07/24/14

A Bit Better

Arlene from Israel

Kerry has left Israel, for consultations in Cairo.  He’ll be back, undoubtedly.  But it’s nice to know he’s not here.

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The FAA ban on US airlines flying in and out of Ben Gurion has been lifted.  They say it’s because they have been “working with its US government counterparts to assess the security situation in Israel and carefully reviewing both significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation,”

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/FAA-lifts-flight-ban-on-US-flights-to-Israel-368705

Yea, right. They were simply called out on this decision and backed off.

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And I suspect that the forthright and public response of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) may have had something to do with it.  The Senator wanted to know whether the decision to ban flights amounted to an economic boycott of Israel, expressed himself dubious about the exact timing of that decision, and posed five specific questions.  Among those questions: Why, if the issue is safety, was Israel singled out when flights are permitted into Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen?

When a state department spokesperson called the questions “offensive and ridiculous,” he countered that, “Serious questions were asked about the nature of a decision that handed Hamas a public relations victory…the only thing ‘ridiculous’ is the state department’s response to basic questions.”

In his full statement – which you can see here:  http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1593 – he declared that “Ben Gurion has rightly earned the reputation as one of the safest airports in the world due to the aggressive security measures implemented by the Israeli government.”  (Emphasis added)

He then said he would hold up the approval of state department diplomatic nominees until he got answers to his questions.

It’s important to recognize that we do have good friends in the American government (if not in the executive branch).

Ted Cruz is pictured. | AP Photo

Credit: AP

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As to the need to take out all of Hamas’s tunnels…

Chief of Staff Benny Gantz made a statement yesterday when he visited soldiers on the front lines:

“we must stick to the targets for which we entered [Gaza] and continue our maneuvers as long as it takes.”

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4549085,00.html

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And then there was an interview late in the day yesterday given by member of the Security Cabinet Finance Minister Yair Lapid (head of Yesh Atid).  It perhaps has added significance because he’s center-left and until recent days talked a great deal about “peace.”  Said Lapid (emphasis added):

“…the objectives of the operation needed to be met ‘before they talk to us about a ceasefire.’

“Lapid defined the objectives as cleansing ‘Gaza of its terrorist tunnels and delivering a significant blow to Hamas’s rocket infrastructure.’

“Even amid all the talk of a ceasefire, Lapid said the government was telling IDF to ‘go, achieve your objectives.’”

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Security-cabinet-discusses-both-expanding-Gaza-operation-cease-fire-efforts-368668

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While Communications Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) who is a member of the Security Cabinet, said today that we are not seeking a ceasefire at present – we must complete our ground offensive first, something he estimates will take another week or two.  After that, he said, if Hamas is still launching rockets, we may have to go further, and find Hamas leadership “hiding in their holes.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/army-may-have-to-grab-hamas-leaders-hiding-in-their-holes/

As I wrote yesterday, “Hold on, hold on!”  If this remains the policy of the government, we will be OK.

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I share here an article put out from The Investigative Project on Terrorism, headed by Steve Emerson.

It raises some serious questions regarding the identification of all of Hamas’s tunnels.  It’s pointless to talk about taking them all out if they haven’t all been identified.  Additionally, it raises troubling questions about whether the US necessarily shares all of its information on the tunnels with Israel and whether Israel is utilizing all possible hi tech equipment for identifying tunnels deep underground.  (Please be assured, Israel is aware of this equipment.)

According to Emerson, US officials believe that Israel is underestimating the number of tunnels.  American information on this has been acquired via satellites equipped with special high resolution infrared detection technology.

And then we have this information:

“It is believed that the construction of the more advanced Palestinian tunnels began right after the 2012 cease-fire agreement, when Israel agreed to lift restrictions for humanitarian aid, including large quantities of steel and concrete,” he [Emerson] said, adding that the agreement to lift the blockade was overseen by Hillary Clinton.

“…the tunnels are quite sophisticated, with water, sewage, and lighting allowing for months-long stays.” (Emphasis added)

http://www.investigativeproject.org/4471/exclusive-us-intelligence-source-claims-hamas-has

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Much is being made these days of a shift in international opinion that reflects a greater acknowledgement of the nature of Hamas. There is some shift, true (and I’ll explore this further in a coming post), but I think it would be foolish to rely upon this in any significant way.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council released a statement with regard to the Gaza war two days ago.  And it has been pointed out that the EU foreign ministers for the first time said: ”All terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm.” (Emphasis added)

Yes, good. But it also said:

”The EU condemns the loss of hundreds of civilian lives, among them many women and children. While recognizing Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against any attacks, the EU underlines that the Israeli military operation must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law.”  (Emphasis added)

So there we are.  A “balanced” assessment that levels fallacious charges against Israel.

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Here, as elsewhere, the concept of “proportionate” is either misunderstood or deliberately distorted.

International law defines proportionality in the context of legitimate military goals.

If there is a military necessity – e.g., striking a launcher – then it is considered legitimate to act even if there may be civilians injured or killed.

As Col. Richard Kemp – former commander of British forces in Afghanistan – explained in a talk he delivered here in Jerusalem just this evening, the question of proportionality comes in with regard to how much is force is required to achieve that legitimate goal.  If the force used is not excessive, then even if there are civilians hit, it is proportionate.

What would be “disproportionate” would be an intentional attack directed against civilians or an attack launched on a military objective in the knowledge that the incidental civilian injuries would be clearly excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage.

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Ambassador Alan Baker, an international lawyer, in a new piece for JCPA, also addresses these issues.  He writes (emphasis added):

“International law recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself, whether by the conventional international right of self-defense as set out in the UN Charter or by the international customary right to self-defense.

“Accusations that Israel is collectively punishing the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip have no basis. Israel’s military actions are solely directed to one strategic and tactical purpose, not to punish the population, but to halt the indiscriminate rocket fire and terror infiltration into Israel’s sovereign territory.

The allegation leveled against Israel that it uses disproportionate force, is a misreading of the international rules of proportionality in armed conflict which are intended to regulate the extent of force needed in relation to the military challenge anticipated.”

http://jcpa.org/article/hamas-israel-confrontation-legal-points/

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Speaking of proportionate force…

A topic that I must mention here (and will return to in considerably more detail soon) is the prospect of a “Goldstone II,” which we are now facing.  Remember the Goldstone Report? Libelous accusations regarding Israel’s “war crimes” committed during Operation Cast Lead (at the beginning of 2009) were leveled at us in this major report.  It followed an “investigation” that was headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, as mandated by the UN Human Relations Council.

I mention it here because that same UN Human Rights Council, which is consistently and notoriously anti-Israel, has now voted to appoint an “international commission of inquiry” to look at Israeli actions in “the Palestinian territories” and most specifically Gaza.

Only the US voted against this.  While 29 countries approved it and 17 nations – including those considered allies, such as the UK, Germany and France – abstained.

Israel has called this action a “travesty.” A statement from the prime minister’s office said, “This investigation by a kangaroo court is a foregone conclusion.”

Indeed.  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has already come out with a statement that, “There seems a strong possibility that international humanitarian law has been violated in a manner that could amount to war crimes.”

This is not at all unexpected.  It was at a seminar discussing this issue that I heard Col. Kemp speak tonight.

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The battle with Hamas inside of Gaza continues.  The count of young soldiers we have lost is now 32.

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In a ceremony in the Knesset that was very low key because of the war, Ruby (Reuven) Rivlin was sworn in as president of Israel today, succeeding Shimon Peres  His term of office is seven years.

After reciting the Shehechiyanu prayer, he said: “With this prayer, in awe and humility, on your behalf and at your command, I come to faithfully fulfill my role as tenth president of the State of Israel.”

Reuven Rivlin to take Shimon Peres´ post.
Credit: Philly.com

07/24/14

Egypt’s “cold war” with the U.S.

By: Ashraf Ramelah
Voice of the Copts

An unusual security search at the entrance of the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo took place two days ago as reported by Egyptian newspapers and the Italian RAI 24 news. John Kerry and his staff were asked to go through a metal detector, and one staff member was asked to show the contents of his pockets before visiting President Al-Sisi. This humiliating reversal of protocol was a sign of mistrust towards the U.S. by an Egypt never shy about expressing hostility for America’s support of the Morsi regime. Kerry’s visit to Egypt was for the purpose of brokering peace between Israel and Gaza (the Hamas terrorist organization).

However, was President Al-Sisi merely reflecting the animosity of the Egyptian people towards the Obama administration and posturing to score points with Egyptians? Or was Al-Sisi’s motive to emphasize Egypt’s sovereignty to an Obama administration for America’s egregious error in backing the former terrorist-backed president, Morsi — not standing for and with the Egyptian pro-democracy majority? Al-Sisi’s coldness counters a U.S. State Department unwilling to let go of America’s glaringly wrong position. Western media’s “military-coup general” is turning out to be Egypt’s best prospect for human rights and democratic ideals up to this point.

Egyptian pro-democracy freedom fighters who backed Al-Sisi for president, have been icy and caustic towards the U.S. since lobbing tomatoes at Hilary back when she visited Egypt in support of the Muslim Brotherhood “freedom-fighters.” That was the moment the Western media reversed the facts in Egypt’s revolution saga. Referring to the MB as freedom-seekers, this “fact” became the premise underlying all reports to date.

After three and a half years (with two interim governments and two elected presidents) and the brutality of the Morsi MB-backed regime gone, the U.S. and the Western media stick to their narrative that characterizes the current populace president, Al-Sisi, as undesirable. But according to ordinary Egyptians yearning for a better economy and the freedoms and rights of Western democracy, President Al-Sisi is their only option. So far, only the Muslim Brotherhood and its sympathizers are afraid of Al-Sisi. Looking back to day one of Morsi’s presidency, Egyptians had only suspicion at first followed by contempt then dread. The populace was cowed; whereas today’s Egyptians have relevance and strength.

While Kerry and his staff came under scrutiny during security measures at the presidential palace, the Arabic Al Hayat news was reporting that President Al-Sisi declined President Obama’s invitation to participate in the African summit next week in the U.S. Egypt had not been invited to the earlier African summit held on its own continent this year at a time when Egypt’s interim government held power upon the fall of the Morsi regime. The U.S. sponsors overlooked Egypt for this important summit held in Egypt’s backyard when the ignoring of anti-Morsi, anti-Brotherhood leaders was of key importance to the U.S. administration on behalf of the corrupted Morsi regime.

07/24/14

A Forgotten Issue about the Border Crisis?

By: Susan Knowles
Gulag Bound

Stand for Truth

Part One of Two

Over the past several weeks, I have found myself struggling with an issue concerning the well-being of the children who have illegally come here from Honduras, Guatemala and elsewhere. While I know that not all who are here illegally are children, the focus of this article is specifically about the children.

Also, I want to point out that I am opposed to anyone entering this country illegally and that those who come here illegally, with few exceptions, must be returned to their own country.

Having said that, my specific issue, which I will elaborate more on in a moment, became more of a concern to me after listening to Glenn Beck Monday morning talk about his weekend trip down to McAllen, Texas.

Beck and his crew, along with several U.S. Senators, like Ted Cruz and Louie Gohmert, visited the center where the illegal immigrants are being housed.

Beck began his monologue with some disturbing descriptions about where and how these children are being housed. He indicated that it is reminiscent of WWII Internment camps.Becks

He then went on to describe a horrific story that had been relayed to him by Senator Ted Cruz about a 15 year old quadriplegic boy who had been abandoned by the drug cartel before reaching the center where the children are staying.

Beck said that the temperature, on the day he and his crew visited McAllen, Texas, was approximately 110 degrees. He added that this teenaged boy would have surely died under those conditions had he not been rescued because he lacked water and a way to provide for himself.

Beck also revealed that what is going on where the children are being housed is, “Damn near crimes against humanity. We are crushing these children.”

Beck further described these “detention centers” as being able to house approximately 200 to 400 people maximum, yet, he said there were approximately “2500 children” being housed at the center in McAllen, Texas. Beck went on to say that the detention centers were like the “Superdome of Katrina.” Clearly, being housed in a location that is over capacity presents a potential health and safety hazard for these children.6-fema-seal

fema-sealAdditionally, Beck also described the process that FEMA utilizes in caring for these children. Beck reported that the children were initially segregated by age. According to Beck, this meant that families were separated if they were of different ages. Siblings were torn apart from each other for at least a week before being reunited. During their separation, Beck said, “No one can touch or hug the kids.” Also, during this time, he said, “No one from religious organizations are allowed in.”

After being reunited, according to Beck, these children are then “put on a bus, dropped off at a greyhound bus depot and told not to talk to anyone.”

Having heard Beck’s descriptions of how these children are being ‘cared for’ by the federal government, my concern is the treatment of these children while in the care of the United States.

The question then becomes, are these children being abused by the federal government?

According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) website, Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers investigate reports of child abuse or neglect to determine whether any child in the reported family has been abused or neglected. They are also required to determine if there are any threats to the safety of all children in the home. If CPS concludes that children aren’t safe, then the caseworker starts protective services.

Based upon what I heard Beck say Monday, on both his radio show and afternoon show, there appears to be enough evidence to, at the very least, require CPS to investigate the conditions under which these children are living.

Some may argue that this is not a situation for CPS because these children are not American citizens and therefore, CPS is not accountable to protect them. Others may state that this is not a typical ‘home’ environment to which CPS generally responds and therefore, does not fall under their jurisdiction.

Still others may claim that their parents are not here and/or that this is the U.S. Federal Government and not a parent/child situation that can or should be investigated by CPS.

My response to all of the possible arguments would be that these are still minor children in our country who need protection and that regardless of who may possibly be abusing them, there should be an investigation.

We know from reports in the media, and even from Beck’s statements today, that people are not being allowed in to see the conditions these children are living under. This is an even bigger red flag to me that indicates some type of abuse may be occurring and being concealed from the public eye.

If CPS doesn’t have the authority to investigate the federal government, then are we saying that we will give the federal government a pass and not protect children? If not CPS, then some agency like CPS must be required to investigate reports of possible abuse.

If the federal government will not allow an investigation, then we have a much bigger problem on our hands. If we do nothing about it, then we are saying that we are okay with allowing children to possibly be abused by our government.

Additionally, anyone in the state of Texas who is a mandated reporter that heard Beck’s report today, is legally obligated to file a report with the Texas DFPS alleging child abuse. This would also include anyone in Beck’s entourage that is a mandated reporter, such as an attorney, who heard Beck make these statements.

Even assuming, no mandated reporter comes forward to do their duty, if anyone at DFPS heard the same report by Beck then they are obligated to investigate without receiving a report, in my opinion.

We the people must demand of our government that they obey the laws. If we turn a blind eye to what may be happening, either because we don’t want to get involved or because we are angry that these children were allowed to come here illegally in the first place, then we cannot complain about a corrupt government.

We must not allow child abuse in our country, period! Demand that CPS investigate the living conditions of children to ensure that they are not being neglected or emotionally abused. Enough of the secrecy that may be hiding the mistreatment of children while on American soil.

We as Americans need to work to resolve issues instead of waiting for our government to take the appropriate actions. Call the DFPS hotline or contact them via the Internet and ask them to investigate the abuse that may be happening to these children in McAllen, Texas.

illegal-immigrant-children

Part Two of Two

In my ever increasing efforts to assist the average American in coming up with solutions on their own for the current border crisis, I wrote an earlier article entitled, “A Forgotten Issue about the Border Crisis?”

Part 2 of that article is to help delineate some of the specifics that many may be thinking about or discussing among friends, family, or leaders in their community after reading the original article.

Specifically, Part 2 will deal with questions of cost, who will bear those costs, and who will have accountability for the solution that I am proposing.

Child Protective Services (CPS) in Texas, if like most governmental agencies, derives its income from several sources, including the federal government and other local county and state funding.

Initially, if CPS were to perform its intended function, in investigating allegations of child abuse at the center where these immigrant children are being housed, the state of Texas, as well as the federal government would be held financially responsible for conducting the investigation.

Of course, taking on more financial responsibility for the federal government’s debacle is not what any state wants to do but it is exactly what every state is facing and will face in the future because of the government’s agenda.

This includes the cost for the actions Texas Governor Rick Perry took yesterday in placing 1,000 National Guard members in McAllen, Texas to defend the border. Texas will be absorbing the cost of this into their state budget unless they attempt to recoup their losses from the federal government.

The same is true with any undertaking that CPS may pursue in their investigation. Initially, the cost will come out of their state budget which will include monies that they receive from federal funding.

If CPS concludes that the immigrant children are not safe then they will be obligated to remove them from the facility. The children would then most likely be housed in facilities run by CPS, placed in the care of relatives, or placed in foster care where state and federal funds would continue to be used to care for these children while they await possible deportation.illegal immigrant children

Some may think this is counterintuitive to ultimately sending the children back to their native countries. However, the children are not currently being sent back but rather are being taken to bus stations where they are released and ultimately placed in potentially more dangerous situations with strangers, coyotes, or other nefarious people who will mostly likely prey on them.

For example, just today, it was learned that a man in San Francisco allegedly posed as a police officer so that he could rape Central American Immigrants by forcing them to perform sexual acts under threat of deportation. This is yet another reason why CPS needs to be involved in the oversight of these children and the government needs to be held accountable for placing them in harm’s way.

At least if these children are temporarily placed in CPS facilities, foster care, or with relatives, the cost to American taxpayers could potentially be reduced and the children’s safety would be maximized.

Private donors, such as Glenn Beck’s Mercury One, for example, could give private donations to foster care parents or even to CPS facilities to possibly off-set the cost that the states and federal government sources are required to pay.

Also, while no CPS system is completely fail proof in protecting children’s welfare, at least there would be some oversight taking place that seemingly isn’t occurring presently.

In addition, CPS investigations could potentially bring to light hidden government corruption that may be occurring in secret away from the public’s view.

Finally, having CPS step in could circumvent a burgeoning U.N. attempt to label these children as refugees and possibly take up their cause.

In the event the federal government would refuse to allow CPS to investigate allegations of abuse at their facility, then the American public would know there is a major problem that needs immediate action.

If CPS refuses to do their job for fear of losing federal funding then the American public would also realize that they are looking at a system that is entirely broken.

If either event should occur, then It will be up to Congress, and/or special prosecutors, to take action to protect the American public. So far, to date, since no one has been allowed in to the facility to check on the welfare of these children, the American public remains in the dark.

We as Americans need to stop accepting explanations (or the lack thereof) from the federal government and start taking a more active role in exposing possible lawlessness.

Most of the mainstream media stopped doing its job years ago to protect the American public from potentially destructive and underhanded occurrences. No longer do we have a partner in guarding our best interests.

However, together we, as Americans, can offer solutions that we have previously forfeited by sitting around idly waiting for someone else, namely the government, to do it for us.

Neither the immigrant children’s well-being nor the American public’s welfare seem to be priority for this government. We as citizens need to unite and utilize our existing system of government to secure our borders and protect our U.S. Sovereignty.

Please join me!

——-GB——-

Knowles-Freedoms-FlightSusan Calloway Knowles, is a licensed California psychotherapist, former practicing California attorney, author, and political/cultural blogger.

Her website is SusanKnowles.com. Susan’s book, a political fiction, is entitled Freedom’s Fight: A Call to Remember and is available on Amazon. Susan can be reached by email at [email protected].

© 2014, Susan Knowles. The Logo, Articles, and Photos (by Susan Knowles) are protected by U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Susan J. Knowles. Copyright 2014 Susan J. Knowles All Rights Reserved.

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07/24/14

The FEC Embraces Fascism – Implements Conservative Book Banning

By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

Who says fascism is out of style? Evidently the FEC is making it chic again. The Chairman of the Federal Election Commission berated Democratic colleagues who imposed rules on the publisher of Rep. Paul Ryan’s new book, The Way Forward. In essence, they opened the door to future book regulations or even the banning of books. The meeting got heated to say the least and in the end, the FEC declined to definitively spare book publishers from the reach of campaign finance rules. Stoke the fires boys! We’ve got some book burnin’ to do!!!

“That is a shame. … We have wounded the free-press clause of the First Amendment,” Goodman told FoxNews.com after the tense meeting. Goodman previously has warned that the commission wants to start regulating media.

From The Washington Examiner:

“By failing to affirm this publisher’s constitutional right, statutory right, to disseminate a political book free from FEC conditions and regulations, we have effectively asserted regulatory jurisdiction over a book publisher,” warned Chairman Lee E. Goodman, one of three Republicans on the six-person FEC.

“That failure reveals a festering legal uncertainty and chill for the free press rights of books and book publishers to publish and disseminate political books free from government regulation,” he added.

Of course, immediately following this truthful assessment, Democratic Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub started screaming: “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” Or something to that effect as she categorically stated, “No one is banning books.” Which just verifies that is indeed what they intend to do. Right is wrong, up is down – it is the Progressive/Marxist way.

The Democrats were insulted that someone would dare speak the truth and petulantly refused to attend subsequent meetings. They either get their tyrannical way or they throw a tantrum. How fitting for a bunch of infantile despots.


Book burning in Berlin, May 1933.

Goodman and the other two Republicans on the commission of six, issued a six-page critique of the commission’s vote on the Ryan book. The vote imposed constraints on the publisher and on how Ryan’s re-election campaign and leadership political action committee, Prosperity Action, can promote the book on websites. Next step, actually controlling and monitoring web sites as well.

Democrats on the commission have been chipping away at conservative rights everywhere and whenever they can, while Republicans have been working to protect rights. Even rights that extend to those such as George Soros.

Goodman has been ringing the alarm bells that conservative news sites such as the Drudge Report may face regulations as the Democrats work to stifle free speech with the “media exemption” – which defines who the press really is and who gets to report what. That, my friends, is the heart of fascism. It basically does away with your First Amendment rights, just as Ted Cruz has pointed out repeatedly. I’m no fan of Paul Ryan’s, but no one should have the authority or power to say what you can write, how you promote it or what you can say. Unless of course you are a Leftist politician who doesn’t give a rip about the Constitution.


Cruz: ‘Fahrenheit 451’ Democrats are playing with fire


Examples of books burned by the Nazis on display at Yad Vashem.

Chairman Goodman was right on the money when he said this was a missed opportunity to show support for freedom of the press – all of the press, not a select few:

In the case of the Ryan book, publisher Grand Central Publishing sought the broad media exemption from regulation, but Democrats rejected that and pushed for a different, commercial, exemption that imposes rules over the publisher’s politics and book pricing. Republicans went along and the commission approved that 6-0.

The commission also ruled that while Ryan can have his campaign and PAC buy books to give out, the promotion on his websites has to be limited to two sentences. There were concerns raised by Weintraub that Ryan was trying to profit off sales of the book promoted on his websites. Republicans carried that to victory in a 4-2 vote.

Goodman said the mixed decision for Ryan was another missed chance by the FEC to publicly show support for press freedom.

“This commission should stand up and recognize that books qualify for the media exemption and that book publishers can publish, market and disseminate their books on the same basis that the Washington Post, New York Times and Washington Examiner can,” he said.

The least that Paul Ryan’s people could have done was show they have some spine, but no… don’t want to ruffle Progressive feathers, do we?

Reached for comment, a Ryan spokesperson declined to speak to the dispute before the commission, but said: “We appreciate the Commission’s diligence and welcome the guidance provided in their advisory opinion concerning the publication and promotion of Paul Ryan’s upcoming book, The Way Forward.”

So, you welcome a blatant violation of your Constitutional rights? And it is not just yours, it’s all of ours as you are setting a precedent for the nullification of said rights. I’m just shaking my head on this in absolute stunned wonder. This should be on the front page of every news outlet and blog out there, but all I hear are crickets. The silence of a free people as their Republic dies echoes this quote: “So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.”

Virtually every federal agency now is trampling the Constitution and our rights. And they aren’t hiding it – they are boldly going where no American Marxist has gone before. This travesty is a direct attack on the First Amendment:

“By failing to affirm this publisher’s constitutional right, statutory right, to disseminate a political book free from FEC conditions and regulations, we have effectively asserted regulatory jurisdiction over a book publisher,” Goodman asserted.

“That failure,” he concluded in a blistering dissent, “reveals a festering legal uncertainty and chill for the free press rights of books and book publishers to publish and disseminate political books free from government regulation.

Goodman further asserted to FoxNews.com that with yesterday’s ambiguous vote on Ryan’s book and publisher, the FEC has “wounded the free-press clause of the First Amendment.”

If Ryan thinks he can garner votes by playing both sides of the fence by being diplomatic here, he is delusional. At this rate, elections won’t mean spit by 2016. He won’t have to worry about getting elected, he’ll have to worry about which gulag to decorate.

It’s no surprise here that the FEC has embraced fascism. It’s no surprise that books are being banned, sites are being monitored and controlled, free speech is being squelched and the Constitution is being regulated out of existence. How long will America take this and how long will our Republic still stand? A fascist dictator is finishing his transformation of America – the rallying cry of Americans is no longer ‘join or die!’ but ‘impeach or die!’

07/24/14

Victim: Higher Education

By: John Ryan
Victims of Illegal Immigration – A Collection of Essays
Hat Tip: Dick Manasseri

At the Campus Progress 2010 conference in Washington, D.C., David Cho took the stage to proclaim that he is an illegal alien. The UCLA student complained that, even though he had gone through the California educational system (no doubt at significant taxpayer expense), he has difficulties finding jobs due to his “status,” which he feels is “discriminatory.”

“We now have SB 1070 brewing in Arizona, a state that’s sweltering under the heat of oppression, and we now live in a society which restricts young children and students solely on the basis of their status,” he asserted.

Although Cho proudly announced he is “undocumented” and listed the jobs he and his Korean family work illegally, no federal agents showed up to arrest him, nor is there any sign that legal action will be taken to restrain him from continuing to break the law. One can easily imagine this would not be the case had an American citizen boasted, “I don’t pay my taxes” or “I drive without a license” or “I sell marijuana for a living” or any other announcement of ongoing law violation. Rather than living “in the shadows,” criminals like Cho can flaunt their illegal status confidently, knowing they have the American Establishment on their side. CNN, in fact, enthusiastically covered Cho’s support for the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act.

Cho has lofty ambitions for someone who isn’t even an American citizen. “I ultimately want to become a U.S. Senator, because I want to make changes in this country. … Let us rededicate ourselves to the commitment and the involvement in the common effort to create a new society and a new nation.”

One wonders who this “us” is, what “new nation” he wants to create, and why he has to do it here.

One also wonders what hardworking student got turned down by UCLA, so that David Cho could take his spot and make a name for himself, complaining about ‘social injustice.’ It is no secret that all across this nation universities admit students who are here illegally, often with the help of financial aid and in-state tuition, while saying, “Sorry, Charlie” to U.S. citizens, the real victims of this ‘social injustice.’

John Ryan is a recent college graduate who lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area.