Parable of Why Johnny Can't Borrow

I was in Las Vegas recently, after the November 2nd election. While having a casual dinner at the Trevi restaurant in Caesar's Palace, our waiter Ralph asked where we were from. We told him Oklahoma and he asked about our economy there and specifically the housing market. We chatted about that and then he told us he bought a house two years ago just north of the city of Las Vegas. He paid $256,000 and thought his property, usually in a hot market, would surely gain equity. Just the opposite happened, of course, and I began schooling him about Bill Clinton's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), and Barney Frank and Chris Dodd's coddling of it. Had I had the Parable of Johnny, I would have been finished with Ralph before dessert.

Why Johnny Shouldn't Have Borrowed - Housing Crisis

Within a year, Ralph's home was worth not much more than $150,000.

So, I've talked about the reason for all of our economic woes on this blog many, many times.  Rather than go through it again, Michael Prell at The Daily Caller has a post today that simplifies the roller coaster that repeated itself over and over again, until everyone wanting a house had one, whether they could pay for it or not. This is how I should have explained it to Ralph:

The "Parable of Why Johnny Can't Borrow:"

One day, Johnny woke up and decided to buy a house. But Johnny did not have enough money to buy a house. So he went to someone who did have enough money: Mr. Capitalist.

“Mr. Capitalist,” asked Johnny, “could you please loan me the money to buy a house?”

“Do you have good credit, a down payment, or proof of income?” asked Mr. Capitalist.

“No,” replied Johnny.

The End

And the end of the Global Financial Crisis.

The good news is that rather than abandon his home, which Ralph and his wife seriously considered, they refinanced and got their monthly payment greatly reduced and are once again hoping for a rise in equity.

Prell's article, QE2 vs the Titanic is a short and pithy narrative of the meaning and importance of capitalism and what happens when the free market is under assault. Prell is a strategist for Tea Party Patriots and the author of the forthcoming book, Underdogma: How America's Enemies Use Our Love for the Underdog to Trash American Power (release date January 20, 2011)

Related and Background:
Tracking the Mess of Fannie and Freddie
Financial Crisis Timeline: Republicans Warned of Economic Crisis
Bulldog Maxine Waters and her Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee

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!

Russ Carnahan's Office Firebombed by Employee - Blamed on Tea Parties

Democrat Congressman Russ Carnahan's (MO) office was firebombed on August 17th in the wee hours of the morning. An arrest was made almost immediately. The Looney-Left quickly blamed Tea partiers,...then the "suspect" was released and the Carnahan office clammed-up. Reportedly, the perpetrator is Chris Powers, a "progressive activist" working for Carnahan.

Chris Powers (left in orange shirt)

Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit has the story of Chris Powers, the "disgruntled" Lefty who didn't "get paid" for canvassing for Carnahan. According to Hoft, Powers is a TMP blogger under the name Ripper McCord.

 Dana Loesch blasts the rush to judgement and asks if Carnahan's office knew the perpetrator but kept quiet about it.

Take a look at this quote in the Riverfront Times Blog about the suspect that was released before the Carnahan employee (Powers) was identified:

Police aren't releasing the man's name until charges are officially filed. No motive was given for the attack, though one could suspect that the perpetrator is not a fan of the congressman. Given what we know of him -- 50, white, angry -- he certainly fits the demographics of a Tea Party member. 

Michelle Malkin:

...being a Tea Party-bashing liberal means never having to say you’re sorry for smearing conservative dissent. 

Redeemable Coupon Courtesy Michele Bachmann

The Michele Bachmann campaign doing its part for America, brings us this offer:

Linked by Larwyn's Linx

Judge Napolitano: The Original Tea Party - The History of Liberty Part 1 Video

The first video in Judge Andrew Napolitano's The History of Liberty series covers the time of the original Tea Party.

Judge Napolitano The Original Tea Party - The History of Liberty Part 1 (video)
The History of Liberty Series:Judge Napolitano: The Original Tea Party - Part 1Judge Napolitano: The Civil War and the Gilded Age - Part 2Judge Napolitano: The Progressive Era - Part 3Judge Napolitano: FDR's State - LBJ's Society - Part 4Judge Napolitano: Big Government - Tea Parties - Part 5

Tea Party Caucus: Mike Pence First Member Michele Bachmann's Tea Party Caucus

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) announced Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) is the first member of her House Tea Party Caucus, and she assures all concerned the Caucus will not become "an alternative, conservative voice to the the GOP House leadership." See a video below.

The Tea Party Caucus has its first meeting tomorrow, July 21st. Bachmann said she has been handing out invitations to attend, and the feedback has been positive. She credits U.S. Senate candidate, Rand Paul, Republican from Kentucky for the idea.

From The Daily Caller:

The idea is for the caucus to bring in “real people from various walks of life” to speak to its members about issues resonating within the Tea Party movement. “Usually we invite experts in,” Bachmann said of other caucuses in the House. “Well, these are experts in just being regular Americans,” she said.

Bachmann says the Caucus is a "set of ideas" and the goal is for Americans to know they are being listened to, and to promote less spending and lower taxes - Taxed Enough Already (TEA)

Bachmann says the Caucus is bipartisian and has invited Nancy Pelosi to join...bwwwhaaaahaaaahaaaaa!



Michele Bachmann with Bill Hemmer - Tea Party Caucus (video)
Related and Background:
Ten Buck Friday Blogs Send their Bucks to Michele Bachmann Week 1
About Michele Bachmann - a profile - She is up for election in 2010
Dylan Ratigan Doesn't Like Michele Bachmann or Her Tea Party Caucus
Glenn Beck's Most Conservative in Congress: Beck Picks Bachmann DeMint
Michele Bachman video: No Illegitimate Health Care: Bachmann No Paying Taxes
Sarah Palin Hosts Fundraiser for Michele Bachmann
Michele Bachmann on Mark Levin Video

Iowa Billboard Controversy: Conservatives Flogging Conservatives

The North Iowa Tea Party is now the albatross of the Tea Party movement.  Conservatives and Republicans need something to feel guilty about. This week it's the Hitler-Obama-Lenin billboard. You can feel the angst about this wayward group - we are not racist, that billboard should not have gone up! I ask why not?

And who among Democrats cared that Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MI) compared President G. W. Bush to Hitler and said the White House was involved in the 9/11 attacks? There are so many examples of Democrat rallies comparing Bush to Hitler that I'll just refer you to this blog which has many documented photos, links to others and says he/she had a front row seat to these rallies 2003-2008. This particular blog was written in August 2009 and isn't addressing the billboard, but other outcries from Liberals including Nancy Pelosi almost a year ago.

The argument is, just because the Left does it, doesn't make it right for the Right to do it. I agree, but that is not what this billboard did. I see it this way:

The billboard is not racist. It does not compare Barack Obama to Adolph Hitler or Vladimir Lenin, although it would be reasonable to do so now that we've seen the Obama agenda. It highlights three types of socialism and socialists, including Barack Obama, and points out the three are radicals and prey[ed] on the "fearful and naive."

Like, suing Arizonans who are fearful, but no longer naive about their government's failure to protect them from theft, murder, rape, kidnapping and human trafficking, and dirty needles on landowner's property.

Like Philadelphia voters who were threatened at the polls, some not voting because of it - and then slammed by Obama and Holder protecting the New Black Panthers rather than the voter - that protection ranging to simply not prosecuting Blacks who commit voter intimidation and/or fraud because they are Black. It makes me fearful. I fear for my country. It was reported yesterday that the NAACP was working with the DOJ on the dismissal of the Black Panthers case...and they call TEA parties racist!

Like New Yorkers strongly against holding the trial of one of highest-profile Islamic terrorists in the War on Terror in downtown New York. Holder and Obama were determined to do it. Now, the KSM trial just looms. No one knows where it will be. No one wants it in the U.S. If you live in the area of a trial of this magnitude, most might feel some intimidation. Who knows what kind of riff-raff that trial will bring to the neighborhood? Who knows who will prey on the people?

Like forcing all of America to purchased mandated health insurance, except for Congress and Unions, and Obama's new czar over medicaid and medicare, Donald Berwick. He worked his own deal with his own non-profit charity, paid himself $2.3 million, and then bestowed lifetime health care for him and his wife. He's the guy that believes rationing healthcare is "romantic," and he has assured us we will have rationing. But he scams a charity which obviously has significant tax benefits (at least until Obama's tax hikes arrive). I believe many Americans feel intimidated and anxious about their unwanted ObamaCare. I feel fearful about the Court's decision when the constitutionality of the law hits the bench. How could I not?

Just as Hitler and Lenin murdered, Obama is using taxpayer money to fund abortions. One of his first acts as a president was to overturn the Mexico City policy which denied U.S. taxpayer dollars for abortion outside our borders. Instantly you and I were funding abortion. When I think about it...that my money is used for taking the life of the unborn, it chills me. Yesterday we learned that the health care legislation will indeed allow taxpayers to fund abortions inside the U.S. In fact, $160 million is already designated for a Pennsylvania program to put an insurance program in place for abortions. I'm paying for murder.

I feel preyed upon by this predatory president.

We cannot grow our businesses because we know taxes and regulations will be leveled with a brutal hand. We cannot improve our properties, buy a nice car, take that wedding anniversary trip, buy a second home...until we know whats coming next. We think we know a VAT tax is descending. We do know that tax cuts are disappearing. Nothing looks good for our financial futures at this time.

I feel preyed upon by this predatory president.

We believe we are going to be forced to bailout dying liberal rags all over the country. A $10 billion bailout for teachers unions was hidden in a military funding bill, and the administration wants even more for "the teachers union." Today a gigantic financial "reform" bill was passed. The bill will be signed next week, but reform for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the root of the housing meltdown, were nowhere to be found. Jacob Lew, the new czar of Financial Reform said just last year that if the rest of the world didn't adhere to the same reforms, American business' would flee the country. It will be too expensive to stay here, and small business' and small banks will be the hardest hit. The Wall Street Journals says this bill "will hit small business' hard."

Don't you feel preyed upon by this predatory president?

Tom Tancredo Deserves an Apology

In February 2010, former U.S. congressman, Tom Tancredo spoke at a TEA Party convention and said Barack Obama was a "committed socialist ideologue." He smacked John McCain for his 2007 amnesty advocacy and said the U.S. is steeped in "the cult of multiculturalism," and said "the race for American is on right now." The mainstream media took their liberal lash to Tancredo. They owe him a loud apology. He also warned of drug-related violence in Mexico and said it was "moving north." As most of us knew, Tancredo was spot-on.

Tom Tancredo

There was more:

Former Congressman and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo told an audience on Thursday at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville that "people who could not even spell the word 'vote', or say it in English, put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House."

"So the race for America is on right now. The president and his left-wing allies in Congress are going to look at every opportunity to destroy the Constitution before we have a chance to save it," Tancredo told the delegates. "So put your running shoes on. Because I'll tell you, I've heard we need a revolution. My friends, we already had it. We lost. I mean, what happened to us in that last election was a revolution."

Tancredo was one the most conservative members of Congress. The American Conservative Union gave him a 99% favorable rating. He ran for president in 2008. I would have voted for him in a heartbeat. The media characterized him as a candidate with one issue to run on - illegal migrants, but a review of his record shows he had his thumb on the pulse of conservatism.

DOJ Consulted NAACP on Black Panther Case: Direct Ties NAACP DOJ Black Panther Case

The DOJ Black Panther whistleblower, J. Christian Adams, was prompted to answer a critical question by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. The Commission General Counsel David Blackwood directly asked Adams if the DOJ was consulting with the NAACP on the dismissal of the Black Panther voter intimidation case. See a video below with the Memphis TEA party's Mark Skoda, saying the movement has asked the NAACP for videos or other proof showing racism, and offered to provide requested info to the NAACP. The NAACP ignored the request.

Mark Skoda - Memphis Tea Party

This is particularly pertinent because the NAACP has just voted on a "resolution" saying the TEA party movement is "racist." Once that news was out, brought to light because of Michelle Obama's keynote speech at the NAACP, the St. Louis, Missouri TEA party released their own, detailed resolution condemning the NAACP for their ironic racism.

Adams answered that his information was secondhand, and that he was told the NAACP was at the DOJ in March of 2009 asking when the case against the militants would be dismissed. Adams characterized this as "interesting," because there had never been any discussion of dismissing the case he was lead attorney on.

It was first reported here at the Washington Times that "Kristen Clarke, director of political participation at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in Washington, however, confirmed to The Times that she talked about the case with lawyers at the Justice Department and shared copies of the complaint with several persons. She said, however, her organization was 'not involved in the decision to dismiss the civil complaint.'"

Ms. Clarke testified to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights a few months back that that account was wrong. But J. Christian Adams, the main lawyer who built the case against the Black Panthers, contradicted her when he testified to the commission on July 6. 

Blackwood knew about Kristen Clarke's comment in The Washington Times, and also knew that Clarke denied it before his Commission. Watch

The NAACP is one of the most racist organizations to meet on this planet, ranking second to the current U.S. Department of Justice. In the video below you'll hear Mark Skoda, the Memphis TEA party founder and Hilary Shelton, the Washington  Bureau NAACP director, decide they will meet and try to work things out. Note that Shelton confined the charges of TEA Party racism to "fringe elements" of the movement. Undoubtedly, they are backpedalling. They have no proof, and especially in the face of Skoda saying they have asked for NAACP videos showing TEA Party racism and received nothing.

Mark Skoda Memphis TEA Party and Hilary Shelton NAACP (video)

Related and Background:

St. Louis Tea Party NAACP Condemns NAACP Racism


Megyn Kelly and Christian Adams on DOJ Bias
Christian Adams with Megyn Kelly: DOJ Attorney Resigns DOJ Black Panther Protest - Video
Black Panther DOJ Coverup: In Your Face DOJ Racism
Document drop: DOJ still obstructing justice in Black Panther case - Michelle Malkin

Black Panthers Win: Voter Fraud Wins: Voter Rights Lose

St. Louis Tea Party NAACP: Tea Party Resolution Condemns NAACP Racism

The St. Louis TEA Party has passed a resolution condemning NAACP racism. Yesterday I reported that the NAACP was passing a resolution stating the extreme racism of the TEA Party movement. Michelle Obama delivered the keynote address at that occasion for the racist organization. Don't tell me she did not know the agenda for the 101st Annual meeting of the NAACP.

St. Louis Tea Party

This morning, Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit, and a member of the St. Louis TEA Party reports the passing of the following resolution:

St. Louis Tea Party Coalition Resolution
July 12, 2010

Whereas, the National Coalition for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded to advance the position of minority groups, and 

Whereas a hallmark of the NAACP has been to do the important work of identifying and exposing remaining vestiges of racism and discrimination, and 

Whereas the NAACP vocally stands against the discriminatory and harmful practice of labeling people with a broad brush, and 

Whereas the NAACP decided to launch their 101st National Convention with a resolution condemning the Tea Party movement and labeling millions of their fellow Americans who subscribe to the movement as “racists”, and 

Whereas the “Tea Party movement” is a label applied to patriotic Americans who have expressed their political free speech in the grand tradition of all that is American, that being the spirited expression of viewpoints in a 100% peaceful manner, and 

Whereas, it is a hallmark of America that we settle our disputes civilly and avoid the gutter tactic of attempting to silence opponents by inflammatory name-calling, and 

Whereas the very term “racist” has diminished meaning due to its overuse by political partisans including members of the NAACP, and 

Whereas, the NAACP had an opportunity to preserve some semblance of legitimacy by standing up for Ken Gladney, the victim of a vicious racist battery conducted by a black avowed communist, even labeling him an “Uncle Tom”, but chose instead to use the opportunity to mock the St. Louis Tea Party, and 

Whereas, the NAACP has refused to denounce the New Black Panther’s call to murder white cops and their babies, and 

Whereas, the NAACP does its entire membership a grave disservice by hypocritically engaging in the very conduct it purports to oppose, 

Now therefore be it resolved that the St. Louis Tea Party condemns the NAACP for lowering itself to the dishonorable position of a partisan political attack dog organization, and,

Be it further resolved that the St. Louis Tea Party calls on similar organizations to join in unanimous condemnation of this despicable behavior, and 

Be it further resolved that we demand that the NAACP withdrawal their bigoted, false and inflammatory resolution against the tea party for any further consideration, and

Be it further resolved that these organizations call on the Internal Revenue Service to evenly apply their standards and consider the tax-exempt status of the NAACP considering the degree to which they are engaging in habitual partisan political behavior. 

Adopted unanimously, this day, July 12th, in the year of our Lord, 2010.

A copy of this resolution shall be sent immediately to the NAACP at: washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org

Read the background on the NAACP resolution and Michelle's speech here.

RINO Lindsey Graham TEA Parties Not Sustainable: Senator Graham You Make TEA Parties Sustainable

RINO Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) says the TEA Party movement is unsustainable and will die out. Well, doesn't he wish? As long as Republicans like Graham infiltrate the House and Senate, we will continue to be drenched in their unconstitutional TEA (Taxed Too Much). Graham says the Movement has no vision for governing the country. If the U.S. Constitution isn't a vision, what is? Senator Graham is just one of a few reasons in the Nation's Capitol that will easily sustain the TEA Party Movement.

Lindsey Graham

Of course Graham doesn't want TEA Parties interfering in his dirty little moderate-left-leaning playground. The Lindsey Graham-types in the Senate and House have had their way far too long, and look what has happened. As Democrats moved farther and farther to the left under Welfare Queen, Nancy Pelosi, and Capitol-Crier-The-War-is-Lost, Harry Reid, RINOs moved along with them, and you hardly heard a gasp of surprise, until TEA Parties began showing up at Townhalls all over the country.

We want The Founder's vision, which does not include unbalanced budgets and spreading the wealth - or the social justice 'isms,' as in Socialism, Marxism and Communism. How hard is that? To the contrary Mr. Graham, we can sustain ourselves on your foolishly conceived legislation.

Oh, the TEA Parties have a vision and you are in our line of site.

TEA partiers don't want our healthcare records in a government database, but you do. Senator. TEA partiers don't want your RINO-derived Cap and Tax, and were horrified when you begged us to stop demonizing climate change. The GOP of your home state of South Carolina were also horrified and they censured you - twice in a three month period'.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has repeatedly demonstrated contempt and belligerence towards those members of the Republican Party who support freedom, a constitutional government and the Republican Party platform,” 

...the local Republican Party charged Graham with showing a “condescending attitude” toward the GOP’s grass roots.

We don't want you amnesty devised by his Gang of 2. No gangs of 14, or 3 or 4...unless designed to smack spending and keep the Supreme Court from being taken over by Progressives. Did I mention your National I.D. cards? We don't want those either.

Senator, your Gang of 14 decided that judicial nominees will be filibustered, "only under extraordinary circumstances." Remember Sonia Sotomayor, the LaRaza member you helped promote to the Court despite the harsh realities of her own words...and, again, she is a member of LaRaza. Show us what you're made of Sir. If Elena Kagan is not an "extraordinary" circumstance, who can possibly be, but I bet you cast your vote for her.

David Horowitz' NewsRealBlog says Graham can afford to "trash tea parties" because he isn't up for election until 2014, but warns that he doesn't know his history and doesn't know the power of crowds:

Nothing threatens the status quo like passionate, peaceful and spirited citizens coming together in solidarity. Does Poland 1980 ring a bell?

Senator, I do admire your very important support of our Military, but you need to dig your way out of that heap of Liberals you are so fond of after so many years in the Capitol. Get busy and Do Your Job as a Senator from South Carolina.

You, Senator Graham, are what makes a TEA Party sustainable.

Rasmussen Survey Tea Party Understands Issues Better than Congress

Rasmussen reports that 52% of U.S. voters believe the average member of the Tea Party movement has a better understanding of the issues facing America today than the average member of Congress, and they believe Tea Party members are more ethical.

Tea Parties on the Issues

Not that Congress cares, of course:

When it comes to those issues, 47% think that their own political views are closer to those of the average Tea Party member than to the views of the average member of Congress. On this point, 26% feel closer to Congress.

Finally, 46% of voters say that the average Tea Party member is more ethical than the average member of Congress. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say that the average member of Congress is more ethical.

 Tea Parties on Socialism

Scott Rasmussen, author of a new book In Search of Self-Governance, says:

“The gap between Americans who want to govern themselves and politicians who want to rule over them may be as big today as the gap between the colonies and England during the 18th century,”

Listen up Karl Rove, John Cornyn, Newt Gingrich, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, even 28% of Democrats say their own views are closer to the average member of the Tea Party, and:

On all questions, Republicans overwhelming prefer the Tea Party. Unaffiliated voters also prefer the Tea Party by wide margins...

...a plurality of women prefer the Tea Party over Congress on every question in the survey. 

Welcome news - sort of a nah na, nah na, nah nah moment.

Rupert Murdock Pushes Amnesty: Lou Dobbs Pushes Amnesty

Rupert Murdoch, the Chairman and CEO of Fox News Corp. is joining other business giants to form a coalition pushing for immigration reform, including amnesty. Sean Hannity was to appear at a Cincinnati TEA Party. Murdoch cancelled the invitation, so Sean, the host of an opinion show - not a news anchor - has been silenced on the Tea Party movement.

The Cost of Illegal Aliens to U.S. Taxpayers - Heritage Foundation

For more on the graphic read this article.

Boeing, Disney, Hewlett-Packard and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with Murdoch say they will keep the heat on Congress. This AP release is too disgusting to print on my blog. You can read more here.

William Gheen, the president of Americans for Legal Immigration says this news from Murdoch explains why leaders advocating for legal immigration, including himself, are seldom on Fox News these days:

You do see Carl Rove, Mike Huckabee, and US Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain on Fox all the time and each of them supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform Amnesty for illegal immigrants that would turn illegal aliens into voters and thus destroy any peaceful political hope for future border or immigration enforcement in America. 

So why have the Amnesty sellouts been given free reign at FOX NEWS with almost no significant representation for the organization leaders and elected officials that represent the 80% of Americans who want immigration and border enforcement instead of Amnesty? 

It appears we have our answer as the Associated Press is reporting today (June 24, 2010) in their article titled 'NYC mayor, major CEOs lobby for immigration reform' that FOX NEWS and News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch has appeared with the billionaire liberal mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, to ask lawmakers in Washington to pass Amnesty. 

Gheen points out a not-so-subtle change in the amnesty stance of Lou Dobbs, one of the most hated of all amnesty-deniers by Hispanics. You'll remember that last year Dobbs quite his long career at CNN. The two were at constant odds: CNN advocating for amnesty and Dobbs railing against it.

So Dobbs was out at CNN, maybe thinking of running for president and is a semi-regular guest on Fox News. What happens when you have political aspirations? You sell you soul to the devil if you aren't principled. This on Dobbs from WorldNetDaily in November 2009:

Despite his long-held opposition to "amnesty," Dobbs now actually supports a plan to legalize undocumented workers.

Twice during the interview [in the video below], Dobbs mentioned plans to legalize millions of illegal aliens in America, saying "we need the ability to legalize illegal immigrants under certain conditions."

The push for amnesty will begin on November 3rd. Are we up to the challenge?

Lou Dobbs on How to Legalize Illegal Aliens (video)
Related and Background:Taxpayer's Cost to Host Illegals - A Reminder
Illegal Alien Crime: No One Wants to Talk About It

DISCLOSE Act Stifles Tea Parties: Hank Johnson DISCLOSE Makes Sure Repubs Don't Get Elected

Congress is busy today abridging your free speech. Nothing new about that. Democrat Congressman Hank Johnson (GA) says passing the bill will insure Republicans do not win elections in the Fall. Ron Paul suggests the bill should be be renamed "Stifling Grassroots Political Support and Removing Political Privacy bill. See a video below. See the update below - The DISCLOSE Act has passed in the House.

Free Speech Stifled

The Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act, otherwise known as H.R. 5175 was again considered in the House today:

The Act would force grassroots organizations to release the names of donors and members of their organizations into a publicly searchable database, and frustrate the ability of grassroots entities to communicate effectively with the public about public policy.

Sources with House GOP leadership say they expect a final vote in the House anytime between 2:45 – 3:15 p.m.

That means the vote may be over at the time this is posted.

 The administration intends to put the legislation into effect within 30 days, before the FEC can even write the new guidelines.


Remember the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court which restored First Amendment rights to corporations, saying the government has no right to regulate free speech? The DISCLOSE Act, if implemented, is see as a first step to an end run against that Supreme Court decision. Listen to a CATO Institute podcast about this important issue here.

National Review's On The Corner announced on June 18th the vote was cancelled:

The vote that had been scheduled for Friday on the DISCLOSE Act was abruptly cancelled by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday night. This after a rebellion by Blue Dog Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus, according to Politico.

Blue Dogs were apparently worried about their reelection prospects given the across the board opposition by business groups, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. The Black Caucus was upset about the exemption granted to the NRA “and remained concerned about the bill’s potential impact on the NAACP and other 

In other words, while they were unworried about the speech of their political opponents being curtailed, they got “concerned” when they realized it might also affect some of their supporters.

We know votes are not held until Pelosi knows she has the votes to pass it, so the news is not expected to be good. What were the deals made this time?  

Both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the ACLU are against H.R. 5175:

The right-leaning U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union, normally on opposite sides of just about any debate, have both come out opposing the bill because they contend it tramples First Amendment rights. 

Remember Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) who thought the island of Guam might "tip over from over-population? He has an opinion about the DISCLOSE Act as well. Johnson says passing DISCLOSE will make sure "Republicans don't get elected."See it in the video below.

Update June 24, 2010 - 5 p.m. EDT:
Karen at The Lonely Conservative says H.R. 5175 has passed the House. Read her post on Republicans accusing Democrats of "holding a closed debate."





Hank Johnson: DISCLOSE Keeps Republicans from Winning (video)

Georgia Tea Party Member "Lewis" Sings Fourth Verse of Star Spangled Banner Video

The always excellent Herman Cain spoke at a Douglas County, Georgia Tea Party and called on "Lewis" who pointed out that we should know and sing the second verse [actually the fourth verse, I think] of the Star Spangle Banner. Then he sang it beautifully, a cappella. In the video below, watch the crowd. See the lyrics below the video.

As Michelle Malkin said: "This is an American Idol." Be inspired. Visit Herman Cain's website here.

Louis Sings Second/Fourth Verse of Star Spangled Banner at Georgia Tea Party (video)

Lyrics to Fourth Verse of the Star Spangled Banner:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Thanks to my friend and Master Sculptor, David Lemon for this video. I'm linking to his bronze, Bronc Stomping - Edition 40. There is nothing more American than the American Cowboy and the American Indian. Take a rest from politics and read about Cowboys and Indians breaking broncs - completely different! Then visit a video of his Western Bronzes and his Bronze Gallery page here.

Lance Baxter Threatens to Sue Freedom Works: Megyn Kelly Matt Tibbe Video

Lance Baxter, also known as C.D. Douglas was fired from Geico for leaving a creepy voicemail message at Freedom Works (and leaving his phone number as well). Freedom Works milked it, as they should have, because this guy isn't working with a full deck, and because enough is enough. Now, the thoroughly humiliated and unemployed Baxter, is threatening to sue Freedom Works. Here is a Megyn Kelly's video with Matt Kibbe the president of Freedom Works:

Baxter said he should be free to leave nasty voicemails without losing his job. Don't you think he should be talking to Geico about that?

Megyn Kelly and Matt Tibbe CEO of Freedom Works (video)

Geraldo Rivera Mark Williams: Mark Williams Levels Geraldo

Whoa! Geraldo got away from Tea Party Express leader, Mark Williams, as fast as he could, but he wasn't fast enough. Williams didn't stutter and he didn't use a teleprompter. I've seldom seen Geraldo this rattled, and I hope Mark Williams knows how well-spent his time was on Geraldo's ridiculous show.

Find information on Mark and the Tea Party Express team here.

Geraldo Rivera and Mark Williams on Tea Parties (video)

Allen West at DC Tax Day Tea Party Video

Lt. Col. Allen West (Ret Army) spoke at the Washington, D.C. Tax Day Tea Party. West is running for the U.S. House of Representatives to serve Florida's 22nd District. The incumbent is Democrat Ron Klein (FL). I hope you will watch the video. This is a rousing speech, and I think that West reads a note from Klein. You won't believe the message.

Allen West

Lt. Col. Allen West at DC Tea Party on Tax Day 2010(video)


Thanks to The Right Scoop and Another Black Conservative (video)

Linked by The Lonely Conservative - thanks!

Linked by Trevor Loudon's New Zeal Blog - Thank You!

Linked by The Romantic Poet's Weblog - Thank You!

Darrell Postell is an American Tea Partier Not a Black Tea Partier: Two Great America Tea Party Speakers

An NBC reporter found a Black man at a Tea Party in Washington, D.C. and she took advantage of it. In the first short video, Darrell Postell explained it to Kelly O'Donnell. Then view two more Tea Party speakers, the first at a 9-12 Tea Party, and the second at the April 2010 Tax Day Tea Party (wish I knew this Pastor's name).  They. are. both.Americans.

Darrell Postell Tax Day American Tea Partier (video)  A Great American Speaker at DC Tax Day Tea Party (video)  Mason Weaver: Another Great American Speaker at DC Tax Day Tea Party (video)

 

Others Talking about Darrell Postell:
Another Black Conservative - A perfect answer to the Tea Party color question

Jonathan Krohn Does Tea Parties Video: Neal Cavuto and Jonathan Krohn

Fifteen-year-old Jonathan Krohn is an amazing young man, but he still has some bubbles left to burst. He just hasn't lived enough life yet. For some reason Jonathan is dismissing Obama's background and training. That's okay - even though he thinks you and I are spreading "filth." It takes time to fully understand the breadth of the threat stalking this country. See a video below.

 Jonathan Krohn

This young man, now an author, has really grown since CPAC 2009.



Jonathan Krohn and Neal Cavuto at a Tea Party (video)