When will America put more effort into things that matter and less into Snooki and friends?

R. Lee Ermey Knows What's Going On

California Police Officers Kill Man Pointing Water Nozzle After Neighbors Report Him

"LONG BEACH, Calif. (CBS/AP) Long Beach police officers shot and killed a man Sunday when they apparently mistook a pistol-grip water nozzle he was holding, for a gun.

Now family members of the man, 35-year-old Douglas Zerby, are lashing out at the police, saying they made no attempt to contact him before opening fire.

Zerby was gunned down at an apartment building Sunday after two people reported a man with a gun sitting on a backyard porch landing, according to authorities.

Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers took positions to observe Zerby, who appeared intoxicated, and believed he had a "tiny six-shooter" as described by a male caller.

Zerby reportedly pointed the black metal-tipped nozzle at one of the officers, and two officers fired a handgun and a shotgun. A total of eight shots were fired - six from a handgun and two from shot guns, said McDonnell.

"They didn't say 'Put your hands up' or 'Freeze' or anything," Zerby's sister, Eden Marie Biele told The Associated Press Monday. "He was killed in cold blood."

However, police officials say Zerby's behavior prompted the officers' response.

"As the subject was in a seated position, he used a two-handed pistol-grip hold on an object with his arms fully extended," McDonnell said. "Somebody that is impaired and waving what appears to witnesses and police to be a handgun. That's what the officers were faced with."

Both officers involved in the shooting were put on administrative leave.
Zerby's sister said police made the family wait seven hours before confirming that her brother was the man who had been killed, and said that her family is considering legal action."

This is one of those stories you come across that makes you feel really sad and angry at the same time. Police in California killed a man for holding a water nozzle because they "thought" or had reports that it was a gun?

First of all, when is it wrong in America to have a gun? Second of all why did the neighbors report him even if he did have a gun? It's his right. They can't take it away from him just because they don't like it. The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment and upheld by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago.

Even if this man did have a gun, the police still should never just roll on to a scene guns blazing and kill a suspect without informing them of their presence. What a disgrace this is as well as a nightmare this man and his family have to go through.

Liberal Star Blogger Ezra Klein: ‘Constitution Has No Binding Power on Anything’; Confusing Because it’s Over 100 Years Old

This is almost comical yet sickening at the same time.

Hawaii Governor Brings Back Birther Debate

For about three years now, millions of Americans have questioned Obama's status as an American who was born on our soil. It is my position to agree that people are correct in doing this. This is not a "racist" movement. The United States Constitution mandates that to be eligible for the office of the President of the United States that one must be born in the United States. Why is someone wrong in questioning Obama's status as a natural born citizen?

It is the duty of Americans to question the citizenship status of every President and make sure they are born in the United States. The only reason the "birther" movement still exists is because Obama has refused to release his birth certificate. What is the reason for such secrecy?

The only so-called "proof" shown to the American people was a certificate of live birth posted on a non-government website. This is all a person needs to do to become president? The United States is in a said state of affairs when we disregard the rule of law and let an assumption of birth pass as a constitutional requirement.

The Democratic governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie, has recently made headlines in his quest to make Obama's "birth records" public. I applaud Governor Abercrombie because he is now doing what Obama should have done in the first place. If Obama is trying this hard to keep this information secret, spending millions in court to have this information kept classified, doesn't he realize that if he is truly a citizen born here then he has nothing to worry about? Only time will tell.

Merry Christmas from the College Republicans at Roger Williams Unviersity

To all of those that celebrate Christmas this time of the year, have a very merry Christmas.

More on Healthcare

This video is from a doctors point of view, it was from before the election, but after the healthcare bill passed. The more I hear the more scared I get.

The Problem with Funding Scientific Research

First some background, to anyone who knows something about basic economics this is a review, to everyone else, there is the problem in economics of a "public good" (the best example being a fireworks display) where it is non-rival and non-excludable. Aka its hard to limit who sees them and who does not and one person watching them does not take away from another person watching them. The problem with this is who provides it? You have a problem with "free riders" where people do not pay for it, but still get to enjoy it. The first conclusion everyone leaps to then is government should pay for it.

In recent years there has been a huge push that scientific research is a public good and therefore should be provided funds by the government. The problem is as soon as it's government funding people tend to be much more wasteful of money and lets face it the federal government nor our state government can afford much of anything these days. So the big question is...... is there a way to still do research and not have the government adding to their deficit to do it?

This video does a great job of giving an alternative, one that is literally right under our nose.

Will Washington Listen to Santa?

Government Gives Itself Power to Regulate Internet

via The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—Federal telecommunications regulators approved new rules Tuesday that would for the first time give the federal government formal authority to regulate Internet traffic, although how much or for how long remained unclear.

The FCC has approved rules that would give the federal government authority to regulate Internet traffic and prevent broadband providers from selectively blocking web traffic. WSJ's Amy Schatz explains what the new rules really mean.

A divided Federal Communications Commission approved a proposal by Chairman Julius Genachowski to give the FCC power to prevent broadband providers from selectively blocking web traffic.

The rules will go into effect early next year, but legal challenges or action by Congress could block the FCC's action. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Tuesday called the FCC's action "flawed" and said lawmakers would "have an opportunity in the new Congress to push back against new rules and regulations."

The new FCC rules, for example, would prevent a broadband provider, such as Comcast Corp., AT&T, Inc. or Verizon Communications Inc., from hobbling access to an online video service, such as Netflix, that competes with its own video services.

The rules would also require Internet providers to give subscribers more information on Internet speeds and service. Broadly, the rules would prohibit Internet providers from "unreasonably discriminating" against rivals' Internet traffic or services on wired or wireless networks.

The rules would allow phone and cable companies to offer faster, priority delivery services to Internet companies willing to pay extra. But the FCC proposal contains language suggesting the agency would try to discourage creation of such high-speed toll lanes.

Companies that operate mobile wireless networks would have fewer rules to contend with. Phone companies wouldn't be able to block legal websites from consumers. They also can't block mobile voice or video-conferencing applications. Wireless providers would be allowed to block other applications, however, that they say could take up too much bandwidth on wireless networks.
Related

The five-member Federal Communications Commission board approved the new rules on a 3-2 vote, with the agency's two Republican members rejecting the measure.

"For the first time, we'll have enforceable rules of the road to preserve Internet freedom and openness," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Tuesday morning. He said the rules offered "a strong and sensible framework—one that protects Internet freedom and openness and promotes robust innovation and investment."

Republicans at the FCC and on Capitol Hill blasted the FCC's new rules, saying that they could stifle new investments in broadband networks and are unnecessary since there have been few complaints about Internet providers blocking or slowing web traffic.

The FCC's action "is not motivated by a tangible competitive harm or market failure," said Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker, a Republican, who said she couldn't support the rule because the agency was intervening to regulate the Internet "because it wants to, not because it needs to."

At the same time, advocates of strong net-neutrality rules complained that Mr. Genachowski's proposal didn't go far enough, a sentiment echoed Tuesday by the agency's other two Democrats.

Specifically, the two Democratic FCC commissioners wanted the same rules to apply to both wireless and wireline broadband networks. However, they agreed to approve the rules anyway, saying that passing Mr. Genachowski's proposal was better than nothing.

"In my book, today's action could, and should, have gone further," said Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps.

Big phone and cable companies have expressed qualified support for the compromise, but they have said there was no real need for government regulation of web traffic.

Although this is the first time the FCC has passed formal rules on "net neutrality," or the idea that Internet providers can't deliberately block or slow web traffic, it is not the first time the agency has tried to act as an Internet traffic cop.

In 2007 the agency sanctioned Comcast for deliberately slowing the web traffic of some subscribers who were downloading large files over peer-to-peer networks. Comcast sued and in April, a federal appeals court sided with the cable giant, saying that the FCC didn't have clear authority to enforce net neutrality.

The rules passed Tuesday are also likely to be legally challenged, and it isn't clear if they will be upheld. Congress has never given the FCC explicit authority to regulate Internet lines, so the agency is using older rules to justify its authority.

With other Debates Done START to Begin

The easiest side to see for many of these issues being debated in the senate now is the liberal side of the argument. You really have to stop and think to understand why there is opposition to a treaty that on face value seems to provide only good intentions. The START Treaty (for STrategic Arms Reduction Treaty) when first looked at is about reducing arms between the US and Russia and starting up inspections between the two countries again. So what',s wrong with that? Well the problems start as you begin to look at the actual wording in the treaty as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona did with his proposed amendment that was voted down (59-37). The specific wording in the bill that comes into question is:

“Recognizing the existence of the interrelationship between strategic offensive arms and strategic defensive arms, that this interrelationship will become more important as strategic nuclear arms are reduced, and that current strategic defensive arms do not undermine the viability and effectiveness of the strategic offensive arms of the Parties.”

This wording is very ambiguous to say the least. This raises some very important questions. Such as who is getting more out of this treaty? What is this interrelationship that will become more important? And how will this link between our offensive arms and defensive arms impact the defensive ones?

Defensive arms can incorporate many things, the most obvious would be weapons we have in our country to defend ourselves against different possible attacks. But what the treaty is more likely going after, which could potentially be even scarier, is shutting down and dismantling our Missile Defense Systems in Eastern Europe. For those that don't know, this system was set up so that if Russia were to attack, the system would counter-attack target key areas in Russia, terminating their Second Strike capability. This ensures that they can not continue to attack us if their surprise first strike takes out all of our defenses within our country. All this is likely because our capabilities greatly reduces Russia's world prestige and makes them feel bad. The most recent NATO summit agreed with our placement of these defenses, meaning this is just another way Obama, the Democrat led senate, and even some GOP senators are trying to lead us down the road to submission, which as Regan said so well is not a choice between peace and war, but a choice between freedom or slavery.

We can all agree (or I hope we can) that the world would be a better place if nuclear weapon stockpiles could be reduced or even better eliminated. But is there a possible way to do this? Are we fooling ourselves thinking that by us making all these concessions it will make other countries see how we are stepping up to reduce our nuclear stockpiles, so they should reduce theirs? It might be just me, but I don't think North Korea and Iran are going to do that, they are going to laugh and continue to increase their ever expanding arsenal.

Many say the GOP are just trying to delay for the sake of delaying and kill the treaty. But the truth is, something with such huge ramifications needs more than just a glancing over before it is passed. We know very well that Obama will not be one to go through and make sure everything is satisfactory. At this point he just wants a couple of things checked off in his very large "to do" list, with very few checks so far.

In reality the most important question of them all is why are we taking the time to go through this? Our economy is in shambles, we in the middle of massive government take overs with rising unemployment. Why are we worrying about Russia? Russia is not important anymore!!! Out of all the foreign threats to our country I believe we can all agree Russia would not even be put in the top three. We have Iran and North Korea developing Nuclear programs, we have China buying/developing who knows what. And Mexico taking over more and more of our country. Why is Russia such a top priority?

Indoctrination at its Finest

Somewhat of an old video, however it makes you think how Obama actually got into office. It's sheep like this who will blindly follow a political movement based upon racist tendencies.

Omnibus Spending Bill Out - DREAM Act In

Thankfully, we learn last night that Harry Reid had pulled the 1.3 trillion dollar omnibus spending bill. This comes after a wake of criticism over the extreme increase in spending and hundreds of billions of dollars in earmarks and pet projects.

This lame-duck Congress just won't stop a take a breather. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi insist on attempting to pass more and more leftist legislation after this type of governance has been utterly rejected at the polls this November. One leftist bill fails, so they bring in the next one. This is a clear rejection of the will of the American people by our elected legislators.

A repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and a vote on the DREAM Act are both scheduled for this weekend in the Senate, and conservatives hopes aren't that optimistic. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is expected to pass the Senate with at least four votes from Republicans. The status of the DREAM Act at this point is not as clear. We can only hope that our elected representatives will realize the serious immigration problem our country has and that the DREAM Act is only going to make it worse, a lot worse.

With almost 1,000,000 illegal immigrants crossing our border each year, this is not the necessary step to take, but the opposite. This Act is about as close you can get to amnesty. When non-citizens see our government doing things like this, it almost totally absolves the fear of entering the country and being detained or deported. This will only encourage illegal immigration into the United States.

The only card the U.S. has left to play is to close the borders. We need to stop all of the illegal immigrants, drug traffickers, human smugglers, criminals, terrorists, and unwanted persons from crossing our porous southern border. We have troops around the world as well as troops in the U.S. to put it frankly aren't doing much. These troops could be on our southern border, protecting us to we don't have to see on the news everyday that another rancher was killed in Texas or Arizona.

Senate Dem leader drops nearly $1.3T spending bill

via Breitbart:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats controlling the Senate have abandoned a 1,924-page catchall spending measure that's laced with homestate pet projects known as earmarks and that would have provided another $158 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nevada Democrat Harry Reid gave up on the nearly $1.3 trillion bill after several Republicans who had been thinking of voting for the bill pulled back their support.

GOP leader Mitch McConnell threw his weight against the bill in recent days, saying it was in his words "unbelievable" that Democrats would try to muscle through in just a few days legislation that usually takes months to debate.

Reid said he would work with McConnell to produce a short-term funding bill to keep the government running into early next year.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP)—The top Senate Republican has offered a one-page bill to prevent a government shutdown on Saturday as an alternative to a 1,924-page catchall spending measure offered by Democrats.

Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell says it's unbelievable that Democrats want to pass the measure in just a few days as Christmas approaches. He says Congress should pass a less costly bill next year—when Republicans will have more leverage.

McConnell had earlier quietly backed the effort to produce the nearly $1.3 trillion bill, but he's now trying to kill it. McConnell also obtained $85 million in so-called earmarks for Kentucky.

Democrats say they'll take up the bill later Thursday. It bankrolls every Cabinet agency for the budget year that started Oct. 1.

Congressman Calls on Obama to Take Illegal Immigration 'Seriously' Following Death of Border Agent

via Fox News

The incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said the shooting death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent is a "sad reminder" of the dangers law enforcement officers face on a daily basis and called on the Obama administration to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Elect Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said the killing of Brian A. Terry in southern Arizona late Tuesday should serve as wake-up call to President Obama and his administration.

"The Obama administration’s lax enforcement of immigration laws, coupled with calls for mass amnesty, only encourage more illegal immigration," Smith said in a statement released Wednesday. "Our border remains porous and the Obama administration has done nothing to stop the steady flow of human and drug smuggling from Mexico."

Agent Brian A. Terry, 40, was killed late Tuesday near Rio Rico, Ariz., according to a statement released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. At least four suspects are in custody and another is still being pursued.

The leader of a union representing Border Patrol agents said Terry was trying to catch bandits who target illegal immigrants for robbery.

National Border Patrol Council President T.J. Bonner said Terry was waiting with three other agents in a remote area north of Nogales when a gun battle began. A CBP spokesman would not confirm that account.

Prior to Terry's death, the last fatal shooting of a Border Patrol agent was on July 23, 2009, when Robert Rosas, 30, was killed by unidentified assailants while responding to suspicious activity in a known smuggling corridor near Campo, Calif., CBP officials said.

Since 2005, according to Smith's statement, roughly 28,000 people have been killed along the U.S.-Mexico border, including 1,000 law enforcement officers.

"The murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry is a sad reminder of the real-life dangers that Americans and our law enforcement agents face along the southwest border," Smith's statement continued. "What will it take to make the Obama administration realize that we must do more to secure our border and keep Americans safe? Earlier this year, a rancher in Arizona was killed on his own property. The suspect is believed to have been an illegal immigrant. Last night, Border Patrol Agent Terry lost his life for simply doing his job. How many more Americans will die before the Obama administration wakes up and starts taking illegal immigration seriously?"

Massachusettes Stuck With Another Liberal

Being a lifelong Massachusetts resident, I have come to expect that Senior U.S. Senator John Kerry would maintain his normal posture of being a liberal, but I didn't expect Scott Brown to be just as bad. We learn today, that Scott Brown, only days after voting to filibuster "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is on board with the Democrats to repeal it.

The victory of Scott Brown was a truly amazing one, and the entire nation stopped when they heard a Republican won in one of the most liberal states in the country. Scott Brown was the topic of conservation in Massachusetts for weeks both before and after the election. People across the country were amazed that a Republican, someone who campaigned as a conservative Republican on most issues, actually won a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts.

After all of the hype surrounding the election started to fade off, us political junkies watched and have seen how Brown actually voted. Brown has stood firm on some critical fiscal issues, but as expected, eventually gave in to the democrats and a liberal view of public policy. I guess in Massachusetts you replace a liberal with a liberal, even if it happens to be a Republican.

Congress' Job Approval Rating Worst in Gallup History

Congress' Job Approval Rating Worst in Gallup History

This does not come as a shocker. The democrats insist on forcing socialist and anti-American legislation on the American people after we have clearly rejected this type of governance at the polls in November. January 3rd can't come fast enough.

DeMint will force readings of START Treaty and omnibus bill

As expected, the lame-duck Congress is working to pass more pork-laden spending bills as well as an arms reduction treaty.Thankfully we have at least one great senator still left in the U.S. Senate chambers who is not willing to stand for this.

Senator DeMint realizes the seriousness of our fiscal crisis and is the only one fighting for us and our tax dollars. DeMint fill force readings of these extremely long and arduous bills that is expected to take days. Again, the democratically controlled House and Senate fell it's necessary to pass bills thousands of pages long without reading them. How many people seriously think that the democrats are actually going to read the omnibus spending bill? I know for sure the great majority of them won't even read the first fifty pages.

I would like to personally thank Senator DeMint, becuase when other Republicans appease to the democrats, DeMint still holds true to his values. We can only hope that Republicans will filibuster these two very dangerous pieces of legislation to prevent them from becoming law.

DeMint threatens to force a reading of omnibus bill - On Congress - DeMint threatens to force a reading of omnibus bill

via Politico:

The year-end legislative push appears threatened by procedural hijinks on the Senate floor.

As Democrats try to push through a nearly 2,000-page omnibus spending bill, Republican senators are threatening to bog down the floor by forcing Senate clerks to read the full text aloud, a process that could take more than one full day to complete.

“Democrats haven’t given Republicans or the American people time to read the bill, but I’ll join with other Republican colleagues to force them to read it on the Senate floor,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

Such a tactic is rarely employed, but any senator can force a full reading of legislation, which is usually skipped by unanimous consent.

During the health care debate last December, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) forced clerks to read aloud Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) 767-page amendment to establish a single-payer system. Sanders withdrew his amendment several hours into the reading, which had effectively paralyzed the Senate.

With the window closing on the 111th Congress, forcing a reading of the omnibus spending bill could further extend the lame-duck session until the end of the year, or force Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to scale back an ambitious agenda, which includes a repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, ratification of the START treaty, confirmation of stalled nominations and a vote on an immigration bill known as the Dream Act.

Senate Dems unveil $1.1T spending bill - TheHill.com

via TheHill

Senate Democrats have filed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill that would fund the government through fiscal year 2011, according to Senate GOP sources.

The 1,924-page bill includes funding to implement the sweeping healthcare reform bill Congress passed earlier this year as well as additional funds for Internal Revenue Service agents, according to a senior GOP aide familiar with the legislation.

The package drew a swift rebuke from Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

"The attempt by Democrat leadership to rush through a nearly 2,000-page spending bill in the final days of the lame-duck session ignores the clear will expressed by the voters this past election," Thune said in a statement. "This bill is loaded up with pork projects and should not get a vote. Congress should listen to the American people and stop this reckless spending.”

Thune has called for a short-term funding measure free of earmarks to keep the government operating beyond Dec. 18, when the current continuing resolution expires.

Despite strong opposition from Thune and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), several Senate Republicans are considering voting for the bill.

“That’s my intention,” said retiring Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) when asked if he would support the package.

Bennett said earmarks in the bill might give some of his GOP colleagues reason to hesitate but wouldn’t affect his vote.

“It will be tough for some, but not for me,” he said.

GOP Sens. Kit Bond (Mo.), George Voinovich (Ohio) and Susan Collins (Maine) also told The Hill on Tuesday they would consider voting for the omnibus but want to review it before making a final decision.

“I hope to be able to vote for one,” Bond said of the omnibus. “We’ve got to look what’s in it.

“I’m anxious to see it,” he added.

Young Americans for Liberty

iPhone Snitch Network Launched

From Jason Douglass, Infowars.

A new iPhone App with the misleading name ‘PatriotApp’ attempts to draw on the power of the patriot movement, turning smartphone users into a gigantic snitch network.

You might think an app with such a patriotic name might have useful functions like a pocket constitution or quotes from our forefathers. But contrary to the services one might expect, this app allows users to report any ‘suspicious’ behavior directly linking them with top government agencies.

Much like the new DHS program ‘If you see something, say something’ this app is meant to turn average citizens into a network of spies feeding information back to the federal government.

Citizen Concepts, a company formed by insiders from DHS, defines the use of such an app on their homepage:

Citizen Concepts announces the launch of PatriotAppTM, the world’s first iPhone application that empowers citizens to assist government agencies in creating safer, cleaner, and more efficient communities via social networking and mobile technology. This app was founded on the belief that citizens can provide the most sophisticated and broad network of eyes and ears necessary to prevent terrorism, crime, environmental negligence, or other malicious behavior.

Simply download, report (including pictures) and submit information to relevant government agencies, employers, or publish incident data to social network tools.

Key Features:
Integrated into Federal Agencies points of contacts
FBI
EPA
GAO
CDC
Custom integration with user employers
Fully integrated with Social Media (Facebook, Twitter)
Multiple menus and data fields
View FBI Most Wanted
Simple graphical user interface
Uses:

Enable citizens to record and communicate:
National Security, Suspicious activities, Crime
Government Waste
Environmental Crime or possible violations
White collar crime
Workplace harassment, discrimination, or other violations
Public Health concerns

PatriotApp encourages active citizen participation in the War on Terror and in protecting their families and surrounding communities.

An app like this is meant to solidify the climate of fear in which our leaders want us to exist. The threat of terrorism must be palpable in order for the ‘War on Terror’ to be justified and to validate all the extreme measures instituted in its name.

Individual Mandate Struck Down

Finally, after months and months of waiting for the healthcare lawsuits to find their way through the courts, we get a good result. U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson has declared the "individual mandate" portion of the 2700 page healthcare law unconstitutional. This is a great victory for anyone who has a divested interest in the freedom granted to them as a citizen of this country.

How does the government have the power to force you to buy a private product or service from a private organization? We find out today that a least one federal judge thinks the government does not have this power. Anyone who thinks the government can tell everyone to buy a private product and enforce the law with huge fines and even jail time needs to actually think about how absurd this actually is.

I commend Hudson and his conviction to stand up for the Constitution, one of the few things a federal judge should be doing. Two other federal judges have neglected to stand up for the Constitution so far on this issue, and in a few days an opinion from Florida U.S. District Court judge Roger Vinson is expected. Most legal and political scholars are almost certain that Vinson's ruling will reflect what we saw today in Virginia.

Barstool Economics

This is a very simplified way of how our tax system works and how the tax cuts would effect this simplified system.

Big Sis in Walmart?

Watch this video.

Obama Finally Gives in on Taxes

The Communist-in-Chief finally, finally gives in on taxes. Was it really that hard to give the job-creators a break during a recession? This must have been very hard for such a radical like Obama who wants to tax the rich even more.

However, this deal comes at a price. The Republicans in turn must agree to fund unemployment benefits for a longer period of time. This isn't the worst thing in the world to agree to, but it is essentially giving our taxpayer money to people who aren't working. This is not creating jobs, it's only adding to the deficit.

Will Obama's "compromise" appeal to Congressional Democrats and will actual legislation arise from this compromise? Some liberal Senators have come out against this deal and some believe even if Obama is on board the democrats won't play "follow the leader."

Are Congressional Democrats Insane?

For the past few months we have heard a lot of talk regarding the Bush tax cuts. Well, Congress finally took some action regarding this issue. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure yesterday that would work to extend tax cuts for the lower two federal tax brackets, leaving the upper tax bracket's rates to rise as of January 2011. Any individual making or $200,000 or couple making a combined $250,000 a year is going to see a big increase in their taxes. This was a horrible mistake by our lame-duck Congress.

We hear today that unemployment has risen to 9.8%. How can the democrats see these numbers then think raising taxes on job creators is a good idea? Businesses are already struggling as it is, and many of them just aren't going to make it after this tax hike. If they are able to keep going, then they may even have to sacrifice further employees to keep their doors open for business. This is in no way going to help create jobs in the country, but it is going to help destroy them.

If Congress does not act quickly to preserve current tax rates, or even drastically decrease tax rates as well as reckless spending, we are going to be heading into a financial disaster like we have never seen before.

College Republicans Sponsor December IOM

Each month the College Republicans at Roger Williams University sponsor an Issue of the Month(IOM). These IOM's differ month to month and usually cover controversial political topics. This moth the issue is the controversial topic regarding the legalization of marijuana. If you are a student here you are invited to attend.

If you are attending, bring your thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and any questions you have on the topic. We will discuss why or why not this substance should be legal. Should it be completely banned with severe punishments, banned with minor punishments. Should it be conditionally legal where you can;t operate a motor vehicle or be publicly high similar to alcohol? Should marijuana be completely legal where you can smoke it anywhere?

Is marijuana a right the government can take away? Is this really an important right? Is it protected by the Constitution? What effects does this drug have on the human body and second-hand persons? Does this drug positively contribute to society or negatively destroy it and its youth?

There are very good points on both sides of the argument. Some may be more true than others or more or less applicable in certain situations. If the drug was legalized you would have to consider taxes, lawsuits, government regulation, and anything that comes with it. Would legalization change the production process of cannabis? Would this force companies to grow this drug in pure soil. A little known fact is that much of today's marijuana is grown in soil rich in dangerous chemicals and metals such as mercury and cadmium. Take everything into consideration and judge whether or not this is a good thing for the country as a whole rather than an excuse to reward a personal addiction.

Christmas Came Early This Year

Yesterday the Federal Reserve released a large amount of previously "secret" records regarding their practices of lending. Most Americans were amazed to find out that the Federal Reserve has been printing and lending money to not only American banks and organizations, but FOREIGN banks and organizations. May I ask why the Federal Reserve lent hundreds of billions of dollars to private offshore banks? Did this really help stimulate the American economy?

Now the Federal Reserve plans to inject another $600 billion into the U.S. economy becuase they believe we are in an era of deflation. Sorry to break it to big Ben Bernanke, but this isn't going to help. Printing money and buying U.S. treasury bonds from private banks such as Goldman Sachs is not going to stimulate our economy. The Federal Reserve is one of the most secret and corrupt organizations within the United States Government. I take that back, it's not even part of the government, yet it is one of the largest factors in our economic system.

We are only learning this information because congress forced the Fed to give it up. What have they been doing with our money for the past century and can we survive without them? People like Ron Paul think we can, is he right? Should we put our faith in a private and secretive organization to play God with out economy in lieu of thier links with foreign ties? Whether or not the Fed should exist is one argument, but I'm sure a large majority of people can agree that this type of shadow government needs a large scale and full audit.

Another Take on the Link Between AIDS and Condoms

If you have been to the Upper Commons on the RWU Campus recently, then you may have noticed that there is a table distributing condoms and a solution to the AIDS epidemic. Not that there is a large population of people with AIDS on campus, but they are distributed mainly spread awareness. Many people would just take this at face value and put no real thought into it and just buy into the the alleged fact that condoms help counter the spread of AIDS. Listen to the video and judge for yourself...

A Few Timeless Words From Ronald Reagan

Will Obama Budge on Taxes?

With the Bush tax "cuts" only about a month away for expiring, Congress and the President must act swiftly to preserve current tax rates. Congressional Republicans are advocating that all three current federal tax brackets see a continuation of their current rates. Democrats on the other hand are somewhat willing to maintain the rates of the lower two federal tax brackets, and let the decreased rates on the upper tax bracket expire.

Republicans and Democrats have been butting heads over the issue of the Bush tax cuts. As of today, there is still no word on any sort of a compromise. Republicans and Democrats are holding firm on their positions. With each side holding strong it looks like the tax rates will expire and all Americans paying a federal income tax will see an increase rates.

This is a situation that we cannot allow to happen. With one of the worst economic recessions in U.S. history, and a crippling federal debt, we simply cannot afford to raise taxes on the people who will be creating many much needed jobs. With an underemployment rate hinging towards twenty percent, not compromising is not an option Mr. President.

Senate Rejects Earmark Ban

This morning the democratically-controlled Senate took another step in the wrong direction by refusing to ban earmarks. In a 39-56 vote, the US Senate rejected a proposal by Senator Tom Coburn[R-OK] to put a temporary moratorium on earmarks.

How could Congress be so stupid? Are they trying to bankrupt our country? Putting a moratorium on earmarks in a critical first step to bring back fiscal responsibility. Each year thousands upon thousands of earmarks are passed that spend millions of dollars on pork and pet projects. If Congress is serious about controlling federal spending, then they will have to get serious about earmarks.

Obama Calls for Federal Pay Freeze

The Obama administration has set fourth on a campaign to expand the size and scope of government like never before. Obama has spearheaded a government takeover of almost every part of the private-sector economy one can think of. This is why this the announcement has come as such a shock to many Americans. Why is Obama all of a sudden trying to practice fiscal restraint after proposing the largest budget of all time and adding more debt to our debt than all presidents from Washington to Reagan combined?

Could this be an effect of the recent midterm election? Is Obama going to take the route followed by Clinton or is he going to be a rubber stamp for the agenda of the Lame-Duck Congress? Will he come towards the center or remain on the left, pushing legislation down our throats that we outwardly reject?

This proposal to cap the pay of approximately two million federal workers is a step in the right direction, but I would still not qualify this action as a good one. The federal work force is massive and being funded by money we don't have. One of the first things we must do to get our fiscal house in order is to balance the budget, and to do this civil servants must take part of the hit.

New Wikileaks Documents Dump Sparks Outrage

Over the past day or two, over 250,000 classified or secret official U.S. documents have been illegally released by Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange. This extremely large amount of documents has proven to contain millions of state secrets and could possibly be devastating to the United States and our relationship with other nations across the globe.

There have been many specific instances where countries like North Korea, Iran, China, and Russia come into play when dealing with nuclear weapons and relations in general. One of the most shocking revelations that has come into the light is Saudi Arabia's backing of a plot to take out the leadership of Iran.

Without question, Iran is one of the most, if not the most imminent and violent threat to freedom and democracy around the world. Iran, led by its Dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, seeks to conquer the planet earth and unite it under Sharia law. This Hitler of our time, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has referred to the United States as the "Great Satan" and champions the ideology that the United States should be wiped of the map. Iran is a constant threat to nations like the United States as well closer nations such as Israel and Great Britain.

The fact that a nation such as Saudi Arabia, being a solid Islamic state, wants to take down Ahmadinejad sends a strong and clear message. This man is not only bad for non-Muslims and peace-loving people across the globe, the fact is that he is bad for everyone. This comes an an utter shock to most Americans as the Obama administration has taken a less than hostile position on Iran.

For a nation such as Iran, with bold aspirations on acquiring nuclear weapons, we're surely not doing as much as we should thanks to the Appeaser-in-Chief. Are we going to wait until a bomb goes off on American soil or are we going to stand up on our feet and show the world that the United States is not a nation of cowards willing to be conquered? Hopefully our leaders represent our interests rather than those willing to kill us.

War on the Korean Peninsula

For decades, North and South Korea have been in a so called "armistice." While they have been relatively peaceful towards each other, fear and tension is still a daily problem between the two Korea's.

The dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, has been on a rampage to obtain status as a nuclear superpower. He runs his country like Hitler ran Nazi Germany. There are forced labor camps, government propaganda news networks, mass media censorship, and they don't even have enough economic resources to leave the electricity on a night.

North Korea is clearly not a stable country. Only a few months ago did a North Korea submarine sink a South Korean warship that killed dozens of South Korean sailors. Today, North Korea engaged South Korea by firing multiple shells at a South Korean island. The attacks killed two members of the South Korean Army and dealt damage to nearby infrastructure.

When is North Korea going to learn? This genocidal regime is a threat to every peace-loving nation around the world. The coalition of free nations around the world must assemble and make this regime fall no matter what the cost. The U.S. must spearhead efforts to remove from power dictators like Kim Jong Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. When rogue nations threaten the peaceful way of life, they must be dealt with and noted as sad, bizarre chapters in human history as Reagan would have put it.

The U.S. must take a stand just as it did with Soviet Union and just as it did with Adolf Hitler. North Korea is a threat to every sovereign citizen of the world and it's brutal rejection of the natural rights of man cannot be tolerated. South Korea should take an assertive role and strike back at North Korea, and the rest of the world must convince China that they are supporting an unpopular, despotic, and totalitarian regime and that it cannot be allowed. This situation should not be allowed to escalate to the tipping point where North Korea really is a substantial nuclear threat.

Will South Korea follow the route of Ronald Reagan or will they follow the route of Neville Chamberlain? They are faced with an imminent and decisive choice. If South Korea decides to respond, then they must commit to another war. Is this war worth it? This is the million dollar question. If they do take up arms against North Korea, then all hell will break lose. However, if they don't, then they will only provoke the ego of North Korea. This will be the second recent attack in which they have remained quiet. Where is the breaking point for South Korea?

It is time for South Korea to take a stand and stop living in fear. With the aid of the United States, Russia, and NATO, I don't believe they will have a fighting chance. Nonetheless, if China get's involved it's a whole new story. Will China side with the rogue regime or will they stand for the values of every free nation on this planet?

Virgina Proposes "Don't Tread On Me" License Plate

See the full article here.

Ground Zero Mosque Builders Seek Grant From 9/11 Relief Fund

After most of the people following the issue of the mosque at Ground Zero thought the tension had subsided, they're in for a new treat. The builders of the mosque earlier this month applied for a $5 million dollar grant from a fund designated to help rebuild NYC after the attacks. Anyone familiar with the forces behind the mosque as well as it's potential Imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf, would view this as a complete disgrace.

This request is extremely surprising considering the tension surrounding the situation. Seventy percent of Americans are against the mosque at Ground Zero, and it is my assumption that even more would be against the use of public funds to build it. This is like the Japanese asking the United States for a grant to build an airport after they just bombed Pearl Harbor. For the sake of justice, this grant should never be granted.

College Republicans Fete Robitaille, Ottiano

See this article in the Portsmouth Patch.

House Democrats Refuse to Defund NPR

As many of you may have seen, the firing of Juan Williams from NPR was a media firestorm. Both liberals and conservatives were upset by the actions of NPR. The firing of Williams led to a battle on a whole new level. Only a day after he was fired, there were thousands of people crying out about the country to defund NPR.

National Public Radio, or NPR for short, is radio bought and paid for by the government. The main source of funding comes from you and me, the taxpayers. I should also note that the radio network takes private donations, of which much comes from leftist, Anti-American multi-billionaire George Soros. Soros contributed $1.8 million dollars to NPR recently, which makes everyone have a right to ponder the whole situation. NPR is a government-based media outlet, and its intention should be to remain politically neutral. However, this is clearly not the case. NPR by any review would be described having at the least a “slant to the left.”

Considering that bias from this media outlet, Republicans and conservatives have been calling out to defend NPR if taxpayer money is being used for a biased form of media. House Republicans recently introduced measures to defend NPR, and you can guess how that turned out. Still holding a majority in the House, Democrats found it was a wise idea to keep the gravy train rolling to NPR and reject any Republican measures to defund it.

I can see nothing here but utter hypocrisy. If NPR had even the slightest conservative tilt, the Democrats would be up in arms and out in the streets. It is a disgrace that our elected officials are playing politics rather than assuring that out money is not being spent on biased sources.

College Republicans Host 4th Annual Club Fundraiser

For the past three years, the College Republicans at Roger Williams University have held an annual fundraiser to help fund the club's events. This year, the fundraiser turned out the be the most successful fundraiser planned thus far, held at the local Elks in Bristol.

Alongside several of the CR members, members of the general public as well as a few famous faces showed up. Republican gubernatorial candidate John Robitaille as well as State Senator-Elect Chris Ottiano, State Representative-Elect Dan Gordon, and State Representative-Elect Dan Reilly all showed up during the course of the evening.

The fundraiser was successful to say the least and we thank all of our guests for attending as well as making donations to our club so we can continue to spread conservatism and take back a state in much need of fiscal restraint!

The Psycho in the Senate

After reading the title of the post, you're probably asking yourself "which psycho in the Senate?" Well, any politically-active person could named a few U.S. Senators who they feel have absurd views. However, in this specific case I am referring to Senator Jay Rockefeller[D-WV]. Rockefeller stated that he thought it would be a good idea for the government to just switch off FOXNEWS and MSNBC. What ever happened to freedom of speech and freedom of the press? Apparently, like many Democrats, has absolutely no respect for the United States Constitution.

"There's a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to FOX and to MSNBC: 'Out. Off. End. Goodbye.' It would be a big favor to political discourse; our ability to do our work here in Congress, and to the American people, to be able to talk with each other and have some faith in their government and more importantly, in their future." - Sen. Jay Rockefeller [D-WV]

RealClearPolitics - Video - Sen. Rockefeller: FCC Should Take FOX News, MSNBC Off Airwaves

"I Could Beat Him"

For those who don't know, Sarah Palin recently sat down with Barbara Walters to shoot an interview with ABC News to be air in early December. Palin stated that she was seriously considering making a run for the White House, and felt confident that she could beat Obama in 2012.

In my opinion, this is a big mistake. While Palin could quite possibly have a good chance at beating Obama, it's not worth the risk. Palin is a newcomer to national politics and has a less than positive image already associated with her by a large majority of Americans. She has been portrayed as inexperienced, incompetent, unintelligent, and unfit to be the Commander-in-Chief. I don't necessarily agree with these portrayals of here in their entirety, but I do feel she is not the topic choice for the Republican Party in 2012.

We hear wide array names being floated around for potential Republican nominees for the 2012 Presidential election, but who should we back? Only time will tell. People from Mitt Romney, to Mike Pence, to Jim DeMint all have been mentioned as potential presidential candidates, and I believe people like this would make a far better opponent to the President in 2012 than Sarah Palin.

She's Back!

To the great surprise of many, Nancy Pelosi was elected by the House Democratic Caucus to be House Minority Leader. Looking at this issue objectively, the Democratic House caucus made a big mistake. They put back into the power the woman who was a major factor in the Republican upset in the 2010 midterm elections. The Democratic strategists were surely asleep at the wheel when the decisions were made.

Nancy Pelosi is one of the most disliked politicians today, with approval ratings from Independents and Republicans in the single digits. Large amounts of Democrats even wanted her gone, and even a few challengers arose to try and remove her from the tip of power in the House Democratic Caucus. All attempts to push Pelosi aside were unsuccessful, and she will remain as the top Democrat in the House.

The real effect of this is going to play out in 2012. I believe Nancy Pelosi will be one of the major death knells of the Democratic Party. She leads what is portrayed to be a center-left party as a U.S. Representative from San Francisco, one of the most liberal Congressional districts in the nation. She has lead the party from being center-left party to a rubber stamp party for Obama's radical leftist agenda. She has lead the assault on the middle class, preserving high unemployment rates and dumping trillions of dollars of debt upon the backs of the American citizen.

Nonetheless, she's the winner! Comments such as "The reality is that she is politically toxic" by Rep. Mike Quigley seemed to have no effect in today's vote. This can only be a good sign for Republican prospects in 2012.

Civil War Brewing Over Airport Security

If you've been to the airport recently, you'll have noticed many new changes to the system of security. The Transportation Security Administration along with the Department of Homeland Security has really "stepped up" their efforts to search passengers.

The use of intensive "pat downs" and naked body-scanners is become the norm in the realm of airport security. Many Americans, myself being one of them, feel that this type of excessive force used to search passengers is unreasonable and violates our right to privacy. Is it really a necessary step for the government to use expensive radiation-based machinery and grotesque pat downs of children by adults to add to our levels of security? Many lawmakers and media pundits are voicing their opinion loud and clear. What do you think?

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Ben Franklin

Lame-Duck Congress Poised to Introduce DREAM Act

A little over two weeks after the November 2nd midterm elections, Congress is now coming back into session. With Democratic majorities in the House, Senate, and a clear liberal ally in the White House, almost anything is possible. One of the first actions of the lame-duck Congress being tossed around is the introduction of the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is essentially a pass for the illegal immigrants that have been felons since their feet touched our soil.

Moreover, the DREAM Act does not just give aliens citizenship, but makes them meet a certain level of requirements to obtain it. While any intelligent person can see that this is clearly better than just handing out citizenship, it is intrinsically wrong in its nature. After millions of illegal aliens illegally crossed our borders, held illegal jobs, and have avoided taxes, are we really planning on giving them a pass? These are same people who are taking work from Americans who are picking cans out of the trash right now just to get by. With an unemployment rate hitting the double digits, this is not what America needs.

America being a Constitutional Republic, we run on a system of laws. We can't be advocate that certain people get a pass for breaking certain laws and lock people up for years for breaking other laws. Also, a nation is defined by its borders and when dismantle our system of borders, then are we still a country? Anyone can walk in, and this is happening right now. Thousands of drug smugglers, human traffickers, criminals, and terrorists are crossing our southern border on a daily or weekly basis. Instead of securing our border, we're trying to legalize the criminals that are already here. We have come to a sad point in American history.

To me, this only shows the complete arrogance of the liberal. Only a little more than two weeks ago did Republicans take control of over sixty previously controlled democratic seats in the United States House of Representatives. After the American people have clearly spoken, what do the Democrats go and do? They introduce left-wing legislation that the American people clearly do not want and have rejected at the polls.

Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama think it's a good idea to give these aliens citizenship. Are they crazy? Illegal immigrants contribute to the imminent degradation of society. Just their presence in this country makes them criminals, let alone the acts the commit while here. Twenty-nine percent of our current prisoners in our federal prison system are illegal aliens. Why are we paying for these people, why are we letting them take our jobs? Not only is the DREAM Act stupid, it's insane.

See more here.

Regulate This!

How many times can college students obtain alcohol poisoning before their beverage of choice is banned? So what if that drink of choice comes in a wide variety of flavors that packs a caffeine punch that rivals a vente Starbucks coffee, and did I mention that is has 12% abv! Seriously folks, what does not sound fun about this beverage? Campuses across the United States have come to love 4 Loko, but legislators are rallying against this fine beverage in order to get it banned. Why must the government always interfere with our fun?

Government, especially big and intrusive governments, love to tell people what is bad for them as opposed to allowing a citizen to reach a rational conclusion about their own well being. State legislators are pointing to a large quantity of college parties that in recent weeks have yielded an increasing number of college students riding in an ambulance because of 4 Loko. The argument is that the energy the beverage provides consumers, along with the high alcohol content, create a perfect storm that often leads to binge drinking and ultimately alcohol poisoning. So the government has witnessed our expressed desire to get annihilated on weekends (or weekdays if you are into that sort thing) and claim that we don’t know well enough to drink 4 Loko.

Ladies and gentleman, the intoxicated masses, 4 Loko is not evil! 4 Loko is not out on some evil scheme to destroy our livers and cause our nights of debauchery to end in the ER. We are! Consumers are rational beings who are able to make intelligent decisions based on their wants and needs. Any intelligent human being who purchases 4 Loko realizes what they are getting themselves into, and as such should approach this amazing beverage with a bit of caution. Just because you have a few 4 Loko because that Econometrics test was ridiculously hard doesn’t mean you should continue drinking after you are already drunk. People drink for a wide variety of reasons, people get blackout and violent drunk because of some slightly more specific reasons. Consumers are the ones at the helm of their evenings, we make decisions (some of them dumb) because we want to and somehow in our reasoning we occasionally decide that cracking out the Jose Cuervo after a few 4 Loko is a good idea. 4 Loko can, in fact, be consumed responsibly and still lead to an amazing night of partying.

Who is the government to tell us what we can or cannot drink? We know smoking cigarettes and cigars can lead to lung cancer, yet we may choose to smoke still. We know that eating rare meat may increase chances of obtaining colon cancer, yet we still eat medium rare burgers. We know that 4 Loko is a potent alcoholic beverage that might lead to a less than fun trip to the ER, but we drink it anyway! The point is that we are rational beings and are capable of reaching our own conclusions, we do not need the government telling us what drinks are appropriate for consumption or not. 4 Loko is a revolutionary product, it contains positive and negatives for consumers, and as long as we, as intelligent members of society, are aware of these factors I see no reason to ban it.

Andrew Plocica

Tension Builds in the Terminals

Pelosi Out, Boehner In

Ding dong! The witch is no longer House Majority Leader. Which old witch? Nancy Pelosi! The conclusion of the 2010 mid-term election has brought with it much debate about the relevance and origins of this amazing Republican victory. Winning 239 seats in the House of Representatives and 46 within the Senate is a very good turn around for the Republican party, but what does this mean? What can we, as studious and driven college kid, expect over the course of the next two years? Also, how did our generation vote and in what sort of force?

The overwhelming victories that the Republicans achieved speak volumes as to the national frustration with “hope” and “change”. Nationwide, the number of voters under the age of 30 decreased from nearly a quarter to just 20.4%, which is a substantial drop. In 2008, the under 30 demographic supported Democrats by nearly thirty points which is down to only twenty points in 2010. So what does this mean about us? We are a woefully apathetic generation, for the group with the most to lose to be so uninvolved is rather perplexing. These statistics also indicate that a larger portion of the under 30 voters supported Republican candidates, or perhaps it just means that more of the Republicans who are under 30 got out and voted. Now that the government is more evenly distributed between the Democrats and the Republicans, what will the next two years be like?

House Majority Leader is arguably one of the most powerful positions within the U.S. government, and under the Obama-Pelosi government we as a nation bore witness to a relatively single-party dominant system. The Democrats had no problem taking the seven billion dollar deficit that was created under President Bush and making it nearly two billion all in the name of saving our economy. The health care bill, contrary to the belief that the Republicans stood in its way, took longer than expected to pass because the Democrats themselves were having an inner-party war over the bills contents. Now, after two years of the Obama-nation we have a thirteen trillion dollar debt and yet the economy and the health insurance industry are none the better.

The new House Majority Leader will be John Boehner (R-OH), and the Obama-Boehner government will be a much slower moving government then we have witnessed over the course of the last two years. With a majority in the House of Representatives, and enough seats in the Senate to filibuster, the Republican party will be able to prevent the egregious spending that the Democrats have become so fond of. Expect much more debate out of government that will no longer be dominated by a single political party, and expect some bipartisanship as well. The Republicans have an amazing opportunity right now, and will hopefully make the most of it. The stage has been set for the election of 2012, will the Stimulus bills and the Health care bill have as big of a positive impact as the Democrats hoped? Might the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats be undone by the failure of their policies? Only time will tell.

-Andrew Plocica

Gubernatorial Debate

The Gubernatorial hopefuls sparred tonight on one of a few televised debates tonight. John Robitaille looked good while Caprio and Chaffee looked like more of the same for Rhode Island. Check out the coverage: Frank Caprio faces a firing squad in final debate

CRFRI Names RI CR of the Month

Last week, the College Republican Federation of Rhode Island named a College Republican of the Month. They name Sara Beth Labanara of Providence College to the spot. Sara is currently the campaign scheduler for John Robitaille. Check out the CRFRI news release about the nomination - http://myemail.constantcontact.com/October-RI-CR-of-the-Month.html?soid=1101642878742&aid=50qlFEu2ZxY

Dont Ask?

How did Lady Gaga become so damn influential? Her opposition to the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has her fans up in arms against Bill Clinton’s brainchild. The recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips in the case Log Cabin Republicans v. United States has given the government until the date of December 13th to consider the appeal of this decision. Recent polls produced by media organizations including CNN, FOX and The New York Times indicates that roughly 75% of Americans favor the “military acceptance of openly homosexual citizens”. I am fully supportive of the government appeal of this ruling by Judge Phillips, and as part of the dissenting minority I feel compelled to reveal my reasoning.

The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, as enacted in 1993 by the Clinton Administration, was President Clinton’s fulfillment of his campaign promise that he would allow all citizens to serve their nation. The policy essentially permits homosexual American citizens to serve within the U.S. military provided that the aforementioned individual keeps his/her sexuality private. I see no problem with this doctrine, because participation in the military does not recognize the civil rights of the individuals who compose it. The freedom of speech, our most basic right, the one right that every single child in America is aware of, is not supported within the military. Soldiers are not even allowed to reveal their political biases while in uniform. This is because freedom of speech can cause friction within the military, and this friction directly results in the death of American soldiers. I feel the right of a homosexual within the military to declare his homosexuality is an incident that the government is entitled to restrict.

The military, and combat specifically, creates a strong sense of brotherhood within units and between soldiers. This strong bond is universal, and there is hardly a soldier in the military who wouldn’t lay down his/her life for a fellow soldier if the situation presented itself. The servitude of homosexual men/women could lead to the creation of relationships that surpass those of basic comradery. Where as brotherhood creates strong ties between soldiers, love is a much more irrational bond to face on the frontlines. Love on the frontline could generate situations where individuals place the wellbeing of a select soldier above the squad and the mission, this is dangerous. This is the same reason why female soldiers are not stationed upon the frontlines of combat, a woman’s right to serve in combat are overshadowed by the greater good of our cause.

The U.S. military is facing a fierce opponent in Afghanistan, and this opponent must not be underestimated. The amount of changes that would have to be instituted in order to permit openly homosexual citizens the ability to serve in the military are too numerous and time consuming to perform during the middle of a war. The inconvenient truth of the matter is that the removal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy will have to wait, the war we are engaged in now does not offer us the luxury of renovating the military instituion. Let us give our soldiers the opportunity to meet victory, and find their way back home before we go about changing military policies. Goodluck and God Bless.

-Andrew William Plocica

Constitutional Rider stops in Providence

On August 18, Daren Gardner....just a simple American who is riding his motorcycle across the country to promote the founding ideals of our country and remind folks what the constitution stands for, landed at the steps of the Rhode Island capital in Providence. Please read the ProJo article and watch this video! The stop was put together by the Bristol East Bay Patriots.

VA. Biker Rallies for Constitution in RI

Quote of the Century

Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way you can understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic . Someone over there has it figured out.

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency .It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

Iran v. Nazi Germany

Does anyone else see the resemblance between Nazi Germany and 21st Century Iran??? Propoganda, talks of inhilating Isreal and the Jewish state, and increased armament? Except, this time the increased armament is nuclear!!!!

IRAN UNVEILS FIRST BOMBER DRONE

GOP Refocuses Campaign Strategy

According to a recent article on "The Hill," the GOP is going to re-focus its campaign strategy. This is interesting article and worth reading.

GOP to Focus on Policy, not Pelosi

Nader Sues Maine Dems

Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader has filed suit against the Maine Democratic Party on the grounds of conspiracy! Nader believes that democrats conspired to keep his name off the 2004 ballot. Read this story:

Nader's Suit Accusing Dems of Conspiracy Heard in Machias Today

John Loughlin

State Rep. John Loughlin, candidate for Rhode Island's first congressional district, recent traveled to Arizona to offer his ideas on America's broken immigration system. Rhode Island, although thousands of miles from Arizona, has dealt with its own immigration problems in recent years. Watch this video to hear what John has to say. Then share it with all your friends and family!

Young Republican Publishes New Book

Travis Rowley, former Brown University student and Chairman of the Young Republicans has published a new book - an idictment of the Democratic Party in Rhode Island - titled "The Rhode Island Republican."

Helen Glover, host of the Helen Glover Show on 920 WHJJ said, "I can't imagine a more concise, coherent and hard-hitting synopsis of Rhode island politics. This should be required reading for every Rhode Island reader."

Gov. Donald Carcieri (R), Governor of Rhode Island said, "Travis Rowley will have everyone debating about Rhode Island politics with his provocative writing. Agree or disagree, he will shake things up in a state that has been Democrat controlled for too long."

Visit www.travisrowley.com to order your copy today! I highly recommend this book to any local activist, College Republican, or Rhode Island citizen who cares about the direction of their state!

CRNC Video

Check out this new CRNC video. This is party of their project "Not Too Big To Fail." Watch the video, sign the petition, and donate!

What Happend to our Founding Fathers?

Ok so this message was at the bottom of a Tea Party email that I received.........I sparred you the rest of the information that was in that email, but I thought that this message was very interesting and wanted to share it with you:

"And for those of you interested, here is the essay on what happened to those brave men that "mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."


Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the
Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured
before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving
in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were
farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but
they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the
penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships
swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties
to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move
his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and
his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and
poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British
General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.

He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was
destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed
his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their
13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid
to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning
home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they
paid."

Maine Congresswoman Votes Against Funding

My youngest brother is just about to begin his enlistment in the United States Army. He leaves mid-August for boot camp. I have made many friends throughout college who have enlisted, been commissioned, and even attend the Naval Academies who are smart and very brave individuals. They are responsible and selfless. It is such a smack in the face for MY Congresswoman to show her dislike for the war this way. I am ashamed.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/pingree-will-vote-against-funding-wars_2010-07-01.html

New Deputy PM Sets Up Voting Reform in UK

The new Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Nick Clegg, pledged to work with his new coalition government - a coalition of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats - in order to instill new voting and political reform. Mr. Clegg seems to have some ideas....or does? Tell me what you think. Hints of the Tea Party platform....no?

BBC News writes, "Mr Clegg, who is overseeing the government's political reform plans, said he wanted to 'transform our politics so the state has far less control over you, and you have far more control over the state'".

The story also states, "He accused the previous government of 'obsessive lawmaking' and pledged to 'get rid of the unnecessary laws' and "introduce a mechanism to block pointless new criminal offences."

Nick Clegg Pledges Biggest Political Reform Since 1832

Holders Hasn't Read the Law

Attorney General Eric Holder admits yesterday in hearings on the Hill that he has not read the Arizona Immigration Law.....despite the law only be 10 pages long.

Whoopi Goldberg on Taxes

These are very interesting videos.....very interesting indeed.

American Fallen Soldiers Project

The following link takes you to a slideshow of recent induction ceremony of The American Fallen Soldiers Project. SFC Jared Monti, a Medal of Honor recipient, was recently inducted at a ceremony in New York, New York. Although these photos capture the emotions of the event, it can't really bring words to what this meant to the family.

SFC Jared Monti Portrait Presentation

Thank Your Military

Opening Day at Fenway

Although this post doesn't have to do with anything political, it is just plain awesome! This kid gets the whole crowd riled up! OH, and the RED SOX won!!

Obamanation

SBS Dateline, an Australian television show, did a feature on President Obama 1 year after the 2008 election. Friend of the CRs, Bob Parks, was guest on the show.

New Poll Bad for Democrats

A new poll shows that more young republicans than democrats are prepared to head to the voting booths in November. Read this article published by The Hill -

Young Republicans are Read to Rock the Youth Vote

THE CARTEL

"THE CARTEL" is a new movie from the Moving Picture Institute. Check out the trailer! Perhaps the administrators in Rhode Island saw this preview when they fired all the teachers in the high school??

AMERICANS ARE GETTING F'S!

"Our Fading Heritage" - This is a civic literacy test brought to you by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI). ISI Surveyed just over 2,500 people. General Americans taking the test only scored on average 49%. Educators scored, on average, only 55%!!! I scored 79%....yes, pathetic...I know. I am ashamed and therefore will definitely be hitting the history books tonight!

I encourage you to take the test then leave a comment on this post - your age(or occupation) and your score. Go ahead, TAKE THE TEST!

AMERICAN'S ARE GETTING F'S: CIVIC LITERACY TEST

Reagan: "Socialism Disguised as Liberalism"

This is an older, but famous speech by former President Ronald Reagan. Listen carefully.

RI GOP Media Release

I am sharing this media release from the Rhode Island Republican Party from a couple weeks ago. It comments on the unprecedented and very inspiring move from Mayor Alan Fung. I'd like to see what your comments are.

On the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Cranston, Mayor Allan Fung didn’t want to spend taxpayer money on a big celebration for the politicians to get the media attention - instead he gave the City a gift that they will be appreciating for the next 100 years; 401k’s for new city hall employees. In an unprecedented mayoral accomplishment, Mayor Fung and the members of the Teamsters union came to common sense agreement to eliminate old-style public employee pensions and allow the city workers to control and protect their own retirement investments through defined contribution plans.

Said Rhode Island Republican Party Chair Giovanni Cicione: “This is an unprecedented victory for the taxpayers of Cranston, and shows that strong Republican leaders can work hand-in-hand with forward thinking union membership to get real results.”



“Union members will now control their own destiny and have the ability to manage their retirement money without relying on the un-funded government plans, and Allan Fung has proven today that he is the type new Republican leader with the ability to turn this state around.”

Brown Has the Right Idea for Stimulus

Although this is a little old, I wanted to share it anyway. Senator Scott Brown's first floor speech proved that the Senator has the right ideas for stimulating our economy. The the taxpayers their money back!! The article explains more....the video is great too!

Brown Calls for Tax Cut in First Floor Speech

New Jersey Budget Message

This past Tuesday, newly elected Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey delivered his budget proposal to the New Jersey State Legislature. His message includes tax cuts, curbing government spending, increasing government efficiency, and accountability. The speech is a little lengthy, but is exactly what every politician should deliver to their constituents. Thanks to Marina for sharing!

Governor Christie's Budget Message

President Proposes School Reform

The Hill article does a decent job at summarizing President Obama's new School Reform proposal. The recent "controversy" surround the RI school is also touched on. On the whole, this plan sounds like a good one.....finally President Obama, a sound plan. However, more digging will need to be done to fully understand the proposal. Congress also has to take up the proposal and approve the funding.

Obama Announces $900 Million for Failing School Turnaround

More Alumni News

Here is a brief from the "Dave Talan Newsletter" about former RWU CR Chair Jason Mattera:

JASON MATTERA, former Chair of the Roger Williams University College Republicans and state Chair of the College Republican Federation of R.I., now works in D.C. as the national spokesman for Young America's Foundation (YAF), America's leading conservative youth organization.

Jason recently wrote his first book, "OBAMA ZOMBIES, How The Liberal Machine Brainwashed My Generation". The publisher, Simon & Schuster, describes the book as follows: "The behind the scenes story of the jaw-dropping lengths Barack Obama and his Liberal Machine went to create a legion of iPod-listening, MTV-watching Obama followers on whom to build a winning electoral coalition - and a potentially long-lasting political realignment in American politics. More than just a polemical book of cutting commentary, Obama Zombies uncovers the true story of the methods and tactics the Obama campaign unleashed on youth culture. Chock full of personal interviews and mountains of original research, this book uses the energy of Jason Mattera's trademark YouTube-style video "Ambush Interviews" to expose the hypocrisy of clueless young liberals and lazy Democratic officials."

The book will be available in bookstores and on-line on March 30.

RWU CR Alumni News

Two Alumni of the College Republicans at Roger Williams University, Parker Lacoste and Chris Syrek, have started a new political consulting firm in Rhode Island. Lacoste, first a Campaign Manager for Zaccaria For Congress and then Assistant to the President at the Ocean State Policy Research Insitute, and Syrek, who was in the financial industry, are both Alumni of the RWU Class of 2008. Both were Executive Board members of the CRs at RWU and influential student activists.

The consulting firm, Candidate Coaches, is a division of Liftline Group, LLC. The firm is available to "coach" potential political candidates seeking local and state election on a variety of aspects.

Visit their website to get more great details! www.candidatecoaches.com

An Inconvenient Tax

The Moving Picture institute, an organization that has developed all sorts of tremendous documentaries and films, is release a new film called "An Inconvenient Tax."

Watch the trailer and visit the website:
www.aninconvenienttax.com

An Inconvenient Tax - Trailer from Life Is My Movie Entertainment on Vimeo.