Remember This On November 2nd!

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

Hat tip to Crusader Rabbit




Remember their words, their actions on November 2nd and vote them out!

Help Send a Conservative from New York to Congress

Heck yes, it's possible! And I'm not the only one starting to think the conservative candidate Ann Marie Buerkle can defeat the incumbent statist Dan Maffei in the NY25 contest. The biggest obstacle is Dan Maffei's campaign war chest, built up by Washington insiders and special interests. Buerkle, on the other hand, has relied primarily on donations from people like you and me - normal hard working folks who want to see real change in Washington, DC.

With Dan Maffei, we'll get more of the same. He's a puppet of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. He voted for Porkulus, he voted for cap and tax, he voted for Obamacare. Every major piece of lousy legislation that has passed the House under Nancy Pelosi he's voted for. He's been endorsed by the SEIU and has taken donations from the Soros family. Oh, and did I mention he's a big hypocrite when it comes to campaign financing?

Recently an official from the Obama administration came to town to appear at a Maffei event, saying he brought along Obama's checkbook. That's how these people think. Maffei's called himself a Keynesian and I think he posed as a bearded Marxist when he embarrassed his district with his appearance on the Colbert Report. For some reason, he didn't wag his finger when Colbert suggested Maffei doesn't read bills. I guess he saves that behavior for his constituents.



Please, help us throw this guy out of office. We don't even have to settle on some rotten RINO who will go along to get along with the progressives in Washington, DC. Ann Marie Buerkle wants to cut spending. She wants to repeal Obamacare. She's against cap and tax. She wants to extend the Bush tax cuts. She believes entrepreneurs create jobs, not the government. On top of all that, she's a nice lady. No wonder Maffei is filling our living rooms with ads attacking her.

She’s an RN and mother to a whole passel of kids who went back to school to become a lawyer and has defended Syracuse’s biggest hospital over the last several years. She’s like your best-friend’s mom.

And she’s also a threat.

She’s a mainstream conservative, a go-to-work-and-do-your-best type whose values and priorities are reflected in the hearts and homes of the people of upstate New York.

I can vouch for that description. I've met and spoken with Buerkle - she's surprisingly normal. She has a lot of grassroots support in the district. Her biggest challenge is that Dan Maffei is one of the House's top 5 fundraisers. He's flush with cash and he's using it to attack Buerkle because he can't run on his record. Ann Marie Buerkle needs your help to fight Maffei's smears and she asking for donations. She's made over $10,000 today. Can we double that? Please consider making a donation and using those "share" buttons to help spread the word about the conservative woman from New York.

Ann Marie Buerkle for Congress!!!

Beat the Deadline Money Bomb

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative

Right Reading Roundup - TLC Edition

Maggie's away, so here's my right reading roundup. Be sure to follow the links for some interesting commentary of the news of the day.

Mind-Numbed Robot created a nice video saluting the ladies of liberty. My fuzzy twitter photo didn't make it into the video, but he did a good job nonetheless.

An SEIU member registered 23,207 fraudulent voters in Harris County, Texas. Gateway Pundit has the scoop.

Check out video of a man being pummeled in the face by a leftie at a campaign event in Oregon at The Other McCain.

You'll never guess what Obama did in his weekly address - attacked Republicans! Gee, nothin' like trying something new for a change. William Teach can't recall a modern president being so utterly partisan in a weekly address. Just think, we have more than two more years of this.

Bob Belvedere has some excellent dating advice for a spammer with an STD.

If you think the exit of the creepy David Axelrod and the thuggish Rahm Emanuel means an end to the Chicago Way in the White House, think again, warns Sister Toldjah.

Fausta points out that Bill Ayers being denied emeritus status was an empty gesture, as the aging terrorist still enjoys tenure and the nice pension that goes along with it.

Another liberal politician insulted the voters. This time it was Robin Carnahan in Missouri who has scorn for voters who love the Constitution. All American Blogger is part of the gaggle of "drooling, mouth breathing imbeciles." You can count me in!

In case you missed it, Obama attended a back yard barbecue last week and some Kool Aid drinkers thanked him for sending a $250 check. Note to Obamabots: That isn't Obama's money. I'll let Adrienne fill you in on the details.

Harry Reid is such a [insert expletive here] dirt bag, he's actually accusing Republicans of getting our troops killed. Pundit Press's Aurelius notes that facts mean nothing to guys with no shame.

Nice Deb has more information on the DOJ whistleblower testimony, with plenty of background links. Speaking of the DOJ, Moe Lane picked up on a little tidbit you may have missed - now that evil Bush is out of office they're free to hire all the commies they want!

I know, it's Saturday, but head on over to Right Klik to find out who won this week's Ten Buck Friday poll. I've become quite lax in the TBF department. Sorry, I have a short attention span.

John Kerry: If Only Voters Weren't So Dumb Dems Would Be Doing Much Better

I hope John Kerry keeps talking. Maybe he and Vice President Bite Me can go on tour, campaigning for Democrats.

Boston Herald: A testy U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry yesterday blamed clueless voters with short attention spans for the uphill battle beleaguered Democrats are facing against Republicans across the nation.

“We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth or what’s happening,” Kerry told reporters after touring the Boston Medical Center yesterday.

The reason Democrats are in trouble is that people are paying attention! So they'll know Kerry's insulting them.

Doug Powers adds:

If this doesn’t bump up Dem poll numbers, Kerry’s going to start riffing with the “voters mommas are so fat…” jokes to see if that helps.

Heh!

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative

They Really Have Conned The World!

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) also known as the Kill the Jews Commitee has voted that Israel committed War Crimes against the Mavi Marmara on May 31.

A report by three United Nations appointed human rights experts Wednesday said that Israeli forces violated international law when they raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killing nine activists, earlier this year.

The UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission concluded that Israel's naval blockade of the Palestinian territory was unlawful because of the humanitarian crisis there, and described the military raid on the flotilla as brutal and disproportionate.

Israel has maintained that its soldiers acted in self-defense when they shot and killed eight Turkish activists and one Turkish-American aboard the Mavi Marmara on May 31. Israel Defense Forces released footage showing its troops coming under attack as they tried to board the boat.

The Human Rights Council blamed Israel prior to the investigation and it is no surprise that they condemn after, said Andy David, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, referring to the 47-member body's resolution in early June condemning the raid.

This is the same organization headed by that bastion of Liberty and Human Rights:  Libya.

Yes they excel in the pursuit of human rights for all people.  You can find such outstanding examples of their humanity here, here, and here.

Or listen to the words of Kristiana Venelinova Valcheva, a nurse from Bulgaria.

I am Kristiana Venelinova Valcheva, a nurse from Bulgaria. To make my identity clearer I will add a few keywords - Bulgarian medics, hostages, inquisitions, Libya, Qaddafi, death sentence, issued trice.

If someone told me eleven years ago that these words would become my "visit card", I would laugh. Because eleven years ago my life, the lives of my husband, Dr. Zdravko Georgiev, of another four Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor Ashraf., as well as the lives of our families were cut in the middle - before and after 1999.

It all began on February 9, 1999, in Benghazi. On that day we, five Bulgarian nurses, were abducted in a gangsters' manner by the Libyan authorities. They abducted us from our homes and workplaces, threw us into a bus with our hands, eyes and mouth tied, and carried us overnight one thousand and hundred kilometers away to Tripoli 1,100 km. In Libya they call this a lawful arrest.

We did not know why this was happening and what was coming after. We did not know that we ware a part of a sinister scenario of a dictator. We did not know that what was awaiting us were eight years and a half in the hell of the Libyan prisons.

For 14 months they kept us at a school for police dogs. For 14 months we were subjected to barbaric torture, humiliation and mockery.

They stretched me at a window frame and beat me with sticks and cables. Night after night they forced us to stand on one leg with our hands raised and if anybody tried to put his second leg on the floor out of exhaustion, that one would be mercilessly beaten. They would beat us over the soles of our feet, and then make us run with our feet swollen and black of beating, blood and lymph flowing from them. They injected me with drugs, undressed me totally naked, bind me to a metal bed and then the worst started -- inquisition by electrical shock.

You see that under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights every Muslim nation is allowed to torture, falsely imprison, rape and even murder any non-Muslim in their land.  So it is ok for Libya or any other Islamic nation hellhole to do what they want without any repercussions from the rest of the world.  In fact they are rewarded for their actions!

Yes they have really conned the world!

Mourning In America

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

Hat tip to Wake Up America

In 1984, the Reagan reelection campaign set the standard for modern political advertising with its fabled "Morning in America" series, which included one of the greatest political ads of all time -- "Better, Prouder, Stronger." The ad captured the zeitgeist -- America under President Reagan was coming back, full of optimism and confidence in the future.

Today, the zeitgeist is exactly the opposite. Americans are worried about their future, and about a government determined to implement policies that just don't work. But like its predecessor, "Mourning in America" offers a new hope -- if we can just get our government to return to time-tested policies that can spark a rebirth of liberty.

Mourning



The Original Morning

How have times changed!

Obama and the Gang - Top 20 Socialist Sound Bites

I think I've posted most of these, but it's nice to have them all in one place. Barack Obama, Maxine Waters, Howard Dean, Van Jones, Max Baucus, and more! Hey America - these are the folks you elected to lead us on the path to communism. Please pay attention next time. Unless you want to live as a slave. Then by all means, keep voting for these people.



Cross posted at The Lonely Conservative

Zeituni Onyango, Barack Obama and the American Dream

crossposted from Blog @ MoreWhat.com

Imagine that! Another illegal immigrant claims the ‘system’ caused her problems. Nevermind that this illegal is related to the current POTUS. Because that will only dredge up the earlier criticism of why Barack Obama appears to have done nothing for his relative(s) when they could use the help or that this is one more political opportunity to not let a crisis go to waste. Even if it is a family one rather than a national one.

This IS a case in point on why conservative principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, individual rights AND RESPONSIBILITY as well as limited government, free markets and the rule of law are regaining their rightful place in America. Thank the Tea Party.

…Zeituni Onyango, 58 – a Kenyan native living in a South Boston housing project – won her bid to stay in the United States. She had been here illegally since 2004.

An interview with WBZ-TV Onyango declared, “If I come as an immigrant, you have the obligation to make me a citizen.”

This is likely the sentiment shared by every illegal immigrant in the United States. This one was here illegally since 2004, receiving medical treatment, $700 per month in disability checks, living in public housing and claiming the system ripped her off. How many people believe the situation is reversed?

The same judge who refused Onyango asylum in 2004 recently reversed that decision. You don’t suppose Barry from DC had anything to do with that do you? Being president would not even require personal attention from the One. The judge may well have considered career implications while arriving at both decisions.

Is it really necessary to state this simple rule again? If a citizen of another country wants to live in the United States they need to follow the rule of law. This is not rocket science folks.

“To me, America’s dream became America’s worst nightmare,” she told the TV station in her first interview since being granted asylum.

So one might ask, what’s keeping you here?

Stanford Matthews MoreWhat.com

DOE Official Claims Mandate to Choose Your Appliances for You

The Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary said they have a "mandate" to dictate what appliances we can buy. Doesn't she look like a zealot?



These rotten statists are so nervy, and out of control. This is what we get when we give radicals unchecked power.

CNS News: Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the recently reestablished Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB), Zoi pointed to four tactics the Obama administration intended use to advance the “deployment of clean energy.” The first three were government subsidies for private-sector green energy projects, special tax incentives for green energy projects and low-interest government-backed loans for green energy projects.

“The fourth one, which the secretary and I love,” said Zoi, “is where we have a mandate. Where we can actually just issue regulations and do market transformation.”

Zoi was referring to authority the department has under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. That law gives the DOE the power to set efficiency standards for energy-consuming products.

“That’s an existing statute that this department of energy is going to make work really hard,” Zoi said. “We’ve already issued appliance standards that are going to save the American public somewhere between $250 billion and $300 billion over the next 20 years just by getting the crummy stuff off the market.”

Who decides what's crummy stuff? What's the criteria - whether or not company officials support the Obama regime? The article goes on to cite Zoi, an Al Gore disciple, boasting about how they have the power to do all these things to us, and "make people save money for themselves."

Something needs to be done about the power these unelected bureaucrats have over the lives of the American people. Talk about crummy stuff.

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative

Video: Here's a Conservative Woman Who Deserves Your Support

Here's the complete, uncut video of Ann Marie Buerkle's Constitution Day speech at her rally for victory tonight. I have to tell you, this woman really gets it. One thing you don't see in the video are the number of hands that went up when Buerkle asked how many people had never been involved in a political campaign before.

If you don't know who Ann Marie Buerkle is, or what she stands for, get comfortable, grab a drink and watch this video.

The crowd was quite lively, and quite a few families showed up. My kids were running around having a good ole time.



If I can get my hands on a transcript of this speech I'll post it here.

This is our chance to send a conservative woman from New York to Congress. Join the Buerkle Brigade!

ANN MARIE BUERKLE FOR CONGRESS!

I'll update with photos shortly.

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative, also, see the Dan Maffei (the incumbent statist)goons who infiltrated the event.

Constitution Day Too Political: Judge Overturns Andover Ohio City Fathers

The Andover, Ohio Tea Party will have a celebration of U.S. Constitution today - on Constitution Day - in the town square, after all. After the Andover Township city fathers refused to allow the rally on grounds that Constitution Day is" too political," and affiliated with one political party, a District Court Judge stopped the Township from blocking the event.

Apparently, the city fathers do not appreciate the fact that the Constitution allows all political parties a vote, and without the Constitution, we would not have a two-party system - we would have a royalty or a dictator. Did any of these city fathers make it to Middle School. Good grief! Source.

Constitution Day Too Political (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Wellesley Public School Students Pray to Allah

In this video, you can see the male Middle School children from a Wellesley, Massachusetts Public School, standing after prostrating themselves in prayer to Allah. A mother was there, takes photos, and tells her story in the video. The Muslim American Society operates the mosque. There are connections to terrorism running all through the place. Wait till you hear about "wife beating." Source: TheBlaze.com


Wellesley Public School Students Pray to Allah (video)

How Close is the Ground Zero Mosque site to Ground Zero Video

If you watched any of the 9/11 videos on the 9th anniversary of the attack on American, you know when the buildings went down, the site of the proposed mosque was enveloped in the smoke and debris of the World Trade Towers. In the second video, you'll see the smoke and lack of visibility just one block east of the site. If you have not viewed the History Channel's 102 Minutes of September 11th, 2001 it is worth a watch, and contains no news commentary. 102 Minutes is all filmed by people in the area of the World Trade Towers, who lived through it.

Walking from GZ Mosque site to Ground Zero (video)

How Close is the GZ Mosque to Ground Zero? 102 Minutes Part 7 (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Michael Grimm Bests Jackie Evancho America's Got Talent Videos: Jackie Evancho Sings with Sarah Brightman

Michael Grimm won America's Got Talent last night, besting 10-year-old Jackie Evancho. Jackie's career is already in high gear. What an amazing voice she has. See her in the second video below singing with her idol, Sarah Brightman, and in the first video Michael Grimm sings When a Man Loves a Woman.

Michael Grimm

Michael Grimm America's Got Talent Winner (video) Jackie Evancho singing with Sarah Brightman (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Eleanor Holmes Norton Voicemail: Norton Asks Lobbyist for Contribution

D.C. Delegate to Congress, and privileged to use the moniker "Congresswoman" Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) called a lobbyist and left a voicemail directly and very clearly asking for a contribution sent directly to her. In the audio below, she leaves her P.O. box, so you can contribute to her also, if you want to do so.

Nancy Pelosi and Eleanor Holmes Norton

Norton seems perplexed that this particular lobbyist has never given her a contribution, and she mentions that donations have been made to other members of her committee. As a senior committee member, Norton brashly asks to paid for her "long and deep work" on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

(Isn't that the Taj Mahal Pelosi and Norton are standing in front of? I think it is. No doubt we taxpayers paid for that trip.)

BigGovernment broke this story and they some analyzation: At the beginning of the tape Norton mentions other on her committee who have received contributions from this lobbyist.

Beyond being a bit heavy-handed, where did she get this information? Such donations are listed in FEC reports, but it is a violation to use that information to solicit campaign donations.

More serious, however, is her frequent mention of her seniority and her Chairmanship of a subcommittee. She is attempting to solicit funds based on her past actions taken in her official capacity in Congress. She is implying to the lobbyist that, should he decline to donate, he will be turning down a senior member of Congress who Chairs a subcommittee highly relevant to his “sector”. 

Worse than that, she details her role overseeing a large economic development project in the District, funded by “stimulus” funds. It would appear that either the lobbyist has an interest in this project, or the Congresswoman thinks he does, as she states she is “frankly surprised” the lobbyist hasn’t given to her. Especially, she notes, because of her long and deep work …in fact it has been by major work on the committee and subcommittee it’s been essentially in your sector

According to BigGovernment, it is a misdemeanor to ask for a "reward" via a contribution (18 U.S.C. § 600),  and a misdemeanor to threaten to deny anyone government benefit if a contribution is not made (18 U.S.C. § 601).
Then there are House Ethics rules that she seems to have breached.

p. 147: “[N]o solicitation of a campaign or political contribution may be linked to an action taken or to be taken by a Member … in his or her official capacity. … The Standards Committee has long advised Members … that they should always exercise caution to avoid even the appearance that solicitations of campaign contributions are connected in any way with an action taken or to be taken in their official capacity. … 

p. 150: “[A] Member may not accept any contribution that is linked with an action that the Member has taken or is being asked to take. A corollary of these rules is that Members … are not to take or withhold any official action on the basis of the campaign contributions or support of the involved individuals 

It is considered unethical to solicit funds on federal property. From where did she make the call? As a "delegate," Norton can sit in the House chamber, but can only vote in committee. Norton, of course, is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus.

The Lonely Conservative acknowledges "crooked" Democrats as the norm, but asks if the party will "mind one that's crooked and stupid?" I don't think they will, LC. Maxine Waters and Hank Johnson are still around.

Read the entire text of the phone call at BigGovernment, along with more on the corruption, and listen to it below.


Eleanor Holmes Norton Call to Lobbyist (video)

Adrienne's Corner
RightPundits - some good commentary
TheHotJoints

Two of the Ugliest Dresses Evah! Michelle and Carla

Two of the ugliest dresses EVAH, both worn with no grace. Meeeooooowwww

Michelle and Carla - two of the ugliest dresses EVAH!

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Related: Michelle Obama: Being First Lady is Hell

Michelle Obama: Being First Lady is Hell

The First Lady of France, Carli Bruni Sarkozy, chats in a new book that Michelle Obama told her being the First Lady of the United States is "hell.  I would expect nothing less from MO, and I want her to know I think its 'hell," too and am counting down the 858 days to January 20, 2013. Weazel Zippers has the whole story.









Related: Two of the Ugliest Dresses Evah! Michelle and Carla

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Whoopi Goldberg on Ground Zero Mosque Protesters

Whoopi Goldberg, eloquent as usual, tells Grand Zero Mosque Protesters to "kiss" her "butt" Not much of a defense for Iman Rauf's connection to the Holy Land Foundation.

Whoopi Goldberg on Ground Zero Mosque Protesters (video)
h/t Weazel Zippers
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Chris Christie on Public Employees and Pensions: Thank Me in 10 Years Video

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie predicts public employees will thank him for being the governor "who saved their pensions.






Chris Christie on Public Employees and Their Pensions (video)
The Lonely Conservative has some short and pithy commentary
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Illegal Migrants Entitled to Dream Act: Illegals Coming out as Undocumented

A movement of illegals coming "out of the closet" and admitting they are illegal is on a roll. Power to the People - No one is illegal" is the mantra. Senator Harry Reid has introduced the Dream Act and making complete sense, attached it to the Defense Authorization Bill. The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) which will pave the way to amnesty "for those who have graduated from high-school, have stayed out of trouble and plan to attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years." See a video.

In the video at about 5 minutes in, a young woman tells a story of driving to school, without a driver's license, and parking in an area where she was not supposed to. She was called into the Principals office and instead of telling her not to park there, or calling her parents to come and move the car, they had the audacity to ask to see her driver's license. The girl had to admit she did not have one, because she was not eligible for one. Her mother came to the school "and in her broken English" told the school they if they talked to her daughter in that manner again, and made her daughter cry, she would sue them.

This twisted thinking flaunts illegality and apparently dares us to do something about it. My bet is on the illegals. This country is unwilling to uphold the Rule of Law.






Thanks to FactReal for the graphic
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Need A Job?

Graphic credit: CNN PoliticalTicker

Jack Cafferty on Disgraceful Cowardly Democrat Congress

Jack Cafferty says Pelosi releasing the House early on October 1st, a week earlier than scheduled to go home and campaign, is disgraceful. We have no federal budget because Democrats are cowards, and refuse to make the cuts necessary to get the National debt under control.







Jack Cafferty on Disgraceful and Cowardly Congress (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Tea Party 9/12 Infiltrated by Lyndon LaRouchers with Help from Capitol PoliceVideo

A 9/12 spokesman says the Lyndon LaRouche followers, a Socialist Democrat movement, came to the rally with offensive signs. The Capitol Police arrived and helped evict the LaRoucher's.

9/12'ers Evict LaRouchers from Rally (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Derek Fenton Koran Burner Fired

Derek Fenton burned pages of the Koran outside the old Burlington Coat Factory location of the proposed Ground Zero mosque. Fenton was fired by the New Jersey Transit, where he has worked for the last eleven years. Please try to vote in the NYDaily News poll below. Conservatives are not winning.

Derek Fenton Koran Burner

Fenton was "ushered" from the Mosque protesters by the police for questioning but was not charged.

He said, 'This is America,'and he wanted to stand up for it, in a Tea Party kind of way," a police source said.

Another police source said Fenton described himself as a "loyal American" exercising his "right to protest."

Several neighbors in Fenton's town stood up for his right to express himself with flames.

"Good for him for burning the Koran," neighbor Jacqui Marquez, 40, said.

"Everybody's entitled to their opinion ... by firing him, they're sending a message that there's no freedom of speech. They're completely wrong for doing this."

"He's a family man," neighbor Randy McConnell, 43, said.

"He loves his kids and he loves trains. I don't agree with what he did, but he shouldn't lose his job over it. That's his right."

If Fenton was fired for burning the Koran while off-duty, his First Amendment rights probably were violated, Chris Dunn of the New York Civil Liberties Union said.

"The Supreme Court has recognized a constitutional right to burn the flag. As reprehensible as it may be, burning the Koran would be protected as well."

NYDailyNews poll - please visit and voice your outrage that a man can lose his job for expressing his First Amendment rights. Vote in Fanning the Flames. Tell the NJTransit you don't give a fig for Islam's tender sensibilities.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Cuba Cutting Government Jobs, Hiring Private Sector: Obama Growing Government Jobs, Quashing Private Sector

Raul Castro announced he is cutting thousands of government jobs and is looking to "private enterprise to fill the huge gap."  Meanwhile, POTUS is creating more and more government jobs at higher and higher salaries and destroying the private sector. Did you think you would ever see the day the U.S. lagged behind the Cuban curve?

Raul and Fidel Castro

Not only is Raul cutting the government jobs which employs 95 percent of all Cuban workers, he is cutting multiple THOUSANDS of government jobs. At the same time, Cuba is reducing restrictions on the private sector, while Obama, et al winds up on the mound of the oval office, to throw private enterprise a curve ball, and hopes we can't hit it out of the ballpark.

Cuba's official work force is 5.1 million - meaning nearly 10 percent of all employees could soon be out of a government job. 

The layoffs will start immediately and continue through April 2011, according to a statement from the nearly 3 million-strong Cuban Workers Confederation, which is affiliated with the Communist Party and the only labor union allowed by the government. Eventually the state will only employ people in "indispensable" areas such as farming, construction, industry, law enforcement and education. 

The new face of Cuba understands that he MUST do something for the many unemployed. He has promised to allow "more Cubans to be self-employed." The benevolent Castro brothers believe the people are demanding too much of their government:

Castro has long complained that Cubans expect too much from the government, which pays average monthly salaries of just $20 but also provides free education and health care and heavily subsidizes housing, transportation and basic food. 

Because unemployment is anathema in a communist society, state businesses have been forced to carry many people who do almost nothing. 

Monday's announcement also said Cuba will overhaul its labor structure and salary systems to emphasize productivity so that workers are "paid according to results." 

Brings to mind Jeffrey Goldberg's article in The Atlantic. Goldberg had lunch with Fidel Castro along with a Spanish speaker. Goldberg asked Fidel if he thought the Cuban-model of government was ripe for exporting. According to Goldberg and his translator, Fidel said "the Cuban-model isn't even working for Cuba." Immediately, the AFP said Castro was "joking," and a few days later Fidel said Goldberg was a great journalist, but misunderstood his words - yet Fidel admitted the quote was correct.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

NRSC Supports O'Donnell: Mitt Romney Endorses Christine O'Donnell

Breaking news - Mitt Romney will support Christine O'Donnell for the Senate seat once held by Joe Biden. Senator John Cornyn now says the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) will support O'Donnell with the maximum donation of  $42,000.00.

Christine O'Donnell

If you are not familiar with this story, O'Donnell, a Republican, challenged sitting Republican U.S. Congressman Mike Castle for the Delaware Senate seat. The NRSC supported Castle - the voters in Delaware did not.

After O'Donnell won the primary last night, the NRSC said they would NOT support O'Donnell's campaign, but after hearing from "the people," has apparently done a 360. The question now is, will they support O'Donnell only by donating the maximum legal dollars, without actually being a high-profile support of her campaign?

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Obama Jobs Scams Includes Poll Workers In Yesterday's Primaries

If you were a poll worker in yesterday's primaries, you are now required to file a tax withholding form for the "first time ever. Got that? The "first time ever."  This is nothing but a scam but to inflate the jobs numbers.

New York Post writer John Crudele asks" if this is a "little Election Eve trick."

The New York City Board of Elections, which uses 30,000 to 36,000 temporary workers for both the primary and general election, said it is being ordered by the Internal Revenue Service to make "employees" out of the very temporary workers who tend the polling sites...

"The Internal Revenue Service has determined that all poll workers are considered employees of the Board of Elections for tax purposes," said a Board memo dated Aug. 2 and signed by Rosanna Kostamoulas Rahmouni, coordinator of Election Day Operations.

"Therefore, the Board is required to have every poll worker complete the following before processing your application for work," her note added, listing tax forms W-4 and IT-2104 as necessary.

"It is imperative that you promptly submit the forms or you will not be paid for your training class or processed to work on Election Day," she said.

Although the note was dated Aug. 2 it apparently wasn't delivered to poll workers until very late in August. Workers get paid only $100 for training and $200 each day for working the primary and general election. So it's unlikely that the main purpose of this order is to collect the measly amount of taxes that would be owed -- mostly by the low-income retirees who man the polling centers -- on such a small amount of wages.

But if the election boards in all 50 states suddenly report an influx of additional government workers, the effect on the monthly employment numbers could be very, very significant.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook 

Ground Zero Mosque Developers Sued by 9/11 First Responders Video

A class-action lawsuit is being filed today by First Responders on 9/11/01, to "unmask the mosque." Video below.

Ground Zero Mosque Sued by First Responders (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Dan Maffei and Ann Marie Buerkle Debate Part 1 - Video

I've been asking around, and as far as I know, no debates are scheduled between incumbent Dan Maffei (D) and Ann Marie Buerkle in the NY25 race. If they do debate it will probably go something like this.



Buerkle for Congress! Kick a progressive out of the House, donate to Ann Marie Buerkle!

(Video of the finger wag can be found here!)

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative

Mitch McConnell to Obama - No Compromise on Tax Hikes

This is interesting. President Alinsky Obama officially made House Minority Leader John Boehner his target in this campaign season. He wants the voters to fear the man with the tan. John Boehner then came out and said he'd be willing to go along with a bill raising taxes on the rich, while leaving tax cuts for the middle class in place, if that what his only option.



Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, has thrown a monkey wrench into matters. McConnell is hardly an ultra conservative, but in this case, he's indicating there will be no compromise.

Reuters: In a political gambit, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a freeze on all tax brackets, insisting that cuts for wealthier Americans, as well as for the middle class,must be kept in place.

"I'm introducing legislation today that ensures that no one in this country will pay higher income taxes next year than they are right now," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

With control of the Senate, Democrats should be able to dictate whether there is a vote on the tax question ahead of the election but it is far from clear if they have enough party unity on the issue. McConnell may be hoping for enough defectors to bring his measure to the floor.

If Congress fails to take any action on the tax cuts enacted for all Americans under George W. Bush, Obama's

Republican predecessor, then they will expire at the end of this year.

Positions are so deeply entrenched and the risks so high for both sides that lawmakers may opt to put the issue on hold until after the election.

What's Obama to do now? He's chosen his target, honed in on it, and now this? Will he have two targets? Won't that be less effective? I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the White House right now.

This is a risky move on the part of McConnell, and he's never struck me as one to take big risks. I think it's worth it, though. There are at least a few Democrats who are well aware that raising taxes on anybody during a recession will hurt an already fragile economy.

Let's just hope this gamble pays off for Senator McConnell, the economy and the American people.

Hey, whoever said politics was boring?

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative

A Clear Choice in NY25 - Washington Insider Maffei or Outsider Buerkle

The voters of New Yorks' 25th Congressional District have a clear choice in the upcoming election. We can choose Dan Maffei, a career DC bureaucrat and politician; or we can choose a woman of principle, Ann Marie Buerkle, who isn't beholden to any special interest group.

Residents of Central New York have been treated to a deluge of Dan Maffei campaign ads in recent days. One is a puff piece portraying Rep. Maffei as the ultimate Washington outsider. But all one needs to do is look at his bio to know he's anything but a Washington outsider.

He was press secretary for U.S. Senator Bill Bradley in 1996, then served in the same post for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from 1997 to 1998. After working on Senator Bradley's presidential campaign from 1998 to 1999, Maffei went to work for U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel from 1999 to 2005, serving as a senior staff member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

In 2005, Maffei returned to Syracuse to coordinate the successful 2005 re-election campaign of Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll. Following his successful return, Maffei decided to make his first bid for public office, challenging popular nine-term Republican Congressman Jim Walsh. He earned the Democratic nomination and mounted the first serious challenge to Walsh in years, coming within two percentage points of defeating the incumbent. Maffei won in the City of Syracuse and the rest of Onondaga County, Walsh's home turf, as well as Monroe County.

Does anyone believe he didn't return to the area to run for Congress?

I don't know if the first ad didn't have the desired effect, but shortly after it came out an attack ad against Ann Marie Buerkle started airing. He's trying to portray her as some sort of "fringe" candidate because she doesn't want to spend our republic into oblivion.

Dan Maffei has voted with Nancy Pelosi on every major piece of legislation that the public opposed. He would hem and haw about the bills just before casting his "yea" vote. I think he did that to get positive coverage from the local press. And have no doubt, when it comes time for endorsements, the local press will pick Maffei as the guy who "knows how Washington works" and can bring home the bacon.

Now we find ourselves 50 days out from the election, and the news was released that Dan Maffei has raised most of his money from outside our district. Most of his donations don't come from people here in Central New York. He's the special interest candidate.

To highlight the point that Maffei is bought and paid for by special interests, see page three of this PDF. Note page 3, line 11 (a) ii regarding "unitemized" contributions. Those are contributions from average people. (FYI, itemized personal contributions are contributions from $200.00 - $2,400.00. Unitemized personal contributions are contributions from $0.01 - $199.99.) Do you see how low that number is for Dan Maffei? Compare that to the money he received from PACs which is found on line 11 (c).(FYI-PACs are the special interest groups the Democrats cry about.) (Also note, the son of George Soros, Alexander, sent Maffei a donation that's listed on page 35.)

Now look at Ann Marie Buerkle's fundraising disclosure. You'll see that she out-raised Maffei from "unitemized" individual contributions (ie: the "country class"), but she can't compete when it comes to PACs and special interests. (Hey, Gov. Pataki, are you paying attention to NY25?)



There's a reason Dan Maffei is one of the top political fundraisers in Congress, even though he's a freshman congressman. It has nothing to do with his ties to Central New York. The ruling class sees him as one who will toe their line, and he's one of them. He went to Washington to learn how to game the system, and he learned well. He still refuses to return any of the tainted money Charlie Rangel raised for him.

This election is a turning point, not just for Central New York, but for our entire republic. The choice couldn't be clearer in the race for NY 25. Dan Maffei is a CNY outsider and Ann Marie Buerkle is a CNY insider. If elected, Ann Marie Buerkle will go to Washington to represent the people of her district, not special interest groups. She will also uphold the Constitution, a concept that has fallen out of favor of late.

If anyone out there has a few extra bucks to help a conservative woman in New York go to congress, please consider sending a donation to Ann Marie Buerkle. Dan Maffei and his ilk have had their chance. It's time for something new.

Oh, and let' not forget who wagged his finger at constituents for daring to suggest he might read bills before he signs them!

Cross posted from The Lonely Conservative

Retraction Mark Turner Pete Moore (Pensacola)

Yesterday I wrote an article about a friend of Mark Turner (Pensacola, Florida) who had filed a civil suit against Pete Moore in Pensacola, Florida. It is my understanding directly from that friend that no lawsuit has been filed. I hereby retract all of the information in the article about the person referred to as the "friend."

Maggie Thornton
Maggie's Notebook

Mark Turner's Plea to Governor Charlie Crist Ignored

I have some information to share with you about Mark Turner and his family and friends - more of some of the bizarre events and behaviour surrounding his coming incarceration. Out of desperation, Mark contacted Governor Charlie Crist's office. That story is below. If you are not up-to-date on this case, Mark's Appeal was denied and he attempted to take his life. He is in a hospital, awaiting transfer to the County Jail in about a week. Read background on the criminal case here.

Mark and Nancy Turner and their Children

Some months ago, Mark contacted the office of Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist. He was seeking help to investigate Pensacola's Special Prosecutor, who Mark believes targeted him for RICO charges. Mark spoke with Dustin Fusillo in the Governor's office. Read Mark's Appeal attorney's response to the Court.
Find the article index on everything I have written about Mark Turner in the sidebar at top right of this page.

If you are in a position to help Mark and Nancy Turner with legal advice, or toward the cost of a Post Conviction Appeal, with any portion of the $15,000.00 they need, or can help with the process of getting the paperwork ready, please leave a comment here, or send an email. You'll find my email address in the right-hand sidebar, or leave a comment on Mark Turner's  blog here. If you are an attorney and want to read Turner's Appeal attorney's response to the court, read it here. Read every court document here. 

We are looking for a miracle for this man who has spent every dime he has, is supported by his wife and is now close to indigency. Your prayers are so appreciative. So many of you have told us you are praying for this family.

To bloggers: if you are interested in this story and will cross-post it for us, please do so, and link back here. The Turner's will be appreciative of your help.

This from Mark's wife Nancy:

Mr. Fusillo had told Mark that his case was being referred to Drew Atkinson, [who] would handle the complaint against the District 1 that Russ Edgar represents.  He called it an "Executive Investigation" and stated that his prior responses to Mark's request for help did not specify "Executive Investigation" and that he could not act unless it was specified. 

Mark has videotapes of himself attempting numerous upon numerous times to speak with Drew Atkinson but his secretary always had some excuse.  She would give him a time frame for Atkinson to respond and Mark would call back on that day and get another future timeframe.  

Mark finally got so upset after 3 months of waiting that he videotaped himself speaking to her about how the press was going to be involved and that he could not hold this story off any longer, she changed her tune and said "why didn't you say the press was involved."  

Atkinson called Mark back and told him that he had reviewed the information and that this was not the only complaint made on Russ Edgar and that there was already an Executive Investigation started on Edgar prior to Mark.  We were so hopeful.  

Recently Mark received a letter from Atkinson's office stating the Executive Investigation found no grounds to continue and that the case was closed.  Two other men currently being prosecuted with the same RICO charges that Edgar is famous for, had their charges dropped by the state.  The lesser charges were individually tried instead of combining all of them into one trial and they won their cases!  Good for them but not retroactive for Mark! 

Recently a friend of the Turners, Brenda Johnson, sent a letter to the Governor's Office with a plea for help. On September 7th she received this following email message from Dustin Fusillo, Office of Citizen Services.

Dear Ms. Johnson, 

Thank you for contacting Governor Charlie Crist on behalf of Mark Turner. The Governor asked me to respond on his behalf.  

The Florida Constitution limits the Governor's intervention in criminal investigation and prosecution. Each state attorney is an elected official charged with certain discretionary duties, including the duty to determine whether or not to prosecute any particular crime committed within his or her jurisdiction. This decision is based on the quality and quantity of the evidence of guilt shown, and in the best interest of justice. The state attorneys operate independently, and as elected officials, they answer only to the voters of their individual jurisdictions.  

Questions about guilt or innocence, or the procedural fairness of convictions must be addressed in the courts. Those who wish to contest judicial rulings may wish to speak with an attorney about what appellate procedures may be available. Those who need assistance in locating an attorney may wish to contact the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service. The Bar can be contacted by calling toll-free at (800) 342-8011, or by writing to 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300. 

The Office of Executive Clemency is the appropriate authority to provide information regarding pardons. The Governor has no independent ability to pardon someone. The clemency function is a power to grant full or conditional pardons, restore a felon's civil rights, or commute punishment. There are complicated rules for these lengthy procedures, and these powers are vested in the Governor only with the agreement of two Cabinet members who are also statewide elected officials. For more information, you can write the Office of Executive Clemency at 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2450, or you can call 1-800-435-8286. You may also email the office at clemencyweb@fpc.state.fl.us, and you can reach the office by fax at (850) 488-0965.

Thank you again for contacting the Governor's office. 

Sincerely, Dustin Fusillo, Office of Citizen Services

Fusillo says the State Attorney General is officially charged with deciding whether a prosecution goes forward, but Mark told me many months ago, before contacting the Governor's office, that he did contact the Florida State AG, and was told the AG's office has the duty to support the prosecuting attorney. If I remember Mark's words clearly, the State AG said he would be upholding Russ Edgar, the prosecuting attorney's right to go to trial.

Nancy Turner sent this in an email:

I don't understand why Dustin Fusillo wrote this generic email back to Brenda Johnson.  I just read an article reporting that Governor Charlie Crist pardonned the dead lead singer to the Doors, Jim Morrison.  He was praised for stating that Jim Morrison probably ended his life with drug overdose because he was under duress from not receiving a fair trial and thus didn't think he would get a fair appeal.  Because he never got an appeal, the Governor was able to remove the charges in full and Jim Morrison was removed from the Florida law books.

Dustin Fusillo told Mark that the Governor does not get involved in litigation but the Charlie Crist stepped in and mediated a sexual harassment suit and settled it financially with the victims to avoid public exposure of the Miami sheriff's department.  My girlfriend Sandra was the victim.  How does he have the select ability to use his authority?

Is there anywhere a man or woman can go in Florida, and especially in Escambia County, to get a fair trial? Some people living in the area who do not know Mark Turner think it is not possible and I will publish those emails in the next few days.

If you live in the Pensacola area, have you noticed there is not a peep from the press about this story of a man involved with Pete Moore, the owner of Pete Moore Chevrolet. Nothing about Mark's suicide attempt. Nothing about a man who has many reasons to believe he has been framed or wronged from the lack of justice in Escambia Country, Florida. Please view two videos filmed by Turner just before he decided to take his life. Find them at the top of this page on the left.

This family needs help in financing and preparing for a Post Conviction Appeal. Are you the person who can help, or do you know someone who will be a miracle-worker for Mark Turner?

Maggie's Disclaimer: I do not live in the Pensacola area. I've done my best to represent this from what I'm reading, all of which has been made available to anyone wanting it - including all parties in all lawsuits, and a couple of recent emails from Nancy Turner. 

Read about the lawsuit a Turner friend just filed against Pete Moore 

Read my first article on Mark Turner. 

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Sarah Shourd $500,000 Bail Set

Sarah Shourd met for the first time with an attorney in Iran where she is held on charges of spying. Her bail is set at $500,000. Last week it was announced that Shourd would be released on September 11th, then that information changed to not being released at all, and today we hear that a $500,000.00 bail is required to bring her home. According to statements out of Iran, Shourd is being released due to a cancer risk. According to this source, she has a lump in her breast and a "pre-condition related to cancer." Sarah, along with Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been held in Evin prison in Tehran for over 13 months.

  

My original reporting:
Shane Bauer
Joshua Fattal
Sarah Shourd

Project 2996: Remembering Laurie Ann Neira

Project 2996 is a tribute to the victims of September 11, 2001. Maggie's Notebook will honor the memories and the lives of some of those lost that terrible day.

2,996 stories...2,996 voices...2,996 remembered.

Laurie Ann Neira was aboard American Airlines Flight 11 departing from Boston to Los Angeles, after a visit with family. The photograph at the right is Laurie in 1997 with her daughter Francisca, known as Frannie, on Frannie's wedding day.

Laurie worked for Your Office Genie, and a look around the Internet finds many workers remembering her fondly. Some knew her personally, and others recognized her as a co-worker they had not yet met.

One of Laurie's best friends as a teenager in Rowley, Massachusetts, Debbie Madruga Richards, wrote fond memories of their earlier friendship, when they moved to 'The Big Apple' together at age 18.

Laurie was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts. She met her future husband, Gilberto (Gil) in New York City. In 1975 the family, now consisting of Mom, Dad and Francisca moved to Los Angeles. Later, Frannie's brother Christopher was born. Each year after the move, the family returned to their Massachusetts roots for a visit.

Frannie and Laurie were in Boston on their annual trip, but were flying back to L.A. separately.

From Frannie:

"We had the best time together. Then, on 9/11/01 we went to the airport together. The car rental shuttle dropped [Laurie] off at her terminal first, she going on American, and me going on Delta. 

My last words to her were, see you back home."

American Airlines Flight 11 was taken over by hijackers after about 15 minutes after takeoff. Frannie's Delta flight made an emergency landing in Ohio. That is how she learned of her mother's fate.  All flights were grounded, and she was left alone there for three days. 

Frannie says her mother was the glue that held the family together. 

"She was the most loving and caring person I have ever known. She was a loving and devoted Wife and Mother to me and my brother Christopher. She was also a doting Grandmother to my daughter Amanda - she couldn't wait to be a Grandma! She was taken from our family too soon and left a void that will never be filled again."

Note to family: If you find this tribute and would like to add any information about Laurie Ann Neira, please let me know. My email is about half-way down the page on the right side, or leave a comment.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook