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Who can stomach the Public Option?

 

At this juncture, imagine the desperation of the Congressional liberals - dependent upon campaign contributions from the Left- to cram the Public Option down our throats.

 

Do not forget! The absence of a condition-free Public Option - in ANY health care bill - will bear supremely negative consequences for Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, and of course, Barack Obama, in the upcoming elections.

These radicals are now walking on political eggs -  realizing that health care reform is utterly MEANINGLESS without a condition-free Public Option -with clear unrestricted path to SINGLE PAYER...with NO exceptions.

 

Hence, they forge ahead out of sheer political necessity - completely undeterred. Public opinion be damned!

 

Why has Barack Obama literally sweated blood running around the country, talking till he was blue (er, whatever color) in the face? 

 

Why did Nancy Pelosi nix her recent, long-standing deal with the Blue Dogs, and re-insert the Public Option into the 1300-page House Bill? Many of the canines are howling that she cares not if it should cost them their seats.

 

Why is Harry Reid - although down heavily in the Nevada polls - re-inserting the supposedly-dead Public Option, and plans on surreptitiously getting it through (via reconciliation) as a rider on an old House bill (concerning TARP reform)? 

 

Why did Chuck Schumer and Jay Rockefeller - despite a 13-10 defeat in the Finance Committee -persist in re-introducing two SEPARATE amendments containing the Public Option,  with ZERO chance of passing in the Senate?

 

Was this all window dressing?

 

Schumer and Rockefeller - in their respective states- were showing their big union supporters (NEA & the United Mine Workers) that they "will fight to the bitter end."

 

But herein lies the problem: all of them (every leftist in Congress) would rather die (politically) than miss their one fleeting chance at transforming the U.S. into a 1984-style Big Brother Socialist state- with nightmarish consequences for we Americans!

 

We cannot take them lightly! For them, the Public Option is their Alamo! They truly are prepared to fight to the end!

 

And with clear voting majorities in BOTH chambers, do not for even a milli-second think that Pelosi & Reid are not at this very moment, on the phone with either Rahm Emanuel, George Soros, or Andy Stern (president of the SEIU) figuring out their next bribe (or threat) toward whatever hapless member of Congress who stands in their way.

 

So just what are they fighting for?

 

Government takeover of 20% of our GDP; controlling the lives of every doctor, nurse, chiropractor, therapist, pharmacist, etc. Plus every hospital, lab, clinic, office, emergency room, nursing home; and the lives of everyone who becomes ill - or needs medical care -  in the next 50 years:

 

Other than that, the  average American CITIZEN will not be affected:

 

-The Public Option will be TOTALLY administered by the Federal Government.
-The Public Option wil be available to anyone who wants it, starting Jan 1, 2013. 

-The Public Option will be available to anyone, irrespective of pre-existing conditions

-The Public Option will be available to anyone, whether employed or NOT.

-the Public Option must be available to anyone whether his/her employer offers it or not.
-The Public Option will NOT have conditions placed on it by any private or for-profit entities.
-The Public Option will NOT restrict anyone from opting in or out of it.
-The Public Option will NOT be restricted from evolving into Single Payer.

A Public Option will be made mandatory for ALL government employees - including Congress.

 

NOTE: The Public Option -and ultimately Single Payer - will be fully financed by FEDERAL TAXES.

 

So herein lies the big-lollapaloosa, budget-buster, deal-breaker: The public option will quickly become prohibitively expensive due to its pool being skewed toward the unhealthy population. With everyone receiving free healthcare, the preponderance of overweight, out-of-shape (and people with pre-existing illness) will inevitably assure rocketing costs and less availability of services - ergo...RATIONING.

 

But Pelosi, Reid - and their liar teams of liberals - will never admit it! The Public Option will be a budget-breaker of the first magnitude!

 

A public option won't drive down healthcare costs - it will send them soaring! And then we'll witness the raping of America in progressive steps, as cap'n trade, amnesty, and finally, the institution of full socialism, eventually take hold within the next decade.

 

Could anything possibly be more perilous to our individual freedoms - or the long-term survival of our democratic republic?

 

Imagine the insanity: anyone, at anytime, who gets sick, needs an operation, diagnosis, or has an emergency - or just wants someone to hear of their problems - knowing they will be treated "for free?"

 

Endless lines anyone? Millions of illegal aliens flocking here (with grandma) for free healthcare? Multiculturalism on steroids? You betcha! 

 

Imagine how quick the national debt rockets to 30 trillion dollars to pay for everyone's "free" healthcare. The 35% who actually pay 90% of the taxes will eventually be ruined with incremental hikes approaching70% of one's gross income.

 

And don't forget, a PERMANENT democratic voting majority, as millions of new alien-citizens, government agencies, and bureaucrats are created - sucking the lifeblood out of the system, perpetrating fraud, and ruining whatever's left of medicare and medicaid - which will drift into obsolescence.

 

And consider the Social Security check that you don't receive in the next 10-15 years, as the U.S. goes bankrupt paying for the healthcare of illegals, and for those who can't (or won't) work.

 

Plus imagine all the nice, imported Muslim doctors that will be needed to replace all the American physicians, who will quit in utter disgust, knowing they're just another hapless, underpaid government employee, who attended college for 10 years for peanuts.

 

And given ALL this, consider the incredible wealth transfer that will take place over the next generation, as America truly becomes an income-leveling, socialist nightmare, with the government dictating nearly everything- even to what we're allowed to EAT!

 

The public option is indeed serious food for thought. And once passed, it will be impossible to swallow.
 
 
 
 
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Fighting the demon of reconciliation

 
(Quote) ....“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution”... Thomas Jefferson (circa 1789)
 
But even Jefferson could have never imagined a more power-crazed demon than Harry Reid, who has abrogated all "decorum," and now threatens unprecedented war on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
 
Reid (who looks like your skinflint uncle, who once gave you 75 cents on your birthday) now finds himself dangerously backed into a political corner. And people invested with power do not surrender it easily - or without a fight to the finish.
 
Harry Reid is indeed desperate. He cannot go forward; he cannot retreat. His Nevada constituents want no part of socialized medicine, and the polls back home are dropping. Yet the big unions that support him will take flight if a government-backed public option is not passed by the end of the year.
 
Reid is no fool. A hardcore hack, he can neither be intimidated, nor swayed by the very people who'll vote for him. Harry knows that it's money - the campaign war chest - that will bring him yet another 6 years as a U.S. senator- the most uniquely powerful job in the entire world. 
 
Hence, Reid is FORCED to take a political posture that plays to unions.
 
Dirty Harry knows that despite the polls, if a government health plan passes - INCLUDING the public option -union campaign funding will flow into his coffers like the Colorado River in springtime.
 
Midterm elections never intimidate ANY democratic incumbent - they know the old ABC campaign formula never fails: any republican opponent - even the most clean of clean - can be slandered then defeated by simply:
 
A- hiring a scumbag political ad agency to "research" - then fabricate lies
B- buying media time (in the millions); continually run negative campaign ads; levy personal attacks
C- watch gullible voters gobble up the bait, as they always do 
 
Ergo...victory! Six more years; political power preserved.
 
So wonder no more why Reid chooses to ignore not only his angry Nevada constituents, but also the two-million-strong march to his doorstep on Capitol Hill. Socialized medicine is the holy grail for the democrats, and if Reid can't muster 60 Senate votes, he'll contort Senate parliamentary rules and utilize reconciliation. 
 
Presently, with Kennedy departed for the hereafter, and Robert Byrd lingering on this side of eternity, Reid has but 58 votes of the 60 needed (cloture) to bust a republican filibuster and get a democratic bill to the Senate floor. 
 
So Reid will then split the emerging bill, breaking up its most contentious portions for the 51-vote (simple majority) reconciliation process, while keeping those measures garnering bi-partisan support in a separate bill.
 
This would undoubtedly trigger an acrid, long-standing, bitterly-partisan civil war (the nuclear option). 
 
If Reid makes good on his threat to ram through a bill to appease his left, outraged Republicans could indeed make good on their threat to shut down the Senate; something that could change the political landscape on Capitol Hil for the next 50 years - or even longer.
 
Even "moderate" Olympia Snowe warned about using reconciliation: (quote) ...“At a time when we need to bolster the public’s confidence in whatever we do with health care, I don’t think the reconciliation process will serve the purpose of providing affordable health security for all Americans."
 
And if Snowe (a known democratic collaborator) feels this resistive about it, how would Jim DeMint, Orrin Hatch, Tom Coburn, and others react?  It takes but one angry Senator to stop the upper chamber in its tracks. But if Reid invokes reconciliation, not only would he create an entire cadre of enraged Republicans in Washington, but another TWO HUNDRED MILLION angry Americans - all pointing the finger directly at dirty Harry Reid.
 
Thomas Jefferson correctly understood how power corrupts, and authority is never easily rescinded.
 
Thus, dirty Harry will not be deterred - now extending an iron fist, ensconced within a velvet glove: (quote)..."We still, after all these months, have a place at the the table for the Republicans"...."We do not want to do reconciliation unless we have no alternative."
 
No alternative? Reid is intoxicated with the elixer of tryranny!
 
We all realize the federal government has NO Constitutional authority to run a health care plan (or system). But if the Republicans decide to knuckle under to this snake-like majority leader, we will have effectively surrendered our liberty to a run-amok Democratic Congress, feeling as though it has authority to do whatever it wills itself to do.
 
The Republicans - knowing Reid is now cornered - must immediately lay the groundwork for the ugly possibility of "shutting down" the Senate: Not attending committee hearings; no “unanimous consent” for moving forward on issues; and ceasing all routine business.
 
Forcing the senate into a standstill is an incredibly high-risk operation. It has to be accompanied by a major PR operation, lest a hostile, pro-liberal media paint the Republicans as "do-nothing anarchists".
 
The Republicans MUST be willing to take unprecedented measures to fight Reid's unprecedented tyranny; otherwise, we'll be committing Constitutional suicide, and America will be forever changed into the socialist country that our Founders went to such great lengths to prevent.
 
(quote)..."All tyranny needs to gain is a foothold, for people of good conscience to remain silent...Thomas  Jefferson.
 
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All for one - and swastikas for all!

 

Lately, there's been a lot of talk of Nazis, and their trademark symbol - the swastika: 

 

Nancy Pelosi rants about "professionally organized thugs"- bearing signs with swastikas - "intimidating" congressional democrats at townhall meetings. 

 

A demonstrator outside an event featuring Rep. Lloyd Dogget (D-Texas), carries a sign with the Nazi "SS" (secret service) symbol painted on it.

 

Then a swastika is spray-painted outside Rep. David Scott's district office in Georgia - an act the suburban Atlanta Democrat says..."reflects an increasingly hateful debate over health care." 
 
No kidding. This was an absolutely PROFOUND statement by one of Washington's most illuminated legislators.

 

Scott's staff had arrived at his office one morning, and discovered Nazi graffiti emblazoned over the sign bearing the lawmaker's name. An FBI spokesman said the bureau is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime, along with the Smyrna Police Department.

 

Mr. Scott (who is black) added that he received hate letters that used the "N-word" in reference to him, and characterizing President Barack Obama as a Nazi extremist."

 

Indeed...the VERY IDEA- calling our dearly beloved anti-president a Nazi extremist!

 

But maybe those nasty hate-mailers just may have stumbled onto something:

 

Germany’s use of the swastika during the infamous Hitler period has made this ancient symbol a pariah.

The swastika was banned by the Allied powers in 1945, and is also prohibited under German law.

 

And whenever it appears in the U.S., liberals automatically decry it as (horrors) racist! But did the Nazis ever discriminate against blacks? We'll have to look that one up.

 

When the Nazis were initially in power (1933-1937) they were driven by the ideology of Adolf Hitler - securing a dictatorship within Germany, against all opposition and parties.

 

But how much of a part did the mystique of the crooked cross - the swastika- play in Hitler's scheme?

 

The swastika has long been a mystical power symbol, said to have been developed by the ancient Greek mathematician, Pythagoras.

In 1920, Hitler cleverly discerned that the Nazi Party needed its own insignia - a symbol of struggle that also would have high impact as either a poster or flag.

After the war, U.S. Army historians catalogued Hitler's personal library, and found numerous occultic volumes that had been heavily annotated in Hitler's ornamental handwriting.

 

Among the books was one Hitler kept by his bedside, “The Secret Doctrine” by Madame Helen P. Blavatsky - the 19th century Ukrainian philosopher, and founder of the "Theosophical Society" - an organization formed to advance spiritual principles, and search for "Truth." 

 

Hitler - long a fan of the preturnatural - had chosen the swastika, because according to Madame Blavatsky, it would "draw power" to wherever the Theosophists had assembled.

 

Watch old films of the Third Reich: Observe the trademark Nazi "upraised arm" salute. Supposedly, the German masses are sending occult power to Hitler, as he receives it with open palm, hand upraised over his shoulder, next to his ear.

 

Now imagine America's "First Reich"...with Barack Obama as Fuehrer, and Rahm Emanuel (as Hermann Goering) in awe of his "zenlike" leader.

 

Picture propaganda minister Robert (Goebbels) Gibbs - replete with Nazi uniform and swastika armband - standing on a podium before the lamestream media, espousing Fuerhrer Obama's party line.

 

Now add in Harry Reid (as Heinrich Himmler) - wearing his "Nazi hat" and the "SS" armband & uniform - declaring anyone opposing healthcare legislation as being an evilmonger- an enemy of the STATE. 

 

And don't forget the "mad doctor," Ezekial Emanuel - as the Nazi human-experimenter Joseph Mengele - diabolically seeking to purge the population of the elderly, who no longer serve any useful purpose to the Obama Reich.

 

Indeed; picture them all (Congress- the Cabinet) dressed as Nazi officials; with their swastika armbands - saluting Fuerher Obama; "yes" men, the whole bunch of them; each willing to follow their leader to the very end.

 

And remember that Germany too had been a democracy, until a charismatic orator began using brown-shirted thugs - beating anyone daring to challenge them into submission.

 

From its origins, the Nazi party had ruthless men whose job it was to disrupt the meetings of rivals, and protect those of its own. In 1921 this unit was named Sturm-abteilung (the SA), who in 1925, began wearing brown shirts - thus giving the unit its nickname.

 

So is this any different to what ACORN has done, since Obama began controlling it in the 90's? ACORN stole its first election back then -courtesy of  the fraudulent MOTOR VOTER rule Obama had defended in a lawsuit vs. the Illinois governor.

 

And now, ACORN is out crashing townhall meetings, violating the First Amendment Rights of those who oppose the health care bill - Obama's centerpiece legislation.

 

Even as we speak, ACORN is out attempting to steal the 2012 election for Obama by corrupting the census.

 

And what democratically-elected president would tell those who oppose him - at a Virginia town hall meeting - that they need to "shut up"? Is this America, or some land of a totalitarian despot, who forbids you to freely speak your mind?

 

Next, we have the Obama "fishy citizen" list - right out of the Hitler play book. This is sounding more and more like the early days of the Nazis, when neighbors and family members were encouraged to spy on each other, "for the good of the Reich." 

 

Unbelievable. Dictator Obama actually wants you to spy on your family and friends, then turn them in if they have the audacity to disagree with him!

 

And can it be denied that Obama has engaged in "scapegoating," unparalleled by anyone since Hitler? Anyone disagreeing with Obama is bought off - or deemed evil.

 

Hitler came to power as a change from his country's awful economy. He promised to decrease the unemployment rate, and restore Germany’s standing in the world. He was voted in democratically. Then Hitler began to deny the rights of citizens, such as free speech, a right to bear arms, and ultimately, made people believe he was something he was not - until it was too late.

 

And now...history repeats. 
 
 
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At what point, Revolt?

 

Petrified of Congress? Who isn't?

 

In all of our lifetimes - not since the threat of a Soviet atomic attack in the late 1950's - has the average US citizen lived his/her life in such overriding fear- in trepidation of our own Congress.

 

Can you think of anything more fright-inducing (politically) than cap 'n trade energy taxation, or government-controlled healthcare?

 

What could be more un-American, more unconstitutional (or more anti-competitive) than a useless tax on energy, or a welfare-supporting, wealth-transferring government insurance policy - just because our corrupt Congress wants it?

 

Who are these desperados anyway? Under which geological rock formation did these slimy reptiles emerge? And what can be done about them?

 

Such irony! Such disgrace! And such hubris! The 111th Congress has declared war on America's economy, and is taking no prisoners! 

 

(Quote) "In my many years I have come to a conclusion...That one useless man is a 
shame; two is a law firm; and three or more is a Congress.  John Adams (circa 1815).

 

(Quote) "No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is 
in session" - Mark Twain (1866)

 

Our constitutional Founders designed checks and balances as a safeguard - to limit power in any one branch of government. And the branch they feared most was the legislature.

 

Now the worst fears of the Founders have come to pass. 

 

On 9-12 we declared war on Islamic terrorists - but they only succeeded in destroying two skyscrapers.

 

While the enemy within -our Democratic Congress- has all but destroyed the entire US economy, starting from the day Speaker Nazi Pelosi grabbed the gavel, and declared "war" on America's $14 trillion annual economy- determined to whittle it down to its "proper size."

 

America's 111th Congress is moving at the speed of rampant socialism, out to rid taxpayers of their livelihoods, thus rendering them powerless to oppose them.

 

But where to begin? 

Initially, Pelosi and her Democratic allies in the House rammed through a massive, $787 billion dollar stimulus bill, without one Representative reading it.

Majority Leader Harry Reid forced it through the Senate, and anti-President Obama signed the travesty into law. To date, it has had no positive effect on the economy, and many economists predict grievous damage to the national debt over the long run.

Then the House passed a corrupt, bizarre, cap-and-trade law based solely on disputed "climate change" junk science, that will send energy prices soaring - costing the nation TRILLIONS of wasted dollars by 2020- and well beyond.

Again, not one Representative read the bill before it was voted on.

 

Congress now has both the young and old tossing & turning at night, worried about buying health insurance they do not either need, or WANT - all because of some marxist President's ideological whim.

 

Perhaps we should hire al-Quida to plant roadside bombs on Capitol Hill, before its too late: 

 

But all levity aside, the fundamental character of our 235 year old representative republic is about to be irreparably destroyed.

 

The actions of these mindless, far-left "progressive leaders" (closet communists)  represent the extreme antithesis of how the Founding Fathers wanted our country's legislature to operate.

 

Speaker Pelosi presents us with nothing less than irrational and nightmarish mob rule.

 

And on top of it all, ACORN may manage to steal the 2010 midterm elections, funded with 8 BILLION hidden dollars, courtesy of legislative amendments inserted by our greatest patriot, Barney Frank.

 

How much more will we take—how much more should we take—before we declare..."You've done ENOUGH harm!"

 

But the naive (e.g. the uninformed) still murmur in the dark, asking..."Why would  democrats do dis? Aren't dey da party of the workin' man? Why would congress pass laws to destroy our wunnerful country?

 

Well just read between the lines of your coloring book, simpleton.

 

The Capitol Hill democrats all march in lock fascist step-  they're plotting multi-decade control of all levers of government. But first - tax the rich to ruin, then kill the remaining economy; then once on their government breadlines, everyone's opposition quickly fades.

 

But not to worry; there's ready jobs available in Americorps- ACORN's new subdivision.

 

Just keep in mind Washington DC's first commandment..."Thou shalt not steal, until you've been elected to public office." Then it becomes acceptable to take money from hard-working, successful citizens, and give it to the spongers- illegal immigrants, or those unmotivated to better their own lives.

 

Plus there's the gerrymandering of congressional districts (and biased media), generating  an entitled class of politicians, whose only attribute is pandering to every special interest group inside the Beltway - while skillfully lying to constituents back home.

 

Now add Congress' refusal to enforce election laws, then encourage ACORN's scheming fraudulent voter registrations: this equals a constant erosion of individual liberty, and the aggrandizement of power to those whose only virtue is either an ability to be elected - or the ability to corrupt those newly-elected.

 

And through all of this, our economy is being destroyed (e.g. bail-out money committed from all federal agencies now equals 24 TRILLION dollars) in order to create a failed, top-down economic system, benefiting the elite in government, while impoverishing everyone else.

 

"We the People" deserve who we vote for and elect. Congress’ average seat retention rate since 1955 is 95.4 PERCENT! By 2004, the retention rate stood at 96.3 percent. The dumbing-down of America via revisionist history - and lowered educational standards - is working beautifully.

 

Unfortunately, the common refrain is..."we keep re-electing these idiots."

 

But who are the real idiots?

 

The bulk of the American electorate has degenerated into idio-pathological stupidity. How else can we explain how Congress, with a 9% approval rating, is re-elected a 95% of the time. What could possibly be more imbecilic?

 

Basically, these democrats have a bulletproof re-election process, passed down from their unconscionable "ancestors."

 

All incumbents maintain an office (of propaganda) in home districts, staffed by liberal volunteers. But the incumbents are seldom around - out pocketing campaign funds from lobbyists; which buys airtime for the bi-annual media blitz.

 

Of course, they all enjoy a highly-supportive relationship with the local (liberal) newspaper, downplaying stories that profoundly impact constituent's lives (cap 'n trade), but printing front page stories about how local congressman Bandido is..."fighting for auto worker's pensions"...or..."is bringing home a $600,000 federal grant for park restoration," or some other insipid project, which creates zero jobs, but wields maximum PR effect.

 

Then - on the Sunday preceding every election - the local paper supports them with a ringing half-page endorsement in its editorial section.

 

Meanwhile, for the previous month on television, unrestricted, blatantly-negative campaign ads (mostly lies) are bought en-masse against any republican challenger, building up in intensity to Tuesday morning of election day.

 

Works every time. 

 

Now try these stats: Senate: As of 2008, of one hundred Senators, 39 (39%) have been re-elected for 18 yrs or more; and four, over 40 years. 

 

House: As of 2008, of 435 members, 143 (33%) were re-elected for fourteen years or more; and there were five others re-elected again over thirty-six years (18 consecutive terms). 

 

And the longer these sellouts are in office, the more of them run unopposed in future elections, since nobody will bother to challenge them. Unopposed House races have doubled in the last 20 years, from 40 to 80 seats. 

 

And the ever-increasing taxes we send to Washington basically assures we'll continue to fund our own economic undermining, courtesy of ..."The System."

 

Yep; just keep putting the same ol' liars back in Congress, where they can continue to get rich; then - as they get chauffeured to the bank - laugh about "all those stupid taxpayers in my home district."

 

But how much longer will America allow this to continue? We can do one of two things:

 

1) Shrug and say, "you can't fight city hall."

2) Organize a massive Washington tea party rally, ala Martin Luther King.

 

That's right all you patriots; ride busses together into DC on August 28th, the 46th anniversary of King's 1963 Freedom March on Washington, and declare; "We have a new dream...we will judge our congresspeople, not by the earmarks they deliver to our district, but by the content of their character!  No more dishonesty in our Halls of Congress!"

 

A nation whose people continually choose to forfeit honor in their nation's government, for the sake of earmarked projects in home districts, gets what it deserves- the most corrupt legislative body ever in world history.

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Congressional incorrigibles? Throw da bums out!

 

As the old saying goes: "There's NO easy way to get rich"...er wait a minute-- did we forget something?

 

What about serving in Congress? Has there ever been a situation when somebody had to give up Congress, because they couldn’t make a living at it?

 

In all the world, there are only 535 or so posts that have no definite job description, no requirement to show up everyday, where you have the weekends (and much of the summer) off; plus all positions are part time.
 
There is no boss standing over you: There are no daily deadlines. You are paid handsomely; you receive  full benefits, retire on a princely pension-- and while in office, you can earn as much as you want "on the side."

 

Best of all, you can NEVER be fired.

 

Now compare that to the present lot of today's average American:

 

Americans everywhere have lost their jobs-- forced to lower their standard of living. Many middle-class families are eating like peasants: less meat, more potatoes; more beans 'n franks, more mac 'n cheese; less hamburger-- no steak.

 

People have terminated cable TV; they have all but eliminated theaters and eating out.

 

But what if we terminated our out-of-control Congress? What then? The nation would prosper as never before!

 

Congress has their limos; their privately-chartered jet flights, and their private Senate AND House restaurants. They vote themselves pay raises. They vacation on the Riviera, travel to all the great resorts and golf courses of the world-- all on "official business."

 

Their arrogant self-righteousness is rooted in our tarnished voting tradition-- the incumbent "re-election factor." They serve until their "expiration" date; 'till death do they part!

 

But instead of re-electing these rogues in 2010, for once, Americans should react in righteous indignation, and say "ENOUGH...we're not gonna take it anymore!"

 

Abe Lincoln once said, "Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking;"

 

Hence, we shall proceed to review the top ten examples in Congress: people that-- throughout their terms-- have exhibited shining examples of integrity, and have gone far out of their way to serve both their country and constituents.

 

EXAMPLE# 1-- Diane Feinstein:
Last October, Feinstein introduced legislation to route TAXPAYER money to the FDIC, which then awarded her husband's real estate firm a lucrative (25 million) contract to sell foreclosed properties at inflated commission rates much higher than industry norms.

But isn't the
 FDIC supposed to operate from money it raises from bank-paid insurance payments, and not direct federal tax dollars?

 

Feinstein offered "to help" the FDIC stem the rise in foreclosures by making sure that Richard Ellis Properties-- a commercial real estate firm led by her husband -- won the "competitive bidding, and then harvested the bounty created by Feinstein's generous assistance in the matter. 

 

But California's people will eventually come to their senses, and re-elect her in a landslide.

 

EXAMPLE #2 -- Richard Durbin:
This honest, upstanding Illinois Democrat has been quite the visionary: On Sept. 19, 2008, he cashed out $42,700 in mutual-fund shares, and quickly sold off another $73,000 during the rest of September. Then, all of a sudden, the stock market collapsed.

 

But instead of an obvious insider trading charge, Durban --being a Democrat-- has "immunity". Nothing will be done. He will keep his perks and power, just as Barney Frank did after lying to George Bush in 2005 about the condition of Fannie Mae.

 

About 60% of the  Illinois  electorate voted for Durbin in the last election. Now, with this on the record, he'll probably reach 75% in the next election.

 

EXAMPLE #3 -- Nancy Pelosi:
Ever since she ascended as House Speaker, she has effectively made offshore oil production "illegal". After Democrats took over Congress in Jan. '07, the price of gasoline has nearly doubled-- right where she wants to keep it-- anywhere between 3 to 5 dollars per gallon.

 

Interestingly, in May, 2007, she invested $100,000 in T. Boone Pickens’ Clean Energy Fuels IPO (initial public stock offering)  But is this not a flagrant conflict of interest for Madam Speaker? Should she be allowed to own stock in a company which will benefit from legislation she controls?

 

But given her lofty Congressional position, someday she will have to answer for it-- in the afterlife.

 

EXAMPLE #4 -- Max Baucus:
Baucus, a "moderate" Democrat, secretly killed a provision in the stimulus bill that would have safeguarded AMERICAN jobs. The powerful Montana  Senator stymied the E-Verify Law that removes illegal aliens from the workplace; no doubt profiting from a nice, tidy campaign contribution from La Razza-- a pro-immigrant activist group.

 

Baucus now is going full throttle to change the US health care system into a (socialized) Canadian version, and has forbade any democrat connected to the medical industry from contact with Republicans.

 

Considering the way he's trying to intimidate lobbyists who'd like to hear what the GOP caucus has to say, you can almost SMELL the totalitarianism of this radical leftist.

 

EXAMPLE #5-- Charles Schumer: 

As a congressman serving in the House, Schumer was censured by the Ethics Committee for having used his taxpayer-paid office staff to collect political campaign contributions.

 

For the last 3 years, he's been the Senate's numero-uno anti-driller. He's quite fine with the $60 billion we send OPEC every month, and the $3-4-gallon price his N.Y.City constituents pay for gasoline. He is also author to the oxymoronic, "we cant drill our way out" defeatist mantra.

 

Gee, could Schumer be getting anything under the table from the environmental lobby toward his re-election campaign? Nah, not an ethical fellow like Schumer; he's above ALL reproach.

 

EXAMPLE #6 -- Henry Waxman:

Waxman's clean air bill will suck so much disposable income from the average American household (estimated between $1800- 3000 annually) that our consumer-driven economy may all but collapse under his final death blow. Say goodbye to your sports car, your "work" truck; and your SUV. The Waxman Bill will eventually legislate them out of existence, much like the EPA did to Detroit 's flourishing muscle car industry in the early 70's.

 

Waxman is yet another that feasts at the environmental lobby's campaign contribution trough.

 

EXAMPLE # 7-- Barney Frank (aka Barney Fwank)

Mr. Fwank's repeated claims (since 2003) that Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac "are doing okay" should be enough to have him thrown off the House Banking Committee. He was against any oversight for these institutions--his efforts at social engineering-- and shielded these GSE"s (Govenmentt Sponsored Entities) from all regulation.

 

Frank's idea for 'affordable housing' led to the near-collapse of the worldwide economy and the current U.S. recession. He should be in jail.

 

Example # 8-- Harry Reid:

In summer of '06  Reid pulled off a secret Las Vegas land deal in which he pocketed a cool $1.1 million for sale of property he hadn't personally owned for years. Once exposed, Mr. Reid then amended his financial disclosure forms, claiming (duh) "he'd forgotten about it."

 

Over the last four years, Reid also used his influence to help a developer-- Nevada super-lobbyist Harvey Whittemore-- clear legal obstacles from a Vegas suburb (Coyote Springs) and develop part of the site for free, receiving tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Whittemore.

 

The contributions not only went to Reid's Senate campaigns, but also to his "leadership fund" to help bankroll the campaigns of Democratic colleagues. Rather nifty eh? Ole dirty Harry will undoutedly ride again in his homestate (Nevada) to win another hallmark victory in 2010.

 

EXAMPLE #9-- Senator Chris Dodd:

Everyone knows about the 4.75% loan Mr. Dodd got from Countrywide, saving him $77,000 interest on his mortgage; but then Dodd bought an Irish estate for a full cost of about $200,000 using "assistance" from a man who had Dodd's "ear" in the Senate.

 

Although the property was worth much more, Dodd covered it by listing the value on his senate tax form as $100,000. Once exposed, Dodd (in a mere coincidence) had the property "appraised" at 600k; but surprise: it's actually worth close to a million.

 

Dodd -- who also managed to protect his all campaign contributors at AIG -- claims it was "never about money." But money is all Dodd ever thinks of. He could care less about his constituents in Connecticutt.

 

EXAMPLE #10-- Ex-Senator Joe Biden:

A recent Google Earth photograph reveals that the lakeside "Joe Biden Compound" in Greenville , Delaware  has at least 4 houses, swimming pool, tennis courts, and various other "swank" amenities.

 

But a review of Biden's 2005, 2006, and 2007 income tax returns indicates he only listed a total net worth of about $470,000. Biden also reported he has no home note, suggesting ALL of his home/homes are paid for.

 

How does a person-- who has never made much more than $150,000 per year-- amass properties in amounts at least 10 times (or more) of what he reports to the Senate?  Interestingly, this certainly didn't seem to impede Biden's nomination as Vice President

 

Americans should take note: These egotistical, greedy, self-absorbed aristocrats operate as though they're completely above the law; and in a sense- as democrats-- they actually are. And as long-serving incumbents, they no longer seem to answer to (nor fear) anyone.

 

This is all a mockery to what Lincoln wrote about in his Gettysburgh address; he spoke of government OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people.

 

We should require that every newly-elected legislator MEMORIZE Mr. Lincoln 's historic, two-minute speech before they can be sworn in; it's obvious that these lawless lawmakers have totally forgotten why they were elected.

 

Congress must be reminded that they're in Washington to serve the the public-- not lord over the country.
 
 
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Ask Harry Reid...Could the stimulus monstrosity actually create some prosperity?


At last-- who'da thunk it.

Just when you thought the fine print of stimulus bill couldn't get any worse, there's been an amazing positive revelation. And it wasn't some "porky amendment" from Charles (doomer-gloomer) Schumer.

Try not to collapse from shock; it was something DEMOCRATIC that would truly stimulate the economy, and create permanent high paying jobs for any and all Americans who qualify as such.

So what's all the big deal? It was Harry Reid to the rescue, whose sneaky, last-second insertion provided for building a Disneyland-Las-Vegas high speed maglev railroad. It was little more than a barely disguised earmark championed by the Senate majority leader; but most importantly, it was done with the last minute approval of President Obama.

During all of the final negotiations of the 800 billion-dollar bill, it was the largest single item to be added -- $8 billion for building high speed rail (HSR). This cheered rail advocates everywhere, who'd been perplexed about why the original package had included relatively little for rail and mass transit.

President Obama has often stated his support for investing more in those forms of transportation as a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, so the item was added at his request because, as Rahm Emanuel stated succinctly..."it met the presidents 'criteria' for stimulus spending".
 
And for anyone with enough stamina to plow through all the bill's 1000-plus pages, is there anything that DOESN'T qualify as stimulus "criteria"?
 
But for once, here's a president that understands the huge economic efficiencies of high speed rail networks. Plus, the mostly flat topography of our country makes the idea all the more feasible. The really good news about all this is that Mr. Obama took a personal interest in this provision. This is indeed crucial, as building out HSR networks in such a big country will require a lot of follow-through from the Whitehouse.
 
QUESTION: Why, each day, do millions of Americans waste innumerable hours (and incredible amounts of fossil fuel) stuck in interstate traffic?

QUESTION #2: Why, each day, do Americans torture themselves in crowded airplanes, constantly wasting time (and fuel) waiting for take off and landing slots?

ANSWER: Political stupidity; especially when considering how much productivity and energy is being expended uselessly.
 
But now, can you picture the nation's travelers after completion of a nationwide HSR network?
 
Road rage on interstates, and time wasted by airline protocol would be supplanted by relaxing, socializing, text messaging, laptop work, watching a movie, enjoying the dining car, reading, or sightseeing out the windows at 200-plus mph.
 
It sure beats looking at cloud tops from a airplane window seat, or getting flipped off by some crazed, type"A" aggressor-driver in gridlocked interstate traffic.

So what in the world have we been waiting for?

Even the Chinese, our trustworthy Asian competitors, have successfully introduced a high speed rail corridor from Beijing to the new Tianjin airport. The two cities, with a total population of 30 million, are now connected with 200 mph overhead electric-powered bullet trains. The trip takes just thirty minutes, and has reduced the overcrowding at the old airport in Beijing.

China is taking the idea nationwide and is planning the construction of another 13,000 km of high-speed track. While here in The United States, we have all these metro areas, but no true high-speed rail corridors.

But take heart all ye weary travelers; there are a lot of plausible city pairs and corridor projects that could be fired as "magic bullets" to stop the current recession dead in its tracks.

bullet #1:San Francisco, to LA, to San Diego, along the west coast.
bullet #2: Chicago, to Detroit, to Cleveland, to Pittsburgh (to Philadelphia) in the midwest
bullet #3: Dallas to Houston, in the southwest.
bullet #4: Richmond, Va. to Washington D.C., to New York, to Boston, on the East coast.

High speed rail would fulfill the actual purpose of a stimulus-- an entire new industry that could eventually employ tens of millions of people throughout the entire 21st century.

So let's give senator Reid some credit. A high speed rail link between L.A. and Vegas is a splendid idea. The distance is relatively short, and much of it is basically in desolate desert with few right-of-way issues. It’s almost perfect for this kind of project.

And is there any more guaranteed money-maker than a train between Los Angeles and Las Vegas? It would probably make money even if it were a normal-speed train.

There are currently flights on Southwest Air from any of the 4 L.A. basin airports to Las Vegas. One way is usually around $60 or less. But many people refuse to fly (if they can help it), and would gladly pay $50 each way for high speed rail.

This HSR link between Anaheim-Vegas should’ve happened a long time ago. There was a plan in the mid 70s which got to the bidding phase. Then a scandal erupted from the Las Vegas side. The bids turned out to be rigged (mob involvement alleged), so the project was scrapped. And at that time, our wonderful benefactor Harry Reid was a "just" a local politician about to make a name for himself on the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Next priority: What about developing a real HSR in the Northeast Corridor, where the demand is already quite high, and the Acela is underwhelming. Currently the trip from Boston to Washington D.C. takes 8 hours. But what If  you could make it from Boston to New York in under 2 hours? Boom!

Yes; it would be maglev to the rescue. Productivity spikes. Everyone gets a boost from all the time saved. Plus it would eliminate the necessity of having to expand I-95, the dreaded highway that takes road rage to an art form (i.e... "when are they going to widen this **#*^--**#* Interstate 95"?)

There are unlimited options, including Texas, Florida, and all the Midwest states . The plan could radiate outward from a hub-spoke network centered from Chicago.

In Europe, people love riding high speed maglev trains, and consider them vastly superior to airplanes. Even the Australian government is planning a massive new system of railways for their coastal cities. In Spain, 10,000 km of high-speed rail are already under construction
 
But in our United States, we've lagged behind for no other reason than a lack of vision. But why? What has been keeping our nation's political visionaries so blinded by the idea of a HSR network, similar to our interstate highway system? Even as far back in the 60's, high speed interstate rail would have been right for America.
 
But as the old, ho-hum saying goes..."better late than never".

Experts predict a design of this new interstate railway system would total approx 10,000 miles in length, and be in the direct service of metro areas representing 60% of the population of the United States. And it could also incorporate spurs to the population centers of Canada.

And what happens when you get off? Here's where the private sector boom comes in. There would be a whole new realm of "destination jobs" that would be created at the junction stops and cities, such as hotel-motel, car rental, restaurant, retail, and even tourist jobs.

Our great rail history could repeat itself 140 years later. A transcontinental high speed rail network would remove millions of cars, and hundreds of planes from our nation's transportation equation. The job-creation factor could lift us from recession; and it isn't some pie-in-the-sky deal like hydrogen cars, windmill farms, or growing switchgrass to replace fossil fuel.

Can any one argue the fact that we need a "circuit-breaker" between the airlines and the endangered gasoline automobile? Imagine if Delta/NWA, and Continental all went bankrupt? Who could buy these companies and maintain their huge passenger shares?

Let's not forget; crowded air corridors are just one of the angles by which we can move forward with rail, because of the fragility of our air system. But for some reason, the bias against long distance HSR seems to have been predicated on the idea that the public would prefer air travel over those distances. While this may be true in the present, there is nothing to guarantee that situation won't change.

Consider two things: Air travel may keep getting less and less convenient via increased security; and future fuel prices may make it too expensive. Imagine what would happen when the middle class gets priced out of flying? Or what might happen if businesses-- watching their bottom lines-- start sending their people on trains instead of pricey airlines.

Furthermore, a high-speed network would create strong competition between Midwestern cities located close to one another, and could help revive dying towns like the ones in rustbelt Ohio.

In his 1962 speech given at Rice University in Houston, President John F. Kennedy re-affirmed America's commitment to landing a man on the moon before the end of the 1960's. The President spoke in philosophical terms about the need to solve the mysteries of space, and also defended the enormous expense of the space program.

But if President Kennedy were around today, would he not approve of a similar expenditure-- constructing hi-speed rail corridors spanning the nation? It could be another Apollo project, with terrific economies of scale----time and fuel saved, high paying jobs created, auto and air traffic reduced, and the sheer fun and excitement of rail travel.
 
There'd be a binge of  permanent, high-paying, skilled employment. We'd have steel and manufacturing jobs; railroad and construction jobs; engineering and technology employment. Plus we'd have the one thing that's been lacking since the 1960's-- we'd be united in purpose. We'd have a national goal-- BUILD the rail network-- just like the NASA moon shot of the 60's.

So now that this highly-aspirational idea has been put forth, can we please get a little co-operation from Congress?  Can we, for once, just table all the politics and bickering, and get this underway, with no delay-prone environmental lawsuits, or eminent domain bickering?
 
So is President Obama, and America, finally on the right track?


www.keenobserver.blogtownhall.com

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