This week, the Senate is considering S. 1390: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. There are some members who are attempting to amend this bill with H.R. 1913: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 or S. 909: Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act .
To track updates to this bills visit http://concernedinnepa.blogspot.com/.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP THIS?
Stop what you’re doing… and email, phone and/or fax all Senators now. Tell them NO Hate Crimes Legislation!
Go here to find your US Senate contact information: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Forward this alert to all your friends, family, neighbors and encourage them to do likewise.. now!
Here is a sample letter that you can email or fax to your Senators
Dear Senator:
I am very disappointed that the Senate is considering fast-tracking the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 1913) by attaching it as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. I respectfully request that you please Vote NO on any amendments to S. 1390 which are related to Hate Crimes Legislation, for the following reasons:
(1) This Hate Crimes Legislation is so controversial that it must be considered as a stand-alone bill, not rushed as an amendment.
(2) Hate Crimes legislation is unconstitutional. The 14th Amendment requires that all citizens be given equal treatment under the law. Hate crimes laws create special classes of victims and do not treat all victims fairly.
(3) Hate Crimes legislation could ultimately lead to prosecution for thoughts and restrictions on free speech and religious liberty. Although it prosecutes only “acts of violence” and does not prosecute expressions or opinions, it opens the door to examining the thoughts of not only a criminal, but everyone with whom he may have come into contact. This bill could be used to advance the politically correct agenda by providing greater protections for certain classes of people. Future legislation could expand these protections and place restrictions on religious liberty and free speech.
(4) Hate Crimes are unnecessary. Many states already have a hate crimes law and there is no evidence that the states are failing to prosecute hate crimes. States which do not have hate crimes laws still prosecute the crimes under existing criminal laws. A federal hate crimes bill would only increase the control and scope of the federal government.
(5) All crimes are hate crimes!
Additionally for these reasons, I respectfully ask that you honor the Constitution, and respect States rights in future Hate Crimes legislation and vote NO in the future.
I look forward to hearing your position in this matter, and will continue to follow your actions and record!
Sincerely,
-Name-
-Address-
-City State Zip-
- Email/Phone -
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Corzine Plays a Weak Hand, Weakly - Corzine Plays the Bush Card - WSJ.com's Political Diary
Democratic Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey is being dragged down by the weak economy. Up for re-election this November, a new Quinnipiac University poll finds him trailing former federal prosecutor Chris Christie by 53% to 41% among likely voters.
Mr. Corzine's basic problem is that only a third of New Jersey residents think he is doing a good job, and they blame him for high taxes -- cited by 45% as the state's biggest problem -- and a general decline in the state's quality of life. All this plays to Mr. Christie's strengths as a corruption-busting prosecutor who says he will offer "real choices rather than fake reform" if he is elected.
That said, Mr. Corzine will no doubt spend millions from his personal fortune to paint his opponent as an inexperienced extremist. In 1993, such tactics helped revive unpopular Governor James Florio enough that he lost his re-election bid to Republican Christie Whitman by only one percentage point.
But Mr. Corzine will have to attack carefully. One of his favorite tactics appears to be already backfiring. Linking Mr. Christie to George W. Bush is falling flat with voters. Quinnipiac found that only a tenth of voters say Mr. Corzine's attempts to tie his opponent to the Bush era are fair, with 77% of voters saying Mr. Corzine should stick to state issues. The poll also reveals the governor's weakness among his own base voters. Mr. Christie currently wins almost a fifth of votes of both Democrats and African-Americans, high numbers for a Republican in the Garden State. Mr. Corzine clearly hopes to remedy this shortfall with a rally with President Obama in Holmdel on Thursday. This fall's race will be not only a test of Mr. Corzine's wallet but of Mr. Obama's continued popularity amid a declining economy.
-- John Fund
Mr. Corzine's basic problem is that only a third of New Jersey residents think he is doing a good job, and they blame him for high taxes -- cited by 45% as the state's biggest problem -- and a general decline in the state's quality of life. All this plays to Mr. Christie's strengths as a corruption-busting prosecutor who says he will offer "real choices rather than fake reform" if he is elected.
That said, Mr. Corzine will no doubt spend millions from his personal fortune to paint his opponent as an inexperienced extremist. In 1993, such tactics helped revive unpopular Governor James Florio enough that he lost his re-election bid to Republican Christie Whitman by only one percentage point.
But Mr. Corzine will have to attack carefully. One of his favorite tactics appears to be already backfiring. Linking Mr. Christie to George W. Bush is falling flat with voters. Quinnipiac found that only a tenth of voters say Mr. Corzine's attempts to tie his opponent to the Bush era are fair, with 77% of voters saying Mr. Corzine should stick to state issues. The poll also reveals the governor's weakness among his own base voters. Mr. Christie currently wins almost a fifth of votes of both Democrats and African-Americans, high numbers for a Republican in the Garden State. Mr. Corzine clearly hopes to remedy this shortfall with a rally with President Obama in Holmdel on Thursday. This fall's race will be not only a test of Mr. Corzine's wallet but of Mr. Obama's continued popularity amid a declining economy.
-- John Fund
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
RNC Chairman Steele on Sen. Specter's switch to the Democratic Party
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today:
“Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not.
Let’s be honest-Senator Specter didn’t leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.
Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don’t do it first.”
“Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not.
Let’s be honest-Senator Specter didn’t leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.
Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don’t do it first.”
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Scranton Tea Party
SCRANTON TEA PARTY!!!
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Lackawanna County Courthouse Square
City/Town: Scranton, PA
Contact: Scrantonteaparty@aol.com - Laureen
Contact: Kathiedelguercio@echoes.net - Kathie
Don't keep sitting in your living room yelling at the TV.....DO SOMETHING! Get involved because YOU can make a difference!
We the People of Northeast Pennsylvania are fed up with the bailouts and stimuli our federal government is forcing down our throats! From Bush's $700 billion bailout to Obama's $787 billion stimulus package, this out of control spending MUST be stopped!
Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Greens, Libertarians, etc. now is your chance to have your voices heard! We will speak about the things you can do to make a difference. Informational flyers will be passed out and the media will be on site to voice your concerns. A voter registration booth will also be available for your convenience.
THINGS TO BRING: Please bring flags, cameras, camcorders, and creative homemade signs.
PARKING:
Daily Parking Garage Rates - 1 Hour $2.00, 2 Hours $2.75, 3 Hours $3.50, 4 Hours $4.25
1) Linden Street Garage is located on the corner of Linden Street and North Washington Avenue.
2) Medallion Parking Garage is located at 142 Adams Avenue - next to the Hilton Hotel on Adams Avenue
3) Casey Garage is located on the corner of Lackawanna & Adams Avenues. The elevator is next to Scranton Hobby.
4) The Mall at Steamtown Parking Garage – FREE PARKING from 10:30 am till 9:30 pm! The garage entrance is located on South Washington Avenue. From Lackawanna Avenue, turn left onto Washington Ave. Go down the hill a half block to the next light, which is the entrance to the Steamtown Mall. Enter in the right hand lane and drive up the ramp to the second level, which is the street level. Park and exit at the street level pedestrian gate. Walk down Washington Ave. to the Courthouse Square.
Friday, March 13, 2009
ACTION ALERT: HAPPY FRIDAY
Pending Legislation - Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA)
Washington, DC - Congress is considering sweeping legislation that will provide new benefits for many Americans: The Americans With No Abilities Act.
(AWNAA) is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.
'Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society,' said California Senator Barbara Boxer. 'We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing.'
In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons of Inability.
Private-sector industries with good records of non-discrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), the airline industry (68%), and home improvement 'warehouse' stores (65%). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has an excellent record of hiring Persons of Inability (a whopping 83%).
Under The Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million 'middle man' positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.
Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given so as to guarantee upward mobility for even the most inept employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability into middle-management positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.
Finally, the AWNAA contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled, banning, for example, discriminatory interview questions such as, 'Do you have any skills or experience that relate to this job?'
'As a Non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them,' said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan, due to her inability to remember 'rightey tightey, lefty loosey.' 'This new law should be real good for people like me,' Gertz added. With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): 'As a Senator with no abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her inadequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation and a good salary for doing so.'
Washington, DC - Congress is considering sweeping legislation that will provide new benefits for many Americans: The Americans With No Abilities Act.
(AWNAA) is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.
'Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society,' said California Senator Barbara Boxer. 'We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing.'
In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons of Inability.
Private-sector industries with good records of non-discrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), the airline industry (68%), and home improvement 'warehouse' stores (65%). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has an excellent record of hiring Persons of Inability (a whopping 83%).
Under The Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million 'middle man' positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.
Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given so as to guarantee upward mobility for even the most inept employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability into middle-management positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.
Finally, the AWNAA contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled, banning, for example, discriminatory interview questions such as, 'Do you have any skills or experience that relate to this job?'
'As a Non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them,' said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan, due to her inability to remember 'rightey tightey, lefty loosey.' 'This new law should be real good for people like me,' Gertz added. With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): 'As a Senator with no abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her inadequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation and a good salary for doing so.'
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Channeling Lincoln...
I was just having a conversation last night at a Lincoln Day Dinner, and the consensus at the table was that we understand the compound folks. If I had kids, I would be stocking up, and going into lock down.
At this dinner, the Pike County Historical Society had brought the American flag that Lincoln's Head was placed the night he was shot in Ford's Theater. It was moving and it made me reflect on what is happening now and how we should be thinking and approaching solutions.
What is unfortunate I think is that I think we may have missed how "hopeless" and "helpless" the electorate felt that they were just willing to try ANYTHING, and how utterly frustrated they were with being unable to change their situation on their own. On a Macro level we see evidence of that with the series of ineffective solutions to date from Congress, the Fed, etc.
I think that in man's recognition of mortality, survival instincts have kicked in, but in recent history, it has been rare that a person has had to "fight to the death". Think about it. The last global battle was WORLD WAR II!!! How long did it take for the world to recognize that there was problem? When the IPO, DOT BOMB happened, it was limited damage, because of the exposure was mainly with paper valuations. But it occurred after too many people tried to get rich quick without a sound business plan, and straying away from basic business fundamentals of quantifiable capital and demonstrative revenue. At the core of the current issue, is the same thing that happened with the tech, the capital was an "IDEA" that was not quantifiable. Whether the IDEA of Capital was a Mortgaged Back Security or the speculative new housing developments that folks were guessing that they would be able to quickly flip the house, the capital was not QUANTIFIABLE and the REVENUE was not Demonstrative....Money was made on the SALE not on the sustainability of the model. Folks were just guessing.
I remember when the Margin calls first started coming in...and I watched millions in my portfolio dwindle away... but we took our lumps and moved on. The challenge this time is that the folks just want to pass their problem to the next person. No one wants to take their lumps. I strongly believe that this mentality is steeped in the removal of discipline from several generations. Without a mechanism to reinforce PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ONE'S ACTION, we are in effect, ineffective with handling, dealing or overcoming a challenge as an individual.
I mean just think...we have books on tape, so you don't have to read anymore, we have microwaves and TV dinners, so you don't have to know how to cook, PDA's so you don't have to memorize phone numbers and appointments. We have a country of PROJECT MANAGERS, with no practical life experiences, so they are just accepting whatever status report that comes in and updates them on what is happening to them. Any person that had a bit of practical experience could not in good conscience believe that there was NO REAL ESTATE BUBBLE. Price in relation to poor construction and too much supply? The salvage value of real property on new was like 5 years.
A culture of people who came to accept DISPOSABLE housing and no longer demanding DURABLE housing... Not understanding what happened to them, and not knowing how to resolve the issue, or power through the difficulty....
Well, here we are....
I suggest we do what we believe, pull up our bootstraps and wade through this Swamp of Bull$#it, Lead by example and POWER THROUGH. On the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man that pulled the United States of America Back together when Most saw no light at the end of the tunnel. Our Founder Abraham Lincoln would expect NO LESS!!!! It won't be easy or painless. THERE WILL BE CASUALTIES. BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER... We each have a little Lincoln inside of us. Channel that and put on the whole Armour of GOD. The truth and history is with us, go take an nap and get some rest... YOU WILL NEED IT IN THE BATTLE AHEAD!!!!
At this dinner, the Pike County Historical Society had brought the American flag that Lincoln's Head was placed the night he was shot in Ford's Theater. It was moving and it made me reflect on what is happening now and how we should be thinking and approaching solutions.
What is unfortunate I think is that I think we may have missed how "hopeless" and "helpless" the electorate felt that they were just willing to try ANYTHING, and how utterly frustrated they were with being unable to change their situation on their own. On a Macro level we see evidence of that with the series of ineffective solutions to date from Congress, the Fed, etc.
I think that in man's recognition of mortality, survival instincts have kicked in, but in recent history, it has been rare that a person has had to "fight to the death". Think about it. The last global battle was WORLD WAR II!!! How long did it take for the world to recognize that there was problem? When the IPO, DOT BOMB happened, it was limited damage, because of the exposure was mainly with paper valuations. But it occurred after too many people tried to get rich quick without a sound business plan, and straying away from basic business fundamentals of quantifiable capital and demonstrative revenue. At the core of the current issue, is the same thing that happened with the tech, the capital was an "IDEA" that was not quantifiable. Whether the IDEA of Capital was a Mortgaged Back Security or the speculative new housing developments that folks were guessing that they would be able to quickly flip the house, the capital was not QUANTIFIABLE and the REVENUE was not Demonstrative....Money was made on the SALE not on the sustainability of the model. Folks were just guessing.
I remember when the Margin calls first started coming in...and I watched millions in my portfolio dwindle away... but we took our lumps and moved on. The challenge this time is that the folks just want to pass their problem to the next person. No one wants to take their lumps. I strongly believe that this mentality is steeped in the removal of discipline from several generations. Without a mechanism to reinforce PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ONE'S ACTION, we are in effect, ineffective with handling, dealing or overcoming a challenge as an individual.
I mean just think...we have books on tape, so you don't have to read anymore, we have microwaves and TV dinners, so you don't have to know how to cook, PDA's so you don't have to memorize phone numbers and appointments. We have a country of PROJECT MANAGERS, with no practical life experiences, so they are just accepting whatever status report that comes in and updates them on what is happening to them. Any person that had a bit of practical experience could not in good conscience believe that there was NO REAL ESTATE BUBBLE. Price in relation to poor construction and too much supply? The salvage value of real property on new was like 5 years.
A culture of people who came to accept DISPOSABLE housing and no longer demanding DURABLE housing... Not understanding what happened to them, and not knowing how to resolve the issue, or power through the difficulty....
Well, here we are....
I suggest we do what we believe, pull up our bootstraps and wade through this Swamp of Bull$#it, Lead by example and POWER THROUGH. On the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man that pulled the United States of America Back together when Most saw no light at the end of the tunnel. Our Founder Abraham Lincoln would expect NO LESS!!!! It won't be easy or painless. THERE WILL BE CASUALTIES. BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER... We each have a little Lincoln inside of us. Channel that and put on the whole Armour of GOD. The truth and history is with us, go take an nap and get some rest... YOU WILL NEED IT IN THE BATTLE AHEAD!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
