Politics 2008
- Thread starter THE KOD
- Start date
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djv
the dems are just as big as bigots as the white guys in republican party. That includes the many colors and woman.
That is what is wrong with our system of presidential politics. We get stuck with people that have the most money.
Its pathetic the way this crap systems works.
New York Post Online Edition: postopinion: "THE indictment of Hillary Clinton's 2000 campaign-finance director, David Rosen, may pose a threat to the senator's presidential bid. For now, the federal indictment is focused only on Rosen, but it is not hard to see the process creeping up the campaign food chain to the senator herself.
At issue are the expenses the campaign incurred in an August 2000 fund-raiser for Hollywood glitterati. Rosen was indicted for claiming that the event cost $400,000 when, federal prosecutors allege, he knew the actual cost to be $1.1 million. Under federal campaign-finance rules, the Clinton campaign was obliged to pay for 40 percent of the cost of the fund-raiser. So, if the gala cost $400,000, the campaign had to pay only $160,000, but if the price tag was actually $1.1 million, the campaign would have been on the hook for $440,000.
By understating the cost of the party, Rosen was, in effect, giving Hillary's campaign an extra $280,000.
While there is no indication that the Senate candidate knew of the understating of the cost of the event, is it credible that she would not be aware of a decision that gave her campaign more than a quarter of a million dollars as it entered the final three months before the election?
...
Hillary has always been a detail person who kept a hawk-like focus on the cost of even her husband's campaigns. How much more involved and fixated she must have been on a major financial decision that affected her own election effort.
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same old same old
At issue are the expenses the campaign incurred in an August 2000 fund-raiser for Hollywood glitterati. Rosen was indicted for claiming that the event cost $400,000 when, federal prosecutors allege, he knew the actual cost to be $1.1 million. Under federal campaign-finance rules, the Clinton campaign was obliged to pay for 40 percent of the cost of the fund-raiser. So, if the gala cost $400,000, the campaign had to pay only $160,000, but if the price tag was actually $1.1 million, the campaign would have been on the hook for $440,000.
By understating the cost of the party, Rosen was, in effect, giving Hillary's campaign an extra $280,000.
While there is no indication that the Senate candidate knew of the understating of the cost of the event, is it credible that she would not be aware of a decision that gave her campaign more than a quarter of a million dollars as it entered the final three months before the election?
...
Hillary has always been a detail person who kept a hawk-like focus on the cost of even her husband's campaigns. How much more involved and fixated she must have been on a major financial decision that affected her own election effort.
...................................................
same old same old
Scott could you find me one state in the south that will vote for her? If your talking about the primaries then i agree with you. She most likely will win the nomination but not the presidency in my opinion. I already see how Rudi has people conned and most on this site because of one freaking day9/11. Im also sure that the replubicans like the liars they are will want a fair campaign. Now if Mccain said this id be happy to see it but with Rudi who will be the one to say it this will block all the skeletons in his closet. when it comes to campaining for all the marbles the republicans know how to play dirty. Not to sure this time around they are gonna want to play it that way since Rudi will be open up like a can of peanuts.
I do not think Rudi can win the nomination.
this is so early.
I am surprised that no one comments about paying for endorsements.
Is everyone in here oblivious , or they just dont give two chits.
this is so early.
I am surprised that no one comments about paying for endorsements.
Is everyone in here oblivious , or they just dont give two chits.
Scott yes the money system stinks. And till we get a law where we give our two bucks. Then it's split down middle between two winners. We get the chit we get. And for primaries until we get a law. That's states this is how much you can spend. Were stuck. When I say this is all they can spend that it's period. No out side sources can spend either. 750 million they already are saying maybe a billion to win/buy this election.
But with most money in hands of one class of folks they will yell like hell. And this as you said could be either Reb or Dem. But I do believe you will here more from the Reb.
But with most money in hands of one class of folks they will yell like hell. And this as you said could be either Reb or Dem. But I do believe you will here more from the Reb.
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- A bomb went off Friday night at a girls school in the southeastern Iranian border city of Zahedan, according to the semi-official FARS News Agency.
No one was hurt or killed in the 10 p.m. (1:30 p.m. ET) blast, a military spokesman told the Web site of Iran's state television, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
The spokesman, identified as Col. Goodarzi, told IRIB that based on initial information from the scene, a number of militants exploded a percussion bomb in the city and fired at an electricity plant before running away and hiding at a nearby house.
Security forces have surrounded the building in an attempt to arrest them, he said.
Electricity has been cut, and reporters are barred from the area, but gunfire could be heard in the streets.
Zahedan is near where Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan meet.
According to FARS, the leader of the Jondollah group, Abdolmalek Rigy, claimed responsibility for the bombing on MKO-TV. The group also claimed responsibility for a car bomb in the same area Wednesday.
MKO stands for the Mojahedin Khalq Organization, an Iranian terrorist group stationed in Iraq.
On Wednesday, a car bomb struck an Iranian military bus in Zahedan, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 30. (Full story)
A witness told the state-run Iranian news agency IRNA that the car blew up as soon as the bus, which belonged to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, arrived to pick up military personnel at a barracks.
The small terrorist group Jondollah claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack, FARS reported. The group has a history of launching attacks at Iranian border posts. IRNA reported that five people, including a failed suicide bomber, were arrested after the attack.
According to FARS, Iranian officials said the explosives used in that attack were manufactured in the United States. CNN could not verify those claims.
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Maybe we have found a way to stop all the Iraqui roadside bombings.
When there is a fire in the kitchen sometimes you have to travel many miles to put it out.:SIB
No one was hurt or killed in the 10 p.m. (1:30 p.m. ET) blast, a military spokesman told the Web site of Iran's state television, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
The spokesman, identified as Col. Goodarzi, told IRIB that based on initial information from the scene, a number of militants exploded a percussion bomb in the city and fired at an electricity plant before running away and hiding at a nearby house.
Security forces have surrounded the building in an attempt to arrest them, he said.
Electricity has been cut, and reporters are barred from the area, but gunfire could be heard in the streets.
Zahedan is near where Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan meet.
According to FARS, the leader of the Jondollah group, Abdolmalek Rigy, claimed responsibility for the bombing on MKO-TV. The group also claimed responsibility for a car bomb in the same area Wednesday.
MKO stands for the Mojahedin Khalq Organization, an Iranian terrorist group stationed in Iraq.
On Wednesday, a car bomb struck an Iranian military bus in Zahedan, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 30. (Full story)
A witness told the state-run Iranian news agency IRNA that the car blew up as soon as the bus, which belonged to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, arrived to pick up military personnel at a barracks.
The small terrorist group Jondollah claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack, FARS reported. The group has a history of launching attacks at Iranian border posts. IRNA reported that five people, including a failed suicide bomber, were arrested after the attack.
According to FARS, Iranian officials said the explosives used in that attack were manufactured in the United States. CNN could not verify those claims.
...................................................................
Maybe we have found a way to stop all the Iraqui roadside bombings.
When there is a fire in the kitchen sometimes you have to travel many miles to put it out.:SIB
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Giuliani Takes Aim at U.N. (Snicker Snicker!)
Herald Tribune ^ | 1/24/07
Posted on 01/24/2007 5:51:52 AM PST by areafiftyone
Former New York City mayor and potential presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani began an hour-and-a-half-long speech in Sarasota on Tuesday by poking fun at the organization founded to help maintain international law.
Giuliani told the nearly 1,700 audience members, some of whom paid up to $600 to hear him speak as part of this year's Ringling School Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series, a story about his first months as mayor.
He had taken to calling New York "the capital of the world" as he worked his constituency. This, he said, generated letters from other mayors around the country wondering who awarded New York that title. One of them asked if the United Nations had passed a resolution bestowing the honor on the Big Apple.
"This is before we knew the United Nations can't pass resolutions," Giuliani told the audience.
........................................................
Herald Tribune ^ | 1/24/07
Posted on 01/24/2007 5:51:52 AM PST by areafiftyone
Former New York City mayor and potential presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani began an hour-and-a-half-long speech in Sarasota on Tuesday by poking fun at the organization founded to help maintain international law.
Giuliani told the nearly 1,700 audience members, some of whom paid up to $600 to hear him speak as part of this year's Ringling School Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series, a story about his first months as mayor.
He had taken to calling New York "the capital of the world" as he worked his constituency. This, he said, generated letters from other mayors around the country wondering who awarded New York that title. One of them asked if the United Nations had passed a resolution bestowing the honor on the Big Apple.
"This is before we knew the United Nations can't pass resolutions," Giuliani told the audience.
........................................................
Subject: Air Force One Passengers
AS THEY SAY IN SPAIN, YOU CAN HAVE NO SECRETS FROM THE SERVANTS!
YOU WILL FIND THE SECRET SERVICE VIEWS ON THE PERSONALITIES OF PAST
PRESIDENTS TO BE QUITE INTERESTING.
For those who don't know... Capt. Denny Keast flies for UAL and flew many
SAM's (Special Air Mission's) for the White House.
Subject: Secret Service
I flew 4 Presidential support missions in the C-141 out of Dover AFB, DE Two for President Johnson and two for President Nixon.
Johnson was a first class jerk and on the two occasions I flew for him, if the Secret Service and their Liaison in the Pentagon hadn't intervened, we
would have had to stay on the airplane for hours while he (Johnson) was off somewhere. Nixon never required that and the four (4) stops we made with him he was cordial to the Secret Service and to me and my crew.
We had a neighbor when I lived in DC who was part of the secret service presidential detail for many years. His stories of Kennedy and Johnson were the same as those I heard from the guys who flew the presidents' plane
Yes, Kennedy did have Marilyn Monroe flown in for secret "dates," and LBJwas a typical Texas "good ole boy" womanizer. Nixon, Bush 41, and Carter
never cheated on their wives. Clinton cheated, but couldn't match Kennedy or
LBJ in style or variety.
The information below is accurate: The elder Bush and current president Bush make it a point to thank and take care of the air crews who fly them around.
When the president flies, there are several planes that also go, one carries the armored limo, another the security detail, plus usually a press aircraft.
Both Bush's made it a point to stay home on holidays, so the Air Force and security people could have a day with their families.
WHAT WAS:
Hillary Clinton was arrogant and orally abusive to her security detail. She forbade her daughter, Chelsea , from exchanging pleasantries with them.
Sometimes Chelsea , miffed at her mother's obvious conceit and mean spiritedness ignored her demands and exchanged pleasantries regardless, but never in her mother's presence.
Chelsea really was a nice, kindhearted, and lovely young lady. The consensus opinion was that Chelsea loved her Mom but did not like her.
Hillary Clinton was continuously rude and abrasive to those who were charged to protect her life. Her security detail dutifully did their job, as
professionals should, but they all loathed her and wanted to be on a different detail.
Hillary Clinton was despised by the Secret Service as a whole.:scared Former President Bill Clinton was much more amiable than his wife. Often the Secret Service would cringe at the verbal attacks Hillary would use against her husband. They were embarrassed for his sake by the manner and frequency in which she verbally insulted him, sometimes in the presence of the Secret
Service, and sometimes behind closed doors. Even behind closed doors Hillary Clinton would scream and holler so loudly that everyone could hear what she was saying.:scared
Many felt sorry for President Clinton and most wondered why he tolerated it instead of just divorcing his "attack dog" wife. It was crystal clear that the Clinton 's neither liked nor respected each other and this was true long before the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Theirs was genuinely a "marriage of convenience.":scared
Chelsea was much closer to her father than her mother, even after the Lewinsky scandal, which hurt her gravely. Bill Clinton did in fact have
charisma, and occasionally would smile at or shake hands with his security detail. Still, he always displayed an obvious air of superiority towards
them.
His security detail uniformly believed him to be disingenuous, false, and that he did nothing without a motive that in some way would enhance his image and political career. He was polite, but not kind. They did not particularly like him and nobody trusted him.
WHAT COUL D HAVE BEEN:
Al Gore was the male version of Hillary Clinton. :scared They were more friendly toward each other than either of them were towards former President Clinton.
They were not intimate, so please don't read that in. They were very close in a political way. Tipper Gore was generally nice and pleasant. She
initially liked Hillary but soon after the election she had her "pegged" and no longer liked her or associated with her except for events that were
politically obligatory.
Al Gore was far more left wing than Bill Clinton. Al Gore resented Bill Clinton and thought he was too "centrist." He despised all Republicans. His
hatred was bitter and this was long before he announced for the Presidency.This hatred was something that he and Hillary had in common. They often said as much, even in the presence of their security detail.
Neither of them trusted Bill Clinton and, the Secret Service opined, neither of them even liked Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton did have some good qualities,
whereas Al Gore and Hillary had none, in the view of their security details.
Al Gore, like Hillary, was very rude and arrogant toward his security detail. He was extremely unappreciative and would not hesitate to scold them in the presence of their peers for minor details over which they had no control. Al Gore also looked down on them, as they finally observed and learned with certainty on one occasion. Al got angry at his offspring and
pointed at his security detail and said, "Do you want to grow up and be like them?":scared
Word of this insult by the former Vice-President quickly spread and he became disliked by the Secret Service as Hillary. Most of them prayed Al
Gore would not be elected President, and they really did have private celebrations in a few of their homes after President Bush won. This was not
necessarily to celebrate President Bush's election, but to celebrate Al Gore's defeat.
WHAT IS:
Everyone in the Secret Service wants to be on First Lady Laura Bush's detail. Without exception, they concede that she is perhaps the nicest and
most kind person they have ever had the privilege of serving. Where Hillary patently refused to allow her picture to be taken with her security detail,
Laura Bush doesn't even have to be asked, she offers. She doesn't just shake their hand and say, "Thank you." Very often, she will give members of her detail a kindhearted hug to express her appreciation. There is nothing
false about her. This is her genuine nature. Her security detail considers her to be a "breath of fresh air." They joke that comparing Laura Bush with Hillary Clinton is like comparing "Mother Teresa" with the "Wicked Witch of the North." :SIB
Likewise, the Secret Service considers President Bush to be a gem of a man to work for. He always treats them with genuine respect and he always trusts and listens to their expert advice. They really like the Crawford, Texas detail. Every time the president goes to Crawford he has a Bar-B-Q for his security detail and he helps serve their meals. He sits with them, eats with them, and talks with them. He knows each of them by their first name, and calls them by their first name as a show of affection. He always asks about
their family, the names of which he always remembers. They believe that he is deeply and genuinely appreciative of their service. They could not like, love, or respect anyone more than President Bush.
Most of them did not know they would feel this way, until they had an opportunity to work for him and learn that his manner was genuine and
consistent. It has never changed since he began his Presidency. He always treats them with the utmost respect, kindness, and compassion.
...................................................................
AS THEY SAY IN SPAIN, YOU CAN HAVE NO SECRETS FROM THE SERVANTS!
YOU WILL FIND THE SECRET SERVICE VIEWS ON THE PERSONALITIES OF PAST
PRESIDENTS TO BE QUITE INTERESTING.
For those who don't know... Capt. Denny Keast flies for UAL and flew many
SAM's (Special Air Mission's) for the White House.
Subject: Secret Service
I flew 4 Presidential support missions in the C-141 out of Dover AFB, DE Two for President Johnson and two for President Nixon.
Johnson was a first class jerk and on the two occasions I flew for him, if the Secret Service and their Liaison in the Pentagon hadn't intervened, we
would have had to stay on the airplane for hours while he (Johnson) was off somewhere. Nixon never required that and the four (4) stops we made with him he was cordial to the Secret Service and to me and my crew.
We had a neighbor when I lived in DC who was part of the secret service presidential detail for many years. His stories of Kennedy and Johnson were the same as those I heard from the guys who flew the presidents' plane
Yes, Kennedy did have Marilyn Monroe flown in for secret "dates," and LBJwas a typical Texas "good ole boy" womanizer. Nixon, Bush 41, and Carter
never cheated on their wives. Clinton cheated, but couldn't match Kennedy or
LBJ in style or variety.
The information below is accurate: The elder Bush and current president Bush make it a point to thank and take care of the air crews who fly them around.
When the president flies, there are several planes that also go, one carries the armored limo, another the security detail, plus usually a press aircraft.
Both Bush's made it a point to stay home on holidays, so the Air Force and security people could have a day with their families.
WHAT WAS:
Hillary Clinton was arrogant and orally abusive to her security detail. She forbade her daughter, Chelsea , from exchanging pleasantries with them.
Sometimes Chelsea , miffed at her mother's obvious conceit and mean spiritedness ignored her demands and exchanged pleasantries regardless, but never in her mother's presence.
Chelsea really was a nice, kindhearted, and lovely young lady. The consensus opinion was that Chelsea loved her Mom but did not like her.
Hillary Clinton was continuously rude and abrasive to those who were charged to protect her life. Her security detail dutifully did their job, as
professionals should, but they all loathed her and wanted to be on a different detail.
Hillary Clinton was despised by the Secret Service as a whole.:scared Former President Bill Clinton was much more amiable than his wife. Often the Secret Service would cringe at the verbal attacks Hillary would use against her husband. They were embarrassed for his sake by the manner and frequency in which she verbally insulted him, sometimes in the presence of the Secret
Service, and sometimes behind closed doors. Even behind closed doors Hillary Clinton would scream and holler so loudly that everyone could hear what she was saying.:scared
Many felt sorry for President Clinton and most wondered why he tolerated it instead of just divorcing his "attack dog" wife. It was crystal clear that the Clinton 's neither liked nor respected each other and this was true long before the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Theirs was genuinely a "marriage of convenience.":scared
Chelsea was much closer to her father than her mother, even after the Lewinsky scandal, which hurt her gravely. Bill Clinton did in fact have
charisma, and occasionally would smile at or shake hands with his security detail. Still, he always displayed an obvious air of superiority towards
them.
His security detail uniformly believed him to be disingenuous, false, and that he did nothing without a motive that in some way would enhance his image and political career. He was polite, but not kind. They did not particularly like him and nobody trusted him.
WHAT COUL D HAVE BEEN:
Al Gore was the male version of Hillary Clinton. :scared They were more friendly toward each other than either of them were towards former President Clinton.
They were not intimate, so please don't read that in. They were very close in a political way. Tipper Gore was generally nice and pleasant. She
initially liked Hillary but soon after the election she had her "pegged" and no longer liked her or associated with her except for events that were
politically obligatory.
Al Gore was far more left wing than Bill Clinton. Al Gore resented Bill Clinton and thought he was too "centrist." He despised all Republicans. His
hatred was bitter and this was long before he announced for the Presidency.This hatred was something that he and Hillary had in common. They often said as much, even in the presence of their security detail.
Neither of them trusted Bill Clinton and, the Secret Service opined, neither of them even liked Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton did have some good qualities,
whereas Al Gore and Hillary had none, in the view of their security details.
Al Gore, like Hillary, was very rude and arrogant toward his security detail. He was extremely unappreciative and would not hesitate to scold them in the presence of their peers for minor details over which they had no control. Al Gore also looked down on them, as they finally observed and learned with certainty on one occasion. Al got angry at his offspring and
pointed at his security detail and said, "Do you want to grow up and be like them?":scared
Word of this insult by the former Vice-President quickly spread and he became disliked by the Secret Service as Hillary. Most of them prayed Al
Gore would not be elected President, and they really did have private celebrations in a few of their homes after President Bush won. This was not
necessarily to celebrate President Bush's election, but to celebrate Al Gore's defeat.
WHAT IS:
Everyone in the Secret Service wants to be on First Lady Laura Bush's detail. Without exception, they concede that she is perhaps the nicest and
most kind person they have ever had the privilege of serving. Where Hillary patently refused to allow her picture to be taken with her security detail,
Laura Bush doesn't even have to be asked, she offers. She doesn't just shake their hand and say, "Thank you." Very often, she will give members of her detail a kindhearted hug to express her appreciation. There is nothing
false about her. This is her genuine nature. Her security detail considers her to be a "breath of fresh air." They joke that comparing Laura Bush with Hillary Clinton is like comparing "Mother Teresa" with the "Wicked Witch of the North." :SIB
Likewise, the Secret Service considers President Bush to be a gem of a man to work for. He always treats them with genuine respect and he always trusts and listens to their expert advice. They really like the Crawford, Texas detail. Every time the president goes to Crawford he has a Bar-B-Q for his security detail and he helps serve their meals. He sits with them, eats with them, and talks with them. He knows each of them by their first name, and calls them by their first name as a show of affection. He always asks about
their family, the names of which he always remembers. They believe that he is deeply and genuinely appreciative of their service. They could not like, love, or respect anyone more than President Bush.
Most of them did not know they would feel this way, until they had an opportunity to work for him and learn that his manner was genuine and
consistent. It has never changed since he began his Presidency. He always treats them with the utmost respect, kindness, and compassion.
...................................................................
Last edited:
Congress suggestions.
FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.
Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT: An anti-crime package including stronger truth-in- sentencing, ?good faith? exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer?s ?crime? bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT: Child support enforcement, tax incentives for adoption, strengthening rights of parents in their children?s education, stronger child pornography laws, and an elderly dependent care tax credit to reinforce the central role of families in American society. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: A S500 per child tax credit, begin repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT: No U.S. troops under U.N. command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT: Raise the Social Security earnings limit which currently forces seniors out of the work force, repeal the 1993 tax hikes on Social Security benefits and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let Older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT: ?Loser pays? laws, reasonable limits on punitive damages and reform of product liability laws to stem the endless tide of litigation. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT: A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators. (Description)
Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.
...............................................................
I got this on a politcal blog, I like it.
FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.
Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT: An anti-crime package including stronger truth-in- sentencing, ?good faith? exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer?s ?crime? bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT: Child support enforcement, tax incentives for adoption, strengthening rights of parents in their children?s education, stronger child pornography laws, and an elderly dependent care tax credit to reinforce the central role of families in American society. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: A S500 per child tax credit, begin repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT: No U.S. troops under U.N. command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT: Raise the Social Security earnings limit which currently forces seniors out of the work force, repeal the 1993 tax hikes on Social Security benefits and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let Older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT: ?Loser pays? laws, reasonable limits on punitive damages and reform of product liability laws to stem the endless tide of litigation. (Bill Text) (Description)
THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT: A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators. (Description)
Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.
...............................................................
I got this on a politcal blog, I like it.
Fulton to rebid controversial jail food contract
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/21/07
Amid allegations of bid rigging and corruption, Fulton County commissioners agreed Wednesday to rebid a lucrative food service contract at the county jail.
County Attorney O.V. Brantley said Wednesday she's launched a probe into the allegations, but Commissioner Robb Pitts said any investigation should be turned over to state or federal agents.
"Someone seems hell bent on giving the contract to this firm," Pitts said. "I'm going to find out why.... This is serious stuff...This needs to be investigated, not in house but by someone outside."
The Trinity Services Group won the original contract in 2005, but it expired more than a year ago. When it was rebid in December, Trinity received the recommendation, even though it was the highest bidder of the three, according to county records.
One of the firms that was rejected filed a formal protest with the county, and the other filed a letter, also with the county, claiming employees were pressured to change bid evaluations to ensure that the deal stayed with Trinity.
Charles Mathis Jr. said his client, Meat Masters Inc., was the rightful winner of the contract with a bid that was $850,000 lower than Trinity's $4.1 million offer. They only failed, Mathis said in his letter, because county employees were pressured to doctor the bid evaluations.
"Meat Masters should legitimately be awarded the contract," Mathis wrote.
Two county employees, Sgt. Chandra Hall and former Chief Jailer Charles Felton, provided written statements to Meat Masters that they had been directed to change the contract evaluations to boost the results for Trinity. The Board of Commissioners has copies of the letters, which were also obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Both said they were threatened that if they went before commissioners with Meat Masters as the bidder they would be hammered.
The other bidder, Gourmet-Aramark Correctional Services, has alleged collusion involving the other two bidders since Meat Masters was included as a subcontractor on the winning bid by Trinity.
Lawyer Michael Coleman, who served as hearing officer for the complaint, issued a ruling on Feb. 16 that recommended Fulton rebid the deal.
"Due to the questions raised by the county's rejection of Gourmet-ARAMARK's proposal and the collusion claims involving Trinity and Meat Masters, the appropriate remedy is to cancel the current RFP and re-issue a new RFP," Coleman found.
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this crooked chit never ends. And this is the stuff that is found out about. If all the crooked folders came out, we would be appalled.
It amazes me how this goes on and on and on.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/21/07
Amid allegations of bid rigging and corruption, Fulton County commissioners agreed Wednesday to rebid a lucrative food service contract at the county jail.
County Attorney O.V. Brantley said Wednesday she's launched a probe into the allegations, but Commissioner Robb Pitts said any investigation should be turned over to state or federal agents.
"Someone seems hell bent on giving the contract to this firm," Pitts said. "I'm going to find out why.... This is serious stuff...This needs to be investigated, not in house but by someone outside."
The Trinity Services Group won the original contract in 2005, but it expired more than a year ago. When it was rebid in December, Trinity received the recommendation, even though it was the highest bidder of the three, according to county records.
One of the firms that was rejected filed a formal protest with the county, and the other filed a letter, also with the county, claiming employees were pressured to change bid evaluations to ensure that the deal stayed with Trinity.
Charles Mathis Jr. said his client, Meat Masters Inc., was the rightful winner of the contract with a bid that was $850,000 lower than Trinity's $4.1 million offer. They only failed, Mathis said in his letter, because county employees were pressured to doctor the bid evaluations.
"Meat Masters should legitimately be awarded the contract," Mathis wrote.
Two county employees, Sgt. Chandra Hall and former Chief Jailer Charles Felton, provided written statements to Meat Masters that they had been directed to change the contract evaluations to boost the results for Trinity. The Board of Commissioners has copies of the letters, which were also obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Both said they were threatened that if they went before commissioners with Meat Masters as the bidder they would be hammered.
The other bidder, Gourmet-Aramark Correctional Services, has alleged collusion involving the other two bidders since Meat Masters was included as a subcontractor on the winning bid by Trinity.
Lawyer Michael Coleman, who served as hearing officer for the complaint, issued a ruling on Feb. 16 that recommended Fulton rebid the deal.
"Due to the questions raised by the county's rejection of Gourmet-ARAMARK's proposal and the collusion claims involving Trinity and Meat Masters, the appropriate remedy is to cancel the current RFP and re-issue a new RFP," Coleman found.
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this crooked chit never ends. And this is the stuff that is found out about. If all the crooked folders came out, we would be appalled.
It amazes me how this goes on and on and on.
DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) --
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said Friday he is pulling out of the 2008 Democratic race for president, citing financial difficulties in a campaign that lasted 15 weeks.
Vilsack, 56, said he would have continued if it weren't for the large amounts of money he would need for a a campaign.
"The reality, however, is that this process has become to a great extent about money, a lot of money," he said. "And it is clear to me that we would not be able to continue to raise money in the amounts necessary to sustain, not just a campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, but a campaign across this country.
"It is money -- and only money -- the reason we are leaving today."
With his wife, Christie, by his side, Vilsack thanked his family, friends and financial supporters.
The two-term governor also praised his staff.
"It's an organization I'm convinced would have been sufficient to have won the Iowa caucuses if we were to continue."
He added, "They believed in me, and they believed in the ideas that we were going to put forward."
Vilsack formally announced his presidential candidacy in November; his gubernatorial term ended in January.
Between November 9 and the end of the year, Vilsack had raised $1.17 million.
A move or possible move by "media-expensive states" to have their primaries or caucuses in early February 2008 wouldn't help Vilsack's financial dilemma, according to a statement from his campaign office.
Among those states are California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri.
Vilsack was considered a long shot for gaining the Democratic Party's nomination. He faced stiff competition, notably from Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.
Vilsack has been a vocal opponent of President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq, and this week the Democrat proposed that Congress cut off funding for the war, which he said "needs to end now, not six months from now, not a year from now."
He vowed to keep fighting for national and international issues.
"I am leaving one campaign, but I am not saying goodbye. I will continue to fight for the outsiders and underdogs who are the backbone of the Democratic Party and our country.
"And I will continue to fight to end the war, achieve energy security and get our country back on track."
Vilsack becomes the second Democrat to make an early exit from the presidential race. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, ended his campaign after 10 days.
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Like he said, its all about the money. Thats whats wrong with our system and why we can't get anyone in office that is worth a damn.
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said Friday he is pulling out of the 2008 Democratic race for president, citing financial difficulties in a campaign that lasted 15 weeks.
Vilsack, 56, said he would have continued if it weren't for the large amounts of money he would need for a a campaign.
"The reality, however, is that this process has become to a great extent about money, a lot of money," he said. "And it is clear to me that we would not be able to continue to raise money in the amounts necessary to sustain, not just a campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, but a campaign across this country.
"It is money -- and only money -- the reason we are leaving today."
With his wife, Christie, by his side, Vilsack thanked his family, friends and financial supporters.
The two-term governor also praised his staff.
"It's an organization I'm convinced would have been sufficient to have won the Iowa caucuses if we were to continue."
He added, "They believed in me, and they believed in the ideas that we were going to put forward."
Vilsack formally announced his presidential candidacy in November; his gubernatorial term ended in January.
Between November 9 and the end of the year, Vilsack had raised $1.17 million.
A move or possible move by "media-expensive states" to have their primaries or caucuses in early February 2008 wouldn't help Vilsack's financial dilemma, according to a statement from his campaign office.
Among those states are California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri.
Vilsack was considered a long shot for gaining the Democratic Party's nomination. He faced stiff competition, notably from Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.
Vilsack has been a vocal opponent of President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq, and this week the Democrat proposed that Congress cut off funding for the war, which he said "needs to end now, not six months from now, not a year from now."
He vowed to keep fighting for national and international issues.
"I am leaving one campaign, but I am not saying goodbye. I will continue to fight for the outsiders and underdogs who are the backbone of the Democratic Party and our country.
"And I will continue to fight to end the war, achieve energy security and get our country back on track."
Vilsack becomes the second Democrat to make an early exit from the presidential race. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, ended his campaign after 10 days.
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Like he said, its all about the money. Thats whats wrong with our system and why we can't get anyone in office that is worth a damn.
"Vilsack, 56, said he would have continued if it weren't for the large amounts of money he would need for a a campaign."
This just dawned on him?
Too bad, with this kind of foresight, this guy was presidential material.
Eddie
This just dawned on him?
Too bad, with this kind of foresight, this guy was presidential material.
Eddie
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Eddie
seriously , it does not bother you that the only people in America that can win a presidency have to be able to raise or have over 50 million dollars ?
It severely limits our potential candiadates and chances to get the old fawking guard out of there.
The United States Congress is the legislature of the United States federal government. It is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives has 435 voting members (plus non-voting delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands), each representing a congressional district
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The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. It is known informally as the "upper house."
In the Senate, each state is represented by two members. As a result, the total membership of the body is 100. Senators serve for six-year terms that are staggered so elections are held for approximately one-third of the seats (a "class") every second year. The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and serves as its presiding officer, but is not a Senator and does not vote except to break ties. The Vice President rarely acts as President of the Senate unless casting a tie-breaking vote or during ceremonial occasions, so the duty of presiding usually falls to the President pro tempore, by tradition the most senior senator of the majority party, who almost always delegates the mundane task of presiding over the Senate to junior senators from his party.
The Senate is regarded as a more deliberative body than the House of Representatives; the Senate is smaller and its members serve longer terms, allowing for a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere that is somewhat more insulated from public opinion than the House. The Senate has several exclusive powers enumerated in Article One of the Constitution not granted to the House; most significantly, the President cannot ratify treaties or, with rare exception, make important appointments (most significantly ambassadors, members of the federal judicary, including the Supreme Court, and members of the Cabinet) without the advice and consent of the Senate.
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The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. It is known informally as the "upper house."
In the Senate, each state is represented by two members. As a result, the total membership of the body is 100. Senators serve for six-year terms that are staggered so elections are held for approximately one-third of the seats (a "class") every second year. The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and serves as its presiding officer, but is not a Senator and does not vote except to break ties. The Vice President rarely acts as President of the Senate unless casting a tie-breaking vote or during ceremonial occasions, so the duty of presiding usually falls to the President pro tempore, by tradition the most senior senator of the majority party, who almost always delegates the mundane task of presiding over the Senate to junior senators from his party.
The Senate is regarded as a more deliberative body than the House of Representatives; the Senate is smaller and its members serve longer terms, allowing for a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere that is somewhat more insulated from public opinion than the House. The Senate has several exclusive powers enumerated in Article One of the Constitution not granted to the House; most significantly, the President cannot ratify treaties or, with rare exception, make important appointments (most significantly ambassadors, members of the federal judicary, including the Supreme Court, and members of the Cabinet) without the advice and consent of the Senate.
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Scotty:
I think I've been rather consistent in stating my position that the greatest threat facing the US is failure to enact and enforce real, effective campaign finance reform.
If it was an equal playing field do you think for one minute that an imbecile moron like Bush would ever get elected? Of course not, he wouldn't be in politics but rather running some other company into bankruptcy with daddys money.
Eddie
I think I've been rather consistent in stating my position that the greatest threat facing the US is failure to enact and enforce real, effective campaign finance reform.
If it was an equal playing field do you think for one minute that an imbecile moron like Bush would ever get elected? Of course not, he wouldn't be in politics but rather running some other company into bankruptcy with daddys money.
Eddie
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said on Saturday Iran's atomic ambitions must be curbed and said "all options" were on the table. Iran says Washington is in no position to attack when its troops are bogged down in Iraq but says it is ready in case.:scared
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