The Pledge of Allegiance
by Senator John McCain

As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room.

This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.

One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian. Mike came from a small town near Selma , Alabama . He didn't wear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed.

As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.

Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt.

Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.

One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it.

That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could.

The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.

As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.

So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country.

verified at snopes.com

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I include this speech by Senator McCain, not because it was given by McCain, or because of his service, but because it's an important message regarding our military's fight to protect our freedoms.

Freedom Isn't Free

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes Shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmar ked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Dedicated to the US Military, past, present and future. God Bless each and every one of them.

I don't know the real title of this poem or the author. If you know, please let me know.

Will He Never Learn?

From lauraingraham.com

If you thought John McCain had learned from his initial amnesty push with Ted Kennedy, you're wrong. We took note back in January when, appearing on Meet the Press, he reflected on the immigration reform implosion, saying: "The lesson is they want the borders secured first." (Note the odious use of "they," rather than, say, "Americans.")

So, lesson learned? Keep dreaming. National Review's Jim Geraghty reports that in a weekend conference call with reporters, campaign manager Rick Davis downplayed concerns that this fanfare for amnesty is politically damaging, claiming it was actually a positive that "may suit to fit him in a general election."

Really. Either Team McCain thinks the leadership of La Raza is a representative sample of the American populace, or he hasn't learned a damn thing about why his amnesty-for-all bill nearly toppled his political career. Sad to say, I'm not sure which it is.

Barack Obama Wants Your Money!

That's what John McCain said this morning in a speech at the National Small Business Summit, and I hope it's a sign of things to come. Obama's on Day 2 of an 11-day "economic tour," which by the looks of things, promises to be the gift that keeps on giving. McCain's lucky to be running against a guy who thinks the president is the "manager of the economy," which Obama said today on MSNBC. In his delusion he thinks that he can tax America into an era of prosperity. This man couldn't teach a high school course in economics -- and what has he ever managed?

"Currently, there are the 21.6 million sole proprietorships filing under the individual income tax," McCain said today. "When Senator Obama talks about raising income tax rates on those making over 250,000 dollars -- that includes these businesses as well. He also proposes increases in dividend and capital gains taxes. Under Senator Obama's tax plan, Americans of every background would see their taxes rise -- seniors, parents, small business owners, and just about everyone who has even a modest investment in the market."

Raising taxes on small businesses, which create more than 90 percent of new jobs in America, is just plain stupid. Maybe Obama should try managing something on the order of a local McDonalds before taking over the world's most powerful economy.

from lauraingraham.com

CELEBRATE RADIO INDEPENDENCE DAY!

It's official! The American Left has admitted that it can't compete on the radio so it is looking for a helping hand from the federal government. It's a hand that giveth to the left and taketh away from the right. The legislation -- which congressmen and senators have expressed interest in reviving -- is called (get ready to chortle) the Fairness Doctrine.

Twenty years after radio king Rush Limbaugh revolutionized the AM band, liberals know this painful truth -- conservative talk radio remains the most potent media force in politics today. At its best, it not only gives listeners news and opinion they won't hear anywhere else, but it can also inspire a tidal wave of civic engagement that Washington cannot ignore. Dial back to one year ago, when others and myself were leading the charge against immigration amnesty. Dial back further to October 2005 when we led a movement to reconsider the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers. All successful.

Thus we're hearing renewed calls for the anti-free speech bureaucratic nightmare otherwise known as the Fairness Doctrine. It demands "equal treatment" for both sides of any controversial topic, but because its minders only consider conservatism "controversial," the law's chilling effect is felt in talk radio -- and nowhere else.

But make no mistake: Imposing "fairness" on America's radio waves is an end-run around competing in the battle of ideas. Liberals can't compete on radio airwaves. They've shown that; Air America proved it. In a media format stripped down to just a mind and a microphone, liberals cannot command an audience. So their new motto is: If you can't beat 'em, silence 'em.

Last year, when threats of the Fairness Doctrine's reincarnation surfaced, Congress passed a sensible, one-year moratorium. But in a few months, the threat will return when this respite sunsets. Rep. Mike Pence is pushing the Broadcaster Freedom Act that will take pre-emptive action, aborting the "Fairness Doctrine" so that it will never, ever, re-surface.

The Act is bottled up in committee, meaning Speaker Nancy Pelosi is too afraid to allow an up or down vote. At a press conference yesterday, Mike Pence, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and many others called on the congressmen who supported last year's ban to step up and sign a discharge petition, which force will Pelosi to grant the bill a vote. Two hundred and eighteen signatures are needed and so far we have 196. We need just 22 more, and we're looking at everyone who voted for last year's ban but hasn't endorsed a vote on the Freedom Act. (See the latest tally at HypocrisyCaucus.com)

It's said that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Without quick action, we could soon see a Democratic Congress and a Democratic president imposing "Fairness Doctrine"-type legislation as routinely as you or I make trips to the car wash. That could mean the end of The Laura Ingraham Show on stations across the country.

I'll never let them take away my microphone, and I hope you never let them take away yours. We're hoping to get the remaining 22 signatures by July 4th, so that together we can celebrate Radio Independence Day.

from LauraIngraham.com

AN INCONVENIENT ELECTRICITY BILL

Looks like Al Gore's found a good use for the millions he's made off "An Inconvenient Truth"! After remodeling his home last year to be "energy-efficient" and environmentally friendlier, his personal energy consumption this year has still managed to surge more than 10%. According to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, over the last year, his home ate through enough energy to fuel 232 normal American homes for an entire month.

This has no doubt rattled Obama, who on Monday night thought his Gore endorsement would firm up his green street-cred. Instead he now has the dubious distinction of being backed by an environmentalist equivalent of Ted Haggard, a man who preaches one thing but practices another. Whoops.

from lauraingraham.com

Formed On The Anvil Of His Captivity
By Tony Blankley
July 2, 2008

As of today, Sen. Barack Obama is about halfway through his "patriotism theme week" message cycle. As of 2008, Sen. John McCain is about seven-ninths through his patriotism theme life cycle. I guess that is the difference between the new politics and the old patriotism.

The Obama campaign launched its new politics patriotism week last Sunday, with retired Gen. Wes "Speichellecker" Clark smearing John McCain's war record -- even to the point of the former general saying that "riding" in a fighter plane and getting shot down are not qualifications for being president. Well, in fact, McCain wasn't riding, of course. He was the pilot in his 23rd mission over heavily defended enemy territory when he was shot down by a Soviet missile. But when Wes "Camera Hound" Clark goes on a mission, he always aims low.

This is the same Gen. Clark who, while leading the bombing campaign against Serbia from his desk, was reprimanded by President Clinton's secretary of defense, William Cohen, to get his "f------ face off the TV. No more briefings, period. That's it." During that bombing campaign, Gen. Clark didn't even go along for the "ride."

And it is the same general who was removed prematurely from his European command on the following explanation of then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Hugh Sheldon: "The reason he came out of Europe early had to do with integrity and character issues." This is the man who the Obama campaign -- which is above politics as usual -- sent out to smear a genuine war hero. Of course, after 24 hours, Obama disassociated himself from his surrogate's smear attack. This is becoming a pattern of Obama's new politics. Wes Clark is the seventh prominent Obama supporter to disparage Sen. McCain's military service. Obama is beginning to reveal Nixonian political instincts.

But Wes Clark is right. Merely being a war hero is not qualification for the presidency, although it is a hell of a start when compared with those of us who never served in uniform. And the more than five years as a prisoner of war with constant torture that McCain suffered through is also not qualification for being president -- even when compared with Obama's tough seven years of service at Columbia undergraduate and Harvard Law School.

But just maybe, the strength of character and the wisdom of knowing what really matters in life that young John McCain formed on the anvil of his captivity -- just maybe, those attributes are the beginnings of qualifications for leading the rest of us through a dangerous, morally ambiguous world. And when a man so formed then dedicates the next 30 years of his life to studying and leading from the United States Senate on national security issues, perhaps then we have the makings of a man fit to be president.

The test for Sen. Obama in this campaign will not be whether he can fly a jet fighter under enemy fire as well as McCain did or whether he can put up with torture in as manly a fashion as McCain sustained for more than five years or whether he can go through his life not being able to raise his arms to his shoulders because his body was broken by the Commie torturers. Obama, just as most of us, has been spared facing such tests and perhaps been found wanting -- as many of us surely would be.

So far, Obama has faced less taxing tests, such as whether to wear a flag lapel pin. So far, he has scored an incomplete after three tries. First he decided to wear a pin. Then he thought better of it and announced that he no longer would wear the pin, explaining: "You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11 -- particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security -- I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that'll be a testimony to my patriotism."

Then on his third try, during the heated climax to his primary campaign, he started wearing the pin again, I suppose as -- in his previous words -- "a substitute for true patriotism." Hard to know for sure what his calculations are on this vital matter. But that he does calculate constantly whether to wear the pin or not, there can be no doubt. The demands of patriotism are sometimes hard to know. What's a patriot to do? Life can be hard, very hard, out on the old campaign trail.

Please note: I am not questioning his patriotism. Many patriotic people -- including me -- never have worn a flag lapel pin. (We have to be so careful these days because Obama is offended more easily than a convent-schooled virgin. I am stocking up on eggshells to walk on for the duration of the campaign.)

Anyway, John McCain had it easier over the North Vietnamese skies. He didn't have to decide about such things. He was required to wear his dog tags -- evidence of his patriotism. Some people get all the breaks.

---

Tony Blankley is executive vice president of Edelman public relations in Washington. E-mail him at TonyBlankley@gmail.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. or those of Kitten on the Keyboard

find it here

A Loosing Effort

I've started a new blog to journal the newest change in my life. I hope you will take a moment to look at it and maybe come back and encourage my efforts.

No need to fear, this blog will continue. I just wanted to keep the two separate as they different parts of my life. While I'm separating these two parts, I am still the sum total of all my parts.Thank you and we will now return to our usual blogging.

http://aloosingeffort.blogspot.com/

Clark Says McCain's Military Experience No Qualification to be President

"Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark replied to Bob Schieffer's comments that Senator Obama hadn't had the experience that Senator McCain had as a result of his military experience.

Truthfully, I have to agree with General Clark that Senator McCain's military background doesn't qualify him to be president. Nor does the fact that he was a prisoner of war.

In no way am I negating Senator McCain's military past. I stand behind no one in my gratitude for his service. Nor am I failing to remember that as a prisoner of war he suffered greatly (and continues to this day to suffer from the results of those injuries) at the hands of his North Vietnamese captors. He was given the chance to return home because of who his father was, but refused saying that he wouldn't go home before other men who had been held longer.

He served honorably as a Naval officer and deserves the respect and the gratitude of the American people for that service - both as a pilot and as a prisoner of war. He commanded a large Navy squadron after Vietnam, but Clark seems to think that only wartime command means anything. General Clark, is it possible that maybe McCain didn't have a wartime command because he was otherwise occupied being a prisoner of war?

No, being a prisoner of war and his Naval background do not in themselves give McCain the experience to be president. I don't often consider what a person did 40 years ago to be germain to today's issues, but McCain showed character as a prisoner of war that continues to this day. General Clark has military experience, but after reading this, I'm not so sure about character. If General Clark doesn't believe that military experience qualifies a person to run for president, why did he himself make a run for the Oval Office?

Senator Obama's campaign spokesman, Bill Burton, said, "Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark." As should all thinking Americans.

General Clark, I am shocked at your attitude toward a fellow career military officer. You of all people should know that one segment of a person's life doesn't define the entire life. We are a sum of all our parts. And there is more to McCain than a former Naval officer who rode in a plane that was shot down. Apparently you don't understand that.

Read the rest of the story here.

Contract with Conservatives

Immigration Reform

*Secure America's borders
*Enforce employment laws
*No amnesty

The American people have spoken, and the clear message is that immigration reform starts with secure borders. In a post-9/11 world, we should expect nothing less. In addition, the American people do not support amnesty. Candidates must repudiate amnesty and show respect for the American people by showing respect for the law. Illegal aliens should not be given special consideration for citizenship and should not be put ahead of those seeking to come to America legally. Conservatives will work for candidates who pledge to put border security first and who pledge to not put illegal aliens ahead of those seeking citizenship through legal means.

Tax Reform

*Make President Bush's tax cuts permanent
*Reduce taxes, both on business and individuals
*Simplify the tax code by moving to a flat tax or the Fair Tax
*No favorites -- All tax cuts should be across the board

The tax code must be simplified, and all taxes should be reduced. The tax code should focus on its core function -- a means of raising revenue. The tax code should not be a vehicle for social engineering, and the reduction of taxes should not pit one socio-economic group against another. Conservatives will support candidates who pledge to cut taxes and simplify the tax code, while not engaging in class warfare.

Size and Scope of Federal Government

*Reduce the size of the federal government
*Reform entitlement programs
*Respect states' rights and limit the reach of the federal government as stated in the Constitution
*Cut spending
*Support a balanced budget amendment
*Eliminate earmarks and support stand-alone spending bills

It is not enough for the federal government to only grow by a few percentage points. In the end, it still leads to bigger government. The federal government must SHRINK. The Republican Revolution was built on this core Republican principle, and conservatives will support candidates committed to shrinking the size and scope of the federal government. The pork must go! Earmarks and pork-barrel spending must be eliminated. These practices lead to corruption and are not conservative. The federal government should do only those core jobs enumerated in the Constitution. Other governmental responsibilities should fall to the states. Conservatives will support candidates who pledge to cut spending, shrink government, and eliminate earmarks.

Judges

*Vigorously nominate and support the confirmation of judges who follow the law, not those who legislate from the bench
*Wage a real fight against left-wing attempts to block judicial nominees

Nominating a conservative judge simply to let him or her languish without an up-or-down vote is not acceptable. Judicial nominees, who follow the law rather than make new laws from the bench, deserve full and enthusiastic support. Conservatives will support candidates who pledge to nominate strict constructionists and who will not wilt in that support even under left-wing attacks.

Life

*Respect the rights of the unborn and promote laws which will protect innocent human life
*Support the overturning of Roe v. Wade
*Block any efforts to fund or promote embryonic stem cell research

Conservatives believe in a culture of life. This culture must be embraced and advocated by our Republican leaders. Conservatives will support candidates who pledge to promote a culture of life and who work for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. No candidate can say they are "100% pro-life" and also support embryonic stem cell research. This research results in the destruction of innocent human life. Research proves that adult stem cells are as good or better for curing diseases, and thus the use of embryonic stem cells is moot. Conservatives will support candidates who pledge to support life at every stage.

Free Speech

*Repeal the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act
*Embrace First Amendment rights

The Campaign Finance Reform Act is an assault on free speech and must be repealed. The law resulted in a rise in soft money advocacy through the actions of 527 organizations while other groups were not allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights to support a candidate of their choice. This is wrong. Conservatives will support candidates who pledge to repeal this law and support the free speech rights of all Americans.

Sign the petition here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hmmm...if you've read my previous posts, you'll see that the section on Tax Reform describes the Fair Tax. Not that I believe whoever drafted this petition was even thinking about the Fair Tax (wouldn't that be great?!) at the time, but it describes the Fair Tax perfectly.

The Fair Tax untaxes the poor and every one pays the same rate of tax on the items they purchase. You, as the tax payer, has the ability to choose what taxes you pay under the Fair Tax. Yeah, believe it or not. And to be sure that the poor are untaxed, there is a prebate built in that equals the amount of taxes expected to be paid up to the poverty level.

For more information go to http://www.fairtax.org/

McCain calls for energy-efficient government
By GLEN JOHNSON
Associated Press
June 25, 2008

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) -- Republican John McCain said Tuesday the federal government should practice the energy efficiency he preaches, pledging as president to switch official vehicles to green technologies and do the same for office buildings.

Expanding upon his ideas to address the nation's energy crisis, the Arizona senator also called for a redesign of the national power grid so power is better distributed where it's needed and the country has the capacity to run electric vehicles that he wants automakers to supply.

''Our federal government is never shy about instructing the American people in good environmental practice. But energy efficiency, like charity, should begin at home,'' McCain said before conducting an energy round-table at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

McCain drives a 2003 Cadillac CTS, a sedan the Environmental Protection Agency says gets 16 to 24 miles per gallon and emits about 9.6 tons of greenhouse gases annually. When campaigning, he's ferried by the Secret Service using a fleet of Chevrolet Suburbans, a full-size SUV the EPA estimates gets 12 to 20 mpg and emits 9 to 13 tons of greenhouse gases.

During the discussion, McCain made a comment likely to provoke discussion in Nevada, where he campaigns Wednesday and is the site of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. McCain long has supported the facility, much to the chagrin of pivotal Nevada voters, although last month he suggested creating a foreign waste repository that might make the mountain site unnecessary.

McCain reiterated his support Tuesday for building up to 45 new nuclear power plants and said the technology exists for safe nuclear waste reprocessing and storage.

''It's not a technological breakthrough that needs to be taken; it's a NIMBY problem,'' he said, using the acronym for ''Not-In-My-Backyard.'' ''We've got to have the guts and courage to do what other countries are doing, and they are reducing the pollution to our environment rather dramatically without any huge pain to anybody.''

Later in the day, during a telephone town-hall meeting with Florida voters, a mother of two sons asked McCain under what circumstances he could envision a return to a military draft.

The Vietnam veteran said none, ''except perhaps if we were in an all-out World War III. ... I do not believe a draft is even practicable nor desirable unless it was an all-out world war.''

Among those on the energy panel was Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a McCain backer who opposes another major element of the candidate's energy strategy -- ending a decades-old federal ban on offshore drilling. McCain has said he would leave the decision to the states if the moratorium were lifted.

''John and I both know we can protect our environment and our economy at the same time,'' Schwarzenegger said in his opening remarks. He did not mention offshore drilling.

''I have every confidence that once Senator McCain is in the White House, America will get back in the game when it comes to a sensible, consistent and forward-looking energy policy,'' Schwarzenegger added.

Offshore drilling is particularly sensitive in this coastal community 100 miles north of Los Angeles, where a 1969 oil spill dumped an estimated 3 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean.

Despite emphasizing the optional nature of his proposal, McCain has heard complaints about it throughout his two days of campaigning in California, a Democratic-leaning state the GOP hopes to put in play in the general election.

''We're really kind of goosey here about oil spills, and we're goosey here about federal drilling and oil lands, which are abundant offshore,'' Dan Secord, a member of the California Coastal Commission, told McCain during a Santa Barbara fundraiser Monday night.

McCain acknowledged offshore drilling would do little to immediately lower record gasoline prices, but he argued that the specter of additional supply would undercut speculation that has driven the price to more than $4 a gallon.

''Even though it may take some years, the fact that we are exploiting those reserves would have psychological impact that I think is beneficial,'' the senator said during a town-hall meeting in Fresno.

His Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, criticized McCain's claim of a psychological benefit as political posturing.

''In case you're wondering, in Washington-speak what that means is it polls well. It's an example of how Washington tries to convince you that they've done something to make your life better when they really didn't,'' said Obama, who was campaigning in Las Vegas.

''The American people don't need psychological relief or meaningless gimmicks ... they need real relief that will help them fill up their tanks and put food on the table,'' Obama said.

During the round-table discussion, McCain received some of the straight talk for which he has a reputation.

Michael Feeney, executive director of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, was unyielding in his criticism of McCain's call for building 45 nuclear power plants and drilling offshore.

''I don't understand how it's not compromising our environmental standards to propose a crash program to build more nuclear power plants, when the industry has not complied with the federal law that requires the safe disposal for the radioactive waste,'' Feeney said.

Find it here

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He is an environmentalist, you know.

The ACORN Obama Knows
By Michelle Malkin
June 25, 2008

If you don't know what ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is all about, you better bone up. This left-wing group takes in 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers -- you and me -- and has leveraged nearly four decades of government subsidies to fund affiliates that promote the welfare state and undermine capitalism and self-reliance, some of which have been implicated in perpetuating illegal immigration and encouraging voter fraud. A new whistleblower report from the Consumer Rights League claims that Chicago-based ACORN has commingled public tax dollars with political projects.

Who in Washington will fight to ensure that your money isn't being spent on these radical activities?

Don't bother asking Barack Obama. He cut his ideological teeth working with ACORN as a "community organizer" and legal representative. Naturally, ACORN's political action committee has warmly endorsed his presidential candidacy. ACORN head Maude Hurd gushes that Obama is the candidate who "best understands and can affect change on the issues ACORN cares about" -- like ensuring their massive pipeline to your hard-earned money. Let's take a closer look at the ACORN Obama knows.

Last July, ACORN settled the largest case of voter fraud in the history of Washington State. Seven ACORN workers had submitted nearly 2,000 bogus voter registration forms. According to case records, they flipped through phone books for names to use on the forms, including "Leon Spinks," "Frekkie Magoal" and "Fruto Boy Crispila." Three ACORN election hoaxers pleaded guilty in October. A King County prosecutor called ACORN's criminal sabotage "an act of vandalism upon the voter rolls."

The group's vandalism on electoral integrity is systemic. ACORN has been implicated in similar voter fraud schemes in Missouri, Ohio and at least 12 other states. The Wall Street Journal noted: "In Ohio in 2004, a worker for one affiliate was given crack cocaine in exchange for fraudulent registrations that included underage voters, dead voters and pillars of the community named Mary Poppins, Dick Tracy and Jive Turkey. During a congressional hearing in Ohio in the aftermath of the 2004 election, officials from several counties in the state explained ACORN's practice of dumping thousands of registration forms in their lap on the submission deadline, even though the forms had been collected months earlier."

In March, Philadelphia elections officials accused the nonprofit advocacy group of filing fraudulent voter registrations in advance of the April 22nd Pennsylvania primary. The charges have been forwarded to the city district attorney's office.

Under the guise of "consumer advocacy," ACORN has received money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD funds hundreds, if not thousands, of left-wing "anti-poverty" groups across the country led by ACORN. Last October, HUD announced more than $44 million in new housing counseling grants to over 400 state and local efforts. The White House has increased funding for housing counseling by 150 percent since taking office in 2001, despite the role most of these recipients play as activist satellites of the Democratic Party. The AARP scored nearly $400,000 for training; the National Council of La Raza ("The Race") scooped up more than $1.3 million; the National Urban League raked in nearly $1 million; and the ACORN Housing Corporation received more than $1.6 million.

As the Consumer Rights League points out in its new expose, the ACORN Housing Corporation has worked to obtain mortgages for illegal aliens in partnership with Citibank. It relies on undocumented income, "under the table" money, which may not be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Moreover, the group's "financial justice" operations attack lenders for "exotic" loans, while recommending 10-year interest-only loans (which deny equity to the buyer) and risky reverse mortgages. Whistleblower documents reveal internal discussions among the group that blur the lines between its tax-exempt housing work and its aggressive electioneering activities. The group appears to shake down corporate interests with relentless PR attacks, and then enters "no lobby" agreements with targeted corporations after receiving payment.

Republicans have largely looked the other way as ACORN has expanded its government-funded empire. But finally, a few conservative voices in Congress have called for investigation of the group's apparent extortion schemes. This week, GOP Reps. Tom Feeney, Jeb Hensarling and Ed Royce called on Democrat Barney Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, to convene a hearing to probe potential illegalities and abuse of taxpayer funds by ACORN's management and minions alike.

Where does the candidate of Hope and Change -- the candidate of Reform and New Politics -- stand on the issue? Barack Obama, ACORN's senator, is for more of the same old, same old subsidizing of far-left politics in the name of fighting for the poor while enriching ideological cronies. It's the Chicago way.

Find it here

L.A. Dismisses Illegal Immigration

A judge in Los Angeles has upheld the city's Special Order 40, which essentially is a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for illegal aliens. In other words ... Los Angeles is trying its best to maintain its status as a sanctuary city for illegal criminals in this country. This policy is apparently in place in order to "avoid discouraging illegal immigrants from reporting crimes and assisting police." Like hell.

A taxpayer lawsuit was filed that tried to change the long-standing law, which prohibits L.A. police officers from asking persons they arrest about their immigration status. The lawsuit asked for a permanent injunction to prevent taxpayer money from enforcing this policy. But this week, a judge ruled on the side of the city and the ACLU because "there were no triable issues raised in the suit." Do you hear that? Our illegal immigration issue in this country is "not a triable issue." Now I realize it's more complicated than that, but tell that to the taxpayers who are footing the bills for illegals to have medical care and use government services in Los Angeles. This is just another small part of big problem. This is the government enabling illegal immigration. It is Mexifornia though ... you people out there get what you pay for. And vote for.

Find it here

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Not a triable issue? Laws, Federal laws, are being violated and thrown aside like yesterday's garbage. Look, if the state and Federal governments change the immigration laws, that's one thing and I'll shut up. But I can not sit still and watch a law...any law...being ignored and not say anything about it. My main complaint is with the politicians even more than with the illegal aliens themselves. Politicians are afraid to 1) go against a current voter base and a potentially broader voter base, 2) stand up to those of us who want the laws enforced, or 3) change the law.

If the politicians come out against illegal aliens, they risk losing the Hispanic vote. Current Hispanics and those to whom they want to grant amnesty. That's right. Some politicians want to grant amnesty to criminals. Again. It didn't work before, it won't work this time. They always says, this is a one-time thing. Sure, and I have a bridge for sale. That's what is said every time amnesty is raised.

If the politicians side with the illegal aliens, they risk losing the anti-amnesty/illegal alien vote. If they introduce a law to do one or the other, they risk offending one segment or another. I actually applaud those politicians who support amnesty. At least they have chosen a side and I know what they stand for.

It's a no-win situation for politicians. They're going to offend someone no matter which side they take, so most of them try to straddle the fence and say what each group wants to hear. These are the politicians we as citizens and voters have to watch. They will say whatever it takes to get the votes of the group they are currently speaking to, especially if they can say it without committing themselves. Political double talk.

Right now the laws say that anyone entering this country must do so through approved, legal entry points. But there are thousands who are crossing the borders, mostly through the Southwestern states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and even California. Until the laws change these people are criminals. I know that most of them have the best of intentions: they want to make a better life for their families. I understand and even applaud that. Who doesn't want their kids to have a better life and better and more opportunities than they did? I am proud beyond saying that they think that my country is the place to do that. I might not always be proud of what the politicians and even some citizens of America do or say, but I have always been proud of my country and what it offers.

However, good intentions, even the very best of intentions does not mitigate that a crime has occurred. Just as I understand that a parent might steal a loaf of bread for their starving kids, I also know that the parent has committed a crime. Committed for the best of intentions, but still a crime. Anyone crossing the border without the documents that our government requires for legal entry, and crossing anyplace other than an official point of entry, is a criminal.

When the politicians have the guts to stand up to someone and either enforce the laws or change the laws, I'll have more faith in our "leaders". Until then, I have to speak out. To our employees in Congress, our Senators and Representatives, I say to you: Quit pandering for votes. Quit trying to please everyone. Grow a set and do something about this problem.

Another Weatherman For Obama

We have yet another Barack Obama supporter with connections to the Weatherman terrorist group and the Communist Party. Gateway Pundit discovered that a man by the name of Mike Klonsky had his own blog on the official Barack Obama website ... yes, official. Although, now you won't be able to read the musings of this communist Obama supporter because his blog has been conveniently taken down from the website.

But just to give you a little more background ... this Klonsky character used to be best friends with the founders of the Weatherman terrorist group Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. In fact, he even received a $175,000 grant for an "education reform" project that was jointly led by Barack Obama and Bill Ayers. And from 1979 to 1981, Klonsky was chairman of the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist). Before that, he was famous for being the National Secretary of Students for a Democrat Society ... which was a radical left-wing student group. Now Klonsky considers himself a "professor of education."

Look, folks ... what we are seeing here is yet another example of the type of people that are openly supporting the Barack Obama campaign: Former communists, domestic terrorists, and people who are more likely to hang a picture of Che Guevara on their wall than any document or picture celebrating freedom or individual liberty.

Find it here

I'm a Catfish

Some Southerners are pretty skeptical of horoscopes and the people that read them. If we are to ever fully understand all the star signs and the people they represent, we need symbols that all true Southerners understand.

See the list below:

OKRA (Dec 22 - Jan 20): Are tough on the outside but tender on the inside. Okras have tremendous influence. An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. You can do something good each day if you try.

CHITLIN (Jan 21 - Feb 19): Chitlins come from humble backgrounds. A Chitlin, however, will make something of himself if he is motivated and has lots of seasoning. In dealing with Chitlins, be careful - they may surprise you. They can erupt like Vesuvius. Chitlins are best with Catfish and Okra.

BOLL WEEVIL (Feb 20 - March 20): You have an overwhelming curiosity. You're unsatisfied with the surface of things, and you feel the need to bore deep into the interior of everything. Needless to say, you are very intense and driven as if you had some inner hunger. You love to stay busy and tend to work too much. Nobody in their right mind is going to marry you, so don't worry about it.

MOON PIE (March 21 - April 20): You're the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch. A cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. Big and round are the key words here. You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea. It's not going to be easy. You always have a big smile and are happy. This might be the year to think about aerobics. Maybe not.

POSSUM (April 21 - May 21): When confronted with life's difficulties, possums have a marked tendency to withdraw and develop a don't-bother-me-about-it attitude. Sometimes you become so withdrawn, people actually think you're dead. This strategy is probably not psychologically healthy but seems to work for you. You are a rare breed. Most folks love to watch you work and play. You are a night person and mind your own business.

CRAWFISH (May 22 - June 21): Crawfish is a water sign. If you work in an office, you're hanging around the water cooler. Crawfish prefer the beach to the mountains, the pool to the golf course, and the bathtub to the living room. You tend not to be particularly attractive physically, but you have very, very good hands.

COLLARDS (June 22 - July 23): Collards have a genius for communication. They love to get in the melting pot of life and share their essence with the essence of those around them. Collards make good social workers, psychologists, and baseball managers. As far as your personal life goes, if you are Collards, stay away from Crawfish. It just won't work. Save yourself a lot of heartache.

CATFISH (July 24 - Aug 23): Catfish are traditionalists in matters of the heart, although one's whiskers may cause problems for loved ones. You Catfish are never easy people to understand. You run fast. You work and play hard. Even though you prefer the muddy bottoms to the clear surface of life, you are liked by most. Above all else, Catfish should stay away from Moon Pies.

GRITS (Aug 24 - Sept 23): Your highest aim is to be with others like yourself. You like to huddle together with a big crowd of other Grits. You love to travel though, so maybe you should think about joining a club. Where do you like to go? Anywhere they have cheese, gravy, bacon, butter, or eggs and a good time. If you can go somewhere where they have all these things; that serves you well. You are pure in heart.

BOILED PEANUT (Sept 24 - Oct 23): You have a passionate desire to help Your fellow man. Unfortunately, those who know you best, your friends and loved ones, may find that your personality is much too salty, and their criticism will affect you deeply because you are really much softer than you appear. You should go right ahead and marry anybody you want to because in a certain way, yours is a charmed life. On the road of life, you can be sure that people will always pull over and stop for you.

BUTTER BEAN (Oct 24 - Nov 22): Always invite a Butter Bean to a party because Butter Beans get along well with everybody. You, as a Butter Bean, should be proud. You've grown on the vine of life, and you feel at home no matter what the setting. You can sit next to anybody. However, you, too, shouldn't have anything to do with Moon Pies.

ARMADILLO (Nov 23 - Dec 21): You have a tendency to develop a tough exterior, but you are actually quite gentle and kind inside. A good evening for you - old friends, a fire, some roots, fruit, worms, and insects. You are a throwback. You're not concerned with today's fashions and trends. You're not concerned with anything about today. You're almost prehistoric in your interests and behavior patterns. You probably want to marry another armadillo, but a Possum is another somewhat kinky mating possibility.