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.

Is there a 'Constitutional crisis' ?

'Constitutional crisis' looming over Obama's birth location
Alan Keyes lawsuit warns America may see 'usurper' in Oval Office

Why did it have to come to this? It would seem easy enough to show a vault copy of a birth certificate.

Here is an Except from the Keyes lawsuit (PDF version found here)
"In the course of those lawsuits, some of which have been dismissed, it has been determined that there exists no designated official in the federal government, or the government of the states, directly charged with the responsibility of determining whether any Presidential candidate meets the qualifications of Article II of the Constitution of the United States. In most states, that responsibility is vested with the political parties, all of which have a conflict of interest in making any such determination, and none of which have been forthcoming with information or evidence verifying any candidate’s compliance with the eligibility requirements. …"

More of the Keyes Lawsuit at Hucks Army Forum

So what if Obama refuses to show his birth certificate?

Janet Porter with Faith2Action suggestion
1 last chance to fight for our Constitution

Here is an Excerpt:
"All we are asking is that Congress takes their oath to defend it seriously. If Obama can prove he meets the basic but essential constitutional requirements, fine, he'll serve legally. But if he cannot provide simple proof, then he cannot. We're not asking for the world here, just the original birth certificate that each of us delivers when getting a passport, driver's license or Social Security card. If we can't tell the clerk at the post office to check out the digital photo of a certificate posted online, neither should the guy running for president. Members of Congress: If you have taken an oath to defend the Constitution, now's the time to keep it."

I, like most, just want the right things to be done. Is it right to turn the other way. Some would say yes, that is what is best for our nation. What do you say?

Apathy in Health and Fitness

Believe it or not it is an Economic issue

W. Virginia town shrugs at poorest health ranking

Okay, it is hard to look people in the face and say, "Hey you need to do something about your health".

But the honest truth is that we all need to be about our Fitness; if you want some great tools to help you in your fitness, give me a shout. I am excited about helping others, and in turn maybe helping societies Health/economic epidemic.

My Thought Exactly - He does it again

My President too (click to see video)

Thinking about the election an choosing to be Vertical. I echo what Mike says on his program. He is my President too. When Obama makes the changes that are good for our country I will praise him, yet the minute he stops in support of Israel, legalizes Partial Birth Abortion through F.O.C.A. or asks to have government run health care, I will also be making my "voice" be heard.