State of Oregon - Measure 118

Vote ‘NO’ on Measure 118.

This will increase the taxes on businesses and corporations in Oregon. It is a sales tax! The additional costs (taxes) will increase the cost of goods and services in Oregon. The companies cannot, and will not, absorb the higher taxes. These costs will be added to the prices of the goods you purchase.

Many companies and establishments will be forced to close down. Their sales will drop to the point they can no longer stay in business.

One of the evils of this measure is the legislature is bribing you. They say their will bring in so much money that you will get a tax rebate. Your cost of living will jump up because of the increased taxes - and they will give it back to you. Yeah! Right! This is a bait-and-switch promise. There may be a rebate after the first year, but then the Legislature will absorb all that money to increase the budgets of the state funded activities. And guess what - there just isn’t any left for you the tax payer.

Vote ‘NO’ on Measure 118.

State of Oregon - Measure 117

Vote ‘NO’ on Measure 117.

The main effect of this measure is to steal your vote!

In our present system, whichever candidate gets the most votes tallied, wins. It may not be a majority, especially if there is more than one candidate. It’s been done this way for many years, probably since the start of our nation. I understand that my candidate may not win. I can accept that (I may not like it, but at least my vote was ‘heard’).

In the proposed new system, if no candidate gets a majority of the votes, there is a complicate process that determines the ‘winner’. It works something like this: a committee takes the votes cast for the last place and shifts them to the next-to-last place candidate. You, the voter, have no say in this! This process is repeated until a candidate is bequeathed enough votes to have a majority is reached. Got that? Someone for whom you did not vote now has your vote to make a majority. My vote is taken from me and handed to another.

The opportunity for election fraud and cheating is too easy to ignore. Who knows what machinations will occur behind those closed doors? This is so complicated the government is going to spend millions of dollars to devise the system and to ‘educate’ us.

Why would you be surprised is fraud is perpetrated? Doesn’t this sound suspiciously like the way the Democrats decided who their presidential candidate would be? A person who did not win a single nomination election or a single vote cast was handed the presidential candidacy, while actual candidate was shoved aside.

Another reason to vote “NO” - the City of Portland is adopting this balloting system to elect their new governing body. If the City of Portland likes it, it must be bad.

By-the-way: A run-off election between the top two voted-for candidates in the field is simple and cheaper than this monstrosity. Plus, you will know your vote is counted - win or lose.

Vote ‘NO’ on Measure 117.

State of Oregon - Measure 116

Vote ‘NO’ on Measure 116.

This ballot measure provides for an ‘independent’ commission to set salaries for some of Oregon’s public officials - Governor, Secretary of State, etc. There are no checks and balances for this commission. The Legislature has no recourse or input on the commission decisions. The salaries set by the commission take place immediately, without review.

This is a power grab. There is no one or nothing to stop the setting of exorbitant salary increases.

Vote ‘NO’ on Measure 116.

State of Oregon - Measure 115

Vote ‘YES’ on Measure 115.

It provides of impeachment of state government officials that mirrors the U.S. Constitution.

Moral State of Our Leaders

Reading the Bible recently, in 1st and 2nd Kings, there is a main theme running through these historical writings: The moral state of the king directs or determines moral state of the people. The spiritual nature of the leaders is seen in the populace. The people follow the king’s lead. For example, king Jehoram “did what was evil in the Lord’s sight”. The king set up worship of idols of false gods! The people began to worship, nationwide, the idols, so the nation slid into evil.

Note: the religious leaders did little to try to stop the descent of the nation into sin. To be sure, there were prophets who spoke out to “turn from their wickedness and their wicked ways”. Occasionally there were towns or cities who did not follow when the king turned against God. For example, the town of Libnah did not approve the king turning to worshipping idols, and did not do the same. The kings and priests did not heed the prophets’ warnings.

This behavior was not (and still is not ) limited to Israel and Judah. Now this principle - people follow their leaders in all cultures are nations, to this very day. Leaders who operate without regard to the Lord and His ways rule with harshness, terror, and death.

This is a truism for all civilizations. Seldom, if ever, do the people rise up and demand to be led better. Looking at history, kingdoms and tribes on every continent have devolved into evil and damaging practices - both religious and secular.

For example, the Aztec empire was one of torture and death - early explorers found huge mounds of bones and skeletons surrounded their ‘temple’. In the Middle East, the nations’ religious ceremonies sacrificed their children, killing and burning them. In the Greek pantheon of gods, cult prostitutes were common. Rome was especially cruel in the way they treated subjects - the ‘Circus’ was battles between prisoners, and was famous for the statement, “We who are about to die salute you” - ‘games’ in the coliseum with killing, death, and crucifixion of any who would oppose their rule.

The French Revolution ended in a brutal war, with beheadings (including their queen and several of the leaders of the revolution). During the ‘Great Enlightenment’ there were riots, murders, the rebels turning on each other, death by guillotine with crowds cheering at each grisly death.

And then there is everyone’s bogeyman - Hitler - who turned a mostly peaceful nation into a horrifying Nazi regime which sent people to death camps. Plus look at any communist nation with millions and millions and millions of people killed by their godless leaders.

You might say we have grown and matured. Really? It isn’t hard to find cruelty and awful practices all around us. Consider the criminal gangs and cartels in South America and Mexico. The feckless leaders in Canada are not beacons of hope and morals.

Our country is being led by people who do not do right. We do not have a king, but the President is our national leader, mostly secular; but in truth, the actions of the President (or Vice-President) display the spiritual depravity of the USA’s leaders. No longer do they feign to do right while going in the wrong direction. They openly and brazenly lie. Our news organizations do not call attention to the truth. This is a version of ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. We are told they are doing a wonderful job, except it is not a story, but is deadly and dangerous. We hear, “He is the smartest, sharpest president in our history” (paraphrased), as we watch him stumble and bumble and stare blankly into space. We are told, “This is the best economy in 100 years”, except the cost of every thing is 15-50% higher than four years ago. Another lie, “The mask will protect you from Covid,” when you know the virus would have to be the size of a golf ball to be stopped by those paper masks. How about the call for ‘reproductive rights’? These boil down to ‘let us kill your babies!’ We are descending from off-base or wrong, down to corruption and open evil. And not the least is the ‘sexual revolution’ where we see our children being groomed to perversion, or mutilated and permanently harmed trying to turn boys to girls, or vice-versa.

These are not isolated incidents. These are just a few examples of the corruption and depredation that is happening right now in our

We do not need to follow these leaders who would take us away from Judea-Christian principles. We need to speak up, stand up and let people know there is a better way to live. We are all sinners and in need of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is important for us to be heard in the public square, and championing life through Jesus Christ.

We have a great opportunity. Some polls and surveys have shown that the USA is becoming more and more unchurched, or unaffiliated with churches. Perhaps the largest ‘church’ in our nation is worship of self. I don’t know if people are merely unchurched and uninterested in having a religious faith, or if they are becoming hostile to Christianity. I do believe the modern media - both entertainment and news - are working hard to turn people against the church. That is our opportunity - to share Christ and what He has done for us personally. It’s not about church, but it’s all about Jesus Christ.

Choose Today

We are at crossroads in our nation at this point in time. The upcoming election season will be a defining moment. If we choose poorly, there may be no recovery. God has placed before us several situations which are warnings, redlines of danger for us and our country. How we react to these warnings will show the spiritual condition of our nation. God spoke to the Israelites just before they crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land, the land of Canaan. Moses's last message urged them to follow God's commandments. The message also threatened them - warning them that doing as they pleased, not following God's commands, would prove to be dire. Look at what He said to them - Deuteronomy 30:11-19 "This commandment I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it too remote... 15 "Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other. 16 What I am commanding you today is to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to obey his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. Then you will live... 19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

God told them that what He wanted was not difficult, it was not a secret. It did not require mystic knowledge, or a special dispensation to know what to do. He had given them clear instructions. "Love God. Obey His commands." It is frightfully simple. Sometimes these simple commands are so 'in your face' that we tend to think, "Nah! That can't be right! There must be more I need to do." He gives them stark choices, Life or Death. All creation knows what He wants from them, from us. We cannot say, "We didn't know! Who told us?" He can turn to the rocks and trees, fish, birds, animals, angels and planets, and raise his eyebrow and say, "Really?" He will get a resounding reply, "Love God. Obey His commands."

We are in a similar situation in today's world. God has placed several redlines of warning for our country. God is warning us to choose wisely. If we fail, God will judge us as He has done with other rebellious people. These must not go on. First - Planned Parenthood harvesting and selling baby body parts. Second - the persecution and slaughter of Christians by Muslim extremists in the Middle East and Africa. Third - Our government (the United States of America) flaunting corruption and willful ignoring and breaking of laws.

First - Is there any greater evil than murdering babies for profit? Yes! Murdering babies with the intent of collecting bits and pieces to sell. It is supposedly for a good cause. What cause is worth dismembering a child? What cause is good enough for people to munch on salad while joking that a Lamboghini was a preferred payment for baby body parts? We are killing and dismembering the most innocent and defenseless. Over 1.2 million babies were aborted (killed) last year. That is about 15 Charleston church shooting tragedies per hour. We were shocked at that tragedy. That is about four Colorado Theater killings per hour. We wept for the dead in that tragedy. More babies are killed by abortion per hour than shooting deaths in Chicago in a year. Our nation is becoming a culture of death. God has warned us to protect the most innocent. We are not. This cannot continue.

Second - Can we with clear conscience stand by while Muslim extremists are beheading, burning alive, shooting, crucifying people who do not believe in Islam. They are especially cruel to Christians, but do not spare women, girls, homosexuals, or those who disagree with their cult of Islam. Do you want to talk about 'war on women'? Consider Boko Haram, or ISIS. Are you concerned about justice for gays? Homosexuals are being thrown off of roofs in ISIS controlled towns. We cannot say we do not know what they are doing.
Some of the accusations against the Germans during the Holocaust were they feigned ignorance of the slaughter of the Jews. They did not have the advantage of the internet or the 24-hour cable news, so they might not have known. However, there is the report that the church members sang louder each Sunday morning to drown out the sounds of the death trains rumbling by on the way to the ovens. To our shame, America turned its back on Jewish refugees, refusing their entry into the country. Our response to the ISIS situation is eerily similar.
We are becoming acclimated to the horrific violence of these religious zealots. We were shocked to the core when we saw the first beheading. Sickened at the immolation of a caged prisoner. Disturbed when more than twenty were beheaded on the beach. It has not gotten better. This week ISIS tied people on top of bombs (IEDs) then blew them up. What has been our response? Hold up handwritten signs with some inane 'hashtag'. Pathetic. We have not demanded our government do something. We cannot continue doing nothing. But on the other hand, perhaps we believe our present administration would do nothing even if we demanded it.

Third - Our governmental leadlers - mayors, governors, legislators, the president and his administration openly and brazenly flout the laws of the land. Of all the countries in the world, the United States is a product of the people and laws. Lincoln said it best, "of the people, by the people..." We have chosen our leaders, whether they be corrupt, incompetent, greedy, or honest, forthright, with good character. At present we have very few of the latter. Whether it is the President, or the Speaker of the House, or the mayor of a city - we need honest people of good character leading us. We don't need liars. We don't need power-hungry narcissists. We cannot say that it is their fault, not ours. God had a warning for the people of Israel. He let them know that it was not just the king's fault, or the priests. The problem fell on all of the people. See Jeremiah 32:32,33 - "...the people of Israel and Judah have made me angry with all their wickedness - their kings, their officials, their priests, their prophets, and especially the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem have done this wickedness. 33 They have turned away from me instead of turning to me. I tried over and over again to instruct them, but they did not listen and respond to correction."
The political/government leaders, the religious leaders, the business leaders and the common man were all deep into sin.
Is America any different right now? One of the people running for President has spent a lifetime lying. If you need an example, start with the attack on our Benghazi Embassy. Or, what about secreting communications on a personal server, rather than using the government servers as proscribed by law. What about the majority leaders of the Senate, both Democrat and Republican bending the rules for personal gain rather than the good of the citizens of the country. We also see the legislators willing to put off until later, years or decades later, solutions to major problems. This is similar to king Hezekiah of Judah seeking approval of the Babylonians, rather than God. The Lord chastised the king, telling him the kingdom would be stripped away. Hezekiah's response? "Hey, at least it will happen after I am gone." Doesn't that sound like kicking the can down the road? This is related in chapter 39 of Isaiah, the punch line found in Isaiah 39:8 - Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The LORD's word which you have announced is appropriate." Then he thought, "For there will be peace and stability during my lifetime."

We no longer have any 'wiggle room'. The warnings are clearly before us. We must decide - do we say and do nothing, hoping the problems will fall on our nation after we are dead and gone? We must decide - can we stand by and be silent while babies are being torn asunder? We must decide - can we be quiet because at least the slaughter of believers isn't happening here? Do we let the power brokers drive our government into the sewer because we won't speak up, speak out, and vote? Joshua challenged the Israelites after they began to setlle down in their land. Joshua 24:15a - If you have no desire to worship the LORD, choose today whom you will worship. We need to live our faith, not just in church on Sunday, but in the world. Joshua 24:15b - But I and my family will worship the LORD! If we don't do this, God will withdraw His blessing from us. Choose today whom you will serve. Choose life. Or, choose death.

***
(note: Thank you Glenn Beck for the idea and the inspiration for the above.)

Another Major Failure in Oregon's Legislature

Senator Jeff Kruz (R-Roseburg) sent the following E-Newsletter to describe the frustration he experiences working with the Democrats in this session of Oregon's Legislature. A combination of corruption in the governor's office, plus hubris in the Democrat dominated Senate and House, plus rigid environmental wackos, and incompetence and corruption in ODOT led to the failure of the recently tabled Transportation bill.
Corruption: see the Kitzhaber debacle.
Hubris: the Democrats rammed the low carbon fuel bill through the House and Senate, ignoring valid objections from the Republicans.
ODOT: the department refused to cooperate in the joint working sessions, and did not provide needed data to verify the proposed plan until too late, which scrapped the limited coorperation that existed.

The following is the letter from Senator Kruz.
I thank him for his diligence.

THE CHURCH AND POLITICS

The following is a piece written by a long time friend and pastor, who lives in Libby, Montana. He and I worked together at Hyster Company; held Bible studies together, and both left Hyster to do ministry work. He started a church in Libby, Donna and I went into Campus Crusade for Christ.
This is a really fine piece about Christians and politics. It addresses the question of whether Christians should get involved in politics.


The adult Sunday school class at the church we attend has been going through a series by Chip Ingram entitled Culture Shock: A Biblical Response to Today’s Most Divisive Issues. We have looked at what the Bible says about truth, abortion, the environment, sex, homosexuality and the past two weeks we have covered The Church and Politics. Although it wasn’t intentional on behalf of the teacher, it is interesting, and great timing, that we should be covering The Church and Politics just before the November elections (tomorrow). Many folks think there are two subjects that are off limits for discussion: religion and politics. Granted they can create some very heated conversations, often without much light, but as believers, we happen to have a dual citizenship, so we have a responsibility to both the kingdom of heaven’s work here on earth and also to the government under which we live. Balancing those two out is what is difficult.
Since we are so prone to the swinging of the pendulum, we tend to either become separatists who believe that the church should have nothing to do with the political realm, or we become activists who feel the church should be highly involved in helping to influence the governmental system. As Chip Ingram discovered when he was a young pastor, the issue of the church and politics is possibly the greatest polarizing issue in the church, with some folks on each end of the spectrum of separatism versus activism and the majority somewhere in between. As he struggled with how to navigate through this maze of the Church and politics, he came up with four biblical absolutes as a framework to help us think clearly about the role of the Church in politics. Here they are:
1. There are two kingdoms in conflict: an eternal heavenly, spiritual kingdom and an earthly, temporal, secular kingdom.
a. Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (Jn. 18:36).
b. Jesus is building a kingdom which is in conflict with earthly, physical kingdoms.
2. Every believer has dual citizenship and thus dual responsibilities.
a. The Pharisees and Herodians, trying to trap Jesus into siding either with the Jews or the Romans, asked Him if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar (Mk. 12:13-15). If he said “Yes,” then He would be siding with the Romans. If He said “No,” then He would be siding with the Jews. Either way, they had him in a trap. But, Jesus answer, which amazed them, was “...Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s” (Mk. 12:17).
b. As believers, not only are we citizens of an earthly kingdom, but “...our citizenship is (also) in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ...” (Phil. 3:20). So we have a responsibility to support our government (even though it may be evil—like the Roman government) and to support the Kingdom of God.
3. Humans governments are ordained by God to restrain evil (Ro. 13:1-7).
a. As Paul said, “...There is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God...” and “...it is a minister of God to you for good...” (Keep in mind that the Roman government was very ungodly and corrupt!)
b. The government is God’s servant to restrain evil, but cannot produce righteousness.
4. The church is ordained by God to make disciples.
a. In His commission to the disciples, Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...baptizing...teaching...” (Mt. 28:18-20).
b. The role of the church is to produce additional followers of Christ, training them to disciple others.
c. When Christians live like Christians they will have an impact on their family, the church, the community, the culture, and the government, and thus the nation (Think about Joseph and Daniel). The early church was powerful because it focused on Jesus’ command to disciple others and thus to change one life at a time through the Gospel, something that the government cannot do and wasn’t intended to do.

So, how do we apply these basic biblical principles in our daily living with respect to the church and politics? Here are the ways Chip Ingram suggests:
1. Let the Church be the Church—to exalt Christ.
a. Through prayer: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and for all who are in authority, in
order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved, and
to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:1-4). We love to complain about those in office. How often do we pray for them? Pretty convicting, huh!
b. Through preaching and teaching the truth of God’s Word, helping others to develop a biblical world view on subjects like the home, marriage, work, sexuality, etc. “I solemnly
charge you...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction” (II Tim. 4:1,2).
c. Model the truth, righteousness, justice...be the salt and light you are intended to be in a dark and decaying world so that when others see your good works, they will “glorify your
Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 5:13-16).

2. Don’t expect the government to achieve what only the church can accomplish.
a. We may be thinking, “Oh, if only tomorrow’s election turns out the way I want it..” not realizing we are subconsciously believing our government can produce righteousness--
it cannot! It’s job is to restrain evil.
b. At some point in our history both major political parties have been in control—so where has that taken us spiritually as a nation?
c, A particular political system is not the answer to the human heart—only God has that answer.

3. Don’t expect the church to accomplish what only individual believers can achieve.
a. We (individually) have a responsibility to both our government and nation and to our Heavenly Father and His kingdom of righteousness. We should not demand that our local
assembly of believers corporately promote our passion. But we had better be doing so individually by living a Christ-like life and getting involved wherever possible to have
an influence for Him, whether it is writing letters to our representatives, attending city council meetings, running for school board or governor or president! God’s program to build
His kingdom is one of penetration, of infiltration. We are salt, but if we stay in the salt shaker, we have no influence on the earthly kingdom.
b. One thing you need to for sure do, and that is to vote tomorrow (If you haven’t already by absentee ballot). It is not only our right as a citizen of this great nation, but it is our responsibility. Of the 60 million registered voters in the U.S. who claim to be evangelical Christians, only 20 million voted in the last presidential election. That’s really a sad
commentary on our responsibility as Christians. And when you vote, be a “kingdom voter” who votes, not based on political parties, but on biblical principles and what candidate
most closely shares those values. The majority of Americans vote based on who can best keep the economy going, meaning they vote very selfishly considering who can help me
be the most comfortable and have the most stuff. Also a tragic commentary on our nation.

“The future of America will ultimately rest, not on politicians, but on the fervency of God’s people in sharing their faith as credible witnesses to the Christ who saved them. Unless the culture changes, America will not change, and that change is brought about one life, on family, and one community at a time” (Erwin Lutzer, Pastor of Moody Church, in his book When a Nation Forgets God).

Forever His,
Pastor Dave


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Welcome to the "Know Nothing" Party

We are seeing the rebirth of the Know-Nothings.
This administration, and all the minions of darkness therein, never seem to know what's going on.
The Know Nothings were a secretive faction of the 'American' political party in the 1850's. The American party was basically an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant organization. The Know Nothing name came from the society's instructions to answer any queries concerning their meetings and activities with "I know nothing." What are we seeing today?
People die in Benghazi, and Obama lies. But no one knows anything. He doesn't know anything, but he's really upset about what happened and is going to work night and day to bring "whoever" to justice. Question: why was nothing done to aid the ambassador and the others? Answer: I know nothing.
Check.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham was in charge of the safety of the embassy personnel. She doesn't know anything, and "what does it matter?" that four Americans died. When the 3:00 AM phone call came, she didn't answer. Question: why wasn't the security increased in light of the warnings given. Hillary's answer: a lie to Congress, and she knows nothing.
Check.
Susan Rice lied about the Benghazi attack perpetrators, and the impetus for the attack. But Susan didn't care. She didn't know anything, or wasn't talking beyond the Obama script. She was rewarded with a promotion. The poor guy who made the video, was a political prisoner for several months. Question: why spread the lie about the video? Answer: I know nothing.
Check.
The IRS attacks the Tea Party groups. Obama has no idea how this happens. No one is more upset than he! But how could you expect Obama to know what was going on in his administration? Maybe it was rogue agents! Can't trust those Cleveland agents. Maybe it was George Bush's fault! Question: who instructed the IRS to harass the conservative groups? Obama's answer: I know nothing.
Check.
Hey, I know. Let's ask Lois Lerner. She was in charge. Oops. She doesn't know anything. Great, now she gets a promotion, too.
Check.
The NSA spies on Americans. Obama says, "What?! I didn't know that was happening! Nobody is more upset..." Blah, blah, blah. Lie, lie, lie. No one, absolutely no one, in the administration is held accountable. Well, maybe a couple of factotums, a few peons had to take a couple of paid days off, but otherwise, no heads rolled. Not a cabinet secretary, not a department head, not the Teflon narcissist.
Check.
The Obamacare sign-up rollout is falling flat, failing spectacularly. Why is this happening? Obama doesn't know. Nobody told him! And he is hacked off, I tell you. Really upset. I mean really, really upset. Kathleen Sebelius doesn't know. No one told her. How can it be her fault? She is only the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Why would you expect her to know anything?
Question: how many have been allowed to sign up for Obamacare? Sebelius' answer: I know nothing.
Check.
So. Is it incompetence, or deceit?
Even an incompetent would get something right once in a while. To borrow a line from the X-Files, "This administration operates by deceit, inveigling, and obfuscation."

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Location:On the left coast

Bad 'Law of the Land'

So, Obamacare is the 'law of the land' and its implementation is inevitable? We, the U.S. citizens should just lay back and enjoy it? These Democrat hypocrites! If it is so GOOD, why do our Congressmen, Senators, and their minions want no part of it? Why do the unions, the most virulent backers, want waivers? As people find out how negatively their lives are being effected by this bill, and how much more worse it will get, they want it stopped.
If a law of the land is bad, we have both the right and responsibility to eliminate that law. The Democrats gave us slavery, Jim Crow laws, and the KKK (some of the most honored Democrats were KKK members). Should we have done nothing because racism and slavery were the law of the land? The people of the United States rose up, fought a war to break the back of slavery, marched to end racism, and to shame the KKK to insignificance.
Likewise, women were not allowed to vote. If we follow Oregon's Schrader, Bonamici, DeFazio or Blumenauer, there would be no women's suffrage, because men-only voting was the law of the land. Doing nothing is not an option.
Bad law, and make no mistake Obamacare is really bad, needs to be corrected as soon as possible. Now we know. We've read the law. It's time to delay, defund, and defeat Obamacare.


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Senator Merkley is fighting for me? Yeah, right.

The Honorable Senator Merkley sent an email extolling his 'work' in the Senate. In the email he asks for continual input from his subjects (oops, constituents). Here is his letter, with my replies interspersed.

Since coming to Congress, I have been fighting to end the paralysis in the Senate by reforming the filibuster. In the time I have been here, I have heard from tens of thousands of Oregonians who are frustrated that important legislation is blocked without debate and with no senator held accountable for the inaction. Because the current form of the filibuster allows any senator to object to ending debate on a bill silently, an objection that can only be overcome with a supermajority of 60 votes, the filibuster has become a partisan tool for blocking the majority's agenda rather than a principled stand by a senator defending core values.

That is why I have been making the case across Oregon and the country for a "talking filibuster," which would simply require a senator who demands more debate to in fact be in the Senate chamber debating. In other words, if a senator chooses to block a bill that has the support of a majority of senators, I believe he or she should at least make the case before the American people, and if no senator is on the floor debating, then the debate should end and a vote held.

This is one Oregonian who does not want you to materially change the Senate rules. One of the reasons the laws should not be changed is that you cannot be trusted. Who is accountable now for budgets not being voted on, or debated in the Senatemfor the last three-plus years? The Republicans? No, it is the Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid. Who is accountable for decisions to not allow amendments or debates on legislation? The Republicans? They can't make the Senate rules. But Harry Reid can. Is he accountable? If so, to whom? You don't need a filibuster to block legislation, you have Harry Reid. What were his core values in blocking discussions, debates, and amendments, and votes to legislation before the Senate?

It has been reported that Harry Reid wants to be able to change bills, by removing or adding items, after the Senate has already voted on the bill. And these changes would not be voted on by the Senate. How is that kind of tyrannical action beneficial to the people of the United States? He would be unaccountable to anyone. Not the people, nor to the Senate (he is the leader of the Senate, who does he answer to?). To do what he pleases when he pleases is by almost any definition tyranny.

You are aware that the House of Representatives or the Senate were designed by the writers of the Constitution to be a means of deliberating on and blocking laws that are not in the best interest of the United States. Bills need to get a full hearing, from majority and the minority. pThe Senate is where 'bills are sent to die'. The House and the Senate are not designed to rush laws through. Laws that are not debated, not considering both the majority and minority opinions, are often seriously flawed - two recent examples are Obamacare, and the Dodd-Frank law. The unintended consequences of these pieces of legislation are showing up every week.

The 'talking filibuster' one point on which I agree with you. I believe the Senate rule change that moved the filibuster from a talking one to a technical one was put forth by a Democrat. If you as a Senator wish to filibuster, either alone or with other Senators, then you should have to be one the floor of the Senate talking. The filibuster has always been a partisan tool - can you make a case for, or give an example of a bi-partisan filibuster?

He continues...

As you may know, on January 24, 2013, the Senate made several reforms to its rules to help move legislation more efficiently through the chamber. Specifically, the new reforms create tools that can limit the ability of individual senators to block bills from coming to the floor, and they will make it less time-consuming to confirm the President's nominees.

The new rules fell short of what I had proposed, and did not include a "talking filibuster" requirement. However, I am proud that the Senate took the steps that it did. These are the most substantive changes to Senate rules in decades. Moreover, senators from both parties sent a clear message that the current gridlock and dysfunction is unacceptable, and showed their determination to fix the Senate. If these modest steps do not sufficiently address the dysfunction in the Senate, many senators are determined to fight for stronger solutions, and I am ready to continue leading that fight...

It is understood that the Senate can make its own rules for considering legislation. But making rules that will limit the ability of the minority party to have its voice heard will not serve the nation well. That is what concerns me. To this point, at least for the last six years, the period of the reign by Harry Reid, the Senate has not been a deliberative, debating body. You, the Democrats, led by Harry Reid have not listened to the people of the United States, or to the minority party.

A recent poll of American citizens indicated that we do not trust the government to act in our best interests. That includes the Senate. You, the Democrats, are definitely a significant part of the mistrust shown in the poll. A lack of transparency, both in the Senate and the Administration ("the most transparent...) fuels the mistrusts. For me, whenever I hear any Democrat talk about transparency, I grab my wallet because I know it will be under attack. The transparency ruse is like watching a 'magician' - you're attention is continually drawn away because you are watching the wrong hand. So it is with the Democrats. You say one thing, but do another, all the while creating the misdirection under the guise of transparency. Again you are not to be trusted, in the Senate, or with our lives.
***

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Location:Where? When?

Why Bush was so bad at the end of his term?

This information is so useful. We tend not to think of
Congress as much as we should.

This tells the story, why Bush was so bad at the end of his term.

Some people aren't aware of all of this. Don't just skim over this, please read it slowly and let it sink in. If in doubt, check it out.

The day the democrats took over was not January 22, 2009, it was actually January 3, 2007... the day the Democrats took over the House of Representatives and the Senate, at the very start of the 110th Congress.

The Democrat Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995.

For those who are listening to the liberals propagating the fallacy that everything is "Bush's Fault", think about this: January 3rd, 2007 was the day the Democrats took over the Senate and the House. At the time:

The DOW Jones closed at 12,621.77
The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5%
The Unemployment rate was 4.6%
George Bush's Economic policies SET A RECORD of 52 STRAIGHT MONTHS of
JOB GROWTH!

Remember the day... January 3rd, 2007 was the day that Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate
Banking Committee.

The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part
of the economy? BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES!

Unemployment... to this CRISIS by (among MANY other things) dumping 5-6 TRILLION Dollars of toxic loans on the economy from YOUR Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac FIASCOES!

Bush asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie & Freddie - starting in 2001 because it was financially risky for the US economy.

And who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae AND Freddie Mac?
OBAMA.

And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie?
OBAMA and the Democrat Congress.

So when someone tries to blame Bush..
REMEMBER JANUARY 3rd, 2007.... THE DAY THE DEMOCRATS TOOK OVER!
Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democrat Party.

Furthermore, the Democrats controlled the budget process for 2008 & 2009, as well as 2010 & 2011.
In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat belatedly got tough on spending increases.

For 2009 though, Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the 2009 budgets.

And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he
signed the omnibus bill as President to complete 2009.

If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets. That deficit was the lowest in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets.

If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself. In a nutshell, what Obama is saying is "I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th."

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Do you remember January 3, 2007?

If you don't like G.W. Bush, you probably will declare that the following is wrong! This is a history lesson, so bear with me. Don't be afraid of the truth. Nothing we do can change the facts listed here!

The day the Democrats took over was not January 20, 2009 (Obama's first day as president, officially). It was actually January 3, 2007, the day the Democrats took over the House of Representatives and the Senate, at the very start of the 110th Congress. The Democratic Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995.

If you believe the fallacy that everything is "George Bush's Fault", think about this:
On January 3, 2007, the day the Democrats took control of Congress:
· The DOW Jones closed at 12,621.77
· The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5%
· The Unemployment rate was 4.6%
· George Bush's Economic policies had set a record of 52 straight months of job creation!

January 3rd, 2007 was the day Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee. The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in the Banking and Financial Services part of the economy. THANK YOU DEMOCRATS (especially Barney Frank), for taking us from 13,000 DOW, a GDP growth of 3.5%, and 4.6% unemployment to this CRISIS by dumping $5-6 trillion of toxic loans on the economy from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fiascos, plus many other toxic decisions! By-the-Way: Bush asked Congress 17 times to put the brakes on Fannie & Freddie – starting in 2001 because it was financially risky for the US economy. Barney blocked it and called it a "Chicken Little Philosophy" (but...the sky did fall).

Who benefitted from the melt down? Who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? - Obama! And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie? Obama and the Democrat Congress, especially Barney Frank, Christopher Dodd, Chuck Schumer! They played the 'race card' over and over during hearings.

So when someone tries to blame Bush: Remember 1/03/2007 - the day the DEMOCRATS took over Congress. President Bush may have been in the car, but the Democrats were in charge of the gas pedal and steering wheel while they were driving the economy into the ditch. Budgets are not passed in the White House. They are passed by Congress. The party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democrat Party. Furthermore, the Democrats controlled the budget process for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Senator Reid has stopped all budget votes, and Obama has now gone over 1000 days without a budget. He is still blaming it on the Republicans! In that first year, 2007, Congress had to contend with President George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending when Bush got tough on spending increases, albeit belatedly. However, for fiscal year 2009 Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid bypassed the lame duck President Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill. Where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of those massive spending bills, and as President he signed the omnibus bill to complete 2009.

Remember what the deficits looked like during that period. The Democrats inherited the 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets. That deficit was the lowest it had been in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending (even with the country fighting a war). After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, including Barack Obama, who voted for the bills. If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself and a Democratic Congress.

In a nutshell, what Obama is saying is: "I inherited a deficit that I voted for." He then expanded that deficit four-fold since January 20, 2009. Obama has grown the deficit more than any other president, ever - more than all the others combined. There is no way this will be widely publicized unless each of us teaches others!

"The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."

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Senator Merkel loves us, he truly loves us!

If you live in Oregon you may have received a campaign letter from Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley in which he puffed that he was a co-sponsor for the 'Buffett Rule'. Don't know if you have read it, but I am sorry to say almost nothing he said can be believed. I am not sure if the Senator is really as ignorant as the letter portrays. According to the letter, Warren Buffett wonders why he pays less taxes than his secretary; but we know that Mr. Buffett fights to pay as little as possible. By 'Buffett Rule' did Senator Merkley mean we can now all refuse to pay our taxes for ten years? Did he expect us to believe that if Warren Buffett had actually taken a salary instead of capital gains he wouldn't have to pay the same or higher tax rates as his poor abused secretary? Or if she was paid by means of investments and got paid by capital gains that she wouldn't pay the same capital gains tax rate as Buffett? His characterizations are dishonest. Even the CBO acknowledges taxing the dickens out of the 'millionaires, etc." will bring in a pittance. Saying, "every little bit helps" becomes a silly childish comeback.
Some of the Senator's statements are false and misleading. For example, he said, "When we make decisions about our budget, we also make a statement about our values as a nation... do we protect Social Security and Medicare, invest in our infrastructure, and give our children the skills they need in a 21st century economy?" What a load. His statements show his values - dishonesty. Senator Merkley, Harry Reid, Nancy Pilosi, and the president have done nothing to 'Protect Social Security and Medicare'. Senator Merkley, and the rest of the Democrats, refuse to acknowledge that SS is in financial trouble, e.g., there is no lock-box; there is no money in the system, it has all been borrowed to finance failed Democratic boondoggles. In fact, this week (week of 23-Apr) a report by the trustees indicates Social Security fund will totally defunct three years sooner than anyone thought. The Senator voted for Obamacare, which steals $500 billion from Medicare to finance, in part, the death panels. Obama has also proposed to take another similar amount for more profligate spending.
Another interesting tidbit: Obamacare destroys the 'Medicare Advantage' supplemental insurance program beginning in January 2013. However, since senior citizens must decide on how they will pay for supplemental insurance in October, Obama is illegally taking over $8 billion from the HHS budget to fool seniors into thinking there is no problem. Almost everyone under 65 years old probably doesn't give a rip about this - but they should. Rather looking out for senior citizens, the Democrats are attacking us. They can't get rid of us in one fell swoop, so are going to nibble us to death, with painful little cuts. And yet, Senator Merkley and Obama will expect us to be thankful. "Please, sir. Can I have some more?"
***
Excerpts from the Senator's campaign letter follows:
"This week, the U.S. Senate had the opportunity to make sure millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes. Inspired by billionaire investor Warren Buffett – who rightly asked why he should pay a lower tax rate than his secretary – President Obama proposed the much-needed "Buffett Rule."

"This rule would ensure that millionaires and billionaires cannot use loopholes and special exceptions to pay a lower tax rate on their income than hardworking middle class families. It would do so by closing loopholes for those earning more than $1 million, scaling up to an effective minimum tax rate of 30% for households earning more than $2 million.

"As a cosponsor of this legislation, I was very glad that the Senate scheduled time to debate and vote on it this week. Unfortunately, a minority of senators filibustered the motion to begin debate on the legislation. I am deeply disappointed that the Senate could not even debate this common-sense bill.

"When we make decisions about our budget, we also make a statement about our values as a nation. Are we a nation that showers millionaires and billionaires with handouts they don't need? Or do we protect Social Security and Medicare, invest in our infrastructure, and give our children the skills they need in a 21st century economy?

"With so many in our society making sacrifices to get by, I do not believe our federal government should be using its limited resources to pad the wallets of the most affluent, which is exactly what our current tax system does. Please know that I will keep fighting for a fairer and more fiscally responsible tax system."

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Obama's Czars - in Pictures

Welcome to the Obomination: CZARs    

Appointed without Congressional approval and quietly changing the US policies.  

OBAMA'S CZARS: There are very few of us who know just what all of Obama's Czars do, as they quietly go about their "work" in the nation's capital. This listing of their names and job descriptions should be educational to all Americans.   See who they are and realize what they want to do:  

 Richard Holbrooke -Afghanistan Czar - Ultra liberal anti-gun former Governor Of New Mexico. Pro-Abortion and pro-drug legalization. Wants to dissolve the 2nd Amendment.

 Ed Montgomery - Auto recovery Czar - Radical anti-business black activist. Affirmative Action and Job Preference for blacks. University of Maryland Business School Dean; teaches that US business has caused world poverty. ACORN board member. Communist DuBois Club member.  

 Jeffrey Crowley - AIDS Czar - Radical Homosexual. Gay Rights activist. Believes in Gay Marriage and a Special Status for homosexuals only, including complete free health care for gays.

   

 Alan Bersin - Border Czar - The former failed superintendent of San Diego. Ultra-Liberal friend of Hillary Clinton. Served as Border Czar under Janet Reno - to keep borders open to illegals without interference from the Federal government.  

 David J. Hayes - California Water Czar - Senior Fellow of radical environmentalist group "Progress Policy". No training or experience in water management whatsoever.  

 Ron Bloom - Car Czar - Auto Union worker. Anti-business & anti-nuclear. Has worked hard to force US auto makers out of business. Sits on the Board of Chrysler which is now Union-owned. How did this happen?  

 

 Dennis Ross - Central Region Czar - Believes US policy is the cause of war in the Middle East. Obama apologist to the world. Anti-gun and completely Pro-Abortion.

   

 Lynn Rosenthal - Domestic Violence Czar - Director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Vicious anti-male feminist. Supports male castration - imagine?

  

  

 Gil Kerlikowske - Drug Czar - Devoted lobbyist for every restrictive gun law proposal, former Chief of Police in liberal Seattle WA. Believes no American should own a firearm. Supports legalization of all drugs.  

 

 Paul Volcker - Economic Czar - Former head of the Federal Reserve under Jimmy Carter when US economy nearly failed. Obama-appointed head of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board which engineered the Obama economic disaster to US economy. Member of anti-business "Progressive Policy" organization.  

 

 Carol Browner - Energy & Environment Czar - Political Radical. Former head of the EPA - Known for anti-business activism. Strong anti-gun ownership.  

 

 Joshua DuBois - Faith-Based Czar - Political Black activist. Degree in Black Nationalism. Anti-gun ownership lobbyist.WHAT DOES A FAITH BASED CZAR DO ? ? ?

  

 Cameron Davis -  Great Lakes Czar - Chicago radical anti-business environmentalist. Blames George Bush for "Poisoning the water that minorities have to drink." No experience or training in water management whatsoever. Former ACORN Board member (what does that tell us?)

 

 Van Jones - Green Jobs Czar - (since resigned) Black activist with strong anti-white views. Member of American Communist Party and San Francisco Communist Party. Said George Bush caused the 9-11 attacks and wanted Bush investigated by the World Court for war crimes.

  

 Daniel Fried - Guantanamo Closure Czar - Human Rights activist for Foreign Terrorists. Believes America has caused the Global War on Terrorism. Believes terrorists have rights above and beyond Americans.  

 Nancy-Ann DeParle - Health Czar - Former head of Medicare / Medicaid. Strong proponent of Healthcare Rationing (i.e. "Death Panels"). She is married to a reporter for The New York Times.  

 Vivek Kundra - Information Czar  - Born in New Delhi, India. Controls all public information, including labels and news releases. Monitors all private Internet emails. (HELLO?)

  

 Todd Stern - International Climate Czar - Anti-business former White House Chief of Staff. Strong supporter of the Kyoto Accord; pushing hard for Cap and Trade. Blames US business for Global warming. Anti- US business prosperity.  

 

 Dennis Blair -  Intelligence Czar - Retired US Navy. Stopped US guided missile program he described as "provocative". Chair of ultra-Liberal "Council on Foreign Relations" which blames American organizations for regional wars.

 George Mitchell - Mideast Peace Czar - Fmr. Sen from Maine Left wing radical. Has said Israel should be split up into "2 or 3 " smaller more manageable plots". (God forbid) A true Anti-nuclear anti-gun & pro-homosexual "special rights" advocate.

 

 Kenneth Feinberg - Pay Czar - Chief of Staff to Ted Kennedy. Lawyer who got rich off the 9-11 victims payoffs (horribly true).  

 Cass Sunstein - Regulatory Czar - Liberal activist judge who believes free speech needs to be limited for the "common good"; essentially against the 1st Amendment. Has ruled against personal freedoms many times on private gun ownership and right to free speech cases. This guy has to be run out of Washington ! ! (a.k.a.: Most Dangerous Man in America)

 

 John Holdren - Science Czar - Fierce ideological environmentalist, Sierra Club anti-business activist. Claims US business has caused world poverty. No Science training.  

  

 Earl Devaney - Stimulus Accountability Czar - Spent career trying to take guns away from American citizens. Believes in Open Borders to Mexico. Author of statement blaming US gun stores for drug war in Mexico.  

 J. Scott Gration - Sudan Czar - Native of Democratic Republic of Congo. Believes US does little to help Third World countries. Council of foreign relations, asking for higher US taxes to support United Nations.  

 Herb Allison - TARP Czar - Fannie Mae CEO responsible for the US recession by using real estate mortgages to back up the US stock market. Caused millions of people to lose their life savings.

  

 John Brennan - Terrorism Czar - Anti-CIA activist. No training in diplomatic or gov. affairs. Believes in Open Borders to Mexico and a dialog with terrorists and has suggested Obama disband US military. A TOTAL MORON!!!!!

 

Aneesh Chopra - Technology Czar - No Technology training. Worked for the Advisory Board Company, a health care think tank for hospitals. Anti-doctor activist.  Supports Obama Healthcare Rationing (i.e. Death Panels) and salaried doctors working exclusively for the Government Healthcare plan.

 

 Adolfo Carrion Jr. - Urban Affairs Czar - Puerto Rico-born Anti-American activist and leftist group member in Latin America. Millionaire "slum lord" of Bronx, NY. Owns many lavish homes and condos which he got from "sweetheart" deals with labor unions. Wants higher taxes on middle class to pay for minority housing and healthcare.  

 Ashton Carter - Weapons Czar - Leftist. Wants all private weapons in US destroyed. Supports UN ban on firearms ownership in America. No other "policy".  

 Gary Samore - WMD Policy Czar - Former US Communist. Wants US to destroy all WMD unilaterally as a show of good faith. Has no other "policy"

 

 These are the people who President Obama appointed to run our country.