What Grounds you? What is your Tether?

Dec. 13 - Mike Huckabee Interviews Gov. John Rowland

Former Ct Gov John Rowland - He who was forced to resign because of corruption.

Bailout Accountability; Does Anyone Care – Elizabeth Warren Does

Yesterday and now today I heard little bits of Elizabeth Warren, Chair of Congressional Oversight Panel (C.O.P). I wish her the best and hope this is one Government Panel that actually does something and has "teeth". Her are some Links. I heard about 5-minutes of each.

From Marketplace by American Public Media Audio

Panel has lots of questions for Treasury

The Congressional Oversight Panel for Economic Stabilization is set to question the Treasury Department's strategy for the $700 billion bailout. Elizabeth Warren, the panel's chair, discusses her views with Kai Ryssdal.

From Lou Dobbs
The Big Bailout & Executive Bonuses



Billions of dollars have been handed to AIG to help keep it afloat. Turns out, AIG is offering so-called retention awards to employees which are essentially bonuses. Money that should be going to families in danger of losing their homes is being used to fund overblown compensation packages for Wall Street executives.

From Fresh Air on NPR - Audio

What Does $700 Billion Buy Taxpayers?

Bankruptcy and commercial law expert Elizabeth Warren explains how taxpayer money is being spent in the financial bailout program. A professor at Harvard Law School, Warren chairs the oversight panel appointed by Congress to monitor the spending of the $700 billion bailout money. The committee issues its first report on Dec. 10

I believe Chip is the one to Lead

Saltsman formally jumps into RNC race

Posted: 06:00 PM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

(CNN) — Another Republican on Monday jumped into the race to head the Republican National Committee.

Chip Saltsman, the former head of the Tennessee Republican Party and the former campaign manger of Mike Huckabee's White House bid, said Monday he's best positioned to rebuild the party following its bruising defeats on Election Day.

“As Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, campaign manager for a Republican presidential campaign, and business owner, I know how to compete and how to win,” he said. “Our party needs new and energetic leadership to rededicate ourselves to conservative principles, to regain the American voter's trust, and to set the stage for a dramatic turnaround in 2010 and beyond.”

Saltsman faces a long list of challengers: former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis have already declared they are seeking Duncan's job.

Chip Saltsman's web site

Found this informative - Just show the documents

Obama Fomenting A Constitutional Crisis: Constitutional Lawyer Discusses Ramifications Of Controversy

"Edwin Vieira, a constitutional lawyer who has practiced for 30 years and holds four degrees from Harvard, said if it were to be discovered Mr. Obama were not eligible for the presidency, it would cause many problems. They would be compounded if his ineligibility were discovered after he had been in office for a period of time."
...

"Mr. Vieira said Obama supporters should be the ones concerned about the case, because Mr. Obama's platform would be discredited it he were forced to step down from the presidency later due to his ineligibility, were it to be discovered."
...

"If he were my client and this question came up in civil litigation, if there was some reason that his birth status was relevant and the other side wanted him to produce the thing and he said 'no,' I would tell him, 'you have about 15 minutes to produce it or sign the papers necessary to produce the document, or I'm resigning as your attorney," said Mr. Vieira. "I don't think any ethical attorney would go ahead on the basis that his client could produce an objective document in civil litigation [and refused to do so]."
...
Mr. Vieira explained all laws have to be submitted to the president. In the event that there is no valid president, then no laws passed by Congress in that administration would be legally null and void. Because of that, this case will probably not go away, even after Mr. Obama takes the oath of office.

"If you don't produce it, you think it's going to go away," he said. "There are all these cases challenging Mr. Obama, and some challenging secretaries of state, and they run into this doctrine called standing."

Mr. Vieira explained although legal standing is difficult to get around in Federal courts, the document could be produced in any criminal cases stemming from legislation passed in the Obama administration.

Please do not see me as an Non-supporter, I actually appreciate some of the actions Obama has taken so far (besides not releasing simple records and transcripts). I just did and do not want riots in the streets. please supporters of Obama, encourge him to show the records and put this to rest.

Not a comforting Sign

National Debt Clock

The National Debt Clock is a billboard-sized running total digital clock display which constantly updates to show the current United States public debt and each American family's share of it. It is currently installed on Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in Manhattan, New York City.

The idea for the clock came from New York real estate developer Seymour Durst, who wanted to highlight the rising national debt. In 1989, he sponsored the installation of the first clock, which was erected on 42nd Street close to Times Square. In 2004, this clock was dismantled and replaced by the new but virtually identical current clock.

Seymour's original clock was erected while the national debt remained under $3 trillion but was rising, but it was temporarily switched off from 2000 to 2002 due to the debt actually falling. In 2008, the debt exceeded $10 trillion for the first time, leading to press reports that the clock had run out of numbers. Following the transition, plans for a third clock were announced, to be installed in the same location, with extra capacity.

The original clock outlived Seymour who died in 1995, with Seymour's son Douglas taking over responsibility for the clock through the Durst Organization.

Great post from a friend. - What do you think?

"Hate Speech" against Straight Men

Every Sunday, in churches across America and all over the world, many heterosexual men are subjected to disapproving judgments and verbal harassment. The constant badgering of these straight men at the hands of the clergy - something that is rarely talked about - is showing intolerance toward these men because of the way they were born.

Isn't it time to halt the verbal abuse of these men, who are forced to constantly hear messages of how God does not approve of them?

I guess there are others out there too!

Huckabee book crowd lines up

"As they waited for their turn at the head of the line, many people said they were drawn to Huckabee because he seems honest, genuine and decent. Many said they liked his common-sense approach to politics."

I hope the book tour is extended to the West coast and specifically Reno, NV.

Obama - He could make History for a different reason

The We the People Foundation published their full-page Open Letter to Mr. Obama in the Chicago Tribune on both Monday, December 1, 2008 and Wednesday, December 3, 2008.

Mr. Obama: Don’t Miss Next Week’s Chicago Tribune

Full-Page Citizenship Challenge To Run Twice,
December 1st and 3rd

D.C. National Press Club Event: Dec 8th

Our full-page Open Letter to Mr. Obama will be published in the Chicago Tribune on both Monday, December 1, 2008 and Wednesday, December 3, 2008. It will appear in the main news section. Click here to view a copy of the final ad.

Chicago is Mr. Obama’s hometown. His transition team is operating out of the Kluczynski Federal Building in downtown Chicago. He is known to be a regular reader of the Tribune, Chicago’s principal newspaper, with a daily circulation of over a half-million readers.

The Open Letter to Mr. Obama is a formal Petition for a Redress (Remedy) for the alleged violation of the “natural born citizen” clause of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Mr. Obama is respectfully requested to direct the Hawaiian officials to provide access to his original birth certificate on December 5-7 by our team of forensic scientists, and to provide additional documentary evidence establishing his citizenship status prior to our Washington, D.C. press conference on December 8.

A First Amendment Petition to any official of the Government for Redress of a violation of the Constitution is substantially different from the garden-variety political petitions frequently received by government officials. This Petition demands it be given the highest priority for an expedited review and official Response by Mr. Obama.

As a formal “Notice of a Constitutional Violation,” the Petition naturally includes the People’s inherent Right to an official Response. As a time-sensitive, election related Petition involving the Office of the President, failure to Respond as requested would constitute an egregious breach of the public trust and confirm the certainty of a Constitutional crisis.

For the D.C. press conference the WTP Foundation has reserved the Edward R. Murrow Room at the National Press Club from 1-4 pm on Monday, December 8, 2008. We are hopeful that C-SPAN may cover what could be a pivotal, historic event.

The Petition for Redress/Open Letter to Mr. Obama is also expected to have a significant impact on the deliberations of the Electoral College as it proceeds toward selection of the U.S. President as provided for by the Constitution.

Many, many thanks to the many individuals who donated the money needed to cover the costs of publishing the Open Letter and conducting the Washington press conference.

We are now in the process of selecting the forensic scientists who would travel to Hawaii to examine Mr. Obama’s original birth certificate (assuming he responds to the Petition for Redress by directing the Hawaiian officials to provide access to the birth certificate). The budget for this task is currently estimated at $20,000. We need to raise the money quickly. Unfortunately, we are starting from zero and we have but one week before the scientists would need to be in Hawaii.

The Huckabee Report - Jan 2009

There is a Demo at the ABC Radio site.

The Mets to partner with some big Losers

So Citigroup is hurting and needs the Governments help. And I remind you, WE are the government. They lay-ff 52,000 people, but find some spare Change ($400 Million) to ask the Mets to take there name in a Marriage of sorts. I do not know if either party has any sense. Well I quess Citi knows what they are doing, but why have your Stadium named after some big Losers that have gun there company into the ground.

Citigroup says Mets naming rights deal still in place

Jeff Schreiber (America's Right) sums my thought up by saying on his blog:

To me, this is all the more reason for government to get out of the banking business and the business of business in general, this is all the more reason to not bail anybody out, and the argument that Citi is simply "too big to fail" just doesn't fly with me. Not if the company refuses to change its habits.

The most obvious Bush Pardons overlooked

I am sick about this. Are We the People, see a different news trailer then those in high office.


Time to Free Ramos and Compean
By Lou Dobbs, CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- There was an unusual spectacle in the nation's capital Tuesday, downright rare, in fact: U.S. Senators seeking truth, and justice, and taking action. And they deserve great credit and thanks.

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, led by Dianne Feinstein, focused on the reasons for the prosecution of two Border Patrol agents now serving long sentences in federal prison. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were given terms of 11 and 12 years respectively on their convictions for shooting an illegal alien drug smuggler.

Senator Feinstein, and Senators Jeff Sessions, John Cornyn, Jon Kyl and Tom Coburn demanded answers of U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, who chose to prosecute Compean and Ramos and give that illegal alien drug smuggler blanket immunity to testify against the men.

Sutton's decision to prosecute the agents, to file attempted murder charges against them and seek harsh mandatory prison sentences was simply an outrage. Senators Feinstein, Sessions and Cornyn took Sutton to task over what they clearly see now as a blatant abuse of prosecutorial power and strongly questioned the decision to give immunity to a known illegal alien drug smuggler. Sutton's office gave the smuggler immunity in order to prosecute the two agents who had pursued him in a high-speed chase, which ultimately resulted in the wounding of the drug dealer who had ditched his van, loaded with hundreds of pounds of drugs, and ran from the agents.

I have maintained throughout that the prosecution of these two agents was unwarranted, that sufficient facts were in dispute that the case should never have been brought to trial. The two Border Patrol agents received excessive sentences by any reasonable standard of justice. But reason did not prevail, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has begun the process of righting this wrong.

The agents were serving their nation in a war zone along our southern border. The fact is Mexico remains the primary corridor for drugs entering the United States. Mexico is the principal source of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines into this country. Between 70 and 90 percent of cocaine entering the United States from South America passed through mainland Mexico or its waters. Heroin brought in from Mexico accounts for about 30 percent of the U.S. market, despite Mexico's relatively small percentage of worldwide production. Mexican traffickers continued to dominate drug distribution in the United States, controlling most of the primary distribution centers. Our border with Mexico is the main battlefield in the war against drugs, and the federal government has treated Ramos and Compean with contempt rather than gratitude for their service on the front lines of that war.

Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar Tuesday testified at the hearing that from February 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007, there were 1,982 incidents where Border Patrol agents have been assaulted. These assaults include rock throwing, physical assaults, vehicular assaults as well as shootings. In response, Border Patrol agents have responded with the use of deadly force on 116 occasions, with 144 agents discharging their weapons during these 116 incidents.

Aguilar also testified that 13 assailants died as a result, and 15 incidents ended with the assailants being wounded. Of the 144 agents involved, comprehensive investigations were formally conducted, and not a single agent has been criminally prosecuted for their actions. Then why in the world did Sutton choose to prosecute agents in this case? The senators did not like U.S. Attorney Sutton's answers.

TJ Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Ramos and Compean, expressed anger at the sentences Tuesday and said the Border Patrol is suffering as a result: "The ramifications of this case [will be felt] by the Border Patrol," Bonner said. Bonner added an anecdote about a former Border Patrol recruit who eventually declined joining and said "You have to be crazy to join this outfit, because you eat your own."

Senator Feinstein and Senator Cornyn announced Tuesday night on our broadcast that they have decided to request that President Bush commute the sentences of Ramos and Compean. The family of Ignacio Ramos watched and listened to the senators make their announcement in our Washington, D.C., bureau, and they were moved to tears.

They weren't alone.

In 2004, I thought George was my friend

Say it is not so. I guess he really is a different kind of conservative then myself. Still love to have Him and Laura over for dinner sometime though.



Bush defends government rescue of Citigroup :

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush argued Monday that the government's dramatic rescue of Citigroup was necessary to "safeguard the financial system" and help the economy recover, and he said there could be more such moves if other institutions need help.

Bush said he approved the action, recommended by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, while flying back to Washington on Sunday evening from meetings in Peru with Pacific Rim leaders. He said he also spoke with President-elect Barack Obama on Sunday night, part of what he has promised will be "close cooperation" between his administration and the Obama camp.

Referring to the Citigroup rescue, Bush said, "We have made these kind of decisions in the past. We made one last night. And if need be we will make these kind of decisions to safeguard our financial system in the future."

He spoke after meeting with Paulson and other Cabinet members at the Treasury Department, and said they all realize that Americans are concerned for their jobs and savings.

"We will safeguard the financial system as the first step necessary for economic recovery," the president said. "This is a tough situation. But we will recover from it."

Roll back the Bailout

James Inhofe Introduces Bill to Stop Bailout Spending - Nov. 17, 2008

Now, more than ever, it is time to roll back the bailout. Call your Senator and tell them to support GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe’s S. 3683:




Inhofe: Paulson Bailout Helps Friends (see article)

Government to the rescue... Again

This seems just plain wrong to me.


Citigroup May Get Government Rescue, Investors Say

...
“There is no question that Citi is in the category of ‘too big to fail,’” said Michael Holland, chairman and founder of Holland & Co. in New York, which oversees $4 billion. “There is a commitment from this administration and the next to do what it takes to save Citi.”

What about capitalism? Is this the New Capitalism, get so big that when it is tough choices and you can not make tough choices, just ask for Government (We the People, by the way) Help.

1am Eastern update: The Treasury Dept/FDIC/Federal Reserve have issued their late-night joint statement announcing $306 billion in federal backing for Citicorp plus $20 billion of the $25 billion they’ve already taken:

The following is the text of a statement on Citigroup released jointly by the U.S. Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp on Sunday:

The U.S. government is committed to supporting financial market stability, which is a prerequisite to restoring vigorous economic growth. In support of this commitment, the U.S.
government on Sunday entered into an agreement with Citigroup to provide a package of guarantees, liquidity access and capital.

As part of the agreement, Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will provide protection against the possibility of unusually large losses on an asset pool of approximately $306 billion of loans and securities backed by residential and commercial real estate and other such assets, which will remain on Citigroup’s balance sheet. As a fee for this arrangement, Citigroup will issue preferred shares to the Treasury and FDIC. In addition and if necessary, the Federal Reserve stands ready to backstop residual risk in the asset pool through a non-recourse loan.

In addition, Treasury will invest $20 billion in Citigroup from the Troubled Asset Relief Program in exchange for preferred stock with an 8% dividend to the Treasury. Citigroup will comply with enhanced executive compensation restrictions and implement the FDIC’s mortgage modification program.

With these transactions, the U.S. government is taking the actions necessary to strengthen the financial system and protect U.S. taxpayers and the U.S. economy.

We will continue to use all of our resources to preserve the strength of our banking institutions and promote the process of repair and recovery and to manage risks. The following principles guide our efforts:

* We will work to support a healthy resumption of credit flows to households and businesses.
* We will exercise prudent stewardship of taxpayer resources.
* We will carefully circumscribe the involvement of government in the financial sector.
* We will bolster the efforts of financial institutions to attract private capital.

Snub that wasn't

Jeanne Moos is always funny to me



The snub that wasn't. CNN's Jeanne Moos reveals why world leaders weren't shaking President Bush's hand.

Inclusive Society, forget the Rights of a Business

Suit forces eHarmony to offer gay dating service

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Online dating service eHarmony has agreed to create a new website for gays and lesbians as part of a settlement with a gay man in New Jersey, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General said on Wednesday.

The website will provide a dating service with "male seeking a male" or "female seeking a female" options, the Attorney General's office said in a statement.

eHarmony said it will launch the new same-sex dating site, named "Compatible Partners," by March 31.

The settlement was the result of a discrimination complaint filed by Eric McKinley against eHarmony in 2005, which will be dismissed under the settlement agreement.

eHarmony was founded in 2000 by evangelical Christian Dr. Neil Clark Warren and had ties with the influential religious conservative group Focus on the Family.

The New Jersey complaint is not the only legal action to be brought against eHarmony for failing to provide a same-sex option.

In March, lawyers in California brought a lawsuit against the company on behalf of San Francisco resident Linda Carlson, who was denied access to eHarmony because she is gay.

"We believe that this case is now essentially moot, and we're confident that we will prove that in court," eHarmony vice president Antone Johnson said in a statement about the California case.

(Reporting by Rebekah Kebede, Editing by Sandra Maler)

Jacob Sullum writes eHarmony Forced to Create a Dating Service for Gay Singles

Mike Huckabee, Writing About 'The Right Thing'

All Things Considered, November 20, 2008 · As the Republican Party licks it wounds and tries to regroup after the election, at least one party member — former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee — calls himself optimistic.

Supremes to review Barack Obama's citizenship

Click on this link here to find a good review of the "goings on" surrounding the Natural born citizen question for Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain and Roger Calero.

To be clear, if it is determined that Barack Obama is not a "natural born citizen", Congress can simply re-define "natural born", and this is very possibly what would be done.

Quote:

Section 8 of Article I confers on Congress the power "to establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization..." This power has been construed to include defining the characteristics of a "natural born citizen", as well as the conditions of "naturalization".

Mike Huckabee on PajamasTV

Mike was some of the Fiscal Conservative upset. They just do not understand him.

See the PajamasTV interview Here

Interview starts at minute 7

Huckabee on the Bill Bennett Show

Click the link for the
Huckabee on Bill Bennet Show

Mike Huckabee on The View (11/18/08)

Here is one for the View "fans"and/or the Huckabee "fans". Both should be happy. This is only one segment, luckily for me, I recorded the program on my DVR so I will see that whole interview. For now this is what I have. If you like Mike, check-out his show on Fox on Saturday or Sunday evening.

They came asking

In my initial thought on this post, the “they” were the C.P.S. (Child Protective Services). They came to the door and said that there was a problem with the documentation for who we called our oldest daughter. They said that we had 72-hours to produce for them an original copy of the Birth Certificate, or they would have to take the child. While this would alarm most of us, and we may first choose not to comply, for me this would be easy because that very moment I could retrieve the document from a fire-safe that is in my home office.

I say that those were only my original thoughts because while the potential of losing one of our children expresses the seriousness of the situation I am trying to explain, it sounds very remote and almost impossible if not silly. Also I do not want to be construed some strange way as a Conspiracy Theorist that thinks “they” are out there and trying to take our children. I need a better example.

So let’s change the “they” to the local sponsors of the children’s Soccer League. They come to the door saying that all the children’s sign-up records have been lost in a computer crash and the hard copies could not be found. With the out-of-League District Championship game happening in 72-hours they needed to round-up all the players’ information again in order to have a team and have your child play. They need to see the Birth Certificate to certify that you are the parents and the child is of the proper age to be playing in the Championship game. Again this would be easy for me. And since we have not yet ventured into “organized” sports with our kids, I know most parents know more about the real soccer sign-ups more than I.

Yes, this is a much more realistic example, but again while championship games are important, if the documents are not found and the child does not play, it will only “seem” like the end of the world. So I need a better example. Let’s say that you are about to take on a journey that is to this day one of the greatest responsibilities that you will have in life. If someone comes to you and says there is just one thing we need to see before you begin your new duty; we need to see your original birth certificate. For me this would not be a problem.

Of these examples, the first two are the least likely, for I know someone that is in almost the same situation as the last instance. I encourage that person to just show the Birth Certificate and move on. I encourage you also to persuade anyone you know that is in any of these similar situations to just show the documents and go win the District Championship, or better yet Lead Our Country.