Showing posts with label debt clock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label debt clock. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Schedule of Events: Speakers, Performers Lineup, Live Stream Information

The Democrat Convention has started... under the cloud of a House Investigation into stimulus funds being given to leftist news outlet MSNBC (NBC and parent company GE) for Obama’s ‘Green Jobs’ Initiative Ads; the national debt clock clicked over to $16 Trillion just an hour before the DNC Convention began… which certainly explains why they have no debt clock up at the event like the GOP had; and the jobs report to be released just hours after President Obama’s speech on Thursday is expected to be negative… again.

Also Just released: The Dems have taken out any and all references to Israel from their platform. The platform used to say that Israel was America’s (the Dems) strongest ally… The designation of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, has also been removed.  Everyone interviewed about the changes on Israel said the party went along with President Obama’s lead and beliefs. The word ‘God’ also no longer appears anywhere in the Democrat platform. Wake up Americans and wake up American Jews!

Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.

(Photo : DemConvention) Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The 2012 Democratic National Convention just kicked off in Charlotte, North Carolina where the party will nominate President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden for President and Vice President candidates.

I waited until the last minute to post this hoping the DNC would post a final or at least comprehensive schedule… they never did. Perhaps it is because they are still making changes???

The three-day convention is expected to draw tens of thousands of people including nearly 6,000 delegates from across the country. Performers include the Foo Fighters, Mary J. Blige and Marc Anthony.

During the first two days at the Time Warner Cable Arena, First Lady Michelle Obama, Keynote Speaker and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and former President Bill Clinton are expected to speak. DJ Cassidy, Ledisi, Amber Riley, former American Idol contestant Jessica Sanchez and Branford Marsalis will also take the stage. The Dems have been much less forthcoming than the Republicans as to details about their convention.

About 15,000 people are expected on the first two days, according to the convention's website.

High-profile speakers include Chicago Mayor and former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren.

On Thursday, Obama will accept the nomination at the Bank of America Stadium which has capacity to seat over 73,000 people. Marc Anthony will sing the National Anthem and other musicians performing are the Foo Fighters, Mary J. Blige, Earth Wind and Fire, James Taylor, Delta Rae and Inspire the Fire.
Live Streaming will be available on the Democratic National Convention 2012 website www.demconvention.com/live in English and Spanish.

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney accepted his party's nomination Thursday night amid heavy fanfare but people wonder if the Democrat's big party will diminish his momentum.  "Whatever there is, I think we can blunt that pretty quickly," an official with President Obama's campaign told CNN.

Most politicos from both parties are saying that while the Republican National Convention was overall positive, with only intermittent barbs at President Obama, that they expect the Democratic convention to be much more negative and full of attacks on Romney and Ryan.

FULL LIST OF SPEAKERS:

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Congressman Xavier Becerra of California
Newark Mayor Cory Booker
Congressman G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina
Former President Jimmy Carter (via video)
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who will be the first Latino keynote speaker at a Democratic National Convention
Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee
Congresswoman Judy Chu of California
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri
Former President Bill Clinton
Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina
Former Republican Governor of Florida Charlie Crist
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Walter Dalton
The Honorable Arne Duncan
Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Colorado
Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois
Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts
Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
Congressman Charlie Gonzalez of Texas
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina
California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland
Former Governor of North Carolina Jim Hunt
DCCC Chairman Congressman Steve Israel of New York
Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau
Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.)
Congressman John Larson of Connecticut
Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California
Congressman John Lewis of Georgia
CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon
President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy Keenan
Caroline Kennedy
U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts
Women's rights activist Lilly Ledbetter
Obama Campaign Co-Chair Eva Longoria
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy
Delaware Governor Jack Markell
Boston Mayor Tom Menino
The Honorable Karen Mills
U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, together with the women of the U.S. Senate
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will also lead a presentation of the women of the House: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez of New York Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Joyce Beatty of Ohio Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii
California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez
Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado
Congressman David Price of North Carolina
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada
President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
The Honorable Ken Salazar
Journalist Cristina Saralegui
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Congressman Chris Van Hollen
Los Angeles Mayor, Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Senate candidate from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren
DNC Chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida
Congressman Mel Watt of North Carolina

Tuesday, September 4 (Time Warner Cable Arena)

DJ Cassidy, LedisiAmber Riley (national anthem)

Wednesday, September 5 (Time Warner Cable Arena)

DJ Cassidy, Jessica Sanchez, Branford Marsalis (national anthem)

Thursday, September 6 (Bank of America Stadium)

Foo Fighters, Mary J. Blige, Earth, Wind and Fire, James Taylor, Delta Rae, Inspire the Fire and Marc Anthony (national anthem)

Feature

IS MT. RUSHMORE NEXT?

Three artists need 15 tons of sand to create an Obama sand sculpture ahead of the DNC

A torrential downpour that struck Charlotte Saturday afternoon damaged the Mount Rushmore-style sand sculpture bust of President Obama — an ominous beginning to what many fear is a plagued convention.

Workers were trying Saturday afternoon to reform the base of the sculpture, built from sand brought in from Myrtle Beach, S.C., pounding and smoothing out the sand that had washed off the facade of the waist-up rendering of the chief executive.

The sand sculpture was protected from above, and Mr. Obama’s face didn’t see too much damage. But the storm was so strong that its heavy winds blew the rain sideways, pelting the president’s right side and leaving the sand pockmarked and completely erasing his right elbow.

Don’t count on too much truth from MSNBC or the mainstream media about the Democrat National Convention… During the Republican National Convention MSNBC purposely cut away almost every time there was a person of color speaking and away from many of the women to make it look like the GOP was nothing but white men and to support Democrat fake war on women concept.

Related:

Mitt Romney gains traction among Latino voters… They are not fooled by DNC political games

RNC boosts Romney among the GOP women

Remember Jumah… The Muslim Prayer Event Listed as an Official Event at the Democrat National Convention….

Mitt – A Big Hearted Caring and Decent Guy… Who Can Fix the Economy

Mitt Romney Gets Personal in Fiery and Poignant Speech – Gave America a True Choice

Team Obama to unions: Bail out our convention, will ya? And While you are at it… bus in and pay people to attend

Welcome to Charlotte and the 2012 Democrat National Convention

Israel: Time’s Up

Romney Tells Israel: “You Built That!”

Monday was National Empty Chair Day!

Famous Painter Jon McNaughton’s Controversial painting… Obamanation

The Hope and Change Movie – A Must Watch! - 40 Democrats and Independents who voted for Obama in 2008 but won’t in 2012

You Know It Is Over When Michael Moore Says: "I Think People Should Start To Practice The Word’s President Romney"

Shocking Newsweek Cover: ‘Hit the Road, Barack – Why We Need a New President’ – Updated

Sometimes It Is the Small Things That Tell You the Real Truth… Obama’s Already Planning Move to Hawaii and Hillary is MIA for Convention

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Painting of Obama Trampling Constitution Resurfaces, Artist‘s New Work Tells ’Enslaved‘ Americans to ’Wake Up!’

Jon McNaughton Painting Depicts Barack Obama Trampling on U.S. Constitution

Some may already be familiar with the image featured above. For those who aren’t, it is painting titled “The Forgotten Man” which features President Obama trampling on the Constitution while an astonished James Madison pleads with him to stop. To the side, a man sits on a park bench in the throes of depression while 43 presidents look on. The painting, which uses discarded dollar bills and scraps of paper with individual constitutional amendments scrawled onto them.

The Blaze first reported on artist Jon McNaughton’s controversial rendition back in 2010 when the artwork was released. Now, however, McNauughton’s Forgotten Man has resurfaced and is making its rounds across the internet again after appearing on Rachel Maddow’s blog on Thursday.

In a video that accompanied The Forgotten Man’s release, the politically charged McNaughton revealed, “For a long time I didn’t know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried it might be too controversial.”

He explained that the man on the park bench “represents every man, woman, and child who is an American“ and who ”hopes to find the American dream of happiness and prosperity.” The artist added, “But now because of unconstitutional acts imposed on the American people by our government we stand on the precipice of disasters.”

Jon McNaughton Painting Depicts Barack Obama Trampling on U.S. Constitution

The artists’ work can be found at McNaughton Fine Art (though the site appeared to be down, at least temporarily on Friday evening) and on his Facebook Page. A search of McNaughton’s postings on Facebook reveal a number of paintings with strong political and religious themes including another provocative work released in October 2011 titled “Wake Up America.” The image features Obama smiling on the stump while shackled Americans gather around him. From the artist’s YouTube page:

We are enslaved to our debt. Wake up, America! Before it is too late…

Every man, woman and child in America is enslaved to the national debt. As an artist, I have painted my vision of the dire circumstances that surround us. Now, more than ever, each American must make a choice: we must unlock the shackles that enslave us, or will we lose our freedom. It is my hope and prayer that America will “wake up” before it is too late.

The image is featured below:

Jon McNaughton Painting Depicts Barack Obama Trampling on U.S. Constitution

With the Nevada Caucuses around the corner, CBS Las Vegas caught up with McNaughton to talk about his work. Since the painting’s release, “It sold thousands,” McNaughton told the network.

“I sold many different sizes and editions, and now that we are in an election year I expect to sell more.”

Jon McNaughton Painting Depicts Barack Obama Trampling on U.S. Constitution

Below is a video of the artist explaining “Wake Up America”:

Video: Wake Up America - Jon McNaughton

Jon McNaughton Painting Depicts Barack Obama Trampling on U.S. Constitution

Much of McNaughton’s work is political in nature. Previously, he released “One Nation Under God,” a painting depicting Jesus holding the Constitution and judging several archetypes including a liberal journalist, a smug college professor, and a man McNaughton calls “Mr. Hollywood.”

Jon McNaughton Painting Depicts Barack Obama Trampling on U.S. Constitution

Originally from Arizona, McNaugton currently lives in Utah and received a full scholarship to Brigham Young University.

“I hope my work will create conversation and reach people on a deeper level,” he states on his website. “I like to use metaphor and multiple levels of meaning to reach my viewer. If it makes them think and feel, then it is successful.”

McNaughton also told CBSLV: “I’m not trying to create an art style. I want to communicate my ideas. Isn’t that the purpose of art?”

Below is a painting titled “Peace Is Coming”:

Jon McNaughton Painting Depicts Barack Obama Trampling on U.S. Constitution

The Blaze

Monday, August 22, 2011

Debt-End Tour

An In-depth Analysis of Obama’s Economic “Debt-End Tour” 2011

Our “Comrade Commander in Chief” Obama on his Economic Rural Tour, consistently calls for the American people to contact their government representatives “because the government has not broken down, but our political system has.” He believes that our political system is the responsible culprit for all our economic problems.

Could it be that Big Government is what is wrong with our economic problem and NOT our political system?  Having a republic that values the United States Constitution should not be a problem...  The big problem is that our president, his advisors, and his close associates refuse to respect and listen to our Constitutional political process.

Obama has been endorsed by the Communist Party 1.  The goal of the Communist Party is the enslavement of all people for the “common good”.  The end game for the Communists is to change the United States into a socialist nation much like Cuba, Venezuela, and China. 

During one of the closing remarks given after a break out session, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, former Governor of Iowa, introduced the crowd to Obama.

Vilsak said that the president is someone in whom he has great trust.  Vilsack noted that a good leader is someone in whom people have confidence.  Obama, likewise, praised Vilsack and it wasn’t too long before Obama made this statement:  “We need to fix our politics.

How can he, as a president of a free country and how can citizens of a free country, blame the very process that guards our freedoms?  The political process, albeit somewhat flawed, is the only process in the world that provides government representation “of the people, by the people and for the people”.  Indeed, Obama said many times throughout his tour that there was not anyone in any other country who would not want to come to America.

There is a bill---The Start Up Visa Bill 3, authored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), which will boost even more foreigners to our shores. “It will allow an immigrant entrepreneur to receive a two year visa if he or she can show that a qualified U.S. investor is willing to invest in the immigrant’s startup venture.” 

How would Obama change our political system?  He already has changed the climate of our political system by….cozying up to the SEIU and other unions that encourage thuggery and corruption 4.  For example, Obama is linked to the corrupt organization of Acorn and his support for the New Black Panther Party is demonstrated by advising our Department of Justice Attorney General Eric Holder, to not prosecute the blatant threats made at voting booths in Pennsylvania.

In June, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Rural Council. 5   The Council is tasked with "focusing on increasing rural access to capital, spurring agricultural innovation, expanding digital and physical infrastructure in rural areas, and creating economic opportunities through conservation and outdoor recreation."  It was these areas that Obama focused, steering away from disclosing anything upsetting to rural Americans.

Traveling in two buses, one black and the other red, valued at $1.1 million each, purchased by the Secret Service from Provost, a Canadian manufacturer. Obama finally re-connected with his 2007 farm goals that were used as part of his platform while running for the Senate seat in Iowa. 6

In 2009, the current administration kicked off the original Rural Tour.7   Interest in rural America has now been expanded to include Obama's Executive Order 13575 8 and the White House Rural Council.

The two buses used in this year's tour have drawn much interest and ridicule.  When one considers the following information, it is easy to understand why eyebrows have been raised. Certain political parties or positions 9 have become associated with different colors at different times. One writer called the red and black buses "Gog and Magog". 10

imageObama_Tour_Black_Bus

Town Hall Atkinson, Illinois 12:45 PM

The Wyffels Company, which manufactures genetically modified (GMO) seeds for Monsanto was the host.

In a warehouse owned by Wyffels Hybrids, amid genetically modified (GMO) corn seed sacks piled high to the ceiling, people were fanning themselves anxiously awaiting the president.  Obama, opening with the following statement said, “When I travel I am absolutely confident and the reason I am confident is because of the American people.  There is not a country on earth that would change places with us.” 

He has that right!  So why, day after day, after day…it’s been three days in row, do we hear him say, “There is something wrong with our politics.”

Obama gave incorrect statistics:

Obama, in defense of his administration said, “Two million private sector jobs have been created." But according to Steve McCann's article in the American Thinker: 11

”The reality is 2.5 million jobs in the private sector were eliminated since Obama assumed office.

It is painfully obvious, even to those without access to the BLS reports, that average Americans instinctively know by their own experiences that there has been no job creation in the private sector since Obama became President; yet he so casually and easily can throw out a lie to further his ambitions.”

Obama “moved on”, as in www.moveon.org, explaining his plan for economic recovery.

Obama’s Plan:

1. Pushing for a payroll tax cut, Obama said that it was something we could do right now, but that “politics is holding us back”

Everyone but Obama knows that Social Security is in trouble, yet he decreases our payroll tax so that LESS is going into the Social Security fund?  This is just one more reason that Obama is the wrong man for the job; nearly everything he does is destructive to the people of this country.  For the last year, Obama's tax cuts have meant that an employee is contributing only 4.2% of their wages to the Social Security fund (FICA).  Whereas before, the standard contribution was 6.2% for both the employee and the employer.  The employer still contributes 6.2%.  Since the Social Security fund is already in trouble, it doesn't make any sense to cut the fund even more.  In essence, what is being done is that Big Government is "borrowing from the Social Security fund".  Borrowing money from the SS fund doesn't affect our credit rating with Standard and Poor's, because it is like borrowing from ourselves.  THIS MONEY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PAID BACK INTO THE SS FUND. 

In addition, the average tax cut might give each family $1,000.  Divided by 12 months, is only $100 per month.  Most families would use that money to pay down on their credit card debts."  But Obama, in essence, is borrowing that $100 from the pockets of future Social Security funds, thus endangering an already nearly insolvent 12 government program.

Embed this video 13

ELABORATE WELFARE HOUSING PROJECT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6ok5ykyuQ&feature=share

2. Building of future infrastructure for roads, bridges, and schools, would get construction workers and contractors back to work. “Since interest rates are low, we could finance these investments.”

With whose moneyChina has said, “Enough, no more lending to the U.S.!”  14

3. Passing trade bills that encourage more U.S. goods sold to foreign

countries.

How has NAFTA worked out for us? The North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement was pushed and shoved down the throats of Canadian, United States and Mexican citizens under the guise of creating “wealth and prosperity”, when in reality it built plants in foreign countries and closed manufacturing plants across Canada and the United States resulting in the loss of millions of jobs

Another result of NAFTA is the continued dissolving of our sovereign boundaries.  In the following video, a Canadian citizen, in down to earth terms, explains the horror that NAFTA has inflicted on the people of Canada and the United States.  "NAFTA A Dirty Lie"15

3. Providing money to finance entrepreneurs helping them to market their ideas and make money, rounded out his proposal.  Again, he added, “The only thing holding us back is our politics”.

Being curious, and looking into this “bill” that he mentioned in passing aimed at helping entrepreneurs, I discovered:

S.565 -- StartUp Visa Act of 2011 16 (Introduced in Senate - IS)

To establish an employment-based immigrant visa for alien entrepreneurs who have received significant capital from investors to establish a business in the United States:

You’re kidding me, right?  Help immigrant entrepreneurs and not U.S. citizen entrepreneurs?  I am sure that the crowd would have reacted very differently had they known that their tax money was yet again destined to help foreigners instead of current United States citizens. 

He explained the reason for the S & P downgrade was because the political system couldn’t seem to make a good decision.  Again, blaming our political process rather than the problem of Big Government run-away deficit spending!

5. Continuing student loan programs

6. Investing in basic agricultural research

He rounded out his opening remarks by saying, “We need to have shared sacrifice and balance the budget in a balanced way.”  He referred again to Warren Buffet remarking that millionaires were coddled under our present tax code.  If money from all the millionaires and billionaires were taken and applied to our deficit, it would only cover a small percent of our deficit.  Obama's theory that the rich don't pay their "fair share" is incorrect!  Look for yourself at the U.S. Federal Tax Code found on page 98 of the official document.  The chart <Link> shows that the rich pay 35% of their income toward federal taxes.

Here is an excellent video from Bill Whittle 17 that spells out just how much money it will take to keep the country going each day even after taking away all the money from the millionaires and billionaires.  And then what are we going to use for capital?

Before taking questions, he said: “I want to enlist you to send a message to Congress to stop engaging in rhetoric rather than getting things done and stop worrying about the next election.”…

Who’s worrying about the next election?  To me, this remark resembles the old saying where the pot is calling the kettle black.  His entire three-day trip has cost the taxpayer millions of dollars. This tour has been labeled as a 2012 election campaign trip for Obama. Even Jon Stewart is calling Obama's bus tour a campaign event.  Watch the video for some laughs! 18

Question and Answer Time

The next 30 minutes was devoted to answering questions that were a little more challenging than the previous days.  The first questioner was a corn and soybean farmer who said:  “Mother Nature has really challenged us lately …please do not challenge us with new rules and regulations.”  Obama reassured him, “Don’t always believe what you hear.  The folks in Washington write some of these articles and the lobbyists will send out information saying, ‘Look what’s going down the pike!  Just call the USDA directly”

A reporter from "Politico" attempted to call the USDA as Obama had suggested.  The reporter attempted for two days to get an answer for a question.  After being on the phone continuously for those two days, the reporter received a generic email from the USDA.  The email did not answer the specific question. 19

If the USDA and the Department of Agriculture had not received over 1700 calls and contacts from interested parties, farmers would have been required by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Ray LaHood appointed by Obama, to qualify for a Commercial Drivers License (CDL).  Yes, the same licenses that are required by drivers of 18-wheelers! 

Second Question

Remarking about the slowing of the economy after the S & P downgrade, a local real estate owner asked what was Obama’s plan for “getting the country out from where we are”.  Obama said that the banking industry was at fault for getting us into the housing bubble and that banks need to have slightly tighter lending regulations than they have now.

Obama is advocating MORE banking regulations. The Federal Government is actually paying banks now to NOT give housing loans. 20

“The Federal Reserve is quietly continuing with one of the many outrageous bank-bailout programs it initiated during the financial crisis--the one in which it pays big banks interest on their excess reserves.” 

Third Question 

Concerned with Simpson-Bowles tax hike plan and the Super Committee, a man who works at the local arsenal, asked how the president would balance the budget.

Obama responded that we should have a “balanced approach” that would include cutting defense spending, modifications to Social Security and Medicare, in addition to raising added revenues. 

(Hope the arsenal plant where the questioner works is not shut down because of those proposed “defense cuts”.) 

Obama said that the deficit was caused by giving tax cuts in 2000, getting involved in two wars that we didn’t have the money to pay for and giving a prescription drug program to seniors.

Note, he made no mention that the skyrocketing deficit was caused by his failed $2.5 trillion Stimulus Bill.  Looking at the chart published by the Congressional Budget Office, the true 10-year cost of the stimulus bill is $2.527 trillion in spending with another $744 billion cost in debt servicing. Total bill for the Generational Theft Act: $3.27 trillion. 21 At this time, there are rumors of a Stimulus 2. 

Fourth Question

When asked, “What can Congress do to help provide more jobs?”, Obama replied,  “Things we can do WITHOUT Congress include my creation of a Jobs Council.   The Department of Defense has started a new program.  It is like a reverse boot camp, which trains returning veterans for jobs.  We are looking at changing certifications and regulations. We are studying rules to see if they are cost effective.”

According to an article from ABC News, Obama To Announce New Steps To Get Veterans Back To Work 22

The president will advocate for a “Returning Heroes Tax Credit,” which would offer participating companies a $2,400 tax credit for hiring short-term unemployed veterans. The White House would also offer additional incentives of $4,800 to companies hiring service members who have faced unemployment for six months or longer.

“This is not a tax credit that we believe necessarily has to be continued indefinitely, but we believe that with the significant number of veterans entering the workforce at a time of significant long-term unemployment as our nation is recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression, that this is both appropriate and fair and something the American people will strongly support,” the official said. 

However, according to Army Times 23, injured troops are in limbo for discharge because the new bureaucratic delays hinder evaluations.

“A typical service member’s case is handled off between the Defense Department and the VA nine times during the new integrated process.  It typically starts about a year after a service member is injured, after it’s clear that remaining on duty isn’t possible, with a goal of 295 days to complete after that initial year.  But the average completion time after the initial year is more than 400 days, leaving the service member in limbo for more than two years.” 

If Obama’s new jobs program for vets is handled anywhere near these present steps for certification, our hearts should really be touched by the service that they have given to our country.

Fifth Question

A young man, noting that some Republicans have signed a pledge against no new revenue, asked what Obama’s feelings were about pledge signing. Obama submitted that we could raise taxes without seeing harm to the middle class.  He also offered a suggestion of closing up tax loopholes and again offered up Warren Buffet’s quote about the rich people being “coddled” with the capital gains tax.

Obama’s main error in his statement 24 was, “The richer you are the lower your tax rate.”  This statement has previously been proven wrong because the tax chart on page 98 of the 1040 Tax Code shows incomes above $373,650.00 are taxed at 35%; whereas, nearly one-half of our population pays 0% tax.    Tax credits are actually beneficial because they place more money into the system and stimulate the economy.

Obama said, “Every day I take an oath; my pledge is that every day I am looking out for the American people.”

I guess he is NOT using Wikipedia’s definition of American people:  “The people of the United States, U.S. Americans, or simply Americans or American people, are citizens of the United States.”, because he has made sure billions of our tax dollars have been given to foreign countries 25 and even terrorists 26A few days ago, it was reported that our government mistakenly gave $360 million to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations. 

Our government sends hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to other countries every year and we’ve been happy to help when we’re doing well at home. Do you consider these spending items to be “essential?”

Sixth Question

“What training offers the best prospective job opportunities in the future?”  Obama’s response was, “The days are over for getting a job just because you work hard…the world is shrinking. Products from Addison end up in China…  We can do more to encourage math, science, engineering and technical skills.  Having a foreign language skill is important too.”

Seventh Question

An eleven-year-old boy asked what could be done to keep his grandfather’s ethanol plant running.  Obama emphasized that Sec. Of Agriculture Vilsack is a strong supporter of biofuels and that the government wants to find diversity in products that can be used for fuel.  Wanting to make biofuels out of things that are not in the food chain will require an investment in research.  He gave the example that one-third of Brazil’s fleet operates on biofuels.

But using biofuels 27 has not been without consequence to the rich rain forests that have been cut down in order to grow biofuels and growing some of the biofuels have been identified as adding to more CO2 emissions because of the fertilizer used.

Eighth Question

A young man who had promised his grandmother that he would be a lobbyist for senior citizens asked when Social Security would get a cost of living (COLA) increase.  Obama replied that it is likely that a COLA increase will happen soon.  He added,  “Social Security is NOT in a crisis”.

Two weeks ago, who would have believed that Social Security was solvent after Obama threatened to not send out the Social Security checks for lack of money!  He added, “We tried to pass a $250 supplement, but Congress wouldn’t pass it.”

Ninth Question

A young woman working for Community Services, concerned about budget cuts from programs that “help people keep their head above water” such as low income housing programs and heating assistance, asked why these programs were being cut.  She added that the formulas for calculating the funds did not take into consideration the total number of unemployed.  One of Obama’s responses included news of a future program where companies would get subsidies for hiring people.

The president will advocate for a “Returning Heroes Tax Credit,” which would offer participating companies a $2,400 tax credit for hiring short-term unemployed veterans. The White House would also offer additional incentives of $4,800 to companies hiring service members who have faced unemployment for six months or longer.

What if those people needing help with heating fuel and housing costs are not veterans?

He concluded by saying that if we pull together using American know-how and ingenuity, we will be stronger and that he needs their voices to be heard in Congress.

Town Hall Alpha, Illinois August 17

With a green John Deere tractor, hay bales and the U.S. flag being the outdoor

stage focal points, the audience waited for over an hour in the sun and heat for Obama to begin his speech.  Basically, he said the same thing that he said in all the other rural towns.  He spoke of how bad it was two-and-a-half years ago when he first became president.  Again, he made a reference to the false statistic that the private sector had created over two million jobs.  He blamed the Japanese Tsunami, debt crisis in Europe and trouble in the Middle East for our economic problems. 

His standard line came through again:  “There is a lot wrong with our politics and that is what we have to fix.  The debt debacle was a self-inflicted wound.  Six months ago, if we could have come together on a bi-partisan basis we wouldn’t have had a problem.”

If Congress had raised the debt ceiling, giving Obama an unlimited charge card, every man, woman and child living in America would owe much more than the ever increasing figure 28 $47,011.12. You might want to check that link again to see if that figure has increased.  I think the increase is almost a thousand dollars a day because it was $46,000+ yesterday!

He spoke briefly about modifications that he would like to have made to Social Security and Medicare and ended by saying:  “I am here to enlist you to send a message to Congress that we are tired of the games and posturing.  Think about the next generation instead of the next election.”

It would be nice if he took his own words to heart.

The question and answer session was brief.  Questions included a woman concerned about losing the family farm because of estate taxes.  Obama said, “We should be thinking about what is ‘“fair’.  Some people can afford to give more than others and there is nothing Socialist about paying your fair share.”  Hmmmmm……….wonder why

he used that “S” word? 

Another farmer voiced concern about increasing government regulations.  Obama countered that before every regulation is passed it goes through intensive discussion and that he should just call the USDA. 

The farmer is correct in voicing his concern about increased governmental agriculture regulations.  New demands are coming from the EPA to regulate DIRT.  "If there's ever been rural America, that's what rural America is," said Nebraska hog farmer Danny Kluthe. "You know? It's dirt out here, and with dirt you've got dust."

The Environmental Protection Agency is looking to tighten standards for the amount of harmful particles in the air, facing opposition from U.S. farming groups 29 who call it an unrealistic attempt to regulate dust.

A woman working for the tourism council asked if he would elaborate on his and Michelle’s philosophy of eating properly.  Obama praised Michelle for the great job she had done with nutrition and exercise. He mentioned how Wal-Mart, Farmers’ Markets, and the Child Nutrition Act utilize more vegetables and produce.

The last questioner, a girl of 13 whose step-dad is a sheriff, asked what could be done to better equip and train our law enforcement officers.  Obama said that although the violent crime rate is down, the crime rate against law enforcement officers is going up. “The problem is criminals have gotten better weapons.  We need to have improved tracing of weapons. I am a big believer in the Second Amendment and hunting. Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals is something we need to do.”

According to what I am reading, Obama is also a big fan of gun control, just ask any member of the National Rifle Association and they will tell you that Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are chomping at their bits trying to enact more gun confiscation 30…errrrrrr…I meant gun legislation.  Twelve Democratic senators have joined 45 Republicans in a fast growing movement to halt progress on an Obama-backed United Nations effort that could bring international gun control into the United States and slap America’s gun owners with severe restrictions. 

As predicted, his closing remarks were that government is NOT the problem.

He said, “Government is the policemen, men and women serving us in Iraq, people who work for FEMA, our astronauts, food inspectors, so don’t buy into this problem that government is the problem, we have a problem because we didn’t HAVE government looking over the shoulders of banks who were taking crazy risks.”

So According to this last statement made by Obama, banks need more regulation too!

Of course, he would criticize our political system because he is not readily getting his hidden agenda railroaded through as easily as he would like.  That is, except for his list of 92 Executive orders signed thus far in his 30 months as president which is at least 3 Executive Orders per month.  The last being Executive Order 13583 - Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce. 31

This Executive Order has conveniently circumvented Congress, has given amnesty to 300,000 illegal aliens awaiting deportation 32, plus giving them access to U.S. tax identification numbers and access to work permits. 

Talk about making a fast get-away, Obama signed the order the night before leaving for his August Martha’s Vineyard vacation.  You remember the one that “all presidents take in August.” 

Charles Krauthammer discussing the president's Martha's Vineyard vacation 33 said,  “Choosing an exclusive enclave like the Vineyard after spending three days on the road railing against the rich and the wealthy and the millionaires and the billionaires and the corporate jet owners who vacation exactly in the same place and then spending 10 days in their company speaks of a kind of dissonance or hypocrisy."

Dear Comrade Obama:

It isn't that our political system is wrong.  The problem is that your politics don't fit with real Americans who would like to see a United States flag or the Presidential insignia on your bus....after all, you were not on a "campaign".

  We would like to see a real love of country.  We would like you to stop giving our money to terrorists. We would like you to start abiding by our government's rules that are written in the United States Constitution.  We would like you to stop doing things behind our backs.

The amnesty that you gave to illegal aliens in your recent Executive Order was written in defiance of our LAWS.    The health care bill that you rammed down our throats was another knife in the back to our country.

We would like you to respect our laws and our Constitution

Obviously, if Obama has his way we are looking at more Big Government regulation and more Big Government spending.  All I have to say after listening to his speeches for the last three days is “Thank God for the American Political Process!”

Obama_Tour_Michelle_Dress

Hmmm… There are those colors again~

References

1 Obama has been endorsed by the Communist Party

http://www.obamabiden12.com/obama-biden-2012/obama-endorsed-by-communist-party-usa-sam-webb-chairman.html

2 Communist Party Endorses Obama For 2012

http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/08/04/communist-party-endorses-obama-2012

2 Communist Party USA Endorses Obama, Democrats in 2012

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-fayetteville/communist-party-usa-endorses-obama-democrats-2012

3 The Start up Bill

http://www.entrepreneurship.org/en/Blogs/Policy-Forum-Blog/2011/March/Startup-Visa-Act-of-2011.aspx

4 Following are three links showing violent union tactics:

SEIU Mob Attacks Shopping Mall Security Guards in San Francisco

http://mrctv.org/blog/seiu-mob-attacks-shopping-mall-security-guards-san-francisco

SEIU Men Acquitted of Beating Black Tea Partier During Town Hall Protest

http://weaselzippers.us/2011/07/12/seiu-men-acquitted-of-beating-black-tea-partier-during-town-hall-protest/

Richard Devlin and more evidence of Union Thuggary

http://nwrepublican.blogspot.com/2011/06/richard-devlin-and-more-evidence-of.html

5 Executive Order - Establishment of the White House Rural Council (#13575)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/09/executive-order-establishment-white-house-rural-council

6 Politics, Farmers And Change: The End Of Rural America

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-murphy/family-farms_b_929955.html

7 Rural Tour

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-rural-tour-with-cabinet-secretaries-and-administration-of

8 Executive Order 13575
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13575

9 Anarchist Symbolism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchist_symbolism

10 What are Gog and Magog?
http://www.gotquestions.org/Gog-Magog.html

11 Obama's Iowa speech lie

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/08/obamas_iowa_speech_lie.html

12 Social Security disability on verge of insolvency
http://news.yahoo.com/social-security-disability-verge-insolvency-090119318.html

13ELABORATE WELFARE HOUSING PROJECT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6ok5ykyuQ&feature=share

14As China Says No More Stimulus, Obama Comes Begging For More.... While Promising Even MORE Cuts In The Unknown Future
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/china-says-no-more-stimulus-obama-comes-begging-more-while-promising-even-more-cuts-unknown-fut

15 NAFTA a Dirty Lie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRkWcWGfbiQ

16 S.565 -- StartUp Visa Act of 2011

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s112-565

17 EAT THE RICH!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=661pi6K-8WQ&feature=related

18 Even Jon Stewart is Calling Obama’s Bus Tour a Campaign Event
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/even-jon-stewart-is-calling-obamas-bus-tour-a-campaign-event/

19 Obama's unhelpful advice

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0811/call_uncle_sam_5c130fdd-0e34-4b04-99e1-3d923ea3919e.html

20 OUTRAGE OF THE DAY: Do You Realize That The Government Is Still Paying Banks Not To Lend...?
http://www.businessinsider.com/government-paying-banks-not-to-lend-2011-8

21 True Cost of Stimulus: $3.27 Trillion
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/02/12/true-cost-of-stimulus-327-trillion/

22 Obama To Announce New Steps To Get Veterans Back To Work
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/08/obama-to-announce-new-steps-to-get-veterans-back-to-work.html

23 Troops wait in limbo for disability, discharge
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/08/ap-troops-wait-limbo-for-disability-discharge-081811/

24 46 Percent of Americans Exempt From Federal Income Tax in 2011

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/28/46-percent-of-americans-e_n_886293.html

25 $1.65 TRILLION IN SPENDING THAT DOESN’T BENEFIT AMERICANS – AND WE CAN’T AFFORD IT!
http://noisyroom.net/blog/2010/12/03/1-65-trillion-in-spending-that-doesn%E2%80%99t-benefit-americans-and-we-can%E2%80%99t-afford-it/

26 Oops! US gives $360 million to Taliban, other enemies

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=42441&utm_source=catholic.org%2Fhomepage&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=latest%2Bnews

27 Environmental impacts of current biofuels
http://www.birdlife.org/eu/EU_policy/Biofuels/eu_biofuels2.html

28 Debt Clock

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

29 U.S. farmers oppose EPA's proposed dust regulation
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/08/19/us-epa-dust-regulation-idUSTRE67I5T120100819

30 Even Democrats Oppose Obama On Gun Control Treaty
http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/07/even-democrats-oppose-obama-on-gun-control-treaty/

31 Executive Order 13583 - Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce

http://1461days.blogspot.com/2011/08/executive-order-13583-establishing.html

32 Obama Amnesty Begins: Halts Deportations for 300,000 Illegal Aliens; Offers ‘Work Permits’
http://standwitharizona.com/blog/2011/08/18/obama-amnesty-begins-halts-deportations-for-300000-illegal-aliens-offers-work-permits/

33 Krauthammer: Problem With Obama's Vacation Is "The Choice Of Place"
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/08/19/krauthammer_problem_with_obamas_vacation_is_the_choice_of_place.html

By Syver Alton Larsen - h/t to MJ, AJ and Jean Stoner

The Great Collapse has Officially Begun

Banks Are Ripping Off Pension Funds Thru FOREX

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Collapse: “It Will Be Sudden and Very Painful”

clip_image001
Ruins of houses in Fredericksburg, Virginia Circa Civil War. Are we preparing for another?

While it’s too early to tell whether or not the destruction in stock markets will continue as it did in 2008, one thing is for sure – when the bottom finally falls out of this economy it’s going to come as a surprise to tens of millions of people who have been bamboozled by their trusted politicians and corporate elite.

Today’s Dow Jones collapse of 350 points (512 when it was all said and done) is but an indicator of the severe volatility and unmitigated destruction we can expect as this crisis enters the next phase. Former comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) David Walker warns that it’s going to hurt:

“Here’s the bottom line. If you take the total liabilities of the United States – public debt, unfunded pensions, retiree health care, under funding with regard to social security, with regard to Medicare, a range of commitments and contingencies – as of September 30 2010 we would have had to have had $61.6 trillion dollars in the bank in order to be able to cover those obligations.” Walker explained.

“The fact of the matter is that government has grown too big, promised too much and waited too long to restructure. Our problem is overwhelmingly a spending problem.” Walker, now the head of the fiscal advocacy group the Comeback America Initiative, told viewers.

“Lets understand something very simple. If you have escalating deficits and mounting debt, that means you have to increase the debt ceiling limit at some point and it means absent structural reforms in entitlement programs, defense and other spending, those represent deferred tax increases.”

“We are not exempt from a debt crisis,” he said. “We’re never going to default, because we can print money. At the same point in time, we have serious interest rate risk, we have serious currency risk, we have serious inflation risk over time. If it happens, it will be sudden and it will be very painful.

It’s not a matter of if, but when. The course is mathematically unsustainable, and a few hundred billion in cuts, as ridiculous as it sounds, is simply not going to be enough.

As Charlie McGrath pointed out in his August 3 video report, the US government will have to take extreme measures, like Greece is being forced to take now, to keep the system alive, albeit on life support:

We are in the leagues of nations such as Greece and Italy, these other nations who their national debt far outpaces their GDP, and reality is these nations are going through austerity.

And, here comes your crisis of reality.

The austerity measures that are about to come our way are going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen or even dreamt about in this country – certainly worse than any of the politicians getting before the cameras will tell you is coming. They’re telling you if you go further into debt everything’s going to be OK.

…President Obama and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke are out of bullets. They have nothing left…they’ve tried everything: QE1, QE2, Stimulus 1, Stimulus 2, there’s just nothing left that can be done to help create jobs in this country.

Video:  WARNING ...Real Crisis Ahead

Many don’t believe it will happen here. But make no mistake, it’s coming (in fact, it’s happening right here and now!).

They’re going to print more money and erode your savings. They’re going to borrow more money from foreign creditors, until such time that they won’t lend to us anymore. Prices for essentials like food, energy and clothing are going to increase exponentially over the next few years. At the same time we will see forced cuts to programs like social security, Medicaid, Medicare and a host of other entitlement programs. Millions of Americans are going to feel like they’ve been hit with a sledgehammer.

The United States of America is embroiled in the next Great Depression – and there is no way out. The economy will not, contrary to the opinion of our government and the presstitutes who promote their agendas, recover in a few months. We’re in this for the long haul, as in years and decades not weeks or months, and all of us will soon learn what TEOTWAWKI means.

Source:  ShiftPlan - Mac Slavo - August 4th, 2011

Obama says we're only "halfway" to where he wants to take us as Dow drops 512 Points!

Obama says we're only "halfway" to where he wants to take us as Dow drops 512 Points!

Money/CNN is reporting it is the worst financial crisis since 2008.

"The conventional wisdom on Wall Street was that the economy was growing -- that the worst was behind us," said Peter Schiff, president of Euro Pacific Capital. "Now what people are realizing is the stimulus didn't work, and we may be headed back to recession."

There's "total fear" in the market, said Bob Doll, chief equity strategist at the world's largest money manager, BlackRock.

"In the last two weeks, we've been through the ringer," said Rich Ilczyszyn, market strategist with futures broker Lind-Waldock. "When we start looking at the recovery, there's nothing to hang our hats on anymore."

Earlier today, I read a transcript from Obama's fundraiser on Real Clear Politics where he said we weren't even "halfway there" to where he wants us to be.

When I said 'change we can believe in' I didn't say 'change we can believe in tomorrow.' Not change we can believe in next week. We knew this was going to take time because we've got this big, messy, tough democracy," President Obama said at a campaign fundraiser in Chicago on Wednesday night.

Sounds like this darned democracy thing is impeding Obama's progress.  (Remember his goal, to fundamentally transform America… into a globalist new world order where we are a second rate nation, and that is the elephant in the room that nobody in power or in the media wants to address!) If we are only "halfway" to wherever it is he's trying to take us, all I can do is pray God helps us survive until January 2013.

Sherry Phillips at Tea Party Nation - August 4, 2011 at 5:43pm

Related:

Drunken Ben Bernanke Tells Everyone How Screwed U.S. Economy Really Is

Romney Video: Obama Isn’t Working: Chicago

Globalist Imperial Network

The Smoking Gun:  Preparation for War on the People

Wiedemer: Get Ready for Second Recession, Inflation

Monday, April 18, 2011

ALARMS: WORLD BANK HEAD RAISES FOOD PRICES AS U.S. CREDIT RATING OUTLOOK LOWERED BY S&P

Consumer Prices, Consumer Price Index

CNTV reports:

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have held their spring meetings at the World Bank building in the US capital, Washington DC.

They discussed the outlook of the global economy, and the challenges that lie ahead.

It’s the fourth year of the global financial crisis, and the world economy is slowly picking up. But there are still great vulnerabilities and uncertainties.

That’s the message world financial leaders are sending out from their spring meeting.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick says the surge in food prices is the biggest threat to the world’s poor, pushing 44 million more people into poverty over the past year.

Robert Zoellick, World Bank President, said, “Of particular concern is food prices. This is the biggest threat today to the world’s poor, where we risk losing a generation. We are one shock away from a full-grown crisis. The financial crisis taught us that prevention is better than cure. We cannot afford to forget that lesson.”

Keep reading …

Video: WORLD FINANCE LEADERS WARN OF UNCERTAINTY - 44 million Recently Pushed into Poverty CCTV

 

Naming Names:  Your Real Government

Gold Hits Record High, Silver Soars on Inflation Fears

THE GLOBALISTS’ TAKEOVER OF AMERICA: Part 1 – COLLAPSE THE ECONOMY

THE GLOBALISTS’ TAKEOVER OF AMERICA: Part 2 – COLLAPSE THE ECONOMY

Soros, Obama and the rest of the cabal about to be Trumped?

US – World's Major Food Supplier – Must Import Wheat to Fill Corn Gap

A Golden Tipping Point: University of Texas Takes Delivery Of $1 Billion In Physical Gold

Seven Brutal Facts that Prove Obamanomics Is a Total Disaster

Soros and Friends Re-Order Global Finance at Bretton Woods

Soros Moves to Control American Food…

Congressman Wants Ticking Debt Clock Installed on House Floor… Perhaps Not a Bad Idea!!

Geithner:  GOP Leaders Told White House They’ll Vote to Raise the Debt Ceiling  -  God Help Us!!

Stockpiling Food Against Economic Uncertainty

Markets Are Tanking After S&P Downgrades U.S. Debt Outlook to Negative

Dollar Doomed: Bob Chapman Pt 1, Pt 2

Say "Goodbye" to the Dollar

20 Signs That A Horrific Global Food Crisis Is Coming

BRICS Make Move to Shove Dollar Aside 

Video:  Collapse (Full Movie)

The Con of the Decade Part I

After today’s warning of  Lowering American Credit Rating, Raising the Debt Limit Cannot Even Be a Consideration!!

This is perhaps our last ‘warning’ before the hammer falls that we must stop spending or make our government be responsible!

NO ON RAISING THE DECT CEILING… CALL THE HOUSE, SENATE AND WHITE HOUSE TODAY!!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

One Year Ago: A Walk Down Memory Lane - OBAMA'S 2009 EPIC FAIL of the year: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

Let's see what Obama and the Democrats said a year ago...

OBAMA'S 2009 EPIC FAIL of the year: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

Video: OBAMA'S 2009 EPIC FAIL of the year: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

What we're hearing from them now sounds like more of the same and looks far worse when you consider gas prices, unemployment and foreclosures.

Two years, roughly $2.8 Trillion in tax revenue plus another $3.5 Trillion added to our national debt...  Perhaps $6.3 Trillion in two years just wasn't enough?

It's time the American people start asking where our $6.3 Trillion went because it certainly didn't go toward helping America!

Report Card on Obama’s First Two Years

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Day the Dollar Died

Our Future:  If We Don’t Stop Spending and Tighten Our Belts… Everywhere!!

Video:  The Day the Dollar Died

GOP Slams 6,000 Earmarks in Trillion-Dollar Omnibus Spending Bill

By David A. Patten  -  Wednesday, 15 Dec 2010 02:14 PM

Republicans are blasting a last-ditch Democratic effort to pass a massive spending bill laden with about 6,000 earmarks as a “smack in the face to taxpayers.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell fired away at the bill from the floor of the Senate, saying it “repeats all the mistakes voters demanded that we put an end to on Election Day.”

“Americans told Democrats last month to stop what they’ve been doing: bigger government, 2,000-page bills jammed through on Christmas Eve, wasteful spending.”

Most Democrats are rallying around the bill, however, seeing it as perhaps their last opportunity to get pet spending projects passed before the 112th Congress takes office. In both the House and Senate, incoming Republicans have agreed to ban earmark requests.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada praised the 1,924-page, $1.1 trillion spending bill Tuesday as “a very good piece of legislation.” Reid hopes to bring the bill up for a vote this week. House Democrats would vote on it on Saturday.

Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, tells Newsmax that virtually no member of Congress has time to read the massive omnibus legislation. Even worse, he says, is that the joint explanatory statement that explains the specifics of the spending request has not yet been published, he says. That document will be more than 1,000 pages as well.

“That’s how you actually find out how the money have been sliced and diced across the various programs and accounts,” Ellis says. “It’s clearly not going to be made available to the public much before the Senate votes on it, and we’re all being asked to buy a $1.1 trillion pig in a poke.

“They had all year to get this thing done, and done in a manner that was at least partially intelligible to the public and to the budget watchers,” Ellis tells Newsmax. “Instead, we have this enormous sausage that they’re trying to stuff through, really virtually sight unseen.”

Republicans say they will push for a continuing resolution in place of the huge omnibus bill. But the GOP push to stop the bill may fall short because of  defections from within their own caucus.
Republican senators such as Kit Bond of Missouri and Bob Bennett of Utah don’t have to worry about running for re-election. Both sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee that crafted the omnibus.
“This is exactly the kind of secretive, pork-laden, massive spending bill that’s driven approval of Congress to an all-time low, and induced a voter rebellion last month,” Brian Riedl, lead budget analyst for the Heritage Foundation, tells Newsmax.

harry,reid,earmarksLegislative experts say the omnibus bill reflects the inability of Congress to fund government operations in an efficient manner.

Because the 111th Congress was unable to pass a spending bill in a timely way, Democratic strategists rolled 12 separate bills into one omnibus measure.

Keeping everything in one bill makes it more difficult to excise specific provisions that legislators find objectionable. But it also results in a mammoth piece of legislation that may go unread until months after the bill becomes law.

Unsatisfied with the simple continuing resolution the House passed that would keep the government running until the next Congress takes over in January, the Senate is proposing the earmark-laden omnibus as one last spending hurrah before legislators leave town. Grass-roots conservatives are particularly angry that the bill includes $1 billion to fund the healthcare bill that may be unconstitutional, based on a judge’s ruling in Virginia this week.

Because the authorization for government spending is expiring, Republicans could be accused of shutting down the government if they are able to block the omnibus bill. But GOP senators say they would be happy to vote for a continuing authorization such as the one already passed by the House.

Among the 6,000 earmarks the media has uncovered so far in the massive legislation the Senate is trying to push through just weeks after Democrats sustained their work landslide of the post-World War II era:

  • Literal pork: Almost $350,000 is earmarked to study the management of swine waste in North Carolina.
  • $235,000 for the management of invasive weeds in Nevada.
  • $300,000 for the Polynesian Voyaging Society in Hawaii. Founded in 1973, the society sails a “voyaging” boat throughout the Pacific, studying how ancient Polynesian people settled far-flung lands.
  • Funds are devoted to a variety of agricultural needs, including research of maple syrup in Vermont, control of potato pests in Wisconsin, the development of virus-resistant grapes in Washington state, and peanut cultivation research in Alabama.
  • $80 million for states and Indian tribes to pay for preservation of Pacific salmon.
  • $13 million for clean-water initiatives in rural villages in Alaska.
  • $450,000 for the World Food Prize.
  • $500,000 for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
  • $200,000 to install solar panels at a food bank in Arizona.

If the bill passes Congress, it would be up to the president to decide whether to accept it.

Incoming House Speaker John Boehner, a longtime foe of the earmark practice, signed onto a letter last week asking Obama to veto the measure. Boehner issued a statement on Tuesday blasting the bill as a “smack in the face to taxpayers.”

There are two provisions in the bill that Obama may oppose. One would effectively block civilian trials of Guantanamo Bay prisoners in the United States, while another would allocate $450 million for development of a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he will urge the president to veto any bill that contains money for a second engine, which the Pentagon says it does not want.

In what some saw as a statement suggesting the president would be reluctant to veto the bill, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday:

“Obviously one of the things that has to be done before Congress leaves is how we’re going to pay for the operation of government going forward.”
GOP Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina is threatening to mount a filibuster, and may insist that all 1,924 pages of the bill be read into the record before any vote is taken.

U.S. to have Highest Corporate Tax Rate in the World

Posted December 15th, 2010 at 5:00pm in

Most of the time being number one is good. But when it comes to having the highest tax rate in the world, it is much better for a country to be bringing up the rear.

Currently Japan holds the inauspicious distinction of having the highest corporate income tax rate in the world (39.5 percent). The United States is a close second, only a few tenths-of-percentage points behind.

Japan will soon fall from the top spot because it has finally recognized what the rest of the industrialized world realized over a decade ago: A low corporate income tax rate is vital for economic growth in the global marketplace. As such, Japan just announced it will reduce its corporate income tax rate by 5 percentage points down to around 35 percent. This remains far above the 25 percent average rate of other industrialized countries, but for them it is a start.

Japan’s reduction will leave the U.S. in the uncomfortable position of having the highest corporate income tax rate in the industrialized world. Hopefully Congress will finally see fit to lower the rate now that we will hold that disreputable title.

The U.S. ended up at the top because it stood still while the rest of the world was cutting its rates. As the chart below shows, in 1990 the U.S. corporate tax rate was middle of the pack. In fact, it was lower than the global average. The years since have seen every other industrialized country aggressively lower its rate.

The top marginal corporate income tax rate is an important factor influencing economic growth and job creation, because it determines how much the tax will reduce the return the business earns from new investment. As a result, it is a large determinant when businesses decide where to locate their next venture—and where they will hire new employees.

The high rate in the U.S. is driving businesses and jobs to other countries. Those jobs will continue to flow to other countries if the U.S. insists on levying its self-defeating corporate income tax rate. It is long past time forCongress to lower the rate so it is equal or below the 25 percent average of our competitors. If it does not, businesses and jobs will continue their exodus to more friendly locales.

The Heritage Foundation  -  The Foundry

Ron Paul – Federal Reserve is a ‘Cartel’