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January 31, 2008
Beach Goo Natural
Posted by Tina Grazier
The goo and tar that has washed up on beaches from Pacifica to Monterey this week is seepage from the ocean floor, not residue from the Cosco Busan container ship that spilled 53,000 gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay in November, the Coast Guard said Wednesday. "It's a natural phenomenon, not related to the oil spill," ** The agency said the oil probably seeped from the ocean floor near Monterey – S. F. Chronicle
Note to our progressive friends:
Yes…oil actually does bubble up from the ocean floor…goo-gle it for heavens sake!
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:49 PM | Comments (0)
Obama - No Prince of Camelot
President Kennedy's in his inaugural address: "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, and oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty."
Barack Obama: "it's a disgrace we haven't talked to" the leaders of state sponsors of terrorism such as North Korea, Syria and Iran.”
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:41 PM | Comments (0)
Iraq Ready to Invite Oil Company Bids
Posted by Tina Grazier
Oil production in Iraq is at its highest level since the US-led invasion of 2003, reaching 2.4 million barrels a day, thanks largely to improved security measures in the north. The country’s Oil Ministry will shortly invite international oil companies to bid for contracts to help Iraq to boost output at its investment-starved “super-giant” oilfields. – London Times
A few notes of clarification for our progressive friends:
1. Please notice that international oil companies will be INVITED to bid for contracts. Oil companies will not TAKE Iraqi oil.
2. Also notice production is way up. This means wealth and growth for this fledgling democracy. This is very good news for the people of Iraq…it’s OK to be happy for them.
3. I know it's too much to ask that you graciousy acknowledge the positive and great things we've done to help the Iraqi people, that would take a big person.
4. It's not necessary to tear your hair out.
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:35 PM | Comments (1)
Opposite Sex Need Not Apply
“Scientists turn bone marrow into sperm,” by Fiona MacRae - Courier-Mail [Queensland, AU]
Scientists are ready to turn female bone marrow into sperm, cutting men out of the process of creating life. The breakthrough paves the way for lesbian couples to have children that are biologically their own. Gay men could follow suit by using the technique to make eggs from male bone marrow. Researchers at Newcastle upon Tyne University in England say their technique will help lead to new treatments for infertility.
It's a brave new world boys and girls!
Posted by Post Scripts at 04:53 PM | Comments (0)
Joke of the Week (This Joke is Really On Us)
Submitted by TinmanB...
While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the man.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have l orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a f riendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviarand champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."
Posted by Post Scripts at 01:01 PM | Comments (0)
Hunting Revenues Shot Down
by Jack Lee
In the news today, hunting revenues in California were down because fewer hunting licenses are being issued.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. (Ms.) Legislator let us ponder the reasons why ...
Could it be because you require a number of heavy fees and an intrusive background check just purchase a sporting rifle? (Even police officers are required to undergo a background check, how dumb is that? )
Could it be because you have passed laws that require gun owners to buy a gun safe and/or gun locks so when a burglar breaks into our homes we have to call for a "time out" so we can unlock the safe to defend ourselves? (If we don't have a safe or gun locks we become the criminals)
Could it be because hunters can't even get on a free public shooting range without traveling a 100 miles and that every square inch of land seems to be posted and off limits to hunting, including much of the so-called public land?
Could it be because you've attached the stigma that all gun owners are a bunch of Neanderthals and you teach our kids that hunting is cruel and unnecessary?
You think any of this might have something to do with a dramatic drop in your revenues?
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:38 AM | Comments (3)
January 30, 2008
Prop 93 Going Into Home Stretch - Could Pass
After two polls showed Prop 93 dead even, the LA Times is publishing a poll showing it up: 50-46 percent.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:40 PM | Comments (5)
Blog Talk-Republican Debate & Politics
Posted by Tina Grazier
I didn’t get to watch tonight’s republican debate so I offer the quotes below from a few prominent blogs:
Mitt Romney won this debate. He looked crisp, sharp, had facts at his command, and exuded confidence.
McCain not only looked old and tired, constantly leaning on his arms and speaking in a monotone, he made a very poor showing in trying to falsely stretch a Romney quote from April into an endorsement of a withdrawal. That's not only ridiculous, it's blatantly a smear. As I pointed out earlier, John McCain in January 2007 actually did talk about ending the mission if surge milestones didn't get met by the Iraqi government, making this a pretty dumb choice for a line in the sand. And even Anderson Cooper had to talk over John McCain to tell him he got it wrong. ** I liked the format. Anderson Cooper did better here than he did at the YouTube debate, and it obviously allowed the candidates to mix it up. I'll have more in the show, but the actual debate probably won't move the needle much. Romney won the last debate, and it didn't do him much good later in Florida.
“Power Line” - John Hinderaker
Businessmen, in my experience, are generally more idealistic than politicians. Businessmen really do make deals with a handshake. No one would dream of doing that with Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi or the Clintons. Turning a businessman loose in the political world is basically a mismatch. That's the sense I get of McCain's reaction to having Romney as his last serious rival. He can't believe his good fortune; Romney is an amateur. McCain can poke him in the eye, knee him in the groin, and the rule-following businessman has no idea how to respond. ** I don't view this as an argument in Romney's favor. As President, he wouldn't be dealing with honorable, law-abiding businesspeople. He would be going up against the Vladimir Putins, Osama bin Ladens and Harry Reids of the world. This is not a game for amateurs. I think we should recognize that professional politicians bring important experience and skills to the table, and that one of those skills is the ability to knee an opponent in the groin and get away with it. It's not pretty. But, compared to politics, business is beanbag, and politics is the game the Republican nominee will have to play.
“Michelle Malkin”
This debate is illuminating not for any of the questions and answers so far, but for the opportunity to watch the demeanor of the candidates in a high-stakes setting. Romney is doing fine, but there’s no aggression, no fight in him. He seems resigned and subdued. I think he is too nice and too fundamentally decent to dethrone McCain. Accordingly, McCain has settled comfortably into The Anointed role. Huck hasn’t drooled at his feet yet, but there’s still 30 minutes left. Paul worked his EMPIRE and military-bashing talking points in. Mission accomplished.
“Little Green Footballs” open thread
One commenter said the following, and Dan, this one’s for you!
Monica Lewinski’s boyfriend’s wife for president.
Another said this:
wow I was watching the feed on CNN and the ratings they had for the audience skyrocketed when Mitt was talking.
Well, Kathryn, since most of the gang seems to have turned in early (too demoralized to opine?), I might as well chip in. I'm getting a bit tired of Senator McCain's anti-business shtick. The line about serving "for patriotism, not for profit" is pathetic. America spends more on its military than the next 40 biggest military spenders on the planet combined: Where does he think the money for that comes from? ** As for his line about "some greedy people on Wall Street who need to be punished", aside from being almost entirely irrelevant to the subject under discussion (the subprime "crisis"), it reveals, I think, one of the most unpleasant aspects of McCain. For a so-called "maverick", he's very comfortable with the application of Big Government power, and the assumption of Big Government virtue. Undoubtedly there are "greedy people on Wall Street". Why should he and his chums be the ones who decide whether they need to be "punished"? If greed is to be punishable, why doesn't he start with a pilot program applied to, say, the United States Senate and report back to us in five years how that's going? Mark Steyn
I think I can say that Romney was the clear winner in the debate. He showed an admirable fighting spirit, though it's probably too little too late. McCain was very intemperate, and I'm with K-Lo in that his "for patriotism, not profit" line is just unacceptable. So was the suggestion that Romney's business experience is somehow tainted because he had to lay people off. ** McCain clearly doesn't like Romney personally, and it came through tonight in a bad way. That's not the way a frontrunner should act. Romney kept his head about him and remained gracious even as a number of his charges against McCain stuck. – Mark Hemingway
And Romney might want to ask McCain when he first became aware of al-Qaeda and why he didn't make as much noise about protecting the military from cuts during the Clinton administration as he made noise about passing campaign-finance reform. – Mark R. levin
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:30 PM | Comments (0)
The Death of California's Healthcare Initiative
It's not really dead…merely napping.
by Tina Grazier
Arnold’s plan for a universal healthcare in California went down in flames this week. It shouldn’t surprise anyone…California’s wallet is filled to the brim…with IOU’s.
In a couple of excellent articles the Wall Street Journal provides lessons to be learned from this “Terminated” proposal in the “State of the Living Dead”:
It's especially useful to compare today's muted obituaries to the page-one melodrama that surrounded the Governor when he announced his plan a year ago. Endless media mash notes were bestowed on the "post-partisan" Republican trying to get something done. *** The idea was that Mr. Schwarzenegger would set a national precedent, leading to a groundswell for reform in Washington. Not to mention that the Schwarzenegger plan was a near-copy of the one Mitt Romney pioneered in Massachusetts, and the one (plan) Hillary Clinton now favors. A leading author of the California plan was Laurie Rubiner, who directed health policy at the New America Foundation before becoming Senator Clinton's legislative director in 2005.
I suppose using “post –partisan” to describe Arnold means republican knuckling under to progressive pressures. Whatever! The good news is the termination of this plan is a sign that fiscal discipline is an idea whose time has finally come…but, has anybody noticed? Hillary Clinton continues to talk about government solutions to “real” problems that “real” people face every day. Well Hill, how’s this for “real”:
Like collapses in Illinois, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, this one crumpled because of the costs, which are always much higher than anticipated. The truth teller was state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who thought to ask about the price tag of a major new entitlement amid what's already a $14.5 billion budget shortfall. *** Even under the most favorable assumptions, spending would outpace revenue by $354 million after two years, and likely $3.9 billion or more.
Our progressive friends hate talking about money unless the subject is higher taxes for the “rich” or cutting military spending. Progressive leadership would prefer to “skip” that whole money thing when discussing their “grande plans". To hear them talk, money flows like the waters at Niagra Falls…nobody has to do anything…it just shows up! Evidence of this comes from the democrat reasoning for dumping the plan:
Such a law would compel everyone to acquire insurance, with subsidies for those who couldn't afford it. *** Many Democrats and some unions argued the subsidies weren't generous enough to cover lower-income families… *** …it didn't cap how much they (insursers) could charge consumers, or regulate their profits. Democrats also complained that the taxes the plan imposed on business, as high as 6.5% of payroll, weren't high enough.
The bottom line is that money concerns defeated this plan. What do politicians do when they want to expand government and need more money? Democrat reasoning might go something like this:
OK, we put this plan on the shelf for now…we’ll make the changes we want in it later. In the mean time, we desperately need more money …hmmmm…raising taxes isn’t popular right now… we’ll have to add to our coffers by other means…and when the money starts rolling in we’ll be in a better position to fund an improved universal healthcare plan. The January 12th WSJ article offers this hint into the mind of government thievery:
…negotiators rushed to patch together a policy framework before 2007 ended, but they didn't have the votes to actually pay for it. A two-thirds majority in the state legislature is required for tax increases, and Mr. Schwarzenegger alienated the Republicans he needed. So if this scheme is to become reality, new taxes on tobacco, hospitals and business must be ratified by voters in a November ballot initiative.
Yeah, that's pretty good but how about this for progressive thinking: We’ll stick it to Indian Tribe’s! This way we can avoid a tax increase on “real” Californians!
If progressives manage to convincing the people that government can "afford" everything for everyone all the time (the Hillary/Obama mantra) healthcare, and the nation itself, will be terminated. On the other hand, if the American people could learn and understand just one thing it would make all a difference. here it is:
Government doesn’t create wealth and prosperity. It can, however, depress both through excessive taxation and regulation. This, good buddies, will lead to job losses and eventually a very depressed economy. Nobody benefits from such a plan and the poor will become even more desperate, suffering even greater poverty. Unless we learn this lesson progressive government expansion will put Americans at the bottom of the heap. It is the people, going about their everyday lives...working, spending, saving and investing...that creates wealth and prosperity. Free them...turn them loose and affordable healthcare will follow
Please vote wisely in November.
Posted by Post Scripts at 07:41 PM | Comments (0)
On The Air Today
by Jack Lee
If you happened to tune in to the Rabbinical Hour (930 on your am dial) you would have heard yours truly substituting for Rabbi Phil with Gene Lafarge. Oy Vey, what I don't know about Jewish ministry would fill a prayer book! However, and I say this thankfully if not mercifully, we talked mostly about the Feb 5th election and the ballot propositions.
Let me sum up the whole one hour show regarding the propositions... vote NO on everything. That's it, just say NO!
I've been feeling a little out on a limb on this Indian gaming thing, our popular governator, my own CRP and CRA have all come out strongly in favor of it. Well, finally I have a new ally, the courageous Republican Women Federated! They have just come out urging a NO vote on Props 94, 95, 96 and 97!
What I see with these 4 propositions is basically a consolidation of gaming power into just 4 Indian tribes. These propositions not only will allow them more gaming and more casino development (without any environmental impact reviews), but a larger say in the state tribal gaming association to the point of having an unfair share of the vote. They would also be empowered to write the formula by which California will receive some of the gaming action on the new slots machines.
To make me even more suspicious of the CRP's motives for supporting them is the big money these 4 casinos have funneled into the party and forked over to our legislators to gain their support. You know the old saying, "follow the money". When you do, you begin to understand why there is such unwarranted enthusiasm for these gaming propositions.
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2008
Democrat Past Support of Slavery
To apologize or not to apologize…it appears that is the question.
Posted by Tina Grazier
“Hillary: Undecided on Platform Apology for Slavery?” - by Jeffrey Lord, The American Spectator
Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign had not answered by press time an inquiry as to whether the New York Senator and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination would support a plank in the 2008 Democratic platform apologizing for the party's extensive past support for slavery and segregation as well as blocking the immigration of Asians. Press reports have indicated Senator Edward Kennedy endorsed the New York senator's opponent, Illinois Senator Barack Obama…
This should be interesting.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:55 PM | Comments (3)
New Want Ad for 2008
Wanted: Government legislator. Must be adept at decision-making under political and economic pressure; able to deal with warring factions; resistant to temptation; unwilling to engage in unethical behavior.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
“Providing for the Common Defense”
by Tina Grazier
In a few months we will select a new president and members of Congress. It will change the makeup of our governing bodies. Each and every representative will takes an oath to defend this nation. Will our new leadership take the defense of our nation seriously?
“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.”
Liberal progressives have complained loudly for forty years about excessive spending on defense. Democrat presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton during this period dutifully cut spending budgets for our national defense.
Conservatives worked to rebuild our military capability but generally speaking spending for the defense of our nation has been in decline.
Investors Business Daily, “The Defense Rusts”:
In the first six years of the Clinton administration, Bush 41's budget projections for weapons procurement were slashed by $160 billion. For fiscal 2000, the Congressional Budget Office said $90 billion a year was needed to hold procurement steady. The Clinton procurement budget was a mere $55 billion. *** Our defense budget was at a postwar high of 14.2% of GDP in 1953 during the Korean War, 9.5% in 1968 at the height of Vietnam and 6.8% in 1986 at the height of the Reagan buildup that doomed the evil empire. At the end of the first (and we hope last) Clinton presidency, we spent just 3% of GDP on defense.
The Heritage Foundation reports:
At 4 percent of GDP, defense spending is one and a half percentage points of GDP below the 45-year historical average and well below Cold War and Vietnam War levels.
Keep this in mind the next time someone complains about how much we spend on ships, planes and defense equipment. in order to remain strong, safe and free. In today’s world a “rusty” defense is not only foolish, it is dangerous. Democrats have shown time and again that they do not honor the oath to defend our nation.
Please…vote wisely!
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:48 PM | Comments (0)
Gasoline Price and Inflation
by Jack Lee
What would a gallon of gas cost today if it kept up with the same rate of inflation as a dollar? Answer $2.17. To find out what anything would cost based on that rate of inflation multiply it by a conversion factor of 7.51. In 1955 gasoline was about .23-.29 cents. I used the upper number and multiplied it by the conversion factor (CF) as suggested by this site http://oregonstate.edu/cla/polisci/faculty-research/sahr/cv2006.pdf.
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:24 PM | Comments (2)
New Book: How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution
by Jack Lee
I swear, I did not know about this book at the time I wrote my assessement about a faltering Republican Party. Then I heard Michael Tanner on the radio today and wow, it's all there.
Michael Tanner is the director of Cato's health and welfare studies, he heads research on new, market-based approaches to health, welfare and Social Security. His approach is based on individual responsibility rather than government control. His most recent book, Leviathan on the Right: How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution (2007), chronicles the demise of the Republican party as it has shifted away from its limited government roots and warns that reform is necessary to avoid electoral defeat in 2008.
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:53 PM | Comments (1)
Giuliani to endorse Florida Winner-McCain
This just in....
John McCain won the Florida primary and will be endorsed Wednesday by Rudy Giuliani, who will drop out of the race, according to the Associated Press. McCain's victory makes him the clear front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. He now has a clear delegate lead over chief rival Mitt Romney and a victory in a closed-primary state. - AP
Posted by Post Scripts at 07:38 PM | Comments (1)
Deep Thoughts....not
by Jack Lee
Woman soliciting sex for money - prostitute - illegal
Woman paid to have sex in movie - actress - legal
Politician accepting money to write a bill - corrupt - illegal
Politician accepting campaign donation to write a bill - fair - legal
Man buys a date 3 drinks and dinner, spends $50 and scores - called ladies man and gets another date
Man buys a prostitute for $50 - called a John and arrested in sting operation
Politician deliberately spreads lies about his opponent - this is called politics - legal
You deliberately spread lies - this is called slander and you're arrested
I thought these tidbits were kinda funny. I don't endorse prostitution or corruption, just looking at how our society views such things.
Posted by Post Scripts at 12:54 PM | Comments (2)
January 28, 2008
Inside the Mind of Saddam Hussein
by Jack Lee
It's said we are all three people. Who we think we are, who others think we are and who we really are. In the case of Saddam Hussein we see another revealing facet of his persona thanks to an FBI interrogator, George Piro, who spent 7 months with him as the sole interviewer. Here are some of Piro's stunning revelations. Many would conclude this is the real Saddam Hussein.
Based on Piro's interveiw we see Saddam as a man of great pride and patriotism, constantly walking a tight rope between chaos and order, between Shiites and Sunni, Jews and Christians, Kurds and Iraqi's, all within his own country. Pre-war Iraq was arguably one of the most westernized and progressive of Middle East countries prior to the 1991 war, and this is despite Saddam's iron fist rule and his penchant for exterminating his enemies, in particular the Kurds.
Iran, then as now, represented a mortal threat to Iraq. Much of Saddam's miscalculations and misdeeds can be blamed on his paranoia about subversive Iranian agents within his country and Iran's military forces poised on their shared border.
In the Arab world a leader is only as strong as he is perceived to be. And the leader lasts only as long as he is perceived as strong. This is Saddam's world and he survived by fear and force like a Mafia Don. This meant that no personal slight, political challenge or insubordination could go unpunished, otherwise his tenuous control would be compromised.
When concerns that Kuwait was slant drilling for oil into Iraqi territory developed and there was a problem with the repayment of Kuwaiti loans, Hussein dispatched his envoy to meet with Kuwait's Emir al-Sabah. The meeting was anything but productive. The Emir not only refused to negotiate, he tendered a personal insult saying he "would not stop what he was doing until the last Iraqi woman was reduced to a $10 whore."
This is what Saddam heard the next day in Baghdad and he flew into a fit of rage! The audacity of the Kuwaiti Emir al-Sabah was too much! This leader of a pip squeak country had long been an irritation to Iraq's access to the sea and was posibly stealing Iraqi oil and now he dared insult his nation? It might just as well have been a declaration of war and that is exactly what happened next as Iraq invaded in 1990. This was likely done for a number of reasons, but in the mind of Saddam it was done because an extreme insult.
We were led to believe that Iraq's aggression was based on expansionism. That Saddam saw himself as the "Lion" of ancient prophecy that would wage war and eventually unite the Arab world as one. Perhaps so, but, for now Saddam was only responding to an insult that could not go unchallenged. The violence and pillaging of Kuwait was somewhat easier to understand given the revelation of the Emir’s provocation.
Prior to the Kuwaiti invasion, Iraq had been engaged in an 8 year long war with Iran over the disputed border along the Shatt el Arab canal. This war was not fought for conquest either; it was an issue with an arch enemy that was taking liberties with Iraq's border, it was a matter of pride and sovereignty.
According to 60 Minutes transcript from Jan 27th, "The U.S. ejected Saddam from Kuwait, leaving the dictator with no love lost for the Bush family. He didn't like President [George W.] Bush. He would have liked meeting President Reagan. He thought he was a great leader. Honorable man. He liked President Clinton. But he did not like President Bush, the first or the current," Piro says.
On WMD's, Saddam said most of them were destroyed by UN inspectors following the end of the 1991 war and the rest were destroyed by the Iraqi government. However, he felt it was in his nation's best interest (and national security) to make it appear that he still had WMD's to keep Iran at bay. And apparently this fooled Iran despite with hundreds of Iran's secret agents inside Iraq. This is a key disclosure and it should lay to rest the allegations that George W. Bush deliberately created false and misleading statements about Iraq's WMD's stockpile just so we could invade for oil or whatever else the left has conjured up. Iraq fooled even Iran and the USA had far less intel access than Tehran.
Saddam admitted he deliberately obstructed UN inspectors and played a cat and mouse game just to satisfy his WMD charade. According to Piro, Saddam miscalculated and "...thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998 . . . a four-day aerial attack." He honestly did not expect the US to wage full on war and invade all the way to his capital. It was Saddam's intention to absorb the air strikes, then work out a diplomatic sort of stand off that would allow him to keep his prestige and the WMD perception going.
Saddam's long range plans were to eventually restart his full WMD program, including nuclear development after the bombing campaign ended. This statement confirms the honest rational for invasion as stated by President Bush and it would appear very reasonable given the perception of the dangers, however it could be argued that his timing was off due more too Iraqi obstruction to UN inspections than to US aggression.
Biography in Brief
Born on April 28, 1937, in Tikrit, the seat of the Saladdin Province where he finished his primary school.
· Married with five children: two boys and three girls.
Academic:
· Escaped to Syria and thence to Egypt where he completed his secondary school studies in 1962.
· Admitted into the College of Law in Cairo and attended in the period 1962-1963.
· Having completed his third and fourth year of studies, following the July 17th Revolution, he obtained a graduate degree from the College of Law.
· On February 1, 1976, he was awarded a Master of Art Honors Degree in Military Science together with the Staff Degree.
· In 1984, the University of Baghdad awarded him Honorary Doctorate in Law.
Political Career:
· Joined the Arab Baath Socialist Party (A.B.S.P) in 1956
· Arrested and imprisoned for six months, while he was a secondary school student, over the years 1958 and 1959 for his political activities against the regime at the time. He took part in the revolutionary operation against the dictator Abdul-Karim Qassim who was Prime Minister in 1959. The operation resulted in the dictator receiving several shots. Saddam Hussein was wounded in the leg as a result a shot fired from a bodyguard.
· Sentenced to death in absentia on February 25, 1960.
· Returned to Iraq after the 14th of Ramadhan Revolution (February 8) 1963.
· Discontinued his studies at the college, when in 1963 he had to return to Baghdad to lead the revolutionary struggle against the reactionary draconian regime that had previously toppled the Baath Government.
· He was not spared by the round-up campaign waged by the authorities that began on September 4, 1964. He was arrested on October 14, 1963, with charges relating to his leadership of the Baath Party's struggle against the backward regime.
· While he was under arrest, he completed and passed his first year studies at the College of Law.
· Elected as member of the Baath Party's Pan-Arab National Leadership in 1965 while still under arrest.
· In September 1966, he was elected Deputy-Secretary General of the Baath Party Leadership in Iraq.
· Escaped from prison in 1967, to resume the leadership of the Baath Party struggle. He was once again obliged to discontinue his studies because he was chased by the secret police.
· On July 17,1968, mounting the first tank that besieged the headquarters (the Presidential Palace) of the head of the regime, he led a group of Party members that forced their way into the palace in order to overthrow the reactionary regime. Saddam Hussein played a leading and key role in planning and then carrying out the Revolution that day.
· On July 30, 1968, he was personally in charge of a swift operation to purge the new government of the July 17 Revolution of certain of the old regime's figures, who for purely tactical reasons, cooperated with the Baath Party revolutionaries.
· He all but officially undertook the role of Vice-Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council as early as July 1968; but was constitutionally elected for the post of Vice-Chairman on November 9, 1969.
· On June 1, 1972, he led the process of nationalizing Western oil companies that had the monopoly of Iraq's oil.
· On July 1, 1974, he was dubbed the rank of Lieutenant General and awarded the Rafidain Order, First Class (of Military type).
· He played a principle role in formulating and implementing the Autonomy Law for the Kurdish citizens on March 11, 1974.
· On October 8, 1977, he was elected Assistant Secretary General of the National Pan-Arab Leadership of the Baath Party.
Presidential Career:
· On July 16, 1979, he was elected Secretary General of the Regional Leadership of the Baath Party in Iraq, Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, and President of the Republic of Iraq.
· On July 17, 1979, President Saddam Hussein was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
· On October 8, 1979, he was elected Deputy Secretary General of the National Pan-Arab Leadership of the Baath Party.
· On September 4, 1980, President Saddam Hussein led the Iraqi people and the Army wisely and bravely against the aggression initiated and launched against Iraq by Ayatollah Khomeini's regime. The war ended in Iraq's great victory on August 8, 1988.
· On July 30, 1983, he was dubbed the Revolution Order First Class.
· On April 28, 1988, he was dubbed the Order of the people.
· President Saddam Hussein actively led the modernization of the Iraq economy, urging the construction of various developed industries and following their administration and execution. He also supervised the modernization of Iraq's countryside, the mechanization of agriculture, and the distribution of land to farmers. He effected a comprehensive revolution in energy industries as well as in public services such as transportation and education. He also initiated and led the National Campaign for the Eradication of Illiteracy and the implementation of Compulsory and Free Education in Iraq.
· Led his country in confronting the aggression launched by 33 countries led by the US that waged war against Iraq. The Iraqis' confrontation that is called by Arabs and Iraqis 'The Mother of all Battles' (Um Al-Maarik), is where Iraq stood strong against the invasion, maintaining its sovereignty and political system.
Published Works:
· President Saddam Hussein has published several works in the intellectual, political, economic, military, social, and educational fields. They are available in translation from Arabic in the basic world languages.
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:52 AM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2008
Romney Endorsements
Posted by Tina Grazier
Scalia's Son Endorses Romney; Lots Of Fred-Heads Re-Camp, by Marc Ambiner - The Atlantic
John McCain is earning more establishment endorsements these days, but prominent Republican lawyers -- a big part of that Capital "E" Establishment --, for the most part, are briefing someone else: Eugene Scalia, son of Justice Antonin Scalia and a former chief lawyer for the labor department, has been neutral in the presidential race until today. He's now aboard Lawyers for Romney, and joining him are about a dozen prominent Republican lawyers who, until Monday, had been supporters of Fred Thompson.
Follow the link for the entire list of legal eagles now supporting Romney. One commenter to the article wrote:
Fred had an amazingly good set of policy briefs on his website. That Romney was able to get almost all Fred's braintrust to join him speaks volumes about how they all saw Romney as a legitimate conservative, and not John McCain as the true, authentic one.
This is a revealing endorsement. As we carefully consider our choices for president we should keep in mind the very important issue of Supreme Court nominations.
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:15 PM | Comments (8)
Big 3 Face Another Challenger (Detroit Automakers)
by Jack Lee
The above car is currently featured at the Detroit auto show for 2008. Would you believe this is a hybrid? And here's the real kicker, it's made in China.
As Detroit struggled to pay for all the lavish retirements’ union workers demand and the massively bloated executive salaries and still turn a profit, China is prepared to be a world player in the car market and do whatever it takes to gain market share. China currently produces a number of economy type cars priced well under 12k and also a fleet of commercial trucks that have proved to be cheap and reliable. They should be... they are based on our technology from about 20 years ago, but it meets the needs of many customers, especially in India where Chinese trucks outsell American 10 to 1. .
One Chinese vehicle that caught my attention recently was an amphibious jeep, priced around $7600. It reminded me of something akin to a Range Rover, but it's not for sale here, nor is any Chinese made cars that I am aware of, however it won't be long. China can produce a copy of our Hummer (military version) for about 15k. American made is well over $77k and this is just a stripped down 4X4 that has remained basically the same since the 1980's.
The HMMWV is produced by AM General. A factory rebuild costs about $25k, still much higher than a new Chinese copy of the HMMWV (Hummer) shown in this photo. Sure looks like our HMMWV doesn't it? Some parts are interchangeable too.
Wonder what the unions will think about the cheap Chinese cars coming to America? Unions have pretty much tied the hands of GM and Ford and put them at the mercy of the world market. That world market, especially Asia, is filled with experts and cheap labor to rival Detroit and that can't be good for the survival of US auto industry..
Posted by Post Scripts at 07:58 PM | Comments (0)
Democrat Leadership Statements Regarding WMD & Iraq War
The baton was passed to President Bush and congress played cheerleader.
Posted by Tina Grazier
All of the quotes used below can be found HERE.
A recent Post Scripts discussion involving assertions that President Bush and his staff “lied us into war” sent me on a mission to demonstrate that the burden falls on many of our esteemed leaders. The link above provides a veritable gold mine of sources and quotes complete with video from “youtube.” Democrats count on the fact that people don’t recall what has been said in the past; it allows them to change positions for political gain fearlessly. Shame on us for being ignorant enough to let them get away with it. The above linked webpage gives a glimpse into the minds of the democrat leadership regarding Saddam Hussein, WMD, and the threat he posed to America. I offer a few examples here to whet your whistle.
We begin with former President Bill Clinton:
"The hard fact is that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of his region, the security of the world. *** The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people." - Oval Office Address to the American People, December 16, 1998
In his State of the Union Address on January 27, 1998, President Bill Clinton:
“America is threatened by an ‘unholy axis’”
"We must exercise responsibility not just at home, but around the world. *** Together, we must confront the new hazards of chemical and biological weapons and the outlaw states, terrorists, and organized criminals seeking to acquire them. *** …Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade and much of his nation's wealth not on providing for the Iraqi people but on developing nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them."
Next we hear from Sandy Berger, document thief and President Clinton's National Security Advisor:
"Imagine the consequences if Saddam fails to comply and we fail to act. Saddam will be emboldened, believing the international community has lost its will. He will rebuild his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. And some day, some way, I am certain, he will use that arsenal again, as he has ten times since 1983." - Town Hall Meeting on Iraq at Ohio State University, February 18, 1998
Madeleine Albright, President Clinton's Secretary of State:
"Iraq is a long way from Ohio, but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face." - Town Hall Meeting on Iraq at Ohio State University, February 18, 1998
Next we feature statements by two democrat contenders for the presidency:
"Every nation has to either be with us, or against us. Those who harbor terrorists, or who finance them, are going to pay a price." - Senator Hillary Clinton, During an interview on CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, September 13, 2001
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well, effects American security. *** This is a very difficult vote, this is probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make. Any vote that might lead to war should be hard, but I cast it with conviction." - Senator Hillary Clinton, Addressing the US Senate, October 10, 2002
"My position is very clear: The time has come for decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. I'm a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Resolution that's presently under consideration in the Senate. Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave threat to America and our allies. We know that he has chemical and biological weapons today, that he's used them in the past, and that he's doing everything he can to build more. Every day he gets closer to his long-term goal of nuclear capability. *** Democracy will not spring up by itself overnight in a multi-ethnic, complicated society that's suffered under one repressive regime after another for generations. The Iraqi people deserve and need our help to rebuild their lives and to create a prosperous, thriving, open society. All Iraqis, including Sunnis, Shia and Kurds, deserve to be represented. This is not just a moral imperative. It's a security imperative. It is in America's national interest to help build an Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors, because a democratic, tolerant and accountable Iraq will be a peaceful regional partner, and such an Iraq could serve as a model for the entire Arab world." - Senator John Edwards, Speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 7, 2002
I’ll end with this from our former president:
"In the next century, the community of nations may see more and more the very kind of threat Iraq poses now -- a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction ready to use them or provide them to terrorists, drug traffickers or organized criminals who travel the world among us unnoticed. *** If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow by the knowledge that they can act with impunity, even in the face of a clear message from the United Nations Security Council and clear evidence of a weapons of mass destruction program." - President Clinton, Address to Joint Chiefs of Staff and Pentagon staff, February 17, 1998
There are MILLIONS of documents in the archives. I wonder how many statements made by democrats in various interviews, meetings, speeches and memos could be found if someone bothered to do a “study”? I’ll bet the number would exceed that provided by the recent study on the Bush administration. The previous “administration” spent a lot of time in front of the camera and loved hearing the sound of their own voices. Still do.
President Bush and his staff have worked tirelesly to realize the "goal" expressed by President Bill Clinton:
The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people.
Posted by Post Scripts at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)
U.S.S. Missouri Charged Rent by Navy!
by Jack Lee
Ok, this is really wrong and I'm mad! It's time to take matters into our own hands and fight back! The Navy is charging a veterans organization $400,000 a year for dock rent to keep the U.S.S. Missouri open to the public in Honolulu! What an outrage and an insult to veterans.
I'm immediately contacting the Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter (and I suggest you do the same) to reconsider the Navy's idiotic decision to charge “fair market” rent for the U.S.S. Missouri Memorial.
Only a government bureaucrat like Winter could see the logic in this one, however if he wants to hang on to his job he just better straigten up and fly right!
The Secretary of Navy is under the false assumption that Federal law does not allow for the “fair market” rental charge to be waived or reduced. WRONG!
Federal law DOES provide a number of actions that can be considered as ‘in-kind’ alternatives to lease payments, such as maintenance, protection, repair, improvement or restoration work to name but a few.
It's beyond shameful that we should be charging a patriotic nonprofit organization to maintain a national treasure, a living symbol of our military sacrifice and ultimate victory in WWII.
You may wish to follow my lead and contact them too:
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350-1000
A copy of my letter is in comments. You can copy and paste mine or write your own, but please write!
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:58 AM | Comments (1)
Equal Justice Challenged!
by Jack Lee
"Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton went to jail....Scooter Libby didn't...there is no equal justice for all in this country!" Says, Lois Lane, Post Scripts reader.
And now here is my reply to Lois...
Martha Stewart, rich conservative republican got serious jail time over a relatively minor first offense for using an insider tip to save a few thousand dollars. This happens a million times a year and nobody goes to jail, but she was made an example because of her politics and her fame. (injustice)
Average low-life con commits about 16-18 felonies before taking his first trip to the joint. Many of these are serious crimes against persons like rape, armed robbery, assault with a dealy weapon, etc. (injustice)
Paris Hilton is a lush. She is an irresponsible, unaccountable, flouncy, rich brat. She faced multiple offenses and was freed after serving only a fraction of her jail time due a psychiatric report. (injustice)
Scooter Libby, family man, never even had a traffic ticket. Hard working, industrious and an expert in national security. Highly educated and a credit to his country. Libby was fined $250,400, lost his career, his freedom and his reputation for a minor "technicality". It was his first offense. (injustice)
This was the a result of an investigation about who leaked information on CIA Agent Valerie Plame. Turned out it was not Scooter Libby, he was convicted for not being accurate. The opposition party was determined to convict somebody of something, never mind what, as long it hurt Bush. (injustice)
On December 10, 2007, Libby's lawyers announced that he would drop his appeal of his conviction in "the CIA leak case," leaving intact his remaining sentence and fine and leaving on his record his felony convictions (unless he is granted a full pardon by President Bush). The next day, December 11, 2007, President Bush issued 29 pardons but did not include Libby among them. (injustice)
There you have it, injustices across the board, there's your equality Lois. Please think about this and then please come back and talk to us. I really want to hear your considered opinion.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2008
“My Culture & My Choice”
One Legacy of N.O.W.? – Posted by Tina Grazier
A British bus company has apologized to a girl who is led around on a leash by her boyfriend and describes herself as a human pet after one of its drivers threw her off a bus. *** Pictures showed her dressed in black Gothic-style clothing with silver buckles on a silver chain…(she) lives on state benefits and got engaged in November *** "I am a pet," she told the Daily Mail. "I generally act animal-like and I lead a really easy life. I don't cook or clean and I don't go anywhere without Dani. It might seem strange but it makes us both happy. It's my culture and my choice. It isn't hurting anyone."
Read the story out of Reuters, posted on yahoo. WOOF!
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:34 PM | Comments (2)
January 25, 2008
BUBBA (Bill Clinton)
Posted by Tina Grazier
“Off the leash: Democratic politics is all about Bill—again,” by Staff - The Economist [UK]
THE Democrats are in the midst of making an historic choice between nominating their first female presidential candidate or their first black presidential candidate. And who is everybody talking about? A certain 61-year-old white male with a habit of waffling on about the old days, falling asleep in public and turning puce when crossed. For most ex-presidents retirement is a golden time. *** But over the past few months Mr Clinton has downgraded himself from global statesman to political hatchet-man.
“Off the leash” indeed!
John Kerry, the Democratic Party's 2004 nominee for president, took aim at Bill Clinton Friday, telling the National Journal the former president does "not have a license to abuse the truth." The Massachusetts senator, who endorsed Barack Obama's White House bid earlier this month, said Clinton's criticisms of the Illinois senator have been "over the top," and suggested the former president is getting "frantic." – CNN
And the following comments from former Clinton defenders was reported by Peter Wehner at National Review:
“They are a slippery pair and come as a package. The nation is at fair risk of getting them back in the White House for four more years. The thought makes me queasy… Mr. Bill punches Obama in the kidney and from the rear. When Obama whirls around to strike back, there stands Mrs. Clinton, looking like a prim Sunday School teacher and citing goody-goody lessons she learned from her 135 years in government… The style is very familiar to official Washington, not just among the Clintons’ partisan adversaries, but among their supporters. The man lied to his friends. All the time. They got used to it. They came expect it… We are sure to see more of Mr. Bill’s intrusions because the former president is pathological about preserving his own place in the spotlight. He can’t stand it when he is not the story and, one way or another, he will make himself the story. I used to be sympathetic toward Mrs. Clinton on this point. No longer. She is using her egocentric husband to do the low-road hits for her campaign. He is good at it—a real charmer if you’ve never seen his act before. Or is Mrs. Clinton’s husband using her? People can ask that question without disturbing the principles of feminism. Evidently, many of the mainstream party faithful want the Clinton team as their presidential nominee. It’s their choice, of course. But does the rest of the country really deserve this?” Bill Greider of The Nation
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:46 PM | Comments (4)
BLIP-and it’s gone! (Libby, Craig, et al)
Posted by Tina Grazier
Remember Scooter Libby? How about Larry Craig? You got it…they were front page news for months!! How long do you suppose this story will make headlines?
“Ex-House Staffer Guilty in Fraud Case,” by Dan Eggen and Paul Kane - The Washington Post
A former office manager for Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.) and two other House Democrats pleaded guilty yesterday to fraud for taking $200,000 in public money by submitting phony expense reports, according to Justice Department and House documents. Laura I. Flores, 47, of Arlington pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in federal court in Alexandria and is scheduled to be sentenced May 2, officials said. She faces as much as 20 years in prison.
The fact that she was a democrat staffer didn’t even make it into the title of the story...imagine that.
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:32 PM | Comments (7)
My Way or Highway (Iran)
Posted by Tina Grazier
If the progressive party...the democrats...win the election, they'll be saying to our enemies, "can't we all just get along?”
“Iranian: Normal ties to U.S. impossible,” by George Jahn - Associated Press
Davos, Switzerland — Iran's foreign minister on Friday urged the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to ''correct their past mistakes'' and draw up a a resolution ending council involvement in his country's nuclear affairs. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also said that — while it makes sense to talk with Washington over common interests such as Iraq — he could not imagine substantially improved ties with the United States even after a change in U.S. administrations.
"Get along?"... the Iranian foreign minister doesn't think so.
Toldga!
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
THEY ARE RELENTLESS (Americans United for Change V. President Bush)
by Tina Grazier
“A Bush Rally,” by William Kristol – The Weekly Standard
The Associated Press reported last week that a left-wing group, Americans United for Change, plans to spend $8.5 million to ensure that President Bush's public approval rating doesn't improve in his final year in office. The group points out that President Reagan recovered politically in 1988. "All of a sudden he became a rallying cry for conservatives and their ideology," Brad Woodhouse, the group's president, lamented. "Progressives are still living with that."
Americans United For Change is a powerful movement bringing together independent voices for new policy priorities and real leadership - to focus our elected officials on the issues that really matter to the lives of everyday Americans and get America moving in the right direction again. *** Americans United For Change is building on a foundation of success laid over the past two years. In 2005, Americans United For Change was founded to fend off President Bush's top policy priority at the time: privatizing Social Security.
Americans United For Change beat back President Bush, his allies in Congress and the special interests who sought to break the solemn promise America made to its senior citizens by dismantling Social Security with an expensive and risky privatization scheme. In 2006, Americans United For Change broadened its scope to build broad public and congressional support for action on a wide range of long-stalled policy issues.
This organization’s webpage references the visitor back to this site where pages (829 in all) where sites concerning the environment, women’s rights, animal rights, homlessness and other social change issues are linked:
Social Change Websites is designed to encourage creative and innovative use of technology. Our goal is to create a central resource for organizations and causes using the best practices of online advocacy to support their mission. We strive to make this directory as useful as possible for organizations, volunteers, educators, constituents, and donors by making it easier for them to see what other organizations are doing.
Progressives use language designed to sound mainstream and sensible ("independent voices for new policy priorities" & "broad public and congressional support" are examples) when they describe their favorite "causes" but they give little information regarding their proposed solutions. Progressives dress their appeals in terms of feeling better or doing good and offer nothing of substance as to the impact their solutions might have on the economy, our pocketbooks, or quality of life. When describing their competition, republicans, they use negative language designed to disparage or destroy rather than pointing to differences or rebutting policy based on facts and results.
In one of the paragraphs above the following words are used when describing president Bush's ideas for reforming social security: dismantling, expensive, risky and scheme. None of these words even remotely describe the presidents plan or it's impact but theese words were repeated over and over and gave the public a negative, inaccurate impression that colored the perception of the president and his idea for reforming saving) social security. We the people never got to hear a ral, honest debate on the subject. The idea was killed with sensational, loud, inaccurate adjectives.
It’s unfortunate that politics in America has become a war between ideologies, rather than which individuals are best suited to lead in a free and united nation, but that’s where we are. Until we win this social battle, the tug of war for the heart and soul of America will continue. America is not a Marxist nation. It is not a fascist nation. It is not a communist nation. It is not a socialist nation. It is not a progressive nation. None of these is compatible with our founding documents and none offers the promise of freedom that is the hallmark of our nation. Yet, these are exactly what the democrats have to offer the people... and sadly too often the people don’t seem to notice or care.
If you are reading this and you love America and what she stands for, if you value your freedom and the opportunity to pursue happiness in your own way and by your own strength, if you value the freedom and responsibility to make personal choices for your future, you will vigorously seek to discover the differences in the candidate’s ideals and grounding. Pay attention, not just to sound bites and sensational headlines, but to the underlying ideology of each party and each candidate.
FREEDOM is a precious thing…please vote wisely in November
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:57 PM | Comments (0)
Lipozene Diet Pills
As a public service message I am providing this article from the Lipozene blog spot:
If you think Lipozene is the elusive magic pill that will allow you to eat whatever you want, never exercise and still shed the pounds, you may as well stop reading now. In fact, you may as well stop browsing the web, because it doesn't exist.
Of course, you'd never think so reading the advertising hype for Lipozene. Anyone gullible enough to swallow their claims would swear they'd uncovered the holy grail of diet aids.
The dubious makers of Lipozene is a company by the name of Obesity Research Institute LLC. They also make Fiberthin and Propolene. All of their products are the same with different names. They have been named in many court actions for making misleading weight-loss claims. And hundreds of consumer complains file with the Nevada Better Business Bureau.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/06/fiberthin.htm
What Is Lipozene?
Lipozene contains Propol, which is simply the company's trademarked name for glucomannan which is Fiber! Adding fiber to your diet is always a good idea. In general, North Americans get about 14 grams of fiber per day from their diets -- about half of what they should get. While it certainly appears glucomannan offers benefits above and beyond those offered by "simple" dietary fiber, there are easier (and cheaper) ways to get fiber into your diet by consuming high fiber fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains & consume a fiber supplement like Metamucil.
Posted by Post Scripts at 03:51 PM | Comments (1)
January 24, 2008
The Late Great California Republican Party?
by Jack Lee
It's no secret the California Republican Party has fallen on some pretty tough times since we lost our majority in the legislature. More recently, I learned that 'declined to state" voters now make up 20% of the eligible vote. That's a story in itself and you have to ask what happened to the CRP?
This is what got me to take a hard look at our state party and re-evaluate where we're at in the political landscape and I've noted a few of our missteps for your consideration. What I found makes me think the Republican Party in California must want to insure their own extinction; because they seem to be doing everything possible to make it happen.
First up, going into Super Tuesday, I think we're on the wrong side of these Indian gaming propositions. We're supporting more slot machines for 4 tribal casinos just so the state government can get a larger piece of the action? Apparently the party forgets how this money was siphoned from communities into the pockets of a few. I wonder why would the CRP would want to generate more revenue to grow a Democrat controlled state government or grow any government for that matter? The more we give to government the more they spend. Did somebody in the CRP forget that?
These propositions are for a few special interests and my party supports it? Unbelievable.
Our Republican Governor and the State Republican Party are now at odds over Prop 93, term limits. Obviously it happened because the Governor has his own agenda and it tells me there's not much respect for the State Party or he would not have opposed them. This major divide between our Governor and our Party hurts our credibility. Obviously there were some major missteps that have led up to this situation.
Aren't we supposed to be the party of reform? When it comes to reform, exactly what have we reformed in this state in the past 20 years? Name something that didn't come back to bite that was of major consequence? It sure wasn't to our criminal justice or educational system, But, we've sure passed a lot of special interest legislation!
In 1996 Prop 208 was most popular proposition to be passed at that time. This was for campaign finance reform and whatever you may have felt about this particular proposition the large number of votes it received should have sent a signal to the CRP and our legislators there was some major voter interest in reform here. But, rather than to acknowledge the popularity of this proposition and it's intent, the CRP (and our legislators) simply denied there was a problem and business went on more or less as usual. This huge block of voters went away with nothing. This demonstrated to them an indifference on the part of the CRP. Again, this was not helpful to our image nor our numbers.
Shortly after that ball was dropped the Republicans in the legislature, led by our own Jim Brulte, entered into a bi-partisan agreement to unilaterally deregulate the energy industry in California. It was an incredibly bad move that defied the laws of economics and it all but bankrupted the state and PG&E. Again, we sure didn't help our cause with that one, did we? Although it was enough to get governor Grey Davis recalled and that was good. However, this was accomplished at such a tremendous price to the people it remains as a debacle of the highest order and a black mark on the GOP for endorsing it.
In 2003 another easily preventable flap tore at our party unity. Here is an excerpt from a letter sent to the Board of the California Republican Party. "Dear Colleagues: As many of us have learned in recent media reports, Vice Chairman Bill Back distributed an article entitled, ''What if the South had Won the Civil War?'' -- an article that concludes that problems with race relations in America are the result of slaves being freed through Reconstruction, and black migration out of the south as a result of desegregation. This article trivialized slavery and it trivialized the impacts of slavery on my ancestors and people of African decent. The notion that this country would be better off if my ancestors had remained enslaved, and considered less than whole people, is personally offensive, abhorrent, and vile.
It is particularly offensive because my own party's vice chairman distributed this bigoted propaganda in an official CRP newsletter." Shannon F. Reeves Secretary of the Board.
As if we needed any help chasing off minorities...this was another problem the CRP should have headed off before it started.
The next blunder was aimed at all the Ron Paul supporters in the state GOP.
This was from Kyel B-Republican, "I paid my $33 for the dinner and vote. A $5 option was also offered to vote after the festivities. We patiently listened to the guest speaker support Fred Thompson and talk on the issues of water and budget problems in California. They then held a raffle, while all the "cheap" voters waited in the lobby. When they finally let them in, the room was flooded with Ron Paul supporters and the organizer notified us the poll was cancelled. I started the video after the initial announcement and pandemonium broke out. The sudden cancellation and an attempt to change the rules, understandably, upset quite a few people."
No doubt this has really spilt the Paul supporters off from the mainstream of the CRP and after the primary election we'll probably lose many of them. I believe common courtesy (and common sense) could have prevented this problem and bolstered our cause, not hurt it!
And now we're in for the fight of our GOP lives as we head toward Feb. 5th and the state party wants to be picky about who supports us?
We've had since 1999 to fix the state party rules that say, only Republicans can participate in our presidential primary. On the Democrat side, those decline-to-state voters can simply request a Democratic ballot, either by mail or at the polls, and have their choice recorded alongside those of the party regulars. They know when you get people to vote for your candidate, it's the first step for getting people into your party. It's also how you win elections!
Well over a decade ago I suggested to a number of state party officials that we should be making a major outreach to Hispanic voters (these are not illegal aliens either) because their views on many issues like abortion, work ethics, freedom from government, lower taxes and family values mirrored those of your average Republican. To me this was just common sense, but not much happened.
About 40% of all Californians are Hispanic or Asian and if the Party doesn’t try to recruit them we are in for a very rough road.
I don't see how we will ever win another state election without appealing to Hispanics and Asians and to this day the GOP has not made the necessary commitment to recruit them.
These missteps (and more) have taken their toll on us and now we're about to face a legislature where both houses could soon have a 2/3rds majority for the Democrats. At that point, being a Republican in the legislature becomes virtually irrelevant.
Reality says the GOP needs every vote it can get to survive in California. This means the CRP better get back to values and ethics that once put us in power and that the majority of voters still support. What must happen now is for the CRP to connect with the voters on issues of mutual interest or we are going to see a further erosion of the Republican Party.
It's time to get in touch with the people.
On the national stage Gov. Mitt Romney said it best, "I think the Republican Party got lost," he said in an interview during a day of fundraising from Champaign to Chicago. "I think we're seen as not being as fiscally conservative as we should have been. We're seen as spending too much and borrowing too much," and later this one, "I think people expect us to be a very tightly managed party, and we did not demonstrate that. And I think people expect us to abide by the highest ethical standards." I agree with Gov. Romney.
At the federal level our GOP members in Congress (many from California) failed at offering much in the way of inspired ideas or legislation; we've failed at reforming the IRS, failed to address the "baby anchor" rule, failed to secure our border, failed at removing illegals, failed at cutting spending, failed at halting the growth of government and instead we've created two new huge bureaucracies and pushed us further towards socialized medicine.
At the national level our party was apparently in denial that the voters would notice their lack of performance coupled to their big spending. However, that proved not to be the case because in the general election of 2006 they voted us out and Nancy Pelosi in, as the new speaker. Now there's a big wake up call!
As the old joke goes, denial belongs in Egypt. Denial does not in the GOP, not at any level, federal or state. Let’s get real and get connected to the people again. We've got a lot to fix in this party and with our elected representatives. We must relight that fire and market our ethics and idealism to the voters! Good ideas should not be that hard to sell.
If you really care about your party and wish it to succeed, then you must be prepared to demand better even if it means being critical and introspective. This blunt "tell it like it is" honesty is how we begin to regain our credibility with the voters.
Our ethics and idealism can be our saving grace just as a lack of ethics and idealism will surely be our undoing. Taking the moral high road and reaching out to build a consensus won't be easy, but then what things worthwhile ever are... and really, what better choice is there?
Let me know what you think about this...
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:56 PM | Comments (11)
Wish I’d Said That
Posted by Tina Grazier
Don Surber, writing on dailymail.com, has come up with the perfect phrase to describe Washington’s need to fix the economy. The term follows his explanation of why we are not in recession:
The 4.9 percent annualized growth in that (the third) quarter followed the previous quarter in which the economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.8 percent. *** Far from being in a recession, as defined by two consecutive quarters in which gross domestic product contracts, the American economy is growing. *** Preliminary results for the fourth quarter will not be released for another week.
But the view from Washington is that the American people are all a bunch of children who need to be protected and baby-fed rebates and the like in order to survive. It is “goo goo economics”
How precious is that!
Follow the link to Mr. Sturber’s article, “And now, an era of irrational pessimism”
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:29 PM | Comments (0)
The Rose Institute and Post Scripts
Post Scripts has on occasion received some national attention for our reporting on key political issues. Most recently our stand on Proposition 93 has been used as a reference source for a few editorials and online political sites.
The highly acclaimed Rose Report, a production of the Rose Institute of Claremont McKinney college, has linked their readers to our articles on Prop 93. We appreciate this acknowledgement as it has long been our desire to spread the truth and raise the bar for accuracy in the media. On behalf of my co-writer, Ms. Tina Grazier and myself, a humble thank you, Rose Institute.
Posted by Post Scripts at 12:19 PM | Comments (2)
Notes From Parents to School
This is a fun look at the strange notes parents write to excuse their children from school:
I promise you cannot read these and not laugh out loud. These are real notes written by parents in a school district. Spellings have been left intact.
1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please excute him.
2. Please exkuce Lisa for being absent she was syk and i had her shot.
3. Dear school: please ecscus John being absent on Janrary 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4. Please excuse gloria from jim to day. She is administrating.
5. Please excuse Roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing.
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10. Please excuse Ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11. Please excuse Lesli-Lou from being absent yesterday. She had diahre dyrea direathe the shits.
12. Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea and his boots leaked.
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14. Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was reely his father's fault.
15. I kept Billie-Mae home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16. Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17. Sally likely won't be in school this friday. She will be atending her funeral.
18. My daughter Betsy-Sue was absent yesterday because she was tyred. She spent a weekend manovering with the marines.
19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed vary well.
20. Please excuse Mary-Beth for being absent yesterday. She was in bed all day with gramps.
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22. Please excuse Bernadine. She has been sick and under the doctor.
23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sorethroat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.
24. Sue-Ann was late because she had some freinds sheepover with her all night.
25. Alex ain't able to make clas tuday bekaz his dad was rested last night and don't have no way to get to skool.
Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids. Perhaps we should make it retroactive?
Posted by Post Scripts at 12:03 PM | Comments (0)
A Lesson On Elections
PG rated -
John the farmer kept records and any rooster that didn't perform went into the soup pot and was replaced. That took an awful lot of his time, so he bought a set of tiny bells and attached them to his roosters. Each bell had a different tone so John could tell from a distance, which rooster was performing. Now he could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report simply by listening to the bells.
The farmer's favorite rooster was old Butch, a very fine specimen he was, too. But on this particular morning John noticed old Butch's bell hadn't rung at all! John went to investigate. The other roosters were chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing. The pullets, hearing the roosters coming, would run for cover.
But to Farmer John's amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one. John was so proud of old Butch, he entered him in the Piece County Fair and he became an overnight sensation among the judges.
The result...The judges not only awarded old Butch the No Bell Piece Prize but they awarded him the Pulletsurprise as well.
Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making: who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention.
Vote carefully this year...the bells are not always audible!
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)
Prop 93 In Dead Heat to Finish Line
by Jack Lee
The latest Field poll shows Prop 93 in a dead heat 39-39%, but with 22% undecided. Typically when polls shows a trend reversal in the final days of an election the momentum carries right through till election day. So, if this is true and 93 is headed for defeat that means our RINO governor and former GOP speakers like Jim Brulte sold out their ethics for nothing.
The results are similar for Propositions 94 through 97, Indian gaming expansion. The Field poll shows it is slightly ahead by 5 points, 42% to 37%. That is up 3% on the yes side from the prior poll and up 4% on the no side. It is ahead by a 46% to 37% margin in vote by mail (VBM) voters—many of whom have already voted and is statistically tied in those voters expected to cast ballots on Election Day in their precincts with 38% in support and 37% opposed.
I won't mind it one bit if the gaming expansion goes down in flames. This was another ethical sellout by the State Republican Party that backs it. There are far better ways to raise revenue for the state than exploiting the gambling addiction of our citizens just for a fractional share of the loot. If we (state) get 9 billion in revenue over a 10 year period, just think what the gaming places have taken. (The more they get, the more they spend)
This gaming ploy is wealth shifting in it's lowest form and if we regularly denounce democrats for doing it, then we should darn well denounce the GOP for trying to do it!
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:58 AM | Comments (1)
January 23, 2008
Dirty Political Tricks
by Tina Grazier
Jacks recent post on the study of supposed false statements made by the Bush administration before the Iraq war introduced a level of politics we need to examine. The group, “Center for Public Integrity,” is partially funded by the leftist George Soros. His tactics deserve our full attention. It is a brand of politics that goes beyond stretching the rules a bit to try and fund a campaign. It goes way beyond taking a plane ride offered by lobbyists for oil companies or green organizations. This is a level of dirty politics that has the very real potential to slowly turn our free country into the prison of marxistland.
You might not believe what I have to say. Please don’t take my word for it. Rather tuck it away in your information vault and then continue to pay attention…all that’s needed to prevent Soros vision from being realized is a public armed with information and determined to live free. People use whatever means they have available to ensure the “right person,” is installed in the Big White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. Some give a few bucks or volunteer. Others go to incredibly expensive, dirty, rotten, underhanded lengths and that makes the world of politics a crummy place to hang out. Unfortunately, if we don’t wade into the muck we are likely to find ourselves in deep layers of the stuff and soon those layers will grow deep enough to completely smother the will of the people.
The economy following the Bush tax cuts has been smokin’…humming along at a great clip…but we haven’t heard much about it. The incredible good news was not worth printing or talking about. Republicans would get the credit, you see, and we can’t have that. But sometime about mid summer 2007 the election began and so did the economic bad news. We experienced silence on the subject and then suddenly, the most horrendous gloom and doom you can imagine. Today some outlets are talking 1929…another Great Depression. Is that reasonable or is it designed to signal the need for a political savior?
Economic cycles are not unusual. Errors made in financial institutions happen, and this time they played a big part in the “housing bubble” as well as the “burst.” Whether or not there were intentional dirty ticks involved is an issue I can't address but, in any case, it isn’t these facts I wish to consider. Instead, I hope to demonstrate the way facts are used to manipulate the mood of the voters. I believe voters can handle the truth...I just hate to see them manipulated and used.
I will go on record today as saying, that if Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama are elected, the economic bad news will melt away and the sun will come out, almost as if by magic. Why do I take this chance when there are indeed very real economic problems to be solved? Because, as I said, I’m not talking about real economic problems but rather the way they are used to “crown” or club certain people (and parties) in America. Example:
Remember the never-ending homeless stories throughout the eighties? It was relentless! Homeless pictures in the news every day gave the impression that there were "two Americas". (sound familiar?) There was a handful of rich people who lived in the houses on the TV show "Homes of the Rich and Famous." The rest of us were down and out, begging in the streets, washing car windows for a few bucks...starving and dirty...and Ronald Reagan was president! During this time, a time the media dubbed the “decade of greed” it was the lead story nearly every day. The media didn’t like President Rreagan and wanted to establish a particular picture; they wanted to impress upon the people the notion that under Reagan, “the rich got richer and the poor got poorer”. (sound familiar?)
Gloom and doom is always present in the news when republicans are in the White House. The Homeless ploy worked well in the eighties; it worked so well that during the election of Bill Clinton v. Bob Dole the mantra of choice, issued by Al Gore, was “it’s the economy stupid.” After the election results were in I watched to see what would happen to the homeless stories and I didn't have to wait long. Bill Clinton won and before the ink dried on his innaugural speech the homeless stories came off the front page, they exited stage right on the nightly news... they disappeared completely from media vocabulary and speech. A savior had been elected; a democrat…and all was well with the economy. No one seemed to notice.
Well guys, the homeless have not gone away, they are with us still, but they rarely make the news. The issue was used in the eighties to try to destroy both the presidency of Ronald Reagan and Reaganomics, the notion that lower taxes increase revenues and grow the economy. The argument has not yet been won by democrats and now, during another election cycle, a similar tactic can be used to create panic and cement the public's impression that republicans are bad for the economy. “It’s the economy stupid” is being taken to a whole new level. Consider the following:
Capitalism Lives! - by Investor’s Business Daily
A lot of reputable people think we're headed for a recession. That may or may not be true. But headed for an epic meltdown that will make our way of life obsolete? *** On Wednesday, billionaire socialist George Soros penned a piece for London's Financial Times suggesting the era of capitalist dominance is coming to a screeching halt: "The current crisis is the culmination of a superboom that has lasted for more than 60 years," he declares. *** Could he be right? Well, here's Soros testifying to Congress in 1998, during the greatest economic boom in history: "The global capitalist system . . . is coming apart at the seams." *** Sorry, George. It wasn't then, and it isn't now. Yet Soros has made billions making financial bets against the West, mainly America, then bad-mouthing its economy for all to hear.
Please keep in mind George Soros has invested a lot of money, in a lot of ways, to elect Hillary Clinton. He is not America’s friend…and he will do absolutely anything to get Hillary elected. She represents the future savior; a woman of the Marxist cause in America.
Pay attention voters and please choose wisely in November.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2008
False Statements About Iraq War Alleged
(This is just an article for balance. People don't think we ever consider anything critical about the Republican side, but that's just not true. We look at all sides and weigh the evidence when it's presented)
By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer
1/22/08, 22:55 hrs. 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."
The study was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Center for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism.
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel did not comment on the merits of the study Tuesday night but reiterated the administration's position that the world community viewed Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, as a threat.
"The actions taken in 2003 were based on the collective judgment of intelligence agencies around the world," Stanzel said.
The study counted 935 false statements in the two-year period. It found that in speeches, briefings, interviews and other venues, Bush and administration officials stated unequivocally on at least 532 occasions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to produce or obtain them or had links to al-Qaida or both.
"It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida," according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study. "In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003."
Named in the study along with Bush were top officials of the administration during the period studied: Vice President Dick Cheney, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan.
Bush led with 259 false statements, 231 about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 28 about Iraq's links to al-Qaida, the study found. That was second only to Powell's 244 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 10 about Iraq and al-Qaida.
The center said the study was based on a database created with public statements over the two years beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, and information from more than 25 government reports, books, articles, speeches and interviews.
"The cumulative effect of these false statements — amplified by thousands of news stories and broadcasts — was massive, with the media coverage creating an almost impenetrable din for several critical months in the run-up to war," the study concluded.
"Some journalists — indeed, even some entire news organizations — have since acknowledged that their coverage during those prewar months was far too deferential and uncritical. These mea culpas notwithstanding, much of the wall-to-wall media coverage provided additional, 'independent' validation of the Bush administration's false statements about Iraq," it said.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:55 PM | Comments (9)
Fred Thompson
He’s left the race...but he’s not down and certainly not out.
Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review has written a wonderful piece, “Top Notch Thompson” that pretty much sums up the sentiment of those who supported his candidacy. A sample from Kathryn:
”We need to deserve to lead. And this is what this is all about; it’s about deserving to lead.”
That was Fred Thompson on Saturday in South Carolina during a sincere, passionate, well-grounded speech that sounded like his farewell to the campaign trail. With his announcement Tuesday afternoon that he has withdrawn his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president, we now know it was. It was a bittersweet moment for any conservative who had been watching his campaign and wished it had been a more effective one earlier in the process. It was also a moment for the ages — one that every civics class in America should reflect upon: Politics is about policy and service to this great nation; that’s what makes the campaign worthwhile. That’s why you put up with the trophy-wife slanders and Chris Matthews’s questions.
Fred Thompson’s decision today to leave the race for the presidency is a shame because he’s the kind of leader that America sorely needs. But as the article points out, a man of such character and resolve will continue to serve America one way or another. That's the silver lining.
Our best to Fred and his family.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:15 PM | Comments (2)
Local Election News
by Jack Lee
1/22/08: Chico's own, Mathew "Pete" Webber was just elected President of the Conservative Republican Assembly (CRA) in Butte County. He currently serves as Vice President North for the State CRA. Pete a retired business man has been active in the Boys and Girls Club of Chico and is a current member of the Butte County Republican Central Committee.
The C.R.A. was once dubbed the conscience of the Republican Party by Ronald Reagan. Among it's more famous members past and present are Doug LaMalfa and Rick Keene, both currently serving the citizens as Assemblymen from the 2nd and 3rd Districts.
In other related news, it is expected that Rico Oller (Sacramento) will get the state CRA endorsement for his run for Congressman Doolittle's seat.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:14 PM | Comments (1)
What is It?
The pictures are great!
It's 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, and is as deep as 115ft.
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:30 PM | Comments (0)
Under Bush Poor Keep What They Earn
And the rich pay the upkeep for all programs, projects, staff, wars, and layers of government waste.
by Tina Grazier
Democrats always want more; more of the working man’s money, more from corporations, more from the sales of so called “sin” items like booze and cigarettes. Democrats are always buying votes from the poorer among us by insisting that “the rich” don’t pay enough. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
We all live in America and benefit from the abundance made possible by those who labor. It only makes sense that we should also all shoulder the burden for necessary government. By participating in the process for funding "necessary" government, the individual earns his rightful place, a stake in the country he calls home. If he doesn’t participate, if he is excused, he is relegated to a lesser position. Like an stepchild or indigent he goes begging for respect and a sense of belonging.
Instead of serving those who make less, democrats offer incentives to remain a poor, second class citizen.
There are facts about who exactly shoulders the tax burden in America; facts that are impossible to deny. Democrats get around these facts with a simple turn of phrase, “Tax cuts for the rich.” This phrase is designed to suck in the envious, the vengeful, and the greedy. Yes, I said greedy. Envy of those who have "more" can lead to a vengeful greedy spirit that is present in one who wants something for nothing. When whole groups of people are are induced to shout “unfair” how easy it becomes to not mind that others are pay the bills. How deceitful, underhanded and downright vile is it that the democrat party enmbrases this tactic for power.
Please note the following tax information that shows Bush tax cuts have resulted in a more progressive tax system:
The Tax Foundation has noted that in 2000, a year before the first tax cuts under Bush, roughly 30 million tax returns head no income tax liability; every dollar those earners made they kept. By 2004, a year after the second round of cuts was passed, 43 million returns had no tax. **** In all, the Tax Foundation says, more than 25 million Americans have been wiped off the federal tax rolls.
Under Bush 15 MILLION more returns resulted in zero tax for the filers! That means the those who were better off carried more of the burden for upkeep in America. The following tells the chunk of that burden shouldered by the RICH:
In a study for the National Center for Policy Analysis, Stroup shows that from 1986 to 2004, the total share of the income tax burden paid by the top 1% of income earners grew by nearly half, rising from 25.8% to 36.9%. Over that same time, the burden of the bottom 50% of earners was almost halved, falling from 6.5% to 3.3%.
The RICH under Bush saw their tax burden grow by half. Those who actually paid tax in the bottom 50% paid less by half and 15 million more, 43 million total, were designated as too poor to contribute.
And still DEMOCRATS want MORE.
Information source: Investors Busines Daily article, “Rich Man's Burden”
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:40 PM | Comments (0)
Support Your Local Casino
by Running Bull
We may be fighting against a flood of illegal immigrants, the constant threat of terrorism, encroaching globalism, the housing implosion, the threat of recession (actually it's no threat, it's here) and sky high gas prices, but that pales to what is really important. What concerns the Republican Party, the Peace Officers and Fire Fighter Unions, our Governor and many others, is the desperate need for more slot machines in Indian gaming casinos.
This is where we need to focus our attention people. Listen to your leaders! Let's give those poor Indians the slots to keep their culture alive, for gosh sakes! Vote yes on 94, 95, 95, 96 and 97 so these 4 selected tribes that are near and dear to our hearts can have a bigger piece of the action!
Don't you care about Indian culture? Then give them slot machines!
Oh sure, some critics say this is a big scam and it really isn't helping real Indians. This is just a big gaming play. Wow, how ridiculous is that one? lol
The potential taxes paid from these casinos could generate billions; some estimate as much as $9 billion for our state budget. Of course this is only a fraction of what they take in. Just think of it like this, all that excess money that is gently and lovingly diverted away from local communities will do more good going to casinos who in turn feed the millions of starving Indian children in this state.
Remember, California can have more revenue if the casinos make more money. Don't you want your state to have more revenue so they can spend more on you? We're not exactly sure how much revenue, but if it is anywhere close to the money the casino lobby has given to our state representatives to support this deal, it's going to be a bonanza!
Republicans, support this fun way to redistribute your surplus wealth! Show you care, give the casinos more slots. Vote yes on 94, 95, 96 and 97!
Posted by Post Scripts at 06:51 PM | Comments (1)
Three Jokers
by Jack Lee
Thanks to TIVO I was able to watch the Monday night democratic debate just a few minutes ago without commercials. It was the first one I watched the dems debate from start to finish. What a riot. Here are three adults tripping over each to convince the american people they "care more" than the others. That and they each hate Bush more that the other two. Presumably the one that demonstrates the most care and the most hate will be the nominee.
What a way to run for election.
Posted by Post Scripts at 02:53 PM | Comments (0)
Bruce Sessions Enters Blogging!
by Jack Lee
Bruce Sessions at the KPAY studios has just launched his new online blog and I hope you will check it out. Bruce is a long time radio talk show host and has been very active and supportive when it comes to conservative events. Please stop by and wish him well. Click on this link.
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:34 AM | Comments (1)
Roe v. Wade - Reversing the Dark Legacy
Posted by Tina Grazier
"when we talk about abortion, we are talking about two lives — the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child... Anyone who doesn't feel sure whether we are talking about a second human life should clearly give life the benefit of the doubt. If you don't know whether a body is alive or dead, you would never bury it. I think this consideration itself should be enough for all of us to insist on protecting the unborn." -- Ronald Reagan, 1983
Since Roe v. Wade Americans have chosen to “bury the body” through the act of abortion more than 48.5 million times. This is a terrrible legacy of sorrow and shame.
Abortion rates are in decline. Pregnancy is about human babies...human beings...the number we support is zero.
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:57 AM | Comments (1)
Illegals Bankrupting American Healthcare
by Jack Lee
Breaking news: In several editorials this week the mainstream media has started to acknowledged the heavy cost on our healthcare system by illegal aliens. Well, I'm glad they are finally coming around, but this is old news to most conservatives!
Example: Dallas, Texas. A recent patient survey indicated that 70 percent of the women who gave birth at Parkland Hospital in the first three months of 2006 were illegal immigrants. (That would be non-paying illegal immigrants.)
That 70% translates to 11,200 anchor babies born every year just in Dallas. Ironically this particular hospital actually turned a profit off this fiasco because of federal and state welfare subsidies (your tax dollars at work).
In 2004, the hospital spent $70.7 million delivering 15,938 babies and wound up with almost $8 million dollars in surplus. Medicaid kicked in $34.5 million, Dallas County taxpayers kicked in $31.3 million and the feds tossed in another $9.5 million. Other hospitals were not so fortunate. 84 California hospitals are closing their doors as a direct result of the rising number of illegal aliens and their non-reimbursed tax on the system.
Continuing with the Texas study: "...the average patient in Parkland’s maternity wards is 25 years old, married and giving birth to her second child. She is also an illegal immigrant. By law, pregnant women cannot be denied medical care based on their immigration status or ability to pay."
Get this.... Parkland Memorial Hospital has nine ( 9 ) prenatal clinics!!!
It's so magnanimous of our liberals to provide free medical care for all the poor citizens of world with your tax dollars, but I sure wish they would stop, because it's ruining us! We can't crank out money to take care of the world!
This inexcusable situation that has taken decades to brew and the blame for it falls squarely on the incompetence of Congress under both Democrats and Republicans.
We need to send a message to Congress that our tolerance and generosity has reached its limit. Either they deal with it or we will embark on the greatest recall effort in the history of this nation and I will help lead the charge! And we should not vote for a president that does not support reforms to save our medical system, including fixing the baby anchor rule.
All this medical mess comes at a time when would-be President Hillary Rodham Clinton wants to "give" everyone "free" healthcare courtesy of our flat broke U.S. government that is surviving on credit! Isn't that wonderful?
This is what our Assemblymen and Senators should have been doing years ago...and the question before you now is... why haven't they?
Fight back!
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:46 AM | Comments (1)
January 21, 2008
UFO Hovers Over Texas Town
(AP) In this farming community where nightfall usually brings clear, starry skies, residents are abuzz over reported sightings of what many believe is a UFO.
Several dozen people - including a pilot, county constable and business owners - insist they have seen a large silent object with bright lights flying low and fast. Some reported seeing fighter jets chasing it.
"People wonder what in the world it is because this is the Bible Belt, and everyone is afraid it's the end of times," said Steve Allen, a freight company owner and pilot who said the object he saw last week was a mile long and half a mile wide. "It was positively, absolutely nothing from these parts."
While federal officials insist there's a logical explanation, locals swear that it was larger, quieter, faster and lower to the ground than an airplane. They also said the object's lights changed configuration, unlike those of a plane. People in several towns who reported seeing it over several weeks have offered similar descriptions of the object.
Machinist Ricky Sorrells said friends made fun of him when he told them he saw a flat, metallic object hovering about 300 feet over a pasture behind his Dublin home. But he decided to come forward after reading similar accounts in the Stephenville Empire-Tribune.
"You hear about big bass or big buck in the area, but this is a different deal," Sorrells said. "It feels good to hear that other people saw something, because that means I'm not crazy."
Sorrells said he's seen the object several times. He said he watched it through his rifle's telescopic lens and described it as very large and without seams, nuts or bolts.
Maj. Karl Lewis, a spokesman for the 301st Fighter Wing at the Joint Reserve Base Naval Air Station in Fort Worth, said no F-16s or other aircraft from his base were in the area the night of Jan. 8, when many sightings were reported.
Lewis said the object may have been an illusion caused by two commercial airplanes. Lights from the aircraft would seem unusually bright and may appear orange due to the setting sun.
"I'm 90 percent sure this was an airliner," Lewis said. "With the sun's angle, it can play tricks on you."
(The photo above is just a depiction of what they saw, we couldn't find a picture to put up for you, sorry.)
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:08 PM | Comments (0)
PSA Event Alert
Republican Friends,
I’m very proud to announce that the Butte County Republican Central Committee will again be hosting a Lincoln Dinner this year!
The Lincoln Dinner will be February 20th at Gold Country Casino in Oroville. 6:00pm social hour and 7:00pm dinner.
Our guest speaker will be the conservative legend, former State Senator Rico Oller!
Ticket prices for our guests will be $50 per person and $500 per table. However, we are offering a discounted price to current members of the central committee and republican women organizations. This “friend” rate will be $30 per person and $240 for a table.
Tickets will be ready this week and we will need members to help sell them. Call me if you would like to help in any way.
Chico Gun Show
This February we are taking our outreach to a new location! The Butte County Republican Party will have a table at the Chico Gun Show, February 16th and 17th. We will need volunteers to do shifts at the table so that we can register voters and recruit new members. The show runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. Darrell Wilson will be our point of contact on this one so contact him or myself to sign up. Special thanks on this activity goes to Hildy Langewis and Darrel Wilson for their hard work. Thanks guys!
As always, if you need any information about these events or other central committee business, don’t hesitate to contact me at (530) 415-7071, or contact our Chairman John Byrne at (530) 570-0172.
Thank you!
Steve Thompson
Vice Chair
Butte County Republican Central Committee
Posted by Post Scripts at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
Thoughts On MLK and America
by Jack Lee
The United States is the greatest nation ever. There is no other country in the world that harbors as much natural wealth, talent and potential as the United States and all that virtually guarantees our success as far into the future as we can see.
The only thing that really threatens our progress is a lack of unity from a melting pot that isn't. In 1776 our unity was our salvation, just as our lack of unity now could be our demise.
In Colonial times the world’s best trained and equipped army was the British. To think that an all volunteer army of farmers, frontiersmen and shopkeepers could defeat the British was so great as to be laughable. But, the desire for freedom within the rebel forces was greater than the will of the British who sought to dominate us.
The American's of that day were ready to pay any price, suffer any hardship and resist any foe in the pursuit of freedom and a shared dream of idealistic notions. This what kept us united!
That spirit of unity in idealism is a corner stone of Martin Luther King's philosophy. He spoke about it often in his pursuit against racial injustice. He understood the idealism that fostered this nat