Kagan Declines To Say Gov't Has No Power to Tell Americans What To Eat

Does the federal government have the power under the commerce clause of the Constitution to tell the American people what to eat?

Sadly, it looks like our new Supreme Court Justice might just think that power exists...watch for yourself:



Senator Coburn is correct...the Founding Fathers who wrote the Commerce Clause never would have fathomed that the power under this clause would be so large to take away the liberty of the ordinary citizen.

The hypothetical law that Senator Coburn alluded too could actually become a reality. The federal government comes up with this type of garbage daily. They feel that it is their duty to protect the American people and that they know what is best for them.

This is the world in which we now live. We live under the power of the government that thinks it can tell us how to live our lives. It will take people with right minds to realize that this crap they pull in Washington is actually stripping us of our natural rights to be left alone.

Who will wake up to this...

Supreme Court Hearings....Just Another Side Show

The hearings to confirm Elena Kagan to the nation's highest court is under way in Washington at the moment, and it makes me wonder....is this just another side show in the game of Washington politics?  The answer is yes!

First off, Kagan is a liberal who will be replacing a liberal on the nation's highest court. There will be no ideological shift in the direction of the court, but the Senators that are in charge of the hearing make it look like this is some epic battle that is worth fighting. They did the same exact thing with Sonya Sotomayor, just last year, who was replacing a liberal as well.

This is the ultimate side who in American politics, because they make it look like they are putting up a fight and fulfilling their Constitutional duties, but rather they are just putting a stamp on the nominee while trying to make themselves look good in the process.

Kagan is going to say the same thing that all nominees say during their confirmation hearings. She will say that she will call cases as she see's them and will listen to all parties while they are arguing before the court. She will also say that she will be unbiased when trying to make a decision and base everything off the facts of the case. That is what Senators will ask her to do, and she will oblige them by saying she will do just that.

The cold hard fact is she will be biased from the second she walks into the court. They all are!!

So, these hearings are just a side show in politics that are wasting the tax paying dollars, if the Senators will not grill her like they should be doing and demand that they answer their questions truthfully. Now I know that a nominee can't answer hypothetical questions about cases that have not come before the court yet, but if this is just going to be a dog and pony show for the America people, then don't waste my time or money and get back to focusing on the real issues at hand in this country.

Rand Paul Money Bomb Today!

Now more than ever we need people in Washington D.C. that are representing our beliefs and understand the meaning of the Constitution.

Go to Rand Paul's Senate Website right now to donate to his money bomb.

We need Rand in the Senate and others that share his same view!

Joint Letter to UC President re: Anti-Semitism

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


The below linked letter has been sent to University of California President Mark Yudof by three UC professors protesting continued anti-Semitism on UC campuses. It also contains statements by several Jewish students on various campuses. The complaints are damning.

A copy was provided to me by Ms Benjamin, and I am cross-posting it off the website of the Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism

http://octaskforce.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/2575/

(click "letter")

Supreme Court Extends Gun Rights Ruling to All States

In another move for freedom and liberty, the U.S. Supreme Court has extended their ruling in the Heller case, which gives citizens the individual right to bear arms, for all cities and states around the country.

From Fox News:

In its second major ruling on gun rights in three years, the Supreme Court Monday extended the federally protected right to keep and bear arms to all 50 states. The decision will be hailed by gun rights advocates and comes over the opposition of gun control groups, the city of Chicago and four justices.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the five justice majority saying "the right to keep and bear arms must be regarded as a substantive guarantee, not a prohibition that could be ignored so long as the States legislated in an evenhanded manner."

The ruling builds upon the Court's 2008 decision in D.C. v. Heller that invalidated the handgun ban in the nation's capital. More importantly, that decision held that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms was a right the Founders specifically delegated to individuals. The justices affirmed that decision and extended its reach to the 50 states. Today's ruling also invalidates Chicago's handgun ban.

This is a big ruling that extends the protection of the Bill of Rights to everyone in this country and sets  good precedent by the high court that the meaning of the Constitution still means something even today.

To much we have seen members in Washington spit upon the Constitution, and disregard it as a document that doesn't have meaning, but today that changed just a little bit.

We have rights and protections under the Constitution and that is guaranteed to every citizen of the United States...maybe, just maybe, the Supreme Court understands that more than the other two branches of government.

Huckabee: I'm the 2012 Republican frontrunner...God Help Us if That is the Choice

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee declared himself the GOP front runner in the 2012 Presidential election. All I can say is this...god help us if that is our only choice!



This will be the downfall of Republicans if they let this happen. We have an opportunity to really take back this country and if we continue to fall behind the same old crap that comes along every couple of years, we will lose our great country.

Think twice before you vote for the old order, and consider a new type of order in this country...one where freedom and liberty will shine.

Oppose Unionization of Police & Firefighters

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


"Whadda ya mean youse don't wanna join da union?"


I have received a message from the National Right to Work Committee alerting me to a proposed bill to put police and firefighters under union control. This is a bill that Harry Reid is trying to push through before November to please his union buddies. It is called the Police and Firefighters Monopoly Bargaining Bill (S 3194). The below link has a petition by which you can urge your senators to vote no.


http://www.righttoworkcommittee.org/pfactionfax.aspx

When I was a Customs Agent in the early 1970s, there was a move to bring us under a union (I think it was the AFL-CIO.) In an office meeting, one of our agents stated that if we, as law enforcement personnel, joined a union, we could never call ourselves professionals. I agreed with him then, and I agree with him now. The thought of police and firefighters being under the thumb of a union and engaging in strikes is abhorrent to me.

I hope you will sign the petition. Believe me, there are young staffers galore in Washington whose job it is to count the yeas and nays from their constituents

Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker on The Federal Fiscal Crisis

David Walker spent his life working for the GAO and keep the books on the federal government. He was their top accountant and he quit that post to warn the American people of the fiscal nightmare that is coming to our country....I think it is about time to listen to what he is telling everyone.

Watch this video:



Pass this along to everyone you know so they will wake up as well.

America Ready for a New Movement?

As reports keep surfacing every single day that President Obama's popularity is tanking a question keeps coming up...is America ready for a new type of movement?

From the Wall Street Journal:

Americans are more pessimistic about the state of the country and less confident in President Barack Obama's leadership than at any point since Mr. Obama entered the White House, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

So, if the answer is yes, that America is ready for this new movement, then what should it be? Should it be another conservative movement...a different type of liberal movement? Well there is another choice and that is libertarianism.

With the launch of the tea party movement in America, we have seen commentators on television talking about the ideas of libertarianism. People like Glenn Beck have come out and said that they are now libertarian.

It is interesting to note that when you tell people what libertarianism actually is, they are taken back and realize that this is what they believe. They are reluctant to switch to the movement, but with the events that are shaping this country, more and more people are taking the leap to the right side of the argument.

We are ready for a movement in this country that will no longer lie to the people. We are tired of the two party system and ready for new direction....and that is what you get with Libertarianism.

So, get past everything you have heard about this idea and research for yourself what it truly is and come on over...you will be so much happier once you make the switch.

Mission Free Iran and HR 1371

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


In answer to a posting I wrote some time ago on Iran, I received this comment today from Maria Rohaly of Mission Free Iran. Rather than let it lie buried in the archives, I think it merits a separate and new post. Of interest is that Code Pink, Feminist Majority and N.O.W. have, as yet, shown no indication of support for Maria's group and their effort.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our organization (Mission Free Iran) is holding the feet of NOW, Feminist Majority, and Code Pink to the fire. House Resolution 1371 has echoed our demands to condemn the ascension of the Islamic Republic to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and to actively work to remove the regime from the Commission.

I have asked each of these organizations twice now what their position is on HR1371, and none of them have responded. They will be held accountable for their refusal to stand up for women's equality.

Please feel free to join us in demanding that these organizations take a position on HR1371:
Feminist Majority: feedback@feminist.org
Code Pink: info@codepinkalert.org.
NOW's email form is here: http://www.now.org/comments.html Ask them about their position on HR1371."

June 22, 2010 5:32 PM
Gary Fouse said...
I'll do better than that, Maria. I will make your letter a post. Thank you for your efforts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there you go, Maria. Will you keep us posted on your efforts and also on whether you get a response back from Code Pink, Feminist Majority and N.O.W.? I'll be glad to report that as well.

Good luck.

Sgt Smack: The True Story Behind "American Gangster"

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


Some time ago, I wrote a post on the movie, "American Gangster", a greatly distorted account of New York heroin dealer Frank Lucas. I mentioned that a book was in the works about Leslie "Ike" Atkinson, the true kingpin of the organization based in Southeast Asia and North Carolina in the 1970s. Now that book is on the bookshelves. Since I gave some historical assistance to the author, Ron Chepesiuk, in regards to the events in Thailand, the publisher and author have sent me a flyer, which I would like to post here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


New Biography of Drug Kingpin Ike Atkinson Uncovers Biggest Hoax in the History of the International Drug Trade


"Sergeant Smack:
The Legendary Lives and Times of
Ike Atkinson, Kingpin,
and His Band of Brothers"
Hits Bookstores June 21


Former Kingpin Ike Atkinson and Crime Author Ron Chepesiuk to Embark on Book Tour


Raleigh, North Carolina - In what might be considered a 'literary' showdown, award winning crime author Ron Chepesiuk uncovers one of the biggest hoaxes in the history of the international drug trade in his new release, "Sergeant Smack: The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and his Band of Brothers." Slated to hit bookshelves on June 21, just days after "American Gangster" Frank Lucas' book is released, "Sergeant Smack" details the true legend of Ike Atkinson, one of the biggest Black drug traffickers in U.S. history.

Atkinson pioneered some of the most innovative methods used in international drug smuggling. They ranged from duffle and AWOL bags, to the U.S. Army Postal System to the use of unsuspecting crew chiefs who operated military aircraft to teakwood furniture.

But, contrary to popular belief, Atkinson's methods did not include the bogus cadaver-heroin smuggling connection conspiracy exploited by Frank Lucas in Hollywood's blockbuster film, "American Gangster." The film not only distorted Atkinson's historical role in the international drug trade, but falsely depicted Lucas as the pioneer of the Asian heroin connection. As the book, "Sergeant Smack" conclusively shows, the conspiracy is a hoax, as is Frank Lucas' claims to participation with Ike in the conspiracy.

"One of the major reasons we decided to do the book was to set the record straight on the cadaver-heroin conspiracy hoax," Atkinson explains. "It's truly amazing to me that the media and the public have bought Frank Lucas' story without checking it out. Lucas' claims defy common sense. How could Lucas mastermind the cadaver-heroin connection when he was never in the military? Why would I ship dope via such a grisly method when I had much easier and safer ways to ship it? Why hasn't anybody stepped forward to verify Lucas' claim? Why has no one ever been arrested or convicted?"

Chepesiuk is no newcomer to uncovering crime. He has penned some 25 books including titles, "Gangsters of Miami," "Drug Lords, the Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel," "Gangsters of Harlem" and "Gangsters of Chicago" and over 4000 articles and features. His last book, "Gangster of Miami" was the award winner in the "True Crime" category of the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards and won the silver prize (second place) in the True Crime category of Foreword Magazine's 2009 Book of the Year awards.

Chepesiuk contends that Frank Lucas stole much of the gangster legend that positioned him as Hollywood's big ticket from Ike Atkinson. Now 84-years old, Atkinson was recently released from federal prison after serving a 32-year prison term. Deemed one of the biggest American drug kingpins ever to operate out of Asia, Atkinson, who operated in the 1970s, never carried a gun, never committed murder and never bowed down to the infamous Italian La Cosa Nostra. As a U.S. Army Master Sergeant, he utilized his intellect and charm to, by conservative estimates, smuggle over 1000 pounds of heroin annually from Bangkok, Thailand, through U.S. military bases into the United States. Atkinson's notorious enterprise was so complex and profitable; it easily rivaled that of popular modern day hoodlums, the Black Mafia Family.

"It will be interesting to see how this ultimately unfolds," observes Chepesiuk. "With both of these crime legends having books come out in the same month, readers should find it interesting to actually document the truth behind the drama. For example, in the movie version of his life, and in Mark Jacobson's New York Magazine article, upon which the movie is based, Lucas claims to buy dope in Bangkok from a mysterious drug trafficker he called '007.' 007 was in reality, Luchai Ruviwat, Ike's partner!"

Chepesiuk adds. "What Lucas knew about the Golden Triangle he learned from his visit to Bangkok under the guidance of Ike Atkinson and from the stories he heard while there at Jack's American Star Bar, a venue co-owned by Ike. Also, interestingly, Frank Lucas is not Ike Atkinson's cousin, as portrayed in the movie. In no way are they related by blood!"

Ike Atkinson has publicly requested a sit-down interview with Frank Lucas, but it has been to no avail as Lucas has yet to respond.

Ike Atkinson and Ron Chepesiuk are planning an East Coast book signing tour that kicks off on July 17 at Black Star Video in Harlem, New York City. Join Ike Atkinson on Facebook for tour updates and details.

See and hear from Ike Atkinson himself
at youtube.com and read about him at IkeAtkinsonKingpin.com. For more information about Ron Chepesiuk, go to ronchepesiuk.com .

And pick up the "Sergeant Smack: The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and his Band of Brothers" online or at a bookstore near you!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note to the media: Both Ron Chepesiuk and Ike Atkinson are available for interviews. Contact jazzmynepr@gmail.com. E-book copies of Sergeant Smack" available upon request.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(I must admit that I am a little uncomfortable in promoting Leslie Atkinson's part in this, but he did spend over 30 years in prison, so I suppose he has paid his debt to society.)

From 1975-1978, while being stationed in Bangkok, Thailand, I became involved in the Bangkok end of the DEA investigation into the Atkinson organization. This group consisted of retired army NCOs who set up a heroin smuggling ring from Bangkok to the US utilizing the military transportation system. Shipments of heroin to the US usually consisted of approximately 50 kilos of pure heroin per shipment. Once retrieved in the US, the heroin was distributed to local dealers in various US cities including Frank Lucas in New York. Contrary to "American Gangster", Atkinson, not Lucas controlled the smuggling operation and supervised those in Bangkok. In
1976, Atkinson and about 10 others including his daughter and son-in-law were tried in Federal Court in Raleigh, North Carolina. I attended the trial in Raleigh, in which Atkinson was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison. (Atkinson was already incarcerated in Atlanta penitentiary on a previous conviction. He was only released a couple of years ago. He is now in his eighties.)

Chepesiuk is an internationally recognized crime writer, and if you want to learn the real story behind "American Gangster" (of which Lucas was really only one figure) then you might want to pick up a copy. (You might even find my name in there once or twice.)

What is Going on in the Jewish Community in Boston?

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


The below video is produced by Peace and Tolerance.com and concerns Imam Abdullah Farooq of the Boston Islamic Cultural Center, a man who is on tape making violent statements, has questionable associations, but who seems to have important friends in Massachusetts.



Now that you have seen the tape and heard a little about Farooq and his associates, you are probably asking yourself why a man who makes such references to a gun and a sword has support from the Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. Surely, you also remember the name of Massachusttes Attorney General Martha Coakley, right?

No? Remember the Ted Kennedy Senate seat where a Republican surprised everybody by winning? Coakley was the Democratic opponent.

Now comes another interesting sidelight. One of the figures who has brought much of this to light is a distinguished Jewish civil rights veteran named Charles Jacobs, who is with Americans for Peace and Tolerance, an organization whose mission it is to protect Jews from Islamic extremism and support Muslim moderates. As we speak, he is being slammed by about 70 greater Boston rabbis who are defending Farooq, with whom they are engaged in many of those inter-faith get togethers we all hear about. Not only slamming Jacobs, they are trying to make him an outcast in his own community. (Some of you UC-Irvine watchers will note a familiar trend here.) Here is a cross-post from StellaPundit, written by Stella Paul, cross-posted on American Thinker reporting on this story.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/when_bad_rabbis_happen_to_a_go.html

A word about inter-faith activities between Muslim, Jewish and Christian groups: In theory, they are a great idea, and no doubt, many are sincere on all sides. I do suspect, however, that many of them-not all-but many- are nothing more than deceptions designed to lull the Jewish and Christian communities to sleep. There is a word-taqqiya- which decribes this deception. The important thing is to truly identify those Islamic entities that are truly moderrate and peaceful in their intentions. That is what Jacobs is trying to get across here.

I need to say another thing here which may offend many of my Jewish friends. I hope they won't take it in the wrong way, but I need to say it. There are many within the Jewish community whom I would (loosely) compare to the old Nazi-era Judenrats and Kapos.*

* The Judenrats (German for Jewish Councils) were established by the Nazis to act as administrative go-betweens between them and the Jews who were being assembled into ghettoes for eventual deportation to the death camps.

Kapos were Jewish prisoners in the death camps who actually were used to herd arriving prisoners and dispose of the dead for a period of a few months until they too were gassed.

I know that is a harsh comparison and perhaps trivializes the Holocaust, which I have no desire to do. However, if ever a second Holocaust comes to pass (and I don't discount the possibility) there will be many Jewish "useful idiots" who will have blood on their hands as they go to their own deaths.

Obama to Reveal Health Law Enforcement Details

Every American that does not have health insurance better be on the look out, because here comes Obama's personal enforcement army to make sure that you have health insurance and if you don't to give you a fine, or maybe jail time.

From Fox News:

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is revealing details of how the government will enforce the health overhaul law, an announcement expected to focus on how insurance companies must treat consumers.

Administration officials were meeting privately Tuesday at the White House with insurance company CEOs and state insurance commissioners, the White House said in a written statement, with Obama expected to attend at least part of the session. The president was then expected to announce regulations for implementing consumer safeguards enacted by the law, according to administration allies who were briefed in advance and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The events mark 90 days since Obama signed the health revamp into law, one of his administration's chief victories so far.

The law's consumer safeguards, called the patients' bill of rights, are limited steps that take effect this year. The main provisions, including federal funding

to help 32 million uninsured people get coverage, won't come until 2014. The administration worries that escalating premiums will force more people drop their policies before the law is fully implemented.

Consumers who buy their policies directly face increases averaging 20 percent this year, according to a survey released Monday by the private Kaiser Family Foundation. Although most Americans are covered on the job, about 14 million purchase insurance on the individual market and have the least bargaining power when it comes to costs.

 Well at least the end of Liberty is on its way and we know it is coming...but is there a way to stop this?

End the Mandate!

There are now bills in Congress that would make the mandatory health care coverage illegal and end the mandate by the federal government for everyone to purchase some type of health insurance.

You can join the effort through the Campaign for Liberty to End the Mandate and let your voice be heard.

END THE INSURANCE MANDATE!
Big Government statists have launched a scheme designed to do two things they love more than anything else: vastly increase the size and power of government – and give our federal masters more control over our personal business.

It’s getting harder and harder for them to conceal their true intentions. And people are waking up to it.

Now you and I have a choice to make. We can give up and give in. Or we can FIGHT BACK.

C4L is working to contact millions of Americans about Ron Paul’s END THE MANDATE ACT, H.R. 4995, which would repeal ObamaCare’s mandate forcing Americans to carry government-approved insurance – a requirement that will be enforced by our old pals at the IRS.

Your signed copy of the first page of Ron Paul’s bill, along with those from millions of others all across the country, will show the statists in Washington that we are not ready to surrender our health freedom.

This critical battle cannot succeed without your help.

Sign the petition right away!

In Liberty,

John Tate
President
Campaign for Liberty

Support H.R. 4995 and sign the petition!

Norway Should Apologize for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize and Crown Princess Victoria's Wedding

Based on the record, it is fair to expect that the Norwegian Nobel Committee's choice this year will be widely criticized. It seems wise then, to weigh in early and avoid the rush. If there is any question about who was first, it should be remembered that this condemnation came a full five months ahead of the announcement.

I write on the day of the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden to her long-time secret boyfriend. The revelation, moments of suspense, and accomplishments of the clandestine relationship have been so expertly covered by the Scandinavian press that the object of her affection has long-since become too famous for any need of a last name. Therefore, I do not know it, and will likely also fail to remember that he is to be known as HRH Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergotland.

According to The Telegraph, it will be the biggest European royal wedding since the marriage of Charles and Diana. Stockholm Cathedral (“The Great Church”), built in the mid-13th century by the founder of Stockholm, was renovated for the occasion. Swedish flags and 40,000 roses, carnations, lilies, and hydrangeas decorate the streets, which are patrolled by 8,000 soldiers and police officers. The list of official spectators, totaling more than 250, includes royalty from around the world, financiers, politicians and other public figures, with just enough room left over for a few close friends of the bride and groom.

The headline in Aftonbladet this morning reports that Victoria's mother, Queen Silvia cried during a performance in pre-wedding festivities yesterday. Happily, it was not due to disappointment over the arrangements, nor is she expected to raise any objection to the marriage when the opportunity arises. It can reasonably be assessed then, that her expression was not particularly unusual or noteworthy.

In fact, the nation gasped in relief as numerous pictures have appeared of a near catastrophe turned to triumph. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt hosted an elegant dinner on Skeppsholmen, one of Stockholm's small islands near the entrance to the Baltic Sea. When the honored couple reached the event, it was clear that the Princess' gown was long enough to threaten a moment of clumsiness as she traversed the stairway to the enter the building.

As gracefully as as a swan on a pond, Victoria gathered the lower part of her garment, followed by the quick and attentive grasp of her mate for safety's sake. The world now knows that the future position of first-man of Sweden and the Province of Västergotland are in the hands of a gentleman.



There will be a grand procession following the ceremony, offering the masses an opportunity to line the streets to receive a friendly wave from the new man and wife. The rain that has poured over the city has been temporarily suspended for comfort and convenience. Shops are selling mugs, plates, post cards, and embroidered pink slippers bearing the couple's smiling faces. Adding to their value, purchasers should be aware that owning any of these items will bring them more status and prestige than a Nobel Peace Prize.

Obama's Great Speech-Even MSNBC Hated It

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


Barack Obama reminds me of the smooth-talking traveling salesman-the guy who talks his way through your front door and proceeds to talk his way right out the back door. This week, his speech fell flat not just to Fox News, but even the mad hatters at MSNBC hated it. (Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Howard Fineman). When even Chris Matthews doesn't get that tingling down his leg, you've failed. The inspiring rhetoric has now fallen on deaf ears. In his speech, Barack Obama might as well have been speaking to a nation-wide audience of oysters.

Obama covered three areas, which may be summarized as follows:

1 Clean up- From Day One we have been doing a great job-30,000 people, millions of feet of boom, ect (They are not. It's a mess)

2 Gulf Coast restoration- Blue ribbon commission to be headed by ex-Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus. Yawn.

3 Make sure it never happens again, from which he segued into the need to switch to clean energy (wind turbines, solar, etc).

In addition, he told us how he and Ken Salazar have been reforming the MMS agency that for a decade had been corrupt and in bed with the oil companies. Translation? Blame George W Bush.

He also told how he is going to dictate to BP that they set up an escrow fund to pay for the damage. Of course, he has no authority to do so, but BP will probably agree for purposes of PR if nothing else.

Bottom line? Obama has very little clue as what he should do, so he made a speech, which is what he used to do best.

Look, I, as much as anyone, would like to see us switch to cars that could run on peanut butter or anything else but oil. But we are talking about the here and now. No windmill is going to blow my car down the road. The sad fact is that the world runs on oil and we need it. We can't continue to keep buying it from Saudi Arabia and all those other lousy countries that don't even like us. We need to produce our own oil while we develop this elusive alternative clean energy. Drilling in the middle of the ocean (thanks to the environmentalists) has produced a leak that nobody can plug for 4-5 months. We should be drilling off the coast and in Alaska. Then, when that new source of clean energy is developed, we can celebrate the end of oil.

America is finally learning that you can't run a country on great speeches.

MSNBC Trashes Obama Speech

In a big turn of events, the lovers of Obama, MSNBC, trashed President Obama's address to the nation last night.

This is a big deal because this is a network that was in the tank for Obama during his campaign, but with a faltering Presidency, they even realize the truth.

Watch the video:

Get Ready-Obama to Speak to Nation

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk



US Government agencies in action on the Gulf Coast
(Wait till you see how they run health care.)


Tonight is the night we have all been waiting for since that oil disaster began a couple of months back. Tonight, the Messiah, Barack Obama, will speak to the Nation. Tomorrow, all the problems in the Gulf Coast will be solved. What will Obama say? Here is the official Fousesquawk preview.

First, he will tell us that the "buck stops here" because he's the President. Then he will talk about all the problems going back the previous decade (Bush). Count how many times he will say, "Day One" to describe how his administration has been on the job from "Day One". Maybe he will tell us about those 12-13 federal agencies, which all have some degree of jurisdiction over this and that, who are stepping all over each other in what must resemble a figure 8 stock car race in gridlock-"since Day One".

He will also announce that he is appointing an "Oil Recovery Czar". God only knows who that might be. The czar will report directly to him. Maybe he will also appoint a "Blue Ribbon Commission" that will report directly to him-or the czar.

He will tell us how he is kicking BP's ass with one boot while keeping the other boot on BP's neck.

He will talk about how this disaster is teaching us that we must find alternate, green sources of energy and move away from drilling. Don't expect him to say anything about how the environmentalists have forced oil companies into much deeper waters where capping a leak is more problematic because that technology has not caught up.

Similarly, don't expect him to tell us why the EPA declined an offer from the Dutch Government on Day Three to supply skimmers that would collect thousands of barrels of oil a day.

Don't expect him to explain why all those miles of booms have been sitting in a warehouse in Maine while Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was pleading for the government to send booms.

Don't expect him to explain why Jindal, tired of waiting, is sending in the National Guard to set up booms to protect the state's coastline.

Of course, his clones at MSNBC will follow up by telling us that the President said precisely what he had to say to restore public confidence in the government. Fox will say the opposite.

The truth is he is probably better off saying nothing. Not too many people are listening any more.

Another truth; yes, the disaster is BP's fault. It is their responsibility to cap the leak and pay for all the damages and costs. It is the oil industry that supposedly has the expertise to accomplish this. The government's responsibility is to help keep that oil away from our coastlines.

My liberal friends will tell me that I am a hypocrite for demanding government action when, as a conservative, I am always arguing for smaller government that stays out of our lives. On the contrary, government's first and most important duty is to protect the nation, its citizens and property. Seems to me that this fits right into that category. It is fair that he and the leaders of the impacted states be judged on their performance-not their words.

Pot Shops...The Way of Liberty

In the city of Colorado Springs, where this website hails, there is a movement on to ban the existence of marijuana dispensaries within the city limits. Now, one might think that this is a good thing, while others will question the intention of the city council and the people pushing this measure to the voters. But there is an underlining legal problem that this movement will face...and that is the Colorado Constitution.

From the Colorado Springs Gazette:

Dozens of existing medical marijuana dispensaries could be outlawed in Colorado Springs, and the mayor would have sweeping powers, including the authority to lower taxes, under two separate proposals making their way to the ballot.

The effort to ban pot shops involves a man who says his two daughters died because of drug use.

First off, the medicinal use of marijuana is not any worse than the use of alcohol by able adults. The use of marijuana in general does not have the side effects that alcohol has on an individual.

Secondly, the government has no right to impose a moral standard upon its people in a free society. People are free to make their own choices without the interference of government.

Now, to the legal question. The city of Colorado Springs, which is one of the most conservative cities in the country, wishes to ban the existence of pot shops within their limits. However, they will face a big legal obstacle, and that is the Colorado Constitution.

The voters in this great state voted for and passed a Constitutional provision a few years ago that allowed for the use of medicinal marijuana. Now the big questions presents itself...can a city opt out of a Constitutional provision? The answer is no way. No city can give itself unlimited power and take down private business that is operating under the Colorado Constitution.

This is bad for city that is trying to yield its power over its people.

How about they let freedom reign and let the people decide for themselves what course to take.

U.S debt to rise to $19.6 trillion by 2015

In the next 5 years, our U.S. National Debt will increase to $19 trillion.

From Reuters:

The report that was sent to lawmakers Friday night with no fanfare said the ratio of debt to the gross domestic product would rise to 102 percent by 2015 from 93 percent this year.

"The president's economic experts say a 1 percent increase in GDP can create almost 1 million jobs, and that 1 percent is what experts think we are losing because of the debt's massive drag on our economy," said Republican Representative Dave Camp, who publicized the report.

He was referring to recent testimony by University of Maryland Professor Carmen Reinhart to the bipartisan fiscal commission, which was created by President Barack Obama to recommend ways to reduce the deficit, which said debt topping 90 percent of GDP could slow economic growth.

The U.S. debt has grown rapidly with the economic downturn and government spending for the Wall Street bailout, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the economic stimulus. The rising debt is contributing to voter unrest ahead of the November congressional elections in which Republicans hope to regain control of Congress.

The total U.S. debt includes obligations to the Social Security retirement program and other government trust funds. The amount of debt held by investors, which include China and other countries as well as individuals and pension funds, will rise to an estimated $9.1 trillion this year from $7.5 trillion last year.

By 2015 the net public debt will rise to an estimated $14 trillion, with a ratio to GDP of 73 percent, the Treasury report said. (Reporting by Donna Smith; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

So which politician is going to stop this madness...

Al-Jazeera Article by Mark LeVine

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


I am linking a pro-Palestinian article written by Professor Mark LeVine of UC-Irvine (where I also teach) on Al-Jazeera. LeVine, who made "headlines" lately by calling David Horowitz a "liar" on "international television" (actually, it was on Sean Hannity's show), is solidly pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel, which is his right. Aside from his condemnation of Israel, however, there were a few lines that really caught my eye.

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/06/20106162847943928.html

I have a couple of comments. First of all, I am not interested in debating who the good guys are and who the bad guys are in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. LeVine supports the Palestinians and I support Israel's right to exist in peace and to defend herself. As far as America's alliance with Israel over the years, the reasons may have been complicated from one period to the next, but to me, it has been the moral thing to do. I guess the main reason I have been sympathetic to Israel all of my adult life (which began in the 1960s) is that I remember so many Palestinian/Arab terror attacks over the decades, from the skyjackings, to the airport attacks (i.e. Rome and Vienna), the 1972 Munich Olympics, Entebbe, the kidnappings, the hostages, the Achille Lauro etc. In many of these incidents, Americans and other nationalities died. I remember the 1967 and 1973 wars, in which Israel was fighting for her very survival. Then more recently came the suicide bombings and the rockets lobbed into Israel.

I have never tried to argue that the Palestinians did not have legitimate grievances or that Israel was perfect. I simply believe, as stated above, that Israel has a right to exist and defend herself. So on that we can agree to disagree.

I would, however, like to take issue with one point that LeVine makes.
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"The martyrs of the ships are heroes, they are warriors every bit as deserving of our tears and support as the soldiers of American wars past and present.

They are, in fact, the soldiers of the future - the only ones who can help us get out of the disastrous slide to moral turpitude that we, as much as Israel, have descended as a country.

Let us hope that the deaths of the Gaza flotilla activists will not be as in vain as those of the 5,000 American soldiers who have died in our own illegal and useless wars in the last decade."
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Sorry, professor, but you are out of line here.













I do not consider the 9 Turks that were killed on the Mavi Marmara to be heroes or martyrs. More importantly, to compare those thugs with American soldiers who have given their lives in wars past and present (some of which you call illegal)is insulting. I don't know if you have ever served in the military (I have), but I suspect if you had, you might have more reverence for our fallen than to compare them to the 9 "martyrs".

Ron Paul: Why Big Government Hates Gold

With all of the debt crisis that we are facing, the question comes up...how about gold?

Well here is Ron Paul explaining why big government hates gold:

Thousands Rally for Israel in LA

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


Approximately 3-4,000 people gathered in front of the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles this afternoon to show support for Israel. Speakers included Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), Jon Voight, Chuck DeVore (Republican candidate for Senator), Congressman Brad Sherman D-CA) and several Jewish rabbis and Christian pastors. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also attended. There were no counter-demonstrators. According to a good friend, who got a front row seat, it was an impressive display for support for Israel on the part of the Jewish and Christian community. There was another message that rang out; there will be no Islamic takeover in America.

Whither Turkey

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk






The major role that Turkey took in the flotilla bound for Gaza has highlighted the fact that this nation is standing squarely between east and west, geographically, culturally, and politically. The dividing line between Asia and Europe literally runs right through the city of Istanbul. In recent years, Turkey has been trying to get admitted into the European Union. Being no admirer of the EU, I have often asked my Turkish acquaintances why they would want to bother being admitted to a bureaucratic mess that has continually imposed one condition after another on them. Right now, it doesn't look like a good idea for the EU to admit Turkey.

I have visited Turkey on two occasions (Ankara and Istanbul on both visits. ) At that time, I was on official business with DEA (working drug cases with the Turkish National Police). I enjoyed the country, liked the people and valued by relationship with the head of the Turkish National Police drug department in Ankara (Attila Aytek). He was an honest and dedicated cop, who worked closely with his international colleagues.

In addition, Turkey is a beautiful country with friendly (and tough) people, fantastic food and world-class beer. Though Muslims, the Turks had been secular since the rule of Kemal Ataturk, who changed the Turkish alphabet from Arabic into Latin and generally reduced the Islamic influence over Turkish life. Turks are unabashed drinkers, who love their Raki and as stated, one of the world's great beers.

In recent years, with the breakup of the ex-USSR, Turkey established links with the Turkic-speaking, newly independent states of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

Now, with world events being what they are, Turkey is changing. The hijab is coming back and Turkey, under the pro-Islamist rule of Recep Erdogan, is moving farther and farther away from Europe and the West in general. Turkey, heretofore, Israel's only Muslim ally, is now close to breaking that bond. Rather than integrate into Europe, many are harking back to the old Ottoman Empire.

Turks mourning flotilla dead



The question for Europe is now whether they want Turkey, in its current makeup, as part of the European Union. Far be it from me to advise the Europeans, but it seems that now even more time is needed to assess what the advantages and disadvantages would be to admitting Turkey. Right now, with the prospect of the country drifting in the direction of Islamic influence, it looks problematical. It would be with much sadness to watch the west lose its friendship with Turkey.

Who is Behind the Gaza Flotilla?

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk



Paul Larudee




Kathy Sheetz




Greta Berlin



Before you readers fall too deeply for the line that Israel attacked a bunch of peace-loving humanitarians en route to Gaza, and if you have not already been cured of that illusion by the videos showing what actually happened, you might like to know who is actually behind these flotillas. The two main players are the Free Gaza Movement based in El Cerrito, California and the International Solidarity Movement based in the East Bay area of California. They advertise themselves as peace-loving humanitarians who care so deeply for the poor Palestinians. In reality, their goal is linking up with the Palestinians and other assorted Islamists to bring about the fall of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state. The other player is the Turkish "aid" group, IHH, which intelligence sources (including Israeli intelligence) believe has ties to Hamas and even al-Qaeda.

The three names you need to know are Greta Berlin, Paul Larudee and Kathy Sheetz of the International Solidarity Movement. These characters were involved in the first Free Gaza flotilla that arrived in Gaza in August of 2008. As their reward, they were feated by Hamas and their leader Ismail Haniya.

They also got a US Congressional Certificate of Recognition from California Congressman Mike Honda (CA) last January. Honda is running for re-election in California's 15th district. He is supported by that pseudo Jewish organization, "J Street".

This the same northern California crowd that tried (unsuccessfully) to boycott Trader Joes because they sell Israeli products. They also sponsor many speakers at university campuses to blast Israel.


http://www.sanjosepeace.org/article.php/20100202164111785

All three were involved in the this last flotilla that was intercepted by the Israeli Defense Force. Berlin became separated from the flotilla in Cyprus while Larudee and Sheetz were detained by the IDF.

The point is this; the people behind this flotilla are dedicated to bringing about the end of the Israeli state.