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grant full voting rights to non-citizens, and in some cases illegal al

This has to tie into my post

"I NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING THIS ONE

"President Bush spoke yesterday in Los Angeles on the subject of immigration reform.  For the life of me I cannot figure out what is motivating his stance on this subject.

Bush, speaking to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, insists that any immigration bill passed by the Congress be "comprehensive."  Just exactly what does he mean by "comprehensive."  Glad you asked.  He means that a bill that simply provides for tighter border security and harsher punishment for employers who hire people who are in this country illegally will not satisfy his demands.  We're being invaded.  Some of the invaders crossing our borders refer to themselves as "reconquistadors."  If you don't hablo Espanol, let me help you.  They are calling themselves "re-conquerors."  Many of them ... who knows what percentage ... are not just here to find some better-paying work so they can send dinero back home ... they are here to conquer and establish political control of huge parts of the American Southwest.  If their purposes were entirely benign, why would they print articles in major Mexican magazines bearing headlines like "Los Angeles is ours!" 

Can anyone reading this or listening to me on the radio think of one job -- one duty owed this country by the man we made president that is more solemn, more serious, more important than to use whatever resources he may have at his disposal to turn back an invasion of our homeland?  Does the president's duty to protect and defend our borders only come into play if the invasion force is carrying guns? 

This particular invasion force doesn't need guns.  They're going to have a more potent weapon, the ballot.  What does this "fast-track" to citizenship that Bush is so insistent upon really mean?  That means a fast track to putting ballots in the hands of those we now call illegal aliens. This is the ultimate goal of  President Bush, Ted Kennedy, John McCain and others.  In fact, movements are already underway in many states and municipalities to grant full voting rights to non-citizens, and in some cases illegal aliens! 

Think of the strength behind a ballot!  Americans have been using ballots for hundreds of years to change leadership, to punish political wrongdoing, and to reward political courage.  Americans now gleefully use this weapon to gain access to the property of others, and this they do without a moment's thought given to their legal form of plunder.  A ballot can be used to change our very way of life in this country.  A ballot can be used to gain access to the pockets of every single working American.  A ballot can be used to open the floodgates even further to an broader invasion force.  A ballot can be used to destroy our rights to property and to diminish our standing as free and independent individuals.  What happens when this weapon is placed in the hands of tens of millions of people who had no respect whatsoever for the laws of this country, millions of people who broke the law coming here and broke the law by staying!  What happens when this weapon is placed in the hands of people who show no desire whatsoever to assimilate into American culture; people who show disdain for our language and our customs; people who wave flags of their homeland instead of the banner of the United States as they demonstrate for their undeserved amnesty?

President Bush says that the " vast majority of illegal immigrants are decent people."  Sorry, Mr. President.  They're criminals.  Criminals are not generally regarded as decent people, except perhaps by politicians.  The decent people you speak of are the ones still in Mexico, still in Guatemala, still in Honduras and Colombia.  The decent people are the ones who visit the American embassy or consulate to begin the arduous task of applying for permission .... legal permission to enter the United States.  The decent people, Mr. President,  wait patiently day after day for that magical notice to arrive from U.S. officials telling them that the American people await their arrival as legal, law abiding new neighbors.

Never in my 37 years of talk radio have I seen a time when the politicians inside the beltway have been so completely and thoroughly out of touch with the American people.  Eight out of ten Americans want the border between the U.S. and Mexico sealed.  These Americans have somehow developed the attitude that the people they send to Washington to make decisions related to our national security have some sort of a duty to recognize an invasion when it is happening, and to take steps to stop it.  They don't want Bush's "comprehensive" approach.  They want a direct, focused approach.  Criminals are pouring across our borders, and they want it stopped.  Now. These Americans do not want amnesty for those who have wantonly and brazenly ignored our laws. 

The House Republican leadership is talking a tough game right now.  No amnesty.  No guest worker program.  But ... right now that's all it is.  Talk.  If Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Boehner want to insure that Nancy Pelosi will occupy the Speaker's office come next January all they have to do is cave in to Bush and the Senate with a comprehensive plan embracing anything that looks, smells or tastes like amnesty.  I think I have some sort of a sense of what people are fired up about, and believe me, this issue has people burning mad. http://boortz.com/nuze/200606/06022006.html#aliens

Entry #359

"You don't need papers for voting."

Yeah, after bussing homeless unregistereds to the polls, after college kids voted multiple times each, after dead folks and dogs voting Democrat, I REALLY BELIEVE SHE MISSPOKE!!!   NOOOOOOOOT!!!!! 

 

         

 Democratic candidate tells Latinos: 'You don't need papers for voting'...

 

AUDIO FILE...  http://www.drudgereport.com/

 

"Busby on defense, says she misspoke
"If an election can turn on a sentence, this could be the one: “You don't need papers for voting.”

On Thursday night, Francine Busby, the Democratic candidate for the 50th Congressional District, was speaking before a largely Latino crowd in Escondido when she uttered those words. She said yesterday she simply misspoke.

But someone taped it and a recording began circulating yesterday. After she made that statement at the meeting, Busby immediately said: “You don't need to be a registered voter to help (the campaign).”

She said that subsequent statement was to clarify what she meant.

The recording, which was played yesterday on Roger Hedge 's radio talk show, jolted the campaign.

Busby, a Cardiff school board member, is in a tight race with Republican Brian Bilbray, a congressman-turned-lobbyist, who has based his campaign on a tough anti-illegal-immigration stance. Busby has focused her campaign on ethics reform. The two are vying to replace Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who was jailed after pleading guilty to taking bribes.

Busby said she was invited to the forum at the Jocelyn Senior Center in Escondido by the leader of a local soccer league. Many of the 50 or so people there were Spanish speakers. Toward the end, a man in the audience asked in Spanish: “I want to help, but I don't have papers.”

It was translated and Busby replied: “Everybody can help, yeah, absolutely, you can all help. You don't need papers for voting, you don't need to be a registered voter to help.”

Bilbray said at worst, Busby was encouraging someone to vote illegally. At best, she was encouraging someone who is illegally in the country to work on her campaign.

“She's soliciting illegal aliens to campaign for her and it's on tape – this isn't exactly what you call the pinnacle of ethical campaign strategy,” Bilbray said. “I don't know how she shows her face.”

The two later met in a debate in Carlsbad last night.

Earlier, San Diego Minutemen volunteer Anthony Porrello said he got the tape from an an anonymous Minuteman and passed it on to the news media and talk radio. News of the gathering had circulated among local Minutemen before the meeting, according to William Griffith, the independent candidate in the race who has been endorsed by the San Diego Minutemen.

He attended, but did not hear the statement. He said he was in the back of the room.

“I heard what I expected to hear from a Democrat who supports amnesty,” he said. Busby says she doesn't support amnesty, but backs the comprehensive plan pushed by U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that includes opening a path to citizenship for people in the United States illegally if they pay penalties and abide by certain conditions.

Busby said that Republicans are now twisting her words. She does not in any way support or advocate that illegal immigrants vote, she said.

“I was clarifying the question that was being asked in Spanish and then stated that you do not have to be a registered voter to help the campaign because there were many people who appeared to be to be under 18 in the group who wanted to volunteer,” she said in a statement. “I'm not surprised that the Republican Party is making this last-minute, desperate ploy and it is absolutely false.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/50thdistrict/20060603-9999-1mi3busby.html
Entry #358

Yep, global warming does it every time ...

Previously posted a link to this site because of its weather related photos.  Check these out!!

Up to 10 inches of snow fell during a snowsorm last night, old people say they've never seen such a late snowfall before!! Green trees overloaded, snow on the leaves, on the flowers, on the cars, ice on roads... just incredible.

Photo Taken: Friday June 2, 2006 - Boscochiesanuova (Verona), Italy


http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/viewsingleimage.html?mode=singleimage&handle=FabioBecchelli&number=317&gallery=CURRWEATHER&submitrating=submit&rating=10#slideanchor

Entry #357

"Temple Demolitions Spell Creeping Islamisation

There are other religions who have multiple deities which are simply aspects of the whole.  My opinion is that their beliefs are just as valid as any other person's beliefs so should be permitted a temple to worship their particular deity.  I see this action very much akin to the Taliban destroying the giant buddha carved in the side of the mountain which was an act of love on the part of the creators, and which provided tourist money to sustain locals. 
 
"Temple Demolitions Spell Creeping Islamisation
Baradan Kuppusamy
Source  Inter Press Service News Agency 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 1 (IPS) - "Why do they have to tear down our temples," asked A. Kanagamah, a hospital worker. Tears streamed down her cheeks as city hall workers, protected by police in riot gear, demolished a 107-year-old Hindu temple in the city mid-May

Hundreds of worshippers watched in horror as the workers, mostly Muslims, brought down the roof, pushed down the walls and smashed the deities that immigrant Indian workers had brought with them from South India to provide solace in a strange new land.

"We are poor and our only comfort is our temples and now we are losing that also," Kanagamah said in Tamil, the language spoken by ethnic Indians who form eight percent of Malaysia's 26 million people and mostly follow Hinduism.

Indians are economically backward and politically weak compared to Malays who comprise 50 percent of the population and dominate decision making at every level. Ethnic Chinese, who make up another 24 percent, enjoy economic clout and dominate business activity.

Over the years, local authorities have been regularly demolishing temples saying the structures were built illegally. Most were small wayside shrines.

However, in recent years, several large 100-year-old temples, built during the British colonial era, were demolished not just because they stood in the way of development but simply because they were classified as "illegal structures."

It is now a common sight to see bulldozers reducing large temples to rubble and workers to smashing deities before the eyes of helpless worshippers.

"The demolitions are indiscriminate, unlawful and against all constitutional guarantees of freedom of worship," human rights lawyer P. Uthayakumar told IPS.

He said temples are demolished by the local authorities as illegal structures but the same authorities make it impossible for devotees to get a permit.

He cited the case of a Catholic church in nearby Shah Alam city which got a permit to build a church after 30 years of trying. "What does this say about freedom of worship?" he asked.

After months of suffering in silence, Hindus and others protested outside city hall this week. The protesters, including woman and children, carried placards, chanted mantras and prayers, burned incense and broke a coconut.

Lawyers, human rights activists and opposition party leaders also joined the protest.

"There appeared to be an unofficial policy of Hindu temple-cleansing in Malaysia in recent months," said P. Waytha Moorthy, chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force, a coalition of about 50 Hindu organisations.

"Nine temples have been torn down in the last three months," he said blaming overzealous Muslim officials for the destruction. "We are worried Hindus will turn violent," he told IPS.

Hindu temples were built by migrant workers on private or abandoned land that were later acquired by local and state authorities. These temples mainly serve devotees from the lower income group, said Moorthy. "The labourers are poor, politically weak and unable to take legal action to protect their temples or fight off the authorities.''

Moorthy argued that temple demolition was against Article 11 of the federal constitution that guarantees freedom of religion. "It is also a blatant criminal offence under section 295 of the penal code that makes any act that injures or defiles a place of worship a serious offence," he said.

The protestors have submitted a petition to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi urging him to issue a firm directive to all federal, state and local authorities to stop the demolition of Hindu temples. However, similar appeals, made earlier, were ignored and scant action taken.

The demolitions have angered not just Hindus but individuals of other faith who see it as a violation of basic human rights.

"This way of (demolishing) is brutal and makes Hindus angry," said Dr Sanusi Osman, an academic and senior leader in the National Justice Party (NJP) of opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim. "The authorities should interact with worshipers, draw-up proper guidelines and provide alternative sites before tearing down temples," he told IPS.

It is not only temples that are coming down in increasingly intolerant Malaysia.

A country that once boasted an open and tolerant multi-ethnic society s now under siege by a dangerous mixture of Islamic fundamentalism and Malay ethno-nationalism. Racial, religious and cultural intolerance is becoming an everyday phenomenon.

For instance some local authorities want to prosecute couples for holding hands in public because they see it as ‘un-Islamic'.

Around Christmas, last year, authorities demolished a church belonging to the indigenous Orang Asli community, on the grounds that it had no permit.

The police recently ordered non-Muslim policewomen to wear the ‘tudung' or Muslim headscarves. Some local authorities even want to ban or restrict dog ownership because conservative Muslims consider dogs to be ritually unclean animals.

On May 14 about 500 Muslims stormed and disrupted a forum by lawyers and others entitled ‘Federal Constitution - Protection for All', called to discuss the rights of religious minorities against encroachment by Islamic Shariah laws.

Scores of police personnel who were present at the forum did not stop or arrest the trouble makers but instead forced the organisers to cancel the forum.

''Non-Muslims increasingly feel alien in their country of birth," said Tian Chua, a senior leader in the opposition Peoples Justice Party told IPS. "Unlike before, under Prime Minister Abdullah, there is an increasing tendency for Malays to rally around Islam -- it is a worrying trend."

"There's a creeping Islamisation in our society and this poses a danger to our secular, multi-religious and multi-racial country," said opposition leader Lim Kit Siang. "The destruction of any place of worship is unacceptable -- the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi must urgently intervene.''

Islamic fundamentalism has its roots in the competition between the ruling and moderately Islamic United Mlaya National Organisation (UMNO) and its traditional rival, the Pan Malaysia Islamic Party or PAS.

Each have tried to out do the other as the champion of Islam. Their competition and rivalry continues to the detriment of tolerance and secularism.

The architect of Malaysia's pro-Islamic drive, while serving as deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim says he only advocated the adoption of Islamic values in government and the civil service and not the "Arabisation" of Malaysian society.

''I myself am worried about the direction of the country," Anwar said at a recent forum on the topic. "Our leaders are failing us. We need strong and committed leadership to arrest the decline." (END/2006)  "
Entry #356

Fair Tax Rally Video

Knew the Fair Tax movement was growing, but didn't realize how big it has become until watching this video!!  Huge and growing!!

Bandwidth usage is heavy so be patient downloading .... worth your time, guarnateed!!

__________________

Boortz states proceeds from sales of Fair Tax book will be donated to charity, so with Todd's permission I posted a link to Amazon.com to order the Fair Tax book in a previous blog entry. 

Repost of same link immediately below.

 

Relive the FairTax Rally in video! Watch highlights and exclusive behind the scenes footage online [48MB wmv] or, if you have Comcast Digital Cable, watch the whole rally with ON DEMAND.
Entry #355

"New Orleans sinking faster than thought

Some months back if memory serves me, I posted something to the effect that since New Orleans is built on silt which sinks, the levees would also be sinking lower when they were originally built due to that phenomenon.  Well looks like this latest proves that assertion .... which was no more than simple common sense.

"New Orleans sinking faster than thought

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer Wed May 31, 11:02 PM ET

<excerpt> 

WASHINGTON - Everyone has known New Orleans is a sinking city. Now new research suggests parts of the city are sinking even faster than many scientists imagined — more than an inch a year.

That may explain some of the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina and it raises more worries about the future.

The research, reported in the journal Nature, is based on new satellite radar data for the three years before Katrina struck in 2005. The data show that some areas are sinking four or five times faster than the rest of the city. And that, experts say, can be deadly.

"My concern is the very low-lying areas," said lead author Tim Dixon, a University of Miami geophysicist. "I think those areas are death traps. I don't think those areas should be rebuilt."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_sc/sinking_new_orleans_9

Entry #354

Vet sues Michael Moore for $85 Million

I hope Sgt. Peter Damon wins hands down and collects every penny!!!  US Flag

Iraq veteran sues Moore over 9/11 film
DENISE LAVOIE
Associated Press
<excerpt>
BOSTON - A veteran who lost both arms in the war in Iraq is suing filmmaker Michael Moore for $85 million, alleging that Moore used snippets of a television interview without his permission to falsely portray him as anti-war in "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Sgt. Peter Damon, a National Guardsman from Middleborough, is asking for damages because of "loss of reputation, emotional distress, embarrassment, and personal humiliation," according to the lawsuit filed in Suffolk Superior Court last week.

Damon, 33, claims that Moore never asked for his consent to use a clip from an interview Damon did with NBC's "Nightly News."

He lost his arms when a tire on a Black Hawk helicopter exploded while he and another reservist were servicing the aircraft on the ground. Another reservist was killed in the explosion.

In his interview with NBC, Damon was asked about a new painkiller the military was using on wounded veterans. He claims in his lawsuit that the way Moore used the film clip in "Fahrenheit 9/11" - Moore's scathing 2004 documentary criticizing the Bush administration and the war in Iraq - makes him appear to "voice a complaint about the war effort" when he was actually complaining about "the excruciating type of pain" that comes with the injury he suffered.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/entertainment/movies/14709855.htm

Entry #353

Senate votes on Immigration "Reform" bill

You can check how your senator voted. 

Both mine, Republican Senators Chambliss and Isakson voted AGAINST the bill.

 

 

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 2nd Session

 

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

 

Vote Summary

 

Question: On Passage of the Bill (S. 2611 As Amended )
Vote Number: 157Vote Date: May 25, 2006, 05:39 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2Vote Result: Bill Passed
Measure Number: S. 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 )
Measure Title: A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes.
Vote Counts:YEAs62
 NAYs36
 Not Voting2
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State

 

Alphabetical by Senator Name
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Allen (R-VA), Nay
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
Burns (R-MT), Nay
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Byrd (D-WV), Nay
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Chafee (R-RI), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
Dayton (D-MN), Yea
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dole (R-NC), Nay
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Nay
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Nay
Enzi (R-WY), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Frist (R-TN), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Gregg (R-NH), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kennedy (D-MA), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Nay
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Nay
Obama (D-IL), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Salazar (D-CO), Not Voting
Santorum (R-PA), Nay
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Nay
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Nay
Talent (R-MO), Nay
Thomas (R-WY), Nay
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State

 

Grouped By Vote Position
YEAs ---62
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brownback (R-KS)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Craig (R-ID)
Dayton (D-MN)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dodd (D-CT)
Domenici (R-NM)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYs ---36
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bond (R-MO)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
Nelson (D-NE)
Roberts (R-KS)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Sununu (R-NH)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Not Voting - 2
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
 
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State

 

Grouped by Home State
Alabama:Sessions (R-AL), NayShelby (R-AL), Nay
Alaska:Murkowski (R-AK), YeaStevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona:Kyl (R-AZ), NayMcCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas:Lincoln (D-AR), YeaPryor (D-AR), Yea
California:Boxer (D-CA), YeaFeinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:Allard (R-CO), NaySalazar (D-CO), Not Voting
Connecticut:Dodd (D-CT), YeaLieberman (D-CT), Yea
Delaware:Biden (D-DE), YeaCarper (D-DE), Yea
Florida:Martinez (R-FL), YeaNelson (D-FL), Yea
Georgia:Chambliss (R-GA), NayIsakson (R-GA), Nay
Hawaii:Akaka (D-HI), YeaInouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho:Craig (R-ID), YeaCrapo (R-ID), Nay
Illinois:Durbin (D-IL), YeaObama (D-IL), Yea
Indiana:Bayh (D-IN), YeaLugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa:Grassley (R-IA), NayHarkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas:Brownback (R-KS), YeaRoberts (R-KS), Nay
Kentucky:Bunning (R-KY), NayMcConnell (R-KY), Yea
Louisiana:Landrieu (D-LA), YeaVitter (R-LA), Nay
Maine:Collins (R-ME), YeaSnowe (R-ME), Yea
Maryland:Mikulski (D-MD), YeaSarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts:Kennedy (D-MA), YeaKerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan:Levin (D-MI), YeaStabenow (D-MI), Nay
Minnesota:Coleman (R-MN), YeaDayton (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi:Cochran (R-MS), NayLott (R-MS), Nay
Missouri:Bond (R-MO), NayTalent (R-MO), Nay
Montana:Baucus (D-MT), YeaBurns (R-MT), Nay
Nebraska:Hagel (R-NE), YeaNelson (D-NE), Nay
Nevada:Ensign (R-NV), NayReid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire:Gregg (R-NH), YeaSununu (R-NH), Nay
New Jersey:Lautenberg (D-NJ), YeaMenendez (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico:Bingaman (D-NM), YeaDomenici (R-NM), Yea
New York:Clinton (D-NY), YeaSchumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina:Burr (R-NC), NayDole (R-NC), Nay
North Dakota:Conrad (D-ND), YeaDorgan (D-ND), Nay
Ohio:DeWine (R-OH), YeaVoinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma:Coburn (R-OK), NayInhofe (R-OK), Nay
Oregon:Smith (R-OR), YeaWyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:Santorum (R-PA), NaySpecter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island:Chafee (R-RI), YeaReed (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:DeMint (R-SC), NayGraham (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota:Johnson (D-SD), YeaThune (R-SD), Nay
Tennessee:Alexander (R-TN), NayFrist (R-TN), Yea
Texas:Cornyn (R-TX), NayHutchison (R-TX), Nay
Utah:Bennett (R-UT), YeaHatch (R-UT), Nay
Vermont:Jeffords (I-VT), YeaLeahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia:Allen (R-VA), NayWarner (R-VA), Yea
Washington:Cantwell (D-WA), YeaMurray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:Byrd (D-WV), NayRockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Wisconsin:Feingold (D-WI), YeaKohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:Enzi (R-WY), NayThomas (R-WY), Nay
http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00157#state
Entry #351

"22 Problems With The Senate's Illegal Immigration Bill

Posted a link to this in my last entry but feel it is too important to not post in full.

"22 Problems With The Senate's Illegal Immigration Bill

by John Hawkins

1) The Senate Bill Would Make It Impossible To Deport Most Illegal Aliens For Years

 

"What about illegal alien protection? The alien and their families who file applications for amnesty “shall not be detained, determined inadmissible, deported, or removed until their applications are finally adjudicated, unless they commit a future act that renders them ineligible with amnesty.” With tens of millions of applications, this amnesty, this provision essentially guarantees an illegal alien years of protection in the United States, even if they do not qualify for the amnesty." -- Jeff Sessions

2) Consultations Between United States And Mexican Authorities At The Federal, State, And Local Levels Are Required Before A Fence Can Be Built

 

Although this isn't, as some opponents of the Senate bill have portrayed it, giving Mexico a veto over the fence, what is going to come of it other than delay and condemnations of the project? The whole point of building the fence is to keep people on the Mexican side of the fence from entering our country illegally. The people in Mexico oppose building a fence for exactly the same reasons that we want it built. So, it's like home owners and burglars getting together to discuss the new locks and alarms that are being put into place. It's really none of their business and even if it were, they oppose the fence, so what's to discuss?

3) The National Guard Gimmick

 

This isn't technically part of the Senate bill, but it's being used to help sell it, so it's fair to include it. "Last year the House Immigration Reform Caucus estimated that at least 36,000 Guardsmen would be needed" to adequately cover the border. George Bush sent only 6,000 Guardsmen, for one year, and then decided not to allow them to actually apprehend anyone. Because of this, Border Patrol chief David Aguilar estimated that the move would allow only, "500 officers working in clerical and other jobs to return to law enforcement." Setting aside the fact that this is only a PR stunt that will have very little impact, the Guard will only be at the border for a year, which isn't enough time for a wall to be built or many of the other security measures, such as they are, to take effect.

4) Police Can't Arrest Illegals Just For Being Illegals

 

According to Ed Meese, the current Senate bill would actually prevent police officers from arresting anyone based on the fact that they're in this country illegally. Does that sound like the sort of provision that people who are serious about enforcing our immigration law would add to the bill?

5) The Senate Bill Puts Amnesty Ahead Of Security

 

"The Senate rejected an amendment by Senator Isakson that would have prohibited the implementation of any guest worker program that grants legal status to those who have entered the country illegally until the Secretary of Homeland Security has certified to the President and to the Congress that the border security provisions in the immigration legislation are fully funded and operational." -- Jim DeMint

This would have been an extremely important provision because it will take a long time to finish the fence on the border and complete the social security verification system. Just to give you an example of the sort of time period we could be looking at, it took the government 9 years, from 1996 to 2005, to complete a 14 mile section of border fence in San Diego. So, would it surprise anyone if it took the government 10-15 years to build a much larger fence?

6) The No-Sharing For National Security Purposes Clause

 

"The bill forbids the federal government to use any information included in an application for amnesty in national-security or criminal investigations." -- National Review

That means if Osama Bin Laden were to apply for citizenship and mention on the application that he was currently living in New York, it would literally be illegal to tell the FBI. Does that really make any sense?

7) Amnesty For Illegals, Of Any Sort, Just Encourages More People To Break Our Laws

 

"...(T)he low hurdles to citizenship this bill erects—making illegal immigrants stand at the back of the immigration line while remaining in our country (and pushing others outside of the country further back in line); forcing them to pay only three years of back income taxes after the IRS, rather than they themselves, figures out how much they owe; collecting a nominal fee of $2,000 per immigrant—mock and demean the sacrifices of those who waited years to immigrate through our established legal channels. Worse, like the immigration law passed in 1986, it creates a disincentive to legally apply for citizenship.

 

Those who broke the law when coming into America, broke the law when getting a job, and broke the law by failing to pay the same taxes as American workers, continue to break the law by residing here illegally. This bill is dangerous precedent and sends a chilling message about our national integrity: America has lost the will to enforce her laws, and her sovereignty is for sale—currently, for around $2,000." -- Rick Santorum

When it comes to enforcing our immigration laws, this country is like the boy who cried "wolf." If we don't enforce the laws that are already on the books this time, why should anyone believe us when we say we'll enforce the laws next time around?

8) The Tier System

 

"Illegal aliens who have been in the U.S. for more than 5 years would be given citizenship; those who have been here between 2 and 5 years would receive foreign worker cards with a path to citizenship; those here for fewer than 2 years would allegedly go home. Critically, the bill allows flimsy documentation (such as pay stubs and utility bills) to prove how long illegal aliens have been in the U.S., which virtually begs for massive document fraud." -- Tom Tancredo

Worse yet, according to Matt Spalding from the Center for Immigration studies, you could prove residence in the US for 5 years based on nothing more than an affidavit from a friend.

 

Even if you set aside the fact that the tier system will be unworkable because of fraud, it's set up to reward the people who have been breaking our laws for the longest period of time. Is that really a wise decision?

9) Why Should Criminals Be Allowed To Become American Citizens?

 

"Republican Senators Cornyn (Tex.) and Kyl (Ariz.) had originally proposed an amendment to make criminals ineligible for either amnesty or U.S. citizenship under the proposed new law. That had been overwhelmingly rejected by the Democrats who then asked Cornyn and Kyl to negotiate a compromise with Kennedy. The two sides agreed—the Republicans reluctantly—that a criminal would now be eligible for amnesty and citizenship if he had committed only one felony or three misdemeanors except that he could commit any number of immigration-related felonies or misdemeanors and still pass muster." -- John O’Sullivan

Isn't that just what we need here in America: more criminals. Here's an alternate proposal: how about no felons are allowed to become citizens or guest workers?

10) The Small, Tardy Fine Paid By Illegals To Become Legal

 

"Under the bill, an illegal alien can go from illegal to legal by paying a small fine of $2,000. Often, illegal aliens will pay more than five times this amount to a smuggler to get across the border. Also, the $2000 fine may not have to be paid until year eight, which allows the illegal alien to live, work, and play in the United States for years free from deportation." -- Charles Grassley

11) An Enormous Increase In The Number Of Legal Immigrants Coming To The US

 

Although the American people have said, in poll after poll after poll that they favor decreasing the number of legal immigrants coming to America, according to the Heritage Foundation, this bill has the potential to more than triple the number of immigrants becoming US citizens over the next 20 years from roughly 19 million to 66 million.

 

When you look at the high unemployment rates and in the case of France, riots and car burnings, that these sort of massive increases of immigration has led to in Europe, it becomes obvious that this is a particularly foolish idea.

12) Guest Workers Will Be Eligible For Citizenship

 

This might not be so bad -- if the number of citizens added via the guest worker program were subtracted from the number of foreigners added in via legalization each year -- and if these workers, who tend to make low incomes, were ineligible for the earned income tax credit, to receive welfare, their relatives couldn't also come to the US via chain immigration, etc. However, since none of those conditions apply, what we're doing is making a lot of people citizens who're likely to be net drains on the system for decades -- just so we can get our dishes washed and strawberries picked a little bit cheaper over the next few years.

13) Union Wages For Guest Workers?

 

The "Davis-Bacon union wage requirements" are being applied to "jobs performed by so-called temporary workers." On the upside, this may force wages for guest workers to be so high that businesses will be able to hire Americans for less than guest workers.

 

On the other hand, the Bush administration has been trying to sell a guest worker program as a way to decrease pressure on the border by bringing workers here legally. But, if guest workers are actually very expensive, perhaps even more expensive than American workers, there will still be a powerful incentive to hire illegal aliens. In other words, this will likely make any law enforcement related benefits of the guest worker program negligible.

14) Blue Card Illegals -- Some Of America's Most Privileged Workers

 

"Under the AgJOBS component of the substitute, illegal alien agricultural workers who have worked 150 “workdays” in agriculture over the last 2 years will receive a “blue card,” allowing them to live and work permanently in the U.S. However, because current law defines an agricultural “workday” as 1 hour of work per day—the bill language restates that definition on page 397—an alien who has worked for as little as 150 hours—there are 168 hours in a week—in agriculture over the last 2 years will qualify for a blue card.

 

Blue card aliens can only be fired for just cause, unlike an American citizen worker who is likely under an employment at will agreement with the agricultural employer.

 

No alien granted blue card status may be terminated from employment by any employer during the period of blue card status except for just cause.

 

Because blue card aliens are not limited to working in agriculture, this employment requirement will follow the alien at their second and third jobs as well. The bill goes as far as setting up an arbitration process for blue card aliens who allege they have been terminated without just cause. Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to pay the fee and expenses of the arbitrator. American citizens do not have a right to this arbitration process. Why are we setting up an arbitration process for blue card aliens paid for by the American taxpayer?

 

Regarding free legal counsel, the AgJOBS amendment goes further than paying for arbitrators, it also provides free legal counsel to illegal aliens who want to receive this amnesty. The AgJOBS amendment specifically states that recipients of “funds under the Legal Services Corporation Act” shall not be prevented “from providing legal assistance directly related to an application for adjustment of status under this section.” Interestingly, page 414 of the bill requires the alien to have an attorney file the application for him. Not only will AgJOBS give amnesty to 1.5 million illegal aliens, it would have the American taxpayer pay the legal bills of those illegal aliens. This is unbelievable and unacceptable. We should not be rewarding illegal aliens who break our laws with free legal counsel and a direct path to citizenship." -- Jeff Sessions

15) Cheaper College For Illegals Than Americans?

 

"The DREAM Act would... allow illegal alien college and university students to be eligible for in-state tuition without affording out-of-state citizen students the same opportunity. Thus, the University of Alabama could offer in-state tuition to illegal alien students while requiring citizens residing in Mississippi to pay the much higher out-of-state tuition rates.

 

Allowing all illegal aliens enrolled in college to receive in-state tuition rates means that while American citizens from 49 other states have to pay out-of-state tuition rates to send their kids to [*S5032] UVA, people who have illegally immigrated to this country might not. Out-of-state tuition rates range from 2 to 3 ½ times the in-state resident tuition rate." -- Jeff Sessions

16) Weak Assimilation/English Requirements

 

"The Senate approved Senator Inhofe’s amendment to make English the national language and require those seeking citizenship to demonstrate English proficiency and understanding of U.S. History. However, a far weaker amendment by Senator Salazar gutted the Inhofe amendment, leaving it in doubt, and also giving immigrants the right to demand the federal government communicate with them in any language they choose." -- Jim DeMint

17) Favoring Ditch Diggers Over Scientists

 

"Developed nations have reformed their immigration policies to prioritize high-skilled immigration over large scale low-skilled and extended family chain migration. This bill prioritizes low-skilled and chain migration over skill-based immigration, an approach we should reject." -- Jeff Sessions

If we are going to dramatically increase the number of people being allowed to emigrate to the US, which, by the way, is probably a bad idea, why in the world would we want to try to bring in more ditch diggers and fruit pickers when we could be selecting scientists, engineers, and programmers instead?

18) Employers Of Illegals Get An Amnesty On Taxes They Owe

 

The bill allows, "unscrupulous employers to pay no back taxes...for hiring illegal aliens." Why should employers of illegal aliens, who've already benefitted by hiring cheap, illegal labor, be allowed to forego paying taxes that they legitimately owe?

19) The Illegal Alien Tax Amnesty

 

"Under the bill, illegal aliens get an option to only have to pay three of their last five years in back taxes. Law-abiding American citizens do not have the option to pay some of their taxes. The bill would treat lawbreakers better than the American people. The bill also makes the IRS prove that illegal aliens have paid their back taxes. It will be impossible for the IRS to truly enforce this because they cannot audit every single person in this country." -- Charles Grassley

20) Earned Income Tax Credits For Illegals

 

"Senator Jeff Sessions, who seems to be one of only a few senators paying attention to the results of this giveaway bill, says that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that if S.2611 passes, the government would be required to pay $29.4 billion in refundable tax credits over the first ten years. He says that this expenditure, which includes the EITC and child tax credits, represents the biggest outlay in the bill." -- Barbara Anderson

Anyone who can't come to the US and make it on their own without getting welfare or receiving an earned income tax credit is a detriment to this country, not an asset. If a new immigrant to the US can't get by without an earned income tax credit, then we'd be better off without them.

21) The Bill Is A Budget Buster

 

Because the illegals who are here currently and will be allowed to become citizens under the Senate bill will be largely uneducated, low income workers who do manual labor, they'll be an enormous drain on the taxpayers once they become citizens. From Senator Jeff Sessions:

 

"According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will increase direct spending by $54 billion and discretionary spending by $64 billion in just the first 10 years. The Heritage Foundation projects the bill will increase long-term federal spending by at least $50 billion a year. These are staggering numbers that indicate that this bill might have costs as great as half a trillion dollars in any future 10-year period. This bill is a huge, monumental budget buster."

22) Social Security For Illegals

 

Unfortunately, the Senate has now voted to give "undocumented workers" credit for the money that they contributed to Social Security while they were here illegally. That's a big mistake and not just because it rewards illegals for breaking our laws or because we're going to be taking money that would otherwise be going to Americans and giving it to illegals.

 

Since these illegals have used fake numbers, maybe even multiple fake numbers, and even real numbers that belong to other people, it's going to be incredibly difficult to untangle the mess and figure how much they've really contributed, if anything, to Social Security.

 

This move, like a lot of others the Senate has made while working on this amnesty bill, puts the welfare of illegal immigrants above that of the American people. "
Entry #350

"Minuteman Border Video

Republican Representative Jack Kingston is from the 1st District, Georgia. 

Quoted directly from Powerlineblog.com.

Below that is "22 Problems With The Senate's Illegal Immigration Bill" from "Right Wing News, link provided.

 

"Minuteman Border Video

 

"Congressman Jack Kingston is one of the most new-media savvy politicians in Washington. He's also solidly pro-enforcement on illegal immigration, and has applauded the Minutemen for their effort to patrol the southern border. His staff (specifically Parks Bennett, I think) put together a nice video that includes footage shot at the border by the Minutemen and a conversation between Congressman Kingston and the Minutemen's spokeswoman. It's good, and Kingston staffer David All made it available to Power Line Video. You can watch it here.

http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=6q_BqZg652M&eurl=http%3A//kingston.house.gov/top10/JourneysWithJack.htm&iurl=http%3A//sjl-static1.sjl.youtube.com/vi/6q_BqZg652M/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskJL2kkt4jJsWV-SDnTayoDo

Congressman Kingston's blog is here. Our thanks to Kingston and his staff! "

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/014238.php

"22 Problems With The Senate's Illegal Immigration Bill

http://www.rightwingnews.com/john/specialimm.php

Entry #349

"Convicted Killer Seeks Sex-Change Surgery

Taxpayer dollars at work again!!  Thud
 
"Convicted Killer Seeks Sex-Change Surgery
By DENISE LAVOIE
AP Legal Affairs Writer
<excerpt>
"A man serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife is asking a federal judge to order the state to pay for a sex-change operation for him, saying that denying him the surgery amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

A psychiatrist testified Tuesday that he believes Robert Kosilek will kill himself if state correction officials refuse to allow the surgery and Kosilek is unable to complete his transformation into a woman.

Kosilek, 57, was convicted of strangling his wife, Cheryl, in 1990.

In 2002, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled that Kosilek _ who now goes by the name of Michelle _ was entitled to treatment for gender identity disorder, but stopped short of ordering the state to pay for the sex-change operation.

Since then, Kosilek has received psychotherapy, female hormone treatments and laser hair removal. Kosilek, who wears his hair long and tucked behind his ears, has developed larger breasts since beginning hormone treatments.

Kosilek sued the Department of Correction for the second time last year, saying that numerous psychiatrists who had examined him _ including two of the DOC's own experts _ had determined that a sex- change operation is "medically necessary."  ...............

 ...............

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/05/30/D8HUCP0G1.html

Entry #348

Actual Employee Evaluation Quotes

Came in email.  Hope you get a chuckle too!!

ACTUAL EMPLOYEE EVALUATION QUOTES
 
1. Works well only when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap
2. His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity.
3. I would not allow this employee to breed.
4. This employee is really not so much of a has-been but more of a definite won't be.
5. Since my last report, he has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.
6. When she opens her mouth, it seems that this is only to change whichever foot was previously in there.
7. He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.
8. This young lady has delusions of adequacy.
9. She sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
10. This employee should go far-and the sooner he starts the better.
11. This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
12. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
13. Got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn't watching.
14. A room temperature IQ.
15. Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it all together.
16. A gross ignoramus-144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.
17. A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on.
18. A prime candidate for natural deselection.
19. Bright as Alaska in December.
20. One-celled organisms out score him in IQ tests.
21. Donated his brain to science before he was done using it.
22. Fell out of the family tree.
23. Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train is going nowhere.
24. Has two brains, one is lost and the other is out looking for it.
25. He is so dense, light bends around him.
26. If brains were taxed, he'd get a rebate.
27. If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.
28. If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change.
29. If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean.
30. It is hard to believe that he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm.
31. One neuron short of a synapse.
32. Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, he only gargled.
33. Takes him 1 1/2 hours to watch the 60 minutes program.
34. Was left on the Tilt-A-Whirl a bit too long as a baby.
35. Wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.



Entry #347

"CAIR for Governor? Florida

As always FrontPageMagazine provides embedded links for verification.
"CAIR for Governor?
By Joe Kaufman
FrontPageMagazine.com | May 30, 2006

"It’s always a concern, when those with sinister intentions gain a foothold in our government. On November 7, 2006, citizens throughout the state of Florida will go to the polls to help their candidate of choice cruise to victory and take home the prestigious and powerful seat of governor. But what happens if that victor brings with him an unwelcome partner? And what happens if that unwelcome partner turns out to be the offspring of a front for terrorist organizations? With the two leading candidates – one from each of the major parties – having dealings with CAIR, it is quite possible that this frightening scenario will occur.

 

CAIR or the Council on American-Islamic Relations is an offshoot of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), a group whose founders include the number two leader in Hamas today, Mousa Abu Marzook, and the former North American leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Sami Al-Arian. The IAP, which has, in the past, published the Hamas charter calling for the destruction of Israel, folded its organization shortly after the group was found liable for the murder of an American boy, David Boim, during a Hamas terror operation.

CAIR, itself, is the defendant in a lawsuit put forward by the family of FBI Agent John O’Neill for his murder, during the 9/11 attacks. The group has lost a Civil Rights Coordinator, a fundraiser, a Director of Community Relations, and a founding Director of its Texas Chapter, all through conviction or deportation, all linked to al-Qaeda or Hamas. CAIR’s Executive Director has publicly stated his support for Hamas, and other CAIR officials have called for America and its government to be taken over by Islam.

 

So much of this information has been repeated, so many times before – all of it true – yet that hasn’t stopped some politicians from embracing the organization.

 

Florida Gubernatorial Candidate, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis

 

Jim Davis is the frontrunner in the Democratic race for governor of the state of Florida.  Currently he serves as U.S. Representative for the 11th Congressional District of Florida, which consists of portions of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. He is also the frontrunner in the Democratic race for the radical Islamist vote.

 

In 1998, Sami Al-Arian donated $200 to the campaign to re-elect Congressman Davis to the House of Representatives. This bit of information was brought to the public’s attention, via the local television airwaves, in February of 2003, subsequent to charges from the FBI that Al-Arian and seven others were actively involved with PIJ. According to one report, this had been Al-Arian’s “first legal campaign contribution on record.” Other officeholders receiving Al-Arian donations, included:  Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga; David Bonior, D-Mich; Tom Campbell, R-Calif; and Henry Hyde, R-Ill.

 

This is not the only time Congressman Davis has been associated with Al-Arian. Only one year after the Al-Arian campaign contribution surfaced, in March of 2004, Davis had been a featured speaker at an event sponsored by the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance (TBMA), an organization co-founded by Al-Arian. The event, the Eighth Annual Islamic Charity Festival, also featured then-candidate for U.S. Senate and former University of South Florida (USF) President, Betty Castor.  According to incorporation papers, Al-Arian was a Director for TBMA from its June 2000 inception till the time of his arrest. Three of the individuals that had been involved with TBMA, during Al-Arian’s tenure, Husain Nagamia*, Rasheed Hakki and Hakim Aquil**, are still with the group today.

 

In addition to the 2004 speech, Davis’s name appeared as an attendee for TBMA’s fundraising dinner, held in April of 2005. This information was found on the same webpage as a link to the website of the Muslim American Society of Tampa (MAS-Tampa), a site that curses Jews and Christians and calls for waging war against non-Muslims.

 

To his credit, Jim Davis took Al-Arian’s $200 campaign contribution and donated it to charity, albeit after Al-Arian was taken into custody. [Henry Hyde had done the same with his.] However, it seems that Congressman Davis hasn’t learned from the experience, as he now has accepted a donation from a leader of a group associated with Palestinian terrorist organizations, CAIR.

 

On September 12, 2005, one day following the fourth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Ahmed Bedier, the Communications Director for CAIR-Florida and the Director of CAIR’s Tampa office, donated $100 to the Jim Davis for Governor Campaign. A listing for the contribution is found on the website of the Florida Department of State Division of Elections.

 

Being a representative for CAIR is not the only problem with Bedier. Bedier is also the chief spokesperson in the media for Sami Al-Arian and the host of a radio show, True Talk, that regularly denounces the United States government for having close ties to Israel. Furthermore, in December of 2005, on a local television show, “Your Turn with Kathy Fountain,” Bedier stated that, prior to 1995, there was “nothing immoral” about being associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This, while PIJ, before 1995, claimed responsibility for five terror attacks, during which eight innocent people were murdered.

 

Florida Gubernatorial Candidate, AG Charlie Crist

 

Charlie Crist is the frontrunner in the Republican race for governor of the state of Florida. Currently, he serves as the Attorney General (AG) of Florida. He has also served as a Florida State Senator and as Florida’s Commissioner of Education. While AG Crist has taken a decidedly different path than his Democratic counterpart, much like Congressman Davis, he has regrettably had his own dealings with CAIR.

 

On October 31, 2003, CAIR issued a press release stating that, during two separate incidents, happening in the course of three days, “some 20 Muslim middle school students were either removed from or kept from boarding school buses in Jacksonville, Fla.”

 

According to CAIR’s story, with regard to the first incident, which took place on Wednesday the 29th, after school had ended, the students were “kicked off” and “forced off” their bus by the bus driver, some left at the school and some left five miles from their homes. CAIR stated that the students were made to walk home.  One of the Muslim students said that, on the bus, the children were well behaved and quiet. With regard to the second incident, which took place on the morning of the 31st, CAIR claimed the students were not allowed on another bus. CAIR called for the suspensions of both bus drivers.

 

These accounts differ dramatically from the ones told by the school and the bus company, First Student, who said that the students created “disciplinary problems” and were driven back to school and offered the chance to call their parents but refused and began to walk home. School officials said that administrators and a school police officer followed them and tried to get them to return to school. According to the bus company, the students “disobeyed bus stop rules, misbehaved while on the bus, and were verbally abusive to the driver.” With regard to the second incident, a school spokesperson said the children refused to board the bus in the morning.

 

Of course, no part of this explanation satisfied CAIR’s need to shout “racism,” as the group held a press converence (led by Ahmed Bedier), threatened a lawsuit, and called for an investigation.  Charlie Crist answered that call, which resulted, as one site put it, in a “Sheikdown.”

 

CAIR’s November 10, 2003 press release read, “CAIR-FL has also been notified that the office of the Florida Attorney General is initiating an investigation into these complaints.” In January of 2005, while admitting no wrongdoing, the bus company agreed to a settlement, which included the “establishment of new antidiscrimination training policies” and monetary payments of $10,000 to a Communities in Schools Program that “aims to keep children in school” and $26,885 to AG Crist’s office for “attorney’s fees and costs.”  CAIR proudly displayed this information on its website.

 

Less than five months following the settlement, On May 28, 2005, CAIR-FL held its annual banquet at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The fundraiser asked patrons to help in the establishment of a CAIR office in Orlando, which would make it the third CAIR office in the state of Florida.

 

While they didn’t show up to the event, numerous high-ranking government officials wrote letters of support to CAIR for its fundraiser. One was from Governor Jeb Bush, one was from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and one was from AG Charlie Crist. Crist’s letter stated, “Thank you for your kind invitation to attend the CAIR Annual Banquet on May 28, 2005. Unfortunately, previous commitments will keep me from joining you.” And it ends, “I extend best wishes for a wonderful event… Sincerely, Charlie Crist.” The letter was addressed to Ahmed Bedier, and AG Crist signed his (Crist’s) name to it.

 

On February 25, 2006, CAIR held a press conference to announce the opening of its new Orlando office.

 

Florida Gubernatorial Candidate, CAIR

 

Last Tuesday, CAIR issued a press release, stating that “American officials should begin talking with the elected representatives of the Palestinian people.” In other words, CAIR was telling the United States that it needs to begin dialogue with Hamas. This happened at the same time the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation imposing broad restrictions on U.S. aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.

 

The message CAIR was sending was clear; the group stands against the U.S. government and U.S. interests and, instead, stands with terrorists abroad. The more CAIR is legitimized by our legislators and politicians (i.e., accepting campaign donations and writing fundraiser letters), the more our country’s own morals and requirements will become corrupted.

 

If Congressman Jim Davis and Attorney General Charlie Crist hope to attract support from Americans concerned with terrorism in the November gubernatorial contest, they could respectively hand back the donation, repudiate the letter, and work for the betterment of Florida’s citizens rather than the progress of CAIR's agenda.

 

* Since 1996, Husain Nagamia has contributed $1,250 to various Jim Davis Congressional campaigns.

** Hakim Aquil is currently a Democratic candidate for Florida State House of Representatives.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=22657

Entry #346

"Net ad spend poised to overtake national press

Looks like this is very telling for the newspapers. 

Hubby brought up an interesting question  ..... why haven't the "greens" been after newspapers tooth and nail for deforestation to manufacture paper, also toxicity of some of the print ink??????  Makes one wonder ....  What? 

You may need bugmenot.com if you want to read the rest of this article which does require registration to do so.


"Net ad spend poised to overtake national press
By Carlos Grande
Published: May 29 2006 21:53 | Last updated: May 29 2006 21:53
Source Financial Times
The internet will this year overtake national newspapers to become the third biggest advertising medium by spend, according to authoritative forecasts.

By the end of 2007, internet advertising will close the gap on regional newspapers, the number two medium, but will still be well short of television, the biggest outlet in the £12bn-a-year media advertising market. "

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