Ogre's Politics & Views

February 20, 2007

New Advertiser

Say hello to this week's new renter, The Screaming Pages. The link will remain up all week, over on the top of the left side of the main page. Look for the little brown square if you don't have time today to head on over. Then again, what else did you really have to do?

The blog is about world exploration, I think. There's lots of personal information about the author's travels, including current travels to Manila and India. So head on over and see what's going on in one person's world.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:07 PM | Comments (654) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Welcome to Conservatism

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be very liberal and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA." The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to Conservatism."

(H/T to Raven).

Posted by: Ogre at 06:03 PM | Comments (25) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Fetus Survives

Hang Right Politics has the story (as does Fox News) about the Fetus that lived. Now Fox News reports just the facts: that the baby was just 22 weeks old, and that that baby survived and had some health problems as it was premature.

However, Right Politics goes into a little more detail and analysis: How Amillia Taylor, according to nationalized abortion laws, is actually little more than a clumb of cells, or a fetus. I'm not quite sure if it's actually illegal for a doctor to now, today, suck this child's brains out. Because, after all, this fetus hasn't gone the official, legal, 38-40 weeks of gestation, so she's apparently eligible for aborting under the law.

Can we finally NOW change the laws? Can we invalidate Roe v. Wade, now realizing that the decision was based on faulty science? Can we finally legally recognize that these are living, breathing humans that are being killed? We certainly should.

(H/T to Cathouse Chat (which is not as dirty as it sounds)).

Posted by: Ogre at 04:02 PM | Comments (738) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Gays Oppose Freedom of Choice

The gay lobby again rears it's ugly head in STRONG opposition to people having any freedom. This time, they're opposed to gay people being allowed the freedom to no longer be gay. Seriously. Once you're in their "gay club," you are NOT allowed to leave, ever.

A person wanted to talk to gay people. These gay people wanted to attend and listen to this person of their own free will. No one was forced to go anywhere. It just so happened that this person wanted to talk to the gay people (who were attending of their own free will) about overcoming homosexuality. The gay lobby simply could not stand for that sort of freedom of speech. So they protested the freedom.

Once again, understand the purpose of the gay movement today. It is NOT to allow gays to be gay. Instead, it is to force everyone else to not only accept them and being gay, but to offer full, complete, and unconditional approval of their lifestyle. If you, even just in your heart, having any feeling that gay is wrong, then you are strongly opposed by today's gay lobby. They don't want permission, they want total approval -- and that requires the destruction of freedom of speech. But they don't care.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:06 PM | Comments (567) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Jessica's Law in NC

North Carolina still does not have strong enough laws for the punishment, for the crime of molestation to minors. Many offenders are moving to states that have ineffective laws. North Carolina has many sex offenders, who have fallen thought the cracks. By changing their identity and not re-registering once moved, these offenders manipulate the system. Presently, our state is failing protect our children and we have seen a rise in sexual crimes.

Individuals that commit sexual crimes against children need to be stopped. These individuals need incarceration or strict comprehensive monitoring.

Often, administration has failed to let law enforcement know of the placement of paroled sex offenders in their communities. Allowing violent sex offenders to go free and not providing mandatory hearings, stricter penalties for non-compliances. Has allowed dangerous parolees to remain free, even after they violated parole.

We hope that North Carolina lawmakers will take a stand for tougher laws against child predators. This past year, we voiced our outraged to North Carolina lawmakers for failing to provide stricter laws against sex offenders.

Various representatives have contacted us and were disgusted with the lack of support by former North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black, as well as, the compromises North Carolina General Assembly made.

Sadly, the petitions regarding Jessica's Law never made it to the North Carolina General Assembly last year. We hope that things will be different this year and the North Carolina General Assembly will see a petition this year.

Remember, North Carolina General Assembly our children should not be viewed as Democratic or Republican issues this is a human safety issue. Please do not allow politics and compromise to get in the way of protecting our families.

Even our State Attorney General Roy Cooper realizes North Carolina laws are lenient on such matters. We are grateful for his public stand on calling for harsher laws on sex offenders.

Jessica Lunsford was taken from her home sexually assaulted and murdered by a convicted sex offender that was just released from prison. This 9-year-old girl could have been your daughters, just imagine the anguish a parent would have to live with. Sexual predators are always looking for their next victim. Psychological damage inflicted on defenseless child lasts a lifetime!

The following article, Why Jessicas Law Failed In North Carolina" by Mark A. Palmer, in July 2006 gives in depth look on how North Carolina General Assembly and North Carolina Governor Mike Easley failed to fully pass Jessicas Law. House Bill 1921 fully passed would have brought stricter sentencing and guidelines for North Carolina Sex Offenders.


"Why Jessicas Law Failed In North Carolina"

By: Mark A. Palmer July 2006


Taking Back Charlotte Mecklenburg contacted our city, county, and state leaders, to help make a difference with stronger laws regarding sex offenders. In the past year, we have gone rounds with Speaker Jim Black, Rep. Rick Glazier, Rep. Karen Ray, and Rep. Jennifer Weiss over Jessicas Law. The bill they supported was nothing like Jessicas law and it was not strict enough on sex offenders.

Representative Julia C. Howard presented Bill 1921 that is more demanding on sexual offenders and a stronger version of Jessicas Law that would have mandatory sentencing, higher registration requirements, as well as a GPS monitoring of sexual offenders. This would have help provide crucial information for school officials and law enforcement. Arming the judicial system with the ability to give harsher sentences to sex offenders, those repeats offend, thus protecting the public.

Bill 1921 has many of the items listed, that are not registration changes, but affect other areas of substantive law.
Seems that various parties would not allow HB 1921 be heard or be known about in the 2006 session. Representative Jennifer Weiss would not take a stand and push Speaker Black to enact. Representative Jennifer Weiss felt fitting- in and playing the game is more important than dealing with sex offenders and protecting the welfare of our children. Our government officials need to remember that our children are not Democrats or Republicans they are just children!

Our group has heard the political crap and excuses: State Budget, Party Issue, having to get along and try each year, the list goes on. They compromise, to get a weaker bill passed taking the parts of a bill that is popular and disregard the part that has teeth. Raleigh cannot pass a law as weak as this and expect it to be effective. We found out the truth, Speaker Black and various parties are very liberal on crime of any kind, they rather just band-aid problem. They do not want to deal with costs of additional prisons as well as train personnel to task force this issue. They have a self-agenda for their gain and our children do not matter them, it isnt cost effective.

Residential Restrictions:

The Bill originally said, Prohibits a registered sex offender from residing within 1,000 feet of a public, private, or parochial school, a childcare center, or a public swimming pool. The bill would grandfather offenders who have established a residence prior to December 1, 2006 . It also provides that changes in the ownership or use of property that occur after an offender establishes residency shall not be the basis for a violation of the residency restrictions.

Bill 1896 that passed said, Creates a new Class G felony for a person who is registered or required to register to knowingly reside within thousand feet of a public or nonpublic school or childcare center. Persons who have established a residence prior to the effective date of the act are grandfathered.

What happen to swimming pools that first version said? Why were parks not listed as well? Locations like pools and parks have been prime areas that children have encountered sex offenders. For a sex offender to live by a school, daycare, swimming pool well as a park is dangerous. Known sex offenders have admitted to this. For a sex offender be allowed live by children is like AA meeting in a bar.

Following quotes are from Mike Baker of Associated Press article, "Legislature gives final approval to sex offender restrictions."

Rep. Bruce Goforth, (D-Buncombe) bills sponsor said, Sex offenders that already live thousand feet of a school or daycare will not be forced to move but may have to changed jobs.

Rep. Rick Glazier, (D-Cumberland) said, "This is probably one of the most comprehensive reforms in the country," well as "This bill truly incorporates the best that we were able to find in states that have dealt with this issue.

Rep. Karen Ray, (R-Iredell) said, "We have no tolerance for the people trying to harm the children of North Carolina ,"

Representatives quotes show their self-aggrandizing and again nothing is truly done, except posturing. I have seen people on crack that have more common sense!

Using the name, Jessicas Law was a disgrace to Jessica Lunsfords memory. Since the bill does not hold same striations as Jessicas Law. For political reasons, the Senate pushed a bill using the name Jessicas Law. Bill 1896, which North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed, had a name changed because it did not measure up to the true striations of Jessicas Law.

Jessicas Law came from Jessica Lunsford the 9-year-old girl that was sexually abused, kidnapped, and buried alive in Florida . Jessica Lunsford came from Gaston County , N.C. , before moving to Florida . Many states have strengthened their sex offender laws like Florida and South Carolina , it is sad that North Carolina could not join in.

Lacks of North Carolina House Bill 1896:

To increase the penalty for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child to life in prison or a split sentence of a mandatory minimum 25-year prison term, followed by lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring.

Sexual predators that murder their victims now qualify for the death penalty in capital cases.

All sex offenders would serve their entire sentence without early parole.

Failing to re-register as a sexual offender, predator, harboring well as assisting a sexual predator offender become a third degree felony.

Require all county misdemeanor probation officials to search the sexual offender registry when a new offender is assigned to them.

North Carolina State Education Department well as FBI becomes aware of all sex offenders well as any questionable reported behavior towards children.

Close any loopholes in North Carolina laws or one-strike laws.

A sex offender past or present not allowed dwell / living near school, park, pool.

Create a two thousand foot predator-free zone around schools, parks, and pools to prevent sex offenders from being near where our children learn and play.

What has happen in our State? It is a disgrace not to protect our children. The compromising actions by our state legislation for sex offenders have sickened thousand of us. Our local, state leaders could have made a stand but they chose not to. Parents wanted the full force of Jessicas Law. While some will say, We have made a crack down on sex offenders, children that are abused would say, It was compromised and made ineffective.

Terri Roseberry, who said her daughter was sexually abused by a relative at the age of six, had been advocating for the full Jessica's Law.

"But this final version isn't anywhere close to Jessica's Law and the changes were just a minor victory," Roseberry said. "If we had mandatory 25-year sentences, my daughter would not be a sexual abuse victim."

"This is a whole lot short of the actual Jessica's Law," said Rep. Russell Capps, R-Wake, who has pushed for stiff sex offender restrictions. "This is a step, but it's a very small step toward solving a big problem."

I see some improvements still not enough looking at the new sex offender bill that passed one can see lack of sentencing and relax requirements, said 20-year veteran officer.

Solutions Presently:

Over past years, I have given time to push for tougher laws on sex offenders. Personally, I have worked with sexually abused children and have seen the effects. Words cannot even begin to describe seeing the rape of childs innocent soul. The soul is amputated and takes a lifetime, to repair, if ever.

Governor Mike Easley with North Carolina General Assembly showed their liberal mindlessness when came to our childrens safety. State Officials, City, County, and our Schools fall short of providing safe environment with effective laws protecting our children. We need to remind our state leadership, No Compromise for sex offenders.

Help turn this around and make the needed changes, please contact your State Representatives well as the Governors Office. Let Governor Mike Easley and General Assembly members know, if this travesty is not corrected, you will support someone that will.

Governor Michael F. Easley (919) 733-4240
North Carolina General Assembly (919) 733-7928

Thank You,

S. Peabody
Mark A. Palmer
Take Back Charlotte Mecklenburg
takebackcharlottemecklenburg@yahoo.com

Posted by: Ogre at 12:15 PM | Comments (211) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

February 19, 2007

The Border Patrol Case: Who's Pulling The Strings?

By Heidi Thiess of Euphoric Reality

Mexico.

That's who.

Yes, you read that right. The latest information has uncovered the undue political pressure that Mexico put on our government, and how the White House easily caved. They didn't even ask questions it seems. Here's what happened:

After Aldrete-Davila was shot, he complained to someone who brought the "crime" to light (not his mommy, as Sutton has previously told us). That person contacted the Mexican government, which is currently in overdrive trying to portray a situation wherein the poor downtrodden people of Mexico are being brutally shot by cruel, evil Americans at the border - when all they want is a better life for their families. Wah. The Mexican government, seeing a golden opportunity to bring some pressure to bear upon the big, mean U.S. Border Patrol, immediately mobilized their diplomats to exert pressure on the American Consulate in Mexico City. The Consulate, in turn, contacted the State Department, who then informed the President. With me so far?

Bush then called in the Department of Justice and his old Texas buddy, the Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales. Alberto Gonzales called in his hired gun, Johnny Sutton, who then crafted a prosecution virtually from thin air. Sutton's agenda was furthered immeasurably by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof, who has previously shown no compunction about fabricating fraudulent cases, lying and suborning testimony in her cases, and manipulating the media. Kanof has played an integral part in undermining the integrity and fairness of the criminal proceedings in multiple cases, the most prominent being the Border Patrol case. And she has done so with impunity, under the direction of Johnny Sutton.

We were lied to (surprise, surprise) when we were told that the only reason this case came to light is because DHS uncovered evidence that Ramos and Compean tried to "cover up" their "crime". That, as we now know, is a lie. What really happened is that the White House is kowtowing to political pressure from Mexico, no doubt aided by Bush's own personal agenda to erase the border. This rotten, trumped-up case against Ramos and Compean goes all the way to highest levels of our American government. Donald Collins ventures to say that this case has all the potential of Watergateto bring down this Administration. I agree.

Why would there be pressure from Mexico to prosecute two distinguished Border Patrol agents long after they had tried to apprehend a fleeing drug dealerwhom they shot and wounded but who escaped, leaving his drug swag behind?

This story is just breaking and will doubtless be subject to amplification. But

In an interview with Grassfire.org's Steve Elliott (see audio above, transcript below), Corsi explained that no action was taken for days following the incident at the border. In fact the agents' actions were considered normal and the reporting acceptable until Mexico intervened. Says Corsi, Then on March 4, 2005 the request came through from the Mexican Consulate to the U.S. consulate in Mexico demanding an investigation on the basis that the Mexican Consulate was bringing forth Davila and wanted the agents to be punished. [ Mexican Government Involved In Initiation Of Prosecution Of Agents Ramos And Compean]

Could this be another example of the Committee to Re-Elect the President? Remember how then Attorney General John Mitchell used the money raised by this committee as hush money for the burglars? The famous duo of Woodward and Bernstein then followed the money to bring down a Presidency!

What Corsi is saying suggests the same thing. Follow the moneythe big money which big business has paid to keep our borders open--because the apparent motivation for this outrageous prosecution of these two Border Patrol agents is to intimidate all our Border Patrol agents from apprehending these illegal crossers. Obviously, Bush wants an open border, as does Mexico. [See Mexico demanded U.S. prosecute sheriff, agents| Documents show role of consulate in cases of Gilmer Hernandez and Ramos-Compean, WorldNetDaily.com, By Jerome R. Corsi, February 13, 2007]

Meanwhile, the mysteriously unavailable transcripts are starting to come out. The official transcripts are here, and LoneWacko has wisely cached them, in case they mysteriously go "missing". Lou Dobbs' staff, of CNN, has begun the arduous task of sifting through 3000 pages of documents, and it's becoming very clear why the prosecution, together with a complicit court-room judge, have worked so long and hard to suppress these transcripts:

The nearly 3,000 pages of transcripts in the Ramos and Compean case show that even before the trial started, several key rulings went against the Border Patrol agents. For example, defense attorneys wanted to be able to talk about how dangerous the border region is where the agents encountered the illegal alien drug smuggler. Its an area, of course, with a well-documented history of violent confrontations between drug cartels and law enforcement.

But prosecutors objected to that. And the judge agreed. She ordered defense attorneys to refrain from any mention of what she called the alleged dangerousness of the border between the United States and Mexico.

Another passage shows just how eager prosecutors were to grant immunity to Mexican drug smuggler Oscar Aldrete-Davila and throw the book at the Border Patrol agents. Assistant U.S. attorney Debra Kanof said to the judge, we basically had to beg him. He didnt want to come and talk to us about this. And so we basically gave him blanket immunity for any drug or immigration crime that he might have been committing on that day.

Agent Compeans defense attorney pointed out how the government could have sought up to 40 years in prison for the drug smuggler. And an attorney for Agent Ramos said the drug smuggler could be prosecuted for possession of some 700 pounds of marijuana, for smuggling it into the country, for illegally entering the United States. All of these actions are actions which the government apparently has chosen to forgive in order to obtain his testimony against these defendants, the agents.

In fact, prosecutors sought to prevent defense attorneys from even disclosing that Aldrete-Davila was transporting 750 pounds of marijuana when he encountered the Border Patrol agents. The judge did allow those facts into evidence, but only on a limited basis.

Also, if case this case doesn't make you sick enough, go read about one of Johnny Sutton's other victims.

I asked the other day, who was paying Johnny Sutton to set-up our law enforcement officers in total crap cases? I thought maybe the drug cartels were paying him off, or maybe the Mexican government, since they're always meddling in our national affairs. I knew this case smelled bad, but the stench of corruption goes all the way up to the White House. When I started covering this case back in August, I never dreamed the Bush administration was behind it all, driving the corruption in West Texas courts, where dirty attorneys collude with the worst criminal element in Mexico to attack American citizens! This is a betrayal of the worst kind.


This has been a production of the Guard the Borders syndicate. It was started by Euphoric Reality to educate the public about the vulnerabilities of our open borders during an age of global terrorism and the resultant threat to our national security and sovereignty. If you are concerned about the lapses in our national security and the socio-economic burden of unchecked illegal immigration, join our blog syndicate. Send an email with your blog name and url to admin at guardtheborders dot com.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:01 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

McCain 2008

Another perennial candidate has changed his position for this election to attempt to collect some votes. And in doing so, John McCain has decided that he can win without any Democrat votes.

You see, McCain came out and said that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. That's a litmus test for Democrats -- you're not allowed in the party if you oppose abortion in any way at any time. Not one party-line Democrat will dare to vote for McCain now.

Even more interesting, McCain didn't say WHY he thought it should be overturned. It would be interesting to know if he thinks it should be overturned because murdering innocent babies is wrong, or if it's because the federal government doesn't actually have the right to overrule states on such matters (well, according to the Constitution, even if not according to the judicial branch).

Posted by: Ogre at 04:13 PM | Comments (21) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Rudy 2008?

rudy911.jpgWell, that's pretty much his platform, isn't it? What else does he stand for? Does anyone have a clue?

He believes that by ignoring the 2nd amendment and banning guns, that crime decreases. He believes that increasing school funding increases education. He believes that "one of the most important responsibilities of government" is government taking care of children -- instead of parents.

Tell me why he's running on the Republican ticket? Oh, because he reduces taxes and cut the government payroll. While I completely support those two positions, the pile of anti-freedom positions far outweigh the benefits of the two pro-freedom positions. Me? I'm still with Tom Tancredo.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:01 PM | Comments (21) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Happy President's Day!

Today is a national holiday here in the states. The banks and the government are closed, as are most of the school systems. It is supposed to be a day to remember our great presidents. This used to be one of two holidays designed to remember specific presidents: Washington and Lincoln. But the lazy decided they wanted more holidays and days off, and they wanted to add Martin Luther King, Jr. to the list of excuses for days off. But when they did so, that made too many days off, so they combined Lincoln's birthday and Washington's birthday into President's Day. So now we have to honor all the crappy presidents along with absolutely great ones like Washington and Lincoln. Soon, I'm sure, someone will be offended by this day off, and they'll demand it be replaced by some other made-up holiday (like Kwanza) or something.

Oh well. Such is today's society -- political correctness does rule, no matter how wrong it might be.

So, with at least 100 candidates announced, what is it you want to see in your next president? Don't limit yourself to the actual announced candidates -- other than yourself, who do you think would really do a good job? What do you think they should be capable of? What characteristics would you like to see in the next president of the United States?

Posted by: Ogre at 12:30 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

February 17, 2007

America Surrenders

demssurrender.jpgAs I'm sure you're well aware by now, the Democrats in Washington have made their first big, bold move of their new majority control: they've completely and utterly surrendered to terrorism. And yes, that means America has surrendered, because they ARE America, whether you and I want them to be or not.

Personally, I think every single Congressman who voted for the "nonbinding" resolution ought to be taken out and shot as traitors. Guess that's not going to happen, is it? It's not much of a surprise, as Democrats have been saying for years that they hate our troops and that they absolutely despise anything Bush does, even if it's good and right. Well, to be honest, they pretty much hate anything that's good, too, but now they just wanted to get it on record that they despise our military troops, too.

Sure, they claim they support the troops, but they're the same people who would pee on you and tell you it's raining. Sue Myrick, one of my favorite Republicans from NC is one of the very few people there who really understand what's going on in the world:

"I hope we are going to start acting as Americans, like the American people expect and want us to do! We must understand that we are fighting the first battles of a war against radical Islamist ideology that will be waged for the next 50, maybe 100 years. ... War is never easy, nor is it predictable.

"... It is downright irresponsible to tell our troops that we support you, but do not support the mission that you are fighting. What message does that send to our troops?"


That took some guts.

Mel Watt (D) said that he didn't think Saddam was such a bad guy and that we never should have bothered him AT ALL.

Keep ensuring those Democrats get elected. I'm sure the Muslim terrorists who have started this most recent religious crusade to take over the world are very happy that the American fighting force, the most formidable in the world, will not oppose their terrorist expansion network until after they have taken Europe and they start trying to take America directly.

Posted by: Ogre at 07:04 PM | Comments (94) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

ACLU & Homosexuals

Lawyers representing a Massachusetts school district named as a defendant in a parent's civil rights complaint have said teachers at Estabrook Elementary School have a "legitimate state interest" in teaching the homosexual lifestyle, and parents have no input into those decisions.

"of the people, by the people and for the people", taxpayers, aka parents "have no input into those decisions." The "State" no longer serves the people, the people serve the "State".

"A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society."
- Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and third U.S. president (1743-1826), in a letter to George Hammond, 1792

The arguments came in a recent hearing on the district's motion to dismiss the complaint filed by David Parker, a parent whose concern over the school's promotion of the homosexual agenda to grade-schoolers prompted a meeting with school officials, for which they had him arrested for trespassing.

According to a report from the activist group MassResistance.org, those arguments echoed the claims made earlier in the case when a brief in support of the school's position was filed by a collection of homosexual advocacy organizations.

"The state must fight 'discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation' in ways that 'do not perpetuate stereotypes,'" the lawyers for the school district argued. They also explained to the judge that, in their opinion, parents have no right to control what ideas the school presents to elementary schoolchildren, and if parents disagree with that dictate, they can take their children elsewhere.

"Once I have elected to send my child to public school, my fundamental right does not allow me to direct what my child is exposed to in the public school," said the school's lawyer.

Dozens of parents' rights supporters of the Parker family braved freezing temperatures to offer moral support to David Parker in the hearing on his case against school officials in Lexington, Mass.

Parker was represented by lawyers Jeffrey Denner, Robert Sinsheimer and Neil Tassel, who argued before Judge Mark Wolf that what the school calls "diversity training" more accurately would be called "indoctrination," since several viewpoints were absent from the school's presentations, and only the pro-homosexual position was present.

And lawyers said the school "ultimatum" to "remove yourself and go somewhere else" was vulgar.

"American values rely on religion. Religious rights trump the secular. Parents have the right to direct the moral upbringing of their children," said Sinsheimer. "It is the Constitution that protects the minority segment from the majority The Parkers choose to send their children to the Lexington Public Schools to be part of the fabric of the community."

The elementary curriculum promoting homosexuality, he said, was specifically intended to change a child's outlook of the world to something that his parents didn't teach him.

An ACLU lawyer, however, told the judge that "it is a tremendous bonus" for children to be given information of which their parents wouldn't approve, and that teaching children homosexuality when their parents' Biblical beliefs do not support that has nothing to do with a violation of religious freedom, according to the MassResistance.org reports.

"David Parker's dilemma threatens the parental rights and religious freedom of every Massachusetts parent, and indirectly every parent in America," said John Haskins of the Parents' Rights Coalition.

"As the Lexington schools themselves are arguing, the state's right to force pro-homosexuality indoctrination on other people's children arises directly from former Gov. Mitt Romney's nakedly false and unconstitutional declaration that homosexual marriage is now legal."

Haskins said when the Massachusetts state Supreme Court demanded homosexual marriages in the state, it didn't have the constitutional or legal authority to order the governor to act or to order the Legislature to make any changes.

Officials said Wolf usually announces a decision within several weeks of a hearing, and that's what is expected in this case. Parker's lawyers are scheduled to supplement their oral arguments with written briefs this week.

The brief filed earlier by the Human Rights Campaign, the ACLU, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders in support of the school's homosexual promotions said parental rights "have never meant that a parent can demand prior notice and the right to opt a child out of mere exposure to ideas in the public schools that a parent disapproves of."

Brian Camenker, a spokesman for MassResistance.org, said the high-profile groups must see Parker's claims "as quite a threat to their ability to push their message on children."

He said his organization, a "pro-family action center for Massachusetts" which equips citizens to fight attacks on freedoms, constitutional government, children and parental rights, can see the "true agenda" of the homosexual organizations in their demands.

Parker was arrested and jailed in Lexington in April 2005 over his request and the school's refusal to notify him when adults discuss homosexuality or transgenderism with his elementary-age son. The school took that position despite a state law requiring such notification.

Then in April 2006 the same school chose to present the same single-perspective information, and again refused to notify Parker, who followed with the federal civil rights lawsuit.

[snip]

The arguments on behalf of homosexuals were remarkably similar to a recent European court's conclusion.

The European Human Rights Court several months ago concluded in a case involving similar objections that parents do not have an "exclusive" right to lead their children's education and any parental "wish" to have their children grow up without adverse influences "could not take priority over compulsory school attendance."

That court said a German family had no right to provide homeschooling for their children. The family had argued the public school endangered their children's religion beliefs and violated the family's Christian faith.

Irrelevant, said the court. "The parents' right to education did not go as far as to deprive their children of that experience," it said.

"The (German) Federal Constitutional Court stressed the general interest of society to avoid the emergence of parallel societies based on separate philosophical convictions and the importance of integrating minorities into society," the European ruling said.

In Germany, the situation has continued to deteriorate for homeschoolers, with one 15-year-old student recently being taken into custody by a SWAT team and ordered by a judge to a psychiatric ward of a hospital because she was being homeschooled. WND's latest update on that situation has confirmed authorities now have removed the teen from the psych ward, and she has been taken to a location that is being withheld from her parents and lawyer.
We have listed the "Communist Goals" on this site several times in the past two years and this is a good time to repost two of them...

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com . You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 200 blogs already on-board.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:09 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Parents vs. Schools

" PARENTS VS. THE WAKE COUNTY (N.C.) PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

As parents of Wake County Public School students in North Carolina, we would like to inform you of a story that is worthy of national media attention. In August 2006, the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) announced plans to convert nearly 30 schools to a mandatory year-round, multi-track schedule to open up additional student seats for the countys growing population. Currently there are 16 elementary schools and 4 middle schools following a year-round, multi-track schedule in Wake County, nearly all of which have been, up until now, voluntary application schools.

After WCPSSs announcement in August, many families at the traditional calendar schools chosen by the WCPSS Board of Education to be converted to a year-round, multi-track schedule were very unhappy about being forced into a schedule that did not work for their families. Year-round multi-track schools operate on a 4-track schedule, through which each track of students is in session for 9 weeks, then on a break for 3 weeks throughout the entire year. At any given time throughout the year one track is on a track-out break, so year-round schools can typically hold more students than traditional schools.

The public outcry from parents opposing the mandatory year-round schedule was clear, loud and very strong. WCPSS Board Members and Office of Growth Management staff members began to receive letter after letter from parents who were unhappy with the proposalincluding parents of voluntary year-round students who believed school schedule should be chosen, not forced upon families.

The Bond Controversy

Leading up to August, WCPSS Board Members and Wake County Commissioners had been working together to create a Capital Improvement Plan for education needs throughout the county. This plan required the passage of a $970,000,000 bond referendum. The exact wording of the bond referendum as it appeared on the Wake County ballot Nov. 7, 2006 was as follows:

Shall the order authorizing up to $970,000,000 in General Obligation School Bonds of Wake County for financing, in whole or in part, the acquisition, construction and equipping of new school facilities and the improvement, renovation or expansion of existing school facilities in Wake County be approved?

There is no mention of the mandatory year-round conversions in the bond referendum, but in the Capital Improvement Plan explaining the use of the bond money, a portion of the bond had been designated to pay for the conversions. The public was made aware of this.

In an effort to sway voters to pass the $970 million bond, WCPSS Board Members and the Friends of Wake County or FOWC (Builders, bankers and other organizations that would financially benefit from the bonds passage) spent $500,000 on a marketing campaign to pass the bond that included the use of focus groups.

When the BOE made it clear to parents opposed to the mandatory year-round conversions that they would go forward with them anyway, those parents felt betrayed and pushed into a corner. Therefore, they did the only thing they could do: threaten to vote down the bond. They nearly succeeded: the bond barely passed, with 53 percent voting yes, and 47 percent voting no.

A Broken Promise

During the weeks leading up to the bond vote, WCPSS officials and FOWC members promised to consider alternatives to the mandatory year-round conversions, if only the voters would vote for the bond. Once it passed, there was no mention of looking at alternatives by those same WCPSS and FOWC officials. The BOE moved forward with their mandatory year-round conversion plan and in fact formally asked the Wake County Board of Commissioners to advance $282 million of the approved bond money to fund the following projects: construction of 17 new schools; land purchases for 13 schools; renovations at 13 schools; smaller repairs at 100 schools; the conversion of 22 schools to a year-round calendar; and the purchase of computers. (Source: News & Observer, Nov. 22, 2006).

Patti Head, chair of the Wake County BOE said the following regarding the advancement of funds: People said there are parts of the bond, and the capital improvement plan, that they may not like, but its for the good of the community. (Source: News & Observer, Nov. 22, 2006).

There are thousands of parents who still do not believe those parts of the bond are good for the community. Those parents are also still waiting for the promised alternatives the BOE and FOWC said they would consider.

Wake County Commissioners Respond

The public outcry against the mandatory year-round conversions grew louder and stronger. Parents began pleading with the BOE to abandon the policy. Still, the BOE did not listen and continued to move forward with the conversions. Parents had no alternative but to turn to the Wake County Commissioners, who control one-third of the countys education budget and have the power to delay the usage of funds contained within the bond package if they feel the taxpayers are opposed to it. Parents wrote letter upon letter requesting that the commissioners NOT advance the funds to the BOE for the mandatory year-round conversions.

On Monday, Jan. 8, four of the seven Commissioners proved they were listening to taxpayers and constituents by voting 4-3 to delay the release of funds supporting the mandatory year-round conversions. Following the lead of Commissioner Paul Coble, those four commissioners rewrote the $282 million spending plan and asked the BOE to build new schools faster instead of resorting to the mandatory year-round conversions, which the public so strongly opposed. In fact, the commissioners gave the BOE approximately $30 million more than they requested$312 millionto began building the new schools. The very next week the Commissioners restored the $58.9 million the BOE had requested for renovations of some schools, and soon after restored funds for modular units needed at the schools not slated to convert to a mandatory year-round calendar. But they maintained their decision to delay funds for the mandatory year-round conversions.

Wakes BOE Ignores the County Commissioners Request

The day after the County Commissioners voted to delay funds for the mandatory year-round conversions, BOE members voted to continue moving forward with the plan to convert the schools using funds from another, at that time, unidentified source. Parents who felt elated that the Commissioners were looking out for them took a rollercoaster ride downhill when the BOE they had elected to serve the best interests of their children let them down once again.

Wakes BOE Ignores Parents

In the next few weeks to follow, WCPSS held a series of public hearings to allow parents the right to express their opinion about the 2007-2008 reassignment plan, which included the mandatory year-round conversions. All fell on deaf ears with the exception of a few nodes here and there. Deals were cut but most families were not heard. As January turned to February, the BOE somehow identified a couple thousand traditional calendar seats at various schools across the county, but the scarcity of them made the competition for those highly coveted seats stiff and the probability of obtaining them low.

Parent groups that had formed over the months in protest to the mandatory year-round conversions spent countless hours of their family time researching and producing verifiable evidence that existing schools could handle capacity demands for the upcoming school year. These parent groups asserted this evidence as proof that the mandatory year-round conversions were not needed.

The Commission had another opportunity to vote to release the conversion funds, but they upheld their original decision to withhold the funds and demanded that the BOE look for other alternatives and provide parents with more traditional-schedule options. Still, BOE members maintained their stance that they had no choice but to move forward with the mandatory year-round conversions.

Parents Reach Their Breaking Point and Take Legal Action

The parent group Wake CARES announced Feb. 9 that it would pursue legal action against WCPSS to stop the mandatory year-round conversions on the basis that approximately 25,000 children in Wake County were being adversely affected by the proposed conversions as a result of WCPSSs proposal requiring some, but not all, elementary and middle school students and their families to adapt to a year-round calendar. Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly and Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams announced their strong commitment to the lawsuit as well.

The group hired two high-profile attorneys: Robert Hunter, Jr. and William W. Peaslee. Hunter and Peaslee stated in a Feb. 12 letter to BOE Chair Patti Head, that Students chosen for this program are purely arbitrary and capricious and many would not be eligible for the few seats the plan calls for to be assigned in existing traditional calendar schools. This mandatory adaptation arbitrarily denies these children equal protection under the law and the benefits of the North Carolina Constitutions and statutes guarantee of a uniform school system.

On Feb. 12 Wake CARES presented their attorneys letter to the BOE, just before the BOE voted to use a portion of their Undesignated Fund Balance (typically used for emergency situations that might arise in the district) to pay for the mandatory year-round conversions. They moved forward with the conversions anyway, despite the County Commissioners decision to withhold the conversion funds, despite thousands of parents protests and despite the pending lawsuit.

Immediately following Wake CARES announcement that it was taking legal action against the BOE, another parent group opposed to the mandatory year-round conversions, Stop Mandatory Year-Round (SMYR), announced it would support the legal action as well. And on Feb. 15, the North Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity, an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels, announced its support for the legal action.

What Happens Next?

Now here we sit. Parents have written letters, attended public hearings and meetings, scheduled meetings, taken notes, written speeches, conducted research, produced verifiable studies using WCPSSs own numbers, signed petitions, held protests and finally, filed a lawsuit (there may be more to come). Still, the Wake County Board of Education continues to push forward with a policy parents so vehemently oppose.

We implore you to please cover this story to show our fellow Americans the injustices the WCPSS School Board has forced upon public school families in this county and the affect it is having on real estate values, governmental faith and most important, our children. A public school system can thrive and perform miracles when backed by supportive participants. It will wilt and flounder if lead by elected officials who refuse to listen to the needs of their constituents.

Here are prominent figures, organizations and local news media sources you can contact for additional information about this story.

- Wake CARES: www.wakecares.com
- Stop Mandatory Year-Round: www.stopmandatoryyearround.com
- Americans for Prosperity: www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?state=nc
- Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly: keith.weatherly@apexnc.org
- Garner Mayor Ronnie Wiliams: (919) 772-5783 or rwilliams@ci.garner.nc.us
- The News & Observer, Keung Hui: khui@nando.com (Mr. Huis blog is an excellent resource for understanding how parents view the conversions)
- The Apex Herald, Shawn Daily: apexherald@mindspring.com
- NBC 17: Frank Graff: frank.graff@wncn.com
- WTVD ABC 11: news.director@wtvd.com
- Time Warner News 14: news@news14.com

Written by: Media Leaker

This has also been sent to the national media as well. These people need to be exposed.

Posted by: Ogre at 03:04 PM | Comments (635) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

February 16, 2007

Friday Feast

Once again it's time for the Friday Feast. Here's how it works:

Each Friday when you visit this meme, you will find 5 enticing courses for your mind to gobble up:

Appetizer
- a quick, tasty morsel to get you started

Soup
- smooth and warm to soothe your mind

Salad
- a nutritious blend of "veggies"

Main Course
- a hearty portion that is sure to satisfy

Dessert
- light concoction for your sweet tooth


And now for this week's fare:
Appetizer: What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?

Absolutely none. Complete and total silence. I'm not going to answer the darn thing, anyway, so why have it make noise at all?
Soup
Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.).

Same as the weather on the moon. Nothing there, nothing going to be there.
Salad
What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?

I'm male. Therefore, everything.
Main Course
Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?

I'd probably forget which day it was an accidentally sleep in and miss the whole day.
Dessert
If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?

Can you put beer in a dessert?

Posted by: Ogre at 08:37 PM | Comments (25) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Marriage: Hate Speech?

I think I need a new category: complete and total insanity of the left. Unfortunately, I think I'd have to write dozens of posts a day to keep up with such things today. Did you know that according to the left in Oakland, CA, the word "marriage" is now hate speech? That's right, if you dare to utter the word "marriage" or "family values," then you are guilty of hate speech, and harassment! And yes, the city of Oakland may FIRE you for saying those words! I do wonder what the hell they print on the marriage certificates that they issue in Oakland.

I understand that it's California, and the state is filled with leftist morons. In most cases, I say let them do their own thing as long as they keep their socialism and hatred of freedom in their own state -- but of course, they never do. In addition, there are limits to government power, even in CA. The government does NOT have the right to take away freedom of speech. I don't care if the majority want to, they simply are not permitted to.

The first amendment to the United States Constitution clearly states that government is absolutely not allowed to ban a word they don't like, period. This case has now gone to the most liberal court in the world, the 9th district court, who will rule whether or not you can be fined and perhaps jailed for saying the word "marriage." I hope they rule as they normally do and ban the word. I look forward to joining hundreds of other people and chanting the "forbidden" words to see if they've got enough police to arrest us all.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:05 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Jessica's Law in NC

"Why Jessicas Law Failed In North Carolina"

By: Mark A. Palmer July 2006

Taking Back Charlotte Mecklenburg contacted our city, county, and state leaders help make a difference with stronger laws for sex offenders. In the past year, we have gone rounds with Speaker Jim Black, Rep. Rick Glazier, Rep. Karen Ray, and Rep. Jennifer Weiss over Jessicas Law. The bill they supported was nothing like Jessicas law and was not strict enough on sex offenders.

Representative Julia C. Howard presented Bill 1921 that is more demanding on sexual offenders and a stronger version of Jessicas Law that would mandatory sentencing, higher registration requirements well as a GPS monitoring of sexual offenders. This would help provide information for school officials, law enforcement, with harsher sentences to sex offenders that are much needed.

Bill 1921 has many of the items listed are not registration changes but affect other areas of substantive law.
Seems that various parties would not allow HB 1921 be heard or known 2006 session. Representative Jennifer Weiss would not take a stand and push Speaker Black to enact. Representative Jennifer Weiss felt fitting- in and playing the game is more important than sex offenders and the welfare of our children. Our government officials need to remember that our children are not Democrats or Republicans just children!

Our group heard the political crap of excuses: State Budget, Party Issue, Have to get along and try each year, Take this step-at-time, Compromise as we do, we take parts of a bill we like and disregard rest, Raleigh cannot pass law as this.

We found out the truth, Speaker Black and various parties are very liberal on crime of any kind they rather just band-aid problem. They do not want to deal with cost of additional prisons as well. They have a self-agenda for their gain and our children do not matter them.

Residential Restrictions:

Bill originally said, Prohibits a registered sex offender from residing within 1,000 feet of a public, private, or parochial school, a childcare center, or a public swimming pool. The bill would grandfather offenders who have established a residence prior to December 1, 2006. It also provides that changes in the ownership or use of property that occur after an offender establishes residency shall not be the basis for a violation of the residency restrictions.

Bill 1896 that passed said, Creates a new Class G felony for a person who is registered or required to register to knowingly reside within thousand feet of a public or nonpublic school or childcare center. Persons who have established a residence prior to the effective date of the act are grandfathered.
What happen to swimming pools that first version said? Why were parks not listed as well? Locations like pools and parks have been prime areas that children have encountered sex offenders. For a sex offender to live by a school, daycare, swimming pool well as a park is dangerous. Known sex offenders have admitted to this. For a sex offender be allowed live by children is like AA meeting in a bar.

Following quotes are from Mike Baker of Associated Press article, "Legislature gives final approval to sex offender restrictions."

Rep. Bruce Goforth, (D-Buncombe) bills sponsor said, Sex offenders that already live thousand feet of a school or daycare will not be forced to move but may have to changed jobs.

Rep. Rick Glazier, (D-Cumberland) said, "This is probably one of the most comprehensive reforms in the country," well as "This bill truly incorporates the best that we were able to find in states that have dealt with this issue.

Rep. Karen Ray, (R-Iredell) said, "We have no tolerance for the people trying to harm the children of North Carolina,"

Representatives quotes show their self-aggrandizing; I have seen people on crack have more sense.

Using the name, Jessicas Law was a disgrace to Jessica Lunsfords memory. Since the bill does not hold same striations as Jessicas Law. That for political reasons Senate push bill using Jessicas Law. Bill 1896 which North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed had name changed because it did not measure up Jessicas Law.
Jessicas Law came from Jessica Lunsford the 9-year-old girl that was sexually abused, kidnapped, and buried alive in Florida. Jessica Lunsford came from Gaston County, N.C., before moving to Florida. Many states have strengthened their sex offender laws like Florida and South Carolina sad that North Carolina could not join in.

Lack of North Carolina House Bill 1896:

To increase the penalty for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child to life in prison or a split sentence of a mandatory minimum 25-year prison term, followed by lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring.
Sexual predators that murder their victims now qualify for the death penalty in capital cases.
All sex offenders would serve their entire sentence without early parole.

Failing to re-register as a sexual offender, predator, harboring well as assisting a sexual predator offender become a third degree felony.

Require all county misdemeanor probation officials to search the sexual offender registry when a new offender is assigned to them.

North Carolina State Education Department well as FBI becomes aware of all sex offenders well as any questionable reported behavior towards children.

Close any loopholes in North Carolina laws or one-strike laws.

A sex offender past or present not allowed dwell / living near school, park, pool.

Create a two thousand foot predator-free zone around schools, parks, and pools to prevent sex offenders from being near where our children learn and play.

What has happen in our State is a disgrace for our children. The compromise action by our state legislation for sex offenders has sickened thousand of us today. Our local, state leaders could make a stand but they do not. Parents wanted the full force of Jessicas Law. Why some will say, We have made a crack down on sex offenders, children that are abused would say, compromise.

Terri Roseberry, who said her daughter was sexually abused by a relative at the age of six, had been advocating for the full Jessica's Law.

"But this final version isn't anywhere close to Jessica's Law and the changes were just a minor victory," Roseberry said. "If we had mandatory 25-year sentences, my daughter would not be a sexual abuse victim."
"This is a whole lot short of the actual Jessica's Law," said Rep. Russell Capps, R-Wake, who has pushed for stiff sex offender restrictions. "This is a step, but it's a very small step toward solving a big problem."
I see some improvements still not enough looking at the new sex offender bill that passed one can see lack of sentencing and relax requirements, said 20-year veteran officer.

Solutions Presently:

Over past years, I have given time to push for tougher laws on sex offenders. Personally, I have worked with sexually abused children and have seen the effects. Words cannot even begin to describe seeing a raped of childs innocent soul.

Governor Mike Easley with North Carolina General Assembly showed their liberal mindless when comes our childrens safety. State officials, city, county, and our schools fall short of providing safe environment with laws protecting our children. We need to remind our state leadership, No Compromise for sex offenders. North Carolina still requires stricter laws for sex offenders.

Help turn this around and make the needed changes please contact your state representatives well as the governors office. Let Governor Mike Easley and General Assembly members know, if this travesty is not corrected, you will support someone that will.

Governor Michael F. Easley (919) 733-4240
North Carolina General Assembly (919) 733-7928

Posted by: Ogre at 12:11 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

February 15, 2007

Jim Black: Guilty Liar

Well finally Jim Black is gone from the General Assembly. Jim Black was the incredibly corrupt liar from Matthews, NC, who was the leader of the Democrats and Speaker of the House. He officially resigned yesterday and will plead guilty to at least one federal felony today, and perhaps other, related, state charges at a later date.

However, even in his guilt, he's apparently very happy. He said that he is "extremely proud of [his] many accomplishments." He does not say if he is proud of stealing and bilking millions from the taxpayers and using taxpayer funds for personal use; or rewarding traitors with taxpayer cash.

He is ready to "move forward with his life and attend to the health and welfare of my family." I guess that "moving forward" to him means spending time in a federal jail. Apparently that's where his family is, since that's where he appears to be headed and he wants to attend to his family.

Of course, he's only resigning now because he would be convicted anyway -- oh, and because the election is over and he can effectively appoint his successor. No need for elections here, this is North Carolina. The people don't elect their representatives, the representatives tell the people who will represent them. Even in departing, Jim Black ensured that tradition of the Democrats will continue.

Now the crime to which Mr. Black is supposed to plead guilty to today has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Many people are bemoaning the lack of trust in the political system that Jim Black created. And they say that it is a sad day, but trust needs to be restored. Want to restore trust? Put the 71-year old in jail for all 10 years. No, I'm not holding my breath. My guess is he will get a couple months supervised probation and that will be all. Somehow that will "restore faith" in the system.

And even now, when Jim Black is admitting he is guilty of federal corruption charges and a total breach of the public trust that was given to him, the Democrats STILL don't think he has done anything wrong!

And Jim Black doesn't think he's done anything wrong. He openly says in his resignation letter that he's PROUD. Yes, he's incredibly corrupt and he's openly proud of it!

Democrat Joe Hackney who will replace Jim Black as speaker -- and will have direct access to all the same cash that Black used illegally -- says, "We know Jim Black as a friend and we prefer - most of us - to remember the good things that he did for North Carolina over the years." Nope, he didn't actually do anything wrong. He's a nice guy, just a little misguided. Get ready for more of the exact same from Mr. Hackney, apparently.

The Democrat leader of the Senate, Marc Basnight, says that Jim Black "never used this place for any personal gain." In other words, it's okay that he took millions of dollars and spent them on his personal things. And Mr. Basnight, Democrat leader, says it's perfect okay to break the law when you're "concerned of others and their station in life." Sure, that restores my confidence in the corrupt system, doesn't it you?

Keep in mind that already five people who were close friends of Mr. Black have been found guilty of criminal acts. The NC State Board, strongly controlled by Democrats, finally admitted that Mr. Black clearly and openly broke election laws -- but the Democrat state Attorney General decided not to actually press any charges against Jim Black.

Dr. David Mclennen, a political science professor in Raleigh, thinks that Jim Black is just a nice guy who was tempted, so it's apparently okay: "This is just a system that lends itself to good people doing things that aren't considered to be ethical or legal." It's not that Black did anything WRONG, apparently, it's just that what he did "happened to be" illegal.

Many House members are fretting yesterday as a "sad day." I wonder why. I think most of them think it's a sad day because one of their members got caught -- not because he actually did anything wrong. Remember, those who are feeling sorry for Jim Black -- he was accused of these wrongdoings over 2 YEARS ago. For TWO YEARS he has been lying and claiming that he never did anything illegal or wrong. TWO YEARS of lies have finally come to an end. That's not a sad day, that's a good day. Now if justice is done, and Black is send to prison, it will be an even better day.

One of the few public names that actually gets this is Linda Daves, of the NC Republican Party: "When men or women disregard the rule of law, a day of accounting usually comes. That day seems to have arrived for Jim Black." Again, hopefully there will be some justice done.

Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Southern Politics at UNC Chapel Hill, doesn't think this is any big deal. He honestly believes that this doesn't really affect "North Carolina's reputation for good government." Apparently he either doesn't understand representative government, or he thinks that people actually electing representatives is "bad" government.

And the self-appointed King of Mecklenburg County, Parks Helms, when asked about Jim Black's guilty plea, said that he still stands by Jim Black. Even when Jim Black himself is admitting he is guilty of federal crimes, Parks Helms, Democrat, still feels that Jim Black hasn't done anything wrong.

Putting Jim Black in jail is right. Jim Black should be sentenced to the full, maximum 10 years in prison -- it makes no difference that he's 71 years old. Any sentence less than the 10 years will show those entrusted with political power at the state level that corruption and stealing DO pay. Anything short of the full 10 years will show the people that corrupt politicians can work and survive in Raleigh with impunity. If anyone wants to restore any semblance of faith in North Carolina state government, throw this corrupt criminal in prison. Teach him and everyone else that there are consequences to your actions.

It is a good day when a bad person is caught doing something wrong. It is a good day when someone who has been stealing and lying for years finally admits that he's a lying thief. But it will be a better day if justice is served.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:46 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

February 14, 2007

Freedom vs. Socialism

The strong avowed socialists in Chatham County now have more people who want freedom and capitalism lined up against them. Let's hope freedom wins out:

Americans for Prosperity, Chatham Conservative Voice Announce Partnership

New Chatham County Chapter of Americans for Prosperity to Begin Fight for Freedom


(Pittsboro, NC) The North Carolina Chapter of the national free-market grassroots group, Americans For Prosperity (AFP-NC), and the Chatham Conservative Voice (CCV) today announced they are joining forces. The partnership will make Chatham County taxpayers more powerful in the fight for lower taxes and lower levels of government spending and regulation in Pittsboro, Raleigh, and Washington, DC.

The Chatham Conservative Voice has taken the lead in the fight against new taxes and irresponsible spending in Chatham County.

"It has become clear that Chatham County is ground zero for property rights in North Carolina," said AFP-NC State Director Francis De Luca. "There clearly is a need for an enhanced organization fighting for property rights and for individual freedom."

Under the partnership plan, the Voice will operate as an affiliate of Americans for Prosperity. The Voice will continue to be governed and operated by its own set of by-laws and Board of Directors. Its goal continues to be protecting the freedoms of Chatham County citizens.

AFP-NC will provide Chatham taxpayers with intellectual ammunition in the battle for economic freedom. It also will provide, to the Voice, its national best-in-field grassroots training schools, as well as communications, marketing, and public policy support.

Last summer, AFP-NC launched an extensive issue campaign to inform the public about twelve state legislators who broke their pledge to not raise taxes in the state legislature. Concerned taxpayers responded with notable results. Seven of those pledge breakers, one of whom was the assistant majority leader, were defeated.

In less than three years of existence, Americans for Prosperity already has chalked up a number of major victories on the state level, including the defeat of proposed tax hikes in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and California, and the limiting of taxpayer-funded lobbying in Texas. Americans for Prosperity also has become the national grassroots leader in promoting state constitutional tax-and-spending limits from coast to coast.

Americans for Prosperity this year also brought its hugely successful "Ending Earmarks Express" road tour of wasteful pork-barrel projects to thirty-seven states including North Carolina.

AFP's visits to unnecessary pet projects such as a proposed "Railroad to Nowhere" in Mississippi, the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, and the world's largest teapot museum in North Carolina, helped lead to the removal of some $15 billion in wasteful pork-barrel spending from an emergency spending bill and to the passage of significant earmark reform in Congress.

"The Chatham Conservative voice has done a great job fighting for the taxpayers and land owners of this great county, and we're proud to join them in that fight," said Americans for Prosperity State Director Francis De Luca. "The taxpayers of Chatham County will be a stronger force in the county seat, in the state capital, and in the nation's capital as a result of this partnership."

"This partnership is a win-win for the Conservative Voice and the taxpayers of Chatham County," said Conservative Voice Chairman Mark Cares. "Chatham taxpayers will have a louder voice here at home, and we'll have a louder voice in Raleigh and in Washington."

AFP-NC Grassroots Director Chris Farr and Communications Director Dallas Woodhouse will work closely with grassroots members to develop a strategy to defeat the spend and tax policies of the current Board of Commissioners and advocate for a positive agenda of economic growth for business and jobs. "The Chatham BOC wants to decide what other people can do with their own land. They want to decide what type of private business people can start, and where they can start them," said AFP-NC's Dallas Woodhouse. "This is still the United States of America and citizens still have rights under the U.S. Constitution."

Chatham Conservative Voice Chairman Mark Cares said, "This partnership with AFP gives us the voice we need in Raleigh and beyond to defeat the new tax proposals that our Chatham County Board of Commissioners have asked the state to allow. These proposals will undoubtedly affect everyone in the state if we do not stop the tax increases now."

Candace Steele, a grassroots member of the Voice, said fighting a proposed land transfer tax would be among the first priorities of the new partnership. "It is important we don't tax people out of the hard earned equity in their homes. A land transfer tax will hurt economic growth and personal prosperity in Chatham County."

The Chatham Conservative Voice will provide a truthful and positive voice within our county for conservative principles and liberty as defined by the founding fathers. We will educate, we will be informed, we will be effective and represented in every election. Our mission is to protect our freedoms.
www.chathamconservativevoice.org/

Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina (AFP-NC) is the North Carolina Chapter of the nation's premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

Posted by: Ogre at 12:02 PM | Comments (17) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

February 13, 2007

50% Advertising Rates!

Here and everywhere else on the ReviewMe Network of advertisements. It's a neat idea because your advertisements actually show up in a blog post instead of in the sidebar or somewhere else that might get ignored. Take a peek at how it works.

To encourage new advertisers they are offering a special coupon code that will give advertisers 50% off any review they purchase this month. For advertisers to use the 50% off coupon they simply have to enter: "trial" (without quotes) into the coupon code at checkout. This special promotion will be good for the rest of the month.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:03 PM | Comments (20) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

The Victory Caucus

The Victory Caucus:

At the site, you will find news and information on the war, discussion forums to share your views, and concrete ways to help support our troops and communicate to our leaders that victory is what we demand.

We are pleased to have assembled a serious group of serious thinkers on the war to act as our Board of Governors, including:

Dean Barnett
Austin Bay
Matthew Currier Burden (Blackfive)
Frank Gaffney
Hugh Hewitt
Ed Morrissey
'Publius' and 'Joe Gish', two formidable experts on the war whose current occupations require they remain pseudonymous

The Board is currently kicking off the first of many discussions on our group blog, taking on the most fundamental question of all: how do we define victory?

I hope you will visit the site and join us in sending a message to our leaders, our troops, and the world that America will not flinch from the fight, and that we will not settle for anything less than victory.

Posted by: Ogre at 04:09 PM | Comments (27) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Tax-Free Bank Accounts!

Many people are working on their taxes now. One of the items that increases your taxes is interest income. Each bank sends you a form reporting the amount of interest you earned at that bank, and they send that information along to the IRS so you can pay taxes on that income. If you don't want to pay those taxes, just go bank with Citibank -- they won't report your income to the IRS.

How is that possible? Well, the way your taxes are reported is with your social security number. Citibank now says they will issue bank accounts and even credit cards to people who do not have social security numbers (primarily illegal criminal immigrants). Well, why should they be the only people to benefit from Citibank's niceness? I think I should be able to open an account at Citibank and not provide my social security number. Then they have no way to report my earnings because they don't know who I am.

Is that breaking the law? Well, you'd have to ask Citibank about that. And feel free to ask them, when you're opening the account, how they meet the federal Patriot Act requirements for identifying the account holder. And not just illegal criminal aliens can benefit -- if you're a terrorist and want to earn some free interest on your laundered money, feel free to apply to Citibank because they won't ask you for your taxpayer ID and can't report your earnings.

I wonder if anyone cares. Clearly the federal government doesn't, or Citibank would be stopped from doing this.

Posted by: Ogre at 03:04 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

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