McCain Does Not Want Silent Amnesty on Immigration
True to his reputation as a maverick, Sen. John McCain is obviously fed up with the jabs he's taking from conservatives on the immigration issue. And he's hitting back - hard.
It's about time. Since the beginning of this debate, McCain has been both correct and courageous. But now he has made it clear that he's not going to be anyone's punching bag.
McCain is correct about the need for comprehensive immigration reform as opposed to what's behind door No. 2: the "faith-based" enforcement-only approach of building walls, hoping illegal immigrants self-deport and calling it a day. Congress did something similar with immigration reform in 1996, and - as Sen. Sam Brownback noted in last week's presidential debate - all we have to show for it is a population of illegal immigrants nearly twice as large now as it was then.
And McCain is courageous for confronting the nativist fringe of his own party, telling voters what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear, and challenging other candidates to either lead or get out of the way. If they don't like the bipartisan Senate compromise that he helped craft, they can suggest something better, McCain tells them - provided that whatever they have in mind can get through Congress.
McCain zeroed in on one of his most vocal critics, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. On immigration, as on other hot-button issues, Romney has held nearly as many positions as there are days in the week. Recently, McCain told the Miami Chamber of Commerce that voters should come down hard on candidates who find it easier to criticize the solutions of others than to offer solutions of their own. While the Arizonan didn't mention Romney by name, the McCain campaign made clear it was Romney the senator was criticizing.
"To want the office so badly that you would intentionally make our country's problems worse might prove you can read a poll or take a cheap shot, but it hardly demonstrates presidential leadership," McCain told the group.
"Pandering for votes on this issue, while offering no solution to the problem, amounts to doing nothing. And doing nothing is silent amnesty."
By Ruben Navarrette Jr., The Salt Lake Tribune
June 11, 2007
Article Excerpt
Sunday, June 17, 2007
The McCain Update - June 15, 2007
The McCain Update - June 15, 2007
John McCain was on the road throughout the week, talking to voters in California, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama about the big challenges facing our country. He also took the fight to leading national Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, for tucking millions of dollars in earmarks to a defense bill, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, for his harsh criticisms of both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Peter Pace, and the commander of our forces in Iraq, David Petraeus. John McCain called on Harry Reid to clarify his criticisms, given the two generals' distinguished records of service. Also this week, Cindy McCain made the rounds on the morning talk shows to discuss her work with Operation Smile, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made his way to Iowa to talk about why John McCain is the candidate most prepared to lead our country in these challenging times.
John McCain was on the road throughout the week, talking to voters in California, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama about the big challenges facing our country. He also took the fight to leading national Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, for tucking millions of dollars in earmarks to a defense bill, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, for his harsh criticisms of both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Peter Pace, and the commander of our forces in Iraq, David Petraeus. John McCain called on Harry Reid to clarify his criticisms, given the two generals' distinguished records of service. Also this week, Cindy McCain made the rounds on the morning talk shows to discuss her work with Operation Smile, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made his way to Iowa to talk about why John McCain is the candidate most prepared to lead our country in these challenging times.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
some more dirty democrats
REPUBLICANS NEED TO ATTACK EARMARKS AND STOP WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey (D-Wis.) has
handed Republican lawmakers a golden (literally) opportunity to end
earmarking during the current session of Congress. (In our new book,
Outrage, we highlight how abuse of earmarking costs taxpayers $64 billion
three times what it was just a few years ago.)
According to Tuesday's New York Times, Obey warned Republicans
that he would ban earmarking completely if Republicans attacked
individual projects to score political points. What an
opportunity for the GOP!
Republicans forgot how to act like the fiscal conservatives they were
supposed to be when they controlled Congress and permitted earmarks
to proliferate. Now, they can atone for their sins by attacking
individual earmarks issued by specific Democrats, and by challenging
Obey to make good on his threat.
Republicans need go no further than attacking the earmarks of Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-W. Va.), who's currently under federal investigation.
Until the FBI started looking at him, Mollohan was the ranking
Democrat on the House Ethics Committee! (Is it any wonder why Congressional approval now stands at 23 percent in the polls?)
Mollohan has a cute racket going. He gets earmarks inserted into spending bills for non-profit organizations in his home state some of which he helped to set up and then he goes into real estate deals with the heads of these same organizations and makes a killing.
For example, Mollohan got $30 million of tax money since 1999 for the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, which redevelops dilapidated buildings. Then, he and his wife bought five empty lots on Bald Head Island, N.C. worth $2 million with Laura Kurtz Kuhns, the head of the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, and her husband!
He pulled the same trick by buying a farm for $900,000 with
Dale R. McBride as his partner after getting McBride’s company,
FMW Composite Systems, $4.4 million in earmarks to make equipment
for NASA and the Marine Corps.
Of course, stopping Obey from putting earmarks in appropriations bills
will require some earmark addicts among the Republicans to quit cold turkey.
Specifically, the two leading earmarkers in Congress Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Thad Cochran of Mississippi, both Republicans will have
to stop their massive spending of taxpayers’ money.
Senator Stevens got $325 million in earmarks in the 2006 appropriations
cycle, which works out to $500 for every man, woman, and child in Alaska. He lavished our money on a $1.3 million program of berry research,
$1.1 million for alternative salmon projects, and $500,000 for
fruit and berry crop trials.
Senator Thad Cochran, who postures as a fiscal conservative, spent our money for a $5.7 million grant for the Wildlife Habitat Management Institute,
$1.4 million for Mississippi Valley State University, $936,000 to
study advanced spatial technologies, $517,000 for aquaculture research, and $50,000 for cotton ginning research (presumably to supplement
the efforts of Eli Whitney who invented the cotton gin in 1793.)
Republicans need to start acting like Republicans, not drunken,
big spending Democrats, and stopping earmarks is a good way to start.
As Dave Obey might say, "be his guest!"
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey (D-Wis.) has
handed Republican lawmakers a golden (literally) opportunity to end
earmarking during the current session of Congress. (In our new book,
Outrage, we highlight how abuse of earmarking costs taxpayers $64 billion
three times what it was just a few years ago.)
According to Tuesday's New York Times, Obey warned Republicans
that he would ban earmarking completely if Republicans attacked
individual projects to score political points. What an
opportunity for the GOP!
Republicans forgot how to act like the fiscal conservatives they were
supposed to be when they controlled Congress and permitted earmarks
to proliferate. Now, they can atone for their sins by attacking
individual earmarks issued by specific Democrats, and by challenging
Obey to make good on his threat.
Republicans need go no further than attacking the earmarks of Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-W. Va.), who's currently under federal investigation.
Until the FBI started looking at him, Mollohan was the ranking
Democrat on the House Ethics Committee! (Is it any wonder why Congressional approval now stands at 23 percent in the polls?)
Mollohan has a cute racket going. He gets earmarks inserted into spending bills for non-profit organizations in his home state some of which he helped to set up and then he goes into real estate deals with the heads of these same organizations and makes a killing.
For example, Mollohan got $30 million of tax money since 1999 for the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, which redevelops dilapidated buildings. Then, he and his wife bought five empty lots on Bald Head Island, N.C. worth $2 million with Laura Kurtz Kuhns, the head of the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, and her husband!
He pulled the same trick by buying a farm for $900,000 with
Dale R. McBride as his partner after getting McBride’s company,
FMW Composite Systems, $4.4 million in earmarks to make equipment
for NASA and the Marine Corps.
Of course, stopping Obey from putting earmarks in appropriations bills
will require some earmark addicts among the Republicans to quit cold turkey.
Specifically, the two leading earmarkers in Congress Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Thad Cochran of Mississippi, both Republicans will have
to stop their massive spending of taxpayers’ money.
Senator Stevens got $325 million in earmarks in the 2006 appropriations
cycle, which works out to $500 for every man, woman, and child in Alaska. He lavished our money on a $1.3 million program of berry research,
$1.1 million for alternative salmon projects, and $500,000 for
fruit and berry crop trials.
Senator Thad Cochran, who postures as a fiscal conservative, spent our money for a $5.7 million grant for the Wildlife Habitat Management Institute,
$1.4 million for Mississippi Valley State University, $936,000 to
study advanced spatial technologies, $517,000 for aquaculture research, and $50,000 for cotton ginning research (presumably to supplement
the efforts of Eli Whitney who invented the cotton gin in 1793.)
Republicans need to start acting like Republicans, not drunken,
big spending Democrats, and stopping earmarks is a good way to start.
As Dave Obey might say, "be his guest!"
Friday, June 15, 2007
2 many vaginas at the head ofDepartment of State ?
2 many vaginas at the head ofDepartment of State ?
too many vaginas at the Department of state ?
Have we caused more problems by sending 2 female
spokepersons to the mideast.
North Korean is still nuclear,
Iran working on its nuclear options
Iraq is a mess
China is arming itself to the teeth
Mexico is exporting its poverty and drugs to the US.
I dont think they appreciate skirts and painted women.
after Rice and Albright
have I missed something ?
too many vaginas at the Department of state ?
Have we caused more problems by sending 2 female
spokepersons to the mideast.
North Korean is still nuclear,
Iran working on its nuclear options
Iraq is a mess
China is arming itself to the teeth
Mexico is exporting its poverty and drugs to the US.
I dont think they appreciate skirts and painted women.
after Rice and Albright
have I missed something ?
Pres Bush now wants a surge on border security?
Pres Bush wants a surge on border security?
shithead, he has been sitting on his hands for his last 6 years
www.mccainalert.com
shithead, he has been sitting on his hands for his last 6 years
www.mccainalert.com
New immigration plan ignores history's lessons
Dobbs: New immigration plan ignores history's lessons
By Lou Dobbs
CNN
Editor's Note: Lou Dobbs' commentary appears weekly on CNN.com.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- There are times when reason carries the mind no further, when the mind is carried from the rational across the penumbra of the absurd. That is where the leadership of the U.S. Senate now resides.
What many once regarded as the world's great deliberative body looks more like a clamorous bazaar in which senators feverishly hawk duplicity and deceit as bright jewels of public policy. Comprehensive immigration reform is just such a bauble, and buyer beware.
Most beguiling among those merchants of mendacity is none other than Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who has been peddling his wares at the Senate bazaar for more than four decades. Kennedy's counterfeit immigration views reach all the way back to his championship of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
In signing that legislation into law, President Lyndon Johnson promised it would not be revolutionary or affect the lives of millions, even as it overturned 60 years of U.S. immigration policy of national origin quotas and led to the creation of explosive chain migration.
Twenty-one years later, President Ronald Reagan signed into law amnesty for more than three million illegal aliens who had entered the country. President Reagan then promised the new employer sanctions would "remove the incentive for illegal immigration by eliminating the job opportunities," and that the law's amnesty provision would allow millions who were hiding in the shadows to "step into the sunlight."
And now, another 21 years later, we hear the same language as the pro-amnesty and open borders advocates demand that American citizens ignore history, reason and the national interest. They are again marketing the same false assurances about border enforcement and insist there will be no social or economic cost to the taxpayer or the nation. More than four decades of disruptive and destructive immigration policy initiatives should be a sufficient history lesson for all Americans.
The essential truth is clear: We cannot reform immigration law until we control immigration, and we cannot control immigration until we control our borders and our ports. This president and the congressional Democratic leadership refuse to recognize that reality and will not honor that truth.
President Bush and Sen. Kennedy pass for political stars in our tortured times, and that is sad enough. But if we follow the course they've set, true tragedy awaits us. And the fault will be ours.
see more at www.loudobbs.com
By Lou Dobbs
CNN
Editor's Note: Lou Dobbs' commentary appears weekly on CNN.com.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- There are times when reason carries the mind no further, when the mind is carried from the rational across the penumbra of the absurd. That is where the leadership of the U.S. Senate now resides.
What many once regarded as the world's great deliberative body looks more like a clamorous bazaar in which senators feverishly hawk duplicity and deceit as bright jewels of public policy. Comprehensive immigration reform is just such a bauble, and buyer beware.
Most beguiling among those merchants of mendacity is none other than Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who has been peddling his wares at the Senate bazaar for more than four decades. Kennedy's counterfeit immigration views reach all the way back to his championship of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
In signing that legislation into law, President Lyndon Johnson promised it would not be revolutionary or affect the lives of millions, even as it overturned 60 years of U.S. immigration policy of national origin quotas and led to the creation of explosive chain migration.
Twenty-one years later, President Ronald Reagan signed into law amnesty for more than three million illegal aliens who had entered the country. President Reagan then promised the new employer sanctions would "remove the incentive for illegal immigration by eliminating the job opportunities," and that the law's amnesty provision would allow millions who were hiding in the shadows to "step into the sunlight."
And now, another 21 years later, we hear the same language as the pro-amnesty and open borders advocates demand that American citizens ignore history, reason and the national interest. They are again marketing the same false assurances about border enforcement and insist there will be no social or economic cost to the taxpayer or the nation. More than four decades of disruptive and destructive immigration policy initiatives should be a sufficient history lesson for all Americans.
The essential truth is clear: We cannot reform immigration law until we control immigration, and we cannot control immigration until we control our borders and our ports. This president and the congressional Democratic leadership refuse to recognize that reality and will not honor that truth.
President Bush and Sen. Kennedy pass for political stars in our tortured times, and that is sad enough. But if we follow the course they've set, true tragedy awaits us. And the fault will be ours.
see more at www.loudobbs.com
GOV. ROMNEY RETURNS TO ARIZONA ON JUNE 20TH
GOV. ROMNEY RETURNS TO ARIZONA ON JUNE 20TH
In addition to our own Sen. McCain, the 2008 GOP race for President means numerous other top contenders are spending time in Arizona. Gov. Romney, now leading in Iowa and New Hampshire polls, has visited the state numerous times. Mayor Giuliani was here in March. And Fred Thompson may join us for an upcoming visit, too. On June 20th Gov. Romney will be back in town for a fundraiser. Sheriff Arpaio and numerous other supporters invite you to join them for an evening reception on Wednesday, June 20, 2007. For details and information please contact Corinne Lovas at (602) 885-6223.
In addition to our own Sen. McCain, the 2008 GOP race for President means numerous other top contenders are spending time in Arizona. Gov. Romney, now leading in Iowa and New Hampshire polls, has visited the state numerous times. Mayor Giuliani was here in March. And Fred Thompson may join us for an upcoming visit, too. On June 20th Gov. Romney will be back in town for a fundraiser. Sheriff Arpaio and numerous other supporters invite you to join them for an evening reception on Wednesday, June 20, 2007. For details and information please contact Corinne Lovas at (602) 885-6223.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
heads up, shit head senator try to revive the new 900 page amensty bill
heads up, shit head senator try to revive the new 900
page amensty bill.
wonder why the opinion of congress and the president is in the toliet ?
www.mccainalert.com
page amensty bill.
wonder why the opinion of congress and the president is in the toliet ?
www.mccainalert.com
Bush pledges tougher border security again ?
Bush pledges tougher border security By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
32 minutes ago
President Bush, trying to salvage an immigration overhaul legislation, endorsed a plan Thursday that would lock in money for border security as way to win over conservative lawmakers and a skeptical public.
"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said in a speech to the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Bush got behind a proposal to set aside money collected through fees and penalties for tougher border security and workplace enforcement. Two Republican senators, John Kyl of Arizona and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record) of South Carolina, have proposed such an amendment.
Bush said the measure would "show the American people that we're going to do our jobs of securing this border once and for all."
The provision would immediately divert $4.4 billion toward border security, with that amount to be paid back once new fees are in place. The point would be to ensure that border security would not be subject to the whims of the yearly budget negotiations.
The move is also part of a White House effort to cobble together a winning coalition, vote by vote. Some lawmakers are withholding support for the broad-based bill because of deep skepticism that border security will actually improve.
With many questions unanswered, it was unclear how much of a concession the move amounts to for Bush.
The White House did not have an estimate of how much money the provision would generate yearly toward border security. It also could not say whether the money would be in addition to currently planned border security funding levels or just a way to dedicate funds to that purpose. And it wasn't clear what budget account would be drawn down to pay for the initial $4.4 billion.
A bipartisan group of senators crafted a fragile compromise on the
immigration bill that Bush supports. But the deal is in deep trouble,
because many Republicans oppose that it provides a way for millions of
immigrants who entered the country illegally to become legal.
The group behind the compromise was hoping to reach agreement to allow
votes on a limited set of changes from the Republican and Democratic
sides in exchange for a commitment from GOP holdouts to let debate on
the bill resume. Architects have argued that their so-called
"grand bargain" could collapse under the weight of too many amendments,
or those designed as "poison pills."
Bush said the bill emphasizes security by requiring tougher border and
workplace measures before new options for immigrants and guest workers
could begin. Already, he said, border agents are capturing and sending
home huge numbers of people trying to cross illegally.
"They're working hard down there, and they're making progress,"
Bush said. "People are doing the jobs we expect them do, and now
we're going to build on that progress."
The legislation stalled last week when only seven GOP senators
supported a Democratic bid to limit debate called a cloture vote
and expedite a final vote.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the White House feels
good about its chances for bringing the bill back to the floor now.
"We feel confident there are going to be enough votes for cloture," he said.
see more at.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_immigration
and www.mccainalert.com
32 minutes ago
President Bush, trying to salvage an immigration overhaul legislation, endorsed a plan Thursday that would lock in money for border security as way to win over conservative lawmakers and a skeptical public.
"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said in a speech to the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Bush got behind a proposal to set aside money collected through fees and penalties for tougher border security and workplace enforcement. Two Republican senators, John Kyl of Arizona and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record) of South Carolina, have proposed such an amendment.
Bush said the measure would "show the American people that we're going to do our jobs of securing this border once and for all."
The provision would immediately divert $4.4 billion toward border security, with that amount to be paid back once new fees are in place. The point would be to ensure that border security would not be subject to the whims of the yearly budget negotiations.
The move is also part of a White House effort to cobble together a winning coalition, vote by vote. Some lawmakers are withholding support for the broad-based bill because of deep skepticism that border security will actually improve.
With many questions unanswered, it was unclear how much of a concession the move amounts to for Bush.
The White House did not have an estimate of how much money the provision would generate yearly toward border security. It also could not say whether the money would be in addition to currently planned border security funding levels or just a way to dedicate funds to that purpose. And it wasn't clear what budget account would be drawn down to pay for the initial $4.4 billion.
A bipartisan group of senators crafted a fragile compromise on the
immigration bill that Bush supports. But the deal is in deep trouble,
because many Republicans oppose that it provides a way for millions of
immigrants who entered the country illegally to become legal.
The group behind the compromise was hoping to reach agreement to allow
votes on a limited set of changes from the Republican and Democratic
sides in exchange for a commitment from GOP holdouts to let debate on
the bill resume. Architects have argued that their so-called
"grand bargain" could collapse under the weight of too many amendments,
or those designed as "poison pills."
Bush said the bill emphasizes security by requiring tougher border and
workplace measures before new options for immigrants and guest workers
could begin. Already, he said, border agents are capturing and sending
home huge numbers of people trying to cross illegally.
"They're working hard down there, and they're making progress,"
Bush said. "People are doing the jobs we expect them do, and now
we're going to build on that progress."
The legislation stalled last week when only seven GOP senators
supported a Democratic bid to limit debate called a cloture vote
and expedite a final vote.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the White House feels
good about its chances for bringing the bill back to the floor now.
"We feel confident there are going to be enough votes for cloture," he said.
see more at.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_immigration
and www.mccainalert.com
AZ Janet Napolitano politics
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Dear Friends,
In the past few weeks you have probably heard a lot about gridlock in Washington , D.C. when it comes to addressing the challenges at the border. But this week in Tucson, leaders from Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora will work together to make progress on issues important to our states, including border security, economic development and efficient travel between our states.
Sonoran Governor Eduardo Bours will join me at the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) Plenary Session to address common issues we encounter. The AMC and its sister organization, the Comisión Sonora-Arizona, bring together regional stakeholders to enhance the economy and quality of life for Arizona residents through a positive, cooperative relationship with Mexico .
A priority issue at this meeting will be the increased violence along the Arizona-Sonora border. We will hear the latest on cross-border law enforcement partnerships, and discuss our regional approach to drug trafficking, human smuggling, and theft that is now all too common. This continues our effort with Sonora to cooperatively address this problem.
Our strong relationship with Sonora and our efforts of past AMC sessions have led to real results including:
Meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderón to seek greater support from Mexico ’s federal government on security issues
Securing more than $55 million for infrastructure improvements for Arizona ’s ports of entry
Creating the Arizona-Sonora 511 traveler information hotline to provide cross-border travelers with real-time traffic and construction updates in Arizona and Sonora
In this session, we will also work on our partnerships to inspect agricultural products moving between our states efficiently, improve infrastructure in our ports of entry, and increase cross-border investment to develop our regional economy.
The Arizona-Sonora region is an example to the world of what international partnership should be and successful regional collaboration.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please contact my office at 1-800-253-0883 and ask to speak to Constituent Services.
Yours very truly, Janet Napolitano Governor
Dear Friends,
In the past few weeks you have probably heard a lot about gridlock in Washington , D.C. when it comes to addressing the challenges at the border. But this week in Tucson, leaders from Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora will work together to make progress on issues important to our states, including border security, economic development and efficient travel between our states.
Sonoran Governor Eduardo Bours will join me at the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) Plenary Session to address common issues we encounter. The AMC and its sister organization, the Comisión Sonora-Arizona, bring together regional stakeholders to enhance the economy and quality of life for Arizona residents through a positive, cooperative relationship with Mexico .
A priority issue at this meeting will be the increased violence along the Arizona-Sonora border. We will hear the latest on cross-border law enforcement partnerships, and discuss our regional approach to drug trafficking, human smuggling, and theft that is now all too common. This continues our effort with Sonora to cooperatively address this problem.
Our strong relationship with Sonora and our efforts of past AMC sessions have led to real results including:
Meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderón to seek greater support from Mexico ’s federal government on security issues
Securing more than $55 million for infrastructure improvements for Arizona ’s ports of entry
Creating the Arizona-Sonora 511 traveler information hotline to provide cross-border travelers with real-time traffic and construction updates in Arizona and Sonora
In this session, we will also work on our partnerships to inspect agricultural products moving between our states efficiently, improve infrastructure in our ports of entry, and increase cross-border investment to develop our regional economy.
The Arizona-Sonora region is an example to the world of what international partnership should be and successful regional collaboration.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please contact my office at 1-800-253-0883 and ask to speak to Constituent Services.
Yours very truly, Janet Napolitano Governor
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Tracking Earmarks is Nice -- But What About Phonemarks?
Tracking Earmarks is Nice -- But What About Phonemarks?
The Hill reports that OMB director Rob Portman is pledging to
track earmarks in all spending bills enacted for 2008:
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stated Thursday that it will keep track of earmarks during the 2008 fiscal year appropriations process.
In a memo to all executive branch agency heads, OMB Director Rob Portman asked all agencies to report to OMB the number and dollar value of earmarks within seven days after an appropriations bill is either reported by the House or Senate appropriations committees or passed on the House or Senate floor.
We are going to be more aggressive on earmarks going into the appropriations cycle, said Portman at a meeting with reporters. The notion is not that every earmark is bad or there shouldn’t be any earmarks. The notion is that this has gotten out of control.
Good government groups will join fiscal conservatives in welcoming this good news. But perhaps your optimism will be tempered when you find out who else is enthusiastically backing this development:
A spokesman for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) said that OMB should have no problem in finding earmarks, thanks to new transparency requirements.
They should have a very easy time in identifying those earmarks, said spokesman Tom Gavin. All of that information will made be available and in a very upfront fashion.
This sounds suspiciously like the fox giving compliments on the security
at the henhouse. Can there be any explanation other than that he's
figured out a way to pick the lock?
In the case of Senator Byrd, it might be that he's pleased with the way 'phonemarking 'is going:
When the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives passed
one of its first spending bills, funding the Energy Department for the
rest of 2007, it proudly boasted that the legislation contained no money
earmarked for lawmakers' pet projects and stressed that any prior
congressional requests for such spending "shall have no legal effect."
Within days, however, lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader
Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) began directly contacting the Energy Department.
They sought to secure money for their favorite causes outside of the
congressional appropriations process -- a practice that lobbyists and
appropriations insiders call "phonemarking."
The truth is that phonemarking is a sign of important progress in the effort to squelch earmarked spending. 'Phonemarks' cannot be made legally binding;
it's up to the Executive Branch to decide whether to cooperate in the process.
The next logical step for earmark opponents may be to push federal
agencies to monitor and disclose all efforts by members of Congress
and their staffs to 'lobby' for specific spending items--whether
that lobbying occurs by phone, E-mail, letter, or other means.
see more at............
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/06/tracking_earmarks_is_nice_but_1.asp
www.mccainalert.com
The Hill reports that OMB director Rob Portman is pledging to
track earmarks in all spending bills enacted for 2008:
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stated Thursday that it will keep track of earmarks during the 2008 fiscal year appropriations process.
In a memo to all executive branch agency heads, OMB Director Rob Portman asked all agencies to report to OMB the number and dollar value of earmarks within seven days after an appropriations bill is either reported by the House or Senate appropriations committees or passed on the House or Senate floor.
We are going to be more aggressive on earmarks going into the appropriations cycle, said Portman at a meeting with reporters. The notion is not that every earmark is bad or there shouldn’t be any earmarks. The notion is that this has gotten out of control.
Good government groups will join fiscal conservatives in welcoming this good news. But perhaps your optimism will be tempered when you find out who else is enthusiastically backing this development:
A spokesman for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) said that OMB should have no problem in finding earmarks, thanks to new transparency requirements.
They should have a very easy time in identifying those earmarks, said spokesman Tom Gavin. All of that information will made be available and in a very upfront fashion.
This sounds suspiciously like the fox giving compliments on the security
at the henhouse. Can there be any explanation other than that he's
figured out a way to pick the lock?
In the case of Senator Byrd, it might be that he's pleased with the way 'phonemarking 'is going:
When the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives passed
one of its first spending bills, funding the Energy Department for the
rest of 2007, it proudly boasted that the legislation contained no money
earmarked for lawmakers' pet projects and stressed that any prior
congressional requests for such spending "shall have no legal effect."
Within days, however, lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader
Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) began directly contacting the Energy Department.
They sought to secure money for their favorite causes outside of the
congressional appropriations process -- a practice that lobbyists and
appropriations insiders call "phonemarking."
The truth is that phonemarking is a sign of important progress in the effort to squelch earmarked spending. 'Phonemarks' cannot be made legally binding;
it's up to the Executive Branch to decide whether to cooperate in the process.
The next logical step for earmark opponents may be to push federal
agencies to monitor and disclose all efforts by members of Congress
and their staffs to 'lobby' for specific spending items--whether
that lobbying occurs by phone, E-mail, letter, or other means.
see more at............
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/06/tracking_earmarks_is_nice_but_1.asp
www.mccainalert.com
is Hillary flying high on corporare jet charters ?
is Hillary flying high on corporare jet charters ?
Hillary publicly denounces the wasteful spending of chief executives
in corporate America, but then she and her husband accept
corporate jet charters worth almost one million dollars
from InfoUSA Inc. She needs to practice what she preaches!
Hillary didn’t violate any Senate rules accepting corporate
jet charters from Vinod Gupta, chief executive of the data
company InfoUSA Inc. All flights were reimbursed and disclosed
according to Federal Election Commission and Senate ethic rules!
http://www.vote.com/vote/60509613/index.phtml?cat=4075633
Hillary publicly denounces the wasteful spending of chief executives
in corporate America, but then she and her husband accept
corporate jet charters worth almost one million dollars
from InfoUSA Inc. She needs to practice what she preaches!
Hillary didn’t violate any Senate rules accepting corporate
jet charters from Vinod Gupta, chief executive of the data
company InfoUSA Inc. All flights were reimbursed and disclosed
according to Federal Election Commission and Senate ethic rules!
http://www.vote.com/vote/60509613/index.phtml?cat=4075633
Outrage the book by Dick Morris
"Outrage" by Dick Morris and his wife Eileen McGann, looks like a very enlightening book.,
Half of all illegal immigrants came into this country legally and we have no way of knowing they’re still here!
Congressmen are putting their wives on their campaign payrolls so that campaign contributions are really personal bribes!
The ACLU won’t allow its own directors free speech.
Liberals want to strip us of the tools to stop terrorism.
The UN is a cover for massive corruption and eighty countries, who pay 12 percent of the budget, are blocking reform.
Drug companies pay off doctors to write scripts whether we need them or not.
Teachers unions block the firing of bad teachers and battle against higher education standards!
Katrina victims are being stiffed by their insurance companies!
Special interests cost our consumers $45 billion through trade quotas that save only a handful of jobs!
Never heard of these abuses? You won’t in the mainstream media. That’s why Dick Morris and Eileen McGann wrote Outrage. Their proposals:
Ban immigration from terrorist countries
Ban Congress putting spouses on their payroll
Ban lobbyists who are related to senators or congressmen
Ban nicotine additives to cigarettes
Ban trade quotas that drive up prices and save few jobs
Ban drug company bribes to doctors
Ban teachers unions’ work rules that stop education reform
Ban insurance companies from backing out on Katrina coverage
In Outrage, you’ll get the facts and learn what we can do about them. You won’t read about these outrages anyplace else; too many people are working hard to cover them up. Get them here instead and learn how to fight the special interests of the left and right.
About the Author Dick Morris and Eileen McGann:
Dick Morris served as Bill Clinton's political consultant for twenty years.
A Fox News political analyst, he is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including Rewriting History and Condi vs. Hillary.
Eileen McGann, an attorney and consultant, is CEO of Vote.com and Legalvote.com.
She works with Dick on campaigns around the world, specializing in using the Internet to win elections. They live in Florida.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Colin Powell, I would be ashamed to show my after that UN show !
Colin Powell, I would be ashamed to show my after that UN show !
waveing that little vial of white powder.
Either he was too stupid and was played or he did he play us ?
www.mccainalert.com
waveing that little vial of white powder.
Either he was too stupid and was played or he did he play us ?
www.mccainalert.com
BILL CLINTON AND NANCY PELOSI'S SON GET PAID BIG BUCKS BY INFOUSA
BILL CLINTON AND NANCY PELOSI'S SON GET PAID BIG BUCKS BY INFOUSA
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on FoxNews.com on June 8, 2007.
The son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert moved to Washington when his father became speaker and landed a lush lobbying contract for Google.
When Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, she promised to change things — to enact serious, and long overdue, ethical reforms — to stop the growing trend of legislators and their families accepting gifts, trips, and jobs from lobbyists and corporations.
Well, some things never change.
Several days ago, Newsmax.com disclosed that in February, shortly after his mother became the first woman speaker, Paul Pelosi Jr., was hired by InfoUSA for $180,000 a year as its vice president for Strategic Planning. Pelosi also kept his other full-time day job as a mortgage loan officer for Countrywide Loans in California. And, unlike all of the other InfoUSA employees, he did not report to work at the company's headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
InfoUSA is the same company that has been cited by the New York Times for creating marketing lists that were used by con artists to fleece vulnerable elderly people. The lists had provocative names and offered the names of elderly people with cancer, elderly people with Alzheimer's and gamblers over 55 years of age who think their luck will change. After purchasing the lists, the con artists would call and convince the elderly person that they had actually ordered an expensive item. Once they received the victim's financial information, they often emptied their bank accounts, leaving many people penniless. Some of InfoUSA's internal e-mails suggest that company employees were aware that several of the companies they sold the lists to were under investigation.
And InfoUSA is also the same company that Bill Clinton works for as a consultant, and for which the former president was paid $3.3 million over the past five years. In addition, the Clintons got $900,000 worth of free travel.
Pelosi insisted that the unusual job opportunity had nothing to do with his relationship with his famous and influential mother. He just sent in an application for a job and they hired him.
Of course.
History seems to be repeating itself here. For the past several years, Josh Hastert, the son of former Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert, was a registered lobbyist for Google. What were his qualifications for lobbying for such a huge and influential company? Well, to put it bluntly, he had good connections.
Before entering the world of corporate lobbying, Josh ran a music store in northern Illinois. But he decided that he could make more money and work less in Washington. And apparently, he was right.
Although Pelosi's son is not lobbying Congress, the unorthodox payment of such a large fee for a second job to someone with no experience at all in the basic business of InfoUSA — managing data and creating marketing lists — should certainly raise eyebrows. (Also note, that this job offer came immediately after his mother became Speaker.)
And, furthermore, it is likely that Congress will eventually address privacy issues involved with the selling of data that InfoUSA sells. Pelosi would be directly involved in that legislation, and her son should not be involved with the company in any way. In addition, the company apparently sells voter lists that could be extremely valuable to the Democratic Party and could mean lucrative contracts for Infousa.
And then, there's the issue of what InfoUSA does and how its president operates.
Several members of Congress have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Infousa and its clients.
The chairman of InfoUSA, Vin Gupta, is a large donor to Democratic candidates. Minority shareholders have questioned his payments to Bill Clinton and his gifts of free travel to Hillary. The shareholders claim that Gupta has been improperly using corporate resources to further his own political goals. Gupta gave over $1 million to the Clinton Library and $2 million towards Hillary Clinton's $16 million millennium New Years' Eve Party.
So, there's no question that Gupta likes to be close to the powerful. He's stayed in the Lincoln bedroom and hosted the Clintons on a $146,000 vacation trip to Acapulco on his corporate jet. Lately, Pelosi's son has been accompanying Gupta on his jet. He claims that it's been strictly business and is “nothing like the Clinton situation.”
His payment to Pelosi's son can only be viewed as an investment and should be stopped.
Nancy Pelosi should put on her “mother of five voice” that she brags about and tell her son to go back to his day job.
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on FoxNews.com on June 8, 2007.
The son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert moved to Washington when his father became speaker and landed a lush lobbying contract for Google.
When Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, she promised to change things — to enact serious, and long overdue, ethical reforms — to stop the growing trend of legislators and their families accepting gifts, trips, and jobs from lobbyists and corporations.
Well, some things never change.
Several days ago, Newsmax.com disclosed that in February, shortly after his mother became the first woman speaker, Paul Pelosi Jr., was hired by InfoUSA for $180,000 a year as its vice president for Strategic Planning. Pelosi also kept his other full-time day job as a mortgage loan officer for Countrywide Loans in California. And, unlike all of the other InfoUSA employees, he did not report to work at the company's headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
InfoUSA is the same company that has been cited by the New York Times for creating marketing lists that were used by con artists to fleece vulnerable elderly people. The lists had provocative names and offered the names of elderly people with cancer, elderly people with Alzheimer's and gamblers over 55 years of age who think their luck will change. After purchasing the lists, the con artists would call and convince the elderly person that they had actually ordered an expensive item. Once they received the victim's financial information, they often emptied their bank accounts, leaving many people penniless. Some of InfoUSA's internal e-mails suggest that company employees were aware that several of the companies they sold the lists to were under investigation.
And InfoUSA is also the same company that Bill Clinton works for as a consultant, and for which the former president was paid $3.3 million over the past five years. In addition, the Clintons got $900,000 worth of free travel.
Pelosi insisted that the unusual job opportunity had nothing to do with his relationship with his famous and influential mother. He just sent in an application for a job and they hired him.
Of course.
History seems to be repeating itself here. For the past several years, Josh Hastert, the son of former Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert, was a registered lobbyist for Google. What were his qualifications for lobbying for such a huge and influential company? Well, to put it bluntly, he had good connections.
Before entering the world of corporate lobbying, Josh ran a music store in northern Illinois. But he decided that he could make more money and work less in Washington. And apparently, he was right.
Although Pelosi's son is not lobbying Congress, the unorthodox payment of such a large fee for a second job to someone with no experience at all in the basic business of InfoUSA — managing data and creating marketing lists — should certainly raise eyebrows. (Also note, that this job offer came immediately after his mother became Speaker.)
And, furthermore, it is likely that Congress will eventually address privacy issues involved with the selling of data that InfoUSA sells. Pelosi would be directly involved in that legislation, and her son should not be involved with the company in any way. In addition, the company apparently sells voter lists that could be extremely valuable to the Democratic Party and could mean lucrative contracts for Infousa.
And then, there's the issue of what InfoUSA does and how its president operates.
Several members of Congress have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Infousa and its clients.
The chairman of InfoUSA, Vin Gupta, is a large donor to Democratic candidates. Minority shareholders have questioned his payments to Bill Clinton and his gifts of free travel to Hillary. The shareholders claim that Gupta has been improperly using corporate resources to further his own political goals. Gupta gave over $1 million to the Clinton Library and $2 million towards Hillary Clinton's $16 million millennium New Years' Eve Party.
So, there's no question that Gupta likes to be close to the powerful. He's stayed in the Lincoln bedroom and hosted the Clintons on a $146,000 vacation trip to Acapulco on his corporate jet. Lately, Pelosi's son has been accompanying Gupta on his jet. He claims that it's been strictly business and is “nothing like the Clinton situation.”
His payment to Pelosi's son can only be viewed as an investment and should be stopped.
Nancy Pelosi should put on her “mother of five voice” that she brags about and tell her son to go back to his day job.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Top 5 Dumbest Things in the Immigration Bill
Lou's Top 5 List
Top 5 Dumbest Things in the Immigration Bill
5) Taxpayers will pay for the immigration lawyers for illegal aliens if
working in agriculture.
4) Illegal aliens would be given legal status just one day after their
application is filed even if a background check is not completed.
3) Gang members are eligible for amnesty if they renounce their gang status.
2) Borders do not have to be secure before the amnesty program begins.
1) $2,600,000,000,000 -- That is the cost the Heritage Foundation estimates
to cover the retirement benefits of 12,000,000 illegal aliens if this
amnesty bill becomes law.
from www.loudobbs.com
www.mccainalert.com
Top 5 Dumbest Things in the Immigration Bill
5) Taxpayers will pay for the immigration lawyers for illegal aliens if
working in agriculture.
4) Illegal aliens would be given legal status just one day after their
application is filed even if a background check is not completed.
3) Gang members are eligible for amnesty if they renounce their gang status.
2) Borders do not have to be secure before the amnesty program begins.
1) $2,600,000,000,000 -- That is the cost the Heritage Foundation estimates
to cover the retirement benefits of 12,000,000 illegal aliens if this
amnesty bill becomes law.
from www.loudobbs.com
www.mccainalert.com
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
new web site for Fred Thompson
http://www.imwithfred.com/
new web site for Fred Thompson
www.mccainalert.com
new web site for Fred Thompson
www.mccainalert.com
democrat's William "dollar bill" Jefferson indicted.
democrat's William "dollar bill" Jefferson indicted.
will democratic house leaderNancy Pelosi allow him to continue ?
www.mccainalert.com
will democratic house leaderNancy Pelosi allow him to continue ?
www.mccainalert.com
senator kyl
> OFIR members and supporters:
>
> Senator John Kyl, (R-Ariz), one of the chief architects of the Senate
> amnesty bill, said on the Lou Dobbs show today that phone calls to his
> office have lessened and are not as angry as before.
>
> We urge you to disabuse him of that notion. Call (202) 224-4521 and
> let Kyl know your anger over the amnesty bill and the fact that he has
> teamed with Senator Ted Kennedy in selling out America.
>
> If you want to use a toll free number use (866) 220-0044 or (866)
> 340-9281.
>
> The amnesty bill would legalize all illegal aliens in the U. S. as of
> December 31, 2007.
>
> Don't forget our rally this Friday in Salem
The so-called "conservative" fell into lockstep with Ted Kennedy. Kyl
represents
the loathsome element, a tired old White male with minus testosterone
who
is now willing to sell-out America. You phone call can make a
differance.
"Only chumps support the government in Washinton, DC>"
ted
>
> Senator John Kyl, (R-Ariz), one of the chief architects of the Senate
> amnesty bill, said on the Lou Dobbs show today that phone calls to his
> office have lessened and are not as angry as before.
>
> We urge you to disabuse him of that notion. Call (202) 224-4521 and
> let Kyl know your anger over the amnesty bill and the fact that he has
> teamed with Senator Ted Kennedy in selling out America.
>
> If you want to use a toll free number use (866) 220-0044 or (866)
> 340-9281.
>
> The amnesty bill would legalize all illegal aliens in the U. S. as of
> December 31, 2007.
>
> Don't forget our rally this Friday in Salem
The so-called "conservative" fell into lockstep with Ted Kennedy. Kyl
represents
the loathsome element, a tired old White male with minus testosterone
who
is now willing to sell-out America. You phone call can make a
differance.
"Only chumps support the government in Washinton, DC>"
ted
example of why congress ranked soo low, wheresthefence video
see this amazing video at www.wheresthefence.com
call or write your senators
for the senate senate.gov
McCain, John- (R - AZ) 241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2235
Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home
Kyl, Jon- (R - AZ)
730 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4521
Web Form: kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm
wheres the fence video
see more at www.mccanalert.com
mccainlert.com more political news
call or write your senators
for the senate senate.gov
McCain, John- (R - AZ) 241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2235
Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home
Kyl, Jon- (R - AZ)
730 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4521
Web Form: kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm
wheres the fence video
see more at www.mccanalert.com
mccainlert.com more political news
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