Fwd: Obama Renews Support for U.S. Public Insurance Plan

Thought you'd like to see what my friend said:

I'll keep this short and sweet (okay, I'll at least TRY)..   WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama renewed his support for a government-run health insurance plan on Tuesday after a top aide indicated the White House might be willing to back a healthcare overhaul that did not include the option. In a statement released while traveling in Russia, Obama strongly endorsed the idea of a public plan and said it was one of the best ways to bring down costs and "force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest."   Two quick points:  First, isn't there more than one insurance company in the U.S.? Jeff and I have been enrolled in several different ones over the years. I thought they already competed with each other for companies' business?  Maybe, they're FORCED on each other..oh, wait, no, that's the GOVERNMENT PLAN..   Second, not exactly a great way to win votes "..force the insurance companies..keep them honest."  Call me crazy, but don't those same "dishonest" insurance companies employ thousands of American voters and taxpayers? hhmmmm..oh, wait, I forgot, the President made the statement in that bastion of freedom: RUSSIA!!  Of course, Rahm Emmanuel will say he was just trying to "get in" with the proletariats and become one of the "comrades"..   The debate continues, and I'll be fired up and watching..and by the way, if anyone is interested, I have two (2) pretty big announcements about my own fight against healthcare reform.    First, I have booked a physician-client on the FoxNews Channel Hannity program.  In July 17th Hannity will air a Healthcare Special aimed at debunking the myths the Democrats are trying to pass as truths regarding nationalized healthcare.  Look for Mark Mettauer, MD, aka "the rock star doc" (Hannity's producer coined the phrase..but its sooo true!) on the show.   Second, Dr. Mettauer has written a detailed rebuttal to the Democratic published "An American Solution, Quality Affordable Healthcare"  which gives us the politician's version of "Top 12 Reasons for Healthcare Reform and Nationalization".  The rebuttal takes each point and addresses the ways in which Americans use/access medical care, the reality and failures of socialized medicine in other countries, and how the proposed nationalized plan will affect each American patient.    The rebuttal is a great document. Its very detailed, and several pages, but addresses each and every one of the "highlights" the Democrats and this President are trying to force us to to swallow.  And trust me, this is one proverbial pill none of us wants to ingest. I'll be happy to forward it to anyone who wants it, just let me know.   Take care, and stay vigilant! Stacia

Homeschooling

Homeschooling like anything can be done right and wrong.

I am so glad that our kids are homeschooled and they are too.

Washington Times Op-ed—Homeschooling: Under Pressure all over Europe by J. Michael Smith HSLDA President While the freedom to homeschool in America continues to expand, the opposite is true in Europe. Since 1982, 38 U.S. states have adopted homeschool statutes or regulations that have removed restrictions on homeschoolers. This year, two more states, North Dakota and Idaho, made significant progress in recognizing the value of homeschooling. North Dakota, which was one of the most regulated states, just amended its homeschool law to make it possible for more parents to homeschool freely. No longer will a homeschooling parent have to hold a baccalaureate degree, be a certified teacher or be monitored by a certified teacher if they have only a high school diploma in order to homeschool. All homeschooling parents in North Dakota can provide the individualized education that best fits their children. Idaho, which has been a homeschool-friendly state, got even better. A recently passed law allows parents to use people outside the immediate family to support their homeschool program, and gives more flexibility to homeschoolers regarding their teaching schedule. While homeschooling freedom and flexibility continues to improve in the U.S., it appears to be going in the opposite direction in Europe. Germany leads the way as the most oppressive European state, because it routinely fines and threatens to imprison homeschoolers. While other European countries have not embraced the German methods, there is a move in some countries to crack down on homeschoolers. For example, in Sweden, the government released a suggestion on June 15 that all schools, including homeschools, must provide an education that is acceptable to all pupils regardless of religious or philosophical beliefs, or the beliefs of the parents. The study concludes that there is no need for the new law to recognize the possibility of homeschooling because of religious or philosophical reasons in the family. We are confident the authors are aware that this effectively would end homeschooling in Sweden as most families are homeschooling for religious or philosophical reasons. Equally shocking are the events in Britain. A June 11 report on home education in England by Graham Badman, former managing director of Children, Families and Education in the County of Kent, makes the case that homeschooling should be extensively regulated. More troubling, the report has been accepted in full by British Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls. The underlying philosophy behind Mr. Badman's conclusion is based upon children's rights contained in the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, which came into force in Britain on Jan. 15, 1992. Mr. Badman contends that current homeschool law, which is very similar to many homeschool laws in America, does not address children's education needs or protect the child from harm by the parents. The U.N. Convention would give children more than 40 "fundamental" rights, including the right to express their views freely, the right to be heard in any legal or administrative matter that affects them, and the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas. Mr. Badman is urging that England make it possible for children to form their own views and express themselves freely in all matters affecting them, including how they are being raised and what form of education they are receiving. Who will decide the conflict between the rights of the child and the responsibility of the parents? The government. Among his suggestions for homeschool law is the right of designated local authorities to enter homes and speak to each child alone. This idea of unbridled power to enter a home is abhorrent to Americans because of the Fourth Amendment, which protects our homes from unreasonable searches and seizures and recognizes the fundamental right of privacy and family integrity. Mr. Badman also cites the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child as the justification for the state choosing the curriculum homeschoolers may use. HSLDA has opposed the UNCRC since its formation in 1989 because we are deeply concerned about the implications this treaty would have for homeschoolers and parents in general. The interpretation of the treaty by Britain further supports our position that the UNCRC should not be ratified by our Senate. For more information about the issues involving the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and international homeschooling, visit our issues page. Michael Smith is the president of the Home School Legal Defense Association. He may be contacted at (540)338-5600; or send email to media@hslda.org.

Eric Standlee

Where is honesty and transparency

Gone the way of respect and responsibility.

Obama made ridiculous promises saying the things that people wanted to hear.  This lacks respect.  Then not being transparent and honest about these BIG mistakes is where his responsibility falls down.

I just want my president to be responsible and respect others.

Eric Standlee

A Major Force in Education -- Homeschooling in America

A MUST READ!!!!!

Homeschooling is on the US Dept. of Education Radar now and no long Fringe.

Eric

A Major Force in Education -- Homeschooling in America

Shared via AddThis

Being Good to People

I recently read this in a Joel Osteen book:

Do you want to get more out of life?  Who doesn't, right? Okay, try this:  get up everyday and rather than trying to be blessed, do everything in your power to be a blessing to someone else. If you will do that for six weeks -- trying to be a blessing to someone every day -- your life will be filled with so many blessing your wont be able to contain them all.

Become a Better You -- Osteen -- Chapter 15

Gang, I had to see this lived out in my life before I believed.  Despite the fact that each and every one of our mothers practically have lived this out in our lives, I needed to see friends like Christine Spray and CEO Netweavers not just believe this, and not just talk about this, but LIVE it.

Then, I was able to buy it and take a step of faith.  It helped that I had come to a point of disgust with status quo and needed something more.

Sometimes a dog asks for scraps from the table and you know it would make them sick or kill them, but they still beg.  Sometimes we beg for what we think is best and in fact we are lead a different direction.  You may be thinking only material blessings or success blessings, but you may in fact receive more blessing than you can contain in the form of relationships, impact, and less material.

The point is, we all should be doing this so that we can turn this generation around.  Too many have their hands out saying, "What can you do for me?" And, if we just lived this principle of giving first servant leadership LOUD enough we'd change the world.  REALLY.

Don't believe me?  I dare you to try it.

Eric Standlee
inhouston.ning.com

Fwd: More and more profiles are not working. And, I cannot submit updates to my pr... [Ticket: 090519-001029]

Is anyone else having this trouble on Ning?

Eric Standlee

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Ning Team <helpcenter@ning.com>
Date: Wed, May 20, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Subject: More and more profiles are not working. And, I cannot submit updates to my pr... [Ticket: 090519-001029]
To: estandlee@americanprudential.com



[The Ning Team - 05/20/2009 06:11 PM]
HI!

I am sorry you are running into this. I see the issue you are describing and have passed your information along to our engineers. They are looking into a fix for this now. As soon as I hear an update from them, I will let you know.

Thanks!
Courtenay

[Reporter - 05/20/2009 04:28 PM]
I have thousdands on this site and half of them are reporting this same issue.

Please fix it asap.

[Reporter - 05/20/2009 04:28 PM]
No, that isn't the issue.  What do you see when you go to:
http://inhouston.ning.com/profile/AdamB for instance?

Here's what this firefox browser sees and I know that isn't firefox's fault:

Uh-oh!

Failed query: XN_Query: subject [Content] returnIds [] begin [0] end [] alwaysReturnTotalCount [] orders [ published : desc : string ] filters [ type : = : 'User' : string AND title : in : '1tdqvu1a60c87' : string ] Server error in app inhouston #0 /php/includes/XN/XN/REST.php(236): XN_REST-&gt;doRequest('GET', 'http://inhousto...', NULL, NULL, NULL) #1 /php/includes/XN/XN/Query.php(2034): XN_REST::get('http://inhousto...', NULL) #2 /php/includes/XN/XN/Query.php(591): XN_Query-&gt;_executeQuery() #3 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_Cache.php(275): XN_Query-&gt;execute() #4 [internal function]: XG_Cache::users(Array) #5 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/index/models/User.php(1724): call_user_func_array(Array, Array) #6
/apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/lib/activity/bazel/PreloadOp.php(28): User::loadMultiple(Array) #7 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/lib/activity/PreloadOp.php(34): Main_Activity_Bazel_PreloadOpHelper-&gt;load() #8 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/lib/activity/Manager.php(298): Main_Activity_PreloadOpHelper-&gt;execute(Array) #9 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/lib/activity/Manager.php(265): Main_Activity_ManagerHelper-&gt;runPreload(Object(Main_Activity_Bazel_PreloadOpHelper)) #10 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/templates/embed/moduleBodyAndFooterHtml.php(13): Main_Activity_ManagerHelper-&gt;run() #11 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(674): include('/apps/socialnet...') #12 [internal function]:
NF_Controller-&gt;_doRender_html('moduleBodyAndFo...', 'embed', NULL, NULL) #13 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(587): call_user_func(Array, 'moduleBodyAndFo...', 'embed', NULL, NULL) #14 [internal function]: NF_Controller-&gt;_doRender('moduleBodyAndFo...', 'embed') #15 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(188): call_user_func_array(Array, Array) #16 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Controller.php(66): NF_Controller-&gt;action(Object(NF_ArgWrapper)) #17 [internal function]: W_Controller-&gt;action('moduleBodyAndFo...', Object(XG_Embed), 2) #18 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Widget.php(458): call_user_func_array(Array, Array) #19 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/controllers/EmbedController.php(41): W_Widget-&gt;dispatch('embed', 'moduleBodyAndFo...', Array) #20
/apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/controllers/EmbedController.php(15): Activity_EmbedController-&gt;renderEmbed(Object(XG_Embed), 2) #21 [internal function]: Activity_EmbedController-&gt;action_embed2(Array) #22 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(807): call_user_func_array(Array, Array) #23 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(169): NF_Controller-&gt;_invokeAction('embed2', Array) #24 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Controller.php(66): NF_Controller-&gt;action(Object(NF_ArgWrapper)) #25 [internal function]: W_Controller-&gt;action('embed2', Array) #26 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Widget.php(458): call_user_func_array(Array, Array) #27 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(419): W_Widget-&gt;dispatch('embed', 'embed2', Array) #28 [internal function]:
XG_LayoutHelper::renderModule(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), '2c780k2bquct0', 'profiles', Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #29 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(472): call_user_func(Array, Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), '2c780k2bquct0', 'profiles', Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #30 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(568): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #31 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(475): XG_LayoutHelper::renderColumn(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles), false) #32 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(502): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement),
Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #33 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(478): XG_LayoutHelper::renderContainer(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #34 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(568): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #35 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(475): XG_LayoutHelper::renderColumn(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles), false) #36 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(502): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #37
/apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(478): XG_LayoutHelper::renderContainer(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #38 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(110): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles)) #39 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/profiles/templates/profile/show.php(34): XG_LayoutHelper::renderLayout(Object(XG_Layout_profiles), Object(Profiles_ProfileController)) #40 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(674): include('/apps/socialnet...') #41 [internal function]: NF_Controller-&gt;_doRender_html('show', 'profile', NULL, NULL) #42 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(587): call_user_func(Array, 'show', 'profile', NULL, NULL) #43
[internal function]: NF_Controller-&gt;_doRender('show', 'profile') #44 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(188): call_user_func_array(Array, Array) #45 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Controller.php(66): NF_Controller-&gt;action(Object(NF_ArgWrapper)) #46 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Widget.php(462): W_Controller-&gt;action('show') #47 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_App.php(1807): W_Widget-&gt;dispatch('profile', 'show') #48 [internal function]: XG_App::dispatchRequest(NULL) #49 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_WidgetApp.php(130): call_user_func(Array, NULL) #50 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_App.php(2162): W_WidgetApp::go() #51 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/index.php(28): XG_App::go() #52 /apps/inhouston/index.php(3): require_once('/apps/socialnet...') #53 {main}

Trace:
#0 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(119): NF::bailOut('Failed query:?X...', NULL)
#1 [internal function]: NF_Controller-&gt;action_error(Object(XN_Exception), NULL)
#2 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(807): call_user_func_array(Array, Array)
#3 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(169): NF_Controller-&gt;_invokeAction('error', Array)
#4 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Controller.php(66): NF_Controller-&gt;action(Object(NF_ArgWrapper))
#5 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(144): W_Controller-&gt;action('error', Object(XN_Exception), NULL)
#6 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(632): NF_Controller-&gt;error(Object(XN_Exception))
#7 [internal function]: NF_Controller-&gt;_doRender('moduleBodyAndFo...', 'embed')
#8 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(188): call_user_func_array(Array, Array)
#9 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Controller.php(66): NF_Controller-&gt;action(Object(NF_ArgWrapper))
#10 [internal function]: W_Controller-&gt;action('moduleBodyAndFo...', Object(XG_Embed), 2)
#11 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Widget.php(458): call_user_func_array(Array, Array)
#12 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/controllers/EmbedController.php(41): W_Widget-&gt;dispatch('embed', 'moduleBodyAndFo...', Array)
#13 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/activity/controllers/EmbedController.php(15): Activity_EmbedController-&gt;renderEmbed(Object(XG_Embed), 2)
#14 [internal function]: Activity_EmbedController-&gt;action_embed2(Array)
#15 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(807): call_user_func_array(Array, Array)
#16 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(169): NF_Controller-&gt;_invokeAction('embed2', Array)
#17 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Controller.php(66): NF_Controller-&gt;action(Object(NF_ArgWrapper))
#18 [internal function]: W_Controller-&gt;action('embed2', Array)
#19 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Widget.php(458): call_user_func_array(Array, Array)
#20 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(419): W_Widget-&gt;dispatch('embed', 'embed2', Array)
#21 [internal function]: XG_LayoutHelper::renderModule(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), '2c780k2bquct0', 'profiles', Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#22 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(472): call_user_func(Array, Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), '2c780k2bquct0', 'profiles', Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#23 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(568): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#24 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(475): XG_LayoutHelper::renderColumn(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles), false)
#25 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(502): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#26 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(478): XG_LayoutHelper::renderContainer(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#27 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(568): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#28 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(475): XG_LayoutHelper::renderColumn(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles), false)
#29 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(502): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#30 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(478): XG_LayoutHelper::renderContainer(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#31 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_LayoutHelper.php(110): XG_LayoutHelper::renderElement(Object(DOMElement), Object(Profiles_ProfileController), Object(XG_Layout_profiles))
#32 /apps/socialnetworkmain/widgets/profiles/templates/profile/show.php(34): XG_LayoutHelper::renderLayout(Object(XG_Layout_profiles), Object(Profiles_ProfileController))
#33 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(674): include('/apps/socialnet...')
#34 [internal function]: NF_Controller-&gt;_doRender_html('show', 'profile', NULL, NULL)
#35 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(587): call_user_func(Array, 'show', 'profile', NULL, NULL)
#36 [internal function]: NF_Controller-&gt;_doRender('show', 'profile')
#37 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/NF_Controller.php(188): call_user_func_array(Array, Array)
#38 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Controller.php(66): NF_Controller-&gt;action(Object(NF_ArgWrapper))
#39 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_Widget.php(462): W_Controller-&gt;action('show')
#40 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_App.php(1807): W_Widget-&gt;dispatch('profile', 'show')
#41 [internal function]: XG_App::dispatchRequest(NULL)
#42 /php/includes/XN/WWF/lib/W_WidgetApp.php(130): call_user_func(Array, NULL)
#43 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/XG_App.php(2162): W_WidgetApp::go()
#44 /apps/socialnetworkmain/lib/index.php(28): XG_App::go()
#45 /apps/inhouston/index.php(3): require_once('/apps/socialnet...')
#46 {main}

[The Ning Team - 05/20/2009 11:20 AM]
Hi!

It looks like you are using Swiftfox, which is a built of Mozilla we don't support.

Can you try using regular Firefox (www.getfirefox.com) and see is that helps?

Thank you!
Laura

[Reporter - 05/19/2009 09:18 PM]
More and more profiles are not working.  And, I cannot submit updates to my previous tickets on this.

---------------------------------------------------------------

We are continuing to work on your issue. To provide more information,
click the following link or paste it into your web browser.
http://help.ning.com/cgi-bin/ning.cfg/php/enduser/ning_login.php?p_userid=7kovernover&p_next_page=myq_upd.php&p_iid=258183&p_created=1242793129

If you choose to update your question via email, please be sure to leave the subject and body of this email in place.

Thanks again!
The Ning Team
[---001:012126:00862---]

Homeland Security?

Have you see this?

Oliver North Comments on the DHS "Rightwing Extremism'" Report: I Am an Extremist

By Oliver North

Thursday, 16 April 2009

Washington, DC – According to the U.S. Government, I am an extremist. I am a Christian – and meet regularly with other Christians to study God's word. My faith convinces me the prophesies in the Holy Bible are true. I believe in the sanctity of human life, oppose abortion and want to preserve marriage as the union of a man and a woman. I am a veteran with skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat. I own several firearms, frequently shoot them, buy ammunition and consider efforts to infringe on my 2nd Amendment rights to be wrong and unconstitutional. I fervently support the sovereignty of the United States, am deeply concerned about our economy, increasingly higher taxes, illegal immigration, soaring unemployment, and actions by our government that will bury my children beneath a mountain of debt. Apparently, all this makes me a "rightwing extremist." At least that's what it says in the April 7, 2009 "Assessment" issued by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The nine-page report, titled, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," is full of warnings about American citizens who share any of my background or subscribe to the beliefs above. It is one of the most alarming documents produced by our government that I have ever read. Evidently neither you nor I were ever supposed to read this "Assessment." At the bottom of the cover page is a warning that it is "not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid need-to-know." We're Americans. We have a need to know what's going on in our government – especially in an administration that promised to be "transparent." A full copy of the report is posted at www.freedomalliance.org. The "Assessment" purports to alert law enforcement officials that "rightwing extremists" – the term is used more than 35 times – are intent on exploiting Americans who have strongly held beliefs on everything from Christian faith to rising unemployment, U.S. sovereignty and the 2nd Amendment. It vilifies those of us in these categories by references to neo-Nazis, racists, militias, white-supremacists, and other "hate groups." Notably, the report includes a warning that Rightwing Extremism "may include groups or individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration." Though the report proffers a passing reference to the 1st Amendment, it is replete with bias against conservative thought, writing and communications. On page 3, law enforcement authorities are warned, "Rightwing extremist chatter on the Internet continues to focus on the economy, the perceived (emphasis added) loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures." This is a frightening acknowledgement that political speech is being monitored in America. It is also wrong. It's not "perception." It is fact . According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the manufacturing and construction sectors have lost 161,000 jobs and 126,000 jobs, respectively, in the last month alone. In its "Key Findings" the DHS manuscript boldly charges "rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues" and warns that "The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks." Under the heading "Disgruntled Military Veterans" the report alleges, "rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat. These skills and knowledge have the potential to boost the capabilities of extremists – including lone wolves or small terrorist cells – to carry out violence." These unsubstantiated claims are followed by reminders that Timothy McVeigh – the 1995 Oklahoma City bomber – was a military veteran. Omitted is any reference to the fact that Mr. McVeigh was simply one of more than 40 million law abiding veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Thirteen lines after this egregious, unconscionable slander against those of us who are military combat veterans, DHS makes the stunning charge that, "lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent rightwing extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States." According to this DHS "Assessment," the most dangerous threat we face here at home isn't from radical imams preaching violence in U.S. mosques and madrassas, Islamists recruiting in our prisons, Somali terrorists enticing young immigrants to become suicide bombers or Hamas, Hezbollah or al Qaeda operatives plotting mass murder. No, according to DHS, the real threat comes from what our government labels "rightwing extremist ideology." Mr. Obama should publicly disavow this report and fire the officials responsible for issuing it. Those who prepare his remarks for the occasion should insert in the teleprompter, Senator Barry Goldwater's words on the subject: "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."

Stand up and be heard America.  We need to stop being the silent majority and let the minority know we are here.

Eric

Fwd: Obama Poll--MSNBC

2 million responses.  This is representative.

Eric
---------- Forwarded message ----------

This was a poll conducted by MSNBC, and I can promise you it won't be published, at least by them!!  They obviously didn't like the results so they shut it down..look at the number of participants..over 2 MILLION!!!!  The tide is turning, let's keep praying.. stacia Give President Obama a grade Live Vote If you were grading Barack Obama on his performance as president, what would he get?   * 2189575 responses He gets an A 28% He gets a B 6.1% He gets a C 5.7% He gets a D 15% He gets an F 45% Your response cannot be recorded. For assistance please contact MSNBC technical support. msnbc.com