Free Republic

Sunday, May 12, 2013 Put Not Your Trust in Politicians Posted by Daniel Greenfield @ the Sultan Knish blog 4 Comments The most obvious lessons of the defeat of gun control and the push for illegal alien amnesty is that politicians don't matter. People do. The Tea Party invested its energy into electing the right people, but as Rick Scott and Marco Rubio showed us, there may be no such thing as the right people. Politicians are in the business of selling out. The difference between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist was that Rubio hadn't really been tested. But that...

The Vatican (LifeNews.com) The Catholic Church has made it clear in the past that it strongly opposes abortion and wants pro-abortion politicians to rethink their views or consider refraining from taking communion. Pope Benedict XVI stepped up those warnings Wednesday saying pro-abortion politicians have excommunicated themselves. He also said he elected officials who support abortion would be prevented from receiving communion. The pontiff was asked about the topics in reference to a threat from the Catholic bishops in Mexico to excommunicate members of the Mexico City legislative assembly who recently voted to legalize abortion in the nation’s capital. “Yes, this...

LAWBREAKERS, LAWMAKERS: In some parts of Chicago, violent street gangs and pols quietly trade money and favors for mutual gain. The thugs flourish, the elected officials thrive—and you lose. ... both law enforcement and gang sources say, is that some politicians ignore the gangs’ criminal activities. Some go so far as to protect gangs from the police, tipping them off to impending raids or to surveillance activities—in effect, creating safe havens in their political districts. And often they chafe at backing tough measures to stem gang activities, advocating instead for superficial solutions that may garner good press but have little...

We have to start somewhere and this is where it starts. I have attended Tea Party meetings at the same location the Queens GOP calls home. However, we were never included in anything that the GOP was doing. We were never invited to any rallies, never had any of the Queens GOP leaders stop in and speak, and now I see why. In a time where American citizens are struggling to even put food on the table, my own party is willing to give up their seat for Mayor for a couple of dollars. Politics has become about money and...

I forgot who it was who said “I am not concerned about the press getting on my case every time I open my mouth. That just means they are scared.” (Continued) “I would be more afraid if they ignored me because it meant that I was no longer a threat to them.” Believe it was Ronald Reagan who made that statement. Correct me if I am wrong. I just remember the quote but not ABSOLUTELY sure who made it. Thanks.

I've been drug and alcohol tested for the last 20 years at my work. It's random and occurs every year. It only seems logical to test all officials also.

<p>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri lawmaker is proposing to send colleagues to prison for introducing gun control legislation — a plan that even its sponsor acknowledges has no chance of passage but nonetheless highlights the increasingly strident tone of gun measures in Missouri’s generally pro-gun Legislature.</p>

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wrote Wednesday that America is a nation being bankrupt by a federal government led by "venal politicians" in her response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address.  "What is the true state of our union? Though this may sound harsh, I’ll speak the truth here," Palin wrote. "We are a country going bankrupt to fund a bloated, distant, and often corrupt federal government led by venal politicians more concerned with paying off their campaign cronies and consolidating their own power than in preserving the constitutional republic that so many have fought and died...

(CNSNews.com) – For the second time in two years, Washington, D.C., has been ranked the number one city for cheaters. According to AshleyMadison.com, a web site that bills itself as “the world’s leading married dating service for discreet encounters,” the nation’s capital was at the top of the list of America’s Least Faithful Cities with 34,157 sign-ups – more sign-ups per capita in 2012. “With enormous public attention paid to political cheating scandals this year, including the Gen. Petraeus affair, there was no doubt that Washington residents would be influenced. Living in DC it’s crucial to keep up appearances and...

I like to bet on sports. Having a stake in the game, even if it's just five bucks, makes it more exciting. I also like playing poker. "Unacceptable!" say politicians in much of America. "Gambling sometimes leads to 'addiction,' destitute families!" Well, it can. So politicians ban it. It's why we no longer see a poker game in the back of bars. Half the states even ban poker between friends -- though they rarely enforce that. After banning things, politicians' second favorite activity is granting special privileges to a few people who do those same things -- so big casinos...

Sending money to the corrupt only further corrupts them for still more. They need to enforce what is already law and not be bribed to do so. Therefor it is totally worthless (counter productive actually) to bribe those that we elected. ------------------------------------------------------- Why should we send donations to politicians and other organizations to perform functions that they should not need money or motivation to perform. It is already written in law what their responsibilities and duties are. OUR sending money to such organizations and individuals only bleeds us further and makes them richer. I (personally) NEVER send money to politicians...

It’s not just an out-of-control IRS or EPA. And it’s not merely the punitive demands and restraints of the new federal healthcare law. American enterprise is being stifled and squelched by state and local governments, in ways that most Americans don’t even see. With increasing propensity, elected officials nationwide are at times suffocating private businesses with regulations, and at other times competing directly against them – and it happens among both Democrats and Republicans. A striking reminder of this emerged last week, when it was reported that Democrat San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was contemplating some sort of “ban” on...

New effort by James O'Keefe

Washington, D.C., residents watch more porn than the rest of America: study • Research from PornHub.com says residents of the nation’s capital watch 14.18 online videos per person in a year. Hawaii is second, with 7.57 per year. Politics has always been dirty, but a new study takes the expression to a level so stimulating that it’s hard to believe. Residents of Washington, D.C., watch nearly twice as much online pornography as people in any of the 50 states, according to a study published by XXX site PornHub.com. Horndogs in the nation’s capital consumed online pornography at a rate of...

“The big lie in this whole thing is that we have this sensible country with a dysfunctional Washington. The reality is we have a country of people who want to bankrupt their children and spend money on themselves and they will punish any politician who prevents them from doing that. They will punish Republicans if they cut entitlements. They will punish Democrats if they cut entitlements.”

If you are a conservative you probably did not like the fiscal cliff deal that just passed, but the mainstream media overlooked a few important things that help many people and the economy. The housing market will continue to get better because the politicians didn’t touch the mortgage interest rate deduction and the long term tax relief on mortgage debt. Housing is very important to lower and middle income people and the economic collapse in 2008 ruined peoples entire savings and future by sinking their housing value. If these two items weren’t extended many more would go “under water” and...

The New Year’s First Heist By Douglas French 01/03/13The high priests of the civic religion are very worried that people no longer seem to trust government. The law stands discredited. Once-hallowed institutions are under fire and losing status. People are openly loathing public officials. Movies, television, and best-selling books urge revolt. Most people don’t bother to vote. And these priests wonder why. Here’s an example of why. As the year opened, the House, Senate, and president all collaborated to enact the largest tax increase in human history — under the cover of night on the first day of the year,...

“Superstorm” Sandy killed more than 100 people, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and left millions without food, water, electricity, sanitation or shelter for days or even weeks. Our thoughts and prayers remain focused on its victims, many of whom are still grieving as they struggle with the storm’s wintry aftermath and try to rebuild their lives. Unfortunately, too many politicians continue to use the storm to advance agendas, deflect blame for incompetence and mistakes, and obfuscate and magnify future risks from building and development projects that they have designed, promoted, permitted and profited from. Sandy was “unprecedented,” the...

What is missing in every gun-control discussion is a "full disclosure" of which politician has a concealed weapons permit, has any guns in his own home, or is protected by armed security guards. Just like the CNBC disclosure regarding touting stocks and the personal holdings of the person touting the stock, we need a "full disclosure" rule regarding armed protection of the politicians who advocate gun control. Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/12/a_call_for_full_disclosure_in_the_gun_control_debate.html#ixzz2FQ8JHvJW

It’s time for the president to stand up and lead,” he said. “This should be his No. 1 agenda. He’s president of the United States. And if he does nothing during his second term, something like 48,000 Americans will be killed with illegal guns” in the next year.

If you're discouraged or think the world is upside down, I have something for you. Guess what, regardless of who won the election, today we still have millions of babies being aborted every year. We still have 50% of marriages ending in divorce. We still have a supposedly Christian culture that has separated sex from marriage from procreation. We still have many Americans who are more likely to vote based upon peer pressure, or how nice somebody is, or their own self-interest, or by what the media told them, or by what's socially easy than they are to vote based...

DETROIT (WWJ) Among the new group of state lawmakers to emerge from Election Day on Tuesday is Brian Banks, who has been convicted eight times for felonies involving bad checks and credit card fraud. Banks, a Democrat and lifelong Detroiter, won a seat in Lansing as a state representative for the 1st District, representing the east side of Detroit, Harper Woods, and the tony Grosse Pointes. He won 68 percent of the vote to Republican Dan Schulte’s 32 percent. Banks, 35, was convicted eight times between 1998 and 2004 of writing bad checks and credit card fraud.

Support for Proposition 30, the income and sales tax increase touted by Governor Jerry Brown, has fallen below the critical 50% needed for passage for the first time in the California Field Poll. With just five days to go before the election and polls showing support for Prop 30 fading, the teachers’ and other public employees’ unions are desperately spending fortunes trying to get voters to rescue their lifestyles. Unfettered by the risk of the initiative failing, Governor Brown and state politicians have increased deficit spending this year by more than the $6 billion Prop 30 might bring in. “Taxafornia”...

American politicians are always on the lookout for "new sources of revenue," which sounds a lot nicer than "sinking their fangs into our necks." But however you describe it, they just can't stop sucking our blood with their unending tax increases on the national, state and local levels. They tax our gas, our houses, our sodas. They tax our smokes, they tax our roads, they tax our health care and our paychecks, and after we've paid, they even tax our deaths. Cutting government is painful for them. Their mantra? "Government can't afford a tax cut." So they tax us instead,...

Egads, that was awful. And I do mean awful. Joe Biden’s constant laughing throughout the debate – beyond being annoying, rude, and unprofessional – was obviously coached. We see this in the legal profession with some frequency: litigators who hire coaches to help them act for the jury, in the hopes that the jurors will be swayed by the Academy Award-winning performance, and ignore the evidence. (Or lack thereof.) It’s already in the annals of campaign debate lore that Naomi Wolf coached Al Gore about how to act like an “alpha male” and “dress in earth tones” during his debates...

Johnny Carson as a truthful politician.

There is a debt of service due from every man to his country, proportioned to the bounties which nature and fortune have measured to him. Thomas Jefferson Have you ever wondered what is meant by the term ‘public servants?’ I suppose these days it depends on who is either using or misusing the term. If you look at any of the signers of the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution, you will see men who believed in public service. And I will show you examples of this. I have absolutely no doubt the founding fathers of this nation knew...

Today’s Food for Thought by pansgold The next time you hear a politician talk about “…the children of America.”, know they are talking about you.

As we get to know more about Obama, with his charm and leadership style, I begin to think the comparison between Obama and Reagan. Obama is impressive in his role as a president, as any great Hollywood actors playing the role of president: charming, visionary, clean-cut, and tough yet caring – a celebrity world leader with his die-hart fans and media paparazzi. Being so smart and talented beyond our understanding, he mesmerizes his audiences with his political maneuvering and Oscar-winning performance. As a mediocre politician growing up in Chicago neighborhood, however, Obama has found his acting role as president more...

Orange Punch readers know how we feel about most laws passed by politicians. They should be few and legitimate, but instead are too many and tools for rewarding friends and punishing enemies. In short, they should protect rights, not invent new ones. Laws generally seek to take from someone something of value, often not merely cash, and bestow on someone else a benefit, oh say, like health care insurance. We’re pleased to see – but not surprised to see – that the majority of Americans believe there are too many unnecessary laws. ..

I really thought there was nothing to say or write about the shootings at the Aurora, Colorado, movie theatre. The prattling, smug, and often unsubstantiated talk filling the airwaves and print pages really added nothing. But then I realized that there is indeed something important to conclude from this tragic episode. And it’s one of the most important things—perhaps the most important of all—to understand about history, civilization, humanity, and society. Human frailty. None of us are perfect. We all have weaknesses and shortcomings. And some have more than others. We see a daily display of jealousy, anger, hatred, ignorance,...

Rep. Carlos T. Henriquez of Dorchester was arrested early this morning on charges of domestic kidnapping and assault stemming from an incident involving a girlfriend who fled from his car, Boston police said. Henriquez, 35, a Democratic state legislator, was arrested at about 4:30 a.m. after the woman jumped out of his rented Zipcar on Forsyth Way and reached out to a Northeastern University security officer for help, police spokesman Officer James Kenneally said.

Engineering Thinking teaches us to challenge our assumptions, because if they are wrong, then our subsequent analysis and decisions will be wrong. The healthcare challenge — it is commonly assumed — is this: how can the government best ensure that the weakest members of society receive adequate health care? This is the wrong question. The reason it is wrong is that it is based on the flawed assumption that the government should be making our health care decisions. As discussed previously (see “Feedback, Prices, And Sullen Spouses“), the government is inherently inefficient, and is therefore the last organization that one...

By now, nearly everyone paying attention knows that Barack Obama has lied countless times over the years in order to further his academic and political career. He is, in fact, a "composite." And what we do know is just a hint of what there is yet to know, given that all his academic records are sealed. Our president lied about his mother's lack of health insurance. He lied about his father's early life. His publisher's brochure described him as "born in Kenya" for years, until he began running for president. There are countless other examples of his prevarications that fluff...

A top Argentine lawmaker came on stage (and lost his temper) when he had to explain why his savings are in dollars after the government of President Cristina Fernandez, including him personally, launched not only strong restriction policies on dollar purchases, but told the population to forget about dollars and start thinking in pesos. “I save in dollars because I feel like it”, said Argentine Senator, former Cabinet chief and the most vocal supporter of the current government restriction to purchase US dollars. Hypocrisy has turned once again into the trending topic of the Argentine political agenda after Senator Fernández...

In what a prudent observer would think is the least they should do, the pay for Gov. Jerry Brown, legislators and statewide officeholders will be reduced 5 percent, thanks to the state’s independent salary-setting commission. . . Had the people of California to do it over again, they may want to give themselves the power to raise and lower officials’ pay. Voting on Facebook by registered voters seems to us an effective tool for whipping these folks into shape in a timely manner. Bad acts in Sacramento could be cause for pay cuts instantly. That would be some motivation. ....

There are seven characteristics I can think of that define a sociopath, although I'm sure the list could be extended. 1) Sociopaths completely lack a conscience or any capacity for real regret about hurting people. Although they pretend the opposite. 2) Sociopaths put their own desires and wants on a totally different level from those of other people. Their wants are incommensurate. They truly believe their ends justify their means. Although they pretend the opposite. 3) Sociopaths consider themselves superior to everyone else, because they aren't burdened by the emotions and ethics others have – they're above all that. They're...

Lawyers for the residents of Beit HaMachpelah in Hevron met Sunday with representatives of the IDF's Civil Administration and discussed the legality of the purchase of the home, which the residents moved into last Wednesday. The IDF representatives examined the purchase documents and confirmed that the purchase is legal. However, they said that they are awaiting the final approval of the political tier. The answer is in line with the assessment made Friday by Rabbi of Hevron and Kiryat Arba, Rav Dov Lior. "The question now is whether Defense Minister Ehud Barak will allow the residents to stay there, regardless...

There appears to have been a brawl in a House of Commons bar yesterday. Guido, as usual has the details. The police eventually arrived and took away an MP (alleged to be the Labour Party’s Eric Joyce) in handcuffs. Several members tried to stop the fight including a Conservative female MP who placed herself in front of Mr Joyce and told him to punch her instead of anyone else..

With the broad and deep attack on our values and Constitution by the Administration and its handlers, we must restore our armor against the snares of the evil that swirls through our halls of government. Oaths to uphold and protect the Constitution are laughed at and Judeo-Christian values vilified. More than politics, it’s spiritual warfare! Here are a few simple observations that a few of us might grasp and try to understand: 1. The Declaration of Independence sets the spiritual, moral and philosophical base of the Constitution. It also warns of “pretended legislation” and the “sending out of agents to...

Ah, yes, Newt Gingrich did in the last days before the Florida primary precisely what I predicted he would do. He hurled wild charges at Mitt Romney that suggested Newt was losing his grip. He charged Mr. Romney with lying and falling into the hands of George Soros and Goldman Sachs, and he did this while seeking the Republican presidential nomination. Newt quoted Mr. Soros as saying, “We think either Obama or Romney’s fine, but Gingrich, he would change things.” Citing Goldman Sachs‘ profiting from the bailout, he linked the Wall Street firm to anti-Gingrich ads, filling in the dots:...

There are many things obvious to ordinary Americans that cannot be mentioned publicly in the polite political company of the Republican and Democratic establishments or among their press agents in the mainstream media, who obligingly pirouette around the truth. For example, both the Republican and Democratic establishments are composed of hopelessly corrupt, procrastinating control freaks, who seek fame and fortune through over-spending money they didn't earn and enthusiastically crushing any spontaneous outbreaks of democracy among U.S. citizens, for example, the Tea Party.

Questionable spending by government is practically the rule rather than the exception, but some examples can make even jaded, long-time observers scratch their heads in wonder. Here’s one: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources gives grants to many local governments for public recreation projects and programs. Last year more than $550,000 was expended by the state for this purpose, with the money coming from the voluntary $10 state park passes purchased when drivers renew their annual vehicle registration. All that is fair enough, but here’s where it gets weird: From this pot of money, the DNR also spent more than...

When it comes to corruption, cronyism and general muppetry in Washington D.C., the only real question is 'where does one start?' Yet one has to start somewhere to conclude with a list of the ten most corrupt and despicable marionettes in D.C. Which is precisely what JudicialWatch has done in its annual compilation of the "Top 10 Most Corrupt Politicians in Washington D.C." for 2011. And confirming what everyone knows, that both the left and right are merely irrelevant names for the same general social affliction, or should we call it by its true name - wealth pillage -...

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released its 2011 list of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians.” The list, in alphabetical order, includes: Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) Former Senator John Ensign (R-NV) Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) Attorney General Eric Holder Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) President Barack Obama Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA) Rep. David Rivera (R-FL) Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) Rep. Don Young (R-AK) Dishonorable Mentions for 2011 include: Former Senator John Edwards (D-NC) Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano Rep. Nancy Pelosi...

One question that might be interesting to know the answer to is this:Did any of the presidential candidates travelin the great state of Iowa ever come across the town of Brit, the site of the annual National Hobo Convention? If so, did any of them pay a visit to the hobo museum? Every year since 1900 freight hopping hobos from all across America make their way to the town of Brit, Iowa. What started during the years of the great depression with folks travelin to find work, became a lifestyle for many. An adventure for others.These days people still take...

Can American civilization collapse? You bet. All others have. We don't need a Mayan calendar to foreshadow the end. Signs are everywhere, we just need a brain to process the onslaught of information. Of the various cataclysms that 2012 may herald, the first significant one is the Dissolution of the American State. In America, when we speak of "the state" we mean something like New Jersey. In Europe and elsewhere, it is the central government, including provincial and local governments. It is an entity or apparatus with a life of its own. For most of the history of the world,...

Are Americans going to remember all the Republicans that helped craft a debt-ceiling policy that purposely gave the Obama Administration and the progressive liberals the power to destroy our military? When will we hold accountable all the liars and cowards on the right? Why do we allow any politician to abrogate his or her responsibility to other individuals, or an unanswerable, at times unelected, “committee’ or “commission?” We elect representatives to do the job of making decisions. When these chicken s**t, power hungry jerks decide making the right decision might be tough, or even cost them (what they think is...

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Monti formed a government of bankers, diplomats and business executives Wednesday, saying the absence of politicians in his Cabinet will spare political parties the "embarrassment" of taking the tough decisions needed to steer the country from financial disaster. The 68-year-old former European Union competition commissioner and his Cabinet were sworn in at a solemn ceremony at the presidential palace that formally ended Silvio Berlusconi's 3 1/2-year-old government and the media mogul's 17-year-long political dominance. Monti faces his first major hurdle Thursday when he presents his legislative agenda to parliament and subjects his government to...

It is a serious miscalculation for any governor, Republican or Democrat, to believe they can institute major change in the direction of a state agency by applying sound management principles. No matter how well tuned the governor’s management skills are, or those of the people he appoints, the deck is stacked against them. Executives with a successful private-sector track record often believe they can get the same positive results in government by applying the same management techniques that have served them well in the past. Most state employees recognize that with the double protection of union contracts and civil service...