CLEVELAND - A man at the center of a voter-registration scandal told The Post yesterday he was given cash and cigarettes by aggressive ACORN activists in exchange for registering an astonishing 72 times, in apparent violation of Ohio laws. "Sometimes, they come up and bribe me with a cigarette, or they'll give me a dollar to sign up," said Freddie Johnson, 19… - New York Post

Local 2 investigates dead voters. The push to register voters for this year's presidential election is breaking records. More than 1.9 million people are registered to vote in Harris County alone. But how many of the people listed on the voter roll are actually eligible to cast a ballot? Investigative reporter Amy Davis shows you how hundreds of voters could sway this year's election -- voters who are not even alive. – Local 2 News (Houston)

CROWN POINT, Indiana -- More than 2,000 voter registration forms filed in northern Indiana's Lake County by a liberal activist group this week have turned out to be bogus, election officials said Thursday. The group -- the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN -- already faces allegations of filing fraudulent voter registrations in Nevada and faces investigations in other states. – CNN

Registrars across the land are working feverishly to assure that our elections are legal and all votes cast are valid. I think it is worth noting that the party being supported by this activity is the Democrat party and specifically Senator Barack Obama. The media certainly is avoiding this obvious association. If a similar association with the Republican Party were engaging in intimidation tactics to pressure people into registering several times and telling them to vote for McCain it would be considered a major scandal. Democrats on the Hill would be marching out to the microphones to ask for investigations and hearings. The media would be hammering the republican party with hourly screeds. What will it take to make people notice the inequality that this creates in our land?

You and I can’t walk into a loan office and be assured of a sweetheart loan with “special” financing perks but the Democrat Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd, was able to do just that according to a former Lehman Brothers CEO in under oath testimony last Monday:

Dodd and Countrywide - WSJ Editorial

Former Lehman Brothers CEO Dick Fuld was under oath Monday when he was grilled on Capitol Hill about his role in the current financial meltdown. But if Members really want to understand the credit mania, they should also call Chris Dodd.

He was also one of the voices that objected to repeated calls for reform. Why is he not being grilled by Congress and why is this behavior not being questioned in headlines all across America? Could it be that elite democrats are held to a different standard than "other" Americans? It's something that should worry all Americans.

There you are at home seperating your cans and bottles and tossing your vegetable peelings into the compost pile. You walk or ride a bike whenever you can. You’re looking for ways to save so you can dump your gas guzzler and you’ve been doing research to find the best alternative; something to drive that’s affordably green on a pretty tight budget. Every Saturday you take a burlap sack in tow to clean up an area of the community that your company has adopted and every Thanksgiving you make out checks to organizations that support a clean environment. You dutifully remember to return those plastic store bags to the bin outside of the supermarket and wash and re-use the few plastic bags you keep till they fall apart. Then one day you’re sorting through the mail and discover a brochure from the WWF. Remembering it as one of the organizations you've donated to over the years you open it to discover an incredible offer:

You realize the price tag for this adventure starts at $64,950.00 per person...ouch, just a bit pricey! So you decide to do some investigating on the web. Soon you discover the pricetag is only part of the “pain” associated with this offer. According to the post “Classic Green Hypocracy” on the blog, “Planet Gore,” - Drew Thornley, NRO:

This is the very same WWF that says “the current growth in [carbon dioxide] emissions must be stopped as soon as possible” and that blames Americans for emitting 21 percent of global CO2 emissions even though the U.S. accounts for only 5 percent of the global population. *** So how does this fantasy trip square with the WWF’s alarmist rhetoric? *** Using the carbon footprint calculator on the WWF’s own web site, the 36,800-mile trip in a Boeing 757 jet will burn about 100,000 gallons of jet fuel to produce roughly 1,231 tons of CO2 in 25 days — that’s the equivalent of putting about 1,560 SUVs on the road during those three-plus weeks and that doesn’t even include emissions related to local air, ground and water transport and other amenities.

FOX News offers a few more details with, “Five Star Green Hypocracy,” by Steve Malloy. Mr. Malloy let’s you in on what the WWF expects from those of us down here on the ground livin life in the cheap seats and provides some new information about those carbon offset schemes:

The group’s web site states that “It clearly is time for all Americans to roll up their sleeves, to take steps to reduce emissions, to prepare for climate change, and to encourage others to do the same.” *** Maybe, you’re thinking, the WWF plans to makes its trip “carbon neutral” by purchasing carbon offsets — after all, the group does offer a carbon offset calculator on its web site under the heading “Join WWF in our mission to save life on Earth.” But neither the trip brochure nor the WWF web site mentions that any offsets will be purchased — and there seems to be good reason for that. *** According to the WWF’s calculator, it would cost in excess of $44,000 to offset the carbon emissions from the jet travel alone. *** Then there’s the September 2008 report from the General Accounting Office which concluded that the carbon offset market lacked credibility. The Republican leader of the congressional committee requesting the report commented that “that the lack of standardization of offsets and fundamental problems assessing and verifying credibility, leave consumers in the dark and exposed to waste, fraud, and abuse.” Former Clinton official Joseph Romm wrote on his blog that, “the vast majority of offsets are, at some level, just rip-offsets.”

"OK...so, just how important is this sustainability thing?" you begin to wonder. I mean...you probably don’t begrudge anyone (who has the bucks) a trip like this. It sounds wonderful! But you also realize the people who are likely to make this trip probably also think and vote green...and that does begin to grind a bit. The kinds of legislation and new taxes that they would support would have a big impact on the economy and on the price you pay for goods and services. If they really believe there's an emergency need wouldn't they stay home, turn off the lights and live simply? By now you're probably rethinking those donations.

Oh, and by the way, as long as we're having this little talk...you know that line about America...the “guilt” line:

“...blames Americans for emitting 21 percent of global CO2 emissions even though the U.S. accounts for only 5 percent of the global population.

You and I both need to ask: What percentage of the world’s population is supplied by American goods and services? * What percentage has been fed, given free medicines and aid by Americans? * What percentage has been defended by America and our fine American military...for generations!

I think our consumption of energy is adequately balanced out by generosity and good will toward our neighbors. This offer is an opportunity. It provides another reason to be very skeptical about alarmist claims and legislation and taxes pushed by green elites.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Famed scientist Richard Leakey warned that the worldwide credit crisis will be "just devastating" to scientific research in coming years, as endowment interest income drops and companies cut donations. Leakey, who once served on a government economic team in his native Kenya, said much of the support for science comes from wealthy philanthropists, foundations and companies. - AP

Oh my....trickle down has slowed to a drip...drip...dri...dr..d...............

Secret talks are under way to bring Islamic sharia law courts to Scotland, The Scotsman has learned. Qamar Bhatti, director of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT), which runs the courts, admitted discussions were taking place with lawyers and Muslim community groups in Scotland. The group is believed to be aiming to set up courts in Edinburgh and Glasgow. – The Scotsman (Edinburgh)

A new radical court system and "secret" talks too...how very progressive!

“AIG Clarifies Agent Meeting” - Market Watch

* NEW YORK, Oct 08, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- American International Group, Inc. (AIG) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward M. Liddy sent a letter today to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson to clarify the circumstances of a business event held by an AIG subsidiary which was discussed during an October 7, 2008 hearing by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. *** The event, mischaracterized as an "Executive Retreat," was held by one of AIG's insurance subsidiaries for independent life insurance agents, not for AIG employees. These agents were top business producers for the company, and of the more than 100 attendees, only 10 were employees of the AIG subsidiary who were there to represent their company. No AIG executives from headquarters attended. The meeting was planned months before the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's loan to AIG. *** In his letter, Mr. Liddy assured Secretary Paulson that AIG now faces very different challenges, and "that we owe our employees and the American public new standards and approaches." Mr. Liddy assured Secretary of the Treasury Paulson that AIG is "reevaluating the costs of all aspects of our operations in light of the new circumstances in which we are all operating." *** Mr. Liddy concluded, that "AIG is focused on doing what is necessary to address our capital structure, repay the Fed credit facility and emerge as a healthy global insurer. In the meantime, our insurance businesses continue to operate normally and satisfy the needs of our policy holders." *

A look at what the Democrat Congress might have in mind if given unchecked power this November is revealed in a proposal offered today regarding your 401K. Progressives don’t consider the money you earn and save as your property…it ALL belongs to them ! YOU should feel priviledged to turn it over to them as a “contribution” and be happy with the crumbs they toss back (under the table where the dogs eat, natch).

“Congress mulls major 401(k) changes,” By Sara Hansard

* A wide range of sweeping changes to the 401(k) system were proposed Tuesday at a hearing on how the market crisis has devastated retirement savings plans. *** Chief among them was eliminating $80 billion in tax savings for higher-income people enrolled in 401(k) retirement savings plans. *** This was suggested by the chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor. *** “With respect to the 401(k), it appears to be a plan that is not really well-devised for the changes in the market,” Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., said. *** “We’ve invested $80 billion into subsidizing this activity,” he said, referring to tax breaks allowed for 401(k) contributions and savings. *** With savings rates going down, “what do we have to start to think about in Congress of whether or not we want to continue and invest that $80 billion for a policy that is not generating what we … say it should?” Mr. Miller said. *** Congress should let workers trade their 401(k) assets for guaranteed retirement accounts made up of government bonds, suggested Teresa Ghilarducci, an economics professor at The New School for Social Research in New York. *** When workers collected Social Security, the guaranteed retirement account would pay an inflation-adjusted annuity under her plan. *** “The way the government now encourages 401(k) plans is to spend $80 billion in tax breaks,” which goes to the highest-income earners, Ms. Ghilarducci said.
That simply results in transferring money from taxed savings accounts to untaxed accounts, she said. *** “If we implement automatic [individual retirement accounts] or if we expand the 401(k) system, all we’re doing is adding to this inefficiency,” Ms. Ghilarducci said. *

Note to the public: The taxes are deferred not eliminated as the language suggests. The money is taxed as income when it is taken out of the 401K

NOTE TO CONGRESS...IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY!

OSLO - The Nobel Peace Prizes awarded to Mother Teresa and Al Gore violated the terms of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel's will that created the awards and so are illegal, a lawyer who has written a book on the subject said today. Only 45 per cent of the Nobel Peace Prizes attributed since World War II are in line with the spirit and terms of Nobel's will, according to Norwegian lawyer Fredrik Heffermehl, author of "Nobel's Will." - Agence France-Presse

The American people are being told not to worry about Barack Obama’s ties with radical left wing organizations and persons. Questions into Obama’s past associations are dismissed as partisan efforts to smear the opposition candidate. But what if the concerns are legitimate? Shouldn't the public know about his associations before they vote? I think we deserve to know and since the media has a slanted political groove I feel compelled to help them out.