Hard To Understand

I was listening to Rusty Humphries on Monday night. He was talking about the alleged terrorist Mohamed Osman Mohamud. He was trying to personalize what might have happened. He first started talking about being in Washington for the holidays. It was cold so they were talking about going to the Christmas Tree lighting at Pioneer Square in Portland. The weather evidently warmed up and they stayed in Washington. He said if something would have happened at Pioneer Square, he and his family could have been there and been hurt. Latter in the show, after calling Mohamud a “punk ass kid” a dozen or so times, he was saying he was supposed to have been at Pioneer Square that day. He went from talking about going to Pioneer Square because of cold weather to supposed to have been there. Do people re-write events to make things seem like they could have been much worse?

During the show Humphries kept berating Mohamed. He kept saying that he was so important that he was named twice. I must assume that Humphries thinks that Mohamed and Mohamud are the same name. As I stated in “Terrorist Or Propaganda?” below, I don't think Mohamud is innocent but more questions of the FBI need to be asked and answered.

I don't know what good it does for people like Humphries to call names and try to belittle the alleged bomber. It doesn't help get us any closer to the truth and it makes Humprhies less than credible in anything else he says. I guess it could give Humphries a feeling of superiority. I usually only hear or read this type of name calling from Liberals when they don't have any facts to back up their arguments but even then they don't do it so many times during their rant. Don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect. I've probably called people names in the past but I try to base by discussions on facts provided and informed opinion.

During the show, Humphries opined that Mohamud should be put in jail for life after he is convicted. He didn't think he should be put to death because he had not killed anybody. It's Humphries opinon that Pfc. Bradley Manning, the person who allegedly leaked classified documents to Wikileaks, should be put to death because the leaks have caused deaths. What is interesting is that there have not been any alleged, let alone proven, deaths related to the leaks.

Terrorist Or Propaganda?

Mohamed Osman Mohamud was arrested in Portland. He had just dialed a cell phone that he allegedly believed would kill or maim hundreds of innocent people. This story doesn't pass the smell test. Mohamud likely had no contact with anyone other than FBI agents. There could be one other person he was in contact with if you believe the FBI's story of an unindicted associate overseas? With the FBI's record of deceit, I for one don't believe their story. FBI agents provided the plan, the van and the supposed explosives. The FBI also used illegal explosives in the presence of Mohamud. Mohamud dialed the cell phone twice so he is by no means innocent but I doubt he would have done any of this had he not been approached by the FBI in the first place.

It is worrisome that the public is not asking more questions about the FBI's role in this incident. I believe that the FBI is out of control in it's effort to find terrorists. They're not finding many so they've resorted to creating them. I wonder how far citizens will let this country proceed towards a police state before they call for a halt? I just hope we ask our government to rein them in before it is to late to stop them.

Where Is Justice?

David Olofson is in jail for thirty months because he happened to own a firearm that was defective and would sometimes fire more then one round for each pull of the trigger. This made it an unregistered machine gun to the ATF. A government agency that had to use several types of ammunition to duplicate the problem. The job of any law enforcement agency should be to find truth and justice, not to rack up convictions. The defense firearms expert was not allowed to physically inspect or test the rifle. This article is not specifically about Mr. Olofson, it's about the abuse and selective application of the laws of the country.

An Congressional ethics committee document indicates that Representative Charles Rangel owed The IRS $16,775 as of 1990, but he has paid some of the back taxes. It's important to understand that Representative Rangel was the Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means committee which writes the nations tax laws. Mr. Rangel was convicted of 12 ethics violations. Many of these violations would be considered crimes for we lowly serfs and we would be charged with crimes. One of the violations was “Violating Ethics in Government Act and House Rule26: Mr. Rangel submitted incomplete and inaccurate financial disclosure statements, and failt to report or erroneously reported items he was required to disclose under the Ethics in Government Act from 1998 through 2008. In particular, Mr. Rangel amended certain financial disclosure statements only after a House committee began investigating his reporting of income from his Dominican villa.” How many of us would still be free if we filed a fraudulent government document?

In late 2003, former national security adviser to President Clinton, Samuel Berger, stashed highly classified documents under a trailer in downtown Washington in order to evade detection by the National Archives personnel. He then removed and destroyed them. Many, if not all, of the documents were originals so there is no way to know the extent of Mr. Berger's crime. What was Mr. Berger's punishment? He agreed to pay a $10,00 fine and accept a three-year suspension of his national security clearance. Would you or I get such lenient punishment for mishandling, actually out right stealing, classified data?

The CIA learned that in 1996, John Deutch, former director, had mishandled classified materials by keeping them on several unsecured home and office computers. These internet connected computers were also used by Mr. Deutch's children. The CIA didn't report this security breach to the Justice Department until March 1998. Congress was not notified until June of 1998. In April of 1999, the DOJ found that Mr. Deutch's actions, while sloppy, where not criminal. His security clearance was revoked in July of 1999, 3 months after his friends in high places let him off the hook. I'm sure we would get such treatment. Mr. Deutch's case was reopened shortly after Wen Ho Lee, who didn't have friends in high places, was railroaded through the system by Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and others. Mr. Deutch was eventually convicted of mishandling classified information. President Clinton later pardoned him but not Wen Ho Lee.

With such massive willful abuse of authority it's easy to understand why such a large percentage of people distrust the government. What is not so easy to understand is why that percentage is not 100? I guess the families of the corrupt are forced to agree with them.

Liberal Thought Process

The Liberal thought process is a funny thing. On “The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell,” Mr. O'Donnell said , “As the first congressional election during his party chairmanship approaches, Michael Steele is dancing as fast as he can trying to charm independent voters and Tea Partiers while never losing sight of his real master and paycheck provider, the Republican National Committee.” Had a white Conservative said this, they would have been branded a racist and likely forced to resign. The Liberal mind recognizes the speaker as a white Liberal so no offense is detected. Christine O'Donnell talked about her beliefs on masturbation. Mr. O'Donnell also said, “How can Michael Steele attract independents with candidates that want to ban masturbation.” Mr. O'Donnell heard Christine O'Donnell's personal opinion and his mind turned it into her espousing policy. There is no limit to the hypocrisy of the left.

Mosque at Ground Zero.

On Friday, July 23, 2010 I heard Sean Hannity on XM Radio Channel 166. He was saying that we must not allow a Mosque to be built in New York City at Ground Zero. He basis this decision on what the Iman of the proposed Mosque believes and what he might do. It has been said that the Imam wants America to become a more Sharia compliant society. He believes that America's actions are responsible for 9/11. During one conversation he also said that he wouldn't support a church for satanic worship. This gives evidence that Mr. Hannity does not understand the Constitution of the United States, freedom or liberty. Mr. Hannity gives as proof of his understanding of the First Amendment the fact that he makes a living with the First Amendment. I beg to differ. He makes his living as a talk show host. He told one of his callers that you can't yell fire in a theater. This is a false statement. You can yell fire in a theater if there is a fire. You can yell fire in a theater if the theater is empty. If you yell fire in a crowded theater and cause a panic is when the problems arise. The same would be true if you yelled tire in a crowded theater and caused a panic. The limit is not on the speech, the limit is on the results of the speech. With all rights come responsibilities. You have the freedom to say anything you want as long as you don't infringe on the rights of others. If you cause a panic with with what you say you are infringing on the rights of those panicked.

Before I continue, I must give full disclosure. The first Presidential election in which I was able to vote was between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. I voted for President Reagan. I've been a registered Republican since that first election. I don't always vote for Republican, I vote for the person that I feel will best uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Back to the Mosque. We were not attacked by Muslims or the Muslim religion. We were attacked by a group of radical criminals who, in my opinion, perverted their religion to justify their actions. There have been criminals in every major religion that haver perverted their religion to justify violence against others. Many Catholic priests have committed sexual violence against a great number of children over the years. We didn't rush to ban building Catholic churches anywhere. Many white supremacist groups , including the KKK, consider themselves members of the Christian church. We don't rush to ban their existence or the building of Christian churches based on these groups. Our founding fathers fought hard for this country. Part of the reason they did so was for religious freedom.
Mr. Hannity complains loudly about possible attempts of the Government to limit talk radio. There are people in this country that don't agree with what talk radio says so it should be okay with Mr. Hannity to stop it. After all, Mr. Hannity and other talk show hosts are okay with the the Patriot Act. Part of this act makes it okay for the Federal Government to do warrant less wiretaps in this country. Because this is in direct violation of the founding principles, we should be able to stop his and other shows.

The mindset of people that want to ban things amazes me. Even if Mr. Hannity and others were able to stop the Mosque, they won't stop the Imam from his beliefs. This country banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in this country in 1919. This ban did nothing to stop the manufacture, sale, or transportation in this country. Prohibition did more to increase crime in this country than the thing they attempted to ban. Because prohibition increased crime, the Government created the FBI, an agency with no basis in the Constitution of the United States. The increase in crime was directly responsible for the Gun Control Act of 1934. A law that is in violation of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The unintended consequences of banning something are usually more onerous than the thing being banned.

If the things said about the Imam are true he disgusts me. I will not, however, infringe on any of his rights. If he, or anyone else, does something to harm this country I will do everything with in my power to bring those people to justice. We can never live with freedom and liberty if we are willing to so easily deny it to others based solely on their beliefs.

Do Your Duty

Monday, May 31st was Memorial Day. It was formerly known as Decoration Days and it commemorates U.S. Soldiers who died in military service. It has expanded to also be a day to remember the service and sacrifices of veterans and active duty military. Soldiers who have fought and died for this country have made huge sacrifices. Many of them carry scars, both visible and hidden. The sacrifices they make are so that we can live in Freedom and Liberty. I wonder how many New Mexicans were out camping, boating, drinking and just generally partying? I wonder how many of them did so without knowing why they didn't have to work that day?

Tuesday, June 1st was primary election day in New Mexico. On that day only 28% of eligible voters actually voted. It is shameful that our soldiers sacrifice so much but 72% of eligible voters won't sacrifice anything to do their duty as citizens. It is not difficult to drive to the polls and vote. If people find it difficult, they may request and absentee ballot and not have to leave their houses to vote. I recall the first elections in Iraq after Saddam Hussein was removed from power. Men and woman risked their lives to take part in their elections. After voting, they proudly held up their purple fingers to show that no amount of threats would stop them from doing their civic duty. Low voter turnout favors the incumbents. The incumbents have gotten us in our precarious position. The are charged with regulating the financial industry. They abdicated that responsibility and many people lost their life savings. The Government is charged with regulating oil companies and drilling in the United States. They abdicated that responsibility and we now have an ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Government rules without Government oversight will always lead to disaster. Yes, the businesses involved in these problems share some of the blame but Government is there to provide checks and balances.

A Government of the people, by the people and for the people requires the participation of the people. If 72% of the people are to lazy and apathetic to do their duties as citizens we must stop asking our military to make such great sacrifices defending the rights that allow us to vote.

Take time to read the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, Federalist papers, and Anti-Federalist papers. If you under 60 years of age, forget everything you learned of American History in school, if you learned anything at all. It's likely all wrong. Find more writings of the founders and read them. Our founders weren't a bunch of rich, old, white racists. There were Black and Hispanic founders that fought and died for our independence.

Thwarted Attack?

I'm having a hard time understanding why Government officials are saying that the attempted car bombing in NYC over the weekend was thwarted? The attempted bombing was not thwarted, it failed. A citizen did notice the SUV smoking and alerted authorities. That was after the detonation failed. Had the bomb been well constructed, nobody would have noticed before death and destruction ensued. New York and we as a nation were very lucky. It's unfortunate that the Obama administration is trying to take credit for thwarting this attempted attack. This gives people that impression that we are not as susceptible to terrorist attacks as we really are.