Oversight, Oversight, Where for Art Though Oversight?

Now that Judge Samuel Alito has been admitted to the United States Supreme Court, will he extend executive power, as we suspect? Or will he rather respect the constitution, the separation of powers, the Bill of Rights, and liberty? What happens next?

Will the administration and their Republican counter-parts continue to manipulate real and exaggerated fears to hold on to power? Will people wake up and realize the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Iraq War, and tax cuts for the richest Americans in a time of an endless "War on Terror" are making us less safe?

The illusion of safety is worse than facing sober reality. It is time to wake up America! The Cold War ain't over. And it is beginning to look like we're losing that long-term generational war to Communist China. How much United States Government Debt Does China Own?

Patriotic Americans need to get involved in a 'We The People's Government.' It is time working people, entrepreneurs, teachers and preachers, the cops, firefighters, doctors and paramedics, high tech worker, national guard troops, artists, and people of good will, realize their power.

We are the people. As Katrina so blatantly demonstrated, we can not rely on our government to keep us safe. We have to rely on each other. The real heroes in a time of crisis are the average, everyday neighbors, fire fighters, police, charities, and national guard troops who roll up their sleeves and do the "HARD WORK."

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"Age of Anxiety"

I have been listening to the CD book "Age of Anxiety: from McCarthyism to Terrorism" by: Haynes Johnson (2005). I am now very near the end. As one may expect, there are many striking parallels between these two periods in American history. Perhaps the greatest similarity is how fear has been manipulated by those in power to further their own agendas and gain greater political power.

What is also incredible – and speaks to the incompetence we witnessed in managing the Katrina’s aftermath by FEMA and this administration - is the fact that all of McCarthy’s communist witch hunts and all of the Patriot Act authorized round-ups have netted exactly the same number of convictions – ZERO! How much has this cost us as American taxpayers? How much will it cost our children?

The active collaboration at worst; and the far more common dereliction of duty by most of the American press and too many members of the opposition party has been well documented on this blog and elsewhere.

In the end, Joe McCarthy did himself in by over-reaching and a failure to recognize that it was time to retreat in the face of strong opposition. How will this Age of Terrorism and the mass manipulation of fear end?

Unless our so-called leaders wake up, we stand to lose our Democracy. Here is some more evidence Unfathomed Dangers in PATRIOT Act Reauthorization by Paul Craig Roberts

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Can You Live On $5.15/hr.?

Imagine only earning $5.15 per hour in today’s world. How many hours would you have to work to fill your tank with gas. It is very unlikely you would even have a car. Imagine life without a car in today’s world. I’d hate to ride a SMART bus, but too many people do in today’s world.

The minimum wage has not increased in over eight years (right W?) This year, Michigan Voters will have the opportunity to increase the minimum wage to $6.85 per hour. Imagine trying to live on $6.85 per hour. You’d still be riding a bus, but at least you could get some more food and clothing. Hopefully, you would have shelter. Imaging having a job an being homeless at the same time.

Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do. America used to call this economic justice.

It is also in our own economic interest. It has been demonstrated that raising the minimum wage immediately improves the economy where these workers live. These minimum wage Americans spend money as fast as they get it. They have so many unmet needs. Due to the inceased minimum wage, grocers and neighborhood stores will sell more products. They will make more money, expand, and hire then more people. These new hires will spend more money. Economists call this the multiplier effect. Surprise, raising the minimum wage makes great economic sense!

Isn’t ironic that most politicians who support massive tax cuts for the super-rich have a problem with raising the minimum wage? Most also want to eliminate welfare. The welfare system needs to change, but it needs to change to benefit the poorest of the poor. Everyone, including welfare recipients, wants to see meaningful welfare reform.

One of the best ways to get people off welfare is to offer minimum wage jobs that pay better than welfare! Too many people make more money on welfare than on minimum wage jobs. This is not right! We need a minimum wage that pays better than welfare.

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Tony Trupiano for Congress

Our Constitution is in crisis. The professional politicians are scrambling to get ready for the 2006 elections. They are running to their PACs and BIG MONEY!

We need to fight big money with lots of little money and lots of bloggers. Who is running in your district? Who will you support?

"I will be a representative who works for solutions to the problems of Michigan’s 11th district. I don’t want to be one of those politicians who just complains and smears the other guy.

There is too much money in politics, but unfortunately you need lots of money to run a campaign in 2006. I am a democrat who believes in smaller government and a government that plans for the future. Please join me. I need the support of people who are concerned about the direction Michigan and America are headed."
- Tony Trupiano

Our constitution is in crisis. Scandals run rampant and touch all levels. Thadeous McCotter confirmed how deep the corruption runs in his own party when he recently called for ethics investigations at all levels.

At the same time, our world is undergoing a major transformation. The global economy is becoming increasingly competitive. We need to focus on encouraging the growth of new break-through 21st century industries that will create future jobs. If America fails to adapt - to evolve - we will be left behind by nations like China and India.

It is time for a change. Donate to and VOTE for representatives who support We the People.

“One country, one constitution, one destiny.”
- Daniel Webster

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Lethal Appointments

By now we are all familiar with the quality of some of President Bush's political appointments. First up was Michael Brown, the less than experienced head of FEMA and the New Orleans debacle. Now comes word that Bush put industry friendly officials in charge of the Mine Safety and Health Administration. This is the team that let the Sago mine keep operating with an above average number of violations. The bottom line 12 miners were killed.

And according to a story in the Detroit Free Press by Susanna Rodell a few more names to think about -

Julie Myers - Head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the Bureau of Homeland Security. Her immigration experience - none. Her experience running a large government bureau - none.

Tracy Henke - Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness. Her claim to fame was deleting unflattering facts about disparities in the treatment of blacks in traffic cases from a news release. Her experience in preparedness - none.

And there are many others ....

I realize politicians need to reward those that supported them but why not at least find people who have actual experience for jobs that are critical to America's safety?

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Gabon Oil Money Buys Oval Office Meeting with Bush

A fellow blogger directed me to this little story. I trust you will find it interesting:

Omar Bongo of Gabon in west Africa "...is one of the wealthiest heads of state in the world, and this is attributed mainly to oil revenue and corruption. In 2005, an investigation by the United States Senate Indian Affairs Committee into fundraising irregularities by lobbyist Jack Abramoff revealed that Abramoff had offered Bongo to arrange a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush in exchange for 9 million dollars. Bongo met Bush 10 months later in the Oval Office."
- Wikipedia

So, which White House officials were possibly collecting the cover charge for this visit? Will the Grand Jury find this answer? Or will we have to wait for Patrick Fitzgerald to snare these crooks on unrelated charges? This culture of corruption is getting curiouser and curiouser.

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Homeland Insecurity in Mississippi

Friday, September 09, 2005 2:54 AM
Subject: The Hurricane's Aftermath -
A Firsthand Account

"I just got off the phone with my ex-boyfriend, Terrell, who lives in Biloxi and who is currently between Jackson and Biloxi. I cannot imagine the horror that he is experiencing. He wished that he could show us what is really going on so, for him, I will try to share with you what he says is happening. I have no idea what to do to help, but maybe you can think of ways.

First, he said that the only time that he has seen the Red Cross or FEMA was when Bush was in the area. He said other than that, help has been almost non-existent. They are trying to organize giving out $2,000 debit cards, however there are not enough for everyone and people are fighting to get tickets (which they may later be able to use to get the debit card). He was actually told to call FEMA. When he called FEMA, he was told to call back. Since then, he has been calling FEMA and has been unable to get through. He goes from center to center and each place is unorganized, provides no information and no help.

Basically, they are leaving the people there to die, is what he said. He said that everything they are showing on the news and on the internet is bullshyt and that the people are not being helped (maybe those in the Superdome and Convention Center since there is so much media focus on that area). He said that there are bodies everywhere -- he saw 3 in a Safeway parking lot -- and that there is no real way to say how many people have died but he things that it's going to be a lot.

He also said that the police are not helping -- only intimidating. He said after the first day, he was looking at what remained of his apartment building and was not offered any help or assistance. There is no one even offering water. He says that he was told by the police that there was a 24 hr curfew and to leave -- not offered assistance.

He asked that I don't donate any money to the Red Cross since wherever the help is going, it's not to them. He said that basically everything I saw when I was there doesn't exist anymore.

And the saddest part about it is that he is lucky. He had the presence of mind to pack a few things and leave. He said he wasn't going to leave at first because they'd been through a few hurricanes, but that when he went outside the rain was "different", so he left taking little with him, thinking he would be home soon. Not all of his friends did. Some are still missing.

Currently, he has 15 gallons of gas in three 5 gal containers and water, and a truck and a few things to wear. He is doing better than a lot of people. I don't understand how this is happening and I don't really know what we can do to help, but we must do something."

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QuestionItNow - Voices is Back Online

The QuestionItNow team is pleased to report that we have changed hosting providers and are now back online. We decided to change providers this past weekend due to serious problems with our original host.

See the following email message for more information:

Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 1:28 AM
Subject: Important Message regarding your VPS account

Dear Sir/Madam

We regret deeply to inform you that one of our vps servers hosting several of our virtual private accounts suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure late friday, December 16. We are currently working to recover as much data as possible, but feel we must prepare those affected for the worst possibility: some accounts may be a complete loss for the next several days until we are able to rebuild those accounts on a new raid. We request your patience as we continue this laborious effort. We request that you please refrain from tying down tech support with inquiries, since it will be prohibitavly difficult to assess the status on a specific VE and will only divert our tech support staff's time away from the task of rebuilding. Thank you for your understanding as we continue the work necessary to rebuild these accounts.

Kind Regards
SERVER4YOU Support Team
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Suite 610a 710 North Tucker Blvd St. Louis,
MO 63101 USA

We hope one and all had an wonderful holiday season.
QuestionItNow looks forward to an outstanding 2006!