YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK

[Soldier4Christ]

Congress warned: U.S. risks
'catastrophe' in EMP attack
Expert: Growing threat posed by Iran,
Russia, China, North Korea, terrorists

A top scientist today warned the House Armed Services Committee America remains vulnerable to a "catastrophe" from a nuclear electromagnetic pulse attack that could be launched with plausible deniability by hostile rogue nations or terrorists.

William R. Graham, chairman of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack and the former national science adviser to President Reagan, testified before the committee while presenting a sobering new report on "one of a small number of threats that can hold our society at risk of catastrophic consequences."

It is the first report from the commission since 2004 and identifies vulnerabilities in the nation's critical infrastructures, "which are essential to both our civilian and military capabilities."

Not taking the steps necessary to reduce the threat in the next three to five years "can both invite and reward attack," Graham told the committee.

The scariest and most threatening kind of EMP attack is initiated by the detonation of a nuclear weapon at high altitude in the range of 25 to 250 miles above the Earth's surface. The immediate effects of EMP are disruption of, and damage to, electronic systems and electrical infrastructure. Such a detonation over the middle of the continental U.S. "has the capability to produce significant damage to critical infrastructures that support the fabric of U.S. society and the ability of the United States and Western nations to project influence and military power," said Graham.

"Several potential adversaries have the capability to attack the United States with a high-altitude nuclear weapon-generated electromagnetic pulse, and others appear to be pursuing efforts to obtain that capability," said Graham. "A determined adversary can achieve an EMP attack capability without having a high level of sophistication. For example, an adversary would not have to have long-range ballistic missiles to conduct an EMP attack against the United States. Such an attack could be launched from a freighter off the U.S. coast using a short- or medium-range missile to loft a nuclear warhead to high altitude. Terrorists sponsored by a rogue state could attempt to execute such an attack without revealing the identity of the perpetrators. Iran, the world's leading sponsor of international terrorism, has practiced launching a mobile ballistic missile from a vessel in the Caspian Sea. Iran has also tested high-altitude explosions of the Shahab-III, a test mode consistent with EMP attack, and described the tests as successful. Iranian military writings explicitly discuss a nuclear EMP attack that would gravely harm the United States. While the commission does not know the intention of Iran in conducting these activities, we are disturbed by the capability that emerges when we connect the dots."

Graham reminded the committee even smaller nuclear weapons can create massive EMP effects over wide geographic areas. He also pointed out that United Nations investigators recently found that "the design for an advanced nuclear weapon, miniaturized to fit on ballistic missiles currently in the inventory of Iran, North Korea and other potentially hostile states, was in the possession of Swiss criminals affiliated with the A.Q. Khan nuclear smuggling network."

Theoretically, an EMP attack is devastating because of the unprecedented cascading failures of major infrastructures that could result. Because of America's heavy reliance on electricity and electronics, the impact would be far worse than on a country less advanced technologically. Graham and the commission see the potential for failure in the financial system, the system of distribution for food and water, medical care and trade and production.

"The recovery of any one of the key national infrastructures is dependent upon the recovery of others," he said. "The longer the outage, the more problematic and uncertain the recovery will be. It is possible for the functional outages to become mutually reinforcing until at some point the degradation of infrastructure could have irreversible effects on the country's ability to support its population."

Graham took the EMP debate out of the realm of science fiction by reminding the committee that as recently as May 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Russian leaders threatened a U.S. congressional delegation with the specter of such an attack that would paralyze the U.S.

He also quoted James J. Shinn, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security, who two weeks ago told the same House committee that China's arms buildup includes exotic experiments with electromagnetic weapons that can devastate electronics with bursts of energy similar to those produced by a nuclear blast.

"The consequence of EMP is that you destroy the communications network," Shinn said. "And we are, as you know, and as the Chinese know, heavily dependent on sophisticated communications, satellite communications, in the conduct of our forces. And so, whether it's from an EMP or it's some kind of a coordinated [anti-satellite] effort, we could be in a very bad place if the Chinese enhanced their capability in this area."

Graham says terrorists who get their hands on one or a few unsophisticated nuclear weapons might well calculate they could get the most bang for their buck from attempting an EMP attack.

Recovery from a widespread EMP attack could take months or years, Graham warned. The fact that key components of the U.S. electrical grid are not even manufactured in America and must be ordered a year in advance from foreign suppliers suggests just how complicated and time-consuming recovery might be. The high state of automation within America's utilities further complicates recovery. There just might not be sufficient trained manpower available to get the job done in a timely way.

"The commission's view is that the federal government does not today have sufficient human and physical assets for reliably assessing and managing EMP threats," said Graham. "The commission reviewed current national capabilities to understand and to manage the effects of EMP and concluded that the U.S. is rapidly losing the technical competence and facilities that it needs in the government, the national laboratories and the industrial community."

Graham said it's not too late for Congress to take the bull by the horns and take the steps necessary to prepare for the threat – and thereby reduce it.

"A serious national commitment to address the threat of an EMP attack can lead to a national posture that would significantly reduce the payoff for such an attack and allow the United States to recover from EMP, and from other threats, man-made and natural, to the critical infrastructures," said Graham.

Graham's predecessor as chairman of the commission had equally tough words on the impact of the EMP threat.

"Their effects on systems and infrastructures dependent on electricity and electronics could be sufficiently ruinous as to qualify as catastrophic to the nation," Lowell Wood, acting chairman of the commission, told members of Congress in 2005.

The commission's previous report went so far as to suggest, in its opening sentence, that an EMP attack "might result in the defeat of our military forces."

[Soldier4Christ]

Housing bailout includes new fingerprint demand
Hundreds of thousands of individuals, never suspected of crime, are targeted

Mortgage lenders and brokers and even office assistants and secretaries could be subjected to new federal demands to be fingerprinted under a provision of a massive housing bailout plan – with attachments – that is moving through Congress.

An alert about the fingerprinting requirement comes from John Berlau, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington.

"We are creating this burden that adds risks of identity theft with really no additional safeguards," he told WND of the plan included in the housing bailout, which was advanced in the U.S. Senate today on an 84-12 vote.

The bill was launched to address the wave of failing loans across the United States that have sent financial markets into a slide. President Bush has expressed a high level of concern over the plan, but is expected to face pressure from members of both parties to endorse it as the 2008 presidential election season advances.

At its heart is a government-backed mortgage insurance fund and new regulations for mortgage-finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Yet the plan also includes other features that civil libertarians are finding alarming.

WND reported earlier when FreedomWorks chairman Dick Armey said its provisions would require credit card companies, eBay, Amazon, Google and other companies to report what consumers buy to the federal government.

"This is a provision with astonishing reach," he said. "Not only does it affect nearly every credit card transaction in America, such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express, but the bill specifically targets payment systems like eBay's PayPal, Amazon and Google Checkout."

"What is the federal government's purpose with this kind of detailed data? How will this database be secured, and who will have access? Many small proprietors use their Social Security number as their tax ID. How will their privacy be protected? What compliance costs will this impose on businesses? Why is Sen. Chris Dodd putting this provision in a housing bailout bill?"

The bill's summary, FreedomWorks said, states:

    Payment Card and Third Party Network Information Reporting. The proposal requires information reporting on payment card and third party network transactions. Payment settlement entities, including merchant acquiring banks and third party settlement organizations, or third party payment facilitators acting on their behalf, will be required to report the annual gross amount of reportable transactions to the IRS and to the participating payee. Reportable transactions include any payment card transaction and any third party network transaction.

Now Berlau said representatives from groups as diverse as the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Conservative Union also are objecting to the mandate for continuous fingerprint tracking.

Others joining in expressing their objections to Congress are officials for the American Policy Center, Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights, Natural Solutions Foundation, International Association of Whistleblowers, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Liberty Coalition and others.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Mel Martinez, R-Fla., have defended the requirement, saying their plan "would not violate the privacy rights of anyone."

They said the practice isn't even new.

But Berlau said the bill states fingerprint information will be used for continuous "tracking" rather than a one-time background check.

"The broad scope and lack of justification for the fingerprint mandates are the reason that diverse groups from the American Conservative Union and the American Civil Liberties Union have signed on to a recent letter opposing these very provisions of the bill," he said.

The major thrust of the bill is to provide tax credits to first-time buyers of unoccupied homes and assign $4 billion to help communities buy foreclosed homes. The bill also would authorize local housing authorities to issue billions in tax-exempt bonds to refinance subprime loans and provide low-income rental housing.

Berlau said the fingerprinting would be demanded of "hundreds of thousands of individuals never convicted nor even suspected of committing a crime." They would end up in government databases for "tracking."

Such statements leave the policy groups "troubled by the scope of this requirement and the lack of a justification as to how this would serve the goal of reducing mortgage fraud."

Berlau told WND that it wasn't secretaries in offices across the nation who took advantage of loopholes and made off with millions during the recent bubble in the mortgage industry.

In a commentary in the Wall Street Journal, Berlau said, "Even when a fingerprint registry will likely help fight terrorism or crime, many still fear it will lead to a surveillance state."

"Yet this week a measure creating a federal fingerprint registry totally unrelated to national security or violent crime may clear the Senate with little debate," he said.

[Soldier4Christ]

State troopers rebuke students for singing national anthem
Dems send security to halt patriotism in capitol rotunda

School students attending a youth leadership conference have been scolded by armed security officers in the California Capitol in Sacramento for singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" in the rotunda, according to organizers of the conference.

"The patriotic expression was apparently so egregious that state troopers were called in to the rotunda to rebuke the students," a statement from The Capitol Resource Institute said today.

"This was a ghastly overreaction to some students expressing their patriotism in the seat of government," said Karen England, executive director of CRI, and director of the youth conference. "These young leaders have sacrificed a week of their summer to come learn about our government system and this is the 'welcome' they receive from the government."

Conference organizers said several armed troopers entered the rotunda, accompanied by several capitol sergeants-at-arms, and they confronted conference organizers and students for singing without a permit from the legislature's rules committee.

The 45 students from all across California were in the statehouse as part of their participation in the City on the Hill Youth Leadership Conference. At the intensive study sessions they learn the legislative and political processes.

"After spending the day meeting with lawmakers and their staff, the youth aged 14-18, engaged in a spontaneous expression of passion for their country by singing the national anthem and God Bless America," CRI reported. "Tourists walking through the capitol stopped to listen to the singing and clapped enthusiastically."

A similar expression of patriotism was exhibited by participants in the same conference just two years ago.

Officials said, however, it was a good lesson in liberty for those students, especially the two young participants whose father was held in a Communist prison in Romania and another student who is a Russian immigrant.

"These future leaders have seen first-hand how we are losing our liberties – including simply expressing our patriotism in public," said Meredith Turney, the legislative liaison for CRI Impact and a graduate of City on the Hill.

"I am deeply saddened by the treatment these young patriots received at our state capitol," she said.

In comments published on FlashReport, she elaborated: "A few years ago the students started the tradition of singing our national anthem in the rotunda at the end of the mock legislative session. While they were at the capitol today, the students wanted a practice run before their legislative session on the Assembly and Senate floors this Saturday. One student suggested singing God Bless America as well as the national anthem, and the other students enthusiastically agreed.

"Just moments after the students finished their impromptu patriotic expression, no less than four CHP officers descended upon the rotunda, along with two sergeant-at-arms. They confronted our staff and demanded to know why our students were singing in the rotunda without a permit from the rules committee. Apparently in the five minutes it took to sing the two patriotic songs, someone had called security and complained," she wrote.

"The City on the Hill students were absolutely shocked … Why would their elected officials send armed guards to stop them from expressing such love for their country? And why do citizens need a permit to sing patriotic songs in their public buildings?" she said.

The young leaders, however, were undeterred. They asked for and received a government "permit" to sing the national anthem in the capitol rotunda tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. and are inviting friends and family to join them.

"City on the Hill students are extremely grateful to Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa and his outstanding staff for obtaining the last-minute permits we need to exercise our 'freedom' in the place where freedom should be most fervently guarded," Turney said.

Of course such objections would happen in California.

[HisDaughter]

State troopers rebuke students for singing national anthem
Dems send security to halt patriotism in capitol rotunda

School students attending a youth leadership conference have been scolded by armed security officers in the California Capitol in Sacramento for singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" in the rotunda, according to organizers of the conference.

"The patriotic expression was apparently so egregious that state troopers were called in to the rotunda to rebuke the students," a statement from The Capitol Resource Institute said today.

"This was a ghastly overreaction to some students expressing their patriotism in the seat of government," said Karen England, executive director of CRI, and director of the youth conference. "These young leaders have sacrificed a week of their summer to come learn about our government system and this is the 'welcome' they receive from the government."

Conference organizers said several armed troopers entered the rotunda, accompanied by several capitol sergeants-at-arms, and they confronted conference organizers and students for singing without a permit from the legislature's rules committee.

The 45 students from all across California were in the statehouse as part of their participation in the City on the Hill Youth Leadership Conference. At the intensive study sessions they learn the legislative and political processes.

"After spending the day meeting with lawmakers and their staff, the youth aged 14-18, engaged in a spontaneous expression of passion for their country by singing the national anthem and God Bless America," CRI reported. "Tourists walking through the capitol stopped to listen to the singing and clapped enthusiastically."

A similar expression of patriotism was exhibited by participants in the same conference just two years ago.

Officials said, however, it was a good lesson in liberty for those students, especially the two young participants whose father was held in a Communist prison in Romania and another student who is a Russian immigrant.

"These future leaders have seen first-hand how we are losing our liberties – including simply expressing our patriotism in public," said Meredith Turney, the legislative liaison for CRI Impact and a graduate of City on the Hill.

"I am deeply saddened by the treatment these young patriots received at our state capitol," she said.

In comments published on FlashReport, she elaborated: "A few years ago the students started the tradition of singing our national anthem in the rotunda at the end of the mock legislative session. While they were at the capitol today, the students wanted a practice run before their legislative session on the Assembly and Senate floors this Saturday. One student suggested singing God Bless America as well as the national anthem, and the other students enthusiastically agreed.

"Just moments after the students finished their impromptu patriotic expression, no less than four CHP officers descended upon the rotunda, along with two sergeant-at-arms. They confronted our staff and demanded to know why our students were singing in the rotunda without a permit from the rules committee. Apparently in the five minutes it took to sing the two patriotic songs, someone had called security and complained," she wrote.

"The City on the Hill students were absolutely shocked … Why would their elected officials send armed guards to stop them from expressing such love for their country? And why do citizens need a permit to sing patriotic songs in their public buildings?" she said.

The young leaders, however, were undeterred. They asked for and received a government "permit" to sing the national anthem in the capitol rotunda tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. and are inviting friends and family to join them.

"City on the Hill students are extremely grateful to Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa and his outstanding staff for obtaining the last-minute permits we need to exercise our 'freedom' in the place where freedom should be most fervently guarded," Turney said.

Of course such objections would happen in California.

Let me leave you with a quote from another thread.....










   

[Soldier4Christ]

Senate fast-tracks same-sex marriage expansion
Voice vote moves plan to state House, guv's signature expected shortly after

A resurrected plan to expand homosexual "marriage" opportunities has been fast-tracked by the state Senate in Massachusetts with a vote that moves the proposal immediately to the state House, with the governor's signature expected before the end of this month.

The proposal, previously put in a "kill" file by lawmakers, suddenly was resurrected today and given a voice approval by senators who did not even take a roll call vote.

Pro-family organizations say the plan will allow out-of-state same-sex duos to fetch drive-in "marriage" certificates in Massachusetts, then return home and create "havoc" by demanding their companies, cities, counties and states recognize them as married.

The conflict comes in that voters in 27 states already have approved state constitutional amendments limiting "marriage" to one man and one woman, and California is expected to vote on its similar plan in November.

Brian Camenker, chief of Mass Resistance, watched his state senate in action and described it as "completely orchestrated" by homosexual activists.

"It was horrible," he said. "It was as if the gays were playing them like a violin."

The voice vote, "was just a sort of murmur and that was it," he said.

"I'll tell you there's no more democracy in Massachusetts, no constitutional government. They were completely being run by the homosexual lobby," he said.

"The general population would never vote for that. The extent to which the state senate just rolled over for the homosexual lobby is absolutely breathtaking," he said.

"You would have thought they would have at least had a debate," he said.

What the senators decided to do was repeal a 1913 law that bars out-of-state couples from marrying in the state unless their "marriage" would be legal in their home state. That has precluded a mass assembly of homosexuals to "marry" in Massachusetts because until this year Massachusetts was the only state where such "marriages" were recognized.

California's state Supreme Court in May said it was unconstitutional in that state for officials to deny the status of "married" to homosexuals, and California does not have the same residency requirement imposed by Massachusetts.

Observers say the Massachusetts House likely will hold a vote later this week, and Gov. Deval Patrick is supportive of the change.

Opponents of the 1913 law said it was racist, even though Massachusetts has allowed interracial marriages since 1843.

Camenker said his organization and others lobbied earlier this year and the state senators placed the idea into a "study," which effectively stopped its advance. Suddenly, how, however, it was resurrected.

"The recent events in California have apparently energized the homosexual lobby. They apparently persuaded Sen. Robert Creedon (D-Brockton), Senate chairman of the judiciary committee, to take the unusual step of resurrecting it from the study to be voted on. Creedon, normally a pro-life, moderately pro-family senator, isn't running for re-election this fall. According to press reports, Sen. Diane Wilkerson (D-Mattapan), who led the charge to push for huge taxpayer-funding for homosexual programs in the schools, is the major force behind this also," Camenker said.

In California, however, same-sex "marriages" face an uncertain future, since a proposed constitutional amendment promoted by the ProtectMarriage.com organization already has been approved for this November's election ballot.

The amendment reads: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

And one of the followup questions would be: What happens to the "marriages" performed for same-sex couples between the time of the Supreme Court's opinion, and the possible veto of that opinion by the people of California.

In fact, homosexual groups now are actively trying to prevent the California vote, saying the five majority justices on the state Supreme Court simply can change the definition of a traditional social institution by vote, but the people cannot vote to protect it.

In Massachusetts, the mandate for same-sex "marriages" does not face that same uncertain future.

"This … would allow any homosexual couple in America to get 'married' here (in Massachusetts) – and cause havoc in their home states," Mass Resistance said. Such "couples" then would demand (using court challenges) that their home states legally recognize those marriages because of the US Constitution's 'full faith and credit' clause."

"This would make Massachusetts a sort of Mecca for gay weddings, and there will be instability around the country," Camenker told WND.

[Soldier4Christ]

Congress spares Vt., other states Medicare cuts

President George Bush vetoed federal legislation Tuesday that would have prevented cuts in Medicare payments to doctors, but within hours both the U.S. House and Senate had overridden that veto.

That reduction in payments for doctors treating Medicare patients went into effect at the start of the month.

Vermont and other rural states would have been hit the hardest if the president's veto had not been overridden. Doctors in Vermont and some other states faced not only the nationwide 10.6 percent cut, but the loss of an additional 1.6 percent differential for rural districts.

In addition, Vermont is facing an increase in Medicare-eligible patients as a large part of the population of the state grows older.

The U.S. House — which originally passed the bill 359-55 — overrode the veto by 383-41. Its fate was less certain in the U.S. Senate, which passed the original bill by 69-30. But that chamber voted to override by a 70-26 vote.

Bush wrote in his veto message that the bill "is objectionable" because it would reduce enrollment in privately administered Medicare Advantage plans.

"I support the primary objective of this legislation, to forestall reductions in physician payments," the president said in his statement. But he also urged Congress to send a new bill "that reduces the growth in Medicare spending."

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said the debate was really about whether Medicare is to be privatized or not. The Medicare Advantage program essentially paid insurance companies more.

"The administration's priority was protecting insurance companies," Welch said. "Congress stood up to the president and rejected his priorities and decided on the side of family doctors and patients."

"It is a stunning defeat of his goal of privatizing Medicare," Welch said.

"Vermonters depend on Medicare insurance being there when they need it. Overriding this veto helps keep that promise by averting disastrous cuts that would have affected all Vermonters who rely on Medicare," U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said in a statement. "I'm proud that there was a strong showing in Congress to stand up to the president and to the wealthy corporate interests who opposed this bill."

"Congress put the interests of 44 million American seniors covered by Medicare and the doctors who care for them over the interests of the insurance industry," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in a release.

Sanders noted that the measure also boosts reimbursements for community health centers that play a critical role in providing cost-effective primary health care and dental services to more than 86,000 Vermonters.

In his statement, Bush said the Medicare Advantage program has provided drug coverage to more Americans than would otherwise have had it.

Over the Fourth of July break members of Congress heard from constituents about the bill and that may be why the override vote in the House was stronger than the original vote for passage, Welch said.

"They heard loud and clear from their local docs and seniors," he said.

Doctors across the country, including in Vermont, have warned that some physicians may reduce the number of Medicare patients they see if the cuts go into effect.

"Our family doctors would have been on the verge of being driven out of business," Welch said.

[Soldier4Christ]

More sign onto English official language bill

 Three more members of Congress became co-sponsors of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act on Wednesday.

The support of Reps. Henry Brown (R-S.C.), Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Jon Porter (R-Nev.) brings the total number of co-sponsors to 152, making the bill one of the most supported bills in Congress.

The bill, which would make English the official language of the United States, is pending before the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

A lobbying firm founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English Inc., is pushing Congress to pass the bill. Its Chilean-born chairman, Mauro Mujica, was pleased with the decision.

"At a time when some would have us believe that Americans need to learn the language of the immigrants," said Mujica, "I am pleased to see that a large contingent of congressional leaders remain focused on English, the language of opportunity and unity in our nation."

In 2000, 25.8 percent of Californians spoke Spanish as their primary language. English has been California's official language since Proposition 63 passed in 1986.

The bill permits the teaching of foreign languages in schools. Also, the bill states, "nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit (agents of the federal government) from communicating unofficially ... in a language other than English."

[Soldier4Christ]

Democrats plan second economic stimulus bill

Democrats controlling Congress ratcheted up expectations Tuesday for additional legislation to jump-start the dragging economy.

"We will be proceeding with another stimulus package," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said after meeting with several economists.

Pelosi said that recently issued tax rebate payments of $600 to individuals and $1,200 for married couples have helped the economy but that more is necessary to offset the drag of higher gasoline prices and other costs.

But President Bush cautioned in a White House press conference that lawmakers should "wait for the stimulus package to fully kick in" before passing another.

The Democratic effort is still in its formative stages, but most of the proposals mentioned by Democrats were rejected by Bush during negotiations that produced the earlier stimulus measure. A new package probably won't be acted on before Congress returns in September from its annual summer vacation.

New legislation could include: additional tax rebates, heating and air conditioning subsidies for the poor, infrastructure projects, higher food stamp payments and aid to the states.

Pelosi told reporters that she "would hope that (tax rebates) would be part of any package" but that some of the Democratic elements need to be attached. Pelosi said later Tuesday that she hopes proposals such as boosting food stamps and home energy subsidies would have more GOP support now, considering the sharp spikes in gasoline and food prices.

For his part, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., sounded less than enthusiastic about another round of tax rebates.

"The first thing we need to look at before we look at tax rebates is, what can we do to stimulate the economy?" Reid said. "And that's infrastructure development. That's bridges, highways, dams, and to put massive amounts of money into an infrastructure for renewable energy."

The discussion over a new economic stimulus bill comes as Congress is working to complete a broad housing rescue package to give new mortgages to hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure.

And a voter revolt over record gas prices has generated heated debate about further opening up the Outer Continental Shelf to oil exploration.

"To my Democratic colleagues who want this Congress take up a massive, taxpayer-funded 'stimulus' package, I offer them this piece of simple advice: the best way to stimulate our economy would be to take meaningful steps to reduce the price at the pump," said House GOP Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri.

Bush called for Congress to focus first on housing and energy legislation before turning to a new economic stimulus bill.

"Let's see how this stimulus package works and let us deal with the housing market with a good piece of housing legislation, and the energy issue with good energy legislation, and the trade issue with good trade legislation," Bush said.

[Soldier4Christ]

State Dept. promote 'Mosques in America'
Publishes '09 calendar featuring worship sites for only 1 religion

This now available from the U.S. State Department: "2009 Mosques of America Wall Calendar: Limited Edition for Ramadan."

"Yep, you read that correctly. It's 'perfect for Muslim outreach efforts," according to a commentary at the Gates of Vienna blog. "Where's the ACLU on this one?"

The product was being advertised by "Global Publishing Solutions," a division of the U.S. State Department, until bloggers started talking about it.

Officials then apparently hid the page behind the security of a password-protected wall. However, the page is still viewable in a Google cache of the website.

According to the Gates of Vienna, the government advertised:

    In celebration of Ramadan, Global Publishing Solutions (GPS) is offering a limited edition of the 2009 Mosques in America Wall Calendar. This 12-month calendar is perfect for Muslim outreach efforts, as well as office and event giveaways.

    The wall calendar features a vibrant photograph or photomontage for each month, displaying the beauty of mosques in America.

    The upper half of the hanging calendar depicts mosque facades or interiors, and the lower half displays a monthly calendar grid. The 28-page calendar is saddle-stitched and measures 23 x 30 1/2 cm (9 x 12 inches)

    This item is on sale until August 1st, 2008 in shrink-wrapped packs of 20 pieces.

"Remember," said the Internet commentator, "This was on an official State Department (state.gov) web page. GPS describes itself this way: 'The Global Publishing Solutions, manages this site as a gateway to information and transactions for their U.S. State Department clients."

On the Gates of Vienna site, a reader posted a comment recommending  the State Department "adorn the calendar with equally vibrant Quranic verses and hadiths, samples of what is preached in those mosques. For example: January: Kill the infidels wherever you find them. February: Allah's Apostle said: I've been made victorious with terror – and so on and so forth."

JihadWatch.org  pointed out the page was pulled after the weblog Snapped Shot posted an image of it yesterday. Snapped Shot said it seems the public servants at State "get all nervous when We, The People actually notice" what they're doing.

JihadWatch also made available captured screen shots of the top half and the bottom half of the page.

 

Gates of Vienna commented: "Since Islam is not really a religion, but a political ideology, the government's sale of an Islamocentric calendar evidently doesn't violate the separation of church and state. It's like selling photos of local Democratic Party Headquarters."

The cached page reveals the prices are $44 per pack if you order from 6-10 packs of 20.

[Soldier4Christ]

State's 'So Gay' campaign goes bust
Taxpayers fuming over funds to lure homosexual tourists from London

South Carolina's taxpayer-paid advertisement describing it as "So Gay" has backfired and could cost the state precious tourism dollars following a firestorm of criticism.

According to a report by the Palmetto Scoop last week, the state's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism budgeted $5,000 to promote South Carolina's "gay"-friendly atmosphere in time for London's "Gay" Pride Week that ended Saturday. The operation promoted South Carolina and five major U.S. cities to homosexual travelers, touting "gay" beaches and Civil War plantations.

State distribution of funds for the campaign was called off following public protest from angry citizens, 2 million people observed the posters plastered in London subways.

State Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, claimed he had no knowledge of the campaign and demanded an audit of the Tourism Department's $14 million advertising budget.

"South Carolinians will be irate when they learn their hard earned tax dollars are being spent to advertise our state as 'so gay,'" Thomas told the Scoop. "South Carolina is a wonderful, family friendly destination not a Southern version of San Francisco. This campaign goes against our core values."

The Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement criticized "conservative 'Bible Belt' politicians" for cancelling the publicity stunt, saying the state stands to lose "gay" tourism funds. Ryan Wilson, president of South Carolina Pride, announced an effort to bring the promotion back by displaying South Carolina "Will Be So Gay" posters in London.

"South Carolina may not be 'so gay' currently – but we are going to show the world that we can be and we will be so gay, and gay friendly some day," Wilson said.

According to an MSNBC report, when the campaign was unveiled last month, the state tourism board confidently promoted the ad, saying "it sends a powerful positive message."

"For our gay visitors, it is actually quite wonderful for them to discover just how much South Carolina has to offer – from stunning plantation homes to miles of wide sandy beaches," a statement said.

An unidentified "low-level" employee who is said to be responsible for authorizing the campaign resigned his position with the state tourism agency following the backlash.

[HisDaughter]

State Dept. promote 'Mosques in America'
Publishes '09 calendar featuring worship sites for only 1 religion


Gates of Vienna commented: "Since Islam is not really a religion, but a political ideology, the government's sale of an Islamocentric calendar evidently doesn't violate the separation of church and state. It's like selling photos of local Democratic Party Headquarters."

No doubt.

[nChrist]

These last several posts are sickening! It's shouldn't take much imagination to see where things are going and what's going to happen. DO WE REALLY NEED TO WONDER IF GOD'S WRATH WILL BE RIGHTEOUS AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST? NO! - IT'S LONG PAST DUE!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Favorite Bible Quotes 26 - 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.

[Shammu]

NOTE: I have imbeded links into this news article.

State Dept. promotes 'Mosques in America'
Publishes '09 calendar featuring worship sites for only 1 religion
Posted: July 18, 2008
12:10 am Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

This now available from the U.S. State Department: "2009 Mosques of America Wall Calendar: Limited Edition for Ramadan."

"Yep, you read that correctly. It's 'perfect for Muslim outreach efforts," according to a commentary at the Gates of Vienna blog. "Where's the ACLU on this one?"

The product was being advertised by "Global Publishing Solutions," a division of the U.S. State Department, until bloggers started talking about it.

Officials then apparently hid the page behind the security of a password-protected wall. However, the page is still viewable in a Google cache of the website.

According to the Gates of Vienna, the government advertised:

    In celebration of Ramadan, Global Publishing Solutions (GPS) is offering a limited edition of the 2009 Mosques in America Wall Calendar. This 12-month calendar is perfect for Muslim outreach efforts, as well as office and event giveaways.

The wall calendar features a vibrant photograph or photomontage for each month, displaying the beauty of mosques in America.

The upper half of the hanging calendar depicts mosque facades or interiors, and the lower half displays a monthly calendar grid. The 28-page calendar is saddle-stitched and measures 23 x 30 1/2 cm (9 x 12 inches)

This item is on sale until August 1st, 2008 in shrink-wrapped packs of 20 pieces.

"Remember," said the Internet commentator, "This was on an official State Department (state.gov) web page. GPS describes itself this way: 'The Global Publishing Solutions, manages this site as a gateway to information and transactions for their U.S. State Department clients."

On the Gates of Vienna site, a reader posted a comment recommending  the State Department "adorn the calendar with equally vibrant Quranic verses and hadiths, samples of what is preached in those mosques. For example: January: Kill the infidels wherever you find them. February: Allah's Apostle said: I've been made victorious with terror – and so on and so forth."

JihadWatch.org  pointed out the page was pulled after the weblog Snapped Shot posted an image of it yesterday. Snapped Shot said it seems the public servants at State "get all nervous when We, The People actually notice" what they're doing.

JihadWatch also made available captured screen shots of the top half and the bottom half of the page.

Gates of Vienna commented: "Since Islam is not really a religion, but a political ideology, the government's sale of an Islamocentric calendar evidently doesn't violate the separation of church and state. It's like selling photos of local Democratic Party Headquarters."

The cached page reveals the prices are $44 per pack if you order from 6-10 packs of 20.
~~~~

Sure I'll order some to burn, I need some more fire starter for the fireplace.

[nChrist]

NOTE: I have imbeded links into this news article.

State Dept. promotes 'Mosques in America'
Publishes '09 calendar featuring worship sites for only 1 religion
Posted: July 18, 2008
12:10 am Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

This now available from the U.S. State Department: "2009 Mosques of America Wall Calendar: Limited Edition for Ramadan."

"Yep, you read that correctly. It's 'perfect for Muslim outreach efforts," according to a commentary at the Gates of Vienna blog. "Where's the ACLU on this one?"

The product was being advertised by "Global Publishing Solutions," a division of the U.S. State Department, until bloggers started talking about it.

Officials then apparently hid the page behind the security of a password-protected wall. However, the page is still viewable in a Google cache of the website.

According to the Gates of Vienna, the government advertised:

    In celebration of Ramadan, Global Publishing Solutions (GPS) is offering a limited edition of the 2009 Mosques in America Wall Calendar. This 12-month calendar is perfect for Muslim outreach efforts, as well as office and event giveaways.

The wall calendar features a vibrant photograph or photomontage for each month, displaying the beauty of mosques in America.

The upper half of the hanging calendar depicts mosque facades or interiors, and the lower half displays a monthly calendar grid. The 28-page calendar is saddle-stitched and measures 23 x 30 1/2 cm (9 x 12 inches)

This item is on sale until August 1st, 2008 in shrink-wrapped packs of 20 pieces.

"Remember," said the Internet commentator, "This was on an official State Department (state.gov) web page. GPS describes itself this way: 'The Global Publishing Solutions, manages this site as a gateway to information and transactions for their U.S. State Department clients."

On the Gates of Vienna site, a reader posted a comment recommending  the State Department "adorn the calendar with equally vibrant Quranic verses and hadiths, samples of what is preached in those mosques. For example: January: Kill the infidels wherever you find them. February: Allah's Apostle said: I've been made victorious with terror – and so on and so forth."

JihadWatch.org  pointed out the page was pulled after the weblog Snapped Shot posted an image of it yesterday. Snapped Shot said it seems the public servants at State "get all nervous when We, The People actually notice" what they're doing.

JihadWatch also made available captured screen shots of the top half and the bottom half of the page.

Gates of Vienna commented: "Since Islam is not really a religion, but a political ideology, the government's sale of an Islamocentric calendar evidently doesn't violate the separation of church and state. It's like selling photos of local Democratic Party Headquarters."

The cached page reveals the prices are $44 per pack if you order from 6-10 packs of 20.
~~~~

Sure I'll order some to burn, I need some more fire starter for the fireplace. ;D

This is an absolute outrage! The excuse is also BALONEY, especially considering that "Separation of Church and State" as interpreted today is a manufactured LIE that never existed! This was and is a Christian Nation - just not a Baptist, Church of Christ, ABC, XYZ, or any other Christian denomination Nation. This is what the founders installed, and they installed it for a Christian people who fought a revolution for their Christian FREEDOM. GOD IS OUR SUPREME COMMANDER, AND JESUS CHRIST - VERY GOD - IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR! This is our roots - our heritage, and the ONLY TRUTH! Over 200 years of HEAVILY documented history serves as absolute PROOF for this only TRUTH. Our public buildings, public records, Constitutions, and documents that would require huge warehouses BEAR WITNESS OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND JESUS CHRIST! THIS MASSIVE TRUTH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ERASE, HIDE, OR FORGET! It's simply an inconvenient ABSOLUTE TRUTH to the devil and the powers of darkness with the devil.

Every generation has fought, bled, and died to preserve our Christian ways of life and our Christian FREEDOMS guaranteed by our Laws and our Constitutions! Our Laws and Constitutions are still in place, and the majority of the people are still self-professing Christians. At present, we do have rogue courts and a rogue government VIOLATING our Laws, Our Constitutions, our Freedoms, and our Rights. HOWEVER, THE ROGUES HAVE NO POWER EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS GIVEN BY THE PEOPLE! We haven't given THIS POWER, and WE WON'T!

[Soldier4Christ]

Why Democrats don't want to lower gas prices
Senator lets cat out of the bag on Bloomberg TV show

A Democratic senator on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee inadvertently explained why her colleagues have no intention of ending the moratorium on offshore oil drilling or increasing the areas open for exploration and production – no matter how popular the idea might be with gas prices soaring.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV's "Money and Politics" last night, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., explained Democrats don't want to increase supplies of oil and gasoline because they want to wean Americans off of petroleum products.

Asked point-blank if Democrats in the Senate would consider how increasing the supply of oil would lower the prices that are pinching U.S. consumers, Cantwell replied: "Oh, we definitely want to move beyond petroleum. And so there will be a supply side offered by the Democrats and it will include everything from battery technology to making sure that we have good home domestic supply, and looking, as I said about moving faster on those kind of things like wind and solar that can help us with our high cost of natural gas."

In other words, no.

The point was underlined by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who said Democrats are not even permitting debate on legislation and amendments designed to increase the supply of oil and gasoline to U.S. consumers.

"Today, the appropriations markup that was going to include amendments that would open up the outer continental shelf and maybe even shale in Colorado and Utah was canceled," she told the same Bloomberg interviewer. "It wasn't postponed, it was canceled. So that indicates to me that the majority is not going to try to have an open debate, but I hope I'm wrong. If they have an open debate, and we're allowed to have amendments, and we have a balanced plan that includes production in all the sectors, then I believe we can meet this problem in a bipartisan way, and that's what we should be doing for America."

WND's Joseph Farah is spearheading a grassroots battle to flood Congress – and particularly the Democratic leadership – with e-mails, phone calls, letters and text messages demanding action that can lead the country in the direction of energy independence.

"Right now, that means lifting the moratorium," he says. "That's the first step. If we can't agree on that as Americans today, then we are in for a long period of national economic decline. If we can't push Congress to do the right thing with even a strong majority of Democrats behind us, then this country is simply no longer a place where the will of the people means anything."

Farah's goal is to force Congress to act in the next two months – before it adjourns for the year.

"There's an election coming up one month after that adjournment date and even the most entrenched incumbents know how sensitive this issue is," says Farah. "Now is the time to let them hear you."

Farah's plan is simple: "I want to bring Congress to its knees," he says. "I want to melt down their phones. I want to flood their e-mail boxes. I want to hold them as political hostages. The ransom demand is to unleash the free market to begin exploring and pumping domestic crude oil and getting it to market as fast as possible. We've got two months to make our voices heard. Let's make history by bringing this recalcitrant body of elitists into compliance with the will of the people and the rule of law."

After eagerly waiting for someone else to take the lead on demanding action of Congress, Farah came to the conclusion no one else was going to do it.

"We're running out of time," Farah says. "If we let these rascals, these scoundrels, leave town before they lift all their ridiculous bans and restrictions on drilling for domestic oil, this country is headed for a major recession. Even worse, we'll head into a new year and a new presidency with the Washington elite thinking they put one over on us again."

Farah says the only thing that can prevent the disaster of gasoline prices of $6, $7, even $8 a gallon in the near future is a general uprising of the American people.

Besides the call to action, Farah is also devoting the current issue of Whistleblower magazine, the monthly print complement to WND, to the critical topic of "the energy independence revolution."

"It's time to stop business as usual," he says. "Every day, you need to make some phone calls, you need to write some emails, you need to use Skype and text messages and even send some letters through the Post Office. This grass-roots movement has to build steadily for the next two months. We cannot allow Congress to adjourn without lifting the ban on drilling in ANWR, offshore and on public lands under which we know there are vast reserves of oil."

Farah says it's a national emergency and needs to be treated as such.

"I hope radio talk show hosts across the country will embrace this bipartisan, non-partisan movement," he says. "There is no question in my mind this is what the American people want. Now it's just time for them to impose their will on their elected representatives who, in their chauffeured limousines and taxpayer-supported travel, are hopelessly out of touch with their constituents, with people who are finding it difficult to make ends meet."

Farah says he is convinced Congress will act only if the people steamroll members into action. He points to the way the Dubai port deal and so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" were killed by popular uprisings in recent years.

"We can make this happen, again," he says. "But this time, we won't just be stopping something bad from happening. We will be doing something that is very good for the country – something that will improve the lives of all of us, something that will improve national security, something vital for the future of the nation."

Congress is set to adjourn in late September.

"I'm going to do everything in my power to push Congress into action in the next two months," Farah says. "I know I can't do it by myself. But I know if the American people get mobilized nothing can stop them. You have to let members of Congress know you are serious. You have to persuade them and their staffs they are not returning to Washington next year if they fail to act in America's interest before they leave town."

Before then, you can reach members of the House by calling 202-224-3121 or 202-225-1904. The official House website contains web pages for all members and includes email addresses for most.

You can reach members of the U.S. Senate by calling 202-225-6827. The official Senate website also contains web pages for all members and includes email address for some.