News Blog for social, fiscal & national security conservatives who believe in God, family & the USA. Upholding the rights granted by God & guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, traditional family values, "republican" principles / ideals, transparent & limited "smaller" government, free markets, lower taxes, due process of law, liberty & individual freedom. Content approval rests with the ARRA News Service Editor. Opinions are those of the authors. While varied positions are reported, beliefs & principles remain fixed. No revenue is generated for or by this "Blog" - no paid ads - no payments for articles.Fair Use Doctrine is posted & used. Blogger/Editor/Founder: Bill Smith, Ph.D. [aka: OzarkGuru & 2010 AFP National Blogger of the Year] Contact: editor@arranewsservice.com (Pub. Since July, 2006)Home PageFollow @arra
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics
is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. -- Plato
(429-347 BC)
Saturday, May 03, 2008
The Call of the Entrepreneur
The following trailer for a new documentary being released by the Acton Institute that focuses on the stories of three entrepreneurs. A study of the call to create wealth and the benefit of business and free markets to society. Check information about premieres and related materials.
Tags:banking, business, China, documentary, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, farming, Hong Kong, market, New York, videoTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Mark R. Taylor, Family Security Matters: Our country is stuck in a quagmire. Unrelenting terrorism and violence mean families are held hostage in their own homes as gun-toting thugs sweep neighborhoods. The collateral damage is staggering. Twenty shootings in government-run schools have left innocent children dead. With 336 confirmed shootings in three and a half short months, we should ask for an immediate withdrawal of all law enforcement and first responders because they seem to do not much good, and there is a pervasive sense that we have lost. Perhaps America should echo the words of Barack Hussein Obama regarding Iraq. Pull our forces out – now. Chicago is too dangerous, too far gone to save.
Not even the bigoted Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose well-armed body guards come courtesy of Louis Farrakhan’s racist organization, the Nation of Islam, wants to live among the thieves, thugs and murderers, as he builds his multi-million dollar mansion in an upscale white neighborhood, while Chicago’s South Side becomes a haven for gangland terrorism.
And Barack Hussein Obama? His elitist answer is more gun control in a city with some of the most restrictive gun control laws in the country. Does he honestly believe that the terrorism and mayhem is caused by law-abiding gun owners who fill out the paperwork, go through the background checks and pay the fees to own a gun? Is he so isolated from the reality of his own home town that he doesn’t believe the guns on the streets are bought and sold by drug dealers and other criminals? . . . [Read More] Tags:Barack Obama, Election 2008, elitism, Family Security Matters, gun controlTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Hat tip to Mark Moore, Arkansas Watch: Prospects are looking brighter for legal citizens of Oklahoma.
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World Net Daily is reporting that neighboring Oklahoma's unemployment rate has dropped to 3.1 percent. That is about a 25% drop from figures last year before groundbreaking legislation was put in place in that state which led many illegal aliens to self-deport. Unemployment is 5.1 percent and rising nation wide. This data suggests that employers who had been using illegals have been forced by market conditions to offer work to legal residents. Since those residents are liable to spend their money locally rather than wire their savings to Mexico, you can expect even more economic benefits to the Sooner state in the future.
The reason for the self-deportation is clearly a result of Oklahoma's new state law. "The bottom line is illegal aliens will not come here if there are no jobs waiting for them," an Oklahoma official told WND. "They will not stay here if there is no government subsidy, and they certainly won't stay here if they know that if they ever encounter our state and local law enforcement officers, they will be physically detained until they are deported."
Mark Moore adds: It is a pity that our own Governor Mike Beebe continues to insist, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that the presence of illegal aliens in our state is strictly a federal issue and that there is little that the state can or should do. I will continue to believe that Governor Beebe is in the pocket of the poultry industry (and others who lean heavily on illegal aliens) because the evidence screams that he is every time the issue comes up. Tags:Arkansas Animal Producer's Association, illegal aliens, Mark Moore, Oklahoma, unemployment rateTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Cord Blomquist, Online Editor, Competitive Enterprise Institute, provided some interesting sources of information this week: The Really Inconvenient Truths - CEI Senior Fellow Iain Murray has been promoting his book The Really Inconvenient Truths: Seven Environmental Catastrophes Liberals Don’t Want You to Know About – Because They Helped Cause Them with a series of articles and short videos. This is the book that reveals that not only does the Green emperor have no clothes, but he is a tyrant who starves his people and burns their land. Iain also shows that the traditional tools we have used against over-mighty tyrants – property rights, the rule of law, oversight and accountability – are actually essential to environmental protection. Visit the American Spectator to read a summary of the The Really Inconvenient Truths. You can also get the chapter on ethanol for free at the official website for the book.
Hello Nurses! When monopolists clash, ugly things happen—at least in the case of organized labor. Two unions have been trying to organize the same group of nurses, with fireworks flying. Ivan Osorio has the story at OpenMarket.org.
Racial-Quota Mandates - The American Bar Association is continually threatening to pull the accreditation of George Mason University Law School for failing to adopt illegal racial quotas in admissions. More from Hans Bader at OpenMarket.org.
Drill for Oil to Save the Environment - Ethanol production is far worse for the environment than drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic tundra, yet Congress promotes ethanol subsidies to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, even as it blocks drilling in the Arctic and the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts that would do far more to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. Star blogger Hans Bader has more at OpenMarket.org.
Don't Judge Me by the Content of My DNA! The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) bans insurers and employers from taking genetic information into account. The Economist blog suggests it could doom private individual insurance in the future. CEI's Hans Bader has criticized the GINA bill in the National Law Journal for lacking a “direct threat” exception. Tags:CEI, Competitive Enterprise Institute, DNA, ethanol, Inconvenient Truth, labor unions, nurses, oil drilling, racial quotasTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Michael, Wickline, Arkansas Democrat Gazette: The state Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday ordered a board staff member and board-certified election monitors to watch the May 20 election in St. Francis County. . . . The action comes nearly two weeks after a state Senate committee . . . agreed to ask the Arkansas State Police and the board to monitor all elections in St. Francis County until convinced election officials follow state law for elections, handling ballots and counting votes. . . .
"I have had so many complaints it’s unbelievable from both sides of St. Francis County about those elections not being fair,” said Willett, former chairman of the state Democratic Party. He said he wants the board to do its part to clean up “this mess” in St. Francis County. Board Chairman Charlie Daniels of Bryant, who is secretary of state, agreed with Willett’s recommendation. Willett said he lacks confidence in St. Francis Election Commissioner Chairman Frederick Freeman, who also is chairman of the county’s Democratic Party. . . .
As for Willett saying he has no confidence in Freeman, Freeman said that’s a good example of why Willett is a former party chairman. Willett makes uninformed comments and decisions, Freeman said. “I would have thought by now he would have learned that he needs to sweep around his own front door before he tries to sweep around mine,” he said. Last year Willett, a former aide to U. S. Rep. Marion Berry and U. S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, resigned as chairman of the state Democratic Party, which he headed more than two years. He resigned after he registered as a lobbyist in a move that surprised Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat. . . .
The [Arkansas] Senate panel said “flagrant” fraud and irregularities existed in the Senate District 16 runoff but that there was no evidence that Crumbly personally committed any. They agreed to ask the U. S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas to investigate. . . . [Read More] Tags:Arkansas, Democrats, election fraud, election reform, Fredrick Freeman, Jason Willett, voter fraudTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Dan McLaughlin, RedState: The hottest topic in Republican circles, ever since John McCain iced the nomination, is who he should pick as his running mate. There are many interesting names floated, and McCain will have good reason to make a show of talking to a bunch of candidates for the job, as a way of courting different groups and party leaders and feeling out people who might end up with other jobs in his Administration.
But realistically, there are a number of constraints on what kind of candidate McCain can or should pick. The Vice Presidency isn't like other appointments, since he or she is independently elected and can't be fired. And McCain's choice will be of particular significance for a few reasons. First, because of his age, voters will want more assurance than usual that his running mate is ready to step into the job at a moment's notice. Second, also because of McCain's age, he's seen as less likely to serve two terms; his running mate, win or lose in 2008, will have a leg up to be the heir apparent in 2012. And third, many conservatives are unhappy with McCain as the party leader, and want to see that the moderates have not taken permanent control of the party.
Let's start with the Don'ts . . .
1. No Senators . . .
2. No Bushies . . .
3. No Old Retired Guys . . .
4. No Rookies . . .
5. No Novice Politicians . . .
6. No Pro-Choicers . . .
7. No Iraq War Opponents . . .
8. No Democrats . . .
9. No Closeted Gays . . .
10. No Lobbyists . . .
11. No 2006 Losers . . .
12. No Perennial Short-Listers . . .
13. No New Mothers . . .
14. No Dynasties . . .
15. No Affirmative Action Candidates . . .
Now, the Do's - none of these are as litmus-test critical as the Don'ts, but they are also important . . .
1. Executive Experience . . .
2. Outside the Beltway . . .
3. Swing Stater . . .
4. Yes, It's The Economy . . . [Read Dan McLaughlin's rationale for the above dos and dont's] Who do you think satisfies or is out as a choice based on the above criteria? Tags:Election 2008, John McCain, RedState, Republican, vice presidentTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
In Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt's (R) leads in implementing a new program that promotes abortion alternatives with a revolutionary new toll-free hotline: 1-800-AID-U-171. An expectant mom is instantly with a menu of services, including medical care, housing, child care, substance abuse treatment, job training, parenting classes, and education options. The assistance is available to women with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level and the services are provided at more than 35 locations across the state. Help from the state also includes prenatal care, infant care and adoption support.
"I believe we have an obligation to support expectant mothers and protect the sanctity and dignity of human life," Blunt said. Last year, after the legislature approved the new program, Gov. Blunt signed legislation placing Missouri’s Alternatives to Abortion Program in statute to help ensure ongoing support to organizations that help meet the needs of pregnant women and new mothers. This program is a model for other states that want to support women with easy and confidential alternatives to abortion. See also:Missouri Governor Implements New Program Promoting Abortion AlternativesTags:abortion, Missouri, pregnant women, pro-lifeTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
CitizenLink: In his Stoplight video commentary, Stuart Shepard explains how this past winter's weather didn't follow the script written by global warming alarmists. Tags:CitizenLink, global warming, Stoplight, Stuart ShepardTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
The Senate: No votes are scheduled until Tuesday. Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Reid filed for cloture on the FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 2881) and the Rockefeller substitute amendment. A cloture vote on the substitute is scheduled for 2:30 PM on Tuesday. Reid has filled the amendment tree on the FAA bill effectively blocking Republicans from offering amendments.
From Senate & News Sources: At a press conference yesterday, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member Pete Domenici (R-NM), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and ten other GOP senators unveiled Republican energy proposals to increase domestic oil production and help lower gas prices. The GOP bill would allow oil exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf and oil and gas drilling in 2,000 acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Reuters listed other major provisions of the bill:- Allow states to petition the federal government to allow oil drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts;
- Suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for 180 days;
- Require production of 6 billion gallons of coal-derived transport fuels by 2022;
- Repeal a 1-year moratorium on drilling in oil shale regions in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah;
- Repeal previous legislation prohibiting federal agencies from using alternative fuels that emit more greenhouse gases than conventional sources, which has been viewed as a de facto ban on U.S. government use of fuels refined from the Canadian oil sands.Senate Democrats are set to present their energy proposals today. In stark contrast to Republicans, the Democrats appear to have no plans to increase domestic energy supplies. Instead, their plan revolves around scapegoating and punishing oil companies. CongressDaily reports, “Democrats have proposed making price gouging a federal crime; allowing the United States to sue OPEC for manipulating crude oil prices; and repealing billions in tax incentives for oil and gas companies.”
Democrats’ historic mismanagement of Congress continues unabated. After denying Republicans the ability to offer amendments on the FAA bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture, forcing a premature vote on a bill that Democrats loaded up with controversial unrelated provisions. The cloture motion is likely to fail; Republicans would prefer to debate the bill and improve it. Reid has repeatedly claimed this is a GOP filibuster, but in fact it is Reid’s heavy-handed and erratic approach to legislating that results in much wasted time and stalled bills. A senate staff member expressed, "It’s really quite galling to hear the denunciations of Republicans over this Congress’ lack of accomplishments when Democrats have so badly mismanaged things from the very beginning."
In the House: Mismanagement is not limited to the Senate. Politico reports that the House left for the weekend without approving an extension of the Higher Education Act thereby allowing it to expire.CQ Today reports that House Democrats may not move any regular appropriations bills this year.CQ Today and the AP both detail Democrats’ continuing struggle to produce a supplemental war funding bill that can satisfy the competing demands of their members. Leadership, appropriators, Blue Dogs, and anti-war members are all at odds over various aspects of the bill ranging from procedure to spending to troop withdrawal provisions.Tags:drilling, energy, gasoline, natural gas, oil, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Under Secretary for International Trade Christopher Padilla uses a grocery bag to share the reasons for the approval of the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia which is held up in the U.S. House by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Ninety-two percent of all Colombian products come into the United States today and pay absolutely no tariffs -- they enter our market for free. It has been that way for 16 years. However, U.S. manufacturers must pay tariffs to Columbia for goods they sell to Columbia thereby reducing profits for their companies and reducing potential benefits for their employees. Examples of American exports to Columbia and the tariffs imposed on American goods: Apples (15%), Farm Equipment (10-15%), Fertilizer (15%), soft drinks (Pepsi, Coke, etc. - 20%).Tags:Christopher Padilla, Columbia, Economics, exports, food, Free Trade, FTA, grocery tax, import, Nancy Pelosi, the economy, United StatesTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Tags:National Day of Prayer, 2008, prayer, United States, videoTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Image your received a gift in the form of a check from an Uncle who had bad credit, had shown prior bad faith, was so far in debt that he should be filing bankruptcy, and had just borrowed money to write you the check. What would you do with the check?
Me, I'm thinking I'll fill my gas tank. Tags:checks, economic stimulus, Uncle Sam, US DebtTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
On The Floor: The Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM today. They will resume consideration of the FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 2881). Yesterday, Democrats again demonstrated their historic mismanagement of the Senate on the FAA reauthorization bill. Harry Reid has once more decided that he needs to pre-approve Republican amendments to a bill. Declaring he didn’t want to debate non-germane issues (despite Democrats having added non-FAA related measures to the bill), Reid filled the amendment tree to the bill effectively blocking amendments by Republicans from being offered. This is the same way of doing business that stalled the farm bill and the housing bill for weeks as Republicans were blocked from offering amendments. Apparently Democrats did not learn a lesson about respecting the rights of the minority from those exercises (nor from their own pronouncements on such rights during their time in the minority). Incredibly, Reid and Dick Durbin then blamed Republicans for work on the FAA bill being stalled when it was their own mismanagement that put them in this situation.
From Senate & News Sources:Since today is May 1st, Democrat leadership practiced their May Pole Dance (historically known as "circle dancing"). Instead of addressing problems like resolving high gasoline prices, the Democrat leadership decided that the most important thing to do today is to attack the president over his "Mission Accomplished" speech which he gave five years ago after the end of major combat operations against Saddam Hussein’s forces in Iraq. Reid led off the ritual denunciations this morning by declaring that “Five years ago on the deck of an aircraft carrier, returning from the Middle East, America and the world witnessed perhaps the greatest act of hubris that our country’s ever seen in wartime.” Reid often forgets he is the picture of hubris.
Our troops are not being served by the failure by Democrats to work to pass an acceptable war funding bill that is not loaded with domestic projects. Roll Call hints that such an accomplishment may be possible however Democrats want to do so by “preventing Republicans from having any meaningful input.” Politico reports that Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) wants a shot at “add[ing] billions of dollars in domestic spending regardless of President Bush’s [veto] threat.”
In his speech this morning, REID AGAIN FAILED to explain how he plans to address the top concern of Americans - the price of gasoline. Investor’s Business Daily scolded Democrats for “Congress’ sins of omission” on energy policy, criticizing them for failing to allow drilling in ANWR, refusing to build new refineries, turning their backs on nuclear power, and raising taxes on energy producers. Senate Republicans will hold a press conference later today to discuss their plans to help increase domestic energy supplies and address the issue of gas prices. Tags:Alaska, ANWR, oil, Harry Reid, picture of hubris, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Secure Arkansas Ballot Initiative Again Denied by AG McDaniel
Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: We received word from Jeannie Burlsworth, Chairman, Secure Arkansas that "the Secure Arkansas ballot initiative was again turned down by the Attorney General McDaniel today, but it appears that he will work with us to get it approved. It is being resubmitted in the morning, we are looking for a favorable reply and we will have those petitions ready to sign very soon."
Based on Mrs Burlworth comment, we are temporarily withholding comment on Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's second turn down of the Secure Arkansas ballot initiative. We have already reported on his questioned independence to decide fairly on ballot initiatives. If the ballot initiative is again denied, many Arkansans will be investigating, questioning and reporting on McDaniel's action and on the linkages between the people who oppose permitting the voters the right to vote on this initiative.
For those who missed previous articles, the Secure Arkansas Ballot Initiative if approved by the voters would require the state and local government to verify the lawful presence in the United States of any person 14 years or older who applies for a federal, state, or local public benefit. Benefits that would require proof of legal presence include; applications for business licenses, in-state college tuition, and scholarships. The initiative would further require government agencies to document the types and dollar amounts of benefits provided to persons who are found to be in the United States unlawfully and submit an annual report of the provided benefits and costs. Previous Post:Arkansas AG McDaniel's Independence Questioned Tags:Arkansas, Attorney General, benefits, Dustin McDaniel, government transparency, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants, Keep Arkansas Legal, public money, Secure Arkansas, transparencyTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Joe Eule, Chief of Staff, Freedom's Watch: In a 2006 press release, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed that Democrats had a common sense plan to bring down skyrocketing fuel prices. The average price for a gallon of gas when Democrats took control of congress that November was $2.25 - a price that Pelosi and other liberals claimed amounted to "price gouging". The average price of a gallon of gas today is now up to a record $3.61, and in Speaker Pelosi's home Congressional district in the California bay area, the price tops $4 a gallon.
Despite the price going up $1.36 per gallon (that's 60%!) since Democrats took control of Congress 15 months ago, an out-of-touch Speaker Pelosi and Congressional leadership have still not released this so-called common sense plan to bring prices under control. Just last week in an interview with Larry King, Speaker Pelosi cited the national average as being only $2.56.
Rising fuel prices don't only raise the cost to fill our gas tanks, but they affect the prices we pay for almost every other product - including necessities like food, and Congress is doing nothing to alleviate the strain on Americans' wallets. After viewing the video, call Speaker Pelosi's office at 202-225-0100 and remind her that America does need a common sense plan to bring gas prices under control. Tags:Democrats, Freedoms Watch, gas prices, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, US Congress, US HouseTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Bobby Eberle: Sen. Barack Obama has finally had enough. His former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, has been conducting a multi-event tour over the weekend, culminating in a speech on Monday to the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Over those days, there were many outrageous statements said by Rev. Wright. Some were new, and some were repeats of past comments. Obama had plenty of time to come forward and blast Wright for the outrageous, anti-American rhetoric that pours from his mouth. Did the senator from Illinois do that? No. He waited until Wright said something personal about Obama. Only then did Obama organize a press conference to express his "outrage". The outrage fell flat, and it again calls into question Obama's judgment and beliefs. . . .
Rev. Wright is truly the gift that keeps on giving. He gave a speech talking about how black brains and white brains were different and cited research to "prove it." Imagine if a white researcher had made similar claims! Oh wait, they have, and they were branded as racists. Wright also didn't step back from his comments about America deserving the attacks on 9-11 or his statements that the U.S. government invented HIV to wipe out blacks. In this barrage of garbage, he also added one other noteworthy comment. He said that Barack Obama's denunciation of Wright's comments was "political posturing."
. . . Obama said, "The person that I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago." Later in the press conference, Obama said, "What we saw yesterday out of Reverend Wright was a resurfacing and, I believe, an exploitation of those old divisions. Whatever his intentions, that was the result." Obama keeps referencing "yesterday" as if Wright suddenly woke up the other day and decided to be an anti-American racist -- that Wright's comments of recent days are somehow different than what he's been preaching for years. Give me a break! . . .
For Obama to claim that Wright is now a different person, that Obama doesn't recognize this hate speech, is flat-out unbelievable. Of course Obama knew what Wright believed. He heard it over and over again. . . . Obama doesn't have a record to go after. He has no legacy of legislative accomplishment. He has made this campaign about his judgment and vision for America. If that is all he is running on, then he is in trouble, because his judgment regarding Rev. Wright calls into question his judgment in other areas as well. . . . [Read More] Tags:Barack Obama, Bobby Eberle, Democrat, Election 2008, GOPUSA, Jeremiah Wright, presidential candidateTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
England's Call to Repeal Our Declaration of Independence
by Phyllis Schlafly, Eagle Forum: It's a good thing that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's U.S. visit was upstaged by the dramatic reception Americans gave Pope Benedict XVI. Brown might have been booed if he hadn't delivered what aides called his "signature" speech within the cloistered walls of Harvard's Kennedy Center. Brown's tedious, hour-long speech impudently demanded that we issue a "Declaration of Interdependence" in order to submit to global governance.That's another way of calling on us to repeal our Declaration of Independence.
. . . Brown rejected the traditional concept of national sovereignty, which means an independent nation not subservient to any outside control, telling us to replace it with "responsible sovereignty," which he defined as accepting what he calls our global "obligations." . . . Brown admitted that his "main argument" is that we must accept "new global rules," "new global institutions," and "global networks." Brown's global rules include massive U.S. cash handouts and opening U.S. borders to the world. . . . Brown warned us that his vision of the globalist future is "irreversible transformation." He wants to "transcend states" and "transcend borders" as he builds the "architecture of a global society." . . . Brown wants to increase the power of the United Nations to become the source of "an international stand-by capacity of trained civilian experts, ready to go anywhere at any time," and even be able to exercise "military force." . . .
Brown refused to allow the British people to vote on whether or not they want to accept the European Union (EU) constitution. He acquiesced in the plot of the constitution's author, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, to put the EU constitution into effect by calling it a treaty so it did not have to be voted on by the people. . . . The EU constitution, now called the Treaty of Lisbon, requires all signers to surrender their sovereignty and democracy to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels and judges in Strasbourg. The EU constitution takes away England's right to pass its own laws, forces England to surrender more than 60 UK vetoes of EU decisions, and gives the EU bureaucracy and tribunals total control over England's immigration policy. Instead of a self-governing nation whose democratic system was developed over centuries, England is now ruled by what Margaret Thatcher called "the paper pushers in Brussels."Brown made his globalism speech emphatic by repeatedly invoking the words "New World Order." . . .
Gordon Brown invited us to march forward to globalism "where there is no path." He's correct that there is no path on which we can expect globalism to lead us to a better world; in fact every path toward global government is a surrender of our liberty and our prosperity. Gordon Brown should go back home and study up on how Americans refused to accept orders from King George III.[Read Complete Article] Tags:England, globalism, Gordon Brown, Phyllis Schlafly, UN, United Kingdom, United Nations, United StatesTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
On The Floor: Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM today and resumed consideration of the FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 2881). The Senate will recess between 10:40 AM and 12 PM for a Joint Session of Congress to receive Irish Prime Minister of Bernie Ahern.
From Senate & News Sources - Gas Prices: “War Over Gas Prices Explodes” is the headline in Roll Call today, which writes, “[B]oth parties and President Bush ratcheted up the blame game Tuesday and scrambled to propose an ever-expanding list of possible salves.” Remember that more than two years ago Senate Democrats and their Senate candidates were saying, “Talk is cheap, gas is not,” and were promising that if they were given control of Congress, they would act to alleviate high gas prices. Well? Two years later, Gasoline is $1.25 more, on average than it was when the Democrats took over Congress. Sen. John Cornyn recalled: “Two years ago, Speaker Pelosi said that if Democrats were given the majority, they would produce a common sense plan for reducing the pain at the pump. Well, we’re still waiting for that plan.”
Politico reports today, though, that Democrats are actually working on proposals, but that they are apparently more interested in scoring political points against Republicans and demonizing oil companies than doing anything to address the real issue of energy supplies. Their ideas apparently range from bad Carter-era retreads like windfall profits taxes to demanding price gouging investigations that have turned up nothing in the past.
Roll Call noted, “Republicans said there was no mystery to rising prices — supply isn’t keeping up with rising demand.” Indeed, Republicans yesterday reminded reporters that Democrats have repeatedly scuttled GOP proposals to increase domestic energy supplies. As Sen. McConnell said, “[W]e’ve had an opportunity to build more refineries, and the Democratic majority voted it down. We’ve had an opportunity to open up additional parts of the outer continental shelf, even in a place like Virginia where you had one Democratic senator and one Republican senator in favor of it, and the Democratic majority voted it down. It’s clear that on the production side of the equation, this new majority is not interested in doing anything.” Sen. Jon Kyl added that President Clinton vetoed a Republican plan to drill for oil in ANWR years ago, which could now be producing quite a bit of oil.
Republicans have proposed basic steps Congress could take to increase domestic energy supplies, but Democrats have repeatedly opposed them. It’s unfortunate, but unsurprising, that in the absence of constructive suggestions, Democrats are looking instead to score political points. Tags:Irish Prime Minister, Bernie Ahern, gasoline prices, US Congress, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: Friend, fellow blogger and Grizzly Groundswellcontributor, J.G. at Hoopy Frood Dude posted the following story that in the end summarizes the failures of government. The truth of the article is painful but forces one to see that seldom does government consider the future consequences of their actions:
Just a few days ago I gave my rant about biofuels, and included an article by Arnaud de Borchgrave. As it looks, neither Arnaud's or my article were far off track. Actually, they were pretty dead on. That Biofuels were of particular fault in the economic and humanitarian crisis being felt around the world.
As it looks, the failed mandate by Congress to eventually replace fossil fuels with biofuels such as ethanol, are causing problems the world over. It's hit such a point that the World Bank has called on the G7 to increase emergency food assistance as 33 countries around the world are facing civil unrest due to high food prices and shortages.
And the way it's coming out, the proponents of biofuels are to blame. Period. Elizabeth Stuart, a spokesman for the Oxfam anti-poverty group has said, "’Half of the increase in the demand for major food crops was due to the move to biofuels,’ she said. ‘These have dubious environment benefits, and by driving up prices, are crippling the lives of the poor. ... The [World] Bank, with other international institutions and the G7, must come up with a joint plan to tackle this crisis.’”
Even the U.N.'s Right To Food independent expert Jean Ziegler has called for the five year moratorium on biofuel production to come to a halt as the growing practice of converting food crops into biofuels is "a crime against humanity.'' I normally don't put much stock in the U.N. But when it involves humanitarian problems, I at least lend ear to it. Then make my decisions.
Not only is it the subsidization of corn (and other food staples such as wheat, sugarcane, rice, etc.,) to be used for biofuels that's hurting the poverty stricken areas. But the increased fuel and energy costs to simply deliver it has added to the burden. Lawrence Kudlow (a former Reagan economic advisor) has said, “…The continued decline in the value of the dollar … has permitted the global commodities boom (energy and corn) to leak into higher U.S. inflation. Bulging commodity costs have depressed the profits of non-financial domestic businesses...”
All this goes to show a few things; First is, there's NOTHING that the government can't screw up. Second is, these are all things that government could have prevented by not getting involved, from the ethanol mandate to increasing the money supply. Thirdly, less (smaller) government allows for less interference. And lastly, it proves yet again the government which governs least, governs the best.
Thank you J.G. Although there is nothing new under the sun, government actions and / or inactions still continue to boggle our minds with its failures. Instead of focusing on providing more corn and other food products to fight world hunger, liberals would instead have us focus on converting these crops to operate our vehicles. Instead of using these crops to sustain life, they would have consume them materially on ourselves. Why? Because liberal do not value human life. Their definition of nature includes land, water, plants and all animals except for humans. To liberals, humans are the problem. Starving a few hundred millions is not as important to them as keeping the caribou from ever seeing an oil pipeline and is not as important as building a few more refineries in the Unites States. I could continue but then it would get even more depressing and you get my drift. Tags:America, biofuels, crisis, government, government failures, Humanitarian, StarvationTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: The Pennsylvania (PA) Secretary of State has not official certified last Tuesday's primary elections. However, Republican candidate William "Bill" Russell is reporting a victory in his efforts to get on the ballot as the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania 12th Congressional District.
Russell, a Lt. Colonel and decorated Desert Storm and Iraq War combat veteran and who was at the Pentagon on 9/11, returned home to run against Congressman John "Jack" Murtha. However during the filing period in PA, a candidate must submit a petition signed by enough voters to show that he is a viable candidate. Although Russell submitted enough signatures to be on the ballot, a legal challenge by two republicans allegedly beholden to Murtha resulted in Russell being denied the right to be on the primary ballot. Without a contender, Murtha, known as the "king of congressional pork," would have returned to Congress again without competition.
But fortunately in Pennsylvania, there is a big difference between signing a petition subject to review and criticism by "King" Murtha and the sanctity of the secrecy in the voting booths. Russell an experienced combat veteran did not give up. He launched a campaign for voters to write-in his name during the primary as the Republican candidate for 12th District US Representative. In PA, Russell needed at lease 1000 write-in votes from his fellow voters to be certified as the Republican candidate for the November elections.
The Russell campaign reports that unofficially over 4000 voters in the Republican primary wanted a choice in November and wrote -in William Russell's name as their candidate of choice. In addition, almost 1000 Democrats displeased with "King" Murtha also wrote in William Russell's name in the Democrat primary. With several National races on their primary ballot. PA County officials cannot certify the election results until 10 days have past to comply with the Federal law permitting additional time for absentee military ballots to be received and counted. Do you suppose those military absentee voters preferred Murtha who called them murders or Russell who served with them in honor?
Even with this outpouring for a write-in candidate, the Pennsylvania Secretary of State media relations office could not confirm today the current estimated number of write-in ballots in the 12th Congressional District. Until release of the official results, one can only wonder what devious plots are underway by Porker Jack Murtha and his squealing cronies to protect his bacon.Tags:Bill Russell, Congressional Pork, Congressional race, John Murtha, Pennsylvania, Porker of the Year, veterans, William RussellTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
On The Floor: The Senate reconvened at 10 AM today with a period of morning business and will recess for weekly policy lunches between 12:30 and 2:15 PM. The Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 2881). A vote on the bill itself could occur later today when language is finalized. Yesterday, the Senate voted 88-0 to invoke cloture to proceed to the FAA bill.
Senate & News Source Comments on Excessive Rising Gas Prices: In opening remarks on the floor today, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell warned the Senate not forget that Americans are most concerned about the dramatic increase in the price of gasoline over the last year. McConnell added a commonsense warning: “[W]e should be able to stipulate at the outset that raising taxes as a way of addressing that problem isn't even worth our consideration.” Fox News reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has asked Democrats to come up with ideas for a bill to address gasoline prices. However, “a senior Democratic leadership aide” said of the bill, “It’s become a kitchen sink. They’ve been trying to put this thing together for awhile, and there’s still no agreement.”
It certainly doesn’t appear Democrats will have any ideas to put forward this week, two years after they promised their “commonsense plan” on gas prices. Senate Democrats have repeatedly shown that they have little to offer other than bombast. Majority Whip Dick Durbin took to the floor today to express his usual outrage over the profits of oil companies instead of offering actual solutions. Durbin took his rhetoric to an absurd level, stopping short of accusing oil companies of siphoning money from consumers. There are a number of policies Congress could adopt to increase domestic energy production and begin to help consumers, but Democrats will need to show a preference for commonsense solutions over demagoguery and tax hikes.
A short time later, President Bush spoke to reporters about specific things Congress could do to boost energy production in the United States. The president noted that Democrats have been vocal in demanding oil production increases from other countries but have repeatedly blocked exploration in the U.S. He also emphasized that no new refineries have been built in the country for over 30 years and reminded reporters that Democrats have also blocked nuclear power proposals for years.Tags:FAA bill, gasoline prices, US Congress, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families: Barack Obama’s former pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright is speaking out publicly in defense of his controversial views. To my great disappointment, Wright was the honored speaker at a major NAACP event this weekend, with 10,000 people paying $150 each to validate his hate. After decades of affirmative action, can race relations in America really be that bad? How can the NAACP, which bills itself as a “mainstream” civil rights organization, honor a supporter of Louis Farrakhan? Does the NAACP endorse Wright’s wild conspiracy theories – like his suggestion that the government invented the HIV virus to kill black people? Does the NAACP believe, as Wright has suggested, that America deserved the 9/11 attacks? I refuse to believe that such views are embraced by a majority of black Americans, and I am astonished that the NAACP would give Wright such prominence.
Today, Rev. Wright spoke to reporters at the National Press Club and his remarks were not as well received there as they were by Bill Moyers of PBS. According to one commentator, Wright again defended Louis Farrakhan. He defended his allegation that AIDS was a government plot. He defended his comparison of U.S. Marines to Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus. And he suggested his church had supported the communist Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Roland Martin, a black radio talk show host, said on CNN, “I think Rev. Jeremiah Wright, based on the question-and-answer session today, actually blew it. …I felt his tone was inappropriate and also the behavior there.” David Gergen, a policy advisor to Republican and Democrat presidents, said, “I think that this has been narcissistic almost beyond belief. And this publicity offensive has been destructive for the Obama campaign.”
Politics aside, as Rev. Wright spoke to the National Press Club, I was struck by the contrast between this angry and bitter man and another black pastor. Decades earlier, not far from the National Press Club, Dr. Martin Luther King expressed not his hatred, but his love for America. Dr. King implored all Americans to embrace their fellow countrymen and to include black Americans in promises of our Declaration of Independence. In the years since, I believe we have made significant strides. The greatest problem affecting the African American community today, I believe, is not racism, but the breakdown of the family, and some of my proudest moments in Washington have been working with black pastors in defense of traditional marriage and family values. But the liberal solutions offered by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, just like the comments of Rev. Wright, are flat-out wrong.
While Sen. McCain has been hesitant in the past, I’m pleased to report that he indicated over the weekend that Rev. Wright and his bizarre comments were legitimate issues. That’s good because Wright repeatedly suggested that Obama really didn’t distance himself from Wright or his obscene comments, and only “did what politicians do” when he supposedly repudiated them. It seemed to me like Obama’s pastor was questioning his sincerity. Wright also said that he told Obama, “If you get elected, November the 5th I’m coming after you, because you’ll be representing a government whose policies grind under people.” In other words, this man expects to have “President Obama’s” ear on important policy issues. Tags:Barack Obama, Election 2008, Gary Bauer, Jeremiah WrightTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Selby Bush, RPA Communications Director:Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “The Senator from Arizona and presumptive GOP presidential nominee will end his week-long tour through mostly impoverished areas with a brief afternoon stop in Little Rock. The tour has been portrayed as McCain’s effort to reach out to Democratic and independent voters. And it has given him a platform to continue trumpeting lower corporate taxes, an attack on government waste and likely cuts in nonmilitary spending.” (Matthew S.L. Cate, “Shaping his GOP identity, McCain to visit state today,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 4/25/08)
“John McCain makes last stop in Arkansas on ‘forgotten’ places tour”:
The Morning News: McCain’s visit to Arkansas was the final stop on his “Time for Action” tour of regions that McCain has called “forgotten parts of America.” Earlier in the week he visited poverty-stricken areas of Alabama, Ohio, and Kentucky, as well as New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.” (John Lyon, “McCain Visits Arkansas,” The Morning News, 4/25/08)
Texarkana Gazette: “John McCain makes last stop in Arkansas on ‘forgotten’ places tour.” (4/25/08)
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “McCain said his plan for a summertime gas tax holiday would help motorists cope with soaring gas prices, even if for a short while…’I’d love to tell you that money is well spent. But a lot of it’s not,’ McCain said. With his tax break, he said, maybe more Americans could ‘take a vacation. School’s out. Maybe a chance to take a little trip.’” (Matthew S.L. Cate, “McCain on LR visit gains cash, barbecue,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 4/26/08)
“Rivals No More: McCain, Huckabee do the rounds”:
CNN: “Senator John McCain, on the last leg of this week’s your of economically struggling regions, was campaigning alongside former rival Mike Huckabee on Friday.” (Ed Hornick, “Rivals no more: McCain, Huckabee do the rounds,” CNN.com, 4/25/08)
Arkansas Business: “McCain said the former Arkansas governor, always quick to laud the Arizona senator during his own campaign, will travel as a surrogate to rally voters not only in the South.” (Arkansasbusiness.com, 4/25/08)
Texarkana Gazette: “McCain comes to a state where he finished second in the Feb. 5th presidential primary to Huckabee, who served as Arkansas’ governor for 10 ½ years.” (Texarkana Gazette, 4/24/08)
“Straight Talk at Arkansas Baptist”:
The Morning News: “At historically black Arkansas Baptist College, McCain met for about 40 minutes with students in the Our Kids Program, which fosters partnerships between police, schools, churches, students, and community members to provide positive role models for young black males. McCain said he wanted to end the tour with a ‘great success story.’” (John Lyon, “McCain Visits Arkansas, The Morning News, 4/25/08)
Arkansas Times: “McCain called Arkansas Baptist "a great American success story" for bouncing back after almost losing accreditation in 2006.” (John C. Williams, “Straight Talk at Arkansas Baptist,” Arkansas Times, 4/25/08)
Local Voices:
McGehee District Judge Gibbs Ferguson: “I was going to holler at him and tell him he had two votes.” (Matthew S.L. Cate, “McCain on LR visit gains cash, barbecue,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 4/26/08)
Brittney Cozart Of Little Rock, Arkansas: “I really like his beliefs, a lot of candidates today do not have the old-world conservative beliefs that I believe in. And he does.” (Matthew S.L. Cate, “McCain on LR visit gains cash, barbecue,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 4/26/08)
University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin: “I saw a side of John McCain I hadn’t seen today, because he was very relaxed and funny.” (John Lyon, “McCain Visits Arkansas,” The Morning News, 4/25/08)
Former State Senator Doyle Webb: “He was very engaging and humorous, he shares a patriotism and a vision, and one of the stories he told brought tears to my eyes, and I thought that’s what we need as president.” (John Lyon, “McCain Visits Arkansas,” The Morning News, 4/25/08)
Other online McCain support places to visit and to join:
Tags:Arizona, Arkansas, Election 2008, GOP, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, presidential candidate, press, RepublicanTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Mike Huckabee and John McCain gave an interview to reporters on 4/25/08 from McCain's Straight Talk Express Campaign Bus. Huckabee strongly endorsed McCain. They discussed the current state of the campaign. You can hear the voices of wives Cindy McCain and Janet Huckabee as well as the CNN reporter. Is there a possibility that former Gov. Mike Huckabee is being considered for Vice President by the presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee Sen. John McCain?
McCain & Huckabee on the Campaign Bus (3 part series) 4/25/08
Tags:Arizona, Arkansas, Election 2008, GOP, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, presidential candidate, Republican, videosTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Cost to Americans for Delay of Columbia Free Trade Agreement
Bill Smith, ARRA News Service: The below tickler estimates the amount of tariffs imposed on American companies by Colombia since the Free Trade Agreement came into being. Columbia pays no tariff (0%) for the following goods imported into the U.S.: Bananas, Coffee, Carrot's, Fresh-cut Flowers. However, U.S. manufacturers must pay tariffs to Columbia for goods they sell to Columbia thereby reducing profits for their companies and reducing potential benefits for their employees. Examples of American exports to Columbia and the tariffs imposed on American goods: Apples (15%), Farm Equipment (10-15%), Fertilizer (15%), soft drinks (Pepsi, Coke, etc. - 20%).
If the new Columbia Free Trade Agreement is approved by Congress these costs to American manufacturers will be eliminated. Although it is expected that this agreement will be approved overwhelmingly in the US. House, Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has changed the House rules and delayed a vote on this agreement in hopes of advancing her own personal agenda. One wonders what "under the table" deals she is getting for this delay! It is actions like Pelosi's that cause jobs to be lost in the U.S. If good are not exported by the U.S. to countries like Columbia, then eventually jobs will be exported as America business owners opt to build in companies in countries where they reduce both export and import fees. Another example of Speaker Pelosi not understanding Economics 101.
Tags:Columbia, Economics, Free Trade, Nancy Pelosi, the economyTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
On The Senate Floor: The Senate will reconvene at 2 PM today. At 5:30, the Senate is expected to vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to the FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 2881). If the Senate agrees to take up the bill, the chamber will likely spend the bulk of the week on it.
Gas Prices: House and Senate Republicans are both focusing on the glaring absence of Democrat plans on gas prices. Two years ago, Democrats held press conferences and photo ops next to signs displaying gas prices declaring that they had plans to address the high price of gas. Today, prices are even higher and truckers have come to Washington, DC, to register their frustration. The Democrats’ “commonsense plan” on gas prices remains a mystery, though. On the other hand, Republicans have long proposed opening domestic reserves of oil to exploration, including ANWR, oil shale in the West, and drilling offshore. Unfortunately, Democrats have blocked such proposals for just as long. So how high do prices have to go before Democrats show an interest in developing resources we have here in America?
Columbia Free Trade: Republicans in Congress will also continue to make the case for the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which will help American workers and companies, not to mention assist a critical ally in South America. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in an op-ed on Colombia in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegramtoday writes that although Colombia already enjoys almost no tariffs on its exports to the U.S.,
“American businesses and producers are still obligated to pay tariffs on exports to Colombia. The U.S. trade representative estimates that, since negotiations on the trade pact were completed in 2006, American products have been taxed nearly $1 billion in tariffs paid to Colombia. By eliminating this inequity, producers in the U.S. will have greater access to this lucrative market.”
The U.S. Trade Representative has debuted a Colombia Tariff Tracker to tally how much American companies have paid in tariffs since the Colombia agreement was signed that would be eliminated if the pact was approved by Congress.
Iraq & Afghanistan Supplemental Bill: While Democrats have done little in the way of legislating recently, they have managed to keep themselves busy arguing with each other about the supplemental spending bill for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. TheArkansas Democrat-Gazette chronicles the latest twist in this saga, noting that Blue Dog Democrats would like to limit domestic projects (stop pork from being added) in the bill, though there are many other Democrats looking to add congressional pork.Tags:Columbia, FAA, Free Trade, gas prices, military funding, tariffs, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
There are less than eight months until the election, an election that will decide the next President of the United States. The person elected will be the president of all Americans, not just the Democrats or the Republicans.
To show our solidarity as Americans, let's all get together and show each other our support for the candidate of our choice. It's time that we all came together, Democrats and Republicans alike. If you support the policies and character of John McCain, please drive with your headlights on during the day. If you support Obama or Hillary, please drive with your headlights off at night. Tags:Democrats, Election 2008, political humor, RepublicansTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
From a reader who asked if we knew who did this Wizard of Id cartoon and when. We researched and determined the cartoon was by Brant Parker in 2004. Unfortunately Parker died at the age of 86 almost exactly one year ago on March 17, 2007. Parker was insightful and enjoyed by many conservatives.The Beat reported on his death that "The Kingdom of Id" started in 1964 in a New York hotel room when Brant Parker joined together with Johnny Hart who passed away a week before Parker. Parker drew the cartoon and Hart came up with the "gag" words. Tags:Democrats, political cartoon, Brant Parker, Johnny Hart To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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