Democrats Refuse To Stand For Pledge of Allegiance

Background

With failed clown Al Franken taking the Senate seat from Minnesota, New York State Democrats refusing to stand for our Pledge of Allegiance and Obama joining in with other socialists demanding the return of a deposed wannabe dictator to Honduras, after he was legally removed for violating their constitution, ordered by the Honduran Supreme Court and Congress, I guess the joke is on America after all.

Can we question their patriotism now?

Caption Contest!

"do you wanna know how many people I had to walk to get these?"

"this is bottom line sweetie my infomercial drops on the fifth of the month"
"Do these wings, make me look fat?"

Hey Moveon, Ron Wyden Isn't a Female

Periodically I receive emails from the left-wing group, Moveon.org. Besides always amazing me that they know so much that just isn't so, I am amused at how they lend theirsupport to socialist programs and other left leaning persons fall in lock step behind them as they frequently show a certain lack of viable acuity.

Such is the case in the latest communiqué from Patrick Schmitt of MoveOn.org asking, "Do you have a window?" In hawking the massive seizure of our healthcare system, Moveon begins the sent advertisement with,

"Dear MoveOn member,Can you print out this poster and put it in your window, so Senator Ron Wyden will know that folks in her area support real health care reform?"

Thinking it just a simple typo, as all have done at times, I looked on the email and saw the poster they desire printed contains the same "typo."

If they can't even get Senator Ron Wyden's sex right, and they have a 50/50 shot at it, how can you trust them in their subversive support of "hope and change?"

disclaimer: Deeper in the email, they correctly identify Wyden as a 'He.'

Is Government Health Care Constitutional?

Frequent Victoria Taft Show guest, former Justice Department lawyer, David Rivkin, poses this tantalizing question in an op ed piece today in the WSJ (see link to the right, below),

Is Government Health Care Constitutional?

And here's where Rivkin and fellow author, Lee Casey, look to find guidance: the abortion decisions.

The Supreme Court created the right to privacy in the 1960s and used it to strike down a series of state and federal regulations of personal (mostly sexual) conduct. This line of cases began with Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 (involving marital birth control), and includes the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

The court's underlying rationale was not abortion-specific. Rather, the justices posited a constitutionally mandated zone of personal privacy that must remain free of government regulation, except in the most exceptional circumstances. As the court explained in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), "these matters, involving the most intimate and personal choices a person may make in a lifetime, choices central to personal dignity and autonomy, are central to the liberty protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and the mystery of human life."

And Rivkin and Casey write the Obama administration won't be able to simply write this to be above judicial review,

...A brief review of the Supreme Court's recent war-on-terror decisions, brought by or on behalf of detained enemy combatants, will disabuse that notion. This area of governmental authority was once nearly immune from judicial intervention. Over the past five years, however, the Supreme Court (supposedly the nonpolitical branch) has unapologetically transformed itself into a full-fledged, policy-making partner with the president and Congress.

Read the rest here.

More Reaction to SCOTUS Decision Spiking Sotomayor

From Rees Lloyd,

Great news in Firefighters case in USSC. The "wise Latina" who is smarter than Thomas Jefferson is reversed. This was an awful case. Because no black could get a grade high enough for promotion, the whole test was thrown out. That is racism. Institutional, governmental racism that we fought against in the
civil rights movement when it impacted on blacks. It is no less despicable when the perpetrators are black and the victims are white.
--Rees

Supreme Court Overrules Sotomayor Decision

The United States Supreme Court over turned an appellate court decision on White Firefighters being denied promotion after passing the promotion test, because Black Firefighters did not score high enough to gain promotion also. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor was one of the Appellate Court Judges that ruled the decision to deny these promotions was valid.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas agreed with the opinion written by Justice Anthony Kennedy of, "Fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions."

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg agreed with Judge Sotomayor saying, "[the white firefighters] understandably attract this court's sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them."

If passing the cities promotion test doesn't entitle someone to promotion, what does?

SOURCE

HISTORY

Where Are The Jobs?

You were promised "change you can believe in," but what have we gotten?



We have soaring deficits projected for years ahead,



And unemployment of American citizens rising to near record levels,



This "change we are supposed to believe in" reminds me a little joke I heard many years ago.

A country Preacher is baptizing a man in the river. He dunks him under the water and pulls him back up asking him, "Do you believe?"

The man says, "no, not really."

The Preacher dunks him back under and holds him down a little longer before pulling him back up and asking, "Do you believe now?"

The man answers, "No, not yet."

The Preacher dunks him back under and holds him down for a long time before raising him back up. The man comes up, sputtering and spitting water while shouting out, "I believe, I believe now."

The Preacher asks him, "And just what is it you believe?"

He answers, "I believe you are trying to drown me!"

TEA PARTY ANNOUNCEMENT ON MONDAY

In view of tax increases, the 17 words, and cap and tax, it's time to mobilize and ready a tea party.
For those of you who can't be at the Hillsboro parade and rally on July 4th, we'll be planning another Tea Party. Suggestions for place etc are welcome.
Who will help?

WHO VOTED FOR THE 17 WORDS TO SUBVERT WILL OF VOTERS? YOU WILL KNOW THEIR NAMES:

'FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, A MEASURE IS CONSIDERED ADOPTED IF IT IS REJECTED BY THE PEOPLE."

17 WORDS TO CHANGE OREGON VOTERS' FUTURE "NO" VOTES INTO "YES" VOTES.
STATE SENATOR SUSAN BONAMICI IS RE-WRITING THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT *LOOK* BETTER BUT WITH THE SAME RESULT.
SHE'S DOING THIS AT THE BEHEST OF SENATE LEADER PETER COURTNEY AND DAVE HUNT

SENATOR MARGARET CARTER
REP PETER BUCKLEY
REP NANCY NATHANSON
SENATE ALAN BATES
SEN ROD MONROE
SEN DAVID NELSON
SEN JOANNE VERGER
SEN VICKI WALKER
REP CHRIS EDWARDS
REP DAVID EDWARDS
REP LARRY GALIZIO
REP BOB JENSON
REP TINA KOTEK
REP CHIP SHIELDS
and friends of the 17 words:
REPRESENTATIVE BRENT BARTON
REP NICK KAHL

FINAL PUSH AGAINST CRAP AND TAX....CALL NOW...202 224 3121!! SEND EMAILS TO YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPS NOW!!!!!!!

FIND THE ADDRESSES HERE.

Remember What Democrat Dingell Said About Crap and Trade: It's a Tax. A Great Big One.

Remember back in April when he uttered those words? Here.

Numbers Of Climate Change Skeptics Swelling!

As Obama and his Democrat cabal work to Rahm through the heavily flawed Cap & Trade Bill, aka Waxman Malarkey, other countries that were pushing for similar legislation have backed away from similar laws.

Today's Wall Street Journal Online has an article, The Climate Change Climate Change detailing others growing skepticism over the claims of man-made Climate Change.

From the article we see,

Among the many reasons President Barack Obama and the Democratic majority are so intent on quickly jamming a cap-and-trade system through Congress is because the global warming tide is again shifting. It turns out Al Gore and the United Nations (with an assist from the media), did a little too vociferous a job smearing anyone who disagreed with them as "deniers." The backlash has brought the scientific debate roaring back to life in Australia, Europe, Japan and even, if less reported, the U.S.

In April, the Polish Academy of Sciences published a document challenging man-made global warming. In the Czech Republic, where President Vaclav Klaus remains a leading skeptic, today only 11% of the population believes humans play a role. In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to tap Claude Allegre to lead the country's new ministry of industry and innovation. Twenty years ago Mr. Allegre was among the first to trill about man-made global warming, but the geochemist has since recanted. New Zealand last year elected a new government, which immediately suspended the country's weeks-old cap-and-trade program.

The number of skeptics, far from shrinking, is swelling. Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe now counts more than 700 scientists who disagree with the U.N. -- 13 times the number who authored the U.N.'s 2007 climate summary for policymakers. Joanne Simpson, the world's first woman to receive a Ph.D. in meteorology, expressed relief upon her retirement last year that she was finally free to speak "frankly" of her nonbelief. Dr. Kiminori Itoh, a Japanese environmental physical chemist who contributed to a U.N. climate report, dubs man-made warming "the worst scientific scandal in history." Norway's Ivar Giaever, Nobel Prize winner for physics, decries it as the "new religion." A group of 54 noted physicists, led by Princeton's Will Happer, is demanding the American Physical Society revise its position that the science is settled. (Both Nature and Science magazines have refused to run the physicists' open letter.)

What is driving this "collapse of consensus?"

Reality!

Job Killers Obama/Pelosi Say "Trust Us" on the Energy Tax. Who Do They Think They're Kidding? Stimulus? Huge Deficits? High Unemployment? Trust Them?

Heritage.org has even more staggering numbers here. Below are just a few to get you started:

Later today, the House of Representatives is slated to vote on the most convoluted attempt at economic central-planning this nation has ever attempted: cap and trade. The 1,200-plus page Waxman-Markey climate change legislation is nothing more than an energy tax in disguise that by 2035 will raise:

• Gasoline prices by 58 percent
• Natural gas prices by 55 percent
• Home heating oil by 56 percent
• Worst of all, electricity prices by 90 percent

Although proponents of the bill are pointing to grossly underestimated and incorrect costs, the reality is when all the tax impacts have been added up, the average per-family-of-four costs rise by $2,979 per year. In the year 2035 alone, the cost is $4,609. And the costs per family for the whole energy tax aggregated from 2012 to 2035 are $71,493.

Congress Takes a Moment From "Debating" the Highest Tax in American History (Energy Tax) to Pay Tribute to Michael Jackson

Rep Jesse Jackson, Junior led the tribute.

Random Quotes from Crap and Trade "Debate" on House Floor Today

The stakes for Nancy Pelosi are high. From Politico:

The climate change bill may be known as the 'Waxman-Markey' legislation. But Friday's expected vote is all on Speaker Nancy Pelosi – it may be the biggest test of her leadership as she tries to wrestle votes on a massive cap and trade bill from reticent moderates and farm state lawmakers. Insiders expect
it to pass – but not comfortably. And the moment politically vulnerable Democrats go home, they can be sure to face a barrage of attack ads about voting
for what Republicans have called a 'national energy tax.'

Rep Phil Gingrey, Republican,

"224 amendments and only one was made in order. This is the Pelosi Global Warming Tax."

Rep Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat, TX, (rough)

"We have to get carbons [sic] out of the air. This bill will give Americans a higher standard of life."

Rep Mike Pence,

"Last night at 3:09 AM house democrats filed a 300 page amendment. What are they hiding? What are they hiding here? More corporate welfare? More deals for special interests? It's a travesty."

Republican Congressman says (rough quote), "Yeah, this is cap and trade alright. Cap American economy and trade American jobs."

Rep Kathy Castor, Democrat Fla wants to put a stop to "carbon pollution."

Rep Pete Sessions, Tx,

"This is an energy bill, alright. It's the turn out the lights on America bill."

"300 page amendment by Democrats at 3:09 AM and only 3 hours of debate."

Congresswoman Doris Matsui takes point for Democrats on their bill:

The US economy "will grow from $13 trillion to $22 trillion by 2030."

"This bill shows that America is back and we are ready to lead
again."

Objects to extending debate by even one minute. The largest tax increase in American history and there's only 3 hours of debate today.

Rep Jim McGovern says

global warming has caused "oceans [to] rise and [has] fundamentally changed the coastlines of some nations."

Would someone please call his office and ask which nations he's referring to?

Rep Joe Barton says there are 400 pages of this bill that nobody has seen it

Watch White House Luau Live. I'm Totally Serious.

Here.

Michael Jackson, Rest in Peace

Remembering The Korean War -- And Its Veterans by Rees Lloyd

...Lest we forget the American veterans who served, over 35,000 giving their lives:

The Korean War began on this date, June 25, in 1950, when the communist Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, under the communist dictator Kim Il Sung, without warning, invaded the capitalist Republic of South Korea.

By the time an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, an estimated 33,574 American troops were killed in combat action; another 2,833 died of non-combat injuries or disease; some 103, 284 suffered non-fatal wounds, many of them permanently disabling; for a total of some 139,691 casualties.

Altogether, some 5,720,000 Americans served in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard in the three years of the Korean War, all of them subject to deployment in the war zone if so ordered--which was an imminent not remote possibility after Communist China, backed and supplied by the Soviet Union, sent hundreds of thousands of members of the Red Army into Korea on November 1, 1950 to fight Americans in aid of China's communist North Korean ally. Indeed, there were fears that the Korean War would escalate into World War III and, perhaps, the first all-out nuclear war

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in WWII, was elected U.S. President in 1952, and as Commander-in-Chief, ended the Korean War in 1953 with North Korea driven back to its original position at the 38th Parallel. From the day of the armistice on July 27, 1953 to this day, North Korea and South Korea remain divided, and American troops remain in harm's way at the 38th Parallel with South Korean troops facing North Korean troops stationed on the other side. It remains a tense armistice, especially with North Korea declaring itself now a nuclear power, and making war threats.

Today, communist North Korea is an international pariah, a nation which refuses to feed its own people while devoting resources to developing nuclear weaponry, a nation where freedom is unknown.

In contrast, under democratic capitalism, South Korea is an American ally, a free country with elected leaders, and an economic power.

Only the service and sacrifice of American military in the Korean War made this possible.

Yet, despite the gravity of the Korean War, which could have escalated into WWIII and nuclear war, and despite the service and sacrifice of Americans in that war, Korean War veterans are, for some reason, often not recognized for their service as are veterans of other wars.

"Why are we so often forgotten when veterans are honored for their service?" I have been asked by more than one Korean War veteran. And, it is true in my experience, that media or other commentators will cite the service of World War II veterans, and move on to discuss the Vietnam War, without recognizing the service and sacrifice of Korean War veterans, as if, somehow, it wasn't a real war really defending freedom. Similarly, I have been present when community groups (not veterans groups) have called on veterans to stand and be recognized, and Korean War veterans have been skipped over.

This may be in part due to the fact that it is the first war in which Americans served which was not officially called an American war, but a "United Nations Police Action," an ambiguous designation somehow lacking in the power to inspire and invoke the kind of uniting of Americans as did WWII.

To this day, the Korean War is often in media or even governmental discourse referred to as the "Korean conflict," rather than war.

But it was a real war, and it was Americans who were wounded and died doing the fighting.

And it was a war which really defended freedom. What would history have been, and what would the present be, had the communist dictator Kim Il Sung of North Korea, backed by Mao's Red China and Stalin's Soviet Union, not been driven back across the 38th Parallel and the republic of South Korea preserved by the service and sacrifice of Americans in military service?

All who served during the Korean War, especially those who were actually deployed and served in combat, and even more especially those who were wounded or died, deserve to be recognized and honored and thanked for their service on this anniversary day of the Korean War's beginning, and on every day in our lives as free Americans who owe our freedom, in part, to their service and sacrifice.

--REES LLOYD

(Rees Lloyd is a Vietnam-era veteran, who salutes and thanks all who served in the Korean War.)

Michael Jackson, Rest In Peace

SCANDAL AT THE CAPITOL

After the word had gone out to make the calls and stop the assault on the referendum process, a two minute session was called on the Senate floor last night about 11pm. At that session, Democrats passed an amendment--a gut and stuff move--to change the language of referenda to change a "yes" vote to a "no" vote. Believe it. And you shall know their names. Here's a missive from Russ Walker at FreedomWorks:

Help us Defend the Integrity of the Referendum Process!

Legislators are considering a bill (HB2414) that is an attempt to defraud the voters of the state of Oregon.
HB 2414 was gutted and stuffed with an amendment that is blatantly aimed at misleading voters if the $700 million in new, permanent taxes are successfully referred. The Oregon constitution is clear about a referendum. If a voter chooses to approve a piece of legislation, they vote “yes” on the referred legislation. Conversely, if a voter chooses to oppose the legislation, they vote “no” on the referred legislation. Each voter, like each legislator, gives a thumbs up or a thumbs down to the legislation whether they’re voting in the House chamber, or voting at their kitchen table.
The goal of HB 2414 is to create confusion on the ballot. When voters are confused about an initiative they tend to vote no the issue. This is a blatant attempt to defraud the voters of Oregon and create confusion on the ballot.
Under the bill politicians are trying to sneak through today (HB2414):

A "yes" vote means you oppose the referred legislation; and
A “no” vote means you support the referred legislation.

“Yes” would mean “No Taxes” and “No” would mean “Yes Taxes.”

This is an arrogant, blatant attempt to confuse voters and create ballot confusion. This bill cannot pass! Take Action NOW to send a message to your legislators in Salem! Also, please forward this message to all of your friends so that we can spread the word about this quickly!

Sincerely,

Russ Walker
State Director
FreedomWorks Oregon

Farah Fawcett: Rest in Peace

SAY NO TO CRAP AND TAX...CALL CONGRESS 202 224 3121

PRIMER FROM HERITAGE. 4:16

MELT THE PHONE LINES IN SALEM 1-800-332-2313*with UPDATE

Please melt the phone lines in Salem on an underhanded attempt to make it nearly impossible to refer issues (taxes anyone?) to ballot. 1-800-332 2313 Gut & stuff of HB 2414. CALL NOW...THEY'RE DOING IT NOW!!!!!!
Great letter by an interested Oregonian on the issue.

Members of the Oregon Legislature

VOTE NO ON HB 2414 -- preserve Oregon's referendum process!

Im writing not on behalf of my clients, but as a participant in the Oregon Legislative process for 24 years. The adoption last night of HB 2414 by the Ways and Means Committee may be the most cynical move Ive yet witnessed in this building.

HB 2414, which was adopted late at night by the budget committee without ANY public hearing or debate, would fundamentally change the way referrals of legislative measures are treated. Targeted at the tax measures you recently adopted, the change would require voters if they didnt want to raise taxes to vote YES on the referred measures. If they wanted to raise taxes, they would have to vote NO.

Historically, referendums have been a chance by the people to force a do-over. That is, voters get to vote on the same choices you had. YES has meant YES; and NO has meant NO.

HB 2414 changes this long tradition, and is a permanent change in Oregon election law.

Lets face it. Our mutual work in Salem is already held in low esteem by the public. Adopting this measure will only serve to lower the way the public views all of us.

If the tax measures, or anything else you adopt this session, is referred to the voters, let it be a fair fight. HB 2414 tries to confuse the election process and should be defeated.

VOTE NO ON HB 2414.

Congress, President Obama, Oppressives: We Won't Be Underestimated

An Alabama teenager made this for the April 15th Tea Party. Watch it.

How The White House Ate ABC News

The hard charging Diane Sawyer asked the President this morning: Where's your favorite spot in the White House? Answer: The Truman Balcony on the weekends.
ABC has sold its credibility for access to the White House and what does it get? The same president who won't directly answer questions during news conferences NOT answering the same questions for ABC.
When Sawyer asked the President legitimate questions about his health care plan he interrupted or cut her off. The reason? Hey, this is his network today.
When asked about his opinion on health care mandates now he didn't answer the question except to say he's "evolved" on the issue. Right. For anyone else that would be called a flip flop, for Obama it's evolution. On mandates he was against it before he was for it. He doesn't answer her question directly but feints toward mandates.
If the network suits really wanted to talk about the issue of health care today, it could have deployed its stable of reporters to actually cover all aspects of this story.
Instead, it sold out for access and, as part of that agreement with the White House, agreed not to allow differing points of view from the President's to be given air time! They won't even accept paid commercial advertisements that offer another view of the health care debate!
That is a complete and utter sell out, my friends.
But ABC network has done us a favor: it has merely publicly consolidated the hold we already knew President Obama had on the network. Now all may see. Act accordingly.
To its credit, local affiliate KATU has agreed at the behest of protesters from the Portland Tea Party, led by Tom Cox in this case, to hold a town hall meeting late tonight after ABC is done with its fawning presidential coverage.

Play Cesar Chavez Blvd Bingo While Listening to Rainbow City Council Meeting Live on KPAM 860!

Planning commissioner, Irma Valdez, who was a proponent of the street name change, says she thinks the future generations and for the health of a progressive city the city should change 39th to Cesar Chavez.
Mr. Howard Shapiro"we enthusiastically" endorse CC Blvd. Calls for a moratorium on future
Leilani ? says it's 2009 it's time for Portland to shine as a great city and rename a street.
Sam accepts report into the record.
Council vote on name change on July 8th.
Item 860-2
At this point, Craig emails in this observation:

this is painful to listen to this idiot she( erma) has said nothing intelligent
and she is on the planning committee

then the next guy wants a moratorium
what a fool.
Lew writes in:

Hello Victoria, 5th listener Lew here,

Don’t forget, Cesar Chavez fought to improve conditions for Farm Workers, better wages, benefits, working conditions and such. Currently, every effort is being made to undo what he worked and fought for by advocating illegal immigrants working the farms, often under sub-standard conditions, hours, wages and such.

How can they honor such a man when at the same time they are doing what they can to undo what he stood for?

Lew Waters

Tom Potter is there to testify about how Latinos are new visitors to Portland and so we need to change the name of 39th Avenue. "They've added beautiful new hues to the color spectrum of Portland."
Does he recognize that Cesar Chavez was an American and most Latinos in Portland are not? That they're illegal aliens.
This emailer wonders:

Tom Potter, "People of color have not been honoured" Hmm Union Ave > MLK Blvd. Portland Ave > Rosa Parks Way

And he was Mayor?!?!

Yikes!

School board member:
We're getting a history lesson about how braceros existed in Oregon back in the day.
Martin Luther King letter from Birmingham jail makes its debut during the meeting.
We heard Si Se Puede uttered once!

A gentleman says how come there are bunch of white guys figuring out the importance of Cesar Chavez. He holds up a green card and says several of his relatives worked on that one card. Hmmm...
An alert 5th Listener writes in about Mr. Cruz:

Would it have been too much to ask for Mr. Cruz to SPIT OUT HIS GUM before he got in front of the microphone?

Another emailer says No Mas on Cesar Chavez talk:

I can't think of anything more juvenile then your 'bingo card' thing....no wonder everyone that isn't conservative thinks we're idiots. I can't get much for news, current events or market info......I get eff-ing bingo cards and socialist liberals changing street names.....

What a crank yanker.

Craig wonders:

Are there any just plain Portlanders
at this meeting?

Eric Fruits, PhD has the best testimony. He addresses business, functionality,

Loretta Shrock of Sam's neighborhood association: Here we go calling Portlanders racists. A choice between "Us" and "them." She's speaking on behalf of the folks supporting.

Bill writes in and thinks the fix may be in:

I guess it's too late to propose 39th Ave be named "Chivas Regal".

Listening to the fruit & nut bowl known as the city council has me reaching for something to numb the madness forced upon the citizens of this ethnic obsessed, crazier by the week city.

B.

After hearing the testimony from a man who appeared to want to go through the entire history of term "Chicano," and give a primer on farm worker tools including "short hoes," Bill wrote back with the subject line reading, "A Hoe by Any Other Name,"

Yeah, that could work.

39th Ave south of Burnside could be known as "Short Hoe Blvd" and north of Burnside would be known as "Long Hoe Blvd."

B

Oh, Craig's back:

Who is Glisan?
Who is Stark?
Who is Foster?
who is Halsey?

If you name a street after someone, it does not mean
anyone will learn anything. Because most people don't know
who the above are.

craig

Princess Victoria,....B-I-N-G-O! Do I win tickets to camas meadows? LOL

Oops! "White Privilege" is called out on the issue right before 8pm! I didn't put it on the BINGO sheet! Drat!

Igor checks in:

What a crock! The City of Portland dishonors Mr. Chavez all the time by its tacit support of illegal aliens in the city, something he was against

Igor

This alert listener went to the meeting:

"I attended 39th City Council meeting and came away thinking that giving in and naming 39th for Senor Chavez is a form of "reparations" for how badly Mexicans have been treated over the years. Watch out folks. There's more to follow: give an inch and they'll take ... oh, how many miles is 39th?"

"Regarding legitimate immigrants, I welcome them with open arms. People who illegally gain entry to this country shouldn't be here. I blame our government for their lack of following the laws of the land and imposing the complications of dealing with illegals to the general public. I resent them for allowing this battle to grow."

CJ

Breedlove's Mom: Sam Lied to Investigators

Here's the letter she's sending out to everyone this afternoon:

June 23, 2009

To fellow Oregonians,

I am certain you are as pleased as I am that the Attorney General's office has concluded their investigation regarding Sam Adams and my son, Beau Breedlove. Unfortunately, there are facts or circumstances that I feel need to be told that were not included in any reports.

Foremost, regarding the statement given by my son after the late night interrogation by Mr. Adam's legal team. At that time, it was discussed the negative implications that could occur if the kissing incidents were revealed. Mr. Adams spoke with my son specifically regarding the kissing incident at City Hall. Mr. Adam's legal advisors refused to include that information in the statement saying it "wasn't necessary to the investigation". My son was naive and trusting. As I see it now, these actions were all part of Mr. Adam's strategy to discredit my son and deceive the public, in the very beginning.

The Attorney General's report also stated my son benefited in notoriety and financial gain. I wouldn't wish this "notoriety" on my worst enemy. The barrage of the media was frightening. The attacks threatened his job to the point he was put on administrative leave, disrupted his neighbors and created daily turmoil for the entire family. As far as my son's "financial gain", you've got to be joking! Beau does not own any real estate, he rents a small apartment. During this media charade, my son struggled to pay his every day bills. The mere pittance he received from the magazine was necessary at that time, just to make ends meet.

At his first press conference regarding this scandal, Mr Adam's stated one of his first calls would be to me. That never happened. It's been over five months and believe me, the conversation wouldn't be pretty now. At his most recent press conference, Mr Adams stated that he has "learned his lesson" from his poor judgment.......I beg to differ.

My son has always believed that he was not a victim in 2005. But I believe he's a victim now. Exploited, deceived and betrayed by a friend and a "mentor" (?) for his own political gain. It saddens me that my son's credibility was the one that was the focal point in the Attorney General's report. Perhaps the outcome would've been different if Mr. Adam's acknowledged his actions truthfully to the investigators as he did earlier with my son. Apparently, he was aware of the Oregon law allowing people, not under oath, the right to lie and deceive police and investigators. Maybe this law needs to be changed.

Now that we can all get back to our own lives, I hope people remember the shameful insight into the lack of honor, integrity and credibility exercised by Mr. Sam Adams.

Thank you for listening,
Gwen Roseler
Beau Breedlove's mom

So Much for Using Former Blazer Star Scottie Pippin's House for a Forest Heights Community Center. It's Sizzold Fo Shizzle.

Forest Heights folks are having a debate over whether or not they should get rid of the lovely playground, pond and walking paths in favor of a $6 million community center complete with pool, meeting areas, and grounds. The Homeowner's Association wants to spend the dough and the Homeowners reportedly don't. The center would result in assessing each homeowner potentially thousands of dollars.
Considering that many folks who live in this lovely 'hood have room and money for their own gyms, spas and pools or belong to fitness clubs which provide those things, spending millions on a center seems beside the point. Alas, group think and taxing authority are a powerful narcotic to folks elected to a position to DO SOMEthing. That usually means spending your money.
It's here we come to Scottie Pippin's house. The 18,000 sq ft home sits on several acres and boasts a pool and lovely grounds. The asking price of the house was $2.7 mil. Not a bargain, but compared to $6 mil for a club house it sure seemed like it. Some folks at the Northwest Examiner floated the idea of shoring up Pippin's house and using it for the center.
That idea has gone up in smoke. After years of sitting vacant, the sold sign has gone up. The real estate agent tells me it will close late next month.

Victoria Taft Show KPAM 860 to Air Entire Cesar Chavez Blvd Meeting. The Show Airs 5-8pm on KPAM 860.

Katz: Sam Didn't Tell Her About Beaulita WITH UPDATE!

Some friend. According to AG's report, the former Portland mayor met with Sam almost every Sunday morning. Apparently the issue of underage sex didn't come up. Bob Ball told her.
UPDATE** In another interview, the Oregonian's Anna Griffin supposedly told Randy Leonard that Vera Katz told her about the Beaulita affair and Katz had heard it from Bob Ball.
Question: is anyone bothering to tell the truth in this report?

Sam Adams Saga: Secretary of State Kate Brown Looked for an Attorney for Breedlove

One party rule is divided by the Sam issue. Oregon's secretary of state attempts to find an attorney for Breedlove,
"BROWN made an effort to assist Beau BREEDLOVE with legal representation when she learned about his relationship with Sam ADAMS in January of 2009."
Later in the interview contained in the AG's report, Brown was characterized as upset by the Breedlove/Adams story. She was upset because Sam had lied and thought the whole sorry affair was "detrimental to gay and lesbian interests."

Adams Almost Did Right Thing: Resignation Letter Found in His Hard Drive

We rolled this out last night on the show, but in case you didn't hear the discussion don't you think sending the letter of resignation would have made a difference in Sam's future? If he had done the right thing and resigned, Sam would have been employed by now at some think tank now where he'd pull a Charlie Hales and lobby for light rail and street cars. Heck, he does that already. However, he didn't send that resignation letter. The letter was written the day after he came back from Washington DC when Willamette Week broke the story about Sam's sex with a teenager. He was right

Adams War Room: 40 Year Old Man Having Gay Sex With Teen "Not Same Thing" as Hetero Having Sex With Teen

In his three page spread sheet of arguments justifying his having sex with a teenager contained in the AG's report, Adams reaches to a new low, arguing that him having Beau Breedlove as a friend was more justifiable than a heterosexual man a teenaged girl. Why?
Under the heading "Homophobia,"
"This is not comparable to a 40 year old heterosexual man meeting with a 17 year old heterosexual young woman. Sam has been a 17 year old young man struggleng [sic] with his sexuality. He has a shared experience."
Really, Sam?

Adams War Room: Blame "Homophobia" for Disgusted Reaction to Grooming Kid for Sex

In the AG's report we find a War Room type rubric from the computer of Sam Adams. This was an impressive spread sheet which presented a problem confronting Sam Adams and then declared the message that would emanate from Adams's camp as well as WHO would deliver the message.
Here's an example:
Among those tasked with delivering Sam's message? Patricia McCaig of Hibbits public polling firm, Randy Leonard, and Basic Rights Oregon. How you like 'em now?

Sam Adams Pays Off Beau, Asks Him to Lie for Him and No Charges

One of the things I didn't know that I learned at the Attorney General's news conference today was the unique Oregon law that says it's not a crime to lie to a state investigator, cop, agent of the state in an investigation like this.
KOIN reporter, Eric Taylor, asked an innocent enough question which went something like, "Did everyone you talked to have to swear an oath, or...?"
The answer was roughly, "No, Oregon's law is an anomaly in that you aren't required to tell the truth to an officer in these types of cases."
I wish I'd gotten a picture of the slack jawed reporters.
The investigator and then later the AG told us that you didn't have to tell the truth to them. Which made the worth of this report...what, exactly? Worthless?
How would you like to work on a case for 5 months and then have to issue a report based upon lies or at least stories you knew you couldn't verify or, if you could verify, stories you knew you couldn't prosecute for being inaccurate?
And what of the payments Sam made to Beau? And what about the pleas to lie for Sam?

Obama's New Battle Plan - Retreat!

According to new "Rules of Engagement" soon to be laid down in Afghanistan, Taliban and Al Qaeda forces have been given the green light to slaughter more American Service members.

All they need do is hide inside Afghani Homes and following Vo Nuygen Giaps "war of Attrition," take pot shots at passing GI's, who will be under orders to not return fire and to retreat from the area.

New US battle rule: No fighting near Afghan homes

This is the same sort of nonsense that demoralized the Military in Viet Nam and lost support, giving the victory to the communist.

Democrats have successfully recreated their Viet Nam now.

No Charges Against Sam Adams

Even though he admitted having sex with the teenager and clearly groomed him. Here's the report from the AG's office. The report concludes that Breedlove was an unreliable witness so since the allegation of underage sex was a he-said-he-said situation couldn't be proven.
Sam, you sly dog. Mark Wiener and your buddies covered for you! Using City funds to hush a witness was brilliant. How much money did that cost you? Oh, I forgot, probably plenty considering you're mortgaged to the hilt with six, count 'em six, mortgages or lines of credit on your three properties.

WSJ Calls Out "Genius" Democrats for Raising Taxes While Raising Unemployment Rate

From Saturday's WSJ (here):

The Labor Department reported yesterday that Oregon's unemployment rate soared to 12.4% in May, the nation's second highest after Michigan's 14.1%. What to do? If you're the geniuses in the state legislature in Salem, you naturally raise taxes.

Last week the legislature approved a $2 billion tax hike on personal income and small businesses that haven't already left the state. The highest tax rate on income above $500,000 would climb to 11% -- up from an already high 9%. Oregon will soon boast the second highest income tax rate in the nation, moving ahead of California (10.55%), and only slightly behind New York City (12.6%). Corporations will pay a 7.9% tax on gross receipts, up from 6.6%.

But that isn't the worst of it. Another revenue raiser will tax hospitals and private health insurance premiums. That's a good way to encourage private employers to drop their health coverage for workers.

In Oregon, as in so many states this year, lawmakers had to choose between reducing the growth of spending and raising taxes. No contest. So government spending will climb by about $2 billion, or almost 4%, which is on top of a 21% increase in the 2007-08 biennium budget. The sliver of good news is that taxpayer groups like Americans for Prosperity of Oregon are promising to put these taxes before the voters in a referendum this year or next. Since Salem's politicians seem intent on following California's, maybe Oregon's voters will do the same and just say no.

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A12

Walpin-gate expands, Conflict of Interest at Obama Justice Department

Obama’s stated reasons for firing Americorps Inspector General, Gerald Walpin, appear to be unraveling as now the Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched their own investigation into the program formerly ran by Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson, a friend of the Obama’s.

The investigation lends credence to Inspector Walpin’s numerous irregularities cited in St. Hope Academy’s use of AmeriCorps funds.

On the same day Obama fired Walpin, St. Hope's executive director, Rick Maya, left his job at St. Hope charging several St. Hope board members with numerous ethical violations.

On Jan. 22, 2009 Obama issued Executive Order 13493 appointing Attorney General Eric Holder co-chairman of the Special Task Force on Detainee Disposition of Guantánamo detainees.

This presents a conflict of interest in that Holder’s Law Firm has represented Detainees in Guantánamo, requiring Holder to recuse himself, as per Justice Department Regulations, which Holder has yet to do along with a dozen or so similarly conflicted attorney’s at Obama’s Justice Department.

Are these examples of Obama’s promise of transparency and rule of law being the “touchstone of his administration?”

Barack Obama, Super Hero

"Here he comes to save the day, that mean that Mighty Barack is on the way,,,"

Video

Iraq Was A Just War

An article appearing in the Australian, written by an Iraqi citizen, Omar Fadhil Al-Nidawi, who along with his brother Mohammed run the weblog Iraq the Model.

Iraq was a just war

Omar Fadhil Al-Nidawi | June 02, 2009

THE war in Iraq is officially moving to an end. Six years after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled, several coalition members have ended their missions in Iraq - including Australia, which pulled out its troops 12 months ago - and the US is preparing to wrap up its military involvement in the country.

Many still ask: Was it worth it?

If we examine the question from an American, British or Australian perspective, then it would be difficult to present an answer that could convince all critics. For the coalition members this was a war of opportunity, not a war of necessity. Going to war or not was never an issue that could affect the existence of a coalition member, nor was winning or losing.

For Iraq and its people however, this war was the beginning of a struggle for rebirth, a very difficult but necessary one, for sure.

People of my generation who were born in democracies may take the freedom they enjoy for granted. This is certainly not the case for me or my people. I was born a decade after the murderous Ba'ath Party grabbed power in Baghdad in the sinister coup of July 1968. To us, the war brought an end to that 35-year-long nightmare and the beginning of an era of freedom, thanks to our friends in the coalition.

For me and many Iraqis, it was certainly worth it. Life is better today than it was before 2003. That is even though we were on the receiving end of this war in all its phases, from initial invasion through the bloody sectarian violence and terror that paralysed the country for years. Despite the high price in blood, today is brighter than yesterday. Above all, we have hope - something we did not have under Saddam's dictatorship - that tomorrow will be even brighter.

Excerpt, Read the rest HERE

Bush Was Right

File "Green Jobs" Under That Nebulous Word "Sustainable"

What constitutes "Green Jobs" is a moving target. Representative Dave Edwards from Washington County seems sure that Representative Matt Wingard's litany of jobs may come under "green jobs," but that's utter nonsense under this bill and Wingard knows it. Wingard's playing with his food (Edwards) here. Edwards is trying to placate Wingard but he's just digging himself into a deep hole. His pants are on fire. Watch Representative Mitch Greenlick at about 3:40 get nervous that Edwards is saying out loud that logging jobs might be considered "green." Gosh, wouldn't want to name a truly sustainable job as a 'green' job, would we?

While PETA Dabbles in Stupidity, it Cheers on Dark Forces in Portland

An "Animal rights" group, PETA, has been on the loony end of quite a few stories of their own making over the years. Lately there's been the Pike Place Market fish monger story (here), the plea to the Pet Shop Boys to change their name (Here), and the stupidity about the President swatting a fly (here).
But behind the seeming frivolousness there's a real agenda here and it plays out on the streets of Portland every day. And it's getting down right nasty. Again.
Every day people who apparently have no jobs(?) gather in front of a local fur store to harass, cajole and carry on. Somebody apparently is paying these folks to camp out every day. If they're on welfare I'd like to know so I can report them for failing to look for a real job. Over the weekend, however, vandals stepped up the pressure on this business by spattering gallons of red paint on the business sign, front door, front sidewalk, etc. Naturally the city of Portland is doing nothing.
As with Schumacher Fur and Outerwear, the City won't lift a finger to help if a store owner is rude to the people planted outside their store trying to put them out of business.
I bring you this blog entry to put a stake in the ground to say to the City of Portland we won't let you sit by idly again.

Lawmakers Threaten to Sue Oregon Higher Ed Over Conceal Carry Rules

The letter, spearheaded by Senator Brian Boquist and Representative Kim Thatcher, draws on months of negotiations with the Oregon University System to abandon illegal anti conceal carry policies.
Well the gloves are off. In a letter signed by 34 lawmakers, the ultimate throw down has come: A duel. In a courtroom.

“As a result of this delayed action, we understand there may be lawsuits under consideration against the University System. We would hate to see protracted litigation which would come at great expense to taxpayers. Instead we remain optimistic that the OUS will modify its policies to bring themin line with state law and look forward to your plan of action. A response would
be appreciated by June 30th.”

My Daughter Found This. It's Fantastic!

Here.

Obama Moves To "Secure China's Investment."

The latest crisis announced by Obama, rapid pushing of new financial regulations, will offer better protection to China's investments in the United States.

Zhao Xijun, a professor at Renmin University of China says, "Only when the US financial markets start to stabilize can the safety of China's investment be secured."

Guo Tianyong, a professor at Central University of Finance and Economics agrees with, "Financial stability is one of the necessary pre-conditions to restore China's confidence in its US investments."

The administration seeks the power to seize and unwind large, troubled companies that are not banks, modeling the process on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp's existing power to unwind failing banks.

Communist China appears to be fully on board with this unprecedented power grab by the Obama administration.

Source, China Daily.

Bush Had Good Reason To Use Hand Sanitizer

Recall right after Obama won the November 4, 2008 election and news broke of his first meeting with President Bush? The one where many felt, including Obama, how inappropriate Bush was the use hand sanitizer right after shaking his hand?

It turns out Bush was right again.

In the video below, during an interview with CNBC's John Harwood, the one takes time out, distracted by a fly, to swat it with his bare hands. He is not seen washing his hands, using sanitizer or even wiping the remnants of the pesky insect off on his expensive suit.

But, he does turn to the camera crew to tell them how "impressed he is" with his ability.



Even Harwood is impressed.

Not impressed is PETA, who is sending Fly Swatter in Chief a Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher so he may trap the next fly and release it unharmed outside.

Can the media love affair with this dude get any sillier?

UPDATE: On second thought, perhaps the real intent of this coverage is to send a clear message to all enemies of the state. "Mess with Obama and get squashed like a bug!"

Really, Sam? The Parodies Begin...

Really, Sam? If Sam Adams Hadn't Had Sex With a Teenager, He Wouldn't be Arrears in his Mortgages

Before one person gives this man one whit of slack for his failure to pay on at least one of his three mortgages since February, let's pause and remember WHY he says he can't pay them. To wit (from Mercury):

"This is a private issue, but if you must know, I've had to pay some significant upfront legal fees, and now I'm getting caught up on my mortgage payments," says Adams..." (emphasis added)

If he hadn't had sex with a teenager, if he hadn't "groomed" him, if he hadn't lied about it, allegedly used city resources to coach the kid to lie, lied to voters about this while running for Mayor, and destroyed a few people in the process, maybe he wouldn't have those legal bills to pay.
Just sayin'...

How Bad a Day are Oregon Democrats Having When...

...their approval ratings are less than their Governor's? A new Riley Research Poll (check here for the numbers later today) shows Governor Kluelessgoski has a 36% approval rating while his one party rule partners in the legislature have a 26% approval rating.
How bad is it when a Governor, who has largely been a spectator in office, gets higher approval ratings than his buddies in the legislature? It could be attributable to the legislative Democrats penchant for increasing taxes, censoring speech (see bully bill entries), killing jobs, and conspiring to make taxpayers' lives even more expensive.
Kluelessgoski, on the other hand, looks like he's doing nothing while presiding proudly over a 12.4% unemployment rate. Oh, and he'll sign all those job killing bills handed him by the Democrats. What a team! We can't get rid of these guys fast enough. Our jobs depend on it.

Oppressives Seek to Shut Down Legal Business. Again.

This from somebody who claimed to be just happening by (sure). For an additional sideshow watch while the city of Portland does...nothing. Again.

This morning around 9:30am I was traveling on the MAX reading a book and I saw bright red from the corner of my eye. I looked up to see bright red paint splattered across a building like blood. Then I noticed it was Nicholas Ungar Furs. So I got off the train to get some photos and info for this article. The entrance, the sidewalk, the windows, and the sign on the front of the building were significantly splattered. The Police arrived very shortly after I did leading me to believe that perhaps this just happened last night. I was not able to get the photos off of my camera but others will hopefully post some soon.

Washington Policy Center: The Real Numbers on Health Care

We find out from the CBO who's analysis is linked below that ObamaCare would run up the deficit by $1 TRILLION over the next 10 years.
The net effect would be to cover 13% of the non elderly population currently uninsured. Of those, according to the CBO, one third of those 13% are illegal here. If you subtract those from the numbers you arrive at 8.7% uninsured.
Blowing up the whole health care system for 8.7% uninsured? 'Scuse me?

And taking up some of the issues often discussed by those who claim American health care is in a shambles. This is a truncated version of a policy paper from the Washington Policy Center's Dr. Roger Stark whose full piece is here. Thanks to an alert 5th Listener who sent it along.

First of all, we hear a lot about how terrible the infant mortality rate is in the United States, with supposedly the worst in the civilized world. Is this true? Not really. U.S. health officials count all live births, while many other countries only count full-term births or infants who live at least 28 days. Obviously, premature infants, who are counted in the U.S., but not in other countries, have a much higher risk of mortality.

Second, it is repeatedly said that people in the U.S. do not live as long as in other countries. Again, this is true. However, deaths from homicide and accidents distort the picture. When the data is adjusted for these categories, life expectancy in the U.S. is as high as in other countries. Homicide and trauma certainly reflect a country’s social problems, but they tell us little about a country’s health care system.

Third, we hear that each year there are nearly 100,000 unnecessary hospital deaths in the U.S., a clear indictment of our health care quality. A panel of physicians reviewed the hospital data, however, and found that the great majority of these deaths occurred at the end of the patient’s natural life, when the outcome would have been the same regardless of what hospital staff did or did not do. In other countries, these older, desperately ill people might not even be sent to a hospital, dying instead at home, and are thus not included in national medical statistics.

Fourth, we hear people are often forced to declare bankruptcy because of medical bills. It turns out advocates count any bankruptcy case involving even a single medical bill, whether or not health costs had anything to do with causing the bankruptcy.

Also, people ages 55 to 65, who have more personal control over their health coverage, are less likely to declare bankruptcy, while people over 65, who are on government-run Medicare, have seen a doubling of their bankruptcy rate. In the case of the elderly, tax-funded health care has not reduced financial problems for older Americans.

Fifth, what about the 45.7 million uninsured? Who are they, and are medical costs and availability the reasons they don’t have health insurance? If we look at the actual numbers, it turns out that one-third of these people are eligible for existing government programs (Medicare, Medicaid, S-CHIP, etc.) but haven’t applied. Half of this 45.7 million are transitioning between jobs, and nearly one-fourth of the total are not U.S. citizens.

It turns out advocates count anyone who was without health coverage at any time during a calendar year.

Out of the entire 45.7 million, only about 8 million are chronically uninsured. This represents less than 5% of our total population. While an important number, it is arguably not large enough to be the primary motivator for an entire government overhaul of our health care system that would impact the other 95% of our population.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Your Ukelele Moment of... Um... IDK

Sam Adams, The Homeless Mayor?

Portland's Mayor, Sam Adams, under investigation by the Attorney General after admitting he lied about the affair with a 17 year old prior to the mayoral election, is facing new troubles.

He is some $5,000 behind in his mortgage payments and his home is in pre-foreclosure.

We know he won't really end up homeless and he hopes to catch up on his payments to forstall foreclosure.

Source, KGW 8

Had he resigned in the first place, he would not be facing foeclosure and possibly not an investigation.

Why is the President Begging for Money to Sell Health Care Over Haul?

Victoria --

Last year, millions of Americans came together for a great purpose.

Folks like you assembled a grassroots movement that shocked the political establishment and changed the course of our nation. When Washington insiders counted us out, we put it all on the line and changed our democracy from the bottom up. But that's not why we did it.

The pundits told us it was impossible -- ...

Today, spiraling health care costs are pushing our families and businesses to the brink of ruin, while millions of Americans go without the care they desperately need.

...The campaign to pass real health care reform in 2009 is the biggest test of our movement since the election. Once again, victory is far from certain.
And just like before, I cannot do it without your support.

So I'm asking you to remember all that you gave over the last two years to get us here -- all the time, resources, and faith you invested as a down payment to earn us our place at this crossroads in history.

It doesn't matter how much you can give, as long as you give what you can. Millions of families on the brink are counting on us to do just that. I know we can deliver.

Thank you, so much, for getting us this far. And thank you for standing up once again to take us the rest of the way.

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

And then he's got a donate button at the bottom. Seriously? Isn't he the president? He needs money to sell this piece of junk idea?

Health Plan. 27 Year Olds Are "Children"

From the CBO report here

the proposal would allow parents to cover children as dependents until they
are 27 years old, and our analysis has not yet taken that provision into
account.

Oregon Democrats=Job Killers. Oregon Oppressives Turn Sites on Real Businesses

Reaction from Oregon business about the punishing new corporate taxes to be signed into law by Governor Klulessgoski. The previous corporate minimum was $10. Sounds low, right? You'd think the Democrats would increase it a little, right? Nope. They went for the whole class warefare-we-hate-the-productive enchilada by increasing the corporate minimum to a sliding scale based on gross receipts. Sales. Without regard as to whether the business has actually made money. The apparatchiks at the state get the first dollar. Before the employer. Before the employee. Before the vendors. Before anyone.
Reactions from various news stories from business:

"I just don't see the rational argument for taxing gross receipts," said Bruce Hoevet, who operates Rogue Regency Inn. "Just because you are acquiring income, doesn't mean the revenue will equal bottom-line results." "We were hoping for something in the $300 to $500 range, as opposed to gross receipts," Hoevet said. "We've already had to cut out $148,000 in labor costs in 2009. The people who say we're just paying our fair share of the bill aren't taking into account when people are put out of work. There are unemployment benefits and health care.

Brad Hicks, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, said the cost to business is staggering. "Apparently, Oregon closed for business last week," Hicks said. "The folks who wanted this thing passed did a masterful job of giving Oregonians the impression that corporations don't pay taxes and that is flat wrong. I have already spoken to member companies and this is going to cost particular businesses here anywhere from $15,000 to $100,000, in addition to what they are paying now."

The edu-union-crats say this means schools will get their hands on $400 million of that money to "save" huge cuts. Not if businesses move or, worse, go out of business.

Att his gas station, DeHart said, he had $600,000 left over after paying suppliers for fuel. His company used that money to make loan payments, cover payroll and overhead costs and pay himself a salary of about $70,000.

He said his business hasn't shown a profit in five years. As a result, he's paid the $10 minimum -- an amount he agrees is far too low. But under the Legislature's changes, DeHart said he would pay a $7,500 minimum tax. That's money he won't pay in salaries or invest in his business, he said.

"Sales are not the same as profits," DeHart said. "Taxing companies that make no money is like dumping the tax burden on a minimum-wage earner."

Don't Act Like I Never Tol' Ya...

Bully bill signed into law by Governor Klulessgoski. Speech codes will now be present on the playground.
I told you it was a speech code, a bad bill etc back in March:

People: this covers jokes in the hallway, yo mama so fat jokes, trash talking on the basketball court, the soccer pitch, the baseball diamond and the football field. Jokes where someone takes offense or has his/her feelings hurt is covered by this code. They're proposing a state law to keep kids from teasing each other. Think about it. It's daft.

This is in reality is entree for LGBT and BRO folks to force students to think of gay kids as engaging in normal behavior. They're trying to extinguish religious beliefs that find fault with the behavior. Love the sinner and hate the sin etc. They don't want anyone to cast judgement in any way, shape, or form on the gay life style. So they want to remove that thought from the heads of the kids and make darn sure nothing like that comes out of their mouths. And they want a STATE LAW to require it. Kids who previously may have had a conversation about the behavior now will instead lawyer up because their "feelings are hurt." Hooey.
This is a thought crime bill (and the LGBT lawyers full employment bill). If kids' feelings are hurt, let the principal and mom and dad handle it. Keep "THE STATE" out of it.

Check out KPAM.COM/VICTORIA'S PAGE for our interview with the head of the education committee who swears, among other things, that this bill will not result in state overreach, increased litigation, or a list of what 'acceptable' speech or jokes will be allowed. Ha.

US Debt Nears $1 Million per Family

"David Walker, the former US Comptroller General, says that the federal debt level is approaching $55 trillion and if you add in the what is owed on the state and local levels -- plus personal household debt -- it adds up to $75 trillion in obligations."

And, how much more is Obama willing to drive the debt with his healthcare takeover, second massive stimulus package and all the giveaways?

Source, New York Post

NOt to worry, he will continue cutting Medica and Medicaid for savings.

Hope and Change, ya'll.

NEEDS SIGNATURE: ProtectMarriageWa.com

DETAILS HERE.

Obama's Deceptive Healthcare Plan

In their own words,

Obama: Bulldoze Neighborhoods To Save Cities

Reminiscent of scenes aired by nightly news against the Troops in Viet Nam, GI’s setting thatched huts on fire, the Obama administration is considering bulldozing entire neighborhoods in a “shrink to survive” scheme to combat economic decline.

Originally the brainchild of Dan Kildee, treasurer of Genesee County in Michigan, the Obama administration and charities have approached Kildee to apply this “radical experiment” in other areas of the country. Kildee had earlier outlined this proposal to candidate Obama during the 2008 campaign.

Kilde says he will concentrate on some 50 cities around in the “rust belt,” declining former industrial cities, of America's Mid-West and North East, including Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Memphis.

As the Obama “shrink to survive” policy spreads to cities, we can expect billions of taxpayer dollars to go into paying destruction crews to raze these neighborhoods. Displaced families moved into other neighborhoods may end up eventually having to be moved again as jobs are shipped overseas by corporations seeking to remain profitable and population centers in large cities will undoubtedly increase, possibly creating the very crime ridden projects of people cramped together in low income housing.

Democrat Rep. Laura Richardson of California seems to have abandoned her Sacramento home, angering neighbors there as it decays and is neglected. Will her property also be bulldozed and allowed returned to nature?

Perhaps what should be targeted is a small concentrated and highly populated area along the north bank of the Potomac River Basin where much of America’s real problems seem to stem from. Perhaps more bulldozing within Washington D.C. and returning that River Basin to nature would allow our nation a more dignified “shrink to survive” plan with less government breathing down our necks.

INTEL...Outside? Obama Administration Rules Could Send Chip Manufacturers Out of the US. Moore's Law to be Replaced by Obama's Law.

...And it's all in the name "man made" global warming. This from EDN online:

A recent move by the United States EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency) could discourage IC manufacturing in the
country.

In late April, the EPA issued a proposed finding that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.

It looks as if the anti corporatists in the "environmentalist" movement looked over the list of the chemicals used by the semi conductor industry and addedthem to kill an entire category of [non union] manufacturers. Quoting from EDN:

"Of the six gases identified as potential threats, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are used in chip manufacturing. Although the companies using them regulate the gases and although the EPA finding does not offer proposed regulation of the gases, it does open the door to possibly stringent and costly restrictions on equipment makers and semiconductor manufacturers."

Would a President who with swift speed remade the auto industry for the benefit of his union friends and "environmental" base think twice about sending non union manufacturing companies to their knees? Who continued to force TARP funds even after banks begged him to take back the government money? Who has plans to regulate how much people are paid? Who told a US Congressman from Oregon, "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother." Who hails from the pay to play sludge that is Illinois politics? C'mon you know the answer to that question.

And all you techies know that Intel wouldn't be the only target:

Micron, Texas Instruments, LSI Logic, ...and dozens of smaller companies would be in trouble from this new rule.

The industry which brought you your tiny cellphone, technology to bring you that desk top computer and your laptop, brought health care improvements, revolutionized almost all industry, introduced robotics---all at light speed, is now destined to be wiped out in a perverse form of the law conceived of by the father of Intel, Gordon Moore. While he was at Fairchild, Gordon Moore predicted that chip performance would double every 18-24 months. This is known as Moore's Law. Obama's law states that American industry and exceptionalism will be wiped out in the first 24 months of his presidency.

Rees Lloyd on John Murtha's Homage to Himself. An Airport With No Airplanes.

Remember U.S. Representative John Murtha (D-Pa), the Obama-Pelosi Democrat Party favorite defaming the U.S. Marines as "cold blooded killers" in what the liberal media called the "Haditha Massacre (sic)," the massacre that never was; the same John Murtha who has refused to apologize to the eight Marines he defamed, and their families, even though seven of the eight Marines have had all charges dismissed, and the eighth has yet to be tried on a reduced charge after five years? Well, take a look at this video of an ABC News report (yes, ABC) HERE and ask yourself who should be prosecuted for failure of duty--the Marines, or John Murtha?

Also, please note that a Resolution which I had the honor to author calling on Murtha to publicly apologize to the Marines and their families was adopted by the American Legion Department of California at the 2008 Convention, will be submitted with updated information to the 2009 Department of California Convention in Riverside, CA, June 18-21, 2009, and if adopted by delegates representing 130,000 American Legionnaires, will be sponsored by the Department of California at the National American Legion Convention in August, 2009.
If the Resolution can overcome Machiavellian politicians' efforts to kill, delay, or gut it, and the Resolution makes it through the committee processes for a floor vote, I predict it will be approved overwhelmingly by delegates representing 1.6-million wartime veterans of The American Legion, in repudiation of Murtha for his defamation of Marines. (Unfortunately, Murtha is effectively shielded from a successful defamation action due to his legislative immunity as a member of the House.)
Murtha, although a former Marine, has as current Democrat Party politician, disgraced himself by attempting to disgrace the Marines who did their duty while Murtha has failed in his duty, as evidenced anew in this ABC report on the utter waste of taxpayer funds being expended at the "John Murtha Airport," which, as the report states, has everything good taxpayer-money can buy but "airplanes."
Take a very few minutes to view this ABC report exposing Murtha's malfeasance, a special media moment since ABC so rarely broadcasts anything outside the Obama party line: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7415354
--Rees Lloyd
[Note: The views expressed herein are solely those of Rees Lloyd personally, and are not to be attributed to any person, entity, or organization he may otherwise represent.]

DEMOCRATS SELL OUT BUSINESS OWNERS AND "RICH" PEOPLE PASSING HIGHEST PERSONAL INCOME TAX IN THE COUNTRY

The legislature had $2B MORE to spend this biennium compared to last. They spent it and then came after the taxpayers for another Billion--selling out small business owners, corporations (insuring new ones won't come here) and raising the income tax rate on the "rich" to 11%.
This was all done with the overwrought rhetoric about people and businesses paying their "fair share." But what is their fair share? How much is enough? Looking at the 2006 income tax returns we see that the top 5% of Oregon income earners pay 41% of the taxes. The top 1% pay 23% of the taxes. The bottom 60% contribute a combined total of less than 14% of the income taxes paid. In fact we subsidize/pay for some of these people. We pay those who don't pay taxes.

Much was made of the "principled" stand by DEMOCRAT Tax Supporter, Mark Hass and how he stopped the vote on Wednesday, only to vote in favor of it today. He says he did it to make sure that Oregon would never be in this predicament again. Well that's utter nonsense. If he were interested in standing on principle he would have proposed spending curbs. This was a grandstand play. The democrats conceived of, wrote, orchestrated and passed the BIGGEST TAX INCREASES IN OREGON HISTORY.
Here's his canned response to several listeners:

From: Sen Hass <hass.sen@state.or.us>
Date: Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Subject: Clearing the air about HB 3405 - How we've helped the Rainy Day Fund
To: Sen Hass <hass.sen@state.or.us>

I would love to clear the air about my votes on HB 3405 – the corporate tax increase.

As you may know by now, I voted for both the personal and corporate measures today. But what this package will include today that it didn’t include last night is a permanent distribution from corporate taxes into the Oregon Rainy Day Fund. Many people are surprised to learn our current fund is made up of a one-time distribution from the corporate kicker in 2007. It will be depleted this year and no one has any idea of how to fund it after that.

The new measure will generate $70 million a year into Oregon's Rainy Day Fund.

I drafted this as an amendment for HB 3405 on Monday after discussing it with my carpool partner, Rep. Tobias Read. (You might be surprised how many bills are created at 70 mph on I-5.) I had hoped this language could be adopted in the Senate.

But there were no hearings in the Senate. The measure came straight to the floor from the Joint Ways & Means Committee. In other words, no hearings, no testimony. When I was a minority member in the House, we used to rail at Republicans for this very thing.

...So, what do you do? Do you go along with the crowd, even though your gut tells you it’s wrong?

Or do you stand on principle?

As I mentioned on the floor of the Senate [AS I VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE LARGEST TAX INCREASES IN OREGON HISTORY] today, sometimes people can stand on principle and end up standing in different places. But when Oregon works best, these people find ways to come together.

Today we did that. Thanks to Rep. Read, we can amend the compromise language into a House bill. I’m glad I stuck to my guns. We have a better package – the process worked and Oregon is moving forward .

Mark

More Tax Dollars Fewer Riders

An alert 5th Listener sends this link to Tri Met's latest ridership numbers. Wonder how much we're subsidizing for each ride?

June 11, 2009

May ridership report

There were 8.5 million trips taken in May 2009, down 4.3 percent from May 2008. Ridership is impacted by the recession, double-digit unemployment and lower gas prices that were at record levels last year. MAX weekend ridership was up but all other ridership categories were down. All figures below are compared to May 2008:

Bus, MAX & WES

• Weekly trips were 1,998,700, down 3.2 percent
• Weekday trips were 325,000, down 3.7 percent
• Weekend trips were 373,800, down 1.2 percent
• Rush hour trips were 104,000, down 5 percent

Bus

• Weekly bus trips were 1,291,900, down 3.8 percent
• Weekday bus trips were 216,100, down 4 percent
• Weekend bus trips were 211,400, down 2.8 percent
• Rush hour bus trips were 71,600, down 5.5 percent

MAX

• Weekly MAX trips were 700,900, down 2.8 percent
• Weekday MAX trips were 107,700, down 3.9 percent
• Weekend MAX trips were 162,400, up 1 percent
• Rush hour trips were 31,200, down 7.4 percent

WES

• Weekly WES trips totaled 5,900
• Weekday/rush hour trips averaged 1,180 boardings. WES service is only weekday/rush hour service.

Send Them to Klulessgoski

Sign Posted in Portland Area

Hello Victoria,

Below is a sign I made today and attached to my fence so all those driving by can see. I suggest every honest, hardworking, God-loving American do the same. The destroyers (aka....the Democrats) are like a swarm of locust devouring and destroying everything in their path.

My husband and I attended the Oregon Liberty Summit last Saturday and were awed by the every day Americans who have not been politcally active in their life, but have been moved to speak up because of the degradation of our country.

It is time to fear our government and it is time to vote out the democrats and save this country!

Keep up the good fight.

Disgusted but fighting back,

Fascists and Nazis Find Their Roots in the Left

So when the trolls 'jack a thread on this blog to talk smack about these killers at the Holocaust Museum, Synogogues, being from the right, you do feel the need to direct their attention to the facts. The modern liberals, as did Mussolini and Hitler, found their home on the left. There's a reason the Nazis have the word "socialism" in their acronym. There's a reason Mussolini, a tyrant who 'ran the trains on time,' began as a creature of the left.
As Jonah Goldberg wrote in his well received book, Liberal Fascism, The Secret History of the American Left from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning,

"American Progressivism, from which today's liberalism descended, was a kind of Christian fascism (many called it "Christian socialism"). This is a difficult concept for modern liberals to grasp because they are used to thinking of the progressives as the people who cleaned up the food supply, pushed through the eight hour workday, and ended child labor. But liberals often forget that the progressives were also imperialists, at home and abroad. They were the authors of Prohibition, the Palmer Raids, eugenics, loyalty oaths, and, in it modern incarnation, what many call "state capitalism."

And as we read here, Mr. Jew Hating Fruit Cake who shot up the Holocaust Museum this week, frequents some interesting web site. We also hear he's a registered democrat but there's no proof of that yet.

John Zeigler on MSNBC

In regards to the growing flap over David Letterman’s hateful comments about Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin and her daughter, John Ziegler received a call from the governor and proceeded with a 16 minute interview.

MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer, apparently unable to access the governor, asked Ziegler to appear on her show for an interview. As can be seen in the resulting video, Ms. Brewer had her DNC handed to her.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

...Five words, "City of Portland Amphibian Researcher." Apparently we have money to burn.

TAXES EXPLAINED

Income Taxes Explained:
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it
would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are
all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your
daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But
what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would
each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's
bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the
amounts each should pay. And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued
to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed
to the tenth man," but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar,
too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill,
they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, is how our tax system works. The people who
pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax
them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show
up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the
atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.