Obama Email

from John Doe

wrote:



--



_____________________________________________________________
Netscape. Just the Net You Need.

From: Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:50:54 EST
Subj
Hi !
I received this from a Kiwanis buddy and wondered what you thought of this info...Let me know!

Cynthia



See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
From: "jack jaffe"
To:
Subject: Fw: Just Who Is Barrack Obama----Please Read----------
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 13:51:29 -0500

Subject: Fw: Just Who Is Barrack Obama----Please Read----------

>
>
> Subject: Just Who Is Barrack Obama
>
>
> This is sooooooooooooooooo scary - honestly and he is also
>
> gaining so much attention what with the "OPRAH" thing and all. Regardless of how
> you feel about Oprah - she is certainly helping the muslim/athiest try and get to this country..
> Prayer and telling others about this is our greatest hope for this nation.,
>
>
>
> Who is Barack Obama?
> Very interesting and something that should be considered in your
> choice.
>
> If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all
> your contacts...this is very scary to think of what lies ahead of us
> here in our own United States...better heed this and pray about it and share it.
>
> We checked this out on "snopes.com". It is factual. Check for yourself.
>
> Who is Barack Obama?
>
> Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHIEST from Wichita, Kansas.
>
>
> Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia.
>
> When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocate to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school.
>
> Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school."
>
> Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that he is not a radical.
>
>
> Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education.
>
> Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta.
>
> Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.
>
> Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.
>
> Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy.
>
> The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own!!!!
>
> Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?...... NOT ME!!!
>

Tourists Not Vacationing in Mexi-Beaches, Por que? La Crima

From Gene Caferelli





Tourists shun crime-hit Mexico beaches

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press WriterSat Jan 5, 1:24 PM ET

Assaults on American tourists have brought hard times to hotels and restaurants that dot Mexican beaches just south of the border from San Diego .

Surfers and kayakers are frightened to hit the waters of the northern stretch of Mexico 's Baja California peninsula, long popular as a weekend destination for U.S. tourists. Weddings have been canceled. Lobster joints a few steps from the Pacific were almost empty on the usually busy New Year's weekend.

Americans have long tolerated shakedowns by police who boost salaries by pulling over motorists for alleged traffic violations, and tourists know parts of Baja are a hotbed of drug-related violence. But a handful of attacks since summer by masked, armed bandits — some of whom used flashing lights to appear like police — marks a new extreme that has spooked even longtime visitors.

Lori Hoffman, a San Diego-area emergency room nurse, said she was sexually assaulted Oct. 23 by two masked men in front of her boyfriend, San Diego Surfing Academy owner Pat Weber, who was forced to kneel at gunpoint for 45 minutes. They were at a campground with about 30 tents, some 200 miles south of the border.

The men shot out windows of the couple's trailer and forced their way inside, ransacked the cupboards and left with about $7,000 worth of gear, including computers, video equipment and a guitar.

Weber, who has taught dozens of students in Mexico over the last 10 years, plans to surf in Costa Rica or New Zealand . "No more Mexico ," said Hoffman, who reported the attack to Mexican police. No arrests have been made.

The Baja California peninsula is known worldwide for clean and sparsely populated beaches, lobster and margaritas and blue waters visited by whales and dolphins. Surfers love the waves; fishermen catch tuna, yellowtail and marlin. Food and hotels are cheap.

News of harrowing assaults on American tourists has begun to overshadow that appeal in the northern part of the peninsula, home to drug gangs and the seedy border city of Tijuana . The comparatively isolated southern tip, with its tony Los Cabos resort, remains safer and is still popular with Hollywood celebrities, anglers and other foreign tourists.

Local media and surfing Web sites that trumpeted Baja in the past have reported several frightening crimes that U.S. and Mexican officials consider credible. Longtime visitors are particularly wary of a toll road near the border that runs through Playas de Rosarito — Rosarito Beach .

In late November, as they returned from the Baja 1000 off-road race, a San Diego-area family was pulled over on the toll road by a car with flashing lights. Heavily armed men held the family hostage for two hours. They eventually released them but stole the family's truck.

Before dawn on Aug. 31, three surfers were carjacked on the same stretch of highway. Gunmen pulled them over in a car with flashing lights, forced them out of their vehicles and ordered one to kneel. They took the trucks and left the surfers.

Aqua Adventures of San Diego scrapped its annual three-day kayak trip to scout for whales in January, ending a run of about 10 years. Customers had already been complaining about longer waits to return to the U.S. ; crime gave them another reason to stay away.

"People are just saying, 'No way.' They don't want to deal with the risk," said owner Jen Kleck, who has sponsored trips to Baja about five times a year but hasn't been since July.

Charles Smith, spokesman for the U.S. consulate in Tijuana , said the U.S. government has not found a widespread increase in attacks against Americans, but he acknowledged many crimes go unreported. The State Department has long warned motorists on Mexico 's border to watch for people following them, though no new warnings have been issued.

Mexican officials acknowledge crime has threatened a lifeblood of Baja's economy. In Playas de Rosarito, a city of 130,000, police were forced to surrender their weapons last month for testing to determine links to any crimes. Heavily armed men have patrolled City Hall since a failed assassination attempt on the new police chief left one officer dead. On Thursday the bullet-riddled bodies of a Tijuana police official and another man were found dumped near the beach.

"We cannot minimize what's happening to public safety," said Oscar Escobedo Carignan, Baja's new secretary of tourism. "We're going to impose order ... We're indignant about what's happening."

Tourist visits to Baja totaled about 18 million in 2007, down from 21 million the previous year, Escobedo said. Hotel occupancy dropped about 5 percentage points to 53 percent.

Hugo Torres, owner of the storied Rosarito Beach Hotel and the city's new mayor, estimates the number of visitors to Rosarito Beach since summer is down 30 percent.

In the city's Puerto Nuevo tourist enclave, which offers $20 lobster dinners and $1 margaritas, restaurant managers said sales were down as much as 80 percent from last year. One Saturday afternoon in October, masked bandits wielding pistols walked the streets and kidnapped two men — an American and a Spanish citizen — who were later released unharmed. Two people who were with them were shot and wounded.

Omar Armendariz, who manages a Puerto Nuevo lobster restaurant, is counting on the new state and city governments to make tourists feel safer. He has never seen fewer visitors in his nine years on the job.

"It's dead," he said.

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press.

Court will hide ID of illegal immigrant employer

From Gene Caferelli

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/105888
January 4, 2008 - 11:22PM

Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services

A federal court will keep secret the identity of an Arizona business owner who admits in a sworn statement to hiring illegal immigrants.

The business owner, who remains anonymous, has filed an affidavit in federal court saying he was employing people not in this country legally last year when the lawsuit was filed, and he intends to continue to do so even with the new state law that took effect Jan. 1.

That law allows a judge to suspend or revoke any state licenses of firms that knowingly hire undocumented workers.

Attorney David Selden, who represents businesses challenging the law, said the purpose of the affidavit was to prove to U.S. District Court Judge Neil Wake that the law will harm at least one company.

The judge had previously indicated he might not be able to rule on the validity of the law without some proof someone could get in legal trouble for disobeying it.

Selden said the move is justified because the business owner faces both the threat of prosecution if his identity becomes known, as well as the possibility of actual physical harm.

But the move drew objections from state Solicitor Gene ral Mary O’Grady, who said it is improper to let an unidentified person challenge state law. She asked Wake to quash the effort.

On Friday, though, the judge suggested he would simply sidestep the issue.

Wake pointed out that the state essentially has now agreed that the business groups challenging the law do, in fact, have legal standing to ask him to overturn it. That, he said, may make it unnecessary for him to rule on Selden ’s effort to introduce the affidavit.

O’Grady said she is studying Wake’s latest ruling.

Two other business owners also filed “John Doe” affidavits in the case. Selden said neither business owner has admitted to hiring illegal immigrants, but both assume there may be some on their payroll.

The lawsuit contends the state law is unconstitutional because only the federal government is empowered to punish companies for employing workers not legally entitled to work in this country.

Drama from the Catholic Left

Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 17:57:13 -0800 (PST)
From: "James Bretney" View Contact Details View Contact Details
Subject: Re: Fw: Torture
To: "Joel Fago" , "St. Gianna, Teri Gauger" , "Shih Tzus, Chris Jones" , "Sherry Zimmerman" , "Sam Sohrab" "Rick (son of Cim)" , "Margnariz" , "Lora" , "Long Beach Prolifer", "Kelly Copeland Knights, Pro-Life Chairman" , "Joe and Terri" , "Joan JoAnn Jacobson" , "Jay Mawhinney" , "Jane Kosco" , "Gil Cadena" , "Frank and Marie Burke" , "Fr. Robert Rankin" , Send an Instant Message "Fr. Robert Mugisa" , "Fr. John Shetler" , Send an Instant Message "Fr. Fidelis Igwenwane" , "Fr. Dennis Dolter" , "Ferndinand, Department of Insurance" , "Esther and Gloria" , "Dorothy Hansen" , "Don Collier" , "Don and Lucy" , "David Gowan, politician" , "Cottonwood Parishioner" , "Cheryl Sonick" , "Charly" , "Big Ed Mure" , "Barbara Kuntz" , "Art and Marian Travis" , "Ardell Jorde" , "Ann Downey" , "!Sunny" , "!Ed Kahn(prolife attorney)" , Send an Instant Message "!Cim Sankey" , "!!Joel" , "Wally Pacholka"

I am US Army defense contractor and reservist. I am very familiar with the course offerings here on Fort Huachua. We don't torture. If you have evidence that we do teach torture, please produce it. Thank you.

James A. Bretney
biz_account_only@yahoo.com
520 255 4137

Joel Fago
To: "Larry Fagot" ; "!Don" ;
"JoAnn" ; "Lynne"
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: Torture


> Dear Larry,
>
> Thanks for the email. I am familiar with Dorthy Day's Catholic Workers--
> much humanitarian work has been done by its members.
>
> Today, Sierra Vista Herald printed my letter "defending" Obama:
> Take a look at the facts on Obama, other candidates
>
> Published on Monday, January 07, 2008
>
> To the Editor:
>
> Re: "Take a deep look at the candidates," Dec. 23.
>
> Anyone who says that Sen. Barack Obama refuses to say the Pledge of
> Allegiance or place his hand over his heart during the Pledge of
> Allegiance is not taking a deep look at the facts. All one looking for the
> truth has to do is go to www.youtube.com or www.snopes.com.
>
> I am against Sen. Barack Obama because he is for abortion, the killing of
> unborn babies.
>
> Joel Fago
>
> Sierra Vista
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry Fagot"
> To: "Joel Fago" ; "!Don" ; "JoAnn"
> ; "Lynne"
> Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 12:24 PM
> Subject: Re: Torture
>
>
>> Joel & Shelia,
>>
>> I read an account of your protest in "Peacemakers
>> Spend Weekend Protesting Torture in the Desert"
>> see
>> http://www.catholicworkersd.org/newspapers/2007/SDCWPaper_Christmas_2007.pdf
>>
>> @ http://www.catholicworkersd.org/aboutus.htm
>>
>> Are you familiar with Dorthy Day's Catholic Workers?
>>
>> LARRY
>> --- Joel Fago wrote:
>>
>>> Sheila and I just returned from the torture protest
>>> at Fort Huachuca. When we arrived, someone handed
>>> Sheila a sign, "Support Our Troops." I wandered off
>>> and picked up a great sign: it had a drawing of
>>> Jesus on the cross and the words, "All Torture Is
>>> Evil." After holding it for a while, a fellow came
>>> over and thanked me for holding his sign and gave me
>>> a sign, "NO TO TORTURE." I took the sign to where
>>> Sheila was standing. Some people near Sheila told
>>> me to go back to the other side. I said that I do
>>> support our troops by saying no to torture. They
>>> screamed at me to get out of there. I tried to
>>> reason with them until a police officer told me to
>>> go over to the other side. I tried to reason with
>>> him until he started pushing me to the other side.
>>>
>>> A lady on the other side asked me to step up to the
>>> microphone and tell what happened. I did and asked
>>> for a discussion of the issues not to be separated
>>> into sides. I ended by saying, "Unless truth
>>> prevails, our country will fail."
>>
>

Pro Life

from Joe Peron



Check It Out!

Thomas Dunn accuses Gabby of Franking Fraud

From Jim Ehl

Remember, a couple of times we discussed on the Arizona Town Crier how Rep. Giffords was using franked mail to campaign? Now, someone with initiative has done something about it. Thomas Dunn has filed an official complaint. See below. The amount of money spend is really secondary to the character of the person spending it. For a representative to take advantage of those whom they represent is not worthy of that office.

Jim

To be removed from the list click here.

Remember, pass to 10.

Thursday, January 03, 2008
Citizen Complaint filed against Giffords on Franked Mail Abuse

For Immediate Release: January 3, 2008

CITIZEN COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST GIFFORDS ON FRANKED MAIL ABUSE

Dunn: Gabby Giffords violates franking standards…demands reimbursement of the peoples' money.

Tucson, AZ – Local political activist Thomas Dunn filed an official complaint that Congresswoman Gabby Giffords violated Section 3215; Section 3210 (a) (2); Section 3210 (a) (3) (B); and Section 3210 (a) (5) (A) of the standards set forth by the Committee on House Administration with Congressman Michael Capuano. The complaint was sent on December 14, received and forwarded to the Majority Office of the Committee on House Administration.

In his written complaint, Dunn refers to Pelosi's branding of Republicans as "the culture of corruption" as demogoging. Pelosi clearly had no principled intent on enforcing the same standards upon her own party.

Dunn demands that Ms. Giffords reimburse any funds spent inappropriately from her official reelection campaign accounts and vow to not abuse the privilege in the future.

Dunn also pleaded for an impartial analysis from the Majority Office.

Actual complaint


Here is the link to the Cmtee on House Admin franking guidelines.



Her violations are on
pg 2, #5;
pg 14, #12;
pg 16 # 16.

Back Room Brawls?

From Jim Ehl

News about Maricopa County
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:54:30 -0700

One of the things that this information brings to mind is a lack of an Arizona Republican TEAM. And, it's no better here in this corner of the state. We, too, changed chairs except like the info from Rob to the MCRC, the CCRC was not told about it. Some learned about second hand and the membership as a whole found out about it at the mandatory meeting where the 'in crowd' were all acting as business as usual. It was known earlier down here about Lyle's resignation when 'Frosty' forwarded a copy of Dan Nichols resignation. But, with no state team one wonders just how many of the other counties are doing what. Do the have the same chairs as they elected in 2006? Have any changed in significant way? Ah, it doesn't seem to matter. It's been noted that the counties can do whatever they like and we don't work together, anyway.

Does the state party hierarchy know what is going on with the county parties? Sometimes back the chair of Cochise County resigned and the party blog, nor the Tusk bit said anything. Now, Lyle Tuttle is resigning as the chair of Maricopa and the state had said nothing that I have seen. No fond farewell, kiss my bazooka, or anything. Is there anything going on with the rest of the county parties that is of interest?

Anyway, good luck to Tom. There are those of us outside Maricopa County who have appreciated Lyle.

Jim

To be removed from the list click here.

P.S. There is some interesting information in the wind. The budget, property taxes, and a number of other items. If you go to ALIS (Arizona Legislative Information System) you will note that all of the state representatives and state senators have their email address listed. I have added the Republicans to my list. There are no plans to send every Arizona Town Crier to them, but there will be some that should be of interest to our elected.


----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Haney
To: ROB HANEY
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 1:23 PM
Subject: Good News For Maricopa County Republicans

Click on link below at SEEINGRED for the story.

Rob


Tom Husband, District 11 officer, to run for Maricopa County Chairman « Seeing Red AZ

Jim Ehl takes a page from Pat Buchanan

By Jim Ehl

For those of you who have read my stuff know that one of my "soapboxes" is noting how the Republican Party's inability, or unwillingness, to 'clean house' has lead, or is leading, to the destruction of the party. I just received a fund raising letter (like many more) from the NRCC, that would have me believe that ALL the problems and excessive spending in the government is the fault of the DEMOCRATS. When is the party going to 'get real'?

We are now in the election year, and daily more folks register as Independents. Any idea why? And, you may have read how Independents flocked to the Democrats polls in Iowa. Why? Anyone ever consider faith in the party? Even Jessie Ventura writes "Ventura writes in the book, due in stores in April. "The government is supposed to be us, and it's not us anymore. It's been hijacked. Just when is somebody going to do something?" Now, just who is "somebody"? Me? You? Yeah, lets make a sign, get a box and head for the nearest busy street corner. That should make for some success? Or, the party?

Pat Buchanan (and many of you are not Buchanan fans as you have told me) said, and I copied it below, "The Party of Reagan is losing the country because it is no longer the party of the principles, policies and persona of Reagan, as applied to the problems of our time." If anyone wants to dispute what I noted below, I'll be more than happy to follow up with your response on the Arizona Town Crier. It is incumbent on all party members to demand that the party return to it's principles. Probably, most of you received, or receives, mail from the NRCC. That's a good place to start.

Jim

To be removed from the list click here.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


On issue after issue, the Republican Party, if it stood true to its beliefs and purged the twin heresies of neoconservatism in foreign policy and Wall Street Journal ideology in trade and immigration policy, would still stand well with Middle America.


Most Americans are traditionalist on right to life, homosexual marriage, a polluted culture and Hollywood values. Most Americans believe in a defense second to none, while staying out of wars that are not our quarrels.


Conservatives never believed in the United States going into nation-building abroad because they never believed in government nation-building at home. Nations grow organically. They rise from the soil of their own history, culture, faith, traditions.


Republicans believe in conservative judges and strict-constructionists justices like Antonin Scalia, who do not write the laws, but interpret the laws we have written through our elected representatives.


Democrats know this. Thus, they are not promising us any new Ruth Bader Ginsburgs.


What has alienated America is the Bush bellicosity, the my-way-or-the-highway free-trade ideology, the refusal to defend the border with the implication that anyone who wants to preserve the country he grew up in is some kind of bigot. The Party of Reagan is losing the country because it is no longer the party of the principles, policies and persona of Reagan, as applied to the problems of our time.


To find out more about Patrick Buchanan, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

Mexico continues to interfere in the internal affairs of the USA .

From Gene Caferelli


January 4, 2008 - 1:21PM
Mexico blasts Arizona employer sanctions law
Associated Press

The Mexican government promised Friday to defend any Mexicans affected by an Arizona law that punishes employers who hire undocumented migrants.

The Arizona law, which went into effect Tuesday, prohibits businesses from knowingly employing illegal immigrants. Violators face business license suspensions for up to 10 days; a second offense triggers permanent revocation.

“Measures like the one approved in Arizona do not contribute to solving the issue of migration by workers between the two countries, and ignore the contributions that migrants make to the U.S. economy and society,” Mexico ’s Foreign Relations Department said.

The department said it will “intervene, through its consulates, in any situation in which the rights of Mexican workers are affected, regardless of their immigration status.”

In the past, Mexican consulates have helped with the legal defense of Mexican citizens in similar cases. In Arizona , Mexico has consulates in Phoenix , Tucson , Nogales , Douglas and Yuma .

The Mexican government considers migration an unavoidable phenomenon given the higher wages in the United States . It strongly opposes tightened U.S. controls such as border fences, and instead wants temporary work-visa programs and legalization of workers in the United States .

Good shepherds: K-9s help nab stab suspect

from Gene Caferelli

Two heroic police dogs and their handlers helped capture a Rockland man suspected of stabbing his roommate five times at a New Year’s Eve party before nearly choking one of the pooches to death.

Julian Teixeira Demoura, 42, was collared early Tuesday on multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, mistreating a police dog and cruelty to an animal, Rockland police said.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m., Officer Steven Somers arrived at 808 Market St. in response to a report of a disturbance. There, he said, he found people screaming that someone had been stabbed and saw Demoura brandishing a 10-inch kitchen knife.

Somers drew his .40-caliber gun, he said, and Demoura ran out a back door, touching off a nearly four-hour chase that led about a dozen police officers and their dogs through two miles of woods, swamp and snow.

Somers suddenly fell into an ice-covered marsh. Up to his chest in freezing water, he ordered his three-year-old partner, a German Shepherd named Boyar, to attack the suspect. The dog gave chase and, a few seconds later, the officer heard a scream, followed by eerie silence.

Somers eventually made his way out of the icy marsh in the dark, repeatedly calling the dog’s name. Boyar, meanwhile, was wrestling with the suspect, trying to drag him back to his partner, even as Demoura used his shirt and a piece of metal as a winch to try to strangle the courageous canine, Somers said.

After struggling 20 minutes, Boyar lost hold of his prey when Demoura and the dog fell down a steep ravine, the officer said. Covered in the suspect’s blood, Demoura’s shirt still wrapped around his neck, Boyar finally made his way out and obeyed Somers’ order to return to him while other officers and their dogs picked up the chase.

Zar, a Duxbury police pooch, eventually tracked Demoura back to the basement of the house, where the suspect hit him in the head with the handle of a lawnmower before being arrested.

Both dogs escaped serious injury. The suspect was not so lucky.

After being treated at South Shore Hospital for multiple dog bites, Demoura was taken to the Plymouth County House of Correction, pending a dangerousness hearing Monday, police said, and could be deported because he is an illegal alien from Brazil .

The roommate, Sergio Lana, 34, is recovering at Brockton Hospital .

Jim Ehl criticizes Shadegg

by the Arizona Town Crier

A very interesting and enlightening article from Congressman Shadegg. However, it kind of like Pontious Pilate who washed his hands in a pail of water and noted wherein the wrongs against Jesus were concerned that his hands were clean. No where in the article is there an official objection or noted plan by the Honorable Congressman to rectify the situation.

Sooooooo, just what is the party, state and national, going to do about it? Obviously, the elected elite are only going to talk about it as they have for years. Stevens has been hung out to dry a couple to times, so what?

The answer us for the national party and the state parties to report on a regular basis the transgressions of our dearly beloved Republican elected and those who are more for power than the people to be exposed and for the party to clean their own house. I have noted in red my thoughts on the matter. It time to stop protecting and supporting, so called Republicans. (Are any from Arizona?)

Spending is the kind of thing the Republicans carry on about when talking about Democrats. For the same thing by a Republican is hypocrital, isn't it? And, who wants to vote for a hypocrite?

Jim

To be removed from the list click here.


To: Shadegg Friends
From: Congressman John Shadegg

________________________________


Washington Politicians Mortgage Our Future for Their Benefit
by Congressman John Shadegg

As they left town for Christmas, Congress (includes Republicans and Democrats) passed an unprecedented
end-of-the-year appropriations bill with billions in wasteful spending
designed principally to benefit incumbent Members of Congress.(includes Republicans and Democrats) This bill
includes thousands of self-serving Member-directed spending projects and
displays total disregard for both legislative process and the Constitution.
Though civics teaches that both Houses of Congress (includes Republicans and Democrats) must pass a bill before
it can be presented to the President for his signature to become law, this
did not happen. Instead the House, (includes Republicans and Democrats) fearful of political fallout, used
trickery (so, what was the trickery that could not be overcome?) so Members (includes Republicans and Democrats) could avoid voting on the actual bill as it passed the
Senate. A dangerous precedent.

The 3,417 page bill (34 pounds) was dropped (How? By whom?) barely 20 hours before final
consideration by the House. It included 9,170 Member-directed (includes Republicans and Democrats) spending
projects. Over 300 of these had never been made public, seen by
rank-and-file Members, or passed by either House. Combined with the 2,161
passed earlier, Members (What members? Who were the Republicans?) gave themselves a total of 11,331 self-serving
projects, costing Americans over $20 billion this year. During this
season of goodwill, this bill, and those who crammed it through Congress, (includes Republicans and Democrats)
showed none toward American taxpayers, their children, or grandchildren.

This legislation continues an embarrassing trend in government pork-barrel
spending, funneling untold billions into pet projects designed to re-elect
incumbents. (includes Republicans and Democrats) Most such projects are not requested, or even supported, by the
Departments obligated to deliver them. Many are outright corrupt -
directing funds to Members' (includes Republicans and Democrats) contributors, former staffers, and even family
members. The Democrat leadership promised to "make this the most honest,
ethical, and open Congress in history," yet under their guidance Members of
both parties continue brazenly using tax dollars to benefit themselves. ( How many tax dollars to beneift Republicans?)

Senator Ted Stevens (A Republican) matched his "Bridge to Nowhere" with $20 million for a
"Ferry to Nowhere" that appears to benefit his brother-in-law, and former
staffers Congressman Jim Clyburn, the Democrat Whip, obtained $229,000 for
the Drew Wellness Center, a physical fitness center where his daughter
works. In 2003, Clyburn obtained the $900,000 to construct the center.
Clyburn also obtained $3 million for a private charity associated with the
"James Clyburn Golf Center" he established at taxpayer expense in 2002. (Let's see, the $4,129,000 by Clyburn, a Democrat is still $15,872,000 short of the earmark by Stevens, a Republican.)
Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee obtained
$1.95 million for a center bearing his name and bragged on the House Floor
that he deserved it. (Compared to the 20M by Stevens, the Republican?) The bill even restored the now infamous Hillary
Clinton-Chuck Schumer Woodstock museum.

Members (What Republican members) devote huge amounts of time to these projects and openly acknowledge
the funds are being used - not for the larger public good - but to ensure
incumbents' reelection. In a letter to Speaker Pelosi, the leader of a
prominent Congressional Member caucus complained that caucus Members weren't
receiving enough projects to ensure the reelection of its incumbents in
"highly contested races." At this rate, Members (includes Republicans and Democrats) will soon complain they
aren't receiving sufficient bribes to maintain their lifestyle.

While the short-term ramifications of Washington's corruption and fiscal
promiscuity are disturbing, the long-term consequences for our children and
grandchildren should give every American cause for serious concern. Because
Congress (Renenber, congress encompasses both party's, not just Nancy's.) chooses to spend far more than is collected in current taxes, the
government must borrow money to fund our largess.

And borrow we have, to the point where our current national debt is a
whopping $9.2 trillion dollars - or more accurately $9,193,315,468, 899.43
as of December 21, 2007. That translates to $30,323.94 of debt for every
man, woman, and child in America.

Who, exactly, is lending us all this money? Well, Japan has lent us $586
billion. We owe communist China $400 billion. Our "friends" in Saudi
Arabia and other oil producing nations have lent us $123 billion. And here
is the really bad news: they expect us to pay them back - with interest. In
fact, we paid $430 billion in interest on our debt last year alone.


Of course, current taxpayers are not going to pay anywhere close to all of
that debt - we can't possibly. So who will be stuck paying for our wasteful
and irresponsible spending? Today's wasteful and corrupt spending will be
tomorrow's obligation. Our children and grandchildren will be forced to
repay today's wasteful spending. Anyone who truly cares about the future of
their children and grandchildren must demand that Washington put an end to
this corrupt and economically disastrous practice. (How? That's why we elected Republicans!)

One recent survey put Congress's approval rating at eleven percent. (That includes elected Republicans.) Given the self-serving, wasteful conduct Congress continues to engage in, it is shocking the number is not lower.

There will be much celebration and back slapping in Washington this
Christmas as Members (includes Republicans and Democrats) congratulate themselves for a job well done. But I
suspect, as Americans learn once again that Members of Congress (includes Republicans and Democrats) devote more
energy to looking out for themselves than the nation's and our children's
well-being, Congressional approval ratings will sink ever further, and
deservedly so.

For more on Member-directed spending projects, see Congress Daily article
at:
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=weeklyreport-000002596442




PAID FOR BY JOHN SHADEGG'S FRIENDS

Dallas Newspaper Selects the Illegal Immigrant as Texan of the Year

From Gene Caferelli

Friday , January 04, 2008



DALLAS —

When editorial writers at The Dallas Morning News chose the illegal immigrant as the newspaper's Texan of the Year, they expected some criticism. But not this: 800 blog postings and more than 150 letters to the editor blasting the decision.

Some of the critics threatened to cancel subscriptions or pressure advertisers to stop doing business with the paper.

"What an asinine article!!!" exclaimed one reader.

"What part of stupid are you guys that support illegal aliens? This puts us ALL in danger," another wrote.

Editorial writer Rodger Jones said he was "surprised at the nastiness" of the backlash, some of which came from readers who had only seen the editorial's headline.

The Texan of the Year designation, announced in Sunday's paper, has been an annual year-end editorial page feature since 2003.

It recognizes — without passing judgment — someone who has had a major impact or effected change in Texas during the past year. Previous recipients included the city of Houston for its response to Hurricane Katrina and a former police officer whose two sons died in Iraq and Afghanistan , as well as George W. Bush and Karl Rove.

None provoked a reaction on the scale of this year's choice, Jones said.

"All of those readers, it seems to me, who objected, conceded that it is a huge story," Jones said. "They just don't like the label applied. They construed that as some kind of honor that we bestow."

In its editorial, the News noted that illegal immigration directly affects Texas because of its proximity to the border and reviewed how policies aimed at curbing it have played out across the state.

For example, it cited efforts by Irving police to identify suspected illegal immigrants arrested for minor infractions, even traffic offenses, and turn them over to immigration agents.

The newspaper also mentioned Farmers Branch, another Dallas suburb, where residents and leaders marched into the immigration debate by requiring landlords to make sure renters are U.S. citizens or legal residents before leasing to them. And, the Morning News noted, a planned border fence has riled officials throughout the Rio Grande Valley .

The newspaper would not say how many readers actually canceled their subscriptions as a result of the editorial.

"Against our customer base, it's just not a material number," said Keven Ann Willey, vice president and editorial page editor. The Morning News has an average daily circulation of about 373,500 and a Sunday circulation of about 523,000, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Willey and Jones say they hope the editorial makes readers reflect on the issue.

"No one disagrees that illegal immigration is a huge deal, and no one disagrees that the system is broken and needs to be fixed," Jones said.

Dallas activist Elizabeth Villafranca praised the News for its courage in giving the immigration debate such importance.

"The animosity is already at the highest level that it can be," she said. "I don't think it can hurt. Maybe it is going to make people think."

Arizona economy bracing for immigration crackdown

There are several economic issues raised in the following article. Let’s take one----the effect of labor cost on the (market) price of a product. For our example, we’ll select landscaping services, presumably a product in which labor costs are a large part of the total costs faced by the landscaping firm.



In this analysis we’ll start by dividing the landscaping firm universe into two groups; those who hire illegals and therefore undoubtedly have lower labor costs, and those who hire only legal workers.* Both types face the same demand curve for landscaping services.



But the illegal firm has an advantage over the legal firm, actually two advantages. On one hand, they can price their product at market but make a greater profit because of their lower labor cost (Unfair Advantage #1). Or they can price their services lower than their legal competitors (Unfair Advantage #2). Who wants to talk about fairness?



*I am assuming equal output per hour for both illegal and legal workers.



Gene Cafarelli

Full disclosure: I am willing to pay more for my lettuce if it means that it is produced by my fellow (legal) Americans.





http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071230/ts_alt_afp/usimmigrationeconomyarizona



Arizona economy bracing for immigration crackdown

by Scott SeckelSun Dec 30, 6:03 PM ET

New laws targeting employers who hire illegal immigrants take effect here on January 1, with experts predicting the move may cost the state's economy billions of dollars in lost income and taxes.

The new laws are described as the toughest local anti-illegal immigration legislation in the United States , and will sanction businesses who knowingly hire undocumented workers.

Any employer who falls foul of the law will see their business license suspended for 10 days for a first offense; a second infraction will see the license permanently revoked.

Judith Gans, a University of Arizona immigration policy expert who has studied the economic impact of illegal immigrants, said the new law will have a dramatic effect on the local economy.

"Industries will shrink and prices will go up," Gans told AFP.

The price of a hamburger, a head of lettuce, and a week's worth of gardening services will all increase as workforces shrink, Gans said.

Illegal immigrants "are filling gaps in the labor force, and as those gaps widen, prices will go up," she said. "That theory is not contested."

According to an October study released by Gans , Arizona 's foreign-born population has tripled in less than two decades, from about 269,000 in 1990 to 831,000 in 2004.

Experts peg the state's illegal immigrant population at about half a million. Workers, mainly from Mexico , flock to pick lettuce in Yuma , make sushi in Phoenix , and clean hotel rooms in Flagstaff .

According to Gans' study, they make up 59 percent of the workforce in farming; 27 percent in construction; 51 percent in landscaping; 26 percent in hotel work; 23 percent in restaurants; 33 percent in private homes; and 46 percent in textile manufacturing.

Out of every six non-citizens in Arizona , five are illegal, according to Gans. Her study indicates the net 2004 fiscal impact of Arizona illegals was positive by about 940 million dollars, when balanced against costs of 1.4 billion dollars for education, health care, and law enforcement.

A public outcry and inaction by lawmakers in Washington to pass immigration reform laws, led state officials to pass the employer sanctions law.

Local businesses are bracing for the effect of the crackdown.

"Oh yeah, it'll affect us," said Jeremiah, the owner of Around Town Landscaping in Phoenix who estimated that the cost of having a garden mowed will go up 15 to 20 percent in 2008 as a result.

"We're going to lose some qualified guys, for sure. I'll keep my product the same, but it'll affect efficiency. It's a lack of foresight to think it wouldn't affect those things," added Jeremiah, who would not give his last name.

"It's not the right way to go. I don't think people did their homework on it, and no one consulted small companies on how they feel about it," he added.

Construction costs won't noticeably rise, said Julie Fenner, office manager of Hidden Valley Roofing in Phoenix . The company has always screened for proof of citizenship.

"To spread that over the cost of a roof, it's not going to happen," she said. "I can't see costs going up based on that."

Agriculture is expected to be among the industries hardest hit by the new law. Yuma needs about 50,000 pickers during lettuce harvest. Only half that number lives on the American side of the border. Pickers now earn 12 to 14 dollars per hour, said Dawn McLaren, an Arizona State University research economist.

Their wages could rise to 20 dollars per hour.

As more and more farms move south of the border to avoid high production costs, food may have to be imported on a weak dollar, making groceries more expensive.

"If we can't find labor here at a reasonable cost to business, businesses can simply move their business elsewhere," McLaren said. "We may see the cost of having to import stuff."

One Arizona grower recently decided to buy a farm in Iowa instead of investing in his Arizona operations, said Joe Sigg, director of government relations for the Arizona Farm Bureau.

"Banks will start looking at credit risks," Sigg said. "It's going to be more of an economic cloud on Arizona than the cost of a head of lettuce will be. Any prospectus for investors will have to have a flashing sign around it saying, This business may lose its LLC.' I think the investment community will chill on Arizona as well."

Uncertainty about what will happen is as big an issue as anything, Gans said. "We'll see," she said. " Arizona has certainly put itself on the line."

Copyright © 2008 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.

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From the Arizona Town Crier

The question comes to mind, has the state legislature, or either of the state's political parties addressed this?

http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=55538

Jim