It's All About Control - by Augusta Chronicle

By Augusta Chronicle (GA)
April 22, 2013 12:24 pm

His administration has exerted unprecedented control over our health care, our businesses, our stewardship of the environment, the auto industry, the financial sector -- even student loans.

It's clearly galling the president that he can't get to first base with regard to controlling our guns.

After the Senate failed to agree to expanded gun background checks this past week, a petulant and contemptuous President Obama looked down his nose at opponents -- leaving no room for the possibility that they might have any principled reasons for opposing him.

It's not clear whether he just wants a midterm election issue with which to pummel Republicans, or if this is the attempted gun grab so many suspect him of harboring ambitions of.

Either way, Mr. President, our system of government was founded in large part on a distrust of government and its proclivity for abusing power.

The fact remains that many gun-owning Americans simply don't trust your administration, which has already shown a voracious appetite for control over our lives.

This president also has shown an uncanny disdain for the legislative process -- for the give and take it entails, for the personal relationships it requires, for the compromise needed to respect views opposed to his own. Instead, he flies his bully pulpit around the country to bitterly lament that others in Washington just won't kowtow to what he wants, when he wants it.

Many of them are fellow Democrats, by the way -- some of whom are facing re-election soon and feel compelled to do the bidding of their constituents rather than bend to the politically correct pressure in Washington.

Mr. Obama decries the pressure being put on such leaders by Second Amendment aficionados -- but the fact remains that he's been pushing pretty hard himself, using survivors of Sandy Hook as his surrogates and backdrops.

He has no room to complain about a "vocal minority" pushing its perfectly valid agenda when he's doing the same.

Regarding his agenda, the moribund economy -- Americans' No. 1 concern -- continues to be on his back burner, as always. If only he would use the weight of his office to press for policies that would free up America's pent-up economic might. Of course, those things -- smaller government, fewer regulations, lower taxes -- are anathema to his entire political pedigree.

Instead, he's put all his dwindling political capital on immigration and guns -- which, by the way, a new Gallup Poll says are the top concerns of a whopping 4 percent of Americans.

As for gun violence: The guns he and other Democrats want banned are responsible for a fraction of a fraction of gun crime in America, and any other new restrictions will only hem in the law-abiding among us.

In addition, Sen. Lindsey Graham notes that last year, nearly 80,000 people failed gun background checks -- yet fewer than 100 of them were prosecuted. Graham has joined other Republican senators in proposing a bill to beef up that prosecution, while cracking down on trafficking, straw sales and purchases by the mentally ill, and beefing up school security.

These are things most of us can agree on -- and which would have the potential to make a difference, not just make for grandiose speeches.

The question is whether the president wants to find common ground, or stay where he is and just stamp his feet.


(c)2013 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.)
Visit The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) at chronicle.augusta.com

Jackalopes - The Mysterious Jaspers

Jackalopes are extremely mysterious animals first sighted by American Cowboys in the Old West. 

The Jackalope is an antlered species of rabbit, unfortunately rumored to be extinct, though occasional sightings of this rare creature continue to occur, suggesting that pockets of jackalope populations continue to persist in its native home, the American West. The lack of sightings these days makes the Jackalope one of the rarest animals in the world.

Scientists believe Global Cooling, and the coming Ice Age, as noted in the 1970s by prominent Ecologists worldwide, has further endangered these animals, which some speculate are a cross between an extinct pygmy-deer and a species of killer-rabbit.

Some say the first sighting was in Douglas, Wyoming, while others say it was by Lewis and Clark in their travels just outside of Twin Falls, Idaho. Of course, there are those who say it was the cowboys on the open range moving cattle north along the Chisholm Trail up from Texas who first took note of Jackalopes in the Old West. That cattle trails lead north from Texas, across Oklahoma, to Abilene, Kansas, and records show that Jackalopes were indeed sighted. 

Though thought to be extremely shy unless approached, today it is known that the American Jackalope is an aggressive species that is very willing to use its antlers to fight. But really, that's not a surprise to Native Americans. Since ancient times, even before Native American tribes pushed other Native American tribes across the Mississippi River, they have called the Jackalope the "Warrior Jack."

While hares live in the open and bear young that have fur at birth, rabbits live in burrows and bear young that are naked at birth. Jackrabbits are actually hares, not rabbits. Hares are larger than rabbits, and they typically have taller hind legs and longer ears.

The writer Mark Twain brought this name to fame by using it in his book of western adventure, Roughing It. He noted that Jackalopes are excessive drinkers of whiskey and other spirits. Jackrabbits were named for their ears, which initially caused some people to refer to them as "jackass rabbits." The name was later shortened to jackrabbit. There are five species of jackrabbits, all found in central and western North America.

They are speedy animals capable of reaching 40 miles an hour, and their powerful hind legs can propel them on leaps of more than ten feet. They use these leaps and a zigzag running style to evade their many predators.

Black-tailed jackrabbits are common in American deserts, scrub lands, and other open spaces, including farms. They can consume very large quantities of grasses and plants, including desert species such as sagebrush and cacti.

White-tailed jackrabbits are another common species. They frequent North America's plains and farmlands, though they also inhabit wooded areas. They are prolific eaters and can consume over a pound (0.5 kilograms) of grasses, shrubs, or bark each day. The jackrabbit's breeding prowess is well known. Females can give birth to several litters a year, each with one to six young. The young mature quickly and require little maternal care.

Booming jackrabbit populations can cause problems for farmers, especially in light of the animals' healthy appetite. Jackrabbits are often killed for crop protection, but in general, their populations are stable and not in need of protection.

Jackalope researchers say that they are a hybrid of both rabbit and hare, and deer, as they live in the open and bear young that are naked at birth. Their antlers appear just after being weaned. And yes, believe it or not, there are Jackalope researchers who believe that Jackalopes possess an uncanny ability to mimic human sounds.

In fact, it is said that in the Old West, when cowboys would gather around their campfires to sing at night, which never happened, it is said that Jackalopes would frequently be heard singing back, mimicking the voices of the cowboys. It is believed that when chased, a Jackalope will use its vocal abilities to elude capture. For instance, when chased, it will call out phrases such as, "There he goes, over there," in order to throw its pursuers off its track.

Jackalopes become especially vocal before thunderstorms, perhaps because they mate only when lightning flashes -- or so it is theorized. And yes, that may be a reason they are so rare.

The best way to catch a Jackalope is to lure it with a flask, jigger, or bottle of whiskey, as they have a particular fondness for this drink. Once intoxicated, the animal becomes slower and easier to hunt, although they are known to laugh a great deal and tell the same story about the sheep-herder and his flock over and over again until they're released.

Because of their drinking habits, Jackalope milk is particularly sought after. It is believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac; for that reason, Jackalopes are referred to as "rabbits". However, it can be incredibly dangerous to milk a Jackalope, and any attempt to do so is not advised. A peculiar feature of the milk is that it comes from the animal already homogenized on account of the creature's powerful leaps.

While jackalopes are commonly sighted in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, the Cascades of Oregon and Washington, and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, they once roamed freely all over the American West. And yes, they have been sighted in Widow's Creek, Alabama, as well as in Houston, Texas.

The jackalope does appear to have a European cousin known as the Wolpertinger, which is said to inhabit the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany, and in Sweden, there is a related species called the Skvader.

Known by the Vikings as "Deer-bunnies", it is written that Vikings arriving in the New World would extract a Jackalope's milk as it slept belly up at night. The milk is believed to be medicinal and can be used for a variety of afflictions.

Although sly and crafty, the truth is these creatures are aggressive and unpredictable. They should not be provoked for any reason. The Vikings were thought to have gotten their violent streak from drinking Jackalope milk. Wyatt Earp was known to drink Jackalope milk instead of whiskey. And yes, we all know what that did to him.

The Federal Government wants us to believe they aren't real, but that hasn't stopped the truth from coming forward. While it is known that Jackalopes visit Ghost Town all through the West just for a stroll down memory lane, the town of Douglas, Wyoming, has declared itself to be the "Jackalope Capital of America." Their reason is that, according to legend, the first Jackalope was spotted there around 1829. A large statue of a Jackalope stands in the town center, and every year the town plays host to Jackalope Day, usually held in June.

Jackalopes in Douglas, Wyoming, became so popular that by the late 1940s the city had proclaimed itself as the "Jackalope Capital of the World,” promoting the self-proclaimed title in brochures and other tourism advertising.

In 1965, an eight-foot concrete statue was erected in downtown Douglas, and today billboards and Jackalope images can be seen all over Douglas -- on park benches, fire trucks, motel signs, and a 13-foot-tall Jackalope cutout on a hillside. Yes, the state of Wyoming trademarked the name in 1965. Imagine that!

The city is also very good about warning visitors of the "vicious” animal’s propensity to attack, so tourists will see a number of posted warning signs throughout the town: "Watch out for the Jackalope."

Every year, Douglas hosts an annual Jackalope Day in June that hosts a Mini-Monster Truck Obstacle Course, Mud Volleyball tournaments, a Motorcycle Show and Rally, the Greased Pig Run, and numerous other events for those hoping for a peek at a "real Jackalope” - as if they're hard to find.

Each year, the Douglas Chamber of Commerce issues thousands of Jackalope hunting licenses, despite rules specifying that Jackalope hunters cannot have an IQ higher than 62 and can hunt only between midnight and 2 a.m. each June 31st. It's true, Jackalope hunting licenses can be obtained from the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, though hunting of Jackalopes is restricted to the hours of midnight to 2 a.m. on June 31st.

But, this is still not enough for the "Queen City” of Jackalope Country, which now plans to build yet another giant Jackalope. Towering over I-25, the giant fiberglass Jackalope will stand 80 feet above the plains. And yes, in 2005, Wyoming legislators declared the Jackalope as the state's "Official Mythical Creature."

The Jackalope is a North American folklore, a so-called "fearsome critter" described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns or deer antlers and sometimes a pheasant's tail and often hind legs. It is also known as "Lepus temperamentalus."

Are there horned rabbits in America? The experts say yes. But as usual, though there are scientific reasons why Jackalopes exist, there are those who claim Jackalopes do not exist -- instead saying that since they have never seen one how can they exist. That seems to be rather silly, I for one have never seen a million dollars, but I know it exists because the government has a million dollars for this and that all the time. Just ask them.

I believe they're around since I came across a Jackalope sitting at a bar in Virginia City, Nevada, back in the early 1980s during a hot summer when the poor fellow wanted a cold beer. Even drunk, he or she was a quiet sort. Lousy storyteller though!

Huichol yarn picture of a Jackalope?

It is possible that the tales of Jackalopes were inspired by sightings of an animal hybrid which occurs in many cultures, for example as the griffin and the chimera. Indeed, the term chimera has become the categorical term for such composites within the English language. 

More mythological references can be found in ancient Huichol legends of the deer and the horned rabbit. As with other ancient cultures, the Huichol oral tradition has passed down tales of the sharing of horns between the two animals. 

This folklore may be due to the rabbit and deer being paired up as far back as the Mesoamerican period of the Aztecs as twins, brothers, or even the sun and moon. Aztec lore also refers to Jackalopes as warrior hares that never fought a battle but sat around Aztec saloons


Knowing the correct method of capture, this woman is seen here holding an intoxicated male Jackalope!

This picture proves booze is their undoing as this hunter netted this drunk Jackalope as it was telling her a story about seeing Big Foot!

In some parts of the Western United States, that is West of the Mississippi, it is said that Jackalope meat does not taste like chicken -- but instead has a taste similar to lobster! For that reason, there are those who use every trick there is to hunt the ever-wily Jackalope!

In Texas, August 15th is the first day of Jackalope Season. Jackalope there are said to have a Chili flavor. In the town of Ozark, which is in Franklin County, Arkansas, Jackalopes drink a lot of moonshine for some odd reason. In the Snake Pit in Enaville, Idaho, Jackalopes are known to stop in for a shot of bourbon whiskey, which is kept on the floor at the end of the bar. If you stop in and the shot glass on the floor is empty, then you may have just missed one.

The historic H-B Saloon in Oakdale, California, is well known for its cowboys and rowdy Jackalope that come in after the rodeo there. While a few have been caught staggering out the door on dark nights when there's no moon in the sky, most simply move on after telling tall tales about meeting Big Foot and having drunk with the Loch Ness Monster.

Recently, while in Genoa, Nevada, I found out that the Genoa Bar and Saloon, which is reported to have opened its doors in 1853, and is supposedly the oldest bar in Nevada, was visited by a Jackalope that stopped in for a beer. Supposedly it told this insane story and bragged about kicking the butt of some Chupacabra in San Antonio, Texas. While the place doesn't allow horses in the saloon, a yarn from a Jackalope is said to be always welcome.

Jackalopes have been seen sneaking into the Big Horn Saloon in Pioneer, California, the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada, and other places, including the Miner’s and Stockmen’s Steakhouse in Hartville, Wyoming. While these places all enjoy fun and laughter, and booze, and have for more years than others, Jackalope seems to fit right in while trying to avoid capture. Some folks who have listened to the fuzzy-tailed horned critters know they enjoy telling the tallest of tales.

Yes, sort of like this one!

Tom Correa

RANDOM SHOTS - Obama Defeat Means America Wins, and More!

Obama Defeat Means America Wins

On Wednesday the Senate defeated a vital background check amendment seen as the linchpin to the Democrat Party's gun control bill.

This dealt a major setback to a very irate President Obama, who lashed out at opponents in remarks from the Rose Garden.

"All in all, this was a pretty shameful day for Washington," Obama said, before going on to accuse the gun lobby of "lying" about the bill.

Imagine that for a moment. Obama calling others liars. And he, a man who has demonstrated himself Master of the Bald Face Lie!

Besides the 54-46 vote, with supporters falling six votes short of the required 60-vote threshold, the senators also voted on a string of other amendments - including a proposed ban on assault weapons and a ban on high-capacity magazines. Both which were defeated as well.

Now if anyone reading this thinks the fight is over just because we won this small victory, think again. The folks who want to take away our Constitutional rights are tireless and extremely creative.

Like the people who sit up at night thinking up different ways to tax your money, these anti-Second Amendment folks stay up at night thinking of ways to take away our rights and give absolute control to the government.

Like you, I love my country. But honestly, the federal government scares me these days.

Over taxation of American citizens just to give millions of taxpayer dollars to special interest groups like Planned Parenthood and to anti-American dictators in the Middle-East and else where.

Billions of dollars in wasteful spending on unnecessary equipment like tanks and huge arms purchases by the Department of Homeland Security, yet no funds for programs to increase our security on the border while arms and explosives are coming in to the United States.

President Obama sees our democracy are ugly and messy and shameful when the rights of the people are upheld, yet sees nothing wrong with spending the lion's share of our nations wealth in an effort to destroy America's health care system - turning it into a two tier system of those who can afford it and those who can't.

The failure of the background check proposal authored by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., now puts the entire anti-Second Amendment legislation in question.

The proposal would have expanded background checks and over rule state regulations prohibiting background checks and privacy violations.

The amendment was an attempt to appease conservatives who are opposed to the more stringent background check plan in the existing bill.

Obama vowed to press on, saying the vote was "just round one," while decrying those he claimed "caved" to political pressure.

"The gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill," Obama said. He said the claims "upset" some gun owners who in turn "intimidated" senators.

"There were no coherent arguments as to why we couldn't do this. It came down to politics," he said.

Yes, imagine, that coming from a man who has lied and politicized his key legislative accomplishment ObamaCare to get it passed.

In a statement, Democrat Sen Manchin said that while he is disappointed in the outcome of today's vote, that "this is not the end of the debate."

Opponents, which included a few Democrats, voiced concern that the proposal would infringe on Second Amendment rights by imposing a burden on those buying and selling guns.

They claimed the proposed system would not have prevented Newtown, and would not stop criminals. They also voiced concern about the possibility that the expanded system could lead to a Gun Owner Registry.

The NRA said in a statement that the amendment "would have criminalized certain private transfers of firearms between honest citizens, requiring lifelong friends, neighbors and some family members to get federal government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face prosecution."

Not surprisingly, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democrats hammered Republicans for not voting in support and vowed to press forward.

"I want everyone to understand this is just the beginning, ..." said Reid - Blah! Blah! Blah!" .

Have you ever noticed that harry Reid has nothing new to say. It's always just the same old line of anti-Republican bullshit!

I can't help but wonder if Harry Reid would blame every ill of the world on Republicans if he had the chance.
And now enter the RINOs! Yes, Republicans In Name Only!

Four Republican senators voted for the amendment: Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, and of course that idiot Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Why are they allowed to exist? Who votes for these people? Why do Republicans vote for these Bozos? Why are these people still in office?

And yes, believe it or not, five Democrats voted against it.

One of those Democrats was Reid, but before you get to thinking that he is for our Second Amendment right you have to understand that he only switched his vote to oppose it. By doing so, it allows Democrats to call up the measure again.

The Democrats who voted against the measure for non-procedural reasons were Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Sen. Max Baucus of Montana.

In the run-up to Wednesday's vote, Democratic leaders gave ever-changing assessments of where support stood.

Thirty-one senators voted last week to completely block debate on overall gun legislation. Since last week, enough lawmakers who voted to allow debate switched to oppose Manchin-Toomey, in turn defeating the amendment.

The Senate held eight other votes Wednesday besides the one on background checks, all of them amendments to the broad gun control measure.

They included Democratic proposals to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, which are expected to lose; a Republican proposal requiring states to honor other states' permits allowing concealed weapons, which faces a close vote; and a GOP substitute for the overall gun measure.

The concealed weapons amendment, seen by advocates as protecting gun rights, was vehemently opposed by gun control groups, who say it would allow more guns into states with stricter firearms laws.

The other amendments were defeated.

"I believe very strongly that our current background check system needs strengthening and improving, particularly in areas that could keep guns out of the hands of felons and the mentally ill. At the same time, I cannot support legislation that infringes upon the constitutional right to keep and bear arms," Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., one of those opposed, said in a statement.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, echoed Heller in a statement released following the vote saying "Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook, we all wanted to find answers that would reduce crime and prevent the next senseless act of violence. Unfortunately, the Senate did not consider any proposals that would achieve these objectives."

We all know about the horrible acts last December when that sick-son-of-a-bitch killed 20 children and six adults at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school. We all hate what took place.

No one likes what happened there, or in Aurora Colorado when that other crazy bastard decided to reenact something he saw in a movie. But folks, like it or not, attacking our Constitutional rights is not the way to address these sorts of problems.

Why are we being re-active instead of pro-active? Why haven't we established better security in our schools, not only to deter violence but also to deter drugs? 

And really, more importantly, why aren't we teaching our children basic morality? Why aren't we teaching kids that there is a difference between doing what is right and wrong? Why aren't we teaching what are noble acts versus those that are wrong and are in fact criminal?

And yes, why aren't we teaching kids that the violence that they see in movies and videos is not to be glorified and recreated? 

We should be doing something other than just trying to pass more laws!

SECOND SHOT!

Obama Snubs Thatcher Funeral

President Barack Obama’s decision not to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Wednesday was blasted by a former Reagan administration official and Fox News analyst who called it shameful, “cheap, small and petty.”

Writing on Fox News.com, Fox National Security Analyst Kathleen Troia "K.T." McFarland said the administration’s official excuse that the president and vice president were consumed with a busy week — which included the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy — rang hollow.

It does — after all — take a mere 24 hours to fly to London and back for a state funeral, she noted.

“It is standard operating procedure for the Vice President or First Lady or, at a minimum the Secretary of State, to attend funerals of foreign leaders, even those from lesser nations,” McFarland wrote. “Shame on you, Mr. President. You and your administration look cheap, small and petty.

“It goes without saying that when one of the longest serving leaders of America's closest and most enduring ally dies, the United States should send a large and distinguished delegation of America's leaders, past and present,” added McFarland, who is a Distinguished Adviser to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and served in national security posts in the Nixon, Ford, and Reagan administrations.

She wasn't the only one criticizing the president for his handling of the funeral. Obama was slammed in the British tabloids, as well.

They reported that the government of Prime Minister David Cameron was incensed, especially since former Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair was sitting in the front row of the service.

“[Downing] Street is most angered by rejections from Obama, First Lady Michelle and Vice-President Joe Biden. And none of the four surviving ex-U.S. leaders — Jimmy Carter, George Bush Sr, Bill Clinton and George Bush Jr — is coming either,” The Sun reported, according to Politico.

The Sun continued: “The response contrasts with glowing U.S. tributes on the day Lady Thatcher died. A No 10 source said last night: ‘We are a little surprised by the White House’s reaction as we were expecting a high-profile attendance.’ The 'snub' came ahead of the Boston marathon “bomb outrage.”

The liberal Guardian in Britain dubbed it a “distinctly low-key official representation.”

“The U.S. is to send distinctly low-key official representation. . . . While Barack Obama was invited, he has opted to send a presidential delegation comprising no serving politicians,” according to The Guardian report.

McFarland blamed the decision on ideology.

"Could it be that Margaret Thatcher was a Tory? That she battled British Trade Unionists and won? That she worked hand-in-hand with Ronald Reagan, the incarnation of evil for many left-wing Democrats?

"It used to be American politics stopped at the water's edge, and that American president honored foreign leaders, regardless of their political persuasions or party,” she wrote, pointing out that former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, and James Baker attended the funeral.

Between the three of them, they opened relations with China and brought down the Iron Curtain with Thatcher.

But Obama somehow didn’t think that legacy was worth honoring, McFarland added.

“But while they were giants in their day, they are not part of your team,” McFarland wrote. “The snub to the British was palpable – only yesterday’s men could be spared.

“And frankly, Mr. President, this makes you look foolish as well.”

K.T. McFarland has never been so right!

For the Obama administration to not even send some sort of official representative is pretty sorry, but not surprising. Obama represents himself, not America.

Obama could have sent someone to a state funeral in England, a state funeral for the only women Prime Minister in Great Britian's history, a funeral of a strong ally. Yes, he could have but didn't.

The real reason he didn't is because Obama doesn't have the class that one needs to understand a some fact of life: It shows you're a bigger person when you can find it in yourself to tip your hat to someone they you might have disagreed with.

Obama didn't send an official representative because he is a small man. And now, even the British know it.

THIRD SHOT!

Florida college instructor fired after handing out voter pledge cards with image of Obama

An associate professor at Florida’s Brevard Community College has been fired after school officials say she handed out pledge cards to students urging them to vote for President Barack Obama last year.

The school’s board of trustees terminated Sharon Sweet on Wednesday after a three-month investigation, but she plans on fighting the decision, FloridaToday.com reports.

The college determined that Sweet violated a code of conduct that prohibits employees from seeking support for political candidates, FloridaToday.com reports.

Sweet, a registered Democrat, says she was participating in non-partisan voter registration on campus and didn’t see the parts of the pledge cards with Obama’s image.

The pledge cards, handed to her math students last November, had a picture of Obama on the top and a red flag with the phrase “Pledge to vote!”

FOURTH SHOT!

Freedom Group Gun Maker Attracting Interest From Weapons Companies

Immediately after the December tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Freedom Group’s owner, private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, decided to sell the company.

Now a number of weapons firms are interested in purchasing Freedom Group, the gun maker that manufactured a rifle used in last year’s shooting massacre.

It is not clear whether any of the potential buyers will bid on Freedom Group when it goes to auction; Cerberus Capital reportedly hopes to complete a sale this summer and wants to get around $1 billion for the company.

Among those expressing interest in Freedom Group are Smith & Wesson Holding and Sturm, Ruger, both of whom have requested detailed information on the gun manufacturer, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Alliant Techsystems, an aerospace and defense company that makes ammunition and firearms accessories, has also indicated an interest, the newspaper reported.

FIFTH SHOT!

Pennsylvania Abortion Clinic Worker: I Saw 10 Babies Breathe

While Democrat politicians use the killings of children in Newtown, Connecticut, to advance their political agenda, there is not a word from them on the Abortion Clinic's killings of babies after they were born there.

Capitol Hill lawmakers are trying to draw attention to the trial of Pennsylvania abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, accused of snipping the spines of infants, keeping baby body parts in jars, and overdosing patients.

“The case of Kermit Gosnell is gruesome, the place that he ran was a gruesome factory and disturbing, but only because it strips away the clinical nature of most abortions,” Republican Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania said on the House floor.

“His carelessness exposed what the fetus actually was, a human that he cruelly murdered, and yet the press will ignore it — will remain silent — about what is actually happening in this very important trial in Philadelphia,” Pitts said.

Gosnell is on trial for the drug-overdose death of a 41-year-old patient and the deaths of seven babies born alive at his West Philadelphia clinic.

A parade of pro-life congressmen went to the floor of the House last week to denounce the lack of media coverage of the trial.

Republican Reps. Chris Smith of New Jersey, Louis Gohmert of Texas, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania were among those joining Pitts, decrying the lack of attention being given to the trial, The Hill reported.

Gohmert read an article on the House floor about Gosnell’s trial, but substituted the word “puppies” for “babies,” saying the media certainly would have paid attention if the story was about animal cruelty, The Hill noted.

Gosnell’s capital murder trial began last month, with graphic testimony from former employees who claim Gosnell regularly “snipped the spinal cords of babies” and performed abortions well past the state’s 24-week legal limit.

A grand jury report called Gosnell’s business a “filthy fraud in which he overdosed his patients with dangerous drugs, spread venereal disease among them with infected instruments, perforated their wombs and bowels — and, on at least two occasions, caused their deaths.”

With pro-life members of Congress, grass-roots activists, and social media turning up the heat, the story began to get more media attention last week.

“Until last week almost all media was silent about the trial,” Anna Higgins, director for the Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity, told Newsmax. “We’ll see how much they cover between what they say they’re going to do, and what they actually do.”

Critics argue that politics has interfered with the national media covering the trial of Gosnell, whose clinic in Philadelphia was first raided in 2010.

“The deafening silence of too much of the media, once a force for justice in America, is a disgrace,” USA Today columnist Kirsten Powers recently wrote.

“You don't have to oppose abortion rights to find late-term abortion abhorrent or to find the Gosnell trial eminently newsworthy. This is not about being ‘pro-choice’ or ‘pro-life.’ It’s about basic human rights.”

“Let me state the obvious,” Powers said. “This should be front page news.”

Well, now a former abortion clinic worker has testified at the the murder trial of her former boss with testimony that she saw first hand more than 10 babies breathe before they were killed.

Kareema Cross is the final prosecution witness against Dr. Kermit Gosnell. She says she saw the babies' chests move but was told by Gosnell they were not breathing.

She also says she saw three babies move their arms and legs and heard a fourth give a soft whine.

Cross says she was so upset by clinic procedures that she took photos and called authorities.

A 2011 grand jury report lambastes state and city officials for failing to inspect the busy Philadelphia clinic.

The defense denies that babies were born alive, and Cross is sure to face strenuous questioning Thursday from defense lawyer Jack McMahon.

And no, none of this is fit to talk about in the liberal mainstream media because it does not fit their agenda of making abortions a morally OK taxpayer problem.  

SIXTH SHOT!

Utah residents sue to reclaim property rights from prairie dogs

This pair of prairie dogs peering out of their hole might not be a problem, but the Federal government is.

And yes, as we talk about government over-regulation and the making of America into a nation of felons, this is a great example of the federal government sticking their nose where it doesn't belong.

Attorneys representing property owners in Cedar City, Utah filed a lawsuit Thursday arguing that the Federal government has overstepped its Constitutional bounds by preventing residents from defending their property against a massive prairie dog infestation.

“The federal government doesn’t have the authority to regulate a local issue like the Utah prairie dog under the commerce clause or any other power,” Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Jonathan Wood, who is representing Cedar City residents free of charge, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “The government simply overreached.”

The lawsuit takes aim at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that prevents landowners from taking action against prairie dogs that infest their property.

The government applied anti-“taking” rules under the Endangered Species Act to the Utah prairie dog, meaning landowners can be fined or even imprisoned if they try to deal with the animals without first asking the government for permission.

Imagine that! "Hey Big Brother! I want to remove a prairie dog from my own property, can you grant me permission Sire?" I don't think so.

“Before the rule was adopted it was possible for all private property to get permission to remove the prairie dog,” Wood said. “The new regulation changed the rules so they promote a lot of private property impossible to do anything. If prairie dogs are there, you basically have to accept it and basically abandon your property.”

“It’s impossible to actually cure the problem if your land has become burdened with the prairie dog,” he added.

PLF argues that the Federal government has overstepped its authority under the commerce clause, which allows the federal government to regulate activities that affect the national economy.

Prairie dogs affect the National Economy? How can the Feds justify that? Simple, they can't.

Fact is, the Utah prairie dog is only located in one state and not involved in any commercial activity.

“So the argument that this has to be regulated under the commerce clause is a little silly,” said Wood.

“The theory of our case is that the federal government’s role is only to protect the animal when its on public property, but this regulation regulates private property and that’s beyond the federal government’s power.”

People for the Ethical Treatment of Property Owners is a coalition of Cedar City residents who have been affected by the federal restrictions on dealing with prairie dog infestations.

The Utah prairie dog is one of five prairie dog species in North America, and is found only in Utah. The animal digs burrows and networks of tunnels which can damage people’s properties.

According to the FWS, and no I don't know who paid those folks to count them, there are estimated to be more than 40,000 Utah prairie dogs.

And yes, the animal is listed as “threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act. Not endangered, but threatened.

The prairie dogs have done extensive damage to Cedar City - including digging mounds and creating runway hazards at the regional airport, digging tunnels among graves and destroying flowers at the Cedar City cemetery.

This all reminds me of something that Great Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said, "If you have ten thousand regulations, you destroy all respect for the law."

And yes, that's what's happening in the United States today. It's getting silly.


Story by Tom Correa

An Educated Democrat

This is a great example of an educated Democrat.

Here is someone who not only believes everything he or she is saying, but the scary part is he or she also votes and reproduces little Democrats just as intelligent.

So take a real look at what we're up against, and have a good laugh. See what's out there supporting Obama and the Democrat Party, their agenda, and the taking away of our rights.

Take a look at a prime example of liberal ignorance. But no, don't even think about trying to change the mind of someone like this. They know it all and have no desire to learn anything from anyone who doesn't believe the same things.

In the case of this writer, I really don't think that we can talk sense into someone like this. After all, it is true that sometimes you just can't fix stupid!

 

Our Government Is Violating Our Privacy

It is accurate to say that the number one most important thing to understand about Americans is probably their devotion to "individualism."

Only second to the value and importance that an American places on individualism, is the importance Americans assign to their privacy.

Yes, the right to privacy is an ideal that runs deep in our American culture. It’s something to be both respected and defended, and is considered fundamental to a free society.

We carry this right like a shield, and while often very warm and welcoming hosts, the home is considered a bastion of privacy. What is "ours" is OURS!

Our privacy is considered important to us for many reason, but mostly because it has to do with our concept of freedom and liberty - and security. In many cases, our privacy has everything to do with our safety and security.

Since I've received a lot of e-mail asking me about our American Cultural Values, I figure it may be time to do a talk about this.

The Bill of Rights reflects the concern of our founders for protecting specific aspects of privacy, such as the privacy of beliefs (1st Amendment), privacy of the home against demands that it be used to house soldiers (3rd Amendment), privacy of the person and possessions as against unreasonable searches (4th Amendment), and the 5th Amendment's privilege against self-incrimination, which provides protection for the privacy of personal information. 

Yes, while Americans might frown on someone asking their age or how much money they have in the bank, to which most if not all will answer "It's none of your business," a violation of our privacy is seen as a violation of our liberty as a free people - not slave nor peasant to be ruled over by a totalitarian government. 

If our privacy is assaulted, our freedom is under direct attack. 

Allow me to note something that many of my younger readers are probably unaware of. By law, our Social Security numbers were initially forbidden to be used as identification numbers by anyone - government or civilian. 

Social Security cards printed from January 1946 until January 1972 expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes.

But, since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the message was removed. 

The SSN card is still not suitable for primary identification as it has no photograph, no physical description and no birth date. All it does is confirm that a particular number has been issued to a particular name.

Social Security numbers have become de facto national identification numbers. Although some people do not have an SSN assigned to them, it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage in legitimate financial activities such as applying for a loan or a bank account without one. 

While the government cannot require an individual to disclose his SSN without a legal basis, companies may refuse to provide service to an individual who does not provide a SSN.

The Social Security Act was drafted during Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first term by the President's Committee on Economic Security, and passed by Congress as part of the Second New Deal.

The act was an attempt to limit what were seen as dangers in the modern American life, including old age, poverty, unemployment, and the burdens of widows and fatherless children.

By signing this act on August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt became the first president to advocate federal numbering of our citizens.

When the Social Security Protection Act of 2010 became law, President Obama was supposedly aiming at reducing identity theft by limiting the Government's use of and access to social security numbers.

The bill, which passed the Democrat controlled House and Senate at the time, supposedly prohibits government agencies from printing social security numbers on checks and from allowing prison inmates from getting access to Social Security numbers.

The problem is that with our Social Security numbers, the government knows all about us and keeps our private information on file. Because of that, the government makes null and void our right to privacy because it makes that information to anyone who wants it.   

The federal government is a giant collector of information of every sort on all of us. And yes, the Obama administration is responsible for violating our privacy in many ways

. 
Recently, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has acknowledges releasing personal details on farmers and ranchers.

The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged last week Tuesday that it released personal information on potentially thousands of farmers and ranchers to radical environmental groups, following concerns from congressional Republicans and agriculture groups that the release could endanger their safety.

The EPA said "some of the personal information that could have been protected … was released."

Though the EPA has already sent out the documents, the agency now says it has since redacted sensitive details and "asked" the environmental groups to “return the information.”

But Sen. John Thune, who originally complained about the release, slammed the EPA for trying to retroactively recover the sensitive data.

"It is inexcusable for the EPA to release the personal information of American families and then call for it back, knowing full well that the erroneously released information will never be fully returned," he said in a statement to FoxNews.com.

"While EPA acknowledging that it erred is a first step, more must be done to protect the personal information of our farmers and ranchers now and in the future. I will continue to demand answers from the EPA on how this information was collected and why it is still being distributed to extreme environmental groups to the detriment of our farm and ranch families."

The information on livestock and produce farmers was sought through a Freedom of Information Act request by the groups Earth Justice, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Pew Charitable Trust.

The groups, which have not commented on whether they plan to return the documents, were originally given information on roughly 80,000 farmers and ranchers - subsequently putting them at risk of harm.

The agency acknowledged the information included individual names, email addresses, phone numbers and personal addresses.

Sen. Thune, of South Dakota, where 500 farmers and ranchers had their information made public, sent a letter to the EPA requesting the agency answer a list of questions - including whether agency officials reviewed the information to see whether the release complied with the federal Privacy Act of 1974.

“The EPA has threatened the health and safety of agriculture producers and their families and has damaged the security of our food system,” Sen Thune said.

“There is a growing gap of trust between America’s farm and ranch families and the EPA. Much of this lack of trust is due to EPA’s aggressive regulatory agenda.”

Other concerns expressed by Sen.Thune, farm bureaus and others include whether the EPA first consulted with the departments of Agriculture and Homeland Security, which had already advised against compiling a public database with similar information and whether the EPA still intends to create such a record.

“Does the EPA intend to gather any more personal information on livestock producers?” Senator Thune asked in his letter to agency Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe.

Critics have characterized Earth Justice and the organizations as being "Extremist groups" and "Eco Terrorists" and say the released information included data on family farmers who feed fewer than 1,000 animals, which excludes them from having to comply with the Act.

"This information details my family’s home address," J.D. Alexander, a Nebraska cattle farmer and former president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, told FarmFuture.com.

"The only thing it doesn’t do is chauffeur these extremists to my house."

The Obama administration has had its EPA work hand in hand with these radical Environmentalist groups, yet they do no understand the worry on the part of the farmer and the rancher out there.

The information they furnished to those extremists may facilitate criminal acts against facilities and people at those facilities. If my name were among those released, I would be worried. 

The EPA said the majority of the data was already publicly available through state databases, web sites and federal and state permits, or is required to be released under federal or state law - as if that justifies there actions.

In response to privacy concerns raised by agricultural groups, the EPA supposedly redacted sections of information from 10 of the 29 states that contained some personal data.

So if you're reading this and think it's only farmers and ranchers who should worry about what the Obama administration is doing with you private information, think again! 

Because of ObamaCare, you are now owned by the state. 

You see the IRS is set to take a significant role in the new health care law. That significant part of the ObamaCare plan continues to worry many who have little faith in government efficiency in taking care of the privacy of millions of Americans involved in the system.

Many security experts fear that Americans' patient information will be vulnerable to unauthorized access and distribution with perpetrators being outside hackers or IRS insiders.

Today's the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) relies extensively on computerized systems to carry out its demanding responsibilities to collect taxes, process tax returns, and enforce the nation's tax laws.

Add the new responsibilities of taxing health care under the guise of levying fines on those who violate ObamaCare provisions as well as record keeping, and there now exists a greater likelihood of patient information being unlawfully accessed or accidentally released to third parties.

Effective information security controls are essential to protect financial and taxpayer information from inadvertent or deliberate misuse, improper disclosure, or destruction. Having a person's medical records along with other personal employment, financial, banking, and tax information is a responsibility that the federal government wants to take - but we are still at risk.

So will your private information be guarded by the IRS? Who knows!

Besides, the bigger question is, who guards us from the IRS?

Yes, our government is violating our privacy like never before.

In fact, the Internal Revenue Service believes it doesn’t need permission to root through your emails, texts or other forms of electronic correspondence. This is according to recently released internal IRS agency documents.

The IRS documents, which were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union, reveal that IRS agents have been operating under the assumption that they can bypass court orders and warrants to search your private correspondence.

The ACLU, who I never thought I'd agree with, claims that the action on the part of the IRS in turn violates the Fourth Amendment.

According to a 2009 IRS employee handbook, though, the tax agency said the Fourth Amendment does not protect emails because Internet users don’t "have a reasonable expectation of privacy in such communications."

The current online version of the IRS manual says that no warrant is required for emails that are stored by an Internet storage provider for more than 180 days.

"This is an affront not only to our system of checks and balances, but also to our fundamental right to privacy," Colorado Democrat Sen. Mark Udall said in a statement, adding that he wants Congress to overhaul the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).

The ECPA is the federal law that governs law enforcement access to emails, and draws on what some say is an outdated distinction between email stored on a server for 180 days or less and email that has been opened.

Opened emailed and email older than six months does not require a warrant. Email that hasn’t been opened or is less than six months old does.

Last year, the ACLU looked into allegations that the IRS was reading people’s emails and checking their Facebook postings without permission.

Privacy advocate groups, like the ACLU, say the government must obtain a search warrant based on probable cause but the IRS told agents in its criminal division they didn’t need to.

The wishful thinking on this is that the IRS is going to stop on its own. Fact is, with the passage of ObamaCare, your medical, financial, tax, and banking records, your privacy will be violated.

Like it or not, ObamaCare mandates everyone purchase "qualified" health insurance or pay a fine called a "shared responsibility payment."

To assess who gets fined, the IRS is authorized to look through your private information.

Since liberty equals privacy, our liberty is at stake here.


Story by Tom Correa

Annette Funicello, "America's Sweetheart" Dies at 70

I just read that the Walt Disney Co. announced that Annette Funicello has died at age 70.

For you who never had the privilege of watching the original Mickey Mouse Club while growing up, you missed a great deal. And of the things you missed, you missed a very talented Annette Funicello.

She went from a 13 year-old Mouseketeer to a Beach Party movie icon, film star, wife and mother. Like millions of others, I grew up with Annette Funicello watching her on the original "The Mickey Mouse Club" on television, and later in the Beach Party movies.

Annette Funicello became the dark-haired darling of TV's "The Mickey Mouse Club" in the 1950s. She cemented her status as an American pop-culture icon in the 1960s by teaming up with actor/singer Frankie Avalon in the popular Beach Party movies.

Annette was diagnosed with MS, multiple sclerosis, in 1987 and became a spokeswoman for treatment of the chronic, often-debilitating disease of the central nervous system. That's what finally took her when she died at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, California.

Bob Iger, Disney’s chairman and chief executive, said, "Annette was and always will be a cherished member of the Disney family, synonymous with the word 'Mousketeer,' and a true Disney legend. She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney’s brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent. Annette was well known for being as beautiful inside as she was on the outside, and she faced her physical challenges with dignity, bravery and grace. All of us at Disney join with family, friends, and fans around the world in celebrating her extraordinary life."

Annette Joanne Funicello was born on October 22nd, 1942, and was only 12 years old, a dance-school student performing the lead role in “Swan Lake” at her dance-school's year-end recital at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank in the spring of 1955, when Walt Disney saw her.

She joined a group of other talented young performers hired to become Mouseketeers on “The Mickey Mouse Club."

It was a children's variety show that debuted on ABC in October 1955 and quickly became a daily late-afternoon ritual for millions of young Americans. My brothers and I were part of those millions of kids who wouldn't miss a single show. 

Like her fellow female Mouseketeers, Annette Funicello wore a mouse-eared beanie, a blue pleated skirt, and a white, short-sleeved turtleneck sweater with her name emblazoned in block letters across her chest.

There was something special about the Mouseketeer with the curly black hair that unexpectedly turned her into the Mouse Club's biggest star.

Annette made her acting debut on "The Mickey Mouse Club" serial "Adventure in Dairyland." She also appeared in two of the popular "Spin and Marty" serials about a Western dude ranch for boys, with Tim Considine and David Stollery in the title roles.

She gained fame on Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club," which for you who are too young to have enjoyed such innocents was an amalgamation of stories, songs, and dance routines that ran from 1955 to 1959.

There were no pyrotechnics, no loud music blaring to disguise the voices of the singers. The voices were great, the skids were outstanding, and nothing was violent. It was just a lot of fun.

Annette soon began receiving 8,000 fan letters a month, 10 times more than any of the 23 other young performers.

And yes, in 1958, Walt Disney showcased his prized Mouseketeer in her own show called "Annette" which was a serial withing the show.

Mr. Disney, as Funicello always called her boss, also licensed Annette lunch boxes, Colorforms dolls, coloring books, comic books and even mystery novels featuring her in fictionalized adventures.

"The Mickey Mouse Club" ended production in 1959 and went into reruns, that's how most of us still watched it for years.

By then, 15-year-old Annette was the only Mouseketeer to remain under exclusive contract to the Disney studio.

She made her feature-film debut in "The Shaggy Dog," a 1959 comedy starring Fred MacMurray. It was the first of four Disney feature films she appeared in over the next six years, including "Babes in Toyland," "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" and "The Monkey's Uncle."

Also, since she remained under contract with Disney, she did television roles in Zorro, Elfego Baca, and The Horsemasters.

For Zorro, she played Anita Campillo in a three-episode storyline about a teen-aged girl who arrives in Los Angeles to visit a father who does not seem to exist. This role was reportedly a birthday present from Walt Disney, and the first of two different characters played opposite Guy Williams as Zorro.

Although uncomfortable being thought of as a singer, Annette had a number of pop record hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including: "Tall Paul," "First Name Initial," "O Dio Mio," "Train of Love" (written by Paul Anka) and "Pineapple Princess."

They were released by Disney's Buena Vista label. Annette also recorded "It's Really Love" in 1959, a reworking of an earlier Paul Anka song called "Toot Sweet"; Anka reworked the song for a third time in 1962 as "Johnny's Theme" and it opened The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on television for the next three decades.

Paul Anka was noted to have a crush on her, however, Walt Disney overprotected Annette, which broke Paul's heart. This resulted in his song "Puppy Love", which was inspired by his hopeless romantic crush on Annette.

Walt Disney was reportedly a fan of 1950s pop star Teresa Brewer and tried to pattern Annette's singing in the same style.

Annette credits "the Annette sound" to her record producer, Tutti Camarata, who worked for Disney in that era. Camarata had her double-track her vocals, matching her first track as closely as possible on the second recording to achieve a fuller sound.

Annette became a teen idol after she receiving a big career boost from Walt Disney who agreed to loan her out to American International Pictures to make "Beach Party" movies with actor/singer Frankie Avalon.

In the wake of the huge success of "Beach Party" (1963), Annette and Frankie co-starred in "Muscle Beach Party" (1964), "Bikini Beach" (1964), "Pajama Party" (1964), "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965) and "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965). They were mostly low-budget comedy/musicals, all a lot of fun.

In 1979 Funicello began starring in a series of television commercials for Skippy peanut butter.

She and Frankie became iconic as "beach picture" stars and were re-united in 1987 for the Paramount film "Back to the Beach," parodying their own surf-and-sand films two decades earlier. They toured the country as a singing act. It was then that she began to suffer from dizzy spells, but she kept her failing health from her friends and family.

Then, in 1992, Annette absolutely stunned fans and friends around the world when she announced that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis.

She had kept her condition a secret for many years, but felt it necessary to go public to combat the nasty and hateful rumors being spread that her impaired ability to walk was the result of "alcoholism."

Yes, even a person as sweet and giving as Annette Funicello are attacked without reason. For me, I can only hope those spreading such nasty rumors enjoy their horrible lives.

In 1993, she opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundation.

Her autobiography, dictated to Patricia Romanowski and published in 1994, was "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: My Story."

The title was taken from a song from the Disney movie Cinderella. A made-for-TV movie based on the book, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story, was made in 1995.

In the final scene, the actress Eva LaRue portraying Annette riding in a wheelchair, turns away from the camera — turning back, it is Annette Funicello herself who delivered a message to a group of children.

During this period, she produced a line of teddy bears for the Annette Funicello Collectible Bear Company. The last collection in the series was made in 2004. She also had her own fragrance called "Cello, by Annette".

Annette Funicello was married to her first husband, Jack Gilardi who was 12 years older than her. They were married from 1965 until 1981. They had three children: Gina (b. 1966), Jack, Jr. (b. 1970), and Jason (b. 1974).

In 1986, she married California harness racing horse breeder/trainer Glen Holt. The couple were frequently seen at Los Alamitos Race Course and at Fairplex in Pomona in the 1980s and 1990s attending harness horse races.

In March 2011, her Encino, California home caught fire. She suffered smoke inhalation, but was otherwise unharmed. After the fire, Annette and her husband Glen began living full time at the modest ranch that they purchased decades earlier, located just south of Shafter, California, which is just north of Bakersfield.

That remained her primary residence until she passed away today at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, California..

I've read where she was a wonderful person, a great mom and wife, and a tireless spokeswoman for MS. It is said that she remained cheerful and upbeat, even while fighting her illness. She is said to have had a courage that inspired many around her.   

I pray that God has a special place for one who gave so much to others.

For us who grew up watching "The Mickey Mouse Club," Annette was the pretty dark-haired "older" Mouseketeer. At 13 years old, she was America's Sweetheart. We all loved her.

I've said a small prayer for her today. May God bless her and her family at this time.

Story by Tom Correa

What has America become?

Every once in a while I get something sent to me that is really well done. The "letter to the editor" below sums up things really well.

The author, a man by the name of Ken Huber spells out the problems we face while not pulling his punches.

"What has America become?" was written by Ken Huber of Tawas City, Michigan. It was originally printed in the Iosco County News Herald on June 9, 2010, published in the Opinion column. 

It contains a series of comparisons and contrasts which causes one to think about the double-standards and conditions under which we now live here in America. It is short and worth the read.  

Reprinted (for folks like me who need bigger print):

Editor,

Has America become the land of special interest and home of the double standard?

Lets see: if we lie to the Congress, it's a felony and if the Congress lies to us its just politics; if we dislike a black person, we're racist and if a black person dislikes whites, its their 1st Amendment right; the government spends millions to rehabilitate criminals and they do almost nothing for the victims; in public schools you can teach that homosexuality is OK, but you better not use the word God in the process; you can kill an unborn child, but it is wrong to execute a mass murderer; we don't burn books in America, we now rewrite them; we got rid of communist and socialist threats by renaming them progressive; we are unable to close our border with Mexico, but have no problem protecting the 38th parallel in Korea; if you protest against President Obama's policies you're a terrorist, but if you burned an American flag or George Bush in effigy it was your 1st Amendment right.

You can have pornography on TV or the Internet, but you better not put a nativity scene in a public park during Christmas; we have eliminated all criminals in America, they are now called sick people; we can use a human fetus for medical research, but it is wrong to use an animal.

We take money from those who work hard for it and give it to those who don't want to work; we all support the Constitution, but only when it supports our political ideology; we still have freedom of speech, but only if we are being politically correct; parenting has been replaced with Ritalin and video games; the land of opportunity is now the land of hand outs; the similarity between Hurricane Katrina and the gulf oil spill is that neither president did anything to help.

And how do we handle a major crisis today? The government appoints a committee to determine who's at fault, then threatens them, passes a law, raises our taxes; tells us the problem is solved so they can get back to their reelection campaign.

What has happened to the land of the free and home of the brave?

- Ken Huber
Tawas City

If we were writing this today, just a few years later, we can add:

Today it is just fine for the Federal Government to give billions of dollars to Foreign Countries not friendly to the United States, and have Homeland Security purchase 7,000 M-16 rifles for "personal use," buy 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition enough rounds to fight a war for 20 years, and buy 2,717 MRAP tanks for no reason nor justification, yet at the very same time say the government does not have enough money for FDA Meat Inspectors, FAA Air Traffic Control towers, or to open the White House to tours by taxpayers.

Today it is OK to suspend a child for making a "pop-tart" into what only a the child would consider a gun, or for wearing a patriotic t-shirt to school, yet it is OK for the Democrat Party's top donors in Hollywood to come out with more and more of the most ultra-violent movies ever made, and unrealistically graphic video games, without any consequences for their actions.

Today it is OK for the Federal Government to give a billion-dollar corporation Planned Parenthood millions of dollars in taxpayer funds, yet no one in government seems concerned that Abortion in America has turned into a billion-dollar Industry onto itself. An industry that is taxpayer funded and is responsible for killing millions of babies, not for reasons such as rape or incest or because the patient is at some sort of life-threatening medical condition, but instead as merely a birth-control method.

Today a student who spends $3000.00 for birth control over a 3 year period can go before a Senate committee to ask for more money, and then become a speaker at the Democrat National Convention, instead of being seen as a person with a psychological problem and referred to counseling for sex addiction.

Today Liberal politicians take offense and call her detractors "sexists" when that same woman from Georgetown University is called a "whore," all while at the same time they practice discrimination when they attempt to disarm women who have been rape victims and use guns for self-defense.

Today the government wants legal gun owners to register all of their guns with the government, yet child rapists, murderers, arsonist, and Muslim terrorists don't have to be registered.

Today we have teachers who demand that Christian students write the word "Jesus" on a piece of paper, place it on the floor and stomp on it, yet Muslims are protected from any sort of discrimination.

Today it is OK for white Liberals and Democrats to attack African-American Conservatives with impunity, yet anyone or group such as the Tea Party who disagrees with President Obama's policies are automatically called "Racists" and "Bigots."

Today, unlike years ago when Television News broadcasts were basically politically neutral, the major mainstream News outlets ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN and the Associated Press are unabashedly biased and make no effort to hide their Liberal beliefs or ties to the Democrat Party, all at the same time calling Fox News biased because Fox doesn't go along with their ideology or their political ties.

Today the EPA and USDA over regulates farmers and ranchers to the point of putting them out of business, yet nothing is said about the huge amounts of food that are now being brought into the United States from countries that have little to no environmental regulations on how their crops are grown - thus bringing harmful vegetables and meats into the United States for American consumers to eat. And yes, with no warnings attached to those foods.

Today it is OK for homosexual terrorist groups throw blood on Catholic practitioners coming out of church, yet those church goers are the ones called names like "homophobes" for not accepting their strange lifestyle.

Today it is OK for liberal groups to take out ads calling for the government to take control of your children, saying that you parents should have no say over what is good for your children, that the government knows what is best, that parents should hand over their children to the "collective" so that the child can be indoctrinated their way of thinking, all while at the same time the mainstream media denounces the teaching of children Christian beliefs and American patriotism - calling it conservative brainwashing.

There are more examples of double-standards and queer conditions under which we now live by here in America. The problem is that there are way too many to list here.