By Douglas V. Gibbs
Within a month or two after Barack Obama's presidency commenced we began to receive reports of how a blitz of cyber attacks were threatening U.S. Security. I believe the headlines were simply a scare tactic, and failed to indicate that cyber attacks have been with us since the early days of the Internet. The ploy worked, however, leading to the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, and the appointment of an Internet Czar who is a non-elected person with the power to literally shut down areas of the Internet that he or she deems "dangerous."
I wonder how long it will take them to decide that any kind of dissent is dangerous?
Obama has continually sought more and more control of the Internet, as well as being willing to cede much of that control over to the International Community (United Nations).
If the Democrat's proposal succeeds, the president would have the power to shut down the Internet and private networks under the guise of safeguarding essential federal and private Web resources should there be a massive, nationwide cyber attack.
The legislation is chiefly the brainchild of globalist Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and idiot RINO Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). Both lawmakers have longed for a federal cybersecurity bill, claiming such legislation to be necessary to protect the country's Web infrastructure.
This writer believes that allowing the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" gives the federal government the opportunity to quell our freedoms of speech, while unconstitutionally regulating the Internet, which I believe is the last bastion of free speech remaining in this country.
It is interesting to me how these people expect us to believe that under Obama's watch, a president they claim is an internationally respected intellectual, the number of cyber attacks have increased drastically.
I thought Obama was loved by the world? If the leftists are correct about how wonderful Obama is, and how hated Bush was, then why would cyber attacks increase under Obama's watch, especially after following the "hated" George W. Bush?
I submit that anytime the federal government is given this kind of unlimited power over the people, it never ends good for the populace.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Cybersecurity bill to give president new emergency powers - The Hill
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Obama To End Free Speech by Ceding The Internet To The United Nations?
Bob Rinear of Invest Yourself.com returns to the Political Pistachio Radio Revolution tonight to discuss how the Obama Administration set up the need for an Internet Czar by proclaiming we are under cyber attack, when the cyber threats have, in reality, been with us since the early days of Internet use.
The Internet Czar has the ability to deem what is dangerous. The leftists have been looking for a way to dominate the Internet, and they used terrorism and cyber attacks as their excuse.
Now, Obama is looking to cede more and more control of the Internet to the "International Body," and Rinear says it stinks out loud of Global Governance. Bob Rinear sees this as another step toward the takeover of sovereign America. If they take over control of the last true medium of free speech, they will take control of America.
Bob Rinear says, "Free speech is our right, and the Internet is our product. No thank you, Obama, we are quite happy to keep control right here."
Join us at 7:00 PM Pacific Time tonight on the Political Pistachio Radio Revolution as Bob Rinear joins us to discuss this topic. Catch the show live, or listen to the archive later, on BlogTalkRadio.com/PoliticalPistachio.
Chile Earthquake Aftermath, and a Biblical Perspective
By Douglas V. Gibbs
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile, and has continued to rattle the region with a flurry of strong after-shocks, has claimed over 700 lives, thus far. Rescuers are digging for survivors while government soldiers have taken control of the cities in the hopes of quelling the epidemic of looting.
Over 500,000 homes have been destroyed, or badly damaged. Thousands of people are missing. The country is in desperate need of field hospitals, temporary bridges, water purification plants and damage assessment experts. An appeal for more people to assist with the rescue efforts is also going out to relieve workers who have been laboring frantically since the devastating quake struck during the early Saturday morning hours.
The tsunami that resulted from the quake rose up and destroyed a beach side carnival in the village of Lloca. The fears that the tsunami would cause havoc on Japan and Hawaii once the swell reached those locations rose up with the tsunami warning, but Japan and Hawaii received only minor ocean swells that rose to about three feet. This is not to say that larger waves may still be on the way, but so far it seems that the tsunami danger is minimal.
The massive earthquake in Chile follows shortly behind a 7.0 that hit Haiti, a 7.0 off of the southern shore of Japan, a 5.9 near Eureka, California (one of a number of strong quakes along the California Coast), a 6.9 near North Korea, and a flurry of earthquakes in the South Pacific affecting Indonesia and the Samoan Islands.
All of the earthquakes discussed occurred along the Ring of Fire. The seismic episodes in the Ring of Fire region account for about 90% of the earthquakes worldwide. A large part of the reason so many quakes happen along the edges of the Pacific Tectonic Plate is because the Pacific Plate is moving westward under the Australia plate at the rate of about 9cm a year.
As these cataclysmic events transpire, Christians often refer to Matthew Chapter 24 where Jesus lists the birth pangs the world will suffer as signs that His return is near appear. In Matthew 24:7-8 it reads in the King James Version: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."
Christian scholars, preachers, and writers have long said that when Christ is near His return, the number of earthquakes will increase, and they will occur in various places that they did not before. Most prophetic episodes listed as signs of the end times are already common place. There has been war, and rumors of war, throughout modern history (verse 6). False prophets, such as Muhammed, Joseph Smith (Mormonism), Jim Jones, and David Koresh (to name a few), have emerged on the scene and have successfully deceived many (verse 11). Television evangelists with big shiny rings and their promises that your prayers will be answered if you just send them some money, and faith healers with their "your saaaaaved" slaps to the forehead, have all turned Faith in Christ into a circus side show, leaving many who had been searching out the Kingdom of God to shake their heads and walk away in disappointment and dismay. Deception, pestilence, famine, love grown cold, excessive drinking, sexual promiscuity, and an increase in the denial of Christ's sacrifice on the cross are all signs that have been present for a very long time. But the increase of earthquakes had not occurred, until now.
Or have they?
Though earthquake frequency seems to have increased, we have to remember that these quakes have occurred along an area where 90% of earthquakes already occur, so a large number of quakes in the Ring of Fire region is not unheard of. In fact, looking at the history of earthquake activity, the charts look like roller coaster rides that, like the natural phenomenon of global temperatures, rise and drop throughout recorded history.
What seems to have increased to the naked eye, however, is the number of intense earthquakes.
Whether or not you may believe there has been an increased number of more intense earthquakes, data currently suggests that even the number of intense earthquakes still remains fairly constant. If there was a stream of intense earthquakes that broke records and continued for a fairly long stretch, I would think that such a string of events would be a definite sign of the "end times." But currently, we just don't have that kind of activity.
As a Californian, of course, my attention to earthquake activity may be a little heightened. Every time a sizable earthquake strikes, I pop up and take attention. One must recognize that with each large earthquake along the Pacific Plate, it makes Californians more aware of the fact that "The Big One" may be on the horizon.
The biblical terms used in reference to the increase of the signs of the end times are "an increase in sorrows," and as stated in Mark 13:8 (which is another account of Christ's warnings regarding the end times scenario) "the beginning of birth pains."
Birth pains begin as subtle rumblings, gradually progressing to a level of increased intensity, and frequency, until finally it all reaches a crescendo, and the event is thrust upon the mother in a sudden surge of incredible pain and "gnashing of teeth."
The reference Mark makes to "birth pains" is a part of what has led students of the Bible to believe that as the return of Christ nears, the frequency of earthquakes will increase. I am one to believe that an increase in the occurrence of seismic events, as well as an increase in intensity, "may" be a sign that Christ's return is near, but I also have to take into account the fact that despite the podium pounding sermons of prophecy teachers that proclaim earthquakes are steadily increasing in number, when you look at an overall study of earthquakes over the last hundred years, or so, they are not increasing in number after all.
One must consider that either the end-times scenario is not upon us just yet, the increase of earthquakes in number and intensity has not happened yet, the increase of earthquakes in number and intensity will not occur prior to the commencement of the Great Tribulation, or earthquakes are something that is expected to occur throughout the Church Age, and will continue to occur well into the final seven years of this age, and will cease upon the commencement of The Millennium.
I am not trying to rewrite scripture, or denounce the writings and teachings of a number of fantastic prophecy scholars. I am simply saying that a few massive earthquakes do not an apocalypse make.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Death toll in Chile earthquake passes 700 - CNN World
1.5 Million Displaced After Chile Quake - New York Times
Earthquakes and the End Times - The GeoChristian
Strong earthquake injures 2 in Japan - USA Today
7.0 quake hits Haiti; 'Serious loss of life' expected - CNN World
Magnitude 5.9 - OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - USGS
Significant Earthquake and News Headlines - USGS
Two South Pacific earthquakes unlikely to be connected, say seismologists - Syumanda Syndicates
Matthew 24 (King James Version) - Bible Gateway
Mark 13:8 - Biblos
Tsunami Hits Hawaii With Three-foot Waves - National Geographic
EARTHQUAKES AND THE END TIMES: A GEOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE - The Institute For Creation Research
Are Earthquakes Really on the Increase? - USGS
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile, and has continued to rattle the region with a flurry of strong after-shocks, has claimed over 700 lives, thus far. Rescuers are digging for survivors while government soldiers have taken control of the cities in the hopes of quelling the epidemic of looting.
Over 500,000 homes have been destroyed, or badly damaged. Thousands of people are missing. The country is in desperate need of field hospitals, temporary bridges, water purification plants and damage assessment experts. An appeal for more people to assist with the rescue efforts is also going out to relieve workers who have been laboring frantically since the devastating quake struck during the early Saturday morning hours.
The tsunami that resulted from the quake rose up and destroyed a beach side carnival in the village of Lloca. The fears that the tsunami would cause havoc on Japan and Hawaii once the swell reached those locations rose up with the tsunami warning, but Japan and Hawaii received only minor ocean swells that rose to about three feet. This is not to say that larger waves may still be on the way, but so far it seems that the tsunami danger is minimal.
The massive earthquake in Chile follows shortly behind a 7.0 that hit Haiti, a 7.0 off of the southern shore of Japan, a 5.9 near Eureka, California (one of a number of strong quakes along the California Coast), a 6.9 near North Korea, and a flurry of earthquakes in the South Pacific affecting Indonesia and the Samoan Islands.
All of the earthquakes discussed occurred along the Ring of Fire. The seismic episodes in the Ring of Fire region account for about 90% of the earthquakes worldwide. A large part of the reason so many quakes happen along the edges of the Pacific Tectonic Plate is because the Pacific Plate is moving westward under the Australia plate at the rate of about 9cm a year.
As these cataclysmic events transpire, Christians often refer to Matthew Chapter 24 where Jesus lists the birth pangs the world will suffer as signs that His return is near appear. In Matthew 24:7-8 it reads in the King James Version: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."
Christian scholars, preachers, and writers have long said that when Christ is near His return, the number of earthquakes will increase, and they will occur in various places that they did not before. Most prophetic episodes listed as signs of the end times are already common place. There has been war, and rumors of war, throughout modern history (verse 6). False prophets, such as Muhammed, Joseph Smith (Mormonism), Jim Jones, and David Koresh (to name a few), have emerged on the scene and have successfully deceived many (verse 11). Television evangelists with big shiny rings and their promises that your prayers will be answered if you just send them some money, and faith healers with their "your saaaaaved" slaps to the forehead, have all turned Faith in Christ into a circus side show, leaving many who had been searching out the Kingdom of God to shake their heads and walk away in disappointment and dismay. Deception, pestilence, famine, love grown cold, excessive drinking, sexual promiscuity, and an increase in the denial of Christ's sacrifice on the cross are all signs that have been present for a very long time. But the increase of earthquakes had not occurred, until now.
Or have they?
Though earthquake frequency seems to have increased, we have to remember that these quakes have occurred along an area where 90% of earthquakes already occur, so a large number of quakes in the Ring of Fire region is not unheard of. In fact, looking at the history of earthquake activity, the charts look like roller coaster rides that, like the natural phenomenon of global temperatures, rise and drop throughout recorded history.
What seems to have increased to the naked eye, however, is the number of intense earthquakes.
Whether or not you may believe there has been an increased number of more intense earthquakes, data currently suggests that even the number of intense earthquakes still remains fairly constant. If there was a stream of intense earthquakes that broke records and continued for a fairly long stretch, I would think that such a string of events would be a definite sign of the "end times." But currently, we just don't have that kind of activity.
As a Californian, of course, my attention to earthquake activity may be a little heightened. Every time a sizable earthquake strikes, I pop up and take attention. One must recognize that with each large earthquake along the Pacific Plate, it makes Californians more aware of the fact that "The Big One" may be on the horizon.
The biblical terms used in reference to the increase of the signs of the end times are "an increase in sorrows," and as stated in Mark 13:8 (which is another account of Christ's warnings regarding the end times scenario) "the beginning of birth pains."
Birth pains begin as subtle rumblings, gradually progressing to a level of increased intensity, and frequency, until finally it all reaches a crescendo, and the event is thrust upon the mother in a sudden surge of incredible pain and "gnashing of teeth."
The reference Mark makes to "birth pains" is a part of what has led students of the Bible to believe that as the return of Christ nears, the frequency of earthquakes will increase. I am one to believe that an increase in the occurrence of seismic events, as well as an increase in intensity, "may" be a sign that Christ's return is near, but I also have to take into account the fact that despite the podium pounding sermons of prophecy teachers that proclaim earthquakes are steadily increasing in number, when you look at an overall study of earthquakes over the last hundred years, or so, they are not increasing in number after all.
One must consider that either the end-times scenario is not upon us just yet, the increase of earthquakes in number and intensity has not happened yet, the increase of earthquakes in number and intensity will not occur prior to the commencement of the Great Tribulation, or earthquakes are something that is expected to occur throughout the Church Age, and will continue to occur well into the final seven years of this age, and will cease upon the commencement of The Millennium.
I am not trying to rewrite scripture, or denounce the writings and teachings of a number of fantastic prophecy scholars. I am simply saying that a few massive earthquakes do not an apocalypse make.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Death toll in Chile earthquake passes 700 - CNN World
1.5 Million Displaced After Chile Quake - New York Times
Earthquakes and the End Times - The GeoChristian
Strong earthquake injures 2 in Japan - USA Today
7.0 quake hits Haiti; 'Serious loss of life' expected - CNN World
Magnitude 5.9 - OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - USGS
Significant Earthquake and News Headlines - USGS
Two South Pacific earthquakes unlikely to be connected, say seismologists - Syumanda Syndicates
Matthew 24 (King James Version) - Bible Gateway
Mark 13:8 - Biblos
Tsunami Hits Hawaii With Three-foot Waves - National Geographic
EARTHQUAKES AND THE END TIMES: A GEOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE - The Institute For Creation Research
Are Earthquakes Really on the Increase? - USGS
U.S. Bobsled Team Wins Olympic Gold
By Douglas V. Gibbs
The Americans look to finish the Winter Olympic Games with the most medals, having 36 total at this point. One of those medals is a gold that ended 62 years of frustration for the United States bobsled team.
USA-1 won the gold medal in four-man bobsledding, being the first American team to do so since 1948. In fact, the USA-1 "Night Train" crew was so good, so dominant, so completely in control that the much-awaited competition turned into a coronation, writes Howard Bryant.
World champions, 2009. Olympic champions, 2010.
The look on the team's faces, and the moisture in their eyes, said it all as they stood on the podium, watching Old Glory rise as the National Anthem played.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
U.S. wins first four-man gold since 1948 - ESPN
The Americans look to finish the Winter Olympic Games with the most medals, having 36 total at this point. One of those medals is a gold that ended 62 years of frustration for the United States bobsled team.
USA-1 won the gold medal in four-man bobsledding, being the first American team to do so since 1948. In fact, the USA-1 "Night Train" crew was so good, so dominant, so completely in control that the much-awaited competition turned into a coronation, writes Howard Bryant.
World champions, 2009. Olympic champions, 2010.
The look on the team's faces, and the moisture in their eyes, said it all as they stood on the podium, watching Old Glory rise as the National Anthem played.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
U.S. wins first four-man gold since 1948 - ESPN
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tea Party Photo
American Power Blog's Donald Douglas came out to visit the Temecula Tea Party (the dude in the light blue shirt, and Navy Veteran ballcap is me. . .)
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Charlie Rangel: Example of Liberal Double Standard
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Charlie Rangel committed tax indiscretions, but there seems to be absolutely zero accountability for actions. What he did is downright illegal, and in the real world he would have been arrested. But as a Democrat politician, there is seriously a question on whether or not he should lose his gavel as leader of the House Ways and Means Committee.
If he was a Republican, he would have not only lost his leadership role of the committee, but he would have been driven out of politics.
Rangel then blamed it all on his staff, rather than take responsibility for his actions, and then said, "members of congress should not be held responsible for actions of their staff."
And this guy calls himself a leader? Be it a leader serving his constituency, or the leader of a Ways and Means Committee, he is hardly acting like a leader. As a leader he is responsible to know what goes on in his office, and as a leader it is up to him to take the heat for the actions of underlings. If he can't handle that, he shouldn't be a leader.
Thing is, he lied, anyway. His actions were his own, and the fact that he is laying the blame on others is an insult to the American People that put him in office.
Just imagine for a moment if he was one of those "fat cat bankers," or an insurance executive. Do you think the Democrats would have accepted Rangel's excuse?
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Charlie Rangel committed tax indiscretions, but there seems to be absolutely zero accountability for actions. What he did is downright illegal, and in the real world he would have been arrested. But as a Democrat politician, there is seriously a question on whether or not he should lose his gavel as leader of the House Ways and Means Committee.
If he was a Republican, he would have not only lost his leadership role of the committee, but he would have been driven out of politics.
Rangel then blamed it all on his staff, rather than take responsibility for his actions, and then said, "members of congress should not be held responsible for actions of their staff."
And this guy calls himself a leader? Be it a leader serving his constituency, or the leader of a Ways and Means Committee, he is hardly acting like a leader. As a leader he is responsible to know what goes on in his office, and as a leader it is up to him to take the heat for the actions of underlings. If he can't handle that, he shouldn't be a leader.
Thing is, he lied, anyway. His actions were his own, and the fact that he is laying the blame on others is an insult to the American People that put him in office.
Just imagine for a moment if he was one of those "fat cat bankers," or an insurance executive. Do you think the Democrats would have accepted Rangel's excuse?
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Temecula Tea Party With Yours Truly Manning Constitution Table
Temecula Valley Tea Party Patriots
Tea Party anniversary rally
Saturday, February 27th
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
at the duck pond in Temecula
(corner of ynez & rancho california road)
Please bring your own signs!
stop by the petition table near the gazebo
and sign the : citizen power campaign petition
MARK CENTER FROM http://www.outtahear.com/ WILL PROVIDE MUSIC!
CONSTITUTION BOOTH WITH DOUG GIBBS FROM www.politicalpistachio.com/
LIVE VIDEO BROADCAST FROM RALLY WITH RADIO SHOW HOST KEN PETTIGREW http://www.newsnetusa.com/ & http://www.kenpettigrewshow.com/
please visit:
http://www.desertrosebooks.com/TemeculaTeaParty.html
John Adams Quote About Debt
“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.”
-- John Adams
-- John Adams
added note: my source was a secondary source, but there is an argument that this is not an actual quote by Adams. That may be so. I will leave it in place pending my own research into the matter. However, understanding the general considerations by the founding fathers, this is not a quote that I would doubt simply because there are many quotes by the founders that disparage a federal debt for any reason other than to pay for war. However, Alexander Hamilton, a statist and mercantilist, actually recommended a public debt as a mechanism to hold together the union - if they were all indebted, they would be more likely to hold together until the debt was paid. Of course, that would mean to hold together the union Hamilton would encourage the debt to be perpetual.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Friday, February 26, 2010
8.3 Earthquake Shakes Chile
A massive 8.3 magnitude earthquake has struck Chile close to the city of Concepcion, near the capital of Sanitiago.
Damage has not been assessed yet, but the loss of electricity is widespread.
A tsunami warning was issued for Chile and Peru, and a tsunami watch was issued for Ecuador.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Massive Magnitude 8.3 Quake Hits Chile - Fox News
Damage has not been assessed yet, but the loss of electricity is widespread.
A tsunami warning was issued for Chile and Peru, and a tsunami watch was issued for Ecuador.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Massive Magnitude 8.3 Quake Hits Chile - Fox News
Bob Chapman Gives Us An Economic Update on Political Pistachio Radio
Health Care Debacle, Rising Unemployment, Stock Market, GDP worries, and the economic crash on the horizon . . . Bob Chapman of the International Forcaster joins Political Pistachio Radio to talk economics.
Join us live at 7PM Pacific, or catch the archive later, on BlogTalkRadio.com/PoliticalPistachio.
Major Earthquake Strikes Japan
By Douglas V. Gibbs
An originally thought to be a magnitude 7.3 quake, later down-graded to 6.9, struck south of Japan in the Pacific Ocean, 52 miles east of Naha, on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.
The quake, only 6.2 miles below the seabed, was large enough to trigger at least one tsunami in nearby areas.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Strong earthquake shakes southern Japan - USA Today
An originally thought to be a magnitude 7.3 quake, later down-graded to 6.9, struck south of Japan in the Pacific Ocean, 52 miles east of Naha, on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.
The quake, only 6.2 miles below the seabed, was large enough to trigger at least one tsunami in nearby areas.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Strong earthquake shakes southern Japan - USA Today
Obama's Health Summit
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Get Liberty
By Douglas V. Gibbs
I will spend time on going over the details of Obama's bogus Health Care Summit hopefully this weekend. But I wanted to say right now that it was interesting how bad the Republicans made the Democrats, and Obama, look during the Health Care Summit today.
The GOP members obviously know more about what is in the monstrosity of a bill than do the Democrats. The buffoon, aslo known as Obama, spent the entire summit on defense. It became clear, listening to the Democrat's angry drivel, that they don't understand the basic premise that government intrusion into the industry is what caused the health care crisis, and more government involvement is not the solution. They complain that the rest of the world has single-payer health care, but don't recognize that what separates us from the rest of the world, and the reason the United States is the most prosperous nation in the world, is because we don't act like the rest of the world.
In the yearning for compassion the liberal left treats everybody as if we are a bunch of meat-grinder zombies, taking our humanity out of mankind. We are all different, and it is self-reliance, personal responsibility, and our individualism that makes us pursue the opportunities this free nation offers. That is what made this nation great, not the idea of social equity through government mandate.
It seems like, while listening to the idiot Democrats try to defend their health care socialism in the health care summit, that the Left doesn't even comprehend the simple concept of liberty. How can one have liberty if "choice" is taken away?
If my insurance is not to my standard, I have the option to pursue a better plan.
If the government system is not to my standard, my choice will be gone, and the taxes associated with such a system will continue to be taken from me.
Hardly a concept of liberty.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Marine Next Door
By Douglas V. Gibbs
My neighbor, a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, shipped out to Afghanistan yesterday morning. He will be gone for seven months. We knew the day was coming, and he and I had talked about his coming tour of duty many times, as well as the fact that this is his third time to the Middle East.
The evening before he shipped out he came to me as I was standing on a ladder, fixing the bent pole of my American Flag that had been damaged by the high winds of the weekend. We shook hands, talked about the military for a while, then he says, "I need to ask a favor."
I asked what the favor was, and he told me about how he had a new baby dresser coming, and the delivery was late, so it wouldn't come in until after he is gone. His wife is pregnant, and he hoped I would carry the dresser into the house for her when it came in, and help put it together.
"No problem," I said. "We are family."
Family.
I say "family" because of our military connection. Active duty personnel, veterans like myself, and retired military are brothers in arms. His wife is a member of the family, and he knows my wife and I will help her any way we can while he's gone.
Don't get me wrong, we'd look out for her anyway - but the military connection makes it even more important. Military looks out for military.
My daughter's boyfriend is active duty Air Force, and has been to Iraq once, and Afghanistan twice. It drives my daughter nuts when he and I get to talking. We start talking about the weapons we've fired, the tear gas chambers we've experienced, boot camp memories, battle situations we've experienced, the places we've visited, and so forth. Talking to him is like talking to another member of the fraternity.
Family.
Regardless of which branch of service, military folks tease each other, appreciate each other, and encourage each other. We swap stories, discuss the importance of leadership and character, compare ribbons, and praise the training we experienced.
In the case of my neighbor, since I was Navy, and he is a Marine, we give each other a little ribbing. I remind him that Marine stands for "My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment," and he quips back that in his opinion, all the Squids are good for is a ride. Of course we have major respect for each other's service, but the jokes come anyway.
One thing is for sure, I appreciate what he is doing, and what all of our military members are doing. It is not an easy task to engage the enemy, or leave home for months at a time. Military dependents have a tough job too, and it is a hard life when one's loved one is out there, and you are home worrying. My wife can relate, and when I got out of the military, no one was happier than my wife.
So as he said his final goodbye, and we shook hands, I winked and said, "Thanks for what you do - and don't get dead."
He laughed, "thanks, and you know me, I make sure I stay out of the enemy's cross hairs."
My prayers go out to him, and my thanks goes out to each and every one of the brave souls serving on active duty.
Thank you.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
My neighbor, a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, shipped out to Afghanistan yesterday morning. He will be gone for seven months. We knew the day was coming, and he and I had talked about his coming tour of duty many times, as well as the fact that this is his third time to the Middle East.
The evening before he shipped out he came to me as I was standing on a ladder, fixing the bent pole of my American Flag that had been damaged by the high winds of the weekend. We shook hands, talked about the military for a while, then he says, "I need to ask a favor."
I asked what the favor was, and he told me about how he had a new baby dresser coming, and the delivery was late, so it wouldn't come in until after he is gone. His wife is pregnant, and he hoped I would carry the dresser into the house for her when it came in, and help put it together.
"No problem," I said. "We are family."
Family.
I say "family" because of our military connection. Active duty personnel, veterans like myself, and retired military are brothers in arms. His wife is a member of the family, and he knows my wife and I will help her any way we can while he's gone.
Don't get me wrong, we'd look out for her anyway - but the military connection makes it even more important. Military looks out for military.
My daughter's boyfriend is active duty Air Force, and has been to Iraq once, and Afghanistan twice. It drives my daughter nuts when he and I get to talking. We start talking about the weapons we've fired, the tear gas chambers we've experienced, boot camp memories, battle situations we've experienced, the places we've visited, and so forth. Talking to him is like talking to another member of the fraternity.
Family.
Regardless of which branch of service, military folks tease each other, appreciate each other, and encourage each other. We swap stories, discuss the importance of leadership and character, compare ribbons, and praise the training we experienced.
In the case of my neighbor, since I was Navy, and he is a Marine, we give each other a little ribbing. I remind him that Marine stands for "My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment," and he quips back that in his opinion, all the Squids are good for is a ride. Of course we have major respect for each other's service, but the jokes come anyway.
One thing is for sure, I appreciate what he is doing, and what all of our military members are doing. It is not an easy task to engage the enemy, or leave home for months at a time. Military dependents have a tough job too, and it is a hard life when one's loved one is out there, and you are home worrying. My wife can relate, and when I got out of the military, no one was happier than my wife.
So as he said his final goodbye, and we shook hands, I winked and said, "Thanks for what you do - and don't get dead."
He laughed, "thanks, and you know me, I make sure I stay out of the enemy's cross hairs."
My prayers go out to him, and my thanks goes out to each and every one of the brave souls serving on active duty.
Thank you.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Violence In Greece
Greece is a crystal ball into the future of America should we follow the liberal policies proposed by the leftist Democrats. . .
Like the Democrats, the socialists in Europe condemn capitalism. The system in place in most European countries is exactly what the Democrats wish to force upon the American People. In Greece, they have universal health care (that sucks), 1 in 3 people are employed by the government (about 50% of the workforce, those who don't work rely on unemployment benefits), and the retirement plans are bankrupt.
Greece's economy is collapsing, the European Union refuses to bail them out, and so the government is forced to cut back - resulting in the people, who are angry about losing their entitlements that are destroying the nation, to take to the streets in protest.
They are so brainwashed by socialism that they are rioting over the government's attempt to save the nation.
Watch carefully, because the debt crisis in Greece is America's future should Obama and the Democrats continue in what they are doing.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Thousands strike in Greece over austerity plans - The Independent
Like the Democrats, the socialists in Europe condemn capitalism. The system in place in most European countries is exactly what the Democrats wish to force upon the American People. In Greece, they have universal health care (that sucks), 1 in 3 people are employed by the government (about 50% of the workforce, those who don't work rely on unemployment benefits), and the retirement plans are bankrupt.
Greece's economy is collapsing, the European Union refuses to bail them out, and so the government is forced to cut back - resulting in the people, who are angry about losing their entitlements that are destroying the nation, to take to the streets in protest.
They are so brainwashed by socialism that they are rioting over the government's attempt to save the nation.
Watch carefully, because the debt crisis in Greece is America's future should Obama and the Democrats continue in what they are doing.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Thousands strike in Greece over austerity plans - The Independent
Dirty Political Tactic By Democrats: Reconciliation; and the Double Standard proven by video of 2005 comments regarding nuclear option
The Democrats, in order to get Health Care legislation passed, is threatening to use budget reconciliation, which would require only 51 votes to pass the Senate. Non-budget legislation requires a 60-vote majority. There is no justification for using budget reconciliation for the Health Care legislation, and it is a last ditch desperate attempt to pass something that they couldn't even get passed when they had a super-majority.
Republicans are critical of the reconciliation option, but not nearly as much as the Democrats were when the GOP suggested using a 51 majority vote to appoint judges.
First, let's listen to what the Democrats had to say about Reconciliation in 2005 (which they called the "nuclear option" back then; and note their insistence that such an option is a portrayal of arrogance, and power grabbing - and note how Biden hopes the Democrats would never stoop so low). As you listen, apply what they are saying to the current situation that includes the arrogance of the Democrats, and their willingness to do whatever it takes, including dirty tactics, to get their socialist programs passed:
Now, let's hear what Rick Santorum says is the difference between then and now, and how the Democrat's double standard is deafening:
And this is the same lion's den of liars and theives (Democrats) the Republicans were invited to join in a "summit" today with Barack Obama. . .
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Republicans are critical of the reconciliation option, but not nearly as much as the Democrats were when the GOP suggested using a 51 majority vote to appoint judges.
First, let's listen to what the Democrats had to say about Reconciliation in 2005 (which they called the "nuclear option" back then; and note their insistence that such an option is a portrayal of arrogance, and power grabbing - and note how Biden hopes the Democrats would never stoop so low). As you listen, apply what they are saying to the current situation that includes the arrogance of the Democrats, and their willingness to do whatever it takes, including dirty tactics, to get their socialist programs passed:
Now, let's hear what Rick Santorum says is the difference between then and now, and how the Democrat's double standard is deafening:
And this is the same lion's den of liars and theives (Democrats) the Republicans were invited to join in a "summit" today with Barack Obama. . .
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
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Political Pistachio 3 Year Anniversary Radio Show
Three years of great interviews and stories -
Tonight I will play past clips of a tale I told about Spotted Owls, as well as guest appearances by:
- Loki (his first time to call the show)
- Governor James Gilmore
- Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs
- Dr. Blogstein
- Kathleen Willey
- Joseph Farah of World Net Daily
- Alan Keyes
- S.E. Cupp
- Lt. Col. Allen West
- Alphonso "ZoNation" Rachel
- Nick "Gunny Pop" Popaditch
- Warner Todd Huston
- Grammy Winner Steve Vaus
- Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee
- Herb London
- Chaplain Klingenship
- General Paul Vallely
- Molotov Mitchell
and much, much more.
And note, we are fast approaching the 500th episode, during which I will play more clips of other great guests, like Gun Owners of America's Larry Pratt, Former Palestinian Terrorist turned Christian Walid Shoebat, Ray Comfort, and Dr. Jerome Corsi.
Catch Tonight's Show at 7:30 PM Pacific, or hear the archive later, at BlogTalkRadio.com/PoliticalPistachio.
Douglas V. Gibbs Mentioned In The Californian Newspaper
By Douglas V. Gibbs
This coming Saturday I will be manning the Constitution Table at the Temecula Tea Party, which is commemorating the one year anniversary of the first Tea Party in Temecula, California.
The Californian, Southwest Riverside County's local newspaper, ran a story about the Tea Party, and two short paragraphs was dedicated to yours truly.
If you are in Southern California, or plan to be in the area, drop by on Saturday and say hi.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
TEMECULA: Local tea party activists celebrate one-year anniversary Saturday - The Californian
This coming Saturday I will be manning the Constitution Table at the Temecula Tea Party, which is commemorating the one year anniversary of the first Tea Party in Temecula, California.
The Californian, Southwest Riverside County's local newspaper, ran a story about the Tea Party, and two short paragraphs was dedicated to yours truly.
If you are in Southern California, or plan to be in the area, drop by on Saturday and say hi.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
TEMECULA: Local tea party activists celebrate one-year anniversary Saturday - The Californian
Scott Brown Joins Democrats and RINOs in Vote for Jobs Bill
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Scott Brown broke party lines and voted for the Jobs Bill that includes $15 billion in new spending. The liberal media is abuzz about it, giddy with the fact that the new "savior" of the GOP took off across the aisle the first chance he got.
Shortly after Scott Brown won in Massachusetts, though I was excited that the Republicans broke the Democrat's super majority, I indicated that Brown is hardly a conservative. There will be times that he, and many other Republicans, vote in a way that simply confounds conservatives.
Even Ronald Reagan did things that were not along the path conservative preferred. For example, every time the Democrat Congress presented him with a new spending bill, he signed it, rather than using his veto pen, thus wiping out the increased revenue from his tax cuts with a three-fold increase in spending.
Scott Brown's vote on the Jobs Bill is a clear indication that despite his claims, Brown is not a fiscal conservative. He is just another irresponsible big spender. But, we still need his vote to stop government health care, Cap and Trade, and the other big government socialist proposals that Scott Brown indicated he would vote against.
In all honesty, I do not understand why any Republican would vote for that Jobs Bill. Jobs are not created by the government, they are created by the private sector when the conditions allow for it. The Jobs Bill itself seems idiotic with its $15 billion price tag, anyway. Think about it. How can the Left justify spending billions on the Jobs Bill when the stimulus money they have sitting in their slush fund, which was supposed to save the economy and keep the unemployment rate from going above 8%, hasn't even been spent yet?
As for all of your Conservatives, don't be too down about Brown's vote. You should not put your faith in people like that, they will always let you down. You try to put in the people that best represent your ideas, and beliefs, because it is those ideas that you must have faith in.
In the end, though, put your faith in conservative principles, not people.
Besides, what did you expect from a Republican from Massachusetts?
And think about it. Though Brown's vote is disappointing, he is still better than Coakley.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
CBS Touts Scott Brown 'Sides With Democrats' on Jobs Bill - NewsBusters
Scott Brown broke party lines and voted for the Jobs Bill that includes $15 billion in new spending. The liberal media is abuzz about it, giddy with the fact that the new "savior" of the GOP took off across the aisle the first chance he got.
Shortly after Scott Brown won in Massachusetts, though I was excited that the Republicans broke the Democrat's super majority, I indicated that Brown is hardly a conservative. There will be times that he, and many other Republicans, vote in a way that simply confounds conservatives.
Even Ronald Reagan did things that were not along the path conservative preferred. For example, every time the Democrat Congress presented him with a new spending bill, he signed it, rather than using his veto pen, thus wiping out the increased revenue from his tax cuts with a three-fold increase in spending.
Scott Brown's vote on the Jobs Bill is a clear indication that despite his claims, Brown is not a fiscal conservative. He is just another irresponsible big spender. But, we still need his vote to stop government health care, Cap and Trade, and the other big government socialist proposals that Scott Brown indicated he would vote against.
In all honesty, I do not understand why any Republican would vote for that Jobs Bill. Jobs are not created by the government, they are created by the private sector when the conditions allow for it. The Jobs Bill itself seems idiotic with its $15 billion price tag, anyway. Think about it. How can the Left justify spending billions on the Jobs Bill when the stimulus money they have sitting in their slush fund, which was supposed to save the economy and keep the unemployment rate from going above 8%, hasn't even been spent yet?
As for all of your Conservatives, don't be too down about Brown's vote. You should not put your faith in people like that, they will always let you down. You try to put in the people that best represent your ideas, and beliefs, because it is those ideas that you must have faith in.
In the end, though, put your faith in conservative principles, not people.
Besides, what did you expect from a Republican from Massachusetts?
And think about it. Though Brown's vote is disappointing, he is still better than Coakley.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
CBS Touts Scott Brown 'Sides With Democrats' on Jobs Bill - NewsBusters
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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Schiavo May Not Have Been Vegetative After All
By Douglas V. Gibbs
The Terri Schiavo case somehow wound up pitting Conservatives against Liberals in a case that basically came down to when, and if, family should be able to pull the plug on a person in a vegetative state, and if a husband's plea outweighed those of the parents and siblings.
Terri Schiavo, under the request of the husband, and by order of the courts, was essentially starved to death. The understanding was that she was in a vegetative state, and was unable to recover.
What amazed me during the entire ordeal, as I followed it on television, was how a group of people (primarily those that consider themselves a part of the liberal left) could continuously proclaim that they were against war, and the death penalty, because life is precious, but then cheer when the life of a young woman was snuffed out because a court, based on erroneous testimony by the medical industry, ruled that she should be starved to death.
Memories of my own struggle to survive in 1985 came to mind. I was found after an automobile accident with zero percent oxygen in my blood, and a left-temporal fracture. Blood and spinal fluid flowed from my fractured skull for three days, draining into a bed pan as I lay lifeless in an intensive care unit. Upon arrival to the hospital, I was unable to breath on my own, and I needed a respirator just to survive. I responded to no commands or stimuli. I was in a deep coma for a week and a half, and in a "the lights are on but nobody is home" state for over two months. The mortality rate for temporal fractures is high, and the risk of severe mental retardation of survivors is even higher. Brain damage was a certainty, according to the doctors, considering the twenty minutes my brain existed without oxygen before I was life-flighted to Palomar Memorial Hospital in Escondido, California. Then, when I finally awakened, I was suffering from a severe traumatic seizure disorder, was unable to walk (much less sit up or stand), was unable to speak in sentences, and did not even remember that I was married, much less had a child. Partial facial paralyses completed an image that convinced my family that my future was going to be indeed dim.
Except my wife. She told everybody I would be okay.
After two years of intense rehabilitation, and a vast array of medications and personal struggles, I now not only function as a normal adult, but went back to college and carried a near 4.0 GPA. I have, since the accident, held jobs as a banker, life insurance salesman, financial advisor, secretary for a collection agency, switchboard operator, Building and Safety/Business License representative for a city, Construction worker, heavy equipment operator, and truck driver (only leaving each position to pursue better income potential). My last seizure was in 1993, and aside from the inability to run, partial deafness in my left ear caused by the accident, tinnitus in that same ear, some short term memory difficulties, and the fact that I am a little older, I am pretty much very similar to how I was before the accident.
I am sure glad that while I was non-responsive, and my chest was rising and falling mechanically due to my dependency upon medical equipment to survive, someone didn't get the bright idea to pull the plug.
As was my wife with me, Terri Schiavo's family was convinced that Terri was not completely vegetative, and that there was hope for her to come out of the state she was in.
The family was convinced that the diagnosis was flawed by the fact that she interacted with her mother, and that she was able to track objects and follow simple commands (something that I, by the way, was unable to do in the first weeks after my accident).
As with me, Terri's attending medical personnel came to different and opposing conclusions about her status.
And now, a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, regarding findings of awareness in patients previously diagnosed in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) reveals that some patients who have been believed to be in a PVS were actually able to understand and communicate in limited ways.
The results of this study tells me that the husband of Terri Schiavo, the courts, and all of the liberals that supported her being killed, jumped the gun. The PVS diagnosis was flawed, and nobody was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, nor the opportunity to live.
Even with studies like the one referenced above, and other facts that are surfacing, I am sure the leftists, and the media, that cheered the death of the young women will never admit their error. Terri, I believe, was misdiagnosed, and deserved to live.
I don't understand why they didn't at least, as many pleaded to the judge during the case for Schiavo's life, use new brain scanning technology just to be sure.
Such requests were inexplicably refused.
Advocates for death, be it through euthanasia, or abortion, claim they are fighting for choice, but I have yet to understand why the choice to live is not an acceptable one to these people.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
New Findings Cast Increasing Doubt on Schiavo’s Death - CNS News
The Terri Schiavo case somehow wound up pitting Conservatives against Liberals in a case that basically came down to when, and if, family should be able to pull the plug on a person in a vegetative state, and if a husband's plea outweighed those of the parents and siblings.
Terri Schiavo, under the request of the husband, and by order of the courts, was essentially starved to death. The understanding was that she was in a vegetative state, and was unable to recover.
What amazed me during the entire ordeal, as I followed it on television, was how a group of people (primarily those that consider themselves a part of the liberal left) could continuously proclaim that they were against war, and the death penalty, because life is precious, but then cheer when the life of a young woman was snuffed out because a court, based on erroneous testimony by the medical industry, ruled that she should be starved to death.
Memories of my own struggle to survive in 1985 came to mind. I was found after an automobile accident with zero percent oxygen in my blood, and a left-temporal fracture. Blood and spinal fluid flowed from my fractured skull for three days, draining into a bed pan as I lay lifeless in an intensive care unit. Upon arrival to the hospital, I was unable to breath on my own, and I needed a respirator just to survive. I responded to no commands or stimuli. I was in a deep coma for a week and a half, and in a "the lights are on but nobody is home" state for over two months. The mortality rate for temporal fractures is high, and the risk of severe mental retardation of survivors is even higher. Brain damage was a certainty, according to the doctors, considering the twenty minutes my brain existed without oxygen before I was life-flighted to Palomar Memorial Hospital in Escondido, California. Then, when I finally awakened, I was suffering from a severe traumatic seizure disorder, was unable to walk (much less sit up or stand), was unable to speak in sentences, and did not even remember that I was married, much less had a child. Partial facial paralyses completed an image that convinced my family that my future was going to be indeed dim.
Except my wife. She told everybody I would be okay.
After two years of intense rehabilitation, and a vast array of medications and personal struggles, I now not only function as a normal adult, but went back to college and carried a near 4.0 GPA. I have, since the accident, held jobs as a banker, life insurance salesman, financial advisor, secretary for a collection agency, switchboard operator, Building and Safety/Business License representative for a city, Construction worker, heavy equipment operator, and truck driver (only leaving each position to pursue better income potential). My last seizure was in 1993, and aside from the inability to run, partial deafness in my left ear caused by the accident, tinnitus in that same ear, some short term memory difficulties, and the fact that I am a little older, I am pretty much very similar to how I was before the accident.
I am sure glad that while I was non-responsive, and my chest was rising and falling mechanically due to my dependency upon medical equipment to survive, someone didn't get the bright idea to pull the plug.
As was my wife with me, Terri Schiavo's family was convinced that Terri was not completely vegetative, and that there was hope for her to come out of the state she was in.
The family was convinced that the diagnosis was flawed by the fact that she interacted with her mother, and that she was able to track objects and follow simple commands (something that I, by the way, was unable to do in the first weeks after my accident).
As with me, Terri's attending medical personnel came to different and opposing conclusions about her status.
And now, a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, regarding findings of awareness in patients previously diagnosed in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) reveals that some patients who have been believed to be in a PVS were actually able to understand and communicate in limited ways.
The results of this study tells me that the husband of Terri Schiavo, the courts, and all of the liberals that supported her being killed, jumped the gun. The PVS diagnosis was flawed, and nobody was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, nor the opportunity to live.
Even with studies like the one referenced above, and other facts that are surfacing, I am sure the leftists, and the media, that cheered the death of the young women will never admit their error. Terri, I believe, was misdiagnosed, and deserved to live.
I don't understand why they didn't at least, as many pleaded to the judge during the case for Schiavo's life, use new brain scanning technology just to be sure.
Such requests were inexplicably refused.
Advocates for death, be it through euthanasia, or abortion, claim they are fighting for choice, but I have yet to understand why the choice to live is not an acceptable one to these people.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
New Findings Cast Increasing Doubt on Schiavo’s Death - CNS News
Bad Jews, a Weak America and the Fight for Freedom
The assassination of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh a key leader in the Hamas an Islamic terror organization whose goal is to murder Jews, Americans and destroy both Israel and America as well as to dominate Europe and the whole world with Islam; we find the good guys are condemned by the other so called good guys and the bad guys get a pass from the same so called good guys.
The duplication and fraudulent use of passports is standard procedure by any spy agency looking to do subversive work in defense of their country. I can imagine how upsetting it must be for anti Israel Ireland who has always had the most aggressive negative diplomatic policy towards Israel both in the EU and the UN. As for Britain and France they might scream and shout but their days of power and leverage in the international community are well past. Ever since Margaret Thatcher left office Britain has never shown any real backbone in strong positions regarding liberty and freedom. France is a laughing stock to us in America when it comes to any backbone. Multicultural wishy-washy socialist elitism always blinds peoples reasoning, especially when it comes to that issue of liberty and freedom.
When Israel destroyed the Iraqi nuclear reactor the world condemned them but in hindsight they should have been thanked but never were. The Western governments appease and cower from the threat of Iran, because of the fear of hurting their wallets. To strong arm Iran might cause a major economic downturn if the oil supply was affected; so let us be frank, we value our wealth before we value our freedom.
Samuel Adams one of the leading statesmen and founding fathers specifically warned "If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."
The majority of the people of the United States voted for President Obama who wished to engage a nation that denies the holocaust, threatens the world with terrorism, and seeks nuclear bombs. This was President Obama's clear policy before he was elected. This is a reflection of a country that has lost its way. Pray we redeem are freedom loving thinking once more.
If we as a nation value popularity over freedom, appeasement over strength and folly over courage, we not only will have war we will have poverty too, both poverty of the soul and economic poverty, as not dealing effectively with Iran will get us war if not now later with a much more terrible result. The words of Churchill ring true once more "We had to choose between war and dishonor, we have chosen dishonor and we will get war."
Israel has always had to deal with Islamic terror, the wars of 1948 and 1967 to destroy Israel were wars to destroy the Jews, and just the same as it was to destroy the Jews by Hitler. The newsreels of the day put out by the Arab countries stated "Slaughter the Jews" the evidence is clear. The West's corrupt behavior regarding their policies on oil and appeasement of despotic regimes because of the black gold has fueled the flames of this conflict when it really is just very simple, defeat evil, develop your own alternative resources of fossil fuels (The US has more energy supplies and is self sufficient if it had the desire to exploit its resources) as well as developing non fossil fuel energies but corruption and evil have overcome virtue and liberty not just for America but for the whole world.
Israel is the scale on G-d's moral compass on how he judges the world. While Israel itself is not perfect and as all human societies has its failings, but it is the country and its people who G-d uses to identify who are with him and who are not, it is that simple.
If you value freedom, liberty and the natural laws of G-d you must fight for those virtues each and every day. Fight for the truth to be heard in public, in our schools and Universities and even today many of our churches and synagogues fail to speak the truth because they also put money, wealth and their fear before freedom. It is up to each one of us who believes in G-d, liberty and freedom to do our part to stand with G-d and Israel so we can take back our Freedom. The devil is hard at work, the righteous need to get up off their butts.
Keith Davies
Executive Director Walid Shoebat Foundation
The duplication and fraudulent use of passports is standard procedure by any spy agency looking to do subversive work in defense of their country. I can imagine how upsetting it must be for anti Israel Ireland who has always had the most aggressive negative diplomatic policy towards Israel both in the EU and the UN. As for Britain and France they might scream and shout but their days of power and leverage in the international community are well past. Ever since Margaret Thatcher left office Britain has never shown any real backbone in strong positions regarding liberty and freedom. France is a laughing stock to us in America when it comes to any backbone. Multicultural wishy-washy socialist elitism always blinds peoples reasoning, especially when it comes to that issue of liberty and freedom.
When Israel destroyed the Iraqi nuclear reactor the world condemned them but in hindsight they should have been thanked but never were. The Western governments appease and cower from the threat of Iran, because of the fear of hurting their wallets. To strong arm Iran might cause a major economic downturn if the oil supply was affected; so let us be frank, we value our wealth before we value our freedom.
Samuel Adams one of the leading statesmen and founding fathers specifically warned "If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."
The majority of the people of the United States voted for President Obama who wished to engage a nation that denies the holocaust, threatens the world with terrorism, and seeks nuclear bombs. This was President Obama's clear policy before he was elected. This is a reflection of a country that has lost its way. Pray we redeem are freedom loving thinking once more.
If we as a nation value popularity over freedom, appeasement over strength and folly over courage, we not only will have war we will have poverty too, both poverty of the soul and economic poverty, as not dealing effectively with Iran will get us war if not now later with a much more terrible result. The words of Churchill ring true once more "We had to choose between war and dishonor, we have chosen dishonor and we will get war."
Israel has always had to deal with Islamic terror, the wars of 1948 and 1967 to destroy Israel were wars to destroy the Jews, and just the same as it was to destroy the Jews by Hitler. The newsreels of the day put out by the Arab countries stated "Slaughter the Jews" the evidence is clear. The West's corrupt behavior regarding their policies on oil and appeasement of despotic regimes because of the black gold has fueled the flames of this conflict when it really is just very simple, defeat evil, develop your own alternative resources of fossil fuels (The US has more energy supplies and is self sufficient if it had the desire to exploit its resources) as well as developing non fossil fuel energies but corruption and evil have overcome virtue and liberty not just for America but for the whole world.
Israel is the scale on G-d's moral compass on how he judges the world. While Israel itself is not perfect and as all human societies has its failings, but it is the country and its people who G-d uses to identify who are with him and who are not, it is that simple.
If you value freedom, liberty and the natural laws of G-d you must fight for those virtues each and every day. Fight for the truth to be heard in public, in our schools and Universities and even today many of our churches and synagogues fail to speak the truth because they also put money, wealth and their fear before freedom. It is up to each one of us who believes in G-d, liberty and freedom to do our part to stand with G-d and Israel so we can take back our Freedom. The devil is hard at work, the righteous need to get up off their butts.
Keith Davies
Executive Director Walid Shoebat Foundation
Funny E-Bay Joke. . . starring Barack Obama
Help!!!!!! on eBay
Does anyone know how to cancel a bid on eBay?
I put in a bid for a “Mickey Mouse Outfit” and now it seems I'm only six minutes away from owning Obama and his cabinet.....
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Taking Aim At Toyota
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Perhaps it is just a coincidence. It seems strange to me, however, that car manufacturers have numerous recalls per year for their automobiles and nobody really makes a big stink out of it. The letters go out to the car owners, and nobody really talks about it on the news. Suddenly, a House Panel criticizes Toyota's response to the accelerator problem, and a federal grand jury is looking into the Toyota recall. Toyota's problems are all over the news, and Toyota is being accused of hiding things. Speculation is running around suggesting that Toyota's sales could suffer as a result.
Isn't it interesting that all of this is happening to the number one car maker after the government took control of two of the three American car companies, and after the one company that was not bailed out, Ford, out-performed the partially government owned companies (GM and Chrysler).
Think about it. This is how the liberal left works. They claim one thing, it doesn't work out, so they do whatever they can to demonize and destroy the opposition as a result - and any underhanded method or tactic is not off limit to these people.
Now, soon after bail outs to GM and Chrysler, and the companies not doing as well as originally hoped with the government's hand on the throttle, suddenly, Toyota is plastered all over the news with all these problems, and suddenly their recalls are an interest to the judiciary, and Congressional Democrats.
Coincidence?
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
House Panel Says Toyota Misled Public on Safety - New York Times
Federal grand jury looks into Toyota recall - The Times Herald
Perhaps it is just a coincidence. It seems strange to me, however, that car manufacturers have numerous recalls per year for their automobiles and nobody really makes a big stink out of it. The letters go out to the car owners, and nobody really talks about it on the news. Suddenly, a House Panel criticizes Toyota's response to the accelerator problem, and a federal grand jury is looking into the Toyota recall. Toyota's problems are all over the news, and Toyota is being accused of hiding things. Speculation is running around suggesting that Toyota's sales could suffer as a result.
Isn't it interesting that all of this is happening to the number one car maker after the government took control of two of the three American car companies, and after the one company that was not bailed out, Ford, out-performed the partially government owned companies (GM and Chrysler).
Think about it. This is how the liberal left works. They claim one thing, it doesn't work out, so they do whatever they can to demonize and destroy the opposition as a result - and any underhanded method or tactic is not off limit to these people.
Now, soon after bail outs to GM and Chrysler, and the companies not doing as well as originally hoped with the government's hand on the throttle, suddenly, Toyota is plastered all over the news with all these problems, and suddenly their recalls are an interest to the judiciary, and Congressional Democrats.
Coincidence?
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
House Panel Says Toyota Misled Public on Safety - New York Times
Federal grand jury looks into Toyota recall - The Times Herald
No Conservative Litmus Test
By Douglas V. Gibbs
As the Republican Party slowly moves back toward its base, and big-government neo-cons are running for the hills, a conservative litmus test was suggested as something the GOP should consider as the November elections approach. The conservative litmus test for candidates to receive money and support for their mid-term election campaigns, would not have reinvigorated “conservative” principles into the GOP as hoped.
Conservatism, and Constitutionalism, is not something you force upon a party, or the politicians. Either they support the founding principles of the nation, or they don't - and if they don't, we can't force a square block into a round hole.
The ultimate test is the ballot box. If the politician does not fit the voter's personal litmus test, then the voter should simply vote against them.
This is why it is important for conservatives to not only be involved in supporting constitutional candidates long before the primaries, but for conservatives to also be active voters.
This is not to say that a voter should reject all candidates that deviate the slightest bit, either. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world, and there is not a perfect politician. And I understand that the Republican leadership, or the establishment Republicans, are so entrenched it almost feels like we have lost the party to big government progressives.
Fact is, however, the party is salvageable, and we must continue to work to bring the party back to its roots.
Don't forget, however, that this is not just an effort at the federal level. Locally, you should be ensuring that your representatives are conservative, and believe in the founding principles of this nation. Taking back the local offices will eventually expand to the federal level as well.
Remember, conservatives outnumber liberals in this nation. This is a center-right nation, and if we are all active, and all involved, the party will be turned back around - from the inside - and from the heart and soul of the GOP.
A litmus test is sort of like a magic love potion that forces infatuation upon the recipient. I don't want candidates in office I had to convince to be conservative. I want representatives that are naturally that way.
But, honestly, right now I am willing to settle for a few less-than-perfect Republicans, if they are willing to vote with the rest of the GOP to help stop the liberal madness that has engulfed Capitol Hill, I am all for them (Scott Brown of Massachusetts comes to mind).
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
A Closer Look at the GOP Litmus Test - The New American
Conservatives Unveil 'Mount Vernon' List of Principles - NewsMax
As the Republican Party slowly moves back toward its base, and big-government neo-cons are running for the hills, a conservative litmus test was suggested as something the GOP should consider as the November elections approach. The conservative litmus test for candidates to receive money and support for their mid-term election campaigns, would not have reinvigorated “conservative” principles into the GOP as hoped.
Conservatism, and Constitutionalism, is not something you force upon a party, or the politicians. Either they support the founding principles of the nation, or they don't - and if they don't, we can't force a square block into a round hole.
The ultimate test is the ballot box. If the politician does not fit the voter's personal litmus test, then the voter should simply vote against them.
This is why it is important for conservatives to not only be involved in supporting constitutional candidates long before the primaries, but for conservatives to also be active voters.
This is not to say that a voter should reject all candidates that deviate the slightest bit, either. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world, and there is not a perfect politician. And I understand that the Republican leadership, or the establishment Republicans, are so entrenched it almost feels like we have lost the party to big government progressives.
Fact is, however, the party is salvageable, and we must continue to work to bring the party back to its roots.
Don't forget, however, that this is not just an effort at the federal level. Locally, you should be ensuring that your representatives are conservative, and believe in the founding principles of this nation. Taking back the local offices will eventually expand to the federal level as well.
Remember, conservatives outnumber liberals in this nation. This is a center-right nation, and if we are all active, and all involved, the party will be turned back around - from the inside - and from the heart and soul of the GOP.
A litmus test is sort of like a magic love potion that forces infatuation upon the recipient. I don't want candidates in office I had to convince to be conservative. I want representatives that are naturally that way.
But, honestly, right now I am willing to settle for a few less-than-perfect Republicans, if they are willing to vote with the rest of the GOP to help stop the liberal madness that has engulfed Capitol Hill, I am all for them (Scott Brown of Massachusetts comes to mind).
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
A Closer Look at the GOP Litmus Test - The New American
Conservatives Unveil 'Mount Vernon' List of Principles - NewsMax
Monday, February 22, 2010
Former Vice President Dick Cheney in Hospital With Chest Pains
By Douglas V. Gibbs
69-year-old former vice president Dick Cheney was hospitalized after experiencing chest pains.
Cheney has a history of heart problems, and a pacemaker.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Former VP Cheney hospitalized, resting comfortably - Yahoo News, Associated Press
69-year-old former vice president Dick Cheney was hospitalized after experiencing chest pains.
Cheney has a history of heart problems, and a pacemaker.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Former VP Cheney hospitalized, resting comfortably - Yahoo News, Associated Press
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Insurance Rate Limits by Obama Is Unconstitutional, and is a Fascist Move
By Douglas V. Gibbs
President Obama is planning to propose today giving the federal government new power to block excessive rate increases by health insurance companies, as he works to roll out what he, and the Democrat's consider to be, comprehensive legislation to revamp the nation's health care system.
When considering the text of the U.S. Constitution one must recognize the limiting principles of the law of the land, and that nowhere in the text of the U.S. Constitution is the authority given to the federal government for taking control over any industry by any means, including price controls, as is being suggested by this administration over the health insurance industry.
While I recognize the problems of the insurance industry, and I am not too thrilled about their rate increases at a time when insurance is difficult to afford by most families, mandating limits on the prices or rates by the federal government is not only unconstitutional, but also a fascist move by the federal government.
To understand fascism, one must understand the definition of the political ideology.
Fascism is a brand of socialism that deceptively calls itself the opposite of communism. The claim of being the flip side of communism is what has some leftists claiming that fascism is a right wing ideology. However, no matter how you slice it, fascism is an increase of government control over the economic system, and the private sector, and is therefore socialist in nature, making it a left of center ideology.
Fascism uses a totalitarian approach to economic and political systems by bundling the systems together under the control of the government. While industries are deceptively convinced they are continuing to be allowed to remain essentially a part of the private sector, the control of the industries by the government is still socialistic in nature through the use of an all-absorbing authoritarianism.
Fascism teaches that all actions should be done for the greater good, which is ultimately considered by the ruling party as being for the good of the state. The rights of the individual is rejected, and the freedoms that are associated with a free market are crushed. The policies of the government is of business and government working together under a system of "corporatism," which is anything but a free market based on the principles of liberty, and individualism.
Since in a fascist system the state is more important than the individual, the state uses their authoritarian powers to centralize economic planning, and dictate to the private industry how to run their businesses through wage controls, price controls, and other control mechanisms.
Fascist regimes use a "scapegoat" to push their agendas, such as "fat cat bankers", "obscene profits," or members of the opposition ideology such as is the case with today's liberalism who does all it can to demonize, and discredit, any member of the conservative belief system, while failing to actually enter in the arena of debate over ideas, and historical examples of failed systems which used liberal philosophies.
Fascism eventually leads to rampant cronyism and corruption, as the government suppresses all speculation by banks and stock exchanges, and takes control of the private sector, while suppressing individualism, by confiscating what the government considers unproductive income, and by taxing heavily private wealth.
The New Deal by Franklin Delano Roosevelt had strong elements of fascism intertwined in the socialist experiment of the 1930s. The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) of 1933 was very similar to actions being carried out by the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in Italy and by the Nazis in Adolf Hitler's Germany, in fact. Obama's attempt to control the salaries and prices of a number of industries, including the health care insurance industry, is an attempt to bring to America the substance of Mussolini’s corporativism, of which the Democrats believe Roosevelt failed to complete. This makes Obama's attempt to place price controls on the insurance industry a sign of fascism being introduced to America's private industrial system.
Mussolini attempted to organize trades, industrial groups, and professional groups into a state supervised trade association that operated under state supervision so that the government could plan production, quality, prices, distribution, labor standards, etc. As Roosevelt's New Deal tried to force the American industry, manufacturing, and retail business into cartels possessing the power to set prices and wages, and to dictate the levels of production, so is Obama's attempt to take control of the auto industry, banking system, energy usage, and health insurance companies.
For those that still wish to wrongly claim that fascism is a right of center ideology, remember that conservatism calls for limited government, individualism, democratic debate, and capitalism. Its appeal is liberty and leaving citizens alone. Hardly traits synonymous with fascism.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Obama to call for limits on health insurance rates - USA Today
Fascism's Legacy: Liberalism - Daniel Pipes
Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning by Jonah Goldberg
President Obama is planning to propose today giving the federal government new power to block excessive rate increases by health insurance companies, as he works to roll out what he, and the Democrat's consider to be, comprehensive legislation to revamp the nation's health care system.
When considering the text of the U.S. Constitution one must recognize the limiting principles of the law of the land, and that nowhere in the text of the U.S. Constitution is the authority given to the federal government for taking control over any industry by any means, including price controls, as is being suggested by this administration over the health insurance industry.
While I recognize the problems of the insurance industry, and I am not too thrilled about their rate increases at a time when insurance is difficult to afford by most families, mandating limits on the prices or rates by the federal government is not only unconstitutional, but also a fascist move by the federal government.
To understand fascism, one must understand the definition of the political ideology.
Fascism is a brand of socialism that deceptively calls itself the opposite of communism. The claim of being the flip side of communism is what has some leftists claiming that fascism is a right wing ideology. However, no matter how you slice it, fascism is an increase of government control over the economic system, and the private sector, and is therefore socialist in nature, making it a left of center ideology.
Fascism uses a totalitarian approach to economic and political systems by bundling the systems together under the control of the government. While industries are deceptively convinced they are continuing to be allowed to remain essentially a part of the private sector, the control of the industries by the government is still socialistic in nature through the use of an all-absorbing authoritarianism.
Fascism teaches that all actions should be done for the greater good, which is ultimately considered by the ruling party as being for the good of the state. The rights of the individual is rejected, and the freedoms that are associated with a free market are crushed. The policies of the government is of business and government working together under a system of "corporatism," which is anything but a free market based on the principles of liberty, and individualism.
Since in a fascist system the state is more important than the individual, the state uses their authoritarian powers to centralize economic planning, and dictate to the private industry how to run their businesses through wage controls, price controls, and other control mechanisms.
Fascist regimes use a "scapegoat" to push their agendas, such as "fat cat bankers", "obscene profits," or members of the opposition ideology such as is the case with today's liberalism who does all it can to demonize, and discredit, any member of the conservative belief system, while failing to actually enter in the arena of debate over ideas, and historical examples of failed systems which used liberal philosophies.
Fascism eventually leads to rampant cronyism and corruption, as the government suppresses all speculation by banks and stock exchanges, and takes control of the private sector, while suppressing individualism, by confiscating what the government considers unproductive income, and by taxing heavily private wealth.
The New Deal by Franklin Delano Roosevelt had strong elements of fascism intertwined in the socialist experiment of the 1930s. The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) of 1933 was very similar to actions being carried out by the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in Italy and by the Nazis in Adolf Hitler's Germany, in fact. Obama's attempt to control the salaries and prices of a number of industries, including the health care insurance industry, is an attempt to bring to America the substance of Mussolini’s corporativism, of which the Democrats believe Roosevelt failed to complete. This makes Obama's attempt to place price controls on the insurance industry a sign of fascism being introduced to America's private industrial system.
Mussolini attempted to organize trades, industrial groups, and professional groups into a state supervised trade association that operated under state supervision so that the government could plan production, quality, prices, distribution, labor standards, etc. As Roosevelt's New Deal tried to force the American industry, manufacturing, and retail business into cartels possessing the power to set prices and wages, and to dictate the levels of production, so is Obama's attempt to take control of the auto industry, banking system, energy usage, and health insurance companies.
For those that still wish to wrongly claim that fascism is a right of center ideology, remember that conservatism calls for limited government, individualism, democratic debate, and capitalism. Its appeal is liberty and leaving citizens alone. Hardly traits synonymous with fascism.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Obama to call for limits on health insurance rates - USA Today
Fascism's Legacy: Liberalism - Daniel Pipes
Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning by Jonah Goldberg
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Men's Olympic Hockey: Team USA Beats Canada in Showdown
By Douglas V. Gibbs
The United States men's hockey team, an outside contender for a medal at the Vancouver Games, shocked Canada, 5-3, and will force the home country's team to play an extra game to qualify for the elimination rounds of the Olympic tournament.
It was a crushing blow to Canada, which has been struggling in the medal count and was hoping its skilled National Hockey League stars to boost morale.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
U.S. Hockey stuns Canada - Fox Sports
The United States men's hockey team, an outside contender for a medal at the Vancouver Games, shocked Canada, 5-3, and will force the home country's team to play an extra game to qualify for the elimination rounds of the Olympic tournament.
It was a crushing blow to Canada, which has been struggling in the medal count and was hoping its skilled National Hockey League stars to boost morale.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
U.S. Hockey stuns Canada - Fox Sports
Dale Halling: Clear Diagnosis Of Jobs For USA
After the people of Massachusetts spoke all too loud and clear electing Republican Scott Brown to the Senate, the Democrats' tenuous control of Congress has them practicing the legislative equivalent of a Chinese fire drill.
The latest hot-button issue on the table, or red flag up the polls, is unemployment, triggering the Washington knee-jerk reaction to begin kicking around a "jobs bill." But, while the Democrats, in apparent desperation, are holding press conferences on this bill before an actual article of legislation actually exists, entrepreneur, patent attorney, business-policy expert and author Dale Halling says these politicians need to reevaluate.
Whether the Obama administration is being well received by Republicans for his mention of a hiring tax credit for small businesses, or being scolded by these same Republicans for suggesting that the U.S. take repaid TARP money away from paying down the national debt and divert it into banks for business loans, Halling says it's all without economic teeth.
Drawing from the knowledge base he used to write his new book, "The Decline and Fall of the American Entrepreneur," Halling will explore with Political Pistachio Radio listeners tonight the real cause and effect behind the struggling national business base, and the keys to rejuvenating it.
Join us live at 7:00 PM Pacific, or catch the archive later, on BlogTalkRadio.com/PoliticalPistachio.
Cortez' First Birthday
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Today is the first birthday of my youngest grandson, Cortez. He is my daughter's son. My other grandson is Ezekiel, my son's son, and he is two years of age.
About half of the family is due to come over to celebrate Cortez' birthday. We have a pinata, chicken, jambalaya, carne asada, rice, cheese potatoes, fruit salad, bacon-green beans, and more.
Cortez is not sure what to think about all this, and the twenty five people (or so)that are showing up has him all smiles, yet clinging to Grandma and Grandpa.
Having fun, but tonight's show will still be on the air. Check back later tonight for the show description and the link.
-- Political Pistachio Birthday News and Commentary
Today is the first birthday of my youngest grandson, Cortez. He is my daughter's son. My other grandson is Ezekiel, my son's son, and he is two years of age.
About half of the family is due to come over to celebrate Cortez' birthday. We have a pinata, chicken, jambalaya, carne asada, rice, cheese potatoes, fruit salad, bacon-green beans, and more.
Cortez is not sure what to think about all this, and the twenty five people (or so)that are showing up has him all smiles, yet clinging to Grandma and Grandpa.
Having fun, but tonight's show will still be on the air. Check back later tonight for the show description and the link.
-- Political Pistachio Birthday News and Commentary
A Few Words About Big Government
We have to remember where our salvation lies, and it is not in government.
There are no good collective answers to individual problems.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
There are no good collective answers to individual problems.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Saturday, February 20, 2010
U.S. Natural Resources Collateral For Foreign Debt?
The U.S. deficit spending is out of control. Greece faces collapse due to the same practice of a tax and spend economy while employing a third of the country in public sector jobs. The Stock Market dipped below 10000 recently, and currently struggles to remain above that mark. The number of foreclosures continue to rise. The government refuses to drill domestically.
Is all of this connected? How does China, and their own future economic troubles, tie into all of this?
Join the Political Pistachio Radio Revolution as we welcome guest Bob Rinear of Invest Yourself dot com to discuss worldwide economics, and his theory that one of the reasons government officials are against drilling for oil domestically might be because our oil reserves are being used as collateral for our debt. Join us live at 7:00 PM Pacific, or catch the archive later, at BlogTalkRadio.com/PoliticalPistachio.
Five Unthinkable Options (Part 2 of 5)
Five Unthinkable Options (Part 2 of 5)
By: J.J. Jackson
The first unthinkable option, as I mentioned at the end of last week’s article, is to sit back, do nothing different, keep on letting the federal government spend more than it brings in, enjoy the ride and hope like hell that you are one of the lucky ones to die the day before everything goes kablooie leaving a huge mess for our posterity. While I think that there are certainly some people that would accept this option in order to maintain their current status within the convoluted system of federal benefits and kickbacks to buy their votes, I think that most Americans find it wholly untenable. But hey, I do not want it to be said that I did not put that option out there for your consideration. So there it is. But each of the remaining four of the five unthinkable options requires us to actually do something other than stay the course. I am not saying each are good options however, just that they are options.
In order to move on to the other options however we have to put forth some numbers and look at federal expenditures and revenues. Before I started writing this series I struggled with exactly which numbers to use. Not because I wanted to make the numbers fall in my favor because, quite frankly, I need no trickery to do that. No, I struggled with this because I wanted to eliminate as many complaints as I could from people looking for any excuse at all to find fault with the five unthinkable options because of the numbers and use those excuses as their cornerstone of support for acceptance of what has already been laid out as option number one.
I could, of course, base the expenditure numbers on President Obama’s recently proposed 2010 budget, which once again spends astronomically more than will be brought in, and use the recent history of revenues collected to present these scenarios. But since we really do not know what the final budget will be once Congress gets through with it as well as what else Congress will add throughout the year, the expenditure projections could be wildly off. And I don’t want to be accused of putting forth a worst case scenario just to gin up as much fear as I can. Again, however it is not that I need to cook the books to do this.
I could also use the 2009 budget as a basis and include all the extra expenditures the President and Congress have tacked on. But I am worried that all the revenues are not being shown in the data I have from the federal government. I do not think that these numbers are good to use because with April 15th still looming there will be refunds and payments galore pending and I am not certain that these numbers are final by any stretch of the imagination.
So I have decided to use numbers from 2008. We are nearly two years removed from 2008 and that means that the expenditures and revenues are pretty well recorded. There is no reason to go further back because I believe that we have to go with the most recent set of good data available that reflects what our current government is doing and spending money on.
So what are the numbers? Well, let’s take a look. In 2008 the federal government in total collected total receipts of $2.569 trillion. Total expenditures for that year were $3.094 trillion[1]. For those of you keeping score at home that is a deficit of $525 billion. Again, these are the government’s numbers, not mine. Just to show that this level of receipts is normal and not an aberration either high or low, in 2007 total federal revenue was $2.568 trillion and in 2006 it was $2.407 trillion[2].
So, let us assume for a second that government will not spend more than this in 2010. We already know that President Obama’s proposed budget is much greater, but let’s just go with a budget just over three trillion to avoid any sort of speculation about what the final, and obscene numbers, will be.
Unthinkable option number two is often one that we hear from people that think money just grows on trees. That option is to raise taxes. So, in order to close this budget gap and raise the $525 billion needed what would we have to do to tax rates? Well, obviously if you believe that raising taxes will close this gap by raising revenues you have to raise tax rates. Personally I don’t buy into this strategy because taxing people more and more strips them of incentive to create and succeed and only when people create and succeed do they produce more wealth and hence more taxes in the process. But I know that there are a lot of people out there that think the opposite. So let’s explore.
In 2005 the median income for workers aged 15 and older was $28,567[3]. There were 155 million people in this category and that gives us total income earned in the United States as $4.428 trillion dollars. Let’s make a reasonable assumption that this increased through the years to 2008. I’ll be generous and say there was a 3% standard wage increase per year in 2006, 2007 and 2008. That gives us a total estimated income of $4.838 trillion in 2008. This is based on 155 million income earners still remain in the labor force.
If we target income taxes, which were $1.124 trillion in 2008 (23% of our extrapolated 2008 total income), we need to get to about $1.649 trillion in personal taxes. That is a 46.7% across the board increase in your taxes and a requirement for the government to take 34% of all wages earned. Are you willing to pay 47% more in income/personal taxes and have over a third of your income taken just to break even?
And this is just based on 2008 expenditure numbers and what is needed to not increase the deficit by a single penny. What if we have a really bad year while government expenditures remain the same? What if total revenues drop from $2.569 trillion to around $2.1 trillion? I think it would be reasonable to suggest that as responsible people we plan for the worst don’t you? That means an even higher tax rate on personal taxes. Again, just to break even and we have not even broached the topic of actually paying down the debt. If revenues decline during a recession to $2.1 trillion that would mean a short fall of another $469 billion to make up in the lean years. That also means higher rates of taxation than already discussed.
Ok, so a nearly 50% tax increase being unpalatable without even considering what it would have to be in a bad year where revenues dropped, the often heard refrain will no doubt once again echo from sea to shining sea. “Tax the rich!” will be heard in earnest from those that think it is a good idea to raise taxes to cover the deficit but who don’t want their own taxes raised. That’s ok, "the rich" already past most of the direct personal income taxes in this country anyway with the top 50% of all income earners paying well over 90% of the tab so they are already going to be footing the bill. So you’re assumption that you can pass this bill off to someone else is already accounted for.
Now, just like you, “the rich,” are not going to like having their pay essentially cut. And it will not be just them either. The people that work for them are not going to like it much either. Hey, the rich have to pay their bills too and while you may think that they have too much, the people who build the pricey boats, planes, cars and houses which they buy are not likely to agree. Therefore those taxes, which are just government imposed costs, are going to get passed right on down the line to the final consumer of the products they make and the services they provide. Yeah, you think that you are not going to get socked with the tax bill but you will. That is the dirty secret about taxes. While the direct bill is paid for by the person on whom the tax is levied, the costs that are incurred are wrapped up in the price of the goods and services they provide and passed right on down the line. Like another undesirable substance which I will not mention, taxes also flow downhill.
And just incase you think that raising the taxes by going after other entities rather than the rich’s personal income will solve the problem think again there too. Corporate income taxes would need to be raised to $816 billion to make up the short fall or nearly three times their 2008 levels of $291 billion just, I emphasize, to break even. Wave bye-bye to hundreds of thousands if not millions of jobs as companies find ways to recoup those increased costs while raising prices on all those things you love to buy causing you to once again bear the burden of those taxes.
Of course you can also choose to raise taxes on production and imports to $621 billion or six and a half times what they were in 2008. Again, have fun as prices increase to cover those losses foreign companies will encounter as well as the trade wars that will ensue as American goods shipped overseas get retaliatory tariffs slapped on them. Oh, yeah, and not to sound like a broken record, but this is just once again to break even.
We are hovering around $12 trillion dollars in debt as of right now and chugging quickly to $14 trillion. This does not even count the trillions of dollars our government is going to add to that over the coming years through fiscal irresponsibility and the ominous burden of trillions upon trillions in unfunded liabilities. To pay this debt down in thirty years like a standard mortgage we would need to raise an extra $400 billion dollars a year. Think about that and now you understand why I picked the number of $2.1 trillion earlier when talking about the lean years just to give you an idea about where we would really have to be in order to make progress with paying down the debt. Think about personal taxes going up to $2.049 trillion (82% higher than they were in 2008 and moving to a rate of 42% of total income). Think about corporate taxes being raised to $1.216 billion (four times what they were in 2008). Think about imports getting his with a tax bill of $1.021 trillion (more than ten times what they were in 2008). Think about the price increases that are going to ensue as companies that struggle to get by on even lower margins have to raise prices to stay profitable.
Think about what happens when a company that makes 100,000 units of something a year gets hit with a tax increase of $10,000,000 dollars because we raised taxes on them. That is a new cost of $100 dollars per item which will be recouped one way or another by some combination of lowering costs through means which include laying off workers, increasing efficiency of those that remain and passing that new cost on to the end user.
Now you can choose this unthinkable option, option number two, if you like. But you doom American just as badly as you doomed it as if you had picked unthinkable option number one. But it is there for you to choose if you are foolish enough to do so.
Next week, unthinkable option number three – let the whacking begin! Oh, but don’t you dare touch government welfare programs! Oh no, granny and the poor would never stand for that! Yeah, a lot of you are going to be in for a shock about what the numbers really show and how foolish this unthinkable option is as well.
Until then, sleep tight ...
1. bls.gov/emp/ep_table_408.htm
2. usgovernmentrevenue.com
3. wikipedia.org - Personal income in the United States
=====================================
J.J. Jackson is a libertarian conservative author from Pittsburgh, PA who has been writing and promoting individual liberty since 1993 and is President of Land of the Free Studios, Inc. He is the Pittsburgh Conservative Examiner for Examiner.com. He is also the owner of The Right Things - Conservative T-shirts & Gifts cafepress.com/rightthings. His weekly commentary along with exclusives not available anywhere else can be found at libertyreborn.com.
CPAC Highlights 2010
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN): "With your strong support, even Republicans in Congress have returned to the fight for fiscal discipline and limited government. . . get government under control, get government out of the way, and America will come roaring back."
Rep. Steve King (R-IA): "The American People lost their faith in the government, they believe they lost their handle on government, and they rose up, and we had Tea Party Patriots that rose up across this country. . . Obama Agenda [programs] are transformative to America, and debilitating to our freedom. I want them all dead, I wanna kill all those bills.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): "We really have to sober up because what we need to do is realize the only people with the power to change this very bad diagnosis is President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Harry Reid. I wonder what the odds are in Vegas for that happening. . . They have left us holding an invoice in excess of one hundred and five trillion dollars in unfunded federal net liabilities which obviously wasn't enough of a debt-load for the current administration. It sounds like to me that someone is choosing decline. Liberty is the right to be free in our conscience and our mind, free in our decision making, and what does that tell you about the Obama thought police and the Obama speech police - that is not what the founders intended."
Hon. John Ashcroft: "Security enhances, or elevates, freedom. It's not something that competes with freedom, or stands as a counter-weight to freedom, it is indeed something that makes our freedom usable and valuable - it's something that enhances our capacity to live as free people, to be productive, and have the human dignity that The Creator intended us to have when he created us, and endowed us with the capacity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. . . If you refuse to call a war a war, you are unable to defend it successfully. . . so that you don't have success in preserving and protecting the liberty which we all know ought to be protected."
Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA): "There is something happening in this country. People are hungry for principled, conservative ideas to be enacted at every level of government. . . time for limited government. . . creating this great environment where people can use their God-given talents and freedom to pursue the American Dream without measured federal intervention on the free enterprise system. That's what is going to cause this rebirth of conservatism here in this country."
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX): "Something is brewing, something is brewing big, this is a different year than anything we have ever experienced before, and I am optimistic to believe that a lot of good is going to come out of what is happening in this country. . . by the end of this year I think this country is going to be a lot better off. . . There is nothing wrong with describing conservatism as protecting the Constitution, protecting all things that limit government - government is the enemy of liberty. Government should be very restrained."
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Rep. Steve King (R-IA): "The American People lost their faith in the government, they believe they lost their handle on government, and they rose up, and we had Tea Party Patriots that rose up across this country. . . Obama Agenda [programs] are transformative to America, and debilitating to our freedom. I want them all dead, I wanna kill all those bills.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): "We really have to sober up because what we need to do is realize the only people with the power to change this very bad diagnosis is President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Harry Reid. I wonder what the odds are in Vegas for that happening. . . They have left us holding an invoice in excess of one hundred and five trillion dollars in unfunded federal net liabilities which obviously wasn't enough of a debt-load for the current administration. It sounds like to me that someone is choosing decline. Liberty is the right to be free in our conscience and our mind, free in our decision making, and what does that tell you about the Obama thought police and the Obama speech police - that is not what the founders intended."
Hon. John Ashcroft: "Security enhances, or elevates, freedom. It's not something that competes with freedom, or stands as a counter-weight to freedom, it is indeed something that makes our freedom usable and valuable - it's something that enhances our capacity to live as free people, to be productive, and have the human dignity that The Creator intended us to have when he created us, and endowed us with the capacity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. . . If you refuse to call a war a war, you are unable to defend it successfully. . . so that you don't have success in preserving and protecting the liberty which we all know ought to be protected."
Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA): "There is something happening in this country. People are hungry for principled, conservative ideas to be enacted at every level of government. . . time for limited government. . . creating this great environment where people can use their God-given talents and freedom to pursue the American Dream without measured federal intervention on the free enterprise system. That's what is going to cause this rebirth of conservatism here in this country."
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX): "Something is brewing, something is brewing big, this is a different year than anything we have ever experienced before, and I am optimistic to believe that a lot of good is going to come out of what is happening in this country. . . by the end of this year I think this country is going to be a lot better off. . . There is nothing wrong with describing conservatism as protecting the Constitution, protecting all things that limit government - government is the enemy of liberty. Government should be very restrained."
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Alexander Haig, Ex-Secretary of State, Dies
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Alexander M. Haig Jr., the four-star general who served as a secretary of state under
President Ronald Reagan, and as White House chief of staff under President Richard M. Nixon, after being admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital on January 28, has died. He was 85.
Haig served under the Ronald Reagan Administration for 17 months before the president dismissed him on June 24, 1982. Immediately after his departure came the deaths of 241 American soldiers in a terrorist bombing in Beirut and, two days later, the American invasion of Grenada.
Alexander Haig served in the Korean War, and then sat behind a desk for a decade. He served in the Pentagon, and became a deputy special assistant to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. His wartime service recommenced when he served in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 as a battalion and brigade commander of the First Infantry Division, and received the Distinguished Service Cross.
Haig became a military assistant on Mr. Kissinger’s National Security Council staff in 1969, distinguishing himself as the hardest-working man among an ambitious and talented group. He became a brigadier general shortly after, elevating him to the position of Mr. Kissinger’s deputy.
When Watergate broke General Haig was summoned back to serve as the White House chief of staff, in 1973.
After leaving the White House in October 1974, he became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, the overseer of NATO. In 1979, he resigned and retired from the Army.
Though he considered running for president in 1980, Haig's run never got off the ground. He again attempted the run for president in 1988, placing last among the six Republican candidates in Iowa. He withdrew before the New Hampshire primary.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Alexander Haig, Ex-U.S. Secretary of State, Dies at 85 - New York Times
Alexander M. Haig Jr., the four-star general who served as a secretary of state under
President Ronald Reagan, and as White House chief of staff under President Richard M. Nixon, after being admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital on January 28, has died. He was 85.
Haig served under the Ronald Reagan Administration for 17 months before the president dismissed him on June 24, 1982. Immediately after his departure came the deaths of 241 American soldiers in a terrorist bombing in Beirut and, two days later, the American invasion of Grenada.
Alexander Haig served in the Korean War, and then sat behind a desk for a decade. He served in the Pentagon, and became a deputy special assistant to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. His wartime service recommenced when he served in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 as a battalion and brigade commander of the First Infantry Division, and received the Distinguished Service Cross.
Haig became a military assistant on Mr. Kissinger’s National Security Council staff in 1969, distinguishing himself as the hardest-working man among an ambitious and talented group. He became a brigadier general shortly after, elevating him to the position of Mr. Kissinger’s deputy.
When Watergate broke General Haig was summoned back to serve as the White House chief of staff, in 1973.
After leaving the White House in October 1974, he became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, the overseer of NATO. In 1979, he resigned and retired from the Army.
Though he considered running for president in 1980, Haig's run never got off the ground. He again attempted the run for president in 1988, placing last among the six Republican candidates in Iowa. He withdrew before the New Hampshire primary.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Alexander Haig, Ex-U.S. Secretary of State, Dies at 85 - New York Times
Liberal Cows Are Dead Cows
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Creeping incrementalism is the method of changing a society through small, incremental changes. It is like a small injection, so small that the people don't really notice it, but large enough that the populace changes their own individuality to accommodate the change. Eventually, through the slow insertion of government solutions to every problem, the citizens deny their own individualism, shed self-reliance, and set aside responsibility and common sense for government handouts, false security, and communal collectivism.
To stand for individual liberty is to fight for the future. Liberalism is the decision to live in the present tense, to hold the comforts of the moment, and to disregard the dangerous rapids that lie just beyond the bend. The leftists know that freedom must be labored for, and the people can be convinced to stop fighting for their liberty if given periodic gifts from the treasury. Decay sets in, a sense of entitlement is created through the incremental giving of those gifts from the treasury, and without a shot ever being fired, the government takes control over people's lives - and the most shocking thing about it is the populace hands over their liberty freely, even demanding socialism to take it from them, claiming they have a right to live under a government controlled system where the wealth will be redistributed in such a way that nobody can ever ascend to a level higher than anybody else (unless they are a member of the political ruling class, that is).
An entitlement is something that people believe they have a right, or a claim, to despite the fact that it is something they provided for themselves, or their ancestors provided for themselves, not very long ago. Convinced that such an entitlement is a "right" by the powers that be in the federal government, citizens set down their milk cans and begin to demand the politicians provide milk for them. Then, as the people begin to demand that their milk be given to them as an entitlement, just to make sure the dependence to government for milk by the people does not wane, the powerful politicians point at the folks who still own cows and say "how can they justify owning those cows, and milking them for an abundance of milk they do not completely use while you are struggling with your small amount of milk? Their cows should be government cows so that we can distribute the milk evenly. By them having extra milk on their tables, you have less." The government then, in an effort to redistribute the wealth, takes the cows from the cow-owners so that the former dairymen can be as miserable as the rest of the people with their government rationing of milk. Then the government kills the cows through mismanagement and improper care, leaving even less milk to go around for the citizens.
The people then sit around, drinking their limited supply of milk, complaining about the milk shortage, but glad they are not like the country over the hills where people actually have to work for their milk, milking the cows in the early morning hours, and then selling the milk to the highest bidder. Sure, many of the people in that place have more milk than the people in the government controlled society, but at least in the world of collectivism, the distribution of milk is fair. Everyone is equally miserable. Nobody may be allowed to have an abundant supply of milk, but at least there is nobody without any milk at all.
Besides, eventually, the socialists know, the people in that other land will rise up and demand the government provide them milk too, and the cows will die in that land too as the government seizes control, and redistributes the milk in what the elitist intellectuals deem a more fair manner.
Meanwhile, the government elite sit high in their capitol building making milkshakes, chocolate milk, and anything else they can think up, practically bathing in the stuff. They have a right, they believe, to all of that extra milk. After all, it is they who masterfully make sure that everyone has an equal amount of milk around the land. Then, at the end of the day, the ruling class pours out the excess milk among the fallen bodies of dying cows for the sun to evaporate as the populace in the valley agree how fortunate they are to have a government willing to give them a "fair" ration of milk in the first place.
As for me, I'd rather keep my cow, and milk her.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Creeping incrementalism is the method of changing a society through small, incremental changes. It is like a small injection, so small that the people don't really notice it, but large enough that the populace changes their own individuality to accommodate the change. Eventually, through the slow insertion of government solutions to every problem, the citizens deny their own individualism, shed self-reliance, and set aside responsibility and common sense for government handouts, false security, and communal collectivism.
To stand for individual liberty is to fight for the future. Liberalism is the decision to live in the present tense, to hold the comforts of the moment, and to disregard the dangerous rapids that lie just beyond the bend. The leftists know that freedom must be labored for, and the people can be convinced to stop fighting for their liberty if given periodic gifts from the treasury. Decay sets in, a sense of entitlement is created through the incremental giving of those gifts from the treasury, and without a shot ever being fired, the government takes control over people's lives - and the most shocking thing about it is the populace hands over their liberty freely, even demanding socialism to take it from them, claiming they have a right to live under a government controlled system where the wealth will be redistributed in such a way that nobody can ever ascend to a level higher than anybody else (unless they are a member of the political ruling class, that is).
An entitlement is something that people believe they have a right, or a claim, to despite the fact that it is something they provided for themselves, or their ancestors provided for themselves, not very long ago. Convinced that such an entitlement is a "right" by the powers that be in the federal government, citizens set down their milk cans and begin to demand the politicians provide milk for them. Then, as the people begin to demand that their milk be given to them as an entitlement, just to make sure the dependence to government for milk by the people does not wane, the powerful politicians point at the folks who still own cows and say "how can they justify owning those cows, and milking them for an abundance of milk they do not completely use while you are struggling with your small amount of milk? Their cows should be government cows so that we can distribute the milk evenly. By them having extra milk on their tables, you have less." The government then, in an effort to redistribute the wealth, takes the cows from the cow-owners so that the former dairymen can be as miserable as the rest of the people with their government rationing of milk. Then the government kills the cows through mismanagement and improper care, leaving even less milk to go around for the citizens.
The people then sit around, drinking their limited supply of milk, complaining about the milk shortage, but glad they are not like the country over the hills where people actually have to work for their milk, milking the cows in the early morning hours, and then selling the milk to the highest bidder. Sure, many of the people in that place have more milk than the people in the government controlled society, but at least in the world of collectivism, the distribution of milk is fair. Everyone is equally miserable. Nobody may be allowed to have an abundant supply of milk, but at least there is nobody without any milk at all.
Besides, eventually, the socialists know, the people in that other land will rise up and demand the government provide them milk too, and the cows will die in that land too as the government seizes control, and redistributes the milk in what the elitist intellectuals deem a more fair manner.
Meanwhile, the government elite sit high in their capitol building making milkshakes, chocolate milk, and anything else they can think up, practically bathing in the stuff. They have a right, they believe, to all of that extra milk. After all, it is they who masterfully make sure that everyone has an equal amount of milk around the land. Then, at the end of the day, the ruling class pours out the excess milk among the fallen bodies of dying cows for the sun to evaporate as the populace in the valley agree how fortunate they are to have a government willing to give them a "fair" ration of milk in the first place.
As for me, I'd rather keep my cow, and milk her.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
United Nations Global Gun Control Goals
A report on the United Nations Gun Control Treaty which Hillary Clinton is also heavily involved in. A chilling video regarding the dangerous push for taking away an American's right to own a weapon.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary