Battle for America The Movie Documentary Trailer Video

Citizens United Productions is releasing a new movie/documentary with Dick Morris. If you are familiar with Generation Zero and Fire from the Heartland, Battle for America is produced by the same people. The film goes directly to DVD and will be released on October 11, 2010. Watch the Battle for America trailer below.

Dick Morris

From BigGovernment:

Battle for America is more than an indictment against the elitist governing class. This film’s inspiring message is also a call-to-action for every citizen to take back our country and return it to its core principles based upon a limited federal government...

Our country is at a crossroads. The beauty of our Republic is that every two years the American people have a chance to voice their opinion at the ballot box. Battle for America helps explain what's at state for the 2010 elections.

Battle for America features Dick Morris, The Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes, Tony Blankley, Senator Christoper Bond (R-MO), Arthur Brooks, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), Ann Coulter, Lou Dobbs, Michael Flynn , Newt Gingrich, Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), Rep. Thaddeus McCotter R-Mich), Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), and Eric Singer.

Election Day November 2, 2010 is the day you and I show Congress how we feel about our country running a-muck with no budget as "we the people" face the largest tax increases on New Year's Day ever levied on Americans. Visit the documentary website here to order your DVD, $19.95 + $4.00 shipping.



Battle for America (video)

Tom Coburn: Failure of Obama Care Brings Single Payer Video

Senator Tom Coburn's (R-OK) comments are no surprise. We had it figured out before the legislation passed. The failure of Obama Care will bring a Single Payer Government option. See the Video.

Massachusetts Employee Private Insurance Dropped: Massachusetts Penalty Cheaper than Premiums

 Small businesses in Massachusetts are dropping health care coverage for employees and relying on "publicly-funded insurance" for their workers. Paying the state penalties are cheaper than paying the premiums.

Since April 1, the date many insurance contracts are renewed for small businesses, the owners of about 90 small companies terminated their insurance plans with Braintree-based broker Jeff Rich...

In Sandwich, business consultant Bill Fields said he has been hired by small businesses to enroll about 400 workers in state-subsidized care since April, because the company owners said they could no longer afford to provide coverage.

“They are giving up out of frustration,’’ Fields said of the employers. “Most of them are very compassionate but they simply can’t afford health insurance any more.’’

Massachusetts is the proving ground for the national plan. Republican Mitch Romney (Mass) shuttled the plan through when he was governor and when you look it square in the face, you see the genetic similarities. The Romney plan is much like the Obama plan - unfortunately for Romney who wants another run for the presidency in 2010. Massachusetts has gone before the rest of us and when it comes to health care, it isn't pretty:

Additionally, company owners say, it has become far cheaper to pay the state penalty for not covering their workers -- roughly $295 annually per employee -- than to pay thousands more in premiums.

The administration's health care legislation is not in play yet, but we have an excellent window into the new law from the state of Massachusetts. 


Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) estimate almost 100,000 people will lose their employer-based insurance once the federal plan goes into effect. Do you want to venture a guess at what happens to the insurance companies?


Want to venture a guess about what happens after your employer chooses to change his company's health care plan? To make it better...make it worse? An employer cannot change a single thing about the health care provided for workers. The minute the plan is changed in anyway, it is no longer grandfathered into the national health care legislation and employees become a part of the governments health care plan. Eventually, and probably not a very long eventuality, the only insurance will be single-payer, meaning the U.S. government insures everyone - unless we stop them at the polls in November.

Congressional National Day of Prayer: Sixty seven in Congress Support National Day of Prayer Case

Sixty-seven members of Congress are supporting an amicus brief filed in a court of appeals to defend the National Day of Prayer (NDP). See the list below and note that only three Democrats have signed. And a shout-out to my state representative, John Sullivan (R-OK), and Senator Tom Coburn,   I don't see your names on this list. Why not? Video below.

First just a word about the National Day of Prayer, which was formally suggested by Rev. Billy Graham, although several days of prayer have been individually called for throughout the years of the formation of America. After Billy Graham suggested the idea, President Truman signed it into law. In 2010 Rev. Franklin Graham, Billy's son, was disinvited to speak at the Pentagon's National Day of Prayer because of his views on Islam. The Army did not invite Franklin to speak, but they did disinvite him. See a very interesting and forthright interview of Franklin Graham on Islam by Sally Quinn below the list of congressional names.

The case to abolish the NDP is now in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, with The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) defending the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer.

...a federal district court in Wisconsin recently ruled in favor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s claim that the National Day of Prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

This ruling is clearly flawed and out of step with more than 200 years of history, Supreme Court precedent, and multiple acts of Congress.

 Annie Laurie Gaylor, the co-president of Freedom from Religion Foundation, says opponents to abolishing the National Day of Prayer are actually making the case for her atheist argument. She believes the "government is exhorting us to pray...," and the Congressional support in the case is proof.

We have a day designated to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, which I am not opposed to, but it is a nationally recognized and the federal government shuts-down on that day. Does that mean I must revere MLK? What about Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Christ? Non-believers enjoy the day off. Does Gaylor want to work on Christmas Day, and command everyone else do so, as well? Do the prayer rooms on Capitol Hill provided by Congress for Muslims offend Gaylor? How about Thanksgiving Day? I assume atheists do not give "thanks."

If the National Day of Prayer is ruled illegal, can it start a chain-reaction to bring down our country's other time-honored traditions? You're danged right it will. Here are the Representatives and Senators supporting the ACLJ's brief - only three are Democrats.

Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA)

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE)

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss)

Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL)

Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO)

Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA)

Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn)

Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)

Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC)

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT)

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)

Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark)

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX)

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)

Rep. Michael Conoway (R-TX)

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY)

Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN)

Rep. Mary Fallin (R-OK)

Rep. John Fleming (R-LA)

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)

Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA)

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)

Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss)

Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA)

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich)

Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC)

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn)

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)

Rep. Robert Latta (R-OH)

Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX)

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich)

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC)

Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC)

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)

Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL)

Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS)

Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC)

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)

Rep. Pete Olson (R-TN)

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA)

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX)

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN)

Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH)

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC)

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)

Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA)

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA)

Rev. Franklin Graham on Islam (video)

ObamaCare Forces 100 Million off Employer Plan: Coburn Barrasso Report Bad Medicine

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) issued a 32-page report, titled Bad Medicine, confirming what we all knew before ObamaCare was passed: close to 100 million people will lose their employer-based insurance, as we march toward Obama's single-payer, Obama-designed insurance for each of his subjects.

Bad Medicine comes on the heels of a questionable up-tick in approval of the government-mandated plan. Read the Daily Caller report here. Let every Republican "serving the people" in the House and Senate know if you waffle on full repeal of ObamaCare, we will notice on election day.
Photo: Senator Tom Coburn

          

Kagan Stalls on Commerce Clause

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) asks Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, if a law saying Americans had to eat three fruits and three vegetables every day is supported by the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution. Coburn's question is analogous to the healthcare law passed, and supposedly made legal by the Commerce Clause. See the video below.

Elena Kagan

Kagan would not answer the real question. She understood that Coburn was asking about healthcare legislation, but said passing a law requiring everyone to eat three fruits and vegetables a day would be a "dumb law."  Her answer? She thinks:

 "courts would be wrong to strike down laws that are senseless just because they are senseless."

Many do not believe the healthcare law will pass Supreme Court scrutiny, because it allows the government to require everyone in the U.S. to buy a produce (health insurance), and if they do not, they will be penalized by the government. In other words, citizens will be penalized for DOING NOTHING.

Related is this article on Elena Kagan changing expert witness' recommendations on partial-birth abortion - lies that made it all the way to the Supreme Court.

.







Elena Kagan and Senator Tom Coburn on Commerce Clause (video)

Bill O'Reilly Tom Coburn: What Coburn Conveniently Forgot

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) was on O'Reilly tonight to explain why he took a couple of shots at FOX News recently. The background to the story is an Oklahoma woman in a Townhall setting in Coburn's district asked the Senator about a penalty in the health care law that could result in a jail sentence for failure to buy health care and/or failure to pay a penalty. Coburn told her there was no intention to put anyone in jail. Then he unleashed on her. He accused her of watching FOX News. See new video below.

So tonight on O'Reilly Coburn tries to tell Bill that his constituents watch FOX, and if she thought there was a jail penalty, it had to come from FOX. He actually said: "she didn't make that up."

O'Reilly opined that his staff had done their homework and no one on FOX ever said there were jail penalties in the health care law. Coburn didn't know what to say to that.

But here's the real story: In the House bill there was a jail penalty! The Senate took the language out. The woman should have been praised for knowing her stuff. Afterall, how could any of us keep up with the thousands of pages in the House bill, in the Senate bill, and in the House reconciliation bill? It was very difficult to know what actually passed - as Pelosi warned us by saying, "we need to pass health care so you will know what's in it."

Either Coburn is ill informed or disingenuous. He is my Senator. Most of the time I am very proud to have him represent me, but his attitude was unfortunate. He owes an apology to the woman and to all Conservative Oklahomans, whom he seems to think knows nothing unless we get it from FOX News.

Bill O'Reilly and Tom Coburn - What Coburn Forgot (video)

Open Letter to Tom Coburn on Health Care and Nancy Pelosi

After Senator Tom Coburn's (R-OK) imperious townhall in Oklahoma this week, I have sent him the following email. My readers are telling me they have done the same. See the details of what transpired in this article. See a video below.

Tom Coburn

Senator Coburn,

When your constitutient asked you about a prison sentence for failure to buy health care, or failure to pay the penalty fine, your answer should have been this:

"The House of Representatives put a prison penalty in their bill. The Senate took it out. Nancy Pelosi tried to impose a prison penalty, but the Senate denied it."

That works if it is the truth. How would we know what the reconciliation bill has in it? We can hardly distinguish between the final reconciliation and prior attempts. We pay you to know and explain it when we ask.

You were disrespectful of the woman asking the question. In fact, you were dismissive and cheeky, and while it is your job to enforce "Pay-an-Go," it is not your job to judge our opinions about Nancy Pelosi. When you ask: "Do you know her? Have your met her?" Well, of course, only few of us have, but we do pay attention to just about every move she makes, when the press will report it. As a taxpayer and voter who voted for you as a servant of the people, please know that I pay attention. I understand what she has attempted to do, and while she is driving her philosphy, I am doing the same. The difference is, her philosophy increases her power. Mine does not increase my personal power, - mine protects my liberty, and yours, through the U.S. Constitution.

Why snipe at FOX News - twice? When someone disagrees with you, do you need to blame it on ignorance and being a FOX-follower? If so, that is despicable. I have been a long-time supporter. I hope you can get the priorities of the people in the proper perspective, and show them the proper respect, whether you agree or not.

Build your own custom video playlist at embedr.com

Tom Coburn on Health Care Jail Time and Nancy Pelosi (video)

Tom Coburn - No Respect Due: Health Care Prison Penalty and Pelosi is a Nice Woman

In a townhall-type event in Oklahoma, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) was so completely disrespectful of the crowd that his cheekiness defies civility. Two issues: he was asked about the possibility of going to prison for the refusal to buy government-mandated health care, and didn't like the crowds reprehension when he said "Nancy Pelosi is a nice lady." There are two videos included in the one below and it makes me nauseous to hear my Senator lecture me on judging people.

READERS: MY APOLOGIES - THE FORMATTING HAS GONE BATTY ON THIS POST. 

A women in the crowd asked about the possibility of going to prison for failure to buy what the government is selling. There were two provisions called that prison sentence.

If these two provisions did not make it to law, let me ask you Mr. Coburn, how would we know? It was in the House bill. The Senate took it out. How can we keep up with what was in the reconciliation package?

This was Coburn's answer:

The intention is not to put any one in jail. That makes for good TV news on FOX but that isn't the intention,"...

Well, it certainly was the intention of Nancy Pelosi to level a prison sentence:

The legislation that created the law that now looms over us, originally had a provision for a stiff fine and imprisonment. This from the Committee on Ways and Means Republicans, November 6, 2009:
“Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses.  Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]

When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties.  The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.

“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration.  Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates.  Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,” said Camp.

Coburn, you could have answered your constitutient properly and respectfully: the Senate took the criminal provisions out of the bill and, so, Pelosi's intentions did not make it to law. Or did it?


The newsmaker seems to be that Coburn said Nancy Pelosi was a very nice woman. The crowd didn't like that and he challeged them: "Do you know her? Have you met her?" Now that makes my blood boil. Of course we don't know know her. We do not live in the rarified air of Capitol Hill...as you do. We just know what she says and what she does. Coburn, that answer was disrespectful - and why the snipe at FOX? Jail time was in the original bill so it caught the attention of those actually "reporting" on the bill.

If these two provisions did not make it to law, let me ask you Mr. Coburn, how would we know? It was in the House bill. The Senate took it out. How can we keep up with what was in the reconciliation package?

Build your own custom video playlist at embedr.com

Tom Coburn on Health Care Jail Time and Nancy Pelosi (video)

Jim Inhofe CAIR: CAIR Wants Meeting with Inhofe: Tulsa World Refrains from Mentioning CAIR by Name

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) made a statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee this week that prompted Oklahoma's Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) to ask Inhofe for a meeting. My hubby found this piece in the TulsaWorld, who would not even print the word "CAIR." See a video below.

During the Senate Armed Services Committee meeting, Inhofe said:

I for one, I know it’s not politically correct to say it, but I belief in racial and ethnic profiling,” Sen. James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, said Thursday during a Senate Armed Service Committee review of the Fort Hood shootings. “I think if you’re looking at people getting on an airplane, and you have X amount of resources to get into it, you need to get at the targets. …

“When you hear that not all Middle Easterners or Muslims between the ages of 20 and 35 are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims or Middle Easterners between the ages of 20 and 35, that’s by and large true.”

CAIR, who the Tulsa World shamefully refrained from mentioning by name - in their article, CAIR was a Muslim civil libertities organization -  is an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holyland Foundation. The FBI has broken all relations with CAIR and has said they are affiliated with the the Palestinian terrorist political party, HAMAS. CAIR rushes to the defense of every Muslim disrupting our air travel. They file the fastest lawsuits this country has ever seen. They hang-out on Capitol Hill and Democrats embrace them, and when evidence was found that they paid "someone" to get two Muslim interns positions on sensitive offices inside Congress, CAIR came out swinging. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has called for an IRS investigation into CAIR's non-profit status. Yet the Tulsa World cannot call them by name?

CAIR's response to Inhofe's comments

It is disturbing to hear a member of the United States Senate suggest that entire religious and ethnic groups should automatically be considered terror suspects,” said Razi Hashmi, executive director of CAIR-OK. “Our nation’s leaders have a duty not to exacerbate the growing anti-Muslim sentiment in American society.

By painting all Muslims and Middle Easterners as suspects, Senator Inhofe does a disservice to our nation and to its tradition of racial and religious diversity.

 To Mr. Hashmi, what Inhofe is telling you is that he has a responsibility to keep Americans, first free, and second safe. After he profiles you, and you pass the test, he will keep you free and he will keep you safe. That's the goal. We don't want the inconvenience, but we get it anyway, and we get searched, anyway. If you travel by air, and a jihadist takes the plane down, it won't matter to him that one of his brothers is on the flight. The goal is not to let him on the flight. What is it you don't get about that? Man-up and drop the arrogant posturing. You are getting on America's last nerve.

I found the first video below at the BaltimoreSun. Strange that it was labeled "CAIR Video." Well, it a CAIR video, on Youtube.com on the CAIRtv channel. There's another video I hope you see: The Islamic Infiltration, Part 1: Inside Our Government, Armed with Our Secrets. Stick with the video until the former FBI agents is interviewed - and he speaks about CAIR. You can also access Part 2 after viewing Part 1. TulsaWorld - someone needs to sit down and watch The Islamic Infiltration. It will serve you well to do so.




Jim Inhofe - CAIR (video)

Tom Coburn Calls IRS Investigation for CAIR

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), along with five House members, sent a formal request to the IRS to investigate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Tom Coburn

America, our country has granted non-profit status to CAIR, an unindicted co-conspirator in the scandalous Holyland Foundation's funding of terrorism - or as WorldNetDaily puts it:
the largest terror-finance case in U.S. history.

In its effort to repeal the Patriot Act anti-terrorism law in 2005, for example, CAIR made 72 trips to Congress, according to internal documents. "Muslim Mafia" notes Congress met just 150 days that year.

CAIR also spends $25,000 a year to organize a national "lobby day on the Hill" in which its members nationwide come to Washington – armed with CAIR talking points on a single issue – to meeting with their representatives.

IRS statutes also forbid CAIR from supporting or opposing anyone running for office, but CAIR has held political fundraisers benefitting Muslim U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and other Democrats. The group also has used its resources to get out the vote for Ellison and Democrats in tight races.

In 2004, CAIR bussed Muslim voters from mosques to polls to support Democrats in key Florida counties.

Read the whole story at WorldNetDaily.


Related and Background:

Rep. Keith Ellison defends CAIR interns

CAIR fights a new book: The Muslim Mafia

Rep. Sue Myrick: CAIR claims Myrick is Investigating Muslims on Capitol Hill

Rep. Keith Ellison and CAIR: Ellison is CAIR Fundraiser Speaker

Oklahoma Targeted for English Only Language Law: Inhofe Questions Holder

The U.S. Department of Justice may have not-so-subtly threatened the State of Oklahoma because of proposed legislation to make English the official language of the state. Senator Inhofe (R-OK) is questioning U.S. Attorney General Holder on the DOJ's intentions.

Oklahoma

Senator Jim Inhofe says that Holder sent a letter to Oklahoma's Attorney General Drew Edmondson:

"threatening Oklahoma with a loss of federal funding if the state passed a constitutional amendment making English the official language of the state."

The legislation was in high legislative debate in April when the DOJ letter from Holder arrived. Inhofe and others from the Oklahoma delegation believe this may be an attempt to intimidate the passage of the bill. The letter stated:

As you know, recipients of federal financial assistance must comply with various civil rights statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964…which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.” The letter continues, “State agencies and other entities in Oklahoma that receive federal financial assistance thus would be precluded by federal law from abiding by an English-only requirement where it conflicts with their obligations under Title VI.

The delegation's letter to Holder points out that several other states have passed similar legislation and asks if they also have been:

accused by the Department of Justice to be in violation with Title VI, or formally threatened with funding termination.

Here are other statements from Oklahoma's Congression delegation:

Sen. Jim Inhofe stated, “This nation’s cultural diversity is one that contributes to the greatness of our country. I support the state’s effort to pass a constitutional amendment making English the official language of the state because it ultimately facilitates better communication across the many lines of diversity within our state. The state legislature has overwhelmingly passed this amendment, and now it is up to the voters of Oklahoma to decide if they wish to accept it. It is entirely unacceptable for the federal government to try to strong arm the state by threatening to remove federal funding. I look forward to hearing the Justice Department’s explanation for such behavior.”

Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. said, “Attorney General Holder owes the residents of Oklahoma an explanation as to why this thinly veiled threat was issued to Oklahoma on a state matter. The last thing Oklahoma needs is a bureaucrat in Washington dictating more of what we can and cannot do. Officials at the Department of Justice should focus on more pressing matters under their jurisdiction before issuing statements about a state issue that has yet to become law.”

Rep. Dan Boren said, “The state of Oklahoma deserves a clear explanation of why it seems the Department of Justice has singled out the state and threatened funding retribution over a State Legislature initiative that has been approved in other states already. I join my colleagues in urging the Department to give us a full account of their actions on this issue.”

Rep. John Sullivan said, “It is inappropriate for the United States Department of Justice to interfere in what is ultimately a state matter. In 2010, voters in Oklahoma will decide if the state constitution will be amended to make English the official language of the state and I proudly stand with the rest of the state delegation in supporting Oklahoma’s right to decide this issue.”

Rep. Frank Lucas added, “Our country benefits from the diversity of our people. However, throughout our history, it has been our common language that binds us as one nation. In order for new immigrants to our country to be successful and realize the American Dream, they must be able to speak the English language. Punishing the state of Oklahoma for encouraging that is unnecessary.”

Rep. Mary Fallin said, “This incident should send shock waves through every state in the union. The letter from DOJ is an affront to Oklahoma’s tenth amendment rights under the Constitution. We should be allowed to pursue this policy without facing preemptive manipulation from the federal government.”

Chicago street thugs are running the country. We keep saying: Be afraid! It's time to double-down on that fear, no matter the issue because there is nothing American coming out of this White House. From my hometown Tulsa, KJRH.com announced yesterday that Tulsa is getting a government grant in the amount of $3,505,446.00 to fund 18 new police hires. City Hall considered declaring a holiday. I hear there was dancing in the streets (sarcasm).

These funds will provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for these officers for three years. All police departments receiving the grants will then be required to retain the grant-funded positions for a fourth year.

That was yesterday. Reality hits the fan today. There is a mandatory, unfunded fourth year. How can the City pay for the "out-year-cost? City Council members are concerned. Councilor Rick Westcott:

But my concern is the long-range funding," he said. "When the grant runs out and our extra year is over, what do we do beyond that? We'd be creating a moral obligation to keep these officers on the force.

Westcott pointed out that all of the police officers and the rest of the city's 4,000 employees are having to take eight unpaid furlough days this budget year.

As a resident of Tulsa, I want our police force to be a mighty one. I want our law enforcement to be well-quipped and well paid. I want our City to pay for this without federal help - or at least the federal help of this administration. It's all a matter of where the City puts the emphasis on importance. If we need 18 more officers, then take the monies from elsewhere. The city needs to get its priorities straight.

Military Warns Congress: Obama Intimidates Military? Coburn Balks

In an exclusive story, we learn that Military Intelligence warned Congress against transferring 25 specific terrorist detainees out of Guantanamo Bay. The Military could have taken one more step to voice their opinion but they did not do so.

Senator Tom Coburn

The Military, through the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), could have raised a "formal objection" to actions by Congress to move the detainees. The Washington Times is in possession of a letter written by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) sent to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Dennis C. Blair, stating that the DIA did not file a formal objection because it was their understanding that the moves were a foregone conclusion. In Coburn's letter to Blair, he said that policy considerations outweighing intelligence concerns is "highly troubling." Yes, it's highly troubling. The "formal objection" allows making a more forceful statement and it should bear more weight with Congress. It is beyond troubling to think that our Military would hesitate to file the objection, when at least five of the specific detainees are considered "highly dangerous and likely to return to the battlefield." Even without the 5 "highly dangerous" there are an additional 20 that the Military does not want released. Is the Obama administration so fierce and daunting that our Military cannot take the extra step available to them to make a very important point? Senator Coburn serves on the Intelligence Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee.

Tom Coburn: Obama Has Not Read the Stimulus Bill

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) was on Fox News this morning. The interviewer (can't remember who it was) said that President Obama said that 99% of the Stimulus Bill is not pork - and is stimulative. He/she asked Coburn what he thought about that. Coburn said "he [Obama] hasn't read the bill."