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That's when the letter was dated. It could have been written the day he released it.

Posted By: sam on 2008-09-13
In Reply to: Biden's son quit as a lobbyist on August 25 - BoredMT

Why would he quit the day after his dad accepted the nomination and not release the letter then?


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It HAS been released and cleared up!
Here's his birth certificate with the state seal, verified by the Hawaiian officials, and his birth announcement from the newspaper at the time: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

This is only an issue for Fox viewers & forwarded email believers, everyone else knows it's a non-issue that has been proven false.
That is old news. It was released in the
It's yet another non-starter.
His campaign has released several statements
stating that she was vetted. Just go to cnn.com and you can read them all there.

Here is a partial article (also explains that this was a rumor...that she had not been vetted:

Nicolle Wallace, a senior McCain adviser, told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that Palin disclosed her daughter's pregnancy during the vetting process, and that the McCain campaign had been forced to reveal the pregnancy publicly Monday because of "lewd and outrageously false rumors" spread by "Democratic-leaning blogs and a few in the mainstream" media. She did not identify them.

Since McCain publicly disclosed his running mate on Friday, the notion of a shoddy, rushed review has been stoked repeatedly.

First, a campaign-issued timeline said McCain initially met Palin in February, then held one phone conversation with her last week before inviting her to Arizona, where he met with her a second time and offered her the job Thursday.

Then came the campaign's disclosure that Palin's unmarried 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant. The father is Levi Johnston, who has been a hockey player at Bristol's high school, The New York Post and The New York Daily News reported in their Tuesday editions.

In addition, the campaign also disclosed that Palin's husband, Todd, then age 22, was arrested in 1986 in Alaska for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Shortly after Palin was named to the ticket, McCain's campaign dispatched a team of a dozen communications operatives and lawyers to Alaska. That fueled speculation that a comprehensive examination of Palin's record and past was incomplete and being done only after she was placed on the ticket.

Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser, said no matter who the nominee was, the campaign was ready to send a "jump team" to the No. 2's home state to work with the nominee's staff, work with the local media and help handle requests from the national media for information, and answer questions about documents that were part of the review.

At several points throughout the process, McCain's team warned Palin that the scrutiny into her private life would be intense and that there was nothing she could do to prepare for it.

Culvahouse disclosed details of his examination in a half-hour interview with the AP.

First, a team of some 25 people working under Culvahouse culled information from public sources for Palin and other prospective candidates without their knowledge. For all, news reports, speeches, financial and tax return disclosures, litigation, investigations, ethical charges, marriages and divorces were reviewed.

For Palin specifically, the team studied online archives of the state's largest newspapers, including the Anchorage Daily News, but didn't request paper archives for Palin's hometown newspaper. "I made the decision that we could not get it done and maintain secrecy," Culvahouse said.

Reports, 40-some pages and single-spaced, on each candidate then were reviewed by McCain, Schmidt, campaign manager Rick Davis and top advisers Mark Salter and Charlie Black.

Among the details McCain's campaign found: Palin had once received a citation for fishing without a license.

Palin, like others on the short list, then was sent a personal data questionnaire with 70 "very intrusive" questions, Culvahouse said. She also was asked to submit a number of years of federal and state tax returns, as well as any controversial articles she had written or interviews she had done. The campaign also checked her credit.

Then, Culvahouse conducted a nearly three-hour-long interview.

He said the first thing she volunteered was that her daughter was pregnant, and she also quickly disclosed her husband's DUI arrest.

Early on, the public search unearthed details of the investigation by the Republican-controlled legislature into the possibility that Palin ordered the dismissal of Alaska's public safety commissioner because he would not fire her former brother-in-law as a state trooper.

Culvahouse said that he asked follow-up questions during the interview, and "spent a lot of time with her lawyer" on the matter.

"We came out of it knowing all that we could know at the time," he said.

As for the financial records review, Culvahouse said: "It was very clean. We had no issues there."

Throughout the process, the campaign said, Davis had multiple conversations with Palin.

He refused to be released from prison...
because there were men who had been there longer than he had and he felt using his dad's clout to get him out was wrong for those men, and it was, and that takes the kind of courage and integrity Barack Obama can only dream about.

How can you say he never regretted it? Does Obama regret throwing a friend and mentor, the man who baptized his children, under the bus for his political career? This is a man you should trust? Hello??
Document NOT to be released to the public?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT-BvWg3e1I&eurl
Judith Miller released from jail.

After 86 days in jail, her *source* has officially given his permission for her to reveal his identity in a story that she never even WROTE presumably regarding WMD/Valerie Plame's identity.


Her source?


Well, none other than *Scooter* Libby, CHENEY'S CHIEF OF STAFF.


Aren't we fortunate to have such honest, ethical, patriotic Cons in the White House?  Seems a lot of them could learn a lot about confidentiality and ethics from a member of that horribly corrupt mainstream media -- Judith Miller!!


New 'Bin Laden message' released...sm
I guess he's still alive and sending videos.
-------------

From BBC: New 'Bin Laden message' released
Osama Bin Laden

This would be Bin Laden's fourth message this year
A new recording purportedly from al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has been posted on an Islamic website.

He praised Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda leader killed in Iraq three weeks ago, as the lion of holy war.

The video, lasting 19 minutes, shows a still picture of Bin Laden, and moving pictures of al-Zarqawi.

The recording's authenticity has not been verified, but if it is confirmed, it would be the fourth audio message Bin Laden has released this year.

However, no new video images of the al-Qaeda leader have appeared since October 2004.

Last week a video was broadcast purportedly showing the deputy leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri in which he paid tribute to Zarqawi and said his death would be avenged.

Universal fight

In the latest recording, Bin Laden addresses US President George W Bush, warning him not to be too happy about Zarqawi's death, for the banner [of al-Qaeda in Iraq] hasn't dropped but has passed from one lion of Islam to another lion.

Bin Laden says al-Qaeda will go on with operations against the US and its allies.

We will continue, God willing, to fight you and your allies everywhere, he said, in Iraq and Afghanistan and in Somalia and Sudan until we waste all your money and kill your men.

In an apparent reference to a campaign against Iraq's Shias by Zarqawi, Bin Laden addressed those who accuse Abu Musab of killing certain sectors of the Iraqi people.

Abu Musab had clear instructions to focus his fight on the occupiers, he went on, particularly the Americans and to leave aside anyone who remains neutral.

He called on President Bush to return Zarqawi's body to his family, and used rhyming couplets to eulogise the dead al-Qaeda leader.
UCLA released a study recently that said...
that the New Deal probably prolonged the depression by at least 7 years. Are you sure that socialism is what the market needs--it is my thought that this problem was well on its way before Bush came into office--caused by the interference in the market that was already in place.
Meixco has released a travel alert.
College campuses here are posting warnings on their websites, warning students that the violence has gotten very bad and they may be targeted or even killed.  From a friend who works down there regularly, it is that bad and he says it is only a matter of time before something extremely violent happens to tourists.  He hears it in the streets and he watches his back constantly.  Mexican drug lords are gearing up to use these tourists for ransom...... 
Germany released him, OUR state department up in arms
and protesting the release...what's the point. It only proves that the U.S. don't want this thugs released...
Vanity Fair: NORAD tapes released sm
For anyone interested, here is the link to NORAD tapes.

http://www.vanityfair.com/features/general/060801fege01
That's awful! Praying all those held will be released safely...
they are saying a woman and child have been released, and that is a good thing...praying this will end with no innocent folks being hurt.
To Piglet....Gary Kasparov was released from jail
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/11/29/kasparov.jail.ap/
Obama has NEVER released his official birth cert.
nm
His exact quote was "Last week, they released

techniques and that was clearly a political decision and ignored the advice of their Director of National Intelligence and their CIA director".


**Outlining torture techniques**


Nuff said.


oops - made a mistake - the other guy's book was released during the campaign -
I am sorry that I was wrong. Obama's book had already been released.

The first copy obviously sold really well though considering the amount of money they paid him to do the sequel.
Very well written
Too many responses below are too long that I got lost reading them all so hope I don't repeat anything. Your post was very well written and I agree totally. I'd love to see this speech spoken by one of the candidates.
The Letter sm
I do not watch Glenn Beck, but this is an excellent letter. This was written by a grandmother in Arizona. Wish there was 100 million more like her.

GLENN: I got a letter from a woman in Arizona. She writes an open letter to our nation's leadership: I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ‑‑ what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idjit you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're idjits.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when he will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole darn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/26742/

really? well it is written that he was a muslim
http://freedomsenemies.com/_more/obama.htm
A very well written post

piglet.  What would you like to discuss?


 


 


Well written message
Thank you. I am so tired of people making acusations against Obama and most of it is meaningless. Most of them don't research, they just repeat things they hear. After reading about McCain and his history and what he is like now, read the post below called "I did my homework". I can't see why anyone would vote for anyone with McCain's temper and history. I'm going by his voting record too. If people want America to live in fear and lose all our freedoms that the country was founded on then go ahead and vote for McCain.
Ditto that, well written
That is exactly how I feel and I have medical insurance because I work two jobs and can barely afford it and everything else for my small family. But I am not crying and whining about what I don't or can't have. My parents raised me with good sense and wisdom. When my life isn't going the way I want it to, it is up to me to change it, not someone (or government) else. I do not support the culture of government handouts. When you reward less than ambitious people to not work and expect nothing from them, you get nothing in return. There is no investment in that. I love President Clinton's welfare reform that gets people into training for jobs to get them off welfare. It is not a perfect plan, but is a step in the right direction. And, yes, those training opportunities are in every state.
you have written the 11th

commandment -  Two wrongs DO make a right. 


 


No, because she had not written a book about one of the...
participants and it is in her best book selling interest if he WINS. She makes no secret she supports him. A moderator is supposed to be NEUTRAL.
Books have been written
on the insidious & frightening merging of the right wing (currently occupied by the republican party) and the Christian religion. Certainly there are individual exceptions, but the political party defines itself in large part by its religious beliefs, which as I understand from the media and from the posts on this very board, involves preservation of life at all costs, period. Here's a scary watch: The documentary "Jesus Camp."

As far as my world view being narrow, I would say that the difference is that I'm willing to let people believe whatever they want to believe, & if I don't like it I can change channels. As opposed to Christians (granted, maybe the most vocal ones, who are the only ones I've had occasion to hear), who do not appear to be satisfied until everyone thinks the way they do. I think everyone has a right to personal beliefs, but that right STOPS at the point where it infringes on my own. As opposed to Christians (ditto above reference) who seem quite happy to legislate the world to their own belief system. To me, that's what the narrowness involves.
I agree with you CDW, very well written nm
nm
Since it was written by holdovers from
they apparently have not changed their SOP.
It was written AFTER Obama came in....
xx
CIA Agents Letter

CIA Agents Letter to US Senate and House



18 July 2005


AN OPEN STATEMENT TO THE LEADERS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE.


The Honorable Dennis Hastert, Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives


The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives


The Honorable Dr. William Frist, Majority Leader of the Senate


The Honorable Harry Reid, Minority Leader of the Senate



We, the undersigned former U.S. intelligence officers are concerned with the tone and substance of the public debate over the ongoing Department of Justice investigation into who leaked the name of Valerie Plame, wife of former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, to syndicated columnist Robert Novak and other members of the media, which exposed her status as an undercover CIA officer. The disclosure of Ms. Plame’s name was a shameful event in American history and, in our professional judgment, may have damaged U.S. national security and poses a threat to the ability of U.S. intelligence gathering using human sources. Any breach of the code of confidentiality and cover weakens the overall fabric of intelligence, and, directly or indirectly, jeopardizes the work and safety of intelligence workers and their sources.


The Republican National Committee has circulated talking points to supporters to use as part of a coordinated strategy to discredit Ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife. As part of this campaign a common theme is the idea that Ambassador Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame was not undercover and deserved no protection. The following are four recent examples of this "talking point":




Michael Medved stated on Larry King Live on July 12, 2005, "And let's be honest about this. Mrs. Plame, Mrs. Wilson, had a desk job at Langley. She went back and forth every single day."


Victoria Toensing stated on a Fox News program with John Gibson on July 12, 2005 that, "Well, they weren't taking affirmative measures to protect that identity. They gave her a desk job in Langley. You don't really have somebody deep undercover going back and forth to Langley, where people can see them."


Ed Rodgers, Washington Lobbyist and former Republican official, said on July 13, 2005 on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer, "And also I think it is now a matter of established fact that Mrs. Plame was not a protected covert agent, and I don't think there's any meaningful investigation about that."


House majority whip Roy Blunt (R, Mo), on Face the Nation, July 17, 2005, "It certainly wouldn't be the first time that the CIA might have been overzealous in sort of maintaining the kind of top-secret definition on things longer than they needed to. You know, this was a job that the ambassador's wife had that she went to every day. It was a desk job. I think many people in Washington understood that her employment was at the CIA, and she went to that office every day."


These comments reveal an astonishing ignorance of the intelligence community and the role of cover. The fact is that there are thousands of U.S. intelligence officers who "work at a desk" in the Washington, D.C. area every day who are undercover. Some have official cover, and some have non-official cover. Both classes of cover must and should be protected.


While we are pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting an investigation and that the U.S. Attorney General has recused himself, we believe that the partisan attacks against Valerie Plame are sending a deeply discouraging message to the men and women who have agreed to work undercover for their nation’s security.


We are not lawyers and are not qualified to determine whether the leakers technically violated the 1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act. However, we are confident that Valerie Plame was working in a cover status and that our nation’s leaders, regardless of political party, have a duty to protect all intelligence officers. We believe it is appropriate for the President to move proactively to dismiss from office or administratively punish any official who participated in any way in revealing Valerie Plame's status. Such an act by the President would send an unambiguous message that leaks of this nature will not be tolerated and would be consistent with his duties as the Commander-in-Chief.


We also believe it is important that Congress speak with one non-partisan voice on this issue. Intelligence officers should not be used as political footballs. In the case of Valerie Plame, she still works for the CIA and is not in a position to publicly defend her reputation and honor. We stand in her stead and ask that Republicans and Democrats honor her service to her country and stop the campaign of disparagement and innuendo aimed at discrediting Mrs. Wilson and her husband.


Our friends and colleagues have difficult jobs gathering the intelligence, which helps, for example, to prevent terrorist attacks against Americans at home and abroad. They sometimes face great personal risk and must spend long hours away from family and friends. They serve because they love this country and are committed to protecting it from threats from abroad and to defending the principles of liberty and freedom. They do not expect public acknowledgement for their work, but they do expect and deserve their government’s protection of their covert status.


For the good of our country, we ask you to please stand up for every man and woman who works for the U.S. intelligence community and help protect their ability to live their cover.


Sincerely yours,


 


_____________________________________


Larry C. Johnson, former Analyst, CIA



JOINED BY:


Mr. Brent Cavan, former Analyst, CIA


Mr. Vince Cannistraro, former Case Officer, CIA


Mr. Michael Grimaldi, former Analyst, CIA


Mr. Mel Goodman, former senior Analyst, CIA


Col. W. Patrick Lang (US Army retired), former Director, Defense Humint Services, DIA


Mr. David MacMichael, former senior estimates officer, National Intelligence Council, CIA


Mr. James Marcinkowski, former Case Officer, CIA


Mr. Ray McGovern, former senior Analyst and PDB Briefer, CIA


Mr. Jim Smith, former Case Officer, CIA


Mr. William C. Wagner, former Case Officer, CIA


letter from a soldier

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you are given this story DO NOT REENLIST!

From: aaronb
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 10:42 PM
To: soldiers@michaelmoore.com
Subject: army con artist

Mr. Moore,

I would like to start by saying that I think what you are doing for the troops is probably the most supportive thing any one human being could do during this troubled time. I would like to tell you my story, and I hope that it can help other soldiers in my position.

I am a specialist in the US Army, I have served four years on active duty, and I am separating from the service later this month. Earlier this year my wife and I had a baby girl. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which is a genetic disease which affects the lungs. Her life expectancy is about 30 years old. When she was born she required surgery which kept her in the hospital for about a month. As you can probably imagine, this was quite expensive. I wasn't worried about paying for it because I assumed military insurance (TRICARE) would cover it. I went along with that assumption for the next few months, but about 2 weeks before I was scheduled to ETS, I made a routine trip to the tricare office at the base hospital. When I arrived there and showed them an outstanding bill from the hospital where my daughter had the surgery, which showed an outstanding balance of 127,000 dollars, I was informed that that bill must be paid by me personally because I was required to pay 20% of any medical bill from any hospital or clinic not in the military system. When I asked the clerk what my options were for payment, she informed me that I either pay the bill in full, or reenlist and the bill would be paid for by the army. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, so I left the office without saying another word, went home, and called the 1 800 number for tricare. The representative assured me that the clerks statements were entirely false and that my insurance policy had a catastrophic cap of 1000 dollars. While I have no proof, I believe that the clerk from the office at the hospital (who was a civilian) was receiving some type of payment to try and con soldiers with exceptional family members into reenlisting. I am considering obtaining legal counsel on this matter, but I doubt I have a case. I just wanted to write this to make sure it never happens to anyone else. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you are given this story DO NOT REENLIST! Contact the tricare hotline before doing anything based on what you are told. I hope that this has not happened to anyone else, but I fear that is not true.

Thank you for your help,
A soldier for peace


letter to Congress
Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2005 13:59:37 -0800 (PST)
   From: NT <nancyt1210@yahoo.com>
Subject: Open Letter to Congress from a Veteran and Military Dad

      Stan Goff is Vietnam veteran and son served in Iraq.  An Open
Letter to Congress from a Veteran and Military Dad  On Power  By STAN
GOFF, Dec. 2, 2005
  (Disclaiming in advance for the rare exceptions in Congress)
  If there is one thing we can always count on, it's politicians who
walk over human corpses to show fear only in the face of something as
formless and abstract as an opinion poll. Many of us in the veterans and
military families antiwar movement are well-versed on so-called
realism--and that deference we are supposed to exercise when we approach
elected officials, hat in hand, for a few crumbs of your attention and
support.
  We understand power very well.
  You are fighting each other for your careers, and you are retaining
your power over us through distance and guile, and trying to promote
that power by pretending you are hearing our concerns. But we have more
than concerns at stake here.
  It is because we understand power that we haven't the slightest
intention of allowing ourselves to be used to promote your careers past the
2006 elections. If you fail to demand US withdrawal now, you are
supporting the war; and if you support the war, as far as we are concerned,
you can go straight to hell in 2006.
  It is because we understand power that we are not going to forgive
and forget that when the war fever was up, fed by the lies of
Republicans, the war was facilitated by the eager xenophobic complicity of most
Democrats, and by the slavish obedience of the corporate press. Most of
you not only co-signed what you knew to be an illegal invasion--you have
continued to sign the checks to perpetuate the war.
  You wanted to be lied to about the war, because the polls supported
the war, and you were sniffing the political air.
  It is because we understand power that we know that most of you did
this out of craven opportunism and a concern for your political
ambitions--knowing full well that no one you loved was likely to be sent home
without a limb, without an eye, without a life.
  It is because we understand power that we know how cynically cavalier
you are with the lives of others, and how narcissistically
self-promoting.
  It is because we understand power that we understand why many of you
are backpedaling in your support for the war. You are maneuvering to be
critical of the war. You demand the administration provide an
effective exit strategy. And you haven't said a goddamned substantive
thing, as the cameras shutter away for you. And you want us to play
along--so you can beat Republicans without taking a single real position. You
don't want to stop this war. You want to win an election. By the time
you win that election, another thousand troops and another 20,000 Iraqis
could be dead. We do not calculate time the way you do.
  It is because we understand power that we know most of you will stand
by while those of us with less privilege see our loved ones sent to
kill and die. The real corpses produced by the exercise of power are no
more to you than a political calculation.
  We understand power, because we know what really stands behind it.
Power is embodied in the mounted cops you use to police our protests.
Power is expressed by the armed guards for your gated communities. Power
is the ability to kill and maim and get away with it, even if you dress
it up in $5,000 suits and trot it out on the talk-show circuit, on
C-Span, in your interviews with CNN.
  Power is projected onto other peoples using your Cruise missiles and
A-10s and Bradley fighting vehicles and the people who join the
military. And the price of that power doesn't merely come from our pockets. We
probably wouldn't fight you about how you rob us for your pork barrel
defense contracts. The price that has us in motion right now--you really
must understand this, because it means we will never back off--is
exacted on the bodies of human beings.
  The price is exacted with mortars, with IEDs, with high powered rifle
ammunition, with bombs, with the same A-10s and Bradleys; and it is
exacted on the bodies of our loved ones and the loved ones of the Iraqi
people.
  That's why we are not going to grant you the power to manipulate us,
to contain us, to corral us, or to pimp our grief over this war and its
costs on behalf of your political careers or the needs of a political
party. That's why were are going to be rudely explicit when we say that
your bombast against the Bush administration--as if they did this
without your help--in calling for a more effective exit strategy and
demanding that people merely think about a plan for withdrawal from Iraq
that will take months or years this verbiage is meaningless and
manipulative. We will never stand for studying a withdrawal, for phasing a
withdrawal, for delaying a withdrawal, for setting conditions for a
withdrawal, or for partial withdrawal. Never.
  Our demand from the beginning remains unchanged. It is for
withdrawal, and for immediate, unilateral, unconditional withdrawal; and if
political careers go up in smoke as a consequence, we do not give a good
goddamn. People are dying in Iraq as a direct result of this war every
single day. Go back to your fucking law offices and let our children live.
  Gradual, phased, planned, strategized, conditioned, delayed, partial
withdrawals get implemented, if at all, while those military sedans
continue to roll up in front of people's houses to announce the extinction
of a human being to his or her family and while the bodies are dropped
into the fresh graves at the cemeteries of Iraq.
  Gradual, phased, planned, strategized, conditioned, delayed, partial
withdrawals get implemented, if at all, while the poisons accumulate in
the soil and water and food of Iraq, and in the bodies of Iraqis and
occupation troops.
  Gradual, phased, planned, strategized, conditioned, delayed, partial
withdrawals get implemented, if at all, while the hospitals fill up
with the lamed, maimed, blinded, and disfigured.
  Gradual, phased, planned, strategized, conditioned, delayed, partial
withdrawals get implemented, if at all, while the grief and horror
associated with this criminal war become the daily emotional fare of more
and more people, occupation forces and Iraqis.
  No member of Congress has the moral right to dither on the question
of his or her precious career while a single constituent is facing the
fear of that devastating knock on the door. We say the emperor has no
clothes; and we say we know you when you feign concern with your eye
fixed firmly on your ambition.
  An exit is not a strategy. An exit is a command.
  If the commander in chief won't give that command, then you in
Congress--if you want to salvage anything that looks vaguely like a
conscience or a soul--will refuse to grant this administration another penny to
continue this war. We are not hearing you when you tap dance about
political realism. The mounting mass of corpses, that you have walked
over every time you voted a cent to continue this war, is about as real as
it gets. Don't you dare ever lecture military families and veterans
about realism. And don't you doubt that we understand power.
  You may think you can respond to your careerist concerns in the face
of reversing polls. You may think you can pretend to do something, that
you can bewilder us into accepting half a loaf better than none.
  To the tiny handful of you in Congress who have said what we say,
Out Now!, we commend you and thank you for your principled voices.
  To those of you who are openly supporting this criminal
administration, we'll see you in the street, and history will consign your names to
the chapters about imperial bullying, comb-over machismo, and cognitive
mediocrity.
  To those of you who call for half measures, phases, and strategies,
you are directly in front of us now. You are standing directly in our
path, and we are not going to go around you.
  We are not going to commend you on being better than the
reactionaries.
  We are not going to thank you for our half a loaf.
  We are not going to try and give you the political cover you need to
wiggle around those shifting opinion polls while you salvage your
careers.
  We do not love you. We find your ambivalence contemptible.
  We love the people who are facing the real consequences of this war
while you schmooze your way through the chicken-salad circuits of
imperial power, nattering on about realism and phases and strategies.
  You will not divert our attention away from you. You will redirect
neither our anger nor our will away from you. It is you who are standing
directly in our way; and every time you try to dicker about people's
lives with us like we are in street market, every time you try to pimp
our outrage at this crime, as a mere concern that only you are entitled
to address with your careerist half-measures, we will call you to
account. We will embarrass you. We will shine a spotlight on your cowardice,
your opportunism, and your grotesque cynical hypocrisy.
  November 2006 is not an election to us; it is a body count. If you
think you can take us for granted over an election, think again.
  Get it right, because we have never wavered on our position. The mass
of American society is moving toward us, not you. They are listening
more and more to us, and less and less to you. We are about saving lives,
not saving face. So get it right, and get it right fast. We are looking
at your political house with an eye to pulling it down.
  We understand power very well.
  Stan Goff is the author of Hideous Dream: A Soldier's Memoir of the
US Invasion of Haiti (Soft Skull Press, 2000), Full Spectrum
Disorder (Soft Skull Press, 2003) and Sex & War which will be released
approximately December, 2005. He is retired from the United States Army. His
blog is at www.stangoff.com.
  Goff can be reached at: sherrynstan@igc.org


My Letter to the President

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500


Mr. President:


Are you proud of your accomplishments as president?  I have highlighted just a few for you below.  You and those you surround yourself with have:


• KILLED over 3600 AMERICAN TROOPS. 
• MAIMED over 25,000 AMERICAN TROOPS.
• KILLED nearly 70,000 IRAQI CIVILIANS and 650,000 IRAQIS TOTAL have died as a result of US INVASION. 
• Orchestrated WAR on IRAQ when the 9/11 TERRORISTS were MOSTLY SAUDI. 
• Allowed NO-BID CONTRACTS for IRAQ war reconstruction and MONEY UNACCOUNTED FOR.
• DESTABILIZED MIDDLE EAST, now wanting TO SELL WEAPONS to Arab “allies.”
• Incurred the LARGEST NATIONAL DEBT IN OUR HISTORY, nearing 9 TRILLION.
• Shown INCOMPETENCE and INEFFECTIVENESS in response to HURRICANE KATRINA.
• Shown DISRESPECT FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL, initially attempting to reduce veterans’ benefits for those who put their lives at risk for this country in the past and leaving those who serve in Iraq without needed supplies.
• Done nothing about NEARLY 50 MILLION AMERICANS UNINSURED.
• CUT EDUCATION LOANS and REDUCED PELL GRANTS.
• Shown DISREGARD for THE CONSTITUTION of the United States of America with the so-called Patriot Act. 
• Shown DISREGARD for the SAFETY and HEALTH of our ENVIRONMENT, for example, withdrawing the US from the Kyoto Protocol agreement and opening public land for oil drilling. 
• Shown HYPOCRISY and FAVORITISM by COMMUTING SCOOTER LIBBY’S SENTENCE.  July 19, 2005, Washington Post: “PRESIDENT BUSH SAID yesterday that he will fire anyone in the administration found to have committed a crime in the leaking of a CIA operative's name.”   
• ALLOWED Attorney General ROBERTO GONZALEZ, a representative of truth and justice, TO REMAIN in government office AFTER HE LIED about his presence at a meeting regarding the questionably-timed firings of eight US attorneys.


Past presidents during my lifetime have not always behaved admirably, but your behavior and record in office reveal a decidedly un-Christian lack of ethics and morality exceeding that of any except perhaps Richard Nixon. Where did you leave your oft-professed Christianity?  I pray the nation survives your destructive administration, and I pray you begin to live a truly honorable life from this day on.


Sincerely,


Letter from a soldier

Here is an email I received from my cousin.  Thought it interesting enough to put up here.  It is a letter written by a soldier in Afghanistan.


Hello everyone,



As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along
that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit toThe War Zone”. I wanted to share with you what happened.



He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area
to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.



As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and
didn't say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General.



As
he finished, the vehicles took him to the Clam Shell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball.  He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service.


 


So really he was just here to make a showing for the American's back home that he is their candidate for President.  I think that if you are going to make an effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that are providing the freedom that they are providing for you.


 


I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheer leaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States.  I just don't understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.


 


If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.


 


In service,


CPT Jeffrey S. Porter


Battle Captain


TF Wasatch


American Soldier


 


American by birth


MARINE by the grace of God


Semper Fi


an open letter to God

Sunday, August 31st, 2008


Dear God,


The other night, the Rev. James Dobson's ministry asked all believers to pray for a storm on Thursday night so that the Obama acceptance speech outdoors in Denver would have to be cancelled.


I see that You have answered Rev. Dobson's prayers -- except the storm You have sent to earth is not over Denver, but on its way to New Orleans! In fact, You have scheduled it to hit Louisiana at exactly the moment that George W. Bush is to deliver his speech at the Republican National Convention.


Now, heavenly Father, we all know You have a great sense of humor and impeccable timing. To send a hurricane on the third anniversary of the Katrina disaster AND right at the beginning of the Republican Convention was, at first blush, a stroke of divine irony. I don't blame You, I know You're angry that the Republicans tried to blame YOU for Katrina by calling it an "Act of God" -- when the truth was that the hurricane itself caused few casualties in New Orleans. Over a thousand people died because of the mistakes and neglect caused by humans, not You.


Some of us tried to help after Katrina hit, while Bush ate cake with McCain and twiddled his thumbs. I closed my office in New York and sent my entire staff down to New Orleans to help. I asked people on my website to contribute to the relief effort I organized -- and I ended up sending over two million dollars in donations, food, water, and supplies (collected from thousands of fans) to New Orleans while Bush's FEMA ice trucks were still driving around Maine three weeks later.


But this past Thursday night, the Washington Post reported that the Republicans had begun making plans to possibly postpone the convention. The AP had reported that there were no shelters set up in New Orleans for this storm, and that the levee repairs have not been adequate. In other words, as the great Ronald Reagan would say, "There you go again!"


So the last thing John McCain and the Republicans needed was to have a split-screen on TVs across America: one side with Bush and McCain partying in St. Paul, and on the other side of the screen, live footage of their Republican administration screwing up once again while New Orleans drowns.


So, yes, You have scared the Jesus, Mary and Joseph out of them, and more than a few million of your followers tip their hats to You.


But now it appears that You haven't been having just a little fun with Bush & Co. It appears that Hurricane Gustav is truly heading to New Orleans and the Gulf coast. We hear You, O Lord, loud and clear, just as we did when Rev. Falwell said You made 9/11 happen because of all those gays and abortions. We beseech You, O Merciful One, not to punish us again as Pat Robertson said You did by giving us Katrina because of America's "wholesale slaughter of unborn children." His sentiments were echoed by other Republicans in 2005.


So this is my plea to you: Don't do this to Louisiana again. The Republicans got your message. They are scrambling and doing the best they can to get planes, trains and buses to New Orleans so that everyone can get out. They haven't sent the entire Louisiana National Guard to Iraq this time -- they are already patrolling the city streets. And, in a nod to I don't know what, Bush's head of FEMA has named a man to help manage the federal government's response. His name is W. Michael Moore. I kid you not, heavenly Father. They have sent a man with both my name AND W's to help save the Gulf Coast.


So please God, let the storm die out at sea. It's done enough damage already. If you do this one favor for me, I promise not to invoke your name again. I'll leave that to the followers of Rev. Dobson and to those gathering this week in St. Paul.


Your faithful servant and former seminarian,


Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com


letter to the editor
Dear Editor,

It's been said, “If you can't refute the message, attack the messenger.”

I hear certain people demean the character of Jerome R. Corsi, the author of “The Obama Nation - Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality.”

I decided to investigate the book myself, rather than just take someone's word for it.

Interestingly, I found that Mr. Corsi received a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has written many books and articles, including a number one New York Times best seller.

In addition, he is a senior staff reporter for World Net Daily.

“The Obama Nation” is thoroughly researched and documented.

Corsi meticulously sourced his material with over 600 footnotes.

He began researching Mr. Obama back in 2005.

Of note, Corsi is not a Republican or a Democrat, nor does he intend to vote for Senator John McCain.

In this comprehensive book, Corsi examines Barack Hussein Obama’s extensive connections with Islam and radical politics, his affiliation with the black-liberation theology of Jeremiah Wright, his involvement with Chicago political fixer Tony Rezko, and Obama’s cult of personality, including the derivation of the words “hope” and “change.”

Corsi also documents Obama's far-left domestic policy, his controversial votes on abortion, his history of opposition to the second amendment, his determination to raise taxes, his impractical plan to achieve universal healthcare and many other important and pertinent issues.

Obviously, it is not my place, nor anyone else's, to tell someone how to vote or who to vote for, but I would suggest that readers thinking of voting for Mr. Obama owe it to themselves, and to the future of our country, to research more of his background in order to better understand his ideology, his policies and his politics. (Another interesting book is "The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media’s Favorite Candidate.")

These books should be available at the local library and are eye-opening reads.

A letter to the editor -
From a Cuban-American, talking about "change."  A real eye opener.  He's been there, done that.
Letter to Obama....

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=11061


 


Letter to my employees...
Not sure who wrote this letter, but its quite a good read..

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.


However, what you don't see is the back story.


I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the Goodwill store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... You never realize the back story and the sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....

Signed,

Your boss

GM letter and response?

Don't know if this is true (but hope it is) received in an email:


 


This is one of the greatest responses to the requests for bailout
money I have seen thus far. As a supplier for the Big 3 this man
received a letter from the President of GM North America requesting
support for the bail out program. His response is classic, and has to
make you proud of a local guy who tells it like it is.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Employees & Suppliers,

Congress and the current Administration will soon determine whether to
provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it
through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation's
history. Your elected officials must hear from all of us now on why
this support is critical to our continuing the progress we began prior
to the global financial crisis......................As an employee or
supplier, you have a lot at stake and continue to be one of our most
effective and passionate voices. I know GM can count on you to have
your voice heard.

Thank you for your urgent action and ongoing support.

Troy Clarke

President General Motors North America

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++





Response from:

Gregory Knox, Pres. Check out this guy's website via Google

Knox Machinery Company

Franklin, Ohio

http://www.knoxmachinery.com/leadership.html



Gentlemen:

In response to your request to contact legislators and ask for a
bailout for the Big Three automakers please consider the following,
and please pass my thoughts on to Troy Clark, President of General
Motors North America.

Politicians and Management of the Big 3 are both infected with the
same entitlement mentality that has spread like cancerous germs in UAW
halls for the last countless decades, and whose plague is now sweeping
this nation, awaiting our new "messiah", Pres-elect Obama, to wave his
magic wand and make all our problems go away, while at the same time
allowing our once great nation to keep "living the dream"… Believe me
folks, The dream is over!

This dream where we can ignore the consumer for years while management
myopically focuses on its personal rewards packages at the same time
that our factories have been filled with the worlds most overpaid,
arrogant, ignorant and laziest entitlement minded "laborers" without
paying the price for these atrocities…this dream where you still think
the masses will line up to buy our products for ever and ever.

Don't even think about telling me I'm wrong. Don't accuse me of not
knowing of what I speak. I have called on Ford, GM, Chrysler, TRW,
Delphi, Kelsey Hayes, American Axle and countless other automotive
OEM's throughout the Midwest during the past 30 years and what I've
seen over those years in these union shops can only be described as
disgusting.

Troy Clarke, President of General Motors North America, states: "There
is widespread sentiment throughout this country, and our government,
and especially via the news media, that the current crisis is
completely the result of bad management which it certainly is not."

You're right Mr. Clarke, it's not JUST management…how about the
electricians who walk around the plants like lords in feudal times,
making people wait on them for countless hours while they drag a$$…so
they can come in on the weekend and make double and triple time…for a
job they easily could have done within their normal 40 hour work week.
 How about the line workers who threaten newbies with all kinds of
scare tactics…for putting out too many parts on a shift…and for being
too productive

(We certainly must not expose those lazy bums who have been getting
overpaid for decades for their horrific underproduction, must we?!?)

Do you folks really not know about this stuff?!? How about this great
sentiment abridged from Mr. Clarke's sad plea: "over the last few
years …we have closed the quality and efficiency gaps with our
competitors." What the he11 has Detroit been doing for the last 40
years?!? Did we really JUST wake up to the gaps in quality and
efficiency between us and them? The K car vs. the Accord? The Pinto
vs. the Civic?!? Do I need to go on? What a joke!

We are living through the inevitable outcome of the actions of the
United States auto industry for decades. It's time to pay for your
sins, Detroit .

I attended an economic summit last week where brilliant economist,
Alan Beaulieu, from the Institute of Trend Research , surprised the
crowd when he said he would not have given the banks a penny of
"bailout money".. "Yes, he said, this would cause short term
problems," but despite what people like politicians and corporate
magnates would have us believe, the sun would in fact rise the next
day… and the following very important thing would happen…where there
had been greedy and sloppy banks, new efficient ones would pop up…that
is how a free market system works…it does work…if we would only let it
work…"

But for some nondescript reason we are now deciding that the rest of
the world is right and that capitalism doesn't work - that we need the
government to step in and "save us"…Save us my a$$, He11 - we're
nationalizing…and unfortunately too many of our once fine nation's
citizens don't even have a clue that this is what is really
happening…But, they sure can tell you the stats on their favorite
sports teams…yeah - THAT'S really important, isn't it…

Does it ever occur to ANYONE that the "competition" has been producing
vehicles, EXTREMELY PROFITABLY, for decades in this country?... How
can that be??? Let's see… Fuel efficient… Listening to customers…
Investing in the proper tooling and automation for the long haul…

Not being too complacent or arrogant to listen to Dr. W. Edwards
Deming four decades ago when he taught that by adopting appropriate
principles of management, organizations could increase quality and
simultaneously reduce costs. Ever increased productivity through
quality and intelligent planning… Treating vendors like strategic
partners, rather than like "the enemy"… Efficient front and back
offices… Non union environment…

Again, I could go on and on, but I really wouldn't be telling anyone
anything they really don't already know down deep in their hearts.

I have six children, so I am not unfamiliar with the concept of
wanting someone to bail you out of a mess that you have gotten
yourself into - my children do this on a weekly, if not daily basis,
as I did when I was their age. I do for them what my parents did for
me (one of their greatest gifts, by the way) - I make them stand on
their own two feet and accept the consequences of their actions and
work through it. Radical concept, huh… Am I there for them in the
wings? Of course - but only until such time as they need to be fully
on their own as adults.

I don't want to oversimplify a complex situation, but there certainly
are unmistakable parallels here between the proper role of parenting
and government. Detroit and the United States need to pay for their
sins. Bad news people - it's coming whether we like it or not. The
newly elected Messiah really doesn't have a magic wand big enough to
"make it all go away." I laughed as I heard Obama "reeling it back
in" almost immediately after the final vote count was tallied…"we
really might not do it in a year…or in four…" Where the He11 was that
kind of talk when he was RUNNING for office.

Stop trying to put off the inevitable folks … That house in Florida
really isn't worth $750,000… People who jump across a border really
don't deserve free health care benefits… That job driving that
forklift for the Big 3 really isn't worth $85,000 a year… We really
shouldn't allow Wal-Mart to stock their shelves with products acquired
from a country that unfairly manipulates their currency and has the
most atrocious human rights infractions on the face of the globe…

That couple whose combined income is less than $50,000 really
shouldn't be living in that $485,000 home… Let the market correct
itself folks - it will. Yes it will be painful, but it's gonna' be
painful either way, and the bright side of my proposal is that on the
other side of it all, is a nation that appreciates what it has…and
doesn't live beyond its means…and gets back to basics…and redevelops
the patriotic work ethic that made it the greatest nation in the
history of the world…and probably turns back to God.

Sorry - don't cut my head off, I'm just the messenger sharing with you
the "bad news". I hope you take it to heart.

Gregory J. Knox, President

Knox Machinery, Inc.

Franklin, Ohio 45005


Excellent letter -
She echoes my thoughts exactly. I forwared this letter to our Senators and plan to forward to others. If anyone thinks that this letter is "boring" then they must have their head in the sand (or somewhere else) because this tells it how it really is and boring it is not; how about scary!
Great article! Very well written.

As I've suspected for a long time now, he's deaf and *dumb*!!


Thanks for posting this. 


How you interpret the written word is beyond me.

 I believe I said in order to be forgiven, one has to 'fess up, own up, repent and go and sin no more.  This is a 1 on 1 deal with God. I have repeatedly said, in response to many issues, that God judges, not us but what I get is God will judge W and anyone else with whom we agree and who are we to say anything different but the liberals, the people of other faiths,  poor people, the spiritually bankrupt people, the **undeserving poor** as opposed to the ***deserving poor***, now that is a different story. We can and ought to judge them as harshly as possible; speaking out of both sides of one's mouth it would seem to me. In response to my unChristianness I have enclosed the definition of repentence with Bible ***links***. 


What is Repentance?


Repentance comes from a Greek word meaning to change one's mind. It is much more than feeling sorry about what has happened or regretful about circumstances and their outcome. The key element is the concept of change, of turning completely around. It involves both a turning from and a turning to. In the Bible it means to be converted; to undergo a radical change of heart and life, a complete turnabout of life.


The Shorter Catechism says Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.

The change of mind and heart comes as we move from a state of rebellion against God and the idolization of our selves (Rom 1:21ff; 3:10-19, 23). We agree with God in His assessment of us - we are sinners in thought, word and deed - under His wrath and curse. No longer do we seek to justify ourselves, excuse our sins, or try to merit salvation. Rather we comprehend the awful truth about ourselves - that we are spiritually dead in our trespasses and sin - and the wages of sin is death, and after that will come judgment. (Eph 2:1-3; James 1:15; Rom 6:23; Hebr 9:27).

True repentance is not putting on sackcloth and ashes, a negative preoccupation with ourselves. However to turn from sin and live for Christ, we must see our sin for what it is and how it affects our thinking and actions and this can be done most clearly as Christ bears it to the cross - God's response to our sin is such that he couldn't spare his own Son. (Rom 8:32)

Repentance includes Confession - the acknowledging of our sinfulness to God and our admission to Him that apart from Christ we are unable to please God. It includes knowing God's forgiveness, we can turn away from sin when we know our sinfulness no longer keeps us from God. And true repentance leads to new obedience. We are turning to newness of life, living now as God would have us to live.

True repentance can only come at the foot of the cross. It is inseparable from faith for this reason. Repentance is admitting that we are as God sees us, and He knows every secret within our hearts (Psa 139, Matt 6:4, 6). Faith embraces the Savior he offers for our salvation.

Only as we realize what our sin is before God, will we experience true godly sorrow for our sins (Cf 2 Cor 7:8-11) Worldly sorrow regrets the consequences, feels remorse that I'm guilty - it leads to death. If we dwell on our sins rather than viewing them in the shade of the cross - we would be driven to despair and hopelessness. But godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation - we see ourselves as we are and hate our sin, humbling ourselves before God. True repentance is being honest with ourselves and with God without fear - because we trust God has dealt with that sin on the cross. (Rom 8:1ff)


P.S. All humans make mistakes. All presidents are human, ergo, all presidents make mistakes.


Well written, I agree with you Amanda
nm
Saw this on a blog, written by a soldier....sm
Apparently written in response to negative posts regarding our country, the election, the republicans, etc. I felt this soldier's viewpoint is very, very important.



I will tell you about America!! I have been a soldier. I have seen American men and women of all RACES and religions that courageously and proudly serve their country. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice for their country with their lives. I read these comments putting down what these finest of Americans have done It makes me really ANGRY. These people that put our country down have NO appreciation of the freedoms that they have because of the sacrifice of these military heroes!!

I know that in America we have problems and although it has taken along time to fix many of these problems, we still FIX things. That is what Americans do. There have been racial problems but in 1862 there was slavery .A Christian republican president (Lincoln) issued the Emancipation Proclamation that ended the slavery and set our country on the road to racial equality. We are not entirely there yet but we have come a long way. It would have been impossible in years past for a black man like Obama to make 4million dollars a year not to mention actually run for president.

The capitalist system that he is trying to destroy has been really good to him.

I have been around the world and I have seen “civilized” socialist European countries that have a 6o% tax rate on the working class in order to “spread the wealth” and few personal freedoms. I have seen third world countries where one in three babies die due to water born disease. I have also seen American Christian organizations voluntarily drilling wells to help these people survive. I have seen Americans risking their lives to provide medical assistance to people that have no access.

When that enormous tsunami hit Indonesia, Who was there first??? America was there first. American Marines put down their weapons and began digging the out survivors as well as those who didn’t survive. Americans set up water purification units to provide safe drinking water, setting up field hospitals aiding the injured, setting up temporary housing for these victims and food services for the victims. America was there FIRST!!

I have seen countries where the middle class live in filthy squalor, with open sewers and trash in the streets, living under oppressive totalitarian regimes. I have seen communists that plunder, murder, rape and torture the very people that they are supposedly “liberating”.

You people who want to believe that America is so bad really don’t have a realistic view of the world. NOWHERE in the world do people have a higher standard of living due to our capitalist free market system. NOWHERE in the world do people have the personal rights that we have in America. NOBODY in the world puts so much effort in to helping other people, even some that are not very friendly to us. NOBODY matches our humanitarian worldwide efforts. Why do you think that so many people want to get to America????

You people that put America down should really open your eyes and take a good honest look at the rest of the world. You should also question the anti-American rantings of people like Mr. Ayers, Mr. Wright and those associated with them. If these people had spouted this stuff in 90% of
other countries, they would have been thrown in prison or would have wound up in an unmarked shallow grave somewhere. Instead Mr. Wright lives in a 1.2 million dollar home and Mr. Ayers is a professor in a prestigious university.

Again, only in AMERICA…..

WAKE UP AMERICA……WAKE UP!!!!
never saw the S-word written like that before - too funny
x
Your post was well written but hypocritical.
You admonish us to come together while in the same paragraph stating Republicans are to blame for everything gone wrong in the last 8 years. You speak of cluelessness, simplemindedness, backwardness, etc. etc. etc., insulting the past administration and anyone supportive of it while proclaiming the virtues of a man whose potential and abilities have not yet been proven. Your post is insulting, opinionated and presumptious, yet you are bewildered and dismayed by those not joining you on the Obama-idolizing bandwagon.

How dare you reduce this to an accusation of racial prejudice? How is such an assumption not hateful in itself?

It is precisely this kind of holier-than-thou attitude that creates and perpetuates devisivenss in the world!
I have already written the author of this- others should email
Doctors swamped, having to dictate from a zoo. Honestly. How many of us have heard doctors dictating from the bathrooms, doing their business 1 and 2, their homes with dogs barking, eating, snorting, and the list goes on. Also as an Editor was amused by the fact "only doctors are allowed to edit reports or change." I do not know of any physicians here in the US doing that. As far as what is not to like, when my hospital tried to send work overseas the physicians up in arms because of the horrible work they got back. That did not last long with them when the doctors spoke.
if one cannot interpret what is written in the Bible
the results are catastrophic.
Rowe, Rove, only one letter

difference, and both words represent betrayal by government in one form or another. 


Women who believe in choice will see their rights digress and witness history go backwards.  CIA agents have already seen that they can't trust their government in a time of war.


Actually, Karl Rove has a very important job.  Because of him and the heat the administration has been taking because of his actions, Bush was forced to actually do his job and nominate a replacement for Justice O'Connor.  Very, very "hard work" before he spends the entire month of August in Crawford.


I think soon, though, y'all will see it didn't work.  Rove can't escape the heat that easily.  I believe you will find that Bush failed in getting the heat taken off of Rove, and he had to rush to do all that "hard work" for no reason at all!


You might want to read the letter on the other board.
The one from the young Marine who says that the fighting forces in Iraq feel that the antiwar movement is enabling and strengthening the forces they are fighting.  If that is not putting our troops in danger, I am not sure what is. 
Exclusive: Dem Letter to Bush sm

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500



Dear Mr. President:



The start of the new Congress brings us opportunities to work together on the critical issues confronting our country. No issue is more important than finding an end to the war in Iraq. December was the deadliest month of the war in over two years, pushing U.S. fatality figures over the 3,000 mark.



The American people demonstrated in the November elections that they do not believe your current Iraq policy will lead to success and that we need a change in direction for the sake of our troops and the Iraqi people. We understand that you are completing your post-election consultations on Iraq and are preparing to make a major address on your Iraq strategy to the American people next week.



Clearly this address presents you with another opportunity to make a long overdue course correction. Despite the fact that our troops have been pushed to the breaking point and, in many cases, have already served multiple tours in Iraq, news reports suggest that you believe the solution to the civil war in Iraq is to require additional sacrifices from our troops and are therefore prepared to proceed with a substantial U.S. troop increase.



Surging forces is a strategy that you have already tried and that has already failed. Like many current and former military leaders, we believe that trying again would be a serious mistake. They, like us, believe there is no purely military solution in Iraq. There is only a political solution. Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to the breaking point for no strategic gain. And it would undermine our efforts to get the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. We are well past the point of more troops for Iraq.



In a recent appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General John Abizaid, our top commander for Iraq and the region, said the following when asked about whether he thought more troops would contribute to our chances for success in Iraq:



I met with every divisional commander, General Casey, the Corps commander, General Dempsey. We all talked together. And I said, in your professional opinion, if we were to bring in more American troops now, does it add considerably to our ability to achieve success in Iraq? And they all said no. And the reason is, because we want the Iraqis to do more. It's easy for the Iraqis to rely upon to us do this work. I believe that more American forces prevent the Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own future.



Rather than deploy additional forces to Iraq, we believe the way forward is to begin t he phased redeployment of our forces in the next four to six months, while shifting the principal mission of our forces there from combat to training, logistics, force protection and counter-terror. A renewed diplomatic strategy, both within the region and beyond, is also required to help the Iraqis agree to a sustainable political settlement. In short, it is time to begin to move our forces out of Iraq and make the Iraqi political leadership aware that our commitment is not open ended, that we cannot resolve their sectarian problems, and that only they can find the political resolution required to stabilize Iraq.



Our troops and the American people have already sacrificed a great deal for the future of Iraq. After nearly four years of combat, tens of thousands of U.S. casualties, and over $300 billion dollars, it is time to bring the war to a close. We, therefore, strongly encourage you to reject any plans that call for our getting our troops any deeper into Iraq. We want to do everything we can to help Iraq succeed in the future but, like many of our senior military leaders, we do not believe that adding more U.S. combat troops contributes to success.



We appreciate you taking these views into consideration.



Sincerely,­­­­


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi