Barbara Boxer Million Dollar Home Undisclosed: Boxer Home Bought with $500,000 from Political Contributions

The Foundation for Ethics in Public Service has asked the Department of Justice to investigate Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for not disclosing a home valued over one million dollars in Oakland, California, and paid for with $500,000 from political campaign contributions. The property is co-owned with Boxer, her husband, son and daughter-in-law. There are also claims that she held 7 mortgages with Countrywide Financial - the mortgage lender at the center of the mortgage scandal.

Barbara Boxer

Corruption for Boxer, whom Senator John McCain says is the most anti-defense, bitterly partisan senator in the Senate, drones on. From Pajamas Media's breaking news:

Despite the fact that Senator Boxer had an ownership in 854 Longridge Road [in Oakland], she failed to report this substantial real property asset on any of her personal financial disclosures between 2002 and 2010.  She had also failed to report the mortgage on the property.  Further, she failed to report the purchase of 854 Longridge Road in 2002.  Each year Boxer was required to have filed a “full and complete report.”

From The Washington Examiner on October 13th:

Deeds of trust compiled by...the Foundation for Ethics in Public Service show that the California Democrat and her husband, Stewart, held seven mortgages with Countrywide, the company which gave VIP mortgage discounts to influential customers, including Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT, and Sen. Kent Conrad, D-ND.

If Boxer received preferential treatment, it would be like President Bill Clinton ruling on the definition of "is..." 

The couple sold the home in 2006 for $1.87 million, according to Zillow.com. She did not list the property on financial disclosure records because she didn't have to. Technically it did not generate income. But shouldn't the extra cash generated by refinancing be considered income - especially if they used it to buy another property? 

Boxer's son, Douglas and his wife Amy, live in the house paid for by $500,000 from Boxer's Democrat contributors. Had enough yet?

John McCain on anti-Defense Senator Barbara Boxer

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Content Scrapers: Until I can figure out what to do about your confiscation of my work for your own website, please be sure to give a link back as shown above.

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

Obama Donors Appointed to Stimulus Committee

Let me ask you this: Would a big-time Obama donor be vested in telling us the stimulus has been poorly managed? Or would big-time donors to the president's campaign and political party have the integrity to recommend spending that huge amount of money in a clearly non-partisan manner? Another presidential "panel" has been established, the Recovery Independent Advisory Panel (RIAP). The RIAP makes recommendations to the Stimulus Czar, Earl Devaney, who chairs the Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board (RAT). A study group of three professors has just been released and it does not show the funds were distributed or spent responsibly. See that link below.

Earl Devaney

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), the ranking Republican on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, says Devaney's appointments are partisan and political:

Issa describes and documents the partisan political nature of 3 out of 4 appointees, i.e. Steven Koch, Edward Tufte, and Myrta “Chris” Sale...

Steven Koch, a Chicago banker, is a veteran donor and fundraiser for President Obama’s political efforts. He is an accomplished fundraising “bundler”, bundling over $200,000 for the President’s 2008 campaign. He also donated over $43,000 to the Democratic National Committee since 2008.

Edward Tufte, a Yale Professor, known for his skills in the presentation of data, has personally contributed over $120,000 to the National, Senate, and Congressional Democratic Campaign Committees since 1998.

Myrta “Chris” Sale, a veteran official of the Clinton Administration, served as Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Naturalization Service (INS). “Under her leadership, the agency welcomed 16,400 new citizens who had been arrested for at least one felony.”

Obama pledged the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board would be an at-large body to oversee how the government spends billions allocated to help the flailing U.S. economy.

But with dozens of agencies and departments involved, Obama wanted a central group to monitor independently where those funds are going.

Obama also planned to tap Biden to meet regularly with Cabinet members, governors and mayors to make sure their efforts were quick and effective. 

Earl Devaney is required to reply to Issa's letter. Devaney is responsible for the $787 billion stimulus being spent responsibly, but according to a new study of stimulus funds, the money has been distributed on a partisan and political basis, and has been spread among the legislators powerful enough to snatch it up, rather than distributed to those areas with the greatest need of stimulation. Read it here.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Linked by Doug Ross and Larwyn - Thank you!

Redeemable Coupon Courtesy Michele Bachmann

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

Linked by Larwyn's Linx

Obama Taking Your Water and Your Land: Great Outdoor Land Grab Initiative Underway

What is the one natural resource we cannot live without? The answer is water. How do you feel about the government owning and/or controlling ALL of the water in the U.S.? The government wants your pond. And they will get it through numerous manipulative ways. Several times here I have reported on the Obama land grabs. Today we learn of one more, and friends, we need to know the difference between "navigable waters" and the "waters of the United States."

Obama Taking Your Water and Your Land

Michelle Malkin's column says the Great Outdoors Initiative is out take our land, both public and private. The plan has quietly been underway since April when Obama issued a memo:

It was addressed to the Interior Secretary, the Agriculture Secretary, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency and the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. The memo calls on the officials to conduct “listening and learning sessions” with the public to “identify the places that mean the most to Americans, and leverage the support of the Federal Government” to “protect” outdoor spaces. Eighteen of 25 planned sessions have already been held. But there’s much more to the agenda than simply “reconnecting Americans to nature.”

The federal government, as the memo boasted, is the nation’s “largest land manager.” It already owns roughly one of every three acres in the United States. This is apparently not enough. At a “listening session” in New Hampshire last week, government bureaucrats trained their sights on millions of private forest land throughout the New England region. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack crusaded for “the need for additional attention to the Land and Water Conservation Fund — and the need to promptly support full funding of that fund.”

Malkin says both the House and the Senate has set aside $900 million each for funding The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) - a government slush fund for buying up private lands - and doling out the funds needs no input from the appropriations Committee - meaning no oversight - not votes.

In September 2009, when we were talking about the preservation of the Delta Smelt to the expense of water for agriculture in California's Central Valley, I went back and resurrected American Daughter's post on the Clean Water Act and the "waters of the United States." Senate Bill 787 would change the language of the Federal Water Pollution Act from government jurisdiction over only "navigable waters," to 'waters of the United States'...

WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES- The term ‘waters of the United States’ means all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of the foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters, or activities affecting these waters, are subject to the legislative power of Congress under the Constitution. 

 Private Fishing Pond on Spring Gulch Ranch, Colorado

The above means your pond, your stream. Since the above is a change to the Clean Waters Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, I'm not sure how government control of your pond or stream is constitutional.

Malkin says that the Great Outdoors Initiative has a website that taxpayers pay for:

The initiative’s taxpayer-funded website has been dominated by left-wing environmental activists proposing human population reduction, private property confiscation, and gun bans, hunting bans and vehicle bans in national parks. It’s time for private property owners to send their own loud, clear message to the land-hungry feds.

 Private Pond BedandBreakfast.com

In my original post in September 9, I told a true story of Arab countries in 1967 attempting to divert Israel's irrigation water. That ater was instrumental in the 1967 War. Letting government control our private water is a grave and mammoth mistake. Thanks to The Lonely Conservative for the latest on government land grabs.

Linked by America's Independent Party - Thank you!

Government Worker Benefits Getting Rich on Backs of Private Sector

"David Walker, the U.S.Comptroller for Clinton and then G. W. Bush says under the Obama administration, government workers, through pensions and salaries, are growing "prosperous" on the backs of the private sector. Walker says the only way to stop this is to inform the public, and for us to understand that "We the People" have the power to do something about it.

David Walker

From David Walker, now the CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation

“There is a huge gap. State and local plans on average … are much more lucrative than typical plans for employees. State and local government employees, on average, have greater job security than people in the private sector. And state and local government employees, in the middle of government, in many cases make more money than their private sector counterparts,” Walker said during a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. According to Pew numbers provided by the Chamber, the budget gap to cover state employees’ benefits totals $1 trillion.

“Therefore, if governments expect taxpayers to pay more taxes to fund lucrative benefit programs that are much better than the average employee gets, in jobs that more job security and in some cases make more money than their private sector counterparts, that ain’t gonna happen,” he said. “But the only way it’s not going to happen is if there’s transparency and if the cover is blown, so that pressure is brought to bear to make changes.”

"We the People" will have a private sector rebellion on November 2nd.

Peter King Anthony Weiner 9/11 Aid to Firemen and Illegals - It's All About Illegals and Trash in the Bill

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) threw a fit on the floor of the House last night, and again on Fox News this morning. The issue is a House bill, co-sponsored by Republican Congressman Peter King (R) to provide aid to 9/11 firemen who have been affected by the toxic dust from the World Trade Centers falling. Democrats did not want Republican amendments to his bill - amendments such as a ban on illegal migrants in the area on 9/11 receiving taxpayer money. This whole charade is about support for illegal aliens. See it in the video below.

Peter King and Anthony Weiner

The Liberal House insisted there would be no amendments, in other words, Democrats did not want to be on the record voting no to support illegals :

According to Republicans, the measure would kill jobs, create a "new entitlement" and waste taxpayer dollars. 

The measure would reopen the Victims Compensation Fund until 2031. Politico reports that Republicans are calling the extension "well beyond what is needed to take care of latent claims," according to a GOP policy statement. 

The bill, according to Republicans, "creates a massive new entitlement program, exposes taxpayers to increased litigation, and is 'paid for' with tax increases and potential job losses." 

To be clear, Democrats could have passed the $7.4 billion bill with a simple majority, but they opted for a procedure that allowed no amendments - two-thirds would have to vote for the bill in exactly the form it was originally written, including the trash in the bill. From the New York Times:

Democrats used rules requiring a wider majority for approval to prevent Republicans from offering amendments on the floor that would embarrass Democrats in an election year....

Heading into the vote, Democrats acknowledged it would be difficult to gather enough support to pass the bill under special rules requiring a two-thirds majority.

But Democrats were concerned that a simple majority vote would allow Republicans to propose a controversial amendment that seeks to deny 9/11 health benefits to illegal immigrants. 

King said with a short time to the November elections, Democrats do not have the courage to vote on controversial amendments. Republicans want to provide for 9/11-related diseases, but they intend to do it responsibly. I'll point out that the minority has the right to amend bills and then receive a vote.

It is time for Republicans to refuse irresponsible spending, regardless of the good in any bill. That is what they did with this legislation. Take out the trash and present the clean bill. Republicans are refusing to be cowed by shameful tactics like you'll see in the video below. Weiner, the pompous jerk,  is trying to hide the Democrat agenda. He needs to grow up.





Anthony Weiner's Defending the Trash in Democrat Legislation
Linked by A Chicagoan's Conservative Chronicles - Thank you Ray-man!

White House Budget $1.5B for Farmers: What Budget? Does WH Have Spending Power?

Rahm Emanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff, has told Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) the White House will find $1.5 BILLION for farmers suffering from disasters across the country, including for her state of Arkansas, from the budget. What budget? We don't have a budget. He means from Obama's stash, which comes from only the Almighty knows where.

White House

Lincoln successfully got the $1.5 billion of agricultural disaster assistance in a bill designed to aid small businesses. Republican blocked the vote. But apparently Rahm will find it, and provide it through "administrative assistance" from Obama's stash? 

Emanuel called Lincoln on Thursday morning to tell her the administration would find $1.5 billion within its budget to help farmers in Arkansas and around the country who are coping with natural disasters.

Emanuel promised to provide the assistance administratively to get her to agree to delete $1.5 billion in disaster relief assistance for farmers from small-business legislation. 

Emanuel’s intervention shows how closely the president and his senior aides are following the bill Democrats are trying to push through Congress. 

Since when does the Executive Branch have the right to spend? Again, from what Budget will Rahm find the $1.5 billion? Only Congress has the power to spend. The point is, if Congress does not agree to spend taxpayer dollars, the President cannot just take care of it himself.

Note: this has nothing to do with farmers getting money that may be due them. It has everything to do with how they get it. From what authority does White House have that power?

Charlie Rangels War: Rangel Negotiating or On Trial?

Apparently Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is trying to negotiate a way out of the thirteen ethics violations he is charged with, even as the trial is underway. Reports are varied. Some say he struck a deal, others say they don't think so, but as news pops up by the minute, it seems today there is no deal.

Charlie Rangel

After pushing his opportunity to negotiate to the limits, House investigators "read out the thirteen alleged violations of ethics and federal law...." Here's a synopsis:

The charges involve four areas: Mr. Rangel’s solicitation of contributions to a school to be named in his honor at City College of New York; his errors and omissions on his House financial disclosure forms; his acceptance of rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, including one for his campaign office; and his failure to report and pay taxes on rental income on a beach villa he owns in the Dominican Republic.

To add to the confusion, Rangel was not present when his misdeeds were publicly named. If he has cut a deal, it is not clear how many of the thirteen charges he has agreed to acknowledge.

The Democrat was trying to thread the needle by admitting to misconduct while insisting it was not on purpose, sources said.

His attempts to save his own skin by dragging out the negotiations infuriated many of his Democratic colleagues, some of whom said he was operating under the delusion that he might recapture the Ways and Means Committee chairmanship he was forced to give up last spring.

"If he were to be cleared, then it might have been possible, even in a lame duck session after the elections, to get it back," a source said, noting that Rangel always said giving up his gavel was temporary.

Rangel was hoping to convince probers that he did not deliberately avoid paying taxes, hide assets or trade legislative favors for donations to City College's planned Rangel Center, the sources said.

Read background on Rangel's culture of corruption here.

Bell California sets the Tone for August Townhalls Video

The town of Bell, California is paying extraordinary salaries to the City Council. Robert Rizzo, the City Manager, makes close to $800,000 annually with a population of 38,000. The Chief of Police makes $457,000, said to be more than the Los Angeles Chief of Police, along with others making more than $100,000. The city also has an extraordinarily high city tax. In the video, you'll see the raucous Townhall meeting. The residents show the same clear disgust that Tea Party members feel each time they have to confront their corrupt legislators. What the town of Bell is ripping-off the Bell residents, is likely quadrupled by the U.S. government. Speaking of Tea Parties August is another opportunity to tell the bums we're throwing them out.

 Bloomberg says Bell is one of the poorest municipalities in L.A. county:

The city’s personal income was $24,800 per capita in 2008, according to its financial statement. That compares with an average of $32,819 nationwide, according to 2010 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Bell’s general fund revenue declined 4.6 percent to $14.1 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2009, according to the city’s financial statement. The city’s expenses rose 2.3 percent to $15.9 million in same period.

City Manager, Robert Rizzo has resigned, along with an assistant and the Police Chief. The people of Bell are not letting city elitists silence them, and neither are Tea Partiers comfortable with resting on Obama's falling polls. Bell can set the tone for August Townhall confrontations if Democrats have the honor to show up.





Bell California Townhall (video)

Donald Berwick Has Insurance for Life: Berwick's Real Recess Appointment Story

Obama's czar of Medicare and Medicaid, Donald Berwick, thinks it is just so sweet that your health care will be rationed, but much, much sweeter that he personally will never have to worry about health care for himself or his wife. Berwick's Institute for Health Care Improvement, a "non-profit health care charitable organization" of his own creation, has conferred lifetime health care for him and the Mrs.

Donald Berwick

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Consider the missions of Berwick's "non-profit health care charity:

1)  building "the will for change"
2) "cultivate promising concepts"
3) "helping health care systems put those ideas into action

Obama appointed Berwick to his lofty postion in a recess-appointment, but only after the Democrat Senate failed to schedule a confirmation hearing. Or maybe there was another reason: Byron York says Senator Charles Grassley, on behalf of the Senate Finance Committee, began asking questions about Berwick's "non-profit charity." That's when Obama made the recess-appointment. The Senate confirmation of a presidential nominee is essential to the tenets of the U.S. Constitution. When the Senate is blocked in their decision, Presidents do make recess appointments, but Berwick's confirmation didn't even make it to the Senate.

From Byron York at The Examiner:

As it turns out, Berwick himself does not have to deal with the anxieties created by limited access to care and the extent of coverage. In a special benefit conferred on him by the board of directors of the Institute for Health Care Improvement, a nonprofit health care charitable organization he created and which he served as chief executive officer, Berwick and his wife will have health coverage "from retirement until death."

In 2008, the "non-profit charity" Berwick took home $2.3 million in compensation, excluding the health care for life, $637,006 in 2007 and $585,008 in 2006.

In Berwick's recent speech to the British National Health Service, Berwick said "I am romantic about the NHS; I love it. Read the transcript here.

The Institute for Health Care Improvement claims a mission to health care improvement by building "the will for change, cultivating promising concepts" for patient care, "and helping health care systems put those ideas in action."

It has about 110 employees and net assets of $49.5 million, according to its 2008 filing with the IRS. (2008 is the most recent year for which such filings are publicly available.) A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the Institute reported receiving $12.2 million in contributions and grants in '08, as well as $27.4 million in revenue from its various programs.

Daniel Henniger in the Wall Street Journal says:

Berwick's "ideas on the design and purpose of the U.S. system of medicine aren't merely about change. They would be revolutionary.

"Revolutionary," yes, but not in a good way. Henninger gives numerous Berwick quotes you should know about. Here are a three:

Indeed, the Holy Grail of universal coverage in the United States may remain out of reach unless, through rational collective action overriding some individual self-interest, we can reduce per capita costs." 

"For-profit, entrepreneurial providers of medical imaging, renal dialysis, and outpatient surgery, for example, may find their business opportunities constrained."

I would place a commitment to excellence—standardization to the best-known method—above clinician autonomy as a rule for care." 

"Autonomy" is important to Berwick, but not your autonomy, or your doctor's autonomy. Berwick's autonomy lies completely with the government. The question is, what are we going to do about this man?

Linked by The Lonely Conservative - Thank you, Karen

Stupaks Abortion by Executive Order: Pennsylvania Embraces Taxpayer Funded Abortions

The Obama administration is giving the state of Pennsylvania $160 million from taxpayers to fund a "high-risk" insurance program to "cover any abortion that is legal in Pennsylvania." Rep. Bart Stupak's Abortion by Executive Order is off to a galloping start, and warmly embraced by the state of Pennsylvania. Video below.

Abortion by Executive Order

Remember Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Mich-1st) who eventually found it more soothing to his soul to overlook abortions, in exchange for $578 million in earmarks, and another $727,000 for airports in his home district - the day after his 'yea' vote for ObamaCare?  Congressman, how's your "moral principle" doing this morning? (see the video below)

To gain Stupak's 'yea' vote, and the vote of his 10-principled Congressmen-followers for ObamaCare, Obama created a sham Executive Order designed to relieve their guilt. No one, including Bart Stupak believed the Executive Order would protect the lives of the unborn, nevertheless he trumpets this on his website:

...Congressman Stupak has steadfastly championed pro-life values from the moment of conception until an individual’s last breath. He has served as co-chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, chairman of Democrats for Life and has been endorsed by pro-life groups in every congressional election. Stupak helped pass the Partial Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 and most recently played an instrumental role in helping pass health insurance reform legislation that protects the unborn. Thanks to Stupak’s leadership, President Obama signed an executive order ensuring that no taxpayer funds will be used for abortion in the new health care reform legislation.

Bart Stupak

From LifeNews:

The high-risk pool program is one of the new programs created by the sweeping health care legislation, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, President Obama signed into law on March 23. The law authorizes $5 billion in federal funds for the program, which will cover as many as 400,000 people when it is implemented nationwide.

"The Obama Administration will give Pennsylvania $160 million in federal tax funds, which we've discovered will pay for insurance plans that cover any legal abortion," said Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee.

Johnson told LifeNews.com: "This is just the first proof of the phoniness of President Obama's assurances that federal funds would not subsidize abortion -- but it will not be the last."

"President Obama successfully opposed including language in the bill to prevent federal subsidies for abortions, and now the Administration is quietly advancing its abortion-expanding agenda through administrative decisions such as this, which they hope will escape broad public attention," Johnson said.

From the Washington Post - dated March 21, 2010:

As part of the agreement, the White House announced that President Obama would issue an executive order on abortion after the House approves the health-care bill assuring that no federal funds would be used to subsidize the procedure. That was enough to secure the support of a group of Catholic Democrats who represent the swing votes on the legislation.

ChicagoRay made a vow to do something about this. Can you guess what it is?

Bart Stupak discusses his 'moral principle' and murder

Heavy Oil Miles Out in Gulf: Sharks Dolphins Swimming in Oil Video

This video offers 9 minutes of aerial views of the Gulf, starting at Gulf Shores, Alabama.  At the time, the area was in a no-fly zone. In the second video the narrator explains how the plane was able to get around the closed airspace. The date is June 21st, 2010. John Wathen, known as the Hurricane Creekkeper, said he and the crew see solid masses of oil at 17 miles out. The entire Gulf is covered. "There is no more clean water."

At 23 miles out, the heaviest sheen of oil was found. - a "rainbow of death."  The video shows dolphins and sharks - swimming in oil.

In the second video below, Wathen is interviewed on CNN. The first 1:45 is a replay of the aerial video, then the interview begins. He says this is much, much bigger than we are being told. Wathen is a representative of Save our Gulf, which has 7 waterkeeper programs. He speaks of how difficult it was to realize "this is hopeless, hopeless to think that we can't keep this coming on shore and affecting our communities."

This video is a production of BP Oil Slick. Click the link and listen to the audio of Billy Nunguesser, the president of Plaquemines Parish, New Orleans. The early conversation is about the press black-out [see that story linked under the videos].

Nunguesser is very vocal. He talked about Thad Allen, the U.S. Coast Guard and the government's reluctance to let the A-Whale begin gathering the oil. See the A-Whale video, and how it works here, as well as Nunguesser saying if the clean-up fails, it will be Obama's fault.

While at BP Oil Slick, take a look at this article which says BP claims they are not covering over oiled sand on the beaches with more sand, yet on July 2, 2010 the writer watched them do so for over 24 hours. Apparently the Coast Guard stood by and watched it too. Be sure to watch the video. This gets sadder and more frightening by the day. While this affects all of us, and breaks our hearts, the people in the affected area are in special need our prayers.

Aerial Views of the Gulf - A Rainbow of Death

John Wathen on CNN

Related and Background:Allen Kruse Death a White House Whitewash - Pensacola Beaches Black with Oil
Press Banned from Action at Oil Spill: First Amendment Suspended
Huge Methane Gas Bubble Under Gulf Floor?

Pete Stark asks Minuteman Who Ya Going to Kill Today? Stark the New John Murtha

Listen to this exchange between Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) and his constituents. Stark is rude, demeaning and disingenuous.  He asks a self-identified Minuteman who he's "going to kill today." Stark takes the place of the once-rudest man in the U.S. House, John Murtha.  See the video below.

Pete Stark

Stark, an atheist, has been representing California for 37 years, currently in the 13th District - covering the San Francisco Bay area. He won his last election with 75% of the vote. He obviously believes he has  his House seat for life, and so can tell people to "get the f**k out of here or I'll throw you out the window." See that video here. The blow-up comes at the end.

Here is some conversation from the video with the Minuteman:

Stark resumed his hostile act, asking the Minuteman what he would do to secure the border.

"I would send about about 25,000 troops for one thing and build a wall down so vehicles could not pass," the Minuteman said.

"How high and long would it be?" Stark asked.

"As high and as long as it takes," the Minuteman said, elicting cheers.

Stark said he would start a ladder company with the Minuteman if he designed the wall and doesn't shoot the people coming over.

"But I've got to know how high the wall is and I'll sell a whole lot of ladders for people who want to come," Stark said.

"This is a very serious matter and you're sitting there making fun of it," the Minuteman responded.

"I don't have to make fun of you sir, you do a fine job all by yourself," Stark said.

He has a number of gems to his credit. These are just a few: He once said his Republican colleague, and Baptist minister J.C. Watts' (R-OK) children we all born out of wedlock. He called Rep. Nancy Johnson (CT) a whore, and blamed Jewish members of Congress for the Persian Gulf War. Karen at The Lonely Conservative has one you won't believe.

Stark owns a townhome in Fremont, California and a $1.7 million waterfront home in Anne Arundel Cty, Maryland. He claimed the Maryland home as his principal residence for the larger tax break - until the IRS caught him. He's just another Democrat tax cheat. When the IRS story came out, he rushed to say that he and his wife are registered to vote in California and hold California driver's licenses.

Rep. John Murtha, long on the list of the Most Corrupt Politicians in Congress, didn't just steal taxpayer money. He accused eight Marines of intentionally murdering Iraqi citizens. He stole seven years of their lives. Seven were found not guilty and the case against the eighth was dismissed. Murtha, himself a Marine, refused to produce his military records, and his "war hero" status and Purple Hearts are still suspect. To be fair to Stark, he doesn't measure up to John Murtha.










Rep. Pete Stark Mocks Minuteman and Border Security (video)

Arizona Federal Boycott: Stash Brigade Mows Down Private Sector

The U.S. Government is boycotting the State of Arizona, jeopardizing the livelihood and personal safety of the people who are legitimate citizens, in the endless quest to protect those who are not, and doing so in violation of federal law. The Department of Education and, astonishingly, Border Control cancelled conferences, where taxpayers have long paid for bureaucrat's massages and sauna time in Arizona's beautiful desert climate. Our government placed signs just 30 miles out of Phoenix saying the area is rife with armed drug and human smugglers, and announced they will sue the state for attempting to defend their own borders. Obama's stash brigade of unions and government workers are mowing down the private sector. He and Attorney General Eric Holder believe they can break the state and if they can break the back of Arizona's sovereignty in our courts, we have to ask, who is next?

Who's Flag?

One of two Federal Signs 30 miles from Phoenix

Danger - Public Warning

Travel not Recommended

Active Drug and Human Smuggling Area

Armed Criminals and Smuggling Vehicles

In Venezuela's recent past, the working class fought hard against Hugo Chavez' power grabs, but not hard enough. Chavez took away much of everything it takes to make the private sector work, and vested his heavily fortified government pawns and the riff-raff on the street with "his stash." The Stash Brigade bullied and threatened and voted - maybe more than once, and the Venezuelans outside the government lost everything. It didn't happen overnight, but when it did happen, it moved rapidly.

In the land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, we have our own government pawns - their numbers growing mightily every day. Obama's Stash Brigades are the unions, government employees and everyone needing a pension bailout. Many millions of voters.

Chavez nationalized most heavy industry, with another grab this week, and placed tight regulations on business and finance. He devalued the currency, known as the "strong bolivar," and the people lost half of everything they had in January 2010. Chavez didn't let the private sector crisis go to waste. He used his own now hefty government "stash" to lavish on social programs and raises for bureaucrats - the charter members of the Chavez Stash Brigade.

The masses of government pawns won the battle, and the country is has been led into Marxism, as they passed the marker of Socialism. Another South American dictatorship is rising:

Government negotiations with opposition forces are nonexistent; the judiciary rarely restrains government action; state employees are forced to act as campaign props and vote for the government; electoral authorities disregard the law; and the ruling party is allowed to make use of state resources that are systematically denied to the opposition.

The above quote from Javier Corrles, a contributor to Huffington post, comments on the "chaos" in Venezuela:

Chavismo advances its objectives by enabling chaos. This produces discontent, but it also discourages collective action against the state...the promotion of disorder.

The government does nothing to stop rising crime rates or arbitrary decisions of the bureaucracy. Consequently, ordinary citizens live in fear of random violence, regime opponents live in fear of targeted assaults by state-sanctioned thugs, and business leaders live in fear of attacks by government-sponsored labor groups.

Free speech no longer protects Venezuelans. There are no television channels free to express opinion against Hugo Chavez, after finally shutting down Globalvision. And, grocery stores shelves are empty - as "mountains of rotting food" lies in government warehouses. Read this horrific story at the Conservative Hideout.

When government pawns approved lifting the ban on terms limits in Venezuela, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, along with Fidel and Raul Castro congratulated Obama's "stash brigade" is galloping, and private businesses in the U.S. are stagnant as business owners wait to see what taxes and regulations are coming at them next. Anyone thinking the path to Chavez' heavily booted footprint is not in the line of vision of our government, is ignoring a somber reality. 

Nancy Pelosi San Fran Office Cost $18,736 a Month: Architect Takes on San Fran Fatties

A new federal building in San Francisco is home to Nancy Pelosi. The price tag to the taxpayer is $18,736 per month. The high-living, high-spending California wine maven, House Speaker and omnipotent megalomaniac, moved to the new building last Fall to occupy a "greener" space - and gain 1,000 square feet in office space. The building's architect designed elevators forcing employees to take the stairs, and use umbrellas in their "cubicles" to keep the sun off - employees say the building is a green nightmare.

San Francisco Federal Building

I see no estimate of Pelosi's rent in the "old office building," but her spokesman says the new space will cost taxpayers less due to lessened energy costs, which includes heating, cooling and lighting an additional 1,000 square feet. How stupid do they think we are?

Pelosi's constituency hasn't significantly expanded in size, but her San Francisco staff has increased to a size that requires a larger space for files 

Roll Call reported Monday that Pelosi's new office space costs almost double that of the next-highest rental office held by a House member. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., reportedly pays just under $10,600 a month for his office in New York's Soho neighborhood.

The excuse is, Nancy is the U.S. House Speaker, and as such needs more of everything. In November, maybe those grandiose needs will be obliterated. I wonder if she has a clause in her lease, that if she loses the Speaker-ship, she can move out of the new digs with no penalties? Nah, I don't think so either.

The building, known as the George H.W. Bush Federal Building has been excoriated. Employees hate it: (Was it a conspiracy? Name a dysfunctional building after a conservative - a kinda/sorta conservative?) 

The first fact about the building that may cause surprise is its lack of air conditioning or heat. According to Mayne, “a bike rack and air conditioning get you the same point. [Mayne is the architect].

When I spoke with a Labor Department worker at the building (who noted that she is encountering the type of bad work conditions that her agency is supposed to enforce against), she confirmed what might have been an urban legend: that some employees must use umbrellas to keep the sun out of their cubicles. 

Big Brother decided to reform San Francisco's fatties, and so set the elevators to only stop at "every third floor." Workers are either too hot or too cold. "A happy medium has proved elusive." 

The architect, further concerned about the city's fatties, put the building's cafeteria across the street and told the workers to take a hike.

Tsk, tsk, the greenies planning this nightmare "failed to secure LEED approval. LEED is The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it rates "Green Building."

But the project’s failure to satisfy LEED’s scoring system is not the problem. Rather, it is that the federal government spent millions over budget to create a building that does not provide a minimally satisfactory work environment.  

And the project’s huge cost overruns and functional inadequacies have apparently been ignored solely due to excitement over its “Green” stature.

Unintended consequences strikes again. Pelosi decided to boost the building's image and move in. I'm sure she will get that LEEDS-rating-thingey fixed pronto.

Greg Craig Offered Judgeship to Leave White House Counsel Quietly

It apparently is a habit, deeply ingrained - probably from years in Chicago politics and sleeping with a woman (Michelle Obama) who worked in Mayor Daley's office. President Obama, currently under fire for  offering Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) a "job" to drop out of the Pennsylvania Senate race to make it smooth sailing for the ridiculous Arlen Specter, offered White House counsel Greg Craig a judgeship to quietly leave his White House position - all this according to a new book by Jonathan Alter.

Obama Administration casting a shadow on the Presidency

Craig was blamed for Obama's failure to sell the closing of Guantanamo, and he infamously made the late night call to Inspector General Gerald Walpin...firing him because Obama had "lost confidence" in him. Nevermind that Inspector Generals cannot be "fired" in such a manner. And it was also about Walpin ringing the alarm bell about Obama's pet AmeriCorp and his friend, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson (former NBA star) and the misuse of millions of taxpayer monies.

Well, let's hope we don't become immune to these serious allegations.

The real scoop in Alter's book, The Promise: President Obama, Year One, is billed as the first to dish on the White House environment surrounding the President daily, and seems to have plenty to say about Rahm Emanuel, the President's Chief of Staff:

Certain employees loved when “Rahmbo” called them “princess.” Others didn’t.

 “Take your f—ing tampon out and tell me what you have to say,” Emanuel told an unnamed male aide during a meeting in his office, wrote Alter, who asserts that reports Emanuel “mellowed over time were untrue.” 

Charming.

Rep. Darrell Issa is attempting to get some answers on the Sestak job offer. The story is finally gaining legs. It's an important issue. We have the need to know.

Everyone letting this White House degrade the presidency, including Barack Obama, deserves the humiliating loss coming their way in the next two years.

Hal Rogers Calls for Clean Wartime Bill: Olympia Snowe Balks at $200B Spending Extender

Unbelievable, as America chokes on it's own self-serving debt and promises to drown it's children, a $200 billion spending billin the name of Defense is awaiting passage. Funds for Haiti relief, reparations to black farmers, and land claims for American Indians are entwined with funds for our soldiers and for the VA. How do legislator's vote against the troops? Rep. Hal Rogers has a suggestion and even Senator Olympia Snowe is balking at the gigantic $200 billion extender bill.

Hal Rogers

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY-5th) has called for showing respect for the coming Memorial Day observance by "passing a clean supplemental bill:"

It is ironic...that with hundreds of thousands of our brave warfighters in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the globe pursuing an enemy who attacks innocent civilians and crowded subways, Congress is all but failing to do it's duty. Congress needs to put our troops first, protect our citizens, and pass a clean, wartime supplemental spending."

Read the excellent opinion piece by Rep. Rogers at The Daily Caller. Thank you Rep. Rogers.

Nevertheless, continuing the charade of the recent Democrats PayGo resolution calling for every dollar of new spending to be covered by cuts somewhere else, Democrats blithely move the country toward destruction.

New spending can also be offset by tax increases under what is known as pay-as-you-go rules, but republicans oppose tax hikes most of the time and say the problem is too much spending.

Behind the $200 billion, $23 billion for funds to the nation's schools is waiting for it's share of the garish Democrat sunlight.

Olympia Snowe

Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) saidid "At some point you have to draw some lines." Astonishing coming from this RINO who so often grabs the hand of a "friend across the aisle" and is willingly led to do their bidding.

I think they should limit it, "Snowe said. "They're using it as one of these catch-all bills. They're sort of trying to score political points by adding everything in there and then say, "Well, we'll force them to cast a vote because it's election time, rather than doing what's right for the country."

Is there a retort against a clean wartime spending bill?

Chicago Judge Says No to Blago Obama Subpoena

Former Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, surely didn't think any judge would allow Barack Obama to be subpoenaed in his political corruption trial. The subpoena request has been denied because the court believes Obama had nothing to materially impact the case.

Judge says No to Blago

From Breitbart:

U.S. District Judge James Zagel ruled Friday that lawyers for Blagojevich had not produced sufficient evidence that Obama would have anything material to say on the witness stand.

Here are snippets of previously redacted portions of the subpoena. What do you think?

9. Yet, despite President Obama stating that no representatives of his had any part of any deals, labor union president told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he spoke to labor union official on November 3, 2008 who received a phone message from Obama that evening....Labor union president took that to mean that labor union official was to be the one to deliver the message on behalf of Obama that Senate Candidate B was his pick.(Labor union president 302, February 2, 2009, p. 7)

12. On November 5, 2008, Blagojevich told John Harris that labor union official “talked to Barack Obama, wants to come and see me.” Blagojevich then told Harris that labor union official “was very explicit with me, “I talked to Barack about the Senate seat. Can I come and see ya? Can I do it tomorrow?’ I said, sure.” (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 261).

13. A supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama suggested that she talk to the wife of Governor Blagojevich about Senate Candidate B for Senator. (Valerie Jarrett 302, December 19, 2008). Supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama is mentioned in a phone call on November 3, 2008, having offered “fundraising” in exchange for Senate Candidate B for senator (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 149).

17. President-elect Obama also spoke to Governor Blagojevich on December 1, 2008 in Philadelphia. On Harris Cell Phone Call # 139, John Harris and Governor’s legal counsel discuss a conversation Blagojevich had with President-elect Obama. The government claims a conspiracy existed from October 22, 2008 continuing through December 9, 2008.6 That conversation is relevant to the defense of the government’s theory of an ongoing conspiracy. Only Rod Blagojevich and President Obama can testify to the contents of that conversation. The defense is allowed to present evidence that corroborates the defendant’s testimony.

18. President-elect Obama also suggested Senate Candidate A to Governor Blagojevich. John Harris told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he spoke to President’s Chief of Staff on November 12, 2008. Harris took notes of the conversation and wrote that President’s Chief had previously worked as Blagojevich's press secretary. Obama agreed of Staff told Harris that Senate Candidate A was acceptable to Obama as a senate pick. (Harris handwritten notes, OOG1004463) President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI that “he could not say where but somewhere it was communicated to him that” Senate Candidate A was a suggested candidate viewed as one of the four “right” candidates “by the Obama transition team.” (Rahm Emanuel 302, p. 5, December 20, 2008). Harris told Blagojevich Obama’s suggestion on November 12, 2008 (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 539).

19. President-elect Obama was also involved in other senate candidate choices. On December 8, 2008, John Harris’ secretary’s call log noted President’s Chief of Staff called at 10:47 am and wrote “needs to talk to you asap” (Harris 302, February 20, 2009). President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI that he had a conversation discussing the Senate seat with Obama on December 7, 2008 in Obama’s car. President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI “Obama expressed concern about Senate Candidate D being appointed as Senator. [President’s Chief of Staff] suggested they might need an expanded list to possibly include names of African Americans that came out of the business world. [President’s Chief of Staff] thought he suggested Senate Candidate E who was the head of the Urban League and with President’s Chief of Staff’s suggestion." (President’s Chief of Staff, 302, 12-20-08).

22. However, the defense has a good faith belief that Mr. Rezko, President Obama’s former friend, fund-raiser, and neighbor told the FBI and the United States Attorneys a different story about President Obama. In a recent in camera proceeding, the government tendered a three paragraph letter indicating that Rezko “has stated in interviews with the government that he engaged in election law violations by personally contributing a large sum of cash to the campaign of a public official who is not Rod Blagojevich. … Further, the public official denies being aware of cash contributions to his campaign by Rezko or others and denies having conversations with Rezko related to cash contributions. … Rezko has also stated in interviews with the government that he believed he transmitted a quid pro quo offer from a lobbyist to the public official, whereby the lobbyist would hold a fundraiser for the official in exchange for favorable official action, but that the public official rejected the offer. The public official denies any such conversation. In addition, Rezko has stated to the government that he and the public official had certain conversations about gaming legislation and administration, which the public official denies having had.”10

Blago didn't have a prayer with his subpoena request.

Jason Mattera Jim Moran: Mattera Reminds Moran of $12M Stimulus Went to Non Existent District

Jason Mattera is a young hero - no doubt about it. He confronts Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) about the $12 million in Stimulus funds that went to a non-existant Congressional District in Virginia.

Jason Mattera

At first, Moran grovels in Mattera's "thanks" for getting the money for Virginia's 12th. Then Moran 'gets it' and you can see his aides trying to step in. Mattera asks "why don't you show some respect for taxpayer dollars?" Moran's body language goes into fighting mode, but unfortunately for him - he had no real defense. He finally tells Moran that it was just a "clerical error." Jason reminds him that "billions went to districts that don't exist." Moran aides are nervous - but they don't daunt Mattera.

Thanks to Hot Air. See JasonMattera.com for more.



Jason Mattera and Rep. Jim Moran (vdeo)