535

535 - All in all that really doesn’t seem like a big number right? Yeah, that’s what I thought. More on this shortly.

The other day I was at a finance board meeting for my county. The good news, well there was none. The bad news, after years of a “flat budget” they are now saying that not only will they have to begin making cuts, but they will most likely be facing layoffs. A lot of this has to do with the fact that the state is reneging on its fiscal obligations and failing to pay the county. So as a result, the county has to tighten its fiscal budget and be responsible.

Not so in DC.

535, the total number of Senators and Congressional Representatives, serving We The People. The current salary (2010) for these members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year. That does not reflect the speaker and majority / minority representatives who are paid more for their lofty positions.

$1,013,162,955, the amount spent in the nine months between June 2009 and March 2010 by the aforementioned 535!!! No, that wasn’t a mistake, that’s over $1 BILLION dollars. This comes from the Members Representational Allowances. This is the fund we provide to these over priced “legislators” to administer their offices. Literally it is their version of your house operating expenses, except on a grandiose level.

Can you say disconnect?

Now, understand that this is only 9 months. $674 million is what the House spent in the last six months of 2009 followed by $339 million in the first three months of 2010. Now considering the dire straits we, the average American Tax Payers, are in, you might wonder what pressing issues could these elected officials be spending so much money on? Glad you asked:

$51.6 million Paid to about 637 chiefs of staff or deputy chiefs of staff.

$4.4 million Paid to about 1,045 interns and pages.

In addition to the salaries above, they also paid out: $34.9M on health insurance, $854K on life insurance and $12.6M on student loan repayments. I guess when you work for the government; you don’t need to pay your own student loans. Nice huh?

I guess when you are this important; you need an entourage to help you make such important decisions on what things to spend OUR tax money on. What decisions you might ask, well here:

$114,925 spent by the Democratic Caucus for its staff to have a getaway for the weekend to the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va. (Hey, everyone needs a vacation right?)

$362,939 received by (Former) former House Speaker Dennis Hastert to run an office for outstanding affairs from his tenure. (Uhmmmm Newsflash: Hastert hasn't been the speaker since early 2007, or even been in Congress since late 2007, for that matter.)

$5.3 million Spent on computer software (Hey, Assassin’s Creed II for PC was coming out.)

$18 million Spent on computer hardware (Cause what’s the purpose of having a great new program if you have video lag!!)

$7.5 million spent on office supplies (Red Pens and Post-It Notes for all those pesky health care changes?)

$565,373 Spent on carpet. (They only have 540 rooms. Do they re-carpet every year?)

$317,304 Spent on new drapes. (For 550 windows? How do you wear out drapes?)

$2.5 million was spent on furniture. (Uh, Nancy your new armoire is here)

$2.6 million spent on food and beverages (and you thought your food bill was high)

This included:

$604K Spent on bottled water (Really, the US Capitol water supply is that bad?)

$169K Spent on catering. (I hate cooking to. Besides, I bet the restaurant bill would have been Insane………)

$3,061 Spent on Chantilly Donuts (Now you know how they pass all those insane laws, SUGAR RUSH)

$84,794 Spent on coffee (To stay awake and read those several thousand page laws)

$9,450 Spent on Coca-Cola products. (Wonder if they were surprised when they got Soda?)

$22.6 million for postage. (To share with their constituents all the good news in DC)

Over $16 Million on telecommunications services. (And you thought your cell phone bill was high!!)

$11 million spent on newspapers and other resources (To read about all the good they are doing!!)

$5.8 million spent on Web design, e-mail and hosting services. (What, they didn’t have enough money for a dedicated IT staff?)

$9,809 Spent on shredding services (I guess they couldn’t find an intern to do any shredding?)

$12.5M Spent on travel for representatives and staff (I’d want to get away from my constituents as well. But who gets the frequent flyer miles?)

Next time you are clipping coupons and trying to figure out how you are going to make it till the next paycheck, just think about your congressional representative and how they are making it from paycheck to paycheck……. Now, don’t you feel better !!!

November elections, 3 months and counting !!!

Voter Fraud, the new American way ?

I'm taking a new approach. Seems like life has been pushing, pulling and prodding me in so many directions, that I can't seem to find the time to sit down and write at length. This is sad to me because I actually enjoy writing and feel that there is so much out there to actually write about. Let's face it dear readers, this country is not exactly in the best of health.

Growing up, one of my favorite TV shows was Superman. No, not the cartoon, or the movies, the actual TV show. No, not Smallville, go back further, the Original TV Show, in all it's B&W glory (well, color by the 3rd season but you get the point)!!

At the beginning of the show, their was a monologue which ended "....the never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way!!"

My, how far we have come.

There was a time when I believed that the majority of Americans felt that way. Maybe it was just my own brand of naïveté. Maybe it still is, but it seems to be a fading echo from a once better time.

Today's little gem of happiness come from the land up north. Minnesota to be exact. Minnesota Majority, a conservative watchdog group, just released a report which found that at least 341 convicted felons in largely Democratic Minneapolis-St. Paul voted illegally in the 2008 Senate race. That was the race that pitted former comedian Al Franken, against incumbent Senator Norm Coleman.

Now, whatever your feelings on the individuals or their respective parties, it's got to irk you when there is an apparent attempt to undermine the electoral process which makes this country so great. One would think that it would set off bells and whistles across the board. You'd be wrong. Apparently, there is no interest in this matter at the federal and state levels.

Now, if you are asking why 341 is such a big deal, you'd be right. Statistically, it's not very significant. But consider that the election results were hotly contested and that the final recount vote, determined six months after Election Day, showed Franken beat Coleman by only 312 votes.

Now, as far as Minnesota politics go, I don't know anything about Norm Coleman, and I probably know way too much about Al Franken. I didn't have much care for him as a snobby pseudo intellectual comedian (talk about a minority classification) and after seeing recent coverage of him in the Senate I have even less to say about him.

But this isn't about politics or parties, this is about what we are allowing to happen to this great nation. We have to take a stand on a local level and make our once taciturn voices heard.

If we allow allegations of impropriety to go unheeded, we set the stage for further violations of our way of life.

Personally, I think this matter should be fully investigated by the authorities. If the information provided by this group is fraudulent, then action should be taken against them immediately. However, if it is authentic, then the system is broken and needs to be fixed.

We as American's cannot allow THEM to dictate to US what should and shouldn't be done. That's how we got in this mess. Don't think it can get worse ? Sit back and do nothing and watch. Don't find yourself looking back at 2010 and saying ".........yeah, those were the good times."

Health Care Reform

No issue has been more divisive than this topic. It has become the proverbial line in the sand in this nation. The sad thing to me is that it is a serious topic that has been lost due to its abuse by the political machine in Washington.

Fundamentally, everyone agrees that health care reform is something that needs to be addressed. But it’s the complexity of the issue that causes the most issues. It’s simply not as clear cut as D.C. would lead you to believe.

HCR was a topic that President Obama campaigned on. It was in fact one of the cornerstones of his campaign platform. If you go back to last summer, the majority of Americans wanted HCR. A Rasmussen poll from June 2009 indicated that 50% of American’s favored HCR. This is significant. The argument was sound that American’s wanted this.

So what happened to cause such a stunning reversal that by March 2010 the pendulum had swung around to a 54% opposition? In fact, at several points from December to February the disapproval rating was as high as 58% while the approval rating sunk to 38%.

The foundation for this issue can be seen in the sweeping mandate that the Democrats were given in 2008. The American people embraced the slogans of “Hope & Change” and “Yes We Can” and elected a Democratic President and gave majority control of both the Senate and the House to the Democrats. The current majority totals in the Senate are 59 to 41, and in the House it is 253 to 178. In fact, it is interesting to note the fact that the Democratic Party has actually held control in both houses since January 2007. But in 2008 they were given the keys to the country. Majority control of both the executive and legislative branches of government. No one could have predicated that they would struggle as mightily as they have to pass such a critical piece of the President’s platform.

The German statesman Otto Von Bismarck once remarked “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.”

Despite having control, the Congress hit a number of road blocks in their attempt to pass HCR. Finally in December 2009 the senate, led by Harry Reid, managed to barter, bribe and bully enough votes to pass it. OK, so you are sitting there going “barter, bribe and bully” is some strong words. Yep, correct. One only has to look at the deals that were made push this through. The sad thing is that when this bill was pushed through, many admitted they didn’t even read the 2k plus page bill.

By December most American’s realized that entrusting a piece of legislation that is equivalent to 1/6 of our economy to a political machine that has been the Doctor to such well known patient’s as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security was not a good idea. More on this ugly little trifecta topic in a later blog.

The outcry was loud. Shelve it, and start over. This is where it went wrong. The American people, who issued the mandate, revoked it. While Barrack Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and the rest were trumpeting “Simple Majority” to pass their bill, they were ignoring the “Simple Majority” who was calling for them to start over. For the first time it became crystal clear to the American people that once they elected their representatives, their representatives could care less what they thought. So what happened, politics as usual baby.

Obama, Reid & Pelosi did what politicians always do. They pointed fingers at the other party. When their own party couldn’t pass the health care bill in the House, because their members didn’t like it, they called the republicans out as “obstructionists.” They accused the minority of playing partisan politics while their own majority held out on them. At that point it was clear that they would do anything, and they did. They ratcheted up the barter, bribe and bully tactics until they managed to eek out a win. But the key to all this is to remember that in addition to the dissenting Republican votes, 32 Democrats also held out. The same bill had passed the Senate earlier in the day 56-43, with all voting Republicans and three Democrats voting "no." The key to understanding this is that even members of their own party knew this was bad.

What will the outcome be of Health Care Reform? Good Question. I guess it comes down to your political outlook. Do you think that the government will manage to keep its word and institute a major health care overhaul that will extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, crack down on unpopular insurance industry practices, and to reduce federal deficits by an estimated $143 billion over a decade? I’m sorry, I don’t. The CBO reported was used as evidence to support the Democratic position that this plan will reduce the deficit, but what was lost was the fact that the CBO was only able to use the data supplied to them. Basically what you have is “garbage in, garbage out.”

Personally, I believe the cost and revenue projections are unrealistic assumptions and accounting tricks. Taking money away from one fund, to offset another and assuming that there will be no cause and effect is a recipe for disaster. OK, so how did Congress get to the magical number of $143 Billion in deficit reduction? According to the CBO between now and 2019 the net cost of insuring new enrollees in Medicaid and private insurance plans will be $788 billion. But, other provisions in the legislation will generate revenues and cost savings of over $933 billion. Subtract the first figure from the second and you get $143 billion.

To me, the first big question I have with these figures is that the bulk of the cost savings, more than $450 Billion, comes from cuts in Medicare payments to doctors and other health-care providers. Ever hear of a little organization called AARP? Yeah, let me know how those Medicare cuts work out. Let’s be realistic, have you ever heard of a Washington program coming in under budget? What happens when that $143 Billion in savings turns out to be $400 Billion in deficit?

And that really leads to the most important question. Why are we doing this now? Folks, we are in a major recession. We have bailed out housing (Fannie & Freddie), Auto (GM), Insurance (AIG), Banking (Goldman Sachs, Citi, B of A), and the nearly $800 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. We have no money left to spend. Yet our representatives in D.C. are acting like out of control kids with their parent’s credit cards. They used up all their paper money, and now they are hitting the plastic. Much of the problem lies with President Bush & the Republican Party, but remember the Democrats do not have clean hands either. There is enough blame to go around.

But it’s not 2008 anymore, it’s 2010. It’s time for the blame game and campaigning to end, and the accountability and responsibility to kick in. All I hear now is you have to spend to get things rolling. In 2007, the federal budget deficit was $162 billion. For 2009, the budget deficit is projected to be about $1.8 Trillion and for 2010 it is projected to be $1.4 Trillion. Someone once said “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money” (This quote is often misattributed to Senator Everett Dirksen,(R) Illinois). Well, if that is the case, what do we say now?

If we do not do something at the grass roots level, that means you and me, we are not going to have a country left to give our kids. It is time to hold our representatives accountable. If they will not vote according to our desire, then it is time to make a change in November.

"Torches and Pitchforks - Protecting Americans from Politicians since 1791."

He's Back.................

It's been almost a year since my last post and it seems very strange to be sitting here writing this. For a time I wondered if I would ever write another post. I have gone through a long period of trial & tribulation as well as a period of introspection and reflection.

Without getting into the details, my life seemed to take a very odd series of twists and turns and I ultimately found myself in a rather hellish place. I would like to say that I emerged unscathed, but that would be a lie. It's true that the important lessons in life are often painful and the really important ones often leave deep scars. I feel like the phoenix in my graphic. With God's grace and mercy I have emerged from the ashes. Regretfully there were some who had to come with me in this journey. To my wife and my family, I say thank you for believing in me and standing by me.

Now it's time to refocus on the issues that are facing us. In other words, it's time for us to once again pickup our "Torches and Pitchforks."

Andrew
The Angry American

"Torches and Pitchforks - Protecting Americans from Politicians since 1791."

Arlen Specter, Poster Child for Term Limits

In the 1977 blockbuster movie, Star Wars, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi counsels young Luke Skywalker before they enter the Mos Eisley Cantina “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be careful”. It was funny back then, but as I sit here now, I can imagine that same admonition being said prior to entering the U.S. Capitol.

On Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, United States Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) did something amazing, he switch from (R-Pa.) to (D-Pa.). Now personally I am not shocked by this little charade. To be quite honest he was what has become known as a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

No, the shock comes from the unmitigated gall that this pathetic excuse for a Senator has. You see, the issue was raised just about a month and half ago when he was interview by “The Hill”. During the interview Specter said he absolutely would not switch parties.

At the time Specter said: [Democrats] are trying very hard for the 60th vote. Got to give them credit for trying. But the answer is no.

Get that everyone, the answer is NO. When is NO not really NO, apparently when you’re a politician.



Specter went on to say: “I'm not going to discuss private talks I had with other people who may or may not be considered influential. But since those three people are in the public domain, I think it is appropriative to respond to those questions."

"I am staying a Republican because I think I have an important role, a more important role, to play there. The United States very desperately needs a two-party system. That's the basis of politics in America. I'm afraid we are becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party with so little representation of the northeast or in the middle Atlantic. I think as a governmental matter, it is very important to have a check and balance. That's a very important principle in the operation of our government. In the constitution on Separation of powers.”

The other day, after this change was made public, Specter was asked if he had anything to say to his constituents, you know, the little people who elected him. His response: "I don't have to say anything to them," Specter said "They've said it to me."

Truth is, whatever your party affiliation, something like this should give you pause and make you think. Specter’s defection isn’t earth shattering, what it is, is a sad condemnation of our politicians and the system. Specter has been in the Senate since 1980. Almost 30 years. Folks, Specter, along with people like Joe Biden, John McCain, Edward Kennedy, Ted Stevens, & Daniel Inouye, are the poster children for term limits.

These people get elected and then……. Just never leave. Senators serve a term of six (06) years……. Then again, with an annual salary of $174,000 (as of 2009), would you leave? Pretty much the job is recession proof. But you would think after being in the Senate for 20, 30, 40 & even 50 years…… THEY WOULD GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!

The point is, when are we going to wake up and realize that the Capitol, in the immortal words of General Kenobi, is nothing more than a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Arlen Specter jumping ship is unremarkable. As stated before, he was a Republican in name only while his voting record belied his true beliefs. He switched parties simply because he realized he faced a potentially embarrassing defeat against another Republican. He risked that defeat because his “constituents” were unhappy with his performance.

What is troublesome is that, rather than improve and do what he was elected to do, he lied to them. He willfully engaged in back door deals and more lies to secure himself a seat in the Democratic Party and thereby retain his position. When questioned, he acted like a petulant child stating “I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate.” Uh, Arlen………….. remember you work for US, and your record will be judged by US. I just hope that when the time comes, the democrats in Pennsylvania remember how little this man think of his “constituents.”

All Americans, republican or democrat, should be embarrassed to have someone like this representing them. Clearly this is nothing more than self-serving lies and treachery.

Maybe we need to reconsider the whole term limit issue. They have gotten way to comfy in the halls of the Capitol.

"Torches and Pitchforks - Protecting Americans from Politicians since 1791."

Those Dangerous Military Veterans

I knew it; I said all along that you should never, ever trust a man or woman who wears BDU’s and swore an oath to protect and defended the Constitution.

(For the uninitiated, that statement is of course dripping in sarcasm)

Today, April 16, 2009 , Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano apologized to veterans after a report issued by her department said troops returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were at risk for being recruited by rightwing extremists. I use the term “apologized” very loosely. What she actually said was “To the extent veterans read it as an accusation ... an apology is owed.” Oh, okay, well if you were just simply offended by it I guess you can just go to hell.

Is this woman inhaling something?

The Department of Homeland Security is now hinting that returning vets might be a security risk because they are trained soldiers. Following that logic, I guess DHS Secretary Napolitano might potentially be a prostitute, I think she has the equipment.

That might have sounded a little harsh, but I have a huge problem with my government slighting our military veterans.

Here is what the report "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," said:

(U//FOUO) The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.

(U//FOUO) Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of rightwing extremist groups, as well as potentially spur some of them to begin planning and training for violence against the government. The high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by rightwing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some parts of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement.

(U//FOUO) Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to rightwing extremists. DHS/I&A is concerned that rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities.

And here is the crazy thing, who do they identify? No one. Just a vague commentary in which they paint dissenting opinions with a very wide brush and lump them all into a group called Rightwing Extremists.

So, if you happen to be against illegal immigration, or you are against the way the government is handling the current financial crisis, or if you are a legal gun owner, or if you are or heaven forbid, ever served your country honorably as a member of the United States military…. You might just be a "rightwing extremist."

"Torches and Pitchforks - Protecting Americans from Politicians since 1791."

In Memory of DASY

Last Thursday, April 1st, 2009, at 0100, DASY, a beautiful yellow Labrador was executed by four walking pieces of shit in Texas. DASY was their last victim, shot with a .357 Magnum, but not their first. They have been doing this sort of thing for kicks. DASY’s death might have just been another in a continuing string if not for her owner, who heard the shot and went to investigate.

DASY was not just another dog. She was given to her owner to help in his rehabilitation. You see, her owner is Retired U.S. Navy SEAL, Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell, recipient of the Navy Cross and Purple Heart. PO1 Luttrell was the lone survivor of a 2005 Taliban attack in the Hindu-Kush mountains of Afghanistan. DASY was named after the four members of Marcus’ squad, three of whom were killed during Operation Redwing.

After hearing the shot, Marcus went to investigate and found the four vermin who then fled in their car. Marcus jumped into his truck and chased them through four counties before cops were able to setup a roadblock and apprehend them. Now here’s the kicker, after they are caught they have the audacity to threaten Marcus’ life! Had they only realized how close they came to forfeiting their own lives that night.

There are no words to explain this. My heartfelt prayers go out to Marcus.

As we all know, crimes against animals are rarely prosecuted aggressively, absent public outcry. As of this writing they are only facing a potential two year sentence for animal cruelty, and that is only for two of them. Two others have been let go. I urge everyone to either call or write David Weeks, the Walker County District Attorney, (936) 435-2441 Fax (936) 435-2449, and demand that every possible charge be leveled against these individuals and that all sentences run consecutively.