quintile in 1996 moved to a higher one by 2005. Since the Occupy Wall Street protestors took up residence in New York's Zuccotti Park, Americans have been repeatedly assaulted by Democratic politicians, academics and members of the liberal mainstream media bewailing the growing income inequality in the country. ... But such a static analysis misses entirely the more relevant question that has long been at the heart of the American economic miracle: To what degree can individuals change their economic status through their own labor and without having to overcome obstacles to their efforts by law or custom? ... The income mobility data above surely make clear that the right answer is not increasing federal taxes on the rich or expanding government regulation of business." --The Washington Examiner

Does your wealth come from hard work or government redistribution?

Upright

"Obama's ceaseless attack on the 'rich' and his effort to divide Americans on the basis of their income and wealth can best be seen as a diversion, an attempt to distract Americans' attention from his failure to address our interrelated economic malaise and fiscal crises. ... Obama blames the rich for problems he's causing, despite the absence of causal relationship between the distribution of our national income and wealth and the economic and debt problems we face. Why? Simply because that's what demagogic community-organizing, Marxist-leaning Alinsky disciples do -- and it's disgraceful." --columnist David Limbaugh

"In truth, if the Obamavillians want jobs, their interests run counter to those of the unions, which are far more interested in maximizing pay and benefits for people who already have jobs. When forced to choose between layoffs and reductions in compensation, unions almost always opt for the former. And whereas unions are devoted to seniority, many denizens of Obamaville are so junior that they have yet to land entry-level positions. Unions must really be in trouble if they are looking for support in such an unpromising crowd." --Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto

"What should the West do about the gross violations of human rights so prevalent in North Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere? My short answer is to mind our own business. The only case in which we should interfere with Middle Eastern affairs is when our national defense or economic interests are directly threatened. That is, for example, if Iran were to meddle with Middle Eastern oil shipments or if we discovered good evidence of its building nuclear weapons, then we should militarily intervene. What they want to do to one another is none of our business." --economist Walter E. Williams

Insight

"Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." --English author George Orwell (1903-1950)

"It's easy being a humorist when you've got the whole government working for you." --American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935)

The Demo-gogues

Broken record: "The only way we can put hundreds of thousands of people, millions of people back to work is if Congress is willing to cooperate with the executive branch and we are able to do some bold action. Like passing the jobs bill. That's what we need. And that's why I'm going to keep forcing these senators to vote on a common sense, paid for jobs proposals, and I'm going to need you to help send them the message. ... But listen, we're not going to wait, though. We're not waiting for Congress." --Barack Obama

Says the Blame-Thrower-in-Chief: "I'm less interested in allocating blame then just making sure that we're taking every step we need to, to move the economy forward." --Barack Obama

Right back to throwing blame: "People are right to be frustrated. We see a Congress that is dead locked. I have to say I've done everything I could to try to reach out to the Republicans in Congress. We tried to reduce the deficit in a balanced way. So we agreed to over a trillion dollars worth of cuts, [but] let's make sure the wealthy Americans are paying their fair share and closing some loopholes, and it got rejected." --Barack Obama

The BIG Lie: "Thirty million Americans, including a lot of people in Florida, are going to be able to get health care next year because of that law." --Obama on ObamaCare

Redistribution of wealth: "The middle class and those who aspire to it have been sacrificing for the better part of 30 years right now and have seen their income go down and the share of taxes that they pay has been significant and so I think that right now what we need to create fairness [and] ask those who have benefited so much from things that we have all paid for -- for roads and the education of their workers and all the things that we all pay for -- I think it's time for them to pay their fair share. This isn't about revenge. This isn't about punishment. This is just about fairness." --Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Not learning from mistakes: "I know others disagree, but we have very lax laws when it comes to guns. My concern ... is that there's been a lot said about Fast and Furious, and perhaps mistakes were made. But I think this hunt for blame doesn't really speak about the problem. And the problem is, anybody can walk in and buy anything." --Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) arguing for a national gun registry, ironically, no sooner than Canada moved to abandon their own

We Depend on You

"We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times." --George Washington

The Patriot Post's 2011 Annual Fund support campaign is under way. Our team of writers, editors and support staff depend on your financial support so that we may continue to offer The Patriot Post, free of charge, to the kind of grassroots leaders that make our country great.

As with other mission-based, donor-supported organizations, we raise most of our budget in the last two months of each year. At latest accounting, we still must raise $321,344 before year's end.

Dezinformatsia

Media narrative: "Republicans won the 2010 Congressional elections. They were supposed to come to Washington and make a deal with the Democrats, one favorable to their side and the people who voted for them, but a deal nonetheless. ... The Tea Party Republicans rejected a consensus. They deserve the whack they're now getting in the polls. Nine percent of the country approves of the job Congress is doing. Got it, Mr. and Mrs. Tea Party? You are less popular -- not just less than Jimmy Carter, not just less than Barack Obama -- but any president in history." --MSNBC's Chris Matthews

Hoping for peril: "There are people in the streets, here in New York ... [and] in other cities around the country and around the world. Does the Republican Party, if they ignore the Occupy Wall Street group, do they do so at their own peril?" --NBC's Matt Lauer

Sometimes the truth is hard: "The conservative view, as you know, is, 'Look, we're one of the only countries in the world literally propping up the housing market.' You've got two of the big mortgage giants in the country guaranteeing 90 percent of the mortgages. They are now, in effect, owned by the federal government. We're not allowing the market to bottom itself out and for the true correction to happen. Is that just harsh conservative orthodoxy talking?" --NBC's David Gregory

Belly Laugh of the Week: "[I]n fact, Obama stands to the right of Ronald Reagan on issues like entitlement reform: no other President of either party has proposed raising the retirement age for Medicare. ... What Obama is supporting are not policies that divide America, especially on the major economic issues, but a sane, moderate program of action that a significant majority of Americans favor. ... To ask the President not to support those policies, as forcefully as he can, defies not only reason and best politicial [sic] practices, but also the best interests of this country." --Time Magazine's Joe Klein

Newspulper Headlines:

Out on a Limb: "2012 Election Will Be a Referendum on Obama, Whether He Likes It or Not" --The New Republic website

You Call That Fair and Balanced?: "Boy Attacked by Fox in Bedroom" --Daily Telegraph (London)

Agnostics Unsure How They Feel About Pope: "Pope Praises Agnostics" --National Review Online

Bottom Story of the Day: "Black Voters' Support for Obama Is Steady and Strong" --The New York Times

(Thanks to The Wall Street Journal's James Taranto)

Village Idiots

An odd defense: "Six weeks ago what was all the media talking about? ... What was the national discussion? ... The debt ceiling. The debt. The debt ceiling. The deficit. We've gotta reduce the deficit. We've gotta reduce the deficit. Over and over and over, all summer long. The debt ceiling. The deficit. The debt ceiling. The deficit. Can I ask you honestly, when's the last time in the last few weeks you've heard them talking about the debt ceiling? Or the deficit? This movement has shut down that bull---- discussion." --Flea Party spokesman Michael Moore

Judicial activism is good: "Let's not forget about what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices and for the first time in history, our daughters -- and our sons -- watched three women take their seats on our nation's highest court. But more importantly, let's not forget the impact those decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -- on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and love whomever we choose. That is what's at stake [in 2012]." --Michelle Obama

A call to violence? "[Barack Obama's re-election] is going to require each of you to grab somebody by the shoulders and make them understand what's at stake. ... It's up to each of you to work like you've never worked before." --Michelle Obama

We are the world: "I have a pretty good idea how the 21st century works and there's not a single successful country on the planet that operates on the theory that the government is the problem. Not one." --Bill Clinton

Short Cuts

"Sloppy words and sloppy thinking often go together, both in the mobs and in the media that are covering them. It is common, for example, to hear in the media how some 'protesters' were arrested. But anyone who reads this column regularly knows that I protest against all sorts of things -- and don't get arrested. The difference is that I don't block traffic, join mobs sleeping overnight in parks or urinate in the street. If the media cannot distinguish between protesting and disturbing the peace, then their education may also have wasted a lot of taxpayers' money." --economist Thomas Sowell

"What [Obama] spoke about [last week] was tweaking the student loan program, which he now controls. ... [I]t turns out what he is offering the students is between $4.50 and $7.70 a month of relief. ... If his audience had known how minuscule is the benefit, he would have been laughed out of that auditorium." --columnist Charles Krauthammer

"President Obama made new rules to lower student loan payments which don't apply to delinquent borrowers. The program is only open to people who are current on their payments. Helping people who aren't in financial trouble is what he accused Bush of doing." --comedian Argus Hamilton

"President Obama invited trick-or-treaters to the White House Saturday night and they had a very scary party. They sat in a circle, turned off all the lights and the kids read the president his poll numbers." --comedian Jay Leno

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

It should be pointed out that since filing for bankruptcy, it has been reported that MF Global is being investigated for "hundred of millions" of missing dollars.

MF Global was also notable for being one of 22 companies considered "financially secure" enough to sell U.S. government debt on behalf of the Fed.

Why that conclusion was reached is unclear: MF Global turned a profit just three times in the past 12 quarters.

Newt Gingrich: Impeach judges - Crush and Replace the Left - 2012 "Victory or Death!" Pt.5

And, NO Teleprompter

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

To: Friends & Supporters

From: Gary L. Bauer


Another Democrat Wall Street Scandal

MF Global, one of the largest hedge funds in America, filed for bankruptcy protection this week, after making a 40-to-1 leveraged bet on European debt. Now the FBI and the SEC are launching investigations in the wake of reports of possible fraud and violation of securities laws.

This scandal is ready-made for the class warfare that the left and their media allies have been waging in recent months against conservatives, Wall Street and investors. As the story unfolds, one would think Occupy Wall Street would be on the march, but it isn't. Why hasn't Obama used this latest example of greed gone bad to launch another attack on the 1%? Where is the media frenzy?

Here's why the silence is deafening: the chairman of MF Global, Jon Corzine, is a partisan liberal Democrat. Most Americans don't know that because in story after story big media have failed to report his political loyalties.

Corzine previously worked for Goldman Sachs. Then he won a Senate seat in New Jersey by spending a record-breaking $60 million on his campaign. After one term he "bought" the governorship of the state, again breaking all records on spending. Throughout his career he has been a major contributor to the Democrat National Committee, the Clintons, Obama and various left-wing causes. Finally in 2010, Republican Chris Christie defeated Corzine, sending him back to Wall Street.

Can you imagine how this story would be reported if Corzine were a conservative Republican? But Corzine is not an exception. Many of the worst "players" in the Wall Street/banking meltdown were loyal partisan Democrats. Most of them donated to Obama's 2008 campaign.

Even today, as Obama and the Democrats rush to embrace the Occupy Wall Street movement, they continue to rake in most of Wall Street's political cash. Ponzi scheme operator Bernie Madoff was also a liberal Democrat, and a major contributor to the left-wing causes. And, of course, who can forget hedge-fund billionaire George Soros!


Will She Or Won't She?

Late yesterday evening the Washington Post reported that one of Herman Cain's accusers has come forward to tell her side of the story. Speaking on CBS this morning, her attorney, Joel Bennett, contended that Herman Cain, by commenting to the extent that he has, had violated the confidentiality agreement reached in the settlement.

But now the Post is reporting that the woman "might be having second thoughts." Evidently, she works for the federal government and, therefore, is bound by the Hatch Act, which prevents government employees from engaging in political activities. (Telling her side of the story could, theoretically, be construed as actively opposing Cain's candidacy.) In addition, her husband is a Washington lobbyist and a registered Republican.

The National Restaurant Association released a brief statement this afternoon indicating that Mr. Bennett will contact the Association's lawyers tomorrow "after he met with his client." Stay tuned.

What happens next could have tremendous repercussions. If Cain's accusers come forward, the story lingers, his support could collapse, leading to a new GOP front-runner. (More on that below.) But if they don't come forward and the story goes away, or, as I hope, the alleged "harassment" is baseless, Cain could emerge stronger than ever.


Your Reaction

Given the attention these allegations have received over the past three days and knowing the support for Herman Cain among "End of Day" readers, I wasn't surprised by the tremendous response we received to our request for feedback yesterday. Thank you, my friends. It is very helpful for me, especially when speaking with reporters and other conservative leaders.

Cain supporters who wrote back were virtually unanimous in their reaction: These media-driven attacks have only strengthened their support for Cain. It also explains why Cain's campaign is reporting a surge of online donations in the past 48 hours.


Is Newt Next?

We also asked for feedback regarding a second choice candidate if Mr. Cain should falter in the wake of these allegations. Not everyone answered that question, but among those who did, 41% chose Newt Gingrich. Undecided was second with 19%, followed by Rick Perry (14%), Rick Santorum (10%), Mitt Romney (8%) and Michele Bachmann (7%).

Coincidentally, a prominent polling firm reports it is also finding a lot of support for Gingrich among identified Cain voters and Tea Party supporters.


Colorado Rejects Obama

Barack Obama has a problem in the swing state of Colorado. Yesterday the state's voters rejected a ballot measure to raise taxes to fund an additional $3 billion for education spending. The vote wasn't even close -- 36% to 64% against the education tax hikes.

Why is this a problem for Obama? As you may recall, "investing in education" has been one of his major themes. In fact, after the Senate failed to pass his $450 billion stimulus bill, Harry Reid broke it up and tried to pass it in pieces. The first piece they tried to push was $35 billion for more teachers. Obama thought it was a slam dunk, saying:

"They'll have to tell you why teachers in your community don't deserve a paycheck again. They'll have to tell your kids why they don't deserve to have their teacher back. They'll have to tell you why they're against commonsense proposals that would help families and strengthen our communities right now."

Well, the voters of Colorado just shot down one of Obama's biggest talking points. So, when will Obama condemn the voters of Colorado for being greedy and heartless when it comes to education? Don't hold your breath.

Obama doesn't hesitate to sue Alabama and Arizona for trying to stop illegal immigration, and he doesn't hesitate to stop South Carolina from opening up a new manufacturing facility -- because he doesn't stand much of a chance of winning those states. But he needs Colorado to win reelection. Maybe Coloradans have decided they don't need him!
 

Today's Headlines:  Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Officials From Terror-Sponsoring State 'Exempted From Enhanced Screening' by TSA

Feinstein Uses 'Fast and Furious' to Make Case for National Gun Registration

It is because of the generosity of readers like you that CNSNews.com is able to report THE TRUTH, seven days a week. Please make a gift today.

Elizabeth Dole: Safety Regulations Put in Place Under Reagan Have Saved 360,000 Lives

At Least 23 U.S. Soldiers Died in Afghanistan Last Month; 1,720 Since War Started

  Public-School Teachers are Overpaid, Heritage/AEI Study Finds

House Reaffirms 'In God We Trust' As National Motto; 8 Dems, 1 Republican Vote No

GLAAD Ignores 'Alarming Increase' in HIV Infection in Young Gay Men

Former Iranian Ambassador Jokes About Muslims Converting to Christianity, Then Condemns Gov't Meddling with Religion

Hollywood Studio Faces Movie Boycott Over Chinese Human Rights Dispute

COMMENTARY:

Put Constitutional Cap on Federal Spending
By Terence P. Jeffrey  Boehner would make a profound mistake if he leads House Republicans to vote on a balanced budget amendment that does not limit federal spending as a percentage of a GDP and does not require supermajorities to increase taxes.

Protests Go Violent, but Media Stay Syrupy
By L. Brent Bozell III
Imagine if a Christian revivalist group decided to occupy a city park for three months and required police supervision that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wouldn't the media see this as a violation of public property and an unethical waste of tight city budgets?

Occupy Oakland's Dangerous 'Strike' Follies
By Michelle Malkin
The next stage of the Aimless Occupation of America is upon us: On Wednesday, rabble-rousers in the San Francisco Bay Area will walk off jobs they don't have and encourage everyone else around the country to abandon work to protest high unemployment.

Cain-sian Politics
By Rich Galen
I haven't got a clue what happened or didn't happen while Herman Cain was CEO of the National Restaurant Association. But I do that a candidate has a much better chance of surviving an adverse event if he comes clean the first time instead of changing the story as he goes along.

NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP:

Herman Cain's accuser wants to tell her side of story, lawyer says
Energy Department couldn't manage stimulus money, watchdog says
Obama: I'll make the call on Keystone XL project
Iowa yawns at Cain allegations
NYC cafe cuts staff by nearly 25 percent as protesters disrupt business
Arizona sheriff says 2 guns found in drug bust linked to 'Fast and Furious'
Top Justice Dept. official: ATF should have stopped 'gun walking' tactics
Employers consider dropping insurance plans once health law takes effect
L.A. City Council imposes fines on owners of barking dogs
N.J. Facebook trial begs question: Does 'e-personation' constitute identity theft?
Wisconsin cracks down on teachers' porn viewing on school computers
Colorado voters overwhelmingly reject higher taxes
Denver voters reject sick-pay mandate by 2-1 margin
House GOP to subpoena immigration data to examine new deportation guidelines
Defense lawyer: defendant in murder case is 'stupid'
Republican senator urges Obama to cancel Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bonuses
Despite ethics rules, Congress' travel junkets creep back up
Justice Department IG: Hotel muffin didn't really cost $16

	Enterprise Update Eliminating barriers to enterprise and innovation

By Diane Katz

As the congressional "super committee" grapples with deficit reduction, all manner of spending is under scrutiny. A small group of farm-state lawmakers is proposing an overhaul of dairy subsidies that would supposedly reduce outlays by $131 million over 10 years. That is just a quarter of the dollars doled out annually on price controls and income supports for milk producers. In reality, much of the purported savings is illusory, and the restructuring would perpetuate producers' dependence on taxpayers.

Supporters are planning to submit the Dairy Security Act of 2011 (H.R. 3062) this week to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. A similar proposal, part of a broader rewrite of agriculture programs, is already pending before the panel. And while some of the proposed reforms are wise and most welcome-including termination of two costly and unnecessary subsidy programs-the creation of two new ones to take their place undercuts the reform effort.

>>Click here to read more on dairy subsidies.

NOVEMBER 2, 2011

The Big Issues Behind the Obamacare Legal Challenge

"Are you serious? Are you serious?" then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) famously replied when asked where, specifically, the Constitution granted Congress the authority to mandate that every American purchase health insurance coverage.

The question was very serious, it turns out, even if Pelosi's intent was sarcasm. Four federal courts have already struck down Obamacare in whole or in part on constitutional grounds. And now, with the Supreme Court widely expected to take the case in the coming weeks, three of the individuals who proved Pelosi wrong will address The Heritage Foundation on the present and future of Obamacare and constitutional federalism this Thursday at noon (Eastern). It will be webcast live.

At the time Pelosi spoke, her incredulity was hardly atypical. The Democrat-controlled Congress was racing to enact President Obama's top legislative priority, government-run health care, and there was simply no time for quaint constitutional niceties. Only months later, Speaker Pelosi's minions would contrive the magnificently named "deem and pass" maneuver by which House Members wouldn't even have to vote for a bill that the public had by then turned against.

The response to what had been a simple question-what is Congress's power?-quickly devolved into farce. Reporters' desks were blanketed with press releases from prominent law schools announcing leading academics' media availability and their considered opinion that, based on text, history, and precedent, Congress could compel practically everything. Members of Congress, in turn, declaimed the irrelevance and obscurity of the constitutional text, and, besides, weren't the courts supposed to figure these things out? And in the media, dissenters were tri-corner-topped eccentrics out of touch with 21st century America, if not reality itself.

But a few did give this small matter-whether the federal government remains one of limited powers-the serious consideration that it deserved. Their efforts pushed Obamacare to the precipice of judicial invalidation. Here are three:

Litigator David Rivkin raised the alarm in the pages of the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, arguing that the individual mandate spelled the end of limited government.

While Rivkin was making the case against the individual mandate in the press, Heritage's Todd Gaziano focused his efforts on Congress and the academic world. His article was the first to lay out methodically why the mandate exceeded even the farthest bounds of the Commerce Clause power that had been recognized by the courts.

Attorney Mike Carvin, along with Paul Clement, has been the one to steer the Obamacare litigation through the Eleventh Circuit and now into the Supreme Court. Representing the National Federation of Independent Business, Carvin has the difficult task of helping the Supreme Court formulate a precise limit on the Commerce Clause power where its previous jurisprudence has been imprecise in certain respects, while dodging the procedural barriers that the Obama Administration is attempting to throw up in the challengers' way.

In addition to the constitutionality of the mandate itself, there are even bigger issues lurking in the background that these speakers will address at our event on Thursday. The Obamacare case will determine whether anything remains of the Constitution's structural limitations on federal power; address whether the states retain any independence and power in the present day or are merely contractors of the federal government; and point the way to the future of constitutional federalism.

Pelosi couldn't have been more wrong. This is serious.

What do you think of the court battles surrounding Obamacare? Respond on our blog and learn more about tomorrow's event >> 

11/02/2011 

Obama's Student Loan Gift to Occupy Wall Street

In the 2008 election, Senator Barack Obama reached out to young Americans with a fresh message that appealed to their dissatisfaction with the nation's political process. He called it hope and change, and he connected with their hearts and minds with such success that he captured 66 percent of the vote of those under 30. Now, three years later, some of those young Americans have taken to the streets not in joy and exuberance but in anger and frustration. President Obama has heard their call, and he's now appealing once again to his political base. 

Featured Posts 

Appropriations Tracker: Monitoring FY 2012 Spending Bills

Speaker of the House Draws a Bright Red Line: No More Defense Cuts

Hutchison: Measure to Block Internet Regulation Is a Jobs Bill

The Big Issues Behind the Obamacare Challenge

Politicians Forget Why We Need A Strong Balanced Budget Amendment

QUICK HITS

Labor unions are endorsing a strike led by Occupy Wall Street protesters in Oakland, California. The unions include those representing public school teachers, community college instructors, city government workers and University of California-Berkeley teaching assistants.

Raise taxes to fund more education spending? Voters in Colorado are having none of it. At last report, a statewide ballot initiative to raise nearly $3 billion for education with increased state income, sales, and use taxes was trailing by 65 percent to 35 percent.

A U.S. Army soldier has been arrested at an Alaska military base on suspicion of espionage, Reuters reports. An Army spokesman says charges are expected sometime this week.

Want to keep an eye on Congress's appropriations process? Then check out Heritage's 2012 Appropriations Tracker. Click here to read more about it on Foundry.org.

Special Event: Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) will speak at The Heritage Foundation's annual B.C. Lee Lecture today at 12-1:15 PM on American leadership in Asia. Watch live online.

Greek Chaos Ripples Across Globe

By Arnold Ahlert
A referendum threatens disaster.
Read more »

Blame Our Failing Schools for Occupy Wall Street

By Bruce Thornton
How socialist indoctrination corrupted a generation.
Read more »

Revelations of Time

By Raymond Ibrahim
David Horowitz's new book offers an honest and moving reflection on life and death.
Read more »

Italy Faces Up to the Evil Within

By Bruce Bawer
A new Italian report on anti-Semitism dares to tell the truth.
Read more »

Union Gangsters: Jimmy Hoffa Jr.

By Matthew Vadum
A thug begets a thug.
Read more »

The Syrian Impasse

By Frank Crimi
Why hopes for Syrian regime change are futile.
Read more »

Obama's Millionaire Ignorance

By Tait Trussell
The president doesn't understand the source of wealth and its real value.
Read more »

The End of England?

By Frontpagemag.com
British police allow Islamists to celebrate 9/11 -- while disrupting a counter-protest by the English Defense League.
Read more »