Obamacare Defunded

French are taxed at something like 105%!

ObamaCare | NewsBusters

Constitution Day - September 17

Preamble to the United States Constitution

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

On this day in 1787, 39  men -our Founding Fathers, signed the legal instrument upon which the United States government rests and within which our liberty is guaranteed and several rights are enumerated in the first ten Amendments known as the Bill of Rights.

Some delegates demanded a listing of rights before they would ratify a constitution.  I thank God for this, I can't imagine where we'd be without them!

I recommend that all citizens, those thinking about becoming citizens, and anyone, really, read the entire Constitution at least once a year (what better day than Constitution Day!) and refer to the particular article of the Bill of Rights each time someone mentions it. 

For instance, the next time someone invokes his or her 1st Amendment Rights to free speech, read the actual amendment and know that there's much more packed into it:

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Understand the invaluable gift this is!  Cherish it and stand up for it: from it flows all the blessings of liberty we still enjoy and the basis for the additional civil rights we have gained in the  two plus centuries it has been in existence!

Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.

Yay! .... Putin?

I never, EVER, imagined a day would ever come that I would be more in agreement with a President of Russia then with a President of the United States of America.

Well.... That day came.

Following is the text of Vladimir Putin's open letter as it appeared in the New York times.  (Surreal!)

__________________________________________
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

A Plea for Caution From Russia

What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria

By VLADIMIR V. PUTIN
Published: September 11, 2013

MOSCOW — RECENT events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies.

Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international organization — the United Nations — was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again.

The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization.

The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

Syria is not witnessing a battle for democracy, but an armed conflict between government and opposition in a multireligious country. There are few champions of democracy in Syria. But there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all stripes battling the government. The United States State Department has designated Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, fighting with the opposition, as terrorist organizations. This internal conflict, fueled by foreign weapons supplied to the opposition, is one of the bloodiest in the world.

Mercenaries from Arab countries fighting there, and hundreds of militants from Western countries and even Russia, are an issue of our deep concern. Might they not return to our countries with experience acquired in Syria? After all, after fighting in Libya, extremists moved on to Mali. This threatens us all.

From the outset, Russia has advocated peaceful dialogue enabling Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future. We are not protecting the Syrian government, but international law. We need to use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today’s complex and turbulent world is one of the few ways to keep international relations from sliding into chaos. The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not. Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defense or by the decision of the Security Council. Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression.

No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every reason to believe it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists. Reports that militants are preparing another attack — this time against Israel — cannot be ignored.

It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan “you’re either with us or against us.”

But force has proved ineffective and pointless. Afghanistan is reeling, and no one can say what will happen after international forces withdraw. Libya is divided into tribes and clans. In Iraq the civil war continues, with dozens killed each day. In the United States, many draw an analogy between Iraq and Syria, and ask why their government would want to repeat recent mistakes.

No matter how targeted the strikes or how sophisticated the weapons, civilian casualties are inevitable, including the elderly and children, whom the strikes are meant to protect.

The world reacts by asking: if you cannot count on international law, then you must find other ways to ensure your security. Thus a growing number of countries seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. This is logical: if you have the bomb, no one will touch you. We are left with talk of the need to strengthen nonproliferation, when in reality this is being eroded.

We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of civilized diplomatic and political settlement.

A new opportunity to avoid military action has emerged in the past few days. The United States, Russia and all members of the international community must take advantage of the Syrian government’s willingness to place its chemical arsenal under international control for subsequent destruction. Judging by the statements of President Obama, the United States sees this as an alternative to military action.

I welcome the president’s interest in continuing the dialogue with Russia on Syria. We must work together to keep this hope alive, as we agreed to at the Group of 8 meeting in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June, and steer the discussion back toward negotiations.
If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust. It will be our shared success and open the door to cooperation on other critical issues.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

Vladimir V. Putin is the president of Russia.

A version of this op-ed appears in print on September 12, 2013, on page A31 of the New York edition with the headline: A Plea for Caution From Russia.

A Plea for Caution From Russia - NYTimes.com

Patriots Day!

Well, today is Patriots Day, a day set aside to remember the nearly 3000 that perished in those most infamous terrorist attacks that occurred on U.S. soil that fateful morning 12 years ago today.

It's ironic that we have an official holiday with a name such as this when it seems that someone who is a patriot is equated to some type of extremist these days.

It makes some sense, in our politically correct climate, that the name initially considered for this holiday, "Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001," did not make the cut.

Today, The 2 Million Bikers to DC motorcycle rally and ride through our nation's capital went ahead without receiving the permit they applied for.

This ride was organized as a response to the Million Muslim March (now actually being called "The Million American March Against Fear" due to the flack The American Muslim Political Action Committee organizers received over the original name).

My experience tells me that bikers like these are very patriotic supporters of the "American Dream," , the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

I don't think it's a stretch to believe that, though The 2 Million Bikers to DC organization has made statements that they would "never" join the Muslim march, many of the folks on the ride today are veterans that took the oath to defend the Constitution and are of the true American ilk that would still put their lives on the line to defend the rights afforded to all, including those we disagree with.

God bless those who are currently putting their lives on the line to defend these ideals.  Shame on those appointed over them that would so blatantly misuse them!

I pray that we, the people of the USA hold our government accountable and that our nation repents before the right of 2 million bikers to ride and 1 million Muslims to march  peaceably through DC, the rights of all of us, are revoked because of a government that renders itself illegitimate by going against the very principles it is founded upon!

So, on this Patriots Day, I call on  patriots everywhere to remember the 9-11 victims and those who have fallen in "The War On Terror" while we repent and pray that our nation's leaders redirect our course ¬while we raise our voices to demand a return to our tradition of liberty as laid down by our Founding Fathers and paid for by the blood our patriotic forebears¬ and repent for any misuse of power amassed by this  great nation!

See also:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Day

http://www.infowars.com/live-updates-d-c-bikers-stand-up-for-free-speech-and-defy-federal-tyranny/

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/11/2-million-bikers-roar-dc-honor-911-protest-muslim-/

Nothing "Federal" About It!

It's been awhile, and I know that the buzz is all about the potential war with Syria and the possibility of sparking-off WWIII.

But, I have begun to look into the force behind the funding of all the Wars and conflicts the U.S. has been involved in over the last century -- The Federal Reserve System.

As is likely the case with most of us (including our parents and grandparents), we have gone through our entire lives so far without even giving it the slightest thought (though we've probable heard  of "The Fed" or the name of Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan and, perhaps, the latest Chairman, Ben Bernanke.

We may be vaguely aware that "The Fed" sets the rate that banks base interest rates on, but what is Federal Reserve System?

Here's a definition from Wikipedia:  "A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages a state's currency, money supply, and interest rates. Central banks also usually oversee the commercial banking system of their respective countries. In contrast to a commercial bank, a central bank possesses a monopoly on increasing the amount of money in the nation, and usually also prints the national currency, which usually serves as the nation's legal tender.  Examples include the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Federal Reserve of the United States..."

I don't know about you, but that definition us glimpse into something scary....  While we elect our U.S. Government, what of this "Fed"?

“Some people think that the Federal Reserve Banks are United States Government institutions. They are private monopolies which prey upon the people of these United States for the benefit of themselves and their foreign customers; foreign and domestic speculators and swindlers; and rich and predatory money lenders.” –The Honorable Louis McFadden, Chairman of the House Banking and Currency Committee in the 1930s

Hmmmm.

Check out:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/who-owns-the-federal-reserve/10489

Probably the most famous critique (expose' ?) Of the fed is The Creature from Jekyll Island (1994) - by G. Edward Griffin

See him give an excellent overview of the system on youtube: The Creature From Jekyll Island (by G. Edward Griffin)
http://www.youtube.com/embed/lu_VqX6J93k?autoplay=1

(also see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Edward_Griffin

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0912986212/ )

I look forward to your comments and input!

[Illustrations:  initially found on Equilibrium.blog.bg, but turns out they belong to http://www.deesillustration.com/index.asp , so please go there, check out the many excellent illustrations and support that site!]

Blacks Hurt Most By Amnesty

Conservatives who oppose immigration bill see issue as opportunity to connect with black Democrats - Yahoo! News

New World Disorder

The New World Disorder | Antiwar.com Original

Nazi Salute = Ban For Life?!

Nazi salute by Greek soccer player brings outrage, ban for life -Washington Post

So much for freedom of expression.... Banned for life?

I understand that a national team from any country wants a player  that's politically neutral and is a good representative of the country, etc.

This is a 20 year old kid and, while I doubt he "doesn't know" what a Nazi salute is, I wouldn't be surprised that this kid doesn't actually realize the full significance of the recent (last century) historical meaning behind it.

Those "wiser" voices in the crowd that are "outraged" and speaking out against it seem so ready to exterminate this kid because they seem to have jumped to the conclusion that he is some force of evil that must be eliminated so that the genocide can be halted -or... what?!

This is exactly why we have the First Amendment here in the U.S.A.  Our Founding Fathers labored to give us a limited government "for the people, by the people" but strove to also protect us from mob rule.   (Ironically, parts of our U.S. government are modeled after some Greek ideas!)

I'd hate to see the organization this kid belongs to (Greece's national soccer team, I think - I was too irritated by the "life ban" thing and all the over-reaction to what probably amounts to a 20-year-old kid being silly in mocking a gesture) being allowed to take such harsh action against an individual who supposedly belongs to FREE Western Civilization.

I also hope that cooler minds are actually running things and are not influenced so much by the angry mob that seems ready to lynch this kid!

This is why I am so thankful to live in the U.S.A.

In my opinion, though there seems to be a growing pressure and influence to be "citizens of the world," the U.S.A. should never give up it's sovereignty to "international law" precisely because of thinking like this example shows. (I think, if anything, the pressure and influence should be the other way around!)

Can you imagine, our Bill of Rights subordinated to the "International Community" (it's already happening to some extent, I hear, with U.S.  Judges citing "International Law" in their decisions)!  Again (my opinion), I think "international law" should cite U.S. Law!

Now, I understand the countries formerly occupied by the Axis  Forces being sensitive about Nazi salutes and symbols.  Swastikas, lightning-bolt stylized S's, and other Nazi symbols are even illegal in Germany (at least, in public).

Here in the U.S.A., our freedom of speech is protected to the extent that, if one so desires, we can openly display swastikas, read a Bible, burn a Bible, Read Mein   Kampf right after reading The  Tanakh.  We can freely purchase a Koran, discuss The Communist Manifesto, make fun of Barry Obama, George  Bush, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels without fear of imprisonment, torture, forced labor or life banishment from anything!

We have Aryans, Communists, Vegans, Southern Baptists, Buddhists, Islamists, Adventists, Libertarians, Nation of Islam, Mormans, Creationists, Atheists, etcetera, ad infinitum!

We can speak out for or against any of these above mentioned movements, ideas, ideas or  groups without fear of (legal) retribution!

Here,  not only can an individual fly the Confederate Flag, but states can still have it incorporated into their state flag!

While l don't agree with a lot of folks and ideas, I stand by their First  Amendment and Everyone's right (in the U.S.A) to believe, speak, and express themselves as they see fit - so long as their activities do not violate nor infringe upon another's rights (even if it is deemed "offensive" - I don't mind warning labels and common courtesy, as long as it's not used as a tool just to shut me up!)

Free speech, free press, the right to redress the government with grievances, etc. lend to the healthy public discourse and debate, sometimes leading to improvements (like, say,  the abolishment of slavery, etc.)

So...  is this kid a good soccer player?  Maybe there's a slot open on Team U.S.A!

Celebrities, Dictators, BFFs

Isn't it comforting to know that North Korea is "years away" from the capability to strike the U.S.

It's a good thing that the U.N. Has added yet  another sanction against this country that has withstood them for 50 years!

At least our great partner in commerce, China, is "frustrated" with N. Korea's behavior (as they basically feed and supply them - something like 90% of N. Korea's imports are from China... Hey,  doesn't the U.S. Import a little from China, too?! -  Ooh! ... anyone remember that little event  often referred to as the "Korean War?").

Well, at least now Dennis Rodman and Kim Jung Un are "BFFs" .... A good thing Mr. Rodman was able to pitch his North Korea - USA basketball idea and "maybe we can start there!" 

(Sheesh!  What's with these celebrities going to hang-out with dictators and  supporting brutal regimes as if they are something to be emulated while thumbing their noses at that "empirical" USA,  you know, the country that actually provided the opportunity to become and prosper as a celebrity in the first place! 

Hmmm... I wonder if Danny Glover made it to the Hugo Chavez funeral, maybe the devastated Sean Penn could deliver the eulogy of his "close personal friend" and Oliver Stone can make a movie to show how Chavez is the great saviour of  the Venezuelan people, etc.  Anyway...)

Oh, yes... The celebs are friends with the dictators so, therefore, we (i.e., the "International Community" or, really, the   Sovereign U.S.) Should give concessions so then we all can just be friends and make a new and better world.

Aren't these simpletons usually the people that cry out for the oppressed (basically implicating the U.S. a "The Oppressor"  - you know, probably the freest country on the planet - any "freer" country is backed by the U.S.) and ironically become "dear friends" with the head of some totalitarian regime.

Well, I guess someone has to legitimize the propaganda. 

Useful idiots!