This'n'That; April 15th[TeaParties;Extremists;American;Texas;10thAmdmt]

The "Big" Day

The day some regret has arrived! Ya gotta pay your taxes, or at least file the forms. Beyond that, this is "Taxpayer Tea Party Day" as well! FIRST and FOREMOST...To be effective, each and every 'Tea Party' MUST be SAFE and NON-VIOLENT!! There are hundreds scheduled around the country; I intend to attend the one in Rochester, NY. I'm sure there'll be other protest meetings throughout the country-throughout the year. If you need some, tee-shirts can be found at http://www.fubowear.com/ that will be compatable with "taxpayer disgust!" Get yours early!!

Fluffmeister Continues Community Agitation

[I saw the news articles warning the Missouri Highway Patrol that vehicles displaying "Ron Paul" bumper stickers should be considered "right-wing extremists." After a cursory overview, I didn't give it much credence. Now I see this article from the DHS! [One might think it's from ACORN or from "Fluffy-The Community Agitator"] They're warning law enforcement that those of us who buy guns, buy ammo, complain about the economy, complain about the way Fluffy obama is destroying America, are to be considered "right-wing extremists" and are to be monitored! You-bettcher-ass I'm a "right-wing extremist!!" I want back, the America I grew up in! Preferably, unscathed by the ill-conceived economic policies of the Fluffy administration. Where was the DHS when we bitched about the economic policies of the previous administration??] The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement agencies that recent news is helping "right-wing extremist groups" recruit new members and could lead to violence, and warns about the possible recruitment and radicalization of returning veterans. DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis issued an intelligence assessment last week that said it has no specific information that domestic right-wing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence, but right-wing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on fears about the recession and the election of the first African American president. The office called them "unique drivers for right-wing radicalization and recruitment." "The current economic and political climate has some similarities to the 1990s when right-wing extremism experienced a resurgence fueled largely by an economic recession, criticism about the outsourcing of jobs and the perceived threat to U.S. power and sovereignty by other foreign powers.," it continues. The report also suggests that returning veterans are attractive recruits for right-wing groups looking for "combat skills and experience" so as to boost their "violent capabilities." It adds that new restrictions on gun ownership and the difficulty of veterans to reintegrate into their communities "could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks." "Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of right-wing extremist groups ... The high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by right-wing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some parts of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement," the report says. The assessment notes that right-wing recruitment grew in the 1990s but subsided after increased scrutiny by the government following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings. "DHS has no specific information that domestic right-wing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence, but right-wing extremists may be gaining new recruitments by playing on their fears about several emerging issues," Kuban said.

An Email That "Says It All!!"

[I get alot of those "forward this" emails that range from those "three wishes" kind to this one, portraying an American patriot. I decided to reprint it-which illustrates what I believe!!]

YES, I'M A BAD AMERICAN I Am the Liberal-Progressives Worst Nightmare. I am an American.. I am a Master Mason and believe in God. I ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles and believe in American products.. I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some Liberal governmental functionary be it Democratic or Republican! I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way! I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer, it makes you a smart American. I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything. Get over it! I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, do it in English.. I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to. My heroes are John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and Willie G. Davidson that makes the Awesome Harley Davidson Motorcycles. I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor. I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it. I've never owned a slave, or was a slave, I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks and neither have you! So, shut up already. I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country! This is AMERICA ..We like it the way it is! If you were born here and don't like it you are free to move to any Socialist country that will have you. I want to know which church is it exactly where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution. Can I get an AMEN on that one? I also think the cops have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are. And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my drivers license. I think it's good..... And I'm proud that 'God' is written on my money. I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years. I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their cause. Get a Job and do your part! I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents. I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers think. I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in AMERICA ! If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American. If you are a BAD American too, please forward this to everyone you know. We want our country back!

They Ain'No "Fluff" Here!

[I found the text of the resolution during "site checks" I make most days, in search of interesting things to comment on. Who wudda ever thunk it?!?! I cudda been the first with this; the only place I found any early reference was on the Texas official website. In any case, it's out here now, although about......how many days have we been "officially Fluffed??".... oh, eighty-five days...... that makes the Texas House's resolution about 86 days late!! What seems to be the "straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back" in this fiasco are the whole host of restrictions put on Texas' share of Porkulus tied to their unemployment insurance fund. To get $555Million in Porkulus, Texas had to adhere to the following restrictions:

The federal porkulus funds distributed to the states come from the Federal Unemployment Account based on the state's share of the federal unemployment taxes paid. In order to get $555 million in federal porkulus funds, the state must change the state law. [A] To receive one third of the funding (approximately $185 million), the state must have an alternate base period for purposes of calculating eligibility that includes using the most recent quarter of wage credits in the calculation.

Under current state law, the state provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have wages in two of the first four of the last five quarters, thereby excluding any wages earned in the most recent quarter. [B] To receive the additional two-thirds of the funding, the state must make the change to the alternate period (above) and also change state statutes to extend benefits to two of the following four groups: Provide benefits to individuals seeking only part-time work when they previously worked part-time.

Currently, individuals must seek full-time work regardless of whether they worked full-time or part-time.

Provide benefits to individuals who voluntarily left employment for a compelling family reason, including: [1] domestic violence (already provided under Texas law); [2] illness or disability of an immediate family member (federal requirements require more than state provisions that already include illness of minor child or terminally ill spouse); [3] accompanying a spouse when moving for the spouse's job (Texas currently covers military families). [4] Provide 26 weeks of additional compensation to unemployed individuals that have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are participating in state-approved or WIA funded training programs. [5] Increase payments by at least $15 per dependent, per week capped at lesser of $50 or 50% of the individual's weekly benefit amount.

If ya ask me, that's one heluva straw!! Where are the other forty-nine governors on the "States Rights" issue?

.....well, 48..... New Yorkers know Guvner "Double-Dealin' " Dave'll take all the money the Fluffmeister'll throw at him, NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS!!] Texas Governor Rick Perry joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of [Texas] House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said.

“I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”

A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal government’s constitutionally designated powers and impede the states’ right to govern themselves. HCR 50 affirms that Texas claims sovereignty under the 10th Amendment over all powers not otherwise granted to the federal government. It also designates that all compulsory federal legislation that requires states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties, or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding, be prohibited or repealed.

HCR 50 is authored by Representatives Brandon Creighton, Leo Berman, Bryan Hughes, Dan Gattis and Ryan Guillen.

[For your reference and edification, the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.]

Til Nex'Time....