Jan., 2011.  We are all most painfully aware of the terrible event that took place in a shopping area parking lot just outside of the city of Tucson, Arizona.

   In the early part of this month, a mentally deranged 22-year-old, Jered Lee Loughner, followed his predisposition of anger, public disruption, with inspiration from "Mein Kampf" and "The Communist Manifesto" and shot 19 people, killing six, including a Democratic Congresswoman and a Republican judge.

   Immediately, a very large segment of left-wing politicians, wanna-be spokespersons, and liberal print and broadcast news haranguers rose up in mass to claim that conservatives were somehow to blame for the whole thing.

   We ended up being pummeled by the likes of propagandist Paul Daly of the New York Daily News with such choice comments as, "The blood of Congresswoman Giffords was on Sara Palin’s hands."  The shameful Paul Krugman of The New York Times was no better.  He wrote, "Where’s that toxic rhetoric coming from?  Let’s not make a false pretense of balance;  it’s coming, overwhelmingly, from the right."

   Balance?  Looks like someone fell off the seesaw.

   Was it convenient for him not to pay attention to the threats from the left to kill white babies and all the rest of the horrendous verbiage from that quarter? I guess, in his strange world, the much more mild-mannered conservatives are horrifying beyond belief.  I could only imagine that he must inhabit some far away alternative universe.

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   The left’s eager trounce upon conservative America for the responsibility of that severely and dangerously deranged left-of-center killer in Tucson — this very shameful performance is not new.

   Those of us who remember President Kennedy’s assassination, also remember how the left immediately suggested a right-wing plot, until Lee Harvey Oswald, a pro-soviet, Cuba supporting left-winger, was finally shown to be what he was.

   Then and only then did they stop the blame game.  After all, we don’t want to turn around and suggest a leftist influence for the terrible event, hmm? 

   And who was it who shot the President’s brother?  And what about the attempts on Reagan and Ford?  Was all that some sort of right-wing plot?  Unfortunately, not many on the left will pay attention to history.  It’s not convenient for them.

==========================

   And just where might we find some of that violent talk?  A few of the many examples were published by The Washington Times, including the one where we find, "Senator John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, joshing with Bill Maher about how ‘I could have gone to 1600 Pennsylvania and killed the real bird [George W. Bush] with one stone.’ "  And there’s the one about the, "...then-Rep. Paul Kanjorski in October saying (as Jeffrey Lord first reported in American Spectator), ‘That [Rick] Scott down there that’s running for governor of Florida, instead of running for governor of Florida, they ought to have him [sic] and shot him.’ "  Kanjorski, a Democrat, lost the election to Rick Scott.

   It was then later noted that, "Mr. Kanjorski resurrected marvelously.  He appeared on the op-ed page of the New York Times, counseling on the proper response to the Tucson shooting."  How nice.

==========================

   Bernard Goldberg, an ex-CBS reporter and media expert commented on the Fox cable news channel about the Tucson massacre.  He said, "I can’t remember when in the media they have been so corrupt and so cynical.  The wounded are still bleeding, and they’re making political hay. ... In all my years as a working journalist, I’ve never seen such a shallow, thoughtless, agenda-driven drivel as I have in the past 36 hours."

   Oh yes.  It gets worse.  As the WSJ reported, "Politico, the Beltway website, chimed in by quoting a ‘veteran Democratic operative’ advising the White House ‘to deftly pin this on the tea partiers,’ just as ‘the Clinton White House deftly pinned the Oklahoma City bombing on the militia and anti-government people’ in 1995."

   Isn’t Democratic politics wonderful?

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   Some additional comments to look over include: "Dem. Rep. Clyburn: ‘Reading of the Constitution’ contributed to the climate of the Arizona shooting." (From - The Patriotic Action Network).  "Those who purport to care about the tenor of political discourse don’t help civil debate when they seize on any pretext to call their political opponents accomplices to murder." (From - The Wall Street Journal).  And then we hear about a play in the Missoula Montana Children’s Theatre where they added an interesting little scene which we understand calls for the beheading of Sarah Palin.  And let us not forget the left-winger Fraces Fox Piven calling for a violent revolution in the new year. 

   What on earth is happening to us?

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   They say every drama needs a clown.  Well, it would seem we’ve gotten a pretty sad one — a real "Dupnik."  That’s the one — the Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik.  It was in his territory where the previously threatened but unguarded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and so many others were shot and six were killed, including a little girl.  It was his office that paid no attention to the problem.  Of course the shooter’s mother was employed by the same county government, so possibly the extensive Sheriff Department records on her son, leading up to the tragedy might more easily have been overlooked?  We wonder about that. 

   Did Dupnik shoulder the responsibility for his inactions? — just the opposite.  He blamed the state of Arizona as a "mecca for prejudice and bigotry."  As Michelle Malkin reported in The Washington Times: "Dupnik baselessly suggested that the shooting was a part of a larger conspiracy and railed against ‘vitriol’ from limited-government activists who are stoking ‘anger against elected officials.’ "  He also verbally went after Rush Limbaugh and so many others on the right.

   When more seriously questioned by Fox News and a few others, he finally admitted that he really didn’t have any proof to go with any of his highly charged statements and he even reluctantly admitted that the shooter had a record with his office of previously made death threats.  So, it would seem his extensive vitriol was more a matter of misdirection away from his own failed responsibilities.

   Very interesting.

==========================

   As a footnote to all of this, Patriot Action Network reports that, "J. Eric Fuller, a survivor of last weekend’s shooting massacre in Tucson, gained national notoriety this week after claiming shooter Jered Lee Loughner got conservatives Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin their ‘first target.’ "

   The part of this story that didn’t get any attention was as reported by the Patriotic Action group, "On Saturday morning Fuller met Trent Humphries (a Tucson-area tea party leader) during a town hall-style event hosted by ABC’s Christianne Amanpour that featured family members of victims, Tucson citizens and community leaders. 

   Toward the end of the meeting, the local news reported that Fuller objected to comments made by Humphries and by Arizona state Rep. Terri Proud, a Republican.  In response, Fuller took a photo of Humphries and told him, ‘You’re dead.’ "  He was quickly escorted by security from the event.  You didn’t know about that?  Well of course not.

==========================

   The problems with the new healthcare mess go on and on. As CNS News tells us, "The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that Social Security will effectively run a $45 billion deficit in 2011 (this year) and continue to run deficits totaling $547 billion over the coming decade."  And Peter Landers tells us, in The Wall Street Journal that, "Health spending rose to a record 17.6% of the U.S. economy in 2009, as the overall economy shrank and higher federal Medicaid spending helped to push up health costs."

   And Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of the New Your Presbyterian Hospital tells us that, "We can’t insure 32 million more people and cut funding to train doctors by $60 billion."  We can’t, but that seems to be what we’re doing.  It can only end up with a disastrous doctor shortage.

   Things have gotten so bad in so many areas that Obama’s Secretary of Health and Human Services has had to, "...begin granting waivers to companies that provide workers ‘mini-med’ coverage — low cost plans with low annual limits on what the insurance will pay out.  This followed announcements by some employers that they would have to drop these plans because they did not meet the new health law’s requirement that 85% of premium income be spent on medical expenses." (WSJ)

   How did that end up?  The headline expressed the natural and expected conclusion: "ObamaCare Rewards Friends, Punishes Enemies," as clearly outlined by Karl Rove.  And then we see that now 26 states have joined the Florida lawsuit against ObamaCare and then we read the headline in The Washington Post: "House votes to repeal health-care law."

   As it was expected, everything is coming unraveled.

==========================

   As the month develops, the WSJ headlines aren’t very promising. "Weak Hiring Casts A Cloud," "Texas Confronts Budget Travails As Revenue Slows," "Downturn’s Ugly Trademark: Steep, Lasting Drop in Wages," "Rising Price Pressures Spur Concerns," "Deficit Outlook Darkens," and "Data Shows Continued Strain on Economy."

   And you can add to that the uncomfortable statistics of U.S. bankruptcy filings rising 9% in 2010, beyond the final figures of the previous year, and an emergency session in Illinois to push a 75% tax hike on the people of that state (before state Republican legislators have had a chance to be sworn in).

   And let’s not forget what we found out on Fox News about $600 million being paid out in assistance to illegal aliens’ children recently, with a total that seems to have reached an astounding billion dollars per year.  Where?  In Los Angeles County in the state of California.

   And now we are hearing how the housing crisis is negatively impacting many already hard-hit cities in America to the degree that the Mortgage Bankers Association feels such cities can expect a very long and difficult road to recovery.  And we find that lending institutions, such as the Bank of America, are doing what they can to shift burdensome costs over to the hapless borrowers.

   All of this in concert with the release of the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom which shows the United States behind such places as Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Ireland and Denmark.  That’s right.  That’s how far we seem to have declined.

==========================

   As Peter J. Wallison observes, the government’s flawed and failing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac real estate finance fiasco was never a good idea, and other nations have known that for several years now.

   It might also be added that Mr. Wallison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, took the time to research this interesting finding.  He has found that other nations’ experience shows this uncomfortable fact most vividly.

   Other areas where we don’t seem to get it right were amply shown in Jim McElhatton’s observation about our equally flawed federal workers’ compensation system (as reported in The Washington Times), "More than 100 U.S. Postal Service employees over 90 years old are collecting workers’ compensation — a fact one U.S. senator calls troubling, arguing that workers ought to be moved to retirement rolls for which payouts would be less expensive."

   Any other nice examples of how well we’re doing?  Well, we are now hearing about the 3.8% sales tax (after 2012) when you sell your home.  That’s $3,800 on a $100,000 home or $15,200 on a $400,000 home, etc., etc.  That’s what we’re hearing.  You didn’t hear about that?  It’s in that health care bill that nobody had a chance to read until after it passed.

   And then there’s that Obama crackdown on coal production (courtesy of the EPA).  That will really help us solve our serious energy shortfall, won’t it?  Sure.

   These things just keep keeping on, don’t they?  So there’s really no surprise when we read the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission’s draft report and find that the 2008 financial crisis was actually avoidable and that the responsibility lies in the much soiled hands of government officials and with private-sector opportunists as well.

   We would have expected something different?  Just about everything has turned into an absolute mess, according to growing numbers of public voices.

   So, what can be done?  Moderate political and citizen responses indicate that any increase in our debt ceiling should be accompanied by major, significant action to reduce the size and cost of our monstrous federal government.  In smaller jurisdictions we find such efforts as with the Orange County, California government having moved to a hybrid solution that combines county contributions with that from the government workers, for both a traditional benefit pension and individual accounts, which employees can bring with them from job to job.

   It’s a new idea for newly hired workers.  It doesn’t solve all the problems but possibly it’s a start.

   Another suggestion comes from David Skeel, a University of Pennsylvania law professor.  He believes we should seriously consider the passing of a federal law that will make it possible for states to declare bankruptcy.

   There are forms of bankruptcy that should allow for a serious fiscal reorganization that could enable the renegotiation of some of the currently unchangeable state obligations that have done so much to destroy the financial stability of so many of the states.

   Meanwhile, Andrew N. Liveris, the top man at Dow Chemical has seen how we have allowed so much of our manufacturing capacity to either evaporate or move overseas, as China and others have moved forward.  He says we need a new national strategy to rebuild our formerly great manufacturing base. (See his book, "Make It In America.")

   So far, all that we have mentioned and the elective changes in Washington may have helped to encourage our economy at least a little bit. But now we have to roll up our sleeves and start making thing happen — now!

==========================

   As America tries to deal with its problems (sort of), we find inflation rising in Europe as the Central Bank (in Europe) issues a warning about the rising prices of food and raw materials.  And we hear that the UKs economy shrank with a .5% drop in the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).  And, as we have seen, in many parts of Europe, segments of the population have not been taking the required lining adjustments well at all.

   It’s not a pretty picture.  Let’s hope this won’t be the beginning of a pandemic reaction.

==========================

   We all know about the gradual government takeover of the Internet, one of the last bastions of financial freedom left in America (after the government’s corporate and banking takeovers, the moves by the FCC, the FTC, etc., etc.).  Now Capitol Confidential reports that, "Rep. Marsh Blackburn introduced legislation to deny the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulatory oversight over the Internet, which the Tennessee Republican insisted was the ‘sole prerogative of Congress’ to administer."

   And we notice that Verizon is asking the court to overturn that FCC Internet grab. And we hear there are other efforts in the wings.

   Well, the legislation may pass the House, but what about the Senate? And if it ever should pass in the Senate, what about the looming shadow of a presidential veto?  This will be interesting to follow.

==========================

   Ethical behavior seems to have become quite a joke.  The House ethics committee has backed away from an investigation into extensive spending by six congressmen (mostly Democrats), during their overseas visits.  It seems the committee finds the "rules" involved with the money confusing and they can’t find the evidence anyway.  How convenient.

   And FEMA, "...hasn’t tried to recoup about $643 million in improper payments made to victims of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters, in the wake of a judge’s order more than three years ago." (From an Associated Press release.)

   And we find the President picking the GE CEO, Jeffrey Immelt to be his advisor on job creation — a political choice of a man who has used his corporate operations (such as NBC) to politically promote Obama and support his conduct at every opportunity.

   And then there are his government contracts and there is his policy of transferring jobs overseas, and so many other things that don’t seem to add up correctly (if you know what I mean). 

   But then, the records show this choice is consistent with so many other choices made.  It has been suggested that there is an enormous amount of work ahead, to turn things around to a place of reasonable integrity with the way we do things.

==========================

   The left-dominated elements in our American media never give up.  This month "Newsweek" (a failing national magazine) features the cover headline "American Assassin" and then shows a nefarious figure draped in an American flag.  It is yet another example that not so subtly suggests that patriots are somehow responsible for that terrible shooting event in Tucson by that obviously extremely deranged, left-wing killer.

   Of course the left-of-center media didn’t have much to say (if anything at all) about the assassination attempt against the governor of Missouri not so long ago.  I wonder why.  Could it be because the perpetrator was an individual that is even much more obviously a resounding leftist?

   I wouldn’t be surprised at all if you haven’t heard a word about that in the lame-stream media.  Well, at least the left doesn’t win out in every direction and on every issue that comes up.  The new "sex channel" MTV, has gone the way of the formerly more restricted "adult" channels for some time now, but their newest show "Skins" has gone all the way to kiddie-porn, as described by many angry parents and even by some TV critics.

   It seems to be trying to portray every perversion, every substance abuse, every sick behavior they can cram into that program, filled with very young teens.  Thankfully, the initial audience is reported (by Nielsen) to have slipped to 51% of its premier showing.

   And, thankfully, a notable number of the advertisers have also fled the crime scene.  This includes "Subway," General Motors," "Taco Bell," and "L’Oreal."  MTV and Viacom have much to be ashamed of.  They certainly don’t seem to have a conscience on such matters, but perhaps an appropriate hit on the wallet will eventually make an impact on their behavior.

   We can only hope.

==========================

   With the advent of the new kids on the block (in Congress), there seems to be new attention to our great American instruction manual — our Constitution.

   I recall, at various tea party events, the hand-made signs that say such things as, "Somebody, please put the Constitution on Obama’s Teleprompter."  And then there’s that inspirational reading of the entire Constitution on the floor of the House chamber.  I’m sure that disturbed some, but it most certainly did call attention to a new day and a new direction.

   Part of that new direction can be seen in the promise of the new Republican majority to require lawmakers to cite specific Constitutional authority for bills that are introduced in the House of Representatives.

   Meanwhile, with all the great, new ideas blooming in the springtime of the new session, Harry Reid and most of the other Democrats are fast becoming the "party of no."  And, as the RPC minority Senate policy committee has reported about the controlling, majority Senate Democrats, "Many Democrats have indicated that they prefer to ignore the election results, shut out their Republican colleagues, and — on a party line vote — rewrite the Standing Rules of the Senate to dramatically curtail minority rights, to make it easier to pass an agenda the American people rejected."

   Of course Congress is now routinely sidestepped with Obama appointments when Congress is not in session.  It would seem, in just about every way possible, legislative jurisprudence has been thrown out.  So it would seem.

==========================

   On the "education front line" the battle rages on.  More changes and eliminations continue to be initiated in the textbooks and with other teaching tools to reflect even better the "politically correct" ideology of our current national administration.

   This is exampled with the newly censored editions of "Huckleberry Finn."  And the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports, "Julie Scullen, a reading intervention specialist at Northdale Middle School in Coon Rapids, MN ... is leading the charge at her school to make more Muslim-centered literature available to students.  She even used $800 in federal funds to make that happen, ordering books such as ‘The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook.’ "

   And what about the Bible and other Christian books on that particular lifestyle?  Oh, no.  We can’t have that.  That is forbidden.

==========================

   At a recent annual convention of the National Education Association, the largest and most powerful teachers union in America, we find that the job of actually teaching our children the normal "three-Rs" seems to be the last thing on their minds.

   Hillary Clinton, the organization’s general leadership delegates, and many others stood shoulder to shoulder against school vouchers.  And many went much further than that.

   By way of example, former Senator John Edwards also proposed that the federal government should pay the college tuition for all students who are willing to work for at least 10 hours a week. (And guess who will pay for that?)

   And Congressman Dennis Kucinich wants a universal "big brother" pre-kindergarten operation for year-round daycare for all children, from ages 3 through 5. (Our children will become wards of the state?)

   And we find the NEA demanding a tax-supported, single-payer health system for all residents, which of course includes illegal aliens, I am told. 

   And they are also calling for an immigration reform which will clear the way for citizenship or asylum for illegal aliens.  They also want special rights for those involved with various sexual deviations and a full presentation of the gay rights agenda in our public schools.

   And of course they support abortion and are firmly opposed to any requirement for a voter ID at polling places for elections, and are firmly opposed to right-to-work laws in America.

   And they don’t want the testing of teachers as a criterion for keeping a job, getting a promotion, qualifying for tenure or as a factor in the setting of salaries.

   And on and on it goes with demands for no interference from parents over their sex education programs and no home schooled children are to be allowed to participate in public school sports, etc.

   This is the NEA.  And you wonder why our educational system is such an abysmal failure?

==========================

   In other educational news of interest, the Associated Press reports that, "A second-grade teacher in Northern California was placed on leave while a school and police investigate accounts by students that classmates engaged in oral sex and stripped off some of their clothes during class."  It was further noted that, "The investigation was under way at Markham Elementary School in Oakland (California), where the principal notified parents of the situation in a letter."

   Other educational news includes the observation of the teacher pensions by Joel Klein, a former chancellor of the New York City public schools and the current head of the News Corporation’s educational division.  Among a number of things he exposes concerning the pensions: "Defined-benefit systems (The teacher pensions) aren’t merely Ponzi schemes, they discourage talented teachers who would prefer front-loaded compensation."

   It was also reported by The Wall Street Journal that, "Universities are falling down on the job, a new study attests, failing to teach America’s college students the critical skills they need to succeed throughout their lives.  The study, summarized in the new book, ‘Academically Adrift’ and in a paper from the Social Science Research Council, tracked several thousand college students’ performance on a critical-thinking test from their first year on campus through their fourth year.  Some 45% of students showed no significant improvement after two years of college, and 36% didn’t improve after four years."

   This and so much of the rest of what we are learning about our educational system make it crystal clear that this is one more area of our nation that is in very serious trouble.

==========================

   Well, Obama said he would cut back on the federal government.  So what did he do?  He decided to cut a tiny little bit off the massive national debt he had saddled us with and cut-backs were started in the one department that should not only not be cut — it is one of the few places that are in dire need of expanded operations.

   As reported by The Wall Street Journal, "At the Justice Department, officials are considering whether to shorten some federal prison terms and have already shut down a program that successfully encouraged fugitive criminals to turn themselves in."

   Wonderful.  Just the opposite of what should be done, as usual.  And, to add insult to injury, the Washington Times finds that, "The Justice Department prosecutor who led government efforts to prevent a number of serious security threats to the nation, including the attempted bombing of Times Square, the al Qaeda plot to bomb the New York subway system and the attempted detonation of a bomb aboard an airliner on Christmas day 2009, announced his resignation Jan. 13."

   If you weren’t sure about a serious deterioration of law and order in America up to now, might you finally be willing to consider that possibility?  I hope so.  Only when recognition replaces denial can we ever hope to take the first steps on the long and arduous journey back home.

==========================

   We all saw the news and read the headlines about the revolt in Egypt.  We saw the shouting crowds.  We saw the violence. And we were told that the Egyptian government pulled the plug on cellphone communication and the Internet in that troubled land.

   It is an ability that Obama has seen to it that he now has in our own sometimes troubled land.  It should also be noted that The Telegraph, a British paper, has published (in great detail), "The secret document sent from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to Washington, disclosing the extent of American support for the protesters behind the Egyptian uprising." (Info. available at Telegraph.co.uk)

   And we are seeing that this is most certainly encouraging the "domino effect" throughout the Middle East, as seen in many dispatches, including one from the Associated Press that reads as follows: "The leader of Jordan’s powerful Muslim Brotherhood warned that unrest in Egypt will spread across the Mideast as Arabs will topple leaders allied with the United States."

   If this happens, you know the massive oil price increases that will result.  And you know what that will do to the cost of just about everything and to the general inflation rate.

   And you know what will happen to us then, don’t you?  It will most certainly result in a chaos that Obama and his cohorts will be only too happy to take full advantage of.  That’s the progressive scenario we understand can be expected to be executed.

==========================

   In Mexico, the drug war has destabilized the entire country, with a death toll that rose to over 15 thousand last year, and it looks no better for this year.  That’s a figure that is higher than we have for our combat fatalities in Afghanistan and which we had in Iraq during the war years there.

   And the violence is spilling over into the Southwestern United States to the extent that it has been necessary to place big warning signs about the dangers in our southern counties and national parks near the Mexican border.

   So, what is the answer?  For Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the answer seems to be to announce that the border areas are relatively safe and to scrap the entire program to build a high-tech fence along major parts of our border with Mexico.  Is she on the same planet that we are?  Evidently not.

==========================

   As the "Muslim problem" grows all over the world, we get word that there is a mosque in Orlando, Florida has been involved with Hamas (terrorist) fundraising efforts and that this fundamentalist proselytizing has been found to be growing throughout the American West.

   And there is also new information that seems to suggest that the new "ground zero" mosque Imam, Shaykh Abdallah Adhami, has notable past connections to terrorist supporters. 

   This is evidently just one more thing that cannot be expected to be dealt with during the Obama administration.

==========================

   Without much of a thought for the security and drug issues involved, the current administration is pushing forward with its plans to allow Mexican trucks to roam the U.S. highways.

   And while that is happening, we are told that China’s leaders have come to believe Obama’s comments about the U.S. not being exceptional and that we must be prepared to accept inevitable decline.  As a result, we see signs of a notable Chinese insurgence toward extensive global influence.

   And our commander of the U.S. Pacific Command has made a disclosure (as reported by The Washington Times), which states that, "China’s military is deploying a new anti-ship ballistic missile that can sink U.S. aircraft carriers, a weapon that specialists say gives Beijing new power-projection capabilities that will affect U.S. support for its Pacific allies."

   All of these things represent elements of major instability for our nation, according to growing numbers of security professionals.

==========================

   In California it is now against the law to sell any newly made, normal sized, incandescent light bulbs and next year it will be the same for the rest of the nation.  In its place, you will have to purchase the much more expensive, deadly, mercury-filled curled-up fluorescent lights.

   But be very, very careful.  We all realize how we can drop a lightbulb from time to time.  If you break one of these new ones, you could risk mercury poisoning.

   Think I’m kidding?  Check the facts for yourself. This is some of that "change" we were promised.

==========================

   The massive takeover of America is picking up speed. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, "The EPA violated every tenet of administrative procedure to strip Texas of its authority to issue the air permits that are necessary for large power and industrial projects. 

   This is the first time in the history of the Clean Air Act that the EPA has abrogated state control, and the decision will create gale-force headwinds for growth in a state that is the U.S. energy capital."

   It was further stated that, "The EPA claims its takeover is a matter of great urgency, but Texas is being preemptively punished for not obeying rules that don’t exist today because the EPA hasn’t finalized them."

   And it’s going to get worse.  As Grassroots Action has noted, "It is now widely reported that President Obama plans to use Executive Orders and federal regulatory agencies to sidestep the Republican-controlled House."

   An amazing history is unfolding before our eyes.  It is the metamorphoses of our federal government into a criminal entity.  We told you these sorts of things had a good chance of happening.  Now you are seeing them happen.

==========================

   Obama has given them the green light so now the labor unions are on the march — with a vengeance.  Some example skirmishes include the National Labor Relations Board threatening to sue not only the state of Arizona (which is sued by the federal government every time you turn around), but the states of Utah, South Carolina and South Dakota as well.

   Why?  Because they dared to pass amendments to their state constitutions requiring a secret ballot of employees in those states before companies in those states can be unionized. You see, that goes against the "card-check" procedure which would allow union thugs to see how everyone voted.

   And the new United Auto Workers union chief, Bob King, has presented what he calls "11 Principles" that he demands auto manufacturers must agree to or the union will publically charge them with "human rights" violations.

   Is this the beginning of the end?  No, it's not the beginning. We’re well on our way.  Things have gone far beyond the beginning stages.

And On And On It Goes

   Feb., 2011.  This is the month when the unrest we have been seeing in other parts of the world has begun showing up in America with a vengeance.  The bosses of the big, public employees’ unions and other associated left-wingers have begun the demonstrations, often in rather forceful and nasty ways, and demanding their membership be allowed to have grand and expensive benefits without paying an appropriate share for such benefits, as everyone else must do in the private sector.

   This type of demand and demonstration began in a major way at the state capital in Madison, Wisconsin, from where we received the following frightening on-the-scene report: "The police have advised that we lock our doors. Groups of youths are marching through the halls, yelling at the top of their lungs, drums are banging, etc. Restrooms are blocked. We had vandalism yesterday.  Elevators are blocked. Angry crowds are pounding on our glass windows.  Please pray for our state." (From the Wheeler Report.)

   There were also peaceful demonstrations and other support in favor of the legitimate Wisconsin state government and its governor, Scott Walker, but there wasn’t much said or shown about that in the restrictive general media.   And then the necessary number of key Democrats in the state legislature fled the state so that the "quorum" number required for the state Senate to function could not be met.

   The legislative government function was shut down.  The democratic processes were stopped dead.

==========================

  Well, so much for journalistic objectivity.  But then, we’ve known about such problems with the New York Times for some time, haven’t we?

The Coming Long, Hot Summer

   June, 2011. This is the month when we hear that our recession has wiped one town completely off the map. As of now, the sign at the entrance of the former Empire, Nevada now reads, "Welcome To Nowhere." Originated in 1923, the little town that doesn’t even have a ZIP code anymore.

   You’ve sure done a lot for your state haven’t you, Harry Reid?

   And the WSJ headlines for this month are no better, as sampled with: "Economic Outlook Darkens, Fed Keeps Course As Growth Pace Slows, Job Market Loses Momentum, Dollar Loses Out to Euro, Stocks Swoon, Worry Rises, Sluggish Hiring Seen As Threat To Recovery, Consumer Prices Rise 0.2%, Stocks Fall," and "Debt Hamstrings Recovery."  Of course the market shows a brief up-tick now and then, but with an official unemployment rate of 9.1% and an actual rate in the teens, it ends up being more like up one step and down two.  Not a pretty picture.  It all most certainly suggests someone in our government is not doing what should be done — a lot of "someones," actually.

==========================

   The more sophisticated financial journals are suggesting that Washington’s current ways of doing things has done little to nothing to help the housing slump in America.  In fact, things only get worse.  The price of buying a home has now sunk to the 2002 levels.  And, in some cities and towns in our nation, we find it to be much worse than that.  And we now read a new report from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency that tells us that many of our banks hold an even higher number of defaulted mortgages than even the infamous and terribly unstable Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

   Not surprising since we also find that many of our banks seem to be having ever growing difficulties functioning without countless delays and errors.  A stunning example would be as shown and reported on You-Tube, as documented by Jon Christian Ryter.

   "In 2009 retired Bay Village, Ohio police sergeant Warren Nyergers and his wife Maureen bought a retirement home in Naples, Florida.  Using the proceeds they received from selling their home in Ohio, they paid cash for their Florida dream home.  They didn’t realize that within two years their dream retirement was going to become the nightmare on Elm Street.  Bank of America foreclosed on their home because, the bank claimed in their court filing, the Nyergers were not making their mortgage payments.  When Bank of America in North Carolina filed to seize their property, the Nyergers counter-sued to stop the foreclosure because they paid cash for the house and never had a mortgage with Bank of America — or anyone else."  The You-Tube disclosure continued:  "It is unclear why Bank of America refused to accept the evidence submitted by the Nyergers that proved they paid cash for their home."

   The Nyergers sued the Bank of America and won appropriate damages.  However, after five months, Bank of America refuses to pay the judgement.  The report continued:  "The Nyergers’ attorney, Naples lawyer Todd Allen went back to court and filed to foreclose on Bank of America, seizing their assets.  He won his seizure.

   Now this is what I call an interesting development.

==========================

   So now let’s see what is being done about our financial debacle.  As noted in The Wall Street Journal, Obama seems to be "Spending his way to austerity."  Doesn’t make sense?  Well of course not. And what do the facts and figures show us?  Among the many glaring examples we find a 73% increase in government limousines under the current administration.  (As reported by Fox News.)

   And a CNN investigation has revealed that Congressional staffers received $6.1 in taxpayer funded bonuses, while a Congressional Research Service report shows us that as many as 77,000 federal employees are actually being paid more than state governors.

   And, as reported in The Washington Times, "Records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011, the Justice Department declined to file criminal charges in (at least) two dozen cases in which retirement benefits were paid out to dead beneficiaries, then spent by someone else."

   And Senator Tom Coburn announced that documents have come into his possession that establishes proof of as much as $3 million in waste and serious mismanagement by the National Science Foundation.

   It was also exposed, in the book "Reckless Endangerment," that we are having an epidemic of ethical proportions, as exampled by Fannie Mae who, it is reported, paid various lobbyists to sit on the sidelines at critical moments.  And with all of this, and so much more, going on in the background, we have the debt reduction talks that turned out to be anything but serious, to the point where almost all of the participating Republicans withdrew in disgust.

   And then, as reported by the Reuters news service, "Obama blames Europe, Japan for U.S. economic woes."  As Charlie Brown would say, "Good grief!"

==========================

   Jon Christian Ryter reminds us that there are tax burdens striking us all, such as with the "Obama death board" and its accompanying tax obligations.  And now he tells us about another tax, "...which will hit the low to low-middle class hardest."  It will go into effect in 2013 and will take the form of a tax on those who sell their homes (above and beyond all the rest that is already paid as fees, income taxes, etc.).

   And then there is the phasing-out of various itemized deductions and other "stealth taxes."  And let us not forget the new paperwork burdens the I.R.S. is now putting on nonprofit charity organizations.  It has been such a confusion of additional work that many have not managed to comply.

   So, as reported in the WSJ, "The Internal Revenue Service announced this month that 275,000 non-profit groups — around 18% of the country’s tax-exempt organizations — have lost their exemptions."

   And now leadership elements in the Democratic Party are doing whatever they can to get the highest federal income tax rate to 70% and beyond.  This, in spite of the fact that such high rates have a proven history of bringing in less revenue.  When those who have, are allowed to keep and invest more, not less, growth and expansion are the inevitable results.

   As it has been so often pointed out, when was the last time someone was employed by a poor man? Such are the reasonable thoughts we are hearing on the street.

==========================

   As reported by Lawrence B. Lindsey, a former Federal Reserve Governor, "Normal interest rates would raise debt-service costs by $4.9 trillion over 10 years, dwarfing the savings from any currently contemplated budget deal."  And now Fitch joins Moody’s in serious threats to downgrade the U.S. debt interest rating.

   For the few of you out there of the Democratic party persuasion who still can’t seem to get the message, let us put it this way: "In the three seconds it takes to read this sentence, the federal government will have borrowed $174,000.  Every passing second results in another $58,000."  (As reported to us by Grassfire Nation.)

   And, as reported over the Reuters news wires, "The Federal Reserve has cut its forecast for U.S. economic growth but offers no hint of further monetary support." And CNS News reports that "China has dropped 97 percent of its holding in U.S. Treasury bills, decreasing its ownership of the short-term U.S. government securities from a peak of $210.4 billion in May 2009 to $5.69 billion in March 2011, the most recent month reported by the U.S. Treasury."

   And, from a surprising source, "When adding in all of the money owed to cover future liabilities in entitlement programs, the US is actually in worse financial shape than Greece and other debt-laden European countries, Pimco’s Bill Gross told CNBC."

   It all suggests one very uncomfortable end. If we are unable to actually reduce the size and cost of our national government, it’s all over for us.  Think about it.

==========================

   Our states are having a terrible time as well, as they thrash about, looking for a way out.  One possible solution they think they’ve found is to develop any way possible to tax the sales being made on the Internet. And while that dance is going on, an initiative in California that was passed by the state’s voters is now making it possible for the state’s legislators to lose their salaries, after the deadline, until they finally manage to pass a state budget.

   Well, the deadline for a budget came and went, without a budget, so the California Controller is moving forward to withhold the legislators’ pay.  And what is just about everyone saying about such a move?  "It’s about time!"

   Many states are also finding themselves having to cut public workers’ salaries and all sorts of other benefits and perks.  Many new governors (mostly Republicans) are leading the way.  And, it would seem that possibly some states are coming to realize that it may be necessary to actually reduce the size of state governments as well.  Will wonders never cease?

   Meanwhile, changes seem to be taking place at the federal level.  Obama’s economic team is making an unceremonious exit.  And employers added a pitiful number of jobs in May — the lowest number in the last eight months.  "This jobs report, which would be weak in any economy, comes at a particularly devastating time, when the labor market remains 6.9 million payroll jobs below where it was at the official start of the recession three years and five months ago," Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute said in her report on the data in May.  (As quoted from The Washington Times.)  Enough said.

==========================

   So, what might be the way out of this economic quagmire (as it keeps burying us deeper and deeper with each passing day)?  We know of no way out short of reduced entitlements and other mandates and making really serious reductions in the size of government on all levels.

   This will mean learning to be less dependent on government.  This will mean developing volunteer replacements for many services.  This will mean the development of self-sufficiency on a level generally not practiced for a long, long time.

   If these things are not done, it will be absolutely necessary for us to get out of the dollar (into property, precious metals, foreign currency, etc. — if done very selectively) and growing one’s own vegetable garden, if one can, developing family and/or community support groups, and doing everything else one can to strengthen one’s chances of survival in a dark and dangerous future that may be our lot.

   That is what this writer has to say about all of this. What do you have to say about it?  And, more importantly, what are you doing or are planning to do about your place in this critical time in our history? What say you?

==========================

   The Patriot Action Network reports that, "Once provisions of the Affordable Care Act start to kick in during 2014, at least three of every 10 employers will probably stop offering health coverage, a survey released this month shows.  While only 7% of employees will be forced to switch to subsidized-exchange programs, at least 30% of companies say they will ‘definitely or probably’ stop offering employer-sponsored coverage, according to the study published in McKinsey Quarterly."

   And the Wall Street Journal reports that "The Obama administration is handing out waivers far and wide for its healthcare bill, but behind the scenes the bureaucracy is grinding ahead writing new regulations. The latest example is the rule for Accountable Care Organizations that are supposed to be the crown jewel of cost-saving reform.

   "One problem: The draft rule is so awful that even the models for it say they won’t participate."  Also reported (by Karl Rove), "Mr. Obama has ignored a law requiring he send Congress a plan to strengthen Medicare’s finances — even though members of his own cabinet have reminded him in writing of his duty to do so."

   With so much evidence in at this point, from Holder to Obama (and with just about everyone else in between), we have a government that is breaking the law in many areas of major importance.  And there seems to be so little anyone can do.

   But that’s not entirely true.  This year our Supreme Court actually managed to function Constitutionally.  In a recent ruling this year it was decided that individual citizens can challenge federal statutes when they encroach on areas of authority that our Constitution has clearly reserved to the states.  Something to think about.

==========================

   A more detailed, closer examination of the state of American healthcare shows us that more and more individuals, companies, organizations, and states are doing everything they can to back away from what is becoming a disastrous failure.  Even the very liberal state of Washington is trying to back off as they start with the Medicare mess and try to work out a unanimously backed block-grant system that seems a lot like a genuine welfare reform.

   Others are beginning to suggest that with only a 3% payroll deduction, a fully retired worker who had earned $50,000 a year when he was employed — such a retired worker should actually be able to double the Social Security benefit that is in place today.  And, if the funds are not put in the general fund, and the retiree is allowed to have it function as his own private account, the system just might actually have a chance.

   But it is really hard to do much of anything when so much misinformation abounds.  A good example of this would be the flyer that Medicare recently sent to retired seniors all over the nation.  It made grand claims for Medicare. "...greater savings and increased quality of health care" and "...improvements to Medicare Advantage."

   However, as the WSJ pointed out, "In an April memo, Richard Foster estimated that the $206 billion hole in Advantage will reduce benefits, cause insurers to withdraw from the program and reduce overall enrollment by half.  Doug Elmendorf and his team at the Congressional Budget Office came to the same conclusion, as did every other honest expert."

   Our government can only resort to bold face lies?  It would seem so.

==========================

   The Obama enigma continues.  The White House visitor’s log can be most easily seen as a creative work of fiction.  " ‘Logs routinely omit or cloud key details about the identity of visitors, who they meet with, the nature of the visit, and even includes the names of people who never showed up,’ say Fred Schulte and Viveca Novak, who poured through the details.  See the findings at JWatchNews.org."  (As revealed in The Washington Times.)

   And now we’re seeing stories about two former Obama aides putting together a couple of fund raising organizations that will not be requiring any disclosures of donors.  We understand that they are very happy to accept donations from lobbyists, unions, political action committees and anyone else that’s interested. Obama said he didn’t accept those kinds of donations for his presidential campaign and, of course, criticized Republicans that he felt did so in the latest Congressional campaign.  But he’ll evidently do it undercover through third party organizations.

   And what else is Obama doing?  Well, let’s see.  As the Wall Street Journal so diplomatically pointed out, "Poor neighborhoods in America’s inner cities already endure an excess of drug-related crime and violence. The Obama administration’s push to retroactively apply a new law that reduces sentences for crack cocaine convictions is unlikely to help."  Gee, how would anybody get that idea?

   And how might Obama and his people be continuing to deal with Islamic fundamentalist/radical problems? World Net Daily announced that, "A Palestinian Authority investigation last week accused one of its own top leaders of funneling money to al-Qaida-linked groups in the Gaza Strip.  WND first reported in 2008, quoting informed Mideast security officials, that Mahmoud Dahlan, had been providing financial support to al-Qaida allies in the Gaza Strip, including some of the most radical Islamist organizations in the territory. Dahlan, a leader in PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, coordinates security closely with the U.S. His security agencies have been the direct recipient of over $300 million in U.S. financial aid and scores of U.S. weapons transfers for over a decade."

   And now Reuters reports that "The United States will resume limited contacts with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed, saying it was in Washington’s interest to deal with parties committed to non-violent politics."  Non-violent?  You’ve got to be kidding!

==========================

   With such a strong Muslim predisposition being shown by our current president, it has been suggested that we might offer more than just the usual chronological review on these pages — we might think of showing at least a little more of the critical relationships and/or supports in a short presentation. All right, here it is:

   In 1952, President Truman established an annual National Day of Prayer which was later permanently fixed as the first Thursday in May by President Reagan. In June of 2007, the then presidential Candidate Barack Obama declared publically that America is no longer a Christian nation.

   In more recent times, Obama canceled what would have been the 21st annual National Day of Prayer ceremony at the White House in Washington, saying he did not want to offend anyone. On September 25, 2009, a National Day of Prayer was held for the Muslim religion, for over 50,000 Muslims who gathered in Washington, DC on that day for the event.  And on and on it goes.  The examples are endless.

==========================

   Thanks to Obama and his crew, it would seem the unions are taking over more and more of our lives and whatever might be left of our future.  Kellie Lunney (who is classified as a government executive) writes that, "The cost of official time used by federal employees participating in union activities increased nearly 7 percent between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009, according to a new report from the Office of Personnel Management."  It turns out to be almost 3 million hours, which has cost taxpayers at least $129 million.

   And we also are hearing that organized labor forces are pumping in over 10,000 "volunteers" and many millions of dollars to fight Ohio’s efforts to reduce the death-grip of the state’s public-employee unions. And Shila W. (NRW Committee) spotlights the worrisome fact that, "Recent reports from Madison (Wisconsin) indicate that they’re scheming to force capital police to remove the metal detectors installed after legislators received death threats and live ammunition was found."

   And who are the schemers, you might ask?  That’s right — it’s the unions.

   And The Blaze showed us (with videos) a Wisconsin protest against the governor at an event that helps mentally challenged youngsters.  "They dressed up like zombies and interrupted a Special Olympics event to trumpet their cause."  Let’s face it, they have no shame.

   And, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, "Current law gives unions an advantage in their ability to work covertly for months, quietly approaching employees to gather signatures for an election petition until springing the news on employers at the last minute."  And since the unions failed to pass the "card check" program through Congress, the unions went to Plan-B: "The National Labor Relations Board, which yesterday (June 21) delivered a plan for ‘quickie’ union elections designed to make organizing easier."

   And then, "The Obama administration said employers should disclose more information about consultants they hire to respond to union bargaining or organizing campaigns, a move long sought by organized labor and opposed by employers."  If all of this looks bad to you, you can be sure it most certainly is.

==========================

   In the minds of many in America, Eric Holder has turned the Attorney General’s office into what has been described as a place of lawless abandonment. His latest escapade (one of so many) is with his push toward shorter sentences for drug offenders.

   And, in other matters, The Daily Caller reports that the "Department of Justice may be committing obstructions of justice by ignoring a subpoena.  On April 1, Issa, House Oversight Committee chairman, subpoenaed all documents pertaining to two Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) programs, Project Gunrunner and Operation Fast and Furious."  The Justice Department has chosen not to respond.

   And Holder’s Justice Department has started law suits against businesses that the Department claims is imposing unnecessary documentary requirements on non-U.S. citizens.  In other words, leave the illegal aliens alone.

   So, when you take the time to add up all that Holder and his henchmen are doing, you cannot help but clearly see the lawless agenda that has become the order of the day.  Is there a chance he will ever be held accountable?  Fat chance.

==========================

   As with so many other things, "Obama turns his back on border security.  Why would Obama push for illegal amnesty, permit illegal alien sanctuary policies and attack states like Arizona for seeking to enforce the Rule of Law?"  That is one of the many questions being asked by the V.I.P. women’s group.

   Meanwhile, Middle American News reports that, "Left-wing activist, Robert Creamer, in his book, urges a strategy that will dilute white voting strength.  He says the Democrats who control Congress should grant amnesty to illegal aliens because it will enhance the political clout of left-wingers by increasing their voter base.  He writes, ‘The immigration battle is ... important because it will have enormous impact on the battle for power between the progressives and conservative forces in American society.’ "  As if you didn’t already know their true motivation, right?

   And how are things going at the border?  Pat Dollard (DHS) tells us, "Last year Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ union officials throughout the nation issued a unanimous no confidence vote in that agency’s director, John Morton, on behalf of ICE officers, agents and employees nationwide, citing gross mismanagement within the Agency, as well as efforts within ICE to create backdoor amnesty through agency policy.

   "Now, almost one year later, the law enforcement agents and their union haven’t changed their mind."  As further noted, "In a biting statement, ICE union leaders say that since the June 10, 2010 no confidence vote was first released, problems within their agency have increased, citing the director’s latest Discretionary Memorandum as just one example."

   And, as Grassfire Nation reports, "Working with both the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and elitist liberal Senators, President Obama is aggressively resurrecting the DREAM Act.  Fox News is reporting that Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is holding the first-ever Senate hearing on the DREAM Act, in an attempt to convince fellow members of the Senate that ushering in widespread amnesty through the DREAM Act will ‘make our country stronger.’ "

 Stronger?  Well yes of course, if you are referring to an exclusively applied strength for the new quite-far-to-the-left Democratic party.

==========================

   We’ve all heard about that idiotically planned "sting" operation that was so poorly executed. It’s that ATF debacle that sent all those guns to the drug dealers in Mexico. Remember the headlines?  "Guns From U.S. Probe Surface in Mexico, Mexican Guns Tied to U.S., Top Brass Cited in Gun Sting, Emails Show ATF Director Involved in Troubled Operation Tied to Agent’s Death," — all from the WSJ.

   And then we also could read about "Objecting ATF agents told to fall in line in gun-running case," as seen in The Washington Times.  Astute observers have noticed that this whole business is just one more incident created by the generally dysfunctional appointments and staffing under the Obama regime. How unfortunate — for everyone.

==========================

   There are a few states that are fighting back with regard to this invasion of America.  As the Associated Press reported, "Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has signed a tough new law cracking down on illegal immigration.  The bill allows police to arrest anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant if they are stopped for any other reason."

   In the state of Maryland, a grass-roots movement is rising against taxpayer payed welfare for illegal aliens.  And the Supreme Court has actually upheld state laws that fine or close firms that wilfully hire illegal workers.

   And Oklahoma’s highest court has also upheld that state’s anti-illegal immigration law.  Yes, there is a growing movement on the state level, in spite of the arrant behavior of our federal government.

==========================

   As Congressman Peter T. King stated in a recent letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, "It is clear, violent actions taken by the Mexican drug cartels have evolved and are acts of terrorism.  These cartels should be classified as terrorist organizations."

   And what exactly is the official definition of terrorism and terrorist organizations?  Well, according to the U.S. Department of Defense it is officially described as:

   "The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological."  And, what a surprise, it also fits the recent behavior pattern of some of our current unions and their over-exuberant goons.  Don’t hold your breath waiting for Holder and his Justice Department to pick up on this.

==========================

   Now Frank Gaffney joins the growing chorus, based on extensive undercover investigations, to reveal that a number of American Mosques have become "Jihad incubators."  And Darla Dawald, the National Director of the Patriot Action Network reports on the growing threat of "Muslim-American radicalization in U.S. prisons,"as brought to light in a House Homeland Security Committee hearing.

   And The Blaze reports the video taped call to, "Buy guns and start shooting people — American al-Qaeda spokesman (Adam Gadahn) calls on Americans to carry out random, lone-wolf attacks."  And the Peoria Chronicle reports that, "Black youths march in Peoria (Illinois) screaming, ‘We need to kill all white people!’ "

   And after the concluding Glenn Beck TV program was attacked in just about every way possible, Mr. Beck shares an example of what he and his family have had to put up with on a very personal level.

   As reported, "What was supposed to be a nice evening in the park turned into a truly hostile free-for-all, as Glenn and his family attempted to watch a movie in New York’s Bryant Park last night.  Hoping to enjoy some time together, while taking in a showing of Hitchcock’s ‘The 39 Steps’ with his wife, Tania, and his daughter, Glenn and his family instead experienced an unfriendly and borderline violent scene.

   "At one point an angry moviegoer kicked a glass of wine into Tania’s back, and as she got up to walk away, a man shouted, ‘We hate conservatives here!’ "  Well, so much for the so-called kinder and gentler left.

==========================

   Obama’s announcement of his date-defined, accelerated withdrawal from Afghanistan has created a cascade of gleeful responses from just about all of the belligerent, extremist elements in the Middle East and around the world, as I am sure you are aware.  It has also encouraged the continuation and acceleration of the fundamentalist take-over of all Muslim nations that can be had and the serious development of aggressive conquests for the future.

   The Hezbollah take-over of the Lebanese Cabinet and the Iranian long-range missile tests are only the latest examples of this.  No matter how we might care to construct excuses and other justifications, our current government, more than anything else, shares a major portion of the blame for this and for what is coming.

==========================

   All indicators certainly do seem to show the Middle East coming apart at the seams, from Yemen and Tunisia to Libya and beyond.  We see Syrian internal violence on the rise.  We see domestic pressures growing in Iran.  And in Egypt, we see the violence increasing with increased injuries of over 1,000 in the streets.

   Also, the Muslim Brotherhood is rising to prominence in that nation, partly due to Obama’s recognition empowerment.  And we also see the new Egyptian leadership looking with great suspicion upon democratic grant support from America.  We wanted change?  Consider all of this to be part of that change.

==========================

   As you might imagine, Schiller — after the expose of NPR and her firing — was promptly hired by NBC.  The left takes care of its own (most of the time; if they’re high enough up).  And, speaking of NPR, they continue on in their left-leaning disposition, as if nothing ever happened (and with continuing taxpayer funding).

   Their latest outreach is with a substantial development of new website services to push on their affiliates.  Evidently when a misinformation service is exposed, the way to respond is to do all that is possible to spread the misinformation further.

   And, at this same time, we find a new "Nova" episode that has made a major point of being "politically correct."  It features an illegal alien from Mexico who becomes a successful physician in America.  This was deftly accomplished while artfully avoiding the many examples of drug smugglers and drunken aliens who have cost countless lives in our besieged nation.

   And what else is happening with our media?  The New York Times picks a new editor, the Gannett newspaper division sets up more layoffs, and other games of "musical chairs" continue on.  But of course, the continuing financial collapse of most metro papers is not followed by an editorial re-balance toward a more honest presentation.

   So the readership continues to decline as we read that ads for the Internet now surpass the ad-linage of our backsliding metropolitan newspapers.  I guess one can only say the press is getting exactly what it deserves.

==========================

   In other areas of our disgraced media, Warner Todd Huston writes on The Patriot Action Network that, "On June 9, MoveOn admitted using lies, subterfuge and fraud to ‘counter’ what they maintain is the wrong-headed thinking of Fox News."  And, evidently, for differences in opinion about climate issues, Bob Fertik, the president of Democrats.com, announced that, "...we’re demanding that Orbitz pull their ads from Fox now."

   Those are just a couple of examples.  But you knew this sort of thing was going to happen, didn’t you?  We told you this was part of a massive plan to put Fox down, once and for all.  Expect lots more of the same.

   And in still other areas of interest, as syndicated columnist Mona Charen tells us in The Washington Times, "The Republican candidates for president did a respectable job presenting themselves at the New Hampshire debate on June 13.  But there was one person on stage most viewers must have wished they could have voted out.

   "The moderator, John King, was bumptious, bullying, and with his ‘this or that’ game-show gimmick, stupefyingly trivial."  Well of course.  He is one of CNN’s best.  He’s good at that sort of shameful behavior.

   And, as Michele Bachmann wrote in a special open letter, "My announcement (to run for President) struck a nerve with Obama’s campaign.  In fact, just hours after my speech, the Obama machine released a dishonest attack on the constitutional conservative principles that will guide our campaign."

   And World Net Daily tells us, "A network promotional campaign being run this summer on the cable network and in movie theaters is raising eyebrows among some viewers who believe MSNBC is actively campaigning for Obama’s re-election."  And so it goes.

==========================

   And of course they’re still going after Sarah Palin. And some of it is downright dangerous.  As heard from a Daily Caller audio clip, the so-called comedian "Titus" in one of his more serious moments blurted out that, "I am going to literally — if she gets elected president — I am going to hang out on the grassy knoll all the time, just loaded and ready, because you know what?  It’s for my country.  It’s for my country.  If I got to sacrifice myself, it’s for my country."  Oh yeah, sure it is.

   And you remember all those scavengers who went to Alaska when Palin’s emails were released?  They couldn’t find any dirt (Isn’t that a shame?)  But what they did find, as reported in The World News in the UK, "The release of 24,000 pages of Sarah Palin’s emails shows that she received a barrage of abusive emails. ... including death threats."  So much for the gentler side of the liberal establishment.

   And in other areas, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, one of the President’s advisors and a friend of George Soros, unleashed an unbelievable rant in which he argued that the Constitution needs to be tossed out in order to start over, and we should emulate what they are doing in Iceland.  They are rewriting their constitution with the help of people on Twitter and Facebook."  You’ve got to be kidding.  Are there no adults left anywhere?

==========================

Meghan Cox Girdon shares Amy Freeman’s comments with us in The Wall Street Journal.  "She had popped into a bookstore to pick up a welcome-home gift for her 13-year-old, who had been away.  Hundreds of lurid and dramatic covers stood on the racks before her, and there was, she felt, ‘nothing, not a thing, that I could imagine giving my daughter.  It was vampires and suicide and self-mutilation.’ "

   And you should see some of the new teen and pre-teen TV shows, and the video games, and on and on it goes.  We have become one damn sick society and the liberal establishment is who made it all possible, knowing you and others would probably not do anything all that substantial to keep it from happening.

   Of course the question remains, what are you going to do about it now?

==========================

   This springtime has given us a hopefully forgettable Weiner roast that we are all so very much aware of (whether we want to be or not).  Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner was a very nasty, abrasive personality that even alienated many in his own party.  He was a real piece of work which became even more blatant and reprehensible when it was revealed he was sending very irresponsible messages on the Internet to young women (evidently including at least one or more under age).

   Some of these messages were found to be very sexual in nature and sometimes included naked and near-naked images of himself — not a pleasant thought to be sure.  Mr. Weiner’s immediate response was to say he had been "hacked."  Then he said he never sent any such photograph.  Then he said he couldn’t really say whether the person in the picture was really him.  Then he said he’d hired a private security company to find out what happened.

   Then he holds a special press conference to further reinforce these and similar claims.  And of course the left-wing media rallied behind him — all the way from Joy Behar to even Barbara Walters who said, "He can be very sarcastic and very sardonic and, as you know, there are a lot of times you wish he would not say it.  He is a good Congressman.

"He has been an effective Congressman and if Sarah Palin can still ride about in her bus and be considered as a possible President, this man can override this; stay in Congress."  Others were less diplomatic.  Chris Matthews tried to blame Weiner’s wife.  Howard Kurts said, "...the whole thing appears to be faked."  The Daily Kos felt Weiner was set up and smeared to somehow protect Clarence Thomas.

   And on and on went this juggling act of ridiculous clowns.  Then, as the evidence grew to a resounding crescendo,  Weiner finally admitted his guilt to the whole nasty business.  But, as you might imagine, he refused to resign.  After all that’s a Republican thing to do, right?  Such immoral behavior is much more accepted within the Democratic ranks.

   Even so, this time, because he was so disliked, even within his own ranks, and because the presidential election was looming, a number of Democrats reluctantly decided to join the call for his resignation. (Of course they wouldn’t censure him in Congress or otherwise punish him.)

   Finally, the pressure was so great that he decided to resign from the House of Representatives.  And then, to top it off and, hopefully put a fitting conclusion to it all, we added our contribution to the issue with a little limerick that we helped to craft and disseminate across the Internet.  It went like this:

   It would be nice if that was really the last word, but unfortunately, it would seem to be that Weiner’s Congressional pension, which you and I pay for, will probably top $1 million.  Isn’t that nice?

==========================

   Fraud is alive and well and getting ready for the coming election.  So it would seem.  As Charlice reports for The Patriot Action Network, "Startling results from an ongoing investigation reveal that the City of Chicago uses non-citizens to supervise and operate some of Chicago’s early voting polling places. Investigations uncovered at least 6 non-citizens supervising or working at early voting sites (so far).

   Another problem was highlighted by Robert Knight in The Washington Times.  He pointed out that ACORN may be gone, but it has been reborn as a number of new groups, under new names.

   Also, Chuck Neubauer, in the same newspaper, has revealed that, "A small tax-exempt political group with ties to wealthy liberals, like billionaire financier George Soros, has quietly helped elect 11 reform-minded progressive Democrats as secretaries of state to oversee the election process in battleground states."  It allows the left to, "...put Democrats in charge of state election offices, where key decisions often are made in close races on which ballots are counted and are not counted."

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   Some are calling a number of current questionable political moves (some of which we have shown you) to be a part of a master plan to steal the election and establish permanent control of the American government system.  That’s what we hear from many sources and that’s what we are beginning to see evidence of.

   And it continues on as we find a California commission for the redrawing of legislative districts releasing a proposed boundary map that greatly upsets and further reduces the Republican minority and has some Latino groups somewhat unhappy as well.  This has been in a few papers.  You may have read about it.

   In another area, a new national effort has been launched that I am sure we are all going to want to keep an eye on.  As reported by WND reporter, Aaron Klein, "A new movement led by Communist revolutionary group founder Van Jones seeks to counter the tea party while petitioning for a progressive agenda."  As further revealed, "The organization, dubbed ‘The American Dream Movement,’ is partnered with a slew of radical groups funded by billionaire George Soros."  Enough said.

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   This writer has seen an outline of what is supposed to be the progressive/socialist areas of action and expected success.  I also have Dr. Walter Williams areas of concern for this coming election, and other bits and pieces that seem to be a part of the picture as well.

   It all seems to suggest that minorities of color can continue to be herded into the Democratic pen as usual, as will many women who have been successfully educated to react in the appropriate "politically correct" manner, as will most Democrats and union leadership (while always applying pressure on their membership).

   A number of big businesses can be expected to be in Obama’s camp, after all, the bail-outs are most certainly not going to be forgotten.  And we already know where most of the media stands, don’t we?  And, as Dr. Williams noted, "The overwhelming majority of Jews and Muslims will vote Democratic because they won’t vote Republican," (no matter what is being done to them by this administration).

   And let us not forget the newly minted young adults, fresh from the intensive progressive training in our educational system.  These are all formidable elements to try and reason with, made especially difficult by two key factors.  The progressive way is much more about feeling, not reasoning.  The second factor is the dominant predisposition for the exclusion of considerations of anything that might disagree with that which has become deeply ingrained as the only acceptable truths.

   However, as hopeless as all of this may seem, let us also realize that most human beings can have overriding reactions to events that seriously threaten their wallets.  In other words, the condition of the economy just might make a difference.

   So there you have it.  This is what must be dealt with.  This is the reality.

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   As that great investigative reporter, Michelle Malkin, tells us in The Washington Times, "According to a new General Accounting Office audit conducted over the past year, nearly 4,000 stimulus recipients received $24 billion in Recovery Act Funds, while owing more than $750 million in unpaid corporate, payroll and other taxes."  This includes federal contractors, grant winners, social services groups, and just about every other format imaginable.

   And let’s not forget our elected politicians.  As Valerie Richardson reports in that same paper, "An extensive study released May 25 in the journal Business and Politics found that the investments of members of the House of Representatives outperformed those of the average investor by 55 basis points per month, or 6 percent annually, suggesting that lawmakers are taking advantage of inside information to fatten their stock portfolios."

   And, in the same publication, Stephen Dinan tells us that, "More than 100 employees of the Internal Revenue Service cheated the government by fraudulently claiming a first-time homebuyer tax credit included in the 2008 and 2009 economic stimulus packages, according to federal investigators."

   In so many areas it would most certainly seem we have disreputable government operations that are fast becoming exceptionally dishonest.  If this pace continues it will become increasingly difficult for the corrupt politicians to keep up.

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   Pat Archbold, in the NC Register, tells us that, "If there were any question what type of blood runs through the veins of the Democrat party, this piece should answer the question.  Abortion money is the life-blood of the Democrat party.  Not only were the Democrats willing to shut down the entire federal government to keep taxpayer money flowing to Planned Parenthood, not only is the Obama administration willing to cut of Medicaid funding for millions of poor people in Indiana to keep the money flowing to Planned Parenthood; but now, in a shocking development, we find that the Congresswoman selected by the Democrat party to recruit candidates for Congress (Rep. Allyson Schwartz) founded, owned and operated an abortion clinic."  How nice for them, but not quite so nice for the unborn children.

   And yes, there are those who are fighting back, such as noted in USA Today with the news that "Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said he will (and did) sign a controversial bill that cuts off government funding to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider."

   And then the Urban Christian News reported that, "Republican state representatives in North Carolina voted to override Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of the state budget Wednesday morning, ensuring that a provision to strip all federal and state money from Planned Parenthood will take effect on July1.  North Carolina is now the third state, after Indiana and Kansas, to defund the family planning provider because it also provides abortions."

   And, as we found out, that organization, in at least some parts of the country seems also available to help pimps to keep their girls "serviceable."

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   The federal government and many of the courts continue to do all they can to control our lives.  We see an Illinois court decision that forces a private company (American Airlines) to do business with whom they designate (Orbitz).  And we see federal authorities pushing forward with their coming mandate to forcibly replace incandescent bulbs with the more dangerous, mercury-laden fluorescents.  And we have seen how government agencies have sometimes even dictated salaries and bonuses in the private sector.

   However, there are signs that a few are willing to fight back.  As Fox News reported, "State lawmakers have passed a bill that allows Texans to skirt federal efforts to promote more efficient light bulbs, which ultimately pushes the swirled, compact flourescent bulbs over the 100-watt incandescent bulbs many grew up with.

   There are many other examples of "big brother" taking over, and precious few examples of serious resistance.  More resistance is hoped for but time is running out.

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   Once again we get the word, this time from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.  They are telling us that in almost all grade school levels, national tests show little to no progress in the most basic fundamentals of American history.

   These are the youngsters who will be voting in just a few years and they have little to no understanding about our revolution, our founding fathers, the basic concepts of our republic, or our role in world history, present or past.  But of course we are working hard in many schools to advise students of both sexes that they can be boys or girls or both and to offer special classes in racially-based revolutionary ideas and to have text books that demonize free-enterprise, and all manner of other "special" educational opportunities.

   On the higher levels of education we find a little progress.  A few dorms are being returned to single-sex residency.  The irresponsible drinking and promiscuous behavior were totally out of control (something we had predicted would happen).

   There is also that movie that so few ever saw, "Waiting For Superman."  As reviewed by The Patriot Action Network: "The movie exposes how America’s public education system is about keeping the teachers’ unions fat and happy at the expense of our kids."

   If you consider nothing else, please realize that our kids are going to make or break our nation.  It will be up to them.

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   The disintegration in the American educational system (no matter how much money we throw at the problem) is now beginning to gain some serious responses.  As Jeb Bush (former Gov. of Florida) and Joel Klein (a former chancellor of education — now with News Corp.) presented thoughts worthy of consideration in The Wall Street Journal.

   Among the comments made: "America’s economic strength and standing in the world economy are directly linked to our ability to equip students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the 21st century. ... Yet in all but a few states, current academic standards of educational performance are too low."  And further noted, "Three-fourths of students entering college are not adequately prepared academically."

   Solutions?  Among others, "New standards demand new measurements for achieving them."  One action taken: In Michigan we now find that the worst performing public schools have been taken over by the state, with the goal of turning them around within 5 years.

   And now Bill Gates is seeking a winning formula he may be willing to help apply.  Among other realizations, Bill and Melinda Gates feel that seriously improving the effectiveness of teachers may be a key to fixing the system.  (We might suggest, starting with the teachers’ colleges and then with continuing education while teaching.)

   Even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is getting into the act with its suggestion that Congress really reform the federal educational policies with priorities that are believed to be absolutely necessary.  As the Chamber’s report notes, "By rewarding longevity over performance, tenure policies often hamstring local officials’ ability to ensure that students have access to the most effective teachers."

   And now Richard Vedder, a professor of economics at Ohio University (who also is the Director of the Center for College Affordability) has come up with an amazing idea.  He has the nerve to suggest that faculty members with low teaching loads (and there are many) should have their classroom involvement significantly increased.  He has found that to do so might cut student tuition almost in half.

   What a novel thought — teachers who teach.  Who would have ever thought of such a thing?  Well, Professor Vedder did.  Maybe it’s worth considering?

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   Religion in America continues under siege.  A recent al-Qaeda video is encouraging Muslims to attack religious institutions, such as Christian churches. Consider yourself warned.  They really mean it.

   Elsewhere, Atlas Shrugs reveals that, "The Houston National Cemetery has told veterans and volunteers that they can no longer use the words ‘God,’ ‘God bless,’ or ‘Jesus’ at any and all funerals or in condolence cards." They claim that such words are "offensive."  And, as Fox News reports, "A federal judge has ordered a Texas school district to prohibit public prayer at a high school graduation ceremony."

   But let me tell you, the backlash is growing.  A federal appeals court has overturned the earlier prohibition on such a prayer at a graduation at Medina Valley High School in Texas.  And, after two purposeful exclusions of the words "under God" from our Pledge of Allegiance by NBC during its coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament, the network was pressured sufficiently enough to publically apologize.

   You see?  Sometimes good things happen when you are willing to respond — are willing to fight back.

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   Fox News told us about "Semper No" — The Pennsylvania Marine barred from wearing her uniform at her high school graduation.  " ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine’ apparently doesn’t apply at a Pennsylvania high school where a 17-year-old graduate has been told she cannot wear her uniform when she receives her diploma.

   "Lindsay Starr told KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, she wanted to wear her dress blues during her graduation ceremony at North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, but that school officials denied her request."  She told the TV reporter that, "There should be no reason for them to say no.  They don’t have to do anything.  I come in my uniform, shake hands, get my diploma and it’s over."

   Of course it’s that simple, unless you’re an educational system with an ideological bias.

   Another good example of such problems might be as reported by the British Daily Mail.  "A 77-year-old Army veteran is being threatened with legal action for flying the American flag in his front yard.  Fred Quigley, of Macedonia, Ohio, a retired Army chaplain and minister who served active duty during the Vietnam War, has been told his flag violates his homeowners’ association’s rules on flagpoles."

   As further reported, "Mr. Quigley said: ‘It’s the principle.  It’s about patriotism, and the soldiers I’ve had to hold as they were dying.  It’s just important to me to be bold with the flag.  If they can dictate to me that I cannot fly an American flag in America, then to me, the country’s lost.’ "

   As also noted, "This is not the first time that homeowners have clashed with a homeowners’ association over the right to display the flag.  In Idaho, the dispute ended in a public apology from an association that prohibited flags in ‘common areas.’ "

   One cannot help but wonder about the mental processes of those who cause such problems as this, as well as so many others, as with violent entertainment, the killing of late-term, unborn babies, public financial irresponsibility, filthy behavior, drug legalization and so many other unfathomable positions.  And, have you noticed? — Almost without exception, it’s a living part of the day-to-day function of the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda. I wonder why that is.

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   "Long before NBC Sports edited the Pledge of Allegiance, the city of Eugene, Oregon was busy debating if their City Council should recite it before each bi-monthly meeting.  At the June 7th meeting of the council, a proposal was floated by Councilor Mike Clark, suggesting that every bi-monthly meeting start with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

   " ‘The Columbian’ reports that Mayor Kitty Piercy (a lead sponsor of Code Pink’s latest anti-war resolution) and others did not agree with this idea, suggesting that reciting the pledge might be ‘divisive.’ "  This was a Blaze release posted by Mike Opelka and it points out yet another of so many subtle and not so subtle attacks on American patriotism.  Something to think about.

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   There are a few who, by their behavior and their goals, strongly suggest what we can only describe as a genuinely evil nature.  Such a person certainly seems to be this next individual.  As Fox news chronicles, "Billionaire George Soros spends tens of millions each year supporting a range of liberal, social and political causes, from drug legalization to immigration reform, to gay marriage, to the death penalty.  But a less well-known Soros priority — replacing elections for judges with selection-by-committee — now has critics accusing him of trying to stack the courts."

   Well of course.  The socialist/progressives have been doing all that they can in that area for many years now.  And it would seem that more times than not, they have been successful.  And now with Soros money behind the effort — watch out!  That man has broken currencies and brought down governments (in so many ways and by so many means) and now he’s aimed in our direction.  You have been warned.

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   Judicial watch has released documents that carefully and clearly describe what is identified as an extensive collusion by Federal Communications Commission officials with a known left-wing advocacy group in a campaign to greatly expand government control over the Internet.  See Judicial Watch for full details and watch out for the results that follow what is happening.

   David Eldridge writes in The Washington Times: "Robert M. McDowell, one of two Republican appointees on the Commission who voted against the FCC’s so-called ‘Open Rules of the Road’ for the Internet, warned that the regulations threaten to stifle innovation in the tech sector of the American economy."

   And Steve Titch also added in the same publication, "What most Americans don’t realize is that if the government wants to read your emails, look at your pictures or gain access to any data that you have stored online for more than 180 days on sites including Yahoo, Google, Docs, and online backup sites, it can do so without a search warrant."

   No, this is not something that might happen — this has happened.  Big brother is here!

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   With the light bulb police soon to be on the prowl and countless other "green" restrictions kicking in, Professor Ian Plimer’s observation is most interesting. "The volcanic eruptions in Iceland, since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just four days, negated every single effort you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet."  Thank you Anna Dewey (of the V.I.P. women’s group) for bringing this to our attention.

   Another observation, this time by Justen Charters on the Patriot Action Network, who shows us what some have in mind. "Head of the Oregon Global Warming Commission for our energy problems (public presentation):  Public transit run by unions.  An ultimate redistribution of wealth.  And he refuses to answer questions coming from an opposing opinion even though he said before that it was an open discussion."

   And he also added, "Oh, and this event was sponsored by The Apollo Alliance.  Van Jones and the Stimulus Package ring a bell?"  Oh yes.  He’s that fellow, who in so proud and public a way, was very quick to inform everyone about his being a Communist.  And we know about the Apollo Project, right?  And we once again see how honest planetary husbandry has been hijacked by the left for political purposes.  A real shame.