Since my blog has moved, I can no longer use Bloggers "Follower" gadget. If you are a part of NetWorked blogs, which includes a Facebook page, you can follow through NetworkedBlogs, and I can follow you back. Please come to my new blog - MaggiesNotebook.com, see the NetworkedBlogs widget in the right sidebar and click follow. I will follow back.
"I learned that in extreme situations when human lives and dignity are at state, neutrality is a sin. It helps the killers, not the victims." Elie Wiesel, Holocaust Survivor who lost his family in the Holocaust - Nobel Prize Author
Socialism - Liberalism Quotation
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." – Norman Thomas
The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol asked Michael Steele to resign his position as Chairman of the Republican party, after saying Afghanistan is a "war of Obama's choosing."
Michael Steele
Steele's exact words:
"Keep in mind again, federal candidates, this was a war of Obama's choosing. This was not something that the United States had actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in." And, "if [Obama] is such a student of history, has he not understood that you know that's the one thing you don't do, is engage in a land war in Afghanistan?"
What was Steele thinking? He has had some gaffes in the past but this one shows a blatant ignorance of the war in Afghanistan.
Needless to say, the war in Afghanistan was not "a war of Obama’s choosing." It has been prosecuted by the United States under Presidents Bush and Obama. Republicans have consistently supported the effort. Indeed, as the DNC Communications Director (of all people) has said, your statement "puts [you] at odds with about 100 percent of the Republican Party."
Steele has tried to answer. The Weekly Standard has printed a new statement, time-stamped 4:10 p.m. EDT July 2, 2010. Read it here. It answers nothing, but does make clear there is no way Steele could 'splain himself.
I looked through the Republican platform today searching for references to the U.S. Constitution, and I found quite a few. I was hoping to find a declaration in the Platform that specifically says it will adhere, at all times, to the U.S. Constitution and all of the founding documents. Senators and Representatives individually swear to uphold the Constitution at the time they take office, but we know that means little in some parts of Congress, and both sides of the aisles.
Republicans and the U.S. Constitution
Wouldn't it be amazing if we could require Congress - Democrats and Republicans, to swear their oath of office again, before each and every vote?
Take a look Below at the references to the Constitution in the Republican platform below, and then
Republicans will uphold and defend our party’s core principles: Constrain the federal government to its legitimate constitutional functions.
The Budget Process - A Fraud that Guarantees Runaway Spending:
We call for a constitutionally sound presidential line-item veto.
Empowering the States, Improving Public Services:
Congress must respect the limits imposed upon it by the Tenth Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
We look to the model of Republican welfare reform, which, since its enactment in 1996, has accomplished a major transfer of resources and responsibility from the federal government back to the states – with an accompanying improvement in the program itself. Applying that approach to other programs will steer Congress back into line with the Constitution, reversing both its intrusion into state matters and its neglect of its central duties.
Appointing Constitutionalist Judges for the Nation's Courts
Judicial activism is a grave threat to the rule of law because unaccountable federal judges are usurping democracy, ignoring the Constitution and its separation of powers, and imposing their personal opinions upon the public. This must stop.
Republicans will insist on the appointment of constitutionalist judges, men and women who will not distort our founding documents to deny the people's right to self-government, sanction federal powers that violate our liberties, or inject foreign law into American jurisprudence.
We oppose stealth nominations to the federal bench, and especially to the Supreme Court, whose lack of a clear and distinguished record leaves doubt about their respect for the constitution or their intellectual fortitude. Nominees must have a record of fidelity to the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.
In affirming Article VI of the Constitution - that no religious test shall ever be required for an office - we insist that the Senate should never inquire into a noninee's religious conviction and we condemn the opposition, by some members of the Democratic Party, to recent judicial nominees because of their ethnicity or religion.
Protecting the Right to Vote in Fair Elections:
We oppose any restrictions or conditions upon those activities that would discourage Americans from exercising their constitutional right to enter the political fray or limit their commitment to their ideals.
Guaranteeing a Constitutional Census in 2010
We urge all who are legally eligible to participate in the census count to do so; at the same time, we urge Congress to specify -- and to constitutionally justify - which census questions require a response.
Working with Americans in the Territories:
We appreciate the extraordinary sacrifices the men and women of the territories are making to protect our freedom through their service in the U.S. Armed Forces....We affirm their right to seek the full extension of the Constitution, with all the political rights and responsibilities it entails.
Category - Education:
Education:
Although the Constitution assigns the federal government no role in local education, Washington’s authority over the nation’s schools has increased dramatically....We call for a review of Department of Education programs and administration to identify and eliminate ineffective programs, to respect the role of states, and to better meet state needs.
Category - Crime:
Protecting the Victims of Crime:
Twenty-six years ago, President Reagan’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, calling the neglect of crime victims a “national disgrace,” proposed a constitutional amendment to secure their formal rights...Today, that disgrace persists...We call on Congress to correct this imbalance by sending to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of crime victims.
Securing our Civil Liberties:
Because our Constitution is based on the principles of individual liberty and limited government, we must always ensure that law enforcement respects the civil and constitutional rights of the people. While we wage war on terrorism in foreign lands, it is sometimes necessary for intelligence agencies and law enforcement officials to pursue terrorist threats at home. However, no expansion of governmental powers should occur at the expense of our constitutional liberties.
Category - Values:
Upholding the Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms:
We uphold the right of individual Americans to own firearms, a right which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by the Second Amendment....We call on the next president to appoint judges who will similarly respect the Constitution...
We call for education in constitutional rights in schools, and we support the option of firearms training in federal programs serving senior citizens and women.
Ensuring Equal Treatment for All:
As a matter of principle, Republicans oppose any attempts to create race-based governments within the United States, as well as any domestic governments not bound by the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.
Maintaining the Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life:
We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.
Preserving Traditional Marriage:
Because our children’s future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it.
Safeguarding Religious Liberties:
Our Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion and forbids any religious test for public office, and it likewise prohibits the establishment of a state-sponsored creed.
The public display of the Ten Commandments does not violate the U.S. Constitution and accurately reflects the Judeo-Christian heritage of our country. We support the right of students to engage in student-initiated, student-led prayer in public schools, athletic events, and graduation ceremonies, when done in conformity with constitutional standards.
This new National GOP resolution came to me from my local Tulsa County GOP. The resolution tells Republican candidates to "Standby by the platform or we will not support you."
WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have recently supported primary or special election candidates who professed allegiance to the Republican Party but who, as their circumstances changed and to serve their own interests, turned against the Republican Party and became or supported a candidate of another party; and
WHEREAS, many Republican leaders and Republican organizations were undermined and lost credibility as a result of the actions of such candidates; and
WHEREAS, there will be many more decisions regarding the support of candidates, and many more opportunities to enhance or diminish the credibility of Republicans and Republican organizations, in the coming election cycle; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee urges its leadership and the leadership of all Republican organizations to carefully screen the record and statements of all candidates who profess to be Republicans and who desire the support of Republican leaders and Republican organizations, and determine that they wholeheartedly support the core principles and positions of the Republican Party as expressed in the Platform of the Republican Party adopted at the 2008 National Convention; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee urges that no support, financial or otherwise, be given to candidates who clearly do not support the core principles and positions of the Republican Party as expressed in the Platform of the Republican Party adopted in the 2008 National Convention.
Adopted by the Republican National Committee, January 29, 2010
Beleaguered New York Governor David Paterson is expected to announce today he will not run for reelection. Press conference planned for an 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM time frame.
New York's black Democrats had been reluctant to publicly voice their
private skepticism of New York's first black governor, but Perkins said
the "disturbing" report that the governor had interfered in an aide's
domestic violence case forced his hand, and that he would call Paterson
to tell him today.
Michael Steele, Chairman of the RNC, made the following comment last September about Obama's involvement:
I found that to be stunning, that the White House would send word to one
of only two black governors in the country not to run for re-election,”
Mr. Steele said on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday. He also questioned why
the White House had not exerted similar pressure on Jon Corzine, the
Democratic governor of New Jersey, who has also suffered from very low
approval ratings.
Paterson's scandals got hotter as one of his close aides, David W. Johnson, was suspended without pay, finally, this week on accusations of a violent domestic assault on his live-in girlfriend on Halloween night.
At every turn, the woman involved met a brick wall. She could not get protective orders served on Johnson. In the end, she talked to Governor Paterson by phone (unclear who made the to whom) and the next day, she failed to show up in court and her case was dismissed.
Attorney Andrew Cuomo, at Paterson's request, began an investigation into State Police and the Governor's office. Yesterday, Denise O'Donnell, a Paterson Cabinet official charged with overseeing the Police, stepped down.
Just yesterday Paterson was indicating he will run, but Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), a close friend of Paterson's asked Paterson to step out of the race. "Sometimes, friends have to speak unpleasant truths."
David Paterson's scandal monitor seemed to perk-up daily, after stepping into office to replace disgraced New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Polls are showing that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is the leading Democrat for the 2010 race. In 2008, a New York Daily News headline said Gov. Paterson admits to sex with other women for years. That wasn't the whole story. Paterson said both he an his wife routinely had extramarital affairs.
DeDe Scozzafava, a New York Republican, dropped out of her bid for the U.S. House from New York's 23rd district and endorsed her Democrat opponent, David Owens. Assemblywoman Scozzafava's ex-campaign manager endorsed Hoffman.
New York 23rd Congressional District
Republican Burns took a stab at defending Scozzafava's "capable" legislating, but said he disagrees with her decision to back Democrat Owens:
I am supporting Doug Hoffman, because denying Nancy Pelosi another foot soldier is vital to restoring fiscal responsibility and common sense in Washington.
Mr. Burns said he agreed with Newt Gingrich:
...the party needs to recruit both moderates and conservatives if it
expects to pick up seats in '10. He said he agrees with
ex-Speaker/ex-Scozzafava backer Newt Gingrich (R)
that the party needs to find candidates that fit their districts.
Burns: "Otherwise, it's going to be tough to take back the House."
This is both a tribute to the power of the
national conservative movement to define an issue and a commentary on
the populist anger against politics-as-usual.
Burns did the right thing. Scozzafava was not statesman-like, and Doug Hoffman is the only conservative who has run in this race, or is running in this race.
The NRCC is backing Doug Hoffman, officially, for the NY23 Republican candidate, now that RINO DeDe Hoffman exited left. See post election update below.
With Assemblywoman Scozzafava suspending her campaign, we urge voters
to support Doug Hoffman's candidacy in New York's 23rd Congressional
District.
"He is the only active candidate in the race who supports lower taxes,
fiscal responsibility and opposes Nancy Pelosi's agenda of
government-run healthcare, more government and less jobs.
"We look forward to welcoming Doug Hoffman into the House Republican
Conference as we work together for the good of our nation."
From the RNC's Michael Steele:
Effective immediately, the RNC will endorse and support the
conservative candidate in the race, Doug Hoffman. Doug's campaign will
receive the financial backing of the RNC, and get-out-the-vote efforts
to defeat Bill Owens on Tuesday.
With three days to go to funnel some funds to Hoffman, I'm waiting for the NRCC's next move, and it better be quick. A check of NRCC Chairman, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) website shows no official statement from him.
Republicans are meeting in a "special" session next week to officially brand the Democrat party as the "Democrat Socialist Party." I think that name is apt, but really, this is a lame attempt to get a message across. Is this how Republicans unite? See photos and a video below.
Republicans Unite
During the campaign we couldn't get a Republican to stand up and call Obama a Socialist. We knew he was a Socialist, with communist leanings if given a chance. We read, we studied his background, we studied his activities as a "community organizer." So what did our "speakers" do, they waited, now it's too late, and their pathetic impotent whines ring hollow.
Apparently, this "special" session is considered an emergency, and to call a "special" session, 16 RNC members from 16 different states are needed to call the meeting. Party leaders want to get some issues on the table for airing. I'm up for that.
Two other resolutions — to urge Republican lawmakers to reject earmarks and to commend them for opposing “bailouts and reckless spending bills” — are also on the agenda, but language that would have denounced Sen. Arlen Specter, a Republican turned Democrat, and Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins for voting for President Obama’s stimulus package has been dropped.
I think all the "togetherness" the party leaders can stand is a very good thing, and ongoing discussions about earmarks are critical. It's good to keep the party centered and focused. I don't know about condemnation of Specter, Snowe and Collins. I see no fruit coming that. Maybe just doing a little strong-arm technique works better, like NEVER, NEVER support a single Bill they want supported unless it is a thoroughly conservative venture? If a Snowe or Collins Bill has the stench of Democrat support, look at it closely, very closely - and for heavens sake - read every word those two women write. You could also sit at another lunch table.
Our focus must be on finding very conservative candidates for the 2010 election, and guaranteeing that powerful Republicans unite behind them with vigor. In this arena, we are going to lose our first battle: Governor Charlie Crist has announced for the U.S. Senate seat of Mel Martinez. If what I read is true, Marco Rubio is a "real" conservative out of Florida, and he's running against Crist. Unless the information out there can be proven incorrect, Rubio is very conservative - but yet, the Republican establishment is gearing up to support Charlie Crist who rushed with adoration and open arms to support Barack Obama's stimulus bill. Jon Cornyn says the National Republican Senatorial Committee will throw their full support behind Crist. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is backing Crist. The position is that Crist offers the best chance to "maintain the checks and balances that Floridians deserve in the U.S. Senate. What does that mean? Florida doesn't want conservatism representing them?
Marco Rubio
You may remember this week that some in the party said Republicans need a "bigger tent," meaning we need to be more moderate to bring in those less conservative. This from a Republican:
Gov. Crist is exactly what we need because if we don't increase the size of our tent, we're going to be in big trouble in our future,'' said Joe Gruters, chairman of the Sarasota Republican Party and Buchanan's political director.
A Senate hero, in my opinion, Senator Jim DeMint, used the term "big tent" party to described what he thinks the Repubs need, but he said this:
But big tents need strong poles, and the strongest pole of our party -- the organizing principle and the crucial alternative to the Democrats -- must be freedom. The federal government is too big, takes too much of our money, and makes too many of our decisions. If Republicans can't agree on that, elections are the least of our problems.
I can agree with that...but people who want to be free and people who want to smaller government should already be in our tent. Our tent is already huge, but our leaders are ignoring our presence and they are not listening to us. I say, lose the Big Tent image. Get behind conservative candidates.
DeMint paraphrased C.S. Lewis:
"...if you aim for principled reform, you win elections in the bargain; if you just aim for elections, you get neither."
All those so ready to jump and endorse any well-known face, take a deep breath and a step back. Ask why you would support a Charlie Crist, a Republican that made such an embarrassing point of supporting the stimulus. Senator Mel Martinez, who Crist would replace said:
I don't know that my governor [Crist] understands all the details in this package -- that there will be nothing here to help with Florida's housing economy, Martinez said, noting the package is light on stemming the tide of foreclosures.
Crist acknowledged that he hasn't seen all the details but said Florida needs federal help, period.
Now that's embarrassing!
About 2-1/2 minutes into the video below you can watch Charlie Crist tell us that the stimulus is not about partisan politics, it's about rising above "that."
Back in February there was a lot of talk that Crist had seriously damaged any aspiration for the Senate with his groveling at the feet of the President. Reports were that donors were furious, that phone calls were coming in fast and the callers were angry. Ana Navarro, said to be a Republican consultant from Miami said...way back in February:
We're going to spend $30 to $40 million to get a Republican elected to that Senate seat, and we could end up with a guy who's going to be the 60th vote for Democrats.
Come on Republicans. Get a mad-on and demand that those with the purse strings, those purses you've helped fill, take a look at Marco Rubio, at least (read more about him here) - or perhaps there's someone else - just don't anoint Crist because he seems the natural successor.
The Republican National Convention (RNC) brought us more than the excitement of McCain's choice of VP, Sarah Palin. From the podium we heard terrorism named for what it is: Islamic terrorism." It's been a long time coming, and wasn't it fine to hear it? Now we move beyond the long-awaited reveal of the Conservative "team," McCain -Palin and stir our terrorism vigilance again...shedding light, not only on Barack Obama but on Islamic jihad, which is encouraged today by what it sees from Russia.
Russia is Iran's surrogate protector. Russian is still a possible source for removing WMD from Iraq to...somewhere. Russia has a veto on the U.N.'s Security Council...a Council which offers no "security" to Democracies. Russia has refused to allow the U.N. sanctions needed to knock Iran off her nuclear high-horse, and Russia does billions of dollars of business with Iran. Russia is not invested in removing the greatest threat to Israel, a nuclear Iran.We have a McCain-Palin team now. We know the direction for the Republican party is one of Conservatism. Now let us think about the consequences of the current Georgian/Russia war, and how that war is a helpmate to Iran.
*****
Guest Author: Holger Dansk at Holger Awakens
Russians Raided Georgian Airfields to be Used by Israelis for Iran Bombing
A fascinating piece here from DEBKApoints to reports that after the Russian invasion of Georgia, the Russians sent in commandos to raid some Georgian airfields that the Georgians had agreed to let Israeli use as a fueling and launch site for air strikes agains Iran's nuclear weapons sites. Look at some of the details:
The Russian raids of two Georgian airfields, which Tbilisi had allowed Israel to use for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, followed the Georgian offensive against South Ossetia on Aug. 7.
Under the secret agreement with Georgia, the airfields had been earmarked for use by Israeli fighter-bombers taking off to strike Iran in return for training and arms supplies.
DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources report that flying from S. Georgia over the Caspian Sea to Iran would sharply trim the distance to be spanned by Israeli fighter-bombers, reducing flying time to 3.5 hours.
And now, the worst possible piece of news about this raid by the Russians:
Russian Special Forces also raided other Israeli facilities in southern Georgia and captured Israeli spy drones, says the report. Israel was said to have used the two airfields to “conduct recon flights over southern Russia as well as into nearby Iran.” The US intelligence sources quoted by UPI reported that the Russian force also carried home other Israeli military equipment captured at the air bases.
When this happened before, Russian military engineers quickly dismantled the equipment, studied it and passed the technology on to Tehran and Damascus.
So, in essence, the Russians are more in cahoots with the Iranians than probably first thought. And if one was very inclined to conspiracy theories, you might just say that the invasion of Georgia and the whole South Ossetia violence was cover for just this raid on both the airfields and the Israeli equipment.
Either way, it paints an omnious picture of what perhaps the Russians just might do in the event of an actual Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Has anyone actually considered the possibility that the Iranians would call on the Russians for help in that crisis? Would Russian fighter jets be mobilized at first word of the attack and be used to engage returning Israeli fighter/bombers? And what in the sam hell would the U.S. do at that point?
At one point in time, the Russians selling technologies to Iran and Syria was slightly ignored by the West because it was felt that Russia was in need of some cash...but now, with Russia raking in the monies from oil and natural gas, this espionage and selling of technology and secrets can only be seen as aiding an abetting an enemy of the World.
I have not been one to back any kind of military actions against Russia at this time but if this all pans out that the Russians are interfering with Israeli plans to rid the world of Iranian nukes, then all bets are off and the West has no choice but to put the same military bullseye on Moscow as it has on Tehran.
Russian units raid Georgian airfields for use in Israeli strike against Iran – report
The raids were disclosed by UPI chief editor Arnaud de Borchgrave, who is also on the Washington Times staff, and picked up by the Iranian Fars news agency. The Russian raids of two Georgian airfields, which Tbilisi had allowed Israel to use for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, followed the Georgian offensive against South Ossetia on Aug. 7.
Under the secret agreement with Georgia, the airfields had been earmarked for use by Israeli fighter-bombers taking off to strike Iran in return for training and arms supplies.
DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources report that flying from S. Georgia over the Caspian Sea to Iran would sharply trim the distance to be spanned by Israeli fighter-bombers, reducing flying time to 3.5 hours.
Northern Iran and the Tehran region, where most of the nuclear facilities are concentrated, would be within range, with no need to request US permission to pass through Iraq air space.
Russian Special Forces also raided other Israeli facilities in southern Georgia and captured Israeli spy drones, says the report.
Israel was said to have used the two airfields to “conduct recon flights over southern Russia as well as into nearby Iran.” The US intelligence sources quoted by UPI reported that the Russian force also carried home other Israeli military equipment captured at the air bases.
Our sources say that if the Russians got hold of an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle complete with sophisticated electronic reconnaissance equipment, they will have secured some of the IDF’s most secret devices for spying on Iran and Syria.
When this happened before, Russian military engineers quickly dismantled the equipment, studied it and passed the technology on to Tehran and Damascus.
FAIR USE: This blog may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner or may be authorized or licensed for publication at this site only. Permission to copy, republish or reproduce such material must be obtained from the original copyright owner.
Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Important Notice
Patrons of this Blog are advised that they will be held responsible for any unlawful, harassing, libelous, abusive, threatening, or harmful material of any kind or nature posted by their respective ISP. Patrons are cautioned not to transmit via comments, including links to any material that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, national or international law or regulation. Comments here are typically unmoderated and unedited. The fact that particular comments remain on the site in no way constitutes the site owner's endorsement of commenters' views.
![Twitter](<a href="http://www.twitter.com/maggiesnotebook"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-b.png" alt="Follow maggiesnotebook on Twitter"/></a>){kind=small}
