Jobs picture dims as unemployment claims rise - Yahoo! Finance

Jobs picture dims as unemployment claims rise - Yahoo! Finance

"[Mexicans] do the jobs Americans won't do."

WRONG.
What this country needs, perhaps more than anything else, is welfare reform. If that Obamastash weren't so easily obtainable, our unemployment rate wouldn't be where it is and those day labor jobs would easily be filled by American citizens. I'd support this immigration law if the unemployment rate were back around 4%, but I support the hell out of it now with the unemployment rate at 10%. The "they do the jobs Americans won't do" argument is a very weak one. Human nature dictates that people will do whatever is necessary to survive. If that means sweating in a field all day for minimum wage, that's what they'll do. "Free money" deprives man of ambition and removes the fight or flight variable from the equation.

Please visit AZ Governor Jan Brewer's website and sign the petition of support. The state government of AZ should be commended for taking action on a legitimate and growing problem facing their state and MANY others. Show your support at http://janbrewer.com/action-center/immigration-petition-thank-you. Thank you.

A Big F-ing Deal? CORRECTION:

BREAKING NEWS: GUAM MAY CAPSIZE FROM OVERPOPULATION

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) is raising some eyebrows with a comment he made about the U.S. territory of Guam during a House Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday.

In a discussion regarding a planned military buildup on the Pacific island, Johnson expressed some concerns about the plans to Adm. Robert Willard, head of the U.S. Pacific fleet.

"My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize," Johnson said. Willard paused and replied, "We don't anticipate that."

Online pundits have wasted no time lampooning the congressman for his remarks.

"Presumably, when you're the head guy of a major fleet for a big-time navy, you've got plenty of other ways of filling your time other than reassuring congressmen on whether miscellaneous land masses are likely to tip over and sink," Mark Steyn wrote at the National Review Online. "But it's business as usual in Congress."

The blog Left Coast Rebel said, "Call it a new low, a new 'tipping point' - even in the halls of Congress, if you will."

Michelle Obama's Linebacker Legs

Recon Team Dagger II, 22 Dec. 1968

(18 Jan 1969)
From: Colonel William W. WHITE 031 562/9910 USMC
To: Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force

Subj: Investigation into the circumstances of the demise of 13 North Vietnamese Army (Regular) soldiers of 22 December 1968

Ref: (a) JAG Manual, par. 5017.

Encl:
(1) Statement of Corporal Alvin L. BLACKBURN Jr. 23 13 039/0311 USMC
(2) Statement of Lance Corporal William E. MARCOTT 24 13 049/0351 USMC
(3) Statement of Private Steve A. KEARNS 24 84 625/0351.USMC

1. As required by reference (a), an investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility of bringing charges of first degree murder, 13 separate counts, against Corporal Alvin L. Blackburn Jr.

2. Follow-up patrols confirm the count of 86 enemy dead and five; friendlies at coordinates "82514316" Ten enemy dead were confirmed at coordinates 70132921. The ten confirmed at 70132921 were in addition to two decapitated bodies and thirteen enemy forces; hands tied, blind-folded and gagged. Each one had one shot hole in the temple area; caliber unknown.

3. Friendly casualties consisted of five dead, two wounded and the miracle (explanation to. follow) Lance Corporal MARCOTT, one gunshot wound to left thigh, numerous cuts and scratches. Private Kearns, numerous shrapnel wounds in. back, buttocks and legs in addition to scratches and cuts. Both men suffered from exposure and malnutrition. The team leader, Corporal BLACKBURN, had no visual wounds other than scratches, cuts, and abrasions over the entire body area. Medical examination revealed major concussions and severe internal bleeding; exhaustion, malnutrition and was suffering from shock. Medical records indicate a prior weight of 147 pounds after weight of 102 pounds. That this marine was alive is a miracle.

4. Statements from the soldiers who first came into contact with the Marines (soldiers were from sub unit of 1st Air Cav) validate the initial condition of the Marines. Corporal BLACKBURN was carrying Private KEARNS over his shoulder and had Lance Corporal MARCOTT on a stretcher made of two branches, belts and jackets. KEARNS and IKARCOTT were not coherent. Corporal BLACKBURN was, at first impression, coherent, however, it became apparent that he was in some state of shock and exhaustion. Extracts of the aforementioned statements on the condition of BLACKBURN are indicative: "piece of ground meat", "walking dead", “zombie".

5. The facts in this case are self -explanatory. (Refer enclosures). It is the undersigned's opinion that to bring charges against this Marine would destroy what the Marine Corps and this Country stands for. It is further Recommended that Corporal BLACKBURN be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 December 1968.

Respectfully submitted,
W. W. WHITE
Colonel
United States Marine Corps

==
I am aware of my right under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice and the Constitution of the United States, and I voluntarily make this statement. I am aware that the facts presented below may be used in my court. I am aware that I have been charged with thirteen counts of murder in the first degree. The below stated events are true to the best of my recollection.

I was assigned team leader of DAGGER II, a recon insert team with a mission of ambushing enemy probe patrols.] Drop point coordinates 81964373. Ambush coordinates 82514316. Extraction was to be at 0320 22 December 1968 at 80403915. I knew that the nearest friendly unit was approximately 40KM southwest. Team consisted of myself and seven others; JOHN R. BAKER, WILLIAM E. COTT, STEVE R. KEARNS, JOHN E. JACKSON, G. WASHINGTON JR (SPOOK), JOHN W. WELLINGTON (DUKE) AND MARK C. BRADLEY. I set the men in a hill position and began watch. Instead of a patrol I spotted a point element of about seven men leading a column of four abreast. I estimated about 100 to 110 enemy. We were in the direct lines of march. It was too late to retreat so I decided just to fight it out. I did not break radio silence as it would have given our position away. I was action man. When the enemy point had passed, I waited for what I hoped to be the command element. The forces were not Viet Cong but regular NVA forces. When the one with the most brass showed up, I started shooting. Steve was on my;-.left and was blasting the flank, John covered the rear, and got the point team before getting cut in half by a LAW. Jack took right flank and was firing .45s from both hands; he was shot 37 times that I could count. Duke was braced against a tree with his BAR before a grenade got him'. Mark got about three shots off before he was shot to death, 18 holes in chest and stomach. Spook was backing with Bill and pumping buckshot like crazy. He was shot to death, undetermined number of hits to head and 19 to body. About 27 NVA surrendered after about five minutes, but Bill lost his cool when Spook bought it and kept firing. I knocked Bill down and he came around okay later. I had 2 men left, 15 POW's and a fucked up radio. I knew all the firing would bring gook reinforcements, so I tied the POW's together and booby trapped them, each with a M26. I buried our rounds and then we started to march out. We marched until I thought I had found a defendable spot and then camped. Steve was on watch about 4:00 am when sappers hit us. There was about 20 of them. The fight didn't last long but Bill caught a round in the thigh and Steve was covered with shrapnel all over his back. Two POW's had attempted to run and had been decapitated. I treated mine the best I could. I had a choice, save my men or bring out the POW's. I knowingly shot each POW in the head. I made a litter for Bill and started dragging and carrying my men out. I do not remember how long I walked or even if I ever stopped. I remember following the sun or stars and I knew I had to get Bill back before infection took his leg. I did not encounter the enemy again. We finally made it to some Army outfit who took Steve and Bill to Danang and me to Hill 63, our CP. I was then sent to a hospital ship where I made (MISSING SENTENCE)
I'd do it again given the opportunity. I have no other statement to make at this time.

ALVIN L. BLACKBURN
CORPORAL
23 13 039
UNITED STATE MARINE CORPS

WILLIAM W. WHITE
COLONEL
031 562
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

==
I, William E. MARCOTT, make the following statement on my own free will, fully aware of the consequences of false or incomplete statements:

I was a member of a seven man recon insert team on 21 December 1968. I don't know exactly where we were other than behind known enemy forces. We were to be parachuted in and set up an ambush and then be heli-lifted out. My team leader was Cpl A. L. BLACKBURN. I have been on about eleven missions with Cpl BLACKBURN. After we all landed, Cpl BLACKBURN insured that nothing was broke and he put us in position. I was the third man on the right and in the beginning was supposed to waste the rear guards of the enemy patrol. Mark was on my left. Spook was across from me. Brutus (investigator's comment - "Brutus" was an alias by which the accused was identified by his counterparts) passed the word that instead of a patrol, a whole fucking company was drawing in on us. We couldn't call for a lift-out cause the gooks were too close, so we just laid in and waited. The next five minutes happened so fast I can just relate what I saw and did. If I was thinking, I don't remember it. There was about 100 to 120 of the fuckers and only 8 of us, but it was sort of a shit or go blind situation. Brutus let the point go by and just as the command element came within the area of fire, he stood up and started throwing lead. He was firing the BAR off his thing with one hand and throwing grenades with the other. All I remember was Brutus running through the bodies blowing the slant-eyed fuckers away. It was really happening too fast, but I know he got at least 50 of them by himself. Somehow Spook and I got back to back and were cutting them down with our blasters when Spook caught some in the face and I guess I wigged cause all I remember for awhile is Spooks brains running all over my feet. The next thing was I was sitting against a tree and Brutus was shaking the shit out of me. There was blood all over him and me. He had blood pouring from his ears and nose and mouth. I finally got my shit together and there was only three of us left; me, Brutus and Steve. Steve was going around easing the wounded's pain with the 45. We tied the 15 gooks together with parachute cord and booby-trapped each of 'em with a M26. We marched for about 14 hours before he finally let us stop. We were taking turns standing watch that night. I didn't know what time it was but shit started going off everywhere. I just started shooting when I saw this little fucker right in front of me. He saw me then, too, and I guess we both fired at the same time. I cleaned his ears but caught a solid in my thigh. I thought my balls were blown off. The whole fight didn't last more than a minute. Brutus put a bandage on me. Two of the gooks had tried to run and the grenades had pulled their heads. I was hurting something bad and Brutus gave me some space juice and I took off. The next two days are just spot memories. Sometimes Brutus would be carrying me and sometimes dragging me on this stretcher thing he had made. The one thing that I really remember was the way he looked. Man, the blood was caked all over him and his eyes were as white as a Spook when he got scared. We hadn't eaten for 3 days but he kept going. Brutus did what he had to do and if it wasn't for him I'd been maggot food. It isn't fair that he should get burned for saving me and Steve.

THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE ACCORDING TO NY MEMORY. IT CONSISTS TO TWO PAGES.

WILLIAM E. MARCOTT
LANCE CORPORAL
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
24 13 049


==
I, Steve A. KEARNS, make the following statement on my own free will fully aware of the consequences of false or incomplete statements.

I was a member of a seven man recon team termed DAGGER IT. Our mission was to parachute somewhere forward of friendly positions and set up an ambush. We were to be heli-lifted out. The date was 21 December 1968. My team leader was Cpl A. L. BLACKBURN 23 13 039 and had been my leader for six other missions. We jumped on the right coordinates but dumb ass Duke landed in a tree. Brutus (investigator's comment - "Brutus" was an alias by which the accused was identified by his counterparts) had to climb up and cut him down and then he set us in. This was to have been my last mission before skying to the world and I was really shaking my shit. I was set in across from Brutus with Jack, Duke and John flowing left and Mark; Spook, and Bill flowing right. Brutus told", us a whole fucking gook company was coming instead of a patrol but, we couldn't call for an extract because the enemy was too close. Brutus told us to lay quiet and wait till he moved. I had a 12 gauge and two 38s but I wish I had a fucking tank. They must've been only an inch away before he stood up and he had the barrel of the BAR in this gook's guts and cut 'em in half. For about five minutes there was nothing but lead, shit and guts in the air. Bill and Spook were backing and blowing gooners left and right. Mark was firing bloopers from about ten feet and blew his own ass to the deck several times. Duke was lying with a BAR and was cutting loose about balls high. I don't remember John or Jack. Brutus had a BAR screaming from his thigh and throwing grenades like candy at a fucking parade. I thought maybe Brutus had cracked his marbles but he just calmly waded through the blood and shit shouting orders for us and melting his BAR. I didn't see it, but Spook bought it and by that time Brutus had made it to where Spook and Bill was. The BAR was actually on fire so Brutus picked up Spook's 16 gauge and with his own K-Bar began kicking ass and cutting throats. We didn't stick around to count but I figure he must've got 40 or 50 by himself. About 2 dozen of 'em threw guns down but Bill just kept blasting them before Brutus knocked his ass down. There was only three of us, me, Brutus and Bill. I finished off the wounded and since the radio was busted and we knew reinforcements would be coming for the gooners, we got hours before we or 5 in the morning when they hit us. It only lasted a minute or so and all I did was keep shooting. I was so fucking tired I could care less. Bill was hollering that his balls were blown off and two of the POWs had tried to run but the traps had blown their heads off. Somewhere, I don't remember when, I caught shrapnel in my back, ass and legs and the pain started coming on when Brutus got to me from Bill. He kept telling Bill that he would make a cute faggot if he would get false teeth and a beard. I distinctly remember that cause-Bill was bitching that his balls were gone and Brutus was trying to make him feel better and for some reason I felt like laughing... I know it sounds crazy but i was laying face down about five feet from them and Brutus was holding Bill's balls and was calling him all sorts of dumb fucking names trying to convince him that they were still attached. I guess I passed out because the next thing was Brutus standing over me trying to stop my bleeding. # it was had to tell whose blood was whose since he was bleeding all over. Neither Bill nor I could walk and we still had 13 POWs so Brutus did the only thing he could. He had a choice; take the POWs out or us. I don't know what I would have done. Brutus just looked at Bill, then me, and I was really scared, more scared than when the whole company of gooks came at us, because he had blood everywhere and was shaking and his eyes, God, man, his eyes were white. I'm not shitting you white. Like a robot he walked up to each one and said "God forgive me" or something like that and shot each one in the head. Then he loaded 2 shotguns, strapped them to each leg. He took of his clothes and ours to reduce weight. All he had was a belt, a 38, 2a shotguns, 2 K-Bars and some ammo. He had used all of our first aid shit. He made a litter out of branches and belts and he alternated between carry one of us and dragging the other. We hadn't eaten for several days and I was flashing off and on but every time I woke up we were still moving. One of the last things I remember before waking up in the cross was staring at his back; I was lying face down on this stretcher thing, and seeing the dried blood caked over the straps on his shoulders. Without bull shitting, I don't think I could have done it. I owe him my life and so does Bill. If they burn him I'll be the first in line to waste the bastards that try it... and that's no threat, that's a blood oath.

THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE ACCORDING TO MY MEMORY. IT CONSISTS OF TWO PAGES

STEVE A. KEARNS PRIVATE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

No Death Panels? Are You Sure About That?

Haven't updated in a while as I've been studying for a board exam, but I just couldn't pass this one up. Surprisingly, this article is from a year ago and I never heard about it until now. I think it may have flown under a lot of radars, but it needs to be brought to the People's attention. By now, everyone's heard of death panels, but most of us figured the death panel would be included as a cryptic provision buried deep in one of the 2,000 page health reform bills. NOT SO! In fact, it's known as the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research, and it's already been implemented and funded through $1.1 billion from the 2009 stimulus bill. Remember Ezekiel Emanuel?

"Unlike allocation by sex or race, allocation by age is not invidious discrimination; every person lives through different life stages rather than being a single age. Even if 25-year-olds receive priority over 65-year-olds, everyone who is 65 years now was previously 25 years. Treating 65-yearolds differently because of stereotypes or falsehoods would be ageist; treating them differently because they have already had more life-years is not." -Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD

"Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia." -Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD

He's on the panel along with a number of newly-minted bureaucrats entrusted with our health. His title is 'Special Advisor for Health Policy', and he'll be working directly with Obama to make the statist's dream of diminished physician and patient autonomy a reality. Isn't it strange how the statist is so concerned about "wasted money" in health care while he's out there racking up unfathomable debt through his own fiscal irresponsibility and gluttony? How this bureaucracy found its way into a "stimulus" bill defies logic, but that shouldn't surprise anyone with this administration and congress running things.

Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Republican Senators are questioning whether President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill contains the right mix of tax breaks and cash infusions to jump-start the economy. [I guess we already know the answer to those questions, don't we?]

Tragically, no one from either party is objecting to the health provisions slipped in without discussion. These provisions reflect the handiwork of Tom Daschle, until recently the nominee to head the Health and Human Services Department.

Senators should read these provisions and vote against them because they are dangerous to your health. (Page numbers refer to H.R. 1 EH, pdf version).

The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.

But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.

Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will face penalties. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)

What penalties will deter your doctor from going beyond the electronically delivered protocols when your condition is atypical or you need an experimental treatment? The vagueness is intentional. In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.

The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.

Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt. [I wonder how quickly he will accept his own mortality when faced with health problems. The statist is always looking for new ways to force others to make sacrifices.]

Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost- effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council (464). [Safe, effective, and cost-effective? Sound familiar? You got it...death panels!]

The Federal Council is modeled after a U.K. board discussed in Daschle’s book. This board approves or rejects treatments using a formula that divides the cost of the treatment by the number of years the patient is likely to benefit. Treatments for younger patients are more often approved than treatments for diseases that affect the elderly, such as osteoporosis. [Strange...I never learned any of these formulas in medical school.]

In 2006, a U.K. health board decreed that elderly patients with macular degeneration had to wait until they went blind in one eye before they could get a costly new drug to save the other eye. It took almost three years of public protests before the board reversed its decision. [...and liberals call themselves compassionate.]

If the Obama administration’s economic stimulus bill passes the Senate in its current form, seniors in the U.S. will face similar rationing. Defenders of the system say that individuals benefit in younger years and sacrifice later.

The stimulus bill will affect every part of health care, from medical and nursing education, to how patients are treated and how much hospitals get paid. The bill allocates more funding for this bureaucracy than for the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force combined (90-92, 174-177, 181).

Hiding health legislation in a stimulus bill is intentional. Daschle supported the Clinton administration’s health-care overhaul in 1994, and attributed its failure to debate and delay. A year ago, Daschle wrote that the next president should act quickly before critics mount an opposition. “If that means attaching a health-care plan to the federal budget, so be it,” he said. “The issue is too important to be stalled by Senate protocol.”

On Friday, President Obama called it “inexcusable and irresponsible” for senators to delay passing the stimulus bill. In truth, this bill needs more scrutiny.

The health-care industry is the largest employer in the U.S. It produces almost 17 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Yet the bill treats health care the way European governments do: as a cost problem instead of a growth industry. Imagine limiting growth and innovation in the electronics or auto industry during this downturn. This stimulus is dangerous to your health and the economy. [Hat tip to Betsy McCaughey]

The art of politics has become a complicated magician's act of smoke and mirrors. A chasm has formed between the people and their elected representatives. Our desires, dreams, and aspirations are no longer shared by the Washington elite inner-circle. At break-neck speed, they are implementing legislation to enslave us while empowering themselves. Just last week, Obama introduced a "deficit commission" to make the "difficult" decisions he can't make for political reasons (tax hikes on those earning less than $250,000, anyone?). Obviously, it's too late to block this abominable "stimulus" bill, but it isn't too late to block future funding for this and other ill-conceived bureaucracies. We MUST stay vigilant, we MUST continue to voice our opposition, and we MUST do everything in our power to depose the statists who are destroying our nation on November 2.

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Economy Under Attack!

The private sector is being chiseled away EVERY SINGLE DAY by a Presidential administration and Congress that hates it. Yesterday, O announced another wave of government regulations on banks, and the stock market plunged! It's still dropping today! This guy is RADICALLY opposed to profit and prosperity. It's obvious that he couldn't care less about the ever-swelling unemployment in this country. He isn't going to stop until government controls every aspect of the private sector (this is called fascism). The congress voted unanimously to offer a tax-break to people who donate to Haiti, so they obviously know how to incentivize a desired activity. So, if they want to cut unemployment, WHY are they creating more regulations and taxes to punish businesses? This is getting pretty frustrating. Businesses have no voice in this government, and if this supreme court decision grants them more power...GOOD! Businesses are the backbone of America. Love them or hate them, they are the employers in this country, and we all rely on them in some way or another. I'm sick of this demonization of private business. Businesses will always be here and they will always make profits--that's a fact. They're not going to give up profits. Punish a business financially, and you are only PUNISHING THE PEOPLE.

http://www.sacbee.com/business/story/2480675.html http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20100121/pl_bloomberg/a8uii1bcrdmy

If you want the economy to get back on its feet and unemployment to go down, make it easier for the private sector to do what it does best. The private sector is having an asthma attack, and, instead of treating it with an albuterol inhaler, our government is standing on its chest and screaming, "Breathe!"

Get out of our way, Obama! We don't need or want your help anymore. You've helped enough.

"Let's roll, baby!"

Who would have ever imagined? Massachusetts, the birthplace of our Republic, has now become the site of a symbolic turning point for a new - peaceful - revolution of the People, by the People, and for the People. The people have spoken, and the message is clear. Take heed--we put you in office and we can just as easily take you out!

Curt Schilling is a Yankee fan?

Curt's response:

"I've been called a lot of thing...

But never, and I mean never, could anyone ever make the mistake of calling me a Yankee fan. Well, check that, if you didn’t know what the hell is going on in your own state maybe you could…."

The Tide is Turning

Mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen. 1/19/10 may mark a new dawn in American history--the day Americans voted 'NO!' on tyranny and 'YES!' on liberty. You know you've awakened a sleeping giant when a Democrat is in fear of losing in MASSACHUSETTS! They're running scared (and they should be). The Democrat party has officially Pelosied itself into the ground. We don't want your healthcare, we don't want your cap & tax, we don't want your taxes, we don't want your counterproductive foreign policy, we don't want your czars, we don't want your opacity (that's the opposite of transparency for those of you in rio linda), we don't want your stimulus plans, we don't want your bailouts, we don't want your deficit spending, we don't want your welfare expansion, we don't want your card-check, we don't want your military budget cuts, we don't want your destructive economic policies...WE WANT YOU OUT. We want to prosper!

MSNBC's Ed Schultz: "I'd Cheat To Keep Brown From Winning In Massachusetts"

Hmmm...never heard of the guy. Let's see what he's all about...

Ed Schultz debuted on MSNBC during the 5 p.m. slot on April 6 with a flashy new set. And although the liberal radio host's "The ED Show" is in its infancy, it has one apparent theme - it's very pro-organized labor.

Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, was even Schultz's first guest. On his second show on April 7, Schultz's opening "OpEd" segment was firmly for the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as card check. And, on his third show on April 8, he invited Mary Beth Maxwell, executive director of the pro-union, pro-card check American Rights at Work organization.

However, there's one detail Schultz hasn't revealed to his audience - a potential conflict of interest. As recently as 2008, Schultz received more than $20,000 from three separate AFL-CIO affiliated labor unions.

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/04/09/msnbc-pro-union-host-ed-schultz-received-22k-labor-2008#ixzz0cv8T5BpX

While serving in Taji, Iraq on August 20, 2003 as commander of the 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, Lieutenant Colonel West was in charge of but not present at an interrogation of an Iraqi police officer who was suspected of having information about planned attacks on American forces. According to the Iraqi police officer, Yehiya Kadoori Hamoodi claimed that during the interrogation soldiers under West's supervision assaulted him attempting to get him to talk.^[2] Some say West fired a pistol near the policeman's head, producing an immediate flood of information that purportedly led to the arrest of two insurgents and cessation of attacks on West's 4th Infantry Division battalion. ^[3]

West, who at the time was just short of having 20 years of service, was charged with violating articles 128 (assault) and 134 (general article) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and was in danger of receiving an 11 year prison sentence, dismissal, and losing his retirement benefits. West was processed through an Article 32 hearing in November 2003, where he admitted wrongdoing, was fined $5,000 over two months for misconduct and assault. He then submitted his resignation, and was allowed to retire with full benefits in the summer of 2004.^[4][5]

At a hearing, West was asked by his defense attorney if he would do it again. "If it's about the lives of my men and their safety, I'd go through hell with a gasoline can," he said. ^[6]

Overview of America (The John Birch Society)

Dopenhagen

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." -First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Al Gore the Poet Laureate?

One thin September soon

A floating continent disappears

In midnight sun

Vapors rise as

Fever settles on an acid sea

Neptune's bones dissolve

Snow glides from the mountain

Ice fathers floods for a season

A hard rain comes quickly

Then dirt is parched

Kindling is placed in the forest

For the lightning's celebration

Unknown creatures

Take their leave, unmourned

Horsemen ready their stirrups

Passion seeks heroes and friends

The bell of the city

On the hill is rung

The shepherd cries

The hour of choosing has arrived

Here are your tools:

<<<<<<-16%>>>>>>

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 25% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -16. That’s the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President (see trends).

The 25% who Strongly Approve matches the lowest level of enthusiasm yet recorded. That’s partly the result of declining enthusiasm among Democrats. While Democrats continue to offer their approval, just 43% Strongly Approve.

Among all voters, 36% now believe that the president is doing a good or an excellent job handling the economy while 45% rate his performance in this area as poor. Seventy-one percent (71%) of Democrats say he’s doing a good or excellent job on the economy while 74% of Republicans say poor. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 52% give the President poor marks when it comes to the economy.

On national security matters, 39% rate the president’s performance as good or excellent while 36% say poor. Most voters nationwide lack confidence that NATO will do its part to help in Afghanistan. The President’s new plan for Afghanistan draws mixed reviews from voters. [...more from Rasmussen]

Dems to Lift Debt Ceiling by $1.8 Trillion

"In a bold but risky year-end strategy, Democrats are preparing to raise the federal debt ceiling by as much as $1.8 trillion before New Year’s rather than have to face the issue again prior to the 2010 elections.

“We’ve incurred this debt. We have to pay our bills,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told POLITICO Wednesday. And the Maryland Democrat confirmed that the anticipated increase could be as high as $1.8 trillion — nearly twice what had been assumed in last spring’s budget resolution for the 2010 fiscal year."

(...read more at Politico.com)

Pelosi's tax-payer-funded luxury jet: