By JB Williams Friday, May 29, 2009

Obama is on the cusp of making American taxpayers the proud new bankrupt owners of what is now affectionately referred to as “Government Motors.”—As GM follows Chrysler into Fed forced bankruptcy, Obama’s economic guru has already worked out the details of how GM will emerge from bankruptcy court a wholly owned asset of the Fed.

According to reports, the US Treasury will own 72.5% of GM, after Obama carves out 17.5% for the United Auto Workers Union thugs, leaving the “old General Motors” with only a 10% stake in the new “Government Motors.”

In the good ole days, we didn’t have Czars in America because the land of the free and home of the brave did not have government owned and operated industries. That stuff only existed in the Soviet Union… Now, we need a Czar for every industry as the leftists in DC swallow up industry after industry.

With blessings from the Bilderberg Group, Timothy Geithner proceeds with Obamanation plans to industrialize the US Fed by consuming yet another major private sector industry.

As Obama rushes to buy up [you didn’t really think it was a bailout did you?] private sector industries, one after another, it becomes more and more clear exactly what kinds of “change” Obama had in mind. Too bad his voters never bothered to ask before voting…

Guess which Chrysler dealerships Obama and Geithner saw no need to save? Blogger Doug Ross provides facts you are not likely to see on CNN…

• Vernon G. Buchanan: $147,450 to GOP candidates and organizations
• Wallace D. Alley and Family: $4,500 to GOP.
• Robert Archer: $4,600 to GOP and conservative causes.
• Homer S. Higginbotham and Family: $2950 to GOP.
• James Auffenberg and Family: $28,000 to GOP; $6,000 to one Democrat candidate.
• Michael Maroone and Family: $60,000 to GOP; $8,500 to two Democrat candidates.
• Jerome Fader: $6,500 to Democrats; $2,500 to Independent Joe Lieberman.
• Stephen Fay and Family: $13,500 to GOP.
• William Numrich: $20,000 to GOP.
• Robert Carver: $10,000 to Democrats including $1,950 to Hillary Clinton, nothing to Barack Obama.
• Robert and Linda Rohrman: $24,000 to GOP.
• Frank Boucher, Jr. and Family: $18,000 to GOP, $1,000 to one Democrat candidate.
• Scott Bossier: $4,300 to GOP.
• Todd Reardon: $17,000 to GOP; $2,000 to one Democrat candidate.
• Russ Darrow and Family: $78,000 to GOP.
• Bradford Deery and Family: $24,700 to GOP.
• Charles Gabus and Family: $30,000 to GOP.
• Brian Smith: $15,500 to GOP.
• Michael Schlossman: $14,000 to GOP; $14,000 to three Democrats ($12,500 to Sen. Russ Feingold).
• Don Hill: $11,000 to GOP; $12,800 to conservative incumbent Rep. Heath Shuler.
• Don Miller: $2,000 to GOP; $1,000 to Feingold.
• Eddie Cordes: $2,150 to GOP.
• Robert Edwards: $1,100 to GOP.
• James Crowley: $19,100 to GOP.
• Stanley Graff: $2,200 to John Edwards (2008 Presidential Run); $500 to GOP.
• John Stewart: $10,500 to GOP.
• John Fitzgerald and Family: $4,600 to John McCain (2008); $2,000 to Hillary Clinton (2008); nothing to Barack Obama.
• William Churchill and Family: $3,500 to GOP.
• Thomas Ganley: $9.450 to GOP.
• Gary Miller: $20,000 to GOP.
• Kevin and Gene Beltz: $18,500 to GOP.
• Arthur Grayson: $14,000 to GOP.
• Eric Grubbs and Family: $26,000 to GOP.
• Michael Leep and Family: $19,500 to GOP; $4,800 to three Democrats including Sen. Evan Bayh.
• Harry Green, Jr.: $10,000 to GOP.
• Ronald Hoover: $5,250 to GOP.
• Ray Huffines and Family: $18,500 to GOP.
• John O. Stevenson: $1,500 to GOP.
• James Marsh: $8,200 to GOP.
• Max Pearson and Family: $112,000 to GOP.

World Net Daily reviewed the list of 789 closing franchises and databases of political donors and found that of dealership majority owners making contributions in the November 2008 election, less than 10 percent gifted to Democrats while 90 percent gave substantial sums to Republican candidates.

Ross further reports—“Red State, American Thinker, Joey Smith and Reliapundit provide anecdotal and quantitative evidence that would appear to confirm a decided bias against dealers who donated to GOP causes or to anti-Obama Democrats. – Quote from an attorney who Deposed Chrysler’s president last week: “It became clear to us that Chrysler does not see the wisdom of terminating 25 percent of its dealers… It really wasn’t Chrysler’s decision. They are under enormous pressure from the President’s automotive task force.” – Late night updates from Joey Smith and Thomas Lamb: Large Democrat Donor groups not only remain open in all locations, but have their competition eliminated… and/or can purchase for pennies on the dollar.”

Obama’s Banana Republic

Banks thought Obama had their best interests at heart too, until the Obama administration forced banks that didn’t need “bailout” money to take it anyway, and then refused to allow banks to return the funds, sinking the Fed’s power-drunk teeth deeper and deeper into the jugular of the banking industry.

Now Obama is sinking his teeth into America’s last major manufacturing industry and the labor unions that put Obama in power are the only winners in Obama’s banana republic.

Obama knows that pushing his far left agenda will be far easier with the money and manpower of Big Labor on his side. Obama himself said in his political memoir, “The Audacity of Hope,”—“I owe those unions… When their leaders call, I do my best to call them back right away. I don’t mind feeling obligated.”

As Dictator-in-Chief, Obama is able to pay off many personal debts to those responsible for his power.

Republican House Rep. Steve King of Iowa, has launched a people’s petition aimed at stopping Obama’s rush to turn America over to union thugs here at righttoworkfoundation.org.

But Thou Dare NOT Protest Too Much!

Folks speaking out against Obama’s dictatorial leap into unbridled Marxism are finding out that there is a price for “free speech” under the new banana republic.

In February an active duty military Officer Called Obama a ‘Usurper’ President. “Until Mr. Obama releases a ‘vault copy’ of his original birth certificate for public review, I will consider him neither my Commander in Chief nor my President, but rather, a usurper to the Office—an impostor,” 1st Lt. Scott R. Easterling stated in his letter published at Defendourfreedoms.com.

Military.com followed the story and issued a Military poll asking; Should a Soldier serve if he doesn’t think the president is legitimate? Only 32% of respondents said “If a Soldier in good conscience does not believe the president is constitutionally eligible to serve, he should not execute his duties and is right to protest the president’s orders.”

37% said Easterling should essentially shut up and serve, and 30% said he should be court martialed for speaking out. Maybe this 67% of respondents should read their oath to “protect and defend the constitution” one more time? If Obama is NOT a constitutional president, then they are NOT defending the constitution… Easterling is right!

Retired Navy Commander Walter Francis Fitzpatrick has file criminal charges against Barack Obama (aka Barry Soetoro) charging him with acts of “treason.” Public Grand Jury indictments have been issued against president Obama, as a result of a Grand Jury effort by Fitzpatrick and others like Carl Swensson at http://wethepeopleusa.ning.com/profile/CarlSwensson.

Other patriotic Americans concerned with Obama’s daily attack on all things American, have taken part in TEA Party protests. Fitzpatrick, Swensson and several TEA Party protesters have all since received personal visits from the Secret Service or FBI. Under Obama’s DHS definition of “domestic terrorists,” folks who own a bible or pocket constitution are of grave concern these days. Free speech isn’t free… it may come at a very high price in the end.

Bottom Line

Once again, I find myself forced to ask, “Now have we seen enough?”

On several occasions I have asked, what is it going to take for average Americans to wake up and stand up? And once again, I must point out that whatever it is, it hasn’t happened yet!

Maybe Government Motors is the last straw. Maybe putting Republican leaning Chrysler dealerships out of business will do the trick. Maybe siccing FBI and Secret Service agents on decent concerned citizens who happen to disagree with Obama’s version of Marxism will get people fired up…

Whatever it is, it had better happen soon, because Obamanation is fast turning the beacon of freedom around the world into just another broken banana republic.

Come on folks! When France thinks your president is a joke on national security, Russia thinks he’s moving too fast towards communism and MSNBC libs like Rachel Maddow has to call him out for his anti-constitutional double talk, it’s time to wake up! Watch Rachel Maddow destroy Obama on lying to the American people!

JB Williams is a business man, a husband, a father, and a writer. A no nonsense commentator on American politics, American history, and American philosophy. He is published nationwide and in many countries around the world. JB Williams’ website is jb-williams.com/

JB Williams can be reached at: JB_Williams@comcast.net

Aztlan Rising

By Neil Turner
(with excerpts from an article at www.CFIF.org), May 24, 2009

Al Gorelioni’s “Carbon Credits”, payments to offset the sins of not living “Green” enough, are nothing more than Indulgences, the now disgraced practice of the medieval Catholic church to raise money by substituting someone else’s so-called good works (the Clergy’s) for the good works you were required to do.

Carbon Credits, therefore, are Indulgences paid to the Church of Liberalism, and to the CEO (Head Priest) of the church, none other than Fr. B. Soetor/Obama himself.

So now your government is planning to bring about a radical and regressive change in your standard of living with the so-called “cap-and-trade” legislation (selling of Indulgences) rapidly making its way through Congress.

Cap-and-trade is being peddled as sound, environmentally friendly energy policy. In actuality, it has little to do with the environment and instead is a means to deprive you of what is rightfully yours, control your behavior and repress your liberties.

And to add insult to injury, it is estimated that Every family in the United States could be compelled under cap-and-trade to shell-out an additional $3,100.00 or more per year as a result of this cap-and-trade scheme.

Just What Is Cap-And-Trade?

Essentially, cap-and-trade is being deceptively peddled as a system to encourage businesses to engage in “environmentally responsible activities.”

Under cap-and-trade, the government would issue “pollution credits” (Indulgences). Once allocated (as the government sees fit) those who use less than their government-imposed allocation of pollution credits (the Good Guys) can sell them to those who have exceeded their government-imposed allocation of pollution credits (the Sinners).

Of course, in the strictest sense, cap-and-trade is not solely a “tax.” It’s something much worse.

When the government taxes you, it openly confiscates what is rightfully yours and it goes directly into government coffers to fund some actual or perceived need.

Under cap-and-trade, no one in the government reaches directly into your pocket. Instead, our government, which is already taking de-facto control of the banking and automotive industry, will have yet another tool in its arsenal to effectively take control of every other company or sector of industry that produces CO2… and that’s just about everybody.

In short, cap-and-trade has nothing to do with the environment, it is just one more way for those in government to pick your pocket (or even better, coerce someone else into picking your pocket), steal your liberty, regulate your behavior and diminish your standard of living in this already queasy economy.

Do America a favor. As well as calling and emailing and faxing your Congress-members, who have repeatedly spit in your face (like Obama) and shown complete disdain for the will of their constituents, let’s defeat this liberal cap-and-trade scheme of selling the Indulgences of the Dark Ages by Ousting the Imposter right here and now! Go to www.OrlyTaitzEsq.com, to support the efforts of our modern-day ‘Joan d’Arc’, and to www.AmericanGrandJury.org, to do your part as a Jurist on a People’s Common-Law Grand Jury – the Constitutional way for We The People to Take Our Country Back!

(Veterans Journal)

Imagine that, President Obama finally kept one of his promises!  See he promised his wife that after the campaign was over he would take her to see a show on Broadway, so he did.  The problem is that in this time of “Economic Crisis” when President Obama is telling “We The People” that we may need to tighten our belts a notch or two he flies to New York in “Scare Force One” where he hops into Marine One for a quick trip from JFK to Manhattan.  Then a quick drive to dinner, shutting down New York streets, and then off to see a show shutting down more streets.

ALL ON YOUR DIME!!!  Isn’t Date Nite funner when someone else pays for it??!! (And yes I know the grammering ain’t quite right)

GOP takes aim at Obamas’ NYC trip
By: Politico Staff
May 30, 2009 05:44 PM EST
 
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama landed in New York Saturday afternoon, and after taking a helicopter from JFK into Manhattan, drove up the West Side Highway, where the northbound lanes were shut down by police for their visit, past Ground Zero, into the Village for dinner at the Village’s Blue Hill restaurant. From there, they went north to Times Square, where they went to to see a production of “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” at the Belasco Theater on West 44 Street.

Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest read a statement from Obama: “I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished.”

Asked about the cost of the trip, which Republicans have criticized as indulgent, coming just ahead of the expected announcement of GM’s bankruptcy filing on Monday, Josh Earnest told pool reporter Dave Michaels of the Dallas Morning News, that he “didn’t anticipate being able to provide a cost estimate tonight.”

After the play let out at about 11:30 p.m., the presidential motorcade went down Sixth Avenue, shut down by the NYPD, and onlookers packed onto the East side of the street cheered as the presidential motorcade passed as the Obamas headed back to JFK for a return flight to Washington.

The Republican National Committee slammed the outing in an “RNC Research Piece”: “As President Obama prepares to wing into Manhattan’s theater district on Air Force One to take in a Broadway show, GM is preparing to file bankruptcy and families across America continue to struggle to pay their bills. … Have a great Saturday evening – even if you’re not jetting off somewhere at taxpayer expense. … PUTTING ON A SHOW: Obamas Wing Into The City For An Evening Out While Another Iconic American Company Prepares For Bankruptcy.”

The RNC’s Gail Gitcho added: “If President Obama wants to go to the theater, isn’t the Presidential box at the Kennedy Center good enough?”

The president traveled in a smaller, Gulfstream-type plane rather than the larger planes typically used as Air Force One. Two other planes carried staff and reporters.

Battleground Virginia
Submit your questions for Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
Here are Dave Michaels’ pool reports to the White House press corps:

“We touched down at JFK International Airport about 4:35 p.m. in the first plane of three. We held in helicopter for POTUS AND FLOTUS arrival at 4:43 p.m., which we witnessed through windows. We took off before Marine One and passed over the rooftops of Queens before turning south over the East River. Just after passing over the Brooklyn Bridge we landed at the downtown Manhattan Heliport, which I’m told is also called the Wall Street landing zone.

“The sky is clear and blue here, same weather as in Washington. No traffic on West Street as NYPD had cleared the road. Some observers watched for Marine One from a pier about 100 yards north. I could see ten or more NYPD motor jocks, a bunch of cruisers and a rather large RV-style van, perhaps a mobile command center.

“We headed north on West Street in vans and passed Ground Zero. Southbound traffic on the Westside Highway seemed light, but probably slowed down as the rubber necking began. We turned right on Clarkson Street and headed cross town. Plenty of pedestrians and diners at the trattoria checking us out.

 ”POTUS waved to enthusiastic watchers as his vehicle headed toward the Blue Hill restaurant on Washington Place.

From an earlier report from Michaels as the presidential party took off from Washington: “Three presidential helicopters descended on Andrews Air Force Base about 3:42 p.m. A group of about 20 people, a few members of the military wearing camouflage and what must have been their families, watched from a distance of 50 to 75 yards.

“Exactly five minutes later, President Obama and Michelle Obama stepped down from Marine One. POTUS was business casual, but very sharp, in a dark blue suit and black shoes. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top — no tie. Mrs. Obama wore a black cocktail dress and black heels. Her hair was up and she held a small blue purse, which I’m informed is called a clutch. They boarded a presidential Gulfstream 500 and we took off shortly before 4 p.m. en route to New York City, where the first couple is to have dinner and watch a play, ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ at the Belasco Theater. The name of the production is courtesy of the New York Daily News.
“The first couple has left the Blue Hill restaurant in the West Village and headed north of the Belasco Theater, arriving at 7:55 p.m..

“NYPD had blocked 6th Avenue for our motorcade to move north from the restaurant toward Midtown. Pedestrians lined both sides of the street, taking photos and waving behind metal barricades, as if we were part of a parade.

“A bit earlier, your pooler asked Josh Earnest, deputy press secretary, how much this trip costs taxpayers. He said other reporters had asked and he ‘didn’t anticipate being able to provide a cost estimate tonight.’”

High taxes chase away wealthy taxpayers

By | Thursday, May 28, 2009

American millionaires are voting with their feet – and their limos, yachts and private jets. As state governments seize the wealth of their most productive citizens to fund out-of-control spending, many targets of these predatory taxes are moving to safer harbors.

In Maryland, the number of high-income taxpayers has dropped by a third in the last year in the wake of a fleece-the-rich measure that raised state income taxes from 5.5 percent to 6.25 percent on the highest incomes. New York state’s new “millionaire tax,” a measure imposed to help underwrite 9 percent budget growth, was too much for billionaire Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano. He decamped to tax-free Florida, saving himself (and denying New York) $5 million a year.

Estate taxes also are driving out the rich, who naturally want to preserve the product of a lifetime of effort to pass on to their posterity. In Maryland, the estate tax kicks in at $1 million (as opposed to $3.5 million at the federal level), at a 16 percent rate. That’s in stark contrast to neighboring Virginia which has no estate taxes and a slightly lower income tax.

The states with a more accommodating attitude toward the wealthy are booming as the redistributive states stagnate. According to “Rich States, Poor States,” a new study by Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore and Jonathan Williams and published by the American Legislative Exchange Council, high income-tax states are losing to the low-tax states on most significant economic measures.

The study found that between 1997 and 2007, nine states without personal income taxes outperformed the nine states with the highest marginal personal income tax rates in economic growth (32 percent higher), personal income growth (32 percent higher), and population growth (more than 2 1/2 times greater).

Low-tax states created 89 percent more jobs, which makes intuitive sense, especially regarding new ventures. An entrepreneur who expects one day to be in the highest tax brackets is less likely to establish his enterprise in a state that will punish him for his success rather than one that will encourage him to flourish. Meanwhile, those who cannot escape the high tax states are left bearing a proportionately higher burden of paying for the bloated budgets passed by their shortsighted legislatures.

This movement of wealth away from redistributive states toward friendlier climes is an example of the genius of our federal system. The laboratory of democracy is working just as it should by providing diverse economic models that give choice to those with the means and motivation to relocate. If the District of Columbia believes it has a right to 8.5 percent of incomes above $40,000, and nearby Pennsylvania taxes at 3.07 percent, then we say vive le difference! If California imposes a 10.3 percent top marginal income tax rate and Washington state has none, Seattle looks all the more attractive.

Liberals and social activists in the high-tax states should be delighted by this development, since the absence of millionaires will significantly reduce the disparities between rich and poor in their states. It also will reduce revenue as those who pay the most taxes go elsewhere.

The wealthy pay an overwhelmingly disproportionate share of the total taxes in most states and across the nation generally. Rather than thanking them for the productive labor that has generated wealth, jobs and tax revenue, some states have decided that the overtaxed rich need to be taxed more. Consequently, the rich are doing what any rational person would do. They are leaving.

H/T to James Robbins (Washington Times)

This is from the North County Times on Monday, May 25th, 2009 in the Local Section, Page 4. At the beginning of their 3-page “A Tribute to Heroes” section.

Memorial Day is an American Holiday and Tribute for American Heroes who fought and died for AMERICA, or at least it was until today. Outrageous and insulting!

Simon Ortiz never served America nor our armed forces, but that didn’t stop the North County Times from including him with American Heroes on their Memorial Day tribute.

Please call and voice your opinion to the North County Times!
NC Times: 760-745-6611

I just received this email from a friend who called the NC Times…

“I just got off the phone with a guy that transferred me to the person he said was responsible for the Mexican CPL. being “honored” on Memorial day. He said her name is Melanie Grimsrude 760-739-6614. She had her v-mail on so I left a blistering message and I will follow up if she does not call me back. The other guy that transferred me said after a loud sigh, “Yes, I know all about it. I’ve received so many complaints I l lost count .” His number is 760-839-3323. Give him a call of complaint so he’ll have one more to add to his long list.”

We at Chandler’s Watch ask that you support this great Marine by coming and having dinner with him. If you are out of the San Diego area, then please buy his book if you haven’t already. It is a fantastic read.

Semper Fi!

VFW POST 3787 TO HOST BOOK SIGNING DINNER
AUTHOR, GUNNY SGT. NICK POPADITCH, HONORED GUEST

Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery
Click on the above URL to learn more about this local Marine, a recipient of the Silver Star.

Meet and greet Gunny Popaditch and his family at a special Book Signing Dinner.

Friday June 12, 2009 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Presented by VFW Post 3787 Men’s Auxiliary
VFW Post 3787 Mission Valley
4370 Twain Avenue
San Diego, CA 92120

RESERVATIONS PLEASE, 619.281.0137

Dinner Tickets, $8.00 in advance available at the Bar
$10.00 day of dinner

Enjoy this very special event
MENU

Baby Back Ribs
Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes
Candied Carrots
Dinner Rolls
A Very Special Dessert

In America We Thank Our Troops Past and Present
H/T to Bob Zimmerman of We Thank Our Troops

INDUSTRY – Officials from several area restaurants have made citizen’s arrests on 27 day laborers at the Home Depot on Gale Avenue in Industry, authorities said Thursday.

Day laborers look for work at the Industry Home Depot on Gale Avenue May 28, 2009. The day before police arrested 27 men seeking work on the site. (SGVN/Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb)

Officials from businesses near the Home Depot at Gale and Fullerton Road near Rowland Heights recently complained that laborers were urinating in public and harassing customers in the parking lot.

On Tuesday, deputies warned the laborers to stay on public property. Then on Wednesday, citizens acted as witnesses and had 27 men arrested for trespassing by sheriff’s deputies, said Lt. John McBride of the sheriff’s Industry Station.

In the case of a misdemeanor, officers or deputies cannot make an arrest if the act is not done in his or her presence – with the exception of drunk driving.

During a citizen’s arrest, a private person who witnessed the alleged crime fills out a form testifying to what he or she saw, and an officer or deputy detains the person on the witness’ behalf.

Lt. Jim Wolak said deputies haven’t had problems in the past. But issues have recently been cropping up.

“We may possibly follow the lead of some other cities and put in (an area) to have them stay in an organized fashion,” said Wolak. “Of course, there are lots of politics involved in that.”

Sheriff’s officials wouldn’t release the names of the those who made the citizen’s arrests, saying the matter was still being investigated.

The General Manager of Frisco’s Diner denied being one of the restaurants involved in the citizen’s arrest, but he said people from his store have complained about day laborers.

“They are kind of an eyesore in front of our business,” said General Manager Frank Millan. “I have customers that are sometimes afraid to go out to their cars because (laborers) are surrounding the area. It is bad for all businesses around here.”

He wasn’t surprised when many of the day laborers returned Thursday.

“Tough times right now,” he said. “People need to work.”
Marcos Estrada has been looking for work every day at a spot outside a Home Depot in Industry for seven years.

In that time, the 52-year-old La Puente resident only remembers one instance where police have come to the area – and that was an immigration raid.

“Yesterday, the sheriff’s said no more people here, too many problems,” said Estrada, who was not arrested.

Estrada was back Thursday, standing in the parking lot of a Del Taco across the street. Laborers are allowed to look for work as long as they stay behind a fence that marks private property. On Thursday, many failed to stay behind the fence.

Loyda Alvarado, an organizer with day labor advocacy group the National Day labor Organizing Network, said sheriff’s officials were eager to work with them toward a solution.

“With what is happening in Industry, it is important and essential that we sit down with the different parts of the community so we can come up with a way to collaborate and coexist,” Alvarado said.

By Daniel Tedford, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/28/2009 04:33:16 PM PDT
daniel.tedford@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2730

(SGVTribune.com)

Tonight we are going to be talking about GM (Government Motors).  And we are not just going to be talking about General Motors, Chrysler is in bed with the Feds too!!

I met some brother veterans at the Memorial Day Parade in DC last week that survived the barracks bombing of Beirut. They have asked us at CW for help. I am putting it out to all of you (our readers and listeners) to come to their assistance. Read below for how you can help. Thank you and Semper Fi!!

Starting with the support from two Gold Star Mothers, the Beirut Veterans and Family Members have been seeking a commemorative USPS Postage Stamp for the past 20+ years to no avail. The most recent decision by the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee states

“The Committee cited its longstanding general policy of not honoring the victims of tragic situations, including natural disasters, acts of violence, and catastrophes.”

Yet every war memorial – each one known for its tragedies and acts of violence – on the National Mall in Washington, DC has a commemorative USPS Stamp.

The Beirut Memorial in Jacksonville, NC has nothing. They were simply the first strike in the current war on terror.

The Beirut Memorial is the site of a remembrance ceremony every October 23rd, commemorating the Beirut bombing, and during the year countless enlistment and re-enlistment ceremonies and a popular tourist/reunion stop for the Camp LeJeune military/veterans community. Much like the same current happenings on the Mall in Washington, DC.

There is even a website set up, www.BeirutStamp.com, for the general public to sign an online petition and show support for this stamp. To date, there are 14,666 signatures. The website has a vast history of the mission and role of the Peacekeeper while serving in Beirut.

What we are asking from you is for some much needed daylight on this worthwhile human interest story. We will be re-applying this fall (rebutting the last verdict) with the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee and hope we can get support from the American public on our side with this final attempt at a USPS commemorative stamp.

A Call To Action…

You probably heard about the guy in Louisiana a few weeks ago who was detained on the highway for a half hour because of his yellow ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ bumper sticker on his car. You probably thought, like I did, that that may have been just an isolated incident “down south”. Well, we were wrong.

On Saturday afternoon, May 9th, Jim Betz, a Patriot and border watch volunteer pulled into the Golden Acorn Casino parking lot to get gas. The Casino complex is about 7 miles north of the border in East San Diego County. Jim and his wife had just exited I-8 after a long drive down from Oceanside. As he was exiting the parking lot about 10 minutes later to head down to the border, he passed a stationary sheriffs car just off the casino property and stopped at a stop sign right in front of him. Jim sat at the stop sign for about 20 seconds until all the cross traffic had cleared. During those 20 seconds or so, the deputy had a clear, close view of the back of Jim’s old Ford Bronco (see pic below). As Jim proceeded through the intersection and down Church Rd. towards the border, he noticed the sheriff was following him down the two lane road. Sure enough, about 30 seconds later, Jim saw flashing lights in his rearview mirror and pulled over. Jim had violated no traffic laws and done nothing wrong, so he couldn’t imagine why this cop had followed him and pulled him over. The deputy told Jim he had pulled him over and was citing him for not having a front license plate – an almost unheard of excuse for a traffic stop in California. As Deputy Hobson went to the back of Jim’s Bronco, Jim and his wife noticed he was back there for quite a while and seemed to be writing a lot on his pad. Jim could see that he was not even looking down at his license plate. He was writing down all the wording on his 4 bumper stickers on a separate pad of paper! When the deputy came back with the ticket (below), Jim asked him why he was writing down his bumber stickers. The deputy denied doing that, gave him his ticket, and left. This is the first time Jim’s story of these events have been told, but they need to get out to good media and politicians. This should not be happening in a free country!

I spoke to Carl Braun recently and he said his volunteers have been getting pulled over a lot the past 4-6 months by other deputies for no apparent reason. One border watcher was pulled over 3 times in one weekend, for no reason!

It appears that the sheriffs in East County are using the recent heightened border security to stop and harass obvious American citizens and border watchers who come down there to help the Border Patrol and local residents guard their property from violent smugglers. Add to this the recent DHS report identifying American Patriots as potential terrorists and you can see things appear to be out of control out there. Complaints have been filed with the sheriffs and border patrol, but so far, the illegal traffic stops have continued. Time to get the County Supervisors involved and get Sheriff Kolender’s vigilante cops under control. If you are hassled at all out there, let us know immediately and we’ll help you file civil rights complaints and possibly lawsuits. Increased border security and law enforcement is great and long overdue out in this high traffic area; but targeting and harassing law-abiding American Patriots is not permitted and will not be tolerated.

Kolender has a history of not following the laws of his own land. He recently was reelected to Sheriff of San Diego County. He just announced a couple of weeks ago that we would be resigning in July and asked the County Supervisors to appoint a replacement. His replacement was slated to be Bill Gore. It has come out recently that he was resigning on purpose to get Gore appointed. That means that he ran for Sheriff knowing that he would ultimately resign. I can not think of anything more treasonous than what Kolender has done. He basically bypassed the voters and allowed his hand picked successor to take his spot. As you all know, it is really difficult to beat an incumbent. That is exactly the advantage Kolender was trying to hand to Gore.

We are going to have Jay La Suer, candidate for San Diego Sheriff on the show soon to talk about all of the latest developments. In the meantime, call Kolender’s office and let him know what you think of officers stopping American patriots to document their bumper stickers.

Sheriff Bill Kolender: 858-974-2222

H/T to SDMM

‘Tea’ Author Speaks to NC Special Op Marines
by KEVIN MAURER – Associated Press Writer 

"In many ways, the military is ahead of the Department of State in setting standards to build relationships with the good people of Afghanistan," Mortenson said.

 CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Special operations Marines trained to infiltrate enemy lines and kill Taliban fighters spent Thursday morning with a man known for winning allies in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan one cup of tea at a time.

Nobel Prize nominee and New York Times best-selling author Greg Mortenson spoke with the Marines Corps Special Operations Command here about building relationships as a part of an overall strategic plan in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mortenson, 51, has been nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for his work in building schools in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. His book, “Three Cups of Tea,” has been on the New York Times best-seller list for 112 weeks.

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Tenn.: Coal ash spill toxin levels in fish safe   “In many ways, the military is ahead of the Department of State in setting standards to build relationships with the good people of Afghanistan,” Mortenson said.

He said the military is no longer focused solely on firepower, but meeting with tribal elders and understanding culture.

“Within the military over the last three years, there has been a huge learning curve. Instead of firepower, I call it brain power,” he said. “We can drop bombs or build roads or put in electricity, but unless girls are educated, society won’t change.” His book title stems from a cultural observation about central Asia: “First cup you’re a stranger, the second cup a guest. On the third cup you become family.”

Mortenson, an Army veteran who grew up in Tanzania, spoke for more than an hour to about 600 Marines.

His book is required reading for the Marines Corps Special Operations Command, officers in the Norwegian War College and for some U.S. Special Forces deploying to Afghanistan. Mortenson has met several top U.S. military commanders, including General David Petraeus, and has briefed officers and staff in the Pentagon several times about his experiences.

Maj. Gen. Mastin M. Robeson, commanding general of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command, invited Mortenson to Camp Lejeune after hearing him speak. He wanted his Marines to hear Mortenson’s message on the importance of building relationships and understanding culture, saying it can be applied all over the world, not just in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Understanding culture is the difference between average and greatness,” the general said.

Numbering about 2,100 Marines, the special operations command was established in 2006 as the Marines’ counterpart to the Navy SEALS, Air Force Air Commandos and Army Green Berets. It provides a “a sea-based special operations force” to commanders.

Mortenson is co-founder of the nonprofit Central Asia Institute and Pennies For Peace. After his sister died of a seizure, he set out to climb the world’s second highest mountain, Pakistan’s K2, in her honor. While in a nearby village, he saw that the children had no school. Since then, he has dedicated his life to building schools and spreading literacy in the most remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

As of 2008, his charity had built 78 schools which educate more than 30,000 children, including 22,000 girls. In March, he received Pakistan’s highest civil award, Sitara-e-Pakistan (“Star of Pakistan”), for 16 years of humanitarian work in rural villages promoting education and literacy.

His work has not been without risk. In 1996, he was kidnapped for eight days by the Taliban. He has also survived fire fights between feuding Afghan warlords. The CIA has also investigated him.

Mortenson lives in Montana with his wife and two children and is working on a sequel to ‘Three Cups of Tea,” which will focus on the last five years of work in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He also plans to raise more money and build more schools.

“We need to look in terms of generations and how things can change,” he said. “We have to be optimistic and have hope.”

Iraqi Police in Mosul Take Operations to a Whole New Level     
Friday, 29 May 2009 
MOSUL — Iraqi Police gathered with their counterparts from the Iraqi National Police and Iraqi Army at the 3rd Iraqi Police Division’s new operations center for a situational update briefing on the morning of May 26.

The IP realized they could leverage significant operational gains with their own operations center to conduct mission planning and tracking, while working with key personnel from the Iraqi Army and Iraqi National Police.

“[The Iraqi Police] recognize that they need to work together with the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi National Police. To do that, they needed a functional operations center from which they could conduct operations,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gene Harding, intelligence team leader for the 3rd IP Div. National Police Transition Team.

The operations center is outfitted with work areas for liaisons from the Iraqi Army and Iraqi National Police as well as personnel for key functional areas such as intelligence and communications. This has given Iraqi Security Forces a unified front for security in Mosul.

“Now that they have a place where they can come together, they are coming together,” said Harding. “They are able to plan and coordinate with each other because they are all right there together.”

Since the center began full-scale operations on May 20, mission coordination has reaped rewards for the ISF. According to Harding, in the last week one mission resulted in the capture of a suspected insurgent and another uncovered a large weapons cache.

The IP’s designed, coordinated key pieces, and built the operations center to their specifications.

“They’ve taken ownership of this since inception. This is 100 percent their operations center,” said Harding. “They took ideas from one of our operations centers and made it their own.”

Lateaf stated that the operations center will become pivotal for the Iraqi Security Forces as Coalition forces reposition in accordance with the security agreement. Now that he has a base of operations, Lateaf is continually looking for ways to improve the operations center and the resources it provides.

“[The operations center] is not perfect yet, but we are developing it every day,” said Lateaf. “Each day we will continue to improve on our operations and be more successful. This is just the beginning.”

(Multi-National Division – North)