Obama keeps state secrets privilege
Posted By: Zville MT on 2009-04-14
In Reply to:
Just to start a discussion about this, were Obama's eyes opened as he learned more about this program or was he sent to the "Dick Cheny mind meld machine?" (quote from Bryan Cunningham, former CIA and Justice Department attorney.)
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Very interesting article about Bush's secrets, lies and
to keep his papers, and his father's papers secret and privileged.
Martin Garbus: Impeachment is Now Real
Martin Garbus
Wed Dec 28, 1:41 PM ET
An hour after the New York Times described Bush’s illegal surveillance program, I wrote on the Huffington Post that Bush had committed a crime, a “High Crime,” and should be impeached.
Was there then enough evidence to justify the beginning of an attempt to impeach the President?
No.
Did the President have a good defense that he relied on Gonzalez, Ashcroft and the best lawyers in the country (in the Solicitor General’s and Department of Justice’s offices)?
Yes.
Would any significant number of Americans of Congressmen then support such a process?
No.
Given all that, would the turmoil and consequential turmoil have justified the start of that brutal process?
No.
But that has all changed.
Because we shall soon see the consequences of those warrantless searches, the consequences of the government’s five years of secrecy, and even the citizens of the “Red States” will be outraged. Firstly, the warrantless taps will infect hundreds of “terrorist” and criminal cases throughout the country. Not only future cases, but past and present cases, even if there were convictions or plea bargains after the survellance started.
The defendants in “terrorist” and other infected criminal cases, the Court must find, must get access to everything, or very close to everything to make sure they were never improperly surveilled.
The Bush Administration, in these cases will refuse, as did the Nixon administration, to divulge information on national security grounds. Many alleged critical cases must then be dismissed. It will include Organized Crime and drug cases.
The entire criminal process will be brought to a standstill. Cases that should take six months to a year, will take three times as long, as motions go up and down the appellate ladder – as federal judges trial disagree with each other. Appellate Courts will disagree on issues so novel and so important that the Supreme Court will look at them.
Secondly, there will be an endless amounts of civil suits, that we can see will result in substantial damage awards. Commentators claimed there cannot be suits because no one has standing to challenge the surveillance. They are wrong. They do not remember the history of the Palmer Raids in the 1920’s, the surveillance in the Sixties and Seventies. The future will show both the enormous information the new technology has gathered but also the dishonest minimization of the extent of the surveillance.
That minimization is standard operating procedure for governments, whether they be run by Democrats or Republicans.
Thirdly, and most importantly, it is safe to preduct there will be coverups. This administration is not known for its candor.
The coverup starts by trying to get away with the vauge and meaningless defenses. Both Nixon and Clinton tried that.
When that doesn’t work, the coverup will be based on a foundation of small lies. Both Nixon and Clinton tried that.
We do not yet know what the FISA judges already fear – that they have been not just ignored by the executive but misused. The public shall also learn about the FISA judges’ misuse of the FISA courts and their warrants. The courts were created to permit eavesdropping and electronic surveillance, not physical break-ins.
But the facts will show that the Bush administration, with the knowledge, and at times, the consent of, the FISA judges, conducted illegal physical break-ins - break-ins that to this day, the involved person, is unaware of.
Were the results of these “terrorist” break-ins then given to criminal authorities to start unrelated prosecutions? Of course.
The American public will also learn what this Administration has thus far successfully hidden. When Bush came into office, he signed an Exeutive Order making all of his, and his father’s, papers privileged. The order, extending 12 years out, also says if the President is incapacitated, then a third person can execute the privilege. This means anybody – a wife, a family lawyer, a child. The order also says the Vice President’s papers are privileged. It is an extraordinary Executive Order – this has never been anything like this. No one ever suggested a Vice President has executive privilege. If we do not find out what they are hiding, we will see witholding on a scale never before seen. He will no longer be able to use 9/11 and the war on terror as an excuse. It will confirm the fact that illegality and secrecy existed long before 9/11, that it started as soon as Bush-Cheney-Rumsfield got into office. It will show deliberate attempts to avoid any judicial or legislative oversight of the illegal use of executive privilege.
Impeachment procedures will come not because of wrongdoing but because of the discovery of lies.
Both Nixon and Cliton faced impeachments because they lied.
It was inconceivable before the Nixon and Clinton impeachment procedures began that there could be, or would be a country or Senate that would be responsive to it.
In the Nixon case, it spiraled from a petty break-in – in Clinton’s case from a petty sexual act.
But what Bush has done, and will do, to protect himself is not petty. It goes to the heart of the government. He already has a history of misleading the public on the searches conducted thus far. As he and his colleagues seek to minimize the vast amount of data collection, the lies will necessarily expand to cover the wrongdoing. Bush can be brought down.
Copyright © 2005 HuffingtonPost.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in Huffington Post commentary may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without prior written authority of huffingtonpost.com.
Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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is it a right, privilege, or responsibility
Just curious - this question was raised at the 2nd debate. Is health care a right, privilege or a responsibility? How do you all feel about it? I feel it is a right but one that comes with a price, that one does not deserve health care simply because one is alive but that one deserves health care and must be willing to take responsibility for expenses (not all, obviously, because no one could afford that) but premiums, etc., and that one should have to be responsible about their use of health care (no ER abuse, use preventive care, etc.). How do you feel about it? What would you like to see done to reform health care in the US?
The, now, infamous "Executive Privilege"
Crooks are crooks - just like tricky dicky
Dual citizenship is not a crime. It's a privilege.
Repeat one GOOD reason?
No, no. Of course Obama won the state....
not what I meant. What I meant was that California is a generally very liberal state, and they have passed this ban twice now...once as a proposition that was overturned by the california supreme court, and now as an amendment to the state constitution. And the majority of those who supported Obama were liberals also. I just found it odd that they voted for a far left liberal for President, and also voted in the majority to ban gay marriage, which most liberals support. That's all I meant.
Obama was Governer of what state exactly?
nm
Obama and the State of our Nation
Obama was VOTED in, not 'given' the job as President...You know, I cannot believe some of the things tht come from the brains and out of the miouths oif some indivuduals. This is indeed a historic moment; that I am in agreement with, and I also agree that 170M for the Inaguration was excessive but I will tell you what I find even more excessive - the lying, stealing criminal former administration who ripped of the American people (regardless of political affilation) and basically thummed their noses at us because they felt and still feel they are above the law. The former president and his administration didn't give a durn about the economy and reputation of this country do you truly believe that they cared whether you, your husbands, sons and other relatives lost their jobs and homes? Do you really think they were concerned about whether YOU have enough to retire on after dutifully putting away funds in your 401k? I don't think so. They gutted us and left us twisting in the wind; and while we worry about how we are going to pay the light bill and have enough to buy grioceries let alone our mortgage - they dine well and live like kings, their families and frineds in their inner circles do not have to concern themselves with such mundane issues...why would they? Their gods are Franklin, Harrison, Grant, et al.WE PAID FOR IT and will be for years to come.
State Fires 2 for Looking at Obama File
State Fires 2 for Looking at Obama File
State Department Fires 2 Workers for Inappropriately Looking at Barack Obama's Passport File
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON
Two contract employees for the State Department have been fired and a third disciplined for inappropriately looking at the passport file of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's passport file, a spokesman said Thursday.
Spokesman Sean McCormack said the department itself detected the instances of "imprudent curiosity," which occurred separately on Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and March 14. He would not release the names of those who were fired and disciplined.
"We believe this was out of imprudent curiosity, so we are taking steps to reassure ourselves that that is, in fact, the case," McCormack said.
Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama's presidential campaign, called for a complete investigation.
"This is an outrageous breach of security and privacy, even from an administration that has shown little regard for either over the last eight years. Our government's duty is to protect the private information of the American people, not use it for political purposes," Burton said.
"This is a serious matter that merits a complete investigation, and we demand to know who looked at Senator Obama's passport file, for what purpose, and why it took so long for them to reveal this security breach," he said.
McCormack said it was not immediately clear what the contract employees may have seen in the records or what they were looking for. He said he did not know the names of the companies they worked for.
The department has informed Obama's Senate office of the breach, and a personal briefing for the senator's staff was scheduled for Friday, McCormack said.
McCain did state to everyone that Obama is a good person and not someone to be feared (sm)
Maybe he didn't mention race specifically because he did not want to further add to this being a race-based election? At least he stood up and said something to defend Obama in that respect. But if people were saying McCain was the Messiah, we would expect him to be man enough to stand up and say that he is not. That is the point here.
Two Border State Governors Declare Illegal Immigration State of Emergency
Two Border State Governors Declare Illegal Immigration State of Emergency
SIGN THE PETITION!
CLICK HERE!
THANK YOU!
You can have our federal money along with a new state motto: "Michigan - The Slave State". n
NM
Laws vary state-to-state
Many people were confined against their will just because someone wanted them "out of the way." These were normal people with no mental illness - that is why it is so difficult - don't blame the liberals. Blame your state.
CONFINING THE MENTALLY ILL
In the legal space between what a society should and should not do, taking action to restrict the liberty of people who are mentally ill sits in the grayest of gray areas.
Our notions about civil and constitutional rights flow from an assumption of "normalcy." Step beyond the boundaries and arrest and prison may legally follow. Short of that, government's ability to hold people against their will is severely and properly limited. Unusual behavior on the part of someone who is mentally ill is not illegal behavior. Freedom can't be snatched away on a whim, or on the thought that a person is hard to look at, hard to hear, hard to smell.
It was only a few decades ago that the promise of new medications and a change in attitude opened the doors of the mental hospitals and sent many patients into society. There, they would somehow "normalize" and join everyone else, supported by networks of out-patient facilities, job training, special living arrangements and regular, appropriate medication. But the transition has been imperfect, long and difficult.
In some parts of urban America there is little professional support for those with mental health problems. A new generation of drug and alcohol-fueled mental illness has come on the scene. People frequently end up on the street, un-medicated and exhibiting a full range of behaviors that are discomforting at the very least and threatening at their worst.
Red state, blue state?
Written last Thanksgiving: "Some would argue that two different nations actually celebrated: upright, moral, traditional red America and the dissolute, liberal blue states clustered on the periphery of the heartland. The truth, however, is much more complicated and interesting than that.
Take two iconic states: Texas and Massachusetts. In some ways, they were the two states competing in the last election. In the world's imagination, you couldn't have two starker opposites. One is the homeplace of Harvard, gay marriage, high taxes, and social permissiveness. The other is Bush country, solidly Republican, traditional, and gun-toting. Massachusetts voted for Kerry over Bush 62 to 37 percent; Texas voted for Bush over Kerry 61 to 38 percent.
So ask yourself a simple question: which state has the highest divorce rate? Marriage was a key issue in the last election, with Massachusetts' gay marriages becoming a symbol of alleged blue state decadence and moral decay. But in actual fact, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate in the country at 2.4 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants. Texas - which until recently made private gay sex a criminal offence - has a divorce rate of 4.1. A fluke? Not at all. The states with the highest divorce rates in the U.S. are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. And the states with the lowest divorce rates are: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Every single one of the high divorce rate states went for Bush. Every single one of the low divorce rate states went for Kerry. The Bible Belt divorce rate, in fact, is roughly 50 percent higher than the national average.
Some of this discrepancy can be accounted for by the fact that couples tend to marry younger in the Bible Belt - and many clearly don't have the maturity to know what they're getting into. There's some correlation too between rates of college education and stable marriages, with the Bible Belt lagging a highly educated state like Massachusetts. But the irony still holds. Those parts of America that most fiercely uphold what they believe are traditional values are not those parts where traditional values are healthiest. Hypocrisy? Perhaps. A more insightful explanation is that these socially troubled communities cling onto absolutes in the abstract because they cannot live up to them in practice.
But doesn't being born again help bring down divorce rates? Jesus, after all, was mum on the subject of homosexuality, but was very clear about divorce, declaring it a sin unless adultery was involved. A recent study, however, found no measurable difference in divorce rates between those who are "born again" and those who are not. 29 percent of Baptists have been divorced, compared to 21 percent of Catholics. Moreover, a staggering 23 percent of married born-agains have been divorced twice or more. Teen births? Again, the contrast is striking. In a state like Texas, where the religious right is extremely strong and the rhetoric against teenage sex is gale-force strong, the teen births as a percentage of all births is 16.1 percent. In liberal, secular, gay-friendly Massachusetts, it's 7.4, almost half. Marriage itself is less popular in Texas than in Massachusetts. In Texas, the percent of people unmarried is 32.4 percent; in Massachusetts, it's 26.8 percent. So even with a higher marriage rate, Massachusetts manages a divorce rate almost half of its "conservative" rival.
Or take abortion. America is one of the few Western countries where the legality of abortion is still ferociously disputed. It's a country where the religious right is arguably the strongest single voting bloc, and in which abortion is a constant feature of cultural politics. Compare it to a country like Holland, perhaps the epitome of socially liberal, relativist liberalism. So which country has the highest rate of abortion? It's not even close. America has an abortion rate of 21 abortions per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44. Holland has a rate of 6.8. Americans, in other words, have three times as many abortions as the Dutch. Remind me again: which country is the most socially conservative?
Even a cursory look at the leading members of the forces of social conservatism in America reveals the same pattern. The top conservative talk-radio host, Rush Limbaugh, has had three divorces and an addiction to pain-killers. The most popular conservative television personality, Bill O'Reilly, just settled a sex harassment suit that indicated a highly active adulterous sex life. Bill Bennett, the guru of the social right, was for many years a gambling addict. Karl Rove's chief outreach manager to conservative Catholics for the last four years, Deal Hudson, also turned out to be a man with a history of sexual harassment. Bob Barr, the conservative Georgian congressman who wrote the "Defense of Marriage Act," has had three wives so far. The states which register the highest ratings for the hot new television show, "Desperate Housewives," are all Bush-states.
The complicated truth is that America truly is a divided and conflicted country. But it's a grotesque exaggeration to say that the split is geographical, or correlated with blue and red states. Many of America's biggest "sinners" are those most intent on upholding virtue. In fact, it may be partly because they know sin so close-up that they want to prevent its occurrence among others. And some of those states which have the most liberal legal climate - the Northeast and parts of the upper MidWest - are also, in practice, among the most socially conservative. To ascribe all this to "hypocrisy" seems to me too crude an explanation. America is simply a far more complicated and diverse place than crude red and blue divisions can explain.
I don't know what state you live in but in my state
they are adding police and only in the big cities do they have paid firemen. The rest are volunteers.
I look at it this way: If a state can't stay in the black, then they have to cut spending some place that wouldn't jeopardize the safety of the citizens. Threats of cutting essential services like Barney Fife stated today are unjustified. Cut the non-essential services first.
Our governor talks about cutting back on services, laying off government workers, which I think is a good idea because government is too big anyway, but then he turns around and spends more money on non-essential items. Doesn't make sense.
I'm from that state and...
He paid for his Senate campaign with the earnings from one malpractice suit.
In my state......
the welfare reform has gotten so rigid - it isn't worth it. $115 per person per month and adults have to work a 40-hour week to get it. I WOULDN'T live in the low income housing areas - crime is too high, get knifed getting the mail. The unemployment rate is at an all time high in this state.......so getting a job is really tough and then you are lucky to get minimum wage which would prevent you from any type of subsidy (food stamps) from the government. The help on the heat bill? Well you might get some help at the beginning of winter, but by January the funding has run out, so you're screwed on that one. They can't shut your heat off in the winter, but by spring they can and they won't turn it back on until you pay the whole amount due. So those lucky welfare recipients are just having a ball at the expense of us self-righteous, key-pounding, pull yourself up by your bootstraps gods. Indeed, why work?
And in a state that had.........sm
over 860,000 new registrations or changes of address filed this year alone. The estimated population of people over the age of 18 in 2006 (last year data available) is 8,711,807. I think 860,000 is a significantly large portion of that population.
as far as state goes
I do know there is some truth to some states having sent out IOUs as some people have actually gotten them, but I just didnt know for sure about federal. I guess as far as states go, it would depend on the financial stability of each state? I have read a news article that 46 states are on their way and in serious danger of being bankrupt within the next few months to a year. Go ahead and flame me any of you, but it is the truth.
We are having them in my state also.....
In fact, I am on the organizing committee for the one in the town where I live. It will be on 4/15/09.
I doubt it will do much good, but it is time to take back our country from the "anointed one" and his cronies and become the great country that people once looked up to.
If we do not act now, America will become just another 3rd world country complete with universal health insurance that includes forced coverage for abortions, firing of the health care people who listen to their conscience, and refuse to perform abortions, and (by extrapolation) euthanasia or worse for the people who are older and not in good healthhave who have been deemed not as important as a younger, healthier person, and therefore should not have access to the best health care around.
This is a ramble, but it needs to be said. We have been thrown under the proverbial bus.
Name the city and state this happens in? sm
I'm sorry this is foreign to me.
The US is becoming a police state.sm
It is not full-fledged yet, but 95% there. There is a rush to incarcerate (1 in 136 Americans are in jails and prisons). National ID card by 2010, RFID chips, face scanners installed at high schools, those who disagree with government are called homegrown terrorists (another false flag) or traitors. It is very well known that both Bush presidents support the one world government (NWO). The USA no longer resembles the Constitutional Republic it is supposed to be. Land of the free is an illusion.
Sad state of affairs.
So very very sad.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0704-04.htm
Are you governor of a state? sm
if you are, then run. Bill Clinton had only been a governor when he ran. Obama has only been a senator. At least she has actually run a government. Her #2 opponent has not. The #1 on the Dem ticket has not.
Somehow I don't think the American people are going to lose any sleep because you think they are stupid. :)
it is either state and local's
responsibility and he should stay away until things calm down OR he blew it last time and he doesn't that memory to to influence the election. You can't have it both ways.
and she is from the coolest state too. Get it?
.
you state "probably" and then
go off on your own fantasy with nothing to support it!!! DailyKos is merely a website where people go to express liberal opinions. The AIP is a radical group that is involved with weapons. There leader was MURDERED or he would be on the govt terrorist list. Research, research, research. Or else clearly label your posts "my fantasy about what ...... probably. said or did or thought ......"
Let me categorically state that
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if he is indicted and found guilty. The evidence so far looks pretty convincing. I will be reserving further comment until the story has matured a bit, other than to say that if he did what they say he did, he gives all liberal democrats a bad name (fair or not) and deserves to go down.
For the sake of clarity, I am an AVID Obama supporter and am as left as they come. I think Illinois and Chicago should continue to strive to clean up their plates (as they have been trying to do) until they get it right. Having said that, let's not pretend here that the GOP is squeaky clean in this arena:
1. Ted Stevens, AL senior senator, abuse of power, failure to repot gifts, making false statements, possible misuse of federal funds.
2. Tom DeLay, TX former representative and majority leader, money laundering
3. Bob Ney, OH rep, bribery.
4. Randy Cunningham, CA rep, bribery.
5. Scooter Libby, Cheney Chief of Staff, assistant to president, obstruction of justice, perjury, making false statements.
6. J. Seven Guile, Deputy Sect of the Interior for W, obstruction of justice.
7. Mark Foley, FL rep, sex scandal involving 16-year-old white house page.
8. Bill First, TN senator, conflict of interest in stock holdings
9. Curt Weldon, PA rep, trading political influence for lobbying contracts
10. Dennis Hastert, former speaker of the house and IL rep, Mark Foley coverup, taking illegal contributions.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the general drift.
My state already is using almost the same plan as....sm
Obama's and it seems to be working just fine.
SOCIALIST STATE
I agree with you 100%.
How do you know 'gimmeabreak's' state is
ESP?
At least your state is not last on the list. LOL (nm)
x
I know and it's a sad state of affairs that is already
happening.
I don't know about Arizona, but in my state
if you have not voted in so many years, you have to re-register, and you cannot vote until you have, and you CANNOT do it at the polling place. There is a deadline for that a month before the election.
What's different is that on a state level in CA,
in the form of ballot measures, ballot initiatives, propositions or referendums. They can be heard in the California Supreme Court on any or all of these bases and are entitled to seek relief.
My state has legalized
same sex marriage since 2004. It has not made one bit of difference to me, my marriage, or my children.
Secretary of State....(sm)
She's more than qualified and is already respected worldwide. I think it would do wonders in the effort to improve foreign relations.
Did she state a reason? sm
I just wonder from a Muslim perspective what fueld her belief?
I, too, first heard of Obama about 2 years ago in an email that someone had sent me. I didn't think anything of it at the time and, of course, didn't keep the email because I didn't think it meant anything. I remember the email painting him a very good light, though.
Has anyone noticed that the YouTube that was posted yesterday or the day before about the NY Daily News interview with Rahm Emanuel was done in 2006 and not (for example) last week? More to the fact that this has been in process for a number of years????
sad state of affairs
Good grief!!! "CHANGE??" I think not!!! and Hilly for SECRETARY OF STATE -- well, we transcriptionists are in deep poop -- we have a new Prez -- NO track record and I have been involved with "Illlinois politics" all of my life -- what people don't realize and it is this way in ANY major city, is that THAT particular city RULES -- look at the "print media" -- I come from DeKalb, which last Valentines Day was the LAST massive campus shooting but the media reported "downstate Illinois" while we are 60 miles to the west ---
Regressing and living in Laramie WY when Matthew Shepard was MURDERED -- I typed his preliminary reports -- I could not go out and get groceries without the press HOUNDING -- the day after Matt died, I was watching Dateline and here was MY apartment with my curtains open on NATIONAL television -- thing of it was, I found out they took shots from I-80 -- FIVE miles from my home!!!!
Think about it and the press and SENSATIONALISM!!!!
Since the Constitution does not state
That to be POTUS the parents of a US born child also has to be US born themselves....then that's what I mean. Maybe you should study up on the Constitution. It was written for a reason.
blame your state
Many people were confined against their will just because someone wanted them "out of the way." These were normal people with no mental illness - that is why it is so difficult - don't blame the liberals. Blame your state.
CONFINING THE MENTALLY ILL
In the legal space between what a society should and should not do, taking action to restrict the liberty of people who are mentally ill sits in the grayest of gray areas.
Our notions about civil and constitutional rights flow from an assumption of "normalcy." Step beyond the boundaries and arrest and prison may legally follow. Short of that, government's ability to hold people against their will is severely and properly limited. Unusual behavior on the part of someone who is mentally ill is not illegal behavior. Freedom can't be snatched away on a whim, or on the thought that a person is hard to look at, hard to hear, hard to smell.
It was only a few decades ago that the promise of new medications and a change in attitude opened the doors of the mental hospitals and sent many patients into society. There, they would somehow "normalize" and join everyone else, supported by networks of out-patient facilities, job training, special living arrangements and regular, appropriate medication. But the transition has been imperfect, long and difficult.
In some parts of urban America there is little professional support for those with mental health problems. A new generation of drug and alcohol-fueled mental illness has come on the scene. People frequently end up on the street, un-medicated and exhibiting a full range of behaviors that are discomforting at the very least and threatening at their worst.
From a neighboring state...(sm)
I think first and foremost, you should look into the history of the Trail Maids. I'm not so sure they have anything to do with slavery or racism. That being said, I doubt too many people will actually look any further than the costumes, which, as you have pointed out, reek of the plantation era. I agree they need to be pulled from the parade because of the image it gives Alabama as a whole. I can't wait to see TN's contribution. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if there was a rebel flag in there somewhere. ARRRRGGGG!!!!
http://www.johnstrange.com/edm310summer07/hinds/history.html
Maybe this is like the preacher issue for the inauguration. First, he picks a preacher that is about as far right as you can get, and then picks a gay bishop. I think he's trying to appeal to all people across the board. However, I don't really see how he's going to fix the trail maid thing.
Let's not forget why we really voted for Obama. Yeah, there are some who voted for him simply because he's black, but the majority of America (including myself) voted for him because we believe he represents the change this country needs and can deliver that change. The preacher thing as well as this issue are hard pills to swallow, but there will be many more important things to worry about than a parade or a prayer, and those are the things that will count. Hang in there.
I know! Such a disgusting state! nm
nm
In my state, they reassessed every
house in the county about 15 years ago. We have 2.5 acres and they put the value at $25,000 an acre. We also had a trailer on it for DH's mother. So, the home we built for $25,000 plus the acreage and trailer took our assessement up to $125K from $55,000. We appealed because the appraisal for the trailer was $0. (It was a 1967 trailer). Still, because it was liveable, they wouldn't accept the appraisal, but we did manage to get it down to $100K.
Our county taxes have not gone up in a while, but that will probably change this year....BUT, the school taxes go up every year and we don't have kids in school. Right now, school taxes are 3x the county taxes. We also pay $252 per person a year for the priviledge of living and $50 per person for the priviledge of working.
We tore down the trailer last year. County said it would take $500 off the bill. Sure enough, the school taxes went up $500 more. It's a losing situation with the school, and now they want to remodel 2 of the schools to the tune of $150 million.
Relief from property taxes was supposed to start LAST YEAR, but no one, in this county at least, has seen any difference in the amount they pay, except that they always go up.
In our state, they don't even deport
the illegals if only 1 or 2 are caught. They let them go. Half the time, ICE doesn't even show up to verify if our police catch are illegals.
We have a whole town being populated by Hispanics, unknown if illegal or legal, opening businesses catering to their foods and lifestyle. The town has a population of around 6,000, and there are 2,400 Hispanics now living there.
Not in my state. The governor gives
the money to the casinos and sports arenas. PA, believe it or not, is off the "50 Worse Roads in the Country" put out by Overdrive magazine every year. We're #3 this year. That's because they rebuilt part of the turnpike.
BTW, roads need tri-axles to do the work. Tri-axle owners have to go through a broker. If the broker has his own trucks, his trucks work, the owners don't. Although a broker is not supposed to use his trucks because of prevailing wages on these jobs unless he pays prevailing wages, they get away with it somehow...one broker used to make up fake lease/owner papers so his trucks could work. Theyall leave the owner/operators in the dust and cut them out of the jobs. I'm talking from experience.
With the state governments...
it's really a matter of mismanagement, same as with the banks and the car companies. They spend the money on stupid stuff and when the budget comes up short, they start cutting the really important stuff in order to get the attention of the people who live there or the government so they can really cry that they have no money and they need to raise taxes or they need a big handout from the government.
They know exactly what they are doing when they start cutting police jobs and clinics - what they don't tell you is why they don't have the money to pay for that stuff anymore and it's because they paid $500,000 to fix the walkways on the bike trail, etc.
Every state is involved in some way
with political corruption, just not everyone is caught.
What is happening in my state.
Greetings!
In just the past six weeks, a phenomenon has occurred across America. By now you have heard of the Boston Tea Party style of tax protest called Taxed Enough Already (TEA). It is truly a decentralized grassroots movement that has been joined by a wide spectrum of fiscal and social conservative organizations. Such varied groups as American Family Association, FreedomWorks, Resistnet, Americans for Prosperity, the Republican Party and other conservative parties, as well as Concerned Oregonians, have joined with the "engaged and enraged" across America. As you read this newsletter, please identify a party near you where you can join in to make your voice heard!
To add to the occasion, I have written and recorded a humorous tax protest song called "Taxed Enough Already", which you can listen to and read on the ConcernedOregonians.com website. The lyrics are also included below.
JOIN US for TAX DAY TEA PARTIES
Craig Myers of Concerned Oregonians, will be speaking at the following two events. In Salem, he will be joining a group of speakers including House Minority Leader Bruce Hannah, Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, Oregon FreedomWorks Chair Russ Walker, Americans for Prosperity Oregon President Jeff Kropf, Marion County Republican Party Chair Pat Hazell, and others.
State Capital Steps
April 15th
11:00 to 2:00 pm
Portland's Main Pioneer Courthouse Square
April 15th
6:00 to 7:30 pm
See below for complete list of Tax Day Tea Party locations throughout Oregon.
People in cities and towns across the country are joining together to protest the obscene bailouts, wasteful spending, earmarks, and "porky little projects" that our government is passing through with little deliberation and no accountability, and promising more to come. This spending is putting our nation into staggering debt and creating a crippling bill that our children and grandchildren will be forced to pay.
It's time for all who care about the direction of our country to stand up for the future of America and let our voices be clearly heard - Silent Majority No More!
Consider it a civic duty, just as voting, to become personally involved to preserve America, Our Freedom, Our Liberty. JOIN US
taxdayteaparty.com
Should we bring signs?
Yes, please. Here are some resources to use in construction:
Suggested slogans are available here: http://oregonteaparty.com/private/89624584/BttUTSxXJlh7u20rUsQS94pS
A video on how to make a wind-proof protest sign taught by those with the most experience -- union members is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tXmzAWiVk&feature=player_embedded
I want to execute a Tax Day Tea Party in my city, what do I need to do?
To help you plan and execute the Tax Day Tea Party event in your area, here are the official resources you can consult:
Guide to starting new tea parties: http://taxdayteaparty.com/guide.html
Tea Party Team Planning wiki (you'll have to request access):
http://teapartyteam.pbwiki.com/
What's a wiki? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki
Has a page just for Oregon where you can access and post Oregon specific information.
Also has resources such as press release templates, graphics, photos ...
Fresh Tea Blog: http://taxdayteaparty.com/teaparty/
How to get off-line organizations involved in your events: http://taxdayteaparty.com/teaparty/2009/03/how-to-get-help-from-existing-organizations/
Additionally, your event will benefit by creating a facebook event page and, promoting your event via the friend networks that facebook automates. http://www.facebook.com is a free-access social networking website. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Here is a link to a page that explains how to create a facebook event: http://www.ehow.com/how_2031207_event-facebook.html
To get your event listed on OregonTeaParty.com and TaxDayTeaParty.com, please submit the following to Geoff Ludt at geoffludt@gmail.com ASAP:
City: %%City%%
Date: April 15th, %%time%%
Location: %%Street%%
Organizer: %%Organizer%%
Contact: %%Email%%
P. %%Phone%%
Other info: %%facebook event URL, web page URL, instructions, etc.%%
"Taxed Enough Already"
Sung to the tune "Oh, Susanna"
Lyrics by; Craig Myers 3-21-09 Copyright 2009 Craig Myers
Recorded and printable versions available at: www.concernedoregonians.com
MAIN THEME
1.
We are from through-out A-mer-ica, the land of lib-er-ty
With a her-i-tage of Min-ute-men, home of the brave and free.
We're a na-tion born in free-dom, a - light for all to see
Now the so-cial-ists and thought po-lice, are(en)-slav-ing you and me.
Chorus:
"We the Peo-ple", are(the) ru-lers of this land
And we're Taxed E-nough Al-rea-dy, so were mak-ing this our stand.
2.
The peo-ple rule this coun-try - , it's(the) found-ing fa-thers' plan
Ov-er time a troop of ren-e-gades, have kid-napped Un-cle Sam.
Now were vic-tims of ex-tor-tion, and we miss what we now lack
So if it's all - the same to you, we'll take our coun-try back!
Chorus:
"Give me free-dom", or lay me in my grave
For I'm Taxed E-nough Al-rea-dy, and(my) na-tion I must save.
3.
We are men like Boone and Croc-kett and, we stand for what is right
We op-pose nine thou-sand tons of pork, sold in the dead of night.
Ba-il-outs and bo-nu-ses re-ward, the most in-com-pe-tent
And pro-tect the gree-dy from their sin, rather than make them re-pent.
Chorus:
Stop law-mak-ers, who steal from those who work
Re-dis-trib-u-ting our na-tion's wealth, with wel-fare plans and pork.
4.
They pro-mised lots of good-ies - , to those who'd vote them in
Then taxed and robbed the rest of us, to fi-nance their aw-ful sin.
It is time to rise, Ye Pa-tri-ots, we'll be crushed if we don't try
Let's in-sist on ho-nest can-di-dates, that money can-not buy.
Chorus:
Stand for virtue, it's(the) on-ly thing that lasts
Sell-ing out to spe-cial in-terests, ne-ver blessed us in the past.
ENVIRONMENT
5.
We have toiled and sweat, and risked and died for our pos-ter-it-y
Now op-pres-sive reg-u-la-tions work, to end pros-per-it-y.
We have sub-si-dized new ener-gy, and im-port in-stead of pump;
And we're hos-ta-ges of cli-mate freaks, who'd make our land a dump.
Chorus:
"Give me free-dom", or lay me in my grave
For I have a god-ly her-i-tage, and(a) na-tion I must save.
6.
We're a-bout to pay a car-bon tax, to tran-sfer lots more cash
As our dreams of pri-vate en-ter-prise, are head-ed for the trash.
They think they run the plan-et - , and all the CO2 -
And plan to tax the very breath - , exhaled by me and you.
Chorus:
Stop global-goverment, for we want our sovereign-ty
It is glob-al dom-in-ation and, it leads to ty-ran-ny.
OBAMA
7.
Joe Bid-en said - , "just wait and see, this job will make you slip - "
But halo-wear-ing rock stars - , ne-ver fail be-cause their hip.
They said they'd found our sav-ior - , down at M-S-N-B-C
The Of-fice of the Pres-E-lect, was su-pris-ing news to me.
Chorus:
Lib-ral med-ia, your(re) port-ing is-n't fair
The same soap op-era e-very night - , "A Slob-bring Love A-ffair."
8.
Eve-ry-thing's im-proved e-no-rmous-ly, since just three months ago
Now-we've crowned our mon-arch King Hu-ssein, and(a) spend-ing he will go!
We-don't-know what land he comes from, a cer-ti-ficate he does lack
But per-haps in just a short time they'll, a-gree to take him back.
Chorus:
Flush this stimu-lus, a-long with all this tea
For it is A-bama-nation and, its out-right ty-ran-ny
CORRUPTION
9.
They say Chi-ca-go pol-i-tics, is-a mod-el for our land
It'-ll bring us so-cial justice of, the na-tion-shred-ding brand.
Now the hon-or-able Har-ry Reid, with(the) Sen-ate he is sweet
I wish he'd run - for pres-i-dent, so I could buy his seat.
Chorus:
"We the Peo-ple", must take this mess in hand
We are fed up with cor-rup-tion so, were ma-king this our stand.
10.
They say an A-CORN ne-ver falls - , far from the par-ent tree
And ima-gin-ary votes count in, e-lections that are free.
So let's sub-si-dize the en-e-mies, of all that we hold dear
And pa-tro-nize Big Bro-ther whose - , in-tol-er-ance we fear.
Chorus:
Stop this mad-ness, its got-ten out of hand
It is time for mass re-tire-ment of, Pe-losi and her band.
HEALTH CARE
11.
I en-vy all those fine Can-uks - , with health care that is free
They may have to wait for seve-ral years, but(it's) bet-ter than a fee.
When health-care czars and bureau-crats, are de-ciding on our fate
They'll add the costs sub-tract our age, and de-cide that we must wait.
Chorus:
Health-care re-search, it's ne-ver worth the bread
With un-funded man-dates grow-ing, you are less ex-pen-sive dead.
12,
I am sure we would - all glad-ly trade, for what our vete-rans share
At Wal-ter Reed - its par-a-dise, like stand-ard Com-mie care.
In Eur-ope where it's so-cial-ized - , the pop-u-la-tions shrink
Sur-vi-val of the fit-test - , must be what those peo-ple think.
Chorus:
Univer-sal health care, will prob-ly fin-ish me
Thro-ugh fund-ing euth-an-asia - , that is com-pul-sor-y.
EDUCATION
13.
They pol-lute the minds of our own kids, all(but) Dar-win they de-spise
It's a mod-el ed-u-ca-tion, guar-an-tee-ing they're not wise!
Voo-doo-sci-ence is our pas-sion, no in-tell-i-gence al-lowed
We a-rose from ooze by ac-ci-dent, and of(that) were ver-y proud.
Chorus:
I've no mas-ter, there's no God ov-er me
I'm an ar-ro-gant di-saster, a threat to so-ci-ety.
14.
We know there's no cre-a-tor - , who we'll an-swer to some-day
So we have no need of mor-als, nor the right to stand and pray.
Let's pro-tect our youth from all i-deas, of God in whom we trust
And hide the fact there's some-thing more, when their bod-ies turn to dust.
Chorus:
Public ed-u-cation, not what it used to be
It's be-come in-doc-trin-a-tion, and re-writes our his-tor-y.
CONCLUSION
15.
We are from through-out A-mer-i-ca, our home-land for to save
Let's all stand firm, for what is right, not be-come its grove-ling slave.
We've been send-ing folks to Wash-ing-ton, to rep-re-sent all us
But they shred the Bill of Rights so much, it makes us want to cuss.
Chorus:
If they arrest me, for sing-ing out this song
You can be darn sure they'll come for you, and(it) won't be very long.
16.
Our land was born in right-eous-ness, and de-clared its li-ber-ty
For the Lord af-firms our con-science, and His Truth will set us free.
We're com-pelled to pay our taxes, to sup-port what is not right
So please join us in this tax re-volt, caus' were ready for a fight!
Chorus:
Don't lose heart friend, you're(a) true A-me-ri-can
We'll re-place un-fit in-cum-bents, in the year two-thou-sand-ten!
Concerned Oregonian Suzanne Galligher shared the following:
It takes a student to tell us what is happening to our COUNTRY. Somehow, this needs to get to the Halls of Congress and the Supreme Court to read. Thanks,
WRITTEN BY A 15 yr.. Old SCHOOL KID IN Arizona :
New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME) !
Since the Pledge of Allegiance
And
The Lord's Prayer
Are not allowed in most
Public schools anymore
Because the word 'God' is mentioned. ..
A kid in Arizona wrote the attached
NEW School prayer :
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice..
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong..
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess..
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
If you aren't ashamed to do this,
Please pass this on.
Jesus said,
'If you are ashamed of me,
I will be ashamed of you before my Father..'
Dear friends,
Please share this newsletter with your friends and urge them to sieze this historic moment to
reclaim their heritage as citizens of America. This is a republic, "...of the people, by the people, and for the people...", which will not perish!
Sincerely,
Craig Myers
Execultive Director, Concerned Oregonians
She ran our state into debt.
SHE is an extremist.
It is a rather sad state of affairs
a comedy show has greater basis in reality than the so-called news networks.
You state in yur psot....
......'Since coming into power he has not kept his promises. He instituted programs he never talked about on the campaign trail.'
Did it ever occur to you that O when campaigning did not have thorough insights about certain issues yet and gained only access to those when he became the acting President, and based his decisions on those?
BTW, this applies to all presidents.
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