Not the Hope and Change We wanted ????

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After two years of Obama ... Here's your change! January 2009 TODAY % chg Source Avg.. Retail price/gallon gas in U.S. $1.83 $3.44 84% 1 Crude oil, European Brent (barrel) $43..48 $99..02 127.7% 2 Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel) $38..74 $91..38 135.9% 2 Gold: London (per troy oz.) $853.25 $1,369.50 60.5% 2 Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL $3.56 $6.33 78.1% 2 Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL $9.66 $13..75 42.3% 2 Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. Fob $13..37 $35..39 164.7% 2 Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall 7.6% 9.4% 23.7% 3 Unemployment rate, blacks 12.6% 15.8% 25.4% 3 Number of unemployed 11,616,000 14,485,000 24.7% 3 Number of fed. Employees 2,779,000 2,840,000 2.2% 3 Real median household income $50,112 $49,777 -0.7% 4 Number of food stamp recipients 31,983,716 43,200,878 35.1% 5 Number of unemployment benefit recipients 7,526,598 9,193,838 22.2% 6 Number of long-term unemployed 2,600,000 6,400,000 146.2% 3 Poverty rate, individuals 13.2% 14.3% 8.3% 4 People in poverty in U.S. 39,800,000 43,600,000 9.5% 4 U.S.. Rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings 5 9 n/a 10 Present Situation Index 29.9 23.5 -21.4% 11 Failed banks 140 164 17.1% 12 U.S.. Dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate 89.76 82.03 -8.6% 2 U.S.. Money supply, M1, in billions 1,575.1 1,865.7 18.4% 13 U.S.. Money supply, M2, in billions 8,310.9 8,852.3 6.5% 13 National debt, in trillions $10..627 $14..052 32.2% 14 Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a ratemore than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history.Over 27 times as fast. Metaphorically speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane. 27 times faster, it would be doing 7,555 MPH! Sources:(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury THE PRESIDENCY SOME WILL APPRECIATE THIS AND SOME WILL NOT. HOWEVER, ALL OF IT IS TRUE. So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 24 months -- so you'll have one year and ten months to come up with an answer. Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS... I WONDER HOW MANY WILL FORWARD THIS ?

Atheists angry with street sign honoring 9-11 firefighters

In a neighborhood in New York City a new street sign has been erected to pay tribute to and to honor seven firefighters from Engine 202 and Ladder 101 firehouse who died on September 11, 2011; this sign is very near that firehouse. The new street sign is "Seven in Heaven Way."

Atheists in NYC are angered and are citing the United States Constitution and its "separation of Church and state" as a means to question the legality of the street sign. They go on to state that the concept of Heaven is "specifically Christian" and that the victims of the 9/11 attacks were not solely Christians.

Let's break all of this down:

• Of course the victims of 9/11 were not solely Christians. The attacks on the United States killed people from all backgrounds and religions and even, I suppose, some atheists.
• Heaven is not a specifically Christian concept. Many of the religions of the world have some concept of an afterlife whether it is called Heaven or Paradise or something else. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all directly refer to Heaven.
• Separation of Church and state isn't really a part of our United States Constitution. The first amendment in the Bill of Rights reads, in its entirety, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
• The street sign does not compel one to adapt a religion but rather the sign simply honors those seven heroes, all from this one firehouse.

There is a misconception that the United States Constitution forbids religion in public areas.

The first amendment does not say that - it says (reading it again) that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. It also says we can't have laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. What has been interpreted as a ban on religion was actually a ban on a state religion such as what was in place in England in the 18th Century. In other words, Congress can not say that all citizens must be a member of a specific church. For instance, we don't all have to be Methodists. We can choose to be Baptists, or Catholic, or Jews, or Muslims, or Buddhists, or even Atheists. We are not to be forced into joining a particular religious group but on the other hand we are free to express our religious beliefs (the second part of that first amendment - the freedom of speech part).

So is this street sign in New York City violating the Constitution? Of course not. No one is coercing anyone to convert to Christianity or even mention the word Heaven. The atheists are free to look the other way if it offends them and since the street in question has another name, they are free to use "Richards Street" rather than "Seven in Heaven Way" when giving directions.

~ Patty

Another Great Opinion

I didn't write this, but see nothing wrong with it. 

Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away.  If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test recipients for drugs, alcohol, nicotine and document all tattoos and piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get tats and piercings, then get a job.

Put me in charge of government housing.  Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair.  Your "home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place.

In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you.

Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules.

Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.

If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices.  The current system rewards them for continuing to make mistakes and bad choices.

AND while you are on Government subsistence, you no longer can VOTE!  Yes, that is correct.  For you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will voluntarily remove yourself from the voting rolls while you are receiving a Government welfare check. If you want to vote, then get a job. 

Assuring Obama is a One-Term President

The race is on. Several people have stepped forward and expressed an interest in or have already filed papers to run for the Republican nomination and be the candidate that will challenge Barack Obama in 2012.

After watching the two televised debates thus far, I can tell you that all who participated in debates, either in South Carolina or New Hampshire, would make a much better president than what Obama has been so far, and, truthfully, I don't see him improving in the next 18 months.

I also really liked the debate participants attacking Obama and his policies and not each other. Any ammo used by Republicans against Republicans is ammo the Democrats can also use against Republicans.

If we all agree that we don't want to see Obama in the White House until January of 2017 then we must stand behind whatever candidate is chosen by the voters in the primaries. In 2008 there were many who were upset with either John McCain or Sarah Palin or both. There were some who sent a message and voted for Barack Obama simply because they didn't like the Republican ticket. I ask you "how did that work out for you?"

Everyone has issues. The job of an intelligent electorate is to chose the best candidate, not the perfect candidate.

~ Patty

Hmmmmm...the Muslims aren't happy.....

From a friend....good observation. The Arabs aren't happy. They're not happy in Gaza. They're not happy in Egypt. They're not happy in Libya. They're not happy in Morocco. They're not happy in Iran. They're not happy in Iraq. They're not happy in Yemen. They're not happy in Afghanistan. They're not happy in Pakistan. They're not happy in Syria. They're not happy in Lebanon. And where are they happy? They're happy in England. They're happy in France. They're happy in Italy. They're happy in Germany. They're happy in Sweden. They're happy in the USA. They're happy in Norway. They're happy in Spain, and in every country that is not Muslim. And who do they blame? Not Islam. Not their leadership. Not themselves. THEY BLAME THE COUNTRIES THEY ARE HAPPY IN.

Weiner resigns

Well, it is about time!

Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) sent sexually explicit pictures of his anatomy to women with Twitter. Not only that but for the first week after the pictures hit the media, Weiner insisted that his Twitter account had been hacked and that he was not responsible for the Tweets. He even went so far as to accuse, in name, certain conservative bloggers for hacking his Twitter account.

While sexual misconduct scandals are not limited to the Democrats, it seems the Democrats are more reluctant to take responsibility. Only when Representative Weiner became an embarrassment to his party was he pressured to resign. Even the ultra-liberal comedians were having a heyday with not only the escapades of Mr. Weiner but also every joke that could be imagined playing on the name 'Weiner' was fair game for all.

Again, I am not going to be sanctimonious and suggest the all the Republicans are walking around with halos. However, it seems that whenever a Republican is caught misbehaving in such a blatant (or even not so blatant) manner, he or she is out before the ink on the newsprint is dry. Most recent Republican scandal had Representative Chris Lee sending a picture of himself shirtless. He was forced to resign. By the way, Lee kept the pictures above the waist; Weiner did not.

So no more Weiner jokes after today for the media. It will be interesting to see what they latch onto next.

~ Patty

What if they left.....? Well researched article...from a friend

What if 20 Million Illegal Aliens Vacated America?� 
 
I, Tina Griego, journalist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News wrote a column titled,"Mexican Visitor's Lament"- 10/25/07. 
I interviewed Mexican journalist Evangelina Hernandez while visiting Denver last week. Hernandez said, "illegal aliens pay rent, buy groceries, buy clothes. What Happens to your country's economy if 20 million people go away?" Hmmm, I thought, what would happen? 

So I did my due diligence, buried my nose as a reporter into theFACTS I found below. 

It's a good question it deserves an honest answer. Over 80% of Americans demand secured borders and illegal migration stopped. But what would happen if all 20 million or more vacated America ? The answers I found may surprise you! 

In  California , if 3.5 million illegal aliens moved back to Mexico,it would leave an extra $10.2 billion to spend on overloaded school systems, bankrupt hospitals and overrun prisons. It would leave highways cleaner, safer and less congested. Everyone could understand one another as English became the dominant language again. 

In  Colorado , 500,000 illegal migrants, plus their 300,000 kids and grandchilds would move back 'home', mostly to Mexico . That would save Colorado an estimated $2 billion (other experts say $7 billion) annually in taxes that pay for schooling, medical, social-services and incarceration costs. It means 12,000 gang members would vanish out of Denver alone. 

Colorado would save more than $20 million in prison costs, and the terror that those 7,300 alien criminals set upon local citizens. Denver Officer Don Young and hundreds of Colorado victims would not have suffered death, accidents, rapes and other crimes by illegals. 

Denver Public Schools would not suffer a 67% dropout/flunk rate because of thousands of illegal alien students speaking 41 different languages. At least 200,000 vehicles would vanish from our grid locked cities in Colorado . Denver 's 4% unemployment rate would vanish as our working poor would gain jobs at a living wage.

In  Florida , 1.5 million illegals would return the Sunshine State back to America , the rule of law, and English. 

In  Chicago, Illinois , 2.1 million illegals would free up hospitals, schools, prisons and highways for a safer, cleaner and more crime-free experience. 

If 20 million illegal aliens returned 'home', the  U.S. Economy would return to the rule of law. Employers would hire legal American citizens at a living wage. Everyone would pay their fair share of taxes because they wouldn't be working off the books. That would result in an additional $401 Billion in IRS income taxes collected annually, and an equal amount for local, state and city coffers. 

No more push '1' for Spanish or '2' for English. No more confusion in American schools that now must contend with over 100 languages that degrade the educational system for American kids. Our overcrowded schools would lose more than two million illegal alien kids at a cost of billions in ESL and free breakfasts and lunches. 

We would lose 500,000 illegal criminal alien inmates at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. That includes 15,000 MS-13 gang members who distribute $130 billion in drugs annually would vacate our country. 

In cities like L.A. , 20,000 members of the ' 18th Street Gang' would vanish from our nation. No more Mexican forgery gangs for ID theft from Americans! No more foreign rapists and child molesters! 

Losing more than 20 million people would clear up our crowded highways and gridlock. Cleaner air and less drinking and driving American deaths by illegal aliens! 

America 's economy is drained. Taxpayers are harmed. Employers get rich. Over $80 billion annually wouldn't return to the aliens' home countries by cash transfers. Illegal migrants earned half that money untaxed, which further drains America 's economy which currently suffers an $8.7 trillion debt. $8.7 trillion debt. 

At least 400,000 anchor babies would not be born in our country, costing us $109 billion per year per cycle. At least 86 hospitals in California , Georgia and Florida would still be operating instead of being bankrupt out of existence because illegals pay nothing via the EMTOLA Act. 

Americans wouldn't suffer thousands of TB and hepatitis cases rampant in our country-brought in by illegals unscreened at our borders. 

Our cities would see 20 million less people driving, polluting and grid locking our cities. It would also put the 'progressives' on the horns of a dilemma; illegal aliens and their families cause 11% of our greenhouse gases. 

Over one million of Mexico's poorest citizens now live inside and along our border from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California in what the New York Times called, 'colonias' or new neighborhoods. Trouble is, those living areas resemble Bombay and Calcutta where grinding poverty, filth, diseases, drugs, crimes, no sanitation and worse. They live without sewage, clean water, streets, roads, electricity, or any kind of sanitation. 

The New York Times reported them to be  America's new ' Third World ' inside our own country. Within 20 years, at their current growth rate, they expect 20 million residents of those colonias. (I've seen them personally in Texas and Arizona ; it's sickening beyond anything you can imagine.) 

By enforcing our laws, we could repatriate them back to Mexico . We should invite 20 million aliens to go home, fix their own countries and/or make a better life in Mexico . We already invite a million people into our country legally more than all other countries combined annually. We cannot and must not allow anarchy at our borders, more anarchy within our borders and growing lawlessness at every level in our nation.  

It's time to stand up for our country, our culture, our civilization and our way of life. 
Interesting Statistics! 

Here are 14 reasons illegal aliens should vacate America, and I hope they are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them: 
1. $14 billion to $22 billion dollars are spent each year on welfare to illegal aliens. 
(that's Billion with a 'B')  http://tinyurl.com/zob77.html  
3. $7.5 billion dollars are spent each year on Medicaid for illegal aliens.http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 
4. $12 billion dollars are spent each year on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they still cannot speak a word of English!http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 
5. $27 billion dollars are spent each year for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 
6. $3 MillionDollars 'PER DAY' is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. That's$1.2 Billion a year. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 
7. 28% percent of all federal prison inmates are illegal aliens. 
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 
8. $190 billion dollars are spent each year on illegal aliens for welfare & social services by the American taxpayers. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html 
9. $200 billion dollars per year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US . http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html 
11. During the year 2005, there were 8 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our southern border with as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from other terrorist countries. Over 10,000 of those were middle-eastern terrorists. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroine, crack, Guns, and marijuana crossed into the U.S.from the southern border. http://tinyurl.com/t9sht 
12. The National Policy Institute, estimates that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion, or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period and nbsp;http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/publications.php?b=deportation 
13. In 2006, illegal aliens sent home $65 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin, to their families and friends. http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm 
14. The dark side of illegal immigration: Nearly one million sex crimes are committed by illegal immigrants in the United States ! http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml 

Total cost a whopping $538.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! 

Republicans can’t keep their pants zipped?

While cruising through Facebook today I found this interesting observation by someone named Lynnette: “When it comes to foolishness, I always expect Republicans to be at the forefront. They choose idiots to run for office, can’t keep their pants zipped, [and] misappropriate money….”

Lynnette chose to post this on the same day that Representative Anthony Weiner (D) admitted to sending lewd photos of his, er, ‘weiner’ to young women through Facebook and Twitter.

Let’s see – choose idiots to run for office?? Any guesses as to who said he had campaigned in all 57 states of the United States? Yep – our Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Obama (D). How about this quote “We need to pass the bill to see what is in it.” Answer, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D). Or this quote “When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on television…..” The was from the genius, Vice President Joe (Xerox) Biden (D). By the way, the stock market crashed in 1929 when Herbert Hoover was President and television was still in an experimental stage. If you are wondering about the ‘xerox’ in Biden’s name that is in honor of his law school years where he was accused and later admitted to plagiarizing a paper; he would later admit to it but said it wasn’t “malevolent.”

Of course Republicans have made factual errors in public but to hear the press, you would think that the Republicans are the only ‘idiots running for office.’

Let’s move briefly to the misappropriation of money. Political appointments for sell in Illinois (Rod Blagojevich – D); congressman fails to report income from rental property (Charles Rangel – D who by the way also chairs the Ways and Means Committee and should know the tax code); and finally congressman with $90,000 in his freezer from a bribery case (William J. Jefferson – D). There are more but you get the picture. And again, Republicans aren’t blameless they are just not alone.

Now let’s get to the fun part – the pants unzipped part! The Kennedy clan is probably a case study all on their own but let’s just look at one member – Ted Kennedy (D). In 1969, Ted Kennedy left a party on Martha’s Vineyard and more specifically, Chappaquiddick Island with a young woman named Mary Jo Kopechne as his passenger. As he drove his Oldsmobile over the bridge, the car left the road surface and plunged into the inlet. Ted Kennedy survived but Ms. Kopechne did not. Kennedy said he tried several times to rescue Ms. Kopechne but failed and finally swam to shore. The next morning he reported the incident but by that time Ms. Kopechne’s body and already been discovered.

In another infamous scandal, the governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer (D), was involved with high-priced prostitutes to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. Only when his office was investigated for possible bribery was this extra marital activity discovered.

And who could forget President Bill Clinton (D) and his oval office dalliance with Monica Lewinsky? What I found most disturbing about this encounter was that she saved the ‘evidence’ on the dress. Gross…..

Again, Republicans also have lapses in judgment but, trust me, they are not alone.

My own personal take on the ‘pants unzipped’ part of this accusation is, for the most part, the indiscretions should be dealt with only between married partners and NOT drug through the media and, in the case of President Clinton, Congress - as long as public funds, i.e., tax dollars, weren't used in any way. If the missus wants to play the “Stand By Your Man” routine then who am I to say different. (I personally think she looks stupid for doing so but that is just an opinion.)

Bottom line – no one party has the monopoly on stupid, cheating crooks.

~ Patty

First ZERO wants to be re-elected ? I don't think so......

Received this from a friend...too good to ignore !   An old West Virginia Hillbilly saying: You cannot get the water to clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek. *SOME OF YOU MAY APPRECIATE THIS AND SOME OF YOU MAY NOT.* *I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR SENDING THIS BECAUSE OF IT'S TRUTH.* *If any other of our presidents had doubled the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?* *If any other of our presidents had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved? * *If any other of our presidents had criticized a state law that he admitted he never even read, would you think that he is just an ignorant hot head? * *If any other of our presidents joined the country of Mexico and sued a state in the United States to force that state to continue to allow illegal immigration, would you question his patriotism and wonder who's side he was on? * *If any other of our presidents had pronounced the Marine Corps like Marine Corpse, would you think him an idiot? * *If any other of our presidents had put 87,000 workers out of work by arbitrarily placing a moratorium on offshore oil drilling on companies that have one of the best safety records of any industry because one foreign company had an accident, would you have agreed? * *If any other of our presidents had used a forged document as the basis of the moratorium that would render 87000 American workers unemployed would you support him? * *If any other of our presidents had been the first President to need a Teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes? * *If any other of our presidents had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take his First Lady to a play in NYC, would you have approved? * *If any other of our presidents had reduced your retirement plan holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved? * *If any other of our presidents had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved? * *If any other of our presidents had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved? * *If any other of our presidents had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought it a proud moment for America ? * *If any other of our presidents had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia would you have approved? * *If any other of our presidents had visited Austria and made reference to the nonexistent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip? * *If any other of our presidents had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved? * *If any other of our presidents had stated that there were 57 states in the United States , wouldn't you have had second thoughts about his capabilities? * *If any other of our presidents would have flown all the way to Denmark to make a five minute speech about how the Olympics would benefit him walking out his front door in his home town, would you not have thought he was a self-important, conceited, egotistical jerk. * *If any other of our presidents had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, wouldn't you have winced in embarrassment? * *If any other of our presidents had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?* *If any other of our presidents' administrations had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11? * *If any other of our presidents had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence? * *If any other of our presidents had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America , would you have ever approved. * *If any other of our presidents had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved? * *So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? * *Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 24 months -- so you have that much time to come up with an answer.* *Every statement and action in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable. * AND NOW, HE ACTUALLY WANTS US TO RE-ELECT HIM. HA WAKE UP AMERICA 2012 IS UPON US. *I WONDER HOW MANY OF YOU WILL FORWARD THIS ? * *"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."*

House Republicans propose to increase FEMA fund

House Republicans have been vilified in the media as cold, heartless politicians who want to starve babies and throw grandma off the cliff. Representative Paul Ryan gets most of the attention because it is his budget proposals that actually suggest the United States TRY to live within its means.

It is no news that the United States has been hit hard this spring with tornadoes and floods. Complete towns have been decimated and people are hurting. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains a Disaster Relief Fund to help communities. However, extreme weather anomalies have begun to deplete the $2.4 billion fund.

Many articles are spreading like wildfire on the internet that the "Republicans are not going to let FEMA have more money." Perhaps the rumors started because most Republicans would like to see a balanced budget and are looking for ways to do so.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is Republicans are trying to actually DOUBLE the FEMA fund in light of this year's disasters. While a balanced budget is still a priority for the Republicans, the health and safety of the citizens of the United States is important to them.

Sometimes you just need to look beyond the media bias to seek out the real truth.

~ Patty

Let’s end the charade of US foreign aid

According to Forbes magazine, the United States allocates upwards of $58 billion (with a B!) to foreign aid each year. Proponents of foreign aid argue that the $58 billion is but a drop in the bucket of the entire budget which stands at $3.8 trillion (with a T!) for 2011. Actually it is more than just a drop in the bucket; it is 2% of the budget.

Who gets this foreign aid? In the Western Hemisphere it is every country except Canada and French Guiana. That’s right – even Cuba and Venezuela get money from the United States! In the rest of the world about the only countries not taking money from us currently are in Europe. Other countries scattered throughout the world not on the United State dole include Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Japan – the latter two have more money than God. We do send money to most African continent nations, China (from whom we borrow money), and all Muslim countries of Southeast Asia.

Looking at the countries that get our money and those that don’t we can draw one basic broad conclusion: those countries that are our allies and that actually LIKE us (Canada, Australia, most of Europe) don’t take our money; countries who are actively trying to destroy us (China, Venezuela, Muslim nations) are on the receiving end of our generosity.

Meanwhile, here in the United States we have experienced several natural disasters within the past few years that have created economic hardships for local governments and the residents of those devastated areas. What if we took that $58 billion that has been earmarked for foreign aid and, say, used it to help rebuild communities hit hard by first flooding and then tornadoes this spring? I’m sure residents of Missouri would much more appreciative of funds to help rebuild than a country like Venezuela that hates us now and will continue to hate us no matter how much money we throw at them.

Regardless of whether it is a drop in the bucket, 2%, or 10%, or even if it were just one-tenth of 1%, the point here is that we need to spend our money carefully and wisely. Currently we have a government budget crisis and are spending much more than what we receive in revenues and our national debt continues to rise. While 2% may seem like a ‘drop in the bucket,’ save a billion here and a billion there and eventually we can be talking about real dollars.

~ Patty

Freedom of speech is under attack - part 2

It appears that President Obama doesn't like to be criticized.

Just this week a new position was created within the White House communications department called Director of Progressive Media and Online Response. The job will be held by Jesse Lee.

Basically what Lee will be doing is searching the internet for any negative stories about the President and then killing them (censoring them).

Considering that Obama has already announced his run for re-election, one could rightly assume this is overtly a campaign strategy to make Obama look as good as possible for the next 18 months. It would be interesting to see if tax-payer dollars are used for this.

Media ignores Herman Cain

The first Republican Presidential Debate was held in South Carolina earlier this month. The candidates were asked questions by the moderators and responded intelligently, as was to be expected.

For many of us watching the debate, the clear winner was Herman Cain. However, the Main-Stream-Media (MSM) failed to acknowledge this. In fact, Herman Cain is rarely even mentioned as a contender for the White House, let alone a front runner. Conservative online forums are a different story. Those forums always tout Mr. Cain as not only a candidate but an extremely viable candidate. He is gaining in popularity and will make an official announcement regarding his run for the White House on May 21, 2011.

So why does the MSM ignore this strong Republican candidate for the Presidency of the United States? One can only guess but it is probably because they are afraid that Herman Cain can actually beat Barack Obama in the 2012 election.

Instead of putting Mr. Cain’s name in a headline, the MSM continues to run stories about that clown of a candidate, Donald Trump. Fortunately for all of us, “The Donald” announced today that he will not run for President.

Maybe now we can get some serious news stories regarding the VIABLE candidates and what they can offer the country. Oh wait, we are talking about the MSM and they will continue to down play anyone they think can offer up a serious challenge to Obama.

Pay attention, people. You might have to do a bit of your own research to find out what the MSM doesn’t want you to know. And don’t let the media decide for you who will be the Republican candidate in 2012.

~ Patty

The race to replace Obama begins

The field of prospective candidates who are seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Barrack Obama is growing. Just yesterday Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, announced his intention to run. Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, has also formally announced his candidacy.

There are others who are in the mix, so to speak, but have yet to make a formal announcement. They include Herman Cain (who will make an announcement concerning his candidacy on May 21), businessman and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza; Ron Paul, Congressman from Texas; Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico; Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota; Rick Santorum, former Senator from Pennsylvania; Mitch Daniels, current governor of Indiana (term expires in 2012); Michele Bachmann, current Congresswoman from Minnesota; and probably about that many more who are still in the “thinking stages of a decision.”

The field is good and strong. Many of these great potential candidates would make a wonderful President. What we don’t need is for any of them to start attacking fellow Republicans.

If a candidate wants to stand out from the crowd, give us the reasons you believe you are the best and not reasons someone else shouldn’t be the nominee for the Republican Party. Attacks on fellow Republicans can backfire and be used against Republicans in the general election. By the way, this rule of thumb is also valid in state and local races. Don’t attack those with which you have the most in common.

The bottom line is it would be difficult to find ANY Republican who would do more harm to this great nation than our current President. Let’s all hope we choose wisely and elect a strong candidate who can put an end to the Socialistic agenda of the Obama Administration.

~ Patty

Taxes

President Obama says we need to tax more. I think the government needs to spend less. We are Taxed Enough Already!

• Federal Income tax
• State Income tax
• Local Income tax
• Corporate Income tax
• Social Security tax
• Medicare tax
• Medicaid tax
• Federal Unemployment tax
• State Unemployment tax
• Workers Comp tax
• Sales tax
• Property tax
• Real Estate tax (different from property)
• Vehicle registration tax
• Vehicle sales tax
• Inheritance tax
• Gift tax
• Estate tax
• Capital Gains tax
• Accounts Receivable tax
• Motel/Hotel tax
• Insurance tax
• Telephone tax
• Utilities tax
• Gasoline tax
• Cigarette tax
• Liquor tax
• School tax
• Septic/Sewer tax
• Luxury tax
• Dog license tax
• Fishing/Hunting fees tax
• Marriage license tax
• Building permit tax
• CDL license tax
• Road Usage tax
• Watercraft registration tax
• Recreational vehicle tax
• Trailer registration tax

Total tax percentage paid by the above average US citizen, 2005 - 54.4%*

Total tax percentage paid by the above average US citizen, 2009 - 57.7%*

* source: How much tax do we really pay?

~ patty

A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves

Got this from a friend in email, and I really like it...take a minute and think.

Feminism and Sharia Law

As a woman who went to college in the late 1960s and early 70s, I am no stranger to the Women’s Rights movement. While Conservative even in college, I did recognize the fact that women in the United States were capable citizens who could probably excel at most occupations (including President of the United States) . I also joked that I didn’t need to be equal – I was happy being better!

As David and I were raising our five daughters and one son, we held to the notion that all kids were equal; there were no ‘boy’ chores or ‘girl’ chores. David took time to teach all the basics of home repair and I taught all to cook.

Today women, especially here in the United States, have achieved much. Gone are the days when women went to college to either become a teacher or a nurse or simply get her MRS degree (for you youngsters – that meant she went not to get an education but to snag a husband).

Now our nation is faced with an increasing encroachment of Sharia Law in our country. Sharia Law is the guide practiced by Muslims and based on Islam. It addresses everything from religious practices to financial transactions to interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims. Sharia Law, strictly practiced, allows for and even advocates punishment, including death, for disobedience.

One of the most grievous sins, according to Sharia Law, is unlawful sexual intercourse. This can be interpreted many ways and can even be simply a woman talking to a man she is not related to. Punishment is severe and can take the form of public caning or even “honor killing.”

Other Sharia Law affronts to feminism include female genital mutilation, polygamy, little girls given in marriage, divorce laws where women have no rights, and also property laws where women have no rights.

One might assume that such laws will never become a problem in the United States. That would be a dangerous assumption. Just recently a Florida judge defended his decision to apply Islamic law instead of state and federal statues in determining an arbitration award.

We, as a nation and as women, must fight this trend. We don’t need “multiculturalism;” we need some good old-fashioned commonsense. Most feminists will tell you the Liberals will fight for women’s rights but in reality, the Liberals will first fight for this stupid idea of “multiculturalism.”

Wake up, women. Read the news. Sharia Law has undermined the position of women in Western Europe and it is on its way here.

~ Patty

Obama on war - then and now

Political cartoonist Gary Varvel has captured the situation perfectly in his cartoon of March 23, 2011.

Candidate and Senator Obama criticized President Bush for using military action against Iraq in 2007. Now President Obama finds himself in the same situation. We will have to wait and see if his own party will back him or turn on him.

Tired of the hypocrisy of the Liberals

I don’t know about you but I am very tired of being lectured to by Liberals.

They tell us to “reduce our carbon footprint” as they fly around the country in their private jets. They would be a little easier to listen to if they reduced THEIR carbon footprint and lived in small houses, grew their own vegetables, or allowed wind farms in their neighborhoods.

They tell us to “share the wealth” as they parade around in designer outfits with million dollar jewelry and accessories. I might believe they want to share THEIR wealth if they invited the homeless to live with their families, opened a soup kitchen in their garage, or donated half their wealth to charity.

They tell us we need to “stand up for the working class” while their own domestic help works long hours for less than minimum wages. If they had ever done any manual labor on their own, this would not seem so hypocritical. Just guessing but probably not many politicians, movie stars, or sports heroes even clean their own toilets.

They tell us we need to “practice civility” as they scream epitaphs at anyone who would dare disagree with their own narrow view of the world.

They tell us to “be accepting and tolerant” of all cultures and beliefs as they deride and make fun of Christianity, the Tea Party, and Conservative Women.

They call us “racist” for daring to disagree with any Liberal who is black yet they themselves will call a black Conservative every nasty name in the book.

They demand “neutrality” in the news but rarely are Conservatives viewed in a positive manner in the media.

They cry “foul” when a Conservative governor tries to balance a state’s budget with tough tactics yet they manage to cram ObamaCare down our throats with back door deals that would make the late Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago look transparent.

And the really sad part of all of this and more is that the Liberals will continue with all this because they can’t see past their own wants – regardless if it is what the majority wants.

~ Patty