Gov. Chris Christie Needs a Second Look

Gov. Chris Christie Needs a Second Look
Al Ritter

In a time and place in a political landscape where we are right now, voters need to be reassured that the actions of their local politicians reflect the direction they want them to go. We can use the November elections to make a bully pulpit stand for the much needed return to conservative principles, or we can use that pulpit to make a stand for non-political party stand to punish certain groups.

Let there be no mistake that Gov. Chris Christie is making such a stand, but his intentions are based on national polling of issues of fiscal restraint more than the stand of the Republican Party. Blasphemy you say? Follow with me here for a minute, and don’t shoot the messenger. Gov. Christie is merely playing a numbers game right now in his fledgling career as Governor of New Jersey. He is working off the idea of reduced spending rather than increasing taxes, which are very popular republican ideas. The fact that that he is forcefully challenging unions who only represent 12% of working Americans isn’t hurting his cause either.

So far Governor Christie is playing the odds, and doing so quite convincingly. There are many Conservative Americans who see his confrontational actions as being great for a much abused party in the last 5 years. To those Republicans I say this……..DO YOUR HOMEWORK on Chris Christie, the actions you see are but a small part of the man running New Jersey. Our republican resurgence after November of last year is due to the fact that we take nothing for granted anymore and we do our do diligence in researching politicians BEFORE endorsing them into the national spotlight to run for federal offices. There WILL come a time where Christie will have to make an unpopular stand based on his state’s needs rather than the popularity of a poll.

Chris Christie has a background as a lawyer, and serving as both a lobbyist and an Attorney General, his stances on issues are purposely gray. He reveals his stances on public issues only as needed to complete a designated project.

I guess I was taken in by his bully pulpit style too in the beginning, but his overall stances do NOT mirror the republican stance on conservatism. To begin with Christie leans towards amnesty of illegal aliens, he supports cap and trade initiatives, he supports the gun laws already on the books, and wants to actively enforce them. Christie also supports federally funded healthcare reform. Maybe these things aren't trigger point issues for you, maybe they are, but the point remains, you should be aware of them.

Forgive me for bringing this up, with the massive popularity Christie is enjoying right now, nobody in their right mind would question him, but then you already know me as being right to the point. Do your own research on each and every individual you think would do well on the national level, let’s not put a Moderate in the Whitehouse after being so oppressed by a far left wing candidate this last time…………..in the words of the immortal Ronald Regan………Trust, but verify!


http://www.ontheissues.org/Chris_Christie.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Christie

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest................... Benjamin Franklin

Wisconsin House Passes Union Busting Bill!

Wisconsin House Passes Union Busting Bill!
Al Ritter

The absent Democratic State Senators from the state of Wisconsin, say they are doing what their state constitution won’t allow and that is a filibuster. Yet early this morning the Wisconsin State Assembly (congress) completed just that, an action of filibuster by state congressmen that lasted some 59 hours on the assembly floor. The vote was counted at 1 AM and carried from the republican majority to break the public sector union stronghold that threatened to drive the state into bankruptcy due to unfunded pensions and benefits.

Obama has even weighed in twice on his support for the unions, and has even devoted a page on his personal website to the plight of the state senate democrats. The reality is that this wasn’t a move to replace a filibuster absence in state law. If the state congress has the ability to filibuster, then logic says the state senate has that same ability. This was purely a case of “I’m taking my ball and going home” attitude of democrats. What they have done is illegal in their home state, which is the reason they have fled to Illinois. Wisconsin State Police have no jurisdiction in Illinois, and it would be almost impossible judging the political stance from Obama that a federal warrant would be sworn out for the absent lawmakers.

This surprisingly enough hasn’t been the first time this has happened; in 2003 Democratic Texas lawmakers did the same thing fleeing to New Mexico to avoid a critical vote that they didn’t agree with.

Republicans on the federal level have had to deal with Democratic majority rule for 5 years now and not one time have they fled to avoid a vote. This is childish behavior plain and simple, lawmakers are paid to VOTE not to run and hide once the going gets tough. Let’s call this what it really is, and it’s NOT a physical replacement for a filibuster………it is an unlawful action to avoid a quorum vote. I only hope the voting citizens in Wisconsin see this cowardly act for what it truly is in the next election!

How's My Sanity?

How’s My Sanity
Kevin Bryant

I’m having one of those moments when I think I need to check the level of my own sanity. Why do I say this, because I believe the whole world has gone nuts. Like the other day I was thinking that America needs a “Slap Your Child Day”. Why, because most liberal progressive protesters here in the United States are between the ages of 18 & 26. They want everything handed to them and most do not believe in hard work and sweat. Then my mind went to thinking that we can’t just stop with the kids, because their parents are mostly to blame for their children’s beliefs. My daughter is an oddity compared to most kids today. When she was in high school two years ago, she held not one but two part time jobs and still went to class. The best thing about this is that I did not have to push her to get the jobs. She did it because she wanted to. But, in the end, I scratched the “Slap Your Child Day” idea except my daughter still knows that if she becomes a progressive type, I will remind her that it’s not acceptable to me.

I’m not sure how, but a couple of days after that, I was standing out on my deck and it occurred to me that if you remove all the freshmen US Senators and Representatives from this equation, that leave roughly 440 members between both houses that were there before the last election. Out of those 440, I was going to issue a challenge. Who can honestly name 10 members of congress who put the constitution first when fulfilling their duties? I was even going to agree with anyone who put Dennis Kucinich on that list. Though I do not agree with his interpretation of the constitution, I believe that he strongly supports what he believes the constitution says. But then I got to thinking deeper and I couldn’t come up 5 names myself. Out of 440 members of congress, I came up with 4 and that includes Dennis Kucinich. Am I that distrustful of politicians or are my beliefs that less than 1% of congressional members believe and support the constitution and use it to base their judgments on founded in truth? I’ll let you be the judge.

Has my grip on reality slipped a little, who knows. But if you are starting to doubt my sanity, then this one should place the proverbial nail in my coffin. I take a look at the middle east right now and with the exception of Iran, I think every government of every country that are having protest to overthrow that government should retaliate against the protesters with military force. Yes, even Muammar Qaddafi, I believe should stay in power. I think it is a better to keep him than have to deal with what is likely to replace him. It is becoming easier with each passing generation to convince those below the age of 30 that socialism and communism are the best forms of government. It doesn’t matter if that government is based in government control or religious extremism. People who have never experienced real freedoms don’t know what they are and will listen and follow anyone who professes to be able to grant them freedoms, never mind the fact that freedoms are given by our creator and not government. Our own President does not understand this concept.

So, How’s My Sanity?

Is it Surprising That Obama Speaks Out on Wisconsin Matters?

Is it Surprising That Obama Speaks Out on Wisconsin Matters?
Al Ritter

In the light of the role of Federal Government his involvement in the matter should raise eyebrows. We need to look at this situation as a political boondoggle and not as statement on right or wrong. The federal government has no balanced budget amendment, nor will they ever. The feds are a collection of overspending progressives that strangely think that the only way out of a recession is to throw obscene amounts of money at the problem in hopes that it will soon go away.

As a result of that thinking, and a non-understanding that states can only spend what they receive in taxes, the administration has made their opinion known twice now on the Wisconsin protests. Twice Gov. Scott Walker has told the Obama Administration to butt out of their state affairs and pay closer attention to the fiscal health of the federal government.

It is certainly no secret that public sector union bargained benefits far exceed the benefits of that in the private sector. Pensions are the worst in WI when public workers only contribute 4 to 6% of the total pensions they receive after retirement, while the citizens supply the remaining 94 to 96%! Amazingly the benefits they receive in retirement only 4 to 6 cents to every dollar is supplied by the worker!

Healthcare is similarly ridiculous. Each municipal employee only pays 8% of their healthcare insurance premiums, while workers in the private sector pay 20%!

Union workers only represent 12% of the workers in this country and yet they are solely responsible for the majority of unfunded pension problems in most of our states. These kinds of union bullies are also the ones who fund the democratic campaigns, creating a massive conflict of interest. It is certainly no coincidence that Barack Obama has been in their pocket for years, it’s no wonder Scott Walker has told him to butt out of their fiscal business twice now!

Pooling our sovereignty with others only undermines it

Pooling our sovereignty with others only undermines it

January 20, 2011
By John Bolton

For decades, Americans have slept while their national sovereignty has been threatened, chipped away and eroded by a series of innocuous-sounding and nearly imperceptible decisions. We have been locked in a struggle between our sovereignty and the advocates of "global governance" that most of our fellow citizens didn't even know was under way, let alone how disparate were these two worldviews.

This conflict is not about the buzzword "globalization" and its implications for commerce and culture, but a sharp confrontation about power and government: our power and our government.

Although "sovereignty" has many often contradictory meanings, for Americans, the idea is actually quite straightforward: Sovereignty rests in the Constitution's opening phrase "We the People," meaning our control over our own government.

Advocates of "pooling" U.S. sovereignty with others to address "global" problems are really saying we should surrender some of our sovereignty to international organizations that other nations will influence or even control.

That is unquestionably a formula for reducing U.S. autonomy and our authority over government. Most Americans feel we don't adequately control government now, so it is no wonder that, once aware of the scope of the threat, they will refuse to cede even more authority to distant bodies where U.S. influence is reduced or uncertain.

For President Obama, our first post-American president, surrendering sovereignty seems perfectly reasonable, consistent with his essentially European social-democratic worldview. Obama sees his foreign-policy role less as an advocate for America's "parochial" interests and more as a "citizen of the world," in his own phrase.

The description President George H.W. Bush applied to his 1988 election opponent, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, also applies to Obama: "He sees America as another pleasant country on the U.N. roll call, somewhere between Albania and Zimbabwe."

Threats to U.S. sovereignty are both imminent and long-term. They have varying characteristics, and they are often not necessarily immediately obvious as threats. One element that runs through many of them, however, is the concept of international "norming," the idea that America should base its policies on the global consensus rather than making our own decisions as a constitutional democracy. "Norming" is a way to constrain U.S. sovereignty by moving our domestic political debate to align with broader international opinion.

Because of the centrality of individual freedom in the United States, norming advocates are invariably on the international Left politically; there are simply no other nations as liberty-oriented as we are.

Thus, much of the threat to our sovereignty comes not in traditional national security areas, but on policies heretofore considered entirely domestic in nature.

Take four issues where our free and open political system allows continuing, robust domestic debates: global warming, abortion, gun control and the death penalty.

Yet the "norming" advocates say that the rest of the world, through treaties, United Nations decisions and "customary international law," has already decided these questions: for massively increased government taxation and regulation to combat global warming, for widely available abortions, for gun control and against the death penalty.

The issue here is not where you stand on any one of these particular issues, but who gets to decide them: us, or the rest of the world "voting" in our decision making. This is the core issue of American sovereignty and the threat to it represented by the Obama worldview.

Clearly, Obama will now have a far less compliant Congress, so there is every prospect he will use the international route to achieve his objectives.

By clearly understanding how threats to our sovereignty arise, by making them politically important, and by holding our elected officials accountable, we can defend our sovereignty vigorously. But there is no time to waste.

John Bolton is the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. This article is excerpted from the Encounter Broadsides series.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/opinion/op-eds/2011/01/pooling-our-sovereignty-others-only-undermines-it-0

Worldwide Distrust of Government

Worldwide Distrust of Government
Al Ritter

If you think for just one minute that America is alone in their distrust of government, just quickly skim over the news of the day. It seems that distrust of government is a worldwide epidemic. Egypt was the most recent, but Lebanon was the country before that, and now Bahrain and Yemen are close behind.

Whether for suppression of thought, inhumane practices, violation of human rights, extreme taxation, or frivolous spending, the result is the same, the people have had enough! It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a country lead by dictators, tyrants, or a country run under the name of democracy, the end result is the same, when pushed hard enough the people push back.

The countries of Lebanon and Egypt want to start over, throw out their constitutions and start over hopefully to give the people more of a voice in the running of their country. Whether the new government will be a democracy or merely handed over to another tyrannical party remains to be seen.

The one thing that remains clear as a bell, people across the world are tired of being lied to, having their money stolen from government in the name of taxation, told how to think, and most of all watching their countries teeter on the brink of bankruptcy from corrupt leadership.

These uprisings should send a strong signal to President Barack Obama that forced policies against the populace’s wishes can have strong repercussions. The United States has never had a political coup in their short history, but with all that’s going on in the world right now, the climate is right!

Doubling Down on Bad Policy

Doubling Down on Bad Policy
Al Ritter

President Obama in his State of the Union speech introduced his desire to supply the country with a $53 billion dollar high speed rail service. He hopes to use China as a pattern for the institution of this multi -billion dollar program. What has being ignored in this whole program are the major differences in our countries.

To begin with, China’s mass transportation system is in its infancy while America’s mass transit system has been in a constant state of evolution since the 1700’s. China needs a high speed mass transit system more than America does. Only 47% of their citizens even own a car, while China has now replaced the United States as the largest energy user in the world. China population is flocking to the urban areas while America’s citizens are moving in record numbers to the rural areas to avoid city sprawl and crime.

China is far more adept at welcoming a mass transit system than America is. China is in the middle of a massive industrial revolution, something we had some 220 years ago.

Obama forgets the massive expanse of Amtrak when the failing railroad giants were taken over by government in 1971 because the passenger transportation business had failed and had gone into bankruptcy. To avoid the failure of a “businesses too big to fail,” the government consolidated the different rail companies into one large grid work to be known as Amtrak.

Problems arose immediately, as the government became painfully aware that even this new entity couldn’t survive without an infusion of government money known as subsidy. This term only means one thing ……..they company can’t survive on fares alone. Our government has a rich history of rescuing companies that can’t survive the test of capitalism. Government always seems to know better than the citizens of what we need and when we need it. They never admit they made a mistake and continue long after the industry becomes a money losing situation. To this day Amtrak requires yearly infusions of tax payer money to supply a service that America as a whole refuses to support.

In the 80’s and 90’s the state of Maryland, under Governor Wm. Donald Schaefer requested funds from the federal government to create a Light Rail System. This system was expanded in the 90’s despite the fact that fares only covered 50% of operating costs. This becomes a social program rather than a mass transit system when the fares don’t support the operation.

To assume that we need a high speed mass transit system similar to China’s when our needs don’t even come close to mirroring China’s is yet another democratic party’s need to hire employees to build a project that nobody will use………there as only so many times we can dig a hole and fill it back in. We need to stop senseless spending on non-essential social programs.

Another Group Now Leans Left

Another Group Now Leans Left
Al Ritter

For those of you who enjoyed reading the news from the AOL website, be forewarned, Arianna Huffington will now control the news content on all AOL subsidiaries. In a deal announced early today, the Huffington Post will be purchased for $315 million by AOL.

Part of the deal allows Arianna Huffington to stay in control of the Huffington Post, but to work in an expanded role in controlling the news content on all AOL sites. This transformation is very worrisome as it puts a person in charge who deals with opinion and not news in a journalistic capacity.

The merger was accomplished with full approval of the board of directors of both companies and they intend to make the transformation as soon as possible.

How can I explain the ramifications of this in terms the normal person can understand? This would be akin to Keith Olbermann taking over NBC and controlling all “news content.”

This purchase will allow Arianna Huffington access to a much larger audience, but in a very subversive way, opinion masquerading as news. The Huffington Post has some 26 million hits per month, and this deal allows her to access an additional 110 million in the US and 250 million in the world.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/07/technology/aol_huffington_post.cnnw/

Maryland and the Tobacco Law Suit

Maryland and the Tobacco Law Suit
Al Ritter

In 1997 Tobacco manufacturers made a settlement through the US Attorney General to pay states a specific amount for damages caused by smoking. Now mind you, Maryland is playing both ends against us. What does this mean? Well Maryland knows that smoking costs everyone in healthcare costs, but accepts money from the sales of cigarettes ($1.20 per pack) AND accepts money from the settlement.

How much you ask? Well back in 2008 the amount was $540.8 million, but that amount increases yearly based on a variable scale based on inflation. The amount now is largely contested but the expenditures aren’t. Maryland spends very little, in fact one of the lowest states in the nation on smoking cessation programs.

The original settlement with the tobacco companies stated that these funds would be used exclusively on treatment of smoking related illnesses or smoking cessation programs. Unfortunately this is where state sovereignty takes over, and through Maryland law the general assembly decides how that money will be spent.

For argument sake let’s say that the yearly income is still at $540.8 million a year, and we have NO idea how much Maryland takes in on taxes on cigarette sales, but rest assured it is massive. We are now half way through the original settlement of 25 years, so we only have 13 years left of the $540.8 million per year income left. Maryland has thrown this money into the general slush fund, and spends little (3% at last reporting) on smoking prevention.

My question is this…….Maryland has become increasingly dependent on Federal funding (Stimulus), and earmarks through Senators Mikulski and Cardin. Add that to the tobacco settlement and you can see we have had it pretty easy in Maryland compared to other states.

Political retribution on the ability to secure federal funds has been no secret in the Obama Administration. If the winds of change happen in Washington according to the general consensus in 2012, funds from the federal government will surely dry up. O’Malley has done his best at “making hay” while the opportunity has afforded itself.

O’Malley doesn’t care what happens in the last two years of his reign of terror, he will be gone in 2014. Maryland will receive the tobacco settlement long after he is gone, but certainly not indefinitely.
The General Assembly has been hooked on money, especially money they never earned. When the federal money, and the tobacco money dries up whom do you think will have to make up the difference in income?

http://alspoliticalview.blogspot.com/2008/04/taxes-on-tobacco-used-for-non-smoking.html

Common Sense

Common Sense
William G Burmer

Dear Patriots:

There is an interesting historical commentary with regards to the wit and humor of “Mark Twain” in the January issue of the “New American.” I commend it to you for a good read.

I often lament that common sense has been taken over by “politically correct” speech. Mark Twain had a way with words we can all relate to, here are a few.

“Common Sense is the least common of all the senses.”

1."Laws control the lesser man... Right conduct controls the greater one. "

2."Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."

3."Let us make a special effort to stop communicating with each other, so we can have some conversation.”

4."Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen."



In the present quest by the “Left” (communist) to silence opposition to their tyrannies, Mark Twain lamented “Scorn and ridicule are not always adequate to silence unwelcome opinion . . . but they are often the only weapons available.” So much for Please and thank you, they simple do not register with the Statists mindset.



And my favorite: "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself."



Let us pray our new Congress can find and inroad to the redress the American People deserve; More importantly, that the American People can find favor with God, in obedience to His Laws. “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or imbeciles who really mean it.”

Sometimes I wish I had said that.

Obama Set to Lose Yet another Country

Obama Set to Lose Yet another Country
Al Ritter

Jimmy Carter is the President that history has labeled the one who lost Iran. Because of the official American stance in 1953 to re-instate the dictator the Shah of Iran into power over a democratic president, the pot had been boiling. Then in 1979 when Carter made the decision to allow the Shah of Iran admittance into this country, (against the warnings of the American Embassy in Iran), for treatment of cancer, it triggered a firestorm.

A Radical Islamic student faction approached the religious arm of the government and plotted the overthrow of the government while the Shah was in America. They took the now famous 52 hostages from the American Embassy and held them for the last 444 days of Carter’s career. This was the beginning of the Islamic Revolution against America.
Although intent on “warming up” to the Islamic nations, President Obama is “being tested,” as Vice President Biden prophesied, early in his Presidency. The problem is however that Obama has widened the rift between Islamic nations. Obama will go down in history as the American President who has lost Turkey, Lebanon, and soon to lose Egypt if he travels down the same path of indifference.

History has already shown the similarities between Iran and Egypt. The question is…….will Obama show leadership, or will he continue on a path of destructive policies that puts American’s safety in the cross hairs.

His actions of the past two years have placed Americans in more danger than any President in the past, the question is, can he win here?

Lowering the Debt Ceiling

Lowering the Debt Ceiling
Kevin Bryant

Most of us go through life doing the best that we know how for our families, ourselves and our country. We make sacrifices, most of which involve our own self indulgence, for family and friends. Many know what it is like to do without. Can’t afford that new car right now or pray that this set of tires last another 6 months until we can work it out in our budget to get another set. If we plan ahead, we can afford those tires when they become necessary to replace. We sacrifice our own indulgences for our own and our family’s well being. We have to do it, we have no choice.

Our congress is about to raise the debt ceiling again. They are going to give themselves and the President the authority to put us another trillion in debt and there will be the ceremonious bickering and claims about budget restraints but in the end, the only thing that will be restrained is our ability to ever get out of debt.

I am one of the strongest supporters of the military that I know. Saying this, I think it is time to militarily get out of Iraq, get out of Afghanistan and get out of South Korea. We have been in all of them for far too long and price we have paid to stay is way too great. We need to close our bases in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Germany, England, Italy and Spain. We need to decommission one fourth of our naval fleet, one fourth of all navy and air force aircraft, eliminate one fifth of our army and marine tank units and cut all non strategic bases here in the U.S.

Being realistic, there is not going to be another world war. Why have these bases open and the bigger question is why are we paying these countries for allowing us to keep a military presence there? They should be paying us. We can no longer afford to be the world’s police dept and peace keeping force.

Instead of laying off the people who will no longer be needed to run those bases or tanks and planes, we allow them the option of getting out or transferring and working as part of decommissioning crews, whether it is bases, or equipment. This will eliminate the need to hire more government workers to do the job and because the job will last over several years, this will allow those that are career minded to stick around and retire as they had planned to do.

After stripping everything out of each tank, plane and ship that is vital or even classified as confidential, sell off the asset. The world turns a blind eye when Russia or China sells military hardware to places like Syria and Iran so why don’t we sell them our old stuff. Who is really going to care? I figure it would take about 5 years to complete this military transformation.

Once we start seeing dollars back in savings or through the sale of equipment, immediately start buying back our treasury bonds starting with those who hold the smallest amounts. Once you pay off the smallest, you then buy back the next smallest and so on. Once the debt starts to come down, we actually lower the debt ceiling by the same amount.

As for closing bases here in the U.S., there is no discrimination between the states. Each state must offer up at least one military base. If they do not have a base, then they must offer up a federal park or some other federal land equivalent to the smallest federal park in that state or nearest military base in proximity. The state has the first right to purchase back the land from the federal government. If the state does not want to buy it, then it may then go up for sale to the general public.

The only losers in this is the foreign governments who will lose income because we will no longer be paying them to keep a military presence in their country and having our service members pumping millions into their economies.

Let’s not raise the debt ceiling. America will not default on its loans. Congress will have to either sell land back to the states to pay the bills or stop funding useless crap like NPR, Africa Aids Relief, and ethanol subsidies and transfer that money to pay the debt.

I know… it makes sense therefore the government will never even consider it.

I Have Lost Yet Another Close Friend

I Have Lost Yet Another Close Friend
Al Ritter

As we get older we lose more and more friends, sometimes through just the aging process, from accident and sometimes through an insidious disease. We begrudgingly accept this as our inability to escape mortality, and we go on. I lost yet another friend due to the horrible disease of cancer late Saturday night.

I can count the number of close friends who made an indelible mark on my soul and heart, and that list of those who remain seems to get shorter each year. This weekend I lost such a friend.

To the business world he was a giant in the insurance industry. A man who was forced to succeed at a young age because of the premature passing of his father, Bill did what no man had done before. He created an insurance empire. Retired at an early age, Bill refused to sit still and branched out into more business ventures. Never satisfied to sit still, Bill excelled at almost every business venture he tried.

I have watched Bill for almost 5 decades, through thick and thin of his personal life, but I was always amazed how resilient he was. Adversity was merely a small tick of the clock in Bill’s life. His mantra always seemed to be, “it’s not how many times you fall down, but how you get back up.”

Bill and I, as some of you know shared the love of cars. Not to say that I collected them at anywhere the pace Bill did, but we shared that special bond. Bill collected the most desirable cars, while I collected the junk. Although we collected at VERY different levels, we both appreciated the fruits of our joint love.

Bill was my next door neighbor from the time I was 11 years old until Saturday night and many a conversation crossed our tongues in that wonderful time we had together. To many people who saw Bill in the business world, he was a giant, but to me, he was just my buddy Bill. We’d swap stories, drink some bourbon, and lay our lives out to each other. Not many of my close friends even have that capacity for life, let alone indulge to that degree.

Bill was my friend, my mentor, and my hero………I will miss him dearly.

William J. Salladin 1944-2011……..rest in peace my dear friend

Another Subversive Group Leans Left Silently

Another Subversive Group Leans Left Silently
Al Ritter

We are all well aware of certain groups that lean left, AARP, NPR, are but just two. We have a new supposedly unbiased group which leans left.
In a time where subversive activities are reaching an all-time high, I have to admit, I was a little slow on the draw with this one. Each morning and night to prepare for my activities, I find myself watching the Weather Channel for the day’s forecast. I usually pick my time to watch very carefully, waiting until that magic “On the eights” minute. This has served me well for the last few years, getting only the information I want, when I want it.

I rarely watch the Weather Channel on the weekend, because I’m usually so busy. Sometimes when I channel surf late at night or on the weekend I shake my head in amazement at the programing I see on the Weather Channel.

Ever since the founder John Coleman left the Weather Channel, things have been slowly creeping into the format that has little to do with predicting the weather on a daily basis. Shows expressing personal or corporate opinion and explained as fact, are becoming more and more evident.

I watched the other night dumbfounded as a Show hosted by Mike Bettis claimed that ALL major weather events were now being credited to “Climate Change” even though no credible peer reviewed study has proven suck a link.

After the one hour show concluded Mike came back on in a clearly labeled “commentary” claiming that even though many viewers had written in complaining about his claims on the show there was irrefutable evidence to the contrary, thus merely reitterating Al Gores' misguided claim about Global Warming....er ummmmm Climate Change.

Here is where his claim falls short, when the channel allowed him to refute his detractors they made him label his comments as “Commentary.” If it had actually been fact no such disclaimer would have been needed. I carefully watched for any other bias during the day, and I got exactly what I was looking for. The Weather Channel is now doing break aways for news updates, and they are using MSNBC!

A little investigation goes a long way in uncovering subversive activities, and I was rather surprised to see the sale of the Weather Channel was accomplished quietly in 2008 to NBC Universal and two private equity firms, The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital.

I will certainly watch the Weather Channel for now on rather sparingly……..whatever happened to just watching the weather forecast?...........Do you suppose the phone number WE6-1111 has been taken over by CNN?

Martin Luther King Jr. is Spinning in His Grave!

Martin Luther King Jr. is spinning in his grave!
Al Ritter

The immortal words of Dr. King’s speech “I have a dream,” have been so abused the last two years. The words where he dreams of a day that people will judge the person for the content of their character, rather than the color of their skin, has been tossed aside by the present administration.

I fear that race relations have been driven back a hundred years with the obvious actions of Barack Obama, a half white half black politician whose main aim as President has been to remake America in his image of what is right.

The possibility of electing another black President regardless of party affiliation has been tainted for many years due to his far left policies and socialistic leaning.
Martin Luther King had the idea that everyone was equal, or should be viewed as such, but the current President deals with race, (his black side) as the dominate superior side, and has actively rejected white citizens views with distain and great anger.

Many people have viewed Barack Obama as an angry socialist with a chip on his shoulder to anyone with white skin.

Martin Luther King viewed everyone in a more acceptant light and rightly so. Equality can never be achieved when one race is viewed as superior to another………..Dr. King was a Republican, he didn’t subscribe to the divisive nature of the liberal party, but the rather the equality of man.

Too Much Diversity?

Too Much Diversity?
Louis Lazarus


I think the greatest problem facing this country today is too much diversity. Most other countries are generally composed of people with similar backgrounds, ethnicities and experiences. If we take a look at a country like Japan, we see a people who all work well together and generally get along because they are all similar in the thoughts and ideals because they come from similar backgrounds. We can also look to nature and we see animals and birds that primarily seek each other’s company but seldom mix with others unlike them. For instance, you don’t often see a flock of blackbirds and sparrows all hanging around together. They all somehow know that remaining together is the natural order of things. There is a saying “birds of a feather, flock together”. Likewise, you don’t see a herd of elephants traveling with a herd of hyenas. It just doesn’t happen in nature. Schools of fish are all of the same species. Somehow they just know where they belong. Everywhere you look on this planet you see like with like. When it comes to human beings, if you are observant, you notice even we seem to prefer the company of people just like us. Germany, Japan, Korea, Egypt and dozens of countries are all primarily made up of people who think more or less alike.



In this country we practice and relish our diversity. We are a melting pot consisting of people from dissimilar backgrounds all trying to live and work together. The people of this country speak at least 60 different languages and there must be at least the same amount of religions practiced here as well as non-religions or no religions at all. We don’t all think the same. We don’t all act the same. We don’t all hang around with each other. For the most part, we still seek out those exactly like us and prefer the company of “our people” versus others. Of course, we all get along as best we can but you just don’t find a group of friends that are totally mixed. It happens but it is the exception and not the norm. As if the odds against us weren’t bad enough, we now seem to have the ultimate decision to make. Do we continue to try to get along with people who think exactly opposite from the way we do or should we consider making some changes so that we can all have the opportunity to live and work with people of like ideals? If this isn’t the major question concerning this nation right now, then there is no reason for this article to go on. However, it will go on because I truly believe this is the single biggest threat we face as a nation. The question always seems to come down to compromise or what the politicos call “bi-partisanship”. Many people believe that if we can just compromise and meet somewhere in the middle, all of our problems can be solved. As a theory, that would seem like a great idea. In the real world, it can’t possibly work. For instance, half of this country truly believes with all their hearts that abortion is something every woman has the right to no matter what. They even take this to the “nth” degree and are in favor of partial birth abortion where the baby, what they call a fetus, is all but totally delivered from the birth canal and then killed before it is completely free from the mother. The supporters of this practice will tell you it’s the right thing to do. On the other hand, half of this country is totally against killing a baby in the womb and they do call this person a baby, not a fetus. They believe this innocent newly formed life has all the rights due a living person. Both sides of this argument will not change their minds or beliefs. It will never happen and it just can’t happen. It’s who they are. This is one major issue where compromise can’t be an option. It’s impossible. You can’t halfway abort a child. You either believe in the right to life or you don’t.



If we go onto another issue and another issue and another issue we find there cannot possibly be compromise on any of them. These issues and how we think and feel about them are who we are. They are what makes us…us. Some of these issues specifically are gay marriage, redistribution of wealth, the military, religion, illegal immigration and the list goes on and on. Half of the people in this country believe one way and half of the people believe in the exact opposite. So then, is it me or does anybody else see a real problem here? We have about 300 million people total but in round numbers we only have about 150 million people who think one way and 150 million people who think exactly opposite. I would compare this to a jar made up of half water and half oil. The two will never mix. This is either true or it’s false. I believe it is true. Half of the country thinks one way and half the country thinks exactly opposite. The issues aren’t fluff. The issues aren’t whether to wear loafers or wing tips. The issues aren’t whether to have fried eggs for breakfast or scrambled. These are core value issues and speak directly to who we are and how we live our lives. So if the premise is correct and there is a problem, what then, is the solution?



We’ve been trying to live together and in my opinion things have not become better, they have become worse and worse as the years go by. Half of us want to play by the “old rules” as they were written over two hundred years ago and half of us want to make up rules as we go along. How can there be a compromise on this? I know how I feel about certain things and while I can appreciate people who feel exactly opposite, I would prefer to live with people who think more or less like I do than to try to struggle each day along side of people who are completely opposite in their beliefs. Am I really alone in my thinking or do more and more people think the same thing? I’ve always thought if I’m thinking a certain thing, so are many others. I’m just a guy who got here like everybody else and as time went by, and as I observed life and what goes on day by day, I’ve formed opinions and certain core values. Understanding people who don’t think like I do isn’t difficult. It’s easy to do. But, do I want to think like them? Do I want to live my life like they do? Absolutely not. No way. Never. I’m sure the same holds true for them. They could never change and think like I do and why should they. It’s not them. It’s not me.



Taking all these things into consideration, would it not be the right thing to do to get a divorce from people you can’t live with? We do that in marriage. It’s done all the time. Two people can love each other with all their hearts and yet they can’t live together because of irreconcilable differences. That’s the term I think applies to America in 2011. If we truly are a divided people on most every important issue of our time and if we truly can’t live together, then why not separate and yet remain friends? Married people do this. Life doesn’t end when this happens. It usually gets better.



What I am proposing in this article is for everyone who reads it to give this some careful thought. Either what I’ve deduced is true or it isn’t. If we aren’t divided and if everyone is totally happy with the way things are in this country today, simply regard these words as simple folly and continue enjoying life. I would have to add that if you truly are happy with the way things are, you are either not paying attention or you are brain dead and don’t know it. But, if you are anything at all like me and you’ve noticed things aren’t really working and we do have a problem, then might we not all be better off if we could come up either with an alternative or even a solution to this problem?



My first article, I NEED SOME OPINIONS…, suggested we divide this country into two halves. One half would be for liberals and the other half for conservatives. It would be a geographical division with all states remaining in tact. We would simply either have a horizontal, vertical or diagonal border dividing the country in two. The border would go along the state lines involved. The Congress would work this out. One party could be in charge of exactly where the division would be and then the other party would get to choose which half they preferred. Since the liberals have a president they are fond of, this person could remain president but only of the liberal half of the new America. The Congress would be divided up according to the states. Each Representative would be free to remain in that state as would the Senators. Where openings existed, new elections would take place. The Supreme Court would be divided up as to Liberal and Conservative and we would wind up with two Supreme Courts. We would also wind up with two Houses of Representatives and we would also have two Senates. Obviously, the conservative half would need a new president. Every citizen of either side would have the choice of remaining where he or she was or the option of moving. Eventually, we would become two separate but equal Americas. Each half living the way they thought was best for them. Each citizen could choose the system that was most closely aligned with his or her beliefs. The same way there is a North and South Dakota is the same way we’d have a Liberal and Conservative America.



Is this idea really too farfetched or does it have some merit? Are there flaws? Yes, more than likely there are. If our lawmakers really wanted what was best, couldn’t they come up with a better version of my plan? Each person believes “his way or her way” is the best way and finally they would have the choice of living under the system they preferred. I only ask people who read this to really give it some thought. I am not advocating war, violence or anything of the sort. What we would have is a friendly competition of two systems, each working separately from the other. Is it possible both halves could flourish? Is it possible both halves could fail? Is it possible we really do need each other and we really do need all this diversity? Or, is it possible one system will work while the other one would fail? If that should happen, then what would we do? As many questions as I can come up with, I’m sure you can come up with more?



With the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords yesterday and the brutal slaying of six other people by a crazed lunatic, it just seems obvious to me that sub-human savage was not happy with the way things are going. I won’t begin to guess what was going on in his brain but one thing is for certain, he wasn’t a happy person. My guess is his discontent came directly from politics. He didn’t like the way things were going and probably felt he had to do something. Obviously what he chose to do was completely wrong but my guess is if we had a better system in place and he had a choice of living in a place more conducive to his way of thinking, maybe he wouldn’t have taken a gun in hand and randomly tried to kill as many people as he could. There is no excuse for what he did but there most likely is an explanation. My guess is he was frustrated and his way of dealing with frustration was violence. If we could do something that would lessen the frustration of people, maybe we would all be better off? One thing I know for sure is that he’s not the only one who is frustrated with the way things are. I’m betting there are millions and millions of Americans who would love the opportunity to live life closer to their core values. Are you one of them? Let’s tackle this problem and if we do it in a serious way, I truly believe we can make America a much better place.

Etiquette according to the Obama Administration

Etiquette according to the Obama Administration
Al Ritter

Last night’s campaign kickoff for the 2012 elections were not only disgraceful, but an embarrassment to the American people. I personally can’t even remember a memorial service that included the playing of the national anthem. Barack Obama called his buddy Robert Shelton, University of Arizona President to put on an extravaganza for him in their football stadium.

In an effort to minimize Arizona Jan Brewer’s participation, and to maximize his “cult of personality” exposure, Obama claimed the event was to be a celebration of life and not to dwell on the death. That attitude is fine, but to start out with the National Anthem? After the National Anthem Obama paraded his cabinet before the people, Janet Napolitano; the Homeland Security Secretary, who offers no help on homeland security to the citizens of Arizona, to Eric Holder; our attorney general who couldn’t get a conviction of a man filmed with a billy club in front of a polling place. The constant cheering was way out of place too, I found myself wondering how many SEIU employees did it really take?

Using Rahm Emauel’s famous quote of never letting a good crisis go to waste, Obama not only used that quote, but expanded on it to include such things as branding and iconography…….what you say? Yes the media portrayed this campaign kickoff as a memorial service, but our commander-in-advertising had a different idea. You haven’t seen this in the main stream media so hold onto your hats.

The Obama administration had t-shirts made up to capitalize on the event. He even designed a cute little logo “Together We Thrive,” and distributed them at the memorial to every attendee. Oh and the concession stands were open too! Do you find yourself wondering who paid for all those t-shirts, or who benefitted from the concession sales?
This was nothing more than a dog and pony show for the administration to show off their muscle to Gov. Jan Brewer, on the surface she appeared as part of the ceremony, but privately she must be seething. This whole event was somewhat akin to “Little Abner goes to Arizona,” lacking the sophistication of even a hillbilly at a 5 star restaurant!

Placing Blame: Is it really needed?

Placing Blame: Is it really needed?
Al Ritter


I have to admit, I jumped into the political blame placing fray right after the shooting in Arizona of Rep. Gabby Giffords. I thought it was going to be an illegal immigrant that was against Gifford’s stance on sealing the border. Sheriff Dupnik was quick to jump the gun and blame the right wing anger in America. Even Gabby’s father blamed the Tea Party.

Who was to blame? Well when it really comes down to it Jared Loughner is to blame. It makes no sense whatsoever that his views more closely mirrored the left than the right. Everyone instantly viewed his rants on YouTube in a quest to answer the nagging question……”what made him snap?” Sometimes there is no answer…..or should I say, an answer only known to the shooter.

Where does this leave us as a society? Obviously Jared Loughner is mentally disturbed, but the question lies with privacy issues vs. the safety of the public. Many people in Jared’s case had informed him of his mental health status, but it never transferred into help. His parents say they never knew how mentally disturbed he was, although personally I think that was more denial than ignorance. So if the person refuses to do anything about his own mental status when notified, and the parents are in denial, what is left?

I think ANY level school should be able to report mental problems directly to the FBI. The sad part was that Loungner bought his gun just 6 weeks before the shooting. So we see that there is a problem related to the ability to purchase that gun. Now the next question is……would he have just bought a gun black market on the street if he couldn’t have purchased one legally? We can only deal with certainties and situations that we know for sure.

You can never defend against yourself against a person mentally disturbed enough that they are unafraid to die. Logic only pertains to the sane world, not to the lone gunman bent on destruction. The media wants to label a specific political group for this heinous crime, but in reality there is only one thing to blame, and that is Jared Loughner.

And to the Congress who now wants “protection”……….are you going to let one mentally deranged 22 yr old rule your lives? If you want protection then hire it from your salary, the American citizens can’t afford it for YOUR peace of mind………….if you don’t like that then retire tomorrow!

Making the Complex Simple

MAKING THE COMPLEX SIMPLE
William G Burmer


Dear Patriots:

Over the Holidays I have for the better part turned my radio off, I hardly watched TV as I was tired of hearing what is wrong with my country and some of the people who “run it!”

I have had a desire to express, a kind of optimism, and hope that sometimes flickers, and then eventually burns within us from time to time. Each of us in our hearts knows that we have been blessed to be American. What is befitting and justified is before us, Our Constitution. It needs no interpretation by lawyers and judges. It is our decree as expressed in its preamble. Its words are simple, to the point, exacting, without equivocation or need of added interpretation. Our founders with the help of almighty God created a perfect document for a liberty loving people. We only need to continue as we have this past fall to remember that politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and occasionally with a pin over our nose, wiped clean.


A humble man once said: "When I despair I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have always been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible but in the end they always fall. Think on it, Always." - Mohandas K. Ghandi - 1869-1948.


We must champion those who speak out against evil and tyranny. We must keep ourselves informed and do not be discouraged.” Work as if everything depends upon you, because it does;” how often have we heard that phrase in our past? With faith know in the end, with God’s help, we shall be the victors. What are needed are a virtuous people who will turn to God in a spirit of humility, looking to their families, and neighbors as equals, united, each striving for a better tomorrow.


With all our doing there of course needs to be some order tempered by a personal sense of responsibility and accountability; this provides an inward-motivating discipline that makes self-government possible. The restored Constitution under God’s law provides an atmosphere for unlimited freedom for creative expression, a chance to choose. Choice, what a beautiful gift, if used properly it elevates the receiver and blesses those around him or her.


In a truly free society Gods children are able to prosper, after all work always produces’ prosperity. The principles mentioned in above paragraphs coupled with work produces a society which, the Apostle James called “the perfect law of (for) liberty.” James 1:25. Word in Parenthesis added.


The first step has been taken; people are becoming educated to know of the simplicity of what is the Law of the Land that is, the Constitution for the United States of America. Next is a continued call to action. The principles of the Constitution were not meant only be studied, but to be restored and put into full operation. With God’s help this will be done eventually, what is needed for now is a cleansing. This process is neither simple nor is it complex. What are needed are a people who love God and eschew evil.

Call for Constitutional Test for Congress

We are a Nation of Laws, Not Men
Al Ritter

In a time where liberals would rather defer to the cult of personality rather than the law, the showdown came to the House yesterday as the Republicans read the constitution aloud before the first session. Grumblings from the Democrats were loud and plentiful in protest of the reading.

Charges ranged from grandstanding, to reciting an old document which doesn’t mean much in today’s society. The recitation was even interrupted by a spectator in the gallery when it came to Article II section 1 stating the requirements needed to be President. The spectator shouted, “What about Obama,” where after that woman was immediately arrested pursuant to house rules.

Our nation was founded on very few laws in 1776, but they were founded on respect, honor, and Judeo/Christian belief. For ANY representative democrat or republican to object to the reading of a document that sets forth the articles of our laws, is both disrespectful and displays an ignorance that has no place as a lawmaker. The House is where new laws are suggested and put forth to the Senate, how can any person that ignores the founding document be trusted to suggest a law that adheres to that very document?

I would suggest we go one step farther next year. Make EVERY representative not only read the Constitution, but pass a standardized test on that very document before doing even one day of business on the house floor! If they can’t pass said test then the house will return said representative to the state for further training or a revote to one who can pass the test.

The Constitution is a sacred document to the Republicans, it is NOT a “living document” as the left thinks it is. There as so many requirements including a super majority necessary to add an amendment, and that was the exact intent of our founding fathers…….to make changes HARD! The Constitution is the representation of a country that touts the principal of law over the celebration of an individual ( such as a king or queen)……….let’s keep it that way!