Real Meaning of G.O.P.
The abbreviation G.O.P. doesn't stand for the Grand Old Party. It stands for the Grand Old Pigs.
Kent Snyder
"Emergency spending boondoggle" The Washington Times, 4/30/06
« March 2006 | Main | May 2006 »
April 30, 2006
Stuffed on Pork
You might have thought the famous "bridges to nowhere" were scrapped from the federal budget. Not quite.
After awhile, this sort of thing gets sickening. These people in Congress give real pigs a bad name.
Kent Snyder
"Pork by Any Other Name..." The Washington Post, 4/30/06
State Secrets Privilege
"Feds Drop Bomb on EFF Lawsuit" Ryan Singel and Kevin Poulsen, 4/28/06
Bush Youth
"In conclusion, during wartime, President Bush should be able to authorize wiretapping without a warrant or approval from Congress or judges. Even though this violates the separation of powers principle, secrecy is more important in order to capture terrorists and protect our country." -- Lauren Coombs, 4/30/06
April 29, 2006
Attempts to Cut Pork
"Dr. Coburn's Operation" by Brian Riedl, 4/28/06
T.R. on Immigration
"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...
There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
--Theodore Roosevelt, 1919
April 28, 2006
Charlie the Tuna and Iraq War
"Seafood Funding Plan Cut From Iraq Bill" AP, 4/28/06
April 27, 2006
Don't Reward Illegal Immigrants
"Don't reward illegal immigrants for breaking the law" Mukesh Desai, 4/27/06
Top Tax Cutter
"Paul Named #1 Tax Cutter in Congress"
Press Release, 4/26/06
"House will debate Iraq"
The Hill, 4/27/06
April 26, 2006
Immigration Protests Backfiring
"Minutemen Project gains mainstream appeal" AP, 4/26/06
Vote on Lobbying Reform
Lobbying reform sounds like a good idea. Who could be against it? But "reform" means different things to different people, and there's the rub.
What does lobbying "reform" mean to the political elites in Washington? It means a chance to silence the American people. Yes, they don't want to hear from you. Members of the governing class prefer the American people be silent, so they don't interfere with "governing." Does that definition of "reform" sound good to you?
The U.S. House will vote on the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 4975) on Thursday, April 27th. We strongly urge a "no" vote (while we're still allowed to speak).
After analyzing the 50-page bill, Dick Dingman of the Free Speech Coalition warns, "While Members of Congress beat their chests about their righteousness and the need to root out lobbying corruption, the bill they are considering is fraught with potential problems for innocent parties, including many nonprofit organizations."
This "reform" idea doesn't sound so good after all.
He continues, "[H.R. 4975] would criminalize a citizen's failure to register as a lobbyist. The definitions as to who is required to register are, and will continue to be confusing. Now, persons contacting the Hill on legislation, or contacting the Executive Branch on matters of policy, can be threatened with criminal prosecution. This is a trap for the American public who does not carry a lawyer on retainer. The likely effect will be to chill contact with government -- just what they want."
Yes, the governing class wants you to leave them alone. Don't interfere!
We say too bad!! Urge your U.S. representative to represent you, not the political elites, and vote "no" on H.R. 4975.
Kent Snyder
April 25, 2006
New Hampshire Leads Revolt
"N.H. Leads Revolt Against Federal ID Rules" ABC News, 4/25/06
"Our Favorite Congressman"
"The Iran mess has inevitably led to the question of potential sanctions against the country, and we think it is well to consider the implications of such a course of action. Our favorite Congressman, Ron Paul (R-TX), has given that a lot of thought and his words, as always, are worthy of our consideration."
Doug Hornig, 4/25/06
GOP Losing Hold on Business Lobby
"K Street 1, Ideology 0" Fortune, 4/25/06
A Party Divided?
Several weeks ago while appearing on the ABC Sunday morning program "This Week," House Majority Leader John Boehner said he thought the House should debate the Iraq war and even said he would put a resolution allowing debate on the House floor if it passed committee.
The GOP conference seems unaware of Boehner's comments, since they have put out a document denying the need for additional debate on the war. The conference also portrays the resolution calling for more debate as a "democratic" initiative, even though its leading proponents are Ron Paul (REPUBLICAN-Texas) and Walter Jones (REPUBLICAN-North Carolina), two men no one has mistaken for Teddy Kennedy!
Richard Wilkins
Supplemental Spending
"Supplemental in conservatives crosshairs" The Hill, 4/25/06
April 24, 2006
"Policy is More Important than Personnel"
"It makes no sense simply to replace Mr. Rumsfeld with someone else who holds the same view, namely that it's the job of the American soliders and U.S. taxpayers to police the world."
Congressman Ron Paul's Weekly Column, 4/24/06
Problems for the Economy
"Warning flags flutter on economy" David R. Francis, 4/24/06
April 23, 2006
"A Spy Speaks Out"
"The policy was set. The war in Iraq was coming and they were looking for intelligence to fit into the policy." -- Tyler Drumheller
60 Minutes, 4/23/06
"Son of the Bridge to Nowhere"
Editorial, 4/23/06
House Leaders Avoid Debating Iraq
"So far, House leaders avoid debating Iraq" Gannett News, 4/22/06
More Support for Health Freedom
Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (Colorado) has cosponsored the Health Freedom Protection Act (H.R. 4282). If you are a constituent of Mrs. Musgrave's, please Nice Apartment, Nice House
Matthew Dallek reviews the new book "The K Street Gang: The Rise and Fall of the Republican Machine" by Matthew Continetti. 4/23/06
He writes, "Scanlon [Tom DeLay's former press secretary] at one point was spending $17,000 per month to rent an apartment at Washington's Ritz-Carlton and using a helicopter to visit his $4.7 million mansion in Rehoboth Beach, Del. All told, Abramoff and Scanlon made more than $66 million over three years while doing what Continetti calls shoddy work for their Indian tribe gaming clients -- and while Abramoff was referring to them in e-mails as 'troglodytes' and 'monkeys.'"
April 22, 2006
Georgia Makes Mexico Mad
"Mexico slams Georgia migrant law" BBC News, 4/19/06
April 21, 2006
Cartoon
Poor Public Servants
How many times have you heard politicians refer to themselves as public servants? Politicians always say those words with a certain tone to make you think they have sacrificed greatly while serving the public. Don't be duped.
"Lawmakers never faced with losing benefits" AP, 4/19/06
Kent Snyder
"A Right Wing Flap"
"'Principled' means one who votes all his principles instead of simply mentioning ones in stump speeches that play in Peoria. Surely there are more than U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Dr. Paul, an OB/GYN from Pittsburgh, was described as the 'one exception to the Gang of 535' on Capitol Hill by former Treasury Secretary William Simon."
Dimitri Vassilaros, 4/21/06
Remember When
Remember when Republicans wanted to shut down the Department of Education? Instead, they are making it bigger.
The latest Republican expansion of the Department of Education is President Bush's new Mathematics Partnership Council which will "evaluate the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching math and in so doing, create a research base to improve instructional methods for teachers." This is part of Bush's plan to improve math education. The budget fiscal year 2007 includes $10 million to carry out Bush's program, and another $250 million for something called "Math Now" program.
Thanks to Norman Singleton at LewRockwell.com for this bit of smaller-government news and for this observation: "Good thing the Republicans control the government, because if the Democrats where in charge they would expand the budget and power of the Department of Education!"
Richard Wilkins
April 20, 2006
Charity a Crime
Norman Singleton at LewRockwell.com highlights David Devine's piece in The Washington Times on how doctors are reluctant to provide charity care for fear of being accused of fraud. To quote Dave Barry, I'm not making this up!
Richard Wilkins
Psychiatric Financial Disorder
The psychiatric establishment and the pharmaecutical industry work hand in pocket to push drugs on you and your children. How? The psychiatrists "diagnose" a disorder and the drug industry supplies the "treatment."
But as reported today by The Washington Post, "Every psychiatric expert involved in writing the standard diagnostic criteria for disorders such as depression and schizophrenia has had financial ties to drug companies that sell medications for those illnesses, a new analysis has found."
Here's just another reason for Congress to pass the Parental Consent Act (H.R. 181). Urge your U.S. representative to co-sponsor H.R. 181.
Kent Snyder
"Experts Defining Mental Disorders Are Linked to Drug Firms" The Washington Post, 4/20/06
April 19, 2006
Kaptain Kudlow
Today, Larry Kudlow tells us to wake up to "Hillary's big-government nightmare." He ends his column by asking, "What planet is Hillary Clinton living on?"
Houston Control to Kaptain Kudlow. Control to Kudlow. Larry are you out there? Respond please. (No response.)
Kaptain Kudlow must be light years away from earth. Otherwise, he would have noticed how big Bush's big government is.
Kent Snyder
Your Tax Burden
John Stossel says, "I bet you don't recognize just how heavy your tax burden is." He explains.
Paid Volunteers
Our nation's capital is good at creating oxymorons (not just morons). Paid volunteers is an example. The AmeriCorps program created during Bill Clinton's administration offers a "modest living allowance" and $4,725 to pay for college or repay outstanding student loans. AmeriCorps has several programs, one of which is the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
This morning, Christopher Lee of The Washington Post reports, "An Office of Management and Budget review found the cost of $27,859 per participant to be 'extremely expensive' and deemed the program 'ineffective.'" President Bush has proposed to cut the budget of the NCCC by "$22 million and phase it out in a year." (Great idea!)
But members of Congress of both parties say paying volunteers for "national and community service" is a fine use of the taxpayers' money. With 52 House members and AmeriCorps alumni now working to stop the proposed budget cuts, AmeriCorps "volunteers" will probably continue to get paid.
Kent Snyder
P.S. The way Washington works AmeriCorps will likely not get less money, but more money when all the huffing and puffing is done.
April 18, 2006
Mexico's Hypocrisy on Immigration
"Mexico harsh to undocumented migrants" AP, 4/18/06
Railroad to Nowhere
"Remember Alaska's 'bridge to nowhere'? It's about to be topped by what critics call Mississippi's 'railroad to nowhere,' which is quickly becoming the poster child for excessive spending by the Republican-controlled Congress." Christian Science Monitor, 4/19/06
Let's also remember South Dakota.
Republican Socialism
Republican Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is busy grooming himself to run for the upcoming GOP presidential nomination. He proudly signed legislation recently creating "universal" health care for the Bay State.
Socialism isn't new in Massachusetts because it's the home of Kennedy and Kerry. However, Romney is a Republican so you would think he would have opposed a state version of Hillary Care. But no...Republican Romney says if you can't beat them, join them.
"'I ran against Ted Kennedy (in 1994). We disagree on almost every issue,' Romney said as he prepared for a splashy signing ceremony in Boston. 'But this shows that Republicans and Democrats can work together to get things done.'" (Jonathan Altar/Newsweek)
Sue Blevins of the Institute for Health Freedom asks, "What's wrong with the government mandating individuals to purchase health care?" She also answers.
Kent Snyder
The Republican Lie
In his recent column "Free speech on life support" George Will states, "Traducing the Constitution and disgracing conservatism, they [Republicans] used their power for their only remaining purpose -- to cling to power." His complaint points to the U.S. House passing H.R. 513.
Will's characterization of Republicans using their power to cling to power was also evident when President Bush and the GOP-controlled Congress pushed through the Medicare prescription-drug benefit -- the largest expansion of the federal government since the creation of Medicare itself. During the run-up to the vote, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform held a meeting to rally support for it. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke at that gathering.
During his opening remarks Gingrich said, "There are probably some people in this room who don't want Medicare at all." I softly applauded showing that he was correct. He looked my way and snapped, "If we would listen to people like you, we wouldn't be in power!"
April 17, 2006
Strict Immigration Law in Georgia
"Ga. governor signs strict immigration bill" AP, 4/17/06
"Sanctions Against Iran"
"Embargoes simply do not accomplish the ends advocates claim to desire, and are extremely harmful to the well-being of Americans."
Congressman Ron Paul's Weekly Column, 4/17/06
A Taxing Trend
David Keating of the National Taxpayers Union writes, "Like old age, tax complexity has been creeping up on us. We may not notice it one year at a time, but a review of older tax documents reveals just how shockingly complicated taxes have become."
Along those lines, The Washington Post reports today that "[t]hree of the four top lawmakers on the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees, which are in charge of writing tax laws, pay professionals to file their annual tax returns...."
The article also states that more than 60 percent of taxpayers pay to have their taxe returns prepared and that percentage increases each year.
Kent Snyder
"A Taxing Trend: The Rise in Complexity, Forms and Paperwork Burdens" National Taxpayers Union, 4/17/06
"They Prepare the Tax Laws, but Not Their Own Returns" The Washington Post, 4/17/06
April 16, 2006
Patriot's Day
A friend of liberty who was born in Massachusetts but now lives in California says that one of his favorite patriotic holidays will be celebrated tomorrow in Massachusetts and Maine: Patriot's Day. He has two direct ancestors who were called out for the alarm of April 19, 1775. His great-great-great-great grandfather was 58 at the time, and that man's son who was 16.
Kent Snyder
Reconquista
"'Demographically, socially and culturally, the reconquista of the Southwest United States by Mexico is well under way,' Harvard University professor Samuel P. Huntington said in 2004."
"Mexican aliens seek to retake 'stolen' land" The Washington Times, 4/16/06
Illegal Aliens Overwhelm
"Illegal immigrants overwhelm U.S. agencies" UPI, 4/14/06
"Spare the IPod, Unspoil the Child"
Michelle Singletary's column is not about about legislation, public policy or politics. However, her words this week are well worth reading by all and should be distributed widely.
Kent Snyder
"Spare the IPod, Unspoil the Child" by Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post, 4/16/06
Sen. Coburn: More to Jail
"Senator expects seven lawmakers to go to jail" AP, 4/15/06
April 15, 2006
Jobs Before Crossing Border
"Many Mexicans have jobs before crossing" AP, 4/15/06
Goode on Immigration
U.S. Representative Virgil Goode (R-Virginia) comments on illegal immigration in his April 19th newsletter.
Iraq War Leads to IPO
The neocons who started the war with Iraq will soon profit even more when Halliburton's KBR issues an initial public offering (IPO). Reuters reports, "Halliburton Co. subsidiary KBR Inc., which generates more than half its revenue from the U.S. government Iraq war-related contracts, filed with U.S. regulators Friday to raise up to $550 million in an initial public offering."
This IPO tells me the neocons are planning to continue the war in Iraq for many years to come. Maybe they are also getting their financial chess pieces in place to profit from a war with Iran.
Kent Snyder
April 14, 2006
Spending Your Money
Members of Congress no longer need lobbyists to pay for their lavish trips overseas. They just stick the American taxpayers with the bill.
Al Kamen of The Washington Post reports today that Senators Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) are spending this holiday time in Brazil. Where most American taxpayers would use Orbitz or Travelocity to search for their airline tickets, the fine senators skipped such a pedestrian way and, instead, reserved an Air Force Boeing 737.
According to Mr. Kamen, the jet is "all business class, with windows in the bathrooms." He also reports the two senators were accompanied by a staffer and "some military officers." This must have left plenty of room for everyone on board to stretch out; enough room I'm sure to play Frisbee on their way to the Brazilian resort.
The other perk of senatorial travel is not having to wait in line for the ritual of taking off your shoes. Andrews Air Force base, just outside Washington, D.C., most likely doesn't require such procedures for the passengers it serves; such as these two fiscally conservative Republican senators.
Kent Snyder
"A Junket in the Jungle? How Can You Ask?" The Washington Post, 4/14/06
Tax Freedom Day
"Americans will work three days longer than last year to pay off their federal, state and local taxes. Residents of the Northeast will take longer than most."
"Tax freedom day comes later" CNNMoney.com, 4/12/06
NSA: Vacuum-Cleaner Surveillance
"Whistle-blower says AT&T gave spy agency access to network"
Associated Press, 4/13/06
April 13, 2006
Immigration Debate
"Immigration Debate Reaches Heartland" The Wall Street Journal, 4/13/06
Call for Briefing on Iran
Yesterday, Congressmen Walter Jones (R-North Carolina) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) sent a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert requesting a classified briefing on Iran for all members of the U.S. House.
Copy of Letter
Download iran_letter_to_speaker.pdf
A Latino Movement?
"Yet many politicians are rightly standing firm for stronger enforcement of the law. And protesters may find they spark a backlash in advocating citizen rights for lawbreakers."
"A Latino Movement? Or just a moment?" The Monitor's View, 4/13/06
April 12, 2006
What a Joke!
"Government spending hit an all-time high for a single month in March, pushing the budget deficit up significantly from the red-ink level of a year ago."
Article: "Government Spending Hits Record in March" AP, 4/12/06
The Republican Party platform of 2004 states: "We believe that good government is based on a system of limited taxes and spending. Furthermore, we believe that the federal government should be limited and restricted to the functions mandated by the United States Constitution."
What a joke!
Kent Snyder
Massachusetts' Mistake
Sue Blevins of the Institute for Health Freedom explains why the much-touted Massachusetts' mandatory health plan (socialized medicine) is a mistake because it invades privacy and mandates new taxes.
Covert Action at National Archives?
"Archives OK'd Removing Records, Kept Quiet" AP, 4/11/06
April 11, 2006
Our National Boom Town
War, poverty, disease, disaster, destruction, financial depression and terror are always great for business in the Washington, D.C. area. And business has never been better.
Did you know the federal government is the world's largest consumer of goods and services? Yes, Uncle Sam buys like no other, and that's a boom to the D.C. metro. The Washington Post explains in an extensive article "Rallying 'Round the Flag" published this last Sunday.
But some government contractors do show humility. "Harry M. 'Pete' Howton, the son of an Air Force officer who grew up to be a Navy man and a basement entrepreneur, banked about $50 million last year when he sold his 10-year-old government technology company.
"There were no opulent parties. He didn't buy a new house or start a yacht collection. Every morning he wakes up and goes to work. He's not even sure his neighbors know he is a wealthy man."
See "Contractors Cash Out but Try to Stay Humble" The Washington Post, 4/10/06
Veneration of the Military
"Since the Vietnam War, in which returning draftees were shunned by much of American society, critics of U.S. foreign policy, including the Iraq war, have bent over backwards not to criticize U.S. military forces and sometimes have even praised soldiers' willingness to fight for their country. And, of course, journalists and politicians have slathered nothing but praise on American boys and girls in Iraq. But this flattery is not good for the republic, and it's not good for the troops."
"Is Veneration of the Military Good for the Republic?" by Ivan Eland, 4/10/06
Map of Illegal Immigration
The Arizona Daily Star has a map of the United States showing the estimated number of illegal immigrants by state. The estimated number for 1990 and for 2004, along with the percentage change is listed. Also listed is the estimated percentage of the country's illegal immigrants that live in each state.
Kent Snyder
Income Tax
"What you may not know about your income tax"
Christian Science Monitor, 4/10/06
April 10, 2006
More Support for Health Freedom
Representative Scott Garrett (New Jersey-5th) added his support to the Health Freedom Protection Act (H.R. 4282). If you are a constituent of Mr. Garrett's, please "Cough Up"
"The real enemy of tax reform is the spending culture in Washington."
Congressman Ron Paul's Column for the Week of 4/10/06
Video of Press Conference on Iraq
Video
On April 5, 2006, Congressmen Walter Jones (R-North Carolina), Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland) held a press conference to urge adoption of H. Res. 543, a resolution that would require a congressional debate on the future of U.S. policy in Iraq. The resolution calls for 17 hours of debate on the floor of the U.S. House divided equally between Republicans and Democrats.
Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) joined the press conference to thank the Republican House members for their efforts to hold an open debate on U.S. policy in Iraq.
Watch Video (Windows Media)
"What Does General Anthony Zinni Think About Iraq?"
Download PC040506Item2.pdf
"On Iraq Intelligence..." (Larry Wilkerson, former Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff; Paul Pillar, national intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005; Karen Kwiatkowski, former Pentagon Near East and South Asia officer)
Download PC040506Item1.pdf
Kent Snyder
Massachusetts' Mistake
"Republican Governor Mitt Romney is planning to sign into law this week a mandate that citizens of Massachusetts purchase health insurance, join a government-subsidized program, or face a financial penalty.
"Romney's plan is being touted as landmark legislation and other states already are being encouraged to follow suit. But a close examination of the soon-to-become law reveals that it grants enormous power to special interest groups to collect health-care data on all citizens and impose fines on health-care providers who fail to share patients' data.
"Following are some of the bill's lesser-known facts that all Americans should know about before endorsing the plan or expand it nationwide."
Press Release: "What Every American Should Know about the Massachusetts Mandatory Health-Insurance Legislation" by the Institute for Health Freedom, 4/10/06
April 09, 2006
Health Freedom Protection Act
Meetings with several members of the U.S. House were held on April 5th, 6th, and 7th to ask for their support of the Health Freedom Protection Act (H.R. 4282). The reactions by the House members and their staffs were very encouraging. Now is the time for them to hear from their constituents about H.R. 4282.
If your U.S. representative is listed below, please encourage him or her to cosponsor H.R. 4282. They know about the bill. Their questions were answered. They have the information needed to support the legislation. They just need to hear from their constituents.
Please call your representative's D.C. office right away or, better yet, ask him or her in person to join H.R. 4282. House members will be in their home districts for the next two weeks during the spring district work period.
Rep. Tom Latham (Iowa-4)
D.C. office: 202-225-5476
Ames office: 515-232-2885
Rep. Allan Boyd (Florida-2)
D.C. office: 202-225-5235
Tallahassee office: 850-561-3979
Rep. John Campbell (California-48)
D.C. office: 202-225-5611
Newport Beach office: 949-756-2244
Rep. Henry Bonilla (Texas-23)
D.C. office: 202-225-4511
San Antonio office: 210-697-9055
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (Colorado-4)
D.C. office: 202-225-4676
Loveland office: 970-663-3536
Rep. John Doolittle (California-4)
D.C. office: 202-225-2511
Granite Bay office: 916-786-5560
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (Missouri-8)
D.C. office: 202-225-4404
Cape Girardeau office: 573-335-0101
Protect your health freedom. Urge your representative to join H.R. 4282 today.
Kent Snyder
April 08, 2006
2006 Pig Book
Citizens Against Government Waste has issued its detailed report on pork-barrel spending for 2006.
April 07, 2006
Amnesty? Sensenbrenner Says "No"
"However it is spun, it is an amnesty," Sensenbrenner said. "It rewards somebody who has broken the law with a benefit that is very hard to achieve for those who obey the law."
"Key House Republican vows to oppose immigration measure" USA Today, 4/7/06
Representative James Sensenbrenner is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Dr. Leon Hadar
Congressman Ron Paul hosts a luncheon meeting of his Liberty Caucus on Thursdays. There is a guest speaker each time. Yesterday, Dr. Leon Hadar joined the caucus for lunch and conversation about U.S. foreign policy. Dr. Hadar's latest book is Sandstorm: Policy Failure in the Middle East.
Dr. Hadar posted a comment on his blog.
Kent Snyder
Mexico's Plan
"Behind the illegal immigrants waving Mexican and Salvadoran flags in Los Angeles last week; behind the Mexican girl in Arlington, Va., who was quoted as saying on radio: "Citizens -- what are they for? We do all the work"; behind the antiquated calls for taking back the Southwest in the name of a Mexican Aztlan -- there is a plan."
"Mexico's Plan Put American Values to the Test"
by Georgie Anne Geyer, 4/3/06
April 06, 2006
"Iran: The Next Neocon Target"
Congressman Ron Paul addressed the U.S. House last night. He asked, "The significant question we must ask ourselves is: What have we learned from three years in Iraq? With plans now being laid for regime change in Iran, it appears we have learned absolutely nothing."Press Conference on Iraq War
Congressmen Walter Jones (R-North Carolina), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland) and Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) held a press conference yesterday at 11:00 a.m.
Here are two articles about that press conference:
"Support sought for Iraq debate" Capital News Service, 4/6/06
"Congress turns up heat on war" Detroit Free Press, 4/6/06
More Support for Health Freedom
Representative Jack Kingston (Georgia) has become a cosponsor of the Health Freedom Protection Act (H.R. 4282). If you are a constituent of Mr. Kingston's, please thank him. The bill now has 18 cosponsors.
Learn more about H.R. 4282 and urge your representative to support health freedom by cosponsoring the legislation.
April 05, 2006
Vote Tally on H.R. 513
The U.S. House approved H.R. 513 by a vote of 218 to 209.
Vote Tally
We strongly urged the U.S. House to reject the legislation in our April 4th alert.
$56 Million to Fly Immigrants Home
"U.S. Spending $56M to Fly Immigrants Home" ABC News, 4/5/06
"Inside 'Border Patrol, Inc.'"
The Christian Science Monitor, 4/05/06
April 04, 2006
Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Tongue
Campaign-finance reform, whether pushed by Republicans such as John McCain or Democrats such as Russ Feingold, is being foisted on an unsuspecting American public as the way to clean up the corrupt political process. In reality, it is the way for the powerful political insiders to further control what is said at election time and thus control election results. Yes, the governing class wants you to shut up, pay your taxes and believe what they tell you. They will decide what is best for you, your family, our country and the world itself.
Mexico's Hypocrisy on Immigration
"The Congress has received lots of free advice lately from Mexican government officials and illegal aliens waving Mexico's flag in mass demonstrations coast-to-coast. Most of it takes the form of bitter complaints about our actual or prospective treatment of immigrants from that country who have gotten into this one illegally -- or aspire to do so.
"If you think these critics are mad about U.S. immigration policy now, imagine how upset they would be if we adopted an approach far more radical than the bill they rail against that was adopted last year by the House of Representatives -- namely, the way Mexico treats illegal aliens."
"The Mexican solution" by Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. 4/04/06
Related Item: Mexico's Migration Plans
Housing Bubble
"While the evidence of a housing bubble is overwhelming, it isn't definitive. But what isn't debatable is that one cannot forever spend more money than one earns -- yet this is exactly what consumers have been doing."
Andrew Laperriere, 4/3/06
Spending Your Money
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will receive $500,000 of your tax dollars thanks to an earmark. The earmark was placed in the fiscal year 2006 appropriations bill for the departments of transportation, treasury, and housing and urban development.
Congressman Jeff Flake (Arizona) noted this piece of pork in his March 31st press release. Download CA_040306_flakesymphony.pdf
April 03, 2006
"The Immigration Question"
Congressman Ron Paul discusses immigration in his column for this week.
Compa$$ionate Con$ervati$m
President Bush has learned how to buy more votes for the GOP. He doles out the cash with his faith-based and community initiatives scheme. Fox News reports today that Bush has added a "faith-based initiatives" office to the Department of Homeland Security.
It's not surprising that Bush plays Robin Hood with our tax dollars. He's a politician and that's what 99% of them do. What's surprising is the increasing number of religious leaders and followers who embrace such thievery. They have bought into the compassionate conservatism/faith-based philosophy of government to justify their immoral practice of accepting stolen goods.
Kent Snyder
Pentagon Insider Talks
Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski (U.S. Air Force, retired) tells what she saw while working at the Pentagon before the U.S. attacked Iraq. Watch the video or read the transcript.
April 02, 2006
Casualties in Iraq
U.S. Military
17,381 wounded
2,327 fatalities
Allied Military
208 fatalities
U.S. Civilian
126 fatalities
Iraqi Civilian
33,814 minimum count fatalities
37,936 maximum count fatalities
Source: The Washington Post, 4/1/06, page A12
Spending Your Money
"Mismanagement of a $1 billion technology contract by the Transportation Security Administration resulted in the expenditure of the entire budget long before all of the needed computer and telephone equipment was installed, according to an audit released Thursday by the inspector general of the Homeland Security Department."
"Audit Finds Mismanagement Drained $1 Billion Project" The New York Times, 4/2/06
April 01, 2006
Special Series: American Wounded
The Los Angeles Times has a special three-part series about American soldiers wounded in Iraq.
Part One: "Stitching Together Lives Torn by Shrapnel and Grit"
Part Two: "Journey Through Trauma"
Part Three: "Battle on the Human Front"
"Global Divide on Israel Lobby Study"
"In the international online media, the 83-page study, 'The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy,' by John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt of Harvard, has attracted largely positive coverage. By contrast, U.S. and Israeli commentators have described their feelings as outrageous and scandalous."
Jefferson Morley, The Washington Post
Q&A on Immigration
"Border issues spawn varied bills" AP, 4/1/06
Federal Reserve for Kids
Thanks Kent for your post on the Fed's new website for kids. I agree that the Mises Institute and LewRockwell.com are excellent resources for anyone wishing to learn about monetary policy.
Another excellent source is the writings and speeches of Congressman Ron Paul, founder of The Liberty Committee. Congressman Paul is not only the most consistent upholder of constitutional government and individual liberty in Washington, but he is an expert in monetary policy and free-market economics.
In order to make sure the American people are informed of how the Federal Reserve is affecting our economy, Congressman Paul recently introduced H.R. 4892. This bill would require the Fed to resume public reports on the growth of M3 which is the most comprehensive monetary aggregate.
Richard Wilkins
Microchips in Animals (RFID)
"NAIS Spawned by International Entanglements" by Doreen Hannes, 4/1/06
